Such a great find while we were visiting Monterey Bay! We came across Fishwife in Marina, CA, and I'm glad we gave it a try. We started with the coconut shrimp which were soooo agood and easily one of my favorites. The scallops were huge and cooked perfectly, the salmon was seasoned really well, and the lobster ravioli was delicious. The garlic bread was probably the only miss for me, it was just meh. The drinks were good too! I ordered an espresso martini and liked it so much I had to get a second one. My hubby had a Bloody Mary, which was okay, but nothing special. Customer service was great, and everyone was welcoming and attentive. The restaurant isn't very big, and it filled up quickly while we were there, which definitely says something. The inside seemed a little cluttered with different decor, but wasn't that big of deal to us. I'd ordered keylime pie to-go, which was delicious too. Overall, this was a solid seafood find during our Monterey Bay trip, and I'd definitely come back! read more

See all

We had a nice lunch at Fishwife. I had been to this restaurant years ago, nice to see it's still around. They have a fairly large menu with pasta dishes and fish dishes. I ordered the salmon sandwich and was pleasantly surprised by the large, fresh piece of salmon that was served grilled. The fries on the side were really excellent. My mom really enjoyed the primavera pasta that had fresh veggies and a flavorful sauce. I did manage to score a parking spot right in front; I think it's street parking only. Service was very friendly and they kept refilling our water. This is a large restaurant and there weren't a ton of people there, might be the off season. read more

Fishwife - King Salmon Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

See all

We were in town for the weekend and this place was recommended as being delicious and family ready. Showed up with 2 granny's, 2 grandsons and 4 regular adults. We are used to good meals and service and will pay accordingly. Smelled good when we parked. Looked good when we walked up. As expected, inside was filled and looked solid. I won't go into sorted details. And I won't throw rocks. But the service was absolutely disappointing. The attitude all around was that we were an inconvenience, almost disdain for the customers. The food, when delivered was very good. Not sure if there has been a change in management/ownership. But the nite we were there it was moderately busy and we left feeling bummed out and disappointed. I hope it improves. read more

Good food, but a bit pricey. Portions are quite generous and the staff is super friendly. Definitely a good option if you are staying in Asilomar Conference Grounds. read more

One of the members in our group had been recommended to Fishwife, so we decided to try it because we wanted to take advantage of all the local seafood. Service and Staff: - Our waiter was kind and was definitely working hard. He answered our questions, checked on us, and was very friendly Food and Drinks: - Paloma: refreshing and good - Mussels: these were good and had good flavor - Calamari: different than the rings. And we knew this because we asked. Regardless, these were kind of dry and rubbery. We got through it by dipping these into the sauce the mussels came with - Oysters: everyone has their own oyster preference, and we understand that. For us personally, these were quite large and a little difficult to eat. We prefer the smaller / medium-sized oysters - Blueberry Cheesecake: this was good - the red and green sauce on the outside of the plate was a nice touch Miscellaneous: - Parking is available via street parking - Good for small and large groups - Good for families - Indoor and outdoor seating available read more

See all

Really wanted to like this place because of the raving reviews, but Fishwife fell a bit short. The items on the menu didn't speak to me much after a windy sunset watch at Asilomar Beach. Parking is convenient as it's right in front of the restaurant though not well lit. RECS: + Clam chowder was actually solid and on the creamier end, but it had a good ratio of clams and potatoes PASS: + Bread bowl ($22) for the chowder, however, was a complete miss! The texture and flavor were just... not good. I would rather get the chowder in a cup/bowl to save some money read more

Fishwife - Clam Chowder with Bread Bowl ($22) - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Fresh, clean and quick service! A very good meal - not fantastic but really good -.Just Solid! The ingredients were all fresh and the flavors were not overwhelming - a light touch in the kitchen makes this a good choice! read more

This restaurant is placed at a great location -- can eat then beach, and vice versa. We tried their Alfredo combo, Marinara with grilled chicken, and pesto pasta. I will say I enjoyed the pasta noodles here. It's a little thicker than spaghetti, and it had a sort of bouncy texture, if that makes sense. We also tried their fish and chips combo. I wish it came with more fries. We also tried their Fried Oysters on their seasonal menu. I was a little disappointed that it only came with three oysters. We had a party of 5, so I wished they had mentioned that when we ordered. Everyone was very nice here. Service was prompt. It is a bit pricey so be prepared for that. They also only have street parking. They have two single stall bathrooms. The one I went in had an issue with their soap dispenser. Overall I would come again. I love that it's so close to the beach! read more

See all

I have been here 3 times in the past in the several times I've visited pacific grove. Firstly, I love the Asilomar Beach area. It's so peaceful and beautiful. Then after a day of hiking and relaxing by the coast, you can shimmy up a few ways to Fishwife for lunch or dinner. The first two times I came I sat in the patio area with my dogs. They have like 4-5 picnic tables with umbrellas. They also have fire pits that are iffy as some reliably work and others maybe not. Inside there is also plenty of seating in the dining area as well as the bar too. It's got that rusting seaside charm and wide windows. I started with the clam chowder which is always good here. Then I ordered the surf and turf -medium rare which was juicy. They give you a big whopper of a steak topped with a rich mushroom sauce and like 5 or 6 prawns. It comes with a baseball sized amount of yummy mashed potatoes and a few veggies. I tried the Schied white wine from Monterey but it tasted a bit stale like it's been sitting around for a long time already. No problems with Service as it is prompt. Glad to know over the past few years, overall its quality is maintained. This is a great little continent spot near the Asilomar beach area to get in some good grub read more

See all

Food is excellent, staff is happy and helpful. I have had several dishes and always satisfied. read more

Fishwife - Old school - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

See all

Came here for my daughter's 12th birthday! We were greeted by a friendly staff member who recognized her birthday and stated they'll be providing something for her for her bday. However, they forgot about it which was slightly disappointing. We ordered the salmon, clam chowder and I had a bowl with fried tilapia, shrimp, calamari and scallops. All were delicious and full of flavor however wish the portion sizes were a little bigger. read more

Fishwife - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

See all

Excellent! Every dish we ordered were flavorful. But my favorite is the portofino. The noodles for their pasta were like udon but not. Staff were attentive and helpful. read more

See all

If I could give 10 stars I would! Wow absolutely incredible experience. We were 45 min late for our reservation thanks to our toddlers and the hostess didn't bat an eye, sat us right away right by the fish tank which was perfection since the kids had something to occupy them and we could actually enjoy our meal! We had the clam chowder and crab cakes as starters. Both were delicious. This is my fav clam chowder in the area. It's so nice and thick and rich. The crab cakes were probably the most unique I've ever tasted in the best way possible. I had a really hard time not ordering the calamari but since I was getting that as a main dish I decided on the crab cakes and they did not disappoint. For dinner I had the calamari steak and my husband had the seafood fettuccine pasta. I honestly can't decide between which dish I liked more. They were both seriously to die for. Best food in the area and prices are very reasonable. My husband got an old fashioned I was sad I couldn't order a drink but I'm pregnant so I got a root beer that was local and it was delicious. My only regret is ordering too much food because we did not get to try any desserts. Hoping to come back again before we leave Monday! read more

See all

Spent a couple days in Pacific Grove and wanted to stay local so we saw on yelp fishwives for good seafood. My partner reserved on open table. We came at our reserved time and had to wait a little maybe 5 minutes for the table to be ready. We asked for a kids menu and the host questioned my daughter if she were 12. I guess you can't order from thw kids menu unless your 12 and under. We got seated quickly. I order the bloody mary. It was ok. Nothing to rave about. I have had better. The waiter was kind and very attentive throughout time we were there. I go the al pesto. It was excellent! I added chicken as protein and that was extra! Which really made the dish even more than $19.00. My partner got the sea bass with mash potatoes ans Brussels sprouts. The fish was amazing, however the Brussels sprouts were raw. My daughter got the fettuccine and she said it was ok. It just wasn't enough for her as she was Hungary still after she ate. The inside is nice, but the outside looks deceiving wit it being by a motel being renovated. I feel it was pretty expensive too for whatbwe ordered. Im pretty mixed about how feel about this restraunt. Maybe a pass for me I don't think I'd come again. However make it your own choice and check out the menu 1st before you come. read more

See all

Warning: Improper food handling- You may find hair in your clam chowder ( Like I did). After a nice walk along the beach we decided to grab lunch. So we looked on Yelp and this place popped up as number 1 . Therefore we decided to leave the touristy area and find this local gem. Upon arrival, it looks a bit scary, especially with the motel nextdoor being under construction. But we decided to try it anyways. The folks inside were nice, seated us quickly and took our order. The first thing to arrive was the clam chowder. So we dug in and had some... low and behold there was a nasty hair at the very bottom. This completely ruined this experience for me and made me sick to my stomach . Not only was it absolutely disgusting, but I fed my toddler this chowder. I really wanted to leave, but my husband didn't want the restaurant to lose out on all the food they were already cooking us. The rest of the food that arrived was fine. But I will never come back and would not recommend this establishment. Wear a damn hair net! read more

See all

Nice little sea side restaurant with a full Bar! PROs: Excellent views only a few hundreds yards from the ocean. The clam chowder was homemade and high quality. Crab cakes were delicious and I strongly recommend as a starter. The staff was extremely polite and attentive. The food came out super quick. Lots of adult libation options and the kids menu had nice diversity. CONs: Bathroom is a bit small but does what it needs to. No kid changing table though. read more

See all

I guess the last time I was here was during Covid. We decided to give it another try. It's close/walking distance from Asilomar. Reservations are preferred. Service is good. Our waitress was friendly and always checked on us. Inside was nice. They can seat large parties. I remembered the clam chowder being good. It still is. We also ordered: Cobb Salad - beautifully plated. Loved the fresh avocado on top and the colored hard boiled egg. It's magenta! Lol. The salad was good. Fish & Chips - they ran out of cod so we had the choice between sole (for $2 more) or tilapia. My hubby opted for the sole. It was really good. Nice crispy texture. When having fish and chips, malt vinegar should be offered right away! There's no other way to eat it. Marinara Pasta - it was okay. The sauce was okay. Al Pesto - Decent. Alfredo with Prawns - My son thoroughly enjoyed it. That said, Fishwife is a good place to go for seafood. Not for pasta. Pico de Gallo on top of Italian cuisine just isn't right. We ended our meal with the key lime pie. That was pretty good! read more

See all

Terrible clam chowder. If you like thick floury potato filled chowder with no clams, this is the place for you. Calamari is rubbery and everything is tasteless. Too bad be because service is good and restaurant itself is cute. read more

Fishwife - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

My dad has put us on to coming here while we are staying in Monterey. The calamari is my favorite! As well as the calamari steak plus clam chowder. Entire meal is so yummy! We will always come here while in the area! read more

Fishwife is a fantastic choice for seafood near Asilomar Beach, boasting a lively atmosphere and unique flavors. The seafood is notably fresh and prepared with a distinct, flavorful accent that makes for a truly memorable meal. Whether you go for the fresh catches of the day or one of their house specialties, the quality and taste really shine through. The dining room can get quite busy, and while the staff is friendly, service can occasionally feel a bit rushed when they are packed. If you're dining with a group, here is a crucial tip that will save you some hassle: PRO TIP: If you are with friends or family and need separate checks, your experience will be much smoother if you sit at the bar area. The standard dining room policy for splitting bills can be very rigid, but the bar staff is generally more accommodating with individual tabs. Overall, the vibrant atmosphere and delicious, distinctive cuisine make this a strong four-star favorite for locals and visitors alike. Just remember to plan your seating if you need to pay separately! read more

See all

We used to love this place but it hasn't aged well. Service was friendly, but slow and it wasn't crowded. Took a while for oysters to come and they were big and not as briny as I like. Not much flavor. Not sure we'll come back. read more

I really wanted to give Fishwife 5 stars because there was so much to love. The ambiance was great, the food was delicious, and the portions were perfect. Every staff member we interacted with was smiling, welcoming, and genuinely kind. The customer service throughout our meal was excellent. The only reason I'm giving 2 stars is because of how my drink exchange was handled. I ordered the Razz Tini, took one sip, and it wasn't what I expected. To me, it tasted like cough syrup. I politely asked if I could exchange my $18 cocktail for something else and was initially told I would still be charged because it was the restaurant's policy. A manager then stepped in and graciously agreed to exchange the drink without charging me, which I appreciated. What left a bad impression was the explanation that customers "order at their own risk." While both gentlemen were pleasant and respectful, that statement didn't sit well with me. It reminded me of signs at the beach saying you swim at your own risk. If this is truly the restaurant's policy, I suggest adding it to the menu, perhaps near the notice about the 3% credit card processing fee, so guests know before ordering. The food, atmosphere, and service were all deserving of 5 stars. A more customer-friendly approach to drink exchanges and clearer communication of the policy would have made this a perfect experience. read more

Fishwife has been a wonderful gem if you are looking for an intimate and warm place to enjoy local seafood. The service has always been on par. I stopped in for lunch after many years since my last visit and my server remembered me! I ordered their bowl of chowder which came with yummy garlic bread and the fried cod with chips. The cod was so fresh and cooked perfectly! read more

Fishwife - Clam chowder and garlic bread - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

See all

Our food was phenomenal!! The chowder was hot and cheesy, a true delight. The fries were not my favorite, seemed frozen, and the ranch wasn't the best either. BUT the coconut shrimp made up for it in leaps and bounds-- plump, succulent, crunchy, and well seasoned. Next time we may order 2. The restaurant itself was darling, stained glass, dark wood, and a fun little fish tank. The service was nice too. I will definitely be making this apart of my rotation. read more

My husband and I came here back in May and still talk about how fresh and delicious the clam chowder soup was!! These were by far the freshest oysters we had on our week stay in Monterey. Service was so quick and friendly. Very clean and nice inside. Loved this lunch spot, I bet they are fantastic for dinner!! We will be back :) read more

My husband and I stopped by for lunch in November and had a wonderful meal, so when we returned to Monterey in March, we had to go back. First let me start by discussing the service. Gabriel was our waiter. He has years of experience at this restaurant and he makes the dining experience amazing. He is efficient about seating diners, offers excellent recommendations, and makes sure drinks are refilled. He was a warm smile and inviting demeanor. Fishwife is lucky to have him there! I have always loved every meal I have ordered here from fettuccini and calamari steak to the blackened cod sandwich I ordered this time. The fish is fresh and seasoned to perfection. The toppings on sandwich give it an extra boost of flavor. The fries are crisp and the mango iced tea is delicious! My husband ordered the same meal and also raved about how good it was. The restaurant is airy and colorful with Mexican folk art and aquariums of beautiful fish. There is a reason this restaurant has stood the test of time! My whole family comes here to dine whenever they are in Monterey. Try it if you haven't already! read more

Fishwife - Blackened cod sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Usually when you order mussels at a restaurant it's in a garlic butter wine sauce. Good but YAWN. Everyone does it. Not the Fishwife! Their mussels have a unique sauce I've never seen before. It's a creamy sauce with pico de gallo. It's absolute deliciousness. It's an appetizer but I always order them as my main cuz I don't want to share them with anyone! They give you garlic bread to dip in the sauce and it's a great meal! Thank you again Fishwife, see you soon! read more

Terrible food. Green lip mussels were frozen and tasteless. Calamari made my husband ill. Do not eat here.

My brother and I had a great meal at The Fishwife! We ended up going on valentines night. They were full of reservations, but able to give us a table outside! The seafood was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Everything tasted high quality and homemade. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, and the staff was friendly but could have been more attentive. I would believe this is because it was so busy. Such a solid spot for seafood in Monterey and definitely worth stopping by. read more

Fishwife - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Great clam chowder in a breadbowl. Also had the crab cakes app which were a good size and tasty! Friendly servers at the bar. Good prices and a very nice Gin martini! read more

I don't understand why the reviews are good for this place nor why they are as busy as they are. I tried Fishwife after having driven by it several times and seeing all the cars parked in front. That, coupled with the 4ish star rating here on Yelp got me to book a dinner reservation. The inside of this place feels old and dingy (kinda like many restaurants you'd see on Kitchen Nightmares). The disgusting fish tank in the front should've been a red flag and indication of things to come. First, my beer was flat. I generally don't send things back unless there's something seriously wrong, so I just drank my flat beer. Next, our calamari appetizer hit the table. While the menu mentioned there's no legs, I wasn't expecting those gross thick sticks of calamari. It was rather bland and certainly tasted like frozen, pre-breaded garbage. I tried to spice things up with their Fishwife-branded habanero sauce, but the sauce had no flavor outside of straight spice. The dip that accompanied the calamari was the special sauce you'd get on a burger/Big Mac. It also came out suspiciously fast as if they have a tray in the back sitting under a heat lamp. I really wanted to get up and leave at this point for fear of what was to come. The kids fish and chips looked just as sad as the calamari. Along with the Ore Ida looking French fries. Kids deserve better than a TV dinner even if it's at a lower price ($12). The halibut that was one of the dinner specials was very thin, overcooked, and drowning in some cream sauce. The mixed veggies didn't look very fresh and were unpleasantly crunchy. Not the worst thing I've eaten but very disappointing for a $40 dish. The portofino was an abomination. The description on the menu was along the lines of a fresh fettuccine pasta dish with tomato sauce and mixed seafood. However, it turned out to be something resembling the worst cioppino I've ever had. The fettuccine itself looked more like udon in shape but had the texture of the noodles in Campbell's chicken noodle soup. For some reason, they thought it was a good idea to top this dish with pico de gallo and poor quality Parmesan (not Parmesan reggiano, but whatever Belgioso Parmesan is). All the shellfish in this dish was rubbery from being overcooked. The salmon was not overcooked but swimming in whatever yuck sauce that adorned this dish. I really don't get it. I'd maybe kinda sorta understand the positive reviews and the restaurant full of diners if their price point was lower, but it's not cheap to eat here. And even if it was cheap, I'd still be very disappointed by the quality of food. read more

Fishwife - Lots of barnacles on the mussels - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

See all

Wow Fishwife was so good! Super friendly/fast service. What we ordered: - Alfredo Combo pasta - Portofini pasta - Calamari Both these pasta dishes were unreal. Both pastas were loaded with seafood and super flavorful. The calamari was also perfectly deep fried. Everything came out piping hot. Their house habanero sauce was delish too. Had to buy a bottle when we were done. We will definitely come back to Fishwife again -- good high quality food. read more

See all

We came by for a family dinner and were fortunately able to be seated without a reservation. It's a tight, cozy restaurant and was quite busy on a Friday evening. The restaurant provides coloring pages and crayons for kids if you have any in your party. Clam Chowder| $13 Homemade with cream, potatoes, onions, and clams. YUMM. Fishwife certainly has a delicious clam chowder!! This was my favorite part of our meal. The soup is very cream heavy and decadent. The clams and tender without being chewy. I really enjoyed this dish and would get it again. Baja Bowl | $30 Includes a medley of shrimp, scallops, snow crab sauteed in lobster sauce. The lobster sauce was very tomato centric and ended up being spicy, much to my chagrin. I'm not very good with spicy food unfortunately. The bowl comes with rice, beans, and veggies. Overall, a nice option for a meal if you are in the area. Would recommend trying the clam chowder! read more

See all

We planned ahead with a reservation for 6 people at 6 pm. We were warmly greeted and brought to our table that was comfortable for our group of adults! The waiter did an excellent job with prompt service and attention to details like needs/wants. Our food was all delicious! I had the Al Pesto with Shrimp and it was scrumptious- a different type of pasta than I've ever had but it held up beautifully with the flavors! Calamari was perfectly cooked. My son loved the Baramundi and my husband, his Shrimp Venetto. My daughter enjoyed her Alfredo combo but would have preferred a sear on her scallops. They were cooked perfectly, just her personal thought. So grateful to find a wonderful restaurant to share our first family meal in Carmel! *the motel construction will hopefully proceed quickly! read more

Small, casual looking restaurant with excellent food. The green salad we had was crisp and fresh and was presented on a large white plate with poppy seeds decorating the plate. I had the crab tostadas and they were very generous with the crab! My husband had the special which was fresh fish over lobster ravioli. The sauce for the ravioli was so good I wanted to lick the plate. The desserts are great, the key lime pie is fabulous. Also had the carrot cake with caramel sauce; yum! The waiter named Edgar was so friendly, great service. read more

Second time here and the food and service is good. Not my first choice but with a group each time and not the decision maker.

We were in town for the weekend and this place was recommended as being delicious and family ready. Showed up with 2 granny's, 2 grandsons and 4 regular adults. We are used to good meals and service and will pay accordingly. Smelled good when we parked. Looked good when we walked up. As expected, inside was filled and looked solid. I won't go into sorted details. And I won't throw rocks. But the service was absolutely disappointing. The attitude all around was that we were an inconvenience, almost disdain for the customers. The food, when delivered was very good. Not sure if there has been a change in management/ownership. But the nite we were there it was moderately busy and we left feeling bummed out and disappointed. I hope it improves. read more

Nice place. Service was very friendly. Fish dishes were very good. Recommend if you are in the area.

We used to come here often, when the kids were little and loved the aquarium. We were in the area around dinner time and were delighted to see they were still around. (The attached motel, not so much.) Sadly, it wasn't what we remembered at all. Scallops should have a sear on them, but it seemed like these had a drive-by with the pan. Kinda rubbery and sad. Fish and chips were mediocre. The waiter talked up the key lime pie, but it had some weird green goo decoration that tasted funny. We would not return. read more

We love the local feel of this bustling restaurant with some of the freshest fish in town. Good wine list. Whenever we visit Monterey this is a must read more