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Yes, you can enjoy grilled cheeseburgers, veggie burgers, chicken burgers and more, while you're visiting beautiful Yosemite Valley, in Yosemite National Park. Located next to the store, in Yosemite Village, Village Grill grills burgers, chicken, and more, and stands out as a landmark restaurant in the Yosemite dining scene.
Photo: Village Grill is located next to the grocery store, in Yosemite Village, which is the hub of Yosemite National Park. If you're interested in enjoying your burger inside, that won't happen, as all of the dining happens outdoors, on the comfortable patio. The only caveat is that you must guard your food, as there are many hungry squirrels, birds and other park residents who are interested in your meal. Just in case you care to share your meal with one of the indigenous residents of the park, beware, as if you're caught doing the "nasty," you'll be paying a $5,000 fee. On this early Tuesday afternoon, April 19, 2016, we weren't interest in feeding the park residents, as we were hungry, after hiking around the many waterfalls Yosemite has to offer this time of the year, and we were looking for one of the few burgers offered in Yosemite Valley.
Photo: The menu is posted above the order/pick-up counter, and besides the "sides," it offers exactly eight choices. Note that a hamburger does not appear on the menu, as the only burger option with meat is a cheeseburger. If you don't want cheese, you have to order a cheeseburger without cheese, but you pay the same price. Confusing? Consider this: You're in a national park.
Photo: The menu is posted above the order counter, so you make your selection from the menu, pay for it, and you're given a receipt, and a number. Like the legendary James Bond, you've exchanged your name for a number, but no worries, as the orders are filled quickly. The condiment bar is near the left of the photo - the gal in the pink shirt is dressing her burger - and includes mayonnaise, mustard, dill pickle relish, ketchup and barbecue sauce. The all-you-can-drink soda fountain is out of the photo, to the left.
Photo: Sharlene places our order with the very friendly counter gal, Tina. After placing our order, our food was ready within five minutes. Yes, the basket to the right of the photo holds fresh lemons... The service was friendly, and a lot of fun. Lots of laughs and smiles...
Photo: My order - #1 on the menu - of a cheeseburger "basket" which included "seasoned" fries. The cups of ketchup were filled from the condiment bar, as the "basket" - where's the basket? - is dry, but you can grab the condiments from the condiment station after you receive your order. My burger is already "dressed," as before snapping the photo, I had dressed my burger with dill pickle relish, mayonnaise and mustard, from the condiment dispenser, located inside the restaurant, on the counter. The burger arrived less than five minutes after paying for it, so I suspect that it was, shall we say... pre-made. After removing the top bun - I wanted to carry only the bun inside to apply condiments - I noticed the garnishes were in place, and firmly attached to the slab of meat. Garnishes were lettuce leaf, tomato slices, dill pickle and red onion. The cheese was melted, yet it was the kind of "melt" that you could tell had been melted for awhile. The bun was a bit on the flat side, pushed in, and sort of... meh. However, the garnishes appeared to be reasonably fresh, and I had no complaints, especially considering the fact that I was enjoying a burger in a national park, many miles away from the nearest source of burgers. The "seasoned" fries... where was the seasoning? I had no complaints, but all I could detect was salt, and nothing else. Seasoning? What's that...? The cheeseburger "basket?" Call me "old school," but when I think of a "basket," I'm thinking of a plastic basket with butcher paper, the way burgers and fries were served at drive-in restaurants back when I was a kid, in the late 1960's. There was no basket, as the burger and fries were served on a tray, wrapped in paper. "Basket" aside, I didn't have any complaints about the cheeseburger or the fries, other than the price. But, you have to remember that you're in a national park, an you're many miles from any other burger source. On a lighter note, the Pepsi fountain drink was one of the best Pepsi's that I have ever enjoyed. Was it the superior mix Village Grill provides, or did the soft drink just taste good after a long morning of hiking, and enjoying the amazing beauty Yosemite National Park has to offer? Whatever the case... the Pepsi was AWESOME! The cheeseburger and the fries hit the spot after a long morning of hiking, and enjoying the wonders that Yosemite Valley has to offer. The price of admission is high, but it's not unreasonable. How would I rate the burger and the fries? About one notch above McD's at about two times, and change, of the price you pay at the national burger joint. But consider this... You're in Yosemite National Park, so dig in, guard your food from the local critters, and enjoy your burger and fries!
Photo: Sharlene and I, ready to enjoy our burgers at Village Grill. The place mat at the base of the umbrella warns of the dangers of leaving your food unattended, as there are many hungry squirrels and birds looking for a free meal. Don't feed the "residents," as if you're caught, you could be fined a whopping $5-grand, which would make the price of around $10.00 for a cheeseburger, fries and a soft drink, seem like pocket change. The burgers are decent, the outdoor seating, weather permitting, is awesome, and you can't beat the amazing scenery that Yosemite National Park has to offer. For a good burger and more, when you're visiting Yosemite National Park, Village Grill awaits you... Village Grill Copyright(c) 2016 eRench Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. This site has been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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