Everything about this gem of a restaurant is 5-star, from the friendly servers/host to the owner chefs in the kitchen. All greet you warmly as you enter and leave their delightful restaurant. But the food--wow!! Best crab cakes ever--perfectly crispy on the outside, with moist, succulent flesh and an exceptional remoulade that complements beautifully. Scallops were likewise superb. Main dishes were served piping hot, crazily not easy for many restaurants to accomplish. But absolutely essential for my family of foodies. The pasta was out of this world with the rock shrimp and veggies, and such savory umami! The salmon was seared on the outside and tender and flavorful. Fish stew had a sublimely subtle fennel broth with clams, salmon and potatoes. We had to sop up the broth at the end. Desserts did not disappoint--and just as with food temperature, this is not a given. The chocolate cake was super solid. And then we tasted the 100% perfect passion fruit cheesecake. Tart/sweet balance was phenomenal and the texture managed that near-impossible balance of being light yet incredibly rich. Bravo! Perhaps the best restaurant in Sonoma County. read more

Hands down the best dinner in Bodega Bay. Service is top notch, the food is delicious and the ambiance is cozy. The sourdough bread from Santa Rosa is light and the seeds add the perfect texture. The crudo is light, and the sauce is the perfect vehicle to enhance the delicate fish. The duck was flavorful, perfectly cooked and the plating was simple yet sophisticated. The passionfruit cheesecake was the perfect ending to this one of a kind dining esperience. The only complaint I have is they only offer pre made cocktails instead of a true bar. But all in all fantastic! read more

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I made a reservation here for me and my girlfriends 2 year anniversary dinner and it did not disappoint at all! Humble from the outside and cozy/ intimate once inside, it was easily the best meal of our vacation and one we'll both remember! I learned they're a small family-owned restaurant, obtained 1 Michelin star but didn't want to continue pursuing that path. Still a phenomenal dining experience with everything from ambiance to service to food being what you would expect from a restaurant of that caliber! The cocktails were good, the wine was fantastic (2024 Old Vine Zinfandel from a maker in Sonoma called Once & Future), and the food was superb (my girl got the duck breast in an Asian inspired sauce with cabbage and other veggies, I got Wagyu strip steak with a bordelaise sauce, mashed potatoes and brocollini). For dessert I got the strawberry Pana Cotta (Pana cotta topped with a strawberry jam and bits of fresh strawberry) which was a great way to end the meal without being cloying sweet but the jam was a a little too soupy for my liking. I would have preferred a strawberry compote or simply macerated strawberries on top. My girl got the passion fruit cheesecake which was very good and I'm someone who doesn't typically like cheesecake! Overall a splendid meal and top notch dining experience! I highly recommend if you're looking for an upscale or more formal/ intimate dinner in Bodega Bay! read more

Terrapin Creek Cafe & Restaurant - New American Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

Came here for dinner last night. Appointment was set for 6:45. We arrived at 6:00 and they sat us within a couple minutes. Our whole dining experience was exceptional. Our server and accompanying staff were professional and memorable. We began with well-crafted Martinis. We started with the corn soup, which was piping hot, and tasty. Scallop dish was perfectly cooked and delicious. Followed by steak and duck dishes which were perfect in temperature, presentation, and taste. Finished off with the Panna Cotta. Texture and flavor were very well balanced. I highly recommend the Terrapin Creek Cafe and Restaurant and will recommend to all of my friends. read more

This restaurant had a similar menu to another restaurant in Bodega. Ultimately decided to come here because the duck looked delicious and the dessert menu was more intriguing.. Glad we came here because the food and wine were delicious, staff were friendly, and ambience was great. read more

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Sept 6, 2026 dinner. Labor Day weekend maybe chef off? Dinner was mediocre at best. My duck breast was overcooked and dry. Asked for medium but it was weird- gray on interior, slightly pink on outer parts like they microwaved it. Husband had crab cake and that was meh; seafood stew also not impressive or tasty and seafood tiny pieces and just not even Michelin deserving of any mention. I didn't complain until I saw the next table got the duck breast that was pink and on the medium to medium rare side and big and juicy looking compared to my dried out overcooked portion. This restaurant has done much better in the past. Even the chocolate cake was not impressive. I expected more because everyone one I know that has been here has always loved this restaurant. We have been here twice before. Never again. read more

I've had better bread pudding in county jail. Really disappointing. Their pasta was really good, but the bread pudding was a big letdown.

Imagine a cozy, local cafe with a concise, locally-soucred menu that just happens to be a Michelin-class restaurant. That sums up Terrapin Creek. This Bodega Bay spot maintains a working friendship with Bay Area farmers and delivers a top-shelf dining experience with an attentive staff in a friendly setting. We started with Vieux Carre cocktails (think pleasantly herbal Manhattan) and the Cudo of Hamachi, fresh Yellowtail with radishes. For mains, we had Duck breast and Wagyu steak; both maintain well-deserved rave reviews and were cooked to perfection. The duck was succulent and the steak was the best (and largest) Wagyu we've had. For dessert, we shared carrot cake and coffee. The couple seated next to us said carrot cake was their favorite dessert and this was the best they've ever had. We had to agree; distinct seasoning, rich frosting, and not too sweet. Overall, a phenomenal place, from the great service staff to the excellent cuisine. Recommended! read more

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We came here with a party of 6 and every one was so happy with their entrees. We ordered a couple of appetizers to share. All dishes were excellent! Would definitely come by again if in the area. read more

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Had the salmon and it was delicious. Restaurant was busy but they squeezed us in with no reservations. read more

Terrapin Creek Cafe & Restaurant - Salmon in mushroom sauce - New American Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

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Had a beautiful Mother's Day dinner here yesterday. Really great service, and tasty food. Highly recommend the crab cakes!!!

Great cozy ambiance, lovely and attentive service and the seafood was definitely fresh. Unfortunately after the oysters and the scallops, none of the other dishes really wow'd me. They were edible, had nice presentation, and overall not bad.. they just didn't have any added "pizzazz" to it... besides the desserts actually. The carrot cake wasn't your standard carrot cake with that cream cheese type of frosting--it felt a bit more airy and moist at the same time but super yummy and not too sweet/ decadent, which balanced out the chocolate panna cotta that was rich. But great way to end the dinner! read more

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Both food and service are great. The scallop is cooked just right. Both duck and fish stew are very well cooked. We also like panna cotta. The environment is pretty nice, great for a date. read more

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Truly an amazing ding experience. We started with the scallops and sourdough which were both great. We ordered the shrimp pasta and the waygu strip steak which were both amazing down to the last bite! For dessert we had the port, bread pudding and chocolate cake. Bread pudding with fresh peaches is to die for!! You can tell the people enjoy working here and know what a gem this place is. Excellent service! read more

Wish I could give this place more than 5 stars. Everything about the night was perfect. Best service, loved our server. Everything dish was tasty down to the peach sourdough bread pudding which was so light and unique. The price was also very reasonable. Will need to make another visit to bodega bay just to go back to this place. Highly recommend. read more

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If you are ever in Bodega Bay, Terrapin Creek Restaurant is a must to visit. The service is impeccable and the food is sensational! One of our favorites is the corn soup- a delicious seasonal specialty that tastes very sweet and creamy but has no cream. It is only available summer through early fall as they use fresh corn. Another favorite of ours is the duck. It is cooked to perfection. For many years Terrapin Creek earned a Michelin Star and it is very understandable why. We prefer the inner room with the fireplace but some other side rooms are also nice. For a truly enjoyable, relaxing experience, this restaurant is not to be missed. Book early as it often sells out. read more

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This was an amazing food experience. Everything we ordered was top quality and prepared perfectly without the usual over-the-top gimmicks and hyperbole of many top restaurants nowadays. I never would have guessed this cute little modest cottage in Bodega Bay would be one of our best meals, if not the best, all year. Kudos to the owners and chefs! Definitely get reservations because the word is out there. Our greeting there was fairly lackluster, though, I must say, by the guy who ended up being our server but we were entertained by watching the open kitchen in action. We had our choice of open tables and chose a small one on the back-porch which we loved. Cute ambience with jazz quietly playing and a homey, French country type feel. Homemade bread was amazing and highly recommend ordering it. Menu had a seafood focus with the apps but the mains were a perfect assortment from pasta to fish to duck and beef. All classic, wonderful choices. We started with the oysters du jour which were amazing-- but pretty much all oysters in this area are just perfect thanks to hog island. The scallop app was the best we've ever had. Perfect scallops, perfectly cooked on a delectable bed of veg including fresh peas with an amazing sauce which was understated, appropriately proportioned and did not drown out or compete with the scallops in any way. Several Michelin restaurants I've been to recently fall victim to too many accoutrements overpowering the perfect main. This did not happen at Terrapin ever. Thank you! I had the duck--best I've had since Chez Panisse. Interesting cabbage side mix with a gentle Asian flair. The side was just a little weak for me but that's ok because the star was the beautiful duck. And it was a very generous portion with a tasty jus! The olive oil poached halibut was also stellar with an amazing black rice and veg side. We were in food heaven at this point. Finished up with the peach bread pudding which was heavenly. The only fault I could possibly find with this was the orange hits in it did detract from the gorgeous peaches and caramel. But this was a very minor point. They very tastefully put a candle on dessert for my husbands birthday which was a perfect classy touch. Nice wine choices. Very reasonably priced for the stellar quality of the meal. Pacing was perfect. Our server was very low key but I do appreciate that for a change. The atmosphere was cozy and loved the jazz gently playing in the background. If we are ever back in the area, believe me we will be back! read more

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First time there, for my 65th birthday. I told my wife for my birthday I wanted to have local caught salmon, which is available now. She found Terrapin had it on the menu. I was excited. We were seated. I was asked by the waiter if pink inside was ok. I said of course! What was served was a small, thin tail piece from what must have been a small fish. No pink inside whatsoever. It was served on some black rice with veggies, which was tasty. The fish was seasoned well, but too small and overcooked. Terrapin, use a piece like that for something else! Why 4 stars ? My wives pasta dish was delicious and the cheesecake for dessert was also very good. Service was fine. read more

Happy anniversary to us! What a noisy cozy delicious causal fancy fantastic food place. The open kitchen is always fun. So great we forgot to take pics. The fish, the soup the service all top notch. read more

Had high expectations from the raving yelp reviews, but was disappointed. Here's why: Ambience and service: it was really loud and the restaurant wasn't even completely full. The wait staff was just ok. Food: - There was too much olive/sesame oil and sauce on the hamachi crudo so we couldn't taste the fish and only tasted the oil and sauce. - We ordered the wagyu steak medium, but it came out rare to medium rare. The steak was served cut in half. So I cannot understand why the chef still served it as is, when it's obvious from sight that the steak was not at the ordered temperature. - Fish stew was underwhelming. It should have been called salmon stew, since there was very little of any other seafood in it. Had I known it was going to be 95% salmon, I would have chosen a different dish. Salmon is way over utilized in restaurants and I expected better offering for a restaurant that boasts local sourcing. read more

This is by far the best restaurant in Bodega Bay and beyond. The hamachi crudo, crab cake, and octopus and cauliflower starters were all phenomenal. So were the fish stew and homemade pasta. Our server G was fantastic. We always make sure to come here when we are in the area--can't recommend it highly enough. read more

Chucky Cheese experience. Food was good, but not exceptional. We were hoping to have a date night type of dinner but being seated at a table next to a family with little loud kids ruined the experience. We didn't book a table at Pizzahut!!! I asked for a different table, and even though there seemed to be plenty of other tables open, the hostess told me we could not be reseated. All and all not the experience expected. read more

This was our first and not last time here. It's a quaint, romantic atmosphere with the freshest seafood around. The service was top notch. All of our food was incredible and the champagne was the cherry on top. Can't wait to come back! read more

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This place is Michelin starred and well deserved. We stayed next door at the Bodega Bay Inn. It's a nice short walk from the inn over to this restaurant. The service is really great. We came for a short getaway for my hubs birthday and the waitress brought a little candle out with his dessert. We LOVED the food. I was a huge fan of the ciopinno style soup - All of the seafood was super fresh. We had a raw fish appetizer that was delicious - And their bread! So good. Anyway, there's a lot of restaurants in the area that are just as expensive and not nearly as good. This was just perfect. read more

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Great service and food. One of the best meals we have been to in a long time. Service- 11/10 Wine list 10/10- Great selections under 120$ both domestic and international. Oysters- 9/10. Would have loved a lemon wedge, but super fresh and creamy. Crudo- 7/10. Good quality fish but we feel like the pesto overpowered the delicacy of the fish. Great acid though and a good sauce to dip bread into. Octopus cauliflower salad - 9/10 unique with the almonds only critique would be more seasoning or char on the cauliflower. Duck- 8/10 perfect cook and the Asian flare was unique but the soy based sauce was fighting our wine. Lamb pasta- 10/10. Incredible- must order. Desserts- 8/10- solid, great way to end. We are picky but this was one of the best meals we have had in a while. Splurge and go and enjoy some great food, service and international wine. We really loved it. Thank you to the whole team. read more

My husband booked Terrapin Creek for my birthday dinner before our weekend getaway at Timber Cove in Jenner. The restaurant is super cozy and I was super excited by the menu--so much seafood! We ordered to share: hamachi crudo (excellent), hokkaido scallops (also excellent), sourdough bread (delish), duck breast (perfect), and SRF pork chop (lovely). We noticed some Asian influence in the dishes and were pleased to see that the chefs were an Asian husband and wife duo! I told hubby that this was my favorite meal of the whole trip. It was super well rounded and the dishes were fresh and creative. I'd love to come back when we're in the area again. :) read more

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Dined here with my friend on a Sunday evening. The restaurant is small and intimate with a slightly snobby feel. The menu is small, which is an indication of good quality... Food: * Crudo of hamachi: 5/5 Grated Carrots & Radishes, Basil, Lemon Juice, Sesame Oil. Flavors were on point and delicious. Hamachi was fresh. * Dozen Miyagi oysters: 5/5 with Mignonette sauce. Fresh oysters and the mignonette sauce was perfectly prepared that I did not even need hot sauce. * Dungeness crab cake: 4/5 Orange Segments, Avocado, Mixed Lettuces, Remoulade Sauce. Very fresh and the orange segments, avocadi and mixed lettuces with remoulade sauce was perfect. * Mediterranean fish stew: 4/5 Salmon, Sole, Calamari, Clams, Potatoes, Tomato & Fennel Broth. * Bread with olive oil Drinks: Wakatake Onikoroshi Junmat Dalginjo Sake: 3/5 Delicious but sake served in a wine glass? a bit of a turn off... Pellegrino: 5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Cozy, intimate ambiance. Overall, the service was wonderful. We had a great waiter. He sang every entree: I love how every dish came individually and was timed perfectly. Food is delicious but I would not return here . Happy for the only once experience though... read more

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Wow!!! Just Wow! We just had appetizers and what a treat and selection... yumm all around! We had reservations right at opening and weren't even the 1st seated! Service was phenomenal! Every dish was fantastic! The vibe is small, quaint and classy! Wine selection ( of course) top notch. It was an incredible experience read more

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" I'm really obsessed with Terrapin Creek Cafe & Restaurant in Bodega Bay! Me and my better half always make it a point to dine here when we're in town, and for good reason. The food quality is consistently top - level - We had the Liberty duck breast and Olive Oil Poached Alaskan halibut, and it was love at first bite! I'm not a Vampire. Great service as always and professional staffers who are friendly and greet you upon entering. The ambiance is warm and inviting. The restaurant is unique and what really sets this place apart is the obvious passion and teamwork between the chef and his wife. This restaurant is dedicated to creating an exceptional dining experience for any occasion. We're fans for life! " read more

Terrapin Creek Cafe & Restaurant - Olive Oil Poached Alaskan Halibut & Liberty Farm Duck - New American Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

From start to finish everything was perfection! We shared a salad (saving room for dessert) salad had mushrooms and asparagus and the dressing was so unique with chopped egg and machango cheese. I had the Mediterranean Fish Stew so yummy with fennel broth and birthday guy had Homemade Mafalde Pasta really good I had a bite. Dessert was Carrot Cake and a candle for the birthday and I had the fabulously luxurious Passionfruit Cheesecake. Winners all the way around. We love this restaurant and visit Bodega Bay twice a year and always make a reservation to dine here! read more

We absolutely ADORED our meal at Terrapin Creek Cafe. Everything we ate, we would order again in a heartbeat. The oysters were outstanding and so fresh. The starters so delicate and scrumptious. The seafood stew was so heartwarming and the duck was cooked to perfection. And.... let's not forget the best cheesecake we have EVER had. The service was great and the owners, Liya and Andrew, are so wonderful. We can't wait to go back! read more

Terrapin Creek Cafe & Restaurant - Hamachi Crudo, Scallops, Fish Stew, Duck, Cheesecake, Oysters - New American Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

Let me start by saying we made reservations several weeks in advance based on the reputation in the ratings. It's a very small, cute venue and a wonderful location. When we walked in the door or shall I say we tried to walk in the door it was locked. We had to walk around to the kitchen And knock on the door to let them know we couldn't get in. I mentioned to the server that we were there to celebrate my 70th birthday. There was no smile or offer of birthday wishes. It was very weird. My husband brought a birthday candle and asked them to bring me a dessert and they forgot ... he had to go remind them again. The food was expensive and unmemorable and the service was adequate. I'm so sad. I spent my birthday there. read more

Always delicious with outstanding service. Drinks, salads, main courses and desserts are not to be missed.

Excellent food, great service, consistently excellent!! It's become our neighborhood. "Go to" for an excellent dining experience.

We arrived as walk-ins about two hours before closing, with multiple open tables available, yet we were asked to review the menu before being seated while guests who arrived later were seated immediately. The food was good, and service started off well, but as it got busier we were largely ignored. We waited a long time for a dessert menu, and when we asked for one, the server said they had other tables to attend to and didn't return for several minutes. We typically tip 18-22%, but left 12% due to the inconsistent service and the uncomfortable initial interaction. That said, the steak was very good, and the octopus salad was tender and flavorful. The only dish we didn't enjoy was the mushroom soup. read more

Lulu & TA went yesterday June 8th @ 7:45 next to the kitchen for a livelier seating spot. Started with a couple each of superb Miyagi oysters (5 of 5) from a small local purveyor. Followed up with hamachi crudo with a basil oil dressing 4 of 5. The star of the meal was the dayboat pan roasted scallops WOW! (should have ordered another plate given there were only 3 per dish & they were so good.) Along with those TA & I loved the asparagus with egg salad (4+ of 5) while Lulu was just ok with it...a bit uninpressed. The one other seafood based starter was a octopus with califlower & almonds plate (3 of 5). We all agreed, though it wasn't at all bad, we wished we'd had a second plate of scallops instead! When Lulu asked for an entree tip our portly gentleman server was emphatic "get the pork chop!" WE WERE SO GLAD WE DID... tasty and succulent with the farro alongside a big yum!! (5 of 5 that rivaled the scallops)...the duck breast entree (4 of 5) was also a winner just not as fantastic as the piggy! We still had a glistening puddle of sauce from the plate & the gracious woman server (not ours) found a slice of seaded sourdough bread to mop up! cleaned the plate..... Finally,the panna cotta (5 of 5) with a wonderful strawberry topping was the perfect light finale to our great dinner Bravo Terrapin! read more

What an adorable restaurant with great music playing and the coolest bathroom art! I really like the area of Bodega Bay and this restaurant adds sophistication to the town. The food is great too! read more

Terrapin Creek Cafe & Restaurant - New American Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

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We had been traveling from San Francisco to explore the area. We camped at a near by campground for a couple days. We were looking for some great food, great seafood in particular. The parking lot was packed. The restaurant was full. We didn't have reservations but they were ale to seat us immediately. We ordered a couple appetizers, a few drinks and our entrees. The crudo of hamachi is delicious. So delicate but very flavorful. The basil, lemon juice and sesame oil did not over power the hamachi. The radish gave it a nice crunch and kick. The scallops were so tender. The purée paired with it well. We could definitely eat just this as our main because it was so delicious. I ordered their fresh pasta with Italian sausage. The pasta was Al dense, a good bite to it. The bread crumbs gave it a nice texture. Everything about the pasta was phenomenal. My partner ordered the strip steak. Not pictured but he loved it. It came with trumpet mushrooms , broccolini and a delicious bordelaise sauce. Cooked perfectly to a medium well. The feel of the restaurant was warm and welcoming, everyone was enjoying their time there. The drinks were great, the wines they suggested paired well with the steak, seafood and pasta. We also ordered the cheesecake to go, also not pictured. But when we got back to camp to enjoy it. It was amazing. Nice and creamy, with a good crust. And the sauce paired with it had good acidity to cut through the richness of the creamy cheesecake. Amazing restaurant , can't wait to try it again next time we're in the area again! read more

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The ambience and food were very nice. Everything was cooked well and tasted good. Service was decent, caring, but not super warm. I took a star down just because I do think that the quality vs the prices is not quite there, compared to some restaurants in the Bay but overall it's a very good and cute restaurant. read more

Excellent food! Great service! The Petrale sole was delicious. A great place to eat in bodega Bay.