39 Best American Restaurants in Monterey

“Our visit to Stoke's Adobe last weekend produced the best meal I've had on The Peninsula in a decade! Restauranteur, Sarah Orr, has hit one out of the park. The dishes prepared by Executive Chef, Bryce Hansen, were flawless, my favorties being the seared scallops and truffle chicken. Loved the nod to former occupant and socialite, Hattie Gragg, with the inclusion of the Hattie's Old Fashioned on the cocktail menu :) Looking forward to our next visit and an opportunity to sample other items on their ever evolving menu.“

“I’ll offer a better than expected review. Our party of five went for Sunday brunch. 1/2 wait for an outdoor table. Excellent Southwest eggs Benedict; chicken fettuccini; fruit salad and Cinnamon toast special with eggs. Chocolate Oreo cake for dessert. Excellent service for a relaxing Sunday. Glad to return and recommend. Cheers!“

“This was the best restaurant I never ate in. Lemme explain. My superwonderul-one-in-a-million friend is in Monterey visiting her sister and bro-in-law there. (Actually they live in Chico, CA but they drove down to Monterey for the weekend.) So, says I, "Why not try Sardine Factory? (I live in Albuquerque, but hey, Diana is my superwonderul-one-in-a-million friend...oops, I already said that... and she is in CA, visiting from Albuquerque). So I called Sardine Factory and spoke to Mary and she took my credit card number and the rest is history. THANK YOU MARY! Diana, my friend, said it was a "10." "Staff was fantatic."in the Conservatory. "The waiter tied a bib" on her. The best meal I ever had... from 1,00 miles away. Mary, you are the sweetest person in the world! But Diana loved it, and that what matters the most. Oh, she had cioppino (see photo) and her sister had "delicious" seafood pasta and her bro in law had sea bass ("very good"). So Mary, and Sardine Factory, you made people very happy this evening. But that is what you do. God bless.“

“This place was magical from the second we walked through the turquoise-colored door with its old fashioned door knob. We had no reservation & we were coming from Fieldwork brewing (so my hubby really needed to eat). They had no spots available (reservations are nearly necessary here on Fri. & Sat. they informed us later). However, they promptly set up backyard heater & provided blankets for our quickly provided outdoor seating. We ordered 2 shots of mezcal (cause we were outside & it was kinda cold), which the manager informed us they only served the best ;) They sent out it a waitperson who informed us “I’ll be taking care of you tonight.” Which turned out to be true from the service to dinner/dessert recommendations, and packing up our leftover beans to take home. Eventually, they moved us inside because of a cancelation. And I haven’t even started on the carefully crafted cocktails & food. So meticulously crafted, and presented. I rarely favor restaurant food over my own cooking ability, but I can confidently say their food is way better than my own lol. Again, everything was beautiful, perfect, & delicious! Also, I’m thinking the line for coffee & morning eats at their sister bakery Alta can attest to amazing, soon to be Monterey culinary fixture. Thank you for the memorable night & dinner Cella! Cheers! And look forward to seeing you again.“

“I have found a legitimate broker who has helped me in so many ways in the aspect of forex & cryptocurrency. At first, I was really skeptical that it won't work but I still kept the faith going until I saw a recommendation about Mrs Craig Vanessa who changed my financial status from grass to grace. Once again I'm really grateful for your help and support towards me and my family in this tough time of the year. If you are looking for a change in your finances, then connect to Mrs. Craig Vanessa today on WhatsApp through Facebook via Mrs Craig Vanessa“

“My best friend and I came here to watch the World Cup and we showed up at 4pm because the game was at 5pm. We thought we were early but we were not! The bar seats were full and the seats by the TV were also full. We added our names to the waitlist just in case but the employee did tell us that the seats we would be assigned aren't near the TVs. The seats by the bar and behind the bar are free for grabs so thankfully we were able to sit down to watch the game! The food was delicious, and our server came and checked in on us multiple times. The servers have great attitudes and they treat the customers very well and considerately. If you are in Monterey during game seasons, please come visit here for an amazing experience!“

“The food was delicious and made to order. While the plates were a bit pricey, the quality of the food made it worth it. The service was also excellent, and the staff was very welcoming. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for breakfast. Thank you for a great dining experience!“

“Excellent curated dining experience. Will be a go to for us. Stellar food, beverage and service.“

“Amazing staff, bomb pizza, best place in Monterey for a wood fire pizza. Madison and her team go above and beyond. The owner runs a top tier restaurant and puts a lot of love into his food, the vibes, and level of service from the heart. Ian is the man!“

“Good food hood service. ✅✅“

“We were visiting on a golf trip and stopped in here for dinner. Absolutely excellent food with outstanding customer service! Thank you for making our first meal on our trip a fantastic one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“The food & service are both decent/good, like the staff & owner BUT I noticed this morning the cook uses his bare hands laying out raw bacon rubs his hands on his apron & then continues to touch everything else, definitely not hygienic and possibly making people sick!“

“We had a wonderful meal sitting with heaters overlooking the airport runway. Chef Tim Wood is a excellent cook, and all our food was fresh, and delicious. I highly recommend this unique restaurant to enjoy!“

“Bom atendimento, pratos rápidos e bem servidos.“

“I went there for lunch and I learned by surprise that the tavern has been there for almost 40 years! I always trust long-lasting business because they don’t survive for no reason!
I like their old-school burger. They have sesames on the buns which is very nostalgic for me. The server was very attentive and patient even though my English was not great.
I also watched the World Cup there. They have great TV and I really like how the server was watching together with us. Great atmosphere.“

“I have found a legitimate broker who has helped me in so many ways in the aspect of forex & cryptocurrency. At first, I was really skeptical that it won't work but I still kept the faith going until I saw a recommendation about Mrs Craig Vanessa who changed my financial status from grass to grace. Once again I'm really grateful for your help and support towards me and my family in this tough time of the year. If you are looking for a change in your finances, then connect to Mrs. Craig Vanessa today on WhatsApp through Facebook via Mrs Craig Vanessa“

“Took my wife and kids here on the night they launched a brand new menu, to celebrate our anniversary, and everything was fantastic. They seated us in a nice booth, which made managing our babies a lot easier. We ordered the fries, mac and cheese, mussels, bucatini, spinach ravioli, oysters, and bread pudding. Not one thing disappointed. The food alone would bring us back, but our server Armando is the reason we'll be telling everyone we know about this place. He was kind, attentive, and made our whole family feel genuinely welcome. If you want a mixed drink, tell him what you like and see what he comes up with. Do yourself a favor and check this place out.“

“Cool ambience, exceptionally nice service!���“

“Didn't know if I was supposed to see myself or wait for a host the one helped me about 3 minutes after I got there the food prepared was not exactly what the server wrote up disappointed by that but the food tastes and the folks were walking around to assist we're notice at people who are genuinely happy to be here the temperature is a little chilly inside the restaurant but it's a nice place to be“

“Who burned my tortilla chips???. LOL
absolutely delicious food. atmosphere could be a little more cheery, and I think that would have a lot to do with whoever Is handling the bar.. Definitely needs a little more love as far as customer service but overall this place has a lot of potential. EdithEsquire“

“Our first visit to Lalla Grill Del Monte and it was fabulous! The food was delicious. Our waiter Tino was friendly, professional, and on top of everything. Later we went to the bar. It was fully stocked and the bartender, Rae, was the bomb! Worth a visit if you are in the area! Highly recommend.“

“I have found a legitimate broker who has helped me in so many ways in the aspect of forex & cryptocurrency. At first, I was really skeptical that it won't work but I still kept the faith going until I saw a recommendation about Mrs Craig Vanessa who changed my financial status from grass to grace. Once again I'm really grateful for your help and support towards me and my family in this tough time of the year. If you are looking for a change in your finances, then connect to Mrs. Craig Vanessa today on WhatsApp through Facebook via Mrs Craig Vanessa“

“They have several vegetarian dishes. I got the Buddha's delight and it was very good. My husband got the kung pao tofu and said it was really good. The staff was very polite, friendly, and helpful--and the food came very fast. Nice place! We'll come again.“

“Great food, view and location. Friendly service right in the heart of Cannery Row.“

“We recently had the pleasure of working with Urban Kitchen for our wedding, and I truly cannot say enough good things about Rene and his team. From the very beginning, Rene was always available. No matter how many questions we had or when we called he answered the phone and made us feel like family. Rene’s communication and reliability meant everything to us.

What stood out most was how genuinely excited he was for our marriage and wedding day. It never felt like “just another event” from him. We could feel that he truly cared and wanted everything to be special for us.

The food was wonderful. The service was smooth and the entire experience helped take so much stress off our shoulders. We are incredibly grateful we chose Urban Kitchen for such an important day.

Thank you, Rene, for being a part of our story and helping make our wedding day memorable.
Victor and Lisa Marks“

“We walked in to give it a try on March 4th for a drink stayed till live band finished then went back the next night to have a drink and enjoyed it even more even though I was semi raining I'm glad I had my umbrella because we where at the outside patio under a warm warmer and a very nice fire I front of us. Drinks where delicious and we ment many people from different places. Let's not forget the live band that night. I can't wait to return not only for drinks but food because we had early dinner so next time and the service made us feel welcome.“

“really good service. and ggood food. 😁 breakfast pizza 🔥“

“The bartender was very nice. He let us know the kitchen was about to close, and to get our food orders in. The food was very yummy. The patty was smaller than I expected, but tasty and well cooked. My daughter loved the waffle fries, and husband liked the tots. We had a couple drinks, ate, it was a very chill lunch we enjoyed.“

“My wife and I came to visit Monterey for the weekend and stayed at the red lion on our second night. The urban kitchen is located on site at the hotel. The owner/host Renee was gracious and friendly. He went out of his way with service. Also the food was delicious enjoyed the artichoke enchilada and seafood soup!! Definitely recommend staying at the red lion and eating at the Urb. kitchen“

“It was lovely sitting next to a window on the water. You could watch the birds, otters and seals play. The food was delicious. They gave us a free coupon for fried calamari with a main dish, so we shared a mixed grill of seafood & Vegetables. Then we each ordered a bowl of clam chowder.“

“My husband and I spent several days last week visiting the Monterey Bay area and had several people recommend Lalla Grill Oceanside as a great place to dine. They were so right ... the food, the service, and the atmosphere were all top notch! Our server, Serena, was an absolutely delightful young lady and helped us order a selection of foods that were all amazing! The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water offered spectacular views. Next time we visit the area, there will definitely be a return trip to Lalla Grill!“

“I was greeted promptly as I entered the building.
I ordered a bourbon Burger and fries Togo.
The burger was good aside from slimy onions. A tomato with a green hard center...

This store should be more generous with the fries as there was a child's portion.

You only get five stars because I leave nothing less than five stars.“

“Thank you guys for letting me swap out my pasta for pizza! My burnt ends pizza (featured in photo) was delicious. I had tried the shrimp scampi and was not it for me. Our wonderful server Ben provided friendly service at the bar. Clean and lots of seating options. Thank you again!“

“Beautiful place love the aquarium and all their views ❤️“

“Happy with the experience. Ada friendly for a knee rover, good variety of food options, live music at night is actually enjoyable and tables in the back allow you to enjoy it without it being to loud where you can still have a conversation. Great location, one of the few places open late, and good casual solid dining for late night by the ocean. The halibut may be a standout but remember, it is a bottom feeder.

You are what you eat…..“

“My girlfriend and I have been here twice and everything we tried tasted amazing. The chef was willing to substitute mushrooms for meat on a pasta dish that ended up being my favorite entree I've ever had. They were also able to fit us in without a reservation both times. I only wish the menu was bigger, but it does change regularly.“

“We had a delicious meal and the service was excellent. I highly recommend the clam chowder. My NY Strip Steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and came out hot to the table. Our server, Colleen, was friendly and knowledgeable. She made a great meal even better!“

“Your online ordering is a horrible experience. Can't use my AARP card, can't make changes to orders that change the cost, the full menu is not available, and I have 36 characters for any special instructions. Seriously you can do better. Why do I need to fill all this information out on this form when I'm logged in and you have this info already? In a busy staff at the restaurant have to constantly answer the phone because of all the shortcomings with your website and application. I spend a LOT of money at Denny's and the feedback form on your application doesn't work“