Fish You Were Here Waterfront restaurant located at the base of the Ventura Pier that's been serving up fresh catches for over forty years (ca. 1981). The Good: * Fast-casual: order at the counter, get a buzzer, and then pick it up from the aforementioned counter. * Friendly service * Location is superb with amazing beach and coastal views--especially if you take your food upstairs to eat at the Madewest Brewing, Co. Taproom. However, there are caveats to this (see below). * Beers on tap and cocktails--but if you plan to eat upstairs at Madewest, then you can't bring alcohol from Eric's and vice-versa. * I wish the poke bowl was a little less saucy but overall it was still a very tasty bite. The Meh: * It's a little pricey, but not horrible considering the location. The Ugly: * The parking lot adjacent to the beach/pier is free Mon-Thu but $1/hr Fri-Sun (4hr Max) Conclusion: Seafood, suds, and surf. 'Nuff said... read more

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Arguably the best seafood restaurant on Ventura Beach... I've been in Ventura for work this week and have eaten at several highly recommended restaurants... Ericssons Fish Co. was far and wide the best place I've eaten at and it's not remotely close. The restaurant is situated right on the peer, so the ocean views are amazing. The service was excellent, great local tap beer selection (namely Madwest, which is next door), and the food was phenomenal. It's a bit on the pricier side, but the quality of the seafood justifies the price imo. If you're looking for a laid back beach joint, Ericsson's is definitely it. read more

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I honestly wish I had trusted my instincts and left after no soap in ladies rest room. Unfortunately the rest of my family had already started to order so we stayed. I had fish and chips which were ok, son had ceviche which resembled cat food and was inedible and returned. Iced tea also returned for tasting bad. We're not super fussy and I hate to leave a bad review. Ahi Tuna Sandwich was very dry and sweet potato fries weren't very good. On leaving my son went to restroom, walked back out saying it was disgusting. Just hope we don't get food poisoning. Barman was as nice and beers were just as beers should be. Sorry but won't be back. read more

This was my 2nd or 3rd time here. It seems like it's the closest place in Ventura for clam chowder in a bread bowl. The chowder is yummy and the bread was perfect. You can get your parking ticket validated with your order and get free parking in the parking garage. Definitely a perk! read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - New England Clam Chowder and Calamari - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

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Looking for fish and chips? This is your spot with a view of the pacific. The freshest fried fish you can find. Paired with fries, sweet potatoe fries or homemade slaw with pineapple bites. I came here with my parents who are avid fish lovers. They love the fish here. There are 2 types of fry including jalaleno or regular. The fish is about $30 and it includes choice of fried fish and a side. They went with halabit. Myself on the other hand, went with the $20.00 burger with a nice angus patty topped with cheddar cheese, fresh veggies on a toasty buttered fluffy bun. Delicious. They also have a chicken sandwich. Both come with a huge pile of fries. Be sure to validate your parking. read more

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Perfect view for an afternoon cocktail and light supper. We have been enjoying Eric Ericssons for many years because the dining room is situated on the Ventura Pier and you just can't get closer to dining on the beach without the sand. My husband rates them best in show for their consistently fresh and crisp fish and chips and their flavorful clam chowder. For non-fish fans, I recommend their blackened chicken tacos which is served with 2 over-flowing tacos per order with plenty of tasty chicken and slaw dressed in fresh salsa and chipotle cream- a perfect combination. You order food at the counter and cocktails at another counter. The service is always friendly and helpful. You can't go wrong with great food and a refreshing mixed drink or beer on the Beach!! read more

Staff are very friendly, the space is nice and clean and the food is fresh and delicious! The Brussels sprouts were my favorite! read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - View - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

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I've only ever eaten at the taco place next door so this was a nice change with a broader menu and amazing view of the water. You order at a counter (bar is separate) and sit wherever. The menu had a good variety and mix of fried and non-fried seafood and in various forms. I got the ahi tuna tacos which were delicious. It came with 2 huge tacos packed with toppings and flavors. The wasabi aioili actually had a nice kick to it and I loved the ginger on top and paired so well with the ahi tuna. The ceviche was more of a miss but for the view and ahi tuna tacos, I was sold. read more

Love coming here for fish and chips!! You can choose halibut instead of cod, which I always do. So good. Nice staff and lots of room. Enjoy sitting along the windows looking g at pier and beach. read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

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If you're for one of the most underrated spots to grab fresh seafood & a stiff cocktail with ocean views in Ventura County then look no further than Eric Ericsson's Fish Co. at the Ventura Pier. Open since 1981, this local staple has been around a long time (and in this economy) impressive! I've always walked right past this spot but somehow ended up next door getting tacos or simply walking down the pier for the views, I truly didn't realize how fabulous this lowkey restaurant is. When you walk inside you order at a counter, so it's semi casual in that way but otherwise, everything about this place feels "wow" because your getting 5-star restaurant views of the ocean while paying $$ (reasonable). I picked a cute little short bar style seat which essentially was "premium seating" overlooking the beach and the ocean and honestly, it doesn't get much better than this. The staff from start to finish were super nice and welcoming. They had a solid kitchen team so the food was all made fresh to order but came out quick, making this a solid spot for a quick lunch break. The gentlemen taking my order was friendly and helpful when I had questions and needed recommendations. If you're looking for alcohol, they have a separate counter/bar where you pay & they take your drink order. The bartender there was lovely as well. Nice people, 5/5 service. The food was honestly fantastic and rivals any other seafood spot in the area. I'd also give the food, Portions and presentation a 5/5 as well. Here's what I ordered: Mai Tai - Boozy, fruity, and basically a vacation in a glass. I'd recommend this cocktail if you want something strong but fruity. Popcorn Shrimp - Crispy, flavorful little bites with that southern-style batter that I love. I subbed out the cocktail sauce to pair it with their tartar sauce & that choice was chef's kiss. (Tatar sauce over cocktail all day everyday). Ahi Tuna Taco (staff recommendation) - Light, fresh, and LOADED. Super fresh seared ahi, crunchy veggies, and an addictive wasabi sauce. Oysters - Freshly shucked and you can't leave without ordering a dozen...or two. Their rotation of what type of oysters they have does change regularly I think I read but when I came in the smaller west coast oysters were great. Meals like this remind me why living here feels like paradise. There's a reason these long time local favorites stand the test of time and it's important that we continue to support them so they'll be around for another 40 years! Cheers to Eric Ericssons, definitely a highlight meal for me this year. read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Popcorn shrimp, oysters, ahi taco and mai tai - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

What an amazing experience! The staff is so friendly and the place is nice and spacious. Outdoor seating is great and with lots of seating available. The upstairs is a totally different restaurant so there's no access which was kindly mentioned to us by that staff when we accidentally dine up there. The food was incredible! The halibut and ahi tuna was fresh and delicious. The fish and chips is a must and their clam chowder soup was perfection. Highly recommend! We can't wait to go back read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

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Decent scampi and chowder, nothing to write home about. They seem to have a stressful and understaffed working environment, which is affecting customers. They had one woman running the front alone and there were audible arguments between her and the kitchen staff. Due to this, we stood in line waiting to order for 45 minutes. Food came out at a reasonable pace. I hope they can help their staff more in the future. Great patio seating on the boardwalk though! read more

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Favorite Food: small Delicious menu, a small bar, and MadeWest Brewery is upstairs. Service: The people are friendly. You pick up your order at the counter. Zay's The Best bartender. Ambience: You're at the beach, on the pier. Can be loud (ish) or chilly, but n nothing tops the views and vibe. They play good music too. Very family friendly. Outdoor seating is dog friendly. read more

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~ SEA VIEWS, BIG PORTIONS ~ Eric Ericssons Fish Co is one of those classic Ventura spots with a prime location and some solid seafood, but it's not totally flawless. This was our third visit in a long time, and had to remember the counter-service setup. Heads up on parking, it's a bit confusing if you don't know the drill, but they do validate, which helps. You order at the counter using chalkboard menus that are a little hard to read, then grab a table and enjoy the ocean views. The space itself is nice inside with beachy decor and great views of the pier and water... honestly one of the best parts of the experience. Food-wise, it was a mixed bag. The clam chowder was delicious: filling, flavorful, and comforting. The calamari was also a win, especially paired with pasta, generous portions and good flavor for the price. On the flip side, the seafood mac and cheese was a miss. Very oily, barely cheesy, and the seafood was hard to find. When we brought it up, the staff was polite and offered a replacement, which we appreciated, though the swap was also a little underwhelming. We also tried the fish tacos, which were huge but a little awkward to eat and a seafood quesadilla that looked good but didn't really deliver on flavor. Service was friendly but pretty hands-off once you have your food, no real check-ins since everything runs through the counter. Prices felt fair for mains, though drinks and desserts were on the pricier side for a mostly self-service experience. Overall, Eric Ericssons is worth checking out for the location, views, and a few tasty dishes like the chowder and calamari. Stick to the simpler seafood options, enjoy the ocean scenery, and you'll probably have a better time. read more

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This is one of the worst customer services I have received in the past 53 years. Have you been new to the Site, I was reviewing the options on the Bartender suggested that I move so she could service other customers. Instead of making suggestions of a preferences or quality. The service was terrible. In addition, there's flies throughout and the odor smell like old fish and bleach water. read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

The food, the happy hour prices, the service Five stars I usually skip places on piers, figured they'd be overpriced. This happy hour is insanely good read more

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The location is on the Ventura Pier. You order your food at counter and then pick it at the same counter. I had the Poke Bowl which was fantastic. My wife a single fish taco which was also good. The food was good but expensive, especially considering there is no table service. read more

My husband and I stopped by Beach House Tacos for a quick lunch, but unfortunately, they had run out of my favorite margarita. Instead, they suggested we visit their bar at Eric Ericsson's to grab a drink. We brought our food from Beach House Tacos with us and ordered a drink to accompany our meal. I opted for a cocktail called The Pink Flamingo, which was a delightful combination of tequila, coconut cream, lavender simple syrup, blood orange, and lime. It was not only delicious but also so pretty with its pink color. The restaurant was also beautiful, and had a great view of the sea. Loved this place and will definitely be going back. read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - The Pink Flamingo - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

DONT SLEEP ON THIS PLACE. They were serving some incredible seafood here. Stopped by for an early dinner with my wife and WE LOVED IT. The happy hour menu is honestly a really good deal so we lucked out getting here in time for that. You will find this resteraunt on the pier. Great ocean views from this resteraunt with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Great place to come to on a warm sunny day. We ordered an order of the happy hour tacos, a cup of clam chowder and a half dozen of oysters. IT WAS ALL INCREDIBLE. The cup of clam chowder is what suprised me the most, I believe this one may be the best one in town. The tacos were unbelievable for the portion you were paying for, honestly such a great deal and so good! The oysters were fresh and flavorful, for $22 bucks I can't complain at all. Overall, we can't wait to come back again. This place also had great service and we appreciated the great hospitality. read more

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The food here is really delicious. I would recommend the clam chowder bread bowl. There are other options as good as the soup as well. The service is friendly though I think they need an extra pair of hands when it comes to rush hours. The ambiance is relaxing, not too noisy as you have great views of the pier and beach. There's a second level to dine at. read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Partly menu - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

Haven't been here for awhile. Best view on the beach and we hit the Happy Hour on a Tuesday. We only ordered off the Happy Hour Menu. You line up at the inside entry both, grab a menu and order the food and non alcoholic drinks only (separate bar area to order beer, wine, mixed drinks). Excellent service in both areas. Servers are warm and friendly; They really want to make sure you are happy with their service. We were! Food came quickly! You pick it up at the inside desk. Claim Chowder delicious, served with oyster crackers and a thick slice of fresh hot sour dough bread. We all ordered, we all loved it! Calamari a bit of a downer, it was just "ok" little chewy/rubbery. Won't order again. Taco's amazing! 2 huge taco's enough for two people and loaded with everything you want. 2 bucks more for Avacado add on. We ordered 2 plates one blackened snapper (I split with my daughter) and the other grilled snapper tacos for hubby (he loved their non-alcoholic beer too ordered at the bar). All fresh, moist fish, cooked perfectly and tasty. Will order again. The 2 little ones shared a very generous serving of chicken nuggets with fries meal. Really good, so much so, we snitched off their plate. Enough to take home too. All in all a great experience and will be coming back soon for another Happy Hour meal. read more

Love this place. A perfect spot to eat on the water. Sat outside on the pier and enjoyed the view and the food. Jalapeño battered fish and chips for the win! Hard to find really good clam chowder. This one was pretty, prettttty, pretttttty good though. New favorite spot. Great service too! Definitely coming back the next time we're at the beach and going to try more. read more

Very happily surprised. Parking was easy and validated. Go through the parking garage until it spits you out the other end and then you park closer to the restaurant. Very easy. The food was surprisingly delicious. We had the Ahi Tuna Sandwich which was really good. Can't beat the views and you can take a walk on the pier afterwards. Top it off with a visit to the Ventura Botanical Gardens and you've had a perfect day in Ventura. Loved every moment. If you have more time stroll down the main street where they've closed it off to cars and you can stroll. Ventura is awesome! And much cooler than L.A. - it was 75 degrees there and 103 in the valley today. read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Two full customers taking a stroll on the pier in Ventura. - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

My husband and I stopped to grab a bite in Ventura. Looking at a Google search this place was close and the reviews were fairly good. You order at the counter, find your seat, and they let you know your order is ready by pager. No waiting for a table. The restaurant sits on the pier, so you can look out at the ocean while you're dining...we had a nice view. The food was very good and presented nicely. We ended up sharing the Ahi Tacos, Clam Chowder Bread Bowl, and the Ahi Poke Bowl. Although, we found the Ahi Poke Bowl to be well very good and fresh, it was $17.00 and just seemed a little pricey for the amount we got. They had a full bar, separate from where you place your food order. We had a good experience. read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Clam Chowder Bread Bowl, Ahi Tacos, Ahi Poke Bowl - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

I've been to this restaurant twice now and had phenomenal food both times. All of the seafood is fresh and very flavorful, and they have plenty of options for anyone with a gluten allergy, including gf calamari which is very good. Some of my favorites are the tacos, crispy rice with tuna or shrimp, roasted brusselsprouts, and the jalapeño fish n chips. The portion sizes are really solid, and they have a full bar downstairs and Madewest brewery is upstairs. For a restaurant located on a busy pier, my expectations weren't super high, but this place really impressed me both times and I'll absolutely be back! read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Jalapeño batter fish and chips, oysters, crispy rice with shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

I came here with 6 adults and 4 small children. There was a 20% service charge for parties of 10 or more. This is standard for most places with an actual server in a sit down restaurant but the thing is this place is fast casual. You order at a counter, NO server, nobody bringing your food to you, nobody asking how you're doing, nobody cleaning your table for you. The customer does it all yet they charge you for 20% gratuity. It's the same service if you went to McDonald's or Jack in the box. I asked if they can atleast help find a table for all of us to sit together and they said it's up to us to find it ourselves. $60 for gratuity on top of high priced foods. I questioned the policy to the cashier who literally just said it's the owners policy, ran my card with the 20% gratuity, and that was it. I would have just eaten somewhere else if my family wasn't so hungry. I know my review won't mean much to visitors, or even to the owner. I rarely ever leave negative reviews. I have been coming here since they opened and was excited to share the food with my family on our vacation and the experience left such a sour taste in my mouth. This is definitely the last time I will be coming here or recommending this place. read more

Fresh and delicious seafood restaurant place in Ventura. We stopped by Ericsson Fish Co to grab lunch and to chill on the pier since it was a beautiful day that day. Ordering is simple. Just grab one of the out front and order your food at the counter and grab any table inside or outside on the pier. They have a bar at the back that serves cocktails, wine and beer. We ordered the following: KIDS FISH & CHIPS-5/5 Stars Fantastic, the batter was light and crispy. This Cod Fish was flaky and moist. POKE BOWL- 3/5 Stars- The ahi tuna was fresh, but they overly sauce the bowl with their crema spicy red pepper sauce. AHI TACOS- 4/5 Stars- This was delicious. The seared rare ahi was very fresh and they are very generous with the ahi. STEAMER BOWL- 5/5 Stars- Delicious, all the seafood was fresh in this bowl. Scallops shrimp, cod, clams, mussels and the snow crab was cooked perfectly. Service was friendly. Parking was $10 near the pier. Overall, we enjoyed the fresh seafood at Ericsson Fish and vibe. Definitely a place worth visiting if you're in the area. read more

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This place was super great! Friendly welcome. We ordered fried shrimp, jalapeño batter fish, & clam chowder. Everything was superb! Beautiful view of the ocean. I can't wait to go back. read more

Been here a bunch of times and it never disappoints. Located on the Ventura pier, the view alone is worth the trip. Wife had the Cauldo de Pescado and a fish taco and love them both. I had the clam chowder and fish and chips which are always solid. Always a staple when coming to Ventura. read more

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What a view!! We sat on the deck and had a great view of the Channel Islands. And the food is fantastic. I recommend the fish & chips! read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Ventura Pier just outside of the restaurant. - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

Drink Review Only: It's been awhile since we have been to this restaurant! I have always liked the location of this restaurant as situated right on the Ventura Pier thus offering unobstructed views of the ocean and the pier. The restaurant provides seating inside for those cold days and expansive seating outside on nice Cali days! Upstairs you will find madewest brewery where downstairs is the restaurant and cocktail bar. Unfortunately you can not bring cocktails upstairs where the best views are. And unfortunately you can't bring beer down stairs. Upstairs only has beer. Downstairs bar does have a solid array of cocktails, beer and wine. Plus they have happy hour that starts at 3pm. I had a solid Bloody Mary that came with a shrimp and relished vegetables. They use their own house made Bloody Mary! We were also treated to a celebrity sighting. Shawn White, aka flying tomato was there! read more

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Respectfully...Everything isn't for everybody I was in the area on vacation with the family. Weather was cold but we were at the beach so life was good. Our first meal of our 3 day stay was Eric Ericssons. I love quesadillas so I had the shrimp and crab quesadilla. It looked pretty good but upon consumption, I realized I didn't taste shrimp or crab. Just an uncooked tortilla with some kind of seafood. Service was great, cashier was awesome. Everyone who worked there did a great job, except maybe the cook. Maybe I just tried the wrong thing on the menu. If you're going there try something else if it's your first time. read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Awesome view from inside - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

The best poke ever in the 805. Never disappoints, everytime I come it's the same. We sat inside, so it is kinda busy but we don't mind. The service was nice in checking here and there, but they're not a super attentive restaurant. I'd consider this a fast casual dining experience read more

My friends and I walked along the beach and stopped here for lunch. The location is perfect. Located above Ventura Pier and Brewing, it is MadeWest on the second floor. A taco shop is also very close. You can eat inside, but there are outdoor seats, so you can also--purchase food and drinks from each shop. It's also close to a surf spot, so it's a good place to stop for food and drink after surfing or playing at the beach. I ordered a POKE BOWL: marinated raw ahi, rice, greens, cucumber, avocado, green onions, ginger, sesame seeds, ginger lime crema + spicy Asian red pepper sauce. It was good, but I didn't like the spicy red sauce. The only troublesome thing is parking. We parked in a nearby parking lot and walked to the pier. However, the parking lot near the pier is surprisingly expensive, so we recommend parking on the nearby street and walking. read more

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Cod and chips were good, clam chowder good. Poke sauce was a little too much but it was cute. I like the Jamaica on the tacos. Yea. read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Cod and Fish & Chips, Ahi Poke Tacos, New England Clam Chowder, Ahi Poke Bowl - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

Was craving a poke bowl, and this place looked promising in the pictures. The fish didn't taste super fresh, and the rice was just... bad. It was sticky and too wet, which is somewhat expected if they were making sushi rice. But somehow it had zero flavor- not a good combo. Service wasn't great either. The staff seemed more focused on chatting with each other than helping customers, so I stood there awkwardly waiting to order for way too long. You order at the cashier, and then you get a device that buzzes once your food is ready. There was a section near the exit with a bunch of dirty dishes stacked up, so I wasn't sure if it was meant for customers to bus their own tables or just a spot for the staff. I didn't want to leave my trash behind since I noticed some random abandoned cups and plates scattered around the seating area. I didn't really see any staff cleaning up or checking the tables, so I ended up clearing my own stuff just to be safe. On the plus side, the views of the ocean were nice! Too bad the windows were dirty. read more

A fun spot for families right on the water. Food is standard fare, but seafood items seem maybe a cut above. Shrimp on the shrimp tacos were cooked well, other dishes were just ok. It's counter service, but everyone is so friendly. This is one of those "for the experience" places. On a vacation with a cold margarita it would be a great memory. read more

I give everything a 10/10! All the food was delicious Service was great and fast. Nice little spot on the pier. If you are looking for great seafood, Eric's is the place! read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Ceviche, clam chowder, Ahi Poke Tacos and Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

Food was delicious. View was perfect. Easy parking. The bread bowl was the best I've ever had. read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Great beach spot - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

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Million dollar views, good food, terrible service. I ordered the Blackened halibut chili combo. The halibut was well seasoned but quite dry. The rice and beans were great, the stuffed chile was just a blob of cheese. The ahi tacos were incredible. The girl at the register just needs to look like she cares A TEENY TINY BIT. if she forced a smile, I would have been satisfied. She was miserable at her post. read more

Eric Ericssons Fish Co - Blackened halibut, stuffed chili, rice and beans. - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California