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    Brad's Restaurant

    3.9 (1.2k reviews)
    ModerateSeafood
    Closed 10:30 am - 8:30 pm

    Brad's Restaurant Photos

    BRAD'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Brad's Restaurant

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    Yum!
    Krista K.

    Service was great! The ambiance is very Pismo, beach cafe-Eskimo. And the clam chowder was great!

    Fish and Chips (3-piece) w/ Lemonade.
    Marc M.

    First time customers! We've tried several places in Pismo Beach and this restaurant felt the coziest. The food was fresh and hot! The fish & chips tasted amazing. Our server was attentive and friendly. The whole place gave American diner vibes and had a cool fish tank.

    4 pcs Fish and Chips
    Cherry Lynn I.

    This is our 2nd time here. Our first was over 10 years ago and now we're back to celebrate my husband's birthday. We ordered the same as what we ordered 10 years ago. 4 pcs Fish and Chips and BBQ Beef Ribs. Our server which I forgot to asked her name was really nice. I highly recommend this place, and it's just a half block from our hotel Beach House Inn. Seated at the patio table .

    Shrimp and crab Louie salad
    Kim E.

    We really like Brad's. A few days ago on our visit, Brooke was our server. She was fantastic! Service with a smile. We always sit out on the patio. The food is always good and served quickly.

    Eliza J.

    Original staple in Pismo Beach. Always fantastic Service. Great beach breeze and ambiance. Food is delicious. My favorite go to is the Shrimp & Crab Louie. It abounds with seafood. Yum!!! The fish and chips is fantastic too. Chowder? Why yes. Visit Brads for the food, great service and Pismo nostalgia. You'll be glad you did.

    Menu 8.7.25
    Cynthia C.

    A must stop for us when along the Central Coast. Among the Pismo Beach competitors for Best Clam Chowder", Brad's wins my vote year after year. I cannot resist their sourdough bread bowl with chowder. SO MANY clams and not a too thick or watery base - perfect! Hubs likes their generous and perfectly cooked burgers and we both enjoy their French fries! If BBQ is your jam, come to BRAD'S! 6 days a week during summer and weekends throughout the year, check out the crew flamin' it up as you walk by their oak pit and seated outdoor patio area. Skewers of delicious shrimp, succulent ribs and regional favorite, Santa Maria style tri tip are H-O-T T-O G-O! Chuckle at tourists waiting in line elsewhere to stand and eat clam chowder whilst you stretch out and relax in your comfortable, air conditioned booth. The family refurbished the restaurant a couple of years back and it's beautiful. Brad's has been lovingly cared for and closely watched over by the same family since 1953. Not fancy, but homey and friendly. Although I DO miss the Trivial Pursuit cards at the tables! iykyk Oh! And fish and chips???? Heck yah! Brad's got you covered! Want a tip: if you're over 55 and looking for a "simple taste of Brad's", go with the Sr. Traveler's Special (or what I call Evie's deal), my mom used to look forward to arriving in Pismo, getting settled, the walking to Brad's for a bowl of clam chowder, some nice French bread and a glass of wine. Thanks to Brad's family for keeping this special corner of Pismo so lovely, delicious and a spot where we know we will enjoy filling our bellies! Cheers! "CC"

    Jason H.

    Really great server! Quick friendly service Great menu Really nice patio dining Prices are fair Food was really good Clam chowder was amazing Fishermans platter was good Definitely recommend

    Crab & shrimp louie
    Michelle R.

    Ordered the crab & shrimp Louie. Grey egg, week-old onions, and grey crab. Completely disgusting. Never again.

    Clam chowder bread bowl
    Lauren W.

    While splashes line was around the corner per usual, I knew brads could save the day ;) after all this is my pick between the two anyway! No wait to sit for 2, got walked straight to a booth and after 2 minutes had our drinks AND food order in! Very speedy which was perfect because we just had a 2 1/2 hour car ride with no bfast As I was typing this our food arrived literally that was the fastest service ever! The clam chowder is seriously so flavorful and the sourdough bread is the perfect pair, bread doesn't get terribly soggy so its longevity in the bowl is great! The broth to the soup was excellent and I topped it with hot sauce to make it even better! I definitely give this my recommendation for clam chowder in Pismo!

    Matt G.

    My family and I were looking for different types of food as most wanted BBQ and another wanted seafood. We ended up at Brad's as we were walking down by the pier and noticed some grilling with a sign that says they grill with an Oak Pit. I pulled up the menu online and also saw that they had seafood. We walked in about an hour before closing and were immediately greeted and seated. There were seats available indoors and on the patio but we settled with the indoor seats. We liked the different menu options but decided on all grilled items: marinated tri-tip, tri-tip sandwich, salmon and a grilled chicken avocado sandwich. The tri-tip had the marinated flavor but my son is used to smoked tri-tip but this one is grilled. He didn't love it but was impressed with the portion size. I loved my grilled chicken sandwich as the portion was generous and could taste the oak flavor in the chicken. The salmon was good and the tri-tip sandwich was OK. The one thing here is that the BBQ items come with beans and your choice of salad or fries. There are no side upgrades so if you want vegetables you will be charged the full price for the veggies plus you will get the sides that come with the meal. We were pleased with the service as it didn't take long to order, receive the food or check out. This is a good location close to the pier. 3.5 stars!

    Seafood Combo $37.50
    Leo E.

    This was very unfortunate. I love seafood and eat it everywhere (San Francisco restaurants are a high favorite). Sadly, I ordered this dish and it was really bad. The gravy looking sauce or soup was not appetizing at all, and it is the first time I've ever seen a sauce like this in seafood; it doesn't work. This dish lacks seasoning completely. I had to put salt and pepper and lemon just to get taste out of the fish, shrimp, and scallops. The picture is after I stopped eating. I feel like I might get sick. Really unfortunate that I spent so much money on this dish. Would never have it again.

    BBQ Beans, pilaf, beef & pork rib and chicken. AMAZING
    Princess M.

    I honestly was surprised by everything I tried. I had the pork rib, beef ribs and chicken plate and it was seasoned to perfection. Clam Chowder was amaaazinnnggg. I will definitely be back to hang with BRAD.

    2 Traveler's specials in the sunshine at their patio tables.
    Sammy Kelly P.

    We came for the Traveler's Special (including a bowl of clam chowder, bread with butter, and a glass of house wine) and it did not disappoint!! The clam chowder was DELISH, and so creamy. Pro-tip: add hot sauce to your chowder, and get a second pad of butter in case you're butter lovers like us! We sat outside in the beautiful sun, under the table umbrellas. Our server was super nice, and everyone working there was friendly and helpful.

    Fish and chips

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    3 months ago

    Avoid Bad's Restaurant. The service was absolutely horrible, and the clam chowder tasted like warm, watery milk.

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    5 months ago

    Great wait staff! The clam chowder and fish and chips were great, but the halibut was phenomenal! Great day to sit outside!

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    Brad's Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Brad's Restaurant

    Are reservations required?

    Yes it will help but not required

    Are dogs allowed in the outdoor seating area?

    Thank you for your inquiry. If your dog is a service dog they are welcome. We are unable to accommodate pets at our restaurant. Unfortunately, California Retail Food Code (114259.5) prohibits us from allowing pet dogs at our restaurant, including on… 

    Anyone know the approximate wait time for patio dining at lunch or dinner during this crisis?

    We were there at around 7:30-8. Wait time not bad.

    Do you serve breakfast?

    We serve breakfast daily from 8am-11am. Our menu is available on our website:… 

    View All 5 Questions

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    4.1(2.2k reviews)
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    My wife and I had a great lunch today. The Host and Waiter were friendly and attentive. They both…read morecame over at some point to ask how everything was. I told them it was "Delicious!" I heard the other Waiters as they served the clients. They were very friendly, professional and served the customers with a smile. The location is on a busy street so as you dine and you look out the window you get to see all the people driving and walking by. It's great if you love to people watch. Some of the plates coming out looked AMAZING. We had the Crab Dip, House Salad, Crab Louis Salad and Clam Chowder. Everything was delicious and satisfying. We even took home a slice of Key Lime Pie. We'll be going back again.

    The Cracked Crab is a well established restaurant on Price street serving yummy food for many years…read morenow. Cute and casual restaurant displaying many lovely beach murals and specializing in seafood. DJ was our fantastic server today. He was Friendly & attentive. We ordered 2 buckets with crab & shrimp. Our order came out steamy & tasty very quickly. The buckets include a choice of crab, shrimp, mussels & clams. It includes corn, potatoes, sausage & your seafood choices. They have many seafood options besides the buckets. DJ was so accommodating throughout our meal. We dined early around 5pm, but if you go during peak hours, lunch or dinner you may have a wait. They do not take reservations. They are moderately priced and portions are good. For a fun beach y experience definitely drop in for a meal.

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    The Oyster Loft

    The Oyster Loft

    4.5(1.6k reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    My friends and I came here and on a whim and were lucky enough to sit down without a reservation on…read morea Saturday night. The Oyster Loft is one of my ALL time favorite restaurants. The cocktails are a nice balance between alcohol snd sweet. I ended up drinking 4, and still felt great after! It felt really refreshing. We ordered 30 oysters for the table and we finished them so fast because they tasted so good! I'm a huge fan of west coast oysters because of how sweet they taste. We pretty much inhaled all 30! We shared the plates family style, and it was very tasty! I felt like all the dishes had a good balance between differently flavor profiles. It was so good that we were able to finish the whole meal! The desserts were so solid. I actually would have regretted it if we didn't finish off our meal with it. The service was good! I never have a problem with our servers whenever we visit. They're always so professional and friendly.

    Dinner with my wife celebrating our wedding anniversary…read more I wanted to enjoy my experience here given the beautiful beachfront views, but the execution fell short for an upscale spot. To start, we arrived early for our reservation. I had made a note requesting an outdoor table, and the hostess attempted to seat us inside. I politely asked for an outside table again, and she said we would have to wait 10 minutes, which was fine. We moved to the bar, ordered two glasses of wine, and before they even finished pouring our water, the table was "ready". The biggest disappointment was the limited menu availability. Four out of ten of the entrees were completely unavailable when we ordered, which severely restricted our options. Additionally, my wine bottle was served and was never chilled or offered a wine bucket, which is a miss for a premium seafood restaurant. On the positive side, the food they DID have available and we could order was all tasty and fresh. The service was okay, polite, but not particularly attentive or proactive given the pricing. Overall, you're paying for the stunning location, but the food logistics and service definitely need improvement. We still had a great time!

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    Ventana Grill - Mahi Mahi Civeche

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    4.1(3.1k reviews)
    0.9 mi
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    Great food. Great bartenders but the music is terrible. They need to rethink their play list…read more Puts me to sleep . Makes me want to leave for a more livelier place.

    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!

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    View of the lounge

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    Blue Seafood & Grill - Ceviche oysters

    Blue Seafood & Grill

    4.5(350 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Discounts available

    We got lucky arriving early on a Friday night. Since it wasn't too busy yet, we were seated right…read moreaway. We were placed on the back patio, which was beautiful, covered, heated, and thoughtfully decorated, making it a very comfortable and inviting space. We ordered the Cajun Seafood Boil, and it did not disappoint. It came with a generous amount of crab, shrimp, lobster, clams, and mussels. The seasoning was bold and flavorful without being overwhelming. The corn, potatoes, and sausage were perfectly portioned, complementing the seafood instead of taking the focus away from it. The rich, buttery garlic sauce tied everything together and was absolutely delicious. We also ordered the half-shell oysters, which were the perfect medium size. They were meaty and had the rich, briny flavor I enjoy. Our server, Angel, was outstanding. Our food came out quickly, she checked on us regularly, and she was attentive to everything we needed without any delay. Overall, we had a fantastic dining experience from start to finish. Great food, excellent service, and a wonderful atmosphere made this an easy place to recommend for the whole family.

    I tried the melted shrimp tacos, and let me tell you--they are beyond delicious. Honestly,…read morebreathtaking. If you haven't tried this place yet, you need to. I'm pretty brutally honest when it comes to food, and trust me... you'll be thanking me later.

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    Brad's Restaurant - seafood - Updated September 2026

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