I see this place has mixed reviews. I chose 5 stars based on total experience....food plus service. First off, the food. I would rate it as a strong 4 - 4.5ish. The elk was cooked perfectly, but needed a more acidic sauce....though tasty, the sauce was a little too sweet, taking away from the elk flavor. The Bison short rib was amazing in this game trip, with the quail, again....cooked well, but not the best flavor. My filet was perfect, and I loved the contrast of the wasabi mashed potatoes. Oh, and sorry...that picture came out blurry. My mom's choice couldn't be made, so the manager and chef accommodated her by altering a dish to something she thoroughly enjoyed. Very cool of them. Our server was attentive,and our water and soda glasses were constantly refilled without being asked. Service was incredible. Definitely a once in awhile/special occasions type place for us normal people...but would happily return read more

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Mother's day brunch was a mess for $800 Entrees and service wasn't worth the units. For nearly $100 per person, rib steak that was sous vide to medium, then served nearly well done and completely undersalted is unacceptable for a restaurant asking for this much coin. The steak sandwich was completely reliant on the aoli sauce between the dry ciabatta bread, and again showcasing how underwhelming the steak was by being undersalted. One of our dishes was completely forgotten, and had to be followed up on. Surrounding tables had similar issues. Eggs benedict with smoked salmon was a hit The starter salads / french onion soup and desserts were tasty, with the banana / blueberry bread pudding and tres leches cake being the stars. Avoid this after-thought of a brunch if you can, stick to their dinner menu and enjoy the incredible ambiance that is Saddle Peak Lodge. What a disaster though! For $800, Fogo de Chao, Maestros, Flemmings, even a drive to Alexanders in Pasadena would of been memorable. Shoot, should of just gone to Lure for the 10,000th time, at least it would of offered the same boring consistency. Super disappointed in Saddle Peak Lodge, as my family and I come here 1-2 times a year for dinner. Sadly this experience sums up why their over-all Yelp score is 3.5 stars now, and I'm sadly adding fuel to the fire for what once was one of my favorite restaurants. read more

I went to this restaurant today to celebrate Mother's Day with my son and my friends. This was not my first time there, but we were all extremely disappointed with both the food and the service. They had a 3-course Mother's Day menu, and the choices were honestly terrible. It felt like they just used products that weren't selling on regular days and threw them onto a holiday menu. I had the worst steak of my life it literally tasted steamed instead of properly cooked. The menu mentioned a kids' menu, but it was basically the exact same menu as the adults'. I asked for French fries for my son, and the waiter said they had them. What arrived was roasted potatoes instead. When I told the staff member who brought the food that I ordered fries, he said he would ask the waiter. Then the waiter came back and said, "Oh, we actually don't have fries." Why didn't he tell us earlier? The waiter was awkward, rude, and made us feel completely unwelcome the entire time. I also asked for a baby cup or a to-go cup with a lid for my son's drink, and they brought me a plastic soup container instead. The only good thing about the entire experience was the desserts. At the end of dinner, the waiter brought the check and we placed our cards inside. My two friends stayed at the table while I took my 2-year-old son for a short walk because he couldn't sit still through the entire dinner. Apparently my card was declined, and instead of politely saying, "I'm sorry, your card was declined, do you have another form of payment?" the waiter said , "You're not leaving this restaurant until you pay for it." Nobody was trying to leave or avoid paying. We were literally still there. I felt extremely disrespected and embarrassed by the way they handled the situation. To make things worse, they automatically charged a 20% service fee. When I told the manager I didn't want to tip because the service was horrible, he said it was "California law" and that they were allowed to charge it. That response was ridiculous. This place is completely done for me. I will never come back and absolutely do not recommend it. Paying almost $400 for disgusting food and horrible service is unacceptable. read more

My family of six went to celebrate my son's 21st birthday on Sunday night, we ordered several different appetizers and several main dishes. My son and my wife had a stomach aches after eating the Elk Tartar, my son girlfriend ordered Filet mignon and she had stomach issues and diarrhea last night. The only good thing was the service, Steven and his crew were great. We were looking forward for the dinner and celebration last night and we left disappointed. This will be our last time going to Saddle Peak Lodge. read more

Can someone please remove the current owners of this restaurant and revive the magic!!!!!! I used to frequently dine at the lodge as it was amazing!...now it's lousy, scummy, dirty and the food is absolutely disgusting!.... Please someone buy this place, get a real chef and a classy respectful staff! Don't waste your money or time going to The Saddle slump dump !! read more

Saddle Peak Lodge is a place we've visited several times over the years, so we were really looking forward to our most recent dinner. Before going, I checked recent reviews and was surprised by how many 1-star ratings there were - which definitely gave me pause. Were we about to be disappointed too? Happily, no. We had an excellent experience. There were six of us, and we ordered a wide range of entrées: sea bass, salmon, chicken, rib eye, and lamb. Every single person rated their dish a solid 5 stars. My sea bass was outstanding - perfectly cooked with a lightly seasoned crunch. Honestly, one of the best sea bass dishes I've had. That said, not everything hit. I didn't love the Pink Lady salad. It was interesting, but the flavors didn't quite come together for me. I also found the hors d'oeuvres and small plates uninspiring. I usually struggle to narrow down appetizers, but here I struggled to find one I wanted - and even the shared salad fell flat. The rib eye deserves a special mention. One of our dining companions is a sous chef who regularly prepares rib eyes at his own restaurant, and he couldn't believe how good it was. His only complaint? Not enough mashed potatoes. Desserts were a hit across the board - the bread pudding is a must. Service was attentive and smooth, and surprisingly, the restaurant wasn't packed - even on a Saturday night. One thing to note: valet is your only parking option, and it's $20. Will we be back? Probably. When Saddle Peak gets it right, it really gets it right. read more

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Cool place tucked away in the hills. The vibes are great: think elegance meets rustic. White table clothes in a log cabin with outdoor seating available. The mounted deer / elk heads are a bit aggressive. Service was exceptional. Everyone was very nice. Be sure to read the menu at the bottom; this is a no tip restaurant so all staff are paid fairly (above minimum wage) and do not work for tips. A 20% fee is automatically added to your bill so tipping is not necessary, but of course welcomed and appreciated. The food itself was so so. A bit over priced although portions were generous. We went for brunch. We ordered the French toast, one of the egg dishes and the cornbread skillet. Everything was decent, but I probably wouldn't rush to go there again. If you're vegetarian or pescatarian, especially for the dinner menu, options are limited. There is a lot of game on the menu. If you're a meat eater, you'd probably love this spot for dinner. Parking is Valet only and costs $20 read more

Saddle Peak Lodge - French toast with passion fruit cream cheese - New American Near Me - Calabasas, California

Been here few times before maybe 3 times awhile back pre covid will say food and experience were always delicious and great ambiance !! The reason for 2 stars below.. Yesterday we called to make reservation bc everytime we tried to on the website, it said browser unavailable so we just kept calling, it rang, and we heard automated recording say Tuesday to Sunday open 5-10pm. We hesitated as Google says 5-9pm, i was calling to ask if it was ok to come around 7-45 to 8 as we have done in past, one was Mother's Day was reservation for 3, one was a big birthday party reservation of 6 and one was a walk in for 2 people. All 3 times we came were great- food and presentation were awesome ! So we didn't think it would be a problem on a Thursday evening esp since both Google and the call recording said open. Well we got there at like 8:07pm to find the place empty and closed, we thought they closed at 9, granted we did come 10 min after 8 but we would of expected them open at-least, the whole place was closed and dark no sign of anyone in parking or the restaurant... that was unfortunate as we were so excited to go, we of course turned around and left but coming from 45 min away was a bummer. Maybe next time but wish the internet had updated hours bc I didn't see anything on their website. read more

Saddle Peak Lodge - Hours said open but restaurant was closed - New American Near Me - Calabasas, California

Brutal. Nobody was in there. Lights were off and nobody was at the hostess stand to seat us. Food was decent but nothing I couldn't cook in my own kitchen. read more

We requested to sit outside and I am so happy that we did! It was such a wonderful experience and so beautiful! We got so excited with the menu so we had to try it all! I am so happy that we did everything was fantastic!! I personally wasn't a fan of the elk tartar because the wasabi was also mixed into the elk and I'm not a fan of wasabi, however my boyfriend loved it!! He said it was great the wasabi mixed with the elk was a great flavor. The quartet was such a hit between my boyfriend and I. For this evening it included bison shortrib, ostrich steak, elk filet, and quail! They were each paired with a side dish that matched it perfectly! Lovely evening thank you to everyone at Saddle Peak Lodge for such wonderful hospitality!! read more

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This was a wonderful restaurant back in the day- no longer! The plates are cafeteria quality and look dingy. The plating of the food lacks imagination and any sort of appeal. The food quality is questionable as well and arrived cold, wrong, one plate had hair and another was missing its sauce The manager lacked the experience and people skills needed to run what was once considered a fine dining experience. the only positive is the unique dining room/ambiance. read more

I love the diversity of the menu, the ambience and service was great for us. The food was hot and delicious. Exotic food is hard to please the majority of patrons but these guys do an excellent job. read more

The Review I Decided NOT to Write (But If I Had, It Would Be This) I rarely write reviews but the sheer, multi-faceted awfulness of dinner at Saddle Peak Lodge was an event so singular it demanded a public service announcement. After some deliberation, I decided I wouldn't write a review. But if I had, it would have gone something like this: I would have first addressed the kitchen, where a culinary crisis was clearly underway. The word "lukewarm" feels generous. I'd describe the food as having achieved that disappointing temperature unique to airport food--a kind of thermal resignation. I would detail the flaccid, room-temperature meat and those starchy, bland "potato things" that I wouldn't wish on a prison warden. And of course, I would highlight the most memorable dish: the Mac and Cheese, which had clearly gone over to the dark side. The systemic failure was obvious; the table next to us was staging a silent protest, sending back plates with the regularity of a clock striking the hour. The ultimate takeaway? The stomach aches that followed us home, proving the food was not just bad, but actively hostile. (A necessary side note: our server, Sean, was great, and the host was polite. They are clearly working under duress.) The Real Special of the Night: Toxic Management All of those kitchen disasters--the temperature failures, the quality issues--could have been forgotten with a single, competent apology. Instead, I had the pleasure of meeting the manager. If I had written the review, I would have made it clear that above and beyond the food poisoning risk, the single worst ingredient in the entire restaurant was the young Manager. When I was asked by the manager about my night (after the waiter had asked me and I answered honestly), I--with patience--laid out the objective facts, stressing that I was not looking for a handout, but simply awareness. His response was a masterpiece of managerial incompetence. He was arrogant, hostile, and--the true highlight--he flat out told me he didn't believe me. Which left me confused. Don't believe me...how? What does that even mean? What's not to believe? You can see the plates full of untouched food. This move--calling the customer a liar instead of offering a napkin--was guaranteed to escalate the situation, which he proudly claimed he was doing. He seemed to feed off the situation - again strange and confusing. There were plenty of other bizarre and aggressive actions which I would have added to my review... but above all else I was utterly confused by the whole experience. Why so much hostility? Why such an attitude? Why escalate things instead of resolve them? How could someone clearly so bad at their job not get fired? So so strange. Conclusion (For the Review I Didn't Write) Then the dots connected: he's the owner's son and a co-owner. The puzzle was solved. The entire experience was suddenly and tragically logical. You can forgive a bad night in the kitchen, but you cannot forgive a maliciously bad manager. This individual's leadership style and shocking rudeness ensure the restaurant is poisoned from the top down. My final warning to anyone considering a meal here is this: The Manager/Owner's Son is the only thing guaranteed to leave you cold. Do not go here. read more

There are places tucked into the hills where time slows down, the air changes, and every bite feels like a whispered secret. Saddle Peak Lodge is one of those places--a culinary hunting lodge fantasy perched in the Malibu canyons, where antlers meet elegance and the ghosts of Hemingway and Bukowski nod in approval. For our anniversary, we made the winding drive from Westlake--sun dripping off the hills, nature putting on a show. It set the tone. Then you step inside: wood beams, flickering firelight, trophies of game from another era, and a menu that speaks fluent luxury without trying too hard. The filet arrived first, cloaked in a rich red wine reduction that didn't beg for attention--it demanded it. Mushrooms, earthy and wild. Mashed potatoes swimming in brown butter. And a crisp, tart apple salad that punched through the decadence like a cymbal crash. Oh, and mac and cheese. Because even the gods want comfort food sometimes. Then came the lamb chops--tender, beautifully crusted, lounging beside farro laced with mushrooms and shaved truffle, like a smoky campfire dream. Seared scallops nestled in a lardon hash, balancing salt and sweetness like a good jazz riff. Sean, our server, was part sommelier, part storyteller, part ninja. Never missed a beat. It was perfect. Not pretentious, not overworked. Just honest-to-God great food in a room built for moments you don't forget. Saddle Peak isn't just a dinner. It's a pilgrimage. read more

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$20. For Valet service, and I parked the car. Not many people were there when we had brunch. The brunch menu was not up to our expectations. What we ate taste very good. I had eggs Benedict. The ambiance was incredible. An old hunting lodge from the 1800's, now used as a restaurant for many years. There was a service charge, that they said was not a gratuity for the servers. What? read more

Used to be good, now, not so much. Mediocre food at eye watering prices. A pale shadow of its former glory. Staff that couldn't care less and a hostess with an attitude. Oh and $15 for valet parking in a near empty lot.... read more

This is an amazing restaurant great food and amazing ambiance!! The service is great and setting in the hills is amazing!

I have been going to SaddlePeak Lodge since the early 80s. It's always had the rustic hunting lodge look, nothing has changed in regard to that. Sadly when I say nothing has changed, I also mean the carpet, the bathrooms, just about everything needs to be renovated. That ladies bathroom smelled sooo bad. It's at if there is some type of sewer problem. The smell was like a bad overflowing septic tank along with a lot of mold and mildew. I do think I'm correct in saying these are the problems I honestly thought I was going to vomit. I was in and out fast and had to hold my breath. The food was good but not great like it used to be. This restaurant has changed owners quite often and each time there is a new owner, it looses a star rating. It really badly to be revived with a better chef, higher quality meats and seafood and desperately needs to be renovated.. keep the same decor and ambiance but clean that place up. It's a dump. They could switch up a few things in the menu too. The menu has ben the same forever minus a few loved items like the pheasant has been changed to chicken. read more

For several decades, we would proudly take out-of-town visitors to Saddle Peak Lodge to demonstrate the very best the Santa Monica Mountains region has to offer in the way of exquisite locale, combined with a wonderful menu faire and superb service. FIve years ago, we left SoCal, returning each year four of five times to be with Grandchildren and Dear Friends. During our most recent trip, I determined to return to that fabled venue to celebrate Mother's Day with my wife, our two young grandchildren, and their Mother, our Daughter-In-Law. What we found, and subsequently endured, was a once-grand restaurant that is a shadow of its distinguish past; indeed, even finding it difficult to present any shadow at all! In short, from the very beginning, nothing was done well, and no attempt at improving situations that arose were undertaken. The staff was poorly trained, and expressed such a highly rehearsed attitude so blase' as to be insulting. The food was served, after long waits between courses, luke warm at best, and the management was as ill-equipped to deal with the public as any I have ever seen. Even the most diffident Maitre D' in a stuffy Paris restaurant would present as Mr. Personality when compared to that individual who, it turns out, is the Owner's son. (Insert withheld snarky remark here) When seated, it took ten minutes to be asked if we wanted water, ten minutes to receive said water, another ten to bring the one coke ordered, no attempts to replenish the drinks, and a failed attempt at delivering a children's menu. Dirty dishes were left on the table, no condiments were available without some manner of special dispensation, and any request for an item such as extra salad dressing was simply ignored. On two separate occasions, either myself or my wife left the table to find someone who would then, reluctantly, bring the requested item. Both of us had conversation with the aforementioned Manager who, true to form, constantly insulted each throughout the exchange. While I spoke with him, three separate parties left enraged by their experience . . . little wonder. The menu was uninspired and, when served, always proved a disappointment. My wife ordered a salmon dish that was so salty she had to use her napkin to remove the offending spice in order to achieve some manner of accceptance, finally giving up after a most unsatisfying visit from, "the Chef", who simply shrugged his shoulders and gave an unenthusiastic, "do ya wan another one?" response. Adding insult to injury, a required 20% Service Charge was added to our bill, bringing the total to just under $500.00. Should I have taken our party and left? Yes, but instead attempted, admittedly unwisely, to achieve some manner of table-side tranquility. What I SHOULD have done is not make the reservation in the first place, and I urge anyone reading this to rest assured that my thoughts above would be echoed throughout those unfortunate enough to share our dismal experience. read more

I love this place. I come a couple of times a year when I visit LA for work, always for dinner. The history and ambiance of the place is completely unparalleled, not to mention the magical experience of driving there; it's so cool that it's possible to dine at a place like this basically in Los Angeles. I always think it's nuts that more people don't come here, but I also like it that way. I usually find the food to be pretty good- some things are outstanding, but with the occasional funky anomaly. Some if not most of the waitstaff have been there for a good few years now which is also nice to see, and rare. I've never had an issue with the service; it's always been warm, genuine and attentive. Many of the bad reviews on yelp seem to be from old timers who are comparing this place now to its heyday, and that's totally understandable, but sadly most restaurants aren't what they were before Covid. Yes it's expensive, yes it's silly to pay for valet in the middle of nowhere, but the valet guy is always super sweet, and the restaurant is just trying to survive in a difficult-to-access location and a near impossible post covid restaurant world. I would be devastated if it closed. Long live Saddle Peak! read more

My family took me there for Mother's Day for the first time. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was cozy and comfortable. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable with the menu. I highly recommend. read more

This was supposed to be a really nice Valentine's Day dinner, but it turned out to be the worst nightmare we could have possibly endured or imagined at a restaurant. From the moment we arrived, it was already frustrating--you're required to pay for valet just to get in, and there was zero transparency beforehand that the restaurant was serving a fixed menu at $180 per person. That alone felt like a complete rip-off. The options didn't even seem appetizing but you had no choice. Unfortunately, the experience only got worse. The second course--a mushroom pasta--was honestly one of the most atrocious dishes I have ever been served. It didn't even look appetizing when it came out, and it tasted even worse. I was literally gagging trying to eat it and had to send it back because I couldn't take another bite. We were there for two hours, and it felt painfully long. The waitstaff were inattentive and unaccommodating, which made the whole evening drag even more. This was especially disappointing for us because we didn't even get to celebrate Valentine's Day last year after losing our home in the California wildfires, so we were hoping for something extra special this year. Instead, it turned into a really sad and upsetting experience. To make matters worse, the total bill came out to over $500 for what was, hands down, one of the most mediocre and unpleasant meals we've ever had. We felt completely robbed. The restaurant was not acknowledging or considerate of the occasion at all, and there was nothing about the experience that felt special, thoughtful, or worth the price. We were exceptionally disappointed. This was a terrible waste of our time and money and one of the worst restaurant experiences we've ever had--especially for Valentine's Day. I absolutely do not recommend this place to anyone. If I could, I would give this place zero stars. read more

My husband and I were looking forward to a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner at Saddle Peak. Our first experience there 5 years ago was wonderful. Our second experience there 2 years ago was just okay. We wanted to give it another try to make sure our last experience wasn't a one off. Unfortunately it wasn't. We made reservations well in advance thinking that it would be difficult to reserve a table closer to the date. To our surprise the restaurant had many empty tables. After our experience, and reading others' similar experiences on Yelp, it makes sense why. This was a pre-fixe meal with 3-4 options per course at $180 per person with the additional 20% service charge. The first course selected were (2) oysters on the half shell with a sauce. The table behind ours ordered the same thing and complained to the wait staff that there weren't even any oysters in the shell, just sauce. They left. We had the same situation but stayed on for the second course. We had pasta. It was inedible. The noodles were cold and stuck together. It was obvious they had been prepared earlier, refrigerated and reheated. The course was certainly not fresh. The mushroom sauce was so strong and smelled putrid (probably the lions mane) that overpowered the dish. The third course was the entree considered the restaurant's specialty which was Elk tenderloin. We ordered it prepared medium. It was served rare. It looked and smelled so bad that we simply didn't touch it. The waiter packaged it up. We could have sent it back to be cooked at the proper temperature, but felt that given the previous lack luster courses, inappropriate preparation and the fact that two other couples walked in and then left during this time for similar reasons, we just decided to pass on having it cooked to our original request. The fourth course, dessert, was served and it was so bad that we just left it on the table. We ordered cappuccinos and were told that is what we received, when in fact, what we had were espressos. The coffee came in espresso cups whereas cappuccinos and lattes are served in much larger cups. And any coffee aficionado knows the difference. At this point, it was what it was and so we just decided to call it a night with a lesson learned. Parking was an additional $20 for valet which you must use. The third time can be a charm or conversely, three strikes and you're out. Given our experience, it will be the latter. If you are a foodie at any level, this is not the restaurant for you. We won't be back. One positive note - our waiter was very gracious. He was not able to handle all of the tables he had, and we witnessed a lot of complaints that he had to deal with, but he was doing the best he could in a bad situation. It's unfortunate we aren't able to rate him, as we would have given him five stars. Save your $360+ and go enjoy somewhere else. Besides Yelp, check out Michelin recommendations in your area, or reviews on Eater, The Infatuation, or other trusted food blogs + reviews before wasting your money like we did. read more

The food was amazing. Had the best filet mignon ever. It was so sad to see it not busy like it used to be back in the day......let's get this place hopping again!!! read more

This place has a clientele of mostly senior citizens or at least that is how it seemed the few times we went. The food was great and so was the service. There's not many restaurants that serve interesting game so worth it to stop by and try. read more

I love the ambiance and taking out of towners to this place that is such as escape from So Cal. The Caesar is amazing and the meats are delicious. The Bison fell off the bone. Though I ordered our drinks during Happy Hour, the bartender assured me of happy hour prices and would deliver them to the table as we had just been called. Unfortunately, the discount pricing was not communicated to the waiter and we paid full price. My fault for not reviewing the bill carefully. I also believed the bill when they said the 20% automatic charge added to the bill was not a tip. Calling later to find out it is a tip distributed to the staff who served us. I was told by Harry that legally they cannot call it a tip. Yes I'll be back, yes I'll check my bill carefully next time. the service staff was very attentive and accommodating. Thank you. read more

Thanksgiving dinner. We had a lovely evening and a good server though I do think the restaurant has gone downhill a bit. Many empty tables. Upon arrival, absolutely shocked at $20 valet charge! Rolls were served cold; they should be piping hot. I commented and we were brought new, warm rolls. Pork belly served on toast was tasty but awkward. Not sure what chef intended because I wasn't sure how to eat it - I couldn't pick it up like an appetizer, and I couldn't really cut it gracefully with my knife. I had the turkey dinner (dn include mashed potatos, bummer). It tasted good and generous portions but not "wow this tastes really great." What surprised me was the presentation had no finesse for a fine dining establishment. My companion had the elk and thought it was excellent. The pumpkin pie slice was small but delicious. read more

Now this restaurant is an excellent experience. The service was outstanding and so was my food. I cant wait to go back. Just loved everything read more

This place looked interesting and I have been wanting to check it out. I finally made it here. First my fiancee had ordered an hors d'oeuvre. He got the fried pork belly that is topped with pickled vegetables all on top of a light crispy ciabatta bread. It was pretty good. They served this amazing bread before the meal. It was just like a warm Japanese milk bread that is light and fluffy and has a kinda crispy top with a bit of course sea salt. It was so delicious! With the bread we were given a I think it was either a tomato bisque or gazpacho in an espresso type of cup. For the meal, I got the 8oz. filet mignon, spinach and mashed potatoes. It was good and very filling. So filling that when the dessert came, I could only take a couple of bites and that was it for me. The dessert was delicious! It was a sort of crispy chocolate brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The service was great and the decor made me feel like I was at a ski lodge which was cool. read more

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My wife and I can recall many a memorable meal enjoyed at the Saddle Peak Lodge. It was a singularly Californian dining experience. The restaurant itself is built on the foundation of a century-old stagecoach station, and in keeping with the picturesque ambiance, the food was both unique and delicious. The patio was tree-shaded and quiet, the service prompt and friendly. Those, as the saying goes, were the good ol' days. Our brunch this morning would rate a "none of the above." Oh, the food was OK, although certainly no longer deserving of the Michelin star the Saddle Peak once commanded. Our eggs benedict servings, one with smoked salmon, the other with crab cakes, were acceptable, supplemented by the mildly alcoholic bellinis we both ordered. The patio remains a pleasant hangout. But that so-called service! Our drinks were forever in arriving, our meals even longer, and when the food did finally arrive, my wife's was not what she'd ordered. It was another fifteen minutes for the correct food to arrive, rather an incredible time lag given that only two other couples were dining on the patio. Time passed in abundance as we awaited our laggardly waiter's return with our check. And when he finally did bring the bill, it was yet another quarter-hour before he returned to pick up our payment. (The reader will perhaps be unsurprised to learn that a 20% service charge was applied in advance of our payment as part of the check, thereby sapping any interest on the part of the waiter in moving quickly, while eliminating the discretion of the diner to provide or withhold remuneration based on quality of service.) We asked to speak with the manager and explained why we were so dissatisfied with the service, and were surprised that in the midst of his apologies, he offered an excuse: one of the waiters had called in with a broken arm, and the restaurant was short staffed. We suggested that this was an inappropriate excuse, that any competent restaurant manager would have substitute wait staff available in case of emergency. He then added that an electrical circuit had blown out that morning, creating yet another crisis. Had we but known that last Sunday at the Saddle Peak would be so catastrophic a day of unmitigated disasters, we might have chosen a different day to have brunch. In summary, it was simply no good. This is no longer the beloved dining venue that in the past provided so many feasts. We will, sadly, not be back. When a restaurant offers excuses rather than quality dining, the customer's most appropriate response is to seek pleasure elsewhere. read more

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. There was a time when I would have enthusiastically recommended Saddle Peak to anyone visiting town, but after dining there last night with my family, I can't say I'd return. Everyone's food arrived lukewarm and noticeably under-seasoned. My order was partially incorrect, and our waiter was rarely present throughout the evening. For a restaurant held in such high regard, the quality of both the food and the service fell well short of expectations. They've also adopted a "no tipping" policy that automatically adds 20% to the bill--on which you're also charged tax. I'm not sure how this model is intended to improve service, but based on our experience, it isn't working. Whether it affects motivation or accountability, the end result was disappointing. Bottom line: I spent a significant amount of money and did not have a great meal or experience. At this price point, I would definitely choose to dine elsewhere. read more

We went for the Christmas Eve prefix menu and had elk with $10 surcharge. The whole dinner was done nicely. Our three course meal was done beautifully and our elk steak was one of the most tender steaks we've had. We absolutely loved it. Service was friendly and swift. My Whiskey and Pineapple cocktail was a bit weak for my taste, but it was not bad. I love that this place is no-tipping restaurant. They add 20% fee for all checks. Nice and simple just the way I prefer. read more

Food overall was good but not $$$$ good. The scallops and elk tartar from the small plates were the best I had that night. I had the sea bass which was good but the black rice was not hot enough. Also for a restaurant known for their game there really wasn't much on the menu. The cocktail and wine list were a bit shocking. There was a $74 espresso martini on the menu which I thought was a joke and no bottles of wine under $100 and very few under $300. They get the 3rd star for the service being very nice. The staff was very helpful and made the restaurant feel higher end. The bathrooms show the age of the restaurant. The women's restroom were fine but my boyfriend's experience in the men's restroom was under average for your typical restaurant. read more

The quality and taste of the food is absolutely not there. The food is very average but the price is super high. Love the location of this this restaurants but unfortunately it's ran very poorly. The restaurant and the surroundings are very dirty and need a lot of attention. Barely anyone goes there anymore. Not recommended read more

We had a very nice meal here this week. We started with some great cocktails in the rustic bar and moved to the table where we shared some incredible appetizers. The cast iron johnnycakes with maple syrup and some chile are a great way to get us off to a sweet start. Other standouts included the potato puffs in a wonderful truffle creme sauce and the min Pork belly sandwiches were terrific. And the elk tartare was just wonderfully plated and tasted divine. The wine list is huge by the way and we settled on an Orin Swift red wine to compliment the huge pork chop with mash and bone in rib eye. Also one in our party had the salmon which was great and cooked to perfection. We finished the meal sharing some benits which were fantastic. Its a beautiful setting and the staff attentive and helpful. Can't wait to go back read more

We used to love this restaurant for special, indulgent occasions. But we had a terrible dinner a couple of weeks ago. I contacted the owner/mgr to offer constructive feedback but never received a response. Stunning. To start with the lowest point of the evening -- my ribeye (which our waiter took off the bill) was one of the worst cuts of meat I've ever received at a restaurant - high end or otherwise. What should have been a delicious marbled cut, was almost purely fat and gristle. Most of it was left on my plate. I struggle to understand how kitchen staff could prepare and serve such a cut (at $80+) without recognizing that it has no place in a high end restaurant. One of the other guests in our party also had the ribeye -- it was definitely a better, and edible, cut but not at all at the quality level I would expect from the Lodge of yore or at this price point. The rest of our meal was just...fine. Pork belly appetizer was dry and disappointing. Salad was lackluster. Pasta with shrimp -- just okay. I could go on... Huge disappointment. read more

Went for brunch, extremely good food. I ordered the burger and it was a Wagyu Burger with Bleu Cheese which I substituted for aged white cheddar and no pickles. It also had yams on it which was very unique, but tasty. The fries that came with it were amazing too. The service was outstanding. They let us in a bit before they opened and we got to tour the place. The ambiance was also great. read more

The food was not on level with price that was charged. The French onion soup was watered down and had no taste. The warm bacon salad dressing was cold. The entrees ordered everyone's asparagus was varying degrees of thickness and cook mine was burnt. The steak has no flavor and the apple salad was mismatched with the dish and was watery and had no taste. The dessert serving size was a joke. The service was awful! The server brought all our drinks late. Had to ask 3 times for a refill and waited over 20 for them to bring requested refill. One of our group ordered an old fashion that they put bar ice in and didn't have a cherry or orange peel in it. I asked if they could bring rolls or bread of some kind given our elongated wait for the food and was told there was no available bread in the whole restaurant. The kids menu was the same as the adult menu ( out of touch with what a child would eat). To add insult to injury they charged a hidden service fee at the end of the meal. Will not be back and will not recommend. read more

I also have been going to saddle Peak Lodge since the 1980s. It used to be a really great place. This Valentine's Day, My husband paid over $500 for a very mediocre meal. We did not enjoy the appetizers or the second course. The only enjoyable thing was the Tres Leche dessert. Our server was young, very kind, but did not know the food. The old-fashioned came without a cherry traditional ice cube. Sadly, I don't think we will be going back...unless they change the chef. Ridiculous result for the money that was spent. read more

This is a time capsule kind of destination, not merely a restaurant. The food is great, the service and price tag aren't. The room is cozy and the music is awesome, and though the corkage policy is pretty harsh, I have found they are pretty generous if you are thoughtful and respectful to bring mature wines that are not represented on their solid list. I love this place despite its shortcomings. It's not a good place for a first date, but it's an awesome place for an anniversary. It's not a good place to show off, but it's an awesome place to relax and enjoy quality time with people you love. There will be several multi-generation family dinners in the room, and that is somehow perfect. It's just a really charming, wonderful place to pass time and leaves full. Go out of your way to order the Johnnycakes, potato puff, and duck pastrami. The strawberry/blueberry gem salad is a treat, and the lamb is tender, but you want that lamb cooked medium. You're going to spend a lot of money, but you're going to get a lot for your money. Highly recommended - just be cool with your server. He's going to be super busy, and tie going to have to be patient. read more