Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar

View and meals were excellent!Sunset was beautiful as we overlooked old downtown Truckee.Vegan meatloaf, ñoquis, and vegetables were delicious!House bread and dessert were disappointing. Bread was not included, not warm, and seemed old. And I do not recommend the cookie and ice cream dessert as the ice cream was too creamy and cookie was old.

The website was pretty. However, very disappointed with the food. The location was interesting. The inside looked very run down but out door dining was beautiful. There was live music which was nice. My daughter and I almost slipped on some broken shattered glass on the floor on the way to the restroom. The chicken fried steak was very dry. The tahoe mountain hash was very runny and wet. We got cheesy bread for my daughter but her fries were raw on the inside and pipping hot when served. She waited some time before eating but still burned her mouth. Definitely the first and last time we will come. Also, they have a very strict cancellation policy ($25 per person) which was very stressful to plan for a large party traveling from far away. We were still very respectful and responsible and paid for service. The food, service, and cleanliness could definitely have been better.

Cottonwood is a sub-par experience with the main feature being the stellar view of Truckee from the deck. The food is very mediocre but incredibly overpriced. I went to another 3 upscale South Lake Tahoe restaurants the next few days with much better food and views that didnt charge this much.The meat/ cheese plate is especially not worth it. Very hard chunks of untasty sausage bits and cheese.While our waitress was very nice and attentive, which is why Im giving 1 star back, the hostess in the front was very nasty, impatient, and carried a scowl.I will not be back and will take my business elsewhere, especially since theres so many good places already downtown.

Overpriced and under-seasoned fare, not recommended. Tomato soup tastes like regular marinara sauce. I couldn’t believe the supplemental fee for dry bread. Dial up the $20 basic salad and $40 dry as a bone pork chop (that’s right one porkchop with no sides) PLUS extra charge for herb butter to wash it down! Nothing about this place will make me return. Nope.

The kitchen nailed the caeser salad. I eat them all the time. This one rises to the top. Hints of anchovies and tangy. Delicious.

This place was great! Good local brews on tap also

I have been thinking about this food since we left. My husband and I were at the Ritz for our anniversary and popped over to Truckee for our celebratory dinner. We made reservations for 7:30 and once we arrived we did have to wait a minute for a seat on the patio, which was totally fine! We ordered a drink from the bar and got seated pretty much right as we got our drink. There was live music (my favorite) and a great view. But the FOOD WAS SO GOOD. I am from the south, so the comfort food made my belly and soul so happy. My husband got the steak and the mac n cheese gnocchi, I got the fried chicken (most perfectly crispy chicken I’ve ever had), which came with the most flavorful mashed potatoes and gravy, (please mail me some LOL). Even down to the Cole slaw was just fantastic. My husband kept saying how shocked he was I cleared my plate, I never finish anything. We finished it off with the lemon curd beignets, they were a bit dense, not the type of beignets I am used to, but still yummy! If we are ever in the area again, we will absolutely be back.

Rose and staff made experience very personal and memorable. Morning after we were married.

Veggie tacos sounded good & looked good. Adding a better sauce should improve things to a 5!

Fine dining prices for generic bar food.We all got burgers and it tasted very burnt.Wouldnt have been so bad if it wasnt so expensive.

Had Sunday brunch here today. Amazing mimosas, delicious Bloody Mary’s, beautiful views from the patio seating, great service, delicious food! Nick and Rose took really great care of us! Highly recommend this place!

This restaurant is in a good location with a view over Truckee. The staff are friendly and the food is good. I got the homemade veggie burger, probably one of the better veggie burgers Ive ever had.

In line with most review here - food was OK, nothing all that special. Staff was friendly and great view. Just not impressed with food

We had the Market priced rib eye steak ($49), although cooked to medium rare as ordered, steak was as tough as a $2 steak! extremely disappointed with the quality of the food, wont go back.

I recently had an absolutely awful meal at Cottonwood with the only positive being a nice view. It was such a let down to have an experience like this in such an iconic building.Disappointments were as follows:- Almost all of the meats, including grilled ½ chicken, were listed at MP (market price). Ive never seen this before except for items like lobster or daily specials.- The bread, which there is an extra charge, was tasteless and hard.- The starter of hummus was topped with cold vegetables, which had been grilled at some point, was served with cold, soggy pita bread.- My drink finally came, after 20 minutes, and I was told the bartender was “away”.- Next, the caesar salad was delivered. It had so much garlic I tasted it well into the next day and the lettuce had some unpleasant grit (assuming it wasn’t washed well).- Finally, the steak arrived, which I ordered medium rare although I wasn’t asked my temperature preference. It was between well done and medium (only a couple of bites had any pink) and dry.- One of the two steak sauces we ordered, each for an extra charge, was simply seasoned butter which was cold as they either forgot to melt it or couldn’t because of the plastic serving container like the ones at fast food restaurants.- When half way done with the steak, the side of mashed potatoes arrived cold so I asked for them to be reheated. I never saw them again.- When asked about desert, I shared my “delight” and asked the server for the check. He apologized and said he’d take a drink and the potatoes off the bill. Upon returning, neither item was deducted which I pointed out. He apologized again and said the manager told him they would be removed. After the second try, the two items were deducted.I regularly dine at upscale restaurants in Truckee, as well as The Bay Area, and don’t resent paying for high quality food/service. As noted above, nothing about this experience was high quality but the prices were extraordinary. Vegan meatloaf (primarily black beans, potatoes and soy) for $35, fried chicken for $38, hummus and caesar salad (both described above) run $18 and $22. Again, most prices are not even listed on the menu which maybe was an initial sign I should have noticed and run.

Good food with a nice patio view of downtown truckee.But a bit expensive.

We came here for happy hour after an afternoon of snowmobile fun, looking to watch a football game and maybe have some light snacks. This place is so much better than what we were looking for. The food was all excellent: butternut squash soup, mac and cheese gnocchi, beef poutine, and the scotch egg. The drink special, Jingle My Bells, was a refreshing concoction of bourbon, amaro, lemon, and ginger. Out of all of these, the scotch egg was the best surprise, as it was quite a sizeable ball of crunchy pork deliciousness, served on a bed of the tastiest, crispiest leeks I have ever had. I would order this dish on its own as an entree and be satisfied. Service was excellent throughout, and the one screen in the bar area was sufficient to meet our football watching needs. Overall a great spot in Truckee for a really tasty and satisfying happy hour.

Food was good. Seating on the deck had amazing view of truckee. They are dog friendly and were able to bring our pups to dine with us. Only nitpicking point was service was a bit slow....

View was amazing, food was high priced and just average taste.

Great food and better service. The view of Truckee from the outdoor deck is excellent.

When it comes to the food, Cottonwood has changed from what it once was. The food quality has gone downhill; even the basics are not on the ball. Ahi poke for $24: the tuna was not fresh, the mango had discoloration indicating the fruit is going off. The ribeye for $50: the steak was not seasoned and came out tough. We ordered medium; the steak came out raw in the middle. We had to send it back to be re-fired. The location does have a nice view (unless you happen to gaze at the trailerpark style metal roof)...sorry Cottonwood.

Below average in everything except the tasty rolls. Butternut soup was very bland, the flat iron steak was served with 2 cold unseasoned potatoes and and the server wasnt sure what to do when we mentioned it! Come on a $34.00 dinner could have gone so much better. Toss a few grilled asparagus on top, make it interesting at least. An apology is fine but do something to make the customer happy...We paid the full price bill with a grimace. We are locals and we wont be going back. Maybe the new chefs are just that, new.

We had a 7:15 reservation for 5. We were seated right away. We had a very sweet waitress but it took an extremely long time to get our order placed. I think it was due to the fact that they were very under staffed. Not our waitresses fault. Once we got our order placed, it took close to an hour for our food to come out. It was after 8:30 by the time our food finally arrived. Once it did, every single dish was cold. Very weird. Mine was actually raw on the inside. I ordered the flatiron, medium. I sent it back and it came out hot, but it was raw on the inside again. At that point we had been there for 2 hours. The manager was very kind and took my plate off of the bill and was apologetic. The overall experience was bad. Maybe they were under staffed? Maybe they had problems in the kitchen that night? Not sure. Other than that, they have a beautiful view of downtown Trukee at night and great live music. I most likely wont be back, but maybe it will be different for those of you reading this.

I sent my friends to this restaurant with my warmest recommendations. I visit this restaurant often. I get very good feedback from my friends. The meals are fantastic and the stuff is efficient and cooperative. Every time we visit this place we pass a splendid time. I warmly recommend this restaurant.

This spot knows how to serve their customers. Regularly with a welcoming demeanor. The food is reasonably priced, regularly flavorful and clean.

The place offers a large variety of delicious food. I enjoy eating here. The employees are always very nice, rates are reasonable and the place is always neat.

Always love this place, food is always great and service is great.

Beautiful views of downtown Truckee, live music, and excellent cuisine

Good but a bit pricey.

New Years Eve...ringing in 2018. Had to make reservations, as it was packed. Good bar to wait for our table. Excellent service. Beautiful if you can sit by one of the windows overlooking Truckee. Covered in snow, with Christmas lights, just like a little village you see on Christmas cards.

Overpriced views were spectacular dried boar sausage, oversalted salad, all in all an average meal.

Beautiful views, great terrace, good menu.

Wow! New chefs, new menu...GREAT CHANGES ! The venison chop and salmon dish were delicious. The service team really was 5 star as well.

Been going here for about 20 years looking forward to the Caesar salad. Was $12 now it’s $17 and about half the size - not even a whole head of romaine. In addition the dressing is off and not the same. Had 3 others verify dressing was off.Update 2/202. The Caesar salad is now $22!! For the same size we used to get for $12 and not the same. Their prices are up and portions down. No more Cottonwood in our restaurant to go to list.

Spectacular views, craft beer and cocktails, historic location and delicious dinners. All thats missing is YOU!!Highly recommend deck seating at sunset on a Summers eve for a truly unforgettable experience!

Went to Cottonwood this evening for the Community Soup Dinner; it was lovely. Sean McAlindin played guitar and sang while people dined together. I see so many in my community, while working at New Moon, and it was wonderful to just sit and break bread with them, and other people Ive not met.

The bar is very cool with lots of pictures describing the history of the Truckee area. The staff are very friendly and the drinks are priced nicely as well. The views are awesome, better after dark.

Pretty good food. Nice view from the patio

Amazing experience! I highly recommend making reservations beforehand and getting a window table with a view of Truckee. The restaurant has a rustic style with a classy environment and white table cloths. The night we dined in, there was a mix between an older crowd, multiple couples, a bachelor party, and a bachelorette party.

Nice view.Quality placeGreat serviceFood and the way it’s cooked need some upgrade, so not worth the $$$$ spent

Outside patio and service were wonderful. Very limited menu food was prepared well. More choices would be great.

Hit or miss... Had the best meal and then maybe not so good. But keep going back cause its like a scratcher... It could be a winner! And then youre so happy.Actually better than scratchers. Most of the time its a good eat and always a fun place to be.

Food is ok. Drinks are good.

We dropped in on a Monday evening for some dinner to find it lively and the dining room was at capacity. So we sat in the bar area (same menu available). Good food and friendly service.

Wonderful place. Amazing food, lovely people, outstanding service and great view of Truckee. They even allowed our dog on the patio and gave him great service too. It was so nice as we were traveling. It was a spur of the moment stop but we will be back. Thank you Cottonwood.

The service was wonderful but the food was garbage! Burnt and unseasoned food. I ate 2 bites of my food and was still charged full price for the plate. They need a new chef! My husband just wasted $140 on this trash for our anniversary dinner, and we would have been more satisfied with fast food. The only edible thing we got was the bread and caesar salad. The filet, potatoes, and green beans were all disgusting! Burnt on the outside, raw on the inside (ordered 1 med rare and 1 done both were very much rare) I will never return and do not understand how anyone could. Just a waste of money.

Came there during a dry February where one can see a snowless Northstar. Because of it the place had a quiet and somber tone; I was told that the place is usually crowded, noisy and happening that time of year. However, I liked that slow-paced quiet environment. I remember the wine I had was terrific and this red, white, and green nacho dish was Italianistically/Mexicanistically beautiful and delicious.

Service is good and the was good considering there was a large group there watching the music show.

Fabulous location and views. The food is ok.

The service is regularly quick, good vibes, very friendly staff. I will return again when I am here.

Been going here a few times a year for over 10 years. I do not see myself going back unless something changes. If you are going to charge premium prices you better have premium service and food. We had neither. Soup served cold and tasted so bad I cant even describe it. The mains were completely unimpressive. Service was lackluster at best. The only thing I was impressed with was the size of the bill.

We came in October ( kinda off season). Wanted to see the band., Dave Manning....The hostess was awesome sat us near the band as we were here for the band not for Dinner. I prefer the band in the back room not in the dinner area. Really wanted to rock it..

Extremely popular with knowledgeable locals. There was some confusion on our reservation, but we eventually got it worked out. food was very good, and the bar was a great place to relax before heading to the table.

Service can be much better.

Food was very disappointing

A break from the usual truckee diners. A little pricey, but options can be limiting in truckee. Views are fantastic as well as service. Make reservations if you want to sit on the deck before sunset. It can get hot though. Inside seating was perfect for us, after spending all day at dinner lake. Had the steak, which was delicious.

Awesome place the hostess was so awesome. Thank you Shannon.I believe that was her name. The wait staff was awesome as well. I will be back LOVE TRUCKEE

The best ceasar salad ever, you have to love garlic to love this salad. Cottonwood is, I think the best restaurant in Truckee. Up on the hill the view of town is so pretty. Summer time the deck is the place to be. The dining area is big enough that even when its busy you dont feel closed in. Great food, great wine,amazing view. What else can you ask for?

Good food and drinks. Knowledgeable bartenders that love whiskey. Happy hour whenever there is a winter storm warning. I love this place!

Great food and service, prices to match.

Casual elegance, lovely views, pretty good service - water poured on me twice, and the creepy robotic voice of our server instructing us to continue enjoying. Change it up, Eric, for the love of fine dining everywhere! The food was delicious, except the steak. For the price they charge, I expected a quality cut of beef. It was well seasoned, but thin, tough, and overcooked. The mashed potatoes and asparagus were amazing, and I would commit a felony for more of that white chocolate creme brulee.

Very good, great view

Beautiful views of Truckee, warm seat by the heater, excellent food

Fantastic dining up above down town Truckee. Looks like they are having some fun with their menu using locally sourced microgreens and lettuce. Fun happy hour too.

Accomodating staff, good food, beautiful scenery.

Views on views on views, great food, great service in a historic original Truckee building. A must see....

Great atmosphere Great service Friendly Reasonable prices Neat old pictures of Truckee Past

Kind service. Very good steamed clams and french onion soup. Great creme brulee.

Good foodRestaurant is a little datedGood service

Absolutely one of the best experience. The food was excellent. The ambiance was fantastic. I have a family from Mainland China and the most difficult to please when it comes to Western Food. At Cottonwood, my wife was the first to exclaim that the food was EXCELLENT! We shared 4 appetizers, 2 salads, and 2 main courses between five people and walked out satisfied and full.

Great food (especially steak), and cool atmosphere with view of truckee. Live music adds a nice touch.Was slow/initially unresponsive on follow-up with progress on mailing a gift certificate to family, however. Which was kind of annoying.

It was rustic and had great food, the settings was just like down town truckee and felt very at home. One of the best parts was the view, it overlooked the vally that truckee sits in. I would go back at any time.

Most atmosphere in town. Killer views. Best Caesar salad anywhere. Cuisine worth traveling for. Cozy bar and good local music.

This place has great food a great bar and if ya like old ski history a cool place to check outEdit: after 2 not so great experiences and being contacted by the owner I will give it another try and then repost hopefully it meets its old standard.

Nice cozy cabin in the winter. Good views.and good food. Not too fancy.

With a scenic outdoor patio overlooking downtown Truckee, Cottonwood offers a unique dining experience from a historic location that is tough to beat. The service is consistently great and the menu always has delicious choices.

Great menu. We had the scallops, Brussels sprouts, and the salmon fish special. All 6 of us loved our food. Very cute atmosphere and great view (during daylight). Busy on weekends so make a reservation.

Great Dinner spot overlooking the town of Truckee. Excellent food and service. Make it a point to dine there often.

Great location with views that are spectacular, the deck seating in summer is a must. Food has gotten better and selection has also improved. Ceasar salad is awesome

Everything was fabulous; as always. Love the food, drinks and atmosphere.

Huge fan!!! Great food!! Great happy hour!! Awesome customer service!!!

Atmosphere is Wonderful

The view is excellent and the stuff was very accommodating timely and friendly. I was way more impressed by the cocktail the appetizer and soup du hour, than the actual entree. It lacked a certain flavor and nothing really stood out like the rest of my meal did. But that was the only draw back. I will go back.

Upscale comfort food is a great way to describe this place. Sitting outside overlooking Truckee as the sun goes down makes for a great dining experience. The pork chop was excellent, staff was very professional.

Food is good including squash salad. but pricey for a local. $25 for a salad without protein seems a little high.

Great food and good service

Food was good but not great. Service was a bit disappointing especially since the restaurant was almost empty (although the outside patio was busier). They didnt seem particularly happy to have us there .. in fact we felt a bit like we were imposing. Wont be going back.

We arrived for dinner when they opened so we were among the first to be seated at 5pm. The first obvious thing anyone going there will notice is the complete state of disrepair that the structure is in.... It needs a major overhaul.The man at the hostess desk (I’m assuming he was the manager) greated people and answered questions with one word answers and curt responses. No smiles, no personality, no warmth at all.After being seated we waited 45 MINUTES before seeing our server for the first time and getting drinks.... When she finally arrived she didn’t introduce herself and obviously had gone to the same charm school as the manager. No smiles, no personality.... very glum and grumpy.Maybe something was going on behind the scenes but the whole experience was ridiculous.... It was very “night of the living dead”. It all made for a crappy experience....Oh yea..... the food was just ok, but the place does have a nice view.Definitely one and done with this restaurant...

Nice view service was slow

Excellent food & service. Cozy atmosphere. Great view. My first choice while staying in Truckee

Excellent. The service, the food and the atmosphere were A plus.

First time for me, I was very, very impressed with the service and staff. Mountain feel with great food and reasonable pricing!!!! Ill be coming back.

Very ordinary food. Its a long time favorite for locals and tourist alike. But really there are so many better choices.

Atmosphere is unique to the Truckee area. The food was perfect. Had the grass fed New York strip with honey glazed carrots, garlic mashed potatoes and a port wine reduction. I had to get the recipe for it, it was that good. The chef came out and shared it with us. What a treat. Very reasonable prices too. My first 5 star review.

Fabulous evening in this lovely place. Great menu, food good and service excellent.

Friendly and attentive staff really add to the well prepared foods. I was surprised they were known for their Caesar salad. Until we had one. Nice!Left very full and feeling like it was money well spent. Making this a mandatory stop for next truckee visit.

Expensive, truckee area restaurant. Decent food.

Great deck and atmosphere, decent food but way overpriced for what it was.

Good food, good drink list (Someone there is a big fan of Super Troopers), great view.

Best Caesar salad ever. Special mixed drinks are poured too small (or would have given 5 stars)