Mendo Bistro : great food in downtown Fort Bragg

Mendo Bistro is an affordable dining choice for Northern California gourmets located at 301 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, California on the beautiful Mendocino Coast.

Mendo Bistro's
seasonal menu
is sure to include the finest local seafood, produce, beer and wine as well as house made fresh pastas.

Mendo Bistro offers fantastic food at prices everyone can swallow.

Mendo Bistro is closed. Thank you for 18 wonderful years.

For more information send email to: eat@mendobistro.com
or call 707-964-4974

Our restaurant is an affordable dining choice for Northern California gourmets
located at 301 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, California
on the beautiful Mendocino Coast.

Recent accolades for Chef Nicholas Petti's

A Rising Star on the Dining Scene

see the listing:
Rising California Dining Stars
in the Official 2006 California State Visitor's Guide

"Top Food - Mendocino County "

Zagat Guide 2008

"Chef Nicholas Petti "continues his amazing track record" at this Fort Bragg "labor of love" where he and his "gracious" wife, Jaimi, "act like they've known you forever", "providing creative" New American "cuisine at prices even locals can afford"; "it doesn't have to be a special occasion" to "indulge" in some of the "best crab cakes on the coast" - or to order one of the "excellent" protein entrees cooked as you like it, and to go with, an "innovative" sauce - but "whenever you do, it always is.""

Zagat Guide 2008

"A 'youthful exuberance' reigns at this 'zany place full of characters' led by 'ringleader' chef Nicholas Petti and
his wife Jaimi, who make 'everyone feel like the most important customers'; kick back in the 'open' upstairs bistro overlooking Fort Bragg and 'feel in command' as you 'choose the method and the sauce' you prefer for your entree from the 'creative' New American menu, plus a bottle from the 'excellent wine list'."

Zagat Guide 2007

"Mendo Bistro has changed Fort Bragg's reputation by creating a delightful environment..."

Insider's Guide to California Wine Country 2006

"A Fort Bragg favorite is hip Mendo Bistro - great food and reasonable prices share star billing..."

Moon Handbook 2006

"The constant buzz from this popular restaurant spills out from the second floor of the Company Store complex downtown."

Fodor's Northern California 2006

Captivated in Mendocino

"Their attitude is hip, but the food is serious and ambitious."

Olivia Wu, San Francisco Chronicle, October 2005
read the full review here

Winner- 2 Years in a Row
Mendocino Wine and Crab Days Crabcake Cook-off
2002 and 2003
Deemed "Unbeatable" in 2004 - Promoted to judge

"The crabcakes at Mendo Bistro have no equal"

Heather Irwin, Discover Wine Country, February 2006
read more here

"With its liberal use of local produce, county-centric wine list and nice view of old Downtotwn Fort Bragg, chef owner Nicholas Petti's relaxed, big and barny bistro is well worth the short drive up from Mendo; offering more than just the famed crab cakes, the user friendly New American menu allows vegetarians and carnivores alike to create their own entrees (via a nice long list of ingredients, cooking techniques and sauces) while a staff of hustling hotties helps out."

Zagat Guide 2006

Finest Crab Cakes in the West

"Petti's crab cakes, with straight-ahead crab flavor and texture, are worth a trip."

Olivia Wu, San Francisco Chronicle, February 2006
read the full story here

What the bloggers are saying about our Mendocino Coast restaurant

Je Mange La Ville, Portland Oregon

This Ain't Livin', Fort Bragg, CA

Gastronomie, Oakland, CA (check the comments)

Restaurant Whore, San Francisco, CA (check the comments)

Mendo Bistro Big On Flavor

"Excellent service, friendly atmosphere accompanies good tasting food."

Santa Rosa Press Democrat Review, May 2004

"The town's sole hip restaurant."

Fodor's 2003

"Best crab north of San Francisco..."

Sunset, December & January 2003/2004

Feature article VIA Magazine

VIA, November/December 2003

"Casual local favorite"

Sunset, July 2003

"Visitors to Mendo should make a point to drive to this plain but nice bistro...where chef/owner Nicholas Petti, Crab Festival Poster Boy, delights in dishing up innovative Med-New American fare, proffered by a staff with terrific serving energy"

Zagat 2004

"Since it opened in 1999, Mendo Bistro has built a loyal clientele among the locals, from hotel operators and B&B owners to winery workers, schoolteachers and retirees. But for out-of-towners, it's still one of the coast's best-kept secrets, with a menu that offers hearty entrees -- such as a quarter free-range chicken, served with a starch and a vegetable -- for under $10."

Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 2002

Q: "What's the secret to your crabcakes?"
A: "My style of cooking is very simple, with the focus on the ingredients. The best thing I can do is stay out of the way of the ingredients. The food should be the star, not the chef."

Sacramento Bee, 2002

"...lesser-known restaurants on the coast deserve your attention. At Mendo Bistro in Fort Bragg, innovative chef/owner Nicholas Petti makes fresh pasta, bread and desserts daily. He features a small wine list with regional choices like Jepson's 2000 Viognier and Claudia Springs' 1999 Zinfandel."

Wine Enthusiast May 2002