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Sea Harvest Fish Market & Restaurants
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
58 reviews for Sea Harvest Fish Market & Restaurants
Review Highlights
"Also highly recommend the clam chowder."
(in 18 reviews)
"Hubby tried the smoked salmon bisque."
(in 3 reviews)
"Excellent food and service."
(in 2 reviews)
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58 reviews in English
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Review from Timothy C.
Washington, DC
2/8/2012 3 photos
My wife and I have been here twice, and each time we have been impressed. It was just enough out of our way that we didn't remember to go back until this fall. That shouldn't be a reflection on our opinion of Sea Harvest, however; we just don't get out as much as want to.
We started with a bowl of the salmon bisque - oooohh man! So creamy and delicious, with little pieces of salmon melting in your mouth and the smokey scent of the salmon making you hungry for more.
For entrees I ordered the paella from the specials menu and Lacy ordered the ahi tuna steak. I had always been excited about the idea of paella, but I had never actually ordered it because I thought it would be boring. Based on our prior visit, I thought that this would be a great place to order it.
My only complaint was how long it took to crack all the crab legs, but even that is a veiled complaint, because it is A GOOD THING to have too many crab legs to crack! There were two types of mussels, clams, shrimp, and the crab legs in a savory saffron rice with a few veggies mixed in. It got a little cold near the end because I'm not exactly a pro at crab leg-cracking, but soo worth it. The seafood wasn't overcooked and was seasoned well, and there was PLENTY of seafood in the dish, not like those restaurants that skimp on the seafood to save cash.
My wife's ahi steak was also delicious, cooked rare and pink in the middle with a sesame coating and wasabi and soy on the side. That tuna with the right amount of wasabi and soy is on of the best things I've ever tasted - the cool, soft meat in the middle contrasting with the seared outside; the salty soy sauce, the nutty sesame seeds and the kick from the wasabi. Wowsah!
BONUS: Like 400 sea lions hang out on the dock to the right of the restaurant. -
Review from Dave S.
Salinas, CA
2/2/2012
Had another good experience. Being local, I've been here more than a few times. Ate with my wife and my mother in law who is slightly handicap, mention this because the waitresses were quick and patient at the same time, very sweet.
Food was good, ordered 3 different entrees all came out in time and all were very fresh. I had some local black cod that was cooked perfectly laid on a bed of caeser salad. The ladies had seared ahi and squid'n chips both were fresh tasting. There chips (fries) were crisp, not just a after thought.
Some good company, a warm winters day and the YELPing of sea lions in the background...nice -
Review from domini a.
San Francisco, CA
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food was quite good.
The presentation was thoughtless.
The service was terrible. -
Review from Kurt K.
Orinda, CA
1/20/2012
Stopped by here on my way back to the Bay Area to pick up some fresh crab. I thought the market had good quality seafood for a reasonable price. I didn't eat at the restaurant but it seemed like an ideal setting to enjoy a good meal of seafood (looking out over the water). If I'm in the area and need a place to eat, I'll definitenly keep this in mind!
-
Review from Eric H.
Seaside, CA
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Squid and chips were actually pretty good.... I thought I got robbed when I saw the quantity but the taste made me forget all about that... Lol
I was even impressed by the flavor of the fries and coleslaw.... They didn't skip a beat on anything on the plate(^_^). I was pretty satisfied... -
Review from Wayne K.
11/15/2011
They have a nice selection of grilled, deep fried, pan fried, soups and salads with fresh fish. The price, fish and service is ok but not great. It's a cheap alternative to Phil's which has gotten just too BIG. Go to the Sea Harvest for lunch and find a mo betta place in Monterey, Pacific Grove or Carmel for dinner.
-
Review from Jonathan L.
Palo Alto, CA
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
After spending a day kayaking, it made sense to come here afterwards to refuel all those calories I burned paddling my ass off. However, I was a bit disappointed with this place.
I yelped the places before going in and majority of the reviews seemed to be great. We ordered 3 different types of fish and chips, Fish, Squid and Chicken and much to our expectation was very unsatisfying.
The portions are sized for children and the squid did not taste fresh at all. It tasted as if it was defrosted and then battered and then served. Considering they're so close to Monterey Bay, I expected more. I've had better fish & chips in locations that were 3 hours to the closest bay/shore.
Our server was really awkward. I felt like the didn't know how to interact with us. After dropping off the bill, we wait 15-20 mins to get our check taken back. And that was because I asked another server to take care of it.
Next time I go kayaking, I'm checking out Phils next door.
TL;DR: Small portions, not so fresh. Not memorable and worth skipping. -
Review from Lucia C.
Oakland, CA
11/28/2011
My lunch companion and I shared a bowl of Clam Chowder which was tasty but sorely lacking in clams.
I ordered fish and chips which was not crispy at all with the breading thick and mushy. The accompanying tartar sauce was thin and watery with little taste. The breading on the fish was so thick and unappetizing that I peeled it away and ate the fish only which was moist but tasteless.
My friend ordered Crab Louie, looking forward to fresh, sweet crab. After all, it IS crab season and the market connected to the restaurant loudly advertised fresh crab. Why then, would they serve Crab Louie with frozen rock crab from Canada?
If you are in that area, don't bother with The Sea Harvest. If you want really good, fresh, always wonderful crab or fish, go to Phil's Fish Market. We attempted to go there first of course, but it was the Sunday after Thanksgiving and the line was at least 100 people deep so we took a chance on Sea Harvest. Big mistake, never to be made again. Skip Sea Harvest in Moss Landing! -
Review from J R.
Pacific Grove, CA
5/27/2011
A reluctant 4 stars. The food in general was darn good, with one exception. The restaurant itself is typical Sea Harvest--few frills, informal, with a fresh fish case on display. Gf ordered the Captain Dan D. combo, an assortment of fried seafood, served with fries & slaw. The fries were quite good, as was the slaw (which included raisins & pine nuts). She enjoyed the fried seafood, which I took the liberty of sampling (with her blessings, of course!). The shrimp (or prawns) was (were) outstanding--crispy batter, with big, not-overcooked shrimp. I've never had a fried oyster I liked, and these were no exception. I just don't get the appeal.
I ordered a teriyaki seafood skewer/kebab. Very tasty, with a couple shrimp, a couple kinds of fish (including an amazing piece of salmon), a scallop, and a small quantity of very thinly sliced peppers & onions. Sides included cooked veggies (asparagus, carrots) & a nice salad made up of dark greens & bits of other veggies. Plus some nice roasted potato chunks.
The one thing we had that wasn't great was a bowl of the bisque, made with house-smoked salmon. The texture & flavor just didn't quite cut it, though additions of oyster crackers & Tabasco helped. Next time we'll opt for the chowder.
Service was spotty. The waitress(es) seemed a bit overextended and/or inattentive.
Notes: We had been planning to go to Phil's (which has bigger portions for the money, it seems), but we didn't want to dine during a loud performance by a local band, and we had wanted to try Sea Harvest at some point anyway. The Sea Harvest parking lot, as others have stated, is vast (and paved now). It's a bit tricky finding the turnoff from the highway. And the location is prime for seeing sea lions--LOTS of sea lions right now; plus sea otters, seabirds, and other critters (even from your table!), so allow some time to peruse the area. -
Review from Virlie B.
Portland, OR
Food was so fresh, that they have no qualms about displaying the sea creatures in front of the restaurant. The salmon was very fresh, it's eyes were very clear. My friends says it was great!
I had the calamari steak and it was just divine. The service was good too. the location was perfect, and the view was amazing. For the price? yes, I am definitely a fan! -
Review from Matt M.
Freedom, CA
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
The clam chowder taste like it came from a can but the squid and prawns are very good. I'll will go back for some sea food, but I'll stick to Phil's for chowder. The service was very slow only two people working the floor.
There are a lot of wild life that you can see from your table. -
Review from K.D. Y.
Manteca, CA
3/15/2011
We go to Moss Landing and always pass Sea Harvest saying we want to go there because it is always so packed. We finally got to go the other day and in one word Delicious. I have had a lot of seafood in my life and I have to say this was some of the best that I have had. The service was really quick and the views were beautiful. We had a few items from the menu all of which were fantastic. I will post details at the end of the review. It was fantastic to see the chef grab the fish right out of the counter near the dining area. Now that's fresh! The prices were extremely reasonable and much cheaper than other places yet the quality was so much better.
Clam Chowder- Really delicious and not overly creamy. It tasted perfect to everyone at the table.
Coconut Shrimp Appetizer- I have had frozen boxed coconut shrimp and let me tell you Sea Harvest blows everything else out of the water. It had the perfect ratio of shrimp to coconut. It was tender and delicious.
Captian Daniel D Combo- A variety of mixed fried deliciousness served with fries and coleslaw. Everything was really good and tender. The coleslaw was really good and it had raisins.
Squid and Chips- Can you say tender. It was so delicious and it was also served with coleslaw and fries.
Fish and Chips - Not greasy whatsoever. The batter was light and it didn't taste too fishy. No aftertaste and very lite tasting. Also served with fries and coleslaw.
All in all I highly suggest stopping at Sea Harvest I can already see you walking to your car with a smile on your face. -
Review from Jennifer R.
Salinas, CA
3/24/2011
The food is good (pricey, but high quality), service is ....weird: my bf and I went there yesterday and our server (an older Latina woman) made eye contact and spoke almost exclusively to him. It was kind of a bummer.
As far as the food goes, we ordered oysters on the half shell (2), clam chowder, and the shellfish medley (we were splitting everything). The server wanted to know if we wanted everything at once instead of appetizer, appetizer, main course, which was odd. When we got our oysters (which were delicious!), one was really massive and the other was really small, which...variation is pretty much a given, but they couldn't have tried to shuck two of the same size, given they were the same price? The chowder was yummy (lots of decent hunks of clam); and the medley (clams, mussels, shrimp, and scallops in a broth with red chili flakes) was also delicious (though it also unexpectedly came with bizarre slices of red & green bell pepper, which I picked out, because ...no.) -
Review from vicky t.
Moss landing is the half way point where my dad and I meet for our Sunday brunch when both of us are too lazy to go another twenty minutes north or south. Sea Harvest has some great eats. The BF got the salmon with rice and mixed greens.. perfectly cooked. I got the smoked salmon bisque which was a nice change up from chowder. Dad got fish and chips that were perfectly cooked.
They have a lot of local wines which is nice and the server despite being in charge of all the tables was super fab.
Clean restrooms, great food and service. Also.. super clean bathroom!!
You can also check out the sea lions and seals that come in to rest on the mini wharf.. there are tons!! -
Review from Shiho F.
Carmel by the Sea, CA
8/19/2010
While reading "Consider the Oyster: A Shucker's Field Guide" on a flight back from Denver, CO to San Jose, CA I was craving some oysters... Instead of taking the 101 home, I decided to risk it all j/k (17 is known to be accident prone) and head towards the closest place where I could buy me some oysters...
The staff was friendly although not attentive at all (I had to ask for their help 3 times) and I bought 25 oysters because I figured they would be nice, cold, briny and tasty... I really wanted to try one (as my gut told me to) but I figured they'd be lovely so I chose not to. Since I was there, I picked up a few more things to complete a sea-worthy meal including Clam Chowder (packed separately) Sourdough Bowl, Steamed Clams on the Specials Board which came with some basic garlic cheese bread looked like the stuff you buy at Safeway premade) and something else that I can't rememebr because it wasn't that memorable.
The clam chowder was solid, it was no Fisherman's Grotto Clam Chowder (arguably the best clam chowder in the world - you can find this on the wharf in Monterey) but it tasted out of a can (it's cool with me)...
The saddest part of all this is that the oysters were Blue Pt. (which I was unfamiliar with until that day) and they were horrible! Maybe better to cook with as eated alone (as the book recommends to get a taste of what they really are about - each specific type) was depressing, dull and tasteless... and so I had1 out of the 25 and my friends enjoyed about 9 or so and the rest well they weren't good enought to shuck form my family so they rot in the cooler than I left them in. So sad!
I wanted to tyr their Pinenut Coleslaw but I was hoping to grab a salad to go at Lemongrass (a Thai restaurant down the street) which is unfortunately closed on Mondays. Bummer. -
Review from Eliza S.
Aromas, CA
9/16/2010
I understand there are several of these restaurants around the Monterey Peninsula, but I've only been to the one in Moss Landing. I like the fact that it's run by local fishermen, and also that Jack Johnson was playing through the speakers.. :) in fact it was the exact same CD I used to have a few years ago.
Pros would be that the food was very good. I got a combo plate (Captain Dan's something or other) that had prawns, scallops, calamari, oyster, and something else (can't remember) with chips. It was a pretty large plate, but I made it almost all the way through before I had to ask for a box. Normally I wouldn't eat such a huge plate of fried food (sensitive stomach), but it was good and it all tasted really fresh, especially the scallops and calamari. The fries were a little too crunchy for my taste though. My mom had the clam chowder and mahi mahi, and Dad had swordfish and the calamari appetizer. I tried a couple bites of their food, though I'm not much of a fish person so I don't really have too much preference when it comes to deciding what kind I like better... it's just fish to me.
The clam chowder was awesome. Really creamy and thick and fresh tasting, just the way I like it. Usually I don't order clam chowder when I go out to eat because it's never just right. But this stuff was good. Also the calamari - my first experience with calamari was years ago, and I remember it being really crunchy on the outside and totally rubbery on the inside (doesn't help when you're trying not to think about what you're eating).. the calamari here was amazing though. Definitely the best I've ever had.
Cons would be that the service wasn't very attentive (Dad thought the waiter was a little creepy), but maybe that was just because it was almost closing time and they were cleaning up. Also, it didn't seem like there was much on the menu to choose from, but like I said, this was the only Sea Harvest restaurant I've been to so I don't really have anything to compare it to. I was a little disappointed that there was no cioppino on the menu though.
All in all, it was an ok experience.. we definitely satisfied our appetites, but I don't think this place would be my first choice for dining.. maybe to go get some fresh seafood, but we'll see. -
Review from Marilyn A.
Oakland, CA
7/20/2010
The hardest part was deciding what to order. This isn't a fancy place, but it's clean and the food is amazing. The service was very friendly and they are more than happy to make anything you see behind the glass case in addition to the great menu.
I had the crab cakes over salad and my boyfriends had steamed mussels. It was the perfect portion for each meal. Also highly recommend the clam chowder. -
Review from Bill J.
Menlo Park, CA
12/16/2007
In all honesty, we were out here looking to have dinner at Phil's, but we weren't too committed to it.
The parking lot at Sea Harvest is the size of Rhode Island, with spaces the length of semi-tractor big rigs. I was curious about it, and then I realized the spot is adjacent to a public marina and they were for boat-trailers.
It was fairly busy. We waited a minute or two because the waiter wanted to get us a table farther inside. It didn't clear soon enough, so he offered us the outside deck under the heater (early December- it was pretty cold outside,) and we went for it.
It was actually much nicer. Plenty of room (we could take extra napkins from empty tables.)
The waiter was a fun guy. He had a combination of Euro-crispness and a casual Latin attitude. I thought he may have been Italian, since there were so many living in the Monterey area.
Well, he was actually Argentine, and he wasn't a waiter, he was the owner. But remarkably, except for a little support from drink-servers he attended us entirely.
We were virtually FORCED to have the cioppino.
I'd say, "How's the Ahi?" He'd say, "Have the cioppino."
"How about the swordfish?"
"The cioppino is very good tonight."
Looking at the menu we noticed that the prices weren't very high, even for the more expensive varieties of fish.
When you see that, sometimes you wonder if maybe it isn't garbage. There's a lot of bad seafood out there.
We decided to have two main dishes, swordfish and, well- cioppino- and share them.
We also went for appetizers.
A basalmic marinated artichoke and a brushetta of roasted garlic and eggplant.
I also wanted clam chowder.
I consider white-chowder to be kind of a litmus-test of a regular, American-style seafood joint. I realize it is a very "pedestrian," dish as the pretentious might say, but good chowder is good food, so get off my ass about it.
When a restaurant's chowder is bland I consider it a stark indictment on the whole place. Sorry if that seems judgmental, but to me there is no excuse for it.
This chowder was very good. I know I was pretty hungry by that time of day, but I could really detect the elements of good chowder in that cup. It's a fish store, so it makes sense that their base-stock would be real. Onions and celery and a thickening agent that I believe was arrowroot (much more neutral tasting than flour or even cornstarch- ) oh yeah, and CLAMS.
The roast garlic and eggplant came with sliced "rustic," bread, (I hate it that every bread that is white and substantial and ISN'T sourdough is being called "ciabatta." I refuse to participate. I'll make up my own terms.) The eggplant was fire-roasted and it was surrounded in marinated mixed vegetables. Good stuff.
The artichoke was served cold with a sauce I think may have had mayo and tahini. The basalmic really permeated the vegetable, but not so much that it lost it's flavor. Usually artichokes are served hot,
so this was a nice variation to me. It was also cleaned expertly to allow the heart to be fully separated, like french and Italian cooks do.
This I also don't see much around here. I asked him about it.
That's when I got the full history of European culinary influence on Argentina (as well as some information on the decimation of the native popluation during the early conquest- he said he was Quechan.)
So it turned out he was not only the owner but also the head chef, or at least, all of the dishes were designed by him. His training was indeed in french cooking.
I was a cook myself in another life, and when I see things produced in a special way I really like finding out how it all got done. Wait-staff often can't give you that information, so I appreciated having the boss wait on us.
The swordfish and cioppino was also very good. The crab, he told us, was from Oregon due to the oil-spill in San Francisco bay (this suited me fine. Dungeness is great from the Northwest.)
We ate it like street-dogs.
OK, so here's the deal with the prices:
The dishes and the portions are not huge.
Fortunately I was ravenous when we went in, and so I didn't care if I was ordering too much food.
I wasn't.
But here's the thing- because portions are a bit small AND prices are pretty low, you can afford to try a lot of different items, and doing that really made this a good eating experience.
After the fall of the "California Cuisine" movement (tiny portions and HUGE prices,) I think some places swung too far in the other direction, providing GARGANTUAN portions for low prices, and how do they do THAT?
With cheap crappy ingredients.
No restaurant (expect for casinos in Nevada,) can afford to serve HIGH-QUALITY food for low prices, expecially when they are really piling it up. Something has to give SOMEWHERE.
This fellow has struck what I think is a happy balance. Smaller portions very carefully crafted.
I'm going back soon. -
Review from Richard H.
Daly City, CA
8/6/2006
Standing alone off the west side of Highway 1 just north of Moss Landing, the Sea Harvest looks like a tourist restaurant that would have a huge menu of mediocre food. Don't feel bad; I was wrong too.
It is a medium-size place run by local fisher-types. It ha a great view. And it has a reasonable menu of solid, good, fresh food at reasonable prices. We went on Sunday evening and they ran out of bread-bowls for the clam chowder. This is a GOOD THING: I don't want they to buy so much stuff that they never run out (like on a Sunday evening). I want them to buy reasonable amounts and risk running out of stuff occasionally. The clam chowder, which not being Manhattin style, was really good.
They have nice combination dinners and enough kid and non-fish selections to keep everyone happy, even diabetics. For example, some of their dinners offer an option to come as the topping of a ceaser salad (instead of next to potatoes or rice).
Good freeway access (important with Highway 1) and a good place. -
Review from Anne d.
Fremont, CA
7/12/2007
My baby and I were enjoying our little vacation time off last weekend and we were heading to Monterey to a place called Sea Harvest Fish Market that was near the Cannery.
STOP! What's that?!, I exclaimed. Hey, I think it said Sea Harvest fish market, are you sure it's in Monterey? We're only as far as Moss Landing.
Hubby stops the car and turns around. We enter the large parking lot off the highway and see that the sign on the building in fact says Sea Harvest. We went in to check it out. At the door we asked if this location was affiliated or connected to the one in Monterey at the Cannery. They said YES! We said, "we'd like a table for two, please".
The greatest thing (for me) was that one of the specials was an appetizer: roasted artichoke (a local vegetable specialty) in garlic and olive oil, with a sun dried tomato remoulade dipper. OH MY GOD. I was in heaven. Heaven is wonderful. And that was only the start of the meal. Hubby tried the smoked salmon bisque. He wasn't as pleased as I was, wanted more salmon flavor, but it was a bisque not a chunky soup. But he did enjoy it nonetheless.
Dinner. The specials please.....ok, just the one you first mentioned: Sea Bass with sun dried tomatoes and artichokes over garlic mashies with fresh veggies. Served with salad. Salad, I found out, comes on the same plate. Not my favorite, it gets soggy when mixed next to hot food. Oh well, that was my only disappointment. It came out perfectly cooked and wonderful flavor.
Hubby ordered the ahi tuna cooked rare. Served over mashies as well. He got the caesar salad instead. I tasted this and it literally melted in my mouth. Nicely seared on the outside, tenderly rare on the inside.
Are you hungry yet? -
Review from Tida C.
Pasadena, CA
4/28/2009 7 photos
My friends and I made a stop here when we passing through on our way back from the Pinnacles. I must say that all of us were thoroughly surprised!
I ordered the catch of the day fish and chips. It was delicious! I'm from England, so I know my fish and chips! The fish was not oily and it had a nice golden crispy crunch to it as well! Th chips were also delicious and crunchy but not dry.
My friends all had something different and some ordered the oysters, which they mentioned was really delicious and not to mention, really really cheap!
The service was delightful, our waitress was very attentive and kind. She came to check up on us very often and made sure we had a good time. I would definitely recommend coming here as a lunch! -
Review from John M.
Watsonville, CA
11/27/2009
This isn't Manresa or The French Laundry. If you're after interior ambiance, creative cuisine, a wine list out the door or platoons of waitpersons, continue your search. We'll concede a star on that.
However, the visual setting is deeply pleasing. You are hard by the water, at the entrance to the harbor, with fishing boats coming and going; not one or two but a raft of sea otters outside the window; pelicans and gulls flying (or walking) by; sea lions by the metric ton jostling for snoozing room on the local dock; and the occasional kayakers or sailors maneuvering through. Get there in the late afternoon and let your heart rate fall as your connection with Mother Earth rises.
And, given that it's also a fish market, owned by fisherpersons, the seafood is as fresh as you can get it; simply and extremely well prepared (including the vegetables, which gives you a clue about attention to detail); and offered at a reasonable price. We bring our foodie friends (among them a fine chef herself) here for the real deal. When they have it, the paella is a killer plate; and my wife has a thing for (Seafood) Louie, but really, if you like seafood or local produce (e.g., broiled artichokes--yike!), you could close your eyes and just point at the menu (or the chalkboard of specials). Our favorite seafood restaurant on the Central Coast (five stars among our circle of friends). -
Review from James N.
Visalia, CA
10/13/2011
Ok food. Ok prices. Slow service.
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Review from Katie P.
San Diego, CA
4/26/2009
Love this restaurant! Much better and more refined than Phil's. Try the artichoke with chili vinegarette for appetizer!
The meals that come with rice and vegetables are always a great choice. Anything fresh and local is YUMMY! -
Review from Greg G.
12/27/2007
So this place isn't bad, but not terrific. The fish is fresh, but that's a given, its a harbor restaurant. I couldn't really get excited though about much on the menu. It was very plain.
Everything is grilled or fried with a common seasoning among all of them listed on the menu. I had a tuna steak and some clam chowder. The chowder was really salty in my opinion, but the tuna was pretty good. Not overly cooked thankfully and not fishy either.
The restaurant service though is so so. I got my meal in like 5 minutes and spent about 15 minutes waiting for a check, as well as did another table. At that time we were the only tables in the place with people at them.
The market however seemed to be a better value. The prices seemed decent and the staff was pretty knowledgeable too. They were offering recipes and advice on preparation and storage to customers coming in. Very friendly too.
Overall, good but not great. Friendly and not touristy. -
Review from Cathy P.
Watsonville, CA
2/12/2008
We go to Sea Harvest AT LEAST once a week. Chef Mario (who recently left to begin teaching at the Monterey Culinary Institute) and his wait staff are like family to us.
Don't let the blue metal roof "tourist-trap-greasy-deep-fried-seafood" look fool you. With acres of parking -which is good because this place is usually packed- where else can you have an excellent meal (nothing on the menu is over $14.95) while watching the otters, pelicans, and seals right outside the window? If you're not a wimp, the heated deck at sunset is the best seat in the house!
I have never been disappointed with anything I've eaten here. Chef Mario once convinced us to share an appetizer special: a white anchovy bruscetta, TOTAL HEAVEN! The cioppino, not always on the menu, is BETTER than Phil's, cheaper too.
I like that the menu is divided between grilled, on one side, and deep-fried, on the other. All grilled fish items come with a suggested topping but you can order any of them you prefer, along with salad, FRESH veggies, rice or potatoes or just the fish over a caesar salad.
The wine selection could be better and we've suggested changes but we always have a bottle of the Pavona Chardonnay Blanc and it goes well with the fish. You can also bring in your own bottle, corkage is $15 (whenever we shared with Chef Mario, sometimes there was no charge).
I highly recommend the Sea Harvest. -
Review from Tahlonna G.
Orlando, FL
10/22/2009 1 photo
3 words only abt this place: YUM, YUM, and YUMMM!!!!!
OMG, this place is soooooo frikken good!! The absolute and best fresh Pacific Halibut I've ever had in my life!! Also, they serve you the freshest and most delicious veggie medley w/ a lovely salad. My boyfriend had more of like a combo platter with fried oysters, fish, shrimp, mussels, etc and he loved it all especially their crunchy, fresh, and delicious coleslaw.
I will definitely return to this little spot, great food, very chill atmosphere...overall wonderful experience! -
Review from SubPrimeTime T.
Escondido, CA
11/16/2009 2 photos
Finally a very reasonably priced fish place that serves great food.
Everything we ordered was fresh and delicious (Halibut, Cioppino, Fish and chips, and the Artichoke appetizer).
PRO
- Excellent preparation of their fish dishes.
- Price is very reasonable when you compare against other fish restaurants.
- Location (especially for kids). Lots of parking and there is wildlife swimming around like seals and sea otters.
Minor CON - They don't have a kids menu. You can however ask them to serve a smaller portion of an entree for a few bucks less. -
Review from Nancy L.
Carlsbad, CA
7/23/2009 5 photos
If you follow my reviews, you know I like to travel to different places, so for 22 years I'm had issues with this annual Castroville vacation. Actually, we haven't been in three years, and in the meantime I discovered Yelp. That's how we came to try Sea Harvest instead of Phil's. All the fried foods on the Captain's platter were great, especially the piece of fish, as was the aioli steamed artichoke. Shrimp and crab salad was fine, but the clam chowder broth wasn't the best I've ever had.
The real draw here is the sun deck with barking seals beneath, rafts of otters to the north, and a jetty piled high with hundreds of seals... far off enough not to hamper one's appetite. I'm a sucker for a view and free entertainment, and this was the best! -
Review from Jack V.
Monterey, CA
1/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I took my girlfriend here a few weeks ago and was a bit let down, I think it's partly because it's been hyped up so much. I started off with their Caesar salad which was mediocre. My main entree was the red snaper which was quite nice! It didn't leave much to be desired. I also came craving crab cakes at least for an appetizer. Coming to a sea food joint in the Monterey area you would expect this on the menu - NOPE, no crab cakes.
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Review from Nicole W.
Iselin, NJ
5/16/2008
This is a great place to go, with plenty of parking and an awesome view. You can watch the otters play in the water and the pelicans will fly over head.
I ALWAYS order the sable fish with ginger on it and it is delicious. Anytime I stray from this I am disappointed. My mom had the special which was a seafood Paella and it was completely tasteless. -
Review from Anthony R.
Silicon Valley
10/27/2009
If you like char-broiled artichokes, then this place is for YOU!
Too die for fish, layered on top of ceasar salad is tops!
Good wine list, and great views of the Moss Landing harbor area.
Great chicken strips and fries for the kids and an atmosphere that is welcoming and makes you feel at home.
They also have a ton of fish specials on the chalk board out front, so don't forget to check them out on your way in.
TOP NOTCH! -
Review from j K.
Santa Cruz, CA
1/7/2011
Great dishes! Needs more options for lunch, but always awesome.
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Review from Mutro T.
Silicon Valley, CA
12/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
Good food and service, with a nice view of the harbor. The prices are very reasonable. On a warm day, take the outdoor tables with even an even better view of the harbor. Lots of parking. All the more reasons to pass on Phil's, dine here instead.
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Review from Jason D.
Campbell, CA
5/15/2011
Waited 10 minutes without being acknowledged at all, much less seated. Looking around, lots of people without food looked impatient. Decided to cut bait.
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Review from kim l.
Milpitas, CA
9/16/2009
We enjoyed our meal here. We had the calamari as an appetizer and it was very good - the breading was not too thick & the seasoning was nice. I did need to ask for cocktail sauce as it only came with tartar sauce, but no big deal.
It did bug me that I had to pay $1.50 for bread. Most seafood places include bread with the meal. I know, it was only $1.50 but it still bothered me.
Most meals are $15 and include a starch and a veggie & the portions are generous. The fish was good, the service was OK, and the view was great. It's a nice, casual place with a great view to eat freshly prepared fish.
One note, they don't have anything except seafood. Often there is one chicken dish or mac n cheese or the like for the picky kids. Not a negative for the restaurant - it IS a seafood restaurant - but parents with picky kids like mine may find it useful to know. -
Review from Cedric J.
Carmel Valley, CA
1/9/2011
Plenty of parking, nice view of the harbor. The food was presented well but the service was very slow.
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Review from Evil D.
Santa Clara, CA
1/3/2008
Wow... this place is a true Gem. I have driven though this area so many times over the past few years and passed right by this place until a co-worker recommended I try the Cajun Albacore. I did. It was DELICIOUS.
I came back for the Ahi. Yes a fat slab of RAW Ahi. Not many places will serve raw Ahi and this place will cook it, serve it rare or serve it completley raw over potatoes with some wasabi and soy sauce.
OH, and the clam chowder...... Freakin delicious!
I highly recommen this place!!! -
Review from David K.
Dublin, CA
12/30/2010 6 photos
Excellent food & service. Beautiful views of the harbor. Conveniently located off Hwy 1. Love the tender, jumbo Green mussels and steamed shrimp. Reasonably priced and worth a stop on the way to or from the Monterey Peninsula.
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Review from Adam C.
Modesto, CA
10/16/2010
Excellent food and service!
