Annie Creek - Crater Lake National Park

Considering it's one of the only two real dining options in the national park, this restaurant isn't too bad in terms of price and quality. We had two meals here during our visit: one for breakfast and one for a late lunch/early dinner. The breakfast pancakes were quite underwhelming, and I suspect they use powdered eggs, but the portion sizes exceeded my expectations and the prices were comparable to what you'd find outside the park. For lunch/dinner, there were plenty of vegetarian options, and the food was decent and reasonably priced. If this restaurant were located outside the park, I probably wouldn't make a special trip for it, but for dining within the park, it’s a solid choice.

We went there for dinner a few days ago. The pot roast and the cheeseburger were both great! Very nice food after a whole day at Crater Lake. Another bonus point is that you get to see a lot of stars in the dark sky after dinner!

I had the worst day at Crater Lake: I rode from Annie Springs up to the rim, and hiked 700 plus feet up the Garfield Peak Trail in broken snow. At first it went good, I met a Norwegian with crampons and ski poles who had traversed a snow chute. Way up high; a couple tried to cross in his difficult tracks that I never would have attempted. I turned around because I knew she might fall... As I rounded the bend, just out of sight, I heard the scream. She survived but was on the edge of a precipice, one hundred and fifty or so feet down on the edge. The dude, her husband had slid down and was trying yell instructions to her. I had just completed an American Heart Assoc. first aid class, and the excellent teacher had said, Sometimes you need to take control of the situation and you will make a lot of enemy 's. I told the husband guy in many swear words that he was knocking off scree in her direction. People get hurt worse on the second fall, I said. I grabbed his camera strap, and my gator mask to make a sling for her arm which was dislocated and a possible broken clavicle that I felt. I assisted her up a very difficult slope, and the guy was more worried about her exposed crotch area, than her safety. I scolded him more, and with ZERO help from him I got her to the top of the trailhead. I rode down (illegally) on the fat tire bike and ran into two sisters from Iowa with a satellite phone. When I met the ranger and EMT 's at the lodge they were very mean and curt and short with me. Stay out of our way. Can 't have a bike up here. They said. And fill out this accident report. I said, I was not riding trails only pavement No answer. Fill out your report. And his dumb pen was broken. Later in the day after riding my bike all the way a couple thousand feet down to Annie Spings cafe; I ran into the couple with the satellite phone. They asked details about the rescue, and concurred that the husband was a ****... ...I got asked by the manager to leave the restaurant. Sir you are talking too loud, and your language might disturb children. Are you joking? I asked... No, she said. After returning down in the flats of Klamath Falls, I ordered Thai food, and four people cut in front of me as I was standing 6 feet back.

We expect restaurants in National Parks to be decent, but a bit expensive. But Annie Creek is better than that. Maybe because you can eat here without entering Crater Lake National Park, or maybe for other reasons. Anyway we had dinner here and it was very good. My wife had the Smothered Corn Bread, which was chili on corn bread and loved it. The chili was meaty, tasty and not at all wet. She found it very filling and it was $12. I had Fish and Chips, three pieces of cod with very nice seasoned fries, for $13.50. I was happy.. Our server was efficient and nice. We would come back.

Lodging food is simply lodging food. What more can you expect? I came into Annie Creek restaurant in Crater Lake National Park with very low expectations and they were met on the dot. This restaurant has your typical lodging style food. They have your sandwiches, burgers, pastas, and seafood all pretty subpar and pricy. I was a bit torn on what to order. steak was very tempting (haven't tried Oregon steak), and the fish of the day seemed like a catch. But since the fish of the day wasn't local, I settled for the pot roast (wanted vegetables). Two of my friends ordered the sandwich, and one of my friends ordered the pasta. Food came out fast and it was definitely underwhelming. First of all, the vegetables were overcooked and very soggy. I felt like I was eating canned vegetables. The pot roast was a bit better (soggy, a bit lukewarm, and not too flavorful), but it didn't redeem the entire plate nor justify what I paid (about $16). The saving grace was probably the habenero sauce that gave some spice. The service was pretty meh people weren't mean although I felt like we were just left alone (which is fine). Our server smelled like cigarettes, which I really don't enjoy. Overall, lodging food may only be your only option and I guess Annie Creek will probably suffice. If you have camping food, that is a better alternative. Eat well and prosper,