Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in North Lake Tahoe

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in North Lake Tahoe? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Chambers Landing Bar & Grill

4.8

4.8 (149)

$31 to $50

American

Homewood

About the restaurant

Where modern elegance and rustic Tahoe charm, align. Enjoy an open air unparalleled lakefront dining experience! Choose from three different menus. Lunch and dinner are two separate services offered in the restaurant. Poke on the Pier is served dockside. Checkout the oldest bar on the lake and try the famous Chambers Crush- our signature fruity frozen rum cocktail!

Top review

Armando

Dined 4 days ago

Food and service was great! Went to the dock after dinner had some drinks. Great time.

Smoke Door - Lake Tahoe Saryo

4.9

4.9 (248)

$50 and over

Japanese

Kings Beach

About the restaurant

Smoke Door Lake Tahoe Saryo is a Japanese-inspired restaurant using primitive wildfire cooking methods highlighting seasonal ingredients from Japan and the Tahoe region.

Our Executive Chef, Tyler Burges, hails from notable restaurants such as Michael Mina, Angler, and the esteemed Saison and is driven by seasonality and innovation.
Nestled in the breathtaking surroundings of Lake Tahoe, it offers an unforgettable dining experience with views of the open kitchen and wood-burning hearth.

Please note, we are unable to accommodate vegans or celiacs within our restaurant. If you have any specific dietary restrictions, allergies, or aversions please contact us via email at info@smokedoorsaryo.com

**We are unable to accommodate any children under the age of 8 within the interior dining room.**

Top review

Christopher

Dined 2 days ago

Hands down the best food in the entire Reno/tahoe region. Will get a star soon.

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Experience

10 Course Harvest Menu

Experience

6 Course Tasting Menu

Experience

Chef’s Counter / A la Carte Menu

Duke's - Casino Fandango

4.7

4.7 (216)

$31 to $50

American

Carson City

About the restaurant

At Duke's, savor spectacular USDA Prime beef prepared to perfection while enjoying our extensive wine selection. The elegant ambience and extraordinary service is yet another reason Duke's is recognized as one of Northern Nevada's premier restaurants and was voted BEST Steakhouse in Carson City.

Top review

MichelleVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Love Duke’s it is the best restaurant in Carson City. Service is always excellent. Highly recommend the molten chocolate cake with vanilla gelato for dessert.

Le Bistro Tahoe

4.6

4.6 (770)

$50 and over

French American

Incline Village

About the restaurant

Fine dining, craft cocktails,excellent wine list in a cozy back street location with patio dining. Incline Village Lake Tahoe. Perfect for date night or special occasions.
Soup of the day,Lobster Bisque, Oysters, Foie Gras, Gnocchi, Escargot, Ratatouille, Filet Mignon, Lamb , Duck , Chicken, Fresh Fish, Pork, Veal.
A la carte menu
Thank You

Top review

bruceVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Great food great staff great environment great chef

Christy Hill

4.7

4.7 (2347)

$50 and over

Californian

Tahoe City

About the restaurant

A memorable dining experience awaits you as you enter the Christy Hill Restaurant in the center of Tahoe City. The restaurant sits on the shoreline of Lake Tahoe on an elevated embankment offering diners a panoramic vista. The intimate setting offers guests a view that is only upstaged by the cuisine, wine and service. Spectacular sunsets that can be seen from every table is just one of the many reasons that Christy Hill was voted "Most Romantic Restaurant" and "North Lake Tahoe's Iconic Restaurants with World-Class Views" by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Executive Chef, Luis Vallin, focuses on sustainability and innovation, supporting local merchants and farmers. The thoughtful and playful menu pays homage to the tradition of Christy Hill while continuing to uplift and propel the cuisine and restaurant into exciting new territory.

Top review

alfred

Dined 6 days ago

The view is fantastic, food delicious and very well presented, and the service outstanding.

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Popular dish

Day Boat Scallops

Popular dish

Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding

Popular dish

Greek Salad

Wolfdale's Cuisine Unique

4.8

4.8 (1466)

$31 to $50

Californian

Tahoe City

About the restaurant

North Lake Tahoe’s premiere restaurant and popular bar is celebrating 41 years of exceptional service. As a family-run business, Wolfdale’s provides lakeview dining with a warm ambiance, and uses 'Cuisine Unique' to describe the fresh and simple aesthetic of each dish. Since opening in 1978, Chef Douglas Dale has developed a fusion style of California and Asian influences that is present throughout the menu. Wolfdale's accommodates gluten-free and vegan guests.

Top review

valarie

Dined 3 days ago

Salmon with lemon ricotta ravioli was outstanding!!!!! Always always our favorite place to dine. Valarie Pagnini

Gar Woods Grill and Pier Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (4912)

$31 to $50

Californian

Carnelian Bay

About the restaurant

Since 1988, Gar Woods Grill and Pier has been the premier waterfront dining destination in North Lake Tahoe. Floor-to-ceiling windows, large deck and balconies provide breath-taking views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierras. Gar Woods Grill and Pier is an upscale casual restaurant that accommodates groups of 160 just as easily as groups of two. Our Chef has created a menu highlighting California cuisine, hand cut steaks and fresh Pacific seafood, served in a fun-in-the-sun atmosphere. The wine list is a collection of best-known California vintners featuring more than a dozen wines by the glass. Enjoy the waterfront deck while sipping on Gar Woods world famous Wet Woody®. With nearly four million sold, you will be in good company! Or thaw out with a Warm Woody or a Heavenly Bottom. Lake Tahoe sunsets are our specialty.
Service dogs/bunnies/parrots welcome- with appropriate credentials under the ADA.

Top review

KerryVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Had a wonderful dinner there celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. The views are amazing.

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Popular dish

Shrimp & Lobster Bisque

Popular dish

Lobster Deviled Eggs

Big Water Grille

4.7

4.7 (1310)

$31 to $50

Californian

Incline Village

About the restaurant

Nestled in the mountains of the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, the Big Water Grille has spectacular panoramic lake views that are among the best around. Our Chefs are impressing diners with his fresh/seasonal menu. Join us for a martini in the lounge, a glass of wine on the deck or a fine dining experience in the dining room. Choose from our craft cocktails or extensive wine list from around the world.

Top review

WilliamVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Food, service, view and atmosphere were outstanding. Aside from it being a little too loud it was wonderful.

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Popular dish

Schat's Flourless Chocolate Torte

PlumpJack Cafe Olympic Valley

4.5

4.5 (700)

$50 and over

American

Olympic Valley / Squaw Valley

About the restaurant

PlumpJack Cafe is widely regarded as Lake Tahoe's premier dining destination. Fine dining and exceptional wines are in our heritage, and we'd love to share our passion with you on your next visit. We offer a complete and unique menu that is sure to satisfy you after a long day in the mountains.
PlumpJack Cafe & Bar hours of operation are Thursday-Monday from 4-9pm. The Bar will be open at 4:00pm for drinks & cocktails, followed by our full dinner menu from 5-9pm. Please note that we may be closed on select dates for special events. Please call 530.583.1578 or check plumpjackcafe.com for the most up to date hours.

Top review

David

Dined on Jul 13, 2025

Great food really good service with reasonable pricing.

Crystal Bay Steak & Lobster

4.5

4.5 (121)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Incline Village

About the restaurant

The Crystal Bay Casino and New Chef Travis Kroell cordially invite you and guests to dine with us at the famous Steak & Lobster House. Set in a cozy Victorian Style dining room, experience great food and accompanying a playlist of vintage music. Enjoy a variety of USDA Certified Angus Beef Steaks, Huge Maine Lobsters and a great selection of Sides, Sauces and Appetizers. Choose from a massive variety of wines from all over the world or enjoy our elegant full bar.

Top review

Andrea

Dined 4 days ago

Jack was our server and was wonderfully attentive, friendly, helpful and kind. Our food was delicious. Surf and turf—the rib eye was cooked perfectly. The lobster was good, not the best I’ve eaten but still very good. The pesto Risotto was divine. I was disappointed that their online menu and the in house menu presented pistachio cheesecake (because I was really looking forward to it for dessert), but they didn’t have it. We opted for banana cheesecake instead and it was (to us) sickeningly sweet. The drinks are very spendy but we expect that in a restaurant like this. It’s a very unique throwback to old Vegas. Absolutely beautiful inside and is perfect place to go for a very special occasion. It was kid-free, which was delightful. Unfortunately its proximity to the casino floor meant that we could still smell cigarette smoke, which did take away from the experience for us which is why I’m rating this 4 stars instead of 5.

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