Sorensen's Cafe

On one hand this is very beautiful, well maintained, quant restaurant with decent food. On the other hand the quality of food has dropped considerably in the last few years.

When this was part of Wylder the place felt like it was getting worn down but the food was exceptional. Now the place looks spruced up but the food is more classic. This is especially noticeable in the signature burgundy stew (before and after pictures attached). It is now just a basic classic stew. It’s good but no where near the old quality. The kitchen was very fast and the dishes are still good. It’s just not matching expectations set by past chefs/owners.

Otherwise prices are a bit too high but that might be worth it for the ambiance. Servers seemed stressed out but they hit all the right boxes.

I’ll still be coming back if I’m staying at the hotel but it’s no longer a place to drive out of my way for.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 3

Sorensens cafe is truly the best food we’ve gotten in the surrounding Tahoe areas. We’re foodies. We have never had a bad meal here. However, to add to the positivity, the staff is incredible. We can’t wait to come back

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We ended up having a very nice private anniversary dinner at Sorenson's. We were camping at the nearby resort campground and had booked a dinner reservation at Sorenson's. When we arrived, there was a signboard apologizing that there was a private event that day and that the restaurant would be closed. When we inquired at the hotel desk, they noted that they had one reservation they would honor that night, which was ours. The staff jumped into action and served our private meal out on the deck. We kept our meal choices rather simple, knowing that they were also catering a wedding at the same time. The Spinach Salad and the 88 Burger were both fantastic and reasonably priced. I will note that the menu does seem pretty fluid. What's listed online, distributed to camp guests and what is given at the restaurant are not the same. Overall it looks like they are slimming it down to their best sellers. There was a good selection for vegetarian and pescatarian eaters. Thanks to Tres and the rest of the staff for making sure our anniversary dinner was a great memory.

We had an excellent meal while staying at one of the cabins. Generous portions and good variety. We were the only diners at 6:30 on a Monday evening so we'd encourage others to give it a go.

From the minute we walked in, the whole vibe is great! Our server Aimee was knowledgeable, friendly and helped us choose our lunch. She did not steer us wrong; the smoked trout appetizer was delicious as was the clam chowder, though it as a bit peppery for my wimpy taste buds. We had the chicken pot pie and couldn't finish it. Really good crust and flavors! We are big foodies and will be back. We stayed the night and ate breakfast before heading home: it was good, especially the shakshuka! I have a pet peeve about butter in packets as well as half and half in those weird little containers that are shelf stable so my only comment would be to switch those up to match the rest of the experience there! Kudos!

We spent 3 days in kirkwood. We looked up where to have lunch and this Cafe popped up. Food was good not great. For the $$ it should have been delicious. Service was ok. Overall it was a ok experience but the location is beautiful.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 3

We had breakfast here this morning and it was such a hidden gem!!

We are staying in Kirkwood and there’s not much in the way of restaurants over here. This was a quick drive from the cabin and the staff were so friendly and helpful. Refilling our coffee before we could even ask and making sure we were taken care of.

The food… everyone ordered something different and we were all vastly impressed! Their home fries are quite possible the best in all of Lake Tahoe!

Food: 5

Recommended dishes: Sorensen's Scramble

Great breakfast on the way to Kirkwood from Markleyville. Shout out to Aimee for her super friendly service.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food didn’t feel fresh and likely recooked over day(s). It is fine when you are hungry, it doesn’t justify its price for an outside dining.

Kid-friendliness: 3-4 kids options, kids has pasta and it looked recooked, and crispy for several of them.

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 4

Try the hummus plate and for dessert check out the berry cobbler. Delicious.

Wheelchair accessibility: Unsure if any of the cabins are accessible. I don't remember if the cafe is accessible or not.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Smoked Trout Dip

We took a leisurely Sunday drive up SR-88 and stumbled upon Sorensen's Cafe at Desolation Hotel in Hope Valley. The decision to stop was a highlight of our day. My girlfriend and I opted for the 88 Burger with a salad. We practically had the place to ourselves, which made the meal even more enjoyable.

The burger was delicious—perfectly cooked and flavorful—and the salad was remarkably fresh, enhanced by their homemade dressing. The serene and beautiful scenery added to the charm of our lunch. We left very satisfied and were glad we made the stop. I highly recommend Sorensen's Cafe for anyone traveling along SR-88 or exploring Hope Valley!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

A beautiful place to spend a fall day.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Tis was our 1st visit to Sorensen's Cafe and we enjoyed the location and the food. We sat outside and enjoyed live music being played by Just Josh. We would consider a return visit to the Cafe in the future.

We were seated quickly and water was provided immediately. Our server was friendly but a bit stressed as they were the only one. Later, a second server arrived and our server immediately became more relaxed and more pleasant. Cocktails were very good and the food as well with the only suggestion is to season the potato salad more as it was bland and nearly tasteless. Dessert was great and extra ice cream added as requested. We never felt rushed or ignored and our server earned a 30% tip. Table was clean as were the menus, silver and glassware. Outdoor dining was excellent with no flying insects. Although cloth napkins were on the table, extra paper should be as well so we wouldn't need to ask. The grounds are beautiful and restrooms clean. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal experience.

Our food was fresh and delicious. The menu is very limited so I recommend taking a look before you go. The choices worked for us, and the wine list was good. My hamburger was simply amazing, and my husband really enjoyed the hearty stew. The ambience of this small and quiet country restaurant in the Sierras is perfect. Our server was very friendly, helpful and efficient. What more can I say? It was a very positive experience and I highly recommend.