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A limited number of restaurants are inside the park, and a few worth checking out lie beyond its borders. Mount Rainier's picnic areas are justly famous, especially in summer, when wildflowers fill the meadows. Resist the urge to feed the yellow pine chipmunks darting about.
Meals are simple but tasty in this inn's large dining room, the only restaurant open year-round in the park: flat iron steak, bison meat loaf, rosemary grilled salmon, and blackberry cobbler à la mode. Photos of Mt. Rainier taken by top photographers adorn the walls—a bonus on the many days the mountain refuses to show itself.
Grilled meats, sandwiches, salads, and soft drinks are served daily from May through early October and on weekends and holidays the rest of the year.
Tall windows in this historic timber lodge provide terrific views of Rainier, and the warm glow of native wood permeates the large dining room, where hearty Pacific Northwest fare is served. The lunch menu is simple and healthy—burgers, sandwiches, salads, and the like; for dinner, the seasonal menu might include wild salmon, trout, red-wine braised short rib, and one or two meatless entrées. There's also a café in the inn that serves lighter fare all day.
On top of Crystal Mountain at 6,872 feet is Washington's highest-elevation restaurant with stunning views of the northeastern face of Mt. Rainier. The Summit House is a popular stop for skiers, hikers, and summer tourists, with a menu featuring Northwest cuisine, including wild Pacific cod fish-and-chips in summer (halibut in winter), elk and bison chili, burgers, and huckleberry ice cream. Sit inside to stay warm by the fireplace, or sit outside on the patio and watch chipmunks run along the nearby rocks. The restaurant is reached by riding the scenic gondola from the base of the mountain; note that gondola tickets ($44 for adults; purchase in advance to save $9) must be purchased separately. There are no reservations, so there can be a wait. On a clear day, photographers will find plenty of vantage points to capture Mt. Rainier (as well as Mt. Adams in the background). It's an epic view that still awes people who've seen it hundreds of times.
A cafeteria and grill serve tasty hamburgers, chili, hot dogs, and soft-serve ice cream from July through mid-September.
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