The Ahwahnee - YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5 Green Stars) After dining at several establishments within Yosemite, I can confidently say that the Ahwahnee Hotel Bar stands out as one of the top choices. For dinner, I recommend the pizza at Curry Village Deck or the bar food, while breakfast at the Ahwahnee dining room is a great option, and the bar can serve as a cozy spot for lunch or dinner as well. If you're in the Wawona Hotel area, their dinner is also quite impressive. What I appreciate about the Ahwahnee Bar is its wider selection of vegan and vegetarian options compared to the main dining room, all at a more affordable price, without sacrificing quality. I particularly enjoyed the Vegan Artichoke Hummus—made with artichokes, tomatoes, chickpea hummus, sweet peppers, Kalamata olives, fresh herbs, and warm pita—for $16.50. The Panzanella Salad, priced at $14.50, was also delightful. The soup, priced at $10.50, was quite enjoyable, although it initially seemed like less soup since it was served in a bread bowl, which soaked up all the flavors beautifully by the end. While there were a few minor service mix-ups, overall the service was commendable. One of the highlights of dining at the Ahwahnee is the scenic view; you can gaze out over the stunning meadow and valley, or dine al fresco on nice days. I rated the Ahwahnee Hotel Bar 3 out of 5 Green Stars based on social and ecological factors for the following reasons: About half of the bar menu is vegetarian-friendly, with at least two vegan options available, including the Artichoke Hummus and Tabbouleh Quinoa Bowl. Additionally, beef and lamb have significantly higher carbon footprints than other animal products. However, there's room for improvement in communicating ingredients more clearly.

We stopped by for a cocktail and a light lunch. The Ahwahnee Bar has a lovely atmosphere, and the staff is friendly and attentive. The service was excellent, and they were accommodating with our menu requests. The ambiance is beautiful, especially with the view of the snow-covered trees through the tall windows. The lounge areas in the hotel feature cozy seating by the fireplace, creating a very inviting environment.

The hostess refused to seat us at an available outdoor table, which was quite frustrating. However, our server, Valeria (though I might have spelled her name incorrectly), was a highlight of our experience with her excellent service (hence the 2-star rating). My suggestion is to clearly communicate your needs as a customer and enjoy the unpredictable beauty of the Yosemite views. The doorman left much to be desired.

Amazing service! Amazing food! And great drinks! We enjoyed it there! I had the turkey chili and my friend had the short ribs. He had some of the local beers and I had the delicious blackberry Bourbon-Schmash!

I ordered coffee one afternoon and sat at the lobby, I told my sister to ask for a glass of water with ice. They gave her a glass of water but she said that the lady told her that there is a water in the fountain you can actually get some in there next time. What a service over a glass of water.