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Finally.
Finally I get my ass to Blue Water Seafood Market and Grill.
Finally I give out five stars when it seems that all the culinary world has to offer is four.
Finally, a place in San Diego that lives up to the promise of fresh seafood, a simple setting and reasonable, NO, bargain prices for top shelf grub.
The line is long but moves fast, especially at lunch when people need to get back to their collapsible-walled worlds. I imagine that they take a bite of this freshly caught goodness and feel a little less stressed, a little more satisfied with their 9-5pm.
My blackened red snapper sandwich was savory and simply dressed allowing the flavor of the fish to shine, shine on you crazy diamond.
Moms and Pops had the fish and chips, deep fried but not coated in heavy batter, served with waffle fries that require the jaws of life to separate you from their crunchy goodness.
One last thing-have someone in your party claim a table while you go up and order. The joint is jumpin' but well worth the wait.
Blue Water even with its humble decor knocks your socks off with its fresh seafood. What I also love is that the prices are reasonable, especially considering the quality of food. Lines can be long, but I used to order a head of time for to go.
What I HIGHLY recommend is the shrimp sandwich with the CHIPOTLE sauce (drool)! I would also nicks the onions and add the avocado to make a sensation, feel good sandwich. I also liked their crab dip, but I cannot rave enough about that shrimp sandwich. You have to give it a whirl.
There is no parking lot, but usually there is a lot of street parking. So go off-hours when around lunch time, otherwise it is packed, and nearly impossible to get your food in an adequate time.
The toilet water's gonna be a different color after eating the fresh food @ Blue Water Seafood!
this is no long john's silver. quality seafood served as sammys (sandwiches . . . I guess ever since Guy Fiere visited the place, the FOODTV stigma lingers w/Rachel Ray coinage), salads, or plates. Everything from snapper to shark, shrimp to calamari . . . you name it, they probably have it.
I ordered the mahi sammy and it was YUMMO! there was no EVOO, but I got it marinated in lemon, garlic & butter. slap that perfectly grilled piece of fish (and I mean PERFECT: grill marks, flaky, moist, not fishy) on some sourdough w/some lettuce and tomato and BAAAAM! I'll "throwdown" anybody that tries to get between me and my sammy. crisscut fries on top of that . . .
how's that for Food Network references? time to flush something down the toilet . . . not a goldfish either.
Felt bad for my wife.
She had picked this place for her mothers birthday dinner, thinking it was going to be a little fancier. You know, for her moms birthday and all.
While she was a little disappointed, I was impressed.
This place was fucking packed for a Sunday night!
The menu was like a Sea Food fans wet dream. Everything sounded damn good. I had the Seared Ahi sandwich with an order of the Oyster slider. Both were very satisfying.
My wife had the clams and was disappointed again, oh well, cant please everyone.
A good friend of mine is a huge fan of oysters. I have a good feeling we will be coming in pretty soon.
First timer here and absolutely LOVED the Ahi Sandwich!!
I had it Blackened with Avocado and it was by far the freshest, tastiest Ahi have ever had. Mouthwatering and I cant wait to go back!
The staff was very nice as well and I really enjoyed myself!
That blackened red snapper fish sandwich is ridonculous!!! And I mean that in a good way.
I was in San Diego on business and wanted to try something new. Saw Blue Water Seafood on Diners, Drive-Ins & Drives and read all the rave reviews, so I had to experience this place for myself.
Thanks to Lisa W. I phoned in my order. By the time I arrived to pick up my order at 1:30pm there was no line. I walked straight up to the counter.
The service - I'll admit that based on the poor customer service reviews, I was prepared for a little service with attitude. To my pleasant surprise, I walked in to multiple smiling and very welcoming faces. Even one of the cooks was skinnin & grinnin at me as I strolled in. The young lady that helped me (a brunette) was extremely friendly. In fact, she went out of her way to make sure I had everything I needed. Asked if I wanted crackers for my chowder and then proceeded to place more than a handful in my bag. Asked if I needed hot sauce to try with my tacos, and then dumped two handfuls in my bag. Double wrapped my brownie and placed it in another bag. Now that's service with a smile!
The food - The mahi mahi fish taco was my least favorite of everything I ordered. It was very bland. The mahi mahi could've used salt to taste. However, the tomato, green and red onion garnish was a great accompaniment to the grilled fish. They place a very large piece of fish in the taco, so one is plenty...at least for lunch.
The blackened red snapper was excellent. It was full of flavor. I opted to add avocado and pepper jack cheese to my sammie - because everything tastes better with avocado, its the Cali way! This was hands down my favorite entree.
Clam Chowder - also very good. I like my chowder a bit chunky so Blue Water hit a home run with this one.
French Fries - The waffle fries were a wonderful accompaniment to the red snapper sandwich. Then again, they were great for everything I ate. I love French fries with just about anything.
Definitely check out Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill.
Reluctantly, I have to spread the word that this might be the best-valued seafood joint in all of San Diego. Id like to think the elite here revere honesty.
Reluctantly... Yeah. As Ive mentioned before, I eschew places that Guy Fiere refers me to. Ive only been forced to watch his show once, but I did notice the guy wears a pinky ring and some bizarre wristband. Enough for me to immediately discredit him. Dude.. this is 2009.
Look... for those who "think outside the box," which once meant.. we werent prejudiced by someone popular on TV; Google "Sideway's effect," our decisions were based on what we liked.
The truth is, the sandwiches are really good here. I can say that my Ahi didnt just jump right out of the boat onto a sandwich here like some clones will lead you to believe. Nor did I see them spawning fish behind the place, however, a great value at $11.
I dont know how long they have been a restaurant (not long) but not nearly as long as Point Loma Seafoods. What was once the crown Jewel of SD has been unseated. OOOPS.
Ive seen them off the freeway for a few years and am disappointed I wrote them off due to the dilapidated exterior and the proximity to the way overrated El Indio. I should know, the best litmus test for a great place to eat is to look for an enduring place in a location unfit to eat.
Warning: my friend who took me here was perplexed by the recent long lines (he was oblivious of the show as well) and said the service was pretentious. That was my experience. Note to staff: if you were Pink's hot dogs in LA, you can get away with it. Not here. Vicariously redeeming your 15 minutes of fame? Dont loose sight that way too many people in SD are from somewhere other than CA.
So many choices of fresh delicious fish! I tried the red snapper, blackened, as a plate. The seasoned rice was delicious and so many condiments on the table - I love condiments...hot sauces, malt vinegar, etc. The malt vinegar went well with the amazing waffle fries! Delish.
My husband ordered the Local Sea Bass sandwich and I took a bite, it was yum. You get a lot of fish for the price. They have a nice variety of beers and you can also get wine by the plastic glass!
We had to wait for a few minutes for a table and I wanted to sit outside on the patio, but a space did not open so we sat inside which was fine.
If you are craving a grilled fish dinner, but don't feel like spending $$$, this is the place to go. It's not cheap by any means, but you pay for the fresh fish - rather than a fancy restaurant with views that serves shitty food. I am so sick of that!
I have experienced some of the best tasting seafood I've ever had at this place. The only thing on the menu that I've tried that I don't really like is the clam chowder - a bit too much celery, and not as creamy as I like it.
I've had the fish without any seasoning, but the flavor is better when it is seasoned. My favorite is the lemon butter.
The onion rings here are SOOO good! I don't always get a side, since the sandwiches are so filling, but it's definitely worth it occasionally.
The fish and shrimp tacos are also pretty great. The shrimp are so big, you'd think they were prawns, and they are always perfectly cooked.
The downsides: the lines can be pretty long. I almost always call ahead, unless we are going during off-peak hours. Also, the service here is a little lackluster; it seems like the people that work here would rather be somewhere else. Cheer up girls, life isn't that bad!
I really really enjoy this place. A co-worker recommended it to me about a year ago and anytime I have friends in from out-of-town I always go here.
The fish is about as fresh as you can get! It's super casual but I love that you can choose your fish, how you want it prepared and your marinade. I usually get the Ahi Tuna as a sandwich with lemon garlic. I also get their ceviche and the El Indio chips from next door. I'm alway happy when I come here!
The only complaint I have is that sometimes it can be hard to get a table.
It must double the wow factor when they serve you incredibly fresh and delicious seafood in cheap plastic plates and the tables and chair look even cheaper. Smart trick! But I guess being served incredibly fresh and delicious seafood in any clean manner is just going to be enough to hit the wow factor ceiling.
Seriously, the tuna and the halibut and the garlic bread and the coleslaw and even the ice tea were just made flawless, fresh, tasty, simple. Just too good to be true!!! I am almost scared to go back to find it less perfect next time!
After hearing that this restaurant was featured on Diners, Drive Inn's and Dives, I decided to try it out. After reading yelp review my confidence and expectations grew. I opted for the DDD special, fish tacos and all fish cioppino with rice and cheddar. Well... it was not all great. The fish taco great! The cioppino was like ok fish with salsa from the jar.
I love seafood! I love the fresh seafood shacks. You know Roy's quality food at discount prices. I tried this venue and Point Loma Seafood and I am still looking. Maybe this is the best San Diego has to offer... hmmm.... I hope it gets better.
Great seafood place! Great prices! Finally affordable, fresh, tasty seafood in SD.
My bf and I got fish sandwiches - Blackened swordfish and a Hawaiian Ono. I think they were like $9 or something. Both had quite large, generous portions of fish. My fish was a beautiful perfectly white fillet. yum. My only small complaint was that it could have been a little more flavorful. Mayve next time I will try the blackened or chipotle style fish.
Another eating partner got shrimp and chips and he raved about how good it was.
We got some cheesy bread and of course it was tasty, but when is cheesy bread not good?!
On a future visit I got a swordfish taco, which was good. One taco ($4) was actually enough to fill me up as a smallish meal. The bf had red snapper sandwich with the chipotle seasoning and it was SO GOOD.
The prices are super reasonable for a seafood place. I will be back.
...HAD been a fairly regular customer up until they got on Food Network!....since then, long lines and poor quality food and service will keep me away! Too many great fish spots in SD to wait outside in a long line for pricey sub-par food!....
side note- whenever your cook(s) go from a "normal" amount of customers, to non-stop, line out the door customers; and do NOT get a pay increase, the quality of the food is sure to decline; rapidly....bottom line, without happy employees, you will never have happy customers!.....and no, i do not, and would not work there!
Went to Blue Water last night after seeing Kathy Griffin. One of our party had been raving about the place and insisted on going there after the show. I would say this place is one step below Point Loma Seafood.
I ordered a fish taco and a cup of cioppino, which I was under the impression consisted of more than just fish and bell peppers. How about throwing in a shrimp or a mussel or two? The fish taco was dry dry dry. Too much cabbage and not enough lube, and by that I mean sauce. The fish was bland, in addition. One of my pals had the fish and chips. The fries were delicious. Enough said. The other one had a fish sandwich, which was pretty good.
I'll give the glum staff a break this time on their attitudes since we arrived at 9:15 and they close at 10. Maybe they were tired...
After all of the hype on the way there, I was definitely disappointed. I won't be back.
Without a doubt, the blue water is the #1 stop to bring friends and family visiting from out of town. Just down the road from the airport, it's a great little local joint with excellent food and a unique atmosphere. I've been an SD resident for only a few months and Blue Water is already my weekly visit.
A wide range of fresh seafood selections are available each day. Take note that they only cook animals that swim, so make sure your party is cool with that situation. The best part of the Blue Water is the value. The prices are unbeatable when compared to the quality of the food. They keep it simple and excel at what they do.
Pick your desired catch, how you want it cooked, and then decide whether you'd like it on a sandwich, salad or full dinner platter. Can't go wrong with any fish, honestly. I shit bricks over the salmon. The chowder is soooo good, the salt water flavor is the perfect touch. For as much as I love fish tacos, I'm just not a fan of these. The fish and chips are a great safe choice though for kids and picky consumers.
There are some other ups and downs...
Pros:
1. Portions are gigantic and always cooked beautifully
2. Very casual atmosphere, efficient walk-up procedure
3. Fresh, fresh, fresh, fresh food!!!!!!
Cons:
1. It's usually really busy aside from the early afternoon
2. Small dining area, random road parking only
3. They employ bitches as counter and runner help. Often a pissy attitude and disgusted when required to assist customers. They seem like they'd be chill girls otherwise, so maybe they just hate the job, who knows
Blue Water is a place I would have to visit multiple times to get a really good feel about its food. I love me some fresh fish, so I was super excited to try Blue Water for the first time.
Parking was not the issue that we were expecting, so that was a great surprise to start.
For dinner, our party had a salmon burger, 2 red snapper sandwiches, a wahoo sandwich and a wahoo dinner plate. All in all the fish was fresh and well cooked, just not seasoned enough for our tastes. The lemon garlic butter was popular flavor choice, but the consensus was that there wasn't enough of it. The wahoo dinner plate held a generous serving of fish, but again, not a lot of flavor. The salmon burger was a *little* on the thin side, but it was a good size serving for the price.
The food cam quickly and everyone there was friendly, and I look forward to going back soon.
Yelpers take themselves way too seriously.
I work up the street and started going here a couple months ago, on recommendation from a friend. Line for lunch has never been more than 4-5 customers, it moves quickly, and food in ready in 10 minutes. Fish is as fresh as it gets and you have several choices of how its prepared. I would rather wait a few minutes than have old fish thrown at you.
Several types of marinades, one can get a sandwich, salad, plate, tacos - and the fish selection is endless. Several beers also. Order, sit down, eat, leave.
If you want spendier food and real service, go to the Fish Market.
In my opinion, this is the only other place that I have been to in San Diego that holds a candle to South Beach in OB.
The thing that differentiates this place from South Beach though is the freshness of the fish. If you are looking for deliciously fresh fish, grilled to perfection, this is your place.
I was so amazed by the great food that I took home a slab of tuna on the way out to make some sushi later.
The oysters and cioppino here are amazing as well. And the beer selection is second to none. Get here if you can!
We saw the episode of Triple D that had this place on it and wanted to check it out the hype. It opens at 11am, we got there at 11:45 and got into line which was already out the door. It was about a 30 minute wait to place our order which wasn't bad at all. The place was already packed at this time.
Our order was the special of the day (soft shell crab sandwich), 2 fish tacos, a cup of chowder, and some fries. We got the last soft shell crab sandwich of the day. Only open about an hour and the special is already sold out, wow. The sandwich was huge, 3 crabs in it, packed with other stuff too. The tacos were great too. The tortillas are slightly toasted for edge crunchiness and the fish is perfectly flakey and moist. The basket of fries is extremely large so be careful when ordering extras. The chowder was good. On the thick side for me and had potatoes which made it even more filling.
I suggest getting there early as it gets packed. The one way streets can make parking difficult too. An hour wait in line is normal so don't be discouraged; it's worth it.
After much anticipation I went to Blue Water with my restaurant review crew. It was my choice and the final review of our summer club.
I am not sure if it was because we've been wanting to go here for so long, or reading all the reviews , or all the recommendations but it was just ok. Definitely will come back but nothing that knocked our socks off.
The fish was definitely fresh. Grilled to perfection. I had the Red Snapper sandwich with Lemon Garlic butter. The fish itself was delicious. As for the lemon garlic butter marinade...didn't really taste it.
Sampled my friends order of Calamari Appetizer...this was a generous serving with nice big strips of calamari! Was told the Wahoo was a bit dry but I expected that. The clam chowder had the consistency of runny mashed potatoes and was just mediocre...although it was scarfed down! haha
The place is small with an outside patio with 8 tables. We went on Sunday and found NO line...must be because it was the start of football season!! Prices were good for what you get. Many choices of fish to choose from. I will definitely go back but will I wait if the line is as long as it normally gets...probably not.
Bay shrimp and crab sandwich. $7.95.
That's all I've had here but it was worth every cent.
People have been raving about these fish tacos, so I figured I'd see what all the fuss is about. Up until yesterday, I had only purchased seafood from the market here, and not eaten in the cafe.
I scanned the menu and was a bit dismayed that the fish tacos are grilled, not fried. Granted, I love grilled fish, but for me, a 'fish taco' starts with delicately, golden fried... fish! I did see there was a fried scallop plate available, so it's not like Blue Water is fried-free institution. Who knows, maybe if I would have asked, they'd do it. But when I did say 'grilled is all you do?' no offer was extended otherwise. I'm a firm believer in ordering menu items as they appear, and are intended by the chef.
So I asked what the most popular variety is, and the counter help replied 'Mahi.' Since I was famished, and it had been awhile, I indulged in a cup of white chowder as well.
The chowder came first and the flavor was good, but definitely needed some salt. I'm always let down by the potato to clam ratio, and while this chowder was better than most taste-wise, potatoes were overly abundant; I do not understand why 'clam chowder' on a menu actually means 'potato chowder with clams.' Don't be put off by my criticisms (you'll probably love it like everyone else), I'm a picky bitch with my chowder... but this was more like stew. Way too thick for my tastes.
The fish taco was totally uneventful and bordering flavorless. The actual grilled Mahi was fresh and delicious, but again, salt was missing. A fish taco isn't JUST about the fish, people... it's about the tortilla, the cabbage, the salsa fresca, the white sauce. The corn tortilla was dry, and the cabbage so plentiful (had to scoop off some of it to get my mouth around the thing) the fish flavor was completely drowned out. Versus salsa, it came with chunks of tomato, and big pieces of raw red onion. The onion chunks were too big, and I like onions. Between the mountain of cabbage and pungent onion there wasn't much to taste, I couldn't even make out the white sauce, really. Overall, this was an imbalanced taco-- albeit fresh, with excellent fish, but definitely dry.
I saw other diners macking on salads, sandwiches and smoked seafood plates that all looked lovely. My food looked lovely as well; but I'd be willing to bet these other items were more dynamic in flavor. Clearly those who come here are about the seafood, so I'd recommend sticking with dishes that feature fish as the main attraction. If I make it back, I'll go that route instead.
The fish tacos here are really good. I like that they're grilled and pretty big. I ordered two mahi mahi tacos and really just could've gotten 1 and been quite full. My mom got the swordfish tacos and she was really happy with her choice as well. You get a TON of fish in each taco.
I give it 3 stars because of the service. The first time my husband and I tried to go around dinner, we waited in line for about 20 minutes and after it didn't move, we left. And the second time I went for lunch there were only 3 people in front of me, and it still took me 20 minutes to put my order in. Then it took another 15 minutes to get my order. I'm glad I waited because it was good, but they have to figure out a better system of taking and fulfilling orders.
Saw this resturant on 3 D's. Real fresh & tasty! I had the lemon garlic, halibut sandwich. Great flavor!
This place is fantastic.
The quality of the seafood itself is second to none.
Of course, since they were on national television the lines have gotten quite long.
This place is one of my favorites in San Diego, Probably the best fish tacos, really fresh fish which is hard to find and you can choose the way you want it...in tacos, grilled on a salad. A friend took me there 2 years ago and I keep on going back. There is nothing like it that I know of anywhere. Casual bare bones..atmosphere so don't expect much, but the food is awesome...
A little bit expensive.
But, the rice is so good.
Once again, yelp comes through!!! The gf and I wanted some chowda and we were tired of the usual suspects. I've recently learned about the wonders of India street and decided to search the area. After reading a few reviews, we were excited to check it out.
Parking was pretty easy to find and upon walking into the place, we only had to wait a few minutes to order. Everything on the menu looked great but we decided on the chowder, crab and artichoke dip along with the fish and chips. The dip came out first and was served with a garlic cheese bread. The food was amazing! The clam chowder was really tasty and definitely on par with the other SD eateries. My favorite item, by far, was the fish and chips. We had the option of grilled or fried and we went with the later. The batter was tasty and did not take away from the freshness of the fish. It was the best fish I've ever had!
I am really happy to find a convenient quick serve sea food resturant with amazing food. Besides the great quality and friendly staff, the prices are really reasonable. I'm definitely going to be back to try out some of the sandwiches and try my luck on the market side of the place.
Fish Market: Fish was fresh, but not all was caught that morning fresh, nice to able to buy the fresh fish there, better than any grocery store.
The Restaurant: I ordered the fish tacos, they were good, toppings great, fish and anything below the top layer was dry. My wife ordered the Lemon Herb Calamari, and it was great! Fish & Chips were very good also. Service was mixed: Brunette food runner borderline rude, blond cashier very nice. Would go back if in the area, would not get the fish tacos again and would not take out of town guests.
When you come across a place that your friend says "that place is pretty good, you should try it" while you're driving by and two days later Guy Fieri tells you essentially the same thing while you're watching FoodTV, well, you gotta try it. So, I did.
I was not disappointed. This provides a great alternative to Point Loma Seafoods if you want fresh seafood at a reasonable price. Bonus points if what you prefer your seafood to be something other than fried (which is essentially all they do at Point Loma).
If you read my Point Loma Seafood review, you probably noticed that my gripe with them was that all they did was throw their seafood into the fryer which really doesn't require much in terms of preparation. That's not the story here. They actually grill, fry, soup, etc their seafood. That, for the most part, requires a bit more than throwing stuff in the fryer.
Now, it's been a while since I've been there so the only details I can only remember about what I ate was if I liked it or not. Sadly, I'm not a huge fan grilled fish in general so I thought my fish taco was just so so. The Cioppino, however, I enjoyed. The soup base itself was excellent and nicely infused with the aroma of fresh seafood.
What really tops the cake though was the crab and shrimp sandwich. I have to admit that all they really needed to do (and I think what they mainly did) was slap some fresh crab and shrimp in this thing but OH EM GEE that was some great fresh shellfish. And it wasn't like they were shredded pieces of crab. No. It was chunks of Dungeness crab which just happened to be my favorite type of crab. You get essentially the same thing in the seafood combo sandwich but it includes a piece of smoked fish. I'd skip the smoked fish and go straight for the shellfish.
After the lack of food at the Elite party, and prior to going to Casbah the bearded man and i thought it would be great to get some fish, before we rocked it. So he came up with the choice of Blue water.
when we got there we scored rockstar parking. However when we walked it. It was the back of the long long line. we had only 30 mins to get food eat and go to the casbah.
The nice bearded man ordered for us. It was a full dozen oysters, a red snapper sandwich with cheese and fries. I believe the fries where sent to someone else. how ever the oysters and the sandwich were delish. Kinda sad that when we tried the fries at the casbah they were soggy and greasy. that was kinda gross. so we gave it to another worker. hehe.... anyways...
great food semi great service. kinda pricey depending on what you get. other than that ill be coming again!
I was pretty disappointed with the calamari strips, and the rest of the food was just ok, nothing great (the other 3 in our group agreed). Not really sure why there's always a line out the door. And parking is a challenge. Not sure I want to go back, even though it is so close to my work. I'd rather eat at Point Loma Seafoods.
I hate waiting in lines!! Especially for food when I had a light breakfast! But this was the best 40 minute wait for food I've had in the history of my life!!
I've been looking for the perfect opportunity to get to Blue Water since my good friend Guy on Food Network's DDD so ably got the seafood bug in me going again. I have to say, everything about getting to this place would have normally turned me away. It's difficult to find a place to park, when we got there, the servers in a stern way booted some of us outside to line up there (Well, in their defense, it was getting pretty crowded inside!), then it seemed like the line crawled so slowly that you'd think tortoise was the main menu!! Plus it was the dreaded crowded place, not doing my claustrophobia any favors!
No matter!! Blue Water had all the potential to become my favorite seafood shop of all time and I was going to see it through!
Well, how did it go?? Fish tacos with grilled mahi mahi and extra sauce - out of this world!! The cioppino - unbelievably good! Even the fries were amazing - still crispy even after they got cold - never mushy!
I am still digesting this in seafood ecstasy as I write this review! I have to go back and will go back!
I note that some are dropping their ratings to 4 stars because of the wait at Blue Water. I'd ask for reconsideration because the cat is out of the bag on this place. That is to say, it is ALWAYS going to be busy. There will ALWAYS be a line of at least 30 minutes for the most part when you go there. Expect it and I encourage you to judge Blue Water on the merits of the quality of the grilled fish, soups, and plates they offer.
I also have NEVER been to a seafood shop of such great value for the dollar. An order of two fish tacos, cioppino, fries, and iced tea ran 20 bucks and fully fed two. I do mean fully!! They don't skimp on anything here. It's food quality is among the best I've seen anywhere.
Yes, they only do fish here - and how they do it so well!! One word - FANTASTIC!!
So, visit here, expect the wait, expect the crowd, but I'm sure you won't leave disappointed. By the way, I asked the server when the best times would be to visit to avoid the large crowd. She couldn't answer because there are none.
Well, give it a try and we'll look forward to hearing your fish story at Blue Water. I'm not worried - I know it'll be a great one!
Recommend: HIGHEST
This place is great. It is no frills, simple, fresh fish. I think it has some of the better seafood in town. On the past couple of visits the lines have been pretty crazy. I know they were featured on the food network recently so maybe it is still feeling the effects of that. I am glad that they are doing so well but this also means that they sometimes run out of some of the fish options. It also means that you have to be on the lookout for a table while you are deciding what to order.
I like the red snapper and mahi-mahi. I tried the wahoo last time which was good but a bit on the dryer side. Most of their fish is good on a sandwich or as fish tacos. Some of the people we were with last time got the salad and the portions was quite large, especially for the price. The fries and shrimp cocktail were good but I was not as wild about the ceviche, which seemed to have more filler than seafood.
Very good fish sandwiches! You get to choose what kind of marinade they cook your fish in and how it's cook. The fish is fresh and the flavor is pretty darn good. They have a lot of other stuff on the menu too... tacos and all.
The downfall is that the place is small and packed. The line goes slow and you have to stand around and vulture for a table to sit and eat. The atmosphere is laid back though... and it is a very casual place. There is a actual fish market inside the restaurant where you can buy fresh un-cooked seafood. Very cool! And the people who work there are very friendly even though they are super busy. Worth a try if you like seafood!
i really like this place because it's a seafood spot that doesn't make you feel like you have to get all dressed up. it is as its name says: a market & a grill. so, when you walk in you'd think you're at the seafood section of a grocery store.
basically, you stand in line, you order, you seat yourself. then, they come bring your food out to you, you eat, you throw away your plates, etc. this place reminded me of one of those seafood markets you see in places like redondo beach.
as for the food - it is really good! i started with the dungeoness crab cocktail & a cup of clam chowder. the crab cocktail was damn good, but the clam chowder could have used a bit more seasoning.. nothing a little salt & pepper couldn't fix. for the main dish, i had the lemon garlic butter shrimp plate, which included jasmine rice and a salad for $14.99. it was well worth the price. it came with 2 skewers of shrimp, with 12 shrimp on each, a cup of rice, & a healthy helping of salad. after having forced myself to eat the entire plate, i realized that i really didn't even need the crab cocktail OR the clam chowder. i know better now.
i would definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants some good seafood and a really laid back environment where you could get together with your friends and shoot the shit for a little bit. they also have an outdoor patio, although it is also really small. i say arrive earlier than normal dinner times because the line gets long really fast.
my only gripe about this place is that they charged me $1.50 for a CAN of sprite. they didn't even tell me that it would be a CAN and not a fountain drink. that's just stupid. again, i know better now. water is fine.
Parking is a hard to find, but so does anywhere else in the near this vicinity. They do have a coin meter parking, so if you got spare changes lying all over your car, start digging and start filling. You know the City of San Diego can use your coins.
To the review...
I've ordered Seafood Sampler Sandwich and Fries. Seafood Sampler Sandwich had smoked fish (it was smoked white fish, Cod?), crab salad type of filling, and like 6 huge piece of shrimps (about 8 bucks). I don't know how they make this smoked fish, but damn, they were good. I mean, shrimp was big (they tasted like good ol' shrimp, if you are wondering) and crab filling was well made, but oh man, the smoked fish was GOOD.
Total came out to be exactly $13. Kinda expensive for a lunch, huh? But the portion was so big that I only ate half of sandwich and fries, so guess what I had for dinner? the leftovers. :D So technically, I got away with lunch and dinner for 13 bucks. Good deal.
This place WILL get crowded around 10 past noon, so if you can, get here a little early; your impatience to wait in the line by coming in here early will be rewarded.
Service is good; cashier is nice and food comes out fairly quickly.
Review coming soon...
After seeing this restaurant covered in Guy Fieri's show on the Food Network, I couldn't WAIT to get back to San Diego to try it. Fortunately, I had the opportunity yesterday to go visit and be a food critic of my own.
When we arrived there was a line out the door that took about 30 minutes to get through. Tables are extremely limited, so make sure to grab one as soon as one opens up, and have your friend save it while you wait in line.
Here's what we ordered: Mahi-mahi grilled fish taco, White seabass grilled fish taco, cross-cut fries, and a half-dozen oysters. The fish was indeed very fresh, as were the oysters, and the cut vegetables in the taco. The fries were plentiful and slightly crunchy. The oysters were fresh and tasty, although not served as cold as I would have liked. The White seabass was definitely better tasting than the Mahi-Mahi in my opinion. And truth be told, the chipotle marinade was pretty sparse. An extra side of white sauce and lots of lime is recommended.
All in all a very tasty and a very fresh meal. Will definitely be back to try other parts of their vast menu.
Thanksgiving Day Buffet!
San Diego, CA
Happiest Hour in The Gaslamp
Neighborhood: Gaslamp
San Diego, CA
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Pacific Beach
Category: Seafood Markets
Neighborhood: La Jolla
Category: Seafood Markets
Neighborhood: Ocean Beach
Category: Sports Bars
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Category: Seafood
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