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Evan's American Gourmet Cafe
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Steakhouses American (New), Steakhouses [Edit]
536 Emerald Bay RdSouth Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(530) 542-1990
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
91 reviews for Evan's American Gourmet Cafe
Review Highlights
"Dark Chocolate Raspberry Creme Brulee Tart."
(in 3 reviews)
"Foie gras complimentary amuse bouche upon sitting down."
(in 13 reviews)
"...forget the wonderful White Chocolate Mousse dessert, a."
(in 5 reviews)
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91 reviews in English
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Review from Cj W.
San Bruno, CA
1/4/2012 6 photos
We went to Evan's for our six year anniversary. We were blown away by the quality and attention to detail - not only of their amazing food but their amazing customer service and depth of knowledge of their ingredients and related subjects (wine and spirits pairings).
The quality was off the charts and they gave so much food too! We had to get boxes to bring the rest back to the hotel. It was so much yum!
The Chef came out and had a nice chat with us and really made us feel like he made each morsel with us in mind. The personal attention to the clients was matched only by the high quality of ingredients and inventive menu. -
Review from Alice L.
After much browsing on yelp, the boyfriend and I decided on Evan's for a romantic dinner on our first mini-vacation. The restaurant is tiny and we were required to call the day of to reconfirm the meal. I find it pretty snooty that they ask the patrons to call to confirm instead of the other way around, but c'est la vie.
We arrive at the restaurant 10 minutes early. The host told us that our table would be ready in a few minutes. While we were standing there, we saw another table for 2 ready to go. The host said that another party specifically reserved that table for 8:30. Well, we waited and waited. The other table arrived more than 15 minutes late and were sipping wine before we were seated. While we waited, the staff essentially ignored us. Let's just say I was more than a bit peeved.
Finally, after more than 30 minutes, we were seated, sans any apologies or peace offerings from the kitchen. Thankfully, we got a corner table with a bird's eye view of the entire dinning room. Not that the place was much to look at. I appreciated some of the small details -- white table clothes, wines chilled on ice and freshly baked bread. I noticed the waiters would fill my water and walk to the other side of the table to fill my boyfriend's glass instead of reaching across (granted, they gave us a huge table that could seat 5). The decor of the place looked like an episode of I Love the 80's -- tacky wallpaper and overdone valances. I had to battle the urge to run into the bathroom and tease my hair.
The hostess brought us a small terrine of foie gras butter with a few croutons. The boyfriend thought it tasted too, well, buttery, but I only choose to detect the wonderfully sweet and nutty notes of the foie. We were fairly famished by that time and everything on the menu looked enticing. Evan's also has a large board of specials. After much discussion, we decided on the sweetbreads and spinach salad to start, and the veal and halibut (off the specialty board) for entrees (both were heavily recommended by the hostess).
The sweetbread arrived at the table in a jiffy, which was a blessing because I was in the process of decimating the bread basket population. The kitchen thoughtfully pre-divided the dish onto two plates and arranged them prettily for our enjoyment. I have to say that each of our plates contained a full portion at most other restaurants. I've only had sweet breads a handful of times but this is, without a doubt, the best that I've had. The breading was light and super crispy without being heavy. The sweet breads were more well done than the ones I've tried before (maybe that was why it didn't have much organ-y taste to it) and had a smooth texture. The puff pastry was lighter than air and the slaw added some acidity to the dish. After we polished off the plate, we definitely felt the night was looking up.
The warm spinach salad arrived next, also divided on separate plates. The salad was suppose to come with duck sausage; well, we each got a thin sliver on your plates. The vinaigrette was wonderful, so fresh yet complex. The two appetizers most certainly set the bar high for our entrees. We were quite excited.
The entrees arrived together. I got the veal and Orin the fish, and later switched. After we took the first bite of the food, we looked at each other with questioning faces, tinged with confusion. The quality of the food certainly were not what the reviews and appetizers led us to believe. The veal screamed mediocrity and the halibut was way over cooked. The sauce for the meat was good, but ordinary; the texture of the veal was fairly tender, although unremarkably so. The fish didn't have any sauce to alleviate its dryness and tasted rather plain. The best part of the fish was the Israeli couscous that accompanied it. The presentation of both dishes were also underwhelmed.
After our disappointment with the entrees, we put aside our skepticism and went with the waiter's recommendation of the creme brûlée tart with blackberries. The place definitely redeemed itself with the delectable dessert. The sugar crust was thin and crisp until the last bite. The tart shell was dense and gave the dish extra texture. The filling wasn't too sweet and so velvety. It's definitely something that I want to experiment and try to recreate at home.
Our experience at Evan's to be very uneven. Considering all the factors, from the lackluster entrees and inordinate wait we had to endure, I simply couldn't give it 4 stars. The place definitely have some commendable qualities but these small touches were overshadowed by the inconsideration of the wait staff in their failure to adjust our expectations of the wait time. The quality of the food also left much to be desired. Maybe we went to the restaurant on an off day, maybe the patrons of Tahoe prefer their food more on the well done side, I don't know. For the price and service, despite its strong points, Evan's is not a place that I would recommend. -
Review from Suzy S.
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Let's start right off with "You don't eat the decor!!!" I read these reviews about the interior of this place and was prepared to find a very dowdy, cramped space with an extremely tacky decorating job. Lord knows I've seen a few, but when we entered I was surprised to discover a light ambiance that was nothing as described. It's a small house, with a charming and intimate setting. OK, it's true that the window coverings are a bit overblown and not my taste, but I was able to enjoy my meal in spite of it :) Once we were greeted and seated I forgot all about any dribble I'd read and enjoyed the moment and our 25th wedding anniversary celebration.
Oh, the meal....starting with the Duck Sausage Pizza, to the Rack of Lamb, all was cooked and seasoned to perfection and paired nicely with the wine we brought. I might add that we felt welcomed to bring our own wine ($20 corkage), which isn't always the case.
Pricey, but worth every penny. Can't wait to return for our next visit here. -
Review from Paul J.
Irvine, CA
12/13/2011
This is not only our favorite restaurant in the Lake Tahoe area; it is one of our most favorite anywhere in the world. We have dinned here many times (we come to ski every winter). The menu is varied. The entries have has always been excellent. The wine choices are equally as good. Don't have any experience with the appetizers because we always leave room for the exceptional desserts. The service has ranged from acceptable to great.
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Review from Lester A.
El Dorado Hills, CA
6/14/2011
Amazing food! We expected the food to be good but it was even better. There's a reason why this place is rated so high on yelp and zagat. We only ordered entrees, we didn't want to risk being too full from the appetizers. Though the appetizers were very tempting. We ordered the grilled filet of beef and the herb and panko crusted breast of chicken and were blown away. We practically cleaned our plates the food was so good. We didn't have room for dessert unfortunately.
It's a very intimate setting inside but like many say the decor is pretty out of date. It was my gf's bday and all they did was say "happy birthday." It would've been nice if they did something more but it was no big deal.
The food alone is worth the trip. -
Review from Rusalka D.
Sausalito, CA
3/1/2011
HORRENDOUS decor!! This place looks like a creepy living room of a lonely aunt in the early 1990's. Weird drapes, horrible wallpaper and totally outdated...everything!!
Other than that, the food is actually pretty good! Generous portions of foie gras and veal sweetbreads! BUT...it's way, way, way overseasoned with salt -- not so much on the flavor.
Two appetizers, one entree, one dessert, a glass of wine, tea and a chocolate martini = $150 including tip.
I'll likely go back, but please, for the love of god, hire a decorator and get rid of your weird living room decor! I'm a big fan of cozy, rustic places but this restaurant falls more into a cheap motel category! I could barely even enjoy eating the food! -
Review from Patrick C.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome!! Been here a few times and swore that I will come here aga every time I am in the South Lake Tahoe area.
I order the Foies Gras every time...yes...that good. One time a bunch of us ate there and almost wiped out their Foie!! The chef came out and greeted us...always a pleasure! The duck is good, the lamb is better, but the venison is thee best!!
The place is quite cozy as it is a stand-alone small house looking hut...you'll fly right by if you ain't looking for it. The decor is nice...a great place for a date. Private lot for the ease of parking.
The chef worked at Aqua before and was the personal chef for some famous guy...hmmmm....I think it was Tarantino..?? -
Review from Thomaz P.
South Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
8/17/2011
I totally agree with what Suzy said. You don't eat the decor. Who cares if its a little outdated and cheesy, so are all the Casinos not too far from the restaurant. The fact is that this place will provide you with a whole experience. The staff is all very friendly and are clearly there because they want to be there. The specials are announced to you in a peculiar way in that they are brought out to you on a board and read to you by one of the servers. Im a sucker for great dish descriptions so I particularly enjoyed the descriptions. Both of the salads and the entrees were prepared to perfection and tasted amazing. The pastry chef also did a great job with the desert. It was the perfect ending to a perfect meal to be greeted by Chef Jimi himself asking us if everything had been to our liking. That how you can tell when a restaurant is serious.
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Review from Danielle A.
Los Angeles, CA
12/9/2011
Amazingly good food! Every dish was well balanced and very unique. They only have two seatings so you might have to wait for your reservation but it's worth it! (That means they only turn each table twice per evening).
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Review from Anthony M.
San Mateo, CA
2/5/2011
Absolutely the best food I have had in a long time.
Killer Pate upon arrival.
Sweetbreads and Soup was awesome.
Venison Loin Chops with Pinot Noir Demi Glaze was super.
Apple Brined Pork Loin was delicious.
Finally the Croissant Banana Fosters Bread Pudding was smokin'.
The reason why I docked it a star is because, I wanted to buy a $90 bottle of Champagne from their list, and they said they would not waive the corkage fee for the bottle we brought....freaking unbelievable. On top of that it was my birthday and our anniversary (my girlfriend,) and they did nothing special...at all. -
Review from Olivia L.
Sacramento, CA
8/7/2010
This is the kind of place you go once or twice in your life, lest you get absolutely spoiled rotten and turn into a bonafide foodie who scoffs at the rest of the obtuse masses.
The appetizers were really entrees in disguise, size-wise.
We chose off the special board which they sat on a chair right in front of us and let us take our time deciding:: savory chili cheesecake topped with Main lobster and a corn fraise. And for appetizer number two a carrot ginger infused fennel papperadelle with tiger prawns.
All of the servers were amazing but one. I got the feeling she was pissed off about something unrelated to us, but it was unprofessional and slightly unpleasant just the same.
We split an entree of coconut crusted Alaskan Halibut which was easily the most divine piece of fish I've ever had. I kept thinking: I can't believe it's not butter!
The wines by the glass that we tried were pretty disappointing compared to the meal but they did replace them for us, even though the server handling the request (same one mentioned above) didn't seem too thrilled to do it.
It didn't matter though because the whole experience was a game changer and I can't wait to go back!Listed in: Get Yer Swanky On, The Foodie In Me
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Review from John G.
Updated - 10/13/2010
A visit this year confirms our past experiences: Evans is simply the finest dining place in the South Lake Tahoe area. Lovely intimate atmosphere in an old home with about seating for only 35 people. Gracious greeting always from the hostess, and most evenings the owner Candice is there. In just chatting with her, you get the idea of her striving for excellence and putting her all into keeping Evans the top rated restaurant it is.
The food is simply outstanding. All courses are unique with special ingredients and spices that make them so tasty. The rack of lamb and Alaskan halibut were some of the best ever.
Desserts included a banana bread pudding and a home made apple tart with vanilla ice cream.
Zagat, Frommers, Fodors, SF Chronicle, Reno Gazette, Trip Advisor, and of course Yelp overall all agree that Evans is the choice for fine dining in the South Lake Tahoe region.
Highly recommended. Consistently over-the-top cuisine.Listed in: Lake Tahoe - My Favorites
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/2/2009
The premier gourmet restaurant in the south lake tahoe area. Very high quality food. The chef came… Read more »
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Review from Olga B.
San Francisco, CA
2/16/2011
one word: wow!
I found this through yelp and this place by far exceeded my expectations. Tahoe is not known for gourmet dining but lucky me for finding this cute restaurant. All of their dishes are delicious and the deserts are to die for. Thank you yelp! -
Review from Ali W.
8/19/2010
How in the hockey pucks had I not known that Evans Restaurant has been here in South Shore for 25 years? I've been coming to my home away from home, Tahoe, for 35 years, so I guess I'll have to ask my parents.
1ST: I have to address the misconception that this place is "pricey". If you add up what you drink and eat even at a moderate priced place like Chart House, you'd spend the same by the time you add in tax and tips. I believe you can eat here for $70 TOTAL a person comfortably.
2ND: There's no better place on South Shore. A restaurant is about food, service and ambience, and Evans has it all. I would have gone 4.5 stars just because the room needs a face lift into the 21st century. Also, I'm going to get slammed here, but I do not care for spaces that sell a local artist's artwork, no matter popular. I'd rather see blank walls or inexpensive repros than a cleverly-named painting with a price tag.
3RD: Chef is awesome! Trained at Acqua and Chez Panesse. Came to our table to talk -- don't know how he knew we were City folk, but somehow picked it up. Can't remember last name, but it is Jimmy (French sounding last name).
4th: FOOD is great! Foie gras complimentary amuse bouche upon sitting down. Oodles and boodles of specials! ONLY organic, local, sustainable farmer's market produce (from that day, we were there on a Tuesday, so we scored). Freshest fish and delicious, inspired stuffed zucchini blossoms in season for one week (again, SCORE!) all on my birthday night. I do not like onions, and there were two incredible, delicous onion options: pickled, divine! and fried green onion, omgosh! DESSERT, DO NOT SKIP! Fresh stone berry galette with ice cream -- wanted to swim in it!
I'm going back. There are no longer any great restaurants I can recommend on South Shore, so you should try it too!
~ Ms. Ali -
Review from Karen J.
South Lake Tahoe, CA
11/18/2010
4.5 stars. Just as almost all the other reviews say, the food is awesome, the service is fantastic. Don't judge this place on their outdated-looking website; not only is the interior much cozier than the website suggests, but the online menu doesn't emphasize the number and variety of daily specials (including several appetizer specials).
The cuisine is creative, but doesn't feel experimental, just tastes fabulous. And I cannot emphasize strongly enough that you must leave room for dessert -- my husband and I had the pots de creme and the frozen white chocolate mousse pie -- the only downside was not getting a chance to try them all (suggestion: go with a group of people who don't mind sharing).
The only constructive criticisms I have are that you have to confirm your reservation by calling the day of (I understand a stringent reservation policy since they only have a small number of tables, but think they should call you to confirm rather than the other way around), and the restroom is uninsulated, which made for a somewhat unpleasant bathroom break during a cold snap in November. -
Review from Lisa K.
6/12/2011
Pretty impressive for Lake Tahoe. I don't like foie gras, so I didn't like that they had foie gras butter instead of normal butter. But otherwise the dinner was very good. Surprisingly we did not like the chocolate pots de creme.
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Review from Sun B.
La Jolla, CA
12/25/2010
Yelp is RIGHT, this place is amazing, great ambience and food. Try any of the specials, we did not save room for dessert but the food was so filling and the taste was balanced just right between sweet, crunchy, salty and fresh.
Again to note, the place is pretty expensive so plan accordingly. -
Review from Bridget M.
Zephyr Cove, NV
4/16/2011
Extremely good, but didn't achieve orgasm. I had the mashed potato pizza, which was quite good. D had prawn appetizer and breaded chicken breast entree. "Very good taste, tender and juicy, sides were very good" - D. As a vegetarian, I was pleasantly surprised at my wide variety of fare. They even have a build-your-own vegetarian entree platter! I ended up being too full from the potato pizza, which is actually an appetizer ($$$ saving, always a plus!). Great wine list. Ambient old house feel! Overall, would highly recommend.
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Review from Miki M.
Houston, TX
11/26/2007
So much nature and so much good air in South Lake Tahoe, that we were startving for some real Gourmet cuisine. There are so many horrible chain restaurants around (fast food joints, pizza hut, etc ARGH) it's a disgrace! So unhealthy...
Fortunately, there are a few alternatives in town. THANK GOD!
That is how we ended up at Evan's. And let me tell you- this is some serious gourmet! Excellent- I'm very pleased with our choice! When you check out their menu online, don't be discouraged by the horrible-looking website design (done by a local firm)- the menu is outstanding and taste is world class. Service is really good. Wine list is almost entirely American, and is very good, extensive.
To summarize: we are under the impression that Evan's is a family run business, led by an ingenious chef who loves to experiment with his recipes. His style is quite eclectic. The restaurant caters to a high-end audience- keep in mind there are many rich people living along the lake, at least some of those rich people have taste. -
Review from Mike V.
3/1/2010
When discussing "food" on ski trips, it seems as if the only splurging happens at a sushi bar (and usually because of sake).
But after a long day on the mountain, you must make a reservation at Evans.
Personally, I recommend going early (they open at 5:30) which is just enough time to finish apres ski drinking, shower, and drive over (take a right at the Y if you are coming from stateline).
The service was incredible, and the food was even better. HUGE portions and dozens of specials.
The pork chop was huge and delicious, as was the lamb. But I'd give a slight edge to the lamb.Listed in: Oh what a to-do to ski…
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Review from Robert C.
Oakland, CA
8/3/2010
Yes, it's probably the best food around but not consistent in quality among all the dishes.
Can't complain with the two Bombay Gin & Tonics I had.
For the appetizer I had the hoisin and orange glazed prawns with Asian style slaw, served with tangerine reduction, chives and sesame seeds. This was a nice appetizer that truly could of been a main entree for someone looking for a light meal. I was surprised with the quantity of food provided.
I was disappointed with the recommended grilled filet of beef with foie gras butter and syrah reduction, served with white cheddar gratin potatoes and broccolini. I asked for this medium rare and it was presented medium. Not good that the main entree was the worse of all three entrees provided. The broccolini was perfect though. I would not order this beef filet again.
The dessert was the best of the entire meal. I believe it was a while macadamia torte. I don't have the entire description. A generous portion was delightful. I recommend this !
I would go back again and see how the other dishes fare.
This is a pricey place. We had the corner table right behind the front counter. It provided a window view in two directions....nice. -
Review from Deepti R.
Dallas, TX
9/4/2011
I have no clue why this restaurant is rated so high. For the first time I was so disappointed by the first 2 courses that I did not risk ordering dessert! Forget the decor, I have experienced the best food in the most cramped of spaces. The service leaves a lot to be desired. We had to wait for a long time before someone came and took our drink order. Then there was the reading of the specials- God! was she bored out of her mind. I phased in and out as she was reciting these with a ridiculous board like she had done it a million times with no emotion-just like the periodic tables. The food-aah that was the worst. We got the fettuccine with scallops which was a special and veal sweetbreads. The pasta was doused in some kind of a buttermilky sauce and super hot! They clearly need an education on the perfect temperature to serve at. The sweetbreads were eh so so. The main course was better but only by a hair. We got the duck and the scallops. I did not understand the elements in my dish - raw tomatoes, scallops, bitter spinach and cous cous?? The duck was slightly better. I am sorry for being so harsh but I really can't believe the high ratings!
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Review from Valerie P.
Foster City, CA
3/12/2009 6 photos
This place is definitley a hidden gem at Tahoe! If you have time to do fine dining, don't waste it at eating at a hotel.
Thanks to my fellow Yelpers, I found this place and me and the bf were not disappointed!
Even though it's classified as "american" food, there was an asian fusion twist to it. All the food was mouthwatering! I tried everything except the venison (since it was friday-no meat on lent). But if the bf was moaning, it must be that good!
They have evening specials and since it was a Friday, it was all seafood dishes.
All of the dishes had beautiful presentation and delectable with every bite.
(CHECK PICS SECTION)
I started off with the Napoleon of coconut cured lomi-lomi salmon, crab, prawn and tobiko caviar with coconut creme fraiche, mango reduction and chile oil
There were also 4 different kinds of tobiko-wasabi, salmon, citrus, and roe?
:entree
I had the pecan crusted seabass with wild rice grand marnier buerre blanc sauce.
BF had the Hoisin and orange glazed prawns with Asian style slaw, served with tangerine reduction, chives and sesame seeds
:entree
Roast venison loin with pinot noir-dried cherry demi-glace and parsnip mashed potatoes, served with baby carrots and asparagus
For desserts:
Frozen White Chocolate Mousse-
Creamy Belgian white chocolate mousse on dark chocolate cookie
rust, served with raspberry sauce
and
Dark Chocolate Raspberry Creme Brulee Tart-
Graham cracker crust, bushed with dark chocolate then filled with raspberries and custard, sliced and bruleed to order
Evan's take reservations only.
I'm glad I found this place on Yelp and most definitley coming back! -
Review from Kenji Y.
Cupertino, CA
6/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
Drove through the terrible snow to get here because of the Yelp reviews and it was ... TOTALLY WORTH IT!
Don't know what to say about this place other than that the food is amazing and service is great. -
Review from Rio Y.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2007
Get this...fine dining that's kid-friendly...I-KID-YOU-NOT! (no pun intended) We've been here as a couple and as a family and they are so friendly, homey and inviting in either situation.
It's romantic when you go with your special someone. But when you drag the kids along, they do their best to accommodate picky taste buds. And they don't even bat an eyelash when the restless feet of children with full tummies start making their noisy runs around the table.
The food is truly American with influences from different cultures. I recently had a wonderful sea bass with a sweet papaya sauce, deep fried, spicy chow mein noodles and bok choy. For dessert, I had the bread pudding that was one of the best I've ever had.
At $30+ an entree with the starters starting between $7 and $20, it's not an inexpensive experience, but definitely one worth having when you're in the South Lake Tahoe area. -
Review from Bobbi O.
Huntington Beach, CA
3/26/2011
Evans is in an old house on the edge of a woods (as best I could determine with all the snow piles) and is very quaint.. I liked that they highlighted local artists work on the wall. We also liked the friendliness of the entire staff. The chef even came to our table to answer a question we had about the menu.
The absolutely best thing was the food. It was incredible! We had steak and rack of lamb. The reduction served was perfect. It was easy to tell that it was made from scratch and cooked slow and easy as it should. The meat was prime cuts and maybe the most tender steak and lamb I have ever had and we have eaten at many fine restaurants. Entrees were served with potatos and vegetables. The vege was thin curls of zucchini and shallot with small strips of fried sweet potato as garnish.
I rate this restaurant as the very best in SLT - it could hold it's head high in any major foodie area. -
Review from Terri V.
Manhattan, NY
1/17/2010
I still have a home in Lake Tahoe (also in NYC) and lived there 9 years. In that 9 years I tried Evan's three times and all three times I disliked it. I see the raving reviews and don't get it.
Ambience: 1 -2 stars
Crowded tables closely together in a small room so everyone can hear everyone else's conversation. Uncomfortable chairs and surgical lighting.
Service: 3 stars
Attentive. We knew the waitress as locals, brought in a 20 year old bottle Italian wine. She still charged us full corkage.
Food: 3 1/2 to 4 stars
I won't apologize. I live in NYC and it's just not 5 star dining! -
Review from Russ H.
San Jose, CA
5/15/2006
I love Lake Tahoe but hate how the chain restaurants have moved in to cater to the tourists. One of the joys of traveling used to be sampling regional favorites but now it's often "Hey, let's eat at Chili's" again.
Just outside the tourist side of South Lake Tahoe on the road to Emerald Bay is one of the area's best kept (until now) secrets. Evan's is a house converted into a restaurant and to be honest, it took me several tries to find the place since it's so unassuming. Perhaps it's better that it's hard to find otherwise I'd never get in! Even so, reservations are highly recommended (though leave plenty of time to find it).
They bill themselves as a "California Gourmet Cafe" so the easiest way to try and sum up their fare is to say it's like California-ized French food. It's pricey but after the first bite you won't care - it's that good. We went to Evan's for our wedding "reception" with a bunch of friends so we all sampled off each other's plates. Nothing on the menu disappointed - from the venison to the duck to the pheasant, everything just melted in your mouth.
And the desserts ... Evan's has a pastry chef that works magic. Again, we sampled each other's orders and actually ended up trying a number of different dishes. A few of us actually ended up with different desserts when our dates decided that they liked our dish better! No worries though - all the desserts were fabulous! -
Review from Gary C.
Newark, CA
10/19/2011
Evan's was the perfect choice for our 25th Anniversary dinner. We couldn't have picked a better restaurant. Atmosphere, decor, service and menu: Superb! I've never had venison this good. It was so tender and delicious, practically melted in my mouth. The Tomato/Watermelon Salad appetizer was incredible. Everything served was so beautifully presented right down to the Chocolate/Raspberry/Creme/Brulee Tart. The staff was friendly and personable, without being intrusive. We will definitely make Evan's part of our future Tahoe visits. I don't understand the bad reviews. Maybe they should just stick to the casinos. Some people are never satisfied. They really don't blend well in a fine restaurant.
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Review from Joshua C.
Walnut Creek, CA
5/31/2009
I am always skeptical when I go to a restaurant with so many
5 star reviews. While not a pessimist and much more the
optimist I am a bit wary.
5 Stars Plus!
I seldom order fish in restaurants because I can usually make
it at home despite doing so infrequently. I'm always tempted
to order rack of lamb, a veal dish, something unusual or
something I cannot or usually will not cook at home but
Evan's had Monkfish over a wonderful Risotto
accompanied by Manila clams on the half
shell in a broth that was to die for! Yes,
I dipped my bread into it.
I was so tempted to go for a salad and appetizer but just knew I
would have too much food (I was alone) so ordered a salad
with butter lettuce, pecans, blue cheese and other
items I cannot recall. It was delicious. Squares
of lettuce that were a cut above any I have ever
had aside from a salad or two in SF, Berkeley
and France. No, I'm not a food snob and
go to In 'n Out and such places as well
as good local inexpensive Asian
& other restaurants in the
Bay Area BUT love and
know good food.
Chez Panisse, Fleur, Aqua, etc., etc. (Coi next!)
Evan's serves great food. Splurged on an inexpensive bottle of
white wine, great at $30.00. Despite my entree at $34.00 (and
well worth it!) the wine list offers bottles from $18.00
or $20.00 up to hundreds. I discovered several
excellent vintages in the $30. to $40. range.
Gave a taste to both the Maitre D' & waiter, both fellows nearer
my age than college who definitely knew their stuff and
were very friendly and unpretentious. I love good food,
don't care if it's expensive if worth it but hate
pretentiousness. Didn't get any of
that nonsense at Evan's.
Thank you Thomas, Darryl & the younger woman, name I
didn't get, who cleared the table and brought me coffee.
BTW, I often pour at Rosenblum Open House's in Alameda
and was happy to see Maggie's Reserve on their list.
Can't forget the wonderful White Chocolate Mousse dessert, a
pie-shaped slice of ice cream style white chocolate
mousse over a think layer of Oreo cracker crust.
Not too sweet but hit the spot. And their coffee
(by which my ex and I used to judge a lot of
restaurants) has that nutty flavor I love.
I noted that the chef, Jimmy, was off and the sous chef and
assistants were doing the cooking. This doesn't
bother me since at most high-end restaurants
they strive to meet the chef's standards when
he or she is away and I must note that
they certainly did. While this was my
first time at Evan's (Memorial Day
evening) I am certain they
cooked as well as if
Jimmy was there if
not better. (-;
Kudos.
I noted that they will make you a cocktail from their kitchen
bar and based on what those at other tables ordered
they looked fine. Not an open bar. One of the
staff makes them and brings them out. Wine
was enough for me. Do go. -
Review from Annie W.
3/6/2009
We thought for sure that on a Thursday night we would be able to walk in and get a table, but we thought wrong. The place was pretty busy so we gave them our number, walked back to the hotel, and waited for the call. 20 minutes later the phone rings and we scurry across the road anticipating a delightful meal.
From the bread to the soup to the tenderloin to the creme' brulet the meal was exquisite. Not only that the service matched the flavor. You really feel as though you are eating at someone's house, it is so cozy and warm. This is the best feeling especially in Tahoe in the middle of February! Highly recommend for a nice dinner out. This experience does not come cheap so be prepared to splurge. -
Review from y c.
San Francisco, CA
5/1/2011
i enjoyed the food in general.
what i really loved was the pate (spelling?), the bread spread thats made of chicken liver or whatever. sounds a bit iffy, but totally delicious! -
Review from Travis D.
Palo Alto, CA
9/1/2008
Went here with my family when they came up for a visit and had this place recommended by one of my Dad's friends. Expectations were pretty low, but they blew them out of the water. I got a steak with foie gras butter, veggies, and mashed potatoes even though i'm not normally a meat and potatoes kind of guy. My GF got a pork chop with an apple chutney and veggies. We split both, and they were both equally fantastic. Both the steak and the pork were cooked perfectly. For dessert we feasted on the candy bar tort, which was fantastic.
Prices were high, but the food was incredible. Service was attentive, but not annoying. Our waiter actually asked permission to pour wine (which i tend to dislike and see as the restaurant trying to get you to buy more wine), but once we said no thanks, he left us alone.
My only complaint is that for the prices they charge, some aspects can feel a little cheap. Having the specials written out is great, but at a place of this caliber, print them out and make an insert for the menu. Having them written on a dry erase board that the waiter leaves at a table propped up against a chair from a neighboring table feels cheesy. The other thing is that bathroom. Certain things have been done to the bathroom to dress it up (new sink, some decorative stuff), but it still feels like a bathroom in a cheap house with vinyl floors. It could be fixed up really nicely for about double the price it cost our party of six to eat there. I realize that in the end its about the food, but fixing these two things shouldn't be that tough.
I may not be so eager to go back to Evan's when i'm picking up the tab, but its more my budget as a young professional is a little tighter than my folks'. That shouldn't take away from the food though. For a place in San Francisco it would be great, for a place in South Lake Tahoe, it is stellar. -
Review from Spratt M.
Oakland, CA
9/18/2007
Really cute. Really small. Like Russell says, it's a converted house, so either call ahead or be prepared to wait a few. If you wait a few, like us, go drive up the road a few miles and check out the view over the fjord where that guy drowned trying to row out to his own island burial plot. Ew. Still hungry? I am. Loved the dessert. Meatses were excellent, and you know we love the meatses. Only reason to dock a star is that our meatses were MIXED-UP meatses. No, really. Waiter goes 'here's your beef' and it's like, is this Michael Jackson's beef? Cuz it's white. Look over at the SO's pork. SO's like, is this Michael Kors' pork? Cuz it's way too dark to be real.
No, I exaggerate. SO would never reference the Duchess cuz SO hates the fashion shows. Metaphor, bear with me. Truth: beef and pork, like ebony and ivory, diamonds and pearls, apples and oranges, are pretty disparate. It should be hard to mix them up.
However, my beef tasted pretty good with the chutney couscous stuff that was supposed to go with the pork. Much happier with them than with the veggies that should've come with it. Don't tell the SO. It's almost time for fashion. -
Review from Hannah S.
Emeryville, CA
9/5/2008 4 photos
My boyfriend and I went to Tahoe a weeks back and because of the glowing reviews for Evans here on Yelp, we decided to try it out.
And I'm so glad we did! It wasn't just the food highlight of our trip, it was one of the best meals we've had. Period. And yet surprisingly enough, NOT the most expensive meal we've ever had. Quality food for reasonable prices, amazing. =)
The decor isn't much to brag about, but it was homey. The wait staff was tremendously helpful, and attentive without being over-bearing.
Our meal was absolutely delicious. The steak was cooked to absolute perfection and we just couldn't get over the reduction sauce that came with the dish. We would've been licking the plate if we thought no one would stare and think we were freaks.
It was a beautiful meal. And there's no way I'll ever go to Tahoe again without stopping by Evans during the trip. -
Review from Tom L.
San Francisco, CA
12/27/2008
All 5-Stars on Yelp. Yeah right? A rare feat to find a restaurant with such unanimous culinary tastes agreement. So my gf and I decide to try it out with the intent of averaging down the rating to a more realistic level. Can you say 3 or 4 stars? Boy were we wrong. I never thought that I would fall in line with the rest but this is one of the best and hidden gem in South Lake Tahoe.
PreDinner
- Chicken liver patte on small toast
- Sourdough bread (not warm but steaming hot, the way it should be)
Appetizer
Basil fettucini and cajun chicken ($13)
- Perfect pasta fresh and soft
- Crispy scallions/green onions to garnish
- Tender chicken
- Perfect zuccini
Entree
Panko crustd sole on fettucini ($33)
- The sole tickles my soul
- Crispy yet moist and flavorful inside
- Again the fettucini perfect
- Sauce rich but not too powering or heavy
Venison loin with cherry sauce and mash potatoes ($33)
- Medium, perfect. Crispy outside perfect center pink meat
- Slightly gamey but for venison expected
- Fresh cherry sauce and mash potato paired perfectly
- Carrots and asparagus perfect
- Crispy sweet potatoe shoestring on top. Yum.
Dessert
Banana and Bread Pudding ($11?)
- Perfect bread pudding
- Crispy on the outside hot and moist on the inside
- Caramel sauce delicious not too sweet
- Covered with pieces of a nut and toffee candy topping
- Sugar and chocolate powdered snowflakes to decorate the plate edge. Nice.
We literally cleaned the plate on every meal.
Service was great.
Staff was friendly.
My only tip is that if you are a party of 2 ask for the back tables. We sat in the only other party of 2 table in the center of the room but was downstream from the draft from the door. A bit chilly. Only drawback.
This place feels like you are in the living room of a home. Small restaurant seats probably 20 people only. But they really focus on their service and food.
Definitely one of the best restaurants that I have been to and I don't mean the beautiful company (credit to my gf for picking this place, I was a skeptic but I am eating my words now).
Note: We didn't order the veal but it looked delicious. The salads with the butter lettuce and blue cheese also looked scrumptious.
Bon Apetite! -
Review from Linda L.
Los Altos, CA
Best in South Tahoe from Yelp. Totally agree.
One of the highest score of Northern California from Zagat. ??? never a Zagat fan any way.
Foie gras with pineapple and curry ice cream reach the level of perfection. Foie gras retains the soft texture without being rare, and seared beautifully with thin layer of right dark golden curst. Wish the ice cream is creamier.
Beef and venison are both well executed. Best potato in both texture and flavor.
Dessert is good but sauce tasted like supermarket jam and caramel from a jar. -
Review from Jonas L.
Dallas, TX
10/30/2009
The good: food and service are of a consistently high quality, eating at Evan's means to eat well and to have a great time doing it.
The bad: Foodies. Yes, yes, those pesky gournerds flinging sentences like "flavor explosion in my mouth" and "there's a lot going on in this dish" like monkeys would fling poo. They're everywhere, and at Evan's, which is a small-ish restaurant, they're unavoidably near. My heart bleeds every time I see a well seared piece of foie gras wasted on Food Network watching eaters, but alas - I guess it keeps most restaurants in business.
The bottom line - if the company of a bunch of rich kids with no taste or sense of flavor, jerking their sizable foodie gherkin to the tune of expensive wines doesn't bother you, this IS the place to eat in South Lake Tahoe and around. -
Review from Lauren L.
7/5/2009
I have been lusting over Evan's for years. Everything I'd heard was amazing, the yelp reviews are all A's (except for Mike P who clearly doesn't know how to write a proper review so should be completely discounted), and the place looked cozy, inviting and perfect for a birthday dinner. We had a bottle of a Frank Family Reserve hiding away in our wine collection that we had corked ($20) for the special occasion.
Evan's requires reservations and the menu changes daily. The night we were there, I couldn't resist the home-made pasta of the day: a pumpkin fettucini with pistachio crusted scallops. For dinner I had an cast iron skillet seared elk chop over a root vegetable hash with a balsamic Michigan cherry demi-glaze. How can your mouth not water just reading that? I really was drawn to the (proscuitto wrapped) salmon dish but I knew the elk would accompany our wine better.
Everything there was wonderful - the food: amazing. The service: attentive, but informal and friendly. The atmosphere: comfortable and not the least bit pretentious. I can't wait to return. -
Review from J G.
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Updated - 1/18/2011 10 photos
I think I just made some bad choices with food, should have stuck with the tried and true. My husband liked all of his. Still love the ambiance.
Listed in: Best Tahoe Food
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/11/2010
Good, but not spot on tonight, or maybe my standards have been raised recently from the other places… Read more »
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