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    il vecchio

    4.0 (1.8k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    IL VECCHIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - il vecchio

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    Orechetti with peas, sausage and cream sauce
    Linda S.

    Many years ago this restaurant opened. I had bad experiences, but since the current chef/owner took it over, the food has been nothing less than amazing. Any of the pasta dishes are excellent. The service is excellent and I highly recommend it to anybody who likes Italian food.

    Sue F.

    Had a wonderful lunch here with my family during our visit to the aquarium. We picked this place for the short walk and food options. We arrived prior to them opening and were seated a little before opening time. Staff were very nice and brought water and menus. Decor was rustic but nice. Items ordered- Beet salad- Loved the taste and light dressing! Perfectly balanced! Bread service- Bread was fresh and good. The EVOO dip was delicious! Cheesy garlic bread- too much cheese for me but kiddo enjoyed it Berries & burrata salad- Hubby loved this! Cup of chowder x2- Yummy chowder with plenty of veggies & clams Saffron seafood pasta- Lots of seafood and just ok to me. Not a fan of the pasta size Spicy black fettuccine pasta- Loads of shrimp and not spicy

    Carbonara
    Nina L.

    Great Italian spot in Pacific Grove, very close to Monterey. We came in with a same day reservation on a Friday evening during Mother's Day weekend. It was quite busy, but we were seated right away. Very cute restaurant, intimate. To the right of the host, you can watch them make their fresh pasta. We started with the beet salad. Delicious. The citrus dressing really brightened up the greens. For entrees, we both ordered pastas. The portions are huge! We took home half, which was perfect for lunch the next day. We ordered the cacio e pepe and the carbonara. Both were delicious. I think I liked the cario e pepe a little more than the carbonara. Will return when we're back in the Monterey area.

    Shakira M.

    In town visiting friends and they took me to this Italian spot. I already knew it was going to be great as there was a line of people waiting to be seated. As you walk inside, there are guys making fresh pasta. Very rustic and quaint atmosphere had me feeling that I was in the home of family. Service was outstanding and they were very attentive. We ordered the Italian ceaser salad and Crab Arancini for starters. I loved that the ceaser salad was romaine heads and the crab arancini was amazing especially the sauce! For my main course, I got the Chicken Cacio E Pepe. OMG, so delicious. I can't even begin to explain the flavor bursting from the chicken thighs. This place was a 10/10 experience and definitely worth an out of town visit!

    Tonnarelli Carbonara with the poached egg already broken by me.
    Daniel S.

    The Tonnarelli Carbonara was good, just good. I think it needed more cheese melded into the yolk dressing preparation. The tiramisu was tasty! ...for what it was. But I like my tiramisu to have a strong coffee presence and here, that was completely overwhelmed.

    Sarah L.

    A family stable whenever we come to Monterey. The food and service here never disappoint. There's a lot of parking spaces and online reservation helps skip the wait time.

    Ben T.

    Been here a couple times now, and each time I left really happy with the experience. The food is good, and I leave stuffed. Absolutely filled to the gills with food. We've tried numerous pastas, salads, mains, and sides, and most of them were thought of highly by our party. The people working here are great, and we found some new wine we liked as a result of their helpfulness. They also have live music on certain nights, adding to the vibes. I'll keep coming back.

    Grilled Molinari sausage with pesto gnocchi
    William Y.

    Celebrated our anniversary tonight and had a terrific dinner. We come here every time we visit Monterey/Carmel and it's probably the best Italian restaurant in the area. Service was impeccable as usual. Will continue to come back anytime we are in the vicinity.

    Bread
    Kayla B.

    family chose this place on a whim and glad they did. Great space in PG with homemade pasta that really is delicious. The butternut squash risotto is also very good. Rice perfectly cooked, no mush and good flavour. Did need a bit of salt to bring out the flavour all the way but that's just personal preference. We added a chicken thigh which came on the side and is the same no matter what dish you order (parents split a different dish and their chicken was identical) but perfectly cooked, not dry at all and really is seasoned well to serve as a basic addition to any entree which i appreciate. Only regret I have is getting the honey glazed carrots as they were not very "honey glazed", just butter carrots really. Wish they were sweeter or had more flavour.

    Rebecca T.

    Food was immaculate. Service was fast paced but we never felt rushed. The server was beyond kind. Our water glass was never left empty. We were checked on several times. There was live music playing which added to the ambiance. They had a lovely bar area and beautiful local artwork by the booths. The recommendations were authentic and not forced. The descriptions were on point on how the food would look and taste.

    Gnocchi
    Jessica M.

    Cute Italian restaurant with good food and good service! We ordered: Burrata: delicious! The bread was nicely toasted, the tomatoes were sweet and the jelly things on top added a nice addition of flavor. All the flavors mixed really well. Artichoke: they were nicely fried and not too oily. It came with three delicious sauces. The lemon aioli was our favorite but they were all good. The pesto tastes really fresh. Pesto gnocchi: this was OK. The sausage it came with seemed out of place, not the greatest. Chicken Marsala: the chicken was so tender and juicy. The flavors were delicious! The mash potatoes were simple but good. It comes in a hot cast iron which is a great touch. Vanilla gelato: delicious! It comes with chunks of biscotti which were a nice addition. And caramel sauce which was not too sweet but great flavor. The Italian soda wasn't great, not much flavor or carbonation. It is close to cannery row and other attractions. There were plenty of parking spaces on the street. Overall, I recommend and would come back.

    AGNOLOTTI ALLA NONNA, BUCATINI CACIO E PEPE
    Lindsey T.

    When you walk in you see them making the pasta! They espresso martini is one of the best we have ever had. I ordered the agnolotti alla Nonna, it was AMAZING! Its probably the best Italian meal I've ever had. My husband ordered the cacio e pepe and loved it. Service was impeccable! If we ever return to Pacific Grove we will 100% eat here again!

    Sandra R.

    I find it challenging to give a negative review to a restaurant that serves excellent food, but I believe client connection is essential. Our dinner cost $230.00, including tip, and unfortunately, the service fell short. The server took my credit card without a word, and as we left (the manager/hostess) saw us depart, she didn't say anything. (in my opinion establishments of this caliber at least express gratitude to their customers) The ambiance is indeed relaxed and beautifully curated, which makes the staff's lack of effort to make patrons feel valued all the more disappointing. Due to the staff's seeming indifference, I wouldn't recommend this location.

    Bread service

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    23 days ago

    Great food and excellent service with good ambiance. Will definitely go back next time when I am in Monterey Bay again

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    11 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Just up the street from us and amazing. Best Italian around the peninsula. Great place to walk around afterward.

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    27 days ago

    The food was really good and the staff was even better. Would come back for another bite soon

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    Page 1 of 44

    il vecchio Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - il vecchio

    Is there a kids menu?

    Yes, there’s a kids menu.

    Do you still have Brunch on Sundays?

    We have Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays 8 am to 2 pm! Come on by we would love to have you!

    Do you offer gluten-free options?

    Yes! We have many gluten free options, although we do not offer gluten free pasta. Our gluten free offerings are clearly marked on our menu as g-f.… Read more

    Why can I no longer order take out on weekends?

    We just ended an anniversary special with 2012 prices for the month of July. When we are that busy we are unable to offer take out. Presently we are putting out a new menu with permanently lowered prices. If you would like take out on the… Read more

    Good evening, do you offer outdoor seating?

    yes, they do.

    Do you serve pizza for lunch?

    Hi! No we don’t serve pizza for lunch. Dinner only. Thank you for asking!

    View All 7 Questions

    Beach House Restaurant + Bar @ Lovers Point

    Beach House Restaurant + Bar @ Lovers Point

    3.7
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$$

    We went here because it was convenient, right next to the beach and Stillwell Pool…read more They have a kids menu with a bunch of options. My daughter had the marinara pasta with Parmesan and she loved it, finished every bite. It's a good portion too, and it was only $9! In fact, she liked it so much we had to come back our second night so she could have it again. To me, the highlight was the warm bread. It's served with softened butter, and coming in from the chilly outdoors to it was heavenly. I also had their Beach House salad--the candied pecans and the tangy sweet vinaigrette were very good. The second night I tried their Filet Mignon Beef Stroganoff, and it was way too rich for me. I barely ate many and it unsettled my stomach. Should have just stuck with the salad again! Service inconsistent. First night our server was an older woman with a ponytail, didn't see her name. She was super unfriendly. Felt like we were inconveniencing her every time I asked her something. Second night our server was a Latino man, and he was fantastic. So friendly and helpful.

    We visited twice this week. Each time we had reservations. Good thing as the place was packed…read more Street parking is at a premium so arrive early. Beautiful views of the ocean and bay, great service and excellent food. The Scallops Pot Pie, Pacific Mahi Mahi, Burrata salad and Fire Cracker Shrimp were all outstanding. Mud pie was meh. We will be back when in the area.

    Photos
    Fire & Ice Wedge: 
wedge of iceberg lettuce, applewood smoked bacon, grape tomatoes, bleu cheese dressing, FireCracker shrimp
    Fire & Ice Wedge: wedge of iceberg lettuce, applewood smoked bacon, grape tomatoes, bleu cheese dressing, FireCracker shrimp
    Filet Mignon Beef Stroganoff
    Filet Mignon Beef Stroganoff
    Roasted Airline Chicken Breast

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    Roasted Airline Chicken Breast
    Alejandro's

    Alejandro's

    4.2
    (286 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    We decided to give this place a try, and I'm so glad we did. The restaurant has a great atmosphere…read more Very modern, comfortable, and perfect for a nice dinner. What really stood out was the service. Everyone was welcoming, our server was attentive without hovering, and the staff made us feel genuinely taken care of throughout the meal. Everything we ordered was delicious!! The ahi tuna ceviche was fresh and flavorful, the grilled octopus was tender with just the right amount of char, and the birria tacos were packed with juicy, cooked beef. The duck taquitos were crispy and unique, the grilled salmon was perfectly cooked, and even the chicken tacos on handmade tortillas were simple but so satisfying. We also ordered the steak, which came out cooked exactly as requested and was seasoned perfectly. To finish, we shared the tres leches cake, and it was the perfect ending. It was light, moist, and not overly sweet, with fresh raspberries that added a nice touch. Between the excellent food, friendly service, and inviting atmosphere, this was an easy five star experience. We'll definitely be back to try more of the menu, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great meal!!

    Just stop looking, put your phone down & get in the car!…read more Everything about this place is exactly what you want when you spend your hard earned money! Service is on point! Food is to die for! Our server loved his job & interacting with people, now days that's hard to find. Every staff member treated us with kindness. The quality of the food is beyond amazing. The drinks are perfect, the guava was my fave, if you're a grapefruit fan the Paloma is good too but I preferred the guava My man got the carne asada plate and the meat just melts in your mouth. I got the mole enchiladas OMG the flavors were just amazing and burst in your mouth Guacamole is on point and worth it!!! HANDS DOWN ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS I HAVE BEEN TOO! The ambiance was just beautiful, clean and comfy.

    Photos
    Salmon
    Salmon
    Alejandro's
    Alejandro's

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    The Whisky Club

    The Whisky Club

    4.5
    (75 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Been to this place twice in the past year. Great experiences both times. Staff are super friendly…read moreand knowledgeable about their collection.. The inside is very cozy feeling, with the entire wall behind the bar being basically a library of whiskey. My first visit, I had a flight of Redwood Empire bourbon & rye. It was god, RE makes great stuff. For my second visit, I had their Islay Trio flight, wanting to try something different. Best one was by far the Lagavulin 16 year (glass on the right), as it has a rich peaty flavor to it. They even allowed my dog to sit inside with me, although we were limited to the counters at the front of the lounge. Nonetheless, the staff were very accommodating to my pup and I, even bringing him water. This is a fantastic place to visit if you're a whiskey connoisseur, or just want a good cocktail. Cheers!

    As a whisky enthusiast going back to 2017, this place is fantastic for trying and trying and trying…read more...and trying. Mitch the owner knows things, has stories, and can point you to bottles to try. And if he's gotten to know your palate, he'll start suggesting some bottles you should buy from his shop. And if you're a little tipsy, you might buy that bottle even if you really didn't want to. But then you'll taste the bottle later and curse Mitch for being right about the damn bottle. Anyway, always a mystery visit when I'm in town.

    Photos
    Buffalo trace old fashioned
    Buffalo trace old fashioned
    Another day in paradise. Scotch Old Fashion with McCallan's Honey
    Another day in paradise. Scotch Old Fashion with McCallan's Honey
    Whatever your desire...They've got it!

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    Whatever your desire...They've got it!

    il vecchio - italian - Updated July 2026

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