The Dead Fish

Reviews 4

JA

James Miller

First timer experience on a busy Saturday night, January 2017. Our reservation was for 5:45, but we had to wait at the bar to 6:40. I would have been less enthused by that, but we lucked out and got seats at the packed bar right away and the bar staff was on it. It must be noted the bar is packed with decor on the walls, ceilings, and has a great wrap around view. After we were finally seated, we had their oyster and shrimp apps. We also we served not one but two orders of bread in quick succession for no reason, but it was good so okay. The apps in both cases were just good not great. Skates in Berkeley beats them for shrimp, and The Powder Keg in Hercules does the same for oysters. In both cases the competition does it for about the same price, and with 100% better presentation too boot. For the entrees, my wife had the combo (shrimp, crab, and mussles) sizzling plate. I asked our waitress to suggest which was better: their best fish of the day, or the filet mignon. I was surprised she proffered the steak, but heeded her advice. During this time the service was erratic. We had a chair randomly put on the end of our table for no reason. Our apps were left when the entrees arrived, and I had to hold one for the runner, who then left without giving us utensils. My wifes seafood was unfortunately below the quality of the apps. It was fair not good, and honestly disappointing at the 50$ price point. My Filet on the other hand was simply perfect. I would put it up versus the Filet at Harris in San Francisco. The sides were tasty if sophomoric, but who cares since the beef was absolutely cooked and seasoned to perfection. Listen, the knife slid through the protein without pressure of any kind! We decided to forgo desert, but saw a table full and can avow they are large and look sinful. Will definitely be back on a spring day to enjoy their patio, steak, and a fine liquor. Overall I think they should change the name from The Dead Fish, to The Butchered Bovine.

VE

Vera Nokham

On June 26, 2013, my family and I (14 of us) went there for our 27th Anniversary living in The United States. We made reservation for 7:30 PM. We were placed in a back room near the kitchen. No view or any other guests were in the back room area with us. 30 minutes went by, no sign of waiter or waitress come to our table. I went to front desk, the front desk guy was busy on the phone, but he never gave eyes contact or shown body language to show that I stood in front of him for almost 10 minutes. Then I walked away from the front desk and look for someone else. Finally got one of the waiters attention, then he said, okay someone will be there now. Waiter came and took order for drinks and appetizers (we ordered 3 large mussels, 3 large calamari, and 3 large garlic fries). The mussels were waaaay over cook, dried, no juice left..some mussels even bunt. Calamari were soaked with oil 1/3 from the bottom of plates. Garlic fries were good. After we done with our starters, the waiter came and took order for main courses,then he left. Many busboys, waiters and waitresses walked by, but no one came over to the table to take away the dirty plates and mussels shells. So our family purposely stacked dirty plates to the side (hopefully someone will see them). The waiter came over and took some, but not all the dirty plates away..and no one came to take the mussels skillet pans or pile of empty mussel shells away. It felt like we ate our dinner with tons of trashes and dirty plates in front of us. Some of our family wanted refill on their soft drinks and alcohols, no sign of our waiter in sight. Our family members felt discriminated nor pleasured being there. Our family will never support their business there again. Even though we were treated badly, we still tip 18%. Next time, we will drop our $650.00 somewhere else.

WE

Weston Woodring

It was my 35th birthday and I arranged to have an out of town friend, attend dinner with us. We were seated promptly and ordered drinks. Twenty minutes later, our highly watered down cocktails arrived (the ice had melted) and we ordered the Fried calamari appetizer. Twenty minutes later, that arrived, cold, and there was an exorbitant amount of fried lemons on the plate (typically there are only a few). We ordered another round of cocktails and our dinner. After 20 minutes went by, we again received out ice melted drinks. We inquired about out food and the server just giggled. Forty minutes after our food was ordered, it was brought out, cold and made incorrectly. I had ordered my Fishwich plain, but it came out (cold) and with coleslaw on it. When asked the waitress if she could just get me another bun, she rolled her eyes and said “fine”. Fifteen minutes later she came back without the bun, and stated she had asked the kitchen staff to bring me another one. She couldn’t have brought me one? At this point I was disgusted and annoyed. Never in all the years of going to The Dead Fish, have I have such a terrible experience. The waitress was rude, he service extremely slow, and the food, cold and incorrect. I will never tell another person to eat at your restaurant. I will never again pay over $100 for a cold meal and such terrible service. Your restaurant ruined my birthday, our reunion with an out of town friend and my appetite. You have lost a very frequent costumer. Please be aware, everyone I know will hear about this terrible experience. I would hate for my friends and loved ones to waste their time and money on an establishment that does not care enough about their customer to provide even decent service.

NI

Niles Mack

I sincerely do not understand all the previous negative reviews in the recent month....this place is a very professionally maintained restaurant that does nothing but try their best to please its customers....honestly I have a feeling that most of the people complaining might just be picky people....seafood is an applied taste to begin with, so people get picky, but theres no shortage of quality and hospitality at this location!! It seems the majority of recent complaints could have been remedied by a single hand in the air and a request.....I mean thats REALLY customer service isnt it...? The ability to do what it takes to make it right? You cant please every person the first time...its impossible....but dont let the illusion of these haters who are more keen on writing a spiteful review or just adding no information at all to "just horrible" and calling that a review than being accurate fool you. I go here when Im too tired to drive all the way to the SF pier, because its basically a mini clone of any good oceanside view seafood experience your going to get in SF after spending 45 minutes to get there! At the end of the day, this is the bay area and its just way to hard to stay open and mess up good seafood at the same time....theres a reason the dead fish aint gone!!! And for the record I order the double shrimp double crab sizzling platter and its perfect everytime!!!!