We went to dinner in Tahoe City last night with some other B’gamers who are visiting. It’s the “shoulder season” in Tahoe so things are not as busy as the summer and winter peak seasons. Restaurants still like a full house and do some special things to get full–even when they have lakefront views. In our case, it was a five-course tasting menu at one the best restaurants on the North shore–for $55 per person. Add in a couple of wine specials in the $30-40 per bottle (not per glass!) and we were left asking “Why can’t some place like this exist in B’game?”

Aside from the food at Christy Hill–Caesar with Arctic char, lobster risotto, lamb dolmas, hanger steak and a hazelnut tartlet–the service was exceptional. Team service with a talkative, but not too talkative som, professional server, and timing that could not be better through 5 courses and three changes of stemware. What’s Up, Burlingame? Christy Hill may be the best, but there are another half dozen or more spots in Tahoe City, the West Shore and Truckee that are very close. We all got up in the morning still buzzing about the meal and marveling at the bill. Lately, I have also been having Menlo Park envy as a number of new restaurants open down there to rave reviews. We want to Dine Burlingame, so please try harder!