In one's life, they will encounter a certain number of sandwiches that are truly life changing…read more Sometimes it's the magic combo of high quality ingredients. After all, a smuckers pb&j doesn't have the same effect as an artisanal hand pounded nut spread with homemade jam. Sometimes it's because of the locale--a caprese on a baguette in Italy for example, might include the same ingredients but be as memorable as the one at the corner cafe. And it's understandable to think that perhaps Black Sands Bistro may have the benefit of the breathtaking view. And yes, their offerings are humble. But my. Goodness. This place is amazing. The life changing sandwich in question was the breakfast sandwich special: fresh, home made foccacia. Marinated, grilled veggies. Thick sliced quality ham. Covered in perfectly melted cheese. It was incredible. I had a meatball sandwich the next day, and while it was pretty damn good I will be thinking about the Alice in Wonderland special for a good long time. As a horde of comedians descended onto the town, full of last nights beer and quippy one liners, the kitchen didn't blink an eye as they fried up plate after plate of hearty, breakfast sandwich perfection. The owners were so welcoming to all of us. They make all the baked goods in house, including that delicious foccacia. And THAT VIEW. Where else can you enjoy a good meal with a view to match? Pair with a cold beer or a hot coffee and this is the perfect quiet ritual to begin your days in Shelter Cove. I will absolutely be back, again and again, whenever I am lucky enough to return to this beautiful part of the world.

I frequently visit another California coastal town ,(touristy) that I have tried several…read morerestaurants and been disappointed with - I gave up trying to find good food in that OTHER town. This was my first time to Shelter Cove, and Black Sands Bistro was my first place to try food at. I wasn't expecting much. But I must say, we were very pleasantly surprised! I got a cheeseburger for $17 and being that it was a tourist town, expected a small, generic McDonald's type hamburger. But it was good sized, not preformed patties, with 3 slices of tomato and generous helping of lettuce and it was juicy and very good. They gave a nice selection of baked desserts (all $5) and they are large servings and not the generic baked items you find in every other aery in California. We got the German Chocolate Cake and it was quite good. I got coffee, too and it was better than average. While not cheap, it did seem to be one of the less expensive options. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. If we go back to Shelter Cove, this will be the place we always go to.

Nacho: recommended. I thought the nacho was excellent. Great homemade nacho cheese-perfect flavor…read more Excellent shredded beef. All the great generous toppings. Burrito: not for me. I am not a fan of Brown rice in a burrito. Way too many whole beans in it. For the price it should have had some detectable sauce/salsa, and come with sour cream or guacamole Loved that shredded beef, but not enough to order the burrito again.

Really great food! We got half nacho, enchiladas, street tacos and a quesadilla. All were great!…read moreGood guac too!

Very good. For a 1/2 lb burger very well cooked. I was dreading it would be over cooked but it was…read morejust right. Other half loved her sandwich. Service was amazing and polite. Wish they had more beer on tap or at least dark beer. But that's a wish. Not a criticism. Will be back if I am up this way

Got very sick on my roadtrip after stoping in town to eat here -- the food is greasy and did not…read moresit well. Service was also slow / struggled to get waiters attention multiple times. Dropped off the bill and was in the back for 15 minutes before even processing card.

Had a great time celebrating new years at Mario's Marina. First time in shelter cove and first time…read morehere. Had a great night and met some really cool people out celebrating too.

Killer views. Probably on my top 5 list for view along with a bar i went to in Wyoming with views…read moreof the Grand Tetons and a couple others in Hawaii and Belize, but unfortunately everything else about this place was disappointing. I ordered there beer with kimchi bloody Mary mix. Did not have enough mix and tasted nothing like kimchi. Second cocktail, the margarita special was good but way too sweet with too much agave. I ordered the mushroom bisque and it wasn't disappointing, it was down right pathetic. I love mushrooms, but this didn't taste like it even had any in it. Watery as all hell, and tasted of dirty water with not even salt to season it. I took two watery spoonfuls and one glance at the burnt ass from a frozen box, garlic knot that came with it and literally walked away from it. I love shelter cove, but won't be returning to marios probably ever after that. This and the ale house feel like since they have no competition in such a remote location, that they feel being half assed is okay. And me saying half assed is generous

Friendly, efficient, excellent service 5+ Food 5…read moreInterior3 (no frills, got the job done, our table was a little wobbly) booths and traditional seating We all had burgers and they were fresh and yummy!

Solid neighborhood diner with a good staff and good standard fare for breakfast, lunch, an. Love…read moreseeing friends when we walk in, and the location is great.

We ordered smash burger and a burrito plus fries, all super yummy! What a find, looks like an old…read moreregular food truck, don't go by stereotypes and images, this one's special!

In support of family owned businesses, we gave this a try. We came at a bad day because nothing we…read moreread about on past reviews were present. Best food? 5 stars? Yummy? A bit exagerrated. Chicken quesadilla was not good. Chicken was flavorless and dry. Cheese tasted old. How do you mess up quesadillas? It didn't come with salsa, sour cream or any kind of sauce. Vegetarian husband ordered Veggie bowl with beans and it had ground beef pieces in it. Giving 1/2 star for the spicy mayo. Smash burger with cheese wasn't smashed, it's just frozen burger patties. No flavor or texture of what a smash burger is. Giving 1/2 star for toasting the buns. I do not recommend this place to first timers.

We were a party of 9 that decided to eat here last minute. They were able to accommodate us, even…read morethough they had a party of 11 reserved for that night too. The server/host was very kind and actually fun too. The food was delicious. Most of us had the prime rib with mashed potatoes. Very generous portions and very delicious. If you are traveling in the area, I would say this is a must stop restaurant

Stopped here for family dinner while traveling down the Avenue of the Giants. What a gem! The kids…read moreeach found healthy meals they were excited about, I asked for an off-menu NY Steak on a big salad, and everyone left happy and full. They have a great beer and wine menu, but it was a driving day so I didn't partake. Wonderful staff, funny and attentive.

Staying in the hotel, I headed down to the pub to enjoy a lovely meal and live music! Fiona was my…read moreserver, and all the staff worked diligently to make sure everyone had water, drinks filled, and meals brought out hot and delicious! The cioppino was wonderfully presented, as well as the clam chowder (rosemary present but not overwhelming, loaded with clams) and Krisp with ice cream for dessert. They did have wine and other drinks available. I chose a cappuccino They had a musician playing on this evening, and was very enjoyable. Worth the drive, it is beautiful and bring your appetite!

Dear Restaurant Manager,…read more I am writing to formally complain about an upsetting experience I recently had at your restaurant. While I was eating my House Burger, I noticed that the steak had been slightly overcooked/burnt. When I politely commented on the issue, the employee involved responded in a disrespectful and insulting manner. He made a remark indicating that he would rather be working on a "DC" or "PC," or words to that effect, rather than addressing my concern professionally. More seriously, I also noticed that this employee took a nibble from my food. I find this behavior completely unacceptable and extremely concerning from a hygiene and food-safety standpoint. Customers should be able to trust that their food is handled appropriately and that employees will treat both their meals and their concerns with respect. The employee was a young male with dirty-blonde hair and blue eyes, and he was using his phone while working. I am providing these details solely to help management identify the employee involved. I believe this incident warrants a serious investigation. Given the inappropriate handling of my food, unprofessional conduct, and disrespectful response to my complaint, I strongly request that appropriate disciplinary action be taken. Based on the seriousness of the behavior, I believe termination should be considered. I would appreciate a response explaining how this matter will be investigated and what steps will be taken to prevent something similar from happening to another customer. Sincerely, ruban lopez