Simply fantastic. We came for happy hour and stayed for dinner, and it was so good we came back the next day for brunch. For happy hour we had the hush puppies, pickle plate, and pimento cheese spread. Everything delicious and well-prepared. They gave us some complimentary boiled peanuts too! They were quite good but as a born and raised southerner I would recommend they cook the peanuts for a little longer, and go saltier with the brine it's cooked in. For dinner we got the collard rolls as appetizer (amazing), and shared the southern plate with some mashed potatoes and gravy on the side. Again everything was delicious. The creole mac and cheese was maybe the best vegan mac I have had anywhere. We had the banana pudding for dessert which was also maybe the best banana pudding I've ever had, vegan or otherwise. When we came back for brunch the next day we went with the grits & grillades and a biscuit with black eyed pea sausage and pimento cheese. Once again both were delicious and well-prepared. Lastly we got great service both times, and their little cafe area is super cute. The only complaint I have is they could have served some of the things on bigger dishes, as it was a little difficult to eat some of the things (such as the biscuit and sausage) without making a mess! But overall fantastic and we will certainly be back next time we are in the area.

Very good food. The flavor was great. Seasoning was on point. I’m not vegetarian and I enjoyed my meal very much. Whole Foods, not meat like substitutes.Very welcoming. Owners are super friendly. Left feeling just the right amount of full. We will be coming here again.

Fantastic food and service. Truly shows off how incredible plant-based food can be. Strongly recommend the crabbie cakes, mac and cheese, and beignets! I always have so much respect for a small business where the owner is in there doing the hard work with everyone else. ♥️ Do yourself a favor and stop in here.

The fried oyster mushrooms are the best. We had them twice on our 4-day trip.

Just awesome! Great vibe. Delicious food. Excellent service. 9 year olds approve!

+4

Easily one of the most memorable and delicious meals in recent memories. Excellent selection of vegetarian dishes with thoughtful and delicious twists. The vibe, decor and service are equally unparalleled. The grits, hush puppies, beignets, oyster mushrooms and anything else you choose are memorable. Highly recommend to stop if you are anywhere near Mendocino.

Amazing Gumbo. Reminds me of my grandma's cooking. I'll definitely be back.

Fabulous food and atmosphere. The servers are friendly and take all the Covid precautions. It's a long, beautiful drive from the Bay Area and worth the trip. We ordered apple fritters, beignets (not shown), tofu scramble, roasted potatoes, and cauliflower waffles.

Great vegetarian dine-in restaurant with a quaint, welcoming atmosphere. We particularly enjoyed the fried blue oyster mushrooms and cheesy pumpkin grits. I recommend the beignets for dessert with the seasonal jam and chocolate and coffee dippers. One miss was the "Coyote Steals Another Man's Wife" cocktail. It has a sherry base with the broth of corn bones which tasted like warm leftover water after boiling corn. I suggest sticking with the wine, beer or cider to complement the food.

Perfect spot for happy hour drinks, little snacks and desserts!! Loved the vibe ,sitting area and seasonal vermouth here!!

The pictures speak for themselves. Easily one of my favorite restaurants (vegan or not) I have ever been to. Definitely get the moon pies.

+1

Great food, great atmosphere. Strawberry rhubarb pie is to die for. Fancy beans and rice was as delicious as it was beautiful (seriously, look at that plate). Fantastic spot!

Fun place, nearly 100% vegan menu (breakfast serves eggs I think), and very friendly staff. We very much enjoyed their take on southern eating, and the banana pudding... I mean come on... how many places offer vegan banana pudding!?!? I'd totally come back.

Love this spot!!! We always have to make a stop when we are visiting Mendocino. The hush puppies and Mac n cheese are soooo good! We also had a chocolate cheesecake that was to die for. The atmosphere is so cute and cozy and all of the servers we had we were so sweet! I’m on a gluten free dairy free diet, so I really really appreciate that their menu is so accommodating to these dietary restrictions. They also have a cookbook that I bought and can’t wait to try out some of their recipes at home! A must stop spot if you’re in the area. Their brunch is also amazing!!!!

Such a fun “hidden” gem! We had to get our bfast to go since the dog friendly table was taken but I cannot WAIT to go back and have breakfast in that energy & ambience ! Super fun atmosphere, upbeat music, waitresses etc. yummy coffee!! They do have oat milk but not almond milk so heads up. Really awesome spot, cant wait to get back

Wow! This place is amazing. A must go if you’re visiting Mendocino area. The staff was super friendly, helpful, and cool. Good vibes! Food is incredible. Healthy, wholesome, and flavorful.

Wow, wow, wow! This place is amazing. Everything was exceptionally delicious. Whether you’re veggie, vegan, meat eater - you will love the exquisite food and service. Thank you for an incredible brunch and dinner!

A cute and eclectic vegan/vegetarian place! Staff was friendly and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. My partner isn't vegan but he really liked the food!

Great vegetarian and vegan options! Loved the food and service. They do not take reservation. Will be revisiting for sure.

+4

Cute spot with delicious food. Pickled beer!!?? Yum!

This is a sweet gem of a restaurant in windy Mendocino. The food is exceptional,yes exceptional! No hype,just cool,interesting dishes,from boiled peanuts to chickpea pot pie. I wish I could eat there every week.Unfortunately,Ilive in Massachusetts.The atmosphere is equally delectable. Studio One reggae classics purring in the background while be waited on by a catlike waitress.

Eating here was a truly wonderful experience. Hailey was our great server. The pickle beer was fantastic. The food (we are vegan) was superb. We came during the happy hour. All was great.

The best restaurant in Mendocino! It’s such a gift to this city. Delicious vegetarian/vegan food. Plenty of outdoor seatings. Excellent service. Hand sanitizer is offered by the door and on each table. Friendly staff. Cool plates/utensils. Great vibe. ☀️🤩

If you're in Mendocino, CA, a visit to Fog Eater Cafe is an absolute must! This charming vegan restaurant beautifully combines Southern comfort food with a whimsical patio setting that instantly makes you feel at home. The star of the show is undoubtedly the Fried Blue Oyster Mushrooms, served atop a generous bed of creamy mashed potatoes. The mushrooms are perfectly crispy, and paired with tender braised greens and sweet carrots, they create a delightful harmony of flavors. The rich gravy ties everything together, making each bite a comforting experience. Don't skip dessert! The puffy beignets are simply divine. Whether you opt for the fresh fruit compote or the silky chocolate sauce, you'll be in for a treat. Each bite is a warm, indulgent delight that melts in your mouth. Fog Eater Cafe is not just a meal; it's a joyful experience that leaves you feeling satisfied and uplifted. Highly recommended for anyone seeking delicious vegan comfort food in a lovely atmosphere!

5 + 1 Stars ⭐️ Thank you so much Hailey and rest of the team for welcoming us this past week with your delicious food and wonderful service … we feel really lucky to have found this gem hidden in lovely Mendocino, can’t wait to return ! The cauliflower sliders are a 10/10 masterpiece 🙏

I like to eat vegetarian when the flavor is there, but that’s often hard to find outside of Indian or Chinese food, never mind soul food. I certainly didn’t miss the meat in the fried mushroom. The greens have good heat and are nicely tender. We also got the red beans which had great garnish in the red cabbage slaw and the mushroom “bacon” and came with black rice. No pics because we ate it too fast.

The patio is gorgeous! Their pie is homemade and well made. You have to ask for it though, I didn't see it on the menu for brunch. Someone needs to buy them new coffee carafes though 😂 those things dump so much coffee on the table it was comical.

This was the perfect place for dinner when visiting Mendocino. Everything tasted perfect and super unique and felt like you were eating at a welcoming home. Waiters were super kind, funny and attentive. Get the beignets you won’t regret it!

Friendly and knowledgeable staff and amazing vegan food! The outdoor patio had a cozy ambience; would love to go visit again for some more homey and wholesome food ❤️

+1

They serve delicious, fresh, nutritious food and the staff is so warm and friendly. Alongside fun, nostalgic music and cute ambiance you can’t go wrong! I adore this restaurant. I came here alone to treat myself and it was a perfect pick-me-up spot. I will be coming back!

Such delicious food. Friendly and great service. Crab cakes and pie were my favorite. We loved the Friday night natural wine tasting.

Probably the best vegan restaurant I've been. We tried Crabbies which wasn't in the menu, and it was delicious. The staff was friendly and the service was great. I'd definitely come back and recommend this place to others.

Everything we ate here was delicious, beautiful, and well-prepared. Even as a bit of a carnivore, I want to go and try to make their collard rolls and fennel pickles because they were such good comfort food. The owners are unpretentious and welcoming, but clearly put their hearts and souls into this place.

Such a delicious meal! The service was fantastic and the food was served quickly and in good portion sizes. Amazing for vegans/vegetarians. Did I mention how good the food was? Would repeat for sure. (The photo is an order of chickpeas + dumplings)

Delicious. We ended up having the pickle plate, gumbo, around southern plate, followed by the beignets to finish. It was a very tasty dinner in a cozy, but very safe, heated outdoor dining section. I'd been nervous to dine out for my birthday (hadn't done so in many months), but we're glad to have come.

Absolutely delightful New Years meal here, augmented by a bubbles flight! We had the crabbie appetizer, then risotto & southern plate followed by beet cake. Yum....it was awesome!!!

+1

My meal at Fog Eater was easily the best brunch I've had to this day. I had Brunch Stuff and could not believe how much flavor was in every bite. It's been several weeks and I still crave it daily. Thank you so much! What a gem of a restaraunt.

We had a wonderful dinner at Fog Eater Cafe. The service from getting a table till end of the meal was nothing less than exceptional. We ordered the Biscuit sliders and the Southern plate. Since I have an intolerance to BBQ, our server was kind enough to replace with the mashed potatoes. Everything in our plate was burst of variety of flavors going really well with each other. My favorite was the Cajun Mac n Cheese part of the southern plate which was splendid & well done. I would recommend sitting outside for a date night experience. Kudos to the team for putting out a beautiful menu & the chef who prepared it. We will come here again the next time we visit Mendocino!

Amazing and out of the world taste! We dined here thrice during our trip. Cafe is run by two lovely and lively women. Their service is fast. 20% gratuity is included by default This place is definitely a must when you're in Mendocino. Vibe is lively with soft music playing in the background. Their salt shakers are unique and different on each table. Day 1 Fresh ingredients and flavorful southern plate. Hush puppies were crunchy and delightful. Their orange wine by the glass turned out good too. Chocolate mud pie was decadently tasty. Day 2 For starters, we chose porcini mushrooms flatbread. The bread was crunchy and mushrooms tasted great! We ordered fancy beans and rice and it lived up to its name. It had black grams which had a bit of a smoky taste. It is definitely one of our favorites for dinner. It's not too heavy and is perfect if you want to eat something lighter. We also ordered cheesy pumpkin grits with mushrooms. Pumpkin was well seasoned and melted in mouth. For desserts, we ordered apple caramel pie. We usually don't really enjoy pies but this was baked so well we liked it. Day 3 Last day of our trip, we had breakfast at the inn. We didn't want to miss the special Sunday brunch at the cafe so we still went after checking out. We shared the fired cauli + waffles. The cauliflower was battered and fried and was delicious. The savory waffle had spring onions inside and was served spicy miso. On the side, we ordered black bean sausage. It was chewy and delicious (more than actual sausage :P).

+4

this quant mendocino cafe specializing in southern food impresses all around! everything is (mostly) vegan but don’t let that turn you away. the food is so flavorful, you forget there isn’t even meat in it! service was friendly and hospitable and loved the interior decoration and tableware. special shoutout to the unique salt shakers on each table. a must stop for anyone visiting the area and still dreaming about those cheesy grits! beignets: tasty beignets but the stars were the dips. pepper jelly had a unique flavor and don’t usually like chocolate dips, but this one was nice and rich without being too sweet. cheesy grits: perfectly poached eggs, creamy grits, and smoky mushroom “bacon” with sour braised greens to balance it all out. must try!

+5

Wow! The food here doesn’t just look great, it also tastes amazing. I ordered one of the entrees of the day, basil cashew ricotta quiche topped with Chantelle mushrooms and a side of heirloom tomatoes and lettuce. I also had the eggplant bisque and the hush puppies. For dessert I had the beignets with the jam and chocolate coffee dips. I’m leaving this review as I wait for the beignets to cool but I already know they’ll be delicious because everything else was. Also, the weather was perfect to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful and cozy backyard setup, but they also have indoor seating. This place is a must try… I wish I was staying in Mendocino longer so that I could try everything else! Thank you!

+4

Wow, what a find this gem was. Absolutely incredible food and dining experience. Every dish was inventive, creative and delicious. We ate slowly to savor all the flavors. They take care to source and only serve fresh, local ingredients. The integrity and beauty in the food was evident. The backyard garden was really sweet and quaint. The whole energy is kind, considered and creative. The ladies that served us were delightful. I will definitely recommend this restaurant to any driving along 101. A must visit.

Both my wife and I had the best time here last weekend, food was phenomenal, service was impeccable, and ambience is adorable. Well thought out restaurant that I wish we lived closer. Thank you for a great time and can't beat the beautiful weather while we were there. We will certainly be back when we go to Mendocino. If you are in town, don't even think twice about it, just GO!!

+1

An absolute treat! Nothing like explosive flavors and bright, cheery vibes to lift the spirits on a rainy day. Best brunch I’ve had in years, hands down, I’m not veg but my partner is vegan, and we’re so grateful for the great folks at Fog Eater!

Such a cozy, fun atmosphere with the kindest staff. The food is absolutely amazing. It's truly such a unique spot and special! I'll certainly be visiting again.

Loved this place so much. We didn’t even realize it’s vegan. Style and ambiance is on point, staff is amazing. It’s like Wes Anderson made a movie about a 1950s diner. Fried mushrooms, grasshopper pie, yum!

The food is phenomenal! This is one of the best vegan restaurants I've been to in California, and the best vegan southern food I've ever had. This restaurant is a destination in and of itself. If weather permits, outdoor seating is super nice. The table next to the bathroom is not ideal.

We love Fog Eater!! What an amazing experience, the food was delicious, the service was great, and we were so happy to be able to bring a cookbook home to Canada! One of the best vegan meals we've ever had.

This place was a grand slam of an experience. My wife and I were immediately both super impressed with the charm of this cafe. The mismatched salt and pepper shakers, fun and vibrant colors, Nancy Sinatra playing in the background, and the ice cream parlor feeling bar facing the small kitchen. I kept feeling like I was in a Wes Anderson movie. My fried blue oysters with mashed potatoes were absolutely wonderful and flavorful, and my wife’s pistachio crusted tofu was also unique and incredible. We even got pie for dessert (which we don’t normally do) and were again, extremely happy with our choice. The whipped cream on top was fluffy and not overly sweet, the crust was flaky, and the caramel drizzle was rich and delectable. We left, happy as two (vegetarian) clams, and as we walked away, captured the night time quaintness of this side street gem. Thank you so much for serving us our favorite meal on our honeymoon. Can’t wait to come back.

This place is SO DELICIOUS — I can’t stress enough how the grits and gigante beans took my breath away. Absolutely incredible ! The atmosphere is incredibly cozy and the staff is kind, friendly, and helpful to boot. Probably the perfect restaurant ?? It was amazing to have so many options as a vegan. We loved it here and can’t wait to go back.

Hands done one of my favorite meals this year (and maybe the past 10 years). We sat at the counter and enjoyed wonderful service - and some great jokes - from the team at Fog eater. The Mac and cheese was divine. The seasonal small plate delighted, and it was a two way tie for most favorite dish. The gigante beans with grits and the seasonal pie were outstanding. The flavor combinations and presentation of the overall meal brought an actual tear to my eye. Thank you for hustling so hard, bringing such care to your ingredients and making your restaurant fun and welcoming.

Charming & fun plant-based comfort fare: teeming with character (each crockery piece seems entirely distinctive), friendly service and a diverse yet reasonably-sized menu. Everything can be made vegan! Brunch is the stunner - Sunday only but please get the cornbread French toast. The desserts aren't too sweet, the flavours are innovative and above-average, and the portions are a good size.

Wow!!! Such a beautiful experience. Everything we ordered was perfectly thought out and prepared: The salad was delicious, the hush puppies and the fried green tomatoes were so satisfying and bursting with flavour, and the fried mushrooms with mashed potatoes and greens were divine!! We also got a great orange wine and a white negroni, which were delightful and ended the meal with beignets. Four fried dishes, but all unique and non too heavy. The place itself is super cozy and inviting. It’s very clear that the owners are talented and have a clear vision. Would absolutely recommend and hope I can come again soon!

Fog Eater Cafe is a wildly charming gem nestled perfectly in the dreamy coastal town of Mendocino. If Southern California has Crossroads, Fog Eater is the shining beacon for vegans in NorCal. The southern-inspired cuisine is exceptionally executed—comforting, flavorful, and satisfying enough to impress even the most devoted carnivores. The wine list is beautifully curated, and the low-ABV cocktails are inventive and refreshing. The space itself is cozy and adorable, the service warm and attentive, and the soundtrack always on point. Be sure to save room for dessert—their sweet offerings are as thoughtful and elevated as the rest of the menu. Truly top notch pie game. A must-visit for anyone—vegan or not—looking for a memorable dining experience on the Mendocino coast.

Nice service from this place. I ate at the bar, walked in when it opened for the day. They serve vegan, southern-inspired food which is delicious. I enjoyed the nettle soup, and fried green tomatoes with vegan pimento cheese. They bring boiled peanuts to snack on gratis

Got the fried cauliflower and waffles, grits and grillades, plus coffee and local kombucha. Cutest place with friendly staff and locally sourced ingredients where possible! All the sauces were quite delicious and I adored the decorative coffee cups. Waffle could have been a little warmer (I think the syrup was cold?) but otherwise no critique for improvement. I wish I had a spot like this close to home!

Well Done Ladies! The delicious food is and executed with much passion and love. First time dining at Fog Eater was met with our much anticipation and curiosity. Can anyone in Mendo possibly create interesting California (mostly Vegan) Cuisine with a Southern inspired dishes. All I can say is try it , love it, and live it. -more to come

Came to this place because it was one of the few brunch places open before 10-11 am. I must admit, I was not all convinced. The place inside is small, but they have several tables on the back of the establishment. Inside the decor is nice, and even the bathroom has a nice feeling. The menu was not extensive and to be honest, I was not sold when I finished reading it. We had 2 mimosas, which were OK. Once the food arrived though, all my biases and preconceived ideas came crashing down. The grits were just AMAZING!!! super tasty, flavorful and plentiful. My had had a special all vegetarian. I must admit again that it did not look good, but once I had a bite, I was sold on the plate. The service was super friendly. Highly recommend to visit this place.

Wowow!!! Honestly so impressed by this place. Absolutely delicious. Great food with creative and tasty combos. We aren't vegan or vegetarian and we loved this spot. High quality food and great service. Plus it's super cute and cozy inside. Had dinner and then came back for brunch. Highly recommend and will definitely be back on our next visit to Mendocino!!!

I have eaten at many vegan places throughout the United States but few compare to Fog Eater. This is my favorite place to eat by far and has my all time favorite dish on their menu (the fried blue oyster mushroom). The service and atmosphere are top notch, I definitely suggest eating outside if it's warm enough. They have a gorgeous outdoor eating area and space heaters spread throughout to battle the constant chill of Mendocino. I have always been blown away by every single thing I have ordered, from the apatizers to the desserts. So much love and care has been put into each and every item on the menu. Their pairings of flavors is top notch. The price may seem high but you get plenty of food for the ammount you spend and it is absolutely worth every cent.

We loved the meal here, had the garlic soup, fried oyster mushroom, pot pie, and banana pineapple cake. Everything we had was delicious, the service was great, and atmosphere was extremely pleasant with bright colours and modern French cafe music. Not sure why people complain about portions being small, must be true ‘Muricans used to the large XL portion sizes. We found the portion sizing to be perfect. It was one of the biggest personal pot pies I had ever had. As far as vegetarian places go, it was very gratifying. Food 9.5/10 Atmosphere 9/10 Service 10/10 Value would eat again 9/10

This was perhaps the best brunch that I've had. The food both looks and tastes amazing! We ordered brunch stuff; The eggs were perfectly poached eggs the beetroot sauce complemented it exquisitely. Super chic ambience and a shootout to the cheerful waitresses/ owners.

Incredible meal, people and experience. Every item we ordered, from the fancy soda, to the green tomato bisque and focaccia to the oyster mushroom and cobbler to the beignets were packed with flavor, perfectly prepared and delicious. We won’t drive through (or near) Mendocino without stopping here. Ideal for vegans/vegetarians trying to impress their meat eater friends.

Amazing meal start to finish. Boiled peanut appetizer (gratis), mac n chz and braised greens, pistachio creme brulee. Oh and a shrub! Divine. Looking forward to next time

Anders

This place was a grand slam of an experience. My wife and I were immediately both super impressed with the charm of this cafe. The mismatched salt and pepper shakers, fun and vibrant colors, Nancy Sinatra playing in the background, and the ice cream parlor feeling bar facing the small kitchen. I kept feeling like I was in a Wes Anderson movie. My fried blue oysters with mashed potatoes were absolutely wonderful and flavorful, and my wife’s pistachio crusted tofu was also unique and incredible. We even got pie for dessert (which we don’t normally do) and were again, extremely happy with our choice. The whipped cream on top was fluffy and not overly sweet, the crust was flaky, and the caramel drizzle was rich and delectable. We left, happy as two (vegetarian) clams, and as we walked away, captured the night time quaintness of this side street gem. Thank you so much for serving us our favorite meal on our honeymoon. Can’t wait to come back.

Greta Langenberg

This place is SO DELICIOUS — I can’t stress enough how the grits and gigante beans took my breath away. Absolutely incredible ! The atmosphere is incredibly cozy and the staff is kind, friendly, and helpful to boot. Probably the perfect restaurant ?? It was amazing to have so many options as a vegan. We loved it here and can’t wait to go back.

Danielle V

Hands done one of my favorite meals this year (and maybe the past 10 years). We sat at the counter and enjoyed wonderful service - and some great jokes - from the team at Fog eater. The Mac and cheese was divine. The seasonal small plate delighted, and it was a two way tie for most favorite dish. The gigante beans with grits and the seasonal pie were outstanding. The flavor combinations and presentation of the overall meal brought an actual tear to my eye. Thank you for hustling so hard, bringing such care to your ingredients and making your restaurant fun and welcoming.

Amanda Z

Charming & fun plant-based comfort fare: teeming with character (each crockery piece seems entirely distinctive), friendly service and a diverse yet reasonably-sized menu. Everything can be made vegan! Brunch is the stunner - Sunday only but please get the cornbread French toast. The desserts aren't too sweet, the flavours are innovative and above-average, and the portions are a good size.

Mandy Cartner

Wow!!! Such a beautiful experience. Everything we ordered was perfectly thought out and prepared: The salad was delicious, the hush puppies and the fried green tomatoes were so satisfying and bursting with flavour, and the fried mushrooms with mashed potatoes and greens were divine!! We also got a great orange wine and a white negroni, which were delightful and ended the meal with beignets. Four fried dishes, but all unique and non too heavy. The place itself is super cozy and inviting. It’s very clear that the owners are talented and have a clear vision. Would absolutely recommend and hope I can come again soon!

Zach Weinstein

Nice service from this place. I ate at the bar, walked in when it opened for the day. They serve vegan, southern-inspired food which is delicious. I enjoyed the nettle soup, and fried green tomatoes with vegan pimento cheese. They bring boiled peanuts to snack on gratis

B E

Fog Eater Cafe is a wildly charming gem nestled perfectly in the dreamy coastal town of Mendocino. If Southern California has Crossroads, Fog Eater is the shining beacon for vegans in NorCal. The southern-inspired cuisine is exceptionally executed—comforting, flavorful, and satisfying enough to impress even the most devoted carnivores. The wine list is beautifully curated, and the low-ABV cocktails are inventive and refreshing. The space itself is cozy and adorable, the service warm and attentive, and the soundtrack always on point. Be sure to save room for dessert—their sweet offerings are as thoughtful and elevated as the rest of the menu. Truly top notch pie game. A must-visit for anyone—vegan or not—looking for a memorable dining experience on the Mendocino coast.

Chelsea Branson

Got the fried cauliflower and waffles, grits and grillades, plus coffee and local kombucha. Cutest place with friendly staff and locally sourced ingredients where possible! All the sauces were quite delicious and I adored the decorative coffee cups. Waffle could have been a little warmer (I think the syrup was cold?) but otherwise no critique for improvement. I wish I had a spot like this close to home!

Cindy G

Amazing meal start to finish. Boiled peanut appetizer (gratis), mac n chz and braised greens, pistachio creme brulee. Oh and a shrub! Divine. Looking forward to next time

Burton Kendall

Well Done Ladies! The delicious food is and executed with much passion and love. First time dining at Fog Eater was met with our much anticipation and curiosity. Can anyone in Mendo possibly create interesting California (mostly Vegan) Cuisine with a Southern inspired dishes. All I can say is try it , love it, and live it. -more to come

Manuel Navedo

Came to this place because it was one of the few brunch places open before 10-11 am. I must admit, I was not all convinced. The place inside is small, but they have several tables on the back of the establishment. Inside the decor is nice, and even the bathroom has a nice feeling. The menu was not extensive and to be honest, I was not sold when I finished reading it. We had 2 mimosas, which were OK. Once the food arrived though, all my biases and preconceived ideas came crashing down. The grits were just AMAZING!!! super tasty, flavorful and plentiful. My had had a special all vegetarian. I must admit again that it did not look good, but once I had a bite, I was sold on the plate. The service was super friendly. Highly recommend to visit this place.

Simone Anne

Wowow!!! Honestly so impressed by this place. Absolutely delicious. Great food with creative and tasty combos. We aren't vegan or vegetarian and we loved this spot. High quality food and great service. Plus it's super cute and cozy inside. Had dinner and then came back for brunch. Highly recommend and will definitely be back on our next visit to Mendocino!!!

Andrew Cuscito

I have eaten at many vegan places throughout the United States but few compare to Fog Eater. This is my favorite place to eat by far and has my all time favorite dish on their menu (the fried blue oyster mushroom). The service and atmosphere are top notch, I definitely suggest eating outside if it's warm enough. They have a gorgeous outdoor eating area and space heaters spread throughout to battle the constant chill of Mendocino. I have always been blown away by every single thing I have ordered, from the apatizers to the desserts. So much love and care has been put into each and every item on the menu. Their pairings of flavors is top notch. The price may seem high but you get plenty of food for the ammount you spend and it is absolutely worth every cent.

Bo Roberts-Leung

We loved the meal here, had the garlic soup, fried oyster mushroom, pot pie, and banana pineapple cake. Everything we had was delicious, the service was great, and atmosphere was extremely pleasant with bright colours and modern French cafe music. Not sure why people complain about portions being small, must be true ‘Muricans used to the large XL portion sizes. We found the portion sizing to be perfect. It was one of the biggest personal pot pies I had ever had. As far as vegetarian places go, it was very gratifying. Food 9.5/10 Atmosphere 9/10 Service 10/10 Value would eat again 9/10

Adarsh .N

This was perhaps the best brunch that I've had. The food both looks and tastes amazing! We ordered brunch stuff; The eggs were perfectly poached eggs the beetroot sauce complemented it exquisitely. Super chic ambience and a shootout to the cheerful waitresses/ owners.

Jess Hemstreet

Incredible meal, people and experience. Every item we ordered, from the fancy soda, to the green tomato bisque and focaccia to the oyster mushroom and cobbler to the beignets were packed with flavor, perfectly prepared and delicious. We won’t drive through (or near) Mendocino without stopping here. Ideal for vegans/vegetarians trying to impress their meat eater friends.

Great time sitting out on the patio - heaters helped stave off the chill. Staff was friendly and food was delicious. We got the cauliflower biscuit sliders, pistachio crusted tofu, and beignets. Left full and happy, and even considered buying the cookbook.

We had the most wonderful dinner at Fog Eater! I am a vegetarian but my husband is not, and we both loved our meals and shared plates! The service was wonderful and this cute spot was the perfect Friday night dinner spot - we even sat on the covered patio with our dog!

From time to time, you come across a spot that hits all the notes. Fog Eater delivered on all fronts: quality of food + drink, creativity, atmosphere, music, and service. Even the other guests were interesting and contributed to the vibe. We loved our meal and experience here. Wonderful addition to the Mendo community and food scene.

Christine VanDerwill

From time to time, you come across a spot that hits all the notes. Fog Eater delivered on all fronts: quality of food + drink, creativity, atmosphere, music, and service. Even the other guests were interesting and contributed to the vibe. We loved our meal and experience here. Wonderful addition to the Mendo community and food scene.

Katie & Matt

We had the most wonderful dinner at Fog Eater! I am a vegetarian but my husband is not, and we both loved our meals and shared plates! The service was wonderful and this cute spot was the perfect Friday night dinner spot - we even sat on the covered patio with our dog!

Kindle Williams

Great time sitting out on the patio - heaters helped stave off the chill. Staff was friendly and food was delicious. We got the cauliflower biscuit sliders, pistachio crusted tofu, and beignets. Left full and happy, and even considered buying the cookbook.

The food was decent - gravy was surprisingly smooth and creamy even though it was vegetarian (or vegan? I couldn’t tell). Hush puppies were good! I think I would have appreciated it if the restaurant put in large print that they automatically request 20% gratuity in their menus somewhere. It was automatically added and I felt forced to pay 20% even though the service wasn’t specifically anything spectacular.

Delicious vegetarian brunch for mother's day. Super friendly staff. Super cute decor. I love the wallpaper in the bathroom. I look forward to eating on the patio next time!🌟

We were at the end of the brunch and they were out on most of the positions in menu. The food was quite basic, tasteful, but imo too plain (the only flavours were dull or spicy hot). The stuff was lovely and the patio is nice.

Great surprise to find such delicious vegan food. Not usually my thing but had a delicious meal It’s a tiny and busy place with more outdoor than indoor seating. If the weather is bad it’s a challenge.

The food here was fantastic! My only complaint is the mandatory 20% gratuity. While I always intend to tip generously, being forced to do so feels like an additional hidden cost and takes away the personal touch of showing appreciation. This practice is disappointing.

A nice gem in Mendocino. Is it me or are there lots of Italian restaurants in Mendocino? I like Italain food but would probably like a little bit of variety? Well, it was a 45 minute wait. First off, I'm not vegetarian but willing to try vegetarian. The food at Fog Eater was different but goof. Southern plate- loved th Mac and cheese, greens and the bbq lima bean. It came with a hot mini cornbread. I wished they would give you honey as well. Gumbo- delicious Beignets- this is a must!!! It came with a chocolate and Caramel sauce and dare I say it's as good as the beignets or better than Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans? Warm, fluffy and soft. Service was great and the waitress did a great job of explaining everything to me. So if you are vegetarian or just want to try something g different in Mendocino, this is thr place to go!

+2

We had a recommendation to come here and it did not disappoint. Delightful Americana themed restaurant with savory menu dishes such as the one we tried here (Fried Cauliflower & waffle) with a peppery syrup and gravy. Our coffees were bitter, but served in darling teacups & saucers (Not enough cream). We didn’t find any keto choices on the menu but maybe it’s a vegan place.

+2

The food was great, service was good. However, I was APPALLED when the check came and they automatically added a 20% tip! The waitress even said to me they already added gratuity! I've never had that happen before and I travel quite a bit. Needless to say I will not be returning to the Fog Eater.

This is a quaint little vegan restaurant, with a very innovative menu though a little pricey in my opinion. Love to see such vegetarian/ vegan places. The food here is very tasty, so much so that we decided to repeat our small plates. We tried the hush puppies and the crabbie cakes. Both were very good. I also ordered a herbal spritz, which was very refreshing. We also tried the rhubarb and strawberry pie - the least favorite of the entire meal I would say and I would not reorder that. They apply a 20% gratuity and they mention that while billing, rather than just sliding it in which I think is a +1.

tanuja bhowmik

This is a quaint little vegan restaurant, with a very innovative menu though a little pricey in my opinion. Love to see such vegetarian/ vegan places. The food here is very tasty, so much so that we decided to repeat our small plates. We tried the hush puppies and the crabbie cakes. Both were very good. I also ordered a herbal spritz, which was very refreshing. We also tried the rhubarb and strawberry pie - the least favorite of the entire meal I would say and I would not reorder that. They apply a 20% gratuity and they mention that while billing, rather than just sliding it in which I think is a +1.

Food was good, service was great. Unfortunately there were bugs everywhere and it really negatively impacted our dining experience. Flies were constantly landing on my face and head and buzzing all around us and the food. Ants were also crawling all over my girlfriend’s legs. This was while we were seated inside, too.

The food was really good and creative. I loved the pistachio crusted tofu. The service was chaotic to say the least. It definitely seemed like they were understaffed or just disorganized. There were three different people who were taking orders or requests for one table and things were getting missed. They were rushing us to order initially but then we had to wait long times after that just to add items to the order / get the check etc. Did not feel professional at all. I would suggest to just get rid of the automatic 20% added gratuity and let the market forces determine good service.

It's okay. The service was exceptional with very friendly staff who clearly knew the menu and seem to enjoy working there. The food is about twice as expensive as it should be for how much you get. It's southern inspired, which I guess to them means fry everything as the food was overly oily. It was vegan, but not healthy. My wife really enjoyed it though, so clearly it is for some people, just not for me. I've never spent this much on a meal and still left hungry and with indigestion.

Went here for dinner this past weekend. The place was just about getting crowded. Fog Eater Cafe does not have many options for eating. We ordered the Gumbo, Pot Pie and the Kids Cajun Mac n Cheese. We also ordered the Banana Pudding and an interesting South Korean Makku beer. The serving size of these dishes was too small. The kids Mac n Cheese was served in a saucer that's similar to the tea & saucer set. The beer was great and so was the pudding. But otherwise, the food was just about okay.

+2

Updated review. The more i think about their practice of tipping automatically for to go orders without the customers consent, it really has me bothered. I find it dishonest and a bad business practice. So, I"m taking the 3 stars down to 2. If the food was gross it would have been 1 star. But they are trying to male good vegan food and are succeeding on some levels. If you decide to give them a try just know before you go. Also. know there's a ramen place just down the street with vegan ramen and sushi that are decent. The need to know details: I ordered takeout and they automatically, without mentioning it, added a 20% gratuity....for take out! That alone would make me think twice about going back. I order quite a few things to try. Here's what I'd recommend and not: The Mac n cheese was a little soggy, but the flavor was good. Order the kids one to avoid spice of the Cajun version. The crabbie cakes flavor is good but they were greasy and soggy (although I bet fresh in the restaraunt they would have been crispier.) The mashed potatoes are a pass for me. If your not a fan of potato skins in your mashed potato, you may want to pass. And they were skimpy with the gravy, which tasted good. The asparagus and leek soup also was not my favorite. I'm not sure if I'll be eating it or not. I got two desserts: strawberry rhubarb pie which had some sort of whipped cream on top which made it soggy. The flavor was tart and missing something on this dessert. The beignettes were flavored ok but very greasy. The sauces were a lemon one and a chocolate coffee? One. It was runny and the lemon one tasted good but had chunks in it on??? Located on the ave

Was so excited to eat here, the place is very cute and service is great. The food looks great too, but oh my god it’s not good food folks. Really disappointing. Left feeling hungry bc I couldn’t stomach the food. We got the soup of the day, beet & fennel, but tasted like old celery, the Cajun Mac n cheese (also bad plastic vegan cheese), and the biscuit sliders (which was the only decent thing there). Don’t be fooled by the pretty pictures, the substance is not there :(

The food was great, especially the macaroni and cheese! Our waitress was not friendly or welcoming at all though, and practically threw the check at us at the end. I appreciate that the restaurant includes a 20% tip for their servers but I wonder if this is why she didn't make any effort to help us with our choices, make any friendly comment, or even say goodbye or thank you as she put the check down.

We came here bc of the reviews online and were surprised by how bad the food was. Very basic — mounds of rice and beans, very little flavor. They also didn’t have tofu.

As a long-time vegan I was really excited to try this place, but several factors left me feeling disappointed and honestly a little alienated. The food was ultimately not worth the price tag. $30 for a plate of under-seasoned beans, some raw and un-seasoned cucumber, and some dry cornbread was just sad. The star of the menu was the breaded and fried mushroom dish which was reminiscent of fried chicken but was under-salted and overly-greasy, leaving me with a nauseous feeling in my stomach. The red wine I ordered tasted like maybe the bottle had been open for too long and was starting to turn. The plum wine cocktail I ordered after that was actually delicious and well-balanced. Overall, maybe we were there on an off night. Other online pictures make the food look much more creative and appetizing. Having said that, nothing can explain away the cold service we received (cold stares, snatching of menus, and slamming of dishes, etc). This place felt like the epitome of a vacation town restaurant that despises tourist. The lack of warmth was palpable and I would never go back.

We selected this restaurant based on the photos of southern cooking showing on their google page. After looking at the menu, we asked where was the southern food. The response we received was “ the photos are old and from an earlier menu. Google just hasn’t brought their site up to date”. This left a sour taste with us, but we ordered from the vegan menu. The final surprise was with the bill, where they had automatically add a 20% tip. This is against California law. We paid the bill sans any tip. We’ll never go back to this restaurant, this place is bait and switch.

Food was good but nowhere on the menu does it mention the they add gratuity to the order. Server only told me once she handed me the check with an added $10 gratuity with a defiant facial expression like she was expecting me to argue... so I guess people do argue about this policy! If you say anything about it you look like a Karen in public, so of course there is the social pressure to not say anything. Other than that - I had to ask for everything: water, a napkin, utensils. I put my coffee cup and water in front of me for a refill and they only filled my water up halfway and seemed annoyed I wanted to drink the bottomless coffee! Cute decor but rude Bay Area girls running the place.

First review ever but have to.. SERIOUSLY awful experience. Absolutely NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY. Our server (who turned out to be the owner, who we’re assuming was on something) loudly yelling in the kitchen about my family because I put baby wipes that I used to wipe up after my baby into my plate of food… it didn’t end there but mostly she was very unhinged. They mostly serve dry biscuits for breakfast and do not tell you about the 20 percent added gratuity. Hard pass.

Maybe it’s for someone, but it's too oily for me, and the pickled vegetables are way too salty, clearly over priced. 20% gratuity for two people with just this food quality? I wish I had given other restaurants higher gratuity.

Food options are limited but good in taste. Portion size is on the smaller side. Staff is welcoming and quick. Parking is on street but plenty. Any of the dish can be made vegan. Sitting is indoor and outdoor. One star is for the malpractices we observed through our. The beignets were offered in a way that they looked complementary, something shall ‘shall I get you beignets before the food?’. We saw that happening to other customers also. And the gratuity is added as 20% by default to any order. Not a great experience and not going back.

+1