Not often does a restaurant beckon me like this. Our first night was dinner with Fried Calamari, Bouillabaisse, and Whole Cod. Everything was fantastic. The calamari was hand cut and breaded then served with a creamy aioli. The bouillabaisse was done from slow simmered stock and you could tell it was lovingly made. The whole cod was cooked to perfection and accompanied by a wonderful herb sauce. Dinner was so good, but our waiter said the fish and chips at brunch was better, so next day we come back and had the fish and chips plus a tuna melt. Seriously life changing. Batter was super light and crispy with no hint of greasiness. Fish was flavorful and succulent. The chips were ethereal. Soft and tender in the outside then fried to perfection. I'm thinking they double fry these bad boys with the crunch. Partner and I are determined to eat through the menu now. read more

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I wish I had written this closer to when we went. incredible oysters- luscious, nice brine, small, meaty and fresh knowledgable staff who could speak to the origin of the seafood Remarkable drink menu Incredibly talented young chef with truly unique and creative ideas and flavors - such as smoked pepper sauces and unusual pairings that sung on the tastebuds live music and great service, hands down my favorite restaurant in the last couple years! read more

Wild Fish - bouillabaisse - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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I rarely share about a bad experience, but this was one of the worst dining experiences. There were floaters in the water, which the server gave attitude about replacing. The service was awful-- hostess ended up taking care of our check. The patio music (apparently every Friday and Saturday) is so loud that I couldn't hear the person at my table. The ceviche had so much vinegar. The seared ahi was decent, but the portion was so incredibly small, even for a "fancy" dish. I should've taken a picture of it. This is your sign to choose somewhere else. read more

Ate dinner there last night and read a few reviews that confirmed some of my feelings; Wild Fish is either an inconsistent restaurant with moments of excellence, or an excellent eatery with supply and service challenges. The outside seating was great and heaters were first-rate. After being seated, we learned that they were out of 2 or 3 appetizers and same for entrees. Only 7 to start with, so kind of disappointing. Also as others have said the menu is seasonal so what you see here or on their site might differ when you go. The food we ended up with was delicious: tuna poke appetizer was ample and tasty. The whole fish entree was well prepared and lovely, fingerling potatoes roasted to perfection, and a light arugula salad rounded it out. No problems with the food we got. Booze markup is considerable. I was going to splurge on a $20 house eggnog but the reduced choices in the menu dampened my enthusiasm. TL;DR: delicious food. Hearty servings. Menu items may not be available. Pricey booze. Underachieved potential. read more

Locally sourced and organic ingredients, we were very excited to try wild fish, a rare meal out during Covid. The best thing was the halibut 5/5. Perfectly cooked with nice crunchy skin, the flesh flaked apart gently and you could cut it with a spoon. The entire family enjoyed it. The brocolini and cauliflower it came with was also perfectly cooked. Miyagi oysters are sweet and lightly briny, they look like they would be very salty but are not, great tasting raw oysters. Everything else tasted strangley under seasoned and that's saying a lot because we like clean, light flavors and don't go for heavy punches covered in garlic and truffle oil. Focaccia bread had no flavor and was like a crumble cake. The weird thing is adding butter did not help and it looks like there was seasoning in the butter. The fish and chips is popular, the owners are from the UK so I imagine it's a source of pride. Gluten free so probably has cornstarch batter, the batter was too thick and crunchy. Prefer more classic chips, the great thing is the fish portions are huge. read more

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Wild Fish is becoming one of my favorite spots in Monterey area. The staff is always friendly, attentive, and helpful. The ambiance is casual and lively, sometimes they have live music, and outdoor seating is comfortable and fun, even in the rainy winter the outdoor area is nicely warmed with heaters. The sablefish is a must. It is so tender, and the flavor is fresh and balanced. Steamers is my go-to appetizer, and the calamari is crispy and not greasy. Everything is delicious! read more

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I rarely share about a bad experience, but this was one of the worst dining experiences. There were floaters in the water, which the server gave attitude about replacing. The service was awful-- hostess ended up taking care of our check. The patio music (apparently every Friday and Saturday) is so loud that I couldn't hear the person at my table. The ceviche had so much vinegar. The seared ahi was decent, but the portion was so incredibly small, even for a "fancy" dish. This is your sign to choose somewhere else. read more

Very disappointing! We were greeted and seated by a lovely man who set expectations high for a delightful experience! Service was mediocre (it was a busy night-Labor Day Weekend) slow to get entrees, wine, dirty dishes not removed from the table etc. Oysters were sub par. Our entrees-the fish was good but the polenta and risotto was bland cold and no flavor and vegetables undercooked. We had hoped for a lovely dining experience and couldn't get out of there fast enough. AND it was expensive. read more

The food was amazing with an almost completely gluten free menu--we were there at a slow time so the service was very attentive--the space is subdued and moody--perfect for a date night! read more

Alert: Neighborhood Gem Parking - parking is always a bit tricky but weekdays you can find street parking in the median area. Weekends might be much tougher. Service - on point. Knowledgeable about the food and wine. Personable and made the night enjoyable. If you have question about the dishes they took the time to explain and give perspective without being pushy. Delightful. Food - both were amazingly good. Balanced, seasoned perfectly, and paired with the wines listed in the menu. Chardonnay for the Salmon and rose for the ahi. Great pairing! Salmon special - crispy skin and served on a bed of veggies Seared ahi - glazed served on a bed of julienne veggies. Tasty! Dessert - almond cake with mint ice cream paired with the Navarro late harvest Gewürztraminer was amazing. Overall- when you visit Pacific Grove you owe it to yourself to come to this gem of a restaurant. Intimate and relaxed. Down home feel without being pretentious and a the charm of a local place vs so many over commercialized restaurants. Definitely a neighborhood gem. Enjoy! read more

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Great service, fine ambience. Everything we ate was good, but nothing has the wow factor I was hoping for.

Absolute favorite seafood restaurant! We went for our anniversary dinner and we were not disappointed. We shared an appetizer of lightly fried anchovies with grilled lemon. The bouillabaisse was excellent. I loved how the broth was scented with saffron--and the carrots and celery seemed to be infused with lemon which brought a brightness without overpowering the saffron. Husband had the whole fish (I think a red snapper) that was incredible. We appreciated how they prepared the seafood so you can actually taste the delicate flavors of the fish. They do a nice job complementing the fish and not overwhelming it. What sets this place as top notch is the the care the owners put into it. We were greeted and seated by one of the owners, Liz. She highlighted the mission of the restaurant by showing us the board that reported which fish was being served, where it was caught, how it was caught, and who made the catch! Talk about provenance and sustainability. I really admire the dedication the owners have to the land and local community. We will be back for future anniversaries I'm sure! read more

Wild Fish - Bouilabaisse and Whole Fish - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Friendly hosts and owners. Great jazz Ensemble. Excellent food Had the rock cod. Calamari and dessert. Plan to spend some time enjoying the atmosphere. read more

Wild Fish - Whole roasted rock cod with chimichurri sauce - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

We go to PG nearly every year for our holiday, and 3 years ago we happened on this place while looking for seafood, but every time we're back we find ourselves coming again and again, and this time was so good it reminded to write a review! For starters it's an idyllic location, close to the sea, cozy jazz-inspired decor inside, awesome atmosphere. The food is honestly some of the best seafood I've had this side of the Pacific. I had the sablefish this time, which is everything it should be; delicate, buttery and melt in your mouth. Incredibly fresh. Awesome selection of Cali wines to pair with each dish. It's a foodie's heaven. Dessert is no joke either, they like to experiment with flavours, and nothing is as it seems. The waiter told me that they like to balance their desserts with some savoury flavours, and it really made the desserts I'd honestly come back just for them, but I do have a rather sweet tooth. All in all, we'll be back next year, and just want to share our fondness for this place so you don't miss out on it too. Happy eating! read more

5 stars because Wild Fish offers, and delivers, on everything you would expect out of a small, family owned, seafood forward restaurant near the ocean. We had reservations for 2 at 7pm and were given the choice to sit inside, or outside...we chose outside. The Mrs. under an efficient heater was warm and I sat far enough away that I got some good fresh breezes and could smell the ocean mist blowing in from Monterey Bay. All our food was spot on: cooked perfectly, seasoned just right, and FRESH. We started with Kumamoto oysters and their house made focaccia. Definitely the first time we've ever started a meal like but it definitely worked! My wife isn't drinking alcohol and Wild Fosh delivered with a super tasty "Mojit-no", an alcohol free mojito. My martini made with oyster shell infused vodka was one of the best martinis I've ever had!!! And I've had many!!! And yes, you heard that right, vodka infused with oyster shells!!! Both of our entrees were great: halibut and salmon. So good!!! We finished with dessert and the toffee pudding was divine with a glass of port. Definitely enjoy Wild Fish if you're ever in PG!! read more

We're here in town celebrating our wedding anniversary. The "See Monterey" things to do guide had this lovely restaurant featuring live music of the jazz variety. Locally procured seafood cuisine & organic ingredients. Plus gluten friendly options. That's right up our alley ! We were greeted by the owner, Kelvin & friendly locals. Our service was top notch and food was delicious. The music was amazing & we truly appreciated the hospitality of our server & all the staff. We felt like they reflected the community well and the kind of atmosphere that can be harder to find nowadays. Our main entree was the Chimichurri Roasted Monterey Bay Chili pepper Rock Cod was very delicious & we also enjoyed the chicory salad. It was large enough to share with our appetites. We took the gluten free brownie to go. read more

A solid place to get a great meal, especially if you're gluten free! The only knock is the service. The food is fantastic. As a gluten free gal, I was absolutely delight to partake in the fish and chips, which are GF, as were the tacos my partner got. We also shared the calamari, which had a nice balance of tentacles and tubes, but was a hair salty. The drinks were lovely, too. There is a board that contains the information about where the fish was caught, and who caught it. Think the Portlandia sketch where they wanted to know the animal's living conditions :'). The knock is for the service. My partner and I we r here on a Friday around 1 PM. We sat outside (lovely), and the place was pretty limited. There were a few servers working, so our server definitely was stretched thin like many restaurants right now. I would describe the service is "as required". We received our drinks and food, but there was no warmness from the server. We saw her the textbook times, but I don't recall her smiling once, and she didn't look at us directly most of the time. Odd and certainly not welcoming. The water-filler gal was so sweet, though! The restaurant should promote her; I would have loved to have been served by her. It was just an unfortunate situation to spend nearly $100 on lunch and feel like I'm inconveniencing my server. read more

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Local here. The first time I went, It was amazing. Each subsequent visit was progressively downhill. Now I can no longer, in good faith, give them my money. The nail in the coffin was showing up for a long- standing reservation with out of town guests early and then rudely being told that they didnt know if they could seat us because they were busy. Although I had requested indoor seating, they put us outside on the parking lot deck area. After 15 minutes of being ignored, I flagged down a waiter who then berated me for asking for service. He told me that they were uinderstaffed, the owner would be waiting on me eventually, and I shoud be grateful. What? I decided then to never go back. After reading the responses from the owner here regarding valid complaints, I can see that she feels above the laws of common deceny and learns no lessons. I wish the city of Pacific Grove the best of luck in collecting the unpaid taxes from Wild Fish!! read more

Lunch: There is a rising star on the Monterey Peninsula; his name is Kevin, young, talented and Jonny-on-the-spot. In the neighborhood we decided to drop-in for lunch, boy are we happy we did. We shared a delicious crab sandwich served with potato wedges done crispy, served hot to be dipped in homemade tomato catchup. The highlight of the meal was an Ahi Tostada like none we've ever enjoyed. The tuna was literally, right off the boat as they say, fresh. The outdoor seating works very well is quite Pacific Grove. The service excellent. We'll return soon for dinner as our new go-to place for fresh fish done perfectly. Try any of the fish dishes with a bottle of Bernardus Chardonnay. Thank you again Chef Kevin (pictured below) for taking a minute to drop-by our table for a short hello to make sure everything was perfect. read more

Wild Fish - Me with Chef Kenvin - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

My husband and I went to Wild Fish to celebrate our anniversary. We were going to get appetizers and champagne. We debated between a glass each but then decided to order a bottle priced at $60. After our first appetizer and champagne our server told us he was going to buy us a calamari appetizer. We then decided to stay for dinner. Upon receiving our check, we realized he charged us for champagne that was priced at $180 per bottle instead of $60! He also charged us for the app he said he was buying. We spoke to the owners who said this wasn't the first time he'd done this. I sincerely hope they fire him because after spending nearly $400 on dinner for two people, we left feeling cheated. It's unfortunate this is the way our date night ended. The food, atmosphere and music were very nice but the server was very dishonest and sketchy. Editing to add the owner says my complaint is not legit because we got a refund on the wine (which we still haven't). It wasn't an error, Liz. Your server is dishonest and your husband said it wasn't the first time he'd done that. We appreciate you and your husband handling it but the night ended up very awkwardly. Hopefully others watch their bills if you continue to knowingly employ dishonest people. read more

Waitress was not helpful and could have easily mentioned that a menu item, sautéed spicy greens, are very very spicy, but made fresh, so could have been adjusted. Also forgot condiment our teenager asked for, and people at table next to us had to go up to the bar to ask for water. Bathroom is not particularly clean. Overall, not the Experian was expecting for a highly recommended place. But yes, the fish was very good. read more

Wild fish was one of my friends recommendations when we came to Monterey. It was actually a really good choice, we were able to easily make outdoor dining reservations a day before and the outdoor parklet is really cute! And parking is easy to find, the meter maids drive by aggressively marking cars though. Their menu seems to change daily and we had come on a Saturday! I got the crab melt which was really delicious! It had tons of melty cheese along with chunks of crab in some kind of sauce and a side salad. The salad was huge and the sandwich was so tasty except the sauce dripped everywhere. My one friend got the fish tacos and she said they were really delicious and liked that they let her have the sauce on the side! My one other friend had the calamari and said it was super crispy and delicious! Overall, we really loved this and can't wait to come back in the future to try other menu offerings! Total for 3: $60 read more

Wild Fish - Crab melt - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Good food and great atmosphere. Live jazz music. Friendly staff. Both inside and outside dining read more

Shrimp Boil has simple spices and fresh taste. We loved it. The fish and chip is very good. We enjoyed the fresh and crispy fish with firm, large fries. A perfect lunch! Great service! read more

Wonderful little spot for delightful seafood fare that is locally sourced. The husband & wife chef-owners are charming and will make you feel at home immediately. Step off the beaten path and head to pacific grove for your next seafood dinner with lovely cocktails and wine. read more

Neighborhood spots... these small gems filled wine, women and song. This is why I moved here. Live jazz on Friday's and Saturdays!? I'm sorry, In my old age I appreciate the small things. Neighborhood vibes. Sure, a little highbrow, but eat here. Get the whole fish, eat with your hands, mop the ajou with the Rosemary focaccia, sit across from a beautiful women and enjoy. Wine dope. People gangster. read more

Wild Fish - Idk ‍ - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

When on the central coast, craving fresh seafood. Saw the yelp reviews and the recommendation that if you like the Sea Harvest, you may like this. The recommendation was spot on. Family ordered the bouillabaisse, salmon, sole and halibut. The bouillabaisse was hands down the star out of all the entrees ... rich, flavorful broth that was addicting, tender calamari, plump fresh simple and wonderful rock cod. The grilled sourdough is generously thick cut and the perfect vessel to soak up the broth. Crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. This meal is deceptively filling. The salmon came with fresh sweet corn on the cob, tomatoes and zucchini which was a perfect summer meal. The salmon was prepared perfectly, flaky, moist and seasoned well. The sole was delightful and very light. Came with snap peas and baby squash with steamed rice on the side. If you are looking for something simple, light and healthy, this is it. Also means, if you are looking for something hearty, flavorful with lots of seasoning, this would not be the dish for you. the halibut is the hearty, rich, full of complex, heavy flavors. It's served over a bed of saffron risotto, which lends to the richness of the dish. Generous piece of halibut, another filling dish. We split the smoked chowder which is nicely done ... good smokey taste, light broth (not heavy cream like clam chowder), tender, not mushy potatoes. May have needed a little more salt, but overall good. read more

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Recommendes by a friend who went to the OG up north. The restaurant buys local seafood and prepares the dishes in a variety of flavors. I had the Asian themed sable fish one night and swordfish with a french flair. Both were tasty. Be sure to get the toffee pudding. It's always on the changing dessert menu for a good reason. read more

I'm not sure why we waited so long to try Wild Fish! I'll start with the basics - excellent, friendly service, great outdoor parklet (the best in PG), nice wine selections by the glass or bottle and absolutely fresh, delicious food. Bonus is they have live jazz on Friday and Saturday nights. They brag about having the best fish and chips in the area and I do believe them. The light, crispy breading on fresh rock cod was absolutely perfect. The fish was served with a huge pile of steak fries, again perfectly fried, and a small carrot and beet salad. The chorizo spiced ahi tuna tostadas were perfectly seared and absolutely delicious. They were served with an arugula salad. The serving size was just perfect. What I love most is their seafood is fresh and sustainable. In fact, they highlight who caught what on a chalkboard posted in their parklet. They truly promote a farm to table approach. We had a lovely visit and will definitely frequent Wild Fish again and again! read more

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Love it! Great food and service, as well as ambiance. Can hardly wait to return for more!

Superb service, relaxing ambiance, lovely food, and all for a great value! We loved the small plates, the harvest salad and the daily fish special. read more

Just had our third visit for our wedding anniversary lunch. Previously we had enjoyed the food but not the service; this time was the opposite. I had the poke salad. Maybe because we came at 2:00 the lunch fish was past its prime. The tuna was quite fishy and slathered with mayonnaise. The beer selection is British via Marina brewing company, which is a warning I guess that my California palate will never be welcomed here. That's three strikes out for Wildfish. read more

I've only been there once, but I loved it. And they had a lot of gluten free food on the menu. Which is huge for me. I can't eat gluten, but I still like to enjoy breads and fried foods. The service was excellent. The atmosphere was comfortable and not stuffy at all. read more

We came here after reading the great reviews online. Here's a timeline of events: 1:30 - arrived 1:50 - had our order taken 2:00 - asked to repeat our drink orders which hadn't arrived yet (two iced tea) 2:20 - food finally arrived Food was decent but the poor waitress was handling ten tables alone plus making drinks. She seemed very inefficient on top of this. Many people in the establishment were annoyed with drinks taking a long time, one person getting their food wayyy after their partner, and dishes missing. Management - do better. read more

Randomly picked this spot while in town and enjoyed the Bouillabaisse, focaccia & popover so much for dinner went back the next day to try the equally amazing fish & chips for lunch. Great place and 100% gluten free (one of the owners is GF). Very friendly staff and highly recommend this place. Will be my go to when in Pacific Grove area. Also dog friendly with their spacious outdoor seating area. read more

Wild Fish - Fish & Chips - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Cozy unassuming restaurant offering fresh seafood so menu changes frequently I assume. We had tasty dishes but definitely not out of this world. Service was friendly enough. I gave it 3 stars because my expectations were high. Although it was a decent meal it was pretty pricey at $100 per person with one round of cocktails for 3. The bread (which is not complimentary) was a flat bread focaccia style and had way too much olive oil baked into it. I would have preferred a crusty plain bread. I would not return. read more

Fantastic!!! Service was great and the music was the best!! Best food ever We'll be back again. read more

Really didn't work for me. Execution of most of the dishes felt amateurish in both preparation and presentation. Full bar, but no real bartending or mixology sophistication at all (had to explain what a highball was). Service was really good, and the owners are obviously motivated, but it just doesn't match the price or the hype. Not really sure why Pacific Grove lacks any number of sophisticated restaurants. Passionfish is tired and way overrated, and don't even get me started on fishwife. I'm doing three stars cause I couldn't do 2 1/2. read more

We were recommended to give this place a try by our friend that has lived here for 35 years , getting the local hookup ! Let me just tell you it was amazing on every level ! Great service , great music (although they had a sign up in outdoor seating area where we were , said $5 music charge ) there was a $10 charge on bill . It was fine as we loved the music would have been nice to have been told as a courtesy rather than just a sign . We had the sea bass and it was made to perfection ! Calamari as an appetizer was delicious had the rings and the ones with the tentacles ! Flourless chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream was on point ! Definitely a great experience! read more

Wild Fish - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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My family & I just had a wonderful lunch at Wild fish in Pacific Grove. We've never been here before & wanted to get some seafood since we were near the ocean. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer & it was good. They mix the calamari w/whole peppers to give it some spice & put a spicy aioli in the bowl the calamari is served in. My hubby & I both got the fish & chips. The fish & chips are light & not greasy. It was like they were perfectly fried. The chips are thick with a nice crunch. You don't get a huge portion either. It's perfectly portioned. In fact, my husband split his fish & chips w/our daughter & left feeling satisfied but not stuffed. I actually have a piece of fish left that I'm taking home. The atmosphere is that of a small hole in the wall restaurant but... aren't those places the best? Our waiter was awesome & went over the menu. I just wish they had a bigger drink selection. They don't have coke or Pepsi but homemade sodas that are... ok. If the drinks had been better or there were more options I would have given 5 stars. The food is great! I would definitely give this place a try. Would love to have a nice birthday or anniversary dinner here sometime. read more