Sand Dollar Restaurant
If you’re in the mood for a relaxing yet lively dining experience, Sand Dollar Restaurant in Stinson Beach is a must-visit. Nestled along the beautiful shoreline at 3458 Shoreline Hwy, this spot offers a perfect mix of casual vibes and delicious food. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a meal with friends, family, or even a group gathering, Sand Dollar has something for everyone.
One of the things that makes Sand Dollar stand out is its inviting atmosphere. The moderate noise level creates a fun, energetic setting, but it's still laid-back enough for you to comfortably chat over your meal. It's a great spot for group get-togethers, thanks to the spacious seating arrangements and the friendly ambiance. Families with kids will also feel right at home here, as the restaurant is accommodating to little ones, making it a perfect family outing spot.
On top of that, the outdoor seating is an absolute highlight. If you're lucky, you can enjoy your meal while soaking in the cool ocean breeze, creating a memorable dining experience that you won't easily forget. The view adds an extra layer of charm to your visit, making it feel like you're truly immersed in the beauty of Stinson Beach.
Whether you’re here for a casual lunch or a hearty dinner, the menu at Sand Dollar has something for every palate. The food is fresh, flavorful, and always served with a smile, ensuring that you’ll leave feeling satisfied and happy. So, if you're ever in the area and looking for a great place to eat, make sure to check out Sand Dollar Restaurant.
Reviews
I'm going to go out on a limb amongst my fellow Yelpers and give the Sand Dollar four stars. Why? Because you're in a remote beach village miles away from regular civilization. Need gas? It's 14 mikes away over a windy road. Need a bone-in ribeye? It's right here at the Sand Dollar!! Need a St. George Botanivore gin Martini? You got one right here at Sand Dollar!! People!! Food at the coast is rarely good. You should know by now that you should temper your expectations when you're eating anywhere within about 1/2 mile from a coastline. I LOVE the Sand Dollar!! The food here is a step up from coastal comfort food. They have a fun menu with things like halibut civiiche, choppino, fish and chips, and filet of sole. Yes, the service is a bit rough, but they mean well. We were seated right away. But, we did sit for a while before we were asked for drink orders. But our drinks came fast once ordered, and our martinis were excellent. Caesar salad was really good. We also ordered a dozen oysters that were perfect: fresh shucked with lots of oyster liquor! We loved them. I had the petrole sole, that was excellent. My son had the special sea bass, and he devoured all of it. My other son had the burger, which was huge and juicy. Dessert was a bit of a miss. We had bread.pudding, but they were out of the other two desserts: a tart and a pie. The bread pudding was ok. In summary, we always enjoy Sand Dollar when we are at Stinson. They have creative food, generous portions, and excellent cocktails!
Menu consists of updated pub fare to keep with the healthful mind frame of the area and times. You'll find some interesting specials like a lemon chicken soup that was the soup of the day. So the place tries to elevate options rather than only offering what you'd expect in the location, fried fish and chips. We noshed on a dry French rose wine which tasted more like a Chardonnay than a rose, but good nonetheless. Fried brussel sprouts with Asian dipping sauce and fish tacos. I had the prawn tacos which were quite generously filled with 3 prawns per taco, 2 per plate. The flavor fixings are the same whether you get swordfish, prawns or fried cod. A cool cabbage slaw with jalapeños aioli nicely topped the tacos adding some heat. Served on corn tortillas. We couldn't decide between breakers or here and really at the end of the day Sand Dollar is an institution in the area and was packed. Lovely outdoor seating with umbrellas to block some of the rays but still give you some warmth. I found the menu interesting for the area with the Asian flair items that left me curious for another return trip some day soon. I think the prices are on point and not too inflated considering the tourist trap nature of the town. Locals gotta eat too.
For a beach community restaurant this is about as good as it gets. We came here for dinner and was not disappointed. Casual yet better quality food than you may expect to find. There is a lot of interesting memorabilia an idea art to admire and it feels coastal. We had a cozy enough table and there is both indoor and outdoor seating. I started with a specialty cocktail, a Spicy Margarita, that was OK. It was packed with alcohol, so for 12 bucks you're getting your money's worth. Then I tried 6 half shelled oysters. Again good, but not a knock your socks off. The flavor was just so-so that might be indicative of the type. The shells, however, were quite beautiful. I went on to have a menu special, the Portuguese Fisherman's Stew that was robust and quite delicious. The flavors and mix of fish and shellfish were just right, although some broken mussel shell was in the stew. Fortunately it didn't lead to any dental issues! The stew flavor was the best part. The accompanying bread was excellent. Overall service was friendly and top notch. He was attentive and served professionally. We ended with a mud pie...oh my! Most filling and delicious but difficult to eat. It was frozen so hard it took a sledge hammer to break it apart, but nonetheless worth it. Fun, interesting place and the BEST part was the music. A duet on piano and cello that were most delightful and great background music for dinner. BRAVO!