Plu and Ray are the best team. We always asked for them by name. They always go above and beyond for us and we always Javier the Chef took care of us too. read more

We just needed a quick bite after checking in before going into the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The waitress was kind enough to get our orders fast cause we were on a timed schedule. I had a cup of the clam chowder. Was more like a blend of corn chowder and clam chowder. I liked either way. Chunky and creamy good. The shredded pork wrap was a nice addition to my soup. It comes with 2 wraps, which really made up to 4. Super friendly service. Quick to come out and nice portions. read more

Jacks Monterey - Cup of clam chowder - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

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Fabulous dining (and breakfast options) and absolutely fantastic staff! We stayed at the Portola and had a few meals there (myself and my two girls 4, 6)! This restaurant and overall hotel staff will be a reason we return! read more

Decided to try this place since it was located in the hotel that we went to, and I was pleasantly surprised. We got the calamari, penne pasta, and salmon panini. Needless to say, they did not disappoint! I would definitely come back here again. read more

I wasn't sure how this was going to go because they have new management. But I had my birthday celebration here last night on a warm October evening. It was a hotter than usual day and it was just a lovely night by the outdoor fire pits. We met for drinks and appetizers before dinner and listened to live music. Our server was very good and knew how to handle a large crowd. If you haven't been here for the live music on Friday evenings it is a perfect spot for a date or just gather around the fire pit with friends or coworkers! Our server treated everyone great, and there was some in my group who didn't order food because they were on a diet or had a budget. We moved inside for our reservations and we were lucky because they kept the same server so we didn't have to pay our bill before we moved inside. We were a large group with different tastes and the server just didn't miss a beat at all. Management: Jacob is an asset to the restaurant! As far as the food experience, they have an appetizer selection with drinks for the outdoor patio and they brought out extra plates when I ordered a hummus plate. This place was made for sharing and they love to bring extra plates. No split plate fees! I don't drink alcohol anymore but my friends loved the cocktails and mocktails that they had. Inside for dinner, we ordered everything from burgers to short ribs to scallops and again, some of my party chose not to order much but was still treated great. Everyone like their food, most people noticed the sweet potato tater tots that a friend had. I would recommend this place for a casual night out or dining. read more

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Came here late on a Saturday night and ordered the $30 Margarita. It was pretty good, worth the stop for a drink? Maybe not for $30 but seemed like a comfortable place. read more

Jacks Monterey - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

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Like others have said...Jack's Monterey has REALLY went downhill. It's amazing the price they charge for a simple meal. Upward of $60 for a steak? Come on guys. The food tastes awful now, and there was NO ONE in this place on a Saturday night. ZERO. That's very telling. On top of it, our waiter screwed up royally my wife's order (she ordered a burger and ended up with fish somehow!) and THEN made my poor wife wait 45 minutes to make the burger. I asked the waiter and if he could make an adjustment on the bill for HIS mistake and he said no! Just all bad. Bad business and its really starting to show here on yelp. read more

Stayed at the Portola Hotel and Spa this past weekend and Jack's is located right inside their hotel. Very nice setting and ambiance. They're located right in the lobby and they have a lot of seating options. They also have a bar with a good variety of cocktails and wines. Very nice and accommodating staff. I ordered some food to take back up to my room but they let me sit and sip on some Riesling while I was waiting. I ordered the salmon and the gnocchi appetizer. Their servings are huge! The gnocchi appetizer could have been a meal on its own. Both dishes very tasty and the salmon was cooked very well. Super moist and flavorful. I did wish they had a bit more variety of food choices but overall, had a great experience. read more

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Review is for take out. We stayed at the Portola and wanted room service. Alas because of Covid no room service. So we opted to get Jacks, quick and easy. They can bill to your room and it will take 20m. I waited 25m no call to tell me it was ready as promised. So I called and they said it would be 5min so I went down to get it. Fast forward another 20m to when my food was finally really. So it took 2x as long as they said it would. Burger, great flavor no complaints. However no condiments were included. Sweet potato fires, cold, clearly had been sitting waiting for another part of the order. No condiments. Calamari, would have been good but alas no condiments/dipping sauce as advertised, so it was dry and fairly flavorless. Nice crisp to it though. Overall I think had we eaten there our experience would have been way better but take out was a disappointment. read more

We had the gnocchi and the prawn scampi, chicken strips and the warm sourdough bread. The food is good. The gnocchi had blue cheese so it's a little different but still good. Both entrees just needed Parmesan but overall it was good. They also make good martinis and have great service. I like how the also validate parking. read more

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Sarah the Hostess was fantastic. She went out of her way to help us, she was very friendly, and made excellent recommendations. She made our stay brighter. read more

We were staying at the hotel so it was very convenient to step into... the ambience is nice and comfortable and has a few TVs in the bar area. The staff was nice and prompt with the service. The clam chowder was incredible and filling The chocolate cake was sub par and wasn't worth it at all- you can skip it! read more

I'm a huge fan of clam chowder and theirs is the best I've ever had! Really creamy, lots of bacon and I think it has artichokes in it as well. 10/10. read more

Service was polite. One waiter who brought us our mimosa's suggested bottomless as it was cheaper. It was so beautiful inside and slightly too quite. However there was kids and dogs and no chaos. read more

Pricey food with mediocre tastes. Convenience of it being open later than most restaurants. Staff are very nice and helpful.

I've been a local patron to Jack's for years, but it's time to give it a break until they figure out if just what they want to be... and they are definitely having an identity crisis - barroom or upscale eatery. The bar is a great place to grab a drink, and the staff are friendly and service oriented. However, I have seen repeated instances of people getting drunk and loudmouth at the bar, i.e. "F... this and F... that...and mutherf...er this and that. They just don't nip that stuff in the bud; rather, they just refuse to serve and wait until the person leaves. Maybe it's because the person is likely a hotel guest, but what difference does that make? I was in last week and ordered the scampi and a drink - both were just right. But the guy at the far end of the bar was drunk and cussing up a storm and, other then declining to serve him, didn't do a THING to remove him. So the rest of us had to sit and listen to him. It ain't cheap at Jack's. My scampi and drink came to around $75.00 with a tip, and it was wasted money because my meal was ruined by the stress of listening to this drunk. And it wasn't just an isolated occurrence - I've seen staff behave like this again and again, as if other customers are just supposed to tolerate the ruined atmosphere listening to a drunk cussing out the world. Ironically, if it was a sawdust floor barroom, there would have been a security beast at the door who would have ejected the offensive patron in a heartbeat. read more

Came here with my kids coz I saw an advertisement for the restaurant's 6th year anniversary and they we're giving away free appetizer and drinks. Arrived almost 6pm and we got seated within 10 mins coz we had reservation. While waking towards our table the waiter dropped some glasses on the floor and barely missed us. We placed our orders and while waiting for our food I asked the host about the advertisement and he said they were only doing it for an hour from 4:30-5:30pm so we missed it. No big deal because we came here to eat dinner anyway. Food arrived and to our dismay the burger and pizza tasted burnt and the chowder was bland. There were 4 servers standing around and talking to each other and none of them saw me waving to get their attention and even the host who was looking bored with his hand on his chin. It took over 5 mins before someone came over to see what we need. Mind you, there were only about 5 tables occupied so they weren't that busy. Disappointed with the food and even more for the terrible customer service and not worth the $200 we spent. read more

Jacks Monterey - Screenshot of the advertisement - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

First time eating at this restaurant and will never be back. My family and I went for breakfast; had the very few choices to choose from but all said and done the food came out decent. The staff on the other hand.. horrible! The hosts was rude, not at all welcoming. We were waiting for 10-15 minutes to just get a drink order in. The waitress we were supposed to have came by 3x maybe(that's including taking drink and food order) showed no hospitality, forgot items, didn't do anything about the items we didn't like. My family and I love food and eat at all sorts of places and this was the worst service I've ever had. read more

This was our second time visiting this establishment. The last time we visited we sat next to the fire feature and the service was "ok" but tonight we showed up and sat near fireplace only to sit for 12 minutes and never be acknowledged by the staff. With so many workers walking around I'm surprised we couldn't have had someone at least acknowledge us and at least say "will be right with you"... Whatever .... This is my second time visiting and I'll likely never return..... read more

Ambiance was great. Beautifully decorated. Nice fire by the lounging bar area. Bar and fire place were open seating. We got a spot by the fire place. It was great. Had some menus and just wanted to get a few holiday cocktails. We waiting patiently and nothing. Servers walked by and no one acknowledged us. My husband and I went to the bar to order there. There was one bar tender. We waiting for another 10 min. Just standing trying to make eye contact with anyone. After a total of 20 min of no acknowledgement or a "I'll be right with you" we left. They missed out on an easy $200. Overall the drinks looked great if you could get one. Service gets a 0. Not enough staff, overworked and not friendly enough for us to wait. read more

We love staying at Portola whenever we are planning a trip to Monterey. This was our first time at Jacks and I know it wont be our last! For appetizers we ordered 2 Shells and Crab cakes. Single serving crab cake was meh, could probbly do without next time considering it was one cake for $17. The 2 shells was AMAZING. Def would order again. Main dish we shared the 26oz ribeye w cheesy sides omg. Soooo good. Enough to share between the two of us. Highly recommend!! Steak was perfectly medium rare, hats off to the chef! Cant wait to go back!!! read more

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I'm staying in the hotel this weekend and decided to eat in tonight. This restaurant had the most amazing staff! Very kind and courteous. I was checked on by my server, the manager (I'm assuming she's a manager), and another floater. The food was good, served pretty quickly, and very tasty. I highly recommend. read more

Jacks Monterey - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

I had perused their dessert menu when walking past this establishment the previous day. I decided to stop in here for dessert after exploring Monterey and getting dinner there. Restaurant was maybe 1/4th full. I immediately ordered the apple crisp and a beer. I honestly got confused as to who my server was because it seemed like the hostess ended up taking my order, but a different lady brought me my food. The apple crisp was mediocre at best. It wasn't very crispy at all, more flaky really. Also annoying was the serving dish provided. Clearly whoever plated it is not aware of Archimedes' principle of displacement. It was filled to the brim. Any pressure when trying to scoop the ice cream resulted in my flaky crisps falling over the edge. I waited for about 15 minutes to get my check. I stand up and look back at the hostess and server who gave me my food for about 30 seconds while they're just socializing. No response. I wait a few more minutes. I look back again for about 30 more seconds. Staff is still socializing and ignores me. I end up having to flag down a different server who was happy to help. But honestly he shouldn't be doing his co-workers job. If only their other staff actually showed some respect for their patrons. I definitely will not be dining here ever again. read more

Jacks Monterey - Apple crisp - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

Enjoyed a nice pre Marathon dinner. The Diver Scallops and mushrooms were delicious, accompanied by a nice glass of wine. It's funny, but the bread made my meal, though I had to request it and was charged for it :) My fellow marathoners all seemed to enjoy their dinners, too. Everyone ordered something different, so nice to see excellence across the menu read more

Jacks Monterey - Diver scallops with assorted mushrooms - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

I stayed at the hotel for the weekend and was looking for a close brunch, the concierge recommended Jacks, I'm glad she did! The restaurant sits basically in the heart of the hotel lobby which is fun for people watching and a nice atmosphere as they had live music playing when we were eating. My boyfriend and I each got a beverage, he got the filet mignon sandwich and I got the chicken and waffles.. we both agree that it was the best of each item we've ever had! Our waiter Samantha was attentive and funny. We'll definitely be back! read more

Jacks Monterey - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

We've all heard of the silver lining in the cloud and I may have just found mine at Jacks Monterey. A few years ago, I discovered taking a slight detour and stopping by the Monterey/Carmel area on the way back from SLO was the perfect break on the drive back on Mondays as we get to stop for dinner at a place that is a destination in itself and we avoid the South Bay commute traffic by the time we roll through. We usually stop by Carmel but this time because we originally planned on stopping by Ghirardelli to get a sundae for dessert, we had to find a dinner spot in Monterey instead. Second time that Yelp came through for us as I found that Jacks Monterey recently reopened with a new menu and theme. Since we were not all that hungry and wanted to save some room for that sundae, I loved that they had solo and share portions on their menu. Upon arrival into the Portola Hotel, I really liked that their restaurant felt like you are sitting outside with the trees and the glass ceilings vs. next to a hotel lobby. But I immediately was drawn to the lounge area with the modernized fireplace. So we asked if we could order off the restaurant menu at the lounge which they said we could. It was perfect as we didn't want to go into a food coma for the drive back and they wouldn't blink twice that we are just ordering 1 starter and 1 entrée to share at their lounge area. We got the mango mule and raspberry basil lemonade from their zero proof section and split the solo portions of both the veal cheeks appetizer and Monterey Bay Salmon served with shitake mushrooms and vermicelli noodles. The salmon portion was so flavorful and a decent portion while the veal cheeks although looks small were tender but leaning towards the heavier side. All in all, it will satisfy you without filling you up that I wasn't even too upset that Ghirardelli had closed before their posted hours on Yelp. read more

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Atmosphere = 4 Food = 3 We had high hopes until the waiter never brought my husband's drink. We are still waiting. After we cancelled it because it was never coming, I saw the bartender bringing in the whole fruit to cut up for it. This is a relatively new restaurant so I get it - there is a learning curve. Especially with service. The food was okay, I'd rather have Trader Joe's frozen gnocchi but my husband rated his burger a 6 out of 10. As my husband pointed out, I have to say what's wrong and how to fix. My suggestion is for the restaurant to be ready to serve all their menu items upon opening. And to step up their service. We waited over 15 minutes to pay and the restaurant is empty. I know this sounds harsh, but so many wrongs add up. We'd never return but I'm sure tourists will be at least satisfied with the food. read more

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Safety protocols were not followed by any of the bartenders. None were wearing masks despite the mandate at the time we visited. Did not feel safe at all. Worst of all, everything was overpriced for less than average food and drinks. Cocktails were very watered down and not worth the steep price or safety risk. The best thing about this place is the location and the cute seating. read more

Unfortunately, I didn't write a review of my first experience here which was a 4-star experience across the board. Unfortunately, it's dropped a star since my last visit. We were here over Memorial weekend and were excited to get the same great food and service but were left disappointed. This time, we had our little dog, Jax and the ONLY place they could sit us was one table that was awkwardly placed in the lobby between the front door of the restaurant and the elevators. I asked the host why there's so many seats out in the main lobby area but dogs can't go there even though it's a public space and she just said we couldn't. It felt terrible overall; as if we were peasants made to eat in the back kitchen near the bathroom or something - sounds dramatic, but that's what it felt like. With all the lobby seating, that table is literally the only one that allows dogs?? It was really awkward and embarrassing. The only "good" thing about that was Jax was dressed up in an argyle sweater so everyone waiting for the elevators came up to say how cute he was (including a homeless looking lady who came up to us during dinner). Again, not a great location. I always wondered why this table was there cause I never saw anyone at it and now I know why. Our first time here in Sept for our anniversary, the food was AMAZING. Everything we ordered was incredible, but this time, they fell short across the board. The bread in the sizzling pan was barely warm. Did not melt in my mouth like the first time; tasted like a plain old roll; we barely touched it (ate 1 roll out of 4). I ordered the filet mignon and my husband ordered the NY strip; both medium. His came out looking right with pink in it. Mine was brown and well done. Normally, I would bring this to their attention so they could fix it but I was so exhausted from a full day out that I wanted to just get dinner over with and go back to the room. I just took pics of the food so I can review it later on Yelp and share my feedback that way. Overall, I feel things have gone downhill since we've been here. The food was not good quality and not cooked right, the waitress was fine, I didn't care for the hostest, but the service was no where near as good as it was the first time here in September, and then the overall feel of being hidden around the corner, was the ultimate low feeling. I feel like Management should try eating a nice dinner there to see how it feels so the can empathize with their customers a bit more. read more

Jacks Monterey - We both ordered our steaks medium. The top is hubby's made right. Bottom is mine, which was well done. - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

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Nailed it!!!! Took a drive to Monterey. Decided to check out the newly remodeled Portola hotel. It is now an opened and inviting place to walk into and Jacks now has its dining area out in the middle of the hotel. Absolutely inviting. Our waiter was very attentive. Our food was great. My husband wasn't too impressed with the sauce on his chicken, but, other than that, it was fine. The prices seem to be accurate for the amount of food you get. The dessert was amazing. We were sat fairly quick. I would highly recommend Jacks to anyone visiting. read more

Jacks Monterey - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

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Newly remodeled restaurant inside the Portola Hotel. Gorgeous indoor atrium seating, bar, fire place and outdoor seating as well. Lots of indoor seating and a small shaded patio outside. My friend and I sat outside for lunch and our waitress was super sweet and attentive. We ordered the calamari and fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. The calamari was fried with tempura batter and came with two awesome sauces, definitely recommend it! The fried green tomatoes were a little bland, but the relish on top was very good. I had the grains and green salad which I enjoyed very much. My friend had the swordfish blt which she liked a lot. But the cocktails are the real star here! I loved the Tuyet's Elixir, it's an especially good deal if you get it to share or do the group effort option. I also got one of their Zero proof (non alcoholic) drinks, the mango mule, and added vodka to it. It was delicious! I had a sip of my friends Jackberry cocktail and that was really good too. I will definitely be back to try more of their cocktails! read more

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Amazing food and amazing wait staff! Jaime and Santiago were especially kind and made our experience even better!

Overpriced and underwhelmed to serve you. Cool ambiance but terrible service which make the prices not worth it. Won't be back!

This restaurant is conveniently located right next to the Portola Hotel & Spa lobby. I came here for a quick dinner and ordered the Pacific Salmon ($16) and the Ginger Peach Iced Tea ($5). The salmon had a nice, sweet crispy skin that was cooked perfectly, but the vermicelli that the salmon was paired with was too salty. The vermicelli and hoisin vegetables was doused in whatever sauce they used to season it, and it tasted like it was sitting in the sauce for far too long. This was definitely an Asian inspired dish, but there's a reason why most Asian places serve salty dishes with rice! It's a nice spot to have dinner, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here if I wasn't already staying at the hotel. read more

Jacks Monterey - Pacific Salmon - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

Stopped by here the other night to grab a couple drinks before dinner. Nice looking bar! I enjoy the open atmosphere and how spacious it was however, I wasn't impressed with the service or drinks I had. Staff seemed annoyed by me when I declined the food menu and only opted for a drink. The bartender wasn't very friendly either. She didn't make eye contact, give a warm greeting or anything. I just got a weird vibe from her to be honest! Maybe they just get annoyed at people stopping by here asking if its happy hour and thinking that it's Peter B's! No clue, either way...bring your own bottle and drink it in the hotel room or stop by any of the other restaurants right down the block. I closed out after 2 drinks because I didn't feel welcome. 2 stars for the nice venue, but that's it! Final Piece of Dirty Donovan Life Advice? $33 for a watered down Jameson/Ginger Ale & a Manhattan is way overpriced for the area. read more

Just had an outstanding meal at Jack's Monterey. Apps were incredible. Recommend the iron skillet rolls and the veal cheeks. The butter lettuce salad was beautiful and tasted fresh from the garden. I had the goat moussaka - pure comfort! I also really liked their options on the "zero proof" / non alcoholic cocktails. Wish they offered a flight so I could try them all or maybe just 3-4. Will definitely be back to check out the the rest of the menu. Service was great. The acoustics are a little loud because of the high ceilings, but I liked the natural light and all the views to the outside. read more

Came in for lunch and tried the mushroom risotto with a Caesar salad. Both were fantastic. The mushrooms were diverse, fresh, and earthy, rice perfectly cooked and just creamy enough. The Caesar salad was large with fresh anchovies for added umami and saltiness. The restaurant is beautiful and enclosed with live trees and comfortable chairs. The bar stocks my favorite gin, Bummer & Lazurus so I'll be back again for cocktails. My server Samantha was fantastic. Very attentive and knowledgeable. I can see myself coming back weekly to try the rest of the menu. read more

We came here for dinner on a Tuesday. It was quite empty here. The restaurant is located in the hotel. There was no sign, so it was a bit of a scavenger hunt to find the hotel. The design of the restaurant is great. You can eat under the tree indoor. Service was great. Waitress was very friendly and attentive. Food.....I was disappointed. We got the artichoke roll baked on a cast iron pan (a cheese dip with bread rolls), the bread was great, dip was too rich and creamy. Too thick. Also got the veal cheek. Disappointed. The meat DOSE melt in your mouth, super tender, but the sauce.... too much starch, and the flavor was weird. Feels like they were trying to cover something. Would be great with maybe just balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Also got scallop three way, that's good. Shrimp and grit, like the grit which is very flavorful, but the rest...too salty. read more

Jacks Monterey - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

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We stayed at the Portola Hotel, and on our last night decided to eat at Jack's, the hotel restaurant. Menu is very limited - surprised to see no pork or chicken entrees (other than a chicken sandwich) - just scampi, salmon and three "steak"options. We shared a Caesar Salad, which was ample for two and nicely presented. We followed that with Monterey Bay Salmon and the New York Steak. Salmon was good, but the New York Steak was very disappointing. Frankly, it was no better than a shrink wrapped steak from the grocery store - something I would expect from Sizzler. If you want to be recognized as a fine-dining establishment, you had better age your steaks and be more selective of your cuts. The potatoes and asparagus that accompanied the steak were very good. Added to the mixed review of food was the fact that housekeeping/maintenance wheeled trolleys across the tile floor adjacent to the restaurant (and in close proximity to our table) throughout our dinner experience, which was very noisy and disruptive. We might as well have been eating in a mall cafeteria. So overall, there is room for improvement if Jack's wants to consider themselves a fine dining experience. Disappointing considering it was our last night in Monterey. read more

Fantastic spot to have a drink, unwind, and relax. Drinks are delicious and strong, customer service is superb, and the food is delicious (I ordered the Clam Chowder and a Skillet Roll). I highly recommended this place! read more

Jacks Monterey - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California