The Summit Deck and Grille

Ridiculously expensive prices. C’mon, $ 15 for a hot dog?!
This lodge gets super crowded around noon when everyone takes their lunch breaks, so wait for the crowd to die down if you want to get a table. Otherwise, try your luck at Zephyr Lodge.
The tri-​tip sandwich ($ 13) was overpriced, dry and bland. The fries are good, especially the garlic fries. The chili is also decent here.

Great BbQ and Bloody Mary’s!
We tried the Philly Chicken Cheesesteak, BBQ Smoked Pulled Pork, Smoked Trip Tip, Kettle Chips, Mac & Cheese and the Cornbread. My favorite was the pork and tri tip with a side of barbecue sauce.
Outdoor and covered seating is available.
Park your gear and pull up a chair.

At the top of the mountain at Northstar, The Summit Deck & Grille is only open during the Winter from 10:30AM-2:30PM. Since most people stop at the mid-​mountain (since you can ride the gondola there) it isn’t as crowded at the summit (the only way to access the summit is through the ski lifts). With very pretty views, it’s a great place to rest. Prices are resort prices though so the food isn’t worth what they’re charging, but just think of it as «you’re paying for the ambiance.» They also serve beer and some liquors if you desire.
*~Sandwiches~*
*Add a Side: French Fries, Caesar Salad, or Cup of Soup
+Philly Cheesesteak: Thin sliced Top Sirloin, Sautéed Mushroom and Onions with Cheese Whiz served on a Torpedo Roll
+Tri-​Tip Sandwich: Thick sliced Tri-​Tip, Roasted Red Peppers, Pepper Jack Cheese with Sriracha Aioli served on a Torpedo Roll
+Turkey Sandwich: Sliced Turkey, Avocado, Clover Sprouts, Sunflower Kernels with a Sun-​Dried Tomato Cream Cheese Spread served on a Torpedo Roll
+Classic Cuban: Slow Roasted Pork, Slice of Ham, Provolone Cheese, Pickle Spears with Sierra Nevada Stout, Stone Ground Mustard grilled on a Fresh Italian Herb Bread
+Summit Veggie: Zucchini, Squash, Red Bell Pepper, and Portobello Mushroom all grilled and smothered in a house-​made Marinara Sauce with Mozzarella Cheese on a Fresh Italian Herb Bread
+The Lost Coast Wrap: Shrimp, Avocado, Bean Sprouts, Cucumber, Sesame Seeds with Soy Ginger Sauce wrapped in a Whole Grain Tortilla
+Caprese: Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, Chiffonade Basil with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a drizzle of Balsamic Reduction served on Fresh Italian Herb Bread
*~Salads~*
+Wedge: Iceberg Wedge, Bacon Bits, Diced Tomato and Point Reyes Blue Cheese with Jalapeño Ranch.
+Spinach: Spinach, Candied Pecans, Craisins, Pear Slices, and Goat Feta with Balsamic Vinaigrette
+Caesar: Chopped Romaine, Crostinis, and Parmesan with House-​made Caesar
*~Soup~*
Northstar Beef Chili
Veggie Chili
Kale-​Sausage w/​Potato Soup
*~Fries~*
La Fluer Salt
Garlic Asiago
Chili & Cheese
*~Ripperoo~* (Kid’s Meal)
Choice of Carrots with Ranch /​Apple sauce and Milk /​Juice
1. Turkey Corndog
2. Nathan’s All Beef Hotdog Sliders
3. Sliced Turkey Sandwich: w/​Cheddar, Lettuce & Tomato
I just got a drink from here while I waited for my group to join me after their run since I wasn’t feeling too well. Boy was that run super long when you’re sick! Stop by to rest or get out of the elements. Employees are really friendly.

Loved this place! Little Snack shop attached to a HUGE deck with an outdoor BBQ and a tent for overflow. The only way here is by cable car.
Try the barbequed pork sandwich and one of those crazy bacon bloody mary. They put everything in the drink but the kitchen sink! From memory: pickled green beans; guiness; olives; pickled onion; and maple-​syrup glazed bacon. The drink was a meal in itself and whoa be to those who think they can drink two before heading down one of the black diamonds. I definitely was a bit wobbely on my trip down the mountain.

Always the pit stop for a midday snack while at NorthStar. Amazing views (on good days). Ok selection of food items… mostly here to chill and grab a quick beer before heading back on the slopes.

about $ 9 – 11 for sandwiches, $ 3.50 for coffee, $ 6 for chili, and also 10 – 12 for drinks. The place services sandwiches and hotdogs and not mexican anymore. It’s a good breakstop at north star!

Located at the top of the Comstock chair at Northstar Resort during the winter only. Food is really really good. A little pricey but still a good value. A lot of the items can easily be shared if you are not super hungry. The outside BBQ when open is tasty with the smoked turkey leg one of the best items.

Perfect location to grab a bite and rest from all the snowboarding especially when the winds are blowing hard outside. Next to the cushioned seats are some heated vents, good for drying off wet gear. The snow this year hasn’t been as good so there aren’t as many people at the summit deck compared to previous years. Seating isn’t really an issue either since the new Zephyr lodge has 8x the capacity of the summit deck and also has a nicer view. Make sure to check it out!
Soup at the summit is only $ 7.50 and comes with some delicious corn bread. Saltine crackers are also free, but make sure to ask for them.

Any other year I would have given this a 5 star. Best food /​price on the mountain — and the people that get here are skiiers — not just hanging out in the lodge for the day and holding up seats. However — because Northstar sold SO MANY season passes — the seating was horrific this year and several times it seemed to be colder inside than outside — especially on the really cold days — it would be nice to eat in a semi warm location. Even the tent this year was packed — and since it was cold more than usual — the over crowdedness just made it all the worse and more frustrating. Good news — Northstar is building another ‘lodge’ next year.

You actually get a whole chicken when you order a chicken burrito (see my photo)! The quality-​to-​price ratio completely beats other mediocre-​at-​best lodge restaurants in Tahoe.

Mmmm, I LOVE this place!
Located at the top of Comstock Express lift, this is my favorite place to eat at Northstar. The BBQ’ed items are so good (Tri-​tip and chicken).
I usually get the small plate tri-​tip. For $ 9 you get: 2 pieces of dry-​rubbed tri-​tip, a small side caesar salad, garlic bread stick and a side of BBQ beans! SO good and worth it! Way better than that generic burger and fries stuff down at the main lodge.
Warning, like all the other food places, the seating can get scarce and super crowded here. My advice to is seek out a table who looks like they’re just about finished and ask if you can have their table when they leave. The people here usually just eat and leave since everyone «must be» decent skiiers and boarders to make it up to the summit.
There also isn’t a place to check in your snowboard, but you can opt for outdoor seating and watch your stuff while you munch away on the best lunch on the slopes!

Wow! the food here was surprisingly good and the prices are decent, but i think you get what you pay for. Normally i would bring food, but since we had a detour to Reno the night before we just ended up getting food here. I got the half order of tri tip and my bf got the chili with the jalapeño cornbread. The tri tip could use a bit more flavor, but the chili was beyond delicious! The next day i was craving for the chili.
Forget the mid-​mountain food! Spend your money on something that that your taste buds would thank you! I’d definitely go there again.
The best part after the meal was that it started snowing little! it made the view so much more beautiful and the meal a bit more satisfying :)

03.07.10
Summit Deck is an excellent meet up place. We never have trouble finding seats, so it’s not nearly as crowded as mid mountain. They have an outdoor bbq grill, too. What’s not to like?
Small plate of tri tip with a bread stick and a salad, plus a water, $ 13.25.
From mid mountain, take arrow to comstock. Say hi to me — I’m in the pink helmet :)

I remember back in the broke ass college days when $ 5+ lunches were just too much, we’d have to bring up from Safeway a $ 9.99 loaf sandwich for 4 people. But now that those days are behind me, and with a few extra spare change, I can upgrade to eating freshly hot served food from places like these on the summit of a mountain. And to my surprise, it’s not as all bad. $ 10 for a burrito or quesadilla, $ 7 for a chili, $ 12-​$ 15 for a bbq plate combo.
I’ve had food from other resort mountains, but Northstar, even with the outdoor deck available, manages to make the cold bearable while i enjoy my meal. How else should one enjoy his meal while sitting 8000 feet high?
On one day, I had the quesadilla and chili and cornbread. The chilli is not bad, but it gets better if you go to the self serve kiosk and load up on that cheddar cheese and onions goodness. Then drop a dolop of sour cream and salsa on the quesadilla and you’re good to go. The corn bread is what makes the chili bowl so great. I sometimes think I order that just for the toasty cornbread. Then theres the «best deal» all around, which I’d have to agree with, the Turkey Leg Combo. A big boned turkey leg roasted perfectly with complimentary bean rice and a side salad. This is defintely an afternoon killer because of it’s size and amount. Although it can get to be a challenge trying to bite off the meat and dodge the turkey bones, it definitely is well worth the work. This and a 16oz of Pabst and its game over.

Are you kidding me? Ripping hot jambalaya at the top of a mountain, at an expensive ski resort, and for less than $ 15. So much food we only get one and share too!
We found this last year in a horizontal snow storm. I saw them grilling, no line, and then I spotted the Newcastles in ice next to the grill. Irresistible! So I whipped out my trusty Mastercard and prepared for financial rape. Pleasantly surprised at the low cost. Even more surprised that the food was f’in good too.
We’ve been back several dozen times and no longer pack jerky and pb&j’s in the Camelbaks.

This is the best place to get food at Northstar. No more settling for over priced chili cheese dogs, nachos topped with canned jalapenos, and dry burgers dressed with ketchup, mayo, and crinkly cut pickles. Don’t waste your time eating at the Mid-​Mountain Lodge. Get on the Arrow Lift which takes you to the Comstock Lift. When you hit the summit of Mt. Pluto you’ll see The Summit Deck and Grill.
There are various choices here with with the Santa Fe Grill inside if you have the itch for Mexican, the free-​standing tent that serves up a huge BBQ turkey leg plate, or you can make the wise decision to go with the Santa Maria Barbeque that opens to the deck. Santa Maria style barbeque is the gem of the central coast. Their barbeque has a distinct flavor which brings out the flavor of meat. The mainstay of Santa Maria Barbeque is the tri-​tip roast which is offered up here at Northstar in the Tri-​Tip Plate and the Tri-​Tip Salad. The tri-​tip is generously seasoned and usually cooked to tender tasty perfection, medium rare. There’s just something about the bite of the seasoning that goes so well with the unique beefy flavor of tri-​tip. The soup and chili here also aims to please, and is always served up with a steamy, fluffy corn muffin. In addition there is an assortment of other dishes and salads, but one thing that’s a constant is that the portions are hefty and hearty. Sure you’ll pay a premium of say $ 13.75 for a Tri-​Tip Plate, but that’s got to be better than a chili cheese dog for $ 8.50.
MUST HAVE: The Tri-​Tip Plate.