Food in Grand Teton National Park

Leek’s Marina & Pizzeria

Only a six minute drive north from my cabin at Colter Bay, I had to try this place. As the name suggests, Leek’s includes a boat launch, various boat services and a pizzeria. And it is perhaps the most picturesque located pizzeria I’ve come across anywhere.

I ate my dinner here at the second night and ordered a pizza with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and ham. It was alright. You don’t come here for the food, you come here for the view, as someone famously once said. It’s a gorgeous place with the mountains in the background, and that’s pretty much what you’re paying for. The biggest problem was the size of the pizza – I forgot that I was in the U.S. and I should’ve ordered a small, not a medium. In fact, I couldn’t finish half of it, and I’m a pretty hungry guy by default. And the bee’s… just don’t drink lemonade outside on a bench late in summer.

So was the pizza worth 24 USD? No. But if you include the premises in that price, then maybe yes. Worth visiting, anyway!

Dornan’s Pizza and Pasta Company

I wasn’t only eating at pizza places while trekking in the Tetons, but it just so happened that the first two restaurants I visited had pizza on their menus. Sue me.

Now, about Dornan’s Pizza and Pasta Company. Dornan’s and this area have a long history—it’s a family-owned establishment that goes back over 100 years. They offer food, wine, accommodation, and activities. Their Pizza and Pasta Company is one of two dining options, the other being Dornan’s Chuckwagon (reviewed down below).

I had lunch here on my second day, and it was great. They have an open-air terrace upstairs with an incredible view of the mountain range. As soon as I knew there was space up there, I went straight up and grabbed a table.

I ordered the buffalo bolognese. It was creamy, flavorful, and the pasta was perfectly cooked. This was also my first time trying bison meat, but I’ll leave a more thorough review when I order a full steak. Judging by the bolognese alone, it was awesome.

I really liked this place and I would definitely come back. Great upstairs terrace (they also have indoor seating downstairs with a nice-looking bar), great food, and a great view. The price? $23. Totally worth it!

Dornan’s Chuckwagon

For those who don’t know what a chuckwagon is, it’s basically a mobile kitchen, originally horse-drawn, used on the prairie in the Wild West. This particular chuckwagon was stationary and didn’t have a horse attached to it—awesome looking nonetheless.

This place is quite close to Jenny Lake, so it made sense to go there for lunch. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw for $16. The meat was very tender and flavorful, and the hamburger bun was nice as well. The coleslaw could use some work, though—it was quite bland. But the star of the dish was definitely the pulled pork, which carried it’s weight. Overall, it was totally worth the $16.

Again, beware of the bees. They’re everywhere this time of year. As soon as someone ordered a soda, the bees came out of nowhere and attacked like you owed them money. Just stick to water.

Snake River Roasting Co.

This spot isn’t located inside the park but in the city of Jackson, just south of it. I visited on a Sunday and there was quite a lot of people around. Jackson is a small cowboy town with plenty of dining options, and they all seem to maintain high standards.

I decided on Snake River Roasting Co., partly due to its great reviews and partly because it was close to my parking lot. The venue was nice with two floors, and the ordering process was quick. I chose the Wagyu Beef Melt, which came with wagyu beef, roasted mushrooms, muenster cheese, and beer-battered onions, all packed onto an amoroso roll for $19. Great stuff! The meat was tender and it was all very flavourful.

Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream

This one is also located in the city of Jackson and it’s a must if you are visiting. All natural and organic ingredients and the best ice cream in Jackson Hole some say, which I can totally vouch for (even though this was the only ice cream I tried in the area).

I was here at opening and was greeted with a friendly staff and huge ice cream meny on the wall behind the counter. I went with two scoops of huckleberry and maple roasted pecan. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures before I had ate it all, but it was awesome. I heard that the line can get quite huge so my recommendation is to be there at opening.

The Mural Room

For the last night in the park, I figured I had to kick it up a notch. Therefore, I made reservations at one of the restaurants at Jackson Lake lodge – The Mural Room. This is a fine dining restaurant offering amazing views of the park through huge windows. Again, being so caught up in the food, pictures got sparse. My bad.

Anyway, being located in one the high-end lodges in the park, food prices reflect that. I ordered the Seared Pork Belly as starter and the Bison Osso Bucco as main course. All amounted to ca 80USD, including drinks. Both courses were great and the staff was friendly – a worthy last meal in the park.