We discovered Skadi on our last visit, and we ate there three separate times, each meal was excellent. Fresh ingredients, clean innovative preparation, great service, excellent reasonably priced wine list. The meals are prepared by the chef/owner Ian, who is happy to share recipes and talk about his preparation. I give the nod to Skadi over Nevados as our favorite restaurant in Mammoth.

I have been eating at Nevado's for a few years and it is excellent. but friends had been telling me about Skadi's for a few months and i finally tried it in search for something new and different. It was fantastic. At first i was disappointed with my appetizer; the mushroom crepe, but the New York steak with potatoes was one of the best i've ever had. I'm not a big New York steak fan and i was preparing myself to be disappointed, but the steak was juicy, tender, and flavorful. The potatoes were absolutely delicious. The waiter recommended the creme brulee for dessert and it, too, was one of the best i've ever had. The strawberries layered on top added a dimension to creme brulee i've never experienced. The wine list is the best in Mammoth with the additional limited selection list offering a wide variety of excellent wines. We chose the Kistler 2001 Russian River Pinot Noir, which was fabulous.
Don't listen to the nasty review #1, give Skadi's a shot.

What was the kitchen even thinking?? Was the Chef or Owner in the house???

We'd eaten at Nevados a couple of nights before and another couple there said we might try it if we would be around for a couple of more days. The bar tender had grimaced and rolled their eye's at the suggestion.

The restaurant was nice enough, the view outstanding, but our visit was a long wait with tables at the ready and unseated. The person who seated us had more than a bit of an edge which made my husband give me a look of concern more than once before we sat. Only beer and wine available which was a disappointment after the extended wait but we moved ahead.

The food? Perhaps more seasoning would have helped. To view it was one thing but the overall taste, texture and temperature could use more than a bit of guidance.

Overall? Not for us and we won't bother making it back this year.

I have skied Mammoth off and on for many seasons, and my greatest two complaints is the absence of a central town and the lack of any good restaurants. Luckily the person whose condo I was staying at a couple of years ago told me about Skadi. I was alone for a couple of days, waiting for others to arrive later in the week, so I decided to go to Skadi and give it a try. I was eating at the bar when I met the owner, Ian. We had a wonderful conversation about food and wine, sharing stories about great dining experiences in the U.S. and Europe.

I have since been back there several times. Is it as fine as the best restaurants in France? The answer is no. But it is certainly the best restaurant I have been to in Mammoth and certainly the finest dining establishment there. It is an experience of dining, rather than eating. From my conversations with Ian, I know that he has a real passion for food and will do his best to present wonderful cuisine. Whatever criticism I have had, I blame it on the inability to get the best of ingredients in Mammoth and not from the lack of passion and talent from the kitchen.