When you say Mammoth Lakes, California, winter ski slopes come to mind. Since I don't ski--and, really, my daily exercise may be lifting my fork--I went to eat. I decided to ask the locals for recommendations because who would know better than them? I took five restaurant known for the food, price not being a object.
The first restaurant that I visited was The Restaurant at Convict Lake. I decided to get right down to the task at hand and skipped the appetizers and ordered my main course. I had the Duck confit flavored with sun-dried cherry sauce. For dessert I ordered Bananas foster flambe. I am not a big fan of duck but I wanted to try something different. It was different. It wasn't greasy and the cherry sauce was quite good. Before I describe the dessert let me confess, bright lights and shiny things entice me. That being so when the Bananas Foster flambe came out and the waiter lit it on fire, I was hooked. All I remember is something sweet and a beautiful orange and blue flame.
My second victim was The Alpenrose Sierra Grill Restaurant. I had the Sake Glazed Canadian Chinook Salmon and ended with the Warm Apple Strudel Al La Mode. I ordered the Salmon because it said "Sake-glazed" on the menu and I love Sake. Although I couldn't taste the Sake, I loved the salmon. My choice of dessert could have stayed in the kitchen because it tasted like it came out of a box and was warmed in the microwave.
My third restaurant was the Austria Hof Lodge. I have never eaten German food but the smells coming from this restaurant were mouth watering. Walking in a waitress passed carrying a tray of crab cakes, so my first appetizer in Mammoth Lakes was the Crab Cakes with Cucumber-Cilantro Vinaigrette. For my main course I had Jaeger Shnitzel, which is a sauteed veal cutlet topped with a rich mushroom sauce. It is served with spaetzle and red cabbage. Even though I was stuffed beyond recognition I ordered the Creme Brulee with fresh berries for dessert. Everything at this restaurant was to die for. I waited for something to be average but if any restaurant ever needed to be awarded five stars this is it!
After my third dinner I was almost convinced to abandon my task and eat where I knew but I figured I would give the other two a chance to be the best. Number four was the Chart House Restaurant. I ordered an appetizer of Crab Stuffed Mushrooms Baked in White Wine Sauce and my main course was Snapper Hemingway. The snapper was encrusted in Parmesan and cracker and topped with jumbo lump crab and shallot butter over rice pilaf. For dessert I had the Hot Chocolate Lava cake. Although not as good as restaurant number three, my taste buds were happy.
My last recommendation was the Whiskey Creek Mountain Bistro. I hate to sound like a cliche and say I saved the best but if it is the truth, so be it! For starters, I had the Seafood Sampler- wasabi crusted ahi, terayaki prawns and oysters on the half shell served with a trio of sauces. I followed this with a 12 ounce medium-well rib eye with melted bleu cheese. It was accompanied with Lemon Garlic Asparagus and Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes. With the garlic and bleu cheese, my breath was kicked up about 5 notches but my taste buds were in heaven! This was definitely the best. I had reached my peak, I was exhausted and full and could not go to one more restaurant. If you believe the locals, and I do with all my heart, these are the top five in Mammoth Lakes, California!
This mouth-watering guide to Mammoth Lakes was brought to you by Zenthye Cash.