Things that made this dinner weird/awkward/generally bad:
- The waiter told us that they had a new cook and so our dinner would be slow to arrive, with dramatic eye roll. Dude, put a spin on it that makes it sound like your restaurant is competent. (Or at least offer a drink on the house or something, if you know dinner will take an eternity.)
- Magically, people who were friends with another person working (the manager, I think) got their appetizers and entree before we got our food, even though they came in after us and others who were waiting. They got the same appetizers as we did so I don't think it was an issue of cook time.
- When we did get our food, appetizers and entree came out all at once. Not a huge deal, but is kind of annoying.
- The food wasn't that great. Including the yam fries which people had raved about.
Overview: if you're visiting Westport, you probably aren't there first and foremost for the food. So skip this place, get yourself a slice of pizza from the grocery/deli next door, and focus on the gorgeous landscape!
This place rules. They could just phone it in, being the only shop in town, but they don't. Crab/shrimp cakes were incredible. Fish and chips were legendary. Beer selection is a little light, but the choices are all top-notch. Sunday brunch was about as good a brunch as I've had, benedict on biscuits and some of the best bacon I've ever wrapped my teeth around.
I'd tell you to check it out, but if you're already in Westport, you don't have any other choice, so just be glad the one eatery in town does the job right.
My goodness! Â Who knew such a gem was in such a small town! Â We made reservations, but they weren't needed at 7pm. Â However, within 30 min, the placed was full! Â There was a flamenco guitarist playing that was amazing. Â The service was fast and very friendly. Â Everything on the menu looked great. Â Nothing was boring or usual. Â There were the usual proteins but accompanied with fabulous flavor combinations. Â The portions were just perfect. Â Enough to fill you up, but not so much that you were stuffed. Â My boyfriend and I shared the peach crisp and it was amazing. Â Lovely view of the ocean from almost every seat in the pub. Â A recommendation for ANYONE in the area.
Review Source:I was excited about coming here because the reviews were so good. Â We walked in and were asked if we had a reservation. Â We did not, but the place was pretty much empty.....interesting. Â We set at a table that had a great view of the ocean and the woods behind the pub. Â That is where the good part stopped. Â
The service was slow and below average. Â It took at least 10 minutes just to get a refill on water.....and it wasn't that busy. Â The food was very very average. Â My husband had the covelo burger. Â We have had covelo beef before and I can BBQ it much better. Â I had a crab quesadilla. Â It was just ok and I think I am being generous. Â
We rent a house in Westport often and I don't think we will bo coming back to this pub.
We live on the coast, near Ft Bragg, and have enoyed the Abalone Pub since it opened.  Returning last Saturday night to treat a friend to birthday dinner,  we were amazed to  find the food even better than before---the crab balls  were  an unforgettable treat!   Every dish we tried was excellent--sauces, salads, entrees.  It  might be considered pricey, but at least you don't leave feeling robbed after a mediocre meal (or worse) as is often the case on the Mendocino Coast.
The staff is as noteworthy as the food-----manager, waiter, bartender---all friendly, attentive, and  yet professional and knowledgeable, without  being condescending  or intrusive.
We often run into friends from  down south who opt to spend the night for a little getaway.  They can enjoy their wine without worrying about the  winding road home,  and  have a  wonderful  breakfast in the morning.   My only  complaint is that they don't accept canine guests,  so we can't  sleep over.
I almost hesitated to write this place up, because  I would hate to find it overrun, but they deserve  rave reviews.
My husband and I had brunch today.  It was wonderful, he had berry cream cheese stuffed french toast it was out of this world ! I had the eggs benedict with very fresh eggs not common in most restaurants.  I was very happy with my selection.  The staff is very friendly and service good.  We have eaten dinner there in the past and it was  wonderful also.  Well worth the beautiful drive.
Review Source:Do you remember that scene in "Animal House" when the (all white) college kids came pouring into a roadhouse/honkytonk to see their favorite band "Otis Day and the Knights" only to find that the place was full of African Americans? Remember how the patrons looked at the kids? That's how our family felt this afternoon when we dropped in for lunch at about 2 pm on a Sunday afternoon. The only restaurant in town, it looked a little pricey, but it was a long way to the next town. The five of us (3 teens and 2 adults) walked in, dressed in tourist garb, quite appropriately but the looks we got told us immediately that something was up. Not only the waiter, but at least one of the patrons got these funny looks and one of those patrons (with shifty eyes) said "we just closed." The waiter agreed and all looked relieved when we excused ourselves. The weirdest experience we have ever had. Felt like we were in an episode of The Twilight Zone or maybe "Mississippi Burning" (in reverse). What's up with that? I'd stay away if I was you.
Review Source:We had dinner here on 18 June 2011 and had a lovely experience. It's the sort of place that we would have ordinarily zipped past on Hwy 1, but thankfully, it had been recommended to us by a local. It has a lovely setting with large windows- we lucky to sit right next to one of them and enjoy a lovely sunset over the ocean.
We ordered the following:
- Layered polenta dish with bell pepper sauce (vegetarian) - good although I found the sauce to be slightly bland (this came with a small portion of blue cheese salad, which was okay)
- Seared ahi tuna with ginger risotto and bok choy - very good (this came with a cup of butternut squash & ginger soup, which was nice)
- Bread Pudding - Superb
- Coffee - Excellent
Although it was slightly expensive ($70 for 2 people) and the portions were on the smaller side, one doesn't expect to find such a fine place in a sleepy little town like Westport. We will try to have breakfast/brunch here the next time we are in that area and try some more of their desserts!
Husband and I ate here while staying at the nearby Howard Creek Ranch Inn. Â We were weary from a long day of driving, and didn't expect to find anything noteworthy in the tiny town of Westport...what a great surprise the Abalone Pub was! Â
It is charming and warm inside (but not stuffy), the service was very friendly, and the food was fantastic. Â The menu was a small but thoughtful selection of upscale pub fare, with an emphasis on locally grown vegetables and meats. Â We both had a special-- flatiron steak with a light blue cheese sauce, with sauteed butternut squash and some lightly wilted farm greens. It was simple, executed well, and very tasty. Â Oh--and there was an acoustic guitar player playing some quiet jingly jangly dinner music too! Â Nice touch.
This place is a great find and the hotel looks like it is pretty charming as well--would stay there next time.
We ate here for dinner and it was so amazing we came back for breakfast the next morning where I was treated to the best crab eggs benedict I have ever had. Friendly service, fairly inexpensive, amazing view. It was fairly obvious locals frequent this place a lot. It seemed like everyone knew each other. A great find and highly recommended if you are in the area.
Review Source:If you're already visiting Mendocino or Fort Bragg, just drive about 15 more miles up north on Hwy. 1, and stop by this place on a Fri or Sat evening, or Sunday brunch time! You won't be disappointed.
We did just that one Sunday, and landed in this tiny town (but gorgeous hotel and pub) at about 1pm. We saddled up to the bar and promptly ordered an ale (husband) and a latte (me). We enjoyed reading the paper as a local lady played the piano in the joint. (The bartender/waitress was a gem; so sweet, lightly chatty, and accommodating to us.) We then decided to order some brunch food to share--and it was amazing!
We got a lightly breaded fish dish, accompanied with a roasted/stuffed tomato, a couple of savory potato-y pancakes, and some artfully skewered fresh fruit and berries! We even treated ourselves to a slice of homemade cheesecake with blueberries after that. It was probably the tastiest, made-with-love meal I've had in a long time.
I'm looking forward to going back, staying for a night in the adjoining hotel, and spending both a Saturday night (wine!), and Sunday late morning (food!) at this pub.
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