Phil's Fish Market Eatery - CASTROVILLE

Longer lines that move relatively quickly. We have there ~2pm on a Sunday and had to wait 20 minutes to get to the front of the line to order food. Once you order food, you should be able to sit a place and wait until the food arrives. We tried the lobster roll (which was sold only as a double part, but was served in 2 single plates? , Halibut fish and chips (Deliciousss and the Cioppino. All were good and definitely fresh, but not unforgettable enough to make this a must-stop. I can visit again, but I won't get out of my way to eat here.

Yes, it can get busy. Yes, the seating is patio covered and then picnic tables with heaters but they've done a great job to shield the wind. Why 5stars? Best seafood in the Santa Cruz area, on the beach, great staff and bar. Yes, it's Moss Landing and yes the Pacific ocean is unpredictable. I love this place and people who aren't happy about the wait, that's because lots of people do too.

The cioppino is delicious and the size is worth of the price, good for 2. They are very generous with the seafood in it. The crab legs are meaty and fresh. The soft shell crab sandwich is amazing too. The deep fried whole crab is well seasoned. Luckily there was no line for weekday afternoon, service was quick, however bare in mind sitting outdoor could be very chilly, and windy, there are not so many indoor seating available.

I absolutely love this place. Honestly, I have never been disappointed. Their Cioppino is the best I've had. This place is a must for me when in the area. I especially love the lady at the fountain drink station. She is always so welcoming. If you need suggestions on what to order, ask for the staff's favorites. If you buy fresh seafood from there, they will clean and cut the fish. They also crack and prepare crab so it's easy to eat. Frozen lobster tails are more convenient than buying lobster fresh and cooking at home. You have to try at least once if you are in the area. A little tip: if it is nice weather, take a beach chair, order your food and sit on the beach while you eat. Can't go wrong.

Came here during a chilly January sunset and sat out on the sand to watch the sun go down. It was cold, but they did have heaters. The food was a bit pricy, but good. The Salmon Marsala was delish but the Halibut was a bit dry and lacked flavor. The oysters are always amazing. Be prepared, there is not a lot of parking and you will likely have to wait in line to get seated. We were hoping to take some fish home with us but their selection didn?t look much better than the supermarket. Fun experience, but a bit pricey for what we got.