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In the Park
South Rim
Arizona Room.
$$ | STEAKHOUSE | The canyon views from this casual Southwestern-style steakhouse are the best of any restaurant at the South Rim. The menu includes such delicacies as chile-crusted pan-seared wild salmon, chipotle barbecue baby back ribs, and half-pound buffalo burgers with Gorgonzola aioli. For dessert, try the cheesecake with prickly-pear syrup paired with one of the house’s specialty coffee drinks. Seating is first-come, first-served, so arrive early to avoid the crowds. | Average main: $22 | Bright Angel Lodge, Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon Village | 928/638–2631 | www.grandcanyonlodges.com | Closed Jan. and Feb. No lunch Nov. and Dec. | Reservations not accepted.
Bright Angel Restaurant.
$ | SOUTHWESTERN | No surprises, affordable dishes here will fill your belly at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Entrées include such basics as salads, steaks, lasagna, burgers, fajitas, and fish tacos (sandwiches are options at lunch). Or you can step it up a notch and order some of the same selections straight from the Arizona Room menu, including prime rib, baby back ribs, and wild salmon. For dessert try the warm apple grunt cake topped with vanilla ice cream. Be prepared to wait for a table: the dining room bustles all day long. The plain decor is broken up with large-pane windows and original artwork. | Average main: $12 | Bright Angel Lodge, Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon Village | 928/638–2631 | www.grandcanyonlodges.com | Reservations not accepted.
Canyon Café at Yavapai Lodge.
$ | AMERICAN | Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this cafeteria in the Yavapai Lodge, across from Market Plaza, serves down-home staples like as chicken pot pie, fried catfish, and fried chicken. Fast-food favorites include pastries, burgers, and pizza. There isn’t a fancy bar, but you can order beer and wine with your meal. Resembling an old-fashioned diner, the large cafeteria has easy-to-read signs that point the way to your favorite foods. | Average main: $7 | Yavapai Lodge, Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon Village | 928/638–2631 | www.grandcanyonlodges.com/canyon-cafe-423.html | Closed Nov.–Feb. (except during Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas wk) | Reservations not accepted.
Fodor’s Choice | El Tovar Dining Room.
$$$ | SOUTHWESTERN | No doubt about it—this is the best restaurant for miles. Modeled after a European hunting lodge, this rustic 19th-century dining room built of hand-hewn logs is worth a visit. The cuisine is modern Southwestern with an exotic flair. Start with the smoked salmon–and–goat cheese crostini or the acclaimed black bean soup. The dinner menu includes such hearty yet creative dishes as prickly pear– and orange-glazed duck with roasted poblano black bean rice, grilled New York strip steak with au gratin potatoes, and a vegetarian ratatouille over polenta. The dining room also has an extensive wine list. TIP Dinner reservations can be made up to six months in advance with room reservations, and 30 days in advance for all other visitors. If you can’t get a dinner table, consider lunch or breakfast—the best in the region with dishes like polenta corncakes with prickly pear–pistachio butter and prime rib hash. | Average main: $27 | El Tovar Hotel, Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon Village | 303/297–2757, 888/297–2757 for reservations only | www.grandcanyonlodges.com | Reservations essential.
Maswik Cafeteria.
$ | AMERICAN | You can get a burger, hot sandwich, pasta, or Mexican fare at this food court, as well as pizza by the slice and wine and beer in the adjacent Maswik Pizza Pub. This casual eatery is ¼ mile from the rim, and the Pizza Pub stays open until 11 pm (you can also order pizza to take out). Lines can be long during high-season lunch and dinner, but everything moves fairly quickly. | Average main: $7 | Maswik Lodge, Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon Village | www.grandcanyonlodges.com | Reservations not accepted.
North Rim
Deli in the Pines.
$ | AMERICAN | Dining choices are limited on the North Rim, but this is your best bet for a meal on a budget. Selections include pizza, salads, deli sandwiches, hot dogs, homemade breakfast pastries and burritos, and soft-serve ice cream. Best of all, there is an outdoor seating area for dining alfresco. It’s open for lunch and dinner. | Average main: $6 | Grand Canyon Lodge, Bright Angel Point | North Rim | 928/638–2611 | www.grandcanyonforever.com | Closed mid-Oct.–mid-May | Reservations not accepted.
Fodor’s Choice | Grand Canyon Lodge Dining Room.
$$ | AMERICAN | This historic lodge has a huge, high-ceilinged dining room with spectacular views and decent food, though the draw here is definitely the setting. You might find smoked, chipotle-glazed pork chop, bison flank steak, and grilled ruby trout for dinner. The filling, simply prepared food takes a flavorful turn with Southwestern spices and organic selections. It’s also open for breakfast and lunch. A full-service bar and an impressive wine list add to the relaxed atmosphere of the only full-service, sit-down restaurant on the North Rim. Dinner reservations are essential in summer and on spring and fall weekends. | Average main: $20 | Grand Canyon Lodge, Bright Angel Point | North Rim | 928/638–2611 | www.grandcanyonforever.com | Closed mid-Oct.–mid-May.
Grand Cookout.
$$$ | AMERICAN | Dine under the stars and enjoy live entertainment at this chuck wagon–style dining experience—a popular family-friendly choice among the North Rim’s limited dining options. Fill up on Western favorites at the all-you-can-eat buffet, including barbecue beef brisket, roasted chicken, baked beans, and cowboy biscuits. The food is basic and tasty, but the real draw is the nightly performance of Western music and tall tales. Transportation from the Grand Canyon Lodge to the cookout (1 mile away) is included in the price. Be sure to call before 4 pm for dinner reservations. Advance reservations are taken by phone (during winter months) or at the Grand Canyon Lodge registration desk. | Average main: $30 | Grand Canyon Lodge | North Rim | 928/638–2611, 928/645–6865 in winter | www.grandcanyonforever.com | Closed Oct.–May. No lunch | Reservations essential.