Outstanding local fresh fish in a casual & less touristy location! 1-2 miles north of Cannery Row in it's own small space is a quick & friendly seafood restaurant with yummy dishes & attentive service. Portions are very generous & tastier than what we've, so far, had in more famous establishments. All 7 of us were happy with our varied meals & we'll gladly return on future trips to Monterey! A TERRIFIC experience! Enjoy!

+1

We came on a Monday evening and it was pretty crowded, but were able to get a table for 2 with no wait. We got some free bread and butter for the table which was nice. I got the crab ravioli and it was really good- also came with garlic bread. My boyfriend got the grilled snapper and he loved the smokey flavor of the fish. Service was good- not slow.

Outstanding and very elegant local fresh seafood restaurant in a casual & less touristy location! We were greeted immediately. An old little house but gives you some family feeling dinning environment and relaxed atmosphere. We ordered seafood Cioppino, fish house pasta, Oak grilled snapper and prawn pasta. Never has Seafood Cioppino anywhere before, it comes with garlic bread. Fresh ingredients in soup with strong notes of seafood’s smell and tasty, quit unique! Our kids love the prawn pasta so much , the creamy sauce tastes amazing and with the pan fried prawn! Fish house pasta was kinda disappointed, not a big fan for the baby shrimp combine with olives in soup. Portions are very generous. Our guy server was very friendly and knowledgeable. The staff was fabulous, everyone worked as a team efficiently All of us were happy with our varied meals & we'll gladly return on future roadtrips to Monterey!d

+6

Favourite place to go in Monterey, stopped in for lunch for the first time and found it to be an even better experience! Minimal wait, place was super busy right up until close but wait and bus staff were so awesome. Food was fantastic!

My all time favorite restaurant in Monterey. It’s cozy, quaint and always packed and there’s a very good reason why. They have the freshest seafood and their dishes are remarkably delicious. Love their fresh oysters. My mouth is watering as I write this. Prawns are quite tasty. Shrimp pasta had huge shrimp and so delicious. The adult beverages are perfect 🍹 Love love love this restaurant. ❤️ Six stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I went with my family, and everyone's food was good. I had some ravioli which was a bit above average, but my brother had salmon he said was amazing. Great service.

+3

Had a fantastic meal here. Parking was a little tough, but they have a nice sized lot. Had to wait for a table, but that's usually a good sign and yes, the Fish House did not disappoint! Very highly recommended!

+2

We went there on the New Year’s Eve at almost 2pm, when we walked in the restaurant there were full of customers but the waiters were very nicely and quickly to guide us to a seat even though they were close by 2 pm. Their seafoods are fresh and delicious with warmly and friendly services.

Food was delicious! Got: Octopus appz: 9/10 , oak coal grilled so Smokey and tender Oyster9/10 huge oysters. Yumm Ahi tuna 10:10 : oak grilled seared. Sooooo good def will try again Sword fish blackend : 5/10 would not try again Ambiance 5/10

+1

Absolutely impeccable! Food was beyond mouth watering. The energy of the place is perfect. Aaron is the definition of top tier. When it comes to customer service, communication, charisma, he has it ALL! He recommended the best dishes and took care of us like family. It is always a pleasure when running into these types of places. Forever referring and returning! 😍❤️‍🔥🙏🏽

Amazing experience! I can see why people line up outside early to get a table! Fantastic all around!

+1

Excellent meal that was surprisingly very affordable. Most things along the beach seem to always be more expensive. But this was a great experience. I got the wood fired grilled tuna. I asked for rare, and it was true to the level. My wife got the salmon with a white sauce that was off-menu and recommended by the waiter. It was very tasty!! All of the food was great with good portions coupled with excellent service from a staff member who is very familiar with the flavor pallette of every meal. The only disappointment was the cold bread with cold butter served before the meal. Made for an awkward spreading affair.

+2

We have been recommended the Fish House by many people and it did not disappoint! Everything was delicious and the staff was so on top of it and friendly! They have a gentleman that just refills waters and brings bread and then your server and someone who runs drinks! It seemed like everything ran so smoothly and we never waited long for any part of our meal! The crab cake was delicious as well as the artichoke pasta that was a special! So yummy!

I’ve driven past Fish House many many times and always wondered about the long line outside of an unassuming little building. Finally went to give it a try and wasn’t disappointed. The line was long, but the wait was short. Less than 20 minutes which is pretty good considering I had no reservation and there was at least a half dozen other groups waiting too. Our server was helpful and kind, food was fantastic! Very fresh. May be pricey for some, I found it fair, I’d go back again.

Best seafood I have EVER had! This place is a hidden GEM so good that we went there two nights in a row. • The Fried Oysters were out of this world! They are a MUST! • Prawn Pasta had the most delicious prawns. FRESH! • The fried fish was halibut and the honey crusted almonds was a snapper were awesome and FRESH! • The staff is the nicest. We had amazing service by Jose, Horacio, Andres, Clemente. They were so kind.

+1

Had a blast celebrating a friend’s birthday with a great dinner out. Every dish was delicious but all agreed the sole special was incredible. Dishes enjoyed: - clam chowder: very tasty, definitely didn’t need extra pepper - Sicilian calamari: mild spice, bold flavor! - Salmon: perfectly cooked and great flavor - Sole (incredibly light, flaky and flavorful and a huge portion to boot) - Crab cake and scampi - so much deliciousness all on one plate - crème brûlée - too cold but great consistency and flavor

+2

Amazing food. One of the best seafood spots I experienced in the Monterey area. The wait can be long; often times with long lines out the door starting at early dinner hours. Everything we got for dinner was delicious. The food is flavorful and filling. The artichoke and seafood pasta dish was great. I would highly recommend it. The oysters were large and fresh. The calamari was also very delicious. I would highly recommend this place. The service was excellent. Our server was very professional, friendly, and welcoming.

+2

Arrived just after noon, no wait, quick service, great food. We had the scallop with linguine (6 large scallops) and ahi with a side of pasta and veggies. Both were amazing. For both meals, our total came out to $80. I'm leaving my 5-star review because we come here often, and it's always been great. However, today was an off day. I ordered the wood grilled chicken with red wine sauce. Either the sauce was full of butter or the veggies were swimming in butter, it all ran together on my plate. I'll stick with the grilled fish in the future or request no butter or sauce on my food.

+1

My husband and I enjoyed the Calamari both fried and grilled- fantastic. Then he had the blacked swordfish & I had the special of the night. Which was a pasta in aight cream sauce and packed with seafood-so so so good!! I really wish I could remember our servers name as she was lovely!! Very personable Thank you for the great experience

Charming seafood bistro with handmade linguine and fresh seafood. They have a long list of daily specials, so don't make up your mind before listening to the specials. No reservations, so come in person and be prepared to wait in line.

+5

The Baked Oysters were delicious followed by Very tasty Mussels in a tomato based sauce that was divine. The star of the meal was the Seafood Cioppino. Tasty, savory, delicious do not give enough to explain how this meal ended on such a Happy note fir both my and friend's tummy. Well done will definitely stop by when I return. The service was also very good.

This is exactly what I was looking for when I arrived on the West Coast. Unassuming fish House that focuses on food quality and service. The grilled Halibut (local) was out of this world!! Looking at other's plates looked delicious too. Especially the many seafood pasta dishes. Did I mention the service? Top notch. Would eat here everyday on my trip. I just might!

Excellent food options here! Very warm and cozy family style restaurant. Superb quality and affordable price point.

+4

We were in Monterey on a work trip last week. The week before we were in Washington DC and I had a conversation with a woman who worked in SF as a Social Security judge. When I told her we were heading to Monterey the first place she told us to go was The Monterey Fish House. "You have to go!" The trip happened to fall on my husband's birthday, so we went that evening early with no reservations. If you want to get in before the dinner rush my advice is to get there before 6 pm. After that people start pouring through the door and many wait at the bar or outside waiting for a table. The restaurant itself is very intimate, comfortable and friendly. It's very clean and decorated without being at all pretentious. The staff are incredibly attentive and responsive, you'll want for nothing even if the place is full. We were excited for a great dinner for my guy's birthday, and we weren't disappointed. We started out with oak grilled oysters on the half-shell (AMAZING. Found out the they were Hama Hama oysters grown right where we live, we enjoy these oysters every summer up here in the PNW! Excellent choice!) and crab cakes (absolutely delicious). We followed up with grilled artichoke and seafood pasta and oak grilled sea bass with vegetables and pasta. To say both dishes were amazing is an understatement. The white sauce over the artichoke/seafood pasta blew me away. The seafood included was scallops, clams, mussels and prawns. All fresh and delicious. My husband's sea bass was great, we shared bites of each other's dishes. The portions were very generous, the wait for food was fast. The presentation was great, really top-notch. I have to thank our waiter Tony, he was so good at his job. He often checked in to see how we were doing. The other gentleman (who's name I didn't get) was also incredibly attentive and kind. He heard my husband mention that it was his birthday and pretty soon our chocolate mousse came out with a birthday candle and the entire wait staff singing "Happy Birthday." A wonderful and memorable night! We also chatted with a couple of gents from Ireland on a road trip up the California Coast. We loved the conversation between bites. We did come back the day before we went home and had another incredible dinner. All the same raves as above. Our chatting partners this time were a couple of lovely local ladies, a mom and daughter, celebrating the birthday of their husband/father who had the birthday of 04/04/1924. I would be very happy if my relatives we celebrate my birthday every year at The Monterey Fish House to remember me! Until we visit again, thank you!!! ❤️❤️❤️🐟🐟🐟🐟❤️❤️❤️

Omg! It's phenomenal! Our waiter came and said "we got a lot of specials today, they are..." then we just witnessed a 30 seconds rap and that's amazing! Lol. The oak grill oyster is unbelievable! We ended up ordering two. At the beginning, the cocktail source 'll rush to your mouth, followed by the wasabi flavor which last for about 5 seconds, then here is comes the fantastic oak wood grilling flavor. Your journey then will end up with the juicy oyster which almost like you're eating a cake. Omg, so good! Pasta is fantastic! Just check out my photo that shows how incredible the shrimp is. The shrimp is explosively crunchy and has a bouncy texture. Not gonna lie, this is probably one of the best shrimp I have ever had in about 5 years. Pasta is excellent too. Too much to say... just try it :-) The BBQ baby octopus is a little bit salty in my opinion, but it's still very good.

+1

I've always wanted to try this place since there's always a line outside all the way to the parking lot on weekends and holidays. Finally able to try their lunch so we started off with the calamari starter, the kids had clam chowder on a bowl, wife ordered shrimp pasta, I tried their Father's Day special Seafood with Artichoke pasta. All of them tasted good, our favorite was the calamari and the pastas. We would like to try the dinner menu next time we come back.

Went on a Monday night and there was a wait to be seated; it was absolutely worth it. Our server was extremely helpful and friendly, offering many suggestions. The house-made pasta is fantastic and the sauces and seafood that go with it are just as great. The atmosphere is fairly loud and lively. Highly recommended!

Food was amazing, we tried both the fresh & grilled oysters (fresh was better in my opinion but I’m real biased) , and had 2 specials of scallop linguine in creme sauce and 1/2 combi of crab ravioli + crab cake. The fresh pasta was absolutely stunning, pasta was cooked al dente and the creme was creamy yet not toooo rich, and the crab cake looked like any ordinary patty but it was so flavourful and packed with crab meat! Came in on a weekday night and the queue started to pick up real quick around 8pm!This place is a real hit & a must-try if you’re in the area!

+3

We were very fortunate to have driven by and spotted this restaurant. We were dreading having to go down to the waterfront areas and figure out or pay yet more high prices for parking. It was my husband's birthday, so he was hungry for great seafood and this place hit the spot for that and service. I don't think I've ever seen a more well run eatery, like a well oiled machine from our servers to the hostess multi tasking. Thanks!

Great food! Excellent service! Lovely decor! The oysters are really plump and good! The chicken was delicious! The waitress and other staff were very attentative, always asking if we were okay and topping off our waters and clearing the table. The prices are very reasonable considering how busy the restaurant is. We got there right at opening hours, so there was a line out front, but we got a table, no problem. It can get a little loud in there, but we sat next to a table of ten, so it might not be normally overwhelming. I would say reservations are recommended.

This place is fantastic and I can see why it is a favourite of the locals. Great food, excellent service and the staff really know there stuff when it comes to the food. Can't say enough nice things about this place!

O my gosh this place was absolutely killer!!!!!! I would highly recommend, the service and the food were both excellent. My wife and I came to Monterey for a date weekend and we love this place. When we pulled up the place was packed so we knew the food was good. We sat at the bar to sit down quick and order, the bar tender was also the oyster shucker. A very friendly gentleman who says he has been working here for 20 years. We ordered the oysters on the half self and they were huge! Also the oysters were fresh and had that good salty water taste. We both ordered a cup of the clam chowder delicious and for our entrée she ordered the prawn pasta and I got the crab ravioli. Everything was excellent! If you are looking for a place to eat please do yourself a favor and go to this restaurant.

+5

WOW! The oysters are the best I've ever had. They are so big and delicious, I could only eat 6 of them and I was full. The dishes they serve are huge as well. The service was great, prompt and courteous. The atmosphere was nice but not hoity toyty like some others in the area. Not a large establishment so go prepared for a wait.

Best shrimp bisque I have ever had. Oysters from WA were huge and good. Noodles and red diablo sauce stole the show. I had a seared ahi steak, a little too Smokey for my taste. Service was phenomenal despite long waits. I would have hated to have waited in the huge lines outside. We showed up 5 minus before their 5PM opening, were almost seated immediate but still had to wait about an hour for food.

+6

Really enjoyed dining at this fish house. Tiny place. I was seated quickly at the bar despite it being very busy right after opening. Service was quick and friendly, food arrived quickly and was delicious. You can tell it is a spot with a lot of regulars.

10 out of 10! The restaurant service are nice! The seafoods are amazing! We asked if we can have 3 raw 3 grilled oysters instead of 6 grilled, and they agreed! The oysters were big and delicious! We also ordered seasonal seafood artichoke pasta and alaskan halibut. The portions are enough for two!

This is a great diner place! Free bread, a lot of specials, and great seafood of all kinds. And oh boy they don’t skimp on anything. Big appetizers and huge salads, and their wine pour is the heaviest I’ve seen! Highly highly recommend if you’re in the area. Only thing is they do close a little on the early side, 8:30. And watch out for the prices of those specials, delicious but very pricey.

Had dinner at Monterey’s Fish House and really enjoyed it. The restaurant was busy even on a weeknight, which is always a good sign. Service was great—friendly and efficient. Ordered the grilled swordfish, which was cooked just right and had great flavor. The sides—veggies and pasta—were fresh and well-prepared. The bread with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pesto, and Parmesan dip was excellent. Food came out fast, and everything was exactly as it should be. Would definitely come back.

We were in Monterey for 3 days and 2 nights - came here for two dinners and two lunches because their food is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The portion sizes are extremely generous and the seafood and pasta is fresh and delicious. Highly highly recommend.

+1

We sat at the bar and our server was amazing. He was extra attentive to my elderly father. Each of us tried a different dish and everything was amazing. 10/10 The best food I've had in a very long time. You could put a blindfold on and pick something off the menu and be delighted. Local, fresh and so yummy!

Hitoshi Watanabe (Kevin)

Thank you very much for fantastic food and atmosphere. Every food is amazing. Especially, grilled oysters is supppper good. We have a chance for eating it many time. This grilled oysters is best one in my life. No fishy smell form oysters. We love it! We would like to visit again!!!

+5

Nicholas Ong

Delicious fresh seafood at a reasonable price. First time I came across a restaurant that you can order any wine by the glass from the whole bottle wine list and be charged 1/4 of the price. There is a line forming from 5pm when they opened and the wait time is quite short. Seafood is excellent but their homemade pasta is average. Many locals and tourists enjoying fresh seafood as well as grill lamb rack and steak. Service is friendly and genuine. Portion is also generous. We went for dinner both nights we were in Monterey. Highly recommended.

+2

Kseniia Lutsenko

The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the service is exceptional. The food is not only delicious but also very satisfying. The oysters are impressively large, and the portions are generous, making for a fulfilling dining experience. Highly recommend!

Nicky Nelson

This was my first solo meal on my first solo vacation I’ve had in a long time and the staff was so welcoming and friendly. I sat at the bar and met a local and her and I and the bartender just chatted the whole time. The food was AMAZING. 10/10 will come here again. I got the steamed clams appetizer, the swordfish meal, and the tiramisu for dessert.

Daniel Montes

Loved the environment in here. The staff was on point and the food was delicious. Sat at the bar and received excellent service. Bartender knew the menu and specials like the back of his hand and the special of the day did not disappoint just like he guaranteed. All the seafood tasted fresh and the homemade pasta was amazing. Will definitely be coming back when I’m in the area. Local restaurants, take notes!

sophie Liu

This is the best seafood restaurant I’ve ever been to in my life. They serve grilled oysters cooked over a special wood fire, deliciously crispy fried calamari, and a richly flavored tomato soup with generous toppings. The grilled oysters were so good that we couldn’t resist ordering a second round after finishing the first. Every single dish was absolutely delicious—there wasn’t a single miss! The walls are covered with awards they’ve won year after year, which gives you a sense of trust and comfort. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, just like visiting a local’s home. It’s such a shame I’m only a tourist—if I lived here, this would be *my* go-to restaurant for life!

Mary-Ann Ortiz-Luis

We have not been for a while. We were craving their oak grilled oysters. Carlos promised they’re meaty and fresh today. And they were! We had the halibut for our mains. I asked for a simple grilled treatment with salad instead of pasta. Carlos gave me salad and veggie sides. The halibut was tender and cooked just right. My haiband asked for the halibut to come with a lemon caper sauce. He requested for a marinara sauce on his pasta. He said the fish was excellent. He also enjoys their vegetable sides. So great to be back!

LOOOOOVE this place. The artichoke seafood pasta is the best pasta I’ve had in my entire life. Run don’t walk and order it. The grilled oysters 🦪 were unbelievable.

+2

We had a great lunch. Off the beaten path. Local prices. Good service. Fresh fish. Enjoyed the lunch. Easy parking. Old school

+6

S H

We had grilled octopus, oysters, snappers and clam soup noodles! They are all very delicious. The bread was refilled without asking. My husband has a restriction on carbohydrates intake, and they suggested to replace it with all vegetables which is very nice.

+1

Todd Johnson

Asked the locals where to go, heard multiple recommendations for Monterey’s Fish House - they were right! Excellent meal, terrific service, way beyond our expectations, this place is the real deal!

+6

If you want a fantastic meal with great service and an even better vibe then this is the place! On a three day golf trip with some friends we ate here all three nights! The first meal (special sea food pasta) was amazing so we kept coming back. The oak grilled oysters, grilled artichoke, grilled tuna and any specials are absolutely fantastic! The bartender, waitstaff, hostess, and servers are super friendly and provide excellent suggestions. I will be coming back to the Fish House again and again!!

Ken Emery

I am happy that I discovered this restaurant while looking for a place for lunch. Service was both friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. I had two lunches here, and each time the restaurant filled up fairly quickly after opening. On my first lunch I had grilled oysters and the VIP seafood salad from the special menu. For my second visit, I had the grilled halibut fresh catch special, which was especially tasty. The only change I would make if I were to order again would be to skip the pasta and request extra vegetables. The restaurant appears to be more of a locals restaurant, since it is away from the touristy area of Monterey.

Dominique Space

Totally recommend coming here for great service, cozy atmosphere, delicious fish, huge oysters, and fantastic pastas (which you can replace with salad, rice, even fries!). I don’t typically eat pasta, and it’s never an issue! They are happy to help! A place we’ve returned to 3x… Highly recommend!

Arturo López

We had dinner here without making a reservation and didn't wait at all. Valerie was our server and she was great! The same for the food and wine. We'll definitely come back to try other dishes and dessert!

John Wiest

Eat where the locals eat. Really fresh oysters, halibut, swordfish and so much more. Not fancy elegant food, but deliciousness, friendly funny wait staff and "can't possibly pour more wine in the glass" wine by the glass (local and quite reasonable). Away from the tourist strip. If you love good honest food, genuine professional service, nice wines, this is your go to!

+2

Wow! Was recommended by a friend and it didn’t disappoint! Make a reservation and show up on time, it’s worth it! The beer selection was nice and way better price than you would expect in Monterey. Had the crab cake and crab cake ravioli special, as well as the calamari steak parmesan. Right after we left, my wife and I talked about going back again :)

Woukd definitely recommend making a reservation, because this place was packed even on a weekday. Great service and atmosphere, and the staff were kind enough to answer several questions about the menu, there are a lot of options! The food was delicious, would highly recommend.

I don't know when I've seen restaurant staff work so hard and be cheerful and pleasant! We stopped on a whim, checked reviews, chose to wait for seats, and were not disappointed. Large portions, attractively presented, and delicious! The French fries were crisp; the smoky flavor on the grilled baby octopus was yum, with the pasta a perfect match; the zucchini had a smoky flavor also, (with perhaps some oyster sauce?) With perfect texture. And, we didn't have to wait around for the check, which was nice since we had places to go. You'd never guess from the outside of the building what a great meal you'd get!

jeff chou

Wonderful seafood restaurant! Service was outstanding, atmosphere was welcoming and the food was amazing! We drove by many times and had always see a long line in front of restaurant. We finally decided to try it. We arrived Sunday at around 5:15pm, got seated right the way. I had the Sicilian Holiday Pasta and wife had the oak grilled salmon. The pasta came in a large soup bowl filled with chunks of salmon and two other kinds of fish, clams, octopus, calamari, mussels, prawns and pasta. Warm, hardy and delicious. The grilled salmon with pasta were also very tasty. The portions were large, really good value for the price we paid. We will come back again.

Billy Yee

Right away we were greeted, seated and menus in hand. Service was too notch. Cioppino, fish n chips, chowder, raw oysters were for lunch. Excellent taste and quality food. We were very satisfied with our meal. We were the first ones at the door and shortly after it was starting to get packed and it was only lunch time. I've heard stories were people waiting hours to be seated during dinner service. So to have a quality lunch there was best option. They do close between 2pm and 5pm. I highly recommend this place. Even if it's during lunch. Same food and freindly staff.

+3

The place is small but cute and extremely busy during certain times of the day. I’m mainly posting because I had the best calamari steak of my life and felt like that should be shared. It was lightly breaded and was amazingly tender. Everyone at the table was shocked by how tender and delicious it was. I’d go back for it!

Food was great and service was great. Made reservations and was seated right away with a party of eight.

food was great and service was great. Made reservations and was seated right away with a party of eight.

Food was great and service was great. Made reservations and was seated right away with a party of eight.

Food was great and service was great. Made reservations and was seated right away with a party of eight.

I excellent service and delicious seafood! This was a highly recommended seafood restaurant, a local favorite.

I excellent service and delicious seafood! This was a highly recommended seafood restaurant, a local favorite.

Excellent food with plenty of specials. Very accommodating. Pasta is made fresh and cooked perfectly Al dente. While very crowded, service is excellent! They do take reservations. Never miss this g…

Very good food. Very reasonably priced by the areas standards. crab ravioli & big crab cake with veggies, about $39. Enough to take home as well. Artichoke pasta good. Rack of lamb with veggi…

This is a local restaurant that serves a very fresh authentic meals. It’s a family owned restaurant they all work together and the Evan flow is worth watching. The wines are very reasonably price…

We arrived just at opening time mid-week with no wait time, and the restaurant was not crowded, but gained a good business as the evening went on, showing the popularity of this establishment wit…

My husband and I went for lunch and it was great! The service was great and the food was excellent! We had oak grilled oysters and grilled snapper! Highly recommend!

My husband and I went for lunch and it was great! The service was great and the food was excellent! We had oak grilled oysters and grilled snapper! Highly recommend!

This is a fabulous restaurant - fresh fish perfectly seasoned, great variety, yummy sides, friendly staff. Don't miss this place!

Why is it so popular and always a line? The reason is the place is awesome. wait until you hear the nightly specials before you make up your mind off the menu. The best service at your table in …

Why is it so popular and always a line? The reason is the place is awesome. Wait until you hear the nightly specials before you make up your mind off the menu. The best service at your table in …

I've been here twice now, once during outdoor COVID times and once now during the after times, and enjoyed it greatly. The food portions are stupid large for the price point, the service sitting at…

Awesome little family spot with fantastic food and service! Large variety of mostly seafood for dinner, but other options are available. Service was superb. Fresh oysters were super good as well.

Went to this little fish house on a recent trip to Monterey. It’s a little further away from all the Monterey wharf and aquarium activity but worth the drive. Didn’t have a reservation but restaura…

Best meal we had in Monterey …best value for what we got and delicious!! Other restaurants we ate a meal at were overpriced!

Food was excellent. My wife and I shared the special, consisting of scallops and linguini. Service was prompt. Everything was fresh. Small place, limited seating. wait of 45 minutes. Worth ev…

ok, not fancy tables. BUT great food at reasonable prices. I had the Monterey Halibut. It was tender and flavorful. Normally I am not a fish fan. The Sicilian Calamari is a great flavorful sau…

Turned up without booking and had to wait 30 mins. The wait was well worth it with great food and atmosphere. Would recommend to anyone

Loved this place. Line might be a bit long but it's so worth the wait. I loved the yummy cioppino and the warm ambiance.

Food and service was great. Definitely recommend the baked mussels. My only complaint is that even though we had a reservation, they still had us wait about 30 minutes before seating us

A surprise find. We scoured Yelp, and found two top choices. We walked to one of the choices next door to our hotel, only to find it's vacant of guests and so-so outside appearances. We decided to hop on the car and drive 10' to the other choice, Monterey Fish House, which turned out to be an excellent Italian Seafood place. The venue was packed with guests on a Tuesday evening, already told us the quality of foods and services. We're impatient to wait and hoped on the bar, which was again a surprise choice. We're tended by Matthew, who was an excellent, energetic bartender/server. He not only made the best recommendations but also constantly observed and replied to our needs. Don't sit at the table, pick the bar and ask for Matthew next time you're there. Our orders are: Sicilian Calamari, Linguini with artichoke/seafood, Lobster Soup, and Cioppino.

Rated below: 1) Food price 2) Breakdown of each meal 3) Noise 4) Seating We had the Sicilian Holiday Pasta and the Halibut special. Sicilian was $31.95 Halibut was $36.95 Both dishes were incredible! The Sicilian was a tomato-based soup with a variety of fish: clams, mussels, calamari, prawns and octopus. A bed of linguine made for a wonderful all-in-one meal. The Halibut came with multiple cooking options and I chose the server’s preference of almond crusted. The penne pasta had peppers, onions, mushrooms, green beans, zucchini and one more that I forgot the name of. The crusting was perfect and the fish was delicious and could be cut with my fork. The liquid sauce base provided more juice and flavor and overall a fine, sweet tasting fish. The Parmesan on the pasta was an added option (free). The volume from the restaurant was busy and medium loud but not too loud. The music playing was a little unusual but not terrible. The seating was tight but not too crazy. It was the two of us and we were seated right at the entrance: 5-6 feet from the door. There was one long bench with four tables for couples to sit across from each other. We had a good conversation with the couple beside us but definitely no real privacy for your own conversation at that proximity. Seating in this spot is terrible if you don’t like cold wind coming in every time the door opens, and it opened a LOT! The couple seated at the window next to the door got the worst of it, and we never removed our puff jackets because of this problem. If possible, get a reservation or wait for seating deeper into the restaurant. It’s not a big place and they make it work as best they can. Overall 5/5 for food 3/5 for volume and music 2/5 for seating It’s worth it for the meal, but maybe in the summertime or at a better (warmer) table location. Would eat here again, but will get a reservation if possible.

The food was delicious!!! I came here with a few buddies on a Friday for dinner and we beat the crowd, very busy. I ordered the Artichoke seafood soup and I really enjoyed the flavors. I Tried the baby octopus, It was ok but had to grow on me. My buddies ordered the crab Ravioli and salmon dinner and they both loved the food. The service was excellent and fast, I didn't have to ask for any refills because there was always someone there to help are table. Excellent food, I will have to come here again.

Food and service were overall excellent. Excellent fried calamari! Battered just right with the right amt of salt. Crab cakes were average and I personally wouldn't get this dish again. Artichoke seafood linguini was the best: mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops were cooked to perfection. It's not on the menu and cost $35. Servers were friendly and attention.

The rib-eye was good. The Misses is not a seafood fan so she tried that and really liked the oak smoke flavor. I tried the salmon Diablo and a cup of the clam chowder. The salmon Diablo was spicy as advertised, but not overly so. They left the salmon on top so i didnt have to go looking for it. I have had better clam chowder and worse...The free bread was not fresh. The service was really good. It was a packed house it took about 30 min to get a table. The place was a little undersized for the amount of people that wanted to eat there.

My wife had the grilled Sea Bass. It was definitely a winner. Mild fish cooked to perfection. I had the whole dungeness crab on linguine. Fresh crab was perfect, marinated in soy. It's definitely not a choice to eat unless you know your dining companion well! Wear the bib! Plan on a longer dinner. My wife topped it off with a Pasa Robles chardonny. I had the coffee, which was excellent. Beware! They do not take reservations & open promptly at 5pm for dinner.

+2

Great seafood restaurant. We have been numerous times when visiting from San Jose. We had steamed clams appetizer, Pacific halibut and scallop seafood pasta. Good portions, great service, very fresh and tasted great. I highly recommend it.

Had a pleasant experience at Monterey’s fish house. They have an extensive menu with lots if different options for seafood lovers which made it hard to choose. Service was amazing. Their pasta is house made. We had the crab cake appetizer but unfortunately it was mostly fillers and little crab which was shredded. No lump crab meat. Artichoke seafood pasta was on point. Freshly made linguine with fresh seafood in a light creamy sauce. Crab ravioli was nicely prepared in a tomato based sauce. However the filling was lacking crab flavor.

Pretty popular spot. A lot of elders, but I could tell if that's just the town. Parking is easy and service is great. I would recommend getting any pasta except the one I ordered, which is sea bass, and get the whole fried baby calamari for the table.

Andrew Schwafel

After several attempts, we finally got a wait time of less than an hour. The place is quaint with an extensive menus, and the staff are hopping. My family loved the large oysters and shrimp. The clam chowder was more of a cream of potato with a few clams. I appreciated the al dente veggies on a separate plate from my ahi tuna steak. However, i would not recommend the honey almond crusted ahi tuna. The size was good. The taste was very bland, almost the tasted of plain oatmeal. The texture was fine, and it was cooked more than the medium I ordered.

Kay Jay

Folks are friendly and helpful. I love the feel and vibe of the place. Prawn pasta is a must try. Love it completely. I think there are other things to try as well. But give their clam chowder a miss. Crab cake is not bad, but probably a little too moist for some.

+2

Great overall experience, but a busy, popular place. Crab cake was good, shrimp bisque was ok. Sadly no oysters. The swordfish was very good. The pasta, however, was soft. I would avoid it. Someo…

Great overall experience, but a busy, popular place. Crab cake was good, shrimp bisque was ok. Sadly no oysters. The swordfish was very good. The pasta, however, was soft. I would avoid it. Someone…

Great overall experience, but a busy, popular place. crab cake was good, shrimp bisque was ok. Sadly no oysters. The swordfish was very good. The pasta, however, was soft. I would avoid it. Someo…

Food was decent and tasted fresh but a few dishes tasted slightly bland (clam chowder). Ravioli crab pasta was good with the bread dipped in the sauce. Service was amazing though, our oyster appe…

Sicilian Holiday pasta was hearty, delicious; great mouthfeel. I don't know this well, but this felt like a cousin of the cioppino. $33 for the privilege, however that seems to be the going rate fo…

Went on a Monday and was surprised it was packed and bustling. waited about 5 minutes for them to clear a table. Ordered the calamari and seafood artichoke pasta and was too full to try one of thei…

Came here during my getaway from the City, and was surprised on how similar the cuisine was compared to others was. I arrived around 7PM and had to wait a good 45 minutes before getting a seat. The…

Really lovely meal at the fish house. We got oysters, clam chowder, and crab ravioli to split. Everything was quite good! The staff were really kind and welcoming, and the place had a very cool v…

We wanted to love this restaurant. My son had seen it on Diner Drive In’s and Dives. There was a line to get in..but we ended up talking with others and it was a beautiful night. It smelled wonderfu…

As you'll probably read in many other reviews, this restaurant is a tad off the beaten path and is an old house. The ambiance reminds you more of a diner than a nice restaurant, but that's the only…

Really fun, older spot. We had bbq Artichoke (yum) and oak grilled Oysters (double yum), The bartender was fun...been there for 19? years.

We had a 5:00 reservation and arrived at 4:55, there was already a small line at the door. The doors opened at 5:00 and we were seated immediately. Clemente delivered water and bread, followed by …

The best part of the dinner were fried calamari and the fresh oysters. The fish plates were very under seasoned and underwhelming. Fish cam overcooked too. Sadly, we won't be returning any more. Maybe just for oysters.

Food was mediocre. Vegetables, pasta, and fish were all overcooked - I assume all/most of the ingredients were precooked - it was like buffet food. Fish (Monterey halibut, special) was under seasoned though improved with a bit of salt. Based on other reviews and (good) pictures I do wish I tried oysters and one of the pasta dishes instead. Service was very good. Servers worked as a team to keep things moving which I appreciated. Polite, attentive, friendly. Fun decor - might be too much for some, but I liked it.

Heard great reviews about this place. However I was disappointed. Admittedly the ingredients were fresh and servings very generous. However the cooking was not great. The best dishes were the oysters. Unfortunately the pasta was over cooked and mushy. Great value but pretty average food.

+3

This is a tough one to rate tbh. We waited for nearly 2 hours to get a seat on Monday night when we were told it was going to be an hour. Stuff happens though and if people don’t leave we can’t sit so I personally can’t be to hard on that if it’s out of their control. That being said standing around for that long is still a bad experience so it’d be nice if they worked on that. They were out of oysters which was disappointing because that was why we went in the first place. If you can’t get enough or they sell out though it is what it is so again can’t really hold that against them. The food overall was very good, well seasoned, and well cooked. We unfortunately had a couple issues. The mussels they have are very expensive compared to most places and you only get 7. Out of the 7 one of ours was dead/didn’t open which is a potentially dangerous thing to serve someone as they could eat it and get sick or it could just be full of mud. There’s only 7 in the pan so I don’t understand why they weren’t checked better. One of our party had fish and unexpectedly got a few big bones in a random bite. Luckily no choking so we didn’t bring it up but you shouldn’t have to worry about that at a fish house unless noted. The fish and sides were warm/cold which was disappointing but the flavor was very good and it was cooked well. I’m assuming they cooked it in the wrong batch and had to wait too long for the other dishes to finish up. Probably should’ve tried to get it warmed up but we were so hungry at this point so didn’t bother. The other dishes were nice and hot however and absolutely no complaints. Their homemade pasta is fantastic. I think we’ll go back to at least try the oysters but it was definitely a mixed night and not sure how to feel about the experience. Their pricing is decent compared to others in the area, the flavor of their dishes is amazing as well and most everything was cooked very well but the issues we had really put a sour note on everything.

Johnathan T

Let me start off by saying, the service here is spot on amazing, all the staff is super friendly and accommodating. Now, for the food, we come here once every year when driving through this part of California as it’s always been amazing, but we went on 8/9/25 for dinner. We ordered: Fried calamari- $19, was a little bland, no seasoning really, usually the batter has some tasty seasoning but this was just plain calamari. Needs improvement. Clam chowder- $14, terrible, no flavor, bland, very water, only a few(5 pieces) of clams in a bowl size. I rarely send food back at places but this one, I had to send back, because it was not worth the 14 bucks. Crab cake appetizer- was good, only comes with one piece for $20 about the size of a hamburger patty. Rib eye steak- $33, meat was tasty, meat was a little on the tough side even when cook a little more then medium. Cioppino-$31, always a favorite, was delicious all the way, perfect size, can even be shared between two people. So, I hope the owner see’s this review, something has changed here, I feel like someone is dropping the ball in managing the kitchen chef’s. This restaurant used to be spot on with the food all the way but when it comes to making clam chowders, you need all the staff to taste it and speak the truth about it because this clam chowder was no where near what it used to be. Also, me and my wife ordered the mind haze beers and they brought us 2 pilsners beers, I did not send those back because I did not wanna seem picky after sending back the clam chowder. So I would say the owners need to be on top of this place, I even heard a few other patrons mention the food was not as good as in the past, so I’m not the only one with this opinion. I hope they make changes here, seems like things went a little down hill here for the prices. This is more likely our last time going back here and will explore other options when visiting Monterey area.

+1

SeeTheWorld

We went here for the first time and my food was disappointing. I had the crab cake sandwich and my husband had the calamari sandwich. The $26 crab cake sandwich had no flavor. Honestly, I expected better. My husband's sandwich was better than mine. The calamari was tender and there were 2 generous slices. I don't think I'd go back.

+1

For the area, the pricing is tremendous. The service was very good. The food was just meh however. Good sized portions but the ribeye and shrimp were tough and everything on my plate drowning in some…

For the area, the pricing is tremendous. The service was very good. The food was just meh however. Good sized portions but the ribeye and shrimp were tough and everything on my plate drowning i…

For the area, the pricing is tremendous. The service was very good. The food was just meh however. Good sized portions but the ribeye and shrimp were tough and everything on my plate drowning in so…

For the area, the pricing is tremendous. The service was very good. The food was just meh however. Good sized portions but the ribeye and shrimp were tough and everything on my plate drowning in so…

Overall the experience was mediocre to okay, but with how much hype that this venue has it felt disappointing for what I was expecting.\n\nWe had a reservation which was a MUST because the line out…

We went here for the first time and my food was disappointing. I had the crab cake sandwich and my husband had the calamari sandwich. The $26 crab cake sandwich had no flavor. Honestly, I expected be…

We went here for the first time and my food was disappointing. I had the crab cake sandwich and my husband had the calamari sandwich. The $26 crab cake sandwich had no flavo…

We went here for the first time and my food was disappointing. I had the crab cake sandwich and my husband had the calamari sandwich. The $26 crab cake sandwich had no flavor. Honestly, I expected …

We ate at Monterey Fish house on a Tuesday evening. It was very busy, which should have been a good sign. The calamari appetizer was good. The crab cake appetizer was a little over cooked on the bottom. 3 of the 6 of us ordered the scallop pasta and were very disappointed. The pasta was good, but the scallops were undercooked and had a bitter metallic taste to them. When we brought this to our server's attention, she simply said "I'm sorry" and took our plates. When the check came (by way of another server, btw) it was unchanged (full price for all dishes and drinks). We then asked to see the manager. When he came to visit with us, we explained that the scallops were not as expected. He then asked us, 'when the server asked you how your meal was tasting, did you bring this to her attention?' We replied that we hadn't tasted the scallops at that point. Which was true. He then referred us to the owner of the establishment. We are supposed to call 4 days after the fact to discuss the issue with him. However, the manager would not, in the meantime, work with us in any way. We left very dissatisfied. I would NOT recommend.

Honestly pretty disappointed with our experience here, especially after reading all the good reviews. We ordered the clam chowder, oak grilled oysters, Sicilian holiday pasta, and the special menu's artichoke pasta. The appetizers were our favourite part of the meal. The chowder was tasty, and made us regret getting the cup instead of the bowl. The oak grilled oysters were warm, tender, and had a smoky taste, and I thought they were worth trying. If we had only had the apps, I would've been happy to give 4 stars at least. Unfortunately, we found both pastas to be underwhelming. Both the holiday pasta and the artichoke pasta are seafood medley pastas, with the holiday pasta being more broth-like, and the artichoke pasta more creamy. I thought there was a decent variety of seafood in the pastas, but I wasn't too impressed with the taste/presentation of either. I also thought the artichoke pasta in particular was completely overpriced for what it was. The holiday pasta was the most expensive pasta on the regular menu at $31.95. I think it's reasonable for this pasta to be more expensive than the others given it's the only seafood medley pasta on the regular menu. The artichoke pasta on the other hand was $39.95. And also, because it's a daily special, its price is not listed on the menu. I see no reason why the artichoke pasta would be nearly $10 more than the most expensive pasta on the regular menu, especially when both of them are seafood medleys. Coming from New York, I'm used to seeing high restaurant prices, but I still found the artichoke pasta to be unreasonably overpriced.

My girlfriend, a friend, and I visited on a Sunday evening for Mother's Day. Despite the place being packed, we were seated within 10-15 minutes. The service was nothing short of incredible. Darwin, our server, was amazing and made excellent recommendations. The menu features Italian fare with a focus on seafood and pasta. I ordered the special, oak-grilled sea bass, along with the oak-grilled oysters, as suggested by Darwin. The oysters had a nice smoky flavor, but unfortunately, they were marred by a lot of shell grit, which made them less enjoyable. My sea bass was overcooked and tough, lacking the flavor I had hoped for. The highlight for me was the house bread service, which was tasty. My girlfriend and friend both had the ribeye steak, which we all found to be mediocre at best. While the food didn't quite hit the mark, the service was impeccable. However, given the quality of the food, I don't see myself returning to this restaurant.

+1

Camille

Wait time: We were told that the wait time for this restaurant was 30 minutes, turns out we waited for an hour and 15 minutes out in the cold. Giving a more detailed time, we got to the restaurant at 6:50 and got seated at 8:05. Service: When the 30 minute mark came up, we asked the girl (Matron D) with the red hair for an ETA on the wait time, she was being broad and we came out with us still not knowing an answer and wanting to leave. She also flipped to the page, where are our name was written down, and everyone’s names were crossed out, EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO CAME AFTER US was seated before us. I think this is unfair treatment. When we sat down, the waiter came and we told him we were ready to order, instead of taking our order, he told us a bunch of options - basically restating the menu- and we were confused because we just wanted to order. Food: Since we weren’t familiar with this area, we thought the wait was going to be short and ended up staying. The clam chowder came really fast and it was delicious. The bbq baby octopus tasted like charcoal. The clam pasta was soupy, and the pasta was very hard- as if it was undercooked and hard to swallow. The highlight of this dinner was definitely the salmon, although very pricey ($39) it was crispy on the top, juicy on the inside, and it was soft. I don’t know if it was the day, but they were out of stock on a lot of things like the swordfish, muscles, and more seafood. Although I don’t have a picture of one of the other foods we ordered (a hamburger), it was burnt on the side and very well done.

I have been coming to this restaurant for years. The food is excellent, servers are all amazing, BUT the hostess, Juliana, is ruining the image of this restaurant. She is very rude and unprofessional…

I have been coming to this restaurant for years. The food is excellent, servers are all amazing, BUT the hostess, Juliana, is ruining the image of this restaurant. She is very rude and unprofession…

Receptionist forget to put my name on walk in list. Wasted an hour waiting for nothing. Horrible not going back again

The clam pasta was awful, it's a dish that's pretty hard to do poorly. This looked like a bowl of soup. The broth tasted like plain clam water! No seasoning at all, it was not good.

Some of the worst food I’ve encountered. Not sure why there’s hype or a line for this place. It’s literally hospital food. Everything was bland. The only exception is fried calamari and crab ravioli. Everything we ordered: - Steamed Clams - Fried Calamari - Sauteed Mussel - BBQ Baby Octopus - Clam Pasta - Clam Chowder - Crab Ravioli - Oak grilled oysters The linguine was super thick and unpleasant. We ordered the steamed clams ($20) and it was probably like 10 clams, all of the meat was fallen off. Such a scam. It’s the same thing as the pasta except with significantly less clams. Clam chowder is probably prepackaged, it had a stale flavor and no clams or bread bowl. Oak grilled oysters had shards bc it was poorly shucked, and inconsistent sizes. The wifi service is also terrible and restrooms were dirty. It took us like 10-15 mins to even get our order in (prob bc it was packed). There was a ring of gray grime on the toilet bowls. I had to pump like 7 pumps on the soap bc it was so thinned out. Do not waste your time or money on this place. Anyone recommending it doesn’t have tastebuds.

e been to this place in 2019, and the experience back then was quite good, so I took my family to this place again recently after returning from a camping trip in Big Sur. I remembered back then I enjoyed a red seafood soup dish, but I didn't remember its name. The waitress suggested it probably was Cioppino, so I ordered it together with the daily special artichoke seafood pasta and some oysters. The oyster was good. The pasta was also alright, except that I didn't find any artichoke in it. However, the "Cioppino" was nothing like what I remembered. I received a red soup pasta with some tiny shrimps in it. It has virtually no taste. At first I thought maybe I didn't describe it well, so the waitress recommended the wrong dish. However, when later I searched Cioppino on yelp, the pictures showed the same thing that I ordered back in 2019. In the end, I discovered that they switched over our order with the next table's order. The pasta that we received was in fact clam pasta, and the soup was fish house pasta. When we reported the issue, the waitress suggested no remedy apart from asking us if we wanted to order more. There was even no apologies. This was ridiculous. In the end, I paid for the wrong order. BTW, the fish house pasta was $25. It was so terrible that I don't think it worth even $10. I wouldn't go back to this place again.

Order Fish and Chips and a bowl of Clam Chowder and spent around $36. Got back to work to enjoy and to my dismay I got what may have been a half a cup of Chowder, not a bowl, and burnt beer batter with no fish. Called to speak to the manager and he told me to bring it back so he can look at it. No I apologize, no consideration just bring it back so he can look. Unfortunately I have to finish my workday and didn’t have the time to drive back to prove the point he needed. Extremely disappointed being a local and eating here regularly to be treated this way and have food served in this manner.

ATTENTION: THIS WILL SAVE YOUR ASS! Yes of course, we followed the yelp and google reviews and decided to have our lunch here. We ordered the oyster pasta soup and fish which all taste good. But this is just the beginning of the nightmare!!! It’s the poisoned apple to Snow White!!! Once after I finished the meal, we continued our way to Carmel. And I started to have lots of smelly gas which I don’t often have it. I have to frequently open the car window on the freeway to make the air fresh in the car. Then my family got diarrhea in the night we arrived in airbnb. Then after two days, I got 100F and diarrhea in the night and I am sure it is the seafood issue because the other family members who had the dinner together with us didn’t have any problems. Please avoid this restaurant unless you don’t care your stomach and smelly gas and fever due to the seafood poisoning!!!

Food was very expensive. Cioppino was large portion but acidic. Sourdough bread was blah. My fish was fishy not very fresh. Outside seating was cold and windy. Inside was packed with locals sitting 1-2 per table. Wasn't worth the hype or the drive away from Monterey Bay aquarium. Just stick to downtown or somewhere else. Service was super bad like they never seen Asian people before. Won't ever come back and I don't recommend this place at all.

'It Takes 1 Time To Make A Good Impression' Our 1st impression was disappointing 😞 At 1st Cesar was attentive. Then he forgot about us. We felt overlooked & ignored. He forgot about our drinks the 2nd time around. (Looks like he was the waiter, bar tender, boss who's main goal was to hurry up & close up) My raviolis were cold. Ciopinno was watered down. Our bill was not right. Before leaving I used restroom & it was out of order. We just walked out w/ no Ty come again feeling 😪 This was on our bucket list for many years. Left Disappointed.