Not sure where to begin. The enthusiasm for a date night with my wife was building from all the great reviews we had heard. I called and left a message for a reservation at 7. Wanting to make it a little earlier my wife called back and they were more than willing to accommodate. We arrived promptly at 615. The greeting was very professional. The ambiance and view were unsurpassable even on a gloomy day. The dress code is casual and I was a little turned off by the clientele who were wearing baseball caps, and beanies eating dinner. Manners? Etiquette? Maybe just humboldt? Let's get to the food. The menu has great unique one of a kind choices. The starters we chose were broiled oysters, and lobster wontons. The broiled oysters were over the top amazing highly recommended!!! The lobster wontons on the other hand were lukewarm and very dry. I've had better cream cheese wontons at a Chinese buffet....... We both ordered steak. I had ribeye, my wife had filet. When the entrees came out they looked fantastic. The first cut of the ribeye had a scent almost to that of steak that had been sitting out on the meat counter too long ready to turn. My wife cut into hers and it had the same scent. It was far undercooked than what she had ordered almost to the point of seared ahi style. Both steaks were a little above room temperature. We were anticipating this meal so we were both hungry and we decided to move on. The potatoes on my wife's entree were cold. The leafy green veggie was hot and fresh but a tad bit too salty. Based of the dinner experience we opted to skip desert. This is hard for me because I really like creme brûlée and they have it! At the end of the review I can say I'd probably never go back. The hype, the prices, and the quality of food don't line up. Overrated is the easiest way to say it. Try it for yourself but don't expect earth shattering results.r read more

We had an amazing experience the first night with a very friendly and helpful server Jacklyn, we had to come back a second night. It was equally amazing and wish we can come back again but alas, we are leaving. Everything we had were high standard and made with love. A must if you are in the area! read more

Delicious food & presentation, gracious service, lovely location & ambiance. Deserves a Michelin star or two. Best dining out experience I have had in years. read more

I can't believe I've lived in Humboldt Co. my whole life and I'd never been to this restaurant before. The perfect romantic restaurant. The view is spectacular, the appetizers, main course, dessert and drinks were all excellent. We saw wales going bye as we dined, spouting and flashing their tales. We saw an amazing sunset. You can go for a walk on the beach after dinner. Before you make your reservation, check what time sunset is that day so you get the full experience. TRY THIS PLACE! read more

Moonstone Grill - Moonstone Grill - Seafood Near Me - Trinidad, California

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Underwhelming and overpriced. The two of us shared a few appetizers: the crab cake (only one but on the large side), the scallop dish (three scallops inside a small ramekin with Pernod - the Pernod took over the delicate flavor of the seared scallops) and a cup of the clam chowder (on the watery side, although flavorful - Trinidad Bay Eatery's chowder is one of the best chowders we've had). We then shared the seared Ahi meal. The rice it sat on was overcooked and mushy, the cucumbers that surrounded the mound of rice and fish were decorative but pretty much tasteless and only two pieces of the Ahi were cooked beautifully but the rest overcooked. We ordered one well drink cocktail and one glass of wine. The meal cost the two of us $130.00. The wait staff was excellent and cheerful. The view spectacular with the restaurant pretty much right on the beach and there doesn't seem to be one table that can't see that view. I would recommend the Larrupin Cafe (also in Trinidad) for the food and Moonstone beach for the view. Moonstone Beach Grill needs to rethink their pricing based on the food. It was mediocre at best. read more

Not sure what's happened with this place. I understand there is a new ownership, but Jeez. The view and the atmosphere will always be magnificent. This is an "upscale" restaurant for Humboldt County, and as such, you expect pricier menu items, which is fine. We stopped in during a weekday evening for a special occasion dinner and cocktails. There was only one person assigned to the bar, which was, as usual, packed. The bartender was trying her best, but was completely overwhelmed trying to serve drinks to the bar, make cocktails for the table guests, and take dinner orders. Under previous ownership, there was always 2 people staffing the bar. We ordered the King Salmon, which was outstanding as usual & the Happy Hour fish and chips, which were over-fried and almost inedible. I asked for malt vinegar from the young lady who delivered the food from the kitchen....we're still waiting. No one ever came to check on us. Hope things improve. We were embarrassed for the bartender, who kept apologizing to everyone.... read more

Meh. The view is beautiful and the service was great, but the food (ESPECIALLY for the price) was lacking for our group. From 2 people in our group, it was said the rice and pasta dishes they got tasted like those packets you buy at the grocery store and just throw into the microwave for 90 seconds. The cauliflower steak is just steamed cauliflower in some mediocre watery sauce. If you're looking for a good beach view, this is your place. If you're looking for an inspired/creative menu and food that has flavor...go somewhere else. We recommend Trinidad Bay Eatery and Gallery or beachcombers. And if you want the view...get takeout from these places and drive less than a mile to the beach...I promise it'll be a better experience and will save you loads of money. read more

I hate giving a low star review when the dinner was great, but the service was the worst experience of my life! We went over for burger week. Humboldt's special event hosting 20 restaurants with special burgers for $7. Well Moonstone grill had a delicious fish patty that was a huge chunk of meat for $7. Yet our dinning experience was aweful. We were treated like low class for only wanting burgers, made to sit at the bar or stand and eat. The bartender never gave us cutlery or napkins, never offered to get us drinks, and wasn't giving us the bill. Really felt like walking out. Our friend gave up his seat for our other friend and ate and stood. The waitress said we could all do that!!! I guess since we weren't throwing down $80 for dinner then we weren't to be treated with respect. Won't ever be back after that. read more

This is Definitely a fine dining establishment, but they are so welcoming and accommodating that we felt just fine in our plain clothes with 2 rambunctious little girls. Most of the seats at the bar face the ocean with a lovely view. We were a bit too early for sunset, but we knew any later and the girls would not be very pleasant ;) The cocktails were good. We had the lobster wontons - their were very crispy and I couldn't really taste the lobster. Also the Scallops, they were cooked perfectly but the pernod in the sauce was very overpowering. The main of braised pork belly (a special on the menu) was cooked perfectly with a unique seasoning. The girls got the child's menu order of a skewer of filet, mashed potatoes and roast carrots. Finally, a restaurant that treats young children as humans and not garbage disposals. Their food was delicious! The lava cake was tasty but a molten, lava cake it was not. It had a warm ganache around it but the cake was solid, no gush, no lava. The tab was pretty high but we felt that it was good value for what we got. I would definitely recommend it to anyone out here on vacation. read more

This cute spot has an amazing view, amazing service (shoutout to Eric!!!!) To top it off the food is fresh with ingredients from close by. My only recommendation would be that they get highchairs or booster seats. read more

We were looking for a nice place to spend the night and our friends at the Trinidad Inn had suggested that we try to get a nice meal with a sunset view at Moonstone Grill. Located at the southern tip of the city of Trinidad, Moonstone Grill offers a fresh array of food options that are representative of the area it is in. Not open on Monday or Tuesday, we decided to go on a Wednesday. Even then, they were busy. We were told we didn't need reservations and that was true but man there were a lot of people here. I feel bad for the waiters who were running back and forth between everything but they managed to do a good job making sure that orders went in on time and dishes went to the right people. Their menu isn't extensive and on the night that we went there weren't any specials as they had just changed their menu to reflect the season change. I was looking forward to try the trout which apparently was offered recently (local) but that wasn't an option that night. Instead we started off with a cheese plate. Wonderful selection! Should have given us more bread though. Our appetizers also included the lobster wontons which were nicely done. We had the seafood chowder which I think is the best chowder in the area by far. We then had 2 entrees: a new cod dish with Asian flavors (house made kimchi) as well as an osso buco pasta dish that was by far the most delicious dish I have had in the area and many other places too! The dish was flavorful because the osso buco was executed perfectly and the pasta was fresh and perfectly al dente. Well done! We finished off the night with a pumpkin cheesecake and a chocolate lava cake. Both were definitely something to make sure you order before you leave here (save room for it!). This place is expensive but is en par with other restaurants of this style. You are guaranteed to have a good time. Plenty of parking outside. Make sure to look up at the sky and see the Milky Way on your way out! read more

It's one of the best restaurants in Humboldt County. The food and drinks are first rate. But get there before sunset and take in the view over moonstone beach. It's like flying over the scene in a plane. With wine dessert appetizers your looking at north of $200 for two people, but it is worth every penny. read more

Loved the extra mile that all the staff went through, to make our experience an unforgettable one! Our hostess made sure our table wasn't wobbling, including crawling under the table to fix it. This place is definitely worth the drive. read more

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This was one of the best meals my wife and I have had in years. My abalone was perfect! My wife had a very complex mint and fresh pea risotto which was excellent . My wife had a very basic vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. They make the caramel sauce in house and it is absolutely transcendent . The service was great and the whole staff was great. A truly exceptional and memorable meal. read more

The Moonstone Grill pretends to be fine dining but falls far short of that mark. Example 1: At the height of wild mushroom season, they use button mushrooms in the Brussel Sprout and Mushroom appetizer. When seasonal, local ingredients are available, then use them. Example 2: They used canned artichoke hearts in their pasta. The pasta is not handmade and they use out of season asparagus in the dish. This shows a lack of detail and attention in the kitchen. Example 3: Overuse of the same side dish. I can see mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes with the filet mignon ... and the grilled rib eye ... but when it also accompanies the lobster tail, then that's the sign of a lazy kitchen. Please step away from the steam table mashed potatoes. For the price that you pay, the MSG doesn't come close to fulfilling the promise of fine dining. read more

Still great atmosphere under new management. I had the fillet mignon dinner and was very good. Only thing I would say is the plain brown gravy did not pair with the steak well. Really could have used some rosemary or balsamic. Something to elevate it. Other than that I'll be back. read more

Limited selection for vegetarians. No vegetarian appetizers, 2 salads, 2 entrées. The house salad with gorgonzola was nice, however, the pasta primavera entrée, though tasty, was unartfully prepared. It's just one big bowl of fusilli, with a few slices of zucchini, smothered in pesto cream. For the price this dish fell well short of its potential. My wife (the carnivore) enjoyed her scallop appetizer, house salad, and filet mignon and would award at least one more star than this somewhat disappointed vegetarian. read more

This restaurant is all about the experience, and the absolutely staggering view. It overlooks a spot where the river winds into the ocean, with giant rocks and a beach. Every seat in the house has an excellent view and if, like me, you are not from these parts, you will hardly notice what you are eating because you will be so breathless at what you are seeing out the window. I've been here for both a business dinner and an anniversary dinner. Both times, the service was very good. The host was very solicitous both times, and even remembered me the second time (odd because I live all the way across the country). He let us choose our seat and talked with us about dinner options, and later even brought me binoculars. The server was equally helpful and good at wine pairing for our oysters, halibut and jalapeno roll, tuna, and salmon. The food was good on both occasions. It's not the best I've ever had, and it is certainly expensive, but the view plus the service plus the food make it a really excellent experience. Given the fact that our day prior to this dining experience included a hike in Fern Canyon, seeing a Roosevelt elk close up in the wild, and watching sea lions on Patrick's Point, maybe I was just overwhelmed by awe and happiness when we ate there. But Moonstone Grill was an excellent end to a wonderful day. read more

Ok, new menu for our fave spot here. WOW! It was sure delicious. OMG! I started off with Hamachi Crudo. Yes, they now have a raw bar and lets say, this was so fabulous. I get chills thinking about it.. Hubby had Moonstone Oysters. Garlic, caviar and melted butter. He shared. I enjoyed. For entree, he had the Pork Chop and I had Polenta. Dessert was a lemon tart with blueberries. It was a bit too liquidy and it only came with 3 blueberries. (really? Cmon!) Otherwise, dinner was out of this world. And we, enjoyed a last visit to this spot before we are off to live far away. BUT, we will be back, I am sure! read more

Wow, food was lovely. Service was a wee slow, but certainly friendly and professional at table side...Adam you were a pleasure. Would have given it 5 stars if it weren't for the 50-60 something's cruising through bottle after bottle of wine, while the 10-12 month old baby with them cried...overheard this crew of increasingly loud guests claim the baby was ill. Note to future guests....I don't care how well off you are or how old you are, have some manners!! Keep you loud pretentious volume down and leave ALL your toddlers and babies at home. Management at the Moonstone would do well to pay the attention to the guests experience...the food was certainly there! read more

Positive: absolutely lovely setting, Blufftop restaurant, most tables with a window-side view of the Pacific ocean, sunset dinner. Wait staff are practiced at opening the shades for maximum effect. Staff were friendly and welcoming. Negative: it took 3/4 of an hour between appetizer and entrée service. 3/4 of an hour. My filet was overcooked (medium well instead of medium rare), the "crispy" shallots we're oily and chewy, my wife's halibut was over-peppered. Our daughter's filet skewer was fatty, which made me wonder if it was actually filet. They brought her meal with our appetizers, which is often a good call, but they didn't ask. This meant she had to wait half an hour from when she was done to when we started eating. Fortunately they had crayons. I'm sure this 3-star review won't offset the 4-star average. Maybe they were having a bad night. But did I mention it was 3/4 of an hour between appetizers and suboptimally prepared entrées? You want finer from an establishment that charges $70 for a lobster tail. But the setting is lovely. That makes up for what hopefully for them was an off day. But it didn't fully undo an off experience for us. read more

Great location in a groovy little town, with surprisingly good food. My stepdad would give it a 5th star for the abalone alone (apparently this is the one place in the county that has farm raised), and while the rest of the food was very good (including a steak that my BF got, and the fresh oysters the rest of us enjoyed), the service was slightly chaotic. Chasing the local cat out of the place a few times was fun, but the confused bus boy's inadvertent gift of additional bread cause our server a bit of consternation. But if you're looking for a nice restaurant with fantastic views and well-prepared food, check this place out. read more

We came around the time the local university was graduating its most recent class, so most of the days were booked up! However, we were able to squeeze in a reservation. This place is popular for celebrations, and once you walk in, you can tell why. The view is amazing! Try to get a seat by the window, and come around sunset. The food was prepared well, and the service was excellent. read more

The crab cakes are the best we've ever tasted. They are amazing. You should go to Moonstone and have a crab cake. Really incredible. The view is beautiful, on most evenings you will have a clear view of the Pacific Ocean and Moonstone Beach. It would be difficult to improve the view. The drinks are strong. On our last visit I ordered "The Vespers" and I would recommend it. The wine list is good, the beer offerings are good. You should expect to need reservations, although last night we arrived around 6:30 and were able to get a table with a lovely view, without reservations. The menu is clearly labeled with GF and vegan options (although I don't think enough care is given to the vegan choices - see below). The service is hit and miss. Too often a miss for a high end restaurant. Now that Gin (spelling?) is there (he used to work at Plaza Grill), maybe the standard of serviice will improve? Last night our server disappeared for fifteen minutes, then a new server arrived who seemed put out, never saw our server again. Classy?!? The produce is weak. Both salads were tepid, with vegetable past its prime. The brussel sprouts/mushrooms was barely edible, tasteless, and slightly shriveled veg. It was their "vegan" option, which made it seem like a throw away with how flavorless it was. I wish that they would improve their vegetables and work on training their staff. This is a special restaurant. read more

Came here with my partner for Valentine's Day and it was beyond amazing. Our server was perfect, knowledgeable charming and fast, the view was breathtaking even in the rain and our meal mind blowing. I had the Scallops Rockefeller (omg!) and Pork Belly and he had chowder (best I've ever tried) and the shrimp stuffed steelhead. I usually don't like fish but we ended up basically splitting the dishes because I loved his and he loved mine haha. The sides they came with were so good I think I might have liked them better than the meat! We didn't get desert because we were stuffed and their crème brûlée (my go-to) was cinnamon flavored (sacrilège! !) I liked how they made it very romantic with roses and candy hearts and candles, I can't wait to come back and bring my mom and mom-in-law. read more

I love the Moonstone Grill for drinks after a walk on the beach, but the experience depends on the quality of the bartender. Last time we were there, we had a fun, well-trained, happy bartender who got a big tip. This time..... well, the Bloody Mary tasted like sugar water. When I asked for some horseradish (nicely) the bartender exhibited "attitude" and stomped off to some distant part of the restaurant to get it, cause she definitely hadn't used it the first time. Ditto the hot sauce. But, with this kind of view...... really..... a sugary, weak excuse for a Bloody Mary is small stuff. The Moonstone Grill is a precious part of Humboldt. Wanted to have crab cakes, but we dawdled too long on the beach and missed them. Wish we had had the scallops. The people next to us were raving about them. read more

This is my favorite place to have a sunset meal. Ambiance and good food ! Love the Spicy prawns over polenta to start with! Their salads and entrees are so good! Enjoy read more

Really beautiful restaurant with great service and great food! The views are STUNNING and the restaurant is quaint and sweet. The chocolate lava cake is a must! read more

This restaurant has an astounding view of the beach and sunset. That was the best part. For the prices they put on the food, I expected better. I had the Halibut and it was cooked to perfection yet the dish had too much salt . It came with a risotto that was cooked into a mushy salty pile and aspargus that also was salty and parts too hard to bite through, although I appreciatwd that it wasnt overcooked. My husband had the steelhead which was cooked expertly yet the accompanying mushrooms and shrimp were a bit overcooked and lacking distinct flavor. read more

Gorgeous location, exquisite food, somewhat mediocre menu selections. Atmosphere: 4 stars Pricing: 3 stars Service: 5 stars Last Impression: 4 stars read more

awesome meal at Moonstone Grill thank you to Allison for your awesome service as well! read more

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A fine dining experience, the Moonstone Grill lives up to its hype for a gorgeous beach setting, professional service and, judging from the one entree we tried, excellent food preparation. Our dish was the halibut and it was perfectly done, crisp on the outside, moist and firm on the inside. Kudos also to the fried and salted slivered almonds on top. An odd thumbs down goes to the plantains that accompanied the dish - they were virtually raw, and green plantains really need to be cooked to soften them and take away the harsh starchy taste. As the sun set over the ocean, I saw five stars - and gave them to the Moonstone Grill. read more

My wife and I celebrated our anniversary at the Moonstone Grill. Perfect choice. The treated us like royalty. Food was delicious. Will be back for sure. read more

As stated in many of the previous reviews, the view is what makes this restaurant. IMO they are attempting a fine-dining experience with a run down venue, and mediocre chefs using pseudo-fancy ingredients. The only thing that resembles fine dining are the prices! My wife and I were both dissatisfied with our dinners (overcooked tiny filet mignon and underseasoned, sauce lacking, pathetic elk chops.) I may sound a little harsh, but it was very disappointing and not worth the inflated prices. We left hungry, which personally I feel is unacceptable when spending in excess of $100 for two plates! read more

My friend and I went for a celebratory dinner. We started with the beet tower appetizer - that was the beginning to a great dinner. I had the seafood chowder & coconut encrusted halibut, and my friend had the house salad and baked chicken. Everything was delicious. The service was delightful and the view was incredible! Note: the menu is nothing like the menu online. read more

This place was fantastic - very quaint. The views are spectacular and our food was every bit the same. Laura our server was extremely personable and engaging - spot on with her entree recommendations. Anyone venturing to the Trinidad, California area would do themselves a favor by making sure Moonstone Grill is on their to-do list. It is a bit pricey but worth every penny. read more

Moonstone Grill - Seafood Near Me - Trinidad, California

A new chef with the new year is breathing fresh inspiration to the menu with locally sourced fish as well a more veggies and even venison for you die-hard carnivores. I've checked it out a few times since the restaurant changed hands in late 2019, and it keeps getting better. The bar menu offers thick hand-cut potato fries, and eggplant fries; house-smoked cod tacos. It's crab season, so my most recent nosh was fries topped with a fat dollop of creamy crab legs. Interesting salads with traces of shredded fruit. Oh, and the view is spectacular of course. A quick walk to the beach from the restaurant lot. Difficult to find if you don't have GPS. read more

We went here on a rainy night to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. The staff greeted us warmly with congratulations. The room is beautiful even in winter when you can't see the ocean, and was dressed for the holiday. My martini was perfect as was our wine chosen from a good selection. Everything we ordered was fresh, well flavored and beautifully presented. My only complaint was that as a non beef eater I wished there were a fowl and perhaps a pork choice on the menu. There were two fish selections and a lobster and several seafood appetizers. Can't wait to come back again! read more

Best restaurant in humbolth county!!! Amazing cocktails with great food menu... Can't think of many better places to take a girl or a special one for a special occasion read more

Moonstone Grill - Filet and lobster dinner - Seafood Near Me - Trinidad, California

The Brunch was Horrible , they served my Chicken Apple Sausage in Red Meat Grease & the pancakes are Dry Crapes !! All my friends agree NOT to eat their for Brunch !! v read more