Passionfish

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Address:
701 Lighthouse Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Neighborhood:
Pacific Grove

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Cuisine:
Seafood

Price: $30 and under

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Passionfish Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.passionfish.net/
Email: info@passionfish.net
Phone: (831) 655-3311
Hours of Operation:
Dinner: Sunday - Thursday: 5:00PM - 9:00PM
Friday - Saturday: 5:00PM - 10:00PM
Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Seafood, American
Executive Chef: Ted Walter
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Beer, Farm to Table, Gluten-free Menu, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Private Party Facilities: Passionfish offers two rooms available for private dining. One room seats up to 30 persons and another up to 60 persons.
Private Party Contact: Cindy Walter (831) 655-3311

Getting there

Cross Street: Congress Ave
Parking: Street Parking

A word from Passionfish

Passionfish offers a unique California dining experience with serious food and wine in a fun and casual atmosphere. The ever-changing menu features the freshest, sustainable seafood, slow-cooked meats, organic greens and delectable desserts, all complemented by an award winning wine list priced… nearly retail and well below what you've come to expect. Passionfish is owned and operated by Chef Ted Walter and his wife Cindy Walter. They are vocal advocates for sustainable seafood education and were the first officially certified 'Green' restaurant in Monterey County.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerBest Overall
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Service

Diner Reviews

"Great food and wine, but was 45 minutes late being seated for an 8:30 reservation. This would not be so bad except there is very litte room to wait to be seated and a LOT of folks were waiting so it was very crowded and uncomfortable which made the 45 minutes seem even longer."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"Two out of the four dishes we ordered were failures. One was tasteless smoked trout ceviche (with no smoke or trout flavor, and an over-the-top portion of ginger piled on top), the other a crab cake awash on a sea of tomato/fennel "sauce" that managed to taste like neither. Real disappointment."
Dined on 4/11/2014
"I first dined at Passionfish on New Year's Eve with my boyfriend, and our experience was so fantastic that I had to take my mother here when she visited from MN. Our waitress over NYE was wonderful (shorter, with dark curly hair); I wish I could remember her name! She was knowledgeable, informative, and enthusiastic about the restaurant's approach to sustainable eating. She also recommended a local wine that paired really nicely with our food. You will not regret eating the scallop on risotto, basil-stuffed trout, crab & avocado salad, or bread pudding. SO GOOD. SO FLAVORFUL. I would make the drive from Palo Alto any day for this food."
Dined on 4/11/2014
"wow, the food here has really gone downhill. The wine list is still great with excellent prices, but not sure it can compensate for the poor food quality."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"Sustainable seafood, reasonably priced extensive wine list, superb preparations (not over cooked or over sauced). Consistently excellent."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"We have many great restaurants in the Carmel - Pacific Grove area but none better than Passionfish. We had out of town guests who are 'foodies' so we took them for dinner. They were incredibly impressed with our meal. We each had a different dinner entree and shared bites: Monterey rockfish, scallops, duck and 'spoonable' lamb. We just got back from New Zealand which of course is known for its lamb. The lamb at Passionfish was better than anything I had in New Zealand ! Passionfish proves that you don't have to give up anything to eat sustainably. They have been pioneers in the sustainable seafood movement."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"Our son and his wife recommended Passion Fish to us and we were not disappointed. We've eaten at many good restaurants in the Monterrey Bay area over the past 50 plus years and Passion fish is right at the top. Thanks"
Dined on 4/12/2014
"Wonderful menu and the food lived up to what we had heard, very helpful service and wine list was extensive and well-priced. Worth checking out in the Monterrey area."
Dined on 4/6/2014
"Everything was very pleasant, but I would suggest they put up a curtain to block the air flow between the door and the foyer. We sat halfway back in the dining area, but every time the door opened we were chilled. it wasn't overwhelming, but we finally noticed the link. The room temp was fine otherwise."
Dined on 4/11/2014
"Passion Fish is clearly one of the best restaurants in the Monterey/Pebble Beach/Carmel/Pacific Grove."
Dined on 4/10/2014
"When vacationing on the Monterey Penninsula we never miss the opportunity to eat at this fine restaraunt in Pacific Grove. This time we ordered a seasonal salad of aspargus and snap peas in a just barely there mint dressing. My husband ordered scallops and I ordered the rock cod in rum sauce with the coconut rice. The seafood was tender, sweet and perfectly cooked. The included sides complimented without competing with the fish. We love that Passionfish has a "retail" price policy on their wine list and you can actually afford a decent bottle or a glass of wine without breaking the bank. I love the restaraunts very simple but elegant ambience. Everything about Passionfish is in perfect balance."
Dined on 4/7/2014
"the food was wonderful. the service was great. server was very knowledgeable and helpful. highly recommend."
Dined on 4/7/2014
"The food was prepared and presented beautifully. I loved the asparagus fries and the honey goat cheese salad. The Monterey rockfish had a unusual and delicious rum sauce. The dinner prices were moderate. Our server was friendly , well informed and non-intrusive. Will definitely be back."
Dined on 4/7/2014
"The food was very tasty, very pure with a few simple flavors, without any camouflage. The result was very tasty food, but did not have the refinement of more expensive restaurants, but that is perfectly fine given the very reasonable pricing. The wine list was amazing: A great selection for a very good price for each bottle."
Dined on 4/5/2014
"Passion fish has been out go-to restaurant on the Monterey Peninsula for years. We could always depend on inventive fabulous dinners. Not this time. The crab avocado salad was heavy with an overly vinegary sauce. I had to return my talapia because it wasn't cooked. My husbands duck confit had an odd vinegary gravy. We were vey disappointed and wondered what has happened to our favorite restaurant ?"
Dined on 4/5/2014
"I have been to Passion Fish a number of times. I have never been disappointed. The food is fresh, creative, always delicious, beautifully presented and unique. I recommend this restaurant to any friends visiting Pacific Grove or the Monterrey Peninsula."
Dined on 4/4/2014
"Thanks for a great dinner. Wine list and specials were excellent and I highly recommend trying the dungeon cobb avocado salad. So many other good things to say, but just make sure you try this restaurant if you are in the area."
Dined on 4/4/2014
"Outstanding food served in a friendly and professional manner. The wine list is extensive and thoughtfully selected and priced at a level which makes BYOB totally unnecessary."
Dined on 3/30/2014
"Try the asparagus fries - they are not to be missed!"
Dined on 3/28/2014
"First-rate cuisine with an excellent wine list that is priced unbelievably low - I shake my head thinking of the additional revenue/profits the owners are forsaking by pricing their wines so low. If approached to be an investor, I wouldn't approve of it. As a customer, I love it. My family and I go to Monterey a few times every year and until this year always made sure to go to the Sardine Factory, until we finally had enough of the tired menu and ridiculous prices. We've had enough a place living off its reputation. From now on, our go-to choice for every trip to Monterey is Passionfish!"
Dined on 3/30/2014
"This is an expensive restaurant, but it is usually worth the money spent. The scallops were so tender, it was amazing. The catfish appetizer was so light it almost lifted off the plate. The sturgeon was good, but had a muddy taste. All in all a yummy special evening."
Dined on 3/30/2014
"Great service and the food was good. However, the sturgeon was "off" that night. We returned it, and they took it off our bill. The rainbow trout and tilapia were excellent."
Dined on 3/29/2014
"Food was ok but not as good as i remember from past. Was busy so maybe I'm in minority."
Dined on 3/29/2014
"We make it to Passionfish almost every time we visit Carmel / Monterey. Small menu, creative choices covering the spectrum of food choices. Great wine pairings. Wait staff always knowledgeable. Dinner for four, with ALL the courses - under $400. EXCEPTIONAL."
Dined on 3/29/2014
"I had heard this was a great fish restaurant, but found they have a lovely menu and a variety of options. My scallops were delicious; husband had the spaetzle and beef which I thought was creative but the beef got lost in the dish. One person enjoyed the tilapia, but the side dish was less than great - something like sauteed cucumber (?). The fourth person in our group enjoyed the lamb breast which was a combination of a variety of flavors and textures. The asparagus fries appetizer were wonderful as was the baked gorgonzola and curried greens salad. The appetizer, salad and scallops were the standout choices. The wines were very reasonably priced but relatively few Napa Valley wines. Helpful, polite, professional servers!"
Dined on 3/28/2014
"I made a reservation about a month ago and when we arrived we were put at the farthest table in the back corner in the room where all families with small children were seated. The room isn't very nice to begin with and the screaming children plus the little girl next to us who could not sit still and kicked me and ran around the table did not help the ambiance. Friends who made reservations the day before were seated in the front at a lovely table. The food and wine list are exceptional but it would have been nice to have been treated a little better."
Dined on 3/29/2014
"Excellent sturgeon and tilapia. Only complaint is the butter, which is whipped and not very good."
Dined on 3/28/2014
"Outstanding in every way! Superb subtly prepared food that amazed with its rich flavors and exciting textures. Wines are priced near street value--amazing! The wine we ordered was $35; the next night we went to a "fancy" place and same wine was $65! We will retun here as often as we can."
Dined on 3/28/2014
"Passionfish is a great place to go for fresh local sustainable seafood that is prepared deliciously. The wine menu is extensive BUT they overcharge drastically for local wines and the selection of local wines on the list is much smaller than it should be. Although I recommend Passionfish for their seafood I find it hard to recommend for other dishes. This restaurant doesn't seem to know what it wants to be when you look at the other selections. Mediterranean lamb, french duck, etc. The dishes we tried could have been done better. The lamb breast, for example, still had the silverskin on it and it tasted quite gamey; it was served with goat cheese which we thought was a strange choice due to lamb already being a strong flavor."
Dined on 3/28/2014
"They have sustainable fish, they have a very unique blend of foods that is amazing. The quality is great. We love to eat where the food is prepared perfectly, and presentation is important We will definitely go again when in the area."
Dined on 3/26/2014
"Nice people; nice restaurant; clean; attractive. But the food is bland. I bold flavors and I prefer preparations/combinations that have a purpose -- both lacking here. E.g., we had breaded/fried asparagus. First, the tough ends of the asparagus had not been removed. (Hey -- who's in charge of prep?) Second, IMHO the chosen preparation added nothing to the asparagus -- i.e., did not enhance the flavor or produce a result that was more than the sum of the parts. We had catfish dumplings: Carefully presented fried little balls. They were light and crispy and tasted like nothing. But they were fried. I also had the sturgeon -- the best of the dishes I tried. It was carefully prepared; most was perfectly cooked."
Dined on 3/27/2014
"Passionfish has been a favorite for years. We have never been disappointed with the dinning experience they provide."
Dined on 3/25/2014
"We've eaten at Passionfish before, but on this night, the kitchen was overwhelmed and very slow. The food was very good, but not great, and we waited well over an hour after ordering for our entrees. It was a Sunday, so perhaps the regular chef was not year."
Dined on 3/23/2014
"For someone who never liked fish, my wife raves about Passionfish. The wine list is extensive, but the staff is very helpful. Tell them what you like and they will make recommendations in several price ranges. We chose a Bedrock wine and were very pleased. We opted to each have an tasty appetizer (catfish dumplings for her and crab cake for me), a generous sized salad (spring salad and gorgonzola salad), and had saved enough room for desert (bread pudding and panna cotta). Great food, good wine, a really nice evening! Just a couple of minutes walk away from our B&B in Pacific Grove."
Dined on 3/20/2014
"Loved it so much the first night, we headed there for another round. Got to sample the specials and the excellent service. It is always a pleasure to visit Passionfish. Makes us wish we lived closer. Definitely a must have when in the Central Coast area. Always look forward to our visits."
Dined on 3/25/2014
"This place is wonderful, we have visited every time we are in the area, and this visit we ate there two nights in a row. The food is excellent, the dedication to sustainability even extends to their wine listings. The flavors are amazing. The entrees are paired with equally interesting and delicious sides. The desserts are wonderful and are paired with varied and tasty teas or coffees. The wait staff is great, attentive and knowledgeable on all parts of the menu. Always look forward to our visits to Pacific Grove and Passionfish."
Dined on 3/24/2014
"My husband and I were attending a conference in Monterey, CA and did some research on nearby restaurants. Passionfish came up more than once and now that we've been there it's easy to see why. It's a gem--we shared two appetizers and two entrees (shaved brussel sprouts, trout ceviche and scallops and the sturgeon. All were wonderful! We would go back in a heart beat but we live in Philadelphia so will have to wait for our next trip to the West Coast. But if you live nearby, or are visiting the area, this should not be missed."
Dined on 3/21/2014
"Expected a knowledgeable waitress, good service and excellent food.The waitress seemed hesitant to recommend a wine so we chose a satisfactory bottle. Ordered food ,when it arrived could not identify all the foods on one entree so we questioned whether there was any shellfish in the ingredients. Waitress checked, there were not however the fish was cooked on the same grill where scallops are cooked. For someone with a shellfish allergy this could be a very big deal. We chose to have the same dish but grilled separately. The food was awesome. But our waitress seemed to have lost interest in us, been disturbed by the request or perhaps just not informed as to the ramifications of someone with a food allergy inadvertently getting that food."
Dined on 3/22/2014
"generous portions, great & interesting food, nice experience."
Dined on 3/22/2014
"I decided to take my mom and sister to Passionfish during their visit to Monterey for the and we had the best experience. The service wasexcellent and our server gave us great recommendations on some international wines that tasted expensive, yet were reasonably priced. I highly recommend the scallop appetizer and the scallop entree. All the portions were the perfect size and I liked how their mission is to serve sustainable seafood at competitve prices. I definitely will be coming back with my fiance and trying more of the menu items I was fantisizing over. If you make a visit to Passionfish, it will not dissapoint!"
Dined on 3/22/2014

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