Moody's Bistro Bar & Beats — Restaurant in Truckee

Moody’s in Truckee – A Night of Jazz, Mountains, and Mind-Blowing Flavor

Three people. Three plates. Three desserts. One unforgettable night at Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats, tucked right in the heart of historic downtown Truckee, in the old Truckee Hotel where the mountain air meets the soul of jazz.

We came in on a Truckee Thursday, live music echoing through the streets, and found ourselves immersed in something rare—an experience that felt intimate and alive, like something curated just for us.

To start, we ordered the lamb tartare—and I’ve gotta pause right there. I’ve had tartare around the world, and one of my ex-brothers-in-law is literally a top French chef in Latin America. I don’t say this lightly: this tartare was insane. The texture, the balance, the way it sat on the palate with just enough acidity and fat to light up every sensor. Elegant, primal, and executed with confidence. If you’ve got the guts for raw lamb done right, this is a must.

For mains: • I had the Pork Chop Ibérica, cooked with a level of care that’s hard to come by. Fat rendered just right, juicy center, and the kind of crust that speaks to fire and time. • She went with the New York Strip, medium rare—rich, bold, and unapologetically steak-forward, just how it should be. • And the birthday boy (her nephew) ordered the Summer Garden Campanelle—a vibrant pasta dish loaded with seasonal veggies that looked like it was picked straight from the garden out back. The flavors were fresh, pure, and grounded in the kind of mountain terroir that makes the Sierras special.

We also tried their virgin Bloody Mary, which had this briny backbone—maybe from pickle juice? I could be wrong, but probably not. It was delicious, and unusually complex for a zero-proof version.

And that strawberry Italian soda with whipped cream? That wasn’t a drink—that was a dessert in disguise. We should’ve ordered three.

Desserts were on point—rich, well-portioned, and served with joy. And speaking of joy…

Let me tell you about Julia, our server. The kind of person who elevates a meal just by showing up with presence and grace. She didn’t just bring us food—she guided us through it. Her descriptions painted flavors before they ever hit the table. You could hear her passion, and it made the experience that much more delicious. She reminded us that food isn’t just taste—it’s storytelling.

This wasn’t just a meal—it was a moment. Live jazz playing in a century-old hotel, people leaning into conversation, plates hitting the table like punctuation marks in the night.

Moody’s doesn’t try to be the “best restaurant in Tahoe.” It just is. Quietly. Confidently. Without needing...

Okay, so this place MADE my Christmas no exaggeration, after a pretty tough year to be honest (lol). Mind you, to some degree it could have been anywhere tonight because I was finally ready to let me cares go on Christmas Eve but this place really and truly perked me up based on shear content alone. Headlines: TRY THE PASTA. (Ha) not kidding. Between that experience, and Peter (the laid back yet massively supportive and inventive bartender who loves his job), and the transcendental French onion soup, and the vibe of everyone working there, my Xmas is pretty much redeemed. Aside from this place being beyond rustic ( an aesthetic possibility we laughed about), it is also fairly refined for such a festive and somewhat familial environment. Kinda wish I could stick a smiley face emoji after that by instinct but I’ll refrain for the sake of those who have buttons about it. In terms of the food, I’ll put it this way, I was in the worst place before I got here, as I often am by the shear stress of the holidays (lol), yet every bite of this meal here feels like some kind of subconscious cleansing or lateral signal that subconsciously relieves my crescendo of stress leading up to this night. Yes I’m being dead serious. I know that those who have had great experiences with well textured and flavorful food know what I’m talking about. It really takes me there. Apparently this place also futures a variety of musical entertainment, and it probably doesn’t need my reviewing assistance because even the likes of Paul McCartney have spontaneously performed here. However, I’m still an artist so you can’t keep me silent for overwhelming external reasons. Aside from the homie Truckee environment and jolly humbleness at the bar (props to peter again) this place completely made my holiday. I’m ready for whatever comes next again, even if that whatever happens to be the rest of the year. (Desire for lol and winky faced emoji at the end that I’ll...

My friend and I went here for a nice dinner after leaving one of the resorts in the local area. I’ll start by saying that I’m not sure if it was the fact that people thought we were a couple, because we were two interracial friends, or simply because I was African American. But let me say we were BOTH uncomfortable and felt completely unwanted. Our waitress not once, but twice placed our silverware on the table instead of on a napkin, in a new napkin, or simply on the plate that laid right in front of it. He checked in twice during the 1 1/2 hour period we were there, which was to only take plates but not ask if we needed anything or if we were doing okay. The bartender who served our drinks did not acknowledge us, or acknowledge the warm “Thank you so much” we delivered when he placed them down. It was as if he was forced to our table. Lastly, as weirdly insane as it sounds both me and my friend suffered from severe stomach issues and pains for the remainder of the night that hit as quick as 30 minutes after eating. I’m not sure what exactly is up with this place, but it has definitely skewed our memories of Lake Tahoe as this use to be our “get away” from work down in Sacramento.

Ending in positive: Both male and female waitress were extremely nice greeting us when we walked in, and when we left. Thank you both so...