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    Monterey's Fish House

    4.0 (3.4k reviews)
    PriceySeafood
    Open 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    Updated a few days ago

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    MONTEREY'S FISH HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for groups

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    Sicilian calamari, crab ravioli, and complimentary bread basket
    Angelica T.

    I was a little worried that this place was gonna be overhyped and not worth the stop but I was so soooo wrong. We ordered the Sicilian calamari and crab ravioli for appetizers. The calamari was so tender it barely required any chewing and the ravioli was stuffed with filling and paired with a sweet, creamy rose shrimp sauce. The crab ravioli also comes in a larger portion as a main and we liked it so much we agreed we'd go big if we were ever back in the area. Pro tip: they provide complimentary bread and we used it to soak up all the yumminess from the calamari sauce and pasta sauce... highlyyy recommend. For our main: we ordered an oak grilled swordfish and upgraded our pasta to linguini with the cream sauce to share. Honestly after apps and a bread basket, I was pretty stuffed and was planning on only taking 1 bite but it was hard to stop (and we still had plenty leftover). Our server also let us know all the different ways they're able to prepare your choice of seafood so if oak grilled with pesto sauce isn't to your liking, you can really customize it to fit your taste and the same goes for the pasta. They also took it upon themselves to go through the trouble of splitting the dish into 2 servings so that it would be easier for us to share and that was so thoughtful! **Special shoutout to Cesar and the other gentleman in the red bussing tables - they truly made our dining experience one to remember.** The only thing to make note of is the waitlist. The hostess writes down your party's info upon arrival and we were given a quote of 1 hour but were ecstatic that we got called in sooner than that. On the other hand, there were some angry individuals who hadn't waited in front of the restaurant and missed their name being called so definitely make sure you stick around.

    Cioppino w/ Bread
    Lynn H.

    Love this place for their oak grilled oysters. Would definitely come back just for these. Got crab ravioli and they definitely came with real crab meat inside. Also served with bread on the side. The sauce was good, but I think I would had preferred it a little less salty and more flavor. My partner got the cioppino, which he preferred on the creamier side, but it was still good. I love the fact that it came with such giant clams. Most places only serve tiny clams, but these were giant size like clappers. It also came with fish, mussels, small octopusi, large shrimps, and some bread served on the side. Service here is also amazing. Sat at the bar and our server, Matthew, was friendly, engaging, and very impressive with how he handled the customer. He made sure they were all taken care of, water and bread refilled without needing to make the requests, and checking in on everyone few times throughout their dinner meals. He even helped out assisting with the rest of the restaurant if he ever needed to step in. Huge shoutout to Matthew!

    Firestone Walker Mind Haze IPA 6.2%ABV ($7)
    John D.

    You Fish An old-school, no-frills fish house that's been in operation for over thirty years (ca. 1994) in the same spot. Not only are they a local and Yelper-favorite restaurant, but they were also listed in the exclusive Michelin Guide as recently as 2019. The Good: * Located away from the wharf and Cannery Row, so you don't have to deal with all the nonsense those two come with. * Private parking lot, as well as street parking. * Prices aren't too shabby considering the location. * Service was a bit odd, but friendly enough. * Their house-made linguini was very good and worth the extra $6 upgrade. * Veggies were cooked and seasoned perfectly. * Beers on tap and in bottles, as well as wine. * I liked the flavor from the oak grill. The Meh: * Hard to complain about free bread, but just watch me. The bread was stale and not fresh at all. Even the pats of butter weren't enough to save it. * The Diablo sauce was all gas and no brakes. It needed a little sweetness and acid to complement the spice. * Carissa's penne pasta was waaayyyyyy overcooked. And so was her salmon. The Ugly: * WTF is this second menu they have? I shit you not, the poor waiter had to recite what must have been over twenty off-menu items. It was mildly amusing at first, but then you realize you're supposed to actually absorb all of this? It's got to be some kind of inside joke with the staff. No way it's real. * The clam chowder was watery and not thick at all. Not to mention, the flavor just wasn't good, and there weren't many clams. * My tuna steak was just not good. It didn't taste very fresh and had an off texture. I thought for sure I was going to get food poisoning from it, but luckily that didn't happen. Conclusion: I hate shitting on an institution like this, but it is what it is. It appears their better days are behind them, as there's probably a good reason they lost their Michelin recommendation.

    Street placard
    Ai M.

    Coffee is $5, yet I had to ask for sugar three times. I recommend the swordfish. It was also a top 5 king salmon for me. Mud pie dessert was filled with chocolate ice cream instead of coffee. The clams in the clam pasta were large and its stock contained capers as well as strips of clam meat, but my husband said the soup could not disguise the chemical taste of tap water.

    New England Clam Chowder
    Carissa K.

    I was so not impressed with this place. Maybe things have gone downhill? It started with the ridiculous "specials" list repeated by our server. There was already a specials list menu but there was a crazy long list that he told us about. The list went on and on. The problem is that I have difficulties with auditory comprehension due to a past stroke so I didn't get most of what he said. And the one time I did ask about a specials item, he didn't even really describe and explain. So I just went with an item that was on the regular menu. My salmon looked and tasted frozen which is fine but it was overcooked. The pasta was also well overcooked. The veggies were excellent though. I really enjoyed them. John ordered the New England Clam Chowder which I had to try. It was pretty watery and just okay. The complementary bread was cold and I passed on it. (We had recently dined at a restaurant that gave us incredible focaccia so it's hard to compare.) Once we got past the menu and specials snafu and ordering our food, our server warmed up and did a good job. We definitely won't be back.

    Special - Artichoke seafood pasta
    John G.

    This is probably one of those places that you see it on the street and would continue driving by it. It's on a busy street. Building isn't an eye catcher and you'd think a fish house here? Don't make the mistake of driving by and if you do make a U Turn. This place is not to miss. Staff is welcoming, warm and fun. They are very attentive and want you to be taken care of. The inside has an old school family style look to it. Feels like someplace I'd go with my mom and dad on special occasions. Don't come here if you're looking for something modern looking. Very happy with my choice of food. We had the fried calamari which i thought were cooked perfectly. I ordered the special artichoke seafood pasta. Way more seafood and artichoke hearts than pasta. So so good. If you're in Monterey don't get caught up thinking you need to go down to Cannery Row for seafood. Come down here instead.

    Cioppino
    Debra V.

    We made a reservation because the restaurant get filled fast. They opened promptly at 5:00. We were first in line. We ordered BBQ Oysters to start with was served with French Bread. OMG! The Oysters were huge and were delicious. They came with Lemon and Horseradish and Cocktail Sauce. Very filling alone, but ours were shared. My Husband ordered the Cioppino. The Broth was Italian herbs and spices made the broth a delicious broth to warm your soul. It came with Fish, Clam in shell, Octopus, Prawns, Mussel in shell. A Bowl of Seafood goodness.

    Clam Pasta
    Angelina C.

    It's been a while since I last came here, and I was in Monterey, so I needed to go back. When in Monterey, you should try their seafood because it's top-notch. Their calamari is incredible--no words. I love it and find it very addictive; I wanted to bring more home with me. It's served with a cocktail sauce that has a hint of horseradish and tartar sauce. The pastas are very delicious. It's cute that the pasta is served in a big bowl--I felt like I was drinking soup. I had the clam pasta, and it was delicious. The clams are super fresh, and the sauce is flavorful. However, the only letdown was the pasta noodles. They are average, but homemade, which is impressive. The noodles seem to be small and not long. My parents had the Sicilian Holiday Pasta, which was also very tasty. Just be careful with the red sauce--try not to get your shirt messy. The sauces are perfect for dipping your bread. The service is quick, but it's best to come early because it gets packed really fast. Parking is okay, but it fills up quickly due to its popularity, especially after being featured on Triple D.

    Aimee H.

    This was the last meal of our vacation trip, and it was okay but definitely not my favorite. I love oysters and didn't realize the oak grilled are very large like the size of your hand large. There's a lot of hype around them which drew us to the restaurant, but I was not a fan. The oak grilled oysters were thick and meaty. I prefer smaller. We also ordered the bbq artichoke which was good. We asked them to leave off the caesar dressing it is normally tossed in. For entrees, we both ordered ciappino. It was mediocre. After setting the standard for ciappiano from Phil's Fish Market in Castroville, this didn't steal my heart. It's your local, hometown style no frills restaurant. From appetizers to meal, we waited an hour for our food. The wait staff was friendly; however, The Monterey Fish House just did not hit the spot for us. To each his own though.

    The perfect New England clam chowder!
    Miguel M.

    We arrived there for lunch very early, at 11:30 am. For lunch it is first come first serve and it is a very popular spot. Everything was quite reasonably priced. The waitstaff was awesome! Everybody was so nice. Everything tasted great! The place isn't formal at all, at least not for lunch. All the customers seemed super excited to be there and like they couldn't wait to eat what they ordered. I ordered a cup of clam chowder and the fish and chips special. I asked for one crank of freshly ground pepper, and with the crackers the clam chowder was spectacular! The fish and chips special was so much food... more than I could even eat. If I'm ever back in town, I will definitely go back!

    Swordfish with linguine and red sauce
    Natalie M.

    What a bummer! Came here and was deeply disappointed in the food. It's very loud or it was the time we went. It was not a positive ambiance. The best thing were the oysters that were grilled. These were flavorful. Our server was very kind. But geez they had so many specials. The waiter was very patient to describe them all but it was overwhelming to remember them all. I'd recommend just picking a few...(the people next to us commented that there were more specials than actual items that were on the official menu lol). Then came my fish. I ordered the sole. This came with a light batter. Unfortunately it was not seasoned well. We got veggies and pasta on the side. The pasta was cold and the veggies were mixed with soggy and fresh vegetables. The experience was disappointing since the food was unflavorful and unappetizing and the environment was chaos. Would skip and try to go to other restaurants instead.

    Menu - Nov 2025
    Priscilla K.

    Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 We were in Monterey for a friend's wedding over the weekend and stopped by here on our way back to LA. They're famous for their oak grilled oysters (5/5) and it was amazing! I'd go back just for that. It was so juicy, tender, garlicky, and smoky. Then we had the shrimp bisque (3/5) which needed some spice lol, and had our main--the Sicilian Holiday pasta, which was full of seafood and handmade pasta. I asked if they can make it extra spicy for us and it was perfect. It was like a spicy cioppino with pasta. Without us asking, our waiter Aaron made sure each dish was paced with perfect timing. Highly recommend this restaurant and would love to visit again just for the oysters. I'd like 2 dozen next time. Thank you Aaron for a great experience!

    JUAN V.

    A perfect lunch ! The service was beyond par, the meal was superb, and the complementary bread was fresh and hot. Aaron was the best, please ask for him when you go, you will not be disappointed. He was very attentive and made sure all our needs were met. We've been going here yearly, for over twenty years, and this restaurant only keeps getting better. If you only have one chance to eat in Monterey then the Monterey's Fish House is the one place you have go to.

    Crab Ravioli

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    Everything about Monterey fish house is spot on! Great service fair pricing and great fresh seafood

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    5 hours ago

    Terrible watery clam chowder with no clams. Crab ricotta ravioli with no crab. Staff was very kind and attentive.

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    Monterey's Fish House Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Monterey's Fish House

    Do they have any gluten-free pasta dishes?

    I don't really know. Their menu is on line.

    How does one make a reservation? They do not answer the phone!!!

    They don't do reservation. It's first comes first serve. Go early if you can. It's a hot spot.

    Do they offer gluten-free pasta?

    Do we need to reserve?

    I would make a reservation as there are times there is a long line for walk ins.

    Are they still in the same small venue?

    Yes. 2114 Del Monte Ave. It is the same as when I first visited years ago.

    Is there a lunch offering menu and/or daily specials? Or is the attached menu the same for both sessions (lunch + dinner)? Planning on visiting during lunch hours.

    They have daily specials that change everyday, but they're super pricey

    Do they still have outdoor dining as of today 4/1/23?

    When we visited a couple months ago, they did not have outdoor dining. When dining inside, it gets busy, and they may seat you with other customers. It's ok if you don't mind meeting new friends.

    Anyone know how to contact the restaurant? The phone just rings & rings. Do they take reservations?

    I have used the phone number listed on Yelp. They take dinners reservations starting at 5 pm which I would recommend to be in the first seating. I usually call at 1130 am when they open for lunch to make dinner reservations.

    Do they have gluten free pasta Options?

    Not on the menu. I haven't asked though.

    Will I be allowed to bring my small dog while dining outside?

    Yes, I had my pug with me! Dogs are welcome.

    Are reservations still being recommended or is it first come first serve?

    They take reservations now (as of 11/6/2021)

    Is there a kids menu?

    I don't remember a kids menu, but people sitting by us had a fish and chips plate split for their two kids. Another couple had a burger meal split for theirs. The staff is really good

    Their health score is 59 out of 100 according to Yelp. Is that correct?

    Yelp gets this data from HDScores, which collects public data from your local health department. Because your local health department does not provide inspection scores, HDScores calculates its own score based on past inspection results of this busin

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    Grotto Fish Market

    Grotto Fish Market

    4.0
    (904 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Best clam chowder straight from Old Fisherman's Grotto! I highly recommend the clam chowder…read more As someone from the bay area I find the prices very good!

    9/10 Ordered the…read moreFamous Clam Chowder, New England Lobster Roll, and a side of garlic bread. I'd definitely come back again! Starting with the star of the meal, the clam chowder. This was a classic New England-style chowder done right. It was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor without feeling overly heavy. The sourdough bread bowl was perfectly crisp on the outside while still soft enough to enjoy with the chowder. Easily one of the top three clam chowders I've ever had. The New England Lobster Roll was a pleasant surprise. I'm usually not the biggest lobster fan, but I genuinely enjoyed this one. The bread was soft and buttery, and the lobster had a nice savory flavor with just a subtle hint of sweetness that balanced everything well. If you're a lobster fan, or even if you're on the fence like I was. I'd definitely recommend giving it a try. The only disappointment was the garlic bread. It was unfortunately over-toasted and very hard, so I'd probably skip it next time. Service was fast, efficient, and attentive throughout the meal. The restaurant was clean with a casual atmosphere, making it a great spot for a quick bite with family or friends. Overall, I'd happily come back, especially for that incredible clam chowder.

    Photos
    Grotto Fish Market
    Clam Chowder bowl
    Clam Chowder bowl
    Spaghetti & meatballs

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    Spaghetti & meatballs
    Sandbar & Grill

    Sandbar & Grill

    4.0
    (1.6k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Everything was amazing. Delicious food, incredible scenery located right on the water, and our…read moreserver, Pablo, provided us with everything we needed, including great conversation! We even had a view of the sea lions! Both entree's, the burger and shrimp tacos were great! Will definitely be back.

    I was searching online and this restaurant was highly recommended. It's right on the pier with…read moreplenty of pay parking. There's also beach access and lot of people fishing off the pier. The restaurant at first was not noticeable since it's below the pier so you have to look for the sign. Once inside, there's a row of tables along the wall, giving a view of all the boats. The row of tables at the middle can still see the outside. The bar is located on the left side of the restaurant and it includes a good selection of alcohol and spirits. I came here at 4 for happy hour (4-6pm) and easily got a seat in the bar area. The bartender was super friendly and offered to make a martini that's not on the happy hour menu for a reasonable price. I also noticed him offering to make hamburger for another patron. This is what I called excellent service, when they can accommodate patron's needs. I got a bowl of clam chowder (5/5). It was thick with lot of clams and potatoes. I like the chowder thick so was good for me. It comes with bread and butter. The bread was soft and fresh. I also got the sand dab with fries. The fries were hot and crunchy, perfect for my taste. The fish was moist but kind of bland. It comes with tartar sauce but I think I would have preferred more flavors, maybe blackened. Since it was my birthday, the bartender give me a free dessert. I ordered the bread pudding with whiskey sauce and whipped cream. For anyone who likes whiskey, this is definitely the dessert for you because the flavor of the whisky is definitely overwhelming. Overall, I love the friendly service and most of the food. I would definitely come back to try the other items.

    Photos
    Hot chocolate with a view.
    Hot chocolate with a view.
    Sobremesa
    Sobremesa
    Views of the harbor come free with every meal

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    Views of the harbor come free with every meal

    Monterey's Fish House - seafood - Updated August 2026

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