Our lodge in the middle of the night drive home was Big Sur. My family was frustrated to learn that a recent landslide had blocked a road and had to take a detour. So we decided to grab a bite to eat and drive out to survive, and we went in there without even thinking about ordering a sandwich. Oh my god, it was such a tough chicken sandwich to describe how I felt. An old lady at work made it for me. We baked the common bread and added some tough chicken and dark muggy leaves in between. I highly recommend it. It was a tough chicken sandwich.
gyssen brylle J.
Worth it. The service is 3-4 stars but for me the ambiance and the food are amazing. Best to during summer or spring.
VonPreußen V.
The Big Sur River Inn is definitely a place worth visiting if you happen to be driving into Big Sur. This place has a hotel, restaurant and a small general store as well as a few other shops. I like having a burger with fries and sitting outdoors near the river. There's also some wooden chairs placed inside of the river where you can soak your feet weather permitting. The drive heading from Carmel towards Big Sur can be hectic but the views are definitely breathtaking and make the drive well worth it. The only time I would not drive to Big Sur is during the rainy season because of poor road conditions.
D K.
Just home from a girls' week down the coast to Big Sur. We were fortunate enough to meet the owner in Carmel who recommended this restaurant. So we stopped and had lunch along our extremely picturesque drive. We sat out a downpour in the very cozy dining room where we had great service and a delicious lunch. I had the best BLT I've ever eaten as well as fresh delicious fries. We were blessed with a tableside chat with the co-owners Alan and Ben. It was great to hear some history of the hotel and restaurant as well as plans for the future in keeping up with technology, yet preserving the Big Sur vibe. We will definitely be back!
Douglas K.
This is the best-kept secret in Big Sur: enter the General Store and proceed to rear of the store. There, just past the cookies and chips you will find the burrito and blender drink kitchen, where some of the best burritos of your life are made. You know the drill: pick your tortilla type, white or Spanish rice, pinto or black beans, choice of meat, and then cheese, salsa, guacamole, cilantro... My pick is their spicy chicken with Spanish rice, black beans, salsa, cilantro, cheese, wrapped in a flour tortilla. If you travel down to Big Sur frequently, as I do, join their burrito club. Now, take your burrito and find a nice vista and create your own ambience and remind yourself: Life, is good.
Angelique E.
We stopped for lunch after driving us1 to see Big Sur. We loved the beet salad and shared the ribs, which were very good, meat was tender. Service was good, could be a little better. The atmosphere is great, quaint, beautiful views of the river & trees.
Daniela A.
Stopped by while heading to Big Sur and I loved it! The outside area is beautiful and the server was very kind. The prices are higher but nothing crazy and you are paying for the location in my opinion. The food was good as well.
chandra b.
I am dying....i just finished a 5 hour stint of hardcore food poisoning I got from their ceviche. I should have listened to my intuition, I hated the overpriced menu but my friend already said let's sit down. I thought since everything was so expensive at least it would be high quality, boy was I wrong. The ceviche had the cheap tiny shrimps and it tasted fishy. I tried to choke some down to enjoy the time with my friend but ultimately had to send it back because it was so funky tasting. Like clockwork I was woken up in the middle of the night with a flip floppy-stabbing knife stomach and it began. 5 hours of hell. I know it was the ceviche because if you ever have food poisoning, you can tell when it's coming out of you what got cha! .It was also our only meal that day. Do yourself a favor and steer clear.
Jesse W.
The restaurant has gross food and the prices are way too high for the quality. The Caesar salad kits at a grocery store are better then the $18 one here. The calamari was not crispy or fresh. Pulled pork sandwich was okay. The complimentary b-day chocolate cake was the best thing I tried. Our server brought out wine glasses and forgot the bottle. She eventually brought it out after someone in our group complained. She spilled a couple drinks from her tray on a 9 year old girl and showed no sympathy. The view of the river was nice and the surrounding area was great. If I were to go back I would just make my own sandwich and take it down to the chairs on the river and eat there. You can get drinks and whatever else you need at the store.
Cheska E.
Stopped by this lovely spot for breakfast. There's a river next to it which is nice, I loved how calming the view was. The dishes we had were pretty good and comforting, exactly what we needed to start our Day Trip to Big Sur. The staff were so nice and friendly too.
Made reservations weeks in advance, called one week prior to confirm. Was turned away because they were closed for an event although they assured us someone was supposed to reach out to let us know. 0/10
Anna P.
It's a genuinely fascinating hotel with wooden chairs placed in the river, allowing you to enjoy a cold stream while sipping on a drink. Despite choosing this place for its unique features, it turned out to be a bit pricey. The room was clean and tidy, but unfortunately, the internet didn't work, requiring me to stay close to the office for a connection. Overall, it felt too expensive for a simple room for four people. We had some drinks at this restaurant, and unfortunately, they were really terrible. The bartender didn't even ask if they were okay. The drinks were literally undrinkable, so it felt like a complete waste of money.
Elizabeth B.
Our server (Chandler) was not great. One of our cocktails was not made well, but after complaining about its taste 3 times, i gave up. He never offered water to our table. My daughter went to get it for us. He didnt tell my husband what cheeses could be added to the burger,... he just assumed cheddar And when we left w take out boxes (3) he did not even offer a bag The food was just ok. I dont recommend the jala-pina margarita and i dont recommend this server (sorry). The next table over had a female server who was quite good
Daiane T.
Don't go to this restaurant if you are an immigrant. We had a bad experience. As soon as we arrived we spent 30 minutes waiting for the waitress to come to our table, and the group next to us arrived soon after us and were served first. The waitress didn't offer water, she took our order super harshly and in a bad mood, my 3 friends who were with me ordered Coca Cola, and in the end one of the glasses had a cherry. (lack of hygiene). In the end, with the terrible service, I didn't think it was fair to tip. My friend forgot her cell phone, the same waitress came to give it to us and asked if the phone was a gift since we didn't tip. If she had been cordial she would have received a good tip, it's not just because we are immigrants that we don't have money to spend. Educate your employees more about education. Don't go to that restaurant. We were literally mistreated!
Susan S.
Outstanding ambiance, delicious menu items, lovely heated pool, full bar and world-class music on the patio. The staff work incredibly hard to ensure guests feel welcome. Connie & Joaquin are the gardeners and handyman respectively (he made all the river chairs!) and the gardens are a sight to behold. Founded in 1934, the owners have had a long time to upgrade every corner of the property, including an ice cream parlor in a charming converted bus with riverside tables. I stayed overnight and the bed was super comfortable and I loved the large river rock shower that was perfectly comfortable on the feet. Highly recommend for guests of all ages but especially if you have children under age 9 because the expensive riverside lawn is epic! The best way to describe the whole experience for me is accessible rustic charm that feels utterly luxurious. By the way, there's a fun General Store on site to buy books, gifts and snacks. AND a brand new little gas station too! Your car will thank you! Go there and pay attention to the gardens - Connie has outdone herself.
Our lodge in the middle of the night drive home was Big Sur. My family was frustrated to learn that a recent landslide had blocked a road and had to take a detour. So we decided to grab a bite to eat and drive out to survive, and we went in there without even thinking about ordering a sandwich. Oh my god, it was such a tough chicken sandwich to describe how I felt. An old lady at work made it for me. We baked the common bread and added some tough chicken and dark muggy leaves in between. I highly recommend it. It was a tough chicken sandwich.
Worth it. The service is 3-4 stars but for me the ambiance and the food are amazing. Best to during summer or spring.
The Big Sur River Inn is definitely a place worth visiting if you happen to be driving into Big Sur. This place has a hotel, restaurant and a small general store as well as a few other shops. I like having a burger with fries and sitting outdoors near the river. There's also some wooden chairs placed inside of the river where you can soak your feet weather permitting. The drive heading from Carmel towards Big Sur can be hectic but the views are definitely breathtaking and make the drive well worth it. The only time I would not drive to Big Sur is during the rainy season because of poor road conditions.
Just home from a girls' week down the coast to Big Sur. We were fortunate enough to meet the owner in Carmel who recommended this restaurant. So we stopped and had lunch along our extremely picturesque drive. We sat out a downpour in the very cozy dining room where we had great service and a delicious lunch. I had the best BLT I've ever eaten as well as fresh delicious fries. We were blessed with a tableside chat with the co-owners Alan and Ben. It was great to hear some history of the hotel and restaurant as well as plans for the future in keeping up with technology, yet preserving the Big Sur vibe. We will definitely be back!
This is the best-kept secret in Big Sur: enter the General Store and proceed to rear of the store. There, just past the cookies and chips you will find the burrito and blender drink kitchen, where some of the best burritos of your life are made. You know the drill: pick your tortilla type, white or Spanish rice, pinto or black beans, choice of meat, and then cheese, salsa, guacamole, cilantro... My pick is their spicy chicken with Spanish rice, black beans, salsa, cilantro, cheese, wrapped in a flour tortilla. If you travel down to Big Sur frequently, as I do, join their burrito club. Now, take your burrito and find a nice vista and create your own ambience and remind yourself: Life, is good.
We stopped for lunch after driving us1 to see Big Sur. We loved the beet salad and shared the ribs, which were very good, meat was tender. Service was good, could be a little better. The atmosphere is great, quaint, beautiful views of the river & trees.
Stopped by while heading to Big Sur and I loved it! The outside area is beautiful and the server was very kind. The prices are higher but nothing crazy and you are paying for the location in my opinion. The food was good as well.
I am dying....i just finished a 5 hour stint of hardcore food poisoning I got from their ceviche. I should have listened to my intuition, I hated the overpriced menu but my friend already said let's sit down. I thought since everything was so expensive at least it would be high quality, boy was I wrong. The ceviche had the cheap tiny shrimps and it tasted fishy. I tried to choke some down to enjoy the time with my friend but ultimately had to send it back because it was so funky tasting. Like clockwork I was woken up in the middle of the night with a flip floppy-stabbing knife stomach and it began. 5 hours of hell. I know it was the ceviche because if you ever have food poisoning, you can tell when it's coming out of you what got cha! .It was also our only meal that day. Do yourself a favor and steer clear.
The restaurant has gross food and the prices are way too high for the quality. The Caesar salad kits at a grocery store are better then the $18 one here. The calamari was not crispy or fresh. Pulled pork sandwich was okay. The complimentary b-day chocolate cake was the best thing I tried. Our server brought out wine glasses and forgot the bottle. She eventually brought it out after someone in our group complained. She spilled a couple drinks from her tray on a 9 year old girl and showed no sympathy. The view of the river was nice and the surrounding area was great. If I were to go back I would just make my own sandwich and take it down to the chairs on the river and eat there. You can get drinks and whatever else you need at the store.
Stopped by this lovely spot for breakfast. There's a river next to it which is nice, I loved how calming the view was. The dishes we had were pretty good and comforting, exactly what we needed to start our Day Trip to Big Sur. The staff were so nice and friendly too.
Restaurantji Recommends
Made reservations weeks in advance, called one week prior to confirm. Was turned away because they were closed for an event although they assured us someone was supposed to reach out to let us know. 0/10
It's a genuinely fascinating hotel with wooden chairs placed in the river, allowing you to enjoy a cold stream while sipping on a drink. Despite choosing this place for its unique features, it turned out to be a bit pricey. The room was clean and tidy, but unfortunately, the internet didn't work, requiring me to stay close to the office for a connection. Overall, it felt too expensive for a simple room for four people. We had some drinks at this restaurant, and unfortunately, they were really terrible. The bartender didn't even ask if they were okay. The drinks were literally undrinkable, so it felt like a complete waste of money.
Our server (Chandler) was not great. One of our cocktails was not made well, but after complaining about its taste 3 times, i gave up. He never offered water to our table. My daughter went to get it for us. He didnt tell my husband what cheeses could be added to the burger,... he just assumed cheddar And when we left w take out boxes (3) he did not even offer a bag The food was just ok. I dont recommend the jala-pina margarita and i dont recommend this server (sorry). The next table over had a female server who was quite good
Don't go to this restaurant if you are an immigrant. We had a bad experience. As soon as we arrived we spent 30 minutes waiting for the waitress to come to our table, and the group next to us arrived soon after us and were served first. The waitress didn't offer water, she took our order super harshly and in a bad mood, my 3 friends who were with me ordered Coca Cola, and in the end one of the glasses had a cherry. (lack of hygiene). In the end, with the terrible service, I didn't think it was fair to tip. My friend forgot her cell phone, the same waitress came to give it to us and asked if the phone was a gift since we didn't tip. If she had been cordial she would have received a good tip, it's not just because we are immigrants that we don't have money to spend. Educate your employees more about education. Don't go to that restaurant. We were literally mistreated!
Outstanding ambiance, delicious menu items, lovely heated pool, full bar and world-class music on the patio. The staff work incredibly hard to ensure guests feel welcome. Connie & Joaquin are the gardeners and handyman respectively (he made all the river chairs!) and the gardens are a sight to behold. Founded in 1934, the owners have had a long time to upgrade every corner of the property, including an ice cream parlor in a charming converted bus with riverside tables. I stayed overnight and the bed was super comfortable and I loved the large river rock shower that was perfectly comfortable on the feet. Highly recommend for guests of all ages but especially if you have children under age 9 because the expensive riverside lawn is epic! The best way to describe the whole experience for me is accessible rustic charm that feels utterly luxurious. By the way, there's a fun General Store on site to buy books, gifts and snacks. AND a brand new little gas station too! Your car will thank you! Go there and pay attention to the gardens - Connie has outdone herself.