Blue Wave Bar & Grill – Shelter Island

Blue Wave Bar & Grill epitomizes the allure of America’s Finest City. From diving to sailing, San Diegans will find almost any excuse to be on the water, and this restaurant sits on an island in the middle of it all. With captivating views of Shelter Island Marina and Point Loma peninsula, guests can dine inside the South Pacific inspired restaurant, or eat al fresco on the restaurant’s poolside patio. Executive Chef Christopher Spayde has been preparing tropically-inspired coastal dishes here since 2012, garnering the restaurant an Open Table Diner’s Choice Award. Blue Wave Bar & Grill on Point Loma’s enchanting Shelter Island is the signature restaurant of Best Western Island Palms Hotel & Marina.

Blue Wave Grill Ambiance

Blue Water Wave Bar & Grill reflects the casual affluence of its Point Loma neighborhood. Floor to ceiling windows showcase the panoramic nautical location and provide a bright and airy backdrop to the restaurant’s decidedly island décor. Plank and beam ceilings, smooth lines, and a muted color palette draw all eyes to the epic views. Ornately carved Polynesian wall-hangings, green palms, and exotic flowering plants reinforce the natural island vibe. Weave-patterned dark wood chairs and crisp, white table linens add a touch of upscale elegance. A waterfront restaurant on a picturesque island in San Diego Bay along the California coast – does paradise get any better than this? Plan to linger over your meal in this relaxed Shelter Island restaurant.

Blue Wave Grill Food

Start your San Diego vacation with breakfast on the waterfront patio under a bright turquoise umbrella. Eat like a local with vanilla yogurt, house-made granola, and seasonal berries, or try everyone’s favorite – a California Burrito. Since you’re on vacation, add a Blue Wave Bloody to breakfast with Stoli Jalapeño vodka, house bloody mix, bacon, salt, and traditional garnish; make your own mimosa with Freixenet Blanc champagne and fresh orange juice; or add Bacardi Light rum to your morning strawberry, peach, mango, or coconut fruit smoothie.

Executive Chef, Christopher Spayde has created island inspired menus for lunch and dinner featuring California coastal cuisine. Seafood, in all its variations, commands center stage with appetizers like shellfish cocktail, ahi poke, and fried calamari. Seared albacore sandwich, grilled fish tacos, lobster nachos, or the fresh catch of the day are excellent lunch choices. Not a seafood lover? Try a Kobe burger with house-made potato chips or sweet potato fries.

Have an early dinner at Blue Wave Bar & Grill and enjoy the magic of a San Diego sunset, or eat late and take in the twinkling lights of Point Loma’s hillside and the stars above. Chef Spayde creates delectable small plates like the Hawaiian-inspired Jidori chicken with Sriracha honey butter and a buttermilk biscuit, or succulent moules marinière with white wine, garlic, and fresh herbs served with a French baguette crostini. Fresh fish market specials are inspired by local fish like the Pepita Cruster Rock Fish special with parmesan risotto, grilled brocolini, marinated carrot, charred scallion, pickled habanero, and neuter blanc. The most popular from the farm choice is the Blue Wave roast beef dinner.

Pair your lunch and dinner selections at Blue Wave Bar & Grill with a wide selection of wines, or hand-crafted cocktails like the Shelter Island Iced Tea, Big Wave Margarita, or Mai Tai. The restaurant offers a variety of draft beers from local breweries such as Stone Brewing Company and Ballast Point Brewery. Bottled beers are also available.

Blue Wave Grill Details

Blue Wave Bar & Grill is open from early morning to late night serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The outdoor patio is heated on chilly evenings. Three-hour Happy Hours include reduced prices on domestic bottled beer, Bud Light drafts, well drinks, select craft drafts, and house wines. Cheap eats include half flatbread, house potato chips with onion dip, wings, hummus, beef or chicken mini-tacos, and cheeseburger sliders. Free parking is abundant, both on the street and in their private lot. There is also bike parking for the outdoorsy diner. The restaurant does accept reservations and offers take-out. It’s ADA accessible, kid-friendly, and good for groups too. They also provide complimentary Wi-Fi. Weekend nights are the liveliest.

Blue Wave Grill Neighborhood

Shelter Island begs to be explored after breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Blue Wave. Shoreline Park, across the street from the restaurant, runs the length of the island. It features walking paths with amazing views and a children’s playground with play equipment, so everyone gets a chance to get some exercise. The park is dotted with interesting sculptures and several benches, including some shaded by bougainvillea-covered trellises. The park’s pier is a fun spot for some family fishing.

At the farthest southern end of Shelter Island is the historic Yokohama Friendship Bell and “The Girl in the Red Shoes” statue; both are gifts from San Diego’s sister city Yokohama, Japan. They represent the eternal friendship between the two cities. On New Year’s Eve and other special occasions, members of the Buddhist temple ring the bell.

Shelter Island is the perfect place to watch the annual Big Bay Boom fireworks display in San Diego Bay on the Fourth of July. It is also home to YachtFest, a superyacht extravaganza including live action from the San Diego Maritime Museum every September. Shelter Island is one of the best places to watch the annual Parade of Lights in December where boats with holiday lights stream through San Diego Bay.

Nearby Point Loma is an affluent neighborhood with plenty to offer. Historic Liberty Station, on the north end of Point Loma, offers history, culture, art, and shopping. Cabrillo National Monument, Old Point Loma Lighthouse, and Point Loma tide pools are on Point Loma’s southern tip. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park with excellent surfing and a more laidback ambiance is on the Pacific side of the peninsula. San Diego International Airport and Downtown San Diego are also nearby.