There is a new fish restaurant in La Quinta and it is pretty tasty and pretty affordable – which are two of my favorite things!
California Ocean Grill opened its doors in June in the Home Depot shopping center (the center is kind of big, so look for the place behind Jack in the Box and between Dollar Tree and Goodwill.
The restaurant itself is pretty basic and casual. There are tables and high top tables scattered throughout.
The staff was very friendly and the kitchen is not at all hidden – so if watching your meal get prepared is your thing, you have a great view.
And the concept is pretty simple too: fresh fish served the way you want it, with everything being made in house.
The menu has plenty of apps like calamari, clam chowder, and buffalo fish bites. There is also a selection of salads and classics like a salmon burger, a po’ boy, and fish & chips – which I can tell you first hand are pretty damn delicious:
3 huge pieces of cod served up with fries and cole slaw. The fish was fried perfectly. Not too greasy and the tartar sauce was on point. Now, if I had it to all over again, I would have subbed out the cole slaw for potato salad or went nuts with mac n’ cheese – which I can do next time I suppose.
My wife opted to order from the “build your own platter” portion of the menu. You choose your protein from mahi mahi, cod, tilapia, sole, salmon, jumbo shrimp, or chicken. Then you choose how you want it served: herb grilled, tempura battered, or blackened; and plated: with a couple of sides or as tacos or protein-style tacos (wrapped in lettuce).
My wife chose the mahi mahi tacos with cole slaw, fries, and a side of OG sauce:
We also grabbed a couple of beers, which they have a decent selection of, and our bill only ran just a bit above $40 – not too shabby for fresh fish (especially in The Coachella Valley which is known for inflated “tourist” prices).
California Ocean Grill also has lunch specials and a happy hour – both of which I will be trying out in the near future.
Have you dined there yet? Let me know what you thought in the comments below. Also, feel free to let us know about any delicious restaurant discoveries you may have found in The Coachella Valley.
(All Photos by Casey Dolan)
