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Spindleshanks
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
6873 N Lake BlvdTahoe Vista, CA 96148
(530) 546-2191
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
66 reviews for Spindleshanks
Review Highlights
"Their wine list is quite extensive."
(in 8 reviews)
"the Garlic Mashed Potatoes were amazing."
(in 4 reviews)
"My favorite is the NY Steak and Lobster tail combo."
(in 4 reviews)
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66 reviews in English
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Review from Analisa F.
Crystal Bay, NV
1/9/2012
I'm going to keep this short and simple:
AMAZING FOOD
Calamari & Rock Shrimp App -- delicious
Bread -- awesome! (Yes I am reviewing the free bread)
Spinach Salad -- pears, goat cheese, candied pecans. classic but well done.
Brick Chicken w/ mushroom pot stickers and Asian vegetables -- delicious.
SUPERB SERVICE
I'm a restaurant manager and would love to steal our server for my restaurant. She was fantastic.
EXCELLENT ATMOSPHERE
Great place to be and have a nice quiet dinner. (could be because it was an off season night but worked out well for us) -
Review from Kelly B.
Kings Beach, CA
12/18/2011
I went here on a Friday for happy hour (5-7 p.m.) with a girlfriend.
We sat at the bar, and each had a red wine flight - $10 for 3 half-glasses, split a delicious order of friend calamari ($12.50) and grilled artichoke with garlic which was $6 on a happy hour special.
The service is friendly, the decor is full of gorgeous wood and the ambiance is welcoming. -
Review from Emmarie D.
Pleasanton, CA
1/16/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Amazing tuna appetizer! Very attentive server!
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Review from Rick N.
Sunol, CA
1/21/2012
Great food but needs some hoppy ales for food pairing. Beer selection never changes, no IPA's.
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Review from Dylan S.
Fremont, CA
Updated - 12/29/2011
Still awesome. Great service from Phil. Food was perfect and delivered quickly. Easy to make a reservation and our table was ready on time. I am not sure why I try other places in North Lake Tahoe.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/3/2009
Very good restaurant. Wide selection of foods to choose from. Make sure that you make a… Read more »
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Review from Blue L.
San Rafael, CA
1/18/2011
My favorite places on the North Shore keep closing down, so finally, we decided to try Spindleshanks, which I think has been around for a while. Maybe we weren't expecting much, but I was very surprised at how good the food was. There was a nice wine by the glass selection, too.
The decor is typical north shore - which I like. Lots of wood, and windows facing the main highway. Service was very friendly. It was a Sunday night, so it wasn't crowded at all. I expect it is much busier on weekend. Which makes me realize why it is so hard for these restaurants on the North Shore to stay in business....
Anyhoo...I had a yummy salad, and mac and cheese. It was a side, but it was a huge amount. And very good. I took it home (schlepped it all the way back to the Bay Area) and microwaved it two nights in a row. It was still very good! We'll definitely come back. -
Review from Heather L.
Pacifica, CA
3/2/2011
Food -
-Varied menu options
-hearty portions for the apres ski appetites!
-lengthy/affordable wine list
Ambiance -
-we were seating in the very front room, but it seemed that there is abundant seating.
-read about it being a historic place, so I'm sure the other rooms are probably more inviting (read something about an indoor/outdoor fireplace?
-the bar seemed to be lively
Service -
-Our service was SLOW. We felt held hostage at times. Our server wasn't very slammed with tables from what we could tell....but she was nice enough. She wrapped up our food very carefully/thoughtfully because we told her we were walking back to our cabin. -
Review from Cryszilla G.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't understand why this place got 4 stars. Another miserable food I ate in tahoe. Honestly, there isn't that much good restaurants in tahoe vista. So atleast this place is better than the others.
I will never ever return. -
Review from Samantha G.
San Francisco, CA
6/29/2010
We almost didn't try this place, because it's not inexpensive (it seemed that in this area, there's not so much middle ground between cheap and pricey), and yelpers seem torn about it, but we had a really good experience. I prefer to yelp about places I like rather than complain about the places that I feel wronged me (though, admittedly, *thinking* about doing that helps me when I'm angry!), so here goes...
Very, very friendly staff--casual atmosphere despite the niceness of the food--very generous portions--waitstaff attentive but not too hover-y.
We had two specials, a shellfish appetizer in a light cocktail sauce and the filet mignon with the garlic mashed potatoes, which they offered to split onto 2 plates for us to share. It was a lot of food and it was all moist and flavorful and DELICIOUS!
If you feel like splurging a little, try this place. There are other options around in the area, but many seemed either just as pricey or not very good.
Oh, and you're in Tahoe... have fun! -
Review from brian d.
San Anselmo, CA
8/18/2010
I'm not sure this restaurant has decided what it wants to be when it grows up. It's very kitsch inside and the menu is all over the place. The service and food was entirely forgettable, and wasn't good enough or interesting enough to justify the price.
If they stuck to comfort food, as their look might suggest, it would probably be great. Instead they are aiming for a more upscale market, and the service and food just isn't there to justify it.
You're in Tahoe! Lots of options... skip this one. -
Review from Erin S.
Phoenix, AZ
1/4/2011
The food at Spindleshanks was pretty tasty. I had the lobster, which was just ok. But my boyfriend had the filet which was the most tender steak we've ever tasted and was delicious. We had wedge salads for starters and those were superb. We also had the cooked oyster appetizer and the the oysters on the half shell - fresh and amazing (and we are oyster fanatics). The other member of our party had teh cheese burger, which he said was fairly tasty with mac n' chees which he also enjoyed...
I will say the service was pretty lousy. Our waitress was friendly enough, but rarely checked on us and it took us about 30 mins from sitting down to order and then 30 mins from finishing to get our check. Luckily there was a live band and great ambiance to make up for it.
Further, we overheard the bartender complaining about how he had to make so many martinis and "what a pain in the ass" making martinis is. Our table had a total of 9 martninis that night, and 6 of those were just dirty vodka martinis. Two of us are / were bartenders and know that a martini is one of the simplest drinks to make. We could care less of the bartender's opinion of our drinks, we just don't want to hear complaining while we are in earshot, thank you very much.
I was also disappointed when I checked my account balance today and say they had added $16 in gratuity to my card, when I zeroed out the tip line on the restaurant copy of the receipt (and were were only a party of 3 so I cannot figure out where that gratuity charge came from). We paid the balance and tip in cash (and left a hearty tip as we all come from the service industry and know better then to short change our server, despite her lack luster service). I have left a message for Spindleshanks in the hopes they'll rectify that $16 charge. If not, that's a pretty fraudulent way to run a business!
Despite my complaints, I recommend the food at Spindleshanks....It's worth trying. I just hope you get a better server then we did! -
Review from Tod B.
Fountain Valley, CA
6/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pretty good, typical American food. The calamari and shrimp appetizer was excellent, the burger tastes just like a burger. The butternut squash ravioli is really good. Good restaurant.
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Review from Angela D.
Sacramento, CA
Updated - 9/17/2011
VIsit Spindleshanks if you're looking for quality food from start to finish. Everything from the wine selection and starters to the entree and desserts are excellent. It is worth spending a few extra bucks to get wonderful food. There are very few fine dining restaurants on the north shore that compare to this place. Check out their happy hour if you're looking to save a few bucks.
1 Previous Review:
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8/20/2010
The best restaurant on the lake! Everything from the appetizers to dessert is scrumptious.
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Review from Phil M.
San Carlos, CA
11/6/2011
Best pork chop ever. I also liked the atmosphere; it fits into the North Lake Tahoe scene.
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Review from Neil M.
Fairfax, CA
7/24/2011
Food was really good, service prompt. Ambiance nice enough - heck you don't want it too swanky because you're in Tahoe to hike, swim and mountain bike - so yes enter cleanshaven and washed, but feel free to wear your hiking boots, shorts, a nice polo shirt and a fleece pullover.
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Review from Olga R.
Walnut Creek, CA
7/11/2011
I am giving this place 5 stars because the food is excellent and the service is nice. The waiter was very busy and did not take time to answer all our questions patiently, but I would not blame him since it is a hot season, while only a couple of waiters for the whole place. We ordered halibut, ravioli and lamb ribs - everything was delicious!!! For dessert we asked for the raspberry sorbet (it is a part of the banana split, but we wanted sorbet only), and it was amazing! If anyone remembers how raspberry jam, while boiling during preparation, gives this velvet foam, then you will know how the sorbet tasted. The place is not cheap, but once in a while it is worth it.
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Review from Lisa J.
Roseville, CA
10/6/2009
Overrated. I liked the food, but an $80 bill for two people??
The food was fairly tasty, but their plates should have been $50 or $60 instead of $80.
It wasn't worth it. They had friendly people working there, but their waitress said their wasn't lemonade and later, we found it listed on their dessert menu.
I wouldn't go back. There are cheaper, tastier resturants nearby (El Sanchos is great!) -
Review from Tahoe Bill M.
Carnelian Bay, CA
Updated - 11/1/2009
OK time to update for one of my favorite restaurants.
I send my B&B guests here all the time and Spindleshanks always come through for me. This week my guests enjoyed so much they went two nights in a row.
I went last night for happy hour. Couple glasses of wine and the Ahi Napolean. Yum! Also, I really enjoyed that the girls dressed up for Halloween. Especially the self-proclaimed "slutty blood-sucking wench". lol1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/29/2009
Wow, I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet, this is pretty much my favorite… Read more »
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Review from Jean L.
Fremont, CA
4/7/2009
What a great restaurant! I've discovered my go to restaurant in North Tahoe during my last visit there. I tried a fish dish that was a special of the day and it was pan cooked to perfection...crispy on the edges and moist on the inside. The pecan pie was sooo delicious too.
It's a cozy place with high quality food, yet it's not a flashy place at all. It's the kind of place you can come in really casual or come on a first date. Everyone was so nice and the service was excellent. -
Review from Jerry C.
San Jose, CA
5/12/2009
We went for Mother's Day and were quite pleased.
Dishes at the table included an "Off Menu" Vegetable Platter for the appetizer, a Filet of Beef that was one of the specials, an Almond Crusted Halibut, a Rib Eye Steak and a Baked "Mac and Cheese." In all that food, it is hard to find examples of poor execution. So let's focus on the good.
The Off-Menu Vegetable Platter had way more than your standard vegetables -- artichoke, asparagus, portobello mushrooms, baked/stuffed chile relleno...oh and it also had squash (you didn't think it was all cool vegetables, did you?).
The three steaks were ordered at different temps (rare, medium rare and medium) and they were all delivered together and each perfectly cooked. One more note on the steaks....the Garlic Mashed Potatoes were amazing!
The baked Mac and Cheese for the kids was also a pleasant surprise. Mac and Cheese is so easy to let slide. Our surprise was that this dish got some serious attention. Lots of interesting (but kid friendly) cheeses and hey...it was baked. How cool is that.
We are big fans of Spindleshanks and yes, we are absolutely coming back.Listed in: North Tahoe
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Review from kim n.
7/1/2006
One of my goto restaurants on the North Shore of Tahoe. When the powder starts falling I'll end up here after a long day on the slopes. Great variety covering Classic American, Latin and European Cuisines. The restaurant also doubles as a fairly extensive wine bar.
My favorite is the NY Steak and Lobster tail combo.They've managed to pair two of my favorite all time foods so it's a no brainer. When I'm not feeling that decadent, the ribs, brick pressed chicken, or the housemade butternut squash ravioli can fit the bill. On the dessert side they make a superb old fashioned root beer float and a great cheesecake.
The space is large, containing a stone fireplace, with wals and struts made of knotted pine. There's a feeling throughout the restaurant that you might be in the living room of someone's chalet. The staff are a friendly bunch. Attentive, informative and knowledgeable.
The restaurant is diverse enough to accomodate your, whether you're out on a date or celebrating with a skiing/snowboarding party of ten. I'm already looking forward to the next snow season, so I can ride in the powder and then go back to Spindleshanks and have a great meal. -
Review from Christian W.
Mission, San Francisco, CA
5/21/2008
8 of us had a fantastic meal here. Everything was a hit. The wine flights were a bargain, the starters, from the tartare to the poke to the soup, were generous and delicious.
The mains all shined as well. I had a lemongrass brick-chicken dish which was stellar, it had potstickers, the crispiest skin for a roasted bird (thanks to the brick) and a refreshing cabbage slaw. Portions were huge. I tasted pork chop, steak, fish, mussels, and loved them all. We all went to bed soon there-after.
I will be going back this weekend for sure. For a Tahoe weekend, this is my ideal type of place. It puts out great sophisticated food, serves a great range of drinks, is casual, has the wood timber lodge thing working. It was very memorable. O, and service was attentive, polite and accomodating. -
Review from Kevin K.
Monterey, CA
12/11/2010
This place is fantastic. Gourmet quality food in a comfortable setting. It was our first night in Tahoe and we were walking distance from the restaurant. We had incredible service and the food was exceptional. My 9 year old says, "a great place to go while you are in Tahoe. The kids menu is simple, but high quality food served hot and fresh, and the sourdough bread is awesome." We weren't looking to spend a fortune on a quick dinner and it was nice to find they have some dishes in the 14-18 dollar range that are big enough to have left-overs for lunch... Overall a great experience for our first night in Tahoe.
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Review from Christopher S.
Annapolis, MD
7/28/2009
I checked out the other reviews before coming here and felt it would be a good experience. Tahoe can be hit or miss depending on what part of the year you are visiting. We went during Happy Hour (5:30-6:00) so we went for the appetizer and drink specials. The have an extensive wine selection from their wine bar and we wanted to try a few.
Our server was exceptional. She had a great personality, very helpful and entertaining to talk to.
This review does not cover the entrees.
We ordered the salad greens, sauted artichoke and smoked fish plate. Everthing was oustanding. The wine specials were good but not great. Due to the Happy Hour specials the overall cost was very reasonable for what we got. I would try the restaurant again and focus on the entrees. Good price/value relationship. -
Review from Anh Thu V.
Cupertino, CA
2/5/2007
Wow, an American Bistro and Wine Bar in the sleepy north Lake Tahoe area! The food is typical American grill/bistro fare: Well executed and interesting combinations of fresh ingredients. But it's definitely not on the same level as some of the Bay Area restaurants. But hey, this is Lake Tahoe, not San Francisco!
The wine list is interesting, favoring Napa/Sonoma/Central Coast/Oregon wines over French or Italian. I checked last Saturday night and only found one Burgundy, a 2001 Vosne Romanee Village (or was it Premier Cru?). But I did find a 1997 Pahlmeyer Red back in 2003 when I first visited. This time, they only have the 2001 Pahlmeyer Merlot, which I already have so I skipped it.
Anyway, if you are skiing/boarding at Northstar, Alpine, or Squaw, it's worth the meandering North Lake Boulevard drive to check out this spot and its wine list. -
Review from Kyla L.
New York, NY
4/12/2011
The ambiance was great and the music selection was awesome. We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by the bartender. She explained happy hour and even talked about portion sizes. We shared the linguini scampish and it was delish! I def recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys friendly customer service, quality food and a homey environment :)
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Review from Cath M.
1/4/2008
We went here (we had a party of 9) on 12.30.07
Service was great and the atmosphere was very relaxing and laid back. The price of the food were a bit expensive but for the portion, it's worth it. I ordered a lobster tail and oh my, it was delicious and very big! Well, for $52 - I sure hope it was big! Nonetheless, it was good.
Again, I forgot what the rest of the group ordered, but I know that my boy had a t-bone steak and he said it was good and he enjoyed every bit of it.
Doesn't look fancy on the outside but on the inside, I think overall the price says it all. -
Review from Michaela S.
San Jose, CA
6/14/2009
This place came recommended by a foodie friend of mine -- it kind of failed to live up to our expectations, which was a little sad.
My boyfriend was looking for a slightly lighter option but most of the things on the menu were from the American meat-heavy side of things with various butter-based sauces. He ended up getting the butternut squash ravioli but didn't notice those came with a butter sauce too, so that didn't quite work out. I think the ravs were also made with wonton wrappers which (as a semi-Asian person) always breaks my brain.
I ordered the filet special and asked for it medium-rare, but received a steak that was more like totally-raw. I never send food back but I sent this one -- got it back a little later closer to medium, which was fine. The port reduction sauce on it was good and the green beans were nicely crisp-tender, and the garlic mashed potatoes were good.
We didn't try dessert as we were a little leery of spending $8 after being a little underwhelmed by the entrees.
After all that it was not quite worth the drive from Tahoe City, but other folks might have better experiences. So it goes. -
Review from Linda F.
San Diego, CA
7/14/2011
Went specifically for happy hour that started at 5:00, per the sign on the outside. Turned out that was for drinks, the food specials for happy hour weren't available until 5:30. The appetizer specials were OK (a special shrimp cocktail and a caesar salad). The bread and butter was very good and crusty. The grilled artichoke deserves special mention as it was excellent. Husband ordered fish and chips, fish was better than average, fries were not fresh out of the fryer. Overall, spent a pleasant couple of hours in the bar, with happy hour prices making it an enjoyable evening.
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Review from Spencer n.
Alamo, CA
4/1/2008
This place makes me so happy. Consistently great food. The interior is very warm and inviting. Comfy booths with nice pillows to sleep on. Somehow when ever we come here my 8yr old bro ends up falling asleep on them.
The food is really good and niiiice portions. I totally recommend getting the artichoke soup is they have it. Its one of the best things i have had. It tastes like fresh artichokes in soup form with cheese. You really cant go wrong there. The rest of the food is typical American bistro/wine bar food but it is done very well. Seasonal ingredients and always fresh. Great place to kick back and relaxListed in: TAHOE EATS
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Review from Bob P.
Upland, CA
12/3/2009
The food was good, the service was fine. But the price isn't worth it. I was glad I found a coupon for a buy-one-entree and get-one-free. If I hadn't found the coupon in the paper I would have been even more disappointed.
If you want to pay high prices for average food then this is your place, otherwise keep searching for something else. -
Review from Katie S.
San Francisco, CA
4/24/2008
I love Spindleshanks! They have a fantastic happy hour from 5:30 - 6:30, where they have a good selection of wine for $3 glass, and good appetizer specials. Their oyster appetizer might be my favorite food in the whole world. I begged them for the recipe. No go.
Their regular menu is great too. There's a good variety and everything tasted delicious and was cooked perfectly. I'll never stay in N. Lake Tahoe without a visit to Spindleshanks! -
Review from Bryan L.
Reno, NV
10/20/2008
Really like this place in Tahoe Vista. Very comfortable, unique "something for everyone" sorta menu, reasonable prices, and great service. I would recommend this for anyone who wants a nice meal, doesnt feel like dressing up, and isnt compelled to "be seen" with the in crowd.
Comfortable, classy, cool.
B -
Review from Eric G.
Monterey, CA
7/14/2010
Well for all of the "good" reviews this place seems to have on here my wife and I were extremely disappointed. First of all, the service was mediocre at BEST. During our entire meal, we were not asked one single time if there was anything we needed or how the meal was (this despite the fact I finished my beer before our meal even came).
Now, my meal TASTED good. I had the pan fried trout with mushroom-potato cakes and some blanc sauce. My meal could have been hotter. Now it was not cold mind you, but when a meal is served you expect it to be hot, especially fish. Mine was not.
My wife ordered the butternut squash ravioli. It was way too overcooked, leaving it very mushy instead of al-dente, the way pasta should be cooked. It was not worth the $18.00 we paid for it. As I said before, this was on top of the fact that not once during our dinner service did a server or bus boy stop by our table and ask if there was anything we needed or how the meal was. We will NOT return to this restaurant again and advise against others going there. -
Review from Gene J.
Roseville, CA
10/5/2009 9 photos
Please bear in mind that I do not drink alcohol, so my experience here will be much different than most others.
The service was good, the atmosphere was nice, and dessert was tasty. That's about as good as it gets.
The sauces that came with the fried calamari and rock shrimp appetiser were not good, but the calamari and shrimp were pretty much as you should expect them to be.
The "spicy" Jambalaya was anything but spicy. It seemed as though there was more seasoning on my plate (aka, decoration) than there was in the dish itself. The chicken was a bit undercooked as well. Perhaps having had real jambalaya when I lived in the south ruined this dish for me, but it was pretty bland nonetheless.
The butternut squash ravioli was pretty good.
The dessert was good. Vanilla bean creme brulee.
Our bill, before tip, was about $80. It was not worth it.
The experience of dining in a restaurant that's "full of history" does not make up for the lackluster and overly expensive food. -
Review from Lisa H.
Concord, CA
8/3/2010
Our favorite restaurant in Tahoe! The menu has a wide selection with something for everyone. Last night our group of five each ordered something different and we were all happy with our meals. My flank steak was perfectly cooked and had an interesting Mexican sauce along with a chili relleno that could stand on it's own. The home made ravioli were a bit hit. Even the bread was out of this world! And the service was top notch. Not the usual surly, slow staff you run into at some of the other upscale restaurants around the Lake. Highly recommend.
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Review from Bill T.
Pleasanton, CA
3/15/2007
This is another place that qualifies for my "whodathunk" award for great restaurant in an unexpected location award. I've got to agree with every body's consensus on their wine list because it is both unique, fairly extensive & carries only a modest markup. We found a nice 01' Pride Cab for only $78 (STEAL!) that went beautifully with our rack-o-lamb & was a perfect follow up to some tasty ahi & a 05' Bandol, blush Mouvedre that we bought in. (...hint, be nice to your server,offer a glass of the wine you brought in to them & voila! no corkage fee 90% of the time)
Since the skiing that day was epic until the snow turned to dessert topping & the temperature was almost 60 degrees, the dinner was a perfect end to a perfect day. (see Helm of Sun Valley, new boots review) -
Review from Stephen C.
San Francisco, CA
9/4/2008
This place seemed nice and we were seated right away. I sensed something might be wrong when our server did not know the specials. She also looked at me funny when I ordered a house salad with the dressing on the side. Long story short I ordered a med-rare steak and got one that was well done.
I sent it back and they sent out a undercooked steak with a chile rellano?!?! What the hell?!?!
Why would I want a chile rellano?
They also acted as if no one had ever returned a steak or any dish for that matter. They were VERY unprofessional and different servers kept coming to the table to ask us the same questions. I will never go back and I will tell my friends to stay away. -
Review from Linsey M.
Santa Rosa, CA
6/16/2010
I decided to try this place tonight while on vacation with my husband. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli which was way to sweet for my taste. The service was a little slow, but we are on vacation so we had the time to spare. The real killer for this place was the price. For two meals(no alcoholic beverages) it was $80. It was good but not $80 good!
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Review from vickie s.
Carnelian Bay, CA
1/2/2009
This is a fun place for great steaks! Large portions and cozy atmosphere, can accommodate large parties, but great for romantic dinners for 2. They usually have a fresh fish item which is always fantastic! Also, a wonderful vegetarian plate which is not on the menu, but just ask the server-
The homemade chile rellenos are not authentic, but awesome! I am a local and a fan of chef Herman who used to cook at Captain Jon's when it was open and popular! Happy hour every night, plus deals on appetizers in the bar. Small kids menu and side dishes that work. You must give this place a try when in North Shore-
