While visiting in Cambria, we had dinner at The Sow's Ear. It is a beautiful and cozy, quiet place and we both had a delicious dinner. The crowning jewel was that we had used Uber to get there, but could not get one to return to our hotel! In a bit of a panic, we asked the Manager ( Owner?) if she knew how we could get back. She immediately offered her daughter, who happened to be there visiting! The daughter laughed and said " sure!". We had a fun ride back...she was charming. She refused payment ( but we left money on the seat)....said " this is what we do here!". We will definately always eat here when in town, just because of the people ( and the yummy food). read more

On my yearly trip to Cambria, the Sow's ear is always a must. The food is always consistent and good. And the flower pot bread is one of my favorite things. They are known for their fresh out of the oven flower pot bread. It's a little crispy on top and as you work your way to the bottom, it gooey, and almost slightly undercooked deliciousness. I love getting to the bottom of the pot and adding some butter. It's so good! I usually always get the same thing. I love the steak and mashed potatoes. It's so tasty that's it's had for me to try something else. This restaurant is very small and cozy. It's like an old school family restaurant with a cute fire place. I always try to arrive right when they open so I can get a table right in front of the fireplace. It's so cozy! And then I have to get my glasses of wine. The ambience is just very quaint and cozy. I always recommend this restaurant to my friends when they are going to Cambria. Everyone that I have recommended it to has gone always had good things to say about it. read more

See all

We ordered takeout here during one of our visits to this cutesy little town, and it has quickly become one of our go-to spots for dinner. We haven't had a chance to dine in yet because... kids and time, but honestly, the food alone keeps us coming back. Every time we've ordered, the experience has been consistently excellent. Their food is truly perfection, from the warm, fresh bread to the beautifully prepared entrées. We've tried the pot roast, short rib, and the coffee-crusted Kobe sirloin, and every dish has been rich, flavorful, and cooked with love. On other visits, we tried the salmon and the olallieberry pork tenderloin, and even as takeout, everything arrived perfectly cooked and incredibly tender. Their mashed potatoes are always silky and consistent, and the vegetables are exactly how I like them, fresh, crisp, and full of flavor. Kids love their food. read more

Wonderful restaurant. Perfect location. Cambria is lovely, Gorgeous setting. I love the ambiance. Lovely music playing while we eat. Good service. The food was delicious. Loved the cream of broccoli soup. So good. I had the special of the day which was blackened salmon with rice and vegetables. Fabulous. I will say that although it is a nice restaurant and the food was good, it seemed a bit overpriced. But...what isn't over priced anymore? Over $150 for three of us - no alcohol purchases. Still, I'm happy to have visited and truly enjoyed it and the food. read more

See all

We had a awesome anniversary dinner. The food was very good and the service was excellent. I love the dim lighting. It's a cozy restaurant. I had the rack of lamb. It was delicious. Probably the best I've had. Came with veggies and a red potato. I had all veggies. The bread in the pot was delicious! My husband had the early bird steak. It was very good. Both meals included a dinner salad. They gave us a complimentary dessert for our anniversary. read more

See all

They pretend to be a fine dining establishment. The truth is that I found only the spinach salad edible ( it was ordinary and nothing special). We each ordered the fisherman's stew. Both of us said, "ugh". The broth was unpleasant tasting...it reeked of vermouth. There were no tomatoes in the broth and various fish...salmon also, which overwhelmed the taste of the other fish. I thought I'll have the hot fudge sundae to make it better...it was cheap grocery store ice cream with a thin chocolate and caramel syrup...also from the cheap aisle. This place is not related to a similarly named great restaurant in the Napa Valley. I have to add that the wait staff was friendly, pleasant and efficient. read more

The sows ear is like a home away from home. It was nice and warm inside and we enjoyed our meal. I will say they do need more servers. We had to flag down a server a few times. The food however is delicious. My wife had short rib and I had steak topped with crab meat. We each had a bowl of clam Chowder that was tasty! read more

See all

We have been loyal Patrons for decades, but will branch out to other restaurants now. We paid way too much for a less than delicious meal. The staff were great, service was prompt. The usual bread in the flowerpot was hard. The stuffed mushroom appetizer and the dinner salad were great, we enjoyed both. We each ordered the Halibut entree at $47.95. It arrived at the table smelling very fishy. I took the first bite and it was overcooked, chewy, and lacked flavor. Very disappointing that I couldn't eat it. read more

Ramona is an excellent server and very polite. Bread always great. The special lobster and steak not so good. It wasn't actually lobster it was ground up and mushy. My wife's ribs weren't good at all but Ramona switched it to halibut and it was good. read more

Charming and quaint, yet homey and welcoming, The Sow's Ear has a lovely reputation for being a solid dining choice in Cambria. This is well-earned. Having considered it a few times over the years -- it's always so dark when you look in there windows -- the time had come to at least give this place a try. The delicious and fun bread bowl in a planter arrives warm and ready for you to get in the mood to eat. If you're the least bit hangry, the bread may go quickly, so pace yourself (though they will likely offer you more if they see what damage you've done). The brown was a sort of pumpernickel, but with the seasoning toned down. As all entrees come with choice of soup or salad, we felt getting an appetizer might be overkill. So we enjoyed our salads (a special-- beets with arugula and goat cheese (I think!). Not gonna lie: some of the apps were super tempting. Perhaps on the next visit -- and maybe if it's a larger party. I tried the Chicken Fried Steak. Not sure if I've ever HAD chicken fried steak before. Hearty, tasty and savory. 'Angus beef breaded and pan sautéed with our homemade country sausage gravy, served with buttermilk mashed potatoes with fresh chive'. Very much satisfied. Our other entree was the Braised Short Rib 'Slow braised tender short rib on the bone topped with a red wine and port reduction sauce, served with buttermilk mashed potatoes with fresh chive'. We liked this too, though to be brutally honest, it was a bit dry. A bit more of the port reduction sauce perhaps -- or maybe it was simply a tad overcooked. Of course, the buttermilk mashed potatoes wash away lots of sins. Dessert was delicious. Though it's not listed on the menu, the Lemon Tart (with strawberries and whipped cream) was fantastic. Perfect ratio of sweet to puckery, with a just-right crunch in the crust. A nice finish to a relaxed and hearty meal. read more

The Sow's Ear - Lemon Tart, not on the menu. - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

Had an amazing meal with friends in a fancy yet casual restaurant and the service and food was all good. Prices are typical for the area as well as the items available. All the food we ordered was prepared very well with delicious flavors. First time here and we will be back. read more

See all

The restaurant was a lot cuter inside in person than what you see of the place online. Service was great and so was the food. We got the beef stroganoff and the chicken and dumplings for our entrees, and the fried brie to start. It wasn't clear what the chicken and dumplings was but it ended up being a soupy biscuits and gravy, with the dumplings being somewhere between a gnocchi and breakfast biscuit in taste and texture. The "soup" was the "gravy". Everything was delicious. read more

The Sow's Ear - Bread in a pot. Doughy and delicious. - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

Fantastic dinner place in Cambria! We were just looking at the menu when a passerby recommended this place and we decided to try it out. They're known for their flour pot, which is their house bread in a flower pot. A very cute idea! We got the stuffed mushrooms, which was alright but the entrees were fantastic. We got the steak and shrimp pasta. Both to die for especially the shrimp pasta. The decorations were also filled with little pig figurines, which fits the name of the restaurant! read more

See all

We visited The Sow's Ear for the first time for their New Year's Eve dinner. It was the most delicious food and best experience by far. The hostess was so kind and it was essential to come in by reservation because they seated us almost immediately. The place inside was a dark ambiance, but it was lovely. My grandmother that joined does have bad eyesight so she struggled a bit to see her food on the plate, but we put the lit candle by her plate so that helped. The food itself was EXCELLENT. A little background: I have a nostalgic memory of a family vacation when I was little and I had tried a lobster bisque soup at this random restaurant, and since that time, I have never again been able to find a lobster bisque soup that tasted anywhere near as good as that one time so many years ago. When I tried the lobster bisque soup last night, it was such a slam to my face with nostalgia because it brought me back to that one memory ingrained in my brain. It was beyond my expectations and memory of the lobster bisque. They excelled in this soup, it was so so so delicious. I was sad to find out that they only brought it out for the New Year's Eve menu & that it's not a common dish on their usual menu. All this to sum up that this place is a 1000/10 and I will most definitely be coming back with my family. read more

See all

Great service! Great food!! This place is amazing. I've had several different menu items and I've never had anything bad. Tonight I had the filet. Amazing!!! The potatoes were delicious. Also served with some delicious veggies. Salad was amazing. Great service and the restaurant overall is amazing! Day, romantic vibe is amazing! Love it!! read more

The Sow's Ear - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

I have eaten here several times and each time has been a great experience. My wife loves the coffee crusted steak, juicy and flavorful....she would only give me one bite. I got the mac-n-cheese. OMG....so rich, cheesy,and tasty...I think I drooled a litt bit writing about it. They have very good desserts. But I am saving tje best for last....the bread!!!! They bring it to you in a little flower pot piping hot it's half white and half wheat and it is awesome! read more

This was a fancy themed fair with exceptional service. Negatives: -price, dishes are more expensive than your typical California restaurant. -taste, my wife's beef stroganoff was a little too salty. When it's bland you can fix it with salt, but when it's salty you can't really do much. My wife wish she had gotten my lobster pot pie instead. For me, the pot pie was a little too creamy though. When you pay more, I tend to expect perfection. Positives -service, our waiter was very attentive and made sure we got what we needed. He also checked on us with a kind friendly smile a lot even though he was also handling other tables. -ambiance, the experience was very unique. There was romantic lighting with some private spots away from other people. There were also little pig decorations. If you want a specific spot, make sure to reserve ahead of time. -quality of food, the quality of the ingredients were definitely exceptional. The beef in my wife's stroganoff was super tender and the lobster in my pot pie was sweet. The shrimp from the shrimp scampi was also very fresh. Overall 5/5 We decided to go a little fancy tonight. We love supporting local business in Cambria and even though this was a little more expensive it was worth it and we enjoyed our evening. read more

See all

The dinning experience here was amazing. Classy and charming restaurant with the perfect background music to set a relaxing ambiance. The food definitely tasted home made and was of great quality and comforting . The server and hostesses were attentive, friendly and polite. They certainly make their customers feel welcomed. Also, while they don't have a kid's menu they do make accommodations for the younger ones. The only complaint that the bathroom wasn't very clean. Probably because of inconsiderate customers and it is for both genders. Anyhow, if you want a comforting meal I recommend you try Sow's Ear. read more

The Sow's Ear - Warm homemade bread - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

See all

We made a reservation for 6, had to change it for 30 minutes later. The hostess was the most accommodating. Our appetizers of fried brie, apples and onionmash was delectable, we all enjoyed. The Portuguese clams was perfect. Service was amazing and it was cozy and warm indoors wirh a beautiful stone fireplace. Service was wonderful. Pork tenderloin with olallieberry chutney was So good! Wiwh the mashed potatoes were more buttery with garlic cloves. Jack Daniel's pancetta filet mignon was also perfectly grilled, a crust and juicy tender inside. I order the Alaskan halibut, crusted in nuts with honey drizzled on top, large piece. It was cooked nicely. I would've preferred just lemon and a light seasoning. Parchment salmon was also ordered, it was good; could've been better. Overall it was a wonderful experience and we will all definitely be back! read more

I would say this place is perfect, for a romantic getaway, but we went with friends and it was just as much fun. A mix of a seafood and steakhouse type of place. I ended up with a pork chop, which I don't get very often and it fulfilled my needs to say the least. We enjoyed a little bit of the entire menu since we were among friends, but I will definitely be back just be forewarn, is a little warm in there. Servers are very attentive and that pretty much sealed the deal. read more

See all

Heads up, it's a little dark but it adds to the ambiance. We were able to split the ribeye and for a nominal fee ($9) we each got our own soup.or salad, vegetable and potato. The staff was amazing. read more

The Sow's Ear - Half of a 14 Oz ribeye with mashed potatoes and veggies - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

See all

My boyfriend and I came here for our 6 year anniversary dinner. The food, service, and environment were all so perfect. I loved everything about this restaurant. Alex, our server, really helped us by describing what a platter would taste like. I really couldn't believe how delicious the stuffed mushrooms were. We come from Orange County, CA and there is nothing like this down there. If you're looking for a spot to eat at, and you're reading this right now, please go try it!!! read more

See all

We tried this restaurant last December while in town to see the Holiday Market and we LOVED it; great service, food and atmosphere and the prices are more than fair! So when we went back to Cambria last week for our 15th anniversary, we knew this is where we wanted to go for our celebration dinner. Once again, excellent service, food and atmosphere. And the "complimentary" Mud Pie was out of this world! read more

The Sow's Ear - Our 15 year anniversary dinner. Excellent! - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

If you ever get a chance to visit Cambria, please check this place out! Just great food and cozy atmosphere 10/10 read more

See all

It was an incredible experience having dinner at The Sows Ear! The place is charming and intimate and adorable with all of the pig decor. My Olallieberry Mimosa was lovely to start with, and I cannot rave enough about how delicious the lobster corn dogs were. I got the sirloin with coffee, blue cheese, and port sauce and it was a perfect blend of flavors. We would definitely come back the next time we're in Cambria and recommend it to friends as well! read more

Dropped in for an early dinner around 5:30pm and had the Chicken Fried Steak which was delicious, with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables- will definitely order this again. Service was excellent, my server Carlos was very attentive and I didn't want for anything- even had a bottle of HONIG Sauvignon Blanc that paired nicely with dinner. Ambiance was remarkable with the fireplace roaring in the center of the dining room, as always- I have been coming here 30 years now and this is a Cambria standard.... you don't want miss coming here for dinner. Next time I am going to have the bread pudding for dessert; saw the table next to me ordered it and it looked divine! read more

The Sow's Ear - Chicken fried steak was awesome! - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

Omg! Incredible menu, service was perfect and their 40 years in business speaks volumes! Loved the ambiance!!! Best clam chowder I've had, including The Tides in Bodega! Our go-to in Cambria, worth the drive! read more

Incredible ambiance, delicious dinner and unforgettable dessert. We decided to enjoy a Friday dinner date in Cambria, CA and this is always a great restaurant to visit. I ordered filet mignon (medium well) and it came with vegetables and puréed potatoes and a salmon bisque. My husband ordered the special of filet mignon and lobster tail with a salad. We both enjoyed our meals, thanks to our waiter Carlos and the rest of the staff!! The dessert was incredible - check out the pictures below- it was bigger than my hand!! Gracias por el postre!!! read more

See all

Always lovely to dine there when visiting the Central Coast. First class service and food in a classy yet chill and low key way. Feels fitting for a weekday dinner or for special occasions, can be both intimate and for the business traveler. read more

Great food, service and atmosphere! The ambience was so nice coupled with the attentive service and meal, we can't wait to return! The calamari appetizer was delicious. I enjoyed the steak and sides, and my date was really happy with the seafood pot pie. Highly recommend! read more

Whether I eat in or take out, it has always been a pleasant experience. Dining in atmosphere is ideal for intimate/ romantic and for a lovely time with friends. I can attest for the solo diners as each time I've gone it's been by myself. There's a fireplace and the lighting is dim but not too dim that you can't read your menu. The staff is very attentive and very friendly. The menu has a nice variety of options. One of my go-tos is the shrimp scampi. I also enjoy the stuffed chicken. And you have to try that potted bread. Eat it while it's warm! I look forward to my next meal here but hopefully it won't be alone so that someone else can share the nice experience. read more

The Sow's Ear - Shrimp scampi with wild rice - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

See all

What happened, used to be good. Tired menu, food sucked!!! Cold potatos, dry flavorless ribs, over cooked salmon. Never going back!!!!! Lobster dogs are not worth feeding to your dog!! read more

We met good friends there for dinner at 5. The menu is extensive with many comfort food choices. Two in our party had the calamari steak, my friend had the chicken and dumplings and I had the pit roast. Everything looked good and our friends were satisfied. The restaurant has been a Cambria staple for many years. I felt the dinners were okay and nothing special. The desserts seemed to have had more thought put into them. The atmosphere is comfortable. The seating and decor is somewhat dated. The wine list is lengthy and has many nice options. All in all, it was a pleasant meal with good friends and nice desserts. read more

I had high hopes for this place. I've tried almost all of the other 4+ star restaurants in Cambria but not The Sow's Ear. Figured it was worth a try. First let me say the service was great. Very friendly staff. The potted bread was good and yeasty. Everything fell apart when I ordered Rack of Lamb. For the price I paid ($48) I was expecting something very good (not great). What I got was mediocre at best. Overdone and underseasoned lamb, swimming in oil, with tons of charred mint leaves all over it. All you could taste was the burnt mint. The mint "jelly" was more like mint water. The only plus is that it was an entire rack, about 7 chops in total. I couldn't not finish it, it was that bad. Stay away from the rack of lamb. My wife ordered the chicken and dumplings. I ended up finishing hers instead. It was very good (a bit salty for her taste). Other menu items looked intriguing, but the lamb experience has me hesitant to try again. Hopefully it was just an off night. (BTW...the next night I had the Rack of Lamb down the street at Indigo Moon, and it was wonderful) read more

Cute restaurant. Good food and wine. Service was on point. I have food allergies and they are able to cater food for me. read more

The Sow's Ear - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

See all

The ambiance and good feelings of this fabulous little restaurant in Cambria can't be beat. Service was great. Food is always first class.

The sales here is located on Main Street. We have passed by it for multiple years and finally decided to try it. The restaurant is a bit dark inside and has a selection of beef, salads and fish. The steak was crisp and flavorful served with the side salad or soup. I had the special which was a cioppino and also serve with the side salad while the cioppino was loaded with fish I found a pro to be extremely salty and lacking flavor. The soup had sand in it, possibly from not cleaning the shellfish properly. Perhaps I had tried other things on the menu. I'd have a different opinion. Service was good in the atmosphere was great. tables were close enough together that we were able to tune in on conversations of a couple going out on their first date and a couple those celebrating their 42nd anniversary. there was a lot of open tables, but they made sure to see everybody towards the front of the restaurant so that from the outside the restaurant will look crowded. or maybe because there was a single waitress and it made it easier on her. you're probably getting a table during the week. I would be willing to go back to try another dish. read more

The Sow's Ear - Chioppino - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

Great location and ambience. Highly recommend. Great service and great food. I ate the Honey Crusted Salmon. Chef's kiss.

Another delicious dinner at The Sow's Ear tonight. The ribs were tender and flavorful. The catfish was crisp and the pecan topping really made the dish. Carlos and team were attentive and efficient. read more

See all

Wow! Wonderful ambience. Low dim light with fireplace going, made a very intimate experience. The service knew exactly when to bring out the dishes one after another. We order a bottle of wine and the break first and followed with the clams and baked Brie cheese. Such rich and vibrant flavors. Recommend 100%. My husband ordered a filet mignon and I ordered the braised short rib. Both dishes were cooked to perfection. Both very savory and melted in your mouth. Would love to go back and order the pork tenderloin. A family member gave me a taste and the flavors were phenomenal! Wow! read more