I love this restaurant. The lobster pot pie is amazing! Everything is so good. They make fresh bread in terracotta pots. Love that! We are going again soon. Can't wait! read more

Been in Cambria for over a year and finally made it to The Sow's Ear for dinner. It's a cozy little place in the heart of Cambria's downtown area. They start you off with some bread that's baked in what looks like a flower pot! Super soft and delicious. We ordered muscles for our appetizer, and while the muscles themselves were okay, the juice they were sitting in was fantastic. I got more bread just to sop up all the juice. For the main course, our waiter recommended a dish he said is their most popular... Country Fried Steak! They delivered a big portion smothered in gravy with some buttery mashed potatoes and a few other veggies. It was easy to see why it was a favorite. Admittedly, however, by the time you work your way toward the second half of the steak, the gravy has softened things and there's no more crispy crunch. I might ask for the gravy on the side next time. My wife had Halibut and says it was terrific. Overall, the food was great, atmosphere felt intimate and warm, the wait staff were very friendly and attentive. I would recommend going. read more

I called before, they opened at 5:00, and got confirmation that they had room for us. We showed up at 5:15 with a party of three, and a child, and were told by the hostess they could not accommodate us. I have never in my life experienced that. I don't mind waiting, but the hostess told us maybe she could work us in, in about 2-3 hours. I feel like if I didn't have my son with me, we would have been seated. Maybe they are not family friendly. I do not recommend. read more

The Sow's Ear - entrance - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

Amazing food! We could tell by the line of people waiting for the restaurant to open that we made a great choice to wait. The host was wonderful and our waiter was a nice young man. I ordered a glass of Riesling to go with my salmon. Salmon was delicious, glazed with balsamic and citrus glaze laying on a bed of rice and a side of veggies. My honey ordered a Ribeye. Can't forget our appetizer! We ordered the shrimp scampi, Italian style with sourdough. To die for! Definitely, make a reservation . We got lucky and made it in without one. A must if you're looking for a nice dinner in beautiful Cambria! read more

The Sow's Ear - Shrimp, sautéed in garlic and butter and a side of sourdough. - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

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When visiting Cambria we go to Sow's Ear every time. I usually go for the same great favors but this time I tried the daily special which was a Halibut topped with shrimp. It was by far one of the better dishes I've had in a long time. You'll need reservations for dinner as usual here but plan because they have limited seating inside and a few tables outside, do to Covid restrictions. Don't forget to wear your mask. Thank you Sow's Ear for never disappointing. read more

The Sow's Ear - Halibut topped with shrimp - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

Wonderful staff and food. Hidden secret at table. "B7" ‼ love this place as a great extension of all that we enjoy about Cambria. Very fast service! read more

We were in Cambria for just one night... and we usually frequent another restaurant on Moonstone Beach. This time, however, since we were staying right around the corner we decided to go to The Sow's Ear. It was a great experience! We started with bread baked in a flour pot! So cute! I had the filet with Bernaise Sauce on the side (they made this even tho it was not specifically on the menu). It was cooked perfectly - medium rare. My husband had the lamb. He liked it but said it could have been seasoned more (he's a chef and can be kind of picky). The wait staff was great.... Very attentive! And the atmosphere was WONDERFUL! What a great little cozy place in Cambria! Now we have another favorite restaurant in Cambria!!!!! read more

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WHY WE WENT HERE: - dinner - walking distance from our hotel THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE): - located on Main St closest to the Wall St cross street THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE): - intimate lighting - cozy - LOTS of vintage and unique pig decor (wooden, ceramic, etc.) just spread on the walls and in the window of the restaurant - FYI, for those (like me and the SO) who didn't know prior to coming here, a "sow" is an "adult female swine" THE MENU: - appetizers - a la carte - wine by the glass - red wine - house wine - beer - imported - non-alcoholic - soft beverages - country favorites - seafood - from the grill WHAT WE ORDERED: - Tobin James Syrah - Guinness Draught - Ribeye - New Zealand Rack of Lamb THE TASTE: - complimentary bread and butter was different (served heart shaped in a way in a flower pot); the white bread tasted WAY better than the brown one; the brown one was very sour tasting (which was disappointing because I was expecting it to be a bit sweeter like the complimentary bread that looks like this one served at The Cheesecake Factory or at Outback Steakhouse) - Tobin James Syrah - dry; I like syrahs, but this one wasn't the best I've ever had - Guinness Draught - the SO liked it - salad was light and crisp and the vinaigrette I requested to be served with it was good; a bit heavy on the carrots though IMO - Ribeye - good steak; the potatoes and veggies it was served with were seasoned - New Zealand Rack of Lamb - the SO and I didn't like the mint jelly (very mouthwash tasting and looking); the lamb itself was roasted nicely and seasoned; the potatoes were soft but VERY plain so the SO put the table salt/pepper on it to give it flavor CUSTOMER SERVICE: - Lalo was a great server! read more

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We came in on a Friday at around 8:30 pm and were seated almost immediately. The service was great, the waitress was very patient with us even though we couldn't decide on food choices. The ambiance was alright (the light above us was a bit faulty). But besides that, it was great. We ordered the house cabernet, which was very smooth. We came in a party of four, and we ordered 3 entrees, two appetizers, and a dessert. the portions were pretty large. The mud pie was huge and very nicely balanced. read more

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Why doesn't yelp have a 10 out of 10 option?! They should for amazing places like Sow's Ear. The food was delicious, the service was beyond great, and the ambiance is somehow both romantic and quirky. They were so accommodating to my husband's dairy allergy and it made the meal even better as we didn't have to stress about it. Our server, Alex, was absolutely wonderful. We'll definitely be coming back and recommending it to everyone when they visit Cambria. read more

Looking at the menu we anticipated a wonderful meal.... Not so. We possibly ordered the wrong dishes, "where is the Lobster" lobster pot pie, and Beef Stroganoff. The Stroganoff was so rich I couldn't eat it, not even close to Beef Stroganoff. The waiter picked it up knowing I ate only a few bites and why, but it was still on the bill. We liked the cozy atmosphere, great service, the reason for 2 stars. read more

Fresh in to town for a retreat and first night we went with Sows Ear. I always enjoy meals at this local favorite. Meals are consistently served with quality meats, fishes, and oh my lord the French press coffee and Oreo cheese cake was a hit. I had a steak w lobster and was cooked medium rare perfectly, sister had salmon cooked in parchment paper, and braised short ribs. Dark and cozy environment with fire In middle of room we sat close to the windows on Main Street and could see people walking on street in town of Cambria. The service was on point. All were on deck the whole wait staff helped us. Loved and felt cared for. We met a couple were there for 46 yr wedding anniversary nice talk w them. Charming. read more

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10/10! It's our second time here and it's been delicious both times! The ribeye is my favorite, husband got the Jack Daniel's filet and both were cooked to perfection! We also indulged in the fried Brie that comes with almond and an apple spread. Get it, you won't be disappointed. The mud pie is delicious for dessert! The only bummer is the only do beer and wine. No cocktails. And the Mac and cheese wasn't to the standard of their food. read more

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The food is awesome! First time had an early dinner calamari steak that was delicious and perfect portion. My husband had pork with ollaberry chutney that was really good. This time I had halibut with macadamia crust that was incredible. My husband had the filet with Jack Daniel sauce that was out of this world. Plus they play beautiful, soothing piano music with a crackling fire so relaxing and romantic. We'll definitely be back! read more

Quaint, cozy and welcoming. Amazing menu with a lean towards comfort foods. Had the best pork tenderloin ever. Impeccable service as well.

Amazing food and service. Lots of options and great wine list. We loved the location of the restaurant and ambiance

Such a cute little restaurant. I discovered it many years ago and unfortunately had not been back until tonight. Still adorable and quaint ambience. Still delicious freshly baked bread in the flower pot. We arrived for our reservation at exactly 6:30 and waited until 6:50 until someone came to take our drink order. Fortunately, they did serve the bread and water. My husband and I ordered the shrimp scampi appetizer and then shared the stuffed "breast" of chicken. We opted to pay the extra $9 to have it split for us so we could get our own soup or salad and individual sides. When it arrived it looked like a lot of food. The taste was delicious! Unfortunately, when we cut into the chicken, it was literally two bites each. It probably wasn't more than a 3oz chicken thigh total. We had to look up the menu on their website to confirm what we recalled it to be a breast. The menu does, in fact, claim it's a breast but then says in parentheses (with leg bone), which as we know is impossible. Total oversight on our part not to question it. But when we asked the server, she claimed it was supposed to be a breast and said the size depends on the size of the chicken. When we tried to explain that chicken breast doesn't come with leg bone and that perhaps they should consider fixing the menu, she just sort of shrugged it off and half heartedly apologized. We were fortunately satisfied (more like stuffed) so we weren't asking for more food, and we assured her that the food was amazing but we did want to point that out for future customers and to let them know we were slightly disappointed, and surprised at such a small portion. It did seem that the servers are really young, a bit inexperienced, and not as refined as you would expect. Any other server would have offered to try and make it right. She did nothing. Again, we didn't want anything, nor were we expecting it, but the way they handled it has left us little desire to go back. And that's the unfortunate part. Again, we think it's lack of experience and maturity of the server. We never saw anyone in terms of staff that looked like management or anyone over 25 years old for that matter. Such a shame. read more

My wife and I were in town for our first anniversary and we had read good things about this place. We arrived about 6:45 on Feb 1st., checking out at 7:50. The restaurant was nicely appointed, our service was great. Flower pot bread was awesome, I liked my soup and the wife enjoyed her salad. She got the pot roast, I got the chicken fried steak. I'm guessing the gravy for our dishes was improperly stored because by 11:30ish we were both violently ill. We shared a small carafe of wine, otherwise we had water and coffee. We were fine in a matter of hours so it was obviously food poisoning. Truly sad because we though this place was kitschy and cute. But after being made I'll by our meal....No way we're going back! (and we've already booked out next Cambria trip) Seeing so many reviews in the last 2 weeks that are bad I can only assume they've lost some staff? Be careful! read more

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Charming, intimate feeling space that is formal and casual all at once. Wonderful service. The food is traditional dinner house, and it is done extremely well. Warm fresh bread and butter is free (sadly an all too rare offering since COVID). The wines are priced fairly and of sufficient variety. One can pay much more for less quality. This place is welcoming and feels like a local dinner house where everyone working there cares that you have a good time. read more

Cozy and romantic with a wonderful wine selections. Food is delicious with lots of flavor.

Had a great time eating in for the first time. Husband and I had experienced the quality of the food before during the high of covid when we good a take-out so I knew we were in for a great experience. I had the Grilled Stuffed Chicken Breast and LOVED it, soooooo gooood! Good customer service and amazing food. Thank you Carlos for a great night! read more

We wanted to try something new when we come to cambria, we usually go to sea chest and moonstone bar and grill, or we just stay on the cambria pines property. This place is super cool and elegant vibes. I love the piggy theme decorations and dark words and warm fireplace gets the mood going, The food!!! So we ordered braised short ribs and lobster pot pie, with two side salads and pointed bread. Everything was delicious especially the braised short ribs, but my pot pie was missing some flavor, a little bland for me. Still good to eat but bland for a pot pie. I should of listened to the wait staff and tried the top for choices on the menu. That's ok, definitely next time. read more

The Sow's Ear - Braised short ribs - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

Last night, the Mrs. and I stayed in Cambria on what was the first night of our 11th anniversary adventure. I wanted to find someplace unique and intimate and The Sow's Ear checked those boxes. I had called two days before we arrived to make a reservation and, surprisingly, I was able to make one for 7 p.m. The Sow's Ear is a rustic place. Lots of wood, dim lighting, and pig figurines and the like scattered about. Mainly in the front windows of the restaurants. The host sat us a perfect little table for two that was tucked away in a tiny corner of the restaurant next to one of the windows. It was like we had a private room to ourselves. Free from the noise and distraction of other diners, but not from the distractions of the many pig related items. One of which was a rather portly pig cookie jar that seamed to smile at me. If you look at the reviews of my fellow Yelpers, you'll notice that there are quite a few pictures of senior citizens in the background. From what I can tell, and I'm probably 99.9% sure, the Sow's Ear opens at 5 p.m. and offers an "Early Diners" menu with discounted offerings served only from 5 to 6 p.m. Early to dinner.....early to bed. The regular menu offers a lot of very rustic, yet familiar dishes. For a starter, we ordered the Spicy Fried Calamari Strips with Three Dipping Sauces. It wasn't the best calamari we've had a didn't look like anything we were used to. The Mrs. ordered the New Zealand rack of Lamb. Beautifully prepared spring lamb marinated, herb crusted, chargrilled and baked, served with roasted red potatoes. The portion size is large enough for two people to share. I had the Black Angus Pot Roast which was fork tender, topped with gravy, and served with buttermilk mashed potatoes with fresh chive. Both dishes were incredible. Along with our main dishes, we had a choice of soup or salad. I opted for the soup which was a smoked salmon bisque. It was rich. The Mrs. ordered a salad. The Sow's Ear does not offer a full bar. Just beer and wine. We opted to bring our own wine in, being that the corkage fee was a very reasonable $15.00. Our server, Carlos, was awesome. Parking near The Sow's Ear can get tricky. The town of Cambria basically rolls up at 5 p.m. and all that is open at that point are restaurants. There is street parking available if you can find it. There is a bank across the street that we were easily able to find parking. Overall, we'd return to The Sow's ear again. read more

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Local Tae: The Sow's Ear is a local favorite. It has both character & homestyle food. It is sure a rather quirky odd kind of place, but given the vintage feel, the wood paneling, the pleasant service, & the pigs, what more can you want. As a Shell Beach denizen, it is a welcome respite from all the touristy places down here. It is really old school, and more for an mature crowd, or for well behaved guests. It is not really fancy, but has a serene feel. I have been there three times so far, and have gotten one of two Pork dishes each time....either the berry or bourbon sauces go well with the Pork. Along with the cool Clay Potted Two Tone bread, the soup, and the dish itself, you will find that you have a full meal. The only problem that you may find, is that it can be too popular....and that is with locals on off season. I have meet people a few times who somehow find an excuse after several years to decades to come visit here again....that is how impressed some people are....and I think you may too. This place is right in the middle of old town Cambria and while it is not gourmet food, if you are craving for a wholesome homemade sort of meal complete with mashed potatoes then this is for you. One thing to be aware of, is that time goes by very slow here and the pace is serene. Neither the customers nor the staff are in a hurry, so it is ideal to unwind and relax....in a museum like atmosphere. read more

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It's back, as good as ever. Had a glass of Pinot gres, the herb stuffed mushrooms, salad, and lightly breaded calamari steak. All great. Service was excellent. read more

The Sow's Ear - Plant pot bread. - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

Celebrated our anniversary in Cambria and decided on trying the Sow's Ear. Very intimate and romantic space. Service was courteous and competent. The menu and food were wonderful. So glad we chose this place. read more

When we visit Cambria, this is always our first go to dinner spot. Great food. Cozy atmosphere. Friendly servers. Our only complaint has been service here was on the slow side. It used to take a while between the appetizer to the salad then to the entree. But, tonight, service timing was perfect! Great spot. read more

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It was a little disappointing this time. I have been looking forward to coming here for a while and was sadly was disappointed. The food was okay and the serves was good. It just didn't have the wow factor anymore. read more

The Sow's Ear - Inside the restaurant during dinner time. - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

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The ear in Cambria has been here for over 25 years, I've been several times. Comfort food at its best both in variety, flavor and portion size. I could go on but you need to sit down and enjoy for yourselves. My favorite is the short rib, my favorite "rib" with rich flavor and tenderness. T ordered the stuffed chicken breast and I will say she ate it fast and all of it so I know it was good. The starter salad was quit fancy with stringy carrots, freash greens, and house made bleu cheese dressing. The garlic mashers we're good on flavor and less on the pastyness. The Vegetable mixture was "Julian cut" and cooked perfectly. Juices from the meat were just enough to require a mop of the plate with the freshly baked bread. Dessert was simple ice cream sundae done with with a style. Outstanding! Thats a meal few of us would have the patience to prepare these days. So take friend or loved one and go enjoy a home cooked meal with out having to do the dishes. foodguy-martin stuffed chix breast bone in with goat cheese short rib chipotle chicken chowder turtle sundae de cafe french press read more

The Sow's Ear - flower pot bread (TM) - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

I thought this place was going to be good. The fresh bread in the flower pot was a nice touch. It went south from there (not that the south is a bad place, it's just a phrase we like to use). We ordered dinner and wine. The wine was not served until I mentioned to the server that he had not served the wine, at which point he gave me my wife's wine and told me he would credit me any additional wine as a result of the delay. That said, we didn't order any more wine because we had no intention of staying after our meal, in which case he should have comp'd us a glass, which he didn't. Anyways, my wife ordered the ribeye salad. The steak tasted charred but poorly seasoned and was cold. I ordered the fisherman's stew which was more like fish pho. The pasta was thin pho noodles and the "stew" came with cheap, bony fish and an abundance of what tasted like chicken broth. I am from San Pedro, California. I grew up working on the fishing boats. I know what fishermen eat. They would be pissed. I'm sorry to say, I would not recommend this place. read more

Adorable, cozy ambience. Delicious food (OMG that stroganoff!) and bread baked in flower pots. This place is whimsical wonderful.

This is a cute place and very cozy! Had the lobster corn dogs to start and not sure what I was expecting, but they didn't hit the mark for me. I got the fresh halibut with red pepper steak soup and my husband got the filet minion. The soup was good, zero steak, 1 potato chunk, but it was okay. My halibut... well it was a bit overcooked for my liking and I couldn't get past the "crust" of macadamia! It wasn't a crust, but a crumble and the nuts weren't toasted at all. Way too much honey in the sauce and the rice just tasted more like the crumble and overly sweet. My husband liked his steak, said it was well cooked, but the dish looked dated. I wouldn't go back, but it wasn't the worst thing I e eaten. For $140 with tip tho... yikes! On a positive, they do give a good amount of wine when ordered! read more

The Sow's Ear - Filet minion with cream sauce - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

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Service - Nice, but long waiting time to have any of our requests done since we were tucked at the far corner of the restaurant where no one could see us. Interior - Dark, intimate, and very cramped! I guess COVID is over. Wine list - Pages are in grimy, somewhat dirty and sticky sheet protectors. Good selection of local and grocery store wines. Flower Pot - Fun way to present bread appetizer. Spicy Fried Calamari Strips with Three Dipping Sauces (Homemade tartar, wasabi cocktail sauce, and lemon aioli) - Not spicy at all. Cocktail sauce was the best part. Clam chowder - Good. New Zealand Rack of Lamb (marinated, herb crusted, chargrilled and baked, roasted red potatoes) - Tender, gamey. Potatoes were thick and soft. Comes with a glowing green sauce! Fisherman's Stew (fish and shellfish stewed in vermouth sauce, pasta, tomatoes, herbs). - Omitted cheese. This is not a cioppino! The garlic bread was my favorite part. read more

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Food was amazing, service terrific and the flower pot bread... perfect! The atmosphere is cute with all the pigs stuff! I had the filet, which was great and cooked perfect for me. read more

The Sow's Ear - Flower pot bread - Cafes Near Me - Cambria, California

There are many quaint and, as my wife put it, "adorable" places to eat in downtown Cambria. We chose The Sow's Ear and ended up having a wonderful experience dining in their little platio area on the street. If you are exploring dining options in the area, I would recommend this as a top choice. We had been eating a lot of seafood and I think we were actually looking forward to a menu that wasn't JUST fish based. The Sow's Ear menu is pretty eclectic, with entrees ranging from typical to unusual. We loved the flowerpot bread we got in the beginning. It's a clever gimmick that also happens to deliver a great combo of two bread styles for you to munch on while you peruse the menu. For my entree, I went with the "Italian Style" Shrimp Scampi (sautéed with garlic, shallots, tomatoes, green onions, lemon juice, and whipped butter, served with a wild rice blend) and loved the buttery broth and tender shrimps. My wife went with the Chicken and Dumplings, which I immediately regretted not ordering myself. The dumplings were soft and tasty and the gravy was piure comfort food. Our waiter, also named Alex, was a super nice guy who was attentive without being intrusive. Throw it all together and you have the perfect night out on the town! read more

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Service & ambiance were perfect! Presentations attractive. My daughter ordered scallops as an appetizer, very good. My husband ordered the seafood stew that was served over pasta. A lot of white, tough fish pieces. Shy of shellfish, a few pretty white clams were not local, rather Vietnamese. I ordered the lobster pot pie, presented w a lovely puff pastry top, unfortunately only hot in the center. More of a bisque, mostly soup. Additionally a clay flowerpot of bread was served. The dark pumpernickel was bitter, the white was ok. Bread was undercooked. Glass of Riesling, not worth finishing. We wanted to like our visit! read more

Visiting Cambria for the weekend, we decided to try the Sow's Ear for dinner. They are located on the main street that runs through town. I suggest making reservations, as they are quite popular and it is a quaint, intimate restaurant. There are many delicious choices on the menu, but I settled on a house favorite, the Lobster Crab Pot Pie. This is a hearty dish, so be hungry or plan to share. Served piping hot, this has generous portions of delicious lobster and crab meat in a creamy sauce. A side dish of wild rice and vegetables comes with it. I must say that it was delicious! The service was excellent and we had a very enjoyable meal here. If in the area again, I would definitely return. read more

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My wife and I ate here on July 5, 2024 with another couple. I strongly recommend making a reservation as Cambria is a small coastal town that is heavily visited by tourists. The Sows Ear is centrally located and an easy walk or drive from most hotels and motels. It is a hidden gem that is dimly lit with a romantic atmosphere. The restaurant is clean and the wait staff are professional servers who make you feel right at home. They have a wonderful menu that offers a little for everyone. Our appetizers and meals were prepared to order and were absolutely amazing. I highly recommend the calamari appetizer, and the ribeye or the short ribs as your entree. You will not be disappointed! read more

Best food in Cambria people are so nice and that food is one that best I try in California and also that dessert is 10 top in California thank you for everyone read more

We celebrated my 70's birthday here and were super pleased with the quality of the food and service. I had the best file' mignon in a long time! read more