Customers line up around the block to try Splash Cafe’s legendary clam chowder.
Iconic eatery serves up award-winning clam chowder along Central Coast
Splash Cafe – the popular eatery known worldwide for its award-winning clam chowder has two locations – the original Pismo Beach eatery and a cafe & bakery in San Luis Obispo near the Cal Poly campus.
Pismo Beach destination
Under the ownership of Ross and Joanne Currie, the Splash Café restaurants have seen steady growth and the popularity of its clam chowder soar. The Curries perfected and improved the recipe when they bought the original Pismo Beach location at 197 Pomeroy Ave. in 1991. On any given day in Pismo, a line stretches out the door and around the building with customers waiting for the fresh clam chowder, seafood, burgers and a selection of breakfast fare. Customers are known for driving hundreds of miles – from the Central Valley of California, Los Angeles and points north – just to have dinner at Splash and return home.
Monterey Street in SLO
The Curries opened their second location, the Splash Cafe & Artisan Bakery at 1491 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo, in 2005; there they added pastries, breads, cakes and their signature sourdough bread bowls that compliment the clam chowder, all baked daily. They also began a full service catering division. Splash Cafe Gourmet Catering serves the business community with breakfast and luncheon catering for business events and meetings as well as a special dinner menu for weddings, family reunions, and more.
The Clam chowder from Splash Café in Pismo Beach.
Photo by Joe Johnston 11-27-17
Oh, that famous clam chowder
Continuing to grow, Splash Cafe clam chowder made its debut in California Costco locations in 2009 and now distributes to other restaurants in Southern California. Between its two locations, Splash Cafe sells more than 40,000 gallons of its clam chowder per year. They have most recently crafted a carrot pepper hot sauce to compliment the chowder called Raucous Daucus (the rowdy carrot) which is available for purchase at the cafes or online.
Visit Splash Cafe in Pismo Beach at 197 Pomerey Ave.; (805) 773-4653; or in San Luis Obispo at 1491 Monterey St., (805) 544-7567. Splash is open daily, check out www.splashcafe.com for hours, menus and catering options.
