Lunch on CA I-80?
 

DH and I will be driving to Reno on a Sunday in October. We'll be somewhere between Auburn and Truckee at lunch time. Could any of you experienced I-80 travelers suggest a good place to stop for a casual (not fast food) lunch within about five miles of the freeway?

Is there a website that publishes restaurants at the major freeway interchanges along this route?

That's no-man's-land for good restaurants. You should either stop early in Auburn or hold on until Truckee. Or pack a sandwich.

LOL, Bob. Any recs for Truckee?

I echo bobludlow :)

-doo

Pacific Crest Grill in Truckee is quite good.

Squeeze Inn in Truckee.

dragonfly in truckee
or if you're hungry before
katrina's in auburn- good breakfast too

It's only a little over an hour from Auburn to Truckee. Press on - lots of choices in Truckee.

But if you simply MUST stop somewhere, there are a few places in Colfax.

There's a new place in Truckee - Moody's. We're having dinner there Saturday night. I'll try to remember to post back.

Ok Moody's is not new. That's the place Paul McCartney used to go to when he was in Tahoe. He has even played in the lounge. He was last there March 2004.

How about Rainbow Lodge in Donner? Very pretty next to the river. Can be seen from 80.

http://www.royalgorge.com/default.as...ct=default.asp

i thoguht i read rainbow lodge closed- at least for summer- not sure when reopen for winter

The rooms/inn closed for the summer but not the retaurant.


Rainbow Lodge's operating hours for summer:

The Bar and Sierra room are serving a light menu from 12 pm to 8 pm, Fridays through Mondays.

Rainbow Lodge will be closed Tues, Wed and Thursdays

Wow, Moody's isn't new? We eat up there all the time, and somehow we've missed it (years ago, we used to eat with our kids at the Mexican restaurant on the same block -- Casa Baeza, although it used to be called Fermin's -- but we called it "Vermins"). Oh well --

It's inside the Truckee Hotel. Opened in like 2002.

Vermins, that's funny!

Bets...try Venita Rhea's in Rocklin...only about 10 miles before Auburn.

On Granite Dr off I-80 and Rocklin Rd. Exit.

Suuuuze...my friend has a cabin near Rainbow Lodge and says the quality has gone down considerably the past year.

Too bad too. VERY nice location.

There are a number of restaurants in old Auburn, and access from the freeway is easy. At least, it was the last time we were there.

i agree about venita rhea if you're hungry that early- best breakfast ever! i'm sure lunch too

Yes we love Moody's. I second that idea

Back with my Moody's report! We arrived about 7:05 for a 7:30 reservation and the place was hopping (last weekend in September? Not sure why). Our table wasn't ready and the bar was crowded too so we went across the street to Bar of America for a drink and came back at 7:30 and our table was waiting for us. Service was very good. The food was good+ (roasted tomato soup was excellent....I had a stone fruit and beet salad, and didn't really think the flavors went together that well, but individually, everything was fresh and delicious). Vegetarian risotto - various vegetables with a balsamic vinegar "sauce" was interesting and tasty. My husband really enjoyed his skirt steak. The sorbets we shared for dessert were excellent -- lemon verbena and some kind of berry. Price for 4 (4 starters, 4 main courses, 1 dessert, 1 cappucino and a $70 bottle of wine) - $270 all in. Oh, on the noise scale, I'd give it 3 bells (that's the standard they use in our local paper - 4 being "can't hear yourself think"). We will definitely return.

Hey great report. All of Tahoe was crowded this weekend for the marathon. Plus the weather was fabulous!!!!

We went to Evans in SLT and we had a super fantastic meal. Not convenient for the OP but good for the rest of us!!!

Thanks for the Moody's review.