The Ocean Friendly Restaurant program increases awareness, drives change in behavior and ultimately creates scalable impact to reduce plastic waste. One restaurant, one customer at a time.
Show your support in reducing single use plastics in San Diego by signing our “Plastic Straws Suck” Pledge!
Restaurants participating must follow the first four criteria:
1. No expanded polystyrene use (aka Styrofoam).
2. Proper recycling practices are followed.
3. Only reusable tableware is used for onsite dining, and disposable utensils for takeout food are provided only upon request.
4. No plastic bags offered for takeout or to-go orders.
And choose a minimum of three of these criteria as well:
5. Plastic straws are provided only upon request.
6. No beverages sold in plastic bottles.
7. Discount is offered for customers with reusable cup, mug, bag, etc.
8. Vegetarian/vegan food options are offered on a regular basis; and / or all seafood must be a ‘Best Choice’ or ‘Good Alternative’ as defined by Seafood Watch or certified as sustainable.
9. Water conservation efforts, such as low-flow faucets and toilets, are implemented.
10. Energy efficiency efforts such as LED lighting and Energy Star appliances, are in place.
Restaurants who meet all 10 of the criteria are recognized as a Platinum Level Ocean Friendly Restaurant.
Show your support by frequenting our registered Ocean Friendly Restaurants and let them know you found them on the OFR webpage
Ask for water and other drinks in a reusable glass instead of plastic
Bring your own reusable cup for takeout coffee, and remember to ask for a reusable mug when ordering “for here”
Bring a reusable water bottle to avoid purchasing plastic bottles of water
If you think you may have leftovers, bring your own reusable container instead of getting a disposable container from the restaurant
Always bring your own bag when picking up takeout food
Register your favorite restaurant – Anyone can become part of the OFR team and register restaurants to be Ocean Friendly. Join us at a committee meeting to find out exactly how the process works.
We offer restaurants several incentives for their Ocean Friendly practices.
Promotion to more than 30,000 San Diego County consumers through: