We came in as a family -- my spouse and I with our four kids -- after getting completely caught in the rain walking along the wharf. We were drenched, a little frazzled, and honestly just hoping for a warm place to settle in. The moment we walked through the doors, we were greeted right away with such genuine kindness. Our server noticed immediately that we were soaked, and with incredible attention to detail, suggested the host seat us in one of the warmer rooms (they have multiple dining areas). It was such a thoughtful touch -- the kids were able to dry off, relax, and feel comfortable almost instantly. The service here is truly something special: very kid-friendly, attentive, and caring. You can tell they're not just going through the motions or chasing tips -- they actually want you to have a great experience. And the food? Fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. If you're ever visiting Santa Cruz, this place is a must. Amazing atmosphere, incredible service, and a meal you'll genuinely remember. read more

Firefish Grill - Fresh Fish Tacos - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

My hubs is up here for work so I came to stay with him for the weekend for our anniversary. I have been craving King Crab like crazy. I honestly thought that being up here right next to the ocean that seafood restaurants would be in abundance. I was wrong. I was happy when we decided to try Firefish and they had King Crab! We got here for an early dinner at 6pm on a Saturday night and it was relatively empty. We got a table tucked in a back corner next to the windows that had an amazing view of the water. Our server was very sweet, and very nervous. He said it was his first night, so we went easy on him! Hahaha! Any question that we had that he couldn't answer, he made it his priority to go and find it. The food was good. The prawns were bigger that how they look in the picture. They were very tasty. My hubs said the oysters were really good, and they were gone within minutes! Lol. The crab was cooked perfectly and was very good. The sides were pretty basic and tasted good. Nothing extraordinary about them, but they were good. When we got our bill we noticed we were charged for a few things we didn't order. We pointed it out and our server apologized profusely and fixed it. The manager came over to apologize, and while we weren't upset over it because things happen, it was nice that they wanted to make sure we were happy. Its a nice spot to have have dinner and I wouldn't mind coming back. read more

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Ok I'm in Santa Cruz for my annual visit and the one guaranteed stop is a visit to Firefish. When they finally reopened after the fire I was very excited to go back. This place has been my favorite seafood restaurant for a long time. I have written 5 Star reviews for them a few times. Sadly, today that was not possible. Showed up around 4:30 and it was fairly empty. We were seated immediately and greeted by our server in very short order. My cousin order the special which was fresh petrale sole and I had the halibut fish and chips. The order came out fairly quickly and my cousin like her entree but she said it was a bit salty. My fish and chips on the other hand was very dry like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for a while and the chips were just warm and got cold by the end of my dinner. Very disappointing.... But only by comparison to my previous visits. At $30 it was an expensive mediocre dinner. I'm now wondering if I should look for a new favorite. There are always many choices in the area. read more

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I have gone to quite a few spots to get clam chowder in Santa Cruz, and this is one of my favorites. It's so good! The restaurant is also gorgeous, right on the wharf overlooking the water. Our waitress was so kind (and patient since we took forever ), so shoutout to her!! read more

Firefish Grill - Clam chowder bread bowl - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Excellent clam chowder. Maybe one of the best in Santa Cruz. And the sourdough rolls they have are super addictive. Definitely a go to if you're on the Santa Cruz wharf. read more

This place would rate 5 stars just on location and scenic views from the ocean. The service here is top notch also, depending on rush times they will get you seated and fed quickly. The Cioppino & the seafood Rockefeller are so fresh and amazingly good. I found this place 20 years ago when I tried their clam chowder at the boardwalk. You must request their croutons. Very garlic-y! read more

Firefish Grill - Yummy Clam chowder with croutons - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Service, quality, and menu variety were excellent, and the location couldn't be better. You're right on the dock! We started with side garden salads and garlic bread - both fresh and delicious. I had the seafood skewers (shrimp, salmon, and scallops + peppers & onions) served with veggies and rice pilaf, and everything was fantastic. My husband ordered the cioppino, which he rated a solid B+ (he would've given it an A if the broth had been a bit lighter). My dad went with the 'catch of the day' special--panko sole with veggies, mashed potatoes, a side salad, and dessert - all for just $27, which was a great value. My mom thoroughly enjoyed her shrimp scampi paired with a glass of wine. Overall, a wonderful meal for the whole family. read more

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Visiting Santa Cruz on a relaxing weekend trip and decided to try this place. It was pretty busy too so that seemed like a good indication. We didn't have to wait that long for a table. Less than 10 minutes. The hostess was nice, but our waiter left something to be desired. He took our drink order and came back to take our dinner order. That was pretty much all we saw of him until it was time to drop off the check. One friend ordered a clam chowder and another the calamari appetizer. The soup arrived, but the calamari never came. It's fried, so we thought maybe it was taking longer and still coming. Our dinners came out and no one checked on us once for drink refills or to make sure the food was okay. When our waiter dropped off the check and we told him we had not received the calamari he went to check and they never started it; so my friend cancelled it. I ordered the Scallops Monterey. It's scallops in a cream sauce served with rice and simple cooked veggies. There's a bunch of cream sauce so as someone who eats a lot of rice, the sauce to rice ratio could be better. The food was decent and I would not be opposed to returning. Hopefully the service is better. read more

Had dinner here just as the weather was turning chilly a while back and it was a lovely time. We were actually in town celebrating my birthday, which is why I treated myself to oysters. Really, is there a greater joy to be had than enjoying oysters next to the ocean with a tasty adult beverage? This place had great ambience thanks to their seaside views and the service was top notch as well. My spouse enjoyed his scallops and I enjoyed my chowder. I'm glad we chose this place while walking along the pier, it was the right choice. read more

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My fiance and I came into Firefish grill last night (4/19) after I had seen the "snapper piccata special" ad (I love piccata) and it honestly was a huge disappointment, the flour on it was soggy the rice that came with it was partially crunchy and the veggies were cold and raw as if they just dunked them in water for 2 seconds and put it on the plate. My fiancé got the jambalaya and he said it was good and he liked it just wished it had a bit more sausage but that's personal preference! We got drinks as well, a Long Island and a pina colada both were good but nothing to write home about but strong if that's your speed! The scenery was beautiful and the host was super sweet and got us a window seat speedy quick right at sunset!! read more

Firefish Grill - Pina colada and Long Island! - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Drove up to Santa Cruz from Monterey and stopped in this place because their menu looked amazing plus their host at the time was very kind and helpful with the menu. We tried their seafood skewers, rice pilaf with fresh vegetables; everything tasted freshly delicious and cooked to perfection. Their beurre blanc sauce was outstanding. Service was good. The restaurant is clean, bright, with nautical decor and a spectacular view off the pier of the sea and coastline. 9f we ever come back, we will definitely stop in again! Yum! Bravo to the chef! read more

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Food: yummy . Fish was crisp. Service: cool . Nice staff. Ambiance: calming and the ocean views enhanced the atmosphere. read more

Firefish Grill - Fish and chips - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

WARNING WARNING WARNING ‼I GOT TERRIBLE FOOD POISONING. ‼ This the first place, that's not a fast food restaurant, that I've ever gotten sick from. Even with fast food it's been a while. My girl friend and I drove an hour and a half away to visit the wharf and try the food. We settled on the firefish and hours later I regret it. PROS: The employees were nice and polite, the bathroom stalls provide full privacy no large cracks that having wondering if someone can see you crack. The view of the water and sailboats was nice. CONS: Our server was nice but not really attentive we had to keep flagging her down for things like silverware, drinks,etc. Potential of getting poisoned the food came out my bum looking like chili and chicken noodle out of my mouth. All of it had remnants of our dinner. I was so sick my body temperature rose significantly. I wear an Apple Watch to track personal data. The cons are not worth the experience or price you'll end up paying both monetarily and physically. The view: The food F- (going in the food was C+ coming out of both orifices dropped the score) The service C+ All in all: Dine at your own risk P.S my girl didn't get any seafood dishes and she was fine so I guess avoid what makes a wharf a wharf, "fresh" seafood. P.P.S my girl did eat some seafood, we had Oyster Rockefeller as an appetizer - it tasted good freshness is questionable. read more

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First time at this beautiful location. We've been coming to the wharf for years, wanting to come by this establishment for a while, and finally came through . I got the wild caught salmon and my gf grabbed the catch of the day, Petrale Sole. What a gem this place is. How lucky are we to live near such a fantastic restaurant. Five stars for service, the view, and the quality of the cuisine. We will be back again! read more

Firefish Grill - Wild caught king salmon - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Firefish Grill for the win. We were warmly greeted and seated right away, and the halibut was incredible--perfectly seared, flaky, and topped with the dreamiest lemon caper cream sauce. Paired with fresh greens and crispy potatoes... absolute coastal perfection. read more

Firefish Grill - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Came in for lunch when our normal spot was closed food was great! Our female server was nice and i had a nice time!! I will be back! read more

Firefish Grill - Chicken teriyaki - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Came by for a quick day trip and grabbed a spot on the pier. Honestly, it's a decent enough spot, but definitely expects "tourist prices." $18 for a pretty light salmon teriyaki lunch and over $25 for fried calamari felt a bit steep for what it was. The view is nice and the service was solid, plus parking on the pier is easy and cheap. That said, next time I'd probably just eat in town for better value. read more

A Classic Wharf Experience with Ocean Views and Great Service After a morning spent soaking up the sun and thrills of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk--including several exhilarating rides on the iconic Giant Dipper--my family and I strolled over to the Wharf in search of lunch. With bar and grill options aplenty, an Italian restaurant, and Mexican food (which we passed on, having had a night before), we found ourselves craving something local, something seafood. Enter Firefish Grill--a spot that immediately caught my eye with its traditional white façade, neon seafood signage, and the charming feel of an old-school fish grotto. Upscale without being stuffy, it had just enough street appeal to stand out from the crowd. We were warmly greeted by the host, who accommodated our request for a window table. The view? Stunning. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it was the perfect setting for a relaxing lunch away from the busier Boardwalk crowd. The after-lunch hour meant the restaurant wasn't packed, which gave the whole experience an unhurried, peaceful vibe. Our waiter was cheerful, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu --something that's become a rare gem in post-pandemic dining. He checked in regularly, made great small talk, and truly elevated our visit. As for the food: I ordered my go-to Golden Fried Jumbo Prawns, and my mom and dad ordered Fresh Seafood Chowder...Fresh Fish, Prawns, Clams, and Scallops simmered in shrimp stock with bacon, crispy potatoes, and cream. Finished with a drizzle of sherry. Made to order, Fish and Chips, while my daughter enjoyed a fettuccine. Each item was fresh, well-prepared, and flavorful. Pricing was reasonable, especially for a prime location like the Wharf. Firefish Grill is exactly what you hope to find in a coastal town--a relaxed yet quality dining experience with great views, friendly staff, and solid seafood. It's a great option if you're in Santa Cruz and want to escape the Boardwalk bustle without sacrificing atmosphere or taste. We will be back. Pro tip: Ask for a window seat--you won't regret it. read more

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The service and ambiance were lovely. Our server, Melissa, was professional and friendly -- thank you for that. As for the food... it was okay, but not amazing. I had the pesto pasta with prawns and scallops -- it was tasty but way too creamy for my taste. There was more sauce than pasta. So yes, it was good, but next time I'm in Santa Cruz, I'd probably try a different spot. I didn't have that "wow" moment, and I can't quite explain why. read more

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Came here for sea food and this place didn't disappoint. We tried their crab cocktail, their Chowder, The lobster, Pasta Alfredo and their Burger. Everything was delicious! Their drinks were unique and tasty as well. Service was great and prompt. Ambience was amazing with view of the bay. We will be coming back for sure! read more

Came here Valentine's Day and the views of the sunset were incredible and the seafood skewers tasted amazing. The scallops were cooked perfectly read more

Firefish Grill - Seafood skewer plate - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

AL. H. Went early evening on Saturday May 3, 2026. Beat the crowd and got a window seat with ocean views. We had the seafood pasta and crab Louie. Both dishes were excellent. Claudia U. was our server and was great. Prices were in the range expected. We will will return to this spot on our next trip to Santa Cruz. read more

I revisited Firefish grill, we were seated pretty fast. They came out and brought water for us and took our drink order. Then after a few minutes they took our food order. It really wasn't fast but we didn't mind because we were seated and had a beautiful view of Cowell's beach. I had Parmesan crusted chicken, it was delicious! My husband had the mile high meatloaf. He said it was ok, however it didn't look great to me. But we had a delightful meal at one of our local restaurants. read more

Firefish Grill - Parmesan crusted chicken, with mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. Highly recommend. - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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The drinks were delicious. I'm not a big fan of Moscow Mule but this one was delicious. I really liked the pina colada it was yummy. We got the fresh swordfish and fresh halibut. Both were delicious but I highly favored the fresh halibut. The view was amazing we sat down at peak sunset. The servers are fast and attentive. I would come back. read more

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We visited here for dinner during our stay. We shared the prawn cocktail and crab cake as starters. I had the lobster roll for my main. I was surprised how large the prawns were. I wasn't expecting it to be that large. The crab cake was ok. It could have been a bit more crisp. The lobster roll was delicious. The lobster pieces were good size pieces and buttered. The roll was also buttered and grilled crisp. Service was a bit disorganized when we went. After the prawn cocktail was served, the crab cake didn't come. It was after 30 minutes our server noticed that the crab cake wasn't served and went to check on it. It eventually came after our main dishes arrived to the table. If you come here, get the prawn cocktail. read more

Clam chowder bowl was delicious. And it's quick service too. Can't complain for the price and speed. read more

Firefish Grill - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

We ate here during our weekend in the Santa Cruz/Monterrey Bay area. I know it's a restaurant on a tourist trap wharf, so I expected things to be rather inflated. The ambiance was nice. We had a booth facing a nice view of the ocean. I loved the jumbo prawn cocktail. 5 pieces of enormous prawns. My main was the seafood linguini. It was tasty but nothing special; just some alfredo sauce with fish and shellfish. Good place for some comfort seafood. read more

Came to patron places on the wharf. Stopped by for a late lunch. Enjoyed the bread basket, fried Calamari, and clam chowder in a bread bowl. Our waitress Veronica was very kind. We were initially seated by a loud guest and she was kind enough to allow us to switch tables, even if it meant that she couldn't serve us. The bread basket was a great start but the star was the Fried Calamari. Lightly breaded not greasy and fresh. Highly recommend it and the portion was very generous. The clam chowder was also tasty and who could go wrong by having it in a sourdough bread bowl. Hard to believe the other reviews, but we truly enjoyed our lunch with great food, amazing view and attentive staff such as Veronica. read more

Firefish Grill - Clam Chowder in a bread bowl. - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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The views from the tables is very pretty 5/5 Their lunch special comes in big portions and beautifully decorated 5/5 Their prices is fairly low compare to boardwalk food Service is good 5/5 read more

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Stopped for lunch and were very impressed. First the hostess and wait staff were welcoming, articulate, pleasant and caring about your experience. The cup of chowder was excellent as expected. But the highlight was the Seafood Rockefeller. We also had a Shrimp Louie. We had a window view over the water too. What a great lunch date! read more

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I wish I asked for the the servers name. But she was a younger blonde with a pink tie and she was fantastic! She was exactly what you'd expect for really awesome service. I've been here so many times so it's time I actually left a review. Every time we come here the service and the food is always good. And the kitchen puts in a lot of thought into the presentation, which is a nice touch. Their food is consistently delicious too. Being on the Santa Cruz wharf, the views are of course amazing and we usually ask to get to a table by the window... Which I'm sure they get asked that by everyone. They're probably sick of hearing it lol. They have an open kitchen which adds a nice touch for the customers that are dining. If I worked there I'd personally would not want to feel like everyone was watching me. But it does make it nice for us. At first glance when you order off the locals menu, the portions might seem on the smaller side but it's more than enough to leave you feeling full. I've tried every spot on the wharf... I've lived here for more than 25 years and for now, this is the best place... Riva Restaurant does come close though. Firefish has delicious cocktails and bartenders are top notch too. A must to try one or two. Parking is plentiful, you will always be able to find one. Unless it's summertime on a weekend and or lands on a holiday. But it's extremely rare. This is an easy 4-5 to 5 stars. Cheers. read more

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We went here after spending the day at the beach and they had a table available. My son got fish and chips which is his usual and it was quite good 4/5 I took chicken pesto sandwich which was nothing great 3/5 my husband took the cajun fish special and it was ready good, the cajun sauce was perfect and the portion was also perfect size for lunch 5/5/ The view was great from the restaurant, you can easily find parking on the wharf and walk. read more

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Good food and great service! We were on the wharf and wanted something for dinner. Obviously we were looking for seafood. Places we wanted had a wait, so we decided on Firefish. The menu was posted outside their restaurant and helped make sure there was something we wanted to eat. The inside feels a little more up scale but it was actually pretty casual. We were seated quickly and loved the view outside. We came at dinner time so you could see the ocean and sun slowly setting. We decided on the Seafood Rockefeller, crab cake dinner, and kids fish and chips. Prices were a little higher but comparable to the other restaurants. The adult meals came with a side and veggies. Portions were pretty big. I was surprised how big the crab cakes were and tasted really great. It wasn't dried out and a had a little spice to it. The risotto was creamy and cheesy. The kids fish and chips was huge, more than enough for our kids. The breading was more of a panko than a batter which was unexpected but still yummy. The steamed veggies were nice. I do wish they served a bread basket or something with it. Did have one hiccup where the price of the kids fish and chips differed from the menu. Not a huge difference but I would have made a different selection had I known. read more

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For a quick lunch on the Santa Cruz Wharf, we stopped in at Firefish Grill to enjoy the crisp air showing early signs of Spring. We sat next to a window overlooking the Monterey Bay and enjoyed seeing sea lions and seagulls. Our waiter gave us recommendations that the oysters that day were great, much to our satisfaction. The clam chowder was flavorful and had chunks of clam and potatoes in it. The jambalaya pasta was great, reminiscent of my visits to the French Quarter. I do wish that the pasta had a little more spice with chili flakes added, but the flavor was spot on for Cajun food. read more

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Food is amazing. I ordered the swordfish, my husband got the salmon and our third wheel got the...I forget. But everything was delicious. read more

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Five of us friends had lunch here today. We celebrated a birthday. We were here last month. Each of us ordered something different. I ordered one of the local fresh caught specials of a panko coated sole. Every dish was delicious! My sole was cooked perfectly. Our server, Evan, provided excellent and professional service. He even was kind enough to take our group foto. We would like to thank the amazing chef for the outstanding entrees and treating birthday friend and company for the chocolate torte. Great ambiance and spectacular ocean views. We Will be Back! I highly recommend coming here. read more

Firefish Grill - The sole with veggies and rice pilaf - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I understand this place is in a tourist spot, but it is expensive and the food was amazing bit bland. I ordered the king salmon and fire shrimp. The shrimp was good but the salmon was okay. The view was nice though. Maybe I should've tried something else. Not sure if I would come back when im in the area. read more

Firefish Grill - king salmon - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Fresh and bright ambiance, with ocean vibes. The Oceanside takes get a great view during daylight We sat at the bar stools earlier and moved to the tables. The bar staff wasn't too "welcoming " in their demeanor, they were shoving used glasses up in our faces. The waitress at the table was really friendly and warm, once we moved to our table. read more

Firefish Grill - Halibut and chips - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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This is a very nice restaurant, a bit nicer inside than we dressed for. We got a nice ocean side view and the service was very nice and attentive. I will be honest though, the food was underwhelming. Very bland and lacking seasoning. Definitely fresh fish, don't get me wrong, but not worth the price. BUT what was worth the price was the clam chowder. NOW THAT SHIT WAS TO DIE FOR. We would go back any day for it and next time get a big bowl and that's it. So unless you're going for some clam chowder I would say there are better options. read more

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Beautiful inside and on the pier and greeted with smiles throughout my meal. The food was beyond excellent and I was happy to spoil myself to a couple mock non-alcoholic Pina Coladas. read more