My favorite sight at a restaurant is seeing staff hustle, enjoying their job (or at least appearing to), and working as a team, and this place has that. We came in as walk-ins on a busy Saturday evening and waited about 35 mins to for a table. During our wait, I was able to observe the young and mostly Latino staff. They hustled, they all knew what needed to be done and when, they where attentive to the customers and patrons walking up for table availability, and they were gracious hosts. It was impressive to see such a young staff (average age mid-late 20s) running a popular restaurant as if they've been doing it for decades. On top of their amazing staff, the food was fantastic. We ordered spicy rigatoni, and chicken parmean, and both came with some of the best sauce we ever had. Flavor was balanced and not heavy, and complimented the pasta perfectly. We'll be back anytime we're in the area. read more

See all

My son and I came here after a day at the aquarium. Little hole in the wall place. My son said "mom you have to rate them at least 4.5 stars". He really enjoyed it. So did I. We ordered meatballs, tomato soup and the braised short rib dish (I think). It was VERY good! We devoured our food and had some to take home. If I remember correctly, they make the noodles in house... it was perfectly cooked. Perfect layered flavors.. no complaints and you can't beat the price or view. Service was excellent. read more

Rudolfo's - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

See all

8.5/10 Ordered the Margherita Pizza and The Works Burger, both had their highlights and a few drawbacks. Starting with the Margherita Pizza, a classic pie topped with fresh mozzarella and basil on a sourdough crust. The crust was easily the standout feature, crispy on the outside, airy inside, and packed with great texture. Unfortunately, the rest of the pizza fell a bit flat. The toppings were light on flavor, making it feel more like a basic chain restaurant pizza than a memorable artisan pie. 7.5/10 The Works Burger was the true star of the meal and an absolute must order. Made with wagyu beef, cheddar, caramelized onions, onion rings, pickles, and French aioli, every bite was rich, juicy, and full of flavor. The beef was well seasoned, the bun was incredibly soft, and the generous sauce tied everything together perfectly. My only complaint was that the onion ring could have been crispier to add more texture. I also appreciated being able to substitute the fries for a salad. 9.4/10 Service was fast, attentive, and welcoming despite how busy the restaurant was. We were seated outside, and they even brought us a blanket, which was a thoughtful touch that elevated the experience. read more

Rudolfo's - Margarita Pizza and The Works - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Best onion rings ever! Not much to say other than you need to try them. Pizza with hot honey was good, crust was delicious. Portion was perfect for lunch and made a great midnight snack. Brisket sandwich wasn't my favorite, the meat was shredded so finely, it felt like there was more slaw than protein. Was a bit messy and tricky to eat, the fries were my favorite part. I wouldn't order it again, but everything around me looked so good I'm excited to come back and try more. If you can sit outside, opt for an outdoor table, it's a bit warm and stuffy inside. Staff were super friendly, responsive, and everything there was loving it. Will definitely be back again. read more

See all

I always walk by this place and finally decided to pop in for a quick brunch. Their eggs were the fluffiest I've ever had so delicious it makes you want to lick the plate clean. The brioche toast was a nice touch as well. Our server was super nice and fast good service. I will have to be back to try their dinner! read more

Rudolfo's - American Brekkie - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

My sister ordered us dinner from here, its been on a list of mine for some time, she ordered on line & it was ready quickly, i ordered the lasagna, she tried onion rings, caesar salad & garlic cheesy french bread, everything was delish, she said the place was packed, inside & out & its obvious why, the food is outstanding, cant wait to try other items read more

See all

Great service (Chris was very attentive and friendly) Wait time for food was minimal Brussel sprouts were excellent Caesar Salad very good Pasta dishes al dente, rich sauces Tiramisu was excellent as was the gelato Definitely recommend read more

See all

Delicious pizza!! Great indoor and outdoor seating. We chose to sit outside and enjoyed visiting with people and their pups. (The only downside is our table was lopsided and glasses kept sliding) Servers and hostess were kind and efficient. I already want another pizza! The crust was amazing! Perfectly crisp and chewy at the same time. We ordered a Margherita with burrata and spicy chili honey drizzled on top. So good!! Our Caesar salad was also good but the pizza was definitely the star!! read more

Rudolfo's - Margherita pizza with burrata and spicy chili honey - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

See all

My friends and I stopped by this place on our way down hwy1, and tried their brunch menu ( they don't serve lunch menu after 1pm on fri and sat). Overall, the food was quite enjoyable, and the service was very welcoming and friendly. I ordered the breakfast burrito and it was just bit on the bland side; i think it wouldve been better if they provided some more sauce, but that's just a personal preference. Their portions are quite large, and they go to every table offering takeout boxes. read more

See all

Amazing! Cute little spot with indoor and outdoor seating. Menu was full of savory options, and a sweet dessert menu. We got two chicken dishes that were SO BIG this was definitely enough to feed 1-3 people. The chicken sandwich was moist, full of savory flavor, and a sweet bun. The chicken parm was lasagna like, with lots of layers. Both were easy to cut, eat, and enjoy. The atmosphere was lively and outgoing. The Brussel sprouts with bacon were AMAZING and I highly recommend them. Our waiter was kind and quick. read more

See all

Last Wednesday my husband and I were looking for a date night spot that we hadn't tried before. Rudolfo's had been on my list for a while, and it was perfect in every way. We walked in (sans reservation) around 6 last Wednesday night and they had room to seat us outside. The service was attentive, friendly, and the recommendations were wonderful. A lovely gal sitting at the table next to us noticed us struggling with what to choose and recommended the fig pizza. She said she visited a few times a year from Santa Barbara and always came here for that dish specifically. She even gave us a slice prior to us ordering! She wasn't lying- it was otherworldly. Don't go here without trying it. We started with some tasty beer and wine and with the caesar salad with chicken which was crisp, refreshing, and huge (plenty for 2-3 folks to split). My husband got the fig pizza (fig jam, basil, generous amounts of ricotta, and added prosciutto. I ordered the spicy rigatoni alla vodka (a wild card for me, since I don't typically do spicy but it's one of my favorite dishes at Jon & Vinny's which I've been craving). The pasta (albeit a tad spicy for me) was absolutely delicious and plenty for a lunch the next day as well. Overall, I can't believe we waited so long to try Rudolfo's. It's become our new favorite date spot and we look forward to returning! read more

Rudolfo's - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Highly recommend. The French toast was amazing and best biscuits and gravy that I've had in Monterey! Very friendly staff and they have a patio if you want to bring your dog. read more

Rudolfo's - Brioche French Toast and biscuits and gravy - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

$17 Breakfast burrito was OK. Nothing wrong; it was just boring. $9 key lime pie: pretty damn good actually. Love me a good key lime. read more

We ordered for take out while on vacation and we were pleasantly surprised at how fresh everything tasted. The pasta was definitely homemade and the pizza was delicious! The food was ready in a timely manner and easy to pick up. It was definitely busy in there when we went in on a Thursday night, but they did have outdoor seating available with lighting and heaters. I'm glad we stopped by, would definitely visit again! read more

Rudolfo's - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

This is a great place to eat in the Monterey Bay Area. The menu is loaded with great dishes but the XO Burger spoke to me. The combo of the spicy sauce, bacon, and onion ring really hit. The star of the show was the beef which was tender and flavorful!. It also had a cool small town vibe! read more

See all

Another place I so wanted to love. It started off great. They were crowded but i had a reservation so we were seated outside with our pup promptly. There were lots of nice outdoor tables. Service was excellent. We ordered two side salads , one arugula and the other ceaser. They were plenty big and very tasty. Then came the big disappointment. The margherita pizza we ordered was not good. The crust, though crispy, was incredibly bland. They need to add some salt to this crust. It was not good at all. The tomato sauce totally overpowered the pizza and there was practically no cheese at all. It was like eating a plain cracker with tomato sauce. Yuck read more

Wowwy!! This place is absolutely wonderful. The service was great - kind, courteous, and friendly. The food is delicious and the portions are large. Inside is tight but they offer outside seating. It was a bit cold (typical Pacific Grove weather) so we waited for a table inside. All our food came out fresh and hot. We didn't have to wait long either. See my pics of the entrees we ordered. I highly recommend giving this place a try. I've lived in PG for 8+ years and I've been to this place many times for their wonderful gelato. This is the first time I tried their food but it won't be the last. My new Italian "go to" from this day forward! read more

See all

Had the jalapeno business burger, that was hefty and favorable beast of a burger. They make their fries in house, and plentiful portion. Ordered a tuxedo cake and each bite was true loves kiss. Facilities clean. Staff was attentive and friendly. Would want to try their pizza and pasta next time. read more

Amazing pasta, hands down one of the best I've had. Service was super quick and servers were friendly. Bolognese was super creamy and the vodka pasta was amazing. Would stop by if I ever am back in town. P.S get a gelato on the way out, you won't be disappointed. We saw so many people go in and out for gelato we couldn't resist and we now understood why read more

Rudolfo's - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

We were seated quickly with no reservation needed, even during lunchtime, which was a plus. Unfortunately, the experience went downhill from there. I ordered the cheese garlic bread, which was nothing special, just okay. I also had the Chicken vodka sandwich. While the chicken itself was moist, it lacked flavor, and the bottom of the bread was extremely soggy, which made the sandwich unpleasant to eat. From the time we were seated to when our food arrived, the wait was about 30-45 minutes, which felt long for lunch. On top of that, the water was honestly disgusting. I understand it's tap water, but for a restaurant setting , please do better. Overall, there was nothing memorable or tasty about this restaurant. I won't be returning, and I don't recommend it. read more

Rudolfo's - Cheesy garlic - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

See all

I came here for the first time during a work trip to the Monterey Bay Area. I had the Rigatoni a la Vodka with Burrata and it was absolutely delicious. You could tell all the ingredients were fresh and everything was house made. The staff was friendly and attentive and I was seated really quickly as well. I definitely recommend giving them a try. I'll certainly be back to try something else (everything sounded so good). read more

Rudolfo's - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Was exploring downtown Pacific Grove and decided to stop here for dinner. I ordered the "Fun Guy" pizza to go since they had no seating. Surprisingly my order was quickly made and very warm when I took it back to my hotel. All I can say is WOW! I was blown away by how filling and flavorful the pizza was. It also maintained its crispiness. It was literally perfect. The only problem is that I didn't find them sooner on my trip otherwise I would've made a second visit! Definitely will be back here again when I'm in Monterey. read more

Rudolfo's - Fun Guy pizza - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

We stood at the sign that said please wait to be seated for about 10 minutes before someone finally sat us at one of the mostly empty tables. The water they serve is tap water and terrible. We asked for bottled water but they were sold out. We placed our order for meatballs with focaccia, two pizzas, ravioli and penne for lunch and it took almost 40 mins to get our food. Waitress said it was because they had to close the kitchen for a bit. I'm still confused as to what happened. The short rib ravioli tasted decent but was not really a full meal. My husband seemed to like his spicy penne. The kids didn't love the pizza but it did look pretty good. The focaccia is heavily soaked in olive oil so I was not a fan at all. Overall, not a great experience and wouldn't really recommend. read more

I've been hitting Heatwaves 831 since they were slinging sandwiches from a garage in Seaside so it was time to visit the restaurant Rudolfo's for an actual meal after hearing good things from friends. The service was attentive on a busy night and we were lucky to get the one available table without a reservation. I would definitely recommend visiting their site and getting a rez. It got busy! I was stoked to see Humble Sea Socks and Sandals on draft and my wife went with a red blend. We both got pastas and rosemary focaccia bread to soak up all the sauce. The bread was toasty while still being soft on the inside. The spicy rigatoni was a hit with a good kick and perfectly cooked. My wife got the Bolognese which was tasty but we both agreed not quite as good as the other pasta. Either way you can't go wrong. read more

Came here for the first time tonight with my family. The service was really great, and our waiter was very attentive. We ordered a large caesar salad and the arugula salad. Both of them were good size salads with great flavor and the caesar salad had lots of fresh parmesan grated all over it. We ordered four pizzas. The kids got a cheese pizza and a cheese and sausage pizza that they both loved. I got the bee's knees and it had a good kick wit and I really liked the flavor of the sweet and spiciness. My folks ordered the paesano and they really enjoyed that pizza as well. I highly recommend all the things that we ordered and we will definitely be coming back the next time we visit Monterey. read more

See all

What an amazing restaurant, looking for a place to eat in Monterey is hit or miss, a lot of places are super touristy and overpriced for what you get. We stumbled in to Rudolfo's and were blown away. The food is all made fresh or sourced from very high quality purveyors, the staff was super friendly and accommodating and the restaurant has a great outdoor space with an intimate indoor dining room. We can't wait to go back and try it again. read more

Rudolfo's - Chicken sandwich - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Authentic Italian food thats yummy good! You are taking a chance on a seat if you don't have a reservation. Its a popular restaurant with limited seating. The food is amazing. Its best to share a meal so there is room for dessert!! Homemade gelato or a baked dessert. So good! read more

See all

We've always wanted to eat here, coming from Santa Cruz, it's a treat to have freshly made pasta and super tasty sauce. Hubby also had a gelato, it's creamy and tasty. Overall, our experience was great. read more

See all

We were vising this area from the OC this past car week. We started off the morning walking around PG and Point Pinos when we decided to eat something local. We saw Rodolfo's sign, yelped it, and walked in. No wait at all, PG in generally was not super crowded or busy. It's in a cute and quaint spot, just like many of the other cafes and restaurants which are seated all along the main walkway/street. It honestly just added more to the very relaxed and calm nature of PG. We got their spicey rigatoni, garlic cheese bread, and their lemon and cheese ravioli. And Oh my goodness, the entrées were super delicious. This is place is hands down my #1 Italian spot. Service was good, nothing spectacular, but expected. We also got their gelato for dessert and their dark chocolate was also delicious! Pricing was overall fair and portion sizes were great. I'm so sad we live 6 hours away, otherwise I would come back again for sure! Hands down 5/5. Please visit this place! read more

Only second time there...and really enjoyed both the customer service and food, again. Made reservations, even though not necessary (but highly recommended). As soon as we got our table the place was packed. Enjoyed one appetizer, two pasta plates and gelato! Overall, looking forward to try everything on the menu! Even the specials! read more

See all

Incredible food, service and ambiance! We got a pizza, vodka sauce pasta and arugula salad between 3 people and it was the perfect serving size. Staff was super friendly and helpful. read more

Rudolfo's - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Great pizzas and arugula salad. I'm coming back again! Our server was very helpful with suggesting meatless options and was very warm and welcoming. The fig pie was our favorite. read more

We stumbled upon Rudolfo's Cafe in PG and will say we were very happy about it. They have a nice patio and indoor seating and great food options. We enjoyed our service as our server was attentive but also let us enjoy our meal. The crust on this pizza was delicious and we loved that they use EVOO for their foods. read more

Rudolfo's - Build your own pizza & Fettuccine alfredo pasta - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Always great service and food. Our go to place whenever I'm in town. Tried their Mango cheesecake tonight, and OMG, it was AMAZING! So light and creamy. Haven't had a cheesecake this wonderful in years. (Even at the Cheesecake Factory !) Thank you Rudy n Maddie for another wonderful evening mama julz read more

Rudolfo's - Happy Birthday Maxx! - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Sat outside and it was freezing. The heat lamp above the door was not on and we could see lights hanging from it. The service was horrible. I stood for a while until someone brought the 1 highchair they had and the table was cleared. We still don't know who our server was. A woman sat us and we ordered a pizza for our kids and Bolognese for us. The food was good, but I don't recommend this restraunt for the cost, portion, and service. We were dissappointed. read more

Rudolfo's - Pizza - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

I wanted to give my mom a special lunch for Mother's Day. We went on Saturday because on Sunday, the place transforms into a chicken sandwich pop-up. It's a small neighborhood type of spot with outdoor seating. We made reservations and got a spot at one of the corner windows. The menu is somewhat limited but the place is small so it works. That could be one reason why the dishes are so well-prepared. We started with the amazing garlic cheese focaccia. My mom enjoyed her lunch immensely. She ordered the lasagna and a beet salad. I snuck a bite of the lasagna and it's a delicious pink sauce. My mom said it's the best she ever had and she loves lasagna. The portion size is huge. I had the Fun Guy pizza, with mushrooms, ricotta and arugula. The flavors and textures complement each other. Lunch was exquisite and relaxing- not overdone but special enough to make my mom feel celebrated, read more

See all

Amazing food. Fresh,hot and quality. The flavors in my lasagna were perfect. My mom had a pizza she loved it. We each ordered an espresso martini with our lunch. It was tasty. Service was amazing. This little spot is busy I suggest booking your time. They do have minimal indoor seating and outdoor seating is available on beautiful days. A lot of shade read more

Rudolfo's - Build your own pie and espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

See all

so good we had it twice!!!! food and service so good we had it twice on our visit to pacific grove. I personally loved the spicy vodka rigatoni but the pizza is a must try too. cute outdoor seating and our server was so personable he felt like a friend. read more

Food - 4/5. Fried Chicken & waffles were good. Brine on chicken was tasty (reminded me of Ad Hoc Chicken from Napa). Pancakes were pretty solid. Would have preferred some maple syrup to also be offfered. Burger - Good. But construction and proportion may have been a bit too big and it was uneven. Drip coffee from Smooth was really good and was so fresh it had a natural creaminess without cream. Service : Adequate 3/5. Suggest touching tables more when kitchen is backed up. Time to get food : 1/5. Way tooo long. 50 minutes from ordering to get 3 brunch items is just absolutely unacceptable. I get it, scratch made things can take longer, however high end restaurants can operate at a much higher efficiency than that. They also served other customers first that came in after us first (not good for eagerly waiting patrons after 45 minutes of waiting). So it's clear that kitchen operations can be vastly improved. I hope you improve that. If you don't mind waiting and have plenty of time to chill then you should consider here for pretty good food. My kids were late to our appointment and we got our food ready to be packaged once arriving, because we didnt expect to wait 50 minutes for food to come out after ordering. I suggest trying to keep it at under 20 min, maybe 30 minutes max for food to come. Will potentially try out dinner when we have more time to chill and have a drink while waiting for the food to come out. read more

This is my new go-to restaurant to bring friends to! The staff is attentive, the ambiance is cozy, and there are no words for the food... the carefully selected menu items, the quality ingredients, the presentation, and the melt in your mouth taste is worth a second, third, four.. visit to Rudolfo's. The owner has carefully put his menu together with such thought and quality. Ruddy- we are lucky to have you in Pacific Grove read more

Rudolfo's - Cesar salad and Bee's Knees Pizza - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

See all