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Fishwife

3.8 (1.3k reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 9:30 pm

Fishwife Reservations

Order Fishwife Takeout or Delivery

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FISHWIFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Classy
Casual
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Fishwife

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Reviews With Photos

Cobb Salad
Sherica G.

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.

Fishwife's Clam Chowder
Marcus B.

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.

Fishwife's Clam Chowder
Jamee S.

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!

Blackened cod sandwich
Heidi M.

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!

Sinny S.

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!

This is calamari that is done abalone style. Seems like most meals come with white rice steamed veggies and black beans.
David E.

This was the first time coming here, it was outstanding! I would definitely recommend this place and I will be going back when I'm in town.

Ashlyn A.

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.

Calamari appetizers
Shelly W.

Maurice is our favorite server and always welcoming. Calamari is THE BEST calamari you will ever have, with delicious pink sauce. We split chicken Alfredo and salmon primavera. Plenty of portions to share each dish. We eat here every time we are in town and I highly recommend it.

Clam chowder bowl ($13)
Jennifer H.

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!

Lots of barnacles on the mussels
Ed Y.

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.

PORTOFINO PASTA and Alfredo Combo Pasta
Michelle K.

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.

Fishwife's Sea Garden Salad
Michael G.

We just moved to PG part time, and we heard so many good things about Fishwife, we just had to give it a try.... And it didn't disappoint! We loved the relaxed, beachy atmosphere and the super friendly service. The food was all perfectly prepared with large portions. Try the special pumpkin cheesecake! Also, I loved the lobster ravioli in the special!

Whole crab dinner
Kathryn K.

Had my 1st crab dinner of the season and it was delicious. No waiting. The wait staff was very professional and engaging.

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Fishwife Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Fishwife

Is it dog friendly?

It is not pet friendly

Is the clam chowder house made?

Yes, but couldn't find the clams.

View All 5 Questions

Revival Ice Cream - single scoop $6.50...waffle cone $2...toasted marshmallow  $1.50...$10 before tip...

Revival Ice Cream

4.4(1.5k reviews)
2.6 mi
•$$

We stopped by during a visit to Monterey, and it was SO worth the wait! My fiancé and I got two…read moresplit scoops - the Bee's Knees, Apple Pie, and Tahitian Vanilla - and waffle cones. The flavors were all really unique and tasty - probably some of the most delicious ice cream I've had in a while! The waffle cone was also crunchy and had a great texture. Unfortunately, you can't sample the ice cream, so you just have to trust that it's good.

In town visiting and remembering a place here in Monterey that our son mentioned having a unique…read moreice cream that he claimed was the best he had ever had. Well we found it, it's called Revival Ice Cream. Small shop nicely decorated with the information on the ingredients and methods of their unique blend of honey and other natural ingredients in photos on the walls. Bright colors on the interior mixed with photos of the different flavors catch your eyes as you wait to order. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Reasonably priced for specially made products, the waffle cone and waffle bowl are not your normal ingredients. I truly find the normal waffle cone can be too sweet. These both were not, great flavor baked into the waffle that I cannot pinpoint but very delicious. Will have to come back before heading home to try other flavors because we have nothing like this where we live. I did notice you can purchase pints to go and cookie sandwiches with their flavors. Outstanding Revival top notch! I need more! Bravissimo

Photos
Revival Ice Cream - Bees Knees with Toasted Marshmallow topping

Bees Knees with Toasted Marshmallow topping

Revival Ice Cream - Bees Knees

Bees Knees

Revival Ice Cream - Bees Knees w/ honeycomb candy on top

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Bees Knees w/ honeycomb candy on top

Troya - Chocolate Pistachio Bakl/ Walnut Honey Bakl/ Walnut Bakl/ Pistachio Baklava

Troya

4.0(579 reviews)
2.0 mi
•$$

This is it. Varied and various choices to indulge from. Staff was able to help me curate a half…read moredozen of their classics. I was lucky and he also let me try the dried fruit candy and it was the best. They offer boxes of all different sizes and styles so you can take back a gift. You cannot leave without bakalava, i was able to enjoy some with ice cream ghardelli and it made for an amazing combo. Just stop by before your aquarium trip or walk to the beach. Parking is abysmal but if youre able to walk by you have to take some home. There are seating options but they are rather tight but quite the experience considering the vast decor.

The storefront pulled me in immediately--sweet smell, gorgeous display, total "take my money"…read morevibes. Everything looked stunning. The Turkish delights were basically edible art with petals, pistachios, and vibrant colors. And the baklava? Sitting there like it knew it was about to win. Unfortunately... looks were doing all the heavy lifting. Spent $28 on six small pieces and walked out excited--only to be let down. The Turkish delight tasted overly artificial, almost perfumey in a bad way. The marshmallow rolls had a weird paste-like texture. Baklava was fine, but nothing special. Also, the packaging? A struggle to close and somehow managed to give me a legit paper cut. Love that for me. Great location, beautiful presentation--but the taste just doesn't justify the price. Pretty, but meh.

Photos
Troya - Back area where coffee is prepared and seating.

Back area where coffee is prepared and seating.

Troya - What we bought

What we bought

Troya - Traditional Turkish coffee

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Traditional Turkish coffee

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Spinach & feta roll

ALTA Bakery & Cafe

4.2(930 reviews)
2.6 mi
•$$

I visited at the recommendation of a friend. I was headed to Carmel and decided to stop for…read morebreakfast. There was quite a line early Saturday morning. It didn't look like it died down which is awesome for this business. I believe I waited 20-30 minutes in line before I reached the display case. There were so many delicious things to choose from, it was a challenge to decide! I opted for a croissant sandwich, a blue corn cookie, and some sweet treats for the beach. I also ordered a seasonal latte, I believe it was cherry chocolate with oat milk less sweet. There's a nice outdoor seating area with many tables in chairs. Since the weather was nice we decided to stop and eat for a bit. The ambience was very nice and calm. The food was delicious and their house made pickles were fantastic. They were crisp, fresh, and complimented the turkey sandwich so well. The blue corn cookie was very interesting and reminiscent of a tortilla chip. I'd definitely come back here if I were in the area.

Charming bakery and cafe with plenty of outdoor seating in the back connecting garden…read more Nice flaky, buttery dough on their pastries. Latte was decent, not too bitter or acidic and it was creamy They try a lot of variations for pastries, both savory and sweet! The savory danish was really tasty and there was some pickled / citrus component that added more depth and made it super interesting to eat! The salmon croissant was alright, had a really nice flaky crust but the filling tasted kinda gamey , would've been nice to have another component to balance it out. Cookies were niceeeee the buckwheat choco cookie had nice amounts of sea salt and was like a brownie texture on the inside. Choco chip cookie was thin and crispy on the outside with chocolate blobs spread around, quite sweet though There was a line going out the door but only had to wait around 15 min!

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ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Inside the cafe

Inside the cafe

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Chocolate strudel

Chocolate strudel

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Mixed berry strudel

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Mixed berry strudel

Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop - Welcome to Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop in Monterey!

Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop

3.9(697 reviews)
2.0 mi
•$$

Is it really good? Yes. Can it get really packed here? Yes. Is it SUPER fricking expensive? Also…read moreYES. For one thing I paid almost $20. But the gold rush is also my go to since I don't like chocolate anything. The sea salt and caramel mix is so well with the whipped cream and ice cream. Okay to splurge once in a while but man are they super pricey here. Best tables are outside but they are small with the perfect coastal view.

The line to order snaked out of the ice cream shop, but the line moved pretty fast. I ordered the…read morechocolate lover's milk shake (small) for $12.99, but most small ice cream sundaes were $14.99. Ice cream prices go up from there. Some people (like me) were given a buzzer thing that was supposed to let you know when your ice cream was ready to pick up at a separate counter. Some people where just asked their names and their names were called when their order was ready. Unfortunately, the person taking my order forgot to enter it into the computer system until I asked if my buzzer thing was working because it had taken an awfully long time to get a simple small shake. If you are able to find a seat outside at the rear of the store overlooking Monterey Bay the view is awesome, but there is not much of a view from inside seating nor the courtyard seating in the front of the store. They need an assigned person to patrol both inside and outside eating and seating areas since there is such a high volume of customers, the eating and seating surfaces need to be better cleaned. The shake was OK, nothing spectacular and it was less ice cream than milky (I saw them adding liquid to the ice cream machine just before my order was prepared so maybe it had not had enough time to freeze properly). As with most Cannery Row businesses there is no parking close by. This business does not seem to have any bathroom facilities nor anywhere for parents to wash off the sticky sweet treats from the hands and faces of their kids.

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Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop
Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop - Beach View & Dining

Beach View & Dining

Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop - Pick & Mix

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Pick & Mix

Fishwife - seafood - Updated May 2026

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