The Lakefront Restaurant - Mammoth Lakes, California

Rob MacPhee

I ordered rack of lamb medium rare. Server said, “Of course! That’s how we prepare it!” It shows up looking beautiful, but more done than medium. I send it back. The replacement is barely less done (pictured edge was close, but rest was at least medium). Gave up complaining. Didn’t really want that to be the focus of the night.

Other dishes ranged from really great (carrot amuse bouche) to really good (veal tenderloin and cheeks) to acceptable (cauliflower soup, bread, and rocket salad).

In general, dishes lacked seasonings. If they didn’t screw up my lamb chops twice, the meal would have been much more pleasurable and I could overlook the other issues.

Don’t really like going out for $400 meals for two and being disappointed.

Dane Brehm

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.

Brittany Tackett

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!

Julia Chamberlain

What a unique and extraordinary place this is. Sophisticated but friendly with superlative food and delightful staff. Nothing was too much trouble, an attentive manager, a bar tender who really knows how to read a room and live beautiful piano playing made the two evenings I spent here a real highlight of my trip to California. The elk medallions with risotto I would highly recommend. I have never tasted anything quite like it.

Jenni Lehman

Fine dining in the middle of outdoor magic. What a treat to get a first class meal while we were camping close by. Fabulous old lodge vide with a high end menu. Great cocktails too.

Eric Mork

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!

Shauna Oliver

We had an amazing dinner tonight. Ordered the short rib ravioli, elk medallions and bison short rib. All were 10/10. The chef really put his love into that food! Restaurant is really cute and small, we had a wonderful server and the entire experience was one to remember. Definitely recommend.

M Brewer

WOW WOW WOW!!! We really lucked out finding the Lakefront through a Google Maps search while staying up in Mammoth Lakes. We were hungry and wanted something unique for dinner. We arrived to Tamarack Lodge an hour before the restaurant opened, and all that night's bookings were already taken. The front desk staff was friendly and gracious, they built a nice fire in the huge lodge fireplace and invited us to stay awhile (the wind was howling outside across the lake!). We decided to just relax and enjoy the comfortable atmosphere. Eventually, the lodge lobby bar opened and we enjoyed great drinks (wonderful domestic and international wine selections). After about an hour wait, they let us know there had been a cancellation in the Lakefront and we were seated for dinner!
EVERYTHING about the meal was perfect - gracious and knowledgeable servers, beautiful view of the lake and trees, delicious and unique meal. All our servers were friendly and attentive without being intrusive (perfect timing). I think my favorite food of the meal was the asparagus bisque soup, but honestly everything we ordered was amazing. Even the butter with the fresh warm bread was unusual (salty and sweet). I had the berkshire pork chop with blueberry/ginger sauce, my husband had the rock sugar braised short rib. Both were cooked to perfection, had interesting flavors, and were beautiful to look at. There is something on the menu for adventurous eaters, as well as for non-meat eaters too. My only regret was that I just couldn't manage to try the deserts. I'm positive they would have been just as delicious as the entire meal. We were never rushed, I felt we could have stayed longer if we had wanted to even though it was a very small place with a waiting list of reservations. We left feeling relaxed, content, well-cared for, and well fed too. A wonderful dining experience and we will most definitely be back the next time we are in Mammoth! Thank you to all for the great experience. Kudos to the chef!