The Fish House Bar & Grill

Fine Seafood in the land of Strawberries

By Noel Smith

Watsonville is known for apples and strawberries but now it has a first class seafood restaurant, the Fish House Bar & Grill. Owner Sal Zavala speaks with pride about his new establishment. “I started in the restaurant business twenty years ago in Monterey. All that time I’ve been working in seafood restaurants.”

Last May Sal’s dream came true and his family is an integral part of it. His son Xavier, daughter Jessica and nephew Joe are on the staff of The Fish House. “It really is a family enterprise which was part of my dream.”

Looking at the Fish House Bar & Grill menu you will see a variety that you often won’t find. “I didn’t want a restaurant that has dishes designed for those that are just visiting for the day,” said Sal, “I wanted a place for those that really appreciate well selected and well prepared seafood whether it’s fish, oysters, calamari, crab, or even octopus and can serve the best in wines to complement their meal. The fun part is I get to try out dishes that I like to see how other people like them. We also try to create a distinctive menu and provide a fun atmosphere for my customers’ that will bring them back for more.”

During his years in working in the very exacting and competitive restaurant industry around the Monterey Bay, finding consistently good seafood suppliers is very important to giving your clients the best in freshness and flavor. Sal said, “Seafood is touchy, you have to get good quality, make sure it’s fresh, prepare it properly, and then cook it to perfection to give your customers the best experience.”

Another factor that makes it exciting is that seafood availability varies. “My suppliers are always coming to me with surprises that aren’t on the menu. When you see ‘Fresh Catch of the Day’ on our menu, you can be sure it’s something very special.”

A great complement to great seafood is pasta. The Fish House has a fantastic variety of seafood and pasta dishes with everything from clams, to mussels, to prawns. For those who want something other than seafood, they also have sumptuous steak and chicken dishes, soups and salads.

And then there are the desserts. How about Crème Brulée or “Death by Chocolate”?

The Fish House opens every weekday for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and has its own menu with Fish and Chips, Calamari and Chips, sandwiches, pastas, and even a ‘Fresh Catch of the Day.’

But it isn’t just about the food, it’s also about the fun! The Fish house has Happy Hours seven days a week and a bar that can serve you the best in liquor, wine, and appetizers. Happy Hours are Monday – Friday, 4 – 6 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday 3 – 5 p.m.

With his restaurant’s first anniversary coming up, Sal is excited. “We’ve got a great restaurant in a great location and it’s been a great year. Drop by and try one of our dishes. Whether it’s an appetizer or the ‘Fresh Catch of the Day’, you will know we’ve done our best to give you the best. At The Fish House we are all about local: our salads and vegetables all come from local farms and the fish are mostly from Monterey Bay or off the coast of Central California.”

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The Fish House Bar and Grill 972 Main Street (Just east of the County Bank) at the intersection of Main Street and Auto Center Drive. Lunch Monday – Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Happy Hours Monday – Friday, 4 – 6 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday 3 – 5 p.m. Dinner Monday – Friday 5 – 9:30 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 3 – 9:30 p.m.

For more information Call 831-728-3333 or visit their Website: www.fishhousewatsonville.com