The Tides Wharf & Restaurant

April 2025
What a disappointment. We tried the tides because they opened earlier than any other place in town.
We were not staying at the Tides so we were not stuck with the continental breakfast, but that might have been an improvement over what we got.
The service was indifferent at best. I had to ask twice to get cream for my barely average coffee.
My wife's order was delivered with the wrong potatoes, and my sausages must have been leftover from the day before. Overall the food was barely warm. We felt like the eggs benedict had just fallen off the Sysco truck in time to be defrosted before being served.
Of the 4 places we ate at in Bodega bay The Tides was a distant fourth.
In response to a previous reviewer, we are not pompous bay area types. We are bay area natives who do not like places of business that rest on their laurels.

Expensive. Felt like a tourist trap. Asked where the oysters were from and our waiter said “West coast”

And the price goes to their clam chowder!!!
I have tried other clam chowders full of potatoes instead of clams and too thick to be a chowder. This one is light with lots of clams and bursting with flavor. Kudos to the chef!!!

Bad experience

We love it here. The food is amazing. The view is amazing, and the staff is so kind and helpful. Whenever we make a trip to northern california, this is a must go to place. I absolutely, love.The clam chowder have been eating it there for years. Now that i have kids, I bring them and they love do a dream, a variety of things. Especially fish and chips. it's awesome to look out your window and just watch the bay, as you're eating..ocean. if the weather's just right, you'll see harbor seals swimming and playing. The water just glistens.

I recently visited The Tides Wharf & Restaurant, and overall the experience was just okay. Unfortunately, the first impression was quite disappointing. While we were waiting to be seated, both the manager and the receptionist completely ignored us. We stood there for a while without anyone acknowledging our presence, which made us feel unwelcome.

Once we were finally seated, the service was average and the food was decent, but the lack of attention and hospitality at the front really affected the overall experience. Hopefully, they can improve on their customer service, especially at the entrance, as that’s the first and last thing guests remember.

I drove over 3 hours to get there ...I was craving their clam chowder! OMG!!! Got my clam chowder and hot bread. Service was exceptional. They went above and beyond. My phone charger died and the staff lent me theirs to use so I can navigate home!! Was a great experience!!!

Great food, great service!! You must go, but bring a jacket it's very cold outside.

Great view of the bay. food is not impressive and pricey.

Food not as good as it was in the past at breakfast. Calamari steak and chowder were very good

Lovely spot for lunch. Every table has a view of the bay. Love that they brought crusty sourdough to the table. The crab caeser came with a generous mound of crab and tiny but tasty seasoned croutons. They serve a thick and clammy clam chowder. I thought the crab sandwich was a tad dry but it was still enjoyable. Service was excellent.

Took my relatives from Ireland there for lunch during the week while taking them on a tour of the area. We were a party of 4 and just work out 2 had the fish and chips and the other set clam chowder. (It was a cold windy day. So we were a little chilled when we came in.) I will state what my cousin said. My Irish cousin said the weather and fish and chips was like home, his wife who had the clam chowder agreed. Both enjoyed their lunch. We always enjoy our meal there and love getting a table by the bay windows. Since it was a weekday and just towards the end of the normal lunch hour it wasn't crowded and it was a good meal to warm up to.

Hash browns were terrible.

Don’t get fooled by all the great reviews. Just went here for dinner with my wife and was extremely disappointed. Ordered the fish and chips and the fish special of the day halibut. Both dishes were a sad excuse for a town that prides itself on fresh seafood. Be warned and stay away. The only redeeming quality is the view, but it’s not worth the poor food quality.

My server, Manuel, was excellent. I had two cappuccinos and felt like I might’ve been in Italy. The coffee was amazing. I had the corned beef, hash and eggs. Maybe the best I’ve ever had. The poached eggs were perfect. Hey Manuel, check this out. I never even gave.