What is the Best Seafood Delivery Service?  If you've ever craved fresh seafood despite living far from the coast, or if you're tired of limited (and not quite fresh) options at your local grocery store, we have good news. Online seafood services can solve all those problems by delivering restaurant-quality fish and shellfish directly to your door.
Wulf's Fish is a family business that has been around since 1926. Beginning with Sam Wulf walking the Boston Fish Pier at sunrise to nab the best catches for his customers, and now run by the third generation, Wulf's Fish connects you directly to quality seafood. They work closely with fishermen and farmers who care about sustainable fishing and ocean health. When you order from them, you get premium seafood that's carefully selected, fully traceable, and handled with care from the moment it's caught until it reaches your kitchen. And, if you're after wholesale quantities of seafood, they have a dedicated website for that purpose.
Product categories cover all your seafood needs
You'll find everything from standard fish fillets to specialty items at Wulf's Fish. Their selection includes fresh fish, shellfish, octopus, squid, and sushi-grade favorites. They also offer caviar, roe, and curated bundles - plus surf & turf options and pantry items for those looking to complete their meal. (If you're kosher, you're in luck too - they have a dedicated kosher-certified section.)
Bundles offer great value
Want to try a variety of Wulf's best offerings? Their Fishmonger Favorites bundle ($150) gives you 7 pounds of premium seafood including Scottish salmon, Arctic char, flounder, haddock, wild Gulf shrimp, and grey sole. For bigger appetites, the Greatest Hits box packs 10 pounds of customer favorites for $267. Their most popular individual items include Ora King salmon at $20 per 8-ounce portion and soft shell crabs at $20 for two.
Save more with subscription options
If you find yourself regularly craving Wulf's seafood, consider their subscription service. You can set up automatic deliveries every 4 or 8 weeks for many of their best selling products. They'll reward your loyalty with a 5% discount on your first nine boxes, bumping up to 10% off on your tenth delivery and beyond.
Innovative commitment to sustainability
We had to visit Wulf's Fish's wholesale site to locate their sustainability policy, but we're more than satisfied with what we found. They view sustainability "not as a box to be checked but as a continuous goal" and they have developed innovative strategies to that end, such as creating a market for invasive species. Their sourcing primarily comes from domestic fisheries, with only a small percentage of wild-caught seafood from international waters. The company holds several respected certifications, including those from Best Aquaculture Practices and Marine Stewardship Council. We recommend visiting their website if you're looking for further details about their waste reduction and other sustainability initiatives - it's far too much to cover here.
Purchases eligible for rewards points
Wulf's Fish offers a rewards program called The Chef's Table. Every purchase you make in their online store is eligible for rewards points, which you can redeem for any product in their store. You'll also gain access to members-only products (though they're a bit coy about the specifics).
Free shipping for some US customers on orders over $150
Wulf's Fish's shipping prices depend on where you live. If you're in Zone 1 (the westernmost US states), you'll get free Ground Shipping on orders over $150. It'll ship the same day, but if you prefer overnight shipping, it's available for an extra fee at checkout. If you're in Zones 2 or 3 (see the map on their shipping page), you'll pay $45 or $65 for overnight shipping.
All orders insured
Wulf's goes above and beyond when it comes to making sure your seafood arrives on time and still frozen. Where any seafood supplier worth its salt will have some sort of refund guarantee in the event that something goes awry between when they ship it and when it arrives to you, Wulf's Fish actually insures your order through Route Insurance and covers the premium themselves. We love to see it.
Customers are overwhelmingly satisfied
Wulf's Fish has a near-perfect 4.8-star average rating on Trustpilot from just under 2k reviews. People describe their experiences with this business as "outstanding", "reliable", and "efficient". The reviews for the products are just as good - people say the quality of the seafood here is superb, especially compared to what you might find at the grocery store. Should you run into any issues with your order (maybe you gave them the wrong address), their customer service will come to your rescue, often at no extra charge.
Should you buy seafood from Wulf's Fish? Yes
If you want premium seafood from a trusted, third-generation family business that's earned its sterling reputation, Wulf's Fish is our top recommendation. Their commitment to sustainability, impressive variety of fresh-frozen seafood, and outstanding customer service - backed by both Route Insurance and thousands of glowing reviews - make them the catch of the day. (And with those subscription discounts, you'll be swimming in savings.)
For over 200 years (yes, really), New York City-based Fulton Fish Market has been supplying their loyal customers with fresh seafood - from oysters to lobsters to salmon. Now, they operate out of a 400,000 square foot facility that processes millions of pounds of seafood each day, second in scale (no pun intended) only to Tokyo. Want New York bagels with your lox? As it happens, you can find those here, too.
Sustainability may vary by product
Fulton Fish Market's Sustainability page talks a lot about what makes a seafood supplier sustainable and makes sweeping statements about their sustainability priorities, but they're not very clear about how many of these parameters or certifications actually apply to their seafood products. For environmentally conscious shoppers, it seems you'll have to evaluate their seafood products on a case-by-case basis - some may be from fisheries certified by organizations like MSC, while others won't be.
Every fish you wish
At Fulton Fish Market, you'll find an impressive variety of seafood options. Whether you're looking for traditional fish fillets, premium shellfish, or specialty items like caviar and octopus, they've got you covered. You can even explore their pantry items and merchandise section, or opt for convenient prepared and ready-to-eat selections. (Surprisingly, they offer beef too - though we're not quite sure why you'd come to a fish market for that. Surf & turf, maybe?)
Bundles make entertaining a breeze
If you're planning to host a dinner party, Fulton Fish Market's curated bundles take the guesswork out of shopping. Their popular options include a Seafood Dinner Party Bundle ($214) featuring lobster tails and salmon portions, a Finest Hits Bundle ($197) with an assortment of premium fish cuts, and a New England Raw Bar Bundle ($214) perfect for oyster enthusiasts. Their best-selling individual items include Atlantic salmon portions at $13 each and Blue Point East Coast oysters at $70 for 20 count. You can save your favorite seafood products to your "Fishlist" - we see what they did there.
Membership has its perks - maybe too many
You'll see member pricing on every product listing at Fulton Fish Market (like $54.14 on premium scallops, priced $56.99 for everyone else), and qualifying is straightforward - just order $75 worth of products every 90 days. Members save 15% or more on orders and receive welcome gifts, exclusive access to limited-time products, and priority service. Order even more frequently and you'll unlock VIP status, which comes with even more benefits. However, with constant pop-ups about new customer promotions like "free salmon for a year," we have to admit that the Fulton Fish Market online shopping experience feels a bit like the digital equivalent of a fishmonger trying to get your attention on a busy pier. It's distracting, and it might make you wonder if what they're offering is too good to be true.
Shipping is free - with a catch
You'll get free nationwide shipping on freshly frozen items when you order $125 or more (after discounts). If your frozen order is less than that, shipping is a flat $19.99. Some additional products qualify for free shipping too - you can browse these items in Fulton Fish Market's free shipping collection.
Your seafood arrives carefully packaged
Fulton Fish Market takes care to package different types of items separately for optimal freshness. You can choose your delivery date at checkout, with frozen items taking 1-2 days in transit, live and fresh items arriving in one day, and shelf-stable products typically reaching you within 3-5 days of ordering.
Customers receive refunds when they ask
If your order arrives damaged or with items missing, Fulton Fish Market will "work with you to find a fair resolution". When we looked through their customer reviews, we found that while refund requests are pretty rare, they're honored when requested.
Most customers are happy as a clam with their purchases
Fulton Fish Market continues to live up to its reputation, earning a high 4.6-star average rating from over 10,000 customer reviews - significant when it comes to shipping seafood cross-country, as there are quite a few things that could ruin an order. Customers say their seafood arrives exactly how and when it is promised, that the packaging is very well done, and that customer service is quick to respond to any inquiries. Oh, and the fish is amazing. The texture of their products is often described as "flawless" - which may be a comfort to hear if you've never had flash-frozen seafood and aren't sure what to expect.
Excellent score
Would we recommend shopping at Fulton Fish Market? Absolutely. Their 200 years of experience and 10,000 positive customer reviews speak volumes. While their online shopping experience is slightly less pleasant than their closest rival's, you can still feel confident in a decision to purchase seafood here. Fulton FIsh Market earns a very high score and one of our top choices for fresh seafood delivered to your door.
If you're looking specifically for authentic Maryland blue crabs, you've come to the right place. Cameron's Seafood started as a family business in 1985 when Persian immigrants Allen and Bijan Manesh opened their first location with a mission to make quality seafood accessible to everyone. While they do offer some other seafood options, their real specialty is Maryland blue crabs - which they sell through their 14 retail locations across Maryland, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. In fact, their crabs are so good that customers drive for hours just to get them, which inspired the company to start shipping directly to homes across North America.
A simple three-step journey from sea to table
Your Cameron's Seafood experience starts when you build your custom box from their selection of premium Maryland crabs, crab cakes, and fresh-caught seafood. On your chosen delivery date, their team catches, prepares, and carefully packages your order in an insulated container. When your box arrives, you'll find everything you need for a memorable meal: top-quality Chesapeake Bay seafood, clear cooking instructions, and convenient packaging that fits right in your fridge or freezer.
A crab-forward menu with some other options
While Cameron's Seafood specializes in Maryland blue crabs (as evidenced by their logo), you'll find a decent selection of other seafood products here, too. Their menu includes everything from classic blue crabs and crab cakes to Alaskan king crab legs, plus an array of scallops, oysters, clams, mussels, and fresh fish. Their signature crab cakes showcase their premium crab meat with an impressive 75% meat-to-binder ratio, using a family recipe that's produced over 10 million cakes since 1985.
Premium pricing for premium products
Cameron's prices reflect their commitment to quality - a half dozen premium large male Maryland crabs (fully-cooked and seasoned) will set you back $90, while their colossal jumbo male Maryland crabs command $120 for the same quantity. For special occasions, consider their colossal Alaskan king crab legs starting at $390, or try their more modest but equally delicious jumbo lump crab cakes from $45. Want to sample a bit of everything? Their seasonal seafood trio at the time of our review featured jumbo lump crab cakes, spiced shrimp, and crabmeat bisque with free Ground shipping or $20 for Air. (And they'll even handwrite a gift message for you at no extra charge.)
True Blue certification means authentic Maryland seafood
Alright, but are you really getting genuine Maryland blue crab? (These Chesapeake Bay crustaceans are special - they build up extra fat to survive winter, giving them that distinctive sweet, buttery flavor you won't find in crabs from other waters.) Yes! Cameron's Seafood holds True Blue certification, meaning their invoices undergo annual audits to verify they're selling authentic Maryland crabs and crab meat.
Sourcing with transparency and care
You'll find Cameron's Seafood's local crabbers hard at work in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay region, setting out at 4 AM daily to bring in fresh catches from Crisfield, Cambridge, and Point Lookout. The crabs make their way to headquarters in Rockville where they're sorted and cooked the same day - though during off-season, you might see flash-frozen Maryland Blue crabs or "Maryland-style" alternatives from other coastal states. (And yes, they're upfront about where those come from.) Their USDA-approved facilities are staffed by longtime employees - mostly family and friends who've been handling Maryland seafood for over two decades.
Shipping fees dependent on your location
You'll get your seafood fresh or flash-frozen at peak quality, individually vacuum-sealed for maximum freshness. Cameron's Seafood calculates the exact amount of gel packs or dry ice needed based on your location, season, and order size, ensuring your catch arrives in perfect condition. Want free Ground shipping? Just spend over $300 - or choose from various shipping speeds starting at $65 for orders under that threshold. (If you're in Hawaii or Alaska, expect a $20 surcharge.)
Flexible delivery options
Need your seafood tomorrow? Order by 4 PM EST for next-day delivery. Planning a special event? Choose 2-Day Air or Overnight shipping for guaranteed delivery dates, and schedule it at least one day before your gathering. Cameron's offers Saturday delivery too - though it'll cost you an extra $15 for expedited shipping, and Ground service isn't available for commercial addresses on weekends. (Pro tip: fresh products might freeze during transit when packed with dry ice, which is standard for frozen items and summer 2-day shipments.)
Customer service that goes the extra mile
While most deliveries arrive right on schedule, even the best-laid plans can hit snags with airline delays through no fault of the seafood provider's efforts. What sets Cameron's apart is their response when things go wrong - they take responsibility, and customers receive not just full refunds, but genuinely caring, personalized messages when holiday seafood feasts don't arrive as planned. (It's refreshing to see a company that actually seems to care when your Christmas dinner plans go sideways.) Should something else go wrong with your order, Cameron's allows you a generous 7 full days to get in contact with them to request a refund or replacement.
Customer reviews show this is the real deal
With over 90% of customers giving Cameron's between 4 and 5 stars, you don't need to wonder if their seafood lives up to the hype. One particularly telling review comes from a customer with deep Baltimore roots who had spent years searching for authentic Maryland blue crab meat in Virginia. After ordering 2 pounds of Cameron's crab meat to make their traditional family birthday crab cakes, they were overjoyed to find it matched the quality of their childhood memories. Not only did the crab meat exceed expectations, but Cameron's personal touch - calling to notify about a delivery delay - showcased their commitment to customer service. (When's the last time a company actually picked up the phone to tell you about a shipping delay?)
Top choice for Maryland crabs
So, is Cameron's Seafood right for you? If Maryland blue crabs and related products are your priority, this is absolutely worth checking out - Cameron's True Blue certification and dedication to quality make them a standout choice. However, if you're primarily interested in a wider variety of fish fillets and general seafood options, you might want to explore some of our other reviewed seafood services. After a thorough review, we're giving Cameron's a strong rating for their specialty offerings and commitment to authentic Maryland crabs.
Founded by Sean Dimin, who developed his passion for fishing through hands-on experience in fishing communities, Sea to Table sources wild-caught fish from US coasts and delivers it right to your door. While their marketing leans heavily on the family business angle (perhaps a bit too heavily - their corporate undertones make us slightly suspicious), they've recently joined the subscription box trend like many other seafood retailers. Let's dive deeper to see if they're actually swimming in the right direction.
Your fish is DNA-tested, but is it sustainable?
While Sea to Table sources exclusively wild-caught fish from US fisheries - a more sustainable choice than imported farmed fish - they're vague about their actual sustainability practices and certifications. You'll find lots of talk about DNA testing (which proves you're getting the fish you ordered but doesn't speak to sustainability), detailed labeling that includes catch methods and vessel names, and general statements about "well-managed fisheries." But where are the specific sustainability certifications or concrete conservation efforts? Without that info, their focus on DNA testing feels a bit like showing off their science credentials to distract you from noticing they haven't actually answered your questions.
Purchasing options: boxes and individual packs
You can shop Sea to Table in two ways: by selecting individual packs of seafood or choosing from their pre-built boxes. To give you an idea of what you might find here, the Pescatarian Pack ($178) provides 16 servings of varied fish including Pacific Black Cod, Northwest Halibut, two types of salmon, and Gulf Shrimp (a solid variety for those who like to mix up their seafood dinners). For shellfish lovers, the Feast of the East ($196) delivers Maine lobster tails, Atlantic sea scallops, and jumbo shrimp (though at this price point, you might want to comparison shop with other retailers).
Free shipping on orders over $99
You'll get your fully frozen fish delivered within 4-6 days of ordering, packed in eco-friendly insulation with dry ice. Orders of $99+ ship free (otherwise expect to pay $30-45 in shipping). Want weekend delivery? Order by Monday at midnight for best results - though Sea to Table aims for weekday deliveries to ensure you have fresh fish ready for weekend cooking (and they're flexible about delivery dates if you email them).
Recent customer reviews raise red flags
When looking through Sea to Table's customer feedback, we noticed something concerning: most of their reviews are over two years old. The few recent reviews report a major shift to a subscription-based model, which has caused frustration - especially around gift card policies. One customer claimed they were told they had to spend $199 just to use their $50 gift card, and described unresponsive customer service.
Not all reviews are negative, but proceed with caution
On the flip side, we did find some satisfied long-term customers who praise the quality of Sea to Table's fish and the flexibility of their delivery system. One reviewer specifically mentioned how easy it is to skip deliveries and praised the consistently high-quality portions. However, given the major shift in business model and sparse recent reviews, we can't help but wonder if something's going on beneath the surface.
Our recommendation: cast your net elsewhere first
Without a larger number of recent positive reviews, we can't confidently recommend Sea to Table as a top pick for seafood right now. While their wild-caught, US-sourced fish sounds promising, you should explore other seafood delivery services first - you'll find several great options in our review.
Founded by a second-generation Alaskan fisherman, Sitka Seafood Market exemplifies a familiar pattern in modern seafood delivery - a family business that's gone corporate and evolved into a subscription-based model within the last few years.
Commendable sustainability efforts
Sitka Seafood Market says it sources its products exclusively from wild-caught US fisheries, with a focus on Alaskan waters. Their seafood comes primarily from small-boat operations (60 feet or less) using low-impact methods like hook-and-line, pot, and gillnet fishing. The company maintains transparency about harvest locations and methods, even listing boat names when possible. Through their 1% For the Wild program, they donate 1% of gross revenue to support fishery conservation and coastal communities. They partner with locally-owned, fishermen-owned, woman-owned, and Tribally-owned processors across Alaska. The company actively monitors fish stock health and environmental impacts, avoiding overfished species and prioritizing sustainable fishing practices (though like most seafood companies, they don't provide specific metrics on their environmental impact).
Build your own box
You can build your own box of premium wild-caught Alaskan seafood or let Sitka Seafood Market curate a seasonal selection for you. A DIY subscription box lets you choose from favorites like sockeye salmon, halibut, Pacific cod, and Dungeness crab. Portions are priced on the higher end, though - halibut runs $21.59 per 6-ounce portion, while Pacific cod is $9.89 per 6 ounces. For larger quantities, you'll find items like smoked salmon at $89.99 for 2 pounds and Dungeness crab at $80.99 for 2 pounds.
Curated boxes seem limited
Want Sitka Seafood Market to choose the contents of your box for you? We noticed their pre-selected boxes currently include just two selections: sablefish and coho salmon. That feels quite limited compared to competitors. You also won't have control over the cuts you receive. Sitka Seafood will send you a mix of center and tail pieces to maximize the use of each fish. The curated subscription box costs $159 as a one-time purchase for 12 servings, but you can save 10% by subscribing.
Alter your order 3 months in advance
On the bright side, planning ahead is easy with Sitka Seafood Market's three-month projection of upcoming box contents. You can check your future deliveries through your account or their Projected Harvest page, and they'll notify you three days before charging your card - giving you time to make any needed adjustments to your order.
Sitka Seafood Market's shipping takes up to three weeks
Your first subscription box from Sitka Seafood Market will arrive within 2-3 weeks of purchase, complete with dry ice packaging to keep everything frozen solid. Want it faster? You can choose expedited 2-day shipping (rates vary by location) - or stick with standard shipping at $20, which becomes free once you spend $125. You don't need to be home for delivery, and your seafood stays frozen until evening thanks to insulated packaging. Monthly subscribers can even combine orders to reduce packaging waste (an eco-friendly touch we appreciate).
Quality issues plague Sitka's shipping reliability
We had a hard time finding recent reviews for Sitka Seafood Market, and what we did find wasn't exactly positive. Multiple customers report starting to receive thawed fish and evaporated dry ice in the past couple of years, with some pointing to long supply chains and new diversions to Midwest processing facilities as the culprits behind compromised vacuum seals and mushy fish. (And nothing ruins dinner plans quite like mushy fish.)
The price-to-portion ratio feels off
When you're paying $159 for what should be 4.5 pounds of seafood, you expect to get your money's worth. But customers consistently report that portions seem smaller than advertised, with inconsistent sizing that makes meal planning a pain. Add in surcharges for swapping out fish you don't want, and suddenly that premium price tag feels even steeper.
Too risky to fully recommend
We just don't get a good feeling about Sitka Seafood Market. We've seen this pattern before - a small seafood company with a solid customer base suddenly switches to a subscription-based model, and the quality plummets. Save yourself the potential trouble and shop with one of our higher-rated seafood providers instead.
Founded in 1985, Giovanni's Fish Market and Galley has grown from a small, family-owned shop to one of California's premier seafood destinations, offering over 200 varieties of wild-caught fish and shellfish both in their Morro Bay storefront and through nationwide shipping. However, there are some major ethical concerns with this seafood supplier that you'll want to know about before you commit.
Sustainability claims lack substance
Giovanni's Fish Market sources their seafood from both local fishermen and their own fishing fleet, but their sustainability claims are vague. On their FAQ page, they provide only a basic definition of sustainability without specific details about their own practices. More troublingly, they outright dismiss overfishing concerns by citing a fishing industry-aligned organization's denial of the issue - despite evidence from environmental protection organizations that nearly 90% of marine fish stocks are either overfished or exploited. Giovanni's dismissive attitude toward sustainability concerns also overlooks serious issues with wild-caught fishing, including damage to coral reefs and marine habitats, plus the accidental capture of sea lions, sharks, turtles, and seabirds. The company does not appear to have any third-party sustainability certifications, which would typically help verify sustainability claims.
Wide variety of seafood categories makes shopping straightforward
Sustainability aside, how does Giovanni's do when it comes to their product range? The website organizes its offerings into clear, easy-to-browse categories like "Sushi & Sashimi," "Fillet Fish," and "Shellfish". Whether you're planning a special occasion or just restocking your freezer, you'll find everything from everyday fish fillets to premium selections in their "Feel Like A Splurge?" section.
You'll find a wide range of fish and shellfish options
There's something for every palate (and almost every budget) here. You can grab Alaskan Cod at $13 per pound for weeknight dinners, or splurge on Chilean Sea Bass at $45 per pound for special occasions. In the shellfish department, prices range from budget-friendlier live black mussels at $13 per pound to show-stopping Australian lobster tails (32+ oz) at $140. Pro tip: If you're planning a big event or looking to fill your freezer, consider their bulk options - 10-pound boxes offer better value, from $180 for Pacific Red Snapper to $400 for Dungeness crab sections.
Portions are 1 lb unless otherwise specified
One helpful tip when shopping for seafood at Giovanni's: while product weights sometimes aren't listed on individual seafood product listings, we found a paragraph hidden in the shipping policy that confirms that individual portions are typically cut to 1 pound, give or take a tenth of a pound. So, when adding an item to your cart, know that a quantity of 1 equals 1 pound of seafood, a quantity of 2 equals 2 pounds, and so on.
Creative meal kits bring restaurant experiences home
Beyond basic seafood, Giovanni's offers several innovative meal kits that let you recreate restaurant favorites at home. Their sushi-making kit ($36.99) includes all the essentials: nori sheets, bamboo mat, soy sauce, ginger, wasabi, and rice - plus your choice of sashimi-grade fish like ahi tuna or bluefin toro. Other appealing ready-to-make options include fish and chips kits, cioppino kits, and gourmet shrimp meal packages. For those who prefer pre-made items, they also offer prepared favorites like crab cakes and clam chowder.
Shipping rates are somewhat high
Giovanni's Fish Market offers free shipping on orders over $399, which is higher than some of their closest competitors. Below that threshold, shipping costs are structured by weight and location, with California residents getting the best rates. You'll pay $29.99 to $199.99 for 1-50 pounds within California, while shipments outside California range from $49.99 to $299.99. Alaska and Hawaii orders start at $75. Given the shipping prices, it may only be worth shopping here if you're buying in bulk.
Strategic packaging ensures freshness
Your seafood arrives vacuum-sealed in individual one-pound packages (unless otherwise specified) and packed in insulated boxes with frozen gel packs. For guaranteed frozen-solid arrival, you can add dry ice for an additional charge. (Smart move: their packaging is designed to withstand a 2-day transit just in case of shipping delays.)
48 hours to request a refund
Giovanni's return policy is short and to the point: if you have any issues with your order, you can contact them via email within 48 hours of delivery. However, they don't make any guarantees about rectification, refunds, or your satisfaction.
Limited third-party verification available
While Giovanni's Fish Market receives positive reviews for their seafood quality at their physical location on Yelp, there are no reliable third-party sources reviewing their online ordering and shipping process. Their Better Business Bureau listing is unrated and unaccredited. The only available testimonials about shipping and delivery come from the company's own website, which naturally excludes negative experiences.
Major ethical and legal concerns
Now, for the ethical issues we alluded to much earlier in this review - before you make a seafood purchase here, you need to know that the owner of Giovanni's Fish Market is currently facing extremely serious criminal charges. While we won't detail the specifics here, interested readers can search for "Giovanni DeGarimore legal issues" to learn more about the nature of these troubling allegations. We believe these issues go far beyond typical business concerns and enter territory that warrants complete avoidance of Giovanni's.
Seafood is high-quality, but their morals are not
Given the severity of those legal and ethical concerns, we strongly recommend exploring other online seafood retailers. When shopping for seafood online, it's important to consider not just price or product quality, but also the reputation and business practices of the company you're supporting. Personally, we cannot in good conscience recommend purchasing from Giovanni's Fish Market, but you will need to decide for yourself.
Vital Choice started out as an independent company founded by an Alaskan fisherman in 2001. While they built their reputation on delivering high-quality wild seafood, they were recently bought by 1-800-Flowers - which typically has not done so well when we've reviewed and compared them against competitors. 1-800-Flowers has a history of shipping and delivery issues, and problems of that nature become critical when dealing with fresh or frozen seafood. Let's find out how 1-800-Flowers does with their new subsidiary.
A certified sustainable seafood source - with two small exceptions
Starting off with sustainability, Vital Choice offers more than 30 types of wild-caught fish and shellfish, with nearly all meeting strict sustainability standards. Their Alaskan seafood is certified by both Alaska Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), following guidelines from the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative and UN Food and Agriculture Organization. While most of Vital Choice's products align with these rigorous standards, they're transparent about the two that don't: their canned sardines and mackerel.
A cluttered website that's hard to navigate
The Vital Choice website suffers from an overwhelming design with inconsistent fonts and sizing, which makes navigation slightly more difficult than it needs to be. We also noticed that there's no way to filter or sort products (for example, by price or popularity) when browsing within categories.
Shopping categories that cover the seafood spectrum
When you land on the homepage, you'll find yourself in Vital Choice's Seafood Meals & Entrees category, which displays 19 options. Finding other products requires a visit to the menu at the top of your screen. Among the main shopping categories, you'll find these seafood products:
Also check out Vital Choice's Weekly Deals and subscription options.
Both a-la-carte fish and seafood sampler options available
Product pricing at Vital Choice varies by count and portion size. You'll find traditional fish like MSC wild Alaskan cod priced at $60 for six 4-oz portions (approximately $34 per pound), while shellfish like MSC wild Atlantic sea scallops cost $140 for two 1-lb portions ($70 per pound). Vital Choice also offers several customizable seafood options including a wild fish portions sampler box (pick 6 for $100), heat-and-serve soup selections (pick 4 for $40), and a build-your-own dinner package at $150 that includes seafood, seasonings, sides, and dessert. However, navigating these options can be a pain due to the lack of basic sorting and filtering capabilities.
Celebrations Passport membership promises benefits across brands
Vital Choice participates in 1-800-Flowers' Celebrations Passport membership program, which offers free standard shipping across their family of brands. For $20 in your first year (auto-renewing at $30), you get free standard shipping on carrier-delivered items, no service charges on florist deliveries, and discounted rates on wine shipping. However, we can't recommend becoming a member - one recent customer reported that even after canceling their Passport membership, the company continued charging their card, forcing them to deal with unresponsive customer service and ultimately cancel their credit card.
Per-item shipping costs add up fast
Standard shipping charges for Vital Choice range from $8 to $35 based on order value. However, since frozen seafood requires express shipping, you'll need to pay express fees ranging from $10 to $25 - per item. These fees stack on top of the standard shipping charges, potentially making shipping quite expensive - especially if items ship separately, which seems to be common. One recent customer received four separate boxes for a single order, with frozen seafood items split into three separate packages. (If you ask us, this is pretty obviously a cash-grab.)
Recent customer experiences raise red flags
As we feared, since being acquired by 1-800-Flowers, customer experiences with Vital Choice's shipping have deteriorated significantly. Despite their promises of 2-day express delivery for frozen items, one customer received completely thawed fish, while another experienced a months-long delay with zero communication about their order - being told their order wouldn't arrive for over a year. Even when items arrive frozen, quality appears to have declined, with customers reporting "abysmal" quality and unpleasant odors even in properly frozen products.
Quality concerns plague this formerly reliable seafood supplier
Even customers who weren't aware that Vital Choice has changed ownership have pretty serious complaints. Issues range from inconsistent cuts to mixed-up fish varieties. One customer reported receiving "odd shapes and lots of tails" in their premium Copper River king salmon order, while another shopper's box of Chilean sea bass contained entirely different fish. When spending premium prices on seafood delivery, you expect consistent, high-quality cuts - not a grab bag of irregular pieces. It won't come as a surprise that we do not recommend shopping at Vital Choice as a top source of seafood.
Sizzlefish began in the early 1990s as a seafood supplier to premium grocery stores before launching their direct-to-consumer website. You'll find an origin story involving triathlons and healthy eating, plus 30 years of experience in the seafood industry - though the latest customer feedback suggests some concerning changes in quality and service that we'll explore in detail.
Limited product selection despite long catalog
At first glance, Sizzlefish's offerings look impressive with over 30 varieties of seafood and even some beef options displayed on their website. You'll see everything from salmon and Chilean sea bass to king crab and filet mignon. But don't get too excited just yet.
Build-Your-Box reality check
When you actually try to build a subscription box, you'll find the selection mysteriously shrinks to just 12 basic options - mostly lower-cost fish like trout, catfish, and salmon. Want those tempting Alaska snow crab legs or oysters? You'll have to add them separately at premium prices. The base box (14 portions of 4-6oz each) runs $133, and since you must pick 14 portions and there are only 12 items available, you'll have to double up on something whether you want to or not. Meanwhile, their "Prime Plus" box gives you access to slightly pricier options, and costs $147 for the same amount of product.
Shipping promises sound good on paper...
Sizzlefish offers free shipping on orders over $100 with delivery times of 1-3 days via FedEx or UPS Ground. West Coast customers automatically get upgraded to Express shipping to ensure freshness. You can't get deliveries on weekends, but same-day shipping is available if you order early enough - before 8 AM EST on Mondays or noon EST Tuesday through Wednesday. (A nice touch: they'll automatically upgrade West Coast orders to express shipping at no extra charge.)
...but customer experiences tell a different story
However, real customer experiences reveal serious concerns with Sizzlefish's shipping practices. One particularly troubling case involved a $150 surf and turf grilling package ordered as a birthday gift. Despite selecting a delivery date 10 days in advance, the company failed to deliver on time, citing East Coast weather delays for a Phoenix delivery. After multiple delays and communications, they shipped fresh raw seafood and steak via ground shipping across the country - a journey taking over a week. When the customer raised concerns about food safety, Sizzlefish's only response was to "inspect the quality upon delivery," offering no solution to address the potentially dangerous situation.
Report issues with your order within 7 days of receipt
It's possible that Sizzlefish would have replaced the order if the customer reported thawing or other product damage, as their return policy says they will do so within 7 days of receiving such a report, but it speaks to the poor quality of their customer service that they weren't more proactive about a situation that was obviously unacceptable - there's virtually no scenario in which perishable goods that had been in transit for a week would still be edible.
Majority of reviews are negative
The customer reviews don't get better. Sizzlefish has a 2.6-star average rating on third-party review sites, and we're not sure how they earned even that. One customer paid $179 for her order and requested a gift note be sent along with it - but only half of the message was included. Despite the customer having a photo to prove it, the customer service representative she spoke to "lied repeatedly", saying the note had been sent in full. There are numerous other complaints about rotted fish arriving in puddles of dry ice, gift card notifications being sent to giftees prematurely (and then, embarrassingly, notices of gift card cancellations), and even more stories about combative customer service representatives.
Precipitous fall in our rankings
Although Sizzlefish once held our coveted 5-star rating, they're no longer the company we once knew. Where before they could be proud of thousands of 5-star independently verified reviews from their customers, you'll now be hard pressed to find even one legitimate review from a customer who was done right by Sizzlefish (or "Swindlefish", as one angry customer put it). Our new recommendation: stay away from this seafood subscription service.
Rastelli's got its start as a small-town butcher shop that supplied its neighboring deli with fresh meats. Since then, they have expanded and changed business models a few times - now operating primarily as a meat and seafood subscription service. While Rastelli's used to be known for their "meticulous standards" and customer-first approach, we can't say that's true for this iteration of their business.
Curated seafood box is the main offering
As we mentioned, Rastelli's is now a subscription service. You'll start by taking a quiz to determine which subscription box is right for you - or you can go straight to the "Curated Boxes" page and click on "Brittany's Favorite Seafood Box". This contains 8lbs of fish and shellfish, including:
Shipping is free for subscribers
Subscription lengths are 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks for $220 a box. If you're buying Brittany's Favorite Seafood Box as a one-time purchase, it costs $275. Your order will come with a Seafood Cooking Guide, and if you're sending it as a gift, you can add a message at checkout. Shipping is free on subscription boxes, but costs $9.99 on one-time purchases. Your box should ship within 5 days of placing your order.
Build-your-own box starting at $186.12
If you'd prefer to build your own box, you'll pay $186.12 for up to 15 lbs of seafood or $289.01 for up to 30 lbs. In addition to all the contents of the curated seafood box we described above, you'll also be able to add Wild-Caught Halibut, Wild-Caught Chilean Sea Bass, and Salmon Butcher Burgers. The advantage of putting together your own box is choosing the quantities you prefer, and being able to supplement with poultry, beef, or pork if you so desire.
Silent on sustainability
With all of the wild-caught seafood featured in Rastelli's offerings, we were curious about their sustainability practices. However, we didn't find a single mention on their website of these practices or of their ethics surrounding sourcing or sustainability. We found this strange, because the last time we reviewed Rastelli's, they had a lot to say about their partnerships with small farming and fishing families and their respect for the environment. Another thing was missing, too - they no longer talk about their "rigorous standards" or quality control process, which does not bode well for the customer.
Refund policy seems like lip service
Rastelli's refund policy is simple: if you're not satisfied for any reason, reach out to them within 24 hours of receiving your order and they promise to refund you "depending on the circumstances". That sounds nice, but how does it tend to work out for real customers? Unfortunately, the answer is "not well": one disgruntled customer writes about requesting a refund on a Thanksgiving roast beef, due to subpar quality comparable to what you might find in a grocery store. The company's response was to "make note of [the customer's] dissatisfaction", an empty promise to do better next time, and no refund.
Most customers receive spoiled meats
The last time we reviewed Rastelli's, their Trustpilot listing was in much better shape - the average customer rating was 4.2 out of 5 stars. Now, however, they've barely managed a 2.6-star average rating. Every single review we found came from a customer who had received spoiled food - sometimes spoiled food that had evidently been packaged spoiled, from the smell of it. One customer sees Rastelli's new business model with clear eyes and pulls no punches when putting it into words: "They hold themselves out to be a boutique shop. In reality they're a mill pumping out massive volumes of meat."
Not recommended (obviously)
After our deep dive into Rastelli's, we're going to have to pass - hard pass. This company is no longer the same in anything but name. While they've conveniently scrubbed their website of any pesky sustainability commitments or quality control processes (nothing suspicious there!), their customers are doing the talking - and it's not pretty. If you're in the market for quality seafood and meat delivery, we'd strongly suggest looking elsewhere - preferably somewhere that doesn't consider "freshness" an optional feature.
Finding reliable background information about Global Seafoods is surprisingly difficult - they don't even have an "About" page. Even more concerning? Their website contains unedited ChatGPT commands in plain view (think "please use H2 for main titles..."), suggesting a concerning lack of attention to detail (and authenticity) for a company handling perishable seafood.
Poor web design is just the start
The Global Seafoods website feels like a throwback to the early days of e-commerce - and not in a charming way. You'll find yourself navigating through basic text layouts with no modern filtering or sorting options (think "website design by Microsoft Word"). Alarmingly, some product images appear to be AI-generated, which should make you ask whether they even have what they're advertising in stock.
Poorly organized seafood selection
Global Seafoods claims to offer everything from live seafood to kitchen accessories. You'll find options like sashimi-grade yellowfin tuna ($195) and live Dungeness crab ($275 for 5-6 crabs). While it does appear that you can actually order these (and that they aren't just an AI scam) based on the reviews on product listings, that doesn't mean the seafood quality is good - one reviewer's $145 king salmon fillets arrived spoiled despite the promise of "never frozen" freshness.
Recent reviews are disturbing
You might think a seafood company's lowest point would be delivering spoiled fish, but Global Seafoods manages to sink even lower. With a 1.6-star average on Trustpilot and only two reviews in the past two years (both 1-star - yikes) the situation is way beyond fishy. While one customer notes a general decline in quality and service over the years, it's the second review that really sets off alarm bells.
From bad service to actual threats
Would you believe a seafood company would threaten collections over a spoiled $255 salmon order? (We couldn't either, but here we are.) When a customer's order was left 100 yards from their door without notification - arriving warm and spoiled - a customer service representative reportedly responded not with an apology or replacement, but with threats of collections if the charge was disputed.
Our recommendation: stay away
When a company responds to legitimate complaints about spoiled seafood with threats rather than solutions, there's only one recommendation we can make: don't shop at Global Seafoods. There are plenty of other fish in the sea - and plenty of other seafood delivery services that won't leave your order baking in the sun and then threaten you for complaining about it.
Continued from above...
If you've ever craved fresh seafood despite living far from the coast, or if you're tired of limited (and not quite fresh) options at your local grocery store, we have good news. Online seafood services can solve all those problems by delivering restaurant-quality fish and shellfish directly to your door.
No matter who you are - whether a busy professional wanting regular deliveries of healthy protein or a foodie seeking specialty items like sashimi-grade tuna or live Dungeness crab - there's a seafood delivery service out there for you. They're also perfect for planning special occasions when you want to serve premium seafood without hunting through multiple stores.
When it comes to online seafood retailers, there's more going on beneath the surface than you might think. The industry broadly falls into three categories, each with its own quirks.
Traditional subscription services dress themselves up in heartwarming "family business" marketing while operating massive corporate distribution centers - they'll send you regular "curated" boxes of seafood, which sounds fancy but often means whatever they have in surplus that month.
Wholesale services are more straightforward - they focus on bulk orders and better per-pound pricing, though you'll need freezer space and usually a minimum order of $200+ to qualify for free shipping.
Finally, there are the actual family-owned seafood businesses. These operations might be smaller-scale, but their customer service tends to be much more on the ball, and you can order with confidence that you'll receive the quality you've been promised when it's been promised. The key is looking past the marketing to understand who's really catching, processing, and shipping your seafood.
Here are some things to help you determine where you should shop:
Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best online seafood services out there. We hope this information helps you find the perfect delivery service to satisfy your cravings for fresh, high-quality seafood.
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