Taste of Europe — Restaurant in South Lake Tahoe

Imagine stepping into a small European town, nestled deep within the heart of Eastern Europe – somewhere between Prague and a tucked-away corner of the Czech Republic. That’s the vibe you get when you walk into A Taste of Tahoe, a cozy little gem that feels like an escape to another world. The words "Willkommen" and "Vítejte" greet you on the menu, setting the tone for a delightful cultural fusion. It's like you've been transported to a charming European retreat while still being grounded in Tahoe's natural beauty.

The atmosphere is charmingly old-world, as if time slowed down here. Lenka, our server, was as authentic as the place itself. Tall, poised, and gracious, she embodied everything you’d expect from classic Eastern European hospitality. Warm, attentive, and just a touch reserved – the way you’d want it to be in such a setting.

The menu takes you on a journey through some real comfort food with a choice of noodles, gnocchi, or – and this was a first for me – Spaetzles. Yes, Spaetzles. And let me tell you, it was worth every bite. Rich, chewy, and just the right level of indulgence that pairs perfectly with hearty European dishes.

The salad bar isn’t the biggest, but the quality more than makes up for it. Fresh greens, crisp vegetables, and a thousand island dressing that immediately transported me back to childhood – it reminded me of something my Romanian/Italian grandmother used to make. It was creamy, rich, and just a little tangy, the kind of flavor that lingers in your memory long after the meal is over.

Now, the chicken paprikash. Let me tell you, I’ve had my fair share of paprikash across the globe, but this one – served over traditional spaetzle – was exceptional. Tender chicken, coated in a rich, paprika-laden sauce that clung to every bite of spaetzle. Comfort food at its finest.

Then there was the beef stroganoff, a dish I’ve always loved for its depth of flavor. Here, it was elevated by being served over gnocchi. The gnocchi added a new level of richness and paired beautifully with the beef, which had a surprising hint of blue cheese that added complexity to the dish. It was one of those flavors you don’t expect, but when it hits, you realize it’s exactly what the dish needed.

And the beer – oh, the beer. I opted for the Slovakian Primator Premium Lager. Light, zesty, and so drinkable that it was hard not to order another. It was the perfect complement to the heavier dishes, keeping everything balanced.

The Taste of Tahoe is a place where you come to slow down, enjoy a meal that feels like home, and immerse yourself in the rich flavors of Eastern Europe. It’s not just the food that’s memorable, but the entire experience. If you’re ever nearby, it’s worth every penny –...

There are a lot of places to eat in S. Lake Tahoe. Some likely very close to your hotel or home. That’s all fine and well but many of you are on vacation and you don’t want to miss the chance to eat at this awesome restaurant. Ok…yah…I’m a bit biased because I’m from Germany but its not easy to find a great German leaning restaurant in California. This place has it down pat. Yah, the folks running this place are not only good people they really know what they are doing!

When I go eat Germ, I often start with potato pancakes. This time, we decided on the fried mushroom today. Imagine little mushrooms dusted with fine breadcrumbs, deep fried just right. Served hot and with a unique tartar sauce. No, they are not greasy…they are really really tasty.

Our main was one of the day’s specials: Roasted Pork With Dumpling And Red Cabbage. Also Delicious And Authentic. The big plate was enough for two of us but now I wish we had each gotten our own and taken home some left overs. Lost Opportunity!

All was washed down with some good Dutch and local beer. They have quite a few on tap so surely you will find one you like.

For dessert they suggested she Strudel. It looked really good but I was curious about the Malakoff with ice cream. I’d never heard of it and They described it like a Tiramisu. Think light sponge cake, lots of cream, a hint of rum. It Was Sooooo Good. About 100x Better than tiramisu.

Bottom Line. Don’t Miss This Hidden Gem In South Lake Tahoe. Its One Of The Best Restaurants Around. You Can Be Sure That I’ll Be Back Next Time...

Best restaurant in Tahoe! To start the service was incredibly good, when we needed something we got it, the recommendations from the waiter were spot on and the waiter was a no nonsense guy, we really liked that he wasn't in our faces asking us if everything was ok but still when we needed something he was there. The food was really good, especially the beef stroganoff, the sauce was of perfect balance in taste and the beef was perfectly cooked and very soft. The spinach soup was also incredible, in perfect balance of taste. The fried cauliflower was a bit lacking in taste but still an enjoyable experience. The Spätzle was also in perfect balance of taste and was soft. The strudel was also very good, really liked that they had the real pieces of fruit and that the pastry was soft, and really liked that it wasn't too sweet. The portion sizes are bigger so I recommend to be hungry, but not American size big which I liked. The music was at a very nice volume and the style of music was a soft calming Czech pop/rock which I liked very much. The environment of the restaurant is cozy and the view towards heavenly is irreplaceable. The beer was also very good. The price was indeed high but the food and experience was so good I'd pay anything. But the best quality this restaurant has is that it is as the owner told us "not owned by Vegas" and he is right this restaurant is home made, no processed foods, everything is made by the owner himself and I could really notice it! I would rate this restaurant a 10...