Small business locally owned. Food was really good. For the location, the prices make sense. I…read moredidn't mind the wine, but I was hoping for a glass of traditional oyster pairing wines as an option, but the owners are in the industry so they highlight their wines. Which are pretty good. No notable flaws, just honestly decent, coming from a wine snob. Only petnat I've tried and liked as well. Oysters were top notch. I would add salt vs just ice as a serving dish though bc they started drowning in water if you don't eat them fast enough. Love that they serve caviar bumps! The fried smoked fish sandwich was awesome. Great bread and extras. Flavorful! People were really nice. Welcoming and inviting. I could sit there every day and be happy.

Why has tinned fish been hidden from me and The Wife, when everyone, who is anyone, has known about…read moreit forever? Back to Shuck Shack. We were visiting Avila Beach for my birthday week and decided to try out Sinor-Lavalle's wine tasting room a block back from Front Street and just down the way from our AirBnB. We met the owner and he suggested to mosey on over to Shuck Shack. We walked there, on Front Street, and met Evan, the GM. Evan took great care of us with some nice wines and then told us all about the tinned fish they had. Tinned Fish Sidenote: Two weeks before this trip if I heard the phrase tinned fish (TF) I would have thought oily mackerel or sardines smelling nasty. While I like anchovies, I was not prepared for TF. We were just in SanFran and The Kid's roomates were eating TF. Really? Yuck! Then we went to the Vintage Press in Visalia, CA, and 1/2 page of the large menu was 20 or 30 versions of TF. WTF? And now we were in Avila being told about the options and how delicious they were. Back to Shuck Shack. With Evan's guidance, we ordered a number of items off their menu including oysters (hauled in that morning), smoked trout TF, local salami, LandChos and Gildas. Check out the menu pics for descriptions. Paired with some great wines it was a fantastic culinary experience. Adding on to that the great service and setting of Avila Beach makes this an easy 5 star experience. GO! EAT VERY WELL!! HAVE FUN, Damnit!!!

Food was good. Really enjoyed the clam chowder. The French onion was a bit too cheese but we still…read moreliked it. We arrived during the last hour or so so it was definitely busy but our server worked to make us feel satisfied. It was great being able to see the beach as we ate our food. Added a lot of value to our experience!

We'd been to the popular Oyster Place next door and certainly down to this beach area many times…read more As a wedding gift a client of mine gave us a gift card to this restaurant. That was a couple months ago and since I was driving them Monday I thought we should have some dinner I made a reservation online, for 6pm, no problem. Parking wasn't too challenging if you know the neighborhood. Walking up we heard and saw 'n Accordionist playing some French favorites, pretty cool. We were sat right down inside please, it can get pretty windy so... Ella greeted us after a few minutes...now allow me to say the pace in European dining places is slower than here in America and this place followed the traditional rhythm of a relaxed and casual dinner...Okay M went for a Sparkling wine and I stuck with my usual Pelligrino. We mused over the menu for quite a while, we can pace ourselves too A Trio for Monica, half an Ham & Cheese grilled sandwich with a cup of chowder and a caesar salad. My King Salmon (not often available these days) served with grilled asparagus and some roasted potatoes. It was all very good as we took our time savoring the moment. Dessert followed and the crem bule' finished the dinner. We enjoyed ourselves we enjoyed interacting with Ella and we enjoyed our European evening. It was time to go home a make like the French. Good Evening Folks Martin-Foodguy

I arrived around 6:30pm on a Friday night. I ordered the tri tip tacos, as well as a coke (which…read moreare refillable). My total came out to $20.16. The way it works is you order at the bar, and then they will take down your phone number to text when your order is ready. However, it seemed like they were more using the loud speaker because I didn't receive the text until 9:57pm that night. My order was ready at 6:53, so we were looking at about a 23 minute wait - which I think is fair given how busy it was. The food itself was just okay to me. I didn't think it was anything to write home about, but that could be because I had some really great tri tip at the SLO Farmer's Market the day before. However, I will say, I really liked this place for the environment. There was live music, and a lot of table and chairs to just look out at the water and just enjoy the views. It was super family friendly, and I found it to be really enjoyable to just sit and hang out. I did find it odd that they close early (8pm) on a Friday night. At 7:59pm, the employees will come up to you to let you know that they close at 8pm, so it seems like they are strict about that.

The Wife and I were in Avila for my b-day week. We had rented bikes and on the way back to our…read moreAirBnB, we stopped for a bloody mary. One of the best Bloody Mary's I have ever had. I wish we had more time to toss a couple more back! Go, Drink Well, HAVE FUN!

The star of the show was definitely the onion rings!!! OMG -- seasoned to perfection, crispy, and…read moreSO flavorful, especially dipped in ranch. Honestly, I'd come back for those alone! The chicken wings and butterfly shrimp were delicious too. We ordered the wings plain and dipped them in the buffalo sauce, and the shrimp came with two different sauces that were both so good. Service was great! We ordered our food at the bar along with our drinks, and the bartender brought everything right to our table. The busser also came by to help clear our trays, which was really appreciated. One warning: the pigeons are VICIOUS here Do not leave your food unattended because they will absolutely swarm your table the second you walk away! Great food, great service, amazing view, and those onion rings are a must.

I've been coming here for years whenever I visit Avila Beach. Even after the switch to…read moreself-service, I would still regularly stop by for the coconut shrimp to go. Unfortunately, my first dine-in experience since then was really disappointing. The fettuccine Alfredo was just okay, and I definitely wouldn't recommend the steamed clams. But what really ruined the experience was the bartender. I was standing in line at the bar waiting to order a drink. When it was finally my turn, the bartender took the order of someone who had arrived after me but was already seated at the bar. At first, I didn't think much of it. I assumed customers who were already seated were being served first, so I just waited. Then, a white woman who had been standing in line behind me sat down at the bar. The bartender skipped me again and took her order instead. Thankfully, she immediately pointed out that I had been ahead of her and had been waiting first. The bartender eventually took my order, but his attitude toward me was extremely cold and unfriendly. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but after being passed over twice, I couldn't help but wonder if race had something to do with it. That's what made the experience especially disappointing. I've been a longtime customer and have always enjoyed stopping here whenever I'm in Avila Beach. Unfortunately, after this experience, I'll think twice before coming back.

This is our go to place at Port San Luis. Their food here is always fresh and tasty and the service…read moreis amazing. Both the bartenders and the waiters I'll take pride to work and it shows. The atmosphere is super kickback and of course, how can you go wrong with the ocean especially on a beautiful night. I had the fish and chips and she had some tacos. Everything tasted great and you definitely come back every time we visit. Also great selection on the local beers that are fresh on tap. The atmosphere inside is really neat but all the artwork. Pay attention to the ironwork the octopuses and the scones they're all made by a local artist.

Mixed feelings here…read more Heard some FABULOUS reviews. Decided to come here and try it - since we visit the area occasionally. We started with the combo plate - fries, fish, shrimp, oysters, and clams. How far wrong could you go? Well, actually, pretty far... while the fish and the clams were ok, the calamari was big chunks, and ok at best. The shrimp and the oysters were beyond tough - like jerky tough. Sub optimal. We didn't eat those. We also had a half dozen oysters in the shell, and, well, they didn't bother to cut the oysters free of the shell, and didn't give us tools for clearing them so, yeah, that was a fail. Then the seagulls and pelicans invaded. We were tempted to use the mediocre food to feed them, but figured the restaurant didn't need that kind of promotion... Overall, I'm probably being generous with 3 stars, but the fried fish was really quite good, or this would have been a 2! The rest of the food, yeah, not so much. We left more than we ate - if you catch my drift...

An Unforgettable Birthday Dinner with Breathtaking Ocean Views!…read more We came to Ventana Grill in Pismo Beach for a Sunday night dinner date to celebrate my wife's birthday. This place definitely gets packed, so I highly recommend reserving a table in advance. We were lucky enough to get a window seat, and the outdoor patio views of the ocean are simply amazing! On top of that, the staff here has definitely become even more friendly--our server, Zach, was super efficient and attentive throughout our meal. The food was incredible from start to finish: * Mahi Mahi Fish Ceviche: We started with this alongside fresh tortilla chips, and it was honestly one of the best ceviches we've ever had. * Clam Chowder Soup: This special clam chowder came served with Parmesan cheese bread, which was absolute perfection. Again, hands down one of the best soups we've tasted! * Molcajete Surtido: For our main dish, we ordered this classic feast loaded with grilled colossal shrimp, arrachera steak, chicken breast, chorizo, spring onion, jalapeño peppers, nopalitos, avocado, pork rinds, molcajete salsa, queso fresco, and corn tortillas, served with a side of rice and beans. All the meats were so tender and flavorful, and the rice and beans were really nice. We were so full that we didn't even get to touch the tortillas! To top off a wonderful evening, they brought out a complimentary ice cream with a candle to celebrate my wife's birthday, which was such a thoughtful and sweet touch. Whether you're planning a special date night or a family outing, we definitely recommend Ventana Grill!

Have been here several times over the years, while on vacation to San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach…read more It has the best dining views in the area with full views of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The menu on our recent visit has been updated and now offers more Latino style offerings, with emphasis on Seafood and fine meats with Latino seasonings and styling. The posole is delicious, yellow fin tuna prepared well and was plentiful. Our server was friendly, efficient, offered suggestions and checked on us regularly. There was a wedding on the patio, which was fun to witness from our booth and plenty of activity from the ocean life we could view. Overall, a delightful experience!

Zorro's -- Mexican Food & Sangria for the Win!…read more We were on the hunt for somewhere different from our usual Mexican food spots and somehow ended up at Zorro's. I'd never been, but my boyfriend had been here before for breakfast--apparently he had been holding out on me because he'd never tried dinner! The people were super nice, the food was solid, and most importantly... THE SANGRIA. Absolutely delicious! It may not be medically prescribed, but it definitely itches that Mexican-food craving when you need a fix. Was it the most life-changing meal we've ever had? No. But it was good, the atmosphere was friendly, and we had a great time. Sometimes you just need chips, salsa, Mexican food and a really good sangria to put the world back in order. We'll definitely be back--especially when the Mexican-food itch starts acting up again!

Sante Fe something but not what I ordered. I'm sad, I was hungry for good Mexican food. I want…read moreMexican food for the cumin, chili powder, onions and bell peppers, this was a Denny's/Ihop dish. The potatoes were unseasoned, egg whites were runny/undercooked. (I asked for over medium) & after waiting 5 - 10 minutes for the waitress, I ended up ordering a more food because this wasn't good. I'm hoping the chili verde redeems my opinion about this place. Bussers / Host were super nice and attentive! 10/10 Clean restaurant Chili I verde is good!

Lido is our go-to restaurant for special occasions. The food is consistently spectacular, and the…read moreservice is exceptional from start to finish. From the moment we arrive at valet, Jay greets us warmly and makes us feel truly special. The welcome at the front desk is always friendly, the hostesses are cheerful and attentive, and the waiters and waitresses are always friendly. Especially Selina. She is wonderful. Every visit feels polished, welcoming, and memorable. We highly recommend Lido for an outstanding dining experience.

UPDATE -- September 2026 Thank you to the management team…read morefor their quick and prompt response to my Yelp review. Management reached out to me and actually refunded my meal due to the disappointing experience I had. Thank you for taking the time to address the situation and make things right-- I appreciate it!

As a first time customer, I had a great dinner at The Break. We always pass by on our way to the…read moreboardwalk and can see the open air dining room. It was great being on the other side as a diner! The cool ocean air and the big screens did not disappoint. We were served quickly after we ordered. The staff was very polite and welcoming us in with some south county hospitality. The surprise of the night were how good the smashburgers! They come with a great sauce, two patties and man the fries were just right! Well done. This is my new spot to hang after a day at Pismo beach

This place is still killing it.. Brittany is super friendly & the fish & chips are amazing…read more. great place to watch any sporting event and good drinks Thank again

This was the best food I've ever had at a restaurant. Everything was good including the serviceread more

We went to Ada's within the last hour of them closing but they made us feel welcome and we were not…read morerushed. We ordered 2 Bloody Mary's and Oysters to start, and soon came other appetizers that we planned on sharing, mussels and clam chowder. The clam chowder was good, I would have wanted the temperature to be hotter (piping) but other than that, it was satisfying. The mussels were cooked well - they came out plump and succulent and the sauce was very flavorful! We dipped our sourdough rolls in the clam chowder and tomato based broth of the mussels. Our main course to share was the whole fried snapper. It was over a generous bed of zucchinis and side of au gratin potatoes. Yes, we came hungry but they definitely delivered on all points. Food was delicious, service was great, and overall, the entire experience was memorable. The whole fried fish and mussels are dishes I wouldn't pass up! We'll be back if we find ourselves in Pismo Beach again!