The Albright ties together family and the love of seafood in Santa Monica, California

After 35 years as Santa Monica Pier Seafood, Hae Ju Kim, let her daughter, Yunnie Kim Morena, take the helm of this seafood legacy on the Santa Monica Pier. In winter of 2014, Santa Monica Pier Seafood transitioned into The Albright, named after the nautical Albright Knot symbolizing the merge of two generations of the Kim family. The menu reflects a commitment to fresh, locally-sourced ingredients from the day’s catch, farmers’ market produce, and extensive craft beer and California wine selection.

New England Clam Chowder (served in a cup or sourdough bread bowl) is creamy, thick, and rich. The clam pieces are big and meaty. It’s served piping hot and oh so good. Even on a hot day, you won’t be able to stop eating it. Rating: 5/5

Oysters on the Half Shell are clean and fresh tasting. Fanny Bay oysters are slightly briny. If you want to bring out the sweetness, add the champagne mignonette. Kumamoto oysters are naturally sweet and creamy. They are best on their own or with the spicy relish for a refreshing flavor. Rating: 5/5

Poke is fresh diced raw ahi tuna with green onion, red onion, garlic, chile sauce, shoyu (soy sauce), sesame oil, and sesame seeds. The poke flavor is pretty authentic with shoyu, garlic, sesame oil and seeds. I would trade out the avocado and red onion for some ogo (seaweed) to add a bit of brininess and crunch-texture. The tuna is cut to the perfect size, not too small and not too big so the flavors penetrate the fish. Rating: 4/5

Fish & Chips are hand-battered Icelandic cod served with French fries and coleslaw. The batter is light and turns a perfect crispy golden brown. The fish inside is succulent and juicy. French fries are crispy and taste like kettle chips. The coleslaw is creamy, but needs something to kick up the flavor – maybe turn up the sweetness with pineapple or make more savory with salt and celery seed. Rating: 4.5/5

Shrimp & Chips are hand-battered black tiger shrimp served with French fries and coleslaw. The batter is light and turns a perfect crispy golden brown. The shrimp inside is perfectly cooked with a snap to it. It is sweet and delectable. Rating: 4.8/5

Whole Dungeness Crab (from saltwater tanks inside the restaurant) served with potato salad, corn on the cob, and drawn butter. This is one of the only places in California where the crab is served whole with the “miso” intact. The top shell of the Dungeness crab has a natural soup that contains the head fat (miso or tamale) and other goodies that you can spoon out or mix your crab meat in for a more intensified crab flavor. When it was served, I almost screamed in delight. The crab meat is so fresh that it just falls out of the shell without extensive picking. It is also really sweet and the drawn butter accentuates it. The corn on the cob is sweet and juicy. The potato salad is creamy but could use a little more herbs like dill or oregano to pair better with the seafood. Rating: 5/5

Whole Maine Lobster (from saltwater tanks inside the restaurant) served with potato salad, corn on the cob, and drawn butter. It is served whole preserving the “miso” inside. It is so fresh that the meat easily falls from the shell. The flavor is sweet and the drawn butter makes it even sweeter with each bite. We were lucky to get a female with a line of beautiful red roe. There is more meat than just the tail and claws. The body has meat too, at the base where the legs come out and inside the legs as well. If you split the legs at each joint, you can use your teeth and squeeze the meat out like tube of toothpaste. Growing up on seafood, I never leave any shells unpicked. Rating: 5/5

If you need something sweet to end your meal, don’t forget to pick up a homemade chocolate chip cookie. It’s a hefty cookie being slightly larger than you would make at home and about an inch thick. Since they leave them in a jar on the counter, the chocolate chips stay slightly gooey. When you bite into them, each morsel melts and coats the each bite of cookie. Rating: 5/5

With hot summer days upon us, why not visit The Albright for some summer sea breeze, beautiful views from the patio, and excellent seafood to behold.

Photo credit: John Konkal

Two outdoor options to enjoy (email info@thealbright.com for complete details):

• The Albright Picnic Baskets are perfect for everything from 4^th of July and Concerts on the Pier to a hassle-free dinner in the sand or day out with the family. Choose from two delicious menus, Summer Harvest and Pier Provisions Basket, featuring classic favorites like BLTs and corn on the cob, to brown rice bowls and a citrus kale salad. Both options come complete with dessert and a special add-on menu for the kids. Pricing starts at $90 for two people and include a festive Mexican blanket, Govino stemware, and bamboo cutlery.
• Fisherman’s Raw Bar is housed in a custom wooden dory and a charming addition to any summer gathering like a barefoot beach party, rehearsal dinner, or backyard BBQ with friends. The Albright’s all-inclusive mobile raw bar provides everything needed for a seamless event including delivery, setup, shucking, serving, and breakdown. Pricing starts at $700 for 40 people.

Atmosphere: 5 out of 5 stars

Décor: 5 out of 5 stars

Service: 5 out of 5 stars

Food: 5 out of 5 stars

For more information:
The Albright

258 Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica, CA 90401

+1.310.394.9683

• Hours: Monday through Friday from 12pm to close, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to close
• Parking: Available from entrance on PCH on the southbound side (North Parking Lot) or off of Colorado and Ocean (Pier Deck parking). Check website for parking rates.