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    The Dam Cafe

    3.9 (406 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    The Dam Cafe Photos

    THE DAM CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Dam Cafe

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    Coffee and Espresso drink menu
    Brandon H.

    Great place to grab a nitro cold brew on the lake in Tahoe city. Great for parents before going to the playground on the lake.

    Daniele Z.

    We did an online order on our way to the slopes and the ordering was quick and easy. The food was fresh and delicious. The service and ladies working inside were friendly and prompt. It's a cute little shop across from Safeway, you can eat inside as well. Would recommend for a good breakfast before hitting the slopes.

    Dining Area
    Rayce M.

    Dam Cafe was a nice stop for us in Tahoe City. We woke up early in our hotel and decided to wander the streets to see what was open and we stumbled into this little place for some coffee. The service was great. The woman who took our order was very friendly and they even had some free pastry samples cut up for our enjoyment. Our food and coffee came out quick. The prices were fair, maybe slightly inflated but I always expect that for tourist places like Tahoe City. The decor here is nice but a bit eclectic. Vanilla latte and cold brew were good. No latte art, but flavor was there! The downside here is the hot food options. The hot food is just frozen meats reheated on a hot plate along with an egg, salsa, cheese, etc. and wrapped up in bread or a tortilla. Nothing special and a bit disappointing as homemade food would have been much nicer for the price. Everything still tasted good, but the quality wasn't all there.

    Ryan J.

    The best breakfast sandwiches! I don't drink coffee but it sure does smell great. Cool spot though to grab your coffee and a bagel then go walk out to the water nearby!

    Cafe front of cafe

    The service is 10 star! The food is off the charts! The coffee is delicious and comes forth free refills! I love it! I'll be back for sure! Thanks for being amazing! Keep up the hard work and know it's doesn't go unnoticed :)

    Eve K.

    Cute cafe for an order at the counter breakfast stop. Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: no Return worthiness: sure Highlights: - Breakfast burrito: fluffy omelet style eggs and can add meat (sausage or bacon) and avocado plus spinach bell peppers and others for no extra charge. 4 stars - Small cute little house with lake signs around - Can pre order for pickup from toasttab - Lots of coffee options like lattes etc. - Parking outside and not in a super crowded spot - Some seating with few small tables inside and out Midlights: - Limited options since it's a small place. Lowlights: - Only open til 1 - Sell out of their pastries Nice stop for a breakfast burrito and a coffee to carry you through your Tahoe day.

    Croissant with egg
    Amy S.

    A cute little cafe for breakfast and lunch. Had an egg croissant which was fresh and delicious. Bagels are toasted well with many toppings available. Lots of smoothies and coffee drinks, too. Staff is friendly and smiling. Would recommend! Prices are reasonable.

    Egg, Cheese, Avocado, and Sourdough Breakfast Sandwich
    Sabeena B.

    Such a cute spot in Homewood near Lake Tahoe! I got a yummy breakfast sandwich and it was great! Super kind staff!

    Paid 16 dollars for a breakfast burrito. More like a taquito. Horrible taste and quality. Nearly threw up. Go somewhere else

    Burrito size in comparison to an average wallet and size 10 shoe

    Not super big on leaving reviews but felt compelled. I know their breakfast burritos are good but the size of them has to be a joke lol. The taste is great but if I'm spending $15+ on a burrito i expect a respectable size for comparison I wear a size 10 shoe and I laughed when I saw the size of the burrito. The taste is great but please give a bit more value if you're charging that much for a burrito. I understand times are challenging but still this is funny

    Breakfast Burrito & Iced Vanilla Latte
    Love K.

    This cafe was so damn busy which says a lot about the food and drinks! Our big group met up at the Dam Cafe and waited for quite some time before ordering. I ordered the Breakfast Burrito with sausage and avocado as my two options which came with cheese, sour cream, pico (which was more of a slice of tomato), and 2 fried eggs. I expected a big burrito but it turned out to be a perfect portion just for me. It was super flavorful, hot, and had a juicy bite to it thanks to the tomato. It surpassed my expectations. I also ordered an Iced Vanilla Latte with oat milk which they use a machine for; you just press a button for espresso. I was expecting it to be mediocre but to my surprise it hit the spot. They used a powdered vanilla/sweetener which reminded me a lot of The Coffee Bean (which we don't have in the Bay Area anymore). It was delightful. A few of the cousins ordered a smoothie and didn't have much to say. They said it was more of a juice and I agree. I watched the blender run for quite some time before someone turned it off. There was plenty of seating indoor and outdoors. It was all in all a great breakfast before heading home. I'll definitely make a pit stop here if I'm ever back in Tahoe. Cheers!

    Best sandwich ever

    A Must-Visit in Tahoe City! During our scenic drive around Lake Tahoe, we stumbled upon The Dam Café--and it instantly became a highlight of our trip! The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the service was friendly, and the food? Absolutely incredible. We ordered the sourdough turkey, bacon, avocado, and cheese sandwich, and it was hands-down one of the best sandwiches we've ever had. Perfectly toasted, packed with flavor, and so satisfying that we're already trying to recreate it back home in Indiana! The coffee and smoothies were also top-notch--fresh, flavorful, and exactly what you want during a day of exploring. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this spot is worth the stop. We'll definitely be back next time we're in Tahoe. Don't miss it!

    Stephen F.

    Food is excellent! I had the bagel sandwich with sausage, egg, and cheese. So yummy! My friend had the bagel and lox. It was huge and he loved it. You order at the counter. We ate outside. Lots of seating outside and some inside. Guy was even singing and playing a guitar. Service is excellent, efficient, and friendly. Highly recommended. Prices are on par with the Tahoe area. Not cheap but oh so worth it!!

    Best breakfast croissant ever!

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    Food and service here is really good. The food is fast and the drinks are amazing. Perfect place to stop by before you hit the slopes :)

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    Ask the Community - The Dam Cafe

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    After a long day of skiing, we were absolutely starving, so our instructor recommended this…read morerestaurant in Tahoe. She did mention she might be a bit biased since she works in the kitchen, but she was completely right: the food was outstanding. We ordered two burgers, a salad, and an appetizer to share among four people. The portions were very generous and incredibly satisfying. We usually prefer to restaurant-hop and have dessert somewhere else, but the meal was so good that we decided to stay and try dessert as well. While it wasn't quite as impressive as the rest of the food, it was still enjoyable and ended up being the perfect choice since it wasn't overly heavy after such a filling meal. A special mention goes to our waitress, Erin, who was excellent. She was attentive, efficient, and incredibly on top of everything. I always appreciate when a server checks in at the right moment to ask whether you'd like the bill or want to order anything else, and Erin handled everything seamlessly. She got us in and out quickly without ever making us feel rushed.

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    Very cute little coffee shop! The baristas were very nice and they did all the orders very fast,…read moreeven if it was busy! Very good organized! We got a hot candy cane chai and a mocha, taste was very good and they were creamy like they're supposed to be! Sandwiches were very tasty and I saw they have crepes too! Highly recommend!

    I haven't left a review in quite a while, which is why I felt compelled to write this one…read more Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed with my experience. I ordered an iced hazelnut latte and an iced toffee nut latte. When I first received the drinks, the color immediately made me question them. After mixing them, it became clear that there was very little coffee in either drink. They tasted more like flavored milk than lattes. I went back inside and asked if I could add an extra shot. I also asked how many shots were in either drink originally and was told there was only one shot in each drink. For a latte that large, that seemed incredibly sparse. What made the experience even more disappointing was that I was charged an additional dollar for the extra shot. The drinks were already $12, bringing the total to $13 (I only got an extra shot in my drink). If a customer comes back because their latte barely tastes like coffee, charging extra to make it drinkable feels unreasonable. And even after the added espresso, they still were not worth the price. Both coffees tasted bland and poorly made. Lastly, the customer service left a lot to be desired. The overall interaction felt unfriendly and dismissive. Unfortunately, this was one of the most disappointing coffee experiences I've had in Lake Tahoe. For $13, I expected two decent lattes and was majorly disappointed.

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    Very charming neighborhood market…read more My review is based solely on what I tried - a scorching hot honey latte that, unfortunately, I didn't enjoy. The coffee was so hot it actually burned my poor tongue. It was also a bit bitter and not very creamy, with none of the warm honey notes I was hoping for. It was a bummer, because judging by the look and vibe of the store, I expected to love it. That said, the market itself couldn't be more rustic and beautiful. It's filled with genuinely great looking items: handmade sandwiches, cheeses, baked goods, wine, gelato, and organic produce. Everything looked stellar. I asked the guy behind the coffee bar what beans they use, but he didn't know. I'd definitely return to try the food or grab a few things for a lake picnic, but I'm skipping the coffee - 2.5 stars if I could.

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    Pistachio gelato!
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    The Dam Cafe - coffee - Updated June 2026

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