I recently asked for restaurant recommendations in SLO - going to be there next week for a business trip. Slight change of plans and I will now be staying in Pismo Beach. It will be nice to be on the ocean - looks like a storm is coming in, but maybe it wont rain much. Probably still head up to SLO at least 1 evening of the trip.

So - any dinner recommendations for Pismo?

Specs: anything except sushi is great, entres under $20, views are always a plus, local wines and/or good selection of craft brews also good, nothing overtly romantic as I will be travelling with a work collegue.

Thanks

NOT FANCY AT ALL!!! but do try Splash Cafe, right at the beach. Very casual atmosphere. You stand in line to order, then they bring the food to your table. I find the food good and fair portions. They are best known for their clam chowder (served in a sourdough bread bowl) I would go there with co-workers

Mmmmmm - clam chowder Definitely put that one on the list.

I love Guiseppes's, although there isn't a view from there. I 2nd the recommendation for Splash...the best clam chowder!!! The Sea Venture is good although it has been a while since I've eaten there. We also enjoy Steamers. It has great views, good cocktails and appetizers but pricier dinners. Rosa's is another Italian we enjoy in Pismo. McClintocks is a fun restaurant on the mountain side of the freeway with great views. They give huge portions so you could split a meal to bring the price down. I think they even have early bird specials. It is a steak/fish place. I will keep thinking of other suggestions.

I like Brad's, for tri tip and their BBQ clams. It's a casual place, but the food is a cut above the ambience. We saw Bobby Flay there in 2004 preparing an episode segment on their BBQ clams.

I love Splash, especially the mussels.

J_Correa: In Pismo, for under $20 (mostly) your best bets are Guiseppe's (try their bracciole, if you like traditional Italian food), Rosa's (very good pasta but sometimes spotty service), Mo's (I usually get the pulled pork sandwich with slaw on the side (otherwise they put it on top of the meat.. yuck) or a cheeseburger with a side of bacon baked beans which are excellent.

You can try Steamers, but our first dinner there was also our last. I'm not an overly picky eater, but this was only the second time in 35+ years where I sent an entree back to the kitchen and requested another choice. I had ordered scallops and they were the size of small marbles, and had about the same taste as marbles (except for the rancid grease flavor), and they were filled with sand because someone forgot to clean them before cooking them. Steamer's was recently bought by the same company who owns McClintock's (a steak house), so I don't know how much experience they have with seafood. Apparently not much.

Speaking of McClintock's, the other reviewer is correct: portions there are huge. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that kids under 17 eat there free with their parents, so you can always count on a packed, noisy dining experience.

Just south of Pismo in Arroyo Grande is AJ Spurs, another steak house with a huge assortment of animal heads hung on the walls and ceilings. I'd rate AJ's food as not quite as good as McClintock's, but the atmosphere there is MUCH better and quieter. Even the dining tables are individual works of art and interesting to look at.

Definitely stop and try a bowl of Clam Chowder at Splash Cafe (you might want to pass on fried foods in this restaurant).

If you don't mind driving about 25-30 minutes, Cool Hand Luke's in Santa Maria is our own go-to place when we want something really good and very reasonable. Jocko's Steakhouse in Nipomo is also very good, although you're looking at $25-30/pp for your entrees.

North of Pismo, in SLO my favorites are Cafe Roma (right next to a railroad station, very cool although maybe a bit too romantic for your purposes. If you go, try the Ravioli Bolognese, it's one of the best bolognese sauces I've ever had. Big Sky Cafe, Copper Cafe at the Madonna Inn and Spyglass Restaurant in Shell Beach are also consistently fair for the price.

Just grab some appetizers , then head for Doc Burnsteins Ice Cream Emporium in Arroyo Grande. It's about a half mile east of the 101 freeway and well worth the drive!

Thanks for all the recommendations

It may just be me, but Splash’s is a dive. The chowder is rather frothy, not the best in my opinion. It is very popular among the valley folks as is Fat Cats at San Luis Pier.

That said, we (and a lot of travelers) like Rosa’s Italian in Pismo. No ocean view, but they have a nice enclosed patio type dining area as well as a regular dining area. It’s casual and reasonable. They serve a great pinot made by nearby Laetitia. It would be my first choice for your price range in Pismo.
http://www.rosasrestaurant.com/food.html

Giuseppe’s is good but they don’t take reservations and wait time can be long.

Peirside is right on the pier as the name says. It is moderate dining but next to the pier. Reasonable and just okay food.
http://www.pierside.com/

McLintocks on the hill in Shell Beach is very nice, but not in the price range you asked for.

If you can handle a happy hour with just Hors d'o euvres, try the Cliffs Resort. Has a great ocean view.

Someone also recommended The Spyglass Inn, which is good and has an ocean view in Shell Beach.

Guiseppe's was good. Had a little Fodors GTG there. Hi Laurenzo. She recommended the Butternut Squash ravoli and it was sooo... good.

I was just back up there for business about 3 weeks ago. A very quick last minute trip so didn't have time for a GTG. But Guiseppe's also has a take out location. I picked up some food and went and sat on my balcony and looked out at the ocean while I ate. That way I got the good food and the view!!