(Photo Credit: The Fish Market San Diego Bayfront Facebook Page)
The San Diego Bay area is home to beautiful scenery including a relaxed maritime backdrop where visitors walk along miles of promenade. If you are unsure where to dine, some of the best restaurant recommendations can come from your Uber or cab driver. It’s certainly where I’ve received my most valued complimentary culinary counsel. Plus, locals and hotel staff will all be a great help in finding a good spot to eat, so I kept the recommendation for The Fish Market in my mental back pocket as I enjoyed a work trip to San Diego.
I stumbled upon the Fish Market while taking a walk near my hotel. My tourist to-do list item of the day was to take a picture of the iconic statue of the sailor kissing the nurse—a tribute to the famous photo celebrating the end of World War II.
Fun fact: the monument is called the Embracing Peace statue, and it’s a pretty awesome ode to the military and the country’s joy for the much-anticipated announcement.
I walked a little further and came upon the National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military. You really shouldn’t miss that either; it’s quite touching.
So, after enjoying those sights, just a mite yonder, I saw the water was close by. That’s when I noticed a hub of activity and lights, and lo’ and behold it was The Fish Market. The location was right off the bay.
From its appearance, it was warm, inviting, and maritimey.(Forgive me…I just make up words) The Fish Market is not just a name, it’s an actual market for seafood, but there are levels to this place, literally and figuratively. There are public spaces, semi-private rooms, and private dining areas.
The second floor is home to Top of the Market, a cozy, exclusive space atop the property. I have a feeling it’s where people go to live their best lives.
The Top of the Market has an intimate ambiance; exhibition-style cooking and is described as having “the elegance of fine dining with professional and friendly service.” There’s a banquet room, an elevated dining area, a brick patio, and a front glass patio. And if you are “that” person, you can buy the place out for a night. See what I mean…levels!
I was on the fish house level, which means public seating and carryout, and that was just fine with me. I came specifically to experience seafood from the bay, and I trusted my recommendations would not fail. All I had to do was look at what was available in the market to see what the menu offerings included.
There’s a lot more than salmon, crab, and shrimp. There’s a variety of seafood including tuna, Mahi Mahi, swordfish, octopus, oysters, lobster, and more.
Sample of The Fish Market menu offerings:
- Swordfish Moroccan-style with charmoula relish, roasted vegetables, lemon herb rice)
- Chilled Seafood Platter: Honduran lobster tail (1), shucked-to-order oysters (6), prawn cocktail (6), black mussels (10), littleneck clams (6), mignonette sauce, cocktail sauce, grated horseradish, butter, lemon
- Crispy Octopus with creamer potato, corn puree, chorizo, chimichurri, arugula
The restaurant also serves Maine and Nicaraguan lobster, and wild Norweigan Red King crab legs. If nothing else, just the menu tells you they’re trying. Nobody’s sleeping on the job at this place, and there’s certainly no lack of creativity.
I decided to try the Fish and Shrimp Curry, which has stir-fried vegetables with jasmine rice, coconut curry, and cilantro. I feel like I tasted ginger, but it’s not on their ingredients list so let’s go with their description. Intriguing, creative, appetizing, and just plain delicious.
Having an early flight the next morning, I wasn’t super confident about my dining choice. Let’s just say my digestive system can be a touch moody, but I was pleasantly surprised. So, to all my non-Teflon tummy friends; you might be alright with this dish. I can’t guarantee it, but my personal experience is a thumbs-up.
The Fish Market is an experience that should be taken in slowly. It’s the kind of place that you should come to when you have time. Enjoy the bay, the skyline, your friends, and of course, enjoy the food. Definitely, enjoy the food.
*The Fish Market has another location in San Diego at Del Mar / Solana Beach.
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