We came to Charles Street for dinner while spending the Independence Day holiday in Yosemite/Mariposa. The downtown area is very charming. Also, don't forget to make reservations in advance. We arrived and were seated somewhat promptly.
The hostess was extremely nice, as was our server who recommended the Butterfly wine to us. With their recommendation, I shared the honey baby back ribs that came with a loaded baked potato, house salad and veggies. Everything was amazingly fresh, delicious and great. We cleaned off the plates very easily. We had a great time and I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great sit down meal!
Above and beyond.
Since the new owners took over in July of 2012 (disregard older reviews), this restaurant has become a destination.
At brunch:
Our orange juice was served in frozen glasses that created a little orange juice slushy on the walls of the glass. Â My fiancee loved it so much he is experimenting with how to do it at home.
Breakfast loaf is served while you wait for the meal. Â Blueberry or cranberry, very tasty.
The steak oscar benedict is fantastic. Â I don't normally do tri tip at breakfast, but the balance of all of the elements: tri tip, crab, english muffin, asparagus, egg, holondaise sauce...is wonderful.
Cinnamon swirl french toast will spike your blood sugar, but it's totally worth it!
Dinner:
Fresh-made pasta, love the honey lemon yogurt salad dressing, yummy garlic bread, and quality meats.
Their signature item is the baby back ribs. Â I love the sweet honey bbq sauce and the super tender fall-of-the-bone style. Â It allows me to enjoy the ribs without getting them all over my face.
Portions are large, but I can't help myself from eating dessert too. Â So far my favorite is the ice cream pie. Â Well done.
I eat here every time I come to Mariposa. Â Check the times as summer and winter hours differ.
My husband and I were staying in Mariposa while visiting Yosemite. On his birthday, we went to Charles Street for dinner. We had originally planned to eat at Savoury down the street but we liked the atmosphere and decor of Charles Street better. It has an older cowboy like  feel to it but it was nicely decorated. We also saw that they had calamari on their menu. My husband and I love our calamari appetizer. All dinner orders come with either soup or salad. We started off with the calamari appetizer and it was delicious. It was cooked just right, not too chewy and they gave you two different kinds of sauces for it, lemon aioli and marinara. Instead of getting salad I opted for the soup. I had the creamy roasted bell pepper soup and it was amazing. They give you garlic bread to go with your meal and it went perfectly with the soup. For dinner I ordered the portobello mushroom raviolis and my husband got the filet mignon. He said it was one of the best filet he's ever had, it was melt in your mouth like butter. My raviolis were delicious as well, it was cooked in olive oil and came with sauteed spinach, garlic and fresh tomatoes with Parmesan cheese. Since it was my husband's birthday, they gave us a free dessert. We were too full to eat it there so they packed it up for us and even included some utensils for the cheesecake. Overall our dinner here was fantastic. The service was friendly and quick. The prices were fair and they gave you a ton of food. We would definitely will be coming back here when we visit Yosemite again.
Review Source:This place is by far the best restaurant in town. Â Having travelled extensively around the U.S. and visited and dined in most of the major cities, this restaurant is a gem in a small town.
My husband and I stayed in Mariposa for four nights while we visited Yosemite. We ate dinner here two of the four nights. Â The first night we had the calamari which was fried to perfection and had a great lemon aoli sauce. The dish was beautifully garnished with fresh fruit. We both had the house salad and my blue cheese dressing was outstanding. My salad even came with additional blue cheese crumbles. I had the special which was the pan sired halibut with the veges and red potatoes. The fish was seared to perfection at what I expected at very very very expensive restaurants. The veges were fresh and cooked to just the point of being done. My husband had a NY steak cooked rare on top of linguine and Alfredo. The steak was cooked exactly has ordered and the cream sauce was rich and flavorful. And this was only the first night!
The second night we tried the potato skin appetizers. They were obviously home made with thick cut bacon chunks and lots of cheese and tops. It was exactly what we wanted after a long day of hiking. The salads were just as good. I had the pork loin stuffed with walnuts, cranberries and blue cheese. It was seared to perfection and then finished in the oven. It was an amazing combination of flavors. My husband had what I thought was the best entree on the menu which was the rack of lamb with mint sauce. After we finished the meat I literally wanted to keep gnawing on the bones. It was that good.
I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant based on the amazing food. To top it all off, the service was outstanding and friendly without being intrusive! If I come back to Mariposa, this is the first restaurant I will eat at.
This restaurant has arisen from the ashes by reinventing itself. Following closure it's previous owner died, Charles Street has reopened with an attractive bill of fare. He food is great and the service good. My only issue is the price. It's a little steep. Still, I'll take my friends there anytime.
Review Source:coming back from Yosemite and eating here because our hotel recommended it to us. the food was so good. for starters we got coconut prawns. my dad enjoyed the French onion soup and I had the clam chowder. the clam chowder was a thick but I liked it. my family loved the bread they brought out for us. my dad and I had fettuccine alfredo with veggies, new york steak and scallops. we loved it!! my mom just got a cesar salad but she liked it. for dessert my parents got the chocolate mousse and they said it was really good! the service was great and a friendly environment. I really recommend this place!
Review Source:Nice place with big variety of food.
I had the special of 1/2 baby back ribs. They were a little too fall off the bone for me but very tasty. The french onion soup could have had more cheese.
My wife had the clams with pasta and the the pasta could have been more of it.
Overall a good meal and fair prices.
A friend of mine raved about the Charles Street Dinner House in Mariposa -- so I went there for dinner the last time I was in the area -- and I am so glad I did! Â The menu was inspired, the food was amazing and the service impeccable. Â It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Â Can't wait to go back.
Review Source:I love a laid back welcoming atmosphere, which is certainly notable at Charles Street. Â The food is divine~! Â I enjoyed their Sunday brunch...and it was amazing! Â They are now open 7 days a week!!! Â I shared my Mediterranean crepe with country potatoes with my sister, who shared her eggs Benedict and hash browns. Â These are not your average dishes! Â The crepe was a divine combination of flavor with robust textures...you're just going to have to try it to know the heavenly experience I had. Â This amazing dish was rivaled by the eggs Benedict, which boasted tri tip and asparagus. Â So...GOOD. Â The country potatoes didn't LOOK like much to write home about, but they were AMAZING. Â The hash browns even had a bit of butter taste to them and were cooked to perfection. Â The plates were garnished with fresh delectable fruit. Prior to the food arriving, the contentious and congenial staff brought our table some tasty blueberry bread that was wolfed down happily and with joy. Â If I lived in Mariposa, I think I would be a regular here. Â It's that great of an all-around dining experience.
Review Source:O.M.G. Â Had brunch here today. Â Eggs Benedict Oscar, which is thinly sliced tri tip, a perfectly poached egg, FRESH CRAB, asparagus, and the best hollandaise I've ever tasted, on a toasted english muffin. Â Other people in my party had the cinnamon swirl french toast, Mediterranean crepe, Â the Chicken Fried Prime Rib (!), and the southwest omelette. Â We all just about licked our plates clean. Â Great service. Definitely recommend!!
Review Source:This place is fairly new and a bit upscale for the area as far as food and service. Â We ordered the Hanger Steak cooked well and it was one of the most tender juicy steak we've had cooked well done. Â We also had the money BBQ baby back ribs 1/2 rack for $20. Â The ribs were fall off the bone tender tho I did not care for the sweet sauce. Â Meals come with a side and veggies and also a salad. Â The salad was fresh and very good. Â Overall, this is a good place for steak, if you are willing to pay Steakhouse prices. Â It was quite busy for midweek so they have a nice following. Â Menu is posted outside, so you know what you are getting into. Â Not all bad if you don't order drinks.
Review Source:Under new ownership, apparently, 'cause I'm seeing older reviews that rate this place as poor.
It is not.
Although I feel some of the dishes are a little pricey, the atmosphere (cool chalkboards in the restrooms!), the excellent, friendly service, and the fresh delicious food make the visit totally worth it.
Have the burger. Trust me.
Hey they've updated their wine and beer list! Much more extensive. Also, I've randomly discovered that they serve the best burger in town, hands down. And this town has a lot...of hamburgers. It may seem sort of wrong to get a burger in a restaurant that serves other great meat...but really...it's good.
Review Source:Beyond a doubt, this is the finest restaurant in the area. The food is exquisite, the service impeccable (thank you, Will), the staff incredibly friendly. Â The decor is comfortable yet quietly elegant. The menu is delightful. The only drawback is they are not in our town.
Pssst - put Italian Moscato on the wine list - its becoming very popular!!
The new owner is also the chef. Â This is hands down the best meal I have had in ages. Â I had the coconut shrimp appetizer. Â It had a hint of coconut but not too much. The shrimp were still plump and moist and the aoili dipping sauce was perfect. Â Also had the new england clam chowder. Â It was the BEST I have ever had. Â
So if you are traveling to Yosemite or the Mariposa direction, come here for dinner. Â (FYI- closed Sundays and Mondays)
We had dinner here on our recent stay in Mariposa. Â We loved the place! The waitress was attentive without being over-bearing, and the service was prompt and efficient. Â We started with a salad which was crisp and fresh with a variety of vegetables. Â My husband had the bone-in pork chop which he enjoyed. I had the stuffed pork loin which was amazing! We enjoyed a glass of a local wine and received a complimentary slice of cheesecake with a coupon from the Mariposa Lodge. Â The prices seemed reasonable for the quality of food. Â Overall a great experience.
Review Source:This is a great little place, and the food was fantastic. We went for my husband's birthday, and it was perfect. My only complaint would be that the staff was a little too attentive. I had three people ask if i was done with my salad plate, which made me feel rushed while I was trying to enjoy my meal. If you go, you should absoltely get the apple pie.
Review Source:4.5 it's meat cuts were great
Fillet Mingnon was delish soft
The other steak was also great
Desert apple rum sauce something is a must do .,
Service was Great-attentive cute to boot great I say ., fixed my salad error an free treat was given
like I said 4.5 -31$ for filet pricey but if u can do there isn't much quisine around
Just left yosemite and was quite happy here
Definitely a 5-star restauant for Mariposa standards. Sure, it might not stand out in the Bay Area, but that's not what we're talking about.
My wife and I recently had dinner here to spend a gift certificate we'd been holding onto for over a year. Don't know why it took so long!
My wife is a pretty harsh critic and agreed with me that it was the best meal we've had in Mariposa (we live in town and have eaten pretty much everywhere). She almosty screamed when she took her first sip of the French Onion soup; it was that good. She had a fish dish for her main and really liked it. I had the NY steak and came out perfectly med-rare. Seems like other reviewers have had trouble getting steaks made to order, but mine was delicious. Accompaniying baked potato and veggies were all cooked to perfection and well-seasoned.
I had a glass of decent local red wine with dinner, and we finished with a slice of cheesecake and one of the chocolatey/coffee concoctions that was on the menu. Dessert was mouth-watering in every way, and the espresso was well-made.
The service was really good, if maybe a little on the slow side. I might have gotten fidgety if I had wanted to eat and dash, but the kid was at the sitter's, so we casually made our way through the meal for about an hour and a half.
The bill came to about $100. A little pricey for me, since I live in town, but we'll definitely go back when we want to treat ourselves.
EDIT: July 2013. Since the time of this review Charles Street has undergone some changes after the untimely death of its original proprietor. It was closed for a while, but reopened with what I hear is substantially the same staff. I've not eaten there since the reopening.
I travel through Mariposa about twice a year on the way to Yosemite.
So it goes like this: Sometimes a Server can save a restaurant. Not this time.
Our Server " Erica" was good and so was the Hostess "Amy" and our Busser " Acacia"
The food was not good....and Waaaaay-over-priced !
If I can just tell you four things, you can make an intelligent judgement of this restaurant without reading further.
1. They serve Rack-of-Lamb with a "Mint Sauce".
2. They have "Chablis" on the Wine List
3. They serve "Lime Sherbet".
4. The Clam Chowder is served again on Saturday night.
When going to a new place or to one that I haven't been to in a while, I always order "Safe". How 'bout a burger?
I ordered their Signature burger. It was not good.
It contained 2 small tomato slices, a corner piece cut off the red onion, and 3 tiny pieces of spring mix, each about a half-inch in size and a burger in 3 pieces that appeared to have been dropped on the floor in the kitchen before being placed on the soggy bun.
Oh, the fries were fair. The Clam Chowder, i sent back. The salad was good untill I realized that they had thrown green bell peppers into the mix. Yuck !
We won't be going back.
If a restaurant that sells a Signature burger for $14 dollars, can't get that right, no, can't make it Spectacular, then why would I order a sirloin steak for $32 bucks, ever.
I do not recommend Charles Street Dinner House in Mariposa, CA.
I wish that I had eaten at Happy Burger down the street. At least I know that they make what-they-make, pretty well, and have great Chocolate Shakes.
One more thought. Charles Street locks the front door at 9pm sharp on a Saturday night.
Probably a good thing for the 20 or so unsuspecting Italian tourists who tried to get in while I was leaving.
I heard in town that the Charles Street Owners ex-wife recently opened a restaurant down the street. Do you think she left him cause he wouldn't change.......the Menu?
This place is a local favorite but the food quality does not justify the price. Â We ordered all the signature dishes. Burger was tasteless. The sea bass was so small that it disappeared in few bites. Fish n chips was ok. The pork chops were rubbery. The sides were pretty good especially the polenta. The desert was ok. The chef forgot to add the rum sauce. We had to remind him about the sauce with the apple pie. Espresso was ok but no sugar cubes. The bill came to a whopping $160 and the dining experience was anything but fine. I would miss it without any regrets next time.
Review Source:This place has been a staple of the Mariposa community for years and I've never been disappointed. The warm and friendly decor matches the personality of Mariposa. I had a steak with a little bit of bleu cheese and it was juicy and incredibly flavorful. If you happen to be going through Mariposa on your way to Yosemite this is a must stop.
Review Source:We've decided to give this place a try after initially being sent over to Savory's on the recommendation of our Hotel Clerk. Â We decided that this place seemed little more comfortable and not so stuffy (Unlike Savory's) Â They have a nice variety of choices on their menu, but everyone in my party chose from the Chef's menu (which gives you a soup or salad, a choice of five entrees, and a parfait for dessert). Â We all choose the Ranch Steak for our entrees. Â The soup choices were French Onion soup and another that I can't remember. Â We all got the salad with our choice of dressing. Â Average bag salad with tomato. Â Nothing special. Â The garlic bread that is complimentary was damn good though. Â The Ranch Steaks were all cooked to order perfectly. Â The weird thing about the meal was that all came with season vegetables but the sides were all "Chef's Accompaniment". Â One plate had three cheese raviolis, another a baked potato, and the other two had three halves of a boiled potato? Â The guy who got the three raviolis felt cheated. Â The steaks were seasoned well and tasted very good. Â The parfaits were either strawberry or raspberry. Â Everyone was satisfied. All in all a great exprience for touristy type eating. Â The service was great and always attentive. Â Will hit this place again on our next trip to Yosemite.
Review Source:I had a portabella mushroom appetizer with cheese... delicious and when I asked for a green vegetable side, was offered three different including fresh sauteed spinach, which I picked... also done just right. My friend ordered a burger and WOW must have been 3/4 pound with generous crisp veggies subbing for the fries. She got a green salad that heaping with different lettuces and veggies. All this was particularly good in contrast to the insipid food we had at the famous burger place nearby a couple of days before. Â We like the foccacia bread served hot and buttery. No drinks and our bill was under $22 for two nice meals. Out wait staff was attentive and friendly, so this place is one I recommend strongly and will return to. Considering price/value five stars
Review Source:Oooo. Â The food was basic...basically good and a very reasonable price to boot. This was one of those unsuspecting places that's probably a local's favorite. Â The previous reviews were spot on.
On the dinner special was crab cakes and pork chops. Â The pork chops were moist and tasty. Â The soup was tasty and hearty.
Service was excellent and attentive.
Don't Do It.
I have microwaved better French Onion soups from the freezer section at Costco. I ordered a NY Strip Steak ($28) prepared rare. It came out medium, tough, dry, and with one end of it charred slightly.
Service was good, but the food was extremely overpriced for the quality. If you do not mind paying fine-dining prices for Ponderosa quality, give it a try. Otherwise, you may want to consider the Burger King up the road... It is just that disappointing.
We went here for dinner after a long day at Yosemite. Or I should say that we went here for the apple pie with rum sauce (the dinner was just a necessary hurdle before the dessert).
My wife's uncle was raving about the apple pie all day and it still exceeded our expectations. It was pretty much as Chistopher R. described in his review. It was excellent. The crust was buttery and flaky. Two scoops of creamy vanilla ice cream and the delicious rum sauce on top. I shared one piece with my wife because we were already full from the entrees.
It seems that the chef chooses a different free appetizer to send out to each table. Our table got stuffed mushrooms and home-made tortilla chips. A nearby table got a large salad to share.
I would definitely recommend this place for anyone driving through Mariposa on their way home from Yosemite. The entrees were great. The presentation was nice. And the service was excellent.
I guess Zhi Q. beat me to singing the praises of Charles Street Dinner House. Â I hate you, Zhi Q. Â I hate you so much.
Well, as much as I despise him, he at least hit all the major points I would like to have hit if only I had fulfilled my rightful destiny to score a First here. Â To review:
- The service is phenomenal. Â I am pretty sure I have not felt as well looked after as a customer, even at the fanciest of the schmanziest of restaurants, in quite a while. Â If they ever decide to stop making food, the staff here could give lessons on friendly, attentive service.
- The preposterous glass goblets for the beer. Â I am at a loss for words.
- The complimentary New England clam chowder was some of the best I've had at a place neither known for its soups nor its seafood.
- The Fire Grilled NY Steak, medium rare, I ordered was a bit tough but I had been forewarned on the subject. Â The bleu cheese it was topped off with could use some more robust flavor but I'll let that pass. Â The vegetables which accompanied the meat were well-seasoned and tender. Â All in all, a rather good choice of entree.
- The apple pie with vanilla ice cream and rum sauce, came in a ridiculously large serving which I nonetheless devoured. Â The pie itself had good filling, just the right amount of cinnamon, and was set off well against the rum sauce. Â The pie crust was buttery and flaky, too. Â
Can I say this is THE place to go for dinner in Mariposa? Â The consensus of the townfolk was to go to Savoury's but I never went so I can't make the comparison. Â What I can tell you, though, is that you will not be disappointed by Charles Street Dinner House.
My first First! Â w00t! Â And quite a gem to have found!
We found ourselves in Mariposa as a base of operations for both white water rafting and hiking in Yosemite. Â We just so happened to walk by this place. Â Well, Mariposa is a place where you don't so much 'walk around' as 'turn around', seeing as how the town is about a mile in end to end.
From the moment we walked in, the staff and owners were nothing but extremely friendly and hospitable. Â We were never at a loss for anything we could want. Â The atmosphere was quaint and comfortable, like any casual dining establishment you would find, but the food was anything but!
First of all, our beers came in ceremonial, frosted drinking goblets. Â Like literally, think some of those false chalices from the end of Last Crusade, but made of glass. Â And frosted. Â And filled with beer instead of the water that kills you. Â This amused me to no end.
The owner then brought us some complimentary soups, and both the French Onion and Clam Chowder were right up my alley: Â big flavors, done really well. Â The chowder especially, not too dense, but still full of intense goodness.
I had the New York Strip, and my friends had other steak dishes, along with the burger and the Honey Roasted Chicken. Â The side dishes for all the entrees were amazing. Â My baked potato was simple, just some sour cream, butter, and fresh chives, but it was delicious. Â Grilled veggies made me want to eat veggies. Â The steak itself, was only OK, but I was willing to overlook it as the one blemish on an otherwise amazing meal. Â My friend's burger was gone within about 15 seconds, and I wanted to try the chicken even after having eaten a whole meal. Â That's how good they both looked.
Now, on account of the steak, the primary protein of the meal, was a bit of a downer, I was going to mark this review down, but then dessert changed my mind entirely! Â The Hot Apple Pie with Rum Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream was so good I finished my friend's after eating my dessert, the Mocha Ice Cream Pie, which hands down, the best dessert I've had in months. Â A perfect blend of crunchy bits of mocha, crumbly crust, velvety soft ice cream, and perfectly sweet indulgence. Â Also, all the desserts were huge! Â I literally had a quarter of the ice cream pie. Â It covered an entire plate, and then had whipped cream and chocolate sauce heaped on it. Â I was so thankful to be on vacation, because I'm sure I ate about 10,000 calories at this meal.
The prices were quite reasonable, and the fact we found this place in a town the size of Mariposa? Â The entire experience was the very definition of 'a pleasant surprise.' Â Five stars.
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