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Mo's Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants American (Traditional) Seafood, American (Traditional) [Edit]
195 Warren WayCannon Beach, OR 97145
(503) 436-1111
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Touristy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
85 reviews for Mo's Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Cannonball breadbowls filled with delicious clam chowder."
(in 45 reviews)
"It is right on the beach with a great view of Haystack Rock."
(in 4 reviews)
"It's usually the first stop when we finally reach the ocean."
(in 16 reviews)
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85 reviews in English
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Review from Julie S.
1/30/2012
I am a huge fan of Mo's. My favorite is in Newport, but since I was in Nehalem for a week, I had to stop by the Cannon Beach location at least once. (I went twice if you want to get technical.)
First I had the cod fish & chips. It was very good - light breading, well seasoned, good french fries. I will agree with some other reviewers that the salads can leave something to be desired. I feel like the quality may have decreased over the years.
Second, I had the Cannon Ball Clam Chowder. Their clam chowder is still my favorite. My mom stole the topper for her chowder, so I would have liked some extra butter to have with the bread, once my chowder was gone.
Mo's is an EXPERIENCE - a great view of the beach, kitschy decor, nice servers, people watching. I recommend walking down to Haystack Rock and working up an appetite. Mo's is still an Oregon Coast MUST. -
Review from Sarah F.
1/10/2012
If zero was possible, that is what this place would get. Usually when the cold kitchen is visible there is more of an effort to do good.
Here is why I will call the state department of health... The girl making the salads in plain sight: no gloves, no hand washing in the hour I was there, rubbed nose, used hand to grab lettuce, shrimp, other toppings, scratched hair, ran hands along rails throughout restaurant, picked food off the counters and surrounding area and put it on the plates she was "preparing." Absolutely disgusting.
Pros?
-The manager comped my bill and gave me a free lunch or dinner for 2 coupon after I was dissatisfied
-Location (beach views)
Cons?
-If you're looking for a place that is average... you will only get it if you can ignore the food poisoning you are likely to get
Suggestions?
-Eat somewhere else in town... unless you just want to get a beer and sit inside. Even the fried food was cold and therefore unsanitary. -
Review from Mike K.
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Rest assured, this is not a cloth-napkin, crystal-water-glass, maitre-d'-in-a-suit type of restaurant. It's a chowder house, and a darned good one if you ask me. Even if it does get crowded with tourists most of the time, I still end up having a lot of fun here.
People either seem to love Mo's clam chowder or be disappointed in it. If you've tried it, you know, and if you haven't you should. I happen to love it; even if it's not the best in existence it's still Mo's.
We talked to the manager here and if you are having a big group come in (provided it's not the "peak" summer season) you don't have to make any special arrangements. Just call ahead and they'll make room for your group. -
Review from DJ M.
Portland, OR
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food, atmosphere and a view! Portions are large, best chowder I have found in a long time. Definitely order the steamer clams!
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Review from Kristen B.
Redmond, WA
11/12/2011
I think everyone should stop at Mo's Restaurant at least once if they're staying in Cannon Beach.
The Cannon Ball Bowl is my all time favorite, with the tuna and cheese sandwich coming in at a close second. Make sure to get a seat with a view, or sit outside if it's a nice day.
Although the clam chowder isn't the all time best in town, it's still worth a try! Good prices and nice portions allow you to more than likely be able to take some home for later.
I highly recommend taking a nice long beach walk from the heart of downtown Cannon Beach, all the way to Mo's for lunch. The long walk will get you hungry to enjoy all that Mo's has to offer! -
Review from christine y.
Mill Creek, WA
10/26/2011 3 photos
So, I didn't get clam chowder here. I did the fish and chips thing for lunch and had to do something different for dinner.
Went with the grilled cod and it was kinda bland.
Had a bite of my friend's blackened halibut and yowza, was that good!
I ended up finishing my friend's halibut because she was full. In exchange, she finished my bread. Fluffy, yes. Soft, yes. White, yep. And that is why I had to let it go. Not a fan of white processed flour.
It's a little weird that you go to a sit-down restaurant and is reminded of middle school lunch. Low tables and bench seating. Oh wells. Apparently that's how Mo wanted it. For people to be so close they end up chatting and becoming friends.
4 stars for blackened halibut. Hail blackened halibut!Listed in: Oregon Coast
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Review from nik o.
9/27/2011 3 photos
Not the greatest I've ever had, but definitely not the worst. Mo's is set right on cannon beach (from Goonies!), and its probably a tourist spot but there's nothing wrong with that.
Prices were reasonable and I was pretty satisfied with both the quantity and quality of their food. Chowder wasn't that exceptional but it was good and they were generous with the clams. Double oyster stew was awesome especially for $10 - full of oysters in I think just milk and butter. Neptune platter said popcorn scallops but I didn't expect such teeny ones. Also came with 3 or 4 fried oysters, 2 pieces of cod (not much flavor), some fried clams, 3 fried shrimp (looked like premade/frozen).
Kind of a mediocre experience overall, but hey it was 7pm on Sunday - good luck finding anything else that's open in this town during off season. -
Review from Eliza T.
East Bay, CA
10/22/2011
We stopped at Mo's on the way to Cannon Beach because we saw a billboard touting that it had the best clam chowder. Turned out to be the worst clam chowder ever, if you can call it clam chowder. Mo's "chowder" barely had any clams; it was mostly potatoes and bacon, bacon, bacon. There was no other flavor. I have had better chowder out of a can.
The entrees were not much better. I ordered the mixed fried seafood; the fried fish was okay (not too much batter and not overcooked) but the fried clams were hard and too thick with a bread crumb batter. Again, you could not taste the clams. The fried scallops turned out to be tiny bay scallops; the menu should have stated so. They were also overcooked.
The only redeeming quality is the location. It is right on the beach with a great view of Haystack Rock. But the view is not worth the terrible meal. A terrible shame that Mo's does not take advantage of the local fresh seafood source in the area. -
Review from Blorch H.
Soldotna, AK
8/1/2011
Mo's is an informal seafood restaurant serving family fare. Nothing more, nothing less.
If your delicate palette needs soothing in a romantic getaway spot serving nouvelle cuisine seafood caught by the fish-whispering hermit monks of Tibet, keep driving until you hit Newport. Better yet, just keep driving until you're out of state and whack yourself with a Tom McCall brand clue-bat after you cross the state line.
I've been here more than a few times, and have always had excellent service with thoughtful accommodation for children and seniors. The food is mostly over-battered and messy, but it is good anyway. I wouldn't recommend a steady diet of what they serve, but it has always been worth the 90 minute trip from Portland.
There are a couple of things I think need work at this location: it's unnecessarily loud inside and parking is challenging on most days. Save yourself some frustration with the latter by parking at Tolovana Wayside next door and walking an extra half block.
Bottom line: manage your expectations, have some bread with your chowder, and enjoy the view. If weather permits, sit outside and dress accordingly. -
Review from Christine H.
Portland, OR
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
My child asked if we could hit the Mo's in Cannon beach before heading back to Ptown...I figured sure why not. We are at the ocean ...lets get a good view... some seafood and chill before hitting the road. I always forget the lack of variety on the menu here... fried, double fried, cooked in butter then fried, boiled in cream with a side of buttered bread...not that these aren't good options but you want to balance things out a little. Im just guessing they may not have a grill in their kitchen;)
So my son ordered a tuna fish sammie...which was looking good all dressed up in mayo with soft buns. He enjoyed it.
I myself thought i would splurge and order not just the fish and chips... but go for it and get the Halibut and chips...they were spendy but i was feeling nostalgic for a taste of home. Thats about what you get for $14.00 is a taste... there were three tiny little 2" pieces. With all the food they fry here i was a little surprised at how GREASY it all was... if you get the temp just right you wont have a nasty oily mess.
I can't say that I'll be on board to give away my money to Mo's next time. -
Review from Rebecca W.
Hillsboro, OR
7/2/2011
I have heard all this talk about Mo's having this great clam chowder since I moved to Oregon, yet never got around to trying it...until now...ugh. I was excited to finally be heading to Mo's. Being from New England I am a total clam chowder lover. I try not to be too harsh of a critique when it comes to the chowder because I know very few establishments have perfected the perfect clam chowder, especially out here on the west coast. My expectations for clam chowder sunk dramatically out here on the west coast because it is very rare to find someone who actually knows how to make it at all!! But like I said, my expectations are low.
Mo's clam chowder (if you can call it that) was horrible, edible, but horrible. It was a super buttery, not so creamy, mixture of potatoes and tons of bacon with possibly a few clams in the mix. Nasty! Where the heck did they get this recipe? So disappointed.
To make the experience worse, you are greeted at the front door with a hodgepodge of junk souvenirs that you are forced to walk right up next to. Thank goodness I have smart kids. My 10 year old caught on to the ploy and told me he thought the restaurant was trying to trick people into buying more than they wanted by forcing them to walk by all the junk merchandise. Smart cookie!
Then we had a rude waitress. She was very curt, unfriendly, and inattentive and messed up orders at a few of her tables. Her attitude was just so hostile it made me feel as though we were not welcome patrons in the restaurant. Seems to me this gal needs to find a new job! If you are unhappy with your work, don't take it out on the customers...we're supplying the dough for your pay check!
When all was done, we waited for a little while for our waitress to return, unsure of how to pay for the meal since she had provided no instructions. We finally figure out that we should pay at the front, which we did and got the heck out of there. We will not return to Mo's unless it is the last place on earth with food. Yuck, yuck, yuck! -
Review from Tim E.
Portland, OR
7/29/2011
So, really, what was I to expect? It's a tourist place, after all. But we were at the coast, entertaining visitors, and we went to Mo's because we thought hey, it's the beach, let's get beach food. The only problem is, the beach most of our food came from is probably in Vietnam. Seriously, how much bay shrimp can a restaurant shell out? (har har). They put bay shrimp in every-friggin-thing. Bay shrimp sliders? They looked hella nasty. And if you're a "flat lander," like myself, you can order a few non-ocean items, but the sides they come with? Clam chowder, a green salad with shrimp, or coleslaw with shrimp. That land is indeed not too flat. Fortunately, they were okay with not adding shrimp to my green salad.
But I'm not too much of a flat lander, so I decided to try fish and chips. The fish? Well, my fish made me think that the restaurant should be called Gorton's, because it tasted like it was breaded and flash fried hundreds of miles away, like in Iowa or something nonsensical like that. It was tasteless, bone dry, kinda tough, and didn't seem house-made.
I personally hate clam chowder, but my wife and sis in law thought the chowder was pretty good. There's a chance that the clams are at least local, but I doubt it.
The funny thing is that we had a vegetarian with us, and she claimed that the garden burger was cooked quite well. Way to go, Mo's. -
Review from Denny M.
Beaverton, OR
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I would love to give Mo's a glowing review, they are our usual coastal go to comfort food place. It is my family's tradition to eat our departing meal at any of Mo's locations (depending on where we are at on the coast) before we head back to the Willamette Valley. But alas, our last visit was just not up to the usual standard.
The clam chowder was still hot and tasty, it was the rest of the meal that left me wanting something better. Maybe it had something to do with the tour bus that was loading up as we entered the place that night. We won't give up and we will be back though! They have been to rock solid for too long for us to not come back again. -
Review from Mikhail H.
Beaverton, OR
1/18/2011 1 photo
Friends have raved about this restaurant nonstop so we finally went with two more friends who insist the food is amazing. I was very confused if there was something wrong with me. I ordered fish and chips which both tasted and looked like they were frozen fish sticks you would pick up on sale at Safeway or something. The clam chowder tasted like something out of a can and was very watery. I just kept wondering if I was at the wrong restaurant.
The service was ok. Our waitress would go back and forth between seeming to ignore us and being super attentive which was a bit confusing but we were grateful the times she was giving us great service. The restaurant itself was very clean and the decor was super cute.
I wanted so badly to love this restaurant and finally experience a beach tradition. I was beyond disappointed. That increased even more after I met the owner of Mo's who was not just a nice guy but very big into doing volunteer work etc and encouraging his employees the same. -
Review from Tricia G.
San Fernando, CA
10/13/2011
Mehhh, I've had better chowder so this place was not memorable. Save your time and money, and go elsewhere.
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Review from Lorie O.
Marysville, WA
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hubby and I went to Mo's for a late lunch... We were seated with a gorgeous view of the Oregon coast and Haystack Rock. I was so mermerized by the view that I didn't care to know what I ordered. I had a bloody Mary to drink and steamer clams for an appetizer. I've had better clams... I also ordered the fish tacos and the hubby ordered the combo plate... Both fish plates were typical fried straight from the freezer foods... I didn't care to finish my food or my drink... I just wanted to watch the people on the beach... oh and we did have a small cup of the clam chowder... it wasn't the greatest but the only one I finished. Way to pricey for whatever we had...
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Review from Shane M.
St. Petersburg, FL
1/27/2011
I tried their famous clam chowder in a bread bowl. It was (drum roll please) ... not very deserving of their famous title. It was neither great, nor horrible.
I also tried some of their fried fare - it was good, and that's really the only thing that saves them. I took real offense to being told their clam chowder was "famous" - because it wasn't famous. Only one person I was in the car with was even aware Mo's existed. That's not famous.
The view was nice. I like water. I once was a fish, so water makes me feel comfortable. -
Review from Allen L.
Lake Oswego, OR
9/11/2011
Cliff notes:
- The clam chowder tasted more like "potato chowder" mixed in with a few bits and pieces of clam and bacon.
- The service was extremely slow, even though it didn't appear that the server's were over-seated -
Review from N B.
Gresham, OR
7/16/2011
Some of the worst service you can get anywhere. Getting your order taken takes work here. The view is okay if you can see through the disgusting dirt caked windows. Getting your check is near impossible and the seafood is anything but fresh, yet its right on the coast. I wouldnt recommend this restaurant to anyone including my worst enemy. Prices are steep considering the quality, crappy ambiance, poor service, and bad everything.
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Review from Brooklyn A.
Olympia, WA
3/13/2011
Maybe it's just because it's sentimental for me since I grew up going here throughout my youth while on vacation- but they have such good "run of the mill coastal food"- quick bar type foods and the best clam chowder ever!
The view is awesome, or you can sit by the fireplace. I just miss the actual tables & comfy chairs- the tiny tables and bench seats make the place seem less than what it actually is.
My husband had the pan fried oysters- fresh and AMAZING! We were impressed! I had the shrimp salad & chowder- good as it has been for years! -
Review from michael k.
Portland, OR
8/19/2010
It is what it is. An old school diner, with a seacoast flair. I was beyond hungry. It was there, had a view, and the food came fast. The fish and chips weren't bad, and the fish tacos outside of needing some salt were ok too.
But if I herd a wait person say, Hi my name is...... and welcome to Mo's one more time..... -
Review from Nikki Z.
Seattle, WA
Casual, beachy and filling food. No diet on this trip... gotta enjoy the fried yumminess that is available. However, there are great healthy options as well. Husband loved the tuna melt and I the avocado shrimp salad :)
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Review from Bill L.
Hillsboro, OR
8/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
It is what it is. A timeless establishment framed by the picture window views of cannon beach. Food is always consistent, not super exciting but standard seafood diner fare. The best things on the menu are the bacon-laced clam chowder (leave off the pat of butter) and the boulibase. You can also buy chowder base at the counter to bring home. Very family friendly. Don't expect anything fancy, go when it light out, and enjoy the beach!
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Review from James K.
Portland, OR
9/4/2011
Didn't make it in. Too busy. Line out the door and to the parking lot. From what I hear, not worth that kind of wait (but if you're looking for the tourist experience, then go for it). There are great places just down/up the road that have no wait, and are better.
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Review from Ginny G.
Vancouver, WA
9/4/2011
What almost was our worst experience at a restaurant was made right by the VERY nice manager. Our server seemed to forget us and our food was just ok. We don't usually complain but when the cashier asked, we had to say something. The manager comped our whole meal which was very generous and not expected or necessary but it definitely changed our minds from "never going back" to "willing to give them another try" next time we're at the beach. The manager practiced old fashioned customer service and kept a customer. :-)
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Review from Scott N.
7/12/2010
Mo's is about as Oregon as Mt. Hood. Many Oregonians can recall Mo's clam chowder and peanut butter pie from their early childhood. Mo's has other restaurants but this Cannon Beach location is my favorite. It's by far the most friendly and the most efficient of all the Mo's restaurants.
One great thing this restaurant has going for it is location. The Cannon Beach Mo's gives it's diners a spectacular view of the ocean and the beach. There's a nice gift shop at the entrance selling Mo's memorabilia (T-shirts, sweatshirts, etc.) Parking is a bit tight around the building but luckily there's a good beach access parking lot right next door.
There's been a rumor going around lately that Mo's clam chowder has gone down hill. I disagree. Most chowder heads would agree that Mo's serves a terrific New England clam chowder. It's hearty, thick, and delicious.
Once you get past the clam chowder the menu is pretty basic seafood. However, Mo's has never been known for it's haute cuisine. Mo's has always offered basic seafood dishes at reasonable prices.
The menu here has changed over the years. Mo's is now offering sliders, more salads, and more pasta dishes. In some cases diners are given the choice of having their seafood grilled or deep fried which is a very welcome addition.
Some standouts on the menu: the shrimp cocktail, the oyster burger, and the shrimp sliders.
The tradition is to end your meal with Mo's famous peanut butter pie. However, be forewarned! Mo's peanut butter pie slices are enormous. You might want to share your peanut butter pie with your buddy.
If you go to the Oregon coast you owe it to yourself to visit this great Oregon legend!Listed in: Cruising for clam chowder
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Review from Jim E.
Vancouver, WA
8/14/2011
After not visiting Mo's for over five years I stopped in for a bowl of clam chowder with a friend. Make no mistake this place is now 100 percent a tourist place. What ever charm, originality this place had is long gone. Dirty and noisy , better chowder can be had else ware and for less. :(
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Review from Keshar N.
6/19/2010
My boyfriend and I were visiting Oregon from the Midwest and heard about Oregon's legendary clam chowder. After some researching on the Internet, we found that Mo's Restaurant had "World Famous" clam chowder and upon our trip to Canon Beach we decided to go there.
I cannot say that I have ever been so disappointed with a dining experience in my entire life. We walked in, and after hearing about the great view and atmosphere, we were sorely disappointed. The place was kitschy to say the last. With huge fish nets hanging from the ceiling and horrible merchandise greeting you in the doorway it is far from original. Our waitress was not friendly or attentive, barely taking the time to explain their specials, instead just pointing at a placard, even though the place was empty. The view was mediocre, just a scene of a beach, you can get much better ones by spending the time outside.
We decided to go against our better judgment and order the clam chowder and the special of fish tacos. The clam chowder arrived in their "cannonball" bread bowl and was beyond disappointing. Watery and flavorless, I've had better chowder come out of a Campbells can. The fish tacos were a travesty to fish tacos. The halibut was served dry, on a bed of raw cabbage inside of a construction paper tortilla. The garlic sauce was nothing exciting, but without it, the fish tacos would have gone from really bad to inedible.
My thoughts? When you go to Canon Beach take some time to look around the boardwalk and find another local establishment to spend your money. Since Mo's is not only terrible, but also terribly expensive. It's pretty bad when you find that the Diet Pepsi is the best part of your meal. -
Review from David A.
Ann Arbor, MI
8/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I will always rate the quality of the food over the atmosphere. The seafood is very good, although presentation style is more "family" and not at all exotic. The clam chowder is very good and filling. I had the shrimp sampler that was very good, but more basic. Don't expect this place to be exciting, but expect it to be good. Additionally the view of the ocean was really spectacular.
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Review from Kim G.
Cloquet, MN
8/20/2011
Good food, reasonable prices, fun atmosphere, ocean view. Eat there. No, it's not gourmet, and there are lots of bay shrimp- I guess that's a bad thing for some folks- so tell the waitress to leave them off the salad. I thought it was fine, and I got to eat looking at the ocean. Boo-hoo stuck up foodies, but us yoakles from Minnesota don't get out here much.
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Review from Phan Y.
5/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I loved Mo's!! Not so much for the food but more for the touristy approach they took! When you walk in your basically walking into a gift shop, go past the cashier and BAM... your in a huge ass restaurant with an amazing view of Cannon beach! The food wasn't bad, it wasn't awesome either but I enjoyed myself. The view was good, the service was good and I left smiling... so BAM... 4 stars!!
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Review from Mish M.
9/5/2010
I had my first Mo's experience before I could even walk; its definitely an Oregon tradition. This particular location has an amazing view of Haystack Rock and comfortable outdoor seating, which I love.
I know I'll get shot for saying this, but I've always thought Mo's clam chowder was a little overrated. It is good, don't get me wrong, but it's not the very best. I've always been surprised that it's so famous, when there are many places on the coast that have better chowder. That said, I've always been pleased with my meals, especially the clam strips, and usually stick to their classic seafood choices.
When I moved back here with my husband (who is from out-of-state) after being away for a few years, Mo's was the first coastal restaurant we went to. I told him he couldn't be an Oregonian without eating at Mo's, world famous chowder or not. -
Review from Pablo G.
Seattle, WA
10/24/2010
The chowder was second best to Ivars but better than anywhere else around here, the oysters on the shell were gynormous and yummy. The crab melt was more like garlic bread and cheese as opposed to the tuna melt. The grilled salmon was purrrfect and the rice pilaf was better than mom's.
Jules Verne would approve. -
Review from Leon C.
Rego Park, Queens, NY
We came here after funcycling on the beach. We got window seats and had a great view of the coast and Haystack Rock.
We had a great waitress and ordered a lot of food. Some appetizer to start - Shrimp and Calamari. The sauce for the Calamari was tasty, but the shrimp was rather greasy and I mostly tasted breading.
I ordered a Blackened Salmon entree and my friends had Clam Chowder in a bread bowl. I thought my Salmon was amazing and I thought I would still be hungry after that, but I was stuffed! The Garlic Mash that came with was pretty tasty even though it was stuck together like a rock? Whatever, I liked it. Oh, my entree came with a dinner salad with little shrimp on it. It was alright, it was there - I ate it.
As for my friends' clam chowder in a bread bowl... where do I start?
The bread! Is this sourdough bread or what? It was barely sour, it's like eating a regular roll and they put some lemon juice in the dough when they made it to make it a little sour. (So maybe not exactly, but you get my point). Then I tasted the chowder with the bread... It was... powdery? I understand they make it in a factory and have it shipped to them year round and it's suppose to be amazing. It was lackluster. It's just missing that goodness of what a clam chowder needs to be. I've probably had better chowder from a can. I can't even compare it to the chowder I had in Boston or the Sourdough bread in San Francisco, it just doesn't live up to the hype. So go and get the Salmon I had instead, it was delicious.
We also ordered the Snicker Bar Cake thing. It was amazing.
So an hour after the meal, I don't know which of the food I had is related, but I got sick real bad. So if you wanna give this place a go, go see the scenery and maybe get a burger. -
Review from Jen K.
1/17/2008 2 Check-ins Here
Wow. Guess the first reviewer didn't like it, huh? This is why I do. I have been coming here a few times a year for the past ten years. Still qualify as a tourist and I have never been treated poorly by the staff.
A few things to get straight right off the top. This is not fine dining and they don't specialize in healthy options. Do not expect the best food ever. Their 'famous' clam chowder is not the best you will sample and it is served with a big dollop of butter on top.
For me, Mo's is more of a trip down memory lane. It is a throw back to when the bread was white and there was no fusion this and organic that. The Wonderbread comment is right on.
But, Mo's restaurants have great locations and this one is my favorite (Lincoln City is a pretty close second). It is an OK restaurant with a million dollar + view of Haystack Rock (the most photographed spot on the OR Coast for you non-Oregonians). They also do a good job of serving you quickly in a no muss no fuss manner.
But, what I've found works best is to order my food to go (.50 addl. charge per meal). They added an outdoor patio a few years ago, but a fantastic beach is just steps away. I order the food to go then eat it on the beach while the kids run around and build sandcastles. They even serve the grilled cheese sandwich on a frisbee. Believe me, if you have kids, this is the best way to get a decent meal and actually eat it without stressing over table manners, waiting to be served, etc.
I love eating their clam chowder, tuna sandwich or fish and chips with my toes in the sand. However, I think the best side dish on their menu is the coleslaw. Make sure you get it with shrimp.Listed in: NW Coastal Favorites (Oregon…
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Review from Cindy Q.
Oregon City, OR
3/21/2008
I agree with Jen. Mo's is a family must-stop tradition on any trip to the Oregon Coast. Located in all the major coastal towns, Mo's is always reliable for great clam chowder. The service is never over the top fantastic, but I've never had an "unfriendly" server.
The only thing I don't like about Mo's is the long wait in high-season time and the fact that they wind you through the so-called gift shop while you're waiting for your table. It reminds me of Disneyland waiting to get on the ride. However, I never found a real sand dollar at Disneyland, nor would I be able to buy it for $1.
Mo's gets my vote. -
Review from Ted P.
Chicago, IL
5/21/2008
On an off-day in the off-season, this place was a great place to grab some dinner. It was cheap and our waiter was genuinely friendly -- not quite what I'd expected from a tourist targeted place, actually...
My wife said the chowder was pretty darn good and was pleasantly surprised by my burger and fries. I'd definitely stop here again. -
Review from laurel d.
Long Beach, CA
2/16/2006 1 photo
Growing up, a trip to the coast (it's not the beach, crazy Californians, it's the coast, so just get the beach-talk out of your systems now) meant a few things. First, it meant a drive that wound through the coastal range: undulating curves flanked by trees that created a narrow slit of the sky, allowing just enough sunlight through to remind you that it wasn't nighttime at 1 in the afternoon. Second, it meant a romp in the ocean.
But this was not a bathing suit and towel sort of affair.
No, a 'romp in the ocean' meant taking off the boots (mine were generally some form of moon boot growing up), rolling up the jeans, popping the collar of the double-layer Columbia fleece and charging, face against the wind, into the water. After about twenty minutes, the tingling, stinging, altogether unpleasant biting cold subsided as our skin--now red and blotchy--was numbed to the temperature of the water. We would then splash and laugh and frolic while the rain assaulted our face and the wind whipped our hair into a matted whorl of sandy dreadlocks.
This is the real coast, and if you can take it like a real Oregonian, the views are breathtaking and worth the drive--if not, at the very least, to buy a bag of authentic saltwater taffy at one of the numerous candy stands dotting the coastline, or stopping at Camp 18 for a cinnamon roll the size of the moose head hanging on the wall. And if you're anywhere near a Mo's, God himself will strike you down if you don't stop in and have a bowl of their legendarily, scarily, ridiculously amazing clam chowder. (Camp 18, 42362 Hwy 26, Seaside, 97138, Mo's 657 SW Bay Blvd, Newport, 97365)Listed in: Keep Portland Weird
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Review from Ahmad B.
King, WA
11/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
Mediocre. The location and the view are excellent, however, they kill you with either salt or sugar in the food.
It is clean but the food is greasy.
Won't come back. -
Review from Christine D.
Portland, OR
2/23/2008 1 Check-in Here
I hadn't been here in a long time and my boyfriend suggested we drive down from Seaside to give it a try.
This location is a bit smaller than the one in Lincoln City but equally enjoyable.
We were quickly seated by a window.
The food came quickly and was most tasty.
When we got done with dinner we walked out and watched the sunset on the beach.
It was a good time.
