Ordered: - Bay Shrimp Salad Grilled Sandwich (5/5): We got the half sandwich combo with chowder and salad. The shrimp was super generous and juicy and the avocado made the sandwich feel very creamy. The chowder was a bit more watery than I usually prefer but the taste was perfect. My gf loved the chowder and how it wasn't overly heavy but still warming and filling - Fish and chips (4/5): While the fry and the breading of the fish was perfect, unfortunately they gave fries - not chips, what we were expecting. Still, the flavors paired with the provided sauces (we liked vinegar) and the portion size were good and the coleslaw was a welcome bonus. Overall (4/5): Not perfect but overall pretty solid lunch spot that exceeded my expectations. The establishment wasn't the newest but the food was great and so was the location, which was walking distance from the Monterey aquarium. We beat the lunch rush so we were quickly seated and served. Vibe was pretty quiet and service wasn't the friendliest but it was very efficient. read more

Vivolo's Chowder House - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Had to get clam chowder one more time before we left Monterey and this place did not disappoint! Everything was fresh and delicious. We also ordered the rock cod plate and the fish was so fresh even when it was fried. Service was friendly attentive and we had enough space inside for our stroller and it was baby friendly. Would come back for another fix of clam chowder next time we visit! read more

3.5/5 Got the garlic cheese clam chowder bread bowl and the fried calamari. A review here said not many tentacles in the calamari. That sadly wasn't the case for us. We had six tentacles. They weren't fully coated. It was overcooked and rubbery. The clam chowder was decent but not amazing. It's a big portion and a lot of bread thanks to the garlic cheese topper. Service is good. The waiters are attentive, quick, and friendly. I wouldn't go back. But I don't regret it either. read more

Great service and the steam clams and the clam chowder were superb! The cheese bread soaked up the broth from the clams so well and it was so flavorful! read more

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Great service and delightful portions! Really can't say much was inadequate here because the food was fresh and brought out in a timely manner. Ordered the calamari for the table, was wowed by the thick chowder cup, and was so full by the time the fish and chips came out. My brother really enjoyed the seasonal sole fish dish, and they can accommodate large families. My one complaint would be to increase the number of bathrooms, as the line outside was a few minutes long with only a single stall. The price was quite affordable for the area as well read more

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Nice quick bite place, good food, service is slow but friendly. They have inside and outside seats, 10 minutes walking distance away from aquarium. read more

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I was on the hunt for clam chowder after visiting the Monterey Bay aquarium and let me say, "DO NOT SKIP THIS SPOT!" Cool little location in an awesome community with outdoor and indoor seating. The service was awesome, they explained the menu and the clam chowder was delicious! Hands down one of the best I've had and the bread bowl tasted fresh and delicious. I'll be back for more!! read more

Clam chowder was good. Quick service, friendly waitress. Inside was clean. Would recommend.

We went on a little weekend getaway at the peninsula and of course had to get some clam chowder! This place kept popping up on my recommendations, so we had to give it a try. Let me just say, i love my clam chowder creamy, a little chunky, and flavor. & Vivolo's clam chowder really just checked off all those boxes! a bowl was big enough to share for two people. In addition to the chowder, the rockefeller oysters were to die for, the amount of cheese and spinach was just perfect for the size! The calamari was lightly breaded and had a good amount of taste, but wasn't giving a wow factor. The service was great and the servers were very attentive and I love how they have an outdoor seating area because the weather was phenomenal that day! Overall, i'll be back for the chowder and oysters! :) read more

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Stopped in after a long walk on the beach in pacific grove. The place is nice and clean with a great server named Andrew. The food is above average and surprisingly delicious. I will return to try everything on the menu each time I pass through this nice area. read more

We were really looking forward to this spot because they were known for their clam chowder, but unfortunately it was a disappointing dinner. We ordered the Cioppino, Pan Seared Cod, and a cup of clam chowder. Would have given 1 star, but the cioppino was alright because it came with a good amount of seafood and the server was nice. The flavor of chowder was decent but it only had a piece or two of clams and a piece of celery, so we only had mostly flavored cream soup. I kept scooping around to find any chunks but there were none. Okay, the pan seared cod... When we think of pan seared cod, we think of a thick piece of cod seared.. right? I don't know why the cod had corn meal all over it and it also looked more like the sand dab dish that was posted by another yelper that displayed the same two pieces fried fish filets in corn meal. I even had to stop our waiter and ask him what fish it was. He told me cod.. what was I to do. Anywho.. 2 stars at best. read more

Vivolo's Chowder House - Clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

The turkey sandwich was very fresh and tasty. The clam chowder was a little underwhelming for the restaurant being a chowder house. The staff was very friendly but when I went in to change my baby I was NOT comfortable using the strap as it did not look sanitary at all. read more

Vivolo's Chowder House - Baby Changing Table Strap - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Solid seafood stop in Pacific Grove away from the more touristy spots by the Monterey Aquarium. We ordered a variety of dishes and they're most well known for their clam chowder. They were out of steamed clams but we tried their fried oysters, Fisherman's platter, and catfish salad. The fries felt like they had been refried but the cheese bread was a hit as were the kid platters. I did try the pan roast but found the flavor lacking compared to the clam chowder. Reservations not required (we did walk in) although the lunch hour got busy. All credit cards including AmEx accepted. read more

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Food was good but in my honest opinion it was a bit too pricy for what it was. Everything was about 18$. The service was excellent staff was friendly and helpful. The ambiance in the restaurant was nice. read more

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I've only had the clam chowder and fried oysters, but love it and keep coming back for more. read more

Vivolo's Chowder House - fish and chips - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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After spending the morning at Monterey Bay Aquarium, we were starving for some lunch! This place was walking distance from the aquarium, and being near the wharf in the winter always makes one crave some warm chowder so...off to Chowder House we went! Service here was just amazing. Every person on the staff was so accommodating and considerate. Even though they hadn't set up their outdoor area yet, they prepped it on the spot for us. The server brought me oyster crackers for my Garlic Cheese Chowder Bowl (because only the classic one comes with oyster crackers) free of charge, and I thought that was super nice of him. The hospitality was impeccable! Now to the food - they're definitely called Chowder House for a reason. They did NOT skimp on the portions! The sourdough was hollowed out so that there was only a thin layer of bread left, leaving ample space for as much chowder as possible, unlike Disneyland, where they barely hollow it out at all, leaving too much bread and not enough chowder. Also, the bread bowl itself was probably 20% larger than that at Disneyland. (Since my partner and I LITERALLY were at Disneyland a few days ago, the difference was very clear lmao) Plus, the garlic cheese bread top was SO FREAKING GOOD!!!!!!! Made all the difference! Everything came out pretty quickly too! It all hit the spot, and was perfect for a crisp winter afternoon. read more

Vivolo's Chowder House - garlic cheese chowder bowl - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

The clam chowder was very good!!! They aren't super expensive. It's priced very well for having high quality food. I ordered the guava juice and you can taste its freshness!! It was only $3.75. I also got the clam chowder bowl with garlic & cheese lid, it was sooo good. FYI: portions are large! No complaints here. Staff was nice, lady at the front who helped us to our seat was nice!! Waiter was nice as well. Friendly staff & wonderful ambience :)) 10/10 read more

Vivolo's Chowder House - Clam Chowder bread bowl with lid, Garlic Chicken Sandwich, Clam Chowder cup, Basket French Fries, Quick Bite - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Stumbled upon this lovely gem on an overcast afternoon in Monterey after walking along the coast. Around 4pm, they had a lot of seating indoors and outdoors available, equipped with lovely heaters. Our party of 4 was seated immediately, and enjoyed the raw oysters, baked oysters, prawn cocktail, cioppino, and steamed clams. The seafood was all delicious and came out quickly and hot. Surprisingly, I was most impressed with the pasta and vegetable medley that came with my cioppino--involving a beautiful squash purée, onions and cooked greens, and a lovely creamy penne with greens and bacon. Maybe this is usual for the bay, but I was delightfully surprised! We hung out for over 2 hours, and even though they got quite crowded around dinner time, we were never rushed out and felt well attended to by the staff. read more

Great Calamari Piccata! Wife had it. I have seafood stew. Amazing. Going back in June.

Strolling through Monterey downtown looking for a dinner spot. Checked Yelp and found this highly rated restaurant. By the stroke of luck, there was a reservation open in 10 minutes and we rushed to the restaurant. When we arrived the place was packed with people waiting outside. The hostess guided us to the back of the restaurant and we got seated right away. The restaurant ambience is quite cozy with patrons casually enjoying their meals. The server was attentive and offered us menu, water and fresh bread within minutes. We ordered the following dishes: Cioppino: the tomato base broth was light but flavorful with hint of sweetness from onion. The seafood were fresh. It came with side dish of pasta and rhubarb. Fisherman's Platter: calamari rings were nicely battered, fish filet's texture was firm but tender, all items were nicely fried. Even the French fries were delicious. Linguine special: we requested it with garlic and butter sauce and it was granted. The sauce was not overly strong and actually quite delightful. Fresh seafood and al dente pasta. Chowder Bowl with Garlic Cheese: it was so good that we finished the whole bowl within minutes and I didn't even have time to take a picture. Portions were slightly on the small side, so they kept us wanting more. Overall, a great dining experience. read more

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A friend recommended this place and I'm so glad he did. It is off the beaten path on the way to the aquarium, but it was very popular because it's so delicious. Everyone got chowder or their seafood bisque, which was phenomenal. I also got the bay shrimp sandwich. The fish and chips were perfectly fried and filling. The menu has lots of options for lunch and you will not be disappointed. read more

Vivolo's Chowder House - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Had many choices for seafood in this area and this place came up and thought I'd give it a try. Glad I did, the servers here are so welcoming, efficient and brought out a special something on my birthday. Highly unexpected but they really pulled through. I had the crab cake sandwich which was so good. Everyone loved their food and the cioppino was so good. parking is easy as this is off the beaten path. The place was very homely not huge but not tight. it just flowed. read more

We have been coming here for years. The food is consistent and delicious. We sit outside with our dog usually and enjoy being out in the fresh air. We shared some calamari to start. I then had the calamari steak with lemon caper sauce. My husband had the linguini pescatori and a cup of clam chowder. My calamari steak was incredibly tender!! The service is always great even when they are busy. Hope to return soon! read more

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Our first stop when we landed! We sat in their outdoor patio & the service was great! & the food was even better. Complimentary bread Clam Chowder Bread Bowl: Soup is made fresh daily. Very creamy & delicious, loads of clam. The top of the bread bowl is covered in garlic & cheese, amazing! Fettuccini Alfredo: Add shrimp. Honestly, this is the best Fettuccini Alfredo sauce we have ever tried, super flavorful. Loads of shrimp as well. read more

Nice family restaurant with really good clam chowder. It's my go to spot when I travel with my family.

Spent 4 days in Monterey for Sea Otter Classic, and this was by far the best meal here. The flavors of the chowders and the pan bisque were out of this world. We also had the steamed clams and the house special cream sauce pasta and those were also hard to beat. Super thrilled to have found this place. read more

The clam chowder was good; not too thick and not too thin with decent flavors. But there were not many clam pieces that I could discern as most were tiny and the few slightly bigger ones a bit too chewy. The best that I've had also include tender potato chunks and freshly chopped Italian parsely. In fact, I'd call it a clam-flavored chowder as in was 98% flour and the other ingredients that go into a clam chowder. There is no reason why they can't get tender clams and put more of them in the CLAM CHOWDER! The calamari sandwich was also good, served with a side of excellent fries. The thick calamari steak was lightly fried and reasonably tender. It was served on a nice soft sesame roll with tartar sauce, lettuce, tomato, and red onions. My only complaint that now, in the middle of peak tomato season, the tomato slices were pink and almost tasteless. The service was fast and efficient, ambience sterile but with some outside seating. I wanted to give it four stars, but my disappointment with their signature clam chowder made it three. read more

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Perfect Clam Chowder - Just Steps from the Aquarium! We were craving great clam chowder after the Monterey Bay Aquarium and found it at Vivolo's--only two blocks away! Their New England-style is creamy, loaded with tender clams, and absolutely delicious (we had it in a regular bowl--spot-on). The steamed clams were fresh and flavorful in a buttery white wine broth. Paired with a refreshing guava mimosa, it was an ideal combo. Service was outstanding--friendly and attentive. A must-try for seafood fans so close to the aquarium! read more

Vivolo's Chowder House - Cup and a bowl of clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Came here based on a recommendation from my sister. It's close (walking distance) from our hotel so we decided to check it out. It's a relatively small place and very casual. They have a kid's menu and coloring for the kids. When we arrived, we went inside and asked for a table for 4. The host told us we weren't allowed to bring our stroller inside and when we asked if we should sit outside instead he said well I'm not putting the tables together so probably not a good idea. It was a really strange interaction... we never asked to put the tables together outside? His attitude just made it seem like we were an inconvenience and I wasn't sure what the deal was... we asked where we can put our stroller and he was like well you can leave it up here you don't have to put it in your car.. uh we walked? We didn't have a car to put it in?? Anyway, once we were seated, our waiter took care of us and it was all fine. Food was decent (we had clam chowder) but the initial interaction put me off so I wouldn't be back here. Maybe we just caught him at a weird time but it wasn't anything to write home about read more

Get ya a big bowl of clam chowder it's very good. Very friendly people. Also ate a crab sandwich and I enjoyed

We were so surprise this place was not that busy on a Saturday. The best clam chowder I ever had. It was so flavorful. Also they made their cocktail sauce and tartar sauce in house and the sauce was so good with the calamari. The staff there was also so friendly and the service was quick. We will definitely be coming back here next time we are in Monterey. Highly recommend this place for some yummy chowder. read more

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Simply delicious. The staff is very friendly and helpful in selecting a dish if you're undecided. There is outdoor seating as well. Enjoy.. read more

Vivolo's Chowder House - Clam chowder bread bowl - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

We didn't have a reservation and there were 7 of us so the wait was too long. We were able to order to-go with Cindy's help (she is amazing!!!!!!). We had the clam chowder, garlic cheese bread, oyster po'boy, fish n chips, bay shrimp salad grilled with a couple of side salads and the bread pudding. The clam chowder, oyster po'boy, side salads (tomato vinaigrette) and bread pudding were our favorites especially the bread pudding. The service was top tier even for to-go!!! read more

Vivolo's Chowder House - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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A wonderful experience on Monday night at Vivolo's. One of my team had eaten here previously, and the rest of us were eager to try it. Delicious food and excellent service. Most of team savored their linguine with clams and Alfredo sauce, after sharing the crispy calamari appetizer. I liked my sand dabs, although the crunchy panko breading was a bit overwhelming for the delicate fillets. I enjoyed a cup of chowder to start. My other dining companions raved about the Boston pan roast and rockfish tacos. Will definitely return her in a future trip to Pacific Grove. Thanks for a nice evening, Vivolo's! read more

Came here for lunch after a morning at the aquarium. I appreciate that they gave some coloring materials and markers to entertain the kids, and that they had a kids menu and kids drinks. My daughter loved the lemonade ($2) and chicken tenders ($10). The clam chowder bowls ($16) are also huge and delicious, and essentially enough for a meal. I got the fish and chips ($17), and the fish was tender and cooked nicely, while the chips were crispy and well seasoned. We had a good lunch here! read more

Chowder and fried calamari is not what I expected. Chowder had too much onions not enough clams. Fried calamari was chewy .

Great calamari and cheesy bread. Chowder was ok and Caesar salad was pretty bad. Ok overall. read more

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the food was great! highly recommend the house speciality and our server was really accommodating with our seating and turned on the heater for us and umbrella as well! the calamari was great might pass on the lobster bisque next time tho read more

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Hands down- the BEST chicken piccata I have EVER had. It was delicious! Doused in just the right amount of wine sauce, topped with capers. Served with a vegetable medley of spinach and celery (don't hate- it was AMAZING), along with mashed sweet potatoes, and a small dish of penne pasta or rice. Trust me- it was all delicious I would have never ordered THOSE veggie sides but they were killer. The young server was prompt and on top of drink refills or anything else we needed. We want on a Friday (Nov 2025) at 3 with a large group and there was plenty of available seats. They had a steady flow of patrons. Overall- will for sure be back next time I'm in the area. Hubby had the garlic chicken burger- it was HUGE and stellar flavor. The fries were amazingly crispy and fresh. Friends ordered the cod, another ordered the soup and salad quick bites w garlic bread. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Thanks Vivolos! read more

We just visited the Monterey Bay aquarium , and it was raining and cold' hot clam chowder sounded really good! This place was only a block away from the aquarium a small place kind of a hole in the wall. I ordered the rock cod fish tacos' they were so fresh and delicious wow, my wife had the salad garlic bread and chowder' The service was great as well' Good spot! read more

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