5 Spots for Lakeside Dining in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is the summertime go-to and there’s nothing better than enjoying a delicious meal with the lake’s perfect background.

As you roam around Tahoe’s 72 miles of shoreline wondering what to do next, be sure to check out these fabulous eateries. What could be better than an umbrella-shaded table on a restaurant deck where the cool breeze is highlighted by even cooler margaritas? Nothing. Nothing is better.

Hint: Call ahead for a reservation on the deck and remember to be patient. At the end of the day, everyone else wants to sit on a deck and watch the sunset too.

Sunnyside Resort – www.sunnysideresort.com

Open daily from 11am – 9:30pm

1850 W. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City

Doesn’t matter if it’s a bachelorette party or a family enjoying a sunny Sunday. People have been coming here for generations! The 1-pound mound of hand-battered fried zucchini has been a Sunnyside staple since 1965. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, the sesame crusted salmon rice bowl and fish tacos are to die for. Don’t forget to indulge in some housemade tortilla chips. For an indulgent libation, try the S.S. Refresh, a mojito with cucumber vodka, or a nonalcoholic First Breeze, a strawberry puree-spiked lemonade. The deck is incredibly grand, but make sure you walk through the old Sunnyside Lodge, keeping the Old Tahoe vibe alive since the 1930s.

Jake’s On the Lake – www.jakestahoe.com

Open daily for lunch from 11:30am and dinner from 5pm

Boatworks Mall, 780 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City

Overlooking the Tahoe City Marina, Jake’s is a quiet and relaxing atmosphere for couples and families alike. They are all about sense of place and drinking in the surrounding serenity. They even have a roped-off biergarten for games of corn hole or Yardzee, a glorified giant version of the board game Yahtzee. Savor the Hawaiian flavor of the Jake’s ahi poke roll, wild mahi ceviche and veggie falafel-wich. You’ll want someone to share the Hula Pie with – it’s a big mound of macadamia-nut ice cream meets cold fudge in an Oreo cookie crust. YUM. They also have a delightful mai-tai made with guava juice, a vodka-based Forget Me Not with lavender and the mojito with coconut rum. This 40-year-old Tahoe relic has an upstairs deck that is perfect for nabbing those lake views.

Beacon Bar & Grill – www.tahoetransportation.org

Open from 11:30am – 9pm on weekdays, 11am – 9pm on weekends

1900 Jameson Beach Road (Hwy 89), South Lake Tahoe

The Beacon deck is going to be a party all the way through Labor Day. Besides the fact that its steps away from the public beach at Camp Richardson Resort, they also have a daily live-music program. Camp Rich is ultra-cool and historic, with a lodge, general store and ice cream parlor (there’s even a nearby bike trail with rentals). The deep-fried calamari steak is to die for and they make all of their dipping sauces in-house. For a lighter fare, go for the sautéed quinoa-mushroom rice bowl with your pick of protein. They also serve up more than 150,000 Rum Runners every summer!

Bistro & Brook’s at Edgewood – www.edgewoodtahoe.com

Open for lunch and dinner daily from 11am – 10pm

Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, 100 Lake Parkway, Stateline, NV

The $100 million Lodge at Edgewood is impressive all on its own. Add it’s two stunning restaurants and you’ve got yourself a delightful afternoon. The property was just voted the No. 1 resort hotel in the nation by Travel + Leisure readers. The deck at the Bistro overlooks beautiful firs, flower beds and a pristine lawn that gently slopes to the shore. It won’t be long before you find yourself around the fire pit. Brook’s Bar and Deck is just next door and lends a rustic, outdoorsy feel. Both eateries are supplied by the same kitchen, so you know that the quality is there. The Chicken Toastie sando at the Bistro is chockful of dark-meat fowl, fig jam and brie. At Brook’s, folks go for the smoked-brisket tacos. Don’t forget to test the spice of their jalapeno-cucumber margs.

Beach House Grill – www.beachhousetahoe.com

Open from 11:30am – 9:30pm daily

4081 Lakeshore Blvd., South Lake Tahoe

This deck is accessible to beach-side loungers who have paid their $8 to access the private Lakeside Beach. The sand is arguably one of the best stretches of white along the lake, it’s a local fav and looked over by the impressive Mt. Tallac. The snow-topped mountain is hard to miss as it stretches 9,738 feet into the air. Order up at the window, find a table and await your noms. Shoes are required, but shirts are optional. They also have live music to top off the vibes. Go classic with your dining choices here, they have an excellent beer-battered fish sandwich and a refreshing Sunset Salad with mint and strawberries. Summer scorcher? Cool down with the Brain Freezer – a frozen rose with lemon and sugar.

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