Schooners

Schooners Restaurant Review:

If you can grab a spot upstairs, you can’t beat this location overlooking the Cayucos pier and beach. (On chilly evenings, the downstairs dining room is cozy, albeit eclectic, given its decidedly nautical décor.) Hand-cut, panko-crusted calamari steak strips are a must, but the grass-fed burgers, spicy halibut slaw salad, and the seared ahi with wasabi mashed potatoes are worth a try. The go-to dessert is a shared “Cayookie,” a chocolate chip cookie baked to order in a cast-iron skillet and topped with vanilla ice cream. The full bar makes a mean Bloody Mary (as befitting a pier-side location), the reasonably priced wine list represents local labels, and there are several microbrews on tap. The disjointed layout of the vintage building can sometimes have an effect on service, but if you’ve got a seat with a view, then just relax and enjoy. A straightforward eggs and pancakes breakfast is available in the summertime.