Fisherman's Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in San Clemente

Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar in San Clemente is a seaside standout—one of the most beautiful, comfortable, and memorable dining experiences. The combination of ocean views, fresh Pacific Northwest‑style seafood, and warm service makes it a top-tier spot on the California coast.

Iconic pier‑side setting: This beloved local hangout is uniquely perched on the San Clemente Pier—offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, Catalina sunsets, and the soothing crash of waves below .

Casual SoCal elegance: Relaxed yet stylish. The outdoor patio, often warmed by heaters, is a standout for soaking in the ambiance at any mealtime .

Fresh Pacific Northwest seafood: The menu celebrates generous portions and thoughtful preparation, featuring items like cioppino, steamed clams, oysters, fish and chips, clam chowder, and the notable Halibut Feast .

Make sure you try:

Fish & Chips: Flaky cod with a crisp batter—“so good it didn’t even need tartar sauce” .

Clam chowder + sourdough bread: Creamy, chunky chowder ideal for dipping fresh, soft bread .

Seafood Benedict: Loved for breakfast—“out of this world!” .

Halibut Feast (~$56 per person): Excellent value with generous portions, including clam chowder, steamed clams, and mesquite‑grilled halibut .

Attentive, personalized service: Guests share stories of servers going above and beyond—for example, surprise desserts for special occasions and great recommendations when certain items weren't fresh .

Respected locally: It ranks among the best dining options in San Clemente—#6 of 38 in “where to eat” lists

Casual family style dining with full bar: Includes hearty starters like crab cakes, fish tacos, shrimp baskets, and a dedicated oyster bar .

Operational details: Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Price range is middle to upper tiers ($14–$48 per item) .

Parking limitations: On-site or street parking available—but can be tight given the location

Setting Unique pier location with ocean views and sunset ambiance Food Fresh, Pacific Northwest seafood; standout dishes: fish & chips, clam chowder, Seafood Benedict, Halibut Feast Service Friendly, attentive, and personalized—often noted in guest reviews Value Slightly higher priced, but widely regarded as worth the experience Tips Sit outside (heater-warmed); breakfast is a hidden gem; prepare for...

Fisherman's Restaurant Review

Fisherman's Restaurant is a casual beachside seafood restaurant located on the San Clemente Pier. It's a popular spot for both locals and tourists alike, and for good reason. The food is consistently excellent, the portions are generous, and the prices are reasonable.

One of the things I love most about Fisherman's is the quality of the seafood. It's always fresh & perfectly cooked. I've tried a variety of dishes on the menu, and I've never been disappointed. The fish and chips are a classic, & the clam chowder is some of the best I've ever had. I also highly recommend the grilled salmon (I opted for toasted sourdough bread and it was perfect.

Another great thing about Fisherman's is the portion sizes. The meals are definitely plentiful, & you're sure to leave satisfied.

Even though Fisherman's is located on a popular tourist pier, it doesn't have a touristy feel to it. It's more of a relax & casual but still "fun-classy" atmosphere. This makes it a great place to go for lunch with friends and even large families.

They have great indoor view dining and a spacious, ocean fresh outdoor patio (with heaters). Their friendly staff that is always happy to accommodate (we had a couples of menu tweaks & even got their lunch menu a bit earily). I recently went to Fisherman's with a group of 10 people, and we had a wonderful experience. The staff was very attentive and made sure that we had everything we needed.

Overall, I highly recommend Fisherman's Restaurant to anyone looking for a great seafood meal in a casual beachside setting. The food is excellent, the portions are VERY generous, and the prices are reasonable. It's also a great place to go for large groups.

Additional notes:

Fisherman's has a great outdoor patio with stunning views of the ocean.

There is very close parking available, in an large (paid for time) lot.

Fisherman's is a great place to go for a walk on the pier or down along by the ocean the after your meal.

I hope this...

The only good thing about this place is the view. But, you can sell anything with an ocean view. Very disappointed with this restaurant. First bathroom is across at the oyster bar. 2nd, we literally were the only people inside the restaurant service was not great. As usual servers just chatting with one another. I ordered the Cajun ahi, coconut shrimp, and Cesar salad. The ahi was maybe 4 mm thick full of seasoning and hardly any ahi. With all that seasoning you think there would be flavor. I was hungry so I ate it. Coconut shrimp obviously deep fried but way too greasy. The salad everything was cut so big and lettuce was warm. My mom’s salad was wilted and seemed like the greens were just out all day. That’s not the best part. I stopped eating when I looked at a chair and saw dust that has probably been there for years. I asked to speak to a manager, got the GM. I said look how dirty that is. Do you guys not clean? The floor was sticky and so was the table and my mom had to ask someone to clean the chair for her when she sat down. I said is your kitchen this dirty? He said “ are you really asking about the kitchen?” I said yes I am if the dining area looks like this. He asked about the food and basically told him what I just stated his response well we sell, blah blah. I’m like I don’t care about your sales. He refused to take responsibility. He did say thanks for bringing to his attention. I’m sorry as a GM cleanliness should be top priority. Again you can sell anything when people are drunk, hot, hungry, and have an ocean view. Definitely won’t be coming back to this place. But if you don’t care about cleanliness and subpar food, by all means. I would have rather eaten at McDonalds. Empty about 6 employee just hanging out...