Sierra Mar

This place was so romantic. The view was so nice you should try this place specially if your going on a date. The price was reasonable, can’t beat the view really. The food was good too. I really recommend this place.

Pretentious f*** would not display menu so we never had a chance to try. We saw an old menu online and were not very impressed with the prix fix selection. We called for the new one and were told it won’t be available till 4:30 pm but we can see last nights menu. What were they planning on doing? Serving leftovers? No, last nights menu is not being served. Wtf? Go across the street to Ventana which was magnificent.

We had a reservation for a late Sunday lunch on Opentable. Turns out there is not much of a dress code requirement for lunch — some people were dressed up, some weren’t. Once you arrive at the gate, you have to report your name/​reservation, and then you drive up to the reception and walk up a flight of stairs (partially indoor) to the restaurant. The hotel room areas have signs posted for guests only to enter.
The view was breathtaking. We ordered the 3 course prix fixe for $ 55. I had the pumpkin soup, lamb osso bucco with barley risotto, and persimmon cake. Overall, I would say the food was good, but not overly memorable.
However, the experience and service was lacking. Our waitress barely said anything other than take our orders. The server had more interaction with us. The adjacent table had a more engaging waiter and we couldn’t help but overhear his recommendations for the area. What really drove the 3 stars was our table. It faced a small corner balcony. My dining companion faced the water and I faced the balcony/​hotel room/​cliff and more water. Unfortunately, my dining companion was facing a sliver of window that did had no shade whatsoever. The sun was blinding and he had to move as the sun moved. No one bothered to ask. Periodically people got on the balcony to take photos so that was my view. Maybe you’ll get a better table. For an almost $ 200 check for lunch, we expected more.
We stopped by the Mercantile on the way down — not very exciting, but the gallery was not bad. We saw a few bucks on the way up.

Our lunch at Sierra Mar was absolutely spectacular, and I highly recommend visiting here for a meal (reservations are definitely needed). The view was spectacular, the restaurant itself was gorgeous (as well as the resort it’s in), the food was amazing and the service was impeccable.
We did the 5 course meal with the wine pairing and I highly recommend going for this option. It’s a little pricey, but for what you get, it’s actually pretty reasonable from a fine dining perspective. I wish I could have brought a suitcase of their fresh baked bread home. It was delicious. All of the dishes we got were very innovative, beautifully presented and delicious. I didn’t dislike anything.
Spent almost 2.5 hours here for our meal, but it was the perfect way to celebrate our anniversary. Thank you Sierra Mar for a spectacular meal and for treating us so well!

We stopped by for a bite on our way home from a weekend in Monterey. Since no one’s cell phone was working, we were afraid we would miss the turn into the Post Ranch Inn. Fortunately, signage was adequate and we made it.
The restaurant was built to take advantage of a stunning view, very obviously. The panorama was gorgeous and we were seated in the corner with our own one-​person balcony.
Based on other reviews, we were really looking forward to this… especially since baby bro who had arranged this said he was treating. Yay!
Food was delicious. We all strove to order different things on their prix fixe so we can try a good variety. A few standouts:
— Bread service
— Oysters on the half shell: Even mom raved.
— Duck Proscuitto
— Burger
Hubby got the burger and he said it was fantastic. I believe him because he ate it in about 10 seconds flat without offering up a taste to me or anyone else. He did share his fries though and those were good.
My entrée was the pork shoulder. I would say that was «ok». The pork was VERY well cooked but was a bit underseasoned. (Also something bizarre but not an issue: They dressed same entrees differently. Brother and I both got the pork shoulder but I didn’t get baby carrots which I guess worked out because I don’t like carrots.)
Service was hard to explain. Our server wasn’t very warm towards us (but was to other tables since she actually stopped by and gabbed with another group). She was polite however unhelpful when we asked for recommendations on the food and beers and mostly unavailable. Her responses to us were usually very terse and unenthusiastic. We, on the other hand, were perfectly friendly but she just looked back at us with a blank expression on her face.
In contrast, we LOVED the bread guys. They were funny, friendly and gave us lots of the yummy bread.
Great one-​time thing unless you want to plan a romantic marriage proposal in which case a return would be warranted.

Sierra Mar delivered one of the best meals I have ever had. I brought a date here during a camping trip in Big Sur. Our meal started with nut bread. These pieces of brown bread had little nuts inside that were perfected toasted and complemented the mellow sweetness of the bread. The bread was addictive. My date and I had 2 pieces each. To drink, we ordered rosemary lemonade. Who would have thought that a sprig of rosemary made lemonade better?
The taste of the food was impressive but I was most delighted by the textures. My fish had a crispy skin similar to a kettle potato chip. When I sunk my teeth into the skin, it quickly gave way to a delicately soft flesh that oozed with flavor. Fresh fish does not flake apart. Instead, it stays together and maintains its shape. This fish was definitely swimming minutes before being served to me. The way that the crispy skin contrasted with the silkly soft flesh blew my mind. My date ordered the lamb, which came with two large bones full of marrow. If you have never had properly prepared marrow before, you are missing out. Bone marrow is the most decadently fatty substance on earth. When it is properly seasoned and prepared, bone marrow tastes like the liquor of the gods.
Desserts were amazing. I cannot describe them to you because my date and I devoured them too quickly. They were awesome. Believe me.
Everything on the table appeared prepared with the utmost attention to detail. Businesses often say they give their customers good service with attention to detail. This is the first time I can honestly say that the effort shows. The texture of the napkins provided, the shape of the utensils, the plating of the food, and even the choice of furniture shows that whoever designed this place possesses a keen understanding of visual flow. Every item in the restaurant seemed chosen to reflect an earthy theme that works with nature surrounding the restaurant.
Lunch for two: $ 180. Worth every penny.

The service and ambience at the Post Ranch restaurant are both superb. Today the rain clouds were just dissipating to reveal the craggy shore hundreds of feet below as our savory pumpkin soup arrived. Along with every meal one is served freshly made breads. Today’s bread is acorn!

We stayed at Ventana but came here one night for dinner. It made us wish we stayed at Post Ranch Inn instead.
We arrived at the entrance and proceeded to walk up about 3 flights of stairs. While it built the suspense I imagine it may be difficult for some guests and hope they have a more accessible option. We opted for the four course tasting and probably could’ve used a couple trips up and down those stairs by the time we were done.
Comparison to Ventana restaurant across highway 1 is inevitable and Sierra Mar is in a class of its own. The quality of the ingredients and execution of the ambitious menu puts it ahead. I had the mushroom and truffle risotto, watermelon radish terrine, salmon with brown butter and cabbage, and carmel brownie. This was prefaced by a selection of warm dinner rolls. I will say the theme of my meal was Meyer lemon (dish 1&2) and butter (dish 2&3). I’m admittedly a butter queen but the watermelon radish and butter layers was too much even for me.
The service was attentive, especially the somm who spent some extra time with my hubby on his pairing and even poured a tasting of something extra on the house that she thought he would like. As a preggie I had serious wine envy as I sipped my rosemary ginger lemonade.
Three things disturbed me during our meal which are more a result of my neuroses and not really a detriment toward the restaurant. 1) On several instances the glass door behind me blew open and refused to lock. The waiter eventually propped it closed with a wedged napkin. 2) During dessert a huge spider rappelled his way across our table which freaked me out. 3) The women’s bathroom is creepy with the figurine with scary eyes and the stall doors that sound like prison doors when they close. That’s it.

I’ve been to many lovely restaurants for memorable meals. Here is a review of my experience:
This is a much touted restaurant with prices to match in an attractive room that affords daytime guests world class views of Big Sur. People dress for dinner. Expect a romantic low– light setting.
Food
I was impressed with the beef consommé, but not a fan of the acidic seaweed/​kelp salad, or the assorted bread basket. The fogline chicken as an entrée was nicely prepared and juicy, but got smothered in «soy pearls.» Fortunately the chocolate brownie dessert on the four course fixed price menu was a fabulous end to our meal. One service oversight: Not sure why, but no one asked if we cared to have coffee or tea with our dessert…
Experience
Menu descriptions are unnecessarily illusive here. It was absurd that a greeter at the front door responded smugly to my innocent inquiry about elevator service (after climbing innumerable dimly lit stairs) to the restaurant. He informed me I should have requested shuttle service I did not know about, and was not offered when we left our car on the valet parking level… The dining experience was unnecessarily pretentious. In such a spectacular setting a talented chef’s creativity should be free to speak for itself, the host should be graciously welcoming, and service need not be artificially formal. Standing apart from the meal and service, the architecture was singularly remarkable at night perfectly reflecting the quietude of this restaurant’s hilltop location.

We had the $ 55 3-​item prix fixe lunch. The price went up since last time but the quality is still superb. It came with and appetizer, entrée, and dessert.
We started off with nut bread and olive-​lobster amuse bouche on the house. Then tomato goat butter soup (our favorite) and oysters wit kelp. We thought the soup won. Then we had the lamb with barley and the black truffle trout with squash purée and hazelnuts. I liked the trout more because the skin was super crispy but my girlfriend enjoyed the lamb very much (very tender and not gamy at all).
We finished with the spice cake and the milk chocolate pumpkin bar. We thought the bar was better. The orange-​ginger ice cream that came with the spice cake was better than the pumpkin ice cream that came with the bar though.

Ok, so it is still super expensive and the menu changed. It is price fixe for lunch. It is $ 55 a person. YES, I said $ 55 a person. However, what I had to eat was so delicious. I had seared ahi tuna breaded in corn and it was super delish and then I had tomato goat cheese soup and a cheese plate. hubby had the best burger, no cheese, oysters and the lavender panacotta.
Plus, I had the most amazing cocktail called a Blue moon Retro. (nope, not included in the lunch price, but I would drive here, stay at the inn and look at the sunset and drink this cocktail. Well worth it.)
I still like it and yes, its Big Sur and its expensive, but I would do it again.

Went there at 5pm to catch the sunset. So worth it. It’s a beautiful stretch of coast and Post Ranch Inn only compete with Esalen for that view.
We had the four course pre-​fixe menu and it was really delicious. The seaweed salad is so fresh, I asked them if they picked it up right down the hill (they don’t but it’s not too far off). I really enjoyed the cod and squid. The soup is also really great.
Service was fabulous as is expected at a restaurant like this– our waiter was really nice though.
Would certainly return!

I don’t normally write poor reviews, but the food here was so bad that I might even consider this a 1 star restaurant if it weren’t for the views and the service! If I’m going to spend almost $ 400 for dinner it had better be absolutely delicious, and this place just wasn’t. So disappointed!
My husband and I came here last week for our honeymoon. We made reservations weeks in advance and showed up early to try to take in the views. Unfortunately, they only let us make a 5:30pm reservation, so when we showed up early, the restaurant wasn’t even open yet! Oops! We weren’t the only ones there before they open, so they let us stand out on the deck and enjoy the view. It truly was breathtaking; the pictures do not do it justice.
We started with cocktails by the bar. The bartender didn’t even know the beer list… Apparently they got a new beer in that she didn’t know about. My husband asked to try that one, and she served it to us, without telling us that it was $ 11 a bottle (!). I tried a cocktail based off of her recommendations, and it wasn’t that great… Especially since it was $ 18 for one martini. Another disappointment.
When we were seated for dinner, our waitress was very pleasant, but our waters did run empty a couple of times. We each ordered the 4-​course price fix menu. I started with the oysters with an apple granita… It was pretty to look at and probably very difficult to make, but it just tasted salty and like watery apples. Then I got the corn soup, which was very one-​note and sweet (also kind of lukewarm). For my entrée I ordered the halibut with beets and cucumber. The fish was cooked well, but it was impossibly bland. I didn’t really taste anything. I ended the night with the cheese tray. I am normally very adventurous with cheeses, but they served me a sheep’s cheese which was liquidy (it was served in a cup) and tasted and smelled absolutely rancid. My husband couldn’t even believed they served it to me. We chose not to complain about the food or send anything back, but we left most of our food on our plates.
I consider myself to be a foodie, and I have definitely experienced my fair share of fine-​dining. This isn’t the first time I’ve had «fancy» food before, and I honestly just didn’t like the food here. I feel bad, especially since I paid so much for it, but it just wasn’t very good. Yes, this restaurant was beautiful, the service was good, and the plating made for a good Instagram… But the food needs to be delicious, and it simply wasn’t. I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant, especially for the price. Such a disappointment.

Picture a glass house.
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
With a view from here to eternity.
Now add fine dining to it.
And a tad of rustic.
Now you have Sierra Mar.
Floor to ceiling windows. You see nothing but the ocean till it meets the horizon. The view is stupendous. Really breathtaking.
I was brought here by a friend who was a sous chef at Ventana. He hosted 3 of us for a weekend. The great thing about having a chef as a host is that, in addition to being treated like royalty at every restaurant you go to, even when you don’t go out, you’re still going to eat well! This is where he brought us for an after dinner drink.
We sat at the bar. Even at the bar it feels like you’re in a glass tree house. A 3 or 4 million dollar glass tree house, that is. I asked the bartender what he thought I should have.
He studied me for a few moments.
Then he went to it.
What he proffered was something simple & very sophisticated. It’s something I’d never had before.
I asked him what it was.
His answer?
«It’s called a beautiful. That’s what you should drink.»
Uh, hello major bartender swag!
A beautiful is cognac & grand marnier. Served in a brandy snifter, it is very refined & very grown up. Something I’ve only asked for on a very special occasion a couple of times since.
Between the view, the space, the location, & being introduced to the cocktail called Beautiful, it would be impossible for me to forget Sierra Mar.
And I didn’t even eat!
5 stars.

John Cox — most recently has incorporated a 5 course set menu as an option for lunch.
The awesome news is the set menu has brought the food to the level that it needs to be to complement the one if a kind atmosphere.
Truly a great experience.
All in all the given my recent visits for lunch — the food experience feels like one I’d receive at Lazy Bear (if they offered lunch) or perhaps lunch at French Laundry 4 years ago.
Service has improved since a few weeks back but still trailing the atmosphere and food.
Today I had to ask for forks as the wait staff overlooked the fact we only had a smaller fork for venison. Had to ask for water too.
I know they are trying their but and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before they are on all cylinders.
It’s just too bad as the price tag for lunch screams excellent food and service.

When we realized we were heading to San Fran in June, we actually structured our anniversary trip so that we could travel down Highway 1 to have lunch at Sierra Mar. We had heard about Sierra Mar while watching a Food Network special on the top 10 places to eat in the USA. We were entranced. I promptly went on to Open Table and booked a lunch reservation months in advance, requesting a lovely view and noting that it was our anniversary.
I was super stoked on the day of our reservation, as everyone had built up how amazing Sierra Mar would be for our meal. After climbing all those stairs (a lovely workout), we were promptly seated at our table, which was perfectly situated against the windows and had its own private patio that you could step onto and take pictures from. Beautiful.
Our server was such a delight and made us feel immediately at ease. Sierra Mar is not stuffy or formal; its perfectly California casual and the open atmosphere makes you feel just comfy. We immediately received our amuse bouche, a delicious crab cake of delicateness. We settled on the 3 course menu as we had stuffed ourselves sufficiently over the trip and were actually more attracted to the items on the 3 course menu ($ 55) with wine pairing ($ 29) than the 5 course lunch ($ 95).
I selected the Piedmontese Carpaccio, which had beautiful shavings of truffles and parmgiano with the carpaccio, all served on a chilled marble slab. SWOON. This was sooooo good, that we ordered a second dish (hubby ordered the sweet onion soup, which, while delicious, just didn’t compare to the amazingness of the carpaccio). The carpaccio, paired with Bouzy champagne, just made me happy as a girl can be.
The opportunity for a waygu burger with actually Monterey cheese could not be missed — I ordered the behemoth for my lunch and ate every single last bite. I loved the heirloom tomato, the cornichons, the cheese… it was elegantly casual deliciousness. Hubby’s hazelnut pork shoulder was delicious, but I felt my burger was really the prize.
The lavender panna cotta was lovely and the chocolate peanut butter bar delicious, and I was happy to see Sierra Mar recognize our anniversary via a lovely chocolate overlay. Pretty!
We had such a lovely experience that we spent hours here, sipping champagne, enjoying the views, and chatting about the Walking Dead with our waiters. We felt at home, like we were at someone’s house rather than one of the nicest restaurants in the USA. I felt like we really got the most bang for our buck coming on a weekday lunch — it was relaxed, the views were amazing, the staff attentive, and the food divine. I would highly recommend coming here for a special occasion meal; Sierra Mar will make you feel worth a million bucks.

Breath taking view was alone worth the trip, but the food and inconsistent service left much to be desired.
Big Sur Furikake: A+
Interesting take on a Japanese classic. The main star of the dish was the avocado and granny smith apples. A little heavy on the toasted sesame (which was a pro for me), which struggled to break the balance of the dish. Textures of the nori, seeds, contrasted nicely with the decadence of the foam and avocado. Acidity from the granny smith cut right through all of it in a good way.
Piedmontese Carpaccio: B
Very strong on the truffle (which can work towards or against your favor). Carpaccio was a bit rough, but very flavorful in terms of meat quality. Arugula and pine nut garnish was awesome!
Carrot Risotto: B
Pickled garden herbs were my favorite part of this dish. Refreshing tartness and beautiful for the composition and plating. Risotto itself was a bit too acidic, could have fared better with a creamier base and a little more seasoning. Inconsistent portion size (almost enough for two).
Hazelnut Finished Pork Shoulder: B
Smoked tomato was a winner where the pork shoulder should have been. The serving was divided into two, with one portion being incredibly tender with intermingled fat content, and the other portion being incredibly dry and almost charred to a crisp. Would have liked more consistency. Seasoning was spot on.
Lavendar Panna Cotta: A+
Awesome, another highlight of the meal. Executed very well for a classic, and tasted perfect.
Raw Cow’s Milk Cheese: A+
This was probably the strong point of the meal. The raw milk cheese was delicious with just enough nuttiness and age. I liked that they were served with rind on. The multi-​seed crackers were cooked to a crisp perfection and seasoned with just the right amount of coarse sea salt.
The service was lackluster and inconsistent. The demeanor of our server was impersonal and trite. We were observed on average a thirteen minute wait time between courses, which may be a front of the house issue or kitchen issue. We were also amused to see the color and care of the other server in contrast to our own.
Overall, great location and venue. Good effort on the execution, but still needs a few tweaks before I can give it an ironclad rating.

Inside Big Sur’s sprawling eco-​resort, Post Ranch Inn, you will find their highly celebrated Sierra Mar restaurant. This scenic wonder hugs the waters edge and offers guests a taste of Big Sur and a special culinary experience. The rustic-​meets-​modern architecture, featuring natural wood furnishings and local artisan accents, really captures the essence of Big Sur. The soaring floor-​to-​ceiling windows boast striking views of the Pacific. Unfortunately, we had a foggy day, so we weren’t able to catch the full ocean magic. We were still able to enjoy the beautiful craftsmanship of the restaurant and all the dishes.
The ever-​changing seasonal menu offers the freshest in-​season ingredients from land and sea. The Sierra Mar Garden ingredients are featured prominently in all the dishes with fresh herbs, greens, beans, vegetables, and fruits beautifully arranged and prepared for diners. There is also a large on-​site chicken coop along with a bee hive.
We both enjoyed our 3-​course prix fixe lunches from start to finish. The standouts were the Piedmontese Carapaccio with arugula, pine nuts, parmigiano, lemon and truffles. Great flavor combination with zesty lemon and pine nuts paired with melt-​in-​your-​mouth Italian meat. The Sweet Onion Soup is a carefully curated comfort; the wild blossoms and acorns (served with a caramelized onion biscotti) add a deep and dynamic flavor.
The Charolais Burger is served with smoked bacon, tomato jam and schoch dairy jack cheese. A nice upscale burger made with fresh and seasonal ingredients. The Lamb Shanks with hazelnut polenta, radicchio and wood mint gremolata came together beautifully and really highlights so many fresh local ingredients and flavors. The housemade acorn bread infused with pine nuts and fresh herbs was a nice treat. The desserts were good but nothing really overly exciting.
Beautiful Big Sur landmark restaurant situated on some prime real estate. Enjoy spectacular vistas and unique California cuisine at this coastal retreat.

My college roommate was proposed to over the weekend (yay!) here at Sierra Mar. Let me just call out the staff, they are the most amazing and accommodating people ever! They went out of their way to make sure the groom-​to-​be was taken care of and accommodated. Shout-​out to Brian, you were awesome!
After the proposal, we all joined them for lunch.
Course 1: Oysters
They tasted like oysters, nothing too special
Course 2: Lamb Shank
So tasty! It was incredibly tender and fell right off the bone by gently pulling with a fork!
Course 3: Cheese plate
I was incredibly stuffed from the previous two courses, but the cheese was bold and flavorful
Also to note, the view. The view from any seat in the restaurant is gorgeous and there is a glass deck you should also check out!

With this view, does the food even matter that much?! We only ate breakfast here and it was included in the room rate. For how much a room at the Post Ranch Inn costs, it had better include breakfast!
Sierra Mar breakfast was a fancy-​ish buffet, as fancy as you can get for a buffet, I guess. In addition to the normal stuff like bagels, oatmeal, eggs, bacon, and potatoes, they had things like: a granola bar with a variety of fresh fruit chopped up in wooden bowls. Ready made latkes with a dollop of caviar on them. Little biscuits with fruit and cream on top. Heirloom tomatoes. Good but not great.
The restaurant itself is made up almost entirely of wood and has some amazing views. There are some tables right next to the glass so you can look out into the water as you eat and there’s also a great patio area overlooking the water. It’s très romantique.
If you’re going to eat dinner here, be prepared to drop some cash! I hear it is $$$$. You should probably come for dinner before it gets dark so you can catch some of the beautiful scenery.