AJ’s Fish Merchant

This place was delicious! Why oh why did they close??? AAAAAUUUUUGGGHHHH!!!
Bought my 2^nd Groupon and was going to dine there last night.
Sign on the door. Closed Permanently. :(

Would give this place 5 stars for the FOOD, as it was awesome.
–had the fried cod with a fresh spring salad. All of the sauces were yummy.
–Dad had the fried Calamari steak: tender, tasty, nice veggies on the side.
–Mom had the tiger shrimp and chips and LOVED it.
All of the food came out fresh, hot, delicious.
But the management of the dining room leaves alot to be desired. There was one waitress and one bartender, which is probably fine for the size of the place. BUT: the waitress had a dinner rush and worked her tail off to keep up. The bartender helped her NONE, no manager to help. There were no salt and pepper shakers on any of the dining room tables, and even though we asked, the poor girl was so busy she never got it to us, and the bartender only took care of the bar and did not even look into the dining area. This is a management problem, not a server issue. We would go back again, but small stuff like this loses business. Gotta have a well put together front end.

Service is pretty slow: came at 5:30pm, 20 min to be seated, 40 min to get my first plate, the salmon plate, then another 20 min to get small fish and chips.
Initial bread was cold in the center. Salmon on the salmon plate tasted good and was juicy. Ahi tuna salad lacked flavor but if you get the salads, the poppy seed dressing is good. Fish sticks were good but it did take them an hour to come out.
The service of the Hispanic lady and daughter (?) was great and helped boost up this experience.

Came here with my family and ordered take out. We just had the fish and chips, side of slaw and kids hamburger meal.
Really good stuff. The large came with 4 very sizable pieces of some of the best fish and chips fish I’ve ever had. Flaky snd hit and the batter was tasty and crunchy. Major mouth appeal. Hand cut fries and house made tarter sauce that had a great flavor finished off the meal.
Owner is super and chats with his guests.
One star off for the slaw — it wasn’t our favorite. Has a vinaigrette based dressing and seemed bland/​tangy.
Definitely check this place out. Eat local!

After eating here for the fourth time in only two months, I realized how strange it is that I haven’t written a review here. AJ’s is amazing. The chef’s recipes are fantastic and I can’t believe how good their handmade sauces are –especially their cocktail sauce.
Every time I’ve been here I’ve gotten something different and every time it has impressed me. The grilled calamari is out of this world, the sauteed red snapper is excellent, the chef’s salad is marvelous and the blackened catfish is like no other blackened fish I’ve ever had, yet still magnificent.
And the appetizers are just as amazing. Let’s talk gluten free fried green tomatoes with shrimp. Why can’t I eat these every day? Or the cheesy grits that I can never eat in one setting because they’re just too rich and delicious.
I can’t even make one specific recommendation because everything is mind blowing. Go here. Enjoy it. And get over the price people –go downtown and see what locally-​sourced, chef-​prepared seafood costs, then tell me something still under $ 20 a plate is too much. Hell, this place is cheaper than Joe’s Crab Shack and it’s not prepared, packaged and shipped by some giant global corporation.
Oh, and Victoria, the waitress, is pretty much the biggest sweetheart ever and has remembered me every time I visited after my first time here.

Unilocal 100 challenge 2015 so this is my third groupon bought and my third try, it just gets better and better… Victoria was an amazing server very attentive and sweet. Our dishes was amazing too it was soul Tuesday so I got the shrimp and grits… It normally comes with fried green tomatoes but I asked for collard greens… I use to live in sc so it was comfort food like when I lived there back then… They get the grits fr sc as well… My husband got the fish and chips it was great too, comes with 3 sauces… Homemade tartar sauce, homemade catchup with bacon that taste like marinara sauce, and homemade tarragon sauce… ok I’m full

Great atmosphere, décor, etc…
Fish & chips were good and plentiful (3 piece). Fish was juicy inside. Captains salad was good wifey enjoyed. Crab cakes were good for app. Key lime pie was a little tart (a good tart)! Good crowd! I wouldn’t go here for premier seafood cuisine, however food was good and worth price and close to home.

Gave AJ’s a second chance and we had a nice experience. Service was very good-​big improvement! Fish and chips was excellent-​light and crisp batter. Halibut was delicious.
Not sure why they’re charging $ 13 for a burger without fries ??? We will return but not for a burger.

I don’t usually go home after a meal, compelled to write a review but this place earned it. Having just moved to the neighborhood, my wife and I have always tried to explore the local places. The staff is friendly and attentive, the owner is involved and seems like a cool guy. We ordered the following:
Fish and chips — super fresh tasting fish, sauces are home made, fries are spot on.
Shrimp and grits — ridiculously good. I don’t even know all that goes in to it but seriously, amazing.
Beer and wine — local choices, great selection.
We will definitely be returning!

We came out to San Diego on an unplanned trip and we wanted to go somewhere we hadn’t been to before. Instead of searching Unilocal,I tried Groupon to look for a deal.
So I bought a Groupon for AJ’s Fish Merchant and away we went. To keep this short but sweet the key points to this establishment are, they have very friendly and excellent service from entering to exiting this place. The service was very attentive. Everything we ordered tasted well. The fish was very fresh and flavorful. They offer local brews and a nice wine selection.
Getting a deal on your food is always a plus, but even without it, I would definitely eat here again.

So, this review is tempered by my conversation with the owner and by my understanding and years of experience in F&B. For those of you who know, you know, for those who don’t, pay attention…
So, the food is awesome,.for that alone they deserve five stars. For the beer selection, I’m very impressed but I could lend a suggestion or two. Kudos for the wide variety of local craft selections at prices that won’t scare you away. And, for those of you on a budget, they have $ 3 nationals.
So, my first time in based on a Groupon offer (that did not use) and I ordered the staple fish and chips (small order). The fish was very fresh tasting with a light batter and very good crunch. Malt vinegar was on hand in a spray bottle? I prefer a dripper bottle but this was interesting. You could actually put the vinegar on the fish without sogging the fries. Fries (chips) were good but I prefer them a bit crispier (just preference, not a minus) and served with tartar? sauce (didn’t try it) and home made ketchup. I liked the ketchup as I knew it to be fresh homemade and not Heinz or Del Monte crap. (Yep, I done my homework)
Why did I give 5 stars? Because the food was very good, the service was OK (more on that later) and I really thought they have a good thing going there.
Alright, they are way the hell out of the way in San Carlos but I think with some effort they will make something noteworthy. The owner is very dedicated, if a bit green. He knows his way around the kitchen and is learning his way around the front end. He had a manager for a while and got a bad one so maybe he’ll learn from that mistake.
The service issue is still an issue. I haven’t spent enough time there to give a definitive reason or cure but just be prepared to spend a couple extra minutes to place and receive your order. Hopefully, I’ll give some more info on a follow-​up review.
OK, time to wrap it up. Great food, good beer and wine selection, excellent idea. If you can put up with a few service foibles, you will be happy. Sure, people go out for the whole experience but in the end, it’s all about the food, right?
Definitely worth a recommendation and another visit.
Cheers.

More. fish N chips. please!
This place has great seafood! Just remembering the flavors brings it back. I did clam chowder which was made to perfection! Then the main course was the fish and chips… the fish had really good crisp breading. The fries were delicious, and the sauces of bacon ketchup and tartar sauce enhanced the whole meal. I met the chef Dustin who made the delicious food he was friendly. And the owner Justin was very welcoming as me and my friend sat up at the bar two hours to close. Justin was very kind and entertained me and my friend. Our server Victoria was also super sweet.

I had a deal with Living Social that brought my fiancé & I here. It’s best known for their seafood & now we know why… We ordered a cup of clam chowder. It wasn’t heavy or thick but refreshingly light. It’s was surprisingly flavorful. It is definitely worth ordering… We ordered the seared ahi tuna soba noodles & shrimp and grits. (We’re fans of both that we couldn’t resist although it’s an odd combination.) It did take a while but it was worth the wait. (Don’t go there starving or just order appetizers.) The seared ahi was covered with sesame seeds soba noodles. It was tasty (more of the sweet than savory end of flavors). The shrimp and grits were mouth-​watering.
The owner approached our table to see how everything was. I questioned if they have smoked salmon that I could purchase on the side to bring for someone else. He went to get the chef to talk to us. Chef Stephan said that we could call ahead of time to see what he has and may be able to prepare it for us even though it’s no long on the menu… When the chef had some downtime, I noticed he came out and spoke an 8-​year old who was inspiring to be a chef. It was thoughtful for him to come out & speak to some of the customers. I thought that was great personable service.
Overall the food was awesome and so was the service. We definitely will be back even though it’s out of the way for us.

«Fresh Delicious Seafood in a Friendly Atmosphere «
My wife and I visited AJ Fish Merchant Restaurant in San Diego tonight. This small 54 seat restaurant is in a strip mall in the San Carlos area of San Diego. The dining experience we had was delightful !. The server Victoria Schiller was so bubbly and friendly, and made you feel so at home in the restaurant. The restaurant reminds you of a small casual seafood place right next the beach. It has variegated tin on the walls which also have beautiful seafood themed wall decorations. The AJ Fish Merchant has a small seafood Wine and Beer bar where they serve a variety Wine and craft beers. The menu is very diversified and the majority of their menu is Gluten Free. The restaurant also has day of the week special menus, which include, Mexi Monday’s, Soul Food Tuesday, Shrimp Wednesday, Burger and Beer Thursday, Farmers Market Friday, Chef Saturday, and Kids Eat Free Sunday’s. The restaurant is co-​owned by Father and Son Jeff and Stephen Bennett. Stephen is the main chef and has a culinary school degree back ground. Stephen is completely unafraid top put his stamp on long thought to be, untouchable recipes. His California Clam Chowder is a prime example. It’s in a New England Clam chowder tradition, but with a smoother white wine base. The fish is all fresh and is shipped into the restaurant 6 days a week to ensure its freshness. My wife had the Sesame grilled Ahi Tuna with sweet and sour soba noodles and wasabi vinaigrette. She said it was Awesome !. I had the Seafood Pasta dish with crab, shrimp, lobster, scallops, spinach, fettuccine in a smoked Poblano cream sauce. It was so tender and delicious ! For dessert we had a piece of wonderful Home made Key Lime Pie, and a piece of their Chocolate Brioche Bread Pudding with ice cream and caramel sauce. It was fantastic ! If you want to enjoy fresh home made meals, and be treated like you are part of the AJ Fish Merchant family, give this restaurant a try. You will not regret it !

Mediocre tasting seafood at outrageous prices.
My wife and I split the «large» fish n chips dinner plate… I say «large» because it’s served with just four tiny pieces of cod and a handful of fries. Looked more like a lunch sized portion at any other fish spot. The «beer battered» fish strips were bland and borderline soggy. The fries tasted old and limp.
We also ordered the crab cakes. Two tiny lumps of crab meat, packed with all sorts of uncooked onions, deep fried and placed on a plate. Seriously? $ 12 for two tiny ass cakes? Not worth it at all.
I had a small bistro salad which was wilted and warm. The lettuce was disgusting and the cucumbers were soft.
The only thing I enjoyed about the meal here were the sauces — the only thing that makes any of this rubbish they call seafood, palatable.
Save your wallet and tastebuds — skip AJ’s Fish Merchant!

We made time to stop in finally! It was amazing. What a difference from the old Fish Bucket that was in this spot before!
We had dinner on a Friday night, luckily for us it was not super busy. We were greeted right away by the staff. We chose to sit at the bar instead of a table. Even though the updates are minimal, it feels like a completely new restaurant.
We ordered: chorizo mussels, dinner special of shark and risotto, key lime pie.
All the food was delicious! Incredibly fresh and the flavors were amazing. My favorite was the shark, grilled to perfection and seasoned just right. The yummy aioli (I believe it was Sriacha/​pineapple) on the side was a really good pairing with the fish.
The mussels were pretty amazing as well. Probably some of the freshest tasting I have had in a while. They were cooked with chunks of chorizo in an IPA sauce. It was really good, but beware, I think chorizo is somewhat of an acquired flavor, so this may not be a dish for everyone.
There are not many places east of the 163 that are this good, especially not seafood places! If you live in the area and you want a really good meal without going downtown, try this place out. The chef and owners are great. They get all the seafood fresh and local, a huge plus in my book. Overall great atmosphere, menu, and people. We will definitely be back!

This review is based on a take-​out order I placed for my sister-​in-​law and I for lunch. I called to inquire about GF options, and was told they were «implied.» Now… I’m no rocket scientist, but «implied» is not a good way to go about GF labeling. I will actually get very ill if I eat it, so… let’s start taking food allergies seriously, okay guys? The fellow at the counter told me they will be putting together a GF menu, but they all seemed very perplexed as to what gluten even is (is there gluten in cheese?), so I’m sincerely hoping I do not get sick.
Anyhow…on to the food. My sister got a Medium fish & chips. I ordered a blackened snapper sandwich, hold the bread, and sub grits. I drove over about 10mins after my order and the food was ready. The fellow at the counter opened the boxes & showed me the food, which was nice, and helped to show me that the snapper had not been blackened. He took it right back to be fixed, and I was in no hurry, and didn’t mind waiting. It took maybe 5 or 6 minutes, but came back out looking lovely. My sister loved the tartar sauce, and said the fish was pretty good. My fish was also pretty good. The portion size was good, and it looked lovely. The grits were the moneymaker. They needed some salt, but they were creamy, cheesy & delicious.
Our lunch bill was $ 30 with tip, which is pretty reasonable. I look forward to their menu rework, and possibly some better GF menu options. I’ll certainly give them a shot at sit-​down service too.

I really want to like this place, I grew up eating at the original and have many fond memories of their fish n chips and clam chowder.
My parents still live in the neighborhood and I thought we’d try it, I was pretty disappointed. The clam chowder was really watery, the waitress said that they ran out and had to make some more real quick. The fish n chips were just okay. Nothing special. When I order fish n chips, I am looking for that really crunchy light battered exterior. I didn’t get that, the batter wasn’t crispy at all.
I hope I just experienced an off night. I really do hope this place succeeds!

One of my new «5 Star» favorites! My first time here and without a doubt I will be back. Located in a small shopping mall with plenty of parking. Very casual but the people who work there are very friendly and accommodating. I met the owner, the chef and I even met «A.J.» herself!
The menu is full of fresh fish dishes and appetizers but I went with the fish and chips. First, if the fish and chips are good, you know the rest of the menu will also be great. Second… well, what can I say except I wanted Fish and Chips! They serve Alaskan cod coated in a beer batter using local brewery Ballast Point. They served three very big pieces on a bed of fries that had a nice seasoning taste to them.
The portion was quite good and they make their own tartar sauce and ketchup! The service was excellent and friendly. To top the meal off, I tried their homemade Key Lime Pie and this is an absolute must if you are going to visit this restaurant. The freshness can compete against any pie from Julian!
All in all, great food and great restaurant. I can’t wait to return and try their fresh fish! Again, if you are looking for fresh, top quality seafood and a casual friendly place, you must visit AJ’s! And don’t forget to try the Key Lime Pie!

I gave stars because
1. Food was delicious especially the Carlsbad mussels! I have no complaints. The clam chowder was also quite flavorful. I’m originally from the Bay Area and SF clam chowder is my norm and what I based my chowder off of. But I have to give it to AJ’s.
2. The service was amazing. They gave us extra bread for our leftover mussel sauce which is a must! The bread pudding was delicious. They were so friendly and made you feel like you’ve known each other for ages!
I definitely recommend and would go back!