While there is much to do in Lake Tahoe – from golf to skiing to simply soaking up the scenery – to satisfy your taste of adventure, this incredible spot on the Nevada-California border is also a dynamite place to satisfy your taste buds. There are numerous eateries to choose from, but here are our favorites, in alphabetical order:
Bite – This unique establishment takes the Spanish concept of tapas (snacks or appetizers) and Americanizes it. The menu is filled with bite-sized delicacies that you can gobble up yourself or share with others. We recommend starting with the Cowgirl Creamery Cheese Plate and the Little Gems “Wedge” salad, but you don’t want to miss the Spicy Honey Bourbon Shrimp, the BLT Sliders (made with Maine lobster) and the Charbroiled Filet Mignon Bites.
Brooks’ Bar & Deck – Selected by the editors of Golf Digest as one of the “Best 19th Holes in America,” Brooks’ Bar & Deck has taken it place as the premier post-play watering hole in the state, with great food and an amazing atmosphere. There are different menus for summer and winter, but some of the scrumptious staples that can be enjoyed year-round include the Fire Cracker salad, Fresh Salmon Fish & Chips and Taco Truck Tacos.
Chart House – Perched atop a hill near Kingsbury Grade and overlooking exquisite Lake Tahoe, Chart House is a legendary seafood restaurant known for being an excellent vacation destination. Watch birds soar over the lake while enjoying a delicious meal that includes Prime Rib, Macadamia Crusted Mahi or Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. Personally, we’re partial to the Steak & Pesto Pasta. But whatever you do, don’t forget to save room for the Hot Chocolate Lava Cake for dessert.
Ciera Steak & Chophouse – Tahoe’s only four diamond restaurant, featuring an exquisite array of steaks and chops, fresh seafood and vegetarian entrees, complemented by an international selection of 300 wines and champagnes. We recommend starting with the Lobster Tempura and the Crème of Asparagus and Morel Soup, then feasting upon the Gorgonzola and Pine Nut Crusted Sea Bass. For land-bound options, we’d definitely go for the Kurobuta Pork Rib Chop or the Steak Au Poivre.
Edgewood Restaurant – Built like an alpine chateau, with two graduated levels to offer an unimpeded view for every patron, the restaurant’s tables look directly out across the lake, with the unparalleled view framed by sweeping wooden archways and vaulted ceilings. Many fascinating selections to choose from, but we’d kick it off with the Hamachi Crudo (avocado puree with a blood orange vinaigrette) and the Bruleed Goat Cheese before settling in with the Miso Glazed Salmon. But don’t think we haven’t let our eyes wander to take in the Achiote Pork Tenderloin. Each night, a different Crème Brulee is offered for dessert, or for a delectable salty-sweet confection, there’s the Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarte.
Friday’s Station Steak & Seafood Grill – Located on the top floor of the Harrah’s Lake Tahoe hotel tower, this fine dining gem features a dramatic entrance, a 1,000-bottle display wine cellar and magnificent views from every table. There are numerous seafood appetizers to kick things off, though we’re enchanted by the Feuillette of Wild Mushrooms and the Snoopy Salad. For an entrée, there’s a quartet of Combination Favorites which pair filet mignon with a partner from the sea. You also can’t go wrong with the Double Cut Lamb Chops or the bounteous Seafood Broil.
Le Bistro – Working off the “Prix-Fix” [sic] menu, we’d put together a meal that begins with the Leek, Roasted Onion, Potato and Cauliflower Soup, moves on to the Homemade Salmon Pastrami with Dill Dressing Fresh Artichoke and Seaweed Salad, progresses through the Hydroponics Watercress Salad with Honey and Sherry Vinegar Dressing and Roasted Pine Nuts, reaches a crescendo with the Tournedos of Beef Tenderloin with Port and Cabernet Reduction and Maytag Blue Cheese and concludes with the Assortment of Cheeses Served with Raisins and Glazed Walnuts.
Lone Eagle Grille – Highlights include an open show kitchen, wine wall featuring more than 600 bottles and service at outdoor lakeside firepits. It may be unusual to find pasta as an appetizer, but Lone Eagle’s Home Made Sage Fettuccini Bolognaise is definitely a winner. For something lighter, try the Butter Lettuce Salad. Among the main courses, our favorites include Mary’s Organic Chicken Breast, the Cabernet Braised Angus Beef Short Rub and the Durham Ranch Bison Tenderloin. And if you’d like a little comfort food on the side, definitely dig in for the Gruyere Mac & Cheese.
The Oyster Bar Hard Rock – The first-ever raw seafood bar of its kind on Tahoe’s South Shore features fresh seasonal oysters on the half shell and fun oyster shooters. This deluxe eatery is the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe’s hub for all New Orleans favorites, including hearty gumbos, rich pan roasts and traditional jambalaya. Additional favorites that come with a taste of the bayou include the Shrimp Louie Salad, Bouillabaisse and the Seafood Boil. Finish off the feast with a slice of Vanilla Bean Cheesecake.
Sage Room Steakhouse – An elegant Western-themed steakhouse popular with locals and guests alike, the Sage Room has been a landmark since its opening in 1947. For a first course, we kvell over the Crab, Artichoke and Cheese Gratinee. And for an entrée, we’re torn between the Steak Diane and the Filet Mignon & Gulf Shrimp. However, if veal is your thing, the Veal Scallopini is exquisite.
Sushi Pier – Family-owned and operated, Sushi Pier provides a family-friendly atmosphere that is casual yet sophisticated and intimate at the same time. You can order by the piece or, if you bring your appetite, you probably want to opt for the all-you-can-eat pricing. Regardless, you should start off with an order of Moondog Stars and another of Kim’s Fritters. The Nigiri contains a rich assortment, with a highlight being the Tempura Upside Down Crab. Among the hand rolls, there are a number of amusingly named choices and we’ll play along: The Elvis Hand Roll is a hunka hunka burnin’ love, and you’ll “wanna be sedated” after your encounter with the Joey Ramone.
So if you’d like to discover the dining paradise of Lake Tahoe, or get your feast on in any of our other 40+ delicious destinations, drop us a line at [email protected].