Dining on the Bay at the Dolphin Restaurant

The Dolphin Restaurant is a classic diner at the end of the Santa Cruz Wharf. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner a half mile offshore in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. A favorite of locals and visitors alike you can dine indoors, on the best patio on the Wharf or you can order from our Walk Up/To-Go Window and then sit on a picnic table as you listen to the sea lions just below.

Order classic favorites or unique offerings from our family-friendly menu. There are also delicious choices all day long from our smoker.

Open every day from 8 a.m. until closing.

From Our Smoker and the Sea

Fisherman's Special

Two hotcakes, one egg, bacon or sausage OR two slices of French toast, one egg, bacon or sausage.

Crab Benedict

Two poached eggs with crab on a toasted English muffin, covered in hollandaise. Served with home fries.

Denver Omelette

Ham, cheese, green pepper, and onion. Served with home fries and salsa.

Huevos Rancheros

Two eggs any style, crispy corn tortillas, beans, melted cheese, tangy tomatillo salsa, sour cream, and avocado.

Clam Chowder Bread Bowl

Clams, potatoes, and bacon in a thick and creamy base made with heavy cream, butter, and a special blend of seasonings.

Crab Cakes

Two exquisite crab cakes with housemade tartar sauce. Served with steamed vegetables and your choice of rice or French fries.

Bacon Burger

Broiled Angus burger with Monterey Jack or American cheese and bacon.

Fish 'n Chips

Fresh Red Snapper with panko breading and served with coleslaw and tartar sauce.

Listen to the sea lions or enjoy the views from picnic tables and benches.
Enjoy something yummy from our walk-up/take out window.

The Dolphin is a longtime favorite. They are on the pier where you can dine listening to sea lions bark. The views outstanding and the food is just what I wanted on a pier in the ocean. To celebrate my cousin's 75th birthday, I took her to Santa Cruz. Because she loves seafood, I thought it would be wonderful to eat at a restaurant on the Santa Cruz Wharf. The Dolphin Restaurant is the last restaurant on the Wharf. Teri was delighted with her clam chowder and entree. I chose the blackened swordfish, which looked like a steak. There was no room for dessert after our huge lunch.

My cousins are obsessed with their clam chowder and say the oysters are really fresh. Creamy, thick, contrasting flavors of saltiness and fading sweetness of fresh ocean clams. We all had it in the sourdough bread bowl. Some of the better clam chowder I've had in a long time. It was even good when it got cold, and that says a lot. This is the spot for clam chowder.

Staff very friendly and food was great.

Our families first stop for years. The clam chowder is so very good. Crab Louie was fresh and so delicious. Visited this restaurant four times while we were visiting Santa Cruz!

Food was great. Had the clam chowder with the bread bowl and it beats every other tourist-y place in the Bay Area. Servers were nice and made us felt very welcome -- great place to stop by if you're feeling cold outside and need to grab a bite and a warm sea.