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    The Sur House

    4.1 (220 reviews)
    Open 7:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    The Sur House Photos

    THE SUR HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

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    Casual
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    Classy

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    Leo L.

    Being technically the only real restaurant in the resort and we had to eat breakfast here everyday it is hard not to get sick of the dishes from the limited menu. The all you can eat is also not really all you can eat. There are a bunch of limitations and the portions are not big. Nothing really stood out for me and I remember the octopus being very salty. Overall, I did not have a great impression.

    Sorbet
    Daniel G.

    We ate here over our two night stay at Alila Ventana Big Sur. Every meal was very good with unique combinations of delicious food. The view was a bit disappointing as it rained the whole time so we didn't really get to see much other than gray clouds. Our big complaint was that even though the meals and gratuity are included with the stay, they try pressuring you into a bigger tip by leaving a bill for $0 at the end.

    Ellen S.

    Fortunate to be able to stay at the resort for a few days. This is the primary restaurant for meals. The Sur House is also open to the public, so it can get crowded during dinner time as the views from the terrace are spectacular. It was foggy two of the 3 days so it is limited of what you can see, however being so close to the ocean and breathing in fresh air morning and evening is good for the soul. The day it was clear, get there early for sunset dining - the view is worth it. The service staff is friendly and the chefs are creative with the menu. It's a limited menu, but you can find something for all types of eater - carnivore, vegetarian, vegan, etc. As it's an all inclusive, temper expectations as it's not a Michelin star/Bib Gourmand restaurant. It's good quality ingredients made in bulk for the day. Sometimes items needed more salt (or less!), sometimes it needed more spice (you can ask for hot sauce/salsa), etc. The best bites were 1/ pesto arancini balls (only during happy hour) - best deep fried item I've had ever ... crispy shell with a well balanced pesto, rice and cheese inside that is creamy, hot and delicious, 2/ zeppole (donut holes, available only during brunch) that are piping hot, pillowy and airy, not too sweet (dusted with powered sugar) and so incredible with a cup of coffee. Sometimes they do try to do too much like the Ventana sorbet, it had 6 ingredients and none were distinct and due to the combo, it threw off the texture - very grainy/bumpy vs silky smooth. The honeyed / fig panna cotta was a little to stiff for a panna cotta. the olive oil cake is divine - kind of like a twinkie (for those that remember the 70s and 80s) and it's shaped a little like one too. It comes with ripe, not overly sweet plums which is a perfect compliment.

    Duck entree
    Philipp B.

    Sur House is the restaurant in the Alila Ventana high-end resort. The resort is all-inclusive, I'm pretty sure most of the people who dine there are guests. I recently joined friends staying there for dinner. I had a scallop crudo appetizer, duck entree, and sorbet for dessert, plus a glass of pinot noir. Service was solid. Ambiance was nice. Food fully met my expectations, there was nothing major I would have changed about any of the dishes. Pricing was appropriate; on the spendy side, but not more so than other comparable restaurants.

    Melany M.

    One of my favorite restaurants by far. I had the mussels for an appetizer - absolutely mouth watering, especially paired with the bread as suggested by the staff ;) For entree, I had the chicken and risotto plates - both excellent. My favorite was definitely the risotto as the truffle was the perfect complement. For dessert I had the chocolate mousse (forget the technical menu name) - this was excellent. Rich and decadent but the portion was small enough that every bite was enjoyable. I can't wait to come back!

    Luigi B.

    (Tom Cruise voicover disguised as luigi from Spotify's you ME & luigi) This was a recon mission. The vibe is sanctuary retreat hidden among the gargantuan redwood trees of Big Sur steps from the Pacific. We passed a Zen sculpture! And an overflowing meditation basin. The Loft had a gorgeous Christmas tree. Very off grid relaxation with the perfect amenities. Your fave IG models will love it. Dora warmly greeted us! Leonel served us. He is a star! Marine layer. Fancy lemonade! Roasted Beets. Goat cheese. Microgreens. Balsamic glaze. Subtly sweet. Healthy! Curry Carrot Soup. Pesto oil. Microgreens. Delish! Ribeye. Boned in. Wood fired to perfection. Worth the wait. (And a lot faster than the disclaimer.) Shishito. Potatoes. Beef, it's what should always be for dinner! Amazing! Campanelle. Ground lamb. Tomatos. Cheese. Mama Mia good! Olive Oil Cake. White wine poached pear, creme fraiche, pistachios. Everything you'd want in an exquisite melange of flavor and mouthfeel! What an enchanted evening! Superb food! Exemplary service! And healing natural splendor! Next time will have the Mission Impossible team insert "Christmas Island Christmas" by you ME & luigi into their music playlist as part of the return culinary op. Will definitely be back! Shhh. We've accepted the mission. This tape will self-destruct in 3...2...1 (Poof of smoke) Thanks, Dora & Leo! Woohoo!

    Octopus
    Derek R.

    We had 3 brunches and 2 dinners here during our all inclusive stay at Alila Ventana. During dinner, our waiter Ramiro, who we had both nights, provided great service and was very knowledgeable about the local region and hiking options, also the ambiance is amazing. We love the ocean views! Watch out for the wasps, they are curious about the food (some people requested fans to keep them away). Our favorite dishes: Brunch: ricotta zeppole, ventana sorbet, falafel entree, carbonara pizza Dinner: olive oil cake, scallop appetizer, steak entree For brunch coffee alternatives, they offer matcha and chai lattes. Our favorite cocktail was the Marine Layer, which is a fun fog-inspired drink with a bubble on top that you can blow and if explodes into "fog". In general, we felt that cocktails paired better with the entrees here than wine, due to some of the sauces having a lot of flavors going on that aren't always complementary with wine. That being said, we enjoyed the Barolo paired with the Squid ink Pasta.

    Alan L.

    An awesome dining experience that we had the privilege of visiting as part of our stay at the Alila next door. The views are absolutely beautiful, especially during midday or at dusk, where you're able to see the sky change colour as the sun goes down. For brunch/breakfast/lunch, they have a set number of brunch dishes that they serve that are good. We really loved the carbonara pizza - so good that we got it twice. The dinner menu was excellent as well. Most of the dishes that we got was amazing. Our favourites were the mussels, the octopus, and the squid ink pasta. If you stay at the Alila, make sure to have a reservation. This way, you'll be able to get seated at one of the nicer tables outside that face the ocean. Though there's a bit of greenery that obstructs some of the view, it is still a great experience. Even when going during summer though, it can get a little chilly. But the staff is always very nice, and you can ask for blankets to be provided. They are also able to call golf carts to bring you back to your rooms if you so wish as well! Definitely the best place to go for all three meals if staying at the Alila!

    Jen N.

    For a resort that averages $3000 a night, you can get better food and service at your local Chick-Fil-A. We chose this restaurant for my birthday lunch, but please do yourself a favor and go ANYWHERE else. To start, the menu is extremely limited and the lunch options are awful. Perhaps dinner is better but I will only comment on what we experienced. We had the unfortunate pleasure of being assigned Jessica R. as our server and she definitely hates her job. I ordered the Marine Layer cocktail which was an awful start to an awful experience. The drink was extremely sweet and settled into a cloudy mess of pulp after just 2 minutes (pictured). I only had 1-2 sips of the drink and Jessica never came back for me to address the issue. When our food came, the Braised Short Rib Sandwich was served COLD and again, Jessica was no where to be found. We were hoping to order dessert since it was my actual birthday that day, but Jessica said the kitchen was closed. It was mentioned on the reservation and again to her in person that it was my birthday. She should have let us know that we needed to place dessert orders earlier before the kitchen closed. Jessica dropped off the bill before we asked for it, and then she disappeared AGAIN. We had to physically walk up to her sitting at the bar (on her phone) to get our check closed out. Jessica clearly was not interested in providing any sort of customer service and she does not deserve to be working at a resort of this caliber. There is no excuse for poorly executed cocktails, cold food, and borderline rude customer service. Please do better.

    Michelle H.

    Date of Visit: 8/2/2025 During our stay at the Ventana Big Sur, we made a reservation for the dinner at The Sur House on our check in date. Got a 8:30pm reservation at around sunset and was able to see the last bit of golden hours. We walked over by ourselves to the restaurant via the hiking trail, and waited for about 15min for our table. Similar to 4 years ago during our last visit, the dinner area is located outdoor near the cliff and the indoor restaurant area is mainly closed. Strawberry Smash $18 I ordered the Strawberry Smash from the mocktail list. It is made with virgin rum, lime, mint and prickly pear. 2021 Frogs Tooth Grenache $18 Husband got a glass of the Grenache from Monterey in California. There was no limitation on the amount of appetizers, and we ordered a total of 4 appetizers. Eggplant Carpaccio This is a very special eggplant dish. Made with charred asparagus, arugula, whipped feta pine nuts, local honey, and chili oil. Artichoke Hearts We also got the artichoke hearts made with Sorrell Soubise, brown butter, hazelnuts, lemon, and decorated with some farm greens. PEI Mussels We also got another two seafood appetizers. The mussels were seasoned with calabrese sausage, fregola, and some tomato butter. Scallop Crudo The scallop crudo is made with compressed cucumber Calabrian coconut cream, basil oil, California citrus, and shallot. Confit Duck Leg I ordered the duck leg for my main course. It was seasoned with honey and quite sweet. Black Angus Flat Iron Steak Husband got the medium black angus flat iron steak. The steak was tendered in the middle with the smell of the grill. On the side there were greens and California mushroom. Much tastier than the duck leg confit. Olive Oil Cake For dessert, we got the olive oil cake which was decorated with thyme macerated apricot, pistachio, and whipped creme fraiche. Ventana Sorbet My favorite was the Ventana sorbet made with lemon, white sage & pear sorbet, lavender big sur sea salt, and some California olive oil.

    Crudo, soup, eggplant appetizer
    Priscilla K.

    Food:3/5 Service: 1/5 Ambiance: 5/5 We stayed at Alila Ventana for 3 days, and as part of the all-inclusive, we dined here for almost every meal during our stay as this was the primary restaurant at the hotel. It got old after 3 meals, but we had to keep having the same menu until we checked out which was not easy. The menu is comprised of local ingredients and flavors which I always appreciate, especially their Ventana sorbet, which we enjoyed the most out of all the dessert items. We tried nearly everything on the menu in terms of appetizers and entrees, and they were a hit or miss. Ribeye: 5/5 (best) Octopus: 1/5 (too tough) Duck: 3/5 (not bad) Scallop crudo: 4/5 (good, but server forgot) Salads: 4/5 (light and good) Soups: 2/5 (too salty) Sandwiches: 2/5 (very okay) Pizzas: 4/5 (carbonara pizza's good) -more in pics The ambiance was beautiful and my stars reflect the beauty of nature that surrounds the restaurant. The service however has lots of room for improvement. As many of the other reviews fore-mentioned, even with reservations, it takes forever to get seated. I don't understand why the restaurant prioritizes non-resort guests over resort guests when resort guests don't have any other option to eat elsewhere in the hotel. Not only that, the food takes forever to come out. A meal that should last an hour and a half at most takes over 3 hours just because of how slow the waiters are. Our waiter Juan had a bad attitude and looked extremely nonchalant about his job. The restaurant ran out of heaters so I was freezing cold (with no remedy), and Juan forgot my scallop crudo (never came). My time at Alila Ventana was amazing and interactions with the resort staff were great, but the restaurant seemed very disconnected, disorganized, and unprofessional. I think the Sur House needs a management / organization overhaul.

    View from the back patio
    Taylor S.

    Came here on a roadtrip with my boyfriend up the coast on 03/19/25. As soon as we walked up to the front entrance, it was beautiful. There was a cute fire pit outside and the view from the restaurant was like a painting. You could see the ocean for miles. It was a little bit of a wait to get a table, but not surprising since this place had amazing food. It was definitely worth it. Our servers were very attentive and the chefs cooked a top notch meal for us. I can't exactly remember what my boyfriend got but I got the salmon and it was to die for. absolutely well done. Definitely on the pricier side, but I would highly recommend if you're looking for a really romantic dinner date with a beautiful view.

    A beautiful breakfast bagel
    Michelle T.

    My three days staying at Alila Ventana Big Sur have been one of the best three days of my life, and the Sur House is a big reason why. We came here every single day for our complimentary breakfast, lunch, dinner as hotel guests. I believe that breakfast and lunch are for hotel guests only but Sur House is open for non-hotel guests for dinner time. Even if you are not staying at Alila, the Sur House is still worth the trek if you're in Big Sur. The dining here is world class and I was told that the chef is actually from the Michelin restaurant nearby. Every single thing we ate was extraordinarily delicious, and believe me, we tried the whole menu during our stay! Below are some of my favorite selections from the menu for each meal. BREAKFAST -- Bagel & Lox (colorful and IG worthy) -- Egg Omelet (with fresh eggs from the onsite farm) LUNCH -- Habanero wings (perfectly spiced) -- Fish & Chips (fantastic fry, not too oily) -- Churrasco (this steak is actually my favorite dish of our whole stay) -- Market Fish (ours was a beautifully cooked salmon) -- Coconut sorbet (DO NOT SKIP THIS!) DINNER -- The Hen Egg (sounds simple but has big flavor) -- Spanish Octopus (soooo tender) -- Squid Ink Spaghetti (but honestly all the pastas are amazing) -- Steak, Salmon or Halibut (are the best because for me the poultry options were a bit dry) All the desserts are great and we've tried them all, but I just cannot stop thinking about the coconut sorbet. It lives in my mind rent free. Not only was the food excellent, the service was equally as amazing. Our server for most nights was Leo - he is fantastic. He always remembered our names and what we ordered and made sure to wish me a happy birthday. We really felt taken care of and seen. On nice days and nights, Sur House is located in a patio area of Alila Ventana and overlooks the huge blue ocean and Big Sur cliffs. It's a really stunning sight especially at sunset. On days with very foggy or rainy weather, the party is moved indoors for a more romantic, cozy, wood surroundings dining vibe. I will be dreaming about Alila Ventana and the Sur House for a long time!

    Chicken with vegetables and rice for dogs.

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    Quality food, great atmosphere, and great service. You have to dine here when in Big Sur

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    Page 1 of 6

    The Sur House Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Sur House

    How much does dinner cost?

    If you have to ask, you can't afford it

    If we are staying at the ventana campsite, can we eat at the Sur house?

    Yes but I believe you have to make a reservation

    Is it open to the public?

    No, only for hotel guest

    View All 4 Questions

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    4.1(271 reviews)
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    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.

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    View of cashier from aisle

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    Nepenthe - Chicken chicken breast served on a French Roll

    Nepenthe

    3.8(2.8k reviews)
    0.6 mi
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    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!

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    Grilled Chicken Breast and Salad

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    Drinks (the red beer was super satisfying after a hike!)

    Post Ranch Inn - Season fennel salad! Light vinaigrette finish, so yum!

    Post Ranch Inn

    4.3(359 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    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.

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    Sierra Mar - Borba Farms Squash with Smoked Eggplant, Buttermilk, Romesco

    Sierra Mar

    4.2(542 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$$

    Every dish was thoughtfully prepared and absolutely delicious--each course felt intentional,…read morebeautifully presented, and full of flavor. The menu showcased a perfect balance of creativity and refinement, with ingredients that tasted incredibly fresh and well-paired. You can really tell how much care goes into every detail, from the composition of the dishes to the pacing of the meal. Beyond the food, the setting is just as remarkable. The views are stunning and elevate the entire experience, making it feel both special and serene. Overall, it was a truly memorable meal, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience in Big Sur.

    Wanted a nice meal that would be a contrast to the hiking shoes and forest roadside diner. The view…read morewas amazing, our day was filled with the marine layer/clouds so it felt like we were dining above the clouds. Prefix lunch was plenty enough to eat without the additional appetizer. The drinks are nice and all the food is served family style. Between the salmon, lion's mane mushroom, and steak, my favorite was the mushroom. The steak was a bit more cooked than the medium rare requested. There's indoor and outdoor dining. The weather was nice enough to eat outside too. If you wanted, there are shades that can be pulled down to cover the floor to ceiling windows. You can also walk out into their small balconies to enjoy the view. The staff is very friendly and made us feel welcomed. Valet is complimentary, but there's quite a few stairs to climb from the valet to the restaurant. There are electric vehicle charging as well. If needed, I think individuals can be driven up to accommodate mobility issues.

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    Sierra Mar - Back bar area

    Back bar area

    Sierra Mar - Soup

    Soup

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    Big Sur Roadhouse - Tomato basil soup with salad

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    4.0(428 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    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.

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    Big Sur Roadhouse - Gorgeous mid mod seating area

    Gorgeous mid mod seating area

    Big Sur Roadhouse - Veggie Burger with salad

    Veggie Burger with salad

    Big Sur Roadhouse

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    Fernwood Resort Bar & Grill - da 16" pizza

    Fernwood Resort Bar & Grill

    3.9(105 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    What an incredible experience! I can't even think of the words to describe its warm charm. In a…read morestrange way, I can envision Jack Kerouac enjoying the bar here. In my opinion, it's a Big Sur oasis (not that Big Sur needs any sort of oasis!). The Rockfish tacos rocked my socks off!!! The service was off the charts. Sunnie, our bartender extraordinaire, was funny, attentive and just a very warm spirit! Would I come back here again? Heck yeah!!!

    We had a late start this morning and our way to Pfeiffer Beach we stopped for lunch. A nice place,…read morequite warm and friendly. We asked if they were open, yes, yes come in. Would you like inside or outside? We didn't hesitate, in unison we said outside. large deck we sat a deuce at the railing. Beautiful weather 70's no clouds no wind or breeze. There are plenty of choices on the menu even some more creative and interesting offerings. a Garden salad with Hibiscus vinaigrette dressing and a pizza, so much for getting out of the box...Both showed up in about fifteen minutes and it all looked and smelled great. We dove right in and we were not disappointed. By the time we came up for air it was because we'd finished off the food, all of it, delicious. Grace did a great job between all the guests that were arriving for lunch. Certainly a great choice for a meal, and a spot to relax. Foodguy-martin

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    Fernwood Resort Bar & Grill - Back patio

    Back patio

    Fernwood Resort Bar & Grill - Fish & Chips

    Fish & Chips

    Fernwood Resort Bar & Grill - Love this place for a cappuccino and something cold. This ginger beer is my fav.  Free WiFi too and best stickers around!

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    Love this place for a cappuccino and something cold. This ginger beer is my fav. Free WiFi too and best stickers around!

    Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant - Tri Tip Sandwich

    Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant

    3.0(371 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant - Interior

    Interior

    Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant - Beet Salad

    Beet Salad

    Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant - Arnold Palmer

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    Arnold Palmer

    The Sur House - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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