Tenaya Lodge Restaurants

[Lookout Lee]

Which would you choose for a birthday dinner? What would you order? If your hostess is a vegan, would you order what you like or observe her diet?

[SheilaMae]

Personally I've not ever been to Tenaya but I would think if your hostess is choosing a full serve restaurant/dining room, she's doing so to allow her non-vegan dining partners a choice so I'd go for what appeals to me most, probably choosing a house specialty not common elsewhere. That's just me.

[monkey]

It depends on if you are eating at Jackalope's or the Sierra Room, but I would order what I prefer, staying away from the big slabs o' meat. When I was a veggie, I got grossed out by seeing a hunk of meat being eaten. (of course, then I bought a restaurant specializing in meat!) I 've had the Paella at the Sierra Room twice now, and have been dissapointed both times, but the steaks & Prime Rib have always been good.

[Yosemite_Wolf]

when i go to a restaurant.. I AM paying.. i will order what I WANT. The server needs to keep her/his personal opinoins out of my decision.

[monkey]

I don't think Lookout Lee meant that the hostess was a restaurant employee, I think he meant that she was hostessing the party.

[Dodgergirl]

I don't know if it's vegan, but it is vegetarian... Tenaya has the most incredible lentil vegetable stew...it's called magullany or something like that, I just had some the other night and it was sooo good!
I had a belated birthday dinner there a few weeks ago and had the filet, it was awesome. The servers were excellent, although it probably helped that they were friends...
I think it's the same principle as when people are on a diet, order what you normally would, but not go overboard. I believe we are more concerned with not upsetting them and they (being the person with the particular diet) deal with it on a daily basis so it's not as big a deal as we might believe.
And as for servers telling what they like in their place of employment, I'd say most people ask them whats good? or what do you prefer? thats part of their job...to know the menu and offer choices...

JMHO

[Lookout Lee]

i agree with Monkey's rating of the paella at the Sierra Room at Tenaya Lodge. I ordered it so as not to gross out my vegan daughter with my usual slab of just thawed/barely warmed RARE meat. (Her hubby and mine ordered steak and salmon - would have been ok if not doused in sauce)

The paella was described as having clams, mussels, shrimp, and chicken. With exactly 2 very small clams, 2 mussels, 2 shrimp, and maybe 4-6 dice-sized cubes of chicken = just enough to be plural and satisfy truth in advertising, it was, indeed, very disappointing.
Littleneck clams are available for $4.99/lb, bay shrimp (peeled) for $3.99/lb., and chicken can still be found for .69-.89/lb. retail supermarket prices. So, I could have had one pound of each for half of the pricey $23 something for the rice dish.

The atmosphere was warm and cozy, and the staff very attentive without being overbearing or pretentious.