We had such a wonderful time here! They were working hard through a busy service, but everyone was…read moregenuinely kind and doing their best. We were perfectly happy relaxing and enjoying ourselves, and they still made sure we were well taken care of. We specifically came for the tuna tostadas, and they did not disappoint - amazing! The trio tacos were awesome too, the photos rlly don't do them justice. Everything tasted great, including the refreshing and ginormous michelada The hostess was also very kind and continued checking in on us despite how busy they were, and Jake was an absolute pleasure. He made us feel very welcome. Such a great experience - we'll definitely be back!

Update 2: the owner of this restaurant is a jerk. period. Avoid at all cost…read more ==== Update 1: With the recent reply by the owner I have to update the rating to 1 star. If you are understaffed, hire more people. If they are underpaid, pay them more. They're trying to give customers moral pressure to not tip high enough, as if it is customers' fault that the employees are not paid what they deserve. ==== The food was innovative - it was not of super good taste nor terrible, but I admire their effort to be creative. The service was honestly not bad, but what made me uncomfortable was that their suggested tips were 20% minimal. With the pressure of being presented the POS machine by the server, most people would not manually enter a lower tip.

Delicious food and friendly staff! We had a larger group with us, so we placed a very large order…read more Tacos, sandwiches, ceviche, and so much more. We tried different marinades and various fish, but my hands-down favorites were the lobster tacos (lemon butter) and the red snapper (fish shop) tacos. We also ordered large sides. They do NOT skimp out on these. Massive onions rings and a large pile of fries. All were delicious! The kids liked their grilled cheese sandwiches. "Best grilled cheese besides the ones we make at home." Only downside on the food was the clam chowder. Good flavor but hardly any clams (if any). I wouldn't get that again, but everything else was phenomenal. I almost rated this down to a 4 because of this (and a small order mishap), but honestly, this place is worth a solid 5 based on the overall food, vibes, and staff. This place's vibes are super chill. You can either sit inside or out. Very clean all around! Well-maintained restrooms and tables too. Solid drink options - both alcoholic and non-alcoholic as well! Would definitely go back!

4.5 Food: 8.5/10…read moreService: 10/10 Ambiance: 10/10 Indoor and outdoor seating available. You order at the front and find a seat. Fish and chips were your typical but the fish was filling. Kids loved the popcorn shrimp. The special was a halibut taco and it was amazing and refreshing! Service was great with plenty of seating.

Every year we travel to Carlsbad for family vacation, each time we want to look for new place to…read moretry as well as our old favorites! This time we wanted to try this new to us place, we were so happy to take rideshare to this location as parking is very limited with severely road work happening all around. This restaurant gives a beachy hole in the wall relaxing vibe which we love!! Menu was simple quite a few options, we went for their fish tacos and fish n chips. Between the 4 of us we shared the items to see if they are good before ordering more, the short version of the story is that the food was very good, not dry or fishy smell, taste fresh, succulent piece if fish fillers on the taco, the fish n chips batter was a bit on the thick side but still very tasty. Clam chowder was on point, creamy and not a cream breaking point. We would love going back again once all the road work are done. Service is quick and prompt, no frills. It is a hole in a wall place so expect a bit of self service like getting water or napkins. Overall a solid 5 stars a must try if you like fish tacos and fish n chips.

A wide range of fresh, high quality fish served in various form factors. The fish & chips were very…read moregood, with good quality cod (I think) and fresh cut fries that were reasonably crispy. But the batter was a bit too thick and salty for my taste. The side of tartar sauce was bland and needed a kick of sriracha and lemon. The Mahi three taco plate was very good and a fair value with decent sized pieces of fish and a tasty crema on the finely shredded cabbage and tomatoes. But the tortillas were too dry, which is inexplicable given the myriad great tortillerias in the region. Service was fast and efficient, and the ambience bustling with people jam-packed together scarfing their food. I really appreciate their ongoing excellent health inspection reports.

Valentina has become a neighborhood staple for good reason. They're really on point overall--the…read morevibe is relaxed and unpretentious (they even have a sign reminding you that this is not a fancy restaurant), yet the food and service feel decidedly elevated. We went last night for my mom's birthday dinner and tried a few dishes we hadn't had before. The Wienerschnitzel was fantastic, as was the chuletón--a massive 32-ounce bone-in ribeye that was perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. We also ordered several of our favorites: the patatas bravas, with perfectly crispy little squares of potato; the alcachofa, a delicious smashed artichoke with aioli and lemon; the olives, which are perfection every time; and the pan tomaquet con Ibérico--fabulous Ibérico ham served over tomato toast. For dessert, we tried the buñuelos, which reminded me of a lighter, airier version of a churro, and the crema catalana, similar to crème brûlée. Both were a great finish to the meal. Valentina manages to strike that perfect balance: casual enough to feel like a neighborhood spot you can visit all the time, but with food and service that make it feel special enough for a celebration. Another excellent dinner and definitely one of our neighborhood favorites. We usually sit at the bar but enjoyed the dining room this last time!

We made reservations earlier in the week to celebrate my birthday and arrived on time. The service…read morewas good and we were seated promptly, but unfortunately the overall experience was pretty underwhelming. Atmosphere: The restaurant is very dark and extremely loud. It was so loud that my partner and I could barely hear each other across the table, which really took away from the experience. It also didn't quite live up to the beautiful, inviting atmosphere portrayed on social media. Food & Drinks: We started with the Patatas Bravas appetizer and tuna tartar with potato-lime chips. The potatoes were delicious -- nothing groundbreaking, but very good. The tuna was pretty forgettable. We had an Aperol spritz and a beer, and neither was particularly memorable. For our mains, we had the steak frites and the fish special with chimichurri and charred lemon. The steak was okay and the fries were excellent, but both dishes were lacking flavor overall. The fish especially needed more seasoning. Dessert was crème brûlée, which was fine but nothing special. Service & Overall: Service was good, but considering we had made a reservation specifically for a birthday, I was surprised there wasn't even a small acknowledgment -- a candle, scoop of ice cream, or simple "Happy Birthday" would have been a nice touch. There was nothing. For all the hype surrounding Valentina, I left feeling pretty meh. The food was okay, the atmosphere was difficult to enjoy, and the overall experience didn't feel worth the price or hype. I wouldn't go back.

We just celebrated our 10th anniversary here tonight. I made a reservation for 515 but we got there…read moreearly, they were able to seat us right away. We had a patio table facing the beach. The sun was a bit bright until it started to go down. I should have made reservation for around 545 or 6 but it was a very nice view anyway. We started with the lobster/shrimp chowder with sourdough bread- delicious! I had the Mahi mahi, my husband had the halibut special. Both meals very tasty. For dessert ordered the butterscotch apple pie, so yummy! We took our time and caught the sunset. Sorry didn't take pictures of the meals. Highly recommend this restaurant. Next time we would sit up top though.

Cardiff-By-the-Sea~ We were in town for a wedding weekend…read moreand decided to give this place a try. We sat at the bar and the place was super busy. Bartender was very friendly and the drinks were amazing. I decided to give the chowder a shot. Being back in California, the best chowder in the world is always on the West coast! Ohhhh my was it spectacular! Full of chunks of lobster, shrimp, thick, creamy, and delicious! I wish we would've gone back to try other items,because they had a great diverse menu. Definitely got to enjoy a beautiful sunset as well!

Chair had crumbs and then I found a hair in my water - eek…read more Comped us free bubbly for our anniversary. Pour was heavy. Waiter was super nice and the tables, aside from the flies by the windows, inside was nice. Food is good! Aguachiles were flames. Pasta was decent. Baby carrots were superb.

Genuinely DISAPPOINTED. I wanted to like this place as so many social media reels and articles…read morepraised this place as a hot spot for a nice dinner, but it really FELL SHORT of expectations, especially for the price. I'm giving this place 2 stars, mainly because our server really was excellent and the lobster pasta we had was tasty - even though the initial order of the pasta had a FREAKING HAIR IN IT. GROSS. 1. Upon entering, it was FREEZING, as the AC was on blast in every area of the restaurant, despite it being very empty upon our 5pm arrival. The staff couldn't do anything about it, so we just had to deal with the uncomfortable ambiance, despite the decor being trendy for photos. 2. The food was OK. The tuna crudo was decent and we could have don't without the cake with caviar - it was sweeter than expected and literally the smallest caviar topping - no worth the price. 3. The lobster pasta had a FREAKING HAIR IN IT. We only had a few bites before I had disturbingly pulled a hair from my mouth. UTTERLY HORRIFIED and DISAPPOINTED because it was actually tasty until then. Both my cousin and I have long hair it was not even close to being ours and I immediately stopping eating it out of disgust. We called over a server about it, he just said let me get a manager. I told the manager and he just said he would get a new one, but never acknowledged or apologized for the mishap. He just replaced it and never even offered anything to rectify the situation. The new pasta was fine, but how the situation was handled really ruined the experience. Nevertheless, I paid for all that we ordered and I tipped. Unfortunately, we won't be dining here again as the experience was less than favorable and the level of professionalism is not worth the price of dining here.

Still thinking about these oysters and the delicious cocktail sauce ! First time having oysters and…read moreI'm glad this is were I picked to try them . Place was super clean and the food was fresh . We also had a fish and shrimp taco which were delicious When I'm back in Laguna I'll def make a stop for some freshness Service was quick and friendly

SeaSurf is always a hit for me! The Spicy Cajun steamer is my go-to and it never disappoints. The…read moreFisherman's Catch is loaded with Pacific mussels, jumbo shrimp, Manila clams, calamari, bay scallops, Louisiana sausage, corn on the cob, and red potatoes everything is cooked perfectly and packed with flavor. I've also tried the Cajun salmon burrito, calamari, and Baja seafood chowder, and every single thing has been delicious. The seafood is always fresh, the seasoning is on point, and the quality is consistent every time. Definitely one of my favorite spots when I'm craving seafood!

Popular spot at a strip mall with lots of parking space. It gets pretty crowded with plenty of…read morepeople coming in but the fresh seafood is worth the wait. We love the taco combo as you can try a shrimp taco and a fish taco. The meats are very tender and flavorful and filling. Surprisingly, they also have a sashimi platter with lots of pieces which is worth the price but the rice as a side dish is kind of pricy.... Just cook your own rice if possible.

3.5 stars Stopped by…read morePelly's Fish Market & Cafe for lunch on a Monday afternoon. There was a decent weekday crowd, with the restaurant about 60% occupied when we arrived. Ordered the Small Boston White Clam Chowder ($6.99), 3 Piece Fish & Chips with fries ($21.99), and the Sea Bass Plate ($25.99) which came with two sides - opted for Spanish rice and black beans. The clam chowder was just okay and nothing particularly special. The sea bass with garlic butter was a little bland and definitely needed some hot sauce or tartar sauce for extra flavor. The Spanish rice also tasted like it had been sitting out for a while and was a little dry. I did appreciate that the black beans came topped with some cheese and were served in a little tostada bowl - a nice touch. The fish and chips were hands down the best thing we ordered. The fish had a super crispy batter and the fries were crispy as well. Definitely the standout of the meal. Pelly's is located in a shared plaza with Ralphs, so there are plenty of parking spaces available. Both indoor and outdoor seating and it's a counter-service setup where you order at the counter and they'll bring the food out to your table.

Tried Mia's new luncheon menu and it was excellent. Quinoa salad w/ shrimp and fish tacos were…read moregenrous portions, well-priced and both delicious. Service was professional and friendly and the booths were very comfortable. Mia's continues to be one of the best restaurants in SB. But please inprove your wine list and wine pricing. Too many supermarket wines at 4X retail is a turn off. The food deserves much better.

Happy Hour review, with some non-HH items thrown in…read more We sat on the mostly empty patio with the pups, and enjoyed the atmosphere. However, it almost came not to be because when the server came to take our order she said "you can't have happy hour on the patio" (this made no sense as every other patio table, except for one, was vacant). Fortunately a manager or the like overheard the conversation and said that it was okay. We found the corner table of the patio a great place to hang out with the pups and enjoy some food and drink; they had plenty of room to chill, and we could people watch. For drinks I tried their Oaxaca Old Fashioned; which was okay, but I've definitely had better (the OOF at The Remy for example). For my second drink I switched to beer, and I was quite impressed with the La Lupulosa IPA (from Insurgentes). As for food the wife and Itried: - Volcano Tostada x2 ($5 each) -- I wasn't a fan, but my wife liked it (makes sense as she is much more partial to chorizo than I am) - Ceviche ($12)- not to our liking as it was on the sweeter side (we like ceviche to have a nice kick to it; Mia's, like too many others, seem to Amercanize their ceviche for people not accustomed to spicy) - Fish Taco ($5)- it was fine, but not a standout in an - Chile Relleno ($22.50); it was good. - Empanadas x2 ($5 each) -- these were the standouts of the food; we both enjoyed them a lot, and this is what will get us back for their HH in the future. Total bill $100 + tip. Next time we come back will probably add in an entree to share as they list some good ones on the menu.

The service and congenial welcome from Justine and Cody (managers) were impressive and impeccable!…read more The food choices /menu was definitely fit for a king and queen. We were blown away with the fisherman's platter filled with lobster, crab, shrimp, oysters, and much more-- totally fresh and served to perfection! They served and conversed with throughout our dining experience . We've traveled much of the world and this restaurant , food, and the staff definitely rates the upper 10% /crust. A great find and we will be back. Keep up the great job and thank you for the great service and food.

We always eat here on our annual trip to Carlsbad. The food and the service is the best you're…read moregoing to find anywhere. It's large and can be noisy sometimes with a sports bar vibe. Yesterday it wasn't very crowded so it was easy to have a conversation. I started with a cup of spicy fish chowder. It's not very spicy but it was delicious. I had the swordfish for entree with grilled corn and fries for sides. It was all fabulous. I finished with bread pudding which was awesome. My wife had cedar planked copper river salmon with a salad & zucchini for sides. She said it was awesome. Again this place is awesome.. If there was criticism it's the price. Be prepared this pay the price Overall a great experience.