My wife and I recently visited Los Angeles to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary and a major birthday milestone, and we were fortunate enough to discover Fishing With Dynamite. We had heard wonderful things about the restaurant, and after our experience, I can honestly say it exceeded every expectation. Because of our travel schedule, our only opportunity to visit was during lunch on the same day we had to catch a flight home across the country. From the moment we made our reservation to the moment we walked out the door, everything about our experience was exceptional. The restaurant itself is beautiful, with a wonderful corner location and a warm, inviting atmosphere. The service was terrific, and the food was outstanding. The four of us ordered a variety of dishes to share, and everything was incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. Each dish felt thoughtfully prepared, and there was something special about being able to enjoy such a memorable meal together on an important day for our family. But what truly sets Fishing With Dynamite apart isn't just the food or the atmosphere -- it's the people. Every interaction we had with the staff was wonderful. From making the reservation, to our waitress who took such great care of us, to the servers who brought our food and drinks, everyone was friendly, attentive, welcoming, and genuinely seemed to care about making sure we had a great experience. And then something happened that took that feeling to an entirely different level. After we finished our meal, I accidentally left a small bag at the restaurant as we headed to the airport. I didn't realize it until we were already at LAX, sitting at the gate and preparing to board our flight home. My heart sank when I realized what had happened. The items inside -- AirPods, Beats headphones, an external battery pack, an expensive pair of sunglasses, and other things -- were replaceable, but a few of them were gifts and had sentimental value to me. Given that we were already at the airport, I had pretty much accepted that I would never see the bag again. My wife contacted Fishing With Dynamite, explained what had happened, and the staff immediately went to work trying to help. We were put back in touch with the waitress who had served us, and incredibly, she remembered us and was able to locate the bag. We offered to pay for shipping and for the inconvenience of someone having to take the package to the post office. Instead, later that day, the general manager reached out to us personally and assured us that they would be happy to ship everything back to us promptly -- and, even more incredibly, they wouldn't accept a penny from us for doing it. That gesture meant far more to me than simply getting my belongings back. In a world where customer service can sometimes feel transactional, the people at Fishing With Dynamite reminded me that there are still genuinely caring people who are willing to go out of their way to help someone simply because it's the right thing to do. We went to Fishing With Dynamite expecting a great lunch. We left with an incredible meal, wonderful memories from our anniversary trip, and an experience with a group of people that I will genuinely never forget. The food is fantastic. The restaurant is beautiful. The service is excellent. But most importantly, the people who work here truly care about their customers, and they proved it by going far beyond what anyone could reasonably expect. read more

My second time here and everything was creative and delicious Raw scallops on shells: 5/5 Shrimp cocktail: 4/5 Snow crab claws: delicious but tiny 4/5 Black cod on tostadas: 5/5 Cold soba noodles with lightly cured king salmon 5/5 Koshihikari rice with uni, shrimp and crab meat 5/5 Overall 5/5 experience read more

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Delicious. Seriously, a must-try! This is one of those small hole-in-the-wall spots that absolutely delivers when it comes to flavor. The seafood was incredibly fresh and the service was attentive from start to finish. The Cali oysters are TO DIE FOR and easily worth ordering. But the scallops and tuna tartare? Out of this world. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared. Definitely one of those places I'm already thinking about going back to. I'll be here as often as I can! read more

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Visit FWD for its incredible raw bar full of incredible oysters and crab claws. Start with an appetizer of sashimi or a crab cake. Enjoy amazing seafood just blocks from the ocean at golden hour. Jonah Crab Fusilli: The spiral fusilli pasta perfectly captures the creamy orange vodka sauce. Each bite bursts with a savory and tangy tomato and sweet basil finish. The Calabrian chili adds some spark to the flavors. They are generous with the Jonah crab. The tender meat is shucked so its sweet flavor blends beautifully with the sharp sauce. The fluffy Parmigiano Reggiano melts for a nutty briny punch of flavor. Parking: There's plenty of street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. There are also public garages. read more

Fishing With Dynamite - Jonah Crab Fusilli - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Love love love every bite and sip that we had at this place. Is it pricey? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. Banhattan - yummy manhattan (strong) with a sweet hint of banana. I only needed this one drink at lunch. Oysters from Baja - so good and fresh Koishi... rice. Tasty and hard to describe how delicious this was and unique. Soft shell crab with Singaporean noodles - spicy and delicious. This was a seasonal special. Key lime dessert - a must for everyone no matter if you are stuffed. This dessert topped off a wonderful meal and was worth every penny. Hands down, best dessert that I've eaten in a long time. Overall, this place is top notch and I will come again when I'm back in town and bring friends. read more

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FWD was soooo good. We had originally planned to go somewhere else but saw some great reviews of this place. We called to see if there was any availability (Sat evening) and the hostess said that they were completely booked however since there were only 2 of us she was able to get us a 6:30p reservation! It's a pretty tiny place on the corner but the vibes were chill. We were seated right away at the oyster bar. The sun was setting so it was full on in our faces but it did go down by the time we got our food. So it wasn't too bad. We ordered the oysters to start - Kumamoto, pacific gold and queens cup. So fresh! Love that they aren't super big in size. If you like more of a sweeter taste go for the Kumamoto or pacific gold. The queens cup is for the saltier taste. All good. The hamachi sashimi with guacamole was amazing. All the flavors weren't too overbearing The koshihikari rice was delicious and creamy with the egg yolk. It had so many seafood meat chunks like the shrimp, crab and even uni pieces. It was kind of like a risotto. Don't skip out on the grilled tacos. We ordered the fish and the shrimp. So refreshing and the grilled texture was perfect. For dessert we got the bread pudding with salted caramel and mascarpone ice cream. Gooey and sweet but the salted Carmel balanced out the sweetness. Great way to end dinner. Would definitely come back again!!! read more

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Crazy name, wonderful dining experience. You'll want to make a rezzy because, justifiably so, FwD gets busy. Though there are a few outdoor tables, we opted for Inside. Definitely suited our sensibilities to be close to the heart of this treasure, plus it can get cold out there! When our friendly and helpful server learned that we'd never been to FwD before, we were both treated a tasty amuse, a Peruvian scallop, one of their specialties. Served chilled, absolute heaven. Simple, fresh, delicious, and very pretty atop its shell. We ordered an appetizer, a different scallop dish, Pan Seared Diver Scallops. (Parsnip-potato puree, brown butter ponzu, capers). So good. Succulent, perfectly cooked and devilishly satisfying with its rich, savory flavor. We enjoyed the one dish that have been on their menu since the beginning, Koshihikari Rice. (short-grain Japanese rice, overnight chicken dashi, shrimp, uni, blue crab, cage-free egg yolk.) Wow. So much happening here, and yet it's a complete package. All the ingredients meld together sumptuously. It akin to Paella, or perhaps to a stuffed Risotto, although the Koshihikari Rice was very much its own dish. The server swerved and mixed the egg yolk on our plate, and we loved it. Our strategy to try a number of dishes and yet still have room for dessert worked. Many great choices, and I doubt we'd be disappointed with anything. However, we had heard from the table next to use that the key-lime pie was must. Happily, they were right. This Key Lime Pie is just sweet and just tart enough. Though I am not Key Lime Pie expert, this one struck me as imaginative with its meringue colony crowding the pie's surface for additional dessert debauchery. There nothing overwhelmingly citrusy about it, and it was light enough to help you feel satisfied and just right. The coffee was good, too. This is a low-key yet lovely dining experience in Manhattan Beach. read more

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Was looking for a spot to eat at manhattan beach and based on my trusty yelpers reviews this seemed like the foodie spot to try. They weren't wrong. We started with the ceviche in Clamato with pieces of crab and avocado served with a delicious tortilla chips. I absolutely loved the flavor profile and couldn't get enough of the Clamato sauce. Then we moved to the weekend only special sea urchin, which Stephanie's parents personally bring down from Santa Barbara for weekend service. I'm usually indifferent at best to sea urchin, but this was excellent Then we shared the Jonah Crab Fusilli, another winner. I was driving, but hubby ordered a banhattan and it was another winner. They also have some beer and wine options as well as a full bar. Though very full by this point, just couldn't resist the pretzel bread pudding. The bread portion was crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside with a delicious salty caramel sauce. Served with a very smooth and delectable scoop of ice cream. There's indoor and outdoor seating. If you want to sit inside best to make a reservation. We did not have reservations, but were lucky to get outside seating. Service was fluid with different people coming around to ensure everything was tidy. Really enjoyed one of the staff, a young girl who cleared our table and delivered some of the dishes. Loved her chill surferish vibes. read more

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We've been coming for over 20 years, celebrating the highs and lows that shape a life. I love this place so much I have a t-shirt from this place. TY, FWD, for nourishing our bodies and souls. We always get a lobster roll and Peruvian scallops. This time, we also tried something new - the snow crab claws and the hamachi collar. Best key lime pie ever! read more

This is a cute seafood restaurant in the heart of Manhattan beach. It's also one of the few places in the area with raw clams - little neck. The staff is every nice and reservation Is highly recommended as it's a small place and it's very popular. Wild Spanish octopus - great dish to share Tuna tonnato toast- a unique dish with tuna on a toast. Also good to share Littlebeck clams - must have Grilled rock cod tacos - they were very tasty as well. Parking can be challenging. Plan ahead. read more

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I normally only go to restaurants once unless it's an all-time favorite, but Fishing with Dynamite definitely deserves that status. Came here with a last-minute reservation on a Monday night and every single dish was perfect. read more

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I had a specific craving for a ceviche tostada. I couldn't make it to my usual spot so I decided to check out FWD as I saw they had ceviche options on their menu. Wow! The cod ceviche tostada was simple delicious. It's a small space, so definitely make a reservation if you choose to dine in. I've had oysters here before and they were really fresh as well. Good wine and even the caiprihina was delicious. I will be back for my ceviche and oyster fix! read more

My friend received a gift card for this place and boy are we glad she did. We made an early reservation for 5:45pm. This was a great time to go on a Wednesday. It wasn't busy which is great since it is a small venue. We each got a cocktail...Golden Hour and La Catrina. Then we shared the blue crab cake appetizer, Koshihikari Rice, and key lime pie. It was the perfect amount of food and all was flavorful and delicious. I would love to come back for their oyster bar for lunch some time. Our server was also great and since it was our first time, he was able to give us recommendations. As we were leaving, it was starting to get busy. Oh, and you can see the ocean from various seats around the restaurant! read more

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The food here is top notch. Make reservations ahead of time as they do get busy. This establishment doesn't have much seating but the servers have everything down to get you in and out as quick as possible while enjoying your time. Our server was the perfect match for our date, personal and patient. Everything was amazing and would definitely come back. The Key Lime pie is the best part, not too tart or sweet. Enough for at least 2 people. read more

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Delicious! I came here with a friend and we shared the Peruvian scallops to start. The scallops were FIRE. Just imagine the sweetest, freshest scallops, perfectly marinated in a tart and briny way. I definitely could've had a dozen of these! For my entrée I got the Koshihikari rice with uni and egg. I would say it is pretty good, definitely heartier than a porridge. It had a nice flavor of seafood but I think the addition of something bright or crunchy would've been nice to break up the heaviness of the dish. The salinity from the Uni was lovely though. Overall, this place is really cute and the service was on point. I would definitely return again to try other things on the menu! read more

Fishing With Dynamite - Koshihikari Rice - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Food & service 10/10 !! I love to get the scallops . Iv never had anything like that before, the flavor is amazingly balanced and fresh . Mussels are freshest + plumpest mussels Iv ever had with a beautiful warm bread that comes in the side . They have a full bar so if you're wanting wine or a nice tequila etc they have it all. Love to go walking nearby amazing location in beautiful manhattan. read more

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Excellent seafood restaurant in Manhattan Beach. Great raw bar and creative menu, complemented by outstanding service. Our server gave great advice on the oyster selection and then guided us through the menu. It's small inside, but busy and they clearly turn over tables quickly and keep their kitchen busy all day. The Koshikihari rice was a highlight - an umami-rich risotto-style dish, as was the crab cake. Very highly recommended. read more

Fishing With Dynamite - Koshihikari rice - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Love love loved my experience here. It's a delicious oyster spot right by the water that has seasonal and rotational oysters. We got 3 different types of oysters, but our favorite was the Love Shuck. They had live Uni that day, which was ok... I'm spoiled from having gone to school at UCSB and having fresh Uni pretty much on deck. We got Crab Cakes, Koshihikari Rice (which is similar to a risotto), and the Grilled Hamachi Collar which was a seasonal special and so good... The food was amazing, and the price was appropriate for what we ordered (we had 3 people with all the food and drinks and it was around $330 give or take). I thought the staff were super attentive and friendly, the location was superb, and the food was amazing. read more

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I went back for my third visit in as many years and once again I was blown away. The restaurant is tiny so we had a counter seat that was right by the kitchen and the bathroom, but it was fine. We were just happy we got in. We had a few fresh oysters and great drinks before our entrees. My husband had the seared scallops which were perfectly made and plated. I ordered the Koshihikari Rice and loved it as much as I did 3 years ago when I had it. Seriously, I don't know that I will ever not order this dish. It's got a unique flavor to it I have never had anywhere else. We will definitely be back! read more

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Excellent experience. Great food, service, location, atmosphere, and can't wait to visit again. SOON. Lots of great choices in MB. Happy to have found a go-to. read more

What a gem. Me and fiancé had dinner late last night 5/15 @ 9pm, we did make a reservation at that time and checked in early and they sat us down 10 mins early ((looooved that)). We ordered the Crab cake, perfectly packed together where it wasn't too dense but gently molded. It was packed with umami and this refreshing citrus after taste..it was so damn good. French fries, were a must crispy tasty fries did not disappoint. Spanish octopus, cooked to perfection- lots of interesting flavors and textures we enjoyed. Lastly we shared the tacos (1 cod 1 shrimp), tasty fat tacos. Accompanied with fresh chips and the guac and salsa that was tasty. What really set it for us, was while we were wrapping up the meal. Me and fiancé were toasting to my late dad, today was his birthday. Well we asked for the check and planned to skip dessert. Well before we left our server had packed us the key lime pie to take home..just because. God lord, the timing of toasting my dad, and the generosity had me literally fighting tears. It really was a remarkable meal, we loved every bite. Our server whoever you are your f*cking wondeful and the team you are doing amazing work thank you. read more

Can't believe it took me so long to actually try Fishing with Dynamite. The restaurant is pretty small so weekend reservations can go quickly. The service is excellent and the seafood is super fresh. It's a bit on the pricy side but worth it for a great meal. Located in the heart of downtown Manhattan beach. Street parking is easy to find. Would highly recommend for a date night. read more

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Great vibe, incredible wine (the orange wine was BOMB), delicious food, and top-tier service. I made a reservation weeks in advance without realizing how small and popular this place has just a handful of indoor seats and a few tables outside. Every bite was incredible. We ordered the hamachi and I definitely should've asked for a side of chips to scoop up the extra avocado and sauce left on the plate. Everything was fantastic and perfect for sharing. read more

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, : We came to Fishing With Dynamite for lunch for the first time, and we absolutely loved it! The atmosphere was great, the service was excellent, and our server was very friendly and attentive. The oysters were incredibly fresh, the seafood soup was absolutely delicious, and the white fish with Japanese mushrooms was amazing. We finished our lunch with the key lime pie, and it was the perfect dessert. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Highly recommend this place--we'll definitely be back! read more

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I call this a slice of New England in the South Bay. I should focus on the slice in the sense that the place isn't large so be sure to make a reservation. It's popular. Just a heads up. The interior has a cool nautical vibe that makes you feel like you're living that sailboat life. The oysters were perfection along with the delicious lobster rolls. I'd do it no other way. read more

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Love this place, especially for brunch! The seafood is always super fresh and delicious. Everything tastes clean and high quality every single time. Our go-tos: the uni toast (literally one of my favorite foods ever), their always-perfect oysters, the koshihikari rice, Peruvian scallops, New England clam chowdah, and white shrimp ceviche. You honestly can't miss with any of the menu items here. And their cocktails are great too! The space is really cute but on the smaller side. They do have a few outdoor tables though, which is great if you want fresh air or have your dog with you. Service is quick and friendly. Parking is a bit of a hassle; we usually park in the structure a few blocks away and walk down the hill to get here. Easily one of the best seafood spots in the South Bay!!! read more

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Fishing with dynamite has the best seafood towers I've ever had. The dining room is pretty small so it's best to make a reservation. The service was impeccable!!!! Will definitely be back. read more

Fishing With Dynamite - The Mothershucker - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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Great service. Cocktail was refreshing and yummy. Appetizers: pan seared scallops and chilled soba noodles were mouthwatering. BF luvd his Koshihkari rice dish with shrimp, blue crab and uni. So why only four stars?? My Chilean sea bass was overcooked: dry and not tender. The sauce and veggies saved the dish. But it would've been stellar if the sea bass was perfectly cooked. Gave this note to our server to pass along to the kitchen. Server comped us a free dessert. FWD: Fish should not be a miss for a seafood restaurant, especially when Chilean sea bass is a pretty forgiving fish to cook. Maybe it was one off??? read more

Fresh water fish in an intimate setting. Small room with few inside tables and a few tables flow outside. Seating at the bar for about 10 or less people. The service is excellent and the ambiance is perfect for date night or dinner with friends. read more

It's crazy how tiny this place is, but they did have a little table for us outside and I'm so happy we stayed, even though it was quite chilly. The service was excellent, cocktails were great and the food was exceptional. Super fresh, creative and delicious, we loved everything! read more

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They had an orange wine on the menu which was basically just a "skin-contact" savvy blanc. Got to pull out my "so how long do they stomp on the grapes? what do you mean grapes have skin?" joke. Cute, date-night, seafood spot. They have any sort of raw fish encounter you could hope to have. This was my first time trying sea urchin -- fishy and buttery. Not my favorite form of seafood, but it was yummy. I'll chalk that up to being an acquired taste. They brought out some bread to eat this one with, and we could have used a little bit more. The octopus was good. Given they're going to take over the world, I didn't have any (it was yummy). Presentation was beautiful. We sat outside and got to watch the sun set over the water. Ahhh, beautiful SoCal. It was a bit chilly outside and I asked if they had a blanket I could drape over my legs. They didn't but I would totally recommend having that feature. The way the temperature swings around here it's impossible to dress for the whole day! This place had a great atmosphere. Inside was intimate, the bar was stocked. It had a visual warmth to it. read more

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Incredible spot - delicious seafood right by the beach, as fresh and quality as it gets. Their service is always friendly and attentive! It is a smaller restaurant though so if you want an indoor reservation I recommend booking ASAP! Every item I've had from here has been an absolute delight. read more

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Maryland crab cake 4/5 about average. Japanese hamachi sashimi 5/5 all the flavors blended perfectly Clams 4.5/5 some clams had sand. This is a good apetizer as it comes with bread. Had the halibut. That dish depends on person's preference. The sauce is nice touch. read more

Fishing With Dynamite - Hamachi Sashimi - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Ambiance - neighborhood restaurant vibe Service - excellent Food - hubby and I had a late lunch here today. We shared a clam chowder soup for $14 (love that it had clam shells, tiny chunks of bacon and croutons; it was delicious), crab cake for $26 (it was moist and did not have too many fillers - hubby liked it) and we each got an order of shrimp/fish tacos - 2 tacos per order). The fish taco did not have much of a flavor but the shrimp taco was bursting with flavor - after I poured the green salsa). Each taco order was $19. With tip, our total bill was $104. Overall, we thought it was good meal but a bit overpriced. read more

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The food, incredible! Uni available on weekends, it was incredible. Terrific oyster selection, also had raw scallops available, all were delicious. The fish sandwich was delicious with a homemade gribiche (a tartar sauce upgrade). The rice dish was otherworldly, creamy like a risotto with crab, shrimp, etc. the desserts were delicious, too. It's a small friendly venue with outdoor seating, a good bar selection and super friendly service. Will go again when back in Manhattan Beach. read more

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We got a ton of stuff here and everything was fabulous. Started with some oysters, a salad, and bread rolls. The rolls were warm and buttery. The oysters were fresh but quite small for the price (we wanted them to be small though). For entrees, I had the most amazing fish sandwich and my cousin and aunt split the crab pasta and the rice dish. The crab pasta had a wonderful meaty flavor that almost reminded us of bolognese. I was sad that I was almost too full to eat more of it. The fries with the fish sandwich were thin and crispy and salty- my favorite type of fry. The sandwich itself was juicy and flavorful, and it had the most amazing sauce on it. We were sadly too full for dessert but I'm sure it would've been great. We were helped by a waitress who gave us some food recommendations and was attentive. Cute location and interior by the water in MB. read more

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My partner and I are fine diners and enjoy eating the best food all over the world. We've waited so long to give FWD a chance, and finally did last night. The food is very seafood forward and incredibly fresh. The raw bar was impressive and definitely memorable. Most of the food though pricy, was very tasty. Lacking for us was the service you'd expect in a Michelin acknowledged restaurant. The meal was dysfunctional, servers and manager seemed stressed, and weird things happened. The bathroom was also gross and not clean. We will definitely be back at some point, but it wasn't five stars for us considering we spent over $300. read more

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Came to Fishing With Dynamite with a small group for a business dinner, and overall it was a strong experience. When you first walk in you are treated by the fish market smell so if you don't enjoy that sit outside! The standout of the night--by a wide margin--was the miso cod. Absolutely phenomenal. Easily the best cod I've ever had, which is saying something because cod almost never outperforms Chilean sea bass for me... until now. This one did. Perfectly cooked, deeply flavorful, and memorable in the way great dishes are. The Chilean sea bass, unfortunately, was a miss this time around. That said, credit where it's due: when it was sent back, the staff handled it graciously and professionally, and the cod more than saved the day. Service deserves real praise. The servers were genuinely world-class--warm, attentive, and kind without being intrusive. That level of hospitality goes a long way, especially during a business meal. We also tried the oysters, which I typically never eat. While they were actually quite good, the whole "just swallow it" practice still feels... questionable to me personally--but that's more a me thing than a knock on the quality. Drinks were solid across the board, nothing mind-blowing but well executed. Yes, it's on the pricier side, but the food, service, and overall experience justified it. Bottom line: despite one miss, the strengths--especially that cod and the exceptional service--made this a place I'd confidently return to and recommend. read more

What a delicious meal! Every dish we ordered was en pointe and memorable, with the baywater sweets and beausoleil oysters, koshihikari rice, fried fish sandwich, and key lime pie as my personal standouts! The place is quite cozy and quaint inside, so it's best to make reservations ahead. There is even metered parking right out front. 'Nuff said, must try! read more

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Fantastic service. Halibut was delicious. Wine selection paired perfectly. This gem was recommended by a local I chatted to at a coffee shop and it turned out really well for my coworker and me. read more