has once again been rated the #1 restaurant for food in Mendocino County by the 2009 Zagat Survey of San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants. For the third year in a row, Kim Badenhop's food has earned Zagat's highest "extraordinary to perfection" rating. Zagat lists the Rendezvous in its "worth a drive" section, and high ratings for service and decor put our restaurant into their group of select restaurants that are "recognized for excellence."

The Rendezvous is proud of its consistently high food ratings in the Zagat Survey -- the highest in Mendocino County from 2004 through the present.

"A magical evening awaits guests of Kim Badenhop, a classically trained chef-owner and wonderful host whose little New French gem tucked away in Fort Bragg is the nicest place for miles and miles. Stopping by to chat with all comers to the romantic, redwood-paneled spot, he handpicks wines to complement the fabulous, organically inflected, creatively presented fare (of course, the outgoing staff really knows the menu too). Bottom line: it’s worth every dollar for anniversaries, birthday dinners or even once a month."

2007 Zagat Survey

The Rendezvous dining room is casual, but elegant and warm, with original redwood paneling and a central fireplace. The dress code is also casual. The menu offers an enticing, diverse selection. Always available are pasta selections, steaks, fresh local seafood, and game dishes. The main influence is country-French. The menu changes about once a month, as we take advantage of the seasonal availability of various foods. For example, the summer brings wild King salmon; the fall, boar and venison; the winter, Dungeness crab; and the spring, early fruits and vegetables. The extraordinary cuisine is matched by a superb offering of wine and beer. We taste hundreds of wines each year, so that we may offer one of the finest selections on the North Coast. Many of the wines on our list are from small, premium, family-owned wineries, and some are available nowhere else on the coast. In addition, the Rendezvous features beers from three of Mendocino County's microbreweries.

Housed in an historic residence built in 1897 by Herbert Baum, the town's apothecary, the Rendezvous is now home to one of the finest restaurants on the Mendocino Coast, as well as six comfortable bed and breakfast rooms. Up the coast ten miles from the village of Mendocino, Fort Bragg and the Rendezvous provide a more economical getaway to the coast than one generally finds in Mendocino, along with a larger helping of local color. Fort Bragg continues to be a working-class town, with the local logging and fishing industries supporting a significant percentage of its residents. The combination of restaurant and B&B evokes the image of an inn in the European countryside, where one would stop at the end of the day for dinner and accommodations.

"A restaurant of national caliber,
with professional and attentive service,
and a skilled chef in the kitchen."

Mobil Travel Guide

"Unpretentious, yet sophisticated setting, with food to match."

Sunset Magazine

is open to the public for dinner. Dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday from 5:30, with last orders taken at 8:30 Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and at 9:00 Friday and Saturday. In the summer, the dining room closes a half hour later. The restaurant is also closed Wednesday during the first two months of the year. Reservations are always suggested, and may be made by phoning the number below, by making a request on our on-line reservation form, or through the Magellan Online Reservation system. When booking, please let us know if you are celebrating a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary.

In addition to Thanksgiving, the Rendezvous offers special menus from time to time, such as winemaker's dinners or seasonal tasting menus. If you would like to be on our e-mail list to receive notificaton of special events and dinners, please sign our guestbook.

Our dining room may also be booked for private parties, for either lunch or dinner. We can accommodate up to thirty-five people, and can tailor a menu to your taste. For parties of fifteen or more, we generally work with the host to develop a fixed-price menu with several entree selections.

Special Menus

Here's what the Zagat Survey of Bay Area Restaurants and the media have to say about the Rendezvous Restaurant:

"A magical evening awaits guests of Kim Badenhop, a classically trained chef-owner and wonderful host whose little New French gem tucked away in Fort Bragg is the nicest place for miles and miles. Stopping by to chat with all comers to the romantic, redwood-paneled spot, he handpicks wines to complement the fabulous, organically inflected, creatively presented fare (of course, the outgoing staff really knows the menu too). Bottom line: it’s worth every dollar for anniversaries, birthday dinners or even once a month."

2007 Zagat Survey

"An appropriately romantic setting for a rendezvous, this elegant old home with its Craftsman-style decor and friendly staff is the best bet for a dining experience in Fort Bragg, offering imaginative, seasonally-driven New French dinners of the first rank (the locally focused wine list is tops, too). Supporters say personable chef-owner Kim Badenhop (who trained under Georges Blanc) is an excellent technician who deserves a better appointed venue (if this were in Mendocino it would be packing them in)."

2006 Zagat Survey

"...creative dishes, each complemented by an amazing wine selection, are absolutely impeccable, and they're served by an eloquent staff...a visit makes a Mendocino weekend perfect."

2005 Zagat Survey

"...this hidden treasure in a historic Fort Bragg bed and breakfast is a great place to rendezvous with the best food on the Mendocino Coast, thanks to chef-proprietor Kim Badenhop's passion and care..."

2004 Zagat Survey

"Out of all the restaurants that dot the magnificent Mendocino coast, there are few that can beat chef-owner Kim Badenhop's passion for food... his creative, delicious new French fare paired with the exemplary yet modestly priced wine list makes this high class Fort Bragg hostelry one of the best deals in the area."

2003 Zagat Survey

"Rustic elegance meets urban sophistication at Fort Bragg's best restaurant..."

Lonely Planet Guide--Coastal California

"A restaurant of national caliber, with professional and attentive service, and a skilled chef in the kitchen." Mobil Travel Guide

"Unpretentious, yet sophisticated setting, with food to match."

Sunset Magazine

"In Fort Bragg, the Rendezvous Inn, which is also a B&B, is outstanding."

Napa Valley Register

"...Fort Bragg's premier culinary destination...I consider Rendezvous among California's finest restaurants..."

David Vokac, Great Towns of Northern California

"You'll love the Rendezvous...it's the real gourmet restaurant in Fort Bragg, and I think it's the best food on the coast, period."

"Letters to Travel," San Francisco Chronicle

"There are many things about this place we just loved, but the peace and quiet were great."

"Such a treasure. We rested and rested and rested. And the salmon - a food for the gods."

is open every day, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You will find our rooms and surroundings to be very comfortable, and our rates reasonable. The rooms and restaurant are non-smoking. To ensure your complete relaxation, none of the rooms have telephones or television. Fort Bragg is almost never hot, and air conditioning on the coast is unheard of. For the times when there is a chill in the air, our rooms are equipped with electric heat. All of the rooms have very comfortable, firm, queen-sized beds and private baths.

Family and group accommodations are available, and well-behaved children are welcome. There are four rooms upstairs in the house, and two rooms in a cottage outside. The cottage is popular with guests who have trouble climbing stairs, and with pairs of couples who travel together. Double doors between the two rooms in the cottage may be opened to provide a suite-like arrangement. Well-behaved pets are welcome in the cottage.

A guest parlor in the house offers a sunny southern exposure, making it ideal for sitting and reading, or relaxing with a complimentary glass of sherry.

Our beautiful gardens bloom year-round, providing fresh flowers, and herbs for the kitchen. When the weather is warm, the gardens may be enjoyed from the front porch of the house, a deck at the back of the house, or the deck around the cottage. The porch and decks are also available for smoking.

A generous breakfast is served between 9:00 and 10:00 A.M. in one of the dining rooms downstairs. Always included are a hot entree (generally featuring eggs and meat), freshly-baked muffins, your choice of hot beverage, and orange juice. Our guests frequently tell us that we have the best B&B breakfast around. We are happy to accommodate vegetarian or other dietary restrictions with advance notice.

The Rendezvous Inn and Restaurant has also become a popular weekend getaway destination for small groups. Guests who have stayed with us have decided to come back with friends, booking the whole inn (six rooms) for a weekend, with one night devoted to a special tasting menu of several courses, with wines to match. The menu is worked out in advance with the host, taking into account both taste and budget. Menus can range from relatively simple three or four course meals, up to six or seven courses served over a period of several hours. Another popular option has been a dinner of roasted suckling pig. The off-season is the most popular time of year for these gatherings, with the tasting dinner served in a private dining room with fireplace. However, with the exception of holiday weekends, these weekend getaways can be arranged at any time of year.

This is some of what our guests have had to say about the inn:

"Our first visit to a bed and breakfast. What fun! The charm of this old inn is wonderful. The dinner last night was first class... We came needing to rest and relax. The quiet and slow pace was just what we needed."

"There are many things about this place we just loved, but the peace and quiet were great."

"Such a treasure. We rested and rested and rested. And the salmon - a food for the gods."

"What a delightful find! A host with a heart, and a delightful place to call home...We had a wonderful stay."

"After a long day and disappointments in Mendocino, this was a real find."