It’s winter, and that means snow! (apologies if your neck of the woods doesn’t get any). Instead, head to Lake Tahoe, one of the most popular winter travel destinations in the state.
Located in Northern California near the Nevada border, Lake Tahoe is a favorite for seasonal travelers. There, you’ll find beautiful scenery, skiing and sledding slopes, and a wide array of restaurants to satisfy any palate. If you’re headed up there this winter holiday, here are some of the best places in and around Lake Tahoe to stop by for a delicious meal.
Azul Latin Kitchen
Grab an early seat and enjoy the people watching. You can get an outdoor table or catch one of the huge firepits and gather around. No matter where you sit, the people watching is on point.
Rubicon Pizza
Located in nearby Truckee, Rubicon Pizza offers onsite and to-go meals. They support local non-profits and proudly provide free entrees to “local heroes” like teachers, firefighters, nurses, police and active military (during the off-season).
https://www.rubiconpizzaco.com/
Fireside Pizza
The ambiance is fun and casual with a bit of a hipster vibe. Located in Squaw Valley, Fireside offers a wide range of Italian food and family-friendly activities. You can also order online for to-go meals to enjoy in your cabin!
Base Camp
Really good pizza and lots of great beers. The seating outside is great for the live music! They don’t take reservations, so it’s first-come, first-served. Dogs are welcome on the patio and gluten-free crusts can be substituted.
Gar Woods Grill and Pier
The view is spectacular and the drinks are pretty darn good! Located next door to sister restaurant Rive Grill (below).
Riva Grill on the Lake
This restaurant is named for the custom-built Riva boats available for viewing at the nearby showroom. The Grill is open for lunch and dinner and weekly Fish Taco Fridays are a special event. Kids have their own menu, or you can book Riva for banquets and gatherings.
Poke Rok SLT
This South Lake Tahoe restaurant celebrates Hawaiian poke with fresh seafood and plenty of mix-ins! Try the mango habanero or sweet wasabi sauces. Poke Rok also serves açai bowls, Japanese “burritos” and sushi.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/poke-rok-south-lake-tahoe
River Ranch Lodge
Dating back over 100 years, the River Ranch Lodge is nestled alongside the historic Truckee River. It was refurbished into the cozy, wood-shingled lodge of today, with a river rock fireplace in the dining room and 19 rooms for overnight stays. A tavern-style menu features halibut tacos, wagyu burgers, bison short ribs and a rack of elk.
Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge
Here you can enjoy lake views and mai tais! Not only can you access this restaurant by car, but you can pull your boat to their dock and one of their valets will dock it for you. The place is super family friendly, with plenty of outdoor lake view seating. Parent bonus: there is an easy path to the water, for some rock throwing action while you’re trying to entertain the kiddos.
https://www.sunnysidelodge.com/
If you’ve visited any of these Lake Tahoe restaurants, please comment on your experience below.