A home away from home. Lazily walk around the garden and down to the cove and spot the occasional whale. The restaurant is one of my faves of all time. I would put their sourdough and butter as the best, hands down! Also, I recommend the in room breakfast--plenty of options and what better way to enjoy the morning by looking at the ocean, hearing the waves and birdsongs. read more

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We had one of the best meals of our lives at Harbor House last night. I don't say this lightly, as we have eaten at many fine restaurants around the world. Harbor House is a destination, like a French Michelin starred restaurant (HH currently holds two stars) or a fine Japanese Ryokan with an inn and outstanding food. It's in a remote location, in a small town and with a gorgeous ocean view. The food concept is daily foraging/harvesting from local sources, including the kelp beds. Because of the closeness to the sea, there is a Japanese influence in the food and utensils and the wabi sabi (ephemera) concepts in the tasting menu of small courses. Tastes and smells from this menu are triggers of memory of woods and farms by the sea. You will be connected a different place and time in your mind, based on your own experiences. HH answers the question "what is food?" with sustenance, flavor, visual beauty, textures and aromas to transport you to a higher plane. Not everyone will understand what I am saying (see the 1 star reviews), it's something you need to enlighten to. The dinner changes with the season and even with the day based on what is available and what chef Mathew Kammerer decides to make. There's little documentation of past menus, so I decided to put this into my review so you can see the loving care that goes into the preparation and service -- I hope others will follow and we can build a nice record of the amazing dishes chef has created on Yelp. This review is for September 29, 2022: *Albacore, zucchini, tomato - the initial course clears the palate and sets up what is to come. Light and refreshing with a brightness that hints of what's to come...the intersection of sea, forest and farm. *Sea urchin, dulse, chopped chawanmushi - Outstanding fresh sea urchin, the best outside of the uni we had at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo (sadly now closed to tourists) *Abalone poached in sake, sauce of abalone offal - Might be the signature dish of this area, it is renowned for the abalone harvested literally out the back door. *Maitake mushroom fried and infused, lace lichen, sesame - like a delicate tempura, with a subtle flavor from broth and paired with the subtle lichen, with a taste of the woods. *Sourdough bread and cultured butter, sea lettuce *New potatoes, cucumber and pine oil - A single new potato, with delicate sauce. Pine oil is very subtle and a nice pointer to the forest. *Black cod smoked over bay laurel, sprouted rye - Amazing smoked dish with innovative presentation using artisanal hand made smoking box. The cod was first rate, this was the highlight of the menu and is going to inspire using bay laurel for smoking at our Ranch. *Knight's Valley wagyu, taproots, tiny corn - a small taste that reminded me of shabu shabu. The wagyu is raw, then "cooked" with hot broth poured in the bowl right before consuming. *Devil's Gulch squab, farm thinnings, unripe blackberries - Gamey with a foil of green acidity from the berries. *Yogurt, pickling melon, toasted rice - Texture and bright acidity are provided by the surprising pickling melon. *Kombu ice cream, spent coffee grounds, lavender - The ice cream was spectacular with tiny unidentified red flowers the size of a pin head to add a touch of "spice". Served in the cutest little "coupe" on a bed of honeycomb. *Tea - infusion of douglas fir, grilled honey sweet herbs - This was quite a pleasant surprise. Note the photo of the grilled honey...the sweet herbs were used as a honey dipper to infuse the tea cup with the honey. Stunningly beautiful. *Muscat grapes, Umeboshi caramel - every item on this plate was excellent, the grapes were at the peak of ripeness and sweet, the cookie (my wife had a gluten free version) had an unexpected nutty complement to the sweet creme filling. I had the non-alcohol pairing flight along with dinner. Highly recommended and innovative (photo attached) beverages. Real care went into the selection of glassware and ingredients. It might even be better than the alcohol pairing. If you can, try to book the inn for the night, along with dinner. The road is dark, windy and in weather could be tricky to navigate back to Mendocino or Point Arena after dinner. It was nice to retire to our room to relax a bit and do the next day's crossword puzzle. This is our second visit and we intend to return annually. read more

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After some thoughts, I've decided to leave an honest review because of what was said to me: "Imagine if this dinner was a big bucket list that someone was looking forward to, as Elk is not exactly easy to travel to. Not to mention how expensive the meal is. Your experience should be shared." We stayed at the inn and booked the dinner months in advance to celebrate our anniversary. And to that special date: The menu given to us at the end of the meal had the previous date printed on rather than the date we were there. This made the menu no longer special to us, which may not be a big deal but still surprised me that a 2 Michelin stared establishment would have such a mindless error. And the dinner. While food was definitely executed well and supports the chef's overall philosophy of letting the ingredients shine (and I absolutely tasted the restraint and appreciated the effort), our dinner for two lasted more than 4 hours, with so much idle time in between. It was not the relaxed pace for the diners' sake, but a serious delay with no explanation or apology on what was happening in the kitchen. Half way through dinner our server thought we had the fish dish when we hadn't yet. And my husband wasn't sure if he should use the bathroom in fear that they'd hold off firing the next course further. At one point the staff offered to take our photos at sunset outside, which sounded like a lovely suggestion, except that we returned to our table and continued to wait for our food at even longer intervals, making that photo detour seem like some tactic to justify more waiting. This impatience was observed around the dinning room as well. Yawn, frown, the constant looking down at the watch, and the eventual silence from everyone who had nothing more to chat about. There was even resentment as I overheard a conversation about who got food before them despite having seated after. NOT a Michelin 2 star experience to say the least. My husband said he looked up at one point and locked eye with another diner who rolled her eyes and shook her head to share her annoyance nonverbally. For $275+ pp, that annoyance is warranted. It might've been some disaster in the kitchen that night causing the delay, but keeping mum did not help. Our server disclosed only at dropping the bill that they had new staff in training and therefore sorry about the wait. Too little too late. The inn itself is actually beautiful, and their breakfast the day after was delicious. But that dinner that night, was way below par. I really hope the management will take notice and improve. read more

We recently had lunch at Harbor House to celebrate my birthday. When we arrived, we realized that we had made the reservation for the wrong day. Fortunately, the staff was very accommodating and confirmed with the chef to see if they could seat us, given that they procure their fresh ingredients locally. They were even able to accommodate our pescatarian diet on short notice. The food was outstanding, both in presentation and in taste. The food wasn't overdone like you might find with molecular cuisine--the tastes of the ocean really shone through. From the uni and cod, to the interesting custard for dessert, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Since we were headed to wine tasting afterwards, we did not do the paired wine tasting. Service was friendly and well-paced. The view is phenomenal and I felt like I was in a Julia Morgan home when I stepped into the waiting area. As a bonus, they have charging if you drive an electric car. read more

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Went there for lunch. The highlight of the dining experience were the views from the property. The food and service were ok but not 2-star Michelin nor even 1 star in my opinion. I think their Michelin star may be for their dinner service as their lunch service did not live up to expectations. Dining music was either too loud or server spoke too softly as we had trouble hearing what our server was saying each time they tried to describe our dish when bringing to our table. We both ordered a glass of wine when we started but server never asked if we wanted another drink after we finished and took our wine glass away (we would have ordered another) so this was another data point that resulted in my surprise that they maintain 2-Michelin stars. The portions were small and we thought the fixed lunch menu could have included 1 more dish (something with starch or carbohydrate) as we left feeling hungry and ended up going to get a sandwich somewhere else afterwards. All in all, the value was not there for the food and service experience but the views can't be beat. read more

The perfect stay! This hotel has extremely beautiful grounds in a picturesque and very small/intimate town. But the staff was the star of the show. They were outstanding from front desk to the sommelier and even the owners was very friendly. On a separate note, the restaurant experience was outstanding! You can taste the dedication and detail the chef puts into his craft in every bite. But also, the service staff was very friendly, professional, and detail oriented. I want to give a special thanks to our sommelier Jason, who went above and beyond to answer all our questions and give his insights to our wines and other restaurants across CA to try after our trip here. He was a rock star! Thank you HH Inn for a breathtaking and perfect stay/dining experience. read more

This is going to be a long one, because we stayed at the Inn and also dined at the 2 Michelin star restaurant on one of the nights. Inn: very remote, not much in terms of phone signal. No TV in the room. Everything else is really nice, service is fantastic and the rooms are spacious. Shower/bathroom was a bit small, but we weren't in a bungalow. Realistically, you won't be spending a TON of time in the room- bring a book or a Kindle. The decor is transitional modern, very cozy. The coolest part of the inn, imo, is the ability to walk down to the little cove down below. It's a bit of a steep hike but there are stairs and handrails throughout. At the beach, there's a waterfall and during low tide you can walk out pretty far. The rest of the property is also beautiful, with farms and chairs and a fire pit. Great place to sit, chill, and drink wine. Very romantic environment. An excellent Breakfast is included, and there is a two-night minimum for weekends. Food- multiple course, almost all locally foraged food. They grow most of the stuff on property and even get the seaweed from their cove. In the mornings, you can see some of the chefs around the property. My wife is vegetarian and they were able to fully accommodate her, there was only one true meat course and a few seafood ones. The whole thing is quite an experience, but keep in mind that the food is very Asian-inspired. Interestingly, our favorite course was likely the tempura fried mushroom with a mushroom dashi on the side. My personal favorite out of the meat/seafood was the abalone, as I've never had it before and it was delicious! read more

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We arrived right at 5:45pm and parked across from the highland cows on California Highway 1. Curiously, I didn't see in the Tock emails anything about arriving early, but the social media says to arrive 30 minutes early to enjoy the grounds (which would have been nice). The menu was interesting and tasty from the first course to the last. I appreciate how the delicious and familiar is often paired with a hint of the unusual and boundary-pushing. I thought it was smart to have a course which consisted of delicious maitake tempura, a tasty broth, and lace lichen (that mossy stuff you see on trees everywhere in Mendocino county) -- it was certainly different/fun and surprisingly tasty! Or, the giant, gorgeous abalone dish, paired with a tiny plate of abalone offal. Sourdough bread with sea lettuce was epic. I asked to take some back for my mom who was babysitting our 8-month old for the evening in nearby Mendocino. We asked and got a take-home bag with a generous serving of bread and butter, she was very appreciative!! Dessert: LOVED the candy cap mushroom ice cream for dessert, every bite of the interesting sweet bites, and the douglas fir / meyer lemon tea with honey that I had to ladle with a flower wand. We appreciated hearing about the story behind each dish, and I only wish there was *more* *storytelling*! I know this is a review about Harbor House Inn's Restaurant but I wanted to mention how thrilled we were at KOKS in the Faroe Islands when our server pointed to the exact place on the ocean's horizon they foraged what was on my plate. The beauty of being a two-Michelin-star restaurant with an ocean view is that you *can* do that. I would have loved to hear more about the pork floss that arrived on the asparagus. I had to ask specifically about the wagyu supplier to hear the fascinating story of Knights Valley Wagyu. And now I am regretting not asking about the chopsticks because they were a really fine pair!! Beautiful with green socks. read more

Harbor House Inn - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Elk, California

For my birthday this year my boyfriend took me here and booked us two nights and a dinner and lunch at Harbor House Inn. We had already came here back in the fall but just for dinner and we really fell in love with the restaurant and property. Being able to stay here made it a whole new experience. The cottage was absolutely perfect, I loved all of the little details throughout the space, and the view was incredible. Dinner was so wonderful, it was even better this time which I didn't know was possible! My favorite courses were the abalone, the mushroom, and the rockfish! I definitely recommend getting the N/A pairing, it was the best one i've ever had and really elevated the experience even more. The in room breakfast was literally the breakfast of my dreams. We explored the beach one morning and it was unlike any beach i've ever been to, such a cool and unique experience. There's no other place like Harbor House Inn and I will treasure this experience forever! Sadly, there were a lot of miscommunications with the management that could've been easily avoided. First off, it wasn't communicated to the staff that it was my birthday. My boyfriend put on Tok when he made the reservation that we were celebrating my birthday, he even double checked after this happened. Our waitress asked if we were celebrating anything and she seemed very surprised when we said it was my birthday and said they had no idea and was confused how they missed it. I didn't care that much but it was pretty odd because at least half of the other tables were also celebrating birthdays and they were all brought candles with dessert. Again, it wasn't a huge deal but it made me feel kind of bad because it was confusing how they couldn't have just brought me a candle since they knew it was my birthday too. They emailed us around a month before our reservation saying that we wouldn't be able to eat our lunch in the dining room anymore due to a private event so we could chose to eat in the gardens if the weather allows or in our room, so we chose the gardens. When the time came, we showed up to the front desk and they acted confused why we were there and told us that lunch will be served in our room. We were fine with eating in our room but it was irritating that they couldn't have just communicated that to us beforehand. Once they brought us our lunch, no one explained what any of the 5 dishes were, they just dropped it off and said to call when we were ready for dessert. I'm still not sure what each thing we ate consisted of but it was all very delicious and fresh, I wish I knew! There was another miscommunication before we got there, on the website it says you can pay for a celebration cake so my boyfriend wanted to do that for me, when he contacted them they had no clue that it even said that on the website but they decided that their management would make it happen. He never heard anything again and we were never brought it on my actual birthday so he asked the front desk and they acted like he should've known they were planning on bringing it with the lunch, which could've easily been communicated to him. Despite the issues with management Harbor House Inn is such an incredible restaurant and property and is truly the most beautiful and peaceful place that i've ever been. Both of the dinners I've enjoyed here have been some of the best of my life! I highly recommend dining and staying here if you're able to. read more

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The most expensive case of food poisoning that have ever experienced. It's a beautiful property with an amazing view. The menu was locally sourced. 30 minutes after dinner I got violently ill. The next six hours were miserable. The manager was supposed to meet with us, but didn't show up before we left after waiting for him. The manager didn't contact us for 30 hours. That 25 minutes after the change was disputed. Never even asked how I was feeling. Tried calling this afternoon and was told that the manager was out walking the property. He followed his practice of not communicating with complaints. read more

My husband got food poisoning at their 2 michelin star restaurant. He spent 5 hours following the meal being violently ill. It was our 41st wedding anniversary. We suspect it was the raw cod ... I thought it tasted off and didn't eat it and wasn't sick. The worst part was the staff didn't seem to care at all. We were told the general manager would follow up but he never did. Stay far away ... they don't take proper care in preparing and serving food and a hospital is FAR away if you, too, get food poisoning read more

We spent 3 glorious nights here and loved every aspect of it. - Even before our arrival, both the hotel team and restaurant team reached out for our preferences and any help we may need; - There was one thing which we didn't expect but turned out to be out-of-this-world good - their breakfast. On our first morning we had this breakfast (from the same kitchen as the 2 Michelin star restaurant) that was unlike anything we have ever tasted before. The flavours were so complex and delicious that all we could think of was breakfast the following morning. We were not disappointed - it was eggs and mushrooms in congee - again, the most delicious thing ever. Our third morning's breakfast was also amazing - definitely Asian influences here and there. The breakfasts are included in our stay - it's worth staying here just to eat their breakfasts! - We had dinner here on our first night and it was memorable. The attention to detail, the service and of course the food were all unparalleled. - The team here is fabulous. The General Manager Mr. Ashley Luna is amazing! We asked him for ideas of what to do in the area and he sent this incredible 5-page comprehensive list of fabulous hiking trails, farms with goats and cheese tastings, great wineries nearby, and of course lots of fantastic restaurants - so vital in helping us plan our trip. We also had some requests prior to arrival and during our stay and each and every time, Mr. Luna was most helpful and responsive. Our biggest thanks to him. - Other team members were all amazing - their warmth, friendliness, and attention to detail really touched us. There's Nancy who greeted us warmly upon check in. For the next few days, every time we bump into her, she remembered our names and took the time to chat with us even though she was very busy and had a million things to take care of. She told us the enchanting history of the hotel, lots of fun tidbits on what to do and where to go - Nancy was experienced not just with the hotel but also this area. There's Amber who made us feel so welcomed and helped us with things big and small. We bumped into Adrianne on a hiking trail (she was off that morning and hiking for fun!) - she told us a lot about the trail we were on, interesting things to look out for, etc. - it was like having our own special hiking guide! Mr. Ashley Luna + his incredible team made our stay incredibly memorable, thank you. read more

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One of the best place in the Bay Area to visit and my favorite restaurant so far. This place is really special. To get there from San Francisco is about 3 and a half hours drive and the road was pretty but really narrow. But of course, it was worth it!!! Let's talk about the inn first. It's a really old place but nice and cozy. The people that work there, really really nice and welcoming. They only have 11 rooms and I made the reservation for the room at the second floor, so I get the nice view out from the window. Room come with breakfast that you can choose the time and menu before you arrive. The view is amazing and you can check out the beach by walking down the stairs. All things were great but the hi-light is the restaurant that has 2 Michelin stars and the green star ( local source ) The first impression that I got . It was the people, their hospitality is top notch. They escorted us to our seat and they start with the welcome drink. Small glass of umami. And then we also got non-alcoholic pairing which was interesting , some of them really stand out. first dish : rock fish , the texture not too soft not too chewy the sauce was light and a little sourness that goes well with the fish. second dish : Uni from fort bragg , it was surprisingly sweet and no bitterness at all third dish : crab , divided into 2 dishes, the meat in a little cup and the leg grilled with butter so good, aroma was so great and there is mixed seaweed on the side We got the sourdough bread that was warm and the butter sea lettuce was great compliment. Forth dish : the abalone steamed in ash dough was so tender and the liver sauce was to die for, the only complaint was too little haha I need the whole abalone! Fifth dish : fried maitake mushroom was crispy and the surprise me was the lace lichen , remind me of the mozuku in Japan. Sixth dish : one of my favorite cook fish is the cod and they don't disappoint me , so soft and juicy. Seventh dish : lamb dish , I love it that they give you try in different part and way. Come to the dessert: Kombu ice cream with a flavor of coffee In the end we had tea with grilled honey and all the sweet small bites were good finishing touch. Everything was great , the food and pairing. They were all interesting and I can see people that work here they were all passionate, hospitality was top notch. I can't wait to come back here again!!!!! read more

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We spent 2 nights here for an anniversary trip, and my goodness I wish there were more stars I could give. This was the most memorable trip I've taken in recent years and I was just blown away by the hospitality, delicious food, and beauty of the location. The Inn: Reception was very warm, we were shown to the Oceansong room that overlooks the beach below and it was just simply magical. The balconey doors open completely for a full indoor-outdoor experience, the furniture and decorations are homey, warm, and comfortable. We received some welcome treats, and spent our first evening exploring the premises. We loved the garden in the backyard - if you keep going, you will find the stairs down to the cove that is private to the inn. We came during a tide low enough so that we actually got to step into the cove and look around. It was so cool - wear some sturdy shoes if you want to do this, the sand is very course and not soft like regular beach sand. Breakfast each morning was a dream - you should order it beforehand, and it will be promptly delivered to your room at the time you specify. The preparation changes daily, for us we received an egg/mushroom themed breakfast for both days. So delicious and fresh, I loved it both days! At night it's so dead silent, and the bed is so comfortable that you will be out like a light. One thing I noticed was that the balconey door will not fully lock. We tried to raise this to the front desk, but it may have been too late as we didn't notice this until 9pm and no one was at the front desk anymore. We moved one of the deck chairs to the front to prevent the door from accidentally blowing open, but it honestly wasn't necessary as the doors did successfully stay shut all night. It just doesn't lock as you would expect. The Restaurant: We watched a documentary on the chef's work before coming here so we had a general idea of what to expect, but that did not detract from the delight that was this entire evening. You can tell that the chef is very passionate about his vision for the dining experience. Upon sitting, we received an envelope of cards with literature that explained the chef's intentions and information about our meal. I really appreciated this detail and the dedication to the craft. The meal itself was lovely. The food is so fresh, and the experience lived up to its expectations. Thank you for a great experience! read more

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I celebrated a wonderful birthday lunch at Harbor House Inn restaurant. I didn't know what to expect from a two Michelin start place at lunch time, but I have to say it was an excellent experience. The food and service were both great. We got the bread, which was a sourdough with seaweed locally foraged and dried served with seaweed butter. It can to the table warm - OMG it was delicious! Our 5 courses that followed were equally good and had a cohesive progression. Starting a citrusy salad, followed a rock cod cod crudo. Both dishes had a refreshingly tart citrus component. Third course was a black cod also locally sourced served with warm red beans. The cod was luscious and beans were flavorful and still had a nice bite to them. Fourth course was the lamb served with asparagus and rice with pickled turnips. For me the lamb was overcooked and dry, but the other components were flavorful as delicious. I would definitely go back for dinner! read more

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We had a amazing dinner celebrating our anniversary ! Everything was prepared fresh , plated gorgeously and our taste buds was fully satisfied! Every dish was creative ! Staff were attentive and the hotel where the restaurant set was gorgeous !! Thanks for making our anniversay more special ' Well deserved affordable 2 michelin star read more

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Sadly I couldn't get a coveted full dining experience so I snagged a lunch one. Chef said the lunch one is completely different from the dinner one. Well let me tell you. I was already blown away by lunch so now I need to go to the dinner. The dishes looked pretty simple but it was packed with so much complexity. The flavors were really prominent yet subtle. On top of that the views were out of this world. WOW! I could have stayed there forever. read more

Very happy i've been able to stay at Harbor House Inn, the staff was impeccable. We had an amazing dinner, extremely refined and delicious wines. The bed and bed sheets were really good. don't forget breakfast read more

Harbor House Inn - scenery - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Elk, California

Words can't explain how much I love this place! This place is extremely magical! We stayed in the Lookout room. It's the smallest and cheapest room. It's really cute, but also the shower is really small as well. I think the bathroom needs more counter space for makeup and stuff. We did the full dinner experience and it was well worth it. It's $265 pp (plus tax and tips. Wine paring is also available for add on.) we actually planned our hotel booking base on the availability of dinner reservation. This is such a unique property. Located in the Mendocino coast. Lots of things to do nearby: railroad bike, hike, kayak, and wine tasting. 2 days stay was not enough. Breakfast is included and I highly recommend doing the chef's choice for both days because they'll be different each morning. read more

Incredible food and service! We stopped in last minute on our way to fort Bragg and we were able to snag a lunch reservation. My boyfriend has passed this restaurant for years and always wanted to come in. It was lucky to get a spot and the food was delicious! We were also able to walk around their garden and then down to the beach. Looking forward to returning for dinner in the future! read more

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Horrible customer service! Tried calling person hung up mid sentence then sent to voicemail every call after.

I may be a little dramatic saying that our stay at the Harbor House was life changing, but those who have experienced HH know what i'm thinking. We stayed just about a year ago. Some of the major things we seek when looking for a place to stay is great hospitality and uniqueness of the property. From the moment we arrived we felt warmly greeted and treated to an amazing location, hospitality, views and dining experience. This was soo far away from our experiences at big hotel chains with their cookie cutter hallways and staff who are too busy to care. Greg and the team really changed our view on hospitality. Greg came out to us as we were coming in with our bags and offered to help us in. It felt like an old friend who was eagerly awaiting our arrival. His genuine interest in us was incredibly impactful. We hope the best for Greg and his career, but we also kinda never want to see him be anywhere else, don't let him go! Breanna at the front desk was so nice and totally took care of us. HH and the Cypress Room are what dreams are made of. Here's what we took away from our short stay. One person or a small team can make or break an experience. Clearly, with our stay and with Greg, Breanna and the team they made our experience. Look forward to visiting again. read more

Harbor House Inn - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Elk, California

An extraordinarily delicious meal from start to finish for my wife's birthday. We walked the grounds for a half an hour before our seating time and took in the beauty of the property and their insane view. We got lucky with the weather as it had been pretty foggy at this time the previous evening. I opted for the beverage pairing and my wife was served an excellent glass of white wine that we can't remember the name of. The chilled vegetables with green garlic oil were a welcome first course, perfectly cooked and had a nice snap to them. The sake they served with this course was a revelation: "Kaze no Mori, Alpha Type 3" from Nara prefecture. It was light, zippy and incredibly bright. Other standout courses were the skate with makrut lime broth, the red abalone, the little gem lettuce with butternut squash miso and grapefruit, and the black cod smoked over bay laurel. Even though it was a dessert, I may actually have to say my favorite single course of the night was the Candy cap mushroom ice cream with bee pollen and honeycomb. This course was beyond amazing with an incredible depth of flavor from the mushrooms. The wine pairing was a Ratafia from Champagne, and this pairing was divine - great caramel flavor complementing the ice cream. We even ate that webby stuff that hangs from the trees, which we learned was called lace lichen! Nearly every course utilized seaweed or mushroom in some fashion, which was a great way to show the range of those humble and plentiful ingredients. They've definitely earned their green clover. The meal was over approximately 3 hours later, but I will say everything felt very well paced - we were never waiting long between courses. The beverage pairing was probably my favorite yet, just a really nice use of sakes, wines and beers with a nice mix of complementary and contrasting pairings to keep us off balance. Service was great, and not overly fussy - the whole experience really doesn't feel all that formal which is nice given the laid back setting. With most tasting menus like this, we have a bit of a roller coaster, with some standout dishes and others that slightly missed the mark. However, my wife and I both agreed that every course made its own impact and none had missed the mark at all. They all belonged in their place and were extremely consistent in their greatness. Bravo! read more

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The prix fixe meal was exquisitely designed, presented, and prepared. Every moment felt intentional and guided by the overall theme of the ocean and the homage to locally sourced ingredients. Delicious, beautiful, and creative in a special unique way. The Inn, grounds, views and staff are also very special. It is as if everything was designed and selected to make you feel as cozy as possible. It feels like a warm hug inside. The team was so warm and friendly. The colors and materials (lots of wood) have the coziest vibe. A truly singular experience. read more

Harbor House Inn - The incredible view of the ocean from the lower lawn - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Elk, California

*This review is solely about the restaurant* Harbor House Inn was a shockingly bad dining experience for my husband and me, and a significant let down after I had been excitedly reliving my experience three years ago and telling him all about it. We booked the vegetarian tasting menu well ahead of time, the staff confirmed our booking, and our server for the night started by verifying that we were doing the vegetarian tasting menu, mentioning that it was an "easy peasy" restriction to accommodate. The first three courses were not particularly interesting; Chef Matthew Kammerer seemed to overload the light vegetables on the dish with too much brine and salt, to which they could not live up. Three courses in, as they were introducing the fourth course, the server casually mentioned that one of the components of the course was dashi broth, an item that uses a base of bonito (dried fish) flakes. I thought I had misheard her and asked her to confirm whether the dashi was vegetarian. After checking with the kitchen, she returned to tell us that not only were my suspicions correct, but that three other courses that night would have a dashi base, and the kitchen would not be able to omit them from the dishes. This was absolutely shocking to us, as we naïvely assumed that a 2 star Michelin chef would understand what it means to offer a vegetarian menu. Chef Matthew Kammerer unfortunately does not seem to have this knowledge. When I reminded the server that they had known we were vegetarian at the time of booking, she said that vegetarians usually will "choose to make an exception" and consume fish-based dishes during the meal. The obliviousness of her remark showed that the staff did not understand that they were simply not serving a vegetarian menu, despite saying / advertising that they could. That was also when we learned that our second course had also contained dashi (they may have mentioned it when serving but I didn't pick up on it that time). As awful as this experience was - a 6 hour round trip for nothing - Harbor House staff's terrible service was probably the cherry on the fishy cake. There were no managers around to help us rectify the situation except... the chef. Who understandably was not going to be able to leave the kitchen when a full service was going on. The server assured us that management / the chef would personally be in contact with us to address the situation, but after eight days, we have yet to hear from Harbor House. It's unclear why the cooking or the environment here merits a single star, let alone two. read more

This review is way overdue but I stayed for two nights at Harbor House and dined at the restaurant to celebrate my husbands 30th birthday. Our stay was 4 stars given we were downstairs so it could get a bit noisy hearing other guests, but the breakfast was exceptional and the property is breathtakingly beautiful. We had a lot of fun exploring the beach area and coves! What really bumps the experience up to 5 stars and 6 stars if I could give it was the dining experience! As I mentioned above, breakfast already blew me away because it was presented so beautifully, but having the opportunity to eat dinner was even better. The chefs take inspiration from Japanese kaiseki style meals and added their own twist of Californian coastal vibe. The combination is fantastic, especially if you love seafood and Japanese food like me! Highlights for me were the chilipepper rockfish ume, whole crab (crab tea, nasturtium, claw warmed over charcoal), and black cod cured on kelp shiitake. But honestly, everything was incredible. Writing about this makes me wish I could eat everything all over again. Overall ranks top 2 amongst all Michelin restaurants The only place comparable to how much I enjoyed this visit would be Atelier Crenn. Can't wait to come back again soon! read more

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My husband and I stayed at the Harbor House Feb. 15 and 16, 2022. We were traveling with another couple. The weather was beautiful so the view from our room was extraordinary. We checked in with 2 fresh crabs, sauce, bread wine and cheese because the restaurant was closed. We sat outside looking out onto the water and the staff helped with starting a fire in the large fire pits situated on bluffs looking out onto tranquil water. The staff was warm and inviting and we felt so comfortable. Our stay was perfect. We were 2 hours from the Harbor House Inn and they told me that I had left my makeup. Today a package arrived at my home with my makeup returned to me. Thank you for a lovely experience. I appreciate the effort you made on my behalf. read more

Harbor House Inn - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Elk, California

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This place... perfection. Wonderful, knowledgeable staff. World class views. AmAzing dishes prepared not just with tastiness in mind... but perfectly timed courses. Just when you say to your date "I could really go for some bread right now"... bread with the tastiest butter appears. Wine pairing a must! My only complaint would be not being able to take a bucket of those crispy mushrooms home with me. read more

Great location and value. Rooms are recently updated and well appointed and the staff is very hospitable and responsive. I've tried other venues in Morro Bay, but I keep returning to Harbor House. read more

Beautiful Rooms, large and spacious. Great setting right on the ocean. Food was good. We ended up doing the tasting menu at lunch - plenty of food. We also did the wine pairing - very good. Warning it is pricey. read more

Fiance made a dinner reservation for Sunday night. Dinner ended up being 3.5 hours long. Fantastic autumn sunset to start the 5pm dinner. Great service throughout the night. We also ordered the food pairing which was a mix of sake and wines. The drink choices were all wonderful although didn't really enhance the food taste overall. Menu for the day Tomato and tomatillo tonic, olive oil - simple starter Red abalone poached in sake, ember-roasted turnip, seaweed vinegar Custard of abalone offal, succotash beans - delicious abalone packed with flavor Maitake mushroom, fried and infused, cow parsnip butter, yuzu, lace lichen - probably the best single bite of tempura mushroom ever. was really impressed by the flavors. Pacific Gold oysters, sprouting cauliflower, rye - yum and delightful. Sourdough bread and cultured butter, sea lettuce - butter and bread was out of this world. I could eat this everyday. Japanese eggplant, hinoa turnip, sabayon seasoned with salted plums Ling cod, slowly grilled, tare of sea cabbage, cabbage, salted shiso Trumpet mushroom smoked over eucalyptus, calhikari rice with porcini and chanterelle, pickle - interesting dish although I preferred the other mushroom Squab smoked over pine cones, daikon, garden leaves Chinoy melon, ginger, anise hyssop Ice cream infused with apple peels, sea salt, fried chestnut Infusion of douglas fir, lemon, ginger - this was an amazing tea, I wish I could drink this everyday. Grilled honey, sweet herbs Baynut + Coffee cookie Quince, fenne read more

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It's hard to describe the peacefulness and tranquility felt at the harbor house inn. We came for dinner and stayed the night, writing this the next morning and I feel quite zen. Pro tip - Monday night is the only night they don't have a two night minimum on the hotel and the restaurant is open. The restaurant is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. We were handed a welcome glass of wine on arrival at check in. Then we walked around the property. The property is beautiful, even on a foggy day, maybe more so on a foggy day? The dinner - food is local and seasonal, with a focus on seafood and incorporating seaweed foraged from the cove below. We did the wine pairing which was exceptional and I highly recommend. Each course had incredible presentation and even more incredible flavors. There is only one seating at the restaurant, the meal was about 3.5 hours in total. It was the perfect amount of food and felt neither rushed or too long. We floated the 30 feet back to our room for an excellent and quiet sleep. Hope to come back soon, thank you Harbor House. read more

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What a great lunch with a view! We accidentally came across this restaurant on our trip to Mendocino. We got the fixed lunch menu. - Fresh salad with some pickled roots - Rock fish with a side of rice - Berry ice cream with some cream. My bf loved the rice as it was infused with miso. They also put ao seaweed on top. My favorite is the dessert. After lunch, we walked around the estate, which was so beautiful. read more

When you encounter a Two Michelin-starred and Michelin Green Star restaurant it sets the stage for high expectations that come along with an equally high price tag. However, I was not prepared that this would result in the epitome of a life's journey from beginning to finish that starts before you ever step foot through the Harbor House Inn doors. Flew into the Bay and had a couple hour journey through Northern California winery countryside and found ourselves going into the hills to make our way through the winding rolls to make it to our destination. Considering this was the last winter food serving it was challenging excursion as literally drove through the seasons as saw sun, wind, rain, ice, and snow. When we finally exited onto Highway 1 it was dark as we drove along the coastline to reach our destination. Upon entering this establishment you are greeted with a warm decor and roaring fireplace. We huddled around it trying to rid the chills from our bones and then were escorted to one of the 25-seats that occupy the main dining room (if you are fortunate enough to come during the daylight hours you will be treated with a beautiful view of the Pacific Coastline). The customer service is exceptional from the explanation of the food, the available wine pairings, refilling your water before asking, and doing whatever is necessary to make you feel comfortable as you progress from dish to dish (for this evening's it amounted to a total of 12). Without spoiling the adventure as the menu shifts from season to season I would say the highlights were the Pacific Octopus, the sourdough with seaweed butter, smoked ling cod, korabi bbq, and the Douglar Fir tea. It is a trek to reach this location but like all great things requires great effort and if you do decide to put forth the resources towards this experience you will come to appreciate it all the more. read more

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This restaurant earned its Michelin Star this year, and from our experience tonight thy should be considered for a second star. It's that good and that unique. Our 10+ course dinner was nothing short of amazing. Personal service, locally grown ingredients , expert presentation, unique flavors, and on and on. Every dining experience is unique, I.e., if you dine there twice you will not have the same meal. See photos for our menu and each dish. Very expensive and worth it. read more

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I had the absolute pleasure of having four breakfasts and three dinners here and I don't know where to begin to describe how wonderful the experience. This is primarily a review of the restaurant and food, but having also stayed in the Inn the rooms are equally fabulous. The setting alone will transport you back to another era of quality, comfort, elegance and contemporary touches within a simply magnificent environment and breathtaking view of both ocean and countryside. The isolation adds to the tranquiliy and ambiance. Each breakfast was uniquely different and without exaggeration some of the best breakfast meals I have had at any establishment. Creative, tasty, filling and ever so full of different flavors in combinations that only culinary talent can provide. I was amazed. From egg dishes with flowers on top to omelets, to a delicious porridge/oats with artistic toppings- just wonderful. With fresh baked bread, house coffee, apple butter, pastries (fresh baked croissants, savory bites). And even a bundle of beautiful gooseberry type fruit on the side. WOW! The dining room is absolutely magnificent. A redwood den of warmth it feels like an intimate yet sophisticated country inn, which it is. Even though other diners are in the room everything is spaced so well that nothing feels cramped or crowded. You're aware of others yet feel privacy too. Each meal was a feast of harvested goodness and no words can describe the various dishes as the 11 to 13 courses each brought unique flavors and tastes. Primarily seafood driven the quality is beyond comparison, from trout to mussels, oysters, large clams (gooeyduck), crab, to my hoped for favorite, abalone. Seaweed, kelp, and mushrooms foraged from the local area are incorporated to various dishes. Home made bread is a separate dish, mid part to the meal. Vegetables are also served and we had a course of carrots that blew us way with tastiness. The pacing was perfect, plan for at least a three hour feast, and yet the portions are spot on perfect. Desserts are refreshing and very tasty, including a wine infused ice and seaweed ice cream. Delicious. All of the food is served in beautiful, artistic dishes and serving pieces. I was amazed by the variety and craftsmanship of even the utelsils. The meal ended with a pot of home made tea, honey, and various accompaniments. Such a great end to any meal, especially on a cool weather day. I had the wine paring, and it was very well done. I tried wines that I've not been exposed to before and the sommelier was expert at describing each. I'm also not that familiar with sake, and she diligently walked me through each. I was able to select each sake vessel cup from a variety presented, and they were beautifully crafted pieces of artistry. Needless to say the pairings went perfectly with the food. The staff is so professional, efficient and friendly. They very much are welcoming and gracious in every way possible. Meeting Matthew, the awarded chef, was very much a part of the meal and very appreciated. So unassuming and unpretentious, yet so talented and expert in his field, I trust he will go far having achieved so much already. RUN, do not walk to make a reservation here. I seriously suspect, even being far afield, this is becoming a destination place. Savor it while it's still young! read more

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I've been coming here over 40 years. It's better than ever! I stay in house rather than the cottages because I love the 1916 feel. Don't expect Marriot water pressure and you will be fine. The restaurant now is amazing and equal to the Laundry IMO. But different due to the foraged local influence like I've never encountered to this degree. Chef's breakfast is awesome too. read more

Harbor House Inn - An amazing place! - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Elk, California

Worst Michelin experience ever. 1. My friend and I went there for dinner on Sept 8 and we both had bad food poisoning like symptoms for next 2 days. My symptom even included fever. Not sure why it used to have so many good reviews thus our expectation were high. 2. My palm was pierced with a wooden piece from their table top just by sliding my hand. I told them my palm was pierced by their table and they just said sorry but we are unable to find you a tweezer. I asked if they can get me any tools I can use they refused to provide me any. Then I asked how I can get it out, they responded why don't you go to the restroom and try to pull it out by urself? I was pretty upset by how they handle this event which is definitely they fault. The only help I got is alcoholic wipe. Please be careful for their food quality & table quality... read more

We recently stayed in a room located in the lobby, where we expected to hear lobby / restaurant traffic, as well as street noise until a certain hour. What we did not expect was for a group of people, including the executive chef, to sit in the lobby conversing well beyond the published "quiet hours" with no regard for guests staying in adjacent rooms. It wasn't until we approached the group that they finally disbanded and took their conversation elsewhere. We attempted to contact the after hours number to report the issue, but no one answered. It felt like we were staying in a dormitory, rather than an inn or hotel touting any level of service. If you are considering a visit here, please be aware of the disconnect between the gaps in hospitality versus what should be expected at this price point, so you will not be disappointed. read more

My wife and I stayed here for three nights in August and it was an amazing experience. We had a couple of hiccups in the beginning of our stay, but the management / staff went out of their way to take care of us and make sure the rest of our stay was awesome. The view speaks for itself so I won't go into that but if you want to be remote, shut off the outside world and spend quality time with your loved ones, this is the place to be. I didn't get any cell service. They do have Wi-fi but it can be spotty so it actually forced us to cut off the outside world and it was a blessing in disguise. We took walks, went down to the rocky beach area (5 minute trip down the trail / stairs), made a bonfire at the fire pit, cooked ourselves lunch and dinner (we stayed at Madrone, which has a full kitchen), and just relax. It was the perfect destination for our babymoon and we would love to come back here in the future! Few other notes: 1. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays so plan for your meals (we brought groceries to cook with for couple lunches and dinners and one night we picked up food from a restaurant in Mendocino, which was a 50 min round trip) 2. If you live relatively close to this place, it would be a great lunch or dinner spot where you can soak in the views over a nice meal 3. Speaking of dinner, we had the tasting menu one night and the food was phenomenal. Our friend also surprised us with the beverage pairing. The non alcoholic pairing was really creative and delicious - i think we liked it better than the regular pairing! 4. Briana, the head innkeeper during our stay was very thoughtful and sweet, so thank you! 5. Their breakfast is also amazing. trust the chef and go with the chef's choice read more

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