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've passed by Lucky Buck Restaurant many times, while on my way to hiking in the beautiful Hetch Hetchy Valley area of Yosemite National Park - especially hiking Wapama Falls - and I've always asked myself the question, "What would it be like to enjoy breakfast in this rustic restaurant?" Monday morning, September 09, 2019, my question was resolved, as I enjoyed breakfast at Lucky Buck Restaurant, located in Buck Meadows, CA. As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: Lucky Buck Restaurant is located inside "Buck Meadows Lodge," in Buck Meadows, CA. outside of Groveland, CA, near the entrance to Yosemite National Park. There seems to be confusion about the name of the restaurant, and even the location, as the location is listed as both Buck Meadows, and Groveland. If you're not familiar with the area, Buck Meadows is a small community, located about 5 miles east of Groveland on California State Highway 120. Groveland itself is a small community, but it's a metropolis compared to Buck Meadows. As fast as the name, Yelp and even the restaurant's menu refers to the name as Lucky Buck Cafe, but when I received the printed bill for my menu, it was billed to me as Lucky Buck Restaurant, so I'm thinking that's the official name of the restaurant.
Photo: As you walk in, you enter the main dining room, which is very spacious, rustic and comfortable. During the winter, the area gets very cold, with lots of snow, so that beautiful fireplace must be welcome to weary travelers and hungry diners.
Photo: The lodge, along with Lucky Buck Restaurant are really "old school," so you can leave your WiFi at home, and really chat with your fellow diner. This posted sign, at the entrance to the small dining room, says it all...
Photo: Just off the main dining is a smaller dining room, that features a counter, and a few booths. It's definitely an "old school" diner atmosphere, as there is a window to the kitchen behind the counter. Note the naugahyde upholstered booths and stools, which definitely exhibit 1960's charm and lend a nostalgic touch to the dining room.
Photo: The breakfast menu covers all of your breakfast favorites, and lists everything that a breakfast lover, like I am, desires. After looking over the menu, I ordered a "Light American Breakfast," with my eggs cooked over easy, and sourdough toast as my choice of toast.
Photo: I had the pleasure of sharing the counter with Edward, a friendly gentleman visiting the area from the London area of the United Kingdom. Edward sat next to me at the counter, and we chatted about many things, including food, travel, and especially about Yosemite National Park. Today would be Edward's first visit to the park, and he was looking forward to the sights. As an aside, I grew up with Yosemite National Park in my back yard, and I've probably visited the park 10,000 times during my lifetime, and I never get tired of the place, as each visit seems like a new adventure. Our hostess, Marie, chats with Edward about breakfast, as he and I discussed the differences - there are many - between an "American" and an "English" breakfast. In the end, Edward chose a "Full America Breakfast," with bacon as his meat entree. Just before I left, he told me he loved his breakfast.
Photo: Meet my server, Marie, who was very camera shy after placing my breakfast on the counter in front of me. Although she was very pleasant to me, and a very efficient server, she was mostly "business," which is a way of life sometimes. The diner, along with the service, is definitely "old school" any way you look at it.
Photo: My counter mate, Edward, snapped this photo of me, as I prepare to enjoy my "Light American Breakfast." Happy trails to you, Edward, and I hope you enjoyed the wonders of Yosemite National Park.
Photo: From the breakfast section of the menu, I ordered the "Light American Breakfast," which included two eggs, potatoes and toast. Light, delicious, and reasonably filling, but priced at $9.99, which puts the breakfast on the high side. High prices aside, this was definitely a quality breakfast, as I ordered my eggs cooked over easy - my de facto standard - and my eggs arrived perfectly cooked, over easy, just the way I ordered them, and just the way I like them. The nice helping of country potatoes were cooked to a nice, golden brown - maybe a little too golden - but were crispy on the outside, and chewy, tender on the inside. The two pieces of sourdough toast were toasted, buttered, and simply delicious. Although this breakfast was priced on the high side, it was delicious, and pretty much in line with other restaurants, especially when you consider the fact that you're just outside of Yosemite National Park. I really wanted to love this rustic restaurant, as I love the mountains, Tuloumne County, Yosemite National Park, and eating at out-of-the-way restaurants in general, Now that I've crossed Lucky Buck Restaurant off my things-to-do list, unless I don't have any other choices, it's quite unlikely that I'll ever pay a visit. The atmosphere is cozy-rustic, the food is basic, but decent, and the service is... shall we say "old school" with a bit of "gruff" thrown in? On the positive side, you get a decent meal, decent portions, and a pretty good value for your buck - pun intended - considering the location of the restaurant. It's all good, and it works at Lucky Buck Restaurant, located in Buck Meadows, CA. Lucky Buck Restaurant Copyright(c) 2019 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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