FIRE SIGN CAFE, Tahoe City - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews

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About

Since 1978, Fire Sign Cafe has been a family owned and operated Breakfast and Lunch restaurant. We pride ourselves on our extensive menu, full of homemade food. Our restaurant has been a local favorite since it opened. It has been featured in several publications such as Sunset Magazine, as well as shown on Rachael Ray's, "Tasty Travels". Our great service and even better food are what keep people coming back!

PRICE RANGE

$5.00 – $15.00

CUISINES

American, Cafe

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

FEATURES

Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

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4.5

587 reviews

Excellent

413

Very good

130

Average

31

Poor

5

Terrible

8

PhilDanielleCapo

Chicago423 contributions

The only cafe you need when visiting Tahoe!

Sep 2019 • none

experience you always want mixed with superior and thoughtful food. The cafe is located on the west coast of the lake, just south of Tahoe City and just north of Homewood. The little cafe has about 10 to 12 parking spots behind it and is nice and cozy inside. You won't have a problem getting a table if you have a reservation set. The place is clearly family run and all of the employees are so nice. You really get a great feeling of being welcomed here. The food is approachable. familiar, and well executed. We visited the cafe twice and the first time we got a custom omelette with gluten free toast. We also got the thick cut french toast that came with homemade hot blueberry syrup. The omelette had mushrooms folded throughout and was stuffed with ripe avocados. The in-house syrup is an exciting addition, as it is sweet, tangy, and full of fruit flavor. The second time we visited we got the same omelette because it was so good. We also got Joe's Special which is a scramble with Italian herbs, garlic, cheeses, onion, and ground beef. Never seen that combo before but it was unreal. It's almost like having a great Italian breakfast on a plate. In conclusion, Fire Sign is a cozy breakfast/brunch destination in west Tahoe.

Written April 1, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Traveling Llamas

Monterey111 contributions

Casual restaurant w good food

Mar 2020 • family

Went w family of 5 and had a late lunch. Large menu of breakfast and lunch dishes available all day. Small, friendly bar. Good food and reasonable prices for the area frequented by tourists and skiers Definitely worth going back

Written March 1, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Firehousecat

Sierra Vista420 contributions

Still Excellent After All These Years...

Oct 2020 • none

My first experience with the Fire Sign was in 1978. Since then, it is always a must for Breakfast when in the area. Recently, I had the pleasure of great service by ALEX and ANDREA with three hot tasty breakfasts served during my most recent visit in October. Always get the coffee cake of the morning, it is great. The home made muffins can not be beat. "Joes Special" is my favorite breakfast entrée. I regularly enjoy it, but minus the mushrooms!

Written November 21, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Fire Sign Cafe

Thank you so much for the great review! We hope to see you again soon!

Written December 26, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Michele M

7 contributions

Not what it used to be

Sep 2020 • none

Went there about a mont ago, this used to be our go to, cleaning ladies came, off we went to the fire sign. I will give them a break for the service because of the pandemic, it definitely lacking, slow, never refilled our coffee but the price have gone up, the food is pretty much the same, my husband felt it went down but I was chocked when I asked for a substitute, no potatoes for a pancake, that pancake cost me 7$ , yep ! Shocking, granted it was a large pancake but nothing on it. Probably will look for a different place, they will do fine because it is the place to go when in Tahoe .

Written October 27, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

firesigncafe

Hi Michele! We are so sorry to hear about your experience. We certainly strive to serve the best at our restaurant! We will relay this information and hope to see you again soon! Our service is always the friendliest and our prices are some of the best in Tahoe!

Written November 9, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

caneguy

Dana Point1379 contributions

Great Place for a Great Meal

Apr 2021 • none

Went to to ride the Truckee River Bike from South Lake Tahoe and on the way back stoped into Fire Sign for lunch. Got there around 2 PM on a Thursday so there was not wait and we were seating in the outside patio area. Heard so much about Fire Sign and the hype did live up to the experience. Service was really quick and continued responsive throughout the lunch. I ordered the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich with a salad for the side and my wife ordered the Albacore Tuna (served cold). We both enjoyed our selections and the portion size was really good. We enjoyed the outdoor feeling and felt very safe with Covid precautions in place at Fire Sign. We both said a return visit to Fire Sign is in order on our next trip back to the area.

Written May 10, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EndlessVoyage

California1090 contributions

Best Breakfast on the North Shore!

Aug 2022 • family

We have to drive 30 mins to get to Fire Sign and the food never disappoints until this summer. Everything from the House smoked salmon Benedict to the Huevos Rancheros lacked the care of the past and the coffee cake had clearly gone down hill. Waiting on a summer day in the backyard which offers benches is usually great even when the wait is an hour. But we arrived to early & the coffee from the kiosk wasnt available. Our visits from 2020 through this summer show they are having a terrible time finding adequately trained staff. We watched tables sit empty for 30 mins and staff wandering around aimlessly. Getting a water or coffee refill proved impossible. Even waitstaff seemed to have their hands empty and brought me the wrong dish which meant I had to hunt him down to change. By the time he found my eggs they were cold & I am sure the poor soul who got the scrambled found them inedible. I know staff is tough up here but the problem was not staff it was training and management. Easily solved.

Written December 26, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SisBoston

Arlington630 contributions

FABULOUS Breakfast

Jul 2022 • none

This is THE place for a not-to-be-missed breakfast! It’s not a hidden gem; our party of five had to wait nearly an hour for a table. But it was absolutely worth it. The wait staff is fantastic – accommodating, friendly, welcoming, and super competent. The menu is vast, and between us, we tried almost everything (except the humongous Scrambles, which looked delicious as they passed by on their way to other tables). The pancakes were the perfect combination of crisp and soft; the eggs were perfectly cooked; the potatoes correctly seasoned; the bacon and sausage cooked just right. Five stars are not enough!

Written August 7, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tamra W

Columbus19 contributions

Great atmosphere, friendly smiles and DELICIOUS food!

Aug 2023 • family

A stand out dining experience of our 8 day trip to the Lake Tahoe area. I order the Berry Crepe and a vanilla caramel latte, my daughter had the banana nut bread french toast and a vanilla latte. our breakfast coat around $40, which is comparable to other restaurants in the area. The serving sizes were very generous and the food was fresh and delicious. The hostess and wait staff we encountered were all friendly, helpful and quick with a smile. We will definitely return if we're ever in the area again.

Written August 5, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NativeCat78

33 contributions

So good we ate here 4 days in a row!

Aug 2020 • none

I rarely give 5-star reviews, but this little place deserves it. We found it the first day of our trip to Lake Tahoe and it was SO GOOD we drove 39 miles every day after that to eat here. The food is terrific. The menu is varied. The service and wait staff are absolutely wonderful. The prices are fair. I ate four different meals (two breakfast, two lunch) and each one of them was terrific. Even in the midst of COVID, sitting outside under the trees with the cool breeze blowing off the lake was amazing. If you're spending time anywhere around Lake Tahoe, do yourself a favor and eat at Fire Sign!

Written August 31, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

firesigncafe

Thank you so much, we really appreciate it!

Written September 24, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

NLC

Meadow Vista4 contributions

Great lunch spot

Oct 2022 • none

This was a random stop for lunch and boy what a treat! We had the staff recommended Chipotle chicken sandwich and it was delicious and very filling. We didn't have to wait long for a table, even though they looked very full. Our food was served very quickly and all the staff were very friendly. We were very impressed and we will definitely be back.

Written November 30, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mike M

1 contribution

Mediocre

Jul 2024 • family

Having lived here for over 40 years, we usually patronize Firesign 2-3 times a season. Today’s visit will change that. Eggs Benedict barely had any watered down hollandaise sauce. Potatoes were tasteless and it took forever to get our bill paid. Goodbye Firesign

Written July 17, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bethsnow

Bloomington9 contributions

Great food, fun place

Sep 2022 • couples

Food was delicious. I had the turkey pesto sandwich with side salad and house (Miso) dressing. Multi-grain bread was delicious and grilled perfectly, pesto was delicious over thinly sliced turkey. Miso dressing was delicious! Hubs had the Reuben (said it was delicious as well) and had the potatoes with veggies and cheese - huge portion and tasted divine. Pretty long wait, but we got there around 11:45 for lunch. Once seated our food came quickly. Highly recommend!

Written September 11, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stork

Asheville16 contributions

Excellent all-around local breakfast/lunch place

Feb 2024 • family

Excellent variety of breakfast/lunch items - all look terrific. I had a the special scramble on that day with hash browns, bacon, and their pineapple bread - which is like eating pineapple upside down cake for breakfast. Service prompt, friendly, cheerful. Parking can be a challenge and don’t be surprised if folks are waiting outside during brunch hours.

Written February 19, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sarah O

Madison37 contributions

Fantastic food and service

Jun 2022 • none

30 minute wait in a sunny courtyard with coffee and drinks available. Menu is extensive-you can have breakfast all day or lunch. Gluten-free friendly. All the food was great from French dip and Reuben to eggs, hash browns and homemade coffee cake (no up charge from toast.) Obviously it was packed but staff was relaxed, friendly and efficient. Décor is bright and cabin-like, lots of nooks and crannies with tables.

Written June 25, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

N8delaney

Los Osos268 contributions

Fantastic eggs benedict

Oct 2023 • family

I had saved this place based on a recommendation for their eggs benedict. It was convenient that we happened to be camping right next door so we had to try it. Nice outdoor patio area and the interior is really cozy. We got the veggie and the cape cod benedict. The portions on these are pretty big, which was a pleasant surprise after camping in near freezing weather. The food was piping hot and so good. The portion of the salmon was great, much bigger than I was expecting. Same with the veggie, they are very generous with the avocado portion. Everything was cooked perfectly, the yolks flowed out beautifully. Potatoes were good too. I definitely would order again, though probably do half portions next time.

Written January 18, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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