After visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we walked down to the pier and had several restaurants to choose from. We decided to eat at Crabby Jim's, and we're so glad we did! Alfredo, the host at the front, welcomed us with a great attitude. Our waiter, Butch, was amazing and made the entire experience enjoyable. We were celebrating my daughter's birthday, and the staff went out of their way to surprise her with a slice of birthday cake. Papa brought it out and made the moment fun and memorable--he looked like an Italian character straight out of The Sopranos! The seafood was fresh and delicious, and the view was absolutely amazing. If you visit, try to get a table by the window so you can enjoy the beautiful view of the water and boats while you eat. Great food, wonderful service, and an unforgettable experience. We definitely recommend Crabby Jim's to anyone looking for fresh seafood in Monterey! read more

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Needs a new carpet!!!! Classic, old, seafood place on the wharf. Service was good, it got very busy. Tables a spaced closely to maximize window view of the bay so you sit back to back with other table. Clam chowder was really good. The shrimp was not fried correctly it was burned. Has the potential to be really good with interior updates, but must be challenging business with all same type restaurants on the wharf. read more

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I've been coming to Monterey and eating on the Wharf for about 35 years, and I almost never leave negative reviews because my experiences here are usually great. Unfortunately, today's visit to Crabby Jim's was a real disappointment. I ordered the lobster and it was full of gristle; every bite had a tough, plastic-like, almost rubbery texture that made it hard to eat. I also had a steak that, while tender, arrived only lukewarm and was smothered in gravy, plus a potato au gratin that was so bland and off that even adding salt couldn't help it. My wife ordered the cioppino and had to send it back because it tasted like old seafood. For a place on the Wharf, that's pretty alarming. They applied some discounts and took the cioppino off the bill, but even after that I still paid around $130 with tip, which made the whole experience feel even worse given the quality of the meal. We dine up and down this area all the time and typically give very positive reviews, so this isn't coming from unrealistic expectations. My wife looked at me during the meal and said, "Take a good look at this place," and I knew exactly what she meant. Based on this visit, we won't be coming back. read more

Crabby Jim's Seafood - Lobster and Steak & Lobster Combo - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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On the wharf, parking costs you, free after 8pm. Friendly service but understaffed for a Tuesday evening . Server had to handle 6 tables at a min. Food was good but not spectacular . read more

I was craving some good seafood on my vaca to Monterey, and this place really filled the bill. The soup was just about the best i have ever had. The fish was so fresh, and prepared just right. Friendly staff really added to the appeal of this place. Im going back on my next visit. read more

Crabby Jim's Seafood - Outside - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Tasty or WasteY????? TOTALLY WASTEY!!!! Gross... disgusting! These people practically stand outside and beg you to eat there. Of course they always have great seating by the window, because no one is ever there. Maybe first timers to the wharf fall for them, begging you to come in. They should have a sign that reads..Enter at your own risk! What are you doing? My cioppino. Was so gross tasting. I've never had cioppino that had the eyes, full shell on the shrimp. It tasted like old mop water. I would never recommend. CRAPPY JIM'S. I will refer to restaurants like this, as, sticky tables. read more

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Our server was really attentive and kind. The food was not so great. I ordered pasta and it tasted like pasta in watered down tomato sauce. read more

Crabby Jim's Seafood - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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A great alternative when the famous Old Fisherman's Grotto has wait times over 3 hours long. We decided to try Crabby Jim's since it's a few doors down and absolutely loved our dining experience here. The host was very accommodating and assured us we'd be seated in less than 20 minutes and they delivered. The restaurant was cozy and had great views of Monterey Bay. For starters, we did their oyster Rockefeller (6 pcs), crab cake, calamari, flame bread with creamy marinara, and a few cups (looked like bowl) of their clam chowder. The appetizers were good, the crab cake, although delicious, I wouldn't recommend since it was $24 for just one nicely plated patty, the clam chowder stood out the most. So good, we ended up getting another bread bowl. For our main, we all opted for the fish and chips. For $30 it comes with 3 fried pcs of cod, a small basket of fries, a cup of coleslaw, & 3 dipping sauces. Ask for malt vinegar & extra tartar sauce on the side. This was also good but after the appetizers we had, an order was good enough to share between two. Service was superb, forgot his name but we had this Filipino server that took great care of us. Food came in a timely manner. We all enjoyed our dining experience here. As with most sit down restaurants on this wharf, pricing is a little on the higher end but definitely not as expensive as the Grotto. Unfortunately, the negative reviews on this place could be very misleading. It does not have the same history that the Grotto. I would rank this restaurant a little more casual than the Grotto to help manage expectations better. For what it is, it's decent. read more

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Horrible experience at this establishment! Do not waste your money there! My wife and I made reservations not realizing it really wasn't necessary but felt we had better. Arrived a bit early and were seated near the water as requested. I ordered a full crab at $70.00. My wife ordered the salmon. Both entrees were horrible. The crab had no taste and was definitely frozen. The waiter said the crabs were at least 2 pounds. Lucky if it was 1 pound. I asked if a few pieces of bread would come with the crab and was told I would have to order the garlic bread. Who in the heck charges $70.00 for crab and cannot provide a .50 cent piece of bread? Total bill came to $200.00! For two people! No alcoholic drinks. Plus, I watched several other tables obtain hot towels to clean their hands. Nothing for us. I finally asked for some sort of wipes to clean our hands, and they finally brought one (1) warm towel. One word of advice; If you're supposed to be an upscale restaurant how about serving some warm bread like most upscale restaurants do? Bottom line is don't waste your money on this establishment! Move on down to one of the other restaurants down the wharf. read more

From the moment we arrived, it was obvious this place was desperate for customers, which should have been our first clue to leave. We were seated quickly, but that was the only thing this restaurant did right. The service was atrocious. It took forever just to get water, and even then the waitress brought only three cups for five people. Despite asking twice, we never got the other two waters. She finally took our order after 45 minutes of useless waiting, then disappeared until the food came out an hour later. We were never checked on, never cared for, and clearly not a priority. This was some of the worst service I've ever dealt with. The restaurant wasn't even busy, so there's no excuse. Between the pushy front-of-house marketing and the completely incompetent service, this place feels like a scam. Save your money and go somewhere that actually values customers. read more

We wanted to get clam chowder so we stopped by Crabby Jim's seafood, and everyone was rather very crabby lol. There seemed to be a lot going on, the manager was visibly upset at some stuff and was going back and forth yelling. We only saw our server twice throughout the whole visit. Clam chowder was okay for $22, Caesar salad with chicken was not good, it was cold and hard. The drinks were so flat they weren't even drinkable. Only plus to this is the view. read more

Crabby Jim's Seafood - cold chicken cesar salad - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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A beautiful setting for a lovely night, with a dim, romantic atmosphere, a roaring fireplace, and a gorgeous view of the waves. We went to Crabby Jim's for Happy Hour and got to enjoy a rare quiet side of this popular bar and restaurant. We sat at an ocean view table and drank delicious cocktails by the fireplace glow. The staff were incredibly warm and welcoming, which made the experience even more perfect. We truly could not have dreamed up a better night. Crabby Jim, we'll be back!! read more

Crabby Jim's Seafood - Happy Hour Margs at Crabby Jim's - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Great view, nice atmosphere, greasy food - meh! The crab cocktail was OK, the fish and chips and fried artichoke hearts were very oily. read more

If you're looking for overpriced disappointment with a side of attitude, Crabby Jim's delivers--just not in the way you'd hope. Lured in by the siren song of $6.99 margaritas and a free appetizer coupon (which I literally found live on the internet as well as hard copy), I thought we'd landed on a casual seaside gem. Wrong. So wrong. When I asked the host--who seemed allergic to hospitality--if the app coupon could be honored, she flatly told me they "haven't done coupons in years." Funny, because I found the current one in less than 30 seconds. Strike one. She vaguely gestured us toward "somewhere over there" to seat ourselves--mind you, we had a child in a wheelchair and a baby in tow. No offer of help, no greeting, no care. We found a sticky, questionably-clean table on our own. Sat for over 5 minutes without so much as a glance from a server. My husband went back to the host to let her know there was food all over the floor. She said she'd send someone. No one came. Then I looked down and--lucky me--realized some of that leftover mystery meal was now on my shoe. Absolutely disgusting. At that point, we got up and left. I told her on the way out, hoping for at least a shred of decency or an apology. Instead, we got a cold brush-off and dirty looks as we exited. A place that can't handle basic cleanliness, service, or honesty about its own promotions has no business being in business--especially in a tourist town with so many better options. Save your money, your appetite, and your patience. Crabby Jim's is all crabby, no charm. Visited 2pm, 7/22/25 read more

Crabby Jim's Seafood - The coupon that supposedly doesn't exist.... - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Went with my family to enjoy dinner with a view while on vacation but we were extremely dissatisfied with the service and the deceptive prices of the food. Aside from this, our waitress was not courteous and it took over an hour for our pasta dishes to be served despite the restaurant being empty. We will never return and we DO NOT recommend. read more

Zero stars! VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED! Service was absolutely AWFUL!!! No fault to the server. He was all by himself self with 12 tables And also running the bar At dinner time! We waited 20 min just to get drinks and forgot one of them & we had to remind him! Our food was not prepared as we asked and also very tasteless! the quality of the food it self also gets a Zero! We ended up ordering pizza over the phone while waiting for our check! They did refund one of our stake dinners but we ordered a kids Mac and cheese and shrimp scampi, 2 drinks and a beer and 3 side salads and it was still $130! Management should do better and have the proper amount of staff to run a restaurant at dinner time! That is not fare to the customers nor the server! read more

The service here is very bad and extremely slow. We waited roughly 2 hrs for our food and is overly priced for no reason because the food is not well seasoned. The waiter did not come by to check on our tables not once or refill our waters when asked multiple times. When a couple sat down, the waitress assisted them immediately and went back to their table for refills and also brought their food out immediately. They also forgot one of the easiest meals to make which was a salad. We then waited another 35 minutes for our check. I would not recommend this place when going to Fisherman's Wharf. read more

This restaurant has horrible service. The food was okay. Service sucks. Took forever to get drinks and when we asked about drinks servers had no idea. This is a tourist trap because it is on the wharf. Would not recommend. read more

Sorry, Crabby Jims. We have been going to this restaurant since at least 2019, and things have become much different upon our last visit. $170 for dinner of what felt like mostly frozen food. The one and only positive was the waitress as she was nice and attentive. the fish and chips looked like it was frozen and then heated. Or already cooked and recooked it is 6.50 for a kids chocolate milk it's 6.50 for a refill on that. The refill is not free they got rid of the free appetizer card they do not provide any kind of bread unlike many of the other restaurants. I ordered some and it was $5 and old and gross. The butter was particularly bad and I was sick to my stomach a few hours later the kids chicken nuggets, again, frozen food baked in an oven. Why do they do the kids like this!? The clam chowder was good, but $23 is a lot to ask for 16 ounces of soup in a bread bowl. 26 actually, since we got the garlic bread bowl. This place needs Gordon Ramsay'd immediately There will be no next time for this place. It is simply not worth the money for food that you can buy in the frozen section and cook at home read more

Crabby Jim's Seafood - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Tried Crabby Jim's Seafood on the pier, and it was a great experience! I ordered the Best of the West Clam Chowder in a bread bowl and added the garlic lid, such a good choice. The chowder was absolutely exquisite, rich, and flavorful, and the garlic lid added a nice touch. The restaurant has beautiful ocean views, and I got lucky with a window seat, which made the experience even better. The service was great, and the food came out quickly. If you're looking for a delicious bowl of clam chowder with a scenic view, Crabby Jim's is definitely worth a visit! read more

Crabby Jim's Seafood - Clam chowder in a bread bowl with a garlic lid - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Great food and service. They allow children here. Unlike the old Grotto. The strawberry lemonade is just awesome.Had cups of chowder all around, with crab. And the garlic bread with marinara is a must with chowder. read more

Got a cup of clam chowder with crab meat (this was really good and large in size for just a "cup") and an order of garlic bread which is a full size loaf on the dinner menu (enough for a family of 4). Also got complimentary fried calamari, which was delicious but unnecessary. The bill was high, mainly cuz you pay a premium for anything with crab here and of course that family-sized loaf of garlic bread. But, whoa, a diet soda for $5... yikes. It's fine though, the waitstaff and servers were super friendly and helpful, refilling my soda without me having to ask, and attentive to guests' needs. There was no wait to be seated and hardly a wait for the food to be ready. Seating is awesome here too, the tables along the windows with views looking out into the water. I could watch the lighted boat parade while dining here this past Sunday. My only gripe about this place was the worker outside the entrance constantly yelling at passersby, in a forceful effort to gain customers. Honestly, I was already gonna come here, but that almost drove me away, it was a little annoying, and she was borderline rude. Besides that, I think this is a decent seafood restaurant on the wharf. read more

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Wonderful food，while the dishes we ordered were not on the menu and they were chef's specialties! Great service and spectacular view near the window! Highly recommended! read more

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I rarely write reviews, but I feel this one is necessary to help others manage expectations. The calamari portion was extremely disappointing--over 80% was just heads and tentacles with very few rings. When I asked our waiter "C" about it, sbe casually replied, "Oh, it's been like that for months, it's to save on cost... but they're my favorite." That was unsettling to hear, especially since we were paying a premium price for what were essentially small fried squid heads that tasted more like chicken nuggets than calamari. The scallops were another letdown--overcooked, chewy, and lacking the light, buttery texture that properly prepared scallops should have. The snapper was at least cooked well, but it was bland and desperately needed seasoning and salt. To be fair, the service was great--our server was attentive and friendly--but that couldn't make up for the food quality and portion "shrinkage." Overall, Crabby Jim's felt overpriced and underwhelming. On top off that we waited to get our receipt but nothing was provided. If you're looking for better seafood on the Wharf, I'd recommend waiting a little longer for a table at Domenico's or Old Fisherman's Wharf instead. Unfortunately, Crabby Jim's just isn't worth it. read more

Very poor service, had reservations and was seated fairly quickly. But food took about an hour after ordering, appetizers were poorly timed . My water glass sat empty the whole 2 hours we were there waited almost 25 mins for the check after eating was finished even though we asked for the check . The red velvet cake was horrible never have I spit cake out after taking a bite . They also added 125$ gratuities to our bill . I believe tips should be based on overall experience not because we had a party of 5 adults. read more

They offered a card that allows you can get a free appetizer for free but we had never received that. I asked them they said they would check but still got nothing. I don't care about the free appetizer but they should not make false advertisements. The food is very nice. The view is fantastic. Worth the money. I don't drink any sweet beverage because of health concerns but when I said water. The waiter was not very happy. When he asked do you want any sweets or coffee I said no. He was also not happy. Are we supposed to drink anything they asked for? read more

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Stopped by on a Wednesday for dinner, inside was very classy with a nice ambiance. Service was great, we got to pick our own ocean view seat. Ordered fish and chips and clam chowder. Both were amazing and came out fast. Best chips I've had on the wharf! We found a new favorite. read more

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We were really hungry and spent some time searching for the perfect spot. On our way to another place, we stumbled upon this restaurant and decided to give it a try. The atmosphere was beautiful, which was definitely a highlight, but unfortunately, the food didn't live up to its price. My seat was so close to the person behind me that I felt uncomfortable throughout the meal. To make matters worse, the waitress took the order from another table, who arrived after us, before taking ours. It was frustrating to spend our rare day off only to leave feeling disappointed and unsatisfied. P.S. The other highlight of the evening was the great company. But honestly, I wouldn't recommend to eat in Crabby Jim's Seafood. read more

A good choice for lunch or dinner if you're craving some fresh seafood at the fisherman's wharf in Monterey Bay. PROs: We came here, because the wait time was zero, and the gentleman outside gave us a free appetizer if we ordered a meal. The calamari was very good and fresh. We also had a dozen oysters and they were also very good, more horseradish, would've been better with them though. We all had bowls of clam chowder, and it was excellent. The lobster ravioli and fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp were also very good. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. Our food came out within minutes of being ordered. The atmosphere and ambience of this restaurant was also very appealing and fitting with the theme of the city. CONs: Bathrooms were cramped, no paper towels, and very small for a restaurant of this size. The house margarita was very bland, and definitely tasted like a premix vice a fresh drink. Some crackers with the clam chowder would've been better than the very thick, garlic bread they brought out. read more

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My bfs childhood fave. He wanted me to Try the clam chowder with the garlic top and added crab meat I will say some of The best chowder I've had we also ordered the calamari which was phenomenal as well as the oysters rockerfeller those were ok. Overall great views and good food read more

The food came out quickly, but it's definitely overpriced. The clam chowder bread bowls are $22 which is a little high in my opinion. We were told we'd get seated by the window but ended up getting seated far away from the window overlooking the beach. After the food came out, the service was actually quite slow. I had the fish and chips, and it tasted good but nothing phenomenal to say the least. This restaurant is definitely a tourist trap. read more

We are here for Thanksgiving Dinner. It's really busy and the wait staff is very attentive and polite. I had the crabcake appetizer and I honestly think it's better than Maryland crabcake! We have an amazing view of the marina and the glittering water. We are from San Diego, a very foodie town, and we know great seafood! Honestly, it's surprisingly good food for being in such a tourist trap areas. read more

Crabby Jim's Seafood - Crabby Jim's view. - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

the prices that are on yelp are not what the current prices are. the chicken pesto is listed at 14.99 but was actually $26. i'm not gonna lie the food was very good but it's frustrating how different the prices were. if you plan to go know that you will be spending practically double. read more

Positive things to say about location and service, but food is just too mediocre for the price. Most recent meal, ordered the: Jim's surf and turf Clam chowder bowl District 7 Cabernet Mussels and clams appetizer Crabby fritto miso appetizer (fried calamari, prawns, clams) Kids hamburger add cheese (comes with pretzel bun) Fish and chips. All seafood items tasted old. Imma swerve this place next time. Note to self, try the crab house instead. read more

We have come here quite a few times over the years. Food is great and the service is excellent. We look forward to eating here the next time we are in town. read more

a restaurant on the wharf with an ocean view, but the interior needs a major revamp, from the furniture to the carpet. the service was accommodating. personally, my highlight was the $19 huge cocktail. it's nothing special, but good value for getting tipsy on the wharf. i would say that the holder for the beer could've been cleaned better. for sustenance, we enjoyed the fish and chips. it was quite crispy and nicely presented. the clam chowder is average. the worst part was that there were, visibly, a lot of flies inside. i would come again, reluctantly. read more

Great for large families with kids! We came to Monterey for our daughter's birthday with no plans other than visiting the beach and eating good food. We walked the old fisherman's wharf and decided on Crabby Jim's. Dinner was delicious and fresh, the staff took amazing care of us and the kids. They even hung out and colored at a table near the fire place. Gave us as parents a moment to relax and enjoy the sunset. 10 out of 10 for food and hospitality. read more

Ate here yesterday, had the worst fish and chips, I went with my family, my mom and I got the fish and chips, mine was really greasy and my mothers was also greasy but also undercooked. My sisters got bread bowls and the bread was stale. The guys cat call people in front of the restaurant, do not fall for this crab trap. read more

Located in Fisherman's Wharf, this restaurant had a prime view of the water and the walking trail. They offered chef's choice of an appetizer for eating there--which, for this day was calamari. I took my teenager and two smaller ones in the hopes to have a great experience. Beautiful, refined, and classy is how I would describe the inside; however, this is where it ends. The dish-ware for the soup and appetizer looked like it came out of Denny's; the calamari had no flavor and was slimy and rubbery. I did enjoy the clam chowder. The fillet Mignon and scalloped potato with spinach tasted like a dish straight out of Carrow's, or Applebees...hey, Black Angus can serve up better quality than this. The fish and chips? Meh...nothing to talk about... My son, 15 years old, who had the fish and chips, said the burger took top place is this debacle. Yeah... Not happy with this joint. Won't come here again. read more

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Here visiting beautiful Monterey for our 26th anniversary. We were wandering around Fisherman's Wharf and admiring the shops . The nice lady at the door of one of the restaurants convinced us to dine here. My husband was hungry. I wasn't sure if I was but then said the magic words. It was happy hour and they had "mimosas" and a "free calamari appetizer". Ding ,ding ,ding ,and that's all it took. Those are my favorites. Plus, there was no wait. I asked to be seated near the ocean and my view was amazing. The view was chill and relaxing. We ordered crab cakes, garlic bread, and of course the complimentary calamari as our appetizers. For our entres we ordered the fried tiger prawns and stuffed bacon wrapped chicken. Everything was delicious and we had plenty of food to take home. Atmosphere is chill and serene. I totally recommend this restaurant. It is great for families and even date night. The service was great and our food was served to us fast. Dulce, was our server and she was outstanding. She was extremely attentive and kept checking on us. See you later and thanks! read more

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