47 Best American Restaurants near Carnelian Bay

“Our table on a large window with a beautiful view was ready early when we showed up. Our server Brooklyn was helpful and friendly and just the right level of attentiveness. We weren't rushed or left alone too long. Our food and drinks were delicious.“

“Service was great! The two servers and solo host were very busy taking care of the entire place by themselves. It’s not easy to bus and serve.Not sure why temps were taken on the eggs as none of them came out consistent. IMO no need to even stress taking temps because it’s not the Four Seasons.Poached eggs are the easiest when understood how to execute in high volume. Boil with water and vinegar mixture and separately hold them aside in a warm water bath. A sous vide can keep a regulated low temp. Every poached egg will be perfect. Chef was probably having a hard day, might have been solo as well (bless that persons soul). as everything on the plate seemed cold in different sections. Hot sausage, cold eggs, crispy hot (very delicious) potatoes, cold soggy eggs benni.Great spot. Just needs to tighten up some aspects.“

“Superb dining experience. The wait staff was knowledgeable, cordial, and spot-on with recommendations. The food was prepared with the greatest care and expertise. Delicious! Ambience was hospitable and nicely suited for special occasions. We appreciate that staff had seen our Open Table notes and special requests regarding our anniversary and desire for a window seat. They added all the special touches to create a beautiful evening.“

“We ordered the baby gem salad, scallops, ribs, lamb chops, deviled eggs, Mac and cheese, and frites. Would ordered everything again every single time. If I had to pick a favorite bite - it was probably the scallops, but that feels rude to the ribs. I don't see how you could go wrong here. All of the drinks and food were truly wonderful, as was the service! I love the vibe of the restaurant it felt intimate, well curated, and nicer for the area yet casual enough for jeans. Highly recommend making a reservation for Bite!“

“The restaurant is excellent in every aspect. The food is amazing, offering a delightful array of flavors and textures. The service is impeccable, with attentive staff making the dining experience truly memorable. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for an exceptional culinary experience.“

“I found this via ratings and it is a fantastic place. The drinks are made extremely well. A great concoction that I actually am going to copy. I had the halibut and it was fantastic. The service was exceptional. I highly recommend Reservations.“

“Great comfort food in a campy wood-paneled pub/yachtclub-style setting. Went there for lunch to grab some takeout, ended up waiting over 10 minutes to see much less speak to anyone. The place was busy with plenty of medium and large groups, the staff was overwhelmed to keep up. But once I was able to place my order the service was pretty quick. If I wasn't in a hurry, I would very much haven enjoyed sitting down at a table, there is also a bar.“

“This review is way overdue. We came here for the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, and were so delighted by the entire experience. The food was excellent, the dining room was lively, and the service was welcoming and attentive. This is one of the nicer spots for dining out in Truckee, so it's great for a celebration, date night or just a nice dinner out. We haven't had a chance to return on a regular night, but we definitely plan to.“

“Amazing pizza!! Super quick service, food are here within five minutes Burrata was my favorite - love the pistachio and spices! The salads tend to be in smaller portions: house salad and strawberry salad Fried Brussels sprouts were really on point!“

“Excellent food, wine and view of Lake Tahoe. Elegant setting and upscale ambiance but welcoming and inviting, not stuffy or snooty. We brought our 3 kids (10, 12, 15) and we felt very welcomed and comfortable. Husband has a dairy sensitivity and they were able to accommodate substitutions without any issues. Dining room is quiet but noise from the bar area does waft over from time to time.“

“This was the perfect place to stop for lunch and a drink. We got the burger and grilled cheese with tomato bisque plus a 50/50 beer and the fizzle dance (gin fizz). Everything was yummy (except the beer was okay)! There wasn't much seating so don't think I'd want to do dinner here but worked well for lunch. I think they have other seating areas open during lunch though. Staff was friendly. Overall great place to stop in for a delicious quick bite.“

“Stopped in here on a whim on a slow Spring morning with some friends to grab a late breakfast bite. Our waiter, Ovi, was very pleasing to work with and accommodated our every need. He ensured our food tasted great and that our expectations were met. Omelettes were perfect, fruit was ripe and sweet, waffle came with extra whipped cream as requested, and the burgers stood up to some of the best I've had. Onion rings were phenomenal as well. We sat outside on the patio in the crisp cool air under the shining sun, taking in the fresh Tahoe smell of pine and fallen snow. Would return here in a heartbeat!“

“We came here for lunch on one of our days in Truckee. We don't drink beer but we ordered some other drinks that were amazingly delicious. For our appy, we ordered these shrimp bao buns that were super flavorful. I ordered the bratwurst hotdog and that was yummy with a healthy helping of sauerkraut and two types of dip - cheese or grainy mustard. To be honest, that bratwurst wrapped in a pretzel bun could stand on its own without any dips...OMG! so good that u still remember how it tastes nearly a week after our trip. My husband ordered the turkey burger and that thing came loaded and he said it was one of the best turkey burgers he's ever had. We loved this place and will definitely be one of our go-tos in Truckee when we're up next! Thank you Alibi team...great work!“

“After experiencing an incredibly rude interaction by the owners of the nearby Smokey’s place, I decided to walk over to the Truckee Food Shop and grab a roasted half chicken with vegetables and Caesar salad. The owner was probably the most pleasant person I’ve dealt with in a very long time. And the food was great! I went on my home to Sacramento area but stopped at the lookout on the old Donner Summit Road. I enjoyed my meal with the wonderful scenery in front of me. It was nice and much better than dealing with that rude old old lady at Smokey’s.“

“This place is a ton of fun if you enjoy spooky and occasional interesting vibes - food is always incredible - cocktails are great - I wish they had better wine and beer - but their pastrami is amazing - consistently great - their specials are always inventive and fun. The live music is great - but if you aren't a fan of ghosts or vibes this may not be the place for you. I've met three there so far - tons of fun. Lively spirits and great service! Totally friendly, attentive and fun.“

“It's a very charming restaurant and we were super lucky to get a Wednesday evening 5:30 PM reservation a mere 5 hours in advance. Our dinner experience was amazing! The food came out hot, the flavors and sauces were outstanding, and the service was fantastic. We ordered the Lobster Wontons appetizer, White Shrimp Fresh Sea Scallops & ¼ Maine Lobster Tail with Fettucine entree, and the Oregon Petrale Sole daily fish special. The soup of the day was Cauliflower soup. The lobster wonton appetizer came with 3 wontons. The ginger, shiitake mushrooms, and other seasonings paired very well with the lobster. The Chinese mustard and red chili dipping sauce served on the side was HOT and we felt the wontons had plenty enough flavor without the need to add any hot sauce. Rating: 8 I wasn't expecting to like the cauliflower soup but it was really really good! I'm not a huge fan of cauliflower or of soup in general, but the cauliflower flavor had a perfect subtleness and was accented with a touch of cumin seasoning. Rating: 8 My wife had the Oregon Petrale Sole. She described it as very flavorful (blend of lemon, garlic, and mushroom flavors and a light panko coating) and cooked to perfection. Rating: 10 I ordered the Shrimp, Scallop, Lobster Tail with Fettucine. OMG! Per the menu: "sautéed w/ red bell peppers, fresh basil, tomatoes, mushrooms and lemon garlic butter; cheese & onion." The sauce was sooooo amazing and perfectly compliment the seafood. I couldn't stop raving about the flavor even after arriving back at the hotel room. Rating: 10+ Our server was John and we thoroughly enjoyed the additional side conversations with him throughout our seating. (Ask him if he's ever tried moose.)“

“The only downside was how bright those LED lights are over the side booth tables. Super bright. I know they can't be dimmed via a dimmer switch, but maybe there's a diff fixture option. It feels like you're under an interrogation light while you're eating.“

“Super cute shop, mostly for take out food. There is no seating indoors but there are a couple of picnic tables outside. Today I had a ribeye panini which was absolutely delicious. Very savory and satisfying. They have mole, pozole, fried chicken, various salads, sandwiches, and pasta. Lots of interesting drinks too. You can buy baked bread, dry pastas, sauces, spices too. If this were located in downtown Truckee where there is more foot traffic, I know that there would be a line out the door.“

“Wonderful breakfast for the fam during Spring Break! The coffee was hot, the food was delicious with generous portions and the service excellent! The ambiance is very kitschy, cozy and fun. Bobby Flay filmed Throwdown with Bobby Flay there and the Racy Tracy omelet was definitely something to write home about! YUM!“

“This restaurant is steps away from the Hyatt Regency at Incline. Although the space is cozy, it is extremely small for a fondue place where accidental spills could happen. But it does give the Swiss Chalet vibes! They were fortunately open on Christmas day, which made the experience even more special. The icy air outside dissipated as the warm smell of melted cheese wafted through the restaurant. I was seated at a spot near the front entrance, so I was concerned that someone would accidentally bump into my table and spill hot cheese. But luckily that never happened. I've had my fair share of Swiss fondue and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to find a decent replacement near home. Their portions are large and perfect for sharing. They also have options for vegetarians. I had the surf and turf which consisted of several pieces of shrimp and beef tenderloin. This is something that you have to cook prior to dipping it in the sauce. But they place a fryer on your table. I do not recall what all of the sauces were, but I remember soy sauce and spicy mayo. I also had the Alpine Cheese fondue for 2 (not the app) and this is a classic served with grapes, pears, apples and bread. A great addition to this would be mini potatoes! The dessert was the highlight for the night. I wasn't sure what to expect when the menu said ice cream fondue, but it was more ice cream flambé because they set the sauces surrounding the ice cream on fire. Then you can dip the ice cream in the different sauces. The chocolate fondue was a classic but is the priciest dessert on the list surprisingly. This is a special little place that is solely for fondue that I hope to visit again soon during the winter. Hopefully they expand the place a little bit!“

“This place was amazing! One thing I've always wanted to do was to go venture out to tasting menu restaurants and I'm so glad I found Trokay! The chef was super nice and I enjoyed talking to her between courses! The servers were great as well, I honestly fell in love with the ambiance of this place! Looks secluded and like a true fine dining experience! I can't wait to come back here in the future, eager to see what changes occur in the menu and what else they've brought in!“

“Stayed at the Granlibakken during the transition from winter to summer service. The staff is friendly and accommodating . They provided great service, and wonderful cocktails. The onion soup and the elk pot pie were outstanding. The chicken schnitzel with potato pancakes were delicious and servings very generous.“

“Found this place just randomly looking for some quick bites off the freeway. Walked in and first thing I see is a table full of yummy goodies like muffins, pastries and such. The place was busy which is always a good sign. I was greeted promptly and asked for a blueberry muffin to go. The offered to heat it up with butter...oh yeah! A very warm fresh delicious blueberry muffin with melted butter on a frigid winter morning was exactly what I needed to hit the spot. Price point was good and also a nice clean restaurant and bathroom. The folks there were very friendly and enjoyed nice conversation.“

“Indoor and outdoor seatings available. Excellent service. Ambiance is a 5 out of 5. Beautiful lake view if you can sit outside. We grabbed a lite bite on this beautiful day. Food was just fair though. Calamari needed more seasoning. Spicy margarita had no kick. Caesar salad was average tasty. We didn't order much so I would go try other stuff.“

“Semi busy lunch rush,...greatest right away which is always nice. I asked for a certain seat to keep a eye on my vehicle because my dogs were in the car staying warm from the snow fall. They said no problem, and let me pick a booth. Our food was correct, and hot. Seats were clean surprisingly,....a lot of wood in the restauran, so they for sure make the effort to keep it clean from dirt grime, and build up. The bathrooms were super clean. Over all a great experience for a midday lunch rush. The front door is in the back side of the establishment,.....make the effort to find it,...well worth it. PS. The bus boy at the time was hustling, and didn't look as his phone once. I appreciated that. Not many around.Wheelchair accessibility: Good access“

“The food, service and atmosphere were all wonderful. My family loved it. My kids especially loved the breakfast menu available at dinner, I loved the Ortega chile burger - not too spicy and bursting with fresh flavor. Portions were huge. Highly recommend.“

“When your kid requests a dish twice in a row for the two nights we stayed in North Tahoe, you know that it's that good. The first night we had to get it to go, the wait was an hour long and there is no way a kid will wait for food that long. Ordering the food and pick up was really easy, and staff is very friendly and patient. We ordered the gouda mac and cheese with ham, and by far one of the most flavorful mac and cheese I had. The sauce, the cheese it was just so yummy. We also got the sausage pizza which was very meaty and tasty. Second night we were lucky enough to get a table, and staff is very friendly and informative. Inside had a full sit at bar and also regular tables. The second night we ordered the same gouda mac and cheese and thai curry pizza. Was very satisfying both nights. After a day in the snow, this place hits the spot.“

“I've been here twice now after a day of skiing. The first time I thought omg this is fantastic. This second time I brought someone with me and they said it was the best rotisserie chicken they have ever had. The flavor is amazing. Juicy. Cooked to perfection. Crispy skin. I also got the tri-tip (both times) which was delicious. The spicy salsa isn't too spicy. I got the rice and beans on the side. Throwing it all into a tortilla and dipping it in the hot sauce was a 10/10 experience. Both times. The first time I took it to go and this second time I dined in. The workers are so sweet. I'll keep coming back here for my post ski meals!“

“This place is a solid. Good food, good service. My salad had pears and candied pecans. Loved the taste, it all blended together perfectly. The Alaskan Halibut is the signature dish. The fish was a bit dry, but the lemon sauce made up for that. We topped it off with a bottle of Malbec. Altogether, a good meal. The menu had some good choices, the short ribs and pork chop looked very good. One of my friends had the short ribs and enjoyed them. The waiter was a bit of a cut-up. He had a young daughter with him, about 4 years old. The waiter told us his wife was at the bar. Then, little Ruth said "drinking water". Quiet place, good for a date night or a good meal with friends. Recommended.“

“This is definitely a hidden gem. Their hamburgers are delicious and they serve the best tacos on Taco Tuesdays! Tradicional tacos that honestly no other Mexican restaurant in Lake Tahoe can top, and I have been to every taco/Mexican restaurant out here.“

“Sierra Café is located on the lower level of Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort. Breakfast is served between 7-11:30 am and lunch is served between 12-3:30 pm. They do not serve dinner.The café has a good amount of tables with an outdoor area facing the resort pool. We didn't have any problem getting a table at around 9:00 am ish but they do get busy. We had breakfast here both mornings while staying at the Resort.They have all your basic breakfast items from eggs, omelets, pancakes, bacon and waffles. Everything we had was delicious. The pancake and omelet was probably my favorite. The breakfast buffet is only available on the weekend.Excellent service. The servers are attentive, friendly and professional.“

“We stopped at Manzanita for an after dinner dessert and drinks. Starting for the beautiful ride on the gondola under the stars all the way to the outstanding decor and service at Manzanita - we loved the experience! And look forward to book it for dinner! The kitchen is in full view. Their cellar spectacular! We even found Tocai!“

“The inside is totally cool. When we got there, they were busy. They had one dude at the front and woman behind the bar. Turned out she was bartending and serving. She was slammed but totally kicked ass. The buffalo mac balls were hella good and not too spicy. My son had the fig and brie grilled cheese. I had whiskey burger. Daughter had Salmon BLT. Everything was great. Service on point.“

“I'm bumping up to five stars because of value.. pricing is normal, not Tahoe premium. The menu is a diner menu, meatloaf, burgers, pot roast. On my server's recommendation I had pot roast and mashed potatoes. The serving was generous and the food was tasty. To my surprise the mashed potatoes were homemade, not powdered. I mentioned that to my server and he told me that most of the food on the menu was house made. The decor ... Well, it's one of those places that has a lot of stuff up on the wall if you know what I mean. Bicycles, skis, stuff. Little bit dingy but not bad. I will absolutely return. If you are looking for fancy or pretentious, this isn't it. If you're looking for home cooking at a reasonable price you have found it.“

“The food was unbelievable. The presentation looked like something out of a magazine, and the taste was fantastic. It was quite expensive however the food was worth it. The noise level is very high, making it difficult to hear one another. Next time we will go when we can sit outside.“

“Lake Tahoe, NV - great experience if you book to dine at the Glass house! But be careful the house is small and the table is small so I don't suggest that if you have young children. It's a fun experience without any extra charge if you can get a reservation. It was 4 adults and 2 kids for us so we got to order a bunch of dishes to sample their menu. I highly recommend their risotto and salmon, scallops and clam chowder. The lamb was flavorful too if that's your taste. Otherwise, the filet mignon was tender and juicy which would make a good meat entree choice. Their Rockefeller oysters were decent but not the best I've had (gotta go to New Orleans for that) Garlic pasta was not available to order which was a disappointment. There is a reservation penalty with cancellation but we were able to get a table for dinner at 7:30pm same day so we didn't have to worry about that. Great restaurant to go to after a day of skiing and snowboarding.“

“The Dog House is a kiosk truck stationed in a parking lot that offers gourmet hot dogs and shaved ice (according to their menu). Walked across the street from Kings Beach, but it was just closing at 5pm on Sunday so didn't get a chance to eat here.“

“The food was great! Both my wife and son enjoyed their food. We ordered chicken breast and pulled pork with sides of macaroni and cheese and fries. But the highlight of the meal is that GARLIC BREAD!! I was not expecting it to be so good. They turned an afterthought of the bread into a joyful part of the meal.“

“It's a typical bar with lots of TVs around featuring sports. After a long ski day, the group was pretty exhausted so it was nice to visit a casual restaurant. During happy hour, there are some featured appetizers and a dollar off alcohol. Our group ended up ordering a pitcher of beer and it was great. I would highly recommend the Truckee Style wings and Memphis BBQ burger. Both hit the spot and were delicious. The wings were saucy and savory, and the burger was massive! The service was quick and the waitress was friendly, checking up on us a couple times throughout the dinner.“

“Came here looking for a nice easy lunch in a comfortable setting for a dog and a toddler and this fit the bill. The outdoor patio was nice and spacious for our family. It was nice that they had TVs all around to watch the football games. The server was quite friendly and made sure the dog got some water too. We ordered the turkey sliders off of the kids menu, but dang, it was a big portion. Our toddler was super happy with the french fries and had a couple bites of the sliders. It was a portion that would probably make most adults happy. I got the crispy fish sandwich with a side of slaw and was pretty happy with it. It stayed crispy pretty much until the very end, so the last 2 bits or so the tartar sauce had made the batter and bun soggy but it was still delicious. Cole slaw was nothing special, but it was light and tasty and a great complimentary side to the fish sandwich. Cool spot for watching sports and grabbing some good food and a beer.“

“This is a good place to stop and have lunch during your Northstar ski experience. However, I can't give it five stars because the prices are at least double the normal cost. That applies to everything sold here. Options for vegan or vegetarian guests are very limited. All that aside, it's a nice ski lodge, and the food is fine if you like burgers, fries, pizza, chicken tenders, etc. Lines are usually short, and the staff is friendly and helpful. It is clean and tidy.“

“This is the best place in Tahoe City for burgers in the summer. Out door dining is the bomb and those burgers are charbroiled masterpieces. Waffle fries are my choice to go with these burgers.Parking is super tight in the summer and winter the snow takes up parts of the parking lot. Indoors is nice in the winter too. The burgers are the best thing here anytime of year.“

“Our server was great, the food was also very good. We started with crab cakes (Best I ever had) and the coleslaw that came with it was really good. Then we each got clam chowder soup (Better than SF), and then we split dinners the lobster tails & macadamia crusted Halibut. The halibut was a little dry but flavor was good. Lobster tails were perfect.“

“A superb apre-ski location in an area without too many restaurants. The veal emince, steamed clams, french onion soup, gran mariner souffle and coupe de swiss are excellent. They recently added a few lamb dishes and the chef really knows how to handle that kind of meat. If you like lamb definitely give either the lamb chops or the rack of the lamb a try. They also serve a pretty good prime rib on the weekends. They do close down during the slow parts of spring and autumn, so check ahead if you are in the area during that time of year.“

“The freshest pizza the parents have had in a long time. Absolutely delicious too! The drinks, desserts, and appetizers were all fantastic Excellent customer service, very attentive waitress, they even made an unsalted/ no seasoning patty to go for me as I stayed in the hotel. The pawrents will eat here again and again. 5 solid bones. I highly recommend“

“This is our go to burger stop when in Tahoe City. Everything is pretty much haus made. The service is usually nice and welcoming. The ambiance is a chill bar vibe, but children are welcome. The sweet potato fries are delicious, the wings are yummy, burgers are a must try, and they have haus made specials.“

“Great place rode the gondola up from North Star village. Our server Max was amazing! Food was great, atmosphere amazing. Definitely good place after a long day of skiing kids loved it too. Drinks were amazing too. Don’t let the negative reviews scare you off. Definitely come here and enjoy good food, drinks and atmosphere. It’s pricy but it’s the Ritz sooooooo.Kid-friendliness: My kids loved it. They also know how to behave in a nice restaurant.“