Lake Tahoe, s & n

I have a house at Stateline, and spend a fair amount of time at the south end of the lake.

For "interesting," I'd suggest Scooza ($-$$) on Ski Run Blvd. for fresh Italian, and the Fresh Catch ($$) at the Marina for California-Grill/Seafood. The latter also serves brunch, offers a fine lakeside view, and would qualify as a sports bar.

The two cheap-eats spots where the locals hang out literally around the clock for bar food, sports TV, gaming machines and pool, are the Goalpost on Kingsbury Grade and the Thirsty Duck at the Elkhorn Center in Roundhill. Both spots feature daily, nightly and hourly food specials that include steak and eggs, weekly spaghetti feeds, and steak night. Some events are free-food traffic-builders. Both have decent burgers; both score high on "local color."

For a tradition breakfast with a view of the lake, try the Red Waffle Hut on Kingsbury Grade. Four-egg omletts under five bucks.

For fine dining, I'm a fan of Tim Dale's too, and have been making the trek up to Wolfdale's since 1985, when Stan Sesser at the SFChron put the place on the map with a three-star rating. But at the south end, for a 25th, some of the casino fine-dining rooms come to mind. Two that I frequent are Friday's Station (steakhouse) at Harrah's ($$-$$$), and the Sage Room ($$$) at Harvey's.

Hope this is a help for your stay at the south end.