help: great eats near pismo beach ?
My parents are coming to pick me up after my graduation from college in June (finnaalllyyy woo hoo!). We are staying a night in pismo beach, california, on our way back home.
anyone have any suggestions on where to eat around the pismo/arroyo grande area?
Thanks so much!
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11 Comments:
Pismo Beach is all about the clams, and the best clam chowder I have had in California (and I have tasted a great deal of clam chowder) is at the award winning Splash Cafe in Pismo Beach.
Also, a must while in Pismo: several doors up from Splash on the same street is the California Coast Candy Company. They make the best salt water taffy around, along with over a dozen types of fudge, yummy caramels, ice cream and candy galore. As long as you eat sugar, you won't be sorry - even if there is a line a mile long.
While I wouldn't call it a "great eat," per se, The Honeymoon Cafe is a darling coffee, tea, smoothie and sandwich and shop owned by the sweetest two guys who make everything - including all of the wonderful baked goods, which they are quite proud of - themselves, from top quality ingredients. If you are looking for a healthy, quick stop for breakfast, lunch or a pick-me-up snack, it's a nice choice.
Enjoy your trip. And, congratulations!!!
Cheers,
~ Paula
Paula Maack at 2:24PM on 05/20/09
Congratulations on your graduation! I graduated from Cal Poly in San Luis and love (and miss) the central coast tons. If you're willing to drive a little, there are some truly awesome places to eat both north and south of Pismo.
If you want fresh seafood in a great location, the place to go is the Old Port Inn in Port San Luis/Avila Bay, at the end of the pier. All of their seafood is locally caught daily.
For a nice upscale steak dinner, go to McClintock's in Shell Beach. It's up on the hill on the east side of Hwy 101 and overlooks the ocean. Great views and great food, and the waiters refill your water glasses from as high up in the air they can hold the pitchers....without (well, hardly) spilling a drop.
But for real Central Coast flavor, nothing beats Santa Maria style barbeque, and the best you can get is either at the Hitching Post in Casmalia, Jocko's in Nipomo, or the Far Western Tavern in Guadalupe. All of them are awesome, but my favorite was always the Hitching Post.
If you're lucky enough to be there on a Thursday night, you have to go to the Farmer's Market in downtown San Luis Obispo. It starts around 5pm and goes for a few hours. Lots of street vendors, farmers selling produce, and restaurants that set up bbq pits. Find the Old Country Deli bbq - it's worth it. To get there, take the Marsh St exit off 101, go straight a few blocks and park, then walk a block over to Higuera St, which is blocked off for traffic for the market.
Have a great time, and congratulations again on your graduation!
cmac303 at 11:26AM on 05/22/09
if your in pismo and want bbq mo's smokehouse is delicious, at least we all like it here. Mama's meatball has the best italian in the area. http://www.mamasmeatball.com/ , it's a small family owned restaurant and so so good! have fun visiting and congrats on the graduation!
sfred at 11:42AM on 05/22/09
Aww, Pismo Beach :). My mom grew up there and my grandfather still lives in Shell Beach. All of the suggestions so far are great, and I would put in another vote for F. McLintocks. It is a reliably great steak house.
Congrats on the graduation!
imalittlechile at 11:50AM on 05/22/09
The Cracked Crab in Pismo is a wonderful place. Also, if you feel like driving a little way to Morro Bay, there are quite a few wonderful restaurants there--Dorn's, Rose's Landing (great fish tacos), the Bayside Cafe.
buffy at 11:58AM on 05/22/09
I love Chele's Food and Spirits. I love their brunches. I second the Splash Cafe and F. McLintocks recomendation. All different types of places but all have great food. Congrats and Good Luck!
kate34 at 12:35PM on 05/22/09
I second Buffy's suggestion, the Cracked Crab. Amazing crab bisque, and group-friendly 'buckets' of crab legs etc for the table. Also on Price Street are Guiseppes and Rosas, both good Italian places. Have fun!
pourgirl at 12:41PM on 05/22/09
I second the recommendation for The Cracked Crab. Wonderful shellfish, great fun. See, www.crackedcrab.com. I spent a week in Pismo Beach last August, ate @ Mo's, and some of the resort hotels, but the $ I spent @ the Cracked Crab was by far the best food investment of all the meals we had. Enjoy!
wildgarden at 2:12PM on 05/22/09
Congrats!!!! I love the central California area - I graduated from SJSU last May and my brother is graduating from Cal Poly this June - I might see you around!
There's a great cinnamon roll place in Pismo - Old West Cinnamon Rolls - nice and casual, and the rolls are great.
I second the nod towards the Old Port Inn. It's a bit of a drive, but the fresh fish and decent prices are worth it. Not to mention the fact that you can see the ocean through your table. I went on a Saturday with the fam, and we didn't wait for more than 15 minutes for a table.
Honestly, I'm kind of over Splash Cafe. The chowder is okay, but the fish/shrimp and chips are kind of mediocre. My brother always complains about it being a huge tourist trap. And I agree with him.
Longboard's is a great place for a good burger and shakes. Their pineapple shakes have lots of real pineapple in them, their burgers are great and huge, and they have menu specials all of the time.
Just as a precaution - this is the summer tourist season, and there is quite a bit of crime in Pismo. Be sure to watch your wallet, and enjoy!
missvenuz at 8:30PM on 05/22/09
I Vote for McLintock's - make sure to have their signature app -Turkey Nuts.
I can also agree w/ Buffy about Rose's in MorroBay. ( I made their clam chowder when I was in high school 40 yrs ago)
toptoad at 8:57PM on 05/22/09
I vote for The Cracked Crab and F McClintocks! Had great meals at both places. If you do go to F McClintocks I recommend The bacon wrapped filet with asparagus with bearnaise!
mayoxqueen at 7:06PM on 05/25/09