40 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 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“

“We had brunch for 10 and the staff was very helpful in arranging for seating us in their cozy restaurant without a reservation. The service was attentive and all of the many different meals were great. I had the salmon Benedict- delicious!“

“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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Generally quite good. Atmosphere was pleasant and relaxing. Service was quick and accurate.I had the meatball sandwich with sweet potato fries for lunch. Lots of favorable meatballs, cheese and the marinara sauce was interesting without being too hot as many are now. Sweet Potato fries were not overcooked or over salted.

Almost empty for lunch but I expect that they bring in a good dinner crowd with all of the beer selections. I did not try any.

Only two negatives. The iced tea was off. It had a heavy taste as if the water had too many minerals. And the prices are just a bit too high. There are meals as good in the same area for less.

But I will go back. The pleasant, relaxing almost empty atmosphere will sometimes be worth the extra money!“

“Nothing fussy, just real food for real people. No Paleo adjacent avocado quinoa salads.
Cozy, pleasant. Kind of on the small side, which is good for me. Quiet, too.
The waitress was really nice, food came out quickly, and it was hot.
Only issue is, the fried potatoes aren't deep fried. So, know that if you want crispy potatoes, get the hash browns.“

“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.“

“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!“

“I had a late breakfast here the other day, and it was exactly what I had in mind. The food was absolutely delicious! They ensured that I had everything I needed, and my coffee mug was always full.

I’m not a picky person when it comes to interior or exterior design, or even the type of music is playing. I only care about the food and service, and they did great 5/5!“

“Oh Alvarado Street Brewery, I love you. This is my favorite brewery at the moment, I enjoy most of their beer offerings. The patio out back is nice and they have a TV with the game on but it can be difficult to get a spot. The wait isn't completely terrible, for dinner we managed to get seated fairly quickly and for lunch we sat at the bar. I had their beet salad and split a pizza with my brother. The beet salad was great and the pizza was OK. For dinner it was packed and a little loud so it was kind of difficult to talk. We ended up coming back the next day after golf for some beers and their burger which was delicious. Great spot if you enjoy their beers.“

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

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

“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.“

“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“

“Here on Vacation and had a great visit the service was amazing and the food was so good. I loved this place in Roseville but they closed it so it was glad to have it again. yum 10/10“

“Bom atendimento, pratos rápidos e bem servidos.“

“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.“

“This place was recommended to me from a new friend. The food is absolutely amazing! I got the BB (a bacon blu burger) rare. It came out rare and so juicy! My husband got the Philly Cheese Steak also so delicious! We had forgotten to ask for our appetizer but the bar tender was more then happy to bring it to us after we got our food. The drinks atmosphere and food is a perfect balance. I highly recommend this place.“

“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“

“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“

“Absolutely fantastic! Full Moon is just the spot that Alvarado Street needs. The menu was loaded with classic and traditional dishes. We found ourselves enjoying a bowl of hot and sour soup with a side of spicy sauce wantons! It went perfect with a few cups of green tea. To bring everything together we had the Szechuan scallops. Can't get enough of there wood ear mushrooms. 🍄 The service was very professional and we felt cared for throughout our meal. Will be returning soon to try more extravagant dishes.“

“Wandered in around 11:30 on Saturday before they got busy, so we were seated immediately and didn't wait long for food. They do have entrees at multiple price points, so that's helpful, and portions are reasonable.

The fries came out hot and crispy but needed a hit of salt. The fish and chips cost more than I'd like but you at least get two big fillets, the breading is robust and crispy, and the fish inside is flaky and moist, so no complaints about the quality.“

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

“Stays on message: no straws or throwaway plastics that would end up in the ocean. Burger was overcooked but food was otherwise pretty good. Staff was helpful and pleasant. Prices are on the expensive side but not outrageous, given the absence of tipping.“

“Urban Kitchen Hospitality was such a pleasure to work with. Rene and his team did an amazing job on a catered event for 350 people. They are professional, very customer friendly and easy to work with. I highly recommend Urban Kitchen Hospitality for your next event. Bree Osborne, Marketing Manager - City of Santee, CA“

“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!“

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

“My small family of three knew we had to get seafood while at the coast—and we wanted crab. Well, we got THE CRAB at this fine establishment.

We started with the crab cake, and it was quality with a capital Q. I noticed some reviewers mentioning the price-to-quantity ratio, but it seems they don't appreciate quality over quantity. We had the chance to order a pound of snow crab legs, and they were so perfectly seasoned and moist that the side of butter felt almost unnecessary. Truly delicious.

The cherry on top? Happy hour drinks.

Will definitely recommend to any crab lover.“

“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“

“I always love stopping at California Pizza Kitchen in Monterey whenever I’m in the area. Their Hawaiian pizza is absolutely amazing—the crust is perfect, and the ingredients are always fresh and delicious. They also have a wide selection of drinks, and their pastas and salads are just as incredible.

One of my favorite things is their lunch special—pizza and a salad combo. It’s such a great deal and never disappoints. The service is truly wonderful; everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Daniella, Amelia, and the busser Juan are absolutely amazing and always make you feel right at home.

I would highly recommend California Pizza Kitchen in Monterey to anyone looking for great food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere. 🍕✨“

“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.“

“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“

“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!“

“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.“