The Mountain House

  4.6 – 664 reviews   • American restaurant

Social Profile:

Tucked among the redwoods of Woodside, The Mountain House is a historic dining destination where coastal countryside cuisine meets the warmth of a mountain lodge. Established in the early 1900s, it has become a cherished gathering place—blending refined dining with a relaxed, welcoming spirit. Menus highlight game meats, seasonal California bounty, and a curated wine list featuring Santa Cruz Mountain vineyards and Old-World favorites. Guests can enjoy the lively bar and lounge, where locals and travelers gather for happy hour, or settle into dining rooms that shift from convivial to romantic. At The Mountain House, hospitality means creating not just a meal but a memory—balancing elegance with comfort in a setting as timeless as the trees.

Wild game & fresh seafood offered in a cabin-style setting with indoor & outdoor spaces.

✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out The Mountain House 94062

Menu Photos

themountainhouse.com

Photo Gallery

Related Web Results

The Mountain House

The Mountain House has been a cherished community gathering place with origins dating back to the early 1900s when it served as a water pump station.

The Mountain House Restaurant (@themtnhse) – Instagram

3.6K+ followers · 283 posts · Coastal Countryside Cuisine and Tavern in the Redwoods.

The Mountain House Restaurant | Woodside CA – Facebook

Family owned and operated since 1988. Delicious food, great drinks, and unbeatable ambiance. American Restaurant · $$.

Reviews

Sohrob H
Exceptional Cuisine with Consistent Flavor
This has become a repeat destination for us because it is consistently really good. While many restaurants struggle to maintain their standards over time, the kitchen here continues to deliver at a high level. The food is phenomenal, offering bold, authentic flavors that are both complex and satisfying. Whether it’s the signature spice levels or the preparation of the proteins, every plate that comes out reflects a high level of culinary skill. It is easily some of the best food in the area, which is exactly why we keep coming back despite some of the operational hurdles. However a medium-well steak seems to be challenging.

️ The Service Experience: A Mixed Bag
While the kitchen excels, the front-of-house service is hit or miss.

Forgetful Service: It has become a bit of a pattern where there are usually at least two things that are forgotten during our meal. Whether it’s a drink order, an extra set of utensils, or a specific side dish, the attention to detail in the service doesn’t quite match the precision of the food.

Lack of Follow-up: Another area for improvement is the engagement after the meal begins. We found that we don’t get checked on much after the food comes to the table. If you need a refill or an additional item halfway through your dinner, it can be quite a challenge to catch a server’s attention.

Atmosphere and Expectations: It is the type of service you expect for a set menu fancy place—somewhat formal and distant, where the staff stays out of the way, sometimes to a fault. If you go in expecting a high-touch, attentive experience, you might leave feeling a bit neglected.

✨ Highlights of the Dining Environment
The ambiance of the restaurant complements the “fancy” nature of the menu. It has a great energy and a well-designed interior that makes it feel like a special occasion spot.

Food Presentation: The presentation of the dishes is beautiful, matching the high quality of the ingredients.

Consistency: The fact that the food quality has remained stable across several visits is a major plus and the primary reason this remains a top recommendation for foodies.

Final Thoughts and Recap
To recap, this is a destination where the phenomenal food is the undisputed star of the show. While the service is hit or miss and often includes forgotten items and a lack of follow-up, the culinary experience is consistently really good enough to justify a 4-star rating. As long as you are prepared for a more hands-off service style, you will likely have a memorable meal. I’ll definitely be back for the food, but I’ll make sure to double-check my order as it arrives!
… more
Ashley
I’m still dreaming about my experience at The Mountain House! Their tasting menu is delicious, with many options for each course that will satisfy any appetite. The chicken was cooked to perfection and the venison was the best tasting venison to exist. The fig panna cotta and pistachio cake were so rich and delicious, my taste buds will still bursting well after dinner was over. The views of the redwoods were a beautiful touch to the ambiance that made dinner even more magical.
… more
Kal Jawara
The restaurant on Skyline Road offers an unexpectedly lovely atmosphere nestled in the mountains. Enjoy exceptional service and an inviting bar that enhances your dining experience!Mountain House Bar and Restaurant is a hidden gem in the mountains. I recently had the pleasure of dining there and I was blown away by the delicious food and cozy atmosphere. The staff was incredibly friendly and the service was top-notch. I highly recommend trying their signature dishes, especially the mountain trout. The view from the outdoor patio is breathtaking and adds to the overall dining experience. I will definitely be returning to Mountain House Bar and Restaurant for more delicious meals and mountain views.
… more
Han Ding
the environment is really ‘in the mountain’, they have a M* chef and the 3 course tasting menu doesnt’t come with cheap price(88d for seasonal seletions)and great service, though!! So if you want come for a different SF vibe, yes; considering extra driving effort, I say it’s more of a experiement experience for me.
… more
Andreas Ramos
it’s hard to describe Mountain House because it’s so good.

the two fellows at the reception found us a table at the windows.

the head waiter for our table and all of the other waiters on her team took care of us. she listened to us, explained the menu and items, made suggestions, and made sure we would have a great time. they have us the correct amount of attention, not intrusive but also not having to flag down a waiter for something.

the food and preparation also is hard to describe. many combinations, tastes, and flavors I’ve never seen before. we grew up hunting and I’ve had venison many times; the Mountain House rack of venison is the best I’ve ever had.

yes, it’s expensive, but folks, it’s not a dinner, it’s an experience. the amount of preparation and care they put into their work and taking care of you is remarkable.

we’ll definitely return again and bring friends who will appreciate the place.
… more
Kim Walters
Beautiful restaurant! The location is beautiful, the service was absolutely wonderful and the food was delicious. I did not know beforehand that you had to specifically request in your reservation to sit in the mountain room…..which was why I chose this place. They do their best to seat people there if requested however it is a very small room. Hopefully next time knowing this we get a table in there, the hostess at least however put us by the window which was very kind.
… more
Jeronimo Carlos
We stopped by Mountain House for a steak dinner the other night. It was my first time there and definitely not my last. The steak was solid and the whole experience stood out because of the service.

Our server was great, but Alejandro and Vicente were both welcoming and attentive. They checked in, asked how everything tasted, and gave solid recommendations. What I appreciated most was that they didn’t hover, but they checked on us throughout dinner to make sure we were good.

The hospitality felt genuine, the atmosphere was super chill, and the whole staff was friendly and engaging. Great food and even better service.
… more
Dori
We celebrated our anniversary here and were thoroughly delighted with everything. My husband had the squash soup, braised short rib, and the chocolate bomb and said everything was just delicious. I had the chicken breast with the lemon risotto. I always hesitate to order chicken breast because so many times it is dry but this was cooked absolutely perfectly! And the lemon risotto did not disappoint. I also had the scallops and they were very good and the pistachio cake for dessert was incredible! They also gave us a little complementary crème brûlée for our anniversary celebration. The forest room was gorgeous and cool and not too noisy and just a delightful atmosphere. We really enjoyed our dinner here!
… more
Ysabel Thorn
Went here for my 27th birthday! It was absolutely delicious. I was surprised that we each got out our own appetizer, main and desert- some restaurants that serve set menus make you share. We didn’t get to sit in the window room but the ambience was great nonetheless. We went while the Summer 2025 menu was out and we selected the summer squash soup and caramelized diver scallops for the first. The summer corn agnolotti, grilled venison loin for seconds and the nectarine/blueberry tart and panna cotta for thirds. Everything was so fresh and delicious!!!! I wish I had more adjectives to describe it. The portions were great too. There was also homemade bread before the apps came out and they surprised me with a flourless chocolate cake for my bday. Amazing. 10/10 will recommend to all my friends.
… more
Sara
Perfect 10/10 experience. Went here for a special occasion, and it was a fantastic time. Every part of the meal was so well executed, the staff was very attentive, and the ambience of the forest room was breathtaking. The owner clearly had a vision, went for it, and it really worked. Loved it!
… more
… View more

Leave a Comment