The first time we visited Cafe fina was on March 31, 2026, while in town for our son's baseball game at the local college. We come out to Monterey allot, but this was our first time at Cafe Fina. It looks deceptively small from the outside, but it is nice and cozy inside. It was the owner that sweet talked us in to try it out, we just didn't know it at the time that he was the owner. We were seated right away, with a good view of the water and the rest of the restaurant, our server was there right away to see what we needed. He gave some good recommendations that we both took for both dinner and dessert. I had the a cup of clam chowder and Wild Salmon over a light basil cream and served with veggies and Orzo. My husband had the cup of minestrone soup and the Grilled Sole and finished it off with dessert, their Blood Orange Cheesecake, which was delicious. We loved it so much, 2 months later in May we came back when our daughter came to visit and brought our son who got the chicken Parmesan last time. This time we got seated at the John Madden table, the waiter gave us the story of when Mr. Madden was there, and his jacket sits on the back of one of the chairs. Very cool. read more

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Had dinner here on a Monday eve. We picked this place for their variety menu from pizza, pasta and fish. I wanted a lobster tail. Menu says 6 oz tail. Well, it was probably more like 3 ounces at most. It came with zucchini and orzo pasta. The vegies and pasta were delicious. I cut my lobster into 4 small bites & saved it for last. It was delicious and sweet.. but maybe they weigh the shell with the tail for 6oz. Granddaughters ordered pizza, they were delicious! Yes a little expensive for an 8 inch pizza, but I guess that's the going price for the location. My husband had a calamari steak. He loved it. The food was good, the staff were all so kind and helpful. I do wish the lobster would have been a little bigger. We came here last year and just had a couple pizzas. We will definitely come back. Maybe the lobster tails will be a little bigger. read more

We ended up at Cafe Fina because our reservation at another spot fell through. Cafe Fina has a cozy little heated patio that is perfect for those with dogs. I was a bit wary at first seeing that the restaurant is located directly on the wharf. But the reviews led me to an absolute gem here and I'm grateful! Firstly, the service is excellent. Our server Bliss was on top of it all night! She also shared the story of the restaurant and its owner -- it's been there for nearly 30 years! That attention to his craft is extremely evident in his food. I ordered the paella, which was huge and delicious. My husband ordered the sausage pizza, which seems like an odd choice for a seafood restaurant... Do not hesitate to get it. Not only is it cooked in a wood fire pizza oven, the owner himself is Sicilian and the pizza is so tasty, so fresh, and truly just perfect. The wharf is a bit of a crowded hassle to get to, but it's worth it for this spot! We will be back. read more

Cafe Fina - Traditional Paella - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

I have to give this establishment a 5 star...first for the staff, especially Bliss who waited on us and the other staff who came out to assist us after seeing me fall down onto my knees! My husband and I are visiting Monterey and Carmel for the weekend but this day was quite warm! Just happen unexpectedly- Eshhh. Well, sat down outside with my dog and husband- they immediately gave us water to drink and also for my dog. We ordered a bowl of their famous clam chowder. Wow, so creamy, hot, tasty with lots of clams- one of the best I've ever tasted and I'm from San Francisco! I asked if they serve grilled octopus and Bliss mentioned that starting tomorrow that the chef said they will serve octopus! We chatted, mentioned, back in Spain where we fell in love of grilled "pulpo" (octopus) it's amazing. I will definitely try having dinner here during our stay but so far it's a winner with me. I didn't feel well enough to take pictures of the soup, next time. read more

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It saddens me to write such a negative review about this place, but I feel it's necessary. I went in on a weekend for dinner with a friend, excited for our usual order of drinks, salad, pizza, and pasta. While the food itself was decent, the service left much to be desired. From the moment we sat down, it felt as though our waitress was indifferent to our needs. She seemed more focused on other tables, as we noticed multiple groups receiving the complimentary bread while we sat there waiting. By the time we finished our meals, I had to ask her for our bread, and even then, she didn't offer an apology--just brought it out as if it was a chore. To add to the frustrating experience, when we requested to-go boxes, we had to wait an unusually long time. Eventually, I decided to take matters into my own hands and asked someone from the kitchen for boxes instead. It shouldn't have to come to that. I really wanted to enjoy my evening, but the horrible service overshadowed the good food. Unfortunately, I won't be returning, and I can't recommend this place to others looking for a pleasant dining experience. read more

Cafe Fina - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

We were near the Old Fisherman's Wharf, and we were in the mood for some seafood and libations. We were in between a couple options that looked relatively similar and that had solid reviews, but we opted for Cafe Fina The exterior really pulls you in with a flashy boardwalk/ Italian Sea Food vibe. The interior felt somewhat high end as each table had white table cloths, and most tables had a lovely view of the bay The menu offered a variety of appetizers, entrees, desserts, drinks, etc., but their focus is more seafood and Italian. We ordered a pizza to share, and it was tasty. A couple of us got sea food entrees, and two of us went for the clam chowder. Everything tasted great Sour server was fantastic. Our drinks were always filled, our food came out in a timely manner, and we just felt well taken care of Some tips: Parking can get a little tricky, but you can probably find street parking outside of the wharf area. You just might have to do a bit of walking. There's also parking garages and lots in the nearby areas There are two clam chowder bread bowls. One is more traditional, and the other is toasted with cheese on the top. Both are tasty, and both are massive. These would be best shared. The chowder itself is very rich and flavorful. Almost like an Alfredo sauce Cheers!! read more

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Stopped by here a few years ago and we loved the experience, its cozy spot with a heated patio, their customer service was good, and their food was good as well. We had their seafood paella, oysters, fried calamari, and fish and chips, all were good. They did have a wait but we had fun, though its been years so can't wait to go back read more

Cafe Fina - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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OMG their lobster tail dish is incredible! My dad and I went to this restaurant twice during our trip even if it meant driving extra because of their lobster tail dish. The cook is great and the seasoning is just right. The butter with herbs is sooo good too with the warm bread. We sat outside for the first time and sat inside the second time and I think the inside is better. If you can get a seat by the water, even better because the view is so nice. The service is also attentive and professional. Highly recommend this place! read more

Cafe Fina - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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I usually don't get fish and chips but I loved the quality here. I haven't been to Monterey since I was a kid, but the service here was really good. I really enjoyed talking to our server and she was helpful in recommending stuff! read more

Cafe Fina - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Great place for dinner! Great service. Dog friendly outdoor seating. Clam chowder was flavorful and the sourdough bread was nice and soft. The cioppino was delicious! The sauce they used was just the right amount of garlicky. Would definitely come here again! read more

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This place is pricey, as you'd expect at a tourist spot. We ordered the classic Cioppino and clam chowder in a bowl. Cioppino: - Soup: 5/5. Loved the flavor. Works great with the complementary bread. - Prawn and calamari: 5/5. Awesome. - Mussel: 4/5. Fresh and big, but fishy. - Clam: 2/5. So fresh (?) that it has sea water in it? It's really salty for some reason. Clam chowder: 5/5. No complaints on the texture and flavor. Very creamy. But overpriced. read more

Cafe Fina - Cioppino - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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Absolutely Fantastic! Everything about it. Seafood dishes were exceptional. Service with Roxanne was exhilarating and her brief storytelling of the establishment set the tone for dinner. Highly recommend Cafe Fina! If we lived around here it would be a frequent stop! Ps. The Canoli and Cappacino is a strong topper! read more

Cafe Fina - Dessert - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

A friend recommended that if we were in Monterey, we needed to stop by Café Fina and try their clam chowder. It was two in the afternoon, when we finally made it in to Monterey. We were a little hungry. We found our way to fisherman's wharf, And were seated very quickly at Café Fina. The staff is excellent. They do not rush you. They make sure that you have everything you need. Our table was great. It had a view of the water and we got to watch sea lions and seagulls. We split an order of fish and chips and had a cup of clam chowder. The clam chowder was rich and creamy. They use Alaskan cod for their fish and chips. It was cooked nicely and the batter was not too thick. I can definitely recommend this place. read more

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Nice place on the wharf with a great view to watch the sea life. We were a party of 10. Each ordering a variety of dishes. My husband and I had Caesar salad with fish and chips, other guests had cioppino, lobster tails, Caesar with chicken as a main course and the fresh beets and goat cheese salad. All quite good. The service was impeccable. One waitress handled our entire table with our drinks and food. read more

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I was on my bike and I could leave it right by my outside table. I had clam chowder and garlic bread. All was tasty. The service was fabulous! I didn't get my waitress name and the name of the gentleman that seated me, both of them were great! read more

Came here for a casual dinner in Monterey and walked in and got seated immediately. The way the tables were split by server seemed a bit odd, and it looked like an older, more seasoned server was serving every table BUT ours. We saw every table get bread and checked up on often. It seemed as if we were the only table being waited on by a young girl. She was friendly, but she didn't give us bread, and other tables that got seated after us ordered and were served their food before us. But we came for the food and that's what I'm primarily basing my review on. We started with the fried calamari and that was a 10/10. SO hot, so crisp and so fresh! For the mains we split the Mom's meatball pizza and the cioppino. The meatball pizza was good- tasted like your average sausage pizza, nothing to write home about but it also didn't disappoint. Unfortunately for the cioppino, however, some of the items in there tasted a little fishy. I think the linguine was a unique touch- I'm used to fresh bread to dip into the sauce, but I give them points for the pasta. Overall, the fried calamari app was the best dish. read more

We have been in Monterey for 4 years now. We have eaten at many places as you could expect. The peninsula has so many great restaurants. Finally we went to Cafe Fina this week after reading the story of the local owners and the brother's history in Monterey. We were so happy we went and will be back. Great people, great story. The owner grows most of all the veggies used in the restaurant and a lot of local seafood being the brothers have a long history in commercial fishing. Dominico's is also family owned by a brother just across the way. Must go to these restaurants. read more

We was exited to try clamp chowder it was good and tre calamary apetiser was so good but we experience race descriminatio way because there was withe costumers eating next to us they got good service and the servers was ignoring us , he ask only one time if we wsa ok but the very good thing of this place was the margarita and the Italian beer read more

Cafe Fina - Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bread Bowl ,Margherita - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

I took my family here last week. Everything was delicious. My sister and i had the minestrone soup, which was very good. My son had the clam chowder, and it too was very good. Everyone else really enjoyed their meal. We ate upstairs and had a beutiful view of the ocean from our table. I highly recommend this place read more

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Excellent service, amazing Italian food My husband and we were exited to try the cafe finas for all the recommendations. We were amazed about the amazing food and the excellent service. Cafe finas is a pet friendly, we ate at the patio and bring our two corgis. My husband and I decided to come back two days after to celebrate my husband's birthday We had a complementary appetizer and desert Dominic, and cafe finas , thank you for the beautiful experience and the excellent service read more

We were so excited to try it but unfortunately left disappointed. My Sand dabs were mostly bread crumbs with very very thin piece of fish inside , I felt I spent $26 on breadcrumbs mostly with few pieces of steamed veggies, my husband clam chowder was so full of flour. Total carb overload. Ughhh.... We were so disappointed, we figured the high price they charge is for the view . Service was good. No issues the waitress was very attentive. read more

My wife had Petrale sole, I opted for the Swordfish. Both were excellent. Add on a Caesar salad and it was a wonderful dinner. Can't say enough about the service as well. Been coming here for many years and never disappoints read more

Cafe Fina - Swordfish w olives and pasta - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

I was at the Turkish Festival and wanted a bite to eat so I walked up and down the wharf. I had been to Cafe Fina a couple years ago and remembered it as a great experience. I was lucky to snag an outdoor seat. I decided on the sand dabs and what a refreshing choice! Tender and accompanied by orzo and vegetables that complemented the sand dabs so well. Different. I deliberately saved room for dessert. I came here a couple years ago and distinctly remember the amazing peach cobbler and stellar service. The server recommended the clams and linguine. I'm intrigued by the cioppino, which has pasta in it, which is untraditional. Pasta is housemade. They grow their own produce and herbs, including peaches for their cobbler. I will come back and bring someone soon. read more

Cafe Fina - Sand Dabs - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Perfect day in Monterey to dine outside. Nice conversation with Dominic. The sole was perfectly prepared and the servers were attentive. Looking forward to dining here again. read more

Cafe Fina - Sole - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

We've been coming here for over 10 years. If we're not eating at my MIL's house, we're at Cafe Fina. Those are the options. Dominic and his team somehow never miss. The food is always solid. Like suspiciously consistent. I've never had a bad dish here. And that includes a very honest 4 year old who is fiercely loyal to the pizza. My 8 year old can absolutely destroy a clam chowder bread bowl. No crumbs. No regrets. This place has fed us through many phases of life and many hungry moods. It's reliable. It's delicious. And it saves me from cooking. 10 out of 10. Will continue to show up hungry. read more

We came here on a Sunday night with a few friends at around 4:30pm and was warmly welcomed inside. Given it was an odd time of the day to grab early dinner we were seated next to the windows facing the pier immediately. My husband and I ordered clam chowder bread bowl with garlic and herbs as well as a shrimp pasta. Each seafood item costs about ~$30. There is a $14 minimum order per person. Overall food was delicious, however it is expensive so if you are looking to go a special occasion go for it. read more

Cafe Fina - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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Visited March 2026 Food: Amazing! Hot, fresh and quality ingredients! Excellent clam chowder (not too thin, not too think!) Homemade bread for the table, such a simple but nice touch! I wish more restaurants would do this! Adds a traditional and old-school touch to your meal. Service: Friendly and genuine (not fake!) We had a very personable server (can't remember her name.) She was warm, friendly and had a nice pleasant smile. She checked on us often without being intrusive. Ambiance: 5 star! We were seated on the outside/patio on a sunny day. The weather was warm enough to sit outside but cool enough that one of the staff offered to turn on the outside heaters for us! It was perfect! Chris' Whale Watching Tour had suggested this place on our tour! So glad we decided to follow this suggestion! We will be back anytime we are in Monterey! read more

Great calamari, clam chowder (wonderful brother, perfect size potatoes not too big, not too many clams, not too much herbs). You could only get sourdough with the bread bowl, not for the table so that sucked. Table bread was garlic French bread or sliced warm French bread. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. Cloth table linens were nice and waterfront tables are lovely. Would definitely go again. The whale watching tour (Monterey Bay Whale Watch) we did said that this is the only restaurant on the wharf that adheres to Monterey Bay Aquarium sustainable seafood catch guidelines. After our cruise they gave us vouchers for a free appetizer (garlic bread or calamari). Lots of fun photos of celebrities who have visited in lobby and stairwell were fun. read more

Cafe Fina - Martin Yan! Other celebrities in photos were Clint Eastwood, Brook Shields, Jennifer Aniston, Gwen Stefani, Jon Madden, Levar Burton, etc - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

I'm not an Italian food person by any means. Of all the different kinds of cuisines out there I never crave it. I just don't get the whole love of pasta. Rice over pasta any day-- That's just me. This didn't prevent me however from thoroughly enjoying myself here as good food is just that. Good food. We had a great time here when we came this past weekend. First off, it was a pleasure to meet the owner of the restaurant and have him personally greeting all of the patrons as we walked through. Little note, check the celebrity wall to the left where all the famous people are pictured next to the owner. Dominic Mercurio was kind, gracious and generally a pleasure to talk to as he welcomed us all in. This place was ideally situated with views of the Bay and lucky us got to see some cute sea lions playing in the water from our table. Ambiance wise, this place was super cozy and intimate. It had 2 floors and we were on the 2nd floor. It worked out for the best because it turned out that the bathrooms were on this floor. I must have gone at least 4 times total for the duration of our time here. A+ for clean bathrooms. The service from all of the wait staff was on point as well as they not only kept our iced waters full but also engaged us in some fun light conversation. Before I talk about the food I must tell you guys that the portions here are huge. They are easily shared between 2 people. We ended up taking leftovers back in to go boxes for all 4 of the dishes we ordered. **Freshly baked bread with herb butter on the side-- Bread is bread and this was no exception. Served warm, we went through 2 loaves. Tip: Dip into the clam chowder before eating. **Clam Chowder $15.95-- Creamy and fresh, just how we like it. **Fish and Chips $21.95-- Tender thick cuts of fish filets fried up in that crispy golden batter. Dipped in their house made aioli, this was perfect. Nothing like the taste of fresh fish. Fries were also good but the star here was the fish. **Traditional Paella $39.95-- Clams, mussels, prawns, calamari, chicken and sausage with peppers, peas, fresh tomato with saffron rice. I love Paella and everything about this dish was tasty and well done. Fluffy rice, chicken sausage that wasn't too salty, generous cuts of tender calamari and juicy prawns with some freshly squeezed lemon brought this all together. I'm not even a mussels person but I didn't mind them in here. We loved this dish as well. Overall 5/5 experience. read more

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Went whale watching with a friend and she recommended we have lunch here, what a nice treat. We were greeted by Dominic, which I later discovered was the owner. I also found out that he grows a lot of the vegetables and herbs used in the dishes. I ordered the seasonal seafood grilled, and it was next level. The arroz was prepared just right, the seafood kabob was plentiful and cooked to perfection and vegetables tasted like they were homegrown. Come to find out they came from Dominic's garden. To add pizzazz to the joint, the pictures and decor exuded charm and personal history. read more

Cafe Fina - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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We came down from SF for a day trip to Monterey on 11/9/25 and decided to stop by Cafe Fina for a late lunch/early dinner. There were 7 of us and we didn't have to wait long to be seated. Our lovely waitress, Roxanne, greeted us with the biggest smile and made us feel so welcome right away. We had a ton of questions because honestly, EVERYTHING on the menu sounded amazing. Roxanne was super patient and helpful, explaining the favorites and what came in each pasta and entrée. The food did not disappoint... OMG, everything was delicious and the portions were generous! My top picks were the pistachio pesto & prawns penne pasta and the shrimp and crab ravioli. For dessert, we shared a crème brûlée and it was perfect, not overly sweet, just the right balance with a great texture. Soooo... what really made the whole experience special was Roxanne's incredible service. It happened to be my birthday and since I get shy about attention, I asked my family/friends not to sing too loudly. Roxanne totally understood the assignment LOL and made it hilarious... she brought out a cup of ice cream with a candle and "whisper-singing" happy birthday with my family/friends. We were cracking up! We'll definitely be back with more friends and family... the food was great, but the service truly made our day. See pictures for yummy food. :) read more

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We've dined here 3 times so far . Each time has been excellent. Same server each time too which is nice to see, employees like working there. I Didn't take pictures of other plates but we've had the NY steak that comes with veggies and pasta (looks like rice) very delicious. Also the Fried Calamari so delicious fresh, pasta and meatballs . My favorite is the clam chowder soup, It's the best clam chowder soup I've ever had , and I've tried plenty coming from Sf side . It's a nice place, it feels like you're dining inside a boat . We came here for the first time after doing Chris Whale watching right across, at the end they gave an appetizer card and after all the (my throwing up) I was so hungry so we took a chance and stopped by, it's so worth dining here, service it's great and food is delicious. This is the only place that doesn't have workers trying to pull you in to dine. This last time we went we saw the owner working there which is so nice to see an owner very involved, and working on a Sunday ! This Sunday we drove an hour and half just to come and dine a Cafe Fina that's how good their food is . read more

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Well me and my buddy's went to the mecum auction and after we was hungry so we decided to go to the old Warf and there is plenty options to eat but we was Lucky enough to walk into cafe Fina the sign out side said rated 1 Italian so we said let's be the judge of that! Lol Well let me start off by saying how pleasant the front door guy was and waitress was also super nice! And also I am pretty sure the owner was eating while we walked in! Good sign! Food was amazing everything was hot and full of flavor this is definitely a must try The claim chowder was very creamy not watery with plenty of claims and veggies! We asked to make us a spicy sauce to dip in and the waitress without to much instructions had it whipped up quickly with some hot bread! And it was great The shrimp in spicy marinara sauce also great. The waitress also recommended the sausage and peppers. She said the owner grows his on peppers. And then he just pick them this morning and put them in the sausage and peppers and it did not disappoint. The calamari was a bit over battered although I kinda liked it my buddy's did not like it. Restaurant sits in a nice spot over looking the water and it was very clean! Definitely a new spot that I would go to everytime I am in that area! read more

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Was here over Labor Day Weekend. If you have dogs I recommend this place, You can sit outside and I asked for an unsalted patty and they gave me a lot of unsalted hamburger meat for both dogs and water. The dogs loved the meal as did I with the Cioppino. It's probably one of the better Cioppinos I had in the area. read more

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We had an amazing evening at Cafe Fina. We were greeted as soon as we entered and escorted to our table (the John Madden table). Our server, Bliss, was fantastic. Attentive service throughout the evening and she had a wonderful personality. The food was off the charts. We started with calamari, crab cakes, and garlic bread which everyone devoured. My cioppino was one of the best I've had. Filled with shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari, and salmon each perfectly cooked. My son loved his linguini and meatballs and my daughter enjoyed her cheeseburger. My sister really enjoyed the salmon with a basil sauce. We shared a piece of tiramisu to celebrate my daughter's graduation. We all said that we were full, but would just have a small taste. Several small tastes later, the tiramisu was gone! One of the best meals I've had in Monterey. read more

As always Dominic and his staff were so welcoming. Ann didn't want shrimp and angel hair pasta, so they prepared it with excellent Italian sausage. I decided to pass on my usual Pallea because I wanted something smaller. Well my baked rigatoni was so large I could barely eat half. If you want the best seafood or Italian dishes you cannot do better than Cafe Fina on Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey read more

We always have a wonderful dinner / lunch whenever we visit Monterey. I can't remember our servers name but she was a gem. Always make it a point to go when we visit Apparently I didn't take pics but everything is fantastic. We had the chicke. alfredo, raviolis, calamari and the minestrone. DELICIOUS!!! read more

We had yet another wonderful lunch at Cafe Fina today. We enjoyed an incredible vegetarian pizza with tomato sauce, pesto, artichokes, red onion, mushrooms, roasted peppers & mozzarella. It featured a perfect crunchy crust created in their wood burning oven. We also had a delicious lasagne which we definitely feel is better than everyone else's. It is so light, creamy and flavorful and we were definitely grateful to have some to take home. What a fantastic recipe! Finished up with a slice of cheesecake that was excellent and had a blood orange sauce that provided a tangy contrast to the sweeter cheesecake. Plus a latte, of course. Very nice professional and attentive server too plus by dining al fresco, we had a fun view of all of the strollers and dogs on the Wharf. Highly recommended! read more

Amazing seafood and Italian! This place is on the touristy Fisherman's Wharf, but don't let that fool you. This is also a prized locals spot and the best place downtown. Service is also first class! read more

First review I've done because this was an out of the ordinary experience and dinner! First, we read good reviews about Old Fishermans Grotto so we decided to go for some lobster but get there and see a sign warning that if children are loud they will not be welcome to continue sitting in the dining room :( so we quickly search for other good restaurants nearby and see great reviews and pictures for Cafe Fina and decide to give it a try and are so happy we did! We get there and are immediately seated with outdoor seating so the little one can "roam around as needed", very Italian vibes to us in the outside seating. The waitress was extremely nice and friendly and knew what she was talking about. We ordered the twin lobsters and the shrimp and crab ravioli, and the pepperoni pizza. Let's just say the lobsters were delicious and juicy the pasta and veggies that came with it perfectly seasoned and cooked. The raviolis were delicious and the sauce was amazing. We used it to dip bread in it and even the pizza and the pizza was delicious and the crust tasted very homemade. We were so happy and satisfied with the food that we had absolutely no leftovers and felt like we want to dessert, even though we don't usually get dessert places just because we had to try more! We got the crème brûlée and the blood orange cheesecake and both were amazing! Crème brûlée was refreshing and the blood orange cheesecake was amazing! This is an underrated restaurant that feels small town and really made our night! read more

Cafe Fina - Blood orange cheesecake dessert, and crème brûlée dessert - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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