Great Places to Eat Near the Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier is one of the favorite places in Santa Monica for both locals and tourists. The sunny weather of Southern California allows the Santa Monica Pier to be open 365 days a year, offering scenic views of the Pacific, entertainment, recreation, and a number of excellent restaurants and places to dine. Fresh seafood is one of the best dining choices at many of the Santa Monica Pier restaurants, and most menus feature everything from fresh fish and shrimp entrees to clams and oysters as appetizers.

Parking for most of the restaurants is convenient from the Pier Deck, as well as the surrounding beach streets. There are a number of additional restaurants located on Ocean Boulevard, right across from the Santa Monica Pier.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Company

The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company has a restaurant theme based on the popular 1990's movie, Forrest Gump. The restaurant is fun and family friendly, with a number of creatively named appetizers, drinks, and entrees. The atmosphere is casual, and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company is located at the Santa Monica Pier, at 310 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California, 90401. Their specialty is shrimp, as the restaurant name suggests.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Company at the Santa Monica Pier is one of several locations across the United States. There are a number of smoothies and non-alcoholic drinks on the menu, including Jenny's Favorite, and an alcohol-infused drink called the Bayou Surpirse. Appetizers include a Shakin' Shrimp Cocktail, and a number of other light choices. Soups, salads, sandwiches, and other starters and lighter meal options are on the menu at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.

Entrees include creative combinations such as Boat Trash (deep fried shrimp, slipper lobster, and mahi mahi), Shrimp Orleans, and Fish and Chips. A dessert menu has Key Lime Pie and a Chocolate Cookie Sundae available. The children's menu includes about 6 different choices for kids, including Hubba Bubba Popcorn Shrimp and the classic Chicken Strips.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Company is open from 11 am until late hours, and from 8-10 am on Saturdays and Sundays for breakfast, with the regular menu offered from 11 am until close. For more information about dining at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company at the Santa Monica Pier, please call (310) 393-0458, or visit the official website at www.bubbagump.com.

Mariasol

Mariasol is a good choice for visitors who are looking for a good Mexican meal. This Santa Monica Pier restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with large variety of Mexican classic dishes. Mariasol also features a special children's menu which includes beans and rice or french fries and an ice cream dessert with each meal for $5.95. Kids can choose from enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, burritos, or chicken strips as their meal choice on the children's menu.

Mariasol is a casual Mexican restaurant with affordable dining options for both couples and families. Appetizers include Guacamole, Nachos ($9.95 and up), and Taquitos ($9.95), to name a few. Salads and soups are also on the menu, with a Grilled Chicken Caesar priced at $11.95. The Pollo Mariasol ($13.95) is a special entree, and Carne Asada ($17.95) and Fajitas ($16.95) are featured on the main menu.

A full bar menu is available for drinks, and Mariasol's is known for a mega grande margarita. The on-the-water location is very nice for dining at the Santa Monica Pier. Mariasol is located at 401 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica California, 90401. Mariasol is open Monday through Thursdays from 10 am until 10 pm, Fridays from 10 am until 11 pm, Saturdays from 9 am until 11 pm, and Sundays from 9 am until 10 pm. For more information, please call (310) 917-5050.

Ocean Avenue Seafood

Ocean Avenue Seafood is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a finer dining expereince in a casually elegant setting. The highlight of Ocean Avenue Seafood is the fresh seafood choices and the award-winning Oyster Bar.

A special Oyster and Wine Sampler package is featured at Ocean Avenue Seafood. This special includes 1/2 dozen oysters paired with a sampling of three different 2 ounce selections of wine ($21.95). An extensive seafood menu features fresh fish dishes, lobster, King Crab Legs, and combinations such as the Filet and King Crab Legs for $54.95. A dinner at Ocean Avenue Seafood averages about $35 and up, but the fresh seafood, elegant atmosphere, and extensive high quality menu makes this a great choice for couples.

Ocean Avenue Seafood is open for lunch and dinner, as well as for a Sunday Brunch. Lunch hours are from 11:30 am until 4 pm daily, and dinner hours run from 4 pm until 10 pm daily. Ocean Avenue Seafood is located near the Santa Monica Pier on Ocean Boulevard. The official website is www.oceanave.com, and the contact phone number is (310) 394-5669.

Rusty's Surf Ranch

Rusty's Surf Ranch is another restaurant located right at the Santa Monica Pier, at 256 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California, 90401. This Santa Monica Pier restaurant offers a number of appetizer and discounted drink specials from Monday through Friday from 4-7 pm. Rusty's Surf Ranch features an extensive menu, with everything from fresh seafood to basic burgers. Wraps, salads, and soups are also available for lighter meal choices.

Some of the entrees include Fresh Catch of the Day, Blackened Tiger Shrimp ($16.50), Filet Mignon ($24.95), and Seafood Tacos ($12.95). A children's menu is avaiable and kids are welcome at Rusty's Surf Ranch. Kid's can choose from a few different lunch or dinner options, including Rusty's Cheeseburger ($6.75) and a Fish and Chips meal.

A full menu listing is available at the official restaurant website, at www.rustyssurfranch.com, and more information is available by calling (310) 393-PIER.

The Lobster

The Lobster is one of the best restaurant choices for lobster-loving visitors who are looking for an oceanfront dining location near the Santa Monica Pier. The Lobster is located just a short distance from the Santa Monica Pier at, 1602 Ocean Boulevard, Santa Monica, California, 90401.

The Lobster is a local favorite restaurant, and fresh Maine Lobster is the featured specialty at this Santa Monica Pier area restaurant. Lobster is served in a variety of ways at The Lobster, including the popular Whole Maine Lobster entree. Steamed Maine Lobster is priced at $32 per pound, and the menu for special lobster dishes changes daily. The Lobster is mainly a restaurant for seafood lovers, and the crab and fresh fish dining options are popular, along with the lobster dishes.
Lobster and Manila Clam Chowder ($11), Dungeness Crab Louis ($15), and Crispy Lemon Calimari ($8) are a few of the starters available at The Lobster.

The Terrace area allows diners to enjoy their dinner outside, with views of the Pacific and the nearby Santa Monica Pier. Reservations are recommended. The Lobster is open Sundays through Thursdays from 11:30 am until 10 pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 until 11 pm. A special lighter dinner menu is available after lunch hours from 3 pm until 5 pm. The contact number for reservations is (424) 214-0967.