Fire Break Kitchen & Bar

My husband and I had breakfast this morning at the Fire Break Restaurant at the Hard Rock in Tahoe. The food was delicious and we got excellent service by Hector too. Thank you Hector!!! We will come again!!!

My wife and I got here around 1 in the afternoon. No one was at the front desk. Someone noticed us, and got us a table. We both ordered a bowl of chili. It was warm, not hot. The server forgot the cornbread. It was really dry. She brought butter, which was really hard. Not a good mix. It felt like she took a break before getting our bill.

Margarita pizza sooo spicy & no warning on menu. Beware! Other pizza asked for black olives & sent with green olives. Poor poor server communications.

Only giving 1 star because that’s the minimum. The bartender was sarcastic and rude. Laughed at us when we said we were leaving because of the service. Left a message for the manager with the hostess. Hopefully they are aware and care.

Wish I could give a zero. Was seated by fire pit on patio and given menus when seated. Waitress walked by numerous times, looked at us and kept walking. After approximately 20 minutes we went and asked if they could take our order. Waitress said no, we don’t serve food or drinks by the fire pit seats. She moved us to a table and disappeared for another 10
Minutes. When she came back we asked for water and a drink menu. We don’t have a drink menu she said. I asked for Sierra Nevada pale on draft, nope none on draft she said. Bloody Mary? Sure she said. Fiancée said she only wanted water. Waitress left after our order and, after another 20 minutes we decided to leave. Walked by bar area and waitress was talking to coworker, no water and no Bloody Mary to be found. Not many customers either. Bye fire break, never coming back.

It’s hard to judge when I haven’t eaten here. We were staying at Hard Rock Hotel over Memorial Day Weekend. In our room, the Fire Break Kitchen menu was displayed for to go orders. We tried several attempts to contact the restaurant to place our order through the hotel phone and our cell phones. We also contacted the front desk who gave us a different telephone number but it went straight to voicemail.
Before our calls, we saw a lobby full of people wandering around. I’m unsure if they were waiting to be seated. When we passed by, there were clearly many empty tables. Perhaps, they couldn’t handle the holiday crowd?

Over the Memorial weekend, my boyfriend and I were very hungry after drink all day. It was close to mid-​night and we didn’t know what to eat since most places in the hotels were closed. We walked past this nice restaurant that looked like they were still open. We got seated very fast and our waiter was very friendly. At this time we wanted everything off the menu but we ordered the «BEER BATTERED ONION RINGS» that came with bbq and ranch, it was great dipping it in both. ;) Then we ordered the «BLACK & BLUE», blackening spice, blue cheese, balsamic onions were to die for! the whole meal was great! Even for a very late night of eating this was a good pick!

Food was okay. Service was slow. Another group who arrived behind us was served before us. Of our six meals, two meals were wrong (requested no cheese on one, no BBQ sauce on the other). Server said something like the transition to the new menu was hard. Bloody Mary bar closed at 2pm but at 1:30pm was out of olives, onions, other produce, and we were told it was low because it was closing soon… we should have requested a discount! See my picture of the huge lettuce leaf in the Caesar salad. Speaking of the Caesar — I would say it needed more dressing, and a something to liven it up a bit. I’m not sure I’ll go back.

My husband and I came here from Chicago – a city with so many nice restaurants you can eat Breakfast, lunch, dinner everyday for 1 year without eating at the same place twice. By those standards… this restaurant fits perfectly. The ambience is great. We came here for breakfast and Lunch. The breakfast was a knockout! I had banana foster pancake breakfast and he had the banana fosters waffle breakfast. We both loved it. no contest.
For lunch I had a BBQ chicken salad and he has a chili dog. i ate my entire salad which is a good thing. He said the chili on his dog was good but not the best. His fries were thin and crispy which I love. I don’t like those thick cut ones.
I don’t understand why some of
these reciews are complaint about price. Any place out here you’re going to spend 12 – 17 for meal. That’s to be expected. The food is pretty good and matches the price point. We will be back to try other dishes.

Pleasantly surprised…
…to say the least. I assumed, in a larger hotel, two things — the food would suck and the prices would be exorbitant. Lucky for me, my snarky attitude was proven wrong!
We were staying across the street for a bach party, but decided to walk over here to enjoy dinner and get out of our hotel for a bit. The cold, brisk walk over was very short… but we felt the effects.
For a Saturday night in April, they weren’t busy at all. Their ‘bar’ area was much more crowded, but they had plenty of seating in the restaurant. We were able to grab a table for 7 without any issue or wait.
Our whole experience was awesome — from the server to the bill. I wouldn’t go as far as to say the food was good, but it wasn’t bad and the price point matched what we got. I honestly was expecting for pricey chain food, but we got decent average priced food.
Of course we all ordered a round of drinks, it was a bach party! I ordered a Blueberry Stoli and Sprite, my go to drink. Most of the girls went hardcore with extra dirty Martini’s, and then one ordered the Fire Cider (note: it comes warm, not over ice). Everyone enjoyed their draaaanks…
Someone ordered the Crab and Artichoke dip to share with the table. Oh my gosh, the fried pita chips that were homemade and accompanied the dish were so good. We ate all of them and asked for more to finish off the dish.
Even though my tight dress was telling me not too, my stomach made me order the French Dip — Slow-​Roasted Prime Rib, Caramelized Onions, (and sans Horseradish Sauce). I asked for my fries to be extra crispy and of course a side of ranch. I definitely appreciated this meal the next morning, it definitely gave was the base for copious amounts of alcohol to soak up in. Like I said before, it wasn’t amazing, but it was tasty. That could be attributed to the pre-​party we had before we walked over, I’m not too sure.
Our server was fun and made sure to make it fun for us, since she knew we were celebrating a bach party. She even split the bill for everyone. She took our pics and was as attentive as ever. We really appreciated her customer service and how laid back she was.
The perfect bach party base for our soon to be boozy filled stomachs!

If you are planning to eat here make certain you are hungry. The food was quite good the fries were a little thin for my liking so they lacked depth that the thicker fries provide. However the potato skins are above average and the burger was solid as well however the bun was a bit large in comparison to size of the burger.
They don’t make their own beer so I won’t judge them in that aspect
Beer Na
Food 7.5÷10
Ambiance 8.5÷10

We’re visiting the Fire Break Kitchen and Bar for a late breakfast, after having some bad luck at another restaurant in the area. So, we were hungry at this point, though our hunger staved off temporarily by a quick stop at the Oyster Bar on our way in. Lemme tell ya, 3 oysters won’t last you a long time when you’re really hungry. Entering we’re greeted by a host. There’s the option of outdoor dining, but this being Feb. at Lake Tahoe, outdoor looked a little too cold, especially with a short skirt on. Others seem to brave the cold though … I see big jackets on them!
I notice right away how dark it is in here on the dining area. There seems to be light coming from a row of windows, but those are all behind the bar and not shedding much light on the dining booths we were sat in. Really, being in here I can’t tell if it’s day or night… maybe that’s the point, like how casinos don’t want you to keep track of time. The music is turned up way too loud in here, so we actually have to talk in raised voices, just short of nightclub loud. At this point I would have decided to leave, but we were too hungry and going anywhere else would involve driving a ways, so screw it we’ll just stay here and eat.
Our server is over right away to take drink orders. I really do need a drink at this point. I get a Deschutes Black Butte Porter and my BF gets a Sierra Nevada Ale ($ 7.00 ea.) for a pint.
Looking over the menu, I see breakfast items as well as burgers. Breakfast it is! Wow, just your normal egg breakfast with potatoes bacon and toast is $ 13 bucks … OK, remember, you’re at Tahoe at a «resort»! I get the Spanish Omelet ($ 16.00!) which has Cheese, Bell Pepper, Onion, Avocado, Sour Cream, Salsa and comes with toast and hashbrowns. My BF orders from the «Hungry Guests» section of the menu, the Chicken Fried Steak ($ 17.00!), but subs french fries for the hashbrowns, cause he saw some sandwiches arrive at the next table, piled high with fries!
So, while we wait, we endure the incessant loud music… they don’t call this place the Hard Rock Casino for nothing! I don’t even recognize any of the songs they’re playing, just a lot of blaring electric guitar … at least it’s not rap. So finally the food arrives, seems like a little longer than usual for food to arrive.
I see my BF’s Chicken Fried Steak presented on a big square plate. His face is a little disappointed, considering this entrée was selected from the «HUNGRY GUESTS» section. It sure was a smallish helping of food there. The fries were a smallish portion and was the Chicken Fried Steak … not the big slab the «Hungry Guests» section suggests! My $ 16 omelet looked like a standard omelet with a glob of sour cream on top. At least the hashbrowns looked pretty good and a decent helping too! I could see my BF looking at my hashbrowns and then back at his little pile of fires… awww sad face! We share our plates anyways, so no biggie!
I do like my hashbrowns a lot, done perfect and fluffed up so you can see the strands of potatoes, not like that Peg’s Ham and Eggs joint in Reno where you get a «pad» of potatoes all mushy inside. This I like! My omelet part was standard, can’t figure why they charge $ 16 for this. Another thing, most breakfasts that include toast, give you 2 pieces of toast! This place cheaps out on one friggin’ slice of toast, and all you get is one piece of bread cut in half! 2 halves make 2 pieces of toast right? NOT! Why cheap on stuff like that?
Besides my BF’s disappointment with his fries, he was quite thrilled by the taste of the smallish Chicken Fried Steak. The gravy was delicious with nice chunks of sausage in it. I tasted it too, probably second only to the Basque place in Carson City. Just wish there was more of it on the plate. Asked the server for more gravy, but she said there was an extra charge for it. Geeze! for what you charge already, you’d think they could at least spare a little gravy and give more than one piece of toast with breakfast!
All in all, the negatives of the Fire Break Kitchen and Bar far out weigh the few positives, like the great hashbrowns and tasty gravy. The overly loud music and dark tunnel like atmosphere of the dining area along with the inflated prices, will keep me from coming back any time soon. I think had we sat outside in the summer, I might have added a star.

No allergic reaction this time, but probably because I stayed away from ordering a Burger. I went with small plates and got the Buffalo Chicken Wings (which had so much flavor, I think I’ll order 2 next time) and the bowl of Chili. The chili was good, but nothing special. I stole a few Cajun Fries from my boyfriend’s plate since his burger came with it. They lacked flavor and tasted stale. The blood mary’s here aren’t too bad either, they come with bacon! My room mate ordered the Nachos from the Appetizers section because he wanted something not too heavy… boy was he wrong! The nachos are GINORMOUS! It’s enough to feed like at least 5 people!
Service was still so-​so. Our server was super friendly and cheerful in the beginning, but slowly throughout the meal, the service began to lack. She forgot to bring my friend’s mayo almost half way through until we were able to flag down another worker. She never brought his ranch either, sadness. We asked if she was able to split the bill by sections to make it easier rather than individual (because I know how much of a pain in the ass that is). She told us NO they don’t do that. Uhm… the LAST TIME we ate here, our server OFFERED to do it, so I’m not sure whats her deal was. If its the auto grat you’re worried about, be my guest to automatically add it on to the separate tabs, geez.
The only thing that keeps us coming back here is because we’re signed up with their membership card and we usually go gamble after eating. 2 of my friends actually had enough points to get $ 10 each off the entire bill and then we got an extra 10% off (was it to make up for the ranch that never came? Just kidding lol). Ah… gotta love those membership perks I guess…

Food was ok… Got the salmon, was good but not great. Hubby got the hanger steak, it was chewy… Nothing special.
Best part was the apps, buffalo chicken meat balls and cesar salad&drinks…
Went here for our anniversary, was disapointed… Good for casual dining.
Breakfast on the other hand was probably the best/​nicest place to eat near where we stayed.(968 park hotel) We sat outside and food was delish and we were served very fast! I give breakfast 5 stars.

The manager is horrible. We made a reservation for 5 people with a 2 years old baby. The baby was sick, and they insist to sit us by the door next to the door outside with freezing cold wind draft every time when the door opened. Disregard the sick 2 years old baby, the manager told us there is noting she could do but let baby sitting to the cold breeze. When we ask for check, they charged us tips!!! Because they count sleeping sick baby as 1 person???
Bad service, bad management, bad wait staff. There are many restaurant in the south Tahoe, this kind of service and food will not go far. When we asked about why they included tips for 2 years old baby? The manager will not come over, she went hiding in the office.

Good food, good beer and good bloody marys.
This place is comfortable place for dining or hanging out with your peeps. The staff is pretty friendly too. Good place at the HardRock!

This is a review for their outdoor seating area. All the way 5 stars for the ambiance and execution. Even on the coldest day you will stay warm thanks to theirs lovely gas fire pits and gas flames. Super comfy and inviting furniture is an additional plus. I am absolutely in love with this location and stunning views it offers. Perfect spot for nature and people watching and pre or apre ski relaxation.

Today I had the Ahi Burger and it was huge, full of Ahi tuna and as strange as it sounded on the menu, it was real yummy! I ordered it on toasted wheat. The tuna was cooked perfectly and it was a huge (sandwich)!! The blend of all the flavor a was like a real fresh tuna melt! The fries were delicious too, super fresh and crispy!!! I’ve worked in restaurants and they really got it right. I didn’t have my phone with me or I would’ve taken a photo. Prior to this visit I had the Shrimp Po Boy which was also loaded up and good, however I would’ve liked it to have more of a zingy spicy flavor (like the delicious Sriracha mayo they have would compliment it well. Bartender was super cool and helpful too and I love the ambiance and comfy bar stools. Good job guys!!! I will return!!!

I got to say that Lake Tahoe is up and coming in the beer scene! Loved the belgian white ale here. Get it ! IPA were smooth as silk too!
The ambiance was the classiest place I could find in Tahoe (not saying much sorry Nevada with the exception of Vegas). Multiple booths and a large bar with many tvs for sports. Felt like an upscale Buffalo Wild Wings
Potatoe skins! Pretty good and simple. It’s nothing fancy here, just your typical potatoe with lots of melted American cheese and bacon. You can’t fuck that up.
My server was absolutely amazing! He came back to my table of four probably 10 times between ordering, checking up, and cashing out. He was very pestering but in a good way!
Splurged and got the Hangar Steak. I asked for medium rare but got well done. It was pretty dry and the chipotle corn and beans didn’t go with the steak at all. Not worth the price.
I am satisfied with Fire Break. My food orgasm was about a 6 out of 10. I’m not screaming for more but it was a satisfying fix. This is probably one of the better go-​to dinner spot in Tahoe but that’s not saying much.

For a ²⁴⁄₇ restaurant, Fire Break does alright. I love the fact that they have a legit fire ambience in the outdoor seating area and that seating is pretty spacious all around. Food is okay, but service needs a lot more work.
We went out for a late dinner around 9PM and decided to try Fire Break since we wanted to check out Hard Rock anyway. I got ecstatic when I saw mac and cheese on the menu because that’s what I had been craving, so in we went. We were promptly seated and given menus, and after a few minutes, someone came to take our drink order and also set some glasses of water down for us without us needing to ask. Brownie points. My boyfriend asked the waiter what he recommended for beers, but our waiter sadly confessed that he hadn’t tried any of them, so he ordered a beer that sounded tasty from the bar. So far, our experience has been pretty good.
Fast forward fifteen minutes later, and all this time, we have been watching our waiter attempting to pour the beer from the tap at the bar but not succeeding in his endeavors. Each glass was filled with foam, so we watched in dismay as he poured out glass after glass. At about his tenth or so attempt, he finally got someone else to help him. (Throughout this fiasco, another worker approached us and asked if someone had come by to attend to us yet; we gestured towards the bar, and that was that.) He returned with the beer, and then proceeded to take our food order. I ordered the crayfish mac and cheese, and the boyfriend ordered the BBQ bacon & cheddar burger. The food was pretty decent; not bad for a ²⁴⁄₇ place. Our waiter, although scarce and seemingly inexperienced, was very apologetic; our guess is that he must be newer to the staff, so we cut him some slack.
From the other reviews, everything seems to be hit or miss here at Fire Break. Sometimes service is great and food is terrible; other times service is terrible and food is great. Hopefully they can improve and not get trapped in the poor quality of overpriced casino food that plagues the South Lake Tahoe area.