Vegan dining at Stanford Inn by the Sea resort, est. since 1996. Open to the public for breakfast and dinner - reservations recommended. Serves vegan cuisine with menu featuring freshly baked bread and specials such as king trumpet "crab" cakes (pan-fried mushroom and zucchini cakes), roasted beet salad, personal size pizzetta, eggplant cannelloni, and grilled portabella flatbread. Vegan desserts include Raven's chocolate tart and pecan torte. Fine dining atmosphere with views of redwood trees. The Inn maintains its own organic garden. NOTE: vaccinations required for dine-in. Please also note that some wines are reportedly not vegan. Open Mon-Sun 7:30am-10:30am, 5:30pm-8:00pm.
Vegan
American
Italian
Organic
Take-out
Breakfast
78 Reviews
First Review by annice
Chrissyanne
Points +1070
Not as good as I had heard - Edit
I had breakfast here on November 16th, 2023. I had heard so much about this establishment over the years and was happy to finally arrive in Mendocino to try it. I couldn't help but notice that there seems to be a trend in the reviews, a downhill trend. Maybe they changed chefs?
Read moreWe ordered the Portobello Benedict and the Polenta with greens. The Benedict was delicious but could have used more mushrooms and a little less mustard in the hollandaise sauce. The polenta was okay but a bit boring.
The coffee was great and so was the hot cocoa. Service was extremely good.
We arrived for breakfast at 9:15 in the morning and we were the only people dining there until a party of three showed up about a half an hour later. Not a good sign.
Pricing seemed a bit unusual. Entrees were expensive but beverages seems to be a bargain.
I'm back at Raven's restaurant for dinner on November 1, 2024, but nothing happened to make me want to change my rating to five stars. I had the Kahlua Mushroom and Coconut rice and my companion had the Sea Palm Pad Thai. Both were delicious and unique but not really that special. Complimentary bread with carrot pate and plant-based butter is served upon request, so don't forget to ask for it. Desserts are huge! More than enough for two people.
Updated from previous review on 2023-11-18
Pros: Excellent service, Beautiful surroundings, Reasonably priced juices and espresso drinks
Cons: Boring polenta, Entrees were a bit pricey
Guest
super_marisa
Points +1080
Disappointing experience - Edit
I wanted to love this place, but sadly the whole experience, including food and service, was underwhelming. Shockingly so… what a bummer. I had wanted to go to some of their retreats and check out their cooking classes, but this experience left a literal bad taste in my mouth. I debated writing this bad review, but ultimately I wish others had too so I could have avoided this let down.
Read morePros: Beautiful Dining Room , All vegan
Guest
Forman
Points +6061
Nice upscale resturant - Edit
We have been here a couple times. This time I had the Caesar Salad, Ravens FlatBread, Mocha and Carrot cake. The Caesar and Flatbread were good just not great. Mocha and cake was a nice finish to dinner. Service was great!
Read moreGuest
daveoz
Points +1168
Organic and Simple - Edit
The restaurant is beautiful and set amongst trees with a beautiful view of the ocean. The food is very nutritious and and it is very simple with very few ingredients and spices but absolutely delicious. There has been great thought put into the menu and because they grow their own vegetables it is absolutely delicious. After many years the food is still superb!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-07-22
Pros: Wonderful view, Well prepared dishes
Cons: Sometimes portions can be small.
Guest
oskeewowwow
Points +1254
Amazing food, Beautiful resort - Edit
My wife and I stayed at the Stanford Inn for 2 nights and ate at Raven’s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the whole time! We loved the variety of vegan food that kept us looking forward to the next meal.
Read morePros: Large variety, Beautiful area, Many drinks and desserts
Guest
actakesontheworld
Points +127
Vegan hotel food - Edit
We had the chickpea crepe and portobello Benedict. The breakfast main entree flavors were good; however the side (very large quartered - see picture) potatoes were hard in some places. I don’t really feel like the food was that awesome in general - the pieces of veggie in the crepe were quite large (wished the restaurant upped their knife skills game). We had dinner the night before at the vegan restaurant (fog eaters) in town and were much more pleased with the food. I think the redeeming factor was that we didn’t have to pay for breakfast as it was included with the stay. The service was excellent though and our coffee cups stayed full. Ultimately though the food was as if a non-vegan made it - what vegan doesn’t know how to prepare potatoes?! The view of the llamas and rescue donkeys once the fog cleared was fun.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-07-18
Pros: Gluten free options , The breakfast was free with stay, Service was excellent
Cons: Poor knife skills; large food pieces
Guest
Lolopold
Points +435
Special treat - Edit
Given the above average prices, this is definitely a special treat but worth a visit for sure. We had the “cheese” platter, ravioli and enchiladas.
Read moreGuest
JesseBenefiel
Points +32
Delicious and nutritious - Edit
A great place to test yourself if you’re vegan. Make sure you either try their strawberry shortcake or carrot cake!
Read morePros: Healthy, Unique, Tasty
Cons: Costly
Guest
NoahDFA
Points +48
Beautiful scenery great food - Edit
Went here for my anniversary. We didn't stay as a hotel guest but wish we could have. Had dinner and breakfast the next day. Everything was delicious, and the manager comped our desert for our special day. My partner is newly plant based and was super impressed with everything, especially the dressing the Cesar salad (best Cesar dressing she's had ever) She also does not like enchiladas but absolutely loved the ones I ordered. It's not always on the menu but if they have creme brulee do NOT skip out on it. Strawberry shortcake was scone consistency but the whip cream softened it up perfectly.
Read moreGuest
fluttercat
Points +327
A healthy delight - Edit
I love everything about Ravens! Stayed at the Stanford Inn and ate here daily whether it was breakfast or dinner. Happy hour was also wonderful. Excellent selection of wines, very fresh and flavorful meals and enjoyed a fresh pot of tea every morning. Beautifully decorated for the holidays - a very cozy and peaceful experience.
Read moreGuest
nerissawvh
Points +165
Beautiful setting, food, and serving - Edit
Classic otel dining with peaceful view of trees. Went for brunch and ordered the waffle and the portobello Benedict. Both very good and felt indulgent without being heavy or unhealthy. Good service.
Read morePros: Classy but not stuffy ambiance, Quality food not ridiculously overpriced , Great service
Guest
Gopala108
Points +3666
All Vegan in Mendocino - Edit
I had great expectations for Ravens when I went here on a recent trip to Mendocino. The food here was average albeit all vegan. We got a Thai curry that was decent yet felt Thai Idea in SF does a better curry. We got the enchiladas that were good yet wish their hot sauce was made in house.
Read moreThe vegan carrot cake with vegan ice cream for dessert was probably the best thing we ordered and was tasty.
I have a feeling the chef that was here is no longer here yet must say the service was great.
I am giving it five stars because it was very cozy here with the wood burning fire place, resident cat, resident dog, and extensive vegan library.
Pros: very cozy, great service
Guest
AmandaSakiye
Points +3297
Such a nice spot - Edit
This place has great views of the next door farm animals 🥰 amazing food here!
Read moreGuest
MarkRhodes
Points +275
Fantastic dinner - Edit
We travel fulltime in rv, so finding 100% plant based is a treat. This was pretty special, up their with Plant in Ashville, NC. I saw many negative reviews in 2022, but I suspect with eas related to coming out of COVID. We arrived early not realizing dinner service started at 530. No problems, happy hour with some finger snacks tided us over. We totally enjoyed our dinner, got dessert to go.
Read morePros: 100% plant based
Guest
elveganaleman
Points +97
Best breakfast I’ve had in California - Edit
Great place in a tranquil area with great food and super nice staff
Read morePros: 1/2 Portions are an option so you can try multiple, Everything was super tasty
Guest
KathyT-WFPB
Points +941
Quality is high and portions are large - Edit
Prices may seem high but they are comparable to other area restaurants and the portions are quite large. We could have split dishes but wanted to try as many as possible. I definitely had my favorites but they were all good options. I really liked that the dining was casual yet attentive service. We could come dressed up or casual and feel comfortable in this beautiful space with gorgeous views. If you are staying at the Inn, take advantage of the free breakfast each morning. Reservations are recommended.
Read morePros: Fully vegan/plant based, Very large portions, Extensive choices
Guest
livegreenwearblack
Points +313
Consistent Destination Vegan Restaurant - Edit
Ravens is a fantastic restaurant -- everything is vegan, organic and much of the food is local. After going here for dinners over the past 10 years, I finally made it here for breakfast and it was AMAZING and delicious. I have always enjoyed my experiences here -- the staff are warm and welcoming, attentive and efficient. It never feels rushed -- and there are always cute, well behaved dogs to meet (and the beautiful BC, the resident Black Cat).
Read moreGuest
ynwa
Points +2059
Eclectic all vegan at Stanford Inn - Edit
All vegan from breakfast to dinner and fantastic banana split. Lots of dishes you’ve probably never made or seen so visit often to try all the dishes.
Read moreGuest
marciopacheco9
Points +70
Amazing food & ambience! - Edit
The food options are great, all vegan and the staff is amazing!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-03-30
Pros: 100% vegan restaurant , Amazing food, Awesome staff
Cons: None
Guest
DJThomson
Points +60
Great place! - Edit
This was one of the nicest places we have eaten on our travels. Great food, all plant based. We brought our dog and they brought him a blanket to lay on, and treats. We will be eating here every time we are in the area.
Read morePros: Dog friendly
Guest
SarahS88
Points +2375
Really delicious - Edit
I saw some bad reviews but we loved the food, breakfast in particular is great! We had the waffle and the portabella benedict. For dinner I’d recommend the kale stack and the enchiladas were delicious.
Read moreGuest
alannahneedham
Points +435
Good service and mimosas - Edit
The food we got was okay. The mimosas were good and the waitress was nice
Read moreGuest
BuckeyeV
Points +43
Good and Bad - Edit
The location and view from Ravens' Restaurant is fantastic. Morning or evening, the view over the trees toward the ocean is fantastic. It would be hard pressed for any restaurant to match. But with that ambiance comes high prices which in turn bring high expectations. And unfortunately this is where Ravens' falls short. My wife and I had breakfast there during our stay at the Stanford Inn. And that service was friendly but a little too casual for the fine dining aura they try to project. This projection fell well short the one night we had dinner during our stay. We ordered appetizes, salad, and drinks. The prices are high but the food tasted good. What turned our stay south was that our server was slow in checking on us and taking our entree orders, and then they informed us that the entree we wanted was sold out (sea palm strudel). This is information that needs to be communicated quickly to the table. The Ravens' does have potential to be an excellent fine dining option, but better care must be taken with its server training program so guests actually feel like they are in a fine dining experience.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-10-22
Pros: Excellent Location
Cons: Pricey, Poor Dinner Service
Guest
Sierrasnowflake
Points +476
amazing! - Edit
Update 10/15/2022- we come to the Stanford inn for a long weekend every year with our pups. We love it here. So relaxing and the best food. The trip we just got home from had the best food yet! Don’t miss this!
Read moreOne of my favorite places in the world! Wonderful food, beautiful and eco friendly. Don't miss this one! I wish I could live there!!!
Updated from previous review on 2017-03-16
Guest
tofudaddy
Points +93
Disappointed - Edit
They’re mission statement, story and location are incredible, but honestly their food was terrible. Disappointed to say the least. Their appetizer was great though.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-09-24
Pros: Fully Vegan, Beautiful location
Cons: Expensive
Vegan_Hiker_Foodie
Nooooooo…I’ve always wanted to go there! But I’m glad you saved me the expense! Sounds like a let down. 😕
Read moretofudaddy
It really was :/, but hey it could of been an off day for them lol I want to atleast go back and try their brunch, it looks promising :)
Read moreVegan_Hiker_Foodie
Ok well I’ll watch for your brunch review then lol 🤞
Read moretofudaddy
K :)
Read moreGuest
VirgoVegan
Points +86
Room for improvement - Edit
I couldn’t believe what I had found! A vegan and sustainability driven restaurant AND inn. With there being little to no other vegan friendly spots, at least in Fort Bragg where I’m camping, I just had to make the 20 minute drive and it was well worth it.
Read moreThe estate, the garden, the ambiance of the dining room at sunset, the service, the cocktails… So amazing. My sushi starter was delicious, however, my entree was way overpriced for the quality. The oyster mushrooms were dry and chewy with no flavor and the polenta had an earthiness that needed something to balance its profile better. The Brussels sprouts that come with that dish were also very dry and undercooked.
This does not deter me from coming back. It is very important to me to support vegan restaurants, ESPECIALLY where they are sustainably driven. I even got a carrot cake on the house for my birthday which was delicious!
With so many delicious options on the menu, it was really hard to pick just one starter and one entree. So I’ll be back again next year for my birthday and I look forward to diving into something new. Cheers!
Updated from previous review on 2022-09-13
Pros: Friendly, helpful staff, Talented bartender made a solid margarita , The garden and ocean view is dynamite
Cons: Dry, mostly undercooked entree, Overpriced for the lack of quality and flavor, No management, supervisor or master chef present
Guest
joaniemp
Points +19
Delicious food. Lovely atmosphere, complete with sunset view. - Edit
We were greeted with a cucumber salad bite as we sat down. It just got better from there. My companion and I ordered salad and two entrees to share. The server split them in half without us asking and both halves were beautiful. Desert was delicious. Chocolate ganache and strawberry shortcake. Aaahhhhhh.
Read morePros: All vegan, Lots of local grown, Reasonably priced for a transcendent experience
Guest
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