Anyone have any tips on where to eat in Yosemite?

Frankly there is the dining room at the Ahwanee which is the only real quality restaurant in the park. Spectacular dining room, but don't really expect five star dining. Beyond that, the cafeterias, snack bars, and "restaurants" are all pretty much a toss-up -- places to get food, not dining. The best option is to go to one of the stores, buy food and do a picnic -- at least the atmosphere will be better than the dining rooms.

I have to agree with Patrick. Finding anything beyond "eating for fuel" is going to be difficult. I recall a pasta restaurant near the village store with particular horror.

I remember eating at a quaint little cabin up at White Wolf (?) camp ground a few years back. The food was good and it was a homey fun place.

Patrick is right if you'll be in the Valley. Actually, the bar at the Ahwanee has pretty good food, but expensive. I remember a particularly good potato leek soup there.

I do have a fondness for the pizza stand at Curry Village, which in my opinion is particularly good (and fresh).

That brings a question to mind about bringing your own food into Yosemite. I understand that food can't be stored in tents in Currey Village (or elsewhere) because of bears and the same goes for storing it in cars. Apparently there are bear-proof food lockers available but I can't find much info on them. Are they big enough to hold a cooler? Should you just bring non-perishable type food? And how far are the lockers from the tents at Currey?
My wife and I will be at Currey Village for 3 nights in early July and I like to avoid a diet of gift store burritos if I can...
Thanks in advance.

The only memorable place we ate at was the Ahwanee, we ate breakfast there each morning.

I'll be staying at Yosemite Lodge in the fall and plan to bring a few coolers of food (4 teens) to keep in the room. I understand the no cooking regulation but surely they can't complain about cold cuts, cheese, fruit, etc....Can they? I also take a coil to boil water for coffee, oatmeal, cup-a-soup, etc. I understand that there is a cafeteria next to the Lodge. Comments?

A few years ago DH was in Yosemite on biz for over 2 weeks. Had to stay in the valley the entire time. Visited him on weekends and ate at the Mountian Room Restaurant I believe. Though tit was remarkably good food. Had salmon and remeber eating outside with little white lights all around. DH said he had eaten everything on the menu and found it to be pretty good food. He dislikes fish but had to try the fish nbecause after such a long stay there was nothing new to eat. Here's a web site lisitn all the eating establishments in the park.

http://www.yosemitepark.com/html/dining.html

We camp in Lake Tahoe and they have recently installed the bear proof lockers. This is great as we used to have to drive around with food in our car everywhere we went. Tahoe bears are not as aggressive as Yosemite bears they don't yet break into cars. The lockers in Tahoe are plenty big for ice chests.


Here's what Yosemite says about bear lockers:

Guests staying in hard-sided cabins must store food indoors.

• Guests staying in canvas tent-cabins must store food and related items in lockers (ask at front desk for locker locations).

Bear-proof food storage lockers are located in all campgrounds, parking areas, and trailheads.

Unfortunately, Patrick is correct about the choice and quality of food. Even the dining room in the Ahwanee was a big disappointment. The food was hardly worth the price. And, not even the beautiful setting made up for the disappointing food.

Howard, in addition to the disappointment of the food, we were somewhat shocked by the service and general management of the place considering its high ratings. We stayed and ate there two nights. We made our reservations for the last seating time. As soom as we sat, they started clearing all the other tables. We listened to a symphony of salt and pepper shakers, silverware into bins, plates onto metal carts, scooting chairs by the hundreds, and then they started all over again setting up breakfast!!

If you're going over to Mariposa Grove plan to have lunch at the Wawona. Just sandwiches etc, but a nice room. If you leave Yosemite via Oakhurst, the very best restaurant in the area of Yosemite is Erna's Elderberry House. They only serve dinner and a Sunday brunch, but it's terrific.Too much of a trek to go for dinner while staying in the park though. But, you aren't going to Yosemite for the dining experience!

A previous post mentioned the Wawona Hotel for lunch, but I recommend that you make the drive over for dinner some night. It is a beautiful historic hotel that serves excellent food. The hotel has a great big sitting porch and it is really fun to sip a glass of wine out there before dinner. There are also tables on the porch if you want to eat outside. My husband and I have had wonderful meals there and feel that it is definitely worth the drive. I understand that they also put on a BBQ on the week-end which looks fun.

the main places to eat i would say are either at the awahnee hotel (if you dont mind spending a lot), the cafeterias at curry and the lodge, there is a pizza place at the villiage that isn't too bad, and there is a restraunt at yosemite lodge near the cafeteria as well which isn't too bad.

We had no problem with bringing coolers with food to our room at Yosemite Lodge. This saved us quite a bit of time amd $ as we ate cereal and yogurt for breakfast and packed sandwiches for lunch....Also bought lots of water! Dinner was Curry Village for pizza...not bad and Yosemite Lodge cafeteria....OK. We avoided the all you can eat buffet at Curry (big pig out) although it was reasonable at $11.25. We were happy with our choices and would definitely do it again knowing that you do not go to Yosemite for the food.

in the Valley itself, the "MR" ...Mountain Room... is by far the best. Outside the valley on Hiway 140, the Yosemite Bug Hostel does very well.

Most places mentioned are rather expensive. If your just regular folk, then the Curry Pizza Patio is very good & you can get some good sandwiches at Degnan's Deli in the Village. You can also shop in the Village Store for groceries as well.

Another vote for the Wawona Hotel. Ate there twice on the last trip. First meal was an intimate meal for two that was most excellent. Went back the next night with a large party of about 10 or 12 and even ordred the same main dish (Pot Roast). After raving about how good it was the night before, half the table followed my lead. Unfortunately that night it was way over-salted.

Nice old California atmoshphere though.

there is a mcdonalds just south of the southern entry. they have pretty good food.