As an Italian chef with years of experience in the culinary world, I believe I have a trained eye and palate for recognizing a restaurant that truly cares about quality. From the very first bite, you can tell when a kitchen takes pride in its craft, carefully selecting high-quality ingredients and preparing every dish with passion and attention to detail. What truly makes this place stand out is that excellence goes far beyond the food. The service is impeccable, the atmosphere is welcoming, and every detail is thoughtfully taken care of. From the kitchen to the dining room, everything reflects professionalism, care, and a genuine commitment to creating an outstanding dining experience. As someone who understands the restaurant business from the inside, I appreciate the dedication it takes to deliver this level of quality consistently. This is the kind of place that reminds you what great hospitality should be: exceptional food, outstanding service, and attention to every detail from A to Z. Highly recommended to anyone who appreciates authentic quality, excellent service, and a restaurant that truly cares about its guests. read more

We went without a reservation. Had a small wait for a table of four. We got there just before a rush of reservations. It took a bit to get served but when our server arrived, he quickly got our drinks and reviewed the specials. The meal and appetizer was wonderfully delicious. Portion sizes were just right. Not sure if it was a busy weeknight for service staff to tables or if that's normal here. The food was great and the atmosphere was pleasant. We would definitely return. Others had the tagliatelle and the chicken Alfredo read more

Osteria Al Mare - Sand Dabs with spaghetti pesto - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Amazing food with a view to match! The service was friendly and they were able to seat me -- a party of 1, with no trouble at all. Plenty of vegetarian options and an excellent wine list. read more

Osteria Al Mare - Wine list - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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The service here is absolutely amazing! The views are stunning and the food is out of this world! We started with the oysters and they were fresh and delicious. We then ordered the Cesar salad and the waiter heard us talking about how we loved the anchovies and brought us over extra! We each ordered one of the amazing specials and my fish with truffle ravioli was DIVINE!!! They also have a fabulous wine list and amazing desserts. The cannolis are made in house and sooo good! There is plenty of parking in the lot. The bathrooms are pristine. The ambiance of this spot is just stunning! Perfect for a romantic date night and it has that quaint, high end, intimate Italian restaurant vibe that truly makes you feel like you're on a getaway in Italy. I can't recommend this place enough and I am very excited to go back and try more of their delicious dishes! read more

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Great food and service. Calamari was so fresh. Beautiful view on the bay. Great date spot. read more

Osteria Al Mare - Fettuccine Al Pescatore - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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Best meal we had in Monterey. The calamari was perfectly fried -- light and crispy, not greasy. The sand dabs were fresh and beautifully prepared. Our waiter was friendly and kept greeting us in Italian, which made the whole atmosphere feel like a genuine osteria -- he even picked a dish for me and steered me toward the Rotelle Di Parma, which was rich and delicious. Stunning waterfront views and food that lives up to the setting. Don't sleep on this place.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​! read more

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Delicious food. The atmosphere is nice and the service exceeded my expectations. The Caprese salad was really good too. read more

Osteria Al Mare - MELANZANE ALLA PARMIGANA - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Nice spot after a dive, good clam chowder and perfect view of the bay. Indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Osteria Al Mare - Clam Chowder - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Definitely felt like a fine dining experience though the brown kraft paper over the table cloths seemed a little out of place with that. We arrived around 5:30pm on a Friday with no reservations and had no trouble getting seated as a party of two. The food came out fairly quickly. We were there probably 90 minutes, including dessert, they didn't rush us. The food was tasty and nicely presented. Our server was professional and had a huge list of specials memorized. For that many specials I feel like a printed listed would have been helpful actually. The view of the water was nice but it is mostly east facing so not the direct sunset experience. Hoping they can get the fan in the ladies room fixed, it was crazy loud in there. read more

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Beautiful location overlooking the Monterey bay. Ambiance was relaxing and service was friendly and attentive. The food was fresh, authentic, and satisfying. Definitely recommend. read more

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Fantastic Meal and Fresh Flavors! My friend and I had a wonderful lunch at Osteria al Mare. Our server, Giuseppe, was attentive and friendly, making our experience even better. I ordered the chicken salad with mixed greens and poached pears, and it was fantastic. The ingredients were incredibly fresh, and the flavors worked beautifully together. My friend ordered the clam chowder, and we both agreed it was the best we've ever had at a restaurant--it tasted completely homemade and fresh. The quality of the food is outstanding. You can tell they use fresh ingredients and put care into every dish. I would come back here in a heartbeat and highly recommend it! read more

Osteria Al Mare - Fantastic Guiseppe server - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Food was absolutely delicious!!! Would definitely recommend. Complimentary bread with softened butter, yummy. Waiter was kind, attentive and took his time in explaining the specials that were available that day. We went in on a Wednesday around 4:30/5 and there was no wait. The view was spectacular. read more

Osteria Al Mare - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Love this restaurant. We've been coming for years. Location overlooking the water. Front of the house service excellent. Back of the house food exceptional. Our favorite food in Monterey. Francisco and Frederico are fabulous servers. Celebrated our 56th anniversary and we were surprised by glasses of Prosecco to start. We each had a special - scallops and the lobster tail. Both were perfectly prepared. Calamari and Beet salad for starters. My only suggestion is servers should tell the price of the specials. I asked and decided on lobster at $44. Later a couple at the next table were told the specials but not the price. I know they wanted the lobster but were uncomfortable asking the price. Thank you Chef Maurzio for your fine dining experience. We will continue to be regulars and will bring family and friends. read more

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Service was super friendly but lacked attentiveness. We tried for our check for around 20-30 minutes. Food was okay but the view was amazing. I got their Stew Special and was pretty disappointed. The crab was cold and the best part was the bread...not even the seafood. Sand dabs were also lacking and needed salt and pepper. Clam chowder was average. read more

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10/10! The food was amazing! We had been regular customers at Maurizios restaurant in Morgan Hill before we moved out of state 5 years ago. This was our first time trying Osteria Al Mare and it did not disappoint! I ordered the pear salad and I would have to say it was the best salad I have ever had! My husband ordered his usual dish, Tagliatelle Alla Boscaiola, and it was delicious as usual. Next time we come back for a visit, this will be our first stop! Thank you Maurizio! read more

Osteria Al Mare definitely lives up to its name. From the moment you walk in, it feels like you're visiting a warm, waterside Italian home--inviting, comfortable, and effortlessly charming. The service was friendly and genuinely welcoming, setting the tone for a relaxed, enjoyable evening. They offer a full bar along with a thoughtfully curated wine list. We started with a half-dozen oysters, and the freshness really stood out. The Caesar salad that followed was simple, classic, and full of flavor--exactly how it should be. For entrées, we ordered the Pollo Piccata, sand dabs, and chicken fettuccine. Every dish was prepared to perfection, balanced, and beautifully executed, with not a single complaint at the table. A fantastic dining experience from start to finish--we'll absolutely be back. read more

Osteria Al Mare - Chicken Fettuccini - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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We've come to Monterrey five times previous and walked by this place. No more! I had the sand dabs which strangely I had never heard of until my foodie Chiropractor recommended them the day before. My wife had the short ribs with Polenta. We sat in the bar and Frederico took great care of us even though he was swamped with drink orders. We will be back - maybe before we head home. Make a reservation! read more

Osteria Al Mare - Short ribs with Polenta - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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Really enjoyed our experience here! The food was great quality, the wait staff was friendly and efficient, and the view made it even better. Would definitely come back! read more

Osteria Al Mare - Outside views - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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This place was kind of hard to find. We had to walk through a park type area to get to it. But maybe it's just because of where we parked. Idk. We just went to where the GPS told us to go. Anyway, once we found it, we were impressed. It's not super big on the inside, but It's weird because it's spacious but cozy at the same time. They have outdoor dining which I LOVE! But we sat inside because it was a bit chill out. All of the big windows allow you to enjoy the beautiful ocean view that Monterey has to offer. I don't remember the names of our dishes. Mine was a chicken over spaghetti type dish and my husband got some other pasta and marinara sauce type dish. Both were delicious! Very fresh authentic Italian flavors. The service was great too. We will be back again! read more

Osteria Al Mare - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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At the edge of San Carlos pier, you get amazing views of the pier and docks and none of the hustle and bustle and OK quality food at the wharf. Our server was Italian and it added to the ambiance and probably made the food taste better. Fritto Di Calamari: cut much larger than normal calamari but still tender and crispy on the outside. Came with a thinly sliced grilled lemon that wasn't really squeezable but the two dipping sauces were great. Rotelle di Parma: rolled pasta, prosciutto cotto, Parmesan, mozzarella, basil, tomato cream. In a very good way tasted like a mix of wet pizza and lasagna. Kids destroyed this. Sand-Dabs Capellini: sand dab, lightly breaded, white wine lemon saffron sauce, pasta and pesto. Simple and beautifully plated, loved this. Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca: A Napoli classic. Fresh tomato, garlic, anchovies, capers, calamata olives, crush red pepper. If you go at the right season you can see sea lions in the rocks if you over the left side of the pier. read more

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Osteria Al Mare is one of the top restaurants in the Monterey penninsula. The staff was so personable, professional and helpful, that we felt like we were the only customers in the restaurant. The place was packed and we were blessed to be able to choose to sit at the bar. That is an experience that really made the ambience of this restaurant such a great experience. The mixologist Frederico and Marissa were so talented, helpful and personable. They have such a gift in how food and cocktails should be paired. The entire staff was friendly, professional, they made the dining experience more than we had hoped for. Then there is The owner Maurizio, who makes you feel like family when you walk in the door, he is such a gentleman and a great host. You have to try this restaurant. You will not be disappointed. read more

We received a suggestion from a local who worked at another restaurant in town to try Ostera Al Mare. This Resturant located on the second floor on the water was a bit of a walk from Pacific Grove 2,3 miles. We did not have a reservation which is suggested but we're seated within about 15 minutes or we could've sat immediately in the bar area at the high tables. Have a good wine list and a full bar. The main area had some small tables and tables that were combine for large groups. You could also eat out outdoors however when it's in the 40°, you may not want to. Wine can be ordered by the glass carafe or bottle. The waiter is Italian and very knowledgeable about the menu both of us at seafood, which was excellent. We did start with salad which had a fresh dressing and anchovies. The cioppino had crab clams, muscles, squid, and fish my wife had a seafood over fresh fettuccine while they had a diverse dessert menu. We were unable to try any as we were too full from dinner. We did take an Uber back to the Pacific Grove area, which took about 10 minutes This place for the average tourist would be considered a hit jump is definitely off the beaten path. read more

Osteria Al Mare - Cioppino - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Very much enjoyed our experience here. We sat at a high table in the bar and had a great meal. Many of the staff come from Italy and have that genuine Italian culture. The bartender was making lots of drinks and our 2yo loved watching him use the shaker and he took the time to come over and show her the drink inside the shaker, which was just soo sweet. Food was great. No complaints and really enjoyed the fish and calamari. Atmosphere service and food all hit the spot. Would go back! read more

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We went there for lunch and it was an amazing spot. A beautiful picture perfect Monterey Bay with a stunning view all sorts of sea life out in front of you enjoying some amazing Italian food. All the dishes we had were really good take more of it. Personal preference. The staff was very kind and it was just a nice easy experience. We did go there for a late lunch so there wasn't very many people. read more

First off the ambience is beautiful and calming, we just finished a long motorcycle ride and found this place off of yelp. I ordered the Pollo Piccata, my husband ordered the Tagliatelle alla Boscaiola, both were outstanding! The only other thing I would say is, I sure wish we had one where we live. read more

My husband and I had our 10th anniversary dinner in this restaurant. First they are really nice with our dog, bringing water. Really friendly service. The ambiance is beautiful, classic, and chic. The food is delicious! The funghi pasta was incredibile good. You will feel in a osteria in Italy. read more

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Single ladies/men. You will be treated like a queen or king. Whether you are a group of people or a solo, you will be treated equally. Very handsome Italian speaking male servers. A plus And look at this huge steak! read more

Osteria Al Mare - Bistecca medium rare - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Sat outside on the heated patio on a cool and busy Saturday night. Complimentary bread with oil and vinegar came after we put in drink orders. We chose the special fiochi (pear filled pasta with butter and sage) and fried calamari. The calamari was very crispy and light with a wonderful tartar sauce (thes best I've had) and a spicy marinara. Delicious and fairly large with about 20 pieces of believe. We ordered The fettuccine with cream, mushroom fettuccine with truffle, the short rib on polenta and the ravioli with bolognese sauce All were very good. I can see why so many people speak highly of this place. Prices were moderate for Monterey with a view of the marina. Paid for parking which was plentiful. We saw some nice wildlife and enjoyed a beautiful sunny evening with the sun going down while enjoying all of our food Great attentive service also. We will come again to try more items read more

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My husband and I absolutely love coming to Osteria during happy hour -- it's become one of our favorite spots in Monterey. The atmosphere is quiet, cozy, and elegant, with a stunning view of the ocean right from the pier. It's truly a hidden gem! We've had the pleasure of being served multiple times by Frederico, an outstanding bartender who makes every visit special. His drinks are perfectly crafted, his service is always warm and professional, and the conversation is engaging and fun. He really adds a personal touch that makes us feel welcome every single time. The food? Absolutely amazing. Everything on the happy hour menu is delicious, and the dinner menu is equally impressive -- fresh ingredients, great flavors, and beautifully presented dishes. If you're looking for a peaceful, beautiful dining experience with top-notch food, drinks, and service, Osteria is a must-visit. We can't recommend it enough! No, I'm giving it five stars for the warmth environment. You do have to be patient, especially during happy hour because it is a very popular spot and Frederico is the only bartender except for Wednesdays. They're closed on Mondays, but the overall experience definitely deserves five stars. read more

We just got into town and wanted fresh seafood with a view and thought it might be too much to ask. This place was a 10 star!!! It had everything-- great food, great wine, great views and great service!!! This was definitely one of my top 10 meals in my life! read more

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We came here because this restaurant is highly rated. But our experience was disappointing. When the server brought out my cioppino, right away I noticed a strong smell. At first I was confused what this smell was, I thought maybe just strong seafood smell. But then I realized it was not normal, it was very foul, like something dead or rotten, not the fresh ocean smell you expect from seafood. I checked and I found the smell came from the mussels. It was hard to eat because of this smell. I noticed a few other tables had their cioppino unfinished as well. I asked my wife about her dish, seafood fettuccine also had mussels. She said her dish also had similar foul smell from the mussels. Service was very okay and place was nice, this made it disappointing that both our dishes had this problem. We barely touched our food. We were looking forward to dessert but decided not to order anything else. Ruined our vacation night. read more

If you can reserve a table. If not, it's definitely worth the wait. We had to wait about 20min as a walk in. They have a good menu with well prepared Italian favorites featuring a lot of seafood dishes. I had the seafood pasta, which was tasty and well seasoned. The seafood was fresh. The Tiramisu was delicious and authentically prepared. The interior is elegant with a view of the sea. read more

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Bummed we walked down from the aquarium. Dinner may be good, lunch certainly was not. Significant room for training and improvement.

Fine dining in an unpretentious setting. Food was incredible with the service to match.

When in Monterey, it only makes sense to be on the search for some seafood for dinner. We happened to come across this spot on our walk while we were waiting for a table at Schooners. My boyfriend's curiosity was instantly piqued when he saw the Italian restaurant name and heard the live music, and usually I'm not one to go about changing the plan but I figured it wouldn't hurt to take a look at the menu. I was really in the mood for a seafood pasta and saw that they had a good looking one on the menu at a fair price, which combined with the fact that we didn't have to wait for a table thoroughly convinced me into changing the original plan. The service took quite a while between being seated and getting our order taken and the live music was really loud for my personal enjoyment, but high-quality authentic Italian food and live music are both things that my boyfriend really enjoys so I'll make this a five star review for him. He got the Fettuccine Al Pescatore with a Limoncello Spritz and I got the Fettuccine Al Funghi. I might have a slight shellfish allergy but that's never stopped me before, except when combined with my less slight lactose intolerance meaning that I can convince a shrimp or two over to my plate but cannot convince an order of clam chowder to the table. I wish I could eat clam chowder so bad, it always smells so good in the bread bowl and everyone who can eat it is always talking about how good it is! Anyways, I'm no foremost expert on Italian cuisine but my fettuccine did satisfy my pasta craving. In terms of opportunity cost, Schooners was a little too formal and upscale for the people that we are so I'm glad that we had a good experience at Osteria Al Mare instead. There is a bit of an unpleasant ocean smell if you're dining on the balcony but it's part of the Monterey experience so take it in. read more

Osteria Al Mare - Fettuccine Al Pescatore - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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I got door dash and it was AMAZING! The fish picatta over pesto was heavenly and my friend got and loved your clam chowder so much! She hadn't had a good meal in awhile being in a SNF facility so you made her entire evening and month. Overall can't wait to eat again and this time in person to see the restaurant itself and its scenery and service (: read more

Osteria Al Mare - Picatta over pesto - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

If you're looking to celebrate a special occasion, stay away. Just had to leave the following message for them. Don't know if they even receive them so decided to leave a review on Yelp as well. "Hello, not sure if these messages get read but I need to share our experience this past Sunday. I had submitted a reservation inquiry through this form last week, and never received a response. Then I went and found a different way to book a reservation, which I'm still unsure was ever acknowledged. Both reservation inquiries expressed my excitement to be setting up a post-surprise proposal to my partner and we had a previously positive experience here as "out-of-towners" so I wanted the moment to be extra special. With the proposal, we were running a little late to the "reservation" so I called sharing who I was, why we were late, and we were on our way. We showed up and was asked the typical, "for two?" to which I replied "yes I just called we have a reservation." Nothing was ever acknowledged. Not even a congratulations from the waiter or host....nothing. Instead, my NEWLY fiancé went to the bathroom and when our waiter came over to go over the specials, he asked if I wanted him to wait for my "friend." I am not sharing to receive a comped meal because we're 5 1/2 hours away from Monterey, and can guarantee, we will never be returning to Osteria al Mare. Do better." As much as I tried to remain positive during such a special moment, it's hard to not have your RESERVATION be acknowledged for such an occasion. read more

We learned that this restaurant offers happy hour from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and decided to give it a try. We were impressed by the happy hour food--especially the Ziti in Forno! Also, their selected beer on draft is great! Highly recommend! read more

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First time here. We were celebrating my bday and our anniversary . I made a reservation for a table on the balcony . They said they I could when I called. Not only did they not fulfill my request, they put me in the corner with no view of the Marina whatsoever . They didn't tell us the specials until after we ordered drinks and appetizers . I heard them telling another table and one of my favorite appetizers happened to be part of the specials . Very sad . The food is very delicious and authentic . The drinks are great , I would've had another if they came around to ask me . The service was lacking big time. We did not want to have dessert there . Ordered our espresso and asked for the check at the same time because who knows when they would've been back to our table . Not sure if we'll give them another try . read more

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Accommodated party of six on a Saturday night. Awesome view. Excellent service and food. read more

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