The Tides Restaurant Bodega Bay California Oysters Benedict

The Tides Restaurant in Bodega Bay – Site of The Birds

Its claim to fame is being the restaurant in the 1963 [amazon_textlink asin=’B00BWJQEC6′ text=’Alfred Hitchcock’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’bd3b6d81-ba18-11e8-8522-1913fb89469c’] thriller [amazon_textlink asin=’B000I8H7RI’ text=’The Birds’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b5ac0112-ba18-11e8-a62f-c3677050ad0f’].  That building is long gone, but the name remains – The Tides – as does an interesting display on the wall, complete with photos, newspaper articles and other artifacts telling about the making of the movie and Bodega Bay’s role in the film.

Sit at a table with a view of the bay and watch the flocks of various species of birds gather, scared away only by the frolicking seals or an occasional kayaker. The live birds appear to be much friendlier than Alfred Hitchcock’s mechanical birds used in the movie. Watch the fisherman dig for clams.  Stare into the bay long enough, and your imagination might even see Tippi Hedren stepping into her rented fishing boat in her fur coat and high heels, motoring across the bay in search of love.

Location: 835 Coastal Highway One, [amazon_textlink asin=’B07FNSKFXC’ text=’Bodega Bay’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’dafc76ed-ba18-11e8-ab15-01163290ac7c’], [amazon_textlink asin=’1465441131′ text=’California’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’e93cb08f-ba18-11e8-a259-0fdfd9729a5e’]

Menu: It is all about the seafood.  After all, you are on a wharf. A fresh seafood market and local wholesale distributor share the property.  It doesn’t get any fresher unless you catch it yourself.

I enjoyed breakfast at The Tides.  As a seafood lover and self-proclaimed eggs benedict guru, I was in my element.  There was the Dungeness Crab Cake Benedict, The Tides Benedict using pan-fried Petrale Sole, and the Oysters Benedict.  I chose the Oysters Benedict, which was a traditional version with Canadian bacon, topped with large, plump poached oysters.  Other seafood breakfast options included Grilled Snapper and Eggs, or the Hangtown Fry, a fried oyster omelet.  Mimosas, Bellinis and Bloody Marys are served. This is a vacation town and popular stop for weekenders heading north from [amazon_textlink asin=’0147546923′ text=’San Francisco’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’7269ea22-ba1a-11e8-ae37-81e710ec0952′] up the Pacific Coast Highway. A cocktail at breakfast seems appropriate for those escaping the big city and looking for relaxation along the coast.

The lunch and dinner menus are similar, with shrimp, oysters, Dungeness crab, calamari and smoked salmon dominating the menu.  Sure, they offer burgers, steaks, and chicken, but save those options for those allergic to seafood or the locals who need more variety.  I can’t imagine why you would drive up the coast and not ask the waitress what just came in fresh from the bay or the ocean.  A sampler platter feeds two people for $58.  A chilled seafood salad offers a variety of the ocean’s bounty for $30.

The clam chowder competition is quite intense in Bodega Bay.  A fun foodie challenge would be to see how many area restaurants you can visit for a cup or bowl of chowder.  The Tides has one to try.

Thoughts: The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner 365 days a year.  This tiny town with a population of around 700 residents is a weekend getaway destination.  Rental homes are popular, so purchasing fresh seafood at the market at The Tides and preparing it in the kitchen of a vacation rental home is another option for those wishing to enjoy the local offering.

A gift and souvenir shop, a gourmet food and wine shop and a pastry shop with house-made desserts compliment the restaurant, making it a great stop to learn the history on the wall display, and perhaps pick up a few items for a picnic along the coast.

Watch the movie [amazon_textlink asin=’B000I8H7RI’ text=’The Birds’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’db7ba707-ba1a-11e8-a24c-35264b15410f’] before you go. It will spark a new level of curiosity and appreciation for this charming coastal town.

Price Range:  Breakfast $7-25 Lunch $10-58 Dinner $13-58

Victoria Hart

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