For years, California Fish Grill was a misnomer.
It was really the Southern California Fish Grill, a chain of fast-casual eateries based in Irvine.
But the company founded in 1998 set its sights on the NorCal market a couple of years ago, opening restaurants first at Daly City’s Serramonte Center and then Walnut Creek’s Orchards center.
San Jose is next. A restaurant will open soon at 5120 Cherry Ave., near Almaden Expressway.
Sustainable seafood tops the menu here. Wild-caught choices include ahi tuna, sockeye salmon, pollock, swordfish, ono and calamari. And the Grill works with stewardship councils to ensure that the farm-raised seafood they serve — trout, catfish, shrimp, tilapia and sea bass — comes from certified sustainable operations.
Flame-grilling is the cooking method of choice here, with a selection of seasoned olive oil, garlic butter sauce, chimichurri sauce or Cajun spices. But the restaurant also offers battered and fried classics, salad bowls, rice bowls and seafood tacos. Sides include “kaleslaw,” fire-roasted street corn, grilled zucchini, sweet potato fries and balsamic-glazed Brussels sprouts.
A late January opening is forecast for the Almaden San Jose location. To follow progress on the new restaurant, go to www.cafishgrill.com.
