SIDE STREET KITCHEN
Point Reyes Station
Restaurant: Lunch , Dinner , Weekend Brunch
Beer & Wine
Let’s start with the newest addition to the local food scene. Have you heard of Side Street? It’s just across the street from Cowgirl Creamery, and I’m amazed how many visitors completely miss this little gem.
Go here for slow cooked meats, classic roast chicken, whole roasted trout. The food is satisfying, well executed and clean. Enjoy your meal with wine, beer or an excellent French press coffee. Don’t miss the apple fritters!
The restaurant is bright and welcoming, with a charming Retro West Marin meets Neighborhood Paris Bistro feel. The service is consistently excellent.
During the warmer months, grab a seat outside at one of the pet-friendly tables on the patio.
While calling this place “fast food” would be so wrong, considering what that’s come to mean, let me just say that food comes out pretty quickly. Which makes this a great place to get truly fabulous food, to go. You might not look at this place and think, “Here’s a place to grab a quick meal.” But it is.
It’s one of my go-tos to quickly put together a really nice picnic hamper, or pick up a family-size roast chicken and potatoes dinner for short-notice guests. (speaking of kids, even picky ones get quiet and chow down on chicken and potatoes)
If you’ve rented a cottage and want to grab a nice dinner to bring home and eat in front of the fire or on the deck after a day spent hiking or kayaking, go here. Order your meat, some sides and get some wine. Fast, easy, and when you get home and tuck in, you’ll be happy.
“It’s a trek for me to make it out to West Marin on a weekly basis, but if I could I would for the pork belly Benedict brunch special with poached egg and arugula. Also served on the BLTs, the meaty slab atop sliced sourdough softened by creamy hollandaise is worth a journey.”
-Leanne Battelle, Marin Independent Journal
What’s Good
So, I’m with Leanne on the subject of the pork belly. Whether it’s in a sandwich or holding up poached eggs smothered in Hollandaise, I’d go for it (and have done!).
The rotisserie chicken is outstanding, with crisp skin and well seasoned with herbs. And while the locally sourced, high quality meat is definitely the star, the vegetable sides aren’t merely a way to round out your meal. They are fantastic, in their own right, and even eaten entirely on their own with some bread and a nice glass of wine.
My favorite autumn and winter vegetable dishes here are the crispy Brussels sprouts, buttery broccolini and the roasted spaghetti squash with hazelnuts, brown butter and pomegranate molasses. In summer it’s got to be salads and their epic creamed corn.
Even though the focus is on meat here, you can see why my vegetarian friends are always able to find something to love when we come here. They also rave about the vegetarian cassoulet, which is an entrée.
The rotisserie trifecta here is tri tip, pork belly and chicken. I have nothing but praise for each, and it’s often hard to choose, even though I live here and can come often.
The tri tip sandwich is a must-try. The luscious slabs of slow cooked beef are paired with feta, red-onion jam and smoked Portobello mushroom, all just barely tucked into a pillowy soft ciabatta—you can see why choosing is sometimes a challenge.
(415)663-0303
Side Street Kitchen website
Station house cafe
Station House Café has been serving up amazing food, wine, beer and cocktails in Point Reyes Station for 56 years. This West Marin classic has a full bar and the prettiest garden patio in town for outdoor dining.
learn more about Station House Cafe
Cowgirl Creamery
The Cowgirl Cantina is a take-away deli that sells gourmet sandwiches, salads and wine. There’s also a cheese bar, where you can sample and purchase local cheese, and they carry a tempting selection of gourmet foods: from pancetta to compote to amazing gourmet crackers. The perfect place to stock your picnic basket.
Osteria Stellina
Stellina didn’t make it through the covid shutdowns. We will miss them, and wish Christian the best of luck in his future endeavors.
Cafe Reyes
Cafe Reyes is best known for their wood fired pizza. But they also serve delicious salads, oysters and huge slices of fruit pie. You can eat indoors, or at one of their outdoor park bench-style tables.
Toby’s Coffee Bar
This tiny coffee bar is located inside of Toby’s Feed barn and serves delicious local, organic baked goods, coffee and espresso drinks.
Bovine Bakery
Stop in here for a sweet treat: cookies, scones, muffins, tartes and more. They also have daily oven baked pizza by the slice. No espresso here, but they do make very good drip coffee, and serve Chai Baba.
Palace Market
You’ll find a take away deli counter at the back of the market that serves hot and cold food (including breakfast), plus soft serve ice cream made from local buffalo milk. On summer weekends, they set up a BBQ in the parking lot, where you can pick up BBQ and burgers fresh off the grill.
Whale of a Deli
Whale of a Deli is both a small bodega, selling chips, candy and soda, as well as a deli counter that serves up sandwiches, pizza whole and by the slice, and Mexican food. They also have a Double Rainbow ice cream counter.
Whale of a Deli has no website
Point Reyes Roadhouse
California cuisine with Mexican influences.
OLD WESTERN SALOON
Overflowing with both character, and characters—our local dive bar is a great place to stop in for cold beers, bracing cocktails, live music and dancing, and to soak up a piece of history.
LOCAL WINEMAKERS & TASTINGS
Don’t miss a chance to taste some of our local wines. My favorite place is Heidrun Meadery. It’s just up the road from downtown Point Reyes Station and they make their own sparkling mead. It’s amazing stuff, and they’re open for tastings.
see their tasting schedule
WINE LISTS
You’ll find excellent wine selections at Station House Café & Side Street Kitchen.
PLACES TO BUY WINE AND BEER
You can buy bottles of wine to take away for picnics or to take back to your room or cottage. Palace Market is the place to go, but you can also find wine at Cowgirl Creamery Cantina.
Where to Eat in Bolinas and Stinson Beach
Our southern villages offer lots of beachside eateries, great outdoor dining (some are dog-friendly), or grab food to go and enjoy a cocktail while watching the sunset.
Where To Eat In Marshall
All of the restaurants in Marshall are strung along the bay, so you’ll always have a stunning view. Oysters are the favorite, whether you buy them and shuck your own at a picnic table, or enjoy one of the storied restaurants…and they do have a long history here.
Where To Eat In Inverness CA
Eating in Inverness is a treat! You’ll find everything from oysters to Czech food to what food writer Leanne Battelle calls the best cupcakes in Marin. You can have weekend brunch on the bay, or get in on one of the best Reuben sandwiches you’ll ever eat.
