Nepenthe
Big Sur, CA 93920
Phone: (831) 667-2345
- Price:
- $$
- Best of Citysearch:
- Romantic Dining 2005, Dessert 2004
- Hours:
- Daily 11:30am-10pm
Editorial Review for Nepenthe – by Steven Jenkins
The Scene
Relaxed yet boisterous, this hearty lunch and dinner spot still lives by its 1949 motto: "Forget your worldly cares at Nepenthe's gay pavilion, where the Phoenix bird repairs and is feeling like a million." A statue of the big bird is prominently placed in the entrance, but far more eye-catching is the endless view of the ocean just below the expansive outdoor patio. If the day is brisk, take an indoor seat at one of the comfy window benches and marvel at the driftwood candlestick sculptures.
The Food
Fit for the gods (as long as they don't mind alfalfa sprouts), the famous Ambrosiaburger drips with Swiss or cheddar cheese and copious amounts of secret sauce. Mere mortals can opt for grilled fish, roast chicken or a selection of steaks. Vegetarian options include meatless lasagna, grilled tofu burger, or an heirloom tomato or a mozzarella salad with sweet corn and basil vinaigrette.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
User Reviews for Nepenthe
09/10/2007 Posted by arb59181
I've been to Nepenthe once before & should have listened to my gut instinct & never visited this sham of an establishment again. Instead, I decided to stop here for dinner on my way down to the Lucia Lodge w/ my boyfriend. I would've been better off stopping by the side of the road with a cooler of sandwiches. #1 - we went to the bar to get a drink as the result of our hour wait (expected). The bartenders were rude & genuinely disinterested in serving anyone who wasn't at the bar ordering food. You'd think that for an establishment that always has a long wait they would have better bar tenders who help pass the time. But no, they were rude & unhelpful. I waited about 40 minutes to even get their attention. Unacceptable. #2 - we were finally seated at a table inside the restaurant. The restaurant was extremely hot & unairconditioned. I know that restaurants in this area are not air-conditioned at all, but...DON'T SEAT PEOPLE THERE! Incredibly inconsiderate. We thought about leaving at that point but didn't because it was already late. #3 - The food: horrible quality and ridiculously overpriced. Meal came to $100 (including tip) for dried out Tuna and paper thin swordfish each with a meager salad and an apple pie a la mode. The fish seemed to come out of a frozen package. Awful food, terribly overpriced. The only plus of this part of the evening was the service by our lovely waitress and the Apple Pie which was delicious. All in all - a terrible experience, this restaurant should be ashamed of themselves. Atrocious. I should add - we're not picky eaters and we're certainly not gourmet snobs. We're just people w/ appreciation for quality food and service - we got neither on this evening. Will never return to this establishment, as I said...they should be ashamed of themselves.
Pros: The view
Cons: Everything else - food, bar service, price, obnoxious attitude.
11/20/2006 Posted by curleechik
This place definitely had an awesome view, but the food was not all that great and was very over priced! But there's not too much to choose from in Big Sur, so I guess it's worth a try.
Pros: Beautiful View
Cons: Overpriced
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