Cancel

Open app

Search

The Mountain House

4.2 (776 reviews)
Ultra High-EndNew American, Steakhouses
Closed • 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

The Mountain House Photos

Business Info

THE MOUNTAIN HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Romantic
Good for groups

You might also consider

More like The Mountain House

Recommended Reviews - The Mountain House

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Lemon drop
Patty S.

Driving through the mountains we found this beautiful place . They have a great view and food was amazing. The service staff were very friendly and helpful. The wine list is also excellent. I definitely coming back with reservations for a great dinner and view.

Basque cheesecake
Audrey C.

The food was amazing. The service was a different story. We had 7:30 pm reservations and didn't get seated until 8 pm. And once we got sat, our server didn't come to our table for a good 15 minutes. We never got her name. The only reason she came was because I got up and told the manager. The only employee that was attentive to our table was the busser/water guy with glasses. Our server never checked up on us, and she only came to our table to take our food and drink orders. We didn't end up leaving until 9:30 pm. While we were waiting for our check, other employees started stacking chairs and moving tables in the same dining room. We were going to talk to the manager after, but it looked like she left already.

pan-seared scallops
Nat P.

Came here for the first time and it did not disappoint! First all, I love how remote the location is. Right in the woods over by Skyline so it makes the drive quite fun. Just look at the restaurant inside. It just surrounded by trees which makes it so warm and cozy. Such an intimate vibe that feels like you are in another world. We got the three course prix fixe which was delicious! Started off with the pan seared scallops and the Texas quail. The scallops were perfection honestly. It was very light and buttery at the same time. I honestly was close to ordering another one of them because it really hit the spot. The texas quail was very interesting, but the salad that came with this dish was the star. It paired really well with the quail. For entree, we got the grilled venison loin and their off menu special which was the 16oz New York Steak. The venison was amazing. It was medium rare and it was just so smooth when you cut into it. It mixed so well with that vanilla parsnip puree that was included. The New York steak was also just so good I could not stop eating it. The best thing was also the mushrooms that they actually forage here in the area. It was just another added bonus to the dish! For dessert, I got the panna cotta and their off menu dessert, the German chocolate cake. Just devine! The panna cotta was the best way to end the course. I left wanting more! And that chocolate cake, WOW. Just so rich and decadent. Service was amazing and each staff was so friendly and attentive. Tip: Parking can be difficult. You may be able to park in their small parking lot or may have to park across the street right on Skyline.

Michelle T.

When in the world did this place exist! I never even heard of it until my friend had her wedding there and I'm so glad she did! What a hidden gem. The best wedding food ever! Then my friend told me the chefs are ex Michelin chefs! What?! No wonder. The lobster roll and scallop blew my mind. Better than any I've ever had. And you can tell they know how to cook when the sourdough is made to perfection with the crunchy fall apart exterior and the soft chewy inside. Not to mention it's out in the wilderness so it's such a peaceful way to enjoy life. I will say getting there was a pain! I did not anticipate such a crazy windy drive. But I would suffer again because the whole experience was magical!

Venison
Kai W.

Talk about an experience. We decided to try this place out for a friend's birthday and were able to get reservations pretty easily a few days prior. We had no idea a restaurant like this was out in Woodside. The unassuming cabin led to a rustic bar, which then led into a greenhouse room, surrounded by redwoods. Our friend and our toddler loved the views. Food itself was fantastic, everything was very well prepared and there were plenty of vegetarian options as well. I had the quail as a starter and the venison, as my entree. The quail was very well, seasoned and well cooked with very juicy and tender and flavorful meat. The crust was perfectly crispy and was flavorful as well. The venison did not taste gamey at all and was melt in your mouth tender, i really enjoyed this dish. Finally, I had the panna cotta as a dessert, which we confirmed with the restaurant was vegetarian without gelatin. Very light panna cotta without being too cloyingly sweet.I really enjoyed this one too. Everyone else really enjoyed their meals as well. And had nothing but good things to say. If you are looking for a unique restaurant for a special occasion, I would highly recommend this place.

Carving outside
Kevin D.

The Mountain House is a restaurant that takes you back in time to a peaceful, tranquil setting in the forest among towering trees. It's a short 25 minute drive from Half Moon Bay to a place far different than the waves and sand below it. Set in the forest it makes its name with excellent service, a rustic environment, and food offerings of superior quality. We throughly enjoyed our cocktails, the bread with whipped butter that we absolutely loved, and a prefixed menu with options that we really found enjoyable. The quail - amazing as well as the heirloom tomato Burrata salad. The salmon, very nice and they kept the skin on at our request. The Venison, nicely done, great reduction sauce. The rib eye unfortunately was the only miss here as it didn't seem like a good cut or quality piece with far too much fat. The dessert was excellent, and we loved so many parts of this experience.

Summer squash soup
Ananya N.

This review is long overdue but I am still thinking about how incredible our experience was at mountain house. The restaurant is beautiful, the food was presented beautifully and tasted even better, and the service was phenomenal. We were celebrating our anniversary and our host and waiters went above and beyond in making us feel special. I especially appreciated that not only were there vegetarian options for each course, but the vegetarian options were actually delicious and unique! I find so often at nicer establishments like this one, the vegetarian alternatives are underwhelming, if they exist at all. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to celebrate or just enjoy a lovely meal!

Mocktail
Quin B.

Truly a magical wilderness experience. I felt like I was in a cottage in the woods but so in a castle at the same time. The dinning room was beautiful. When i went it was foggy so it felt like a bob ross painting. Overall I really enjoyed it. The food was also good. I had the vegetarian pasta option. The stew was a bit too smoky for me. Definitely a great date spot. Parking lot was good. Easy to find parking

Kaylee T.

The view was amazing, I really liked the quail and how it went with the salad. It wasn't too heavy and not too light. I got medium rare (not a steak connoisseur but it was one of the top steaks I've had.) The portions were a good amount and I wasn't able to finish it all so I took some home. My boyfriend got the pistachio cake and I liked how it had a nice light nutty flavor.

Sohrob H.

Having been here a few times, I can say the experience is consistently really good, mostly because the food is phenomenal when cooked correctly. Service can be hit or miss, its been a recurring theme usually a few things are forgotten and the servers need a gentle reminder that things are missing. Also some tables get checked on more frequently/often than where I have sat. Inside it can be loud the tables are close and some groups are louder than others, so it can be challenging to hold a conversation at times. The food is good, just seem to have difficulty doing a medium-well steak.

Sourdough bread
GiGi G.

Destination restaurant great for special occasions. Beautiful setting, attentive service and lovely ambiance makes the food taste even better. Love the special extras such as the amuse bouche, extra birthday dessett and parting sweets. Sourdough bread was fresh and delicious. Scallops were excellent and loved the flavor combinations. The mains (we had pork chop, short rib and butternut mushroom pasta) were flavorful and generous. The dessets (chocolate bombe, pistachio cake and cheese course) were lovely endings to a great meal.

Always on point!!
Terry R.

Amazing food always hits right. cocktails mixed to perfection, staff friendlier than a Disney greeter and don't get me started on the views!!

See all

26 days ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Idit O.
72
44
19

1 month ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Robert P.
16
107
13

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Patty S.
2
62
137

15 days ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 2

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 11
Thanks 2
Love this 6
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Quin B.
186
449
1023

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

11 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 1
Thanks 2
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 1
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Aaaaciu Y.
123
13
13

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ted Y.
110
129
18

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ron C.
91
13
0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 1

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0
Photo of Kat D.
0
60
26

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jaylin L.
0
109
80

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 1
Thanks 2
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of K B.
0
45
42

11 months ago

This place is so good! Food and wine are outstanding! Very nice place for a date night or to celebrate at Birthday! Must try!

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 4
Oh no 0
Photo of Joshua O.
0
151
77

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of William R.

William R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 20

Ask the Community - The Mountain House

On Google, there is a statement that says this restaurant is permanently closed. Is that true or not?

It reopened with a new Chef

Are the trees lit up at night?

Yes they are! The food and surroundings are great there! I hope you enjoy

Is it a kids friendly restaurant ? We have a six months old baby in the stroller and we don't know if we can bring the baby with us.

Yes, it is family friendly restaurant. I would recommend to let them know ahead of time, so they can give you appropriate table to accommodate.

Did this use to be Bella Vista Restaurant?

No, different location. It's on the opposite side of Skyline.

Does this restaurant serve venison?

When we went there about 2 months ago, I had Venison Medallions with a Cherry Compote. Was pretty good.

View All 13 Questions

You might also consider

Ethel's Fancy - coconut fritters

Ethel's Fancy

4.4(431 reviews)
8.9 mi
•$$$

Wow so good! Three…read moreof us ordered: -oysters on the half shell $5/ea -milk bread $12 -hokkaido scallop tartare $16 -salad of spring baby lettuces $19 -yellowfin tuna on koshihikari rice $27 -salt and pepper spanish octopus $30 -golden sesame cavatelli $29 -striploin $64 -caramelized pistachio financier $14 Flavors were all great and ingredients fresh. Milk bread was so good, had to order 2. All the other dishes were great. The scallop tartare with the curry we thought was a bit off. Nice ambiance inside...will definitely be back!

PHENOMENAL. My socks were knocked off and fireworks went off in my brain…read more Ethel's Fancy lives rent free in my brain. I came here for date night, and by the end of the meal, I was already telling all my girlfriends they NEED to come here for their next special occasion. Flavor, service, wine, ambiance, menu... everything was top notch. This is officially on the special dinner rotation. We opted for the discovery menu since it was our first time, and as suckers for a good set menu, we were SO happy with the decision. I genuinely loved the experience and am already plotting my return to reorder favorites and try more of the menu. The must-reorders: Coal-kissed cherry tomatoes: These came out first and genuinely rocked my world. The black garlic sauce altered my brain chemistry. I am not exaggerating. Swordfish katsu: Served slider-style on the discovery menu, and I LOVED it. Our server mentioned this format is exclusive to the discovery menu, which honestly makes me a little sad because I want to order it like that again. Rouge de Bordeaux milk bread: As someone who loves all things bread and carbs, this was one of my favorites. Perfectly soft and fluffy, with rich butter and flaky salt. Grilled Brandt Farms prime beef striploin: So juicy, tender, and perfect medium rare. Caramelized pistachio financier: As a pistachio hater I only realized there was pistachio upon writing this review. I'm surprised. The discovery menu was a great way to experience a variety of flavors and see how creative the kitchen gets with its pairings. The only dishes I'd personally pass on next time were the Hokkaido scallop shooter, which had a more intense seafood flavor than I prefer, and the piel de sapo melons & peaches. I'm a five-year-old when it comes to fruit -- I love my fruit as is, not savory. Neither was really my thing, but taste is personal! We skipped the wine pairing and ordered glasses individually instead, which was a fun way to mix things up and explore different wines throughout the meal. I also suspect it worked out a bit cheaper than the pairing. The wine selection was great, and the staff made the whole experience feel thoughtful and seamless. The ambiance is intimate and vibesy in the best way. Definitely somewhere I'd save for a date night, anniversary, birthday, or any occasion where you want dinner to feel a little extra special. Service was superb, and the entire meal felt like an experience rather than just going out to eat. Fair warning: this is definitely a splurge. But for the creativity, incredible flavor combinations, wine selection, and level of service, I personally think it's worth it for a special night out.

Photos
Ethel's Fancy - Open kitchen view from the bar seating

Open kitchen view from the bar seating

Ethel's Fancy - Warm sesame pancake

Warm sesame pancake

Ethel's Fancy - Kampachi Crudo ($26)

See all

Kampachi Crudo ($26)

Vesta - Margherita Pizza +italian sausage

Vesta

4.5(2.7k reviews)
6.2 mi
•$$
12 years in business
Family-owned & operated

I had to come visit here after BTS raved about how good the pizza was. They have many vegan options…read moreon the menu! I went with the vegan margherita, which was pretty good, in particular I loved the crust which was super thin with good chew and lightly crunchy at the edges. However the pizza otherwise did not really blow me away. I enjoyed it however I would say there are many better vegan pizza options in the area. I think their regular pizzas are probably more standout, the people I came with also tried the sausage and honey pizza and seemed to really enjoy it. The service was great, the waiters are very friendly and professional. They are quite busy, we came around 12:30pm on a Saturday and seemed to take the last open table. We were seated outside which was very pleasant. By the time we left there were multiple parties in line. I also saw they had Vesta/BTS stickers inside but I forgot to ask our waiter for one before we left :')

Food: Sausage and Honey Pizza | Carbonara Pizza | Scrimshaw Pilsner | Arugula Salad | Mexican…read moreChocolate Bread Pudding Price: $27 EA for both pizza | $9 | $16.25 | $11 Overall: You already know I had to try out the pizza spot that BTS ate at THREE TIMES during their stay in the Bay Area for the Arirang Tour. I booked a reservation on OpenTable and we got seated immediately outdoors. I wanted to note that since it was chilly, we asked if we could turn on the heater but it took about 3 times for that to happen (peak dinner times, it's okie!). The food took about 20 minutes. The flavors were great but I wish that the pizza came out hotter and crispier. The salad really took me by surprise and was amazing. My favorite pizza was probably Sausage and Honey. We ended off with Mexican Chocolate Bread Pudding which was a great end to the meal. Was it the best? In my opinion, I think it was a very solid pizza spot!

Photos
Vesta
Vesta - Charred Cauliflower

Charred Cauliflower

Vesta - Incredible Pale Ale

See all

Incredible Pale Ale

Foreigner Cafe - Main Dining Hall

Foreigner Cafe

4.1(1.1k reviews)
8.7 mi
•$$
Free WiFi
Healthy dining

Omg what a find! This place has everything you would expect from a cafe! Nice welcoming…read moreenvironment, delicious food options, patio seating, clean and just an amazing atmosphere. I had the bacon cheddar cheesequiche

It was my first time coming here, and definitely not my last. When I came in I just wanted an iced…read morecoffee, but I ended up getting hungry when I saw all the food options! My friend ordered the root beer float with cold brew ice cubes. It was not super heavy, it mixed well, and somehow, the root beer tasted great with the subtle but noticeable coffee flavor. For my drink, I got two shots of espresso. I just needed a quick pick me up! For food, my friend got the chicken tortilla soup. It was absolutely delicious. The shredded chicken and the broth were wonderful, I do wish it had less tortilla strips because they soaked up all the broth if left there for too long. I got the California bagel, which was also delicious. It was a little too much egg for my liking, but the bagel was only $12 which I think is decent for what I got. The Strawberry croissant was TO DIE FOR. I have never enjoyed a croissant as much as this one. Fresh strawberry cream inside, super fluffy and crispy croissant overall. LOVE! Not to mention the cafe is very chic, we sat at a table where we could maximize our sunlight exposure. The servers and cashiers were nice, welcoming, and helpful. So glad we came here!

Photos
Foreigner Cafe
Foreigner Cafe
Foreigner Cafe - Sexy French Toast

See all

Sexy French Toast

Valley Goat - Hamachi Poke

Valley Goat

4.2(709 reviews)
16.5 mi

Love this place. Fantastic cocktail and innovative food. Great ambience. What more can one ask?…read more I got the hot spring spritz to start. Refreshing. And Pinot noir complemented my dishes well. MUST GET: Pork shank - tender meat falling off the bone, crunchy exterior with a nutty overtone. Exquisite Sauteed green beans. Perfectly scorched and cooked. Flavorful. Perfect texture Mango sticky rice - surely sticky and not too sweet. Just the way I like my desserts SOLID: Goat empanada. Great as far as empanada goes. Filling. Focaccia - solid but commonplace Avocado dip Chickpea fritter - fun dish, similar to the flavors at Ettan. SKIP: Crispy quinoa and tuna poke. Fresh fish but bland

The menu offers kind of new and different dishes than similar restaurants. We order focaccia bread,…read moreCauliflower, goat empanadas, green beans , branzino steak and mango rice pudding and few non alcoholic drink. All was very good , portion they say is to share but I don't think so, excepted like us , that we were 4 for people at the table and we share the food ordering a little extra. Prices are in the higher range. Service need to improve, some of the drink was club soda and Diet Coke, they bring in a glass when you ask for refill, then you get the surprise in the bill that they charge for each drink because are in a 6oz or less per bottle.....and the server didn't explained that, and cost $6 per bottle. Also Was very slaw and didn't follow our table during the time that we were there, just the busser to pick up the dirty plate and bring the drinks refill. The atmosphere was nice modern and big patio area. Sorry I didn't take pictures to all dishes. ( in this location use to be a Faz restaurant) I will back to try some other dishes.

Photos
Valley Goat - Dining Room

Dining Room

Valley Goat - Scallion FOcaccia cross-section

Scallion FOcaccia cross-section

Valley Goat - Complimentary Birthday Mango Sticky Rice ($0)

See all

Complimentary Birthday Mango Sticky Rice ($0)

The Mountain House - newamerican - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...