Fun place with great prices! Interior reminds me of the inside of a boat or yacht club. Burgees hanging close to the bar. Pictures mounted on the ceiling! Lots of indoor tables and booths. Lots of stools around the bar. They serve breakfast as well.as lunch and dinner. We went for an early lunch on a Saturday and it wasn't crowded yet. Parking was easy and they have their own lot. Watch for the small "Chowder Barge" sign low down while traveling on Henry Ford! It's a ahort walk down to the restaurant down the gangway. The food and drinks. My.husband ordered the Caprain size Michelada. Housemade mix with Draft Midelo (choice of several.beers on draft). We started with cups of chowdet, very filling! We shared a 2-piece Fish & Chips Basket along with a Dinner Salad. Plenty of food for the two of us. Fish waa a bit heavier coated for my taste but the cod inside was great! The coleslaw wa excellent! The Garden salad had cucumbers and beets. The blue cheese dressing was so good! Service was excellent and very attentive. Nina was our server. She was very friendly and helpful!..we will definitely be returning! read more

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My friend and I chose this place because it sounded cool to eat on a barge. Our first view was the dirty water in the marina walking down ten dock to the restaurant. No a nice view. We get inside. We get seated. Look at the menus. Menu shows they had Diet Coke. My daughter and I both ordered one. When it arrived we both thought it tasted weird. I mention it to the server "that's because it's Coke Zero" Diet Coke and Coke Zero are not interchangeable, guests should be made aware of this especially when the menu says Diet Coke and that's what was asked for. Another note, fountain drinks only had one free refill. I ordered fish and chips, my daughter got the ham and grilled cheese sandwich with "fries", my friend ordered the clam chowder and her daughter got the shrimp basket. First, the "fries and chips" were not fries. They were potato wedges. Although potato wedges are fried potatoes they are not French fries. The fish part of my fish and chips wax good. The tartar sauce was sweet and that threw off my taste buds. My daughter and friend's daughter both enjoyed their orders. My friend said she'd give the clam chowder a 6/6.5. I tasted it. It wasn't bad, but tasted more bacon than clam. It was definitely an experience eating here. I forgot to mention when the check came it had a credit card fee on the check without knowing if I was paying with cash or card. read more

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This is a small place and a small staff. This was our first time coming here. The wait was approximately 45 minutes long. Once they sat us down we must have waited for service for another 45 minutes to even get the waitress to ask for our drinks. We ordered a pitcher of beer and ordered our food right away, so that we would delay our food. It took another 30-40 minutes for them to bring out our food. We ordered a clam chowder bowl and fish and chips. Im not sure what the hold up was because this type of food should not take that long to come out. We were very hangry! The food was outstanding. It almost made up for the ridiculous wait...almost! The staff seemed to be out of it or perhaps they were short staffed. read more

Located on an old barge the restaurant is small and well decorated the staff was very friendly and attentive. Food came quickly, was hot fresh and very flavorful. Chowder was full of clams, it was thick, rich and buttery. Cup $7, Bowl $10 well worth the drive to the marina. read more

The Chowder Barge - Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

Me and husband found this place on yelp and am so happy we did. The wings and clam chowder were amazing. We walked out of there so full and will definitely come back again. read more

The Chowder Barge - Chicken Wings (6 ea.)Fish Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

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Cute old school spot. Didn't take a photo but get the off menu: chili and chowder. Didn't disappoint! The fisherman's platter was ok. Come for the ambiance and seafood. Service was great. Everyone including the chef was really awesome. Chowder burger is a must just at least one time. read more

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OMG His is what you dream of when you think about your local spot! So much fun! Tasty food and drinks. The chowder was amazing! Had the chowder burger, ridiculous! My wife had chowder and chili cheese fries, yum! Servers were great! The space was epic! read more

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Found this by accident as we were looking for food in the area. What a cute floating restaurant. Don't let the "older" decor deter you from going, the food is delicious! It has a lot of a dive bar charm. It's in the boat dock. Friendly staff. I love the steam clam with garlic bread. It was their daily special. read more

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Oh, how I wanted to rate this place higher but, there's good and bad. I always start with bad news first so, here goes... I ordered a bowl of clam chowder, and fish and chips. The "bowl" of clam chowder is served in a ceramic coffee CUP; I kid you not. (I'm guessing the "cup" of soup is served in a sewing thimble.) Anyway, an insufficient size for those looking forward to clam chowder, and a too-high price for the amount you get. The fish and chips was OK, but the fries were darker in-color than they should be. (Quite possibly due to frying oil not being replaced when it should be.) A definitely turn-off. Finally, there was the dreaded credit card surcharge. I'll continue to call-out those places that implement this very customer-unfriendly practice. Now, for the good. The atmosphere and service are terrific. It's a true barge, located in an area of boat docks. Location can be hard to find, but it's also hard to beat. Servers were friendly, and efficient; definitely the best part of The Chowder Barge. I'd love to come back again and again, just hope I can look past the negatives. read more

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We made our way down to the marina to try the Chowder Barge. I'm from Seattle, where clam chowder is taken very seriously--it's a dish that's hard to get right and very easy to get wrong. Their clam chowder is delicious, but it isn't a traditional New England-style chowder. It's closer to a baked chowder, yet still incredibly flavorful and satisfying in its own way. I love places like this. The aesthetic is exactly what you'd hope for: gritty, vintage, and perfectly imperfect--a classic seafood dive right on the water. The staff was lovely, and the service was great. It's important to keep places like the Chowder Barge going. These unique, character-filled spots play an essential role in preserving culinary diversity. read more

The Chowder Barge - Bowl of chowder, cheese bread and fried shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

First time here! This was the hubby choice, it was a pretty cool and a actual barge. Great for breakfast or date meal, it was interesting and different. Service was friendly, although she forgot to put our order in. She apologized and gave us a complimentary bowl of their award winning clam chowder to share Yummm! Accidents happen and we understand, Thank you for owning your mistake . We ordered the fisherman's plater fried fish, shrimp, clams and fries. It was delicious. We will definitely be back. read more

The Chowder Barge - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

This place is great, what a fun little dive. I've had it on my radar for a while and finally made the trek out. The service gives it a homey feel and the chowder is some of the best I've had. Where else can you eat chowder with a knife and fork?! read more

The Chowder Barge - Chowder Bread Bowl - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

A hole on the water. Rustic decor. Busy. Service is friendly and good. Clam chowder is quite good. Burger is good. Prices reasonable. You have to get the chowder! read more

We saw this floating restaurant on social media & decided to give it a try. It did not disappoint. We shared the double clam chowder bowl. So good. It has fried calamari on top of the clam chowder, YUM. Then I ordered the shrimp basket & my husband ordered the fish & chips. Everything was delicious. Service was great. The atmosphere was chill. I would definitely go back & take some friends with me. read more

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This is such a fun and iconic place. I almost hate to review it, because I don't want it to get overrun with crowds! I came for lunch today. Of course, when a restaurant is named for a food, you have to order that item. I must say that this Clam Chowder may be the best I have ever eaten! So creamy and delicious, and loaded with clams. Super yummy!!! I added the dinner salad to round out the meal ( veggies you know). All of the staff are very friendly and welcoming. The service is prompt. The ambiance is one of the things that makes the barge so special....it jam packed with all kinds of nautical knickknacks....very fun to explore and look at all the interesting objects. A little out of the way, you can arrive by car or boat . But definitely go!! read more

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If you're in the Long Beach area and want some daily made clam chowder, be sure to check this place out! It's tucked in a very unassuming industrial area. I thought we had wrong directions! It's near the docks and rail system that loads and unloads near the water. The barge a permanent structure and floats on water. Coming in to the restaurant we were greeted by friendly staff. After sitting, I got a good look around the place. Very cute. A lot of antique nautical stuff. Fun decor. As for the clam chowder,,,, Delicious! It was loaded with clams and was thick, not watery. I also got the one piece fish n chips. It was good especially with steak fries. I really could have just had the chowder since it was very filling. The menu isn't large, but enough to get your fill. If you're looking for good clam chowder, it's worth the hunt to find! It really is a hidden charm. read more

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If you're a chowder fan like myself, I highly recommend this restaurant. I didn't know what to expect, but enjoyed the experience of eating the best chowder, thus far, on the water. My experience was a little after 9AM on a Sunday morning. The sign inside says to wait to be seated but the wait staff said to sit wherever I wanted, since my party was the first to arrive. We chose a booth, of course. Roomy, seats four comfortably. Mornings, they only serve breakfast and chowder. I ordered the chowder in a bread bowl and coffee. Creamer, syrup, and jelly already on the table, in individual containers. All kinds of other condiments on the table, as well. Like I said, the chowder was the best I've eaten. Not too salty, if at all. There were large chunks of clams, potatoes, bacon, and celery. The chowder flows out of the sourdough bread into the bowl it's served in. I think the staff stand to the side to provide customers with privacy, but coffee was refilled three times. Had to waive the waitress over for the check. I don't recommend using a credit card, as they charge a 3.5% credit card usage fee on the bill. Ouch. Although the water is a little polluted. I enjoyed the overall experience of dining on the water, surrounded by boats. read more

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I don't care where you live. This is a place to visit and enjoy a fantastic meal. Family friendly and just a good vibe. Don't miss out.

Our go to on a rainy day for the past 11 years, and I can't believe I've never reviewed them. They recently did a menu change and unfortunately got rid of a staple dish, their clams/mussels in buttered sauce. I'm hoping the owner reads this and debuts them in the future sometime again. That being said, we still love this place and their food has us coming back for more. We love their pancakes. Totally random but they're the best, and we come here just for them. We also love their chowder (duh), burgers (medium rare), and chillie cheese fries. Pair that with a michelada or some calamari and fries! Don't sleep on this place. I guarantee you will love it! read more

This is one of those L.A. restaurants that everyone should visit at least once; probably more. Why? Because this is a really unique restaurant. It has been around forever. And, it's on a barge, in the harbor, surrounded by boats. What a placement! Not simply it's location, but it's interior is quite a sight to see. After you walk the plank, you enter the restaurant, and there or you will find a truly ocean, seafaring orientated artistic environment. It's really cool! In terms of what they have to offer for food, chowder is the name of the game. An important thing to keep in mind, however, is that if you're a vegetarian or a vegan, sure they have other things you can eat, but the chowder is not for you, because the chowder is made with bacon. But, for all the people that are not vegan, this just adds to its overall flavor. It's really good! In terms of interior seating, they have a few booths, a couple of tables, and some counter space. Meaning, there's not a whole lot of places to sit in the interior. This is not necessarily a bad thing, this is just something you should keep in mind, because this is a popular restaurant. They also have some outdoor seating. This is really nice when the weather is fitting, in that, you can sit outside, enjoy your drinks and your meal, and look out across the docs with all the boats. The staff here are always great. It's a friendly place to eat. But, keep in mind, when there's a lot of customers, it may take you a little time to get your order in. Not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind. Overall, again, this is a really unique restaurant, and it's one of those places that you really should try out. It may make you a regular. read more

Sane people drive here, but I have an insane friend who manifested a 20 mile hike and this was our destination point. I was all in. We ordered the Rev's Burger Chowder which is a hamburger smothered in house clam chowder... yes, I know... brilliant!!! It is a Frankenstein concoction and we will be back for more. I also had the swordfish salad which was so good. The swordfish was so tender and flaky. Love it and love this place. It's a total one of a kind experience and highly recommended for anyone who is in the area. Great service. Indoor and outdoor seating. Casual. Parking is provided. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

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If you're looking for something quirky, off-the-beaten-path, and dripping with salty charm, the Chowder Barge in Wilmington, CA, delivers. Located right in the harbor, this charming dive serves up hearty portions with serious maritime soul. The nautical vibe is pure old-school fisherman grit. It's not fancy, but it's got TONS of character. Getting there is a bit tricky-keep so your eyes open for their sign when turning into their driveway as it can be easy to miss. I've never had a problem with parking. When you pull up-you may not see it right away...but follow the sign because it's in the actual harbor. The clam chowder is one of their claims to fame. I got the salmon sandwich and the huuuge portion of salmon was enough to make this sailor happy! Our server was really nice and we got seated right away. My beer was not as cold as it usually is, and our appetizer didn't come out before our food...that was a bit of a bummer. Definitely a hidden gem for those craving something real and a little rough around the edges. read more

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I truly don't know what all the HYPE is. Fish and chips overcooked. And way too greasy . Clam chowder soup I've had way better. This was just a TikTok thing I decided to pop up. But I won't be back disappointed. read more

The Chowder Barge - Horrible - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

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While planning out a road trip I was looking for places to eat. I came across the Chowder Barge and it looked like an interesting place. Sort of funky and old. Just my style. So this place was quickly added to the agenda. Getting here was interesting. The access road doesn't look like much. Really the whole area doesn't look like much. It is a very industrial area in the midst of the shipping docks at San Pedro and Long Beach harbors. I'd say thank goodness for GPS navigation but I nearly got lost following that damn thing. It got me to the general area but did not tell me where to turn. Luckily I saw the sign. So if you are going for the first time like me, look for the sign! We arrived soon enough and were told to sit whereved we want. We took a table towards the back where we had views of the funkiness that makes this place so charming and unique. Then came the menues. I was tempted to try the fish and chips but the restaurant is called the Chowder Barge. How could I not get chowder? I decided upon the "Double Chowder" which is a bowl of chowder topped with fried clams. My buddy ordered the fried clam basket subbing out fries with onion rings. My chowder was hearty and filling. A bit more thick than I am used to. Not quite hot enough. But good flavor. Lots of potato and tender clams. Plus those fried clams on top to bump up the clam quotient. Not a bad meal. This is my kind of place. Old and dark. Funky and a little creepy. Even kind of historic. I think my dad told me that used to eat here with his dad back some 50+ years ago. There is some history in this place. The perfect place for a road trip stopover. read more

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Let's me put it in simple words "A HIDDEN GEM" A "locals only" feel with a PUNCH in the face of quality chowder! Sketchy drive in specially at night BUT a packed house with great ambiance and great service. I almost turned around but said "fuck it" let's check it out. Ana and J really made us feel at home and made our visit special. Now to the food. Come hungry! And if you love clam chowder then the double and bread bowl are the best choice. I've had chowder from MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MASS and this is def in that category. The steak fries were made fresh and the fried shrimp actually had shrimp in it lol (unlike some places) We didn't have space in our stomach for more BUT we will now make this a stop when we cruise PCH again. Enjoy! read more

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With a dive bar vibe and a menu fitting the location, the Chowder Burger might seem like a catastrophic culinary collision, but it's actually pretty tasty. The smoky aroma was a pleasant surprise. My mistake was not leaving enough of the bun to soak up the last of the chowder. I sounded like a middle school kid trying to get all the pudding out of the bowl, scraping it up with the spoon. I will be back and will explore the menu further, and I think a beer or two will be in order. read more

The Chowder Barge - Chowder Burger - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

This place is hidden near the waterfront that's why it is called The Chowder Barge. You can view the outside of the Barge from the parking lot and what you see is what you get. It's an older building inside and out, so don't be surprised when you come here and give these guys a bad review. You know what it is so don't complain about it afterwards. We were greeted by a Nice Girl named RAQUEL, which was our waitress. We had Clam Chowder to start and it was good, the Fish and Chips were good, could have been a little Golden instead of dark color. The beer was good. Overall we had a n in ce time here and will be back. Thank you RAQUE, your service was outstanding.Thank you . read more

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This is the real deal cool local spot with even better food and service. Love it inside it's so nostalgic with all the pictures and items on the selfs and walls . We had the chowder and some fish n chips wow this is the best I've had it's a must try for yourselves from even the fish n chips are so tasty and crisp to the chowder that's super authentic. The servers are all so sweet and friendly and funny we had a blast. And like I say , I will be back for more sooner than later cheers!!!! read more

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The Fish and Chips, the shrimp, And The CHOWDER were all very good! The service was friendly and very attentive. The lady taking care of our table was very busy but always maintained composure! A true Pro!!! And the Ambience is casual and family friendly! I hope to be back while the fish and chips are still hot!!! read more

The service was great and the food was very good. We had the seafood sampler appetizer with clams, calamari and shrimp and then a bread bowl of chowder, which was a lot of food. read more

The Chowder Barge - Seafood Appetizer - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

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Not gourmet dining but honest and reliable. A full burger in a bun in a bowl of New England clam chowder is their signature dish but spread your wings and do the Patty Melt. Little bit of history nearby. Ford had a plant in the area (you'll see Henry Ford Blvd) but it closed after WWII. read more

The Chowder Barge - Patty Melt with O-rings - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

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Love that place. It hasn't changed one bit over the years. The location gives it a great ambiance. I went to have some good chowder because I'm planning on making chowder and needed a good reference and I got one! read more

Decided to do something spontaneous for early lunch yesterday and chose The Chowder Barge. It's located in the small Leeward Bay Marina. If you blink, you will miss the driveway into the tiny marina. Parking was easy and this small marina is kind of dilapidated with a great character. Walking down the gangway, I'd expect to see an old Popeye or salty Hemingway type of boat slip resident walking by. Upon entering it kept with the old nautical environment. The barge is old, the old wood flooring planks were naturally aged and uneven in texture. In fact, It felt almost like walking at the old Knotts Berry Farm Haunted Shack. We absolutely loved the vibe. We ordered a Bloody Mary and a draft Modelo to start and was served in frosted glass mugs. We both ordered an 8 oz cup of the clam chowder. It is thick and had lots of lovely clam chunks in every spoonful. My wife ordered a side of garlic bread to go with it. It was great to use the garlic bread to dunk it in the chowder. I also ordered the fishermans platter. It consisted of one piece of deep fried fish, three butterflied deep fried shrimp, a bunch of deep fried clams, chips, and a small side of coleslaw slaw. I had to tap out and leave some of the chips and clams. The chowder before hand was filling. The chips were okay and the deep fried clams were lots of small pieces that were a little heavy on the batter. Overall everything was good. In hindsight, I would have been fine with the chowder alone. It's pretty rich and filling. I did see a couple of burgers being served and they looked great. We want to come back and get some burgers and chowder on a lighter stomach next time. This place is small and there is only one cook from what we saw. Be patient and enjoy the atmosphere and a frosty mug, as it can take a little while to receive your order if it's full inside. read more

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5 starts all the way! Food is packed with flavor, the service is absolutely wonderful, and the ambiance makes you feel like you're in some small quiet seaside town. I would put on a seaside soundtrack- seagulls, seals, creaking of wood, but that's just me. XD If you're near by, definitely try this place. read more

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This is a 5 star establishment because of the history and nostalgia. But don't come here expecting 5 star service, a bathroom that isn't old and tiny, vintage and patinated kitchy interior at a greasy spoon diner over the ocean. Manage your expectations and enjoy the experience of olden days vs the modern straight minimalistic lines of restaurants today. I really enjoyed my chowder here! If and when you are driving here, surrounded by big-rigs, and you think... where the heck am I? Then you are in the right spot. In the middle of some industrial stuff is this random marina with a building floating in the middle that is the wondrous Chowder Barge. It is old, it has so many knick knacks, and cool stuff from all over the world that you know the owner picked up on his travels and eventually I think random people just gave him things. Maybe a few just brought items and nailed them to the walls. I think a few masks are haunted. They will tell you where to sit down and look at more stuff, then they will give you a menu. Puruse the menu of diner-esque foods, ocean fried classics, and of course the chowder. My date got the burger chowder. A burger in a bowl with chowder poured over it. Truly part of the American dream. I got some fried fish, clams, and a bowl of chowder. It was super creamy, chunky, and delicious. It isn't healthy, but it is delicious. I enjoyed looking out at the boats parked and a few floated by. The fried stuff was greasy. Not the best fish and chips I have had. I enjoyed listening to a tables of seniors citizens who ordered tuna sandwiches and random salads on this rusty ocean front diner. A large family with children came in and they were treated well. The kids sounded happy to come back to their local spot. The water in the marina is definitely suspect, weird colored and littered in. But I saw a sting ray and that was awesome even the port people stopped to stare at the life that dared float around these murky green waters. read more

you come here mostly for the vibes. it's so cute and quaint. the wait staff are nice but they can get pretty busy and forget to close you out unless you flag them down the fish and chips is pretty standard. the chowder is good! i've never been inside a barge or barge as a restaurant! also important - you may either be blocked from entering or leaving the parking lot as there is a train crossing. i'm writing this as we wait and so far waited for 50 minutes lol. make sure to allot time in case you get stuck. We were leaving around 8 pm and was stuck until 9 pm in the parking lot haha read more

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This place is a gem. Food tastes, great and the atmosphere is very warm. It's a floating barge, but they have bathrooms for use. The food comes in big portions, and the two of us shared the fisherman's platter and the clam chowder bread bowl with plenty of leftover food. Service was fast and friendly with good recommendations. Pricing was not too bad considering it's seafood. Their cocktail sauce is homemade and delicious. Good for date night, big groups, and families. read more

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The Chowder Barge is real old California that's survived in the Port of Los Angeles. The food is GREAT, especially with a nice cold draft 805. I got the double clam chowder: white chowder with fried clams, soooooo good. I also got an a la carte fried fish fillet, it was perfectly fine but soon the server brought me a second, bigger one, and said the cook didn't think my first one was big enough. Wow! Two fish fillets If you love old coastal California places, don't miss the Chowder Barge read more

The Chowder Barge - Cool harbor atmosphere - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

Such a cool hidden gem! The Chowder Barge delivers exactly what you want from a laid-back waterfront spot--great vibes, friendly service, and seriously solid seafood. The clam chowder is a must (super creamy and packed with flavor), and the portions are generous across the board. It's nothing fancy, but that's part of the charm. Perfect spot to kick back, grab a beer, and enjoy a casual meal by the water. Will definitely be back. read more

If it's Taco Tuesday, skip the tacos. They're okay, but not what you might expect - nothing more than iceberg lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and fish on a tortilla. It is served with salsa, but nothing else remotely like a good SoCal fish taco. (Also - if the server asks if you want green salsa, take it. It's not hot, but she doesn't know that - she's never tried it!!) Aside from simply being a fish sandwich on a tortilla, the tacos were good. Crispy white fish fried golden brown and delicious. With a side of onion rings, it was very filling. A funky dive, in a dirty, run-down marina, but the food is good. Give it a try. read more

The Chowder Barge - Inside the fish taco, under all the lettuce and tomato. - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California