bodhijack

we are staying at yosemite lodge. what are our options for a hot breakfast (pancakes or eggs, and coffee), and what is approx cost? we hear that awhanee has a breakfast buffet. anyone know the cost? also, for a simple vegetarian dinner ( salad and pasta ), which restaurant?

don76

Not much to choose from. There is a reasonably priced buffet type restaurant at the lodge and a similiar breakfast at the jampacked cafeteria at Camp Curry( avoid if possible)but not much else . There is a good breakfast at Wawona but it is too far from the valley unless you happen to be leaving in the AM via the southern entrance.
I have never tried the Awhanee.
If you are leaving the valley in the AM via Mariposa The Red Fox restaurant in that city has very good pancakes.
We are driving up the first week in June and have the same problem finding vegetarian food. You have to pick and choose so we bring fruit to supplement what we can find at the buffets.

cd

I believe the restaurant at the Lodge is called Mountain Room. It sits right by the Falls. Ask for a window view and make reservations at the front desk when you check in. We had breakfast once at the buffet and it was just OK. We had dinner once at the Awhanee and it was very good but did not have breakfast there.

kimamom

We had brunch at the Ahwahnee on New Year's Day, my husband had the buffet and I think it was around $25/pp on that day. I had the trout almadine entree that was very good, the buffet looked amazing. Enjoy Yosemite! ***kim***

bodhijack

thank you, all! we do not have big expectations re the food, but needed to know if we should bring our own or not. does anyone know (approx)the "mountain room" buffet breakfast price?

BillJ

You all should know that the chefs at Ahwanee are some of the best on the west coast, and for years it was a real jewel on a chef's resume to have worked at Ahwanee. The brunches are legendary. Perhaps a bit on the high side $-wise, but worth the splurge, IMO. There are two alternatives at the lodge; a cafeteria and the Mountain Room mentioned above. the Cafeteria was good for breakfast (a few years ago) but the MR allows sit down dining. Bon apetite

cd

Just for clarification, I don't know if the restuarant, Mountain Room, has a breakfast buffet or not, they could, but do not know. The cafeteria which is in another location but next to the Mountain Room Restaurant, has a lot of breakfast foods to choose from, paid for by each item.

maj

There is a pretty well stocked grocery/gift shop in the Village area near the Visitor Center. There is also a deli (we got sandwiches there which were good), a hamburger place and another casual restaurant in the same area, if I remember right. So, if you get there and want to pick up fruit or whatever you will be able to.

We just walked through the cafeteria type place at the Lodge and it was fairly large with different places you could buy different type foods (kind of like a food court at a mall). This might have changed since it has been a couple of years.

You have a few more choices if you're looking for simple food rather than fine dining in National Parks in my experience.

KTtravel

I think the Ahwahnee for breakfast would be a delightful option for one morning on your trip. Yes, it is more expensive that the other options, but the beautiful room and views from the windows make for a very relaxing, enjoyable way to start your day. There is a buffet - I don't remember if it is just on the weekends or everyday - but one can also order a la carte. Also, no need to dress up for breakfast there
(just dinner.)

lifelist

There are three restaurants at the lodge - the cafeteria, the Garden Terrace buffet, and the Mountain Room. The Mountain Room is Yosemite's Steakhouse, and only open for dinner. I had breakfast at the cafeteria back in April, and I think I paid $12-15 for two pancakes, two slices of bacon, and orange juice. It's overpriced, but I kind of expect it. I haven't had breakfast at the Garden Terrace. You could probably get a good vegetarian dinner there, though.

The Ahwahnee dining room is a fantastic space with great views. The breakfast is fine, but quite honestly, I haven't been impressed with the food there. I believe the last time I had the Sunday Brunch, it was in the $30 range.

As others have noted, there's a restaurant at Curry Village where you can get breakfast, but I believe it's in the same price range as the cafeteria. Food is a bit mediocre, in my opinion. There's a grocery store at the Yosemite Village, and a fast food joint and deli.

bodhijack

thank you, all! good info. sounds like someone is gouging the public on food! maybe we'll bring some in with us........

suz12

When we stayed at the Lodge for a weekend, we brought a bit of basic breakfast food with us (cereal, milk, fruit). We also brought some snack food. We had one breakfast and two dinners at the lodge cafeteria, (with tourists from around the world) because it was convenient. I was able to get some nice steamed broccoli without the cheese sauce. The kids liked the freshly cooked pasta with or without sauce. Not cheap, not great, but better than it was 15 years ago in the Valley! The Sunday Brunch at the Awahnee is a lot of fun for a splurge (for us). You can make reservations even before you get to the Valley. The pizza deck at Curry is mediocre at best with a great view. The buffet at Curry is expensive but convenient to Curry guests.

If you do bring your own food, make absolutely sure you don't leave a trace of it in your car overnight. The bears in the valley ARE experts at breaking in to cars. (And those of you staying in tent cabins - put your food in a bear box).

Yosemite is wonderful. Get up early in the morning before the crowds to walk to the falls. The restoration of the walk to the falls is well done. Take time to sit for a bit at the site of John Muir's cabin. Go for an evening stroll on a boardwalk over a meadow. Have a great time.