There is a specific, salt-sprayed magic to Avila Beach, and Blue Moon Over Avila occupies its most coveted front-row seat. To sit here is to be seduced by the Pacific's rhythmic pulse, a panoramic distraction that almost--almost--masks the architectural and emotional exhaustion of the room. The décor suggests a space in transition, or perhaps an identity crisis. It bears the unmistakable look of a "palimpsest"--a new design hastily layered over the ghost of a previous one, creating an aesthetic friction that feels more like a temporary stage set than a permanent sanctuary. This weariness extends to the staff, who navigate the floor with a palpable, heavy-lidded misery, as if the sheer beauty of the coastline has become a burden they are no longer interested in carrying. The kitchen, however, still possesses moments of genuine, startling clarity. I opted for the "Trio," a format that usually promises variety but often delivers compromise. Not so here. The sandwich was a minor triumph of construction and flavor, a high-water mark for a casual lunch. It was flanked by a clam chowder of remarkable depth--creamy without being cloying, and singing with the brine of the sea. Yet, the meal is not without its turbulence. The accompanying salad arrived drowning, a casualty of an over-zealous hand with the dressing that rendered the greens more of a soup than a side. And then there is the matter of the French Onion soup. To encounter a $9 upcharge for a bowl of onions and melted Gruyère is to experience a moment of pure, capitalistic vertigo. It is a price point that suggests a level of luxury the service and the "layered" décor simply haven't earned. As for the amenities, the state of the restrooms remains a mystery--a rare blind spot in an otherwise exhaustive afternoon. Blue Moon Over Avila remains a destination for the eyes, and intermittently, for the palate. If you can ignore the visible gloom of the service and the audacity of the surcharges, the view alone is worth the price of admission. Just perhaps stick to the chowder and leave the French Onion to the high rollers. read more

We made a reservation for 7pm. Arrived early (6:50). The table they reserved for us was probably the worst spot outside (middle of the patio towards the building). While the couple that came in after us was a walk in, got the best view upfront in the patio. So I would not recommend making reservations just walk in and wait if you want a certain spot. We ordered our first round of drinks and Brie for an App, which arrived promptly but delivered by other staff. Didn't see a waiter for the next 20-30 minutes. No second round of drinks, no food order. Stood up and walked to the front where our waiter met me as he walked out from inside. We asked if they forgot about us and got a nonchalant response that they were busy. At which point I just asked for the check and said we would just go somewhere else. He handed me his payment tablet and looked away. 40$ for two beers and cold Brie sprinkled in with some wasted time. No offer to comp the bill, get a manager, or keep us there. So we paid and moved onto another establishment. read more

This was our second time here. We haven't been in several years but remembered the food to be quite good and of course it was beautifully located. We were excited to revisit this year. They felt severely understaffed probably because of the holidays. Took a while before someone was able to seat us. They can really use a dedicated hostess. Maybe they had time off? However, once we sat down everything was perfect. The food was delicious but honestly it was our amazing waiter who made the evening (and meal taste) even better. He was super attentive and his kindness felt sincere. You know when someone is putting on an act vs someone who is genuinely lovely. He even comped our dessert. The duck à l'orange was perfectly cooked. The boeuf bourguignon was hearty and paired well with a side of veggies. The escargot was so delicious even the kids enjoyed eating "snails" Would definitely come back! read more

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Our favorite place at Avila Beach. Service is amazing. Wine list is so good, French wines. We love to get the lobster roll and sit across from the beach and soak it all in! The bread is so good (warm) and the butter is French style with crunch salt flakes. Go here if at Avila. read more

Blue Moon Over Avila - Vibes! - French Near Me - Avila Beach, California

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Stopped by for a glass of wine during Happy Hour on a Sunday afternoon. The staff were very welcoming and attentive. The Pinot Noir was delicious. It was so nice just to sit people watch and enjoy the view! read more

Blue Moon Over Avila - French Near Me - Avila Beach, California

I was really looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner here at Blue Moon over Avila, and enjoying its wonderful food, wine list and sea view. Sadly, the experience was a less than pleasant one because of poor service. We arrived on time and were shown to a nice table on the patio as we had requested. We were given water by the host and then waited 25 minutes to get menus and have our drink orders taken. We then waited another 20 minutes to have yet another server come with our beverages and then waited 10 more minutes until a different server came to tell us the menu options. My husband chose the short rib dinner and I chose the turkey. We both got Caesar salad and then chose the pumpkin pie for dessert. Again, each course came out with about a 20 minute wait in between each one each time with a different waiter. The other tables that were drinking much more wine were getting a lot more attention and I felt like we had kind of been shuttled over to the side for our celebration meal. I haven't really had that feeling anywhere else before so it was a new one for me. I'll be looking at this is more of a wine bar from now on. I can get a light lunch and enjoy an hors d'oeuvre by the sea, but I sure won't come on a busy day and I won't choose it for a special event read more

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We enjoyed a fantastic charcuterie board and a drink at Blue Moon last night. It was a beautiful evening to sit out and enjoy the ocean view. Our server was super nice and although it was busy and they were short staffed she was still attentive. We weren't very hungry so we didn't order anything else but other peoples food looked really good. We will be back next time we're in town read more

Friendly service, great location and delicious food and drinks. Highly recommend the Nicoise Salad, bread and butter, and a glass of wine on a sunny day! read more

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This spot was great. We didn't have a reservation and it was Jazz Wednesday and they sat us at the outer bar looking at the ocean (we are glad we didn't have a reservation). First they have no corkage fee for local wines and we brought a Peloton wine. We shared the Bree app and Beef, both were great. Our server Ella was outstanding and very cool. We will go back for sure. read more

Best Al fresco Mother's Day brunch ever. The food presentation , quality and flavors were extraordinary. Attentive, relaxing and unhurried service. Great service by Ryan our server and the rest of the staff. Made our special day even more special. read more

Blue Moon Over Avila - French Near Me - Avila Beach, California

Blue Moon over Avila is a laid-back beachside restaurant on Avilla Pier serving French cuisine. I ordered mushroom ravioli with a Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso. I 100% recommend everyone gets the mushroom ravioli with chicken and the Paso Cab since the earthiness of the mushrooms pairs well with the full body and balanced acidity of the wine. Service was really good and everything went pretty well. read more

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Sat & waited for service for at least 20 minutes before I walked out. Everyone around me was being attended to. Disappointing.

Delicious food. I had the beef bourguinon, and the beef was absolutely lean and tender and savory. The homemade lemonade was tart and delicious. The bread was addictive. I love the vibe. My only complaint is that the chairs are super narrow and uncomfortable. I'm not large, but the chairs still squeezed my hips. Otherwise, five stars. read more

Blue Moon Over Avila - Outside of the restaurant. They have a small indoor section and a large patio section. - French Near Me - Avila Beach, California

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Beautiful vista delicious food and fun flights! French onion soup was fire! Our server was knowledgeable and friendly- service was not rushed but very timely. read more

Blue Moon Over Avila - French onion soup - French Near Me - Avila Beach, California

Stopped by Blue Moon with my wife and had a really nice time. We ordered the wine flight with the cheese and charcuterie board--everything was solid. Got lucky with a great seat, and even though there were a lot people walking by the beach, it still felt quiet and relaxed. Our waiter was super nice and chill. The view, the vibe, the food--no complaints. Definitely a spot I'd come back to. read more

Blue Moon Over Avila - View from our table. - French Near Me - Avila Beach, California

From start to finish this place was awful. We were staying in Avila for my birthday weekend and I thought it would be nice to have something nicer than bar food so we picked the only other option Blue Moon Over Avila. After the hostess sat us. We waited for over 30 minutes before our server ever came to greet us at our table. It was not busy. Only 7 tables with couples at them. Her blasé attitude was unprofessional. Even as she walked away she said "oh, did you want bread or are you just good?" Then didn't bring the bread till the food was coming out. We ended up sending back the salmon and extra veggies we order because the fish was "fishy" tasting and the vegetables were so overcooked that they were mush. Then when she brought the check she said "I comped the salmon and veggies" like she was doing us a favor. We should've stuck with bar food. We had to get up twice and find her because she never checked on us. Once for a heater and the other to take the food back to the kitchen. On the menu there was a lovely write up on the owner. I think she would be appalled with how bad everything was, clearly she is out of touch with her own restaurant. There is more but I'll leave it at this. read more

We enjoyed a delightful luncheon today with 11 women. Jason thoughtfully curated the menu, which was beautifully printed and placed at each setting. The food was exceptional--featuring cheese boards, a choice of soup or two salads, four entrée options, and a lovely assortment of desserts--all for a fixed price of $50, inclusive of tax and gratuity. Ryan, our server, attended to every detail with care and professionalism. It was truly a memorable experience for everyone. Thank you Blue Moon, we'll be back! read more

Reflecting back that either right before or during my first year in College I thought I'd possibly pursue being a restaurant critic in New York City dreaming of how amazing that would be eating such a variety of food and then commenting on it all! So here goes: Love and frequented Avila for the past 15+ years . I've seen the many changes and turns in many of the local restaurants in the entire surrounding area. This recent visit, I explored and noticed the multi entranced Blue Moon Over Avila. And while exploring I met the manager, Jason. He made a wonderful first impression - very professional/friendly/knowledgeable. I immediately made reservations for the one night that there was an opening in our dinner schedule to try something new. All the other nights were booked in advance at different places. Jason was kind enough to let us in last minute for a Friday night (of all times) with a party of seven to boot! During our brief talk that day that I made the reservation, Jason expressed how their French onion soup, their escargot, and their beignets are pretty much the talk of the town. We arrived on time and had our table reserved right where Jason said it would be. Our waitress Emma was wonderful; bubbly, cheerful, friendly, outgoing, on point, - she did everything that a top notch server should do. She checked in after the food was served, she noticed we loved the bread and butter, so asked if we wanted a refill, after devouring the second round of bread, she asked if we wanted more I spoke for the table who didn't want any more bread and said leave the butter. I'm the kind of person who likes butter even better than bread and she laughed with a big smile. When it came time for dessert, she acknowledged my son-in-law's birthday. She was even our bartender. The French onion soup was out of this world delicious (thank you Jason for the tip) - I don't even like French onion soup, but whatever they do there is an extreme tasty flavor compared to no other. I I regret not ordering Jason's acknowledgment of their escargot because for most people especially my family wouldn't have been happy to watch me consume those.. So I unfortunately ordered their small scallop entrée. Not worth the price. The beignets were excellent , they are served with three different dipping sweet sauces!!! If you are in Avila area and you would like quality food with exquisite ambience inside or beachfront outside dining - this is the place for you! If you dare to order the scallops - do not make the same mistake I did, either ask Jason OR your server if the scallops of that day and time are worthy of you ordering them since scallops are pretty much hit and miss. I ended up eating them even though Gordon Ramsay would've threw them across the kitchen. But then again they were so small they would've flown right into the ocean. Overall would strongly recommend and would absolutely return !!!!! read more

Blue Moon Over Avila - French Near Me - Avila Beach, California

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Wonderful food, service, and atmosphere! Inside and patio dining with perfect view of the ocean.

We had dinner here last night and everything met and exceeded our expectations. The food is great. The service is fantastic and the ocean views are spectacular! I believe this is the best restaurant in Avila Beach. If you're in Avila Beach don't miss out on this little treasure! read more

Had our anniversary dinner here. One server working as another called in sick. Everthing took a while but we didn't mind as it was a pretty location & we were not in a hurry. Hubby ordered the French onion soup & the duck l'orange. He really enjoyed his dinner, especially the polenta. The soup, according to him, was good but not exceptional as so many other reviews indicated. The sauce was the right balance of tangy & sweetness. I ordered the Cesar salad with salmon. Salmon was cooked perfectly but a bit of seasoning would've made it better as it was bland & a bit fishy. We got the beignets for dessert which came with three dipping sauces. They were good but not sure if I'd order them again. The beignets were not light & fluffy as they should be; the chocolate sauce was a bit too sweet yet bitter; the strawberry sauce was too sour; & the custard-like sauce was decent. Bella was our server - the server all the tables the night we went. She did a good job, smiling & friendly, although she must have been stressed working all the tables by herself. Kudos to Bella & the other male who was helping Bella. read more

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Had such a great experience at Blue Moon Over Avila. The view alone is amazing, and the Italian music playing in the background makes it even better. Our server, Jazz, was fantastic, super attentive, friendly, and really made sure we were taken care of. The food was delicious and everything tasted fresh. And if you're lucky, you might even spot dolphins swimming by! read more

We visited Blue Moon Over Avila for lunch during the July 4th weekend, and it really surprised us since we didn't expect anything. We randomly picked this place while we were walking in the Avila Beach area and got a table right away inside; we were the only people sitting indoors, which was very nice. I loved their furnishings and decor, which include beautiful lighting, tables/chairs, and paintings--simple and elegant! The food was great! We ordered the lobster roll ($33), which was delicious, and it came with a very refreshing salad, a pleasant surprise since we usually don't get salad when ordering a lobster roll elsewhere. The escargots ($18) were excellent as our appetizer. The Trio Combo ($24) was delicious; it's a great combination with the Croque Monsieur Sandwich, Green Salad, and Clam Chowder. For desserts, the Ile Flottante ($14) was very special and yummy; I don't think I've ever had anything like it before. The Citrus and Ginger Creme Brulee ($14) was also excellent! The service was excellent! The host and server were very friendly and attentive. The prices are fair. We had a great time at Blue Moon Over Avila and will definitely recommend it to our friends! read more

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This is a very lovely place to enjoy a glass of wine and some classic French dishes (from escargot to coq au vin). We've been twice and like the bright ambiance, the cheerful service, and relaxing vibe. The wines by the glass are excellent. We went for lunch and I had a tasty combo-- croque monsieur, clam chowder, and salad. My partner had hefty bowl of French onion soup. You can eat inside or out. If outside there's a fun counter area to eat to watch the coastline and the world stroll by. read more

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Our server Hannah was very friendly and attentive. Our dishes were tasty and the beach views were gorgeous. Can't beat our seats. Looking forward to going back before our San Luis Obispo trip is over. read more

Blue Moon Over Avila, on Front St. in Avila Beach is a restaurant with the ideal location. The curb appeal of this eatery is phenomenal and fortunately the "menu offerings" are worthy...albeit, being a bit pricey. For this dining experience, we chose to sit outside even though the temperature was a bit chilly. To make sure we were comfortable, the waitstaff turn on the heat lamp...problem solved. Nice! Our Server, Tanner, was very personable, friendly and attentive throughout our meal...such a pleasure. We ordered Drinks: Lillie Blanc (5/5) and the Sangria (4/5). For our "late lunch" we ordered from both of the Starters and Soup and Salad sections of the Menu: Escargots (4/5 - these were a bit on the small side, but prepared well), Clam Chowder (4/5), French Onion Soup Lyonnaise (4/5) and a Caesar Salad (5/5 - really very good). To complete the meal...for our dessert, we tried the Flourless Chocolate Cake (5/5 - a wonderful "sweet ending"). While enjoying the company of family at and for this occasion...in this Yelper's opinion, Blue Moon Over Avila delivered on Customer Service (Yay Tanner), atmosphere and quality of the meal...earning a solid "highly recommend" 4 Star review. read more

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We loved everything about this place! We got there at 5:00, and there were plenty of tables available; it was much more crowded when we left. We had a table that looked straight out to the beach; very nice setting. Emma was our server; she was friendly and efficient. We always split dinners (can't finish one one our own.) There is a small split charge, but worth it. Caesar salad: 5/5 , very nice dressing and plenty of slices of Parm, crisp fresh rommaine, just perfect. Beef Bourguignon 5/5, delicious and tender, with lots of fresh mushrooms and chunks of tender beef and bacon. The bread and butter was also yummy! For dessert: Beignets 4/5. I loved the vanilla sauce for dipping, not fond of the other two sauces. All in all, a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting! read more

Our server D'Jole (DJ) was so fantastic! You could tell he enjoyed his job. Brought my family here from Florida, San Francisco & Seattle for lunch. The food was over the top..... Onion soup, clam chowder, croque monsieur, salad, charcuterie, french bubble flights. DELICIOUS! The atmosphere and views beautiful. My third time here will be back.Thank you Blue Moon over Avila for a wonderful day. read more

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We've been regulars of Avila for years and have only been here twice, but what a shame because it is delicious! We have gotten the same meal both times; the trio for me (French Onion soup and a Cesar salad) and the Croque Monsieur with Caesar for him, cup of clam chowder as a starter. The salad is well dressed, with a delicious creamy Caesar dressing that's not too heavy on the anchovies. The French onion soup is a rich broth, the cheese on top is nice and gooey. The clam chowder is thick with a good balance of clam to it. The croque Monsieur is perfection, not overly greasy and the cheese on top has been nicely broiled each time. The beignets are a perfect dessert ending. On our most recent visit (last night) Angela was our server and she was great! We could tell it was busy for a Sunday night in February, especially because both the Custom House and Ocean Grill are currently closed. She and Luke worked together to keep things running smoothly, you'd think management would make sure to have some extra staff with so many other closures going on right now. read more

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We went to Blue Moon for my wife's birthday dinner. It did not disappoint! We sat outside overlooking Avila Beach. The food and service were fantastic. The perfect place to celebrate. read more

You can't beat the location which is absolutely fabulous, as it overlooks the water and beach. However, I think they rely heavily on this fact. The restaurant itself is pretty, the building is nice and it has a very beach feel. However on the day I was there the service was lackluster at best. The waiter was often no where to be found which was frustrating. The food was OK, yes I know people are raving but in my opinion it's very mediocre French cooking. The cheese and charcuterie board was average and the cuts of meat all very similar and very fatty. I had a Caesar salad and salmon and the salmon was very dried out. It's not hard to cook salmon and I expected better. read more

We had the trio - sandwich, clam chowder and salad and it was all delicious. Finished lunch with beignets and coffee- all with a fabulous view of the ocean and excellent service! read more

Been here a few times. The sampler option with the Croque Monsieur, french onion soup and salad, is really good(soup was the best). The house white is light and dry. Wines by the glass are pretty good. We splurged to celebrate, and were really disappointed with the entrees. The duck was way overcooked and chewy, served over a dry polenta with hardly any orange flavor. We also got the Beef Bourguignon which was pretty confusing. I've always had it with a long braise of beef with a lot of marbling/collagen to break down and thicken the sauce, but they chose to use Filet mignon. This resulted in dry meat and a really thin bland sauce. For the price, this is a 2 star meal. Very disappointing. Nice ambiance and view. The staff was friendly on all of the occasions. A decent option for a snack, but the entrees were both bad. read more

We tried this restaurant because it was highly recommended. I had the Trio Combo which came with Croquet Monsieur sandwich clam chowder and Caesar Salad and the chowder was full of clams and tasty. However, I would have liked it to have been temperature hotter. The service was friendly and attentive. Sierra gave us great a recommendation on our dessert choice. Would go back again. read more

Like this place a lot, if you can sit outside. Great views, good food and wine. Had a nice bottle of French Chardonnay that wasn't too pricey. read more

We had a lovely celebration dinner on the beautiful patio. The service was a 10/10! We started with the escargot and it was delicious. I ordered the Duck a L'Orange that was served with creamy polenta and asparagus. It was cooked perfectly and I would order again. My friends had the French onion soup, Caesar salad and the Beef Bourguignon which they both loved. We ended the night with the perfect sweet bite of beignets. read more

Blue Moon Over Avila - Beef Bourguignon - French Near Me - Avila Beach, California

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Went here tonight for dinner. I have to say, the mushroom ravioli was SUBLIME. Perfection. Add to that the table bread with the best butter ever dipped into that sauce...forget it! Service was friendly and chill with the best touch. I'm going to crave it and will need to make a trip to come back. read more

We were told there were no reservations available for 2.5 hours, so we prepared to wait. But just out of curiosity, we checked the restaurant's own website--and were able to book a reservation that seated us in just 15 minutes. It was incredibly frustrating to be misled, especially when we were trying to plan around a long wait. If reservations are available, guests should be informed honestly. We expected better communication and integrity from a place we were excited to try. read more

We had an impromptu dinner without reservations and we were seated right a way with no hassle. The menu was perfectly laid out with the right amount of options. I had a beer, can't remember the name, but it was delicious. The bread and clam chowder were fantastic and the beef dish was perfectly cooked. My wife had the French onion and she loved it. The service was superb and the restaurant was clean and inviting. I will definitely recommend Blue Moon Over Avila as a wonderful restaurant to anyone who loves fine dining read more

Food was tasty but the service sucked; our waitress never checked in on us. I had to go up front to ask for our bill. It would've been great to finished off the meal with some dessert but sadly we just wanted to leave and get something at our hotel. read more