15JAN2008

I've eaten at the Ahwahnee about 10 times a year for almost 40 years now and sadly, she is failing. Yes, the abience is still there. The rooms, view and sense of history are strong but when I walk out after dropping a couple of benjamins on a meal for two, my soul is empty.

It is sad but the dress code is no longer enforced. Well, I don't think a polo shirt under a cheap blazer with jeans is dressy. I'm not suggesting black tie or that level, unless you love to have fun, but at least a tie and jacket should be de riguer. The women should be dressed to the same level.

The menu vacillates between exciting and ho hum with the latter dominating. The wine list; err, enough said. The bev manager should get out and try some of the new wineries. The staff, well some are fun and some aren't. If the stuffy ones would work like they act, I'd be happy but no, airs are in order.

My last vist resulted with a 1½ hour wait for the bill after numerous errors on the staff's part. I finally went to the manager and said "I'm not paying for this meal". And I didn't. BTW, that was for a party of 6, you do the math.

That said, the sheer beauty keeps me comming back hoping, just hoping, the DNC can finally get some management in place to restore the Ahwahnee to its rightful place.

I will be having two meals there this week but the rest of my meals will be at the Mountain Room at the Yosemite Lodge where the ambiance is nice, the staff very friendly and the food, though not suberb, is getting better every year. My kudos to the chefs and the staff.

Ciao
El Tejon

We arrived at 11:30am which we thought was early, but were seated at a window table in a lovely alcove. We had the 8 oz. burger with fries that was Angus beef and cooked to perfection. The three story ceiling was enhanced with floor to ceiling windows open to walls of granite mountains. Wildlife viewing of robins, squirrels and blue jays entertained us. By the time we finished, the dining room was nearly full. It was a good idea to arrive early. Walking around the grounds of the hotel gave us a spectacular view of Yosemite Falls.

The Ahwanhee Hotel is an incredibly beautiful hotel nestled against the side of the valley wall. Built in the 1920s, it has gorgeous arts-and-crafts architecture on a huge scale. Sumptuous antique rugs decorate some of the walls. Huge stone fireplaces invite lingering on a cold night.

The dining rooms is large, with a very tall ceiling with exposed beams. Huge windows look over the adjacent meadow.

My husband and I have had both lunch and dinner at the Ahwanhee. Lunch is less formal - you can eat in hiking gear. Dinner is very formal - definitely no jeans, shorts, etc. Make sure you bring at least one set of dress-up clothes!

The prices are not cheap, but the ambience is incredible. The food is not on par with a world-class restaurant but is quite good - you're paying for the experience as much as the actual food. The continental menu includes poultry, steak, and fish dishes. Save room for dessert.

Plan on at least one meal at the Ahwanhee just to visit and experience it.

Awesome! The Ahwahnee's dining room has a 34-foot high ceiling with large sugar pine trestles that really go well with the room's granite pillars. Light-filled and uplifting by day, the dining room looks on out to the beautiful landscape, mountains, trees, etc. GORGEOUS!!!

The dining room is one of the nicest I've been in - 34' high wood beamed ceilings with huge, hanging chandeliers and granite pillars. The food is almost as spectacular as the dining room itself. I've enjoyed every appetizer, entree, and dessert I've had there. There is an extensive, if expensive, wine list to compliment the meal.