What are the best restaurants in Lake Havasu? This is a question that is often asked by both tourists and vacationers who have limited time to explore the city, but want to find the best places to eat that the locals would know about. After all, reviews of restaurants on websites are not necessarily honest, they could be written by competitors or people who are trying to promote their own place. They could be part of a marketing plan designed to make a new place popular and not be based on the real experiences of residents. The best way to find those hidden gems is to ask people who live in Lake Havasu, and who you know enjoy your similar lifestyle choices. To put together our list of the five best restaurants in Lake Havasu, we decided to interview a local woman who had moved to the area just over a year ago, and who described herself as a person who puts "going out to a good lunch or dinner" as her favorite activity. Jennifer move to Lake Havasu to work in the cancer treatment center of the hospital, and had ongoing discussions with both patients and coworkers about their favorite places to eat. She describes her tastes as "varied," enjoying everything from a high end dining establishment to a "hole in the wall lunch place where you can grab something quick." She had more than a year to explore the city searching for the best food, best ambiance and service. Here is her list of her top five restaurants in Lake Havasu.
- Cha Bones: This American tapas and steakhouse offers a great mix of meat and seafood dishes, and has the ambiance of a high-end lounge and restaurant combined with a classy sports-bar area. It is the type of place that you can go for a drink with friends dressed in shorts and feel completely comfortable sitting next to a group wearing semi-formal clothes. Weekend nights they have live music from local musicians as background entertainment. They have a great happy hour from 3-6 daily where you can get tapas for half-price. 112 London Bridge Road Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403. (928) 854-5554
- Chico's Tacos: This Mexican lunch and dinner restaurant is one of the hidden gems of Lake Havasu, heavily patronized by locals. It is an ultra-casual environment that you don't have to dress up to go to. While the ambiance of the restaurant is far more of a "fast food" feel, Chicos' is popular for a single reason, the food is phenomenal. While this is the kind of restaurant that could be considered as a "quick and good lunch place" just make sure that you give yourself a little extra time at the busy point of the day because the lines can get long. The menu features the typical dishes that you would expect at a casual Mexican restaurant, but the ingredients and preparation gets you food that you would expect at a more expensive restaurant, only served on paper plates! 1641 Mcculloch Blvd N Ste 222, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 (928) 680-7010
- The Red Onion: The Red Onion is a breakfast and lunch establishment that could be described as "casual but classy." Great ambiance with semi-outdoor dining on good weather days as the front of the restaurant is opened to the street. Artisan breads and presentation give this restaurant the feel of a business casual cafe you would find in Los Angeles, Boston or New York. Can get busy during the obvious times of day, but generally very good about wait times. Patronized by a younger and more eclectic crowd that makes you feel like you "are in the place to be," without it feeling pretentious. They close at 3:00 so get there early! 2013 Mcculloch Blvd N, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 (928) 505-0302
- Barley Brothers Brewery: Once again, this restaurant can be described as casual, but will generally have a mix of dressed up people sitting next to people in shorts straight off their day of boating. Located right on the river and featuring a fantastic view of both the London Bridge and the river itself, Barley Brothers is a great spot for both lunch and dinner. Try the "lobster burger" featuring a large hamburger topped with lobster and a fried egg. Sports playing on the flatscreens, combined with a great selection of beer and wine. 1425 McCulloch Blvd, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 (928) 505-7837
- The Turtle Grille: Located a stone's throw from the dock at the Nautical Inn, "The Turtle" as local's refer to it is the slightly higher end cousin of the Turtle Bar which is outside and located right next to the cove of the Nautical. It is considered "boat up dining." Great casual ambiance catering to boating and river culture, and featuring a wide range of meat and seafood dishes that is sure to have something for everyone. It can get extremely busy during events at the Nautical or boating events, but generally without long wait times. Park your craft at the dock or the cove and walk right in for lunch and dinner. Happy hour is Sun - Fri 3 - 6. At The Nautical Beachfront Resort 1000 McCulloch Boulevard North Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 (928) 855-2141
These are one Lake Havasu resident's list of favorite restaurants. The list is only the opinion of one person, and is not meant as an advertisement or endorsement of any establishment over another. The opinions expressed in the list are only for entertainment purposes, and we suggest you formulate your own list of favorites by trying as many Lake Havasu establishments as possible. Lake Havasu offers a very diverse selection of entertainment and dining experiences, and we are sure that you will have your own favorites.