The Sur House

Perfect views on a beautiful end of winter morning. Great atmosphere. Wait staff are very accommodating. Need to book and be prepared for a little wait. Food, good however my avo on toast a little bit over seasoned too much lemon and salt for an Aussie palette. Definitely worth the stop for breakfast on a road trip south.

Sur House is now our go to stop on Christmas Day and we look forward to it every year. It never disappoints. The service is friendly and fast, the views are drop dead gorgeous, and the food is amazing. Alila is a beautiful hotel as well so the atmosphere is bar none. We got the orange cinnamon roll (a special), a few different breakfast plates, and drinks, and we loved all of them. Truly our favorite Christmas tradition.

the view is very good and food was delicious. they have a fireplace that not only smells great but also people can make smore there. the mussel soup is so good and that’s from someone who doesn’t eat seafood. the service is very good! the drink with a bubble on top tastes like soap water to us. they took the drink back with no questions asked and gave us a fat old fashioned instead. if you stay at the resort, the food is included but the alcohol isnt. there’s a trail that brings you from and back to the resort, but i think you can also call a golf cart to take you too.

I hope this review helps future guests be mindful of menu items without posted prices. My husband and I visited for lunch on Christmas Day and ordered the short rib sandwich, Moroccan shakshouka, and the holiday special cinnamon rolls. The food was enjoyable overall, and the staff was attentive and friendly. The only disappointment was the cinnamon rolls, which did not have a listed price on the menu. We assumed they would be around $16~$26, but it was $50 charge for three small cinnamon rolls. We don’t think it was a reasonable price because it was far more than a single entree!

A very pretty place, overlooking the Pacific Ocean - it‘s an elevated location secluded by forest. The tables at the front are limited :) so, be patient or come a bit later. I did not enjoy any food but it looked very well prepared, with the utmost diligence. Where is your coffee gone, though? I enjoyed two coffees; the taste of the coffee itself is very accommodating. What I did not enjoy was the amount of coffee you actually receive. I mentioned it to one of the waiters and she kind of understood what I meant before I said it … In detail, my two orders: 1. Cappucino: there was about 1/5 of the cup filled with coffee, the rest was the egg foam; yeah, I really like egg foam BUT I also like to have some coffee with it, please 2. Latte: strange enough, there was egg foam on it again, although less … hmm, a Latte with egg foam? Anyway, the amount of coffee was slightly better (1/3 of the cup) but still way on the low end of what you usually get in other high end places. Could you please serve some decent coffee if you already charge 8 USD per coffee? I think its not too much to ask …

This place was wonderful in every way. Given the location and exceptional service, worth every penny. Every detail was perfect. Waters and coffee stayed filled. Kind attentive waitress. The food was superb. I got the vegan just egg frittata and my husband had the falafel Benedict. We both got blood orange mimosas. Everything was delicious!

I had a wonderful meal here Sunday morning! The food was amazing, the cocktail was great and the view was stunning. Due to the heat they have been having problems with bees so I was unable to sit outside, however I asked for a table by the window and got it! My server, was very slow, but the kid who was running the food was great! All in all a fantastic experience to start my day!

Sur House at Alila Ventana Big Sur delivered one of the most unforgettable dining experiences we’ve ever had. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this place is something special. The setting alone is worth the visit-perched high above the Big Sur coastline, with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding forest. It’s the kind of location that makes you pause and just take it all in. We dined there multiple times during our stay, and each meal felt like an event. In the morning, breakfast was served overlooking the cliffs as the fog and marine layer rolled in gently from the sea. It was quiet, peaceful, and absolutely breathtaking. By the evening, the sunset transformed the entire landscape into a warm, glowing canvas of colors. Watching the sun dip below the horizon while enjoying an incredible meal was truly unforgettable. The food was phenomenal. The campanelle pasta was a highlight-perfectly al dente, with a rich, savory sauce that brought everything together beautifully. The rib eye was one of the best steaks I’ve had anywhere-juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Every bite was memorable. Even the bread and small bites leading up to the main course were thoughtfully prepared and delicious. The pizzas were probably the weakest part of the menu, but even then they were still very good-just outshined by everything else. Service was top notch. Every member of the team was warm, welcoming, and attentive without ever being overbearing. They anticipated what we needed before we even asked, and made us feel completely at home. The overall atmosphere was relaxed and elegant, with just the right amount of refinement. Sur House isn’t just a restaurant-it’s an experience. It captures the essence of Big Sur: natural beauty, thoughtful hospitality, and extraordinary food. Whether you’re staying at Alila Ventana or simply passing through the coast, this place is absolutely worth a visit. One of our favorite meals in California, and a place we can’t wait to return to.

Had the pleasure of dining here several times when staying at Alila Ventana Big Sur. Meals and gratuity are included when staying on the property, drinks are extra. If staying on property there is a short 10 minute walk/hike from the rooms to the restaurant, they also offer shuttles if you prefer. There's ample parking outside with a pair of free (slow) EV charging and a Tesla supercharger nearby which was nice. Ok let's get to the food. They have a seasonal menu so it changes from time to time but we were overall very happy with what was served!! We dined here for dinner for 3 nights- we thought we would get sick of it or they would only have a few good dishes, but surprisingly we were quite happy as the menu is tweaked daily so there is frequently something new/different each night. Make sure you make reservations for dinner ahead of time! Standouts for dinner for me were the yellowtail crudo and fogline chicken. The tiramashroom is visually amazing- very sweet though. The marine layer drink is a tasty drink with a lavender smoke bubble (just hope it's not too windy and it gets blown away to the next table....) burgers and wings were great for lunch. Favorite breakfast item is the mushroom tartine- so tasty! Service was efficient, we never felt like we were waiting for any long time (I was worried about this due to prior reviews I had seen). The pictures don't do this place justice in terms of ambiance. Sunsets are beautiful with lovely views of the Pacific Ocean. Multiple heat lamps are available to keep guests comfortable. Very dog friendly patio with even a dog menu. Last but not least the service was just top notch. I love that you see the same folks day after day. They are super friendly, warm, and very attentive. Will definitely stop by the next time for lunch if we are in the area whether we are staying on the property or not!

Pricey, but worth it. Nice people. Enjoyed a beautiful view of the ocean at Big Sur and a solid burger. Really nice outdoor patio. We liked this place much better than Napenthe. Had a nice waiter who'd worked there since 2011.

It's the go-to spot in Big Sur for an upscale meal with excellent service, great amenities, and an amazing view. Parking is super easy, including free EV charging. The restaurant itself is quite large, but they usually only use the patio. It can be a bit sunny, but it's got an amazing view both of the ocean and the mountains. We were even able to see a rocket launch from Vandenberg during dinner! Dining is included with your stay at Alila, so we only purchased a few drinks. What's nice is that we could try almost everything! We have been here twice, and it's been amazing both times. A few memorable dishes we tried... Good fries, especially when dipped in their amazing house guacamole. For lunch, we'd recommend the loaded grilled chicken sandwich with bacon, cheese, and avocado. The burger is tasty also. Breakfast and dinner are equally as good as lunch. And, don't miss the dessert and cocktails! The Fog Cutter cocktail is Insta-worthy and refreshing. On top of it all, the staff is hospitable and professional. It's pricey, but totally worthwhile. Keep up the great work!

Amazing Lunch experience with spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. Food is great as well. Simple lunch menu offering nothing fancy but flavor is elevated and nicely presented. Cocktails menu is also great. I would love to stay here next time and experience the amenities of this hotel and also try their dinner menu tasting experience.

Staying at the Alila Ventana again allows us to dine breakfast, second breakfast if you're a hobbit, lunch, happy hour, and dinner. Yes we could leave the resort for dining but one it's inclusive (minus alcohol) and two it's simply a fantastic restaurant on all fronts. The outside patio is the primary seating area and gives you a great view of the Pacific and the lush green hillsides of Big Sur. On a sunny day you might be lucky to see a California Condor gliding the thermals. This stay in March had a bit of cold weather and on night two dinner was held inside the restaurant, a first for us. Redwood furnishings all around and a huge fireplace adorn the inside. The food is epic of course. Staying two nights allowed us to sample more of the menu which features locally sourced ingredients. Here's what we had: Breakfast-Granola and yogurt, avocado toast, Ventana breakfast, chorizo scramble, French toast, crispy rice, fresh berries, juice and smoothies of the day. Lunch-Churassco with shrimp topping, fish of the day ( swordfish and ahi), fish tacos, burger, gem & kale salad, habanero wings, hummus with pita bread, and guacamole with chips. Dinner-bucatini cacio e pepe, camapnelle, black cod, rigatoni all'amatriciana, Iberia pork chop, and beef tenderloin. I ordered old fashioned's. Special kudos to Arkangel who served us twice during our stay. Arkangel was very welcoming and he gave some fantastic hints for the restaurant namely, if you order the lunch churassco, top it off with shrimp and then at the Social Hour for the complementary Marine Layer drink, have the bartender place your glasses side by side so that when he creates the smoke bubble it actually forms a rainbow shape. See my pictures! Dining here is just a complete 5 star experience!

Why fly thousands of miles away if you know you have a place like this in your own backyard - that is if you already live in California and can access it from the north going south on the 1. When you walk out to the back patio, it opens up to the most beautiful outdoor bar and several dining spots right next to the ocean cliff side, with rolling clouds wisping by as if we were in the sky. Food was beautiful and as delicious as it looked. Wonderful staff made up of people who are passionate about the California coast, farm to table, and the art of making every dish or drink look exquisite.

Favorites Sable fish Octopus Chocolate chip cookies Burger Ribeye steak Mango habanero wings Gorgeous views overlooking the ocean, great service, heat lamps galore, fireplaces/pits, and delicious food. For a long weekend, we enjoyed trying all the options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The only item we did not love was the apple entremet which looked better than it tasted.

Stopped by on MLK Day for lunch. lunch is open to the public and kids/pets. Lunch was served on the patio overlooking the ocean. Service was slightly slow, but it was the lunch time. Food was good (above average). Fish tacos were flavorful and fresh, a bit on the healthy side. Burger was good, nothing to complain about. For dessert we ordered mango matcha chia pudding and bread pudding. Both were great (and paired well together) light, not too sweet or heavy.

We enjoyed a sunny yet chilly day having lunch at this beautiful restaurant. The service was excellent. Our servers made us feel welcomed. The views are amazing. The setting is romantic yet laidback. They would definitely get a five star if the food menu and taste was equally good. Unfortunately the tacos had no flavor and the burger was dry despite ordering medium.

We dined at the Sur House as part of our inclusive stay at Ventana Big Sur this past weekend. We dined in for dinner and lunch the following day and ordered room service for breakfast. Overall the food was better than I expected. Service at the restaurant was excellent, all staff were warm, polite and friendly. For dinner our server Juan was excellent in giving us recommendations. Cocktails are good, we opted to get the complimentary Sunset Hour cocktail only but it was delicious and worth paying for outside of the inclusive package. For dinner we really enjoyed the hamachi crudo and crab cake. I also really liked the hen egg - wonderfully soft poached egg in a mushroom broth. Entrees we got the seared duck breast with beet puree and farro, as well as the scallops. The duck was excellent and the beet puree made this a perfect dish, 10/10. The scallops were also delightful and perfectly cooked - I think they were slightly heavy on the chili oil but still good. We got two desserts (tiramisu and carrot cake) and they were both good. The restaurant was really cozy and romantic during dinnertime. Reservations are required for dinner if you're staying at the resort. Breakfast in our room was decent, nothing special but still good. We got the ventana breakfast and the croque madame and they were both well executed. Lunch highlight was the churrasco - this was superbly cooked, flavor and texture of the beef was on point. My husband really liked the guac and said it was the best he's had, I thought it was alright. We also enjoyed the hummus and the chicken tortilla soup. The market fish was ok, it was grilled tuna, a skippable dish since the miso soy glaze was a bit too salty and the fish was a bit overdone, would have preferred a very light sear. I believe the Sur House has very strong offerings for dinner and may be worth a visit for their dinner menu if you are passing through the area. As part of the resort package I was very satisfied, particularly with the service. Everyone was extremely attentive and I believe that our great dining experience at the Sur House was a large contributing factor to our satisfaction with the resort overall.

Restaurant attached to the Alila Ventana Big Sur and included in your all-inclusive experience if staying on the property. Throughout our one-night stay, we dined here for dinner, breakfast, and lunch. While the culinary journey had its highs and lows, the overall impression was that the food surpassed expectations for an all-inclusive setting. The standout dish, without a doubt, was the Hen Egg appetizer from the dinner menu - a must-try! The striped bass and beef tenderloin also stood out with their robust flavors. In our experience, the breakfast and lunch offerings didn't quite match the excellence of dinner. The breakfast menu featured standard options you can find anywhere else... executed well of course but they lacked the uniqueness found in the dinner choices. For lunch, we opted for dishes from the Haute section - the churrasco and the market fish - both decent but not particularly noteworthy. The cocktails, while enjoyable, came with an additional charge, almost reaching the standard prices of San Francisco cocktail bars at nearly $20 apiece. It's worth noting that the entrees tended to be generously portioned; ordering an appetizer, entree, and dessert might be too much food, as we discovered.

Stayed at the resort for 3 nights so I had 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners here. The menu did not change during that time period but there was plenty to choose from. The views are just amazing. Mainly outdoor dining and they had a lot of seating options where you can see the ocean. The wait staff was always top notch. Attentive and friendly. The food was AMAZING. I've attached photos and each item was perfectly plated and prepared. 5 stars for food, service, and consistency.

Enjoyed stay at Alila property and had dinner here, views is absolutely unbelievable, nice staff and food.

Big Sur, Ca. This lunch was quite the experience. I enjoyed pretty much every thing about this place. Everyone here was friendly and polite, even the groundskeepers. We sat outside on the spacious patio overlooking the forest towards the sea. The patio is nicely shaded and on this day, no bugs. I had swordfish cooked perfectly on a well presented plate that looked like it came from a Michelin star place. My wife's plate, a marinated strip steak was similarly adorned. This steak had considerable favor as well as the fish. Our lattes were good but way too small for the price. For dessert we tried all four flavors of their ice creams and sorbets. They were all good, I give high marks to the berry sorbet and the pear ice cream. One can view the kitchen and how things are prepared. While watching how meticulously the servings are prepared and plated, I was wondering what is standard procedure in the restaurant business concerning using gloves or just making sure hands are well washed. I could see here that the attention to detail almost mandated gloveless hands.

We visited this place for my mother in laws birthday! And I have to say 100/10!!!! Top tier service, ambiance,food!!!! Amazing!!!!!!! I love the warm welcome and the weather tied it up all together!!!!!! I loved the whole experience here! Although it is on the pricier side of things. I definitely recommend!!!!!! Epic view!!!!!

The views at the Sur House are incredible! This is a place where the natural beauty of the setting is hard to beat. We dined here two evenings in a row being guests at Alila Ventana. We even saw an incredible double rainbow starting off the side of the mountain going into the ocean- WOW! The cuisine was good but lacked consistency from one meal to the next. Both evenings were fine but the food on the first was more preferable. I had the same entree both nights, and the second night seemed like a way different dish. But before I get into that, let me rewind a bit and talk about the standout things first. Okay, I already mentioned how incredible the view is, believe me- it's incredible. If weather is agreeable, definitely do outdoor dining. The interior of the restaurant is like a luxe cabin feel with expansive exposed beams. It's refined, but not far removed from it's Big Sur woodsy setting. The service was great- very friendly and engaging. In that department, they deliver and come off as being genuinely personable. From the dinner menu, you pick an appetizer and a pasta or entree, or pick a pasta and an entree. I choose to go with the burrata as my app the first evening and the Mushroom Pasta. The burrata was good- it wasn't great. I've had better iterations of this dish. There were too many chives that drowned out the delicate taste of the burrata. The pasta was a remarkable texture and the sauce was so rich and spot on delicious. It was a very gratifying dish. For dessert I got 3 scoops of ice cream/ sorbet. The pistachio ice cream was very good and the mixed berry sorbet was also nice. The third scoop of ice cream was not what I was expecting. It was a salted caramel. I didn't care for it as it was on the bitter side. It had an aggressive taste to it- which is kind of an odd way to describe an ice cream flavor, but here we are. There was also a crumble served with the ice cream, but it didn't add anything special to the dish. It was an unpleasant texture and I just didn't understand why someone would want to add this to the smooth, creamy ice cream. The texture was like sand. The first night was a pretty tip-top experience. Also worthy of mention, my husband really enjoyed his food that evening. He had the king salmon for his appetizer (which I tasted, and it was bursting with flavor) and the duck as an entree. I'm not a fan of duck, so I didn't try, but my husband raves about how delicious it was- especially the skin. The next evening, we dined at the same time and were even seated at the same table as the evening before. This time around I ordered lump crab appetizer. It was a sizable amount of sweet jumbo lump crab meat with a citrus sauce. It was good, but somehow missed the mark. I think the sauce was too thin and the chunks of grapefruit gave the dish an unexpected element that I think it could have done without. For my main entree, I had the same mushroom pasta dish. This time there seemed to be a lot more sauce in the dish and the consistency was a lot thinner. Even soupy. This was a complete turn from just the night before. The ice cream the following night was similar but this time the pistachio ice cream had an insane amount of pistachios in it and it was just too much to bite and chew ice cream with razor sharp pieces. Also, there was no whip cream served with the ice cream on night two, but it was served on the first night- I was bummed whip cream wasn't included on the second ice cream round. Overall, The Sur House is pretty good. The views are the big draw, and there are great food items, but the inconsistency from one night to the next were puzzling.

Rustic Beauty Amid the rain, wind, and cold, we entered a rustic oasis for dinner The Sur House is located at the Alila Ventana, Hyatt's most exclusive property in Northern California The restaurant is open to both the public and resort guests and we dined among the redwoods and coastline in the protected high ceiling interior A special dinner experience for a special guest Baked Oysters / Celeriac and French Butter Pear Potage / Beef Ribeye ~ pomme purée, cranberry beans, seasonal root vegetable, roasted tomato vinaigrette / Rockfish ~ stewed peppers and onions, polenta, lump crab, saffron / Carrot Cake / Dulcev Bay The Sur House (Big Sur, CA)

The service was excellent, ambiance was great and food was simple but so delicious! I was in town for a little getaway and my friend booked this place for lunch. We had fish tacos, a salad that had really good dressing and chips and salsa. Really enjoyed the experience!

I had lunch at The Sur House today and thoroughly enjoyed it. My friend and I split the guacamole as an appetizer and the fish tacos as a main. The guacamole had delicious chunks of fresh avocado, and a yummy citrus flavor. The fish tacos were so delicious and filling with a flakey white fish, pico de gallo, and slaw. They came with a side option of fries or salad. We chose a Mexican style little gem Caesar salad that paired really nicely with the tacos. The restaurant is beautifully done, and has gorgeous views of the Big Sur coastline, there is indoor and outdoor seating available. Prices were reasonable and we were both impressed with the portion sizes of the dishes. Service was really friendly and quick. Do look at your receipt, a 22% service charge was included, so we chose not to leave any additional tip. Looking forward to making this a regular place to stop when I come to Big Sur.

The Sur House is the restaurant at the Ventana, which is, as of a few years ago, an all-inclusive resort. If you're staying at the Ventana, this is where you eat, and the food is certainly not bad. But if you're not a hotel guest, you're not part of the captive audience the restaurant is designed to serve. I went with my husband Matt B. when we were staying at the Post Ranch Inn across the street. We had a nice time, but I thought the food was surprisingly mediocre, especially for the price. We made an 8:00 reservation almost a month in advance and got on the waitlist for an earlier spot so we could enjoy the view. Nothing opened up, as far as I know, but I'm guessing tables are limited for non-guest diners. I assume the views were great, but it was pitch-dark outside when we were there. The dining room was attractive, though, with a pleasant, convivial ambiance. Service was excellent. Juan was a warm, attentive waiter. We started our dinner with a round of cocktails, then ordered a bottle of wine. I know restaurants tend to squeeze a lot of their profits from alcohol, but I think this might be extra true for an all-inclusive place. The cocktails were mostly over $20 each, and the wine mark-ups were unusually high, even by nice restaurant standards. I liked what we got, though. I ordered A Love Letter, a refreshing whiskey drink with Rare Breed rye, Chinola passion fruit liqueur, lime, and egg white. Matt had the Respect Your Elders, with chamomile-infused Uncle Nearest whiskey, Campari, elderflower, honey shrub, and fresh chamomile flowers. We had a bottle of L'Aventure Optimus with our food. The Sur House offers a three-course prix fixe with several options for appetizer, entree, and dessert. Everything we had was kind of fine, but generally disappointing for an exepensive restaurant. There were raw vegetables thrown on top of dishes with no particular care or preparation. Weak flavors, imprecise cooking, just a feeling of thoughtlessness that made me realize how much work it must take to run a top notch kitchen. I started with the hen egg, a soft-poached egg with maitake mushrooms and truffle. The egg was soupy, and not in a good way, served, I think, with grits and a little ham in addition to the mushrooms, which were the best part. Matt's burrata was also just okay, served with celery root, apple, and grilled brioche. I honestly thought all burrata was fantastic, but this one didn't have the creaminess and flavor I typically associate with the cheese. I got the dayboat market catch for my entree, a cod dish with Castroville artichoke bari joule (I think this is a weird spelling of barigoule, which is a braised artichoke dish), Cara Cara orange, and Niçoise olive sauce. The cod was good. Buried in a weird profusion of sprouts, but good. I also enjoyed a side of crispy brussels sprouts with umami caramel. Matt had the 38 North duck with risotto, pearl onion, roasted carrots and turnip, and blueberry duck jus. Cooked well enough, but not very flavorful. Dessert was fun. We got the apple entremet and the ice cream and sorbet flight, and both came on a big tray with the apple in the middle and an upside-down mini ice cream cone on every corner. The apple entremet was a cute dessert, with whipped 32% apple ganache, apple tatin insert, sable breton, apple bourbon jelly, and bourbon caramel sauce, shaped into a candy-red apple. I liked the ice cream and sorbet flavors--Fresno chile strawberry chocolate, crème fraîche lemon, raspberry, and coffee. We had a good time at the Sur House, but I wouldn't go back unless I was staying at the Ventan. If you're just considering a special dinner in town, Sierra Mar is several times better.

THIS IS A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND OPTION I had a dinner at the Sur House. Atmosphere 5/5 One of the best pacific panoramic view in the Big Sur. Service (servers) 5/5 We forgot to ask the name of the server. However, he is a tall guy with gray hair. He is ver gentle and friendly. He made a great conversation with us which made us feel really amazing. The food and drinks that he recommended are all phenomenal. Foods (4/5) Respect your elder - well balanced cocktailed with amazing garnished. Taste like Negroni & old fashioned. A method of a cloak - A rich floral cocktail which represents all the flowers in Alila Ventana Big Sur. Hen Egg - This is the must (period) Steak - a bit overcooked but the quality is great. We deducted score from this one. Duck - 10/10. That is. Manager 0/5 We had a reservation at 8 pm and we arrived on time. We were asked to wait at the couch. Then, It was past 8 pm. we noticed there was another couple checking in after us. That couple was waiting at the couch too. Then, that couple was seated. I was wondering why. So, I asked the host at the check in counter. The answer I got is "They booked at different time slots". Here is what I have been thinking. 1. How does Sur House prioritize late guests over on time guests? 2. Or they just forget to seat us and try to find a good excuse? Nevermind, I do not want to ruin the night. So, we got seated a few seconds later. We got the second row seats. And we notice that there is another table leaving where we would like to move there. The manager came to talk to us and apologize about the check in process. We accepted it. Then, we asked to move to that table. The manager said that the table will be taken care of by another server who is already overloaded. Food and services will be delayed. Me: So, you would not seat anyone there, wouldn't you? The manager: No, we will not seat anyone for a while. Me: Can we move there to enjoy the view and take photos while waiting for food? The manager: If you sit there, we will need to sanitize all again. Oh my goodness, this is blowing my mind. I do not want to deal with this person anymore. I do not want to ruin the atmosphere and the night. How long will it take to sanitize? You don't even seat anyone. This makes me feel like being *RACISM* of being an Asian. I really do not want to feel this way since this is a very high end restaurant where many international travellers visit. This is really unfortunate. She made me feel that way. Furthermore!!! Next 10-15 minutes, that table got seated and they even received all the food and services and left the table before us. I really beg Alila Ventana Big Sur and The Sur House to take the action seriously. This should not occur again to any other guest or anyone. I hope my message reaches the management and they will arrange a proper training to their staff, especially managers level who handles the customer issues. I still love and would like to revisit Alila. Hopefully these will get solved.

So this restaurant is a bit unique. It opens to the public for breakfast and lunch (confirmed with the wonderful waitress Jannett during lunch) and only for resort guests during dinner. It was our 4th time in the last 2 years visiting this restaurant. During this trip we had 1 lunch and 2 dinner here. The drink menu is the same throughout the day. I would say this restaurant is modern california coastal cuisine. During our last stay, in Dec 2022, it was focus mostly in seafood. Some highlight during dinner: The potage was really good, especially with the bacon jam. The shrimp in appetizer was grilled and very flavorful For entree we had scallop one day because the sablefish was out. What a great surprise! Cooked to perfection too! We also had Salmon because the rockfish was out in one of the day. I also had ribeye but the protein portion was a bit smaller than I thought, maybe 8 oz? But hey, it's all inclusive. So they don't mine you trying more than 1 dish. So again, dinner is only for resort guests. The setting is very cozy. Before you visit the resort the concierge would help you schedule dinner reservation which I highly recommend. I saw some guests had to wait at the bar for 1+ hour. The bar area is very well design and there is a wood fireplace which is very cozy too. We dined indoor this time because it was rainning. Otherwise their giant outdoor patio are very nice!

Staying here at the hotel and eating here for all 3 meals. Service has been very good. Cannot beat the views as overlooks the ocean. Food has been excellent so far. Fish tacos were great for lunch and the dinner entrees were also great. Halibut and the beef of the day were excellent. Still have more meals here so keep you posted. No prices on our menus but I did see the breakfast prices and they were not cheap!!

The Sur House for dinner is quite the experience! I came here on a solo, week-long trip in Big Sur and decided to treat myself to dinner here. The staff and service were all so professional, kind, and offered a hospitality that made the whole experience amazing. I felt so taken care of by everyone. The ambiance is classy, yet un-fussy. It felt like a relaxed cabin type vibe with simple, refined decor features. Something I appreciated was that the dress-code was fairly relaxed for a place that offers an upscale meal. (Good for those who are camping/glamping!) I made an early reservation at 5:15pm so that I could get a good table and beat the dinner rush. I was seated at a two-top near the back right by the window with lovely views of the patio and fog-covered mountainside that this luxury resort is perched on. When I dined there on 5/24/23 it was a 3-course menu, including dessert. I ended up adding an extra item and ordering a glass of wine, all which totaled $192 for one person. (It is a pre-fix menu that includes gratuity). I had the oysters (which were a special that evening), the pasta with wild foraged mushrooms (this was my extra item), the salmon (which was perfectly cooked and SO good!), and the apple "entrement" for dessert, (which was a delightful surprise, a fun presentation, and the perfect amount of sweet without being too much). Everything was SO good. The flavors, the preparation, and presentation were all spot on. Let me tell you, especially the ladies...if there's anything that makes a woman feel like a million bucks, it's treating yourself to a solo dinner at The Sur House! Do it. You won't regret it. I can't remember my server's name but she was kind of tall, I think had been there a long time (10 years?). She was fantastic! Her and the rest of the staff had this perfect balance of superb service with an unpretentious approach, which I really appreciated. She made ordering so simple, easy, and delightful. We made small talk and she was very pleasant. I came back a few days later to enjoy a cocktail on my last day in Big Sur and Roy was bartending that afternoon and he just really was the cherry on top of the whole experience. He remembered me from a few nights prior (which surprised me for some reason) and welcomed me as if I were a well-known guest. Never underestimate the power of being remembered and greeted with a friendly, familiar face! He made me a drink that was off-menu based on the flavor profiles I gave him and it was delicious! He really made me feel so taken care of, welcomed, and treated! Like I had been coming there for years, even though I was just a stranger tourist passing through. I will definitely be back here on my next trip to Big Sur. Thank you, Roy and the rest of the Sur House family! The excellence of your hospitality is so appreciated.

best all inclusive dining for a hotel dinners requiring booking but lunch and breakfast do not great hyatt points value! food takes awhile to get to room so best to go in person rotating menu but most things were fresh and delicious. really enjoyed the harvest lettuces salad with green goddess and brioche crumble brussels sprouts umami sauce perfect hen egg awesome with prosciutto truffle and maitake lots of use of mushrooms at all meals, the breakfast hash was great and homemade granola with yogurt and a fresh smoothie for desserts, some looked better than they tasted. really friendly place

Great views, food and drinks were ok for the price range. Service was very good. But overall it was just an ok experience

Service here is good, ambiance is nice outdoor seating is what they had, only issue was there was a lot of flies and wasps around the area where it was hard to eat comfortably. They have fans for the table but most of them were taken so they didn't have enough for every table. The food is good and fresh has different unique tastes where the menus are changed often. Had the steak which was cooked well and along with the potatoes. The sorbet flight was worth it, overall good place that comes with the reservation was worth it.

Wonderful service. Wonderful food and priceless view. Although it was a bit cold, the experience was amazing. I just wanted to sit there all day and enjoy the view and the sun. The food was delicious and the service was impeccable from beginning to end. Thank you Sara, Nick, Angel, Flávia and Jessica. Mahalo much for everything. We will be back very soon!

The food is great and the views are amazing!! The cold drinks on a hot day were refreshing.

We only came here for drinks while we waited for our campsite to become available, but definitely enjoyed our time. I got a cocktail what was very refreshing, then switched to Rosé. Marine layer was thick so the view was obscured for the majority of the time we were there, but the sun was shining on the mountain which made for a nicer ambiance. Expect to pay at least $18-20 for a cocktail while wine and beer is priced about $1-2 above normal prices

The food and drinks were amazing and you have the opportunity to dine while seeing amazing views.

Definitely get the "sur" loin , it was amazingly tender. So good that I had it for dinner and my late night dinner later on. We also got the sable fish, which my wife thought was very soft and flaky. We got scallops and tofu for our lite night dinner too. The scallops were really good. Though the tofu was bland, it's a vegan dish which is expected lol though the veggies on it were very well seasoned. Overall, 4.5 for food and 5 for service. They attended to our every need and accepted any changes to the menu that we requested. Even though scallops were not on the late night menu, they served it to us anyway. As for all those negative reviews from the glampers, this is a resort restaurant. People pay a premium to be here away from kids, noise, and the city. You can't roam onto the resort grounds and expect to be served like paying guests.......

Food was great! We sat outside. Clean and decently priced for what it was. Staff was friendly

Wonderful food that was included in our stay at Alila La Ventana. We had all our meals here and loved the cocktail hour. They also accommodated a cheese plate for me at lunch that is normally reserved for the cocktail hour. I enjoyed the desserts too, and the apple entremet was a vision!

We stayed at the Alila so had the opportunity to have a number of meals at The Sur House.  I have to say almost everything was delicious.  My favorites were probably the Fish Tacos (halibut), Quesadilla and the Churrasco and if you are a chocolate fan get the Chocolate Ice Cream (for lunch)  and for dinner the Scallops were great and also the Prawns.  If you are a chocolate fan do not miss the flourless chocolate torte for dinner desert. The seasonings and presentation on these dishes were perfection.   Add that to the amazing view and the great service - don't know what else you would need! One warning - if you don't like "fancy" food you won't like it here.  Even their burgers are not just your average.   Oh yes and try their old-fashioned - its a bit on the sweeter side and great and also the Marine Layer drink - worth it just to watch the bubble pop!

The food, service, and ambiance here was one of the best I've experienced. Juan was amazing. I can't say enough good things about him! We told him we were on our mini honeymoon and he made the night extra special. The food was creative and cooked perfectly as well.

Octopus legs - Must try! Well charred, nice crispy texture. Great flavored not too salty. Loved it! I ordered another one afterward. Had many grilled octopus at fine dining, this is one of the better one I've had. Crab cakes - Crunchy. Done crabby cakes aren't very crunchy and it falls apart friends on how they made the crab cakes. This one is filled with crab meats. But I am not impressed with the marinate. Nonetheless, you like crab, you won't go wrong. However my favorite appetizer here is the octopus legs. Chorizo tostada - it's ok. Not special. Kale and white bean soup- I like the soup! The chorizo spiciness made the soup better. Spaghetti with crab meat - A bit salty but all in all, ok. The crab meat taste didn't overwhelmed the spaghetti which I hope it will. Cause the flavor kind of bland. Sea bass - the texture of the sea bass is slightly tough. May be I got used to the Chilean sea bass. Otherwise it was done beautifully. Crispy on the skin, nicely roasted hazelnut. Good compliment on the garnish. Short rib - Tender. Flavorful. Well marinated. But dry cause it's got a little far in between. Very nice crispy fingerling potatoes. The waiter we had wasn't very god waiter... Every time we ordered extra food, he seemed to question... "You want another...?" He never asked if I want another Arnold palmer which I finished before he came back to take the entre order. He never asked if we need more food, more drinks, nor even asked us if we need a shuttle to chauffeur back to our room. The reason I mentioned all these is because the waiter who waited the table next to us did all that! Breakfast: Better waiter but still didn't ask me if I want an extra orange juice cause again I finished before he took my breakfast order... hey, I'm a thirsty guy!

Excellent food and beer/wine/ciders! Doggies love hanging out in the back patio under the trees with a beautiful view of the mountains. Recommend the pork tacos!

This restaurant is part of Ventana and currently only open to hotel guests. My husband and I were staying her for our anniversary celebration and had the most wonderful experience. The food is incredible and service was above and beyond. For dinner, we tried the lamb, sea bass, beet poke and carrot soup, very flavor was well pronounced. It's a must try!

The place was amazing, the ambiance was beautiful and spectacular views everywhere you turn. Food prepared perfect and full of flavor. Service was outstanding and attentive. Waiting to go back again soon.

Accompanied by the sunset, ocean mist and the smell of the evergreens surrounding us, we enjoyed an unforgettable anniversary dinner on the patio of The Sur House this year. From the moment we arrived, we received impeccable service. Our waiter, I believe his name was Michael, was warm, welcoming and took amazing care of us. He answered all of our questions, and made sure we were comfortable and wanted for nothing. All of our courses were brought out promptly and he made sure to check on us regularly refilling our drinks. He even had the kitchen add "Happy Anniversary" to our desserts. He really made us feel special. The patio is lovely with a nice view. We sat near a wall with gas fire and it was just enough to keep the chill away while still allowing us to enjoy the crisp air. We had our pup with us and she was quite content as well. I love that they are dog friendly. Our food was top notch. Every dish was incredible, both in taste and presentation. To start, we had the spring chicory salad and the Spanish octopus. The goat cheese and walnuts in my salad were delicious and my husband said the octopus was crispy with the perfect amount of heat. I had chicken for my main (which I ordered mostly for our pup) but my husband did taste it and said it was very good. I really enjoyed the Moroccan flavors of the rest of the dish which were all vegetarian friendly. The couscous and olives were flawlessly flavored and it genuinely reminded me of our trip to Morocco a few years ago. Let me be clear that they have plenty of vegetarian options and they even have a menu for your dog, but I was craving the couscous and my pup was hungry too so it just worked out better for me personally. My husband ordered the dry aged NY strip steak medium rare and said it practically melted in his mouth. His dessert was a salty and sweet sundae which is a combination he is not too keen on but that didn't stop him from devouring it and my galette was simple, fresh and sweet. An exquisite end to an exquisite meal. Thank you Sur House.

Contemporary California coast cuisine! The restaurant is open to the public. I had the opportunity to dine here as apart of the inclusive stay at Alila Ventana. It was very difficult to decide what to order at meals because everything sounded so good. As a resort guest, we were welcome to order anything on the menu with no limitations. Any leftovers could be taken back. Everything i had was simply delicious and well prepared. The ingredients are locally sourced with some items from their organic garden on property. The service is great! The staff was very attentive and great at making recommendations. It's a short walk from the property. Shuttle service to and from the rooms is available. They are open for breakfast, lunch, happy hour and dinner. Breakfast and lunch, weather permitting, is served on the patio which offers beautiful views of the ocean and the wilderness. The patio is also a popular spot for happy hour. Great view of the sunset!!

I made a reservation at this restaurant on Tock and received several confirmations of it. I booked for 3 people at 530pm. When I showed up they told me there must have been a "glitch" because I shouldn't have been allowed to book because they are only for guests and don't allow children (my husband and I ad our so with us). I showed them my confirmation email and begged them to us anywhere they wanted if they didn't want us near guests, but they refused us. They admitted it was a mistake not to have mentioned their no children policy) on any confirmations (can't you imagine a 530pm booking for 3 might include a child? But nonetheless, we paid the price. They also said they are a "guests only" all inclusive hotel but another woman I met on a hike the next day told me she had lunch there the day before (she was staying at a camp sight). Whether you have a child or not, I'm wary of any business with this level of customer support. Getting from place to place in Big Sur is no small feat and to turn away guests with a legitimate reservation is inexcusable in my opinion and shows a lack of care for customers.

Came here for dinner, but as a tip, come an hour before sunset to see the breathtaking ocean view from the mountain top. The staff were very attentive and quick to tend to any requests, felt like we were in 5star dining or so. Lighting is dim, so for those with David m vision, use that camera light to read your menus cuz it's ambience over accommodation here :) Two main dishes were ordered Tagiatelle Nero- such a rich buttery flavor condensed into a simple dish topped with dungeonous crab. Steamed mussels- this for sure is meant to be shared. It's a huge dish with savoury tomato broth base with plenty of mussels throughout the dish Lavender creme brulee- the aroma and flavor is so nice! Light and creamy with the crackling crispies of carmelized sugar garnished will the lavender... A perfect dessert to top the night off. Thank you for the wonderful birthday dinner, service and ambience!

Sick views. Very slow service but the food is delicious. Coffee tonic - unique and delicious Crab Louie salad - very good almost like a crab wedge salad instead of what you'd expect for a Louie salad Calamari - yummy and not that oily

Located on the top of a hill, adjacent to (or part of?) Ventana resort, it is a great upscale restaurant with a beautiful view and breathtaking patio area. On the night we went, service was excellent. It was the night they had a brush fire on a nearby mountainside, and even though we had a dog and was supposed to be seated on the patio, they made an exception and let us dine inside (because the smell of smoke was so bad). I really appreciated the fact that they were trying to accommodate us, knowing there really wasn't too many choices late on Sunday night when we had a pet with us. The food was good, we had the salad, mussels and crab pasta. Everything was tasty, and the ambience was great. They also have this lookout deck (open Wed-Sun) attached to the parking lot, and the view from there is absolutely gorgeous, highly recommend even if you're not eating at the restaurant to check it out and take in the scenery. Thank you for taking care of us and making sure we were breathing clean air while eating. Really appreciate the staff for making our visit so enjoyable.

Went for dinner on 7/4/23. Excellent ambiance and attention to detail with seating, heaters (and heat wall), and well-spaced tables. Views are very good (but not like Sierra Mar). I thought that the food was good but not fantastic. A little disappointed with that, but everything else was great. Cocktails were fantastic, as is the view from the bar seats when the sun goes down. Very accommodating staff and host (Anthony??).

Absolutely loved this place, fresh food, friendly staff and lovely environment. will definitely come back !

My husband made our reservation for our Prix Fixe Anniversary Dinner prior to our arrival to Big Sur with us looking forward to their unique offerings. Finding the restaurant was a bit confusing but alas we made it to our reservation with a few minutes to spare - they are located on the Ventana property FYI. Greeted by the hostess, we were seated immediately, although known for their gorgeous views there was an inversion layer this April, so we were seated looking at a lovely Zen garden with the backdrop of Big Sur. The waiter's assistant immediately came over welcomed us restaurant while handing us the menus then offered us either sparkling or tap water which we requested sparkling. He then brought us fresh bread w/Himalayan salt accompanied with cream cheese that had fresh grated vegetables from the Ventana garden it was ~ amazingggg!! Our waiter followed shortly asking us if we had decided on our drinks for the evening and had any questions about the menu. The Chef's Taste of The Season Menu was a Prix Fixe four-course menu that had four choices in each four-course section - can you say WOW!! that's options! Our waiter (sorry we forgot your name) was helpful with what was his favorites and we started to narrow it down for our choices for the night. He asked what brought us in for the evening, that he had heard it was our anniversary - we shared that he was correct, and looking forward to a lovely evening out. For our libations of the evening we decided on a Spritzer for moi and a Remember When for my husband both very refreshing. First course for my husband: Octopus Carpaccio with compressed watermelon radish, cucumber, capers & aioli ~ well balanced and delicate!! 1st Course for me: Cauliflower Soup with maple truffle crumb and hon-shimeji mushroom ~ this was absolutely divine and I LOVED watching the chef pour the soup over the truffle crumb, I felt like a little kid watching this - TOO FUN!! be sure to watch my video!! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select_video=b2sWDxUMnX5h6bxFtYuFTQ&userid=GX0FKxi3OjDABcw4XwQ7Jg 2nd Course for my hubby: Tuna poke w/mango vinaigrette, coconut puree & jerk spiced macadamia nuts ~ how can anyone pass up POKE - this was absolutely deLISH! 2nd Course for moi: Ricotta Cavatelli with pancetta, Ventana spring onions, peas, lemon, Sausalito watercress & Parmesan ~ veryyy rich and yet everything complimented each ingredient - in a word - yum!! Main Course for my husband: Potato Crusted Ling Cod with bean cassoulet, pork belly, turnips and fennel ~ the cod was tender, cooked to perfection and everything meshed well, definitely OMTASTY!! Main Course for me: Ora King Salmon with fennel and lemon puree, potatoes, tapenade and asparagus ~ the salmon was rich, cooked perfectly, lemon puree and tapenade paired well with the potatoes & asparagus rounding off the dish - yep this dish was daBOMB!! We couldn't finish everything it was downright impossible but we definitely tried, ohhh wait you thought we forgot about dessert are you CRAZY!! LOL Final Course Dessert: We shared, although my husband tries to sneak a few more bites in when I am not looking LOL Almond Fancier and Strawberry Semifreddo ~ the staff went out of their way to dress up the dish and wish us a Happy Anniversary!! Thank you Sur House! both of our choices were absolutely yummilicious!! my fave if I had to pick the Strawberry Semifreddo - this is a MUST!! Our evening was a delightful dining experience by The Sur House along with their attentive staff. We loved the attention to detail, polite and attentive staff. If in the area you should experience Sur House for your special day or just to enjoy their Strawberry Semifreddo - yep that kind of yummilicious!!