Dillon Beach + Tony’s Seafood in Marshall for Oysters

Our mission to document 52 day trips around the Bay Area took us to Dillon Beach, CA (90 minute drive from Oakland) and Marshall, CA for another fun day.

At Dillon Beach, there are 2 beaches

• Dillon Beach (a general beach where you can walk in or park and walk on to the beach). Fee: $10 on weekdays and $20 on weekends.
• Lawson’s Landing (open to anyone but more focused on RVs and campers). Fee: $10 on weekdays and $20 on weekends.

Even though Dillon Beach and Lawson’s are right next to each other, they are radically different beaches. Dillon Beach is in a giant cave leading out to the Pacific Ocean. Lawson’s is a calmer beach because it leads out to Tomales Bay.

Dillon Beach

We chose Dillon Beach.

We had a great first impression. When you drive up to the parking lot, Dillon Beach offers a free ice cream or coffee (from the local General Store) if you pick up trash while you’re on the beach (our 5-year old LOVED this — he got to use that cool picker-upper-tool (shown below

Dillon Beach Parking Log — Walk to the beach is short!

You can explore the dunes

Dillon Beach has some tidepooling — we found this live crab at low tide

A nice view of Dillon Beach from climbing up the dunes

Dillon Beach has picnic tables and allows fire pits. Surfers are in the background. Nice easy rolling waves.

Dillon Beach is dog-friendly

Dillon Beach General Store and Coastal Kitchen Restaurant

As we left the beach, we saw the 2 main places to eat/shop: The General Store and Coastal Kitchen.

Here’s where you go to get that free coffee or soft-serve ice cream! We at the soft serve so fast we forgot to take a pic of it. :)

The main place to eat sit-down isthe Coastal Kitchen (next door to the General Store):

Coastal Kitchen menu (Nov. 21, 2020)

Nice view of Dillon Beach from Coastal Kitchen

Tony’s Seafood for Lunch (in Marshall)

We left Dillon Beach driving down Highway 1 and chose to have lunch at Tony’s Seafood (now owned by Hog Island Oyster Company) in Marshall.

Outdoor seating for Tony’s Seafood in Marshall: Some high-top seating as well as picnic tables (in the distance near the blue umbrellas)

We had:

• Raw oysters
• Grilled Oysters
• Fish and Chips
• Mussells
• White wine
• Lemonade for the kiddo
• Drip coffee (to go)

All was super-yummy. Andy and Michael who served us were outstanding as was the rest of the team (whose names we didn’t catch!). Hog Island owner John Finger nows how to hire!

Tony’s Seafood menu

Tony’s Seafood Menu (beverages and Shuck at Home)

I love that you can buy just the Mignonette oyster sauce and also a shucking knife or shucking glove in case you want to buy whole oysters to eat at home!