Lake Tahoe Restaurants

Casa Baeza, a cherished establishment in old Truckee for 35 years, has a captivating history. Founded by Andres and Noelia Baeza, who passionately ran it for three decades, the legacy now continues with current owners Miguel and Cesar Aguilar, who worked under Andres and Noelia for years learning their expertise. The restaurant boasts a remarkable selection of more than 150 tequilas, 30 whiskey varieties and an array of spirits, from vodka to cognac. They serve exquisite Mexican and homemade food. Taco Tuesdays offers budget-friendly delights, with chicken, asada, carnitas, pastor, veggie, beef, fish or shrimp tacos. Casa Baeza has expanded to offer a food truck that provides catering for private events, concerts and festivals. Experience Mexican cuisine at its finest in old Truckee, where Casa Baeza's rich history meets fresh culinary innovations.

For comfort food with a gourmet twist and lodge-style dining, head to Cedar House Pub at Granlibakken Tahoe. Guests can enjoy seasonal menus and specials, including a kids’ menu, a full bar and specialty cocktails. There's a cozy fireplace and views of the surrounding mountain scenery. During the warmer months, dining is available on the outside deck. Reservations are recommended on OpenTable, and take-out is available on Toast.

Crosby’s Kitchen & Cocktail in Christmas Tree Village is a restaurant and bar with friendly staff, a welcoming vibe and ample TVs to watch sports. They’re open every day except Wednesday for all-day brunch, lunch and dinner with a little bit of everything on the menu. Lunch and dinner fare ranges from grilled salmon to chicken & waffles, Wagyu or crabcake sliders to their popular Chicken Enchilada Stacked Quesadilla. Sit at the bar to sip a specialty cocktail and catch your favorite sporting event on TV, slide into a booth with your friends or dine outside on their dog-friendly patio to let the babbling brook provide the perfect soundtrack to your sunny day. For those looking for a place to hold a reception or event, Crosby's is a great venue to keep in mind.

Every town has places where the locals go to have fun, and Emerald Bay fits the bill in South Lake Tahoe. Emerald Bay Bar & Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and offers daily happy hour drink specials such as their famous $2 tacos, Chili Verde weekend breakfast and Steak and Shrimp Sunday dinner. The sports bar is a gathering spot for friends to meet and watch the game on one of the nine flatscreen TVs and a huge 110" outdoor projector. This is a great spot for outdoor dining on the large patio with a fire pit as its centerpiece and horseshoes to play. The everyday happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. and includes specials on beer, wine and liquor. Breakfast, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., has long been a locals' favorite, with specialties such as the colossal country-fried steak, crab Benedict, Summit Sandwich and more. Be sure to try Emerald Bay Bar & Grill's famous Shrimp Bloody Mary on weekends during the football season. 

One of the first of the fun and different restaurants to come to South Lake Tahoe with the redevelopment projects near the state line was FiRE + iCE Bar + Grill. The concept is that you choose your own components and sauces and the chef grills it all up right in front of you. It works very well with the Heavenly Village setting of whole-timber construction and patio fire pits. You can choose your ingredients along one of their four themes of Latin, American, Asian or Italian or create your very own blend. And the build-your-own model lets you control the meal, which is perfect for vegetarian diners. Be sure not to miss their grill lunch or dinner, both offered at one price for all you can eat.