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Nepenthe


TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:
  • A summary score based on quality, quantity and age of traveler ratings.
4.0 of 5 stars 121 ratings
121 ratings
5.0 of 5 stars
53
4.0 of 5 stars
31
3.0 of 5 stars
15
2.0 of 5 stars
8
1.0 of 5 stars
14
TripAdvisor Popularity Index:
  • Measures overall traveller satisfaction based on ratings, reviews and other sources.
#2 of 13 restaurants in Big Sur
  • Price range*: £4-19 ($7-$30)

Reviews you can trust

[ Date ] [ Rating ]
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5 of 5 stars
Key West
18 Dec 2009 New

Had lunch at Nepenthe on a cool and rainy December afternoon as the fog was rolling in. The restaurant has beautiful views, a nice warm fireplace and heat blowing out from underneath the bench seating around the perimeter of the restaurant. My friend asked for a sample of the soup of the day which was a Fire-Roasted Tomato Soup with... more

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3 of 5 stars
san francisco
14 Dec 2009 New

i have eaten lunch and dinner here 6-8 times. This is a friendly low-key spot, with average food and high prices. Go for lunch instead when the weather is good and enjoy the great views. more

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5 of 5 stars
Boca Raton
18 Nov 2009

The views were awesome, service was incredible, they make you feel special. Food was pretty good, we had a turkey sandwich, a burger, drinks and fries, nice portions and very tasty. Wait time was a little long, but you can get a drink at the bar and enjoy the beautiful views in the meantime. more

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4 of 5 stars
Surrey, UK
7 Nov 2009

Always go to Nepenthe when in Big Sur (not often enough, just most years - long way to come from UK). You won't find too many examples of California "fine dining" cuisine here; the food is unpretentious (unlike so many other places on the Coast) but is always of good quality and well cooked. There is always fresh fish if... more

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5 of 5 stars
Peterborough
7 Nov 2009

My personal advice is to avoid weekends as the crowd and que are too big. If you can make a special experience of it, taking a weekday excursion down coast highway from as far as even SF would be worth it. The location is only easy to get to if you live local otherwise it's a bit of a journey,... more

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2 of 5 stars
CA
3 Nov 2009

Stop here if you want to pay $15 for a $5 sandwich. Yes the view is wonderful, spectacular and worth a look but buy only a drink and sit and enjoy it or split the sandwich and eat something more filling at another location. Please note that the service is usually quite good so be kind with your tip. more

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4 of 5 stars
culver city
15 Oct 2009

You can't beat the ocean view! My friend had her wedding there on the patio and the parking was easy so we started off right. However there were lots of flies until the sun went down so that was annoying. The tables were lovely and the duck was wonderful. I really liked the coffee bar after dinner. more

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5 of 5 stars
Seattle
12 Oct 2009
1
person found this review helpful

This is am amazing place - the food may be a bit overpriced, but the burger is reasonable and very tasty!!!. It's worth every penny though if you are on the deck on a summer day with a glass of wine and your favorite person! The staff are great ....not sure why folks are complaining that the service is slow.....I... more

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1 of 5 stars
Germany
5 Oct 2009
1
person found this review helpful

Why all the positive reviews??? This is a tourist ripoff at a nice location. We waited for 30 min for the first available table with no choice if in the shadow (cold) or in the sun or inside. We had an Ambrosiaburger with cheese ($14 + $1.50 !!) and a Turkey, Avocado and Bacon sandwich ($16.50 !!) with garbanzo-kidney bean... more

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5 of 5 stars
South Carolina
30 Sep 2009

No trip to California would be complete without a visit to Nepenthe and I've never had a bad experience with food or service over the many years we've been going there. Only on a couple of occasions have we ever had to wait for seating, but the fabulous views, the laid-back atmosphere, the history of the restaurant and the terrific... more

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Nepenthe Address

48510 Highway One, Big Sur, CA 93920
Tel: 831 667-2345 Fax: 831 667-2394
* Restaurant price information is based on meal cost per person, excluding drinks, tax and tip.