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Popular Restaurant in Santa Monica
I grew up in the Northeast, and spent many summer beach days munching on the lobster rolls, Blue Point oysters, fried clams, snapper, and other seafood ubiquitous to the East Coast. Moving to Southern California has its foodie benefits, but I’ve sorely missed the East Coast summertime crab shack atmosphere. If you’ve been to one, you know what I mean: The real deal has plastic tablecloths (if any), the morning’s catch of crabs, lobsters or clams, amazingly fresh fish, and almost no dress code. Makes sense; the best seafood joints are right by the beach after all. I hadn’t found a place in Southern California to quite fit this niche. When The Blue Plate Oysterette opened on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, I was quite hopeful. The food is really good at this restaurant, its popularity is by and large deserved.
The original Blue Plate, also in Santa Monica but on tony Montana Avenue, does a great job emulating the “blue
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Lobster Roll at Blue Plate Oysterette
plate special” type of casual restaurant with simple food like macaroni-and-cheese and all-day-breakfast. The same owners opened Blue Plate Oysterette, apparently with the idea of emulating an East Coast casual beachy crab shack. However, the owners also decided to bring the decor – and price point – up a notch. I can’t say I approve.
The food is really great, don’t get me wrong. The prawn cocktail is beautifully served, fresh and tasty. The steamers are served with grilled bread, perfect for sopping up the clam broth and melted butter. But after spending some time in Newport Rhode Island this past summer, I clearly remember what an authentic lobster roll is supposed to be. We had the lobster roll on brioche with sweet potato chips, and it simply didn’t compare. This staple of coastal
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Oysters at Blue Plate Oysterette
New England cost $22 in Santa Monica! For twenty-two dollars, I’m expecting something more interesting than this uninspired rendition.
We absolutely loved the oysters on the half shell, and the ceviche style oysters as well. But the grilled oysters, at $28 for a dozen? Again, the price point is just too high for relatively uninteresting version of what I grew up summers in Long Island. I”m glad we got the half order.
The view is great – the Pacific Ocean is across the street, and the Santa Monica Pier, lit up at night, is a fun sight to see. Now, Ocean Avenue must be a very high rent district. This may explain the dinner’s bill, but if the Blue Plate Oysterette really intends to emulate a super-casual coastal East Coast crab shack, the prices and interior design should be adjusted downwards. Otherwise, just embrace the upscale setting, and forgo trying to foster the low-rent, just-off-the-beach ambiance.
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Sunset at Santa Monica's Ocean Ave
Blue Plate Oysterette
1355 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 576-3474
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