Little River Inn – May 1, 2019 – Dinner – Little River, CA.

This property is pristine and lush; it’s a very elegant place to stay. The restaurant has a fun bar – Ole’s Whale Watch Bar, that overlooks the ocean and there are 2 dining rooms. You can tell that their customers know food and want to try all of the delicacies that Little River Restaurant has to offer.

Their Lodging radiates Victorian elegance, The Little River Inn perches majestically overlooking the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by inspirational views, lush gardens and dramatic coastline. The Little River Inn has graciously greeted guests for five generations and is the only family owned and operated full destination resort on the Mendocino Coast. Little River Inn’s guest rooms all feature stunning ocean views, many have fireplaces, luxurious steam showers, Jacuzzi tubs, or individual hot tubs. Dramatic and ever-changing ocean views provide a breathtaking backdrop for your stay.

My reservation was made possible by Heather Noll a publicist that works with the Inn. She was very kind to book me in for this and a few other things on my trip.

Here’s What I Tried:

Starters:

Oysters on the Half Shell, shucked to order with grapefruit chile mignonette. These are super fresh and really amazing oysters.

Soups and Salads:

Fresh Steamed Clam Chowder, a traditional chowder with fresh steamed clams, smoked bacon, potatoes, onion, celery and a touch of cream. They put fresh clams in with the soup, which makes all the difference. It is one of the best chowders I have ever had.

Iceberg “Wedge” Salad, with Roundman’s bacon, tomatoes and creamy bleu cheese dressing. This salad is super crisp, simple and elegant. I would order this every time.

Caesar Salad, with garlic croutons, capers, anchovies and shaved Parmesan cheese. Another luscious salad, super fresh and great dressing.

Chef’s Entrée Specialties:

Alaskan Halibut, pan seared over saffron cous cous with toasted coconut, peanuts, cherry tomatoes, green onions, raisins and mild curry sauce. This fish was meaty and thick; with the curry sauce, it was just the perfect main dish to order.

Bouillabaisse, saffron fish stew with scallops, shrimp, clams, bassa and green lip mussels in a light saffron vegetable broth with garlic croutons. A very fragrant bouillabaisse, with very rich broth, and the fresh fish was out of this world!

Classics:

Parmesan Crusted Eggplant, served over zucchini pappardelle with basil coulis parmesan and marinara sauce. A smart, healthy option that is cooked to perfection.

Desserts:

Olallieberry Cobbler, Cora’s original recipe baked under a butter crust, served warm topped with vanilla ice cream. This dessert is so good; you are done with it before you even know it.

Wines:

La Crema – Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, 2016. A great blending of oak and cream with a perfect balance, I would try this with the oysters.

Frank Family – Chardonnay, Carneros 2015, a nice pairing with the chowder.

Merry Edwards – Pinot Noire, Russian river 2015. This wine worked for me with the eggplant, it added to the overall tomato goodness.

Steele – Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake County 2015. I really like this wine with the wedge salad, it is great with the blue cheese.

About Chef Marc Dym:

Five star Chef Marc Dym was named Executive Chef at Little River Inn in 2006, after Marc and Cally (fifth-generation Innkeeper) were married. Dym brings a modern twist to the classic American-regional cuisine of Little River Inn, garnering high Zagat ratings; including the Top Food Ranking for the entire country in 2012. Prior to moving to the Mendocino Coast in 1998, Dym toured the global restaurant scene from Texas and Pennsylvania to Antigua and Zurich. His last stop before the Mendocino Coast was the posh Ritz Restaurant in Newport Beach. A chance to escape the pressures of city living lured him to this secluded stretch of the northern California coastline, which he now calls home. For Chef Dym, Little River Inn offers the best of both worlds. On the dining room menu, Dym relies on his classical Culinary Institute of America training to create dishes that are both familiar and modern.

The food here is just outstanding, a rare find with gorgeous scenery and amazing culinary delights. It is a must try for your the next trip to Mendocino.

Little River Inn
7751 CA-1
Little River, CA 95456
https://www.littleriverinn.com

* Note some content was taken off of their website.

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