Location: Pismo Beach
Top Restaurants in Pismo Beach
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Where to Eat in Pismo Beach: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Lounge in style on the white beaches of the California coast. Pismo Beach offers premium ocean views, a 1200-foot pier perfect for fishing, and choice surfing. If you've had enough of bumming on the beach, check out the shops on the boardwalk or at the Pismo Beach Premium Outlets. Golfers will find plenty of desirable courses, and nature lovers will enjoy horseback riding or riding an ATV through the scenic sand dunes.
Things to do in Pismo Beach
1. The Oyster Loft
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 219 reviews
Reviewed By Peggy O - San Francisco, California
This was our favorite restaurant in Pismo Beach. The service and food were simply wonderful. Great suggestions from our wait staff. The seafood was outstanding especially the great selection of oysters and types of fish offered. We were celebrating our anniversary and was very pleasantly surprised to recieve a delicious dessert compliments of the chef. There is inside and outside seating. We sat outside on the deck and in spite of the chilly weather, it was quite pleasant with heat lamps and a screened in porch. Ocean views!
2. Zorro's Cafe & Cantina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 410 reviews
Reviewed By Sidarth G
The food here was oriented around the Latino culture but offered some classic burgers and solid fish. The restaurant often has a wait list for 5-10 minutes but on a nice day can be very rewarding and nice. I would speak highly of this restaurant and recommend this to you and others.
-Thanks!!
3. The Spoon Trade
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 111 reviews
Reviewed By pearlfrancis - Santa Barbara, California
We enjoyed lunch here after visiting the Butterfly preserve. It's a small menu, but we definitely found a number of dishes to try. I had the quiche with roasted vegetables and my dad enjoyed the eggs benedict. We were intrigued by the smell of fresh bread, so we also ordered a side of the home made sour dough with sapote jam--definitely get this! We literally inhaled that bread in a minute!
The bacon on the eggs benedict was life changing too...I should have ordered a side of that too...next time!
Wait staff was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive.
Easy free parking.
4. Cracked Crab
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Our Mission To provide excellent food and service to all of our guest in a clean, comfortable, casual AND FUN atmosphere. Serving the finest seafood available, in a most casual style.™ The Details of Our Philosophy Although we serve fine food in a nice atmosphere, please dress casual should you choose us for lunch or dinner. Our concept is largely based on dumping a bucket of various shellfish on your table with a mallet, crab crackers, and other tools to get the job done. It can get messy, but hey, we clean it up! We feature "in season" product, printing our menu daily based on what's available. We serve several local fresh fish daily, and use local farmers for fresh in season produce all year round. We use a local butcher and a local baker. We always have a steak for those of you who don't eat fish, a chicken dinner for those of you who don't eat fish, and we can sauté a vegetable dish for those of you who don't eat fish, meat, or chicken. We have been open since May 1999.
Reviewed By doritg888 - Singapore, Singapore
We are so grateful that we found Cracked Crab at our stay at Pismo beach. Fantastic restaurant, casual style, no view, but fantastic atmosphere and food. You can't make a reservation and we were there off season and just got the last table available. We started with a small bowl of crab bisque, wow this is a must if you like it and I could have eaten a full bowl, it is so yummy. They server the seafood basket, which get thrown over your table. We didn't take it, but saw it around us and it looked great. I wanted the lobster and my hubby had scallops. Both were so good! I wished I had more space to try more. for desert we had their key lime pie. We left very happy and can highly recommend this restraurant.
5. DePalo & Sons
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 105 reviews
Reviewed By Jon R - San Luis Obispo, California
This Italian deli and market is simply a fun stop to stop. You'll find something you love here—guaranteed—whether you're after excellent sandwiches, salads, wine, cheese, or fun stuff for the kitchen or home. On our last visit we got the Pancetta BLT and The Three Sisters (3 petite sandwiches, one with Turkey, one ham, and one soppressatta). The BLT was large enough to share and absolutely delicious. The Three Sisters were a great mix of tastes. The sandwich all had excellent bread/buns and generous slices of mozzarella cheese. Don't forget to try the carrot cake or their cookies. My favorite is their chocolate chunk cookie. They have a few seats on a small patio. But this is a great place to pick up food for a picnic on or near the beach or to take home.
6. Penny's All American Cafe'
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 315 reviews
We are a small cafe with a wonderful patio.We have wonderful homemade breakfast and lunch dishes.We have award winning Chile verde and clam chowder.I have thee best crew in town.We love our customers and we have formed wonderful long lasting friendships.I a truly honored to be a part of the central coast community.I donate to wonderful charities to give back to the community.I am the blessed one.Come in and see us!
Reviewed By 2ReadyforVacation - Jenks, Oklahoma
Standard breakfast fare...tried biscuits and gravy...little spicy for me (probably the sausage in the gravy). Friendly and welcoming environment. Small footprint but quick service. Loud, but that’s just friends visiting and having a good time. You can sit outside if you want a little more tranquility. Overall worth the trip to this local hangout for breakfast.
7. Ventana Grill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Discover the cool, coastal world of Ventana Grill and experience our unique coastal fusion cuisine, unlike any other. With an atmosphere that channels the four elements, Ventana Grill in Pismo Beach immerses guests in the enchanting pleasures of the natural world.
Reviewed By jwhallgren - Montgomery Village, Maryland
We were getting hungry for lunch and as we zipped along US101 on our way to Santa Barbara, and saw this great-looking restaurant with a view of the Pacific. We grabbed the next exit and back-tracked to Ventana Grill. Entering, we got a friendly greeting and a magnificent view of the water and cliffs. Lots of big windows and a big, airy, well-decorated space.
We waited a little while for our server, who apologized for the delay as soon as he arrived. They were busy, but Marcus got us rolling with some suggestions and drinks. We decided to split a side salad that was excellent...fresh greens, nuts and a very nice blue cheese dressing. I had the halibut fish tacos which were very generous and delicious. They came with some great side salsas. My wife opted for the Ventana Grill burger, cooked to a perfect medium rare and also deemed excellent.
Our table was right by the window and we had beautiful views of the Pismo beaches, cliffs and the Pacific Ocean. There is a wrap-around deck with chairs that looked like you could sit outside with a drink and soak in the beauty.
All in all, a terrific experience. Many times, great views don't equal excellent food, but with The Ventana Grill you get both. Add in the skilled service and a friendly atmosphere and it's an excellent place to unwind and just enjoy life.
8. Splash Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Chad T - Tallahassee, Florida
Plenty of other reviews that prove this is a good joint.
My only tip is to make sure you pay for street parking. Pismo Beach apparently funds their city budget entirely off of parking tickets. No joke, they just sit there waiting to pounce once you get out of the car.
9. SeaVenture Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 380 reviews
SeaVenture Restaurant located on the beach in California's Central Coast wine country, the third floor Restaurant allows you to take in breathtaking sunsets and panoramic beach and ocean views from large picture windows and outdoor decks. Chef Casey Walcott's contemporary coastal cuisine is inspired by the surrounding local wine country. Our seasonal menu is prepared with locally farmed vegetables, premium pork and beef and the highest quality fish and seafood. All desserts are made in house from scratch.
Reviewed By carynsdad - Cerritos, California
Great service, excellent food and a beautiful view, even on a cloudy day. We both ordered the filet mignon, potatoes & bacon wrapped asparagus. Our only complaint was the bacon was closer to raw than cooked. The filet was perfection and more than made up for the bacon.
10. Shell Beach Brewhouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 173 reviews
Reviewed By Taylor K - San Diego, California
This place combines local beach atmosphere with a sports bar vibe. Good selection of craft beers, and better food than most such places offer, a gastro-pub sort of menu. We were there on a Sunday night, and the bar was crowded with football fans loudly cheering on the Steelers and Packers. We loved it. Service was very friendly, quick and attentive. Definitely will go again next time we're in the area.
