Thursday, May 22nd
2025 Seafood Company Reviews
Giovanni's Fish Market
- Prices range from $14.99 to $399.99
- Gift shop with seafood tools, accessories and clothing
- Offers raw and smoked filets
- 24-hour return policy
- Some sustainability focus
For several decades, Giovanni's Fish Market has been a California-based, family-owned and operated business, founded by a commercial abalone diver in 1973. They primarily source their seafood locally, although they also include some imported seafood products. They provide a mom-and-pop feel with an in-person shopping experience in California as well as online shipping to customers across the US. With a full range of options from traditional fish to shellfish, to sushi-grade selections, Giovanni's provides competitive listings for Californians and beyond.
Easy to use, but not web-focused
The online shopping experience at Giovanni's Fish Market is straightforward. While browsing their main page is one way to look through their inventory, it's more convenient to directly access the links provided at the top of the website to filter through the different fish options available at this seafood store. Their product range includes abalone, crab, filet of fish, lobster, oysters, shellfish, shrimp, smoked fish, sushi, and various sauces and spices to enhance the dining experience.
The latest deals
To find the latest deals, customers can click on the Specials link, and they shouldn't miss the featured items section, which currently includes items like live abalone, Chilean sea bass, rock crab claws, sablefish, and smoked salmon belly. As this is a mom-and-pop style place with an in-person shopping experience, it seems like they haven't put as much work into the website as other companies in our review. However, the website is still functional and easy enough for the average shopper to navigate.
Competitively low pricing overall
In our review, we thoroughly examined seafood stores' prices for a range of products, including classic fish, shellfish, the most expensive item in the store, and bundled packages. Giovanni's offers an extensive selection of traditional fish including filets, sushi and sashimi, and smoked fish. The pricing for the filets starts at $14.99 for 1 lb of thresher shark and goes up to $399.99 for 10 lbs of Alaskan halibut. For the sushi-grade filets, the prices start at $14 for 11 oz of ebi shrimp and go as high as $39.99 for 1 lb of flying fish roe. Finally, for filets, the price of pre-cooked (smoked) filets ranges from $19.99/lb- $39.99/lb. Giovanni's also has a competitive variety of shellfish. Prices for shellfish range from $12.49 per pound of black mussels to $299.99 for 10 lbs of Dungeness Crab sections. The most expensive item at Giovanni's is $399.99 for the Alaskan Halibut mentioned in the filet section.
Big box specials
Finally, Giovanni's offers a few "Big Box Specials”. Bundle prices at Giovanni's vary from $149 to $399.99. In terms of individual orders of fish, this retailer is one of the most affordable in our review, especially given how many pounds of fish you can get for the listed price.
Gifts of food or cooking tools available
When it comes to gift options, Giovanni's Fish Market offers the expected choices such as gift cards, usable both in-store and for online purchases. These gift cards are available in denominations ranging from $25 to $250. Additionally, the gift section of Giovanni's website provides gift products like sushi mats, cooking or knife sets, or Giovanni's-themed gifts like branded tumblers or t-shirts. Finally, you can also buy any of the fish boxes described earlier as a gift. During the checkout process, customers can enter a gift message in the same section where delivery instructions are provided, whether they opt for a gift card or choose to send specific seafood products to someone else.
Exceptionally high shipping prices
One aspect where Giovanni's Fish Market falls short is shipping costs. Free delivery is only available for orders exceeding $399, whereas some competitors offer free shipping at lower thresholds or on every purchase. Shipping fees for orders below that free delivery threshold are calculated based on weight, ranging from $25 to $199.99 for California residents and from just under $49.99 to $299.99 for those outside of the state. Ouch! Overnight shipping is the only available option, and customers need to select the inclusion of dry ice (for an additional $10) during checkout. Orders can be shipped immediately or delivered on a specified date.
Return the fish to Giovanni's
Regarding returns, Giovanni's Fish Market has a peculiar policy. Like many online seafood stores, they guarantee the freshness of their deliveries. Customers have 24 hours from the time of delivery to request a return authorization form. Interestingly, customers are expected to return the seafood for a refund, which is provided in the form of full store credit. While this return policy may raise some eyebrows, the store's positive customer feedback suggests that the need for returns is rare.
Baseline sustainability
In terms of sustainability, Giovanni's makes a statement about prioritizing locally-sourced fish in an effort to support sustainability. However, compared to other companies that work in sustainability, this seems to be the bare minimum. Giovanni's claims to have over 100 different fish options available but don't specifically mention how they ensure sustainability with those fish.
Popular with local and online reviewers
Despite the slightly outdated appearance of the Giovanni's Fish Market website (with a copyright date of 2006), their customer reviews are current and overwhelmingly positive. On top of good online reviews (an average of 4.5 stars on Google Reviews), the company is also popular with local visitors with a high 4.5-star average on sites like TripAdvisor. The only place where Giovanni's doesn't stand out is that it has no presence on the Better Business Bureau, which isn't ideal. However, with good reviews to balance out the missing rating with the BBB, it's clear that this seafood store is still worth checking out.
High shipping costs, but worth looking into
Giovanni's Fish Market has established itself as a reputable source of seafood, backed by a stellar reputation and unique gift selections. However, when considering their above-average delivery costs and unusual return policy, they fall behind our top-ranked seafood stores. Nevertheless, Giovanni's Fish Market remains a trustworthy online seafood provider and is worth considering for seafood enthusiasts.
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Where Can You Find the Best Seafood Stores?
Whether you're a seafood connoisseur or simply love indulging in a delicious seafood feast, finding a reliable supplier is essential. With options ranging from fresh fish to shellfish and everything in between, seafood stores provide a wide variety of choices for seafood lovers. And the best part? Many of these stores offer the convenience of online shopping, allowing you to explore their offerings from the comfort of your home.
Seafood stores offer a wide range of products, including fish, shrimp, lobster, crab, oysters, and more. The variety and quality of the selection can vary from store to store. Whether you're searching for a specific type of fish or want to explore new flavors, it's important to consider the diversity of options offered by each seafood store. A store with a diverse selection allows you to try new and exciting seafood dishes, ensuring a satisfying culinary experience.
Seafood Company FAQ
Continued from above...
Seafood is a popular choice for many people, and it's no wonder considering its versatility and health benefits. According to research, seafood is a rich source of essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. It is also associated with numerous health benefits, including improved heart health and brain function and protection against heart attack or Alzheimer's. With seafood being in high demand, it's important to find a seafood store that consistently delivers the freshest and highest quality products.
When it comes to seafood, freshness is key. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises consumers to choose seafood that is fresh, properly handled, and stored at the correct temperatures to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. This makes it crucial to find a seafood store that prioritizes freshness and follows proper handling procedures. This is especially important if you're hoping to make dishes that aren't cooked as thoroughly, like sushi or sashimi dishes.
For this reason, it can be particularly helpful to shop for your seafood online. Reputable vendors prioritize the freshness and quality of their products through rigorous quality control measures. Some even source their fish directly from fishermen or sustainable fisheries, promoting a farm-to-table experience. And online markets often offer access to rare or specialty fish that may not be readily available locally, allowing you to indulge in unique culinary experiences. Online fish markets offer a wide variety of fish and seafood products, giving you the opportunity to explore a diverse range of species and try new flavors.
When choosing a seafood store online, there are so many options to choose from. If you're not sure how to get started, don't worry! We've got your back. Below is a list of factors you can keep in mind to help you choose the best seafood store for your needs.
- Price. Price is a significant consideration for many individuals when it comes to choosing an online store for seafood, especially with shipping costs. The affordability of seafood can determine how much you can buy and how often you can enjoy barbecue salmon or whitefish nigiri. Being mindful of your budget and the fairness of market value for fish can help you decide where to buy.
- Variety. Are you just looking for the basics? Or do you want a very specific or rare kind of fish? It's important to look at the kind of variety offered by each seafood store to ensure they have what you want or that you don't need to shop in multiple places.
- Shipping. Shipping is a two-pronged issue for seafood. While you want to make sure you can get good deals on shipping, it's also very important to know how fast and how well refrigerated an online seafood store will send your food. You want to make sure the high-quality fish you buy stays high quality by the time it reaches you.
- Sustainability. If you're one of the customers worried about sustainability, you may want to check out the eco-friendliness of the seafood store you're shopping with. Keep an eye on their specific moves to highlight sustainability in their business model.
- Customer satisfaction. Customers aren't professional fishermen (most of the time), but they do provide good insight into things you love. Keeping an eye on a company's reputation with customers can help you decide if it's the right place for you to pick up a red snapper or crawfish.
To make the process of finding the seafood store go swimmingly, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and rated the best options for seafood stores on the market today. We hope this information helps you enjoy your seafood fix and prioritize your health and wellness at the same time!
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