This was the only restaurant opens till 10 pm. Decided to drive from Cambria to Big Sur for late dinner. It was a an average American restaurant. Seated for 5 and ordered from their menu. The clam chowder was delicious but too much potatoes than clams. The Seafood Alfredo pasta was very good. The seafood shrimp scallop calamari was very tasty fresh and good sized amount. The sauce was very creamy. The tri tip was dry and well done. Kinda tough to bite. The combo bbq the pork ribs were juicy. The green salad was very ordinary I've beth lettuce with carrots. The fried calamari with French fries were pretty good. The attendant was so nice. read more

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This place is a nice mom and pop restaurant. Food is good and service is very fast and friendly. We ordered the Fisherman's Combo, which had fish, shrimp, calamari and fries. The server checked on us constantly. read more

Big Sur Restaurant - Fisherman's combo - Seafood Near Me - San Simeon, California

While staying in the hotel their not too much option to eat for dinner unless you wants to drive in dark for 20 minutes so we end up eating here some of the mixed reviews we seen but we still decided to eat. Dinner menu prices are kind of expensive. But the meal is big enough. Staff aren't welcoming the guests. Service charges was 15% added automatically but don't see mention anywhere but that's make sense because most of their customers are Indian while we were there. I also work in the restaurant industry for last 9 years and very few Indians give tip. I was assuming that's why they added the tip with every check even though you are party of 2. I seen customers are mentioned in other reviews as well. One of the middle table is very wobbly. read more

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It's been six years since we've been back to San Simeon, and we were wondering if the Big Sur Restaurant would be as good as we remembered. They did NOT disappoint! Outstanding service, good tasting food, friendly staff. Everything always tastes very fresh. They make their own salsa which is very delicious! Favorite breakfast was the chorizo breakfast burrito. Excellent food. read more

I was out being a backyard tourist as usual and this restaurant was next door to the hotel I was staying at. Decided to try it on a whim and it did not disappoint at all!! Man oh man, my only regret was not wearing my stretchy pants. Service and staff, excellent. Very welcoming and attentive. The restaurant was not fancy by any means but it was clean and smelled like actual cooking was going on in the kitchen. My party of 4 had a taste of a little bit of everything on the menu and it all tasted amazing! Fresh and large portions. Thank you to the staff here for making this wonderful dinner. You have been added to my top places to eat whenever I'm in town! read more

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Wife and I were eating light so we split the Grilled Chicken with Mushrooms (which came with a salad and mixed vegetables, rice and a slice of garlic toast) and a bowl of chowder. All was very tasty. Friendly service and simple but clean interior. Also had plenty of outdoor seating. Would certainly return when in the area again to see the elephant seals. read more

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Situated in the same parking lot as the Comfort Inn - Cambria that we were staying in, Big Sur Restaurant served up a varying mix of diner dishes and some dishes that you would expect. Looking at the signage, this location has had a lot of different restaurants in its time, with Big Sur being the latest iteration. It was definitely chosen because of convenience, and ended up being a decent place to eat. It wasn't too busy, so got a seat right away and was served by Jose. From the dinner menu, we ordered a deluxe chicken quesadilla ($12 plus $5) and a Shrimp and Chips platter ($19). Also got a pint of Modelo draft ($8). The quesadilla was excellent, expertly made with plenty of chicken and cheese and vegetables, diced together. With the added sour cream, guacamole, and salsa, and served hot from the flat top, I really enjoyed each bite...didn't think I was hungry but ended up eating every bite, especially with the Modelo. My wife and her mom shared the shrimp platter, which was prepared well, but the size of the shrimp was disappointing, basically popcorn shrimp. The fries were battered and expertly deep fried. I liked the house-made simple cole slaw. There is an automatic 18% service fee added with credit card accepted. Service was good. read more

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Great Customer Service, very personable and friendly. Food was delicious and delivered within a timely manner. The portions are huge and the food was hot and cooked to perfection. read more

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I came here from out of town and my family and I wanted a casual restaurant that wasn't too pricey. This place was exactly that! They had a nice patio area and seating inside as well. The whole ambiance of the place was homey. It felt casual and the food was amazing! It came warm and hot! The clam chowder is delicious ! The fries were so crispy, YUM. The service was very attentive, checking in on our table every now and then. They helped create such a casual, homey environment. Definitely would come here again ! read more

Great little stop over. Prices seem average for a traveler's restaurants. Service was quick and courteous. Had pancakes, eggs, and bacon. I must say the pancakes were really thick and fluffy. Also they gave five strips of bacon. Others restaurants usually give 2 strips, 4 at the most. Location is within walking distance to many motels. I do recommend this location read more

Big Sur Restaurant - Short Stack Pancake Combo - Seafood Near Me - San Simeon, California

We were a little hungry and the fog was out so we decided to stay local and eat at the restaurant near our hotel. We were going for the Fish n Chips but decided to add the Fisherman's combo which also included shrimp and calamari. I also got a bowl of clam chowder. The food was not bad but it was not great either. My clam chowder really lacked salt and the batter on the fish and shrimp was way too think and lacked flavor. Again, not bad but certainly not great and at these prices; well I don't know that I would return. The family was nice enough and the service was good. This place looks like an old beach diner, which is exactly what it is. But it was clean. It was cold so outside was NOT an option. read more

Big Sur Restaurant - Fisherman's combo, Clam chowder & garlic toast - Seafood Near Me - San Simeon, California

This cute spot is right in front of our motel and with 17% off when showing room key... it was perfect. The waiter greeted us with a nice warm smile and told us to have a seat wherever you like. Casual dining with booths in front with large windows that allowed the beautiful sunset to glow inside. My husband ordered the California Chicken Sandwich with fries. I got the Chicken Marsala. Both items were very good. My chicken was pounded thin breaded and was still tender and juicy. The sauce was so good. It came with steamed veggies (were not tasteless at all) and fancy rice pilaf. Nice size portion too. I'll have a tasty breakfast tomorrow for sure. I told the waiter the food was great and he was thankful and told us it is a family business and his bother-in-law is the chef tonight. If you are staying at the Comfort Inn please don't pass this restaurant on by... worth trying. read more

Big Sur Restaurant - Chicken Marsala - Seafood Near Me - San Simeon, California

We stopped there as there were not much breakfast choices around. I feel it was somewhat overpriced for the quality of food. It was a below average diner. The menue was vast though. I had the eggs benedict which were not well prepared. The hash browns were dry and pale. The staff was friendly though and even refilled our water bottles. read more

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It tastes really good, especially the fries. Highly recommend and it is a clean and quiet place, not too many people. read more

Big Sur Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - San Simeon, California

Simple old fashioned diner with friendly staff and delicious food! We had the grilled chicken with mushrooms and onions, the pot roast dinner, and each had a side salad. The portions were generous and well prepared. The pot roast was tasty and very tender, and came with mashed potatoes and gravy and steamed vegetables, perfectly cooked. The chicken was a grilled chicken breast with sautéed mushrooms and onions, with rice pilaf and steamed vegetables, again perfectly cooked! Each dinner came with Texas toast. The waiter was very attentive and gave good service. We had the pink lemonade and the iced tea to drink, both delicious. A great find in San Simeon! read more

I was not expecting the automatic gratuity service fee for a party of 4. Good to know for next time. I didn't see it anywhere or on the menu. read more

Big Sur Restaurant - I got hit with an automatic gratuity service fee! Ouch! I wasn't expecting that. It was only 2 adults and two children. - Seafood Near Me - San Simeon, California

Found this restaurant 5 minutes away from our room. Which was 10 the area a 10. The hostess was nice very welcoming. The waiter was good! The food was a 8. Our hasbrown weren't that good. Coffee no good but everything else was good. read more

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Was hungry for a good hamburger. We stayed at the Quality Inn and this place was right next door. Didn't want to go far since we just did the Hearst castle. This place is a mom and pops restaurant and it was really good. The young man that served us was very nice and professional! The hamburger was really good! I highly recommend it. read more

Such a cute place! Just went in for dinner with my mom and brother, we loved it! The owner(?) was super nice and the food was delicious - Calamari - Mushroom Burger - Ceaser Salad - Clam Chowder Soooo good!!! read more

Big Sur Restaurant - The Calamari and chips - Seafood Near Me - San Simeon, California

We were staying at a hotel just down the street and decided to give this place a try. I'm so glad we did. We actually ended up eating here in person twice and doing takeout once. It was just that good. It's not fancy it's consistent and that's what we look for when we travel. Both my wife and I always have requests and they were always very accommodating. The staff was always very friendly and the restaurant was clean. Just a great experience all around. We definitely recommend trying it out. read more

This place is VERY dangerous when it comes to food allergens! I have a very serious peanut allergy, and for some reason they made a pesto sandwich using peanuts in the pesto sauce instead of pine nuts!! Service was SO slow and taking forever that I decided to just take my sandwich to go, and when I got back to my hotel, I took one bite and had a very bad allergic reaction- luckily I didn't go into anaphylactic shock since I took one bite and could tell it was peanuts right away. My only allergy is to peanuts, so I KNOW it was made with peanuts. Using peanuts in a pesto is a "budget friendly" method, but EXTREMELY dangerous!! I'm shocked they didn't list that on the menu. read more

The food portions were small, and the server seemed preoccupied with her phone throughout our visit. She didn't offer any beverages, not even ice water--we had to request it ourselves. read more

Not much going on in this little town. I ordered the seafood combo plate and I believe some of it was frozen for sure. Kind of embarrassing when you can see the ocean from the patio. Will not be going back. read more

I was instantly met with unfriendly, unaccommodating, and abrupt service by the individual behind the counter. No smile, no welcoming greeting, nor was there a thank you ever said. I wouldn't have written this review if it weren't for his resistance to prepare a simple kids pasta with Alfredo sauce. The kids pasta is $8. He charged me $28 for pasta with Alfredo sauce. This is dishonest and poor business practice. This place seems to applaud ripping off the customer. I will not be coming back! Make sure to review your itemized receipt! read more

Big Sur Restaurant - Server Jose modified the dinner portion pasta to omit chicken and mushrooms, but still charge me full price for those items. - Seafood Near Me - San Simeon, California

We stopped in after a visit to the Hearst Castle. Small restaurant along the way but food was first rate. Jose took care of our every need. Highly recommend this place. read more

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Food was OK. We had the seafood trio (calamari, shrimp and fish) and chips, the clam chowder soup and chicken Alfredo. The seafood platter was OK. Very greasy! Yes, I know-it's fried! The calamari was the mashed or minced calamari (I hope) sticks. It did not taste like real calamari would. The fish was actually good- the best of the 3 seafood components. Shrimp was chewy and mediocre at best. The clam chowder was thick and tasted like it had too much flower to thicken it up. I probably tasted 5-6 pieces of clams and just couple of bites of potato. The clam chowder soup recipe definitely revision! The chicken Alfredo was alright. I must say that the portions were very generous! The server was great! She was polite, friendly and approachable. The ambience was like a good old beach diner. Not fancy, but cozy. The worst part of our experience: all our appetite was quickly ruined with smells of pinesol chemical they were cleaning the floor with. This was happening half way through our dinner. It was disturbing that they were cleaning the floors with very strong chemicals near us while guests were still dining. That really ruined our experience. We all left quickly. We pass through San Simeon several times a year. I definitely will not be coming back to this spot. Plenty more places to try out. read more

Family owned restaurants with quick and polite service. The food was made fresh and quick, and everything was great. The chorizo con huevos were loaded UP (comes with tortillas), and the country fried steak was crunchy and fresh. French toast was also super yums. Great place for breakfast, would def recommend. read more

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Great service and great food. We had the pasta with grilled chicken red and white sauce. Although separate plates. Sadly we didn't take a picture of our food. We also had the mozzarella sticks with green salad. read more

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I travel for work so I'm always looking for a place that isn't too expensive with good food Big Sur Restaurant definitely checks those 2 boxes without a doubt. How ever unfortunate the service is a little lackluster to say the least but all in all if you in San Simeon looking for a quick bite it will definitely do the trick. read more

The best calamari and clam chowder I've ever had! Calamari and burger were cooked to perfection. Good beer and great service! Ambiance was nice dinner vibes. Loved every part of it! read more

Big Sur Restaurant - ABC burger, sweet potato fries - Seafood Near Me - San Simeon, California

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On our way back from San Simeon to see the elephant seals, we made a stop here for a bowl of clam chowder. Besides the soup, we also ordered the seafood plater, which has fish, shrimp, and calamari with fries. Very good player and the soup was good too. I'd recommend this place for the travelers to this area!! read more

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Delicious food, great friendly service. Huge portions! Salad and soup were really good. Will definitely eat here again! read more

Not a lot of options around following our morning exploration. Appeared clean and well maintained. Upon entering staff was friendly and greeted us. The wait for the food was average. The quality of food overall was subpar. Below average diner. I had the eggs Benedict, the eggs were poorly cooked and the sauce I would bet was from a packet - not the worst I've ever experienced but won't be a repeat offender here. Pancakes were very tough on one side (typically a sign of "not fresh").My other 1/2 had the chicken. Fried steak - packet gravy for sure and very watery - forgot to deliver the toast with the meal. One check in following our order, left us up to the counter pursuing our needs. Drinks are outrageous! $4 each! (Even for coffee). Thumbs down! read more

Good portions, fresh vegetables. Very kind and attentive service! Felt like an old-timey diner. Would come here again!

This place is ok. Was staying in the area and came here during lunchtime. A few tables dining in. Has an old school look with booths. We sat inside in a booth by the window. They also had outdoor dining. No ocean views. I ordered the big sur omelette with shrimp (tiny shrimps!) since they serve breakfast until 2pm. My husband ordered a burger and was soo stuffed! He enjoyed the crispy fries very much. This place has huge portions and decent taste. I skipped the white toast due to being stuffed. Worth a stop in San Simeon. read more

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Pleasant surprise, good food, great service, cute place. Folks should stop in when traveling on Hwy 1 along the coast! read more

We received the wrong food twice and we were the only people in there. We were staying at a local hotel so we were supposed to get a 12% discount which he said he would add. He did not give the discount and we were charged an automatic 15% gratuity for 2 guests. read more

A surprising find. This unassuming restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside, but the food was really good. Homemade chicken parmesan, excellent clam chowder, Michelada. Yum. read more

Wonderful food and service!! We ordered iced tea which was so good and refreshing. Then I ordered the chicken pesto sandwich and my husband ordered the clam chowder, delicious!! Also the FRIES!!! Best fries in town. Period. I could eat those all day everyday. Excellent restaurant. Wanted to try the apple pie but we were too full by the time we were done eating. Next time! read more

Big Sur Restaurant - Clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - San Simeon, California

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The waiter was so friendly and personal. I had the chorizo breakfast burrito. It was so good. Homemade salsa and chips with guacamole came with it. I would love to eat it again. My husband had the meat lovers omelette. It was great and super delicious. Lots of food. We will stop here again!!! read more