Passionfish

It was our first time here, was recommended by a local. Went there on a weekday evening, and it was moderately busy. The ambience inside was nice, the host welcomed us in, and sat us at our table. Our server Paula took great care of us, and there was another server who took great care of us, with Paula whose name I didn't get. Now coming to the food, the Fried Calamari was great, as someone who tries calamari everywhere I go, it was really good, fresh, and melted in our mouths! The Duck Confit was another highlight, it was perfectly delicious, and the smoked chile potato cake that came with it was extraordinary, it was just so good!! The grilled shrimp was just okay. Overall it was a good experience, and would def recommend.

One of the better meals we've had in the Central Coast area. I had heard amazing things, but even with that expectation we were blown away. The scallop appetizer was wonderful, the lamb was perfectly cooked, and the desserts were incredible (particularly the chocolate torte). Will surely be coming back!!

We celebrated a special evening at Passion Fish in Monterey on August 15th with my friend who flew in from Texas. After a day of strolling around town, we wanted to treat her to a truly memorable meal—and this place delivered in every way. The restaurant was spotless, the atmosphere welcoming, and the staff struck the perfect balance: attentive without being pushy, deeply knowledgeable about both the menu and the wines, and so kind that you instantly feel at ease. The food was simply incredible. We shared several dishes, and every single bite—from appetizers through the mains—was full of surprising, perfectly balanced flavors. We’re all pretty spoiled when it comes to good restaurants, and lately I often feel disappointed eating out, thinking I could have made it better at home. But not here—everything was outstanding. Passion Fish left us delighted and grateful, and it’s a spot we’ll absolutely come back to. A perfect Monterey gem to share with out-of-town guests and celebrate life’s moments.

After two weeks of driving across California and trying countless spots, this was hands down the best meal we had. Every dish was fresh, packed with flavor, and beautifully presented—clearly made with care and attention to detail. The service was just as impressive. Our waitress was fantastic—knowledgeable, warm, and incredibly helpful with the wine selections. She really elevated the whole experience. What made it even more special was the thoughtful touch from the staff. They had read our booking notes and went out of their way to make our engagement celebration feel truly memorable. It was a perfect evening from start to finish. Highly recommended!

Fantastic food and service!! We had the Beet Salad, Duck Confit, and Scallops. All were very tasty!! We also had the Maple Bourbon Banana Bread pudding, which we ate before taking a pic! Highly recommended!!

Cannot wait to come back and enjoy! Definitely gonna tell all my friends in LA to come on their NorCal trips! Not only was the food outstanding, but the service was also top notch! Great job! 💯

Passionfish delivers an elevated yet approachable dining experience, perfect for a special night out by the coast. The vibe is warm and sophisticated without being stuffy -- think soft lighting, coastal charm, and a hum of lively conversation. Service was polished, attentive, and well-timed, with knowledgeable staff who are very professional with handling food allergies. Sea Scallop: Perfectly seared with a golden crust and tender center, paired with flavors that highlighted its natural sweetness. Spoonable 12-Hour Lamb Breast: Fall-apart tender, rich, and deeply flavorful -- pure comfort with a gourmet twist. Duck Confit: Crispy skin, succulent meat, and a beautiful balance of savory and slightly sweet notes. Panna Cotta: Silky, light, and delicately flavored -- a refreshing end to the meal. Mud Pies: Decadent, chocolatey, and indulgent without being overly heavy.

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

Passionfish has been on my to try list for a while, and so glad we finally had a chance to visit. Reservations highly recommended. I can never pass up biscuits and these were excellent - crispy outside, flaky and light inside. So yummy we had to order another one. Heard they sell them frozen. If only there was a freezer in our hotel room . . . Started with the beet salad and sea scallop. Hubs really enjoyed the beet salad and thought it was light and a good way to start the meal. The scallop was also yummy. For entrees, hubs ordered the halibut - very meaty and filling. I went with the Arctic Char special - love the crispy skin and the combo of the fish with the fennel and that citrusy sauce. We noticed every table around us ordered dessert so knew we couldn't pass it up. We couldn't decide so we ordered the mud pie and the banana bread pudding. The mud pie was very reminiscent of an It's It. Great way to end our meals. Service was also excellent and all the dishes were nicely presented. Would definitely return the next time we're in town.

The food is so fresh! The spicy fish stew is yummy - if you enjoy the heat. Loved the scallop with truffle tomato butter. The staff is so friendly and welcoming! We celebrated our anniversary and they gave usa free dessert. Great place for fresh food and incredible wine selection! Wonderful ocean pics - great vibe to the place.

One of the better meals we've had in the Central Coast area. I had heard amazing things, but even with that expectation we were blown away. The scallop appetizer was wonderful, the lamb was perfectly cooked, and the desserts were incredible (particularly the chocolate torte). Will surely be coming back!!

A wonderful dining experience! Very welcoming and delicious food. Asked for recommendations and got it. The bubbly was crisp, dry with a hint of apple. The biscuit divine...so buttery and crispy. The beet salad delicious with a light dressing, butter/candied nuts, blue cheese cream with beets over arugula. The scallops were done to perfection...fresh, crispy on outside, soft and moist on inside. The poached lettuce and onions with rice were the perfect accompaniment. Too full for dessert so need to return!

This place is truly excellent. I was looking for something in the area with seafood but not one of the touristy places, and Passionfish fit the bill. I did make a reservation ahead of time with Yelp. When we walked in around 6:15 on a Saturday, it wasn't super crowded, but by the time we left, people were waiting outside. This place is more spacious inside than it looks from the outside. The menu is very seafood-forward. I had a hard time deciding exactly what I wanted, but I went with the scallops. I was really glad I did. They were cooked perfectly with a sear on the outside but tender inside. The vegetable side with it was delicious, as was the creamy rice that came with it. My mom got the vegetable tajine that looked good, though I did think they should serve it in a tajine if they are calling it that! This would be a good dish for vegans. Also, the beet salad was excellent. I was too full for dessert, but the desserts looked really interesting. Curious about the Roquefort ice cream! Service was good though they took away our salad forks and didn't bring entree forks automatically, and had to ask for them. But the server was easy to flag down.

Delicious and beautiful restaurant. Came for a special evening and was friendly greeted and seated. All the items were great. We started with the biscuit and crab salad which was more spicy than we expected. For the mains we ordered the scallops and duck confit which were so yummy! Overall an amazing experience. Thank you team!

What a beautiful and elegant restaurant. The food looked fantastic, unfortunately their menu didn't allow for many options for my wife to enjoy due to her gluten allergy. We sat down and she was given a special allergen menu that helped identify what was safe. There were options, but all of the most appealing dishes were not safe. We ended up leaving and enjoying a nice meal down the street at a fish spot that had a huge range of safe options. I love my gluten, so I don't blame them for making the food the way they like it. I just wish the safe options were more plentiful.

I wished I liked Passionfish but it was a miss. My friends and I were able to book a dinner reservation over MLK weekend and despite being a very popular restaurant, it was not at capacity surprisingly. What excited us the most about the restaurant was the sustainable sourcing and the upscale but casual vibe. While the servers were very attentive and polite, the food missed the mark. We loved the warm Brussels salad but the buttermilk biscuit, despite raving reviews, was too dense and overly buttery; the rainbow trout was delicate but we had no warning about bones still in the fish; and the clam linguini had the right amount of clams but the flavor was off. I am glad we went but left disappointed. We did not try the wine so maybe that would have elevated the meal/experience.

This is our second time here, and Passionfish did not disappoint. The menu looks pretty similar to the first time we came in November. The first time we were here, we only got 1 of the buttermilk biscuit, and we couldn't stop thinking about it. The sea bass and the albacore tuna were also delicious. The server was very attentive and met all our needs. We would definitely come back again if we're in the area.

We were truly disappointed as visitors from SoCal, and it was a special birthday celebration to top if off. We were truly looking forward to fresh market fish and an amazing experience. After reading the reviews and the website, our expectations were high. The Let Down - Dungeness crab salad was a tad bit too spicy - Albacore tuna entree was soggy and didn't look fresh, and all the ingredients within the dish didn't pair well, including a lack of presentation. The tuna lacked a red, shiny, and translucent color and had a feeling it was frozen. - Sea scallop entree, same as above, poor presentation and overall dish pairing wasn't good. The savory rice custard was horrible....it reminded me of hospital food. The Service - The table next to ours got a complimentary surprise desserts for their anniversary and birthday, but why did we have to pay? I'm not trying to be stingy, but if you saw that happen next to you, I'm sure you would question it too. - The server didn't ask why the main entree (tuna) was half eaten, and overall, she just lacked authenticity. The Positive - Nancy's buttery buttermilk biscuit is amazing - Ambience is clean but with tight seating - The staff did clean up the empty plates quickly Parking is easy around the perimeter or in the front if you're lucky.

Trout and Duck Confit were delicious! Definitely get the biscuit which is flaky like a croissant. Restaurant was filled by 7:00 PM on. Tuesday evening. Service was good (clearing the plates, refilling the water) but the food delivery was very slow.

I'm pretty much set on coming back here every chance we get to be in Monterey for dinner. What an incredible rarity of a restaurant! I'd chosen it for its focus on sustainability and didn't realize just how lux yet approachable it would be. Such fresh, fun combinations of colors, textures, flavors, especially in our apps. The biscuits, which I'm told they're famous for, were famous-worthy. - sea scallop, caper-raisin-walnut relish, artichoke risotto cake 15 - smoked trout ceviche tostaditas, cashew pesto, spicy salsa brava 13 - nancy's buttery buttermilk biscuit 4 Entrees were delicious and so satisfying - I had a tough time deciding but chose seafood because when in Rome. I've always been a fan of scallop but omg I fell head over heels for scallop here. - rainbow trout, sweet potato-wild rice sauté, cardamom syrup 25 - sea scallops, tomato-truffle butter, poached lettuce, savory rice custard 38 The mud pie was simple but sooo good. The wine selection was a surprise only because i hadn't done proper research - they're known for their incredible wine selection, close to retail price. Their wine list is super fun and you can really go wild. You can actually feel the passion from their menu and it'll rub off on you! - mud pie - glass of bubbly - glass of skin contact - bottle of chilled red/white blend (we took half home) Service was outstanding. It was also crazy affordable - under $200 for alllll that before tip? I don't know how they do it.

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

My goodness, the calamari here fantastic. It was so tender. The breading is very light too. Also their biscuit was also a standout. I had the lamb chop special, because o can't resist lamb. 3 good sized chops. I did get to sample one of my wife's scallops and it almost made me wish I had ordered that, but not quite.

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

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

Most amazing dinner experience! Best dinner ever! Let's first talk wait staff - Eugenia . Wonderful, the BEST! FOOD: Spicy Ceviche Tostitos - Excellent r - original - layers of flavor - the best! Halibut - it was very good - great dish Spicy fish stew - I absolutely loved it Biscuits - AMAZING Can't wait until next time! Enjoy!

500 stars!!! This was, hands down, the best meal I've ever eaten. Was here for a rehearsal dinner and everything was absolutely amazing. We had a tasting menu so we tried a bunch of different items - all of which were incredible. We've decided to return annually (if not sooner). Service was impeccable - even with 40 plus of us. We were in a back corner but the place was packed! I can't recommend this place highly enough. If you ever get the chance - RUN!!

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

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

I came here with a group and everyone enjoyed their meals. I had the Alaskan Trout with corn and tomato relish ($42). The fish was perfectly cooked and it was delicious. It was a nice light dish with lots of summery flavors. I also had the biscuit ($4), which were buttery and almost crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside. Really delicious! I had the Mud Pie ($9), which was also good, although I wasn't too sure about the mint and espresso combo. The waiter forgot our biscuits until we reminded him. Other than that, the rest of our experience was great!

Wow the food is really amazing. The biscuits are the best I've ever had. Hard to describe but that it's so good. All the dishes we order were great.

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

Great, attentive service, good wine selection, good food, good ambience. Pleasant experience all-around. A bit pricey.

The food is great. The staff is great. The place is so cute. The wine list is the best in ten counties!!! We come here every single time we visit Monterey or Carmel. Love the use of different chili oils and flavors.

The halibut was delish. The biscuit is a must! This was my third time here, and it continues to be my fave restaurant in the area.

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

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

Passionfish was amazing! Food 5/5 We ordered the biscuit, crab salad, special lamb shank, and rainbow trout. All were amazing with a special shout out to the crab salad and biscuit as awesome starters. Wine 4/5 The wine list is so extensive! It's great but honestly, this place needs a sommelier! Our server had to ask other servers for recs and with a wine list this long I think having a somm could help a lot! Dessert 5/5 Maple banana bread pudding was so so good! I'll be back to Passionfish the next time I'm in Monterey for sure!

We had a lovely celebratory meal at Passionfish. The service throughout the meal was fantastic, our meals were fresh and delicious and the dining room was simple elegance. We highly recommend you try their locally sourced sustainable fish dishes. Don't forget the biscuits!

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

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

Excellent restaurant with consistently outstanding food with the freshest ingredients. A big plus is their reasonable wine prices.

Delicious food, amazing affordable wine list and great service! What else can you want?

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

Had dinner last night with my girls on a girls trip. Delicious! First, we had the beet salad and ordered the biscuits. That could have been a meal in itself. Definitely could have split. One had the scallop starter and loved it. Two had the halibut with a corn and tomato salsa. Our fish eater said it was the best she every had. I had the grilled prawns on a bean cassoulet. So good! What would be a great comfort meal would be the bean cassoulet with those amazing biscuits! Beautiful restaurant and wonderful food.

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

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

Food quality has not suffered since Ted and Cindy Walters sold their labor of love to the current owner. He was present on the floor greeting customers and quietly ensuring that service was on point. We went for Mother's Day and had a lovely table by the window along Lighthouse Ave. The 72 hour marinated rack if lamb was delicious, though my favorite item on their menu remains the duck confit. Beet salad is another mainstay and the highlight remains the buttery buttermilk biscuit from the appetizer list. I believe it is a Nancy Silverton recipe from the La Brea Bakery. They have mastered it. Customers can purchase 6 frozen biscuits to take home...highly recommend that option. They are extraordinary biscuits-by anyone's standard. The wine list continues to be one of the most carefully curated for interesting selections and value pricing in the entire Monterey Bay area.

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

My first visit this past week with a friend. Will definitely come back with my husband next. Incredible pricing on the wines - and a perfectly curated list as well. The scallops were delicious as was the smokes tuna tostada's (app). We ventured outside the box w the Roquefort ice cream dessert and it was very good (they happily provided extra walnuts and honey that we requested). See you soon Passionfish!

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

Amazing service, top notch seafood! The scallops I ordered were beautiful and just an amazing dish all around. Would highly recommend this place!

Could be a Michelin star restaurant with half the price. One of my favorite go-to places. You can count on great food & service. The owners are wonderful & truly care about their guests. Start out with the biscuits and keep going!

Ambiance was elegant yet relaxed. Our party consisted of 4 adults and my 10 y/o grandson who enjoys trying different foods. Service was excellent. Food was amazing. We enjoyed 3 lamb entrees, 2 of which were the lamb shank special and 1 from the menu. They did not disappoint. The spicy fish stew was fresh, flavorful and spicy. But a spiciness that did not linger just paired well with the tomato based broth. The squid starter was light and flavorful, as were the ceviche tostadas. The 4 different desserts were a hit and each person had their favorite. I enjoyed a Cabernet by the glass. It was a lighter cab but well-balanced and for me, paired well with the lamb shank. As my grandson put it "the food was amazing and I want to come here again". Agree.

Was in Monterey for work and stumbled on this restaurant. Decided to try it out for dinner and I had a great experience! I was worried I would be underdressed since Yelp lists the restaurant as "classy" but there was a mixture of attire inside. Ron was my server and was great. He treated me just like any other patron in the restaurant and made me feel very welcomed. I had the biscuit, lamb shank and bread pudding. The food was flavorful but I did take one star off as the bourbon sauce on the bread pudding was rather strong. Might just be person preference but all in all would definitely return again!

We go here when we visit Pacific Grove. The service is excellent. It can get a bit noisy when full. This visit we had the scallop appetizer. It was a nicely cooked large scallop on a risotto cake. The mixed green salad was large enough for two. Nicely dressed, it went well with the delicious buttermilk biscuit. The biscuit is large and buttery with a really nice texture. For the entree, I had halibut. It was perfectly cooked with a subtle sauce accompanied by walnuts. The food is expensive but reasonable given the quality.

This was my first time here. We had reservations here for a Saturday night. The place was packed. I looked at the pictures on yelp and was not expecting to be fulfilled. Boy was I wrong. we ordered a couple of appetizers, and they were delicious (I was not in charge of ordering them, so I cannot tell you what they were). I order a halibut steak. It was fantastic and filling. Everything we had was wonderful. In addition, the service was second to none. My drink was always full and the server alwasy came by to check on us often. This place was wonderful. I was pleasantly surprised. If I am in the area again, I will be back.

Passionfish was our best overall dining experience on the Peninsula during car week this year The duck confit was outstanding: the best I've ever eaten. It's slow cooked for hours and hours. Wow! My honey had the albacore dish and was very pleased. We loved our appetizer of sea scallop on a risotto cake. The atmosphere is modern and uncluttered, service is gracious and we were not hurried in any manner.