DISAPPOINTED,,,,, We've been going to Phil's for over 30 years, first at the original location in Moss Landing and more recently at the new location in Castroville. We've always been pleased, but not this past Sunday. We met friends for dinner, and we were both disappointed. I found the Prawn Fettucini Alfredo to be under-cooked. The prawns were fine, but the pasta wasn't fully cooked, and it had the taste and feel of uncooked flour. My side salad had far too much dressing and the mixed greens were very wilted. My companion ordered the Shrimp Skewer Salad. It was swimming in dressing and like my small salad it was made up primarily of wilted greens. We also thought that, given the poor quality of the meal, $22 for her salad and $32 for my pasta were definitely on the high side, especially at a place where you order your food at a counter and then dine in what amounts to "school lunch rom" ambience. read more

Cute new spic-and-span location in Castroville! Cafe and adjacent fish market. Got some spectactular swordfish... best we've ever had. Also scored some big scallops and a bucket of their signature Cioppino to take home. What a feast! By the way, swordfish does extraordinarily well when reverse seared: 250 degree convection oven until 120 degrees internally, then crank up the broiler until 145 degrees internally. Ambrosia. Works for any thick cut: salmon, marlin, yellowtail, ahi... Dust it first with Paul Prudhomme's Seafood Magic for an extra treat. read more

For crying out loud, if you are going to make your customers stand a second time in the long food ordering line to buy a post-meal coffee, than put up a sign that's says "No coffee today: machine is broken" so I could skip waiting in line for 15 minutes to learn this easily conveyed fact. All the more galling because the counterperson said the coffee machine had been broken for some time. There's even a whiteboard behind the counter which lists what they are out of today, do I need to buy Phil a marker to update the sign? I had a bay shrimp quesadilla. It was OK, leaning toward "meh" but not good enough to put up with the organizational shenanigans. read more

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Food Ratings: Cioppino: 5/10 Fettuccine Alfredo with Blackened Scallops: 7/10 Miyagi Oysters: 9/10 The seafood was incredibly fresh like, really fresh, which was definitely the highlight of the meal. The Miyagi oysters were excellent and easily my favorite dish. Unfortunately, the execution of the cooked dishes was a bit disappointing. It almost felt like the freshness of the seafood was expected to carry the meal without much attention to seasoning or balance. The fettuccine Alfredo had a very heavy cream sauce and was quite salty, while the cioppino was surprisingly bland and lacked the depth of flavor I was hoping for. Considering the prices, I expected more. The menu is also pretty overwhelming with so many options, which made me wonder if the kitchen is trying to do too much instead of focusing on making each dish exceptional. I really wanted to love this place because the ambiance is nice and the seafood quality is there. But I think we need to put a little bit of effort and love in making those dishes. read more

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

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The food was basic and for the price the cioppino was ample at $40, for a single serving bowl but the fire roasted artichoke was carbonated $14. The food did come out quickly, but the service was terrible. The older cashier where you place your order and pay was robotic at best, and didn't crack a smile, greet, just NEXT. She was ALL business and it was not crowded. The rest of the staff had the same cold and annoyed attitude. The tables were not bussed and the patio area was not dog friendly, as they say. The busser tried to kick a family's dog. The floor was dirty and no water bowls. No music, no ambiance. The inside part might be nicer. I like a place where the staff is happy to see you and you feel welcomed! read more

Phil's Fish Market & Eatery - Bowl of Cioppino, with salad and one piece of garlic bread and the overly fire roasted artichoke. - Seafood Near Me - Castroville, California

This place was absolutely amazing! We all enjoyed the food very much. It all tasted so good and the staff made recommendations. Plenty of parking in the back and plenty of seating inside. Our first time here but are making this our go to when we come back to the area. Definitely worth a try. read more

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Phil's is the destination to head to in Castroville. Fresh fish served in so many ways. And artichokes served in as many ways as you can think of eating them. So good. Fresh fish and chips are a family favorite. We were so engrossed in our meals that by the time I thought of taking pictures there was nothing but bones and spent artichoke leave not very appetizing. Hungry for some fish? Head on over to Phil's for the freshest catch on the central coast. Don't be in a hurry, know what you want when you reach the cashier to order and relax into the atmosphere of this iconic restaurant. A little kindness towards the very busy servers goes a long way, you won't be disappointed. 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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For the price this is a big let down. 28$ for fish and chips. There was a total of 6 French fries and 5 small heavily battered pieces of fish. Very dissatisfied with the cost and experience from a cafeteria style restaurant. read more

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

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 miss the old food and service. The vibe is completely different. Basic fish restaurant now :( read more

Phil's Fish Market & Eatery - We miss the old Phils - Seafood Near Me - Castroville, California

I went to Phil's a couple years ago to end a nice day in Monterey. I remember thinking the food was pretty good overall. Everything was hot and above average as far as taste. I ordered the red clam chowder and was left with a pretty good impression. I just had a meal there this past weekend and I was underwhelmed compared to my last meal there. I ordered the red snapper sandwich with a side of fries. The snapper was alright, but it didn't have that fresh fish taste, and the fries weren't hot. As much as I like Phil's, you're probably better off going to eat elsewhere. The price to quality ratio was off, however, the waitstaff seemed kind, and the restaurant seemed well kept and clean. read more

I guess I should have read the reviews before dining there. It was our first time at the Castroville location. My wife ordered Cioppino, which was good not great. She didn't like having to shell small shrimp. I ordered Linguini & Clams with butter cream sauce, sauteed garlic, green onion, tomato, thyme and parsley. What I was served was spaghetti soup. Spaghetti instead of linguini. Instead of a sauce, I got a broth. Probably what they use with steamed shell fish. Instead of Parmesan Cheese I got mozarella dumped into the broth resulting in a gooey mess. No green onion was noted. Instead of chopped parsley, they threw two pieces of parsley into this mess, stem and all. Our garlic bread was flabby. Obviously cooked some time ago. The salads were also flabbly. The dressings (blue cheese & creamy italian) were tastless and coated nothing. My wife said that they had split. We won't be back. read more

It's been years since we've visited this famous eatery in Moss Landing. Upon arrival on a Tuesday afternoon, we discovered that they had moved to Castroville three years ago. The drive from Moss Landing to Castroville was brief and easy, and parking at the new location was convenient. The restaurant was spacious, and since it was a weekday, it wasn't busy at all. We were promptly greeted by the host, who led us to choose our table and seats. We placed our orders quickly, and the wait time for our food and beverages was short. Everything we ordered was fresh and delicious, except for the fried shrimp, which was a bit salty. I recommend this place to seafood lovers! 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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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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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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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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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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Tried this restaurant after a boat ride at Moss landing. Food was pretty good. Was told that the original restaurant was better tho. 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

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

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

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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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

Came here and the famous soup was mid and not worth the price at all. Was also told I could only get 1 refill on a soda I paid for and they didn't even fill up all the way :// read more

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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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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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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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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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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Had the lobster roll and its best and tastiest one I ever had. I really recommend you trying it. It paired well with their house made ranch.

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

We've been wanting to try this place since seeing it on Triple D. When you arrive, you order once you enter. It's a self seating dining room. The food was mediocre at best. I was expecting something better. By son ordered a cheeseburger, and when munching on the lettuce, there was a wriggling worm. We asked for a refund and they refunded the burger. They didn't offer any other food or anything complimentary. They didn't check on us. They give you utensils wrapped in napkins, and my wife's fork had caked on food. We all basically lost our appetites and left disappointed after dropping over a 100 bucks. read more

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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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 am sad about this place and they used to be on Moss Landing even the hectic environment made it special then even if you were frustrated waiting in line for a table. We came to lunch this weekend almost empty. We were confused that it was that empty. The table bread changed we had to ask if they had any sourdough cause we can't have whatever they served. The artichoke cards were tiny. I'm gonna have to wait for the fair to go have that cooked shrimp cocktail was soggy. I feel like I was eating rubber I'm just sad. The bartender acted like he didn't wanna be there and a bloody. Mary was set in the menu, but then they informed they have no liquor. They need to get back to their roots the way this place would survive. read more

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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