The restaurant was about 80% full on a Friday night, yet it still felt intimate and comfortable. With a capacity of only 49 people, there isn't a bad seat in the house. The fun artwork and paintings throughout the restaurant added so much personality and made the space even more enjoyable. We started with the duck pâté and bread. The pâté was silky smooth with just a hint of sweetness, paired perfectly with the toasted bread. It literally melted in your mouth. The octopus with bean and honey sauce was another standout. The sauce complemented the octopus beautifully. The octopus itself was incredibly tender and soft -- not chewy at all -- and honestly reminded me of some amazing octopus I had while visiting Portugal. The mussels came in a very generous portion, and the tomato sauce was so good you could drink it by itself. For our mains, we had the sea scallops and the seared tuna, and both dishes were excellent. Everything tasted fresh, thoughtful, and well executed. The coffee and tea cups were the Bodum brand, great quality, double-lined, and they kept the drinks warm while still being comfortable to hold. Definitely a memorable dinner in Pacific Grove, and I'd gladly come back again. read more

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The spotted duck is a very cute restaurant here in Pacific Grove. This is a sleepy neighborhood and there is parking available in front. We enjoyed both the service and ambiance, very attentive and clean inside. What works here? The duck liver pate was excellent, so creamy and all that fat along with it. The mussels, yum also very good! We also enjoyed the recommended seafood bolognese, very flavorful! What didn't we care for? Unfortunately, the duck breast which was dry, and on the small side. We do eat probably wayyy too much duck so we are somewhat critical when we come across it. Definitely would return, always root for small businesses! read more

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The Spotted Duck was an absolute highlight of our babymoon to Monterey. I don't say this lightly: the duck dish here is one of the best dishes I've had in my life and I've eaten at a lot of restaurants. Our waiter was incredible! & explained everything on the menu in a way that made you genuinely excited to order. At one point, I believe the owner's wife came out to greet guests, which just added to that welcoming, personal feel. GET THE DUCK!...Perfectly cooked, unbelievably flavorful, and paired so thoughtfully with everything on the plate. I've never had duck prepared this well. It was so good we seriously debated coming back again on our short weekend trip just to order the exact same dish before leaving town. The place is small but feels cozy & a nice mix of upscale yet casual vibe. A must visit spot if you're in town! read more

The Spotted Duck - Duck - Desserts Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Once you find a parking spot...try to go during the week as weekends are so busy. We were seated right away and ordered the bread and the duck fries as a starter. They were both amazingly good! I ordered the fish on mashed and it was a good choice. Nice spot to gather after a good round of golf! read more

My bf and I were really looking forward to trying this restaurant and found easy parking on the street. Reservations were also easy to make with a nice 15 minute grace period. Upon stepping in it's a bit of an older looking interior which was surprising but we got seated promptly upon arrival. We ordered the drunken skillet seared octopus to start(4/5). The octopus was cooked perfectly and not too tough or chewy. My bf loved the sauce which reminded us of a fusion hoisin sauce but I found it a bit odd for the dish and didn't feel like it was the best pairing. For our entrees we ordered - Seared Duck Breast (5/5): We both loved the crispy skin and the juicy and delicious cook of the duck. The sauce was delicious and the polenta tied the dish together as it soaked up the sauce and all its flavor. This was probably the best duck we've ever had and the only complaint we have is that there wasn't more! - Cabernet Braised Lamb Shoulder (3.5/5): Unfortunately, this dish did not live up to our hopes. I found the lamb a bit too gamey my bf found the sauce a bit too acidic. The gnocchi was good though but we found it hard to really enjoy the dish. Overall despite the costly price of the dinner, we unfortunately didn't leave completely full. Service felt rushed and we'd go back for special occasions or if we're really craving the duck but otherwise we would probably go somewhere else. Like a previous review mentioned, we wish we had both just ordered the duck! read more

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Delicious, friendly service, nice place, fantastic food, great company! Lived every bit of it. Potato smokes salmon soup, lamb and their delicious duck! All of it out of this world! read more

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I went to the Spotted Duck and it is definitely on the expensive side, so that is something to know before you go. I made a reservation about a week in advance for a late Sunday night, which I would recommend because it books up fast. We started with the Crispy Brussels Sprouts, which come with an apple cider onion jam. These were unreal. Sweet, tangy, crispy, and just addictive. We ate them so fast that my only photo is of a half eaten bowl. I would honestly go back just for these. The portion is big for an appetizer and you could easily eat the whole thing yourself. We also ordered the Spotted Duck Cheese Fries, which come topped with duck confit and a cheesy sauce. They were salty, rich, and a perfect match with the sweet Brussels sprouts. Such a good combo to start the meal with. For drinks, I got the Imperial Sour Plum. It has blood orange, goose ale, and ume plum wine. Really liked this one. Not too sweet at all, which is exactly what I prefer. It was refreshing and balanced without feeling sugary. For my main dish, I ordered the Seared Tucker Reserve Duck Breast. It comes with creamy white corn polenta, braised rainbow chard, duck, green tomato ginger jam, and a few watercress leaves on top. I almost ordered the special of the night but wanted to go with one of their classics. The duck was cooked medium rare, which they recommended, and it was tender and flavorful. Everything on the plate was great except the polenta. It was extremely rich and creamy, which is just not something I usually enjoy. If you are a polenta lover, you might like it a lot more than I did, but if you are sensitive to very rich foods, that is something to keep in mind. I wish there had been an option to sub it out because the rest of the dish was excellent. For dessert, I ordered an affogato. It was simple, just vanilla ice cream with espresso, but the combination was incredible. Exactly what I needed after a heavy meal. They also give you a surprisingly generous amount of ice cream. More than I expected for an affogato. My boyfriend ordered the Belgian Chocolate Pot de Creme, which comes with ruby port, stewart coastal huckleberries, buttermilk, and vanilla bean whipped cream. It was actually smaller than my affogato, which surprised me, but it was presented beautifully. The whipped cream was so thick and shaped that I honestly thought it was a scoop of ice cream at first. He said the pot de creme was very rich and he loved it. Service was fast and attentive without being too much. Our reservation was at six thirty and we finished closer to closing time, but dishes still came out quickly. The bill appeared quietly on the side of the table and they picked it up the same way, which I thought was interesting but polite. We sat in the far corner of the restaurant by the window that faces the street. It ended up being the perfect spot because it gave us a good amount of privacy. There was a party of four toward the front and a larger party of seven deeper in the restaurant, and although we could hear everyone, it did not feel cramped. I think we got lucky with our table placement. Overall, for the price point you know you are walking into, it was a very good experience. Great food, fast service, and some dishes that I would absolutely come back for. read more

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Food was rich and delicious. Relaxing atmosphere and excellent service with attentive staff. The server gave lots of recommendations that were helpful. The pate was amazing. I will definitely be back. read more

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What a great spot! We had a group of about 10 people so we took up a majority of their downstairs space, but it was fantastic! The service was impeccable, the space was warm and inviting, and the food was excellent! We brought our own wines and of course had to pay a corkage fee, and we also ordered some from the restaurant. I would definitely make this a place on the regular rotation when I'm in the area. Reservations probably are a good idea because of the limited seating. read more

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Came in on a weekday and was greeted and seated promptly. Service was really good and I was checked on multiple times during dinner and got local recs from my server too. I had to try the duck breast (the top seller) and it didn't disappoint. The duck was cooked perfectly and flavorful. I was really surprised by the Ad Astra sourdough bread that was grilled. This famous Monterey bread was delightful, highly recommend. For the quality and taste, prices were fair. I'd come back! read more

The Spotted Duck - Grilled ad astra bread - July 2025 - Desserts Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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WHY WE WENT HERE: - dinner THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE): - located on the corner of Lighthouse Ave and Fountain Ave - street parking available THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE): - on the smaller/quaint side - interestingly enough it's carpeted flooring - interesting choice of artwork - multi-level; ground floor and then a small set of stairs to the bar area; unsure if there's additional seating (other than at the bar) there THE MENU: - starters - entrees - sides - bin - sparkling - bin - white - bin - half bottles - wines by the glass - session cocktails - beer + ciders - water + soda WHAT WE ORDERED: - spotted duck cheese fries - crispy brussel sprouts - skillet seared duck breast - steak + frites - PG Spot - Yuzu Rose Shandy THE TASTE: - spotted duck cheese fries - comforting - crispy brussel sprouts - crispy and loved the dressing on it - skillet seared duck breast - great! tender and flavorful - steak + frites - good, but not great - PG Spot - fiance enjoyed this so much he got another - Yuzu Rose Shandy - refreshing but watery CUSTOMER SERVICE: - we walked in for dinner and managed to snag a table (all other tables were taken by reservations) - server was great read more

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The seafood here was delicious! I got the scallops and really enjoyed the sauce and the rest of the flavors in the dish. We also ordered multiple appetizers and desserts and enjoyed them all. The server was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant had a romantic and cozy ambiance. read more

Wow! After only one visit this has definitely become one of our favorite restaurants in town. We wanted to give the place some time to work through any potential kinks after the change in ownership from the previous restaurant. We loved that place and we are so glad to see the new owners are keeping with the quality food and excellent wine selection. We wanted a bit of everything so we shared the grilled octopus, mussels, and the lamb gnocchi. We paired it with a (surprisingly light) red blend of tempranillo, cab, and Pinot called "House of Brown". The mussels were probably our favorite with a very tasty bouillabaisse sauce. I just wish it had more bread!! The gnocchi was also a hit and made me wish we didn't share. Oh yea and more bread for that would have been so good. For dessert we didn't quite share (I wanted to try the new ice cream shop) the chocolate, berry and whipped cream dessert. I promised I'd only have a bite but definitely went in for a few more. The service was amazing and super helpful. We will definitely be back! read more

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This restaraunt is OK. It's not bad! But it's not the step-up fancy restaraunt you would expect it to be. Therefore, it's expensive for what you want. The food highlight is probably their salad and the duck. That's pretty good! Their burger is disappointingly average. Their other food is fine. The fish is fine. Not succulent and full of flavor at all. The one who served us is new. So I'll cut him some slack, but I would have thought they would hire a pro to serve here. Cheap pay probably because his enthusiasm wasn't there. The owner greets you at the door with a frown and smiles when you leave haha! So would I come back? Mehh... not unless you crave duck. Is it bad to eat here? No. Is it expensive? Yes. Should you try it, up to you :) read more

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Talk about a getaway weekend and starting it off with a little treat at the Spotted Duck. With so many places to eat, it just so happened that this was where the dart landed and we got to enjoy duck in a different way. Enthusiastic service and some good recommendations. We started off with two beers. Missed out on the wine but their collection looked beautiful! Our appetizers arrived which were brussel sprouts and the duck pâté. We topped it off by sharing a steak a frites! While it all sounds pretty ordinary, the duck pâté was the highlight of the meal. Enough for us to save some to dip the fries in! We got seated at the top corner table which was the best spot to people watch. It also felt more intimate because we were off in our own little spot a little spread past the rest of the table downstairs. There was mood lighting, interesting art, and shelves of wine. Back to the highlight. The duck pâté was one of those memorable bites of the weekend. Mixed with port gelee, the duck pâté is a good way of introducing someone who has never eaten duck before. It was savory with the slightest bit of sweetness! Greatly paired with some sourdough. I understand the love for this dish and would definitely come back for it again! If you haven't, trust me. It's a good new taste! read more

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Amazing service, ambiance, and food. All around a well spent time. Food tried: Charcuterie Board 10/10 the bread is to die for. Figured out I have a new favorite cheese with there goat cheese chèvre...get it with the side of marinated olives Squash and Pear soup. I think I could eat this over and over for the rest of my life and never get sick of it. If you leave this restaurant trying only one thing let it be this. Duck breast: absolutely phenomenal...polenta as the base was the most perfect pairing. Chocolate pot de creme. So good. read more

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Best spot in the area surrounded by a lot of overpriced overhyped spots in the area (cough cough Carmel). The mussels appetizer was awesome well worth it probably get about 14 mussels and the champagne sauce can be an amazing stand alone soup or pasta sauce. Wife had the duck and it was 10/10- the polenta was unreal I would just buy endless sides of it to eat. I had the Lamb, it was pretty much a Gnocci dish with lamb. Very good and tender meat with veggies that just worked with the dish. Must go for your trip to Monterey/Carmel read more

This restaurant is on the pricier side, but their service and ambiance makes up for it. We were able to walk in at 5:30, with no reservation, but you should definitely make a reservation a few days in advance. I ordered the special, which was a beef short rib, with red wine risotto. It was way too salty for me but the concept of the dish was really good. My partner ordered the duck which was really well cooked and served on some delicious, creamy polenta. I was severely underwhelmed by their dessert menu, and ended up ordering the lemon posset which was essentially yogurt with berries?! Overall good food and service, but the food is a little overpriced imo. read more

Love Spotted Duck! It is one of our favorite restaurants here in PG. I had the asparagus bisque with blackened shrimp and then a pork belly burger - OMG it is for sure a knife and fork burger and absolutely delicious! Strangely, I really liked the cocktail mix of the Berliner Weiss sour cherry with plum sake - sounds strange but very good. We saw a few desserts go out but we couldn't order any as we were stuffed! read more

Made a reservation hoping for outdoor seating. Arrived and confirmed they have outdoor seating and dog friendly! They quickly set up the table. Note, no heater but they offered blankets. They really went out of their way to make sure we were warm, keeping our hot water cups filled. Once settled, we ordered 2 cocktails, 2 starters, 2 entrees and dessert. duck arancini $17 duck confit, buffalo mozzarella, romesco sauce, almonds - This was serviced differently than I saw online. Instead of the 3 balls, we got one rectangular arancini. The rice was cooked perfectly, soft and creamy. You can taste and see little bits of duck confit. drunken skillet seared octopus $23 preserved black-bean honey sauce, jerry's everything seasoning - The octopus was tender and presliced into 4 pieces. I personally did not like the black bean sauce with the octopus but my partner enjoyed it. The octopus was still enjoyable as it was served on top of the sauce and the amount could be controlled. skillet seared duck breast $43 creamy white corn polenta, braised rainbow chard, duck jus, green tomato ginger jam - The duck was tender. The polenta was soft and creamy. Absolutely loved the green tomato ginger jam with the duck. Had reminiscence of plum sauce. caramelized sea scallops $43 maitakes, snap peas, fingerling potatoes, porcini mushroom blanquette - The dish was served with 4 perfectly cooked scallops. The blanquette was delicious. I scrapped the sauce with every bit on the plate till it was clean. Spiced Pumpkin Cake $11 With apple and whipped marcapone - Per the server, this is a new dessert. The cake was moist and lightly spiced. The apples and the marcapone matched really well with the cake. I only wished the cake was warmer slightly before serving. Overall, the entire meal was fantastic. The portion size was a bit small for the value. However, their service was so accommodating, we left happy with our dinner choice. With a final bill of approximately $200 for 2 people and leaving still a bit hungry, I'm not sure this will be a good causal dining spot. This restaurant would definitely be a great spot for special occasions or if you're a light eater. read more

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Made a last minute reservation and had one of the best dinners ever this evening. The huz and I split an asparagus beet salad, he had braised short ribs, and I had the duck breast. Everything was absolutely delicious--flavors were on point and meats were tender. Wonderful, friendly service. read more

What a great fine this was small little place, but oh Lord so good. Risotto mushroom was phenomenal. The lamb shoulder with gnocchi you couldn't ask for better atmosphere is great service staff is wonderful. The owners take good care of the place in our present covering making sure that you experience is ip to par I don't do this often, but this is a five star do yourself a favor if you're in Monterey Pacific Grove or Carmel come to Pacific Grove, and try this place read more

The Spotted Duck - Lamb - Desserts Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Everything was so good! I would love to come back here for a special occasion. My friends and I came here to celebrate an engagement, and I'm so glad we did! Attentive service, a relaxing ambiance, and the food was just delicious. You can't come to the Spotted Duck without trying the duck! The Skillet Seared Duck Breast was very tender and well seasoned. Cooked perfectly. The skin on each piece was delectable! Paired very well with the sauces, veggies, and creamy polenta. I highly recommend! I definitely recommend the Drunken Skilled Seared Octopus! What a soft cook on each piece. SO TENDER and well seasoned. The preserved black bean had a sharp saltiness to it, which I enjoyed. The Spotted Cheese Fries also hit the spot! Great appetizer. Think In-N-Out fries, with an upscale twist. Very tasty! read more

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My wife and I drove to Pacific grove from Santa Cruz county to eat at the Spotted Duck based on the reviews. We were not disappointed. This is a fantastic restaurant. Everything was top tier. The waiters and all of the service personnel are professional engaging helpful and friendly I had the seared Duck breast on polenta. It was incredible We will definitely be back. read more

Really more of a 3.5. The food was good, the service was good but the ambience is about as boring as it gets. The main dining room is basically a white box. There is just nothing cozy or interesting about it. Seems like an opportunity missed. The bar area has softer lighting and looks less like a diner. read more

Wow, wow, wow!!! This place is AMAZING. We made a reservation, but it turned out to be unnecessary as most of the tables were empty. We were seated right away. Wonderful, attentive service! Food quality is top notch. And...Food comes out at lightening speed. 1. Drunken Skilled Seared Octopus (5/5) Cooked to perfection; the octopus melts in your mouth. It's served with sweat pea and their special Black-bean honey sauce with sesame seeds, which was thick, savory, very lightly sweet from the honey and subtly nutty from the sesame seeds. The sauce compliments the octopus well and was very satisfying. 2. Heirloom Tomatoes (5/5) Heirloom tomatoes were extremely fresh and the burrata cheese just delightfully creamy and oh sooo satisfying. All with a hint of truffle vinaigrette seasoning mixed with cabernet onions. 3. Skillet Seared Duck Breast & Polenta (5/5) Duck was well-cooked to perfection. The edges were crisp and the duck fat melts so nicely in your mouth (drool emoji). The polenta was very creamy, not grainy at all and well-executed. 4. Brussel Sprouts (5/5) Perfectly crispy on the outside and when served with their apple cider onion jam, it is borderline addictive. Tangy, yet savory. Turns an otherwise boring and bitter vegetable into a joy to eat. 5. Duck Cheese Fries (4/5) The duck meat provided the savoriness, while the melted Parmesan cheese provided creaminess. All served over a large bed of fries. I wish there was a better ratio between the duck and cheese topping with the amount of fries. Most of the fries ended up not have any toppings on it. I think also if they added some truffle oil or truffle salt, it would take it up another notch. 6. Duck Arancini (5/5) Duck confit, buffalo mozzarella, romesco sauce, with almonds. The dish reminds me of mini croquettes served with the delicious sauce and the almonds bits added a nice crunch. They fried it in fresh oil as it was not heavy or rancid. The buffalo cheese was a bit stringy, but nonetheless very enjoyable. 7. Tornatore Italy Wine (4/5) Fresh and crispy, not too fruity. It's enjoyable enough, but minus 1 star because it's not as smooth. Highly recommend and cannot wait to come back. read more

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The service was very friendly and we were happy they could find seating for us at the bar on short notice. The ambiance was romantic and elevated. The Skillet Seared Duck Breast was amazing! This was our favorite dish from the restaurant and our favorite dish of anything we had the last month. The dish has a range of flavors from the fruity sauce to the creamy polenta and the rich duck meat. The textures were equally varied with the smooth sauce, gritty polenta, and the crispy sear on the duck breast. The Spotted Duck Cheese Fries were our second favorite with a delectable cheese and plenty of duck meat added. The Chardonnay Steamed Mussels were a tad too "fishy" for us with the Chardonnay really amplifying that ocean flavor. The Duck Liver Pate just wasn't for our palate with a very bitter flavor that we had to overlook to enjoy the dish. The bread was great with a nice flavor and texture. Over all, we were very happy with having plenty of new flavors and some dishes that really blew us away. read more

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Enjoyed an incredibly spectacular meal for my partners birthday! We booked 8pm reservations for 4. When we arrived there was only one other large party seated, which I was excited about, to enjoy a quiet meal. We were waited on my Nick who was so lovely and knew the menu front and back. Our meals were absolutely delicious! Can't recommend The Spotted Duck enough, a must try! read more

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3.5 STARS Not to be confused with Spotted D*ck, because that's what my phone kept autocorrecting Spotted Duck to...the same way it autocorrects "BBH" (Viet spicy beef noodle soup) to "BBC". iPhone autocorrect can be wild. FKA Jeninni Kitchen + Wine Bar, Spotted Duck opened in June 2023 with a new chef-owner (alum from Schooners, Rise + Roam Bakery, etc). Open for takeout, indoor dining, and dog-friendly outdoor dining (parklet). While researching where to dine while staying in the Carmel area, I saw that Spotted Duck kept several of Jeninni's menu items (pâté, meatballs, and zeppole). We had an awesome experience at Jeninni so decided to give their successor a try. We made rezzies for a weeknight but it didn't seem like one was needed if you dine early before 6 pm. M E N U Brasserie and bistro-style cuisine. Small focused menu with 20 items (excluding sides). Beer, wine, and low abv cocktails (cava, soju, or sake based). Wish they kept Jeninni's bomb eggplant fries and crispy lamb shank. D R I N K * Saké ($12): https://tinyurl.com/4vpdkp68 I try to avoid sugary cocktails so I asked if I can get a glass of saké which they kindly accommodated. Generous pour, served chilled. It was fine. F O O D * Duck Liver Pâté w/ port gelée, pickled mustard seeds, grilled sourdough ($18) // 3 stars: https://tinyurl.com/5yknn7jf Rich, buttery texture with an unpleasant bitter aftertaste. Loved the grilled ad astra sourdough bread...crusty with a good chew and smoky char from the grill. * Crispy Seared Duck Breast w/ creamy white corn polenta, braised rainbow chard, green tomato-ginger jam ($43) // 3 stars: https://tinyurl.com/mrrehvwr --Default temp: Medium rare Great flavors - mix of salty, sweet, tart, and fruity. The thick and creamy polenta was delicious, with the richness balanced by the earthy bitterness of the rainbow chard. BUT, the main event was a letdown. The dry duck breast was overdone to well and the sauce ladled on top rendered half of the crispy skin soggy. * Steak & Chokes: 9 oz grilled new york steak, fried sunchokes, horseradish aioli ($44) // 4 stars: https://tinyurl.com/5n8xbk87 --Requested rare Solid, the steak was cooked rare as requested with tender beefiness. Would have liked more nose tingling punch in the horseradish but it was, otherwise, a nice creamy dip for the steak. The fried sunchokes were a bit chewy with an earthy, nutty flavor. * Side: Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes ($10) // 4 stars Can't go wrong with creamy whipped mash potatoes with plenty of buttah. S E R V I C E Friendly, welcoming staff but understaffed. It was just the hostess and one server at the FOH. Since they were spread thin, we only saw our server when he took our order and when we were ready for the bill. Prompt food service. A M B I A N C E Cozy and casual with animal themed paintings. There's one main dining room and bar area with seating in the mezzanine area. Handful of tables in the parklet. P A R K I N G Plentiful street parking. Overall, I had high hopes for Spotted Duck esp with their duck dishes but they fell short of expectations. It was still decent tho. 3.5 stars rounded up for a local small business. read more

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What a wonderful experience! A delicious dinner at a beautiful restaurant on a pleasant Saturday night. Super cute and cozy restaurant with fantastic food and service. Will be back for sure next time we are in town. Highly recommended. read more

We came here for dinner for the first time tonight and will definitely be back! We had the Autumn Apple drink, arancini, Caesar salad, seared duck breast, and affogato and pumpkin spice cake for dessert. Everything was delicious, the service was amazing, and the ambience was wonderful. What a great evening! read more

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I would give it 10 stars if i could. We went for my husband's birthday and although dessert is not complimentary you feel special enough with attentive service. Get the duck, even if you don't usually like duck like me, get the duck you wont regret it. We also probably had the best brussel sprouts we have ever had in our lives. Everything was amazing, my husband got the steak which was also good but we should have just gotten two ducks that's how good. The desserts are light but delicious. Surprisingly the shortcake had a little something special while still being the traditional shortcake. Interior is great feels very open and not crowded at all. Really great choice for a fancier night out but not too crazy price-wise. Fabulous place read more

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Wonderful dining experience & amazing food. Classic dishes take on innovative touches. The brussel sprouts & apple cider braised onion jam was so delicious that we had two orders to share. We enjoyed the skillet seared duck breast, the Cabernet braised lamb shoulder with gnocchi, the pork belly & bistro beef burger, the forest mushroom risotto, and the steak & frites. Everything was so delicious that we ate up all our food. The server was helpful to suggest pairing a flavorful and bold Pinot Noir wine. For dessert, we had the Tahitian vanilla ice cream, the lemon ricotta crisps (akin to large, moist donut holes dusted with sugar and served with honey, vanilla ice cream, affogato, pot de creme, me and a lemon special dessert. Great meal! read more

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We had the Brussels sprouts, duck, pork belly burger and the sorbet. Food was great; so was the service. Will come back again! read more

The Spotted Duck - Duck - Desserts Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Stellar! Ever watch a food show that's making you crave that bite they are having, when they stop, close their eyes, to savor the flavors - well, this is the place to have those kind of moments. Tucked away in misty coastal Pacific Grove, this gem makes me realize that if a chef can cook duck really well, they probably excel at cooking steaks and burgers as well, which was our experience. The cheese duck fries were unbelievable good (def will come back just to eat that) - tender duck and perfectly melted cheese sauce on top of fries that are just like McDonald's, maybe better (that's a compliment, I just really love McDonald's fries). The corn soup, duck, and burger were also outstanding. read more

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Wow!!!! One of the best meals I have ever had!!! Service was fantastic and the food was spectacular! Super cute little restaurant! We started with the octopus app and the Brussel sprouts. Both were soooooo perfect! I had the duck over the polenta. It was amazing! My friend had the risotto with duck special and it was the best risotto we have ever tasted! We finished the meal off with the pumpkin spice cake. Omg! Everything was amazing! Hands down one of the best meals I've ever had. Highly recommend this place!!!! read more

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From the minute we walked into the Spotted Duck, we had a fabulous experience. The service was great without being overbearing. The food was delicious and some of the best! I had the rock cod in butter and capers, yummy! The hubs had the duck breast, maybe the best ever! The grilled bread was not to be missed either... We will be back when we got to the Montery area again ‼ read more

Stayed in Monterey overnight during our roadtrip and this place was walking distance from our bed and breakfast so we decided to give it a try. We got the steams clams for an appetizer. They were great. Husband had the rock cod and I had the scallops. Both were delicious and perfectly portioned. We both had cocktails we enjoyed as well. Skipped dessert because we were full but sounded good. Worth a walk in. read more

The Spotted Duck sits at the perfect intersection between class and comfort. Sure to please the epicurean while avoiding the pitfalls of over-refinement, it's a truly Californian fine-dining restaurant. I had the pleasure of enjoying a birthday dinner here and was left incredibly satisfied. We began our meal with the Grilled Ad Astra Bread and an order of the Chicken Meatballs. Paying extra for just a few slices of bread can feel a bit indulgent but believe me when I say, if there was ever bread to pay for, it would be this bread as it was delectably fresh and left me without a drop of buyer's remorse. A number of other reviews had mentioned the Chicken Meatballs so I felt that we should give it a try. It turned out to be a wise decision as the meatballs themselves were tender and well-seasoned, while the sauce was absolutely delicious. I wiped the plate clean, using the bread to soak up every last bit of the sauce. It was honestly challenging to decide on an entrée as they all looked and sounded incredible. In the end my wife and I decided to split between us the Sautéed Rock Cod and Forest Mushroom Risotto, both of which turned out to be great choices. The risotto was rich and flavorful, while the rock cod was lighter with a fresh citrus flavor in the lemon-butter sauce. I'm honestly glad we decided to split these particular dishes as on their own the intensity of the flavor of each may have gotten to be a bit much by the end. We capped the meal off with an excellent Pot de Crème for dessert paired with a few cups of tea to close out the evening. All told, it was an delectable dining experience and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a great meal in a cozy and comfortable atmosphere. I'm not sure the next time I'll be back in Pacific Grove, but when I am I hope I'll have another chance to dine at The Spotted Duck. read more

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Excellent! Dining solo and put at a table where my only choice was to stare at the wall at first as the evening sun was horrendous if I sat in the out-facing seat. I was able to switch around shortly though. Entered at 5pm on a Monday night. At 6pm now just 4 other tables on the main floor filled, with 4 tables that I can see empty. Upstairs (didn't go up) near the bar there are at l sat 2 tables of normal height set up and only 1 occupied. A high table is occupied and there is the bar there. My point in relating this was alternatives were available. Once I switched seats about 15 minutes after I was there, then finally felt part of the dining experience. The bus boy was extremely helpful and kind. The waiter Nick was fine. I had Pinot with the duck, but not before asking. I'm not good with knowing pairings. Maybe I'm wrong, but it didn't seem like a great match up. Ordered the bread: grilled and served with butter at spreading temperature: perfect!ion on all points! Squash soup was a delight! The flavors were on point and memorable. The seared duck would have been a bit more pleasant with a sharp knife, as it took some sawing. The duck was pink and perfectly cooked though. The green tomato sauce with onions was a delight; however, it overpowered the dish. I could have eaten less of it, but honestly that, the Swiss chard and polenta were the stars of the plate for me. Shockingly I skipped dessert, as I was very full and the sweetness's of the duck dish didn't leave me craving a sweet. Would I return? Yes, but I would try something else next time. Just spending a quick get away in Pacific Grove. read more

The Spotted Duck - The seared duck - Desserts Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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