The Grand Canyon & Northern Arizona - American Southwest - page 548

At the Bright Angel Lodge. & 928/638-2631. Reservations not accepted. Main courses $7.75-$13 lunch,
$17-$28 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 4:30-10pm (Mar-Oct also lunch daily 11:30am-3pm). Closed
Jan-Feb.

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Bright Angel Restaurant Kids AMERICAN As the least expensive of the three
restaurants right on the rim of the canyon, this casual Southwestern-themed coffeehouse
in the historic Bright Angel Lodge stays packed with families throughout the day. Meals
are simple and none too memorable, but if you can get one of the few tables near the
windows, at least you get something of a view. The menu includes everything from burg-
ers to fajitas to spaghetti (foods calculated to comfort tired and hungry hikers). The bread
bowls full of chili and stew are particularly good. Wines are available, and service is
generally friendly and efficient.
At the Bright Angel Lodge. & 928/638-2631. Reservations not accepted. Main courses $9.50-$27. AE,
DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 6:30-10pm.

El Tovar Dining Room CONTINENTAL/SOUTHWESTERN If you're stay-
ing at El Tovar, you'll want to have dinner in the hotel's rustic yet elegant dining room.
But before making reservations at the most expensive restaurant in the park, be aware
that few tables have views of the canyon. However, despite the limited views, the meals
served here are the best in the park. The menu leans heavily to the spicy flavors of the
Southwest, though plenty of milder, more familiar dishes are offered as well. The New
York steak with crispy onion rings is a good bet, as is the wild salmon. Start your meal
with the interesting little roulades (flavorful bite-size tortilla roll-ups). Service is generally
quite good. Have a drink in the bar before dinner (you might even be able to snag a table
with a view).
At El Tovar Hotel. & 928/638-2631, ext. 6432. Reservations highly recommended for dinner. Main
courses $12-$20 lunch, $22-$36 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 6:30-11am, 11:30am-2pm, and
5-10pm.

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In Tusayan (Outside the South Entrance)
In addition to the restaurants listed below, you'll find a steakhouse and a pizza place, as
well as familiar chains such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and Wendy's. If you need an
espresso or a sandwich for a picnic on the South Rim, stop at R.P.'s Stage Stop, Ariz. 64
( & 928/638-3114 ), which is located next door to the IMAX theater.
Canyon Star Restaurant and Saloon AMERICAN/MEXICAN This place
aims to compete with El Tovar Dining Room and the Arizona Room, and serves the most
creative Southwestern fare this side of the park boundary, plus you'll have live entertain-
ment while you eat. Try the barbecued buffalo brisket. Evening shows include perfor-
mances of Native American songs and dances. This place is big, so there usually isn't too
long a wait for a table; and even if there is, you can wait in the saloon where you can
saddle up a bar stool (some of the stools have saddles instead of seats).
At the Grand Hotel, Ariz. 64. & 928/638-3333. Reservations not accepted. Main courses $9-$19 lunch,
$14-$28 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 6-10am, 11am-2pm, and 5-10pm.
Coronado Room CONTINENTAL/SOUTHWESTERN If you should suddenly
be struck by an overpowering desire to have escargot for dinner, don't despair—head for
the Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn (see above). Now, I'm well aware that Best
Western and escargot go together about as well as the Eiffel Tower and rattlesnake fritters,
but this place really does serve classic Continental fare way out here in the Arizona high
country. You'll probably want to stick to the steaks, though (or the wild game such as elk