There is a specific, salt-sprayed magic to Avila Beach, and Blue Moon Over Avila occupies its most…read morecoveted front-row seat. To sit here is to be seduced by the Pacific's rhythmic pulse, a panoramic distraction that almost--almost--masks the architectural and emotional exhaustion of the room. The décor suggests a space in transition, or perhaps an identity crisis. It bears the unmistakable look of a "palimpsest"--a new design hastily layered over the ghost of a previous one, creating an aesthetic friction that feels more like a temporary stage set than a permanent sanctuary. This weariness extends to the staff, who navigate the floor with a palpable, heavy-lidded misery, as if the sheer beauty of the coastline has become a burden they are no longer interested in carrying. The kitchen, however, still possesses moments of genuine, startling clarity. I opted for the "Trio," a format that usually promises variety but often delivers compromise. Not so here. The sandwich was a minor triumph of construction and flavor, a high-water mark for a casual lunch. It was flanked by a clam chowder of remarkable depth--creamy without being cloying, and singing with the brine of the sea. Yet, the meal is not without its turbulence. The accompanying salad arrived drowning, a casualty of an over-zealous hand with the dressing that rendered the greens more of a soup than a side. And then there is the matter of the French Onion soup. To encounter a $9 upcharge for a bowl of onions and melted Gruyère is to experience a moment of pure, capitalistic vertigo. It is a price point that suggests a level of luxury the service and the "layered" décor simply haven't earned. As for the amenities, the state of the restrooms remains a mystery--a rare blind spot in an otherwise exhaustive afternoon. Blue Moon Over Avila remains a destination for the eyes, and intermittently, for the palate. If you can ignore the visible gloom of the service and the audacity of the surcharges, the view alone is worth the price of admission. Just perhaps stick to the chowder and leave the French Onion to the high rollers.

I have eaten here three times in 10 days. It has been hit or…read moremiss with the food. I ordered the Salmon which arrived overcooked and dry. Then I tried the duck which was excellent. Next was Beef Bourguignon which was very good. The waiters and hostess are overwhelmed. They use to have a sommelier, I don't know what happened to him. The service is slow because not enough help. When it is a beautiful night everyone wants to eat there and look at the view.

I arrived around 6:30pm on a Friday night. I ordered the tri tip tacos, as well as a coke (which…read moreare refillable). My total came out to $20.16. The way it works is you order at the bar, and then they will take down your phone number to text when your order is ready. However, it seemed like they were more using the loud speaker because I didn't receive the text until 9:57pm that night. My order was ready at 6:53, so we were looking at about a 23 minute wait - which I think is fair given how busy it was. The food itself was just okay to me. I didn't think it was anything to write home about, but that could be because I had some really great tri tip at the SLO Farmer's Market the day before. However, I will say, I really liked this place for the environment. There was live music, and a lot of table and chairs to just look out at the water and just enjoy the views. It was super family friendly, and I found it to be really enjoyable to just sit and hang out. I did find it odd that they close early (8pm) on a Friday night. At 7:59pm, the employees will come up to you to let you know that they close at 8pm, so it seems like they are strict about that.

The Wife and I were in Avila for my b-day week. We had rented bikes and on the way back to our…read moreAirBnB, we stopped for a bloody mary. One of the best Bloody Mary's I have ever had. I wish we had more time to toss a couple more back! Go, Drink Well, HAVE FUN!

The New Custom House is definitely new since the last time was here years ago! You order at the…read morecounter and then wait for your buzzer to buzz. The menu has all day breakfast, seafood, sandwiches, salads, and a kids meal. They have a lot of tri tip meals like a tri trip sandwich, tri tip nachos, and a tri tip salad. We decided to try the tri tip salad, chicken fajita quesadilla, garlic Parmesan fries, and the kids hot dog. The food came out hot and freshly made. The chicken fajita quesadilla came with a side of guacamole, pico de gallo, and guacamole. The serving size was large and definitely a meal that can be split between 2 people. The tri tip salad was delicious. The tri tip was tender and had a smoky flavor. The garlic Parmesan fries were not overly garlicky and had great flavor. They were crispy. I would get all of these items on the menu again. The restaurant has indoor or patio seating. You seat yourself. We sat on the patio and it was nice to see the ocean from our table. The New Custom House is a great choice for a meal at any time of the day!

The new custom house was a great place to stop at for a quick snack and some delicious drinks. We…read moreordered a side of fries to share... they were fresh, hot ,and delicious . We ordered a couple of drinks - a local beer and a tropical drink. The beachfront cocktail was perfect, sweet, just the right amount of alcohol and a good beach drink. Definitely brought on the ocean vibes. Staff was friendly and helpful picking out drinks Had TV's for sports games,which made it even better, so we didn't miss our teams playing!

The place is idyllic, it's worth stopping just for the views. Service is friendly and fast…read more We had fish tacos and it was extra fresh and tasty. Good portion and affordable. I would just suggest swapping the soft tortillas for regular as they break with the juice.

So unmemorable…read more Came because I was recommended this place while I'm here on business and was saddened to find it's not a sit down restaurant. Also the food was alright - albeit a bit bland in flavor. I ordered the FISH BOWL with the red snapper of the day and the whole dish was just so flavorless. Redeeming quality was the fish was cooked well. I'd skip unless you're on the pier and moments away from starvation.

I love the location! Next to the parking lot near the base of the pier. We were lucky to find a…read morefree parking spot. It was crowded on the weekend but only had a short wait. We sat outside and the views are good. Much better views if you sit inside but the weather was gorgeous. They had pork tamales for a special and I'm so glad I tried it. I was so torn about getting that or seafood. The tamales were flavorful. The masa stuck to the corn husks which was disappointing. It came with 2 eggs and I chose hash browns as the side. If you can handle spice, you would love the sauce that was served with the tamales. I dipped my fork in and couldn't do it. The eggs were cooked perfectly. The potatoes didn't have any seasoning but were very crispy. It was a lot of food for the price. I did try some of the fisherman's platter. That was a decent sized portion. The shrimp and calamari steak were delicious. The fried oyster was huge. The clam strips were small with a lot of breading and not enough clam. Bathroom was very clean. Service excellent.

The employees were great and so accommodating especially to our toddler. The place has tons of…read moreparking, lots to look at and plenty of indoor/outdoor seating. Our son loved his pancake breakfast with special whip cream from the waiter. I ordered the banana granola and coconut pancakes which didn't come with any granola, the coconut was like shredded white sugar, bananas were very very sweet and the pancakes were like cardboard. I mean no harm to anyone, i love a good local family run establishment I'm just noting for others who may order this thinking it's something it's not. We appreciate the kindness of the staff, thank you.

My wife wanted to visit a nice restaurant with a view for our anniversary. I opened Apple Maps and…read morechecked the pismo beach area and Ventana Grill was the first restaurant that stood out to me based on location, therefore, I made a reservation. Note that the parking lot, depending on which day you go, can fill up very quickly. The location is right off of the 101 and easy to find. We checked in and was seated within 10 minutes at a booth that overlooked the beautiful views of the Pismo Beach coast line. Our server, a younger black woman, who told us her nickname was 'TiTi', if I'm not mistaken, was wonderful. Her personality and hospitality was infectious and exceeded 5 stars. She brought us fresh hot corn and flour tortillas with a small cup of brown sugar butter and three different salsas to try. Everything was delicious. We ordered the surf and turf special which was a jumbo shrimp on top of a filet mignon that rested on mash potatoes and a creamy/savory white sauce. We also ordered the lobster Mac and cheese. Everything was exceptionally good. My only takeaway would be that I found the food, especially the lobster Mac and cheese to be pretty salty. Definitely excited for my next visit.

Great place, great food, great prices. The photos do not do…read morethis place justice, much better in person and the views are amazing! Staff are attentive and friendly, place is clean and well kept. The reviews make this place seem boring, but it's wonderful and one of our new favorite spots.

Wow!! Was I surprised at the fabulous Chili Verdi!!! I had the taco salad w/Chili Verdi and it was…read moreserved in a large tortilla bowl filled yummy!!! The service was impeccable my iced tea was filled regularly which is always a plus in my book!! The cafe itself was amazing how clean and roomy it is with staff that is there to make your experience GREAT!!! This is my new go to Mexican Restaurant!!! You must try Zorro's you won't regret it!!!!

I've been to Zorro's Cafe and Cantina probably seven or eight times now, and every single visit has…read morebeen consistently solid. The thing that originally got me hooked on this place was their clam chowder. An ex-girlfriend brought some back for me to try, and it ended up being one of the best clam chowders I've ever had. That alone made me want to come try the restaurant in person. Now, every time I visit, it's a must-order. Honestly, it's better than any other place in Pismo Beach that claims to have the best. Zorro's is the one that actually delivers. Beyond the chowder, it's a full Mexican restaurant with a wide menu. They bring out chips and salsa to start, and they also have their own house-made hot sauce on every table, which is a nice touch. The food across the board has been consistently good. This last visit, my girlfriend had the carnitas tacos, and I ordered the shrimp diablo plate. I've also had their fish and chips, enchiladas, tacos, and burritos on previous visits, and I haven't had a bad meal yet. They also have a solid drink selection, including Mexican beers, good cocktails, and especially strong Bloody Marys and micheladas. The service has always been reliable. Even when it's busy, the staff checks in often enough to keep drinks filled and make sure you have what you need, including more chips and salsa. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, and parking is pretty easy since it's all street parking nearby. You're usually only a short walk away. If you're in Pismo Beach and like Mexican food, this place is definitely worth a stop. And seriously, don't skip the clam chowder. It's the standout.

Lido is a fantastic place to go for a special occasion. The views are amazing, the waitstaff is…read moreprofessional and friendly, and the kitchen produces some standout dishes. They are a pet enthusiasts that always spoil our dogs and they have a selection of 4 different dog dishes to pick from. Our two 15 pound dogs split a single salmon dish and there was enough food for both of them. We found the sea bass and the clam chowder to be two of our favorite dishes. The sea bass comes with a mix of mushrooms and white beans along with a red wine sauce. The combination of textures between the flaky fish, soft beans, and chewy mushrooms makes for a great mouthful and the acidic and flavorful sauce brings all the ingredients together. The clam chowder was an interesting twist on the classic with the dill adding a nice extra flavor to the chowder and the herb oil applied to the top added a nice light note to The brunch special with champagne seems like a great way to spend a morning. Most of the tables around us got the set meal and we saw a constant supply of new bottles of champagne and assorted fruit juices going to the other tables. If you are staying at the dolphin bay, the room service is top notch getting the same dishes and presentation that you would get in the restaurant. It was an easy call down to Lido and the food arrived nice and hot to our room.

We had a reservation for a party of 12 outside and the service was very professional, friendly, and…read moreconsistently attentive. I was impressed that all the staff were mindful of the guests who walked by and made sure to smile and say hello. Well done. I was also surprised how good the chorizo chilaquiles breakfast was. The sauce tasted homemade and it probably was. Delicious. Everyone loved everything. Even the coffee and the lattes were getting oohs and ahhs. I loved the valet parking, the smiles from the staff, and the food choices. The restaurant is a touch of class without opulence, a real experience of hospitality.

This place is still killing it.. Brittany is super friendly & the fish & chips are amazing…read more. great place to watch any sporting event and good drinks Thank again

Tarra and Dane were great! They handled a huge crowd very…read morewell without missing a beat! The Fight was on and my husband and I had a great time! The salad with blu cheese was good. And the cheese zip was yummy!

The food was delicious and the service was excellent. We got take out and enjoyed every bite.read more

We always make a point to visit Ada's when we come to California…read more This was the first time we've sat inside but the outdoor patio is my favorite. Service was great, the food was great! Try the Banana Mai Tai...yummy.