There’s something magical about a seaside restaurant — the murmur of lapping waves, gulls spiraling lazily overhead and a gentle breeze wafting across the umbrella-dotted patio or deck. Add sunshine and brunch to the equation, and you’ve got a perfect summer day, one so lazy and lovely, your only dilemma is whether to go Bloody Mary or Mimosa.
Whether you’re gazing at Angel Island from the deck of Sam’s Anchor Cafe, the Oakland estuary from your perch at Jack London Square or Pacific surf from a seaside distillery, these waterside brunch spots are gems. Just remember: Reservations are strongly recommended.
Eve’s Waterfront, Oakland
Perched on the bay, this seafood-centric New American restaurant is tucked away from its Jack London Square neighbors, with a waterfront deck that boasts glorious views of lolling boats, lapping water and gliding gulls. But that doesn’t mean business is slow. Eve’s reopened April 30, and its weekend brunch and Friday sunset dinner reservations are filling up fast.
While low on egg dishes, the brunch menu is a creative update to the original Eve’s menu from the restaurant’s inception in 2016. Starters include housemade burrata and Korean-style fried cauliflower, and the pancakes in the two-egg Bayside Breakfast are made with almond flour. Eve’s Ultimate Burger is made with grass-fed Angus and topped with onion jam. And, of course, there’s a fried chicken sando with spicy slaw and fresh mozzarella.
The dish: We’re all about that organic Fried Chicken — but in Benedict form ($15), with two poached eggs and jalapeno Hollandaise on an English muffin. Or you can go fancy (and even more filling) with the Prix Fixe Feast ($32), which comes with your choice of starter, entree and dessert. They say the chowder, made with leeks, Manila clams and Hobb’s bacon, is the best in Oakland.
The details: Weekend brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also open for sunset dinners from 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays at 15 Embarcadero West, Oakland; www.eveswaterfront.com.
Mission Rock Resort, San Francisco
One block from Chase Center on the calm blue shores of Mission Bay, this two-story restaurant offers a true escape, with scenic views of San Francisco, a covered deck with 30 heaters and simple, deliciously prepared seafood dishes.
A solid selection of beverages, from a Bacon Bloody Mary to a Ramos Fizz, preps the palate for raw bar oyster bites or a pricey-but-worth-it Dungeness Crab Roll ($30) on buttered, split-top brioche. From there, you can tuck into larger shared plates, like a roasted beet salad or Thai Chili Glazed Chicken Wings, or a more traditional brunch-y dish, like Huevos Rancheros or smoked salmon Benedict.
The dish: French toast that comes with bacon? Yes, please. Mission Rock’s version ($19) is decadent and made with vanilla custard, citrus mascarpone and mixed berries. If you’re dining closer to noon, go for the fish tacos ($19) topped with cilantro slaw and pico de gallo, with organic corn chips, guacamole and refried black beans. Great lunch for sharing, too.
The details: Weekend brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also open for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday at 817 Terry A Francois Blvd., San Francisco; www.missionrockresort.com.
Moss Beach Distillery, Moss Beach
Nestled on a Half Moon Bay cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this historic restaurant offers breathtaking views and one of the most popular dog-friendly patios in Northern California. The patio is equipped with fire pits to keep you toasty when the fog rolls in.
And while the Sunday brunch window is relatively small — just three hours — there’s plenty on the California cuisine menu to keep you brunching all day, including burgers, soups, salads and pastas. But if you do score a brunch rezzie: It’s fixed at $37, which gets you bottomless Mimosas, freshly baked pastries, a cup of seasonal fruit, freshly squeezed orange juice, coffee or tea and your choice of four entrees.
The dish: In addition to grilled skirt steak or salmon, there’s a California three-egg omelette made with chopped prawns, tomato, avocado, scallions and cheese and topped with a Bay Spice aioli. Our vote is for the Pulled Pork Rancheros, crispy corn tortillas stuffed with slow-cooked pork shoulder, two eggs over-easy, housemade tomatillo sauce, queso fresco, avocado and sour cream.
The details: Sunday brunch is served from noon to 3 p.m. Regular menu served daily until the last seating (7 p.m.) at 140 Beach Way, Moss Beach; https://mossbeachdistillery.com.
Sam’s Anchor Cafe, Tiburon
Halyards gently clanging against sailboat masts and clinking drinks are all the soundtrack you need at Sam’s Anchor Cafe. Tiburon’s century-old eatery is so sea-centric, 75 percent of the restaurant is perched over the water.
An expansive deck, dotted with white umbrellas and beer garden-style tables, offers views of Angel Island, Belvedere, San Francisco and sailboats aplenty. A glass wall in the recently renovated dining room can be rolled back to let those sea breezes in on warm days. And if you order takeout, they’ll deliver it to your boat at the dock. It doesn’t get more nautical than that.
Founder Sam Vella opened his eponymous eatery in 1920 in a tent on the beach. Since then, it has become such an icon, locals got nervous when then-new co-owners James Tate and Conor Flaherty shut it down for six weeks of remodeling in 2019. But the results are splendid — spiffed up, but still laidback.
The dish: Two words — Crab Benedict ($27). They do a regular Benedict ($18), too, but this decadent dish adds Dungeness and avocado to the mix. Also on the brunch menu: huevos rancheros, Firestone lager-battered fish and chips, cioppino and a stellar Sam’s Louie. And to sip? Sam’s legendary Ramos Fizz, of course.
The details: The weekend brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open daily for lunch and dinner, as well, at 27 Main St. in Tiburon; https://samscafe.com.
Jack O’Neill Restaurant & Lounge, Santa Cruz
Surf legend Jack O’Neill loved the ocean — and apparently brunch, because it’s offered daily at this revamped beachfront restaurant. Tucked into Santa Cruz’s surf-themed Dream Inn, the dining room boasts beach hues of sky blue, sunny gold and beige sand, with vintage photos of O’Neill, surf memorabilia and enough floor-to-ceiling windows to determine the surf report yourself.
The brunch menu reflects the restaurant’s local-seasonal-organic ethos, and its fresh-caught seafood meets the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch sustainability standard. And while adults will relish the apres-surf cocktails, the kiddos will appreciate the menu’s savory and sweet options (it’s not often you have French toasts sticks alongside chicken fingers).
The dish: Farmstead Ricotta and Lemon Pancakes ($14) sound like perfection if you’re going sweet. If not, dig into one of two European-style quiches: Jack’s favorite ($14) is made with spinach and pecorino or ham and gruyere, served with hash browns or side salad. The Daybreak Sandwich ($16) offers two eggs with cheddar cheese and ham, sausage or bacon, tucked into the chef’s seeded bun, and served with hash browns or baby lettuce salad
The details: Brunch is served from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Open for dinner daily as well at 175 W. Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz; www.jackoneillrestaurant.com.
Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill, Oakland
With its long dock jutting out into Oakland’s Lake Merritt, this renovated boat house offers a variety of dining spaces, alfresco on the umbrella-dotted dock, indoors in the lake-view dining room and at the bar, where floor-to-ceiling windows capture the sun-dappled expanse. Built between 1909 and 1913 — first as a water pumping station for the Oakland Fire Department, then a municipal boathouse — the structure reopened a century later as this waterside restaurant.
Pre-pandemic, gondolas plied the gentle waves just in front, adding to the ambience. But we’ll take whatever we can get — especially if it involves fresh seafood, beignets or French toast with all the flourishes.
The dish: Sate that sweet tooth with blueberry-lemon-ricotta beignets ($12), then head straight over to the savory side of the menu. Whether it’s the Dungeness Crab Benedict ($21), the Maine Lobster Roll ($27) with tarragon aioli or the Bucket o’ Yard Birds ($21), nothing says brunch quite like a Bloody Mary made with chile-infused vodka and housemade Mary mix ($13). Ahem, topped with candied bacon ($3 extra), of course.
The details: Weekend brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and lunch and dinner daily at 1520 Lakeside Drive on Lake Merritt in Oakland; www.thelakechalet.com.
The Joinery, Sausalito
This airy, industrial-chic eatery on the Sausalito waterfront is just the laidback kind of spot to while away the hours, watching boats glide past or launch from a nearby ramp, as you sip beer and indulge in seasonal deliciousness. It’s not a brunch place per se — the same menu is served all day, and there’s nothing waffle-y about it — but between the water views and the food, you can’t go wrong.
Tucked in a warehouse once used for boat building, The Joinery is a seamless blend of inside and out. Big doors roll out of the way on the bay side, so even a seat at one of the long tables inside yields views of Richardson Bay and Belvedere. The breezy deck is where it’s at, though, so bring a sweater. Order at the counter, grab your drinks, then go find a spot and settle in.
The dish: The Joinery is billed as a beer hall — co-owner Tyler Catalana also owns Mill Valley Beerworks and co-founded Fort Point Beer Co. — and rotisserie, but it’s much more than that. The salads are extravagant, colorful and creative. The Fattoush Salad ($13.50), for example, is made with little gems, arugula, radish, mint and a sumac vinaigrette. But we swoon for the fried chicken sandwich ($13.25) topped with Calabrian chili aïoli and fennel. And yes, breakfast beer is a thing.
The details: Opens at 11 a.m. daily at 300 Turney St. in Sausalito; www.joineryca.com.
