Wonderful establishment would be an understatement and doesn't encompass the breadth of what they offer here, a true fine dining experience. We came on a Saturday evening in off season (highly recommended) and we really appreciated the level of attention we received and how friendly the staff was. Chef Ryan came out for each course to personally deliver his eye popping plates and to give an explanation as to why we were about to experience a mouth-gasm that evening. The food is very easily consumed by your eyes as it will be by your taste buds. Chef Ryan absolutely flexes on every dish and executes on each course almost effortlessly. These are meticulously crafted plates with amazing taste, this is the definition of quality over quantity. The ambiance was semi private, only a handful of other couples during off season but this was the perfect time to go. The service was excellent including the heated plates to maintain the temperature of your food (but TBH it won't be on your plate very long after you take the first bite) I will absolutely come again to treat myself to Chef's food when I spend my next weekend in Elk. read more

See all

We had a table of 4 and were celebrating my birthday. There was a birthday card welcoming on the table. There was no candle or any birthday treat which disappointed my inner child. I did not read reviews before hand which do talk about the small portions, we ate at the restaurant spending $400 and went home to eat again. Beautiful restaurant with attention to detail and intentional design. Bathrooms by reception do stand out, makes them a focal point of the room which seemed like an odd decision. Service was timid, thoughtful and engaging. The food was beautiful and well executed. Chef coming to explain all the dishes was appreciated. Pork Belly- my favorite Hamachi Crudo- my second favorite Short rib- 3rd favorite Most of the table skipped dessert because nothing stood out. Hubs ordered the Matcha ice cream which was beautiful and he enjoyed it. read more

See all

Parker house rolls, charred octopus, and Mendocino black cod for the win! My fiancé could not stop raving about the Parker house rolls with nori butter. Made from a 16 year old starter, these are buttery, flaky and sinfully delicious. They rival croissants in Paris and are a must! The octopus was tender and smoky. Loved the extra tamarind sauce to add just a touch more sweetness. The Mendocino black cod filet was perfection: moist with crispy skin, the accompanying Yukon gold potato foam was more like a silky cream sauce! The dish was actually cod two ways and had smoked pieces of cod on the bottom. Definitely had that smoke factor, which I am not a huge fan of, but the fiancé liked it. We both thought the uni carbonara was just ok. We ended the meal with the strawberries and cream which was like a fancy strawberry shortcake. Light and yummy! Service was impeccable. We also walked in without reservations on a Friday evening (Labor day weekend) and they were nice enough to accommodate us 45 minutes later. 1 EV charging station on the premises too. read more

See all

The best parker roll ever. The soft and buttery roll went so well with the seaweek butter. Tajin made the corn pasta a little too sour for my liking. The strawberry dessert was refreshing. read more

See all

A gem of a restaurant in a jewel of a property. We stayed at the sacred rock inn and ate here on our first night. We came in March, so it was an off season and fairly quiet (there was only one other couple dining that night). The staff were wonderful and the food was top notch (we had eaten at Atelier Crenn the night prior and honestly this meal was more memorable than Atelier Crenn). We started with the Parker house rolls with seaweed butter, which the husband loved. Octopus was tender and well seasoned. Uni carbonara was unique and tasty, although the uni flavor was quite subtle when mixed it into the noodles - wish I had tried the uni straight up first. The duck was absolutely delicious- perfectly cooked and seasoned. The husband got the short ribs, which were fall off the bone tender. Overall we really loved this place and can't wait to come back! read more

See all

Amazing food and wanna be Michelin star restaurant. Service and ambience were first class. Lobster ravioli was the winner as they used reduced lobster shell broth to increase the lobster flavor. This area is going to be a hot spot for the wealthy as nearby is a Michelin restaurant in this lovely region south of Mendocino. read more

Greenwood Restaurant - Small but beautiful place ! - New American Near Me - Elk, California

Come for the unbeatable ocean views! From their garden patio, you can sip wine while enjoying sweeping views of the rugged Pacific coast. I stopped by for a late Sunday lunch, just before 2pm. I ordered their BBQ pork belly bao buns that come with a side of french fries. The bao were a little heavy on the BBQ sauce for my liking- you couldn't really taste anything else due to the saturation. However, their fries were solid! If weather permits, I would recommend taking advantage of their beautiful garden patio! read more

See all

Very delicious food, beautiful plating and fair prices. If you pass by Elk, it's a must come. Thank you Chef Ryan Seal for a light lunch. Super happy we found this place. Just note that it closes at 2pm before dinner service. The little gem salad was super fresh with a light vinaigrette. The pumpkin soup was pure pumpkin, little or no cream and only slightly savory, more refreshing. The rolls are a show stopper and pull apart with texture a little like puff pastry. And the seaweed butter is just a unique flavor not to miss. read more

See all

Words cannot describe what an amazing (pretty life altering) experience my fiancé and I had here. From beginning to end, I thought I was at a Michelin star restaurant. Greenwood restaurant is right next to Sacred Rock Inn (where we are staying) with an intimate 22 seat seating where ingredients are locally sourced. The menu is carefully curated by Chef Ryan Seal who is an absolute beast. You need to make a reservation!! While you await your table, you are offered a complimentary champagne which was delicious. There is a wine professional there named Natasha who helps you find the right wine for your preference and food pairing. A majority of the wine is also locally sourced from nearby wineries which was super cool. Janelle was our server and she was the absolute best and was super attentive. Now onto the dinner menu.. y'all. Here is what we ordered and we loved them all. And the best part was that Chef Ryan Seal would come out and explain each individual dish to us, making the experience so personal and engaged. -Parker House Rolls: Sourdough with seaweed butter (that butter was craaaaaazy I can't stop thinking about it) -Heirloom tomato salad: My fiancé loved this and said the tomatoes were the best he's ever had. -Cacio e Pepe: Holy smokes. This blew our mind. My fiancé and I agreed that this dish tiered a little higher than the others but maaaan. My mouth is watering thinking about it! It was perfectly salted and honestly all of the dishes were perfectly salted like I can't explain it. -Mendocino black cod: The cod literally melts in your mouth, paired with Yukon gold potato foam (which also blew my mind like foam mashed potato WHAT). The cod is locally sourced and I have never tasted cod like this before. -Honey glazed duck breast: I've had duck many times before but man, this duck breast also melts in your mouth in the best way. You would think it would be a bit tougher but jeeeeez. Chef Ryan knows what he's doing yall!! -Chai tea panna cotta: Super unique flavors, I love chai and this was the perfect light dish to end the night. All in all, I loved loved loved my experience here and highly highly recommend stopping by and checking it out if you're in the area. It was a truly unforgettable night. I can't stop thinking about each dish hahah. We already have plans of visiting again if we are back in Elk/Mendocino! read more

See all

2023 Elk, CA. Dinner review. PARKER HOUSE ROLLS sourdough | seaweed butter | maldon sea salt 12 CHILLED SWEET CORN SOUP pickled corn | parmesan-tajin lavash | cilantro 10 (Highlight) HAMACHI CRUDO grilled serpentine cucumbers | avocado fig leaf oil | coconut-jalapeño cream 24 UNI CARBONARA ft. bragg sea urchin | squid ink bucatini trout roe nori sesame crunch | crispy hobb's bacon 32 CACIO E PEPE pecorino romano | peppercorn melange mafaldine ribbon pasta | red miso butter 32 Overall, "I'm a fan." read more

See all

Our family of 2 adults and 1 child had an excellent brunch here! The food was great, the service was wonderful, and the setting was beautiful. I loved my breakfast sandwich, and my husband enjoyed his chicken and waffles. We also really appreciated the fact they were able to provide a side of bacon and a side of scrambled eggs for our 5 year old. Our Americanos and my daughter's fresh squeezed orange juice were also very good. The staff was very warm, welcoming, attentive, and prompt. We felt well taken care of. The restaurant is modern and spacious, and is within the gorgeous grounds of the Sacred Rock Inn. We are so glad to have discovered this spot and would love to return! read more

Greenwood Restaurant - My amazing breakfast sandwich! - New American Near Me - Elk, California

This was an outstanding meal and experience. Really grateful to have dined there and met the chef! Intimate and relaxing atmosphere, homey vibe! Excellent - would go back in a heart beat. Everything was delicious read more

Greenwood Restaurant - Bread and butter - New American Near Me - Elk, California

The food, service, and dining experience were all stellar. My partner and I had the pear salad, uni carbonara, honey glazed duck, and cod for dinner. We were very impressed with how well the dishes were plated and cooked. They all tasted delicious as well. The chef would explain how each dish was prepared, and it's clear he cares a lot about the food! read more

See all

After winding down the idyllic Highway 1, travelers will reach the dreamy coastal town of Elk, CA. Here they will find the Greenwood Restaurant at the Sacred Rock Inn, where they will be treated to a delicious and memorable meal! On my visit, we tried the house rolls with seaweed butter (so good - the butter made me feel one with the sea), the little gem salad (amazing and fresh), the uni carbonara (an adventurous choice for me, but I loved it so much), and the Mendocino black cod (some of the best fish I have ever had). Our knowledgeable sommelier helped us pick out a great wine to pair with all of this. I will implore any friend visiting the Mendocino area to book a dinner at Greenwood. It was without a doubt the best meal I had on my trip and I look forward to returning one day soon. Thank u Greenwood! read more

What an amazing restaurant. Not only is the food delicious, but the staff and chef are great. This place takes great care of its diners and will 100% be coming back! read more

Greenwood Restaurant - New American Near Me - Elk, California

We went to the restaurant for breakfast per recommendation by a server in another restaurant. She was not wrong. Their coffee is french-pressed and good. I had Patatas Bravas with chorizo, others had Breakfast Sandwich, and The Classic. Their potatoes are just devine. Made to order and piping hot as they should be and seasoned perfect. We liked a lot so we went back and I had California Scramble. I do not remember last time I had fluffy and moist scrambles like this. The server brought our dog a dog biscuit too. Next time in Elk we will certainly go back for dinner. Nearby State Park having 2 free EV chargers was a bonus for our EV while we ate. read more

The food and service was impeccable! Every dish was beautifully plated and our server was sweet and knowledgable, recommending dishes for us. First time I've tried seaweed butter and loved it. Chef Ryan and his team are amazing and we can't wait to go back. read more

See all

Exquisite and thoughtful well-composed dishes! We started with the much-lauded (deservedly so) parker house rolls and moved on to the pear salad, which was really lovely and balanced. We followed that with the ravioli dish (did I mention "exquisite?") And then the duck (succulent and perfect). We ended with the chocolate peanut butter dessert, which was damn near perfect. The service was intuitive and attentive. Please note that the dishes are on the small side (still very much worth it, but good to know, going in). We heard one of the servers tell another table that people typically order three dishes each, no doubt due to portion size. This restaurant definitely deserves a Michelin star and, I imagine, gives Harbor House (Michelin star restaurant, also in Elk) a run for the money. The portion size is reminiscent of a tasting menu (see Harbor House), although a tasting menu is not on offer; for the better, in my opinion, because tasting menus always include several dishes I don't like to eat (picky eater). Definitely worth a visit! read more

Absolutely great menu, staff, and setting in Elk. 6pm on a Friday, was not overly crowded, had a romantic feel even. Will be back for sure! read more

See all

This was an amazing restaurant from everything to the service, to the ambiance, to of course the food. Right away we were greeted warmly and offered a glass of sparkling wine for our celebratory dinner. Wine menu is nice, filled with lots of locally produced bottles. Went with a local chardonnay and enjoyed it. But what really shined was the food. The parker rolls with seaweed butter were some of the best rolls I've ever had in my life. As good as, if not better than Auro (1 star) in Calistoga. Better than every other fine dining/Michelin restaurant I've been too. Salad was amazing too, using locally sourced greens from a nearby farm. Loved the bitterness, sweetness, and creaminess. As for the mains, the cod was solid and I'd recommend but I didn't care much for the tajin/corn radiator pasta, which was too acidic for me. But the desserts made up for it... the strawberry & cream dessert was amazing, and the PB&C peanut butter/chocolate dessert was creamy and decadent. All together, an incredibly memorable experience and a restaurant that compares with the best of the best in California. read more

We are staying in Mendocino and wanted to try someplace we hadn't been so we tried Greenwood Restaurant in Elk, a very tiny town south of Mendocino. Chef Ryan Seal is an amazing talent, skilled and creative. He personally delivered each course explaining the ingredients and preparation which only increased our enjoyment of the dish. Despite being a towering talent he was friendly and approachable. Each and every bite was met with a "wow" from us as we enjoyed the creative tastes and satisfying textures of the dishes. I cannot remember enjoying a dinner to this level of pleasure and look forward to our next visit. The other staff members were attentive and professional and the 22 seat restaurant was beautiful. If you enjoy a fantastic meal delivered with poise and attention you owe it to yourself to make your way to Greenwood. Little River Inn is not far, where we stay when we are in the area, so book a weekend and travel the 15 miles or so to Elk and have a memorable time like we did. read more

See all

We had the best Thanksgiving dinner! Food were served as if it's Michelin Star! I'm telling youuuuuu. Chef is so nice, servers are very friendly! read more

See all

Excellent food, attentive service, amazing location. It was a memorable experience for the whole family.

The food is amazing. Plenty of room for the dogs in the patios. The service is excellent! read more

See all

Talk about exceptional service! This is it! I love how modern this place was and the cleanliness of it...BUT...the real cherry on the top was the service! My server (Arthur) was incredibly helpful in explaining the menu and different beers/wines options as well. Also, I visited Greenwood Pier on a stormy week and turns out that many of the restaurants near the coast was down due to the power outages. I was mainly thankful that Greenwood Pier stayed opened during these storms. For anyone curious, I had the chicken sandwich which was crisped and served with a side of a delicious strawberry, spinach salad and goat cheese! Highly recommend the place if you happened to be passing by Elk, CA or if you are staying locally in town. read more

We just had the most fantastic 5-Star dinner by Chef Ryan for Valentine's Day! So delicious and so creative! The service was also over the top from our Som, Natalie, and server, Brooklyn! We are discerning, yet were so taken by the place we tried to get back in the next night, yet it was all booked with a long wait list. This is a rare find and we highly recommend it, but make reservations well ahead, as it's been found! Many thanks to the crew at the Greenwood! And, we had a lovely stay there at Sacred Rock and highly recommend that, too! read more

This place was terrific. We were staying at Harbor House to eat and stay for a few nights and needed to find a dinner spot on our way in. Stumbled onto this place on Yelp and it completely exceeded any expectations we had. The food is of serious quality. Surprising flavors and extremely well executed. We had the bread for starters which was tremendous. Would've loved an alternate butter choice to go with the seaweed butter since I'd assume some might not love the flavor, but it was still great. Then we got the short rib which was A+ and the uni carbonara which could've gone either way... but it was absolutely awesome. A touch on the smaller side for entrees (mainly the carbonara), but my wife got the carrot cake and I was eyeing the octopus as an app so that was my desert. Both knocked it out of the park. If you're in the area (or close by), highly recommended. A bit pricey but we're already planning to come back. The chef is super talented. Great experience from the food to the welcoming staff. read more

Very reasonably priced. Uni carbonara is great. Pork belly is too salty. The rest of the dishes we had were ok for their price, though not very exciting. I would come back for the Uni carbonara. Beautiful view and great service. read more

This place is great! It has a really modern feel and is very clean. My family and I stopped by on a road trip to the Redwood National Forest and had our best lunch of the trip. We ordered the cheeseburger, fried oyster sandwich, and the fried chicken sandwich. Everything was cooked well. The lemonade is also great! Our server (Dylan) was so nice and helpful with our order too. Also, they have a really nice bathroom that customers can use!! read more

We were one of the couples who ate here for their Christmas Day 2023 Special 5 course menu. We were surprised & absolutely blown away by the cuisine. Each course was absolutely amazing!! The freshness, taste and combination of flavors in each dish was so divine and so delicious!! This is Michelin Star quality food and tastes so much better than some of the Michelin star restaurants we have been to around the world. The photos I have attached including the special menu shows descriptions of each dish and speaks for itself. High compliments to chef Ryan Seal. Something to note; due the special holiday menu it had to be prepaid ahead of time including tax & tip. and all guest in the dining room were served at the same time. This was a bit awkward for us, as my husband and I eat very slow. I only noticed when everyone was waiting for us to finish our steak. I had to tell my husband let's just have them bag the 1/3 of the steak so others didn't have to wait further. I have been to other restaurants serving 5 courses..typically its by table not the entire room being served at the same time each course. The dining room is very modern with black steal tables & chairs. The table has beautiful inlaid shell design. Very simple dining room with no pictures or much in terms of decor. No Christmas decor accept for 1 little sprig of holly in the 1 greenery by the bar. Maybe its to not detract from the wonderful food. The lights, there were lots, were very bright that I had to ask for it to turn it down. Suggestions would be to add some type of mood lighting such as votive candles on the table and maybe also simple flower in each table such a Rose as to give some ambience to the dining room as it felt very sterile and cold looking. These suggestions would make it have a warmer ambiance and feel more welcoming. In conclusion ...This restaurant will definitely be on our list of restaurants to eat, each time we come to Elk or Mendocino area (28 years of visiting this area). Thank you for the absolutely wonderful Christmas Dinner ! read more

See all

Wow! We were starving and just arrived in town. Weren't sure if they were open. Pulled up and parked and asked if they were open. It's recently refurbished and beautiful. Open ceiling, beautiful bar, wood floors, beautiful bathroom too. We sat at the window overlooking Sacred Rock Resort. The tables have abalone inlaid into the tops. Abalone inlaid in the flatware too! The service was top notch and friendly. We each had the fried chicken sandwich. It came with pickled veggies. To round it out I had a lovely Pinot Noir and Mom had a lovely white. I can't wait for the resort to reopen. We'll be back! read more

We done here every time we are in Elk - in fact, Greenwood is always one 0f our primary reasons for visiting this small seaside community. Everything is top quality, the food, the ambiance, the service - the entire experience. Every single time. The dishes are always meticulously prepared and beautifully plated, and they taste as good as they look! Ordering the Parker House Rolls is a must - made with Chef Ryan's 16-year-old starter and served with the best seaweed butter anywhere. The hamachi crudo is also something we always enjoy, changing with the seasons. On this visit we also tried the halibut sashimi - something we will never be able to pass up whenever it's on the menu. The pastas are always perfection. This time we tried the Cacio E Pepe, a common pasta dish that is definitely far from common in this rendition. It's hard to pass on my favorite entree, the Mendocino Black Cod, as that's always stunning. But I decided to try the King Salmon with a vadouvan curry sauce this time, and was not disappointed. Absolutely delicious. My husband enjoyed the honey glazed duck breast, oohing and ahhing at every bite. I don't usually order panna cotta for dessert as I find it uninspiring but the chai tea panna cotta was amazing (and vegan, surprisingly, as it was so creamy). I loved that its richness was offset by the accompanying honey lemon sorbet. We'll keep coming back, again and again! read more

See all

Greenwood Pier is open for business under new ownership and management! We went there last night for our 30th wedding anniversary as we had stayed at Greenwood Pier Inn (the old name for what is now Sacred Rock Resort) 23 years ago before we had our first baby. The restaurant has been open only for a month now and they're definitely working out the kinks but I am giving them four stars for the excellent ambiance in the restaurant and the attentive, high-quality service in particular. We were seated right by the windows which have a view out to the ocean and the interior of the restaurant is beautiful with high ceilings and woodwork, the tables are inlaid with mother-of-pearl/abalone shells, seats are very comfortable. Our server Derek (sp?) was very attentive and appropriately inquisitive about our experience with the restaurant, and due to our experience (see below) with one of our orders, comp'd the entree and perhaps because it was our anniversary or perhaps because of the issue with the entree also gave us a free dessert. So four stars for ambiance and service, and now onto the food. I don't like dinging new restaurants and think they have a good chance at working out the menu as they gain more experience. My husband enjoyed his mojito and his glass of chardonnay. We both enjoyed the artichoke hummus with hard tack (little kick to the hard tack) appetizer from the somewhat limited menu. Each entree came with a petite salad of kale, strawberries, and feta cheese with an agave jalapeno vinaigrette - with a bit of a kick to it as well. Having had the hard tack followed by the jalapeno dressing made for a spicy experience, but I like things hot so that was okay, but others might find it overwhelming. Husband ordered saffron halibut with heirloom tomato which he enjoyed - I thought the halibut was a bit dry, despite swimming in a lot of sauce and that the choice of saffron sauce (yellow) and a yellow heirloom tomato made for an aesthetic that was monochrome for his dish. I ordered a beef and reef for $52 which came with four delicious broiled shrimp and about six ounces of ribeye encased in a baby bleu cheese over a bed of something like seasoned breakfast potatoes. Unfortunately, the ribeye was very well done, whereas I had ordered it medium rare. Derek quickly responded and ordered a new steak, which came out medium rare and with two more broiled shrimp (I had already eaten the other four!) He waited until I had cut through my steak to make sure it was done to my liking. Derek brought out a complimentary strawberry tart with vanilla ice cream dessert. The strawberry filling and ice cream were delicious, however, the tart crust was doughy and not crisp as I expect tarts to be and we shared this feedback with Derek who was eager to know how they can improve. Our final check did not include my beef and reef or the dessert - so a five for service for Derek! I'd say give Greenwood Pier a chance - I overheard the next table over with four folks say they all enjoyed their meal, so worth giving them a try for the beautiful ambiance, attentive service, and they'll do their best to make it right on the food! read more

Great lunch here. The food was delicious and accompanied by a local IPA it made for a perfect meal. Try the green salad! Light and lovely. Everyone else enjoyed their food too. The service was spot on too. We will come back. read more

With short notice this restaurant provided us with delicious food with wonderful service, and we were a group of 15 or so people. It is also one of the most scenically beautiful places I have ever seen. Thank you to the people of the Greenwood Restaurant! I highly recommend this place! read more

We had an amazing breakfast at The Greenwood Restaurant in Elk, CA in their most beautiful garden . Wonderful service & delicious food.

New chef, Ryan Seal, has created a delicious, unique, diverse menu. From the appetizers, soup, main courses to the desserts, every plate is a beautiful presentation of flavors, colors and textures. This restaurant is a definite must for foodies to explore! The staff is also very friendly and professional! read more

If this delightful restaurant was anywhere near San Francisco, it would cost at least three times as much, and compare well to the best in the City We managed to get a table on a Saturday night (that would happen if they were in SF) for the prix-frixe dinner. The beet salad was well-dressed and had not a few gold and red beets, and arrived with service tongs -- so civilized. The tomato bisque focused on tomato flavor rather than starting out salty or citrus The entreé was either shrimp fettuccini or bangers and mash; we had one of each and shared. The bangers were smooth inside with a little char on the skin. The brown sauce tasted like what we had in London, so props to the cooks. The vegetables, though sliced thinly, were not overcooked The shrimp fettuccini was excellent. The pasta was al dente and actually contributed flavor as well as surface area. The white sauce was more than cream and melted cheese: delicate, and again not leaving on salt or citrus Dessert was a house-made brownie with fudge-sauce and commercial vanilla ice-cream; fine, but not as impressive as the rest of the meal Herself had Tanglewood sparkling wine and an excellent Sauvignon Blanc, both local The service was friendly and attentive and seemed genuinely interested in making our meal special The dining room looks like it was recently constructed specifically for this restaurant: open rafters, full windows, Japanese pergola. The cutlery was heavy and stylish, and the tables had abalone chips embedded in the tops For a fantastic Mendocino weekend, this world be a great pinnacle read more

We had a wonderful outdoor lunch at Greenwood Restaurant. Arthur, the waiter, was absolutely terrific with great suggestions and a very welcoming smile. The food was excellent and we look forward very much to returning again soon. read more

Impressive! What a culinary joy. Creative, healthy and inviting atmosphere. We loved the experience. Professional, clean, delightful with precision to even the smallest detail. We will certainly be back for another meal! read more