Bridgetender Tavern and Grill

My Aunt and I were sightseeing around Lake Tahoe and decided to drop in for a bite to eat. Burgers were good and juicy. Salads were large too. Would come again and would recommend. Very rustic inside and quaint. The bathrooms were clean so that was a plus.

The place was so small and it was packed to the brim. The food took 42 minutes to come out and my god it was not worth the wait. We did enjoy the food and it was well-seasoned. The salsa and chips were severely missing salt and felt like we were rushed a little. The parking is also small so good luck parking on the weekends!

Tried the mushroom burger with vegetable patty and cheese quesadilla modified with vegetables. Loved the burger! Bun was soft and slightly on sweeter side. Would definitely try other burgers when back in Tahoe. Quesadilla was ok. Chill vibes. Staff very very humble! Both our servers were every kind!

Great restaurant with a view of the Truckee River in Tahoe City. The outdoor seating was perfect on a cool July evening. The food was excellent. We had the BT Sandwich and Elk Burger.

Cross-posting a review I shared on Yelp on 10/13/2024: I drove up from Sacramento today to go to an event about 15 minutes inland from Tahoe City. I figured after I was done at the event, I'd run and grab dinner in Tahoe City, both so I could see the lake a little bit, and so I wouldn't be hungry on my drive home afterward. I chose Bridgetender on a whim because it was near the water, open, and had decent reviews and didn't look too pricey. The parking lot looked full enough that I expected to maybe have to wait a little while to be seated, but when I went in, the hostess was able to seat me right away. My server (I'm bad with names but my receipt says Bailey S., so I hope that's right) was attentive, patient, and friendly. Their elk burger, which states it comes medium rare with a blueberry BBQ sauce, caught my eye, both because I rarely get a chance to have elk and because the blueberry BBQ sauce sounded so unique. When I ordered, I asked if the burger could be done medium instead of medium rare. My server said of course it could, but did politely suggest that because elk is very lean compared to beef, medium rare would have a better texture. I agreed and ordered it that way, and I'm glad I did, it was just right and if I had gone with medium it wouldn't have been as good. The blueberry BBQ sauce was quite good, although I do wish it had been a little less tangy, a little more sweet. But that's personal preference, nothing was wrong with it at all. I also ordered a side of seasoned waffle fries and one of their summer cocktails... the BT Rum Punch. Those were good as well. Also, it did not take very long for my order to come out, and everything tasted fresh. The fries also came with a little cup of ranch which was nice. The tables already were stocked with basics like ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. When I asked for a box and the check, I also asked for a quick refill of water. The server brought those over, and as an afterthought I asked if I could have a bag to put the box in. I explained I'd be driving back to Sacramento and didn't want to risk any leaks in the car. The server brought me a bag and also kindly offered to get me a water in a to-go cup for the road. I told her I had a bottle of water in my car but just wanted a little more icewater before leaving the restaurant, but it was a really considerate thing to offer and I appreciated it! The atmosphere is nice and cozy. Dim interior lighting but with plenty of windows for natural light in the daytime, kind of your typical pub-type place. It seemed like a lot of locals were there because several customers seemed to know each other and the staff, and that kind of gave it a cheerful atmosphere while I was quietly sitting by myself and enjoying my surroundings. Nice location, right by where the Truckee River meets the lake/the dam, lots of trees, I actually ran across the street before going in to get some pictures of the lake and scenery. Decent size parking lot. Would go again if ever in that part of the Tahoe area again!

Great place! Such a beautiful outside patio right next the river! We really liked Elk burger, chicken maks burger, fries, and hot chicken wings. I would recommend this place to my friends. Great service! We will be back.

I came for the river vibe and ended up staying way longer than planned. Picture this: six of us at a picnic table under the trees, the Truckee River sliding by on one side and a lively patio on the other. It’s the kind of place where Tahoe afternoons stretch into golden hour without anyone noticing. (Yes, that riverside patio is the move here.)   Service? Helpful and unfussy—the team explained the patio vs. indoor ordering quirk in two sentences and waved me inside to grab ribs while the rest of our crew ordered outside. No attitude, no drama, just “we’ll get you fed.” That flexibility matters when you’re wrangling six appetites. Food rundown from our table: • Wings: crisp skin, sticky-sweet heat; disappeared first. • Fish & chips: classic pub batter, lots of lemon, clean fry. • Burgers: big, juicy, and onto toasted brioche—exactly why locals love BT. (If you’re a first-timer, add the famous waffle fries; they’re a house staple.)  Checks + value: our food total was $210 for six, plus $30 in tips—call it ~$40 per person with a beer. Price-wise it’s Tahoe-resort normal, and the patio setting carries a premium I’m willing to pay when the river’s doing its thing. For context, crowd favorites here include the turkey and elk burgers and those waffle fries; it’s not a secret.  Honest notes: not every plate was a home run—our group’s scores ran the gamut (3, 4, 4, 4.5, 5, 5). That’s real life with a big order. My take lands at a confident 4/5 overall: outdoor atmosphere and easy service carry the day, wings and fries lead the menu, and the patio is exactly what you want in Tahoe City. (Pro tip: if the patio menu doesn’t list what you want—like ribs—order at the bar inside and bring it out. Smooth.) Would I come back? 100%. Next round, I’m hunting down the elk burger with blueberry BBQ and a river-view table again.  Final: Solid 4/5. If Tahoe had a “greatest hits” food court, this patio is track one.