Lake Tahoe - California - page 951

Come early (especially on weekends) to join the queue for the North Shore's best break-
fast. Eggs Benedict, whole-wheat pancakes with hot fresh fruit and cranberry-orange
waffles are just a few highlights from the huge menu. Tip: call ahead to put your name on
the waitlist if you'd rather not wait an hour for a table.
Lanza's ITALIAN
( www.lanzastahoe.com ; 7739 N Lake Blvd; mains $12-23; 5-10pm, bar from 4:30pm)
Next to the Safeway supermarket stands this beloved Italian trattoria where a tantalizing
aroma of garlic, rosemary and 'secret' spices perfumes the air. Dinners, though un-
doubtedly not the tastiest you've ever had, are hugely filling and include salad and bread.
Look for the owner's sepia-colored family photos in the entranceway.
Jason's Beachside Grille BAR
( www.jasonsbeachsidegrille.com ; 8338 N Lake Blvd; 11am-10pm)
Looking for the party around sundown? Hit this waterfront deck with a schooner of micro-
brew. Never mind the unexciting American fare, like smoked chicken pasta, alongside an
overflowing salad bar (dinner mains $13 to $25). On colder days, red-velvet sofas orbiting
a sunken fireplace are the coziest, but in summer it's all about sunset views.
Grid Bar & Grill PUB
( www.thegridbarandgrill.com ; 8545 N Lake Blvd; 11am-2am)
This locals' dive bar looks rough around the edges, but happy hours are super-cheap and
you can catch live music, from bluegrass to punk, DJs, dancing or karaoke, or trivia nights.
Getting There & Around
Tahoe Area Rapid Transit (TART; 530-550-1212; www.laketahoetransit.com ; single/day pass
$1.75/3.50) buses between Tahoe City and Incline Village make stops in Tahoe Vista, Kings
Beach and Crystal Bay hourly from approximately 6am until 6pm daily. Another TART
route connects Crystal Bay and Kings Beach with the Northstar resort every hour or so
from 8am until 5pm daily; in winter, this bus continues to Truckee (between May and
November, you'll have to detour via Tahoe City first).