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    The Bistro

    5.0 (1 review)
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    Seabreeze On The Dock

    Seabreeze On The Dock

    3.9
    (542 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Was gifted a gift card here - we decided to try this spot out on a warm Saturday afternoon. Located…read moreright near the water in Jack London Square. Parking is a bit difficult but we managed to find street parking a block away. Wasn't too crowded and there was plenty of seating inside. You order first and you find a table to sit, and they bring out the food to you. Self serve water is available. The food came out pretty quick! Thoughts: - Lobster roll (classic) was delicious! Generous amount of lobster. Would definitely get this again. Chips weren't too great though. - Fried shrimp basket was nice. Shrimp was crispy and tasty. Fries were also very crispy and flavorful. The sauces go well with the shrimp/fries. Coleslaw isn't the best though. - The crab nachos were surprisingly good. A nice cheese sauce combo with pico/avocado crema and a good amount of crab. - Garlic noodles were fine, nothing standout about them. - Mix and match basket with catfish, cod, and calamari (not pictured): Catfish was solid (would highly recommend, one of the favorites of the meal!), but would pass on the cod and calamari - a bit dry/fishy. Would recommend for a casual spot for seafood and a nice view!

    First off, this place is one the water on Jack London Square - which is pretty much in a death…read morespiral. The once thriving and bustling go-to spot is a mere shadow of what it once was. Anyone remember the Jack London Village that they tore down to build this end of the development? Anyways - this is a fast casual type spot, where you order from the counter, place the little number sign on your table and wait for it to be delivered. The menu is your standard seafood joint by the water type, with all the usual suspects represented. Fried fish, shrimp, chowder, seafood pastas--if you've ever been to a seaside seafood joint, chances are good that the menu here is exactly like the one you remember seeing at the countless other places like this one. I noticed right off the bat that their pricing structure was on the high side - with a $17 burger and fries option, with the bulk of the fried seafood options in the $22-25 range. A cheaper choice might be the $16 fish tacos (two of them) but I kind of draw the line at paying $8 for a single taco. Our table ordered a few of the fried options plus a few soda beverages. The food arrived in a reasonable amount of time, and I noticed that the silver metal trays that the food comes on is a bit on the small side, especially considering the prices for each dish. The fried shrimp dish was a big scoop of mega-salty french fries, and 3 average sized deep fried shrimp. Yes - 3 as in 1, 2, 3. That's what - $7+ a shrimp? The two fried fish platters weren't much better portion-wise. My deep fried cod consisted of three modest sized fish-fingers, and not the single luscious chunk of perfectly fried cod I had imagined in my head when ordering. They were fine - but very average and nothing that stood out as life-changing or something to write home about. As mentioned earlier, they must be employing the Little Rascals method where they over salt everything, in hopes that you'll order another beverage to wash down the copious mounts of sodium (I figure about 4+ days worth). The fried catfish platter that rounded out our order was more of the same - thin meager portions of fish on a large bed of mega-salted fries. Small plastic containers of generic pre-made tartar sauce and coleslaw can with each platter. The coleslaw was fine - just very forgettable and perhaps a tad on the flavorless/watery side. All said, was it okay? Yes. Was it anything outstanding that I'd crave and plan my return to have again? No. It is in line with touristy by-the-Sea seafood places that charge an extra couple of bucks because they're "on the water"? Pretty much. You're paying for the view and the 'scene' of sitting on the patio out front to people watch, and not for the food. I kind of hate these places and normally try my best to stay away from them, but every once in awhile, you gotta put on your tourist hat and join the mindless flock. A meager 2 stars outta 5 from me. Instead, I'd stroll around this area on a Sunday when they hold the farmer's market (again - is not what it used to be) and then drive through the tube to Alameda where great dining spots are numerous on Park Street. You can stop at Crab Cove and Crown Beach on the way, for more touristy sightseeing.

    Photos
    Seabreeze On The Dock
    Lobster Roll
    Lobster Roll
    Crusty hot sauce bottle

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    Crusty hot sauce bottle
    Marica

    Marica

    4.4
    (2.6k reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    Special night for 30th wedding anniversary. Got the price fixe earlybird special and it was…read moredelicious and a good deal! Service was attentive and helpful, the room is pretty from the outside and prettier from the inside. Very good salads, healthy, tasty, and the safron salmon with potatoes and vegetables was delicious. Hit all the notes, and left open the spaces too. Excellent cooking and serving. We both went for Creme Brulee and weren't sorry. Good wine selection, 1 glass each, and good decaf with dessert. There's a lot of competition on this end of College Ave, Marica are top-tier, on par with the now closed, and missed, "Oliveto". A place to take anyone for a very special meal.

    Date: 3/27/2026 Time: 7:25 PM 68° Cool…read more My male companion asked where I wanted to have dinner this evening. I had a taste for Chilean sea bass. A search on this website resulted in Marica having it on their menu. He booked a 7:30 PM reservation for two. We arrived early. What started out as a not too pleasant experience for us was the attitude of the guy who greeted us when we entered the restaurant. Attitude bordered on rudeness (3 star). We somewhat tolerated it, not knowing what to expect next. The restaurant was filled with diners, and the only available seating was not far from the front door. Oh, the chill was in the air, and my not wearing a sweater and/or light jacket to stay warm had me shivering. I had to brave the element (LOL). Since there was no Chilean sea bass on their daily special menu, it took a little longer for my companion and I to peruse the menu, and decide what entrees we were willing to have. Usually I would order an Arnold Palmer as a beverage; however, this time I decided to be adventurous - reisling peach spritz please - to whet my appetite. My date had the Temescal pilsner. Eats: Grilled salmon arange ginger saffron blanc beurre, roasted potatoes and vegetables. Korean short ribs, honey garlic gochujang marinade, mashed potatoes and vegetables. Our meals were on point and bomb-diggity delicious. The arange ginger saffron was perfect with the carrot. It reminded me of glazed carrots. The green beans were fresh and not overcooked. Ooh, the Korean pork ribs were tender and that sauce was sweet and had a subtle kick of spiciness. (Definitely a perfect complement for the pork ribs.) I have to admit the chef knew how to burn. Food tasted so good that figuratively speaking y'all gotta slap the cook and his mama. Ambiance: Comfy and casual. Despite the dining area is small, still it is a great restaurant for dining on a Friday evening. From my perspective and vivid imagination with the indoor lighting, it exuded a romantic atmosphere. Only in my mind I can hear soft jazz in the background. What convinced me to give Marica a 5 star rating? It was none other than Enriqueta, our waitress. She was pleasant, attentive and so accommodating. The chef lost our order ticket; thus, the wait time for our meal took a bit longer than we anticipated. She came to the rescue and comped us with dessert - chocolate souffle with homemade vanilla ice cream. It certainly was a gesture of kindness to have my date and me smiling from ear to ear. Return visit? Yes, mos def...not the rapper for Chilean sea bass. Enriqueta said I can always call to find out what their daily special is.

    Photos
    Another shipment of lobster in for the weekend. Limited quantity for a few lucky people who can get this drop!
    Another shipment of lobster in for the weekend. Limited quantity for a few lucky people who can get this drop!
    Marica Seafood Stew
    Marica Seafood Stew
    Short ribs

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    Short ribs
    The Salty Pearl

    The Salty Pearl

    4.5
    (133 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$

    I wanted to give this place a try because I've been searching for an oyster bar close to home…read more Unfortunately, I won't be returning. When we walked in, we were greeted with an awkward look, which immediately made the experience feel a little uncomfortable. We were seated with menus and waited about 10 minutes without anyone coming by to take a drink order. I completely understand that staff may be busy attending other guests, so I tried to be patient. Since it felt a little stuffy inside, I kindly asked if we could sit outside, and they said yes. After moving outside, we waited another 10+ minutes and still no one checked in on us. Meanwhile, I could hear servers laughing and chatting nearby while we continued to be overlooked, so we ultimately decided to leave. I was genuinely excited to try this place, so the experience was disappointing.

    The first time I tried to go to the Salty Pearl they were closed. The second time was the charm…read more Two things to note, the whole staff is friendly and everything is fresh. They were running a special with a winery, buy a carafe of wine, get a dozen oysters for a $1 each. I mention it because it was a good deal. Unfortunately for me, no alcohol. I still had the oysters though. They served me 1/2 East Coast and 1/2 West Coast. For once, my beloved Miyagis were the bigger oyster. Delicious! Instead of wine, I had a Shirley Temple. They make a good one. For my main, I had the lobster roll. They do it with mayonnaise and celery. It was good, but I prefer my naked with butter. Wish that was an option. I chose to splurge and get the Cesar salad on the side. It was almost delicate, with finely shredded cheese and light dressing. I wish there was more dressing to stand up to the romaine. Maybe a few more croutons, too. For dessert, I tried the creme brulee. It was nice and creamy with lots of fresh fruit on top. I only ate half. Be aware, the serving size is generous. You and a friend could easily share. The space itself is nice. It's modern and bright with jwarm wood and jaz playing in the background. There is seating at the bar, and a few outdoor tables in addition to the main room. I enjoyed my experience. If I had a criticism, it's that I wished for one or two more mains. They really have what I consider a grazing menu. It's not a bad thing, just something to consider. Only go if you love seafood. They have the obligatory burger, but not much else. I give them a solid 3.5. Recommended.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Clams casino
    Clams casino
    Garlic bread

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    Garlic bread
    Ace Seafood

    Ace Seafood

    4.3
    (76 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Good customer service. Today was my second time getting take out. Fish and chips both times, and…read morethe tamarind agua fresca. Same quality and taste as the first time. It's all about the batter! and they have nailed it :) You get 2 LARGE pieces of fish: it definitely can be split between 2 people. Thanks to Berkeleyside for the write up during Lent! Just what I needed for Fish Fridays during Lent :)

    I really wanted to like this place because we need a good oyster spot in this neighborhood. Here's…read morea quick breakdown: Came here for Mother's Day to try some place new. Walked in. No one greeted us. Wasn't sure where to go. Went to the register. Waited a minute for someone to come out. Ordered the clam chowder, dozen oysters and fish & chips with a glass of mystery orange wine. Decided to sit outside in the back patio. Table was dirty from previous guest which usually doesn't bother me be ut little things started adding up. Service took a while. Oysters came out first. 20 min. They were fresh and delicious. Just enough to get the palette opened up. $46 though? Way overpriced but was willing to overlook since it is Mother's Day. Next up - clam chowder, 10 min after they took the tray for the oysters. Smallest bowl I ever saw. Flavor was good. Temperature was luke warm. Broth was thin. $10. Not worth it. Last was the fish and chips. 10 min after picking up the chowder bowl. Portion looked good enough to make up for the small clam chowder, except it was under seasoned. Fish texture was a bit dry too. Fries were meh. Between the overall vibe...the overpriced items...the time between dishes...and the lack of flavor, I will continue my search for an oyster spot in this neighborhood.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Fish ceviche
    Fish ceviche
    Cute glass and their bartender pour TALL drinks!!

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    Cute glass and their bartender pour TALL drinks!!
    Hog Island Oyster

    Hog Island Oyster

    4.4
    (7.7k reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$

    Killer fresh seafood! We generally come here if we're in town visiting the city. The ferry building…read moreis a cool spot to walk around and take in views of the Bay Bridge. So, try to grab a table outside. Service is always superb here - staff is very attentive. You can't go wrong w anything. Char grilled oysters (split 50/50 between jalepeño and chipotle bourbon) are a must. They come out piping hot and are massive. My wife ordered the mussels which she loves and I opted for shrimp and chips. Big meaty shrimp and well seasoned / cooked fries. If you're nearby, this is a must.

    Second time at Hog Island & this visit was certainly not as good as the last…read more Food: 5/5 - always, highly recommend the grilled oysters as an appetizer and then we had the steamers with pasta + the seafood stew. Both were fantastic. Ambiance: 3/5 - ambiance is just okay. It's right on the water so a nice view from the outdoor seating but nothing particularly outstanding about the restaurant itself in terms of decor or architecture. Service: 1.5/5 - huge miss. For the prices on this menu, I would expect service to be a lot better. We waited in line to be sat (no waiting list, just an old school line) and it took only 10 minutes or so to be sat but it was very bizarre, we were a party of 2 ready to be sat & she took the couple behind us and sat them first. No particular reasoning given. The host seemed to really not care about much. From there, service was odd. Our server didn't introduce herself and just asked us what we wanted. Again, not a necessity but you would think for somewhere you're paying $30+ per plate, service would be a bit better. An oyster holder was delivered to our table after we had already finished oysters. Glass was broken near our table and hastily swept up. Bussers were dropping silverware right next to our table. Again, just wasn't great ambiance or service. The food is good but there are other good restaurants in San Francisco. I would really only come here again with low service expectations.

    Photos
    Inside 05-2026
    Inside 05-2026
    Seafood Stew
    Seafood Stew
    Raw Oyster Bar Mix: a selection of the above oysters | $26 (6pcs)

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    Raw Oyster Bar Mix: a selection of the above oysters | $26 (6pcs)

    The Bistro - cajun - Updated June 2026

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