I've been coming to Deetjen's for breakfast for years and it just keeps getting better and better…read more Never been for dinner though, not sure why but that's now on my to do list. The absolute best eggs benedict in the world (I'll fight over this!). I've stayed in San Simeon or Cambria and driven up to Deetjen's just for breakfast, it's that good. Now that Highway 1 is open again, I'll be doing that more often again. The only downside is parking can be difficult at times, but that comes with the territory and the gorgeous location.

We went here for breakfast and were treated very well. It's an eclectic restaurant that has been…read morearound for awhile. My husband had the raved about eggs Benedict. He liked it - but it wasn't the best he's ever had like many other of the reviews say. I had the chilaquiles which were really flavorful, but the tortilla chips need to be crispy like the menu description says. Service was excellent.

Dont try this place confused with the much busier dining spot to the right and upstairs. Wait time…read morewas about 40 minutes on a Tuesday. We went to the left and downstairs instead and there was no wait time. In fact the majority of the tables were open. Granted their food options are limited as it is a Cafe. But the no wait so that we could get back on our road trip was invaluable. We sat with a beautiful view of the coast. The view is quite majestic. You can move the umbrellas around to give your table shade. Its a first come first sit type place. We ordered their black forest ham panini as well as a chai latte and a hot apple cider. Drinks and food came out quickly. The drinks tasted great. Very hot. It warmed up the soul in this cold February day. They black forst ham panini was really good. Crunchy bread. Good amount of ham. I love the melted cheese inside. It was crunchy, and gooey and tasty all at the same time. The views are just otherworldly. And the food and drinks were really good too. Pricing wasent bad considering its a tourist location. I would definitely recommend stopping by this place to experience the views and try the food as you go on your road trip up the coast.

Honestly mainly here for the views and the restaurant upstairs was packed, the menu was similar…read moreenough (besides the alcohol). Views were absolutely gorgeous and overlooks Big Sur. You order at the front and then grab a seat, they will call your name and you just raise your hands to to claim it. I got the Classic Reuben sandwhich, thought it tasted great, especially after a long hike, but a bit pricey for what it is. There was a good amount of pastrami and the cheese was nicely melted. It also comes with a basic spring mix salad with a bit of dressing on it.

I guess you can say that I am as much of a regular as I can be, considering I live 2 1/2 hours…read moreaway. I can't get enough of this restaurant! Between the amazing people who have become friends over the years to great home cooked meals and atmosphere (the ocean is practically across the road), I cannot get enough of this place! This trip I took a longtime friend with me and although it's been two days since we were there, she's still saying how impressed she was. She was absolutely floored that they use real butter and the portions were huge. In fact the portions were so big that I couldn't even finish half of my food! And I was HUNGRY! LOL Maura and her brother (which I apologize I can't remember his name) both helped us. Maura sat us and we spoke for a quick minute, and her amazing brother served us. I can't believe it don't recall his name! But everyone there is AWESOME! I was tempted to get the super fresh salad, but decided instead on the clam chowder (as did Alicia), and the salmon was perfectly cooked. The veggies were so fresh and flavorful and the rice was exceptionally fluffy and seasoned perfectly. Not to mention the garlic toast was next level. I can't wait to get back over there! Their blueberry pancakes are calling my name! Trust me, if you want a good old fashioned stick to your bones diner, this place right here checks all the boxes! Plus it's pet friendly, if you choose to sit on the patio!

Came in for breakfast. Cute little spot to fall upon as the other place we were going to go to was…read moreclosed. They have a small parking area.They have a small menu and they only serve breakfast until 11:20 and then at 11:30 it is lunch. We got in right before breakfast ended and got the roadhouse breakfast. There is seating inside and seating outside. It is very pretty. They have lodging at the same location as well. It was clean and quaint. The food was good, a little on the small side for the price but it was all good. The staff was very nice but very firm on the end and start times of breakfast and lunch. They are only open until 2:30pm.

Nepenthe served as a worthy goal for our "coasting" trip deep into Big Sur to welcome the beginning…read moreof Summer. Coffee in Pacific Grove, Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, and lunch at Nepenthe at a table overlooking the coast. The burgers are still competent and overpriced, parking is limited at meal times, and to complain about either is like going to Disneyland and downgrading the experience because the seating on the Matterhorn was cramped. Correct but you missed the point. Enjoy the view, the historic building, and slowly nurse every bite of that $28 cheeseburger in paradise as you soak it all in. (Sorry JimmyB!) Service was cheerful, fast, and friendly. The deck sunny and swarmed by others having an equally excellent day.

17May2026 Visit…read more Waiter- 4-5 Drinks -3 stars Customer service from the bar -3 Table seating /waiting -0 Food - 4 View -5 ambiance -3/4 When you can't make reservations but yet the waiting and being seated is so unorganized and does not make sense at all! Furthermore, if you choose to get seated when it first becomes available (outdoor vs indoor) but yet the umbrellas from the outdoor seating has been removed and you can get fried from the sun for sitting outside for that long...why remove all the umbrellas that they had before ? When you actually get seated outside, you will notice that there's available table inside for the same party count that you have! Oy vey! Can't come back to eat here. Would just come back for the view I guess which is unfortunate! No wifi under this establishment either, so be present with your party. You would think that this establishment would be more efficient but it's not -disappointed at the least!

The best thing about the restaurant is its ambience. It is located overlooking the Pacific Ocean…read moreinside the Alila Ventana resort. On a warm April weekend, it was a beautiful place for brunch. We started with a few cocktails and mocktails. They were all well made and presented, but the favorites were the Cowboy and the Negroni. Cowboy had a nice presentation and had a smoky taste. Tomatini consommé did not have the flavor of Bloody Mary and tasted alright. Falafel Benedict was a nice idea with two eggs Benedict set on two falafels. It tasted good and falafel were a tasty and healthy replacement for English muffins. California Frittata came in a cast iron pan and was also well done. These two dishes were on the smaller portion size. Ventana breakfast and Margherita pizza were on the larger portion sizes and both tasted good. We tried three dessert and while they were all decent, none of them were impressive - Heirloom Wheat Waffles (shareable with 4 people), Strawberry Tiramisu (on the sour side) and Ricotta Zeppole (the custard was quite generic). The service was excellent, even though things moved at a relaxed pace. We did not mind it with the beautiful setting, weather and the view of the pacific.

Someone decided it was a good idea for me to become Yelp Elite so naturally I had to ball out on…read morethis trip so my first review as a Yelp Elite SLAPS! JK I booked this on points a year in advance because it was the best way to get the cheapest point redemption at 45k points per night. Sadly this is going away with the devaluation... Ok onto the food, service, and vibes. Food - The breakfast was phenomenal...don't sleep on this place! While the dinners were also great. It's definitely memorable when you think about where you are and how the food is so darn good. It has a farm to table vibe while tasting like fine dining. The standouts to me was the Ventana Breakfast (basic but so goood) and the Branzino (catch of the day) which was cooked to perfection. Service - The breakfast service was sort of a miss on one day where they forgot my avocados to go with my Ventana Breakfast but we had great service at dinner. Our dinner servers on one night was Leo and he was so pleasant and kind of reminded me of Pedro Pascal lol Vibes - Each time we came here the music was exactly what I wanted. From sunset vibes like Tycho to 2000's soft rock....each meal had the right energy. It was relaxing but still upbeat. I found myself smiling and being grateful for being able to experience such a resort and restaurant! Overall I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5. The inconsistency in service was surprising but it wasn't a big deal. I highly recommend staying here at least once! Especially if you need a break from city life but are too bougie for real camping lol

My partner & I got into Carmel around 8:30am on a Saturday and had a long list of places to stop at…read morefor breakfast, but ultimately ended up stopping here for the easy parking & delicious looking food. We were seated right away without reservations. The place looks smaller than it is - they have a bunch of outdoor seating. It is a typical diner style establishment. And I'm not sure how accessible it is unless you know exactly where to park - there's a lot of stairs around. But it is a really cute location with lots of nice flowers and landscaping around. I can't remember our servers name - but he was really wonderful & had a great attitude. I ended up going with a custom skillet & my partner chose the biscuits & gravy and brisket chili. My custom skillet was super yummy & I was pleasantly surprised they had vegetarian sausage! It was well seasoned & the mushrooms were thinly sliced & cooked to perfection. I actually really enjoyed this meal. My partner really enjoyed his biscuits & gravy and thought it was one of the best ones he's ever had. He also was starstruck over the brisket chili, so I would definitely say to get a cup of that if that sounds like your thing. I would definitely stop back here on my next visit to Monterey/Carmel. I usually drive out to Carmel when visiting Monterey just because I like the food options more.

Really tasty breakfast spot in Carmel that definitely gets busy, so expect a wait during peak…read moretimes. The food was worth it though, and everything tasted fresh and homemade like the name suggests. Loved the little store attached to the restaurant too. It was fun to browse after eating. The surrounding shopping area is also really nice to walk around and explore. A highlight for my daughter was the Mickey Mouse pancake! Overall a solid stop if you're visiting Carmel and looking for a good breakfast or brunch spot.

Unfortunately for us, Post Ranch Inn was one of our first stops on an eight-day coastal road trip…read more Unfortunate because they set a standard no other property or restaurant was going to match. I knew that going in. It was still starker than I expected. Start with the property. When that is the view off your deck, why go anywhere else? Stunning doesn't cover it. We hiked much of the grounds and every turn delivered something new. The kind of place that makes you slow down without even trying. Then the restaurant. Everything was perfect -- service, quality, execution. Much of the food sourced on property or from the surrounding community. My wife declared the salad the best she'd ever had. High praise for a salad. High praise, full stop. Special shout out to our server Yasmany and bartender Thomas -- both exceptional. What struck me most was how effortless the entire staff made it look. These are people who deal with guests from around the world, all arriving with high expectations of a high-end experience. And yet nothing felt forced. Nobody appeared to be trying to impress us. It was just perfect service, perfectly delivered. That's the rarest thing in hospitality. Highlight of the trip. Hands down. And I suspect, never to be repeated.

This review is for Sierra Mar restaurant at Post Ranch. Even if the food wasn't good ( it's…read moreFantastic) people would still take 20 minutes to "oooh and wow" the views of this special spectacular setting and wouldn't care. This is an incredible place. Can you tell I like it? Wine Spectator top Award, with prices to match but frankly , who cares? You're not going there to pinch pennies. Enjoy yourselves and experience everything about the property. We had lunch today with friends celebrating a birthday. If there is a better place on California's coast I don't know where it is-- started with some Chardonnay to get things going. A lovely Roar '21 Rosalia. Devine. We were offered two menu options-one a pre-fixe for $85. App, main, dessert. A really excellent choice given the choices of fresh seafood or meat options and beautiful salad options. Additionally they offered à la carte with similar options but just different enough to entice. Several folks opted for a CA salad and then had the fish of the day put on top --I went for a special burger with a home made brioche bun , amazing fries and a Caesar salad. Haven't had a burger like that in ages. I have menu pics and interior exterior pics displaying options. Easier than me playing Stanley Tucci... I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful and professional the service is at Sierra Mar. Apologies to our server ( lovely young lady with long dark hair and a smile that says, "what can I do for you?" Whose name we did not get---she and the gentleman who helped with the wine were outstanding.

Beautiful beautiful little spot to stop by and grab a matcha and pastry ;) My matcha was…read moreexceptional. One of the best matchas I've had by far and even with trying macadamia milk as a whole milk substitute (which I have never done). I also tried their "mushroom" muffin cake and it was EXCELLENT. Sweetened to perfection by the mushrooms. My only complaint was the service - I was asking questions about the pastries in quest for the right one but the girls seemed rather irritated... the products were so good that I'll still be back!

Like many others, we miss Big Sur Bakery dearly and were saddened to learn both of the fire that…read moreburned their facilities but also the expected timeline for their potential return (2-3 years). The Village has stepped up to fill the void and is a gorgeous space that serves as an event and wedding venue, dining destination, but most recently, has opened to offer upscale coffee and pastries in the morning hours. The selection is more limited than Big Sur Bakery but includes a solid choice of coffee drinks and pastries before offering some hot kitchen items like a breakfast sandwich starting at 9:30. The vibes of the building and the indoor and outdoor seating space are top notch with manicured lawns, rustic wood tables and open spaces. The Village only Parking is plentiful and its adjacent to the convenient General Store for supplies and the River Inn for lodging. We ordered a sampling of their $9 lattes (Chai and Matcha) and coffee (espresso tonic) as well as several pastries. The highlight were the candy cap (mushroom) muffins and chocolate chip cookie although I also enjoyed the baguette sandwich. Credit cards are accepted and there's plentiful seating inside and outdoor. Judging by the crowds, The Village is a welcome fancier (albeit pricier) option for those who miss Big Sur Bakery.

We visited Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant around 3PM on a Sunday, so the lunch rush had died…read moredown. We were seated right away on the patio, which had a nice ambiance and plenty of space for our large party. For drinks, I ordered an Arnold Palmer, which was expectedly tasty and refreshing. For food, I shared the Crispy Brussel Sprouts with my friend and got the Beet Salad for myself. Both were solid! I liked the texture of the Brussel Sprouts and the huge dollop of goat cheese on my salad. My friends enjoyed their food as well, including the Tri Tip Sandwich, Pulled Pork Sandwich, BBQ Pork Ribs, and Crab Cakes. Service was lukewarm but quick and seamless!

River Inn Restaurant offers a beautiful Big Sur dining experience with a warm ambience that…read moreperfectly complements the natural surroundings. The setting alone makes it worth visiting if you're in the area. The food was enjoyable overall, and the portions are very generous -- definitely ideal for sharing. The dessert stood out as thoughtfully crafted and delicious. However, some of the main dishes could benefit from more careful attention during cooking to really match the quality expected from such a lovely location. The coffee also arrived little cold, which was a letdown. One positive note was seeing James, the manager, making rounds and checking in with guests. That kind of presence is appreciated and reflects care for the dining experience. I had requested seating with a better view, and accommodating requests like that when possible would go a long way toward creating an even stronger guest impression. Unfortunately, the service felt inconsistent. Our server appeared distracted and not especially attentive, which affected the overall experience. This restaurant has great potential because the atmosphere is wonderful and the foundation is there. With more attentive service and finer attention to food preparation, it could truly stand out as a must-visit Big Sur dining destination.

The duck might've been the best thing I've eaten in a very long time. I enjoyed the grilled…read moreoysters, heirloom rice (usually my go-to), dry aged duck, and the sticky toffee pudding. I have no complaints. Thank you! c:

What a little gems this is for Big sur Area, it is the same caliber as Sierra Mar at Post Ranch…read more Beautifully decorated with dimlite ambiance. The cocktails and they make a mean martini, one of the best really. From.the hostest to all the staff are so friendly and the resolution to the minor issue we had was generous in their part. The Bread was one of the best, we ended up ordered a second round. The ingredients were farm fresh and effort to have the food delicate and bright and well balance was there with the exception of the Trout. The red cabbage was extra salty for all of us so we didn't touch the food. We shared the feedback just so chef can lighten a salt a bit for the next guests. They offer to refried the food but we were done with the meal. They took care of our first round of drinks, we asked to pay for it but they refused. So appreciate the effort but truly the feedback was for chef to make adjustments. We end up paying for the cocktails in tip as we know how hard for small business to survive in this economy. All in all we had a wonderful evening despite of the hiccup with the fish and will be back for new menu options when the season changed.