The site of some of the most remarkable culinary events in the country, The Ahwahnee Dining Room features a 34-foot-high ceiling with large sugar pine trestles that complement the room's granite pillars and echo its Yosemite surroundings. Light-filled and uplifting by day, the dining room takes on an intimate mood for evening meals with tall tapers in wrought iron holders. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily, as well as Sunday brunch.

At dinner, gentlemen are respectfully requested to wear sport coats or dress sweaters and long pants, and ladies should wear skirts, dresses, pantsuits or pants that reach below the knee. Shorts and athletic wear may be worn at breakfast and lunch.

The Ahwahnee Bar offers lighter fare in a more casual environment, and complimentary afternoon tea is served daily in the Great Lounge.

As with most tourist destinations, Yosemite Village has a wide range of off-site eateries, from high end to low brow. Here are a few favorites from that wide spectrum:

Casual Dining: Nearly every seat in Yosemite Lodge's Mountain Room Restaurant has an outstanding view of  2,425-foot-high Yosemite Falls. Specialties include steaks, seafood, fowl and pasta, served daily. The nearby Mountain Room Lounge offers full bar service and light snacks. With its 19th-century decor, the Wawona Hotel Dining Room is a Victorian gem, and the food is just as exceptional. It's a delightful spot to enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch -- and to watch the Yosemite sunsets. Each Saturday during summer, Wawona's chef fires up the barbecue pit and lays out an old-fashioned barbecue dinner known as the Wawona Lawn Barbecue. Red-checkered tablecloths, whitewashed fences, lush green lawns and blue smoke curling from the pits add festive touches as guests dig into steaks, hamburgers, corn-on-the-cob and great desserts.

Most casual dining establishments request tasteful, casual attire at dinner to preserve the traditional atmosphere of the dining room. Seating at Wawona is first-come, first-served, however, dinner reservations are required for parties of eight or more.

Convenient Dining: The Loft lies in the heart of the Yosemite Village area and is a great place to bring the family. Its high-beamed ceiling and centrally located fireplace create a cheery atmosphere in every season. The menu features a variety of appetizers, fresh pizzas, and refreshments. The fare at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge is hearty family-style breakfasts and dinners in a rustic tent beside the Tuolumne River. Dinner reservations are required.