Gladstones
Gladstones Page
Gladstones
One of the most famous restaurants in the US

Updated October 2024
Posted February 2022

Gladstones

Few people have visited Los Angeles without stopping at one of the most famous restaurants in the country; Gladstone’s Malibu. Gladstone’s originally opened in 1972 as a small restaurant in nearby Santa Monica Canyon and moved in 1982 to its current location, on the beautiful shores of the Pacific Ocean on the Pacific Coast Highway. Gladstone’s is one of the top largest grossing restaurants in the United States and the single largest, as well as the top grossing, restaurant on the entire west coast. Gladstone’s, open 365 days a year, accommodates 750 people at a time, welcomes more than a million people each year, and serves more live Maine lobster than any other restaurant in Southern California.

When you approach the entrance of Gladstone’s Malibu you immediately get a sense of a fun, casual, unpretentious, carnival atmosphere. As you enter the restaurant, there is a “Wall of Fame” where patrons can view a collection of celebrity photos taken at Gladstone’s over the years. A new bar area creates the feeling of a true 1950s beach bar. The dining area boasts the largest collection of historical photos of the bay and local area. The dining experience in the Outrigger Dining room is enhanced by the lofty 18-foot ceilings, 12-foot high windows, and the best unobstructed vista of the Pacific Ocean on the coast. There is also a back dining area called the “Movie Room,” which is a more intimate space, decorated with photos of movies that were made in the Malibu area starting with the original Inceville Studios of the early 1900’s, located where Gladstone’s now sits. The outdoor patio has an uninterrupted ocean view and a festive “boardwalk” feeling. The subtle wash of deck lighting on the water enhances the Oceanside dining experience.

Gladstone’s has an expanded kitchen, bar, and a building in front of the restaurant to service hungry diners on the popular front patio. The Fish Market building tucks in behind the PCH deck with its own outside kitchen. With the outside kitchen, Gladstone’s staff can assign seating and provide quicker service to the deck. There is a fish cutting room, with live lobster and crab tanks, that has a large viewing window.

https://www.technomad.com/articles/shedwerks-installs-sound-systems-by-the-seashore

Galdstones Oyster Forks and Oyster Crackers

Gladstones on Google Maps
In Pacific Palisades
Between Malibu and Santa Monica at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gladstones+Restaurant

Gladstones Dinner

Gladstones Golden Era
Gladstones Golden Era:
Open since 1972, Gladstones restaurant is a Southern California landmark and institution that has stood the test of time. Owned by former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan, the popular beachside establishment in the Pacific Palisades has built a reputation for high-quality food, excellent service and its commitment to the community.

Gladstones’ fresh seafood has always been its hallmark, and a decades-long relationship with Santa Monica Seafood and other purveyors gives the restaurant access to the freshest and most ethically sourced products for guests.

DURING COVIDWhen the CDC announced that restaurants could only operate outdoors, Gladstones – which has the largest outdoor patio for dining on the Malibu Coast complete with an outdoor bar – was able to continue serving customers and worked hard to maintain a sense of normalcy for guests and employees.

2022 will mark their 50-year anniversary.

https://argonautnews.com/gladstones-golden-era

5:27 VIDEO:
February 2022

Q: Is the Parking validated?

A:
Monique T. No. You have to pay for valet or park on the street nearby.

A:
Laura J. No validation unfortunately, I believe parking is around $12-20, and they offer both self parking or valet.

Q: Do they allow dogs on their outdoor patio?

A:
Kenneth S. Yes dogs should be fine especially on the outdoor patio.

Q: Is it kids friendly?

A:
M B. Yes I would say so ! We sat in the patio - which has gorgeous views - right in the water .. casual and there were families

3.0
(2107)

https://www.yelp.com/biz/gladstones-pacific-palisades-4

Gladstones Entryway
Entryway and Patio:
https://www.funwithkidsinla.com/post/gladstones-historic-beachside-restaurant-is-a-hot-family-hangout

Gladstones Patio

Gladstones Lobster and USDA Prime NY Strip Steak
Lobster and USDA Prime NY Strip Steak

Gladstones King Crab Legs King Crab Legs

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/crusin-in-style-to-gladstones-in-malibu-pacific-palisades-to-be-exact

Seafood Ceviche:

Gladstones Seafood Ceviche

Bob Morris Clam Chowder:
The clam chowder is a rendition of a chowder Bob ate at the famed, now-shuttered, Jimmy’s Harborside in Boston:

Bob Morris:It was the best clam chowder I ever had. I went back into the kitchen and gave the guy 100 bucks and I said: "I want that recipe."

Bob returned home with the recipe but when he tried to duplicate it for the restaurant, it just wasn’t the same:

Bob Morris:I got on a plane the next week and went back again. It turns out, I ordered what I thought was clam chowder but it was fish chowder. We’ve been making it that way now for 40 years and we sell thousands of gallons of it a year.

https://www.malibumag.com/restaurants-1/paradise-coves-family-legacy

Gladstones World Famous Clam Chowder
Famous Clam Chowder
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.

Gladstones Garlic Shrimp Tacos Garlic Shrimp Tacos

Gladstones Lobster Roll Lobster Roll:
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.

http://www.nicoleisaacs.com/gladstones-malibu

Clambake:

Gladstones Clambake

Gladstones Mile-High Chocolate Cake

Michael:Gladstones is a perfect spot for a celebratory meal or special occasion. The scenery is amazing, the food is delicious and the drinks are great (particularly the bloody Mary's!).

Gladstones Pumpkin Cheesecake

Michael:The prices are too high for Gladstones to be a regular spot but for a special occasion it is not overrated and I would recommend.

3.9
(3030)

https://www.opentable.com/gladstones

Gladstones Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae

Gladstones Leftovers Scupture
It’s all about the leftovers:
weirdo4ever: My grandparents and I ate at Gladstone’s in Malibu the other day. Two of us didn’t finish our meals and asked to take them to go. Then a man who was not our waitress appeared at our table.

Gladstones Gold Foil Doggy Bag Animal

He had a bunch of foil and a table with him, and he wordlessly started creating a piece of art. We had no idea what it would turn out to be... A whale?

https://imgur.com/gallery/6WNOQ

No! A mermaid shooting out of a whale’s spout!

Miguel Carrillo

Gladstones Leftover Whale made out of Foil
Leftover foil sculptures

Gladstones Leftover Dragon made out of Foil

Gladstones Entrees Menu
Gladstones Restaurant:

4.2
(1792) $$$

Gladstones Popular Times

https://goo.gl/maps/EB2RqM1bj8ZZP8h7

Lunch & Dinner Menu:

Gladstones Lunch and Dinner Menu

Gladstones Malibu is an American seafood restaurant located on The Pacific Coast Highway (California) in Pacific Palisades, California.
Gladstones Malibu History:
  • The original Gladstones 4 Fish was opened by Robert J. Morris on the site of the former Ted's Grill in Santa Monica Canyon in 1972.
  • It then moved to its home on the beach at 17300 Pacific Coast Highway in 1981.
  • Morris sold the restaurant in 1984 to W.R. Grace but repurchased it in 1990.
  • Richard Riordan, former Mayor of Los Angeles, has owned Gladstones since the mid-1990s.
  • In 2009, the private company SBE assumed day-to-day operations as part of a management contract with Riordan which expired in 2014. Gladstone's re-assumed management of day-to-day operations thereafter.
  • It is now called simply Gladstones.
  • They sell 35 tons of crab, 65,000 lobsters and 19 gallons of clam chowder each year.

In 2008, Gladstones was the 37th highest grossing independent restaurant in the country

The Near Future:
The County owns the land and they're talking about doing a new 40 year lease with Gladstones as a new culinary destination designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry and operated by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. The proposed project calls for an architecturally attractive waterfront dining destination with easy access to public transit, including the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus. Preliminary plans include casual dining areas serving a changing menu of locally-sourced, farm-to-table cuisine, a lounge, a rooftop bar, a public deck, small retailers including an ice cream shop, and a monument to the site’s well-known current tenant, Gladstones.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladstones_Malibu

https://gladstones.com
17300 Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Gladstones