4.5/5 stars. What a gem of a restaurant! So glad my husband found this spot and made a reservation for us. It was so cool that the owners Tracie and Steve personally takes care of their customers - serving and explaining each dish with passion and kindness. My husband and I shared 3 dishes: 1) Lobster, watermelon, and basil salad 2) Blue maize wagyu corn dog 3) Short ribs with gochujang sauce. My fave was the lobster! The lobster tasted fresh, and was so good with the basil oil. It was a small dish, but had a good amount of lobster. The corn dog was surprisingly good! I don't typically like corn dogs, but these were juicy, and the batter was light. It was fun to try the 3 different sauces (roasted tomato jam, wasabi crème fraiche, and wildflower honey mustard). The short rib was tender and fatty. The sauce was a little too salty for my preference, but was still enjoyable. Tracie recommended the bread to dip with the sauce, and my husband really enjoyed the bread - especially with the butter. For dessert, we got the chocolate mayonnaise cake, which was perfection! The cake was so moist! The frosting added a great balance of sweetness with the chocolate. Highly recommend checking out Ursa for dinner! read more

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My boyfriend and I made a reservation here for our one-year anniversary dinner while visiting Mammoth. Unfortunately, we left extremely disappointed by the lack of hospitality and professionalism. We were seated at the first table by the entrance, where bright sunlight was pouring directly onto my face. There were only two other groups in the restaurant and at least 10 other tables unoccupied, so we politely asked if we could move back one table to another two-person table. Tracie told us they couldn't move us because other guests had gone online and selected the exact tables they wanted. We knew from making the reservation ourselves that there was no option to select a specific table. When my boyfriend questioned her, she backtracked and said something along the lines of, "Well, I mean, no... we just have all the seats accounted for." If the tables were already assigned or there was a seating policy, just tell us that. We would have understood. Instead, we were given an explanation that simply wasn't true. It took about 10 minutes to address the sunlight, and rather than moving us one table back, they eventually brought over boxes to block the light. What made the experience worse was overhearing Tracie, just a few feet away, tell another waiter to take our table. We felt like we were being passed off rather than welcomed as guests. We ultimately didn't order any food or drinks and before we left, we told them how disappointing this experience was for us. We came to Ursa simply expecting basic hospitality, professionalism, and honesty. If you couldn't move us, just say that. We would have respected it. But don't give us a reason that isn't true and then make us feel unwelcome. read more

Our experience and Ursa was fantastic! Ursa is small and intimate. Only available via reservations. We visited in June (I know very late review). We were looking for restaurants that were vegan friendly, and luckily found Ursa. Their drink menu is strictly soju cocktails but still very delicious. We had the lemon drop and citrus fizz. The staff were great, the chef came out to check in and food was delicious. We tried the Italian bread, charred cauliflower and the vegan orecchiette. Ursa is a must try when in Mammoth! read more

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Wonderful food. Awesome service. The owner who is the chef brought us out every course and explained it. This is definitely a five plus star restaurant. read more

Ursa - Carrot salad- Wonderful - Wine Bars Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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My husband surprised me with a trip to June Lake for our 17th wedding anniversary, and on the night of our anniversary, he took me to Ursa. When we arrived, we were taken to a beautiful table with flowers and a special anniversary card. Little did I know, my husband had called the restaurant ahead of time to make a reservation and had actually spoken with Chef Steve himself. Steve and Tracie went above and beyond to help make our anniversary dinner so special. They took the time to talk with us, walk us through the new fall menu, and make us feel genuinely celebrated. The food was absolutely out of this world -- every single dish was prepared perfectly. I honestly wish we could have ordered everything on the menu because it was some of the best food I have ever had. The atmosphere was just as wonderful. It was beautiful, intimate, and cozy -- truly the perfect setting for an anniversary dinner. I kept thinking, coffee shop by day, Michelin-worthy by night. Thank you to Ursa staff, Steve, and Tracie for making our 17th anniversary so incredibly memorable. We will be talking about this dinner for a very long time! read more

The food was ass. Seriously. Overpriced, fried MorningStar-type food that was absolutely not worth what they were charging. Our waiter was also an asshole. He was rude the entire time, which made no sense because once he realized we weren't happy with the food, he suddenly looked nervous and uncomfortable. The chef kept coming out to present the food to us like it was some high-end experience, but the whole thing just felt like a scam. I honestly don't understand how this place has four stars. Also, if you're late for your reservation, they charge $25 per person. There were four of us, so that would've been a $100 charge just for being late. I've never had to pay a late fee like that for a restaurant reservation, and honestly, it's ridiculous. The ambience was okay, but even that wasn't anything special. It felt like we were sitting in a coffee shop that was trying really hard to be something more than a coffee shop. At one point, the server asked if we wanted something taken off the bill because we didn't want to eat it, but even then he made it seem like they might not be able to take it off. Which is crazy because why would I pay for something I didn't eat because it wasn't good? I could've made better food at home for way less money. We ended up ordering pizza and bringing a bunch of it back to the hotel, which honestly ended up being better than the entire meal we had there. Thankfully, we still had a good time after leaving, but the restaurant itself was a complete waste of money. I would give it zero stars if I could, and I definitely wouldn't go back. read more

Ursa - The lobster watermelon salad. - Wine Bars Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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This was just too good not to post. Honey and I had a date night at @ursa_kitchen tonight and what an experience this was. We are here in Mammoth for a family vacation. And I wish I lived nearby. Food and service (Shout out to Erika), exceptional!! Hands down the best food we have ever had. Thank you Sous Chef Jose, may your talent continue to flourish! 100/10 definitely recommend! read more

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Best food I've had in Mammoth in my 10 years here. Staff treated us exceptionally and the food was delicious, artistic and fresh. One of the recent one star reviews i was there for. They stood up and had a meltdown after not having service for approximately 10 minutes. This has become the norm for mammoth with the large marketing of people from the Los Angeles area. Staff did their best and the food was phenomenal. But sometimes you can't please people that are hell bent on being a victim read more

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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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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What an amazing dinner place! The food is delicious and is meant to be shared for the table - tapas style. The service was great albeit it was one person for the whole room, which is small. This place is a coffee shop by day and this amazing restaurant at night. I highly recommend it. The chef came out and interacted with the guests. The 4 star was due to being out of trout which I was looking forward to. And carrots were in place of beets. Give it a try! read more

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

4 for dinner. Had a reso and needed it as we saw several walkins turned away. Only one very competent, friendly, efficient guy doing everything except cooking! Owners were out of town setting up a new restaurant in Pasadena. New menu for the season so we were excited to try it out. We started with the watermelon/lobster salad. Big enough for two to share but not 4. A decent amount of lobster for the price but I would humbly suggest adding more watermelon to the dish--minimal cost and makes it bigger. As always the Short rib was excellent with a nice amount of melt in your mouth meat and the sauce....OMG. New for us was the Halal Chicken--We eat a lot of chicken at home and don't usually order it when out, but this was the star of the night. A large portion to share; a light very flavorful crispy outed coat and very tender/juicy chicken inside. The cheesecake was very good. Will be back. read more

food was great , service was great at we loved how it's a coffee shop that turns into a top notch restaurant and the chef/owner Steve brought us out each dish and explained it , what a fantastic experience! 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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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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Outstanding dinner experience at URSA! By day it's a great coffee spot, but at night it transforms into an incredible restaurant with outstanding food. The entire concept is built around family-style shared plates, which made for a really fun dinner. What made the night truly special was the chef and owner, Steve. He personally brought out every single dish to our table and took the time to explain exactly what we were eating--such an amazing personal touch.We started with the arugula salad with ricotta, lettuce cups (seriously like no other lettuce cup I've ever had), and the black bean croquettes, which packed huge flavor. For our main dishes, the short ribs were incredibly tender and came with a delicious sauce that we couldn't stop dipping our fresh bread into. We also loved the fried chicken and the vermicelli, which had a fantastic Asian flair. URSA is a true mountain gem with unforgettable food and hospitality. And a shoutout to our outstanding waitress, she was fantastic and so caring!! We will absolutely be back! read more

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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Wow! Wow! Wow! Firstly the service was awesome! Especially since John was host, server, bartender and busser... he was attentive, professional and working his butt off! The food was thoughtfully prepared and really yummy! All the dishes we had were quite different and since they were family style we got to share, so we got to try it all. The space is really fun since it's a coffee shop in the am. It's downtown so no special views but the food and service make up for that. When you decide to venture to URSA... MAKE A RESERVATION!! It's small and intimate... great spot! read more

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

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

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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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

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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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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What a hidden gem! If you didn't know it, you'd think you were having a Michelin Star meal! Great food, great staff.

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

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

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

We have done the dinner and Golden Hour and both times were out of this world. Their watermelon lobster salad is absolutely delicious, it's one of the best salads I've had in a long time. My fiancé and I had the lemongrass fried chicken, the Korean short ribs and the bread for dinner and each bite left me wanting to order more. And to top it all off they have a mayonnaise, cream cheese frosting chocolate cake that we are still talking about. Honestly do yourself a favor and have happy hour or dinner here, it'll be the best meal you have in Mammoth 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

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

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

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

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

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

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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