CHECK THEIR WEBSITE. - Make a reservation ahead of time - Don't bring kids The website prominently advertises that this is an ADULTS ONLY restaurant. It also indicates how to make a RESERVATION, which is highy recommended as this restaurant can get fully booked all night long. Yelp no longer has the "Takes Reservations" indicator, so you wouldn't know unless you visit their website. We unfortunately did not know either information when we decided to eat here, which ended up in a rather disappointing result when we walked in and were turned away from both getting a table the night we walked in right when the restaurant opened, and also from booking a reservation for any future night while we were there. The food looked and smelled good. Maybe we'll be back in 15+ years. NOTE: I initially gave a 3 star review as I view that as a neutral response, but I suppose that may have unfairly dragged down the rating of the restaurant given the few number of reviews on yelp. I do stand by a 4 star review, as I do think it the responsibility of the restaurant to clearly convey their prominent policies. While I do appreciate that the no child policy is prominently displayed on their website, visiting a url before walking into a building is not a common practice. If the restaurant can take the time to post social media photos of their food and logo on yelp, they can also post their prominent restaurant policies. Clear communication is important. We have been to more than a few 18+ venues where no children are allowed (restaurants, bars, rated R movies, speakeasies, comedy clubs), and this policy was clearly communicated at those other venues (e.g., via advertising, via a sign at the front of the venue, via their business card). But, at Ursa, this policy was not made clear to us until after we spoke to the host for a good 10 minutes after entering the restaurant. In her defense, she was apologetically trying to make our night better by suggesting many other alternative restaurants where we could go. But we were not looking for alternative restaurants which were, in our opinion, starkly different restaurants which were not comparable to Ursa. Ursa is unique to the region. We just wanted to know how best to eat at Ursa. Which was--make a reservation ahead of time, don't bring kids. read more

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Was really excited to come try this place out after seeing it being mentioned all over social media, and we try to visit something new every time we are up in Mammoth. Had a reservation at 7:30 and they seated us immediately. It was packed which raised the bar of my expectations (I mean if its this packed it must be good right?!). For the ambiance, Its inside a coffee shop so think of that with dimmed lighting to set the tone. Our server was friendly and explained the plates are family style to be shared. We got the roasted chicken, duck fat potatoes, and the gochujang short rib with a side of home made sourdough. By the looks of it (see pictures attached) it was going to be a hearty, delicious and fulfilling meal after a fully day on the mountain. Sadly the food was pretty disappointing. The chicken was dry, the potatoes were forgettable and the short rib that wasn't connected to the bone was tough felt over cooked. The saving grace was broth that short ribs came in and the sourdough to soak it up. Of course the server will ask if everything is good, you're not going to send it back half way done with the meal we just wanted to finish and leave. All in all friendly service, decent ambiance, but pretty forgettable food. If you are looking for chicken I would just go to the Vons across the street and pay $10 for a whole chicken. you'll get the same effect and wont feel like "did I really pay this much for an unfulfilling meal?" read more

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Interesting place. Would give it a 2.5/5 if I could. We had a reservation and were seated immediately. Our server, Lucas, was wonderful and attentive, but that's about where my good review ends. The short ribs were very tough, but the broth was delicious. The chicken was fine, just tasted an overwhelming amount of lemon. Needed salt and seasoning. The potatoes were bland and also needed salt. The homemade sourdough was delicious, accompanied by salted butter. The part that really brought down this review was the overall management of the place that night. They were fully booked and you could hear and see them literally asking people to leave when done with their meals. Yes, the woman doing it was being as kind as possible, but it still was unprofessional and wrong to me. One table was an elderly couple, with the woman celebrating her birthday. They asked them to leave as they needed their table. They hadn't even finished their meal and had a half bottle of wine left on their table. I don't know the situation, but they had asked another table behind us to leave as well. I understand needing tables, but maybe a 90 min eating period should be instated and made clear at the beginning of the meal as it broke my heart watching this elderly couple's dinner being ruined by this experience. I think this place is overhyped and simply not very good. read more

Came to this location for their coffee in the morning and noticed they had a restaurant that was only open for dinner so we made a reservation for the same night. Staff was very friendly, and Chef Steve came and brought out a few of our dishes to us himself! He excitedly talked about each ingredient, you can tell he's very passionate about his job. Cauliflower with harissa mayo, hummus, and roasted garlic - 5/5, flavors went well together Zucchini and corn fritter - 3/5, the fritter had a strange chewy texture and I didn't really get much of the zucchini or corn flavor. The dill and lemon sour cream sauce was the star of this dish. It's marked as a favorite on the menu, but would skip this one next time. Short rib with au jus - 5/5, definitely highlight of the meal. Extremely tender, flavorful, juicy! Better than Oreo cookie - 4/5, did not expect how huge it is! Thought it was going to be chef's take on an Oreo, but it's more like two chocolate chip cookies with Oreo cream filling in the center. I love chewy cookies, but this one is a bit on the tough-chewy side. We did take it to go, so that could be why Overall we had a nice experience here, very welcoming and friendly. 5/5 service, 4/5 for food, would give 4.5 if I could read more

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All I can say is WOW! In the past we loved the fettucini/lobster and the short rib. New menu has Lamb ragu so we had to try it. As usual, perfect, homelike, friendly service--visiting with Steve the owner/chef -comparing foodie notes. We started with a Cesar salad--very unique and tasty-enough for 4 (we were only 2!). Steve is a master at sauces/au jus that accompany his meat dishes so we ordered the bread to help sop up the preciously tasty liquid that the huge lamb shank was soaking in. Plenty for two. Fabulously tender lamb accompanied by rigatoni--so flavorful. No room for desert. We'll be back with out of town guests in a couple of weeks to show off the place and to try other new items on the menu! read more

What a great find!! Cute space and amazingly good food. Relaxed atmosphere and super friendly and attentive staff. You will not be sorry! We will be back. read more

Searched for restaurants nearby and this place popped up. It a pop up restaurant in a mammoth coffee shop. They said it's shared plates but you could order the mains and it maybe enough for a meal. Prices are steep but the flavor is good. Our favorite was the short ribs. It was so tender. The squid ink pasta had some citrus flavor but not much sauce. The eggplant had good flavor but was a small serving for the price. The cheesecake had a subtle sweetness to it and was good. I wish they had more protein options on their menu and bigger portions for the price. Overall, service was good though and we enjoyed our meal. read more

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I'm a serious foodie and a former owner of a French restaurant in San Diego, so I don't say this lightly: Ursa is an absolute gem! The flavors were beautifully balanced, the dishes original and full of heart, and the service warm and professional. A special highlight? Chef Steve Shatkin personally presented the dish at our table, an elegant touch that made the night feel even more special. We truly felt like we were in paradise. If you're in Mammoth and appreciate thoughtful, elevated but simple cuisine, run to Ursa. This place is unforgettable. read more

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Food was pretty good. Visually more appealing than the actual taste. The cauliflower was 8/10. Not hot or crispy enough, but tasty. Pasta tasted good and was cooked well, but sauce was a bit thin. The trout was not well executed at all. Skin tasted like it was fried ahead of time. Cold and chewy and fishy. The fish itself had little flavor, was a bit mushy, and not very warm. Blueberry cheesecake was really good. The worst part was the service and atmosphere. It is in a coffee shop, so not much ambiance. The table we had wobbled and we had to ask for a fix. The server didn't know the menu well, didn't eat meat so couldn't really make recommendations, and generally didn't make us feel at home or that welcome. The worst part is that after we ordered dessert, she arrived with our plate and asked if we would mind moving to a bar seat as they had another reservation behind us. We had been there less than 75 minutes and were not delaying anything. If anything, the food was a touch slow. If I'm paying the prices they are charging, I expect much better service than that and not to be asked to leave my seat for their convenience. Unacceptable. read more

Ursa - Lemon Parmesan pasta - Wine Bars Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

My boyfriend and I were on the slopes for 8 hours and the last thing I wanted to do was cook my own food. It was also a Fish Friday for me, so that immediately knocked off half the restaurants in Mammoth Saw this place online. I liked their menu so decided to go. The owners were SO nice and the servers were very friendly. It was unassuming at first because it's a cafe setting, but the food was incredible. We ordered four dishes and none of them disappointed. I would have never expected to find food like this in Mammoth. Would highly recommend this to anyone and everyone. I can't wait for summer so I can try their summer menu!! (We also thought we left my boyfriend's wallet there, and the owners were very helpful in keeping an eye out for us.) read more

Ursa - Italian bread and steamed mussels - Wine Bars Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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Good option for a nice dinner besides steakhouses. Shared plates concept. Dishes were delicious and service was excellent. Only beet salad needed dressing on the beets and ricotta part of it. (Was first day of a new seasonal menu.) read more

Food was just ok. Ambiance - it's inside a coffee shop. Pricing - overpriced for what you get. The beef ribs are good but the entree we had was mostly fat, so pricing was insane for that. The watermelon lobster salad- I would pass if I go again. The pasta was again, not bad. Nothing really "wowed us". Husband liked the broth on the beef but personally, I didn't see it as a home run. I don't think it's a "must" visit. Overall, I didn't see the value. I am happy spending on something with great food, great service, etc but this restaurant has work to do on their menu. Service was fine and chef said hi to us, but people will see right past that if food for the price and ambiance don't deliver. read more

I really wanted to like this place. We tried to walk-in on a Friday and got told that they were fully booked that evening to see all tables open except for one. We walked past it on our way back an hour and a half later and there was still only one table taken. We went back a few nights later with a reservation. Again the place was empty. We ordered the Fettuccine and Lettuce wraps. Lettuce wraps were a strange luke warm, wasnt sure if they were meant to be chilled or hot. The pasta was terrible and expensive. It tasted like it had been made the night before and microwaved and had some raw roma tomatoes thrown on it. Really disappointed with this experience. read more

A solid 4 star! We came here for dinner and every dish was good. We absolutely loved the short ribs. The staff were very friendly. We will come back again. read more

Unique dishes with great flavors. A def top must visit destinations in mammoth. If you're a foodie you'll definitely appreciate this place. You won't be disappointed read more

First visit here in Mammoth, last stop before going back to LA and last night of our 2 weeks vacation..the ambiance is nice and calm, music is soothing and smooth..Steve the chef as well as Cooper our server is just splendid..service wise is very attentive, very communicative and explained everything thoroughly..The food is magnificent, it's worth every penny, worth the time coming here..the fish is fresh, Lobster is goes really well with olive oil, basil and watermelon, the short ribs and its sauce is just irresistible that me and the wise asked for some bread to dip in it..wine pairing is fabulous..the taste of everything is just well balanced..simple but tasty desert plus a plain black coffee ends our night with something to look forward to for next year..be coming to Mammoth again.. read more

Ursa - Fresh Full Snapper.. - Wine Bars Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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10/10 would highly recommend coming here it was amazing food and I am a picky person, not only was the food amazing but the service was amazing it is inside the coffee shop so coffee shop by day italian restaurant by night and man was it good the Lamb Chops I sent about 20 people a photo that's how good they were melt in your mouth good read more

Ursa - Lamb - Wine Bars Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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Amazing food! If you live or visiting mammoth this is a must try. All food is cooked with love and worth a Michelin Star! No joke. One of the best places in town. read more

Ursa - Wine Bars Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

Girls Weekend in Mammoth! We've been friends since 1978, Freshman Year at UCSB! But wait, this is about Ursa ;-). Loved the shared plates concept, everything we had was absolutely delicious! Lobster Salad was divine, Korean BBQ Lettuce Cups were yummy with just the right amount of spice, Vietnamese Pork Noodle dish was great (just got back from Vietnam, flavors were on point!). Not sure I would reorder the Wagyu Corn Dogs? But also delish! Overall it was a well rounded dinner for the 4 of us. Service was perfect as well, they didn't bring everything out at once, they timed everything so we could enjoy each dish and not feel rushed. We went as it was a recommendation from a Friend of our Group that has a property in Mammoth. Steve and Tracie truly put their heart on the plate! Adding on, this was still their Summer Menu so guessing when Ski Season starts they'll have the perfect Fall/Winter Menu! Highly recommend! read more

Inside a coffee shop, prices were way too high, and food was average at best. Got turned away the first night even though the place was empty, so we came back the next night only to be disappointed by the average food and lackluster ambience. read more

Ursa is the next big thing in Mammoth Lakes. We were recommended this place by the owner of Mammoth Coffee Roasters and decided to give it a try and we do not regret trying out Ursa. We ordered the turnip chilli dip, ricotta, chicken, and scallops (they were out of mussels). The lemon pudding and the bread were the highlight of the night. The bread was probably some of the best I have ever had - super soft and crunchy whereas the pudding was delicious and not overly sweet/filling. I love how they transformed the coffee shop into a more intimate/romantic atmosphere with the lighting. Chef Al Smith came by our table at the end of the night asking how we found everything; it was great learning more about how this restaurant came about and his culinary experiences! We will definitely be returning. read more

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We have been to Ursa several times now and the food, service and ambiance does not disappoint. Chef Steve comes to the table to explain his delicious creations, the staff constantly checking in and always give the perfect suggestions for wine parings. Ursa deserves more than 5 stars for the beautiful town of Mammoth Lakes, such a hidden gem!! read more

The moment i sat down I got the vibe that im not welcome. Waitress had a really bad look on her face. Then realized what the main issue really is.. A kid is going to make noise. Will cry. Doesn't matter who's kid is it. Asking me to get up and go out because it's disturbing others is peak stupidity. Learn that kids are unpredictable and ask people to avoid the place if you don't understand this. Food : 4/10 best case. Chef was very friendly. Won't be coming back for sure! And don't recommend this to any families with young kids who are visiting. read more

Amaaaaazing service! Surprisingly delicious food. This little local coffee shop converts to an impressive dinner restaurant in the evenings. We were definitely skeptical when we learned about Mammoths newest restaurant but we are so pleasantly surprised. The food was some of the best in town and the service definitely elevated our experience even further. We ordered the short ribs, bread and cauliflower and shared all. Every bite of every dish was perfect we cannot give any suggested improvements other than to bring a spoon so we could slurp the rest of the short rib broth. Yum! The only (and only) critique we can offer was to possibly serve some gelato or whip cream with the cookie desert. It was surprising and reminded us of coco puffs and milk but it was a little dry even with the cream. We will be back again soon to try some other items on this menu. We are so excited for a local restaurant that plans to change the menu seasonally. With the very few choices in town it's easy to get burned out on the same menu year round. Thank you to the owners for opening this wonderful little treat of a restaurant! read more

Fantastic meal, fantastic service, very unique, eclectic vibe. Everyone on staff went above and beyond to create a memorable, personalized dining experience. Food and drinks were incredible! read more

Yes. Go here. Service was impeccable and the food was just right. It seems like reservations are preferred perhaps on busy nights because it helps them plan, but we showed up as a party of three just about at opening and hoped for the best. They were kind enough to fit us in. Tried the lobster, basil, and watermelon which had a nice amount of lobster and interesting flavors. Pasta pomodoro was simple and bright. The gojujung chicken cups were our favorite. Textures and flavors all came together. This might sound strange but their butter that goes with the bread was very very yummy. They have a nice mix of alcoholic and non alcohol drinks available as well. It's a modern feel and no need to dress up a ton. Would definitely go back and recommend. read more

If I could give them more than 5 stars I would!! Service was great but the food... amazing! Flavorful without being over the top. Good portions and overall a wonderful dinner! read more

TLDR: Have some coffee at Mammoth Coffee Roasters in the morning and make a reservation on your way out. You wont regret it! I absolutely adore the cafe by day upscale dining by night that Mammoth Coffee Roasters and Ursa have going on here. It adds so much charm to the experience. The menu is small and well executed and the staff was incredible. Connie was endearingly sassy, Logan was cool and down-to-earth, and Steve and Tracie were so warm, vibrant, and welcoming that I couldn't keep off Zillow. Lastly, congratulations Al! Steve and Tracie spoke very highly of you, but they did an absolutely wonderful job holding the fort down while you were off getting married. P.S. It doesn't matter if you don't like turnips. The tartare is amazing. read more

Ursa - cioppino stew with market seafood - Wine Bars Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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Wow, everything we had from the menu was delicious! I'm a carnivore and was in heaven with the wagyu corn dog, korean BBQ chicken lettuce cups, short ribs (slow cooked a few hours), whole snapper. Steve and Traci have knocked it out of the park with their recipes, love of good food and wonderful service. I'll be back in morning for coffee, also Steve's roasting creation. What a gem in Mammoth! Highly recommend! read more

Make a reservation now! Great service from a staff and chef who is happy to explain the dish being served and makes amazing food. There were three of us, which was great because we could order more food! The arugula salad was the perfect beginning, filled by cauliflower steak prepared in such a delicious way. We visited with the neighboring guests to get the hot tip on the cauliflower. Then we had lamb lollipops that were SO amazing with pisto sauce. Can't wait to try to fix that sauce myself, and chef Steve was generous enough to give me the recipe! On to the short ribs which were out of this world. The bread was a must. Had a nice, reasonably priced bottle of wine with dinner. An amazing espresso martini for dessert with chocolate cake, which we took about a third home. Can't wait to go back. read more

My husband and I visited from Vegas for the weekend and Ursa caught our eye! We couldn't have been more satisfied. The saffron mussels were fantastic. The lamb lollipops were perfectly cooked and had the best basil sauce I have ever had. (Had to ask for the recipe) The chef personally came out and explained every dish.. beautiful little spot! DEF coming back! read more

This was such a pleasant surprise! Fine dining with exceptional service. Everything was absolutely amazing. The short ribs were so tender and served in a flavorful au jus sauce. The potatoes were perf. I cant wait to go back when Im in the area. Its a nice low light setting that the perfect distance from the mountain after a long day of boarding. read more

Steve the owner & chef greeted us warmly while explaining family style situation with the share plates. This being our first time, we had many questions for our server, Connie who graciously answered them all. The goods were all soo delicious and we left feeling full and satisfied. Glad we walked from the Airbnb to help us walk off our meals. Loved the menu! Will return for our next visit to Mammoth Lakes. Thanks! read more

Amazing, delicious food crafted with care! Owners are delightful and it's great to have such quality cuisine in Mammoth!!

Amazing local gem. Excellent presentation and taste, good wine list, and yummy desserts in a tapas style. Fine dining in a cozy cafe vibe restaurant. Would highly recommend! read more

Probably the highest quality and tasty food in Mammoth. Great fresh and home made food, perfectly cooked. Don't let the unusual ambiance fool you, they are a coffee shop during the day and a fine restaurant at night! The chef Steve is really nice and will answer any question you may have. Their eggplant dish was delicious and so was the lobster fettuccine! We highly recommend it. I would also recommend to book prior to come in. They don't have a lot of tables. We had a great experience! read more

I'm tempted, as a Mammoth resident, not to write a glowing review for the same reason that I never tell people about my favourite hikes. However, I will admit that the service is exceptional and the food is delicious and really interesting. I had to laugh at some other reviewer complaining that they were asked to leave because their obnoxious screaming children were being obnoxious and screaming. Wish more restaurants would do that. read more

Great food, loved the whole experience. The dishes were amazing and unexpected. Highly recommend.

It was clear that the chefs put effort into crafting the menu, making the dining experience feel more like fine dining, even though the prices were more affordable. The food tasted great, and the waitress was nice and polite. read more

This place is amazing, everything was awesome, Chef Steve was a delight! Can't wait to come back in a couple weeks!