El Tovar Dining Room

Perfect Mix of History, Flavor & Grand Canyon Magic We had the most wonderful birthday dinner at El Tovar Restaurant, and I just have to say—it was one of those experiences you don’t forget. The service, the food, the views… everything was spot on. Our waiter Austen was amazing—so attentive and kind—and his assistant Charlie was just as great. They went out of their way to make my husband’s birthday special, even surprising him with a warm chocolate-chip cookie dessert topped with caramel sauce and vanilla bean ice cream. Oh my goodness, it was scrumptious. From the onion soup and house salad with prickly pear dressing to the fresh bread basket with homemade garlic butter, every bite was perfection. My husband raved about his filet mignon with poblano mashed potatoes, and my shrimp entrée was delicious. The historic charm and canyon views made the whole evening feel timeless. Huge thanks to management for Austen and Charlie’s incredible service—they made our night unforgettable.

We spent the Labor Day long weekend at the Grand Canyon with family, and since we stayed at the historic El Tovar Hotel, we also booked dinner at their dining room. Honestly, I didn’t expect much — for a restaurant right next to a major tourist attraction, I thought as long as the food wasn’t bad, it would be fine. But the experience completely exceeded my expectations. The food was outstanding — far better than I ever imagined! Every dish was delicious, well-prepared, and beautifully presented. Highlights included: Sonoran Shrimp with Chipotle Cream – sautéed shrimp with cilantro lime rice and cactus caviar. Unique, layered flavors that really stood out. Seared Steelhead Trout – citrus agave glaze, blue corn nokake, and cactus caviar. Tender, flavorful, with rich textures — it’s been years since I’ve had fish this good. (If you love fish, this one is a must-try!） Elk Bolognese – tomato ragout, ground elk, mozzarella, parmesan, fresh basil, and bucatini with toasted garlic bread. Absolutely delicious, with no downside at all. Other dishes we tried were also above average, but these three stood out as truly memorable. Service was friendly and professional, even on a packed holiday weekend. Overall, this dinner was one of the biggest surprises of our Grand Canyon trip. If you think national park restaurants are “just good enough,” El Tovar will change your mind. Highly recommended — make a reservation, it’s worth it!

Amazing historic dining room right near the Grand Canyon. Our server, Corey, was great. The food was just one click from being really great : the French Onion soup was delicious but the cheese on top was a bit too burned, the chili has a delicious taste but was a little dry, and the ham and cheese sandwich has too much “soft cheese” on top. Prices were a little high, but not unreasonable for a tourist spot. VictorB

The El Tovar Dining Room is quite an experience. We reserved ahead of time and were delighted to get a window seat facing the Grand Canyon upon arrival. Although I had read many online reviews highlighting the El Tovar Hotel's location, I was still surprised by the stunning views from the Dining Room, and I'm sure other guests will find them equally spectacular. Just as unique as the location, the food was magnificent too. My breakfast consisted of the truly unique and delicious trio pancake, complete with pine nut butter and wild honey, as well as prickly pear syrup, complementing the flavorful pancakes. This, along with some good coffee, made my meal perfect. My kid and wife enjoyed the Asparagus Omelet and Spinach Omelet, served with toast, fries, etc. The grandeur of the Hotel reception and the antique pieces on display made it a memorable experience for all of us

Wow this has been my favorite place to eat while in the Grand Canyon. Austin and Charlie treated us like royalty. I had the French onion soup and filet mignon steak. The mashed potatoes were the best. For dessert I had the deep dish skillet chocolate chip cookie with ice cream and it was the perfect finally for a superb dinner. Oh, and we watched the sunset over the canyon from our table! It just doesn't get any better than this. I highly recommend this place! Make sure you make a reservation.

I enjoyed my quiche, and coffee. Portion could be larger. The view is wonderful. My mother in law and brother in law enjoyed their meal here. He told me his eggs Benedict was tasty. Next time, I will try the trout for breakfast.

The Bison burger was amazing. They even had a gluten free bun. The pepper just added the extra flavor. My hubby had the shaved prim rib sandwich and my friend had the turkey sandwich. Everyone enjoyed their dish. Our server even swapped out the fries, which had a coating on them, so she offered sides, and I chose spaghetti squash. But, I forgot to take a picture of that.

Make sure to ask for a table with a view of the Canyon. Spectacular! The service was great. The portions were huge, more than I could eat although I gave it my best shot. Had. Oth breakfast and dinner here. Both were great.

We had breakfast there and it was delicious! The service was great. The dining room is lovely to be in as is the hotel. Also get the banana bread it was amazing.

The facility states quality dining with a dress code, unfortunately they don't enforce it. Last night in the park I booked a special romantic dinner for my wife and I. The table next to ours had four people each in shorts, tee shirts and sneakers. Another guest was in torn jeans, this in no way invokes a fine quality dining experience. Wait staff was exceptional and food welcoming.

Love everything about this place! Good food, elegant decor and top-notch service. I will keep going there forever!

There's not many options when you get into the National Park and El Tovar is listed as "fine dining". I'd say that "fine" dining is what it states - it's fine. It's got a lodgey feel - old school. There's some good variety on the menu: fish, crab cake, steak. Wine list is predominantly US/New World. Not my personal fav which is why I'm yielding a 3. The crab cake is a great starter. Southwest shrimp has a decent flavor. We both went with the ribeye with Gorgonzola topping and I had to scrape most of it off because it was a bit overpowering. Otherwise, it was mostly cooked to temp. Wasted the ribeye cap bc it was charred and I asked for medium rare. Cocktails were yummy and we opted for the new Cab Franc on the menu which was a super fun option. Light and interesting - we really enjoyed it. For what options exist in the park, this is a good one. Jill and Jim took good care of us.

Pretty views. Decent breakfast options. Hot chocolate was a fun experience where the chocolate and whipper cream are already in the cup and you get the hot chocolate to pour it over, but it made it impossible to get the drink to be really warm after the cold sunrise. I had a bison chorizo omelette and it was really delicious. I will say the service was ok but we were in the back room and it was COLD back there. The rest of the hotel was fine temperature so they need to heat the restaurant better.

First, I had requested a canyon view table in the dining room at 530 for our 82 yo father. Guess notes on reservations aren't considered since they put us 3 rows back. 30 feet away from the window could be considered a table with a view?! We arrived and checked in, then our father had to use the restroom. The nice female host went to get a key up allow him into the handicap restroom. When he was done I approached the host stand to get our table and was asked my name. I gave my name and said we had already checked in. That's when I heard the angry man standing a few feet behind the host stand say "we're required to verify names!" Ok, but you literally just checked us in before the unplanned trip to the restroom. Thank you Nicholas for being the head of security (he's actually the angry host who takes you to your table) for the El Tovar Dining Room. Nicholas really could use a brush up on hospitality, or perhaps a Valium. The meal? Mediocre would be a generous statement. I ordered the surf and turf. It's a 4 oz filet and half lobster tail for $60. Needless to say, the steak was overcooked (more medium well than medium) and the lobster tail was way overcooked. The steak however did have a good flavor and was tender. The vegetable accompaniment lacked any seasoning. The meal was barely a step above cafeteria food. I assume people come here for the nostalgia because it's certainly not for the hospitality or the food.

The food was spectacular. I had the Elk Bolognese, my mom had the Stroganoff, and sister had the Summer Salad. It was nearly as overpriced as it could be. Beautiful ambience, service, and delicious food.

Breakfast was fantastic! Not pages of choices but enough to make me happy. Plus if you are lucky enough to sit next to the windows what a view! Had the huevos rancheros with a size of fruit. Portion was big and hot. One of our party ordered the Buffalo Chorizo omelette with potatoes and it didn't look dry like some omelettes do. Waitress was quick and efficient and once she heard one of us was celebrating his birthday she gave him a complementary pastry. We also ordered the banana bread for the table and it comes with a delicious cinnamon butter. Coffee was hot and strong just like I like it. Place very clean and nicely decorated but doesn't make you feel you need to dress up for breakfast. We made a reservation and got in easily at 8:30am but by 9:00am place was filled up. Would definitely go again if I was in the area.

Wooded lodge dining room with upscale service. They take reservations, even for lunch, but there was plenty of space for walk-in, even for Sunday lunch. The china was pretty cool (see coffee cup) and specific to the resort. I enjoyed a caesar salad with vegetarian chili. Each item alone was appetizer-sized, but paired together well for a full lunch. Swing by before or after hiking the rim trail.

Dining with history at El Tovar Celebrated my dad's 70th birthday and our last night at the Grand Canyon Village with dinner at El Tovar. We were seated at a window table with a stunning view of the canyon at sunset. Attentive service, and delicious & beautifully presented food. Wish there were more variety in entree options. The whole experience felt warm, memorable, and absolutely worth it. Perfect way to end our Grand Canyon trip!

At first glance, this is definitely a more classy establishment. The servers are all dressed in more formal black and white, and the table setup is fancy. However, we wore our hiking clothes in for dinner and it was fine. All the staff we interacted with were friendly and attentive, and our server was especially great, very funny and personable. The surf and turf was a special for the night, a 4 oz filet mignon and lobster tail, with mashed potatoes and a side of vegetables. The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare but was a little under seasoned for my taste. My lobster tail was a tad dry, but the lemon and butter flavored it well. Overall, it was all very delicious! The 10oz peppercorn steak was good (but also under seasoned) and came with a nice portion of potatoes and veggies. The Elk Milanese and Elk Bolognese were pretty good too. For dessert, we had a hard time deciding between the many yummy options, but finally settled on sharing the cookie skillet and the peach cobbler. Our server surprised us with an extra chocolate mousse on the house - he had overheard our dessert debate haha!

Spent a spectacular morning seeing the Grand Canyon and after shopping for souvenirs decided to have lunch at El Tovar. I had not checked the current Yelp ratings before we were seated, and so glad that I didn't because this restaurant is awesome! The restaurant is located inside a historic lodge. The dining room is large and completely constructed out of logs. All the tables are covered with formal cloth linens. The waitstaff are wearing crisp formal black and white attire. We were greeted warmly (and even though we were dressed casually after a day on the canyon rim) we were treated as royalty. We were seated right in front of the humongous rock fireplace with a window view of the beautiful landscape. Martin was our waiter, extremely friendly and made us feel very welcomed. My husband ordered the burger and fries. But this was not just any burger and fries. This was a hand ground steak burger which was perfectly cooked to medium as per my husband's request. The burger with topped with caramelized onions, gruyere cheese, fresh French onion ailoi, fresh Brioche bun, with house made pickle, fresh tomato, lettuce on the side. The fries were crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, drizzled with truffle oil and served with a house ketchup. My husband said this was an outstanding burger and fries! I ordered the Fennel & Radicchio salad with roasted golden beets, arugula, goat cheese, candied pistachios, dressed in a champagne vinaigrette. I added an additional protein for my salad; the honey smoked Salmon. My salad was fresh and crisp and absolutely delicious! We highly recommend El Tovar... if your visiting the grand canyon during their peak season, we suggest making a reservation.

My family and I had a great experience at El Tovar. At first, I was a little disappointed because we didn't get a window table. Trust me, you will understand why once you step inside the dining room. The views of the Grand Canyon through the window are amazing! It's something out of this world. We started it off with the corn on the cob. This was a very interesting appetizer. 7/10. I had the Cabernet Grand Canyon wine, 10/10. I purchased a bottle to go! I had the lobster roll, 8/10. My boyfriend had the onion burger, 9/10. The crème brûlée was delicious! 10/10. Service was great, very attentive and polite staff. Walk-ins are welcome, however, you can book a reservation online. Enjoy!

We had a wonderful meal here while enjoying sunset views over the Grand Canyon. Our server gave us very interesting information about the history of the restaurant. We ordered several of the menu items, and the standouts were the crispy duck, shrimp cocktail, and the desserts. Make a reservation in advance because it does fill up. A great dining experience.

Last night at the Grand Canyon, we saved the best for last. The food was outstanding. I had the Elk Bolognese, which was simply delicious. My wife had the Grilled Steelhead Trout....stupendous! The service was excellent, Ashton was attentive and just a pleasure to talk with. If you ever have the opportunity to go to the Grand Canyon (South Rim), be sure to visit the El Tovar, you will not regret it.

We had a lovely meal at the El Tovar. The service was friendly and capable, and the surroundings of this historic lodge perched on the rim of the Grand Canyon are divine. We shared a beetroot tartare to start, which had the slightest hint of Dijon - a nice complement to the beet. I enjoyed the lamb chops while my husband savored the Bison Osso Buco. He raved about the dish. While it's pricey, the food was excellent when we visited and you're paying a premium for the spectacular views and location. I would absolutely return!

Quite a lot of history in this beautiful restaurant and hotel. The service was spectacular. We were lucky as we went at lunch time around 2 pm and it was not busy. I recommend making a reservation . They turned away many walk ins. It is on the upscale side. We had the elk bolognese which was quite delicious and the chicken salad sandwich with cilantro and lime which was a bit disappointing as it was quite watery and semi tasteless. The waiter was quite nice and accommodated me by making a pomegranate margarita which was not on the cocktail menu. You are truly surrounded by a lot of history. Window side tables are definitely the way to go as you catch the Grand Canyon views.

My friend and I came for dinner after watching sunset. Definitely be sure to make a reservation far ahead of time as they get busy! All of the staff were super friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Paul was our primary server and was very attentive. For food, we each got a soup to start. My friend said the French Onion soup was the best she'd ever had. I really enjoyed the herbaceous flavors of the eggplant soup which was smooth and hearty. The bread basket was fantastic and had a nice mix of bread types with a flavorful pesto butter. For dinner, we shared a spinach salad with added grilled chicken and the spring pasta. The spinach salad was super fresh and tasty. The pasta was a bit underwhelming as it wasn't very warm, seemed to have very few mushrooms, and was overcooked. The side vegetables were fresh and good though. Overall, a solid time and definitely a beautiful place to dine when at the Grand Canyon.

Most upscale restaurant in the Grand Canyon Village. We started in the cocktail lounge for a glass of wine and the nice view. Our server in the lounge was polite and attentive. When we transitioned to the dining room, they accommodated us with a great table near the window. My expectations for the dining room were high, and overall the food was good. Service not as good. Our server ignored us after we did not order right away, and spent most of his time chatting it up with other guests. So by the time we finished our meal, we were one of the last ones in the restaurant. And to make it worse they were resetting all the tables around us, which was a bit of a distraction. Food-wise, we had the crab cake, beet root tartare, steelhead trout and NY strip. All good and large portions (which is very typical for restaurants around here).

We had an amazing breakfast here. I ordered the Pistachio Waffle, which was absolutely incredible. The pistachio taste was the perfect balance with the pomegranate whipped cream, and the berries were so fresh and delicious. It was a hit for everyone who tried it. My dad ordered the Huevos Rancheros, which I didn't try but he said were very good. The servers were super nice and our food was out quickly. The decor is very fitting too. We made a reservation ahead of time and had no issues.

My first time dining at El Tovar was in December 2017. Two adult granddaughters and myself were impressed. Today I returned. The El Tovar was as amazing as I remembered. The views of the Grand Canyon while dining are an added bonus to attentive employees who are knowledgeable of the menu. Today I had the Mediterranean Salad with chicken. It was a palate pleasing meal and more than I could eat. I also had an Italian Pinot Grigio that was smooth, no tart bite, and lingering notes of citrus. Recommend!

The property is gorgeous. Historic hotel right on the rim of the Grand Canyon. I was seated promptly staff was well turned out and efficient. If one walked by and my water glass was empty and they had a water jug they filled it. I was there for breakfast and had the Harvey breakfast, ham, eggs hash browns and toast. Serving size was nice. Cost was $22 but it it in the national park. I would consider a $12 breakfast with a $500 view. I did not feel the price was unreasonable also the jam selection included orange marmalade... I love orange marmalade

Plan ahead and make reservations for the main Restaurant. Breakfast is wonderful and Dinner is delecious. If you don't have reservations, Harvey House is a 6 minute walk and offers a full menu. The lounge is available on a first come, first serve, but it's menu is basic and you are not allowed to order off the main menu. The server and server assistants all wear tuxedo shirts and black bow ties. The Dinning Room is very dated ( by design ) as an homage to the history of the building. There are chef specials every meal and the prices are what I would expect in a high end restaurant. We were lucky enough to have pancakes for breakfast and buffalo and elk for dinner.

This place was great. The food was amazing. The service was spectacular. I took my girlfriend here for our anniversary and they wrote happy anniversary on the plates. Couldn't recommend this place more. 10/10

We dined here for dinner and breakfast when we stayed at El Tovar. We initially had been hesitant about attending for dinner since it was fairly pricey and the menu was nice, but nothing especially unique. However, I'm so glad we ended up eating here! I had the Peppercorn Steak and my boyfriend had the Lamb Loin. I enjoyed my steak and it was seasoned perfectly! The potatoes on the side were nothing special, so I'd consider trying the rice pilaf instead. My boyfriend absolutely loved the Lamb Loin (and he did sub the rice and was pleased). The service was amazing for dinner and we had such a wonderful time that we decided to come for breakfast the next day! For breakfast, we dined from their preset "throwback" menu celebrating El Tovar's 120 anniversary. They had a special selection of items that were similar to the recipes from 120 years ago! I had the Chipped Beef and my boyfriend had the Bacon Wrapped Liver! They were both so unique and unlike anything we had ever tried before! Again, our server was amazing! The ambiance is unbeatable, the service is incredible and the food is tasty.

Any adventure to the south rim of The Grand Canyon a must stop at the El Tovar if not staying to experience something like a time capsule of the west or just to get a bit to eat for breakfast I use to get the blackened breakfast trout, but they changed how they prepare it and it's not as good, so I moved on to a simpler selection to pay homage to Fred Harvey and the Harvey girls of the past I went with the following this adventure. Harvey House Breakfast: A+ Two Eggs any style with your choice of bacon, Ham, House made Pork Sauage or Turkey sausage with Breakfast Potatoes or Fresh Fruit & Choice of Toast (Appeared on El Tovar Breakfast Menu 1914) I always say everyone needs to stay at the El Tovar at least once as a bucket list adventure it always different each time with new experiences each time watching deer eat well stand on the deck of the El Tovar with no one around is priceless.

We just love this restaurant. The service staff is exceptional and very attentive. The food was well prepared and delicious. We sat at a table with the view of the Grand Canyon. Just a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

Beautiful historic dining room inside the El Tovar hotel. You can see amazing craftsmanship while dining in this great room with amazing views of the Grand Canyon. Reservations recommended although we were able to get a table without one but it was a weekday. The southwestern shrimp cocktail was very good. Also the Navajo Taco with ground beef was excellent. Desserts were very good and a fun treat but I think next time we would opt for the waffle cones over at Bright Angel. Service is descent but not a highlight.

We ate here for dinner and breakfast. The dinner was on the expensive side and decent for a national park lodge. My sons enjoyed the bisque and my wife and daughter enjoyed their starter salads. I skipped a starter because I was tired. I had lamb for dinner. It was good but a pretty small portion. Breakfast on the other hand was great. We had French toast, eggs/meat/bread plates, and eggs Benedict. No complaints at all. I also enjoyed their Americano. My sons had their signature hot chocolates and enjoyed them. 4/5 for dinner 5/5 for breakfast. The dining room is pretty spacious and decorated with depictions of tribes that lived in the Grand Canyon area. The service was attentive and friendly and they were able to move us up to an earlier breakfast time at our request. All around excellent service.

Interesting menu including Elk. Food well prepared and delicious. Good selection of beer and wine. Leave room for dessert. Plan extra time to learn about the history of the founder Fred Harvey.

The interior of the restaurant is nice, with a cozy fireplace and pleasant music that created a warm, inviting atmosphere. However, the food was quite expensive and seemed to aim for a fine dining experience but fell short of our expectations. I appreciated that they offered one vegan dish, but the basic pasta, side vegetables, and garlic bread didn't match the elevated ambiance or the price point. Keep in mind that at night, you will not be able to see any Grand Canyon views because it is pitch black outside. It was a bit of a letdown overall.

El Tovar came highly recommended. The dining room is beautiful with a rock fireplace and lots of dark wood, and lots of windows letting in plenty of light. Tables were elegantly set with linens and silver. Our server was very friendly and attentive throughout the meal. We both started with lobster bisque which was very rich, with deep flavors and a bit of lobster meat on top. My wife's bison ribeye was tender and flavorful. My seafood Newburg was wonderful, with Sherry wine, butter & cream. (I do wish it had been served over a little pasta) Overall we were very happy with our experience!

I recently visited El Tovar Dining Room . I made last minute reservations. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I arrived right on time and was seated promptly. Our server, Ernesto, was absolutely amazing. Easily one of the best service experiences I've had at the Grand Canyon. He was attentive, informative, and made sure everything was perfect. I tried the duck street tacos, which were packed with flavor, and the pickled onion really elevated the dish. The French fry medley was a nice touch, and as a fan of sweet potato fries, I loved them! To top it all off, I had the cheesecake, which was a delightful end to the meal.

overall score: B- order: french onion burger this burger was good but it definitely was not what i was expecting after reading the ingredients. i did not taste any caramelized onions at all and to be completely honest, it just taste like a regular burger. the fries were good though. there was nothing bad about the burger, it just felt a little misleading.. service: service was good. the server was very attentive and checked up on us frequently. ambiance: the room is a little dim. it can be hard on the eyes for some. it is very spacious inside. to find the dining room, go through the main entrance of the hotel and just walk straight.

Large picture windows provide a great view of the south rim while dining. The dining room is a step back to 'rustic elegance' of the 1910's. Beautiful dark wood, comfortable seating. Service is really first rate. The food is comfortable and hearty. A truly great dining experience to add to a visit to the canyon.

I began my meal with a crab cake with cactus caviar sauce, this was an elite crab cake and surprisingly all of the side items were super tasty, normally with this dish I would only eat the crab cake, but I ate every bit of this plate (besides the crispy tortilla strips, suspected red 40). Next was the duck recommended by our very polite and personable waiter, who provided us with some cool stories and history of the restaurant. The skin was extremely crispy, while the duck meat was extremely tender and moist. Definitely the highlight of the meal. Finally, I got the Apple Streusel which has been served at this restaurant for 120 years! Perfect ending to dinner, the salted caramel balanced the sweetness from the real apple filling. Would recommend!

On our visit to the Grand Canyon, we decided to have lunch at El Tovar. I booked our reservation in advance and we were quickly seated at a table with a partial canyon view. I ordered the southwest chicken club and my boyfriend got the beyond burger. Both were served with fries that had a nice crunch to them.

Service was good, food was ok. The experience was enjoyable since were in the park and it was very convenient but a little pricy for the quality of food.

They made us wait 45 minutes to be seated and there was no one in the restaurant. They need more staff, yet they had 3 people at the front desk. I guess the employees live in the property and all must have had the day off. Our waiter was good and the food was ok. The restaurant was dark.

Best food in Grand Canyon Village, I suspect, based on our limited experience and well worth the effort to reserve ahead. We opted for a daytime window view of the south rim at lunchtime prices. The elk boulonaise, beef and pork chili with homemade corn muffin, and sunchoke/mushroom salad were amazing and unique, as well as generous portions. Service friendly and attentive. Setting grand. All authentic and original. This is the genuine grand canyon resort experience.

We came here for dinner after spending the whole day at the Grand Canyon (make sure to make a reservation!). They give you a large basket of bread - my fave was the soft dinner roll. Got the crab cake appetizer ($19), which was quite good and flavorful, but could have been hotter temperature-wise. It's also quite pricey for just 1 crab cake. For the entree, I got the lamb shank ($43), and my bf got the duck ($48). The lamb was mostly tender and was easy to cut off the bone. It came with mashed potatoes and veggies, which were solid. I tried my bf's duck, and one piece was so tender, but the other two pieces were dry. The sauce was unique and delicious. Overall enjoyed the meal here. Ambiance was nice. Service was a little slow

This is a very nice dining experience inside the national park. Reservations are highly recommended, which you can make on their website. The location is very convenient nearby the South Rim. Dining room layout is very nice with great views of the Grand Canyon. Their lunch menu was very good and affordable. My favorite part of this was trying food from the local area. Would love to return to try our dinner.

Food was delicious. I had the elk bolognese & the husband had the NY strip steak. View was amazing! Out server, Michael, was excellent. He's been there for 25 years! Will definitely come back one day.

Mixed feelings about the El Tovar Dining Room after multiple visits: The best thing about it is if course that you can make a reservation if you plan on advance. That's a nice thing at the South Rim where chaos and waits are usually the norm. The prices are of course very high, but that's not the problem. The biggest problem in 2024 is that the kitchen is so under staffed that they aren't taking many reservations or seating the room to capacity. And if you do manage to nab a table in the sparsely- filled dining room, you have to expect a wait of 30-40 minutes for your food. Our servers told us it's a day-to- day situation. The food is hit-or-miss. The bread basket is excellent and a good excuse for ordering lightly. But ordering lightly isn't easy. Most entrees are rich and heavy. Vegetables are a roll of the dice up here. Some days they have nice green veggies. Some days the "market vegetables" are carrots and peas. Your best options, given the thin kitchen staff, are salads and dishes that aren't complex or sauced.

After a great time Walking around the Grand Canyon we stopped at El Tovar for lunch. We walked-in as we could not get reservations online, but they thankfully accommodated us. The prices were reasonable, for being inside the Grand Canyon. The service was good, from the hostess to our waiter Martin. Everyone enjoyed the food. We had the Southwest Chicken Club Sandwich, Cajun Grilled Cheese Sandwich (not spicy) French Onion Bacon Burger, the Quiche, and we ended our delicious lunch with the hot chocolate. I definitely recommend and would come back! You can also sit by the window with a great view to the canyon.

Love the ambience here with fireplace throwing a glow and heat! Great way to enjoy breakfast, served by personable wait staff! Crepes with walnuts and maple syrup... yum... and probably with an egg would have been perfect morning start. Other meal at table, could have been a first choice for me too: Roasted tomatoes, spinach and cheese omelet with fruit cup and toast. Yes! And all eaten with Orange juice and coffee... cups are small so be sure waiters keep it topped off.

Ambiance was great. With Grand Canyon right outside, how could it not be? Service great. Food was subpar. I got the pasta pesto dish. Very processed with no flavor. Pretty sure it was dumped out of a box and heated poorly and tossed onto a plate.

We were only able to get a reservation at 845pm so we were not able to get a view. The food was nicely plated and service was good.

After being told they were fully booked on a Saturday night, we tried back close to 8pm and they were seating walk-ins so don't give up if you're randomly trying to get in. We were seated in the rear, upper area so we could see outside at dusk and had a good view. Prompt and friendly service, a dedicated helper for the server for drink refills and bread and clearing away plates. The food was phenomenal and lovely presentation. We had the peppercorn strip steak and the elk Milanese, both cooked perfectly!