Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Vivolo's Chowder House

    4.0 (2.4k reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Vivolo's Chowder House Photos

    VIVOLO'S CHOWDER HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like Vivolo's Chowder House

    Recommended Reviews - Vivolo's Chowder House

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Nate M.

    When in a small coastal town, clam chowder is a must. Vivolo's popped up on the Yelp app and we headed straight there. The vibe in here is cozy and the the staff was super helpful when it came to ordering. My wife and each ordered a cup of clam chowder, fried calamari for the table and I ordered the Cajun salad and with chicken. Real talk, the salad was better than the chowder, but that doesn't mean the chowder was bad, the salad just had more flavor. The chowder needed needed some salt and a touch of heat. I added hot sauce and that did help with the flavor. My wife felt the same way about the chowder, it was a little bland. The calamari was delicious, my kids absolutely loved it. The salad is basically a huge chef salad is loaded with flavor bombs like peppercinis, spicy chicken, greens, avocado, blue cheese, bacon, hard boiled eggs, and garlic bread. I swapped out the blue cheese for feta and it was sooo good! They also have a great selection of wines and local beers. Kind of bummer their chowder was a little mid, but I'd come back just for that salad.

    Linguini and Clams
    Terry C.

    Vivolo's Chowder House is known to be popular with tourists, so we waited until well past the usual lunch hours to try their fare. Upon entering, a harried waitress quickly but friendly greeted us and pointed out the last two seats in the restaurant. With the restaurant being packed, the noise level was a bit loud but we were still able to converse. Our waiter, Andrew, handled the busy rush in an expeditious and professional manner. We ordered their Linguini Calamari & Clams, Rock Cod Tacos along with a basket of French fries. The Linguini entree was a perfectly moderate-sized lunch portion. It was excellent. Their Rock Cod Tacos however were a bit disappointing as the rock cod was deep-fried, a bit overdone (and thus chewy), and could have been a larger portion of fish. The generous portion of hot fries were quickly delivered after ordering and were perfect - crispy on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside.

    Tim R.

    We had clam chowder and cioppino here. It was all very delicious and filling. Lovely local spot with good service. Perfect meal during our stop in Monterey.

    James L.

    Vivolo's Chowder House in Pacific Grove is a solid spot if you're looking for an unpretentious, classic coastal seafood lunch. It's got a cozy, old-school diner vibe inside--super clean, relaxed, and completely free of any touristy gimmickiness. The clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl is definitely the main draw. It comes out filled straight to the brim, thick and creamy without feeling uncomfortably heavy, and packed with tons of clam flavor. Plus, getting those toasted garlic cheese bread tops on the side to dip into the soup is a great touch. Beyond the chowder, their fish tacos are surprisingly good. The fish is fried golden and crispy, topped with fresh pico, cabbage, and huge slabs of avocado on warm corn tortillas. If you want something heavier, the tuna melt on marble rye gets nice and crispy with plenty of melted cheese, and the side salads are pretty fresh too. Service is friendly and down-to-earth. The dining room is on the smaller side so it can get crowded during peak lunch hours, but it's a great, reliable neighborhood joint if you're in the Monterey/PG area.

    Soup sandwich lunch special
    Daniel S.

    $28+tt crab sandwich, clam chowder, side salad. Chowder is absolutely worth hunting down. I think the chef adds mushrooms to add depth. Crab sandwich was a top tier "crabby-melt". Salad side was as expected. No complaints. I would definitely eat here again if I was in a slightly higher tax bracket.

    Clam chowder bowl
    Alejandra D.

    still my favorite clam chowder spot! got the same as last time and a 1/2 order of the garlic bread. Service was friendly and the staff were nice. one comment, I think they could benefit from a second restroom b/c I waited a good 15-20 minutes till I got inside and who knows how long it was occupied before I got there.

    Oysters.
    Sonya E.

    When in the area, one should experience neighborhood staples that people near a far rave about. On a recent trip to Monterey, curiosity landed me at Vivolo's -- a favorite of the locals for nearly four decades. Highly recommend their signature calm chowder - it's everything you expect in a chowder that has been slow cooking for hours. Rich, savory, creamy -- and with hints of celery (?) and potatoes. Not sure of their secret sauce but it was certainly a hit for me! Add some black pepper and tobasco to make it an even bigger hit. The oysters on a half shell were good but not my favorite -- probably not the right type of oysters to serve raw. Other than that, service was great. The restaurant is spacious and inviting. Would definitely return!

    Sole fish tacos
    Shalan D.

    Visiting Monterey, checked yelp reviews on suggestions of good dinner choices for Pacific Grove where our hotel was located. The Chowder House had amazing reviews and lot of rave for the clan chowder. I was with my daughter and fiance. Daughter ordered the fish and chips. She said they were so good! You know it good when she ate everything on the plate and only left 2 lettuce leaves that were garnished. Fries and fish were hot and crispy. There is a kids menu as well lots of kid option meal for picky eaters like kids. She order the adult portion fish and chips but there is also a kids fish meal. I ordered the fish tacos with sole fish. That was the fish of the season. The taco were plentiful with cabbage avocado and special dressing or sauce that made they these tacos oh so good! This place was small but had plenty room for drop ins. There was no wait on a Friday night around 630. There is also seating outside front if you prefer. The wait of food was quick! The server and everyone in the establishment had great customer service. Always asking if we needed more water or drinks. It's seems they really care about taking care of you making sure everything is great. I'd highly recommend coming here lunch or dinner. They have a variety of dinner options. Check out there menu and make sure when you are in Monterey or Pacific Grove and go here. You won't be disappointed. But be thankful you did go!

    Shrimp Scampi
    Justin H.

    Visited this spot in Monterey due to the many reviews they had. Sat outside their restaurant since we had our dog with us. We ordered the shrimp scampi, clam chowder, calamari, and their special pasta. I enjoyed their shrimp scampi; perfectly seasoned for my taste. As for the clam chowder, taste was okay, but I prefer my clam chowder to be on the thicker side. The calamari wasn't seasoned properly, and wasn't exactly crispy...and also, there was a piece of hair embedded with the breading of the calamari, which threw me off. My wife enjoyed her pasta though. Overall, it was nice to try, but unsure if I'll be back for a second visit.

    Decor
    Annie W.

    It had been a number of years since I'd been to Vivolo's Chowder House and I remembered it was really good back then, but this recent visit was a bit of a disapointment. There were four of us and we decided to dine family style. We ordered the fried calamari, a bowl of clam chowder, the pan seared rock cod with lemon butter sauce, and the linguine pescatori. The clam chowder was really good and the rock cod was pretty good, but the calamari was a bit too chewy and the linguine pescatori lacked flavor; just didn't seem to have the richness in the marinara sauce to give it that good homemade taste. In fact, the marinara seemed watered down. While half the meal was a disappointment, the service was still really good. Extra lemon was brought to the table quickly when I requested it and our water glasses were refilled when necessary. I would definitely return for a bowl of chowder if I was in the area, but I'm not sure I would order a complete meal again. When we left, there was a long line waiting for tables, so maybe they were just having an off night!

    Quick bite salad and bread
    Tanita J.

    Super good food! Came in on a Monday after golf - the restaurant was pretty empty and smelled a little fishy so we were concerned. We got sat at a table really close to the other people in the restaurant the the host seemed concerned when we asked for some space since the whole restaurant was empty. We were worried we chose the wrong place but the food literally blew us away. The clam chowder in a bowl was soo good. I got the small bite special with chowder, salad and bread. My husband got the seafood Rueben which was deceivingly good. We also super enjoyed the calamari (note that it's rings only, no tentacles) Service and ambiance were nothing to write home about but food was fantastic!

    Emma B.

    Came for the sand dab tacos and was pretty disappointed. I'd really wanted sand dabs while in CA. They seemed to had fried the fish with some of the skin on, which I'm not sure was on purpose but biting into your taco and seeing black, not great! Plus the weird artichoke salsa didn't work, was like a sautéed veg sauce. The spicy sauce had a weird consistency, and was too spicy and I enjoy spicy. If they had just made them typical baja style they could have been great. Got the clam chowder and that was good. Restaurant was fairly empty for a weekday lunch during Spring break season.

    Linguine
    Diana H.

    Road trip to Monterey and wanted clam chowder. Stopped by Vivolo's to get some warm chowder. There are plenty of street parking right in front. Ordered calamari, fries, clam chowder and the linguine with claims in garlic butter sauce. Everything was really good and service was friendly. Will come back again soon.

    See all

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jack M.
    1
    99
    51

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 39
    Thanks 15
    Love this 29
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Stefany V.
    3269
    5488
    19308

    21 days ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim R.
    1263
    1354
    1529

    29 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    30 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sonya E.
    682
    1390
    28345

    6 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J B.
    20
    887
    1505

    25 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Emma B.
    148
    1197
    3080

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 2
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of SU C.
    130
    53
    34

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wayne T.
    6
    422
    1403

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 3
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 19
    Thanks 6
    Love this 17
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gina K.
    2
    80
    64

    2 months ago

    The food was tasty but nothing memorable. The interior was clean and staff were friendly.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    Page 1 of 60

    Vivolo's Chowder House Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Vivolo's Chowder House

    What's the difference with Boston Pan roasted chowder from the regular white one?

    The Boston Chowder has tomato in it, so it's pink a little thicker and a different recipe from the regular chowder. It's delicious!

    Is the chowder house made?

    Yes it is made in house

    Are you open for indoor dining during Covid19?

    Yes. Here on 7/4/20 and sat inside. They adhered to social distancing when seating inside

    View All 6 Questions

    Compagno's Market & Deli - 12. Pastrami (Whole)

    Compagno's Market & Deli

    4.6(1.4k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    My husband and son and I went to eat lunch at Compagnos last week while staying in Monterey. My…read morehusband has eaten here often and he recommended we have lunch there. When I walked in it took me back in time to when I was a little girl going into a market with my grandparents back in the 60's-70's. The owner, Bennett, was at the register. He was checking orders and confirming what we ordered. He knew many of his customers by name and knew their regular orders. The sandwiches were HUGE so I ordered 1/2 a sandwich and I only finished 1/3 of the 1/2 sandwich. My husband and son ordered full sandwiches and only finished half of theirs. We took the rest home. Great place. Great food. Friendly owner. Loved it. Highly recommend!!!

    Fantastic! My friend…read morerecommended that we pick up sandwiches here before a Big Sur trip. I'm so glad she did - this place is great! If you'd like to order a sandwich, there is a picnic table outside with clipboards and order sheets. You can order off their very extensive menu of sandwiches, or create your own. There is a wide variety of bread, meat, and cheese options so everyone can find something they like. Be very cautious if you order a whole sandwich because saying they are huge is an understatement. When you are ready to order, you bring the sheet to the back left deli counter where they have their display and desserts. While we waited for our sandwiches, we took some time to look around the market. It is fantastic! The decor is lovely. The items they have in stock is also impressive. They have your basic items like chips and soda, but also a large international snack section. There are shelves of foreign chip flavors and drinks which is very neat. They also have a super wide variety of domestic products that you can't typically find everywhere. I was thoroughly impressed with all they have to offer. The sandwich itself was the cherry on the cake. It was the biggest sandwich I have ever seen. I was shocked at how thick and heavy it was. It was incredibly affordable too! It tasted delicious and very fresh. I will definitely be a repeat customer whenever I am in the area.

    Photos
    Compagno's Market & Deli - Menu

    Menu

    Compagno's Market & Deli - Partially eaten Godfather

    Partially eaten Godfather

    Compagno's Market & Deli - Novelty communists beverages

    See all

    Novelty communists beverages

    Piccolo - Basic ham and cheese on focaccia bread for my picky daughter

    Piccolo

    4.8(104 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    After a long visit to the aquarium, I searched for a place with gluten free food bc my husband has…read moreCeliac. It was a nice walk to the marina on a beautiful sunny day. We met Raul at the counter. He is by far the most friendly, kind and informed restaurant staff (about gluten sensitivity, gluten allergy and what it is to have Celiac) we've ever met. He explained how he prepares the gluten free dough separate, bakes it separate and plates it separate. Based on Raul's genuine concern and knowledge, my hubby decided to try it. Our family had various different sandwiches. (I had the very delicious Vegetariano.) We all agreed they were THE BEST SANDWICHES WE'VE EVER HAD...EVER...ANYWHERE...(mike drop).The freshly baked bread was incredible, all of the ingredients were fresh, even the side salad was amazing!!! The service was straight out of the old days, when people actually had pride in their work and genuinely cared about how you were treated in their establishment. We wish every restaurant that offers gluten free options could have someone as friendly, kind and knowledgeable as Raul. The ambiance was very cute/quaint inside and out. It was a beautiful sunny day so we sat outside to enjoy the sunshine and listen to the sea lions. Raul came out to check on us and we could not thank him enough for his amazing food and hospitality. When we said how much we enjoyed the gluten free bread, he told us he sold the flour (from Italy) inside. My adult son immediately bought some for us to bake gluten-free bread at home. (We've since baked gluten-free bread and it was just as amazing) I've told everyone I know about this amazing place. It has the trifecta of what makes us want to return frequently: *****Food *****Service *****Ambiance Until next time Piccolo!

    Small, cute spot by the water. There are a few tables inside and more tables outside (though it was…read morebreezy when we went). Note that this restaurant is on the ground floor and there is a different restaurant up top. We ordered the Mortadella Pistachio Panini and the Piccolo salad. The panini was absolutely awesome and the meat was sliced so delicately thin. The salad was good, but the panini was way better. Service was quick. Note: The restaurant doesn't have its own bathroom but there is a public restroom across the street. The public restroom was a bit gross when I went in (lots of flies swarming) and did not have a diaper changing table.

    Photos
    Piccolo - Interior

    Interior

    Piccolo - Caesar's salad without croutons

    Caesar's salad without croutons

    Piccolo - Great location

    See all

    Great location

    Hops And Fog Brewing - Pizza with non-dairy cheese and pepperoni

    Hops And Fog Brewing

    4.6(144 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Not to quote the old 70s show, Gomer Pile, but Hops and Fog was a "Surprise surprise surprise!!!"…read more I expected them to have good beer because, well... heck, it's a beer place! But to have excellent food? HELL NAH! Well they do! Everything was deeeeelicious! Everything! You'd think we had been stuck on a deserted island for weeks and starving to death so that every crumb tasted extra tasty, but I swear that wasn't the case! I wasn't even hungry and planned on eating ONE of the tiny skewers of mozzarella cheese with tomato and basil. That's it! But then the hummus and bread arrived, and I could see that was special. We are talking drool-inducing special! The bread was pizza bread, my friends! It was hot, it was crunchy on the outside, and soft and chewy to perfection on the inside! And that hummus, I have no idea what exactly was in it, but if Heaven was a food item, that's what it would be! Then we ordered the soup of the day. This potato leek soup we ordered ran out, so they brought us this alternate one (some tomato bisque one), so I was disappointed....until I took a sip. Then my black coal of a heart melted into jelly beans of joy! I could have eaten a gallon of that. Hops and Fog Brewing is a misleading name. It should be called something like: Hops and Fog Brewing and OH SO MUCH MORE, CHICKADEES! If this brewery-restaurant was closer, I would come here regularly!

    I've eaten here a few times now, and would say they have some of the best pizza in the Monterey…read morepeninsula. The sourdough crust is delicious! I love the combination of toppings they use, especially on the lemon artichoke pesto pizza. They cook the pizzas in a beautiful stone oven, so it takes a bit of time to come out, but while waiting you can sip on a fruity sour or smooth ale made there at the brewery. They offer other food options as well like salads, soups, and sandwiches. The seating here is somewhat limited first come first serve. You order at the counter first and they'll bring the food to your table. It's a small restaurant and can feel quite cramped inside when full, but there is outdoor seating in the front and back as well. It gets especially crowded when they have live music playing inside (which also gets very loud in the small space). The sfatt have been friendly for the most part. My friends and I have run into a few situations where staff have been a little rude or haven't addressed messy tables for a long time when it's busy. Overall though, I do enjoy eating here and will continue to support this brewery in downtown Pacific Grove.

    Photos
    Hops And Fog Brewing - Nice ambiance

    Nice ambiance

    Hops And Fog Brewing - Mushroom on Regula crust

    Mushroom on Regula crust

    Hops And Fog Brewing

    See all

    Vivolo's Chowder House - seafood - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...