Custom House — Restaurant in Grover Beach

My wife and I live near Salinas about a 2 hour drive north of Avila Beach. We visit SLO and Avila beach several times each year. Custom House is always our breakfast stop. Location, atmosphere and staff were always welcoming and wonderful. The menu had a wide selection of breakfast items prepared in a classic manner. Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal was my favorite but I was always tempted by the selection of omelettes, Italiano Benedict, Monte Cristo Sandwich, Veggie Frittata, Malted Belgian Waffle etc. A wide and delicious menu selection. You could always find something to please from a hearty meal like a robust Huevos Rancheros or veggie omelette to a much lighter Fruit & Yogurt Parfait or Tropical Fruit Bowl.

We visited Custom House yesterday and found that the menu had changed. The new menu has eliminated the 'classic' nature of breakfast selections and has reduced total number of selections by almost half. Unfortunately for me, the new items are created with ingredients like aioli, whiskey maple bacon, chia seeds in the Irish oatmeal, brûléed bananas, gruyere cheese, queso fresco and habanero or jalapeno spicing on several items. I joked with my wife that I could no longer pronounce my breakfast and that it seemed to be designed for consumption both as a meal and for an 'instagram' experience. I ordered a pesto tomato eggs benedict with hash browns. When the meal arrived and I cut the eggs, the poached eggs were wet and drenched the English muffin. A slender portion of seemingly 'Grocery freezer section' hashbrowns replaced the previously served ample amount of delicious seasoned country fried potatoes. My wife's omelette with hash browns was simply a 'good functional meal'. With coffee, the total bill was $42 with tip, $50.

We loved going to the Custom House and again, the location, atmosphere and staff were welcoming and wonderful as always. Unfortunately, sadly, when we return, we will try other...

Please thoroughly read this review.

My review will be generous as always to the restaurant in general however mediocre with our server Conchita.

Been to Custom House every time we are in the area. Food and service has always been very good to excellent “Great Job Custom House!!!”. Our last visit was a bit different, first I must clarify the food was once again exceptional and up to our expectations. However, our server started off extremely polite and welcoming, we thought this was going to be a nice afternoon with a fine meal and an enjoyable quiet time with my wife. Everything was perfect with the exception servicer- Conchita which came to our table 7 times during the course of our visit, interrupting our conversations asking “Is everything okay so far” … YES, this is correct SEVEN TIMES! I was almost about to ask her … “Should we be expecting something bad prior to completing our meal?” But, there was more to come, she was totally different when it came to paying our bill, she brought our tab, we waited, waited and waited, she was nonexistent for the better part of 17 minutes as we sat for her so I could settle up and pay. Finally, to whom is concerned at Custom House management, this is only helpful advice from a business owner myself, she was extremely personable, had a friendly demeanor and very pleasant… however, she was an overwhelming pest and needs to learn how to interact when and when not to involve herself. With all of this said both my wife and I will be coming again and again but I am looking forward to a more peaceful time without interruptions.

Thanks Custom House for being a part of the...

If you like your meat cooked with salt this is not the place for you. Appetizers are usually served before the main course, but I ordered nachos as an appetizer and they didn't bring them until they brought our dinners, which defeated the whole purpose of ordering an appetizer. I don't know if you like hamburger cooked without salt but I do not. So the nachos were gross and I left the whole order on the table they were not even worth bringing home.

They served us pretty quickly. I ordered fish tacos-which were huge and more than filling and once I added a little salt they tasted great. and everyone else got fish and chips and they really liked them. But the ladies could barely finish 3/5 of the deep fried fish, so don't order the large unless you are a really big eater.

Then when I left I paid with my credit card and when I said I didn't need a receipt, they failed to hand me back my card. I was distracted trying to figure out the tip and get the right totals written down and didn't realize till I got back to Hanford that they did not return my credit card. I placed a lock on card so it couldn't be used and called them when I got back to Selma. They refused to mail me my credit card insisting that I had to pick it up in person. I found that to be super annoying. So I asked them to shred it and ordered a new one. Main point being, if you don't get a receipt, be sure to get your card back!

I had a great time because of the company I was with, but can't really recommend this place as a top of the line restaurant, but it was adequate. It is close to the beach. It is big and...