I love tapas restaurants for their eclectic dishes. This is the only one I found in the area. There were some classic dishes, nothing truly special. The food was edible but it didn't make me go "OMG this is so good". Service was very slow even though the place was 25% full. read more

Esteban Restaurant - Seafood paella- looks better than it tastes, needs more flavor - Spanish Near Me - Monterey, California

Great find! Stayed at Casa Munras and ate here ou?r first night. Hit the Happy Hour and had all of th e tapas for half price. Everything was good. Standouts were the mushrooms stuffed with goat acheese, and sausage with piquillo peppers. The Sangria was great- not too sweet. We also ordered the Snapper Ceviche with watermelon- really unique and delicious! Our waiter told us the Pulpa Confit was a must-have dish. He was right! We aren't huge octopus fans- but this dish is outstanding!! finished with the Churros and Caramel sauce-I'm never coming to this area again without having these!!! Service was terrific! Thank u Richard!! read more

Esteban Restaurant - Tapas-- and the restaurant is dig- friendly too! - Spanish Near Me - Monterey, California

Antonia room (Private dining): We used the Antonia room for dinner after our small wedding ceremony and it was exceptional. Everything from the ambiance to the food of course. My guest savored hanger steak and salmon, both were perfectly delicious. The wait staff was attentive super nice. The evening wouldn't have been as perfect without the help of Laurel. Pre planning this dinner took time and Laurel thought of every last detail I can't thank her enough for working with me and being so patient. It truly came together better than perfect. I highly recommend this restaurant and event space. read more

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Extremely surprised and impressed by this meal. We had the polenta, grilled vegetable plate, and vegetable tagine. The Tagine was one of the best things I've eaten in a long time. Full of flavor and depth. Would highly recommend this restaurant! read more

We decided to go with take out after a long few days camping along the Big Sur Coast. The Dodger game and takeout sounded like the call! We chose the Heirloom Beet salad and Short ribs plate. Both were delicious, food was very warm and timing was perfect when I walked from the room to pickup. I love this hotel and restaurant, been coming here for years. Thanks!! read more

My husband and I loved this place before Covid and believe it or not we are impressed with what the restaurant is able to continue to offer in the 'new normal' post Covid. Always amazing made from scratch Spanish food. Us being bio and furparents the chef makes amazing fresh doggie treats that our Westie adores. Every time we are Monterey we crave their food and end up having a leisurely European-paced dinner that is matched by a excellent wine selection. You won't be disappointed--one of the local gems that you should check out! Recommend you come here in the early evening, sit by the fire pit while you nibble on the flat breads and indulge on the paella. The people watching is fabulous and the staff is courteous, prompt, and adhering to CDC and Monterey county guidelines. read more

Can't wait to come here again! We sat at the patio and it was lovely, finally a restaurant were the music feels just right. The food was awesome, loved the octopus! House Sangria so yummy! Definitely coming back when we are in town again! read more

We visited Esteban mid week for my son's birthday and found a gem of a place. It has been a long time since we have had such a wonderful dinner. Between the outstanding food, excellent service and wonderful ambiance of their newly remodeled outdoor patio, everything was just right. We started with scallops that were perfectly cooked with a delicate crust on top. Next was the delicious pork bellies that were gone in seconds followed by the delicious Patatas Bravas. Next was the incredible tender Pollo Estofado that was lightly enrobed in delicious mole. My wife had the Chef Burger and Fries and when I looked up from my fish of the day Halibut encrusted with crab, wonderful of course, there were only crumbs left on her plate and her with a big smile saying, "I never had a burger this good and did you know they lightly fried the tomato slice in my burger, and I thought I did not like tomatoes in burgers". But the star of the night was the Wagyu Bavette. The menu says it comes with blue cheese but it is actually a blue cheese sauce that beautifully complements the perfectly cooked Wagyu. I am not a fan of blue cheese but I could not stop raving about this sauce. Last were three wonderful deserts: Traditional Flan, Basque Cheesecake topped with brandied cherrys and Crema Catalana topped with dehydrated orange slices. All three are made in house and are delicious! This is now our favorite restaurant in Monterey and we can't wait to come back. Kudos to all the staff and especially to the chef for a wonderful menu! read more

Wow, this place rocks! Especially the service. Our servicer was Lisdel and she was the nicest person we have ever met. She was so sincere, relatable, took her time to chat with us, and attentive! The good was amazing and tasty. It was fun to try a few different dishes and can't wait to go back. Oh, the rosé sangria was yummy too. I want to have it again on a Sunday warm day sitting on their patio. read more

This restaurant is the top 3 I have ever been to. If you are in the Monterey area you have to stop by. We were there for almost 2.5 hours ordering dish after dish and not even one of them was less than a 5 star meal. The dishes are fresh and unique, no one else has such a well thought through menu. read more

Esteban Restaurant - Octopus with paella Del Mar in the back - Spanish Near Me - Monterey, California

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Our first "Spanish" restaurant. Spent Father's Day with my Brother, Nephew, and our wives on my recent visit to Monterey. Staff was able to add four more people to my original reservation for two on short notice. Corkage fee was reasonable so I was able to bring a nice bottle of wine to pair with the meal. The service and food were excellent and we enjoyed our Paella, appetizers, and Tapas. Would definitely return when back in the Bay. read more

My wife and I were on Date Night for Family Life Weekend to Remember Marriage Conference. We had 830pm reservations on Sat 11/5/22. We were immediately seated next to an indoor fireplace (cozy and romantic). Everyone was on point. I'm sorry I did not get names except for our waitress Lisdel. She was delightful, professional, and her suggestions of fresh oysters, bacon wrapped dates, Iberico pork, and the Farmers market salad was wonderful. The 20 oz coffee rubbed rib eye was cooked to perfection. (we shared). The entire staff working that night was awesome, from greeting us, periodically bussing our table, and checking on us for anything of need. It was a wonderful experience that will deserve revisiting. Health and happiness to all. read more

I was in town for a couple of weeks and was craving some Spanish food, and decided to come here. Not such a great choice... The server was nice, and the restaurant was beautiful. Parking was very easy thanks to some quick research on yelp recommending that you park in the hotel parking lot next door. However the food was another story... For the tapas, we order: -Huevos Diablo: Nothing really special about it. It is basically a fancier version of a regular deviled egg. -Mussel and Clams: Since this restaurant was located in Monterrey, I would assume that the seafood here like every other restaurant would be fresh. These mussels and clams were NOT. They tasted anything but fresh; the dish was very fishy tasting. -Serrano ham and Manchego: This was their only redeeming quality out of all the dishes I have tried. The Serrano ham was fantastic: it was the right amount of salty. The Manchego and the bread balanced out the saltiness of the meat. -Paella del Mar: This was completely dissatisfying. Based on the ingredients in the paella (chorizo,prawn, clams, and mussels), it looked very appetizing. But looks can be deceiving! The dish was overwhelming SALTY. I think I got my week's worth of salt intake from that dish. Think the chorizo in the dish and the added salt the chef probably put in basically killed the dish. And I consider myself a person with a high salt tolerance too.This dish basically ruined my experience here at the restaurant. I was glad this place gave complimentary pita bread with dipping sauces (since I came when it was happy hour) because the main entree was not appetizing at all. read more

I was thoroughly disappointed with this restaurant. Not only was the service very slow but it took over a half an hour to get our check once we asked for it. To make matters worst they brought the check ($67) and since we were a group we ask them to split the bill 50/50. We gave them *two* credit cards and again waiting for our checks. Once the two checks arrived no one noticed at first that both check still had the total check amount on them ($67 not the $33.50 as it should be). Had not a diligent person in our party paid attention they would have double billed us. This is not a place I will patron again. Always check you bill! read more

Excellent experience all around. Cocktails were incredible and the food was even better. Our server Salome was top notch- telling us the history of the place as well as introducing us to Esteban the Cat who lives at the restaurant. The bacon wrapped dates and pork belly were to die for. Would highly recommend Esteban Resturant if you are looking for a unique place to enjoy tapas with a great atmosphere. read more

Ok! this is going to be short!!!!! 2 things I liked about this place.......the Fire place and the Biaritz (picture added) Everything else was a huge disappointment. The food was tasteless and I certainly didn't appreciate the sarcastic sense of humor of our server. If you are from the bay area and have enjoyed the many great restaurants we have you will surely not find this place impressive. P.S. if you do end up here for some reason.....and the server tries to convince you to try the orange salad....Don't do it!!!!! it is just a couple of slices of oranges with I think vinegar on it (very very acidic tasting....maybe I don't have a very refined palate :?) read more

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Very disappointed. The menu is very limited and the online menu does not reflect what is available in the restaurant. I was expecting to have a nice bottle of wine, grilled squid, clams, mussels, assorted cheeses , olives and jamon, grilled sardines - typical Spanish tapas. Paella was fine, but a bit dry. My wife and I were there on Monday the 10th at 5:15pm. Great service but limited choice of Tapas - as noted above. Ben read more

We had happy hour and dinner during our mini weekend gateway here and we all had a wonderful experience. The pork empanada was so delicious that we asked for another 2 orders of it. Other dishes like casa munras medjool date, lamp chop, and paellas were all good as well. I look forward to stopping by again next time we visit Monterey. read more

Had the paella de mar. The arroz was cooked to perfection with soccarat. Love the enhanced flavor with chorizos and fried onion blended in. The food was well presented. So was the service from CJ. Thumbs up! read more

Esteban Restaurant - Spanish Near Me - Monterey, California

AMAZING service. Totally kid friendly. Great food. We ate dinner here twice during our stay in Monterey. The staff bent over backwards to keep our kids happy (2 kids--2 years and 5 years). They brought fresh fruit cups to sate tiny bellies (and one night when the kid order didn't quite come fast enough, they comped theirs). They even had a toy box that they let our kids pick a prize from. The servers helped us feel like we could enjoy a fancy meal without our kids being rude to fellow diners. /This/ was service. They identified what we needed to make our meal the best, and they met that need. The food was delicious. We loved the cheese sampler, and the pork empanadas were heavenly. read more

Esteban was fantastic! The staff was very welcoming and the dishes were delicious. It was extra special to be greeted by Esteban the cat.

Great service, good food, ambiance superb. Richard made our visit extra special. He is real good and very accommodating. Our food was great. Our wine just complement the paella. We got a bisque soup that is such a comfort from a rainy weather. We had great time in this place. read more

During a recent stay at Casa Munras, we ate here twice. Once was just for a snack and once was for paella. The snack visit was OK, but it's hard to mess up french fries, a cheese plate and patatas bravas. Although, the patatas were kinda mushy and not as crispy as I'm used to. The second time was a total disappointment. We ordered 2 different paella dishes- one duck and one seafood. We were told it would take 30 minutes to come out, which to me meant we would be getting authentic paella so I was excited. Sadly, I was wrong. The duck breast was cold. I didn't try that one, so I can't speak to the flavors though my daughter said she liked it. For the seafood version, it was neither good nor traditional paella. The seafood was flavorless and sparse. There were 4 mussels, 2 clams and 2 prawns. There was no saffron flavor, rather it was paprika they used for the seasoning. I mean, it's not paella without saffron, at least not in my book. Additionally, there were brussells sprouts in the dish. They absolutely ruined the entire dish for me. I suppose what veggies you add to a dish is up to a chef's discretion and maybe he loves the addition of a stinky cabbage in a paella??? It would have been nice to know they were included, so I could have either requested to have them left off or not gotten the dish at all. I love paella. I did not at all love this one, sadly. Our server Steve deserves 5 stars for being so lovely. He was warm, sweet, and very eager to please. He knew the menu well and made recommendations passionately. It felt like he was a little hobbled by the kitchen, almost like he was afraid to ask for anything that veered from menu. read more

Review based on one visit, a Sunday night dinner around 6:00. Short and sweet: - Food was very good, 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Wife and I shared 4 small plates, made for a perfect size meal. The warm pita basket with hummus and tapenade was a perfect start. Prawns a la plancha were delicious; patatas bravas were well seasoned and very good even if they were really just fries and not the traditional cubes; empanadas had a tasty filling but suffered from using puff pastry instead of traditional dough. Cocktails were also tasty and well-prepared. - Service was excellent. Reasonably quick, friendly but not overbearing. 4 1/2 stars. - Value is excellent, based on the quality of the food. The tab came out lower than expected, a nice surprise. 5 stars. - Outdoor patio was perfect; it was an unseasonably warm evening which made for perfect al fresco dining. Ambiance was fairly quiet, too, with no screaming kids to ruin a nice meal out. 5 stars. Verdict: A wonderful dinner! We look forward to coming back the next time we are in Monterey!! read more

Fantastic food, enjoyed every minute of our visit. Richard was an extraordinary server, we were EXTREMELY impressed with his knowledge of the food and wines. We asked questions about several items and he knew the names, sources and backgrounds of each dish, down to individual ingredients. The Rancho paella was extraordinary, very fresh with an assortment of fresh vegetables cooked perfectly to compliment the sausage, chicken thighs, and creamy rice. The cheese plate was very generous and too much for our party of two to finish. Beet salad was A+ with an apple dressing and two types of beets. The anchovy appetizer was only average, a bit too oily. But really, we want to emphasize that Richard made the experience wonderful! Esteban Restaurant is lucky to have staff like him! read more

It's 7:35, half the restaurant is empty, and it's a 30 minute wait for a table? Please. Update to reply: literally half the tables or more were empty. The option of seating at the bar was neither offered nor needed. I don't believe "many large parties" post peak would fill half the restaurant. read more

We ordered the paella. It was supposed to feed 6 people. We're 4 people and we ordered through Uber eats. It was tasty don't get me wrong. However it was not enough food to feed 4 people. We each had one prawn one clam and one mussel. So that was a super bummer. And also we didn't even get any bread or anything. It was tasty but not worth the $96 I was charged. read more

Love the cuisine. Love chef Tom. Love the whole concept. One of the only places I'm always confident to go to in Monterey, any day of the week Lamb is awesome! Patas bravas = classic. Prawns la plancha is top notch Cool wine list and everything is super well priced for how crazy good the quality is. I can't recommend this place enough. Family friendly but also great for a party or a date read more

Incredible paella and sangria, they are well known for it! The staff is kind and efficient, we went back two times and will return for a third! Highly recommend the empanadas :) 10/10 meal. read more

A nice enough place, but they lack pure focus on the cuisine, as a whole. They advertise tapas-style food. As a longtime resident of Spain, I must say they miss the mark completely, in that regard. Of course, good food can be BASED on the notion of tapas, which I will regard as their actual goal. The restaurant is a bit cramped and noisy. The staff is attentive, and, overall, rates as a B. We had several dishes, and can speak to the lack of focus I referred to above. The "stone fruit salad" was acidic, lacked EEVO, and was underseasoned. I did not enjoy it. The "fried plantain chips" were cold and tasteless. It was kind of amazing that they had so little flavor. To order them is to make a mistake. The "fries" had plenty of smoked paprika, and were very nice, if simple. The "short rib" was excellent. Tender, flavorful, and well-presented. The "black pallea" or octopus ink version, was good. In Spain, the seafood would have been better incorporated into the dish, but it was enjoyable. So, there you have it, a few misses, a few okays, and some well-done dishes. Lack of focus, with some definite possibilities of improvement. Maybe I'll try Esteban's again in a year or so. read more

We had our 2nd amazing dinner at Esteban. Elmar, Mario, Salome and the entire restaurant team was so accommodating and welcoming. The food was perfection and the service was spectacular. There was not one single bite that didn't put our taste buds into heaven!!! We can't wait to share more experiences with friends and family. read more

Great atmosphere, very intimate and romantic feel. They have a beer flight and appetizer pairing that was very tasty and interesting. Service was average overall. Our server was great but we had to wave him down multiple times. Their paella was not as good as I hoped it to be, a bit dry and bland. read more

Last time some time ago I was there was traumatic but not their fault.My boss and drinking pal got a text from her active duty veteran BF who was in a hospital after a IED event in Helmond province.Anyway the tapas and service was good as they are/were account of hers in restaurant supply.Attentive yet flirty staff as my boss could/still does market herself well. read more

Went for tapas hour, literally all of the food was bad. Service was great, vibe was great, food just straight up sucked. It was cheaper bc it was tapas hour, still not worth the price. Worst fries, i love all fries, completely flavorless, we sent them back. The arancini was just bad, tasted so bad, we didn't send it back but I didn't even finish my measly arancini ball. Really good service though I loved all servers, bartenders, etc. Maybe the other courses are better, but tapas hour was... awful read more

Came for early dinner on one of Monterey's late August balmy nights and were seated promptly. Our waiter George couldn't have been more attentive and Madeleine, the assistant, was right behind him making sure of our comfort and service throughout the meal. Out of curiosity to try the many tapas, we ordered way too many: Empanadas, Heirloom Tomato Burrata, Caesar Salad, and an exquisite fig special with Serrano ham and light creme fraiche atop crusty grilled peasant bread. We ate and ate till we were beyond stuffed and ended up bringing the fig dish home for breakfast. Tapas may come on small plates, but you get your fill for sure. It would be hard to say which dish was my favorite but I may have to vote for the Empanadas which were light as a feather. This was accompanied by a glass of red Rioja from Finca Nueva and would have been topped by dessert except there just wasn't room! Next time we'll go for the paella, it does take a minimum of 45 minutes to prepare and serve, so we'll have to try some more of the tapas selection while we wait. Service was totally prompt and courteous, there was a nice comfortable crowd here and everyone seemed to be enjoying the pleasant evening along with the soft Spanish themed music and lovely meal. Highly recommend this spot! read more

OK I have to say this meal is amazing I'm gonna show you some pics for serviceis amazing breakfast was stupid good wow I would definitely stay here the rooms have a fireplace and the showers are perfectly clean it's it's older but I'm gonna tell you it's a Must stay if you come to ponder. you won't be sorry you won't be sad but you will definitely have a full belly because the food is great! read more

I have been going to Esteban's for years pretty much since they first opened their doors. Today my daughters and I decided to celebrate my birthday with a return to our favorite restaurant. Unfortunately, the only thing that remained consistently good was the service. Aiden was our server and he was great which is why I gave them 3 stars. He explained why calamari was no longer on the menu which although disappointing, I get the whole minimizing carbon footprint thing. However, the food itself was the real disappointment and deserves only 1.5 stars. The fantastic flavors of the Esteban of the past are not there. The paella Del Mar was too tart with the shrimp in the paella appeared to have been thrown on after the fact. The octopus was lacking in flavor, the burrata & tapenade flatbread was strange. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. I understand that a new chef will want to put his stamp on the menu, but what this chef is trying to achieve with the mishmash of flavors, etc is confusing and disappointing. Another disappointment was that the chef came out and started talking to various patrons at the other tables but completely bypassed our table. Did he know we were disappointed in the offerings? Did he assume that this meek Asian woman and her daughters would not know what good food should taste like. Next time Mr. Chef, when you're going around talking to patrons at their tables, at least make an attempt to stop at each table. It wasn't as if there were that many patrons at the restaurant. It leaves a very sour taste in the one table that gets ignored. read more

Great service! Delicious food and yummy drinks. Beautiful patio. Call ahead to make a reservation!

Absolutely wonderful! We stopped here for dinner our last night in town and will definitely be back on our next trip. The staff was kind and attentive and our waiter (C.J. I believe I'm terrible with names!) had great tips on ordering. He didn't hover and seemed to show up at just the right time. The paella was fantastic and the ambiance made for a great meal. It was intimate with the outdoor seating and each table had their own heater that the host moved so that it was situated right between the chairs we chose. Overall great meal and we will be dreaming of the Del Rancho paella and Summer Berry margaritas until we return! read more

Esteban Restaurant - Del Rancho Paella - Spanish Near Me - Monterey, California

I reviewed Esteban on my old account so I thought I had a review up.... Anyway, this place is an all-time favorite. You walk into the side entrance and if it's nice enough sit out on the patio and maybe sip a cocktail by the firepit or take a spot at a table. It hasn't been nice enough weather in Monterey for months to do that but that's ok because the interior is just as inviting. Modern decor with a fireplace. The design is simple and clean. That same understated style comes through on the menu. Things that match each other and are really nothing too dramatic or pronounced but just make you feel welcome. Familiar tastes with a twist. For example, one of my favorite dishes (now off the menu) was the crab salad with melon puree. Two flavors that go perfectly together due to their mellow flavor. Or the long-time menu item Huevos Diablos. Simple deviled egg with a shrimp but they add jalapeno slices (pepperoncini) and that extra ingredient just makes the flavors come out and you say "wow, why didn't I think of that?" Peaches and avocado? Believe it or not, one of their best dishes. So refreshing combos-some of them unexpected, but even the expected recipes have something to give it a special Esteban touch. I'm not exaggerating. The food is good. And not in a way that leaves non-gourmands wishing they were at a 'normal' restaurant. This place will satisfy the meat lovers with the burgers and duck breast menu items. It's approachable and comfortable delicious food meant to be shared, with that something extra that makes you say 'wow'. I've never brought anyone here that didn't agree. But my favorite time here is just quality me time to take my time enjoying a little too much food. The free wi-fi keeps me company and the service is not too disruptive while still being helpful. I don't drink anymore but they give that same attention to detail to their bar program. Generous happy hour specials like sangria. Cocktails are well-constructed. They were once among my favorite cocktail drinks in the area (along with Montrio, Patria, etc). Tonight was my first time in months (due to back problems and rainy weather). I wanted to try some new menu items. Came with friends and we tried the patatas bravas, cheese plate, bacon-wrapped dates, Cheese sandwiches, mushroom tart, empanadas, and lamb meatballs. I think they changed the patatas bravas. I remember it being potatoes before but now they are french fries. Other than that the meal was fun to share with friends and we doubled up on our favorite things and ended up boxing things up. Finished with churros for dessert. We want to come back for the paella. That's what happens when I bring friends. We talk about other items we wanna try and wanna return. But the next time I come, I'm keeping it to myself and coming on a weeknight and just me, myself and I are going to take our time exploring the menu, ordering one dish too many and knowing I'll never really try everything because I tend to order my favorites over and over. Then tell myself I need to come back because I went with my usual and still need to see how the short ribs are .......... By the way, the coffee is good here. Oh and they are great with groups. I've been coming for years and they have low turnover, which is a sign of a caring management. Promoting within. So I love supporting those types of businesses. read more

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