Featured on the Michelin’s Guide, this “fishery” to table restaurant is tucked away in one of the quieter parts (yes they exist!) of Pacific Beach. If you’re not looking for it, you might miss it! Not only does the restaurant serve amazingly fresh seafood, it also sells fresh food in a small market inside the restaurant as well. The Fishery prides itself on using fresh, local ingredients, and has a rotating seasonal menu.

First off, drinks. I wanted something refreshing and was recommended the “The Fishery Milk Punch”. I was skeptical because of the name, but boy was I wowed! Made with tequila, sweet vermouth, and clarified with oat milk (hence the “milk”), this drink was definitely refreshing and sweet, but not overly sweet at all. Definitely one of top 10 cocktails I’ve had of all that time! (That’s a pretty big deal.) The large ice cube was a very nice touch.

The Fishery has a great assortment of cold and warm appetizers to choose from. We chose the Fishery soup and the local spot prawns. The soup was flavorful, filling, and the crunchy chickpeas added a lovely texture. While the prawns were a little smaller than we expected, they were buttery and delicious.

For the main courses, we had the Maine diver scallops and macadamia crusted Alaskan halibut. The scallops were perfectly cooked and accompanied by a fascinating squid ink risotto. I make some pretty darn good scallops at home, and I’m rarely impressed by scallops at restaurants anymore. However, if you get the Maine diver scallops, I promise you will not be disappointed.

The Alaskan halibut came with a side of watercress and mashed potatoes. While the halibut is a favorite of the Fishery’s regulars and delicious in its own right, I felt that the diver scallops were the stars of the night.

We ended the night by having some local ice cream offered on their dessert menu. Overall, I was very impressed with the Fishery. The indoor decor is pretty ordinary, but the outside patio is very nice to dine on, and they have many heaters to go around (perfect for windy Pacific Beach)! This would be a lovely place for a romantic date, or a nice get-together with family that isn’t stuffy. I honestly think the Fishery deserves its place as one of the best seafood restaurants in San Diego, and is incredible gem in the Pacific Beach neighborhood!

The Fishery
5040 Cass Street
Pacific Beach, CA 92109
https://www.thefishery.com

*good for solo diners, couples, and small groups