"David LeFevre's 32-seat Manhattan Beach oyster bar, a 2019 Michelin Plate — book it for a first date by the sand."
About Fishing with Dynamite
Thirty-two seats, an oyster bar down the middle, two blocks from the Manhattan Beach sand. Fishing with Dynamite is David LeFevre's small New England-style seafood room at 1148 Manhattan Avenue, the casual counterpart to his larger Manhattan Beach Post around the corner. The menu splits in two: 'old school' East Coast classics and 'new school' plates that borrow from Asia and Latin America. Expect to spend $60 to $95 a head, more if you build a raw-bar tower, which climbs from the $39 'S.S. Minnow' to the $145 'Mothershucker'. It is one of the South Bay's hardest small tables to walk into.
The Kitchen
David LeFevre cooked at Charlie Trotter's and ran the kitchen at Water Grill before opening his own rooms in Manhattan Beach, and Fishing with Dynamite is where he plays. The 'old school' side is the New England canon done properly: a buttered, split-top lobster roll, clam chowder, oysters Rockefeller. The 'new school' side is where he moves, with Peruvian scallops, albacore tartare spiked with kimchi, and a coconut-Thai shellfish broth. The raw bar is the heart of it, and the key lime pie is the dessert nobody skips.
The accolades are real and dated: a Michelin Plate in 2019, OpenTable's 100 Best Restaurants in America in 2016, 2017 and 2019, and Best Oyster Bar nods from Los Angeles magazine. Individual plates run $18 to the mid-$40s, with raw-bar towers from $39. For the wider category, see our guide to the best seafood restaurants worldwide.
The Room
It is small, bright and loud in the best beach-town way. Thirty-two seats, much of the action at the oyster bar itself, nautical without the kitsch. There is no reservation for the bar seats, which turn fast, and the dining tables sit tight together. Noise runs high at peak; this is a room for talking across a small table, not down a long one. Dress is pure South Bay: shorts and flip-flops are fine. Service is quick and genuinely warm. Go at opening or late to dodge the worst of the wait.
Best for a First Date
Book Fishing with Dynamite for a first date because it is low-pressure and high-charm: a counter where you can sit side by side at the oyster bar, a menu built for sharing rather than performing, and a beach two blocks away for the walk afterwards. Order a half-dozen oysters, the Peruvian scallops and a lobster roll, and split the key lime pie. Go early; the room fills and the wait grows. For a bigger Westside seafood night, compare Providence, or browse the full Los Angeles dining guide.
Not for
Not for a quiet, lingering dinner or a big group — thirty-two seats, tight tables, a loud bar, and often a wait for the best ones.
Frequently Asked
Is Fishing with Dynamite worth it?
Yes, it is one of the best seafood rooms in the South Bay. David LeFevre's 32-seat oyster bar serves pristine raw-bar selections and a sharp 'old school / new school' menu that earned a Michelin Plate in 2019 and three years on OpenTable's 100 Best in America list. It is not cheap, but the quality and the beach-town energy justify it. Go for the oysters, the Peruvian scallops and the key lime pie.
How hard is it to get into Fishing with Dynamite?
Fairly hard at peak, and the bar seats are first-come. Dining tables can be reserved on OpenTable and the prime weekend slots go early, so book a week or more ahead for Friday and Saturday. For a walk-in, arrive at opening or late in the evening when the oyster-bar stools turn over. Weeknights are the easiest path to a same-week table.
What is the average price at Fishing with Dynamite?
Plan on $60 to $95 a head before drinks. Individual plates run from about $18 to the mid-$40s, oysters are priced by the piece, and the raw-bar towers climb from the $39 'S.S. Minnow' to the $145 'Mothershucker'. It sits at the premium end for a casual room, but the seafood quality is the reason. A pair sharing a tower and a few plates can easily clear $200.
What should I order at Fishing with Dynamite?
Start with oysters from the raw bar and the Peruvian scallops, then split the buttered lobster roll and a 'new school' plate such as the kimchi albacore tartare. The coconut-Thai shellfish broth is the comfort order. Finish with the key lime pie, which regulars consider non-negotiable. If you are celebrating, build a raw-bar tower for the table.
Is Fishing with Dynamite good for a first date?
Yes. The oyster bar lets you sit side by side, the menu is built for sharing, and the beach is two blocks away for the walk afterwards. Go early to beat the wait, order oysters and the key lime pie, and keep it loose. See more options in our best restaurants for a first date guide.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Fishing with Dynamite
Dining tables bookable on OpenTable; oyster-bar seats are first-come. Book Friday and Saturday a week ahead.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address1148 Manhattan Avenue, Manhattan Beach 90266
NeighbourhoodManhattan Beach
CuisineNew England Seafood
Price~$60–$95 pp; raw-bar towers $39–$145
Dress CodeBeach casual
Seating32 seats; oyster bar (walk-in)
ReservationOpenTable + walk-in bar
