River Ranch Lodge

Planning a romantic dinner? Like the sound of water? You might want to try River Ranch Lodge. It’s right on Truckee River and if you’re lucky enough, you can sit next to the river.

Pan Fried Crab Cakes ($12.95) - Dungeness crab with smoky aioli and micro greens.

Portobella Mushroom Napolean ($18.95) - Grilled marinated portabellas with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, sauteed spinach and broiled tomatoes.

Sonoma Chicken ($19.95) - Half free-range chicken, pan roasted with caramelized onions and sherry, served on mashed potatoes with greens. The skin was nice and crispy. The meat was tender. The caramelized onions and sherry thickened just enough so that it reminded me of a buttery gravy. This doesn’t reheat well if you have leftovers.

Duck Two Ways ($26.95) - Half Maple Leaf Farms duck with pan roasted breast and confit leg. Served with a blackberry fumet.

As I was eating my chicken, I noticed that the couple next to me had ordered one of the specials… Jumbo Shrimp Pasta. I only noticed this because of the size of the shrimp. JUMBO! The largest shrimp that I’ve ever seen. I’ll be trying that next time 

This restaurant is extremely popular during lunch hours. Pretty much everyone who goes river rafting ends up here, in their patio area. They offer the usual (burgers, wings, fries, sodas, etc) for less than their dinner prices.