Pacific Coast Grill
Pacific Coast Grill is a single-location beachfront restaurant in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, founded in 1995, serving lunch, dinner, and raw bar with diversified revenue from catering, weddings, private events, gift cards, and takeout.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersCardiff, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Pacific Coast Grill does
Pacific Coast Grill operates a single beachfront full-service restaurant in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, founded in 1995. The establishment offers lunch and dinner service with a raw bar, and operates across multiple revenue channels: dine-in service, catering for groups of 10 to 500 guests, private events and weddings up to 200 guests, gift card sales, and takeout. Pricing is positioned at the upscale casual tier, with lunch entrees ranging $20–$30.50 and dinner entrees $25–$60. The wine program is a notable brand asset, featuring bottles priced up to $697 and earning the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. The company employs 33 people and operates from a single location with ocean views from every seat.\n\nThe restaurant's technology stack is built entirely on third-party SaaS platforms rather than proprietary systems: OpenTable for reservations, ChowNow for online takeout ordering, Toasttab for gift card sales, and Tripleseat for private event management. There is no indication of in-house technology development, data infrastructure, or AI/ML capability. The platform architecture is therefore one of best-of-breed point solutions stitched together at the operator level, rather than an integrated proprietary stack.\n\nThe business model is a diversified single-location operator. Revenue is generated across dine-in traffic (lunch, dinner, raw bar), high-margin beverage sales (wine and cocktails), planned-revenue private events (weddings and corporate functions), off-premise catering, digital takeout, and gift card sales. The event and catering segments layer higher-AOV, bookable revenue on top of variable walk-in traffic, while the gift card program provides a working-capital-positive pre-paid revenue component. The overall model combines transactional restaurant volume with event-driven contracted revenue, all anchored to a single physical asset.
Pacific Coast Grill firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pacific Coast Grill
- Legal name
- Pacific Coast Grill
- Website
- https://pacificcoastgrill.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pacific Coast Grill is a single-location beachfront restaurant in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, founded in 1995, serving lunch, dinner, and raw bar with diversified revenue from catering, weddings, private events, gift cards, and takeout.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pacific Coast Grill industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Full-Service Oceanfront Restaurant
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fine Dining Restaurants (THAFACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- All-Day Dining Restaurants (THAFACAJ), Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants (THAFACAE)
Keywords
Where Pacific Coast Grill is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cardiff
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pacific Coast Grill business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Restaurant Dining: Full-service dining with lunch, dinner, and raw bar service. Generates revenue through food and beverage sales including signature dishes like Shrimp Dumplings, Sesame-Crusted Seared Ahi, and House-Smoked Hawaiian BBQ Baby Back Ribs. Extensive wine program with Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.
- Catering Services: Full-service catering for business lunches, weddings, dinner parties, corporate events, family reunions, anniversaries, birthdays, and beach parties for 10 to 500 guests. Provides rentals, wait staff, bartenders, beverage service, entertainment, flowers, and décor.
- Private Events: Private party hosting including weddings (up to 200 guests), rehearsal dinners, corporate events, and special occasions. Venue offers patio seating upstairs for 50, downstairs al fresco for 65, entire upstairs for 100, and ground level for 120 guests.
- Gift Cards: Physical and electronic gift cards sold at various denominations ($50 to $600) through Toasttab platform.
- Take-Out: Take-out service via ChowNow platform for off-premise dining.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Non-Alcoholic Beverages |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | House Cocktails |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lunch Menu |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dinner Menu |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dessert Menu |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Gift Cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wine Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Pacific Coast Grill product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pacific Coast Grill operates an award-winning full-service oceanfront restaurant in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, serving lunch, a raw bar, and dinner featuring fresh, local, and free-range coastal cuisine. Beyond dine-in service, the restaurant provides full-service catering for 10 to 500 guests, private event hosting and beachfront weddings for up to 200 guests, takeout via ChowNow, and physical and electronic gift cards through Toasttab.
Product overview
Pacific Coast Grill is an award-winning oceanfront restaurant established in 1995, offering a unified dining experience centered on fresh, local, and free-range coastal cuisine. The core product is its restaurant service with distinct lunch and dinner menus featuring seafood, steaks, and creative cocktails. Supporting services include a comprehensive bar program (Wine, Beer & Cocktails) with Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence, an extensive Wine Vault collection, and specialty menus for vegetarian, gluten-free, and children's dining. Additional revenue streams encompass private event hosting (up to 200 guests), full-service catering (10-500 guests), beachfront wedding services, takeout ordering, and gift card programs. The restaurant leverages OpenTable for reservations and Toast Tab for digital gift card fulfillment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lunch Service Full lunch menu served from 11AM to 3PM featuring appetizers ($15.50-$29), salads ($16-$28.50), burgers and sandwiches ($17-$28.50), and entrées ($20-$30.50) including Shrimp Dumplings, PCG Burger, Seared Ahi Sliders, and Pan Seared Seabass. Targeted at individual diners and small groups.
- Dinner Service Full dinner menu served from 4PM to 8:30PM (9PM Fri & Sat) featuring upscale coastal cuisine including appetizers ($17-$29), salads ($17.50-$18.50), and entrées ($25-$60) such as Dungeness Crab Cakes, Miso Glazed Chilean Seabass, Sesame-Crusted Seared Ahi, Char-Grilled Salmon, steaks, and pasta dishes. Targeted at individual diners, couples, and small groups.
- Wine, Beer & Cocktails Full bar service featuring an award-winning wine program recognized with Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence, craft cocktails including World Class Margaritas and PCG Cocktails, premium tequilas and mezcals, beer, and a Wine Vault collection of rare and collectible wines. Wine by glass ranges from $13-$23.50 and bottles from $40-$697. Targeted at adult diners and event guests.
- Raw Bar Raw bar service operated from 3PM to 4PM between lunch and dinner, featuring fresh shellfish including West Coast Oysters on the Half Shell and the Cardiff Reef Roll. Targeted at walk-in diners seeking lighter fare.
- Dessert Menu House-made desserts priced from $12-$15 featuring Tahitian Coconut Cheesecake, Dark Chocolate Custard, Dulce de Leche Crème Brulee, White Chocolate Bread Pudding, and Tempura Banana Split. Targeted at dine-in guests.
- Vegetarian Menu Specialty plant-based menu featuring Veggie Roll, Hurricane Roll, Mixed Chef Vegetables, Veggie Pasta, Macadamia Crusted Tofu, and Outrageous Veggie Burger. Targeted at vegetarian diners.
- Gluten Free Lunch Specialty gluten-free lunch offerings including Seasonal Oysters, Cardiff Reef Roll, Baja Fish Tacos, Grilled Seabass, and gluten-free rolls prepared with soy paper. Targeted at gluten-intolerant diners.
- Gluten Free Dinner Specialty gluten-free dinner options including Pacific Paella, Lobster Tail, Plum-Ginger Braised Short Ribs, Chili-Rubbed Filet Mignon, and Cowboy Steak. Targeted at gluten-intolerant diners.
- Kids Menu Child-friendly menu featuring Crispy Chicken Strips, PCG Pasta, Certified Sterling Beef Burger, Chicken Quesadilla, Ultimate Grilled Cheese, Tempura Crusted Popcorn Shrimp, Reef Fish & Chips, Grilled Filet Mignon, and Mini Filet & Lobster. Targeted at families dining with children.
- Catering Services Full-service off-premise catering for events of 10 to 500 guests including business lunches, weddings, dinner parties, corporate events, family reunions, anniversaries, birthdays, and beach parties. Provides rentals, wait staff, bartenders, beverage service, entertainment, flowers, and décor. Targeted at event hosts and corporate clients.
- Private Events & Parties Private event hosting at the Cardiff beachfront location for up to 200 guests, with patio seating for 50 upstairs, downstairs al fresco for 65, entire upstairs for 100, and ground level for 120. Includes banquet and culinary teams for plated dinners or buffet-style events. Targeted at private party hosts.
- Wedding Services Beachfront wedding venue accommodating up to 200 guests with ocean views across two levels of bars, decks, and patios. Offers ceremony options on the beach or in the restaurant with customizable receptions. Targeted at engaged couples and wedding planners.
- Takeout / To-Go Takeout ordering service via ChowNow for off-premise consumption of full menu items for pickup. Targeted at local customers and visitors.
- Gift Cards Physical and electronic gift cards available in denominations from $50 to $600 via the Toasttab platform, with eGift cards offering instant email delivery to recipients. Targeted at gift-givers and restaurant patrons.
- Reservations Table reservation service available by phone (760-479-0721) or online through the OpenTable integration, enabling guests to book lunch, raw bar, and dinner seating. Targeted at individual diners and groups.
- VIP Email List Subscription email program offering PCG VIP members specials, news, and exclusive offers from the restaurant. Targeted at existing and prospective diners.
Companies that use Pacific Coast Grill
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Pacific Coast Grill technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Pacific Coast Grill partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OpenTablecoreThird-party reservation service handling online table bookings. Collects customer information (name, phone, email, party details) for reservation management. Governed by OpenTable's privacy policy.
- ChowNowminorThird-party take-out ordering platform powering off-premise dining orders.
- ToasttabminorGift card processing platform enabling physical and electronic gift card sales at various denominations.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Pacific Coast Grill competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cannonball: Oceanfront restaurant and rooftop bar at Belmont Park in Mission Beach, San Diego. Comparable as a beachfront San Diego dining venue combining restaurant service with event/private function capabilities.
- Duke's La Jolla: Hawaii-themed beachfront restaurant at La Jolla Cove offering seafood and steak with ocean views. Comparable as a coastal upscale-casual concept with strong beverage program and tourist-local dual customer base.
- George's at the Cove: Three-level oceanview restaurant in La Jolla with casual, terrace, and fine dining options. Highly comparable as a multi-tier beachfront dining concept targeting tourists and locals in the San Diego coastal market.
- The Marine Room: Iconic beachfront fine dining restaurant in La Jolla, San Diego County, offering upscale coastal cuisine with direct ocean views. Directly comparable as a Southern California oceanfront upscale restaurant competing for similar high-end diner and event clientele.
- Beachcomber Cafe: Historic beachfront restaurant at Crystal Cove, Newport Beach serving coastal California cuisine. Comparable as a Southern California beachfront upscale-casual restaurant with strong tourism appeal and ocean view positioning.
- Jake's Del Mar: Beachfront restaurant in Del Mar, California (adjacent to Cardiff-by-the-Sea) serving upscale American cuisine with ocean views. Direct local competitor targeting the same coastal North County San Diego dining audience.
Regional players
- Waterbar: Waterfront seafood restaurant in San Francisco offering premium coastal cuisine with extensive wine list. Comparable in menu positioning (seafood-forward, strong wine program, waterfront location) but serves the Northern California market rather than San Diego.
- The Cliffs Restaurant: Oceanfront dining venue in Pismo Beach, Central California, offering seafood-focused coastal cuisine. Comparable concept and operating model but serves a different coastal California geography than Pacific Coast Grill.
Emerging players
- Coastal Kitchen: California-inspired seafood and steak restaurant concept operating in select coastal markets. Comparable as a competing upscale coastal dining concept with menu overlap in seafood, steaks, and craft cocktails.
Broad incumbents
- Brigantine Restaurants: Established San Diego-area seafood restaurant chain with multiple locations. Comparable as a regional San Diego seafood dining operator with similar menu focus, though broader in geography and lacking the single-location beachfront cachet.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pacific Coast Grill social profiles
Digital presencePacific Coast Grill financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pacific Coast Grill leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Pacific Coast Grill funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pacific Coast Grill M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pacific Coast Grill
What does Pacific Coast Grill do?
Pacific Coast Grill operates an award-winning full-service oceanfront restaurant in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, serving lunch, a raw bar, and dinner featuring fresh, local, and free-range coastal cuisine. Beyond dine-in service, the restaurant provides full-service catering for 10 to 500 guests, private event hosting and beachfront weddings for up to 200 guests, takeout via ChowNow, and physical and electronic gift cards through Toasttab.
Is Pacific Coast Grill a public or private company?
Pacific Coast Grill is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Pacific Coast Grill founded?
Pacific Coast Grill was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pacific Coast Grill based?
Pacific Coast Grill is headquartered in Cardiff, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pacific Coast Grill make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Restaurant Dining is the primary driver. The others are catering Services, private Events, gift Cards and take-Out.
Who are Pacific Coast Grill's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cannonball, Duke's La Jolla, George's at the Cove, The Marine Room, Beachcomber Cafe and Jake's Del Mar. Regional players are Waterbar and The Cliffs Restaurant. Coastal Kitchen is listed as an emerging player. Brigantine Restaurants is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Pacific Coast Grill have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pacific Coast Grill.
What industry is Pacific Coast Grill in?
Pacific Coast Grill's product category is Full-Service Oceanfront Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAA, Fine Dining Restaurants, with a secondary code of THAFACAJ, All-Day Dining Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5812.