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a taste of the season - Mono Inn, Lee Vining, CA

Mono Inn

4.8
4.8
102 Reviews
$50 and over
Californian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 2 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for scenic views
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
Experience a culinary journey of exquisite seasonal dishes crafted with the finest local ingredients.

Mono Inn offers impeccable service in a cozy atmosphere where Chef Jason Custer's modern multi-course Winter Kaiseki Tasting Menu will take you on a gastronomic adventure.

Built on the shores of Mono Lake in 1921 and originally used as a bunkhouse, Mono Inn has a long history as one of the best gathering places around. The relaxing bar and dining room afford breathtakingly unparalleled and ever-changing views of Mono Lake, offering weary travelers a welcome respite from the road.

Located close to Mammoth Lakes, easily accessible from the Bay Area and Southern California, and just a few miles from the back gate of Yosemite National Park, Mono Inn is a hidden gem that offers an unparalleled dining experience.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Farm-to-table, Contemporary American
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon, Fri–Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (760) 784-3266
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Jason Custer
  • Catering
    Mono Inn can accommodate both on and off-site custom catering. <br /><br />Please inquire at: info@monoinn.com
  • Private party facilities
    Mono Inn's Dining Room is the perfect space for a holiday party, wedding reception, or special event. The Lake Room provides a smaller intimate space ideal for bridal or baby showers, birthday parties, meetings, toasts and small bites, or as the first stop in your evening in the Dining Room. Please inquire at: info@monoinn.com
  • Neighborhood
    Yosemite
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • New Year's Eve at the Mono Inn

    $134.06 per person

    Prepaid

    Dec 31, 2024 only
    Experience a magical evening at Mono Inn, and celebrate with our exquisite New Year's Eve Tasting Menu. Join us for a cocktail at the bar or Lake Room starting at 6 pm. Dinner will begin at 7, complete with a champagne toast.
    New Year's Eve at the Mono Inn Photo

What 102 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes

    Best Overall

  • Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes

    Best Food

  • Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes

    Best Service

  • Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes

    Best Ambiance

  • Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes

    Best Value

  • Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes

    Good for groups

  • Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes

    Healthy

  • Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes

    Neighborhood gem

  • Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes

    Great for scenic views

  • Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes

    Good for special occasions

  • Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes

    Lively

  • Yosemite

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Mono Inn is a hidden gem in the Eastern Sierras offering "fabulous food" and magnificent views of Mono Lake. Chef Jay's innovative tasting menu and creative presentation are "Michelin worthy." Guests rave about the attentive service and the unique dining experience. Perfect for a special occasion, Mono Inn promises an unforgettable meal.

102 Reviews
  1. John

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful staff, excellent presentation, clever combination of first and last courses. A highlight of our Sierra trip.

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  2. Mary

    Tulsa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had such a fun time. The food and drinks are just delicious and flavorful. Love the different textures and colors. The view is beautiful around sunset time. They have exceptional service: super friendly and helpful with questions and taking pictures.

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  3. Nancy

    VIP

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 12, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our dinner at The Mono Inn was amazing, as always. Every dish was beautifully prepared and delicious. Since we are vegans, we asked in advance for a vegan meal. The dinner that was prepared for us was nothing short of fantastic. The view of the lake was stunning. We love this place! We will be back again.

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  4. stephane

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome experience! Every course of the Kaiseki menu was very unique. The chef and his team are very creative and sublimate local ingredients into exquisite dishes offering a palette of varying tastes and textures. The wine pairing is recommended for a full experience. The service is at the same level: very attentive and friendly. Bravo!
    Mono InnResponded 4 days ago
    Dear French Guy, Thank you for your thoughtful review! We sincerely appreciate you celebrating such a special occasion with us at Mono Inn. We look forward to seeing you again in the future. Warmest holiday wishes, Mono Inn

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  5. jeremy

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 6, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Magical. Has no business being as good as it is. Michelin worthy restaurant.
    Mono InnResponded 4 days ago
    Thank you, Jeremy, for your review and kind note! Warmest holiday wishes, Mono Inn

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  6. Elizabeth

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    While we dined at the Mono Inn many times before the pandemic, this was our first visit with the tasting menu. We’re not foodies but thoroughly enjoyed the adventurous unique menu, the flavors, the exquisite presentation and explanation of each course and the undivided attention by the staff and chef. A very special, delicious and memorable experience! Thank you!

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  7. Susan

    San Francisco

    58 reviews

    5.0

    58 reviews

    Dined on September 17, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a very special, unique restaurant in a magnificent setting. It’s definitely worth a stop in LeeVining, CA. You’ll never find its equivalent elsewhere.

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  8. Julie

    Tahoe

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The team at Mono Inn did it again. What an outstanding meal in a spectacular location! The service was incredible. The presentation, flavor, and food quality were top notch. This is my favorite restaurant anywhere, ever.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Yosemite

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 15, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    I must apologize for coming off as rude especially it’s the holidays. I just wanted to say my honest opinion, that the restaurant was not for everybody. And it’s not about the cost. If one would like a hearty meal after a day of exploration in the national park, speaking from my experience, this is unlikely the place to find your fulfillment. However, if you are seeking a ‘fancier’ experience in an area with limited choices and wouldn’t mind having two bites worth of food in your plate and then waiting 15minute for the next course, then go about! How does historically claimed location influence the positioning of the restaurant? Provide good quality meals with reasonable prices like it had been, or fancy it up for the fame? I can only say that as a visitor that are expecting the high end restaurant experience (as price charged), it’s hard to be impressed. I still remember the night after three months because I was excited about the kaiseki menu and all the original flavors with your local spin. Disappointedly, every dish it presented was opposite of kaiseki by over-treating and especially over-flavoring the food. I left with an impression confused what the purpose of setting up the menu as so. We also left the restaurant feeling hungry and craved a cheeseburger like never before.
    Mono InnResponded 4 days ago
    We are so sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your experience. Unfortunately, we were not informed of this on the evening of your visit so that we could remedy the situation immediately, but rather 3 months after your visit. Chef Jason is inspired by Kaiseki, the Japanese multi-course style of preparing local, seasonal foods with specific cooking techniques. He takes great care and extensive preparation when creating his menus. At Mono Inn, we strive to provide a truly unique dining experience, excellent service, and a thoughtful beverage program in our elegant 102-year-old historical dining room. We would love the opportunity to serve you again. Please feel free to contact us directly to arrange this with the owner. Warmest holiday wishes, Mono Inn

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  10. stevere

    Phoenix

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on September 10, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Superb in every way, including the view from our table. Chef is doing an amazing job in a challenging location.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Mono Inn is rated 4.8 stars by 102 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 2 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Mono Inn

55620 US-395, Lee Vining, CA 93541-8016

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Yosemite
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon, Fri–Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Farm-to-table, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Jason Custer
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (760) 784-3266
  • Catering
    Mono Inn can accommodate both on and off-site custom catering. <br /><br />Please inquire at: info@monoinn.com
  • Private party facilities
    Mono Inn's Dining Room is the perfect space for a holiday party, wedding reception, or special event. The Lake Room provides a smaller intimate space ideal for bridal or baby showers, birthday parties, meetings, toasts and small bites, or as the first stop in your evening in the Dining Room. Please inquire at: info@monoinn.com
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