Santa Monica locals often mention that the restaurants on Santa Monica Pier are typically over-priced, unhealthy, and lackluster compared to Santa Monica’s superior dining options. However, tourists frequently appreciate the pier restaurants, with Tripadvisor users (travelers) rating them higher in quality and value compared to Yelp users (primarily locals). When dining at the pier, customers are mostly paying for the stunning location and panoramic view rather than exceptional food. Interestingly, food prices can often be more reasonable than beverage prices at various sit-down establishments.