When it comes to seaside restaurants in Santa Monica, it’s hard to think of somewhere more iconic than Ocean Avenue’s Blue Plate Oysterette, a destination for freshly shucked oysters and fried clam baskets that closed after a 17-year run in early 2026.
West Side Oyster Club, from the family behind Santa Monica Pier restaurant the Albright, opened in early July with the promise of uncompromisingly fresh seafood at attainable prices — essentially continuing to carry the torch that Blue Plate held. Owners Yunnie and Greg Morena assembled a classic menu of lobster rolls, clam chowder, fish and chips, and other summertime delights that work any time of the year. Pick out a spot on the breezy patio that faces the Pacific while sipping a crisp beer or nestle into one of the cozy tables inside to see the open kitchen in action. Both Santa Monica locals and pier-touring travelers will be happy the remnants of BP Oysterette have found a new home.
What to order
- You need to get oysters at a place called West Side Oyster Club. They arrive on pebble ice with mignonette, horseradish, and cocktail sauce; depending on the day, there will be both East and West Coast options. Fans of BP Oysterette’s famous fried clams (with bellies) can get an adequate replacement with fried oysters, served with remoulade and fries.
- Clam chowder in a bread bowl comes from the Albright’s original 1977 recipe, dusted with paprika and hearty enough for chilly evenings. Expect a textbook New England-style stew with tender clam pieces.
- The lobster roll comes at a modest (for Los Angeles) $28, though slightly smaller than some other versions (big enough for one person to enjoy, at least). Tossed with aioli or warm butter, it comes with either chips or golden brown fries. Expect nice, juicy lobster chunks that taste as fresh as they come.
- The fried fish sandwich gets a thick slice of tomato topped with crunchy slaw and remoulade (basically a zestier, thicker tartar sauce) that will quell your cravings for a McDonald’s Filet-o-Fish (easily the best sandwich at Mickey D’s).
- Inspired by Hawaiian-style garlic shrimp, the buttery, lemony sautéed shrimp assembles eight or nine plump shellfish next to a mound of white rice, which does an excellent job soaking up the paprika-tinted sauce.
- The Key lime pie, made on the premises, is one of the most impressive versions in town, sporting a tender, crumbly graham cracker crust and a perfectly puckery filling.
Best for
Relaxing sunset hangouts, slurping oysters and guzzling down quaffable Chardonnay. Casual weeknight family dinners where kids can get chicken tenders or sliders and parents can split seafood towers. Lazy Friday lunches where you keep ordering lobster rolls with caviar and charge ‘em to the company card.
Insider tip
If Key lime pie isn’t your thing, the always-served-warm chocolate chip coffee is so good you will want to order at least one per person. Parking in this area is a bit of a challenge but the huge lot on Second Street is the closest public lot and also one of the most affordable.
The takeaway
When it comes to the ocean and seafood, the best approach is the unfussy one. The Albright’s owners figured this out with their decades-old pier restaurant and brought a more focused menu to a less touristy location. Expect excellent-quality shellfish and seafood that’s maybe a notch less generous than the likes of the Lobster or Saltie Girl, but certainly more affordable.
