The Mountain House

Third time here and it’s still one of our special places! We absolutely love the food—especially the venison. Always such a great experience coming back!

I had high expectations after hearing great things from friends, but unfortunately, the night was a thorough disappointment. As a caveat, a large party had reserved the outdoor area, which may have affected the service. However, we partly chose this restaurant for the beautiful outdoor ambiance seen in photos; being forced to sit indoors without any prior warning was a poor start. From the beginning, the reservation system felt clunky. We were there for my wife’s birthday, and despite specifying the occasion online, they called the day before to confirm without acknowledging the celebration. When I called back immediately to clarify, no one picked up. I wrote it off as a quirk, but it set a weird tone. Because we had an early appointment, we were the only ones in the restaurant when we arrived. Despite this, our server didn't introduce herself, didn't explain the menus, and didn't ask about dietary restrictions. She then asked if we were celebrating anything, which felt lazy considering I’d already provided that info. If they had been busy, I’d be understanding, but with an empty room, she should have taken the time to guide us. When I asked about a wine pairing, she acted like I was an idiot because it was listed on the paper. Had she bothered to explain the menu, I wouldn't have had to ask. To make matters worse, my wife and I were given different menus—a mistake we heard happen to two other tables later on. It really bothered me that they didn’t know it was a birthday; they should have led with a "happy birthday" instead of making us announce it for a third time. We ordered the five-course tasting with the wine pairing. I only ate half of the first dish because the salmon was too vinegary and the roe made it difficult to eat. Instead of asking if something was wrong, the server just cleared the plate in silence. The next course, the quail, was okay but felt too greasy for so early in the meal. The stars were the third and fourth courses (a truffle soup and a gnocchi). Both were delicious and are the reason I’d give the food 4 stars. The only downside was the wine pairing for the soup, which felt too light for the dish. The duck was good but needed more sweetness in the sauce. Thankfully, dessert was a high note; the chocolate bomb and cheese plate were delicious, and they did provide an extra mousse for the birthday. Throughout the meal, the water refills were aggressive and disruptive. If a glass is 80% full, I don't want our conversation interrupted for a top-off. After the meal, I pulled our server aside to mention that we had pre-specified the birthday and wished she’d checked the notes before seating us. She immediately got defensive. If a customer gives honest feedback, your job is to at least pretend to listen; instead, it felt like she just wrote us off. I hope this review helps them improve, but for us, it was a mediocre night not worth the money. We won't be returning.

Was in town on a solo trip for a couple of nights, and learned from my host I'm just five minutes away from this famous restaurant, so I decided to give it a try. I was able to book a late dinner for the next day. The quail was tender and not overly flavored, with rich tasty fillings. The pork chop was so juicy. Even the bread, the starting snack, and the complimentary chocolate at the end were impressive. The portions are very generous. But the highlight among all is their top-notch service. I have not had such good service in the bay area for a long time, even in Michelin stared restaurants. The price is reasonable for what you get. I'd love to be back with my family in the future.

The Mountain House continues to be the ultimate retreat in the Bay Area. We recently tried the 2026 Winter Set Menu, and it was flawlessly executed. The transition from the earthy, roasted root vegetable starters to the rich, game-centric main courses captured the essence of the season perfectly. The star of the night was the venison—incredibly tender with a deep, savory reduction that paired beautifully with a bold Napa Cabernet. Dining among the towering redwoods while enjoying such a curated, warming menu is an experience you won't find anywhere else in NorCal. Exceptional service and an even better atmosphere.

Very special! My husband and I went there for a special supper to celebrate our 12 week pregnancy scan - couldn’t recommend enough! The staff were lovely and very attentive. Food was 5*. The place had such a special feel about it - we can’t wait to come back! The fire was lit in the front room which made it so cosy!