The Lakefront Restaurant

Way overpriced for very mediocre "fine dining". Sweet potato soup and bone in pork chop were heavily salted and not special at all. I had high hopes for this quaint, cozy, and well serviced restaurant. The wine recommendation and cocktails were excellent. Sadly I will not be returning until there is a chef change.

I understand that it's Mammoth and there's the high altitude, Mammoth tax ! But the price is ridiculous! $60 entree? $16 bread basket? We knew before getting there, so we wanted to try anyway, waiting to be blown away by the food... Well, we were not! Food was good, serving size really good, plating nice, service good... But not a $60 entree, sorry.

Very overpriced for the quality. $36 for only 2 scallops is ridiculous, and the $60+ steak was nothing special. Not impressed.

Beautiful Lakeside Restaurant that's stood the test of time and has only gotten better. This rustic wood garnished gem has everything you need and oozes Atmosphere. My wife and I spent our Anniversary enjoying the bar/lounge while our table was set. Once seated started with the Diver Scallop app before we moved on to the Elk Medallions over Risotto, and a Bison (osso bucco style) entre. The Elk was perfect! We then washed it down with a incredible 2017 bottle of Ridolfi Brunello. It was magical. We look forward to enjoying this beautiful place again in the winter.

I feel inclined to share our experience at this restaurant. My husband and I finally visited after waiting a bite (due to the high prices), hoping I’d find our new favorite Mammoth restaurant… unfortunately, we were seriously disappointed. I do not mind paying top dollar for these special ingredients offered on this menu. However, this was not the problem. Each dish we received, although presented well, seemed to get more bland and underseasoned. We started with the mushroom soup and ($16!) bread basket which was fine and worth it, yummy bread. Second course we ordered lobster ravioli and gem salad. I’ve never had a more lacking ravioli. Hardly any lobster and simply no flavor. The salad was fine but again, overpriced for what you get. I would imagine more decadence than a squirt of balsamic over 5 lettuce leaves and a few nuts. We had caviar prior so the main dish we (thankfully, despite the waitress trying to make us order 2) decided to share was the black cod and it was equally as underwhelming… it was a mash of mystery ingredients and an overcooked, under glazed piece of cod. I opted out of dessert (and that’s saying something since I’m pregnant!) and my husband also mentioned the beer tap needs cleaning. I can’t help but wonder if we made the wrong decision by ordering seafood. I’m not sure. As someone who has traveled and visited many 5 star restaurants and an experienced chef, I feel this place has some updates to do and hope they take customer feedback into account! I would loved to have had a different experience but it is what it is!

Unexpectedly great. First time staying at the lodge. It is very old school, but lodgy and cool. I didn’t know they had a restaurant so decided to try it. It was super cool. Definitely romantic…..too bad my wife wasn’t with me. Everything on the menu looked good. I had the summer salad and the sea bass. Both were quite good. The waitress and others were fantastic!

This is a good place to eat, however it is owned by Mammoth Mountain. The food taste and quality really dropped once Mammoth ski report (or their parent company) took over the food. Avoid their lunch service. Not good and very limited lunch options. Dinner isn't too bad. But the prices are way too high. They really get you. I usually try to figure out somewhere else to go.

We came here for lunch and the food was so delicious (especially the soup), that we just had to return for dinner. Dinner was even more delicious... Paired with incredible ambience, including a cozy, intimate dining room, local piano player with stories all evening, and artisan cocktails. We would travel to Mammoth just to come to this restaurant again. Highly recommend!

Came here with my girlfriend during our Mammoth trip and honestly this was the standout meal of the whole weekend. We tried to snag a late New Year's Eve reservation and struck out, but the staff was super accommodating and fit us in on a following night. Very glad they did. The space itself is small, cozy, and intimate in the best way. It feels warm and inviting, especially after a long day in the cold, and sets the tone for a relaxed, linger-over-wine kind of dinner. The food was excellent across the board. We ordered elk, cod, and scallops and the scallops were the clear mic drop. Perfectly cooked, rich, and memorable. Our server recommended a bottle of wine that paired beautifully with everything and felt like someone actually listened instead of just pointing at the most expensive option. Service all around was warm, attentive, and unpretentious, which is not always a given in resort towns. Dessert was sorbet, simple but refreshing, and my girlfriend ordered a port she really enjoyed. After dinner we took the rest of the wine, grabbed a seat by the fireplace, and played chess, which felt like the most civilized way possible to end a night in the snow. Logistics wise, getting here can be a little annoying, especially if you are staying up at Mammoth Mountain Inn. You will want to call a taxi and plan ahead. That said, the extra effort was completely worth it. This is easily one of the best restaurants in Mammoth and the kind of place that makes you forget about the drive once the first plate hits the table.

Dined here many times. The food is good, the atmosphere beautiful the service and the people horrific. They do not answer the phone so you must leave a VM, text or email your reservation request. I did so on a Sunday at 1pm requesting a reservation for five for the following Friday or Saturday at any time beginning as early as 5pm. I did not hear back until Wednesday evening with a text message stating they were full. The GM Joshua Hernandez was unresponsive when I expressed my feelings of discontent with the tardy reply. They simply do not care if you are unhappy or upset. It's a small restaurant and they can easily fill it so a customers negative feedback is just handled with a F YOU attitude.

Good service, great views, and pretty good food... if you're at Twin Lakes and you are coming from a hike or fishing off the lake... perfect opportunity to check it out.

Enjoyed a wonderful evening at the lakefront! Our server, David, was an absolute delight and the ambiance is so cute and homey - very reminiscent of a holiday Hallmark movie. The risotto was the star of the show, however, we could have lived without the lobster bisque. Tasted more like a squash soup rather than a bisque, but still worthy of trying.

First off this is the only restaurant within the whole vicinity so reservations are highly required. We ended up not eating at the restaurant and just ordering at the bar because it was fine dining only and they had no kid options besides a plain butter and cheese pasta so not a great place to take picky eaters. The ambience of the place is definitely cozy and warm.

We were here twice today. The first time we decided to grab a drink in the bar and listened to music. We had a fabulous time. We had a reservation for dinner so we came back later for that. The dining area is made up of 10 tables so it's very quaint. We started with the pork belly appetizer and bread both delicious. My husband really enjoyed his elk medallions. I thought they were tasty as well. I ordered the lobster pasta. It felt like half the pasta was missing sauce. It ended up being pretty flavorless. The pasta itself was tasty. The sauce just needed to be mixed with all the pasta not just poured on top. The service was amazing at the front and dining area. I can't wait to come back and get a cheese plate in the bar.

We had a wonderful experience here. The food was incredible, especially the elk medallions. Super tender and flavorful. Everything on the plate was beautifully assembled and worked perfectly together. We will definitely be back on our next trip to mammoth.

We went Mammoth and stayed in Tamarack Lodge for our one year anniversary. We had our anniversary dinner at the Lakefront restaurant. Needless to say, everything was perfect! This is an upscale restaurant and the service from the staff depicts this perfectly. They are knowledgeable, friendly and very attentive. The food is delicious. To start we got the soup of the day which was a roasted carrot soup and short rib ravioli to start. The soup was great for the cold windy night we were there. The ravioli was full of flavor. For the mains we got the duck and the dry aged ribeye. First off the portions were huge you will not leave hungry. These plates were beautifully presented and tasted amazing. To finish off everything we got the cannoli. Light and airy with the berries mixed in the ricotta. To drink we got a dirty martini and on of their specialty cocktails that I cannot pronounce but man were they great! Thank you to the whole team for making our anniversary a memorable one.

We went here to for an anniversary dinner and took our young child with us. They request that children stay seated and we understood and know our child well enough that they could meet this request. I did however feel that we got looks from other patrons because we brought our 4 year old to dinner here. Regardless, she did well- behavior wise and ate well, too. Limited options for children but it's okay. Da hubs and I were pleased with our dishes. And the service was polite, kind, and attentive. The ambiance was quiet with some light jazz and a whole cabin vibe. Just like where you are-- in the woods next to the lake. Overall, it was a nice dinner and experience.

Was here a few weeks ago to celebrate a friend's birthday. Had a very mixed experience. The place itself was lovely and cozy. Exactly what we had envisioned. Server was very kind at attentive. Ordered our food, and that's when things got a little strange. We noticed that no dishes were coming out of the kitchen to any of the diners waiting. The place isn't that big, and clearly there was some sort of issue. We were apologized to a few times by our server. For reference, we had an 8:15 reservation and I believe we finally got our food at around 9:45pm. The strange thing was our server offered us a commentary glass of wine due to the excess wait for our food, to which our group of 4 said yes to. However, our server informed us it would be a single glass of wine which we then could divide out and share. Is this normal? The veal and the lamb dishes were divine. Completely delicious. The two ribeyes at our table came out so under (they were still blue), but because we had waited so long, our party chose to just eat them. The table behind us, however, had to send theirs back due to the same reason. The ribeye was about 30% blubbery, inedible fat. Not worth the price point. Also we were unable to get any sort of birthday dessert/option/etc. It was never mentioned, and it was already so late we were ready to go. I have very mixed feelings about this place, and would be hesitant to return. I am hoping this was just a one off night, as there were bits and pieces that were wonderful.

If there were more stars to give I would!!!! This restaurant exceeded our expectations. From the moment you walk in, the intimate dining room with only 10 tables. The attention to detail and customer service was truly exceptional. The food was excellent, highly recommend the elk medallion (sorry, that is the one picture we forgot to take because we devoured it too quickly).

Way over priced, cost to portions. "Aged" ribeye steak, could not have weighed more than 3oz's raw, 1/8 1/4" thick, probably why they fail to mention the portioned size on the menu, old trick, this was a sandwich serving with all the gristle and fat that came with it, not a fine dining typical 8-16oz size! The "Elk medallions", that looked more like lamb chops, were smaller than a silver dollar, only served 2 ! There was no skimping on the camauflouge layed on top of all the proteins though, again old food prep stuff. Sad and Too bad, probably best to just have the bar food, it would be cheaper, maybe? I put 2 stars for the ambiance and service.

Ambiance outstanding; service outstanding: breadbasket outstanding. Entré horrible. $68 for a "ribeye" which was about an 1/8" thick and full of fat and gristle. I am all for paying that price for a good steak, however this was something you'd see at a Denny's steak and eggs breakfast. Actually, Denny's is better. This "steak", for $68, was 90% inedible. The server offered us another entré or complimentary dessert however we were SO disappointed we just wanted to get out of there. We were there for our anniversary and had had our reception there back in '91. This restaurant does not compare to what it used to be.Shame on you Lakefront Restaurant for taking advantage of your customers.

Intimate cabin restaurant with good food. The only thing missing was some hot chocolate and fresh snow. The staff was friendly and attentive .

Absolutely stunning atmosphere, service, and meal. Highly recommend coming as a special treat while in Mammoth! A cozy spot for a small group or a couple. Come early before your reservation for a pre-dinner drink at their cozy lounge while playing a game of chess by the fire. Then enjoy their kind staff, wonderful attention to detail, and delicious flavors at dinner, all within a cabin like dining room with great classics (Frank Sinatra, etc) playing gently in the background. After our meal, they had live music in the lounge!

I was really looking forward to a good meal at Lakefront Restaurant, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to expectations. I ordered the ribeye medium rare, as the server recommended--that's supposedly how the chef prefers to prepare it. What came out, though, was more like a thin skirt steak: overcooked to well-done, lacking in juiciness, and surprisingly bland for a cut that's usually known for its flavor. The side of potatoes didn't help much either--they were completely unseasoned and tasted like they had been boiled and forgotten. When I asked for something to add flavor--steak sauce, hot sauce, anything--I was told they didn't have any. That sealed the experience for me. A steakhouse-style dish should never be this flat and flavorless, especially without any condiments available. Beautiful view, but the food seriously needs work.

We had not been to this restaurant in more years than I can remember, but we finally made it back on our most recent trip to Mammoth. There were great things and not so great things about the food and wine on this visit. What's to like? The amuse-bouche was a delightful carrot soup. My entree was the elk medallions - delicious! Prepared perfectly and very tasty. What's not to like? The bread that used to be free in most restaurants is now $15 here. Not only was it unmemorable (and the amount of butter supplied microscopic), one of the pieces was still half frozen - icky. The pheasant entree was an incredibly small portion and not very tasty; the mushrooms under it were, however, quite good. We usually order wine by the glass, especially since we have to drive back to our condo. The pour seemed scanty compared to what we get in most restaurants and not great wine to boot. We are used to getting a 6 ounce pour at the restaurant we frequent most often at home, and it's just hard to believe this was more than about 4 ounces. The last thing I will mention is that our waitress seemed to have an attitude. She was not a friendly person. Maybe she just had a bad night, but the other staff we dealt with were so nice that she stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb. Order with caution and, unlike us, complain about the frozen bread instead of letting it go as we did. We were celebrating our anniversary and did not feel like making a fuss. All in all, it will possibly not make it back on the list of places to eat the next time we are in Mammoth. Very sad as this was always one of our faves.

25 Years ago my husband proposed to me here.... I said yes. We recently went back and not only is it still as charming, beautiful and historic... the inside is still exactly the same and the service, food and staff still exceptional. A beautiful setting amongst the mountain, Twin Lakes, cottages and cabins that you will remember for a lifetime. A great place for a marriage proposal

The ambiance earns it a 5 star. Great place to voyage to when you want to get out of the snow. Food was good. Drinks were great. Ambiance was amazing.

overpriced! nothing special small portions server continued to try to sell more dishes

My wife and I ate here twice cause the food was so good. I celebrate my 66th birthday here and then came back and ate here the night before we left. We had a cabin at the Tamarack Lodge and it had a full kitchen. This restaurant only serve dinner from 5:00pm until 9:00pm and reservations are highly recommended, the seating is limited, but the food is well worth the price they are charging. The waiter we had the second night was really knowledgeable about the history of the place and of the area up in Mammoth Lakes. There was still snow in the month of May, several feet of it. The lodge has a full bar and a big fireplace connected to the restaurant and both nights we got lucky and had a table near the window to look out at the lake I would highly recommend this place to others. Thanks for making my birthday special and thanks to my wife for booking us this place for four nights.

VERY disappointed with the complete lack of customer service that we experienced in the last 2 days. They have a sign out front that literally says "now serving lunch and dinner". Well, on Thursday night we went in for dinner about 5 pm. Despite there being multiple employees around NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON acknowledged us while we stood at the host stand that says "wait to be seated". The bar tender looked at us multiple times, and I finally had to ask him if we can get seated. Only then did he tell us there was a private event at 7 and they couldn't fit us in. Today on Friday, we went in for lunch at noon. Again we waited at the host stand for about 10 minutes with multiple employees walking around and NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON acknowledged our existence. We finally walked out at 12:15.

My dad was able to get a last minute reservation after someone canceled day of. Such a beautiful location and cozy restaurant. My father brings us here every time we come to mammoth. The menu here is constantly changing but I'm sure the food is always delicious. Portions are a bit small here for the price but the atmosphere and location make up for it. I ordered the short rib ravioli and my father ordered the bison. My ravioli was originally an appetizer but they offered to double the portion to make it entree sized. Both dishes were great. The bison dish came with sweet potato gnocchi and the texture was a little mushier than I usually like but it was still good. The ravioli was a little rich and perhaps best as an appetizer but still wonderful! It was topped with dried mushrooms that add a lot of flavor. I think a different sauce may add a bit more dimension-perhaps a little sweetness or acidity? I do wish the bread was just a little better! I always look forward to bread as an appetizer! Especially since you must pay for this bread. It comes with two types of bread as well as olive oil/vinegar and butter. Our waitress was amazing and attentive. We were also offered a free tasting of something from the kitchen but can't remember what it was! It was tasty but quite rich as well. If you can't get into the restaurant they serve drinks at the front with a pianist singing and telling fun stories. Would recommend checking it out!

This restaurant is one of those you can't miss if in the area. Service was excellent. Food was delicious. Had the lamb chops and they were cooked to perfection. They also do a table side banana foster.

I came with some friends for dinner after skiing. We had the bees knees cocktail, which was great, but for the price, expected a bit of a fuller glass. The carpaccio was not quite what we expected. The crab was overwhelming the beef and it was overpriced for what you get. We also had the elk medallion and the trout. Both were cooked to our expectations. I'd say the trout was unexpectedly better than the elk. A bit of surf and turf of mammoth though. The Demi glacé on the elk was delicious but it could have used more salt on the meat. We tried several old fashioneds, but be warned, they charge $0.25 per cherry. I thought old fashioneds come with cherries. I was a bit surprised by this. Overall the quaint restaurant is a must in Mammoth.

Fantastic food & great ambience! We sat in front of the fire and listened to a great guitar & vocalist

This place is known for their Elk medallions and I highly recommend getting that if you have dinner here. I made the mistake of not listening to my server, Rebecca, when it came to the doneness of the Elk. They will cook it more towards rare, which is appropriate for the cut, but I [stupidly] asked for it to be a little more done than rare. Rebecca took the time to explain to me why the chef recommended that level of doneness but was nevertheless, very accommodating towards me. I would also recommend that you stick to the sauce that they serve with the Elk. It technically has blue cheese in it (and I hate blue cheese) but they do it with a lot of finesse and the overall mouth-feel is a tangy sauce that suits the gamey flavor of Elk meat extraordinarily. Although I did have the Elk, I don't think you could go wrong with anything on their menu. The host, Josh, was very welcoming towards me as a visitor from out of town and provided plenty of suggestions of things to do in the area (since I'm clueless). For the level of dining experience you receive and for the aesthetics of the interior, I felt that it was a very casual and relaxed environment and the guests were allowed to be themselves and let loose and just have a good time.

Delicious. Made reservation for Christmas. We enjoyed this place so much. We ordered eggplant purée Scallops on top of polenta. Then we also ordered mushroom ravioli and seared elk. My gf said the elk was the best red meat she's ever eaten. It was so tender. So juicy not at all gamey. The mushroom ravioli was amazing it paired with the elk so well. We wish it was more slices of elk tho. Service was amazing. (I'm so mad I didn't get a picture of the elk). I was distracted lol.

What an amazing restaurant! We had 10 friends for a dinner and celebration tonight. Service was perfect, atmosphere, food was just insane. French wine was the best. Highly highly recommended..

Beyond exceptional, the food was DELICIOUS. The service was awesome as well. We came here for our honeymoon dinner and everyone was very attentive without being bombarding. It was very romantic and I'm so thankful for everyone's attitude. We also met a couple who was there for their anniversary and also went there for their honeymoon... that says alot.. my husband and I got the lobster ravioli, filet mignon, and the peanut butter cookie.

We really enjoyed our dinner at the Lakefront Restaurant in Tamarack Lodge! The service was outstanding, the food was fantastic, and the atmosphere is cozy. This was a highlight of our trip to Mammoth Lakes.

I love the service easy to make reservations, small and very intimate. Chocolate mousse was divine!! Sea Bass was amazing as well

Outstanding food and service. Accommodated our needs. Dinner started with an amuse bouche. Bread and butter was served without an extra charge. This was the best meal I've had in a long time. I will always return when I visit Mammoth or Lee Vining.

My favorite restaurant ever!!! Elk medallions are always my go to and I'm never disappointed. Joel plays piano in the lounge on weekends during the season- go see him before your meal!! Service is impeccable. I visit every time I'm in town.

My family were rejected to be seated inside during lunch. Instead they offered me 45! minutes wait to be seated outside on the burning sun and feed mosquitoes. They had multiple available tables inside ready for me. But instead of my money they getting one star. You can continue follow your rules or you can work around and satisfy more customers. Stupidity. Bad customer service.

The best meal we had while in Mammoth. We had lunch on the patio with our 2 kids and it was perfect. The flavor of our food was outstanding. Our server was attentive! We appreciated all of this as we had such bad luck with several other restaurants around mammoth area. Thanks Lakefront.

This is a very special gem in Mammoth. The ambiance is quiet, relaxing, and classy. The servers were all very welcoming and friendly. Even the bartender and pianist were friendly and talkative in the lounge. The drink menu is very extensive and cocktails very well made. Their appetizers were all very tasty and fresh. They even have complimentary bread and butter, and the butter is very sweet and tasty. They have live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. We were able to get a table without reservations on a Friday evening, but I recommend making reservations because their dining room is small.

always fantastic food great service little out of the way menu changes seasonally venison, and other meats are good

Was excited to try The Lakefront Restaurant for its creative dishes and private party like feeling. Get reservations for they are always booked. We ordered a variety of dishes so our family could sample each choice. All the combinations of flavors were new to us and we were all pleased but with this place you can't go off a review and need to try it out for yourself. The staff were friendly and helpful and from where we were sitting the view of the lake was a plus.

Hidden Gem in Mammoth Lakes. Flawlessly delicious food, perfect service, absolutely beautiful ambiance. My wife and I were just passing through here on our way back from Tahoe and this was hands down THE BEST MEAL OF OUR ENTIRE TRIP. Far better than hotel restaurants, including the Ritz Carlton in North Tahoe. We ordered the Lobster salad, Roasted Pheasant, and Black Cod. All were perfectly executed. Peanut butter puff/cookie dessert also paired nicely with chocolate ice cream. And my Sidecar (which they called "The Stanford") showed off the bartender's impressive skills. Overall, massive compliments to Chef "Alan" and his maestro, Chef Sean Davis. Thank you both for giving us a reason to return to Mammoth (aside from the amazing powder of course).

Just had dinner here and our server Mike was amazing The food was so delicious, from appetizers to entrees and desserts. 10/10

First and foremost, the food tastes mostly good. We ordered the mushroom bisque(excellent), apple salad (ok) Waygu Duo for 3 of us, (short rib was a bit too fatty, but tasty, small portions of meat) the kids pasta(mediocre) , and the pork tenderloin(enjoyed by our oldest son).For dessert we irdered the espresso mouse (very good) and the peach ice cream (poorly made ice cream that was not creamy or mixed well) The biggest issue at this restaurant is the staff. The gentleman who poured our water missed my sons glass and poured water all over the table. nobody bothered fixing the issue, they just brought us numerous napkins to cover the wet spot. So our once beautifully set table was now an eye sore. We placed our order. Our server forgot my husbands salad, forgot my wine, and forgot my sons beverage order. She had to be reminded for each one separately. (There are only 7 or 8 tables in the whole place.....) When I asked for extra Parmesan for my sons pasta, the server condescendingly stated that she'd have to charge us extra because "it's hand grated parmesan, not like out of a can." Not sure why she felt that was an appropriate statement to make, I expected that a "fine dining" establishment would serve hand grated Parmesan. Her statement surely left a bad taste in our mouths. This Could be such a little gem. Definitely needs new staff. For this reason we will not be retuning, too pricey for a mediocre experience.

Food quality is excellent, but some portions are quite small. Be prepared to order appetizer, salad, bread, entree, and dessert if you are hungry. Nice, quiet atmosphere for dining, and the service is attentive.

The food and service at The Lakefront was outstanding. The lamp chop appetizer with hummus was absolutely delicious. For entrees, we had the Elk Medallions and Colombian River Red Trout, both of which were cooked to perfection. The accompanying mushrooms, vegetables and purées were unbelievably flavorful. When we shared with our waiter that we were celebrating a birthday and a retirement, he offered us a complimentary dessert. We chose the white chocolate mousse with macadamia crumble and jam. To die for! It was a most memorable meal, and we are looking forward to enjoying another one when back in the area. Thank you for a great evening!

Absolutely loved everything about our visit here We have previously only been here for a cocktail in the lodge bar and sitting room, but recently came for dinner. From the amazing specialty cocktails, to the friendly service, to the delicious food, and not to mention the gorgeous historic lodge itself, this place does not disappoint. Though it may be considered a bit pricey, the quality and attention to detail is every bit worth it. We had the elk medallions and the braised short ribs for dinner, both of which were cooked perfectly and had excellent flavor. We specifically came for our anniversary dinner and it was such a wonderful experience. I highly recommend coming here for a beautiful meal and atmosphere.

Recently had a wonderful dinner, at the Lakefront. Cocktails, wine and dinner were all great! A special place for a warm, friendly, celebration experience. So glad this restaurant is open again!

DAYS LATER & STILL RIDING THE HIGH OF THIS EXPERIENCE. Me and my significant other walked in the door and were greeted by Kate and Carson with much kindness, but they let us know they were booked for the evening. We ended up talking and Kate went out of her way to get us a table that moment! (Felt really special being that the restaurant has a beautifully intimate 9 tables in the whole space) Our waiter Brian came to us with curiosity of our needs and attentiveness of how we could have the best experience. He was PERFECTLY informational and aware of every item/ingredient on the menu + pairing drinks. We really appreciated how calm and easy he was to chat with, the way that he heard us, as well as the timing between visits to our table being just exactly enough. We had: SALAD: can't recall the name but it was delightful and a flavor adventure SOUP DU JOUR: smoked carrot and apparently magic....SO GOOD...like eating a creamy vegetable version of a blissful campfire with friends ELK CHOPS: Our first time trying them and they were prepared and tasted decadent CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE: we could have cried...it was just the right amount of lava to cake ratio, just rich enough in flavor for us to split and the raspberry sauce tied it all together WINE: the whole time with a pinot noir The presentation. It was like an edibley immersive art experience. We were so enthralled I only remembered to take a photo of the desert! The atmosphere is warm, lovely and cabin like. Once we finished our meal we even got to walk out to the entrance area (which is also the reception area for the Tamarack Lodge & Resort) and sit with a glass of wine at a fireplace near the piano that a sweet gal we chatted with had just finished a set on. The entire environment, staff, flavor-fulness, home like feeling and cleanliness was more than we could ask for. We are looking forward to staying in one of their rooms/cabins and coming back to the restaurant every time we are in town!

ordered the soup, salad, and chefs plate (duck). left licking the plate. i wouldn't order the mushroom soup again, though i wouldn't turn one down either. the machego salad and duck were delicious and i thought the whole meal was quite affordable for what i was presented/served

I was a little disappointed in our experience with the Lakefront restaurant. Highlights: The Elk was cooked perfectly and the dish was great overall. Nice cocktail list, and the ambience takes you back in time. Lowlights: The wine list was the usual mass produced wines one might expect to find in a normal California dining establishment. Not many intriguing offerings considering a Master Somm curates the list. I would have expected some nice esoteric bottles that would be interesting to try. Those were in Short Supply. The service was a bit snobby. The salad had watermelon radish that looked like it was pickled ginger. It tasted like it had been around for a few days.