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    The Break

    4.6 (117 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    The Break Photos

    THE BREAK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Break

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    Reviews With Photos

    Suzanne L.

    Stopped here after we went next-door and this is a great place to stop and have a cocktail. They have some outside seating as far as two people watch and just enjoy your drink. The menu is a selection of beers, wines mixed drinks and cocktails. They have a featured menu with different type of whiskey, rum tequila cocktails they have a little mix of spice in them if that's what you crave. My choice was the mango margarita with the mix of Mezcal, which has a smoky flavor to it, mixed with jalapeños, and it was very good. The rim was dipped with some hot spice!! I would recommend this as one of your stops while you're in the downtown of Pismo Beach

    Bar area
    Nathan D.

    Came down here accidentally during corgi weekend, but they had space to get us in quickly. Really friendly staff greeted us immediately and got us menus. I didn't have high hopes for a place that seems like it should really just draw in the tourists, but they have a nice set up. Prices are quite reasonable for the location. The space is really nice and open and the patio was nice to hang out with our dogs. Nice and simple menu and a lot of good looking drinks. We decided to just try each of the sliders since a proper sandwich would have been too much probably. While we were waiting for the food to be prepared they checked on us regularly and kept my water topped off. The sliders came out in probably about 10 minutes which was great. Both were good size and on hawaiian buns. The smashburger slider looked and tasted the part. It seems like they had home made pickles on it, really good burger. The spicy chicken was nice and crunchy, had a hot honey flavor to it. Wasn't too spicy but had a nice crunch and well balanced sweet and spicy flavor. We both agreed that their fries are among the best we've had. Whatever spices they use I want to know, absolutely delicious. The shape is unique too, it probably lets them trap more of the seasoning. Definitely a nice spot in Pismo, good to catch sports, great service and really good food.

    Tina B.

    Perfect place to watch a game and have a causal dinner! This spot had such great vibes! We came in on a Saturday night and it was pretty busy! Only one guy was working but he did such a great job!!! (so sad we forgot to get his name) He was doing everything himself from making drinks to taking orders to serving food! ROCKSTAR!!! The fries were so good and flavorful! We also really enjoyed the fish sticks and fish sandwich, it was so crispy and yummy! We'll definitely be back the next time we're in Pismo!

    Paloma & Hazy Beer
    Milena F.

    TDLR: Visited while on vacation in Pismo. The food here is absolutely amazing, sad there isn't something similar closer to home. Must try the Halibat & Chips, the breading is so light and has great seasoning, cooked to perfection. The fries are also a cool shape, made for dipping. After a long days drive, we decided a nice bar with food was ideal for dinner. The inside is on the smaller side but it was nice because it made things feel more cozy. They have these large windows they keep open which helped the beach vibes. Our server was nice, and was super quick in servicing the entire place. I got the Halibut & Chips with a Blackberry Paloma and my boyfriend got the smash burger with a Topa Hazy IPA. The Halibut was cooked perfectly, it was so flakey and the batter was light and well seasoned. The plate brought homemade pickles, lemon & tartar sauce for dipping but you could eat it on its own just fine if preferred. I knew it'd be good given the closeness to the ocean, but it exceeded my expectations for fried fish. The homemade pickles were a nice surprise and equally delicious, not a usual star on my choice of foods. The smash burger was also very good, my boyfriend is a big burger guy (typical choice wherever we go) and he was quick to finish the plate. I tried a bite and I agree that's in our top 5 of smash burgers, again excellent seasoning and pairing of toppings. I will say it's a messy one so be sure to ask for extra napkins! The fries at The Break are cut in a U shape which is unique and awesome. It made dipping them into sauce so fun, and scooping up and bits was a breeze. I recommend this spot for anything looking for excellent food while in Pismo.

    Norma G.

    Chill vibes a few blocks from the beach with open window viewing to people watch. Service with prompt and friendly... Nothing exceptional but nothing bad at all. Order a variety of dishes to share with my son and everything with delicious... no complaints. I would definitely come back with some friends to have some drinks and watch a game. The ahi salad was definitely my favourite.

    Wings
    Edwin R.

    I had this place on my list for a while and was so disappointed. There was a group of college age boys with a table in the center of the empty bar during my visit and they were the high-fiviest of high fivers... and they screamed every time they did it. It's a sports bar, sure, but even the other tables visibly had enough and the servers did nothing to calm them down. As for the food, the burger and chowder were excellent, but the wings... great size, cooked perfectly, served with blue cheese (excellent)... wings tasted disgusting, like seafood. They were garlic parm (look how much garlic was on there) and you couldn't even taste it. They were likely fried in the same dirty oil as everything else on the menu and the flavor was just so gross. I couldn't finish them and didn't bother taking the rest to go. Plus... cauliflower and two green beans as a garnish? What happened to good ol fashion carrots and celery? I was not a fan of this place.

    Whiskey sour
    Jenna O.

    Im leaving 2 star only because the bar tender was nice and accommodating . I had high hopes as the 4.5 stars was what I was going on. I was going off the yelp photos, which none of the photos on here is the food they serve. These are old, old menu items with great reviews. Bring back the empanadas and maybe I'll try again. Here's a 1-10 review on all the food I posted -Chicken wings: I give a 5..not very crunchy, sauce was good and ranch was delicious. Side garnish, what is that? Cold mushrooms, bad bad. Don't put nothing if thats even a choice. It grossed me out and I like mushrooms -Fries: I give 7..crunchy, flavorful and great with ranch -Birria tacos: 2... had potential. Meat was dry and flavorless.. sauce was ok. Tortilla was good -Halibut tacos: 0... worst fish I've ever had snd thats an understatement.. battered in tempura batter, fish was mushy and not flakey like a regular fresh fish. I'm guessing frozen. Terrible, especially since you're in a seafood town. Spicy mayo, very good -limes- self explanatory- dry as hell- barely any juice -coconut mojito- I give 4- was ok..was bitter, I love mojitos- this just wasn't it. Needed a little more sweetness -Whiskey sour- I give a 8- I'm docking points because the ice was in chunks. Should have been a big ice cube or none at all. Needed a bit more sweetness but it was strong so I was happy -Pricing- a but higher than I wanted to pay. If I wanted to spend that type of money, I would of went to a higher end restaurant and paid the same but with better food -Lastly we wanted to choose 2 other dishes snd they were out of nacho cheese! Like come on go buy some ingredients and make it, if homemade, if not, buy normal can nacho cheese. All I wanted was the cheeeeeese lol Football discounted menu had 2 options and only both needed the cheese so we couldn't get them. Also there was people with a very cute dog at the bar but, every time someone walked in or walk by the dog would bark. Not a big deal to me but my friend was not happy about this... it was not the vibe. Dog was very friendly and the sweetest thing ever. - Just want to emphasize again, the bartender/ waiter was fantastic, got busy but still attentive

    Liz S.

    Drinks & food were good! Great atmosphere watching the 49ers with a bar full of fellow fans! Would definitely recommend and will be back.

    Smash Burger, fries, queso
    Britton C.

    This place fucks! The world's best French fries.. The Best "they're different" check photos.... The burger was cooked perfect!!! Check the photos.. Fire .. Then you need to add the queso dip for your fries and your set!!! Recommended!!!!!

    Talk Derby to Me Lunch with my Love
    Cathy L.

    Great mix of local and tourist. The drinks were good and the appetizers tasty. The staff were nice and welcoming. Great spot to relax after enjoying the beach.

    Phish's O Fillet
    Annie L.

    I stopped by with a decent sized group of friends for an early dinner on a Tuesday evening. It wasn't too busy and we were seated very quickly! A soccer game was being streamed on TV so the restaurant was lively and there was excitement in the air haha. Our waitress was super super sweet, funny, and personable. She accommodated all of our needs and was super helpful in answering any questions we had about the menu. I ordered a cup of clam chowder and it came with some oyster crackers! The chowder was good; a little on the salty side but yummy nonetheless! For my entree, I got a Phish's O fillet and it was SO good! I actually really loved the potato bun for the bread choice and it was just everything I wanted. An elevated version of the filet o fish (but in a really good way, trust me). I got the sandwich with a side of fries and although I was skeptical about how much I'd like them, they turned out to be amazing. They had a nice crisp and were pretty substantial! Overall I had a great meal and I think this place has a fun atmosphere. There's a bar too and many specialty cocktails on the menu so there's drinks to go along with the good food!

    Break Fashioned
    Nalleli P.

    Food still excellent. Love coming here when visiting Pismo. Bf watched the UFC fight while we ate. Service is quick ,ambiance is busy and great music. The best wings in Pismo and great drinks.

    Inside
    Eric F.

    Came by because I wanted some liquor. The place wasn't busy when I arrived around 1:30 pm but was busy when I left around 2:45 pm. Bartender greeted me timely when I sat down at the bar. They had my current go to liquor of Bulleit. I had some Bulleit and a draft beer. Interestingly, they offer 2 sizes for their draft beer (according to bartender, small is 14 oz and large is 20 oz). Bartender appeared to be handling the bar and tables. Maybe management didn't expect it to be busy for a Tuesday afternoon. There is no outside seating. Service was excellent. Bartender was friendly and checked on me often. I wonder if they have a happy hour. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area. Service: 5 Ambiance: 4.25 Value: 3.75

    Watermelon margarita and lavender lemonade Martini

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    2 months ago

    The food was really astounding and the staff were super friendly. The seared ahi salad was the best I've ever had!

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    10 months ago

    The grilled cheese is so good. The service was better than any restrant.the ambiance was big and clean.

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    4 months ago

    Fun, casual Pismo locals place. Great shi salad and I love the dipper fries. Delicious! Great drinks too!

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    1 year ago

    Had a nice vibe, and delicious mai tai. We enjoyed sitting at the bar and had clam chowder and a few appetizers as well.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Break

    Are children allowed?

    Yes! I watched all the Sunday NFL games in there with my 9 year old son. Staff was super nice about it! Enjoy!

    Are you dog friendly?

    We are very welcoming to well behaved dogs!

    View All 5 Questions

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    We were looking for a place to have dinner to celebrate our anniversary…read more We looked around yelp the night before and found this gem. We made a reservation for the next day. We originally made our reservation for 7:30 p.m.... we then decided we wanted to perhaps change it to 6:30. We called ahead and hopes that they could accommodate us. They said they couldn't promise anything but they would try. We showed up around 6:15. And they sat us down around 6:35. We had a beautiful window seat overlooking the ocean and had a perfect view of the sunset. I forgot our server's name but he was amazing. This place sounds fancy and bougie but it's really not. The food might be, but the vibe is not. There's no dress code. Everything we ordered was soooo tasty and delicious! We ordered fish and chips, baked clams, a wedge salad, and seafood pasta. For drinks we had two mocktails that were just okay. We also got a couple of flour tortillas with some cinnamon butter and a salsa trio. Our server suggested we spread butter inside the tortilla and drizzle our favorite salsa inside. So good. After dinner we decided to walk around the restaurant and appreciate the views. I'm so glad we came here. We will definitely come back next time we come to Pismo Beach

    I ordered the almejas al vapor (steamed clams), and they were honestly the best I've ever had. We…read morealso got the quesabirria, which my son gave a 10/10. The Coconut Breeze mocktail is incredibly refreshing. My husband ordered the campechana, it was loaded and super satisfying; they definitely don't skimp on portions here. We can't wait to come back! Our waitress, Sakheela, was incredibly kind, gave great recommendations, and was just an all-around wonderful person. We can't wait to come back!

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    Hot Shots Family Entertainment Center

    Hot Shots Family Entertainment Center

    3.4(210 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I'll forever love hotshots! I've been coming here since I was a kid and it was so great visiting…read morethis place again. The staff is always rad and seem to really enjoy their jobs. They provide the best customer service and great food as well! This place is always busy but for some reason we can always find a place to sit and eat even if we aren't playing pool. I hope they stay here forever!

    Stay far, far away from this place. What my family and…read morefriends witnessed at Hot Shots Billiards this past weekend was one of the most disturbing displays of behavior I've ever seen from someone working in a business open to the public. The manager completely lost control screaming, swearing, and behaving aggressively toward a grandfather and his two young grandchildren in front of everyone inside. We saw this with our own eyes. After the outburst, I spoke with the grandfather to understand what triggered this. He explained that the boys had been there the day before playing pool with family and friends and had returned for another visit. Their grandmother had brought them each a small bowl of soup because they didn't want the food offered there. Without any calm discussion or warning, the manager suddenly rushed over, yelling for them to "get their food out of here right this GD minute." Then, in a way that shocked everyone standing nearby, he snatched the soup from one of the kids and forcefully pulled a bag out of the child's hands as they were trying to leave. He continued shouting profanity including multiple F-bombs directly at the grandfather, all while the two young children stood there visibly upset. The entire place went silent. People looked stunned and uncomfortable. I've never seen anything like this in a place that's supposed to be family-friendly. In my opinion, the grandfather showed incredible restraint by not involving law enforcement. We had just walked in to play a few games with friends, but after witnessing that level of hostility and unprofessionalism, we turned around and left immediately. Outside, the grandfather told me the manager still refused to return one of their personal bags, which added to the concern. Later, when I mentioned the incident to a few nearby business owners and locals, several of them said they were unfortunately not surprised. They shared that they had heard of issues involving this manager in the past. I can't personally verify those claims, but hearing the same thing from multiple unrelated people definitely raises concerns. And sure enough, other online reviews describe behavior similar to what we witnessed firsthand. My strong recommendation: avoid this place entirely. No customer especially a child should ever be subjected to that kind of behavior from a manager. The grandfather later sent me a photo of the individual involved so that we could make our local friends in the Pismo area aware of who he was.

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    Hot Shots Family Entertainment Center - Pool area

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    The Break - sportsbars - Updated May 2026

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