We stopped at Moonstone for dinner and overall had a good experience. Service started off a little slow, but our server apologized and was very nice, so no real issue there. I ordered the fish and chips along with a cup of clam chowder. The chowder was very good, and the fish and chips were good too, but I was a little disappointed to learn the fish was Alaskan rather than something local. I also appreciated that the manager stopped by our table to ask how everything was. That kind of thing goes a long way and made it feel like they cared about the experience. The only odd part was the portioning on the fish and chips. The pieces were more nugget-sized than what I normally picture with fish and chips. My son received five fairly good-sized pieces, while I got four noticeably smaller ones. I could have said something, but since I had also ordered the chowder, I had plenty to eat and didn't bother. Everyone at the table was satisfied, the food was good, and aside from the inconsistent fish portions, it was an enjoyable dinner. read more

3.5* Moonstone Bar Moonstone Beach, Cambria Beach view No reservations, waiting lines, recommend coming just before five Friendly food staff Good fish tacos Fish and chips okay read more

Seldom have I been so purposefully ignored for so long by a receptionist. I stood in front of the young dark haired woman for (timed) 5 minutes while she pretended I wasn't standing directly in front of her. Can't comment on the food or waitstaff, I walked out, and never going back. Went to Robins, great food, pleasant friendly service. Easy choice going forward. read more

We stop at Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill every time we visit Cambria, and it never disappoints. Friendly service, amazing views, and consistently great food. We ordered the Cajun shrimp and scallops appetizer, the grilled chicken slaw, and the fish tacos -- all fantastic. read more

Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill - Grilled chicken slaw bowl - Seafood Near Me - Cambria, California

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First time visit and came back three days later. Yep, had the same delicious clam chowder and fish tacos. The two fish tacos were delicious and one was breaded and one grilled, very filling. The clam chowder was thick, hot, and the bread bowl was soft and the only way I would order it. The steamer clams were a great starter to share. We had a slight wait for our outdoor patio table however it was worth the wait so we had a beverage at the bar. The patio had a great view of the ocean, even though Moonstones is across the street from the shoreline we didn't hear any traffic noise and any cars passing didn't distract from the view. The wait staff were great, friendly and offered suggestions. The manager stopped by to thank us for visiting and to say hello. We will be back. read more

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Sunset at Moonstone beach ended at the Moonstone Bar and grill restaurant. Situated in front of the Pacific Ocean. Beautiful view of the sunset . Ate dinner with the family and well presented with their menu. Monique was our server and she was fantastic. Grouped of 10 so we had lots of entree . The oyster bar was fresh The rib eye steak was cooked to perfection. The all time favorite clam chowder in a sourdough bread was so tasty and oceanic flavor. The shrimp salad was crispy and tangy. The steamers of clams was divine . The wine broth was soothing. The salmon shrimp crab cake was good. The fish and carne asada tacos . were delicious Dessert we opted to molten lava cake. Erupted with sweetness. Overall, fantastic night. read more

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Stopped by Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill after visiting Hearst Castle and it ended up being a great dinner spot. We came around sunset and the views were absolutely beautiful overlooking the water. Definitely one of those relaxing Central Coast moments. The food portions were huge and everything we ordered was tasty and satisfying after a long day of sightseeing. Service was friendly overall too. Only downside was that my beer came in a dirty glass. You could tell because the bubbles were sticking to the inside of the glass instead of rising cleanly. Not a huge deal, but something the restaurant should pay more attention to. Overall though, still a nice spot with great views and solid food. read more

Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill - Seafood Near Me - Cambria, California

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Seriously delicious food and amazing views! They have some of the best clam chowder I've ever had hands down! Do yourself a favor and get a cup regardless of what else you order. We got an order of fried jalapeño rings to start and they were nice especially dipped in some ranch. Katie ordered the strip loin steak with extra veggies on the side. It was cooked perfectly, very tender, and seasoned nicely. The veggies were good and the garlic butter sauce went well on all of it. I got the spicy tequila cream chicken pasta. It came out piping hot which was nice and had so much flavor! I would get this again for sure, it was a big portion. Service was quick and friendly. The bartender makes some good drinks! read more

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We enjoyed a wonderful meal here! It does get very busy, I suggest showing up when they open. Service was wonderful, and the location itself with the views cannot be beat! The prices are very fair considering you are directly across from the ocean, the food arrived quickly and was presented beautifully. Portions are generous, and the quality was well worth it. My salmon and asparagus was delightful, perfect on a hot summer evening! My husband also enjoyed his steak very much and our son loved the kids meal. There's simply something for everyone here. Great option if you are on vacation here in the area or passing through, highly recommended! read more

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Perfect chill spot to visit for lunch after driving along the coast. The ocean view from the restaurant is pretty good. The clam chowder was nice and hot! Served with some oyster cracker it was good. I started to look for the clams but they were sitting at the bottom of the dish. The oysters were just missing some vinegar base unfortunately. read more

Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill - Cup of New England Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Cambria, California

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Had a great time here with family who were out visiting. The service was great and I was grateful our server knew her wine and could give recommendations! My food was very good and we enjoyed the jalapeño corn fritter app but didn't taste any spice which was surprising. The pesto shrimp pasta was very good and I would definitely have it again. The outdoor seating was nice but the view was pretty obscured from where we were sitting. read more

Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill - Pesto Shrimp Pasta - Seafood Near Me - Cambria, California

We rented a cottage within walking distance of the restaurant. They don't take reservations so everyone gets in line before 5:00 PM when they open. The staff is friendly and efficient. We had the choice of inside or outside or next available. We chose next available and were sited in a large wooden booth overlooking the patio and we could see the ocean. The server came right away, brought warm bread and water. My husband ordered the Boston clam chowder in the bread bowl and I ordered a cup of clam chowder for appetizers. The Boston clam chowder was delicious. We also ordered oysters Rockefeller and my husband order two oysters on a half shell. They were delicious, the best we have ever had. We the ordered Alaskan Cod Tacos with jalapeño slaw, cheese and tomatoes. They were so good we came back the next day for lunch. We highly recommend Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill! read more

Definitely just an okay experience with both the food and the hospitality we received. We went right at opening and had to wait for a bit, which was not a problem. The wait staff seemed unprofessional in the way they were interacting with customers; it did not feel like a welcoming atmosphere and more just felt like they were hurrying to get people in and out. The food was overpriced for the quality. We ordered the fish slaw bowl and the salmon. Both needed to be hotter and the salmon was fairly dry. There were also no dietary restrictions listed anywhere on the menu, which was annoying to ask about. Do not need to come back if in the area again. read more

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I usually go here once a year. I always try to get something new when I go. I have had some hits and some misses. I feel like you can't go wrong with oysters, which I usually always order here. This time I also ordered the calamari to share with everyone. I really like their calamari as well. For my main meal i ordered the burger. The burger was good but had so much lettuce. I took some off. And for $18 I would think French fries would be on the plate with the burger. Who doesn't have French fries with a burger? Our waitress was so nice. She was probably the nicest server we have had here. She was very helpful. I wanted spicy margarita and she said they could make it for me even though it wasn't on the menu. It was the best spicy margarita I've had!! She also came over to check and make sure I liked it. She was very attentive even though she was so busy. I always love going here because of the location. I love being by the ocean and having an ocean view on vacation. I will go back but I do t know if I would get the burger again. I will or try something else next time. read more

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Food is always awesome, and customer service is always quick. Great value for what you are receiving! And always a picture perfect view! read more

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Moonstone was recommended by a friend who lives out here in Cambria. We ordered the rib eye medium rare, spicy tequila cream chicken pasta, cioppino, oysters on a half shell, and calamari frito. I do not eat seafood, therefore this review is based off of my group. My husband enjoyed the oysters stating they were fresh and sweet. My daughter loved the calamari. I was quite underwhelmed with the spicy tequila cream chicken pasta. I was told that the dish was very spicy. To me, there was barely a hint of heat to it. The flavors was lacking. I feel as if the sliced onions should be left out. Our friend ordered the cioppino and mentioned the same thing, the sliced onions made the dish taste a little off but otherwise delicious. The kids fusilli with Parmesan was ok. It was basically tossed in butter and she can add her own Parmesan. The rib eye came out medium well. We thought that maybe it was just the ends that were a bit more cooked, however, almost the entire steak was medium well. The only part that we didn't eat was looked to be medium. Although the steak was not cooked to our preferred temperature, it was very flavorful and tender. And we sure were hungry after a day of exploring. We ate nearly the entire plate. I didn't want to mention anything since we ate 90% of the plate, but our friend convinced us to bring it up to the server. And so I did, not wanting to anything to be done about it. We did nearly finish it. We also did not want to wait longer for the steak to be re-made. I paid for my tab and it was well under what I had expected the total to be. I scanned through the itemized receipt and realized that they took off the steak. I felt ashamed for even bringing it up since we basically ate it all. The cocktails were great. Not too watered down or too heavy with alcohol. The restaurant has an amazing view overlooking the Pacific Ocean and offers outdoor seating. The service is quick and everyone was very friendly. Will I came again? For sure. Just not for pasta. read more

I liked it here. It was busy and the host was really welcoming. We were sitting in the bar waiting for our table. It only took 20 mins for 2 people to be seated. There's plenty of seating indoor and outdoor. The food was delicious. Ordered clam chowder soup and my husband had some fish and chips. We did hear people "waiting for a long time" but as for us we were seated quickly and our orders were taken fairly quick and food came out warm. We had a good experience :) will for sure be coming back read more

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We were down the road hanging out on the beach and thought I'd look on yelp for places to eat in the area with high reviews and this was one of them. What a beautiful restaurant and what a wonderful view you get when you sit outside. The service was amazing. This restaurant has it all, you can bring big groups of people or even 2. No matter the size I'm sure they can accommodate you. I'm so glad we stopped here to experience the most delicious seafood I've had in Cambria. I highly recommend the steamers for a starter along with the clam chowder they are both 10/10 full of flavor. I will definitely come back here next time I'm in the area. Because after eating here Morro bay restaurants couldn't top it. When you like something so much it's hard not to compare. read more

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Very tasty, highly recommend. Service was mixed, host was a bit rude. Manager and our waiter were great! Place had a very relaxed tone, hang out and have a good time. read more

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Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill is the go to place when visiting the scenic beach. This restaurant has a lovely view of the ocean, so make sure to secure a spot outside. And bring a jacket and sunglasses! They do not take reservations, and they are closed between 3-5 so make sure to plan your visit accordingly as it can get very busy past 5. While they have all sorts of the lunch and dinner staples, I wanted to try something new so I went with the pulled pork slaw bowl which was excellent. Rich with flavor and filled me up. My sister got the seafood salad sandwich which was was not my favorite but she enjoyed it. The only downside was that the sandwiches and burgers did not come with a side so you would have to buy them all separately which can add up quick. The service was good, considering they were packed, and we had a lovely time altogether as a family. read more

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Second time here, but certainly not the last. The barkeep was a pro mixologist. Our waiter was super friendly and attentive, but the star of the show, was of course, the food. Great oysters on the half shell. We both had the fish tacos and they were some of the best we've had. Total package experience. An absolute must when ur in the Cambria area!!! read more

Got there right when it open and people were piling in. We sat at the bar and ordered a couple of cocktails while waiting for our table. The bartenders were super friendly and great to talk to. They also pour a mean cocktail. After about 15 minutes we were seated outside. The views during the day must be spectacular. At night you're not seeing much. The wait staff were quick to take our orders and were attentive. The cioppino was good. Something was off with the crab. The meat seemed super dried inside the shell. The calamari were really well done. read more

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Had lunch here on May 16, 2026 at approximately 1330 hrs. The restaurant was pretty busy, full patio. We had about a 5 minute wait to be seated, we asked for first availability and we were seated indoors. Parking is extremely challenging, we had to park on the street and a bit away. The rating is based on two things food and service. There were 5 in our party so rather than put two tables together (empty tables were available) and seat us comfortably, they crammed us in a table that sat 4 and added an extra chair at the head of the table. We literally had no extra space for our food. Appetizer: oysters on a half shell. 6 oysters served with a side of cocktail sauce with horseradish and one small lemon wedge. Oysters tasted fresh Mains: clam chowder in a bread bowl. The clam chowder here is okay. Menu description: Homemade New England-style clam chowder served piping hot in our crusty sourdough round (contains bacon). Sourdough bowl was far from "crusty", bread was lightly toasted (did not have any brown toasted color at all. Bacon was nonexistent as were traditional potato chunks. The chowder was pretty grainy. I would not order this again. Very disappointing. Fish and Chips: menu description: Best catch white fish lightly breaded served with lemon, tartar sauce, and shoestring French fries. When asked what fish was used, waiter did not know and guessed cod. The fish were about 5 pieces of small fish. The fish was not greasy and tasted freshly fried. The tartar sauce was pretty good. The fries were, not my favorite, kinda hard and even worse once they cooled down. Other than the French fry quality, I would order this dish again and try to substitute the fries for a coleslaw. Fish Tacos: Two tacos served with corn tortillas stuffed with lightly breaded white fish served with cheese, jalapeño cream slaw, and salsa fresca. I did not try the tacos but my friend said they were pretty tasty. Dessert: Molten Chocolate Cake. A chocolate cake filled with dark chocolate truffle served warm with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. This dessert was served warm and it was delicious. Service 10/10. Waiter was very friendly and attentive. Overall, Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill has pretty amazing ocean views and ambience is pretty laid back. The food however, was hit and miss and parking is extremely challenging during peak hours. read more

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Stopped here on a foggy but warm day. Sat outside on the patio. We both had the seafood salad sandwich on grilled sourdough. It was really tasty! Our server, Amy, was outstanding. Friendly, efficient and great sense of humor. We finished with the fresh berries and ice cream. Delicious. This was a great stop. read more

Expectation, across from the beach along the beautiful coastline, nestled among hotels and residential...seafood! Well, very little offered. It's mostly an American continental menu. Sure, they have fish & chips, fish tacos, clam chowder, shrimp scampi...but that's about it, no fish plates other than a special salmon. They do have burgers, salads, carnitas tacos, grilled chicken, steaks, pasta. Now, what I did have I can't complain. Fish & chips, great fish & great fries -- they did me right. read more

Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill - Fish & chips, great fish & great fries - Seafood Near Me - Cambria, California

After visiting Hearst Castle we came here for a late lunch on Tuesday. Their Moonstone Bloody Mary was delicious. I loved their bloody mary mix and the garnishes. Bartender was friendly. We ended up sitting outside on the patio. My husband and I shared New England Clam Chowder in a bread bowl. The soup's texture was creamy with a bit of clam and potatoes in every bite. Beautifully prepped morsels. The bacon added another level piquing our interest with each bite. Server was friendly but was not much for steering us through the menu. Ordered a side of coleslaw after hearing another table add it to their fish & chips order. Our fish & chips orders seemed overdone for our tastes. It is a nice location and one can stroll the beach afterwards. read more

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Beautiful location, but unfortunately our experience was disappointing. We visit this area about four times a year, so we're very familiar with the fact that dining along the coast can be expensive. We've eaten at plenty of higher-priced restaurants in the area and don't mind paying those prices when the food, portions, service, and overall experience are worth it. Unfortunately, we didn't feel that was the case at Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill. We specifically asked to sit outside and were told by the hostess that it would be about a 15-minute wait. She told us we could be seated immediately if we sat inside, so we agreed. Almost as soon as we sat down, she proceeded to take another group outside to the patio. That didn't sit well with us considering what we had just been told. Our waitress was friendly and did a good job, and we appreciated her service. The food, however, was nothing special. The fish and chips were particularly disappointing and overpriced for the amount of food you receive. The portion honestly looked more like a child's meal than an adult entrée. The issue isn't simply that the restaurant is expensive. We regularly pay higher prices when visiting this area and have had many meals that were absolutely worth the money. The issue is value. When you're charging premium prices, the quality and portion size should reflect those prices. The location is beautiful, but based on this visit, it felt like we were paying more for the location than for the meal itself. With so many other restaurants in the area where we've happily paid similar or higher prices and left satisfied, this experience was disappointing and didn't measure up. 8/12/26 read more

Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill - Fish and Chips - Seafood Near Me - Cambria, California

They don't take reservations, so there is always a line waiting to get in. We've been coming here for years. They always have excellent service and food. My personal favorites include the clamp chowder (my favorite chowder among all of the central coast), Jalapeño Corn Fritters, and really any entree. And don't forget the views. Great experience. read more

Never disappointed here. Definitely a go to for me. Love the patio. Service was great. Shared the scallops and shrimp tacos, grilled fish tacos, oysters and fried jalapeño rings. Everything was so so good. Get the Bloody Mary, you won't be disappointed read more

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Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill was bursting with flavor! While passing through Cambria and looking for a spot for dinner, we stumbled upon this gem within walking distance from our hotel--with an incredible view of the beach. It was peaceful and serene while we waited to be seated. The bar area was perfectly placed in front of us, like a big warm hug calling my name. The drinks were amazing, and the bartenders were extremely friendly. Of course, we had to sit outside on the patio--who wouldn't take advantage of that ocean view? The oysters were fresh and tasty, and the seafood crab cakes were hot, light, and delicious. I can't wait to come back and enjoy another drink with that perfect seaside breeze. read more

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Came on a Sunday evening and my family of four did have to wait about an hour. But the food was excellent IMO. To begin with, they did bring us some bread and butter, which we quickly scarfed down cause we were famished. I could've used some water with the bread, but our waiter did bring it eventually. Food we ordered: me-clam chowder cup and crab cakes, my husband-carnitas torta with French fries, my son-strip steak with mashed potatoes, my daughter-seafood sandwich. I have to say the food was superb! The food came out hot, French fries were nice and crispy and no after taste, my son's steak was cooked just right -medium rare, and the portions all around were great for what you pay for! I would definitely come back again! Highly recommend for dinner! Some pics of our meal! read more

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Ordered the same meal I had last time. Steak was chewy. Mashed potatoes were not hot. Sad

The cheese burgers are Dee-licious! We haven't had such a flavorful burger in a long time. From the bun, crisp lettuce, sauce, fresh cut tomatoes and tasty meat! Last night was the grilled chicken breast sandwich. Grilled to perfection. Juicy not dry. Just the right amount of tasty sauce. Lettuce, onions, tomatoes, soft bun... There's a wide variety of dishes on the menu. We will be back. read more

If nothing else- Id come back for the bartender. He was an absolute gem and made us wonderful Bloody Marys, a Virgin Mary for my friend who doesn't drink. The Cajun Shrimp & Bay Scallops were delish and I would get them again, the scallops were perfectly tender. My friend enjoyed her grilled fish Slaw Bowl and the iced tea. Good things to know- this place is BUSY busy. Be prepared for a wait, especially on the weekends. The food is good and the location is top notch. Also the bar is small and they only do drinks, no food. They give you a buzzer for your table, and have little outdoor seating areas for you to wait. They're also well stocked with cute tee's, hats, and sweatshirts. I was pleasantly surprised at the merch prices. All in all this is a lovely spot along the coast and the food is absolutely worth it. read more

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This used to be one of the greatest places in Cambria. If not the Central Coast, Not anymore. Sad. Service was questionable, they're understaffed. Food was acceptable. Bar was good, but the patio atmosphere and the Service was not the same as the past. Food barely passed the test. read more

Great service by Ismeal as our server. Food was delicious & perfect servings. Bloody mary was fantastic with pickled asparagus...loved the views. read more

We enjoyed our stroll on Moonstone beach then stopped at Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill for a libation. Aaron made our pit stop so enjoyable we stayed for 2. Beautiful! read more

Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill - Aaron and my husband at the bar - Seafood Near Me - Cambria, California

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The host was kind and quick to seat us, our server appeared as if he rather have been somewhere else. We ordered the shrimp/scallop tacos and the seafood salad sandwich, which were recommended. The tacos lacked flavor and the scallops were underwhelming. The sandwich was okay, nothing memorable. It definitely needed seasoning. We asked for hot sauce which didnt help. We also ordered a side of onion strings, that were okay as well, should have been fried longer. They weren't golden jn color and were a little soft to the bite. Overall, the food did its job of being edible but far from memorable or crave worthy. Would not put on my list of restaurants to return to but in no means was it "bad", just not my taste. read more

Great beachside views, delicious food, and excellent service! Just a heads-up: make sure to reserve a table in advance if you want to avoid a long wait. read more

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This is our third time eating at Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill. We haven't been back since 2020 and this time around it did not disappoint. Drake was our server, he was personable, not pushy, just the right amount of perfect! The food is simple and yummy, all at the same time. Hopefully, we will make it back quicker than 6 years! read more