Giovanni's Fish Market And Galley

This place is always my go-to whenever I’m in the area. The service is quick, and I really enjoy the patio seating by the water—it’s a relaxing spot with a great atmosphere. However, I was a bit disappointed with the fish and chips. I expected fresh, locally caught fish, but it turns out they use frozen Alaskan halibut or cod. It didn’t quite meet my expectations for a coastal location. The calamari was tasty, but the portion was small for the price—especially when compared to what most restaurants offer as an appetizer. It was also served with a heavy portion of fries, which felt like filler. Overall, I’d rate the food 3 stars. I added an extra star for the clean restrooms, pleasant outdoor seating, and the overall vibe of the place.

They’re best known for their clam chowder, so I had to see what the hype was about. I ordered the clam chowder, and while it was decent, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. The flavor leaned heavily toward celery, which overpowered the clam taste, and the portion was small for the price. Nothing memorable there. We also got a seafood combo with octopus, fish, calamari, and scallops, plus chips. It was solid — everything was cooked fine and seasoned okay — but again, no wow factor. The garlic fries were probably the highlight for me: crispy, flavorful, and definitely worth grabbing. My daughter got chicken and chips. Heads up: there’s usually a long line, and it moves slowly — not because of the staff (they were efficient), but because a lot of people stop to ask a million questions. Also, note that there are two lines on both sides of the building, which can be confusing if it’s your first time. Overall, it’s a fun spot to try once for the experience, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to return.

Nice view and dog friendly patio. Fish and chips were good. Tater sauce a little strange. Clam chowder was great! Cole slaw nothing exciting. By the time we left there was a huge line. Seems to be a popular place w locals too. Enjoy!

This place is amazing 10 out of 10. A great market with reasonable pricing with great selection and variety of seafood. They also have a great restaurant that serves delicious clam chowder and amazing poke!! And I mean amazing the pokey is so good. It’s one of my favorite places to get pokey and I always make sure to stop and get a bowl whenever I’m passing through. Today we stopped and grabbed a piece of smoked salmon, some shark jerky (made from thresher shark, which was pretty good) and my favorite salmon candy, (which is kind of like a sweet salmon jerky). Staff is really nice and welcoming. Highly recommend it to anyone in the area.

Great spot for seafood! Half a crab was so fresh, comes with cup of clam chowder and garlic bread. The bread was so garlicky, soft and delicious! Also got the ahi tuna poke bowl and it was ok, a lot of rice, and I didn’t any extras to it.

First time here, life long 805er! I do have to say this place was pretty good! I had the Tuna Melt with the garlic fries and my son had the Clam Chowder with the Sourdough bread bowl. I've never had a tuna melt before, it was pretty good. My son said the chowder was tasty too. I dig the outside seating and the fact they have a 15% MILITARY DISCOUNT!!! Hell yeah, I always look for places that offer this and let others know too.

We ordered: halibut & chips, shark nuggets, and a California bowl. The halibut was good! I wish the California bowl had more protein but I still enjoyed it.

I wanted to take my time with this review because they deserve careful consideration. Every time I cruise through Morro Bay, I make sure to stop by Giovanni's. Honestly, I've never ordered anything I didn't love from Giovanni's. From the shrimp cocktail to the shrimp nachos, and the fish and chips to the poke bowl, everything is amazing. And don't even get me started on the crab quesadilla... I can say without hesitation that I had the best fried calamari that I've ever had here. If you like seafood, I'm confident that you can order anything from the prepared menu and won't regret it. But if you really want to do Giovanni's right, step into their market (with the giant clamshell out front) and order some fresh seafood to snack upon throughout the day and take home with you. You can't go wrong with the salmon bellies. My only regrets are the prepared menu items I haven't tried yet, like the grilled halibut sandwich, which I will be back for soon.

Great service great place and the food is actually really good, can't think of a better vibe to eat some food as well

We went on a Sunday afternoon and there was no line. There is a large parking lot and bathrooms in the back where you can choose to sit waterfront. Delicious and fresh seafood and reasonable prices. I really enjoyed the dozen fresh oysters, oyster and chips, fish and chips, snd calamari! I would definitely go back again.

Unfortunately I wasn't a big fan of the food. It wasn't terrible but we really just didn't enjoy it. There was only two people in front of us, but it did take a lot time to order and then to get our food. We got the clam chowder and it wasn't bad, but I wouldn't order it again. Same with the calamari but I think it was better than the clam chowder.

I liked this place. I got the shrimp burrito, and it was great. Very filling. Tons of shrimp. And the shrimp are flavorful. The place is right next to the water, which is great. The french fries were excellent. I wouldn't say it was the best shrimp taco/burrito I've had in my life, but good. Next time, I really want to try their smoked tuna fish sandwich, but they were sold out today.

Giovanni... Besides having Crabs... (Don't worry they are just Dungeness) You've got: Two i's... A pair of n's An ending "i" that could be construed as an "e" i.e. "Gio-Van-EE" Get it? An A, An O.... All YOU are missing is a U! Well you know what Giovanni... What you lack in vowels, you make up in delicious, deep-fried goodness. Practically everything on your menu is fried.... Heck even your desserts are fried!! And what's not fried is... Grilled, Chilled or Easily Filled! Let me break it down for you: Fried & True -Fish & Chips (or you can get) shrimp, halibut, clams, scallops, oysters or calamari. -Popcorn Shrimp -Chicken Strips -French Fries, Onion Rings, Corn Dogs. -Crispy Chicken Sandwiches & Tuna Melts. Fried Desserts: Churros or Deep Fried Oreo's. Fire up the Grill -Grilled Fish including Halibut, Snapper, Salmon. -Burritos including all of the above, but also shrimp, snapper, and even steak. -Burgers or Sandwiches with a variety of seafood options. -Oysters on the 1/2 shell Let's Chill -Fresh Seafood Poké Bowls -Shrimp Cocktail -Side of Coleslaw Fill'er Up! -Clam Chowder (available in a cup, a bowl, a Quart, or a Sourdough Bread Bowl) -Fountain Soft Drinks -Beer & Wine And remember earlier when I mentioned that my boy Giovanni has crabs... Well, it's true and he proudly displays them... Right out front for all to see. Just don't touch em' or they might bite cha' Dungeness Crab available to purchase and send directly to your home or you can enjoy some crab right on the spot... -Crab Cocktail -Crab Quesadilla -Soft Shell Crab -Steamed Crab Special (1/2 crab for $29, Whole Crab $49) This comes with clam chowder, Garlic Bread & Melted Butter. As for the Ambiance... You are right on the water overlooking The Morro Bay Rock! Plenty of tables out back and there is a net overhead to keep out those pesky seagulls away. There is a fish market up front where you can purchase locally caught fresh fish and seafood! We had lunch here with the family and enjoyed walking around afterwards looking at all of the shops, the waterfront and of course the ginormous Morro Bay Rock. If you come to Morro Bay and you love seafood, come check out Giovanni's... All he is missing is U!!!!!!

This is by far (and unexpectedly) my favorite poke spot. You order from a small window and sit outside or take it to-go. It's a little on the pricy side with the "make it aloha" option (which is essential imo) tacking on an extra $3. However, the fish is as fresh as you can get it and they heap it on generously. I opted for their shark nuggets on my last visit and they were definitely a must try as well. They tend to get pretty busy on weekends and holidays, so if you're planning to get only poke or other raw seafood during your visit, you might find a smaller line inside the connected shop.

As Kendrick Lamar once said, "she a fan, she a fan, she a fan." I've eaten at every seafood spot along the coastal walk of Morro bay since I moved here a year ago and this place is my favorite. Crispy fries. Clam chowder with more clam than potato. The fish n chips are crispy. Soft shell crab sandwich is a crowd pleaser. No notes.

I went on a mini road trip over Veterans Day weekend and was looking for some popular foodie locations. This place happened to be one of them! I went here on a Saturday around 12:40pm and there was a long line! The line was about a 15 minute wait in line. This restaurant only has outdoor dining at their outdoor patio, but it has a view of a popular rock called "Morro Rock." Giovanni's is a touristy location in Morro Bay and it's known for their clam chowder and also their fish and chips, so I knew I had to get some! We ordered the Sourdough Bread Bowl Clam Chowder, Fish & Chips, Cup of Chowder, and Garlic Fries! The chowder was filled with meats and potatoes and the bread bowl it came in was seasoned too! The Fish & Chips were very crispy and seasoned enough to give it a slight flavor. The Garlic Fries were also hot and crispy too which I enjoyed. This actually might be my new favorite place to get clam chowder and I've been to a lot before! I'd recommend this place! All the food was good and freshly made! I also loved how hot and crispy everything was.

The locals said this was the best place for clam chowder, so I had to try it out. I got a bowl of clam chowder and the combo calamari with a garlic fries upgrade. The food was good and very fresh, but the calamari was a tad bit too oily for my liking. This market is right by the water, so it was nice enjoying my food with the breeze and a lovely ocean view. Overall, it was a good experience! The service was superb!

So helpful! I'm making paella for NYE while camping. They helped with how much and where local grocery store is. Such a clean gun place. I wanted to stay all day!!

Me and the hubby have been to Morro Bay several times and we finally stopped at Giovanni's to eat lunch before heading back home. Thankfully when we came the line wasn't to long because as soon as we finished eating the line was growing and growing! We checked into Yelp and we both were able to get a free small clam chowder. I ended up ordering the bbq oysters ($19) and garlic bread ($5.99). I didnt realize I would get so much garlic bread lol it was abundant( enough to share with at least 3 people) and delicious with my clam chowder. The bbq oysters had good flavors but I guess I'm not a big oyster person and the texture wasn't my favorite but it's definitely a personal preference. There was plenty of seating facing the water which was pretty and our food took about 5-10 min to be ready.

My second time coming here and it was a great experience very fast and very clean around the area. Watch out for this bird he will grab your food and don't care what it is. But the food was food and the service was great would come back here again if I come to Morro Bay

Quintessential Morro Bay experience. It's your typical no-frills order at the counter and seat yourself outside. I got the clam chowder bread bowl and the yelp check-in free 4oz clam chowder. Great flavor and the sourdough was delicious! I wish the bread bowl was bigger I found it strange that they offer thresher shark nuggets. As a certified scuba diver who spent $$$ to dive with these sharks in their natural habitat, please do not order this and let these beautiful creatures live in peace

OK, I stand corrected! I posted a review yesterday and said the clam chowder I had at Splash in Pismo Beach was some of the best I've had. Well, the clam chowder at Giovanni's is better! It's a little creamier, a lot more of the clam flavor, and it's not just in a bread bowl (like Splash), but a sourdough bread bowl. We also had the scallops & cole slaw and it was good, but not as good as I was hoping - the batter took away from the scallops. An added bonus, if you Yelp Check in at Giovanni's, you get a FREE cup of their clam chowder :-) We stopped in around lunchtime, and parking wasn't too bad, nor was the line at Giovanni's - maybe 10-15 mins. There is plenty of outdoor seating in front or out back and out back you get a nice view of the Morro Rock.

Clam chowder was really good, except I was not feeling too well, had a migraine so couldn't enjoy too much. The garlic bread paired well with the chowder, it's a small enough meal to do the job, fill you up and keep your belly warm. The oysters were absolutely wonderful (bf said so!). I didn't try but took his word. The cup of coleslaw was my favorite. Good stuff, authentic by the sea, fresh seafood meal. I love the outdoor seating arrangements, it would be nicer if they had outdoor heat lamps. I love looking out at the hues as the sun began to set. The reason I gave 4 stars because customer service could use some work. They're not very warm and welcoming and the young woman who took are order was very robotic, cold and aloof and just sliding our cup of clam chowder lids and it dripping on the sides without wiping them. Just sayin'

Food: 2/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Forgot to take a picture of the clam chowder, but it was creamy, piping hot, and best of all, free (see tip below)! If not for the clam chowder, I'd be giving this place one star. The crab quesadilla at 20 bucks was disappointing...fresh crab alone should be delicious, but the quesadilla was utterly BLAND, and there was barely any crab in it. Don't think I'd come here again. The views are great, but you don't even have to make a purchase to sit here. TIP: Check in on Yelp and get a free cup of clam chowder (if you make a $10+ purchase) - one of the best check-in deals I've seen.

Great spot for large groups of multiple parties. Order at the front or back window. Clam chowder and onion rings were delicious. They also have a fresh fish market as well inside. On the water location near the harbor with lots of boats. Sea lions were fun to watch from there too.

Liked the local fish very much. Terrific fries. Chowder not so much (a bit bland). Shark sand dabs too dry/chewy. Great views of the water! Very casual pickup window service.

Do not order the shrimp cocktail. $12 for a small cup of mini shrimp with no cocktail sauce. See photo. Don't do it. Inside they have a fish market where they label what's locally caught so I suggest ordering those options. The snapper sandwich was good and you can tell the snapper (locally caught) was fresh with natural tastes. The fish and chips was tasty too, pretty standard. The shark nuggets are an acquired taste, the texture is very tough but there is a unique taste to it. They also have poke inside and live crab and lobster. Of course the live seafood is very overpriced so beware. Has plenty of outdoor seating. It's right on the pier so have a good view of the bay. Service is quick and kind. I suggest stick with ordering the fish.

Came here on a Saturday afternoon and waited incline for about 15-20 mins before we got to order...and did we over order. Opps. There was four or us and each person got their own combos... which we definitely could've shared 2 orders. We ordered 2 of the combo & chips, Oyster & chips and extra order of fish & chips and an order of garlic bread to go with the free cup of chowder when you check-in. Timing was perfect after we ordered cause we got outdoor seating. And the food was ready in 5 mins. Super fast. Everything came out hot of the fryer. Garlic fries were amazing better than the infamous ones from a certain city with a big festival. Iykyk. We basically had to pack up 2 meals to go with the cup of chowder cause it was just a lot of food. Will definitely go back for the garlic bread and chowder bowl and try maybe the halibut & chips.

If you're in Morrow bay you have to check this place out. There's plenty of restaurants in the area but this one is always popping! This gives you the classic shore-side fish market vibe with a view of the water. It's your classic California in a movie vibe. The crowds go crazy for this place and rightfully so! Their seafood is so fresh and delicious! Pretty much anything off their menu is amazing! Of course - being by the water I opted for a clam chowder and it was so yummy!! Perfect size, texture, temperature, everything!!! Their fried snacks are also a hit - not overly greasing and well seasoned. Perfect place for families, friends, or even a date ;) Highly recommend checking this place out if you're in the area!

Found this place off Instagram as everyone does these days. First we started by going inside and tried some delicious samples! Service was 10/10 inside! Staff were so friendly and charismatic. Next we went outside to order our food and naturally had to get a clam chowder bowl and oysters. Clam chowder bowl was so good! Wish I could have another right now and the oysters were a little mid. There was still sand in them and that kind of ruined the oyster experience for us. We also got fried shrimp with fries and that was pretty good and filling too. I would say this place is a staple!

Might have been the best clam chowder bread bowl I've ever had! Absolutely delicious. Just be prepared, if you come on a busy day, to awkwardly stare down people until they leave and you can jump at their table on the patio, it's first come first serve and poppin'.

**Visited on 7/24/2024 Stopped by to meet up with friends and a quick bite. There's two locations to order here, the main window being by the water and the 2nd window near the Main Street. We ordered at the 2nd window since it was less busy and there were plenty of tables available. It was pretty sunny out despite the cool weather, so the umbrellas really helped since it's outdoor seating only for this restaurant. When ordering, the staff was incredibly kind and accommodating when we asked a few questions. OKAY THE FOOD: * Calamari & chips - it wasn't bad, the fries were good and crispy, however the calamari strips were a little different than what I had expected when ordering calamari. There was a decent ratio of calamari to fries, and I honestly give it a 7/10 :) * poke bowl - it was pretty tasty (according to my bf), though be careful with the amount of spice you order for your meal. Their firecracker level seemed very intense (this is coming from my friend). We added avocado and seaweed salad, for extra charge and was surprised at the amount we got. The poke bowl was a 7/10 as well :-)

This is a fun spot right on the water with a nice view of Morro Rock. We ordered our food at the counter, picked it up and sat in the back and enjoyed the views. The food was great! We ordered a lot of fried food, and all of it was tasty.

Great view of the marina and Morro Rock! Order up at the window and find a seat. Hopefully you find one away from the aggressive birds. The crab quesadilla had way too much cheese and only bits and pieces of crab. I would skip this one. The bbq oysters in garlic butter was delicious! I tried the fried fish tacos and was unfortunately disappointed. Bland and lacked all kinds of seasoning in the batter. Deep fried oysters were super duper oily. I felt my arteries clogging up. I removed most of the batter. The service was excellent, though. Staff was ready and attentive. Wait times weren't that long and it was a great view of Morro rock so can't complain too much. The weather was great too!

This is one of those places you take a weekend trip for. The service, the classic shore-side fish market energy, the chill California vibe, and of course the iconically delicious food. I changed my mind about 5 times before ordering and would have ordered a large amount of food if I'd been with a crowd. Go family style if you can & take it all in. We were in Morro during the 2024 Kite Festival, which was windy as all get and pretty crowded. We didn't make our way to Giovanni's until our way home from the beach, and I'd recommend it - it was a nice way to close out the weekend. My mom ordered the Grilled Cod Sandwich, which I ended up eating half of. It was a light meal & one I would definitely have ordered if I didn't go for broke with the Combo Seafood & Fries meal. Deep fried scallops, shrimp, fish and calamari rest upon a beautiful pile of freshly-fried French fries. Everything was fresh and fried to absolute perfection. Enjoy with a large soda and a mild sunburn. I'll be back as soon as I can.

First things first, that red umbrella has got to go lol - it's giving all our photos a red-filtered effect on our mouthwatering meal pictures! Nevertheless, the food is outstanding, self-serve, and the staff members are helpful A+ Side note - can you guys come up with a better seasoning for the shark nuggets

It could be a hit or miss but people seem to love this place. Going back and fourth between a 3 or 4 star... As it's always busy and the line could take a long while to order. This visit we actually got lucky as line wasn't that outrageously long. Mind you we showed up around the time they were open. Don't get me wrong, you do have your array of seafood selection which is what they're known for. As there were a few of us, we just went with a couple of dishes to share. The fried oyster, the mix plate with fries, poke bowl, garlic fries, shrimp cocktail and a dozen oyster. Honestly everything was just whatever. Nothing to rave about. The fried oysters which I heard so much about was just ok. The mix plate with pretty much fish, shrimp, calamari and scallops. Scallops and shrimp were great, fish, couldn't even tell it was fish. Though it was calamari strips. And you have calamari, which is pretty a given. The poke bowl was actually good. Oyster when came out, there was only 10 instead of the dozen. They did correct it when we inform them. Shrimp cocktails, bay shrimp was just whatever as well. The hype does bring people back but it could be a hit or miss on what you order. Majority of our dish was fried which tends to be great but this visit it wasn't what we expected. I'm sure the frilled items maybe different as well as steamed. We did notice that when you check in, you get a chowder which we did it later after receiving the food and didn't want to line back up in line. Overall, people flock here all the time as ones are extremely long and take a while to order. There tables seating both in front and along the waterfront. They're doing what they're as people keep coming back which is a plus. Plus wise, it was ok.

Delicious local seafood lunch spot. They're open 11am -6pm daily, and the line starts forming well in advance. There's a Yelp check in deal for free chowder. What caught our eye at first was the shark nuggets. They're made of Thresher shark and very light in flavor, but once you add lemon and tartar sauce, they're pretty tasty. The Fishwich is the best traditional fish sandwich, and the fries are double fried and amazing. Definitely a must stop while at Morrow Bay.

So impressed with the food here! Everything tasted extremely fresh and delicious. Got the combo poke bowl which comes with both tuna and salmon & I chose to make it spicy. It was really tasty; I think they tossed the fish in some sort of chilli crisp sauce. The portion of rice was also hefty which made the bowl very filling and worth it for a base price of $15. You can choose different add-on ingredients for extra cost, but the base bowl comes with green onion, onion, and sesame seeds. Also got a full dozen of oysters in half shell for $20 which is a good price compared to neighboring businesses! Super fresh too, but the oysters aren't very big. We ordered inside the market and were greeted by a very nice man. He took our order and brought it out to us later on the doc. Originally only gave us half a dozen oysters even though we ordered a full dozen, but he was super quick to fix the issue after we notified him! Great outside seating area with a good view of the water. Birds & seagulls may be bothersome but nothing too serious. It's good to note that Yelp lists the market to be open at 9AM which is true, but they only start serving cooked items at 11AM!

Yummy! Stopped by here on a trip down to Morro Bay. Prime location right on the pier with great views of Morro rock and the sea lions! Nice casual dine in spot. The outdoor dining area is open to the public too- no purchase needed. Staff are nice!! Order first at the window and then you can site outside or inside. Got the fish and chips and also the poke combo bowl with spicy mayo. The poke bowl was okay... not the best I've had but not bad. The fish and chips were definitely the star! The fish batter was so light and crispy- one of the better one's I've ever had. The fries were basic but nice and crunchy! Got the free bowl of clam chowder with Yelp check in. Got the bottom of the pot since it was right before closing so it was loaded with potatoes and clams. Soup was definitely on the thicker side- not my favorite but not bad. Worth a try if you're in the area!

Giovanni's has a special place in my heart, even though I've been there only once my experience was nothing short of awesome. The service truly gets a 5 stars. We called to see if it was possible to come pick up our food just a little past closing time, and usually- it's a no. It was our first time trying this place out from a recommendation and we wanted to try it VERY BADLY, so they made an exception which we were immensely grateful for. In some cases the service can justify subpar food however this was not the case either! Not only did they give us this one chance, the manager (I believe) also made all of our bowls right as we got there, ensuring the freshest quality. They also didn't skimp on utensils and napkins All three of my friends ordered the salmon poke bowl, ALOHA STYLE. It gets a 10/10, the salmon tasted so fresh and buttery. Portions were also the best I've seen in the area for sure. But, what really was the highlight, was that sauce. SO GOOD. The ambiance of the whole place is also just so lovely, right on the coast so you can enjoy your food with an amazing view. So yeah, great experience I would definitely come back again and again!

After two days in a row of disappointing experiences at some other seaside seafood joints, Giovanni's nailed it for lunch. You can stand in a longer line for ordering and seating on the bay side, or choose the shorter line in front and eat street side. We went with the view. The line moved quickly and the order taker was super friendly given she was taking what was probably the 100th similar order of the day. We went for a cup of clam chowder, a salmon poke bowl and some combo & chips. Clam chowder: Totally on point. Great flavor and good chunks. Not too thick. Should have gone for the bowl. Poke Bowl: Did it aloha style. The bowl was big. All of the proportions were correct. The salmon was excellent. The combo n chips was also very good, with the fish and the scallops being perfect. The shrimp was good, as were the fries. The calamari got a bit overdone, but that is tough to get correct in a mix of fries. I would absolutely go back again.

by the time that my family and I made our way here for lunch, I was all fished out. I had been eating fish for almost every meal for the past week. I thought some chowder would be good though. I had to have that and some bread. so, naturally, I ordered the garlic bread. OMG. Had I known it would be SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good, I would have ordered more. it was so toasty and so buttery. I loved it. the wait time to order was a bit but that helped me because it took me forever to decide what I wanted. the rest of the family ordered fish and chips, a sandwich of some sort, etc. We easily spent $120 here, a family of 4. it was worth it. I just wished I'd ordered more garlic bread. I hope we return soon. it was such a nice time here, especially with the patio seating having been covered so that birds can't swoop down and steal your food from you. the netting is doing its job, for sure. pro tip: If you pay with cash, it's a lil bit cheaper than if you use card!!

Totally empty cause we went end of November but still was super nice weather out! The first & chips were delicious, light batter on the fish and hot fries. Also the tartar sauce was fantastic too. I was happy to still get hot and fresh food even with it not being summer or busy at all.. Overall it was a bit pricey but still would go back again because of the freshness and quality. Nice spot in the Morro Bay harbor! And don't forget to watch the sea otters too!!

We liked Giovanni's so much we decided to come back before making the trek home. I'm not sure what happened... the service and the food this time was not as good. Our garlic butter bbq oysters had a bunch of shell in them. The salmon poke didn't taste as fresh. We tried the fried scallops and they were really good. I really wish it would have been consistently good like the first time we visited.

Great food! Piping hot clam chowder, tasted delish. Bread bowl was toasted and yummy! Not pretty, but good :)

Great food good service food was great love this place. Close to the pier to see the sea life

A by the pier seafood soup. The order line is usually very long, there's also an "express" on the other side but the menu is slightly different, mostly without the south of border and sandwiches. The poke bowl is ok, a bit too salty. The fish sandwich was excellent, as well as the bake oysters. The burrito was huge but sadly the rice inside was only half cooked. Overall if you stick with the fried or grill seafood, you probably has the best experience.

Giovanni's Fish Market is a classic spot to visit when on a trip to Morro Bay. Overall, the food is great and the location & scenery right on the bay is tough to beat. The clam chowder is delicious, and the fish & chips always hit the spot. After coming a few times, I find that it's better to come when the line isn't too long if possible. I've had a few dishes become hit-or-miss in those crazy peak hours, and the seating situation can be a bit challenging. Nevertheless, you have to come to Giovanni's Fish Market at least once on your trip to the Morro Bay-area. Parking is possible on/near the restaurant, but it's honestly better to park in one of the public lots and walk over since all of the foot traffic can make it a bit hectic when trying to leave. I would say if you're coming to Giovanni's definitely make it a long trip to factor in both the potential line but also to take in the awesome relaxing views!

Located in the small town of Morro Bay. There's only about 5 parking spaces here, but you can find street or public parking lot, unless you are here on a busy day, then it's going to be an issue. Just be aware that there are 2 order windows. The one by the dock usually has less people because most people are lined up in the front window. Make sure you check in to Yelp to get a free 4oz cup of clam chowder. I ended up ordering the bread bowl, 6 oysters and fish and chips. They accept credit cards/ApplePay. Once you order, they give you a pager and will buzz you when your order is ready to be picked up at the window. I noticed that they put a slice of butter on top of the chowder. I did notice that the bread bowl is smaller than Splash Cafe's. But the bread does taste better here. The chowder is good, but Splash is still better. They definitely add something here and I want to say it's Old Bay. It's not bad, but does give it a different savory taste here. The oysters were definitely fresh and did not have any fishy smell or taste to it. You get 5 pieces of fish which has a good light batter on it. The fries was actually the stand out here. They were seasoned well, light and crispy. Overall, I wouldn't make the drive out here just for this place. But it has a fantastic view of Morro rock from the picnic tables. I'd rather go to Splash Cafe as they have mussels/clams and their chowder is better. Plus, Splash doesn't charge for soda refills. Here at Giovanni's, they charge .50 for refills.

There's a reason why Giovanni's is rated as one of the best and why the locals recommend it. It's that good! We ordered fish and chips, calamari and chips, and fish tacos. Both of the fries in our meals were upgraded to their garlic fries and I would definitely recommend this upgrade to everyone! The fries are crispy and have a good amount of garlic butter on them. But be forewarned...this upgrade meant they put the fries in another basket which means a lot of food! Both the fish and calamari were lightly battered and deep fried until crispy. And again, they give you a lot of both! The fish tacos were also deep fried and had some cabbage, crema, pico de gallo, and mild salsa on the side. Very tasty but very filling too. All of these were reasonably priced too! Give them a try...you won't be disappointed

Great fish and chowder they charge pretty good prices so I don't think they should be adding a percentage on just because you want to use a credit card that's a turn off to me

this is the spot the locals go to for seafood, and i get why. the view of ocean and morrow bay rock, the relaxed atmosphere, and fresh seafood. i wanted the local catch which was halibut when i went in april. the halibut tostada came with two tostadas, and they were filling. there wasn't much spice, but sometimes gringo mexican food is fine. the person taking the order was helpful in letting me know which fish was local catch.

Best thing we ate while visiting. I got the grilled snapper sandwich and my husband got the grilled swordfish sandwich. I got coleslaw and he got the garlic fries. Food tasted dress and portions were good sized. The patio what's a great view of course. The only semi "con" which is more of a tasting preference is that I wish the coleslaw had less mayo and more vinegar, and, my husband said the fires were over-fried and the garlic was over powering. But I still ate the coleslaw and put it in the sandwich for more flavor and crunch. Yum. I would recommend and return if in the area again.

Outstandingly fresh seafood. Right off the boat. The clam chowder is to die for. The poke bowl was the star of the show. So fresh. The views if the rock are a amazing and well worth the 15 min wait. Skip all the tourist traps and eat where the local go! Giovanni's for the win!!

Delicious chowder! View of Morro Rock. Sea lions lounging on docks right near the line!

Returning visitor Plenty of outdoor dining Dog friendly patio Friendly service View of Morro bay and the infamous rock Fresh tasty oysters - fried ones highly recommended Battered lightly Crisp Plump Juicy Easily shareable The garlic fries - golden crisp not greasy plenty of garlic Parmesan balance Souvenirs galore to purchase along with fresh seafood Always a must for me when visiting Morro bay Cash and card accepted ! Come early ! Lines can happen!