Came here memorial day weekend with my mom for a good lunch after a wonderful memorial Day service up at the veterans cemetery -my dad loved to come here so we made sure to get our fish and chips and enjoyed every bite. I had the cod my mom had the halibut both amazing! They really stepped their game up on the coleslaw now it's something so weird but it's a staple with fish and chips. Their coleslaw used to be drying and nasty. It was pretty good this time and the french fries were cooked to perfection. The restaurant is busy fast pace. They definitely have the turn and burn set in stone, but everything was clean. The food came out pretty quick so again we were happy The only reason I didn't give five stars is because the pricing really went up for two platters of fish and chips and one appetizer and two iced teas it was 100 bucks- pretty steep if you ask me but I get it. The whole world is expensive right now so I can't be mad, especially when the food was that good Honestly, I would pay it 100 times over again to know that my mom is happy so it's all good read more

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As a local, I've been a patron of Phil's for many years. I miss the previous location in Moss Landing, with its rustic charm and ambiance. But, the Monterey Bay Aquarium research lab needed the space and owned the property. The food and recipes, particularly the Red Clam Chowder seem different to me. It now is a mushy, flour and corn starch laden mush of a soup, not as I remembered. For the prices charged, the product should be unparalleled and instead, is meh. read more

New location. Had the salad with salmon. Salmon was grilled, overcooked and tasted more like the grill than salmon. Ditto for the bread. Bagged salad mix? Probably stick to the fried food. read more

This place gets busy on weekends. You order at the front, grab your drinks on the side and go get your table. The bar inside looked well stocked. Food can be perceived as expensive but remember you are eating local monterey bay seafood. Clam chowder was huge portion- good enough for 3 people at least. Fish portion was plentiful as well- good enough for 2 people at least. Fresh fish, batter was crisp and well flavoured. Fast service! read more

Phil's Fish Market & Eatery - Fried fish Halibut - Seafood Near Me - Castroville, California

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Phil's is a well-known seafood restaurant that used to be located in Moss Landing, but upon further research, I found out that they have moved locations to Castroville. We wanted to try it anyway due to the name, albeit mediocre Yelp reviews about the new location. The menu was gigantic - so many options it was actually a little overwhelming. When we finally settled on what we wanted, we ordered at the cash register and seated ourselves at tables anywhere inside or outside the restaurant. An attendant at the water station gave me a tray of waters and we served ourselves. Fire roasted artichokes: I don't know what I was expecting but will not be ordering this again. For $14 there was absolutely not enough artichoke to be worth it. Fried artichoke hearts: This was a little better than the first artichoke appetizer but still pretty bland. Too much batter and the sauce (ranch?) didn't do anything to help. Blackened swordfish: I would expect my blackened fish to be more flavorful than this, but everything about my dish was just bland. Plain rice and plain steamed vegetables. Garlic bread lacked garlic flavor. Everyone in my party had the same story: we just weren't impressed by this new Phil's location and its lack of flavor in the food. The original location might have been nostalgic, but there's nothing special here. read more

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We've been going to Phil's in Moss Landing for years but this was our first time at the new location in Castroville. I ordered the special Lobster Roll in honor of Mother's Day and my husband, who only orders one thing on the menu, ordered his favorite cioppino and the deep fried artichokes. The artichokes are a must while in the Capital of Artichoke Castroville. They were perfectly fried and served with ranch dressing. The lobster roll was ok, a bit too chewy for my liking but the cioppino was the star of the day. read more

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Oh no, my beloved seafood combo sliders are no longer offered! Such a bummer, this has been my go-to at Phil's for many years. Don't be fooled by the Sliders' presence on the printed menu or the whiteboard menu or on the Phil's Fish Market website, you will be denied with no explanation for the absence of their deliciousness. This time I tried the battered sole sandwich which was perfectly fried but unfortunately very bland. This dish comes with your choice of slaw or fries on the side: unless you are really into slaw, order the fries as the fish comes with a slaw-adjacent topping. Be advised that this sorta-slaw also contains thinly sliced fresh jalapeños, which I like but might take someone unaware. The Bloody Mary was good, as always. I really wish Phil's would improve the non-alcohol drink ordering process: to purchase a soda requires one order at the same counter as placing food orders. That's fine if you order a soda while ordering your meal however if you decide halfway through that you want to switch from Bloody Marys to a Coke, it's back to the end of the long food line for you. read more

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What happened to the good ole Phil's that we loved? New location threw us off. Didn't even know they moved locations. Was looking forward to watching the sunset while dining on the beach but this location is in the middle of castroville. Parked in the lot with lots of signs warning to park at your own risk. There is an indoor and outdoor seating area. Grabbed some menus and a table inside. Food- Cioppino: 3/5 tasted like tomato soup with seafood. Not at all like what we are used to at the old Phil's. The base was very heavy on . We much preferred the old recipe where the base was a good balance of seafood flavor. Fish n chips (kids): 4/5 fish was nicely battered and fried. Good golden crunchy outside served with shoestring fries. Clam chowder: 4/5 tasty chowder but could do without the potato peels. Scallops and pesto pasta: 4/5 scallops were good and so was the pesto pasta. Cheesecake: 4/5 good but super thin slice of cheesecake for $10. Not as rich and flavorful as before. Might as well just go to Whole Foods and get my fix there. We miss the old Phil's... read more

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Finally had a chance to try Phil's after many years of my family raving about it. Five stars for the incredibly fresh seafood here! It's a very casual vibe, inside you go to the counter to order once you have had a chance to sit down at your table and look at the menu. We got the cups of clam chowder, steamed clams and garlic bread, and the Fryer Combo. All were delicious and there were many leftovers given how big their portions are. Great prices for how much fresh delicious seafood you get! Will be returning if I'm ever in the area again! read more

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This has been a historic seafood restaurant in Moss Landing for years . Then it was moved to an old school house in Centerville, Ca . The new location has more indoor seatings . The restaurant menus stays the same . Next to the restaurant is now a fish market for purchase . Also has some indoor tables and outdoor seatings as well . We ordered two of their famous Cioppino bowl for 3 people.they were huge size bowls with lots of crab legs , shrimp , clams c mussels and fish in a rich tomato base broth . It was $32 and no tips was required. They would bring your the food and clean the table afterwards. The Cioppino order cakes with a large plate of salad and toasted bread . We were very full . Good ambience with holiday decorations. Private parking in front of the restaurant entrance. Or you can park on near by street when it got crowded on Saturday and Sunday . We have tried other menu items like steamed clams , fried fish and chips , deep fried seafood plates, seafood pasta , etc . We love Cioppino Bowl the most and we come to have it from time to time . read more

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For kids who don't eat seafood, they have chicken tenders, which were pretty big pieces, with a generous heap of fries. The picky kids enjoyed their food so much that they polished off their plates. The fish and chips come as cod or halibut. The cod was soft and sweet and didn't have any fishiness. The cioppino, on the other hand, made me sick for a couple days. It had lots of seafood in it, but the fish still had broken bones hidden in the pieces, and the whole crab legs were really messy to shell. The soup was very processed and tasted like a giant bowl of Clamato. The salad and the garlic bread were pretty good. The salad was fresh with chunks of tomatoes and cucumber. The coleslaw was hearty. There's parking behind the building. read more

Went to a previous place YEARS ago and decided to stop in their new location because we were driving nearby. Ordered the cioppino for two ($36), what I had years ago and enjoyed. Soup came out pretty quickly and was decent but not what I remembered. Had a few extra ingredients, METAL corkscrew shavings, like a piece of a pot scrubber!! We brought it to the attention of the waitress and she asked if we wanted another one, ummm no. I'm sure it's all made in a big pot so no more metal please. I just hope I didn't unknowingly eat any of it!!! Food is UNSAFE!! Eat at your own risk! read more

I have been this place twice. First time @ the old location at moss landing. Second time@ new location. Cioppino was too salty at the old location however it got improved at the new location. Cioppino and fryer were fresh and delicious. Large portions. No service. No tips. Ambiance is good. read more

Phil's Fish Market & Eatery - Seafood Near Me - Castroville, California

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Came here many years back when they were at their previous location and thought they were solid. Just tried them again twice and I would say they are still good. People complain about the quality and price, but I think the quality is still there, portions are generous, and prices are fair. Seafood isn't cheap anywhere Ordered the bowl of cioppino $30, lobster roll $30, blackened scallops $32. Cioppino was a big bowl that can easily be shared, comes with garlic bread and big plate of salad. They don't skimp on the variety of seafood in that bowl and it all tasted fresh. Soup was not too salty. Bread and salad were basic. The lobster roll was a decent size, lobster meat was flavored nicely and lightly, not the overdressed kind. Comes with perfectly crispy onion rings, a bit of basic salad, and some pretty good coleslaw. Scallops were perfectly cooked and served with a choice of side It's an order at the counter and open seating type of place. They bring your food to you. Service was good, friendly, and they don't ask for tip. They clean your table after you leave. They were able to accommodate my dietary restrictions as well. There's both indoor and outdoor seating. Full bar inside with some beers on tap as well. Parking is free and plentiful either in the parking lot behind the restaurant or on the street. read more

Phil's Fish Market & Eatery - Lobster roll, cioppino - Seafood Near Me - Castroville, California

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Very casual seafood place famous for their Cioppino. Their claim to fame is that they beat Bobby Flay in a Throwdown Competition. While I was impressed with the large portion and generous amount of crab, I found the broth to be overly tomato forward, somewhat sweet and lacking in seafood flavor. Several other reviews mentioned that they thought the recipe had changed. It's so popular that it might not have time for the flavors to meld. We brought half of it home, added some lemon and ate it the following day and the flavor improved. This place is more gourmand than gourmet. The fish and chips looked delicious. They also have a variety of hot and cold sandwiches that come your choice of French fries or coleslaw. The clam chowder had a generous amount of clams but was also very heavy on potatoes. You will not leave hungry if you go here to eat. read more

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We stopped at Phil's new location in Castroville. While it was fine, it wasn't anything to write home about. The parking was easy, and the dining room was very cute in an old California kind of way. Food was reasonably priced and was delivered quickly which was a plus. However, it was lackluster. It was a walk-up and order, take a number, take it to your table, and then your food was delivered by a server. Serve yourself beverages, pick up extra condiments yourself. On the plus side, there was no place to include a tip with your credit card. Tips were in a jar on the counter. Would I return? Hmm. Probably not. Would I recommend? Probably not. read more

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Phil's Fish Market is located near the beach and has delicious seafood. This is my second time coming here and I can safely say they do seafood well with great customer service. Some stand outs are their chowder and cioppino! So delicious and made fresh everyday. Their fried calamari and fried shrimp are exceptional as well. The decor is like a fisherman's wharf and perfect for family gatherings. Decent size servings for a good price for very fresh seafood. Totally casual and fun atmosphere. This place is filled with locals. Definitely a great spot for good food and a beach view. read more

Phil's Fish Market & Eatery - Fisherman decor - Seafood Near Me - Castroville, California

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If it weren't for the nostalgia, I'm not sure we'd spend the money for our family to eat at Phil's when we're in the Santa Cruz area. We shelled out (ha ha, get it?) $150 for our recent trip for 4. We got: - Sautéed crab -- technically an appetizer, but still one of our favorites. It's crab sautéed with capers, tomatoes, herbs and more in a wine sauce. Make sure you ask for bread for dipping - Fish and chips (halibut) -- good size portion and comes with cole slaw. Hubby liked it, but it too much breading for my taste - Fish and chips (cod) -- the cheaper version. Same big portion. Teenager liked it - Fire-roasted artichoke -- good flavor but not cooked enough, so it was hard to eat - Clam chowder in a bread bowl -- hubby said chowder really good flavor (I'm not a chowder fan) and the bread was tasty too The inside was a bit crowded, so we ate outside. It seems like there's much more seating at this location compared to the old moss landing location. And the line to order was a lot shorter than the old location. The fish market is located across the way. We missed being able to fill our own drinks and help ourselves to bread, but the counter for that rarely had a line. read more

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We've been Phil's customers for over 30 years! Whenever we visit Monterey Bay, we always make sure to grab a bite at Phil's. This is our first time at their new location, though. The menu is still the same, but the place looks a bit run down. I'm not sure what happened, but it's a bit of a bummer because in our memories, Phil's is always a fun place for our family to enjoy our summer trips to the sea. We'll definitely come back again next time, but I hope they can spruce up the decor a bit. read more

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Rustic, comfort food, seafood. We ordered a cioppino for two and the massive bowl of tomato broth seafood fish fed five adults. It's family friendly and there's lots of seating, both indoors and outdoors, for many patrons to dine in. For a dish that's meant to feed a fisherman, it's warm and comforting especially on a cool day read more

Phil's Fish Market & Eatery - Cioppino For Two - Seafood Near Me - Castroville, California

I was driving on my way back from Monterey and heard this restaurant had relocated and was a huge hit in town. My partner and I stocked up on some clam chowder, so we weren't too hungry, but wanted to try something at Phil's before heading home. The calamari fell short of our expectations. It wasn't crispy and there were no tentacles at all that day. :/ perhaps tentacles would've made it tastier for us? I found the calamari to be rubbery tasting and the breading was not crispy, but cakey. Cocktail sauce was good and the tartar sauce was okay. We did end up getting a cup of their clam chowder too, but the flavors couldn't compare to the spot we usually go to in Monterey. Mostly potatoes and no clams :( Felt more like a potato chowder than clam chowder, but it's possible we got unlucky with our scoop. Business was booming inside and tons of people were waiting for their food, but the wait didn't seem so long. Give or take 10 minutes to get your items. read more

Phil's Fish Market & Eatery - Seafood Near Me - Castroville, California

I'm a sucker for Chipino. Was in town again and had to try again. Dungeness is BACK. Thats a definite PLUS. -overall food is good, but NOT GREAT as it's glory day. - Went w/ party of 7. Service SUCK BiG TIME. the youngster taking order was cool. The lady that brought us our food was not pleasant and very snappy. She drop off all items at one end of table, even when we pointed out who it belongs to. OVERALL, Phil's Fish Market is what u can call a "HAS BEEN." Was once great. With the current service and food quality, "we must go our separate ways!" read more

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I was sitting watching TV when I noticed a competition with Bobby Flay and Phil's Cioppino, Phil was the victor. Told my wife and booked an RV site, hopped into our RV and left from Orange County the next day. It turned out to be our favorite restaurant, and stopped by maybe eight times over the next few years. The last time was our last. When I went up to order our dinner, Phil was at the register removing cash, he didn't look at me, he was interested in only the cash. That last experience was just after he moved to the city. I don't mind traveling 200+ miles for a good experience, but everything was not worth going 2 miles. read more

Came to Phil's Fish Market by recommendation from a family member that use to eat at their previous location. The outside and inside seating is spacious with ample room to move between inside and out. The ordering is simply done at the front and you then find seating until the food is delivered. We went to the bar to grab a bottle of wine at happy hour pricing which was convenient. Sat inside close to the front with a nice view of Merritt Street. The fried seafood appetizer was ok, but nothing that wowed me. The fish pasta on special was delicious and paired great with the bottle of wine we grabbed. All in all a solid experience and thank you for having us!! read more

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I heard about their ciopinno and had to try it. It didn't disappoint , packed with a ton of seafood! Everything was very fresh... clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops , crab, and fish. My boyfriend ordered the blackened salmon with fettuccine Alfredo . He thought the pasta was a bit bland but salmon was good. Both meals came with salad. Fried artichoke hearts were also nice and crispy. Clam chowder was also a hit. Definitely packed with value. I saw the other tables ordered fried seafood and everything looks really good. read more

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The setting between ordering food and drinks is weird and confusing. I noticed that they got lots and lots of items on the menu now, including Seafood Bouillabaisse. I don't recall having such menu in the old location, we simply just ordered from the big board above the counter. And the menu was just one page, two the most, with one page dedicated to Cioppino. Anyway, We want Cioppino because that is what we remember about Phil. Not anymore. If I remember correctly, the Cioppino from the old location used to be, not as red, yellowish and flavorful. The Cioppino we got this time was red, very tomato-y and was not just alright. I wonder if they took out the saffron and fennel from the Cioppino sauce to make a new dish called Bouillabaisse. As for others, Raw oysters - fresh and good but raw oysters are usually good, as long as they're fresh. Clam chowder - good but way too sweet for a savory soup. Fried calamari- it is not tentacles, it is calamari steak cut into pieces, flavor is not bad but over fried and dried, tasted more like a jerky. Very disappointed. Mediterranean pasta - yummy. The only dish that was good. Seafood pasta or Fruiti De Mare - probably the most disappointed Fruiti De Mare I have ever eaten. Desserts: Carrot cake - nasty, tasted like someone just dumped a bag of sugar, Costco size, into the batter and bake. Tiramisu- sugar level was perfect but bland. Need more coffee or espresso or something. read more

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I only had a Fire Roasted Artichoke and a bowl of clam chowder, but those alone were 10 outta 10! Also didn't hurt that I was at Phil's on a weekday during lunchtime so there was no line at all, I feel your overall experience with having to wait in a huge line could change your opinion on the food. Thankfully didn't have to live through that. Anywho.. I will be dreaming of that Fire Roasted Artichoke until I can get my hands on another one. read more

My family has been coming for years. It call get extremely busy during weekend for lunch and dinner but the line moves pretty fast. The tables are first come first serve but I think the turnover of customers is pretty fast so we haven't typically had issues finding a table. This place is known for their ciopinno so I highly recommend that! They have a family meal and it comes with a big bowl of cioppino, two salads, garlic bread. We also in ordered the clam chowder, the fish m chips and fried squid, as well as oysters! The oysters were super fresh and were $1.25 per oyster. Everything we ordered was very good, which is why this is a local hotspot. read more

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Like so many others, we've been going to the Moss Landing location for many years while in the area. We were in Monterey and decided to check out their new location... Food: It is no where near as good as it used to be, The shrimp Louis salad is at best, mediocre. The seafood pasta looked tasty but was lacking in seasoning. The "infamous" cioppino, is no longer infamous IMHO. Lastly, the raw oysters didn't look fresh. My adult son ate them anyway and within 36 hours had food poisoning! Service: It was practically non existent. My hubby asked for salad dressing for his non-dressed salad. He waited at the counter for 5 minutes until he returned to the table without it. Someone brought it to him about 10 minutes later and didn't acknowledge the wait at all. They seemed to care less about their service. Ambiance: We sat outside bc it was a beautiful sunny day. Besides the various flies, gnats and birds flying around looking for food, the street/traffic noise was horrendous bc they are located on the Main Street/strip in the town. Our visit was not enjoyable at all. Because of the lack of quality of the food, the awful service and the horrendous outdoor ambiance we experienced, we will not return, ever again. read more

Great place to stop off on your way to or from the Monterey area. Parking can be challenging on the weekends with lots of people passing through. They have a parking lot in the back. Order at the register, get a number and sit at a table. Grab your drink from the drink counter. They bring your food to the table. Condiments all at the table. We both like the fried scallops. I'm not a huge fan of the fries and wish they did some other sides like veggies. They can swap it for a salad. read more

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Easy parking. Large menu. Order at the register and then take a number and find a seat. The food is probably more like a 3, but the great menu and friendly and quick service make it a great stop. read more

I love going to Elkhorn Slough (rent kayaks or take a flat bottomed boat tour) when I have visitors from out of town. Part of the tour that I take my family and friends on is to have lunch here. I like to order the cioppino but it is some work to eat. FOR 2: If I am feeling more lazy I get the mediterranean pasta and a salad. I am not a large person so for me these two dishes are enough for two eaters to share. FOR 3 people: I order the ciopinno (messy with crab legs in it that have to be shelled, but delicious) ask for 2 extra bowls, 1 order of grilled artichokes, extra bread I have also heard this is excellent: Children's Fish and Chips with Halibut The service is fine (order ahead at the counter then they bring you the food). Ambiance is great for groups and families. read more

I hate to leave a bad review thinking they will get better, but no...Clam chowder was tangy and it was rancid, mold on slice bread. There is no quality control anymore after they moved to Castroville. Never will return, got sick several hours later. read more

Sad to say we were very disappointed. We ordered halibut & chips and shrimp & chips. I asked if the shrimp were battered and was told they where. They were not. They had some kind of crumb breading on them like you see in the boxes you can bye at the grocery store. They were a bit over cooked. The halibut was dry and also a bit over done. I don't believe it was fresh. The serving sizes were fair, but nothing left when we were done. We had one soft drink and the total was $71. I realize we are in an area where the prices are a bit high. I wouldn't have minded the price if the quality of the food had been better. All in all, we definitely won't be back. Not because it was bad, but because it didn't hold up to the standard the price demanded. As for the wait staff, there was nothing to comment on about them. They served the meal and that was it. read more

Came to Phil's Fish Market for a solo lunch after doing a mini birthday trip to Moss Landing. I really enjoyed the casual atmosphere and my meal overall! Located in downtown Castroville, Phil's is the perfect spot for your seafood cravings. It is walk-up service where you order at a register, then take a number to any open table. I ended up ordering: - Half dozen oysters: these were delicious and only needed a squeeze of lemon - Cup of clam chowder: lots of clam meat and comforting for a breezy day The wait for my food was a little longer than expected. But once my food came, nothing mattered because everything was so yummy. I would definitely come back for lunch for their fried fare and cioppino! read more

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I've admittedly never been to the new location, and it's been years since I've been to the OG location in Moss Landing, but I can tell you that it will forever live fondly in my memory. Being far away from Phil's is one of the saddest parts about living in the land locked state of Idaho. I am thrilled they took over this spot, and even if I'm just remember the nostalgic Phil's of my younger days- I know it's an improvement on what the old restaurant in this location had become. read more

So, so disappointed. Our first time back since there move. Our family has been coming to Phil's for years. It was a favorite spot for us. Came for our 43 anniversary. It's lost its charm since leaving the harbor for starts. Its new building works for them I guess but nothing special. Then comes the food. The most disappointing part of all. We had fish, shrimp and chip. The french fries were crinkle cut.. I'm sure straight from the freezer right next to the little flat frozen shrimp in a box. The fish had no texture it was just mosh. We will no longer be taking the 2.5 hour drive over anymore. read more

I was SO excited to try Phil's new location, moving to Castroville from moss landing was a big move! Totally disappointed!! The fried shrimp I've been ordering for years and enjoying from Phil's , tasted frozen and had absolutely no flavor! $23 for a plate of really dry and crappy French fries , 5 pathetic no flavor shrimp and coleslaw. TOTAL rip off! No need to make a trip to eat shitty and over priced seafood. Sorry Phil's you lost a life long customer. read more

We visited different nurseries in the area looking for plants on a weekend. We found this place on Yelp and saw that it had a lot of reviews. When you walk in, you order first at the register. They will provide a ticket number and bring the food to your table. It took about 10 minutes for our food to arrive. We tried the clam chowder bread bowl and cod fish and chips. The clam chowder is good but could use more clams. It's the typical thick clam chowder, but not as buttery/rich tasting. It's nowhere as good as Splash Cafe's clam chowder in Pismo Beach. The fish and chips batter is light and airy. The coleslaw and fries are nothing to rave about. I'm not a fan of crinkle-cut fries since they remind me of the fries you get in elementary school. read more

Phil's Fish Market & Eatery - clam chowder bread - Seafood Near Me - Castroville, California

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My friends and I visited during MLK weekend for lunch and it was busy but there were still enough seats as people came and left. The menu is very large so it did take some time to figure out what the three of us wanted but it was easy to order at the counter and the food then arrived promptly. The portions are large so friendly warning to come hungry! In order of what I enjoyed most to least (though least is still at least a 5/10), the steamed clams and garlic bread had an amazing broth and there were so many clams!; the fish and chips were a large serving but the batter was light and not too dense and the fries were crisp; and the cioppino was hearty and full of seafood but had an off tomato flavor that I personally did not enjoy. For the ambiance, I think it was a nice, large space and definitely a tourist friendly place. read more

Phil's Fish Market & Eatery - Seafood Near Me - Castroville, California