From sophisticated foodies to families with hungry kids, travelers to Lake Tahoe will find a variety of excellent foods to please everyone’s palate. A sampling of the best that Lake Tahoe restaurants have to offer is showcased each fall during the culinary competition and grand tasting at the North Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival.

Restaurants and wineries pair their offerings and the result is a culinary adventure no food lover should miss. But just in case you did, there is always next year. The annual event has a 22-year history and it gets bigger and better each year. Watch for news of the festival on tahoe.com next September. Until then, here are some places to have a great meal on your next trip to Lake Tahoe.

At Lake Tahoe, the term fine dining covers everything from white table cloths to classy lounge or deck dining. Clothing defined as business or resort casual is always appropriate. Ties at Tahoe are not necessary.

If something casual is more to your liking check out part two of our series Comfortable and casual, come as you are.

Big Water Grille


Executive Chef Jay Veregge can be counted on for consistent, creative combinations of seasonal fresh ingredients and delicious vegetarian options. The large dining room is open, airy and elegant with views of the lake through tall pines. There’s a spacious lounge with comfy chairs and small table seating, a semi-circular central bar, and wide deck that invites casual dining from both the bar and dining room menus. Prices on the bar menu are inexpensive, $12 average for delicious pizza, a substantial salad, or steak kabob. The dining room can be expensive (entrées in the $22 - $42 range) especially if you order wine from the excellent wine list. Big Water Grille is located on Ski Way, just down the hill from Diamond Peak Ski resort in Incline Village. Call 775-833-0606 or visit www.bigwatergrille.com. Map it!

Christy Hill


This little gem in the heart of Tahoe City is intimate and elegant and offers gorgeous views of Lake Tahoe. The menu is carefully crafted and includes the freshest ingredients of each season – fish, meats and vegetarian choices. Prices are moderate, even in the cozy dining room, and a small café menu provides the same high quality at a fraction of the cost. Price ranges from $8 to $15 on the café menu and $18 to $32 in the dining room. Call 530-583-8551 for reservations or visit www.christyhill.com. Map it!

Conrad's
This is a good, old-fashioned steak house with chops, seafood, slow roasted barbecue and pasta dishes that will please those who like substantial portions at a reasonably price. Conrad’s is located inside the Tahoe Biltmore in Crystal Bay. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday at 5 p.m. for dinner only. For reservations call 1-800-BILTMORE. Map it!

Lone Eagle Grille
Operated by the Hyatt Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, this is one of the most elegant dining rooms at the lake, with a price tag to match. You pay for the ambiance and gorgeous lakeside setting with great views. The menu includes the usual steaks, chops, seafood and often wild elk or boar, of which the chef is particularly skillful in his preparations.

Expect to pay more than $100 for two with wine, but you can get by for much less in the adjacent high-ceilinged lounge, also with fabulous views, where you’ll have a satisfying meal for half the price. Lunch is 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, brunch 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday only; dinner 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week; lounge/bar food service 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cocktail service only from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Map it!

Moody's Bistro & Lounge
Chef Mark Estee receives constant kudos on the national stage for what he describes as “market basket cuisine.” The menu changes daily using local ingredients prepared with the special touch of a master chef. Moody’s has city bistro elegance and down-home Truckee charm. The lively bar scene often includes live jazz and the occasional appearance of celebrity musicians. If you’re young and hip, or even if you’re not, you’ll probably have a great time and certainly a great meal at Moody’s. Price range: $8 to $18 for appetizers and $22 to $48 for entrees. A creative bar menu with fresh oysters is a real treat! Located in historic downtown Truckee, the restaurant is open daily with lunch from 11:30 a.m., dinner from 5:30 p.m. and brunch at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call for reservations at 530-587-8688 or visit www.moodysbistro.com. Map it!

Six Peaks Grill
Enjoy a visit to the Resort at Squaw Creek and dine with panoramic views of Squaw Valley’s majestic mountain peaks from inside the dining room or outside around a large fire pit. The menu includes fresh produce, seafood, steaks and chops with special prime rib nights on Saturday and Sunday. The elegant but casual dining room is family-friendly. Price range is moderate. For reservations call 530-581-6621 or visit squawcreek.com/sixpeaks. Map it!

PlumpJack Café
Rated three stars by the San Francisco Chronicle and a Best Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator, this trendy café located in the Squaw Valley Inn serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with seasonal menus and excellent wine pairings. Executive Chef Jeffrey Powell combines Californian and Chinese influences and a passion for locally-farmed ingredients. Dinner entrees are $20 to $45. An attractive bar menu served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. makes light dining affordable from $8 - $18. A children’s menu includes pastas, pizza, chicken strips and ice cream sodas … all gourmet to be sure! Breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday through the ski season. Call 530-583-1578 for reservations or visit www.plumpjack.com. Map it!

Pianeta Ristorante
This attractive restaurant in Truckee serves hearty, rustic Italian fare in a warm and friendly environment that is both casual and classy. The owners are a Truckee food dynasty that knows good food. They also own and operate Piper’s Patisserie, a casual lunch spot profiled below. Prices at Pianeta are moderate and reservations are suggested at 530-587-4694. Open daily at 5:30 p.m. Map it!

Sol y Lago
Located upstairs lakeside in Tahoe City’s Boatworks Mall, this sleek, attractive restaurant serves a creative variety of tapas and other dishes unique to Spain and Latin America, along with familiar fare such as Ahi tacos and tamales, fresh fish, pastas and mixed grill. The split-level dining room is punctuated with flying buttress ceilings and affords great views of Lake Tahoe. There’s deck dining in summer and a lively bar scene featuring specialty Latin cocktails like sangria, mojitos and margaritas. Prices range from $4 to $11 for tapas and $17 to $32 for entrées. Open for dinner seven days a week with a tapas menu daily from 4:20 p.m. to close. Lunch is Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am. Call 530-583-0358 for reservations or visit www.solylago.com. Map it!

West Shore Café
This is lakeside dining at its finest; expensive and lovely. The West Shore is ‘old Tahoe’ and the West Shore Café exudes the casual elegance associated with wooden boats and the folks who own them. There are buoys and docks if you arrive by boat. By car, you will find the restaurant and inn tucked among tall pines along West Lake Blvd (Hwy 89) in Homewood, about seven miles south of Tahoe City. It is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Lunch ranges from $11 to $22 for salads, burgers, fresh fish, crab cakes and distinctive sandwiches. Dinner entrées are $34 - $52 for exquisite presentations of fresh seasonal fish, vegetables and meats. For reservations, call 530-525-5200. If you’re inclined to stay a spell, the West Shore Inn may be the perfect spot for an intimate, sophisticated getaway. Visit www.westshorecafe.com for more information. Map it!

Wolfdale’s
Featuring the “cuisine unique” of nationally acclaimed Chef Douglas Dale and a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list, this Tahoe City landmark is a delightful dining experience for both the palate and the eye. Chef Dale’s education was strongly influenced by Japanese art and history. The restaurant décor and the blend of East/West cuisine reflect his passion for the Far East. You can be sure it’s pricy, but well worth every penny. Open for dinner only. Call 530-583-5700 for reservations or visit www.wolfdales.com. Map it!