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Yosemite National Park has a couple of moderately priced restaurants in lovely (which almost goes without saying) settings: the Mountain Room at Yosemite Lodge and Wawona Hotel's dining room. The Ahwahnee hotel provides one of the finest dining experiences in the country.
Otherwise, food service is geared toward satisfying the masses as efficiently as possible. Yosemite Lodge's food court is the valley's best lower-cost, hot-food option; Curry Village Pavilion's offerings are overpriced and usually fairly bland, but you can get decent pizzas on the adjacent outdoor deck. In Valley Village, the Village Grill whips up burgers and fries, Degnan's Deli has made-to-order sandwiches, and Loft Pizzeria has a chaletlike open dining area in which you can enjoy pizza, salads, and desserts.
The White Wolf Lodge and Tuolumne Meadows Lodge—both off Tioga Road and therefore guaranteed open only from early June through September—have small restaurants where meals are competently prepared. Tuolumne Meadows also has a grill, and the gift shop at Glacier Point sells premade sandwiches, snacks, and hot dogs. During the ski season you’ll also find one at Badger Pass, off Glacier Point Road.
Delaware North Yosemite has been the official park concessioner for the last 15 years, operating nearly all restaurants, lodgings, activities, and services throughout the park. As of March 2016, Aramark will take over as official park concessioner, and changes in services may occur.
Rave reviews about The Ahwahnee hotel's dining room's appearance are fully justified—it features towering windows, a 34-foot-high ceiling with interlaced sugar-pine beams, and massive chandeliers. Reservations are always advised, and the attire is "resort casual."
The name, decor, and menu at this lively brewpub pay homage to California's Gold Rush era and the year the state and county were officially established. Many of the craft beers on tap come from the owners' 1850 Brewing Company, and dishes include everything from traditional Bavarian pretzels and hearty baked mac and cheese to ahi nachos and salmon cakes.
The design of this modern food court, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, honors the history of rock climbing in Yosemite. Choose from a wide range of menu options, from hamburgers, salads, and pizzas, to rice and noodle bowls.
If you're coming into Yosemite via Route 120, you'll pass by the Iron Door, one of the oldest saloons in California, established in 1852. Stop in for a drink and a hearty meal in the saloon or the attached dining room, which is quieter but lacks the wacky rustic charm of the bar, where photographs and other memorabilia line the walls.
In a hip, modern space—alongside The Local Grape wine bar within a historic building—this unusual-for-the-region eatery serves up savory Japanese soul food. Expect home-style dishes like steaming bowls of toasted-rye ramen noodles swimming in a rich broth For dessert, there's matcha cheesecake and premium mochi ice cream.
Serving throughout the day until 5 or 6 pm, this fast-food eatery cooks up basic breakfast, lunch, and snacks. It's possible that ice cream tastes better at this altitude. Stop in for a quick meal before exploring the meadows.
If a burger joint is what you've been missing, head to this bustling eatery that serves veggie, salmon, and a few other burger varieties in addition to the usual beef patties. Order at the counter, then take your tray out to the deck, and enjoy your meal under the trees.
Watch deer graze in the meadow while you dine in the romantic, candlelit dining room of the whitewashed Wawona Hotel, which dates from the late 1800s. The American-style cuisine favors fresh ingredients and flavors; trout and flatiron steaks are menu staples.
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