Santa Monica Seafood

Blah. My swordfish sliders were soggy and also the Hawaiian bread that they came on wasn’t toasted. I can’t say I really liked it. But I give them a there for variety and freshness of the fish that was available to buy

This is my favorite place ever. The tuna melt is just so fresh and perfect with avocado and the French fries are to die for. I love EVERYTHING about this place.

You gotta love this restaurant. Just expect that this place is very crowded yet its small and you will wait longer than usual.
Order the sea bass was most delicious, fresh and would make you crave for it everytime you think of it.
Not a large menu, but the fresh fish is excellent.

What great food! The waitress and the atmosphere were outstanding. The parking, was easy and the prices were just as easy. Walked away with spices after dinner too from the little store.

The food and service are both amazing.
I tried the New England clam chowder, lobster roll, shrimp & scallops with mushroom ravioli, and oyster sampler. Everything tasted so fresh!
Our server was awesome. She and the staff constantly made sure we were taken care of. We came late on a weeknight so no problem with parking, no wait to be seated, and the food came out pretty fast.
Definitely will be back and would love to try the seafood tower and also to check out the happy hour.

Amazing food.
Plenty of parking.
Great environment with an amazing selection of seafood and accessories to include wine.
I’m planning on taking a prospective business associate here if that means anything about my experience.
Little pricey for me where I think the $$ is a little low.

This is one of the greatest businesses in Santa Monica. Buy your seafood here!!!
It feels like you’re transported into some sort of crazy world where people care about what they are doing and the quality of seafood they are selling you. They also have parking and bathrooms.

We got the crab cakes for appetizer and cioppino and lobster roll for entrée. The food is fresh you can taste it right off the bat. Even though their portions are on the smaller side but they really taste good. This is my second time coming here and I had a very good experience every time.
Cioppino was the bomb. They made it extra spicy on request and it’s worth every dollar.
The key to their great taste is the freshness of the meat. It can’t get any fresher than this on Wilshire blvd.

Actually got some prepared food from here for the first time yesterday. We had a free deal from five stars for a cup of clam chowder and ended up getting a serving of the lobster mac n cheese too. I wasn’t a huge fan, but I don’t like lobster either. Husband loved it.
I do love buying uncooked fresh fish from here to make at home. Last week we bought an amazing Mexican Halibut. The fish mongers are great, telling you exactly what is the freshest, best tasting fish that they have in your price range/​type range. Or, if you have no idea what you are looking for, you can just tell them what you are thinking of cooking and they can give you advice on what seafood to cook and how. This really is the best place if you are buying fish.

August 15: Hmmm, I guess I really expected more but because the service was actually pretty good I have rounded to 4 stars. Otherwise food compared to price wise it’s more 3.5 stars.
For appetizers we started with the Steelhead Trout kind of like a crudo style with avocado on top. It was recommended it to us and I have not had the Steelhead Trout before. Well when it came out to our surprise it looks like Salmon. WOW! One bite and we were hooked. It was really good, nice and not chewy, lovely texture. Fresh all the way. Man I can’t believe how good it was. Steehead trout the way to go. I started out with a the lobster bisque soup, I liked it alot. I thought it was just the right amount of butter. Some places it tastes like butter/​cream soup versus lobster. I was happy.
For Dinner Fiancé and I ordered the Lobster Roll. There were so many reviews about their lobster roll. I definitely have to get it. So it came and one bite and I was eh. Yeah a bit disappointed. I think the mayo may have changed the flavor? The bread is not to my liking either. I prefer it to be plain lobster with maybe a bit of butter. This wasn’t my cup of tea. The texture to me was okay as well. Fiancé also thought it was okay. Guess we had better. But the lobster roll comes with fries and those were perfect crisp.
The Cioppino looked amazing. It was good but no wow factor either. It comes in such a huge bowl/​plate ish thing that it catches everyone’s attention.
Overall the service was good, I just thought my pricey lobster roll should have been better. I did enjoy everything else. =)
Next time I’ll just stick to the Maine Lobster Truck.

Oyster crackers. Am I really starting this review with oyster crackers? Yes. I am. Why? Because I’ve been passing them up all these times thinking that they’d be a waste of bleached flour carbs. No. No sir. Don’t pass up the oyster crackers; they’re worth it!
Okay, the real stuff:
Come first thing in the morning for a party for the eyes. The market display of fully stocked gorgeous seafood is stunning! It fills my soul. I always come for the gigantic meaty king crab legs, the super fresh whole Dungeness crabs, and all sorts of oysters.
They also have other groceries for your seafood entertaining needs: produce, sauces, pastas, La Brea Bakery breads, and other goodies. Last time, I got a shucking knife in a grand attempt to shuck my own oysters.
Well, let’s just say, I prefer their adorable oyster bar. Fresh oysters and all kinds of delicacies from the sea! All kinds of oysters (blue point, kumamoto, fanny bays, fat babies, etc), shrimp cocktail, poké, ceviche, delicious steamed clams, chowders, bisques, cioppino, all kinds of yummy appetizer plates to join your wine drinking merriment!
Also, they have a loyalty rewards program. Just punch in your number when you check out. $ 100 off after $ 1000 spent. Going at the rate I’ve been going, I should reach it in no time!
Parking:
Free lot in the back!

Happened to find this place on Unilocal since we were in the area to go biking near the pier.
One of the freshest seafood restaurant I’ve ever had and I loved every bit of it. Half of the restaurant was a restaurant and the other half is the seafood shop where you can buy the freshest.
–Dozen Oysters (chefs choice) — (²⁄₅) It’s fresh, but I hate the aftertaste. I honestly don’t like that grimey taste that’s salty. The boys liked it a lot though.
–Cioppino — (⁴⁄₅) Pretty tasty, it has fish calamari, mussels, and clams that were in a tomato sauce. It also came with two pieces of ciabatta bread that was nice and crispy topped with olive oil. Bread was great to dip in the sauce. Nothing too overpowering and you could tell how fresh the seafood was. Next time I would love to try it in the wine sauce.
–New England Clam Chowder (⁵⁄₅) One of the bestest of the best clam chowder I’ve ever had. It was so rich and flavorful, the clams were not to sandy, they had cleaned them off well and again they were fresh and the potatoes were cooked to perfection. This soup will be the death of me.
–King Crab Bisque — (³⁄₅) I’ve had better crab bisque than here from Houston. I feel like it has a distinct tomato base to it, which I’ve never tasted in other bisques. I barely tasted any crab in it. Boo! Stingy!
–Maine Lobster Roll — (⁴⁄₅). This was good, but I wish they had used New England-​style buns. They used a white bun with lemon aioli sauce and preferably I like the regular aioli or mayo. The fries came with this and they were good as well, really crispy and fresh!
Unfortunately, we only got to order so many stuff because I was pretty stuffed and I couldn’t try the one thing that sounded so amazing, the Rock Shrimp and Bay Scallops with Mushroom Ravioli. BUT! Next time that’ll be on my list.
Wish we had this restaurant in Houston!!!

The Costa Mesa store is my go-​to place! I love this spot! Especially the oyster bar that was put in a few years ago. The seafood is always beautiful and consistent. SMS is pricey, but just like Bloomingdales, there is an occasional sale.
I mentioned the oyster bar before, but the restaurant is also good. Hubby likes the lobster roll and (aside from the oysters) I like the cioppino, which used to be a bit too salty, but has improved.
I produce a lot of food photography and video. Oftentimes, this is the only store that has a gorgeous variety of fish — not such shrimp and salmon, but black cod, barramundi, char, etc.

Big open space seafood market with 10 little tables for comfortable seated dining.
As a starter we shared the ahi tuna tartare. It was amazing. Fresh, beautifully pasted, well seasoned! The wonton chips were a perfect pairing.
As entrees we ordered fish and chips and the lobster roll. The lobster roll was nice and meaty and came with fries. Next time however I’d choose something else. The fish and chips were good, not too greasy. With a Guinness and a glass of wine the bill was 70 $ without tip. Pretty steep and we had a great time.
Service was tentative and fast. I looked around at the market area for fun cheeses or wines. It looked nice however nothing caught my fancy to actually make a purchase.

Ambiance: B+. Nothing fancy. Fish market style, open venue with high ceilings.
Food: A-​. Great menu, Packaged cheeses, oyster happy hour, Very fresh seafood. The rock shrimp mushroom ravioli lacks flavor – would not recommend. Although the lobster roll is tiny for $ 20 and very basic, it’s fresh and has a generous serving of lobster.
Price: $$$
Service: B-​. I waited at least 10 minutes after being seated to get my order taken. After flagging down a waitress twice, I felt that the menu suggestions I was given were not given much thought.
Recommendations: lobster roll, oysters

Transplanted mid-​west foodie in the 80s, it wasn’t long before I discovered Santa Monica Seafood’s retail store on Colorado. My only go-​to for the freshest, best fish ever. Little did I know then John Deluca’s entrepreneurial journey, a family business’ rich history

And then I moved.
And then they moved.
And I never made it to the new digs because the location just wasn’t convenient to my daily treks.
Wow, what I’d been missing.
We came for dinner then shopped in the gourmet market — beer, wine, pastas, cheese, ice cream; even fresh flowers. If I lived nearby, there would be no need to gather foodstuffs or dine anywhere else.
Get fish or seafood to DIY, cooked to-​go or dine in (can be a bit noisy) and you won’t be disappointed. Cod and roasted potatoes were melt-​in-​your-​mouth perfection. Crab cakes and salad, exactly the light bite I craved. We took food home, no room for dessert. Table service is pleasant, professional, spot on! Beer or wine available.
Loved the in-​house chalkboard’s detailed offerings, including country of origin. Check their website’s seafood guide to learn more

We parked at a meter, not sure if there’s a lot, regardless, wherever you leave your car, eating and shopping is worth the trip, worth reprise.
4.5 Stars!

So I had kind of a downhill experience at Santa Monica Seafood. Here’s how my thought process went:
After walking in: «This place is so cool! There’s a mini market! With a huge cheese selection! And wine! Yum, my two favorite food groups! OOOh and a fresh fish market. I can come and buy fish and wine and cheese and make gourmet home dinners. And there’s an adorable oyster bar! This place is definitely five stars!» In case you care to know, I bought truffle oil and a jalapeño pineapple marinade.
After being seated at our table: «Whoa prices are kind of high, like $ 20 for a salad, but it’s okay because the fish will be so fresh it’ll be worth it!»
After ordering the very last lobster roll they had: «YUM. I CAN’T WAIT to experience the deliciousness that is about to go in my mouth.»
After being told they actually don’t have any more lobster rolls: «Did the waitress seriously just blame it on the cooks not speaking English? That’s kind of weird and unprofessional…»
After asking the waitress what else she recommends: «Okayyyyyyy she seems VERY impatient. Geez lady, it’s a two minute conversation.»
After trying the swordfish sliders: «Yum, this bread is really good. Why is the sandwich so salty and saucy? It feels like they are trying to cover up the fish taste.»
After trying the mahi mahi flatbread: «Okay this fish definitely doesn’t taste or look fresh at all. The bread doesn’t really taste good, not worth the carbs. Ugh this is boring. Don’t get why this place is so popular. Is it just for the lobster?»
Maybe I’d try it again. Maybe. But for now, I’m underwhelmed.

Why. HELLO there Mr. Alaskan Pink Salmon & Mrs. Kumiai Oyster. You look so fresh and delicious in that display. «Can I have two pounds each please?»
If your looking to purchase seafood with quality & selection, you will not go wrong at Santa Monica Seafood. Apparently, at any given time, they carry over 600 species of fish and shellfish daily. And if they don’t have something, and it’s available at a commercial market, they will get it for you!
amazing.
This time around, i was able to cop a fresh, wild caught, New Zealand Snapper @ $ 12.99/LB & some large Little Neck Clams (funny name) @ $ 8.99/LB. Nice…
I’ve also tried the Hawaiian Poke (Splendid) & the New England Clam Chowder (The best i’ve ever had).
Next time, i want to try their Oyster Bar =D

Lovely fish dinner one Sunday afternoon. Rainbow trout topped with olives and with tomatoes and spinach. A wonderful glass of Vanishing Point chardonnay — and I mean the wine was really good. Very friendly and attentive staff.
I was surprised that the dining area itself was so small. I guess I was expecting more of a restaurant. But most people seemed to buying fish from the case to go home and cook it themselves.
After I ate, I spent some time walking around looking at the other things they sold like marinades and spices. They have a great selection.
Parking is in the back, so that is always good to not have to worry about your car.
I definitely look forward to going back again.

My experience here was a happy one: we stopped by on a Monday evening since we were close by and I already had it bookmarked. I’m not quite sure if it’s more restaurant with a market inside, or the other way around, but either way, it is definitely popular (and deservedly so).
It was foggy and cold out, so I ordered myself the large bowl of cioppino (about $ 35 versus $ 29), which came with a very generous portion of seafood. The bowl was full of clams, mussels, decent-​sized shrimp, calamari, and fish in a tomato broth. As someone who enjoys spicy food, I was pleased that the claim of a spicy broth was fulfilled. It was over the top spicy, but it was enough, and aside from the spice, the broth was well seasoned. It also came with two slices of grilled and buttered ciabatta bread. I would definitely order this again; it was well worth the price.
My fiancé ordered the special fish and chips (I think it was Alaskan cod). The fish seemed of high quality but the preparation was a little on the dry side, and some of battered skin was more chewy than crispy. I think we’d both rate this a 3 given the price.
The service was prompt and although we did wait a bit longer than I’d expected for the food.
Since there are only a few tables, the restaurant was full even on a Monday evening. I can only imagine what it’s like during busier times. Overall, a great seafood spot. I’m sure we’ll be back.