I wish I asked for the the servers name. But she was a younger blonde with a pink tie and she was fantastic! She was exactly what you'd expect for really awesome service. I've been here so many times so it's time I actually left a review. Every time we come here the service and the food is always good. And the kitchen puts in a lot of thought into the presentation, which is a nice touch. Their food is consistently delicious too. Being on the Santa Cruz wharf, the views are of course amazing and we usually ask to get to a table by the window... Which I'm sure they get asked that by everyone. They're probably sick of hearing it lol. They have an open kitchen which adds a nice touch for the customers that are dining. If I worked there I'd personally would not want to feel like everyone was watching me. But it does make it nice for us. At first glance when you order off the locals menu, the portions might seem on the smaller side but it's more than enough to leave you feeling full. I've tried every spot on the wharf... I've lived here for more than 25 years and for now, this is the best place... Riva Restaurant does come close though. Firefish has delicious cocktails and bartenders are top notch too. A must to try one or two. Parking is plentiful, you will always be able to find one. Unless it's summertime on a weekend and or lands on a holiday. But it's extremely rare. This is an easy 4-5 to 5 stars. Cheers. read more

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We went here after spending the day at the beach and they had a table available. My son got fish and chips which is his usual and it was quite good 4/5 I took chicken pesto sandwich which was nothing great 3/5 my husband took the cajun fish special and it was ready good, the cajun sauce was perfect and the portion was also perfect size for lunch 5/5/ The view was great from the restaurant, you can easily find parking on the wharf and walk. read more

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Stopped for lunch and were very impressed. First the hostess and wait staff were welcoming, articulate, pleasant and caring about your experience. The cup of chowder was excellent as expected. But the highlight was the Seafood Rockefeller. We also had a Shrimp Louie. We had a window view over the water too. What a great lunch date! read more

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Good food and great service! We were on the wharf and wanted something for dinner. Obviously we were looking for seafood. Places we wanted had a wait, so we decided on Firefish. The menu was posted outside their restaurant and helped make sure there was something we wanted to eat. The inside feels a little more up scale but it was actually pretty casual. We were seated quickly and loved the view outside. We came at dinner time so you could see the ocean and sun slowly setting. We decided on the Seafood Rockefeller, crab cake dinner, and kids fish and chips. Prices were a little higher but comparable to the other restaurants. The adult meals came with a side and veggies. Portions were pretty big. I was surprised how big the crab cakes were and tasted really great. It wasn't dried out and a had a little spice to it. The risotto was creamy and cheesy. The kids fish and chips was huge, more than enough for our kids. The breading was more of a panko than a batter which was unexpected but still yummy. The steamed veggies were nice. I do wish they served a bread basket or something with it. Did have one hiccup where the price of the kids fish and chips differed from the menu. Not a huge difference but I would have made a different selection had I known. read more

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For a quick lunch on the Santa Cruz Wharf, we stopped in at Firefish Grill to enjoy the crisp air showing early signs of Spring. We sat next to a window overlooking the Monterey Bay and enjoyed seeing sea lions and seagulls. Our waiter gave us recommendations that the oysters that day were great, much to our satisfaction. The clam chowder was flavorful and had chunks of clam and potatoes in it. The jambalaya pasta was great, reminiscent of my visits to the French Quarter. I do wish that the pasta had a little more spice with chili flakes added, but the flavor was spot on for Cajun food. read more

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You really can't go wrong with eating on the Santa Cruz pier- our view was primo- just incredible! On a weekend night, Firefish was able to seat us without any reservation and without any wait time at all. I ordered the crab cake dinner, two large cakes which were served over perfectly creamy risotto. The beurre blanc sauce was delicious, and the crab cakes were still crispy on the outside. I loved the textures of each bite. These were my most favorite crab cakes so far in life, though the view and the company certainly enhanced the experience! I would 100% order these again. Loved the giant hanging sculpture as we walked in. read more

Food is amazing. I ordered the swordfish, my husband got the salmon and our third wheel got the...I forget. But everything was delicious. read more

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Five of us friends had lunch here today. We celebrated a birthday. We were here last month. Each of us ordered something different. I ordered one of the local fresh caught specials of a panko coated sole. Every dish was delicious! My sole was cooked perfectly. Our server, Evan, provided excellent and professional service. He even was kind enough to take our group foto. We would like to thank the amazing chef for the outstanding entrees and treating birthday friend and company for the chocolate torte. Great ambiance and spectacular ocean views. We Will be Back! I highly recommend coming here. read more

Firefish Grill - The sole with veggies and rice pilaf - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I understand this place is in a tourist spot, but it is expensive and the food was amazing bit bland. I ordered the king salmon and fire shrimp. The shrimp was good but the salmon was okay. The view was nice though. Maybe I should've tried something else. Not sure if I would come back when im in the area. read more

Firefish Grill - king salmon - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Eww. Decided on this place bc it had only a 10 Min wait instead of 40 like the other places on the pier. So we ordered 2 Bloody Marys at the bar. The whole bar staff seemed to be arguing and having problems. We never received our drinks. We were seated in a weird back area.... Ambiance was super strange and not homey or appetizing or cute. Finally got our bloody Mary's 30 min later. They were ok. Ordered the crab legs and cioppino .. it was all just gross. To pay $78 for 2 crab legs and some whipped potatoes and disgusting veggies is just sad. The cioppino tasted like spegettioes were poured over bad seafood. The clams were all closed. So not edible. The seafood was all actually rubbery and fishy. It was the worst I've ever had. We told our waiter and he was sweet but was like " oh so sorry we have new kitchen members"..... this restaurant is a serious contender for Gordon Ramsey kitchen makeover. Like i feel like the whole staff is in disarray and they are using old frost bitten seafood using their location to draw tourists that don't know any better. It was not worth $300. Wish i would have waited the 40 min to get into a better restaurant. I would NEVER recommend ever going to this restaurant. Everything was horrible. The food, the energy, the staff, the ambiance. Thanks for nothing firefish grill. Your food is horrid. Thumbs down. Gross and embarrassing. So many other good restaurants in the area to give my money to. Just quit the restaurant biz now and stop stealing peoples money!!!!!! Barf read more

Fresh and bright ambiance, with ocean vibes. The Oceanside takes get a great view during daylight We sat at the bar stools earlier and moved to the tables. The bar staff wasn't too "welcoming " in their demeanor, they were shoving used glasses up in our faces. The waitress at the table was really friendly and warm, once we moved to our table. read more

Firefish Grill - Halibut and chips - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Beautiful inside and on the pier and greeted with smiles throughout my meal. The food was beyond excellent and I was happy to spoil myself to a couple mock non-alcoholic Pina Coladas. read more

9 years ago I gave this place a 5 star review! I'm giving it 5 again after enjoying a wonderful meal there last night. I read a lot about the fish chowder ( you'll find independent reviews on line to make your mouth water) and decided to try it. It was just as promised! Different from regular chowder but wow! The flavors are amazing! We also tried the grilled fish skewers and they were delicious as well. The beverages were well made, the atmosphere and view were lovely and the servers more than attentive! Thanks for another great experience! read more

Firefish Grill - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I don't usually leave reviews, but I felt this one was necessary. My fiancé and I came here on October 18th to celebrate our ten year anniversary. We arrived around 7:30 p.m. and were greeted quickly, seated right away, and initially thought things were off to a good start. Unfortunately, that changed fast. We waited about 15 minutes before our server even came to our table and it wasn't busy at all. We ordered a bowl of clam chowder and the fried shrimp, but both dishes made us sick shortly after eating. We ended up having to cut our night short and couldn't even go out dancing like we'd planned because we had to stay near a restroom. It honestly felt like the food was old or improperly handled, which is unacceptable. It's really disappointing to see how many restaurants in Santa Cruz seem to lack proper food safety and professionalism lately. Sadly, this was our last time dining here and as locals, that's truly unfortunate. read more

Calamari was greasy I'm ready to review.and and mostly tentacles. Abalone was too thin, too tough and overcooked Server was great Swordfish was mushy not fresh And they weren't very busy either read more

We got the seafood kabob, oysters and the big Mai tai bowl drink. I really liked the service, we ordered the bread basket and the waiter was very nice and kept checking on us. The oysters were fresh, and tasty. The view from the restaurant is very beautiful since you're on the wharf. Usually little to no wait time to be seated. Whenever we're on the wharf my family always goes here. We love the food and the vibe. read more

Firefish Grill - Mai tai - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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I thought it was pretty good! The clam chowder bowl was way too big. I could only finish half. The the jambalaya was delicious! It had a Nice kick to it. I finished the pasta. Sat by the window seat and watched the ocean and seagulls. I thought the service was really good. Parking can be street or on the pier. I think parking on the pier is probably cheaper. After eating we walked down further and there were so many sea lions. They're so cute. read more

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The food is amazing, I think one of my favorites along the pier. If you're looking for a fancy dinner with surf and turf & great drink options this is your place! My only complaint is that we waited about 15 minutes to be greeted after we sat and never got refills. read more

Firefish Grill - Clam chowder bowl - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Location, cute exterior, reviews from Yelpers I trust- from 8 years ago. Note to self: Don't neglect to check the latest reviews. Apparently this restaurant has changed hands a couple of times and it's not what it used to be. We walked in and everyone was seated by the water. Two tables were free so I asked instead of the horseshoe banquette we were offered, could we sit by the windows? "Those tables aren't ready, it'll be a few minutes." A quick wipe down and ten seconds later, "Your table is ready." (Am I starring in Scorsese's "After Hours"?) Server didn't know where the lobster was from so I asked him to check that plus the market price and the weight - and check the market price of the halibut, too. Lobster was from Maine- and it wasn't a whole lobster as listed on the menu but a lobster tail (only) so I decided to pass and ordered the crab cake (which was burnt) and immediately our mains arrive. They realize the timing is silly and put my plate under a heat lamp. My son's pork chop was not at temperature which I noticed after he'd eaten most of it (was very undercooked) and my halibut fish & chips was not halibut. I had three small bites and two tiny tastes of coleslaw to moisten my mouth. It was that dry. The server was apologetic and offered something else but my son had long finished his main. They could've at least offered to take my entree off the bill. When I saw the manager walking towards us I girded myself for an uncomfortable conversation but he kept walking. When I got back to our hotel, I waited 90 minutes to reflect then called American Express and disputed the charge. I don't think I've ever done that before. read more

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Came here last night with my husband and daughter for dinner. let me start of by saying our server was amazing and would give him 5 stars for his service however the one star is due to the everything else! We ordered the calamari app which was tasty and a bread basket to start. About 30 mins in our server said the kitchen didn't get our dinner order and he's sorry and took care of it no biggie however my food came out before my husbands and daughters my husband waited about 10 mins before getting his halibut. When I got my meal it said it was supposed to have crab in it we had mentioned there was none in it when he looked the waiter said oh my gosh I'm sorry now I had a crab cracker and a spoon in the bowl when I got brought the crab it was shredded ICE COLD CRAB! I was absolutely mind blown that that was even given to me no crab leg no nothing just a cup of shredded ice cold crab! The lobster that was in it tasted fowl and extremely rubbery even my husband agreed when I had him taste it just to be certain now my meal was $42.00 what a complete and total waste of money! My husband got the halibut which he had said was okay but again not worth $42.00. The bill was not worth the quality of food! We will definitely not be back here and I highly recommend trying somewhere else save your money and your stomach! It was a complete disappointment. The Bloody Mary was good I guess if you want to stop by for a drink can't really get that to wrong read more

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This is one of my favorite places on the Warf ! Definitely try the crab salad sandwich and seafood tacos. Both were amazing! The fettuccine needed more salt, but was good. We had great service and nothing beats the view. read more

Firefish Grill - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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This restaurant is getting an unusual five-star review. I say unusual, because fishing pier and tourist area restaurants don't usually do so well in my book. I had the grilled seafood platter and my friend had the steak. Both were cooked and seasoned to perfection. The mixed green salad exceeded expectations. The blue cheese salad dressing tasted homemade. The french fries were fresh and crispy, and I did not have to request them extra crispy. For dessert both my friend and I had creme brulee. The serving size was the largest I've ever had in a restaurant. It too tasted fantastic. Service also exceeded expectations. My diet Coke glass was always full. And the busser cleared dirty plates the second to the last particle of food was removed. All in all, I'd say the service was exceptional. And I love the ambiance. We were seated at an unusual table with both positions facing outward toward the window. Initially we laughed because it almost felt like we were on a two judge panel in a courtroom. But it turned out to be an excellent arrangement. We had a fantastic view of the Santa Cruz Bay and the seating area was comfortable and not cramped. Parking on the pier was super cheap. It was a little drizzly outside, so being able to park right outside the door of the restaurant, that was ultra convenient. A rare experience, I have zero complaints or concerns. I would definitely eat here again and I recommend tourist and locals alike give this place a shot. I'm glad I was not put off by the low Yelp score. read more

Firefish Grill - Grilled seafood platter - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

AL. H. Went early evening on Saturday May 3, 2026. Beat the crowd and got a window seat with ocean views. We had the seafood pasta and crab Louie. Both dishes were excellent. Claudia U. was our server and was great. Prices were in the range expected. We will will return to this spot on our next trip to Santa Cruz. read more

Beautiful service all the bartenders are 10/100. If you're interested in celebrating birthday, graduations, just want to hang out for some good views and good food STOP here please! read more

Firefish Grill - My daughters 21st birthday celebration - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Attentive service, fresh seafood and ocean views make this a great choice when you are visiting Santa Cruz. We shared a clam chowder bowl as a starter and then enjoyed a shrimp salad and crab sandwich as our mains. All were tasty! Work off your meal with a walk on the wharf or visit the Boardwalk! read more

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I made the right choice. I was able to get a table right by the window overlooking the water. The view is stunning. If you like a spicy Bloody Mary, I highly recommend to try the one here. I also had the shrimp cocktail and the Cajun Snapper. The shrimp cocktail was ok. The Cajun Snapper was very good. The vegetables were tender crisp and the rice cooked perfectly. The service was very good as well. read more

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After a long day at the beach, we were looking for a place to have seafood. We have a family of six so we weren't looking to spend a ton of money. We aren't poor but taxes are high and this is California. The fish of the day was excellent, and so was the clam chowder. The kids menu is a little bit lacking, but everybody found something to eat. The ocean view was great. The service was quick and the server was very friendly. I wish they had some beer on top, but the glass was cold and so is the beer so it was good. If you are looking for good prices and good food and not super fancy and maybe you have four kids like us, this is a wonderful place. read more

The food on the wharf can be a crap shoot, but we decided to have lunch here on a very busy Sunday. Promptly seated, ordered calamari appetizer that was absolutely delicious and perfect. The wife asked for a sample of the louie dressing because some are too sweet. This dressing was so good, we used it as a dipping sauce with the calamari as well as the tartar and cocktail sauces which were also very good. The wife had the seafood chowder and it was loaded with goodness. I had the crab sandwich both amazing, well done firefish we will be back! read more

Firefish Grill - View from our table - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I was so disappointed when I learned they had a fire that caused the temporary closure. I visit Santa Cruz quite often and this has been a favorite of mine for a long time. The cioppino never disappoints. The previous vibe was "old school" fish house but it has been redone in a beautiful modern design. We were greeted immediately and were seated with an ocean view table. Our waiter was attentive, friendly and checked on us often. I ordered the cioppino and it was awesome. My only critique was the crab was the snow crab variety and not Dungeness crab. The portion size was perfect. My cousin ordered prawns over pasta with a pesto sauce. She said it was very good. I love this place and will definitely continue to visit. read more

Firefish Grill - Cioppino! With Parmesan crusted garlic bread - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Good service, tasty food. Fish and seafood are under seasoned. Other than that service is fast and efficient, our wait was short and the sunset view is nice. There are lots cocktails and drinks. Every table has one. Drinks and beer have no price on the menu. That I don't like. It is ok to charge me, but I shouldn't have to ask for each drink price. Parking is free after 8pm. The drive was not as fun as my meal. read more

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Out of all the places in the surrounding area why did I choose Firefish Grill? Reason #1: Transparent kitchen. As a restaurant industry professional, I am very particular about where I choose to dine out. You would be surprised at the number of kitchens that don't follow industry standards in terms of health and food safety. I usually opt to make a home cooked meal rather than dine at an establishment that I wouldn't feel comfortable eating at. However, when I was walking the pier, after spending hours in the surrounding areas(Scott's Valley, Felton, Davenport, Boardwalk), the first thing I noticed about this restaurant was the transparent kitchen. All of the kitchen staff were well groomed, with a clean appearance, and seemed to be in good spirits. No sour attitudes or scowling faces which to me, speaks volumes about their workplace environment and the services they offer. They were lazer focused and kept a clean kitchen, even with the distraction of receiving attention from potential guests waking by. Reason #2 :The menu I typically like to read menus before committing to dining in. Although Firefish has competitors in close proximity, it was the only restaurant that I noticed offering specialty high ticket items. I wanted Lobster, I wanted Cioppino, I wanted Steak. That's what I wanted, and while reviewing menus at other restaurants, I felt like this was the best choice for an elevated dining experience. Reason #3 Welcoming Staff The first time I walked by, I was still interested in viewing other restaurant menus to ensure I would make the best choice for the evening. As I walked past the front door at Firefish, I looked inside to see a man at the host stand with a who gave me a smile and a nod. I didn't experience that an any other restaurant I viewed that day. In fact, it seemed like most other establishments could care less if I decided to bring them business. These are the reasons I chose FireFish. Now a list of reasons why I'm happy with my choice. Reason #1: Service My waiter for the evening was Gabriel. He was well groomed, polite, personable and professional. He patiently waited on me to decide what I was going to enjoy for the evening and made excellent pairing recommendations for the dishes that we chose. He even showed gratitude stating that he enjoyed being my server and that I was a great guest. That comment left me feeling appreciated, and is a testament to how much a guest can make a difference in someone's day. Of all the times I have dined out, I have never experienced someone making me feel as valued as Gabriel did. In addition to his service, his colleagues were very sharp. The food runner was so polite, prompt and patient. The busser was always on standby ready to clear empty dish-wear out of our way and the manager even came by to ensure my table was cleared at times. I was very impressed by everyone's effort to take the initiative to ensure guest satisfaction. Reason #2 The Food The dishes were beautifully presented. They were prepared with extreme care and everything from the flavors to the garnishes were executed perfectly. Compliments to the chefs! Final Note: Keep in mind that I ordered specialty menu items.In my humble opinion, it best to visit an establishment like FireFish if you are willing and ready to have no reservations regarding spending money. Places like this are built for guests to enjoy a somewhat elevated dining experience. The service and dishes offered are true to price and well worth it. Thank you to everyone who made Tuesday April 8, 2025 a night to remember. With Gratitude, Vanessa read more

Clam chowder and Firecracker Prawns at FireFish grill is simply delicious. But what makes this place unique is the stunning views of the bay from their floor-to-ceiling windows. Try to visit during late summer evenings and you can catch a beautiful sunset with Blue Hawaiian drink in one hand!!! Another plus point about this place is they are kid friendly and they have lots of non-spicy options for kids. Great cocktails too! Must visit if you are visiting Santa Cruz beach! read more

As always food was excellent. Our waiter EVAN was amazing . Four of my friends and I were celebrating my birthday and Evan could not have been nicer . He went out of his way to take our pictures and all while waiting on a full lunchtime room. Excellent food and service. Thank you Fish House Grill for adding to a perfect celebration. Mariel H read more

We elected to eat lunch at Firefish because the chalkboard said "Fresh petrale sole." A window seat wasn't immediately available, but a great bartender helped us with mimosas and later carried our unfinished drinks to our window table with a fine view of Monterey Bay. Yes, we had the sole, very fresh and well prepared. The same for the sides. All in all a great stop on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. read more

We love coming here. The food and services are always impeccable. Every time we come here we leave satisfied. Ambiance it's great with sea views. read more

Firefish Grill - Great views! - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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We arrived for lunch around noon on Saturday and sat at the last available window seat. It was so nice to eat with beautiful ocean views. We got the calamari, it was ok expected a bit better for $20. I got the jambalaya, which was absolutely delicious with the perfect amount of spice and I wqs able to take half of it home. My only complaint about the jambalaya is that there were only 3 shrimps in the entire $30 dish, and I feel like there could have been one or two more. The reason we came to this restaurant was for the lobster roll, which my New England raised mom loved. She said it was a true NE style lobster roll down to the roll itself. For drinks, I got the lemon drop and thought it was very yummy. The service was fast and our waiter was so friendly! read more

Firefish Grill - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

My wife and decided to take a nice Sunday drive and we ended up stopping at the Firefish Grill on the wharf in Santa Cruz which is where we've been going for a number of years. Before it was called the Firefish Grill it was called Gilbert's. The food has always been great. We haven't been there in a while so we decided to stop and see if anything new was being offered. The restaurant is clean , bright , and has a wonderful view of the ocean and the homes on the cliffs. It's seems the anchovies were running that day so we were lucky to see so many birds and seals. We were seated immediately and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. The menu didn't have as many items that it used to but the selection was decent. My wife had the halibut fish and chips chips and I had the seafood chowder in a white cream sauce which was delicious!! Service was excellent and quick and our lunch was very enjoyable. The price was reasonable and the portions of food were large. We ordered a couple of appetizers and we couldn't finish our main meal. I highly recommended this restaurant and will be back to them agin when we're in Santa Cruz!! read more

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Beautiful view, we had window seats. The calamari was crispy and fried perfectly. Very tasty clam chowder. I had the calamari steak and Bloody Mary on a prior visit to this restaurant which was also very good. I'll definitely dine here again on my next trip to Santa Cruz. read more

Firefish Grill - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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This dinner we had here in Santa Cruz was epic. Out on the pier you will find a variety of nice restaurants and we chose Firefish Grill. The meals were perfect and extremely satisfying. My shrimp cocktail was a miss though because the shrimp was very small and almost tasteless. The cocktail sauce wasn't very good either it had no spice. The bread basket was perfect and my wife loved her pork chop. The ice cold Heineken beer looking over the ocean was incredibly relaxing. Service is great. read more

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Again another visit here for fantastic sand dabs. Excellent service from John at the bar. Finished with a chocolate martini Wow what a great experience! read more

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