Hindsight Seafood Cafe

918 E Lake Ave, Watsonville

Recent Reviews

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Mika Sakaue

I adore this place and love coming here with my partner for a date. We love the oysters (I swear they are the freshest in town), the “Not so Lobsta” roll and the garlicky steamed muscles (if they have jt). Everything is always super fresh and high quality :)The beers are Fruition are fine af too. I love any of the snack series and the Slip Pilsner cuz it pairs well with the food here.The chef Ryan is one of the coolest, kind, hardworking person I know and it always feels like such a treat to be able to enjoy his food.

Joe Fabris

I’m always on the lookout for oysters and when you combine them with good beer, that’s a WinWin. The steamed mollusks are excellent and I always ask for extra bread to enjoy the broth. Hindsight lies within Fruition Brewery.

Sandy D

Don’t look for the Hindsight Seafood Cafe restaurant or storefront. This eatery only serves their food at the brewery. The oysters were amazing and the clam chowder was the chunkiest I’ve ever had

Zax Avila

Delicious seafood specialties and fresh local oysters! Grab a beer inside the brewery and check out Hindsight Cafe to see what's on their menu and the specials for the day!

Gordon Keller

Full disclosure: I’m a *little* biased having known Ryan since high school. He’s an incredible person, chef, business owner, etc., and the food he makes is insanely delicious. You’re gonna have a meal that reflects all the best parts of him, because he’s putting 100% into this operation and his creative personality is baked into his ever-evolving menu. So, eat here!! You can’t go wrong — everything on the menu slaps.

Jeremy Lovenfosse

By far my favorite clam chowder in town. The whole menu is great but my gotos are the steamed clams and the fresh oysters.

Chris Freels

Amazing little gem located inside the best brewery in the south county (maybe whole county). Ryan, the owner/cook/server/jack-of-all-trades is passionate about the food he makes and it shows. Everything here is simple and delicious yet elevated, from the gazpacho with almonds, cucumbers and edible flowers, to the clam chowder (which is the only clam chowder I've ever had with the clams still in the shells - a nice touch) to the smoked cod sandwich. If you're looking for simple and delicious food you will not be let down.

Roberto Villanueva

I came to this place to enjoy a delicious beer and I end up enjoying some delicious oysters GreatPrice. and really delicious..Everyone from the staff were super cool...

Johnny Kane

Hindsight Cafe is a go to spot for me. The oysters are always on point and fresh. They are a true treat. Ryan also comes out and talks to everyone about his dish providing a great customer service experience. If you’re in the area stop at Hindsight Cafe.

Jenay Valencia

Wow! I was really blown away by the food here.The carrot soup was BOMB! It’s taste was very savory and rich, which was a wonderful surprise for a vegetarian dish. The pepita seeds on top were also a great added texture.We also had the chowder, and loved the unique way it was prepared. The clams were freshly cooked in the shell and piled in the center of the soup, not something you see often. They were thick, super tasty, and cooked just right. It was also very satisfying to slurp a bit of the soup out of the shell. As for the chowder itself, it was light but very savory. The pork broth brought a marvelous richness to this dish, allowing it to be extremely flavorful without needing to be very intense on the dairy. As someone who gets tummy aches from overly rich dairy dishes, this sat just right with me.Now the sandwiches!On the Not-Lobsta roll I really have to say HOT DAMN! I had no idea mushrooms could be prepared so deliciously. I was literally noshing on this sandwich saying “these mushrooms have no business being this good.” I love mushrooms on the regular, and this dish made me appreciate them even more.The smoked fish sandwich was also good! Now, if you think you are getting your average tuna sandwich, I need you to nix those expectations. This sandwich is on another level entirely. The fish is well smoked, and complemented with some fresh greens and pickled onions. The onions were a lovely burst of flavor to the smokiness and really balanced everything out.Really enjoyed the food here and can’t wait to go back. Thank you Chef Ryan for a bomb meal. I definitely recommend you stop by if you are in the area.

Scott MacDougall

Best clam chowder I've had in a long time! Ryan, the owner, puts a great spin on everything he serves, I definitely recommend checking out Hindsight. I can't wait to go again!

Taylor Kurupas

after many wonderful experiences at hindsight, i’m officially a self-proclaimed lover of oysters!when it came to these sea specialties, i always thought “fancy people like these, so why don’t i?” well, i’ve been converted - and i can now appreciate the distinctive fresh notes, plumpness, and brightness of each oyster - similar to the way i’ve enjoyed tasting wines and others culinary delicacies.the chef has a ton of knowledge on his rotating selection of fresh oysters, and for such an affordable price, it was easy to order several types to taste. out platter was served with a side of complimentary tangy cocktail sauce and a crisp, fragrant mignonette. ask for a side of hot sauce if you like to add a lil spice!the menu is full of tasty options for everyone, such as the vegan lobster roll (served on the best flakiest, buttery bread) and a chowder that’s garnished with freshly opened garlic sautéed clams. i was so impressed, i kept coming back to try more!on my second trip, i brought my best friend who had never had oysters before, but is now officially a convert! so much so, we brought her mother and grandmother down last weekend, and now everyone is a fan! we were all appreciative of the laid back energy, honesty, and kindness of the chef who made sure everyone knew just what to do to make their oyster experience just right.if you’re looking to expand your culinary pallet, there’s something really unique and fun about tasting oysters (they’re not just for fancy people!) i couldn’t recommend this place enough for anyone looking for high quality, fresh, and affordable sea food specials. hindsight is the space!also my biggest piece of advice: COME HUNGRY :) you won’t want to order just one thing!

Tom Bentley

incredible food for everyone! great vegan selection for a seafood place. owner is very knowledgable and extremely kind. cannot express how great of a spot this and the beer from Fruition is a great accompaniment to these delicious dishes. already looking forward to going back :)

Nicola Balmain

Wow! I love everything about the food at Hindsight! Ryan knows everything there is to know about Oysters and delights in explaining each oyster to you! The clam chowder is simply incredible and probably the best I have ever tasted. A simple but highly flavorful menu with vegan and vegetarian options and locally sourced ingredients. What do I recommend? Try everything!

Carla Rebelo

If you like clam chowder, THIS is the place to go. It was, hands down, the best clam chowder I’ve ever had. It isn’t a large menu, which we actually appreciate, so we were able to taste all but one item on it (the salad) and everything we tasted was awesome. The owner/chef was super friendly and he came out to talk to the patrons. We will absolutely return here. And while you’re there, get the honey beer at the brewery because that was awesome, too.

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Hindsight Seafood Cafe

918 E Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076