A well-cooked protein patty served between a bun with all the fixings (often including melted cheese to hold it all together) is the perfect sustenance to keep shredding the mountain the rest of the day after feeding a growling belly.
Here are some of my picks for the best Tahoe ski area burgers to do just that. Share your favorite ski resort burger. Tag us @TheTahoeWeekly #thetahoeweekly.
A week later, I was still thinking about that [Old 40 Bar & Grill] burger.
Rocker Burger at Rocker
Several varieties of grab-n-go burgers are available within the base lodge of Alpine, but employees say that Rocker (named after the late Shane McConkey’s rocker skis) on the Olympic Valley side has Palisades Tahoe’s best burgers.
Therefore, after taking a bunch of runs on both sides of the joined resorts, I headed back over to the other side via the gondola to see what the buzz was about. I got its signature one, consisting of a certified Angus beef patty with crispy bacon, melted brie, arugula, rosemary aioli and balsamic onion marmalade on a brioche bun. It burst with interesting flavors, all complementing each other. | palisadestahoe.com
Cheeseburger at Ski Grill + Bar
Driving up through the neighborhood at Tahoe Donner, I parked in Lot 1 of the downhill ski area and within minutes was on the slopes. All ski trails end at the base lodge, which served as the focal point and beginning of the Tahoe Donner homeowner’s association in 1971.
At lunchtime the Ski Grill + Bar was bustling, where it seemed like everyone around us was ordering a burger. It was the ideal thing to bite into after a couple of hours of skiing, a well-done beef patty sharing real estate with sliced tomatoes, cheddar cheese, onions and iceberg lettuce served with a generous helping of thick-cut fries. | tahoedonner.com
Read about more of Kayla’s Best Burgers Picks at TheTahoeWeekly.com
Bacon Cheeseburger at Boreal Eatery
After lapping Cedar Ridge lift in untouched snow days after a storm, I was starving by 12:30 p.m. I met Boreal Mountain’s senior manager of food and beverage Keith Levine in the newly renovated base lodge. His earlier food experience in Truckee restaurants shows through in the elevated menu at Boreal Eatery.
The bacon cheeseburger is massive: two quarter-pound patties with melted cheddar cheese, sauteed onions, lettuce and tomato nestled in a bun dripping in grease. Grab more napkins than you think you’ll need and enjoy it with a cocktail at the bar overlooking the mountain. | rideboreal.com
Bacon Cheeseburger at Old 40 Bar & Grill
Donner Ski Ranch has such a laidback vibe, that it’s easy to spend the entire day just at the Old 40 Bar & Grill, at the center of all the action. This was the first ski resort in Lake Tahoe that allowed snowboarding and its attitude has not changed one bit.
The bacon cheeseburger is heavenly — everything on it tasted so fresh from the medium-rare beef patty to the leafy lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, onion, melted cheddar cheese and savory bacon between its butter brioche bun. A week later, I was still thinking about that burger. | donnerskiranch.com
BP Wagyu Burger at Bourbon Pub
At one of the two Northstar-managed restaurants within the village that you can practically ski up to, the Bourbon Pub’s Wagyu burger is a notable favorite. Along with the quality of the meat cooked medium-rare, the Louie sauce and melted white cheddar cheese sets this version apart from any others. | northstarcalifornia.com
