Their clam chowder is good--rich, smoky, and loaded with actual clam meat rather than being packed…read moreout with cheap potato filler like so many other places. The calamari is also good, featuring a light, crispy breading but was not greasy. Instead of a mix of body and tentacles, they serve large, tender chunks of squid cut into clean squares, making it so approachable that even picky eaters with a limited palate won't be turned off by it. Service was attentive with water getting filled at the right moments. Would be back to try their other items.

Had a wonderful lunch here last Sat and truly enjoyed our meal. We arrived a little after they…read moreopened and their friendly staff greeted and seated us right away and brought us water. Decor is modern and bright and they had plenty of staff to help. Items ordered- Clam chowder x2 - Not your traditional creamy clam chowder but it worked and was delicious. Kids chicken tenders- Fresh battered chunks of chicken and fries Kids fish & chips- fresh and perfectly seasoned and battered. Cioppino- Generous portion of protein in a light and flavorful broth. This came with a side of squash, swiss chard, and rice. The rice was just a tad under but still edible. Linguini calamari & clams- Plenty of fresh seafood in a light lemon sauce. Well done!! Loved this dish!!! Iced tea x2- As expected Truly enjoyed this gem and their fresh food!!

Fresh, delicious food, and wonderful service!…read more We came to Monterey for a quick getaway vacation and we had a wonderful dinner at Passionfish. Located in Pacific Grove, this restaurant is well known for its sustainable seafood and fresh ingredients. Street parking is available but you may need to drive around to get a spot close to the restaurant. We made a reservation online, and we were notified our table was ready 15 mins prior to our reservation time. When we arrived, we were greeted warmly by the hostess. The restaurant was mid sized, but it felt warm and cozy. The menu was quite simple, but the selections were solid. We had the salmon cervice as appetizer, salad, scallop entree, and halibut entree. The cervice was delicious and we loved the innovative concept. The salad was great with perfect balance of veggie, dressing, and cheese. The scallop entree was very flavorful as well. For desserts, we gad the banana pudding with ice-cream, and it was the perfect way to wrap up our dinner. As for service, our waiters were attentive and friendly. The bill for our meal was around $200, which was very reasonable for the quality of the meal. Highly recommend!

This was our first time going to Passionfish! And it did not disappoint us! The crowd was super…read morenice. We ended up talking to a few people which made it nice. The food was excellent. We had the bread rolls which are absolutely to die for! We had the jicama salad and the halibut. We shared this between two adults, and it was more than enough. And their wine selection is incredible! We will definitely be returning!

Sea Harvest is a fish market / small restaurant. There's indoor and outdoor dining. It is…read moredog-friendly for outdoor usage only. They have a nice fresh seafood menu. I opted for their fish and chips. It was juicy and lightly breaded. I was very pleased with my lunch. My husband wasn't too hungry and he ordered their clam chowder. It had a lot of clams and potatoes. It was flavorful and rich... very good. The ambience is casual, nothing fancy. It is a great pit stop for a quick meal.

Having been to this place several times, I'm sorry I didn't write a review previously. This is a…read morefamily favorite, their fish and chips are always reliable, with better than average fries complimenting the better than average fried fish. On our last visit, we decided to try something other than our go to (the aforementioned fish and chips) and tried their grilled rockfish dinner. It was a great choice! Nicely cooked through without being dry, it had a nice flavor that reflects the freshness of the fish. We also did their Baja fish tacos. We all agreed it was one of the messiest, tastiest fish tacos we'd had in awhile. Generous piece of rockfish, with a sauce that compliments, not overwhelms the fish. Unfortunately my sons aren't fans of raw fish (I should do one of those genetic tests to see if they're really my offspring, but I digress), I nonetheless will find an occasion to try their seared ahi tuna which I'll have on the rare side. They can enjoy something else, so there. Still, if it's a first time visit, it's hard to go wrong with their fish and chips. Enjoy!

This place cooks up local fish - like their market plate! Pretty chill for Sunday lunch. Cute…read moreplace on a cute street in Monterey. The Popovers were also quite special - we were the first when they just opened for lunch so it was super fresh and warm! Perfect. Not too greasy but light and airy. My hb got the tuna melt which he liked, noted that it's very cheesy but at the same time, not too heavy! Of course, got the Wild Fish Plate, which was petrale sole, but it was fried, which wasn't specified... I couldn't eat it so the chef renade me a version that was more steamed. Bonus points for that. And it was cooked perfectly. Absolutely delicious!!

Wild Fish is a very cute restaurant in downtown Pacific Grove serving up a delicious assortment of…read morefresh seafood. We popped in for lunch and shared some appetizers and a sandwich, and everything tasted fresh and scratchmade. Our server was very friendly and attentive throughout. We started with the calamari, which came out piping hot from the fryer, and I absolutely loved the crunch of the tempura fry. It paired perfectly with a couple lemon wedges and a chili-lime aioli. We also ordered a bowl of the soup of the day, which was a seafood broth loaded with steamer clams and sablefish. They mentioned the use of coconut milk, so I had assumed the broth would be creamier, but it came out very thin and sour, almost like a Thai Tom Yum Goong. While the seafood was delicious, the broth was not our favorite since it felt a bit one dimensional and really needed some cream, cracked pepper and fresh herbs to balance the flavor profile out. For our main we ordered the spicy fried fish sandwich with a side salad. The fry on the fish was again perfect, and the texture was super flaky, but I found it to be a bit underseasoned and lacking spice entirely, which was disappointing given the name. While all of the veggies on the plate were super fresh, the side salad was very underwhelming since the dressing tasted purely of oil, so it felt like I was eating undressed spinach with a handful of cherry tomatoes. Overall, it is a great spot to have a pleasant meal, especially with the nice front patio for enjoying your food when the weather is nice, and the seafood in general is super fresh.

This restaurant is placed at a great location -- can eat then beach, and vice versa. We tried their…read moreAlfredo combo, Marinara with grilled chicken, and pesto pasta. I will say I enjoyed the pasta noodles here. It's a little thicker than spaghetti, and it had a sort of bouncy texture, if that makes sense. We also tried their fish and chips combo. I wish it came with more fries. We also tried their Fried Oysters on their seasonal menu. I was a little disappointed that it only came with three oysters. We had a party of 5, so I wished they had mentioned that when we ordered. Everyone was very nice here. Service was prompt. It is a bit pricey so be prepared for that. They also only have street parking. They have two single stall bathrooms. The one I went in had an issue with their soap dispenser. Overall I would come again. I love that it's so close to the beach!

I really wanted to give Fishwife 5 stars because there was so much to love. The ambiance was great,…read morethe food was delicious, and the portions were perfect. Every staff member we interacted with was smiling, welcoming, and genuinely kind. The customer service throughout our meal was excellent. The only reason I'm giving 2 stars is because of how my drink exchange was handled. I ordered the Razz Tini, took one sip, and it wasn't what I expected. To me, it tasted like cough syrup. I politely asked if I could exchange my $18 cocktail for something else and was initially told I would still be charged because it was the restaurant's policy. A manager then stepped in and graciously agreed to exchange the drink without charging me, which I appreciated. What left a bad impression was the explanation that customers "order at their own risk." While both gentlemen were pleasant and respectful, that statement didn't sit well with me. It reminded me of signs at the beach saying you swim at your own risk. If this is truly the restaurant's policy, I suggest adding it to the menu, perhaps near the notice about the 3% credit card processing fee, so guests know before ordering. The food, atmosphere, and service were all deserving of 5 stars. A more customer-friendly approach to drink exchanges and clearer communication of the policy would have made this a perfect experience.

Service was very friendly, but as a solo diner I was seated next to a couple tables of kids…read moreclimbing all over -- small inconvenience but not ideal for the upscale vibe they're going for. Food and drinks were okay at best. The $20 "top shelf" margarita was just sour mix in a tall glass (ABSOLUTE RED FLAG) -- no agave, no fresh lime, not worth it and not a real margarita just sugar water. The $58 halibut special was oddly flavored (sweet, balsamic, horseradish) with nothing else standing out, and the calamari was floppy with sauce that tasted like it was about to turn. Bread was genuinely good, though. Hope the other menu options are better but honestly, skip the sit-down menu -- grab clam chowder from the outside window and save your money.

Locals menu was amazing!!!! View was…read morebeautiful! Great service! Will be coming again soon!!

The Spotted Duck is a small restaurant with the dining area on the main floor, with a cozy bar…read morearea, a few tables as well as the kitchen upstairs. Upon entry, we were heartily greeted by the owner and staff. There were only a couple tables left on the main floor as there was a large party of fifteen people seated in most of the main dining area. It was extremely loud with voices reverberating because of the gregarious group. The owner invited us upstairs to see if a high-bar table would be suitable. The table was quite small even though it overlooked the entire first level, so we declined as another table by the front windows had become available. The Charcuterie + Cheese board was a wonderful start to the evening. It consisted of prosciutto di parma, sopressata, duck prosciutto, bella vitano, triple cream brie, chèvre, almonds, and fig jam served with sliced grilled sourdough. Delish. We enjoyed their Sauteed Rock Cod entrée which consisted of pan-fried cod served with potato puree, artichokes + capers in a Meyer lemon brown butter sauce. The portion was of moderate size, and the dish was excellently prepared and plated. In addition, we had the Drunken Skillet Seared Octopus, which was a nice portion of octopus in a preserved black-bean honey sauce, along with Chef Jerry's seasoning. I recommend this starter as an appetizer or as a main entrée for a light appetite. All was quite delicious. This is an intimate venue for wonderfully prepared meal. The atmosphere of the restaurant is a little lacking which could account for the bad acoustic issue. The service is outstanding as the staff was attentive and watchful without interrupting the customer's dining experience. A serious negative would be that the restrooms are not located on the main dining level, and could pose a problem for patrons who need assistance. Food 4.9 Atmosphere 3.7 Service 4.9

Very nice meal. Nothing bad to say. Wine as great, food was good, service was good. If I had to…read morechange one thing it would be the lighting, it was very bright in here for dinner, felt like a lunch spot. We ordered the duck confit fries and the octopus, both were very nice. For entrées we shared the scallops and the braised lamb shoulder. Both were cooked perfectly. The best thing I ate here were the Brussels sprouts as a side and it was perfect. I don't know if I'd come back, but I had a nice time and the service was speedy.

First time eating here and all 4 were f us really enjoyed our meals. I ordered the ranch steak…read moresubstituted fries with mashed potatoes. All 4 of us voted my plate was the best. We would definitely come back. Also, I highly recommend trying the fire cracker shrimp appetizer. Nice view! My only suggestion is the waitress could have been more attentive but it was pretty busy so I wouldn't mark the rating down for that. She was nice and smiled just could be a little more attentive is all.

We went here because it was convenient, right next to the beach and Stillwell Pool…read more They have a kids menu with a bunch of options. My daughter had the marinara pasta with Parmesan and she loved it, finished every bite. It's a good portion too, and it was only $9! In fact, she liked it so much we had to come back our second night so she could have it again. To me, the highlight was the warm bread. It's served with softened butter, and coming in from the chilly outdoors to it was heavenly. I also had their Beach House salad--the candied pecans and the tangy sweet vinaigrette were very good. The second night I tried their Filet Mignon Beef Stroganoff, and it was way too rich for me. I barely ate many and it unsettled my stomach. Should have just stuck with the salad again! Service inconsistent. First night our server was an older woman with a ponytail, didn't see her name. She was super unfriendly. Felt like we were inconveniencing her every time I asked her something. Second night our server was a Latino man, and he was fantastic. So friendly and helpful.

Hello Everyone…read more Please visit Lighthouse Bistro, the owner is super friendly and attentive to his customers. I completely forgot to take photos of our plates but it was suuuuuper good I got the chicken Alfredo and my husband got the Grilled Salmon and we were happy. I was told by the owner he has been there for two years, please continue to support Lighthouse Bistro. When I come back to visit Montrey Bay I will stop by again and visit but this time i want ro try the tofu curry.

This restaurant has an interesting mix of Middle Eastern and Italian food, topped off with some…read moreAmerican options.The outdoor seating was convenient. It wasn't busy during our visit. I ordered the chicken shawarma, which was fine. One of my aunts had the chicken Alfredo, and another relative ordered the fish and chips. Personally, I didn't care for the french fries served with my meal, and I found it odd to see fries paired with chicken shawarma. It looked like they might offer a different menu for dinner. Ultimately, it was just an average experience, and I don't think I would eat here again. I'd try to find a place that offers dishes focused on middle eastern cuisine alone.

Absolutely loved it. Food is good, the view is breathtaking. Definitely wil come again.read more

Food was phenomenal. Seafood was fresh, bright and tasty. Hugo was an awesome server. I will…read moredefinitely be back the next time in Monterey