Racist, Horrible service - disgruntled staff Cold, mediocre, overpriced food Poorly run - Victor is a disgrace!






















Racist, Horrible service - disgruntled staff Cold, mediocre, overpriced food Poorly run - Victor is a disgrace!

Nepenthe is unlike any place you'll go for lunch or dinner. It opened its doors 74 years ago, but It's million dollar views never get old. Perched on the cliffs and overlooking the spectacular Big Sur coastline, it has a 100% wow factor. If you...catch it on a sunny day, the views are jaw dropping. Everything about the place is eclectic. You can order the best burger you've ever had and wash it down with a beer, a $100 glass of champagne, or anything in-between. Our waiter, Adrian, was upbeat and knowledgeable about the menu and extensive wine list. Plenty of nice wines by the glass, and If you want two glasses rather than a bottle, fear not, they have one of the largest half-bottle wine selections. Adrian told me that the wait staff has weekly trainings to master their expansive wine roster. He confirmed that my choice of a half-bottle of a 2008 Rioja was an excellent wine. It was. I ordered the signature Ambrosia burger--it never disappoints. My wife ordered the steak frites. The cooks know what they're doing. If you want medium rare, you don't need to order rare to compensate for overcooking. If you ask for medium rare, you get medium rare. I've been to Nepenthe many times and never been disappointed.More





Picked the end of December for a drive down from Sacramento to Los Angeles along the west coast, on the beautiful, incomparable US Coastal Highway 1. This was along anticipated, 36-year dream plan to experience that coastline up close… Of course, the weather and our...airline (Southwest) both conspired to screw things up royally !! It rained every day of our 10-day vacation except the last, and when we were to fly from Seattle to Sacramento, the airline industry had a meltdown, leaving us stranded at SeaTac at 5:30 in the morning. Well, we couldn’t give up, and rented a car and drove 17 hours through pelting rain to get to CA and assume our planned itinerary. Wouldn’t advise anyone to try this !! Big Sur ! The fabulous coast just south of San Francisco. Another stop, while rushing pell-mell down the rainy coast, and we stopped at this place because of their fabled view of the rocky coastline 808 feet below…. And saw zip-zilch-nada ! Just loads of foggy, low clouds and trees taking a soaking. Getting there is another story: go check their website for directions – we didn’t, and thought we were going miles and miles in the winter dusk and had missed it, till we stopped at a small roadside store that gave us directions – “1.28 miles down on your right. You can’t miss it.” Nepenthe (Ancient Greek: νηπενθές, nēpenthés) is a fictional medicine for sorrow – a "drug of forgetfulness" mentioned in ancient Greek literature and Greek mythology – from Wikipedia ! So why did they choose this name ? The property is huge: spread across a number of buildings that house the restaurant, a cafe and an art gallery/store.. plus there was more in the hill behind that we couldn’t see at the time – had to get back on the road to our next hotel before it became too late. But the stop was essential since we had heard so much about this place from friends and others, but not exactly timed it right for a full meal. The structure was designed by a student of America’s favorite architect: Frank Lloyd Wright. And it shows: the design style of buildings integrated into the rolling hillside with low, overhanging eaves and sprawling windows to capture the coastline (when available, obviously !) and use of natural materials throughout, is definitely the master’s hallmark. I wish I had known this fact when I was there ~ as an architect, I would have paid more attention to the architecture and been more reverential instead of just acting the coastal-tourist. Though daylight was fast fading at 4pm, the flickering fires in firepits both in and outdoors with the rainy mist, low clouds and tall, overhanging trees imparted a dreamlike quality to the scene.. but no sight or sound of the elusive ocean. So, to use our break, we shared a “snack” – that became an early dinner. Nepenthe has a formidable and award-winning selection of fine wines, largely sourced from California’s most distinguished wineries. The food menu may seem somewhat limited but has some great and well portioned preparations, from what we saw on the tables. The place was busy despite the weather and time of day, and though we had no reservations, they were able to seat us fairly quickly. We selected a glass of white wine and a burger each, as best available options. The chilled, crisp wine was just the perfect setter for the hour and “The Famous Ambrosiaburger” is aptly named and superbly flavored with their “Famous Ambrosia Sauce”. Ground steak, with some mysterious seasoning, served on a French roll – not too small and heavy enough, so, a great choice for a light dinner. And enough to make you sleepy for the dangerous curves ahead… though, thankfully, we didn’t have far to go to our next hotel. Overall… at $84 plus tip for the two of us ? Great. Well worth the stop, sights (or lack therof) and walk in the rain from the car.More

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the world. Why? It's not the food, although it's good. It's the view, which is one of the best I have seen anywhere, particularly for restaurants. Big Sur, where the restaurant is located, is a phenomenally scenic...place in the United States or anywhere else. Nepenthe has a particularly auspicious perch high up on the coast with views in both the south and north directions. You may actually partake in the views without eating there, but unless you're not hungry or are trying to be super frugal, I see no reason not to have a leisurely meal with your views. The only thing that might stymie your plans is the relatively small parking lot, which during popular times, which is most of the year, fills up quickly. Get there early for lunch or dinner or after lunch, like 3PM.More

We stopped by this restaurant without any research and it did not disappoint! The views are incredible and the food was wonderful. Our waiter was so knowledgeable about wines and the area. We would love to go back.

From the moment we arrived we were greeted by all staff. The view was spectacular, and so was the food and service. This is a must visit if you are in Big Sur.





The restaurant offers a breathtaking view! It was definitely worth a drive but food is extremely overpriced . My husband ordered their famous burger that was served on a soggy bun.. it looked like a “ bloody” sponge from a meat . Their Service was...mediocre but a spectacular view was definitely something that we will treasure for many years to come. Come for a view but not for the food!More

Great place for lunch and dinner. The views are spectacular. Kids meals were highly praised by my children. Their signature burger is delicious as are their fries and chips. Would have given 5 stars except for the long wait to be seated and didn’t really...love the hot cocoa nor the soup of the day. Otherwise a very enjoyable evening with a wonderful server.More

Could this place live up to its reputation? YES!! We arrived for a late lunch on a sunny weekday and were seated immediately on a gorgeous outside table. Friendly staff and lovely menu for vegetarians. Great atmosphere, delicious food. Delighted.





Located just off of Pacific Coast Highway 1, Nepenthe is definitely worth a stop. Try to get a table outside on the terrace, which offers a fabulous view of the coastline and the ocean. Good food (would recommend the soup and sandwiches) and friendly staff....There’s also a little art shop downstairs with lovely textiles, postcards, etc.More



Such a fun place - quintessential Big Sur experience. Gret server shared interesting information, the view was amazing, the ambience was cozy and friendly and the food was delicious.

Get there right around 11:45am if you want to get a prime table for lunch. The menu is surprisingly varied and high quality. It's not a tourist trap at all. Service was great.

Visited on a rainy Friday afternoon and seated right away by the window. Beautiful views! Service was friendly and prompt. Prices are very high (a Corona is over $11, and a basket of fries was $14). Ended up ordering a hot chocolate and a small...cup of Manhattan clam chowder, and the total with tip was over $18. Probably wouldn't visit again but can definitely see the draw.More



Great views, cool vibe. There were a lot of people there and we wondered where they all came from! Good food, good service, great views.

Excellent food with large portions, but the real treat is the view from the dining room and deck. It’s perched on the side of a hill overlooking a beautiful valley that runs all the way to the Pacifix ocean.
