When I was recently asked to go dancing at the Mobil, I thought it was a joke.
"Are you.... asking me on a date to a gas station?"
As it turns out, yes.
Mobil is a gas station, and it's also a restaurant, dance bar, and local hangout hotspot.
A few days later, on my way to Mono Lake, I happened to pass by Mobil, since it's located right at the junction of the 120 and 395.
Surprised that it was, in fact, more than a gas station, I obviously had to stop by to check it out.
The interior was a lot like a normal gas station, except bigger, with more souvenirs, and a staffed hot food counter.
From the gas station counter, I purchased a couple of small souvenir stickers.
From the hot food counter, I ordered a single slice of barbecue chicken pizza, which I took outside to eat.
The line was long, and did not move quickly, but I eventually received my pizza.
It was not very good. The crust tasted like cardboard, and the toppings were somewhat negligible. It seemed a little too high priced for the quality.
The ambiance, on the other hand, was great. The outdoor seating area is full of picnic tables overlooking Mono Lake, with a small stage for live music, and a lawn enveloped in fairy lights for dancing.
Most of the people eating outside were being friendly and talkative with each other. I could see how it could be a fun place to dance and have some drinks.
Although I wouldn't come back for the pizza, I would come back to check out the dancing and live music.
Plus, the view on the drive back to Yosemite was new to me. Out of the 3/4 ways I've driven in/out of Yosemite, these views were my favorite so far.
Overall, this is a neat spot to recharge, grab a few souvenirs, and, if you're desperate enough, maybe even a bite to eat. read more