Let's talk about the most important part - the food! My friend and I had Zucchini Sticks, Fish & Chips, Tri-Tip & Mash Special, and Margaritas. It was THE BEST Tri-Tip I've ever had; cooked to perfection, with a tasty (I think) red wine reduction sauce. Not sure if this is served daily, because I couldn't find it on their regular menu. We were there on a Saturday. I do see on the menu that they have a tri-tip salad, and am betting it would be equally delicious. The fried foods were cooked perfectly too, the breading was light and airy, and they weren't overly oily. I've had far too many meals at restaurants where the chefs neglect to change the oil frequently enough. You could tell that this place used good quality, fresh oil. The drinks were a bit pricey; around $12 per shot or drink. The bar atmosphere is fun; there's unique stickers and dollar-bill artwork scattered around. The staff is down-to-earth and friendly. The food was very reasonable though. Considering 1 nasty fast-food burger now costs $10, I didn't mind paying $24 for the Tri-Tip that came with mashed potatoes and veggies; plus the leftovers fed me again the next day. Don't judge a book by it's cover - this restaurant is situated on tall wooden stilts (probably because of deep winter snow), and it looks a bit shabby. I can only imagine how the snow and wind take their toll on a restaurant situated on a mountain summit! The food, ambiance, view, servers, and bar completely make up for the lack of outward fanciness. Two staircases lead up to the restaurant. Am not sure if it's ADA friendly, and I forgot to check if there is an elevator. The indoor portion of the restaurant is enclosed with large windows, so no matter where you sit, you can see the beauty of nature around you. Outdoor seating is ample, and has fantastic views. Would be stunning to be there while the sun is setting. read more

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Yummy classic pub food at the bottom / connect to donner slopes. The service is relaxed and a place to stay for a while. Food is quick and hot one you are able to place your order. Fish and chips aren't the classic ones I get at a seafood restaurant but they're comparable to taste and crisp. Very cute local dogs that frequent the pub too! read more

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Super friendly service, fast, lots of options. Good parking, will come back- they have fresh pies. read more

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Good food, service and ambiance. Weekly International meals. Argentine in winter and Thai. PCT thru hikers in summer.

We were with a group of about 14 fellow classic Datsun owners on a fun run from the Sacramento area. We decided to stop at Donner Ski Ranch for lunch because there would be plenty of parking. I'm not sure what was communicated to the hostess as the front of the group entered, but we weren't seated together. Everyone was split up between the outside and inside tables. The waitress had no problem splitting the check for us and the two other Datsun owners at our table. The menu tends toward fried foods. I ordered the "Gourmet Grilled Cheese" sandwich. What a disappointment. It was barely cooked, the cheese was one slice of cheddar and one slice of Swiss. Not melted at all. A couple of chunks of avocado and two slices of tomato (one on each half) made up the "Gourmet" aspect, I guess. I ordered fries as my side. The fries were a generous portion but very very salty. My husband's DSR Burger was OK, per his evaluation. He too ordered the fries, and while he generally likes salty foods, he too found the fries too salty. The bathrooms are in dire need of repair. The toilets worked but the paper holders were hanging open because the duct tape used to close them had worn out. The sink facets were loose. At least the bathroom appeared clean. As a meeting place for a group on a long ride, this place was sufficient, but I'll not be returning here on my own. read more

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Went on a hike through the abandoned railroad tunnels and stopped here afterwards. It was busy but the service was excellent and we were helped right away. Ordered at the bar. The pizza was yummy and had lots of cheese. Tried a slice of pie too. Delicious!!! Definitely a nice local spot. read more

Old 40 Bar and Grill - Caramel apple pie slice - Bars Near Me - Norden, California

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This place was awesome, stopped by for a quick bite after skiing. Ordered way more food than we could eat but had leftovers. The staff was really friendly and accommodating. The food was really good, lots of flavor, fresh, and great portion sizes. I wish I had a highlight but out of everything we ordered everything hit the spot! I would 1000% suggest coming here, you can even watch folks ski out of the window while you grab a bite! read more

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Definitely a huge miss trying this grill out :( was excited to try it based on the good reviews but we will not be going back. The food was very bland & the pie was so salty we could only eat one bite. Not to mention a slice of pie is $11!!! Crazy that they are charging that much for this food. My husband and I tried the turkey patty melt which only tasted like butter & their garlic fries did not taste like garlic and were extremely oily. We also didn't realize until after we placed the order that the pickup for the food was located behind the bar counter which was filled with insanely drunk people who were yelling the f*** word repeatedly so loudly that we could barely hear the waitress who was helping us cash out. The ambiance is really overwhelming and you can tell this grill mostly only cares about their drunk customers who are buying their alcohol since the food is seriously lacking to a sober person. read more

Old 40 Bar and Grill - Strawberry rhubarb pie - Bars Near Me - Norden, California

Went twice to old 40. My in-laws have been raving about this place. I wanted to love this place since we live out here 1. Went for lunch and the Power was out, so minimum menu. We had burgers and they were good. A little pricey but was very tasty 2. Went for dinner and was completely disappointed. My son had a hot dog, and was average with cold bun and cold fries. My daughter had a burger with cheese only and the cheese was still cold and the fries were cold. My wife had a turkey melt and it was average, and that's being nice. Lastly, I had a Philly cheesesteak. It was brought on a hot dog bun and it was terrible. I couldn't eat it. And once again the fries were cold. Worst part 100 bucks and it sucked. Too bad, won't be going back read more

Stopped here on our way home for lunch. It is not a fancy place, but they get a lot of people coming in. I ordered a DSR burger that came with fries. My son ordered their mushroom burger. My husband ordered the patty melt and for our grandson the kid's grilled cheese. You order by going up to the bar and drinks are self-serve. Food was good. Ambiance is very casual and chill. Service was good. Prices were about average. read more

My family and I decided to quickly stop here for lunch. This place was located near the Sugar Bowl ski resort; and it was also an area where my nephews had their first skiing experience. They had a kids menu which was located at the back of the menu. The kids ordered corn dogs with a side of fries. There were a number of selections to choose from. I decided go with the French Dip because I've never had it before, with a side of garden salad. The sandwich and the dip was very good. The salad was very generous and I was already fill from half of the sandwich and all of the salad. The service was good and the staff were friendly. Will definitely come back here again for lunch. read more

Old 40 Bar and Grill - Bars Near Me - Norden, California

We had a surprisingly good breakfast with a great vibe, excellent tunes, and sweet service! read more

Old 40 Bar and Grill - Bars Near Me - Norden, California

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My California breakfast sandwich was excellent! My hash browns were half cooked. The view from the deck was pretty! read more

Old 40 Bar and Grill - California Breakfast Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Norden, California

Went on a portion of the PCT hiking with my hubby. After 7 miles this was the perfect place to quench our thirst and hunger. Very cool hiker/adventure/ski vibe! There is a lot of seating outside on a big patio and there is also tables inside if you need a break from the sun after hiking/skiing/moto. My husband had the club sandwich with onion rings and I ordered the BLTA on grilled sourdough. Both sandwiches were above average and very large portions. I ate the second half of my sandwich for dinner later that night. Fries were not crispy, but the onion rings were very tasty and cooked just right. The staff was busy but attentive and friendly - excellent service! read more

Went hiking at the Tunnels and stumbled upon this place! It is charming! Very rustic and old school! Open all year long! Staff was lovely and food was great! If you are in the area definitely stop by for a beer and some food! They have fresh baked pies daily (I'm not much of a desert fan so I didn't order). Ok correction... My family did get pie :) They said it was delicious! read more

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This place is just so good. The burgers and beer are great. The staff is awesome. The atmosphere is just what you want after a long hike or ski day. Go here. read more

We live in the area. Sometimes after work we just want to stop and decompress. The beer and drinks are good and the atmosphere is fun and sometimes lively. read more

We ate here a couple of weeks ago after walking through the Donner Tunnels. Located at the Donner Ski Ranch this place is full of old 1980s ski lodge atmosphere. It's rusticly funky and just super cute. Very casual. You can eat inside at the tables, inside in the bar area, or outside on the deck. It's located right across the street from the easiest Donner Tunnel entrance (as opposed to hiking up the mountain from the east side). Anyway, 4th time's a charm for me and we finally parked at the proper spot. The point is, this place is popular with tunnel hikers as well as more serious hikers coming off the Tahoe Rim Trail. Accommodating to all. The food (and beer) is super delicious and the staff was helpful and friendly. I highly recommend it. 2021 Summer Note: Donner Pass Rd was completely closed for construction on the east side of the summit so you'll need to access from the west side (I think it's I-80 exit 174). That side is also under construction and reduced to 1 lane travel with a pilot car, but you can actually get up to the summit that way. read more

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After checking out some of the train tunnels nearby, my wife and I decided to stop here to grab something to eat before heading back to Reno. We stopped to use their bathrooms prior to our exploration and my wife inquired about their menu and availability to sit outside (we visited during Covid-19). She was told they were offering their full menu and we were welcome to sit at one of the picnic tables outside as long as we practiced social distancing. After our walk through the tunnels, we returned to the Old 40 Bar and Grill. We each ordered a burger and fries and the young lady was friendly and helpful. We took our drinks outside and enjoyed the beautiful day. Our orders took about 20 minutes to arrive which seemed a little long based on the amount of customers we saw but it was nice to just relax and enjoy the sunshine without many other people. Our meals were delivered to our picnic table on the deck in to-go containers. After we opened the containers they looked amazing. They both were pretty tasty as well. We weren't quite sure what to expect and they exceeded our expectations. It was a great way to end our day trip to the mountains. read more

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Got a steak salad. With tax it was $21.50. It had 5 thin medallions of meat - total 3 oz of meat at most and 2 pieces had a large piece of gristle on the side. The salad (lettuce, onions, beans and shredded carrots) was rather small . By the time I was done I was still very hungry . Sorry I should have taken a picture. read more

Worst raspberry lemon, drop martini I have ever had, not to mention the smallest. Beware that there's only stairs to get into the café joint. Fell down the stairs they were so slippery, even when I was holding onto the rail The snow tubing is very very fun though and it's great that you don't have to walk up the hill over and over again with the lift. read more

The food is absolutely amazing. From the french fries to it's taco night you can't lose here. Everything is always hot and delicious. There's even homemade apple pie read more

Old 40 Bar and Grill - Old 40 bar what a piece of history! - Bars Near Me - Norden, California

Our favorite place for burgers!! Also, Chelsea is absolutely AMAZING!! Go see her Sunday, Monday, and Tuesdays!

Its really old school. Came here for an out n back trek from Donner to Sqaw Valley via donner summit trail n PCT. Started my trek from here with large Irish coffee for breakfast Lol, ended it with fish tacos and pie. This is a really good spot. Can't wait to be back here during winter. read more

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They make great homemade pies. I requested a rhubarb-only as opposed to a mix of rhubarb and strawberry. They were receptive, responsive, and had two large rhubarb pies the next day which were delicious. Going back for more. Thank you! read more

Came here after walking the train tunnels. It's a cool place. Small bar and plenty of indoor/outdoor dining. Food was good and staff was nice and attentive. Coors light on tap was a bonus for us lol. I had the chili and it's really good! Hubby had a grilled cheese and liked it! read more

Old 40 Bar and Grill - Front view - Bars Near Me - Norden, California

Have been past this place for years but never took the time to have a meal. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of food that comes out of their kitchen. I have to admit I didn't even look at the menu, a little bird told me that they were serving meatball sandwiches on the day I was there. Marshal and Janet are to be complimented for all their hard work in making this a really enjoyable restaurant. read more

Old 40 Bar and Grill - A killer meatball sandwich. - Bars Near Me - Norden, California

I loved this place! Showed up during a snow storm, resort was closed bar and restaurant was open, bartender was amazing even though she got a injury to her foot while setting up. Food was good and service was great. No complaints of out toddler running around being crazy and cute. We will be coming back even though we found the place by pure accident. I wish I remember we the bartenders name because she was amazing! Even bought some night merchandise. read more

This place keeps getting better and better! Had breakfast today and it was amazing! And tonight it's chef Scott's Prime rib night, seriously the best I have ever had. The service has also really improved, they used to only have a bartender and now it's like a regular restaurant with servers. It's a great comfortable place with seating inside and outside with great food and drinks. read more

My wife and I were so hungry and looking as usual on yelp for a place with decent food, we found this bar, even if we didn't have many choices being close to 9:00 pm. We ordered salads with salmon and I was really surprised to see how fast arrived my order and how good the food was. I would recommend this place to my friends. read more

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Great place to stop for for lunch on the way to Reno. Genuine comfort food - good variety of items to choose from. While I was disappointed that the Thai spring rolls were out, the chicken empanadas were a delicious stand in! Handmade by the winter Argentinian staff, pulled from the freezer, deep fried and served with a uniquely flavored dipping sauce, the light flaky pastry enveloped a chicken-veggie-magic spiced filling. HB enjoyed his BLTA and shoestring fries. Didn't pick one up this time, but their pies are AMAZING - peach raspberry for the win! read more

If you like burger , I can recommend this place . Fast service and very good burger.Everything was fresh even salad , usually salad in burger when you buy fast food not really fresh . read more

Old school pioneer vibe with tons of options. Service is very friendly. I had on over cooked burger which was a bummer. Good size portions and before I stick with the tree stars we'll come back for some other options. It's very convenient for me so long as old 40 is open. I'd like to support them so I'll be back. read more

Fun locals hang out with a lunch and dinner restaurant, and a full bar, outside deck, and great pies!

Honest and truthful of actual events. Which is how I believe Yelp reviews should go. It's deceiving to have bad reviews taken down so that only the good remain. * This review is only for the restaurant and not the ski resort itself. Full-time summit resident who often spent hard-earned money at this establishment. Would have given them a second chance if their management had been polite and actually offered any sort of constructive customer service. Rather than a "Take your post down or promise to never come back" message. That alone will make me bash their name whenever it comes up in conversation. Never mind the actual horrendous service received there. If they cared about getting people back into their establishment, they would offer to redeem themselves rather than blame the customer who only wanted a hot meal. Trust me... take your money elsewhere. It's not worth the hassle. read more

I couldn't love this place more. Great vibe, good food, friendly service, easy parking. In the winter, it's a great place for a beer after skiiing. In the summer, do a hike on one of the local trails and then relax here after. (Check out the abandoned train tunnels. Super cool.) read more

Great place for broad selection of bar food and more. Chef knows his stuff and knows his customer base well.

We buy the PCT hikers a drink here - and BOY are they grateful! My family had a reunion during COVID (we made it through without spreading the disease to anyone) and we ate here almost daily. It just has plain old good food. The service was excellent and the beers were super cold. read more

Love this place, especially outside of ski season in the summer. Great deck. Better food than you'd expect at this remote location. Service generally very friendly- all depends on how busy it is. Daytime you can meet PCT through hikers and buy them a beer. This is a pickup point for PCT trail angels. There isn't anything else around this area until you get down to Donner Lake & Truckee. Feels like a real honest old time establishment... cause it is. During the ski season I've only been on a Sunday night. Heh it's rather amusing. The Sugar Bowl staff dominate. So if you wanna see how the lifties party after a long ski weekend, this is your spot. read more

Atmosphere: Casual. After all it's a ski lodge in the winter. Service: very friendly and prompt Food: Excellent. I had the Reuben sandwich with salad instead of fries. Very good. Nice marbled rye bread and salad was very fresh garnished with croutons, kidney beans, shredded carrots, and black olives. My husband enjoyed the patty melt with fries. Of course I stole a few of his fries! Would I return: Yes - if in the area and it was lunch time! read more

Old 40 Bar and Grill - Reuban sandwich with salad - Bars Near Me - Norden, California