WOW. What a great place. No reservations but the hostess was great. Gave us the 'beeper' and came outside to check if everyone's was working. We were seated outside under great heating. Water and warm bread were brought by an enthusiastic server. Our wine came less than five minutes later. Seafood pasta was great, packed with everything. We also ordered pork taco trio. Super. We had a great experience here. read more

I don't like giving negative feedback, in fact this may be my only bad review written to date - but I feel customer service is important & had been genuinely excited to try the food here. Seeing that there was a Patio and that everywhere I had been up to that point, including our hotel, had allowed dogs, I walked over with my tiny pup in his little carry bag. When we arrived, I saw that the patio was enclosed, so I realized I might have to take my pup back to the hotel, but then saw an open air spot with tables and chairs in the parking lot. I would have been willing to sit there and order, so my companion went to ask if that was possible, but was given a very quick and rude "we're not pet friendly", which I was an attitude I was already catching on to as I walked closer and saw unnecessarily large "no pets" signs. I was offended, not for the policy, but because I was already starting to see that was the case & it would have been so easy just to say it gently or nicely & acknowledge that our inquiry was no longer about coming into the restaurant or patio at all. That response made the difference between us taking the doggo back to the hotel room to return for dinner or writing a negative review apparently, because it felt condescending and no food experience is worth feeling unwelcome - especially when every place surrounding the area was completely pet friendly. They are located on a beach, but that day with not-so-relaxed vibes when a simple redirect would have been perfectly fine. I'm a pet person, and it's ok if that's not something you accommodate, I completely understand (especially, sadly, because some pet owners are not responsible, and their pets act like animals and not necessarily family members) - but there's no excuse for being rude when your entire job is service. You're in a beach spot where people come to relax with the people (or animal companions) they love most, no need to have an unfortunate attitude. :( Sorry restaurant/ chef/ other staff, I really would have liked to try the food. P.S. Dog-friendly places can happily have all my money, cheers to patio dining in (most of) California. read more

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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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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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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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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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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We arrived at 4:50 before they opened at 5:00. There had to be 50 people in front of us in line. They very quickly seated everyone and as we were walking to our table people were already eating. Our waitress should be employee of year. I believe her name was Coralina or something like that. She mentioned having a 14 month old son so hopefully management knows who I'm talking about. She even took this photo for us. Give that girl a raise!!!!! read more

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

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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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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Fantastic service and views! The seafood sandwich and fish sandwich were awesome! we walked to the beach afterwards and great mojitos as well read more

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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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

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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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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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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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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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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Holy Expletive Batman! This place is amazing. From the view of the ocean (which is top tier when you sit outside) to the what is probably Award Winning food, this place never misses. I order a few appetizers, a meal and a side and everything was delicious. The staff were so friendly and went the extra mile to ensure I had a fabulous time. They open at 5 and if you don't get there early you will wait in a line. So plan ahead and enjoy this absolute GEM! read more

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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

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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Was staying next-door and they called to make me to go order. I was told that they don't do too, which was quite shocking for a restaurant. We were disappointing. read more

Had gone to Cambria over the long weekend and this place was close to our hotel. We didn't have high expectations but the food here was really really good. We had the clam chowder, fish and chips, and a special of the day. The food was so good we returned the following day for dinner again. Shout out to Adeline our server on the first day who made the experience even better. read more

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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

We try to eat here when we are in the area and usually like it. This past Friday we ate there and were seriously disappointed. Oyster Rockefeller was overcooked and bland. Clam chowder was mealy the texture was awful. The shrimp pesto pasta with fusseli pasta was bland and flavorless. I don't know that we will return. The view is beautiful and the waiter was attentive. 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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We had dinner on Friday. Walked in around 6:30pm and wait-listed for the first available table which turned out to be 20 minutes. We sat in the patio which was fairly well protected from the ocean breeze and heat lamps helped, of course. Service was good: order was taken and meals delivered, not much personal interaction. The food was good and included a chowder bread bowl, fish 'n chips, and seafood sandwich. We had some after thoughts: the Clam Chowder was laden with too much salt, the fish pieces were unusually sized at 2x2 inches, and the seafood sandwich tasted sweet. The cocktails were priced at going rate which theae days is around $16. The Moonstone Mary (aka Bloody Mary) is a house specialty. They served it in a small lowball glass piled with lots of ice and little blood. The Chocolate Martini was tough to drink as it was super sweet. You may have a more enjoyable experience at this place, but likely we will try somewhere else before returning. The facilty is very nice and has a great view to the ocean. read more

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

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I knew going in this place wasn't going to be great and it wasn't. But it was convenient for us that evening. The restaurant was on a wait, we took first available, the host was kinda rude. The patio, all of it wasn't obviously open because of the cold weather but it seemed they had tables available but weren't sitting them. While waiting for our table, we waited about 25mins, we heard numerous groups walk up being like oh look like have tables outside. When we finally got sat our server took a while to greet us, tbh we were ready to walk out. We went with the fish and chips and one of the shrimp salads. I was disappointed the fish wasn't one big piece of fish, that's how fish and chips is supposed to be served. I believe it was pacific cod, some pieces were rubbery - not very good fish and chips at all. The shrimp on the salad was good but waay too much dressing on it. The view of sunset wasn't very good from the patio either. read more

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

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My first review of the New Year, you know we were out and about and I decided to keep on going up highway one. M didn't say a word until we passed Cambria, hey where are we going? a happy place...So I decided we needed to check on the elephant seals . (I typically go to the northern most parking area to avoid the tourists). There were quite a few of the big guys pushing each other around, always interesting. Having walked up an appetite...I drove thru Moonstone Beach and the grill didn't look too busy so I pulled over and in we went. I've always enjoyed this spot for a bit of lunch. Said hello to the manager Frank I believe, he always pretends to remember me, as I do him...haha Seated inside to warm up with a bit with a cup of lunchtime coffee. I've always enjoyed this place, it's just so unpretentious. The menu covers it all and there is plenty to choose from. I've always found the quality and freshness are top notch. We started with the clam chowder as M is the official clam chowder taster in the group. She said the chowder was very good. I too liked the chowder, a few extra bits of seasoning gave it a personality. Clams were diced a bit small for me but certainly clams in every slurp. M went for the Health nut sandwich, ok not my pick and I chose the moonstone beach grilled chicken club sandwich, which was carefully noted as grilled chicken thigh not breast. Menu items are al la carte, so fries or anything else is an additional cost. Thought I'd try the Cole slaw, pineapple flavored just like the one I used to make back in the day. Service was as needed which is fine with me, drinks served, order taken, food delivered. Our guy checked in on us, drinks okay? how is everything...good? That's all I really want from a server, polite and speedy, attentive as need be. We gobbled it all down and were ready for a late afternoon nap, anything from AL's dear, nope lets just go home. Giddy Up. Thanks Frank, Martin - Foodguy read more

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

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Okay food. Not much flavor. Slow service. Waitstaff not particularly attentive. Loud atmosphere during dinner service. Not worth the wait for a table nor the price. read more

Great food, great view and great service. We were here and were welcomed by the hostess, Akiba (apologies if I got the name wrong), whose smile didn't vanish when we asked to change the tables. Our waiter, Drew, was great...patiently waiting for us to make our manu decisions and once made making sure it was staged so everything did not come at one time. Never made us feel rushed!!! Food was excellent...clam chowder was amazing and so were sweet potato fries. The "health Nut" sandwich and Chicken salad with Onion rings were great. Hot Chocolate lava cake was to fight for. Oh... the manager visited every table asking if the patrons were happy. Who does that ??? Can't forget ...70s music that we loved. Great experience read more

The food is exceptional, the service was great. The restaurant offers a pleasant ocean view.

Waited about an hour to be seated on Saturday night, which after reading reviews seems standard. We won't be rushing back to this restaurant and here's why: Cons: -You can't have dogs on the patio which was a bummer for us. -bathrooms were dirty and out of toilet paper. Hostess was not friendly -seated at 8:10pm by broken heater only to realize broken after asking for it to be put on 4 times -clams in clam chowder were very chewy -pasta was bland Pros: -beautiful view -large menu/ have kids Menu After waiting so long to experience this restaurant it definitely fell short. read more

Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill - Spicy tequila Chicken pasta was better than tomato basil pasta - Seafood Near Me - Cambria, California

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Darling little restaurant along the walking trail for a quick bite since hubby was craving fish and chips ! Thanks for allowing us the sub the sweet potatoes fries! The fish was a bit too tough /overcooked but the fries was delicious ! The shrimp and bay scollops was enjoyed ! Staff were great and the outside dining was quite relaxing with a great view read more

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Based on previous good experience, we reserved a table for 15 people ages 3-82 to celebrate family achievements. The restaurant assigned us one server who also had other tables. We were there almost 3 hours. No appetizers or bread appeared for an hour after seating. On top of that, the food was mediocre at best. We were very disappointed with the service and food. read more

Honestly rough go "mid" as the kids would say. Interior was cute but between the service and the food wouldn't go back.

Moonstone is a decent stop if you are in the area. Very beautiful outside seating area overlooking the water. It is VERY expensive for what you get. I got the shrimp coleslaw bowl and it had THREE shrimp on it- not jumbo shrimp, just regular sized shrimp. The rest of is was rice, beans and coleslaw (that was sitting under the warm shrimp and over the warm rice/beans which made it soggy and warm). The dish was about $20 but for those ingredients, should probably be $12 at most. The calamari was fine but nothing spectacular, kind of soggy. Wouldn't go back but an easy stop with plenty of options for everyone if you needed. read more