When your backyard spans the Pacific Ocean, it is not surprising that San Diego foodies expect and demand top quality seafood.
The trick to great seafood is all in the delivery, and clearly there are restaurants in town that blow other eateries out-of-the-water with their masterful preparation and the quality of their haul. From new-kid-on-the-block 333 Pacific to the uber-trendy Osetra Water Grill and the landmark Marine Room in La Jolla, there is no shortage of fresh seafood in San Diego.
Discover the top ten seafood restaurants in San Diego.
Osetra Water Grill – Downtown
Osetra Watergrill (formerly known as Osetra Fish House) features fresh, gourmet seafood, including oysters, jumbo clams, and caviar. A three-story wine tower houses an award-winning selection of wines retrieved by “Wine Angels” flying through the air at the Osetra’s E5 Lounge. (pictured main)
333 Pacific – Oceanside
A new member of the Cohn Restaurant Group, 333 Pacific offers an array of fresh seafood, sushi, steaks and custom sides, and offers more than 100 brands of vodka. Dine outside on the swanky patio for an unobstructed view of the Oceanside Pier.
The Ocean Room Oyster Bar – Downtown
The Ocean Room is a seafood lover’s paradise. Dishes are prepared with imported spices and organic ingredients to capture natural flavors. Try their signature Bouillabaisse: a French dish made with tomatoes, leeks, white wine, garlic, and a variety of seafood, including crab, prawns, lobster, sea bass, mussels and clams. (pictured left)
Oceanaire Seafood Room – Downtown
The Oceanaire offers fresh seafood flown in daily from the world’s most reputable suppliers, and since the menu is based entirely on market availability, selections change by the day, and in some cases, by the hour. The restaurant’s seasoned wine stewards will also help to select a wine that best compliments any meal.
Blue Point Coastal Cuisine – Downtown
Also a Cohn restaurant, Blue Point was the first seafood and oyster bar to open in the Gaslamp over a decade ago, and it remains one of best restaurants in the city. Come to Blue Point on Sunday evenings for a 3-course Alaskan king crab dinner featuring 1.5 lbs of king crab for just $39.95.
The Marine Room – La Jolla
Consistently voted San Diego’s “Best of the Best,” “Best Dining with a View,” “Best Service” and “Most Romantic Dining” by local and national publications, The Marine Room in La Jolla has served as a landmark dining venue since 1941. Providing oceanfront views, an extensive wine list, and unsurpassed cuisine by award-winning Executive Chef Bernard Guillas, The Marine Room is a San Diego tradition not to be missed.
Pacifica Del Mar – Del Mar
Perched atop the Del Mar Plaza, Pacifica Del Mar offers a stunning ocean view and some of the finest seafood in town, including Executive Chef Christopher Idso’s signature Barbecued Sugar-Spiced Salmon with mustard sauce. PDM has been awarded the prestigious Gold Medallion for “Best Seafood Dining in San Diego,” and Wine Spectator's “Award of Excellence.” (pictured left)
The Fish Market – Downtown on the Bay
Since 1989, this landmark restaurant in downtown is recognized as the premier destination for incredible seafood. Offering casual dining on the first floor, TFM features an oyster bar and cocktail bar, as well as an extensive sushi bar. The second story provides sweeping views from Point Loma to the Coronado Bridge in a sophisticated dining setting.
Anthony’s Fish Grotto – San Diego
Voted “Best San Diego Seafood Restaurant” by locals for over 60 years, Anthony’s serves fresh-from-the-ocean red lobster, king crab legs, scallops, mussels, and their famous fish and chips. The Grotto has multiple locations in San Diego, including La Mesa, Downtown on the Bay, and Chula Vista.
Zagarella II at Café Pacifica – Old Town
Located in historic Old Town, Zagarella II at Café Pacifica features seafood infused with locally-grown herbs and produce, and offers vintage wines from around the world. San Diego Magazine continually names Cafe Pacifica as the city's “Best Seafood Restaurant.” Insider Tip: Try Zagarella's House Specialty Cioppino: a dish of fresh clams, mussels, calamari, baby octopus, white fish, shrimp, and lobster tail, simmered in a white wine sauce.
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