The thing that stood out for me was the creativeness of each individual dish. Each dish had its own authenticity. And that creativity tasted really good. We shared several dishes. We got there early which was nice because it was quieter. A lot of well behaved kids were there. The service was attentive and well informed. Considering they talk up their reasonable wine prices, I thought the corkage fee at $35 was not in keeping. We make Pinot Noir and we brought an older vintage that was a knock out with the Roquefort ice cream. Be ready for a whiplash of flavor. read more

Food, service, ambiance all excellent!!! The fish stew was delicious! Definitely enough for a meal along with the fresh baked biscuit. Francisco was personable and quite helpful. He knows the menu and the expansive wine menu, offered recommendations and tasting. We will return next time we are in the area. read more

2.5 stars. I was not impressed by this place and was quite disappointed after how high the ratings are. First impression walking in was that it smelled of old fish, that really pungent unpleasant odor of fish. It was bad enough I honestly wanted to walk out. There was a second strong smell that took me a few minutes to place, truffles! Personally I hate the smell and taste of them and the odor was so strong mixed the old fish smell it was nauseating. Might want to fix the kitchen ventilation system. A nice, more classy restaurant would never smell like that. The appearance of the restaurant is cozy and the service is mediocre. Server seemed a bit overwhelmed. Never asked us how things were after others were serving the food. The food was not good, not on any level I would call $$$. The leek and potato soup was served with a layer of oil on top and was lukewarm. Boring soup and bland oil on top is too much. I spooned some of the oil off before tasting it. The Brussels sprouts salad was also bland. And when I say bland this has nothing to do with salt, just uninspiring, oily doesn't taste good where you want to keep eating it, and say wow that is really good. My boyfriend ate it out of hunger. The biscuit which was mentioned on yelp several times as being so good was just a very buttery biscuit. I thought it was a bit hard and overworked but if you like the taste of eating a stick of butter then you will love it. They served it with nothing interesting like a spread or jam or curd, just more butter with a drop of honey on the butter. The only somewhat redeeming dish was the shrimp and lima bean one. The sauce tasted good and the bland shrimp really needed it. The dessert, which is one of the main reasons I chose this place, was another let down. The panna cotta was very stiff, too much gelatin and yuzu was bitter like lemon peel. The meringue on the side was way too firm and chewy like a piece of bubble gum. You could chew on it for like 10 minutes! The banana bread pudding with the banana ice cream redeemed them a little, except they burnt the caramel. They were so close but they just cooked the caramel a bit too long. The fresh banana taste was good and that saved the dish. Lastly and least important they don't do anything special for peoples birthdays. The host said happy birthday and that was it. No complimentary anything, server didn't know or say anything. It's probably the worst restaurant I've ever eaten for a special occasion. With all that wine you could probably offer a complimentary glass to people with birthdays. And if they don't drink it's the thought that counts. Probably safer than a disappointing dessert. read more

Very good, nice atmosphere and food was good. Shrimp, duck, salmon, bread pudding, cremelw brulee all good.

Not a great experience unfortunately and we eat out a lot all over the country. Wife's lamb was very good as was biscuit we shared. I wanted the linguine and clams but thankfully waiter mentioned fennel taste is strong. Why would you do that to that dish I don't know? Anyway I chose the scallops which were very soft and mushy and not flavorful at all. Disappointing dish overall. Waiter was nice and talkative up front but then we waited a long time to see him for everything else. They did take scallops off the bill which I appreciated but place and ambiance is mid at best compared to so many other places we've been. read more

Food was amazing! Service was great! Ambiance was nice, it was so nice to be able to talk and hear the other people on our table. My husband said it was the best duck he had in a long time. 10 people and everyone enjoyed their meal. My only complaint is the menu is small and most was seafood. But I would go there again! read more

We were in town on vacation. We had the biscuits, fish stew, a salad, trout ceviche, and the lamb, shrimp, scallops and a kids' entree. We also had four different desserts. A few different glasses of wine. It was all quite good. The service was excellent (though it wasn't very busy when we were there). Would definitely return next time we are in Monterey. read more

So many amazing flavors with each dish! Buttermilk biscuit was like a perfect croissant, Fish stew spicy and flavorful. Beet salad with candied pecans, yum! And my trout was PERFECTLY cooked and plated without bones, too. My husband's halibut was fantastic Great place for our Anniversary dinner! read more

See all

Looking for a date night place in near Monterey or Carmel? This is it. Passionfish has the most exquisite and unique food and a great wine menu. We started out with the rockfish stew and buttermilk biscuit. You MUST get the biscuit. It is the best biscuit I have ever had in my life. The outside is crunchy and evenly crisp while the inside is fluffy and rich. They are pretty large so you can order one to split but I definitely wanted my own after having a bite! The fish stew was alright, but I would probably order the crab salad over this. For entrees we got the duck and sea scallops. The scallops were incredible. They were cooked perfectly and the rice custard was flavored with truffle and surprisingly flavorful for something that looked feather bland. The duck confit was tender, but the sauce was a little too sweet for my taste. Nonetheless and amazing meal with great service in a very clean and polished venue. read more

See all

We visited during a weekend trip to Monterey and had a reservation, though the restaurant wasn't very busy when we arrived. The food was good overall, but the highlight of the night was Nancy's buttery buttermilk biscuit--it was incredibly flaky with a perfectly crisp exterior and served warm. We also enjoyed the plum salad, rainbow trout, and the 12-hour spoonable duck breast. For dessert, the maple banana bread pudding was delicious, though a bit too sweet for our taste. This spot would be great for a date night or special occasion. read more

See all

Fine dining with a relatively relaxed feel, good enough to bring well-behaving kids. Great service and delicious food. They don't open until 5 pm for dinner service so if you're an early bird like us, you'll end up hanging outside for a bit with the other folks ready to enjoy a Passionfish dining experience. Parking is easy as there are plenty of free public parking nearby. If for whatever reason those spots are taken, park in the nearby neighborhood and just walk a block or two. It'll be nice to walk off the amazing dinner you'll be having. Upon entering, you're greeted by the friendly staff and brought to your table. There are a good number of tables, however it's always recommended to make reservations. If you have children in your party, you'll likely be seated in the side room, which is quiet, away from the main dining area and entrance, and accessible to the bathroom and an exit back to the main street. They serve a variety of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. There is also a kids menu. APPETIZERS Biscuit - This is a dense nugget served with a side of butter with a flakey crust topped with sugar. It's definitely shareable but be careful, you'll get crumbs everywhere! Skewers - Delicious but a bit forgettable. Fried squid (calamari) - Portion isn't huge but it's still a shareable size. Light amount of breading. Not high on the crispy scale, but still very flavorful with the sauce that's served. ENTREES Kid duck confit - This is a great portion for kids. A big duck leg and thigh paired with carrots and potatoes. The duck is succulent and easily comes off the bone for the kiddos to eat. Duck confit - This is by far the best dish served at this restaurant. Moist, flavorful, and pairs nicely with the sides and wine. The crispy skin adds an additional texture profile to each bite. Lamb - Tender and packed with flavor from the meat, crust, and sauces. It doesn't look big in terms of portion but it's rich and dense. Scallops - Perfectly seared and paired well with the radishes and rice custard. Not my personal favorite but my partner really enjoyed this dish. DESSERTS Mud pie - As a chocolate fan, this hits the spot! Rich and bold espresso tied this meal up in a nice bow. Pair it with an after-dinner coffee or espresso. Panna cotta - Really well made panna cotta. The creaminess and tart flavors make this dish a great topping to an outstanding dinner service. Get this! Throughout the dining service, our server was attentive to our needs including providing extra utensils/plates, filling our waters, and ensuring we had a comfortable dining experience. Overall, due to the quality of service, food, options, and location, this is still one of our go-to places whenever we visit Monterey. Bonus if you dine early, you'll have plenty of time to stroll down to Lovers Point Peak and enjoy the sun before it sets. read more

See all

Located in downtown pacific grove and only open for dinner. They are poplar, so make reservation if you plan to go later in the evening or weekend. Cozy atmosphere and good service. Food was quite delicious, especially the biscuits, flaky layered buttery tasted with crispy coating, the sweet butter came with it accompanied the biscuits so perfectly. Scollop seemed to be one of the favor from menu besides duck confit, we tried the Scollop appetizer instead, it was fresh, the crunchy coating of artichoke risotto cake made everything extra tasty . Rainbow trout and duct confit cooked just right, with the right amount of flavor, ahi tuna was also very yummy. Mud pie with mint ice ream was good too , but it was a bit too frozen, maybe we should have waited little longer before indulging :). Definitely recommend this place if you are visiting the area. read more

See all

My family and I have been coming to Passionfish for years, always around the time of Monterey Car Week. The staff at Passionfish is always so friendly and personable, and they remember many guests - even though we only see them once a year. My family and I love Passionfish so much that we make multiple reservations here over the course of the week. The seafood is always fresh, and we appreciate that they consistently have the classic dishes that we love year after year. All the food is amazing, but our personal must-have dishes include the Dungeness crab salad, spicy fish stew, beet salad, duck confit, and the trout. All their desserts are delectable, and you must try their Prosperity Tea. The energy, especially during car week, is bustling and lively with locals and visitors alike. I look forward to returning to Passionfish for years to come! read more

See all

The food was cool, but the service was definitely the highlight. We had the nicest waitress and she very accommodating. We ordered a few things but I think next time I'll order a new dish and reorder the biscuit with honey butter. read more

See all

Passionfish is a large restaurant well laid out so you don't feel overwhelmed or cramped in. Though we are only a couple, we were given a choice of a two-person or four-person table. (We chose the smaller one.) The menu looked personalized for the day, with a wide variety of fish and other items. Having stopped at a wine bar up the street earlier in the afternoon, we elected to skip an appetizer and go right for the main course. I chose one of the specials that day - arctic char with a creamy jasmine rice; my wife chose duck confit with a chile-potato cake and broccolini. De-lish! Glasses of a brut rose cava from Spain highlighted the meal. Service was attentive and efficient, including anticipating our need for a to go box. This was our fourth visit to Passionfish - always a special, rewarding experience! read more

We are in Pacific Grove on holiday and attending the Rennsport 7 events at Weatherteck Raceway. We're in a delightful 1887 hotel by 4 Sisters and just three blocks from Passionfish. First, front desk reception was warm pleasant and accommodating. We expected a long wait but there was a table for two and we were feeling very lucky. The place filled to capacity almost before our eyes as we were seated. Why does one order Duck Confit in a Seafood restaurant? Because if it's on the menu I order it! My wife had the Shrimp and they were huge like baby lobsters. We split the beet salad. All was wonderful. Ambulance is a bit noisy but there were a number of over enthusiastic Rennsport 7 folks in for dinner and they were a might boisterous. So, likely not common. A splendid evening and I heartily recommend you visit. Oh another good reason, a fine wine selection and at retail prices. read more

See all

Pretty good place for a special occasion. I was skeptical because of the name and location. I don't like trendy type restaurants. Once we entered it did not feel trendy at all and was busy with local residents. The wine was well priced and the service was great. Be sure to reserve your table early, as every table was full. All four of us were happy with the meal. Some people dressed semi-formal, and some in very casual attire. No judgement! read more

See all

Been going to Passionfish since at least 2003 and it never disappoints. Excellent food, comparatively low mark-up on wines, a pleasant ambiance. A recent visit was just as good as I remember, with experience made even better by a particularly engaging waiter ... and those buttery biscuits must now always be ordered as an appetizer. Recommend highly! read more

Alaskan Halibut 3 sweet white corn, tomato relish, cotija cheese, cilantro aioli, slightly dry Sea Scallops 4 tender, buttery, tomato-truffle butter, not enough, poached lettuce, savory rice custard, creamy & flavorful Yuzu Panna Cotta 5 strawberry coulis, lemongrass meringue, too sticky, candied ginger, creamy, refreshing, not too sweet read more

Came from a recommendation from friends up north. We were here for our 46th anniversary and we were treated very well! The food was amazing. Try the crab salad! So unique. One of us had the muscles with linguine a totally different take on that dish and I loved it. Not creamy at all just a wonderful flavor. The hubby had duck confit - he shared some with me and it was over the top wonderful. Actually, a very large portion. Of course we both had some great wines a nebbiloa rosé and then a Sangiovese. We finished with dessert of lime, Panna cotta with ginger crumbles and a meringue, cookie and mint chocolate chip and espresso ice creams with a chocolate drizzle and it was presented like a cake. Exquisite. We originally receded in a very odd spot with some very loud "neighbors" and we asked to be moved, and we found a wonderful spot. Sad to say we were served by a young woman who was the third grade teacher on top of being a server at this restaurant tells you how hard it is for teachers to actually make a living in CA! read more

My husband and I had high expectations for this restaurant but we were very disappointed. We were both excited to eat at a place that boasts sustainable catch. It's disappointing to see that the menu has not changed. I don't know if they even have a seasonal menu. The toastaditas had a soggy bottom and were quite stale. It was a difficult bite. It had a chunk of "slaw" to top it off that overwhelmed the whole dish. I could not even taste the ceviche. Greens salad was just a standard salad. The dressing was sweet and missing some acidity. It tasted bland. Buttermilk biscuit was good. The size is a bit too big for me but it was buttery and soft. My husband ordered the tuna and to be honest, it was overcooked. I don't know if they meant to cook it that way but we did not enjoy it. It could have been sliced thinner but it seemed chunky. The caponata had so much celery that all you could taste was the celery. A little dusting of sumac on top that I don't think added any flavor to the dish. Tuna was bland. Scallops was good. The tomato truffle sauce was yummy. The rice custard was also good. It reminded me of a risotto but as a custard. The dish was lacking in texture. It felt like one note. Everything on the plate was soft. Dessert.. the torte was not a torte. It had the consistency of a brownie. It sat on too of the passion fruit syrup which resulted with a soggy bottom. The passion fruit syrup did not complement the brownie at all. We were confused with the combination. Sorry to say that we did not enjoy dinner. read more

See all

4.5 stars rounded up to stars. The setting was slightly upscale without being stuffy. Both food and service were fantastic. Smoked trout ceviche tostaditas, cashew pesto, spicy salsa brava - although it was pretty good, I liked other dishes better. Fried california squid, herb salad, spicy tangerine vinaigrette - standard tasting. Beet salad, whipped gorgonzola dolce, yellow curry, golden chutney, pecans - refreshingly tasty. Good favor combination. Duck confit, honey reduction, smoked chile-potato cake, grilled broccolini - although it's a seafood restaurant, the duck confit was awesome. Duck was off-the-bone tender and moist. The honey reduction was very tasty. Sea scallops, tomato-truffle butter, poached lettuce, savory rice custard - the scallops were cooked to perfection. Panna Cotta - the desserts were priced very reasonably. Panna Cotta was creamy, silky and rich. Mud Pie - pretty standard tasting. Pretty impressive experience. Would definitely come back when I'm in the area again. read more

See all

I was excited to try this restaurant as it came highly recommended by 3 acquaintances separately. I made a reservation for early Saturday night and was seated immediately. The service was great and the waiter came to refill the water many times. The food came out in a timely manner as well. The part that disappointed was the food. It was not bad but it was not good. I feel like the main meat in each entree was cooked well but the dishes overall did not have a great presentation and didn't seemed paired well with the sides. The spicy dish stew was good, but a little too spicy and could have used a dollop of crème fresh to balance it out. The ceviche was nice but the cracker underneath each mound was very hard and tasted fatty. The brussel sprout salad was good-the ham bits helped with flavor. The grapes were an interesting addition. The albacore tuna had a brown stew underneath with cut up celery, potatoes, and other indistinguishable items. The potatoes were nice. The dish overall did not look good as it was just brown mush underneath 4 pieces of tuna. The grilled shrimp was fine but underneath was another tomato based sauce mused with a ton of white beans. Desserts had a better presentation. Yuzu panna cotta was average. The candy did not really belong. The mudpie was just a layer of chocolate chip mint ice cream and coffee ice cream and a thin layer of chocolate cookie crumb crust. The coffee ice cream and cookie were fine but the mint ice cream had an artificial taste. Loose leaf tea choices were great. Overall a fine / average casual dinner place but not worth the money read more

came in to this restaurant with a lot of demands. had a baby and two dogs, but we were welcomed with great food and amazing service. we had some decent salads and i was surprised by the feta. it had deep fried olives which were surprisingly good. the biscuits had an amazing texture that let you go hard with the butter spread i would suggest starting with them as wel i had the grilled shrimps as the main. it was a cassoulet and the seasoning was perfect. the shrimps were very generous and well cooked. their desserts are pretty solid but heavy. had the chocolate sorbet and it was quite large and rich. the service stood out to me. constantly refilled our waters and being patient with our orders. i absolutely want to come back to try their fish dishes. read more

See all

Wow! Excellent food - if you like seafood and you're not afraid to try something different - this is a wonderful place to visit. My wife and I live in the area but have never visited. We ordered a couple of drinks, an appetizer, two of their tasty biscuits, two entrees, and dessert. The service was absolutely spectacular! Our server was very nice. She checked on us frequently and provided a couple of recommendations. She made sure we were satisfied with our meals and our glasses were never left empty. We spent $115 bucks - with a gracious tip - the experience was well worth it and I'm certainly going back to try their other dishes. Highly recommend visiting this place! All of our food was served hot and we didn't have to wait very long. The buttermilk biscuits were out of this world. Light, fluffy, and delicious. The halibut was excellent - the sauce was tangy and a little spicy, but not too spicy. The rainbow trout comes out whole - our server advised us prior to ordering - it was flaky and the sauce was delicious. The bread pudding was top notch. read more

See all

I was in Monterey for a long weekend and my culinary experience at passionfish was my favorite all weekend. The standouts were the crab salad which was perfectly balanced and I still dream about the sea scallops and the way they melted in my mouth. The service was also great, super attentive and shared wine pairings that enhanced our experience. I plan to return next time I'm in town! read more

The place looks clean Customer service was not good. It was my birthday and my husband tried to make it special for me , he called and told them we are celebrating birthday thinking I won't hear it . They didn't acknowledge at all. He was really sad and disappointed that they didn't even put a candle on dessert we ordered. Food was ok I ordered the trout and it was extra sweet . They didn't check on it as all. They brought the food and we had to wait good 10-14 mins to get our fork and knife , and there was no apology either. Our waiter I guess was mad at the table next to us , he passed us cussing them and mad. I was very disappointed esp that it was our first time there and celebrating my birthday. read more

Fish Delivered With Passion... My wife and I were in Pacific Grove for a few days and had dinner at Passionfish based on positive reviews from previous customers. Here are the pros and cons of our meal: Pros: - Location: Excellent. Passionfish is at the western end of the small downtown in Pacific Grove and close to the many Bed and Breakfast inns throughout the area. - Menu: Full of fish. As you'd expect from a restaurant with such a name, there are lots of selections from the sea - including appetizers, salads, soups and main courses. - Quality of Food: Really good. I started with the Fish Stew ($14) which had chunks of fish in a spicy tomato based broth (as advertised). That was followed by a Crab Salad ($30) with a mound of crab and garnishes on top of a big base of avocado. I drank it down with a pint of Third Window Stout ($10) and completed the meal with a Mud Pie ($8)...an excellent way (if full of calories) to finish my dinner. My wife had a bit of my soup then ordered the Grilled Shrimp ($32) as her main course. There were 6 very large shrimp with Rancho Gordo cassoulet beans in a lemon-herb vinaigrette. We both gave it a hearty thumbs up. Her drink was a glass of Barouillet Sparkling Wine ($13), but she was wiser than me and skipped dessert in favor of a cup of Prosperity Tea ($5). Total with tax and tip for a very nice meal was $142. - Service: Accommodating and attentive. Our server was a friendly young guy who ably guided first time visitors through the meal. - Atmosphere: Large and tranquil. The building is bigger than it first seems and contains several good sized rooms. Fine dining, but not stuffy. You could be at home in jeans as well as a jacket. - Parking: Plenty. We walked a few blocks from our hotel, but parking was available all around us. Cons: - There was no bread with dinner. I like bread and asked for some with my salad, but our server said the only thing they had were biscuits for $3. Passionfish is an excellent choice for a meal whether you're a local or a visitor to the area. read more

While the atmosphere is subtle and may come off as underwhelming, the food here is amazing and is well worth the visit. We chose the scallops starter and it was the perfect combination of salty, sweet, creamy, and crunchy. You only get one scallop, but it is the most perfect scallop that you could hope for, so don't let the cost and quantity deter you. We also got Nancy's biscuit. Who is Nancy anyway? She's a wonderful woman who serves up a buttery, flaky, thick biscuit that is crunchy on the bottom and top, but pillowy soft in the middle so it's the best of both worlds... This is no Pillsbury or Grande's bullshit... this is Nancy's. Literally the only thing that could improve this biscuit would be some Maldon salt flakes on the butter. Just look it up. The Dungeness crab salad was smaller than expected, but packed mighty flavor into a perfect cylindrical display that was worth the $30. I've been hunting for the perfect opportunity to indulge in Dungeness crab on my California vacation and I am so happy I pulled the trigger at Passionfish. Like avocado? You're in luck. This crustacean is served atop a mattress of ripe avocado chunks. Ever heard of a breast of lamb? Ever heard of a spoonable breast of lamb? How about a spoonable 12 hour breast of lamb? Well, once again, Passionfish delivers. Beyond the succulent lamb, you will also find yourself pleased by a goat cheese sauce, which was sparingly drizzled atop while the breast of lamb was sitting amongst a chickpea stew, that emanated warm, Middle Eastern like flavors. Our hospitable waitress made sure to bring us a small carafe of additional goat cheese sauce, so we could truly make the most of our spoonable lamb dreams. After much consideration, we decided that we needed the mint and espresso mud pie. To alleviate any future confusion the following is a description of the layers from top to bottom: hot fudge, mint ice cream with chocolate chunks inside, espresso ice cream, and an underwhelmingly thin Oreo crust. Besides needing to increase the girth of the crust, I think Nancy should call Ghirardelli and figure out how to make that collaboration a reality because that is literally my only complaint about this unique dessert. Everything just needs that sweet Ghirardelli liquid gold... and yet again, them Maldon salt flakes. At the end of the day, Nancy's biscuit is the sole reason we chose this restaurant after seeing other people's pictures of its glory. To quote prior governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, I will be back. read more

See all

Food unbelievably delicious! Service Amazing. This was an amazing vacation dinner. read more

Came here for dinner and then food blew us away. The buttermilk biscuits were salty, delicious and full of butter and love. Only thing is they were a bit heavy so we probably should've just ordered one. But we enjoyed them all the same! We ordered the sea scallops which came with radishes and a rice porridge and this dish was stellar. The scallops were so tender and buttery and the radishes gave some welcomed acidity. The rice porridge was super unique and savory and I really enjoyed this. We also got an order of the duck confit which was tender and sweet w the reduction. The potato mash was spiced well and the butter it squash was tender and yummy. We also got an order of the chocolate torte with the passion fruit syrup and this was the only part of our order which was somewhat of a miss. The chocolate didn't really go w the intense tartness of the passion fruit. Overall we had a wonderful experience and I would definitely return! read more

See all

Dined here in mid-April with some friends/colleagues. I've heard great things about the restaurant in particular that all their seafood is sustainable. Our dinner was good. We got several different items and shared them. The wine list was extensive (wide range of prices) and the waiter could answer all my friend's questions (he's a wine aficionado). Ambiance is basic, wood tables and linen napkins. Simple yet very nice. Dinner was good but not sure the quality, price and hype equate, at least for me. read more

See all

First customers in the restaurant. Had 5pm reservations. The food was good with the exception of the beet salad. It was mushy the beets were over cooked and it was a HARD pass. The buttermilk biscuits I recommended one for each person at the table they were amazing. Ordered the scallop dish and the arctic char special. Both dishes were good. My biggest problem was the waiters cologne was offensive and waaaaaayyyyy too much, secondly it took 1.5 hrs for two people to have dinner no drinks. 15 mins just to be helped as the first and only people in the restaurant. The restaurants ambience was nice. Music not too loud I would say if the restaurant was busy the tables are extremely close. Maybe they had an off day, won't be returning. read more

See all

Every dish was delicious and a new adventure with textures, colors and flavors. Service was great and very attentive. The interior is elegant and larger than what it seems on the street. I can't wait till my next meal at Passion Fish.! read more

very disappointed. the food was not bad but not good and tasteless. it is not because you combine ingredients that are not commonly going together, that automatically you are going to create something original. Sometimes there is a reason why they normally don't go together. It just looks like a place that wants to pretend to be of high standards will instead, for the quality of the food and the service ( we saw our server once a the very beginning but almost never after) should be half the price to be decent. read more

This place SLAPS!!!! Best food I've had in the Monterey-Carmel area. All the ingredients were super fresh, and flavors were well balanced and just downright yummy. All their seafood is sustainably sourced, a huge plus. The crab salad was my favorite: big chunks of fresh crab with fresh arugula and tangy + bright dressing. Service was attentive but not intrusive, and the place was cozy and warm. I highly recommend and would definitely come back if I was in the area again. read more

See all

Got reservation but still waited for an hour. Terrible service from a lady at front desk. You got much better options and service in this area. Was here during the car week, they definitely ruined our weekend. read more

My wife and I went here the other week. We're locals and the service is always fantastic. The restaurant is lovely and always clean, which is appreciated. It was extremely busy (Friday night) which we love to see, and everything was out quickly. Since, this is Monterey there are a lot of great fish options, and Passionfish charges a premium, but failed to deliver in a big way. The best thing we had was some goat cheese balls, which isn't great given they tout themselves as a seafood establishment. We ended up splitting my wife's scallops which were better, but didn't make up for their halibut. The issue was that the food was super lackluster, and for the price, we were both extremely disappointed. I was on the fence about the Lamb or Halibut. I thought, well this is a seafood place, so they've got to have a good halibut. Was I wrong, it was so overcook it basically felt/had the texture of overcooked chicken (hard/rubbery). Given that it's the most expensive item on the menu, and it was nearly a $200 meal with tip (for just two, but yes we did have some beer/wine) that was super disappointing. I'd consider going back, but it won't be for a while given our last experience. read more

Food is OK: Spicy fish stew - a bit too spicy for my taste, fish is tender Beets salad - Good and fresh Sea scallops - scallops are good, but the rice custard was very bland and dense, not much flavor Duck Confit - OK, meat was tender and can easily come off the bone Chocolate torte - Good, very fish and dense with intense chocolate flavor Wait time between soup and the salad was almost an hour, again wait time between salad and main course was at least half an hour. It took us 3 hours to finish the dinner. Had no reservation, walk-in on a Saturday night, waited for 30 mins. Overall, it's ok. read more

See all

I enjoyed everything. The food is light, tasty, and fresh. I feel healthy, not in a bland way, after a meal here. They make fried calamari taste healthy because it's no oily and lightly battered. Shrimp with beans: maybe the shrimp were slightly over cooked but it was still enjoyable Brussel sprout salad: my favorite dish. It was a warm salad and even the kids ate it. Rainbow trout: with wild rice. No issues Mussels and linguini: good but the mussels could be fresher read more