The Fishery

The Fishery

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The Fishery looks like a tavern that's been serving clam chowder since before anyone cared about provenance — polished wood, mounted fish on the walls, nothing performative about the room. Then the specials board tells you what's actually going on: caviar-topped scallops in a butter sauce, spot prawns, sand dabs, the kind of catch that shows up because the restaurant owns its own seafood distributor. That's the real engine here. It isn't sourcing seafood at the mercy of a supplier's schedule; it's choosing from what's best that day and building the menu around it.

The chowder is still the entry point, and it earns the reputation. But the range is the point — a menu that can go from a bar-standard comfort dish to a plate of scallops worth splashing out on, without either end feeling like a compromise. The cocktail list plays the same theme seriously: a martini steeped in oyster shell vermouth, a negroni built on kelp-infused gin that reads savory instead of gimmicky.

Michelin has selected it every cycle it's run since 2019. That consistency matches what's on the plate — a neighborhood tavern that happens to have first pick of the ocean, and knows exactly what to do with it.

The Spot
The Fishery has occupied its spot on Cass Street in Pacific Beach for twenty-five years, built around a menu that shifts with the seasons and leans on pairing local produce with the day's seafood. The wine list is a long-running project of its own, and the bar program has grown enough to warrant its own dedicated space within the restaurant.

Seasonal rotations have included Sicilian crudo, an Opah smashburger, a swordfish chop, whole fried sculpin with squid ink aioli, king crab, fish and chips, and a seafood tower, alongside salads and ceviche that change with what's available. Regulars and reviewers frequently single out the halibut, chowder, bread, and fettuccine.

Michelin has named The Fishery a Selected restaurant in its San Diego guide in 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
THE FACTS
Delicious
AWARDMichelin Guide Selected2019–2026
CRITICCovered by Edible San Diego
CRITICCovered by San Diego Magazine
CRITICCovered by The Infatuation
RATINGS4.6 stars across 1,292 reviews3 sources
The Regulars
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Your Rating
City

San Diego

Neighborhood

Pacific Beach

Price

$$$

Cuisine

Seafood

Chef

Owner

Michelin Selected 2026
Recognition