When Mike and I are near the coast, seafood is pretty much a must.
While exploring Venice Beach for the first time, lunchtime rolled around and we started looking for somewhere to eat. There were plenty of options along the way, but we found a few restaurants right around the corner from where we had parked.
After looking over the menu outside, we decided to give Surfside Venice Beach a try.
REVIEW AT A GLANCE
Location: California
City: Venice Beach
Craving: Seafood
Our First Impression
The people working there were friendly, and we were seated right away.
The restaurant was also very clean, which is always something I notice. I thought the decor was charming, but apparently the flooring impressed me most because I actually asked permission to take a picture of it.
Yes, I took a picture of the floor.
We Started With Crispy Calamari
We ordered the crispy calamari to start.
The batter had great flavor and wasn’t soggy or overly greasy from being deep-fried. But what I really remember was the sauce that came with it.
It was so good.
Mike loves a light beer, and the 310 Blonde Ale was recommended to him.
Hubby gave it two thumbs up.
Fish & Chips for Both of Us
Apparently neither of us felt like being adventurous with our entrées because we both ordered the fish and chips.
And I’m glad we did.
The fish and chips were really good, and the portions were plenty for me. I didn’t finish all of mine but that wasn’t because there was anything wrong with it.
I had spotted an ice cream shop earlier. [Read Jen’s Ben & Jerry’s review →]
There was no way I was filling up on fish and chips when I knew dessert was waiting for me.
Priorities.
One Little Detail I Loved
Something else I appreciated was the chilled bottle of water they brought to the table so we could refill our glasses whenever we needed to.
It’s a small thing, but sometimes those little touches make a meal more enjoyable.
Would We Go Back?
Our experience at Surfside was a good one. The staff was friendly, the restaurant was clean, we enjoyed our food, and Mike liked his beer.
For a couple spending the day exploring Venice Beach like we were, it made for an easy, casual lunch stop before heading back out to the boardwalk.
And yes, immediately after lunch I went looking for that ice cream.
[Read Jen’s Ben & Jerry’s review →]
Jen
Jen is one half of Couples Dining Out. She loves pasta, a great salad, and believes dessert should be eaten first because why risk running out of room? She loves trying new places with Mike, but if something looks good on her plate, order your own. She’s not sharing.