30 Best Seafood Restaurants in Santa Monica

“The 5 stars is for the service, staff and attentiveness. The environment is also pleasant. That said, the food is very heavy and rich, without notable flavor. We ordered 7 different dishes. The meat and fish quality seemed very good but the preparation and flavors were seriously lacking. It was just really hard to get through the plates with nothing fresh, nothing crisp and no contrast of lightness. There isn’t a single fresh green salad on the menu. Our stomachs simply all hurt for the duration of the evening afterward. Too much oil? I didn’t have an appetite for the next day and felt queasy! Quite odd.“

“Excellent food and fantastic service😊“

“Although I was a little put off by the paper plate table settings… this was by far the most delicious food I’ve had… a wildly unexpected treat! Simple yet brilliant flavors using incredible olive oil… it’s my new favorite place! Highly recommended…“

“I had a wonderful experience at this fish market. Everything was incredibly fresh with a great selection of seafood.
Place was clean and well organized.

I also loved that you can eat there on site — the freshest oysters and delicious fish, all incredibly high quality and full of flavor.

Prices were fair, and the atmosphere was very pleasant.
I will definitely come back and highly recommend it to anyone who loves fish and seafood.“

“Beyond expectations! Best meal & service in at least 10 years. I’ll be back!“

“I never really liked lobster rolls before, but my husband convinced me to come here and try it. Honestly, it was the best decision! This lobster roll completely changed my opinion — it was absolutely delicious, fresh, and so flavorful. Now I finally understand why people love lobster rolls. Highly recommend this place!“

“Excellent service, amazing lobster 🦞 with crab rice. I just wish I was given the prices before agreeing on the upgrade. I ordered a family for 2 and CJ server offered to make it 3ppl. I was kinda surprised with my bills and how the restaurant dictate the gratuity %….Overall, I love dining in this restaurant because we were welcome and were given a great and warm reception. Thank you to the staff who made us feel special especially to CJ she was amazing. Indeed, the most expensive meal I have eaten lol it’s worth it.“

“the service was spectacular. really fun group of servers... food = excellent - exception: chicken appetizer a little greasy/ excessively fried but everything else: salmon, hamachi, avocado fries, duck tacos, etc. was great. a little too loud at first due to boisterous group in the bar right next to our table. acoustics are not great for conversation when the bar is hopping. this is my second time and I will come back.“

“Atmosphere, food on point“

“Hurtig betjening og fantastisk aftensmad 🦞🍺🦐“

“Best steak and service . Say hi to Hillary she is the best !!!“

“Great food loved it ! We will b back“

“Brilliant service high class dining and very high quality food …“

“Had an incredible experience this evening at BOA. Mr. Ousley seated our party in the best seats! My server Mark was outstanding and his service was spot on. Clay and his whole team were On Point. The whole vibe and atmosphere was just perfect. I think I just had the best steak of my life right here in Santa Monica.“

“I will like to give a shout out to the chef. I think his name is Shawn or Sean. When we got to Santa Monica, we looked up restaurants to go have our 26 year anniversary dinner, we stayed at Hotel Delmar right across the street. We googled the restaurant menu, and decided what we were going to have. when we got there, and they brought out the menus, all what we decided to have was not on there. I was crushed. Because I had my mind set on the Halibut. I said it's ok I will just have the Ribeye, mind you I had a ribeye steak the night before. When the waiter came back, my wife asked if it's possible to get the Halibut and he said let me check with the chef. He came back later and said the chef said it's no problem. I was blown away. That was the best Halibut ( besides mine) that I have ever had. Thank you chef Shawn. From one chef to another, thank you. you made my night.“

“Dave Beran is a powerhouse having been head chef at Alinea and won a James Beard award. He also owns Pasjoli.

The Spring menu was visually plated and taste spectacular. There was a rhythm like music to the presentations. The wine pair was top notch and paired wonderfully.

The only nit is that the atmosphere was too black felt cold and not warm or inviting. The waiters were friendly but could be more personal and also felt cold. Beside that they are ready for a minimum Michelin 1-star and maybe 2.

Congratulations to Dave and all supporting staff for winning the James Beard best chef in California 2026“

“Been wanting to try pacific catch for a while and it did not disappoint! I got the salmon with green beans and mashed potatoes which were all excellent. It came with charred lemon and a super tasty green sauce. My partner got the chirashi plate which was beautiful and super good. Very solid fish place, we'll definitely be coming back!“

“Asked for a view in a 3/4 empty room, was told 2 people couldn't have the corner seat. Was offered an inferior view so we left. Bad business to turn away a couple over seat preferences. We have never been to a Bubba Gump Shrimp restraunt before, will never return either. Too bad. Went across the pier to Seaside on the pier and have an excellent view.“

“old school~ great food~ great host~ a treasure~“

“We had a fantastic time with Felix! The food was terrific, the service was beyond terrific! We watched the World Cup, relaxed, and had a great time. Have already started recommending this place before I could post this. We are visiting from out of town, and they made the Best tortillas we have ever had! Check this place out! Hope they open one soon in NYC!“

“The experience was amazing at Sugar Palm. The server, Alfred, was so sweet and gave us great recommendations! The steak frites were to die for but if you like more of a lighter meal, definitely try the seared ahi tuna. It was so fresh and the sauce was incredible. Their pineapple margarita was also VERY delicious! You won’t go wrong with anything on the menu.“

“Good food(easy pickup to go), nice service & a parking lot behind...Thanks. Plan to visit again soon/often“

“Great food! Beautiful view. We will definitely be back.“

“Had a great time. The staff friendly.“

“Loved the happy vegan bowl.“

“In the neighborhood, and we’re looking for some good Mexican food and we found it! Small establishment run by people who obviously care. Food is fresh and seasoned beautifully and cooked with Obvious love. Staff was wonderful you ordered a selection of tacos and every single one was spectacular. Also ordered a burrito.(I was really hungry) Which was perfect easy to hold grill around the outside crunchy and so delicious! Cannot recommend highly enough!“

“Ivy at the Shore is one of those classic spots that has stood the test of time. The ambiance is charming, the patio is beautiful, and the service was warm and attentive from start to finish. It's the kind of place that feels quintessentially Santa Monica and is always great for out-of-town guests, a casual date, or a leisurely lunch by the beach.

The drinks were definitely a highlight and one of my favorite parts of the meal. Well-balanced, refreshing, and a great complement to the seafood-focused menu.

For food, we shared the crab cakes, soft shell crab, and tuna tartare. The crab cakes were delicious, packed with crab and nicely cooked, while the soft shell crab was crispy and satisfying. I also appreciated that the tuna tartare was served with cucumber slices instead of the usual chips or crackers—it felt lighter, fresher, and let the tuna shine.

My main hesitation is the value. While the food was good, the portions felt a bit small for the price, and I left wishing there was a little more substance for what we paid. Everything was enjoyable, but not quite memorable enough to justify the premium pricing.

Overall, Ivy at the Shore remains a classic Los Angeles institution with great service, beautiful ambiance, and excellent cocktails. I'd happily come back for the atmosphere and drinks alone, but I'm giving it 4 stars for now based on the overall value.“

“Me and my husband came out to Santa Monica and ate lunch at Rosti's on Thursday. The pasta dish Rigatoni Beef Ragu that Lisa, my server, suggested was really good! She was personable and friendly, really thoughtful about my food choices since I’m pregnant. Thank you!“

“All the food is taste very delicious, you must try them all.“

“Possibly the best green curry I've ever had! Also the spring rolls were fantastic and had the perfect crunch, loved the sauce too. I have a gluten allergy and it can be tricky to find takeout I can eat, but this place had plenty to choose from, and the lady up front was quick to answer my specific questions. Very quick to have my food out too, 10/10 experience!“