West Shore Cafe and Inn

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  dario ambrosini
a year ago
Fantastic views, great property and amazing people. We had the pleasure of spending a night at the West Shore cafe and were amazed by the experience. Sarah and Stephanie, as well as the entire staff, went above and beyond expectations to make our stay memorable. The food, the views of Lake Tahoe from our room, and the hospitality were all first class. We can't wait to return.

  Jason Garraway
a year ago
Fantastic lake view! We were told from a friend in San Francisco that West Shore had the best dinner views on Lake Tahoe. We were not disappointed! The staff made us feel at home, and made sure that our experience was memorable. We had the crab cakes, short rib, and ribeye frites. Food was cooked to perfection and presented well. So glad we saved this as our last dinner experience while we vacationed! You will not be disappointed!

  Vy Cu
2 years ago
This review is for the restaurant only. I did not stay at this hotel. Both the food and the service was hit or miss. Mostly misses. All the host staff we encountered were unprofessional and unattentive. We arrived 15 minutes before our reservation and walked over to the host's podium. The host person was on the phone while we stood there, in front of her, as she talked away on the phone, and did not even acknowledge us with a quick "I'll be right with you."When she finally decided to acknowledge us, she said our table wasn't ready yet and we could wait in the garden and they'll come get us. 5 minutes into our reservation time, we were not notified, so we walked back to the host's podium, and watched her not only seat 3 other parties right in front of us, but ignore us and avoid all eye-contact with us altogether. I had to approach another host person and let her know that it was already 15 minutes past our reservation time. Then she walked away to check on this, and told us our table will be ready in another 5 minutes.Considering we made reservations for the fixed-menu Award-winning dinner on the Pier (under "Experiences"), which is a $169 per person dinner, which you have to pay in full while booking the reservation, I would expect more professionalism and punctuality from the staff.The food was hit or miss as well. The Fillet Mignon was cooked well. But the dessert, the lava cake, was not lava at all. It was not only fully cooked (no chocolate lava coming out when you cut into it), it was also incredibly dry. Completely overcooked.The only reason I'm giving 2 stars here is because the only "hit" of the night was our waitress. Unlike the other staff we encountered, she was very professional and attentive. So she deserves some credit.Overall, a very disappointing place to have an anniversary dinner. Will not be returning. Would not recommend.

  Matthew Turco
5 years ago
We were attending a wedding and the entire event was top notch. Staff was nice and attentive. The entire venue was gorgeous with a great view of the lake. Food was also great, I had their steak and my girlfriend had the halibut. Was very surprised at how well the halibut was cooked and how delicious it was. Many places dry it out but they did a great job.

  Kirstie Harper
4 years ago
From booking to check out the service was so accommodating and extremely friendly. They offered ideas/things for us go do during our stay. They went above and beyond to make us feel special with our room. The view was lake front and gorgeous. The food at the cafe was superb, we really enjoyed the short rib & calamari. We loved our stay and appreciate all the great service.

  Lynne Reith
4 years ago
Beautiful medium sized upscale venue right on the lake. Inventive full bar and food menu to feed all types of eaters. Family friendly. They let you enjoy your meal, not in a big hurry to turn your table. Wide range of prices. In summer there is an outside bar and seating. My second meal there, consistently yummy.Last night was a Christmas toy drive and tree lighting with music, Santa and crafts for the kids. Our community thanks you.

  Stanley Mathew
2 years ago
Small menu with good variety but pricey. The salad, corn chowder soup and salmon were all great and service was good, too! Nice view of the lake. Reservations recommended and probably a good idea to dress up a bit.

  Katherine Melnyk
a year ago
Great restaurant with a nice view. We tried the special experience Pier Prix Fixe and really liked it. Pier Prix Fixe is a three-course menu with the glass of champagne and amisbush.The atmosphere was very calm and relaxing. This place is great for a romantic evening together. Starters were very delicious. I definitely recommend House Burrata. The taste of cheese, the taste of fruit and the honey are perfectly combined in this dish. Heirloom Tomatoes from Salads will be also a good choice for you. From Entrees we tried Juniper Crusted Elk Loin and Black Truffle Risotto. We liked more the meat. Elk Loin was well cooked, the cherry sauce and fried Brussels sprouts went very well with it. The risotto lacked a bit of flavor, in my opinion, it doesn't not have enough mushroom flavor. However, parmesan cracker also goes well with the risotto.

  Tristan Holsgrove
6 years ago
My family & I love the West Shore Cafe! We first stayed here on our honeymoon and we have been back every year since. The staff is always warm and friendly and the restaurant is fantastic. We often stay in mud season when the restaurant is closed, (best time to go), but even when a lot of the amenities are not offered we still have a blast!The rooms are clean and spacious, the views are breathtaking and the drive is easy. One year we stayed for Thanksgiving and the restaurant was closed and we found some take out from a nearby restaurant. The staff went above and beyond and set up a table in the restaurant and made a truly memorable experience.Our annual trip to the West Shore is always something we look forward to every year! I would recommend this place to anyone!Thanks again West Shore for all the memories!

  Patrick Dunn
11 months ago
Restaurant hasn t been GREAT since 2013. This place could be said to be a hit or miss but it s always a miss. The menu usually doesn t make much sense. This place loves to mix Ingredients that don t go together.

  Art S
2 years ago
Overall a good experience. The Drinks, calamari and wagyu burger were awesome. Unfortunately can't say as much for the halibut tacos and especially of the unbelievably salty truffle fries. Service was good and ambience was obviously fantastic. We would come back and try a few other things as well.

  Chandler Whipple
5 years ago
I attended a wedding here with my girlfriend. The location was amazing. Shaded Grove of to the side and a beautiful dock with lots of seating. The view of Tahoe was amazing and you can hear the water gently break into the shore. There's a few boats sitting nearby on the waste and a boat storage facility next door. Those are my only complaints. The staff were friendly and did a great job with the event.

  Brandon S
a year ago
Review is from an attendee of a wedding. I've never been here as a hotel or normal dinner patron.Amazing view.Staff is super nice and helpful.Food was amazing!Just top notch!

  Stacey L
4 years ago
We were vacationing a couple miles away, but heard about this place and ended up going here every single day! We had great coffee and pastries (the blueberry & lemon scones were my fave), amazing deli sandwiches, and fantastic flatbread pizzas for dinner. They also have beer (on tap and in a cooler) and glasses of wine. They have a very nice large patio, but only 2 tables unfortunately, hopefully they can stick a few more out there in the summer time. Very popular, so parking can be difficult at times, but it s worth going to. No it s not cheap, but their food is very high quality and worth every dollar!

  Celina Lyles
7 years ago
It has a beautiful view of the lake, but that was as nice as it got. The service was a bit slow in my opinion for having a more upscale environment. I ordered a black bean burger. The patty was dry and thin. I expected more from a $14 plate. My daughter's pepperoni pizza was delicious. I had a member of my party received food that was still frozen in the middle. With a restaurant as nice as this, I don't expect to have frozen food that's been heated once I ordered it.

  Alexandria Rideout
a year ago
Service was great. View cannot be beaten. While food was delicious, the dish I had felt overwhelming with the variety of ingredients. Definitely worth the trip from south lake

  kskins1
3 years ago
Great location by the water. With reservation only, we were offered a table inside with a view of the dirty awning covering their bar or waiting until after our reservation time for a table to clear. We were then put back from the water at a wet table and chairs that smelled of dirty wash rag. The food was good, I just had to not think about the blower from the kitchen that was also blowing on us.

  Adriana Bailey
4 years ago
What elegance! Pure natural beauty. The delightful staff will make you feel welcome and like family. The views inside and out side of this gorgeous venue are sure to take your breath away. I am a Professional Makeup Artist and have performed beauty services at this location numerous times. Every time I come here, I know my experience will be no less than perfect. The different rooms I ve been in are well decorated with a modern-nature feel and a touch of class. The rooms are always spotless and cozy, I ve never seen anything like it. Thank you to everyone here both staff and guests for the endless unforgettable experiences!

  Paula Kutansky-Brown
2 years ago
Perfect wedding venue from beginning to end! A venue this beautiful in this ideal of a location could have average food and service and still be booked solid. Instead, the food was truly exceptional and the service outstanding - matching the beauty of the venue and creating the complete package. Kurt Streit and his team made the planning and execution of my daughter's wedding enjoyable, smooth, fun and, ultimately, the perfect event. Our guests are still raving, declaring, without hyperbole, that this was the "best wedding" they had ever attended. The WSC team brought our vision for this special day to life and not only met but exceeded our expectations. We are beyond grateful!

  Ivory Chafin-Blanchard
3 years ago
We had takeaway late on a Sunday night and it was fabulous! Excellent petite filet, goat cheese and walnut salad (one of the best salads ever), crab cakes, and fries. All wonderful and we will be back on our next trip. Also, online ordering and pick-up were perfect!

  Kent Berame
3 years ago
My family was looking for an escape for the weekend, but wanted to be away from the crowds in Tahoe due to COVID. The West Shore Cafe and Inn was the best place for us! They have added a few extra measures in ensuring our visit was as contactless as possible and clean.The Marlette Peaks Suite room, which we booked, had a beautiful view of the pier and Lake Tahoe. It's two rooms, but one room doubles as a living room with a pullout couch bed. Each room had it's own balcony and fireplace which was really good to use. We used room service from their restaurant a few times and enjoyed meals out on the balcony overlooking the sunsets. We especially enjoyed the breakfast that's included with our stay. The food was great and we looked forward to it every morning. The coffee cake and breakfast sandwiches were fantastic. We were also walking distance to a kayak/bicycle rental place where we spent one of our days enjoying the water.I 100% recommend this location, especially if you're looking for something away from the touristy crowds.

  Silvia Gates
4 years ago
More

  Loves Traveling
6 years ago
The 3-star food reduces the 5-star location and atmosphere down to 4 stars. Service was good. Lobster meat in the lobster corn dog was tough. The calamari was terrific. The fish in the fish tacos was somewhat mushy and they were street taco size - just so you are aware. Lemon meringue pie was yummy, but still slightly FROZEN in the center.

  Kristen Ohail (Wallace)
6 years ago
Not only did my husband and I have the wedding of our dreams here, but we have come back every year since as it is the most magical place in the world. Summer or winter, we have had the best experience - each time getting better and better. The wedding was perfect, food always delicious (drinks even better), service is always fantastic and the setting is unrivaled. This is our little slice of heaven and I could not recommend it more!

  Tina Lamb
3 years ago
We had lunch at this restaurant on Sunday and Thursday of this week. On Sunday we had the most amazing experience. The staff was friendly, the food was great and we had nothing but nice things to say about your spot. We booked a second reservation for Thursday because our experience was so great. On Thursday our experience could not have been more opposite. The staff were impatient, unfriendly and appeared to very overwhelmed. I work in healthcare and have been on the front line since March. I know first hand how hard it is to work during a pandemic but there are ways to deliver a message that allow your guests to still enjoy the experience. I would greatly reconsider the choice to be open if you cannot pleasantly serve your guests. The manager yelled at us on numerous occasions and I sat and watched him yell at every table that was there. We enjoyed meals all over the lake throughout the 10 days we were in Tahoe and never experienced anything like this until yesterday. COVID is serious and procedures should be in place to help slow down the transmission but yelling at people is not the way we are going to get through this together. If they really want to slow down the spread of COVID I would recommend they install hand sanitizing stations as the guests enter, give the employees that bring the majority of the guests into the restaurant by boat a mask that doesn t have breathing holes in it and they should spend time disinfecting surfaces and kindly reminding guests of their new procedures. A printed sign at the front of the restaurant can set expectations so everyone is on the same page working together. I hope you all stay safe and have a healthy summer.

  John Patrick
3 years ago
Such great food and friendly staff. I got the halibut and muscles highly recommend it. Also so great at enforcing measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, need a reservation, tables are spread and masjs required when walking to the bathroom. we voted over and they were ready to get us to a buoy and took us to the pier so we could get to our table, we were also about 10 minutes late but not a problem, so nice and still were able to accommodate us. Definitely a new spot to go to I would say better than Sunnyside.

  Callie Bell
4 years ago
West Shore Cafe turned out to be the absolute most perfect Wedding venue ever! We toured quite a few venues in the area & I couldn't be happier that we decided on West Shore. The team at West Shore is just fantastic. Travis & Natalie are both so knowledgable and even though they have tons of weddings to work on, they definitely treat you like they care more than anything about your day & only your day. They and their entire team are so flexible & wonderful to work with. On our wedding day, they went above & beyond and took on things that weren't even their responsibility. I truly couldn't have asked for better people to work with and a smoother/more gorgeous wedding. Thank you West Shore for making my fairy tale wedding really come true!! Oh and the FOOD WAS DELICIOUS!!!!!!

  Kimberley Novikoff
4 years ago
This place and it's amazing staff are like home and family!! We have a cabin nearby and frequent the West Shore Cafe during all seasons!! We love the Smores and yummy cocktails in the winter and the dinner and wine on the pier in the summer. Our favorite is in the summer boating in for lunch or dinner! Highly recommend the West Shore Cafe...excellent food, excellent drinks and bright and warm ambiance!! 5 stars!!

  Susan Kibre
6 years ago
Absolutely the loveliest setting possible. Attended a wedding. The staff was plentiful, responsive. My only gripe about this venue is that there was no seating in the cocktail hour for elderly relatives. It was a chilly day and my table's food was a little cold. But overall a great effort and gorgeous venue.

  Cortney Fenner
7 years ago
The food wasn't that great and the service was just alright. We got a call last minute asking us to move our reservation to an earlier time because they were hosting a wedding event and needed to clear out the space sooner. Upon our arrival, we were told that lot of the items listed on the menu were unavailable. The chicken was overcooked and hard. Disappointing for such a pricey meal. The building itself was pretty though and the sunset over the lake was beautiful.