I'll start by saying I'm a retired chef, so some what hard to please. You order at the counter, get your number, find your table or outside. The restaurant is 10 out of 10 for cleanliness, bright and airy. And the mini seafood market everything looked super fresh. Staff was very friendly. We were a party of 4. Dz. oysters on the half shell. 2 clam chowder, 1 chippino, 1 garden salad. 2 fried halibut & chips, 1 salmon, &1 crab cake. Oysters: Very very fresh and shucked perfect. Chowder was good. Salad eas large and crisp and fresh, tomatoes hard cooked eggs, and I belive another veggie. The STAR was the chippino, now I make a mean chippino, and have had chippino from san Francisco to the east coast. This in house chippino was THE BEST I'VE EVERY HAD!!!! entrees: Not a salmon fan but my friend said it was done very well. Halibut: Very crispy tender and fresh inside. Crab cakes: We're good not alot of filler, but could have been seasoned a bit more and a bit crisper. And the "chips" cook just right crispy outside tender inside. Now why only 4 stars? We got our appetizer, just about finished them out came the soups & salad & all 4 entrees??!?! Thst is not, how you serve dinner, so on the small table they wanted to put 8 plates 1 plater and 4 glasses 3 bottles?? Come on. And buy tge time we would have finished appetizers and doup/salad corse, the meal would have been cold. We asked them to take the entries back, and serve when we were through. They did keep them some whst warm, but would have been nice if it was hot. So I suggest you ask them not to start your entrees till appetizers and soup/salad corse (if having) are done. But yeah will we be returning ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHIPPINO. Price: With tip 185.00 read more

Excellent food. Wife prefers cod over halibut in fish and chips. Pasta was a 5/5. Order at counter was a minus for some a plus for others. Very fresh scallops. Fries were very good. read more

Finally a place to get decent seafood in Pleasanton! We tried the Cod Fish and Chips, Clam Chowder, Oysters and Fish Tacos. All delicious, definitely worth the trip. read more

Some people are a good judge of character, my cat is a good judge of seafood quality. For example, when we have "casual-grade" sushi, he'll be interested and come over to sniff/investigate, and afterwards think, "Meh, casual grade sushi, I'll go back to my spot and eat my own food." However when we get sushi from an omakase restaurant (current/former Michelin star grade), he dashes over and begs for some! The last time I went to Cook's I picked up a cod & chips, as well as grilled and battered fish tacos to bring home. When I went to eat the cod & chips my cat came over as usual, I let him sniff it, and fully expected him to think, "Meh, not high enough quality for me." and walk away. However this time after sniffing it, he decided to investigate further with a lick, and then a *CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP*! Oh... He really liked it. I ended up peeling off the batter and putting some of the plain cod in his bowl, which he quickly devoured and then came over asking for more... He ended up eating 1/3rd of my fillet (and Cook's fillets aren't small)! Oh, and about the tacos. The grilled fish taco was excellent! juicy and flavorful. The battered fish taco was too dry, and really needed some more sauce. Both tacos were very heartily sized, which was very nice! Cook's = discerning kitty approved! read more

We so wanted this to be good, but we were disappointed. The staff is really nice but the food didn't match the service. The halibut fish and chips were dry, bland and lacked flavor. I think the fish was frozen or overcooked because I have never seen a piece of fish so dry before. I could name a number of restaurants in the Tri valley that make better fish & chips and they are not fish restaurants. The crab cake sandwich was better and had some flavor but the hamburger bun was confusing, wouldn't sliced French bread be better? Over all, nice people, bad food. I Believe I will need to hear better things before we return to Cooks. read more

Waited for this place to open in Pleasanton and it did not disappoint. Chef Moises took the time go around to talk to guests to promote their dishes. Reasonably priced for a seafood restaurant. Welcome to the community! read more

My mom and I checked out Cook's after seeing the sign up for so long! The fish & chips halibut/cod combo were a good size and cooked perfectly. Special shout out for the tartar sauce. The grilled fish tacos and battered fish taco were also a good size and cooked perfectly. A great restaurant for fish lovers. The inside has plenty of seating and A/C. The staff were kind and attentive. The prices are a little bit on the pricy side but expected nowadays eating out. They also sell Acme bread and have a fish counter. read more

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We used to live all of three blocks from the Menlo location and were stoked when this location FINALLY opened after years of waiting. Food is the same amazing quality as that of the Menlo location. It's impossible to have Halibut fish and chips then go back to anywhere else. Also outstanding is the service. Everyone who works there is super helpful. The chef even came out and spoke to every person in the restaurant. He let us try the crab cakes which were also fantastic. Super low key ambiance. Just great food. They even have a decent selection of beers. read more

Good restaurant. Fish is always super fresh and staff is very friendly. Ambiance is good.

I've been going to the Menlo Park location for the last 25 years! We go out our way to stop there when in the Bay. We have been waiting for years for this one to open! It did not disappoint! They have draft beer on tap! And a few other menu items like tacos! The fresh market is tiny in comparison but the service and food is what I expect and love! And half the way as we live in Tracy! read more

The good - place was very clean and the staff friendly. The not so good - I ordered the calamari. It came with most of the batter separated from the calamari. I am used to calamari just in rings which this was not. It was over fried and over salted. The tartare sauce tasted more like salted mayo. My husband ordered 2 piece cod and chips. The cod was large but once again over fried- a darkish color instead of golden. We'll give it one more try. read more

Disappointing after a 5 year wait. The first 2 times we had fish and chips and it was way over cooked on one side and was like trying to break into a walnut shell. The last time it was cooked about right but it was just average at best. Maybe the rest of the menu is better so I'll try one more time. I have to remind myself that it's a fast food place, not a seafood restaurant. A couple of weeks ago we tried the clam chowder and it was not smooth and creamy, it had a very mealy texture. I used to have lunch at the one on the peninsula when I worked over there and it was much better. The service was fast here and the staff was very nice but the F&C and chowder didn't do it for me at all. read more

Can't believe that Cooks finally opened! It's bright clean modern interior, a casual food joint. We ordered Clam Chowder bread bowl, 12 oz cioppino, 4 piece shrimp combo, 2 grilled fish tacos and 1 fried fish tacos to go. Servers were friendly and polite. Cioppino was good and the best of everything we ordered( they included a crab leg which was fresh and yummy. The clam chowder tasty but they didn't clean the clams well - got a bite full of sand. The bread bowl was missing something (guess I was expecting SF Sourdough which this was not). The fried fish taco was good but the grilled fish taco was more grilled shrimp taco. The most disappointing dish was the fried shrimp which was very blah and batter too thick. The chips/french fries were thick cuts but didn't stand up to vinegar and wasn't crispy. Might go back for cioppino and to try something else. Definitely not worth the 8 years wait and definitely NOT ordering fried stuff from them again. read more

Tried cooks when they first opened. it was just OK. Decided to give it another shot. Ordered the 3 piece ood dinner. Outside of the cod was probably a litter over done and the inside was still doughy. My guess is that the oil was too hot. It's a shame as Pleasanton doesn't really have any alternative. This would be my LAST visit to Cooks. read more

I was really ready to be wowed and just wasn't. Now maybe it's that I prefer a lighter fish for fish and chips. The fish was very dense and I'm not used to that. It was also dry, which didn't help. The restaurant is exceptionally clean and the service was great. Maybe I will try a salad or crab cake sandwich next time. read more

This place has been under construction for years but they did finally open and I have to say I really enjoyed it. Just stopped in for a weekday lunch and had to try their cioppino which was really really good and very much along the way I make it at home (but with no effort!). I also had a grilled cod sandwich and it too was really good. I am very pleased at the options and the quality they offer, I will be back often. Good job Cook's! read more

Update: They are fully open for lunch and dinner service, seven days a week. Hours are posted on the website.

Fish and chips were delicious! Great service and really excited to have fresh seafood in the tri-valley

Hella good!!! Been twice now, and each was spot on. This may be one of the best low-key seafood spots in the Bay. Great, fast, and friendly service. Chill atmosphere. read more

Today I had the most delightful lunch at Cooks Seafood; they just opened! I've been a loyal customer at the Menlo Park location for over 30 years, so having one nearby is fantastic. I treated myself to some clam chowder and shrimp with cod. The clam chowder was absolutely divine; the balance of clams to spoonful was spot on and the seasoning was just perfect. The shrimp and cod were cooked to perfection and incredibly fresh. This new location will definitely be a wonderful addition to the seafood scene in the East Bay. read more

Excellent fish and chips, coleslaw and prawns. Fresh, crispy and delicious. Fast service and friendly staff.

Went on a Saturday evening at 6:00. They were out of cod so had to get halibut at a higher price. The halibut and fries were pretty good but prawns were small and not worth it. We also had the combo shrimp and crab salad. The salad wasn't great. Had very little crab (maybe 3 bites). I believe the lettuce was mostly iceberg with some spinach thrown in. Seemed to be premade. Mostly lettuce and wouldn't order again. Service was good. Casual atmosphere. read more

Fantastic comfort food love it. Fish and chips, crab louis, Alfredo, it's all fantastic.

The fried fish and chips were delicious and filling. The fish was meaty and the chips were pretty thick cut and delicious. The pricing was a little pricey but well worth the once in a while. The interior seems clean, modern and sterile. The food wait wasn't too long. read more

My wife and I ate lunch here yesterday and had a thoroughly enjoyable experience! My wife ordered the prawn fettuccini, while I ordered the prawns and French fries. We both ordered clam chowder. Our food arrived quickly, was hot and delicious. The clam chowder was thick, with lots of clams and tender chunks of potatoes. My wife commented to me on how much she loved the sauce with the fettuccini and that several decent-sized shrimp were in the dish. My prawns were fried in a beer batter and were very tasty. In addition, the restaurant was very clean and the staff was friendly and welcoming. We had an especially wonderful conversation with Rom. We definitely enjoyed eating here and will be retuning soon. read more

I've been waiting for this place to open for the past eight years. What a long time thankfully the food was absolutely amazing. I've been here several times and ordered several different things off the menu and everything was absolutely delicious fresh and clean. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for something hot something cold or comfort food. read more

We ordered to go on a Monday night. I had called earlier in the day to check on how the crab sandwich was prepared. Moses was so helpful and even offered to give us sample of the crab to try out if we decided to come in. We had a couple of the crab sandwiches and the fish and chips. All were excellent!! My mom said it was the best crab sandwich she'd ever had. I agree! read more

If you like a "Crab Louie", try Cooks! Wilmax told me they get live crab and cook it there. Its so fresh and tastes amazing. The entire salad was perfect. Definitely going back, worth the wait for their opening. Thanks Wilmax for your great service and the taste testing.... read more

I have been a customer of Cook's sea food for about 25 years. They have the best seafood around the peninsula. Great service, good food, great atmosphere and great prices. Thanks read more

We had an excellent first visit here. Fish & chips offered in both cod and halibut - tried both: thick, meaty, very fresh, fish portions. Clam chowder and Cioppino both delicious with a generous amount of seafood. Clam strips were crispy, coleslaw was fresh. Restaurant was very clean and the staff were all polite and friendly. We'll be back. read more

Hello, I'd like to tell you about a wonderful restaurant last night myself with my husband and a couple friends went to. It's called cooks seafood. Yes there is another one in Menlo Park but I have to tell you I have been there twice now and I wanted to wait to write this review for reasons. I want to make sure I tried almost everything and I did amazing the fresh seafood, amazing clams on the half show snapper halibut cod, crab everything was put together so well with the seasonings and all myself I love grilled. I'm more in the healthier side of it. My Husband loves all the fried so between us we tried both and our two friends came along and they loved it too. The salads were so fresh. The coleslaw was amazing. The potato salad was amazing and the fresh salad salads were great. We enjoyed a glass of wine and My Husband had an IPA. Everything was just right management who is Moses was amazing explaining all the fish and where they get it from the young man who took care of us was amazing. Also, we had some special bread it's called cheesy crab bread when I tell you all it was wonderful. I try not to eat too much bread and I couldn't keep my hands off out so again I sound like I own the restaurant but when I tell you, you gotta try it. You have to try it. You will love it. It's right off 680 into Pleasanton and you have any questions they will help you with anything in the great part is, you can take seafood to go fresh seafood, and not even eat it there if you wanna take it to go and make it yourself at home you have that option they even have Aji tuna please come try it. You'll love it. Have a great day. read more

I really like these people. They are very friendly and ask how you like your food which was excellent. I tried fish and chips with cod fish and it tasted very fresh. read more

I'll be quick. I was really disappointed. I had the two-pc cod fried fish. Both the fish and fries had no flavor and very dry. Tastes like store bought frozen fish. I wanted to like it, but its horrid. read more

Fresh seafood ; attentive & knowledgeable service staff. Variety of uncooked seafood waiting for you to liberate it from the fishmonger's display case to have it prepared to your specification. read more

Went to cooks for the first time and had fish and chips. Being from Boston , I've had my share of fish and chips. They were delicious. Cod was flaky and perfectly cooked. Then we went again a month later, and the fish was very dry and mushy. Not like the first time. My husband ordered the lobster roll and they gave him the wrong order. They were so kind and apologized , and maybe being a Friday night it was quite busy. We returned a few weeks later, they messed up the order again and the fish was ok but not as flaky and moist as the first time. We will give it another try, and just order lobster rolls with butter. So good!! read more

First time here and will keep coming back for hearty portions of seafood and good services. The restaurant is clean and spacious. we got a whole fried snapper for less than $30 - filled up both hubby and I - go for the Cajun seasoning. read more

The seafood here is exceptionally fresh and tastes amazing. We ordered Halibut, clam chowder andpasta. Highly recommended!

I visited tonight, hoping for something special since this restaurant took years to open. I ordered fish and chips, expecting a treat, as it's one of my favorite dishes. Unfortunately, the first red flag was the fish's rectangular shape, like boxed fried fish from a grocery store's frozen food section. I tried to overlook this--shape isn't a dealbreaker, although better fish and chips usually come in varied sizes--and took a bite, really wanting it to be good. It wasn't. I suspected it was pre-battered frozen fish, perhaps supplied by a restaurant supply company and then deep-fried. Curious, I asked the staff about their process. They explained that some fish is frozen and some is fresh, which I could accept. They also said they batter it on-site, which sounded promising. But then they revealed the issue: to save time, they pre-cook the battered fish, store it in the fridge or freezer, and deep-fry it again when orders come in to warm it up. That explained the disappointing flavor. In all my years--and there are many--I've never heard of fish and chips being fried, set aside, and fried again just to save time. I would have gladly waited for something fresh. For fish and chips this expensive, especially in a cafeteria-style setting, I expected much better. The service was also lackluster. When I asked an employee for paper napkins, he told me to go inside and get them myself. I won't be returning. read more

Very very fresh fish, best Fish & Chips I've had in a long time! Friendly staff. Clean dining area.

Service was adequate. Ambiance is cafeteria-like. The food: We had clamchowder bread bowls. The chowder was over salted, but there was no lack of clams. I really looked forward to a real seafood restaurant. So I read the reviews, but still hoped for a better seafood dining experience. If this is what YOU are looking for, this is NOT the place for you. read more