No question the service was top rate. Our waiter, John, and his support were humorous, amiable and extremely professional from the moment we walked through the door from the monsoon outside, to the moment we disappeared back into the rain. The ambience is equally warm, welcoming and very clean. Despite the number of fellow-diners, the noise was not too bad and we didn't have to shout at each other as we do in many other restaurants. However, we were disappointed in "some" of the food and the prices. We ordered the $75 sole expecting something exceptional. It was good, well presented with some personal touches by John (awesome waiter) as he de-boned the fish and spread the sauce. But it was just fish, with no veggies or accompaniments. Very hard to imagine how they can justify a single sole at that price. We had to return the beet salad as it was so over-salted. Our complaint was, however, greeted with the utmost grace and they gave us an "adequate" replacement. The Moules dish was excellent as was the Chicken Parm. Having reviewed the place before we went, as well as noting the prices, we were expecting an exceptional feast. We were disappointed overall in the food quality which certainly did not meet the expectations one would anticipate for such prices. $30 corkage is very high, especially as many communities, such as Napa, offer lower fees to locals. And that is limited to one bottle, after which you have to buy bottles of theirs. read more

Tried for the first time. So glad we did! Imaginative menu, delicious. Fun to observe the open kitchen. Energetic play list. We shared Caesar salad (romaine and kale -- delicious), crab cake with remoulade and little gem lettuce leaves to wrap, shaped pasta and chanterelles, grilled Romano beans. Banana pudding for dessert. Everything was yummy. Both of us thought it was just on the edge to too much salt - notable but not objectionable enough to send back. I might mention that in advance if we go back. Staff made good wine recommendations. read more

My wife and I went here for our anniversary and they sat us at the chefs table. The service here was incredible, friendly and helpful. Our waiter guided us through the menu and recommended dishes and wines for us to choose from. The food was fresh and the wine was delicious. We got world class service, food and wine for our anniversary. This is easily one of my favorite restaurants to go to now. If the reservation on tock and the deposits you have to place is what's holding you back, don't let it! It'll be debited to your account. read more

See all

We went for dinner last night. Nicely decorated, ambience was food. We were seated right away even though we dud not have reservations. They charge for everything, even the bread! Limited wine menu (by the glass) and only one beer option. We ordered appetizers to get a feel fir the quality of the food, but the server was insistent that we order the entire meal at once, which we chose not to as it was a little off putting. We ordered raw oysters. They were 6 for $30. They were fresh and tasty. We also got the beet salad ($15) and the halibut crudo ($20) Both were good, nothing special. Small portions for the price. Decided not to have dinner there and went to Cannery Row for dinner. Probably will not return. read more

We selected Maligne after looking at a few other spots in the Monterey area. Made a reservation a couple of weeks before not sure the wait if you were to go the same day. We started with asking about wines, got a great Chardonnay from the Russian River valley. Both servers were knowledgeable on their wine list. Appetizers were great. Had the oysters and crab cake, unfortunately wanted to get the bread but they were low and reserving it for another dish. Oysters were very good and crab cake was crispy and served with lettuce. Meals were had the Steak and Frites and the Cioppino. Both very good, steak was cooked perfectly, the fries could have been a bit crispier. Cioppino was good but missed the bread to soak up the stew. Very good overall and a must try! The overall feel of the restaurant is like you're walking into your friend's house for dinner, open kitchen, welcoming staff. read more

We had an excellent meal at Maligne. We shared a few of the appetizers and each had our own main course, then shared the two desserts on the menu. Everyone was very enthusiastic about their meal. Many of the items on the menu were not familiar and the waiter described them perfectly. The deviled eggs with caviar trout roe was delicious and beautiful. The milk bread with beef salt was soft and sweet and the beef part was on the side for our pescatarian friend. The crab salad was light and sweet. We brought our own wine. There is an excellent wine list, but the bottles are pricey. Our designated driver had their sage non-alcoholic beverage with cilantro and cardamom and enjoyed it. This is an excellent option for a fine meal and there is actually street parking right in front! read more

This is a small and intimate restaurant setting and I would recommend making a reservation. The service was attentive but I was a bit underwhelmed by the food. It was "good" but not as outstanding as I had heard about. The lamb chops had good flavor, but the plating was super sloppy looking, and dish lacked balance. There was nothing to break up the fatty and rich umami flavor of the lamb. It was served on the rare side of medium rare if that matters to you. I wasn't asked if that was ok, and that's just how it came. My husband had the cheeseburger, and it was also "good", but not sure it was worth the price. It was dripping with beef fat, and once again, lacked any acid or accompanying side to balance out the richness. Our favorite dish was probably the broccolini Caesar which was described as a "light starter salad" which was a bit inaccurate. The broccoli was grilled, giving it a nice smoky flavor, and had high quality Parmesan cheese on it. It was more of a hearty side instead of a "light" starter salad. The short rib seemed popular and we saw a few orders being delivered. It looked like a monster and was topped with a cream sauce, so I can only guess how super rich that dish would be. If rich and hearty meat is your preferred style of food, I would say give it a try. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it like I was hoping I would. read more

Superb food and excellent service. The Caesar's was very tasty and different with the addition of a bit of kale. It was excellently prepared. My halibut was outstanding! A nice portion and cooked to perfection on a bed of delicious charred veggies. We rarely give out 5 stars and this is a high recommend. read more

Awesome oysters!! Excellent service and cozy place!! Highly recommend for romantic evening.

Maligne is a wonderful addition to the Seaside food scene. It's been such a wonderful experience every time I've been, which is starting to rack up. I bring my out of town guests and got with local friends often. read more

Love Maligne! I've been there for their Sunday brunch and their breakfasts are incredible. I definitely need to come back for dinner service. read more

Maligne had become one of our favorite dining experiences - the food is exceptional, service fantastic (especially Jessie!) and has such a cool vibe! Love this hidden gem! read more

My wife and I couldn't wait to try this new restaurant. They require a deposit to keep a reservation and the ambiance is beautiful. Unfortunately the food is tasteless and misguided. The appetizer was so small and lacked love that the chef didn't know how to treat raw fish or didn't care. The main dishes of tuna collar and "shank" were something out of a nightmare. It might seem like a clever idea to serve a tuna collar with fins but it reminds me of a reason to not eat animals. The fish was hard to eat due to the bones, was dry and lacked flavor. The cilantro on top was full of stems and sloppy. Hardly worth the cost and an embarrassment to eat in front of others let alone share. The "shank" was like blood pudding or something but hardly a good piece of meat and very small. It was so small in fact that you wondered where the meal is. We wanted to make the most out of this meal with new friends and I'm sad to say we all walked away saying it wasn't worth the cost. The service was excellent and friendly but watch out for the automatic 20% gratuity on your bill as it's hard to miss and easy to double tip. read more

Maligne - A "shank" - New American Near Me - Seaside, California

See all

The decor and ambience of Maligne is lovely. At lunch yesterday our Stracciatella starter was very nice, an heirloom tomato on a bed of very light Ricotta cheese, but for 1 tomato, $24 seemed a bit excessively priced. My entree of BBQ's sweetbreads was totally inedible, undercooked and so tough, that I could barely cut through an end to get a taste. I ended up taking it home to finish cooking it myself. Our server, Avery, was so attentive that I simply didn't have the heart to complain, which was a big mistake on my part. The kitchen should have been made aware of how badly the sweetbreads was prepared. So, at $100 for 3 items and no beverage, despite a Michelin recommendation, it's doubtful that I'll return. read more

Sooo disappointed! Being a local foodie, I would not recommend or ever go back to this restaurant. It was extremely loud, smoky ,and poorly ventilated. Our table of four had the little gem salad(which was delicious)the roasted chicken, prawns (which were farmed and overcooked and almost impossible to get out of their shells), and the branzino. (it was cooked well, but very salty )No sides, expensive and not impressive. Maybe it's very in but....much better food in Monterey or Carmel. Sorry to write a bad review but that's just my opinion. Have eaten all over the world and I believe I know good food when I taste it. Service wasn't even good, friendly, but inefficient. Waiter never even asked us if we would like additional wine or beer. read more

Terrific unique tastes and combinations. Wonderful and intimate, small casual atmosphere with the unmistakable sense that you are taken well care of. Delicious food and wonderful wine. The epitome of casual yet fine dining! read more

We are local. This was our second time. Food is great. Service is good. However, this time, we found couple problems. One is they charge $25/ person when you make reservations. Another one is they charged 20% service charge for take out orders. We understand that how much it costs to run restaurants and how hard staff work. Even though we were aware of the 20% service charge, we felt that it is too much $$. There are many nice restaurants in Monterey with great food and great service but no mandatory 20% service charge and no reservation fees. We rather go there. read more

Great service, great food, love the decor. The staff was very helpful and courteous. I had the chicken parmigiana which was very good and such a generous portion I have enough left over for lunch. In addition to the food we enjoyed a beautiful bottle of wine at the table. I would recommend this restaurant for everyone who makes the trip out to Seaside. read more

Maligne - Chicken Parmigiana delicious! - New American Near Me - Seaside, California

See all

Excellent service and a good menu. We all enjoyed our meals. Good wine selection. I had the chicken parmigiana and our friend had the muscles in a wine sauce. read more

I wanted so much for this place to knock my socks off and it fell flat. The highlights were the parmesan soup, the milk bread, and the roasted oysters. However, my fish was over seasoned and my husband's lamb was under seasoned. The dessert was average. The wine list needs some rethinking. I think we only identified two bottles that were under $100 and at least three groups of people brought their own line which to me is a sign that your wine list prices are too high. The last thing that I found disagreeable was a woman who had her dog sitting in a chair having dinner with a group. Trust me, I love dogs, I have three but this is not giving me a sense of cleanliness for the restaurant. I think with some fairly minor changes this restaurant could really shine, so I hope the best for the owners and the chefs. read more

This is a wonderful restaurant but yelp has the hours incorrect. The owners come from a family of wonderful restaurant traditions and they are taking it a step further. read more

Every dish we ordered was amazing and unique, and the service was outstanding. The outdoor space could do witha little sprucing up, but watching our pizza made to order by the most delightful pizza maker imaginable more than compensated! read more

See all

We had an amazing time - thanks to all the staff for being so attentive and the food.....my goodness - world class!!! Can't wait for our next visit! read more

Nice modern, comfortable ambiance. Best tuna cheeks we ever had: Big serving size, soy sweet-sauce made outside taste like bacon, inside tender like slow cooked short ribs. Table service very attentive. Food slow to arrive. Unique food. Very good and fun adventure. read more

The food was good but the wine was overpriced Waiter was meh, not customer oriented, more inclined to impress with his knowledge than seeming to care for our wishes. The food and atmosphere spoke for themselves, so we did not have to hear over and over how wonderful the choices and how special the place was. We got it! Overall,we enjoyed the atmosphere, but there is much room for improvement here. With so many high end choices this place definitely fell short and we will most likely not be coming back read more

Good food. A bit overpriced for the area. Would do better in Carmel. Glad to see Seaside is growing.

I haven't eaten here yet, but I don't know why I'm trying so hard to make a reservation. They don't answer their phones, they don't take reservations over the phone, they only take reservations on a site called Tock where they charge $25pp (that's ok with me), but also charge you $2.25 to make the reservation. I am NOT cheap, but this just pisses me off! I have to pay so that I can make a reservation to eat in their restaurant? There's something really wrong with that. The only reason I'm persevering is because there aren't any good restaurants in this area, so I want to try it. read more

Perfect date night. Relaxed, but elegant dining experience. Wine recommendation was much enjoyed. Endive salad and pork belly (amazing) to start. Chicken Parmesan and Moules Frites (highly recommend). The ricotta cake was light and soft and perfect. Excellent meal and dining experience all around. Portions were perfect. read more

Went for dinner last night and absolutely incredible all around. We shared 3 different appetizers and three entrees, put them in middle of table family style. We all were treated to a variety of incredible dishes that had me/us having to stop between bites to savor the flavors. The oysters Rockefeller were the best I have ever eaten. The ambience is warm, inviting and very fun to watch the open kitchen. Service was perfect!! Highly recommend you won't be disappointed!! read more

Easy reservation process. Confirmed via text. Prompt seating. Super friendly attentive service. The restaurant is attractive and centered on the food. Not pretentious. The food was outstanding. Interesting flavors that made me want to come back and try more. read more

We had dinner here last night and I was looking forward, but it was very disappointing! We had reservations for 7pm and showed up a bit early. When you enter the restaurant, you end up waiting by the door, nobody acknowledges you for quite a while. After 10 minutes we were seated, and then again nothing. 15 minutes later we got some wine, and another 10 minutes later we put our order in. A half hour later we got the app, lamb meat balls, which were good. Another 45 minutes later, the duck my husband had ordered showed up, but not his fries nor my main course. The fries came another 15 minutes later, my main course even later. My side dish showed up after I finished. The dish I ordered was Vol au vent advertised with different mushrooms. The Chef should perhaps learn how this dish should be prepared to not be embarrassing. I found one mushroom in the dish, that is it. My husband found everything too salty and too much dill in every dish. Overall, as this restaurant bills itself as fine dining with those prices, know this: diners want to get main and side dishes at the same time, two diners want to get their food at the same time, if you want to serve a french dish, make sure you can pull it off better than a nonpuffed flat puff pastry with a minimum of veg, not mushrooms as advertised. We were there over 2 hours for an app and main courses, and left unsatisfied. There is a lot to improve on in this restaurant. To not maligne Maligne, the polenta that showed up after I was done eating, was not billed, the 2 glasses of wine were comped, but the overall experience was just bad! read more

I have been excited to go to Maligne for a long time and finally for my birthday my husband and daughter surprised me. I liked the Ambiance. the wine list was good. Now every restaurant can have an off night and tonight was theirs. My husband is a vegetarian and he does not like asparagus nor does he like polenta. Guess what the veg options were? So, he had a salad and bread. OK, I had the rockfish and it was fishy tasting but the pepper sauce was good. My daughter had the chicken parmesan which was huge and fairly tasteless. For my birthday, they brought us a cup of cookies and cream gelato which had been thawed and refrozen and was f ull of crystallized ice. It was crunchy instead of smooth gelato. the maple pudding we ordered was very good, however. No candle. I'm sorry I sound whiney but overall it was a very underwhelming experience. The waiter told us nothing about the food...just, what's your order. Two stars -could've been a whole lot better. read more

Food: Divine food Wine: French wine list has an awesome taste. Not much else to write. read more

I had the Chicken parmesan which was great. My wife had the lamb plate, a cut of loin and shoulder. The loin was wonderful. Unfortunately, the shoulder was rancid - not gamey, but foul. I like gamey meat and love lamb. This was meat was really off, like I am worried about what tomorrow will be like kind of bad having just tried it... Chef said it was fine, which is unbelievable. I don't know how anyone could have not smelled it when prepping. Service was awkward at times but fine. Ambiance was good. We won't be back. read more

Pretty good overall, service is prompt and everyone was pleasant. There's a nice chill vibe to the ambiance, it can get overly warm in the dining room. Best part was the oysters and dessert. read more

Pricey but very good. We had the crudo, half-chicken, double cheeseburger, and for dessert we had the banana pudding and apple ricotta cake. Each entry was perfect. A lot of food so looking forward to leftovers! read more

Bottom line I'm surprised. Based on the reviews both here and on Google, plus the recent nod by the M. guide I'm was definitely hoping for a better experience for my birthday dinner with a friend. From the moment we arrived and before we even sat down the service was inhospitable. We were told immediately that we had exactly 90 minutes to finish and then instructed to order our whole meal all together right away. Moving forward the server came to "check" on us so frequently that it was difficult to continue a conversation without being interrupted and then whilst in the middle of eating my entree I was asked if I would like a box. I was literally eating and had my wine glass in my hand. The entrees were removed as soon as our forks were barely put down and we were told that we might just have time to have dessert. Once ordered and delivered we were then told we had nine minutes left before we had to leave. We brought all this to our server's attention but instead of understanding or apologizing we were told he was just doing what he was told to do. Unfortunately the food is not good enough to warrant being made to feel so unwelcome. It was alright and definitely had some "mistakes". Being in the business myself and a local I had hoped to find a little gem that I could come back to regularly. It's a cute, hip place in an up and coming neighborhood but that's not enough. In conclusion, if the food blew my mind I might have forgotten the service and had the service been better I definitely would've forgiven the food. The wine list was ok, expensive but nice to see some locals there. read more

Amazing food and service. The fried calamari and focaccia are delicious. Desserts are worth it too.

Amazing food, decor, customer service. A great experience. We can't wait to return.

Great food, and very interesting menu. Unlike the types of dishes you will typically find in most restaurants. However, I felt like our table was being ignored all evening. read more