Restaurants Overview

For the most part, food service in Yosemite is geared toward handling a large number of visitors -- that is, it's often fast, plain, and sometimes not very good. The three notable exceptions are the full-service dining rooms at the Ahwanee, Wawona, and Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, which strive to present imaginative American dishes prepared with fresh -- often local and organic -- ingredients. Spring through fall, it's a good idea to make dinner reservations. All food concessions are run by the Delaware North Corporation.

Outside the park, the situation is much the same, with casual dining the rule and exceptional food the rarity. Typical American cuisine predominates, with dashes of Mexican, Italian, and Asian thrown in. Except at the higher-end spots, reservations are generally not necessary, although they're advisable on weekends in season.