Spending a couple days there with wife and in-laws. Probably only have one night out. Staying just outside Mendo (Stanford Inn) and would prefer not to drive as far as Philo or Boonville for dinner. I’ve read a lot of online reviews of restaurants in Mendo, Albion and nearby. So what’s your recommendation for the singular best place? TIA
Oh! Would also welcome a lunch rec about 1.5 hours north of SFO on US1. My wife insists we drive to Mendo on the 1 despite it likely taking 5 hours. We land at 10:30, so figure I can get a tiny bit of the trip in before the troops demand rations. (PS I do realize the coastline is stunning, as I’ve made this same long drive before…my lower back remembers too.)
Marshall Store for oysters (assuming they are still farming there…I know there’s been an issue lately). In Mendo we liked Cafe Beaujolais.
Chad,
Kate and I spent our honeymoon at the Stanford Inn. It is a cool spot. The restaurant on the property is pretty good, but vegan. The wine list leaves a lot to be desired. (Warning: They have the worst coffee I have ever experienced in my life.)
The places we have eaten at several times are Macallum House (kind-of fine dining) and the Mendocino Cafe (casual, eclectic, B to B+ food). Cafe Beaujolais is supposedly the best place in town, but it is more fine dining than we have ever wanted to do.
Yikes! That alone is enough to make me consider changing my reservation!
We currently are holding a dinner Rez at Ledford House, based on my wife choosing it from 4 area restaurants described in a WS Mendocino travel article. Sounds good, but if anyone wants to advise otherwise, I’m all ears.
I highly recommend Raven’s (@ Stanford Inn). Ate there a few months ago.
I love meat, but I also think that good Vegan/Vegetarian restaurants often outperform. My theory is that they have to be that much more innovative, and when they succeed, the outcome is often unique and exciting.
Bring a bottle of wine. We did. The supermarket in town has a pretty good selection of local wines. Or plenty of tasting rooms on the way into town from 101.
Macallum House - meh. Old school. Not very memorable.
Moosse was also really good.
We did not try Beaujolais because we got sick that night. It looks excellent, and I was really bummed that we missed it.
Depending on where you cut over, it’s about 1 to 1.5 hours more to drive 1, but personally I think it’s worth it. Most of the drive up 101 and 128 is pretty boring. After you get your car you can get to Bodega Bay in about an hour and a half, which (assuming everything on time) probably puts you there about 1:00. If running later, you could just stop in Sauselito, where there are plenty of places to eat.
I’ve been eyeing a place in Bolinas called Coast Cafe. Have briefly visited Bolinas once, seems like a cool spot and is only a couple miles detour off US1. Anyone with any experience with this or other places there? I know Bolinas is infamously hard to find (signs taken down, etc) but I managed it once before, so think I can again.
Chad, I haven’t been there, hopefully someone who has can chime in. But it gets raked pretty badly on Yelp, so set your expectations. Wish I could help more, I haven’t been out that way in quite a few years. As far as a location, it’s a good choice, and not a big detour from your route up 1.
Egads! I had looked at TripAdvisor but not Yelp. Those are some low star ratings for the most part. May rethink that plan. Thanks for the heads-up.