Made reservations with El Tovar while staying at the Grand Canyon. Overall, our whole experience was below neutral. Online reservation was difficult. I would say that I made a reservation for 2 a month earlier and had to book earlier (5:30pm) than my desired time. A couple weeks later, we had another couple join our trip and revising the reservation was not possible so I booked another reservation (5:00pm) for 2 for the couple. I showed up at the restaurant 30 minutes prior to the first reservation and asked if it was possible to get a table for 4 for either time slot and was told by the host that it could not be done because they expected to be full. Understandable. When it was 5pm, the party of 4 arrived and I asked again if we could eat together with a new host to which she said yes. The restaurants dining is a large room and 80% of the room was empty. My party, along with 2-3 couples and a single diner were placed at the side of the room that didn't have the Grand Canyon to view. It made no sense to me because the establishment wasn't even full.. Chris was our server and he was alright. Food was overpriced and underwhelming. Our party ordered the ribeye special, elk bolognese, cheese tortellini, and strip steak that came out to $200+. Tortellini was extremely salty because of the salami. The bolognese noodles were overcooked spaghetti. Both steaks were requested medium well but ribeye was medium rare and strip was well done and tough. Even the house bread was dry. I was already expecting that the food wasn't going to be amazing but with the disappointment of not even being able to see the sunset was just icing on the cake. If I had the choice, I'd have a packed meal outside in the cold and save the money. read more

El Tovar - Skirt steak. Dry and unsalted. - Hotels Near Me - Grand Canyon, Arizona

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. read more

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Arizona 01-2024 El Tovar Hotel at Grand Canyon...okay who knows this hotel? YES, it's right out of Chevy Chase's VACATION Movie...this is the hotel Clark & Helen enjoyed the viewed of "Largest Hole in the Damn World"... Tony and I went inside and enjoyed a drink at the lovely dark oak wood lined bar with big windows facing the canyon The hotel and bar is so lovely in this Vintage 1920s hotel perched on the edge of the south rim of the canyon. read more

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Rude staff. Booked a room with 2 beds. Room had one bed and not even enough room for a cot. You can see the only chair that would fit in the room. Let's not forget we had to hike up 3 flights of stairs with our luggage. The location is great but that's it. The heat woke us up it was so loud every time it turned on. The bar is small, and I mean small so good luck trying to get a seat. Dinner in the dining room was just fowl. The Grand Canyon is breathtaking but make it a day from Sedona. read more

El Tovar - Hotels Near Me - Grand Canyon, Arizona

A foretaste of assisted living This place is very shabby, threadbare and slightly sticky. The few remaining carpet threads never see a vacuum cleaner. The pillows are uniquely tiny. Where do they even find pillows that size? And the most bizarre mix of junky furniture and 80s lamps which must have come from the Goodwill. It smells like an old folks' home. The staff are really nice, albeit rules-y. It's also phenomenally expensive. If our room was sub $200 I'd not bother to review this place, just would never go back. But we paid over $600! Again, I could understand it if they wanted to make the grand canyon accessible for everyone. But this is really only available to the wealthy who get robbed. Very strange. Great location. read more

El Tovar - $600 a night? Really?? - Hotels Near Me - Grand Canyon, Arizona

Had dinner with 5 other people on Saturday 4/15. We were seated in the Roosevelt room. so we had the room to ourselves. Felt special, of course. The server was excellent (Nick) The food - I had salmon tostada - excellent. My overall experience was awesome. read more

We stayed at the El Tovar. The view of the Grand Canyon is amazing, and that's what you're going there for. If you've never seen it, you need to at least once before you die. No picture you've ever seen of it does it justice. The hotel itself is over a hundred years old, which is part of its charm, but here's what you can expect. The service/staff is amazing, and the restaurant's food quality is just okay. We got the stuffed trout and didn't like it, but the appetizers and breakfast we had the next morning were good. The room we stayed in wasn't comfortable. Old spring mattress, low water pressure in the shower, and it was hot in there no matter how low we cranked the AC. Seems like they have poor insolation in the entire hotel because it was hot everywhere. Overall we enjoyed ourselves, and the Grand Canyon made it all worth it, but if you're hoping for a luxury hotel, you'll be disappointed. You're paying for the view. read more

El Tovar - Grand Canyon!!! - Hotels Near Me - Grand Canyon, Arizona

If I could give zero stars, I would. This place is a joke. $600 for a room (matchbox size) with a view of parking in the basement. Couldn't park nearby, couldn't get a cocktail as line to get in bar war too long populated by people not staying at hotel and couldn't eat dinner as reservations were taken.....again by people not staying at hotel. Btw, those were the same people taking all parking spots. Foll me once shame on me, if you stay here shame on you! The "value add" is supposedly it was built in 1905, fyi last time they put dime into was 1906! Ac heating unit sounded like a semitruck all night. Bottom line, I wouldn't stay here again for $100. This place was horrendous. read more

The profession of love makes one vulnerable, and requires the wherewithal to fulfill the commitment. Such was my predicament on that fateful day, many years ago when I first professed my love towards my beloved. It was in the El Tovar hotel, where this young man was about to make a lifelong commitment. I still remember pacing up and down these narrow hallways, as I waited for her to get ready for our dinner date. We were guests at this hotel, and I surmised that the hotel, and the beauty of the Grand Canyon would make a great backdrop for what I was about to affirm. The door opened, and what I beheld was breathtaking! The setting sun glimmered through the window behind her as she stood in the doorway. There were no words to describe how beautiful she was and how awestruck I was! She wore an aquamarine colored sheath dress, with black trimming on both the edges and the buttons. I gladly, and proudly, escorted her to the El Tovar Dining room, where we sat by the window that gave us a great view of the canyon. It was on that impactful day that I made a promise and commitment to her that I would love her for as long as I lived. It may sound corny to the casual observer, but the vulnerability I felt at that moment, and cost of my pledge that was simply immeasurable. After dinner, we made our way to El Tovar Lounge; not to drink as I was underage at the time, but to borrow a portable piano that one of the guests had brought. I wanted to express myself and regale her with love songs from different eras, as everyone else just spectated and marveled. One of the songs that I sang was "You're looking like love to me!" Some of the verses went like this: Do I expect too much And move too fast Do I expect so much So soon to last, forever I'm gonna toss All caution to the wind And let my deep down Feelings overflow I bet my life on us Tonight, I tell you, trust in me You're looking like love to me I'd like to say that after all of the preparation and my heartfelt expressions that her response would be in the form of a simple word - Yes! However, such was not the case. She was scared. This was an emotion that was unknown to her, and someone like me was a fictional character torn from some fantasy novel meant to give women false hope. From her experience, after all the abandonment and emptiness she had experienced in her life, this was just another ruse because the gods are not that kind! We left home for Phoenix the next day. The ride home was quieter, and the silence was uncomfortable. The next few months would prove to be the beginning of heartache for me, and an even further downward spiral for her. Until she could go no further, and our friendship came to that pivotal fork on the road. She reached out to me one last time, and I promised her that if she gave me her heart and took my hand, that I would treasure both and never let go for the rest of my mortal life. After all these years of marriage, and 4 children later - I've never failed in my promise. I have never given up. I have never faltered. And she can be as vulnerable as she wants to with me, and can rest assured that her heart will never, ever be torn again. I may never some famous person that I aspired to be. Nor one of the wealthiest. But to her, in her eyes, I will be the one and only person that has never failed her. And I'm good with that. And just like our story, this hotel may be rough on the edges, and we may have higher expectations than the facilities and circumstances provide; however, it makes a perfect backdrop to an amazing life - and in most people's cases, a wonderful vacation. It's merely an accoutrement to an otherwise wonderful experience, and the beauty of the surroundings is what brings people from all over the world to this place. I hope that you enjoy the experience and scenery as we did, even after all these years. As we were leaving the premises, I glanced towards her direction and could not help but exclaim, "Still Beautiful after all these years!" And she remarked, "I know, the Grand Canyon is still so gorgeous." And I replied, "I wasn't talking about the Grand Canyon...." read more

Amazing views! the food is marginal and the staff is unfriendly across the board. No question that the venue is well placed but the rest of the experience is underwhelming. So if you are gonna come and stay just aim low and avoid disappointment. read more

El Tovar - Hotels Near Me - Grand Canyon, Arizona

Three words...location, location, location! In addition, one more important word...convenience! Picture this, waking up early, brewing yourself a hot cup of coffee, and stepping out the front door of your hotel to one of the natural wonders of the world to greet the sunrise. And still in your pajamas! Then crawling back into a warm bed. Imagine after dinner, stepping out that same door with a hot cup of tea or glass of wine, your camera, and watching the sunset with the fiery red glow of the canyon as your backdrop. What's this? One of your kids are bored or have to use the bathroom? Easy...they just walk themselves back into your hotel room 50 steps behind you. This is not a 5 star hotel. It isn't modern. Lots of brown wood. If you've seen the movie "The Shining", picture that hotel but much smaller and without the murderous axe-wielding Father. I personally loved the historic feel of the place. For a hotel that is 120 years old, it is well maintained. Just knowing Presidents and other famous people walked the same halls or ate in the same dining room made the experience that much better. The best part for me as a Dad with 4 kids, you park once and then you don't have to see your car for the rest of your Grand Canyon excursion. The shuttle that travels the length of the South Rim both east and west has a stop just a short walk away. The cons of this place is fairly obvious. It's very expensive, you are trapped in a time warp (think early to mid 1900's), and finding an affordable sit down meal for a young family is challenging (breakfast was excellent, dinner was very average, but both expensive...side note: breakfast doesn't require reservations, but dinner requires reservations way in advance). But you aren't here for the pool with free flowing banana daiquiris. You aren't here for 18 holes of golf. The Grand Canyon awaits! And it's conveniently located outside your front door!!! read more

El Tovar - Front of hotel, limited parking located across the driveway. More parking down the hill across the street (South of the hotel). - Hotels Near Me - Grand Canyon, Arizona

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Just did dinner here with my wife. Reservations are suggested but dining room was not even half full. Two fireplaces (one on each end) and decent vibe. Not much view of canyon but service and food was pretty good. The filet was fine, mashed potato's and some colored carrots. Wife got the elk pasta which was basically like spaghetti. French onion soup pretty good. Some families, older and young couples dining. Dress code smart casual. read more

We booked 3 rooms. Very pricey for old, dated rooms. Also, the restaurant is absolutely terrible and extremely overpriced. Come here to sleep and be close to the Grand Canyon, and that's it. The service is terrible (they tried to give us a room with broken AC and we had to complain about it to 3 people before given a new room). Wouldn't have been a. Problem if it wasn't summer and 105 degrees out. Would avoid this place unless you want to be close to the canyon: overpriced hotel with shitty service and amenities. read more

El Tovar - Hotels Near Me - Grand Canyon, Arizona

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The location and beauty is spectacular. However lunch and dinner reservations are hard to get prior to 30- days in advance. We walked in at the bar lounge for cocktails. Had a 30+ minute wait but a 30+ minute wait to get a glass of water. Several minutes to get order placed. Not very organized as far as service. Very disappointing. read more

Came here for dinner and it was delicious. The place felt very historical to me. Their banana creme brulee was definitely what I remembered most about the meal and it was great. Loved it so much that I wanted to order another. haha read more

After reading numerous reviews about El Tovar and the web site, it was highly recommended that we made reservations, so we did. We went to the restaurant the 2nd night were stayed in the Grand Canyon (the first night we went to the Arizona Room). We arrived a few minutes early - maybe 10 minutes - and the hostess welcomed us and thanked us for "checking in" early, but looked forward to our return at our scheduled reservation. We were intrigued by this type of response and thought the table wasn't ready and we also heard them turning people away because they didn't have a reservation... most of them were making reservations for latter that night. While we waited, we went to the lounge and had a drink... a little pricey and the outdoor seating wasn't open since it was so windy. Once it was time for our reservation, we went back to the hostess and checked back in, they welcomed us back... When we were taken into the restaurant we noticed about 1/2 the tables were empty! We were so surprised that they didn't seat us when we first checked in AND that they were turning people away. Our server was friendly, but not too attentive. One of us received a lunch menu instead of a dinner menu, which lead to a lot of confusion. We all ordered - I had the Natural Chicken marsala, which was served over angel hair pasta with seasonal veggies. It was good, not the best I've had, but decent. When you look at the price, it's not "worth" the price ($22.25). We also had a dessert, which was amazing! I would go back just for the dessert... Throughout our meal, we kept commenting on how empty the dinning room was and were amazed that they were turning people away rather than seating them... Overall, I would not spend the money at El Tovar and we all agreed that we were glad we didn't spend the money on a room at El Tovar (we stayed 2 buildings over at Thunderbird Lodge). read more

El Tovar - El Tovar plate - Hotels Near Me - Grand Canyon, Arizona

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Location, location! That's about it. Great to hike and come back to your hotel after a long day and stargaze at night!! However, the lack of service, smiles and food quality sucks! The water pressure was low, the bed was not comfortable and the room was always hot, even when the AC was running. Without a doubt stay somewhere else, it not worth the price for what you pay for! Nope to the Management, please remodel you rooms. read more

***This review is for their restaurant***. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time around dinnertime, it is needed, otherwise you may not be able to get in even on a week day night. We went there twice 2 nights in a row, the first night upon our arrival was just appetizers, salad and desserts which all good. The crab cakes were quite flavorful, their desserts are homemade in house. The cheese cake was perhaps one of the better ones I've had in a while along with the Napolean which was a custard with cinnamon crisps which were both really good. The next night we had dinner entrees with desserts. The entree sizes were bigger than what we're used to for upscale dining for the prices here compared to San Diego! One entree which was a pork chop was adored by my husband. I had their fish special which was really good with the sauces, however the risotto I felt wasn't creamy enough. The desserts were again really good, I didn't care for much for the chocolate taco since I was really digging for their humble cake (forgot the name) but it tasted similar to a hybrid cake of zucchini, banana and carrot, this was perhaps one the most unique cakes I had that was really good in texture with their cheesecake frosting. If you want upscale dining with some international flairs to it, then consider this place. The location of this hotel, during the daytime, I bet if you sit near the windows would be spectacular. However, parking is very limited so you might have to park and walk quite far since there is no valet parking. read more

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Last Wednesday, I called El Tovar and made reservations (which are required for dinner) for Thursday night. Now, I yelped the restaurant before our trip, so my expectations were not high. I had the penne and my husband the veal marsala. Both entrees were very bland. The veal was chewy and difficult to cut. The big surprise was the black bean soup. It was served in a tortilla bowl and was spicy and very yummy! Again, because of the yelp reviews, we knew we needed to go back to the El Tovar for breakfast. Breakfast, as it turns out, was awesome! We arrived at 8am (reservations not required) and were seated near a window overlooking the Grand Canyon...fabulous! I had the prime rib hash and my husband an avocado and cheese omelet. Service for both meals was prompt and professional. Overall, for the money we paid for dinner ($100.00 for two drinks, two soups, and two entrees), it was not worth it. However, for the quality and quantity of food served for breakfast ($40.00 for two drinks, two entrees), I promise it is worth your time to try it out. read more

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We opted for an early lunch to avoid crowds and since you can't get a lunch reservation, this was a good thing as it was hopping when we left. We chose it for its unique experience during our day trip to the Grand Canyon. It is a fancier setting with a casual dress code. The hotel itself is unique as well. On to the food. You start by entering and viewing the desserts, which I wished we would have tried, but we were on a budget. Many of them looked yummy and we took advantage of the display to grab pictures for future yelpers. Our waters were always full just when needed and there were gluten free options or substitutions which was important for our party. We ordered 7 meals. We grabbed pictures of most of our food half eaten as we were famished when we arrived and almost forgot. The first was the capellini pasta entree which was quite small for the cost but a great light entree and subtle yet good flavoring. Next, a Mediterranean salad with chicken was ordered, also a little small for the cost, unique but expectable. The quiche was also ordered with seafood chowder, and I was told it was good, fairly priced. The pesto chicken salad sandwich on gluten free bread with fruit, some of which I tried, was good, but could use some more distinct flavoring other than the pesto. The kids ordered a quesadilla which came in four quartered pieces and with a scoop each of sour cream, salsa and guacamole in a taco bowl, unique but very predictable and not all that great taste wise, but at $4.25, a decent deal. The second was the chicken strips with fries. This was a good deal at $5.50 as it came with a healthy serving of fries and three large patty size chicken strips. The last kid ordered mac'n'cheese solo which was overpriced at $4.25 and looked like it came straight out of a box, so meh. A complimentary table basket of mini banana bread muffins came with our meal (would have been better to have them before the meals arrived), and they were very good. Almost all the dessert options looked delicious and pretty good sized for cost, but we didn't have room in our budget to splurge. The setting of the dining hall and hotel was neat and felt fancy, but the food was a little underwhelming to match it. Have lower expectations, and I think it will be better enjoyed. read more

We went on a trip to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon while we were in the area. Funny thing, even though I pretty much grew up on Phoenix, it wasn't until this trip that I actually visited the Grand Canyon or Lake Powell! Kind of like the fact that I have been in the Bay Area for just about as long and have still never been to Alcatraz or Muir Woods! We made reservations to come here for dinner as a way to do a late celebration for my MIL's birthday and an early way to celebrate my husband's birthday with the family. This is definitely a destination point restaurant/lodge and one really needs reservations (at least for large party). This is a fancy pants dinner with a casual dress code (it gets HOT in the summer). We were a party of 9 and all ordered different meals. What I can say is that the meal started off with some really good bread, good iced tea and nice service. Most everyone started with a soup or salad. The French onion soup was fine-not the best or worse I have had and the Caesar was that of the bottled and boxed crouton kind. Definitely could have done without. I had a steak of some sort and shared it with my SIL and nephew. The meat was cooked perfectly and very tasty. My husband and FIL ordered a filet with shrimp. They both loved the filet but both agreed the shrimp was the defrosted frozen kind and was probably defrosted a little too soon. It lacked flavor or that snap when biting into it. The daughter ordered the mahi-mahi that came with the oddest sauce any of us had heard of so she ordered it on the side. It was a cream based sauce made with hunks of cantaloupe and honeydew with some almonds. She was a great sport and tasted it feeling very happy about her "on the side" decision. We had a chuckle about how they could have come up with such a concoction and decided a bit too much Top Chef/Food Network watching. We ended the meal with dessert -2 comped for the birthdays a lovely rhubarb/peach cobbler thing and a chocolate cake of some kind. The nephew had a small sundae as did Grammie and we left some 2.5 hours later stuffed. read more

I've been to the Grand Canyon many times over the last 30 years, but i've never stayed at El Tovar any any number of reasons. However, for this trip was just for one night and i figured I'd spring for this classic resort. I AM SO GLAD I DID! Location Location Location. Who could argue with the ease of stepping out of your room and within 30 seconds being able to overlook the magnificent sunset or sunrise over the canyon? I couldn't do that during my stays in Tusyan. Want to sit on a rocking chair and feel the cool breeze in the evening? El Tovar is so relaxing. Ease of reservations. Nothing was available online, so i called the resort directly. I got Robert and he was one of the most thoughtful team members I could have gotten in touch with. He was friendly, efficient and was thorough in giving me options on my stay. Class Act! The rooms? for as old as this resort is, the rooms were great. Fabulous beds. Great layout (for the small foot print). and Very well kept. Aura. completely comfortable and rustic. Fabulous restaurant on site. Close to everything you come to the canyon for. My next trip to the Grand Canyon will be at El Tovar. read more

Returning to the Rim after backpacking for five days in the Grand Canyon backcountry, we decided to reward ourselves with a good meal from El Tovar. According to yelp and other places, reservations are a must, so I called around 5pm and got a table for two @ 9pm. Not bad, but not great, so we did some laundry, and showed up at 8 to have a drink and possibly snag a table earlier than we booked... nope, our table wasn't ready until 9, though the dinning room was half-empty when we our pager buzzed. The main dinning room is an impressive great room with a large fireplace, high ceilings, white tablecloths... just what you'd expect for a rustic grand old lodge. We both ordered the NY Strip with cornmeal onion rings and roasted fingerling potatoes ~$30. I ordered it medium rare while my father ordered his rare. While the meat was tender and delicious, it was also cooked medium to well done. Nonetheless, after eating freeze dried meats for the last five days, I was ravenous. We also ordered a bottle of the J.Lohr Seven Oaks Cab Sauvignon ~$38. All in all, the food was good, service was polite and "exotic" as our server had a deep south american accent (though he had lived in the Grand Canyon for the last 25 years). It is overpriced, but it is in a tourist trap and it is the best option if you have money to burn. read more

This is a review of the Restaurant/Dining Room only. We were not lucky enough to score a room at this Inn (they get reserved MONTHS in advance), but we were able to get a dinner reservation. I loved the cozy, hominess of the Inn-- a typical sort of mountain lodge with big beams, river rock fireplace, high ceilings, etc. We first had a drink in the bar-- the plates/dishware had cool old Railroad logos, etc.--- plus some very tasty Buffalo chicken wings. Great service, cozy wonderful room. The water was good too-- it comes from the mountains inside the park. We stayed at a hotel in Tusayana, just outside the park and were told that ALL water used there has to be trucked in-- one reason those hotels are so expensive. However, the inns inside the park use the mountain water. the dinner menu was slightly pricey, but our food was wonderful! I ordered the NY Strip steak, which was topped with fried onions.. one of the best steaks I have ever had! My son had shrimp cocktail-- loaded with big, luscious, plump shrimp; and a bowl of French Onion Soup-- very good. It is a charming, rustic place. We finished and left at about 10:15pm. To our surprise, as we exited out to the front porch-- two huge male Elks were grazing on the lawn inside the circular driveway. Huge, majestic, quiet and barely moving. That was so magical and a great way to end our wonderful meal. read more

We had a number of meals here over a Thanksgiving holiday and all were very good. The portion size is a bit large so order accordingly. The salads were fresh, soups had flavor and depth, the entrees were all surprisingly delicious. We thought the service was exceptional. Never did try the desserts because we were always too full. It feels like a special place, rustic and historic and with the best views in the world! read more

El Tovar is the only fine-dining option at the Grand Canyon South Rim. That being said, it is to their credit that they still commit to delivering a fine meal instead of coasting along on their location alone. I dined with a companion on an early Friday evening. The ambience, of course, is an historical treat, being a Fred Harvey Hotel with what is arguably the best view in the United States. The wait-staff were varied, some appearing to be recently hired trainees from around the world, others having had years of experience at the Tovar. All were aiming to please, happily acquiescing to special requests, answering questions about all topics, and generally wearing a smile. The food was a solid 4-stars. My filet was melt-in-your-mouth, as promised by my waiter. The mashed potatoes were just, "good", the green beans adequate. The flourless chocolate cake was very good (but charging an extra $3.75 for a la mode without warning was unnecessary). Though some menu items could be improved, the majority are good enough to leave the patron full and pleased (especially after a full glass of wine from a fairly decent selection, considering the remote location). I am somehow drawn back to the beautiful canyon every few years, and I cannot make the trip without visiting this fine old establishment. read more

Completely overrated and overpriced, bland food. We kept hearing this was the best dinner spot on the South Rim, so I guess we had no other choice....very disappointing. On a positive note, the dining room itself is beautiful, but would only come back for drinks and maybe a salad. Our meal breakdown: Bread: Flavorless, gross. Dinner salad: fine, nothing fancy Main course: Chicken Marsala, really boring, no flavor---BLAND! Dessert: Key Lime Pie---Ok, but they put this disgusting fluorescent green gel to under the dessert which tainted the entire dish. Be warned! Spend your money elsewhere. read more

Service is vacant and seemingly un motivated, food is ordinary, however, that doesn't mean it is inexpensive. We were seated in the back of the restaurant overlooking the train, in a crowded "hotel linen" dining room. Menu states a utility surcharge will be added to the bill, a little off putting - ended up being 47 cents. French Onion soup, "wild" Salmon, Natural pork sounded way better on the menu then then actually tasted. The citrus butter for the salmon was a scoop of margarine, the BBQ sauce for the pork was honey ketchup, the broccoli was hard to cut with a knife. It is a shame that one of the 7 wonders of the world, located in a great venue could serve such uninspired, mediocre food. Please save your money and use it to purchase something from the park that will help preserve it's rich history. If you are hungry, check out the snack machine in the lower lobby read more

This review is for their restaurant/lounge only as I wasn't much farther into the hotel than that. With limited options at the Canyon during a recent stay, my friends and I decided that the only place to take reservations couldn't be all that bad. We were absolutely right. The specialty drinks are absolutely amazing (I had the El Tovar Delight) and the staff was very (but almost too) attentive. We arrived early for our reservation and were given a pager to take with us as we sat in the small but cozy lounge. When dinner was ready we were seated at what I think would've been a gorgeous spot during the day as it was all windows, but at 9:15pm you could only see a bit of your reflection. The menu looked fantastic, and everything looked good, but nothing stuck out as an absolute must have. It was also a bit on the expensive side. I ended up with the veal marsala and polenta and it was exquisite. Much better than I imagined it tasting which is a huge bonus. There's nothing worse than when the opposite happens. Dessert was a must try and we split some hummingbird cake and espresso mousse in a chocolate taco, which was the prettiest display I've ever seen with a rainbow of sugar gel on the side of the taco. Both were so good we stuffed ourselves to eat all we could. I can see this being one of my favorite spots to dine at the Grand Canyon when I want to glam up my day after getting down and dirty in the canyon! Put on your nicest jeans, a little bit of lip gloss and head over early so you have time to stop at the lounge! read more

We walked along the rim trail on a hot afternoon, taking in the sights and decided to give the El Tovar a try for lunch. We walked right in and was seated at a table with a nice view of the canyon. The beautiful old inn is charming and the service was excellent. The hamburger was nicely seasoned although the medium rare looked more like medium. The side salad was small but adequate. The Navajo Taco, (a taco salad served on Indian fry bread) was outstanding and much lighter than anticipated. Our dining experience was very pleasant and a huge improvement over other National Park lodge restaurants. A perfect way to celebrate a birthday lunch. read more

The El Tovar restaurant was way over-hyped to me. I was expecting white glove service and the best food in Arizona. What I got was "just okay" food, and service that was awkward and slow. I dined there on this past sunday night, and we arrived about 5-10 minutes early for our reservation, yet we didn't sit for at least half an hour. We finally sat, and from the start, the service seemed like it was going to be fantastic. Ladies first, never letting a water glass get lower than 3/4s full, etc etc. Then our waitress then came to our table and introduced herself in the quietest voice I've ever heard. I never knew what her name was, or what the specials were. The menu seems like a hit, but don't be fooled, everything is a lot more simply prepared and bland than the menu leads you to believe. I ordered the Buffalo NY Strip, Medium Rare as our server suggested, and was expecting a great dish. My first impression upon seeing it? "Wow, this is kinda lame.." Boring presentation, steamed side veggies with no flavor, and my meat was cooked almost blue rare. I couldn't eat it because I felt like I was eating a raw slab-o-meat. I tried to get her attention that my buffalo was too rare for me, but she was in such a hurry to go elsewhere that she didn't hear me calling her. They finally took my steak back and put it on the grill again, but it wasn't much more cooked when they brought it back. The only redeeming quality about the dish was the fig sauce. That saved it from being a bland $30 meal. As for dessert, again, it felt over hyped. The presentation is beautiful, but when it came down to overall taste and texture, my flourless chocolate cake was just off. It kind of tasted grainy to me, when a flourless cake should be smooth and rich. Also, those sauces that they dress up the desserts with tasted awful. Don't even try the blue one, it tastes like sugar and bitter food coloring! I probably wouldn't eat here again unless someone else was paying! It was way too expensive for the quality of food they were serving. read more

We came to the south rim of the Grand Canyon and stayed in the El Tovar for two nights. In addition, we ate two dinners and two breakfasts in the fancy El Tovar dining room. As far as this yelper is concerned, El Tovar is "as good as it gets" on the Canyon rim, and I'd certainly make it my business to stay at El Tovar again if I were going back to the Canyon. This is an old hotel (c. 1905?) with lots of stairs, no elevators, funky plumbing, ancient electrical lines and no in-room internet. You'll like it! If you want to write yelp reviews while you're a hotel guest, you'll probably have to go down to one of the central public rooms that are serviced by what seems to be the unique Xanterra router in the building. (Xanterra is the name of the resort company that now runs the place.) This is actually a great thing to do because you'll be thrown together on a couch with people from all corners of the earth, many of whom are using skype to communicate with their friends and family back home. I was sitting next to a French guy who was telling his buddy that the view was great but that the food was worse than in England! He did admit that he enjoyed his "half duck" (which he then translated as "demi-canard" for his friend), but said that the rest of the fare was inedible. For what it's worth, I thought that the meals were A-OK (i.e., worth three stars). The dining room is beautiful and comfy. As other yelpers have remarked, it features unparalleled views of the Canyon at sunset. At breakfast, you can get steel cut oatmeal ($6.55 for a huge bowl of it) or polenta pancakes with weird cactus sauces (~ $12?). Free coffee and tea is served beginning around 6AM. Props to our President and the US Park Service for arranging last weekend to be national "free entry to all US parks" weekend. We saved $25 when we drove in to the park center! Once you arrive, you're best off leaving your car alone and taking the free shuttle busses or just walking. The Canyon is most definitely worth a journey. read more

Ok food, terrible service! Was treated as a second class citizen by the wait staff, was I too dark? Previous review too liberal for yelpers read more

While in the Grand Canyon National Park, we stopped at El Tovar for a beer and snack. We sat on the patio and enjoyed the view and people watching. We ordered the Navajo Nachos and if I rated those alone, I would be giving El Tovar one star. In my opinion, they sucked! The chips were deep fried with lots of air pockets and had no flavor. The ingredients literally plopped on top did not blend and overall this appetizer was disappointing. The lodge-like atmosphere of this hotel was very nice. Service was okay too. My tip to you, cool place to check out and have a refreshment. Just don't order the Navajo Nachos. read more

We ate breakfast here. AMAZING food! Delicious, and completely worth it. I think the cold food wins over the hot food here. We ordered a whole selection of items from the menu. The waffles with fruit were especially delicious. The service was also great. El Tovar is pretty expensive as far as restaurants in the area go, but for breakfast, it's completely worth it. read more

5 stars for LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!!!! Can't get any better than right on (practically) the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Sadly - the actual experience of the hotel left a lot to be desired. Hence 3 stars overall. The hotel itself is beautiful and the grounds around it manicured and well taken care of. The wrap around porch had plenty of seating for a leisurly sunset viewing. The interior is log and just what you would expect of a turn of the century historic hotel. A hunting lodge decor with big plush leather furniture and huge stone fireplaces. Moose and other unfortunate creatures gazed down upon us as we entered. We checked in and located our room. 2 stars. The room was updated. A big plus. It was clean and comfy. However, it was laid out strangely. It was big - as far as El Tovar standards go. It was clearly two rooms that had been merged into one big room and it had a bathroom carved out of one corner, leaving the rest of the room in an L shape. Not so bad but a little odd as the TV was about two feet from the seating area, meaning we had to look UP at the tv if we wanted to view. Remember sun sets at about 6:30 PM so after that there isn't much to see or do around there except enjoy a meal (read on) or sit in the bar (which we didn't do) or... catch up on the news. The worst part was the bed - foam pillows and a hard mattress. For $200 bucks a night I expect some comfort! If the bed didn't keep us from sleeping well - the airconditioning/heating unit made sure we didn't sleep well - it circulated on and off (LOUDLY) all night long. We tried turning it off but then got stifling hot - so we had to suffer through. 2 Stars for the Food and service. Dinner was not that great. We ordered the Ribeye - it was square. Yeah - we both had the same thought at the same time - never seen a square ribeye. I examined it and determined the kitchen had trimmed the steak of all that fatty goodness that you order a ribeye for! Why?! I am on vacation and hiking and need the fat for sustainence as well as it is the flippin REASON to order a ribeye! If I didn't want fat I would order the filet. On top of that it was cool - as if it had been sitting around waiting for our server to serve it. It was on the verge of being sent back. But our fear was it would reappear in even more miserable condition so we chowed down and found that the middle was warmer and palatable. The veggies were ice cold. The wine was good - but you can't screw up something you didn't create right? A Rutherford Cab. All in all would I stay there again? Yes... just because of the location. would I eat there again? Probably because it is nearly the only gig around that offers real food vs. burgers and fries. I would order something easy though...like chicken. I would also bring my own pillows, earplugs and a bottle of Advil PM. read more

Very good food, kids are allowed to have 1/2 portions of entrees a good option for those under 12. Wait staff is a bit odd as noted in previous reviews. Views of canyon are neat, service was average. Desserts were very impressive and tasted good too! Not sure it deserves all the hype by some but definitely a good choice at Grand Canyon. We ate lunch only can not speak to breakfast or dinner. Atmosphere was fine but decor a bit dated even for a lodge. Biggest let down was the waiter, just not the service you would expect for what is billed as a finer restaurant. Good French onion soup! read more

Cute cabin like hotel... They have a dining room for breakfast, lunch, & dinner. They also have a "lounge" for drinks & appetizers. Both ladies at the front of the restaurant (the one at night, and the one in the morning) were very dry and unfriendly. At first I didn't even want to eat there, thankfully our waitress was really nice. The lobby is kind of a "living room" area with all these animal heads on the walls (don't like that), and right in front, of course, is the gift shop. It's not a big hotel, but without reservations, we were lucky to get the last room available. Room was cute, with really high beds, full of pillows. Bathroom was small but not uncomfortable. Now, going back to the beds, those were bad... We all woke up feeling like we hadn't slept at all (and we all love our sleep). First you don't know what to do with so many pillows, then the bed was so hard there was no way to get comfortable, and on top of that, the heater kicked in during the night. I mean, with all the sleepless nights, dancing, and walking up and down the strip we spent in Vegas, this was the most tired we felt all trip. At least we had a good breakfast. I had the "any way you like them eggs" scrambled. This comes with home-style potatoes, and your choice of bacon, sausage or ham, plus your choice of toast, bagel or English muffin. They also serve a variety of cereals, omelets, fruits, and more. Tea, coffees, juice... They definitely fill you up and get you ready for a day at the canyon. Another good thing about El Tovar is that you get a good view of the Canyon just by looking out the window or walking outside. So, as we were up early, because of our unfortunately not so comfy beds, we were able to see part of the sunrise from our room. I wouldn't exaclty say this was "A-Ok", it's "just ok". read more

An enjoyable lunch during our visit to the see the canyon. Had a Navajo taco, lots of ground beef and beans on light Indian bread; dad had a big salad; hubby had a patty melt. Everything was fine; service very good. Nice, lodgy atmosphere added to the experience. read more

The hubby and I decided to have lunch here while on a break from our train ride. Not a bad place to eat but the service from "Ashley" was awful. I would have expected better service from a joint like this place but we kept getting the brush off from our server Ashley. After our meal, I completed the survey and handed it to what looked liked a manager. Would I come back here to eat the next time we pass by Grand Canyon? You can guess my answer. I'd visit the Maswick Cafeteria (we visited a couple days back after our bike ride). It is after all a cafeteria but we were treated better and it's not THAT expensive. read more