If you love seafood, you need to take a trip up to Tony’s in Tomales Bay. The drive from the city is about an hour, winding through rolling hills dotted with dairy cows and towering redwoods, before emerging into some of the prettiest coastline scenery you’ll ever encounter.
Tony’s Seafood was originally established by a Croatian immigrant in 1948 as a wholesale business. After a few years of success sending weekly shipments of freshly caught fish south to San Francisco, he was able to bring his entire family over, and they opened the restaurant in order to serve their local community.
The humble little restaurant, perched literally above the water, was run by the original family for three generations. In 2017, it was purchased by a locally beloved restaurant group called Hog Island Oyster Co, who lovingly restored it to what you see today.
About Tony’s Seafood Restaurant
Location
Tomales Bay, about an hour’s drive north of San Francisco
Cuisine
Seasonal Seafood
Vibe
Nautical Hideaway
Reservations
Walk-ins are always accepted, but reservations are strongly encouraged for weekends.
My Visit to Tony’s Seafood Restaurant
I’ve been to Tony’s dozens of times, each as memorable as the last. The menu rotates seasonally based on what is fresh and abundant locally, but some menu items stay the same each time.
If you’ve never tried cioppino before, this is the place to do it. It’s a San Francisco specialty, invented by Italian immigrants working the docks who put together the leftovers of the day’s catch. Today, the stew is a pretty standard medley of a tomato-wine base with mussels, clams, scallops, shrimp, and crab.
Oyster availability rotates depending on freshness and availability, but they always have at least five options and they’re always delicious. They serve it with their homemade vinaigrette, lovingly referred to as Hogwash, made from a unique rice vinegar base.
I am not exaggerating when I saw that Tony’s clam chowder is the best I’ve ever had. Many of my drives up the coast are specifically to ease a craving for it! It tastes especially good on the chilly winter days here, and is best ordered with an extra side of their homemade bread to soak up all the broth.
The service at Tony’s Seafood is always kind and thoughtful, even when they place is slammed and everyone working is evidently very busy. Well behaved dogs are allowed out on the waterside patio, and they’re always super attentive about bringing water bowls and other little treats.
The TLDR
Tony’s Seafood Restaurant is truly one of my favourite restaurants in the Bay, and is a destination worth making the journey for. It’s easy to make a day of the trip up to Tomales Bay with an added visit to Petaluma or the Point Reyes Coast!
