Trillium Cafe & Inn

We enjoyed the Blue Cheese Salad and Scallop starters and the pork chop and ribeye for mains. The steak was was very tender and cooked perfectly. The pork chop was decent. There are some red wines by the glass that were good, but not fantastic. Service was relaxed, but professional. Our server Jen was attentive. As other reviews noted - Good service, Good food - with the scallops and Ribeye being excellent. Nice for a special night out.

The food was fabulous 5 stars. Especially notable was the scallops, lobster mushrooms, halibut,rock fish with sunchoke puree and the amazing Dubai bar.The only food item that was not up to par was the side order of risitto which was made with regular lon grain rice instead of Arborio rice. it was dryer and not creamy .Our servers were very friendly and professional. .

My server Jen was so sweet but the hostess sat me at a table she needed really quickly after I sat. They awkwardly told me they encouraged me to take my dessert to go because they needed my table. I felt awful. It ruined my dinner. There were people huffing and puffing around me because I was keeping a 6 top from sitting down and I was a useless 1 top. Again, my server Jen was very kind but they all handled the whole thing so unprofessionally. I had a reservation for 1.5 hours and they tried to kick me out one hour after I sat down. I am speechless. That being said, if you do go, order the scallops. They are really really good.

Last night of our vacation - walking around town trying to decide on where to go for dinner. Just happened to stop in and see. They took our name as it was a hour wait. We walked to the cliffs and watched the pelicans while we waited. Dinner was amazing. Well worth the wait. (Next time I would make reservations). The glaze on the steak was excellent. The scallops were cooked to perfection. Service was friendly and efficient.

We went to dinner here at the suggestion of our inn keeper. Superb setting, classic Mendo. Relaxed comfort. Excellent service. Help with the wine choice, many reasonably priced good local bottles. Food was great. Mushroom bisque was terrific. Fish was great. All in all - a worthy night out. We will be back. .

Great experience! Unfortunately, they were out of two of the three vegetarian dish options. Did not have a choice in what to order from the menu. Would have been nice to know that after waiting an hour to be seated. Otherwise the food and experience was great. Fun gift shop and oyster bar as well! Would recommend.

The fish tacos are excellent. Nice flavor and grill to them. Highly recommended! Came to Mendocino to check out the beautiful coastal town and see some of the places that were in Murder She Wrote.

This place is amazing! This place is extremely clean (which is impatient to me), it has indoor and outdoor seating. The outside canopy garden section you can sit at has heaters outside which use nice on cooler days. Their menu has several Vegetarian/gluten free options, and a variety of choices on the menu to make sure everyone gets what they crave. I ordered a toasted hazelnut blue cheese salad with dates and apples and it came with a very subtle vinaigrette dressing, it was extremely delicious, light and refreshing. I also ordered their vegetable gnocchi, it was such a beautiful balance of citrus, and buttery gnocchi. The pumpkin seeds on top were a nice little crunch and micro greens balanced out the citrusy flavor. For dessert I had the “Dubai bar.” It was very rich but delicious, perfect to share. My kids LOVED the broccolini and the pea risotto was buttery and delicious. Highly recommend this place. Atmosphere and food were top tier.

Great food in Mendocino! Make a reservation this place books up. Tasty food and a nice presentation. Friendly staff are very attentive. Cute little house with a small inside area, maybe seven tables. Outside has a tented area with a lovely garden to eat in with propane heaters. We will be back!

Had a weekend getaway and decided to book a reservation at this cute restaurant. I had the halibut with the fried polenta and it was so good! My partner had the catch of the day with tomatillo sauce and veggies and it was okay. Def not the best and I'm so glad I didn't order it. Haha. Service was not the best. The young boys helping with water, bread, etc. were super sweet. Our server was not the best. It seemed as if she didn't really want to be there. Every conversation was forced. It really put a damper on our dinner. I'm not sure we'll be back next time we are in the area.

Let's start with the service - flawless. Our server brought samples of wine, knew the menu well, and knew just when to check in. We sat in the outside garden, and the atmosphere was relaxed and charming. The albacore appetizer had a perfect balance of tangy and sweet - and it complimented my missus' beet and strawberry salad. My sandwich just worked - a mix of carmelized onions, greens, avocado, and plump larger prawns with fontina. It's special and not a combo that is intuitive but it is! Wine was terrific - viogner - and a perfect pairing for the meal. I wish we had room for dessert as the choices were exceptional and unique. Next time...

We were able to get seats for two as walk-ins on a Saturday, but seats were somewhat limited. The inn had a lovely home vibe, friendly waiters, and delicious food. I ate a lot but didn't feel disgusting afterwards--appreciated the balanced and healthy options! Got some complementary focaccia as well (though it didn't come with oil/vinegar for dipping). Hope to be back!

We stayed in Mendocino for a week and ate out every night. MacCallum House, Little River Inn, Mendocino Cafe, Fog Eater Cafe and more. Food at Trillium was good, not at the top of the list, but solid upper middle. My husband loved the shrimp dish, and I liked the halibut. The Dubai bar was quite tasty too. The reason for my 3 stars is the lady who was at the hostess station. Note to the owners (or maybe she is the owner idk?): Can you not have someone greet and seat the guests who is welcoming and pleasant and can offer a smile? She appeared as though she was doing us a favor by letting us dine at Trillium! And it wasn't just us; we were seated right in front of the front door and she was this way to everyone. That aside, the evening was good.

Trillium never disappoints. We ordered many dishes and fully enjoyed each one. The ingredients are fresh with a farm-to-fork menu. They have a full wine selection for fair prices. I recommend sitting outside under the tent so you can enjoy the charming garden. We will always come back to Trillium whenever we're in Mendo.

Decided on this restaurant for my bday in Mendo. Food was good and fresh. Except my husband's ribeye was undercooked. Rare in some spots and not medium rare as ordered. We got seated in a prime spot outdoors with a nice ocean view. However, the service was terrible. Our waitress seemed to be more attentive and chatty with other customers, primarily the yt customers. My husband is an easy man to please and he even said he was so disappointed in the service. I still tipped her 20% because I'm dumb like that. When making the reservation he noted that it was my birthday and they made no effort to say happy birthday or place a candle on my dessert. It was really sad! I just wish our experience was better. Service is really everything. They also didn't have a kids menu.

4 Stars for this one! Super cute patio area and if the weather is at all decent that would be my go to for seating! Staff was extremely friendly! The food itself had highs and not so highs. The veggie galette is so freaking delicious! That is a huge win for me! The steak however wasn't bad but wasn't the caliber I would have hoped for given the costs and atmosphere of the restaurant.

This is our first time at Trillium and it was a very pleasant experience. The ambience here is old Mendocino cozy. By that I mean, the restaurant is in a Victorian building late 1800s building. There were also about six tables outside the main room under a plastic cover with heat lamps, allowing them to accommodate more guests. Service was friendly and conscientious. In the kitchen that night, there was a bit of a backlog, but attentive servers brought bubbly water to our table as well as fresh warm bread and butter, which staved off some of our hunger. We shared two appetizers: the onion tartine and the scallops. Both were very good, although the scallops were tepid. For the main course I had the seared black cod and my friend had the vegetable tortellini, both of which were excellent! Some dishes were at an expected price point for this level of service and quality, while others dishes, (like half a game hen) felt overpriced at $40. Overall, we had a pleasant, good quality experience. Reservations are strongly recommended. Ample Street parking but expect to walk a block or two after 6 PM.

Fancy food but casual atmosphere in the cutest coastal town that California has to offer! Service is slower paced that you may be used to from chain restaurants - but that's sort of the point in coming to a spot like this. Great for an Italian style dinner where you have multiple courses, good wine, and a long excellent meal with delicious food and friendly conversation. They were able to accommodate a shellfish allergy with ease. Steak was perfectly done!

$430 for 4 people. Food was average at best. I brought a 23 year old bottle of Cab from my collection, made it very clear to our server that it needed to be opened with care. Dime size pieces of cork in our glasses!! AND, they didn't waive the $25 corkage fee. Won't go back!

We had a solid meal here a few nights ago. The outdoor seating had heat lamps, was charming and dog-friendly. The service was good and the staff was lovely. The food was solid - we shared a strawberry salad , some oysters, steak and pork chop. The steak was not medium rare as I would have liked but tasty. The pork chop was juicy - seems like it was brined. Dessert was a blackberry peach galette. This is a restaurant I would return to and recommend to others visiting Mendocino.

We were in Mendocino for Thanksgiving and booked Trillium as they had the most varied menu. We are not turkey lovers :) We were seated quickly and the vibe was low key but sophisticated. We sat inside, they do have seats outside but it was nippy and we opted for warmth. We had wild scallops and Dungeness crab strudel for starters, both very nice. The grass fed rib eye was incredible and the fall vegetable gnocchi was also super yummy filled with great veggies, pesto and gnocchi. We finished with some of the best desserts we have ever had - they were that incredible - the chocolate bourbon pecan pie was indescribably delicious. I am still dreaming about it. The Persimmon Sticky toffee cake was my wife's fave - light, flavorful - she loved it. They were so good we didn't even take photos lol Service was excellent - great recommendations from start to finish. We will definitely be back when in Mendocino again.

A group of friends and I were visiting Mendocino for a weekend getaway. Due to the highly praised reviews on Yelp for Trillium, I made reservations for four on Saturday evening to enjoy a delightful seafood dinner. ARRIVAL The restaurant was quite busy but not completely full. I checked in at the host desk, and we were seated outside (as requested) in the tent-shaded outdoor seating. SERVICE During our visit, we found the service was not up to par as we had hoped. Although our waitress initially checked on us frequently, we preferred more time to review the menu before placing our orders. It would have been helpful to receive some recommendations as well. Overall, we felt that the service could have been more accommodating and welcoming. The waitress was short with us from the beginning, which established an uncomfortable dining experience. ALCOHOL The restaurant has a beer and wine license, offering a good selection for wine enthusiasts. No liquor license. However, it's important to note that cocktails do not contain any real liquor, which was not clearly stated on the drink menu. This led to some confusion among our group until the drinks arrived. Although the waitress seemed a bit impatient when explaining this to us, she kept repeating to us multiple times that the information was on the menu. FOOD Appetizers * Sautéed Wild Scallops: The scallops were cooked perfectly, and the ginger lime crème fraiche paired well and was delicious! * Dungeness Crab Cakes: The crab cakes, unfortunately, didn't meet our expectations. When we tried to pick them up with a fork, they fell apart, making them difficult to eat. Additionally, the crab cakes tasted a bit too greasy, masking the natural flavors of the crab. On a positive note, the fresh horseradish remoulade was quite delicious and made the dish more enjoyable. * Raw Oysters: The oysters were decent, albeit a bit small. They were accompanied by a spicy citrus granita, but I felt that there was a shortage of citrus flavor. Additionally, I noticed that there were no lemon wedges provided. Mains * Vegetable Gnocchi: This entree is the only vegetarian and vegan option for a main course. My friend ordered this dish and it was quite visually appealing with vibrant and colorful presentation (asparagus, snap peas, pumpkin seed, kale, purple gnocchi, etc). The entree was delicious, especially with the perfectly cooked medium steak added for protein. However, the steak was a bit fatty. * Grilled Ribeye Steak: The main dish was served with a delightful combination of mashed potatoes, broccolini, summer squash, baby carrots, and a mint-pistachio-cilantro pesto. The steak was cooked perfectly to a medium doneness and was absolutely delicious. One small point of feedback pertains to the pesto, which had a rather chunky and rustic texture. Perhaps blending it more thoroughly would result in a smoother and more enjoyable flavor profile. * Grilled Alaskan Halibut: The entree included mashed potatoes, broccolini, summer squash, baby carrots, and a Fresno pepper lemongrass coconut cream. Personally, I felt that the dish would have been better without the carrots. However, the presentation was beautiful and everything tasted delicious. My only critique is that the halibut skin was unfortunately not crispy at all. I want to highlight the exceptional flavor of the mashed potatoes, which were a hit at the table. Overall, the experience was positive, with good food and a mostly enjoyable atmosphere.

Gorgeous spot located on the main streets of Mendocino. A short walk to the bluffs. The service was nice and the outdoor seating area was lovely. We ordered the pulled pork sliders and the fries were hot and fresh and the sliders were sweet, but did the job. The tuna avocado toast was delicious and tasted super fresh and the mixed green salad was a refreshing side of California! Stop in for lunch or dinner or get a reservation for a guaranteed seat while after you're done exploring the shops, and galleries and views of mendocino!

The homemade gnocchi meal is outstanding; really, really good! And the real kicker is that they made a special version for one of the members of our party who has food allergies and hers was outstanding as well! Great atmosphere outside under the tent and the service was as great.

Everything here was incredible. We came here for brunch and dinner. Everything we tried was incredible. Andreas our server was so kind and accommodating. Highly recommend visiting when you're nearby! Loved the black cod dinner & the steak!

That dessert still makes me think of Gilmore Girls... Trillium still remains one of the best restaurants in Mendocino. It seems like every time I come to this magical town, Trillium always delivers. From the great service to the cute garden atmosphere, what's there not to love. I do want to highlight one of the menu items in particular that we tried for the first time: The Seared Albacore Tuna. Super tasty. If anyone is a fan of sushi, order it. I guarantee you'll like it. Bonus points if you are a Tuna fan. The presentation of Trillium's dishes are always on point but this appetizer is no exception. Props to whoever plates these works of art. But back to the food. You'll love the tuna. I appreciated the micro greens not only for the presentation but for the fact that it gave me an excuse to put greens in my system. Your boy can always use the greens. The ginger and chili glaze really blow your taste buds in a tornado of glee. So yea...you should totally try the Tuna. Profiteroles...yes. They are good. You should try those too if you actually want a good dessert. I don't even eat dessert. But all I saw is Strawberry, Basil and Ice Cream. Yes. Somehow the flavors mix. You should try this too... Ahem. Ok commercial done. Prawns. They are HUGE. Do you see the pics?! They are huge. So not only are they big but whoever cooked them knows how to cook seafood. It's super easy to cook them too long and make them shrivel up to Cup of Noodles Shrimps. I over exaggerate but at the same time Im kinda not. I appreciate that the chef really took their time. Heck, everyone who works here just seems like they take extra care with everything they do. Ugh...I love this place. But yea Ive always wanted to try the prawns and Im glad I did. All the veggies are perfect as usual but mannnn...Can we talk about the sauce that everything sits in? It might as well be a Cioppino sauce. Pardon my language but it was so damn good...But then you discover that the mashed potatoes are slightly soaked in them...Eughhh...I see you Trillium. I see you!!!

Had such an amazing experience! What a meal!! We ordered a salad to shake and split it without even asking. I loved that they had so many half bottle options for us to enjoy. The wine list was amazing We sat outside and it was so warm and enjoyable So happy we came here and loved the night!

Came back to Trillium and had a great time! Friendly service, decently attentive, and good food. The menu is short but well curated. The nightly fish was good with a healthy portion of veggies, and the ribeye was huge with delicious mashed potatoes. The artichoke appetizer was fine but nothing special. Dessert was the highlight -- the dubai bar dessert was fun and delicious. The warm cardamom cake wasn't particularly cardamom-y but still tasty.

Food never disappoints, great service, beautiful atmosphere The gnocchi never disappoints

Sorry to report that tonight's experience at Trillium was an abject failure from the front and back of house. The maître d, server and our mains were cold to room temperature across the board. We were unpleasantly greeted, our server was seemingly uninterested in anything more than moving us along. Not once were we asked about our meal...which was pretty bad. The grilled artichoke seemed like it was from a can, the food sat before being served and was no longer hot. Under seasoned and everything fell flat. We were rushed out in less than an hour. For their prices, the food or experience should be at a certain level, but tonight the level dropped to 2 stars.

Really cute garden that we got seated in. We ordered the steak and duck meals and they were delicious and portions were large. We also ordered the Mac and cheese side and it was delicious. Would recommend.

Call ahead if you want patio like we did with our dog. Or reserve. They do get busy with both indoors and outdoor seating! They have a great outdoor space and heaters and offered blankets when they notice I was still a little cold. Service was quick, friendly and efficient. They also offered to get Momo (our Shiba Inu) some water which is always appreciated. Their bread and butter was a little salty. The grilled flatbread was PERFECT. Wish I had 2 of them! The crispy liberty duck was a little stringy, little salty but pretty good. The sautéed wild prawns were really good. We also got a side of mash potato which was also a little on the saltier side. We had to decline dessert, even though the dessert menu looks amazing, we were too full!

Ambiance is 10/10. Outside seating was hugely gorgeous with little corkscrew bushes and a nice, weather-proof patio. Fun little neighborhood too. Service was fast and efficient. The salad I got was delicious (the one with the figs). The chicken was great. Overall an excellent choice to eat out in the area.

A wonderful experience to finish our beautiful weekend. Exceptional food, decent wine list, and friendly staff.

Fantastic food, prompt service. We sat indoors and it was a great setting. We made a reservation, but really didn't need one during the week.

Was really looking forward to our dinner here but everything was sort of lacking. The decor is quite casual, there were flies buzzing around as windows and doors were open to let fresh air in. Our server came over and while she was very sweet, she didn't let us know about the specials --we only heard about them from her telling the people next to us about them. We ordered the crab cakes and scallops appetizers, and then the duck breast, fish of the day (cod), and wild prawns. The crab cakes were delicious with an onion curry sauce beneath--never had anything like it! Scallops left quite a bit to be desired--tasted like they weren't salted and they were also on the small side which meant they were somewhat over cooked. The duck on the other hand was ordered medium rare but it was basically bloody rare in the center of the slices, yet the end pieces were overcooked. Fish and prawns were delicious, but the sides were the same veggies for all the dishes. Would've been nice to have more of a variety. For dessert had the fig and pear upside down cake--it tasted super mushy and not very good. But the crème catalan (crème brûlée) was super good. Served came around frequently but she always asked us how we liked our food when we clearly hadn't even taken a bite yet! Overall prob wouldn't be back but if you go the prawns, crab cakes, and crème brûlée are keepers!

WOW FACTOR? Yes, really delicious food and very good service. Best food of the weekend. Most satisfying. HAVE AGAIN: Nightly fish was delicious (described as rare/raw, which I ok'ed but I needed to ask for a bit more cooking - my fault). Also delicious was the broccolini, carrots and potatoes. The potato/leek soup was delicious. The Meyer lemon pudding was really outstanding. NOT HAVE AGAIN: The chocolate walnut tart was good, but needed more ice cream to balance the drier parts of the tart.

Food was great! We had scallops, bouillabaisse, and short ribs. Excellent. Service is friendly. The restaurant itself is charming and upscale-casual. It was strange that they print on the menu that they give one free slice of bread and then charge for others. Probably a sign of the times.

This place is great! We sat in the garden. The service was great and the food was excellent. We started with the strawberry beet and the Caesar salads. My hubby ordered the fish special and I had the prawns, they were delicious. For dessert, he had the banana bread and I had the Dubai cake, both amazing! We would definitely return here next time we go to Mendocino!

My mom and sister and I were on a little get away here. We had heard good things so we were excited to go. Overall the people were very nice and it was a very nice atmosphere. I would say the food did not wow me which was disappointing based on reviews that I had seen. We got the beet and carrot salad which was fresh and had a delicious goat cheese crumble. The soup of the day was an onion, tomato, and butternut squash soup which I expected to be creamy but it was more of a broth soup that did not have much flavor. I also got the fish of the day which came with a green curry sauce. The fish was cooked well but the dish did not come out hot. The fish also had lots of bones in it which made it very hard to eat. The roasted potatoes on the side were also cold so it was not very enjoyable to eat. My sister got the scallops as an appetizer which were in a pesto sauce that was good. She also got the short ribs which I tried and were very tender. The best part of the meal was the dessert. If I were to go back I would get the scallops, the short rib and the sticky toffee pudding

Great restaurant with delicious food. The outdoor seating was spacious and lovely. We chose to sit inside because the smells were heavenly. The homemade bread sticks were divine; warm with a hint of rosemary. We shared the beet and burrata salad and the pear gorgonzola hazelnut salad. They were both good with delicious dressing. The mac and cheese was moan-worthy. The tomato bisque was flavorful and rich. My husband didn't think he'd like the onion tart but he ended up eating most of it. He also had blueberry cobbler for dessert which had lots of delicious blueberries and a flaky crust. The server was friendly and attentive.

Had the best experience and food was superb! I had the scallops & tuna for appetizer, and the steak for dinner with a very tasty salad. And for dessert the delicious affogato! Definitely recommend and will be back next time I'm in Mendo!

Reservations are highly recommended as they are one of the few restaurants in Mendocino. We were super lucky and got a table right away at 5:15pm on a Sunday. We ordered the crab cakes, salmon, crispy duck breast, and an upside down cake. Everything was super delicious and fresh. The portions are quite large as well. I loved that nothing was too heavy. The fish here is cooked to medium-rare--just the way I like. The dessert was actually the highlight of our meal. The upside down cake we ordered was made fresh and tasted so amazing. Not too sweet and refreshing. They have a dedicated pasty chef making their desserts fresh so definitely order something from the dessert menu! The staff were all super nice and helpful. There was indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant is located right by the ocean so it's perfect for an after-meal stroll along the coast.

The place itself was great! The staff was awesome! The outside seating was comfy and offered lots to look at while dining! The food was good. Was hoping for better than good though.

First time back in a few years. Greeted like old friends. Service was great. We sat outside, incredible gardens as always. Very comfortable with heaters at every table. Food wonderful. Scallops, steak roule, artichoke, prawns. Glass of Cabernet from a very nice wine list. Delicious desert, try the Dubai bar, delicious and has nothing to do with Dubai. If you don't know it, it is worth a try. Enjoy!

Cozy casual Mendocino restaurant with great food, friendly service, and lovely atmosphere. Our experience here on a Saturday afternoon was one of the best dining experiences we've had in the small town of Mendocino (there are a number of good options in town - but this was excellent). We'll be back and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to others.

I will give 5 star for the outdoor dinning environment and 3 star for the food. The outdoor garden is beautiful and the waitress is very considerable to give us blanket or even move us to a table under the tent in case of the rain. But the satisfaction of the food is okay. The halibut collar is not that good to me because the meat is chewy and rubbery and slightly fishy. The halibut main course , on the other hand, is good and the meat is cooked very well. The cod is cooked also well but I'm not a fan of carrots so I don't quite like the source. The last, the dessert cheesecake, has too much taste of cream cheese but the orange on top of compliments well. Overall it's a nice night out but the price is a bit pricy for.

Had great dinner on the patio, which I would recommend over the dining room. The steak was delicious, as was the fish of the day. Skip the Caprese salad; it was good and fresh but very basic for $18. Also, the up charge for the house sparkling water is a bit strange. Our server Jen was very lovely, attentive and friendly. This was my first time here and I would definitely go back to try some of the other items on the menu and enjoy the serene patio setting.

What a great place! Delicious food, warm welcoming staff, relaxing ambiance- who could ask for better? We stopped in Mendocino for lunch and happened upon this place. We had fish tacos and albacore avocado toast. The salad dressing is AMAZING! I agree with other reviewers that it needs to be bottled and marketed! We topped the meal with the nectarine blackberry upside down cake and s'mores mousse. Fantastic!

Been meaning to try Trillium and finally did. Tried the fish tacos. They were typical and the accompanying salad had a fantastic dressing. It was charming and the outside seating was lovely.

Food portions were definitely on the small side, service could've been better... lamb burger was very good, chicken pot pie was plain and missing flavors, prices were quite high in comparison to the portion size, fries were good.

My husband and I went here on our honeymoon-great food and such a cute garden outside. I had the vegetable gallete and it was quite good.

Amazing swordfish with tapenade, paired with a delicious Goldeneye Pinot. Excellent service. Will definitely come back!

What a great way to spend our last night in Mendocino. The staff were flawless, the food was delightful. We even got dessert - which we almost never do - just because it was stuff an amazing dining experience. I cannot wait to go back.

Trillium is our favorite restaurant to dine at when visiting Mendocino. Every visit has been exceptional in food and service. The ambiance is quaint and the menu has a diverse selection of items to choose from. This trip we had the 2 pork and shrimp main entrees. Both were flavorful and generous in portion. We absolutely loved the nectarine/blackberry upside down cake. A must get. While we ate inside, Trillium has a large, beautiful and dog friendly patio eating area. Reservations are recommended. You make them in the Yelp app.

Great service. Lovely atmosphere. Delicious bites. It's very very very cozy. I imagine during the winter months they have to economize on space so it was tighter than we would've preferred. But. The staff were exceedingly warm and inviting. It was pricey but justified. We had a lovely time.

Had a trip to Mendocino and was lucky enough to snag a last minute reservation here. We dined inside and the service was great as well as the food and drinks. I'm already looking forward to my next trip that way.