We ordered scallop and duck confit. Both of them are very good. Scallop is perfect cooked and the light sauce is great. The duck reduction is very tasty, the skin is still crispy and the sauce is great. The dessert, chocolate torte is very good, not too heavy with the great passion food sauce. read more

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

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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

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

This is our second time here, and Passionfish did not disappoint. The menu looks pretty similar to the first time we came in November. The first time we were here, we only got 1 of the buttermilk biscuit, and we couldn't stop thinking about it. The sea bass and the albacore tuna were also delicious. The server was very attentive and met all our needs. We would definitely come back again if we're in the area. read more

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I've eaten here a few times and have always had great service and delicious food. (I dream about Nancy's buttery biscuits multiple times a month!) read more

I loved this place, it was a perfect nice but not fine dining spot to enjoy fresh seafood. The wine was great and reasonably priced. The service was phenomenal. I will be coming here again next time I'm in Monterrey and want nice fish read more

Came from a recommendation from friends up north. We were here for our 46th anniversary and we were treated very well! The food was amazing. Try the crab salad! So unique. One of us had the muscles with linguine a totally different take on that dish and I loved it. Not creamy at all just a wonderful flavor. The hubby had duck confit - he shared some with me and it was over the top wonderful. Actually, a very large portion. Of course we both had some great wines a nebbiloa rosé and then a Sangiovese. We finished with dessert of lime, Panna cotta with ginger crumbles and a meringue, cookie and mint chocolate chip and espresso ice creams with a chocolate drizzle and it was presented like a cake. Exquisite. We originally receded in a very odd spot with some very loud "neighbors" and we asked to be moved, and we found a wonderful spot. Sad to say we were served by a young woman who was the third grade teacher on top of being a server at this restaurant tells you how hard it is for teachers to actually make a living in CA! read more

Excellent service - Ron took great care of us. He helped us with wine choices - even admitted when he went to someone else because our food options were different in flavor profile. Very good tostada's but damn that fried squid? You've gotta treat yourself to calamari that's more tender, more lightly fried like tempura, and with an awesome lemon vinaigrette with cilantro. My tuna fish was def well made. But the grilled shrimp in Lima beans we're so comforting and full of flavor. And please, try the biscuit - at least to go. Ginger ice cream with the pomegranate was a light pop of dessert read more

Me and my boyfriend were rushing to find a reservation for Valentine's. Admittingly this was not our first option as other places had been booked. But there was availability the night of the 13th and I am so pleased we ended up here. The wait was long despite us having made a reservation and there were about 5 other couples also waiting to be seated before us (this would be my only complaint). Beautiful dimly lit ambiance filled with chatter and the entrees were delicious. The goat cheese balls, ceviche tostadas and thyme soup were all uniquely flavored and paired well with their sauce/garnish. The main dishes we ordered were the lamb, duck confit, and rainbow trout. All astoundingly delicious. The duck was slightly sweet, the lamb had a great smokey flavor and the rainbow trout had a rich vinegrette with soft vegetables inside. For dessert we enjoyed the banana bread served with a caramelized rum sauce and handmade banana icecream. Natural and no artificial flavors. We will absolutely be returning to try the rest of the menu read more

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What a beautiful and elegant restaurant. The food looked fantastic, unfortunately their menu didn't allow for many options for my wife to enjoy due to her gluten allergy. We sat down and she was given a special allergen menu that helped identify what was safe. There were options, but all of the most appealing dishes were not safe. We ended up leaving and enjoying a nice meal down the street at a fish spot that had a huge range of safe options. I love my gluten, so I don't blame them for making the food the way they like it. I just wish the safe options were more plentiful. read more

Came here with my family under the recommendation of a good friend and we were not disappointed! Service was attentive and thoughtful. We had an issue with our reservation (didn't seem to have gone through online) but luckily we were early before the dinner rush and the hostess seated us promptly. Dining room was cozy but not crowded. Offering for kids was limited, but we were grateful for the option and our kids loved their linguini! Fried squid was nice and the sauce had a noticeable kick. Nancy's buttery biscuit was delicious with nice flaky layers. Duck confit was made well and was flavorful and tender. We got both of the day's special: Australian lamb chops and Atlantic char. Both were cooked at just the right temp and the skin on the char was crisp without being burnt. We were too full for dessert but the options looked delicious - I'm a real sucker for panna cotta! read more

We were truly disappointed as visitors from SoCal, and it was a special birthday celebration to top if off. We were truly looking forward to fresh market fish and an amazing experience. After reading the reviews and the website, our expectations were high. The Let Down - Dungeness crab salad was a tad bit too spicy - Albacore tuna entree was soggy and didn't look fresh, and all the ingredients within the dish didn't pair well, including a lack of presentation. The tuna lacked a red, shiny, and translucent color and had a feeling it was frozen. - Sea scallop entree, same as above, poor presentation and overall dish pairing wasn't good. The savory rice custard was horrible....it reminded me of hospital food. The Service - The table next to ours got a complimentary surprise desserts for their anniversary and birthday, but why did we have to pay? I'm not trying to be stingy, but if you saw that happen next to you, I'm sure you would question it too. - The server didn't ask why the main entree (tuna) was half eaten, and overall, she just lacked authenticity. The Positive - Nancy's buttery buttermilk biscuit is amazing - Ambience is clean but with tight seating - The staff did clean up the empty plates quickly Parking is easy around the perimeter or in the front if you're lucky. read more

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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

I'm pretty much set on coming back here every chance we get to be in Monterey for dinner. What an incredible rarity of a restaurant! I'd chosen it for its focus on sustainability and didn't realize just how lux yet approachable it would be. Such fresh, fun combinations of colors, textures, flavors, especially in our apps. The biscuits, which I'm told they're famous for, were famous-worthy. - sea scallop, caper-raisin-walnut relish, artichoke risotto cake 15 - smoked trout ceviche tostaditas, cashew pesto, spicy salsa brava 13 - nancy's buttery buttermilk biscuit 4 Entrees were delicious and so satisfying - I had a tough time deciding but chose seafood because when in Rome. I've always been a fan of scallop but omg I fell head over heels for scallop here. - rainbow trout, sweet potato-wild rice sauté, cardamom syrup 25 - sea scallops, tomato-truffle butter, poached lettuce, savory rice custard 38 The mud pie was simple but sooo good. The wine selection was a surprise only because i hadn't done proper research - they're known for their incredible wine selection, close to retail price. Their wine list is super fun and you can really go wild. You can actually feel the passion from their menu and it'll rub off on you! - mud pie - glass of bubbly - glass of skin contact - bottle of chilled red/white blend (we took half home) Service was outstanding. It was also crazy affordable - under $200 for alllll that before tip? I don't know how they do it. read more

Passionfish - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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The food here was very good. It was a touch sweet for my palate, I do prefer if it was dialed back just a touch with a little more acid. But, just get some good wine and you will be fine I promise. Extensive wine list with good choices and great prices. Honestly, it's priced quite well for the venue, food, wine, and service that you get. Our waiter was EXTREMELY attentive and caring and he made the experience even better. Thanks Passionfish! read more

Passionfish - Smoke trout toastada and Beet Salad - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Dipped in on a Monday night around 7pm and were promptly seated in a nice cozy spot. The setting is streamline moderne, with nice noise buffering features to keep volume low - much appreciated. We had the butternut squash soup, smoked trout ceviche, and a biscuit for starters and the rainbow trout and the night's special: Black Cod. Absolutely everything was delicious! Great presentation, amazing flavor, no notes!!! Lastly we were suggested to try the Banana ice cream and bread pudding for dessert and let me tell you, this thing melted our brains. I cannot recall having a more deliciously decadent dish!! Would come back 1000 times over and would absolutely stop in just for that dessert. read more

This is my honest review. If menu options and service levels have changed so be it, but this is what we experienced on the night that we went. Went here with my son who recently graduated. Wow, what a disappointment. I found it hard to accept the fact that not a single ocean fish was on the menu other than some kind of fish stew. No I didn't type that wrong. The passion FISH....."fish" that is........ offered no ocean fish baked, fried, sautéed, poached or other. Well, at least their fish is indeed sustainably sourced----IT WAS -almost-NON EXISTENT! Haah! Cap that off with the fact that what they did have was hugely overpriced and that we had very unremarkable service and what do you get? A firm conviction never to return. Too bad, I went here two other times 10+ years ago and it was much better which indicates to me this place has gone down hill. Owners - please get a clue or change the name of this restaurant because fish is clearly not your passion--it seems though, that money is. read more

In this cozy little gem, the food does not disappoint at all. It's a deliciously polished meal the whole way through. From the fair-priced wine to the house-made desserts, every part was unique and impactful in its own way. The Spicy Fish Stew, Nancy's Buttery Buttermilk Biscuits, and Maple Bread Pudding are MUST HAVE items, especially the bread pudding. The banana ice cream is paired with this maple bourbon sauce and bread pudding made from their already delicious biscuits. Most entrees, especially any of the seafood-based ones and the duck confit, are also incredibly solid picks and are hard to go wrong with. The experience is worth its weight in gold. read more

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What an incredible dinner I had! I work in hospitality and I had a guest that would always hype up this restaurant, and for good reason. They gave me a gift certificate to try this place and I was more than impressed. I had the fried Calamari which was melt-in-your-mouth goodness and with that orange vinegarette made for the perfect appetizer! Yelp reviews for Passionfish often express the Duck Confit as a popular dish here and now I know why. The duck is perfectly cooked and falls right off the bone. I left the restaurant full to my heart's content. The service was excellent and the ambiance was cozy with class. A couple near me got to sit at the same table they got engaged at 25 years ago to the day which made me appreciate this restaurant even more. I look forward to coming back someday with my family and creating a happy memory like that. read more

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

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Food was amazing! Service was great! Ambiance was nice, it was so nice to be able to talk and hear the other people on our table. My husband said it was the best duck he had in a long time. 10 people and everyone enjoyed their meal. My only complaint is the menu is small and most was seafood. But I would go there again! read more

2.5 stars. I was not impressed by this place and was quite disappointed after how high the ratings are. First impression walking in was that it smelled of old fish, that really pungent unpleasant odor of fish. It was bad enough I honestly wanted to walk out. There was a second strong smell that took me a few minutes to place, truffles! Personally I hate the smell and taste of them and the odor was so strong mixed the old fish smell it was nauseating. Might want to fix the kitchen ventilation system. A nice, more classy restaurant would never smell like that. The appearance of the restaurant is cozy and the service is mediocre. Server seemed a bit overwhelmed. Never asked us how things were after others were serving the food. The food was not good, not on any level I would call $$$. The leek and potato soup was served with a layer of oil on top and was lukewarm. Boring soup and bland oil on top is too much. I spooned some of the oil off before tasting it. The Brussels sprouts salad was also bland. And when I say bland this has nothing to do with salt, just uninspiring, oily doesn't taste good where you want to keep eating it, and say wow that is really good. My boyfriend ate it out of hunger. The biscuit which was mentioned on yelp several times as being so good was just a very buttery biscuit. I thought it was a bit hard and overworked but if you like the taste of eating a stick of butter then you will love it. They served it with nothing interesting like a spread or jam or curd, just more butter with a drop of honey on the butter. The only somewhat redeeming dish was the shrimp and lima bean one. The sauce tasted good and the bland shrimp really needed it. The dessert, which is one of the main reasons I chose this place, was another let down. The panna cotta was very stiff, too much gelatin and yuzu was bitter like lemon peel. The meringue on the side was way too firm and chewy like a piece of bubble gum. You could chew on it for like 10 minutes! The banana bread pudding with the banana ice cream redeemed them a little, except they burnt the caramel. They were so close but they just cooked the caramel a bit too long. The fresh banana taste was good and that saved the dish. Lastly and least important they don't do anything special for peoples birthdays. The host said happy birthday and that was it. No complimentary anything, server didn't know or say anything. It's probably the worst restaurant I've ever eaten for a special occasion. With all that wine you could probably offer a complimentary glass to people with birthdays. And if they don't drink it's the thought that counts. Probably safer than a disappointing dessert. read more

Food, service, ambiance all excellent!!! The fish stew was delicious! Definitely enough for a meal along with the fresh baked biscuit. Francisco was personable and quite helpful. He knows the menu and the expansive wine menu, offered recommendations and tasting. We will return next time we are in the area. read more

The thing that stood out for me was the creativeness of each individual dish. Each dish had its own authenticity. And that creativity tasted really good. We shared several dishes. We got there early which was nice because it was quieter. A lot of well behaved kids were there. The service was attentive and well informed. Considering they talk up their reasonable wine prices, I thought the corkage fee at $35 was not in keeping. We make Pinot Noir and we brought an older vintage that was a knock out with the Roquefort ice cream. Be ready for a whiplash of flavor. read more

I was in Monterey for a long weekend and my culinary experience at passionfish was my favorite all weekend. The standouts were the crab salad which was perfectly balanced and I still dream about the sea scallops and the way they melted in my mouth. The service was also great, super attentive and shared wine pairings that enhanced our experience. I plan to return next time I'm in town! read more

So many amazing flavors with each dish! Buttermilk biscuit was like a perfect croissant, Fish stew spicy and flavorful. Beet salad with candied pecans, yum! And my trout was PERFECTLY cooked and plated without bones, too. My husband's halibut was fantastic Great place for our Anniversary dinner! read more

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Passionfish is a large restaurant well laid out so you don't feel overwhelmed or cramped in. Though we are only a couple, we were given a choice of a two-person or four-person table. (We chose the smaller one.) The menu looked personalized for the day, with a wide variety of fish and other items. Having stopped at a wine bar up the street earlier in the afternoon, we elected to skip an appetizer and go right for the main course. I chose one of the specials that day - arctic char with a creamy jasmine rice; my wife chose duck confit with a chile-potato cake and broccolini. De-lish! Glasses of a brut rose cava from Spain highlighted the meal. Service was attentive and efficient, including anticipating our need for a to go box. This was our fourth visit to Passionfish - always a special, rewarding experience! read more

We visited during a weekend trip to Monterey and had a reservation, though the restaurant wasn't very busy when we arrived. The food was good overall, but the highlight of the night was Nancy's buttery buttermilk biscuit--it was incredibly flaky with a perfectly crisp exterior and served warm. We also enjoyed the plum salad, rainbow trout, and the 12-hour spoonable duck breast. For dessert, the maple banana bread pudding was delicious, though a bit too sweet for our taste. This spot would be great for a date night or special occasion. read more

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The food was cool, but the service was definitely the highlight. We had the nicest waitress and she very accommodating. We ordered a few things but I think next time I'll order a new dish and reorder the biscuit with honey butter. read more

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Let's see ... helpful, pleasant, knowledgeable and prompt service. Creative, tasty dishes, appropriately sized. And a well-priced wine list created by a wine lover for folks on a lifelong wine journey. Plus a clean, homey ambiance. Seriously, what else could they do make this a dining experience worthy of the investment? A new favorite. I wish it was down the street. I'd put a cot in the entry. read more

Be careful, their server changed my topping amount from 18% pre tax to 20% after tax without my consent.

Pretty good place for a special occasion. I was skeptical because of the name and location. I don't like trendy type restaurants. Once we entered it did not feel trendy at all and was busy with local residents. The wine was well priced and the service was great. Be sure to reserve your table early, as every table was full. All four of us were happy with the meal. Some people dressed semi-formal, and some in very casual attire. No judgement! read more

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Looking for a date night place in near Monterey or Carmel? This is it. Passionfish has the most exquisite and unique food and a great wine menu. We started out with the rockfish stew and buttermilk biscuit. You MUST get the biscuit. It is the best biscuit I have ever had in my life. The outside is crunchy and evenly crisp while the inside is fluffy and rich. They are pretty large so you can order one to split but I definitely wanted my own after having a bite! The fish stew was alright, but I would probably order the crab salad over this. For entrees we got the duck and sea scallops. The scallops were incredible. They were cooked perfectly and the rice custard was flavored with truffle and surprisingly flavorful for something that looked feather bland. The duck confit was tender, but the sauce was a little too sweet for my taste. Nonetheless and amazing meal with great service in a very clean and polished venue. read more

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Alaskan Halibut 3 sweet white corn, tomato relish, cotija cheese, cilantro aioli, slightly dry Sea Scallops 4 tender, buttery, tomato-truffle butter, not enough, poached lettuce, savory rice custard, creamy & flavorful Yuzu Panna Cotta 5 strawberry coulis, lemongrass meringue, too sticky, candied ginger, creamy, refreshing, not too sweet read more

Fine dining with a relatively relaxed feel, good enough to bring well-behaving kids. Great service and delicious food. They don't open until 5 pm for dinner service so if you're an early bird like us, you'll end up hanging outside for a bit with the other folks ready to enjoy a Passionfish dining experience. Parking is easy as there are plenty of free public parking nearby. If for whatever reason those spots are taken, park in the nearby neighborhood and just walk a block or two. It'll be nice to walk off the amazing dinner you'll be having. Upon entering, you're greeted by the friendly staff and brought to your table. There are a good number of tables, however it's always recommended to make reservations. If you have children in your party, you'll likely be seated in the side room, which is quiet, away from the main dining area and entrance, and accessible to the bathroom and an exit back to the main street. They serve a variety of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. There is also a kids menu. APPETIZERS Biscuit - This is a dense nugget served with a side of butter with a flakey crust topped with sugar. It's definitely shareable but be careful, you'll get crumbs everywhere! Skewers - Delicious but a bit forgettable. Fried squid (calamari) - Portion isn't huge but it's still a shareable size. Light amount of breading. Not high on the crispy scale, but still very flavorful with the sauce that's served. ENTREES Kid duck confit - This is a great portion for kids. A big duck leg and thigh paired with carrots and potatoes. The duck is succulent and easily comes off the bone for the kiddos to eat. Duck confit - This is by far the best dish served at this restaurant. Moist, flavorful, and pairs nicely with the sides and wine. The crispy skin adds an additional texture profile to each bite. Lamb - Tender and packed with flavor from the meat, crust, and sauces. It doesn't look big in terms of portion but it's rich and dense. Scallops - Perfectly seared and paired well with the radishes and rice custard. Not my personal favorite but my partner really enjoyed this dish. DESSERTS Mud pie - As a chocolate fan, this hits the spot! Rich and bold espresso tied this meal up in a nice bow. Pair it with an after-dinner coffee or espresso. Panna cotta - Really well made panna cotta. The creaminess and tart flavors make this dish a great topping to an outstanding dinner service. Get this! Throughout the dining service, our server was attentive to our needs including providing extra utensils/plates, filling our waters, and ensuring we had a comfortable dining experience. Overall, due to the quality of service, food, options, and location, this is still one of our go-to places whenever we visit Monterey. Bonus if you dine early, you'll have plenty of time to stroll down to Lovers Point Peak and enjoy the sun before it sets. read more

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Located in downtown pacific grove and only open for dinner. They are poplar, so make reservation if you plan to go later in the evening or weekend. Cozy atmosphere and good service. Food was quite delicious, especially the biscuits, flaky layered buttery tasted with crispy coating, the sweet butter came with it accompanied the biscuits so perfectly. Scollop seemed to be one of the favor from menu besides duck confit, we tried the Scollop appetizer instead, it was fresh, the crunchy coating of artichoke risotto cake made everything extra tasty . Rainbow trout and duct confit cooked just right, with the right amount of flavor, ahi tuna was also very yummy. Mud pie with mint ice ream was good too , but it was a bit too frozen, maybe we should have waited little longer before indulging :). Definitely recommend this place if you are visiting the area. read more

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My family and I have been coming to Passionfish for years, always around the time of Monterey Car Week. The staff at Passionfish is always so friendly and personable, and they remember many guests - even though we only see them once a year. My family and I love Passionfish so much that we make multiple reservations here over the course of the week. The seafood is always fresh, and we appreciate that they consistently have the classic dishes that we love year after year. All the food is amazing, but our personal must-have dishes include the Dungeness crab salad, spicy fish stew, beet salad, duck confit, and the trout. All their desserts are delectable, and you must try their Prosperity Tea. The energy, especially during car week, is bustling and lively with locals and visitors alike. I look forward to returning to Passionfish for years to come! read more

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I was excited to try this restaurant as it came highly recommended by 3 acquaintances separately. I made a reservation for early Saturday night and was seated immediately. The service was great and the waiter came to refill the water many times. The food came out in a timely manner as well. The part that disappointed was the food. It was not bad but it was not good. I feel like the main meat in each entree was cooked well but the dishes overall did not have a great presentation and didn't seemed paired well with the sides. The spicy dish stew was good, but a little too spicy and could have used a dollop of crème fresh to balance it out. The ceviche was nice but the cracker underneath each mound was very hard and tasted fatty. The brussel sprout salad was good-the ham bits helped with flavor. The grapes were an interesting addition. The albacore tuna had a brown stew underneath with cut up celery, potatoes, and other indistinguishable items. The potatoes were nice. The dish overall did not look good as it was just brown mush underneath 4 pieces of tuna. The grilled shrimp was fine but underneath was another tomato based sauce mused with a ton of white beans. Desserts had a better presentation. Yuzu panna cotta was average. The candy did not really belong. The mudpie was just a layer of chocolate chip mint ice cream and coffee ice cream and a thin layer of chocolate cookie crumb crust. The coffee ice cream and cookie were fine but the mint ice cream had an artificial taste. Loose leaf tea choices were great. Overall a fine / average casual dinner place but not worth the money read more

The place looks clean Customer service was not good. It was my birthday and my husband tried to make it special for me , he called and told them we are celebrating birthday thinking I won't hear it . They didn't acknowledge at all. He was really sad and disappointed that they didn't even put a candle on dessert we ordered. Food was ok I ordered the trout and it was extra sweet . They didn't check on it as all. They brought the food and we had to wait good 10-14 mins to get our fork and knife , and there was no apology either. Our waiter I guess was mad at the table next to us , he passed us cussing them and mad. I was very disappointed esp that it was our first time there and celebrating my birthday. read more

We are in Pacific Grove on holiday and attending the Rennsport 7 events at Weatherteck Raceway. We're in a delightful 1887 hotel by 4 Sisters and just three blocks from Passionfish. First, front desk reception was warm pleasant and accommodating. We expected a long wait but there was a table for two and we were feeling very lucky. The place filled to capacity almost before our eyes as we were seated. Why does one order Duck Confit in a Seafood restaurant? Because if it's on the menu I order it! My wife had the Shrimp and they were huge like baby lobsters. We split the beet salad. All was wonderful. Ambulance is a bit noisy but there were a number of over enthusiastic Rennsport 7 folks in for dinner and they were a might boisterous. So, likely not common. A splendid evening and I heartily recommend you visit. Oh another good reason, a fine wine selection and at retail prices. read more

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