Big Sur River Inn is a lovely spot right along the river that invites you to turn lunch into a long afternoon lounging on the river. Beautiful scenery , must sit outside and enjoy the views, we sat on the little deck facing the grassy area and loved it. Grassy area was perfect for our after lunch frisbee session!! I had the crab cake sandwich and my wife got a burger, we really enjoyed both. Service was good, manager was very friendly!! We were on a long 10 day camp trip from San Rafael- Santa Barbra so stopping in for lunch was a lovely treat and we will definitely stop in next time we are in the area. We didn't do it but loved seeing folks sitting in the river in the adirondack chairs , doesn't get much more relaxing than enjoying your favorite beverage while you lounge with your feet dangling in the Big Sur river!! read more

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3 star only for location. Food was sub par at best. Ordered the ribs off the waitresses recommendation, bbq sauce tasted like a poor attempt to make their own from ketchup. Ordered a kids chicken strip, asked for a bun so she could make it a sandwich. Bun was $4.00 and came with a wilted piece of lettuce I was shocked was even put on a plate. Also ordered a milkshake. Warning-not made from ice cream but from a powder. My daughter said it was warm so I tried it and it tasted like a glass of whipped cream, not a shake. Location on the river is awesome. read more

Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant - Lettuce to go with your chicken strip. Why even put this on a plate? - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Big Sur, California

This restaurant was hyped up too much due to it being near the water. You do have an option of taking food togo in a picnic basket to the water and eating there, but we did dine in. We were a group of 12 and service was pretty good. Got the chicken sandwich chicken sandwich which was meh 5/10, and the sandwich was cold when it came out. Also got fajitas which were ok. I was gonna give up on desserts but someone in our group recommended it so we ordered some (glad I did because they were so good). Got the chocolate mousse cake, creme brûlée and apple pie which were all really good!! The dessert made up for all the food. read more

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Don't bother. Food is overpriced and the worst option in town. WiFi costs $10 for 15 mins when the library has free WiFi down the street. It's free to go in the back and chill in the water, do that, take pics, and spend your money somewhere else. read more

Rate: 3.5/5 When in Big Sur, this is definitely a cool place to check out--grab a bite to eat, chill and relax at the river, and to just explore and enjoy the natural scenery. The outdoor relaxing natural river scenery is what makes this place enjoyable, the food on the other hand was underwhelming and pricey. If I had to choose, the calamari was the highlight--nice light coating, not oily, and the squid was fried/cooked perfectly. Harris Ranch Black Angus Beef Burger - for $24 it was a pricey burger and wasn't juicy/lacked flavor. The sweet potato fries were an afterthought and some pieces were overdone and lacked crisp. Service was welcoming and attentive which was great. As a whole, I'd come here again to enjoy the river vibes, but will probably skip out on the restaurant and instead grab something at the general store to chill at one of the river chairs. read more

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We visited Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant around 3PM on a Sunday, so the lunch rush had died down. We were seated right away on the patio, which had a nice ambiance and plenty of space for our large party. For drinks, I ordered an Arnold Palmer, which was expectedly tasty and refreshing. For food, I shared the Crispy Brussel Sprouts with my friend and got the Beet Salad for myself. Both were solid! I liked the texture of the Brussel Sprouts and the huge dollop of goat cheese on my salad. My friends enjoyed their food as well, including the Tri Tip Sandwich, Pulled Pork Sandwich, BBQ Pork Ribs, and Crab Cakes. Service was lukewarm but quick and seamless! read more

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Cool spot right off Hwy 1 and nestled along the river. The breakfast menu is pretty limited but the country gravy in the biscuits and gravy was some of the best I have ever had. Service is okay and prices still reflect the location. Overall still worthy of a visit if your hungry. read more

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Took a drive to Big Sur on a sunny Saturday and ended up here. The place was packed. Since we wanted a patio table, there was a wait. We were told 15-20 min but it ended up being around 45 min. We were given a buzzer and strolled around to the river which had chairs in it and was bustling. There is also picnic benches around and a park area where ppl had food in to-go containers The bbq place was closed though We got a drink at the bar- espresso martini- it wasn't creamy but was still good considering we were in the middle of nowhere. Once we got our table, we got some appetizers. The Brussels sprouts were so good with the bacon bits and the balsamic topped with Parmesan They ran out of buffalo sauce for the wings so we got chicken wings with bbq sauce- they were good and came with some carrots on the side Also got the onion rings which were soooo crispy and very satisfying to eat read more

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Big Sur River Inn is a very happening spot. We stumbled in after a beautiful morning hike on Memorial Day weekend and were surprised to be seated so promptly. They can accommodate A LOT of people. While we ordered from the main menu, I did notice an outdoor area where you could order BBQ. Our table was seated directly under a redwood tree and the trunk was literally a part of our table. I loved that. We shared a salad and ribs as we didn't want to eat a complete meal and both were satisfying. A gentlemen played live music in front of the river and it was all just so sweet and relaxing. For me, this place is more about the experience. I'd give the food and mocktails a solid 3-stars. read more

Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant - Bbq pork ribs (gf) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Big Sur, California

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Nice restaurant on the river, well kept up. Food is Denny's quality, not worth the money at all. The staff is friendly. The fish is dry and tasteless. The pasta I had was heavy and flavorless. Hard to mess up pasta but they did!. Dinner for two was $100 without drinks or dessert! read more

Stopped here for food over a busy holiday weekend (Presidents Day and Valentines). The place was packed and the line was out the door but moved quick and we were seated within 20 minutes. The staff were nice, but unfortunately this is all the good I have to say. The food here was incredibly overpriced and bland/dry/tasteless. When you consider the price tag (over $25 for most things, and over $50 for a steak), you'd expect decent quality but unfortunately that was not our experience. $9 to add chicken to the pasta and the chicken was so dry that not even the pasta sauce could cover that up. Speaking of the sauce, it was very creamy but lacked any kind of distinguishing flavor. The steak appeared to have a nice char, but it was tasteless as if it was unseasoned or did not have any semblance of marbling in the cut. If I'm paying over $50 for a steak, I'd love to be able to have at least a few bites without needing to use A1 sauce. The only saving grace was the calamari, which was decent I suppose and came with two different dipping sauces. We got seated outside but unfortunately our spot was a bit soggy/damp and we were not in reach of any space heaters. It was nice that they had live music playing though. Would not come back. read more

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Absolutely beautiful restaurant, maybe one of the nicest I've ever been to right next to the creek. Service was great, our waiter has been there for years and says he loves his job and I believed him! Food was delicious and big portions!! Will definitely comeback back read more

Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Big Sur, California

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Beautiful restaurant located right outside the Big Sur River. We ordered Avocado Toast, Omelet and Latte. Everything tasted good. Both the male and female restrooms had changing table for the baby. Kudos for that. read more

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Food was delicious, service was excellent, very cute restaurant with a fireplace inside, and an amazing view. read more

Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Big Sur, California

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We had a great dinner here! Beautiful setting, clean and comfortable. Our server was great! The prices are a bit much, but otherwise the quality and portions were solid. My partner got the burger and he said it tasted good with a nice char. I got the steak. It was perfectly cooked and flavorful. The negative reviews almost scared us away. I'm glad we gave them a try, would go back anytime! read more

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Wow, what a find. I drove up here from Ventura just to get away and drive a little. I figured this would be an acceptable place to eat and sleep. It was a lot more. The inn itself is fine, nothing special but not bad. In-room coffee, decent bed and shower. The door needs a new lock, etc. Right on the highway so very convenient. Plus they've placed a dozen or so Adirondack chairs in the river behind the hotel so you can sit and dangle your feet while soaking up the surroundings. Bliss! But the restaurant was a shocker. Got the rack of ribs with slaw for dinner and man was it good. Sure it's expensive but hey it's Big Sur and what restaurant isn't expensive these days? Tangy sauce and really good homemade slaw. Succulent pork and plenty of it. Such a big meal I couldn't even finish it all. Excellent. Plus what great ambience, eating on the patio overlooking the beautiful river. With that experience under my belt I had to try breakfast the next morning. Had the Huevos Rancheros and once again, really good. Great spice on the eggs and lots of cheese, with tortillas on the side. Didn't need lunch on the drive down. Highly recommend this little jewel if you're in the area and hungry. read more

Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Big Sur, California

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Food was excellence and Service was accommodating with our dog. Ambience was fun to watch as people went down to the river, taking pictures of themselves sitting in the water chairs. read more

I stopped in for a late lunch. I was sat right away outside with a great view of the river. They have their outdoor area dialed in. This is a place I've driven by several times and very glad. I finally stopped in. The person who waited on me was very helpful. I ordered the California Chicken sandwich with mixed greens side salad with Asian Vinaigrette dressing. Also a side of coleslaw. I enjoyed an Almanac IPA. I'm looking forward to bringing my wife back next time we're in the area. It was a great change of pace. Beware of the aggressive Blue Jays. They'll come in and swipe stuff right off your plate if you're not careful. But they look so good doing it you might let them. read more

Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant - California Chicken with mixed greens with Asian Vinaigrette. Almanac IPA and a side of Coleslaw. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Big Sur, California

I visited a couple years ago and never went back. But seeing this wave of Instagram recommendations finally prompted me to share my experience. The spot is cute, I'll give it that. But cute only goes so far when I can find a river, some chairs, and good company for free. My friends and I came with kids to celebrate a birthday. We spent a small fortune on their basic food at premium prices, then settled on the grass to enjoy the view. That part was fine. What wasn't fine: there was this older guy, owner or manager, hard to tell, making rounds and pointing out anyone who'd brought outside food, making it clear they'd have to buy from the restaurant instead. Okay, I understand the policy. But we'd already eaten there. We had the to-go boxes to prove it. And at the end of a kids' birthday, we pulled out some celebratory cookies. He came over immediately. "No outside food, only ours." Over cookies. At a child's birthday. I get it if we'd rolled up with a full picnic spread. But cookies after a meal we paid for? That's not enforcing a policy, that's just odd behavior looking for somewhere to land. The river isn't going anywhere. You can walk up or down and find better scenery, better food, and better vibes than a place where someone's hovering, waiting to snap at you over snacks. Maybe it has changed. Who knows, but I have no plans on going back. read more

I mean they already have only three stars but we had such a bad experience that I couldn't just not say anything. Was put on a waiting list for about twenty minutes before we got our table. Once we got our table we sat for about 40 minutes without being greeted. So we got up and left. Servers lacked hygiene. Table was dirty. Prices were comparable to 5 star restaurants just down the road. read more

Great for views but food is to typical for it to be crazy overpriced. no real culture or flavor. Not sure what the hype is about. I would never eat here again. read more

Good setting and drinks, but the food quality and service recovery didn't match the location. Came for the ambiance and riverfront setting, which really is the highlight. The outdoor space is beautiful and the drinks were solid. Unfortunately the food and service didn't live up to it. The kids' chicken tenders from what the waitress told us are pre-cooked from a vender and reheated there, and one had a large soft fat/protein pocket inside that completely turned my daughter off from eating it. The fries were undercooked, we waited a while to be greeted, and nearby tables had heaters turned on while ours was never offered. When we sent the meal back, the adjustment to the bill was minimal (about $1-$2 for the 2 tenders that each were half eaten ), which felt like poor service recovery. To be fair, the issue with the chicken was more about quality and texture than food safety, which is why I'm not posting the photo. Iit's not about trying to gross people out, just about the overall experience not matching the setting. Great place to sit by the river for a drink, but we'd skip the food next time. read more

Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant - $12+ Kids' Chicken Tenders with Fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Big Sur, California

I booked two nights at the Big Sur River Inn, I had looked at everything close in the Big Sur area. Upside, it was very reasonably priced, they had free WiFi and TV. There is Gas station, a general store, and a decent restaurant across the road. Down side, it's right on the highway and there is a general store, a gas station, and a busy restaurant across the road. Victoria was working the front desk and she had us logged in, logged on, and pointed in the right direction, across the road. There is no free breakfast, the restaurant across the road opens at 8 and thats as early as I'll be up. The room was just that a room, nice, clean and we felt safe. The bed was very soft at first sit...I was quite pleased with the "overall" good feeling we had staying here. The bathroom was looking very nice, new fixtures, a no tub shower that was big enough with elbow room. We got settled and just sat on the bench glider out on the front porch, whew. We relaxed, we watched the traffic, got cold and inside we went. There is a small brew coffee maker, good enough to get me goin', bottled water for sale, and local TV available. There ya go, we're just sleeping here. The unresort stuff...the trails, the ocean, and the nature we are here for is right outside. Enjoy read more

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We just went to the restaurant for dessert (we were staying somewhere else). The apple pie is amazing! It's simple but just apples and crust that it has made our favorite things to eat in Big Sur. I would like to stay here in the future but that's another visit. read more

River Inn Restaurant offers a beautiful Big Sur dining experience with a warm ambience that perfectly complements the natural surroundings. The setting alone makes it worth visiting if you're in the area. The food was enjoyable overall, and the portions are very generous -- definitely ideal for sharing. The dessert stood out as thoughtfully crafted and delicious. However, some of the main dishes could benefit from more careful attention during cooking to really match the quality expected from such a lovely location. The coffee also arrived little cold, which was a letdown. One positive note was seeing James, the manager, making rounds and checking in with guests. That kind of presence is appreciated and reflects care for the dining experience. I had requested seating with a better view, and accommodating requests like that when possible would go a long way toward creating an even stronger guest impression. Unfortunately, the service felt inconsistent. Our server appeared distracted and not especially attentive, which affected the overall experience. This restaurant has great potential because the atmosphere is wonderful and the foundation is there. With more attentive service and finer attention to food preparation, it could truly stand out as a must-visit Big Sur dining destination. read more

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JAMES the bartender was so GRACIOUS I'd come back just for him! Food was great, Scenary was FANTASTIC and I love the lazy river. I will probably be back in July or sooner if they OPEN the 1! read more

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It was full of people and dogs. Loved chilling near the river. The ambience was 10/10. I ordered Ghiradelli's Hot Cocoa, Portobella Mushroom Sandwich (with onion rings), and Daily Soup. My favorite was definitely the soup, it was rich in flavor. Hot Cocoa was really good, but not the best I've had. The sandwich was okay-ish, wouldn't recommend. read more

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The restaurant is simple and cute. Loved it. The river is in the back where you can put your feet in and sit in the river. In order to sit and eat in the river you must order at the bar and they will place everything in Togo containers. We had the tri tip sandwich and burger. Both were good. Bloody Mary was delish read more

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Food: good, but should have ordered something else. The sandwich needed more flavor. Service: good! Ambiance: beautiful ! read more

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My car broke down on my way to staying here, and the staff were so amazing and helpful! They even let me check in early and use their events office to look up a tow truck and car repair shop. Everyone I interacted with was so kind, and the environment was so relaxing. Will definitely be staying again! read more

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Food is great! Lots of choices to choose from, chicken, beef or lamb, salmon, mahi mahi or tuna. Server is very friendly, served our food really fast. The restaurant is located by the river. After dinner a nice walk down closer to the river, there is chairs in the river you can sit on, relax and chill while you sip your drinks. read more

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Shout out to Daisy (especially) and the rest of the staff for demonstrating lots of care and thought to their guests. We attended a wedding as guests and were pleasantly surprised when daisy asked if my wife needed her meals to be modified to be dairy free - something she somehow picked up in passing conversation when she came around for appetizers. My wife and I sincerely appreciated her registering this small detail because it makes a huge difference for us! read more

Needed lunch in Big Sur and didn't have any phone service to look up places. Found this little spot on the way out. This restaurant had tons of Christmas decoration and we decided to sat next to the fire place instead of the window. Service was very good and attentive. These are the items we got. Tri Tip - It was a sandwich and we had it with fries. It's good, the tri tip was meaty and it's solid. Nothing crazy but not bad! (4/5) Pasta Castroville - A solid pasta and we had it with grilled chicken. I thought it was good but my wife thought it lacked flavor so she added salt and pepper. Decent! (4/5) Overall I thought the food was good if anything a bit on the bland side. I would say everything was plated well and the food looked better than it actually tasted. I liked that this place was super festive and cozy. It's worth checking out just for the vibes alone. Food is pricey so don't be surprised if you spend $40 per person for mediocre/defent food. I believe we spent $68 before tip for two dishes. read more

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Amazing experience and highly recommend this spot to stop for lunch if you are in the area and want to have amazing food in such a beautiful location. This place lets you sit on a chair with your feet in the river and enjoy lunch and beverages while your kids wade in the water close by. We ordered our lunch and it was delivered to us by the river in a cute little metal picnic basket carrier! Family friendly scenic, and such a relaxing atmosphere. read more

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Huge indoor and outdoor space, rustic wood stylings everywhere, which really embody the Big Sur feel! The Redwood in the middle of the patio is especially cool! We juuuust made it inside 15 minutes before closing time, so as expected, things were slowing down and staff busy with typical side work before close. That said, Christian was a great server, attentive, helpful, and even at the end of his shift, still super friendly. The food (that we ordered) was great!! There is a decent sized menu, large enough to have a good variety, but not so much to where you get choice fatigue. We ordered the roasted half chicken plate with seasonal steamed vegetables and delicious garlic mashed potatoes, and the Caesar salad with added Grilled chicken. Everything was freshly prepared, and fresh ingredients! The roasted chicken was moist and well seasoned, and even the cherry tomatoes in the Caesar tasted as if just picked from a garden out back. So happy we made it in time to order, a great welcome to Big Sur at the Big Sur River Inn restaurant!! read more

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This place was okay. The wings and pulled pork were regular, not bad! The chicken sandwich however tasted like nothing, no flavor, dry. Service was average no complaint there! What saves this place is obviously location and views as there is a pretty stream running along the restaurant and large grass area with games, perfect for families. Overpriced for what it is but satisfactory. read more

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Everything went well!!!! It's off hwy 1 so expect to hear vehicles passing by. It never bothered us. Food, service and ambiance were amazing if you're planning to just relax. Feet in the water while eating lunch, and views were amazing. We're definitely coming back. read more

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We come here a few times a year and love it! A family favorite. The nature ambience and location is what makes this place so special.... and maybe the cocktails. ( I'm particularly a fan of the Bloody Mary's and mojitos) The meals are decent they're more like a diner type style of food. We love to sit down near the river and relax or grab a seat on the patio. We let the kids play in the river and enjoy the nature sounds and like to bird watch. The adults in the river seem to have just as much fun if not more fun than the kids. We've been there when they've had live music as well. There is a cute little Ice cream shop that's made out of an old bus in the front complex with a few shops with necessities and also souvenirs. If you're in the area it's a must! Pop in for a cold one and enjoy some of those Mother Nature sounds. read more

Wings & burgers were OK. The river, patio, & jazz band enhance the experience ‍ I would go again! read more

Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant - Buffalo Wings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Big Sur, California

4/15/26 This place has been on my bucket list for 2 years and I was really excited to go. There are limited tables that actually have a view of the creek, so I had decided to wait for specific seating with the view since we had just traveled 6.5 hours to visit this restaurant. When our seats became available a couple sitting near by moved into the seats we had been waiting for. I notified the host and she said she saw they moved into the seats but the couple would not move back to their assigned seats. We then had to wait at another table and wait for that couple to eat and leave. After the rude couple left we were already half way through our meal and we then moved to the table we were waiting for. At this time the whole experience was ruined. The restaurant even has a policy that you cannot switch seats but they allowed this couple to move into our seats and make us wait. This was really rude of the couple and unacceptable from the restaurant. The waiter apologized but what would have been better than an apology was having the rude couple move back to their seats. I ordered the BLT which was good but not great and my husband ordered the tri tip sandwich which he said was tender but no flavor. I'm giving this review 2 stars because of the service. 3 stars for the food and a 4 for the ambiance due to lack of seating with a view. read more