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Sunnyside is heaven.
When you've been out on Lake Tahoe all day lounging on beaches and boating your way around the lake there is nothing more welcoming than pulling up at Sunnyside, having the boat valet bring you in and having some food and drinks at the Sunnyside lodge.
We tried some fried Zucchini sticks, baby back ribs and fries which were all delicious. I was a BIG fan of the ribs.
You can sit at the lodge and watch your favorite team play on one of the TV's or go down to the beach and just hang out. Or - sit at your table and take in the gorgeous views of the lake on a nice day.
Either way - this place is a winner and I can't wait to go back.
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This is a Tahoe institution.........ON the Lake (if you can get to the location by boat.......meaning: there is VERY limited dock and buoy space if you are attempting to come ashore as opposed to the seasonal hectic traffic (summer any day or weekends during the ski season).
I have a boat, and look forward to taking friends and family to a lakefront property at any time of the day. I am not alone. IF you are lucky, ok, go by boat and attempt to enjoy the deckfront dining - give it a try.
Once ashore, the entire staff makes a solid stab at making sure that your dining or beverage needs are satisfied. Yes, we all need to be patient - but, believe me, once seated, you will have one of the best lakefront dining opportunities at Lake Tahoe.
Sunnyside can serve any beverage you may conjer (spelling, sorry). Kids and adults will not be disappointed. The day time menu is complete with various salad, fish or burger suggestions. The mainstain, signature, is fried zuchinni.....also a must.
Most of the 'kids' who work at Sunnyside are seasonal - students, skiers and some locals. 99% of the time they are all smiles and scurrying to make sure you are served and satisfied.
This is a boaters' treat if you can get there during the boating season.
For evening dining, YES, give it a go. Just try to book in advance and you won't be disappointed arriving without pre-announcing yourself.
Sunnyside is NOT fine dining. Sunnyside is FUN dining.
Margs on the rocks, fish tacos and Hula Pie, oh me oh my!
The deck seating is a must. Views of the beautiful blue lake and boats galore. Especially on a lovely summer day.
My favorite thing has to be the Hula Pie.
Oreo cookie crust + mound of vanilla ice cream + hot fudge + crushed macadamia nuts + whipped cream = OMG!!
It's gotta be a gazillion calories but definitely worth every single one. I highly recommend sharing this little bit of heaven on a plate with a few peeps. That way you won't experience massive calorie overload remorse! ;)
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I heart Sunnyside! It is one of my fave places when in summering in Tahoe. We stopped by for lunch… Read more »
I have mixed emotions of this place but it is more of the atmosphere than the resort itself. We have some friends that have a house near here. We are grateful that we get invited to stay. There are times during our visits that we become overloaded on "elitism' and want to escape. We go to Sunnyside for lunch. The feed back we get is "oh, your going there". We arrive to Sunnyside and have a lovely table on the deck, we order and look around. It's the same people we just left to get away from; ivy league and pretension. Not everyone, just enough to notice. The food is good, service is friendly and attentive. You can't beat the setting. If only something could be done with the attitude of some of the patrons.
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This place is pretty decent. The food is pretty good, Nothing amazing, but the view is what makes this place unique. Don't forget to get the fried zucchini!
Dinner here was an overall pretty mediocre experience which started blah and ended about average.
My first experience was picking up the menu, which had been balanced precariously on a bread dish on the edge of the table. Naturally, since the menu covered the dish, when I slid it out to pick it up, the dish crashed to the ground and broke. Kind of a disappointing beginning considering how hidden and obviously precarious the table was arranged. Too much potential energy there.
I arrived very very early (uncharacteristically so for a dinner) at 5:30, and the place was almost empty, say about a quarter of the tables were occupied. I wasn't particularly hungry, so I ordered the Caesar Salad and a diet coke. My tablemates ordered soups and salads, also not particularly hungry.
To say it took an eternity to even get our salads is an understatement. That, and my beverage was left empty nearly the entire time, my water was never refilled once, and the table was located right smack next to an umbrella which was bolted to the patio, making it impossible for the others at the table to swing into the booth-style seating. This was a very obvious mistake.
Finally, when dishes started arriving, only about half came out. Another 20 minutes later, and finally the rest of the food (including my simple Caesar salad) came out. I was amazed that not only did they have the audacity to make us wait a good hour for simple salads and the house soup, but they couldn't even manage to bring it all out at the same time. Amazing.
After begging for my first and only successful refill, they decided to offer dessert. I honestly have to say that this was the only mediocre highlight of the experience. I ordered what amounted to a chocolate lava cake (although they called it something different for no real reason). When the server came out, he looked at it, thought a little bit, and then asked "who ordered the brownie ice cream thing." I was horrified that the server didn't even know what he was bringing the guests. After I corrected him, he further amazed me by shrugging nonchalantly and dismissing it, saying "I'm just used to burgers and fries." I honestly hope he was being facetious.
For a restaurant with relatively good reviews, I was very unimpressed and wouldn't recommend it for what it cost. Even calling it mediocre would be giving too much credit.
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Great view of the lake!
Note that there are two restaurants here; the Lakeside Dining Room (fancy, tablecloths), but we instead went to the bar/restaurant called Mountain Grill. Outside, they try to divide the Lakeside Dining Room from the Mountain Grill, but the noise really just carries over.
We ate at the Mountain Grill. Fish and chips were excellent. Definitely tried the hula pie and it was amazing for $7! This place gets packed but we were fortunate to go on a slow day.
This is definitely a hot spot in North Lake Tahoe...where things close really early!
We came up for a few days and stayed here -- a nice place near Tahoe City without being right in the middle of Tahoe City.
Good points: great view from the room with a little balcony, nice architectural details in the room (high ceiling and windows), clean and well-kept, nice location right on the lake.
Less good points: stiff-ish bed, squashy feather pillows that offer zero side-sleeping support, no way to block light from the windows if you're a more-darkness kind of sleeper (accidentally awake at 6:30 AM because the sun is streaming through the windows above the door), random Internet outage just when we wanted to look up places for dinner and the staff had no idea what to do about it except "we'll call the computer guy in the morning", $270 a night on a Friday night (ouch).
We didn't try the food, though I did covet the three-chocolate mousse on the menu.
Nice place but enough little faults that kind of bothered us -- the folks were friendly, though. I might stay again, or I might not -- not completely dead set against but not completely sold either. Now how's that for helpfulness?
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This was our first visit to Tahoe. When we arrived we were offered a switch to a room with a view and decided to take it. The room was clean and attractive and the view of the lake was of course wonderful. They provide Aveda lotions/soaps etc. which is a nice touch.
The only problem was the bar noise. If you're young or into nightlife and don't come back to your room until after 10:30/11:00 pm, it's probably not a big deal. But we were on the second floor two doors in from the restaurant/bar area and also so tired from skiing that we were ready to turn in at 9:00 pm. The music coming through the floor is pretty loud.
Luckily, we travel with a white noise machine because I snore a lot. But even with that machine turned up all the way you could still hear the bar music...and if you were on your side in bed, the sound was conducted through the bed and mattress.
Again, the music stops pretty early, but until then it's loud.
The included breakfast wasn't exceptional. I didn't think it was horrible but my wife turned up her nose at the pastries and the bagels.
All in all, I think I would go back, but I might try to be further from the bar next time.
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We arrived via boat.
What a crazy day, as to be expected on this 4th of July afternoon.
We dropped off 6 of our party on the dock, then waited for the next available buoy.
The gent that was tracking the line up of boats waiting to dock was remarkably cool and efficient. His buddy that taxied boaters in to the dock was equally on the ball. They were friendly and cool headed as they made everything come together. This easily could be a volatile situation with a navy of varied motor boaters floating around the Sunnyside dock.
The dining deck was packed with people - but the lake/mountain views are breathtaking. Our waiter and his support team handled the entire dining experience for our party of eight in great fashion. They were friendly, attentive, quick to deliver and never blinked with all the pandemonium surrounding them.
I give Sunnyside five stars for the dock and dining service that day. This really added to a wonderful holiday weekend.
A trip to The West Shore of Lake Tahoe could not be complete without a visit to the Sunnyside Resort for a meal. Tastey treats, efficiant staff and lovely, rather breathtaking views of the Lake. The bar setting is too fun-people watching- a draw!
This is a wonderful upscale family restaurant that serves food the whole family will enjoy in a beautiful atmosphere. The sunny outdoor deck and the warm interior are both nice. The quality of food is good and the portions are large. Service is efficient and attentive.
My girlfriend and I went for lunch. We both started with the shrimp martini, a shrimp cocktail served in a large margarita glass ($14). It contained lots of de-veined, medium sized shrimp. They were large enough that we wished we had ordered one and split it. My girlfriend had the ahi seared tuna pesto sandwich ($14) that came with a generous, thick piece of perfectly seared tuna. I had the halibut fish and chips ($14). It had a nice batter coating that was not greasy. However, the halibut tasted a little on the dry side. I suspect the halibut was initially frozen. It was accompanied with yam fries and cole slaw. We shared a Hula pie for desert ($7). It is so large, people next to us ooohed and aaaahed when it was served at our table. We ate so much we did not need dinner.
We came in for dinner on Christmas day and were really disappointed by the food. The service was actually very good. Well, maybe I should rephrase. The waitress was very friendly but the hostesses at the front desk were a little snotty. We went to the restaurant right after getting off the slopes at Squaw Valley, which means we were not dressed for dinner. I have a feeling the hostesses really wanted to put us in the bar section because according to them, the dining room "has white table cloth and wine glasses. It's a little fancier." I wanted to laugh. It's Tahoe City, girls! You need to unclench.
We ordered Caesar salad, calamari and their specials, king crab legs and mahi mahi with crab and spinach on top. The Caesar salad was a little on the oily side. The Romain lettuce was crisp but dressing no good. Calamari was also kind of bland and greasy. The crab legs were somewhat mushy and didn't taste firm and sweet as crab should. The mahi mahi was very heavy and rich as well (I always wonder about folks who manage to make fish taste heavy and rich. There is something very wrong with that). It was a huge disappointment after hearing some friends recommend the restaurant. We were not there during the day so did not get to see the beauty of the lake from the restaurant window.
I don't think we will go back.
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Atomsphere - 4
Food - 3
Quality - 4
Price - $$$
Service - 3
Went up to west shore last weekend with 4 of my gal pals. It was our first weekend get away without husbands and kids. We made reservation at Sunnyside Resort for dinner. It had been snowing nonstop since the morning so the road was quit slippery. We had quite an adventure driving to our "grown ups only" dinner, but nothing could have stopped us.
Got to Sunnyside and we were surprised how busy the parking lot was. Didn't anyone realize it's been snowing ALLL day?
The restaurant sits over the lake. Large windows line the perimeter so no tables have a bad view. Since it had been snowing continuously, the lake was a calm and peaceful. The atmosphere inside is very romantic. I've been here during lunches and it's known to be a pick-up join. Very crowded in the summer time. They also have outdoor seating which is a fabulous way to have brunch or lunch.
The restaurant was dimly lit through out and each tables was illuminated only with a small candle. As we were escorted to our table, we were disappointed to see how many tables were families with children. So much for the "grown-ups only" dinner. To their defense, all the children were well behaved.
They did accommodate us when we requested for a table far away from "families" as possible. The wine selection was good, but not impressive for such a nice restaurant. I recommend to (BYOW). Corkage fee is $20 which is average. We brought a 2001 Silver Oak Cab. (We meant business) and it was soooo tasty. Okay...Finally, the food.
We ordered "Fried Calamari" and "Fried Zucchinis". I was not impressed with the zucchinis because it was nothing special. The calamari were fried to perfection. I ordered "Prime Rib" med-rare and it was perfectly cooked. The meat was evenly pink with no visible blood. My friends had the specials "Short Rib" and "Sea Bass." which were equally good in their way. Our wait staff was attentive and the manager greeted everyone at the table which made us feel special. It's a very romantic setting. I'd recommend this place for everyone, although come a little later if you want the romance minus any "children." Of course, it is also a great upper scale family restaurant. The offer a couple of discounted dinners if you come between 4:30PM - 6:30 PM.
gorgeous lakeside setting.
dinner menu - expensive ($30+) ala carte steaks that were not seasoned after grilling. For this kind of money, I should have been fed too. second night I had a horrid mushroom risotto that struck out on texture (mushy) taste (none) and temperature (cold).
it was topped with two over cooked grilled prawns and a scallop. the halibut was over cooked too. even after I specifically asked for them to NOT overcook it.
great lakeside setting.
more attention to detail required in the kitchen.
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I really hate this place and wish it would burn to the ground...but ONLY if the rest of the lake wouldn't be hurt.
Let me explain myself...
We try to go to Fire Side Cafe for breakfast b/c even God says its delicious. Of course the rest of the Lake had the same idea and it was unbelievably busy. So someone had a GRAND idea to try accross the street. So i call first b/c I'm a Yelper dammit I call before I decide to go some place else to wait an hour.
"Hi I was curious how long the wait was?"
"Ummm Dinning room or bar"
"Wait...what?"
"Dinning room or bar? They have two separate menus."
"So... whats the difference?"
Well one is a bit more formal..."
"Ok well whats the wait for 6 people?"
"Dinning room or bar?"
"Bar I guess"
"We can sit you as soon as you get here."
"Seriously?"
"Yes Ma'am."
"Sweet!"
So we try not to get killed crossing the street and the second we walk in we have this immediate choice to make....dinning room or bar/patio thing...
Instantly we have two menus shoved in our hungry faces. But there is not breakfast options. Not hash browns, no eggs, no pancakes...
"So where is the breakfast menu?"
"Oh we don't serve breakfast?"
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah we don't serve breakfast but Fire Side across the street does."
A delusional debate amongst my peeps continued until the decision was mad to go outside on the patio to enjoy an eggless meal around 11am.
My question to my readers is who gives your competition business?
Better yet who has two different menus with out an explanation as to why and the expectation that you already know the difference?
Finally who the hell doesn't serve breakfast @ breakfast time?
And for those of you who just wanted to run down...
Food - ok
Service - could have been better
Good for groups - yes
...when asked for a side of egg my friend was given a clod hard boiled egg...really crushed our whole breakfast dream....
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We have been coming here for probably around 25 plus years. Even after all this time a trip to the lake is never complete without a trip to Sunnyside. We ussually eat in the bar area which has a warm and welcoming ambiance along with great views year round. The menu has changed thorughout the years but one thing that has always remained is the cesar salad and I never miss it.
It is impossible for me to give an unbiased review of this place, because part of my heart dwells here. After all, 13 years ago on this deck overlooking Tahoe's deep blue waters and majestic snow covered peaks, I promised to love, honor and respect my husband (obey was specifically omitted). We had a wonderful experience working with the manager, Craig, who's still here and I can't say enough great things about Sunnyside as a wedding location.
A few years later, we were eating dinner here and our charming and handsome waiter walked up and introduced himself, "Hi, my name is Evan..." and my husband and I both looked at each other and when he left both said, "wouldn't that be a great name for a son?"
So as you can imagine, this is a must stop every time we are in the area. We almost always come for a mid-week lunch on the deck. This is one of the most popular spots on the west shore and boasts the largest deck so it gets really busy and parking can be tough.
We always get the fried zucchini appetizer with ranch for dipping. The fish tacos are wonderful and you can choose a variety of seasonings. I forced myself to try something new on our latest visit and really enjoyed the Firecracker Chicken Sandwich with field greens salad.
This is an expensive place to dine. One of the reasons we always stop by for lunch, not dinner, and eat on the casual deck side rather than the restaurant. Can't think of any other place where you spend $8 for a grilled cheese sandwich and still have to pay separately for a child's drink.
So in my heart of hearts this will always be a five star destination.
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The place is dear to my heart.... got married on the deck here in June (more than) a few years ago.… Read more »
This is a favorite stop of mine when I'm in the Tahoe City area. The food is decent and the service is alright but, realistically, you're going for the view and the water-side ambiance. Nothing better than enjoying a meal at one of the outdoor tables while reveling the beautiful scenery of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains. Having good conversation and watching the watercraft and skiers cruise by, while enjoying the beverage of your choice - priceless ! Meal-wise, I'm partial to the fish tacos. It's the perfect light meal to have with a beer or a glass of wine in this outdoor setting.
As is often case in popular resort restaurants, the wait for an outside table at peak meal times can be close to an hour, no matter if they quote "It'll be xx minutes". If you really can't wait, try to score one of the high or low tables in the indoor bar area; these are open seating. And quicker still, if there's only 1 or 2 or 3 in your party, is a seat at the indoor bar. You'll have your drink and/or meal as quick as you can speak your order. The outdoor bar is always packed, day or night. But that won't stop you, right ? You're there to chat it up with your buds and, perhaps, make new ones, while watching the bartenders do their skill and take in the beauty of Tahoe. Enjoy it !
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This is the closest establishment to our Tahoe share and I am sure glad it is. We have come here for everything from a fancy dinner for five to Ski Week's Aloha night at the bar. Solid all around. I agree a bit pricey and hard to get a spot at the bar most nights but it could be worse : )
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One of the best places in Tahoe to have drink and enjoy the view of the lake on the outdoor patio. Great atmosphere and amazing Bloody Marys too.
While the food is average and the menu is limited out on the deck, my chicken sandwich was good. Roasted peppers, pesto mayo, served with fries - I wasn't complaining. Skip the burger, it tasted dry. Turkey sandwich looked a bit underwhelming.
Service was great...there was a "mayonnaise" issue at our table, and when my friend's sandwich came back still with some mayo tracings, the waitress comped it for her plus one of her beers. Even though it was crowded and we were at a large table, she didn't rush us out.
I recommend coming here for happy hour, and staying until sundown - it's hard to find a more beautiful or relaxing place to drink.
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10/5 stars. 12/5 stars, even!
Granted, I used to work here in the summers when I was in college, I still go back every chance I get! I always stop in on Friday nights after the drive from the bay for 1 or 12 Sunnyside margaritas or Mai Tais.
The bar food is great, the service is [usually] great (I mean, I don't work there anymore, so what do you expect?!), the view is amazing/spectacular/awesome, the Hula Pie is not to be missed.
Food on the dining room side is also stellar. I've stayed at the lodge, too....(hmm...maybe I should branch out and patronize some other places in Tahoe). THIS PLACE IS AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG...my only gripe is that it's become so much more "SF-ized" as of late. ie Marina-type folks taking over the bar. I come to Tahoe to GET AWAY, but that's the trade-off I guess. Fine, I'll bring it down to 11 out of 5 stars.
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Zucchini Sticks! Wow. Who knew a fried veggie could be so good? Well i suppose battering, deep frying, and then serving them with ranch dressing doesn't hurt the effort.
Sunnyside reminds me of summer camp. The waitstaff are younguns and the vibe is laid back and relaxing. The view is incredible.
Eat some zucchini sticks and a firecracker chicken sandwich on the deck and wash it all down with a cocktail. They had some tasty looking bloody's and we tried some cocktail that was made with lemonade and vodka. Yum.
I've been here before back in the glory days of high school, so even though I liked it then, I didn't get to experience the true splendor of Sunnyside. I'm of course talking about the bar.
Open bar, to be precise. I love weddings. Especially weddings on a fabulous lake on a perfect Spring day with lots of delicious food and open bar (did I mention it was FREE?) and lots of drunken revelers in fancy clothes.
It couldn't have been a better day. The staff was amazing, the drinks were stiff (the Martini-luge? OMFG. It was so cool I HAD to acronym), and the food and appetizers? Out of this world good. The artichoke hearts (fried of course) and King Crab legs = heavenly.
An all around great experience. They did a phenomenal job hosting the wedding and making sure all of us guests were fully taken care of and happy. Bravo Sunnyside, you nailed it.
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Growing up between Tahoe and the Bay has been made ever more excellent by having this bomb ass restaurant to go to. The food is kinda expensive and the people are loud but who the fuck cares? If you are in Tahoe, relax and live a little. Jump in the lake in the winter, kill a moose, and eat a hamburger here at lunch time with a nice cold beer. Life does not get better.
Fantastic Food and atmosphere. Great steak and wine place. When it's gorgeous outside, you definitely need to sit out t on the deck. I went there a month ago though for a football game, and the guys were a bit rowdy in the cocktail area. Drunk, I suppose. The view is outrageous!!!!
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Every time I come to this region of Lake Tahoe I come here at least for a drink (have never stayed at the lodge). It is a nice setting and a nice facility. On a warm summer day the scenery can be extra special :-).
Another bonus is the little marina right there so you get some boat action. On one visit, there was a small wooden boat flotilla in the Marina - I think it was during Tahoe Wooden Boat Week.
Drinks here are made well. Food is good quality. I've had Fish taco's, burgers, fresh fish of the day, salads, as well as several of the appetizers. All good. A little pricey, but so are all the nice places around the lake.
As far as the rest of the resort, don't know. Haven't stayed in the lodge and if I have rented on the lake (boat, jetski, etc), I have rented elsewhere.
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Sunnyside is the BEST. It is always my pick when I come up to Tahoe- for both the lodge and restaurant. I've been coming here for 10 years, and I will continue to for another 10. In the winter, it's perfect to come up with a friend or significant other (or family if you have one) and relax at the lodge for 2 or 3 nights and enjoy the lakeside views, or sit by the fire and drink some cliche warm mountain cocktail like hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps. In the summer, they have a huge patio right on the water that they open up and serve food, often with live bands. The whole property is so beautiful- from the rooms, to the restaurant, to the view, to the deck- this place is a definitely a keeper.
The lodge is this old school, warm, cozy log cabin-ish type building- but not TOO log cabiny...they do have T.V.s. Essential. The rooms are not small but not big, and the rates are VERY reasonable, especially during the week. I just stayed here with my boyfriend a week ago for $140 a night. Considering what the same quality rooms would be priced at here in SF, thats a steal in my book.
In addition to the great lodge, you also have a fine dining restaurant as well as a bar right downstairs for you. Wed night is fish taco night at the bar- and there's always hoards of drunken locals partying it up and scarfing down fish tacos. The restaurant on the other side of he building offers high quality fare that is competitive with fine dining here in sf- this food is better than you'd expect from a lodge secluded up in the Sierra Mountains. I had the special- Mahi Mahi on top of puff pastry with a wilted spinach/crap topping, along with a vegtable cous cous. It was VERY tasty, and the bread pudding dessert was also bomb as hell. My bf had one of the steaks- and he was very satisfied with his dish as well.
Sunnyside also offers some pretty good package deals, including one for two people that offers 3 nights at the lodge, 3 pairs of lift tickets to any of the area's ski resorts, and a $120 gift certificate to the restaurant- all for $700. I've purchased that one before, and I'd purchase it again...ask about it- its one of the area's best deals.
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My full five star review is probably a little inflated because of the sentimental value of the place. I have been coming to Sunnyside (the restaurant, not the hotel/inn) during the summers for my entire life. My family and I go to Tahoe not necessarily every year, but close to it. When we were younger, we would walk down to the water off the deck of the restaurant and that's where I learned how to skip rocks (from my very impatient brother...yes, you Tommy...who could skip a rock like a dozen times and mine would just sink).
Anyway, enough of the mushy stuff. Fried zucchini and a cocktail are what I'm looking forward to this weekend when my family heads up there for a little weekend getaway. The house we stay at is within walking distance, so if we stay for a few cocktails, we just stumble on home. It's a great place to sit outside, enjoy the sunshine and the view, and have great conversations.
Came for drinks on the patio, and we got some strong drinks with an amazing view! Deck was busy for a Thursday at 2 p.m. Doesn't anyone work anymore? hahaha
The Mai Tai was really good, too good, I drank it too fast.
Wish they would of had more snacky type apetizers, besides zuchini?
Server was great, let us just hang out and drink.
This restaurant is on a great location overlooking Lake Tahoe. Great view.
I read on Yelp that the Hula pie was great. I disagree. This was over-hyped. The pie had a bland vanilla flavor that could have had a thicker oreo crust to balance it out. What made the pie ok was the chocolate on top and the macadamia nuts. The fish tacos and the calamari sandwiches were bland. There is this ingredient called salt; they should use it. The zucchini sticks were above average.
If I were to go here again, I would try other items on the menu.
The reviews of Sunnyside vary widely. It's too bad that some of the posters did not see the charm of this place. I've been coming here every summer for years, and I almost always have a relaxing and enjoyable time.
Yes, the deck gets very crowded in the summer, but if you're patient and nice to the hostesses, you WILL get seated. And all the tables on the deck have primo views of the lake. Great for small groups. The mai tais are killer and the waiters/waitresses are very nice, though they can be distracted easily, especially if Sunnyside is crowded.
The last time we were there in early June, a beer tasting with many imported beers was just ending. So we wandered over, chatted with the bartender, who gave us several beers and a wonderful sake to bring back to our table. Nice!
I have no complaints about the upscale bar food. Yes, the fish in the fish sandwich is fried, but you can get it grilled if you like. The burgers are good, as is the steak. It came medium-rare, just as I ordered.
I've also eaten dinner at Sunnyside. If it's not too cold, get a candle-lit table outside. One of my favorite dishes is the bacon-wrapped shrimp appetizer. Mmmmmm.
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By all rights this should be a three star establishment, but no question about it, for what they set out to do, they execute at the four star level. Yes, this is a great "view" place, and a wonderful mecca for tourists. The food is classic "one level up from bar food" -- very mainstream. The waitstaff is extremely young. But the views are incredible and on a beautiful day this place reeks of SUMMERTIME!
Also worth noting, I was shocked by the freshness of their fish. I ordered an Ahi appetizer, and, served basically raw, it was incredibly delicious. My wife and I had fish sandwiches...ditto...shockingly fresh. Their beer battered french fries are highly addictive. This place is owned by the same folks that own a slew of similar restaurants in Hawaii: Duke's, Kimo's, etc. If you're looking for haute cuisine, this isn't your place. If you're looking for a casual, relaxed, and reasonably priced place to ring in your Tahoe vacation, Sunnyside should be a ritual.
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We had orginially planned a two night trip in Tahoe, but couldn't leave because we were having such a good time. We decided to stay an extra night at the last minute and thankfully, we found a room at Sunnyside. Because it was a last minute decision, we got a very good deal on the room, which was clean, comfortable, spacious and had an incredible view of the lake.
We loved Sunnyside. It was freezing up there this weekend, so we appreciated the fact that we could stay in one place for dinner, drinks, and overnight accomodations. The bar is huge, has several fireplaces, and serves food from the main restaurant menu. Their dinner prices are steep, so we ordered a combination of items from the bar and restaurant menus. The food was pretty good....especially my salad and grilled fish sandwich. The service was excellent and the drinks were strong. I had my very first hot toddy! It warmed me right up and knocked me on my ass at the same time.
The only downside to our dining experience was the sound of screaming children. I swear, we witnessed some of the worst parenting ever! Talk about "hands off parenting." We saw toddlers running wild, wrestling, and bumping into waitstaff. My theory is that these people are so rich, they hire people to deal with their children. When it's time for them to do the disciplining, they are completely clueless. Thanfully, the little hellions disappeared around 7:30 PM.
We'll definitely come back here in the summer. Their location is amazing and they have a water ski school. Maybe I can finally learn how to drop a ski!
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I have probably been to Sunnyside during the summer months in 19 of the 23 years that I have been alive. My family would rent a place in Lake Tahoe every summer and would always make a point of it to make a trip to Sunnyside, even if only for appetizers. And by appetizers, I of course am referring to their world famous Fried Zucchini. They are truly outstanding and I would advise getting 1 basket for every 2 people in your party.
While waiting for our zucchini to cook, I perfected my rock-skipping abilities on the rocky beach adjacent to the deck. Once my sister turned 3 or 4, I took it upon myself to pass down the art of rock-skipping, and I immediately expected excellence. They have the roundest, flattest rocks in all of Tahoe here, and the water is usually pretty calm -- ideal for the beginner rock-skipper. I am proud to say that my sister is now 18 and can successfully skip a rock.
After zucchini, we would order our second Shirley Temple (or Roy Rogers, depending on our mood) and a burger. Burgers are good -- nothing extraordinary -- and desserts are great. My personal favorite is the Kimo's Mud Pie. I would probably also get the garlic cheesy bread (not sure if it's still on the menu but is amazing) with the Zucchini for an appetizer.
(NOTE: The same people that own Sunnyside also own Kimo's in Maui, the CliffHouse in SF, and a buttload of other awesome restaurants)
I'm a regular here during the summer - love the view - the boats - the water - and the food is pretty good here. I now pretty much only dine in the dining room versus the grill...there is just too little selection on the grill menu. My favorite item is definitely the filet mignon - very tasty! Yes Sunnyside is really a great place to enjoy a meal.
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We went here for the view. We weren't really expecting much in terms of the food. In the end we were totally impressed our salad was great as were both of our meals (a yummy halibut special and a steak), the low point was dessert. The "chocolate mousse" was disappointing at best.
We'll go back, but we'll skip dessert!
Still one of my favorite happy hour spots in Tahoe City.
they don't have red bull but they are totally cool with you going to the corner store across from Firesign and bringing your own mixers.
Get there early and steal the leather sofas (sit beneath the buffalo, make the obligatory dances-with-wolves "tatunka" joke and warm up by the fire).
although last year, after not cleaning the soot out of the fire place since...well, ever, it practically blew up and allegedly toasted everyone in those unique spots.
It's worth the risk.
This is a summer place for me only. I also ONLY like it when seated outdoors.
I love having cocktails on the deck on a nice sunny day. The view is wonderful. However, it often is WAY too crowded and the wait long. The good sized deck is fun in the summer and can get crazy!
The food is just good. I usually just get a bunch of snack food to tide us over for a "real" restaurant destination. I like their zucchini fries, but in general the food is average at best and fairly pricey.
Atmosphere is the name of the game here.
Tahoe City, CA
Category: American (New)
Tahoe City, CA
Category: Hotels
Tahoe City, CA
Category: Hotels
Tahoe City, CA
Category: American (New)
Tahoe City, CA
Category: American (New)
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