Gar Woods Grill & Pier UPDATE - Carnelian Bay, CA

We're becoming creatures of habit in Reno, revisiting our favorites, establishing a lunch tradition. Tahoe isn't a habit just yet, but the drive is so beautiful, we used Gar Woods as an excuse on a fine fall day.

The sapphire waters gleam in the midday sun, and Gar Woods has a wall of tables both inside and out that overlook a peaceful pier that makes ripples along a tranquil shore. Nibble on some Housemade Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips as you dive into their all-American lunch menu and soak up the afternoon sun. These potato chips are ample and thick, warm vinegar cutting through the salt and creamy dip. 

Plenty of sandwiches like the Hawaiian Chicken to hit the spot if you're craving. The chicken is tender and not at all dry, and the pineapple and BBQ sauce add some fruitier notes. 

The Chicken & Waffles is where they get a little creative, and I love every bite. The chicken is crisply fried, and the fluffy waffles are stuffed with strips of bacon to add a little extra. The syrup is chipotle-blueberry so you get the gooey summer fruit with a spice that gives it a bite. This syrup is like crack on a plate of meat and carbs.   

I haven't been anywhere else in Tahoe, but I don't need to compare to know that Gar Woods has a good thing going. Whether it's a day-trip, a break from camping, or just a sweet family meal, Gar Woods is game.  

Playa Hermosa Fish & Oyster - Hermosa Beach

WHAT? How did I not know about this place?! How did I go to freaking Palmilla and attempt to eat at Tower 12 and not know that this little house of awesomeness was RIGHT HERE?

Of all the places I've gone to on the pier, this is one of the best so far, tied for first with the pork shoulder at Hermosa Brewing. Hand-selected fresh seafood all day and all night, great service, and a surprisingly spectacular menu, especially for DineLA.

Oysters to start. Love 'em or hate 'em, an acquired taste...like me. I love these. A good amount of butter, a dash of brine. A great balance - I may have forgotten the variety, but I haven’t forgotten the flavor. 

I traded an oysters for a Peruvian Scallop. It's a disc of tender sweetness, smooth and pretty like the shell they serve it on.

The Albacore Tuna glows in a lake of ponzu. Citrus brightens, and a flash of Fresno chili cheese uplifts an airy, almost-buttery meat. Fried quinoa chips add a quick and delicate crunch.

Bacon asserts some savor and smoke in a Clam Chowder full of cream, loaded with chunks of chewy clams.

I can honestly count on one finger the number of times I’ve ever been impressed by Swordfish. This is the one. I hate swordfish - it’s steak-like in texture and turns into the texture of dried-out chicken breast if you so much as blink while you’re cooking. What Playa Hermosa did to theirs is witchcraft. I've never had swordfish this tender and juicy, and TBH I've never even had swordfish tender AND juicy at the same time. They season it just enough to bring out some buttery and savory notes too. I can’t believe this is swordfish - their chef is a genius. 

The main event: Maine lobster. My first Lobster Thermidor, a foolproof, fail-proof tail smothered in cheese. You really can't go wrong with that combination, and doesn't love some fresh tail?

I seriously can't believe this place. Best seafood in Hermosa so far, and I am coming back for more ASAP. Great place to chill and eat like a freaking king. 

Gar Woods Grill & Pier - Carnelian Bay, California

Out of Reno and onto a tour of Tahoe. The winding mountains are a harrowing, hair-raising ordeal, full of crags and cliffs and hairpin turns.

It is worth every bit of carsick nausea for a view of this sapphire lake. Sandy beaches dot the coast, and small waves break on jagged rocks. Gar Woods may scream tourist-trap, but it's worth it for a view like this.

It's bright and brisk, perfect weather for comfort food, and a lakeside Shrimp & Lobster Bisque hits the spot. Lobster-flavored cream in a semi-deep bowl, chunks of sweet rock shrimp in each spoon.

It takes me a moment to realize we've crossed the border, and we're not in Nevada anymore. Pre-Calexit California welcomes us with a Filet California Burger. The patty is the softest non-Kobe patty I've had, and though I'm not a fan of teriyaki, it goes with a smushed guacamole. Add thick strips of bacon and a slice of jack cheese, and it's almost impossible to fit your mouth around this monstrosity.

The Dungeness Crab Sandwich is a much lighter option...except not really. The sweet shreds of chilled crab are the filet mignon of shellfish, but it's loaded with a savory mayo. Goes great with sourdough bread for a lightly-ritzy lunch.

Lunch is gorgeous, but we don't linger too long. There are two places to go on our one-day-three-cities whirlwind, and we're swept off to Virginia City right after we pay the bill.