Return here in June. Another fantastic meal. I had the duck breast, my wife had the venison dinner both were fantastic. This is without a doubt the best restaurant in the area. This is my third visit, it won't be my last. BTW, the lettuce, beet, and blue cheese salad was a great opening bite. Also, if you enjoy great wines, Ian has a great wine list. read more

Yet again, Ian and his team have cooked us another fantastic meal in Mammoth. It's worth the wait to get reservations, folks. Best meal in town, hands down. You cannot find food or service like this anywhere in Mammoth ( and few places anywhere else). Amazing wine list, as well. Do yourself a favor and get in ASAP read more

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Let me just start by saying that this was the best dining experience we have ever had! My girlfriend compared it to the restaurants on the Chef's Table documentary. If I could give Skadi 10 stars, I would. First of all, the food was incredible! They started us out with a bottle of wine from the "Interesting Reds" list, followed by a basket of warm bread and butter. The butter had herbs in it, and it was incredible! I normally skip the butter and just have bread, but this time I slathered it on! We shared the salad with vinaigrette, and it was also delicious. For the main course, I had the scallops. They were INCREDIBLE!! From the sauce, to the fingerling potatoes, the entire plate was a culinary work of art! My girlfriend had the duck, and she was blown away! The look on her face said it all! Every single bite was savored. She especially loved the tenderness of the duck with the crispness of the skin! We shared the Gateau Financier for dessert. We NEVER order dessert in restaurants, but I was dying to try their dessert since everything else had been so incredible. It came out with strawberries and a "made to order" mango sorbet. Neither one of us are overly emotional people, so tell me why the first bite of this literally brought tears to both our eyes! Again, that has NEVER happened to either one of us! I believe that the incredible finale to an exceptional meal sent us both over the edge. Not only was the food outstanding, but the customer service was exceptional as well! We arrived before they were open, so we went back to our car to wait. Once they were ready, our waitress came to get us from the car! That was above and beyond!! She was extremely attentive throughout the meal, and our glasses were never empty. The chef/owner came to our table THREE times to check on us and make recommendations!! He even brought the dessert to us personally! I've never had the chef come to my table once, let alone 3 times! I was blown away!! This was an amazing experience, and one we will absolutely repeat any time we are in Mammoth! We might even plan trips specifically to eat here again! It's only a 4 hour drive...... Keep up the good work, Skadi! You are incredible! read more

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I just had dinner at SKADI today with my buddy, and everything was AWESOME! I ordered the special which is venison and venison sausage. My buddy ordered duck breast. Both were really nice and we were especially amazed by the duck breast. Chief Ian Algerøen came over wanted to make sure everything tonight was good. We told him that we're so pleased with his cooking skill. Chief told us that this cuisine has been on the menu for more than 20 years. And the dessert was even a bigger surprise. My buddy is not a dessert person and we only ordered the lemon moose and lemon pistachio biscuits. And at the end we were almost fighting for the dessert even the chief gave us double portion out of generosity. YOU HAVE TO TRY IT. read more

SKADI - Modern European Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

Oh...my....tastebuds.... Chef Ian is arguable one of the best chefs in Mammoth, perhaps in California. Reservations are required. Be sure to make them a week in advance, but if you're lucky for super early or late, non-holiday...you may get in with 1 day in advance. The entire staff was fantastic, friendly, on top of things. A well run kitchen. It was fun to get to sit at Chef's table, watch how everything is prepared and get all kinds of cooking tips from Chef Ian. For appetizers, we ordered: Savory Crepes w/ Wild Mushroom Tartar w/Hamachi & Scallops Soup of the Day - Tomato Bisque w/Wild Rice For main course, we got: Pan Roasted Crispy Skin Salmon Pork Belly Confit / Roast Spiced Tenderloin / Smoked Sausage I will keep it short. All the appetizers were off the chain! The savory crepes w/mushroom was an explosion of flavors. The Tartar w/hamachi...was perfection of all textures, spicy, creamy, salty. The main courses were delicious as well, but perhaps I ordered too many appetizers and got full. Tip: for 2 ppl share no more than 2 appetizers (depends on your appetite) read more

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Over-hyped greatly. Undeserving Yelp five stars. Go get a pizza. Cuisine: lacked flavor; vaguely Scandinavian. - Sure there is lingonberry, game meats, and knäckelbröd, etc., but flavor profiles are under-developed. Some dishes are straight up other cuisines, (perhaps that's just to provide more diversity for the clientele.) - Smoked deer heart tasted like dried out roast beef that's been smoked. It needed more jam/sauce. - Galantine (special of the night) had good flavor. But again, erred on the dry side. - Duck was overcooked and slightly dried out. Spaetzle lacked flavor. Throw in some herbs at least for goodness sake. - Plating is dated. Atmosphere: lacking. - It is trying to be fine dining and a cosy chalet but succeeded at neither. - Worst of all, the main dining area smells like grease. If you sit at the "Chef's Counter", you'll go home smelling like a fryer. - You get to see the kitchen, but the chefs straight up ignore you. So much for the concept. read more

Learned about this place on Reddit and it was touted as "The best dining in the Sierras" so of course I had to try. It requires a reservation via text and was unable to reserve a table two weeks prior our trip to Mammoth so I didn't expect that we'd even get to try, but as the old adage says, "You never know if you don't try". So as we just unboarded chair 13 my wife says, "Use your charisma and get us a reservation." So i try to muster as much charisma in my fingers and fire off a text asking if they have anything within the next two days and to my surprise they said they're able to seat us at the "Throne" table for dinner which seats us side-by-side. It's properly named the "Throne" table because it allows us a view of the entire main dining area and kitchen, which is quite appropriate for the royalty that we are. Since I consider this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I wanted to try some of the uncommon offerings so we ordered the smoked duck heart as a starter. For our mains I ordered the duck breast and my wife ordered the chicken breast. I would have ordered the chicken but I thought that sounded too basic and didn't want to blow this opportunity, but to my surprise I enjoyed the chicken more than the duck. My wife claims that was the best chicken she's ever had. We finished with the lemon panna cotta. I think my absolute favorite though was the butter they offered with the bread. I want to know what kind of fat they use for the butter because it was so decadent. I think i rubbed it on every other part of my meal just so it wouldn't go to waste. I'm glad that I know Skadi exists and will attempt to get a reservation every time we're up in the Sierras. read more

SKADI - Hand carved Norwegian butter knife and thee most delicious butter. - Modern European Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

Really didn't get the atmosphere in this space. Random artwork and decor , missing a vibe and a purpose . Food was a mirror image , maybe great product , just not put together well . 2 things that drove me NUTS was cleanliness . Can't stand when waiters help chefs top off dishes with the final touch . Your hands are not clean bro . Another , please get those lighters you use to fire up off the cutting board . read more

We eagerly come visit each time we are in Mammoth. It is one of our favorite restaurants! We chose to celebrate our 16th anniversary at the chef's counter with Ian. It is such a joy to watch the chefs prepare the nightly meals. Each part of our meal was delicious! The NY was the best I ever had, flavorful and tender! The recommended wine paired beautifully! Can't wait until next time! read more

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Overpriced mediocre food a lot more better places to eat or less money and better quality food

A very solid fine dining experience, and also my first one during COVID-19. My five friends and I decided to spend a week in Mammoth Lakes, doing some site seeing and outdoor stuff, and didn't expect to find such a highly rated fine dining place. We had to give it a try so we booked a table. We ordered a few appetizers to share, and each got our own main course. I really liked the soup and the tartare, and the deer heart was an interesting and tasty meat to try as well. For the main, I got duck breast and also tried some of my boyfriend's steak. The duck breast was so tender and juicy, and the skin was so crispy! It was complimented greatly by the side of purple cabbage. It was definitely one of the best duck breasts I've had! We also shared two bottles of wine for the table, one local Sauvignon blanc and one Tempranillo from Spain, both going great with the food! We ended up with a bill of around $95 per person, which was really good for all the amazing food and wine we got! Everyone left with a full and satisfied belly! read more

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The menu is very limited, but the food is excellent. Executed very well, every plate is artistically plated. The biggest surprise is the mushroom crepe which is looks like a thousand layer poppy cake. Service is top-notch too. They didn't have the Meyer Lemon Panna Cotta when we dined, but so chocolate sampler provided the sweet ending. read more

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The food is delicious!!! We had the soup, the little gems salad, the scallops and the New York steak. All were great! For dessert we had the frozen macadamia dessert. It was beautiful! Service was outstanding. Amazing wine list. Food celebrates the ingredients and is not over-seasoned. Ambiance is not spectacular, but otherwise awesome all around! Easy parking, too! read more

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High-class dining in the High Sierras. A vibrant, sophisticated treat after a day roughing it on Lundy Canyon Trail. Intimate dining experience with bold yet balanced alpine flavors such as venison, trout, duck, goat cheese, red cabbage, wild blueberries, chocolate desserts, lemon panna cotta..a spread fit for the Nordic goddess of the wilderness, Skadi. Always a pleasure to enjoy the art of this inspired Chef, who will often personally present his creations to your table. Skal ! read more

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Very classy dining. Great price point. Prestine and attentive service. Delicious plated and wonderfully tasting entree, appetizers and desserts. read more

Highly recommend and reservations needed! We must always come here when we're in town during the winter. Everything on the menu is amazing! My favorites are the mushroom crepe, soup of the day (whether it's mushroom or leek soup or tomato bisque... it's all so good!), scallops, steak, and creme brulee. They also have a nice wine list as well. read more

I cannot say enough positives or add enough stars for this place. Great service and very friendly!! Nice menu. We had the venison sausage appetizer which we loved. We also shared the Taratar Japanese hamachi which was fresh and delicious. My daughter had the soup of the day which was tomato based and was excellent. For main entree, we had the steak, the scallops and the salmon. All were excellent. The scallops and salmon were cooked to perfection!! Wine list had great selections. Wine was served at perfect temperature!! Crispy Skin Salmon read more

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Amazing food and amazing service. Loved it.definitely worth a visit if you're looking for a great night night! Make a reservation in advance! You won't regret it. read more

My boyfriend and I have been coming to this place for about 4 years now and it's probably our most favorite restaurant. Best fine dining!! Food is incredible, service is great, and the head chef Ian is always making sure you're happy. I can't recommend this place enough if you're coming to Mammoth and want something special! (A couple dishes/desserts we've had over the years) read more

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The best meal I've had in Mammoth; EVER! Where has this restaurant been all my life? The meal started with delicious, warm bread and butter. I LOVED the gem salad with beets, blue cheese and crispy skinned salmon served with butternut squash and sauces. The panna cotta and lemon curd was an incredible finish to a wonderful meal. It was a special night out for a girls trip and Todd was a great server. We cannot wait to come back after all the COVID craziness. read more

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My wife's grandparents have been coming to Ian's restaurant for 25+ years (multiple locations). It is an amazing establishment with excellent food and service. Ian cooks with fresh local and carefully sourced ingredients and it's a treat to sit at the chef's table. My wife ordered the roast chicken with chorizo. It was perfectly prepared with crispy skin and paired with an amazing risotto cake. I ordered the salmon that was served with some of the best grilled fennel I have had in a long time. The salmon was perfectly prepared with crispy skin. The creme brûlée dessert topped off an amazing meal. The small house made cookies that accompanied the bill made for the prefect ending. Don't miss this place, but make sure to make a reservation. They operate like a European restaurant almost entirely driven by reservations. It is definitely worth planning ahead. read more

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Book well in advance of your trip if you want a table. This quaint restaurant with unique and delicious food offers a memorable dining experience. The wine list is outstanding with prices I've never seen before. Some of the nicest bottles can't be bought in a store for a better price than they are on the menu at Skadi. This place is special. To book while the restaurant is off-hours, you can text the number and will receive a text back. read more

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A visit to Skadi is sort of like stepping into a fine-dining fairytale after a treacherous night in the woods. Skadi is Scandinavian Fine-Dining and Sommelier curated Wine list Heaven. I called ahead to ask about a corkage fee ($30) so I could bring a very special bottle of Louis Roederer Brut Nature Philippe Starck Label 2009 from Champagne, France BUT ALAS, They actually had it on the menu! We ordered: *SAVORY CREPES with wild mushrooms and Jarlsberg cheese $12. It was delicious but so small we ended up ordering another. *Pan-Roasted Crispy Skin Salmon- Delicious and cooked to perfection *Steak and Potatoes ( Basic but Yummy, Don't remember how it was described on the menu) And for dessert, the Chef was nice enough to send us a platter of everything; Lemon Panna Cotta $10, Creme Brulee $10 and Skadi's Chocolates $14. This was the best surprise after a great meal, ( I'm not sure why we received a complimentary dessert. We were dining with some mammoth locals, ordered a bottle of Champagne and were being lively. Perhaps our positive vibes got us the special treatment? ) and definitely made our night. Everything was delicious and top-notch quality. The whole dining experience was one of my favorite moments in Mammoth. read more

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Best restaurant in Tahoe area. Amazing dishes and the head chef is a great guy. He explains how they make everything including the amazing deserts read more

One of the most exceptional experiences we had while in Mammoth was dinner at Skadi. The meal started with the best bread and homemade whipped herbed butter. Then I had a beet and butter lettuce salad with blue cheese nuggets, and my hubby had a homemade Roma tomato bisque. We both had the scallop dish (in the pic) and this was one of the best, they were prepared perfectly. Paired with spinach, puréed celery root, broccoli and fresh beurre blanc. We sat next to the kitchen and I watched each aspect of our meal as it was plated individually with love and care. We completed this extraordinary meal with Skadi's tasting of chocolate desserts. It was like being back in Europe, each had their own unique flavor and palate. The staff work together as a team to provide each guest with exceptional service. The restaurant is small and intimate, it is definitely a unique and peaceful way to truly enjoy a dining experience. Reservations are required and we made them well in advance to assure we could get in. Next time you are in Mammoth and are ready to truly indulge, check out Skadi. Restaurant Skadi read more

SKADI - Skadi's tasting of chocolate desserts - Modern European Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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This isn't just a great place to eat, it's a great experience. We had reservations at 7:45 (and made them almost a week in advance, so make sure you make reservations)! Our table wasn't ready yet, so we sat outside, and our waitress gave us an ice cold glass of champagne while they cleaned the table. Our waitress was amazing, kind, and knowledgeable of the menu. This place doesn't have anyone that doesn't know what they are talking about working here. We were surprised, as the restaurant isn't big, nor is the menu. There's a reason for this, and the reason is everything is so quality. The chef and owner (already knowing your winning when you hear that combo), was incredible. He was able to tell us where his meat came from, how sausage is made in house, all of his years tasting wine, food, and places he's been a chef. Ok, let me get to the food. I got the crispy salmon, my husband got the steak. Mine came with but it squash underneath. I wasn't sure how I felt about that combo, but OH MY GOSH!! One of the best things I've ever eaten. My husband said the same thing about his steak. We went there for our 10 year anniversary, and they so kindly remembered and brought out the most beautiful and tasty desserts ever. This is by far the best place to go in Mammoth, hands down. If you want to have an amazing dinner and an amazing experience, you've found your place. read more

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My husband and I had an amazing meal here with the most unique dishes and the best service. We had deer heart for the first time and it was surprising tender and was one of the stars of our meal. We also had their duck which had super crispy skin and cooked perfectly. Would definitely recommend for anyone interested in a nice meal or to celebrate a special occasion. read more

Probably the best spot to eat real food in mammoth. Chef prepared menu with varied meats and don't pass on the desserts

We just THE BEST MEAL ever in Mammoth Lakes. Ian, the chef, is an artist with flavors. He combines vegetables, fruits and spices in different consistencies to complement every meal. From Scallops with celery root, salmon with butternut squash purée and crispy capers and venison fallow sausage from New Zealand with berries and corn pancakes... it was amazing and ultimately delicious! The server, Chris, was a superb host, as he was there for every question, order and refill... yet never in our way or in the way hovering. The meal was superb because he made sure everything was served when needed, fresh and hot! Glasses were refilled and every desire was addressed before we even knew we needed something. What a pleasure - what an excellent team and what a superb Epicurious experience for our friends! Thank You SKADI! read more

Heard a lot of great reviews so was excited to try. Staff was amazing. Food was solid. Proteins and starters top notch but sides with the mains lacked seasoning - really quite bland. Perhaps a Norwegian style we are not keen on, but could see that piece sending home many a Top Chef hopefuls. read more

Hello Chef Ian and Todd, Nick and I wanted to thank you for one of the best meals we've ever had in our life last night! We were absolutely blown away by everything from food to service to overall atmosphere. You have managed to create the perfect upscale dining experience without an ounce of pretension. We felt right at home from the second we walked in. We were in love with every plate we had. The venison sausage on the corn pancake was the perfect balance of sweet and salty due to the delicious blueberries. The goat cheese on the salad was wonderful and creamy and went perfectly with the figs. I loved the duck crisped to perfection and wonderful crispy spätzle, and Nick enjoyed the variety of meats on the pork plate. The desserts were out of this world too, especially the cocoa merengue (I think that's what the round crispy chocolate cake was). The perfect amount of crisp! Todd was a delight to talk to, with everything from local tips to sports education, and great wine recommendations. His knowledge of the menu was superb. Thank you again for the hiking tips! Finally, we loved all the pictures and artifacts around the place, especially the old skis. We also wondered if the pictures in the bathroom were from the chef's hometown, as there was a sign that was the same as his last name, I think. Thank you so much for the delicious food and hospitality, we will be back! read more

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We came to Skadi yo have a nice dinner and celebrate a couple of things going on, and that we did. Making the reservations were easy, I text, they responded promptly and described the table they had available. The table was warm and cozy, we had a view of the open kitchen, you could see chef and his team at work making sure each dish was presented beautifully. Service was great, she was helpful, knowledgeable, she cared enough to ask what exactly we were celebrating. The meal was executed perfectly, including the personal touch of writing congratulations on the dessert. Course one was button soup, and hamachi. The hamachi was really good, super fresh, the rice so soft. Our main courses were the scallops and duck. It was my first time having duck and it did not disappoint! Crispy on the outside, cooked to perfection, with a little bit of the berry sauce on the plate, yum! I had a bite of the sea scallops too, also cooked nicely. Our desserts were so beautifully presented, and they took the time to write "congratulations" on the vanilla bean parfait. It was a very nice, personal touch. It was also our favorite out of the two the desserts. The other dessert we ordered is the tasting of chocolates, it was just ok. I would probably recommend trying the other more unique desserts. All in all it was an excellent experience, chef came and shook our hand and talked to us for a minute as we were leaving. read more

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While staying in Mammoth, we enjoyed our last dinner at Skadi. Our friend and I both ordered the Canadian Duck Breast with Arctic Lingonberries, Juniper & Aquavit, my spouse ordered the Pan Roasted Crispy Skin Salmon with Brown Butter and Lemon, and we shared the Tasting of Skadi's Chocolate Desserts. We loved everything we ate, the service we received, and the decorative accents. If you're interested in eating at Skadi, make sure to make a reservation. read more

This was the second time I've celebrated my birthday with Chef Ian and his wonderful staff at Skadi, and again our group, all of whom were with me the first time in 2017, left saying we'd be back. The menu and wine list are varied and exciting. There wasn't a thing on that menu I didn't want to try and there was a lot of sharing tastes as we ate, so I can verify that the dinners of my three dining companions were all as delicious as the corn chowder, gem lettuce salad, and crispy skin salmon I had for dinner. Skadi would be a five-star restaurant in any city in the country. That it's here in Mammoth Lakes, the jewel of the Eastern Sierra, is a boon to all who travel and live here. Ian, thanks to you and your staff for making my birthday a great experience, again! read more

SKADI - Chocolate Sampler. Awesome! - Modern European Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

First, I will say this is likely the best restaurant to eat at in Mammoth. But the atmosphere was pretentious and the food was overwrought -- too much going on on the plate. The flavors were perfectly adequate but weren't amazing or memorable. Again, a fine place to eat in Mammoth, but nothing compared to New York or LA (I say this because some reviewers are saying it's the best meal of their life). Also felt like we could have been treated better. Was left hanging out by the door with my husband, not greeted for a while, and didn't have the same attention by the waitstaff that others were getting. Maybe I should've worn a fur coat or carried a designer handbag. read more

Service and ambiance are fantastic. I had a reservation on a weeknight during peak winter season. I was greeted and seated immediately. The waiter was extremely knowledgeable and and very friendly. Only thing to note is that the menu states most meals can be prepared gluten free means that only the salad appetizer, smoked trout appetizer and then the chicken breast and salmon entree are gluten free. My wife has celiac disease and we were told that these dishes might not "have much gluten" we just asked to clarify since eating gluten free is not a choice my wife makes; it really is to avoid complications from the disease. After asking the chef we were told these dishes contained "no gluten". We had the smoked trout, salmon, and the pork belly (for me since I don't have celiac). All were fantastic takes on Scandinavian dishes. Seasoned well, not overly salted, and cooked perfectly. The chef even was checking on each table to make sure everything was to everyone's liking. We chatted and you can tell he takes pride in everything he serves and really enjoys seeing others having a great experience. Such a great restaurant and we will definitely be back! read more

One of the more upscale restaurants in Mammoth. Loved all the classic skis mounted to their walls. The server was very attentive and friendly. One highlight was the chef's wooden butter knives that were provided for use with our bread & butter - never seen anything like these and they sure did the job nicely. We ordered the Crispy Skin Salmon, Gravlax, and Venison special. The server said the Venison was "not gamey at all", but I tasted a bit of it - not to say it wasn't delicious. Other items were pretty tasty as well, definitely would be interested in trying some more small dishes next time. As a smaller restaurant, the chef made rounds to all tables to make sure everyone was having a great experience, which I thought was really nice. read more

Loved it. An absolute perfect way to end a perfect day of hiking high altitude lakes and absorbing the beauty of Mammoth. Loved every bite, cannot wait to return. read more

I'm glad my first time experiencing fine dining is here in Skadi. I got to sit at the Chef's table and just watched in amazement how they worked. The owner/chef explained every dish to my wife and I and their food was delicious. I would definitely come back here to Skadi! read more

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Finally we made it to SKADI. We were so excited to have a reservation on our last evening in Mammoth. We were seated at the chef's counter - the best spot! One of the best dining experience we have in a long time! Food and wine were excellent. Bravo! Chef Ian walks around and talks to every table. He's a nice guy and pleasure to talk to. We'll be back!! read more

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