Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe

Tamara Dull 2 weeks ago

We came to Santa Monica Seafood for a birthday dinner, and it couldn't have been a better choice. Everything tasted incredibly fresh. The oysters and salmon were especially memorable—about as fresh as seafood gets. We ended up ordering far more than we probably should have, but it gave us a chance to sample a good cross-section of the menu. We started with a half dozen oysters and the mussels before moving on to the branzino, cioppino, and Yukon potatoes. Everything was excellent, and the portions were generous enough that we brought more than half of our entrées home for another meal. I'd only been to the seafood market once before, but this dinner reminded me that there's much more to this place than buying fresh fish. Since I work nearby, I've already decided to make Friday stops part of my routine so I can pick up fresh seafood for dinner on the way home. Would we come back? Absolutely. Whether you're looking for an outstanding seafood meal or fresh fish to take home, Santa Monica Seafood is well worth the visit. If you found this review helpful, give it a like so it can help others discover one of LA's best seafood spots.

Journey Notes 2 months ago

What an incredible dining experience from beginning to end. We hadn’t booked, but the lovely lady at the door welcomed us with a smile and kept us updated while we waited for a table. We only waited about 20 minutes, and she regularly let us know how much longer it would be, which we really appreciated. Once we were seated, our waiter was friendly, attentive and efficient. He took our drinks and food order promptly and made us feel very welcome. We started with a Caesar salad and a fresh crab meat starter, and both were absolutely delicious. The quality and freshness were exceptional. For our mains, my husband had the famous Cioppino, which was packed with fresh seafood and full of flavour. I had the sea bass, and without exaggeration, it was the best sea bass I have ever eaten. Perfectly cooked with crispy skin and beautifully balanced flavours. Every dish was outstanding, and you could really taste the freshness and quality of the seafood. If I lived in Santa Monica, I would be here all the time. This was one of the best meals of our California trip and a restaurant we would recommend without hesitation. Five stars all the way!

Aliza Brown 2 months ago

Delicious and fresh seafood! We ate the sit down cafe inside and I had the ahi tuna. It came with a heap of mashed potatoes and asparagus. The tuna was perfectly seared and so tender. At first it didn’t look like much food but it turned out to be more filling than I thought. Definitely worth the stop for some fresh seafood! You’ll have to find street parking and walk a few blocks to get here.

Lilian Raven 5 months ago

Feast For Your Eyes And Your Belly. The epitome of freshness and variety I have seen this company on the shelves in supermarkets pre-packed items. I had no idea that the store location was in Santa Monica and you could walk in there and it felt like an exhibition or a museum displayed with excellence. Everything was in its place. They had so many varieties. They had inside seating they had a bar they had a fresh section with really different varieties of seafood and they had prepackage goods section . It’s a treat for the eyeballs and a treat for your belly. I ordered the fish and chips. I am from England so my scrutiny was high. I was not disappointed. The fish was super fresh and the crispy coated batter was freaking Yum Yum. Yum Yum. The chips aka fries were good too. It brought back nostalgia of being in London and being able to go into a fish and chip shop, so for me the visit was completely lovely and I will be back. It is now added to my list of yummy eateries.

Hayley Di Naso 6 months ago

THE best seafood market in LA, and fun fact the have a restaurant and oysters bar inside. You can’t beat the quality of this market and it’s the perfect on stop shop as the have a small wine, cheese, and produce section. We stopped in for caviar for our Oscar party and they were very helpful with us making a selection. I’ve been to the restaurant side a few time and have never been disappointed with the meals. Always something fresh and delicious to try.