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    Esteban Restaurant

    3.9 (664 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 10:00 AM, 4:30 pm - 8:30 PM

    Esteban Restaurant Photos

    ESTEBAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Esteban Restaurant

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    French Toast
    Olivia D.

    We celebrated Mother's Day brunch at Esteban Restaurant with a large group. While the service and ambiance were strong, the food left most of us wanting more.The ambiance was really nice and festive, making it a pleasant spot for the holiday. The place was busy (as expected), but we still enjoyed our time there. Parking was convenient. Service was excellent! The staff was attentive, warm, and handled our big group smoothly. Prices were also very reasonable/good value for a Mother's Day brunch. On the food side, my husband really enjoyed his lamb chops and thought they were delicious. However, the rest of the table found the dishes mostly average and not very flavorful. Presentation was bland, and the potatoes were soft (we like them crispy). It was a fun new place to try and a nice way to celebrate our mothers. We'd likely return for the good service, nice ambiance, and solid prices, but we're hoping for better food next time.

    Wine and oysters. Also dog friendly.
    Ramy H.

    This is my favorite local happy hour spot that I've been gate keeping until now. If you love oysters, this is the spot. Come on a Sunday and thank me later. The service is top notch, food is exceptional, and the ambiance is stellar. Check out their website for their current offerings. This is a great date night spot if you're feeling like tapas or paella, but also great for just a drink outside by the fire pits. The cherry on top is the chonky friendly cat, who will sometimes visit you in the later evening hours ^. .^

    Christmas menu
    Craig F.

    We met up for dinner at Esteban restaurants for a Christmas dinner, which was a three course prefix dinner to which a complementary tap was added because we were staying at the hotel. I ordered the prime rib along with the mushroom soup and a chocolate mousse style dessert. Other meals were the beet salad, lobster bisque, and the cheesecake. Our meal was accompanied by a real high wine. Paragraph. While the food portions were generous, food was only moderately warm. While service was polite, it wasn't up to the level one would expect from this restaurant. There was a significant delay between being seated and our order taken. We ordered a tapa and a cocktail, and after some delay our entire meal was delivered at the same time -- tapa, cocktail, bottle of wine, salad/soup, entrees... and then bread. Then, after an additional gap of time, our desserts were finally served. In sum, service seemed disorganized and food was tasty and plentiful, but appeared to have been plated too soon before being served. It seems that the restaurant wasn't prepared for the Christmas crowd. Perhaps if we had just ordered from the tapas menu instead the experience might have been better.

    Seafood pállela
    Tareq B.

    Located inside an old fashioned hotel near downtown monastery. The restaurant has plenty of parking and easy access from the lobby. I went there on Tuesday when they have a Spanish pállela and thee course meal for $80. The combo includes appetizers, Sangria, salad , main dish (Pállela) and Churos for dessert. The service was excellent and attentive. The atmosphere was relaxed and casual. There is plenty of outdoor space seating but it was raining so we stayed indoors.

    Burger with cheese for $18 burger night

    We love Wednesday night burger night. My husband says it's the best burger in Monterey County! The deal on Wednesday includes a burger, fries, and an adult libation for $18. This burger on the regular menu by itself is $29. We love the outdoor patio as well. It's welcoming and beautiful. Evonne is the best server too! So friendly and hospitable!

    Menu 12/2025
    Kathy C.

    Must try Spanish Restaurant! The ambience is nice, feels cozy. We had the Happy Hour brussel sprouts, croquets, meatballs, papas bravas and the Paella ( not a HH special) . The food was very good, seasoned well and cooked perfectly. We enjoyed Happy Hour cocktails, which are a great deal for $8. The hostess was nice enough to let us switch tables, to be closer to the firelplace. The bread pudding was absolutely delicious, with a creamy banana icecream. We were here about 12 years ago and it's as good as we remember it being. Can't wait to come back!

    La Granja Paella
    Neil V.

    Went here for my bday weekend dinner and was seated in their back patio, which was really cute. The weather was mild so it was a great time to be outside enjoying the warm sun. Everything we tried was amazing so I highly recommend the bravas potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and the chicken paella. They also have a veggie paella option so check that out! We also had their red sangrias which was refreshing! Definitely worth checking this place out and the food portions were huge for a tapas food place! The service was prompt and friendly as well!

    Cupping pepperoni- bread was so good
    Christina C.

    Visited Esteban on Mother's Day for Dinner. Looked like they had a special brunch for Mother's Day. It wasn't busy for dinner. Enjoyed everything. Would get a paella with seafood next time which would probably have more flavor. We really loved the Brussels and I ate all the crust from my son's pizza. The bread was so good. We found street parking easily on a Sunday night.

    Alex R.

    Wonderful atmosphere and very attentive service. The back of the restaurant is very nice. The food is very rich with fair sized portions. My family stated that the seafood options were very delicious but unfortunately there's limited vegan/vegetarian options. Overall, I think the chia pudding stood out the most and the lavender honey is such a good addition!

    Baked to order Bread Pudding
    Bob B.

    We love this restaurant! We last ate here 4 years ago, the last time we were in Monterey. Coincidentally, our hotel is across the street. We had tapas for dinner.

    Mediterranean Salad and Bloody Mary'
    Dawn S.

    Limited but good vegan options. We came in for the brunch. We had French Toast, roasted potatoes, and the Mediterranean salad. All flavorful and satisfying. We will probably come back for the tapas as it seems there are more vegan/vegetarian options there. As for the service and ambiance, top notch, professional and courteous. I also enjoyed the Bloody Mary Bar, so many accoutrements I tried all that I dared and was not disappointed. So good. I went with the mezcal and the smoky rim with a little carrot and mostly classic bloody. It was bloody good. We will be back for what is on off

    Grilled lamb
    Ata M.

    The restaurant is in a hotel and the entrance is very easy to find. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor is very cozy since they have a lot of heaters, we even asked to have ours turned down. The food is great, we stuck to a mostly seafood dinner. My parents also had the red sangria and they said it was "good and strong". I appreciate that they have an N/A beer option as well as local beer in draft. The pulpo and the gruper were by far my favorite. Both seasons very well and cooked to perfection. The chowder under the fish was so good! The lamb was tasty, and the carrots and shrimp (not pictured) were also very good. For dessert we opted for the cheesecake and the fan, both which had great taste. The flan had a more solid consistency than what I'm used to. But the taste was great. One star down only because our server barely checked on us. We saw her a total of 3 times (taking our order, when I asked her for more water, and when she dropped off dessert/check). Speaking of water, it took 3 times of me asking 3 different people and finally my husband getting up and asking again to get a pitcher of water for the table - all hoping to avoid continuing to ask for our glasses to be refilled. 5 to the food running team tho! The two young men who brought our food were super attentive and described the dishes as well as answered any questions and even helped my elderly parents with some salsa requests as well as following up to check how they liked the items they brought to them. Didn't catch their names, but hoping management sees this and gives them their kudos!

    Wagyu steak done perfectly to my liking. Could have been some more vegetables than provided.
    Jason D.

    Steak was cooked perfectly, nice atmosphere, could have been more carrots on the plate. Ate there four nights, service was good and okay. Perhaps if they added at least one more waiter. I do appreciate the manager stepping up and helping so I didn't have to wait.

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    1 year ago

    Nice setting-large fireplace-attentive and cheerful service- good food with lots of rich flavors

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    Page 3 of 17

    Ask the Community - Esteban Restaurant

    I need someone to make paella for my reception in Monterey ? Nov 6

    Hi Jackie, please contact the restaurant directly at 831-375-0176 with your request and provide them with your phone number and they will assist you.… Read more

    Considering coming here on my anniversary. Any vegan gluten free options? TIA.

    Good afternoon Jenny! Thank you for your interest in coming to Esteban Restaurant for your anniversary. We have a variety of dishes that are vegan gluten-free. The Harvest… Read more

    What is your corkage policy?

    I apologize for the delay. We charge a corkeage fee of $20 per bottle. Thank you!

    Do you still have happy hour?

    Good morning Kelly! Yes, we offered Tapas Hour (Happy Hour) nightly currently from 4pm-6pm. In addition our Easter Dinner menu will have an all-night Tapas at a special price as well as a Dinner menu offering. We look forward to having you here with… Read more

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    Bistro Moulin

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    This was our first time dining at Bistro Moulin, and it completely exceeded our expectations. From…read morethe moment we were seated, the service was exceptional, our server was extremely kind, informative, and attentive, checking on us several times and offering a detailed explanation of the menu and specials, which we really appreciated. The food was outstanding. My husband and I were scraping our plates by the end of the meal. Everything was perfectly cooked and full of flavor, but the standout for us was the lamb chop lollipops with yogurt sauce, they were absolutely delightful, tender, and incredibly well balanced. I cannot overstate how flavorful and fresh the food tasted. The ambience added to the experience, with a warm, cozy atmosphere that truly makes this place feel like a cute gem in Monterey. We would absolutely recommend Bistro Moulin and are already looking forward to returning. This is a place we will be visiting again very soon.

    We were really looking forward to our meal, but unfortunately it didn't meet our expectations. The…read moremussels had a strong, unpleasant odor that concerned us. I felt bad about sending them back and was apologetic when we brought it to the owner's attention. He was responsive, explained that it was the natural smell of the sea, and kindly showed us the invoice proving they were purchased that day. He also offered to check with the vendor. While we appreciated his efforts, the smell was off-putting enough that we decided to order something else. We tried the lamb lollipop special instead. For $42, the portion was quite small--just five thin, uneven pieces--and the lamb was overcooked and overly salty. When we gently mentioned this to our server, she responded with an eye roll, which was disappointing. We genuinely dislike leaving negative feedback, especially for small independent restaurants, but the overall experience left us quite disappointed. Hoping they can improve these items, as the restaurant has potential.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Seafood Risotto
    Seafood Risotto
    Bistro Moulin

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    Casanova

    Casanova

    3.8
    (2k reviews)
    3.1 mi
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    Very charming French Country farmhouse electric menu…read more Incredible menu with varied entrees. We ordered stuffed mushrooms and Gnocchi for appetizers. The Mussels were delicious so was the Cannelloni. Authentic artisanal flavors food made from scratch. Enjoyable atmosphere very relaxed and very pleasant. The service was incredible..

    I've been coming here the same time every year for the past 3 years, the dinner before my Monterey…read moreHalf Marathon. It's always been such a treat to myself. For Father's Day, I decided to take my husband for the 1st time for Father's Day. I asked for a spicy margarita and the waiter said, "The kitchen has not peppers." I asked, "If instead of the sides that come with my steak, could I just get a naked simple salad... just a bunch of leaves?" He said, "They do not do substitutions." I told him that they've done it before. I told him I was just there last November. I asked the waitress. She said she'd ask the chef. When she came back, she said it's one of their normal salads that are premade and if that was ok. I said, "yes. Thank you." There was no charge. The waitress made me feel like she wanted to help and actually did. Our waiter last night said that if I want a salad, I'd have to order salad for the regular salad price. Then, he said they found peppers in the kitchen and could make my margarita spicy. Admittedly, initially, I was shocked the kitchen didn't have any peppers, a Michelin Guide restaurant. This waiter was terrible and acted like he did not want to help. I ordered brocollini instead bc it was cheaper than having to order an additional salad. The waiter apologized and asked if I read the no substitution rule on the menu... Really? The waiter said we have never done substitutions before. This surprised me bc they did for me last November. My toddler is sitting next to me. I don't have the luxury or want to read an entire menu. He said the chef would come out to talk to me. I was find with that in fact wanted that to happen. The chef never came out to talk to us. I will never come back to this restaurant. I'm sad bc I run the Monterey Half every year and this was a treat to myself. But never again. Sad to want to share a nice place to my husband for Father's Day and to have a terrible waiter and experience in what was supposed be magical as every time I've been here before.

    Photos
    Part of the indoor seating
    Part of the indoor seating
    ESCARGOT DE BOURGOGNE: GARLIC BUTTER, BAGUETTE.
    ESCARGOT DE BOURGOGNE: GARLIC BUTTER, BAGUETTE.
    Cannelloni

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    PortaBella

    PortaBella

    4.3
    (1.5k reviews)
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    Took a day trip to Carmel and popped in to PortaBella on a Sunday for lunch…read more Touristy spots can be hit or miss so I was a bit worried, but the food here was phenomenal! I had the Linguini Ai Frutti Di Mare and it was perfect. The house-made noodles were the star-- chewy and thick-- plus the lobster cream sauce was decadent. The ambiance was nice and service pretty good as well. I would like to come back to have their pasta again!

    The number of reviews and ratings might be deceiving, or maybe we just got unlucky with a busy…read morefather's day weekend. Either way, it started good with a nice cheese board, but went downhill fast. Service was rushed, didn't ask if we wanted sparkling/bottled water, forgot the straw for a cocktail, nearly forgot to come back to order main course and take the menus out of the way in an already busy table. What threw us off though were the mains, the mushroom risotto for my wife and the scallops for me. The risotto was just bad, and not because I am a picky Italian. I'd suggest the chef to cut drastically on that cream, it makes it heavy and not creamy at all. Use butter and grated parmesan with cooking water instead but keep it very light, you want to taste those mushrooms! While at it, chop the mushrooms in smaller chunks. Go lighter on the truffle oil, which otherwise overpowers the mushrooms flavors. No shaved cheap parmesan on top; instead get some actual parmigiano and grate it at the table if wanted. Finally, cut the portion size, nobody is going to eat half a pound of it; an actual portion size should be like the one that comes with the scallops Ah I forgot, one of the scallops was sandy and you don't need to drawn them in butter; focus on quality rather than quantity.

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    PortaBella
    Smoked Salmon with Pistachio Herb Goat Cheese Salad
    Smoked Salmon with Pistachio Herb Goat Cheese Salad
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    The Spotted Duck

    The Spotted Duck

    4.8
    (166 reviews)
    2.2 mi
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    The restaurant was about 80% full on a Friday night, yet it still felt intimate and comfortable…read more 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.

    I have driven by the Spotted Duck often, and was curious to try it out. So I was excited to try…read moredinner there on a Saturday. When I looked at OpenTable, there were no reservations available that night, but I called to make a reservation. I think we might have been able to walk in, as when we got there at 6 pm, there were still some tables available. They have a sign in front that says, "Do not seat yourself," which made me wonder how much that happens! I ordered the asparagus and beet salad to start out, and it was really delicious. I chose the rock cod as my entree, and it was fine, but I did feel like it was a little bit bland. It also came covered in greenery, which didn't really add anything to the taste. The capers and artichokes in the sauce were good, but the rest of the sauce was less exciting. I probably should have ordered the duck! I tried my mom's duck, and it was delicious. The side of Brussels sprouts were delicious as well. And the chocolate pot de creme was really outstanding. I would definitely try a different entree if I returned, but everything else was really good. The service was very nice as well. This is a cute place that would be fun for a nice romantic dinner!

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    The Spotted Duck
    Duck Liver Pate
    Duck Liver Pate
    Saké |$12

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    Saké |$12

    Esteban Restaurant - spanish - Updated June 2026

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