Excellent service and a delightful beach ambiance. I ate a delicious dinner here a couple of years ago, so on a day trip to the beach yesterday, my first stop was the Sea Shanty for a quick lunch. I love Fish and chips so I decided to give it a try. I also like cornbread and noticed it was a side for another dish, so I ordered just the cornbread as well. The fish was very good, but the fry was a bit greasy. The chips were pretty good - not fries - actual decent chips. The cornbread was huge, and sweeter than I like, but baked well and the whipped butter was delicious. read more

Sea Shanty - Three piece Fish and Chips and a piece of Cornbread. - New American Near Me - Cayucos, California

The Sea Shanty in Cayucos is a fantastic place to grab a really tasty meal!!! We enjoyed it so much,we ate there three times on our visit to Cayucos and totally enjoyed each one!!! The atmosphere is inviting with a ceiling almost completely covered in baseball caps!!! The staff is so attentive,friendly and knowledgeable about the different types of dishes offered. The first day we stopped for dinner. I ordered a burger and fries....and let me tell you...that burger was grilled to perfection with a delicious char broil flavor. Twice we enjoyed breakfast there and never disappointed. They offer Swiss sausage that is deliciously awesome and perhaps some of the tastiest breakfast potatoes I have ever tasted(next to my own,of course)!!! Thank you,Sea Shanty,for being such a great host and providing a wonderful dining experience(x3)...this will definitely be our "go-to" spot the next time we visit Cayucos!!! read more

Sea Shanty - Yummy bacon 'n eggs - New American Near Me - Cayucos, California

See all

We stopped here in Cayucos for a late brunch before heading up PCH. When eating here, you get a sense of a strong supportive community. Both staff and locals seem knitted tightly together. It's a nice welcoming for folks like us who were passing through the little town. A big smiling dog named Bear greets passers-by with a tailwag while walking down the sidewalk. They wove a lot of creativity and love into the restaurant with baseball caps decorating the ceiling and all of the crossstitch in the ladies' bathroom. My husband and I shared a Cinnamon Roll. Warm icing oozes over it. Not for the faint of heart - it is SWEET! I had the Chorizo Breakfast Burrito and my husband had the Country Fried Steak. No real frills with the food. My husband is a stickler for hot food and his eggs came out cold. We thought the lovely people made our experience worthwhile. read more

See all

Went there on a Wednesday night. The place has good vibes and fairly busy. The food was ok, and the service was ok too. No complaints and nothing to brag about either. I am debating with 3 or 4 stars. Overall, I think they have great food in this neighborhood. read more

See all

I'm local and I probably end up here about once a year for one reason or another. It's a cute breakfast spot and the prices are in line with the area. On this visit I met a friend and we sat outside on the covered (dog-friendly) patio facing the street. I ordered the two egg breakfast with potatoes, toast, and fresh fruit ($10.50). The eggs were cooked as ordered and the potatoes were fried cubes and seasoned well. The toast was fine. The fresh fruit was a small triangle slice of seedless watermelon, pretty dried out, and a slice of twisted orange (like a garnish). Our server delivered the basics but never refilled our water and only checked on us once. Meh. read more

See all

October 13, 2025 - Cayucos, CA. Another solid breakfast experience on this visit. I ordered one egg over medium (received two eggs over easy) with potatoes, fruit, and a blueberry muffin. The potatoes were perfect -- crispy on the outside and tender inside. The fruit included a slice of orange, cantaloupe, and three grapes. The blueberry muffins (two came with my order) were a bit on the dry side, but still ok. I appreciated the nice selection of tea bags offered with my hot water. On another note, I loved all the Halloween spirit. Decorations everywhere. Very festive. read more

See all

This place was recommended to us by our hotel receptionist, and it was within walking distance. I think it's run by a family, and they provided excellent, friendly service! The Strawberry shortcake was really good, and it's gotta be a must-try. Either that or anything off their dessert menu. I really enjoyed the shrimp and chips; it was excellent, delicious, and I love that the shrimps were plump and tasty. I just have to knock off one star because there were flies inside, so we kept having to swat them away from our food and drinks. read more

See all

We had a great dinner at the Sea Shanty while staying in Cayucos for the night! Lovely little dog-friendly patio. Our meal was delicious, exactly what we expected: we had the fried seafood and potato wedges, a grilled salami and cheese sandwich and super crispy and tasty onion rings! We wanted to try their famous desserts but we were too full! The only thing to note is that their small cocktail menu (choice of bloody mary, margarita or Cayucos sunrise) is not made with spirits but with rice wine so stick to the beer/wine list! We had a really nice time there! read more

My hubby and I dined in here on a late Saturday night right before closing time. It's a cozy and cool vibe. Service was fast and attentive. The restaurant appeared to be clean. The food was okay, my hubby and I didn't care too much for the hot and nasty shrimp. The fish and chips were edible but I've had better in Pismo & Avila Beach which isn't too far from here. The mudd pie was okay too. read more

See all

Looking for a quick and tasty breakfast, lunch or dinner this place is a great stop. The dining room ceiling and walls are covered with ball caps, a bit different decor. Our server was fantastic, very attentive and answered my questions well. I didn't get pictures, my phone was charging. I had a very tasty and stuffed club sandwich and my wife had a patty melt which she described as the best she's had. We sat outside and it wasn't that cold but they had heaters on. All in all we've decided to go back next time through. read more

Step One: When visiting Cayucos, go to Sea Shanty. Step Two: When staying in Cayucos, go multiple times. Step Three: See first two steps and repeat. Seriously, everything here is good, you won't go wrong with anything on the menu. The club sandwich rocks and so do the omelettes. The service is so friendly, and the ambiance is homey and welcoming. read more

Sea Shanty - Halloween season at night. - New American Near Me - Cayucos, California

Came here after driving by for years and seeing it crowded. Service outstanding was first thing I noticed. I had the fish and onion rings with a cold Modelo. Very good and served super hot. Very tasty. My wife had the prime rib medium rare with aujus and horse radish. Fries as a side and really good clam chowder soup. We will be back. read more

See all

Got a $15 breakfast burrito and it was great. Yeah $15 for a breakfast burrito but the place down the street had the same price. Place was nice and the patio is dog friendly and has food for dogs too. read more

Sea Shanty - Breakfast burrito - New American Near Me - Cayucos, California

Great service and good for a group. The desserts alone are a reason to come. The cookie sundae was the best. The fish sandwich was good. The clam chowder is ok. There are many better clam chowders in the area (The Hofbrau, Little Hut, and even that dive of a place Schooners). I had the Cobb salad, and I wouldn't recommend it. It's mostly iceberg lettuce and skimpy toppings. Stick with the sandwiches, burgers, and fish. read more

The restaurant was decent overall, but the food was a bit disappointing. We ordered the red snapper and unfortunately it was very bland and lacked flavor. For a seafood restaurant, I expected the fish to be much more fresh and tasty. The atmosphere and service were fine, which is why I'm giving 3 stars, but the food itself did not really stand out. Hoping they improve the seasoning and flavor because the place has potential. read more

The restaurant is a cute little shanty siting on the main road. We sat outside. Service was great. The food was okay. I wasn't a fan of the wedge fries but I think that is just a personal preference. The fish was just okay and same with the clam chowder. Everything lacked seasoning. Personally I have not found a place in Cayucos that I enjoy their clam chowder or fish and chips. This was just average. read more

See all

This past November (2024) my family and I took a little drive north to a little town called Cayucos which is nestled in between Morro Bay and Cambria. This quaint, small little beachside town is located off California 1 and it was the perfect little getaway to celebrate my wife's Birthday. (My review of the place we stayed at is coming soon and if you love Boutique Motels, you're definitely gonna want to check out my review...stay tuned). On our first morning in Cayucos, after waking up, we checked our trusty Yelp App to see to what our options were. As we had the kids, all of whom are 6 and under, we had to go to a place that had something for everyone aka something the kids would actually eat. If you're a parent... You know exactly what I'm talking about. After perusing our options, we decided on the Sea Shanty. And being that the population of Cayucos is approximately 2,400 people (as of 2022), the Sea Shanty fits right in to the small town vibe. Once seated, I took a deep dive into the menu and was very happy to see so many hearty breakfast options. But anytime I see corned beef hash on a menu... It Game over! Well except when my wife spots it first, then she orders it instead and makes me go with my second choice... Which this time around was biscuits and gravy which I was very, very pleased with. And lucky for me... My wife shared half of her hash which made it a win-win situation all around , or so I thought (see below) As for the kids... Their go to is always bacon, French toast, fruit and of course stealing spoonfuls at a time of the prized corned beef hash.... So much for me getting half the hash ;) The food was hearty and felt very homey which I like, especially in a small town. The ceiling is lined with hundreds of hats collected over the years by the owner and it gives perspective to how many years this place has been around (which happens to be the year of my birth).... 1983!!!! They have a nice lunch and dinner menu as well, next visit to Cayucos we just might check it out and leave one of my many hats. Till next time... read more

See all

Had dinner with friends last weekend for weekend getaway! Food was fresh and delicious! Service was wonderful and friendly staff ! Ambiance was great and cozy ! Dog friendly is a plus! read more

Whipped into town to do some laundry and decided to kill some time at this cute little restaurant the sea shanty that was right next to the road that takes you down at the pier. What a pleasant surprise. The beer was ice cold and my wife had a smooth battery Chardonnay. My fish sandwich was excellent and my wife baby. What did you order her fish and chips were excellent. I finished it all off with a chocolate chip cookie monster dessert and that was excellent as well. Wow. These are the kind of serendipitous finds that make life worthwhile. The manager came out and engaged us and was super casual. Gave us some tips on where to stay in San Simeon and he was just very engaging. This is the kind of engagement I would expect in the deep south, not in California. We love this place. Give it a shot. read more

Sea Shanty - The Sea Shanty. - New American Near Me - Cayucos, California

We decided to come back for Mother's Day dinner for the prime rib special. Great dessert and seafood platter was read more

See all

I hate to list a one-star, but the Sea Shanty provided one of the most disappointing breakfast experiences (the MOST disappointing for my wife). Three of us entered the busy restaurant on a beautiful Sunday morning. We expected to wait for some time for our food, but thankfully the order was delivered promptly, but it was nearly "slammed down" on the table by a young man. Then the toast was delivered totally burnt. Upon returning the toast, my wife asked for butter on the side. It came buttered. The cottage cheese we ordered had a rancid smell of spoil that all three of us noticed. The cheese on the omlet must have been some form of cheap cheese whiz for it appeared like some foreign substance not associated or part of the offering--grotesque. We witnessed as my wife politely mentioned the cottage cheese to the waitress. The waitress became defensive and noticeably indignant before storming off. While the three of us were incredibly hungry, my wife left all her food, and the other person and I both left a major portion uneaten. The quality was really bad and the tone of the service worse. This was one of the very few HORRIBLE eating experiences we've had over many, many years--enough said! read more

We visited the town for the first time so we were looking for some good restaurant for dinner. We finally decided this restaurant. The ambiance was good and the service was 8/10. We ordered Bread bowl clam chowder and Larger Fish and Chips. We like it. Then we were curious with Boysenberry pie so we ordered it too. The crust was hard, the jam was tasteless and watery like it was undercooked. We really shocked when they gave us the check. That slice Boysenberry pie was freaking $13. Where else, better than here were only $6 or $7. read more

Sea Shanty - Bread bowl clam chowder - New American Near Me - Cayucos, California

See all

The food is amazing and the ambiance is fun. Service is great too! The fish sandwich was amazingly fresh.

We stopped recently on a coastal trip to see the elephant seals. We were staying in Cambria but were so impressed with the food here we drove back down to eat again and were not disappointed. read more

This place has such a fun ambiance! We sat outside. The little garden is so pretty! Our kids had fun looking at the decor. The pancakes were very good and the coffee was tasty. The service was prompt, attentive and friendly. read more

I stopped here when passing through town. It took a while to be acknowledged once seated, despite many staff walking past. Otherwise service was friendly. The clam chowder is tasty- although more watery than I am used to. The artichoke was dry and needs seasonings. Seems like a friendly place overall read more

The place is super cute. Most of the staff is nice but it looks like the restaurant is understaffed because all the waiters and servers are practically running. Wait times are long to be seated, to be served, and for waiters to come around. The food is ok but I recommend the clam chowder bread bowl. read more

Sea Shanty - Clam chowder bread bowl - New American Near Me - Cayucos, California

We visit Cayucos regularly and have drove past this place many times. We stopped to try it on our last trip due to schooners being too crowded and a long wait. The sea shanty was also busy but only a 10-15 min wait. We were seated on the patio (our frenchie Stella was with us as usual). Service was good, but it took them awhile to get the heaters on. Food took awhile to come out granted there were no empty seats or tables. Fish was served on the fries which makes the fish soggy on the bottom it was average. My wife and daughter got the cookie sundae dessert which they enjoyed overall good experience but we will stick to schooners. read more

My husband and I visited the Sea Shanty for lunch today. The halibut and chips were absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly! Thank you for such a great meal! read more

Great local atmosphere, very friendly and efficient staff, and good food - sometimes slightly imaginative takes on standard fare. Family-owned/operated restaurant. Amazing deserts!​ read more

The service at the Sea Shanty is always quick, efficient and friendly staff. None of the staff are idle. It's a cozy restaurant but not like a Mom and Pop cozy, like a little rougher cozy..like you're at sea but you're not. Probably doesn't make sense but it's the best I can come up with. The food is comfortable. My husband ordered the Shrimp Cocktail (his usual) and it's always delicious and filling. I ordered the Petite Sirloin, which is not very petite so he always knows he's going to help me. I had the Pork Pazole soup which was spicy for me but I ate every drop, very delicious. Steak was cooked to perfection. We come to Cayucos pretty often and we're up for the festivities and Sea Shanty never disappoints. There was a sweet young gal bussing tables who was an absolute delight and very attentive read more

This place was across the street from our motel, and after a long day of hiking and checking out the beach in the hot hot sun, it sounded really appealing to be able to meander on back to the room. The food was pretty standard but honestly really good for how affordable it was. The margaritas were probably unnecessary at $8 a piece, but it was vacation so we figured we'd treat ourselves. That's also how we ended up with the dessert, which kinda stole the show anyway. Our server was awesome, she laughed at our silly jokes and made sure we were well taken care of. This place doesn't put on airs, it is down to earth and makes good fried food. It was also one of the best priced meals we had while in town. Which is saying something in a resort town. The vibes are chill and you'll never feel underdressed here. Overall, a great time and I look forward to going back. read more

See all

The service was nice and friendly, the food looked more delicious than it tasted. Very bland, needed seasoning or at least a pinch of salt. But other than that it was good. read more

Sea Shanty - Combo plate - New American Near Me - Cayucos, California

Good food but horrible service Nicole was the server and had zero customer service skills. Gave attitude when she got my bill wrong overcharged me for the kids meal when it was advertised as less and an extra drink. She made a remark in front of my sister about my tip amount. She was VERY aggressive then I observed her taking pictures of my receipt with my personal information on it. read more

They were very busy and short staffed. The wait staff were working as hard and as fast as they could. However, we waited over an hour and at least three parties that walked in and ordered after us were served before us and others that were before us. One group that arrived after us finished and left. After 70 minutes we walked out. We did not receive our food. This was not a wait staff or kitchen issue. It was solely a management issue. It appeared that if the manager took your order, you went to the head of the line. The apology was simply we are under staffed. Under staffing has absolutely nothing to with order sequence. This incompetence in the way the system is managed. read more

I live in Cayucos, Sea Shanty is a favorite!! Last week several of us went. From the time the door opens, it's service with a Smile!! I had battered shrimp tacos!! They were so amazing!!I went back 2 days later and had them again!! Sea Shanty is known for its Wonderful Desserts.!! Over the years I think I've tried them all!! Make sure to give Sea Shanty a try when you're in town!! read more

The service is awful waited forever for a table service and on top of that one of the waitresses kept stopping to talk to her friend while other tables needed help we only go here for nostalgic reasons read more

We are here visiting a friend in Cayucos. She took us to the Sea Shanty restaurant for dessert one evening. Drake met us at the entrance with a big smile and welcome. He waited on us that evening and did such a great job we came back another night but he was not working. The desserts there are incredible. We went back a third time before returning back to the east coast. Drake saw us and immediately remembered us. He warmly welcomed us once again. We had a wonderful dinner and dessert. We highly recommend the Sea Shanty's food and especially their desserts. The staff, especially Drake, take very good care of you. Shelly read more

Had a great experience at Sea Shanty! My meal was delicious and arrived quickly. Most of all our server, Drake, was especially outstanding. He was very polite and helpful. read more

Breakfast biscuits and potatoes were exceptional. Service was fast and friendly. Avoid the window seats because the flies like it there. The management provides little table top fans to keep the flies away but it didn't seem to work too well. I wonder if there are flies in the kitchen. read more