Little River Inn Restaurant

My wife and I dined at the Little River Inn last night. Our dinner was exquisite. From a delicious prawn appetizer to our perfectly prepared steaks and the grand finale of a decadent berry cobbler, we were happy as could be. Great service, a beautiful location, and delicious food. Little River Inn is a great choice for dinner!

The wait staff was extremely nice. The food was decent for what it was. It was a little stuffy in the dining area but still a nice place to have a special dinner while visiting the area.

Solid dinner spot with good food, however wasn’t a big fan of the dining rooms- we were in the smaller of the two and it was super loud, you could hear everything slamming in the kitchen and bus station. I think I would’ve preferred sitting in the pub minus all the foot traffic.

Good food, but dining rooms were a bit stuffy and dated. It is $5 for bread service and it was not that great. I also find it a little awkward when the tip is added to the bill. Don’t get me wrong, the service was good, I just don’t like a up being forced to tip.

Little River Inn Restaurant was an unforgettable dining experience! We lucked out with a table by the window, and at first, the shade was down but then the staff opened it for us, revealing the most incredible view of the ocean. It was such a special touch that really set the tone for the evening. Our server, Ashley, was amazing she made us feel like family from the moment we sat down. Her warmth and attentiveness made the entire night feel extra special. She loves people and her attitude was just so welcoming it alone could have made it a great night even without everything else being top notch. The food was also fantastic. The ribeye steak was perfectly cooked and full of flavor, and the petrale sole was delicate and delicious. We were so glad we stayed for dessert the chocolate brownie sundae was rich, decadent, and the perfect ending to a fantastic meal. Between the stunning setting, the incredible service, and the delicious food, this place truly stands out. Next time, we’re definitely booking a stay at the inn, too! And don’t miss the local whiskey flight!

The clam chowder, and burger with thick bacon and avocado and really good. Exceptional margaritas as well.

My husband and I ate at this place and the food and service were absolutely amazing. The stuff is very friendly we enjoyed our dinner at this little restaurant.

We ate multiple breakfasts and dinners here over several days and everything was perfect. Special shout for their attention to gluten free diets.

We stayed at LRI for a week, which was lovely and restorative. Golf for him, spa and reading on the porch for us in the mornings. We dined in the restaurant every morning. The server had such a joyful smile for us throughout the service, he brightened our mornings. Breakfast is delicious, with some of the best bacon I've ever had. Amazing flavor and cooked right down the middle between crispy and chewy. We three decided to have bacon and a single fabulous pancake to split for the table each day, along with our eggs or fruit/yogurt. Our bolognese dinner was excellent as well. We wanted to go back again but had booked our week of restaurants throughout the town in advance. Cocktails in the pretty bar at sunset should not be missed for the view and ambience. Very relaxing week.

Beautiful setting over looking the Pacific Ocean. A 100 year establishment. Sounds great, right? We walked in and the hostess was not there, so we waited a while until she came back. We had a dog so we opted and expected to sit outside. We were in full view of the bar inside, so workers could see us. We were sitting in no man's land. After 10 -15 minutes one of the bar keepers came out to ask if we wanted anything to drink. We just gave him our total order right then and there. Tea, clam chowder, a pasta dish and vegetarian dish. It took so long in between dishes that we were there for 2 hours, outside with no heater. The clam chowder was good. The pasta over cooked, soggy and bland. I won with what looked like a bag of frozen vegetables put on a plate of rice, added some fresh parsley and a few chick peas...no they were not roasted...$27! Then we sat some more and never got the bill. Remember we were in full view of the bar staff. I walk inside and stood at the end of the bar. Not noticed. So I move inside to the center of the bar and asked to close out our bill and he asked where we were sitting...he took our order. I said Outside. Oh! Then as he handed me the cc receipt and he says a 20% gratuity had automatically been added. WHAT?! I said the service was not good, didn't even bring up the food. He did acknowledge that the service wasn't good and said he was sorry....and then took it off. That got them 1 more star.

Large portions both for appetizers and entrees. Excellent service. Nice dessert selection.

We stayed at the Little River Inn after Christmas and through New Year's. We dined at the restaurant several times and had room service delivered. It did not disappoint. This was our second stay at the Little River Inn. Every dish we had was great! The servers are really knowledgeable about the specials and wine pairing recommendations. Super friendly and ensured we had everything we needed. They were really busy but it didn't impact our experience negatively at all. The restaurant is quaint with a bar area in front and two dining rooms. We were seated in all areas during our stay and each place was comfortable. We had the cheese plate with the house made olives that are amazing! Last time I purchased a container to take home. We also had the fish tacos and burger in the bar area one night. Delicious! We made a reservation for New Years celebration Eve dinner and had a wonderful dinner from their special menu. I had the Bouillabaisse which was very flavorful and filled with various seafood - shrimp, fish, clams. We also had the rib eye and the hot fudge sundae for dessert. Over our stay we tried a few of their seasonal cocktails that were really good. We had the Brakenwood daiquiri, Toasted Pecan Apple Old Fashioned, Chef's Kiss and several wine selections paired with dinner. All the cocktails were great. The bartenders were really engaging and knowledgeable. We had a dessert each time we dined as well. We had the bread pudding with red wine poached pears, vanilla bean ice cream, mulled wine syrup. It was really good and we wished we were not sharing. We had the special pumpkin cake that we fought over. It was dense with a good spice but not overpowering. I love pumpkin so this was one of my favorites. We also had the hot fudge sundae on New Year's Eve. This is one of my favorite places to stay as well as dine. It is not a question if we will be back but more so when.

Every now and again you end up with a perfect dining experience. Start with ambiance ( see photo), welcoming and great service ( thanks Josh and colleague), and of course the food (OMG good)! We shared the Vietnamese calamari salad and vegetable curry dish. The calamari is the finest I've tasted. LR uses a rice flour before they flash fry. The results are a crispy and flavorful morsel without the usual grease. Oh so Yummy! Add to that crispy cabbages and a sweet and spicy peanut sauce and it doesn't get any better my dear readers- that is until you try the curry dish. If you love the subtle taste of coconut, this is your choice. Flavors explode and the rice gives the mixture a hearty texture. Bowl-wiping good! Pair with a local brew and a Cali house blend red and you have arrived. Enjoy!

We stayed in Little River for a week-long vacation and had two meals at the Little River Inn. This Inn and Restaurant is beautifully situated on a hilltop looking over the Pacific Ocean on U.S. 1. Our first meal was a birthday celebration dinner in the dining room and our second was at the bar. Truth be told, the food was amazing, but we came back for the Pecan Old Fashioned The people were warm and friendly, the food was delicious, and the view cannot be beat.

We stayed at the Little River Inn and decided to give this place a try for dinner rather than driving away from the property - I'm glad we did! The ambiance was absolutely lovely, the greenery from the glass window was beautiful. Our sever was friendly and attentive! The food was delicious we ordered the clam chowder and fish and chips. Fresh clams in the chowder and they've improved their batter to fish ratio, giving a hefty serving of fish. Definitely a must try place if staying at the Inn or passing thru on Hwy 5.

This was our first stop in Mendocino and we were looking for good seafood. We use to go to Wild Fish but they've shut down since 2021. The service at Little River Inn was super friendly and they made us feel very welcome like we were regulars. I ordered the whole fish and it was cooked to perfection with a super crispy rice flour crust. The Thai chili was just enough sauce that it didn't over power the fish. The view from the bar window was spectacular

Very interesting location for dinner. The food was amazing and the service was great. We were there at sunset. Beautiful .

We came here for my birthday dinner in June, this review is quite delayed, but I have been meaning to make it for a while. My husband's parents have been staying at this hotel since their honeymoon, so we were very excited for our dinner here on my birthday eve. We enjoyed our food and the experience on the property. They had a good cocktail selection and we enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant itself. Two disappointments, which is why I am giving less stars. The first is that I was wearing a beautiful white scarf my husband got me from India, for the first time. Our waiter dropped a fork from our dish on me while clearing plates. I know this was a mistake but it left a small hole and stain in my scarf, and even though he apologized, it was such a big oops I was hoping for something to make up for it. Secondly, it was my birthday and I had this written in our reservation. All throughout the night other tables got sang to and got a birthday dessert. We did not get anything, so my husband went up to the hostess to ask, and bless her heart, she brought me some fudge with a candle. But it was not the same dessert or song that the other tables were getting, so it was disappointing. When I go out to dinner to celebrate a special occasion, especially when it's on the day of it, I really appreciate when they make you feel special and different than any other night. This was lacking for us on this visit so I have taken away two stars. You can't beat the views or the location. The restaurant does what they can, but I just wanted to share the things that left me disappointed on our last visit .

We were so excited to return to a favorite memory for brunch. Breakfast was mediocre quiche, serving way small eggs and bacon and hashbrowns so so coffee good bloody Mary pretty good - wah. Service was cheerful, but will pass next time.

Great service and yummy dinner! Nice selection of entrees and bar. Seems to be a busy locals hangout.

Little River Inn Restaurant has an ocean front and garden setting with a friendly vibe. It is a romantic and charming place. The food was very good, the fish was super fresh , like they just caught it today... really delicious and way better than we expected. The prices are reasonable and the server "Ashley" had the gift of hospitality, competence and she presented it all with a beautiful grace. Profound gratitude. Encore.

Top knotch! Book a reservation if you can or wait for an opening at the bar, the views alone are worth the stop. Mom at I got there just before sunset and had a window seat. We split the seasonal salad that had yummy poached pears in some sort of sauce (cranberry?). We then had their chefs seafood special, which was a seafood stew. So good! The desserts though were out of this world, get the berry cobbler for sure! I will be back and hopefully staying there next time. So lovely. I also was lucky enough to see a few whale spouts in the distance!

Most of the staff was wonderful, but when my wife arrived, she was hypoglycemic. She is also gluten-free and vegetarian. We thought Mendocino was the perfect place to bring her for a healthy retreat. When she was ready to pass out, the front desk said all the restaurants were closed from 12 to 3 except for the pro shop. She said I don't feel well enough to walk to the pro shop. They couldn't accommodate her so she' walked down to her car and passed out in the parking lot. Fortunately, a nice man stopped and helped her, and after 7 minutes, someone from the staff brought her some cranberry juice and stayed with her until she felt better. The staff was also wonderful when Judy, who has been under tremendous stress, had a panic attack and was filled with hives. We contacted the front desk and they did everything they could help her including calling for an ambulance. The ambulance took 35 minutes to get to the Inn from Fort Bragg, which is 20 minutes away. The hive got worse, and I felt my throat closing up. I asked for an EpiPen the staff person was fantastic trying to get the ambulance to come faster cause she knew I was in a bad way. She only had one package of Benadryl and that wasn't enough for me to feel better. I spent the night in the hospital and when I returned that very kind staff person called my room to see how I was. Because I was very sensitive to the fact that my animals were staying in a very nice place, I cleaned the room, stripped the beds and made it look like no dog had ever been there. I even left the housekeepers $25 as a tip. When I realized I hadn't had much of a vacation since I've been in the hospital, I asked to extend my stay. There was one cottage available, but it was the owner's cottage. They said you can't have four dogs per our rules. I said I have plenty of money. I can hire a cleaning crew to make it look like there were no people there, let alone dogs. The staff person said the rules are the rules you have to find another place to stay. If you have animals, I suggest you stay at another facility to stay at.

Beautiful location, wonderful place to bring your dogs. I had a panic attack and the staff was outstanding. They called the ambulance. They were willing to go to the hospital with me. By far the best staff I could ever imagine. In addition, because of all the stress I was under my dogs were also stressed out. That's why I came to the ocean to get us out of a stressful situation. I was so tired from the lack of glucose that I crashed and left my front door open, and my Dog ran away. When I told the staff how desperate I was to find my dog, they did everything possible to find him. Eventually, I had told enough people around the Inn how desperate I was to find my Dog that a security guard found him, and a group of people saved him at a nearby beach in a crate until I could get there. I will be forever grateful. But when I got to the Inn and my glucose was low and the restaurants listed on the website said the key dining facilities were all closed. I was exhausted and asked what the lobby had for those who are gluten sensitive. They said not much... especially since I'm vegetarian as well. (I thought Mendocino was like the health food capital of northern California.) Since they couldn't accommodate me, I passed out in the parking lot. Some nice gentleman stopped and asked how he was doing. I said not well. He ran into the hotel lobby and asked them to bring me some sugary item. After about seven minutes, a staff person managed to bring me a glass of cranberry juice. She very kind and stayed with me until I was stable. Once I felt better, I had to go offsite to get food. The facilities are decent, but there's no grass around my room where the dogs can pee and poop. It's all dirt. They said they're going to renovate it eventually. They don't even have liquor available to buy in the refrigerators. You have to go offsite to purchase food and drink from 12-3pm. When I wanted to stay two more nights, they said, the whole place was taken except for one cottage that was. Dog friendly. They found out I had four dogs. I split the dogs between my husband's room and my room to follow their rules. To eliminate any evidence of my dogs, I scrubbed the floor, picked up as many crumbs as I could without a broom, stripped beds and piled them up so housekeeping had little to clean. I even left $25 as a tip for the housekeepers. The front desk called me and said I understand you want to stay a few more days and we're fully booked. The only room we have is our owners' cottage that's pet friendly but our rules state you can't have four dogs. I said I can hire my own cleaning crew so that you have no evidence a dog was in there. She said I'm sorry, we can't help you. I'm now looking for another pet friendly facility in Mendocino or Fort Bragg.

The service and view were incredible the food was also outstanding I would come back to this locale and eat!

The food is fantastic and it's quite a relaxing atmosphere. A great place for breakfast and dinner if you're staying in the inn. Service is fantastic! Very friendly folks.

I've loved Little River Inn for many, many years and have told so many people how I love it there. We've stayed there and dined there and loved it. Last time was a huge disappointment. We sat at the bar, as we usually do. Shared a Caesar salad which was great. Drinks were good too. Ordered fish and chips and it was awful. Just awful and I should have sent it back but I'm shy about doing so. Almost inedible. I've bragged on the fish and chips to everyone so I was floored. We did tell the server it was dry and overcooked. Paid our bill and left. Finally decided to share this.

The property itself is beautiful with stunning views and an amazing golf course--definitely a great place to relax and unwind. Our first night was spent in a lovely room with an ocean view and a real fireplace, which added a lot to the ambiance. However, our overall experience was affected by the hotel's front desk service and room management. Due to unclear availability shown on their website, we were surprised to learn we couldn't keep the same room for the second night. We were moved to a smaller, lower-priced room with only a partial view and an electric fireplace. We asked the reception team if they could help us stay in the original room or assist with a smoother transition, but they were not accommodating at all. To make things more inconvenient, we had to check out at 10 a.m. and wait until 4 p.m. to check into the new room--even though we were already on the property. The lack of support and flexibility from the front desk left a bad impression. Would recommend for the location and scenery, but be cautious with room bookings and don't expect much help from reception if things go wrong.

For a change, we decided to sit inside at the Little River Inn restaurant. It was a very pleasant dining experience, especially next to a window looking out on the back of the property. If I had known that I could sit inside but on the front side of the restaurant (through a side door), I would have requested it. My husband mustered up the courage to order the whole (fried) fish and said it was really good. I got the Vietnamese dish with fried calamari and it was very flavorful. I'm glad I got it. None of the desserts appealed to us, so we skipped that course. The server was very helpful and friendly.

We got the burger and fish. Good presentation. Flavor was okay. Our server was absent most of the time. They could do a lot better at that. Nice looking dining area, lights were a bit too dim, historic looking paintings all around, acoustics were good.

When the food is outstanding, it's easy to overlook all other things. Started with wine and a few appetizers leading up to our entrees. Shrimp tomatillo - delicious sauce Clam chowder - nice clams in shell, a little watery for me but hubby liked it Calamari - subpar, restaurant chain level quality; however, the honey mustard sauce instead of the usual marinara was a nice touch Beet salad - my fav! All about the mixed dressing that made it outstanding Cioppino - hubby liked it but I would've prefer more seafood, like crab, lobster and scallops Halibut with coconut curry - loved the creamy, tangy sauce! Fish was a little dry but I let it sit and drench up the sauce. Very tasty and creative dish. Berry cobbler - ok Service was fine, nothing really to complain about. She wished us a happy anniversary which doesn't mean much when they could've put a little more effort into the special occasion, complimentary dessert or rose pedals on the table would've been nice, especially since they're imposing a 20% mandatory tip anyway! Defeats the purpose of asking about a special occasion on the reservation when they aren't going to do much.

We visited here during the Christmas holiday break and it did not disappoint! We chose this place because it was close by, but they didn't have many vegetarian options so we were on the fence. However, we didn't want to drive far for dinner in the dark so decided to try. We were seated almost immediately and the waitress readily offered to check with the chef on what they could make for us. We got the Butternut Squash soup which was so flavorful. Even my Mom, who is hard to impress, loved it! I especially liked the Cheese Board with the Brie Cheese and fig compote. It also came with some berries, nuts and olives marinated in fennel. This gave it a very unique flavor profile. For main course, the only vegetarian+vegan option on the menu was the Curry and Winter vegetables served with rice, and it tasted good. The chef customized and created a Rigatoni in a butter sauce with squash, mushrooms, kale and Calabrian chilis. I highly recommend this! Absolutely loved it! We didn't get dessert, but the other table did and it looked delicious! Ambiance felt festive and not noisy at all. Overall, a good dinner experience. Note that they add a 20% gratuity by default, irrespective of the size of your party, so heads-up on that! If you're vegetarian, don't let the limited options turn you away! Give this place a shot, the chef is able to create great flavor, and service is amazing.

I'm not sure what I enjoyed more, Ashley or the food. Ashley was the cherry on top for my birthday staycation at the Little River Inn. Thank you so much for providing Pierce and I with such amazing service.

We were staying at the Inn with a deal that included a food and beverage credit; thus, we ate in the dining room on our first night. Service was good and the four of us were immediately seated. Two of us had the fish and chips. Terrible, overcooked, burned to the extent it was hard to find the fish. After this experience I read the Fish and Chips reviews , on Yelp,and founds others had the same problems over the past few months. At the time of those bad fish and chips reviews a manger wrote on Yelp that the issue would be addressed...guess not? We did not send it back as that causes one party to be eating while the other waits. We ate some fries and coleslaw. The other two meals were ok. The next morning breakfast was much better prepared and was good. So...one star on dinner and 4 stars on breakfast. This turned out to be the worst dinner I've ever had in the Coast area over many years.

The fish and chips were advertised as Freah Local fish. It was not, seemed like it had been cooked a while ago, same at the French fries, seemed like they had been reheated. Also we were told when they presented the check it included a 20% gratuity. We are not light tippers and we never blame wait staff for poor food, but I still want the option to tip

This place is a dream getaway! Setting is beautiful with dramatic ocean views. Rooms are spotless, beds & pillows comfortable. This visit we chose the bar for dining-friendly & charming. Naté is a gem!....friendly, super efficient & a memory for every detail. Food is always delicious. Try the fish tacos & hamburger. Staff is always gracious & helpful. Close driving to Mendocino & Fort Bragg. Don't miss the Botanic Garden. Really, our very favorite getaway.

Wonderful breakfast this morning! Amazing views- and got to see a pod of whales spouting far off in the distance. We enjoyed the breakfast sandwich and avocado toast.

So, first off, staying at the Little River Inn means you sorta/needa go to the bar, have a drink, watch the ocean and when applicable, have dinner there. That was us. We've had some great meals in Ft. Bragg but we were looking for something that was easy and hopefully, great. The Little River Inn Restaurant did not disappoint. First off, the service is always 5 star so there you go. The bar and restaurant staff is friendly and engaging and make an excellent drink. 2 down. Now for the food. I had the Brazilian Seafood Stew Moqueca - yes a little pricey - but wow. So flavorful. So on point with the seafood. It was cioppino with some kick. Really fantastic. My wife was on a burger roll to compare burgers across the trip and this placed 2nd out of 4 and this was very tough competition. Again, the fries were on point. Someone has trained Ft. Bragg on how to make tasty, crisp fries in this town. We are 5 for 5 on meals on this trip - which is saying a lot since we've been changing up the types of cuisine and price/locale of the various places. Ft. Bragg has some killer food - that's for sure!

Nick was such a great host! He knew we were celebrating our son's first birthday, so he sat us at a table right next to the window with an ocean view. He gave us great recommendations on things to do in the area (Skunk Train and the Botanical Gardens). We took his advice and did both! We ordered bread and butter, but no other appetizers. The bread came out soft and warm. My husband ordered Pliny the Elder, and I ordered a water. For dinner, Nick brought our son a pea puree that he said is usually under their steaks, but kids love it. My son definitely liked it. My husband ordered a rigatoni bolognese and I ordered the cod. The cod was amazing! My husband helped me finish it down to the bones :) The other thing that would've made it better was more rice and curry. Would definitely go back the next time we're in the Mendocino area!

This is a super quaint dining experiencing connected to the Little River inn. Appetizer: Blistered shishito peppers - I wish these were actually "blistered" more - they were barely cooked and the sesame miso aioli/sauce was extremely watered down and runny. There was little actual flavor to it as well. Main courses: Rock cod with grits- overall had good texture and was not over cooked. Grits were normal average flavor - slightly saltier than usual. Fish and chips- French fries were typical restaurant style fries - minimal salt which was nice. The fried fish came out extra fresh and had great flavoring and texture. My only grip was to have kept it frying for one extra minute to reduce the batter from being a little mushy around the fish. Our waitress was nice but very very quiet - I had to ask her to repeat herself a couple times because she didn't speak up. She also forgot our second round of drinks after asking prior if we wanted anything else. Staying here, this is an average spot to eat however, may not be one to stop by if I am just rolling through to Mendocino and fort Bragg. Will consider trying other dishes like their pancakes that they are known for.

Had a wonderful dinner here. We ate here during the big storm that took the power out of most of Mendocino. Fortunately, they have power generator for their rooms and restaurant. The hostess that seated us told us about our view from our seat. The story about a rabbit named Stu that lived in that spot. She wittingly shared the story and said he did not live to his namesake :) She says that is the reason why they do not serve rabbits. In respect to their dear Stu. That was quite a sweet story, I thought.... For starters we had some cocktails, a margarita and a manhattan. Both were made well. We then had 2 Caesar salads. Made with Blue Herin Farms little gem lettuce, Caesar dressing, parmigianna reggiano, pink peppercorn and garlic crostini. It was delcious and perfectly dressed. For dinner, we ordered the roasted organic chicken with creamy mashed potatoes, sauteed green beans, bacon jus. My Nana ordered the braised short rib that comes with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted red brussels with red wine reduction. The chef personally brought out both of our dishes with a warm greeting and a smile. That was a nice touch. I enjoyed my chicken and the green beans were cooked perfectly. My Nana was in love with his braised short rib. He said it was the best short rib and brussel sprouts he's ever had. He literally ate every single thing on his plate. And ate a piece of bread to wipe the rest of the sauce off of his plate. He Loved it that much! We also ordered a bottle of their local Silver Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 from Aexander Valley. It was quite delightful. For dessert we shared the berry cobbler with 2 cappuccinos. Again, it was a perfect ending to a perfect dinner. Thank you Little River Inn Restaurant for the hospitality, good service, immaculate food and lovely atmosphere. There is also so much history, intimate stories and charm here. We will definitely dine here again when in the area...

Server was really fun but it took a loooong time to get food despite restaurant only a third full. All dishes were good not great. The chicken sounded amazing but it was over cooked so even the thigh was dry. Seriously over salted everything so I couldn't eat those delicious potatoes and gravy. Thai whole fish was just ok. Decent burger and decent fish and chips. Would rather drive farther north next time. There's a great view across the road of the ocean but the restaurant faces the opposite way so you can't enjoy that.

If I could leave 0 stars, I would. We drove straight here from Sacramento with an online reservation that was confirmed twice, we arrived only for them to tell us they close at 9:30am and couldn't seat us. The hostess said they had no access to their online booking system, why use a system you can't access and that accepts bookings at closing? Complete disappointment as we were hungry. We drove into Mendocino and ate at Good Life Cafe which was a much better experience.

We came to the Mendocino area to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We stayed in Albion but the restaurant associated with the Inn we stayed at was being remodeled and not open. We chose to have dinner at Little River Inn Restaurant instead. I made online reservations for 6 pm even though it was already 5:40 pm, but we were close by. There were a couple of available parking spots right in front of the building. Open the door to the restaurant and the bar is right there. I told the hostess we had reservations and she took us to the smaller of 2 dining rooms. This one had a view of the ocean and faces the parking lot. The waitperson we had was very friendly and accommodating. We had an appetizer of fried calamari (which we always order if it's on the menu). It was up to par, but I would have liked more tentacles. Husband ordered the beef and pork rigatoni. He liked it very much. I decided to order the rock cod which was fried and comes on Jasmine rice and with a Thai curry sauce. I'm not a connoisseur or foodie, but I must say this was one of the best dishes I've ever had. The waitperson did tell me the fish came out whole with the head and tail. I was ok with it as my dad used to fish and I've eaten in many Chinese restaurants where this is the norm. It was easy to eat. The fish is scored so the meat comes easily off the backbone. The fish was cooked to perfection and there was plenty of it. I had to get a box to take some back to the room. The price is also beyond reasonable by my estimation. I think if you ordered it in a Chinese restaurant you would definitely pay more. I would return to Little River Inn Restaurant just for this dish alone. (FYI there is an automatic 20% gratuity added to your bill.)

This was an incredible experience. Crystal made us feel welcome from the start and gave us attention like we were the only ones in the restaurant. The cocktails were complex and balanced. The food was delicious. Eating with a view of the ocean at sunset was picturesque. The clam chowder is distinct, different and delicious. The bolognese was unique and flavorful. Well done.

Little River Inn restaurant never disappoints. Start your visit at the bar that has an incredible view of the coast. Make sure to get there when it opens at four because it fills up quickly. We had dinner afterwards with wonderful dishes and excellent service.

My first night visiting on the Mendocino Coast ended up with dinner at the charming Little River Inn. The Inn is white gingerbread style with Victorian style dining areas. We were seated in my favorite smaller room with a view of the ocean. My companion had a special cocktail request that our server was able to provide! Both the rigatoni bolognese and the spatchcocked chicken were just right. Our server was attentive without hovering and provided a very nice dining experience. Thank you

I give it 5 for several reasons: - We had a dining room reservation but it was full of a mahjong group and very noisy and the hostess apologized and suggested we sit in the bar. Very considerate and observant. - The bar door was open and it was breezy and cool and one of the bartenders asked if it would be better closed. Thanks so much it made it quite comfortable. - Our bartender/waiter was delightful - great service, personable, helpful and made a mean Manhattan! - Oh yeah....the food! It was great too - lovely seasonal salad and a unique and flavorful generous portion of Bolognese. All of this made for a grand start to our 3 days at Little River Inn.

Spectacular view? Check. Amazing food? Check. Friendly and prompt service? Check! If I had any complaint, it is that the service was so good and quick that we didn't get to linger as long as we might of liked. But we found the solution by ordering a nightcap from the bar and sitting at the tables on the front lawn to savor the sunset. The Brazilian seafood stew (moqueca) was the bomb, and my wife loved the curry vegetables. Be sure to get extra bread to soak up all the sauce. We don't normally do dessert, but in this case we got two. The berry cobbler was a hands down winner, though the hot fudge sundae wasn't too shabby. Destiny did a great job serving us, and bonus points for the martini made with local gin from Russell Henry! Despite so many great options in Mendo, we'll be back.

Was really bummed with this experience. My husband and I are on vacation celebrating our 5 year wedding anniversary. I had heard and read nothing but good reviews about this restaurant. The service just wasn't good. The food was average. The two stars however is for the lack of service. It was not a busy night. All the tables were empty except 3 and the a couple people at the bar. 20 % Gratuity is already added to your check. We thought maybe that's why our waitress wasn't concerned about service. She forgot the bread and butter we ordered and didn't bring it out until we had our main entree. My husband had one refill of his drink. The experience was just not worth the price.

Once again, another exquisite meal and evening at the Little River Inn. Our waitress was attentive, professional and fun. The food was prepared perfectly, arrived timely and looked beautiful. We will definitely be back.

I was looking forward to eating at this historic spot on my way up the NorCal coast. Sat down right in the center of the bar - pretty busy night. 2 bar tenders made drinks, took orders and made lots of inside jokes to each other. As I sat there literally right in front of both, neither even acknowledged me! It was just plain weird. Considering normal social behavior (esp at a bar!), you'd think one of the bar tenders would at least say hello and tell me he'd be with me shortly. After 15 minutes sitting there awkwardly, I got up and walked out. So I cant review the food, since I could'nt even get a drink.

The food and service was outstanding!! Marty our server was a delight.. The calamari was the best I've ever had.. The berry cobbler was piping hot with vanilla ice cream!

Okay, before I get to the food... a BIG shoutout to our server Ashley. I mean wow... she was SO fun, so free-flowin, and knew the menu to a T. For apps, we got the Gambos Al Ajillo (big prawns and TASTY SAUCE), steamer clams (literally drank the sauce cus it was bomb.com - shoutout Ashley), clam chowder (not pictured.. too hungry for "phone eats first") and for the main dishes: the rock cod and calamari salad (cod was excellent and easy to eat, and salad dressing was tangy and just perfect...) we sat at the window table with a great view. We also got a spot at the bar before dinner... views were 10/10. We plan to come back!

We were staying at the Inn and having read some of the negative reviews, we were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the meal as well has the great service. Our server, Matty, made sure everything arrived on time. We asked to split each dish and he accommodated our request. The calamari appetizer, the unique Caesar Salad presentation, the clam chowder and the Rigatoni Bolognese was delicious. The meal was topped off by a delicious Hot Fudge Sundae. Since our room had an ocean view, it was nice change to have a beautiful garden outside our window table.

We went for dinner and found that if you want to sit in the back patio with your dog you must order with a QR code and the food is delivered in takeout packaging. We decided to get the takeout and take it back to our hotel. The service for takeout was great - friendly, attentive staff. We had a glass of wine in the bar while they prepared it. Great view of the ocean from the bar! Fabulous food when we got to eat it back at our hotel! The restaurant did look lovely - one room had ocean view rooms and a larger one with a garden view of the back.

Our first visit to the restaurant and celebrating our anniversary. The location is charming, being in Little River, just a bit south of Mendocino on Calif Hwy 1 and in a property dating back to 1939. This was a Tuesday night at 7:00 and the place was packed so glad we had a prior reservation (easily made online). No greeting but promptly seated in the Parlor at a window table (a special request in the reservation) with a partial view of the coast (Thanks!). Our server was pleasant enough but with a bit of fumbling it was obvious from the start that she was inexperienced. Unexpected for such a high-end restaurant. No mention of our anniversary either. I had some questions about the wine list but she had no knowledge of the selections. I decided to play it safe and order a pricey favorite on the list. After a bit of a wait the server returned with news they were out of my selection. Again I inquired if a couple of the wines were of the area and she didn't know nor offer to get someone who could answer so I punted and ordered something that the name implied it was local. She returned with the wine, a white, and setting the bottle on the edge of our very small table began fumbling with her waiter's wine opener trying to cut the foil (to shreds) and in the process managed to knock over my wife's water goblet. Finally the mess was somewhat toweled and the wine was opened and poured. Being a white wine I would have expected an wine ice bucket but nay , no bucket. Very nice wine though. The wine fiasco took a bit of time so we skipped appetizers and proceeded to each order our entrée - Southern Fried Whole Rock Cod. It is served head-on and we asked if it could be removed which it was was. On the menu it reads: Crispy fried whole fish, creamy grits, greens, bacon aioli, LRI hot sauce. We asked if they could leave off the LRI hot sauce or at least serve it on the side. The waitress said yes that would be no problem. After a bit our entrées arrived via another staffer and of course the LRI hot sauce was poured over the entire length of the fish. So after some time we managed to flag down our server and sent the entrées back to be made sans-hot sauce. More time passed and they were served again without the aforementioned sauce. The fish tasted outstanding! Perfect white fish, lightly battered and fried crispy with a homemade tartar sauce on the fish - not the side. The grits were also very tasty. Given that this entrée was titled "Southern" I assumed the greens would be turnip, kale, collard or mustard greens cooked down with the bacon aioli. Not the case, they were a coarsely chopped raw lettuce (?) with a tart vinegar dressing. As they say, "you're not in the South anymore". We decided to skip dessert but were presented a small box with two pieces of delicious homemade fudge for later. Upon receipt of the check I was a bit shocked that there was a mandatory 20% gratuity added. It's not the 20% because I consistently tip more than that for good service. However, adding 20% to the ineptly handled bottle of pricey wine seemed excessive. I can't say that I won't return as we like staying at the Inn thus making the restaurant awfully convenient at times since there is nothing else around. But it is definitely not my first choice in the area.