Passionfishmother's day bullseyePassionfish for Mother's Day was ideal- my parents were visiting Monterey for the first time. The down-to-earth character of the staff whilst providing great ambiance, fabulous food, and very reasonable prices, combined the best of quality and genuineness. My mother was giddy like a young girl by the end of the meal (mission accomplished!), and my not-often-very-indulgent father could not find a single thing to grumble about. Having visited the aquarium earlier in the day and learned about the history of local fisheries, the sustainable focus of the menu offerings was the perfect punctuation for capping off the Monterey experience. Every plate was good- can't wait to return again to see how the menu changes with the seasons.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMother-daughter get awayMy mother has dietary restrictions and the server was knowledgable about how the food was prepared and made excellent recomendations. We were there on a busy Saturday night and did not feel rushed. Enjoyed our dinning experience.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMTried 2 wines, both excellent!Tried 2 wines, both excellent! All four of our meals were delicious (we all tried each other's). Try the asparagus fries. Yum. They even had gluten-free options for both entrees and desserts. Light and airy ambiance. Will definitely return.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent & Sustainable!You can eat here without feeling guilty about your meal selection - the chef has made sure their choices are sustainable. With that out of the way you can look forward to an outstanding meal that is reasonably priced. My scallops were the best I've ever eaten! The wine list is exceptional and - even better - reasonably priced. They make a point of letting you know their mark up is considerably less than most restaurants. They want you to enjoy a good wine with your meal. Thank heavens we had reservations - the place was packed with a line of people waiting to get in when we left.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, service!Outstanding food, fish dishes, wine list and service5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMTwo birthdays total 175 yearsMy brother, his girlfriend, and I took our Dad for his 83rd and Aunt for her 92nd birthdays out for dinner at Passionfish to celebrate. When we got to our table we found "Happy Birthday!" written in different colors in several places on the paper over the tablecloth. Our server was extremely patient with my 92 year old Aunt, who's a picky eater and may come across as gruff. Passionfish has an interesting and unique menu. We each ordered something different and everyone was pleased with their entrees. Desserts for my Dad and Aunt came with lighted birthday candles.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMA great gemBeen ther numerous times. And was disappointed that last few times. This time was outstanding!5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstandingWe have been to Passion Fish a number of times and it never disappoints. The menus is not extensive but has enough options for most diners. There are interesting starters. Two or three starters can be dinner. Highly recommend.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMA classic excellent restaurantWe tend to go to Passion Fish for celebrations. The food is excellent as well as the atmosphere and service. It is one of our special restaurants.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMSeat near the bar if you wantSeat near the bar if you want energetic vibe and away from the bar if you want quiet. You can have the best of both worlds. Wine menu is value priced so you can try some of the pricy stuff you would not normally spring for at a restaurant. We spent 10-days in CA and this was one of our top dining experiences. Highly Recommend a visit!5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat first visitThe crab cakes and boned whole fish trout were amongst the best we've ever eaten. Also the modest wine price policy is very commendable. We will return whenever we're in the area.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time at PassionfishFirst time at Passionfish and we had a wonderful meal. Our Server was friendly and very helpful in providing details to our questions. We especially appreciated the focus by the restaurant on sustainable fish choices. Good food and we will be back.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding Meal at PassionfishEvery portion of our meal was outstanding from Starters to Desert every bite was great.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful for special occassionsJust went to Passionfish to celebrate our anniversary. Made a reservation and we arrived we were immediately escorted to a table. On the the table was a special anniversary greeting! The service and servers descriptions of the food were spot on. Everything we had was wonderful. Every bite was thoroughly enjoyed. The foods were creatively composed and artfully presented. Flavors were unique and well paired. Excellent for for foodies or those who go out to dinner and are often disappointed. No disappointment here!!!! I highly recommend Passionfish and would definitely go back! Even the host wished us a happy anniversary again as we left!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMNice place to stop by in MontereyIf you like seafood and are in Monterey area, you should check out passion fish. Excellent scallops. Fish (sturgeon) was good. I also like that they only serve sustainable seafood.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMPassionfishAnd the Best Meal of the Year Award
Goes to PASSIONFISH !!!
Asparagus Fries with sesame aioli
Dungeness crab salad with avocado/spicy ginger vinaigrette
Halibut/mushroom soubise/sugar snap peas/warm bacon vinaigrette
Banana Bread Pudding with Madeira Carmel Sauce
Prosperity Tea / Hibiscus/Spearmint blend with stevia5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food; good wine listThe spoonable lamb dish was outstanding. Everyone enjoyed their meal. It was a bit too noisy.
They had good wine at very reasonable prices.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat find!We had a wonderful evening, with really knowledgeable service, and friendly people all round! They care about what they serve, and are really good at paring wine to match the food.!
We started with their fried asparagus, which was delicious, coupled with spicy mussels in broth. They were some of the best I've had, and I am a Cordon Bleu Grande Diplome, so high praise indeed! Our waitress suggested a Sancerre, which worked so well! We had the 12 hour pork belly, well prepared, and matched with a good cabernet to complement the richness.
I guess, since we booked for next week, it says a lot for the whole experience.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMFavorite restaurant in MontereyWhenever we plan a trip to the Monterey area, PassionFish is part of the plan. It's been a favorite for years.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMYummyCrab and avocado salad is excellent and recommended. Service is outstanding.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMUnique, affordable wine listUnique, affordable wine list and food selections. Fresh, sustainable fish. Knowledgeable staff. Thank you "Passionfish" for creating a memorable 60th birthday dinner!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMOur group had duck confit,Our group had duck confit, wagyu with spaetzle, sturgeon, and the daily special, chicken with gnocchi. Two in the group had starters. One had mussels, the other had the shaved brussel sprout salad. All of the dishes were extremely well prepared. The servings were generous. The waiter was knowledgeable about the various dishes on the menu. We had an enjoyable dinner.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMSuper Sustainable SeafoodI've eaten at Passionfish twice in the last month, and both were excellent experiences - loved the asparagus fries, brussel sprout salad, trout, halibut, panna cotta and mud pie. The Walters have done a wonderful job of combining a great food experience with a message on the importance of saving our ocean.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMOne category is missing inOne category is missing in open table. Sustainable. That is a big plus for me, and a key component of passionfish menu. None of their fish has been overfished, and all of it is fantastic.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMSmart casual and very goodThe freshest ingredients are creatively paired with locally grown produce. The menu is primarily fish supplemented with other options. Wine list is excellent - something for everyone in a very smart and comfortable environment.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMOur second trip to PassionfishOur second trip to Passionfish brought the same outstanding quality to the food, very good service and dining experience we expected. Would put it down as our "goto" restaurant when we are in town. Totally satisfied!4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful menu. The choicesWonderful menu. The choices were amazing and the wine list was quite good. From beginning to end the meal was quite special.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMArriving with a reservation,Arriving with a reservation, no wait at all though very busy. Very friendly and helpful staff. Table next to us were returning guests from the night before; loved it so much came back for same dish! We agreed after one of us ordered it: the tilapia. The appetizers were interesting and good for sharing. Portions are generous. Each fish dish we had was wonderfully delicious, unique and so fresh.
Will return as often as possible.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMA Must VisitOne of the best overall dining experiences I have had. If I had gone to dinner here on the first night of my stay in the Monterey area, I probably would have had dinner here every night.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed an excellent mealEnjoyed an excellent meal at Passionfish with my girlfriend. We shared a crab cake and avocado crab salad and both were delicious. Had the halibut entree and it was beautifully cooked. Very nice wine list, we enjoyed a Qupe Roussanne which went well with all the food. The dining area we were in had a large window that let in lots of evening light so no need for reading glasses. Service was very good and unobtrusive. Highly recommend this restaurant.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThree of us ate at Passionfish.Three of us ate at Passionfish. We're all from the SF Bay Area and spoiled by good dining opportunities. We enjoyed our meal greatly, and we sampled pretty widely from the menu. Our half of the restaurant was quiet enough to talk, but another section sounded quite loud when we entered. The server (a woman with a print kerchief and great earrings) was extremely cordial and helpful, particularly with finding us a reasonably-priced wine and describing the food. When she saw that the chocolate sauce on our dessert was waning, she brought us another little dish of it. I had sturgeon, and it was fresh and succulent. A salad with baked gorgonzola was plenty big for the three of us to share, as was the dessert.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMthe food was outstanding;the food was outstanding; the service was outstanding, she knew the entire menu and made spot on recommendations. the wines were excellent and prices were reasonable.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMOur Happy FindFresh fish with lovely attention to flavor palette. Non-fish dishes looked equally wonderful.
The wine list and prices are the best. So great to have 1 or 2 nice bottles with a meal without breaking the bank. Ambiance: plenty of tables to handle any size group yet not crowded or noisy. The space is softly lit - the color palette provides a feeling of airiness without feeling the least bit "sterile".
Manuel was our server and he was wonderful. He guided us with calm, patience & brilliance. It was like he knew what we liked better than we did. Fine dining without stuffiness or pretentiousness at all. Our new "FAV" in PG / Monterey area!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMIdeal for a special occasionIdeal for a special occasion or meeting with old friends4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredible food. Very knowledgeablIncredible food. Very knowledgeable servers about the wine and the food.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMElegant and Delicious!I really liked the presentation on all dishes we were served -- creative and elegant. The salad with spiced pear, crisp prosciutto, and goat cheese was very well done. The duck confit was absolutely delicious, and the chocolate truffle dessert was amazing. I definitely want to return and try more of their dishes. The server was attentive without being intrusive, took special care of those of us with food sensitivities and allergies.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our third visit toThis was our third visit to PassionFish, and it won't be our last. The food has always been outstanding. We also greatly appreciate the adherance to the recommendations made by the Monterey Bay Aquarium regarding sustainable seafood.
It was slightly easier to hear my companions this time than it has been on previous occasions. Any efforts by the restaurant to reduce the noise level would be more than welcome!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMVery enjoyable mealGreat brussel sprout salad,asparagus fries, trout,and duck confit. Very good sea scallops and halibut.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMDon't Hesitate.We were impressed on every level. The service was attentive, informed and unobtrusive, the ambiance was sufficiently elegant without being stuffy. The wine list was extensive and so reasonably priced for restaurant of this type that I thought I must be reading it wrong... a nice bonus when you are planning on paying normal mark ups. Best of all was the food. Brilliant stewed mussels with cilantro and enough habenero pepper to make you wonder where the heat is coming from, baby green salad with baked cheese in filo that we had to finish. Sturgeon and Halibut both cooked PERFECTLY and served with interesting and fitting compliments. The portions were large enough to please this hungry man and his foodie spouse.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMSecond visit. Halibut wasSecond visit. Halibut was very nicely done. Nightly special of bay scallops were so so. Smoked salmon tostaditas were fantastic.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMPassionfish - a PG findInteresting menu but somewhat limited selection of seafood. Beef dishes are excellent and all dishes cooked to perfection. Tables seem a bit close together; however, satisfactorily quiet and private. Definitely a locals restaurant, as staff has many familiars.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMCreative salads, large enoughCreative salads, large enough to share. Wonderfully seasoned, slow roasted meats. Loved the duck confit. There is as much meat on the menu as fish, despite the name of the place. Well worth the price!!4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food, good selectionDelicious food, good selection of seafood and non-seafood dishes. Impressive wine selection. A pleasant dining experience, would happily return. Leave space for dessert.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding food and wine---greatOutstanding food and wine---great value. Unique menu--We strongly recommend!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMSuperb dining experience!Superb dining experience! Our waitress (Nicole) was the absolute BEST!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent locally-sourcedExcellent locally-sourced food! The restaurant has a great wine list with many smaller releases that you might not otherwise get to try. The seafood preparation was simple but very good.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMSide Dishes Made the MealThe meals were fantastic but it was the accompanying side dishes that really made the meal - like the freshly made noodles that came with my beef brisket, and the bean mixture that came with my husband's sturgeon, and the risotto with my son's bay scallops. Don't order the salmon ceviche if you want to have something delicate afterwards - it is FAR too spicy. All servings were very generous so don't fill up on the excellent bread.
The wine list is really creative, especially in the way the wines are categorized. It is true what they say, that they don't mark up the wines by much.
The servers were spread a little thin.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our first visit andThis was our first visit and we were very impressed. Looking forward to our next visit.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat job, we will definitelyGreat job, we will definitely eat there again when in Pacific Grove.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a wonderful dinnerWe had a wonderful dinner last Sunday night. The service was very good, attentive, but not over powdering. The food was excellent. We were visiting Pacific Grove for the weekend, and will definitely go back again when we are in the area.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AM