The Beachcomber at Malibu Pier

Had a great meal there in February 2010. They had a great seared tuna sandwich and fish tacos. The smores sundae served in a martini glass was ridiculous. Great view and great location.
I suggest making a reservation way in advance. Especially on a hot day. Gets crowded.

Made a reservation on Thursday for a party of 7 for Sunday at 1:30pm. I even called on Saturday to confirm, but had to leave a message. Isn’t it the restaurant’s job to call for confirmation? When I got here on Sunday, the hostess said they didn’t have my reservation. This reservation was for my mom’s birthday. Strike 1. They make us wait for about 20 minutes until they could accommodate us, which was not so bad considering the wait for non-​reservations was 1+ hours. We finally get seated and it takes forever for our server to come by to offer us drinks. Strike 2. I don’t remember what I ordered so obviously, it wasn’t very impressive. Strike 3. Yooooooouuuuu’re outta here Beachcomber! That is the last and final time I will ever dine at your establishment again. The only thing it has going for it are the views. You’re better off at Ruby’s Diner at the end of the pier!

To start with, I feel like I am wasting my time even writing about this restaurant. And why isnt there a ZERO star rating.
Other than its locations, there is absolutely nothing that beachcomber café can boast off… Unless they feel that HORRENDOUS FOOD, TERRIBLE SERVICE and GHASTLY MENU is something they need to boast about.
So I dont know where to begin with, because everything was equally appaling.
Ok, lets take it one by one, RESERVATION — on reaching there, they said they had not recieved our resrvation, but on explaining our scenario, they offered to get us seated.
Next, the menu — tiny as ever. We stuck to the safest bet possible and called for calamari, seafood pasta and roast chicken.
The calamari was so badly fried, that we had to wrap each piece in our napkins to drain off the excess oil. The roast chicken has no seasoning at all, not even salt. And the seafood pasta was missing some of the seafood as mentioned in the menu — eg. shrimp.
The waitress has no clue about the menu and was a snobish BITCH to no end. She did not even return with our change after the payment.
MY CONCLUSION — NEVER EVER DREAM ABOUT TRYING THIS PLACE!!!

I was *JUST* here last month, hosting 40 Executives from China. We had a wonderful experience and I left this restaurant a 5-​star review. We spent a boatload of money at this restaurant, and I was hoping for the same great experience.
(I apologize in advance to Unilocal friends for this review. You all know that 80% of my reviews are 4 & 5 stars.)
The story now changes. I went to the Beachcomber at the Malibu Pier today to take 4 of my colleagues from Warsaw, Poland. I thought I was going to give them a good experience of Southern California. Well, I did… in a bad way. They got to experience the entitled attitude of a spoiled So. Cal. server.
For appetizers, we ordered the fried calamari. It was the typical calamari battered and fried, served with a tartar sauce & some kind of mayonaise sauce. Not memorable. Grade: C.
I ordered the Fish & Chips, hoping that I would satisfy my craving for fish. It was two HUGE pieces of battered & fried white fish (waitress said it was a Vietnamese kind of fish, like Cod). It was served with a bed of cabbage and french fries. The fish was generally tasteless. I ate less than 50% of my meal. Grade: C.
My colleagues ordered the Truffle Mushroom Mac & Cheese; planked Salmon; Seafood Linguini. No complaints! Their food was well prepared.
Here’s my complaint:
The waitress (Fabrici) was a very nice young woman who was very pleasant. But the bus boys (guys who run the food from the kitchen to the tables) who supported Fabrici were nasty! I’m specifically talking about the Hispanic (?) bus boy with the black hair, about 5’5″, and who wore youth-​looking retro sunglasses (black frames with neon blue arms of the sunglasses). Here’s two conversations that went on during lunch today:
Bus Boy: Here’s your fish and chips.
Me: Hey — Thanks. Can I get some ketchup for my fries?
Bus Boy: Did you even look on your plate? There is some ketchup. Do you want more than that (very sarcastic tone)? Huh?!
Me: Uhhhh… thanks. I didn’t see it. (You should have heard what I really wanted to say if my colleagues weren’t there).
Bus Boy: Walks away with an attitude and smirks…
Situation #2:
Warsaw colleague #1: Excuse me sir, can I please get a large spoon to eat my noodles?
Bus Boy: *** No response *** throws a tantrum and walks away.
Bus Boy: *** Comes back 10 minutes later with a coffee spoon *** He plops the spoon on the table with a major attitude.
Warsaw colleague #1: Excuse me sir, but do you have a large spoon?
Bus Boy: ** Gives a nasty look to my guests and walks away silent **
Busboy never returns to the table. We have to ask our server for a spoon (which she brings with a smile).
Management At Beachcomber at Malibu: I bring my clients and colleagues to your restaurant on a regular basis. I spend approximately $ 5,000 a year at your restaurant. With this attitude, I would gladly go to one of your nearby competitors, where I would get respect and won’t shame my guests.
Check out your Unilocal rating summary for the last 6 months (Apr — Sept 2011). Your April 2011 average was ³⁄₅ stars. You’ve had a steady decline. September 2011 average is about a 1.5 /​5 star rating. That’s a big change over 6 months. Something needs to change at your restaurant!

I think the only reason why this place does well is because it’s on the pier, but I would never come back to this place again. Why? because the hostesses or whatever you want to call them are so stuck up! When you see some people waiting, don’t sit there and gossip and chat around forever while ignoring the patrons.
Our server was nice and we had mixed feelings about the food, but the hostesses definitely turned me off about this place.

I also got the living social deal and went there for lunch on the last day. I made a reservation a week in advance. I’m glad I did after reading all the reviews. We were running late so we called them to see if we can still be seated. The guy told us ok but there will be a wait. Due to the traffic on PCH and the long wait to get into the valet parking, we were an hour late. We were seated right away to our surprise at a nice table right next to the beach. My daughters enjoyed watching all the beach activites. Our waitress was very nice. She took our order and checked back with us a lot.
Everything was great except for the food. We ordered the fish and chip, ahi tuna slider and mahi mahi sandwiches. The fish and chip was burnt and chewy. Worst fish and chip we’ve ever had! The ahi tuna slider is just two tiny pieces of seared tuna in between two pieces of Hawaiian rolls. The remainder ²⁄₃ of the plate was greens. The tuna did not taste good either. My mahi mahi sandwich was ok. No complain on that one except I wish the mahi mahi was a little bigger… at least the size of the bread.
The total bill came out to $ 49.95 so we only had to tip. For $ 25, I was pleased with the view, atmosphere and service. However, I won’t ever go back again because of the quality of the food.

Came here on the last day of the LivingSocial deal, $ 25 for $ 50. I called the night before to make reservations, but they said they were «fully committed» and that the lull usually came at 4−5pm. The traffic and parking was UNBEARABLE. We got there around 4:30 and were told that the wait would be 30 mins. We actually got seated within 15 mins, but inside the stuffy restaurant (I was literally sweating). We did have a window seat so that was nice. They had so much open seating… I didn’t understand why there would be a 30 min wait.
Tiny Ahi Tacos ($ 10) — 3 cripsy wonton tacos. I actually liked this dish. Wonton as a taco was new to me. But it would taste better if it was… spicy. They added A LOT of sauce, which made it too creamy. So spicy would be better than creamy.
Wild Mushroom Truffle Mac ($ 17) — when i first ate it, i thought it should be cheesier. But as I continued, I realized that any more cheese would have been excessive. It quickly got… overwhelming. Perhaps this dish could be an appetizer or side, because an entire entrée of mac is just way to much.
Flat Iron Steak ($ 24) — slightly mediocre, but acceptable. the fries were seasoned with garlic and crispy, which made the dish acceptable.
My cousin and I read the reviews prior… and we didn’t have high expectations. We thought the entire visit was alright, but we wouldn’t come again. It’s slightly overpriced for what it is, and I guess the view is alright. The service is decent. My coke was constantly refilled and the food came out quickly. The only thing that I HATED was the bathroom. There was only one women’s bathroom in the restaurant, so there was ALWAYS a wait. And the sink was broken, so only hot water came out.

Went here twice for the living social deal. ickk. I see why this restaurant is on living social.
This restaurant needs business. Weekend lunch– slow. Service was delightful, but food, not so much.
Appetizer– spinach and artichoke dip– the dip is actually GREEN. its interesting, but decent. calamari– good sauces, probably the best appetizer. bruschetta– no good, kind of bland. ahi tacos– bad. no explanation necessary.
Entrée– kobe burger, a good sized burger, but it tastes like a regular burger, not kobe. Good toppings and very filling. Truffle mac and cheese– the first time I had it, it was great. The second time, it was dry and did not contain enough sauce. The macaroni was too chewy and I had to swallow it with my sprite.
Would definitely not come back.

This place was pretty awful. I can’t believe how expensive it was for such bland, forgettable food.
We started with the clam chowder which was not only bland, but served lukewarm. The dish was literally hotter than the soup. We were so hungry, though, we didn’t send it back. We also got the calamari; it too was lukewarm and so generic — as if it came in frozen bags and was microwaved. Very disappointing.
For our entrees we both paid twentysomething dollars each for the ahi tuna and the braised short ribs. The tuna was less than average, and served with white rice and underbooked broccolini and a couple baby carrots. The veggies were so crunchy it was if they were raw.
The «braised short ribs» left MUCH to be desired. They needed salt, as did the mashed potatoes and crunchy broccoli served with it. I probably ate about 3 bites.
The only saving grace was the bottle of Malibu Wines pinot we ordered, and that was $ 35. So overall, we spent over $ 100 for crappy food at a poorly managed restaurant. We won’t be back.

Worse customer service i have ever seen
after 45 minute waiting to be seated, manager of the restaurant told us that there is no seat available and they can not serve us.

8÷19÷2011, approx 4pm Friday
No. Just no.
The one star is for the view (and because there is no option for 0 stars).
Unbelievably slow service for unbelievably mediocre/​bad food. I was hosting my aunt from out-​of-​town or I would have walked out. She had the garden burger; I had the flank steak sandwich, served lukewarm. My fries may have been the Oldest Ever Served to Mankind.
The best part of this meal? I seem to have escaped food poisoning (I have no idea how).
This crappy joint stays open because it caters to tourists and people who are trying to show tourists a fun day in Malibu. For tourists, it’s a one-​of. LA hosts, like me, don’t want to embarrass their guests by throwing the «food» into the ocean and heading for the car. If only…
It’s too late for me and my $ 40; you, however, have been warned.

I love the Beachcomber in Crystal Cove and I was super excited to come to this one for a night cap. According to their phone menu and to Unilocal they are open till 11. I showed up at 9:30 and the doors were closed. I called and looked on Unilocal to make sure I wasn’t going crazy, and both said 11:00.
Well turns out they are on «Winter hours». Next time please post the right hours and change your phone menu. Wasted my time.

Is it possible to give no stars? This place has the worse service EVER!
1. We were told a 15 minute wait and it turned into a 45 minutes. What’s worse is we got passed while other groups and couples went ahead of us even though we were the first ones to sign in.
2. Our waitress DONNALEE ignored us to take our order. And somebody else had to take our order. Is it because we’re Asian and she caters only to the Caucasian crowd? I know they might be busy, but don’t make your customers feel alienated.
3. The food was mediocre. To tell you the truth, I lost my appetite. The horrible service made the food bland.
I would have b***h her out but I didn’t want her to spit in our food.
If I haven’t bought the livingsocial coupon, I would have walked out right away.
Perhaps If I have to give a star, it would be for the view.

The bf and I came on a chilly Saturday for a late lunch. Although it was cold, we opted to sit outside. When the view is this great, who wants to sit inside?
The reviews were accurate. The food was mediocre, the service was lackluster, but the view was gorgeous!!! — it almost made up for the other two. I got the Kobe burger while the bf got the fish and chips. Both were okay. The fish and chips were definitely the better of the two. I was hoping my burger had more juice because it was a little on the dry side.
I don’t think I would revisit. Great view, but not worth the price.

Really nice place for a sunny day, and a nice view of the ocean.
My friend and I tried the Lobster Martini which was really healthy tasting and had mangos in it! One of my favorite next to the dessert we had which was the donut hole pudding! WOW, moist and bread had raisins mixed into it… the ice cream definitely works with it!!!
My friend had the kobe burger and i had the mahi mahi sandwich, both were okay, mahi mahi sandwich didn’t have much flavor to it. Definitely a nice place for lunch

Lunch was pretty near perfect at this prime ocean-​viewing establishment that had outdoor seating (YAY!) for a great, splendid experience with great food, humongous portions…
Bro and I treated family at this great place ‘up the street’ from him… the short 15 min drive to Malibu was breathtaking already… add a festive lunch with awesome ambiance and there were satisfactory cheers after the great warm day was through.
Perched at the side of the Malibu Pier, this casual place serves up better food than mixed drinks… the drinks were very watered down and nothing too novel, though we tried two of them. pass, thx.
The food, however… everything from their sandwiches (super filling and yummy) to their fish/​chips, to burgers… oh my… what a great, great time! We got a basket of fries for apps, and the sandwiches already give you the option of the very same, or fruit.
With the fresh air, wonderful surfer-​spying and great service (our waiter got a nice tip), this was one unforgettable, AMAZING time. Beware: if you miss the restaurant, you’re gonna be traveling along the 1 for a bit before you get the opp to 180 your direction!

Bloody hell, the Bloody Mary was anything less than subtle!
Wow! It seemed that every ingredient was stronger than anything else! The vodka tasted strong. The tomato tasted strong. The celery tasted strong. The Tabasco tasted strong.
However, my girlfriend wisely opted for the Bootlegger cocktail… and it was AMAZING. A stellar drink if ever there was!
The service was great and our waiter was welcoming. I am sure that the quality of this place is kept high due to the intense competition from the Beachcomber opposite… hahahaha.
But of course… the main reason that anybody would come here is the views and surroundings! A remarkable vista in any direction, sitting on the decking at the Malibu Pier Club is what it is all about.
I will return to the Malibu Pier Club, mainly because I love the Malibu Pier — in fact, I would go as far as to say that it is my 27^th favourite pier on the world, tied neck and neck with Skegness Pier in the UK.

For some reason my friend and I had the great idea to drive to Malibu in torrential rain. Now, don’t hate me ’cause I be a backwards Texan, but we were in an American car (therefore shitty) and y’all have got some winding roads all over them there beaches! It was a dramatic car wreck waiting to happen.
We were also hungry, and while I wanted to eat at the best possible restaurant for the best possible price in a secret location only three other Unilocalers knew about… it wasn’t to be. So we saw this place, it had a nice view of the roaring ocean… and it was open for breakfast. DONE!
I would say this is a nice, cozy Denny’s on the beach. I had a great Breakfast Egg Sandwich with fruit and really good home fries for under ten bucks. My lady friend had an omelette. I was really excited about the cinnamon roll, but what a disappointment. It was rock hard and probably several hours old. Next time cover that precious baby up. If I’m gonna get fat, at least let me enjoy the buttery fattiness of a cinnamon roll.
If you get Yolanda the server, try not to be stressed out. At first she was super nice, getting us breakfast even though we were fifteen minutes past the cut-​off time. But then she just made me super nervous, coming over every two seconds. And no, I was NOT on drugs. I don’t think. But when we needed our check, she totally ignored us. For fifteen minutes. I hate to critique server’s behavior, because I’ve done it, and it’s a tough job. It was just a little… weird.
You can’t beat the view of the ocean right outside, and the décor is reasonably cozy and wooden-​chic. It fit our mood for a rainy day. If only that cinnamon roll hadn’t ruined my fatty dreams…

Having spent a lot of time in the Southeast and Southern California, I have found that «food on the water» is often mediocre. I think this may be due to the fact that these places get so much foot traffic and view/​atmosphere lovers that they are always going to have a steady stream of customers (regardless of how good or bad their food is). The Beachcomber at the Malibu Pier is definitely not an exception.
The Beachcomber sits at the front of the pier (next to the Malibu Pier Club). The diner Ruby’s actually sits at the end of the pier (so that place really puts you out on the water). Funny thing is that when you look on The Beachcomber website, you may get the impression that you are going to be where Ruby’s is.
The Beachcomber has a crab shack like dining room. It was empty for lunch. Everyone was on the patio, which sits right above the breaking waves.
The lunch menu was pretty reasonably priced. Most (non-​market priced) selections were less than $ 20. We started with the fried calamari. The menu said lightly fried, which was correct. The batter was nice and light (and not too greasy). Unfortunately, the calamari was quite rubbery. It was served with a tartar sauce and then some kind of green cream sauce. Not sure what it was – pesto, cilantro or simply some cream sauce with green food coloring.
I wanted to get some seafood, but nothing really stood out. They seemed to have a lot of shellfish – like oysters and clams casino. My friend opted for the oysters; she said they weren’t bad, they weren’t great. None of their fish seemed to be local (maybe it was local fish, but neither the menu nor the waitress seemed to be advertising it). Restaurants that close to the water should strive to promote and sell local fish. Based on the recommendation of the waitress, I went with the burger.
The burger was huge and went for $ 15. Once again, the menu was pretty apt. It mentioned an artisan bun; that was correct because the bun was fresh and nice (and definitely not your run-​of-​the-​mill sesame seed bun from the grocery store or mass food supplier). The menu also indicated truffle fries – and you could definitely taste the truffle – both via shaved truffle and (I imagine) a major dousing of truffle oil. I liked the fries.
I would have enjoyed the burger more if it was not so greasy. Good cheddar cheese and nice thickly cut bacon (very good crisp without being burnt). Despite all those pluses, the burger was extremely greasy. Get rid of the grease, and it is a decent burger.
We did not get dessert. None of their dessert selections sounded very appealing. I read that they had a very good hot doughnut bread pudding, but it was not on the menu.
In terms of the service, it was good. The waitress was very friendly and definitely eager to please. During the meal, birds do hang around to check out your food. Parking was $ 4 after validation. They validate for 2 hours and 20 minutes (thought that was an odd time to choose).
The food at The Beachcomber was not horrible, but it was nothing special either. If you are looking for good food and great water view/​atmosphere, you may be better off trying The Lobster, which is at the base of the Santa Monica pier. Their lunch prices are a little higher than Beachcomber, but I think you will have a better experience (both with the food and the atmosphere).

i give this place a 3 but my bf said that rating his bday lunch with me, he gives this place a 5, but on any other day a 3, so 3 it is.
Service is alright.
View is alright
Food is so-​so and expensive
Drinks is good but expensive
The waitress stopped me from getting The Beachcomber (signature drink with Ketel One Vodka, fresh citrus juices and Tropical Island Pucker) and told me that it gets sent back a lot. How do you get your signature drink wrong? Is she just trying to get me to order something sucky for the same price? I’m guessing the latter.
I ended up getting the Mello Mango (Citrus vodka, mango smoothie, and a splash of sour). I figure I should go easy since i was driving.
J got the Royal Hawaiian (Mai Tai). it was strong like a man’s drink. Good for him.
For food, we started with the Green Goddess Calamari. the batter is light and is tasty. too bad it’s a bit on the expensive side for calamari
J got the Roasted French club. It was dry
I got the Kobe Beachcomber Burger: A half-​pound of American Kobe beef, two slices of bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, sundried tomato aioli, and your choice of cheese, on an artisan onion roll. We both agreed that it was better
Next time we’re in Malibu, we’ll check something else out. There’s no real view except for the pier, so skip it.
see pics!