This is such a cute spot! It's pretty quaint inside with a cute ambiance and intimate seating. There is plenty of free street parking. The bathrooms were clean and spacious. I went with a group for a business dinner and made a reservation about a week prior. Our server was very knowledgeable and nice and incredibly attentive. We ordered a couple of bottles of wine and she repeatedly came and refilled our glasses. We ordered the calamari, beet salad and crab and avocado salad to share for starters. All were delicious and I really enjoyed the calamari. For entrees 3 of the group ordered the daily fish special and highly enjoyed it. I opted for the scallops and they were very delicious! The desserts were the star of the show and we tried one of each on the menu! The bread pudding was my favorite while all others were amazing as well! I highly recommend this place! read more

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Great service! Tasty dinner! Corkage fee: $35 They claim to have an extensive and affordable wine list. They do. However, they do not have a large selection of local wines so that was disappointing. I was hoping there would be a page featuring "local wines". Glad we brought a wine from Odonata with us. We enjoyed all the food offerings! The biscuit is truly fantastic. I know it's just a biscuit but I really loved the buttery crust and the super soft insides that melted in your mouth. The trout appetizer was tasty... The cracker it was served on was super hard and a bit hard to chew. So... I skipped that and didn't feel I was missing anything. The crab salad was filled with chunks of crab! It was lightly dressed to let the crab shine. Our mains were quite tasty and perfectly prepared. Take note, the clam linguine is generously powered by garlic. The clams are fat and juicy. read more

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A return visit did not disappoint and was a nice end to the day after watching the sun set across the Pacific down the road. Wanted to start with the Spanish rose bubbly prominently suggested on the menu but was told they were out of it. Instead ordered the pinot noir (there were only three wines available by the glass), which was quite good. Started with smoked trout ceviche over lettuce to be gluten-free or over a tostada. The trout was spicy from minced serrano and tasted better with the lettuce than the tostada. The portion size was a bit small. The entrees included albacore tuna crusted with sesame seeds. It was lightly seared and the interior of the fish was a bit too cool. It came with cauliflower puree and chard. The other was the halibut, which was delicious although too salty, perhaps because of the miso-based sauce it was served in. It came with a couple of small pieces of leeks that were a bit too rich from the butter they were sauteed in. We were the first people of the evening to try the Roquefort blue cheese ice cream that came with crushed candied walnuts and honey. It was a riff on a cheese plate. It was different, and not bad at all; it was creative but I probably wouldn't get it again. The atmosphere has not changed in the past 10 years and it remains a cozy space that is not too loud. read more

We had a reservation here on our way back from Carmel to SF . Cute place and nice wine cellar. The food was great , we liked that they had vegetarian options as well . Friendly staff but they seemed so busy . It took them 30 mins to just bring out the wine bottle we ordered and the food took even longer . That was a little painful for us as we had a dog waiting in the car with dog mode and our dinner took 2.5 hours to wrap up. Other than the long wait for dishes to arrive, we had a great time with good food and wine read more

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Had another amazing meal with friends! The service was excellent and accommodations were made/explained to my gluten free guest. They have a special menu with ingredients and possibilities for food sensitivities. Started off with their amazing biscuit...a meal in itself. Crunchy on outside and flaky moist on the inside, served with butter drizzled with some honey. Then served 2 appetizers, asparagus fries and smoked trout ceviche tostadas...both delicious! Next was an arugula beet salad, followed by the sea scallops and lamb breast. So flavorful and marvelous. read more

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An amazing restaurant with even greater service. Attentive from the moment you walk in to the moment you walk out. Had to try Nancy's Buttery Buttermilk Biscuit and it did not disappoint. Golden and toasty on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. The tomato truffle butter the scallops were in was rich in flavor. The rice custard was interesting with its dry pudding consistency but paired well with the poached lettuce and onions. We also had a couple of salads that were very fresh and delicious. They also have a great list of wine bottles and decent amount of wine glass options for great prices. read more

Passionfish - Sea Scallops - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Lovely dinner at Passionfish - the vibe is a modern, cozy, local dinner spot in the heart of Pacific Grove. The seafood is sustainably sourced and feels curated so that you aren't overwhelmed with options. We started with the calamari which was lightly breaded (my preferred way) plated on a tangy citrus sauce with an herb salad. We also shared the buttermilk biscuit which had a buttery crunch on the outside and was so fluffy and buttery in the inside. For entrees, I had the sea scallops which were cooked perfectly and delicious poached lettuce. My husband had the lamb which lived up to the name of being spoonable and so tender. We ended the meal with a light panna cotta that came with candied ginger. read more

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Still thinking of Passionfish...from far away! Came here for our anniversary that we were spending in Monterey Bay, and this was easily one of the best meals we've had! Their menu features mostly fish-based dishes, but we decided to go with their specials of the night - an arctic char cooked in a matcha beurre sauce, and their slow-cooked lamb. Both dishes were cooked to absolute perfection- the lamb was so tender and flavorful without ANY hint of gaminess, easily being the BEST I ever had. The arctic char was juicy and tender, but with the most perfect crispy crust that had no hint of being burnt or soggy. We also ordered their signature biscuit, which is freshly made in house and a delicious, comforting appetizer! Highly recommend checking them out for very detail-oriented, caring service, incredibly well executed dishes, fairly priced wines, and an unforgettable dinner experience! read more

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This place came recommended and I understand why! Loved our dishes and the service was excellent! Everything on the menu sounded terrific, but we finally settled in on a couple dishes and everyone was amazing! read more

Passionfish - Sea Scallop appetizer - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Delicious food and impeccable service. Perfect spot to take your SO to - intimate summates this place perfectly. The lamb was SUPER tender and all the server's wine recommendations were a hit with our entrees. I will say the chamomile crème brûlée that we got was a little mid - didn't really get the hint of chamomile in there - but the wine combo (Kiralyudvar) was insanely rich and delicious. read more

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We had a lovely dinner here tonight. Passionfish is an upscale and elegant restaurant known for their seafood being sustainably sourced. We had made reservations in advance, which is highly recommended. We were warmly greeted at the door by the hostess, shown to our table and were given menus. Our waitress, Candace, came and introduced herself and informed us of this evening's special, which was the rack of lamb. We decided to start our meal with the fried calamari squid herb salad with spicy tangerine vinaigrette. We also ordered the Dungeness crab salad. We shared both of these items. We also decided to share their famous buttermilk biscuit. The calamari starter was so good. Cooked perfectly with a light crispy batter exterior. The tangerine vinaigrette was delicious with a bit of heat. The Dungeness crab salad was amazing. The ginger vinaigrette paired extremely well with the crab, avocado and arugula. This was our favorite item. I'd come back just for this salad. The buttermilk biscuit was warm and delicious with the honey butter they provided. One was enough to split. For our mains, we ordered the rack of lamb and the sea scallops entree. My husband loved the lamb but had a hard time cutting it with the plain silverware knife that was part of our place setting. We asked for a sharp knife but they don't usually provide those for their guests. Candace was able to find us a sharp knife which worked out great. My sea scallops were perfectly seared on the top and bottom and creamy in the middle. So delicious. I did not care for the sides at all. The poached lettuce, was one of my sides, was not palatable at all. I'm just not into hot soggy lettuce. The other side was a rice custard. It definitely was savory and custard like. I had an issue with the texture. The menu isn't huge. I only wish they had more options for the sides where we can choose what we'd like. We had excellent service by the wait staff. Our waters were constantly being topped off. We did glance at the dessert menu, but were too full to try anything. We will definitely come back again and make sure to make room for dessert. read more

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A charming restaurant in a cool building and nice decor. Very friendly and attentive service. The food was very good and not typical. I had the duck confit and got 2 large leg/thighs. So good! My husband loved his whole trout and my friend said the spoonsable lamb was melt in the mouth delicious.(He did feel the portions could have been a bit bigger.) We ended with the incredible banana bread pudding with banana ice cream. A very lovely dining experience! read more

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My bf and I arrived right at opening ahead of our reservation and were promptly seated. It was really quiet and vibey initially since the restaurant was empty but the establishment quickly filled up - though it never got too noisy which we appreciated. Service was high quality and the server made us feel very welcome. My bf ordered the Duck Confit (4/5): Duck Confit was nearly perfect. While the sauce and potato cake were perfectly done (the sauce gave a tangy kick to otherwise heavy flavors) the cook of the duck was a tad more iffy. The skin was perfectly done and very crispy but the inside was tender at spots, falling off the bone when cutting it, and in other spots was kind of dry and chewy. Despite this we enjoyed the flavors and the portion size. I ordered the Sea Scallops (4/5): The sauce, rice pudding, and vegetables were delicious! The dish felt well balanced and all the different components worked well to come together into a coherent dish. However, one thing that we didn't enjoy was that a lot of the dish components were wet which meant there was a bit of liquid pooling on the plate and made the dish look a lot less appealing and eating it a bit more difficult. The scallops were also slightly overcooked but perfectly seasoned and seared. Overall this was a very solid dinner that left us pretty satisfied. read more

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My partner brought me here for my birthday after a nice evening of staring at otters in the bay. The vibe is definitely retired bougie which I don't quite fit into but meant the ambience was very calm and low key. Like the ocean Rainbow trout was a step outside our typical picks. It was well deboned (only two small ones on the side) and well cooked. We unfortunately didn't like the cardamom flavour accompanying it Scallops are a MUST HAVE. They are expensive, almost $10 per scallop but they were excellently cooked, buttery but firm enough to sit on a fork and the rice custard was so good too The squash bisque was a bit watery for a bisque but provided a nice warm feeling coming in from the rainy outside We got recommended the biscuit and thought why not, $4 and it was a HIGH RETURN dish. Definitely get it yourself, it is soft and buttery honestly I'd get one per person They also gave me an ice cream for my birthday, while we ordered the chocolate torte it was overpowered by the passion fruit syrup. If that's your thing, go ahead. read more

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This was my second time here. I love eating here when I'm craving an upscale seafood experience. Brought my son today as well and he probably the only teenager in the restaurant but we like our "fancy" meals. The food was delicious. I wasn't so sure if the poached lettuce worked but it was okay. We loved dessert and the tea we had was amazing! Service was friendly and welcoming. The place was packed and pretty close seating and I'm glad we had a reservation. read more

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I had a fabulous meal at Passionfish last night, after not eating there in a while. I've always liked the restaurant, but not quite as much as others did. In particular, I found the entrees a bit too spartan, the flavor often fell a bit short of what I was hoping for, even as I loved other aspects of the experience. Last night started with a biscuit that was remarkably good (I saw on the dessert menu the restaurant sells a make-your-own kit). I had a calamari appetizer that was notably tender, with the richness of the fried calamari balanced by a zingy citrus sauce. Entree was halibut that was well-cooked and with a satisfying combination of flavors; my only modest quibble was that halibut works particularly well as a thicker cut, and this piece was fairly thin. Plating/presentation was strong throughout, and especially for the halibut. All of this was paired with a Santa Cruz-area Pinot Noir by Ghostwriter, which wasn't on my radar, that had Old World characteristics that paired nicely with the food. Dessert was a chocolate sorbet, almost certainly produced with a pricey Pacojet, that was exceptionally creamy and rich despite being dairy free. Service was great; casual, helpful, mostly very responsive. There was a delay in getting our table ready, I presume because a prior party lingered. We were low-key about it, but the restaurant might have acknowledged it in some modest way, e.g. just having the server mention it again, or sending a shared appetizer out for the table as a gesture. Ambiance was lovely. Price was appropriate, and kudos to the restaurant for marking wine up far less than most do. Overall, based on last night's meal, Passionfish is a restaurant I'm happy to recommend enthusiastically. read more

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Passion fish is one of our favorite fish places in Pacific Grove that feels like an intimate restaurant that is actually bigger than it appears. They actually have 3-4 smaller rooms. The place has a modern feel. Local business owners recommend passionfish. This is close to nice rocky views of the coast. We like the hustle and bustle of Monterey but for relaxing times without crowds Pacific Grove has a lot to offer. The service was excellent and attentive. Menu seems to change seasonally. Some of the attached pictures are from previous visits. As with most seafood places, they have a lot of non-fish dishes for those that want non-fish items. read more

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Passionfish is a Pacific Grove gem. Went with a group of three and everything from service to dessert was on point. Shane, our server, was exceptional - knowledgeable about the menu, great timing, and recommendations that actually landed. Started with bubbles and their warm biscuits (don't skip these). The smoked trout ceviche tostaditas were fresh and balanced with just enough acid. The plum & jicama salad was unexpectedly good, that labneh and toasted almonds with the fresh herbs worked perfectly. For entrées, I went with the spoonable 12-hour lamb - fork-tender with meyer lemon stew and goat cheese sauce that I'm still thinking about. My dining companions had the sea scallops, which were perfectly cooked and served with a savory rice custard. Dessert trio: yuzu panna cotta (excellent - light and citrusy), maple-banana bread pudding with bourbon caramel (also excellent - pure comfort), and the mint & espresso mud pie. Fair warning on that mud pie - the mint is polarizing. I enjoyed it but my companions found it too unusual. Stick with the other two if you're not into adventurous mint. The space feels special without being stuffy, perfect for a nice dinner that doesn't require a suit jacket. Price: $80 per person after tax and tip Parking: Street parking in Pacific Grove Reservations: Recommended, especially weekends Worth a visit while in the Carmel/Pacific Grove/Monterey area? Absolutely. Shane made it even better. read more

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So mant great eateries in the Pacific Grove area! Had a lovely dinner at Passionfish and was highly recommended by The Pisoni Family. The rating is probably closer to 4.5 stars vs 4 and only knock was due to the size of the scallop on the "scallop" appetizer and a bit of a disappointing florless chocolate cake dessert (not pictured as it was boxed up to go). Dont get me wrong it was delicious and had so many textural delights within the dish. Being a scallop appetizer though you'd expect the scallop to be a major component but in this case it was almost like an afterthought. The homemade bread was amazing and I can see why its so popular. Buttery goodness with nice texture on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Finally, the duck confit was outstanding! A healthy portion of duck which just pulled right off the bone and the crispy skin was to die for! An awesome wine selection here from all over and seemed pretty reasonably priced compared to similar type of establishments. Service was top-notch and would go back in a heart beat. read more

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Passionfish delivers an elevated yet approachable dining experience, perfect for a special night out by the coast. The vibe is warm and sophisticated without being stuffy -- think soft lighting, coastal charm, and a hum of lively conversation. Service was polished, attentive, and well-timed, with knowledgeable staff who are very professional with handling food allergies. Sea Scallop: Perfectly seared with a golden crust and tender center, paired with flavors that highlighted its natural sweetness. Spoonable 12-Hour Lamb Breast: Fall-apart tender, rich, and deeply flavorful -- pure comfort with a gourmet twist. Duck Confit: Crispy skin, succulent meat, and a beautiful balance of savory and slightly sweet notes. Panna Cotta: Silky, light, and delicately flavored -- a refreshing end to the meal. Mud Pies: Decadent, chocolatey, and indulgent without being overly heavy. read more

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This would be five stars but for one item - the Spicy fish stew was much too spicy (and I'm a guy who loves subs heat). Trout tostadas were perfection - great contrast with pickled cabbage. The crab salad was not what I expected but better than I hoped. Biscuits were heavenly (and helped ameliorate the super spicy fish stew). Service was fantastic. read more

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Passionfish has been on my to try list for a while, and so glad we finally had a chance to visit. Reservations highly recommended. I can never pass up biscuits and these were excellent - crispy outside, flaky and light inside. So yummy we had to order another one. Heard they sell them frozen. If only there was a freezer in our hotel room . . . Started with the beet salad and sea scallop. Hubs really enjoyed the beet salad and thought it was light and a good way to start the meal. The scallop was also yummy. For entrees, hubs ordered the halibut - very meaty and filling. I went with the Arctic Char special - love the crispy skin and the combo of the fish with the fennel and that citrusy sauce. We noticed every table around us ordered dessert so knew we couldn't pass it up. We couldn't decide so we ordered the mud pie and the banana bread pudding. The mud pie was very reminiscent of an It's It. Great way to end our meals. Service was also excellent and all the dishes were nicely presented. Would definitely return the next time we're in town. read more

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I would give it a B or B+. Food was good not great. Prices were high. Wine List was good. read more

If you come here you absolutely need to try Nancy's biscuit it is absolutely delicious. If you want a lighter meal the sea scallops were delicious and light. read more

Passionfish - Sea Scallop - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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I've dined here a few times over the past few years and enjoyed every visit. The seafood entrees are always fresh and prepared amazingly well. The appetizers and side dishes consistently hit it out of the ballpark as well. The fish soup is my favorite, and always with those eyes-rolling-they-are-so-good biscuits. The salads and vegetables are super fresh and flavorful as well. I'd say the vibe is fine dining, but relaxed. I love that it's not an obnoxiously loud restaurant, but also never so quiet that you feel the need to whisper. I've been here both for romantic dates, and for lively birthday parties, and in either circumstance, Passionfish felt like the perfect place to be. read more

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The food is so fresh! The spicy fish stew is yummy - if you enjoy the heat. Loved the scallop with truffle tomato butter. The staff is so friendly and welcoming! We celebrated our anniversary and they gave usa free dessert. Great place for fresh food and incredible wine selection! Wonderful ocean pics - great vibe to the place. read more

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The food, service & ambiance here is still as fabulous as ever! We had the trout, albacore tuna, beet salad, yuzu panna cotta, chocolate truffle torte with passion fruit sauce, and a nice half bottle of Big Basin Pinot noir. Everything tasted excellent and was perfectly prepared. Wonderful & attentive service and good recommends which we appreciate. Elegant yet warm & inviting environment. Thank you! read more

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One of the better meals we've had in the Central Coast area. I had heard amazing things, but even with that expectation we were blown away. The scallop appetizer was wonderful, the lamb was perfectly cooked, and the desserts were incredible (particularly the chocolate torte). Will surely be coming back!! read more

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This place is truly excellent. I was looking for something in the area with seafood but not one of the touristy places, and Passionfish fit the bill. I did make a reservation ahead of time with Yelp. When we walked in around 6:15 on a Saturday, it wasn't super crowded, but by the time we left, people were waiting outside. This place is more spacious inside than it looks from the outside. The menu is very seafood-forward. I had a hard time deciding exactly what I wanted, but I went with the scallops. I was really glad I did. They were cooked perfectly with a sear on the outside but tender inside. The vegetable side with it was delicious, as was the creamy rice that came with it. My mom got the vegetable tajine that looked good, though I did think they should serve it in a tajine if they are calling it that! This would be a good dish for vegans. Also, the beet salad was excellent. I was too full for dessert, but the desserts looked really interesting. Curious about the Roquefort ice cream! Service was good though they took away our salad forks and didn't bring entree forks automatically, and had to ask for them. But the server was easy to flag down. read more

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Despite the reservation, we were seated 20 minutes late, a testament to its popularity and how unrushed the service is. Our server, Corinne S., was lovely and warm and suggested a wonderful Gamay to pair with our entree selections. We ordered the Arctic Char special and the sea scallops. It was hands-down the best sea scallops that I have had. They were prepared perfectly and delicately with a hint of lemon beurre blanc sauce. The arctic char had a crisp skin and mild flavor; it was beautifully plated. We finished with a Yuzu panna cotta with a meringue cookie. It was light and a perfect not-too-sweet finish. It is evident why Passionfish succeeds in making each guest feel they are experiencing an elevated and sophisticated version of a dining experience. read more

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Delicious and beautiful restaurant. Came for a special evening and was friendly greeted and seated. All the items were great. We started with the biscuit and crab salad which was more spicy than we expected. For the mains we ordered the scallops and duck confit which were so yummy! Overall an amazing experience. Thank you team! read more

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Passionfish is the perfect seafood spot for a nice date night/dinner! Came here as a party of 2 on Sunday night with a reservation at 5:30pm and was seated right away! (Highly recommend making a reservation as we saw a lot of people waiting on our way out) ~the food~ - Nancy's buttery buttermilk biscuit ($4): AMAZING, loved it! Super flakey, buttery warm biscuit that is super fluffy on the inside, but still so crisp and crunchy on the outside. Love the saltiness on the top of the biscuit as well! Paired super well with the honey butter. Definitely a rich starter given its buttery-ness so I would recommend sharing this! - Sea scallops entree ($39): The scallops were cooked to perfection, not chewy, just right. The tomato-truffle butter was also quite nice! I really appreciated that the truffle flavor was not overpowering and the poached lettuce was very nice too! First time trying a savory rice custard and it was really good! Kind of like shaped risotto! - Duck confit ($36) : Super tender duck, cooked to perfection. Loved the sweetness of the duck/sauce and the broccolini was also cooked super well. I think the smoke Chile-potato cake was ok! Nothing too special, but I think paired well with the dish! ~parking~ Lots of street parking around the restaurant, so we had no issues finding a spot! ~overall~ Service was 10/10, staff were super attentive, without hovering around too much; The ambiance is the perfect balance between casual and formal for a date night imo! It's casual enough that you can don't have to dress up, but would be totally normal to do so as well! Food was amazing, staff were super friendly. Pricing is super reasonable imo! Given the high quality/thoughtfulness put into the food, drinks, and service, I think the pricing is very reasonable! Will definitely be back to try some of their other dishes as well! read more

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Our anniversary dinner was lovely, French style a' la Carte entree'... perfectly cooked Icelandic Gar, delicate sauce and veggie garnish. The biscuit was so flakey, as other reviewers said. By the glass wine list is short, bottle list extensive. Mood calm, service attentive, Dining room not fancy, seating dense. read more

The duck confit and Nancy's buttermilk biscuit was DELICIOUS! Melts in your mouth. I haven't been here in years and still the best! read more

Passionfish - Duck Confit - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Passionfish - Pacific Grove If you're ever near Monterey, do yourself a favor and book a table at Passionfish in Pacific Grove. Their wine list and bubbles selection is extensive -- thoughtful, well-curated, and perfect for pairing with their seafood-focused menu. I had the best halibut I've ever tasted -- perfectly cooked, delicately seasoned, and absolutely unforgettable. Every detail, from the plating to the flavors, was spot on. Service was warm, knowledgeable, and attentive without ever feeling rushed. A truly exceptional dining experience from start to finish. Passionfish, Pacific Grove, CA Stellar wine & bubbles * Impeccable seafood * Excellent service read more

Passionfish - Halibut and Rose bubbles - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Been going to Passionfish since at least 2003 and it never disappoints. Excellent food, comparatively low mark-up on wines, a pleasant ambiance. A recent visit was just as good as I remember, with experience made even better by a particularly engaging waiter ... and those buttery biscuits must now always be ordered as an appetizer. Recommend highly! read more

Lovely place with distinct dishes that really make it stand out! Loved the rainbow trout and the calamari especially. The calamari had an interesting flavor and didn't have too much breading. Definitely one of the most perfect dishes. The trout was flavored very well and deliciously grilled to perfection. The bread pudding was also delicious, but I wasn't a big fan of the mud pie and the mint ice cream part which overpowered the other flavor. read more

We tried this place because it was a lot of point on Open table. Turned out to be really good. Small quiet place. Will come back read more

Passionfish - Grilled shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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We were welcomed by the nicest lady and gentleman. Our server was equally as pleasant and accommodating. I had the grilled shrimp with white Lima beans. While I was concerned about whether the Lima beans would be good, I found them to be delicious! The shrimp and sauce were perfection. My husband had the lamb shank, which he loved. Another companion had the mussels and pasta. She, too, enjoyed every bite. We will return to this lovely restaurant soon. read more

I wished I liked Passionfish but it was a miss. My friends and I were able to book a dinner reservation over MLK weekend and despite being a very popular restaurant, it was not at capacity surprisingly. What excited us the most about the restaurant was the sustainable sourcing and the upscale but casual vibe. While the servers were very attentive and polite, the food missed the mark. We loved the warm Brussels salad but the buttermilk biscuit, despite raving reviews, was too dense and overly buttery; the rainbow trout was delicate but we had no warning about bones still in the fish; and the clam linguini had the right amount of clams but the flavor was off. I am glad we went but left disappointed. We did not try the wine so maybe that would have elevated the meal/experience. read more

Passionfish - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California