Hey all. We will stay in the Pismo are next Wed. night and wanted a good rec for dinner. H and I LOVE seafood, but teen kids won't touch it. So, a place with variety that is not fancy but just good food. Don't NEED a view, but would be nice. Thanks.

We like to go to McClintock's in Shell Beach which is just north of Pismo. I do believe they also have one in Pismo but the one in Shell Beach has a view. It's a bit pricey.

There's also a burger place on the main street leading to the pier that we go to but I can't recall the name. It's one block from the pier on the north east corner. There's an outside patio. Try the tri-tip sandwiches.

If you like beef, try McLintocks. It's right on Highway 101 and been an institution for awhile.

Wear your jangling cowboy boots, put on your ten gallon hat, loosen your belt, and eat away!

Don't plan on doing anything else after you have dined at McLintocks! Just go back to the hotel and sleep away!

Check out "San Luis Obispo County Restaurants". All the beach communities: Pismo, Shell, Grover, etc. are pretty much next to one another.

Yes, you are allowed to burp! You have to! Makes room for that extra piece of steak! Try the turkey nuts, if you are adventuresome!

Happy dining!

We enjoyed our meal at the Sea Venture Resort restaurant. Very good food, varied menu and of course, the oceanviews are an added plus! Enjoy Pismo!! Surfs up!! ***kim***

The restuarant at the Cliffs Hotel in Shell Beach is very good and has a large patio with a great ocean view.

It's not too pricey but very nice and should have something on the menu to please everyone.

Also, check out the famous clam chowder restuarnt a block from the beach in Pismo. The chowder comes in a sourdough bowl and is to die for!

Enjoy your dinner at the Cracked Crab while you send the kids across the street to Scotty's for burgers, wraps and salads. (Right on Price Street... can't miss it.) Or head out to Avila to the Old Port Inn and again... drop the kids off at Fat Cat's. Fat Cat's is at the beginning of the pier and Old Port is at the end. Great views and great fish!

The Splash Cafe is where they have that delicious award winning clam chowder. ***kim***

OK will keep these places in mind. Does Splash Cafe serve other stuff? Burgers and things or just chowder and seafood? I looked up the website, but no menu. Is the chowda that good?

Thanks, Kim, I couldn't remember the name.

Heavens, the Splash Cafe is very casual with only a few rickety tables and a lunch bar - though the food is great I don't think it's what you have in mind for dinner. They probably do serve burgers but the chowder and items like fried clams and fish and chips are the main attraction. You order at a counter - there is no table service.

We had a nice meal at a place next to the KonTiki hotel -- but I can't remember the name! It had a view and the food was good.

We weren't impressed with McClintock's at all, but maybe with teens it would be a choice...

The restaurant next to the Kontiki is called Steamers and it specializes in fish,has a gorgeous view and other items on the menu as well. Splash Cafe does not serve burgers or anything else besides yummy chowder and fish and chips type fare.

Well, sounds like H and I might want to try Splash Cafe and get the kids the drive through. Might as well get a cheap meal when we can, right? Is there fast food in Pismo? Or just a good take out burger somewhere? My kids LOVE In and Out. Thanks again. Gotta try that chowda...

We were very disappointed in McClintocks! The wait was over an hour and fifteen minutes on a weeknight and wasn't worth it after that long wait! I've never had such a bad filet mignon and when the waitress asked if I wanted a box, I told her that I didn't like the steak. She just replied "okay" and let me pay the $30 for the meal that I didn't eat! It was also extremely loud!

just curious - where are you staying Heavens? We are considering a trip to Pismo and are looking for a place to stay.

We stayed at the Best Western Shore Cliff Lodge In Pismo Beach a few years ago.
www.shorecliff.com It sits right on the shore and you could hear the sound of the waves during the night . It was lovely. We ate at Steamers http://www.mclintocks.com/menus/steamersdinner.php and found their meals quite good; great seafood but they had a variety of dishes that would suit kids and the view was lovely

We've tried Steamers a few times and have never had more than a mediocre meal (and service). The same moreless goes for McClintock's in Shell Beach. In fact the last time we ate at Steamers I had the scallops, and they were downright disgusting. We decided it would be our last attempt.

As for McClintock's, kids eat free everyday. So you can count on lots of noise and long wait times whenever you go.

We've had good luck at Giuseppe's (Italian food, but usually with a few steak and seafood options), and mostly good luck at Spyglass Restaurant. SeaVenture is hit or miss. Mo's has great burgers and sandwiches. Splash Cafe has decent clam chowder, but other than that it's basically a grease pit.

One quirky option is AJ Spur's, located just south of Pismo. It's another version of McClintock's, only they don't feed kids free (so it's usually much quieter), and you'll have a stunning assortment of dead animals and animal heads to look at during your meal. Their filet mignon is the best we've found in SLO County.

Heavens visit to Pismo Beach was back in July 2004!!!! But I too have failed to notice the date on a thread.
Heavens is still posting on Fodor's so maybe she will see this thread and respond.