Giovanni's Fresh Fish & Galley

12/05/2007 Posted by annwride

Giovanni's is the best location to buy fresh fish. They have real salmon, not arme with color added! They will special order anything for you and pack on ice for free! Great place

11/20/2007 Posted by pulibear

The lines are long here to order food to go, but on my last visit there, the fish and chips were perfectly cooked--moist and not dry. While they're a bit pricey, the portion was generous, the fries were perfect and the tartar sauce was excellent. I could see many ways they could improve the efficiency of the order and pick up process but I see they're working on fixing the problem. An expanded kitchen will hopefully make the whole process faster and less frustrating for the customers. Overall I am a local customer and enjoy the fish and chips better than even some of the restaurants in the area.

Pros: Delicious food

Cons: Poor take-out service--too slow

07/25/2007 Posted by bdmeyer

It is one thing to wait a long time because the place is packed... it is yet another to wait because the staff members are incompetent. There were only six or so parties in front of us in line and it took us just under an hour to get to the order window. As we waited we watched 6-8 additional parties give up and leave. We waited because I had read the "worth the wait" reviews on citysearch. I disagree. We passed the time in line discussing how we would streamline the ridiculous ordering process at Giovanni's. The woman at the counter paused every 15-20 minutes to advertise beverages and clam chowder over the PA system.They only have one window for orders and pick-ups. This makes the process completely inefficient as the person taking the orders has to pause every two minutes to call out orders, pass out food and retrieve tarter sauce, malt vinager and what have you. We also purchased fish from inside. I will say that the halibut, swordfish and scallops were excellent but the clams tasted old (even though we had only purchased closed ones). As one additional point of savings grace I will say that the gentleman who helped us with out fish purchase was very helpful and efficient. I also felt sorry for the new employee at the fish counter. Apparently it was her second day and no one had bothered to train her. She looked very uncomfortable and the woman who she asked to help her only made her feel worse by telling her that she was doing it all wrong. To sum it all up... the service is horrific and the food is just okay--not at all the amazing fare I expected it to be. Find a table at one of the other seafood restaurants in town and rejoice in the fact that you won't want to strangle anyone when you finally get to order.

Pros: The view is nice...and you get to look at it for a LONG TIME while you wait in line

Cons: The service is slow, slow, slow, slow, slow

03/27/2007 Posted by mrdeccs

We live in Nipomo, about a 90 minute roundtrip to Morro Bay. The fish at Giovanni's is so much better than we have found anywhere else that we have been happily taking this trip two or three times a month for the past year or so. We are convinced that the superior quality of anything you buy there will make your trip worthwhile even if you don't browse some of the nice shops around there. They also have very good great clam chowder, fish and chips, etc. which you can eat at picnic-style tables overlooking the bay.

03/14/2007 Posted by susannieland

Okay so my friend John invites me over for halibut dinner with his family. The only "catch" is - I have to pick up the fish and bring it to his house. He makes a quick call to Giovanni's and places the order. I'm only about 2 blocks away - but decide to drive on down right away. The order was already ready! The staff were exceedingly friendly - my eyes couldn't leave the fish and shellfish display - all my favorites!! I hear people talking about "their" fish, about sushi, about crabs, about Pacific Oysters, about local pink shrimp.....and on and on! I left feeling exhilerated - they even had fresh sourdough and artisan breads, fresh lemons and Old Bay seasoning - even wine and beverages. Good wine selections too! Okay I've lived here at this point just one year and am just cringing I never found this gem and drive to my friends house. He unwraps the Halibut (local) and slaps it down on the cutting board. I HAVE NEVER SEEN FISH THIS FRESH! I could've sworn it was still moving.....I just kept staring at it! John's lovely wife Lynn made the fish by a family recipe and I was in a celestial cloud! Ahhhhhhh.....Perfection. Beyond perfection. Since that time I shop weekly at Giovanni's. They are like family to me. Always quick service, tailored to your needs at all times. Special orders, cooking and boiling and cracking crabs for you, teaching - they are so knowledgeable - with a plethora of wonder recipes offered free to shoppers. I have not allowed myself to be spoiled by their good food prepared on the premesis - YET. The lines move fast and are full - the smell is heavenly. People grinning all the time - taking culinary treasures on the scenic deck for dining. This is Morro Bay. This is love. This is Giovanni's!!! You will not be disappointed :-) !!!

01/27/2007 Posted by kyoko

bought fresh ahi and salmon for homemade sushi yesterday - delicious will buy more soon because we have been happy with the quality for many years

01/27/2007 Posted by ratroom

We consistently go back to Giovannis for their fish and chips. The meal is hot, fresh, and delicious. We always order the halibut because it is so tasty. When we have visitors we always bring them to Giovannis, not only to enjoy the great food but the ambiance of Morro Bay. In fact we've not found any place in San Luis Obispo County that lives up to Giovannis' quality. Thanks! Duke

Pros: Hot, fresh, tasty food

01/09/2007 Posted by pheeny1

Having been to san fran many times and enjoyed the pier 39 eateries, Giovanni's has the same feel as the sidewalk grotto's found there. The fried oysters were awesome, fried shrimp fantastic, sour dough bowls impecable! They also have fresh seafood for purchase inside as well as choosing your own live crab and boiled while you wait. Yes there is usually a long line, because their great! and worth the wait. Having been in the U.S. Navy for 15 yrs. im use to waiting in lines. I think we all need a lesson in patience once in awhile. GO Navy!

Pros: Fresh, San Francisco ambience

Cons: None

09/02/2006 Posted by theone18yo

oh my god. i had the worst experince of my life here! first i hear them all laughing over the loudspeaker about how long the line is, even one on the employees pointed while laughing! then after almost an hour of waiting in line, they were rude and snappy and difficult, and when they called my order up another 40 minutes later, there was phlegm on my fish and chips!!! we had heard them laughing over the intercom and now i know why! when i pointed out the disgusting phlegm to the window person, the owner, mr giovanni himself started running upstair laughing! i will never go back again! they get a kick out of how long we are willing to wait for their awful service, maybe we should all stop going and show them. BEWARE!

Cons: TERRIBLE SERVICE!! phlegm in my food, owner himself.

03/29/2006 Posted by jeff_eaker

I went here in March 2006, and I have to say of all of the restaurants in Morro Bay, Giovanni's has the best food for the money of all of them. From Awesome Fish Tacos, and Fish and Chips to Grilled Halibut Sandwiches, and the Burgers are the best I've ever had. The fish market has a HUGE selection of fresh AND Local fish right off the boats they unload on the dock behind the fish market. This is a must see when in Morro Bay. We'll be back every Time!

Pros: AWESOME FOOD, LOW PRICES, SUSHI GRADE FISH

Cons: A SMALL WAIT