3 Stars because it was both 1-star "not good" and 4-star "great" due to it being the weirdest dining experience I've ever had. So let's start with the "not good" - not only was it not good - the service was so bad I couldn't even bring myself to want to tip out of pity. I try to find reasons to tip in situations such as this but I could not. Literally the last time I left a $0 tip was 20 years ago - I'm no jerk. So to start it took forever to get any attention - felt invisible - after sitting down, I basically had to all but snap my fingers and shout, "garçon!" Then it was left to random chance when and what arrived at our table. Starting with, "here's your beers, not sure which one is which." The food items did not arrive together, but staggered. One item failed to arrive entirely and when I mentioned it there was no apology it was, "well did you say anything?" My befuddled reply, "I'm saying something now?" Then I asked for a napkin along with the check with the missing item removed, and got the check and no napkin. We had to rinse our hands in our water cups then wash them in the bathroom lol. The check arrived with a place to write a gratuity and a total, which is unusual - usually you have to give them your card before you get that option and this abnormality threw me off and I never gave them my card, I just gave a tip of " :( " and put the total and signed my name and left. A few minutes later my wife realized I didn't ever hand them a card. So I called and left a message apologizing and saying I still owe them. They never called back. So the next day I entered the restaurant to pay up, and they were really nice and said they couldn't find an unpaid tab and that it probably got voided out or something. They were magnanimous and cool about it. I'm worried maybe somebody else got charged for my meal? No idea, but I can't bring myself to leave 1 star for a place that in a weird round about way comped me for $75 in food and drinks even though I didn't tip them. What a weird experience. read more

It is nice to see Bluewater Lounge restaurant/bar open again! It was one of the later dining establishments to reopen following covid. And even better to know the food and drinks are as great as they always were! While staying with friends in this lovely golf community, we stopped at the Links at Bodega Harbour to check it out and decided to stay for dinner. The menus offered up some tasty sounding dishes! And they did not disappoint. Three of us ordered the crab cakes while two went for the traditional hamburger and fries. Everyone was happy with their choices. Crab cakes were on point! Lots of crab with little filler. Really rich and moist served with a light sauce, which complimented them so well. Hamburgers were big and juicy with lots of crispy fries. In the beverage department, I selected the Quivira Sauvignon Blanc, which was wonderful. You rarely see this winery on restaurant wine lists, so I was quite excited. It is so delightful and perfect with crab cakes. (Menu photos of everything are included.) By the time we were finished, every seat was filled. It is a small area with maybe 7 seats at the bar and a mixture of tables and high tops rounding out the rest of the room. Very cozy. A gorgeous view of the ocean and golf course, too, as the restaurant is on the second level of the building. Casual dining at its best! Alex and his helper were working hard. Five-star customer service for sure. Shout out to them both! I highly recommend Bluewater Lounge for a place to stop where you will have quality food, a full bar, and people who strive to give the highest customer experience to everyone! Open for dining Wednesday, Thursday (live music), Friday (bingo or live trivia), Saturday, and Sunday (brunch). (It's always smart to call for specific open hours.) Parking plentiful. Did I mention they give a nice wine pour too!!! Cheers! read more

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We have visited this place several times on our trips to Bodega Bay. It's always been very good - Food, drinks and service. This time we came only for some beverages, as we were having dinner at the house. The wine list is very limited and a little pricey in this reporter's opinion. But they have a captured audience. Wifey had the sauvignon blanc ($13) which was pretty good and the pour was generous. The beer list, on the other hand is quite nice and reasonably priced. I had a Blind Pig and a Pliney the Elder. ($10) The atmosphere is very comfortable. The view is fantastic. We were sitting at the bar upstairs. The bartender was an affable by the name of Robert. He quickly greeted us and got our drinks in record time. He was there at the ready anytime we needed anything and was working diligently to make sure everyone was taken care of. Downstairs they had Trivia Night so the place was hopping and the bar was busy. Overall the facility was clean and well kempt. We'll be back agin for sure!! read more

We popped in for lunch and a beer today. The staff are always really friendly and we had a cold beer and a good lunch (fish tacos and the club sandwich) and watched the Kentucky Derby at the bar. The view from there never gets old. read more

Stayed in the Bodega Bay golf community with some friends for a weekend and ate at the Bluewater lounge both nights. The food is pretty good but the portion sizes are very small. Great views and ambiance from the upstairs bar area so be sure to sit there. Now the bad.... The service. The service was not good, waiting very long to get our menus, drinks and refills. The waiters and the manager seem very unprofessional and like they don't care about anything going on in the restaurant. Manager hovered over me while I was paying the bill and then said "cash tips are accepted"... oh really? He proceeded to put the cash in his pocket and he wasn't even our waiter. Place will probably stay in business due to the lack of options in the Bodega area but just needs some new employees who care a bit more. read more

Bluewater Lounge - View from upstairs bar - New American Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

We stop here after a round of golf to grab a drink. The service was fast & amazing. I had a bowl of clam Chowder soup ( not a fan very watery) and shrimp tacos. They were one of the best I have had. Full of shrimp , lots of cabbage & avocado. Very flavorful. read more

Bluewater Lounge - Clam Chowder - New American Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

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Staying nearby and came by for dinner. Left after being ignored, not welcomed or acknowledged. Returned to the Lodge @ Bodega Bay and had a great dinner. Would award zero stars read more

We stopped by for one drink and the live music on our way to our dinner reservation. The bar is upstairs, and the server helped us put two tables together as we had six people. The musician was by the fireplace playing his guitar and you can donate cash. Our bartender was attentive and whipped up our cocktails quickly. He also brought water. One order was misheard, but it was quickly remedied. There were a few televisions around the bar for those who are looking to watch specific sports. Lots of paved parking as it is tucked away in a residential community. Great views if you are facing out the windows. Will be back next time for food or trivia! The restroom we used was downstairs next to the front door. There was an elevator if you need it. read more

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This was our first time dining here. Service was attentive and fast. We started with amazing margaritas and shoe string fries. We tried the Korean ribs, fish tacos and pepperoni pizza. Everything was delicious! All that and a gorgeous view and live music. I recommend this place!! read more

Bluewater Lounge - View is beautiful! - New American Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

This place is amazing. Not only can I play eighteen holes of golf at the golf course, but I can sit and have a wonderful cocktail on the outside deck. The upstairs bar and dining area has incredible views.You should see this during the sunsets.It's what california is all about. And for this mirror I have the salmon alfredo, they actually smoke their own salmon.It was delicious. Not to mention the cocktails, they have a great cocktail menu.Wonderful wines by the glass and absolutely the best beers on tap from our local breweries. The staff is wonderful and the service was fast and perfect. I can't say anything more. They have live music on Thursday night. So i'm gonna check that out myself, but everybody should check out the blue water lounge at the bodega bay golf links. And I found out all the fish is fresh, bought down in Bodega Bay, local wines, local beers on draft. Come down and enjoy the fun.We have the best experience.Thank you, blue water, lounge and your staff.You made our vacation so pleasurable we will be back. read more

Bluewater Lounge - Beautiful sunsetBodega from the bluewater lounge - New American Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

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Yummy Fish Tacos and a Great View! Bluewater Lounge is a good spot to stop for lunch with friends. The food was good, the service was okay and the view of the ocean is nice. read more

Ribs were excellent!! The sweet potato fries were a nice touch. View from the lounge overlooks the golf course and Doran beach with the beautiful backdrop of the ocean.!! A must stop if you are visiting Bodega Bay. read more

Bluewater Lounge - Wok Seared Pork Ribs Mango Chili BBQ Sauce, Sweet Potato Fries - New American Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

Last day on vacation. Just wanted to pick up some quick food and take it back to our house to enjoy and relax before leaving in the morning . Amazing view! Good clam chowder. Service was slow. read more

Bluewater Lounge - Blue Water View. - New American Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

We visited for the New Year's Eve specials and had an amazing meal! The duck specialty was delicious and the amaretto cheesecake was to die for. The French fries with my husband's burger were so good we ordered another side of them! The views, ambience, and service were fabulous-such a special place! read more

bartender gave horrible service didn't even know that they had the Dungeness crab sandwich and forgot to order it for a friend of mine. He should have full knowledge of what they're serving never came around the refill or drinks bad service. read more

It was a very stormy day we went there. The ocean was so rough that there were small craft warnings in place. Lovely to view the storm from our table. We had clam chowder, fish tacos and the burger. All were excellent and washed down with an ipa. Service was a bit slow, but how many people would brave the high winds and rain? So they were a bit understaffed. It made for a leisurely lunch. I really recommend this place. read more

My wife and I came here on our honeymoon and were saddened by the low reviews of this place. Our wine was GENEROUSLY poured, our food was delicious, service was quick and friendly, seating was immediate, and the view was beautiful. If you look closely at the low reviews here, especially in the last few months, AND you're smart enough to read between the lines on negative reviews, you will see that the angry reviewers either were there at a busy time when one poor server was attending to a lot of guests, or, they were angry they had to wait at all. Several negative reviews give one star AND THEY DIDNT EAT THE FOOD! On my end, our server was so careful about my gluten allergy that he made sure the kitchen remade an entire dish even if it meant my waiting longer for my food. I got some wine for my trouble and I gave him extra tip in appreciation, all while enjoying the ambience of a place situated above Bodega Bay's serenely beautiful coastline. Also, this place closes late, accepts walk-ins, and delivers. Stop with the petty low reviews, fellow Yelpers! read more

On our way back from our weekender in Mendocino we hit the hour of wanting brunch. I just did a quick Yelp search to what was close to us as we were driving and randomly picked this location. It was very busy in the lounge. Luckily we found a seat near the bar and the waitress was very nice and let us know that the kitchen was very slow and that our food would come out slower than expected. Thank you so much for letting us know before hand. My only stipulation was make sure the cocktails get here fast. They did not disappoint. I ordered the Bluewater Dagwood Sandwich. Ham & Turkey and cheese and veggies on sourdough. It was outstanding. My man got the burger. Again it was great. The food was so good and really worth the wait. For just happening to stop in because we were hungry we were very happy with our choice. Once you've had your fill take a walk around the grounds and look at the ocean and fog rolling in. read more

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Weird experience.. handed a beer that had something in it that sank down to the bottom of the glass.. had to return it (obviously) & later, the bar tender talked about me like I wasn't there to other customers. That was my fault? Super rude & weird. Couldn't exit the place fast enough. The servers were nice though. read more

So far so good with the post-pandemic relaunch. Beautiful ocean view location. The menu is somewhat limited but does include a few out of the ordinary options and a smaller menu usually guarantees good execution from the kitchen, and they don't miss the mark. We had the Korean short ribs to start - a generous, well-seasoned portion that could be slightly improved with a larger serving plate and a steak knife. For entrees we each had the kale Caesar salad with chicken - one of the best we've ever had! The kale is tender and crispy, the chicken generous and moist, and the dressing is perfectly balanced with a nice bite (I like a more garlic- and lemon-based dressing as opposed to the heavy creamy type). The best surprise is the addition of unsalted sunflower seeds for additional texture and flavor. Like the food menu the beer and wine list is small but well thought out and reasonably priced. We sat at the bar and enjoyed fantastic service from Alex. We are locals to the area and will definitely be back. read more

We attended the winemaker dinner with Inman Family winery. It was wonderful. I loved that it was fairly intimate (36 attendees). The food was great and the wines were terrific! Our only complaint/comment is that the dinner was advertised to start at 5:00. When we got there at 5:00, we were told the dinner would start at 5:45 and that, in the meantime, the bar was available to purchase drinks. We considered that pretty bad form especially since drinking cocktails can impede one's ability to do a proper wine tasting. Other than that, however, we enjoyed the evening a great deal and look forward to attending the next one. read more

We are staying nearby and wanted a couple of snacks and cocktails. It is Mother's Day and the main restaurant had a brunch buffet, so we opted for the bar upstairs with the regular menu. A few tables weren't bussed from previous diners but a high top was open. After 15 minutes menus arrived. Our order was placed and we sat. And sat. And sat for another 50 minutes without a check in or drink refill, or water even. When the food arrived, we had empty glasses and no utensils. The wings weren't edible, so greasy and the "crudite" was actually far warmer than the wings. Who doesn't love hot cucumbers? The fish tacos were fine but the lukewarm temperature made me wonder if they were safe to eat. The flatbread was blah but easy to get down. I will say the fries were delicious. Wanting to get out of there, we tracked down someone to pay and ran home for a desperate sip of water. There was also a music show on the TV above us playing songs in such an obnoxious manner, I was convinced we were being punked. They should play that show in prisons to torture inmates with horrific renditions of popular tunes. Not for me! read more

We have always loved going to this place when in town as it's one of the few places in Bodega Bay with a view of the ocean, and the ambience is cozy. However, it has really gone downhill. The service was mediocre, the menu very limited (not nearly as good as before), and the food was terrible (with the exception of the French fries). We went on a Thursday hoping to listen to some good live music. Unfortunately, the musician was really hard to listen to. I know they have better people on other nights - we just had bad timing. Overall, we couldn't wait to get out of there and felt so disappointed as it has so much potential. I'm not sure we will return. read more

Decided to support our local HOA and take our family to Bluewater Lounge for the Mother's Day brunch, even though pricey. What a mistake! Food wasn't very good and cold anyway, service was nonexistent, and the skeletal staff was bickering in front of the handful of customers. I could have saved a couple hundred dollars and taken everyone to McDonald's for a better meal. SO DISAPPOINTED. read more

This Review has been long overdue but you know the saying "better late then never"! We went for our 15 years Anniversary to Bodega Bay back in April and on our last day we decided to try a nicer restaurant and after a little research we decided to try Bluewater Bistro & Bar and since we rented our house on the Golf Course it was within 10-15 walking distance. Rated at 3 stars we didn't know what to expect but we agreed to give it a try anyway. We got there around 5-5:30pm and we're seated within 2-3 min (great service)! We were not rushed and I went with an appetizer first the "New England Style Clam Chowder Bread Bowl". I liked it very much and was delicious! 5 stars for that. After looking over the menu me and my sweet wife went with their dinner special "Fish and Mash Potatoes with Steamed Veggies" I forgot what type of fish was but most likely it was Halibut. My son got the Burger with Fries and my daughter went with the Chicken Strips and Fries. Overall the dinner meals were very delicious, tasty and the perfect amount! We also ordered some super delicious deserts and I totally forgot what they were called but you can see the pics! I rate this awesome Restaurant at 5 Stars for Excellent Service & Food. Will definitely be back when we plan to visit Bodega Bay again! Also don't forget to check my pics! Enjoy =) read more

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The service was fantastic! Shrimp were cooked to perfection! The view is unbeatable! Thank you Robert, Alfredo & Sonnet! Dream team!

What an improvement! Twice I have eaten at Bluewater Lounge since Chef Bren has taken the helm, and twice we have been very pleased!! This place used to be notorious for disappointing food and service. Not any more. I have food allergies and Chef Bren had the kitchen whip up a Chicken Marsala on the fly for me a couple of weeks ago. Past Sunday, Lamb Shanks were on the menu and our table of 4 ordered 2 to share and we were satiated and very pleased. A starter salad and a bowl of Crawdad Bisque began our meal and every dish that came to the table was wonderful! The Lounge was relatively quiet, the staff pleasant. We also had the option to sit downstairs in the dinning room, which is refreshing as it's been mostly closed the last few years. I have great hope that this establishment has made an important turn for the much better. If you've been to the Bluewater before and been disappointed, like we were, come back for another try! read more

I would not eat here again if you paid me! Ordered a pizza and it was horrible! It was on an pre-made crust and was as hard as rocks at the edge and not warm at the center. The topping were not fresh either! $24 for it! Not worth it. read more

We came here for dinner on a Saturday evening following a round of golf. We arrived around 7:30 PM and it was fairly empty, so we were seated immediately (no reservation) and had our choice of table. Several of the tables next to the windows offered fantastic views of Bodega Bay, and we were fortunate enough to be seated where we could watch the sunset as we ate. First things first - the ambience was really nice. It was quiet, and the restaurant felt spacious, due to the ample amount of space between tables, as well as the vaulted ceilings. This made the entire dining experience feel very relaxed and enjoyable. The service was also very good. Our waitress was prompt and friendly, and our food arrived fairly quickly. They were also good about refilling our bread and drinks, and about clearing away our dishes. All in all, not much more you could ask for in terms of service. Now for the food itself: very good. We sampled many of the starters - the clam chowder, the cheese plate, the spinach salad, and the crab cakes - and they were all very good. It's no surprise that they do all of their seafood dishes really well, given their proximity to the ocean. Personally, I would recommend the crab cakes the most. For entrées , we got the halibut and the NY steak, and both were cooked and seasoned very well. In particular, the mashed potatoes that came with the steak were the fluffiest/airiest mashed potatoes I've ever eaten - simply divine! The portions are also fairly generous, so you will definitely be full by the time you are done. And last but not least, the crème brûlée was DELICIOUS. Perfectly caramelized on top, and the custard was melt-in-your-mouth creamy. When combined with the raspberries/blackberries that it was topped with, it was the perfect way to end a fantastic meal. The only drawback I can think of would be that it is kind of expensive. But all in all, it was very much worth it, and a memorable experience. read more

The French Dip was one of the better ones I've had and I highly recommend trying it. The second day I had the BLT and it was decent. Wish I had the French Dip instead. Prices are reasonable for a restaurant overlooking the bay on a nice golf course. Good beer on tap as well. I hope to return here soon as we all enjoyed this place. This review is for the bar area upstairs and we didn't try the downstairs restaurant. read more

Where to start... if you are looking for a great view this is a good place to go. The view was splendid I'm sure it would be even better at sunset. We entered and weren't sure quite where to go, there was an upstairs and downstairs dining area. We were greeted by the hostess with a monotone uninterested "looking for lunch" but hey, at least we were greeted.. some places they totally ignore you. We stated we were and she took us upstairs into a small lounge area with only one other couple. (their website calls it The Fireside Lounge) Stating we could sit where we liked. I won't say much about the couple except they ruined our dining experience and vacation bliss by fighting loudly about something pretty much the whole time we were there. If you want to fight LEAVE I'm paying to enjoy myself! We both ordered the iced tea. It came quickly but tasted strange.. a bit smoky. As I drank it I started to get a headache. I wonder what was wrong with it since we both got a headache by the end of the meal and we THINK it was the iced tea. I felt like I had drank scotch not iced tea. (Dizzy, etc.) I noticed on the specials sign on the way into The Fireside Lounge that they had lamb sliders. I love lamb and thought of nice little ground lamb patties so I ordered it. When it arrived it was sliced lamb I thought "OH! What a wonderful treat!" Until I bit into my slider... lamb jerky, I think a piece actually cut my throat on the way down. The flavor was OK, but not great. I was very sad.. I moved on to my spring greens salad. I'm not sure what the dressing was it LOOKED like ranch and was very tasty. The greens were a bit to bitter to be extremely fresh but they weren't wilting yet either.. and the sweet potato fries were pretty tasty. If it were just the salad and the fries I would give it three stars, the lamb really was bad though so two stars for this meal. The handsome man ordered the "Fish and Chips Fresh snapper, battered and fried, served with coleslaw, tartar sauce and French fries". The fish was NASTY it was very greasy and moderately fishy. We shared it and still couldn't finish it. The coleslaw was your average semi-sweet mayoish mix, not bad, but not memorable either. The fries weren't particularly memorable either. One, maybe two stars. The service was "tolerant" like we were bad children but we had money to pay for our meal so we were being tolerated until they could get rid of us. It's a good thing we hated our tea because the person who seated us is the person who served us and she never checked to see if we needed anything... I don't think we will be back, Yelp let us down on this one. I don't know how this place got four stars. Maybe they were dinner reviews and the dinners are better. read more

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Terrible food tonight. We have eaten here before and decided to try it again. First off the tea looks like sewer water and taste terrible. The clam chowder would have been good but the clams were very tough and chewy. Also the calamari was very very tough and chewy. My fish and chips were no better, there were soggy patches on my fish. There should be more fish inside the batter than there is batter. I mean hello I should not have to search for fish and also inside of my fish it was slimy/wet which means it was undercooked. That would also not happen if the batter was lightly battered and the oil was hotter in the deep fryer. This unfortunately was my last visit to this restaurant which is too bad because of the beautiful views and the great location. read more

We were a group of 4 wanting a table but the only seats were at the bar. We started to leave but met the chef in the hallway. He said we could sit in another room downstairs and didn't want us to leave. Just then a table opened up in the restaurant so we stayed and ate there. We were glad we did. Food was excellent. My burger had that a good crunch on the outside from frying but was tender and juicy inside. My friends liked their pasta meals too. Drinks are supposed to be ordered at the bar but they took our order at the table. Would go again if in the area. read more

This review is long overdue and I will probably need to make an update soon after I revisit this location. We originally came to Bluewater Bistro back in January of 2011. They had cloth tablecloths and everyone was dressed up. We walked in on a Saturday night, a little after 7pm and were seated immediately in a window table. We both ordered the steak (I don't remember what it was called on the menu) and OMG BEST STEAK EVAR!!!! Every single steak we eat since this date has been compared to this steak! When the server brought us what looked like a butter knife to cut the steak with, we both looked at each other like "wha?" But we didn't even use it. The steaks were so perfectly done that all we needed was the fork. We haven't found a steak at any steakhouse that has been better than the ones we had here. We plan to return in the next couple of weeks while on a vacation and I can't wait to see the place now, 12 years later. read more

Horrible service and horrible food. Their outdoor seating area can house 3 tables- their menu is limited and the food doesn't taste good at all - their customer service is lousy and their unwillingness to cater to their guests warmly really makes a difference in terms of the entire experience. The lady at the bar is rude and the only nice gentleman that we encountered there was the person turning on our heaters without making us feel like he was doing us a favor. Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. read more

My friend and I had a great Sunday Brunch at Bluewater. We made a beeline for a window seat and enjoyed watching the waves as we ate our meal. We ate upstairs in the bar area. The bar hosts a comfy atmosphere with fireplace and tv's. The prices are good and the nice servers go above and beyond to get us what we need and at the right price. They have a great happy hour, golf course, pool and tennis courts. I think one must be a member or live in the area. There is a walkway to the beach just outside the door so you can go for a walk afterward your meal. The dining room is very nice. I would like to go back and eat in the dining room. read more

We stopped for lunch and it was served upstairs. We had a window table & got a nice view of Doran Beach. Now for the food. I had an ahi tuna salad. It was good but the ahi was overcooked and tasteless except for the peppercorns it was crusted with. Dale ordered the fish & chips and they were probably the best I've tasted in a very long time. The crust must have been made with panko crumbs because it was wonderful, crunchy and the fish was cooked perfectly. I helped myself to some of the fries too and they were quite tasty. read more

We don't know if it was because the pandemic. We ordered fish & chips and fish taco . They are uneatable, soggy and greasy. We tossed them in the garbage right after opened the container. Best of luck! read more

Good food good services and good view! There is an access to the beach behind the restaurant. Nice to go check it out! :) read more

Bluewater Lounge - New American Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

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Food was ready quickly and it was delicious. Small issue was the asparagus was put in sideways and the balsamic leaked. But not a huge issue. Next time we are in the area, we will definitely go back! read more