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Big Sur Bakery & Restaurant
Categories: Food Bakeries Restaurants Bakeries, Restaurants [Edit]
47540 Hwy 1Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-0520
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
206 reviews for Big Sur Bakery & Restaurant
Review Highlights
"...were the wood-fired bacon and egg breakfast pizza."
(in 11 reviews)
"Great place to stop to grab some sweet baked goods."
(in 20 reviews)
"...the warm chocolate pudding cake with Earl Grey ice cream."
(in 3 reviews)
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206 reviews in English
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Review from Tanya S.
Palo Alto, CA
1/8/2012
Fantastic for baked goods, barista service, and wonderful for the restaurant. We stayed in Big Sur for a few days and were able to enjoy 2 brunches, 1 dinner, and 1 to go coffee and pastry for the road. Throughout, the service was excellent, so unless you're expecting fireworks set off upon your arrival and have your mouth wiped after each morsel, I do not see any rationale behind reviewers with service complaints.
The wood-fired oven is a focal point for pizzas of course, but also used to add flavor to savory and sweet dishes far beyond bread. One evening's offerings had sardines, trout, calamari and oysters starring in their dishes with a hint of roasted goodness. We didn't eat all those options, but had the calamari and it was exquisite. Food is new American, California cuisine with a light touch on the sauces (nothing was heavy) and the products are sourced with organic and sustainable in mind. Salad with fine herbs, fennel, and shaved pecorino was such a big hit, we ordered it the second visit. (And I like to try new things, but I didn't want to pass on the salad). Dessert one night was a magical combination of almond, chocolate, bergamot, sweet and salty, warm and cold, with earl grey ice cream on an almond cookie with warm chocolate sauce. It's called the Bomb for a reason.
You can't go wrong with the baked goods. Streudel, croissant, muffin, scone, bread, cinnamon roll, cookie, you name it, it's there.
Extensive wine, beer, coffee, and tea lists. Big Sur is an expensive dining area. $20 hamburgers and sandwiches are the norm for most places that aren't self-catering. If you'd like to sit down and enjoy a good meal, don't miss out! -
Review from Phaedon S.
Portland, ME
1/8/2012
A wonderful place to eat brunch or dinner if you are staying in Big Sur. We ate four consecutive meals here after the first visit yielded excellent food and fantastic service.
I wouldn't want to share a table with the reviewers who criticized the service here. I can't tell if they're spoiled or if they work for the competition. Our servers were all extremely polite, responsive, helpful with recommendations. All courses arrived quickly, consistently.
The 9-grain pancake is enormous, yet light and fluffy. The perfect healthy grainy way to start a morning.
Sauteed calamari in spicy tomato sauce is the best calamari I've had in a couple of decades (and I travel to Greece almost every year). Finally, a restaurant that is confident enough in the quality of its ingredients that it doesn't over-salt its sauces.
Pizza is super-thin crust. Not as good as Tony Tutto's in Marin, but far better than anything in all of Silicon Valley.
Again, the staff were wonderful. I wish there were a way to vote down the whiney reviewers. -
Review from Neil C.
Oakland, CA
1/3/2012
We made a special point of stopping here on our way down Highway 1, because we'd heard good things. Unfortunately, we had an absolutely terrible experience.
We started with the bread plate, which was really good. We then ordered an omelette, the pizza special (smoked duck and arugula), and the burger (medium rare). These entrees took a LONG time (40-45 minutes or more), and when they arrived, both the omelette and the pizza were lukewarm at best. All three entrees were mediocre. Worse, the burger was WAY overcooked: a medium rare burger should not have only a tiny hint of pink in the center.
The waiter agreed the burger was overcooked, and we asked for another one. Again, we had to wait an unreasonable length of time (~35 minutes) before the new burger arrived, and it was WAY too rare (mostly raw). If you're going to charge $17 for a burger, you should know how to cook one. We basically couldn't eat the burger, so we asked for it to be taken off the bill.
To top it off, the service was consistently rude and inattentive. After waiting 20 minutes for the new burger, I (politely) asked a waiter when the burger would be ready, and he said "It is cooking, I'm not the chef." When we talked to the manager, one of the people in my party mentioned it had taken "forever" to get our food, the manager said "it wasn't forever -- it was a long time!" What, are you seven years old?! I understand that they were probably understaffed; if we'd be treated with respect, I would have been happy to wait. Instead, we were made to feel like a nuisance.
In summary, this place is overpriced and pretentious; the food is unremarkable; and the service is awful. This was probably the worst dining experience I've had in 5 years of living in California, and I was frankly embarrassed to have taken visiting relatives to this restaurant. I will certainly never be back. -
Review from Andreína R.
Monterey, CA
2/4/2012
Bakery opens at 8AM and they have amazingly tasty pastries! Their coffee is really good and service excellent. It is super cozy inside, good for their business but not your pocket :) . If you're thinking of lunch, make sure you get there by noon, for restaurant hrs.
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Review from Chantelle K.
New York, NY
Holy breakfast pizza! After many recommendations and perusals of Yelp reviews, we came here for a late-ish brunch after enjoying a wander at Pfieffer Beach. It was an uncharacteristically warm day for January so we opted to sit outside at one of the communal picnic tables (that we scored to ourselves!) We had no wait, but that may be because we arrived on the later side of 1pm. Over two impossibly orange mimosas (freshly squeezed), we agreed to share the breakfast pizza which boasts 3 eggs, bacon and cheese baked on pizza dough (drool) and the 3 cheese omelet and salad. While the omelet was fluffy, fresh and tasty, we both agreed next time we'd each get a breakfast pizza of our own so we didn't have to share -- though it is most definitely share-able! Up front there is also a bakery for pastries, cookies, breads and cakes but we were too stuffed from brunch to partake -- next time!
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Review from carlos h.
New York, NY
2/4/2012
Big Sur.. one of the most stunning places to drive in the World.. The Amalfi Coast in Italy... the road to Northern Bali are some of the other ones. Big Sur Bakery was a total suprise as to the quality of the food and the price. I have to emphasize the price.. As I live in NY city and we have amazing restaurants, however, to find such quality of food in such a rustic place was amazing. Went there for dinner and ended up going back for breakfast. I have become a big fan of their 9 grain pancakes cooked in cast iron skillet and then baked in the wood fired oven.. crispy outside and moist inside.. almost like a cake.. Without going into infinite details of everything ordered. Would say order away. I came away with a big smile having eaten well after hiking the trails in Big Sur. Love their bench seats outside. Bought their cookbook which in addition to their dishes, it talks about the Big Sur area.
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Review from Kim V.
Santa Barbara, CA
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I stopped here on a drive up the coast with some friends. We decided that we wanted a snack before dinner and wanted to see what the bakery had to offer.
Granted it was a Thursday evening right around 5pm, but for a place that calls themselves a bakery before a restaurant, I must say I was disappointed. The selection consisted of a plain croissant, a chocolate croissant, and a couple of different types of cookies.
I was hoping that we would find a few more things for the road but we settled for a chocolate croissant. It was really delicious, so the only thing that makes this place disappointing for me is the lack of selection. -
Review from Raul N.
12/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This fall, I found myself taking many a trip down the coast for concerts at the Henry Miller Library. And every time, I found myself popping into the Big Sur Bakery to fuel up my stomach before a night of music in the woods.
The Big Sur Bakery makes some amazing salads. Some of the standouts included an heirloom tomato and arugula salad and a salad with peaches, feta, pistachios and Lolla Rosa lettuce.
The salads are light and refreshing, with unique combinations of flavors. I loved the bite of celery and shallots in the argula salad or the sweetness of the peaches in the Lolla Rosa salad.
For more laidback dinners, I'm partial to the Big Sur Bakery's pizzas. The wood-fired crust is thin and crispy, with that slight touch of char.
And the flavors are so gourmet! The prosciutto and butternut squash pizza with sage brown butter is an indulgent taste of fall. The smoked duck breast pizza expertly combines the earthiness of duck with bitter arugula.
And for special occasions, the Big Sur Bakery offers some delicious entrees. From smaller bites--like seared scallops over cauliflower puree--to more filling fare--like grilled salmon over risotto--the dishes are elegant and filling.
I do have to admit there's a bit of a culture clash here with the quality of the food--high-end gourmet--and the atmosphere and service--quite laidback. So be prepared for a quintessential Big Sur experience here with a mix of customers of all sorts.
I've yet to make it down for Sunday brunch--which includes their famous breakfast pizza--but I'm hoping to partake sometime soon!
It's a bit of a drive down the coast, but the Big Sur Bakery really is one of the best restaurants in town and a great way to get away from the (relative) hustle and bustle of the Monterey Peninsula. -
Review from Micky T.
Carmel, CA
2/5/2012
Rustic, honest, moist wood-fired grain bread!!! It makes me happy! This is the best bread! I am thinking of moving to Big Sur soon so I don't have to drive 2 1/2 hours to get this bread. I live in Bay Area, and work in Carmel. Thank you, baker! M s k
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Review from Michelle Denise P.
San Jose, CA
One of the B E S T cup of chai tea that I'd ever had in my life!
Note that we only went here for a coffee break, and when I say coffee break, I mean my tea break and my boyfriend's coffee break.
Anyways, the place is very cute and looks like it serves some pretty good food. Too bad we had already ate lunch before we got here, so we only got some drinks.
I got a chai tea, the bf got the mocha.
At first we were a little offset by how expensive our drinks were. They only have one size to choose from which is about a starbucks size grande and we paid about $12 for two drinks. Then we though, hey there isn't anywhere else to get decent coffee off Highway 1 right now, so we'd have to deal.
Then we take a sip, and to our delight, the drinks were delicious! Totally worth the price. Too bad they didn't have much selection of pastries left for us to try out.
Their lunch menu looked pretty decent, we're going to have to try out their food next time. -
Review from Melissa D.
Morgan Hill, CA
2/1/2012 3 photos
Great seating outside if the weather is nice. Delicious sandwiches with house roasted meats! A friend and I shared the turkey sandwich and the roast beef. The arugula salad was generous and delicious!! Will have to go back and try the amazing baked goods!
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Review from Matt P.
Fresno, CA
On a hot tip from an employee at Carmel Belle (Carmel-by-the-Sea), we decided to stop by since Big Sur is literally only about 35 - 40 mins. up the HWY 1 from Carmel; plus, with the the breath taking Big Sur ocean views, it was a no-brainer for us.
Big Sur Bakery has great food; fresh, local, and well-made!
My only gripe, is that the prices are a tad steep. Also, I'm wondering if other visitors agree, but the service doesn't seem to be the warmest here. I'm not even sure what it is, but I just get a weird, slightly off-putting feeling from the staff. The food is so good here that I hate feeling this, especially since I can't honestly say I have any concrete evidence to back this up; it's just a "vibe" that I seemed to pick up on that I cannot ignore.
This feeling is most likely due to the fact that we didn't tip while we were here, I'm sure of it.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not one of these assholes who doesn't believe in tipping. What happened, was that we simply realized at the last minute that we didn't have any cash; plus, I left the 'tip' portion blank when initially signing my credit card slip upon ordering, thinking we'll tip later. I remember a distinct feeling that the gal at the counter gave us an almost dirty look for doing so; again, I just figured we'd leave some cash at the table after our lunch, no big deal -- right?
I'd normally wouldn't feel this way for the above, but what did it, was upon a second glance inside the restaurant, I realized how there's TWO tip-jars at the very front counter, literally 4 - 5 feet from each other (in case you didn't see the first one staring at you upon paying). They're sporting such "delightful," hand-written notes on the front such as "Tipping isn't a country in China," or some lame, tacky, asshole phrase like that. In my opinion, just not professional, and may offend people who are already themselves offended by the prices and/or the practice of tipping. After all, this place DOES seem to be run by hippies, so not surprising if there's a lack of tact with this.
That's another thing -- don't give people the stink-eye if they don't tip; have you guys ever looked at your prices?? I literally paid $50 bucks for two sandwiches, a salad, soup, and orange juice (not exaggerating). Also, I got this "vibe" as well after coming back in the restaurant after finishing our meal, from the busboy who picked up our plates. He seemingly gave us an odd stare because there wasn't cash on the table. Sorry bro, we didn't have any cash -- it happens. It doesn't mean I'm an automatic-asshole. Don't look at me like I just kicked your helpless puppy for no good reason.
Again, I'll be honest in saying there's no concrete evidence for the above, and I would LOVE to think I'm just imagining all this. I think my 4 stars are an indication that I'll give them the benefit of doubt in that I was just simply paranoid about not tipping.
ANYWAYS -- I'd hate to ramble on about the above, and close by saying that the food here is VERY solid. Everything we had was delicious, and I was surprised I got such enjoyment out of my roast-beef / tri-tip sandwich; it was juicy and flavorful, with just the right amount of fat. Clearly fresh made, and not some cheap deli-cut knockoff you can buy generically at some super market. My girlfriends ham and gruyere cheese was also delicious, packing great flavor from the cheese.
Bottom line, they just use very, very fresh ingredients; you can see and taste this from their fresh salads, down to the amazingly juicy heirloom tomatoes used in the sandwiches.
I'd definitely come back next time I'm in the area, and hopefully I was just short-sighted and paranoid about the cold vibes I got from the staff. -
Review from k g.
Los Angeles, CA
1/20/2012
A luke warm double Latte for $5.25, and the Barista hasn't been trained to use a thermometer? Please owners, read this, place beverage thermometer in milk, steam until it hits 140 and it will rest at 160, serving temp. This is the widely used professional standard. Not delivering this for such exorbitantly priced drinks is shameful. Insist that your employees use a thermometer.
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Review from Dan T.
Pebble Beach, CA
12/28/2011
Awesome! I love everything about the Big Sur Bakery!
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Review from Ryan S.
Pittsburgh, PA
12/29/2011
Went for breakfast two mornings in a row. The pastries and espresso were out of this world, especially given the road side location.
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Review from Stephen G.
El Segundo, CA
12/23/2011
Didn't get to try the baked goods, so can't speak to those, but the restaurant was just unimpressive. Saw some good reviews and was looking for a well rated but student friendly place to eat dinner with the girlfriend. Since Big Sur is all about being fancy, this was our best shot, but the meal just left me hungry for more (pun intended).
It was a fairly busy night but they were able to seat the 2 of us in about 15 minutes. The lighting is pretty dark and romantic, we sat next to the wood burning fire place which was nice. But then the service began, with a cold waitress. We ordered a pizza and a side of vegetables to share, the portions were standard i guess, but never really justified the price to me, and it took almost 40 minutes for the pizza to come out. Other than the charred edges the pizza was a nice twist on a Hawaiian thin crust. Dessert was good but also took another 20 minutes to get to us.
Maybe I have strange standards, but paying a lot and waiting a long time for food that a Chili's or Applebee's could whip up just isn't worth it. -
Review from Anna Veronica V.
San Diego, CA
9/18/2011
Really good food, but I think a tad bit overpriced for what you get.
Nevertheless, you must stop and eat here if you are in the area. -
Review from Alex S.
It was the first time I ever had a $20+ sandwich and beer and have to order at the counter. But alas, it is in the middle of Big Sur where expense knows no bounds.
The sandwich was very good. Good home cooked grainy bread and a delicious microbrewery to go with it and although I ordered at the counter, the food was brought out to us by way of the number on the table system. The outside is particularly pretty with picnic bench like tables surrounded by exquisite flower gardens and breathtaking views.
All and all, good food, good scenery and pricing in line with the ridiculousness of the area. -
Review from Judy P.
8/14/2011
The Verdict: Cute place, but not attentive or customer-service oriented.
This place is beautiful - green foliage, fruit trees and succulents surround this barn-like coffee shop and bakery. I fell instantly in love with the decor and setting, but unfortunately the customer service was lacking. I only ordered a tea and almond pastry (to-go order...very simple), but I ended up waiting way too long for a tea order that was not communicated to the barista. He ended up making several people's drinks before he even realized mine never even made it to his order list. In fact, I had to ask him for my tea and he just asked "did you order one?" as if I was just waiting there for a tea I never ordered...not attentive and kinda snobby. The cashier mentioned that tea orders don't make it over to the barista but she didn't even acknowledge that I had been waiting for so long.
Would I Recommend It? I recommend they get schooled on proper customer service. I will not be back. -
Review from Alexa S.
San Francisco, CA
9/16/2011
Amazing little stop right next to an expensive but convenient gas station.
Delicious pastries, and THE BEST CHAI LATTE I HAVE EVER HAD EVER.
If I make my way down here again, this will be a MUST DO. -
Review from Ian S.
Palo Alto, CA
8/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is really lovely.
The food was terrific. I have fond memories of the soups, breads, and fresh vegetables.
Downside:
Our server seemed to be stretched too thin ... and a bit stressed out. -
Review from Joshua S.
Richmond, VA
10/10/2011
I came here by accident. I went to Nepenthe for breakfast and they were having problems with their computer system. After waiting an hour without being spoken to, I got in my car and headed back down the road.
I stopped here and was delighted at what I found.
The coffee (what I needed more than anything at the time) was perfection. Nice roast, brewed to just the right strength. The pastries blew my mind. A wide and creative selection that had my mouth watering the instant I laid eyes on the case. I started with a bear claw. I nearly died.
Perfectly flaky pastry dough. Drizzled in honey, the perfect amount of icing and... oh yeah, beautifully toasted almonds. I didn't want to leave. The staff was casual, but welcoming. I was very clearly a tourist but was treated like I lived nearby. It was wonderfully quiet and relaxed, clean too. It is now a must stop site any time I am passing through Big Sur. -
Review from Lindsay A.
Los Angeles, CA
8/12/2011 3 photos
Roooooooommmaaannce. Should be the name of Big Sur Bakery & Restaurant.
It is so incredibly, breathtakingly beautiful that a one eyed leper could take a supermodel here for brunch, propose; and easily walk out with a fiancee.
Yeah.. it's that nice.
I was here a couple of years ago so I am really stretching the memory banks. We timed our drive back from SF in the morning so we could catch the brunch menu.
We ordered a coffee and a chai latte. I am a chai jerk *refraining from using an uppity term like snob. I think the majority of chai purveyors use weird brands that have weird chai like flavors but are too sweet and over processed. This was delish. Plain n simple.
There was a slight chill in the air but it was sunny, the sky was blue and it made all the flowers and foliage absolutely pop in technicolor.
We then got a breakfast pizza. Based on that alone you can guess how amazing this place is. Oh and it's cooked in a brick oven, no biggie.
As you can tell from my pictures it was great. I wish the yolks were runny but it was incredible anyway.
We also got the beef steak fries that were so so so hot and crispy and soft and salty and crunchy. I would go back for those.
The rest of the menu looked just as amazing. The pancakes were crazy.
They also have authentic ginger beer. They also have these amazing communal wood tables that are trees that just lie on their sides and have been polished.
Basically, this restaurant is a piiiiiiimmmp. -
Review from lynne h.
Los Angeles, CA
11/25/2011
What a surprise! When I was told we were eating at "The Bakery," I was expecting, well, pastries. We had lunch and dinner at The Bakery and loved every minute of both. Everything from the expresso drinks to fresh baked breads to local fish dishes were fabulous. I tried scallops, swordfish, salmon, a veggie sandwich and ice cream.. I wasn't disappointed in any of the dishes. The ambiance was friendly, fun and a perfect setting for a low key place like Big Sur. A bonus is that one of the owners, Mike, is an all around awesome person. On a side note, we had a big group with kids (who were pretty loud). The staff and guests couldn't have been more pleasant to our rowdy bunch. Highly recommend The Bakery for food, ambiance and a wonderful surprise.
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Review from Tim W.
Orange County, CA
10/10/2011
Stopped by here last week for dinner after reading all the great reviews.
The place wasn't even half full at the time (7:00pm), plus empty tables out on the front patio. We stood at the little hostess stand inside the door for 5 minutes while everyone ignored us.
Finally a chubby bald guy came up to us. He had a horrible attitude and honestly he was just a complete dick.
Gave us his attitude because we didn't have 'reservations'! Really.. you don't let people just walk in for dinner? ESPECIALLY when the restaurant isn't even HALF full?.. on a Tuesday night?? WTF?
He told us the next seating would be at 7:45pm? really?!
"Seating"?? ............ this place is behind a gas station! How fancy are you trying to make it?
Still we wanted to try it so thought we would wait... asked for a table outside and was told those are booked for the rest of the night? hahah... yeah right..I thought he was joking.. He wasn't.
I'm pretty sure he was just being an asshole on purpose but I'm not sure why.
Left and wont be back. -
Review from Catherine L.
Palo Alto, CA
6/19/2011 4 photos
Overrated and overpriced. I understand it's Big Sur.. far and in its own world but right next door was a general store where we were able to get sandwiches half the price of Big Sur Bakery and Restaurants and they were good sandwiches!!
We ordered the almond croissant which was pretty good. You can get these at home for about $2, here it is $3.75. I ordered the custard cream donut with chocolate glaze $3.75. The donut was too dense but the chocolate was delicious and the custard was nice and thick. They use vanilla bean seeds so maybe thats why its a little more expensive? Better quality is always a better option but flavor wise I didn't love this place like I thought I would after reading all of the wonderful reviews. -
Review from Lane A.
Alexandria, LA
9/22/2011
Went for brunch on a Saturday morning. I ordered the 9-grain pancake. This is cooked in the brick oven in a cast iron pan and served with fresh fruit.
The ratio of fruit to pancake was a bit off (there was barely any fruit on top of this gigantic pancake) but the flavor was incredible. The coffee was fantastic.
The service was excellent. This was my favorite restaurant experience of my entire trip. -
Review from Clifford R.
Manhattan, NY
7/12/2011
What an amazing little place to go to after a rainy day of exploring big sur. It was December, and a bit chilly, and this is just one of those warm, inviting places. They had a fire going, and the atmosphere just seemed perfect to spend some time eating and laughing with friends.
The food as I recall was very good. The pizza delicious, and the entrees just solid comfort food. I wish I could remember more about what we ate, but I do remember leaving feeling perfectly content. Would love to come back one day. -
Review from L G.
Carmel Valley, CA
9/18/2011
Have now eaten here twice. First was about two months ago for dinner. Intimate, rustic setting in the dining room. Amazing food! Had two of the fish specials that come with fantastic mixture of veggies that you pick which each had wonderful sauces. The bread/butter/salt platter to start is a must do. So simple, but what is better than home made crusty bread with butter and grainy sea salt sprinkled on?
Starter was the Monterey squid special...pan sauteed in a spicy tomato sauce...delish! And the vegan mushroom soup...we're not vegan but OMG! Fantastic!
Dessert was the baked peach with ice cream...best thing I can remember having for dessert in a long time.
Returned yesterday for brunch...the mulitgrain pancake is to die for. Pan roasted in the oven...exceptionally light and fluffy and HUGE! Hubby had the omelette with herbs and avocado. Simple and delish.
It's a must to weekend trip for us now. Eat here and then walk the coast at Julia Pfieffer Burns park. Amazing. -
Review from Suzanne Y.
Long Beach, CA
9/24/2011 2 photos
I just returned from a too-short trip to Big Sur. My friend and I went to the Big Sur Bakery & Restaurant for dinner on our last evening there. The views are spectacular, naturally. We sat on the little deck out front with views of the mountains as the sun went down.
I ordered Mahi Mahi with an orange/thyme glaze and grilled vegetables (cauliflower, green beans, with a sprinkling of cranberries). The fish was cooked to perfection, light and flaky, and the sauce had just the right amount of sweetness. The grilled veggies were amazing; best green beans I've ever tasted! I had a glass of Poppy Pinot Noir, and if I have any gripe at all, it is the stingy portion - a scant inch and a half of wine for $10.50. At first, I thought it was just for tasting. Nope. That was it!
My friend had the lolla rossi (sp?) salad with bread board. The bread was divine; a nine-grain bread fresh-baked that day. It was crusty on the outside and yummy chewy goodness on the inside. The rock salt added an interesting taste. I would have preferred olive oil to butter, and I'm sure they would have obliged had I asked, but it was delicious nonetheless.
We stopped by on our last day to grab a danish for the road. The almond croissant was delicious. I bought a half-loaf of fresh sourdough to take home. The whole loaf was ENORMOUS! The half-loaf was bigger than most store-bought bread. It, too, was yummy. I wish they shipped their bread! I would be a weekly customer. : )
In conclusion, sure, it's pricy, but it's Big Sur and everything costs a bit more. A local had a great description for the high prices there - it's a "beauty tax". I can deal with that. -
Review from Liana K.
6/25/2011
Eh is all I can say, another $13 sandwich place.
Ice coffee is good enough for the area.
Peanut butter jelly cookie, less exciting then it sounds, i promise you. -
Review from Marilyn E.
Salinas, CA
5/25/2011
This is by far the best restaurant for miles--possibly until you get to San Francisco, and even there it could hold its own.
Everything I've had here--and I've had most everything in the eight years I've been dining here--has been amazing.
Don't bother with the more expensive, mediocre fare at Sierra Mar and Ventana. Avoid Nepenthe food at all costs--have drinks and enjoy the ocean view, then drive the short distance to the Big Sur Bakery for dinner. You won't be disappointed. -
Review from Carolyn P.
San Jose, CA
11/14/2011
We stop here for a treat/coffee every time we go camping in Big Sur. The strudels are awesome. Ham and cheese croissant is amazing too! You can purchase half loafs of bread. We got the 9 grain and it was out of this world! Crusty on the outside and soft in the middle...just perfect! Coffee is from ACME... Delish!
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Review from Kislev A.
5/31/2011
Cute!
Gas station!! Woohoo!!! -
Review from Mai M.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 6/9/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Just got back from another jaunt to Big Sur and yes, Big Sur Bakery still kicks some major arse up there. After visiting a few of the fancier restaurants and wineries, I've learned from the various owners/managers/service people that this is one of their favorite places to go eat.
Unfortunately, most of the food around Big Sur/Carmel/Monterey cater to the steak and potato kind of people. Hotel standard with a fish dish, a meat dish, a pasta dish and some kind of chocolate decadence cake. The steak and potato people are usually the ones with money and well, a lot of them who visit the area are of a more distinguished, older crowd. The foods are not very inventive or fun but they are safe. The chef at Big Sur Bakery likes to go out of the comfort box and creates food that is well thought out. He always cooks with the freshest ingredients from farms in the surrounding area and you can tell just by the taste of his dishes. And the funny thing is, the crowd at the restaurant tends to be younger. I dunno what that says but it's interesting to see.
Last time we were here we saw Maggie Gyllenhall & Peter Saarsgard enjoying a meal and well, if Maggie likes it, you know it's good. J/K.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/26/2010
Big Sur Bakery is one of our favorite places to eat when we are up in Big Sur. While at staying at… Read more »
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Review from Guillermo E.
Santa Barbara, CA
11/13/2011
Best pizza I've had in a long time. Wood-fired to perfection - it was the all-time best crust I have ever put between my teeth. The other entree we shared, duck breast, didn't even come close, although the heirloom tomato salad was also very good. So I would recommend sticking to salad and pizza.
The service was lackadaisical and devoid of personality, unfortunately, although the decor of the restaurant was creative and charming.
And beware the bathrooms! One step above an outhouse, and a long way from your table (especially on a rainy night). -
Review from Betsy H.
Fort Myers, FL
9/10/2011 1 photo
I can't rave enough about this place. We went twice during our stay at Ventana, once for lunch on the way there, once for dinner. Lunch was great. Homemade bread made the sandwiches extra tasty. Dinner was a whole different dimension of excellence and deliciousness. We split this peach salad on lolla rose lettuce. Then had a pepperoni pizza and for dessert has the blackberry brown butter cake with brown butter ice cream. The atmosphere is really intimate despite being pretty busy. We sat on the porch and our waiter, Grant, was incredibly low key and helpful. They have an amazing tea selection as well. I would go back for sure!
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Review from Crystal I.
Laguna Beach, CA
10/2/2011
The food is really good. Our server was cheerful and helpful.
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Review from Paola E.
Santa Clara, CA
3/9/2011
Good: Hello there, iron skillet pancake! You are best of both worlds: the pancake world and the crepe world. I love you. And I loved eating you in such a gorgeous setting.
Bad: The bluejays are beautiful but they can be quite loud. And they eat your butter. Yeah...butter!
Bottomline: You must stop here when visiting Big Sur. Pass up on Nepenthe and have brunch/lunch/dinner here instead. While I didn't eat at Nepenthe, the food I saw didn't look very impressive. The Nepenthe views, however, are a different story. Have a drink at the Nepenthe Cafe, sit on the terrace and take in the awesomeness. But I digress. Big Sur Bakery is a total gem. It is very unassuming and you'd probably pass it up if you didn't know about it ahead of time. But don't do so. Order the iron skillet 9-grain pancake if you're there for brunch. It's crispy/crunchy on the edges, and pancake-y/crepe-y on the inside. The fiance ordered the burger and it was definitely delish. The other special treat they offered? Freshly-squeezed blood orange mimosas. Blood orange!! -
Review from Lucie T.
4/19/2011
Oh so you mean you CAN find a place after a night of camping in the middle of a national park that serves FRESH delightful bear claws and potato yummy something triangular which now i can't remember.. this review is for the cafe side of the restaurant.
A beautiful oasis in the mountains, serving smiles, great choices of tea and early morning/lunch baked goodies.
