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I came this inn this past Saturday pre and post-hike. My friends and I stopped in pre-hike to use their restroom before we headed off on our trails. I felt bad about just stopping in to use the restroom without actually being a patron so I quickly ran out to wait for my friends to come out. The staff was pretty nice about the whole thing though so maybe that wasn't not so unusual after all.
We came back post-hike to grab some well-earned drinks and appetizers. We rolled in around 3:30P so we didn't have a problem getting a table. The staff was nice; there was some confusion about where to seat us (I don't know why since there were open tables everywhere) but our server was very nice and didn't give us a snooty look when we busted out our prepackaged Safeway sandwiches to eat while we waited for our food and drinks. My friend and I ordered mimosas, rosemary garlic fries, and the Asian pear salad while her bf ordered an Arnold Palmer and the cheese plate (which included an AH-mazing goat cheese from Sonoma that we couldn't remember the name of... sad). Everything was super tasty but it was a bit pricey. The view is gorgeous so you definitely pay for the atmosphere too. Overall, a good place to reward yourself after a long hike!
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Just sit right back & you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful (and confusing, but overall amusing) trip to Mt. Tam for hiking and lunch. We parked across the street from Mountain Home, & went over post-hike for food & drinks.
We and eventually two other parties waited at the entrance for several minutes before a server finally acknowledged us and, in a slightly frazzled manner, demanded to know who was first. (During this time, one of our number, who had been craving a Kir Royale, inquired at the bar as to whether the bartender served them. He confirmed that yes, a Kir Royale could indeed be had at MHI.) We claimed our rightful firstitude, only to have one of the women from the party behind us shoot laser beam daggers at us out of her eyes. Much drama was suffered because of this LaserBitch, but it goes beyond the scope of this review.
The server showed us frazzledly to a table outside & brought us water & menus. Most of the menu consists of burgers and sandwiches that run around $10 each, and come with a variety of sides, including fries, chips, cole slaw, and green salad. The wine menu was reasonable for this type of place; they had three reds, three whites, and a couple of sparkling thing that could be ordered by the glass or the bottle, and a few more slightly fancier things that only came in half bottles. Their cellar list consists of about 20 or so more wines.
(***Random side note: According to their website, The Unofficial Guide to San Francisco called MHI the "Best Wine Bar in SF." When I read this, I first snarfed a bit of my water, then laughed ridiculous. PLEASE, Unofficial Guide. Have you *been* to San Francisco? Sure, they pour some tasty things, but really. Seriously. Give me a break. I've had a lot of wine. I've had a lot of wine, IN SF. And when significant other says to me, "Where shall we go to taste fabulous wine?" I do -not- jump up and down and say "Oooh! Oooh! Mountain Home Inn!!" That is all.***)
So sat and perused the menus for a bit and finally decided what we wanted. And waited. And waited. Until the frazzled looking server from before came over and asked if we wanted drinks. My first friend, the Kir Royale craver, asked for a Kir Royale. Frazzled waiter had an obvious moment of mental panic. "I don't think we have those." A very confused and frazzled conversation about what a Kir Royale is, whether they made them, and who may or may not have been confused on this point ensued. After which my second friend opened her mouth to order her drink, but before she could get the words out the frazzled-looking waiter was gone. More waiting ensued.
Finally, a second yet equally frazzled-looking young man appeared on the scene, standing partway between our table and the next a few feet away, and urgently declared that he was going to get ALL of our orders in one fell swoop. We ordered food. The Kir Royale was inquired about again, to no avail. Discussion about replacement sides created further anxiety but was finally settled. Drinks may or may not have been ordered. (Mine was definitely not ordered; he was on to the next table.) We all agreed that this was all very strange, but that we would probably eventually get food.
After a few minutes, the first frazzled looking waiter came back, still quite anxious-looking, & asked if we'd wanted drinks. The earlier Kir Royale discussion was reenacted. A contingency option was settled on. Wine was ordered. Possibly for the 2nd or 3rd time. And he was off.
Our drinks arrive (no Kir Royale), and they are reasonably tasty. We enjoy them. Then our food arrives. Which tastes fantastic, because we're absolutely starving, but is not by any means, in my opinion, worth what we're paying. A small turkey club made with ordinary turkey on ordinary bread with a small salad is not worth $10. Maybe $6. But we enjoy it.
An extraordinarily composed, non-frazzled waitress comes to refill our water once or twice and see how our food is. Then she collects the plates, and we ask for the check. She asks us if a certain waiter was our waiter. We tell her we're not sure, that we've had multiple waiters & much confusion. She shakes her head and laughs a little, and gives us a knowing grin. "Right. Let's just say you come here for the view. I'll get your check."
As she leaves, we see frazzled waiter number two scurry halfway to our table and make the universal hand sign for "check" and we nod, and wonder among ourselves, only half jokingly, whether we'll be getting two checks.
So yeah. The food is alright, but overpriced. The wine list is pretty good, but far from fabulous. The beer list is pretty sparse. And in spite of what the LA Times had to say about it, the view, to me, was "meh" as Bay Area panoramas go. It's a perfectly fine spot to stop for a bite if you've just finished a hike, but don't count on great service.
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"What a dick!" This is the phrase I could not stop exclaiming about the bartender upon leaving the Mountain Home Inn--*without* being served.
This past Saturday night, myself and my two friends, (AKA 3 pretty girls) sidle up to the bar after 5.5 hours of hiking up and down Tam's East Peak. Exhausted and thirsty, we were definitely in the mood for some brewskis. We wait patiently. One friend gets up to go the bathroom. Comes back. We wait. Still, we have not been greeted, not even smiled at by any of the waitstaff. Other friend gets up to go to the bathroom. Returns. We wait.
Finally the bartender looks over at us and mumbles, "it'll be about 5 minutes". Now that's fine. But then he proceeds to serve other people who randomly just walk up to the bar. One lady has an extensive conversation with him about which bottle of wine she should choose. He lets some other guy pay for his meal. His actions do not communicate hurry or rush in any way.
At this point I get up and fetch all 3 of us menus. Because damnit, nobody has bothered to bring us any. (P.S. Our group and the menus were within arm's reach of the bartender at all times). Nobody brings us water either.
Bartender leaves the bar. Returns. Leaves again, returns. Each time, we look at him hopefully. Finally he says "Its gonna be a lil while longer".
"We just want some beers!" I say, meekly.
Bartender's response: "Its still gonna be a few more minutes. We're backed up". (I've worked in restaurants before, and they weren't *that* busy). Besides, if you really are that backed up, you should *apologize* to your patrons. Perhaps even smile at them and ask how their day has been? Just a thought.
By this point, we were feeling unwelcome. So we left. All of us later commented that as we were on our way out, we half expected them to apologize, or to say hey wait, come back. Or SOMEthing. But a whole lotta nothing was all they had...
FUCKERS! We obviously did not fit in with their image of well-to-do Marin-ites. It just kills me that someone would build a restaurant on top of a mountain ridge and then not serve hikers. Where do they get off?
This was such a negative experience, I don't think I'll ever go back. I will tell all of my friends never to go there. When they ask me why, I will tell them this story. And now dear Yelpers, you all know the truth.
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Could there possibly be a more beautiful location for a restaurant? If there is, I can't imagine where it would be. After a short hike through Muir Woods and a visit to the Tourist Club I came here for a bite to eat. The view from their deck is one of the most beautiful I've seen. You can see as far north as the Richmond Bridge and as far south as Oakland. It really is a spectacle to behold.
I wasn't sure what kind of wine I wanted but the bartender was gracious enough to let me sample a couple different ones to help with my decision. Our waiter didn't bat an eye when I requested to split a burger with my dining companion. The burger was tasty, the wine was excellent and the view was magnificent. My visit here was nearly unbeatable.
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I've only been to the bar for drinks, so I can't judge the inn or food.
While the setting is spectacular (arguably amongst the best in the Bay), the service is just awful. Two waiters and three busboys struggled to attend to less than a dozen tables in mid-afternoon, when most people were just enjoying drinks like us. The older waiter was a grouchy sourpuss, and the younger waiter seemed like an incompetent moron. Plus nobody even greeted us when we walked in, and we were given attitude when we had the audacity to ask if there were any open tables.
On several occasions, we saw people walk up to the bar to order their own drinks since the two waiters were mostly missing. Most of the time the grouchy old waiter would see them at the bar and snap at them that he would be out in a minute to take their drink orders. Worst of all, some guy who appeared to be the manager seemed perfectly content with the situation.
Plus not a single smile from any of the staff. This is America, not Europe. If you're in the hospitality business in this country then either smile or fuck off.
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I used to work here a couple years back, and I still think about it today. What an amazing location and great feel this place has.
I haven't been here for lunch in a couple months, but I'm due for a visit. Perfect location to take someone you want to impress with an amazing and unique place.
I'm torn between 3-4 stars. I went over Memorial Day weekend, we didn't stay at the Inn, but just stopped by for lunch. We were recommended by a coworker to stop by for a meal and enjoy the views. The views were great, service was good, and the food was good and definitely reasonably priced.
I don't know if I'd drive up Mt. Tam just to get lunch at Mountain Home Inn, but if it were close by I'd definitely stop by.
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I found out the hard way that, if you strain to look, you can see into your neighbor's room, here!
That's not exactly something I wanted to know, except that I turned out to be the neighbor being seen (and I'm pretty sure the room next door was vacant)!
Yeah, not coming back.
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How did I not write a review for Mountain Inn yet!?!?!
VALENTINES DINNER
Came her for valentines dinner a few years back. It's out of the way which makes the wife feel more special, and it's easier to get a reservation! :) Great view, good food, great service, very happy wife!
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A modern, open-viewed restaurant with beautiful views, the Mountain Home Inn boasts good food with so-so service.
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Cute little inn and restaurant with a FANTASTIC view.
Probably like many others, we happened upon this place while hiking at Muir Woods. It's basically a cabin-turned-inn/restaurant that has huge windows for looking out when sitting indoors for colder days, and also has a nice patio overlooking the entire Marin County.
Luckily, it was a beautiful, warm, summer day, so we sat in for lunch on the patio. Service was provided by 2 ladies - the black lady was really nice and accomodating; the white lady not so much. We thought service was a bit slow, since we were starving from the hike, but the view makes up for it.
Here's what we ordered and how they tasted:
1. Asian Pear Salad - delicious and refreshing. The walnuts are covered in curry powder, which was definitely unique and a great complement to the Asian pears. However, $10 is a bit pricey for a starter salad.
2. Niman Ranch Burger (with cheese) - a delicious, enormous burger that's just the right amount of juicy. Nicely grilled, but the buns were a bit too crisp it scraped the roof of my mouth (ouch). $12 is decently priced for so much food.
3. Croque Monsieur - pretty standard ham and cheese sandwich topped with an egg sunnyside up. It came out a bit dry, and the bread, again, was toasted a bit too crisply. $10 - again, decently priced for so much food.
4. Niman Ranch BBQ Pork Sandwich - The pork was a little dry, and the buns, again, were a little too crusty, but with the combination of the freshest coleslaw you will ever eat, and fresh-cut fries, it was a good combination. $9 - cheaper than any chain restaurant that doesn't have a view!
In general, the food is alright but very reasonably priced. But the main attraction would definitely be the view. All in all, everything was GREAT, and I would highly recommend eating here.
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Very possibly the biggest rip-off I've ever been to in the Bay Area I took my aunt & cousin (we're all born in Marin) there today for lunch - my aunt's 82nd (going on 60/!) birthday. None of us had been there in years, so thought it would be fun. My cousin & I each ordered a chardonnay -- there was maybe 3 oz in the glass! She & her husband have owned (nice) restaurants in S. Diego for years -- and I asked if I was crazy or if this wasn't the smallest wine pour she'd ever seen.? She agreed. OUr fish & chips ($16) was 2 tiny pieces, 4 bites TOTAL and on one the batter was half raw. It was accompaned by about 2 small forkfuls of coleslaw and six (seroiusly) shoestring potatoes. It would have been fine as an appetizer. The total bill (with tip) was $90! for 6 oz of wine, 8 bites of fish, a club sandwich!!!
I got home and headed straight for the kitchen because I was starving (and I'm 5'10" and 145 lbs, so NOT a big eater). Fro $30 a person, we could have had a nice lunch somewhere and actually had something to eat -- this really made me mad.
One of the best views in the area. I have been here several times to stay or to simply stop in for a bite and a drink.
For the last stay, the room had a view of the bay and Angel Island, a jacuzzi tub, fireplace, and of course a very nice bed. Very romantic.
Dining with the view was great. Breakfast there on a sunny day was one of the best views you will ever see.
For the people who are giving poor reviews because of the dining experience, not sure what happened with them. It's always been fine for me.
But remember, that in the end this is basically a B&B built on a the side of a mountain with dining available for outside guests. They are going to have restricted facilities, limited staff and relaxed service. That is the point of going to a place with an incredible view. Relax and enjoy where you are at.
If you want fast dining service in a hotel, go to your local Hilton for dinner. If you want a wonderful view with relaxed dining or drinks, I'd recommend coming here.
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I am writing this for my boyfriend who just went here. I also had a bad experience two years ago as well. I concur with his review!
BEWARE! The service is as horrible as the view is spectacular. I was not an overnight guest, but a local visitor. They made me feel like a guest that overstayed their welcome. Getting a drink from the snotty staff is like pulling teeth. I am perplexed at reading posts about the "friendly staff". I guess they were all ill when I went. The wait staff seemed like Yale graduates that couldn't make it in their chosen career and had a chip on their shoulder? They need a course in customer service or get a new job. They were not very nice. I would recommend driving to the Pelican Inn instead, where the wait is long, but the service, food, and drink are wonderful. This is the ONLY bad restaurant review I have ever given, btw!
After about 2.5 hours of hiking up various paths in Muir Woods, and right at the point when my friends and I were feeling hunger pangs, we finally reached the top and discovered this cute little Inn!
There are two waitresses, one nice and one not so nice, you'll quickly figure it out. We sat outside on the terrace (there is an AMAZING view) and ordered our food. The menu is small, but hearty and filling. Prices are very reasonable. It was the perfect break before going back down the steep trails.
You can also rent rooms here, and it seems like a very cute romantic getaway for couples.
Very nice room (#8) with a good view in the afternoon before the fog rolls in and a nice big bathtub that looks out to the view. A great place to go for a romantic weekend.
There are nice hiking trails just across the road, so it was great to arrive there in the afternoon and then go for a hike before coming back and getting changed for dinner.
The breakfast in the morning was absolutely wonderful. I don't think I've ever had better pancakes.
Friendly staff all around.
Watch your gas because there are no gas stations nearby.
Only complaint was that it was a little noisy at 6am. I'm not sure if that was the staff making the noise or other guests, but I guess you get that sort of thing anywhere.
I stayed the night at Mountain Home in last Friday. I was surprised to find that most of the rooms were still vacant when I made the reservation that Thursday morning. Not a good sign but the reviews here were mostly positive so I went with it. We stayed in Room 10. I thought that the price was fair given the size of the room (about the size of four queen sized beds), large bathroom with jacuzzi tub, the private deck with view, and the included breakfast the next morning. The views were nice but it was pretty foggy all weekend and so they weren't spectacular. The breakfast was very good and so was the service that particular morning.
We decided to also have dinner there Friday night. I felt the meal was overpriced and forgettable, as other's have said. The dessert however (molten chocolate cake) was incredible and somewhat made up for it. Also we ate the dessert in our room, something that wouldn't have been as easy if we'd eaten elsewhere. What I would do next time is eat an early dinner somewhere nearby, maybe on the other side of the mountain in Stenson beach and then come back to the inn and have wine outside on the deck at sunset and then dessert down in our room.
Overall a very peaceful place. No TVs or loud music playing at night when we went out on our balcony. Will be back.
Bad food, worse service (i mean the worsttttttttttt service), but beautiful view, and hidden find.
Blow your date away, or get blown by your date. Stop here on the way back from Stinson Beach for a glass of bubbles, and order the cheese plate.
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One of my favorite spots to hit after a bike ride or hike on Mt. Tam. Really great place to bring your girl friends or that special someone.
Especially on a sunny day like this past Saturday, fantastic view on the outdoor patio. Unwind, feel the sun on your back and enjoy the scenery.
Lunch is AMAZING!!! The ingredients are either local or organic.
I love the Niman Ranch bbq pork sandwich, their fish and chips rock as well!
YUM!
I definitely recommend coming here, it gets packed so if you have an idea of when you will be done with your workout make a reservation!
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Beautiful view! Saturday was such a beautiful winter day, so my bf and I decided to take a hike in Mt Tam. Before heading out to our hike, we stopped by Mountain Home Inn for brunch. Although it was freezing cold, we decided to bundle up and have brunch outside to enjoy the amazing view. Unfortunately, they didn't have heat lamps, so we had to warm up with extra layers and coffee.
The menu was very limited. There weren't that many choices, so that was disappointing. We both ended up ordering the Asian pear salad with chicken. The salad was actually pretty good. Grilled chicken topped over a bed of greens with blue cheese and curried walnuts and pears.
The service was awful. The waitress was very slow and she forgot to take down our soup order. Also, the food here is quite expensive, our salads were $15 each and the portions were small too! Since the view is so great, I would probably just recommend coming here for a drink after a long hike just to soak up the view.
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Wine bottles full of water, sticks full of honey, mixed nuts, and of course booze. What more does one need after a hike in Mt. Tam? How about a kick-awesome view of the north bay on a sunny day while basking in the patio area?
It's a bed and breakfast too but I have not yet enjoyed that aspect of this place. Still, if the kindness of the staff is any indication, it would be a pleasant retreat.
Definitely a great stop after a day on the north side.
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Mountain Home Inn is one of those magical mountain spots where we have always had great luck with both great weather and great food. The menu is short, but everything on it is fresh, delicious, and a little unique.
The best characteristic of Mountain Home Inn, however, is its stunning view over Marin and the SF Bay. I know of no other place where you can typically walk up without a reservation and enjoy such high quality food on a sunny outdoor deck with such spectacular views.
They prices are a bit more than you might expect for similar lunch / brunch food in San Francisco, but still definitely affordable.
This is a great place to bring your out-of-town friends for a glimpse of why they are missing out by not living in Northern California.
The view is breathtaking. The back deck is nestled right on Mt. Tam with a view that stretches all the way to the East Bay.
Only a 15-minute drive from 101, but I felt like I was on vacation.
The burgers looked awesome, but I had the croque monsieur instead (sans egg on top), which was pretty good and around $10. But damn, I wish I had ordered the burger. My friend had the asparagus pasta with feta and olives which was perfect with the sauvignon blanc.
I really wanted a cheese plate, but our waitress said it was only served between lunch and dinner service (after 3, but before 5) and during the summer months...the good news is that the "summer months" start next weekend....so you won't have to wait long to have a cheese plate while enjoying some wine and an amazing view.
Oh yeah, and the service was SO friendly. The waiters, hostess and bartender were all refreshingly warm and inviting.
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I received a night at the Mountain Home Inn as a gift and I had a great time. Our room was pretty great: a wood burning fireplace, huge windows overlooking the mountain, an incredibly comfortable bed, and great bathroom. One of the "walls" of the bathroom actually opened up like shutters so one can shower/bathe and still take in the beautiful view of the mountain from the oversized windows.
The restaurant was...okay. The food was a bit forgettable, not great, not terrible. It is a prix fixe menu and when the waiter asked what we wanted for dessert, we were pretty full. He offered to bring our dessert to our room whenever we were ready for it! So nice!
All in all, it was a quiet, romantic, relaxing stay. I definitely recommend it.
I came here after a long and slightly exhausting but beautiful trip to Muir Woods and Mount Tam with my two friends I was visiting in San Francisco. We were only here for the food, not any of the rooms. Coming in it seemed that they were a little in the weeds, (really overwhelmingly busy in server talk). It was at the end of the lunch time there, but apparently more people were still there than expected. I am sure they wanted to sit on the deck and see the gorgeous view. Sigh... we did too, but our stomachs were clamoring about and we decided to get seats and sit inside. It took maybe about 5 or 6 minutes for the anyone to recognize we were there, the busser actually got us water, menus and said that some one would be with us shortly. We looked through the menu, not a large amount of choices, sandwiches, salads, I locked my eyes on the pasta. With feta, tomatoes, olives and shrimp. After about another 4 or 5 minutes our waitress came by, took our orders and quickly got to the other two tables that had just shown up and their orders. Apparently the kitchen was shutting down soon and they were trying to get everyone's orders in. Ours made it in... yay for my stomach.
When the food arrived, it was good. Solid, but nothing memorable. The pasta was tasty, but I think a little more seasoning would have done the dish a little bit better. My friend's fries were uber tastiness. This may be because I was starving. The view looked amazing, the rooms sounded great, maybe next time I come in to town I might have a stay. All of the rooms, (there are only ten of them), have a great view of the area. The food was fine, service was okay, but I wasn't that moved by it. I would certainly give this place another shot. I am chalking up my experience to being tired, hungry and a little bit of bad timing.
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I wish I could give zero stars.
This is really a shame....here we are in 'foodie' Marin County with a beautiful view around us, the weather is warm (lucky!), the sun is shining, I am with my good friend who is shorter than I am so it makes me feel better and...
this?
The owners of this place could do so much better. Or can they? Seems like they don't know diddly-squat about food. Not sure what they are trying to do. Read: cold couscous, Latino-esque mango salsa, dry salmon on top of a leaf of romaine lettuce ON THE SAME PLATE. Huh?
The portly waitress was rushing us too, and even asked us to leave about 5 minutes after I had signed my credit card slip, as there were other people waiting for a table. What a pig!
I can't advise you strongly enough to avoid this place. I hate to say this, but it super-sucks!
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On a beautiful day there is no better spot to have lunch or a drink than the Mountain Home Inn......
Perfect way to reward yourself for a bike ride or hike. The view is incredible overlooking the bay, Mt Tam and Mill Valley. Make sure you sit on the deck (might want to bring a sweater as it can get cold on occasion) Although the dress can be casual the food and atmosphere are a little more upscale. Sandwiches run in the $12 to $14 range. Just had the pulled pork last week. Solid.
Nice beer and wine selection......
You should get there before the lunch rush starts on the weekend to secure a table on the deck.
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To the person who "lives down the street from The Mountain Home Inn" Timmy or whatever, I'm sorry to say but you were totally misinformed about customer service policies at MHI. I'm suprised and disappointed that you gave a bad review on an obviously crazy or drunk crackhead posing as the General Manager so fellow yelpers, please take his review in stride. For a definitive review of The Mountain Home Inn from an insider's perspective, keep reading.
I worked at MHI for a cumulative year and a half. No, we did not try to only please inn guests, that's the silliest thing I've ever heard of and doesn't make sense. If we only catered to the needs of inn guests, servers/bartenders and bussers would make no money as room guests only account for about 10% of the business and usually don't eat at the inn anyways. That being said, the service could be better. However; if you go in for drinks or brunch at MHI and want to have a fantastic time, there are a few things that you should keep in mind:
1. Call in for brunch reservations, served between 11:30AM - 3PM. It is a very popular spot for tourists, hikers, bikers, locals and whoever else stumbles upon this beautiful place and because of this, there is usually a wait. There is a small corner table on the deck for people getting only drinks though the rest of the deck is reserved for diners only.
2. The kitchen is located DOWNSTAIRS!! While this shouldn't account for the bad reviews that several yelpers gave, it's important to keep in mind that servers are working as fast as possible. Remember that they probably don't want to have to run up and down the stairs because you forgot to ask for ketchup/mayonaise/hot sauce/whateva. If you want great service, remember to try and be an easy customer, especially on super packed days.
3. The design of the place is awful. There is a hostess but her space is located by the door and not in front of it. Do not seat yourself during brunch! While employees of MHI have been trying to get a sign that spells out specific time that food is served, it would block any path of movement and has therefore not been installed. MHI wants everyone who comes in to leave happy, tipsy and fat. Because of this, the hours that food is served are extended over summer, the busy season. Before entering MHI, look to the RIGHT of the doorway, which lists what time food is served. If you walk in and meander to the deck and aren't served, it's probably because MHI has stopped serving brunch. This is not considered bad service, this is you being a dumb ass and not realizing that no silverware, tableclothes or menus outside probably signals that there isn't anyone who is going to serve you.
5. Yes the menu is limited and probably won't change. MHI isn't considered a "fine dining" restauraunt and the kitchen is very small. What is on the menu is good but a bit pricey because quality products are used such as Neiman Ranch beef, organic greens, truffles, etc.
6. If someone isn't as attentive as you wished they were, remember that employees of MHI aren't only dealing with dining guests, they also have to tend to the requests of hotel guests, lost tourists asking for directions, people wanting to know about the trails, other employees and whatever else may arise on a daily basis. Patience is a virtue and is strongly encouraged at MHI.
Thanks for reading and hope this helps!
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A view worth the drive, food worth the price, and service to beat all else. A romantic find so close to home... but feels a million miles away. This place makes me very, very happy.
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No one has mentioned breakfast! While visiting Hubby's family in Marin, we made the gorgeous drive up Mt. Tam for breakfast.
Hubby and I both opted for the French toast with berries, which was super thick but crispy on the outside and cooked perfectly on the inside (I HATE when it's gooey and undercooked!). The berries were ripe and sweet. Since it was a bit chilly out, I ordered some hot chocolate, which was creamy and delicious, not Hershey's syrup and milk or out of one of those machines you see at ski lodges and dorms.
The porch was architecturally pleasing (I work for an architect, stop laughing at me) and has amazing views of the North Bay. The atmosphere is rustic and romantic, a perfect place for a date or special occasion.
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Great view, good beer, bad service.
I went there on two occasions with a decent size group (4-6 people) on a weekend after cycling our bikes up (and then down) Mt. Tam. On both occasions we were totally ignored by the staff... especially the hostess who was standing by the door doing pretty much nothing. After wandering around a bit and talking to the bartender, we found out it was open seating. So we got situated outside and ordered drinks and food from the bar. There was a waitress outside on the deck, but the way she completely ignored our table confused us a bit... could we order from her, or should we go back in to the bar?
Anyway, long story short, the food we got was decent and so was the beer. We left a nice tip for the bartender and the kitchen staff (one of the cooks ending up delivering our food to the table), and hopefully the front of the house won't be sharing it.
Came back a week later (another bike ride and I wanted to see if the previous week was a fluke... plus we needed some beer and appetizers). Well, the staff was only slightly more helpful, so we managed to figure out seating on our own. But now they weren't serving food from the bar, and the table we had chosen (in the corner of the deck) didn't have table service.. huh? Okay, the table wasn't fully decked out table cloth, silverware, etc. But can we just order a bread basket and calamari to go with our beers... sorry, no. No other tables outside, so we drank our 1 beer each and left... would have had food and another round otherwise.
Anyways, long story short, two mediocre experiences there means I care enough to post a yelp review and give them 2 stars.
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This is a real jewel nestled on top of Mount Tamalpais! Hands down one of my favorite places in the world (and Ive seen a few!)The views are extraordinary and the ambiance is warm and cozy. Perfect on a sunny day or on a fogged in day by the fireplace. The food is a little pricey and not special but the location and views make up for anything lacking in the kitchen. The menu rocked about 10 years ago when they catered more to hikers and bikers.
This is the perfect place for apri running/biking or a romantic getaway in their beautiful rooms. The staff is great and remembers you with a smile (unless they are in the weeds)They really want locals midweek to come up so mention your a local and negotiate a great deal! Come up and support our local gems!
I had my wedding at Mountain Home Inn a few weekends ago and it was spectacular. It is a perfect place for a beautiful intimate ~50 person wedding. Our family stayed at the resort so we had the place completely to ourselves. Everyone loved the rooms, the views and the location is breathtaking, and the staff was friendly and responsive. Marisa, the Inn's onsite wedding planner, did a great job and made everything seem so effortless and stress free. The food was excellent and the entire affair was absolutely amazing. We received countless complements from my friends and family that this was one of their favorite weddings they had ever attended and that the Mountain Home staff was really welcoming, friendly, and caring. They genuinely care and it showed during our wedding.
Nice little restuarant located on the road out to Stinson from Mill Valley. Excellent views of Marin. We did a family hike for my Mom's birthday from Kentfield across Mt. Tam to get there. Prix fix menu with a little something for everyone. I had the chilled soup to start. Tomato and creamed corn, which was really good. Also had the free range chicken breast with polenta, which was one of the the best chicken breasts I've had in a while and the polenta was terrific. For desert tried their vanilla creme brulee. This was not so great, hence the 4 stars, not 5. Next time I want to try their molten choco cake, need to order during dinner since it takes 20 minutes to prepare.
Great place for a date with a very casual atmosphere. Beer and wine only, no full bar.
Disclaimer: this review only covers beer, calamari, & the view. 2 of the 3 are spectacular. The calamari is decent. An afternoon here nicely compliments a good day of hiking or lounging on the beach. I ended up at this place after finding that the Tourist Club was still closed. Having already driven out of the way to get there they were at least nice enough to post some suggested alternate locations of which MHI was one. I've since been back several times and find it a nice, relaxing place to wind down on the way back from Stinson.
I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we loved it. We stayed in Standard Room #2 which was much more than we hoped for. In this standard room we had a spacious deck with table and chairs and a gorgeous view of the bay. Our tub was not a cuzzi but still a large tub with shutters so you can view the bay as you lather up if you please. We also had a wood-burning fireplace and a large super comfy bed.
I don't know what all these hikers and bikers are smoking. The service was great -- make a reservation if you're so concerned about being treated like you're friggin high society and not even a patron of the inn. It's usually a packed house with a bare bones staff going up and down a flight of stairs all night and day to give food and beverages to their inn guests as well as the packs of sweaty dorks who show up in knee pads and pointy helmets.
The trails were so much fun and in 24 hours we experienced the rolling fog over the trees, light rain, a gorgeous sunrise, and a clear sunny day, it was amazing.
Note to all couples: Pull the bed forward, those wooden bed posts make a whole lotta noise when you're exchanging birthday gifts by the fire ; )
My husband took me to Stinson beach for the day and we stopped here on our way there for brunch. The inn is super cute and small and nestled on the top of mountain on the way to Stinson. The staff was really friendly, and there seemed to be only one girl waiting on everyone but she was competent and efficient. My husband got the two eggs any style with bacon, breakfast potatoes and toast which looked really good. The eggs looked a little bit like they were over scrambled which I don't like but I know my husband prefers them that way. I got the ham hash with Georgia grits and two eggs sunny side up which were delicious but waaaaaaay greasy. Didn't stop me from eating the whole thing though. The menu said ham hash but it totally looked like sausage hash. Nevertheless it was delicious. The place is really cute and cozy and there is a deck with the most amazing views. A nice stop on the way to Stinson.
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Located in a stunningly elegant and ruggedly rustic bed and breakfast inn on the slopes of Mt. Tam, this is truly a dining room with a view, perhaps best seen by day, but in the evening, with candlelight, a fireplace, and the city lights twinkling in the distance, this is the perfect spot for a romantic rendezvous. For its three-course dinner, priced at $38, the kitchen utilizes organic vegetables, seafood, poultry, and beef from local sources as much as possible, and the menu changes based on the seasons and availability of ingredients. Recently, my first course was a rich and creamy Maine lobster and Dungeness crab bisque, while my friend enjoyed seared yellow fin tuna in a lemon-caper dressing. As is our usual habit, we switched orders mid-stream. From there we progressed to tenderloin of rabbit with perfectly al dente green beans, and seared sea bass with couscous and sauteed vegetables, followed by white chocolate pot de creme with fresh berries and chocolate-raspberry ganache with vanilla ice cream flecked with beans. At this point, I was so content, I wanted to float upstairs and collapse in one of the guest rooms, and see if breakfast at dawn would be as sublime. (For those seeking a weekend getaway, rates start at $175 per night, in accommodations honestly described as 'very small,' and top out at $325 for a room with a king-sized canopy bed, vaulted ceiling with a skylight, Jacuzzi bath, wood-burning fireplace, CD player, and a view of the bay.)
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This place could be renamed as the Panty Dropper Inn. You can't beat this place for a date spot. Go ahead and try. What? Do you think a trip up to Napa is going to impress her? I mean how many other guys have done that one? Come on! This place is amazing. However, yesterday I went with some friends up here and played some intense games of Jenga. WOW! I want to tell you something about Jenga, people get f'ing ruthless about that game.
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WORST SERVICE IN ALL OF MARIN COUNTY.
We hiked up here from Muir woods for some brunch on 12/30/2007. The views are beautiful and the inn is quaint. However, the service was GOD AWFUL (ZERO stars). The waitress was unresponsive and not too bright. I called ahead and was told breakfast was served until 11 - yet when we walked in at 10:48, waitress told us "sorry - kitchen closed." I said "OK, then we'll have lunch" and we were seated promptly. However, she didn't tell us that lunch didn't start for another 40 minutes ... UNTIL AFTER we got our drinks. So we had to sit around doing nothing, starving, for 40 minutes. That REALLY made me mad.
It took us 20 minutes to get menus, and she forgot one of the items we ordered (we were the only ones in the restaurant at that point). No apology was given.
This from an inn whose room rates run almost $350+ per night? UNACCEPTABLE.
The food was decent, although pricey. I had eggs and bacon with potatoes, the wife had a salad. The wine list is eclectic and creative, but considerably overpriced.
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Mill Valley, CA
Category: Hotels
Mill Valley, CA
Category: Hotels
Muir Beach, CA
Category: Hotels
San Rafael, CA
Category: Hotels
Stinson Beach, CA
Category: Hotels
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