Gourmet Au Bay — Restaurant in Guerneville

A Coastal Culinary Gem: Chef Austin O’Donnell’s Magic at Gourmet Au Bay

Nestled along Bodega Bay’s picturesque shoreline, Gourmet Au Bay delivers an extraordinary dining experience under Chef Austin O’Donnell’s talented guidance.

Chef Austin’s passion was immediately evident as he shared stories about his Napa Valley roots and commitment to farm-to-table ingredients. Randy and I started with perfectly fresh oysters, followed by the Hummus Mezze with house-made pita bread – pillowy inside with just the right char outside.

The Beet Salad featured vibrant beets from Soda Canyon alongside foraged greens from Minor Winery, with whipped feta, pistachios, and vadouvan vinaigrette creating perfect harmony. On Chef Austin’s recommendation, we tried the crab roll on his unique milk bread – a revelation of textures and flavors.

The highlight was the Smoked Clam pizza, wood-fired to perfection with clams, garlic, olive oil, parsley, and Parmigiano – satisfying my seafood craving perfectly. Though typically not dessert-inclined, the carrot bread with Shasta Plum preserves and pistachio meringue had me practically licking the bowl clean.

Chef Austin’s ability to transform locally sourced ingredients into memorable dishes speaks to both his technical skill and deep understanding of flavors. His Napa Valley background shines through in every thoughtful preparation.

A special thank you to Chef Sebastian from The Garden at Tannery Bend Beer Works for recommending this hidden gem with its dog-friendly patio and panoramic views. We will certainly be back and encourage others to support this incredible gem in Bodega Bay – a place where exceptional food, warm service, and coastal charm come together perfectly.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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From the moment we arrived at the outdoor podium to the moment we left, it was an utterly disappointing experience. We waited in the cold for a good 10 mins while some of the wait staff looked at us from inside. Finally one of them came out and took our orders. While ordering they told me I could not add any shrimp to my salad due to the pre making the shrimp for the shrimp Louie, so I had to get the paella. When it arrived it was the smallest version of paella I've ever seen for $26. It basically was a small layer of rice, 2 boiled shrimp, a couple tiny bits of octopus, and 2 little pieces of overcooked gross tasting fish. Oh and not to forget the clearly frozen, microwaved peas. All in a miniature maybe 5 inch cast iron pan. In that moment I also thought, so you were fine adding the shrimp to my paella, but not in my salad and it was also not a shrimp Louie sandwich? On top of the food being extremely disappointing and expensive, the wait staff were rude and short with us the entire time, which made eating there very uncomfortable. Definitely will never be eating...

My recent dining experience left much to be desired. The service felt disconnected and lacked the warmth I anticipated. Despite the high prices, the portions were disappointingly small even for tapas standards and the quality did not meet expectations, particularly with the seafood, which seemed sparse and underwhelming in flavor. Each dish we tried had its issues, from overly dry presentations to unbalanced sauces that didn't complement the main ingredients well. The paella, notably, was a letdown with just a thin layer of rice and minimal seafood, which didn't justify its cost. Even the peas seemed as though they were reheated in a microwave. The crab cakes were overwhelmed by a thick sauce, masking the natural flavors I was looking forward to enjoying. Throughout our meal, the staff appeared indifferent to our dissatisfaction, adding to the overall disappointing experience. Would not recommend coming here as there are better restaurants near by with bigger portions and...