Hoppe’s Garden Bistro

HOPPES — MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING! DISAPPOINTING!
A.
Jan. 2014 was a ladies group gathering for lunch.
The kitchen seemed very unprepared & confused.
Guests were served entrees at tables, while others at the tables waited for food
to arrive… much longer than was comfortable or necessary.
Burgers arrived w/​out burger condiments, had to be requested and so-​forth.
Things did not flow well. The whole experience seemed disorganized.
B. Mar 2014 (the Sea Glass Festival)

A friend and I stopped in for LUNCH on the back patio.
The lunch menu that was offered was very limited.
Our server (very pleasant) warned us when we asked about certain items,
that the portion was small. Every entrée was small as we went down
of the menu ???
We both ordered, and sure enough the portions were small «like as in TINY».
More like a small appetizer than a lunch entrée.
My tuna salad was about 3 tble on a dried crusty, crispy thing identified
as a brioche on the menu. (oddest, tasteless, brioche that I have ever eaten).
Even the bread basket offering was tiny slices & skimpy – the only part of the
meal that I really thought was delicious was the bread.
My friend and I felt very disappointed in the food. A big deal about nothing.
I personally did not like the overly gourmet menu for lunch. There was not
one salad offered on the luncheon menu.
(Just the latest trendy stuff… aren’t we tired of KALE or QUINOA yet???)

I believe I will «REBEL» soon by eating a tub of bacon drippings on LIVE TV.

I read Hoppe has changed owner, or management.
I hope they will be able to find their correct compass soon.
Hoppes will not see my face, or wallet, for awhile.

We had lunch here in our way to big sur looking for a restaurant with california cuisine. It was fanstastic!!!
I had a salad and my boyfriend a burger with blue cheese — both delicious!!!
In addition it was one of the most beautyful restaurants with a nice garden so we could sit outside. Service was excellent too!

I have had a few nice meals here over the years and sadly will miss having this affordable dining establishment in Cayucos. They are closed forever.

This is heartbreaking. Seriously. One of the best restaurants ever. I will forever miss Chef Hoppe. RIP

Hoppe’s is simply the best.
I recently had my wedding reception in the garden patio (about 75 people). The space is enchanting, the food was delicious and the staff was on point and consistently accommodating.
I also need to mention how lovely the manager, Brendan, is. He took charge, problem solved, and always had answers to my questions.
If you are in Cayucos, stopping by Hoppe’s is a must — even if to just admire the gardens.
Can’t wait to visit again! :)

The food was good, but not great. The scallops and halibut were really yummy, but my sister’s risotto was really undercooked… crunchy rice.
The biggest issue we had was that the service was extremely slow. The night we were there, it seemed like there was a wedding banquet going on, and the main dining room only had a few people in it. Even with a half-​empty dining room, we were waiting FOREVER for our food. We were there for 2.5 hours for some reason. It was apparent they were devoting all of their help to the banquet and not to the regular diners.
They brought us bread, but didn’t bring us any bread plates until 10 minutes later, when all the bread was gone. When the waiter came to take my soup away, he spilled it all over his arm and in our drinks. They did not offer to bring us new drinks.
Like I said, the food was decent, but good enough to deal with the other problems of the night.

I’ve been here several times for lunch, and loved it; I have finally made it here for dinner and I have to say it was incredible! Try the pork belly appetizer (if you eat meat that is), it was deee-​licious! (and they do have a couple vegetarian options by the way)
I will most definitely be back here, and ask them to pair your dinner with a glass of wine by the way :)
Service is not the fastest, but it is the type of restaurant where you should sit and enjoy every minute of the experience, I highly recommend making reservations so you can get a nice window seat as well!

Not the Hoppe’s of past years.
We have been devoted customers for many years, no longer.
New owners, replacement chef???
.
Very disappointed
.
Obvious change in formula; used to be each dish was special, not now.
With our Sun brunch the main selection was good. The sides were the same on every plate, a batch of pan fried potatoes with some season salt and garlic powder for seasoning.
.
Several small corners were cut from past years, all obviously to increase profit margin by making it easier in the kitchen; all ok if the food is still special. We don’t pay special prices for not special food.
.
Why add new tables, and a three piece combo to play music, and cut the quality of the food?
May appeal to tourists for one time, it is a beautiful setting, don’t imagine the new Hoppe’s will make it.
I never post negative, but have to here to save us old regulars from what is now a mediocre at best restraunt.
Too may other good choices in our area these days.

The service was horrible and my food was cold. Let me start off by saying that I have eaten at this restaurant for years and have, in the past, always enjoyed my dining experience at this restaurant. I was unaware that the previous owner had passed and the restraunt was in the hands of new folks.
Our reservation was made about six months ago. We arrived and were seated. We ordered and received sparkling water. The rest of the evening ’”went to hell in a hand-​basket”.
There was a delay in getting a server (Lauren). She was nice enough and apologized for the delay. We graciously replied! «It happens». We ordered wine from their menu. After a delay, she returned and informed us they were out of that selection and we ordered another bottle off their menu. She returned again informing us they were out of that product and that the wine menu was outdated. At that point, I indicated that I was tired of guessing and would pass on the wine.
Now, forty-​five minutes into this, our order was taken. We asked for and received bread.
Our butter lettuce salads arrived and they were great.
My wife had the scallops and they were great. I ordered the Angus filet (medium cooked) and veggies. When I received the meal, it was cold. They took it back and re-​heated it. When the meal was returned, it had been warmed. I cut into meat and it was browned but rare. It was also grainy (I believe Angus was the name of the horse). The server offered to have the filet cooked more but I believed I was pressing my luck at this point and further cooking would not change the quality of the meat. I took the meat for my dogs.
The server offered free desserts. We declined. I walked out the back through the garden seating for one last look at the place. My wife spoke to the red-​shoed owner or manager who did not seem impressed with my wife’s comments.
Halfway to our room, I discarded the meat. I love my dogs.

My review is regarding the large party services I received at Hoppes in May 2014. We choose to have our rehearsal dinner for 27 people in the Garden courtyard normally used during their bakery hours. I cannot begin to thank Brendan, Alex and our bartender (oops I didn’t get his name) enough for the absolutely amazing event they helped us hold. We were a bit of a thorn in the side group as we had a 80s prom themed rehearsal dinner. They let us decorate the entire space, play 80s tunes and stay a little later then planned as we were enjoying ourselves.
For planning, Brendan stepped in and made sure I we were planning the best experience possible for our guests. He was flexible with my crazy requests and provided several options. Planning was just so easy with his help!
Now onto the food, my now husband and I usually anticipate meh food for large groups but wow were we blown away. For our group of 27 people all food was served quickly, cooked perfectly and still steaming hot upon arrival. I about licked my plate clean!
And finally the service! They nailed it, Alex was so sweet and attentive and made sure everyone had exactly what they needed. Our bartender was generous with the pours and made sure everyone’s glass was always full. In a very old school and traditional way they served the ladies first followed by the gents which did not go unnoticed by this traditional bride :)
Overall a tremendously positive experience, I would definitely recommend Hoppes for small groups and large. You will not be disappointed and will walk away with full bellies and amazing memories!

Great ambiance. Never felt rushed throughout the entire dinner. Quiet, relaxing and upscale food and service (thank you Chris). Wine menu adequate. Angus burger was awesome. Fish was extremely tasty and well prepared as well as the hand cut pasta dish. Coffee was good quality and the desert offerings were awesome. They also have a cool but small and quiet bar that looked inviting. Would I return? Without a doubt.

What a lovely place to have lunch! We stopped in for a late lunch and the place was all ours so we lucked out and got the waiters full attention when we had some questions. My meal (the scallops) was delicious and the wine was divine…
I wanted to go back but didn’t get the chance, but when I get back to Cayucos you will find me there for dinner.

It turns out that the chef, Chris Watkins, does got to the Baywood Farmer’s Market as well as Giovanni’s Fish Market in Morro Bay and to fisherman along the wharf there. And he is originally from Baywood.
The restaurant has chosen a new wine goddess Trina. She, I guess, will be involved in selecting appropriate wines for the restaurant along with the chef. Plus there is some movement toward a new wrap around bar area that will feature a grand piano. I’m not sure when all of this will come together.
The menu and wine list are still a work in progress so making any judgements at this point make little sense. Hoppe’s appears to be seeking a new identity post-​Bill Hoppe Master and Iron Chef. Its definitely going to take some time to figure all of that out. And even the ambience of the restaurant could be changing with new construction.
The service is still beyond excellent in my opinion. That has remained consistently superior. And the garden and patio area are still spectacular when everything there is in full bloom.

Guests from Los Angeles drive up just for Dinner ! Hoppe’s is that special.
The back patio dinning is special as well !

We went on the Sunday dinner before Thanksgiving. The restaurant was not too crowded and seemed staffed normally.
I got a flight of 3 reds from the central coast for $ 18. They served it on a tree that held the glasses. They serve a nice big bread basket with 4 types of warm bread.
We ordered ahi spring rolls, seafood ravioli, and pancake appetizers. The spring roll was ok, but it was deep fried with a heavy wrapper. To me a spring roll means a steamed wrapper, not a deep fried one. The ravioli was good, but the seafood stuffing needed more flavor. The tangy tomato sauce was not a great match for the seafood stuffing. The potato pancake was about an inch thick, so it was more of a croquette than a pancake. It was served on tangy tomato sauce and had melted cheese on top. At this point, we got worried that the kitchen lacked imagination to be serving such standard Southern Italian taste in a French bistro.
For our main we got the vegetable pappardelle with tangy red sauce. Ok, I ordered all these, but my mom pointed out that the waitress might have wanted to mention that 3 of the dishes were using the same sauce. Also, the menu called the sauce coulis, which even though I took French, means nothing to me. If they had used plain English it would have been more obvious that I was ordering 3 dishes with the same boring sauce.
The service was ok, but always a beat or two off the timing I would have liked.

Honestly I was initially a little put off by the staff. Very polite and well trained but seems a bit pretentious for a small-​town restaurant. I prefer less «steamed and pressed» when it comes to my waiting staff, even when trying to convey an heir of «upper class.»
Cold «bottled» water, hot fresh mini rolls with freshly made hummus were quite tasty.
The prices are high but portions compensate. My husband and I shared the Ruben for lunch and I have to say its one of the best I’ve had.
My first impression was not great but the meal more than compensated, which is more than half the battle in my book.
Well done Hoppe’s!

I would give this place five stars had the service not been so slow. We started out on a great foot. The guy who seated us was phenomenal. Warm, welcoming, informative and truly seemed to be happy we came! We sat outside on their beautiful little patio and enjoyed the garden and butterflies. We made a special trip out to Cayucos because my husband had never tried abalone. After a quick Unilocal search, this seemed to be the only place even remotely close to being on our way home. Even though it was an hour out of the way in each direction, it was totally worth it! The abalone dish was delicious. I loved the hazelnut beurre blanc. However, I wish it had been fried instead of pan seared. Crazy I know, but I haven’t had abalone since I was a kid and that is how I envisioned it. So I was slightly disappointed. Husband, never having enjoyed this delicacy before, thought it was amazing.
We did all shared plates in the spirit of trying to have a «light» lunch. But we still left stuffed! We shared the spinach salad which had lentils in it and also some really yummy grilled tomatoes. We also had the ahi and shrimp spring roll. It was surprisingly good despite how strange it sounded on the menu. Plus it was served with two Japanese-​style side salads making this huge appetizer almost a meal itself.
Being the bread lover that I am, I very much enjoyed the fresh baked rolls and homemade hummus. We would definitely go back to Hoppe’s when/​if we visit Cayucos again!

Had a really nice meal here after my wife and I checked into the Shoreline Inn across the street. A nice gentleman greeted us as we looked at the menu outside and describe some of the best dishes. Definitely made us feel welcomed.
Started off with a potato pancake stuff with goat cheese that was ok and a spinach salad with smoked applewood bacon that really didn’t have that much flavor. Should have went with the recommended abalone which is sourced nearby.
However, we loved our entrees. I had a filet mignon with shrimp and a huge scallop while my wife had their one of their specials, a black cod with a maple orange glaze. Both were cooked perfectly and were very tasty. We finished off dinner with a awesome chocolate torte served with praline ice cream.
The restaurant is really nice and we sat by the window and admired the view. The service was very good. All in all, it was a very pleasant meal. Note that they are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

This place is a real gem and was discovered by accident during one of my earlier trips en route to Morro Bay.
My favorite by far on the menu is the «Seared Organic King Salmon, Wasabi Mashed Potatoes and Sake-​Miso Beurre Blanc». Everything about this dish is perfect and hits the spot. The salmon is cooked to perfection and is bathed in the sake-​miso beurre blanc. The wasabi mashed potatoes goes well with the salmon that the whole entrée is like a symphony of textures and flavors that excite the taste buds and guaranteed to bring a smile to whoever is eating it.
I have also tried the California Halibut with Spinach and Lemon Butter and the Hand-​Made Fettucine with Smoked Chicken and Mascarpone. I prefer the salmon over the halibut. I generally like pasta cooked in a tomato-​based sauce but this fettucine with smoked chicken came in a sauce mixture of both tomato and cheese that combined beautifully and was very tasty.
For appetizer, the Clams Steamed in White Wine with Artichoke Pesto was also delicious with fresh, succulent clams in white wine sauce with bits of artichoke. The stock was so good I drank some of like soup.
There’s also a short chubby dog that struts around with an attitude. He wears a sign on the neck telling patrons not to feed him so maybe he realizes this and is a bit disgruntled. The dog acts as if he runs the place and never comes over when you call on him but will unexpectedly be sitting right next to you when you least anticipate its presence.
On a sunny day, it’s great to dine out on the back garden patio. Staff is very professional and friendly. The service is excellent.
I highly-​recommend Hoppe’s Garden Bistro and Wine Shop!

We had started our odyssey that day with a tour of the abalone farm just north of Cayucos. The next logical step was to demolish some of those babies. Knowing this was going to cost me dearly, I simply adopted a «devil may care» attitude, and did it anyway. And just so you know, I am not usually this way, but I figured life is too short to pass this opportunity.
We had been asking around, and Hoppe’s name kept popping up with the locals. This was one of the restaurants we have been dying to try, simply because they offer those precious little nuggets of abalone gold, both as an appetizer and as a meal.
Hoppe’s is a charming, small Victorian dining room in the center of quaint, older than old Cayucos. They also feature dog friendly, garden dining. Their garden is beautiful and old fashioned, full of flowers, arbors, and intimate hidden dining spots. The indoor dining room is tasteful and equally Victorianesque.
Their own house baked rolls and whipped butter came out first. We got to sample three kinds. A very chewy sourdough, one was seeded, one plain and one I don’t know what.
.
Then a roasted beet salad with arugula, spiced walnuts and gorgonzola cheese, with a very delicious balsamic dressing. It was large, with huge quantities of beets and cheese and greens, plenty for the two of us to share.
Our entrees?
But of course, the abalone. Thin, lightly breaded then quickly sauteed in butter. So delicious, so tender. The beurre blanc they normally top it with, I asked to have on the side. I have to admit, the sauce was fabulous, with chunks of pear and roasted hazelnuts. But I am a purist, and needed to have my abalone presented simply. No fancy sauces to corrupt the taste, no matter how good. It was an absolute success just the way it was with a squeeze of lemon.
Mr. B’s choice was a seafood soup. He loved it. It consisted of a huge bowlful of fresh salmon, mussels, shrimp, scallops, clams, and probably more. I couldn’t care less. I had my eyes closed while I was slowly devouring my abalone and moaning.
No dessert. But no regrets.
Service was excellent. We definitely enjoyed everything, just as everyone said. We were in love with our meal. A trip here is well worth it.