Best clam chowder straight from Old Fisherman's Grotto! I highly recommend the clam chowder. As someone from the bay area I find the prices very good! read more

The food here is absolutely 5 stars. The clam chowder bread bowl is the absolute best my wife and I have ever had. The grilled fish trio was very good as well. The service is where they drop. Our server, Michael, was really bad. We had to ask repeatedly for water, bread, and still didn't get them. It wasn't until I was very direct with him how we have been waiting for water and bread while tables around us already had theirs, even though they all showed up AFTER we did. At the end of the night, we waited over 20 minutes to pay our bill. We finally took it to the front and complained to the owner how we just want to pay our bill and leave. The owner was very receptive to our feedback about our service and offered to take care of us. However, that's not what we wanted. We wanted to pay for the meal we ate. Just didn't appreciate the poor service. Again, the food is delicious here. Just hope you don't get the server we had. read more

The food here is decent, but my experience was a mixed bag when it comes to value and service. The absolute highlight was the clam chowder--it's a 10/10 and reminded me of classic SF chowder from the early 2010s. I would absolutely order it again. However, the Fishermen's Cioppino was a letdown for the price. At $48 (plus $6 for the chowder), the bowl was about 70% broth. It only came with half a crab, two mussels, two clams, and a tiny sliver of fish. Even knowing the current market price for half a crab is around $35, the portion size just didn't justify the cost. To make matters worse, you have to constantly ask for bread to soak up all that extra broth, which got annoying. Service was okay, but a bit frustrating. The staff is somewhat attentive but kept forgetting minor requests, like bringing me a bib. Next time I visit, I'm sticking strictly to a bowl of that clam chowder and calling it a day. read more

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Clam chowder - legit good Linguini and clams - alright 1 pound jumbo shrimp - pretty good Bread - pretty good Service was great Bought 3 cans of clam chowder to take home. read more

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Enjoyed their clam chowder to go after our whale cruise yesterday afternoon. We've had good clam chowder in San Francisco, but Grotto Fish Market holds their own. read more

9/10 Ordered the Famous Clam Chowder, New England Lobster Roll, and a side of garlic bread. I'd definitely come back again! Starting with the star of the meal, the clam chowder. This was a classic New England-style chowder done right. It was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor without feeling overly heavy. The sourdough bread bowl was perfectly crisp on the outside while still soft enough to enjoy with the chowder. Easily one of the top three clam chowders I've ever had. The New England Lobster Roll was a pleasant surprise. I'm usually not the biggest lobster fan, but I genuinely enjoyed this one. The bread was soft and buttery, and the lobster had a nice savory flavor with just a subtle hint of sweetness that balanced everything well. If you're a lobster fan, or even if you're on the fence like I was. I'd definitely recommend giving it a try. The only disappointment was the garlic bread. It was unfortunately over-toasted and very hard, so I'd probably skip it next time. Service was fast, efficient, and attentive throughout the meal. The restaurant was clean with a casual atmosphere, making it a great spot for a quick bite with family or friends. Overall, I'd happily come back, especially for that incredible clam chowder. read more

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We had an exceptional experience. Food, atmosphere, and service were top-notch. Carmella, server, was superb--pleasant disposition, attentive, and very professional. Highly recommended; you will not be disappointed! read more

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Came across this place walking the pier, and they advertised themselves as having the best clam chowder so had to try them out! I will say I feel that this is a place that could be hit or miss depending on what you order. We ordered the raw oysters, it was good and tasted fresh! Price tag is a little hefty at $50 for a dozen. Ordered the Maine style lobster rolls which is like a lobster salad roll. It was decent, it didn't stand out to me. The clam chowder was actually pretty good! I wouldn't say the best I've had (I've had some great chowder in Boston) but i would say it was pretty creamy and had good flavor. Our server was also really cool and made the vibe fun! I forgot his name but he had a tattoo of his dog in his arm! Would definitely recommend trying this place out if you are looking for a place to eat on the pier! read more

Grotto Fish Market - Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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First time in Monterey wasn't quite sure where to eat, wanted to go to the old fisherman's grotto but they have a sign discouraging people with kids. Ended up at the grotto fish market, which is across the way. Ordered a large clam chowder and seafood pasta. Clam chowder was great, big enough to share you 4 people. Seafood pasta had mussels, clams, shrimp and scallops. Pasta was overcooked but nice and garlicky. Overall decent place the wharf is very touristy but worth a try. Service was attentivez read more

Grotto Fish Market - Large clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Grotto Fish Market is amazing! It is it a cute little area with shops and many places to eat. The service was superb. We were greeted by Rosie who was very friendly and gave us some great advice on the menu and area. She was very sweet. For our dinner, we ordered clam chowder, salmon pokie bowl, and the Baja tacos. All dishes were fantastic! They are large portions, so depending on how hungry you are, you can split a portion with your group. Overall, Grotto Fish Market is awesome! Check it out! read more

Grotto Fish Market - Business area - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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Hard pass. I was little disappointed with the outcome of the food, compared to the yelp reviews here. This is supposed to be the best place for lobster roll, which I didn't agree. We did a couple orders of the lobster roll the hot and the cold crab sandwiches and it was over $100. The hot crab sandwich was just crab and cheese on a thick ciabatta bread, which was very flavorless. The lobster roll had a little filling a lot of fillers with chopped veggies mixed into it the sandwich was on the smaller end. The crab cold sandwich was OK. I will definitely not come back and re-order these items. read more

Grotto Fish Market - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

The best restaurants on the wharf. We have eaten at the grotto for many years. The best quality of the food , the environment , great staff, wonderful family run business. Definitely recommend anyone. read more

Grotto Fish Market - Eating at the old fisherman's grotto - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Grotto Fish Market and Old Fisherman's Grotto are owned by the same people. Not too sure what the difference is.... We opted for Grotto Fish Market for the smaller restaurant vibe. Upon walking in, the staff didn't pay attention to us, but we just felt laidback that night. One of them, a younger gentleman, turned around and saw us and his expression was one of both apology and surprise. And he quickly seated us and brought us water and also bread and butter after. Then, our server came and took our order. We basically only ordered one thing plus a chowder, and he didn't hassle us to order more or to order drinks. I asked if it would be enough for us and he said, yes. So here's what we got: Fisherman's Wharf Cioppino - $48 (Added a cup of chowder, which is $6 vs. à la carte at $12) And here's what we thought: Clam Chowder: Thick (maybe even thiccccc) and creamy and plenty of clams in it; it's legit! Cioppino: Wow! Plenty of flavor and also plenty of seafood in it - shrimp, fish filet (there was salmon and white fish), clams, mussels and crab. We asked for more bread to soak up all the sauce, and without hesitation, they brought it to us without charging us. Nowadays, most places don't give you free bread so when a place does, sometimes, the second round might be a charge. But no, free. Yay! We were quite full after. So no dessert. They offered more water for us and noticing I had a water bottle, my server actually filled it up for me. Given it was seafood and with tax and tip, it was $70 for two people. Sure, a little pricey but given how much stuff we got and the great service, we felt it was worth it and a good value! read more

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Oh, how I miss a good bowl of clam chowder! Since i have to avoid cow's milk dairy, that is one of the taste delights that's off my foodie radar. Sadly so. Dear Hubby and I were on the Monterey Peninsula for just a quick overnight stay recently. I searched the trusty Yelp reviews for a place with a water view that might have Manhattan clam chowder. The recommendations for Grotto Fish Market did mention chowder (not the red version, unfortunately for me), but also referred to lobster rolls. Sold! I was a little dismayed to see how overwhelmingly touristy the Old Fisherman's Wharf has become, but we did well at the Grotto Fish Market. After a long day we were happy to be on the casual side of the pier. There is the fancier Grotto restaurant across the way, but the Fish Market was perfect for our needs. We waited just a short time for a harbor view table, and settled in for a nice meal. The ambiance, with a tropical vibe from years past looks dated and missing some maintenance. I love a good theme, but this one could use some refreshing. The lobster roll - c'est magnifique! Loved every delicious morsel! DH and I split one order, and he had a cup of chowder. I allowed myself one spoonful to get that wonderful taste sensation hint. Sourdough bread, and an included side salad with lots of mango rounded out the meal. read more

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We were lucky to get one of the two tables facing the sea- it was a good view. The menu has good seafood options. We tried the pan fried snapper, the Baja fish taco and the lemonade. Both the tacos and fish came with a side of rice and mango salad. The fish was well grilled and the sauce was delicious. The tacos had a good spice. We also tried clam chowder and it went really well with the warm bread . Overall Good food, service and view. read more

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Best clam chowder on the wharf, same as the restaurant across but if you're not dressed for a fancy dinner you eat here! read more

Grotto Fish Market - Clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Came here for their infamous clam chowder and it turned out to be the best meal of my trip. Clam chowder was creamy with big chunks of clams. Seafood here was very fresh. Dungeness crab from cioppino was the freshest and sweetest crab I have ever had. I am not a crab person because I hate peeling, but the meat comes right out very easily. Pasta also was really good. Everything was a hit. Service was fantastic. Highly recommended! read more

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I always love grotto (the fancy one) in Fisherman's wharf and I decided to try the sister restaurant nextdoor. I was blown away by how great the food tasted. Of course, I had to get their award winning clam chowder. It is always a delight to have their savory, thick, creamy clam chowder with their baguette side. It is absolutely my favorite chowder in the world (honestly better than Boston's). I also decided to get their lobster roll. This was absolutely mind blowing. I loved how buttery their roll was and how much lobster was on there. The papaya salad that came with it was so good as well. We finished all of the plates and amazed by how good the food was. The waitress was also very friendly and gave us nice recommendations around Monterey. There was no wait time and lots of tables inside since we went during weekday lunch. Will definitely come again! read more

Grotto Fish Market - New England Lobster Roll Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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Clam chowder was delicious, the lobster roles were extremely disappointing but their seafood pasta was delicious. Also, the garlic clams were really good. Service was friendly and the main restaurant doesn't serve kids but the smaller one does. Overall would come back since you get to enjoy a nice ocean view with the meal. read more

Grotto Fish Market - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Came back to the Grotto Fish Market, but instead of a full sit-down meal this visit, we got JUST the Rockefeller Oysters to-go. They told me it would take 5 minutes for the order to be ready for pick-up. I waited about 15 minutes as asked about my order, seems they forgot to make it... Waited about another 15 minutes and asked a different server about my order, looks like they will start preparing it now. Another 10 minutes later, it was ready for pick-up. Service was mediocre, but the oysters were amazing. We needed cooked oysters for a pregnant friend. Rockefeller oysters are fully cooked with creamed spinach, parmasean, apple wood smoked bacon crumbles. Lots of great texture and quite tasty, although the price is steep at $5 each. read more

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Enjoyed this place very much after our Whale watching adventure in Monterey Bay. It was a cold afternoon and we decided to come here for something hot and tasty. Boy oh boy did we land in the right s(pot) Lol. I had Clam Chowder in many restaurants but I wasn't expecting this to be as good as it was. Although it was advertised to be the Best Clam Chowder for 21 years in a row, my expectation was its gonna be okay but I was completely doing my happy dance and forgot I was in a restaurant My wife had the Cioppino and she loved it and we split the Crab Cake which was plated so nicely with the sauces. The service is great the servers were attentive and fast. Our drinks were refilled without asking and for a quick sit down it's just right! Looking forward for my next visit and will definitely make this my goto for Clam Chowder. read more

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We originally planned to eat at Old Fisherman's Grotto across the way, but they didn't offer outdoor seating or high chairs and had a strict kid policy. With a 10-month-old, that just wasn't the right fit for us. The host suggested Grotto Fish Market, another section of their establishment that still offered the clam chowder we were craving. Inside seating was cozy, and we were placed toward the back near a window overlooking the pier. The host was extremely friendly and even brought our son a small plate with crackers and fruit. My husband and I have debated for years about who has the best clam chowder. I usually lean toward the piers in San Francisco, while he swears by his hometown spots in Monterey. I'll admit, this place wins. The chowder was creamy, rich, and full of flavor. The sourdough bread bowl was toasted on top and smothered in garlic and butter. We also ordered a crab cake that was plated beautifully, very five-star presentation. My husband joked that it was "Yelp-worthy." The mango pairing was a little unexpected, but still tasty. Overall, a great experience with good food, welcoming service, and a comfortable atmosphere. We would definitely return. read more

Grotto Fish Market - Old Fisherman's Grotto Famous Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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My husband took me and our family here to celebrate Mother's Day. Initially, we wanted to go to the one across from this location but they were fully booked around 4pm. However, both are owned by the same owners but slightly different menu from each other. The waitress told me at this location nothing is prepared fried. Food is either prepared sautéed or grilled. We started off with raw oysters, halibut for the kids, and a seafood tower. I'm used to eating chilled oyster towers, but the here it was warm and freshly cooked! It was a total game changer! Delicious and huge portion. Worth every $$$$ and I must say the clam chowder is amazing! Sooooo good that I'm coming back for it next time I'm in Monterrey. read more

After visiting Monterey for the past 20 years, we have seen that the Wharf near the Portola Spa & Hotel has experienced plenty of challenges and is mainly a tourist attraction, but we also appreciate the nostalgia of having a lot of fun family memories and some good food finds over the years. During a recent business trip, we found ourselves getting a chance to stroll along the Wharf to enjoy the water, and we decided to grab a quick lunch at Grotto Fish Market who had seats by the window. Expect tourist-level prices? Of course. Expect someone in front of the restaurant trying to recruit customers in? Of course and part of the Monterey experience. Expect great service? Not always but Grotto Fish Market delivered on this. Jumping to the food, given the variability in food quality across different restaurants there, we were pleasantly surprised to find their clam chowder to be solid, creamy, full of ingredients, and accompanied by a mini-loaf of bread and butter. We also splurged on some Kumamoto raw oysters and they were clean and briny, and came with an excellent version of chilled cocktail sauce and horseradish. Finally, we tried their lobster rolls (which are 2 mini-rolls served with Maine-style lobster salad lightly dressed in mayonnaise and herbs in a buttered roll)--the lobster was tender and succulent and not overdressed. In contrast, the accompanying citrus-based slaw was dry and didn't complement the lobster rolls as much as we would have liked. Overall, it was an excellent experience and as the Wharf was celebrating its 180th birthday, we hope they are able to thrive to get to another 180 birthdays! read more

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There are two Grottos locations on the pier in Monterey accross from each other. We love their clam chowder, best in the area in our opinion, but this was the fist time I sat in the restaurant to eat. Since the larger restaurant was a 15 minute wait we went to the smaller one accross the way and were seated immediately. I think the main difference is they do not offer fried foods. The ambiance is well put together for the pier boasting a seafood theme. I have to say they are very welcoming but has a feel of desperation and overkill to get you in the door. Once we were sat we were greated right away by a young man offering drinks and reviewing the special on the sparkling water on the table. Shortly after our server came by and she again offered the sparkling water, where we politly declined and said we wern't planning on eating much, mainly wanted drinks and soup. Without listening she kept returning with example plates of seafood combinations and trying to agressively upsell. It was to the point all three of us were annoyed and just wanted to order our food and eat. I started off with a bloody Mary which was $16, had 3 shrimp on it along with the usual olives and celery. I asked if there was a cheaper option without the shrimp and was told no. The drink came out and was absolutly horrible, the bloody Mary mix was awful and the glass was filled to the brim with ice, zero alcohol taste, not even a hint. Probably one of the worst Bloody Marys I've ever had. I wanted to return it but my friend offered to drink it. My friends ordered the clam chowder and I had the salmon poke bowl with sauces on side. All our food came out quickly. My poke bowl had large pieces of salmon, the flavor was ok. It was "ok" but wouldn't come back for it. My friend was kind enough to share some of his clam chowder with me and was very good as usual, the bread bowl was perfect. A+ on the chowder! Once we got our food the server didn't swarm our table so much and provided great service otherwise. All the staff were attentive, offering tea refills and clearing plates. All in all the food was good, the seafood platters they offered looked delicious, but it was a turn off with all the upselling after we came out and said we wern't interested in all that. The Bloody Mary was a disappointment and needs a makeover in my opinion. read more

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Was really tasty and good portions. I like th aesthetic and it over the eater. Salvado was our waiter and he was great read more

Grotto Fish Market - Calamari - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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This is the same restaurant as Old Fisherman's Grotto, just not the fine dining experience. Hubs and I loved our experience & food last time at Old Fisherman's but we wanted a quicker dinner stop. Grotto Fish Market had no wait for seating and staff was friendly. We absolutely LOVE the clam chowder here. It's a must! We shared the seafood pasta which was a bit heavy (LOTS of cream and butter), but still delicious! The Ahi Tuna app was fresh and had great portions. Definitely will be back since this place & Old Fisherman's Grotto are staples whenever we visit Monterey!! read more

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Truly appreciate that Grotto Fish Market took us in when we weren't able to get seated at the Old Fisherman's Grotto (they seem associated when one herded our party to the other)! Quite honestly, however, we weren't impressed and I was quite annoyed by our server who seemed a bit suspicious while serving us... probably on something he shouldn't be on while working. Dining space felt pretty tight and their server got a couple of things wrong and didn't even recognize me when I was trying to pay the bill since it took forever to get some service at times. Food LOOKED great, but the taste was underwhelming and way overpriced. We were seated near the small entrance with my party of 6, so no view to comment on unfortunately. All in all, food was decent but for the price we paid, service received, and subpar experience, I'd recommend to dine elsewhere and save yourself the trouble and $. Don't fall for the smoke and mirrors - presentation on some dishes looked fantastic but the taste and price tag attached to it was far from being aligned. read more

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Stopped by the take out. Restaurant didnt offer fried foods so we opted to eat outside. Service was ok but the breabowl clam chowder was the best ive ever tasted!! Will definitely go back for that, restaurant was a bit pricey but food looked great and had nice view whn seated inside. read more

Grotto Fish Market - Breadbowl clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

The grotto fish market was a suggestion from someone who works in an art gallery in Carmel and we are so glad we listened! ( shout to Kai at Thomas Kinkaid!!) We came a little before 1pm and were seated right away. The hubby ordered the clam chowder in the bread bowl and I ordered the dungeness crab crusted Alaskan halibut served with lobster sauce and with mashed potatoes and asparagus.($36) our food took about 10 minutes to come which was fast! I don't think I've ever had halibut but it was delicious!! All the flavors really came together. The hubbys clam chowder was really good as well. We were seated facing the ocean with the boats and it was a beautiful view. Staff was helpful as well! And our waiter Isais was very friendly. read more

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Very good clam chowder at the wharf in Monterey. Truth be told, Grotto Fish Market wasn't my first stop - I initially went to Old Fisherman's Grotto across the street, which is a more upscale restaurant with harbor view seating and a much more extensive menu. But the wait was 45 minutes, and all I wanted was a bowl of clam chowder, so the maître d' suggested I eat at the Grotto Fish Market as they "serve the same chowder!" 5 minutes later, I was enjoying a delicious sourdough bread bowl with clam chowder on an outdoor table, having a lovely conversation with my server Rose, who took good care of me. The chowder was excellent value at $14 - and she offered me free refills, which I politely declined. Will be back! read more

Grotto Fish Market - Sourdough bowl with clam chowder ($14) - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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First time around this area! Service was kind and very attentive. Very welcoming. The owner or manager also checked in on the tables which was nice. Place is small but cute inside. Got the clam chowder, ahi tuna tower, seafood pasta, and tuxedo cake for dessert! Everything was good! Clam chowder was nice but wish it was hotter in temperature. read more

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This place is amazing! The best clam chowder, poke and lobster rolls we've ever had! Amazing service! Mil gracias a los señores en la cocina que le enchan todo amor a la comida! read more

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Oh my goodness- I would come back! It was a cute little spot with the sweetest workers. They were so helpful and always coming by. The crab encrusted halibut was amazing 10/10 read more

Grotto Fish Market - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Chef Tene is the famous Chef for so long, so trust him with the best and fresh seafoods in Monterey. We try the Seafood Platter for 4, it's huge!!! The Alaskan King Crabs are so fresh and worth every penny! Louis is my server today, he is super nice, friendly and helpful! We had outside table, it's crowded and busy. It's just little uncomfortable to using hands to eat while people walking by :) Definitely will be back if we are in town again read more

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The staff here were nice and the food didn't take long to come out. It is a more casual vibe compared to their sister restaurant across the street but it is still in the mid price range depending on what you order. The best thing we got by far were the garlic butter oysters which I forgot to take a picture of however, they were a bit small. The clam linguine was not what I was picturing at all when I ordered it the sauce is just watery clam juice. The fish tacos were decent. I would try them again I think I just didn't order the right items. read more

Grotto Fish Market - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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This restaurant is the same as the Old Fisherman's Grotto on the other side, this spot is just less "upscale" and has outdoor seating - which in turn makes it perfect for customers with dogs. I recommend not only their clam bake or clam chowder bread bowl, but the garlic oysters as well. Service could be better for outdoor guests, but that's always the nature of outdoor seating. read more

Grotto Fish Market - Clam chowder bread bowl, Garlic oysters - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

The vibe here is amazing! Food is extremely fresh and delicious We came here with three adults and two children This is our family trip and kids would like to have seafood Chilled ice platter is delicious and the oysters is so sweet Seafood pasta and lobster roll are must-eat Fish taco is fine Steamed clams is so good with the soup itself Our servers are very hospitable and welcoming us We will definitely come back if we are traveling here read more

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The atmosphere inside the restaurant was very lively and thus a bit loud. It made it a bit harder to talk to the person sitting in front of you but I didn't mind it much. The service was great, the waiters and all staff were super friendly and attentive. For the food, we ordered the admirals platter for one and the seafood pasta. The seafood pasta was amazing, super creamy and rich in flavor. It was very cheesy, a bit salty, but understandable for anything with seafood to be honest. The admirals platter for one was enough to feed two. I wish this dish was cooked in a sauce to add a bit more flavor but I do think it allowed the ingredients' natural flavors to shine more. It had a butter dipping sauce that I wish didn't just taste like nothing. Everything was cooked fairly well though, tender and not too chewy. Overall, I thought it was a nice little casual seafood place on the wharf to get food at. read more

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Chowder was amazing, food was delicious, and service was great from all staff. The crab crusted halibut was... Chef's kiss!