Surf View Cafe

Do not eat here! I brought my family and none of us liked our food. When I ordered the lady was texting and had her cell on the counter right next to her, I guess I didn’t deserve a hello either. I overpaid drastically because the food was horrible! I ordered a Teriaky Bowl that came on a small plate. I have never tasted beef like this before and to this day I hope it was beef. Do not go in.

A perfectly good place to buy bottled water. Better than the neighboring Pacific Park kiosks.
Didn’t try the food — didn’t think it was what I wanted, though the swirly ice cream looks refreshing. Helpful staff.

When I’m at a place like Santa Monica Pier I’m not looking to walk into some chain restaurant with a corporate office in some other state — I’m looking for family-​owned joints that has been there for years and years.
That’s why I like eating at Surf View Café. The simple fact that this restaurant has been around for so long is reason enough to trust this place. They have all the food you would want at the beach, from burgers, fried seafood, ice cream, to even churro’s.
If you want a genuine Santa Monica Pier experience, don’t go to an establishment that paid their way in after some fancy cost/​benefit analysis. It’s not like you’re going to ride the roller coaster there and then complain afterwards about how the one at Disney World was better. Instead, ride the old, bumpy rides, watch the local artists perform, and eat at these charming food joints that helped make what the Santa Monica Pier is today.

You know how sometimes a crappy looking little shack of a restaurant is the best place to get some great local food? This is not that place! I ordered the combination plate that came to $ 15 with tax and waited. I was surprised when my food came out in less than 5 min. The first thing I bit into was a breaded scallop. STILL FROZEN!!! I took it back and the guy appologized and threw them back into the fryer. After another 10 mins I got my food again. Now my scallops were cooked so well that they were like molten bread balls burning their way through my body. Sweet! This is exactly what I wanted.
To sum it up, don’t even think about eating here. The food is terrible!!! Just suck it up and take the corporate fist in the @ss that is bubba gump… or, if you really want to have a good dinner, go up the hill to Lobster. It’s gonna cost ya, but listen, you’re probably on vacation anyway. Shut up and enjoy yourself for once!