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    Fish & Chips Cafe

    3.0 (63 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood

    Fish & Chips Cafe Photos

    FISH & CHIPS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Touristy
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Fish & Chips Cafe

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    Chuck C.

    Eeehhhhh...just okay. Clam chowder is always good, but kind of underwhelming in the bread bowl...felt skimpy.. -Calamari - decline in quality and quality throughout the years. Use to get a-lot more and way better quality. The tentacles was my fave, but was non-existence. There wasn't even rings, just giant pieces of not to fresh tasting squid... Oh well, atmosphere is always cool - how can you not enjoy a nice day at the wharf....Will be back for more clam chowder and calamari somewhere on the Monterey Fishermen Wharf.....

    Raw oysters
    David L.

    This place is actually part of ABALONETTI BAR & GRILL. That's probably why the calamari were so good. The fish, shrimp and everything else is also good too. Seating outside is limited and it can get busy quickly. But it's a great place for fried seafood. Very good pricing. Too many pigeons outside but other than that a great place for lunch in all of Monterey! Plenty of tartar and cocktail sauce. Big portions!! Letter of Recommendation: A

    Calamari and garlic fries. Photo by @martiwantsmore
    Marti L.

    Located on the Old Fishermen's Wharf, this cafe is a great option for those looking for a quick bite. They have a few indoor tables and outdoor communal tables. Their menu offers a variety of fried seafood. I ordered the calamari, which is advertised as the top item, with fries. The calamari was tasty with a seasoned batter. There was a good amount of garlic on the fries. Overall a good experience but had hope the portion would be a bit bigger given its price. It was $14.95 plus $0.50 to upgrade to garlic fries.

    Made a friend
    Rachel C.

    We had wandered until we were starving. This places line never ended, yet moved quickly. Usually a good sign. Nowhere to sit, so we found a bench. Even better in my opinion. Harsh reviews had me nervous, but honestly, this was pretty tasty.

    Fried seafood
    Don H.

    For the Wharf, this place is a good deal and food is fresh and delicious. There's not much seating in the restaurant but it's better than paying more at the others restaurants on the Wharf that serves the same quality of food. If you're in the Monterey area, just remember that the better restaurants are not near the ocean but a few blocks away.

    Jumbo shrimp was the only good thing. Zucchini and fries NASTY.
    Erica M.

    Hmm. I really don't give bad reviews unless the food is really bad and unfortunately this place on the warf is NOT GOOD. We got the jumbo fried shrimp with fries, fried zucchini, and calamari. The shrimp itself was decent and crunchy however, the fries were greasy, old fries. The zucchini was not edible and had a weird off putting taste. We took it back and they replaced it with calamari which was a miss too. Definitely not worth eating here. Side note: they give packaged tarter sauce (nasty).

    Melanie D.

    My boyfriend and I came across the cafe as we were walking on the wharf. I remember seeing this spot as a place to check out. There was one person in front of us ordering so line was not busy, but many of the tables were taken. I was able to secure a table for us. We got the clam chowder large, fried calamari, and fish and chips. Our order was ready fairly quickly. Loved the clam chowder; the taste was just right. It does have bacon in it. Fried calamari was delicious; I see why it is award winning. The fish was breaded perfectly like calamari. All the condiments are set out for customers to take. Highly recommond!

    LINA M.

    Long line that moved pretty quick. The food was good considering there are many competing neighbors.

    Lauren H.

    It was a great place to eat on the wharf (since there are a lot of fish & chips options to choose from). The food was good and decently priced. The staff was friendly and the wait time was little. We got the fried calamari and fish with fries. Both tasted great. There is very limited seating outside. There is more seating inside, but it is very crowded in there.

    Clam chowder in bread bowl
    Jovilei G.

    This place is a bit of a hole in the wall and I will admit the cleanliness of the restaurant isn't the best, but the food is good. I got the clam chowder in a bread bowl and thought it was good, I just needed some pepper. As with all bread bowls, it seems like you're not getting as much soup because there's so much bread and you're left wanting more soup. My boyfriend got the fried calamari and fries. We both liked the fried calamari because the pieces were huge compared to what they would normally give you at a restaurant (small rings or legs). The calamari was flavorful and the fries were good, not oily and had some crunch.

    Outside
    Adelene H.

    *3.5 STARS* Service- quick, super nice staff Food- really good for what it is- greasy fried food *calamari- nice and crunchy, good fry breading, hard to tell if it's made in house or bought premade. The fries that came with it was incredible! *chowder bread bowl- the chowder was really good, lots of flavor and we really enjoyed it, I wish the bread was toasted because it was pretty cold. Also there wasn't much chowder so if I went back I would just buy it by the bowl *raw oysters- pretty good, especially the price Cleanliness- it was not clean at all 0/5, flies everywhere, everything was sticky I don't know when the last time they cleaned it was

    Chowder in a bread bowl
    Edgar Z.

    After enjoying a whale watching tour, this spot seemed quick & convenient. It was..but the food was sub par. Especially because when I think of eating on a pier, I think of fresh seafood. Not the case here. Pricey & small portions that tasted & looked like they came from a frozen box. In fact ive had better food that did come out of a frozen box. We didnt bother on finishing what little we got The clam chowder was really the only thing they had that was ok. it was served in a bread bowl, but they barely took any of the bread out, so there wasnt much chowder in it. Had I known, I would not have spent my money here. I know my review is negative, but mainly to help others from suffering the same experience we had. Your options are even more expensive restaurants with a view of Monterey or just wait to get out of the overpriced pier.

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    2 months ago

    We been doing for years and we always been satisfied with food and friendly service love it!

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    The store was filthy. The fountain drink dispenser has mold everywhere. I thought I was going to get food poisoning.

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    Sea Harvest - Fish & Chips

    Sea Harvest

    4.0(2.5k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    We went back to Sea Harvest after many years. Food quality seems to have gone up and now they have…read moreseating outside in a back patio. They have a small lot with parking, which is fine if you get there early. You pick up a menu from the counter and order, then grab a table and wait for the buzzer to go off. The space is casual and stuff is served on paper plates, so this is not a date night place! It's really cute with all of their nautical themed decorations. They also have a bunch of merchandise and food related gift items, if you're looking for the perfect souvenir. Employees were friendly and helpful. We ordered these items: Fish and Chips - highly recommended! They're fresh and have that classic flavor you're craving. We saw a lot of folks getting this one. Not a surprise! You get 4 hearty pieces, hot and crisp. The "chips" had a bit of batter and were crisp on the outside and moist and tender on the inside. Perfect! Comes with a tiny scoop of coleslaw. Sablefish with butter - the person at the counter said it just came in today. It was super fresh and cooked just perfectly. Sablefish isn't super fatty nor dry, it's just perfect. Veggies were fresh and cooked throughly with just a touch of crunch. Rice pilaf is quite flavorful and delicious, just a touch greasy, but in a good way! Sand Dabs - DH noticed this special after we already ordered, but he couldn't resist. Cost was based on weight + $8 for cooking. They were lightly battered and absolutely delicious. Clam Chowder (smallest size) - surprisingly good too. They must've improved their recipe since the last time we ate here. It's very thick and hearty with delicious, sweet, small pieces of clam. Overall, a fun place for a fresh, casual meal. You'll need to bus your own table after eating. Bathrooms are outside in the back. It's not as crowded as the fancier restaurants. Kids loved the food. We'll be back!

    Good place to stop by for a fresh seafood lunch - just be aware that you need to grab a table first…read morebefore you can order food for dine-in or otherwise you can do take out. You order up at the counter - be sure to check out their daily specials. I had the grilled prawns and salmon patty special which came with rice and vegetables. The prawns had a delicious garlic butter sauce on them and the salmon patties were pretty good. My husband had the fried rockfish sandwich which came with fries and coleslaw. Tasty lunch overall!

    Photos
    Sea Harvest - Interior

    Interior

    Sea Harvest - Combination plate w/ shrimp, fish, and calamari

    Combination plate w/ shrimp, fish, and calamari

    Sea Harvest - Calamari and chips...my favorite!

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    Calamari and chips...my favorite!

    Monterey's Fish House

    Monterey's Fish House

    4.0(3.4k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$

    We had reservations at 7:30 but due to overbooking, we didn't get seated until 8:15. The hostess…read morewas weary of the fact that we've been waiting for quite sometime and did whatever she could to get us a table. We ordered the fried calamari and crab cakes to start and were given complimentary oysters as well for the wait we had to endure. The ciopinno seemed to be a staple for them as many people ordered it. A few in our group ordered as well. For me, I ordered the crab ravioli and it was amazing. The service was amazing and aside from the wait, it was a fantastic experience.

    You Fish An…read moreold-school, no-frills fish house that's been in operation for over thirty years (ca. 1994) in the same spot. Not only are they a local and Yelper-favorite restaurant, but they were also listed in the exclusive Michelin Guide as recently as 2019. The Good: * Located away from the wharf and Cannery Row, so you don't have to deal with all the nonsense those two come with. * Private parking lot, as well as street parking. * Prices aren't too shabby considering the location. * Service was a bit odd, but friendly enough. * Their house-made linguini was very good and worth the extra $6 upgrade. * Veggies were cooked and seasoned perfectly. * Beers on tap and in bottles, as well as wine. * I liked the flavor from the oak grill. The Meh: * Hard to complain about free bread, but just watch me. The bread was stale and not fresh at all. Even the pats of butter weren't enough to save it. * The Diablo sauce was all gas and no brakes. It needed a little sweetness and acid to complement the spice. * Carissa's penne pasta was waaayyyyyy overcooked. And so was her salmon. The Ugly: * WTF is this second menu they have? I shit you not, the poor waiter had to recite what must have been over twenty off-menu items. It was mildly amusing at first, but then you realize you're supposed to actually absorb all of this? It's got to be some kind of inside joke with the staff. No way it's real. * The clam chowder was watery and not thick at all. Not to mention, the flavor just wasn't good, and there weren't many clams. * My tuna steak was just not good. It didn't taste very fresh and had an off texture. I thought for sure I was going to get food poisoning from it, but luckily that didn't happen. Conclusion: I hate shitting on an institution like this, but it is what it is. It appears their better days are behind them, as there's probably a good reason they lost their Michelin recommendation.

    Photos
    Monterey's Fish House
    Monterey's Fish House - Complimentary Stale Bread ($0)

    Complimentary Stale Bread ($0)

    Monterey's Fish House - Complimentary Chilled Water ($0)

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    Complimentary Chilled Water ($0)

    Sandbar & Grill - Crème Brûlée

    Sandbar & Grill

    4.0(1.6k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    April 27, 2026 and we stopped by for an early dinner…read more We got lucky as Happy Hour starts at 4pm. Can never go wrong with the bloody mary and had the calamari appetizer too. That was followed by the lemon caper calamari steak with their delicious scalloped potatoes. Once again, well worth the 1.75 hour drive there and we look forward to returning (thankfully the drive home was "just" 1.25 hours). Bartender Mike K., thanks for sharing some laughs and and making the diet coke a double!!

    Was up in Monterey for the annual Sea Otter Classic cycling festival and dined at Sandbar & Grill…read moreon the recommendation of a close friend. Attached to the Municipal Pier like an adorable, nautical-themed barnacle, the Sandbar & Grill immediately felt like a locals-only safe harbor from the hustle and bustle of the tourist-focused Old Fisherman's Wharf on the other side of the docks. The wait for our table wasn't long but long enough to imagine Steinbeck working through a draft over a beer at the bar or a modern day VC bro becoming inspired by an elevated fast-casual seafood dining concept that's anchored between Long John Silver's and Red Lobster. Once we were seated the service was attentive but not pushy and a delightful meal with a trio of longtime friends and colleagues was had. However, little did a buddy and I know we were eating our way to the darkest depths of Davy Jones' Locker when we ordered the calamari. Or, it could have been the tartar sauce that came with the calamari. Either way, we both woke up in the wee hours of the following morning with a stomach-churning sea-sickness that we wouldn't wish upon the saltiest sailor. It struck me first at 2 am when I was awoken from my slumber by a desperate need for the contents of my cargo hold to escape via the top hatch. Then a couple hours later my buddy had a violent rupture in his black water tank that sent a horrible mess coming out of his bilge valve. We were able to trade turns in our shared bathroom for a few rounds without issue but by 7 am, I was faced with a choice no person should ever have to make: should I try to barf between a friend's legs while he's pumping out the kind of horrific mess that would make the Exxon Valdez disaster look like a tiny spill, or should I sprint out the front door of the VRBO we've stayed at for the past three years and greet the morning by violently vomiting in my skivvies? Actually, now that I write it out... it wasn't much of a choice. Despite knowing my friend for close to 20 years, I found a nice bush in the front yard to evacuate my stomach. What made it weird was the German mountain bike legend who was staying with us was awoken by all the commotion and came out to check to see if everything was OK. I've been in some surreal moments in my life but talking to a German mere seconds after barfing in a bush at sunrise is suddenly at the top of the list. From this moment forward, the next 24 hours for us were a hallucination of pain and the expulsion of more chunks and fluids than you'd ever imagine a person could have in their body. It's been exactly one week and my throat remains a little jagged and my abs still have a twinge of pain from how violent the dozen-plus eruptions were. Granted, I'm not the kind of person who does stomach crunches for fun but tearing an ab muscle shouldn't be the least worst side effect of a bad dining experience. If you made it this far, maybe just stick to the Sandbar for drinks and maybe some fries if you feel like living on the edge.

    Photos
    Sandbar & Grill - Hot chocolate with a view.

    Hot chocolate with a view.

    Sandbar & Grill - Sobremesa

    Sobremesa

    Sandbar & Grill - Views of the harbor come free with every meal

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    Views of the harbor come free with every meal

    Schooners Monterey

    Schooners Monterey

    4.0(2.1k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$$

    We started with the Clam Chowder bread bowl, Brussel Sprouts appetizer, and the Dungeness Crab Dip…read more All 3 were excellent. I love Brussel Sprouts and order it anytime I see it in a menu. This was one of the best I've had. I like that it was more on the shredded side so it could cook evenly. (I hate when places halve the sprouts, but then don't bake it through. These were cooked to perfection here.) The crab dip was amazing...it's the morning after as I'm typing this and my daughter is still raving about the crab dip. We all agreed that it was worthy of the price tag bc there was a good amount of real crab in it. We really enjoyed the taste and texture. We wished there were more of the garlic bread for dipping! We waited for the clam chowder bread bowl to arrive, and tore into it so we could use that to dip! For our meal, we ordered the Harvest Salad, Organic Half Chicken, Honey BBQ Ribs, Wagyu Burger, and took a mandarin coconut sherbet to go. We were all very happy with what we ordered.

    I don't know if people still say bomb.com but it's def warranted here…read more It would be a shame to order a burger when in Monterey so I made sure I ordered something from the ocean on the other side of the glass of the seat next to us. I got the Cioppino, wife got the Crab Pasta and the kids got Fish N Chips + Chicken Tenders. I was very surprised to see a generous amount of crab in my soup. At some places, you get a claw and check that box off but not here. In addition to the real crab, there was a few giant shrimp, mussels, clams, fish, and calamari. Man...everything was very fresh and delicious. I would even have to probably say the best I've ever had! The soup was seasoned to perfection and not too tart. My wife's crab pasta was also very good! I shared mine with her and we swapped for a bit just to sample other dishes here. The kids plates were also high quality as expected from this nice restaurant inside the Monterey Plaza Hotel. To make my bday weekend even better I was able to score a spot right in front of the hotel which isn't easy since it was a non-raining Saturday. This is definitely a "come back and eat" place the next time we're in Monterey.

    Photos
    Schooners Monterey
    Schooners Monterey
    Schooners Monterey - View from the restaurant.. Get here early and watch the sunrise.

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    View from the restaurant.. Get here early and watch the sunrise.

    The Sardine Factory

    The Sardine Factory

    4.1(2.1k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$$

    had a wonderful early dinner in the lounge. great wait staff. Our waiter, Tim took great care of…read moreus. attentive but not rushed. the Sommelier was very helpful Live piano music. It is very historic Monterey

    The Sardine Factory remains a heavy hitter for a reason. It balances that "old-school" Cannery Row…read moreelegance with dishes that still feel vibrant and thoughtfully executed. If you're looking to capture the essence of a meal featuring these two plates, here is a review-style breakdown: The Seafood Fettuccine (or Linguine): This plate is a masterclass in coastal comfort. It's a high-piles-of-everything situation that feels genuinely indulgent. The Seafood:The clams and prawns are the stars--tender, sweet, and clearly sourced locally. Unlike many pasta dishes where the seafood feels like an afterthought, here it is the main event. The Sauce: It's a bright chardonnay and lemon butter base. It's silky enough to coat the pasta without making it feel heavy, and the addition of roasted garlic and fresh tomato adds a nice acidic pop to cut through the richness of the shellfish. The Verdict: If you love a classic, "everything but the kitchen sink" seafood pasta, this is a must-order. It's generous, fragrant, and classic Monterey. The Pan-Seared White Fish (Sea Bass/Butterfish) This dish is the move if you want something that feels lighter but still sophisticated. The Texture: The sear on the fish provides a delicate, golden crust that gives way to incredibly moist, flaky meat. It's often paired with a light cream or sake-butter sauce that complements the natural sweetness of the fish. The Sides: The asparagus is consistently grilled to a perfect "snap"--vibrant green and not over-salted. It adds a necessary earthiness to the plate. The Verdict: This is for the diner who appreciates technical precision. It's clean, elegant, and lets the quality of the fish speak for itself. Quick Takeaways The Vibe: The Conservatory room is the place to be. Dining under the glass ceiling with the hanging ferns makes the meal feel like an event. The Service: It's formal without being stuffy. Expect your water glass to never stay empty and the staff to know the wine list inside and out. Pro Tip: If you're a fan of a little extra flavor, the restaurant's legendary cheese bread is the perfect tool for soaking up any leftover sauce from that pasta.

    Photos
    The Sardine Factory - 18oz Boneless Rib Eye Steak

    18oz Boneless Rib Eye Steak

    The Sardine Factory
    The Sardine Factory

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    Fish & Chips Cafe - seafood - Updated May 2026

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