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Monterey's Fish House

4.0 (3.5k reviews)
PriceySeafood
Closed • 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Updated 3 months ago

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Monterey's Fish House Photos

MONTEREY'S FISH HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Classy
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Monterey's Fish House

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Doesn't this look great?
Larry C.

A classic, wonderful meal, and worth the wait. And oh, the oysters are almost as big as your head! We were warned to line up early, and tho we were only like the a dozen back, we didn't make the first seating, as there was a huge reservation for 15 celebrating something, congrats to them! So the hostess gave us a time later in the evening and we came back. Once you're in, you're family. This is a super casual spot. One medium size room filled in every corner with tables and chatter. There's a bar on one side, and savvy locals I presume, having a beer and dinner. Our four had a table right in the middle of it, and it was wonderful, I got some crab cakes, the rest of the table got seafood pasta in various formats. And a bottle of wine to share among three of us. Oh the oysters? Idk I think I was expecting the little precious ones you get at the fancy oyster bars. So we ordered a half dozen raw AND also a half dozen of the famous smoked ones. But WOW, these were huge, and "rustic" like a good homemade loaf of bread. So 12 of these huge oysters shared among the 4 of us was more than enough!

Marina A.

If I could give 10 stars I would! I can't put this amazing experience into words! We ordered Oak Grilled Oysters, BBQ Artichoke, Cioppino, and Squid Pasta, and every single dish was of outstanding quality. Just like in Italy. No matter what you order, you can't go wrong. It's a little bit far from the beaten path, so I thought it might be a hidden gem, but I was wrong. The place was packed, and when we left, there was a line stretching all the way out the door. I really recommend here!

Crab Ravioli
Monty H.

Always pretty packed here. What we got for dinner was amazing, crab ravioli was perfect. Appetizers came out quick, clam chowder is pretty great and oysters were huge. I'd say the only thing we weren't impressed with was the crème brûlée, not bad but a little bland. Staff was very nice and attentive even though they were busy. Definitely a solid choice for Monterey.

Fish and chips , Cioppino
Evelynne L.

The ambiance and service here is amazing! All of employees are super kind and friendly. Upon sitting, we were given a basket of bread and butter. The bread wasn't toasted so I was skeptical but it was actually very tasty because the outside had toasted sesame seeds on it. We ordered the fish and chips as well as their cioppino. The fish and chips were good! It wasn't the best I've ever had just cause I usually prefer cod but I think they used a different fish. The cioppino though was so delicious. It was extremely flavorful, the broth was not overally seasoned, it was perfect. There was lots of seafood too - such as clams, octopus, squid, mussels, shrimp and fish! I loved dipping the bread in it too.

VIP salad
Eddie S.

This place is the BEST! Everything is delicious. Quality fish and ingredients. Reasonable prices for what you get. Service is always friendly and helpful. This is a local favorite and hands down my personal favorite place to get fish on the peninsula. I had their VIP salad for lunch which is one of the best salads I've ever had.

Cury Snapper
Christina C.

Go before they open to get in line or make reservations. They are super efficient and service was great. It's not a big place, and yet they still have a great ratio of staff to customers. We got there 30 minutes early and got in line about 20 minutes before 5 PM on a Saturday in July. When they opened we were the second party and there were about 30 people after us. Some had reservations and some were walk-ins like us. Once we sat down we got bread and butter and they took our order. Clam chowder was not thick how we like it. My husband was craving the curry snapper. My son had the holiday pasta. I had a special artichoke seafood pasta. We were all happy with our choices.

Sicilian calamari, crab ravioli, and complimentary bread basket
Angelica T.

I was a little worried that this place was gonna be overhyped and not worth the stop but I was so soooo wrong. We ordered the Sicilian calamari and crab ravioli for appetizers. The calamari was so tender it barely required any chewing and the ravioli was stuffed with filling and paired with a sweet, creamy rose shrimp sauce. The crab ravioli also comes in a larger portion as a main and we liked it so much we agreed we'd go big if we were ever back in the area. Pro tip: they provide complimentary bread and we used it to soak up all the yumminess from the calamari sauce and pasta sauce... highlyyy recommend. For our main: we ordered an oak grilled swordfish and upgraded our pasta to linguini with the cream sauce to share. Honestly after apps and a bread basket, I was pretty stuffed and was planning on only taking 1 bite but it was hard to stop (and we still had plenty leftover). Our server also let us know all the different ways they're able to prepare your choice of seafood so if oak grilled with pesto sauce isn't to your liking, you can really customize it to fit your taste and the same goes for the pasta. They also took it upon themselves to go through the trouble of splitting the dish into 2 servings so that it would be easier for us to share and that was so thoughtful! **Special shoutout to Cesar and the other gentleman in the red bussing tables - they truly made our dining experience one to remember.** The only thing to make note of is the waitlist. The hostess writes down your party's info upon arrival and we were given a quote of 1 hour but were ecstatic that we got called in sooner than that. On the other hand, there were some angry individuals who hadn't waited in front of the restaurant and missed their name being called so definitely make sure you stick around.

Firestone Walker Mind Haze IPA 6.2%ABV ($7)
John D.

You Fish An old-school, no-frills fish house that's been in operation for over thirty years (ca. 1994) in the same spot. Not only are they a local and Yelper-favorite restaurant, but they were also listed in the exclusive Michelin Guide as recently as 2019. The Good: * Located away from the wharf and Cannery Row, so you don't have to deal with all the nonsense those two come with. * Private parking lot, as well as street parking. * Prices aren't too shabby considering the location. * Service was a bit odd, but friendly enough. * Their house-made linguini was very good and worth the extra $6 upgrade. * Veggies were cooked and seasoned perfectly. * Beers on tap and in bottles, as well as wine. * I liked the flavor from the oak grill. The Meh: * Hard to complain about free bread, but just watch me. The bread was stale and not fresh at all. Even the pats of butter weren't enough to save it. * The Diablo sauce was all gas and no brakes. It needed a little sweetness and acid to complement the spice. * Carissa's penne pasta was waaayyyyyy overcooked. And so was her salmon. The Ugly: * WTF is this second menu they have? I shit you not, the poor waiter had to recite what must have been over twenty off-menu items. It was mildly amusing at first, but then you realize you're supposed to actually absorb all of this? It's got to be some kind of inside joke with the staff. No way it's real. * The clam chowder was watery and not thick at all. Not to mention, the flavor just wasn't good, and there weren't many clams. * My tuna steak was just not good. It didn't taste very fresh and had an off texture. I thought for sure I was going to get food poisoning from it, but luckily that didn't happen. Conclusion: I hate shitting on an institution like this, but it is what it is. It appears their better days are behind them, as there's probably a good reason they lost their Michelin recommendation.

New England Clam Chowder
Carissa K.

I was so not impressed with this place. Maybe things have gone downhill? It started with the ridiculous "specials" list repeated by our server. There was already a specials list menu but there was a crazy long list that he told us about. The list went on and on. The problem is that I have difficulties with auditory comprehension due to a past stroke so I didn't get most of what he said. And the one time I did ask about a specials item, he didn't even really describe and explain. So I just went with an item that was on the regular menu. My salmon looked and tasted frozen which is fine but it was overcooked. The pasta was also well overcooked. The veggies were excellent though. I really enjoyed them. John ordered the New England Clam Chowder which I had to try. It was pretty watery and just okay. The complementary bread was cold and I passed on it. (We had recently dined at a restaurant that gave us incredible focaccia so it's hard to compare.) Once we got past the menu and specials snafu and ordering our food, our server warmed up and did a good job. We definitely won't be back.

Special - Artichoke seafood pasta
John G.

This is probably one of those places that you see it on the street and would continue driving by it. It's on a busy street. Building isn't an eye catcher and you'd think a fish house here? Don't make the mistake of driving by and if you do make a U Turn. This place is not to miss. Staff is welcoming, warm and fun. They are very attentive and want you to be taken care of. The inside has an old school family style look to it. Feels like someplace I'd go with my mom and dad on special occasions. Don't come here if you're looking for something modern looking. Very happy with my choice of food. We had the fried calamari which i thought were cooked perfectly. I ordered the special artichoke seafood pasta. Way more seafood and artichoke hearts than pasta. So so good. If you're in Monterey don't get caught up thinking you need to go down to Cannery Row for seafood. Come down here instead.

Cioppino w/ Bread
Lynn H.

Love this place for their oak grilled oysters. Would definitely come back just for these. Got crab ravioli and they definitely came with real crab meat inside. Also served with bread on the side. The sauce was good, but I think I would had preferred it a little less salty and more flavor. My partner got the cioppino, which he preferred on the creamier side, but it was still good. I love the fact that it came with such giant clams. Most places only serve tiny clams, but these were giant size like clappers. It also came with fish, mussels, small octopusi, large shrimps, and some bread served on the side. Service here is also amazing. Sat at the bar and our server, Matthew, was friendly, engaging, and very impressive with how he handled the customer. He made sure they were all taken care of, water and bread refilled without needing to make the requests, and checking in on everyone few times throughout their dinner meals. He even helped out assisting with the rest of the restaurant if he ever needed to step in. Huge shoutout to Matthew!

Street placard
Ai M.

Coffee is $5, yet I had to ask for sugar three times. I recommend the swordfish. It was also a top 5 king salmon for me. Mud pie dessert was filled with chocolate ice cream instead of coffee. The clams in the clam pasta were large and its stock contained capers as well as strips of clam meat, but my husband said the soup could not disguise the chemical taste of tap water.

Clam Pasta
Angelina C.

It's been a while since I last came here, and I was in Monterey, so I needed to go back. When in Monterey, you should try their seafood because it's top-notch. Their calamari is incredible--no words. I love it and find it very addictive; I wanted to bring more home with me. It's served with a cocktail sauce that has a hint of horseradish and tartar sauce. The pastas are very delicious. It's cute that the pasta is served in a big bowl--I felt like I was drinking soup. I had the clam pasta, and it was delicious. The clams are super fresh, and the sauce is flavorful. However, the only letdown was the pasta noodles. They are average, but homemade, which is impressive. The noodles seem to be small and not long. My parents had the Sicilian Holiday Pasta, which was also very tasty. Just be careful with the red sauce--try not to get your shirt messy. The sauces are perfect for dipping your bread. The service is quick, but it's best to come early because it gets packed really fast. Parking is okay, but it fills up quickly due to its popularity, especially after being featured on Triple D.

Swordfish with linguine and red sauce

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11 days ago

Waiting time is 30min+ with reservations. Food is average. Does not worth the waiting time

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12 days ago

Terrible wait even having reservation, got us seated 30+ mins wait after our reservation time.

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Monterey's Fish House Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Monterey's Fish House

Do they have any gluten-free pasta dishes?

I don't really know. Their menu is on line.

How does one make a reservation? They do not answer the phone!!!

They don't do reservation. It's first comes first serve. Go early if you can. It's a hot spot.

Do they offer gluten-free pasta?

Do we need to reserve?

I would make a reservation as there are times there is a long line for walk ins.

Are they still in the same small venue?

Yes. 2114 Del Monte Ave. It is the same as when I first visited years ago.

Is there a lunch offering menu and/or daily specials? Or is the attached menu the same for both sessions (lunch + dinner)? Planning on visiting during lunch hours.

They have daily specials that change everyday, but they're super pricey

Do they still have outdoor dining as of today 4/1/23?

When we visited a couple months ago, they did not have outdoor dining. When dining inside, it gets busy, and they may seat you with other customers. It's ok if you don't mind meeting new friends.

Anyone know how to contact the restaurant? The phone just rings & rings. Do they take reservations?

I have used the phone number listed on Yelp. They take dinners reservations starting at 5 pm which I would recommend to be in the first seating. I usually call at 1130 am when they open for lunch to make dinner reservations.

Do they have gluten free pasta Options?

Not on the menu. I haven't asked though.

Will I be allowed to bring my small dog while dining outside?

Yes, I had my pug with me! Dogs are welcome.

Are reservations still being recommended or is it first come first serve?

They take reservations now (as of 11/6/2021)

Is there a kids menu?

I don't remember a kids menu, but people sitting by us had a fish and chips plate split for their two kids. Another couple had a burger meal split for theirs. The staff is really good

Their health score is 59 out of 100 according to Yelp. Is that correct?

Yelp gets this data from HDScores, which collects public data from your local health department. Because your local health department does not provide inspection scores, HDScores calculates its own score based on past inspection results of this busin

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Sea Harvest

Sea Harvest

4.0(2.6k reviews)
2.1 mi
•$$

Sea Harvest is a fish market / small restaurant. There's indoor and outdoor dining. It is…read moredog-friendly for outdoor usage only. They have a nice fresh seafood menu. I opted for their fish and chips. It was juicy and lightly breaded. I was very pleased with my lunch. My husband wasn't too hungry and he ordered their clam chowder. It had a lot of clams and potatoes. It was flavorful and rich... very good. The ambience is casual, nothing fancy. It is a great pit stop for a quick meal.

Sea Harvest is one of those restaurants that I have always seen and passed by when I'm in Monterey…read more It's in a good location with big windows so you can see inside which makes it hard to miss especially at night. We finally decided to give it a try after our visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium. [[ Pro's ]] 1.) Decent sized dedicated parking lot which is nice. 2.) Lots of indoor seating as well as a large area for outdoor seating covered with umbrellas. 3.) Two large bathrooms that were fairly clean. 4.) Food is generally good. I think they excel in the quality of their seafood and I wished I tried more grilled options rather than getting fried options. Their Clam Chowder was also very delicous. We ordered: a.) Monterey Bay Fish Tacos b.) Fish & Chips c.) Clam Chowder - Quartz Portion sizes could be bigger for the Fish Tacos and Fish & Chips (i.e. more fries for example). [[ Con's ]] 1.) There is a 2.75% surcharge if you use your credit card. They do note that their original prices have already been decreased by 2.75% in order to incentivize cash payments but I didn't find the prices to be much cheaper. I assume most people use credit cards so it was just a bit annoying they do it this way. It's shown on the bottom of the menu 2.) Wait time was a bit slow. From ordering and to getting the order, I think it was about 15 minutes on a relatively slow day. When it did come out, 3 tables got food at exactly the same time so maybe they cook in batches? I wonder how long it'll take on a busy day.

Photos
Sea Harvest - Interior

Interior

Sea Harvest - Combination plate w/ shrimp, fish, and calamari

Combination plate w/ shrimp, fish, and calamari

Sea Harvest - Calamari and chips...my favorite!

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Calamari and chips...my favorite!

Vivolo's Chowder House - Halibut fish and chips (house special)

Vivolo's Chowder House

4.0(2.4k reviews)
2.5 mi
•$$

Their clam chowder is good--rich, smoky, and loaded with actual clam meat rather than being packed…read moreout with cheap potato filler like so many other places. The calamari is also good, featuring a light, crispy breading but was not greasy. Instead of a mix of body and tentacles, they serve large, tender chunks of squid cut into clean squares, making it so approachable that even picky eaters with a limited palate won't be turned off by it. Service was attentive with water getting filled at the right moments. Would be back to try their other items.

Highlights: * Good atmosphere for large parties with kids…read more* Good service for large parties with kids * Chowder was great, sand dab was okay Service The wait staff communicated upfront the best they could do for seating a large party with strollers (answer: most would need to be folded and/or parked by the front). That alone was helpful, though they were able to seat us within 15 min or so. Atmosphere Aside from getting seated, the interior was pretty kid friendly as well. They had coloring sheets and there was a good amount of space between tables. The kids were high chair age so no one was running, though overall good ambiance. Food: Really depends on the item & Sand Dab Sandwich (2/5) - of course the sand dab fish is small so there were going to be multiple filleted pieces in each sandwich, though overall there wasn't a lot of meat. The bread was soft which is good because it was mostly a bit of bread, onions, and all the other ingredients. (Pictured) & Fresh fish: sand dabs (3/5) - this was the far better dish, the sand dab fillet was larger than the sandwich version. The pasta was good and the veggies were cooked. & Chowder (5/5)

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Vivolo's Chowder House
Vivolo's Chowder House - Steamed clams

Steamed clams

Vivolo's Chowder House - If it's called a chowder house, they should have much better clam chowder!

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If it's called a chowder house, they should have much better clam chowder!

Osteria Al Mare - Fettuccine funghi

Osteria Al Mare

4.3(805 reviews)
1.7 mi
•$$$

As an Italian chef with years of experience in the culinary world, I believe I have a trained eye…read moreand palate for recognizing a restaurant that truly cares about quality. From the very first bite, you can tell when a kitchen takes pride in its craft, carefully selecting high-quality ingredients and preparing every dish with passion and attention to detail. What truly makes this place stand out is that excellence goes far beyond the food. The service is impeccable, the atmosphere is welcoming, and every detail is thoughtfully taken care of. From the kitchen to the dining room, everything reflects professionalism, care, and a genuine commitment to creating an outstanding dining experience. As someone who understands the restaurant business from the inside, I appreciate the dedication it takes to deliver this level of quality consistently. This is the kind of place that reminds you what great hospitality should be: exceptional food, outstanding service, and attention to every detail from A to Z. Highly recommended to anyone who appreciates authentic quality, excellent service, and a restaurant that truly cares about its guests.

Overall, I'd give Osteria Al Mare a 4.5/5. You have the option of dining indoors or outdoors facing…read morethe oceanfront. Service was friendly and professional. The dining area was well lit, very clean and has a homey vibe. As for the food... 1. Complimentary Bread Basket (2/5) The bread was OK - it seemed like it's store-bought bread rather than made in-house, so really nothing special. The butter that comes with the bread is cold, which made spreading it on the bread difficult. As such, it's really nothing special. It's still a nice complimentary appetizer, so I won't let this affect my overall rating. 2. Clam Chowder (5/5) One of the best clam chowders I've had. Don't let the look of this zuppa turn you away; it may not look super white like the traditional clam chowder soup offered elsewhere, but the taste says it all. It's super light and creamy rather than thick and filling. You can taste the sweet clam flavor within the soup without the soup tasting seafood-y or getting the rubbery chunks of clam. It's perfectly balanced with onions, carrots, little chunks of potatoes, cream and a combination of herbs and spices. 3. Fritto Di Calamari (5/5) I'm not a huge calamari fan, but Osteria Al Mare knows how to make Calamari right where even I enjoyed this dish. The calamari was fresh and cooked to perfection - no rubbery-ness or toughness in each chew. Each calamari was lightly battered and fried to the perfect crisp. It's coated with just the right amount of salt and pepper to give it that peppery, savory goodness. It comes with sides of fresh lemon wedge, lemon aioli-like sauce and tangy tomato/marinara sauce. I like lemon and citrus flavors, so adding on freshly squeezed lemon juice and dipping it in the lemon-aioli sauce was just the perfect combo for me. 4. Squid Ink pasta with Mussels (3/5) The pasta is black from the squid ink. You don't taste anything "seafood-y" within the pasta itself. It's just dyed into the black color from the ink, so don't let the look deceive you. The pasta was al dente. The tomato sauce was light and tangy. Unfortunately, the mussels were not fresh on the day we came, so it kind of ruined the dish. 5. Pesce del Giorno (5/5) AKA - "fresh catch of the day" On this day, it was lightly breaded sole fish that's again, cooked to perfection. Super fresh sole fish that's tender and moist. The breading was not heavy. It's served over a bed of baked sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. Squeeze on some fresh lemon juice for extra citrus zest. Each bite was delightful.

Photos
Osteria Al Mare - Bar setting

Bar setting

Osteria Al Mare - Cioppino special

Cioppino special

Osteria Al Mare - Bruschetta

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Bruschetta

Monterey's Fish House - seafood - Updated November 2026

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