Nick’s Cove Tomales Bay is a Bay Area institution. This coastal restaurant, which is located in Marshall between Point Reyes Station and Tomales, has been serving Sonoma Coast seafood for 100 years, and it’s a must-visit destination if you find yourself in Marin County, or neighboring Napa or Sonoma.
Over the years, I’ve been to Nick’s Cove half a dozen times. It’s one of my favorite places to bring out-of-town guests, or to spend an afternoon on the water eating oysters and drinking chilled white wine or a light red wine while watching kayakers lazily paddle past the dining room window.
The menu has always been good at Nick’s Cove, but, honestly, the previous iteration was resting on its laurels a bit. People would come here because they would always come here. Now, however, they have an even better reason: the new menu courtesy of super chef Chris Cosentino.
P.S. – If you’re driving down the California coast, Sam’s Chowder House is another must visit restaurant right on the water in Half Moon Bay.
Chef Chris Cosentino’s New Nick’s Cove Menu
Not surprisingly, Cosentino brings all of his Top Chef Masters street cred to the newly designed menu at Nick’s Cove. What you find is a mash-up of Sonoma Coast meets Coastal New England, a theme that thrives under his direction.
There are oysters galore at Nick’s Cove Tomales Bay: get them BBQed, raw on the half-shell, baked, or served with a selection of meats and crusty bread (a total Cosentio move).
Fried appetizers demand attention. How does a plate of Fries with Eyes (fried smelt with parsley and tartar sauce) sound? What about crispy Monterey Calamari?
There were so many dishes I wanted to try. In the end, we went with:
New England Clam Chowder which was ultra creamy and full of chunky pieces of potato and tender clam, and the Lobster Bisque. Both took away the chill of the cold coastal air.
For entrees, it was a Lobster Roll – holy cow did this monster roll have tons of lobster! And, a Fish Sandwich made with local Petrale Sole. My mom devoured the Lobster Roll before I had a chance to try a bite, but she loved it. The Fish Sandwich was good, too, although it was a little messy to eat and all of the ingredients started to fall apart within the bun. That was okay, though. It was easy to knife and fork.
And, the fries? They’re addicting. Like, these might be the most perfectly crispy, but also soft and hot on the inside fries you will ever eat.
My mom did not want to leave without ordering dessert, so I can confidently tell you that the S’mores Tart is 100% worth ordering.
About Those Burgers
Do you like burgers? I mean, do you really like over-the-top burgers that force you to ask yourself, are all of these “extras” really necessary? You’re going to love Cosentino’s Hangtown-style burger.
Ordering the Caption Thurston’s Burger brings you a big juicy Stemple Creek grass fed beef patty served on a buttery brioche bun, and topped with red onion, tomato, lettuce, house-made pickles, cocktail sauce, and tartar sauce. If you order the burger Hangtown-style it also comes topped with a fried egg and fried oysters. Maybe make sure your cardiologist is on speed-dial before you dig into this!
The Wine and Cocktail List: A Few Cool Gems
The food at Nick’s Cove Tomales Bay is excellent, but when I saw that the Cocktail Menu had a Ramos Gin Fizz, I knew the experience was about to get even better.
Have you tried a Ramos Gin Fizz? Not a Gin Fizz, a Ramos Gin Fizz. You rarely see this nostalgic cocktail on restaurant menus. Not because this gin-based, egg white cocktail doesn’t have fans all over the place, but it’s so labor intensive that it can tie up a bartender for 10 minutes.
I drank this and thought I died and went to cocktail heaven. The other interesting addition to the Wine and Cocktail Menu is a sparkling mead from Point Reyes Station called Heidrun Meadery. While I didn’t get a chance to try this interesting sparkler – too distracted by the Ramos Gin Fizz – it’s going to be the first thing I order on my next visit.
Service
When you visit the new and improved Nick’s Cove Tomales Bay, be aware that the service model has changed. The restaurant no longer takes tableside orders, instead, the dining experience unfolds like this:
- Guests seat themselves at a table in the indoor dining room or on the patio.
- You will access the menu via a QR code on the table. Phone service is spotty on Tomales Bay, but the restaurant has free wifi for guests. If you still have trouble viewing the menu, a “floating” server will give you a paper menu and take your order.
- Order your food through the QR code menu. You have two options here.
- Option 1: order everything you want at once, and your food and drinks will come out as they are ready.
- Option 2: Stagger your meal and drinks and order at your leisure.
- When you’re done with the meal, close out your tab with the QR code and go on your merry way.
Tips
- Don’t be afraid to sit on the patio. Every table has access to a heater, so you will stay nice and toasty, even when that ocean breeze
- Nick’s Cove Tomales Bay is dog–friendly! Pups are allowed at all of the outdoor tables, so bring your pooch and have a pup-tacular time.
- Food comes out of the kitchen quickly. The great thing about the restaurant’s service strategy is that you have total control over how and when your food comes to the table. If you’re like me and you like staggering your meal: cocktails or wine first, followed by appetizers, main courses, and then dessert – or another drink (!), simply place each order individually.
- Take a walk on the dock after lunch or dinner. There’s a little dwelling at the end of the dock with lots of little treasures. It’s also the perfect place to take a scenic photo.
Where do you park at Nick’s Cove
The Nick’s Cove parking lot is right across the street from the restaurant. If a guest in your party needs a little extra assistance, drop them off at the restaurant door, rather than have them walk across the street.
How to Make a Reservation at Nick’s Cove
As part of their new, streamlined service model, Nick’s Cove no longer takes reservations unless you’re dining with a party of 6 or more guests.
What About Those Cottages
Rent a cottage at Nick’s Cove Hotel and enjoy all of the serenity that comes with spending the night right next to the calm ocean water. Each cottage has its own unique “personality”, and comes with cozy amenities like heated floors, wood-burning stoves, and relaxing soaking tubs.
Cottages are priced between around $490 per night to $1,000. The higher priced accommodations have two bedrooms and sleep up to 6 guests.