Everything about this gem of a restaurant is 5-star, from the friendly servers/host to the owner…read morechefs in the kitchen. All greet you warmly as you enter and leave their delightful restaurant. But the food--wow!! Best crab cakes ever--perfectly crispy on the outside, with moist, succulent flesh and an exceptional remoulade that complements beautifully. Scallops were likewise superb. Main dishes were served piping hot, crazily not easy for many restaurants to accomplish. But absolutely essential for my family of foodies. The pasta was out of this world with the rock shrimp and veggies, and such savory umami! The salmon was seared on the outside and tender and flavorful. Fish stew had a sublimely subtle fennel broth with clams, salmon and potatoes. We had to sop up the broth at the end. Desserts did not disappoint--and just as with food temperature, this is not a given. The chocolate cake was super solid. And then we tasted the 100% perfect passion fruit cheesecake. Tart/sweet balance was phenomenal and the texture managed that near-impossible balance of being light yet incredibly rich. Bravo! Perhaps the best restaurant in Sonoma County.

I read that Terrapin Creek used to have a Michelin star back in 2012, which propelled us to visit…read morethem for dinner when we were at Bodega Bay. When we first arrived, the vibes were a bit stand-offish. Although it was a busy evening, no one bothered to pay us a glance or check in. Eventually, the waitress that had been closest in proximity to us had told another waiter to attend to us. I had noticed that throughout the night, whenever someone would walk in, that same waitress would openly and happily greet them which I found a bit odd/interesting. For food, my husband and I ordered to share: Mediterranean fish stew, homemade campanelle pasta, side of their sourdough bread, and the Akaushi American Wagyu Strip Steak. This ended up being the perfect amount of food for us; I can't imagine ordering any less, as portions are a bit small here. Additionally, this is the first restaurant we've been to where they actually divide the plates into 2 even servings for you, which was thoughtful. My least favorite dish of the night was their steak -- mine seemed to have required a touch of salt whereas I tasted my husband's and his was fine, even though they were supposed to be from the same strip. Uneven seasoning dispersement? The other 2 entrees were perfectly seasoned. Overall, I'd come back again for dinner but do wish service was more balanced. We had no issues with our own server though. It's a cozy and charming restaurant for dinner at Bodega Bay.

Ambiance: Service:…read more Food: The view alone is worth a visit. The staff were very friendly and attentive. The food tasted good overall and our favorite was the crispy potatoes. NY was a bit under-seasoned.

Everything was delicious!!! I chose this restaurant because it's basically the only one on the…read moreSonoma county coast that serves chicken with a view. Everything was top of the line from the flavors, plating, service, chairs, view, and ambiance. Not all the reviews on yelp are great & I rolled the dice with going here and I am so glad I did. Can't wait to go back!

Landed on the crab cakes and a basil pesto pizza with pepperoni. The crab cakes were slightly crisp…read moreon the outside with tons of dark crab meat on the inside. I highly recommend trying the crab cakes without the sauce first-- largely because they stand on their own, and the sauce may be for an acquired taste. The pizza is why I selected this spot, and it was fabulous. I love a wood fired pizza. The flavors were indulgent, but I didn't feel guilty for eating it bc it looks like it's made with clean, fresh ingredients. The service is fantastic-- they're friendly, warm, and on top of checking in to see how you're experiencing things. I love the location, views of the water. I went at sunset which was a great call. Parking is easy.

What a delightful surprise. Halibut fish tacos were amazing. Pisalla peppers stuffed with creamy…read morepolenta swimming in a spicy tomato sauce topped with pumpkin seeds is worth the whole trip. Great friendly team.

We've been going up to Gualala for decades and always pass Drake's on our way. This time we…read moredecided to stop in for a cocktail and check out the fireside patio. We went in the door to the bar and I saw a couple there in the other dining area with their two dogs under the table. That told me everything I needed to know and I immediately liked this place. I hope to bring my pooch next time and will be sure to stop in at Drakes now that I know they're dog friendly indoors and outdoors. My spouse ordered a 1944 Mai Tai and I thought for sure we were going to get a fast no because this drink is typically had at Tiki Bars and places like Trader Vics. The female bartender wrote down the title and said she would go an inquire with her boss. Within a couple of minutes a gentleman emerged from the back with some fresh mint, and I knew my husband was going to receive what he ordered. We were so pleased the bartender was willing to accommodate the 1944, and I ordered the roasted lemon coconut cocktail. Both drinks were fantastic, and we ended up ordering two more 1944's after finishing our first round of cocktails. We sat outside on the patio by the fire and met an awesome couple from Brentwood (Troy and Grace) who showed up shortly after and were celebrating their 18th anniversary. They were a very interesting couple and it was so fun to chat with them about their profession and lives. We did not have food during this visit but when we do, I am sure I will update my rating to 5 stars. Drakes Fireside Lounge is a beautiful spot to stop, no matter where you are traveling along the coast. Thank you for accommodating the request for the 1944. You helped kick off a great weekend and moving forward we will always be sure to stop in at Drakes on our way up the coast.

The wife and decided to head up to Bodega Bay on Friday, 8/28/2026. It was overcast but still…read morebeautiful. We decided to stop off at Drake's for bites and a few drinks...Great choice! We had two wonderful servers in Luis and Tatum. Really chill atmosphere and everyone was so nice. The wife had a smooth old fashioned with 6 year whistle pig and I had a cadillac margaita w/reposado Don Fulano and a naked and famous, Luis made some nice palate pleasers! Now for the food: The one pound manilla clams w/sourdough bread is a meal and a half which was perfect for the overcast day. Wife had the little gem ceaser w/chicken which was also good. Luis had some great recommendations for sights in the area which we hope to see on our next visit! Please stop by for lunch if you are in the area, you will enjoy it!

I love everything about this restaurant: The food, the ambiance, the location, the gift shop,…read morethere's a fish market on site. Even the bathrooms are nice. The service is always hospitable and friendly. Fish is fresh and delicious, and is always perfectly cooked. They have a full bar, and offer Happy Hour Monday through Friday 4:00-6:00. The space is kept clean. Dishes and silverware are clean. Everything is perfect to me. I wish I took more pictures to post online but I was enjoying everything in the moment and I forgot to take pictures.

You cant beat the view! Reservations are sketchy. You can…read moremake one and it will be honored- but if a walk-in hops in front of you in line... you may lose that window seat request you made when you reserved. Why? The request, even though you reserved the table ahead of time, isn't checked when when walk-ins are there. It's first come, first seated- reservation or not. Specials of the day are local and fresh. Food is average, but the view from inside brings you back- especially on a windy Bodega day.

This is a "what you see is what you get" kind of place. I do appreciate their authenticity…read more Only 5 items on the lunch order which made it very easy to order. You place your order at the bar and the person working the bar was a kick. I guess she thought we were city folks as we were asking what kind of wines they offered and such. When we inquired what kind of bread sandwiches were served on she said "just regular bread". The in interior of this restaurant/bar has animal heads displayed all throughout and knotty pine One orders at the bar and then has the option of dining inside or on the patio. As it was a very warm sunny day, we opted for the patio. While seated you can see the iconic church in Bodega, St. Teresa of Avila. I had the tuna melt with a bag of chips and a Diet Coke. The tuna melt was pretty darn good you can't beat the price with all three coming in at undef $15.

This is a pretty cool little dive bar. The drinks were average. Then again it's a dive bar. The…read moreambiance was cool. The banana cream pie was awesome. The staff were very nice. A must stop.

Good food. We split a burger with fries. I loved that it is small and you could watch your food…read morebeing cooked. Nice format of having all the condiments (including lettuce and onions and pretty much anything that doesn't need cooking) at the condiment station. That way you get just what you want. Also nice that you can get a can of beer or cider if you are in to that sort of thing. Nice easy place to fuel up before a nature walk. I like that it is on a street between the highway and the bay. Somehow makes it feel a little more like a locals place. Not the fastest service, but the cook is really right there making things as you order, so you know it is fresh!

Kind of a bummer ... they served my burger on a hot dog bun. I wanted to hold a thick, round…read moreImpossible burger in my hands- loaded with toppings, and take a big, hearty, bite. Instead, I held a thin long hot dog bun with my burger cut in half to fit in a hot dog bun. Sads. Place was also dirty inside, as there was a thin layer of dust on the tables.

3 Stars because it was both 1-star "not good" and 4-star "great" due to it being the weirdest…read moredining 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.

It is nice to see Bluewater Lounge restaurant/bar open again! It was one of the later dining…read moreestablishments 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!

Whether you go here for breakfast or lunch anything you order is going to be absolutely delicious…read more I usually go for whatever the Smoothie Special is - The Banana Cinnamon Peanut Butter Oat-milk and Dates is favorite! Yesterday I went and I saw "We Dare You" on the menu and I just had to accept lol! I usually go for the omelettes, sandwiches and bowls but I saw the words and had to take the dare I won the dare and finished the Double Decker Delight! I highly recommend Howard Station for every dish! The service is outstanding the servers are super friendly and totally on point with everything! When you sit on the Deck looking at all of the trees and mountains in the distance you feel like you're a million miles away! I'm always super satisfied when I leave there

This seems to be a popular local spot for breakfast. We were seated around 8am on a Saturday and…read moreordered coffee, avocado toast, and a biscuit with gravy. The coffee was very good, and it was clear many locals stop by for their morning cup. The biscuit was a bit doughy rather than flaky, so not quite to my taste, but the gravy helped make up for it. The avocado toast was decent, topped with cherry tomatoes and sprouts. It did need some extra seasoning so I piled on the pepper and hot sauce. I will say our breakfast was a bit pricey as our total came to $55 with tip.

They have a DELICIOUS crab roll. My friend also loved their lobster roll…read more This is a super casual spot so there's only outdoor seating. You can find some spots that are sheltered to block out some of the sun, and there are plenty more out in the open spots if you're looking for a more sunny experience. We appreciated the nod to Bodega Bay's claim to fame in their name.

A friend and I recently had a short getaway to Bodega Bay, staying at Inn at the Tides (see their…read morereview). We decided to go to the Birds Cafe for lunch during the week. The menu is basic items you can find at most places in the area. We ordered fish and chips, and fish tacos from the walk up window. The only seating for the cafe is outside, however they also have a small coffee shop next door with indoor seating. Overall, the food was just mediocre. We have had these menu items at other places nearby, so we felt like we were able to make a good comparison. The fish in the fish and chips order was heavily breaded and over fried to the point that the breading was hard. Fries were average. My fish tacos had small pieces of fish that were heavily breaded and overly-fried. Large pieces of cabbage were scattered over them, and some sort of green sauce drizzled on the top. Not much taste. The tortillas were soft with good flavor. The venue is lovely, as is the gift shop and coffee shop, bathroom clean. I'd go back to the coffee and gift shop, but would pass on another meal from the cafe.