i came for dinner a couple of nights ago and everything was just okay. the clam chowder was very thin, the consistency of water pretty much, which is fine if you like that but i prefer mine thicker. some of the workers also make it seem like asking for extra things is an inconvenience which made me uncomfortable. you cannot beat the views though, it looks out right onto the beach and is gorgeous at any hour of the day. would i recommend it? yes because it's the only restaurant in the area and the views are in-comparable, but i would just skip the clam chowder. read more

Had lunch there yesterday with my family. There were 6 of us so our order covered most of their limited menu offering. We all were more than a little surprised with the quality and creativity of the food. If your taste tends towards the typical diner this might not be your place but if you like to experiment and are open to new food offerings it is spot on. Everything looked and tasted fresh and was locally sourced. Some of our order included Clam chowder in fennel based sauce, mussel with arugula and onions, falafels and caesar salad all were excellent. Even the Arnold palmers were great. Servers were friendly and attentive, we will definitely come back! Hats off to the Chef. read more

Dillon Beach Coastal Kitchen - A good after picture, bones picked clean - New American Near Me - Dillon Beach, California

See all

Outstanding dinner on our last night at Dillon Beach. Great service even with only 2 servers. My husband and shared our dinners, both SO GOOD! One was the halibut with sunflower seed pesto and delicious veggies - very unique...one was a Japanese herb used in sushi - it was distinctive...wanted more! The other was a Mediterranean plate with egg plant and much more Veggies .. baba gonosh (spelling) ... like hummus but much much better ... and oh the warm naan! I thought the pricing was reasonable for such top notch dinners! And of course, the view! We loved that the assistant chef served our starter (pickled veggies ... ) - he even brought us more pickled items - describing them as "like a butter pickle". Definitely a must for lunch or dinner! Very clean and love the Black & White look with green plants and accents! My only regret is not taking a picture of our plates before we devoured them! read more

Dillon Beach Coastal Kitchen - Delicious dinners and great view! - New American Near Me - Dillon Beach, California

I have been to Costal Kitchen at least 4 times in the last year. I really want to love this place as the ambience is very cool. Overall, the food and the service is a disappointing and here is why! August 26, 2023 place closes at 7pm, showed up at 6:40 pm after traveling to Dillon Bech. Went to the host stand to order and was told, oh sorry we just closed the kitchen as we have a large party of 8 people that just showed up? What? Seriously. August 28 went for lunch at 1 pm, told, it will be an hour for your food once you order! What?? Ordered anyway. Both chicken sandwiches $20 each with salads, fries are an upgrade, had super soggy buns. Disappointment. August 11, 2023, ordered two fish and chips, )$21 per order) took 40 mins to get them and the fish looked dark. Not used to dark fish, I thought it should be more like white fish! Disappointed. I'm okay with paying a bit more as this is a bit of a remote beautiful location, but the inconsistency of the food and service is not what should be expected. Lastly, call to be sure they are open, if have also seen where they don't open at all on days they are scheduled to be open. That is all! read more

Nice bright restaurant close to the beach. The staff are super friendly and inviting. We both had the steelhead with white beans. Very good! read more

What an amazing place: the view, the space, the service, and the food were all five star. We had the cod fritters, caeser with fried chicken on it, and the ricotta toast, two beers, and soft serve for our 2 year old. The food was all amazing, and we were in and out in an hour so we could walk to the beach and fly a kite. We will be back soon! Thanks for doing such a great job!! read more

See all

I love the makeover, and the food was delicious, but I agree with the previous comments that the menu is WAY too limited and pretty pricey. There should be fish (the night we were there they offered kids fish and chips, why not on the adult menu?) and a burger...I get that the new owners are trying to draw a more upscale clientele, but even the most swanky restaurants in the city offer a burger. I really want them to succeed, but I also want this to remain a place where families like to go. read more

Great food, good service and amazing views. This place is remote but it will be mobbed in the summer. It also has a nice little store for beach food and beach stuff. Like read more

Excellent food and good service (vast improvement over former cafe). Oysters and clam chowder are amazing. Will definitely return!

Great place to come after a blustery walk on the beach! Pretty adorable - just enough hipster without going overboard, cute beach vibe with great ocean views and none of the kitch of a beach restaurant. We loved the oysters, beer selection and the trout dip was excellent. The chicken was a bit pricey for what it was but still pretty good. For now we'll stick to the top-notch shareables, brews and the views. We'll be back for sure. read more

We had a great lunch, walk on the beach and afternoon. We will definitely be back!

Lovely food and incredible views. Good value and well cooked food. Better than expected.

Best Burger and fries I have ever eaten. Hands down. Not a small statement. Even the Arnold Palmer was stellar. I can't believe it's in Dillon! read more

We heard about this new restaurant and about the great chef working there. We took the wonderful drive there, it had been a long time. The place look wonderful on the outside as well as inside. We were assigned a table, we inquired about the area with the better view of the ocean and were informed we need a reservation for that area and the seats were reserved. Although there were tables that remained empty during our time there. We ordered the chopped salad as well as the salmon. The salad was wonderful, very fresh as well as very tasty. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the vegetables were very fresh The only thing that was disappointing was the overly loud music that was playing. It was too intrusive and caused the diners to talk louder to hear each other. With that bring turned down it would have been perfect. read more

Lovely bright setting watching the kite surfers at Dillon Beach . Delicious food- we had the little gems, the decadent fries, the Sweet corn and peppers along with wonderful wines. Really great staff and ambiance read more

We rented a house in DillonBeach and we had dinner here each night. The food is so creative and delicious!! Why drive anywhere when this beautiful restaurant is within walking distance? And it is an upscale dining experience yet very affordable. The staff were friendly and fun. I loved the bread pudding, the smoked oysters, the falafel and the burger. The smoked salmon appetizer and the clam chowder were both favorites, too. We will be back!! read more

The pickles!!!!! House made pickles of every sort. So good. The burger Fantastic!!! They change the menu every week with excellent options for both appetizers and mains. Love the totally new design and decor of the place. So clean and coastal. They should also keep the Bodega Fried chicken on the menu as a constant at least as an add on to the little gem salad - Yum! read more

Such a good experience all around. Beautiful restaurant and views. The food was fantastic- a fresh tangy winter salad, the most whimsical and delicious clam chowder, and a crispy, delightful fried oyster roll with pickled jalapeños. We shared all of these items and were full but not overly stuffed. Can't wait to be back!! read more

The Coastal Kitchen at Dillion Beach is wonderful, so clean, bright and fresh .. the food was awesome. We split the over-the-top wonderful salmon dip; clam chowder, and Stemple Burger. The service was perfect! Friendly, attentive but not overbearing. Very enjoyable. It's definitely on the go-back list! read more

See all

I hate to give a one star because the young woman who took our order was totally awesome. I would hire her in a sec at my restaurant in portland. So the male waiter was uninformed. Asked about crab he said we dont serve crab here lol. I used to crab here a kid and pulled in full crab pots. The chowder was soupy and no flavor, bacon chunks were to chewy, the clams way over cooked (chewy as hell) saw that their line cook (chefs dont make these mistakes) put a chunk of butter on top I think in hopes of giving it some substance. Overall over priced for very subpar food. The owner needs to rethink his menu. If you are going to charge as such make sure your customers leave with a wow it was amazing. Hire a real chef. read more

I'm giving this place one star for incredibly shotty customer service. We came here on our honeymoon, were told the restaurant was having a sold out Farm-to-Table event so chef said there would be a limited menu. Ok, fair enough. Reservations at 6 for chowder, check. We didn't make reservations anywhere else. We didn't buy food to cook (though we did spend $70 at the General Store on cheese, crackers and coffee). We drank a bunch of wine in our cabin. No one called to give us the heads up. Nope. We walk down from the cabin at 6 and "ohh... hmm, no, we can't actually serve you, sorry, we're too new at this but come back tomorrow!" No thanks, my appetite is officially gone for this place. We said nothing as we gathered our things to leave when I heard a sardonic, "thanks for understanding." Huh? Was she annoyed with us or with the chef, who must have decided it was too hard to put some of the chowder or chicken he was already making onto a plate, charge us full price, earn a fat tip for effort and send us on our way? Next time, try getting organized enough to know what you can and can't handle. Resort guests - pack a cooler and make reservations at Nick's. read more

Extremely disappointed. Food is mediocre. They are trying to be hit and kitschy but unfortunately the missed the boat. I ordered a 14.00 glass of Chardonnay that was served in a small water glass. If you want to serve wine in a water glass just carry red and white. The glass does make a difference when it comes to wine. The clam chowder was watery and the bacon was chewy and there was some grit from the few clams in the chowder. They have no bread in the restaurant to soak up any juice or soup. The baked oyster great and the oyster sandwich was great. Everything else I would not bother stopping here. Much better food available at much better prices. This restaurant has misread the market here. read more

First the food was delicious. But the menu is more than limited. You are on the coast and no crab sandwich no fish tacos not any fish dish to speak of except the chowder (excellent) and oysters. If you are not wanting oysters the menu is limited. One steak dish no burgers. The fries are some of the best I've had. But not enough of a menu to get me to drive back out from Santa Rosa again. Sorry to be so harsh but they need to increase their menu. read more

New owners messed it up. Clam chowder is not normal and when we asked for crackers the server look at us like we were idiots and said they don't. Will never come here again. ............................... read more

I have to give major props to everyone involved in this project and their ability to breathe life into a once tired, dark, and fading historical space. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful, with the view of a lifetime (especially at sunset!) and the food is out of this world. On the "limited" menu that people seem to already complain about-please take the time to peek over the pony wall at the size of the kitchen and how many people are working hard to cook your food and serve you the best possible product. May it also be known that most food purveyors will not deliver to locations like this. The chef works VERY hard to always obtain the most local, seasonal, quality product and just simply will not skimp when he doesn't have to. One of the 1,000 reasons to eat his food and treat yourself. So the menu is "limited" based on availability of product and the volume of food they are able to execute in the given kitchen with only two people at the helm. Also note how unfortunately difficult it currently is to hire or afford a staff to work a kitchen in the Bay Area due to living costs, much less a location that is harder than most to commute to. We should all support local businesses, especially ones with the mindset like this team has. Please take the time to get out here, enjoy this fresh food in your belly, make friends, and breathe in the healing ocean air. Completely worth it!! read more

My daughter and I heard great things about Coastal Kitchen and went to check it out! It did not disappoint! Our server Ryan was delightful and the carnitas tacos were amazing! My daughter had the Mediterranean plate which she said was delicious! Apparently the menu changes weekly so I'm heading back next week! read more

Wonderful dinner starting with clam chowder. I do not like clam chowder. Tasted my husband's. It was so good. I would order that again. All our food was delicious. Pleasant staff. A wonderfully relaxing evening "almost on the water." read more

We are frequent weekenders to Dillon Beach and are so happy that the Dillon Beach Coastal Kitchen has opened. It's the place we have been wishing for, as the other weekend dining options until now have been to get in the car and drive for twenty to thirty minutes, or stay home and cook. We tried the old place a few times but had such negative experiences at the end that we gave up going there. Now we have a spot to have a nice dinner within walking distance of our cottage. We have eaten there three times so far. As others have said, the menu is limited but everything is delicious. We split the clam chowder as a first course one night and it was delicious even if a wee a bit skimpy on clams. The various versions of fish stew have been our favorite dishes, once a tomato-ey broth version and another time as coconut milk-based dish. The fries are fabulous. We also loved the risotto and the avocado goddess salad.The wine and beer lists are as edited as the menu, and we have foregone the soft-serve that has so far been the only option for dessert. Our bill for two including wine, tax and tip, has been running around $100.00. The place has become increasingly busy in the scant three weeks it's been open as word gets out, so a reservation is probably a good idea at this point, unless you don't mind waiting for a table. I am interested to see how DBCK evolves as it becomes established, and how it adapts to the more crowded summer vacation season. In the meantime, we are delighted to have Dillon Beach Coastal Kitchen as our new neighbor and plan to continue to visit often. read more

The food delicious. The 'almost famous' clam chowder had a delicious broth with bacon in every bite. The Fisherman's Stew had a substantial piece of cod along with mussels and clams. Portion sizes for both seemed small but left us both satisfied. We also ordered cast iron roasted vegetables to share. This was particularly tasty, with a green onions, carrots, halved cherry tomatoes, beets, pear, and greens resting on a bed of fromage blanc (white creamy cheese). The grilled oysters were from Tomales Bay Oyster Co and slightly smaller than the oysters from Hog Island - they were prepared well and satisfied. We stuck with glasses of water. The only complaint was they didn't have bread to clean the fromage blanc off of the vege dish and sop up the last bit of the broth. It took self control to not lick the plates clean. read more

If you love waiting for an hour for three sprigs of lettuce and beets for sixteen dollars, then you picked the right place. Also, you will not get away for under sixty-dollars for two "take-out" meals. Seriously folks, we were stupid. If you come to this beautiful place, bring your own food. It is beyond comprehension that a restaurant would be so under staffed and not a good value. read more

Everything about this place is incredible. Rotating menu is simple but diverse and offers something for everyone and features super local (so SUPER FRESH) ingredients. Ill be back again and again. read more

We had the Oysters Rockefeller! Outstanding! My friend and I stopped in here for the caesar salad fries and the Oysters. Very delicious! This inspired a vacation to Dillon Beach in March. I'm excited to eat here, again and treat my husband to it also. See you in a week! read more

This place is absolutely amazing the waitress the food the location everything! We are leaving from our first night out after having a baby and this was the perfect get away and not too far from town! read more

Well worth the beautiful drive to the beach! We live west of Petaluma and don't head to the coast for dinner as I often as I'd like. Growing up in Monterey, there was a range of restaurants with beautiful views of the water. Now living so close to Bodega Bay and Tomales Bay, I crave for a similar experience and have yet (until now!) to find a spot I crave going back to. But thanks to the new ownership and management of the Dillon Beach Coastal Kitchen, we have our amazing waterfront view, delicious food, and amazing service all wrapped up into one. Some reviewers mention the price being too high, which I'm confused by. The prices seemed perfectly comparable to Petaluma and Sebastopol prices, for restaurants that offer farm to table sourcing and great quality, but don't have the view or friendly staff. IMHO the price was totally fair. Menu items that stood out include; trout dip, cod and potato fritters, the burger, the wrap, the Caesar, the fried chicken sandwich, the pickles - oh wait, we loved it all!! Can't wait to go back. read more

It is simply hard to believe that you can get real "farm to table" food this good in Dillon Beach! As an old time homeowner in Dillon Beach, being able to walk two blocks and enjoy a meal this good is surreal. If you have a home in Dillon or are just a visitor, you really need to give it a try, because you will be back, as we have, again and again. Honest, simply prepared, 5 Star food! Kudos to the new owners and great staff from a very grateful "local". read more

Superb small restaurant in the lovely coastal town. The food was exquisite, the location wonderful in the service super friendly. It's not the cheapest, but it's the best you will find from miles around to be sure. read more

Most lame thing ever for a restaurant. I made a reservation for a special birthday celebration dinner for my wife and I. And, the reservation was confirmed at least twice in the days prior. Well, at 4:00pm, just two hours before the dinner, the restaurant canceled my reservation...and it was because they RAN OUT OF FOOD because of a large lunch crowd. Never heard of such a thing. Spoiled the celebration and I hope this restaurant goes the way of so many who don't value great service...down in flames, and the sooner the better. read more

We took the dog out for a walk on the beach and thought we'd stop for a quick lunch and check out the new cafe. We ordered a bowl of soup a salad and an order of fries. If you're looking for a quick meal ( have a dog in the car or kids with you) this is not the place - we waited almost 45 minutes for one soup and one salad - never got the French fries ( they ran out at 1 in the afternoon) and spent $42.00 - included one lemonade- no refill. Service was okay, friendly but I think the staff is embarrassed about how long things take so they disappear. The salad was sparse and overdressed, the soup was very good - although the couple next to us asked for bread or crackers- neither were available. As mentioned by others the menu is extremely limited- so take a look before you sit down. Yes things are fresh and locally sourced but for a beach cafe I think they need to be less fussy, quicker and more reasonably priced. read more