Cozy cafe with hearty food and excellent desserts. Staff are very friendly and welcoming.

This past November (2024) my family and I took a little drive north to a little town called Cayucos which is nestled in between Morro Bay and Cambria. This quaint, small little beachside town is located off California 1 and it was the perfect little getaway to celebrate my wife's Birthday. (My review of the place we stayed at is coming soon and if you love Boutique Motels, you're definitely gonna want to check out my review...stay tuned). On our first morning in Cayucos, after waking up, we checked our trusty Yelp App to see to what our options were. As we had the kids, all of whom are 6 and under, we had to go to a place that had something for everyone aka something the kids would actually eat. If you're a parent... You know exactly what I'm talking about. After perusing our options, we decided on the Sea Shanty. And being that the population of Cayucos is approximately 2,400 people (as of 2022), the Sea Shanty fits right in to the small town vibe. Once seated, I took a deep dive into the menu and was very happy to see so many hearty breakfast options. But anytime I see corned beef hash on a menu... It Game over! Well except when my wife spots it first, then she orders it instead and makes me go with my second choice... Which this time around was biscuits and gravy which I was very, very pleased with. And lucky for me... My wife shared half of her hash which made it a win-win situation all around , or so I thought (see below) As for the kids... Their go to is always bacon, French toast, fruit and of course stealing spoonfuls at a time of the prized corned beef hash.... So much for me getting half the hash ;) The food was hearty and felt very homey which I like, especially in a small town. The ceiling is lined with hundreds of hats collected over the years by the owner and it gives perspective to how many years this place has been around (which happens to be the year of my birth).... 1983!!!! They have a nice lunch and dinner menu as well, next visit to Cayucos we just might check it out and leave one of my many hats. Till next time...

No one can compare to Sea Shanty. It is one of a kind and I am so blessed for my bfs family introducing me to this spot. Let me tell you, their pastrami sandwich is so flavorful, not greasy at all, big portion and you have to get skin on fries paired with it. Seriously, my picture doesn't even do it justice! This place has become a must-stop every time we're in the area, and we live six hours away (we are from LA) It's a family-owned spot, and you can feel the love in both the service and the food. But YOU MUST GET THE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE. I'm yelling in all caps because it's THAT good. Trust me, you must try it. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's worth a six-hour drive on its own. The biscuit is perfectly flaky, and it perfection, the strawberries are fresh and sweet, and the house-made whipped cream and vanilla bean ice cream tie it all together. I crave for this every time. If you're ever nearby, you've got to stop here. You won't regret it!

Solid casual dining in Cayucos. Rustic charm with seaside tavern vibes. Fast and friendly service, outdoor seating and dog friendly. Some of the best clam chowder I've tasted in the Central Coast. A great option for lunch!

This place was across the street from our motel, and after a long day of hiking and checking out the beach in the hot hot sun, it sounded really appealing to be able to meander on back to the room. The food was pretty standard but honestly really good for how affordable it was. The margaritas were probably unnecessary at $8 a piece, but it was vacation so we figured we'd treat ourselves. That's also how we ended up with the dessert, which kinda stole the show anyway. Our server was awesome, she laughed at our silly jokes and made sure we were well taken care of. This place doesn't put on airs, it is down to earth and makes good fried food. It was also one of the best priced meals we had while in town. Which is saying something in a resort town. The vibes are chill and you'll never feel underdressed here. Overall, a great time and I look forward to going back.

Came here with a party of 8 while visiting Cayucos and were easily accommodated with a table outside. We were looking for a local restaurant with options for everyone, and sea shanty was just that. It was a bit chilly outside, but they had plenty of heaters as well as blankets for guests. The staff was very friendly and i'm under the impression that this place is family owned and operated. The menu is fairly extensive, with options from basic hamburgers and hotdogs to seafood. The prices are decent for the area. Our orders were taken fast, but the food took a while to come out. I had the soup and salad combo, which gives you a choice of soup (or chowder) with the house salad. I had the chowder which came out hot, with oyster crackers. The salad was simple, but fresh and a decent portion size. My boyfriend had the snapper tacos which came salsa and sour cream, which he enjoyed. The dessert menu had lots of ice cream, cookie, and sundae type options. I had the 'cookie monster' which came with a chocolate chip cookie, vanilla ice cream, and hot fudge! Sea shanty is a family friendly spot and a great option for larger parties. The decor is eclectic and the restaurant is close to the beach, making it appealing for tourists. For those looking for fast service or gourmet seafood, look elsewhere. However, this place is good for what it claims to be.