Unlimited budget: top-notch food with an oceanfront view?

[foodwithaview]

(first-time caller, long-time reader)

This may be an impossible request, but: I'm looking for near-Michelin-caliber cuisine with an oceanfront view anywhere in the Bay Area. I've been researching carefully, and have only found a handful of options which come close to the level I'm hoping for.

I've followed this board's recommendation for years, and haven't seen a thread which really provides a good solution. Maybe there isn't one. Of course, most small town restaurants naturally tend to feature old-fashioned menus, and living in San Francisco spoils us all. But surely there must be some option, somewhere?

My wish list:

-- directly on the ocean or an oceanfront bluff, not a bay
-- patio or terrace for outdoor dining
-- locally sourced seasonal ingredients, line-caught fish, grass-fed beef, lots of fresh produce, etc.

An example of a contender might be La Costa Nera, which won a Bib Gourmand rating this year. I haven't been personally. Perhaps the Ritz in Halfmoon Bay, as well as the Olema Inn (which I thought was solid, but isn't strictly waterfront of course).

Non-contenders include places like the Moss Beach Distillery: costs notwithstanding, the menu is pretty dull and I walked away from our table after reading it last year.

Any advice or ideas, other than to give up? Have I missed any gems? I've also asked this question on the larger California board, with reference to non-SF locations.

Thanks in advance!

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Olema Inn
10000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Olema, CA 94946

Moss Beach Distillery Restaurant
140 Beach Way, Moss Beach, CA 94038

[foodwithaview]

(closing up an old thread)

Thanks everybody for the great recommendations! We checked out the Duck Club in person last month... good food, but for some reason, on that particular evening the dining room had the strong odor of wet dog, or perhaps a large oven full of braised offal (not on the menu, so this is unlikely). Bodega Bay is a neat town and we enjoyed our evening there.

I love the Post Ranch Inn and have already used for it for a memorable romantic dinner (when I proposed to my financee).

Just thought I'd share the outcome of our decision: in the end, for this particular occasion we selected Murray Circle at Cavallo Point. Not ocean-front, obviously, as indicated above but my partner is happy with the views from the porch and the food is solid.

Thanks again!

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Murray Circle
601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA 94965

Cavallo Point
601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA

Duck Club Restaurant
103 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, CA

[The Chowhound Team]

Hi Everyone. Sorry for the interruption. Please bear in mind that recommendations for other than the Bay area are off topic here. Foodwithaview has also posted the request on the California board, here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7458...
Thanks!

[pamf]

La Costanera has an offer on Groupon right now, the coupon is good until May. This is probably the best location for ocean front dining close to SF.

Cafe Gibraltar is situated on a street that is up hill from Highway One. It does have an ocean view, although it is not directly over the water. It is located a bit further south in El Granada. Very good food.

Glad you are checking the California board, there are some beautiful places further south near Big Sur (Post Ranch Inn for example), but that is out of scope for the Bay Area board.

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La Costanera
8150 Cabrillo Highway, Montara, CA 94037

[DianneYYC]

Oh please consider the Post Ranch Inn. You're almost on top of the ocean. The accommodations are wonderful and the restaurant is superb. Look up the Sierra Mar restaurant and be swept away.

[saffrongold]

second Gibraltar

[bbulkow]

I'm still stuck on the Olema Inn being "not strictly waterfront". It's a solid 3.5 miles to the ocean as the crow flies, and the crow would fly through some very serious hills in the 1000 foot range.

What's your opinion on Greens? You can certainly see the open ocean from there.

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Olema Inn
10000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Olema, CA 94946

[c oliver]

Thanks for that. It's been many years since I was at Olema Inn but my recollection was that it didn't qualify in the least. But I'm old and my memory fails me regularly :)

I forgot about Greens. But are they open for lunch cause it's got to be lunch or the view is irrelevant. Hopefully OP will show up and give some guidance.

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Olema Inn
10000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Olema, CA 94946

[Ruth Lafler]

Yes, Greens is open for lunch.

[foodwithaview]

Sorry for not being clear on timing/guidance: am planning ahead for an early evening dinner in late May or early October, when we'll have more daylight and a few non-foggy days.

Thanks!

[Robert Lauriston]

I don't think you can see the ocean from Greens, Fort Point and the Marin headlands are in the way. Maybe a little glimpse under the Golden Gate Bridge. And the food's probably not at the level that foodwithaview is seeking.

[foodwithaview]

Touché. I was trying to think of some representative examples in that area, and just typed that one without remembering correctly that it's miles from the ocean. My mistake.

Greens is pretty solid. Great view, nice ambiance, generally good food (some hit or miss). Very good wine list, IMHO.

Can you think of anything on the Marin/Sonoma coast that might fit the bill?

[DavidT]

There is a place in Bodega Bay called the Duck Club that might be worth a look. I have never eaten there.

http://www.bodegabaylodge.com/hotel-d...

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Duck Club Restaurant
103 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, CA

[Glencora]

I've eaten at the Duck Club a couple of times. It was fun to combine it with a stay at the hotel -- a walk on the beach before dinner, a soak in the hot tub after. I doubt I'd go there just for the restaurant alone, but maybe. The atmosphere is definitely corporate; the ocean view is nice but at a certain distance, across an estuary and a spit of sand. I didn't have high expectations for the food and I don't remember much about it, but I do recall some wonderful local lamb. Basically, it has a fancy, "white tablecloth" feel, but, except for a few local ingredients, could be anywhere.

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Duck Club Restaurant
103 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, CA

[myst]

I would probably try to look at California Board for Pacific Grove or Santa Cruz area. In SF you might need to have a great dinner or an ocean view. Not both. I love the view from the Cliff House Bistro for brunch. But it is good not spectacular for food.

I just keeping thinking of Hawaii.....I love it there.... sorry to digress.

[curlygirl17]

A spot to consider might be Murray Circle at Fort Baker/Cavallo Point Lodge. If you sit on the patio, you can see the bay, the GG bridge, and SF. The food is seasonal, pretty local, and phenomenal (1 Michelin star).

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Murray Circle
601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA 94965

[DebitNM]

Can you sit on patio during January for brunch or will it be too cold? Do they have outdoor heaters? I realize that rain can be an issue too.

[susancinsf]

don't know if they have outdoor heaters, but the weather in January in that area could be beautiful and sunny, or rainy and cold. Ift is not raining, eating outside is likely doable. But January is the middle of rainy season.

[DavidT]

Take at look at the Murray Circle Restaurant at Cavallo Point, on the Marin side of the Golden Gate Bridge:

http://www.cavallopoint.com/dine.html

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Murray Circle
601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA 94965

Cavallo Point
601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA

[foodwithaview]

Thanks! Great suggestion.

[CarrieWas218]

Sorry, Murray Circle has no view. It is close to the water and you can leave over the railing to see the edge of the bay, but it is too far off the water's edge...

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Murray Circle
601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA 94965

[c oliver]

Could I ask why a bay view wouldn't work? That opens up a lot. And, as Robert says, it's going to be lunch only. Right?

[foodwithaview]

A bay view is lovely, I agree, and there are lots of great bayfront choices which come to mind in SF, Marin, etc. The Cavallo Point suggestion below, for example, and La Mar Cebicheria Peruana.

In this case, I'm planning a dinner for a partner who loves the ocean, and that's not my area of expertise, so I figured I'd make that part of the request.

Sorry for not being clear on timing: am thinking early dinner in late May or early October, when we'll have more daylight and a few non-foggy days.

Thanks!

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La Mar Cebicheria Peruana
Pier 1 1/2, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111

Cavallo Point
601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA

[Robert Lauriston]

Are you thinking of lunch? This time of year, there's nothing to see at dinner.

I haven't been to La Costanera, but I had the chef's food at Mochica. He's great.

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Navio at The Ritz Carlton
1 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

La Costanera
8150 Cabrillo Highway, Montara, CA 94037

[Ruth Lafler]

It doesn't appear the the Ritz has an outdoor dining area. Honestly, there are so few days a year when you can count on dining comfortably (rain in winter, wind in spring, fog in summer) in Half Moon Bay that I can see why they don't bother. La Costanera is only open for dinner, so until we go back on daylight savings it's not an practical option.

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La Costanera
8150 Cabrillo Highway, Montara, CA 94037

[Rapini]

One of the bottom five meals of my life was Sunday brunch at the HMB Ritz Carlton. Not worthy of the Ritz, not worthy at all.

[foodwithaview]

Sorry for not being clear about timing. I'm planning a dinner sometime in late May or early October next year. Agreed, I love the chef's food (and modern Peruvian cuisine, in general).

[pikawicca]

In your dreams, I'm afraid.

[celeryroot]

If you wish to go further north there are more choices
Albion River Inn
Rivers End
a few more also

[foodwithaview]

Thanks everybody for the tips! Much appreciated.

Thanks, yes, we're looking up North as well. Since the Bay Area board claims ownership of some prime coastal real estate, I wanted to check here too. Agreed Mendocino / Little River may have some good options (e.g. Ravens', La Petit Rive, etc.)