The Gateway Restaurant & Lodge

We stayed at The Gateway Restaurant & Lodge during our visit to Sequoia National Park, and it turned out to be a great choice. The location is super convenient — just minutes from the park entrance — which made it easy to get an early start each day. The room was clean and comfortable, but the true highlight was the restaurant. It’s set right on the creek with beautiful views and a peaceful, relaxing vibe. We loved sitting outside, enjoying delicious food while watching birds fly around — it felt magical. The menu had a great variety, and everything we tried was absolutely delicious. We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend this lodge, especially to those looking for a charming place with a fantastic on-site restaurant near Sequoia.

I will try to bump this current rating up because we visited this restaurant twice, one for dinner and the last for lunch. The price for dinner is in the high 40's and lunch it ranges from the 20s and up. They had live music when we took our family there for lunch. Reserve your table in advance and if it's warmer sit outside by the river. I can't express how wonderful a time we had there. Here's what we ordered: salmon burger, veggie burger, vinaigrette salad with walnuts, sequoia burger, Kobe burger, filet with capers, ravioli, and some kids items, plus a Washington apple cocktail. They were all delicious! The only thing I would recommend is that the waitresses be more personable and approachable, I get that some days are off but I think it would help the reviews too. We loved the guy who cleaned our table with curly hair.. I apologize for forgetting your name, he was very friendly and hilarious. Thanks for a great experience overall!

Only thing good about this place was the view. The food was average, the price was horrendous. I ordered a burger and a drink, it cost $64 which included a 20% gratuity because we had a larger group. Also this is going to sound weird, but it's honestly accurate one of the kids got a pizza and it mildly tasted like pool chlorine (not saying there was chlorine in it or anything like that) but that was the flavor, I didn't eat more than one bite and I'm not a picky eater at all.

Great views of the river, cute atmosphere but we thought food just average. We expected superior for price. Server didn’t know much about different steaks and kept calling my husband Boss. I’d recommend you just get a burger and enjoy a cocktail and the view. Reserve a table by the window for best view of river. Or in warm weather the front, outside tables give you great river watching experience.

This review is for the restaurant and the view. While we haven’t stayed at the lodge, we look forward to our next trip to do just that. First off, the view is incredible. We had breakfast along the river and it was amazing! We had the breakfast burrito and the eggs and bacon breakfast plate. The food was pretty good, although the burrito could have used more salsa. But I do enjoy drowning my burritos in salsa haha! Looking forward to coming back and enjoying ourselves again!

We had dinner and breakfast here after visiting National Parks. We did not have reservations either time but they still seated us quickly. We were tired and hungry after traveling and sightseeing. Tyler was the best! What a great host, waiter, server with humor and attentiveness. His suggestions were fantastic! We actually shared a meal for an extra 10.00 but additional soup and veggie served. Breakfast was huge and filling to start our day traveling to San Francisco. I highly recommend and the patio views are great. Rafters go in here to go down river in mornings. Stayed to watch them for awhile. ....Folks from PA

My fiancé and I stayed at The Gateway for 3 nights while visiting Sequoia National Park- which is a less than 2 minute drive from there! We had nothing but wonderful experiences the entire time! Every meal we ate at the restaurant was excellent, our room was very nice, and the staff were super friendly and welcoming! We stayed in cabin 6, and I especially enjoyed that cabin’s private back patio. It was so nice to sit out there in the mornings with my coffee and listen to the river! We will definitely be back!

Horrible experience with the manager she yelled from the back kitchen area no walk ins while the sweet waitress was going to give us a table asking how many and rudely interrupted her! She said we are busy the whole place was empty not one person was there the group behind us was turned away as well. Next time manager come to the register and let people who drive hours to dine in and kindly say we are only taking reservations fix that on your business page as well.

This restaurant is a must-stop on your way to the Sequoias mountains. It's a great place to charge your electric car and grab a bite to eat. The inside of the restaurant is like a cozy bar and diner. They also have outdoor seating with an amazing view and heaters. There are plenty of seats, so you won't have to worry about finding a spot. If it's not too chilly, I highly recommend asking to be seated in their outdoor seating area towards the back. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and they make you feel right at home. We ordered a simple vegetarian omelet, and it was delicious!

Amazing location on the Kaweah River about 200 yards before the entrance to Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park. The view from the outdoor dining area is memorable. Service is friendly and attentive. However, it did take almost an hour for my French Dip. They were kinda busy...but in truth I think another server grabbed it for their party. All the meat is from nearby Harrison Ranch so it's fresh and the French Dip did not disappoint. And when they say famous potato salad, they mean it.

The service was good. The food was ok The cost was higher than it should be for brunch maybe come during the week when the breakfast is a little cheaper but does often scenic views and a good place. If you wanna stop and give it a try.

It was my wife and I's first night in Three Rivers and we had just finished a long day at Sequoia National Park. The Gateway is literally a couple minutes from the park's entrance and we decided to check it out. You do not have to be staying on the property to come into the restaurant. It was a Thursday night, around 6 PM or so. The restaurant was fairly full at this time and we waited about ten minutes to be seated. The hostess and the manager (we assume) were very kind and personable, joking with us as we checked in and waited. The inside of the restaurant felt "older," but cozy. There seemed to be plenty of seating, numerous tables throughout, but also not a lot of wiggle room between tables and chairs. We didn't have any issues with this, but a party next to us asked to move because of how "squished" they felt in their table. Our server was nice and prompt once we got sat. He was pretty quick to take our drink and food order. He did check on us throughout, so we appreciated that. When/if you check in a Yelp coupon comes up for a "Free Fountain Drink or Coffee" or something like that. We shared this with the server and he stated he had "no idea about anything like that"--we asked, "so.....we can do this or we can't?," in which he nervously responded "no, I don't think so." I really didn't care to make a big deal about it so I dropped it but just a heads up for anyone who checks in--unsure if they do honor that coupon or not. I ordered a cheeseburger with bacon with a double baked potato. The burger was just okay, nothing special at all. And the double baked potato was also just okay. The most disappointing thing for us is the fact that it cost us $60+ for two burgers, two sides and two drinks. The price on this trip here was not worth the quality of our meal. I don't think we'll be back whenever we're in the area again, but if we are we'll maybe try something else off the menu.

The Gateway is a staple. We've been stopping in when driving through Three Rivers for over 20 years. Beautiful views of the rushing River water if you sit outside. So close to the entrance of the park! Menu items are hit or miss. I always order a burger and am not disappointed. For example the Brie is not what you expect so stick to their bar type food and you won't be disappointed. Recently drove up for a middle of the week birthday dinner with a hotel reservation as we did not want to drink and drive. Friendly staff!

Years long family tradition of coming here and I just don't ever tire of the Gateway. Depending on the time of year, the river might be rushing or slow trickle. The landscapes ever changing and admiring the gigantic boulders there just gives so much pause. They are awe-inspiring. Some of them are still jagged, but others are smoothed from the water. It's just an incredible location and I've yet to find anywhere that has a better view in Three Rivers. We've come for drinks or a quick bite to eat. No matter the season or time of year. This place is always a fit. Sometimes getting a table can be a little time-consuming, it's not the fastest moving place but it's worth the delay. Definitely recommend a seating that gives you a view of the river.

My partner and I came here for Valentine's Day dinner, excited to see what this place had to offer. We made a reservation at 7:45pm and we were told we would have to wait 30 minutes before seated, despite arriving on time. All staff we encountered had an attitude. It felt like we were not welcome because we are not from this area. We were ignored for most of the dinner while basic service was only being provided to the locals. As for the food, the price is not at all worth the quality. It isn't terrible, but not worth a 140+ bill (with automatic gratuity of 20%) for one appetizer and two entrees. We were given poor service likely due to the fact that the servers did not have to worry about us tipping them. The ambiance is nice, but the overall experience was extremely negative and you should reconsider visiting this establishment if you are not willing to spend a lot of money for very average food and if you are an outsider that is here for visiting the Sequoia National Park.

We had an amazing experience at the Gateway Restaurant! We had dinner and drinks and cannot wait to make our return their one day. The entire staff was very friendly and welcoming. The ambiance was warm and cozy yet allowed for a more formal meal if that's what you're looking for. We arrived early and had drinks at the bar before our meal and then sat down for a full dinner service on 02/01/25. We ordered Filet Mignon and our food was fantastic! We were staying next store at the Buckeye Tree Lodge and this is the perfect next-door restaurant that you can walk right over to for an easy dinner! My last recommendation is that you do make a reservation, it's easy to do online! Thank you again to the staff for a lovely evening!

Loved our experience at the Gateway! The place has a super rustic feel right by the river. super convenient that it's right outside the park entry. The food was awesome, we first came and sat at the bar, staff and owners were super friendly and accommodating to our little puppy we had with us. We loved the food and experience that first night we ended up reserving their Thanksgiving dinner the next night and boy were we glad ! One of the best Osso Buco I have ever had. We definitely will be recommending this place to friends and family that will be going up to Sequoia and we look forward to going back next time!

Service was friendly and great! It wasn't so busy but there were a few parties around. I ordered a chicken salad which was perfect my friend got fish and chips. He said it was more delicious this time than the other times hes gone. It's always good

Our buddy Christopher at the bar took excellent care of us, with lots of humor!! Angus beef cheeseburger was delicious!

This place is awesome! Really good food with an awesome view. The entire staff was very attentive. My kids enjoyed everything. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. A little bit on the pricier side but everything was good.

We stayed at the Buckeye lodge a few feet away and this was the only restaurant that close, so we gave it a shot. We didnt have high hopes, but convince was a plus. Long story short, it was a great place. I risked the shrimp cocktail, and it was impressive! I had the Caesar salad and french onion soup. We shared the creme brulee...excellent. so we came for breakfast...yummm. the famous pancakes. I asked for crispy bacon and they got it perfect! We returned for dinner our second and final night. Another great experience. Its surprisingly good and super close to Sequoia national park. Right on a rushing mountain stream with lots of rocks. Service was also impressive. Highly recommend. Save room for dessert the creme brulee and lava cake were yumm.

Great staff very friendly! Service was slow as they were very busy on a Wednesday night in May. The view outside is so nice. The pizza was ok, nothing special. The mocha ice cream pie was really good! They lost power right after we ordered so we got lucky to have our dinner and dessert. Always good to have cash on hand since no power means no card payments. Thankfully our Airbnb was off the grid and still had power.

The food was super scrumptious! I had the fish and chips, while my husband had the Sequoia Burger. The staff is really friendly and attentive. The restaurant overlooks the river, what more can you ask for? I definitely recommend dining here.

You come for the views, not the food. Trust me when I say, the food is not it. Stick with drinks and admire the views

Food was great and so was service. We did have to wait 35 after our reservations to get seated and a little for our food. But it gave our group time to chat and enjoy.

We came here for dinner and luckily did not have to wait too long to get a table. The ambiance of the interior of the restaurant was very nice. There was such a beautiful view of the river and rocks on the side of the restaurant while we waited a few minutes before sitting inside at the table. If you want to sit outside, it's best to make a reservation. It got very busy, but the server still did a very good job on checking in with us if we needed anything from time to time. We ordered the main courses of scampi sauté, pork ribs, and red snapper ($30 each). Food was delicious and filling. I was able to get a free coffee after checking in to Yelp.

Very beautiful scenery, make sure to ask if you can get a seat outside on the balcony. If your a duck lover, your pretty much gonna love this view Extremely good service and kind workers, feels like a fairytale. Sequoia burger was SO juicy The bathroom felt like I was in Shrek Considering this my first time, it was such a great experience. - this was my 11 year old daughter's review. As you can see, she had a great time at this place, and she loved her food, so did all of us. The fish and chips were yummy! My husband loved the salmon burger and my dad also loved his New York steak sandwich. One thing I am unsure of is when I got the bill, there was already a pre chosen TIP included in the total. Then at the bottom are the suggested tips. I'm not sure if this is a new thing with restaurant bills, but I'm used to being handed the bill, and I choose what percentage of tip I want to give the server, following their suggested tips.

We came to Gateway 26 years ago and took our kids again this week! The place is good! We loved the view of the river before entering the Sequoia Park! Food was good and they had some GF&DF options! The service was a little slow but good!

Really good food . The guy outside cleaning the cob webs was more nice than our server . Nice view. Not many people but then again it is a Tuesday.

Great quality for right outside a national park. The prices were Bay Area prices however. But very happy there's a restaurant like this near Sequoia

Upon entering, we were not greeted. I had to be the one to initiate conversation with the girl. She looked young, perhaps not very well experienced. We originally wanted to sit outside however, the girl said that she would not be able to accommodate us (party of 6) if we complained about the bees. We asked to still be seated outdoors and she huffed and puffed as if it was a big deal. Food was pricy for being OK. The view outside is beautiful and the only thing that made it worth it.

This place is the Gateway to the Sequoia National Forest, no wonder a hamburger is named the sequoia. With indoor and outdoor seating, service is attentive and kind. The sequoia hamburger, to be honest it falls short of its name, with regards to size. Notwithstanding, it was well cooked and full of flavors. The fish and chips were great, as well as the garlic bread. The cherry on the ice cream is the view and the river stream flowing under the restaurant.

Took a last minute trip to Sequoia National Forrest and found the Gateway on Expedia. This charming little lodge is in a prime location, 2min from the entrance of the park. The entire staff was amazing, I don't think I've experienced any place that had an entire staff that was as friendly and welcoming as they are here. The restaurant was surprisingly good, way better than I expected it to be which was a very nice surprise since I am a foodie. Stay here if you're coming out this way, you will love it.

My wife and I had lunch there on Feb 2025 and ordered the Fish and chips and a Ruben Sandwich . The Fish looked just like the same one from a Frozen a Gordons Fish bag. We have some at home. Same triangular shape. The only difference was I put mine in the oven so mine at home were Crispier. and cost less than $10 a bag. Theirs seemed like it was deep fried because it was soaked in oil cost almost $30 for 3 oil soaked, soggy fish sticks. The Ruben sandwich wasn't bad . Not worth $33. The Waitress sat us down, took our orders, brought our food back , AND NEVER SAW HER AGAIN!! And she was supposed to bring some katsup back! So that's my experience with this OVER PRICED Restaurant. Serving FROZEN FISH STICKS STORE BOUGHT AT $10 AND RESELLING FOR $30 BUT JUST FOR 3 SOGGY PIECES!! Never going back.

Didn't eat here, but came by for a couple of beers after hiking in the park. Friendly people and cold beer, can't really ask for more!!

Do not skip this place! Come here and enjoy the view. What a beautiful location! Not only is the view and ambience perfect, the service and food is great. We ordered the mozzarella points and New York steak. The steak was cooked perfectly and melted in my mouth. We loved this place so much that we ended our night here every night on our trip. Kyle and Chris were so nice and made delicious drinks. They made us feel right at home. Thank you both for a wonderful time. We can't wait to go back to try more of the menu and visit with everyone.

The staff is super friendly, everything is clean, the food is delicious. The atmosphere is very pleasant

Came here for Thanksgiving after making a reservation and not Thankful for the food or service. I was told no special menu for the holiday, which was our preference. We get there and the only menu option is $75.00 per person. Our salads and some of our appetizers weren't ever delivered despite being included in the price. The food that did come out took forever. Then to be rushed out with pie given in to-gos and pieces were tiny and falling apart, no whipped cream after asking. No one cleared our tables. Terrible service! We were required to do a 20% tip. Being charged $75/ person for food never even delivered might as well be stealing. Dropped nearly $300 here or two weeks worth of groceries for mediocrity. Also was all you can eat but food took so long and never came out and left hungry. Will not be back. Edit: Yes, our server was informed. No, our server did not make a reasonable attempt to remedy the situation. Our server said kitchen is a mess, how about extra pie? Pie was packed to go and falling apart. Pie that is part of our included meal isn't a reasonable attempt to remedy never receiving two courses we ordered.

Good foods, wide selections at reasonable prices Jumbo shrimp cocktail gin-&-tonic with extra lime juice Lamb rack medium rare good service fantastic view: ducks, crows, and other birds Bring your fly swatter from your car or patience Enjoyed this place twice in two days

Great place for a dinner date with a view! The service was great and the food was good. This place is pretty pricey though and should have $$$$ not $$ otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.

Food was overpriced and bland. I get they are in a tourist part of town and its really only them and 2 other choices so they win on location. But the food was overpriced and no flavor. $20 for 6 shrimp cocktail. $25 for a burger and fries. If you plan on going call in advance and make a reservation as well.

Been there several times to have dinner and lunch also have stayed and done new years and it was a blast I recommend it

We had a great day at the Gateway! Near the river, the house offers a really rustic vibe. It's very handy that it's directly outside the park entrance. We arrived and sat at the bar first, and the owners and staff were really welcoming and accommodating to our small puppy. The food was fantastic. We ended up booking their Thanksgiving dinner for the following night because we like the meal and the experience so much the first night, and we were really happy about it! I had some of the greatest Osso Buco ever. We look forward to returning here in the future and will most certainly suggest it to friends and family who are planning a trip up to Sequoia!

I've been here 4 times and it's awful every time and way overpriced. Salad was from a bag which I always find gross. I ordered ribs with a twice baked potato and veggies. Ribs were dry, asparagus was really bad I think they boiled it along with those bagged baby carrots and a surprise raw string bean on my plate. Dad got the salmon which was decent. Sister got the chicken picatta and her entire plate was inedible. Kids got burgers. I picked up the bill which came out to $280 and they included a $44 tip for themselves. Bartender was great and my drink was delish.

There is nothing not to love about The Gateway! The location is gorgeous, the food is fresh and impeccably prepared. Wait staff is friendly and attentive. Glenn and Susan run a top shelf establishment and always make us feel welcome and special. It's our go to place for our special occasions. The Gateway never disappoints... and we have many great memories of our times there! Treat yourself and your loved ones and experience the beauty and deliciousness The Gateway offers.....you will not regret it!

Wife and I ate here 3 times over 2 days while visiting Sequoia NP. For a side of the road place I couldn't be happier! Food and service were great. Ambiance is a bit dated but clean and nice so who cares, I'm here to eat not critique their choice of wall paper! Gorgeous view of the river and rocks below. If we had stayed another day we would have eaten here 2X more.

I love coming here to sit on the patio to enjoy some cocktails with very yummy appetizers. In the summer, due to the aggressive yellow jackets they only have the patio dining open after dusk/dark. But the sound of the river rushing below the deck makes it all worth the wait!! This is a must stop for me when visiting Sequoia National Park.

If I could give a negative on service I would. I see why they charge a mandatory 20% tip on parties as small as 6. If they didn't no one would get a tip. Went in and literally was ignored for 20 minutes while other wait staff checked on other tables or walked by us with blank stares. Food was kind of ok but tourist trap prices as expected. Bill was about $250 total for the 6 of us. 3 beers. One coke. Two waters. 2 fish and chips, two casadilla (one with chicken $10 up charge) one fish sandwich and a salad. Oh and a cheese bread. On the way out the place was empty and a customer was complaining they had been waiting outside for a half hour waiting for a table. Train your staff and have them back each other up. It's not that hard if you care.

Great views and great waitstaff. We stopped after hiking all day at Sequoia NP for a drink. Waitstaff was pleasant and engaged. Christopher is a gem! Say on the side deck and enjoyed the view and sounds of the river. We didn't have dinner but stopped again the next day and had the mozzarella points (like sticks but triangles). Probably the best I've had anywhere. Marinara was delicious.

This restaurant is the perfect place to have a nice dinner after a long day in Sequoia! You can sit by the river, which makes for a relaxing ambiance. The food was incredible. I'd highly recommend getting a steak because they source them from a local ranch. Service was also super friendly and attentive. Taylor did an amazing job and created a great guest experience.

Terrific food, friendly and attentive staff in a beautiful setting. Perfect location for us while staying in Three Rivers exploring the National Park.

I checked in on Yelp and got a free soda coke and it had refills ...company got salad sandwich also mojito Cozy charming cabin interior lots of people working and really great view of streaming river by window Fun experience visiting restaurant near Sequoia park

My wife and I brought our service dog (TeHeyHey) for dinner here while we were exploring the national park and Three Rivers. My wife had the ribeye and I had a special - blackened salmon. Both were incredibly delicious! At the time of writing, this place gets a 3.3 Yelp rating, but it deserves 5 in our opinion. The food was excellent, the scenery and location are 10/10 but our server, Caitlyn, was truly exceptional and she really made our evening! She was so fun to chat with and our dog absolutely loved her. Every now and then you bump into a beautiful soul who elevates your day, that is Caitlyn. Thank you for making our last meal in Three Rivers, a truly exceptional and special one.

Here is the owners response to every poor rating........... Thank you so much for your detailed feedback. We are sorry to hear that both times you chose to visit The Gateway Restaurant and Lodge did not exceed our standards and certainly your expectations. Were you able to connect again with your server or possibly a manager on duty with your concerns? We value the opportunity to remedy these situations and will definitely follow up on this experience. Please reach out if you have any other questions or concerns. If you had a manager on either of the 2 days we visited your restaurant then you should probably fire them - if a customer returns 1 entree, let alone 2, a manager CERTAINLY should address the issue with the customer directly. As far as behavior breeds behavior I believe this owner is at the ROOT of this restaurants issues, definitely not concerned about solutions based on the standard pointless responses she gives every bad review......

The food was honestly really great and the service was perfect! My mom and I plan on returning again sometime during our stay here at Sequoia. Also!! not to mention the beautiful scenery:)

We had a great experience here. Given that there are not many choices we came here twice . First time we were a bit disappointed because the ribeye steak wasn't perfect. It was cooked medium as ordered but it was chewy like it wasn't a ribeye cut. Also the spices used were a bit strong. While the streak felt juicy it was under seasoned the spices made me burp weird after I only tried a piece of my husband steak. I got the red snapper and was happy with that and with baked potato. The next day I got the chicken piccata and my husband got steak n lobster ( which came to $120). Lobster was great , of course, I tried some too. Steak was ok. My chicken piccata was amazing! Tender , juicy , seasoned to perfection! I got it with rice which was also moist and green beans also cooked perfectly. Both times our servers were great! They were nice, attentive and not overwhelming;) Of course prices a bit on a higher side but given it's a tourist area reasonable as to me. I definitely recommend! Make sure you make a reservation ahead that will save you a bit of trouble, they get busy at times. Parking is on your luck lol They don't have so much, but what do you expect.

Stopped in just for a few drinks while waiting for our room at an Airbnb to be ready. The hostess and bartender were extremely friendly and made us feel very welcome. The other employees were also friendly and funny to talk with. Great experience.