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PlumpJack Café

Item: PlumpJack Café
Author: Christina Nellemann

Cuisine: American, California, New American

Price Range: $$

10Best Says

Understated elegance enlivened with touches of whimsy characterizes this revered restaurant's dining room. Often, patrons are focused on the snowy landscape, visible through many windows, or on toothsome dishes before them. Dinner is divided into first and second courses; expect such fare as pancetta-wrapped diver scallops and foie gras torchon followed by Colorado braised lamb shank and New York steak with a twice-baked Yukon potato and broccolini. A less expensive but still excellent bar menu is available starting at 11:30am, and a children's menu is a boon for ski-tired families. For dessert, don't forget the PlumpJack's Chocolate Mousse "S'more" with a Honey Graham Cracker, Liquid Fudge and House Made Marshmallow.

Address:

1920 Squaw Valley Rd
Olympic Valley, CA 96146
530-583-1578

Hours:

Daily 7:30am-10:30am, 11:30am-10pm

Website:

plumpjackcafe.com

EXPERT TIPS BY: Christina Nellemann
Reno and Tahoe Local Expert

Outdoor Dining: "The Plumpjack probably has the largest wine list in Lake Tahoe."

Best for Outdoor Dining Because: The Plumpjack offers Farm to Table dinners outside in the summer.

Plumpjack Cafe
- Beginnings
  
  Farmer's Market Salad
  
  Manchego, Toasted Cashews, Golden Balsamic Vinaigrette ($13.00)
  
  Caesar Salad
  
  Little Gem Lettuce, Grana Padano, Boquerones ($13.00)
  
  Seafood Poke Cones
  
  Red Onion, Cucumber, Wakame Seaweed, Scallions, Serrano Chili, Yuzu Ponzu, Macadamia Nuts ($15.00)
  
  Tomato Red Pepper Bisque
  
  Truffle Grilled Cheese Nibble ($14.00)
  
  Salt Cod Fritters
  
  Mashed English Peas, Malt Vinegar Aioli ($17.00)
  
  Crispy Veal Sweetbreads
  
  Sourdough Waffle, Bourbon Maple Syrup, Strawberry Compote, Toasted Pecans ($18.00)
- Mains
  
  Allen Brothers New York Strip
  
  Truffle Mac N' Cheese, Spinach, Foraged Mushrooms, Worcestershire Demi Glace ($55.00)
  
  Seared Diver Scallops
  
  Winter Squash Risotto, Romanesco, Citrus Gremolata ($34.00)
  
  Double Cut Pork Chop
  
  Duck Fat Fried Potatoes, Charred Spring Onions, Rhubarb Chutney, Maple Verjus ($35.00)
  
  Sonoma Red Chicken Breast
  
  Toasted Farro, Bacon Braised Green Beans, Meyer Lemon-Thyme Pan Jus ($37.00)
  
  Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut
  
  Asparagus, Piquillo Peppers, Saffron Broth, Caper-Bread Crumb Salsa ($37.00)
  
  Roasted Garnet Yam
  
  Apple Chutney, Cardamom Coconut Cream, Beluga Lentils, Toasted Pecans, Pomegranate Seeds ($28.00)
  
  Durham Ranch Elk Rack
  
  Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Horseradish-Celery Root Puree, Huckleberry-Green Peppercorn Compote ($46.00)
Bar & Lounge
- Sharing
  Pickleback Chicken Wings
  
  Pickle spears, buffalo dipping sauce ($14.00)
  
  Seafood Poke Cones 3/4
  Mango, cucumber, wakame seaweed, scallion, flying fish roe, sesame shoyu dressing
  
  $15.00
  
  $20.00
  Cheese Board
  Candied nuts, cranberry-pistachio crackers add charcuterie
  
  $18.00
  
  $12.00
  Savory Popcorn Bowl
  
  Parmesan, truffle salt, rosemary ($5.00)
  
  Warm Marinated Olives
  
  Citrus, peppadew peppers ($5.00)
  
  Warm Hummus
  
  Pita chips, crudite ($13.00)
  
  Shredded Short Rib Fries
  
  Cheese curds, pickled peppers, spicy aioli ($21.00)
- Soup & Salad
  
  Tomato Red Pepper Bisque
  
  Fried basil ($10.00)
  
  Roasted Cauliflower & Spring Garlic Soup
  
  Calabrian chili oil, toasted garlic ($10.00)
  
  Wild Boar Chili
  
  Chile dusted chichirones ($13.00)
  
  Caesar Salad
  
  Little gem lettuce, boquerones, grana padano croutons ($13.00)
  
  Farmers' Market Salad
  
  Manchego, toasted hazelnuts, golden balsamic vinaigrette ($13.00)
  
  Arugula Salad
  
  Citrus segments, pickled beets, laura chenel goat cheese, roasted pistachios, goat cheese vinaigrette ($15.00)
- Mains
  
  Plumpjack Burger
  
  California wagyu beef, brioche bun, garlic fries add cheese, bacon, mushrooms or grilled onions 1 add avocado or fried egg 2 ($17.00)
  
  Fondue Burger
  
  California wagyu beef, sourdough english muffin, raclette cheese, candied neuske bacon, green apple mustard, truffle fries ($24.00)
  
  Bacon N' Brussels Pizza
  
  Guanciale, shaved brussels sprouts, saba italian fontina cheese, san marzano tomato sauce ($18.00)
  
  Pappardelle Pasta
  
  Asparagus, red kale, pixie nectarines, ricotta cheese, spring onion butter, pine nuts ($25.00)
  
  Basque Stewed Chicken
  
  Chicken merguez sausage, peppers & onions, papas bravas ($28.00)
  
  Red Wine Braised Short Rib
  
  Celery root-cheddar mashed potatoes, baby carrots, braised winter greens, roasted garlic ($29.00)
  
  Roasted Campbell River Salmon
  
  Forbidden black rice, carnival cauliflower, lime pickled mango, green curry broth ($34.00)
  
  Robert H. Cobb Salad (1937)
  
  Roasted chicken, bacon, blue cheese, tomatoes, avocado, egg, golden balsamic vinaigrette ($19.00)
Cocktails
- Signatures
  
  Blood and Snow
  
  Templeton rye, luxardo morlacco, martini & rossi sweet vermouth, orange juice ($13.00)
Beer
- Ciders
  
  Shacksbury
  
  Dry or semi dry ($8.00)
  
  Crispin
  
  Natural hard apple ($7.00)
  
  Stella Artois
  
  Cidre ($7.00)
- Bottled Beers
  
  Budweiser
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Coors Light
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Pacifico
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Negra Modelo
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Drakes, Hefeweizen
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Anchor Brewing Company, Lager
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Anderson Valley, Boont Amber Ale
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Rogue Ales, Dead Guy Maibock
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Deschutes, Fresh Squeezed Ipa
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Widmer, Omission Ipa
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Trumer, Pils
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Guinness, Stout
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Dogfish Head, 90 Minute Ipa
  
  ($10.00)
  
  Kaliber, Lager (N/A)
  
  ($7.00)
Dessert
- Dessert
  
  Granny Smith Apple Pie
  
  Cinnamon Caramel, Dutch Oat Crumble, Vanilla Ice Cream ($11.00)
  
  Boozy Creme Brûlée
  
  Bailey's Irish Cream, Espresso Chantilly Cream ($10.00)
  
  Artisan Cheese Plate
  
  Candied Nuts, Cranberry-Pistachio Crackers ($18.00)
  
  Frozen Desserts
  
  Ice Cream & Sorbet, Choice Of 3 Scoops ($8.00)
  
  Peanut Butter & Chocolate Bomb
  
  Layered Mousse, Chocolate Cake, Peanut Brittle, Raspberry Coulis ($12.00)
Happy Hour
- To Drink
  
  Glass of Wine
  
  house red or white ($5.00)
  
  Draft Beer
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Well Cocktails
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Classic Daiquiri
  
  flor de caña, lime, simple ($7.00)
  
  Lavender Lemonade
  
  california courage vodka ($7.00)
  
  Gin & House Made Tonic
  
  fresh lime ($7.00)
- This & That
  
  Warm Marinated Olives & Glass of Wine
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Savory Popcorn & Draft Beer
  
  ($6.00)
- To Share
  
  Tomato Red Pepper Bisue
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Cheese Plate
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Caesar Salad
  
  ($8.00)
  
  PlumpJack Burger & Fries
  
  california wagyu beef, brioche bun, garlic fries. ($12.00)
  
  Chicken Wings
  
  ($7.00)

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