Maligne deserves no less than 5 stars. From start to finish, it's been several days and I am still…read morethinking about how good the dinner and each plate was. Not only that, they are good humans. We started with small plates. The beef tartare of knights valley wagyu was served on a bone with marrow, with shaved horseradish and cured yolk egg that was so airy and felt like a special light cheese but with above flavors. might have been our favorite. the generous portion and BBQd bread was so perfect the milk bread - you know this is a must when you see them being served. I recommend eating them with the olive oil, but at least saving a few of them to dip in later courses (if you get the Delmonico steak or pork chop). little gem salad - they treated us this one, and it was one of our favorites. bacon, cherry tomato, buttermilk and parmesan don't do it justice for how fresh every component was. it reset the palate but also stood on its own beet salad - beautifully prepared and presented, the smoked beets were a nice connection to the rest of the smoked items on the menu but veg baked oysters - 2 kasha's, guanciale, creamed leaks; no need to say anything else other than adding a caviar supplement for any of the seafood. the mussels also looked divine and generous we, just didn't have enough people power to eat all the menu on our first try --- now the mains the Royale with Cheese - you know a Pulp Fiction reference is going to be awesome. this burger was so cheese, so delicious, and I literally 4 days later can still imagine how good this was. cooked perfectly, with the right ratios of meat and cheese. the frites were also perfectly cooked. Delmonico - 30 oz of knights valley wagyu, jus, little gems on a 45 minute fire; worth everything that it is. cooked perfect, with so much flavor. it's a lot of food, but we took it home with us and made minis teak sandwiches with some of the milk bread. chocolate mousse----one of the best I've ever had with a delicious whip cream the drinks were also amazing: smoky Paloma, magarita, but the top shelf clarified margarita was worth revisiting at least a few times. Lastly, the crew is just awesome. their vibe from chefs to waitstaff. we brought our 2 month old baby for our 4 year wedding anniversary. we will come back without baby, but they treated us like humans instead of us feeling embarrassed when baby needed to take a break. one of the best dinners I've had, and I've had a few.

Came in at 5:30pm on a Wednesday without reservation hoping the earlier dinner would grant us a…read morebetter chance at a table for 4. Explained we were celebrating two birthdays and hoped to have a quick bite. When we arrived there was only one table sat at the restaurant. The hostess/server explained that she had a booked night and it was gonna be a burden to seat us but she will anyway. Our meal was an hour long and no other table came in other than us during that time. Quite odd energy to make us feel like we were inconveniencing her despite 10 other tables being open in the restaurant the whole time we were there. Anyway spent $500 to be rushed for no reason. Food was amazing as usual.

Came here to try the breakfast out with hubby on a Friday morning. The place was easy to find it's…read moreon the fourth floor of the hotel walk into it and then they will seat you. It is a beautiful very elongated restaurant fireplace close to the entrance and a big almost floor to ceiling windows to see every angle of the ocean. We were greeted and seated right away next to one of the big windows to overlook the ocean.They took our drink orders instantly gave us a menu also. when he came back after dropping the drinks off, he took our orders right away. My husband had the blueberry buttermilk, pancake super delicious and I got the continental breakfast, which is a little bit of everything, a croissant, fresh fruit with yoghurt and granola with jam and fresh butter. Everything was super tasty and it came out really fast too. We'll definitely come back for breakfast again on another day with the family. You can't beat the view from up there. they are touch pricier than normal breakfast places just know that.

Stayed at the Monterey Beach Hotel and have been going to The Lantern Room for breakfast the past…read moretwo days - really pleased with options and prices for a hotel restaurant. Kids have had the All American, pancakes, French toast and I just ordered the mushroom scramble (it's listed as an omelet but I always ask for them to scramble it instead) and it was tasty and well-portioned. If you have status with Marriott they offer a "Bonvoy" breakfast my husband can't stop raving about - croissant, fruit and parfait. Perfect continental breakfast option! Service is attentive and friendly, glad to have this option while staying here.

This was our first time eating here. We ordered and the food came out quickly and it was so hot…read more Everything tasted fresh and very well done. The portions were very big so we had to take it in a to go box because we were so full. I would eat here again when I am in this town.

The outside of the restaurant looked very small and it's tucked away on the corner of the street,…read morebut the inside was beautifully decorated, clean, and very well kept. We were able to get a table right away without a reservation, and our food came out really quickly! The service was amazing. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and made the experience really enjoyable. I ordered the fish and chips, and while the dish was good overall, I personally wasn't a huge fan of the fries. Other than that, I had a great experience and would definitely come back to try something else!

My girlfriend and I ate hear yesterday and loved it so much we came back to eat again the next…read morenight. The Food here is AMAZING. Our service Oscar was the best. Super sweet. Checked on us multiple times throughout the night to make sure we were doing great. Thank you Oscar!! The ambiance is also incredible. We love sitting by the fire pits. 10/10

We came to this restaurant to celebrate a birthday and wanted to order something while we waited to…read moresurprise the birthday person with dessert. Unfortunately, the two dishes we ordered were extremely disappointing. The ingredients may have been good quality, but the flavors just weren't good at all. The duck dish was definitely not worth it, and the pasta was especially disappointing and not enjoyable. On the positive side, the atmosphere was very nice and the staff were extremely friendly and welcoming. The best part of our experience was the surprise birthday dessert they brought out. We really appreciated that gesture and would like to thank the staff for making that part of the celebration special.

10/10 -- Absolutely Incredible!During a recent trip to the Monterey Bay Area, I was searching for a…read moregreat breakfast and lunch spot. After doing some research online, I noticed Rocky's Cafe had phenomenal reviews, so I decided to check it out.I was blown away from the moment I walked in! The customer service was absolutely surprising in the best way possible--the staff was incredibly welcoming, helpful, and attentive.As for the food, it was delicious. You can easily tell that everything is made fresh, featuring excellent, vibrant flavors. The portions are absolutely huge, and the food presentation is beautiful. On top of that, the entire restaurant is spotlessly clean.I highly recommend giving this place a try, and I will definitely be back to visit the next time I'm in the area! 10 out of 10!

Sunday brunch came and waited for about 15 minutes for a party of 4 ppl…read more This place is small and cozy, it also has an outdoor seatings. I got lucky to be seated inside bc it was pretty cold outside. Got seated and had the waitress taking our drink order. drinks came out and we placed our order. It took a short time and our food came out. Ordered: Sweet French toast - 2 whole toast cut into half with fruits and powdered sugar- so good Rock's Omelette- was good Chicken and Waffle- 1 big piece and 3 medium pieces of fried chicken - batter was light and chicken meat was tender top on waffle which is good. Rocky's Skillet- 2 sunny side eggs, sausage, hash browns (buttery)- was good Service was good and quick. I would come back here again.

I haven't been going out to eat. Saving money for travel. But, got a bug to be at 12 turn. I…read moreexperience the best service here as a solo (not at night. Night manager won't give me a 4 top). Ordered food. But what I want to point out is the generous pour. This photo was taken after a few sips.

We ordered a pizza and a burger here, and unfortunately, both were very average. The pizza was…read morenothing special and, in our opinion, not worth the price. The burger was also very average, and the caramelized onions were overcooked. For around $25, the burger was definitely not worth it. What made our experience even more disappointing was the service. Our server was a tall, middle-aged woman, and unfortunately, she was not friendly or welcoming toward us at all. We did arrive later in the evening, but we checked the restaurant's hours before coming and placed our order while they were still open. We understand that it may have been close to the end of the night, but we still expected basic friendly service. There wasn't even a smile, and her attitude made us feel unwelcome. Also, the fork that was given to us was visibly dirty, as you can see in the photo. This was unpleasant and definitely something that should have been checked before being given to a customer. Overall, between the average food, the high prices, the unfriendly service, and the dirty utensil, our experience was disappointing.

First time diners…read more Awesome experience. We started with the spicy tacos that were superb. 3 small crispy tacos for $17. Our waiter suggested 1/2 salads. Great suggestion. 1/2 of a wedge salad & 1/2 of a beet were the perfect size. Next we advanced to the braised short rib that was huge. A full rack of baby back ribs is a better value, but way too much for 1 person. Their old fashion has a hint of nutmeg. Unique and tasty! Overall a great experience.

We want to give a shoutout to Tori, who was incredibly accommodating and helped our large party get…read moreseated on short notice. The hosts and servers were also wonderful throughout the evening--friendly, attentive, and professional. Unfortunately, the experience took a turn when our steak arrived. It was ordered medium but came out closer to medium-well/well and tasted noticeably burnt. My husband has never sent a steak back before and was actually very hesitant to say anything. Our server was incredibly kind about it, immediately took the steak back, and made us feel completely comfortable bringing it up. Unfortunately, that's when the experience became really uncomfortable. The manager personally brought the steak back out to our table, essentially to show us the steak and explain that, in his opinion, it was medium. We were then asked what we wanted to do. Rather than feeling like our concern was being heard, it felt like we were being challenged for sending back a steak that we simply felt was overcooked. Our entire table became uncomfortable, and there were definitely some awkward looks from surrounding tables. What made it even more frustrating was that, on our walk to the bathroom, we noticed another table had also sent food back. So it was especially uncomfortable to feel as though our table was being treated like we had done something unreasonable by asking for our steak to be cooked to the temperature we ordered. They eventually brought out another steak, but it was well-done on one side and medium-rare on the other. By that point, our table was ready to leave, and the whole situation had put a pretty significant damper on what was supposed to be a fun night with a large group. Afterward, we also noticed that we had been charged for an extra wine glass during happy hour. It was only $5, so we decided it wasn't worth bringing up after an already uncomfortable interaction with management, but unfortunately, it added to the overall impression. We do want to emphasize that the restaurant itself is beautiful, and Tori, our server, and the hosts were genuinely kind and professional. The staff who actually served us did their best to make the evening enjoyable. Unfortunately, the way the steak situation was handled by management turned what should have been a simple issue into a very unpleasant and awkward experience for our entire table. For that reason, despite the positives, we probably won't be returning.

We had another delicious meal at Montrio with family while we visited Monterey. Located downtown,…read moreit has indoor and outdoor seating. On some occasions, they will open up the front wall which provides a great environment during good weather. Our food was excellent. I had short rib ravioli, which I never had before. The dish convinced me it should be one of my favorites. For desert, we had Chocolate cake with ices cream. The service was fantastic! Looking forward to coming back and enjoying their food again next time!

Montrio is a restaurant struggling with the same dilemma everyone wanting to open a fine-dining…read morespot in a touristy area does. The closer you are to ground zero-Fisherman's Wharf in SF or Pikes Market, Seattle-the harder it is to remain profitable. Geographically, the density of Taco Bells and tee shirt shops increases. So, kudos to Montrio for trying to run an up-scale business as close as they are to the Wharf. Unfortunately, they fall well short of the mark. We arrive early and the place was nearly empty. To start with, we ordered the Porcini Pomme Frites ($14) as an appetizer. The fries came out limp and starchy-raw in the center. I sent them back. The replacement or refry of the original batch came back a little past GBD. They pushed the limit on the far side of doneness. And they tasted exactly and precisely like In-And-Out's awful fires. The match was amazing. For reasons known only to the Snyder family, and in spite of endless terrible reviews from food critics, I-A-O refuses to double-cook their fries. So they come out tasteless with an off-putting consistency. Not qualities anyone should try and emulate, IMHO. Now, ostrich and octopus, for example, are famously difficult to cook correctly. But fries are the polar opposite easy to do well. To screw them up twice in a slow kitchen at a $14 price point is inexcusable. I knew we were in for a rocky ride. I ordered the scallops. Yes, you guessed correctly, the kitchen screwed them up big time too. They had a light seer and were stone-cold raw in the center. The creamed corn side was excellent BTW, but not forty nine dollars good. Why didn't I send them back? Well, first, I knew they couldn't cook fries or scallops. Why would their second effort on the second course hold out any promise. Secondly, I refuse to be that guy who sends every course back, even when it should be. At a certain point my philosophy is shut up, learn your lesson, and share an honest review so that other might avoid the sad experience. My wife had the short ribs and enjoyed them. I thought they were dry, which is hard to achieve with fatty short ribs. Her mashed potatoes were okay, though under-seasoned. But if she was happy, so was I.

While I can't speak to the restaurant normal operations I can speak to their event hosting. We held…read morea farewell brunch the morning after our wedding at this restaurant and it was fabulous! The staff were easy to work with in setting up the event and more than accommodating with the several dietary restrictions that we brought up given the size of the party that would be stopping by (roughly 80 or so). They had a wide variety of pastries, meats, and other desserts that's were all absolutely spectacular. And bother internal and external of the venue are absolutely beautiful. We had a nice sunny morning so most of our party were sitting outside in the wonderful patio space and everyone was raving about how good the food was.

Cella Restaurant and Bar is a beautiful space in the heart of Monterey, with a warm interior and a…read morelovely back patio with heat lamps. Our server was very nice and attentive, but there was some unevenness in the courses due to a disconnect between what he described and what the kitchen actually delivered. For example, I mentioned that my partner has an aversion to cilantro, and in one course the kitchen actually replaced it entirely with chives, which was amazing. However, when our server came by, he mentioned they had put the cilantro on the side. In another dish, a full cilantro stalk came right on top of the plate. Not a huge deal since we could just pick it off, but it was a sign of inconsistency in service. We also ordered the cod dish, and when we mentioned we were avoiding undercooked proteins, our server said he would make sure it was cooked through, which confused me a bit since I believe cod is always fully cooked through. On to the food itself, we started with the plum lacquered duck kefta, which came out on two cinnamon sticks used as the skewers. These were absolutely fantastic, with the yogurt sauce acting as the perfect foil for the expertly seasoned duck and the cinnamon stick adding a subtle spice. The Moss Landing black cod was likewise delicious, with the cod cooked to a buttery and flaky texture, and it was paired with a sumptuous vanilla bean butter sauce over a bed of pepper and green bean panzanella that was out of this world. My only complaint was that for the steep price, the portion was quite small. The curried lamb shoulder was exceptional as well. It arrived with a striking presentation, encased in a three-quarter dome puff pastry shell filled with shredded lamb shoulder meat. It came with a side of some kind of fruit compote or chutney, though we were not given a detailed description of most dishes. This portion felt appropriate for the price and was the favorite of the night. We mentioned we were celebrating our wedding anniversary, and while we were not expecting anything over the top, we were a bit disappointed when we saw them bring out a dessert with a candle for what I assume was a birthday celebration at another table. For a restaurant of this caliber and at this price point, I have always experienced at least some sort of gesture, even if just a small card or message at the table. Overall, we had a pleasant evening, but it is not somewhere we would return to based on the uneven service and the mismatch between price and portions.

Had dinner here today for the first time and it was amazing! This is the oyster appetizer- comes…read morewith 6 huge pieces and lemons and some cocktail sauce, you can ask for some hot sauce also! Moscato wine was delicious and sweet. For the main plate I got the Prawn Pasta and it was so delicious, homemade noodles with scallions, tomatoes, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, and 6 huge shrimp and some white sauce! By far the best pasta I have had. My fiancé even said it was the best he has had also. He got the ribeye steak and it needed more seasoning or salt but it was still good! Portion sizes were pretty good for the price. Grabbed their crème brûlée for desert and it was also delicious, sugar wasn't too burnt or too crunchy. The cream was soft, and semisweet - definitely not overpowering. I would 100% come here again! Not from the area but will absolutely be on our list to come again. Staff was incredibly kind and friendly, we loved our server and was funny! The hostess was also very kind and welcoming. A little small and crowded but vibes were great! Place, service, and food 10/10!

It was a Monday night in late September, not connected to any big event or holiday, and this place…read morewas PACKED the entire time we were there. That alone says something! We arrived at 6:30 without reservations and were greeted by the absolute friendliest host/do-everything young woman. Waited about 20mins then were brought inside to our table. What a quaint, intimate restaurant, filled to the brim with patrons! First off, the service was excellent. Friendly, accommodating, and never once made us feel rushed despite how busy they were. Our server was so upbeat, took great care of us, and checked in just enough. The pacing of our entire meal was perfect. Five stars for service alone. Cheers! Loved the champagne! Complimentary bread was brought over, and it was fresh, soft and good. But then I noticed a nearby table had been brought a plate of "something" to go with their bread. I made the QUIETEST comment to my husband wondering what it was, and next thing I know, our server says with a smile, "I'll take care of you!" Apparently he either heard me or saw me looking because suddenly we had this delicious dipping plate with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pesto and Parmesan. I'm embarrassed to say that plate was wiped clean before our meal even arrived. Those little IYKYK moments are the best, and I'm glad I happened to be sitting near someone who knew! I read another review that said, "Once you're in, you're family," and after our experience, I completely understand what they meant. Hubby ordered the famous smoked oysters and was in absolute heaven. They were bigger than any he's ever had at a restaurant and cooked so perfectly that he declared he now has to learn their technique because his have never turned out that well. I watched him enjoy all six, one by one, slurping up the sauce and drizzled lemon until there was nothing left. I ordered the grilled sole, and it was definitely enough to share. Two massive filets, lightly breaded, perfectly cooked and covered in a light, delicious lemon-caper sauce. I thought the seasoning was exactly what it needed to be. Nothing overpowered the flavor of the fish. Simple, straightforward and really well done. Hubby had the clam pasta, and then we discovered it was HOUSEMADE pasta! At this point, it almost felt like they were showing off. Why is a seafood restaurant bothering to make its pasta from scratch? Apparently because THEY CAN. There were so many clams, the sauce was perfectly seasoned, and there was plenty of everything. He could barely finish it but managed to enjoy every last bite. The food absolutely sealed the deal on a five-star experience. Great food, wonderful service, a cozy atmosphere and those little touches that make you understand why this place was packed on an ordinary Monday night. Easy five stars from us!