Mendocino Cafe

Came here without reservations last night. Started off with Calamari which was sautéed versus fried. Wife had the one of the dinner specials, Blackened Patrale sole and I had the Florentine Pasta with shrimps. Ended off our dinner with Strawberry Rhubarb and Key Lime pies. Everything was great! Owner was very friendly. Found out he opened restaurant in 1988 after he graduated high school. Highly recommend!!!

Great food (loved the crab sandwich and the chocolate tart). Beautiful views (especially if you sit on the upper deck. No wait: we were seated immediately even though the restaurant was busy. Drinks, food and dessert came out quick as well.

Clam chowder is excellent. It was rather slow when I stopped in and the service was very attentive and friendly. The patio is a nice place to sit and enjoy your meal. Coffee was good and Huevos rancheros was tasty as well, very satisfying meal.

Looking for lunch or dinner in Mendocino? You're probably better off going to Fort Bragg. But if you're not in the mood for the 10 mile trek and you want something nice and unique, the Mendocino Café is probably your best bet. The only way I can describe the menu is that it's like what you'd eat if a California local and a Thai person got married and put together a big family style feast drawing from all their childhood favorites with just the normal groceries available at the local grocery store. It might not look classic Thai or American dishes you'd order at a boutiquey restaurant in the city, but everyone finds something they really like and praises the chef. Dishes have names like "Thai burrito" and "healing bowl." Anyway, we liked it enough that after comparison-shopping the menus at all the other little cafés and bars nearby we came back a second day in a row. Good beer on tap and the coffee is decent, too. And the dining room and outdoor seating are cool retro vibes. My only real complaint about the food is that there's a bit too much vinegar in some of the homemade sauces and it would be nice if everything was $5 cheaper... but then you aren't really getting value for your money anywhere in this touristy small town.

We found this location through internet recommendations. First of all their ambience was beautiful. They have both inside and outside seating. We sat outside next to the beautiful flowers and plants. This is a dog friendly restaurant. Their service was amicable and quick. We got apple juice, chips and guacamole, clam chowder, lentil soup, healing bowl (chicken), Tofu Thai curry, stir fry with tofu and bread pudding. The clam chowder was creamy flavorful and soothing. The chips and guacamole were fresh and handmade. It was excellent. The healing bowl was interesting and felt more like a healthier version of Japanese Ramen soup noodles. The stir fry was good with Smokey flavor and a hint of soy sauce. The Tahiti curry was the best that we got. It was so creamy and the veggies were cooked to perfect. Finally the bread pudding was hot with caramel and nutmeg topping. Overall we weee satisfied with the food and ambience.

Absolutely superb dinner in every way. I had a pork chop, while others at my table enjoyed swordfish, ahi tuna, and the shrimp burrito. My pork chop was the best I have ever had. The sauces on the entrees were nothing short of exceptional, and the meats were cooked perfectly. We also enjoyed a bottle of the Navarro pinot noir, a perfect accompaniment.

Stopped here for coffee and a snack. Had the latte and the lemon cheesecake. Such welcoming and friendly staff, super cute exterior seating, and yummy cheesecake. Will be back for lunch or dinner next time we are in town!

I had the pot roast and it was delicious. We had great service and it was a beautiful atmosphere. My husband had the rock cod sandwich and it had a very yummy dill potato salad as the side.