Lake Tahoe Restaurants: Lake Tahoe Fine Dining

Lake Tahoe has an abundance of restaurants that offer regional mountain cuisine. Most feature California cuisine with indigenous flavors, French, Mediterranean, and Asian influences. Locally farmed produce and meats are readily available to chefs, enabling them to prepare the freshest dishes possible. These fine dining options are located throughout North Lake Tahoe, within about 20 minutes or less from the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe.

To view a restaurant, scroll down to see the complete list of restaurants.

Manzanita at the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe
Wild Goose
Lone Eagle Grille
Six Peaks Grille
Graham's at Squaw Valley
Plumpjack Cafe
Wolfdale's Cuisine Unique
Le Bistro
Pianeta Ristorante
Christy Hill Restaurant
River Ranch Lodge
The Soule Domain
La Fondue
Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar

Manzanita at the Ritz Carlton Highlands Lake Tahoe

Manzanita serves 5-star cuisine for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Dinner includes a bar menu. Manzanita’s spacious dining room, long bar, and seasonal outdoor terrace were built to accommodate large crowds. Diners are privy to majestic mountain views, which compliment the regional cuisine. Manzanita serves French inspired California cuisine with mountain influences. Organic, locally grown, sustainable produce and meat are used in their creative and delicious dishes whenever possible. The Ritz Carlton knows that dining is a crucial factor in creating memories during your vacation and strives to ensure the best experience possible.

Wild Goose

This contemporary and chic restaurant is located so close to the water, you will feel like you're actually in it. The Wild Goose used to be a members-only restaurant and has now opened to the general public. The tiered deck is literally feet from the water and protected by plexi glass, giving the feeling of being on the water.. The huge windows in the main dining room also look out over the lake. Diners can enjoy a meal on the patio, at the bar, or have a full fine dining experience in the main room, all while enjoying the finest views of Lake Tahoe that any restaurant has to offer. The chef has prepared a menu of New American cuisine with Latin American, Mediterranean, and Asian influences, packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. Start with an appetizer of potato leek soup, strawberry and maytag bleu cheese salad, or pancetta wrapped prawns. Move on to entrees including goat cheese ravioli, spare ribs, rack of lamb, oven roasted chicken, meat loaf, or Alaskan salmon with shaved apple and warm panzella. The expert sommelier will help you pair wine with your meal from their extensive and varied wine list.

Lone Eagle Grille On the Lake

Lone Eagle is known for its rustic elegance and panoramic views from its beachfront location. Lone Eagle also features an indoor lounge and seasonal outdoor seating. Try their all you can eat champagne brunch on the weekend, or Tahoe Tuesday Specials. Some of their creative specials include a bone-in filet topped with a Main lobster, accompanied by purple Peruvian potatoes and broccoli romanesco. Their standard menu focuses heavily on seafood (ahi tuna, salmon, shrimp, King Crab legs), but also offers variety with beef, duck, buffalo, lamb and chicken dishes.

Six Peaks Grille

Six Peaks offers beautiful views of Squaw Valley and serves regional cuisine made with fresh produce, seafood and steaks. The chef uses sustainable, biodynamic ingredients whenever possible. Six Peaks offers specials on Thursdays with a Three Course Thursday menu in addition to their regular menu. Friday and Saturday they offer prix fixe menus with wine pairings. The bistro patio offers alfresco dining, a stone fireplace, and floor to ceiling windows. Try one of their signature cocktails or martinis, or a glass or bottle from their extensive wine list. Six Peaks also offers a wonderful breakfast buffet.

Graham’s at Squaw Valley

Graham’s was built more than 50 years ago and maintains much of its original structure. The high beamed pine ceilings and rock fireplace create an authentic mountain atmosphere. Graham’s serves California cuisine and offers wine pairings from its award winning list of over 800 domestic and international wines. There is also a heated, covered deck available for year round outdoor dining. Graham’s menu features a variety of shrimp, King Crab, quail, beef, sea bass, and salmon dishes.

Plumpjack Café

The seasonally changing menu at Plumpjack’s features a creative take on regional dishes such as seared diver scallops with Red Russian kale, Meyers Ranch organic strip loin with twice baked potatoes, and Berkshire pork chop with maple grits. Try the delicious Plumpjack Martini, which is made of vodka, ice wine and grapes.

Wolfdale’s Cuisine Unique

Wolfdale’s serves a creative blend of Asian, European and California cuisine. They emphasize presentation and variety, as can be seen in their popular dish of ahi tuna four ways. Wolfdale’s offers a wide range of seafood and game dishes. They have a well educated sommelier and extensive wine selection. Their Happy Hour is very popular, as is their bar menu. Wolfdale’s has a great ambiance and beautiful terrace with amazing views of Lake Tahoe.

Le Bistro

This French bistro by Chef Jean-Pierre Doignon is a charming and intimate restaurant accentuated by candlelight and flowers. Chef Jean-Pierre has been featured in Gourmet Magazine, Bon Apetit Magazine, California Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, and Reno Gazette. He has 42 years of experience creating delicious French cuisine, and Le Bistro’s menu offers an a la carte and prix fixe option. The prixe fixe is a 5 course menu that is a great value at $49 per person. Enjoy dishes such as black truffle soup, plenty of fish options, duck, osso bucco, lamb, and popular gnocchi with truffle oil.

Pianeta Ristorante

Pianeta is an Old World style Italian restaurant that was designed with authentic European décor. This charming ambiance sets the scene for delicious Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, including daily homemade pastas. Pianeta’s extensive wine and champagne list features plenty of domestic and international choices.

Christy Hill Restaurant

Christy Hill was named the “Most Romantic Restaurant” by the San Francisco Chronicle. This restaurant is located 100 feet from the shore and offers great views of the lake and spectacular sunset dinners. The cuisine is seasonal Californian with French influence, and the wine list has won the Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence” since 1982. The knowledgeable and attentive staff can help you choose the right entrée and best pairing for it. Christy Hill offers several seafood dishes, pastas, and beef. Don’t miss their Fall Happy Hour Menu or Local’s Lake Front Menu for an even greater value. Los Angeles Times, Reno Gazette, Wall Street Journal, Bon Appétit, and San Francisco Chronicle have all written favorably about Christy Hill.

River Ranch Lodge

The River Ranch Lodge has an indoor dining room that offers fine dining. The fireplace lounge is a great place to hang out and have a drink (try the hot buttered rum!) and take in the rustic ambiance and amazing views. Their menu consists of wild game, fresh seafood and steaks. Recommended dishes include the scallops with purple mash and blueberries, the fried green tomato appetizer, and the chocolate cake with salted caramel sauce for dessert.

The Soule Domain

This rustic cabin is cozy and intimate, offering dining in the main level, mid and upper levels of the cabin. Chef Charlie has created an eclectic New American menu with French, Mediterranean, and Pacific Rim influences. His cooking is nothing if not creative – the items on the menu are unlike anything you will find at any other Lake Tahoe restaurant. Recommended dishes include the rack of Australian lamb with roasted garlic and pesto butter; filet mignon with shiitake, gorgonzola, brandy and burgundy butter; the innovative take on escargot with shiitake mushrooms, rosemary burgundy and garlic butter, served in a pastry shell; and champagne poached scallops with kiwi and mango cream sauce. It’s easy to see why Chef Charlie’s exotic take on regional Lake Tahoe cuisine has been voted Best Place to Take A Date for the past 15 years in a row.

La Fondue

La Fondue is the only fondue restaurant in Lake Tahoe. Groups or couples can come here and have a great time socializing and cooking together. La Fondue offers hot oil, cheese, chocolate, and ice cream fondue. Cook your meat or seafood (filet mignon, lamb, prawns, scallops, chicken, turkey, meatballs, schnitzel) in a variety of hot oils, or try their traditional Swiss cheese fondue. Chocolate is served with fresh fruit and marshmallows, and every meal comes with delicious bacon wrapped dates. The ice cream fondue with vanilla ice cream and dipping sauces is flamed tableside. Seasonal outdoor seating is available.

Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar

Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar offers comfortable fine dining and locally farmed and raised produce and meat. Local's favorites include the Niman Ranch New York Steak, Pine Nut Crusted Southeast Asian Basa, and Butternut Squash Enchiladas. They feature free live music Thursday and Friday evenings starting at 7pm in the Fireplace Room. Drink discounts are available for those who come to see the show.