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Category: Restaurants [Edit]
9005 Ahwahnee Drive
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You are going here for the experience. Just know that going in.
It's pricey, and the food is okay, not phenomenal. The service is good, but not great.
but the views are unmatched (so if you go, make sure you get a table reserved near the window and I'd go for brunch in the winter or fall).
I used to always order the Trout (3 times this summer), but last time it was not so great, so I think the steak is a safer bet. Just fyi.
We LOVE breakfast here. We aren't rich, so we stay in cheapo Curry Village and then spend the money we save on lodging on a scrumptious Ahwahnee breakfast.
Even if you go on Sunday, when the brunch is an exorbitant $49/person (up from ~$32 a couple years ago), you can order off the a la carte menu, and get a generous amount of very delicious food for under $20. This often includes an unlimited fill of coffee and yummy pastries. The little croissants aren't much to look at, but man they taste AMAZING. Service is impeccable as well, so you might as well order off the menu, and have them actually bring you your food, for a fraction of the cost of serving yourself at the buffet. Because honestly, who needs or can even eat $49 worth of food at breakfast??
Make reservations on weekends for sure.
This place serves the BEST brunch ever. It can be quite pricy - but the dining room is gorgeous!! Wood pillars and beams, with magnificent chandeliers.
The menu has almost anything you can think of - and they put a premium on presentation. Here are a few of the highlights: Eggs Benedict, Oysters on the Half Shell, Gulf White Shrimp, Smoked Salmon Florentine Benedict, Biscuits & Gravy, Waffles, Cajun Catfish on Bacon Grits, Pork Loin, Omelets, Crepes, Sushi, Desserts, and on and on.
It is very pricy. But the food, ambiance and history of the Ahwahnee certainly backs it up. 5 stars!
After a 4-hour hike on a warm sunny day, you're bound to be hungry afterwards. Admiring the beauty of nature is an amazing experience, but tasting the culinary extravagance of an executive chef from a 5-star restaurant is also amazing. The Ahwahnee Dining Room gives you a true gastronomical experience. We ate here for breakfast and for dinner and were overwhelmingly pleased each time. The most memorable were the dinners. Let's just say the executive chef proved what it means to be an executive chef. Each night for dinner, we were given a three-course prix-fixe menu, in addition to the regular dinner menu. I must say, before we were escorted to our reserved table, the maitre d' escorted us to a table which displays an actual replica of the items offered on the prix-fixe menu for the night. Then, we were escorted to our white cloth-covered table.
Consecutively, for two nights, I ordered a meat dish over mashed potatoes. The first night I ordered short ribs over a bed of mashed potatoes and the second night I had roasted chicken over a bed of mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. Both nights, I was thoroughly pleased and impressed with my meals, as they tasted as if they were made with ingredients of the finest class. As for desserts, the pastry chef didn't disappoint. I had strawberry sorbet with whipped cream, laid on a thin largely designed chocolate curved flake, surrounded with raspberries and blueberries. This was too delightful.
The ambiance of this restaurant is grand and carefully crafted. The large windows boasts views of the mountains and meadows during the day and at night it's purely dark outside, leaving you to focus on the interior, which consists of large light fixtures, a hand painted ceiling, and an impeccably preserved ambiance that was originally created in the 1920s. There was a talented pianist that serenaded the dinner guests each night with soothing music. The dinner staff in this restaurant embodies the principles of excellence. I love how the servers refilled our water, particularly how they place their carefully folded cloth napkins on the side of your glass while refilling your water, to avoid any water from splashing on you. Dining at the Ahwahnee Hotel in the Ahwahnee Dining Room, for dinner, is one of my most extraordinary dining experiences.
When you run out of provisions or you're just tired of eating overpriced corn dogs with the grouchy (but efficient) German tourists, this is the place you'll probably go.
We grabbed lunch here at the end of our trip. There's no dress code for lunch. They may reconsider this policy after our visit, but that's their problem. I was unshaven and probably reeked to boot. That's just how I roll sometimes.
Anyway, the main attraction is the dining room. It is--without question--a beautiful place to eat a meal. The service is also very professional, no matter how filthy you are from hiking and camping.
The food? I've had much better and I've had much, much worse. I opted for the Cobb with bay shrimp. A nice enough salad--lots of bay shrimp, fresh, tasty greens, and a pretty respectable Louie dressing. The column of black olives on my salad? Not my cup of tea.
The future Mrs. had trout with a little rice and some grilled veggies. The trout was terrific, the veggies fine, and the rice abysmal. It looked as if someone had cooked the rice and then tossed in a few spare chopped vegetables (perhaps better suited for soup) and cranberries into the mix just before service.
That seemed to be the pattern all around our table. For everything done well, something else didn't quite make the grade. And-- especially for the relatively hefty price--I guess that's my beef with this place.
Oh well. At least it offered a brief respite from the rabble and some nice scenery.
Walking into the dining room reminds me of Hogsworth in the Harry Potter movies- very striking- absolutely gorgeous. I wasn't impressed with their "dresscode" consisting of blazers, dresses, semi formal attire and no jeans. There were definitely dresscode violaters in there, while I was sporting a nice dress, having come from my campsite. The specials are positioned on a table by the entrance and the waitstaff is there to explain and answer any questions as you walk in.
Once seated, our server popped open the bottles of wine we brought with us- at $30 a pop for the corkage fee. Service is up to par but the food is not...
I ordered the watermelon and feta salad. It was absolutely divine. Very unique, but I truly will never look at watermelon or feta the same. I also tried my mother's Onion soup- decent but nothing fancy.
Onto the entrees; the menu devotes an entire column to explain the quality and origin of its meats. Therefore, I forgoed the Halibut I had been craving and ordered the Filet Mignon instead. Big Mistake! The meat came out over cooked the first time. My friend and I both ordered medium and it came out welldone- I couldnt see any pink on that steak whatsoever. We sent our $50 steaks back and waited for the Medium steaks to be served. Once again, slighly over cooked- I would say a Medium-Well steak- ALMOST a well done once again. Whatever. We were hungry, so we ate it anyway. For a $50 steak, I was NOT impressed- at all. It was dry and not tasty at all. I tasted my friends Halibut to find that it was much better- I wish I had ordered that instead. Most everyone at the table who either had the Prime Rib or the Filet Mignon was not happy or satisfied. They really need to work on their steaks.
Their dessert platter, however, was such a treat- 3 different flavors of unique tasting icecream. I loved them all!
Its a shame that this is the only "nice" restaurant in the area. Since they have a monopoly over fine dining in Yosemite, it seems like they can charge an arm and a leg for food that is sub-par. I'll give them another shot next time in town- but I'll be ordering the fish instead!
Was going to have the Sunday brunch here, but found out you could make reservations, and all they had left the day before was 7am and 12:30pm, there was no way we were getting up that early on a Sunday, and we had heard that they put some of the food away at 10:30am. Will reserve ahead of time if we get down here again. Dining room was beautiful, and price of brunch was I believe $49, not sure if that includes mimosas/champagne/beverages.
Yosemite's finest in dining and the wine list is outstanding (including Stony Hill Chardonnay).
The servers are attentive and friendly but the food does not consistently measure up given the price point.
Dinner can be a hit or a miss -- your best bet is the Brunch.
My husband and I were looking for a place to pamper ourselves before the upcoming chaos of our first child, who is due to arrive in early November. We had talked about dinner at the Ahwahnee Dining Room, but decided to go with the much more casual (and much cheaper) lunch. It doesn't mean we don't love our baby-to-be enough to splurge. It means we're cheapskates and he had better get used to that now before he wants something expensive, like a college education.
Also, our car totally overheated in the parking lot, bubbling antifreeze and steam and engine grease all over us. So, good thing there's no dress code at lunch!
Enter: sweaty greaseball husband (it was also in the triple digits in the valley that day), and sweaty bloated preggers (with apple pieces wedged in my teeth from a snack I had eaten in the parking lot during the whole engine explosion disaster). And they were STILL NICE TO US!
The waitstaff were very professional. When I asked all sorts of annoying pregnant questions about pasteurized cheese and lunchmeat freshness, the waitress was very attentive. When she showed up with my pasteurized cheese and newly cut turkey breast sandwich, she said the chef had also given me a substitution of a giant bowl of fruit, instead of the non-pregnant-friendly pasta salad. The fruit was pretty and delicious and I wanted to give the chef a sloppy, sweaty, fruity kiss for thinking of it.
Lucky for her, my husband held me back.
His steak was overdone the first time, but they took it back and did it perfectly (and I don't think they even spit on it). And, he totally made the orgasm face when he ate the flourless chocolate cake for dessert.
Five star experience due to thoughtful staff, excellent food, and cool atmosphere in the woods.
Very rustic, but very beautiful, grand even. Nice brunch.
Meh ... not so much.
A+ Atmosphere
B - Food
It seems like the more popular option is to grab some pub grub and get cocktailed at the bar - then bring your food & drinks to the patio and enjoy the view. Should-a would-a could-a ...
I don't really know where to start. I find it truly amazing that good food is served in a national park, and at the Ahwahnee Hotel to boot. My guest and I arrived a little early for our lunch reservations so we were directed to the lounge to have some wine. When we were called to be seated in the main dining room, I was amazed at the beauty of this room which is huge with high ceilings and wonderfully crafted woodwork and paintings. The place is truly from another time. We were seated at a window so we could enjoy the view. My guest had the Bay Shrimp Cobb Salad and I ordered the Herb Foccaccio Club Sandwich. They were both memorable. We also ordered sweet potato fries to share. The wait staff was professional and extremely familiar with the menu and the food, and were quite friendly and helpful. All in all it was a delightful lunch in an exceptionally beautiful hotel in Yosemite. I couldn't ask for anything more.
We came here after 12hours of hiking Half Dome and incidentally, it was also my birthday dinner. Our reservation was at 8:30pm but we came a little early and they said our table wasn't ready yet. 8:30 came and went but they didn't call my name yet so we decided to walk up front - they said they need a little bit more time. Then finally, they called us. Fast forward 15 minutes later, not one waiter came to us. We called the busboy - his name was Woody. He said that if the waiter does not come to us, he will take our order instead. From that time on, he became our official waiter and he waived the corkage fee because of our waiting time. We all love Woody!
I had the grilled ahi tuna and it was fantastic. I also had the seafood chowder and it was delicious as well. My friend had the watermelon salad and she loved it. My husband had the trout and it was also very flavorful. The roast pork was not good, I was told. Overall, the food was good but the service sucked...if not for our old, ever-reliable Woody.
The place to pamper your belly in Yosemite.
The dining room evokes a bygone era. I recommend the brunch, especially the eggs Benedict + Florentine. I had to restrain myself from having 3!
2 suggestions when starting:
- Tour the buffet islands.
- Take sample sizes so you can see what you want to load up on.
They have a great variety - omelette station; carving station; eggs Benedict + eggs florentine; corned beef hash (has a kick to it); shrimp cocktail; oysters; fruits; mac & cheese (decadent); chicken tenders (over battered for me); bacon; sausage; pancakes, etc.
The staff are friendly. Our guy was sooo patient and thoughtful when my brother asked about hiking recommendations.
Dinner was excellent! We were staying elsewhere but heard you must try out the Ahwanhee for dinner. We made reservations for 8:00 but arrived early to see the hotel and grounds. Luckily we were seated around 7:30. The service was professional and food unremarkable. My order consisted of the cauliflower soup and the pan seared halibut with zucchini, bacon, and white and purple fingerling potatoes. This is one of the best dishes I have ever had. This is saying alot since we live in Monterey/ Carmel area and eat out at fine establishments almost every weekend.
Recommended to all!!!
I used to camp in Yosemite Valley as a kid and I used to wonder about the rich folks staying at the Ahwahnee. Back then I used to sneak on the tennis courts and I could have played golf if I had any clubs.
Anyway I digress. Since my wife put up with staying at the Curry village tents, I decided to treat her to dinner at the Ahwahnee since I've heard so much about it. The food was just OK. And the service was on the poor side.
I rarely write reviews, but I'm writing this one because I thought that the food and service at the Mountain restaurant at the Lodge was far better and a bit less expensive.
My friend and I were here for dinner on Halloween weekend. We minded the dress code, only to find people in costumes. We were seated near the rear of the restaurant, after seeing the specials in the front of the restaurant. Our waiter was only OK in terms of attentiveness. OK. No biggie. It's busy. I ordered an AMAZING pumpkin soup (the only reason why this place has 2 stars instead of 1) and the Filet Mignon Medium Rare (came with Wasabi potatoes). The Filet and potatoes came out cold. I should've sent it back, however, the waiter was nowhere to be found. We ordered a glass of wine with dinner; we were never asked if we wanted refills. My friend got the lamb, which she was very pleased with. I asked the waiter what he recommended, he recommended the Steak. I feel like he was just wanting the most expensive meal on his ticket, because it was definitely not the best meal.
Waste of time. I had high expectations but as another reviewer stated...the only thing high was the waitstaff. My unpleasant server Marc kept me waiting....and waiting... and waiting.....for everything. I don't know if he just did not honestly remember I was there because I was a single diner or it was purposeful. Either way, I felt like a nuisance to him. I don't know if it is becauses I am use to more attentive service or what but I am not use to the server asking me if I am ready a) without telling me specials b) while looking around when I am talking to him. I could go into all the mundane details of all the things that went wrong or didn't meet my expectations (cold bread) but alas I can only type so much. Now on to the food. Corn chowder with shrimp fritters- corn chowder: good, more a puree though, shrimp: soggy, bloated, blehhhh. "Seared" ahi: overcooked, underseasoned. All said and done: soup, ahi, 1 glass wine- 70 bones. My advice: eat apps and drink wine...wait, the wine is $12 for a so-so wine. Better yet, get a martini and eat an app. Will never come back.
I went here for dinner in mid November 2008 and had a great experience. Our server (wish I remembered his name) had exceptional recommendations, impeccable service and was absolutely polite. If you're going to pay a lot for a meal (and we did) I expect top notch service and I was not disappointed.
The corkage fee is $30 which is on the high side; however we were drinking a delicious red worth two months of cable/internet. They take reservations and I was reminded that there is a dress code in effect, "Gentlemen are required to wear a jacket". And as I later found out, pants.
Our waiter suggested the French onion soup and I thankfully heeded his advice. It was so good it shook me to my core, I am no longer Catholic, I am a sworn French Onion Soup (FOS) man, my date tried a spoonful and wanted more, tough luck lady; the Awahnee's FOS tastes like God himself squeezed a heavenly cloud which collected in my bowl. Ugh, I wished I had some now.
For an entree I had the filet mignon, my date had the steelhead trout and she and I could not stop the involuntary moaning and gasps that escaped our watering mouths. My delicious filet hardly required chewing, it half melted, half exploded on my tongue and I seriously thought about cashing in my 401k to eat here nightly until funding runs out. Then, penniless I would offer to wash dishes, clean a toilet or two or just give in to "mignon madness" and mug senior citizens in the parking lot.
Needless to say, when I go back, I am bringing a perfect red wine, the same gorgeous date, request the same helpful waiter and simply enjoy myself.
After a long day of hiking, I decided to come here for an amazing dinner. Food usually tastes better when you're starving right? This wasn't the case here. The salad was fair. The steak I ordered medium rare was something along the lines of a choice or select cut. I was sorely disappointed. The dining room was pretty nice though. Oh well.
The Ahwahnee Hotel has to be one of the most beautiful and unexpected hotels in the world.
My friend Kip and I used to take a lot of adventures together that usually involved driving and golfing and drinking and camping and barhopping and tennis and rocksliding and swimming and hiking and journaling and trespassing and running from the police. One time we had had a little too much to drink (this involved playing Mexican with wine instead of beer, a big mistake), with one of us winding up passed out in a running shower while the others passed out at the table or on the floor. Personally, I don't remember much other than the fact that I think I escaped the apartment of booze-overdose and spent some of the night sleeping on a sorority lawn. Never mix alcohol, I learned that in college.
All of that has to do with the fact that one day I got a call from him saying, let's make a road trip to Yosemite. Having one; never been there and two; having nothing else to do, I naturally said "Yes."
Well, it was a pretty uneventful trip other than the fact that we had to drive through every little berg and hamlet to get there. It took FOREVER. I have nothing against the Central Valley but man is that a dull area. Flat, smoggy, hot, stinky, crowded, dirty, the list goes on. Why do I say that? Because my sister got married and moved here so we drove to see her all of the time and not one time did I find anything other than chain stores and shopping malls, nothing unique. If I'm wrong, let me know. If you are from there, it is probably a different experience for you but as a visitor, I'll tell you, it's a tough location to like.
But once we were out of the flatlands and rising up, up, up through the lower Sierras, things finally got a little interesting as we looked out of the windows. It got more and more beautiful with the mountains, trees, creeks and clear, blue sky. Kip, having been to Yosemite before, was getting excited. Me, having never been there, was just plain clueless as I wrote in my trip journal.
But when we finally turned a corner and saw into the main Yosemite valley, it was "WOW, now I know what all of the fuss was about." It was like Teri Hatcher said in Seinfeld, "Spectacular." The amazing granite walls, the waterfalls, the bears, the trails, the cute girl campers all blended together to say to me, "This place is really cool. Why haven't you ever come here before?"
We parked his Subaru and walked around looking at as much awesome beauty as we could stand. It was much more than I could ever imagine and in the middle of it all was a HUGE rock and lumber hotel. I could not believe it. Who would ever have expected a place like this in a place like this? Only a genius would have thought that a 5 star, world-class hotel would fit in right below a 1000 foot high vertical wall of granite. And it does.
But while the outside was one-of-a-kind, the inside was even more gorgeous. The ceilings were huge, open and high with giant wooden beams and huge lights. Wooden floors and carpets only added to the decor for rustic elegance. The place was full of tourists, rich looking tourists, of all ages. We checked in and were lucky to get seated right in front, with a huge window to look out of and ordered some red wine and port. Then we got served delicious bread, followed by a delicious dinner. It was something that you don't forget because after eating in all this opulence, we knew we were going right outside to sleep in the dirt. From the palace to the prison. It was quite a change.
Now if I were married, I would head up here and stay 4 or 5 times a year. How could you not? I would like to have a wife that likes camping as much as being pampered but let's face it; that's pretty rare.
Personally, I have never stayed here or looked inside any of the rooms but based on the outside, the dining area and the lobby, I would have to say that the Ahwahnee is first-class all of the way.
First let me say that I LOVED the dining room - the space itself was amazingly beautiful and grand. We were there for a special occasion - and we got a really good bottle of ($$$) wine (it was good, but not $125 good - but that's another story).
While my fiance loved his food, I got the chicken and unfortunately it was overcooked and a bit dry. The dessert (a crumble pie) was delicious however. I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could - but next time I think I would prefer to dine in the Lodge Restaurant - which I would give a 5!
Food was a real hit or miss. They had these wonderful duck ravioli that were to die for, but the calamari was rubbery. The caesar salad was served with anchovies, but they tasted more like pickled herring, which is very gross on a salad by the way. The various soups were very good, including a creamy potato and saffron, an wonderful butternut squash and a tasty creamy garlic. They had a special pasta for lunch one day, consisting of a delish cheese ravioli, served in a nice tomato sauce, with chicken and shrooms.
Service was strange. I felt like each of our waiters was studying our table. They werent unfriendly, but they seemed annoyed.
The room itself is HUGE, and very nice and old school lodge-y.
One astonishing fact was that every table with young children was quiet. Where do these well-behaved youngsters come from?
This place is absolutely amazing, whenever I visit Yosemite I make sure to stop here. They also have a great restaurant and cute bar area (cheaper in the bar area).
Prices to stay are very high, but you get what you pay for (it is gorgeous- a very visually stunning experience)- most people come here just to hang out though, they have a great area to sit and chat and look through their gorgeous windows at all the critters outside.
Oh, and they have a huge fireplaces ;) (see pic)
This is the place to go when a long day of hiking and climbing, sweat buildup, sunscreen and clogged pores, and exhaustion have made you feel .. blah.
I was really in need of a romantic dinner after enduring some long hikes the boyfriend dragged me on and this was like heaven compared to all the nature I had experienced earlier.
And best part is since you got a major work out, you can now enjoy the bread and butter, not to mention the other delectable main dishes, and dessert!
The dining room is spacious with its high ceilings. Very classy and warm.
Yes, the food is overpriced but keep in mind you are also paying for a nice dinner in a nice hotel rather than roasting hot dogs somewhere out there (definitely not my idea of romantic).
The dress code is strict. So if you are planning on dining here, make sure you pack a dress, skirt, blouse, and dress pants. Men must have collared shirts. And definitely no jeans, tanktops, shorts, or sandals allowed.
It is a nice and the most elegant restaurant in Yosemite Valley. You need to make a reservation if you want to eat here. I had their special of the night, scallops and shrimp and it was good. They also have good wine selection. You need to dress up a bit to eat there.
This place is hard to rate. Its a gorgeous dining room within an historic building located in one of the most spectacular natural wonders of this world. The service we had was top notch. However, the food for dinner and brunch was overpriced for what you get. But, it is place where everyone should experience once.
I have two recommendations to get the best experience out of this restaurant. Try the dining room at lunch. Prices seem much more reasonable and you get to stare out at the lovely scenery through the large windows. The second option would be to experience one of their special chef nights they do in winter and spring. Those maybe even more expensive, but I would think the quality of the food may match the ambiance.
It should come as no surprise that this is a restaurant that can easily afford to be mediocre. They can continue to rely on their own legend indefinitely, while charging exorbitant amounts (yes, I realize everything has to brought up the hill) for a product that simply doesn't justify the price. I believe the cheapest thing on the menu was a tabbouleh for $28. Other items went up into the fifties. My entree was over $40 and while it was good, it just wasn't that good. But again, this is to be expected - I have only myself to blame for agreeing to eat here.
Five stars for the location and atmosphere, obviously, and let's say three and a half for service. Jerry, you shouldn't talk so much. Let your customers talk to each other, not their waiter. I appreciate your enthusiasm, however.
As a New Yorker, vacationing in a beautiful national park, I have to say even delirious from nature- hiking and biking and wonderful company- the chili was awesome. The ceasar salad was great too.
I was blissful.
We sat outside. The waitstaff was very attentive and friendly.
I cant wait to go back. How lucky to have this beautiful hotel in the middle of the park.
I love this place. We had crab cakes, steelhead trout, filet mignon, prime rib, crème berulee and a passion fruit orange cream freeze. Oh and the house red wine.
No complaints about any of it. There are actually not many words in my vocabulary that I could use to describe it. Yumm! Would be one of them, along with mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm and oh holy grass fed cow! At the end of the night I was so stuffed I had to take my dessert back to the room with me. The next morning we attempted to hike to Yosemite falls...and failed miserably.
The Hubby and I arrived in the heart of Yosemite for the second stop on our Honeymoon, waiting for… Read more »
I was a Purdue college student the first time I ate dinner in the Ahwahnee dining room more than 40 years ago and was dressed in my best clothes: dress pants, shirt, polished shoes, tie, and a nice dressy sweater.
"Sir, we require a dress coat", I was instructed.
"But I don't own one" I pleaded, whereupon he produced a nearly thread-bare, dirty, sweaty smelling jacket. I put it on but it was too small. I could easily have split the coat in two if I pulled my arms in tight and I was tempted to do just that.
I was told, "You can take it off once you are seated." We were taken to a table only a few feet away where I took off the coat only seconds after putting it on. If my humiliation gave a poorly paid impotent man a fleeting sense of significance, maybe something good came from it.
The dinner was better than dorm food, but not much. However, I could have easily eaten for a week on what it cost.
Years went by before I went back but I've been there more than a dozen times since. The Ahwahnee dining experience has gradually improved. The dress code was relaxed a number of years ago. Dress coats are no longer required but many men, mostly older ones like me, still wear them. I image they also have nightmares of being embarrassed and abused by the Ahwahnee and don't want to take a chance that the hotel Gestapo will strip and whip them in front of their friends, family, and a couple hundred strangers.
The food has gotten better too. While still not the equal of the best Bay Area restaurants, it appears to aspire to that level and on occasion comes close. Dinner service has always been slow but that's good. What else is there to do once the sun sets in Yosemite?
However, to rate the Ahwahnee dining room based just on the food misses the point. The huge dining room, part of the historical landmark building, is breathtakingly beautiful and romantic. I enjoy the live grand piano background music. The Ahwahnee looks out on one of the most scenic spots on the planet.
In addition, the Ahwahnee dinning room is host to guest chefs during the winter and early spring. I love Yosemite most in the winter when the crowds are down and especially after fresh snow blankets the valley and icicles drape the trees. The winter silent solitude gives me a feeling of calm and peace. During Christmas the beautifully decorated Ahwahnee becomes magical.
My best memory of Yosemite was the famous Bracebridge dinner at the Ahwahnee dinning room. This approximately four hour old-English Christmas festival consisted of music and theatrical events. Many of the musicians came from the San Francisco Opera and Symphony to perform while we dined on an eight course dinner. If you ever get a chance to attend, I swear you won't be disappointed.
Taking everything into consideration with the good far outweighing the bad and forgiving their past transgressions including my traumatic jacket humiliation, I give the Ahwahnee dining room a strong four stars. For me, it has become as much a reason to go back to Yosemite as its natural beauty.
We have decided to make lunch in the Ahwahnee an annual occasion for May birthdays in our group of friends.
The atmosphere of the dining room is amazing. this is the real thing, Soaring ceilings, huge windows with awesome scenery, and the food is pretty good too!
I've had lunch here a few times and the food that I've had I would generally rate a little more than three stars. The presentation is exceptional and the service I've experienced was outstanding. That and the awesome location raises my rating for the Ahwahnee.
Lunch prices range from just under $10 to about $15. There is no dress code for breakfast or lunch - most guests were in jeans or hiking shorts.
I haven't been here for dinner, so my rating is based on my lunch experience.
It really makes me sad to give this place 3 stars, but if I am honest there is no way it deserves anything else. The decor is worth a visit, but I should have stuck to my experience in the bar, poked my head in over here, walked out, and saved $40 on a lunch that was mediocre and nothing more.
The real disappointment for me was that at a "fine dining" establishment there was no real service. Our waitress was stone faced, took our order, brought it out and didn't look at us once until she asked if we wanted to see a dessert menu and then brought over the bill. How about asking if our food is alright and if there is anything else we need? You know, other than dessert to bump up the total and your tip by default...Ugh. I could appreciate it if it were busy but it was not and I do not care that I look young, I'm old enough to want a good experience and know the difference between reputation and substance.
I could have overlooked this aspect if the food hadn't been so unremarkable. My garlic chicken sandwich arrived with bread that was soaked through with grease on the bottom and mostly dark meat smothered in too much cheese. It was fine once I used a knife and fork but hardly special or something I would ever order again. The fries were delicious and salted with coarse salt. Mark's caesar salad was good according to him and he could taste that they made their own dressing. The prices weren't even an issue, it was just so sad to see food like that in a place like this.
Still, it wasn't a total loss. The room is gorgeous with it's sea green walls that beautifully offset the rich wood beams overhead. The iron chandeliers are perfect for the decor and the overall feel is of a luxury rustic cabin. I only wish the food had been able to live up to the building, because I was so ready to fall in love with this place. Alas, I'm still glad I went for the non-culinary side of the experience.
Wow! The huge dining room looks as if it belongs in a castle. I'm so glad I was able to enjoy their Sunday brunch. There was even a live pianist playing soft classical. The food selection was great; very plentiful. We had eggs benedicts, country style potatoes, crepes, smoked sausages, bacon, corned beef hash, a variety of pastries, and much, much, more. I believe we paid a little over $50pp, but I'm sure the prices have gone up a bit since then. All in all, though, this is a great place to have a nice breakfast or dinner.
You're gonna say Wow about anything to do with Yosemite because it's the single most beautiful place in the world. The Ahwahnee Hotel is one of the finest of its type in the world. The Dining Room is really good, pretty pricey, but I enjoy myself every time.
The food is good, though they haven't had the venison roast on the menu in ages and that was my favourite thing. The lunch menu is cheaper and still very good. In fact, the burger they do is simple and very tasty. Dinner is a nicer affair and it's worth a try at least once. We used to do the Yosemite trip when I was in High School with a dinner at the restaurant and it was 100% awesome. Age, and having to pay for it myself, has led me to take the experience down a notch but it's still really good. Is it the best food in the Park? I'd say it is. Is it the best restaurant in the World? Far from it.
The wait staff are like those in the top flight restaurants out there and they can be slightly slow and a bit much on the presentation, but that's part of the charm.
It's a good part of the Yosemite experience and one that everyone should have at least once.
Old Country Buffet food at French Laundry prices.
The dining room is nice, and the service was fine, but the food was absolutely offensive at this price point. I have never left a restaurant feeling so ripped off. Clearly these people depend heavily on a steady flow of tourists because they can't possibly try to win repeat customers with such horrible food. Here's in a rundown of what we ate:
Butternut bisque - very heavy on the flour, cornstarch or whatever thickener was used. You could taste it.
Lobster spring roll - quite heavy and oily, not light and delicate as it should have been
Beet salad - A couple of shreds of beets, a big slab of cheese, all of which were bland
Braised shortrib and grilled scallops - Are you kidding me? It tasted like high school cafeteria beef. Easily the worst preparation of short rib I have ever had at any price.
Dessert - we skipped it. We realized after the appetizers that we'd be better off foraging for berries in the park.
Yosemite National Park has long been one of my favorite California destinations.
When dining at the Ahwahnee , the beautiful scenery surrounding it would be enough to make even the most lackluster food seem edible. But the Ahwahnee staff and chefs seem to know that people come back to them time and again for the pair of scenery with delicious, gourmet food. And in the bar, you'll get a reasonable price to go along with it.
This weekend my husband, who actually used to live on Yosemite and work at the Ahwahnee, and I visited the Ahwahnee for my birthday (during peek fire season unfortunately). To avoid dressing up, having to make reservations, and spending more than our budgets allowed...we ate in the bar.
I already had my mind pretty much made up before I got there, based on a review on http://AOL.com I had read previously, that I would probably order the turkey avocado wrap. Now, for $15.50 for each of our meals, normally I would consider a bit pricey but, as I said, the views and overall experience of dining in one of the most breathtaking environments on the planet, is enough reason to spend a bit more than usual...plus it was my birthday right?!
My husband ordered the chilled roast beef sandwich. When our food arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see a generous amount of fresh mixed fruit beside an equally generous turkey wrap. My husbands roast beef sandwich came with Lay's potato chips, and the sandwich was also quite large.
The review I read was accurate. The turkey wrap was amazing! It came stuffed with one of my all time favorite foods...avocado. I ADORE avo, and pretty much can't eat a sandwich or wrap without it.
My husbands roast beef was also delicious...naturally I tried it so I could tell you how it tasted. We were both surprised and impressed that it came "waldorf" style with chopped green apples and a tangy, spicy, horseradish sauce.
We each had a pint of beer, and all included the bill was still under $50. After the 20% tip...because the service met our standards...just a bit under $60.
I highly recommend you stop in at the Ahwahnee at the very least, to check out the beautiful historic hotel's architecture. Inside and out it is an amazing sight. But I doubt most people would be disappointed with any of their food.
This place has really gone downhill in the past few years. Service has become fairly slow and mediocre and food is fair. However, the prices are set as if you are at a Michelin 2 star restaurant...
The best time to eat here is lunch when the prices are lower, the views are great, and it isn't crowded. Brunch is very overpriced for what you get ($32 for buffett.)
Without the views, I would give it one star.
The Ahwahnee Dining Room is the only high-end dining option in Yosemite. The prices are high and the food, well the food is simply average at best. My fish was overcooked, and the appetizers were bland and uninspiring.
The room itself is striking with a very high ceiling and huge windows offering great views of the valley. Candlelit tables and a pianist playing the best from the Elton John Collection create a sophisticated atmosphere.
As a heads up, proper attire is required for dinner (no sneakers, shorts, or jeans). If you are like me and forget to bring proper dining attire to Yosemite, the Sports Store in Yosemite Village is the only place in the entire park that sells "fancy" pants.
I love the Awhannee Dining Room. I have only been there for dinner and it was truly worth the price. We celebrate our anniversary there every year. Though the service varies from person to person my food as always been hot and delicious, my wine is never past its peak and the deserts are always scrumptious.
I hear that breakfast and lunch arnt that great so I wont be wasting my money on that.
Also if you do decide to go for dinner be sure to dress up at least a little bit. I am only 25 but when I am going to nice place for dinner I dress nicer. I expect other people to look nice as well and not in khaki shorts and Hawaiian shirts! Have some class people!!!
Yosemite National Park, CA
Category: Grocery
Oakhurst, CA
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Yosemite, CA
Category: Parks
Yosemite National Park, CA
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Yosemite National Park, CA
Category: Hotels
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