Best Restaurants Open for Newyears Eve this year in Monterey – 2024

Although many restaurants in this area serve the same type of food, for roughly the same price, they are NOT the same in terms of quality, service, and ambiance. I’ve had fine meals all over the world, and this is one of the finest I have ever experienced anywhere. The waitstaff were efficient, their timing impeccable. We did not feel rushed, nor did we feel like we were waiting too long on our order. We had the Oysters on the half shell, amazing! The crab meat tower tasted incredible the ingredients all fresh and well sourced. The clam bake (like clam chowder but with extra ingredients served in a sour dough bowl), was among the best I have ever had. I also had a main dish that was a sampler of Swordfish, Salmon and Shrimp. It tasted great, the purple sweet potatoes were a nice touch. For desert I went with the blueberry bread pudding. It was delicious as well. Given the quality of the meal and the service my wife and I were surprised at how relatively inexpensive our bill was in comparison to many of the high end and not so high end restaurants we have visited, not to mention how much better the food tasted. We will definitely be back!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Old Fisherman’s Grotto, and the experience was nothing short of remarkable. Our server, Ricardo, truly went above and beyond to ensure we had a wonderful evening. From the moment we were seated, his attentiveness was impeccable. Ricardo made us feel welcome, provided great recommendations, and was always available without being overbearing. His knowledge of the menu and genuine enthusiasm added a personal touch that made our visit even more memorable. As for the food—simply superb! Every dish we ordered was beautifully prepared, fresh, and bursting with flavor. The seafood was particularly outstanding, with a perfect balance of seasoning and presentation. Whether it was the clam chowder, the lobster, the filet mignon, or the perfectly cooked fish, each bite was a testament to the quality and care that Old Fisherman’s Grotto is known for. In all, the combination of Ricardo's exceptional service and the exquisite cuisine made for an unforgettable dining experience. We can't wait to return and savor more of what this incredible restaurant has to offer!!!!

I'm pretty sure I've been here years ago but this place definitely deserves all of the good reviews they get. The service was fantastic, the food was delicious and the setting, couldn't be better! It's not difficult to find free street parking (after 6 pm) just a few blocks away. The atmosphere on the pier is so fun. I think we'll make a yearly tradition of coming here!

Decent kids menu that offers salmon. The kids Mac and cheese looks very close to boxed Kraft Mac and cheese but hey the little kids didn’t Mind it. We got the surf and turf and the Cajun pasta with shrimp. The entree came with soup or salad. The mushroom soup was delicious. The Cajun pasta was a hit…our kids liked it tho it had a tad spicy kick. My son liked the steak too.

Had breakfast at Rosanie’s and tried the vegetarian omelet and vegetarian sandwich. The food was decent, though not exceptional. They do have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, which was great to see! Service was quick, and the ambience was nice for a casual breakfast spot.

this place is absolutely amazing! best potato skins i've ever had, their burgers are so delicious, drinks are amazing and a good selection of cakes! their strawberry cake is amazing and not too sweet. would 100% come back if i'm ever in the area!

Happy hour from 4 to 6pm. Service was a bit slow. Food was so/so. Drinks were good and priced well for HH. We had the coconut shrimp, firecracker shrimp, ahi tuna, sliders, and kids fish and chips. Most of the food was fine....nothing super tasty. Fish and chips were too breaded and barely any fish inside. Lovely views!

Came after a horrible experience at Shadow brook in Santa Cruz. We were greeted and immediately seated down with a gorgeous view. Our server was the absolute best she continuously came to check on us and offered us a delicious dessert for celebrating a special occasion within our group. Food was amazing definitely a great choice for coming in for late night dinner. Within our party one of our members was not fond of the espresso martini and our server took immediate action offering to take it off the bill and if we cared for any replacement drinks. Our experience here was truly great thanks to the staff.

Wasn’t a long wait with no reservations but opted to sit at the bar. The menu selections were decent and our crab cake was enough for 2 people as an app and with my mango margarita plus desserts it was more than enough. It’s my family’s go to restaurant in Monterey, I had the mudpie and it was lit, it’s similar to The Keg Billie miner pie. I gobbles it all up like a kid that never eaten in a day My cocktail was sweet but good. All staff are nice and Bartender was good with a recommendation ready to part with. Over all good and my Cali family recommended. Always make a reservation if you don’t want to wait.

“Sandbar & Grill is truly a hidden gem! Their steak was absolutely perfect – cooked to perfection and incredibly flavorful. The seafood was also extremely fresh, capturing the true taste of the ocean. The ambiance is pleasant and relaxing, and the service is both professional and friendly. If you’re looking for a top-notch steak and fresh seafood experience, this place is a must-visit. You won’t be disappointed!”

This is where I take my friends and guests from out of town when we are craving great seafood. One had the "special", that looked amazing. I had the fish and chips and the batter on them was so light and perfect. Another had the amazing crab salad, YUM! They also have a great happy hour at the bar with many specials priced reasonably!

Great food and service. The clam chowder was excellent. I also had the crab stuffed shrimp, and they were good as well. The hot sour dough bread was an added bonus.

Foods were excellent, love the environment around the place, staffs were generous. I and my friends visited last April for our vacation, it was the good start of the day. Soup was umami, ribs was very tender but I think it somewhat soaked with the sauce, maybe reduced a bit was perfect, steak was that I ordered and it was perfect medium-rare, although I love how you cooked the little cabbage so much, salmon steak from my friend - so so good. Overall it was one of the great meal here.

Peaceful scenery, recommend eating in the patio area very pleasant experience. Pet friendly Indefinitely, delicious strawberry lemonade with iced tea had to be my favorite part of my meal. Would definitely bring my girl out here. Quite the dining area all in all

1st time visiting Tarpy’s Roadhouse ; my daughter and I were very satisfied! Everything and everyone was amazing, Food and drinks perfect! You won’t regret and be sure to make reservations.

No wait during the busy holiday weekend. We really liked the fact that the tables are nice and spread out. Loved the views from this restaurant. The food was excellent, very fresh and the service was friendly. We had the oysters rockafeller calamari, crab cakes, salad and the cookie ice cream dessert. It was amazing and I’ll be back!

Fish and Chips - this is the saddest Fish I’ve had in my life. It seemed it came from a box and microwaved. Paella - shrimp and octopus were fresh, but it should not be soggy The best dish that we enjoyed is the fried snapper.

The best fried Calamari I've had in years. We had two different flavors, and both were delicious. We had seals to keep us company as we ate. The second photo was the empty plates of two varieties of their expertly fried calamari.

We went there for Happy Hour in May 2024. We got there right when Happy Hour started, so we were able to get a small table by the window. It got crowded pretty quickly. The Happy Hour food was delicious ($6 per plate). We were happy with the food choices and portion sizes, and will consider going back.

We had the most delicious anniversary dinner here tonight. The food was outstanding and the waiter helped with wine recommendations. The service was very very quick but we just asked for more time and that was fine. We would definitely recommend trying here!

Water quality: 1/5 Chlorine and fluoride water. You can tell by the residue on the glass and glass bottle that the water gets brought in. For restaurant of this caliber, it's disappointing to see less than decent water when asked for tap. Food quality: 4/5 - Burrata Caprese: 5/5 Wonderful entre option. Very tasty Burrata and fresh greens that everyone finished before I was able to take a picture. - Rotelle Di Parma: 5/5 The closest-to-Italy item my group ordered. Very delicious and definitely is a 5/5 dish on their menu - Friulana: 3/5 Americanized version of a classic Italian dish. Pasta is delicious across all dishes here but the meat was not combined well for someone who is very much familiar with true Italian taste. - Salmone: 4/5 Solid, strong dish. Not much to highlight. If you've had a good salmon, this shouldn't be worse or better. Safe option Service: 4/5 Service was a bit slow but everything else was just right. Appeared understaffed for a weekend lunch but that's nitpicking.

I went here for my birthday dinner. We were all hungry after going around cannery row and we were expecting great food after reading some good reviews. Food is just okay 3/5 but a little pricey for the amount of food. The atmosphere is awesome with the view of the water. Our waiter was so nice and very helpful. Gave us a free dessert with a candle and sang happy birthday. It's still an acceptable experience.

Fish Hopper is a great place to dine out and have a semi-classy dinner. Their menu offers a wide variety of seafood dishes from calamari to lobster tail, steakhouse sides, deserts, pastas, soups and much more. I do recommend making a reservation ahead of time as there is usually a decent line for a table. I have dined in here many times to this day and every visit was no other than extraordinary, in all categories. Service is friendly and always are up to accommodate your every need. There is an option to dine outside in a weather-protected room that has a astounding view of the California coast and ocean. All the dishes are clean as expected and we were served bread and butter when seated. In the past I have ordered their clam chowder(I requested it to be served in a bread bowl with an extra charge), the surf and turf plate(sirloin steak & lobster tail and a side of garlic mash potatoes), as well as one of my visits I for some reason decided to order fish and chips. All that I have mentioned were delicious, although personally the surf and turf was a favorite. Careful with how much clam chowder you order and how much you are able to consume, they make theirs much more rich and creamy than typical clam chowder. Throughout my handful of visits to Fish Hopper, I have only received the friendliest of staff serving me and best food being served. Don't mind checking Fish Hopper out if you are nearby and happen to want a bit more of a nicer sit down meal.

You definitely cannot beat the views!! We went here after a visit to the aquarium. It's a short walk and so much quieter ;) Our server, Orion, was attentive and made great recommendations. The food portions were good. We tried the Calamari, jumbo prawns, fish and chips, salad, ... all were flavorful. The only downside.. lines to women's bathroom were waaaaaay too long.

Nice restaurant but the food wasn’t seasoned the best. The mac and cheese had a weird flavor to it? The blackened halibut was very bad. The seasoning was very off. However the servers and hostesses were very nice and friendly. The food came out fast. Maybe we just got the wrong items in the menu!

Just got in town for business and stopped in for late lunch/ early dinner. Outside dining was by reservation only, so was seated inside- which had a very cool vibe. Happy hour - so I ordered the Kona wings. Great flavor and dipping sauce was awesome. Ordered the South Seas Fish Tacos based on server recommendation and was not disappointed. Fish was grilled perfectly and slaw added nice crunch. Server talked me into the Lilikoi Pie, which was great- very light and refreshing. Melissa was my server - super friendly and did an amazing job! Highly recommend!

This place is absolutely amazing! The drinks, the service, the atmosphere and the food is so freakin good! Highly recommend! We sat at the bar and it was great! Go at happy hour! More bang for your money! The outside area looked awesome!

Beautiful surroundings. We made reservations for 8 people at 5pm, brother-in-law's birthday. We ordered abalone bisque, Caesar salad, two appetizers, 8 entrees with various steaks or seafood with tasty sides. Service was excellent, Jennifer was really nice and helpful. Although we were full, we took advantage of dessert and the full bar.

Superb and yummy! Atmosphere and ambiance impeccable for date night and family dinner with teenagers but not younger kids. Our server Marissa was sweet and professional, and answered our questions on the menu with joy! She knows her job and she gave each table the same attention as if you are the only guests. First time but definitely will not be our last. Delicious food in a warm hospitality.

- Historical ambiance: Loved discovering the restaurant's story through the photo frames near the bathroom. - Unique settings: Each area had its own distinct vibe, making the experience special. - Staff experience: After our 12-hour drive from OR, the server's comment about our late arrival felt a bit off-putting. -Parking: There is a parking lot behind the restaurant! Very convenient! - Food quality: Though a bit pricey, every dish was delicious, especially the Sardine appetizer and the "world famous"abalone soup. - Anniversary treat: The free dessert for our anniversary was a sweet touch!

came here for dinner our first night in monterey, it was delicious. i got the chicken cutlet which was amazing, broccoli however could have been cooked more. my partner got the chicken alfredo which was also very good. our server, i don't remember her name, was so sweet and overall customer service was great! great view of the ocean if we would have come in a bit earlier when it was still light out, but overall great experience

Fantastic lunch with a great view. Coconut shrimp were amazing. We all enjoyed our meal and our sons blackened shrimp and chicken pasta was delicious.

This was our first night at Pacific Grove, we had been driving all day and didn't want to drive around looking for a restaurant and a parking space. Walking around gave us the chance to stop and consider menus and check out the area. In 15 minutes, we were plunged into a busy tourist area which was kind of a shock from quite Pacific Grove. Lalla Grilled Oceanside appealed to us, and we were fortunate to get a booth. They have an extensive menu. I decided on Chicken Cutlet. The server understood my need to avoid garlic, but warned that the breading already has garlic powder. We also ordered clam chowder and Lalla Style crab cakes. To my delight, after placing the order, the kitchen decided to make me a fresh chicken cutlet without any garlic – yay! For desert, we ordered key lime pie. The food was delicious, the booth comfortable, and the service was perfect. It was an enjoyable experience.

If you are in Monterey Bay and don't eat at the Montrio you will miss the best in town. It's definitely give stars quality modern American kitchen prepared by high class chef. We had crab cakes - the best ever. Duck breast was tender with delicious vegetables. Elegant inside with great atmosphere Excellent service. Everything was organic as I'm very sensitive and had zero digestive problems after. Plus, we were able to enjoy our dinner outside with our dog. ❤️

Calle Principal is the proverbial Silk Road connecting Monterey's resorts and working class districts to storied Cannery Row. Each one has its charms, but even the most charming ones still have their rough edges. Honestly, this keeps things interesting. Of course, Monterey is mercifully nothing at all like San Francisco, which has rough edges at nearly every turn, and can at times be a little too interesting. Sometimes, what one desires is peace and quiet; and despite the river of cars crawling along, Calle Principal remains comparatively calm and oddly reassuring. This leads us to Montrio, an elegant, if slightly twee, bistro that specializes in seafood. Occupying a building that appears as if it were once a carriage house, Montrio's tall windows allow soft, diffused light to smooth out even the roughest edges. It's a beautiful dining room, with inviting banquettes and cozy tables swathed in crisp, white tablecloths. My companion and I immediately felt welcome. We began with Lobster Bisque and French Onion soup, both of which were equally exquisite: the restrained refinement of the bisque contrasted by the appealingly sloppy onion soup. The bisque was rich, velvety and complex, and thankfully kept reminding me that actual lobster was in evidence. An edible ginkgo leaf was added as a garnish, and played nicely with the tomato, white wine and smoky paprika notes. Montrio's warm, comforting interpretation of this classic dish featured a deep, mysterious vermillion color that invited exploration. The French Onion soup featured a sharp cheese topping that, when opened, rewarded the diner with a round crust of bread toasted so perfectly, that it's crunch persisted against the deep, tangy, soup in which it was immersed. Montrio's flavor profile for their version of this soup emphasized the sweetness of its caramelized onions, whose crispness accompanied the suppleness of the soup. Our mains were equally exquisite: my companion ordered the Seared Scallops, and I chose the Cioppino. The scallops featured subtly charred edges and silky, substantial interiors, accompanied by the distinct and mildly astringent artichoke and grana padano notes. The only caveat here was the bed of risotto, which was slightly too glutinous where it should have been rich and pliable to the bite. But make no mistake: this main was sublime. The Cioppino delivered a wonderfully bold and piquant flavor redolent of the sea and its inhabitants. Served with the same, toasted sourdough bread as the onion soup, the broth met the moment with its own, saliferous tang; and the variety of shellfish and fish was sumptuous and satisfying. But here is where we at last encountered the aforementioned "rough edge": the dessert menu was uninspired and antiquated, relying too heavily on dessicated treats as bread pudding and creme brulée to round out the menu. Because I like to try as many items as possible, I chose the one thing that appeared unusual and was unfamiliar: Butterscotch Budino. Briefly, it was cloying. Its sum turned out to be much less than its parts. As an aside, there is a reason why dessert chefs in fine dining restaurants are worth the risk. They are an oasis of peace amidst the din of service; and if their Zen remove provides the right inspiration, their legacy sometimes results in a spectacular and memorable finish to a splendid meal. People may clamor for the swordfish, but secretly wish for the sweet work of art to rival Willie Wonka's wildest creations. But times for restaurants are difficult, and adding specialist staff and ingredients for their offerings can strain the bottom line, so perhaps it can be understood if dessert is an afterthought. That said, if dessert can't be done well, then don't offer it at all. Montrio exists in that liminal space in Monterey that still tries to reconcile its blue collar past with its soigné present. Montrio accomplishes this Sisyphean task remarkably, putting an intriguing spin on familiar recipes. Here's hoping they continue to evolve and experiment.

Sat at the bar for a dinner while on a work trip. Got the MP halibut that was chefs choice serving and the waiter told me what was in it but failed to mention a key ingredient. I ordered it and after two bites realized it has bacon or pork in the sauce and I DO NOT eat pork. I told the server and he sent it make and they made a fresh one. Flavor was great. Figured they would knock my drink off or offer free dessert for the inconvenience and nothing was accommodated. I even asked about meat being in other items before I ordered so it’s a failure in the server and kitchen for not noting that I’m telling me what I ordered. It was white table cloth and next to hotel, but for the price I was disappointed!

We ate here tonight and had the best meal of our trip to California so far. Our server was super friendly and helpful. Atmosphere amazing. Really nice wine too. Would 100% recommend.

Place has amazing vibes. The outside was great. My only issue was the Margherita Pizza. It looks great before I picked up my slice of pizza. The first half of the bread was wet and fell right off. The rest if the pizza and crust was amazing. My boyfriends pepperoni pizza was pretty solid compared to mine but still great.

What an amazing place. I would say top 5 restaurants in Monterey county. When it comes to their food, a very unique seasonal menu that gets updated every 3 months. With every seasonal menu we had nothing but an amazing experience. Eyes rolling, mouth watering exquisite journey type of an experience. Finally, a special thanks to the Chef for turning art into an amazing food and to Rachel for being the best waitress you can ever ask for. I can't recommend this place enough.

Out of the restaurants we've dined at over the years, I don't think I have ever had a better view while having a meal. The views of the Pacific Ocean from the outdoor deck are stunning. The food was solid, and the service was amazing. Located in the Monterey Plaza Hotel, this establishment is a must visit restaurant in Monterey.

One of the best restaurant experiences I’ve ever had - fantastic dinner and a show! Great service, an incredibly thoughtful and delicious menu, and the sea life viewing from the patio made dinner so wonderful! Easy five stars, and highly recommend to anyone!

Amazing restaurant with breathtaking views of the harbor. Easily accommodated our small group and fires up the patio heaters on a colder evening which made it perfect. Lots of great options for all palettes and diets. I was drawn to the scallops with a side of their Brussel Sprouts which were both superb! They had a variety of great dessert options but we were too stuffed and passed this time.