River Ranch Lodge & Restaurant
- James Vaughn
- First Reviewer
- 3 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 3
- Reviews
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4
- Photos
Gone Way Downhill! Avoid this Place!
- August 20, 2008
- Rated 1 of 5 by
tahoedude from Incline Village, Nevada
I've been coming to River Ranch and dining on the patio after a day of rafting on the Truckee River for literally 35 years. Ever since I was a kid I have loved this place. But I recently dined on the patio twice in August and the food has gone so bad that I'll likely never go back. The formerly excellent burgers were burned beyond recognition - both times.
When I complained, the manager said literally "It's so hard. When we cook them properly, people send them back. So now we burn them and the we get less returns." As if there's nothing in between raw and burned. No refund was offered, just another burned burger.
And to top it all off, the patio is deluged with yellow jackets to the point where you couldn't enjoy a meal if you wanted to.
After 35 years, I'm done with this place! I'd strongly recommend that you enjoy your day of rafting, but go to Tahoe City for lunch instead.
Editor Pick
River Ranch Lodge & Restaurant: Patio fast food
- July 14, 2007
- Rated 3 of 5 by
sararevell from London, United Kingdom
Walking onto the River Ranch patio during peak hours is a mildly intimidating experience. The line from the outdoor service counter was long and slow moving and every table that became vacant was immediately snapped up by parents leading a pack of four or more children. Our patience was eventually rewarded and despite some competition, we managed to snag a table with an umbrella which was a must-have given the near 100 degree heat that day.
The small outdoor kitchen had a service area on one side and an order pick-up area on the other. A group of staff prepared the food at the back and perhaps had they had two order takers up front, the queue may have moved at a more decent pace. From the perimeter of the patio you can look down onto the gentle rapids of the Truckee River and at the back you can see rafting groups exit the water from a trip that starts 5 miles up river at Lake Tahoe.
The menu choices at River Ranch are very basic and it’s not dissimilar from being at a family barbecue with the offerings of burgers, hot dogs, and chicken wings. We ordered a Garden Burger with fries and a Garden Salad. Everything is priced under $10 and is fairly good value for money given that both meals were generous in size and tasted fresh, including the fries. Completed orders are announced on a loud speaker at the pick up counter and there’s self-service for sodas, cutlery, and tomato sauce. As chaotic and as noisy as it is, the River Ranch patio works well and does fast and furious business mostly with young families and soggy groups emerging from a Truckee River rafting experience. There’s also a full bar serving beer and cocktails if you need something stronger.
We only ventured inside the lodge briefly where there were a handful of people having lunch. It had a nice old school feel though, with large stone walls and faded wooden furniture. It also had a more laid back and mature feel compared to the family frenzy outside and I can imagine it’s a cosy place for dinner when there’s snow on the ground.
Above the restaurant are 19 rooms which comprise the lodge and the website prides itself for its history which dates back over 100 years, when the original "Deer Park Inn" was erected. The present building has a car park out front and besides being next to the main rafting drop off point, it’s also handily located alongside the a bike and hiking trail that runs from Tahoe City down to Squaw Valley if you need a refreshment break.
Despite turning into a tourist haven the River Ranch has done a fairly good job of maintaining its dignity. On the patio, white plastic chairs are offset by slightly nicer wooden tables and the facade of the lodge preserves some alpine quaintness with white window shutters and diminutive flower boxes under every window.
www.riverranchlodge.com
From journal Fire and Water: 4th July Week at Donner Tahoe
River Ranch Lodge & Restaurant
- March 1, 2001
- Rated 4 of 5 by
James Vaughn from Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Located at the intersection of Route 89 and Alpine Meadows Road, the River Ranch Lodge & Restaurant is truly a fine dining experience. Although we went on Valentine's Day when the restaurant was packed, we still received excellent service. One of their specials was a mouthwatering Chateubriand for two, although there are also other excellent entrees (such as the Pepper Steak) available regularly. Also, don't forget to wash it down with a glass (or bottle) of their house Cabernet Sauvignon.
From journal Huge Fun At Big Water