Mitch’s Seafood – Review from a Local Foodie

My husband and I come to Mitch’s twice a month or more. Every time we have visitors in town, we take them there at least once.

I will not make you read through a bunch of fluff and tell you right away: Mitch’s Seafood in Point Loma has some of the best seafood in San Diego. This is not a fancy place, but you get fresh fish prepared by chefs that know how to cook fish properly and enjoy it with a view over the fishing boats and the San Diego Skyline in the background. Keep reading if you want to know some of my favorite things on the menu…

Quick Facts:
Address: 1403 Scott St, San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: (619) 222-8787
Website

A bit more about Mitch’s Seafood

Mitch’s was started in 2008 by 3 local families full of fishermen, fisherwomen, and fishmongers in short: They LOVE and KNOW fish. Sustainability is important to the owners of Mitch’s Seafood, so the menu only includes sustainable fish from San Diego and Northern Baja waters – mainly fished by the owners, their families, or fishermen they know.

The best way to describe Mitch’s is an authentic fisherman’s shack by the docks. Not the “made to look like a fisherman’s shack” with cheap decor from Home Goods, but the real deal. Rustic and cozy, laid back and chill is the atmosphere. The customers range from fishermen in overalls fresh off the boat to families, couples on date night, and yuppies in suits who came over from downtown. Everyone is welcome. Just come as you are and enjoy some good food.

When you get there, stand in line outside. If you are lucky, the line only goes out the door, not all the way down the sidewalk. But no worries, they move quick. Once you make it inside, take a look at the chalkboard menu on the wall (or take a sneak peek here), which is updated daily, depending on the fish they got that day. When it is your turn, order, grab your number, some water and find a place to sit. I love sitting outside on the patio on the bar that overlooks the fishing boats. Just beware of the seagulls who have been known to shamelessly attack innocent diners. Do NOT leave your food unattended!!!

What to order at Mitch’s

Maybe what not to order would be shorter? No, seriously, I am slowly on a mission to eat my way through the menu, and everything I have tried there is absolutely fantastic. There is a reason why the line is ALWAYS out the door, no matter what time you get there.

Pro Tip: If you only want to order drinks, clam chowder, or pick up a to-go order, you can pass by the line and proceed right to the counter.

Fish Sandwiches

My go-to meal at Mitch’s is usually the grilled swordfish sandwich and an octopus taco on the side. I could eat this for a week straight and still order it again the next day. The swordfish is grilled and still juicy, the shredded lettuce and tomatoes give it some fresh crunch – simply but oh so good. Whenever they don’t have swordfish, I substitute it with ahi or yellowtail, and it is also delicious.

The coleslaw seems to be hit or miss with people. The dressing has a sweet and spicy flavor profile, and the thinly sliced bell pepper give it a fruity note, which I really like. Some friends and family didn’t share my view, so if you are a coleslaw purist, this might not be your jive.

Octupus Tacos & Fish Tacos & Clam Chowder

Greg loves loves loves the octopus taco, fish taco, and clam chowder at Mitch’s, and this is his go-to meal. If he finds something on the menu that he likes, his MO is to stick with it. The octopus is cooked just perfectly, not chewy and not mushy, and the fish is fried to perfection without being greasy. The New England-style clam chowder is nice and creamy with lots of clams, just like it should be. It warms you right up, when the fog pulls in over the bay and you feel a bit chilly!

Spiny Lobster Dinner

A couple of weeks ago, we went for our first Lobster dinner of the season at Mitch’s. Greg got the Baja-style grilled lobster plate with a side of rice, street corn, and tortillas, and I opted for the fisherman’s lobster stew, which is their regular fisherman’s stew, but with lobster, duh… The fisherman’s stew is similar to a Cioppino, a tomato-based broth with clams, mussels, calamari, and fish, but add lobster instead of crab legs and potatoes instead garlic bread. You do get a large hunk of baguette with it – perfect for dunking into the tomatoey broth. Soooo good!!!

Other Noteworthy Meals:

Steamed mussels: Steamed in lemony-butter sauce, the mussels are different from the traditional Belgian recipe but equally delicious. Make sure to eat them hot, though!

Fisherman’s Stew: My dad’s favorite.

Grilled octopus: Grilled octopus on a bed of white bean puree with arugula and charred lemon. One of my favorite dishes!

Mixed Seafood Platter: I have to say that fried seafood is usually not my thing. I prefer grilled, baked, pan-fried, or raw. But at Mitch’s, I even like the fried stuff. It is less greasy as it is in other places and you can still taste the fish. I love the mixed seafood platter because you get a little bit of everything: fried fish, calamari, shrimp, and even crab cakes (lots of crab, not much filler), french fries, and coleslaw. It is a huge portion, so consider sharing.

Prices

Prices at Mitch’s are low to low-midrange and definitely high value. A cup of clam chowder is $6.75, fish tacos start at $5.25-5.75, a grilled fish sandwich costs $14.50, and the fisherman’s stew is $22. Even the whole lobster plate is only $41. A treat but great value for San Diego!

Final Verdict

Mitch’s Seafood is one of my favorite Seafood restaurants in San Diego. I love that I can trust the ingredients are local, sustainable, and fresh and that the chefs have the skill to prepare them skillfully. Yes, the restaurant is not fancy (it is right next to a bait shop and fishing charter), and parking can be hard to find, but it is authentic and true to itself. It doesn’t need to impress with any extra fluff. If you haven’t been to Mitch’s yet, put it on the top of your list.

Last Updated on December 7, 2022 by sandiegoexplorer