Breakfast spot Gallery Cafe opens for dinner as work continues on Pebble Beach's Lodge.

It can be a challenge to find dinner in the heart of Pebble Beach at the moment. Hay’s Place is open, of course, but Stillwater and The Bench are temporarily out of action as renovation continues on The Lodge. Meanwhile, The Tap Room has been moved to a nearby space.

There is, however, another dining room available. But it is one that would not normally come to mind.

Gallery Cafe, which occupies a corner above the shops at Pebble Beach across from The Lodge, is set up for pancakes, burgers and hot dogs—quick and casual breakfast and lunch service. But it’s a kitchen that is still in operation, so recently the cafe began opening its doors for dinner.

The menu is tidy, some of it borrowed and adapted for the space. Seafood bolognese, for instance, was a favorite at Stillwater. Granted, it can seem a little surprising for an elegant plate of pan seared sole with lemon herb sauce over pesto-scented cous cous to arrive at the table in a dining room dressed for casual mornings—and from a kitchen that just a few hours earlier dished out breakfast skillets or the “Killer Klub” sandwich.

Yet it works. Hen of the woods mushrooms lend a meaty funk that counters the mellow crackle of the deep fried crust. Pasta in the bolognese is so al dente that it stands out from the rustic sauce. An apple-pomegranate jus is the right foil for braised lamb shank.

There are comforts on the menu, such as roasted chicken and the quesadilla. Some of The Gallery Cafe’s lunch favorites are included, as well. So guests can grab a burger for dinner if they don’t want the frills of cedar-plank salmon.

The Pebble Beach team crafted a menu that runs from simple to elaborate in a list of 10 appetizers or salads and 11 entree options.

Dessert more than makes up for the lost view from The Lodge’s restaurants. Certainly the 18th green at Pebble Beach Golf Links makes a nice backdrop. But a five-layer carrot cake with glistening cream cheese icing and the inviting bronze hue of caramel catches your attention, as does a dark chocolate brownie studded with pops of gold.

As construction at The Lodge progresses, restaurants will come back into service. The plan is for The Bench to open on or around June 1—although access will be from the course side of the building. The Tap Room is open in the Fairway One space until Car Week in August, when its presence will be reduced, again temporarily.

Pebble Beach Company is managing a tricky bit of choreography. Work began immediately following the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, which triggered closures and the movement of The Tap Room to interim quarters. Meanwhile, the resort and golf course remain open, and major events like Concours d’Elegance continue on schedule.

The plan calls for Terrace Lounge to reopen in time for Concours. The spruced up Tap Room returns in October while Stillwater—which is being reconfigured—will be back in action in November.

At some point, The Gallery Cafe will return to breakfast and lunch service. For now, dinner is served.

1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach. 625-8577, pebblebeach.com.