Lunch and Art in Bodega Bay

We were heading up the coast the other day and decided to stop for lunch in the coastal village of Bodega Bay. This small town is a good place to embark on a whale watching trip during the late fall or late winter. You also have a pretty good chance of seeing whales from Bodega Head, the nearby spit of land that creates the harbor. If you are a fan of the movie director Alfred Hitchcock, you probably have seen scenes from Bodega Bay and the nearby village of Bodega in "The Birds."

We had visited Bodega Bay quite a few times but had never found a restaurant of any quality. Recently I read about a couple of good places to eat, so we lunched at the Seaweed Cafe. We were not disappointed.

Their Sunday brunch menu contains old favorites like French toast and a Hay ham and cheese sandwich with egg. Both looked terrific. I had an open-faced sandwich of freshly grilled sandwich while my wife enjoyed a special salad with grilled prawns. The dinner menu looks equally interesting with items such as baked butter beans, duck sausage and clams, and duck breast with lentils and dates. The appetizer list includes such Japanese influenced items as uni sake shooter, hijik, burdock & sashimi, and oysters in green jackets.

There is a small, but interesting, wine list featuring Sonoma County wines. The restaurant features brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Dinner is served from Thursday through Sunday. You may make a dinner reservation at the Seaweed by calling (707) 875-2700. The restaurant is located at 1580 Eastshore Road. To find the Seaweed, head north through Bodega Bay on Route 1. After passing through the center of town, the road will turn right and then left. After the left turn, look for Eastshore Road on your left.

When you are done eating, take a look in the gallery next door, Local Color Artist Gallery features Sonoma County artists.

While Bodega is a little far for a day trip from San Francisco, if you want to experience the Northern California coast, let us take you on our Oceanside Vistas or Point Reyes Ramblings Tour. You may book a tour by calling (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mailing by clicking here.