Phil's Fish Market & Eatery

Phil's Fish Market is a local institution in the Monterey bay area of Moss Landing, although it had been featured on TV: the Food Network. It's really a family and casual restaurant, with fresh seafood from local catches and also flown in from elsewhere, but is also a fish market, as its name implies.

We went on a Saturday evening, and it was packed, the ordering line was probably at least 20 deep, but did move pretty fast. As you enter the restaurant, you see fresh fish, shellfish and others on ice, a row of refrigerators line one wall, where you can fetch your own beer, drinks, and wine too. You pick up a menu and specials and look through them while you move ahead in line. At the counter, you order and pay, then go and find yourself a table, silverware and paper napkins and an assigned number in hand. There are lots of tables indoors and out, with heaters overhead for the cold evenings. After a few minutes, waitresses deliver your dishes and you can dig in.

They are famous for the Cioppino (recipe available on their web site). The portions of everything is Large! So be prepared to take some leftovers home. Highly recommended for anyone coming to the Monterey Bay area who loves seafood.

They even have live music on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, but we have never been there on those nights to see/hear what they did.

Fun, family-friendly seafood place with a lot of character. Don't be fooled by the tacky decor or weathered exterior, however -- the food is excellent and the fish is fresh! Like Portia mentioned, you line up and order at the counter, get a sign with a number on it (the signs look like they were stolen from Carl's Jr.), and then try to grab a table.

We went there on a Saturday night and it was absolutely packed. The wait in line was at least 15 minutes, and every table was filled. I think we were lucky to find a table just as a family was clearing out. I don't know what can be done to avoid the crowds, and am not sure how typically packed it gets, but just a warning if you are the impatient type ;)

As for the food, I had an ahi tuna special which was quite delicious. The seasoning was fairly simple and the flavor of the fresh fish stood for itself. Again, the portions are huge -- you could reasonably split one dish among two people if you both have medium-light sized appetites!

Definitely check this place out! One of the more interesting and fun restaurants I have ever visited.