Tucked away in a nondescript Raley’s shopping center in Incline Village, Rosewood is flipping the script on Lake Tahoe’s culinary scene. What started as an unexpected venture by Adam DeMezza, a former San Francisco bar owner, has quickly become the buzziest dining spot north of the lake.

From SF Mission to Mountain Vibes

DeMezza’s journey from running Giordano Bros. in San Francisco to opening Rosewood was anything but planned. After relocating to Tahoe with his wife Alexa, a sommelier, they saw a glaring gap in the local dining landscape, a space for elevated yet unpretentious food that wasn’t another burger joint or ultra-fine dining experience.

More Than Just Another Restaurant

Rosewood isn’t trying to be everything to everyone, but it’s definitely nailing what matters. With a menu that ranges from pistachio-crusted halibut to slow-roasted baby back ribs, head chef Will Brunk has created a culinary experience that feels both familiar and exciting. Local regulars like Travis and Celeste Johnson rave about the consistency and quality that’s often missing in mountain town restaurants.

The restaurant’s location might seem unremarkable, sandwiched between a souvenir shop and pizza place, but that’s precisely its charm. DeMezza didn’t intend to revolutionize Incline Village’s dining scene, but sometimes the best things happen by accident. “We don’t want to do fine dining,” he explains. “We want people who come off the mountain to sit, enjoy, and feel welcome”.

With craft cocktails, a carefully curated wine list, and dishes that hit that sweet spot between comfort and creativity, Rosewood proves that great food can emerge from the most unexpected places. It’s not about the view, it’s about the experience.