Lake Alpine Resort

The menu is basic sandwiches, burritos and quesadillas. But they were very nicely done. They’re very upfront about what they don’t have when the server comes to the table which keeps you from getting your hopes up. Luckily, it was only a couple of sides. The meatball sandwich is pretty tasty as was the grilled ham and cheese.
They have a full bar if you’re up for that. Their wine and beer selection is pretty extensive, too.
Service was friendly and relaxed; you won’t feel rushed at all. Enjoy the view of the lake from the deck tables. They were even very welcoming of our dog.

Negative 5 stars if I could for the restaurant and management/​ownership. Also, negative 5 stars for the resort and its owner.
My family has had a place in Arnold for 40 years, so I have spent a lot of time in the area. Was having a fun time for Labor Day and took some friends up to show them the jewel of Lake Alpine (the Lake itself!) and decided to stop in and have lunch. After reading the other reviews, I guess we were lucky because we were greeted immediately by the hostess and got a seat within 5 minutes. It was a busy day, so will give them that, but what we experienced after being seated was inexcusable.
First, it took quite a long time before we got table service and it was only because we asked somebody to come and at least get drink orders. When we finally did, we got a young girl who did not seem thrilled to be working and was not friendly at all. She took our drink orders and while waiting for drinks she brought water (at our request). At that time she took our food order (again, at our request — she would not have asked if we didn’t request). It took about 20 minutes for the drinks for 5 people to come out despite asking about them several times. However, when she brought them out, she forgot to bring a Coors Light that was ordered. When told of this, she looked at us and snapped that we never ordered a Coors Light. I asked the others at the table if they heard me ask for it and they all said «sure you did». She stormed off (I am thinking, «no problem just go grab a bottle from the bar, how hard is that??»). BTW, we were not rude at that point and said no problem, just please bring it soon. 10 minutes go by and no beer. Of course we reminded her that we were still waiting for the beer. Food comes out (ave to below ave at best). We eat the food and another 10 minutes passes and no beer. She was walking by a table away and I raised my arms up in a gesture of «WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE BEER». At this point she storms over and yells at me that they are very busy. I yelled back that it had been over 40 minutes since we ordered the beer the first time, so just go and get it! She storms off. We are done with the food, ready for the check and still no beer when some young guy, who looks just like Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, comes to the table with a bottle of Coors Light. I told him thanks but we did not want it anymore. He asked why and I told him that we waited for about 50 minutes for it and we were ready to leave, so we did not want it any longer. He looks at me and told me «Why don’t you go back to the Valley»! Really? I got a bit angry at him at this point and he tells me not to yell at him. I told him to «Leave, go away». I did not want to deal with this punk. He said «this ain’t the Valley so go back to where you come from»!!! Whatever DUDE. I blame the management/​ownership for zero training of the employees, but these kids are going to go real far in life with those attitudes — NOT!
Now for the Resort itself. I still have family and a ton of friends that live in Arnold. They were evacuated due to the Butte Mountain fire. As others have mentioned in the posts on Unilocal,the Alpine Resort turned its back on some of my friends and wanted to charge evacuees despite the fact that they arrived with not much more than the shirts on their back and were at the risk of losing everything! They wanted to charge them and have commented on Facebook, trying to defend themselves, that «We aren’t the Red Cross»! Wow! All I know is that I will never spend another dime there and have a message for them: KARMA IS A BITCH.
Support the evacuees of the fire and never give this place business. The only way this sore place will be fixed will be when it goes away (owners/​managers).

Don’t go there. They came out with the answer that they are not the Red Cross. We know that they are no the Red Cross, buy others business who are not either offered help to people who lost their homes during the fire. Even small pizza places. This business turned away evacuates who were only wearing the clothes they could save during the fired. Can you at least could offer a glass of water to them? I did not know you need to be the Red Cross to offer water too.

The Butte Fire left some evacuees with the clothing on their back in their cars driving down HWY 4. When they stopped here at this resort. This resort demanded money or they needed to leave. I am sure a copy of a drivers license would have worked. But the rudeness of the manager and camp host was over the top. I would never spend a dime here. They have no sense of community. Slow service. A shallow pool. Check their Facebook page they are trying to fix the public relations disaster by saying they are not the red cross and providing a link to the red cross. I WOULD NEVER STAY HERE.

Terrible people — terrible service — do some research and make sure to plan your trip far around this place —

Never again will go to this place. Not only is the service horrible but the owner Gigi is heartless. Our area was evacuated during the butte fire. She has a campground location near lake alpine and insisted evacuees paid in full. Our mountain community is one which helps eachother out during times like this. She doesn’t have any idea of how to run a business!

This is about Lake Alpine Restaurant — overpriced food, disorganized service. Some small and not so small annoying experience. salad and entrée arrived together; pasta was cold and had no butter on it as menu stated — the waiter asked if I could use the foil butter patty in the bread basket, I declined; salad dressing, the vinegar cruet had about 6 drops remaining, had to call over the waitperson and ask for vinegar. No salt/​pepper on the table when our food arrived. Three tables were occupied, the waiter could not be bothered to say thank U or goodnight to us as we were leaving. We left him a 20% tip which clearly he did not deserve. I recommend El Vacaro in Arnold.

Alpine Lake is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains several miles west of the Ebbetts Pass summit. If you come from the East be prepared for a very very narrow and windy road. It’s great for cars and motorcycles but not much else. The western approach is much less windy.
Great place to stop when on a motorcycle ride through the Sierras.
The lake is beautiful and the resort is a fantastic for anyone to spend some time. The lake is at 7350 ft. elevation and is 40 feet deep. There is a boat launch ramp and there is no charge to launch which is rare for a resort. They operate under a special permit from the U.S. Forest Service.
There are cabins of different sizes including tent cabins. There are campgrounds not far from the lake operated by the forest service. There is a restaurant and bar onsite. Both are nice the menu is attached, somewhat limited but that’s ok. There is outdoor seating on a nice patio with plenty of shade.
There is an onsite gift shop. You can boat and kayak on the lake. Boat and Kayak rentals are available.
My buddy and I were just riding through so we only had lunch. We had some tasty wings and both had a salad, not very biker is it, haha! The service was great and everyone there was very friendly.
I think it would be a great place to take your family for a vacation. There were lots of couples hiking in the area, on the boats and staying at the cabins as well.
Get outdoors and enjoy.

Reviewing the Lake Alpine restaurant for Sunday lunch, almost gave the restaurant a miss because of the Unilocal reviews but as dining options are very limited (actually this is the ONLY dining option right at Lake Alpine) thought we would give it a try after a three hour hike. We shared a Quesadilla with chicken, a beer and a very generous pour of their house chardonnay. The hostess who seated us (on the deck with view of Lake Alpine) and Becca, our server, were both friendly and efficient. An added bonus was live music by a guitarist and vocalist. The dining room and bar seem like a nice option for evening. There are good restaurants in Arnold but if you are staying in Lake Alpine/​Bear Valley area, skip the 60 mile round trip to Arnold, would much prefer to settle in with one of those house chardonnarys, a burger and the beautiful view!

Didn’t stay at the resort. Came to the lake, stopped to eat and was I sorry.
Bland, way overpriced food! Slow, disorganized service.
Don’t eat here, wait until Arnold and go to El Vaquero. Amazing Mexican food! About 45 mins away from Lake Alpine.

I could go on and on about the slow service or the over priced food.
But I guess when you are this remote you sacrifice quality. Plus your employee pool is very shallow. The challenges are abundant.
Avoid this place and eat at El Vaquero in Arnold on the way up. Less expensive and fantastic, authentic Mexican food.
Enjoy the lake, it is beautiful!

Only come here if you want a ton of mosquito bites. Rented a tent cabin that was swarming with mosquitoes 24 hours a day. Bench on our picnic table broken. Old mattresses some on floor, some on frames. All grungy and dirty. Lake is beautiful and store has a decent selection.

DON’T BOTHER!!! I feel like I don’t even need to write this review considering how many others preceded mine but I cant hold back, and I do not usually even write reviews.
Ordered salad with 1000 got Italian, ordered stuffed pork chop and I kid you not it was DEEP FRIED!!! I guess they wanted to be sure I didn’t puke before leaving
Service was the pits waited 35 min. for the check, 65 bucks for a pork chop and mushrooms with polenta. As stated in previous reviews average at best. I wish I could share a picture of the mushrooms swimming in oil. The only food worth eating was the bread and that’s because they didn’t make it. Even the butter was curdled
AVOID this place at all cost. grab a sandwich at the store and sit by the beautiful lake to eat it or even better head up a bit further to eat it at mosquito lake so you don’t have to watch the drunks stumbling out of the bar

My 8 year old and I waited about 15 min for the hostess to acknowledge and seat us on the middle of the outside patio where for the next 25 – 30 minutes we were completely ignored by the servers, as at least four couples and families around us were waited on. It was odd, not one would make eye contact with us. I had ate here before with my husband and friends in the bar and the food was good, but this time we couldn’t even even get water. I wish I could give –5 stars for the hurt look on my little boys face as they ignored us. We finally gave up and went to the adjoining store where we were treated kindly with good service. We bought Lunchables, drinks and a couple chairs and enjoyed our lunch at the waters edge of beautiful Lake Alpine.

Lake Alpine is an amazing treasure in California. The lake, the scenery, the fishing, the hikes — some of the best I have ever enjoyed. Thank you Mother Nature for such an incredible spot.
Shame on you owners/​concessionaires of the Resort at Lake Alpine (this review is about the restaurant NOT the store)
Just because you occupy one of the most magical places on planet Earth, does not allow you to operate with utter disdain for your customers. I don’t even care that your food is at best average. By the time we were acknowledged by the hostess, seated and then ignored by every waiter that hurried past our table– more than 25 munites has passed. We left. It wasn’t our first time at your establishment, but it will be our last.
(on a side note, there is a young man in the store who was absolutely delightful in trying to help us plan our day’s hike. Cornell Big Blonde Bear!!!)

This was the worst service at a restaurant in maybe 30 years. Stood in front of the hostess for 15 minute and was not seated after asking twice. Sat myself, 20 min go by no server. Every move was 10 to 20 minutes. Asked for water 5 times, nothing. Time to pay … 20 more minutes … Went for a walk in the general store, could have just left but I finally tracked down server and made her give me my bill in the hall. Wish I had correct change more time … No tip !
My advice to owners «REMOVE BONG FROM KITCHEN»
This place was not slammed, half the tables were empty for three servers.

If negative 5 stars were possible, this dump would rate it. Read the reviews and decided to stay here anyway. Big mistake. What choice did we have short of camping? Never again. The «cabin» we stayed in needs to be condemned & burned to the ground.
First, some background. My family used to own a cabin up here at Alpine. One of the 50 private residences on Forest Service land. My folks sold the place in the ’96. I have many a fond memory of summers up here and when I was a teen, I even worked at the lodge (3 or 4 owners ago).
This was to be a special trip down memory lane with my wife & daughter for a few days. Oh, it was a trip… and we have some memories!
One thing I’d like to say right now, why is this called a «resort»? It’s no where near a resort and any images a resort conjures up in your mind, this place will surely miss the mark. In my day, it was Lake Alpine Lodge.
Our experience: brought up their website, the pictures look inviting. Tried to envision which cabins were which based on the descriptions. I remember them being cabins 1, 2, 3, etc. Now they are «Sequoia», «Lodgepole», «Tamarack», etc. Cute and definitely more marketable than cabin 1, 2 or 3.
Planning on a two day stay en route to Tahoe, I opted for the «Jeffery Pine» at $ 150 per night, two night minimum. Ok. A bit steep but hey, I really want to do this. I tell my wife & daughter the pictures look good but the reviews are not so hot… let’s plan for the worse & bring sleeping bags, shower shoes, etc. We’ll just make the best of it if it’s bad. We all agreed we were there to hike & visit all my old haunts… not to stay at a five star resort.
Arrived and still hoping all was going to be ok, we checked in to Jeffrey Pine. The guy handling check ins was nice, but… in my opinion… had smoked a little too much weed building surf boards in Santa Cruz. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, but hey… he got us checked in.
«Oh look, it’s old cabin 3.» I tell my family as we drive up to it. Hmmm. Reading the reviews about the deck giving way on one Unilocaler, I’m wondering if this is the same cabin. We make it to the door, open it and my wife & daughter burst out laughing, «this doesn’t look like the website pics!» I grimace and furrow my brow. Glad they are laughing but this just isn’t going to do.
I go down to see Surfer Bob in the general store and politely ask if we could see «White Pine» next door if it’s available… and possibly switch since it’s the same price. Surfer Bob needed to take a «hit» on this one cause I think this request was about to tax every bit of gray matter still functioning in his brain. Finally, he guessed that would be alright.
«White Pine»…aka cabin #2, was only slightly better than «Jeffery Pine». At least it had a newer deck and a moderately better view of the parking lot. We took it. And even though it was all Surfer Bob could do to switch it, he made it happen.
Well, it was worse than expected. Lots of pics will tell their own story but from the leftover scrambled egg goo still in the sink to the couch that had so much «body grease» on it we thought a homicide may have been committed there… we knew it was going to be a no bare feet, sleeping bag only and lots of booze kind of stay.
I was willing to cut our losses…$ 300…and just head for Tahoe, but my wife & daughter, bless them, really wanted to do our planned hiking & reminiscing with me.
We spread towels on the filthy couch and made our way to Bear Valley General Store for some much needed alcohol to get us thru the night… along with some Windex & paper towels.
We never could get the little table clean enough to not be sticky & had to sacrifice another one of our towels to act as a table cloth. We never did shower. We refused to cook after spying mouse turds… and later said mouse… in the drawer with the silverware. The stains on the carpet meant no shoes off till bedtime… and even then… with copious amounts of alcohol coursing through our bodies, sleep evaded all of us.
When dawn came, we arose, went for a fabulous hike all around the lake as I entertained them stories of my youth. We got back around noon and said in unison, «To hell with another night in that place! Screw the $ 150…let’s pack up and head to Tahoe!»
Surfer Bob wasn’t in the general store to check us out but his wife, Mary Jane, was equally as perplexed about the process. When she started to run my credit card again, I said «they already ran it and I signed for it yesterday.» Mary Jane tried to tell me it was to «close out» the sale but I was skeptical. She showed me the receipt. «See? Same authorization number.»
Then why two signatures? I better not be charged $ 600 for my night in hell. I was nice and said, «Ok, just never seen that procedure before.»
Mary Jane never asked if everything was ok or why we were leaving early and I didn’t volunteer it. I didn’t ask for a refund or discount. I knew it would be denied.

Terrible slow, rude service in the restaurant, waited for over 20 min. not one knowledge us so we seated ourselfs like others we;re doing. We we;re then rudey told your not suppose to seat yourself s, we explained how long we had waited and we told she would be right over, again a long wait and we we getting ready to leave as others we doing and finally flagged down a waiter who took our order.
Terrible rude, slow service with fair food, next time we will bring our lunch to the lake!

Some of the reviews here are very old and things change!
There seems to be more of an effort being made by this business as of late. They have very nice new patio umbrellas, lots of flowers, etc. The store is a well stocked, small camping supply place. The setting overlooking beautiful Lake Alpine is the real draw here!
We were there last week during their season opening, and all the mostly new staff were friendly and helpful. The food was good and came out very fast, but we were there right when the opened up for the day.
As for someone thinking the drinks are overpriced, they are not. $ 5.00 well, $ 6.00 call and $ 8.00 top shelf is in line with where we live, much less out in the boonies where they are!
We didn’t stay in the cabins so cannot comment on those.
This is a really nice convenience for us camping nearby. We will definitely be back!

We stayed at Alpine «resort» in the Sequoia cabin, 225 a night, first trip my friends leg went straight through the deck…2^nd trip the refrigerator broke, they brought another one hours later and it did not work. We had to store all our food in the walk in fridge at the restaurant our entire trip.
When we asked for a break on the fee due to all the inconvenience, Gigi, the owner said no, we asked again and she finally decided to give us 25.00 off our total bill… the cabin is dirty, dark, small rooms with horribly old matresses.
The food is ok but expensive and the drinks are really over priced, even if it is a remote location, it is not that remote… too bad, it was a much better place when the former owners had it… better off sticking to one of the 3 campgrounds around the lake or stay down the hill a bit and drive up to use the lake…