Dining menus, verified prices, and ingredient sourcing in Big Sur.
Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur California has world class views. Nepenthe sits 800 feet above the ocean and we also have Cafe Kevah for brunch and lunch. Every tier operates on verified per-person pricing without binding table quotes or hidden reservation markups.
Nepenthe Lunch
Served Daily • 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM • Main Redwood TerraceMidday service on the open timber deck features California coastal comfort food, wood-fired burgers, fresh vegetarian plates, and local sourdough. Stop for a twenty-minute coffee and sandwich or settle into an afternoon of Monterey wine; seating is open to all walk-in visitors.
Lunch Dining Parameters
Lunch dishes start at 13 USD for our organic vegetable soup with sourdough bread and extend to 50 USD for fresh Pacific salmon or ribeye with regional wine.
| Core Lunch Offering | Price Band | Ingredients & Kitchen Method |
|---|---|---|
| Hearty Soup of the Day & Sourdough | 13 – 16 USD | House-simmered vegetable broth, seasonal legumes, toasted San Francisco sourdough with sweet butter. |
| Central Coast Mixed Greens | 18 – 22 USD | Salinas Valley organic field greens, shaved fennel, toasted pine nuts, local goat cheese, Meyer lemon vinaigrette. |
| The Famous Ambrosi Burger | 24 – 28 USD | Charbroiled ground beef, aged sharp cheddar, toasted French roll, house herb dressing, salted fries. |
| Pacific Rockfish Tacos | 26 – 30 USD | Line-caught Monterey Bay rockfish, crisp cabbage slaw, avocado crema, warm corn tortillas, house salsa. |
| Grilled Wild Salmon Plate | 38 – 50 USD | Flame-grilled Pacific salmon, roasted baby potatoes, organic asparagus, citrus herb butter reduction. |
Nepenthe Dinner
Served Daily • 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM • Main Dining Hall & Brazier HearthAs evening fog curls below the cliff edge at 800 feet, the outdoor wood-burning brazier hearth is stoked with native oak. Dinner features prime steaks, roasted half chickens, California seafood, and Monterey County wines.
The Open Hearth Dining Experience
$30 – $71 USDGuests dine outdoors under radiant heaters and wool blankets beside the historic 1947 iron brazier, or inside Rowan Maiden's redwood lodge with Santa Lucia granite masonry.
Dinner Pricing Parameters
Dinner entrees run 30 USD for vegetarian pasta through 71 USD for prime aged beef with dessert and coastal Monterey wine pairing.
| Core Dinner Offering | Price Band | Ingredients & Kitchen Method |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Mushroom Pappardelle | 30 – 36 USD | Foraged Big Sur chanterelles, fresh egg pasta ribbons, garlic butter, white wine reduction, aged parmesan. |
| Nepenthe Roasted Half Chicken | 38 – 44 USD | Free-range organic chicken marinated in rosemary and garlic, pan juices, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. |
| Pan-Seared Pacific Halibut | 48 – 56 USD | Wild Pacific halibut, braised leeks, heirloom cherry tomatoes, saffron beurre blanc, baby herbs. |
| Flame-Grilled NY Strip Steak | 58 – 71 USD | Dry-aged California beef cut to 14oz, grilled over open flames, compound herb butter, grilled broccolini. |
Cafe Kevah (Brunch & Lunch)
Open Daily • 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM • Lower Terrace (785 ft Elevation)Located directly on the flagstone patio below the main Nepenthe dining deck, Cafe Kevah offers casual counter service, artisan espresso, fresh morning brioche, eggs Benedict variants, and midday salads overlooking the southern Big Sur cliffs.
Morning Sunlight on the Lower Patio
$13 – $35 USDUnobstructed southern horizon views with linen umbrellas, artisan espresso pulls, and scratch-baked breakfast items served without formal table bookings.
Cafe Kevah Cost Bands
A simple espresso and fresh baked brioche starts at 13 USD; a complete brunch plate with fresh juice and avocado Benedict reaches 35 USD.
| Core Cafe Kevah Offering | Price Band | Ingredients & Kitchen Method |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh Baked Morning Pastry & Roast Espresso | 13 – 16 USD | House-baked cinnamon brioche, almond croissants, double shot of fair-trade roast espresso or French press. |
| Avocado & Poached Egg Toast | 18 – 22 USD | Crushed Hass avocado, toasted sourdough, organic poached pasture eggs, radishes, sea salt flakes. |
| Kevah Eggs Benedict | 24 – 30 USD | Poached pasture eggs on grilled English muffin with Canadian bacon or smoked salmon, hollandaise sauce, breakfast potatoes. |
| Coastal Brunch Frittata | 22 – 28 USD | Cast-iron skillet frittata with roasted bell peppers, goat cheese, wild spinach, and seasonal organic garden salad. |
Our Culinary Sourcing Commitments
Nepenthe buys directly from Central Coast growers, Monterey Bay fishermen, and regional bakeries. We use California cold-pressed olive oil, organic produce harvested within sixty miles in the Salinas Valley, and poultry raised without antibiotics. We refuse pre-packaged frozen hamburger patties, boxed soup bases, and artificial syrups. If road closures south of Big Sur delay deliveries, we adapt our daily specials to what can arrive through Monterey rather than compromise on fresh ingredients.
Visiting Nepenthe on Highway 1
All three dining services welcome guests on a walk-in basis at 48510 Highway 1, Big Sur. Call 831-667-2345 to check real-time seating availability or highway road advisories.