Chart Room is a local favorite seafood restaurant in Crescent City, California, that offers casual waterfront dining and a picnic table area for outside dining with views of South Beach! Chart Room was voted Best Seafood & Best Clam Chowder in the Readers Choice Award among several other awards.
Waterfront seafood stop for clam chowder, fish ‘n’ chips & views of sea lions through large windows.
Heather Grigsby
Chart Room is one of those spots that checks all the boxes, especially for waterfront dining without the hassle. There’s plenty of free parking, which is always a win, and despite how popular it is, there was hardly any wait thanks to the large dining room and many tables.
The restaurant has a nautical, coastal vibe, with decor that fits perfectly with its location by the water and adds to the overall charm. The menu offers a wide variety of options, so there’s something for everyone, and the fish and chips are an absolute must—classic, comforting, and even better enjoyed right by the water. Once we ordered, the food came out in a reasonable amount of time, which was much appreciated.
The food overall was comforting and satisfying, and the staff was friendly and welcoming, making the experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. When the restaurant gets busy, it can be a little noisy, but it feels more lively and energetic than annoying, adding to the atmosphere rather than taking away from it.
Outside the restaurant is also a great spot to enjoy views of the water, and it makes for an awesome photo opportunity—perfect for capturing the pier, the boats, and the coastal scenery. And honestly, the best part is the view—sitting by the windows watching the sea lions on the pier feels like dinner and a free show.
It’s a fun, uniquely Crescent City experience and definitely worth a stop if you’re in the area.
… moreDebby Cheary
The wait was about 20 minutes on Valentine’s day (go figure) and reservations are not accepted, but lots of vocal sea lions to watch right next to the pier. The food, service and atmosphere are worth the wait. Our server was quite friendly and checked on us the right amount of times. It may be a bit off-putting for some to share the large, long tables with others however, my husband and I enjoyed our conversation with the couple we were seated with, also out of towners. We opted for the fish n chips with coleslaw, all were delicious , the hot apple cider hit the spot with it being a brisk winter’s eve. The prices were a bit less than what we normally pay, definitely an added bonus. We’ll BE BACK!!
… moreMariah Scholtz
Stopped at The Chart Room on our way to the Redwoods and were pleasantly surprised by how great the staff, food, and location were! We even got to watch a few sea lions sunbathing near the restaurant, which made the visit extra special. We ordered the fish and chips, and out of our entire week-long trip, they were hands down the best we had!
… moreAshley
The service here was very good, and the views were great! Our party of four had the fried mushrooms, the sampler platter, an order of fish and chips, and the shrimp tacos. Everything was tasty and had large helpings, but my fish and chips were pretty tough/chewy and a few pieces were soggy. Overall, I would give it 4.5 stars. We would visit again.
… moreTy and Shev Hinkley
The food here was so good. The fried calamari was perfection, tender with a light crisp batter. The fish and chips were also absolutely delicious, and chowder was pretty good too. I’m used to Monterey area chowder which is slightly better in my opinion, but that could be regional bias. The menu has something for everyone, and I included a photo so you can see that there is a lot to choose from. I’ll definitely be back. We beat the crowd, and had zero wait right around 4:45 pm after a long hike. The food arrived fast, which I appreciated because we were hungry by then. Also, business did pick up quite a bit over the hour we were there, so I recommend to arrive early or be prepared for a short wait once the dinner hour begins. Service was friendly and there are views of the water on both sides of the restaurant.
… moreTabbie Holmes
Great spot to eat on the water and you can see the sea lions. Service was quick and maybe about 15 min wait for late lunch. The food is good, a little pricey. The clam chowder was delicious.
… moreJason Wann
This was a friendly old school by the bay type restaurant. The food was very good. Our service was really good. Our waitress was pretty awesome and the building was clean. There were seals right to the west of the restaurant that you can see during the beautiful sunset. The only complaint that I really have is that it is really expensive for just two people considering what we ordered. We ordered our meal and it was almost $100 for two people. Which I believe to be kind of high for the type of restaurant it is but other than that, I’m not taking anything away from it. It was a good restaurant.
… moreTammie Rabbitt
This place is totally worth a visit. Great seafood and friendly staff. The clam strip meal was delicious. The seafood trio had cod, scallops and shrimp and was also good. The desserts looked great but we were too full. The view of harbor seals and the lighthouse added to a great meal too. I would highly recommend.
… moreChuck Barr
The Chart Room Restaurant always has great service, great food, and a great atmosphere. On a Sunday afternoon, there was about a 30 minute wait. The fish and chips and clam chowder bowl I got were very delicious, had great flavor, and filled me up. The sea lions in the harbor are always cool to see and they’re usually very noisy. I will definitely come here again and again and again!
… moreP
I had the seafood combo. 2 scallops, 3 shrimp, and one piece of cod. Options for grilled or deep fried. The grilled was perfect. Amazing location too
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