Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill

I will start with the negatives which are not a lot; The wait time can be long because everyone is trying to get seated. We waited like 50 minutes or more and the bar is small. We were on vacation and we didn't have the kids with us. But we had our little bit of wine while we waited, And once we were seated everything was very good. The food was worth it and delicious. I had a shrimp pasta which was amazing. We spent a long time eating and also admiring the ocean views. We also saw a man walking around who looked like the restaurant manager, We absolutely loved that. We have no complaints of the food or drinks. The girl at the bar very friendly and they were working so hard and serving a lot of drinks there. So if you can have the patience to wait I would recommend this place.

Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill is one of the top places when you research best restaurants in Cambria. I was extremely disappointed. Hostess didn’t share that I couldn’t order food from the bar so I went to the bar, ordered a drink, sat there and asked for a menu. Then was told I couldn’t. It was a 50 minute wait for a table. I asked the server at my table what he recommended as it was my first time. He recommended the shrimp and scallop tacos and the spicy chicken pasta. I got the pasta. What a disappointment! There was barely any chicken in it. Maybe 4-5 bite size pieces. For $30 i expect a lot more! Luckily I had extra waters at my table since mine was never refilled. I ate 3/4 of my meal before I was asked how it was. Way over priced for what you get! Not sure if I’ll come back!

They don't take reservations. We got there around 5, opening time for dinner. Thirty minute wait, strange, as there were mostly empty tables. Maybe to stagger the kitchen duties? No problem, the bar was open, busy, but that makes sense. Ordered nice cocktails for us, and had a seat in the area across the bar. Very nice staff, seating us at our choice. Wait staff helpful and informative. Excellent seafood cakes for starters. Excellent dinner. Great 📸 views.

Such a lovely place, with sea views and a vast menu. It was very busy but not noisy, just a happy atmosphere. The food was great and the staff were friendly and attentive.

Amazing restaurant, close to San Simeon. Great , friendly service. Good food, never felt rushed. Sat on the patio, they had overhead heaters and offered wool lap blankets, a nice personal touch. LOVED the lava cake! Please give it a try, when in the area.

Great location! They have an outside patio that has heaters for cold nights. They also have blankets on hand if you're still chilly. It's directly in front of the beach with great ocean views. We had a big group but they couldn't fit us all in one table. I guess the biggest table they could configure was for 8 people only. So our group had to be split into two tables for dinner. So if you're a large party, just be aware of this. It was kind of weird that each table had two servers and not just one. So we had a total of 4 servers for the entire dinner party. Food was good. I had the Grilled Alaskan Cod Fish Tacos. Each of the two tacos was fully loaded! They do not skimp on what they put in there. For dessert, try the Raspberry Cheesecake. The raspberry is mixed all throughout and not just placed as a topping.

Great location with good food. Service was friendly but not extraordinary. Cashew pesto sauce on the shrimp dish was not bold like a pesto should be. My wife's steak was quality and cooked properly. Bread was a little hard, but second loaf was amazing! Expect a wait for dinner.

Expedient friendly service, no worry about the queue Oyster fresh and loved the kick of mustard kechup sauce So much i use it with calamari. Fried with perfection crunchy but soft in the inside Drink forgot.. just ask their fav,sour and refreshing

Stopped here in October for a lunch. Mainly chose it because it had a view of the ocean, and things on the menu we enjoy. We definitely were close to the ocean (across the street, where cars are parked). It was a very foggy day, so you only saw a bit of it, but it was still atmospheric. We chose to sit outside. There are plastic panels up, to keep breezes away, as well as heat lamps, but they did not have them turned on. Indoors seems to have some tables near windows where there may also be a bit of a view, if you prefer that. We were told we'd have to wait for a seat. I asked for a couple menus that we could peruse while waiting. It turned out, there were many open tables, and we didn't wait long. Not sure if they were short staffed, or hoping people would buy drinks at the bar first, but while many were waiting, it didn't take long to be seated. The food: I had the Smoked Cheddar Cheeseburger, without the onions & pickles, but asked if the bacon from the mile-high burger could be added instead. I thought the mile-high burger sounded like it could be difficult to get your mouth around. My burger was excellent! Nothing comes with it, so I ordered a side of sweet-potato fries, which came with a spicy aioli, but I found a little too spicy for me, so catsup worked great instead. I had some lemon water, and a very nice, large mug of Earl Grey Tea. It was very filling, and very tasty! Loved it! My friend had the Health Nut sandwich and loved it, as well! It was different than many vegetarian options, and full of flavor. There were tarps above us, to keep direct sun from hitting, and keep leaves and things from falling. But there were some trees just to the side overhanging with some very happy little birds chirping away. To be near the ocean, sitting outdoors, with a tasty meal, it was a nice treat! I would definitely come back! If you are one that likes to see the ocean as much as possible, this is a great place to have your meal. And, if ambience does not sway you, it's also a nice place to come for the food!

This establishment opens at 5pm and at 4:40pm there was already a small line. Super cute Bar and Grill. Great patio! I wasn't even sat for more than 1 min and the server was right on it with the bread. Sooooo good. I could've ate the whole mini loaf but I didn't want to get full. Calamari - A must get. Almost every table ordered it. It's so good! Grilled Chicken Slaw Bowl - Light and yummy. It's like a taco bowl minus the shell. I'm glad I got this as I ate a lot of the calamari. No wonder there was a line. This place is really good!!!

Moonstone was a wonderful - casual but classy - restaurant along the picturesque Moonstone Beach. Inside was very comfy but on the enclosed patio, seats along the window were wonderful with a view of the ocean. The food choice was ample and as simple or as unique as you might want. My wife's choice was the chicken Caesar salad. The chicken was perfectly cooked and tender. The dressing perfectly flavored. And the thin onion rings were a great complimentary topping to the salad. I chose the fish and chips (I'm sorry for pouring ketchup prior to shooting the photo - they just looked so good.) The fish was thinly sliced - a unique alternative to the thicker chunks of fish I'm used to in other restaurants. I really enjoyed it with the light breading. The tartar sauce was just so-so. Tasty but I hoped for something with a bit more of a spice to it. But not a big deal. The homemade bread was warm and flavorful. The butter was room temp and spread easily. Service was amazing. Our waiter was there when needed. Quick delivery of food. And if we needed something, we had it quickly. If you're in Cambria, you definitely want to stop at the Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill. You might wait after they open to be seated, but it's well worth it!

We heard so much about Moonstone , so we just had to go. We were not disappointed. We went with some friends and we all enjoyed our meals. I had the Shrimp and Scallop tacos. The tortillas were slightly crispy with yet soft and the flavor was great. The restaurant was clean with a great beach atmosphere. Parking is in the back or on the street. They have indoor and outside patio seating with a great view of the ocean. They have some swag like t-shirts and sweatshirts for sale. This is a good pick, while in Cambria.

This is the perfect lunch spot with the patio facing the ocean in beautiful downtown Cambria!! The place was hustling and bustling on a Monday afternoon. I ordered the Alaskan cod tacos and my husband ordered the shrimp and scallop tacos. Both were delicious! They come a la carte, but are very filling. The tortillas are lightly fried which I normally would prefer soft shells. However, the tacos held together well despite being stuffed to the brim with deliciousness. Our waiter was attentive and checked back frequently to refill our teas and check in on us. We will return whenever we visit Cambria.

A friend highly recommended this restaurant. They don't take reservations, and people start lining up around 4:30 for the 5 pm opening. We sat on the patio, which had heaters and was just perfect. We ordered crab legs, a cod sandwich, sweet potato fries, and shrimp & scallop tacos. They also served fresh, warm, delicious bread. The food and service were excellent, with our drinks constantly refilled and our waiter being very attentive. I would definitely return if in the area. 8/5/24

11/14/24- This was my first time eating here at Moonstone Beach Restaurant. The food was excellent! We sat outside over looking at the beach. It was a little chilly, slight wind but they had heater but later the sun came up for a while and the wind had stop. There were 8 of us women . We had a surprise birthday celebration for one of the ladies. Restaurant & staff catered to our every need made sure we were comfortable. The staff were nice , polite and friendly. We have enjoyed ourselves .

Visited Moonstone again on a Saturday afternoon while in the beach for some lunch. The wait is still long so expect to wait, we waited approx 35 minutes. My husband loves their Bloody Mary's so we definitely keep coming back for those. The food was still good but not amazing (or enough to leave and rave about). They do not allow dogs at all, even in the outdoor patio seating area so be aware of that.

We decided to have dinner at Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill today. We waited a few minutes in a line of about 15 people for them to open at 5pm. The restaurant has been in Cambria for many years and this is probably my second time dining there. I don't remember my first experience and today's was okay. Nothing spectacular overall and the good service helped in getting four stars. Max was very attentive and prompt with our orders. My wife ordered wine and I chose the Moonstone Margarita which boasted a secret recipe. It was okay but with a build up like that I expected more and was underwhelmed. Same with our calamari frita. The squid was bland and the dipping sauce was ordinary. My wife's entree was their Mile High burger and I had the Seafood Pasta. Her burger looked good and she said the meat was flavored. She added fries that were okay. My seafood pasta was what I expected and the broth was tasty and there was plenty of shellfish, fish and veggies to go with the fusilli pasta. This is a nice place for a meal along the ocean with panoramic views and it is very appealing to tourists because of its proximity to the water. The prices are a bit high but the food just didn't seem to match up with what we paid. It is a popular place though and doesn't suffer for business.

Great location with amazing views. Food portions were good. Prices where you'd expect eating at the beach. Service was very attentive and very friendly. We had bay scallops and shrimp tacos and the mile high burger. The tacos were delicious, the burger was just ok. Not happy that a burger for $20 doesn't include fries ( w got a side of fries which were very good) but you pay for the view and ambience. It was worth the price

Thrill of the Grill Family-owned American Fish House located just steps from Moonstoone Beach that's been in operation for over 30 years (ca. 1993). The Good: *Reservations thru their website or OpenTable *Dog-friendly outdoor seating *Superlative views of the aforementioned and eponymous Moonstone Beach *Full bar *Excellent pricing considering its waterfront dining. *Service was a bit scattered but overall very friendly and prompt. *Crab Salad sandwich was delicious and packed to the hilt with crab and only cost a modest $17. I've seen crab sandwiches with half the amount of crab and for 50% more. *Carissa said the Cod Tacos were fantastic and filled perfectly so that they didn't fall apart *Clam Chowder was perfectly creamy and had lots of nice, chewy bits of clam. *My picky son scarfed down his whole cod sandwich, so that's something. The Meh: *Not the best coconut shrimp we've ever had, but it was more than edible. Maybe it just needed a few more moments in the fryer to really crisp it up. The Ugly: *Small private lot and some street parking. Might be tough to find a spot on more popular summer days. Conclusion: Wallet-friendly fantastic seafood with great service and a view you can't beat with a stick. Highly recommended.

Came here twice while visiting the area during Memorial weekend. The place gets busy so prepare to wait a bit if you go during peak hours. Beautiful views and good food. What really stood out to us was that the house Manhattan was an elevated version of what we'd make at home, not overly sweet or watered down like other places.

There's not much eating place along the boardwalk unless you go into town. We tried to visit a while back with our dog but was told that it was pet friendly on the patio but when we arrived, pets wasn't allowed.... Fast forward to now, we can actually say that we tried this place. It does get really busy and adding a long weekend to that just made it even worse. They don't take reservations and the whole party needs to be there before getting seated. Did manage to have a drink at the bar before our table was ready. The menu was quite nice, plenty of seafood dishes which was a plus. Asked the server what they recommend and of course they do up sell you to all the pricer dishes. If it's good, it's worth it. Started off with the calamari, clams and the oyster Rockefeller. Clams were great with the broth as well as the oyster. Calamari was good. And the ciopinno which seemed to be on everyone's table as well as the seafood pasta. Food was good, plenty of seafood. Was it worth the wait, yes and no. Downfall, no reservations and while party had to be there. But I can say I've been now.

Excellent choice for those staying on the row of hotels along the namesake, Moonstone Beach. Was seriously right next to the Castle Inn we stayed at, well 2 doors down. Already had Happy Hour wines elsewhere, but this was perfect to not have to drive anywhere else, making it easy to continue to enjoy more wine. Didn't have reservation, but the wait was not too bad. Especially when they have a separate waiting room next to the bar where you can grab some drinks. Had to check out from bar, separately from the dinner, but not a problem. Mr. Luis at the bar made good wine pours and enjoyed the waiting room while getting some views of the sunset (no wall, so all open yet separated from dinner area) Dinner service was excellent as well. - Clam chowder = was very good, nice flavors of potato coming thru. - Ribeye for two medium rare = came out as 2 separate plates, perfect! It was grilled well. Had a nice scent like that of aged steaks, not sure if it's just the wood fire used, but flavor was nice. Though prepared perfectly, the steak was ever so slightly tough like a cold steak quickly went on the heat, maybe it needed to be tempered a bit. But it was still good and I cleaned up my plate, lol. Tequila sauce was kind of salty horseradish like, which was nice. Mashed potatoes was great, tasted like a fully loaded baked potato, but in mashed form. I dipped the potatoes in to the tequila sauce and it elevated the taste even more! Think I also ate whatever wife left on her plate since it was addictive. - Kid's cheeseburger = wow, amazing! Had a great smokey flavor to it. Fries were the battered type which I love, I mean my boy loves. Ask for some ranch sauce to dip the fries in and it was food heaven. This place knows potatoes, whether it's mashed or fries. Whatever wood fire they are using, it imparts excellent smokey flavors to the food. Menu is so expansive, so you could eat here couple times if staying more than a night. I'd love to eat their burgers for lunch or dinner!

This was our first time at Moonstone Beach. We arrived at 430pm and yes! There was a line of people waiting to get in. The view is gorgeous and the whole area is quaint and relax. The restaurant is clean and spacious and not too noisy. We ordered the apple martini, Cioppino and lava cake. The martini was nice but nothing fancy i.e. no sugared rum nor garnish besides a cherry. The cioppino was really tasty, not spicy just right with salmon, clams, mussels, shrimps, squid and crab. I was not crazy about the crab and would have preferred scallops but again the broth was delicious so it made it for the crab. The only disappointment for me was the desert. The lava cake was cakey and with chocolate syrup instead of actual chocolate. Just not great. Service was quick and excellent. I would go again.

This place opens for dinner at 5:00 pm and there was already a line up when we arrived at 4:45! That is definitely a good sign. Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill was certainly among the dining highlights of our trip. A beautiful restaurant inside, but being on the beach we enjoyed a table on their spacious patio. Service was most thoughtful and professional. Fantastic views of the coast line abound. The margaritas here were definitely the best in the region. Sadly no draft beer, only bottled. For dinner I started with a cup of clam chowder. By far among the best I've put in my mouth! Highly recommended if you ever visit. A very nice balance of clams, bacon, etc. in a rich and hearty chowder. Not excessive with the taters which I appreciate. I selected Fish & Chips for my main and was not disappointed. Four nice pieces of fresh tasting fried fish that was breaded rather than battered. The fries were hot, crisp and well seasoned. The only thing missing was a nice coleslaw on the side. Unfortunately I am deducting one star for our second visit, two nights later. We had dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant in Cambria where the margarita was just meh. We knew though that a stellar marg was just down the road at Moonstone Beach! My wife suggested we visit again and I of course obliged. We sat at the bar and I enjoyed a nice, local Sauvignon Blanc. I had saved room from dinner earlier to have another cup of that excellent clam chowder. Sadly, no food is served at the bar. I can order a full meal at an Olive Garden bar, not sure why I can't get a simple cup of chowder here.

The pasta shrimp is SO GOOD! I love eating outside and watching the sunset, the staff are super friendly & wonderful.

The food was pretty good and standard for what you would get at a coastal American style restaurant. Shared a calamari frita with my mom which we enjoyed. The squid given was plentiful and it was a solid calamari overall, although a bit expensive at almost $16. I had the moonstone chowder as my entree and it was really good! Came out piping hot, creamy, well seasoned, and full of clams. The sourdough bread it came with was also perfectly buttered, crispy, and pillowy. It was pretty filling and a decent size considering it was $17. Arrived around 1:40 PM on a Thursday and had to wait around 15 minutes to be seated. It's a popular location and located next to the beach, so the view is nice. Might be a bit windy if you're sitting outside though. The workers were nice and attentive.

Great view, great food, even better service! Our waitress was so so sooo nice and sweet, I wanted to leave there as friends! If you are staying in Cambria I highly recommend coming here - almost came back for night 2 and I regret not doing so! This place has a little bit of everything and still has unique and fun dishes to try!

Long wait but worth it, they even let you order from bar and drink in the patio while you wait. Food was delicious and the manhattan was excellent. Can't remember the waitress name but she was the blonde working the patio on Saturday night, funny and attentive.

Love the ambiance of the restaurant. Warm and decorated in a comfortable/clean manner. The bar area is nicely sized to hold guests waiting for their tables. Service was friendly albeit on the slow side. (Not terribly so) Food was decent with LOTS to select from. Was surprised that the $18 burger didn't come with fries. So be warned. The seafood pasta was surprisingly tasty. Very flavourful with lots of fresh seafood. At least 8 bites of white fish, a nice handful of octopus rings, handful of bay scallops and baby shrimps, 2 large prawns, 2 razor clams and 6 Manila clams.

We were driving down the beach, looking for a spot with a view when we came across this place. The parking lot was full, so we parked on the street a few hundred feet away and walked through the entrance on the side. There was a bit of a wait with only one host working and one server. We asked for a patio spot in the shade and were sat next to the heaters, which was a nice balance with the cool ocean breeze. Our server came over immediately and got our drink and appetizer order, and we sipped on water while looking over the beautiful ocean view. I ordered the fish of the day - salmon over a cashew pesto cream sauce with Spanish rice on the side. The salmon was PERFECTLY cooked to medium with a crispy crust on the outside, and I'm not ashamed to say I licked the plate to get the last of that delicious cashew pesto sauce. My dining partner got the grilled fish tacos and demolished them, even though she complained about how full she was halfway through. We sipped on our wine and iced tea for a little while enjoying the views and the weather before paying our bill (pretty reasonable considering we got wine, an appetizer and two entrees, one of which was market price). I've been dreaming about that salmon ever since I returned back to my landlocked state.

My last review was several years ago. When in Cambria a must do is dinner at Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill. Our experience on this visit was as great as previous. We arrived at 4:50 PM and the restaurant opens at 5. They do not take reservations and the line was long. Once we checked in the wait was about 15 minutes for an inside table. I believe that the wait would have been shorter for a patio table. It was a little too windy for us. Our server Max took care of us though out dinner. Service was timely. The order for my wife and I was Oyster Rockefeller as an appetizer. The entrees were Cheeseburger with fries and a Lobster Tail The 3 Oysters were fabulous some of the best ever. Baked with creamy spinach, bacon and cheese topping. Just delicious with a splash of tabasco The main event was a 12 oz. perfectly cooked Lobster Tail steamed and baked. Served with warm butter, lemons and Spanish rice pilaf. It does not get any better. The Cheeseburger was cooked perfectly and the fries hot, crispy outside and tender inside. No room for dessert

Fire!!!!!! Took wifey out here last month it was just right. It had manners on the portions and price was good

I love the location and the view from this restaurant. It's right across the street from the beach with ocean views if you sit outside on the patio. I usually eat her once a year on my annual trip. Every time I have eaten here, whatever I order is just mediocre. I know my friends likes what they ordered but none of them are foodies like me. I try something different every time I go. Nothing has grabbed my attention and made me want it again. I love when I love a dish at a restaurant and desire to go back for that meal again.... And I just don't get that here. I would say I mainly go for the view and the friends that want to go here.

Food was good, but a bit expensive! The Fish slaw bowl $21.25, the Cajun shrimp and scallop tacos $17.70, and steamers $18.10 are SUPER SMALL helpings, so beware! The Smoked cheddar cheeseburger $17.70 was sad. The cook didn't even melt the cheddar cheese in the burger! The cheese was like a piece of cardboard on the patty. Also, to pay $17.70 for a burger and doesn't include french fries??! Bought a side of fries for $5.10?! Yikes! The Moonstone chowder $17.70 was yummy. The Bud light $4.80. Grant S. was our server. He lacked personality. I think he hates his job. Order taker with no smile. The restaurant is nice inside. Very Cape Code look and feel.

Over rated, super busy, 30 min wait, stuck us outside after long wait. Oyster Rockefeller worst I've ever had. Heartburn city from clam chowder, lasted all night and into the next day with heart burn. Service was with an attitude. Would not go back.

Food, Service, and Ambiance are all 5 Stars!! Jack at Castle Inn on Moonstone Beach recommended it. Amazing selection of beers, full bar, and the best clam chowder I've ever had. Locals were warm and welcoming. Going back before we leave for sure.

Located across the street from Moonstone Beach, is Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill. Plenty of street and lot parking. The restaurant has many tables inside and out. We were greeted and chose to sit outside, beautiful day, beautiful view. I ordered the Fish & Chips and Fish Tacos. The French Fries were great, double fried. The breading on the fish was standard and good. The fish, good. The deal is, it all tastes good and the restaurant/view is nice, but the quantity and price is what brings it down. The four pieces of fish, are like two pieces in a lot of other restaurants. Don't get me wrong, great place to grab a bite of good food, a cocktail and enjoy life. But if you're really hungry, it's going to cost a lot! *Increase the portion and this place would be a 4.5/5!*

Very nice spot with great service. Have some Oysters and a Martini while watching a beautiful central coast sunset.

Gorgeous eatery by the beach! If anything, come here for a serious date night, although patrons of all ages come here. Parking is limited and tricky on Moonstone Drive although my boyfriend and I walked over from our hotel here. Biggest recommendation: make a reservation first! The place was jam packed on a summer week night so with limited options after a long drive up from LA, we agreed to wait an hour and took a walk down the road. We opted to eat inside since even in the summer, nights are very dark and cold here. Our waitress was very sweet - a college student at Cal Poly - she was friendly and tried her best. I appreciated her! The menu - as most eateries in Cambria, is seafood heavy and I'm a lite seafood eater (white fish, preferably). I actually opted for the Club sandwich and he went for the Strip Lion steak - neither of which we think about. This place is more for ambiance during your vacation to the central coast. Not as much for the poultry and red meat! We'd definitely come back for breakfast or lunch one day!

We ended up here because our first choice restaurant had a 2.5 hour wait. We ended up waiting about an hour for a table at this restaurant and by the time we sat down I was starving. We got drinks from the bar while we waited. I had the saddest old fashioned, it tasted like something you get at a dive bar but it was more expensive. The food was just ok. I ordered the Cioppino which was pricey, I believe around $40 and it just wasn't great. The crab meat was dry and the shrimp were tiny. Our server was very nice but she was simply too busy to check on us. They forgot to bring us bread until we asked for it. I would probably not eat here again unless it was the only place available.

Looking for a bite to eat; this place was voted with high reviews. The private parking lot doesn't have many spaces; however street parking is available. There is usually a wait; people lined up outside. Wait goes fast and well worth it. You have the option to pick to sit indoors or outdoors. We picked outdoors for the ocean view... just gorgeous. If you go in the evening; bring a jacket ... may get chilly. The service was good. I ordered a hot chocolate to warm me up; creamy, chocolatey. My other half and I ordered clam chowder- creamy; tasty; thick; loved the bacon inside. We also ordered the coconut shrimp- cooked to perfection. Nice and crispy ; yet delicious. We both ordered the shrimp and scallop tacos- shrimp was nicely grilled ; the tacos were packed; messy and fell apart; but we still ate every dripping. Our seafood craving was satisfied today. Would we come back? Heck yeah!

I can here to eat with my parents since we were passing by. We had ordered the calamari, fish slaw, seafood cakes, crab salad sandwich, and a clam chowder. With some of the seafood we ordered it felt like food you would get from packaged seafood at a grocery store. The breading on the calamari and the fish in the fish slaw were bland. The calamari breading was also soggy and we ate it right away.The seafood cakes were thin, salty and had a lot of breading. The best thing we ordered was the chowder. Considering the prices, I was expecting more. The service was good and our waiter was attentive. The location was great and had a view of the ocean.

Great service and nice location looking out to the sea. We had their Clam Chowder and split a Bloody Mary. Yum!

Amazing food and service at Moonstone beach grille ! Seafood pasta and shrimp pasta are amazing also loved the clam chowder ! Maggie made us feel right at home! Great ambiance!

I've definitely been enjoying my experience here on the last several visits here. There is usually a wait here and it's usually worth it. I love having the margaritas here. They are soooo good and made with fresh ingredients. The last few visits, I had the Cioppino which was delicious and also the shrimp slaw bowl which was Also very good. I love to sit outside for lunch and overlook moonstone beach. It's a great place to eat and have cocktails. Good experience! And great service.

Nice little spot here! The food was good, the staff was nice, and we didn't mind the wait to be served during dinner rush as we could just walk across the street and enjoy the views along the board walk. Would definitely recommend!

Busy and super busy .... Parking was good considering you can park the car on the other side of the street where the beach is located. There was none or hardly any parking in the lot where the restaurant was located. Recommend parking on the strip outside . The service was alright.... I didn't get a refill until mid way or almost until all the way through the meal . The food was good... way too much onions in the pasta. I hate having to wait and send food back only to watch everyone eat , so I separated the onions from my food . The steak was ok and the fish and chips were not crispy as I'd like . The calamari which I didn't picture was like popcorn and more batter than calamari. I ordered 3 calamari plates all like popcorn. Location was great however !

I love writing 5-star reviews, but I'm disheartened by the way my family and I were treated by the hostess tonight. We had been waiting for 40+ minutes after being given a 25-35 estimated wait time. No problem - I get that it's a busy place. I went in to check on our wait, respectfully asking how much longer they thought the wait would be. The hostess said she had no way of knowing, and her tone was so dismissive and demeaning. When I told her I didn't like the way she was speaking to me, she callously repeated, "I apologize." She was robotic & unkind, didn't offer any solutions, and she didn't care at all that I was leaving. I'm really disappointed. This hostess treated me like we didn't matter as customers - as people... I can't imagine that a place that has a wall of 5-star reviews & another wall of kids' drawings, would ever want to be known for treating their customers this way. I really hope that management will speak to the hostess who was working tonight, and that she will make better choices in communication and treatment of customers in the future.

I was admittedly already having a great day when I had lunch here so I was predisposed to enjoy it, but my experience was certainly a great one worth mention. Everything about Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill is solid, especially compared to some of the alternatives in downtown Cambria. The prices are on the expensive side with entrees ranging from 15 to 35 bucks and the ever enigmatic "Market Price". However, the extra money is worth it for the following reasons: Service: Great! I unfortunately didn't catch out servers name but he was a perfect combination of attentive and distant. Showing up exactly when we needed service but wasn't awkwardly hanging around. Food/Drink: Grand slam here! I had a mojito and the Carnitas Torta (image attached). The mojito was delicious and everything I was hoping it would be but the Carnitas Torta was outstanding and it came with beer battered fries which are my favorite. Superb flavors and textures throughout, would highly recommend that one! Ambiance: Another big win! Throughout most of the day there is sun on the patio area (weather permitting) with ocean views. We did notice quite a few patio heaters, so if the weather wasn't so good the patio would still be an option.

This place is very popular in Cambria. Not accepting reservations. On a saturday, they opened at 5pm. 10 minutes before 5pm line was superbly long but we got seated right away for a party of 8. Our server was a delight. All in all service was excellent. The location itself has a great view so we opted to be seated outside. Located just across moonstone beach hence the name. We ordered seafood pasta that was delicious and tasted like cioppino. We also had calamari frita, coconut shrimp and a cup of clam chowder-this is a must since it was really really good. Our friends had shrimp pasta and the alaskan cod taco. I highly recommend this place when in the area. Be there early as line is always long on the weekends.

Great customer service and food! I got the chowder in a bread bowl, it was delicious. Quick and easy.

Classy, casual restaurant/bar right alongside the Moonstone beach motel strip. There's not a lot of dining options in this enclave, so this place can get busy. Fortunately, on a weeknight we didn't have to wait long. Got some cocktails at the bar, then were called to our table and picked out some bites... clam chowder, a salad and some fries. The food, drinks, service and setting were all very nice.

Second time here. Very large, popular restaurant with good food, including delicious clam chowder and a Fish Slaw Bowl. I got the latter because I had never really had anything like that before. It was delicious. Fish, slaw, beans...and a really good meal to get if you want to get filled up but not feel bloated, as it feels nice and light. Regardless, it was delicious. Large patio for you to enjoy the outdoors and check out the ocean (when it's not foggy). Good service.

Nice restaurant by the beachside. Gets chilly. Luckily we snagged a parking spot as soon as someone left. You can see cars rolling in looking for a spot every 1 min. The wait was an estimated 45mins. We grabbed a waiting alarm device and waited in the car for exactly 45 mins. They sat us inside in front of the windows as soon as we returned. We could see the waves from inside their large windows. The free bread was also so fresh and soft!!! No hard crust and extremely tender crumbed. I devoured a whole roll when I waiting for the clam chowder. And the clam chowder? So good. I just wished there was a little more clam juice, but you can taste the clams in there. So creamy. Just super small proportion, cup size was size of a tea cup. Man. It left me craving for more. Last but not the least, crab salad sandwich? Amazing. Not even going to complain that it's not full crab. I'm cool with that. As long as it's good. And it was. Soft toasted bread with delicious crab salad mixed with fish. I would totally come back just for a large bowl of clam chowder next time. Talk about being so satisfied and also unsatisfied at the same time. I want more of their clam chowder already.

We always enjoy eating at this establishment when we are in Cambria, CA. The atmosphere is pleasant, they have a bar, outdoor patio seating, and indoor seating. The service was attentive and food came out quick. I ordered the Moonstone Shrimp salad. It was delicious. The Gorgonzola chunks blended well with the balsamic dressing. There was plenty of shrimp as well. The asparagus were bombolicious! The wife's clam chowder was tasty, and the shrimp cocktail was okay. We will always come back and enjoy the food. Thank you.

This is one busy restaurant. You would want to get there right when it opens as there is a line to get in. Once they have everyone seated, there will be quite a wait. There was a section in the bar where people could wait until they can be seated. There are limited parking in the lot but plenty right outside. We ordered the calamari, fish slaw, chowder bowl, and the tequila pasta. The calamari was delicious. I thought the fish slaw didn't have as much taste. The tequila chicken pasta had lots of flavor and was delicious. Ambiance: beach feel. There are also patio seating with great views.

Was there today based on recommendation and reviews....unfortunately nothing good to say about the food...no problem with price but quality and value lacking. The fish and chips were appalling.,,.extremely dry and tasteless fish. My wife the fish tacos with tiny piece of tasteless fish...nice location but that's about all