6 Scenic Bay Area Meals That Are Worth the Drive

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I like a swanky view of the ocean (or river or mountaintop) with my dinner as much as the next person. The problem is that, more often than not, those top-floor, waterfront restaurants want to charge you an unspoken “view tax” for the privilege of enjoying the scenery. That’s how you end up dropping $200 for a mediocre meal that would cost you less than half as much at a normal restaurant where the main focus is the food. And it’s why I’ve pretty much stopped eating anywhere remotely fancy when road-tripping in unfamiliar areas.

Luckily, the Bay Area is home to plenty of non-fancy restaurants that still offer million-dollar views, and even a handful of fancy-view restaurants that wind up being worth the price. Here are a few of my favorites.

The Cafe at the Sea Ranch Lodge

60 Sea Walk Dr., Sea Ranch

Tucked away on the prettiest stretch of the Sonoma coast, the Sea Ranch Lodge is a marvel of colorful supergraphics and minimalist architecture inspired by the local terrain. Even if you can’t afford to plop down $600 or $700 to actually stay the night at the lodge itself, tromping around the rolling hills and cliffs out back makes for a fantastic day trip. My suggestion? Start the day at the Lodge’s casual cafe, where you can enjoy a picture-perfect cappuccino and a crisp-griddled, Crunchwrap-like “Break-a-dilla,” which comes stuffed with scrambled eggs, queso fresco and (optional) bacon. Whether you sit in front of the big picture windows or on the deck outside, the panoramic views of that coastline can’t be beat.

Shadowbrook

1750 Wharf Rd., Capitola

This sprawling, 78-year-old ski chalet–style restaurant serves reasonably tasty American and Italian American classics that feel like a time warp to the 1950s or ’60s — pretty good chicken parm and prime rib (pro tip: ask for extra jus), and a truly excellent appetizer of fried baby artichokes. In truth, Shadowbrook is more famous for everything else besides the food: the quaint vintage taxicab shuttle for guests staying at nearby hotels; the old-timey service; and, especially, the picturesque funicular (or “hillavator”) ride to the restaurant itself, which sits at the bottom of a hill. That isn’t a bad thing: This is the kind of restaurant where the whole experience adds up to more than the sum of its parts, especially once you factor in the exquisite views — the cypress trees up above, and Soquel Creek and the rest of Capitola down below.

Barbara’s Fishtrap

281 Capistrano Rd., Half Moon Bay

Maybe the best of the dozens of little seafood shacks that you’ll find up and down California’s “Slow Coast” region, Barbara’s sits on a quiet, relatively uncrowded beach and serves up some of the tastiest, most impeccably fried fish and chips I’ve had in the Bay. I’ll also recommend ordering yet another version of fried artichoke hearts (a particular specialty of this southern stretch of the Bay). Barbara’s juicy, piping-hot version has the airiest tempura batter and is delicious dipped in ranch dressing — a combination made only more delightful if you time your meal to coincide with a classic California beach sunset.

Pacific Lighthouse

1051 Pacific Marina, Alameda

From its vantage point right on the marina in Alameda, Pacific Lighthouse might boast the best waterfront views of any dim sum restaurant in the Bay — certainly among those whose dim sum is actually worth eating. They don’t do cart dim sum here, but the paper checkbox menu offers a surprisingly robust mix of classics and more creative, contemporary dishes. My favorites: the crunchy-skinned barbecue pork belly; the crisp-topped “French”-style baked pork buns; and the wonderfully eggy, sugar-dusted doughnuts. The service and self-seating system are both a bit of a free-for-all, so I’ve found the best approach is to show up right when the restaurant opens at 10:30 a.m. and send the fastest, most decisive walker in your group to snag one of the tables by the back windows, with their view of the yachts on the water.

Warehouse Cafe

5 Canyon Lake Dr., Port Costa

Warehouse Cafe is a legendary East Bay biker bar, beloved by locals for its taxidermy-themed decor; no-nonsense bartenders; gruff, mammoth beer selection; and occasionally rowdy clientele. Food lovers mostly know the place for its Friday and Saturday night prime rib special — a big ol’ slab of beef served with a baked potato, garlicky mushrooms and all the fixins. The plate used to be one of the best deals in the entire Bay Area, and it’s still worth seeking out even now that the price has spiked to a still-fairly-reasonable $45 (cash only). As far as scenery goes, the bar’s patio does overlook the Carquinez Strait shoreline, but the best view comes at the end of a nighttime drive up the long, winding country road that spills out into downtown Port Costa proper: a ghostly vision of old-timey saloons and rickety Victorians, all lit up by twinkly string lights. It’s enough to take your breath away. Note: The Warehouse’s prime rib special starts at 6 p.m. on Fridays and 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Wild Flour Bread

140 Bohemian Hwy., Freestone

Every scenic restaurant roundup (this one included) seems to skew toward waterfront vistas, but sometimes a wild garden view provides most inspiring view — especially when it comes with a side of tasty baked goods. A popular pit stop for daytrippers heading out to the Russian River Valley, Wild Flour Bread has mostly operated as a takeout window since the start of COVID. But the best seats in the house have always been the adirondack chairs in the garden out back, among the daisies, nasturtiums and trellises of fruit-laden tomato plants. It’s the perfect setting to enjoy a coffee, a craggy scone and a dense, crusty loaf of one of Wild Flour’s famous cheese fougasses.