Open since 1972, and recently bought out by SBE, Gladstones has been a Southern California restaurant landmark for many years. Located right on the ocean off PCH and Sunset Blvd, Gladstones is a fun, beautiful, yet casual place to dine for any occasion. What I remember of Gladstones when I used to go as a kid with my family growing up, were all the huge barrels of peanuts that people used to snack on while waiting for their table. The floor was covered with peanut shells and hay and I used to be infatuated by the big tanks of live lobster in the front of the restaurant. Since SBE took over Gladstones, all of this is gone, and the restaurant has more of a pristine, “crisp” & trendy look to it. Even the menu has changed. Newer feeling and vamped up, Glasdstones has entered a new era, Gladstones by SBE. This trendy SoCal restaurant right on the beach is a must.
After laying on the beach for a couple hours, my friends and I decided to grab lunch at Gladstones. We went a little overboard with ordering- we definitely went all out lol.
APPETIZERS
MACADAMIA ROCK SHRIMP– TEMPURA FRIED & TOSSED WITH SPICY MANGO AIOLO, SERVED WITH MACADAMIA NUTS & CHIVES
Favorite dish we ordered. I am going back specifically for this. This is an absolute must-have at Gladstones. The tempura shrimp is creamy and crunchy. The sauce makes it creamy and the macadamia crust gives it a crunch. After the crunch, the shrimp melts in your mouth. The mango aioli has a tangy, sweet kick, and when you dip it in the spicy red sauce on the side, the combination of sweet and spicy makes the flavor incredible. A little bit of sweet, tangy and spicy with a crunchy and creamy texture. So many flavors and textures and it works together perfectly. I could make this my entree dish. LOVE.
PESTO SHRIMP FLATBREAD- ARUGULA, ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES, & GOAT CHEESE ON FLATBREAD WITH MARINARA & A PROVOLONE/GRUYERE BLEND
Another delicious appetizer. Love anything with pesto and cheese, especially when you add shrimp to it lol. Tastes like a good , flavorful thin-crust pizza.
GLADSTONES FAMOUS CHOWDER IN A BREAD LOAF
This is what Gladstone’s in known for. Their clam chowder is famous. It’s pretty good, and the bread is fresh and warm. The best part is dipping the bread into the chowder. This is a meal in itself lol- it’s so filling!
ENTREES
GARLIC SHRIMP TACOS- SOFT CORN TORTILLAS W/ ROASTED SALSA, GUACAMOLE, CILANTRO-VINAGRETTE, GREEN CABAGE & RED ONION
Great tacos w/ great flavor…
CRAB ROLL- JUMBO LUMP CRAB, CAPERS, & LEMON VINAGRETTE ON A BUTTERED BRIOCHE BUN W/ GARLIC AIOLI SERVED WITH COLESLAW & HOMEMADE POTATO CHIPS
Great crab roll. Very generous amount of crab too. The lemon vinagrette and garlic aioli is the perfect combination of flavors with the crab meat. The brioche bun was soft and buttery. Overall, a good seafood sandwich.
AND FINALLY…
GLADSTONES CLAMBAKE- MAINE LOBSTER, SEASONAL CRAB LEGS, CLAMS, SHRIMP, ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE, BOILED POTATOES, & CORN ON THE COB SERVED IN A POT
Not sure what possessed us to order this after all the food we already ordered, but this was something. It was huge. Market price of $110, there was enough seafood in this massive pot to feed a family of five. My favorite were the crab legs. The pot came with a plate of different sauces- butter, garlic aioli, tartar & cocktail sauce. It was fun trying to crack all the crab legs and lobster shells, but I am a woman of little patience so it didn’t take me long to quit lol. So much to eat I didn’t even know where to start, but I was already full by the time this came so we had a massive package of to-go food to take home lol.
OUR LEFTOVERS…A MOUNTAIN OF SEAFOOD.
AT GLADSTONES, THEY PACKAGE YOUR TO-GO FOOD WRAPPED IN FOIL IN SHAPES OF DIFFERENT OCEAN ANIMALS
OUR CLAMBAKE WRAPPED TO-GO AS A WHALE WITH A MERMAID ON TOP! SO COOL…
If you haven’t been to Gladstones, I highly recommend you try it. If you are not hungry, you can at least enjoy a mai tai at the bar after a hot day at the beach and watch the sunset over the ocean. It’s one of LA’s most famous seafood restaurants and a Southern California landmark. They don’t only serve seafood, they have something for every palate.
GLADSTONES
17300 Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
(310) 454-3474
