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

Celebrated mine and my wife's wedding anniversary here and the food was incredible! The restaurant is very nice as well. We loved the art on the walls. We just wish they had more drink options other than beer and wine. No fault to them on that though, just a personal thing. read more

Waiter Ron extolled the amazing salmon special which 3 of us ordered. It was a disaster. Poor quality of salmon. Usual salmon served in restaurants is King or Chinook salmon, not the lower grade and lower fat PINK (or RED or Coho) salmon they served us. Was mushy, very small portion with non-descript radish compliment. Total MISS BY KITCHEN. Between entree and dessert, waiter Ron disappeared for almost 1/2 hour. We had been to Passion Fish many times. This should never have happened on 8-11-2026. Roger W. read more

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

See all

Front desk team beyond rude. They were very unprofessional, no excuse for the attitude. We were on time for reservation. They said table not ready. We asked for estimated time, they would not even answer. After 1/2 hour, our friend politely requested status. Instead of answering, he rolled his eyes. When we were finally called for table, he looked at me and with dripping sarcasm said "have a great dinner" while given an utter look of disdain. I didn't even speak with him and my friend was polite, so why the rudeness? Food: The ceviche was awful, served above room temperature. Was actually grateful only 3 tiny quarter size portions. Lamb main, very tender, yet flavors did not work. Tuna, excellent, perfectly prepared. Salad, fresh and light tasting, flavorful. Shame front desk was beyond unacceptable. read more

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

See all

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

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

See all

Was very disappointed with the customer service I received from the waiter who was the gentleman with blue eyes (unfortunately, I cannot remember his name). He never once came by to check in on me but the other kind gentlemen helping in the background always made sure my drink was refilled. The host was also very friendly and nice and for that reason I gave two stars. I want to mention I visited the restaurant during a slow weekday with no more than 15 other guests. The appetizer I had was delicious but the entree lacked seasoning. I decided to ask for the check instead of dessert due to the lack of service. read more

We had the biscuit, calamari, duck, and salmon special. Biscuit 4/5 Calamari 4/5 Duck 4/5 Salmon 3/5 (good taste, bad value) Everything tasted good and had nice or unique spins to them. Salmon sauce was enjoyable and different but I was surprised by the small portion vs the cost ($55) - I'd probably have enjoyed a low quality fresh salmon cooked well just the same but for 1/3 the price. 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 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

See all

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

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

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

The food was fantastic. Candace was amazing. Everyone was wonderful. Adding Passionfish to our monthly rotation of eateries.

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

See all

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

This is our 3rd time to dine at Passionfish and the service, food has been consistently excellent. I recommend the beet salad, sea scallops, lamb shank, buttermilk biscuits. Excellent selection of wine too. 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

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

This is bar none the best restaurant I've eaten at in Pacific Grove and probably Monterey. Lives up to the hype and then some. The Duck Confit is my favorite, but everything is great. The service is very attentive and the vibe is classy and high end without being stuffy. Looking forward to many more visits to Passionfish. 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

See all

The food was good but portions are small and pricey. Service was very good. All in all, we probably won't go back because there are more moderately priced restaurants with dinners that are just as good. 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

See all

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

Very good, nice atmosphere and food was good. Shrimp, duck, salmon, bread pudding, cremelw brulee all good.

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

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

See all

Not a great experience unfortunately and we eat out a lot all over the country. Wife's lamb was very good as was biscuit we shared. I wanted the linguine and clams but thankfully waiter mentioned fennel taste is strong. Why would you do that to that dish I don't know? Anyway I chose the scallops which were very soft and mushy and not flavorful at all. Disappointing dish overall. Waiter was nice and talkative up front but then we waited a long time to see him for everything else. They did take scallops off the bill which I appreciated but place and ambiance is mid at best compared to so many other places we've been. read more

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

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

See all

We were in town on vacation. We had the biscuits, fish stew, a salad, trout ceviche, and the lamb, shrimp, scallops and a kids' entree. We also had four different desserts. A few different glasses of wine. It was all quite good. The service was excellent (though it wasn't very busy when we were there). Would definitely return next time we are in Monterey. read more

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

See all

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