Las Vegas has three dining destinations (and a hotel!) in the queendom of Lisa Vanderpump, but it doesn’t have Wolf, an all-new concept by the restaurateur and reality TV star in Lake Tahoe.
My wife described the design as “fairytale goth.” I went with “concrete jungle.” Either way, you get to enjoy goat cheese balls (made famous on “Vanderpump Rules”) and other bites to match the Instagram-ready cocktails. Wolf is definitely a change of pace for Stateline — Nevada’s casino-friendly corner of the lake — and one of the signature attractions at Caesars Republic, a 1,250-room property formerly known as Harvey’s.
Following a $200 million investment, Caesars Entertainment has given the hotel a top-to-bottom refresh with a busy and bright casino floor that wouldn’t look out of place in Vegas, especially at the slot machines next to the hotel’s other big restaurant, Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen. There’s no digital screen of the celebrity chef to greet visitors at this version, but you can still get imported Piedmont truffles shaved over your lobster risotto.
Another Vegas staple, Clique Hospitality, was enlisted to spruce up the nightlife with Tessie’s, a cocktail lounge with a wall of amber lightbulbs to illuminate a stage for local musicians and occasionally showcase local artists. (As Ms. Vanderpump might say, “bravo” 👏)
Pouring cocktails at Wolf. (Rob Kachelriess/City Cast Las Vegas)
“Tahoe has never seen anything like it,” according to Captain Zach of Boat Tahoe, who raved about Tessie’s while cruising around the coves near Emerald Bay during a daytime cruise. (True story: On the way back, Zach spotted an abandoned jet ski on the horizon and rescued the driver who fell overboard. Zach is the best!)
You can see the Vegas influence elsewhere in Tahoe, including Harrah’s and the Golden Nugget, which wisely kept the Oyster Bar after taking over what used to be a Hard Rock 👍
But what really seals the deal is the walkability of the pine-lined sidewalks in a way that’s different from trekking down the Vegas Strip. Caesars Republic is just steps from the beach, Heavenly Village (with a gondola carrying guests to ski runs during winter), and charming independent businesses, including Toulouse on Park — a bistro opened by three friends who met in New Orleans.
And no matter where you go, everything is noticeably clean. Both tourists and locals alike make a point to pick up after themselves. If Lake Tahoe can keep the small town charm alongside the celebrity chefs and slot machines, I see plenty of return trips to this evolving Vegas alternative in my future.
