It's so nice being able to blow by The Tides and Lucas Wharf, knowing that good food awaits you just around the bend.

On a sleepy Sunday, my wife, dog and I took a drive up the coast. Before we left, a quick Yelp search on the iPhone turned up the the Terrapin Cafe. After missing the turn off for the cafe from the main highway twice, I finally found this hidden treasure tucked away next to a few art galleries and a bait shop.

Having a small dog with you and eating out isn't always the easiest thing, but I opened the front door and was greeted by the friendly owners and a quaint warm interior. It was a beautiful day and we sat outside on the weathered patio. The service was spot on, with my coffee never getting below the 1/3 mark (and it was good Taylor Maid coffee as well).


The food was a refreshing detour from the typical "Coastal chow" of clam chowder and fried fish. We shared the crab cake salad and seafood stew, along with some bread and good olive oil. The crab cakes were all crab, no filler and the salad was light and fresh tasting and not overdressed. Our seafood stew was filled with salmon and shellfish and a broth flavored with garlic, fennel and braised tomatoes. We used every last piece of bread to clean that bowl. This is what "Coastal chow" should taste like.

For dessert, we settled on the carrot cake. It was light, yet had a crispy texture to the top. The cream cheese was almost like a whipped cream cheese and was airy and fluffy and not over powering.


The owners were incredibly attentive, even bringing water for our dog. And even though we were there late for lunch, they didn't rush us out (they close at 2:30pm, we didn't finish until about 3pm). I'd almost considering making the hour drive out to the coast if for nothing else, to try dinner here. The menu might be small, but the fresh, quality ingredients are expertly prepared and the warm, friendly setting make this a place worth visiting. I'll definitely be back.