Monterey Bay -- Restaurant Recommendations
 

My family and I are traveling out to Monterey for a couple of days. We arrive on my son's 14th birthday and I would love some recommendations for some good, fun, lively seafood restaurants. Not looking for fancy or stuffy just good fresh seafood. Thanks so much.

There are actually a few decent places right on Fisherman's Wharf - but if you don't mind a 30 minute drive . . . Phil's Fish Market | Experience a never ending variety of fresh fish, caught locally and flown in daily from around the world. in Moss Landing.

Yes, we plan to hit Phil's a couple of days later when we do our whale watching trip out of Moss. What restaurants at the Wharf would you recommend? Thanks.

Passionfish is excellent!

I've been to most of the ones on the wharf and off the wharf. Freshest fish and reservations a must at Monterey's Fish House, off the pier on Del Monte. It's a favorite among locals. My comments on this place is it's not my favorite only because they don't put a lot of herbs and spices on the fish, and I like herbs and spices!

Passionfish is terrific, again, get reservations.

On the wharf itself, the old standby, Domenicos. It's gotten good and not so good reviews by yelpers over the years, but I've honestly never had a bad meal there, and their bread is to die for! We go back there year after year.

There is another newer place on the wharf, the name escapes me, that has gotten a lot of good reviews by friends and colleagues who have eaten there. On the opposite side of the wharf to Domenicos.

Really, all you need to do is walk down the wharf, taste their clam chowder (they all have stands outside with samples), check out the vibe inside, then pick the place you like the best.

Any feedback on Hiula's? It looks like a fun atmosphere for my 14yr old bday dinner.

Hula's would work too. Passionfish has great food but not sure it's the atmosphere you're looking for.

If Mexican food is a possibility, we seriously enjoyed Pepper's Mexicali in Pacific Grove. Really good, and a lively and colorful place. Peppers MexiCali Cafe, Pacific Grove, CA