Mendocino Cafe

A lovely restaurant with both indoor and patio dining that offers a good selection of American and a few Thai-inspired dishes. I really liked their clam chowder, which is one of their specialties. They also had delicious sandwiches with filling portions. The staff are friendly, attentive, and bring out the food rapidly!

Quaint cafe. Good food. I had the deconstructed fish tacos and my husband had the deconstructed fish sandwich. What dobI mean by deconstructed? The plates were served with ingredients and we put them together ❤️

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!!!

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.

Every dish we ate here was delicious and specially crafted starting with the nacho appetizer to the chocolate mousse pie dessert. The restaurant is multi cuisine and so there is a very nice variety of food available. We started with the clam chowder which was the most flavorful ever followed by the nachos which was tastefully complimented with beans, sour cream and guacamole ….. simply yum ! We also ordered the fish “catch of the day”, blackened but soft and tender in the inside. Domains and the chicken satay were also great additions while the chocolate pie was a perfect finish to this big and delicious meal. Portion sizes were generous, the hosts were very hospitable and the ambience was very nice and warm. Highly recommended !

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.

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.

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.

My boyfriend and I stopped to eat here for brunch when another cafe in town had a 30 minute wait and we were pleasantly surprised at how fantastic the food and service was! I had the Thai firepot and WOW it was amazing and filled with incredible fresh seasonal vegetables. My boyfriend ordered the breakfast burrito and really enjoyed it. The portions were perfect and we both felt highly satisfied with our experience. We loved the food and ambiance so much we went back the next day!

There is no excuse to serve such low quality food when you're in an area with great ingredients. I paid $29 for an ahi salad, that was some lettuce that came from a bag, some noodles that also looked boxed, and a piece of ahi. This was the lowest effort possible, and for this price I can get an amazing entree in wine country.

Food here is very good. The service is pitiful almost insulting. Even when you got the waiters attention I've gotta say I would rate them among the worst I've ever encountered. They are very attentive to options. Speak options, gluten-free options. That part was great. The food was decent. However, tofu comes in a very large serving of tofu, very generous with the tofu. Lots of pies, desserts, few gluten options.. Among the most annoying is simply that they add gratuity and yet the service as I said, it's pitiful it's poor terribly staffed

Such a delightful evening! We weren't sure where to eat dinner and happened upon the cafe and it was a win! The service was fantastic and everyone was so friendly, plus the food was A+! I'll be dreaming about the Thai FirePot with tofu for a while. We also ordered the Cafe Catch Rockfish, which was great, and ended the evening with blackberry pie. So good! Would 100% come back next time we're in Mendocino.

Came here for breakfast, 12/10. Service was quick and easy, very attentive. We had the regular breakfast and a breakfast burrito, highly recommend. Guacamole was delicious.

This place is really under-rated on yelp! I had the Thai Fire Bowl with the red curry and it was absolutely delicious. My husband had the Thai burrito and was very happy with it as well. The service was friendly, attentive, and prompt. I'd absolutely eat here again. We really appreciated all the vegan options.

The Thai Burrito was fabulous! I had it with shrimp and the combo of ingredients topped of by their homemade peanut sauce and homemade Thai hot sauce was incredible.

The garden ambiance is beautiful. Captures everything you'd hope for when dining in Mendocino. The food, which also included clam chowder, was good and delivered quickly. The service was courteous and attentive. One of our favorites when visiting the are.

The healing noodle miso soup was my main entree and it was really fishy tasting and I found shrimp that wasn't cleaned all the way and still had the vein. These small rock shrimp do not taste as nice as regular shrimp. The portion size overall was fair but could have used a bit more noodles. This was super disappointing to eat and I would NOT recommend The Vietnamese salad was very average and a surprisingly small size as well. Ingredients were fresh though and I liked the cherry tomatoes The crab cake 5/5 was delicious and would recommend this. My friend got the Thai burrito which also looked filling and they thought it was a 3.5-4 rating. Staff was friendly and attentive on the patio. Nice spot to enjoy dining outside but be mindful which dishes you choose to order. There are classic American brunch menu items and then some Asian fusion type dishes. I imagine the classics might be better to order

A charming resturant with simple and fine choices to select from. We went towards the end of the night and they were still warm and friendly from the start. We ordered clam chowder, ceasar salad, and thai bowl, and all were acceptable and filling. Nothing was rave-worthy, but it did the job. I would like to come back here to try out lunch or breakfast here. If you're visiting, its definitely a trust-worthy place with a great variety in menu options.

We were too late for breakfast so we got a light lunch before our walk in the botanical garden. Clam chowder cup was ok. The crab cake sandwich was really good. Highly recommend the crab cake sandwich if you come! The black coffee was also easy to go down. They have lots of indoor and plentiful of outdoor seating!

Had low expectations and left with the highest. The Thai hot pot just blew our taste buds out of the water and had a emphasis on local produce/ products. Server was hilarious and friendly, next time we shall try dinner or the delicious lunch again. Thank you so much, support local lunch.

The clam chowder was good, the sandwich was good. I wouldn't say anything stood out, but I wouldn't say it was bad either. The staff wasn't very attentive though and they were pretty scarce. The place was super cute though

The food was average at best, the Cajun fish sandwich had little flavor, the crab cake sandwich was similar and the Vietnamese salad was okay. The service was spotty with multiple waiters asking for wait times with no answer in sight. Ambiance was okay inside, outside was nice. Wouldn't recommend

The flavors were excellent. I had the Thai Firepot - per our waiter's recommendation (I always like to get their opinion) and it was excellent. Very comforting with the slightest bit of zip.

Two night nights in Mendocino and we ate there twice. Night one was crab cake sandwiches. Crabs were in season and they were something to dream about having again--fantastic. Night two my dining partner had chicken curry (a bit under spiced, but good) and I had the coconut milk Brazil seafood stew. With a fairly allergy, this was an amazing dish. I'd love this place in my neighborhood.

The Mendocino Cafe has been a stable staple of dining on the coast for as long as I can remember. It has a cool fusion of foods to tantalize your culinary pallet to take you to another level of appreciation. The atmosphere there is very relaxing as the staff are always looking after your needs while not hovering, that hasn't changed since the turn of the century. When you can get in, their outdoor dining is one of the prettiest spots on the coast. Lush greenery surrounds you as do views where you can people watch; a true joy. We had the burger which was cooked perfectly and the Thai burrito, which has always been my go to, make sure you try the sweet Asian chili sauce. This is one spot always frequented by locals, which when I travel is what I look for . Locals know best

Have been going here for years. Always had awesome food and great service.from Jay. Come back year after year for celebration of birthday's and anniversary. Jay remembers us from each visit. Always great service. Had sesame seed encrusted ahi. Other talk ha d the rock fish. Lot's of great eating in Mendocino , but you cannot go wrong with the Mendocino Cafe.

We sat outside on the covered and heated patio. It was cozy and nicely decorated. We had an order of the sautéed calamari and clam chowder, both were excellent. I had the local rockfish and my wife had the Thai firepot. All of the ingredients were incredibly fresh. We also ordered the carrot cake which was one of the best I've had. We visit every time we come to Mendocino.

Enjoy some good food and dessert with a view of the amazing Mendocino coast! We stopped for lunch and could get a table outside by the corner. We had an amazing view of the ocean waves in the distance. Vegetarian options are available though slightly limited. Vegetarian options : Big River salad with Tofu, with a dressing of Olive oil and Balsamic. Vietnamese Salad and substituted the dressing with a Lemon vinaigrette (since the dressing they give you has fish sauce in it) Asian Stir Fry with brown rice and Tofu Jasmine Green tea Everything tasted fresh and refreshing. Service was pretty quick and food was great. The staff checked in multiple times to make sure we were comfortable and having a good time. The dessert menu looks amazing and they also carry gluten free options! Highly recommend stopping by here for a Thai fusion inspired meal with a view.

The food was very good. The service was also good too. We enjoyed our time and would go back.

This place has a beautiful vibe and the garden sitting is really nice. The staff is pretty friendly and polite. For food we ordered thai curry with white rice, dumplings and chocolate mousse cake. Overall, the taste for all the dishes were really nice. My favorite was the dessert ofcourse as it was beautifully balanced. Its one of the nicest place to visit in Mendo! Show some love to such local places.

Absolutely loved the service, the food and the ambience of this restaurant. They have a dish from every cuisine but it's exotic / unique. I ordered the tofu Indian curry dish which was absolutely delicious. It was like a cross between thai and Indian - I think it was very well done. The flavors were balanced, and, I loved how the veggies were thoroughly cooked in the curry. The tofu came out really well, and it was served with a side of mango chutney, which was amazinggggg. I would highly recommend this place. They also offer amazing desserts, including all the cheesecakes. They have an outdoor area which is very pretty and nicely decorated. The servers are very sweet, patient and friendly. Highly recommend this restaurant if you're around.

This has become our favorite restaurant in Mendocino, CA. We have eaten here several times over the past 4+ years.

We found this place while walking around Mendocino on our vacation. The atmosphere was beautiful in the outdoor dining area. We met some locals eating there too who were very kind and friendly. Everything we ordered was amazing. The food was fresh and delicious! They have a large menu for a cafe and fresh desserts daily. The only reason I am not giving this place 5 stars is because the waiters didn't do a great job communicating. The first one didn't realize we were there and then acted like it was our fault we hadn't been given drinks yet. Later, my husband witnessed him rolling his eyes and throwing a fit when the manager asked him to wait on a table inside. I hope you can find his replacement soon! Overall the place is worth it because the chef did an amazing job! I hope to try some wine on my next visit!

We went to the Mendocino Cafe the day we arrived and sat in the garden. It was a beautiful setting but the table was a tad small for us. The wait staff was helpful and friendly and we enjoyed our meal. I got the pasta Florentine with chicken which was pretty good and my husband got the blackened fish which was average. It's a good option if you don't have reservations and want a decent meal. The portions are quite generous. Someone next to us got the cheesecake and said it was really good.

The food was PHENOMENAL. Got the chicken kabob, tomato soup, hot chocolate, beer, pot roast, and sword fish special. My favorite place on the whole visit up! The servers don't have specific sections, they all take everyone, and every server was great, even the runners and bussers too, everyone was awesome. The place itself is so cute! We were outside with the heater and were very comfortable.

Mendocino Cafe was one of the only places open in town one night a few weeks ago when we visited Mendo on a road trip. Have to say, not great. Perhaps it would've been a better experience inside vs the tent (here we sat), but we just didn't love it. Food was mediocre, patio needed a good cleaning, and service seemed disorganized.

We had a bowl of their clam chowder and the clams and mussels in a red curry sauce. Both were served with some fresh bread and butter. The food was outstanding and the service was friendly, prompt- excellent. We sat outside and the vibe was . Would come back here for sure!!!!

Came in for a late lunch about an hour before closing for the chef lunch /dinner shift change. Had the mussels & clams with a few glasses of local wine. Service was great and very welcoming. Highly recommend.

This place looks tiny from the outside but is quite spacious and has the most charming covered outdoor seating I've seen. The menu is varied with standards, favorites, and surprises. My Mojado Burrito was delightful. Ceasar Salad was good but a bit too heavy on the dressing. Service was friendly and attentive. Great vegetarian options. Great beverage, beer and wine options. This is an absolute gem that really enhances any visit to downtown Mendocino. Highly recommended.

We just had lunch at the Mendocino Cafe. My spouse ordered the Crabcake Sandwich and I ordered the "Fish Tacos"... Much to my surprise, my meal was brought to me with a dish of Taco Innards in a bowl, accompanied by some folded corn tortillas. I never expected to have to "assemble" my own tacos. And the tacos innards dish was full of cooked but completely flavorless chunks of some kind if fish, and some chopped Veggies. So I tried to assemble a taco at my table and it was a disaster. Pieces/parts dropped all over. No taco sauce of any kind.. Very disappointing. And... we asked for a diet cola for our drinks. Well, they brought us this 8 oz. bottle of some eclectic substitution for a diet cola. It was very off brand in flavor. Worst of all is that they charged us $5 for each bottle. My spouses sandwich was reported to me as "Meh".. Nothing to write home about. The cup of clam chowder I had was also pretty flavorless. And for the luxury of dining at this gig, our overall out the door price was $82 counting tip. I'd steer clear of this joint for them serving marginal food with exotic prices to match.

Ambiance 5/5 Food 3/5 Fact that they were open on Christmas Eve and had a diverse menu selection to satisfy our boisterous mixed crowd of adults and kids 5/5 Service 4/5 We were on our way back from fort Bragg after a weekend getaway and stopped at Mendocino for lunch. It was Christmas Eve and almost everything except this place was closed. They had a lovely garden area with lots of tables and the outdoor seating was much larger than their indoors. Since we were a large group we stuck to getting a table indoors. They had a separate kids menu and their regular menu had items from Thai, Mexican, American, Chinese etc. Our kids got a chicken drumsticks plate, chicken sandwich and we got an Asian stir fry and guacamole/chips to share. The chicken sandwich came with a cup of soup of the day which happened to be mushroom barley. Soup had the consistency of a porridge and not much flavor to speak of, it lacked salt as well. The chicken sandwich itself was delicious and heavy. The pickles it came with provided a much needed dimension to the overall flavors. Guacamole and chips were standard affair and seemed fresh. The Asian stir fry was this stir fry of veggies, tiny cubes of chicken and some soba noodles thrown in the end. There was no harmony between the noodles and other ingredients which was expected I guess as it's not a noodle dish but a stir fry with noodles thrown in after the fact. There weren't any flavors or salt again. Prices are definitely on the higher end but along the lines of the price increase we had seen even in bayarea after Covid. My friends mostly got Mexican dishes like tacos and burritos and were pretty happy with what they got.

My boyfriend and I visited for brunch during the Christmas week. We were seated immediately on their outdoor deck. Our order: - Cafe burrito mojado: 4/5 - huevos rancheros: 4/5 The portion sizes were huge and very filling. Both the dishes tasted good but I wouldn't say that they were among the best of the similar dishes that I have had at other restaurants. The staff was very friendly. The outdoor patio was also very cozy, heated and great for our pup. I can definitely see myself visiting again on my next trip to Mendocino.

Just met 5 of my friends here for lunch. All of us really enjoyed our meals and the service was great! They also did a great job of plating the food so it looked very appealing. I had their fish tacos served with fresh salsa, rice, beans and guacamole. Delicious! I especially loved the black bean side. Others had huevos rancheros, crab sandwiches and clam chowder. All said everything was delicious. This is our second time there and if we lived in Mendocino we would be there all the time! I also appreciated that they accommodated us by splitting the billing among the three couples--very nice!

We were stuffed from our breakfast from our Inn stay. We came by for a late lunch as recommended by our Inn Keeper/Owner. I ordered the lentil soup and salad. It was standard food quality and has a nice view of the town. I really can't remember. Service was a little off and not super friendly.

Don't eat the clam chowder. Came here to Mendocino for a birthday trip for my mom's birthday and got food poisoning from a bowl of clam chowder.

Good service, little slow to start. Food was very good. We had the Ahi Tuna, Thai Burrito, Big River Salad, Mussels & Clams pasta and Mussel & Clams Appetizer, Rockcod Cajun style, and two solid desserts. $280 for 5 people.

We had a good meal here! Flavorful food, friendly service, and a lovely back patio with (limited) ocean views. My husband's Vietnamese salad with crab cake was delicious, and my chili verde plate was good (though not remarkable). My 5 year old daughter liked her cup of clam chowder (and we appreciated the fact they served it with bread and butter, andbrought it out right away)! The service was friendly and reasonably fast. We loved sitting on the back patio while enjoying peeks of the ocean through the fence. The flowers and paper lanterns create a lovely atmosphere. We were skeptical about coming here after seeing the mixed reviews, but are glad we came!

Taken in by the charming outdoor dining space, my husband and I decided to eat dinner here on a quick trip to Mendocino. I've got to be honest, while the food here is not bad, it is very pricey for the level of cuisine served. The host was busy but we were seated fairly quickly considering. The staff was friendly and attentive. We stared with the Clams And Mussels in White Wine and butter sauce, along with the crispy warm bread, it was excellent. Unfortunately the quality dipped quickly afterward. My husband saw one of the staff put our clam chowder into a microwave. While l, I understand the convenience of this practice, it is not suitable for a bowl of clam chowder that's $14. When it arrived, the chowder was full of carrots and potatoes, and a considerable amount of clams, but was not memorable. The entrées were just good. I had the café catch. Which was a rockfish with mushrooms, and again a white wine butter sauce. My husband had the Healing (soba) bowl. The amount of noodle was light, and the added shrimp were tiny and not of ample quantity. The flavors of both dishes were good. But my fish was over cooked. If I could I would give this experience a 2 1/2 stars. Keep in mind if the cost of the dinner was considerably lower, I probably wouldn't be so disappointed. But $26 for a small bowl of soba noodle and shrimp, and over $30 for overcooked fish in a generic sauce is too much. I'm usually not such a stickler for prices. But this just really underwhelmed me. Keep in mind, I don't think the meal was bad

Thank you for being open when no one else was, Mendocino Cafe! Everything in this town closes early or their reservations are all filled-up! Thank goodness we stumbled upon Mendocino Cafe who was open for dinner. We were seated right away in their outdoor dining area. The menu is interesting. It consists of some more American dishes like seafood and pastas, but also some Asian dishes like dim sum, masala curry, and Thai food. We got the Pasta Florentine that has fettuccine, mushrooms, spinach, basil, and garlic in a sherry cream sauce with chicken. The sauce was very creamy but not too flavorful. They put a ton of shaved parmesan on top, though, so that adds some nice cheesiness. The chicken is simply grilled but gets the job done. We also got the Cafe Catch. It's local rockfish with roasted garlic, mushrooms, basil, white wine, and lemon with jasmine rice and vegetables. The fish was tender and tasty.

Stopped by this cute cafe with a beautiful outdoor patio for Saturday lunch. The messaging says Thai-inspired, but it's more like an eclectic international diner (some Thai, Vietnamese, Cajun, Mexican, American), which was nice since we could both have what we wanted. We had a very pleasant and accommodating waiter and ordered the Thai Firepot with the garlic-chili-ginger broth (vegan, the red curry is not) with tofu and sub soba noodles. The bowl was steamy and comforting. All the vegetables were very fresh and there was a generous protein portion. I had to add some salt and a bit of sriracha to get it to my taste preference, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. Husband ordered the blackened rockfish sandwich which looked incredible, with perfectly crisped French baguette and a nicely seasoned piece of fish. He chose the soup of the day as his side, which was curry carrot. Quite spicy, thick, and flavorful. Speaking of soups, we overheard another diner say she had the best clam chowder of her life (and she looked like she had lived a lot of life). Recommend this spot for a sunny day and a light, healthy meal.

We've eaten here multiple times, about every other year. Not sure if they changed ownership but we found the food very underwhelming. Fish tacos, chili verde were both lacking salt and flavor. Super cute, but unfortunately food was blah this time. Not a lot of choices here so maybe try burger or breakfast. Service was fine.

Thai Firepot with jasmine rice and beef is good and delicious. It's pretty heavy. Price is reasonable.

Delicious lunch spot. My crab cake sandwich was fabulous as was my husband's shrimp salad. But we especially loved the dessert and coffee. It's a darling spot and the service was great too.

The chowder is excellent. Crab cake sandwich is so average. The steak and brie sandwich is good. The server is friendly. The outdoor patio is nice.

We visited Mendocino for the afternoon, and discovered that the only places that open for food after 1 PM was this place and an established brew pub boasting $30+ lunches of bangers or deep fried cod. So we went here. This is a nice spot for healthy food, snacks, and beverages. There are also hamburgers and meat items on the menu. The selection was decent and the food was pretty good. We each had a salad and iced tea. Very simple fare that our waiter attempted to embellish with desserts and other side dishes. We had to say "thank you, no thank you" too many times. The ambience was pleasant, with round twinkly lights and a Sonoma County casual vibe. The female waitresses were very very nice, smiling and checking in on us, like they knew we had the "pushy waiter." Our waiter's inappropriate arrogance also appeared when we asked questions. He often would whip his wrist and hand around to dismiss a question and replace it with his own witty comment. He couldn't even muster a modicum of sincerity when he inquired if we needed anything. We imagined he was thinking that he was so much better than his job...but naturally, from a customer's perspective, it makes him tipless.

A nice eatery in downtown Mendocino with a wide selection and good service. The food wasn't *great* but it was good enough and the location made up for it.

I always have a meal here when visiting Mendocino. Their healing bowls are hearty and filling. The short ribs pair with a nice Syrah from their fine wine list. Make sure to order one of their special desserts.