Best lobster ravioli!!! We saw this place after YEARS of going down the wharf and went in for drinks but told ourselves we had to come back and try the food. Tonight we did and we're sold! From the staff and ambience to the food, we're fans. I had the lobster ravioli and Caesar salad, best lobster raviolis, like I was actually eating lobster, absolutely delicious. Hubby had the chicken pesto sandwich which I'm assuming he enjoyed because one second it was there and I snagged a bite then it was gone! Dad had the meatball pasta, very tasty he said but the silence coming from the table said it all. Everything was so good, we'll definitely be going back. Beautiful water and boat view too and quiet. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Lobster ravioli missing two because I had to try it before snapping a photo - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

We recently had dinner here. Visiting the area on vacation, we didn't realize the wharf was is a cliche tourist area. The nearest parking was about two blocks away. We booked a reservation and table was ready on time. Our table for two was in an odd location, right next to the stairs. The stairwell landing area was eye level to me. It's not exactly an enjoyable meal when peopl's feet are passing your face the entire time. Our waiter was friendly and accurate but seemed to disappear at times. The food was good; I had the smoked salmon linguini. Overall, the experience was fine but I don't feel the need to return. read more

7/12/25 Zach, Coco and I walked to Paluca Trattoria from our hotel in downtown Monterey. We checked in with the host and we were thoughtfully seated in at a table where the wind wasn't blowing too much and the heat lamp was right next to us (since it was a chilly evening that day). Here's what we got: - clam chowder bowl (to share) - bolognese pappardelle (his) - linguine vongole (mine) Our waiter took a while to take our orders and bring/take the check, but the food quality and taste overshadowed that. We got started with the clam chowder bowl which was delicious. After Zach and I demolished it, we both wished we had gotten a bowl each haha. The portion sizes for our pasta dishes were generous. The linguine vongole had lots of clams, I only wish there was a little more sauce. Zach's pappardelle dish was really good as well. You can taste the freshness of the pasta and the seafood. We'll definitely need to come back. read more

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Great Italian food on Fisherman's Wharf. We got to the area later in the afternoon, so we didn't want to fill up on too much food before dinner. We ordered the calamari, the spaghetti with meatballs and gamberoni. Everything was delicious. Service was super friendly and very attentive. Would visit again! read more

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We stopped in Monterey on our way home from San Francisco. We decided to wonder around Old Fishermen's Wharf and came across Paluca Trattoria. If you're in the mood some of the most delicious Italian food and a beautiful view this is the restaurant for you. read more

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The food was really disappointing and disgusting. We ordered the clam chowder and it wasn't even hot, we asked for it to get reheated. Our next appetizer was the clams in butter cream sauce. The sauce tasted like spoiled milk and we realized because one of the clams was old and rotten. We told our waiter and he didn't even apologize. The clams stunk so bad like spoiled rotten egg. We don't even know how and why they didn't notice the smell before they served it to us. Lastly, the lobster ravioli was disappointing. It was sweet and barely had any lobster. All our dishes were too saucy and it was NOTA good. We're definitely not going back. I wish I could a full refund back. read more

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After 4 hours of Whale Watching, we're always hungry. Over many years of visiting the Monterey Peninsula, we've pretty much tried every restaurant on the wharf, but somehow missed Paluca. The outdoor seating overlooking the marina is very nice. As is required, we started with the Clam Chowder. There are no bad renditions of chowder on the wharf, and Paluca's was no different. It's amazing to see how different each restaurant's versions are, but yet all be delicious. We were keeping it light, so we just had the Sicilian Meatballs. They were very good with clear flavors of basil, and maybe even fennel, but the dish only included 3 somewhat small meatballs. Not what we expected for $26. They chunky marinara that accompanied the dish was good. We'll need to come back to try other dishes. read more

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This restaurant was such a lovely experience. We were able to eat outdoors and take in the beautiful views, and there is always so much to see and enjoy when hanging out on Fisherman's Wharf. The food was honestly a lot better than I expected for a touristy spot, which kind of adds to the charm. Still, quality matters, and Paluca Trattoria definitely delivered. We ordered the Creamy Pesto Pappardelle and added a grilled rosemary chicken breast for some additional protein. The pasta was outstanding. It tasted fresh with basil, had that pesto-style cream sauce with parmesan and just a hint of lemon zest. Super flavorful without feeling heavy. It was perfect. We also got the Short Rib Ravioli and wow, also outstanding. The pasta tasted homemade and was filled with braised short rib, asiago, and herbs, all covered in a creamy garlic mushroom sauce. Oh yeah, we also had a bowl of clam chowder, and everything we tried was delicious. Service was great too. The only downside is we were so full we couldn't even attempt dessert, which just means we will have to come back. We will definitely be back. read more

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We had a truly delightful lunch at Paluca Trattoria, and it exceeded our expectations in every way. A fantatstic taste of Italy without leaving the Monterey Peninsula! We started with the bruschetta, topped with fresh tomatoes--it was absolutely fabulous, bursting with flavor and perfectly balanced. The salad was a standout: a delicious combination of Italian dried figs, creamy goat cheese, applewood bacon, and glazed walnuts, all brought together with a light champagne vinaigrette. It was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully composed. For our main course, we had the pasta aglio e olio. It was excellent--light, with just the right amount of mild garlic, and the linguini was cooked perfectly.Sautéed garlic, Sicilian olive oil, Italian flat leaf parsley, chili flakes. Simple ingredients, done exceptionally well. To finish, we enjoyed decaf lattes paired with delicious biscotti, which made for the perfect sweet ending. Dining al fresco at Paluca Trattoria (featured in season one of Big Little Lies) on Old Fisherman's Wharf made the experience even more special. You can really feel the authenticity here--from the dishes to the olive oil, which is specially imported from Italy and adds a rich, distinctive flavor. Highly recommended if you're looking for authentic Italian cuisine in a beautiful waterfront setting. read more

We had the steak and the shrimp pasta. The creole sauce is definitely creole and not a Shrimp scampi type, but it was good. Steak was very good and the calamari appetizer was also very good. Waitress was kind and attentive without being too much. The hostess looks like she hates her job and was kind of blah about anything. read more

Nice casual place with outdoor sitting on the wharf. Recommended by a local friend for dinner as we normally avoid this touristy spot. Good: Calabrian prawns as a starter was good, and so were the Seafood pasta (linguini) and freshly-made meatballs with linguini which we had for entrees. Fun: A seal was playing and splashing nearby! Just a few feet away in the water. Nice interaction with the owner's sons - Paul (waiter) and Luca (who kept trying to light our patio heater . Chef owner came over and determined it was out of propane- fixed!) Recommended: Get a reservation as they may stop seating for dinner after 7pm for walk-ins as they get busy or may have large parties. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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It was a colder Friday evening and we needed a place to eat that had outdoor seating as we had our dogs with us from our day of adventure. We were able to be seated right away in the outdoor patio. Our server was able to take our orders and gave us the specials of the evening, which was the seafood pasta. It sounded good with what was is in entree. We also ordered the calamari as appetizers and the clam chowder. We asked the waiter about the portions and he said that the portions are pretty big so my husband and I decided to share the entree since we didnt want to bring back seafood to the hotel. Calamari was good. The clam chowder was really hardy and creamy, perfect for the cold winter weather. Hit the spot with the bread that it came out with. The special seafood pasta, which just had clams, shrimp, and a piece of cod was ok. The sauce and flavor was lacking esp after the clam chowder. And the portion was decent but definitely was NOT Special enough for the $45 price tag. We should've just ordered another pasta dish or the meatball sandwich that my husband wanted. It wouldve been enough and not with that hefty price tag. They definitely should tell you the price of a dish if its a special... read more

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We decided to try Paluca Trattoria in Monterey and unfortunately, it was not a good experience. The food itself was just okay--nothing that stood out or made me want to come back. For the price and location, I expected more flavor and quality, but it was very average. The biggest disappointment was the service. From the moment we sat down, things felt disorganized. People who arrived after us received their food before we did, which was frustrating and hard to overlook. On top of that, I had to ask my waiter three separate times for bread, and each time he either forgot or didn't bring it until much later. Something that simple should not be so difficult, and it set the tone for the whole meal. Normally, I'm a very generous tipper because I understand how hard restaurant work can be. But in this case, I didn't feel the service deserved one at all. Being ignored and forgotten multiple times is not acceptable, especially when we were polite and patient. The only reason this review is 2 stars instead of 1 is because of the host. She was welcoming, kind, and friendly when we walked in, and that was the one bright spot in an otherwise disappointing evening. Sadly, the rest of the experience did not match her level of hospitality. Overall, Paluca Trattoria just didn't deliver. Between the mediocre food, the long waits, and the inattentive service, it's not a place I'd return to. There are too many great restaurants in Monterey to waste time and money on one that can't get the basics right. I would highly reccomend going to canary row they have way better restaurant its worth the extra walk. read more

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UPDATE, Next morning... Everyone in our party, including my 1year old grandson was sick with diarrhea the next morning after eating here. We tried calling the restaurant and all we got was an AI recording saying no one was available. The meatball appetizer was mildly warm at best and red in the middle. The flavor of the meatball was so so and the canned tomatoes as a sauce was gross. Super bland special which was local caught cod with prawns and clams (full of rocks) on linguini. No garlic, no salt no seasoning. The bread served with dinner was stale and cold and the butter was practically frozen. The waiter was nice but the food was, NO BUENO!! We asked for water but never got any. We asked for fresh ground pepper and they brought a pepper shaker. Do NOT bother eating here. OVER PRICED for SURE. Even Denny's serves better food than this. read more

Honestly this was the best Italian food I've had in a long time. I ordered the gamberoni and my husband got the Sicilian meatballs, both super delicious. They give complimentary bread and butter as well. Everyone working from the host to the server was so kind! I know this restaurant is in a heavy traffic/tourist area but it felt like we found a hole in the wall with REALLY GOOD pasta. We will definitely return when we find ourselves back in the area. read more

I agree with the overall 4 star rating. It's a nice place, little pricey. It's hard to find gnocchi even around the Italian areas but this place has it so I tried it out after a whale watch. The gnocchi itself is pretty good, pesto sauce was excellent and the potato dumplings were alright. Great view as well. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

The food was authentic and amazing. Will be visiting them again when in Monterey. Anything you ask of an Italian dish, they will make it and out do any original. read more

Was craving pasta during Monterey Car week and I called up the restaurant if they do all day pasta since the previous place we went to didn't have it around brunch time. This place was very nice, delicious and we were sat right on the dock next to the water. There were umbrella shades so it wasn't too hot. I did think the calamari could've had more flavoring, but it was still good (just expected a bit more) Waitresses were very accommodating and attentive, so we do plan on coming back! read more

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My husband and I had the best dinner experience! We looked out upon the sailboats and bay while enjoying the best lobster raviolis we have ever tried. The fis and chips, smoked salmon bruschetta and Pino Noir topped off the eveNing. We highly recommend this wonderful family owned restaurant. read more

Took some out of town clients here for lunch today. My first time here and it was fabulous! Paul and Luca are the best ! The Sicilian food is amazing! Fresh and delicious! Service was excellent! The limoncello spritzer was a hit !! I will definitely be back soon! Patio dining was so nice on the water , very relaxing! read more

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Wonderful food and service. We sat inside and found it to be quaint. I had a cocktail, but would recommend sticking to wine. Delicious pasta! And cool to be in the restaurant where Big little lies was filmed. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Outdoor patio overlooks the bay - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

The food was exceptional. We ordered the lobster ravioli, the short rib ravioli and the fried calamari. All of them were so good we had to order the ravioli again! Best one I've had. The staff was super nice and accommodating. We had to sit outside because we had our furry baby with us but they were super nice and turned on the heaters. The views are beautiful, overall it's one of the best restaurants I've been in Monterey Bay. Definitely coming back! read more

Food was...it's hard not to be negative about it. The host was great. We sat outside with heat lamp next to us.

Keep Points: - delicious food - Accommodates young children - Kids meals had generous portions - Back Drop of HBO's "Big Little Lies" We visited Paluca Trattoria for a nice lunch with friends and all of our kids during our last day in Monterey. We were looking for a spot on Old Fisherman's Wharf and were intrigued by the good Yelp ratings--and the fact that this place served as the backdrop for Big Little Lies on HBO! Our large party, full of fidgety kids who couldn't sit still was accommodated pretty well by the staff. I honestly felt they were exceptionally patient, opting to take orders for appetizers and kids' entrees first before returning again for the adults' orders. The Mrs. and I were relatively full from our previous latte and breakfast so we opted to share an entree and a clam chowder. The Lobster Ravioli came in a beautiful orange-pink-ish sauce. So essentially a salmon color? It was creamy, rich, and delicious. While not necessarily the best ravioli we've ever had, it definitely hit the spot. The table shared two plates of calamari. It was definitely better than the version we had at Sandbar the night before, and was fairly decent, but still lacked some degree of crispness. The kids all had variations of linguini. Our Little One got the buttered version with meatballs, while the other kids had theirs with red marinara sauce. The portions were surprisingly large for a kids' meal. It actually reminded us of that episode of Peppa Pig when everyone ordered spaghetti at the fancy restaurant and it was the biggest dish at the table! The base price was $6, which was exceptional, but I did think the extra $8 for meatballs was a bit steep, but overall, evened out to $14 for the plate, which felt reasonable given the portion size. We were too full to try dessert, but the view of the Wharf was absolutely stunning! All in all, a great experience and a wonderful place that can accommodate families. read more

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We found Paluca Trattoria on Yelp. It is a gorgeous setting, tucked away at the beginning of the wharf. It boasts a pretty view both outdoors and indoors. There were a few things that colored our experience a bit negatively here. The service staff was kind and helpful, but the person who served our calamari spilled a few pieces onto the table. I was a bit disappointed that there were no croutons in the Caesar salad - I've never had one without croutons. The pasta was solid with generous portions. It was probably the best dish we had. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Calamari - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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Sal has his culinary chops and menu is exquisite. We had calamari appetizers with Calabrese Sandwich and Artichoke Stuffed Raviolis. Very intimate spot and great for date or family. One of best areas to be nestled in at Fishermans Wharf. His staff goes above and beyond and if you get Abby then you are in great hands. Thank you Paluca! read more

We were able to dine outside on the deck on a beautiful day, so that was a great start! We ordered the starter of Calabrian Prawns, which were fantastic - and had just the right amount of heat. My husband had the Gamberoni and I had the salmon pasta. Service was exceptional. It was a good night! read more

Paluca Trattoria - Gamberoni (back) and salmon pasta. - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

The food was delicious, especially the Caprese salad. Our service was average. We were seated immediately, drink orders taken quickly, and food orders placed in an appropriate amount of time. However, it took forever to get our check and then even longer to have someone take our payment. The ambiance was nice. We sat outside and it was chilly. But the restaurant had the outdoor propane heaters on which helps take the chill out of the air. I liked how this place was tucked away in a corner. My only complaint was that we were not allowed to get four or even two separate checks. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Outdoor seating view. - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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This little place on the warf had amazing carbonara. Cute location with reasonable prices. The servers were also attentive and very accessible. We will be back! read more

Pasta is delicious and so order your favorites. The bologna parpadelle was my favorite but there were tons of options. read more

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Meh. It was alright. Service was slow and part of our order came out wrong. The hostess took a long time to notice we were waiting to be sat while 2 other employees kept looking at us waiting and didn't do or say anything. The food was way over priced for what you got. I was upsold the fish special which included mussels, clams, prawns, and black cod over linguine in a wine butter garlic sauce. The regular linguine with clams cost $26. This special cost $45 using cheaper mussels as the majority of the shellfish. Two prawns. I don't know. Seemed like an outrageous price increase. Flavor was okay, but lacking salt and needing some citrus. Hubby got the same dish, only with prawns only as the only protein. Same meh experience. We shared a side Ceasars salad. It was sad. Reminded me of those salad kits from Costco. Cheese didn't even appear to be freshly shredded; seemed like the kind from a plastic tub. Overdressed with dressing that was underwhelming in flavor. Kid ordered plain linguine with the side breast of chicken. It arrived swimming in butter. They fixed it, but her chicken breast was dry. Won't be back. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Prawns in a wine- butter-garlic sauce. - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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I went two times in one month! That's how wonderful it is. Great service. Amazing good. Ambiance on point.

Food was not good at all, the pasta was really bland and their wine is overpriced for such a small poor . The service was also really slow. The only good thing is that it was nice for being outdoors and pet friendly, but the ambience was not that great for it being at a location overlooking in the water. The vibe was just weird, I would not come here again. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Clam chowder is delicious , and the seafood pasta too. View is also fantastic! I waitress is nice and helpful . will come back again read more

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We're a party of 6. Requested an order of bread for the table. Bread was cold and sliced ever so thin that it felt apart as I tried to spread the COLD butter! Got 2 appetizers I specifically requested the calamari to be extra crispy, came out SOFT and so bland. We did come here on the 4th of July and after waking all day we were HUNGRY, wish I could've walked the boardwalk and try another place. Food was just OK. There was only 2 other parties besides us, so not sure why the service and food were mediocre at best! read more

Paluca Trattoria - Softest most bland calamari ever - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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We did really enjoy our lunch at Paluca Trattoria! The location is excellent - right on the water and isolated from the pier. Outdoor and indoor seating. Food was tasty but some small things gave the restaurant a 4/5 - pasta was a bit underdone. Waiter was very nice and got our order correctly, was attentive. Pretty casual but a bit nicer than most of the restaurants along the pier that seem to be much more touristy. read more

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perfect mind --blowing location at the end of the wharf at the bay. The hostess was both stellar and amicabl. the succulent chick marsaaA truly "moveable feast" as Papa would say. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

The atmosphere is quaint and offers views of the ships in the harbor. It wasn't crowded and the service was quite quick, but not the most friendly. We enjoyed the clam chowder and lobster ravioli, both of which were tasty. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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Finally getting around to writing this review! Visited for the first time a few weeks ago after a trip to the Monterey aquarium. Due to the location, the majority of tables are on the outdoor patio overlooking the water, with very few tables inside . But heaters are available for every table, our server helpfully moved the heater closer to our table. Good location at the start of the pier, and less touristy than locations further down the pier. Overall the service was very attentive, and food came out quickly after we ordered. The only downside was gnats were attracted to our wine The pasta was good! We got the Seafood special (calms, mussels, cod, with butter sauce) and Clam Linguine. Next time we're in the area, we'll probably be coming back. read more

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Great service. Great food. Great ambiance. We all enjoyed our pasta. Our waiter was very friendly and had great recommendations. read more

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