If you are looking for the best date night in Mariposa this week, make it Charles Street Dinner House. This long-running steakhouse on Highway 140 at the edge of town is the standout pick right now for its Certified Angus Beef steaks, fresh-made pasta, and a cozy, warmly lit dining room open Tuesday through Saturday evenings.
What makes Charles Street Dinner House the best date night pick in Mariposa
Charles Street Dinner House sits on Highway 140 in Mariposa, part of the Mariposa service area Monica serves. It is a longtime family-run steakhouse, open since 1998, known for Certified Angus Beef steaks, fresh-made pasta, baby back ribs, and a full beer, wine, and cocktail list. It holds a 4.3-star Yelp rating from about 635 reviews and a 4.6 rating on TripAdvisor, where it ranks as a top restaurant in Mariposa. For a date night, the combination of a warm, cozy dining room, evening-only hours, and a menu built around well-executed steakhouse classics makes it an easy call for the week of October 21.
What to order at Charles Street Dinner House
Start with the French Onion Soup, which the restaurant calls A Charles Street Tradition, topped with croutons and melted Gruyère. For the main course, the hand-cut steaks are the draw: the 12-ounce Rib Eye, the 8-ounce Filet Mignon, or the 10-ounce New York Steak, all Certified Angus Beef, all served with soup or house salad, seasonal vegetables, and a choice of potato. To finish, the Hot Apple Pie with rum sauce is the dessert regulars mention most, and the bar pours beer, wine, and cocktails to go with dinner.
Estimated price range for a dinner for two
Charles Street Dinner House is a moderate-to-upscale spot. Based on the official menu, the hand-cut steaks run roughly $44 to $48, appetizers about $15 to $19, and desserts $9 to $12. Plan for a dinner for two with an appetizer, two steaks, and drinks to land around $120 to $160 before tax and tip. These are estimates from the published menu, not guarantees, and the final tab depends on what you order.
Where Charles Street Dinner House is located
Charles Street Dinner House is at 5043 Highway 140, Mariposa, CA 95338, phone (209) 966-2366. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. and closed Sunday and Monday. The official Charles Street Dinner House website has the full details, and the published dinner menu lists current dishes and prices.
More date night ideas in Merced County
If you want to build a full evening around it, this weekend's guide to things to do across Merced, Atwater, Turlock, Winton, and McSwain has more ideas, and for a Gold Rush history stop near Mariposa, the Hidden Gem of the Week on Hornitos is worth the trip. New best date night picks land weekly in the Date Night archive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best date night spot in Mariposa this week?
Charles Street Dinner House, a steakhouse at 5043 Highway 140 in Mariposa, is the Date Night Pick for the week of October 21, 2026: Certified Angus Beef steaks, fresh-made pasta, and evening hours Tuesday through Saturday. Browse the Date Night archive for more picks.
Is Charles Street Dinner House good for a date night?
Yes. Reviewers consistently describe it as a cozy, welcoming steakhouse with well-prepared Certified Angus Beef steaks, attentive service, and a warm atmosphere, and the Tuesday through Saturday evening hours make it a natural date night spot.
What is the price range at Charles Street Dinner House?
It is a moderate-to-upscale spot. Based on the official menu, hand-cut steaks run roughly $44 to $48 and appetizers about $15 to $19, so a dinner for two typically lands around $120 to $160 before tax and tip.
Why Charles Street Dinner House is the best date night in Merced this week
Charles Street Dinner House earns the best date night pick in Mariposa this week because it delivers the full package: a Highway 140 location, Certified Angus Beef steaks, fresh-made pasta, a full beer, wine, and cocktail list, and a cozy, warmly lit dining room open Tuesday through Saturday evenings. It is currently open and well reviewed, holding a 4.3-star Yelp rating from about 635 reviews and a 4.6 rating on TripAdvisor, and it is priced in the moderate-to-upscale range, with hand-cut steaks running roughly $44 to $48 and a dinner for two typically landing around $120 to $160 based on the official menu. For date night spots in the Mariposa foothills, it is the reliable, well-reviewed choice that reviewers consistently praise for its steaks, service, and warm atmosphere.
Enjoy a great night out, Merced.
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