Cold Water Brewery and Grill

This is a pleasant brewpub and restaurant. They have outdoor seating for those perfect summer days and plenty of seating indoors. The burgers were good and the mahi mahi tacos were awesome. They have a great selection of their beers on tap, which were crisp and refreshing. The restaurant is a little pricey, but that’s life in South Lake Tahoe. There was plenty of parking when we stopped in for lunch.

Star ratings. 1 bad. 2 below average. 3 average / neutral. 4 good. 5 excellent. Loved that street corn came as a side for the tacos, great flavor. I wish i saw this more often. The only thing with the food was the Mahi tacos had too much sauce and put down first instead of on top, which caused the tortilla to soak up the sauce and split, making it difficult to eat. Sat outside, which I'd assume is your busiest spot. Thus, you'd put your most experienced servers. Ours was not. Every server has an off day. My wife was a server for nearly 20 years. Ours seemed to be newer and had a hard time keeping up. He'd only visit one table at a time, then go back in vs. stopping at a couple at a time to maximize his efficiency. Most tables just need a quick item. Beer flights come with up to 7 pours on the holder, which is nice. Good beer, better than most "tourist breweries". Limited outdoor seating. Larger groups could sit inside.

Maria was a great and very attentive server. I love the vibe here, and I especially appreciate that they brew their own beer on-site. My wife and I enjoyed several beers and cocktails. The food was delicious; we ordered the mushroom burger, fish and chips, and minestrone soup. Everything was great, and I will definitely be back.

This was our first time here and we enjoyed it! They had wax sticks for the kids to play with instead of coloring and they really had fun with them. The service was great, very attentive staff. The food was delicious and they have good happy hour specials. We got the mahi tacos and mushroom burger. The kids got a cheeseburger and corn dog.

I really want to write this place a five but I just can’t. The atmosphere is really cool and modern, but it’s just one of those places that the employees and owners are way more interested in talking to each other than you. I did dine on my own, at the bar. The menu was great. I was able to make the substitution to the Poké bowl…that being said it was more than $20 for a Poké bowl, which was a little bit high. I have just recently discovered how delicious they are and it’s one of my go to now, but this one was not very big for the price. The fish was really delicious and there were no issues with the flavor whatsoever. I think the thing that prevented it from being a five is that just outside the front doors,there is a sign that says that “menus do not magically appear. Go see the hostess” I don’t understand why businesses add these snarky little comments. When I went outside, I stood at the host stand for a little while, waiting for someone to come up. Basically the beginning of lunch started with a clever comment about seeing the host before you sit down then when you go to see the host, you have to wait because there’s nobody there. The person that did take my order was really nice though, and even though there was really no engagement through the meal, I would definitely go back and enjoy the good food and maybe try their happy hour.

The husband and I stopped in for a quick lunch and a beer. We chose a table by the street, so it was quite noisy (our fault) We both ordered salads and some wings. The wings were great , my Cesar salad not so much. I had pieces of brown lettuce all for $21.xx. When we told the waitress we got a weak apology.A cc charge was added to the bill without asking if we were using a cc and taxed on that amount. I'm not sureif that's a legal practice but ok. I write many reviews and can't understand the high ratings but perhaps it was an off day. I found it to be mediocre at best.

Cold Water is a cool place with a great atmosphere, featuring several inviting rooms and a very nice bar that boasts a large selection of draft beers. I loved the open kitchen -although I didn’t have the chance to try the food during my visit, food looked delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed their happy hour, which is well worth checking out. (2-5pm on week days)z Around 6 PM the ambiance becomes even more vibrant. I ll be back for sure .

Clean and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Service was great. Good beer options along with mixed drinks.Parking can get a little tight in the parking lot but decent enough.

The Mahi Mahi Tacos are amazing and it is great to watch sports games there. The service is also amazing everyone is so nice. And the ambiance is amazing.

Great place! Laid back environment, my server was great...attentive and friendly! Food was crazy good! Had a House salad with chicken and avocado. The dressing on the salad is what made it so good. Definitely would recommend a visit!

One of the nicest looking restaurants on the blvd with a cute little outside patio (on the parking lot). Inside, a long bar and just okay looking...or normal. The good: in-house brews, and my Sausage stack -- topped with beer cheese (like a creamy hollandaise), one beautiful sausage, diced multi-colored potatoes (not german potato salad as menu said), and sauerkraut...excellent overall. [$25, 4.5 stars]. Others in my party all loved their foods. The not-so: service was sparing, forgetful, and slow. I'd go back, but not running.

Came here with a group of friends for a dinner on a Friday night! We mostly stopped by because we heard great things about the fish and chips and wanted to try it out for ourselves while we were in Tahoe. It was pretty busy around the time we went but we were okay with sitting outside and were seated pretty quickly. I will say, it was kind of chilly and windy so most of my group was pretty cold since there were no heat lamps outdoors. We had an amazing waitstaff that were incredibly kind, patient, and helpful with our questions! I ended up ordering the Baja fish tacos and my group and I shared appetizers of the Ahi Poke and Truffle fries. I also got a beer! The poke and fries were soooo good! I couldn't stop snacking on either even once my tacos came out. My fish tacos were great! I loved the elote dip it came with and the combination of the cream, aioli, and toppings with the fish was too good. The sauce did have a nice kick too. The downside of our experience here was finding a hair in our food :( It wasn't on top of our food but cooked/fried into it. We did make this known to our server, who took it back and gave us a remake and a discount. The consideration was nice but it shouldn't have happened in the first place. Otherwise, this place is great in terms of taste and atmosphere.

We came here starving after a short hike, so it's highly possible we had "post-hike food goggles" on. Prices were on the high end for brewery food, but the quality is wonderful and portions are GIGANTIC. The Mahi Mahi Tacos ($24), Mushroom Burger ($25), and CW burger with added bacon ($22+$3) all hit the spot. The fries came in a heaping pile, and were oily golden fried and delicious. The house-made cider was a perfect refreshing touch too. Staff were super kind and attentive. The interior is rustic-feeling and clean.

Relaxed atmosphere. Plenty of cocktail and beer options though I visited with mostly non-drinkers. LOL We came for a little afternoon "snack" to tide us over till dinner. Buffalo wings were tasty, as were the truffle fries, though they lacked much truffle flavor. Crispy and salted well nonetheless. I ordered a beer flight and enjoyed every drop. I would definitely go back when visiting South Lake.

Monday dinner, and it was pretty busy. I came here with high(er) hope based on the reviews, took my husband for his birthday who loves beer. It must have been their "off" day here, service was not good, and food was okay. We came here with full intention of tasting all their beers but we left with tasting a single pint since we didn't get much service. The only good thing was there was plenty of parking spot. Maybe we'll try again, or maybe not...

The food was delicious. I was able to make a little substitution on the bowl. The atmosphere at the restaurant is pretty cool. It's modern and updated. The bartender that was acting as a server for me was friendly and shared what she liked on the menu .

We had to wait quite some time to order drinks, eve longer to order food. I got the stack of German sausage. It was 1 single sausage with beer cheese sauce. As I was eating my dry French fries (forgot my beer cheese and garlic aioli), I found a black hair on my fries-fried into the batter. I have red hair. Eeeewwww. Person hair. This German sausage was so-so, the nachos were lack luster with the beer cheese (not very good) and very little 'stuff'-meat, black beans etc. for $28 bucks it was cringe. My kids liked their poke bowl ok, and fish and chips-not the best but ok. I know it's S. Lake a Tahoe but the dishes we had were between $18-28. For the price not worth the food or beer. Beers were not particularly flavorful. Saison was ok. They do bring water out to your dog which was cool. Ambience inside eh, outside was a bit loud with street traffic.

Staff was super friendly and the place is well decorated! Can't complain about happy hour prices either.

So good. So glad we stopped for brunch. Drinks, food, service, price, location, all great. Will definitely come back when we're in the area. For brunch we had the scramble and the cold brew old fashioned and a screwdriver. All perfect. Tyler was great.

Wow this place has great energy and great food and the reviews about customer service were 100% true. Such an amazing experience.

Wow, that's all I have to say every plate was beyond delicious & amazing. The service along with the live music on a Thursday night was just incredible. The flavor on each dish was superb. Honestly the elote with the chips yum, the steak was done perfectly how I like it. I will definitely come back and rave about this place!! The desert was the cherry on top.

4.5 stars! We had a great experience. The place is nice with lots of seating. Our waiter was great, he was helpful with recommendations and attentive. Food came pretty fast too. - Caesar salad - the salad was really good, good flavor sauce & came with a piece of lemon that gave it a good zest. - Mahi Mahi Taco - I really enjoyed eating them. The fish was good size and cooked nicely. All the goodies on top added good flavor including avocado. The sauce was tasty and just enough, not too dry and not too wet for the tortilla to fall apart. It came with chips and corn covered in cheese, mayo &.... I didn't care for them. - Fried Chicken Sandwich - It had really good flavor, crispy while juicy and good portion. All the add-ons were also great including the coleslaw, well seasoned. Got truffle fries, which were great!

Their margaritas were awful. Fish tacos were ok but not great, fish and chips were good but not great. They didn't have standard items like cocktail sauce, salsa, a blender for iced drinks, etc. The service was ok but not very helpful or accurate on the phone. Ambiance was not great. Uncomfortable metal chairs to sit in and very noisy as everyone is packed together.

So good to be back in the old neighborhood; we do miss this area. Quality/Quantity - Ahi Poke Bowls - The wives got the same dish. They both REALLY liked this. It did look good. But as you know, I eat a lot of poke as it is. Fish and Chips - This looked REALLY good. And a generous quantity. My friend was not able to finish either the fish or the chips. And he is typically a big eater! Normally I would order this dish, but I am trying to eat healthier; wish me luck. Blackened Mahi Mahi Taco - My dish, and I was kind of disappointed. The mahi was NOT blackened, but I did not mind that. However, my portions of fish were so little. And the red cabbage was VERY generous. So the taste was really thrown off for me/unbalanced. Well, I did say I wanted to eat healthier. Got me a red cabbage taco, lol. And of course, I got their beer. Tasters were - Red Ale, Pine Acres Pale Ale, Freel Good IPA. As you already know because you are following, I have gone back to being a Red drinker. But their IPA was really smooth, too smooth, dangerously smooth. If I had time and was not trying to be healthier, I would have gotten that one also (or two, or three...). Atmosphere - Good size location, with both indoor & outdoor seatings. Indoor seating has tables and bar seating and a semi private room. The outdoors has tables and table top (barrel) seating; see pictures. Clean bathrooms and right as you enter. Open 7 days a week from 11:30am to 8pm or 9pm. Plenty of mall parking. Service - Good. Tyler did a good job. He checked on us frequently. Price - $121 + generous tip. Reasonably priced for what we got, well not for my red cabbage tacos, but thanks for making me eat healthier, ol. Owner Comments - Congrats on your success since 2014; sorry it has taken me 10 years to visit. But we are coming back more and more to the old neighborhood. :)

Food was fresh, had amazing flavor and came out so good! We got there right in time between brunch and lunch and got to try the brunch happy hour before it was done, decent drink prices and bartender had a good poor and was very attentive and made sure everything came out right. This place is great for groups, dates, and everything in between. Great atmosphere and very cozy and warm ambience, some upscale touches.

Menu changes every 6 months. Stopped in after a morning of hiking on Thursday. We like their casual environment and great service. Enjoyed their Red Ale and larger. Ordered a Cobb Salad (lettuce cut edges were brown) and mushroom burger (delicious).

Our first night in the Lake area and we were wanting a good craft libation and some tasty food! I started with the Ski Bum Sour which was fabulous. Love the milk washed bourbon! My husband had a sampler flight and then moved on to a pint with dinner. Fish and chips for him and the Ahi Poke Bowl for me. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Quite pricey for what we had but this area is known for pricier food from what we read ahead of time. We normally like to share meals but after a long day of travel from the east coast we were famished. The bartender served us and she was super sweet!

Great place to grab a burger, watch a game, and chat with locals and folks passing thru. We both got the CW burger med well because the waitress said the chef cooked it on the rare side - don't make our mistake! Order it the temp you want. We ended up with more well done than medium. Fries were yummy and my hot cocoa was great. Would go back to try the fried chicken sandwich for sure.

We stop here every time we're in the area because they were that good. This time, the food wasn't as good as usual. We had the turkey pesto sandwich, barbacoa torta and a truffle burger. It was all just OK. Me: "May I sub salad for the fries?" Server Kristen: "Sure!" Our bill was $8 higher than expected because they charged for the salad. It isn't even reflected on our bill. I had to ask Kristen why we were charged more than the menu listed as the price for the sandwich. At least disclose it when there will be an upcharge.

It was a perfect place to get a quick lunch on Thursday afternoon. Everything was top-notch for us. This place is clean , inviting , local flowers on the table , and cozy seats by the window. We loved it. Service was quick and attentive throughout our stay. Now let's talk about food It was EXCELLENT! The fried chicken sandwich was SO flavorful and juicy, probably one of the best we ever had. There were so many interesting add-ons on it, so it created a very vibrant taste. We highly recommend it. Fish & chips are top-notch, too. It took me back to England :) The beer on tap was great !

If you're in the South Lake Tahoe area, you have to try CW Brewery. The food is delicious! They have good beer options as well. The service is always good and they also offer outside seating if the weather is nice.

As a party of 7 with a dog, our table was prepared as soon as we got there. As we waited we struck up a conversation with the owner which was really great! Our servers were attentive and friendly. I started off with a mocktail - I forgot the name of it but it had pineapple in it. I liked the flavor but I overall thought it was too sweet. I also got the mahi mahi tacos - the elote was good but could have used a little more spice to it. The fish tacos also had a good blend of flavors but I thought the fish was dry. Very large portion sizes!

Came by for good grub after a morning hike. We were seated promptly and they were busy but not too crowded. It was a little dark inside but they had the TV on. Shrimp ceviche: 4 stars. Tasted pretty fresh and balanced flavors with enough tanginess. Not the best I've had but it was pretty up there with many I've had. However not too much shrimp. Plenty of chips thought. Fish and chips: 4 stars. 2 huge pieces of batter fish over a large bed of fries. Tasted pretty with the tartar sauce and malt vinegar. Truffle burger: 4 stars. Tasty charred burger with mushrooms, caramelized onions, with light truffle flavors. So yummy. I would totally ordered it again. Came with salad or fries. Beer flights: got to say I love it that they allow you to order the beer in smaller size to try out the flavors. $3 for a 3 oz glass of beer in flavor of your choice. Got the plum ipa, strawberry seltzer and juicy IPA. I totally enjoyed it because I can't drink too much and this allow me to try multiple different flavors. They also had mocktails and the little one got the watermelon one. Tasted ok.

I came here not really knowing what to expect -- just heard they had good beer and some food. But wow, this place blew me away.! First off, the ramen is legit. The broth is incredibly flavorful. Perfectly cooked noodles, and a perfectly soft-boiled egg. It's not often you find ramen this good outside a dedicated ramen shop. Their craft brews are top notch! I ordered the Aqua Fria Lager and it was really good! The vibe is chill, with an open taproom feel and friendly staff. Definitely coming back. Ramen and beer might just be my new favorite combo.

What a wonderful experience. We visited for our anniversary. Kevin the owner was an amazing host. The staff are so nice and attentive. Never had an empty glass. The burgers were spectacular. One of the best burgers I have ever had. The space is much larger than it looks from the outside. Thanks for making our anniversary so fun and special.

Reasonable beer samples ($3 for up to 7 to make a flight) that were all yummy and a delicious pretzel! Plus the service was fast and friendly. Smiles all around(:

Came here after a morning of hiking for some good food and cold beer. The menu is has a variety of selection for both food and drinks...nice cold strong beer! We ordered salmon entree and fish & chips. The salmon was grilled - good but a tad dry. The fish & chips had a nice crunch but a little too much batter. Service was great! Or server knew her menu and was very attentive! Will probably try to burgers next time!

SO dog friendly!!! Absolutely amazing service! We had Theresa as our server and she was EXCEPTIONAL!! The reason we'll be back Wow! Side note the food was fantastic as well.... But service does for US! Thank you Theresa!

We had outstanding service seated in the bar area. One of the most attentive servers we have had. Our food as always was on point and the drinks were tasty. We love coming here.

Their hazy was the coldest, crispest summer beer I think I've ever had. Highly recommend! Mahi mahi tacos were flavorful, with a kick, but not too spicy. My hubby's burger was a juicy & generous half-pounder served with sea-salt flakes, just the right amount; plus, they welcomed my pup with a bowl of water. Impeccable service as well!

Staff is super friendly and helpful! Brought my family along this time. Everything was good, but the Mac and cheese recipe is still changed and lacking flavor /: otherwise happy with our meals! We love all the seating options and friendly staff.

Great place! We had tri tip tacos, strawberry salad and delicious beer! Sat in the bar and had a fantastic time! Bartenders are very friendly and helpful! Highly recommended!

Such an amazing brewery with great Beer, Food, and Staff. Perfect environment for a warm summer day or cold snowy evening. The food is 10/10 and would highly recommend anything on the menu. If you are debating on where to go for a good meal and a good drink. The beer is good and the cocktails are on point. Make some time and pay Cold water a visit. This place is my go too whenever I am in south lake.

My husband and I stumbled upon this brewery on our way back into town from the Kiva Dog Beach. We knew we wanted to eat a brewery as my husband collects brewery stickers on his travels and when we noticed that Cold Water had an outdoor patio that we could eat at with the pups, it was an easy decision. I opted to try the mahi mahi tacos with the side of elote dip and chips and I was pleasantly surprised! Being from San Diego, I knew it was a risk to get fish and a Mexican dish as I live in a place with some of the best of both, but it was the best sounding thing on the menu. The mahi mahi was flavorful and cooked perfectly and even so, the star of the show was the elote dip. It was so delicious and I could have just eaten an entire plate of that and be happy. My husband opted for a salad and while he deemed it good, he didn't think it was anything overly special. I have to dock a star due to the fact that they did not have brewery stickers! Our server told us that he gets asked often for stickers and has requested them be created, but it has yet to happen. You have to have stickers if you're a brewery!

Went here because of Yelp reviews . And wanted somewhere out of the chaos of Heavenly area! Glad we went . Lots of locals ----good sign ----service was exceptional and the food was tasty . Had a burger and fries and the burger was sooooo delicious ---juicy and cooked to perfection. Would definitely go back.

If you appreciate good beer, do not miss this place. The beer is world-class, the food is excellent, the service top-notch. In two back-to-back visits, we had the cw burger, cobb salad, mahi-mahi tacos, and ahi poke bowl, and slurped on a Munich lager, Mexican lager, Irish red and "Farm Snack" Saison. Super Duper Yummy!!!!!

Tahoe must!! It's always a great place for dinner or lunch and it's clean! Watermelon margaritas & poke bowl are my summer favorites!! Winter go to has to be the steak and Mac & cheese!

Definitely on par with the high rating. Neat, clean establishment. Good food, good brew, good tunes, and GREAT service by the young lady on her first training day. Worth the trip!

We were looking for a good burger after the beach and this restaurant has them! Burger were good, fries were good, and the wings were spicy and a little burnt but I like that. Vibes were vibin. Cozy atmosphere. Great waiter!

We always eat outdoors. Love this spot. Just FYI: They charge more to use credit card. Food is priced higher than you'd expect ($21 for a salad) so the fee stands out. Great food. Just point that out.

It was our first time here and we were so impressed by the menu! Lots of great options and there's something for everyone. We had a reservation and were quickly seated. I was pleasantly surprised to see a high chair, kids water cup and wikki stix waiting for our toddler. So thoughtful! We started with a beer flight and were delighted by the variety of flavors from the Holla Back Heff to the Oktoberfest to the Mexican Chocolate Stout. Of course we had to have an IPA in there too, which was also really tasty! For an appetizer, we shared the Elote dip which had great flavor and was big enough to share at a table for four. It was the perfect starter to our meal. I ordered the shoyu ramen with pork belly and was impressed by all the fresh veggies it came with! My almost two year old toddler also loved munching on the julienne carrots and noodles that were cooked to perfection. There was lots of depth to the broth and the pork belly had a nice smokiness that was really delicious! My husband got the fish and chips, which was a large portion of delicious beer battered rock cod and plenty of crispy fries (which helps when others at the table want to share your meal!). He also ordered a ski bum sour cocktail, made with milk wash bulleit, spiced apple simple syrup, lemon and nutmeg - which was flavorful and the right combination of sweet and sour. We also ordered the chicken tendys for our son and had enough left over to pack for his lunch the next day. For dessert, we had the chocolate cheesecake and key-lime pie. Both were yummy and felt like the perfect way to end our meal. Overall, we loved ambiance of the restaurant and the service was exceptional. Definitely a family friendly atmosphere and will surely be our new go-to spot when in Tahoe.

Fish & Chips & fries were outstanding! The ahi tuna bowl just perfect! Nicole our waitress was very attentive & Kevin the owner is very committed to provide outstanding food & service Beer delicious! Couldn't make up my mind so many choices.

Horrible service and very mediocre food . When looking online it sends you to square website setup instead of a current menu

The burger and fish & chips were delicious, and the $5 beer special was a nice bonus. We liked the pumpkin beer but loved the golden one even more. The honey on the chicken sandwich was a game-changer--definitely bringing that idea home. Food and service was fantastic, and we'll be back next time we're in Tahoe.

Great portions on the fish and chips and it was delicious! They don't always do to go order if the kitchen is busy, but when I called in to asked they graciously accommodated. I also recommend eating in as they have a great atmosphere..and drinks!

My husband and I were struggling trying to find a pet friendly place to eat and drink that had outdoor seating with a covered patio because it was raining off and on this past weekend. We stumbled upon Cold Water Brewery and we're so glad we found it. I ordered the Cobb salad, the half size is pretty filling so I was happy about that. My husband ordered the peat turkey sandwich. The food was amazing, the service was great, ambiance was just what we needed on our lunch date. Sometimes when you sit on outdoor patios, you're forgotten! But I didn't feel like that at Coldwater. The servers were friendly and attentive! Our water was always getting refilled, they were checking in on us to see how the food was, if we wanted to order more beer, and if there was anything else we needed to just let them know. They were even checking on our dog, Skyler since we ordered her some food too. She enjoyed her 3 plain burger patties! Thanks for the amazing experience! We'll definitely be coming back to Coldwater when we visit Tahoe again.

This is a very warm and fun restaurant. I love the burger and fries, shocking, I know. The waiters are great. I go almost every time I'm in Tahoe.