WOW Cafe (ON the Ocean Beach Fishing Pier)

This is mmm-yoso!!!, a blog about food.  Kirk, Ed(from Yuma) and Cathy are the usuals who write posts here.  Today's writer is Cathy.

If you've lived or are living in or visited San Diego and gone to the Ocean Beach area, you may have seen this font. Most likely, you saw it from this vantage point. It's way down there, a building sticking out of the pier.Walking up the stairs at the end of the pier, you are greeted by the gates and various signage.
You begin your walk on the longest cement pier on the West Coast. Enjoying and appreciating the views North and the surfers waiting to catch the next wave, the walk is windy, chilly, invigorating.Finally, it's so much closer... There are public restrooms, a Bait Shop and the Cafe within that building.  A lot of people call it the Ocean Beach Pier Cafe (which is the old name and where it is)... But this is the real name.  The same family, the Fishers (ha), have been the owners since 1993.  Another San Diego Institution. 
There are tables out in front as well as bar stools and a table railing on the pier opposite the doorway; plenty of seating.  Indoors, there is no wind.  Nautical decor, fresh flowers on the tables.  The Pier Plate ($10) herb battered pollack and shrimp on top of fresh fried potatoes and cole slaw.  The batter was fried properly, had good flavor; the fish was moist, thick and flaky; the slaw was fresh cut and lightly dressed (just the way I like it) and those potatoes...yes they look limp and they are limp and they have the *best* flavor, are cooked through and are wonderful!
{Note: The menu states that each plate has an "O.B. Pier Sinker" (jalapeño popper) on it, which neither of our plates had, and each of our plates was $1 less than the menu price of $11.} Since it is lobster season, I ordered the lobster taco ($6) and made it a plate ($4) - with slaw and  a "bun o'chowder" (instead of ordering a sourdough bowl). This was nice. Plenty of sauteed lobster meat and the topping was basically the slaw with tomatoes, sauce and jalapeño bits.  The bun o'chowder was fascinating...a toasted hamburger bun topped with a good amount of house made clam chowder.  The toasting of the bun meant not much absorbtion of chowder into the bread.  The chowder had a great flavor, with clam bits and potato.  
  When you are finished, the walk back doesn't seem to take as long.  

Prices are fair (not expensive but not dirt cheap), the food is fresh and good quality.  The view can't be beat.  

Walking On Water Cafe 5091 Niagara Avenue (at Bacon Street) San Diego 92107 (619)226-8653    Open 7 days 8-8

 

Comments

[caninecologne]

I really like the OB pier and have always wondered about the eatery there. It sure beats the Tin Fish on the IB pier (overpriced). Great photos of such a lovely day in SD!

[Cathy]

The pier (and the restaurant built on it) been part of San Diego forever and an afterthought for most of us, cc. We've been meaning to finally go there since last summer and our 'stay cation'; following the most recent Fort Rosecrans burial, finally we did (found parking in that lot on the corner too-it's free and its SDPD trailer in the center). Food is really good, breakfast is served all day-there is also a walk up window if you just want a sun tea or lemonade.