Mono Inn — Restaurant in Mammoth Lakes

Every region a higher-end restaurant and for the Mono Basin, this is it. In Lee Vining you have the choice between a coffee shop, a restaurant next door, a deli/grill, and the Mono Inn. Each serves its role well and at the higher end, you can't beat eh Mono Inn for the food or the view.

As other reviewers have noted, arrive before sunset for a treat, as Mono Lake has consistently excellent sunsets. That's particularly true on the evenings before, during or after a full moon night, as the moon rises close to the same time that sunset is underway. There is outdoor patio seating you can really enjoy the view from on a mild summer evening.

In spite of the enthusiasm expressed for the restaurant, it's useful to note that there's a very nice bar as well, and the restaurant has an excellent wine list, the most extensive and well-selected in the area. I tend to pick the wine I want to have first, then select a meal to match, and on my last visit I was pleasantly surprised to see a hard-to-find Sean Thackery Rhone-style blend on the wine list. The price seemed reasonable compared to what you might pay for it in the Bay Area or Los Angeles area. Being a bit of a wine fan, that will bring me back to a restaurant faster than also-excellent food.

The restaurant is only open during the spring through fall seasons when most people visit the area, so call ahead if you might be visiting outside of their open dates. This place can be popular, so particularly on weekends you might want to arrive a little on the early side to avoid waiting...

We came here to eat because it was a place that was dog friendly, we were sat outside and it was very cold mind you, the waitress was friendly but the service was not appreciated in the least,it took the waitress long time to come to the take our beverage order which took even longer to get our drinks and to order our food wasn’t soon either, after a long while of ordering our food and receiving we didn’t see our waitress much after that,when we were done eating we wanted to leave because it was very cold we also had to chase the waitress down to get our check so we thought she didn’t deserve a tip,we finally got our check paid and left...your not going to believe this but she came to our car and ask why we didn’t leave her a tip so we told her and of course she wasn’t happy...We were totally disappointed in the service and the food was very expensive and the portions were small.....NOT PLANNING TO GO...

New owner since January 2015. Lana (the owner) is a delight and the food prepared by Chef Kenny is extraordinary. He prepared a delicious vegetarian meal for me even though it wasn't on the menu! My dinner mate said his pork chop was one of the best ever. The chef makes his own rubs and reductions and the results are excellent. Everyone raves about the restaurant at the gas station on 120 at 395 but the historic Mono Inn deserves the same accolades, and the setting is 100 times nicer.

The restaurant itself is right above Mono Lake and the views from the dining room are spectacular. I love the interior design too. The building is owned by the descendants of famed photographer Ansel Adams. A stone fireplace anchors one wall, and huge windows provide the view. Classic Stickley furnishings in oak complete the romantic setting. Beer and wine bar, outdoor seating in season.

Highly...