George .Berlioz
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Moody’s in Truckee – A Night of Jazz, Mountains, and Mind-Blowing Flavor
Three people. Three plates. Three desserts.
One unforgettable night at Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats, tucked right in the heart of historic downtown Truckee, in the old Truckee Hotel where the mountain air meets the soul of jazz.
We came in on a Truckee Thursday, live music echoing through the streets, and found ourselves immersed in something rare—an experience that felt intimate and alive, like something curated just for us.
To start, we ordered the lamb tartare—and I’ve gotta pause right there. I’ve had tartare around the world, and one of my ex-brothers-in-law is literally a top French chef in Latin America. I don’t say this lightly: this tartare was insane. The texture, the balance, the way it sat on the palate with just enough acidity and fat to light up every sensor. Elegant, primal, and executed with confidence. If you’ve got the guts for raw lamb done right, this is a must.
For mains:
• I had the Pork Chop Ibérica, cooked with a level of care that’s hard to come by. Fat rendered just right, juicy center, and the kind of crust that speaks to fire and time.
• She went with the New York Strip, medium rare—rich, bold, and unapologetically steak-forward, just how it should be.
• And the birthday boy (her nephew) ordered the Summer Garden Campanelle—a vibrant pasta dish loaded with seasonal veggies that looked like it was picked straight from the garden out back. The flavors were fresh, pure, and grounded in the kind of mountain terroir that makes the Sierras special.
We also tried their virgin Bloody Mary, which had this briny backbone—maybe from pickle juice? I could be wrong, but probably not. It was delicious, and unusually complex for a zero-proof version.
And that strawberry Italian soda with whipped cream? That wasn’t a drink—that was a dessert in disguise. We should’ve ordered three.
Desserts were on point—rich, well-portioned, and served with joy. And speaking of joy…
Let me tell you about Julia, our server.
The kind of person who elevates a meal just by showing up with presence and grace. She didn’t just bring us food—she guided us through it. Her descriptions painted flavors before they ever hit the table. You could hear her passion, and it made the experience that much more delicious. She reminded us that food isn’t just taste—it’s storytelling.
This wasn’t just a meal—it was a moment.
Live jazz playing in a century-old hotel, people leaning into conversation, plates hitting the table like punctuation marks in the night.
Moody’s doesn’t try to be the “best restaurant in Tahoe.”
It just is. Quietly. Confidently. Without needing to say a word.