If you are looking for a pure fish experience with none of the glitz: Bessy Carine's Fish Grotto in Noyo Harbor below Fort Bragg, California (about 175 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 1). Of course, from the outside it appears like a dumpy fisherman's bar, with 5 or 6 booths down one wall, and the back door opens onto the dock, where they sell fish off the boats by the pound. But the fish will be absolutely fresh...and the portions more than generous.

The first time I went there, I had the prawns...and my date ordered Petrale sole... Of course, we the meal started with basin of soup...a Coney Island clam chowder with a spice tomato base and more baby clams than I've ever seen in a chowder, but also full of garlic and fresh itallian herbs. Then a shrimp salad with a 7" plate of chopped lettuce so covered in baby shrimp that the greens not visible, with a light spicy dressing. We were already full when dinner arrived... The entree + two vegitables and rice. Oh, did I mention that my prawns were a full dozen in number, and huge in size...and my dates's sole was *6* pan-fried fillets of heroic proportions. We both ate less than half...and took out "doggy bags" which we had for brunch the next day. Oh, and I dropped less than $50 including tax, tip, and a carafe of house wine....but bring cash, as they accept no cards.

A lot like Monterey's Cannery Row must have been like in the 1930s...