Lovely place we sat down in the garden. Was that nice? I had a chicken wing special some of the best ones ever. Terrific service kept the water glasses filled up. We definitely go back if in the area. read more

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My wife and I had a delicious dinner here. We arrived around 7pm on a Tuesday night and were seated immediately inside. There is a large covered outdoor patio with many seats, but nobody was seated there due to the very cool temperature that evening. The outdoor seating area is surrounded by many beautiful flowering plants. The food was great. I had Beef Stew, which was very tasty. My wife enjoyed the Clams and Mussels over Linguine. We finished off dinner with the Apple and Blueberry Cobbler. Yummy! read more

Mendocino Cafe - Trumpet Flowers greet you as you enter. - Cafes Near Me - Mendocino, California

Popped in over Memorial Day weekend, no wait and got seated right away. Staff were friendly, the menu is the right size, with a list of specials. We ordered a cafe mocha and latte- both were great. If it were warmer I would have enjoyed their pretty patio space. I had the egg scramble with spinach and chicken sausage and my dad had the huevos rancheros- the portions are large- it was delicious and we were stuffed! Check this place out! read more

Mendocino Cafe - Breakfast scramble special, spinach and chicken sausage. - Cafes Near Me - Mendocino, California

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A intersection of Thai, Mexican and American fusion! Indoor and outdoor seatings available. We ordered crab cake burger with clam chowder and fish tacos which are soothing and comforting in a chill day! Service with smile was a pleasure:) read more

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An easy going lunch place to hang out and order some healthy comfort food. The crab cake sandwich is tasty and well prepared. The tortilla soup warms you up on a chilly day. The clam chowder is good but not outstanding. They have a nice selection of beers and wines. The patio is lush with lots of vegetation. The staff is friendly. read more

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This was an excellent place to eat. Mom "just wanted a salad" and I wanted something savory, so we came here and I loved my Indian Masala Tofu Curry. Her cappucino and carrot cake were also really flavorful. The staff was so warm and the atmosphere was tranquil, artistic, and unhurried. Happy to return someday! read more

A lovely restaurant with both indoor and patio dining that offers a good selection of American and a few Thai-inspired dishes. I really liked their clam chowder, which is one of their specialties. They also had delicious sandwiches with filling portions. All the sandwiches come with a soup of the day or their homemade potato salad. The staff are friendly, attentive, and bring out the food rapidly! read more

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Cute cafe with a rustic patio. Not a fancy place however the food is delicious accompanied by good service. We were happy to see the vegan options for us. Food came out fast. I had a cup of lentil soup and Vietnamese salad. read more

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The fish sandwich was my favorite! The fish tacos were good too. This place is so cute with the garden yo my can eat in! The service was really good even with how busy it was so that's impressive. read more

Mendocino Cafe - Fish taco - Cafes Near Me - Mendocino, California

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This place was so adorable and the outdoor garden area is very beautiful. We ordered the fish tacos and blackened cod sandwich. Both were excellent and delicious. There was no wait to get a table even though it was still busy. read more

Mendocino Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Mendocino, California

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We had a delicious anniversary dinner at Mendocino Cafe!! The service was attentive, the garden patio relaxing, and the food delicious!!! Can't wait to return to Mendocino and dine here again!!!!! read more

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Stumbled on this place on a sunny day after a walk. The mocha was amazing, clam chowder was out of this world, and the pasta was really good. Def worth it. read more

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It was a busy Labor Day Sunday and not much was open for a late lunch. So we felt lucky when we stumbled upon the Mendocino Cafe, and we were pleasantly surprised by the experience. It took a bit to get our order taken but the food was delivered quickly, it was tasty (really hit the spot) and the responsive team made sure we had our water glasses filled. We also enjoyed the setting on the flower-filled back patio with a peekabook view of the ocean. We appreciated lots of dessert options too. And the service both during our meal and the extra efforts they made to help us with a lost item were exceptional. I can't wait to come back! read more

The food was surprisingly good! Crabcake may have been the best I've ever had. We enjoyed it as part of a salad. It also got a thumbs up as a sandwich by the table next to us. The chowder was also one of the better clam chowders I've had. We had the fish stew as an entrée. Very good, but they could punch up the flavor hit. A + was everything came out piping hot every time! We ate there twice due to their convenient hours. I feel like they have consistency down pat. To be fair the downside is the seating areas. They could definitely make it more presentable/inviting. Yes, they have beautiful plants!!. It just makes it more of a shame the dining area doesn't just beckon you in. The inside could use some attention too. Overall, very good job! read more

The worst food I have had in a while. I ordered the clam chowder and it was watery and unappetizing. I also got the Vietnamese salad with shrimp. It came with a bunch of stiff, chewy glass noodles on top. The dressing was at the bottom and was horrible, with too much mint. I had to pick out most of the mint leaves to make it palatable. My daughter did not like her mussels on linguine and my son's noodle soup was also bland. Also, the waiter poured out water from a jug which he picked up with his fingers inside instead of by the handle. The water jug was also kept next to the cleaning supplies on a sink counter. I am surprised we got away without food poisoning. read more

Surprised in such a touristy town. Great friendly service . Food absolutely best in town. Nice outdoor seating with heaters to take off the chill. We will definitely be back soon! read more

We've been here several times and enjoy it. I tried the Thai Hot Pot this time and really enjoyed it. I've had a couple of fish dishes in the past which were also great. The setting isn't fancy, but suits Mendocino. Wine by the bottle is pretty pricey ~$40. read more

Real good food and wine. Fair price and great quality. Clean and well trained staff. Will go back again

There is no excuse to serve such low quality food when you're in an area with great ingredients. I paid $29 for an ahi salad, that was some lettuce that came from a bag, some noodles that also looked boxed, and a piece of ahi. This was the lowest effort possible, and for this price I can get an amazing entree in wine country. read more

One of the worst establishments when it came to respecting our friend's severe dairy allergy. The owners were incredibly unprofessional. We had to ask 3 times if something had dairy in it. The first two times were a no, until we asked them to check with the cooks, in which they said no dairy, but the meat was cooked with butter. Owner was not apologetic. On top of the unprofessionalism, the service was incredibly slow. We waited 45 min for our food. Horrible experience, would not recommend to anyone. read more

Super happy with the service, food and ambiance here! We all 3 raved about our dishes, mostly the clam chowder and special smoked salmon pasta. Server and bussers were polite and attentive. The garden surrounding the outside tables is so beautiful. Loved it and would recommend to anyone! read more

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Food here is very good. The service is pitiful almost insulting. Even when you got the waiters attention I've gotta say I would rate them among the worst I've ever encountered. They are very attentive to options. Speak options, gluten-free options. That part was great. The food was decent. However, tofu comes in a very large serving of tofu, very generous with the tofu. Lots of pies, desserts, few gluten options.. Among the most annoying is simply that they add gratuity and yet the service as I said, it's pitiful it's poor terribly staffed read more

I loved Mendocino Cafe! They have something for everyone on their broad menu, which included classic American fare like soups and sandwiches, as well as Mexican and Thai options. Although it was a chilly day the patio was covered and cozy, and provided a gorgeous view of the ocean cliffs. I had a cup of clam chowder, and a pesto grilled chicken sandwich. Both were delicious. They use local and organic ingredients , as well as grass fed and free range meats. It shows! Some great local wines and beers are featured on their drink menu as well. Service was a little slow, but that seems to be a bit standard in this mellow little beach town. read more

A great meal every time. Really tasty, simple and very creative. We love dining indoors and out. The outdoor garden seating area is lovely and comfortable, the tent roof & lamps keep you nice and warm. A win every time! read more

I got the crab cake sandwich with potato salad. The potato salad was delicious and exactly what I'd want my potato salad to taste like. Good textures and perfectly creamy. The crab cake sandwich was simple but delicious. It really needed that sauce it came with, I was scraping for more! read more

Mendocino Cafe - crab cake sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Mendocino, California

I've been going there since 2005! I was there tonight. I had a bad experience. I ordered their "healing bowl " and asked if they could do it with veggies like they do with the Thai Pot bowl. They have done this for me many times. I got a $5 surcharge for the change. No one told me about an extra charge. I tried to discuss it with a waiter, he was not helpful at all. The bill was astronomical! He was not helpful or empathetic. I had already paid the bill. Now they are losing $$$ from me the rest of the week I am in town. Bad business decisions! Updated from previous review on 2026-06-01 read more

The pastries are out of this world! Great place for breakfast, lunch and (best of all) grabbing a coffee before walking the headlands.

The staff were super friendly, helpful, and attentive. The food was delicious, especially the fresh fish tacos and decadent flourless chocolate torte. read more

The healing noodle miso soup was my main entree and it was really fishy tasting and I found shrimp that wasn't cleaned all the way and still had the vein. These small rock shrimp do not taste as nice as regular shrimp. The portion size overall was fair but could have used a bit more noodles. This was super disappointing to eat and I would NOT recommend The Vietnamese salad was very average and a surprisingly small size as well. Ingredients were fresh though and I liked the cherry tomatoes The crab cake 5/5 was delicious and would recommend this. My friend got the Thai burrito which also looked filling and they thought it was a 3.5-4 rating. Staff was friendly and attentive on the patio. Nice spot to enjoy dining outside but be mindful which dishes you choose to order. There are classic American brunch menu items and then some Asian fusion type dishes. I imagine the classics might be better to order read more

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The Thai Burrito was fabulous! I had it with shrimp and the combo of ingredients topped of by their homemade peanut sauce and homemade Thai hot sauce was incredible. read more

Mendocino Cafe - Thai burrito - Cafes Near Me - Mendocino, California

Such a delightful evening! We weren't sure where to eat dinner and happened upon the cafe and it was a win! The service was fantastic and everyone was so friendly, plus the food was A+! I'll be dreaming about the Thai FirePot with tofu for a while. We also ordered the Cafe Catch Rockfish, which was great, and ended the evening with blackberry pie. So good! Would 100% come back next time we're in Mendocino. read more

Mendocino Cafe - Thai Firepot with Tofu and the Cafe Catch Rockfish. - Cafes Near Me - Mendocino, California

A charming resturant with simple and fine choices to select from. We went towards the end of the night and they were still warm and friendly from the start. We ordered clam chowder, ceasar salad, and thai bowl, and all were acceptable and filling. Nothing was rave-worthy, but it did the job. I would like to come back here to try out lunch or breakfast here. If you're visiting, its definitely a trust-worthy place with a great variety in menu options. read more

The food was amazing it was so fresh and filling the staff was so kind and they were very helpful. I would 110 percent eat hear again

The garden ambiance is beautiful. Captures everything you'd hope for when dining in Mendocino. The food, which also included clam chowder, was good and delivered quickly. The service was courteous and attentive. One of our favorites when visiting the are. read more

Mendocino Cafe - Salad with Crab Cake and Chicken Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Mendocino, California

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I would give more stars if I could! Fantastic dinner! Service with a smile, in a lovely peaceful atmosphere! Thank you!

We were too late for breakfast so we got a light lunch before our walk in the botanical garden. Clam chowder cup was ok. The crab cake sandwich was really good. Highly recommend the crab cake sandwich if you come! The black coffee was also easy to go down. They have lots of indoor and plentiful of outdoor seating! read more

Mendocino Cafe - Clam chowder - Cafes Near Me - Mendocino, California

The clam chowder was good, the sandwich was good. I wouldn't say anything stood out, but I wouldn't say it was bad either. The staff wasn't very attentive though and they were pretty scarce. The place was super cute though read more

Mendocino Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Mendocino, California

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This place is really under-rated on yelp! I had the Thai Fire Bowl with the red curry and it was absolutely delicious. My husband had the Thai burrito and was very happy with it as well. The service was friendly, attentive, and prompt. I'd absolutely eat here again. We really appreciated all the vegan options. read more

This place has a beautiful vibe and the garden sitting is really nice. The staff is pretty friendly and polite. For food we ordered thai curry with white rice, dumplings and chocolate mousse cake. Overall, the taste for all the dishes were really nice. My favorite was the dessert ofcourse as it was beautifully balanced. Its one of the nicest place to visit in Mendo! Show some love to such local places. read more

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The Mendocino Cafe has been a stable staple of dining on the coast for as long as I can remember. It has a cool fusion of foods to tantalize your culinary pallet to take you to another level of appreciation. The atmosphere there is very relaxing as the staff are always looking after your needs while not hovering, that hasn't changed since the turn of the century. When you can get in, their outdoor dining is one of the prettiest spots on the coast. Lush greenery surrounds you as do views where you can people watch; a true joy. We had the burger which was cooked perfectly and the Thai burrito, which has always been my go to, make sure you try the sweet Asian chili sauce. This is one spot always frequented by locals, which when I travel is what I look for . Locals know best read more

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