After a movie on a casual Friday night with my friends, Andrew Biehler and Heather Lichti, we discussed where to have dinner, choosing from the seemingly endless options of Riverpark. After some thought, we could not ignore the constant buzz about one of Fresno’s newest restaurants, Pismo’s Coastal Grill.

Located at the Villagio shopping center at Blackstone and Nees, bright neon lights attract customers to Pismo’s with a beach theme.

Outside the restaurant, sand, wood and other beach objects provide a seashore-like atmosphere. Inside however, wooden rafters and low lighting reminded us of the mountains and a log cabin.

We walked in to the restaurant, completely crammed full of people. Customers were standing in the entryway because there was hardly any space in the tiny waiting area. We were told it would be a 20-25 minute wait before we were seated. In reality, it took exactly 41 minutes before they called us to be seated.

I recommend eating at Pismo’s for lunch, when they first open, so the wait for a seat is limited. Though the long line was frustrating, our waiter was kind and informative. We never felt rushed to order or finish our meal.

The menu provides a wide selection of seafood, soups and salads for lunch and dinner. However, the prices are very high, at least in our situation; three high school kids looking for a quick casual meal. Soups are the least expensive, ranging from $4.99 to $14.99 depending on the size ordered. The garlic bread is a tasty addition to the soup meal but costs an extra $2.99.

Heather, Andrew and I ordered a bowl of clam chowder for ourselves and split a loaf of garlic bread. We were not sure what to expect from the food though people claimed it was delicious. How could Fresno serve fresh seafood that could ever match up to actual Pismo Beach?

Although the clam chowder was good for for being two hours away form the beach, it did not quite reach my high expectations. Also, Heather found sand in her chowder. There was nothing special about the garlic bread, leading us to remark, “it’s just… bread.” However, it did add more flavor to the chowder when eaten together.

Apart from sit down dinners, Pismo’s also offers the community a fish market, stocked with fresh fish.

Because of its large crowds of curious customers, Pismo’s does not have a set closing time, but opens its doors at 11:30 a.m., just in time for the lunch hour rush. For more reviews of Pismo’s Coastal Grill check out urbanspoon.com