Message from Walt's Wharf
Walt's Wharf is an award-winning seafood restaurant located on Seal Beach's picturesque Main Street. Open since 1970, the eatery specializes in fresh seafood prepared over an open oak fire. We make our own fresh pasta and desserts daily and our outstanding wine list features wines from Babcock Vineyards. We are happy to accommodate larger groups of up to 50 people at lunch for special occasions. For parties of 10 or more, we have a pre-set menu with many wonderful selections.
Editorial by Citysearch
In ShortWalt's large open kitchen and glass-enclosed wine cellar provide a relaxed and elegant neighborhood setting for local 30-somethings. The menu features both seafood standbys and hard-to-come-by delicacies. Appetizers include deep-fried crab cakes and creamy clam chowder. Oak-grilled dishes like Alaskan king crab legs or swordfish marinated in lemongrass, soy, ginger and garlic are finished with butter. Mud pie tempts with Oreo cookie crust, chocolate chunks, peanut toppings and caramel sauce and cappuccino ice cream.
Key Points
- Fresh seafood and pasta
- Wines from Babcock Vineyards
- Family-owned since 1970
The Inside Scoop
- Where to Sit - Request seating in the downstairs area for quicker service.
- What to Drink - Choose from Walt's extensive wine and port lists. Can't decide? The menu recommends wines for each food item.
- Know Before You Go - Walt's takes only lunch reservations; for dinner, expect about an hour-long wait. Spend the time browsing the charming shops that line Main Street.
- The Extras - Visit owners Walt and Mona Babcock's other swanky seafood spot, Oysters, in Corona del Mar.
Insider Pages Reviews for Walt's Wharf
We have had many wonderful meals at Walt's. The food, wines and service are great. Try the grilled artichoke appetizer. It is wonderful. The copper river salmon is a favorite in the spring when it is fresh. My favorites at lunch are the salmon tacos. Enjoy.
Posted 02/20/09 | Report Abuse
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We have eaten here many, many times. It is excellent for a special occasion. The service is always excellent and the food is wonderful. We pretty much always get seafood as this is the speciality. The oak grill makes all the difference. They have a great array of wines also.
Posted 10/03/08 | Report Abuse
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When I was going to college I worked for Walt's Wharf in Seal Beach. It was sold to another party think it was a bakery in Katella. Then went downhill. It was bought back by the Babcocks several years ago. Its a busy, upbeat, fun place. Yes the wait is extremely long, you have to be patient, however, you can go in the bar and order steamed clams and beer and wait for your table. It's a good place to go on a date and walk the Seal Beach Pier afterwards.
Posted 07/16/08 | Report Abuse
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The food is "ok". The service is not all the wonderful either. They don't take reservations and forget about going on the weekend because you'll be waiting 2+ hours for a table.
Posted 04/30/08 | Report Abuse
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you just need to come by and try some good food for yourself. this is the place to be for some casual atmosphere. good service and nice little place.
Posted 04/23/08 | Report Abuse
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Latest reviews from Citysearch.
Oak Grilled Artichokes Rule
by CityMember
Great atmosphere, great service, Excellent food
Posted 06/14/09
Great Place
by robangeleto
Us members from Table for SIx held an event here. We had such a great time. The service was great and the food and wine.
I would recommend it and I will go again.
Rob Angel
Posted 04/27/08
Walt's is a blast!
by timtest100
I love coming here after work with friends and just hang out and enjoy the wonderful ambience and service that this joint provides. The crowd is always super friendly, the staff are jovial and lovely to be around, and the prices can't be beat.
Pros: great crowds, great service
Cons: parking
Posted 04/30/07
Okay
by bchan10
I've been to a lot of seafood places, this isn't it. It's not bad, but certainly nothing special. Yes - it is not a chain and has a local feel to it. It blends a slow beach city feel with a higher end seafood restaurant very well. The waiters and staff are a little less formal and behave so with those who are obvious regulars.
Pros: Has a lot of seafood choices, parking is free
Cons: Expensive for the quality
Posted 04/29/07
Some of the very best seafood in LA and OC
by riosj
We periodically drive from LA to Walts because in my opinion, it is among the best seafood places in the LA and OC areas. Well worth the drive. Excellent service-we have actually told the waitpersons and managers that we had a "perfect" meal in theor restaurant. Good, fresh seafood (their salmon with the soyu glaze is my personal favorite). Good oysters, a nice Cesar salad, just a great meal! Too bad that it is a favorite of many, so the wait can be long but with a vibrating pager, you can walk arond and shop in some of the nearby shops. Have a wonderful meal (with a cognac afterwards) and then take a walk to the nearby pier. This place is located in a very, very safe area so nightime strolls are peaceful.
Pros: Fresh food, good presentation, wonderful service
Cons: long waits, no reservations, limited parking
Posted 08/27/05
Steam clams to die for.....
by diningmartin
I love there seafood dishes, I have been eating here about 10 years and they have a great sellection of wine and seafood enjoy..........
Pros: good food, wine, service
Cons: small place, parking
Posted 06/15/05
macz
by macz
This is the best there is for fresh seafood. Presentation is Wonderful. Ambience is Great. The Food is always Delcious. A little pricey but worth it. Take a walk on the pier after dinner. Very romantic.
Families are welcome but because of the wait to be seated and when they are busy sometimes the food wait can be long, bring plenty to keep little ones busy at the table.
Pros: best seafood ever, wait staff attentive, great little town
Cons: , no dinner resevations, pricey but worth it
Posted 05/22/04
Wharrific
by benjam26
One of only a few good restaurants in Seal Beach, this funky restuarant is a great joint. There is a great wine list, and my favorite is the oak-grilled fish. A little crowded, but it's the best restaurant for miles in the Seal Beach area
Posted 02/12/03