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The Joyful Owl Chef

5.0 (2 reviews)
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Charles Street Dinner House - 10 oz New York Steak

Charles Street Dinner House

(623 reviews)

$$

Showed up on a Friday night, it was my birthday and I really wanted a steak and potato dinner…read more Thankfully no reservation was needed but I could see it being more necessary for more popular seasons. Cute restaurant, like a old house transformed, really only smelled like an old house in the tiny narrow bathrooms Service was absolutely fantastic, everyone we interacted with was so lovely. They all seemed to know everyone who was dining there, we were for sure the out of towners. I had a filet with side salad and baked potato. The vegetable side was well seasoned and cooked well. Basic side dish but done so well I ate them all. The thought that went into making my baked potato ready to scoop out was a small thought but I appreciated it! Even my salad was cold, crispy and crunchy. The bread on the table was delicious. My stake was yummy and loved the jus and mushrooms served with them. Hubs had the prime rib, he said it was one of the best ones he had in a long times he had the clam chowder to start and it was super tasty!!! Glad we had my birthday meal here!

Charles Street Dinner House, Mariposa: 2026 Mar 12 (4 of 5)…read more Let me start off by saying that we were extremely pleased with the service, thanks to Dillon (who showed genuine rapport), Tomben (his honest opinions) and Amya (who brought me piping hot water in a beautiful mug and teapot). Their friendly, yet professional attitude make this eatery stand out. (5 of 5) This eatery has a vintage feel and historical charm. We felt we could really relax and take our time instead of being rushed to order, eat, then leave. The atmosphere feels rustic, exposing the past. It was a time capsule for folks who enjoyed that era. FOOD: Sauteed Mushroom Soup: The soup arrived with garlic bread. The soup had an earthy, savoury and nutty texture. The rich, velvety mushrooms were bouncy and cooked well, while the umami-packed broth felt comforting. The garlic bread that accompanied the mushroom soup had a perfect balance of textures - heavily buttered, with savoury garlic flavour. The golden-brown, crispy exterior was not overly toasted and the sticks were enhanced with a touch of herbal flavour. (5 of 5) New Zealand Rack of Lamb: This was my order - cooked medium-rare. The perfectly cooked meat was tender - unfortunately lacked seasoning, but a dash of salt brought this to a perfect 5. (5 of 5) I had a choice of potatoes or rice pilaf and made a wrong decision. The rice pilaf looked like baby food, and the fresh red pepper over-powered the entire dish. I tried a small scoop and was disappointed. Needless to say, I couldn't eat another bite of the rice. (1 of 5) My vegetables were mostly cooked well. They had a bit of crunch and texture but not raw. My dinner came with Tomato Soup. The soup tasted nutty and lemony, with a slight heat - and has a good aftertaste. It was silky and smooth, rich, and velvety. (5 of 5) Scallone: Our other order came with onion soup. My dinner partner had the privilege of tasting one of the best scallone years ago and was hoping to bring back great memories of this special dish he loved. This marriage of blending ground abalone and scallops is a savoury dish formed into patties. It is then breaded and lightly pan-fried in butter. The texture is supposed to be tender yet firm. The temperature was perfect but the patty came out almost like a regular pancake. A chunk of fresh red pepper was also thrown in, perhaps for colour, but it overpowered the dish. The pilaf rice was also a no-no. When the server came and asked how we enjoyed the dishes, I had to be blunt and said, "I didn't like the rice". Our server apologized and immediately offered to remove the rice on both plates and asked if we'd like potatoes instead. My partner opted for the baked potato. (5 of 5) The onion soup that accompanied this order was also a fail. Overall, this dinner was a 2 of 5. We were there to celebrate my birthday, so for dessert, we got Coconut Crème Brulee. Even though it wasn't cooked evenly, the light flavour of the coconut did not take over the mild flavour of the crème brulee. A lovely ending to an interesting dinner... and the crème brulee was a birthday treat, on the house. (4 of 5) Would we return? I think we would. I'd like to try other items on the menu because we feel it our privilege to have met some of the nicest staff in an eatery.

China Station Restaurant - I refried my Chow Fun over high heat, giving it a lovely 'wok hey'. The smoky and charred aroma added flavour that was missing.

China Station Restaurant

(177 reviews)

$$

China Station Restaurant, Mariposa: 2025 Sep 12 (2.15 of 5)…read more I had a yearning for some Chinese food and decided to call for take-away from this restaurant. Since I couldn't get anyone on the phone, I decided to stop here on my way home. While I was ordering my food, a call came in. I picked up the call and it was from the restaurant owner apologizing that he'd missed my call. That's a 5 in my book. (5 of 5) My orders were Beef Chow Fun and Chicken Chow Mein. The lady who took my order was busy looking at her phone, and I had to repeat my order three times. (1 of 5) She finally acknowledged me and proceeded to take my orders to the kitchen. While I was waiting, I asked her if I could take some pictures of the establishment. She said it was fine. It didn't take long for my order to be ready. My orders came out piping hot and I was eager to dig into my food. Unfortunately, the orders were incorrect. Instead of Beef Chow Fun and Chicken Chow Mein, the meat in each box was reversed. (1 of 5) Both boxes of noodles looked pale. I may not be a Chinese food connoisseur, but my sense and smell are acute. I felt that the Chow Mein was cooked in 'old' oil. Both items were bland, but at least the onions were cooked well, leaving a crunch and not raw, plus the beef and chicken pieces were tender. I was informed that the chef is from Chengdu, China. Chengdu, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, is the heart of Sichuan cuisine, known for its bold and spicy flavour. It is sad that I did not experience Chengdu cuisine flavour in my orders. Location & Parking: This restaurant is in a convenient shopping corner - with a couple of other restaurants, a local market and several other offices. Parking is easy and free. Atmosphere: A handsome folding screen greets you at the entrance. Once you walk past the folding screen, the place opens up to reveal large round tables, each with a lazy susan (rotating tray) in the middle. The chairs were polished wood. The tables and chairs are spaced far enough apart for privacy. The carpet looked worn. (Overall, a 2.75 of 5) Because there were only 3 patrons seated during the lunch hour (not a good sign), I walked around - checking out their display. I thought the bicycle was a cute display... then I walked to my left, and stared at the bear on the wall. The idea of displaying a bear on restaurant walls is a disgrace and is disrespectful to the creature. I don't think I could ever eat in a restaurant that shows no respect for the display. (1 of 5) It is a shame my first experience here turned me off this eatery. There really aren't any good Chinese eateries within 25 miles of the Ahwahnee-Mariposa area. The next day, I refried my Chow Fun over high heat, giving it a lovely 'wok hey'. The smoky and charred aroma added flavour that was missing. I also added some kimchi to impart more taste to the noodles.

Food was ok. Soup was on point. Hot, just how I like it. Chow mein was good. A good Chinese…read morerestaurant must always have "wok hei" the food comes out hot. They did. They also served thai curry... but it was def. Not up to par. Frfr. What is even more off turning is the gratuity charge. They charged 15% on your bill off your total. So my food items came out to be 66.00, but with gratuity tagged on it became more like 82.00 I thought that was not ok, service was ok. Ambiance, very quiet, it was late afternoon.

Yosemite Catering

Yosemite Catering

(9 reviews)

They catered three different events for a wedding weekend we were having. They worked with us to…read morecreate a menu that we wanted to serve. They provided water, beer, wine, etc. all with excellent service. Everything they made was amazing! They even helped heat/serve some Italian Beef that we had brought in from Chicago. Very Flexible! Great Value! Great Service! Amazing Food! Would HIGHLY recommend if you are having a wedding/event in the Yosemite area!

We used Yosemite catering for our recent wedding. I can't say enough how fabulous they were in…read moreevery aspect. We were actually a bit freaked out because a couple weeks before the event our catering manager told us she was leaving and we would be working with a new catering manager, Joel, but Joel did a great job of jumping in and making sure he know exactly what we expected and delivered on every aspect. The food was great and the prices were really reasonable, especially considering there isn't much choice in the Oakhurst area for caterers. The best part of the whole experience was the staff. They were amazingly attentive and knew exactly when to get out of the way at the event. The presentation was better than we expected and they really helped to make the night a success. I didn't work with Roman the owner much but on every occasion that I talked with him (when Joel wasn't around) he really made sure that we were confident that the message would be passed on and on every occasion, through all the last minute changes and requests they came through with flying colors.

The Elderberry House - 2024 Jun 27

The Elderberry House

(345 reviews)

$$$$

THE BEST BIRTHDAY DINNER!!! Service, Vibes, Food, Drinks, Emotion, LOVE...everything in one lol…read more A special shoutout to Christian and Jordan! They were both super knowledgeable and made us feel extremely welcome. They even had a special printed menu for our table with a birthday message that made it that more special. They truly exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend this place to everyone and I will be back any chance I get. One last thing....the Oyster with a fennel, apple, vinegar idk what changed my life. I am an oyster fan now, but just these lol TYSM!

I have been lucky enough to enjoy quite a few fancy, Michelin-starred meals over the years, but it…read moreis rare to find an experience that you just know you will be savoring for years to come. That is exactly what happened during my recent dinner at Elderberry House. I visited with a group of four, and between us, we had two gluten-free diners and one vegetarian. After a quick heads-up the day before, the restaurant handled our needs with total ease. We went for the five-course tasting menu, and it was incredible from start to finish. We kicked things off with one of the best oysters I have ever had, followed by a beautiful tuna presentation. The kitchen even looked out for our gluten-free friends with a special version of their herbal-butter focaccia that was actually delicious. By the time the main courses arrived, I honestly could not decide if I liked my beef or my friend's snap pea risotto better; every single bite was pure perfection. The cocktails were another high point. My first drink was great, but after chatting with our server, Jordan, I decided to try the Last Word. It featured that hard-to-find green chartreuse, and I am a little annoyed to report that I have a new favorite cocktail that requires such a rare ingredient. The service is what really made the night so special. Jordan was so charismatic and helpful, making sure we were perfectly taken care of all evening. He was so good that I almost worried a second visit would not be the same without him, though the rest of the staff quickly put that fear to rest. Abby was so friendly and responsible for a truly unique but perfect-for-the-vibe playlist, and Chris the mixologist even stopped by to geek out about gin and cocktails with us. From the genuine care for our food sensitivities to the clever touch of the iPad check-in hidden in an elegant binder, it was a night for the books. I cannot recommend this place enough and look forward to bringing my family next!

Sichuan Hot Pot - The veggie combination plate

Sichuan Hot Pot

(192 reviews)

This place has been in my regular rotation since they opened and I have never had a bad meal here…read more The concept is a family style hot pot restaurant where you cook your own protein, vegetables or noodles in a flavored brother. You can pick between 1 and 4 different broths per pot. Each table has one cooking stove top, with the larger tables having two. The broths range from vegetarian to mild, to spicy to meat based. Everything is a la carte with the exception of some premade combinations bundling a variety of like items. There's various meat and veggie combos as well as a seafood combo. I always order the veggie combo which comes with a lot that's easily shareable between 4 people. It comes with various greens, mushrooms, cabbage, corn on the cob, cauliflower, and carrots. I don't eat red meat so I stick to their sliced chicken breast or the shrimp balls. My other favorite is the bean curd sticks which is a good meatless protein option. As for broths my two favorite are the Chinese Healthy Herb and the kimchi. I also like their salted crispy chicken appetizer (popcorn chicken). Steamed rice is also a must for me. They have a dipping sauce bar where you can make your own dipping sauce to accompany your hot pot. With the exception of the broth adding flavor, the meats and all the ingredients you add to your hot pot are unseasoned. It includes everything from soy sauce and fish sauce to garlic, fresh chilis, vinegar, and crushed peanuts. Whether you like to keep it simple, mild, or spicy there's a sauce you can create. The ambiance is pretty nice. It used to be a Chinese restaurant years ago and they did keep some of the things the same. They have 3 different TVs inside. The two larger ones on the walls each play a different Kdrama and the one above the register plays Kpop music videos. They do have one larger table that I think accommodates somewhere between 10-12 people (don't quote me on that) and another that can fit 6 or 7 people. Majority of the tables sit 4 and a couple sit 2. Depending what day and time you go, it can get pretty busy and you might have to wait a while. The staff is always friendly and helpful. At the end of the meal they give you orange slices and hard guava candy. Their orange slices are always so good too and a good palette cleanser at the end.

Yummy! One of my favorite hot pot places! This place tends to be busy but never too busy where you…read morewon't get seated quickly. It is also very nicely decorated with some TVs running for entertainment. The food is very good! I recommend getting the individual meats if you're going as a smaller group just so you don't get too much. My personal favorite to get here is the sesame balls. Always hot and crispy with the perfect amount of red bean filling. They do also have a sauce bar, although kind of limited

The Joyful Owl Chef - personalchefs - Updated May 2026

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