Restaurant in Santa Monica, United States
Blue Plate Oysterette
100Pearl PointsSolid seafood counter over tourist-trap alternatives.
About Blue Plate Oysterette
Blue Plate Oysterette is Santa Monica's most accessible seafood option on Ocean Avenue, sitting comfortably between the pier's casual spots and the neighborhood's more formal dining rooms. Easy to book and well-suited to date nights or low-key celebrations, it delivers focused oyster-forward seafood without the ceremony. A reliable neighborhood anchor for locals and visitors who know where to look.
The Verdict
If you're choosing between Blue Plate Oysterette and one of the pier-adjacent tourist traps on Santa Monica's waterfront, this is not a close call. Blue Plate Oysterette is the reliable, locally-rooted seafood option on Ocean Avenue that actually serves the neighborhood rather than passing visitors. For a casual but quality seafood meal within walking distance of the beach, it earns its spot. For a full-scale special occasion dinner, you may want to look at Capo or Chinois on Main instead.
What Blue Plate Oysterette Is
Positioned on Ocean Avenue, Blue Plate Oysterette functions as Santa Monica's go-to casual seafood counter with a focus on oysters and direct fish dishes. The address puts it in one of the most sought-after dining corridors in Los Angeles's Westside, where ocean proximity is the backdrop and the crowd skews local rather than tourist-heavy. This is a neighborhood anchor in the most practical sense: it fills a clear gap between the fast-casual options near the pier and the higher-commitment dining rooms further inland.
For a date night or low-key celebration, the format works well. The oyster-forward menu keeps things focused, and the Ocean Avenue setting gives the meal a sense of occasion without requiring a dress code or a reservation weeks in advance. Think of it as the kind of place you bring someone when you want to impress without overthinking it. Compare that to the more formal experience at Le Bernardin in New York City or The French Laundry in Napa, and Blue Plate Oysterette is firmly in a different register, and that's the point.
Booking here is easy by Santa Monica standards. You don't need to plan weeks out the way you would for a tasting-menu room like Lazy Bear in San Francisco or Smyth in Chicago. That accessibility is part of the value: this is the kind of restaurant that works on a Wednesday evening when you want something reliable and good without the ceremony.
If you're building a wider Santa Monica itinerary, pair it with a stop from our full Santa Monica restaurants guide and consider checking our full Santa Monica bars guide for options nearby. Locally, Birdie G's and Calabra round out the neighborhood's stronger independent options if you're comparing nearby.
Practical Details
| Venue | Booking Difficulty | Price Tier | Leading For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Plate Oysterette | Easy | Mid-range | Casual seafood, date night |
| Capo | Moderate | High | Romantic, special occasion |
| Chinois on Main | Moderate | High | Landmark dining, groups |
| 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen | Easy | Budget | Quick meal, casual groups |
| Wally's Santa Monica | Moderate | High | Wine-focused, business dining |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Blue Plate Oysterette accommodate groups?
Small to mid-size groups are manageable here, but the casual counter format at 1355 Ocean Ave is better suited to parties of two to four. Larger groups should call ahead to check availability, as the space fills quickly given the venue's Ocean Avenue foot traffic and limited seating.
How far ahead should I book Blue Plate Oysterette?
Book at least a few days ahead for weekends, especially in summer when Santa Monica's waterfront draws heavy traffic. Walk-ins are possible on slower weekday evenings, but the venue's location on Ocean Avenue means demand is rarely predictable — a reservation is the safer call.
What should I order at Blue Plate Oysterette?
The oyster selection is the main draw here — that is the format the kitchen is built around. Beyond oysters, the menu leans into straightforward seafood preparations rather than elaborate plating, so come with that expectation rather than hoping for fine-dining flourishes.
Is Blue Plate Oysterette good for a special occasion?
It works well for a relaxed, low-key celebration — an anniversary dinner where you want good seafood and an easy Ocean Avenue setting rather than ceremony. For a formal milestone or high-production-value night out, Capo on Ocean Avenue offers a significantly more elevated dining context.
What are alternatives to Blue Plate Oysterette in Santa Monica?
Capo is the go-to if you want a more serious, sit-down dinner on the same stretch. Chinois on Main gives you Wolfgang Puck's California-Asian cooking if you want more culinary ambition. Wally's Santa Monica is the stronger call for wine-forward dining with an upscale retail angle.
Location
1355 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Santa Monica, United States
Compare Blue Plate Oysterette
| Venue |
|---|
| Blue Plate Oysterette |
| Chinois on Main |
| Capo |
| Holy Basil Santa Monica |
| Wally's Santa Monica |
| 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Also Consider
- Chinois on Main, Chinese, Chinese
- Capo, Notable alternative
- Holy Basil Santa Monica, Thai, Thai
- Wally's Santa Monica, Notable alternative
- 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen, Notable alternative
Blue Plate Oysterette competes in the casual-to-mid-range seafood space on Santa Monica's Westside, and it holds up well against its most obvious alternative: the forgettable tourist-focused spots near the pier. But if you're weighing it against Santa Monica's better-known independent restaurants, the picture gets more nuanced. Capo is the clear step up for a serious occasion dinner, with a more formal room, a deeper wine program, and a higher price point to match. If the meal matters more than the budget, go there instead.
Chinois on Main is the choice if you want a landmark experience with a distinct culinary identity. It's harder to book than Blue Plate Oysterette and costs more, but it justifies both. For a Thai alternative with a strong local following, Holy Basil Santa Monica is worth the detour if seafood isn't the priority. Wally's Santa Monica belongs in a different category entirely: go there when wine is the point, not the food.
For groups on a tighter budget, 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen is easier on the wallet and requires no reservation planning. Blue Plate Oysterette sits in the sweet spot between those two poles: more focused and enjoyable than a fast-casual stop, less demanding in price and booking lead time than the neighborhood's top tables. For a casual seafood-focused meal on Ocean Avenue, it's the practical first choice.
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