Sea Harvest Fish Market - Moss Landing

I tend to get tired of breaded and fried seafood, so I rarely order the fry baskets unless I'm in the mood for oysters. I wish restaurants would find more creative ways to serve oysters beyond just breading and frying. Additionally, I'm not fond of the small bay scallops in the fry baskets, but Sea Harvest does offer a delicious grilled scallop kabob. My favorite dish so far is the halibut, served with a sauce that includes capers and, I believe, browned butter. The vegetable side dishes also provide a nice alternative to the usual half-cooked steamed broccoli, zucchini, and carrots that are common elsewhere, although I do wish the green beans and baby carrots (the real ones, not peeled) were a bit more tender. If you decide to eat outside or take a stroll along the deck that overlooks the water, be cautious of the seagulls! The views are fantastic, often featuring sea animals. To the left, there's a long boat dock, and the last time I visited—just two days ago on April 16—there were hundreds of sea lions lounging all over it. You can nearly always spot otters as well. While the fish market section of the restaurant doesn’t offer a wide selection, what they do have appears to be very fresh. Just don’t expect any real bargains; the prices seem to align with typical market rates elsewhere. The tables are a bit small, and it can get noisy when the restaurant is crowded, but I still enjoy my visits. The restrooms are consistently clean. I prefer cola (they serve Pepsi), and I wish they had a soda dispenser or at least offered refills. When I order a soda, I receive a glass of ice and a can, which is a change I'd like to see improved. I appreciate how places like Chili's ensure your drinks, be it cola or lemonade, are always full and fresh. Meal prices at Sea Harvest are reasonable. I also like being able to see the chefs preparing orders right in front of me. I've never encountered a rude waitress or hostess, but I can't speak to how things have changed since the last customer posted a review about a bad experience. Perhaps things are better now, or I've just been lucky.

Since no window seats were available, we opted for a table in the corner, away from the draft from the front door. The table was pushed far back into the corner, so we moved it slightly to access our seats. The hostess quickly snapped at us to not move the table too far, expressing a desire to maintain space between the tables. Another staff member came to inform us of the specials and take our drink or appetizer orders. My mother-in-law struggled to hear the waitress and asked her to repeat herself, only to be met with obvious annoyance. The food arrived in a reasonable amount of time—we ordered fish and chips and calamari. It was decent, but nothing exceptional. Fortunately, a kind waitress took over our table and checked in on us throughout the meal, and she was much more pleasant. The Sea Harvest also has a small selection of fresh fish for sale. My husband bought some fish for dinner, but faced a similarly rude encounter with the same woman who had seated us. After returning home, I called the restaurant to speak with the manager about our unpleasant experience. After explaining how rudely we were treated and our intention to never return, as well as advising others to avoid the establishment, his response was a dismissive, "Okay..." If you are only interested in a nice view and some average food, and you don't mind being treated as a nuisance rather than a valued customer, then the Sea Harvest in Moss Landing, CA, might be the place for you!