Bay View Cafe

Bay View Café is on the 2^nd story of it’s building providing it’s namesake view (
).
Based on what we’d heard (go for the view and not the food) we came for a drink (and view) before our dinner reservation at Café Beaujolais (
)
After taking our order the waitress cam back and I was asked for instructions on how to make a Manhattan!?! What I received was in an old fashioned glass on the rocks and tasted like Scotch so I don’t know what happened in translation.
Good thing I like Scotch.

LOL! Closed?! What do you know, the free enterprise system works after all, even in a tourist town you can’t screw everyone that comes through the door! hahahaha

Before you think I’m a stuck-​up San Franciscian — I’m a local (or at least I was). Anyway. .. recently visiting family in Ft Bragg with my pops, we decided to grab lunch. Already headed south on Hwy 1, I turn to my dad and say: «Turn around and go to North Coast Brewing.»
Dad says: «We’ll stop at the first place we see!»
Me: «Dad. .. we’ve been down this road 1,000 times, and you know damn well there is NOTHING worth eating south of Ft. Bragg until you hit Boonville unless you want to pay top dollar.»
Well, this pathetic excuse for a restaurant is the first place we found. View is awesome. That’s it. That’s THE ONLY REASON to come here.
The food was miserable and overpriced. My dad got literally one oyster and two bites of fried fish in his «fish and chips» (and a bunch of soggy fries) and my hot crab sandwich was terrible. Half mayo, half (low-​quality) crab, a bunch of cheese and a smearing of avocado on grocery-​store wheat bread. The portions were ridiculously small, and each plate was $ 15.99.
Also, he had to get up and go use the ATM at the bar next door because they don’t take cards. Um, welcome to the 21^st century, WTF?! I don’t care what your excuses are about people’s cards being declined, it happens to the rest of the civilized retail world as well, and they deal with it because they don’t want to inconvenience their customers. The waitstaff were friendly enough but not very attentive — my water remained empty most of the meal.
Leaving the restaurant my dad turns to me and sheepishly says: «we should have gone to North Coast Brewing.» Yup, I knew it ;)
Go ahead, call me uppity, but paying $ 32 for two lunch plates and leaving hungry is a rip-​off. Find someplace else to eat or starve until you can get to another town.

FANTASTIC RESTAURANT! This is what small-​town America is all about! You get good food, good service and a spectacular view of the water!
What more could you want?
This was a great taste of Americana a la California.

My husband & I stumbled on this place during our first ever trip to Mendocino and we were delighted that we did. The day was beautiful, the view on the deck was awesome, and that hot crab sandwich… PERFECT! It was a little pricey (could have been the beer & wine we had as well). The only reason I gave this place four stars instead of 5 was the fact they only take cash/​check and it wasn’t very prominently posted. Thank goodness we had just enough cash on us to pay the bill or the hubby would be washing dishes :)

We visited for breakfast and enjoyed the reasonably priced omelets, french toast, honey wheat pancakes, ham, etc. Pancakes were a bit under cooked and had to send back the French toast came out on the room temperature side. The should have redone them instead of reheating them jam and all. Also no refills of drinks was a bit frustrating. The waitress was aloof but the bus girl was helpful. I would eat here again but hope to get slightly better service.

Went here on a BEAUTIFUL day so I cannot complain too much, but with the awesome location and setting I expected better.
Coffee — weak and watery. I never drink it black but I could here, and did.
Hot chocolate — okay. No comment either way.
Eggs Benedict — great Bearnaise sauce, eggs were just runny enough, all in all tasty. Would get again.
Veggie scramble — blah. No taste or seasoning to either the eggs or the veggies. Would not get again.
House potatoes — same as the scramble, no taste. I had to add tons of ketchup just to get them down.
Waitstaff — friendly and prompt but could use improvement.
I went in around 10:30 expecting to be full well into the afternoon but I still felt hungry when I left. I would go again for the ambiance but not the food.

Had the New York Strip Sandwich… it was fatty and dry, as with other reviews the food came out in stages and they only take cash or check!
Won’t be back to this place for sure!

I liked the concept of having to walk up stairs to get to this restaurant with a good view of the ocean.
We ordered breakfast here two mornings in a row. They had a fair selection, and were very willing to accommodate my request for egg whites. Their potatoes were amazing — which is why I didn’t order them the second time around.
I was tempted to get one of their Bloody Marys. But nah.

I really don’t understand the way some people think. I guess it’s the uppity people from some shitty place called san fran something or other that give this place shitty reviews. I’ve been comming here once a month for over 5 years now and have never had bad food or bad service. Of course they only accept cash but then have any of you deadbeats ever bothered to ask why? Probably not. Actually it’s because of a few deadbeats with maxed out cards trying to get their food for free. Oh my card is no good??? Gee I don’t have any cash. (lmfao)
Like I said I come here once a month and always bring cash because this is the best place in town to eat and has the friendliest staff and it’s dog friendly. I have observed staff bring food and water to peoples pets. Maybe that’s what some of you deadbeats don’t like is animals in a restaurant. Well I would rather have an amimal in the restaurant than have to pay for the employees insurance like in that SF dump.

The food here was decent, but nothing to write home about. I had a Clam Chowder that was o.k. but nothing special. My boyfriend started off with the shrimp cocktail, which hardly had any shrimp and seemed a little overpriced. We shared the Dragon Crab sandwich, which they use cream cheese instead of mayo. Although I’m a huge fan of cream cheese I found it to be way to overpowering in this sandwich.
However, if you want a place with a beautiful view to enjoy the beverage of your choice, this is your spot.

We came for lunch and the place was empty which I couldn’t understand since it featured an amazing view. I had the fish & chips & they were decent enough — but not great by any stretch. My kids, who will pretty much eat any clam chowder you serve them, were not impressed with the Bay View Café’s version. The service wasn’t memorable either. Oh… and they only take cash.
I have to guess this is a case of a place having so much potential that they don’t even try. It’s a shame. I’m sure there is somewhere better in Mendocino eat.

This place earns one star for the view. That’s about the only good thing I have to say about the place other than the food arrived hot and the dishes were clean.
The food is eatable if you are hungry, but if you actually want a decent meal, I would recommend dining somewhere else.

We had veggie burgers cuz like a fish outta water we were in a seafood restaurant in a seafood town and didn’t want the seafood. They were decent, the fries were good, and the carnivore options on the menu looked good too.
The service was great. They do not take credit cards so bring cash, or as the sign says they are happy to take personal checks.

Don’t expect this place to wow you. It’s meant for a quick bite before exploring the town or going for a walk by the ocean. Credit cards are not accepted, but personal checks are.
I had the fish sandwich with salad and a cup of clam chowder. Everything was just fine for their prices.
It looked like it had a full bar, but no beers on tap. Thanks to our server for throwing in the beer after she had forgotten to put it in our bill.

The location is nice… right across the street from the ocean. Decent views. The service was o.k. The food… well…I’ve had better. I had the Crab Sandwich and my boyfriend had the Fish & Chips.
I expected so much more from our meals… especially being in «Mendo.»
The sandwich was on regular sliced wheat bread with really nothing else on the plate expect maybe a leaf of lettuce and slice of tomato. The Fish & Chips were ordinary. Nothing amazing about our meals. I can’t say that I would hurry back to eat here.
This restaurant has the opportunity to be so much more in terms of food. It’s a shame with such a nice location that they didn’t «step up» a little with presentation and what they offer as meals.

A cash/​check only dining establishment.
Staff’s friendly, most of the wait staff looked like high school/​college students. We got a table in the first room but more towards the back. The restaurant is located upstairs off Main Street which offers great views of the coastline. There’s an outdoors deck but it was all full of diners. We shared a small lunch — clam chowder, which was disappointing, and a caesar salad with anchovy dressing (good but not memorable enough to re-​order). Found out after we returned that our friends recommended the seafood sandwich, his fav. But, given what we’ve tried so far, not sure we’d go back again.

After watching the «2^nd Orchestra Concert» rehearsal at the Mendocino Music Festival tent we were starving. Since the Bay View Café is right across the street, and the large windows in the dining area would surely give us great views of the Pacific, we were game. I liked the menu selections and knew immediately that I’d have the Crab and Shrimp Combo Louie Salad.
I picked a table far far away from the open door (it was really cold today) and we waited for our server. She was at our table promptly and we ordered. I also got a cup of Clam Chowder.
The food was good but did not stand out in any way. The chowder was too thick and really bland. Just a bit of thinning out would have made all the difference. The bread was good. My salad was minuscule (especially for $ 16.95!!) and instead of the standard bay shrimp I was given three medium shrimp. My friend ordered the Deli Sandwich and for $ 10.95 got a sammie I could have slapped together for $ 1.98 and a smile.
I was hungry. It was good. But way too expensive!

I went to Mendocino today to get out of the valley. Nothing like some fresh ocean air to do the body good.
Since it is a long drive (we’re talking 3 to 4 hours) I was quite famished by the time we arrived. Hey it’s very hunger-​inducing to sit in a car for that amount of time.
We always eat at Bay View Café for lunch for a few reasons:
1. the food is yummy
2. the seafood is super fresh
3. awesome views
4. they are pet friendly (at least they are to my little portable pooch)
If you’re looking for a super romantic, chic restaurant on the coast, then this is definitely not the place. If you’re looking for a very casual no frills place with yummy food, then try Bay View Café.
I usually order the fish and chips or the fish sandwich (with fries of course). Both are really tasty. The fish is so flaky and tender. MMMM
You may even spot a celeb or two while there. Apparently Barbara Streisand, her hubby James Brolin and their little Maltese have dined here on several occasions. Pretty snazzy.

If Swiss Family Robinson were visiting civilization, you’d find them here.
Ascending a wooden staircase that resembles a water tower, you come across this casual café with a gorgeous view of the bay. A great place to kick back with a drink (no beers on tap here) + some grub ~ watch the world below.
The food is average. Service is friendly. Nice views both inside + out.
Cash only.