Cardiff Restaurants - Oceanfront Dining at Charlie's By The Sea

Cardiff, or more formally Cardiff-by-the-Sea, is adjacent to Encinitas (Cardiffhas its own zipcode but is actually part of Encinitas in terms of government), about 25 miles north of San Diego.

This community has a long history as a surfing mecca and the town retains a strong feeling of the beach and surfing life that has characterized its growth for many years. The Walking District and the Composer District are two popular residential areas with many homes offering water views.

Cardiff beaches are popular, and dining along the ocean is a favorite activity for residents and visitors alike. Located just a short distance from the town enter, Cardiff has a strip of restaurants directly on the water as well as across the coast highway with some of the best views around, including The Beach House (offering both upstairs and downstairs dining), Charlie's by the Sea, and The Charthouse.

If dining by the ocean appeals to you, this is the place to go in North County San Diego. Charlie's by the Sea has great views from just about every table with huge windows where you can watch the surfers during the day or evening, or just enjoy the gorgeous sunset.

The ambiance at Charlie's by the Sea is what you would expect for an ocean-front dining establishment, and the menu offers a creative selection of seafood as you would expect (those who are not seafood lovers will not be disappointed). The food is quite good, creatively presented, and the service is friendly but not intrusive.  There is a full bar and valet parking is $3.00.

Charlie's by the Sea is definitely worth a visit. Lunches are served as well with an equally inventive and tasty menu.