Whether you prefer a perfectly broiled pink salmon, shrimp cocktail, oysters, or another ocean-originating dish, seafood is a favorite for coastal cities around the world and, furthermore provides sustenance for over a billion people worldwide. The 2023 readers’ choice Best of the County winner is Fish (pictured above). For the rest of the Marin Magazine‘s Best of Marin County Seafood picks see below.
Our 2023 Dining category sponsor is Rodney Strong.
We’ve broken it down by region: Southern and Western Marin.
Southern | Western
Southern Marin
Barrel House
Sausalito
Stop by Barrel House for a feeling of rising above it all (it’s on the second floor) where the soaring ceiling work reflects the restaurant’s name. The barrel-aged cocktails are worth a visit (try the Negroni) but dishes like maitake mushroom flatbread and tartare tacos reflect a locally-focused ethos that is enhanced by the cool setting and fantastic bay and city views.
660 Bridgeway, Sausalito, 415.729.9593
Fish
Sausalito
It has been said that this restaurant and fish market launched the sustainable seafood movement, making it the ultimate place for freshly caught, unobjectionable fare. Order any of the day’s offerings–the menu changes daily but usually has a variation of fish tacos, ceviche and grilled fish–then take in the bay views on the open-air deck. Though cash is still king, credit cards are now accepted (woot!).
350 Harbor Dr, Sausalito, 415.331.3474
Scoma’s of Sausalito
Sausalito
Sausalito’s oldest seafood house has its own boat, berthed at Pier 47, that fishes seasonally and is approved for salmon and Dungeness crab, resulting in fresh catches year-round. The menu at both the Sausalito and Fisherman’s Wharf locations were revamped by chef (and Mill Valley’s own) Gordon Drysdale in accordance with the environmentally responsible Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program and regularly features whole crab, chowder and grilled fish.
588 Bridgeway, Sausalito, 415.332.9551
Seafood Peddler
Sausalito
The fish is bought daily from local fishers, who are also restaurant patrons and make the bar scene one of the liveliest in town. (A separate, quieter dining room is often open as well.) The fish market features everything from cioppino and flash-fried Monterey Bay calamari to crab cakes and clam chowder by the pint. Recipes are adjusted to incorporate the freshest catch.
303 Johnson St, Sausalito, 415.332.1492
The Trident
Sausalito
Set in a turn-of-the-century building constructed for the San Francisco Yacht Club, this waterfront restaurant is a shoo-in for date night where every seat has a water view. Famous for musician sightings in the 1970s, the room with the great vibe is now known for supporting local farmers, fishers and organic food producers in everything from its well-regarded cioppino to a Louie salad with crab or prawns and beer-battered fish and chips.
558 Bridgeway, Sausalito, 415.331.3232
Coho
Mill Valley
Chef partner David Kornell celebrates the California coast with a seafood-forward menu that leans into global flavors with pierogi and kedgeree, crab noodles and Coho salmon donburi. The wine list tilts American; the cocktails, like the Downstream — gin, amaro, crème de cacao and lemon — are even better when enjoyed at the small bar. Even the ocean-themed paintings and blue-tiled walls reflect the coastal theme.
106 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley, 415.888.2265
Hook Fish Co.
Mill Valley
The indoor, wood-ceiling dining room feels like a boat’s galley and the spot’s popular outdoor beer garden adjacent to Mill Valley’s Proof Lab at Tam Junction has 13 taps, but the draw at this counter-service joint is the seafood. The transparent supply chain means you can enjoy the poke, fish and chips or fish tacos secure in the knowledge of exactly where and on what boat your meal came from.
254 Shoreline Hwy, Mill Valley, 415.569.4984
Western Marin
Tony’s Seafood
Marshall
The crowds still come on sunny weekends for the barbecue oysters and amazing views of Tomales Bay but the restaurant’s purchase by the Hog Island Oyster Co team meant a refresh of the interior and a spiffed-up menu of salads and seafood pulled from the bay’s waters. Michelin noticed and awarded Tony’s a Bib Gourmand for 2021.
18863 Shoreline Hwy, Marshall, 415.663.1107
Sponsor
Rodney Strong: 2023 Best of the County Dining
