Diners' Choice: Seafood restaurants in California Central Coast

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Seafood cuisine in California Central Coast? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Pono Pacific Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (733)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Pismo Beach

About the restaurant

Pono Pacific Kitchen offers Pacific Rim cuisine that focuses on local favorites with a style of cooking and presenting dishes that combines ingredients, influences and techniques from not only Hawaii but also Asia, California and Mexico and the western coasts in general.

Top review

bill kristieVIP

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

Perfect starter dish - calimari with a tasty dipping sauce- oh yumm.... changed my entree this visit to sea bass, loved it ! so many choices and all with different sides and garnishes. Preston is the king of the kitchen. looking forward to more new summer plates, see you in a week....THANX

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Popular dish

Georges Bank Scallops

4.9

4.9 (86)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Los Olivos

About the restaurant

Bar Le Côte is a stylish seafood tavern located in Los Olivos, California. Inspired by the daily catch of the Central Coast and the modern cuisine of Europe’s seaside capitals, our team prepares thoughtful maritime fare in a casual, social atmosphere.

We have very limited patio seating and do not allow dogs to dine indoors. If you would like to reserve an outdoor table please email us at info@barlecote.com and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

We hold a portion of our tables for walk-ins, however we do recommend a reservation to guarantee being seated. We give all reservations a 15 minute grace period before being released to other guests. Thank you for your understanding!

* Please note that ride shares and taxis can be hard to come by in the valley, especially later in the evening. We will always do our best to assist in getting you a ride, but please plan accordingly *

Top review

FoodTraveler1VIP

Dined 2 days ago

One of our favorite go to lunch spots in Los Olivos! Amazing food and staff. Everything is always perfect! Treat yourself😎🥂

Oyster Loft

4.8

4.8 (3732)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Pismo Beach

About the restaurant

More than a restaurant, Oyster Loft is an experience, where the excellent service is rivaled only by the flavor and beauty of our dishes, upscale cuisine and regional seafood dishes artfully prepared. Dine with sparkling views of Pismo Beach, and enjoy appetizers, seasonal main courses and indulgent sweets.

Oyster Loft boasts a menu rich with fresh fish. Our raw bar features a variety of oysters shucked on the half shell from both the east and west coasts. The menu also includes seafood dishes, shellfish preparations and a selection of meat to round out the offerings. The range of the menu offers you the opportunity to choose your dining experience.

Top review

Joan MarieVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Thoroughly enjoyed our meal - roasted beet salad, ahi tuna, chargrilled oysters, sablefish, ice cream, French press coffee! Everything was amazing. Jules our server was knowledgeable and excellent in all respects! We have been here many times and every meal has been terrific!

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Experience

Seafood Tower Reservation

Ada's Fish House

4.8

4.8 (323)

$30 and under

Seafood

Pismo Beach

About the restaurant

Ada's Fish House is a family owned and operated establishment, boasting fresh fish and seafood in a relaxed atmosphere. Ada's offers classic coastal dishes with an East Coast influence such as crab cakes and lobster rolls with mouth watering specialties of Pacific Coast Halibut, local snapper, and seafood pasta. Ada's sources fresh seafood daily in order to provide the highest quality product to their customers. Executive Chef and owner, Douglas MacMillan, is always introducing new and exciting dishes - simple and fresh. A mostly local wine list and full bar await your arrival.

Top review

LanaVIP

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Rhonda was our server snd she was super hospitable! The food was delicious and the seating on the patio either our golden retriever was delightful !

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4.7

4.7 (7323)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Pacific Grove

About the restaurant

Passionfish offers a unique California dining experience with serious food and realistically priced wine in a fun and casual atmosphere. The ever-changing menu features the freshest, sustainable seafood, slow-cooked meats, organic greens, and delectable desserts, all complemented by an award-winning wine list priced nearly to retail. Passionfish is proudly owned and operated by Chef Meral Alpay and her son, Berk Guvenc. As pioneers in sustainable dining, Passionfish became the first restaurant in Monterey County to earn official ‘Green’ certification, reflecting their strong commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable seafood education.

Top review

AshleyVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Wonderful food and service! We were celebrating our anniversary and the hostess and server made the occasion very special. Each dish we ordered was flavorful and delicious. We will definitely be back :)

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Popular dish

beet salad

Popular dish

Maple-Banana Bread Pudding

Popular dish

alaskan halibut

Sardine Factory

4.7

4.7 (5125)

$50 and over

Seafood

Monterey

About the restaurant

Every city has that one can’t miss restaurant, where celebrities feel at home and every other guest feels like a celebrity. Since October 2, 1968, The Sardine Factory’s cachet has made dining in our historic Cannery Row setting a tradition for world leaders, sports heroes and entertainment icons. Our award-winning chefs prepare delectable creations of fresh, sustainable seafood and USDA Prime Aged Beef; winner of Restaurant Hospitality Magazine’s "Best Wine List in America" award. The Lounge’s live entertainment, Happy Hour and affordable menu are a casual alternative to our other dining rooms. Celebrating over 50 years under the same ownership and management! Voted "Best Restaurant in Monterey" by Monterey County Herald readers.

Top review

RobertVIP

Dined 3 days ago

From the time you are greeted and seated, you would think you were in the best restaurant in New York City. Since we are senior citizens and celebrating our anniversary, the waiter was very helpful in assisting us make the correct food choices. The room was the Conservatory was elegant and 95% of the guests adhered to the dress code which in California is unheard of! The Manager came to our table twice to make sure we were taken care of. Try it if you want excellent food and service! Prices reasonable. BTW.. the octopus was outstanding!!

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Popular dish

Sardine Factory's "Sorbet on Ice Swan"

Popular dish

USDA Prime Filet Mignon

Popular dish

Abalone Bisque

Old Fisherman's Grotto

4.8

4.8 (1763)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Monterey

About the restaurant

Nestled on the historic Fisherman's Wharf, overlooking the picturesque Monterey Harbor, Old Fisherman’s Grotto is a must-visit dining destination. Renowned worldwide for its exquisite cuisine, impeccable service, and charming ambiance, the Grotto offers a culinary experience like no other. Our menu showcases fresh seafood sourced sustainably, USDA prime beef, and an extensive wine selection with over 200 choices recognized by Wine Spectator Magazine. With a commitment to providing an intimate dining atmosphere, we enforce a zero-tolerance policy for excessive noise levels, ensuring a pleasant experience for all our guests. We kindly ask patrons to keep noise levels moderate to respect others' dining experiences.

Top review

Edward

Dined 3 days ago

Service second to none and food is top notch.. Always a must for my birthday! Never disappoints.

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Popular dish

Neptune's Platter

Popular dish

Macadamia Crusted Halibut

Popular dish

Fried Calamari

Vista Steak and Seafood

4.7

4.7 (1943)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Pismo Beach

About the restaurant

Vista Steak and Seafood is located on the bluffs in Pismo Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Featuring all natural hormone free steaks and fresh seafood, this coastal dining one of a kind restaurant has something that will sure to please everyone.

Reservations are highly recommended. We gladly accept reservations for parties of 6 or less via Open Table. Please call the restaurant directly for parties of 7 or more ~ 805-556-9000.

We will do our best to accommodate seating requests however we can not guarantee a specific table. Vista has no outdoor seating so please leave your fur babies at home.

Top review

EdgarVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Food was great and on point! Two servers per table…. View was amazing!

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the C restaurant + bar

4.7

4.7 (1256)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Monterey

About the restaurant

Our family-friendly Monterey Bay restaurant is close to the Aquarium, situated over sapphire waters and immersed in the natural beauty of the California coast. The C restaurant features only seafood endorsed by Seafood Watch of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The delicious Arctic Char featured on Executive Chef Matt Bolton's menus is similar to salmon in taste, texture and color, but is available year-round, and is rated a "best choice" by Seafood Watch.

Located at the upscale InterContinental The Clement Monterey hotel on Monterey Bay. Every table at the C restaurant has a view of the pristine and scenic Monterey Bay. Marine life sightings abound, including dolphins, whales, harbor seals and sea otters. Enjoy the parade of sea creatures and shore birds as you savor the finest in California regional cuisine.

Top review

BarbaraVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Fantastic service drinks and the food is amazing. Love this restaurant !!!

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Popular dish

Pacific Swordfish

Popular dish

Monterey Bay Calamari

Popular dish

Ribeye

Clark's Oyster Bar - Montecito

4.6

4.6 (156)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Montecito

About the restaurant

Clark’s Montecito is a stylish all-day restaurant celebrating coastal American classics spanning from New England to California. In addition to its flagship menu of oysters and raw bar, a signature burger, daily catch specials, lobster rolls, chowder and refreshing crudo, this California location features seasonal bounty from the Pacific Ocean. The wine list highlights California classics alongside French whites and reds primarily from Burgundy and the Loire. Clark’s signature martinis and cocktails are always available. A collaboration between Lambert McGuire Design and Santa Barbara-based architect Jeff Shelton, the space offers a seamless indoor-outdoor dining experience that marries Clark’s classic coastal design features with the more whimsical ceramic tile traditions of Portugal and Mexico and a Mediterranean-inspired design that pays homage to its coastal setting and historic Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

Top review

traceyVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Always a great meal. Wonderful food and service. Delicious seafood!

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