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The best thing about the restaurant is its ambience. It is located overlooking the Pacific Ocean inside the Alila Ventana resort. On a warm April weekend, it was a beautiful place for brunch. We started with a few cocktails and mocktails. They were all well made and presented, but the favorites were the Cowboy and the Negroni. Cowboy had a nice presentation and had a smoky taste. Tomatini consommé did not have the flavor of Bloody Mary and tasted alright. Falafel Benedict was a nice idea with two eggs Benedict set on two falafels. It tasted good and falafel were a tasty and healthy replacement for English muffins. California Frittata came in a cast iron pan and was also well done. These two dishes were on the smaller portion size. Ventana breakfast and Margherita pizza were on the larger portion sizes and both tasted good. We tried three dessert and while they were all decent, none of them were impressive - Heirloom Wheat Waffles (shareable with 4 people), Strawberry Tiramisu (on the sour side) and Ricotta Zeppole (the custard was quite generic). The service was excellent, even though things moved at a relaxed pace. We did not mind it with the beautiful setting, weather and the view of the pacific.
Being technically the only real restaurant in the resort and we had to eat breakfast here everyday it is hard not to get sick of the dishes from the limited menu. The all you can eat is also not really all you can eat. There are a bunch of limitations and the portions are not big. Nothing really stood out for me and I remember the octopus being very salty. Overall, I did not have a great impression.
Fortunate to be able to stay at the resort for a few days. This is the primary restaurant for meals. The Sur House is also open to the public, so it can get crowded during dinner time as the views from the terrace are spectacular. It was foggy two of the 3 days so it is limited of what you can see, however being so close to the ocean and breathing in fresh air morning and evening is good for the soul. The day it was clear, get there early for sunset dining - the view is worth it. The service staff is friendly and the chefs are creative with the menu. It's a limited menu, but you can find something for all types of eater - carnivore, vegetarian, vegan, etc. As it's an all inclusive, temper expectations as it's not a Michelin star/Bib Gourmand restaurant. It's good quality ingredients made in bulk for the day. Sometimes items needed more salt (or less!), sometimes it needed more spice (you can ask for hot sauce/salsa), etc. The best bites were 1/ pesto arancini balls (only during happy hour) - best deep fried item I've had ever ... crispy shell with a well balanced pesto, rice and cheese inside that is creamy, hot and delicious, 2/ zeppole (donut holes, available only during brunch) that are piping hot, pillowy and airy, not too sweet (dusted with powered sugar) and so incredible with a cup of coffee. Sometimes they do try to do too much like the Ventana sorbet, it had 6 ingredients and none were distinct and due to the combo, it threw off the texture - very grainy/bumpy vs silky smooth. The honeyed / fig panna cotta was a little to stiff for a panna cotta. the olive oil cake is divine - kind of like a twinkie (for those that remember the 70s and 80s) and it's shaped a little like one too. It comes with ripe, not overly sweet plums which is a perfect compliment.
We ate here over our two night stay at Alila Ventana Big Sur. Every meal was very good with unique combinations of delicious food. The view was a bit disappointing as it rained the whole time so we didn't really get to see much other than gray clouds. Our big complaint was that even though the meals and gratuity are included with the stay, they try pressuring you into a bigger tip by leaving a bill for $0 at the end.
Sur House is the restaurant in the Alila Ventana high-end resort. The resort is all-inclusive, I'm pretty sure most of the people who dine there are guests. I recently joined friends staying there for dinner. I had a scallop crudo appetizer, duck entree, and sorbet for dessert, plus a glass of pinot noir. Service was solid. Ambiance was nice. Food fully met my expectations, there was nothing major I would have changed about any of the dishes. Pricing was appropriate; on the spendy side, but not more so than other comparable restaurants.
One of my favorite restaurants by far. I had the mussels for an appetizer - absolutely mouth watering, especially paired with the bread as suggested by the staff ;) For entree, I had the chicken and risotto plates - both excellent. My favorite was definitely the risotto as the truffle was the perfect complement. For dessert I had the chocolate mousse (forget the technical menu name) - this was excellent. Rich and decadent but the portion was small enough that every bite was enjoyable. I can't wait to come back!
We had 3 brunches and 2 dinners here during our all inclusive stay at Alila Ventana. During dinner, our waiter Ramiro, who we had both nights, provided great service and was very knowledgeable about the local region and hiking options, also the ambiance is amazing. We love the ocean views! Watch out for the wasps, they are curious about the food (some people requested fans to keep them away). Our favorite dishes: Brunch: ricotta zeppole, ventana sorbet, falafel entree, carbonara pizza Dinner: olive oil cake, scallop appetizer, steak entree For brunch coffee alternatives, they offer matcha and chai lattes. Our favorite cocktail was the Marine Layer, which is a fun fog-inspired drink with a bubble on top that you can blow and if explodes into "fog". In general, we felt that cocktails paired better with the entrees here than wine, due to some of the sauces having a lot of flavors going on that aren't always complementary with wine. That being said, we enjoyed the Barolo paired with the Squid ink Pasta.
I stayed at Ventana for 2 nights and breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included at this restaurant if you stay at the resort. We dined on the patio for all meals and the ocean views are incredible. All of the food on the menus were fresh, not fried, and relatively healthy. Breakfast and lunch were unlimited but for dinner, we were limited to a single entree (appetizer and dessert were still unlimited). I've never been to an all-inclusive resort but I have been on cruises and it felt similar to dining on cruise because I recognized the staff and other diners at every meal. Things I'd recommend on the brunch menu: - Seasonal carved fruit: The agave honey lime drizzle really brought out the sweetness of the fruits - Greek yogurt bowl: So much better than my average yogurt bowl that I eat at home - Heirloom wheat waffles: We got this the second day and not the first. I enjoyed it and it made me curious if there were other things on the menu that we didn't try that were also good - Mediterranean Grain Bowl: I preferred this to the 2 lunch salads. We got the salmon and shrimp add ons which I didn't realize was an option until the second day! - Margherita pizza: Our favorite lunch item - Assorted mini pastries: Croissant, chocolate croissant, savory biscuit, and turnover served with butter and jam. Warning: The butter looks a lot like cream and my friend ate a spoonful of it before she realized it was butter - Hummus Bil-Tahini: Hummus drizzled with olive oil and served with crudités and pita bread - Juices: I liked asking for a mix of cranberry and orange juice with a splash of sparkling water - Latte: I had a really good latte on the first day but it wasn't as good the second day. The coffee here is good but may be hit or miss In my opinion, the dinner menu wasn't as good as the brunch menu. Mussels are one of the appetizers but they didn't have any available either of the nights we were there. Service was a bit off the first night but our server on the second night was so amazing that it made up for the first night. Things I'd recommend on the dinner menu: - Fennel & citrus salad: This was my favorite appetizer. I typically don't like fennel because I don't like the taste of licorice but this salad didn't have any licorice flavor - Artichoke heart: This was my second favorite appetizer. The brown butter hazelnuts added a nice texture to a very soft dish - Campanelle: This pasta was my favorite of the entrees - a perfect comfort food. My friend ordered this and I wish I had gotten this myself! - Hot chocolate: Perfect and not too sweet Note: One thing I wouldn't recommend on the dinner dessert menu is the sorbet. It tastes like soap.
An awesome dining experience that we had the privilege of visiting as part of our stay at the Alila next door. The views are absolutely beautiful, especially during midday or at dusk, where you're able to see the sky change colour as the sun goes down. For brunch/breakfast/lunch, they have a set number of brunch dishes that they serve that are good. We really loved the carbonara pizza - so good that we got it twice. The dinner menu was excellent as well. Most of the dishes that we got was amazing. Our favourites were the mussels, the octopus, and the squid ink pasta. If you stay at the Alila, make sure to have a reservation. This way, you'll be able to get seated at one of the nicer tables outside that face the ocean. Though there's a bit of greenery that obstructs some of the view, it is still a great experience. Even when going during summer though, it can get a little chilly. But the staff is always very nice, and you can ask for blankets to be provided. They are also able to call golf carts to bring you back to your rooms if you so wish as well! Definitely the best place to go for all three meals if staying at the Alila!
(Tom Cruise voicover disguised as luigi from Spotify's you ME & luigi) This was a recon mission. The vibe is sanctuary retreat hidden among the gargantuan redwood trees of Big Sur steps from the Pacific. We passed a Zen sculpture! And an overflowing meditation basin. The Loft had a gorgeous Christmas tree. Very off grid relaxation with the perfect amenities. Your fave IG models will love it. Dora warmly greeted us! Leonel served us. He is a star! Marine layer. Fancy lemonade! Roasted Beets. Goat cheese. Microgreens. Balsamic glaze. Subtly sweet. Healthy! Curry Carrot Soup. Pesto oil. Microgreens. Delish! Ribeye. Boned in. Wood fired to perfection. Worth the wait. (And a lot faster than the disclaimer.) Shishito. Potatoes. Beef, it's what should always be for dinner! Amazing! Campanelle. Ground lamb. Tomatos. Cheese. Mama Mia good! Olive Oil Cake. White wine poached pear, creme fraiche, pistachios. Everything you'd want in an exquisite melange of flavor and mouthfeel! What an enchanted evening! Superb food! Exemplary service! And healing natural splendor! Next time will have the Mission Impossible team insert "Christmas Island Christmas" by you ME & luigi into their music playlist as part of the return culinary op. Will definitely be back! Shhh. We've accepted the mission. This tape will self-destruct in 3...2...1 (Poof of smoke) Thanks, Dora & Leo! Woohoo!
For a resort that averages $3000 a night, you can get better food and service at your local Chick-Fil-A. We chose this restaurant for my birthday lunch, but please do yourself a favor and go ANYWHERE else. To start, the menu is extremely limited and the lunch options are awful. Perhaps dinner is better but I will only comment on what we experienced. We had the unfortunate pleasure of being assigned Jessica R. as our server and she definitely hates her job. I ordered the Marine Layer cocktail which was an awful start to an awful experience. The drink was extremely sweet and settled into a cloudy mess of pulp after just 2 minutes (pictured). I only had 1-2 sips of the drink and Jessica never came back for me to address the issue. When our food came, the Braised Short Rib Sandwich was served COLD and again, Jessica was no where to be found. We were hoping to order dessert since it was my actual birthday that day, but Jessica said the kitchen was closed. It was mentioned on the reservation and again to her in person that it was my birthday. She should have let us know that we needed to place dessert orders earlier before the kitchen closed. Jessica dropped off the bill before we asked for it, and then she disappeared AGAIN. We had to physically walk up to her sitting at the bar (on her phone) to get our check closed out. Jessica clearly was not interested in providing any sort of customer service and she does not deserve to be working at a resort of this caliber. There is no excuse for poorly executed cocktails, cold food, and borderline rude customer service. Please do better.
Date of Visit: 8/2/2025 During our stay at the Ventana Big Sur, we made a reservation for the dinner at The Sur House on our check in date. Got a 8:30pm reservation at around sunset and was able to see the last bit of golden hours. We walked over by ourselves to the restaurant via the hiking trail, and waited for about 15min for our table. Similar to 4 years ago during our last visit, the dinner area is located outdoor near the cliff and the indoor restaurant area is mainly closed. Strawberry Smash $18 I ordered the Strawberry Smash from the mocktail list. It is made with virgin rum, lime, mint and prickly pear. 2021 Frogs Tooth Grenache $18 Husband got a glass of the Grenache from Monterey in California. There was no limitation on the amount of appetizers, and we ordered a total of 4 appetizers. Eggplant Carpaccio This is a very special eggplant dish. Made with charred asparagus, arugula, whipped feta pine nuts, local honey, and chili oil. Artichoke Hearts We also got the artichoke hearts made with Sorrell Soubise, brown butter, hazelnuts, lemon, and decorated with some farm greens. PEI Mussels We also got another two seafood appetizers. The mussels were seasoned with calabrese sausage, fregola, and some tomato butter. Scallop Crudo The scallop crudo is made with compressed cucumber Calabrian coconut cream, basil oil, California citrus, and shallot. Confit Duck Leg I ordered the duck leg for my main course. It was seasoned with honey and quite sweet. Black Angus Flat Iron Steak Husband got the medium black angus flat iron steak. The steak was tendered in the middle with the smell of the grill. On the side there were greens and California mushroom. Much tastier than the duck leg confit. Olive Oil Cake For dessert, we got the olive oil cake which was decorated with thyme macerated apricot, pistachio, and whipped creme fraiche. Ventana Sorbet My favorite was the Ventana sorbet made with lemon, white sage & pear sorbet, lavender big sur sea salt, and some California olive oil.
Food:3/5 Service: 1/5 Ambiance: 5/5 We stayed at Alila Ventana for 3 days, and as part of the all-inclusive, we dined here for almost every meal during our stay as this was the primary restaurant at the hotel. It got old after 3 meals, but we had to keep having the same menu until we checked out which was not easy. The menu is comprised of local ingredients and flavors which I always appreciate, especially their Ventana sorbet, which we enjoyed the most out of all the dessert items. We tried nearly everything on the menu in terms of appetizers and entrees, and they were a hit or miss. Ribeye: 5/5 (best) Octopus: 1/5 (too tough) Duck: 3/5 (not bad) Scallop crudo: 4/5 (good, but server forgot) Salads: 4/5 (light and good) Soups: 2/5 (too salty) Sandwiches: 2/5 (very okay) Pizzas: 4/5 (carbonara pizza's good) -more in pics The ambiance was beautiful and my stars reflect the beauty of nature that surrounds the restaurant. The service however has lots of room for improvement. As many of the other reviews fore-mentioned, even with reservations, it takes forever to get seated. I don't understand why the restaurant prioritizes non-resort guests over resort guests when resort guests don't have any other option to eat elsewhere in the hotel. Not only that, the food takes forever to come out. A meal that should last an hour and a half at most takes over 3 hours just because of how slow the waiters are. Our waiter Juan had a bad attitude and looked extremely nonchalant about his job. The restaurant ran out of heaters so I was freezing cold (with no remedy), and Juan forgot my scallop crudo (never came). My time at Alila Ventana was amazing and interactions with the resort staff were great, but the restaurant seemed very disconnected, disorganized, and unprofessional. I think the Sur House needs a management / organization overhaul.
Someone decided it was a good idea for me to become Yelp Elite so naturally I had to ball out on this trip so my first review as a Yelp Elite SLAPS! JK I booked this on points a year in advance because it was the best way to get the cheapest point redemption at 45k points per night. Sadly this is going away with the devaluation... Ok onto the food, service, and vibes. Food - The breakfast was phenomenal...don't sleep on this place! While the dinners were also great. It's definitely memorable when you think about where you are and how the food is so darn good. It has a farm to table vibe while tasting like fine dining. The standouts to me was the Ventana Breakfast (basic but so goood) and the Branzino (catch of the day) which was cooked to perfection. Service - The breakfast service was sort of a miss on one day where they forgot my avocados to go with my Ventana Breakfast but we had great service at dinner. Our dinner servers on one night was Leo and he was so pleasant and kind of reminded me of Pedro Pascal lol Vibes - Each time we came here the music was exactly what I wanted. From sunset vibes like Tycho to 2000's soft rock....each meal had the right energy. It was relaxing but still upbeat. I found myself smiling and being grateful for being able to experience such a resort and restaurant! Overall I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5. The inconsistency in service was surprising but it wasn't a big deal. I highly recommend staying here at least once! Especially if you need a break from city life but are too bougie for real camping lol read more
2 days ago
We had both dinner and breakfast here during our 2 nights stay. Dinner was a bit disappointing overall. Service was quite slow, took a least an hour to get our entree and the food tasted like fairly average restaurant. None of the dishes really stood out or felt particularly memorable. One thing we did appreciate was that the restaurant is very dog-friendly and even offers a menu for dogs, which was a nice touch. The outdoor seating area was also beautiful, especially during sunset, making for a great dining atmosphere. Breakfast was definitely the better meal. There was a wide variety of options to choose from, including fresh-pressed juices, and everything we tried was flavorful and enjoyable. The quality and selection were noticeably better than dinner. Overall, the meals were okay, but I expected a lot more given that this restaurant is part of a Hyatt Category 8 property. The setting and breakfast were highlights, but the dinner experience didn't quite live up to expectations. read more
2 months ago
The best thing about the restaurant is its ambience. It is located overlooking the Pacific Ocean inside the Alila Ventana resort. On a warm April weekend, it was a beautiful place for brunch. We started with a few cocktails and mocktails. They were all well made and presented, but the favorites were the Cowboy and the Negroni. Cowboy had a nice presentation and had a smoky taste. Tomatini consommé did not have the flavor of Bloody Mary and tasted alright. Falafel Benedict was a nice idea with two eggs Benedict set on two falafels. It tasted good and falafel were a tasty and healthy replacement for English muffins. California Frittata came in a cast iron pan and was also well done. These two dishes were on the smaller portion size. Ventana breakfast and Margherita pizza were on the larger portion sizes and both tasted good. We tried three dessert and while they were all decent, none of them were impressive - Heirloom Wheat Waffles (shareable with 4 people), Strawberry Tiramisu (on the sour side) and Ricotta Zeppole (the custard was quite generic). The service was excellent, even though things moved at a relaxed pace. We did not mind it with the beautiful setting, weather and the view of the pacific. read more
Being technically the only real restaurant in the resort and we had to eat breakfast here everyday it is hard not to get sick of the dishes from the limited menu. The all you can eat is also not really all you can eat. There are a bunch of limitations and the portions are not big. Nothing really stood out for me and I remember the octopus being very salty. Overall, I did not have a great impression. read more
Fortunate to be able to stay at the resort for a few days. This is the primary restaurant for meals. The Sur House is also open to the public, so it can get crowded during dinner time as the views from the terrace are spectacular. It was foggy two of the 3 days so it is limited of what you can see, however being so close to the ocean and breathing in fresh air morning and evening is good for the soul. The day it was clear, get there early for sunset dining - the view is worth it. The service staff is friendly and the chefs are creative with the menu. It's a limited menu, but you can find something for all types of eater - carnivore, vegetarian, vegan, etc. As it's an all inclusive, temper expectations as it's not a Michelin star/Bib Gourmand restaurant. It's good quality ingredients made in bulk for the day. Sometimes items needed more salt (or less!), sometimes it needed more spice (you can ask for hot sauce/salsa), etc. The best bites were 1/ pesto arancini balls (only during happy hour) - best deep fried item I've had ever ... crispy shell with a well balanced pesto, rice and cheese inside that is creamy, hot and delicious, 2/ zeppole (donut holes, available only during brunch) that are piping hot, pillowy and airy, not too sweet (dusted with powered sugar) and so incredible with a cup of coffee. Sometimes they do try to do too much like the Ventana sorbet, it had 6 ingredients and none were distinct and due to the combo, it threw off the texture - very grainy/bumpy vs silky smooth. The honeyed / fig panna cotta was a little to stiff for a panna cotta. the olive oil cake is divine - kind of like a twinkie (for those that remember the 70s and 80s) and it's shaped a little like one too. It comes with ripe, not overly sweet plums which is a perfect compliment. read more
We ate here over our two night stay at Alila Ventana Big Sur. Every meal was very good with unique combinations of delicious food. The view was a bit disappointing as it rained the whole time so we didn't really get to see much other than gray clouds. Our big complaint was that even though the meals and gratuity are included with the stay, they try pressuring you into a bigger tip by leaving a bill for $0 at the end. read more
4 months ago
Sur House is the restaurant in the Alila Ventana high-end resort. The resort is all-inclusive, I'm pretty sure most of the people who dine there are guests. I recently joined friends staying there for dinner. I had a scallop crudo appetizer, duck entree, and sorbet for dessert, plus a glass of pinot noir. Service was solid. Ambiance was nice. Food fully met my expectations, there was nothing major I would have changed about any of the dishes. Pricing was appropriate; on the spendy side, but not more so than other comparable restaurants. read more
One of my favorite restaurants by far. I had the mussels for an appetizer - absolutely mouth watering, especially paired with the bread as suggested by the staff ;) For entree, I had the chicken and risotto plates - both excellent. My favorite was definitely the risotto as the truffle was the perfect complement. For dessert I had the chocolate mousse (forget the technical menu name) - this was excellent. Rich and decadent but the portion was small enough that every bite was enjoyable. I can't wait to come back! read more
We had 3 brunches and 2 dinners here during our all inclusive stay at Alila Ventana. During dinner, our waiter Ramiro, who we had both nights, provided great service and was very knowledgeable about the local region and hiking options, also the ambiance is amazing. We love the ocean views! Watch out for the wasps, they are curious about the food (some people requested fans to keep them away). Our favorite dishes: Brunch: ricotta zeppole, ventana sorbet, falafel entree, carbonara pizza Dinner: olive oil cake, scallop appetizer, steak entree For brunch coffee alternatives, they offer matcha and chai lattes. Our favorite cocktail was the Marine Layer, which is a fun fog-inspired drink with a bubble on top that you can blow and if explodes into "fog". In general, we felt that cocktails paired better with the entrees here than wine, due to some of the sauces having a lot of flavors going on that aren't always complementary with wine. That being said, we enjoyed the Barolo paired with the Squid ink Pasta. read more
I stayed at Ventana for 2 nights and breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included at this restaurant if you stay at the resort. We dined on the patio for all meals and the ocean views are incredible. All of the food on the menus were fresh, not fried, and relatively healthy. Breakfast and lunch were unlimited but for dinner, we were limited to a single entree (appetizer and dessert were still unlimited). I've never been to an all-inclusive resort but I have been on cruises and it felt similar to dining on cruise because I recognized the staff and other diners at every meal. Things I'd recommend on the brunch menu: - Seasonal carved fruit: The agave honey lime drizzle really brought out the sweetness of the fruits - Greek yogurt bowl: So much better than my average yogurt bowl that I eat at home - Heirloom wheat waffles: We got this the second day and not the first. I enjoyed it and it made me curious if there were other things on the menu that we didn't try that were also good - Mediterranean Grain Bowl: I preferred this to the 2 lunch salads. We got the salmon and shrimp add ons which I didn't realize was an option until the second day! - Margherita pizza: Our favorite lunch item - Assorted mini pastries: Croissant, chocolate croissant, savory biscuit, and turnover served with butter and jam. Warning: The butter looks a lot like cream and my friend ate a spoonful of it before she realized it was butter - Hummus Bil-Tahini: Hummus drizzled with olive oil and served with crudités and pita bread - Juices: I liked asking for a mix of cranberry and orange juice with a splash of sparkling water - Latte: I had a really good latte on the first day but it wasn't as good the second day. The coffee here is good but may be hit or miss In my opinion, the dinner menu wasn't as good as the brunch menu. Mussels are one of the appetizers but they didn't have any available either of the nights we were there. Service was a bit off the first night but our server on the second night was so amazing that it made up for the first night. Things I'd recommend on the dinner menu: - Fennel & citrus salad: This was my favorite appetizer. I typically don't like fennel because I don't like the taste of licorice but this salad didn't have any licorice flavor - Artichoke heart: This was my second favorite appetizer. The brown butter hazelnuts added a nice texture to a very soft dish - Campanelle: This pasta was my favorite of the entrees - a perfect comfort food. My friend ordered this and I wish I had gotten this myself! - Hot chocolate: Perfect and not too sweet Note: One thing I wouldn't recommend on the dinner dessert menu is the sorbet. It tastes like soap. read more
An awesome dining experience that we had the privilege of visiting as part of our stay at the Alila next door. The views are absolutely beautiful, especially during midday or at dusk, where you're able to see the sky change colour as the sun goes down. For brunch/breakfast/lunch, they have a set number of brunch dishes that they serve that are good. We really loved the carbonara pizza - so good that we got it twice. The dinner menu was excellent as well. Most of the dishes that we got was amazing. Our favourites were the mussels, the octopus, and the squid ink pasta. If you stay at the Alila, make sure to have a reservation. This way, you'll be able to get seated at one of the nicer tables outside that face the ocean. Though there's a bit of greenery that obstructs some of the view, it is still a great experience. Even when going during summer though, it can get a little chilly. But the staff is always very nice, and you can ask for blankets to be provided. They are also able to call golf carts to bring you back to your rooms if you so wish as well! Definitely the best place to go for all three meals if staying at the Alila! read more
(Tom Cruise voicover disguised as luigi from Spotify's you ME & luigi) This was a recon mission. The vibe is sanctuary retreat hidden among the gargantuan redwood trees of Big Sur steps from the Pacific. We passed a Zen sculpture! And an overflowing meditation basin. The Loft had a gorgeous Christmas tree. Very off grid relaxation with the perfect amenities. Your fave IG models will love it. Dora warmly greeted us! Leonel served us. He is a star! Marine layer. Fancy lemonade! Roasted Beets. Goat cheese. Microgreens. Balsamic glaze. Subtly sweet. Healthy! Curry Carrot Soup. Pesto oil. Microgreens. Delish! Ribeye. Boned in. Wood fired to perfection. Worth the wait. (And a lot faster than the disclaimer.) Shishito. Potatoes. Beef, it's what should always be for dinner! Amazing! Campanelle. Ground lamb. Tomatos. Cheese. Mama Mia good! Olive Oil Cake. White wine poached pear, creme fraiche, pistachios. Everything you'd want in an exquisite melange of flavor and mouthfeel! What an enchanted evening! Superb food! Exemplary service! And healing natural splendor! Next time will have the Mission Impossible team insert "Christmas Island Christmas" by you ME & luigi into their music playlist as part of the return culinary op. Will definitely be back! Shhh. We've accepted the mission. This tape will self-destruct in 3...2...1 (Poof of smoke) Thanks, Dora & Leo! Woohoo! read more
For a resort that averages $3000 a night, you can get better food and service at your local Chick-Fil-A. We chose this restaurant for my birthday lunch, but please do yourself a favor and go ANYWHERE else. To start, the menu is extremely limited and the lunch options are awful. Perhaps dinner is better but I will only comment on what we experienced. We had the unfortunate pleasure of being assigned Jessica R. as our server and she definitely hates her job. I ordered the Marine Layer cocktail which was an awful start to an awful experience. The drink was extremely sweet and settled into a cloudy mess of pulp after just 2 minutes (pictured). I only had 1-2 sips of the drink and Jessica never came back for me to address the issue. When our food came, the Braised Short Rib Sandwich was served COLD and again, Jessica was no where to be found. We were hoping to order dessert since it was my actual birthday that day, but Jessica said the kitchen was closed. It was mentioned on the reservation and again to her in person that it was my birthday. She should have let us know that we needed to place dessert orders earlier before the kitchen closed. Jessica dropped off the bill before we asked for it, and then she disappeared AGAIN. We had to physically walk up to her sitting at the bar (on her phone) to get our check closed out. Jessica clearly was not interested in providing any sort of customer service and she does not deserve to be working at a resort of this caliber. There is no excuse for poorly executed cocktails, cold food, and borderline rude customer service. Please do better. read more
9 months ago
Date of Visit: 8/2/2025 During our stay at the Ventana Big Sur, we made a reservation for the dinner at The Sur House on our check in date. Got a 8:30pm reservation at around sunset and was able to see the last bit of golden hours. We walked over by ourselves to the restaurant via the hiking trail, and waited for about 15min for our table. Similar to 4 years ago during our last visit, the dinner area is located outdoor near the cliff and the indoor restaurant area is mainly closed. Strawberry Smash $18 I ordered the Strawberry Smash from the mocktail list. It is made with virgin rum, lime, mint and prickly pear. 2021 Frogs Tooth Grenache $18 Husband got a glass of the Grenache from Monterey in California. There was no limitation on the amount of appetizers, and we ordered a total of 4 appetizers. Eggplant Carpaccio This is a very special eggplant dish. Made with charred asparagus, arugula, whipped feta pine nuts, local honey, and chili oil. Artichoke Hearts We also got the artichoke hearts made with Sorrell Soubise, brown butter, hazelnuts, lemon, and decorated with some farm greens. PEI Mussels We also got another two seafood appetizers. The mussels were seasoned with calabrese sausage, fregola, and some tomato butter. Scallop Crudo The scallop crudo is made with compressed cucumber Calabrian coconut cream, basil oil, California citrus, and shallot. Confit Duck Leg I ordered the duck leg for my main course. It was seasoned with honey and quite sweet. Black Angus Flat Iron Steak Husband got the medium black angus flat iron steak. The steak was tendered in the middle with the smell of the grill. On the side there were greens and California mushroom. Much tastier than the duck leg confit. Olive Oil Cake For dessert, we got the olive oil cake which was decorated with thyme macerated apricot, pistachio, and whipped creme fraiche. Ventana Sorbet My favorite was the Ventana sorbet made with lemon, white sage & pear sorbet, lavender big sur sea salt, and some California olive oil. read more
6 months ago
Food:3/5 Service: 1/5 Ambiance: 5/5 We stayed at Alila Ventana for 3 days, and as part of the all-inclusive, we dined here for almost every meal during our stay as this was the primary restaurant at the hotel. It got old after 3 meals, but we had to keep having the same menu until we checked out which was not easy. The menu is comprised of local ingredients and flavors which I always appreciate, especially their Ventana sorbet, which we enjoyed the most out of all the dessert items. We tried nearly everything on the menu in terms of appetizers and entrees, and they were a hit or miss. Ribeye: 5/5 (best) Octopus: 1/5 (too tough) Duck: 3/5 (not bad) Scallop crudo: 4/5 (good, but server forgot) Salads: 4/5 (light and good) Soups: 2/5 (too salty) Sandwiches: 2/5 (very okay) Pizzas: 4/5 (carbonara pizza's good) -more in pics The ambiance was beautiful and my stars reflect the beauty of nature that surrounds the restaurant. The service however has lots of room for improvement. As many of the other reviews fore-mentioned, even with reservations, it takes forever to get seated. I don't understand why the restaurant prioritizes non-resort guests over resort guests when resort guests don't have any other option to eat elsewhere in the hotel. Not only that, the food takes forever to come out. A meal that should last an hour and a half at most takes over 3 hours just because of how slow the waiters are. Our waiter Juan had a bad attitude and looked extremely nonchalant about his job. The restaurant ran out of heaters so I was freezing cold (with no remedy), and Juan forgot my scallop crudo (never came). My time at Alila Ventana was amazing and interactions with the resort staff were great, but the restaurant seemed very disconnected, disorganized, and unprofessional. I think the Sur House needs a management / organization overhaul. read more
1 year ago
My three days staying at Alila Ventana Big Sur have been one of the best three days of my life, and the Sur House is a big reason why. We came here every single day for our complimentary breakfast, lunch, dinner as hotel guests. I believe that breakfast and lunch are for hotel guests only but Sur House is open for non-hotel guests for dinner time. Even if you are not staying at Alila, the Sur House is still worth the trek if you're in Big Sur. The dining here is world class and I was told that the chef is actually from the Michelin restaurant nearby. Every single thing we ate was extraordinarily delicious, and believe me, we tried the whole menu during our stay! Below are some of my favorite selections from the menu for each meal. BREAKFAST -- Bagel & Lox (colorful and IG worthy) -- Egg Omelet (with fresh eggs from the onsite farm) LUNCH -- Habanero wings (perfectly spiced) -- Fish & Chips (fantastic fry, not too oily) -- Churrasco (this steak is actually my favorite dish of our whole stay) -- Market Fish (ours was a beautifully cooked salmon) -- Coconut sorbet (DO NOT SKIP THIS!) DINNER -- The Hen Egg (sounds simple but has big flavor) -- Spanish Octopus (soooo tender) -- Squid Ink Spaghetti (but honestly all the pastas are amazing) -- Steak, Salmon or Halibut (are the best because for me the poultry options were a bit dry) All the desserts are great and we've tried them all, but I just cannot stop thinking about the coconut sorbet. It lives in my mind rent free. Not only was the food excellent, the service was equally as amazing. Our server for most nights was Leo - he is fantastic. He always remembered our names and what we ordered and made sure to wish me a happy birthday. We really felt taken care of and seen. On nice days and nights, Sur House is located in a patio area of Alila Ventana and overlooks the huge blue ocean and Big Sur cliffs. It's a really stunning sight especially at sunset. On days with very foggy or rainy weather, the party is moved indoors for a more romantic, cozy, wood surroundings dining vibe. I will be dreaming about Alila Ventana and the Sur House for a long time! read more
Came here on a roadtrip with my boyfriend up the coast on 03/19/25. As soon as we walked up to the front entrance, it was beautiful. There was a cute fire pit outside and the view from the restaurant was like a painting. You could see the ocean for miles. It was a little bit of a wait to get a table, but not surprising since this place had amazing food. It was definitely worth it. Our servers were very attentive and the chefs cooked a top notch meal for us. I can't exactly remember what my boyfriend got but I got the salmon and it was to die for. absolutely well done. Definitely on the pricier side, but I would highly recommend if you're looking for a really romantic dinner date with a beautiful view. read more
This is an awesome dining experience. Brunch on the patio with our dog with us in safety and comfort. The food we had was fantastic, no matter your allergies or food preferences they will do what they can to serve a delicious meal. Cocktails and desserts too. The restaurant and all of their servers are a true delight. - They have a wonderful dog menu too. This is one of the very few places that allows dogs in Big Sur. (Who knew a bunch of hippies could be so dog unfriendly?) We are so happy to patronize The Sur House and will be returning for the fantastic view and the amazing Service, if Angel is your server-tell him we said Hi from Salinas and wish him well. read more
4.5/5 The Sur House has one of the most stunning dining views you'll find in Big Sur -- cliffside, serene, and perfect for golden hour. The vibe is upscale but relaxed, and the food can be excellent if you order right. Highlights: Porchetta sandwich: Easily one of the best sandwiches I've had anywhere -- crispy, rich, and packed with flavor. Carbonara pizza: Decadent and worth every bite. Squid ink pasta: 10/10 -- would come back just for this dish. Cocktails: Creative and strong. I recommend the Marine Layer or anything mezcal-based. Misses: Crab cake appetizer:Came out lukewarm -- not ideal. Striped bass entrée:Great flavor but overcooked and dry. Sorbet: Way too sweet. Breakfast pastries: Served cold -- would be so much better warm. Chocolate chip cookies: Meh -- especially when they weren't warmed up. Service: Generally friendly, but a bit slow at times. One of my tea orders was missing cream and sugar even after asking for it. Beautiful setting, some big wins on the menu, and a few easy misses. Worth a visit, especially for the view and a solid drink. Would definitely return for the right dishes. read more
We stayed at the hotel for several nights. Part of the stay is one included dinner every night at the Sur House. We always had reservations every night but it always took forever to seat us. The first night, we had been sitting for 10 minutes waiting and then asked one host if it'd be alright to step outside for a moment just to go look at the sunset. He said, of course, I'll give you a call if your table is ready. We then stepped outside for five minutes and went back in to wait on the couches. After almost 30 minutes passed, we went back to the hostess stand and said hey is our table ready, we've been waiting for almost 30 minutes. This was a new lady at this point and she said oh I'm sorry let me check on that. Then she grabbed us from the couch a few minutes later and said yes it's ready and took us to our table. But then she said something like "oh so I heard you went outside so it wasn't 30 minutes because of us" and then we explained no, we were told they would call us if the table was ready and she said oh okay. I just thought it was rude that they not only make us wait so long for a table but then she tried to quickly place the blame on us. The next night, we also waited forever for our table. At that point there were also like four other parties waiting for a table so it seems they opened up the tables that they don't usually seat people at. It gets chilly especially at night so all the tables have heat lamps, except the ones they don't typically use. They sat us at one of those tables and gave us blankets but it was still freezing cold. It was very irritating to have a reservation, wait forever, and then sit down and be freezing cold. So I'm not sure what's going on with the reservations- are they overbooking? Prioritizing people who aren't staying at the hotel? This is not the same for brunch, it's very easy to walk in and get the best tables closest to the ocean. Otherwise, all the food was pretty good, I think I enjoyed breakfast more than dinner. The desserts were all delicious at dinner though. The ambiance is very nice with the ocean view and string lights. read more
We stayed at the property for a weekend and the food at the Sur House was mix for good and ok dishes. Breakfast was my favorite! We tried the French toast, ventana breakfast, chorizo scramble and their mushroom toast. All our breakfast dishes were great. Lunch was ok, the wings were bland, the spicy chicken sandwich was not spicy and the steak churrasco was forgettable. Lunch at the pool was a lot more flavorful! The chips with guacamole and the grilled cheese with tomato soup were perfect for the gloomy day. Dinner was a mix of good and ok dishes. Our favorite appetizer were the crab cake and their Hen Egg, both were delicious! The first time we had dinner my husband ordered a filet mignon, it was so tender and tasted great, I wanted to try a steak dinner on the second night and they changed it to a flank steak which was unfortunately very tough. We would recommend the filet mignon, the pasta with the wild mushrooms and their scallops. For dessert, avoid pavlova. I do have to mention that the staff was very attentive and friendly! read more
3 months ago
The staff was wonderful in accommodating us on a Friday night on our drive through Big Sur, the Tesla charging station is what stopped us, the food and amazing view kept us there. The fireplace with S'mores was a wonderful touch on an outdoor feel with great tasting food. read more
Came here for all my meals while staying at Ventana. Breakfast we had Greek Yogart with fruit and granola. Pancakes and great avocado toast. Lunch we had so far their fresh garden salad with grilled shrimp, pizza and tomato soup. All really good. Dinner so far was New York Strip and Halibut. Everything has been great. Service very good. Best views of the Pacific Ocean while sitting outside. read more
4 months ago
Everything here was amazing. We went to Big Sur for our honeymoon and decided to eat here. The service was amazing and everyone we spoke with was so nice and welcoming. The ambiance at this restaurant is incredible; we went for dinner so I'm not sure how the view was but I could bet it would be amazing during the day. We had the curried carrot soup, squid ink pasta and the duck leg for our food. Everything was beyond delicious. read more
This is the place to grab food, a drink, and an amazing view. The patio seating here is unreal. We had a pasta dish that was the best of everything we ate. I forget all the names of the dishes. But the two other entrees we got were still soo good. Excellent cocktail menu to choose from! Bon Appetite read more
2 months ago
I don't like to leave bad reviews but after waiting 30 mins for this lavender drink with the outside of this glass sticky and full of syrup I'm wondering if this is a rookie joke? Really surprised at this honestly. read more
1 year ago
carbonara pizza is so unique and satisfying Sorbet is a complex synergy between zesty lemon, warm pear, and a touch of white sage Tiramisu is also a smart dessert- the fruity lemon and raspberry balance the creamy taste of the cream cheese Scallops are huge and tender, cooked perfectly and rest gently on top of the carrot curry. A Surprise is the Orange that add a Citrus flavor to complement the rich curry. The squid ink pasta is amazing--al dente. The saffron flavor really elevates this dish, simple but not basic Service is adequate and the ambiance is demure. read more
1 year ago
Amazing view and terrific food. For that special occasion or just to spoil yourself, come here to dine and be enchanted. Open to the resort guests as well as the public. Avoid the crowds and mediocre food of Nepenthe. read more
2 years ago
Had the pleasure of dining here several times when staying at Alila Ventana Big Sur. Meals and gratuity are included when staying on the property, drinks are extra. If staying on property there is a short 10 minute walk/hike from the rooms to the restaurant, they also offer shuttles if you prefer. There's ample parking outside with a pair of free (slow) EV charging and a Tesla supercharger nearby which was nice. Ok let's get to the food. They have a seasonal menu so it changes from time to time but we were overall very happy with what was served!! We dined here for dinner for 3 nights- we thought we would get sick of it or they would only have a few good dishes, but surprisingly we were quite happy as the menu is tweaked daily so there is frequently something new/different each night. Make sure you make reservations for dinner ahead of time! Standouts for dinner for me were the yellowtail crudo and fogline chicken. The tiramashroom is visually amazing- very sweet though. The marine layer drink is a tasty drink with a lavender smoke bubble (just hope it's not too windy and it gets blown away to the next table....) burgers and wings were great for lunch. Favorite breakfast item is the mushroom tartine- so tasty! Service was efficient, we never felt like we were waiting for any long time (I was worried about this due to prior reviews I had seen). The pictures don't do this place justice in terms of ambiance. Sunsets are beautiful with lovely views of the Pacific Ocean. Multiple heat lamps are available to keep guests comfortable. Very dog friendly patio with even a dog menu. Last but not least the service was just top notch. I love that you see the same folks day after day. They are super friendly, warm, and very attentive. Will definitely stop by the next time for lunch if we are in the area whether we are staying on the property or not! read more
3 months ago
Food was great, service was great, and the atmosphere was great. Our resort stay was great would recommend. read more
Staying at the Alila Ventana again allows us to dine breakfast, second breakfast if you're a hobbit, lunch, happy hour, and dinner. Yes we could leave the resort for dining but one it's inclusive (minus alcohol) and two it's simply a fantastic restaurant on all fronts. The outside patio is the primary seating area and gives you a great view of the Pacific and the lush green hillsides of Big Sur. On a sunny day you might be lucky to see a California Condor gliding the thermals. This stay in March had a bit of cold weather and on night two dinner was held inside the restaurant, a first for us. Redwood furnishings all around and a huge fireplace adorn the inside. The food is epic of course. Staying two nights allowed us to sample more of the menu which features locally sourced ingredients. Here's what we had: Breakfast-Granola and yogurt, avocado toast, Ventana breakfast, chorizo scramble, French toast, crispy rice, fresh berries, juice and smoothies of the day. Lunch-Churassco with shrimp topping, fish of the day ( swordfish and ahi), fish tacos, burger, gem & kale salad, habanero wings, hummus with pita bread, and guacamole with chips. Dinner-bucatini cacio e pepe, camapnelle, black cod, rigatoni all'amatriciana, Iberia pork chop, and beef tenderloin. I ordered old fashioned's. Special kudos to Arkangel who served us twice during our stay. Arkangel was very welcoming and he gave some fantastic hints for the restaurant namely, if you order the lunch churassco, top it off with shrimp and then at the Social Hour for the complementary Marine Layer drink, have the bartender place your glasses side by side so that when he creates the smoke bubble it actually forms a rainbow shape. See my pictures! Dining here is just a complete 5 star experience! read more
1 year ago
Went to Big Sur for a day trip with my man. What can I say? The Sur House was a 10/10. I enjoyed the view, service, food, and just the lovely environment I was in. Even the restroom was so beautiful. When my man and I discovered it was a resort we started to look into and decided in the near future we'd make this one of our stays. I had the Churrasco, it was cooked perfect. I don't eat radish but that added an amazing kick, I do think the cilantro lime rice could've had a tiny bit of more flavor. He had the Cult Classic Burger, he enjoyed every bite! (I enjoyed his fries.. SO FLAVORFUL) I can't remember our drinks names but they were off the mocktail menu and we just added tequila. The price range was perfect especially because of the view. Last but not least, our server and the hostess were great! They were very attentive. Our server also recommended us place to go nearby after our lunch. Thank you again! We enjoyed your service. read more
9 months ago
We had Spanish Octopus and Duck leg for dinner both were excellent, Sur house staff was able to accommodated wife's request to make personalized salad with thousand Island dressing and also made scrambled eggs and green leaf vegetable for that we were much appreciated it. read more
2 months ago
2 years ago
Favorites Sable fish Octopus Chocolate chip cookies Burger Ribeye steak Mango habanero wings Gorgeous views overlooking the ocean, great service, heat lamps galore, fireplaces/pits, and delicious food. For a long weekend, we enjoyed trying all the options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The only item we did not love was the apple entremet which looked better than it tasted. read more
Stopped by on MLK Day for lunch. lunch is open to the public and kids/pets. Lunch was served on the patio overlooking the ocean. Service was slightly slow, but it was the lunch time. Food was good (above average). Fish tacos were flavorful and fresh, a bit on the healthy side. Burger was good, nothing to complain about. For dessert we ordered mango matcha chia pudding and bread pudding. Both were great (and paired well together) light, not too sweet or heavy. read more
Delicious food, friendly service, and beautiful views. Stayed at Alila Ventana for a weekend getaway and had a great time with the help of the fantastic dining experience we had at the resort's restaurant. We ate so much and really took advantage of the all inclusive dining. My favorite breakfast items were the Big Sur Mushroom Tartine and French Toast. The Chorizo Scramble was pretty solid too. For lunch, we ordered from the front desk area and ate by one of the outdoor fireplaces. We had the Tomato Bisque and Grilled Cheese which was a great combo. The Almond Butter and Jelly Sandwich was fantastic as well. Between our 2 dinners at the resort we had the Celeriac Soup, Spanish Octopus, Campanelle pasta, Fogline Farms Chicken, and Kvaroy Salmon. I'm sure I'm forgetting something here but really nothing was bad. I remember really enjoying the soup and pasta! There's also an outdoor area at the main restaurant but the that seems to have been closed since we came during the winter season. Still a great place to sit and enjoy the sunset before dinner. Cant' wait for our next visit! read more
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If we are staying at the ventana campsite, can we eat at the Sur house?
Yes but I believe you have to make a reservation
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The Sur House - newamerican - Updated May 2026
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