The Pine Cone Diner

Watch out!
Not only is the service the worse I have experienced in Marin since moving here 10 years ago (would it kill the waitress to be pleasant?), this place, also:
–Ignores the measures in place to conserve water! California is going through a major drought. Restaurants are required to serve water only if requested by the customer. This place ignores the measure, and automatically serves huge classes of water to its customers. Worse, the customer that turns the glass down is treated badly!
–Overcharges! Our bill was $ 68. An 18% tip for a table of 5 is automatically added to the bill, yet our total came out to be to $ 87. That a $ 7 overcharge!
Never again will I set foot in that place.

The good news: It is nice to have a place to eat here that is reasonably priced. The food was good, and a few items were excellent – like the sherry vinaigrette and the black current tea.
The bad news: our server. At first I was annoyed at her rotten attitude. Then I thought about how miserable she must be about her job. Maybe she should go to night school in a subject she enjoys and find a new occupation. This one is obviously not working out for her.

So you just drove 100 miles to visit Point Reyes and you want to get some food. Your stomach is doing more thinking than your brain and you decide to visit the Pine Cone Diner.
Bad choice.
The food here is expensive (think $ 15 for scrambled egg plate with toast) and mediocre. Service is mediocre as well. I Unilocal’d this place before going and asked for what Unilocalers said was «good» at this place. Unfortunately, they no longer served any of the foodstuffs I asked for. What?
The room is also extremely warm. Even downright hot. It screams: get out ASAP and return back to your A/​C car.
Go across the street to the food and cheese market. They have great coffee, cheese, and sandwiches for a better price.

I’ll start by saying I rarely write reviews and am not a finicky foodie by any stretch but after the very dissappointing experience here I felt compelled…
I ordered a burger and an orange juice. The burger was decent though overpriced at $ 14. The $ 2.50 OJ was not fresh squeezed but rather a very small portion of frozen concentrate. The «prickly service» rang true when I tried to send the OJ back and was thereafter completely ignored.

Finally I found a place with normal food here in the Point Reyes area.
Seems like most places try to be fancy for the tourist. Offering stuff you would never have at home but you order it so you can look cool.
Not at this place. This place is a hidden gem. I had the breakfast sandwich minus the tomato. My God it was great. Now considering it was my second day here and I read dying for a normal breakfast and found it here.
My wife had pancakes. Big fluffy and they were great. Lots of maple syrup and I needed to be rolled out. Yes I tried her pancakes.
If you are in Point Reyes you need to come here.
Word off warning. The waitress warned us it was going to be about a 30 minute wait for food. It was 35. It was worth it. Our waitress was very nice and cool lady with a full sleeve on her right arm. Very cool place

Amazing food. The they serve breakfast and lunch. Their milkshakes are to die for. Huge portions as well. Hole in the wall place but it’s so worth it. It’s super busy as well. They seem a little short staffed. Only accept cash and check:

I was promised «prickly» service and everyone was perfectly nice. BOOOOO!!!
Seriously, stop in for breakfast here, you won’t regret it. Classic diner food done really well. Great omelets, tasty bacon, and awesome biscuits and gravy. I also caught myself leering at my neighbor’s pancakes, which looked amazing. I’m running out of adjectives here. Just go!

Judging from the Unilocal reviews (and the framed SF Chronicle review at the restaurant!), I was led to believe we were going to have «prickly» service and a long wait at Pine Cone Diner and neither of our experiences lived up to those expectations.
We ended up getting breakfast at Pine Cone Dinner both Saturday and Sunday during our stay in Point Reyes. The first time, we got there about 8:45am and there were only a few other patrons. We were warmly greeted and served coffee and waters right away. I ordered the corned beef hash and my husband got the cheddar bacon omelet. Both were awesome and filling — so much so I ended up taking a good portion of my corned beef hash that I couldn’t finish as a pre-​hike snack for our dogs.
On Sunday we ended up getting a later start as we tried Bovine Bakery first but then found out they didn’t serve their Breakfast Pizza until 11am (Then why is it called Breakfast Pizza?) so we headed over to Pine Cone about 9:45am. It was definitely more crowded, but we easily found a seat at the bar. Before we were served, our waitress warned us they just got several big groups so the wait could be from 20 – 35 minutes for food. We were fine with that and got our drinks. I ordered the Pine Cone Scramble (eggs, bacon, green chiles, scallions and cheddar) with a side of hash browns and my husband got their homemade biscuits and gravy. We were actually served much sooner than they had quoted us and again, the food was awesome. A tier well above your standard diner food.
I would definitely come back here again (and again!) next time we’re in Point Reyes! And important to note — cash only, but they happily direct you to an ATM across the street if needed.

Excellent food and service. Busy, but no wait on a beautiful Sunday morning. Wholesome and heartwarming.

Wow, I don’t understand how this roadside café does not have a solid 5 Star Rating! You have to accept it for what it is and rate accordingly and not compare a breakfast/​lunch café to some swanky place with linen table clothes!
With that off my chest, we showed up at nearly 1 o’clock for a Sunday breakfast. The place was packed, but we were fortunate to grab a patio table with an awesome view of both the foothills and the activity in town. The line for seating quickly grew behind us.
Sure, at the end of a very busy weekend there were a couple of popular menu items they had run out of. For sure, had we gotten there early enough I certainly would have had the pan fried trout and eggs. Instead I opted for the cinnamon French toast with the berry compote. Sum it up in one word, no problem, «YUM!»
Ellie had the fresh made Corned Beef Hash and eggs. We’re told they slowly bake it all night. I had a taste and have to agree it was perhaps the best hash I’ve ever eaten.
The staff worked together as a team. No less than 3 servers anticipated our wants and needs… all with warm genuine smiles.
Seriously, who could ask for anything more?

I am a local, frequent diner at Pine Cone. The diner has been through many incarnations, I started dining here back in the 1980s when it was Mike’s Café.
I must say, the Pine Cone is a gem. I always order the spinach & feta omelet. It’s is consistently delicious. Such a comforting dish and an ample portion.
I’m greeted promptly and cheerfully. The service is attentive but not overly intrusive, which I sincerely appreciate. As seating is limited, I have shared a large table with other diners, who I didnt know. The Pine Cone staff is knowledgable of the area to out of towners and locals alike.
This is my favorite breakfast spot in West Marin.

«Prickly service» my left nut.
The service is so bad it’s almost willfully incompetent. There are two waitresses, a sort of hybrid hostess girl doing God knows what, and a busboy. Yet there are only like 12 tables and 6 counter seats.
And still they can’t get their shit together?
A party of 5 next to us just up and left because nobody took their order. A couple who sat there next sat unacknowledged for 15 minutes. Not even given a menu.
The food was good but not worth the stress of horrid service.
Either it’s horrible management or … Yeah. Horrible management.

It was Sunday afternoon almost 2:30 pm. Other places nearby had long lines, so we (a group of six) came in and sat down. The kids were immediately drawn to the small table in the back. We were all very hungry so we failed to notice they were about to close and also they they were cash. Anyway, I could feel all eyes on us as we sat down, but the older lady started to set our table and said we were fine. We really appreciated that!
The food came fast. I’m sure the guys in the kitchen were already getting ready to leave when we showed up. I felt a little bad, but we were too hungry to dwell too much on it. Everything tasted good. The Reuben sandwich and the spinach– cranberry-​mango salad were my favorite. We never felt rushed and really appreciated their patience.

Came for lunch at Pt Reyes Station expecting to get Cowgirl Creamery but they’re closed on Tuesdays. Disappointed, we turned to the Pine Cone next door.
–Had the fried oyster salad and it was A+. Some of the best fried oysters I’ve ever had. Would go back just for that. Served with delicious whole grain bread.
–Clam chowder was also very good
Service mediocre.
Cash only.
Prices pretty high for what you get, but this is Marin.

I had a cram chowder and fried oysters sandwich. Those are really awesome!!! And got a huge chocolate milk shake as desserts. The outside tables are nice, you can enjoy sunshine and chat with the guys sit next to you.

Kelle and I had breakfast there on New Year’s Day 2015, and I think the best way to sum up Pine Cone Diner is, «Not great, doesn’t suck.»
Seems a lot of folks here in Unilocalville like to whine about the ‘Prickly Service’ and the fact that they’re a cash only business. The service was just fine for us, because a little kindness goes a long way; we were nice to them and they were nice to us. As for their cash only business model, well, that’s their decision to make and if you don’t like it don’t eat there. There’s an ATM on the opposite corner so either grab some cash and eat (like we did), or don’t, but either way, quit whining about it.
I had the ham & cheese omelette and Kelle had the Pine Cone Scramble, both with hash browns. The omelette was all sorts of average and the scramble was quite tasty (no pine cones were harmed in the making of the scramble). The hash browns were perfectly cooked — crispy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside — and very good.
Overall it was average food in your average small-​town diner with average folks running the place. No complaints here, and when we stay in Point Reyes again, we’ll go back for more.

My husband and I have always eaten breakfast here when we’ve visited. The waitresses were efficient, and seemed fine, maybe not so far as to say friendly.
We went for breakfast at 10, and since there were just the two of us, we opted to sit at the bar, rather than the awkward tiny table on the end of the restaurant. Coffee was put in front of me fast, which started the morning off well. We sat right in front of the coffee maker, so refills came fresh and fast.
I ordered the breakfast sandwich. AMAZING. Cheesy. Buttery. Dripping with over easy egg yolkiness. Comes with hashbrowns that could have used a bit more browning, but the flavor was OK.
My husband ordered the buttermilk pancakes with a side of bacon. Pancakes were light and fluffy and tasty. Bacon was delicious. My only skepticism is the price of a side of bacon: $ 5.45 for three pieces. Now I get that the meat around here is raised in a sustainable fashion, with pigs hand massaged by virgins, and eating free-​range alfalfa. But that’s a pricey side of bacon.
Other than that, no complaints. We were in, we got strong coffee, we ate, and we left.
And yes, cash only. Which is absurd because this is not the Dark Ages; anyone with half a brain and a Wi-​Fi or cell signal can get Sqaure. But apparently there’s a time warp in West Marin. (Also evidence of a time warp: as we walked through the neighborhood the evening before, I saw someone watching Full House, and there’s a working pay phone in town. Is it 1993?)

CASH ONLY! This was the closest food that we could walk to quickly at Point Reyes Station, and with a cranky 6-​year-​old with low blood sugar in your party, getting food quickly was the key deciding factor in choosing this place for lunch.
It’s got the feel of an old mom-​and-​pop diner, and I want to say that it’s family run (judging by facial similarities in the staff, and the fact that our younger waitress called the older waitress «mom»).
If you’re squeamish about flies buzzing around, I would definitely avoid this place. We were constantly swatting at about a half a dozen flies (at least) buzzing around our food and table. They landed on almost everything unless we were vigilant (and no matter how vigilant you are, the flies were bound to land on something you didn’t want them to – like your drink straw).
The food was so-​so; I didn’t believe it was worth the amount we paid (knock it down about $ 1-​$ 3/​plate and you’ll have a solid place), but it wasn’t bad. They can probably get away with the prices because they’re seriously like one of three options unless you wanna get fancy. Sadly, we weren’t feeling fancy (especially not with a hungry and cranky 6-​year-​old in tow). Plus, Pt. Reyes Station is a tourist trap for everyone wanting to make a pit stop before driving out into the gloom and fog to hunt down the lighthouse, so the prices weren’t ENTIRELY surprising.
Still, next time, I think we’ll pack a picnic lunch ahead of time (or suck it up and pay a little extra for something fancier — and I hope yummier).

If our phones worked in this town and we could have Unilocaled the place up, we probably would not have eaten here.
Ended up here because it was literally the last place we walked into. We should have known that Pt. Reyes would have been the absolute tourist trap with overpriced, boring food. We should have gone to the deli (probably the cheapest option), but were too tired and hungry to walk back to it. There really aren’t many dining options in this town.
It was so hot inside. Almost hotter than it was outside and the flies abounded. Sticker shock when we saw the prices on the menu for such simple diner fare. Although hungry, my stomach was a bit upset with me so I only ordered a green salad (also a way to keep costs down). My husband ordered a bowl of vegetarian chili in the same vein. We ended up paying $ 13 bucks for a cheeseburger for my son (he insisted). Crap! Also, $ 6 for one buckwheat pancake for my daughter… They offered breakfast all day.
Best thing and ironically best priced item was the buckwheat pancake, which was huge, fluffy and the size of a plate. It was very good. My son loved the cheeseburger but he loves any cheeseburger. The fries that came with the burger were quite good. My salad was just a little plate of mixed greens. Nothing else. No onions, no tomatoes, no other vegetables. Just salad greens. With a roasted shallot vinaigrette on the side. For nearly $ 7. My husband’s «bowl» of chili was tiny. I don’t know what size the cup would have been. And it was literally just beans and tomato sauce (no corn or anything else in the chili). For $ 8 something. Ridiculous.
One of the reasons why the food was pricey was that many of the items were organic. But still we felt that it was overpriced. I have to take an extra star off because it was CASH ONLY! If you are going to charge that much for food at least have the decency to offer credit card. I don’t mind paying cash if the place is a good value. But these were not hole in the wall prices.

Ate here for lunch. Walked in and a sweet young girl greeted us and took our drink orders– that was where the good customer service ended. Someone else was our server– she didn’t introduce herself and didn’t care to do more than take our order and drop off the bill. Refills apparently weren’t part of our dining experience either was checking to make sure the food was palatable and that we didn’t need anything else.
I ordered the Cobb salad which was a typical Cobb but the bread that comes on the side was the memorable part-​it was good as was their ranch dressing. My boyfriend had their fried oyster sandwich and said it was meh.
Don’t go here expecting good customer service — the 60+ year old female with short hair, sleeve tattoo, & interesting fashion sense was extremely rude. She snapped at me when I asked for the bread that came w/​my salad. WOW!
The booth seats are tattered and the bathroom was dirty.
The locals can have this place b/​c it seems that’s how Point Reyes Station likes it.