The service was horrible. The food was average. The beer was warm. It was not worth the money.

My Mom and I had a mother-daughter weekend in Monterey for her birthday. And we had reservations at Jack's Monterey each morning to start the day. My Mom said several times how much she liked the coffee, and I enjoyed the tea. We enjoyed many items on the menu and my fav was the avocado toast and her's was the silver dollar pancakes. All the details were beautifully prepared and wonderfully tasteful. The thing that stood out the most... was the people. Our last night stay had an alarming disturbance that woke us up in the middle of the night. But the way that our server, Plu, and the other people waited on us in such a thoughtful manner that morning, they treated us as royalty... it help bring a restoration to our experience. Every detail was professionally cared for and the wait staff even brought something special to celebrate my Mom's birthday. She was overjoyed, which made me happy. We were truly guests and Plu was an amazing host to us. We not only enjoyed breakfast, but their above and beyond hospitality restored our experience. Sincerely grateful. read more

Plu was and excellent server for our party of 30 today with Mimosa's. He was running around taking good care of all of us. I recommend him for promotion. Very detailed. Thank you Plu. read more

We came for our annual trip and stayed at our usual Portola Hotel. We were so hungry and enjoyed our meal right after we checked in. read more

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The review is for the breakfast and unlimited mimosa ! It's a gorgerous dinning area in the middle of the hotel with excellent attentive staff! Everything we order was delicious and flavor was on the point and easier able to make substitution! We sure will return if we visit Monterey! We had a wonderful stay too in the hotel ! Thanks read more

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Plu gave me amazing, personalized service during my visit and the food was excellent.

Last night's dinner at Jacks Monterey was truly delicious! We had been for appetizers, but never dinner so decided to try before the 40 Fingers concert at the Golden State Theater last night. I enjoyed the Panko Sautéed Sand Dabs served with jasmine rice and green beans with a lemon garlic butter caper sauce. The fish was fresh and flaky - honestly some of the best Sand Dabs I've had out in a while. The green beans were tender, but still had a bit of crunch. In my opinion perfectly cooked. The sauce perfectly complemented the meal. Marty chose the Flank Steak & Pommes Frites. The steak was cooked to the medium rare he requested and was quite tender and flavorful. The fries were crisp and delicious. The sauce/marinade served along side was great to dip either the steak or fries. Delicious! We sat at the bar and both Tayet (I hope I got her name right) and Kasey took wonderful care of us. Very friendly and attentive. I love the portion sizes as they are reasonable and we were able to finish most of our food. We are not huge on leftovers so this is a plus for us. I found the prices reasonable for what we received, especially for The Portola. Bonus, we were offered a 10% local's discount on food. Kudos to taking care of your locals!! I checked their website later and found they offer a 20% food discount if you are going to the Golden State Theater for a show on the same night you dine. All you have to do is show your tickets! Had I known that yesterday, we would have saved even more. We chose Jacks in part because the show we attended was on a Friday night and we had not made any reservations. We stopped in early (about 4:30) and were able to snag a couple seats at the bar which is quite comfortable. By the time we left both the bar and restaurant were fairly busy, but still not overly noisy which is nice especially when located in a hotel lobby. Really nice atmosphere with the fire on the side and simple coastal decor. Great experience - I will go back! read more

Jacks Monterey - FLANK STEAK & POMMES FRITTES - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

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Jacks can be found in the rear of the Portola Hotel & Spa. There is a covered parking structure near the front entrance of the hotel for convenience but also a nice walk from the nearby pier parking area. We stopped in at around 9:00 pm on a Wednesday evening after a long day of traveling. We were seated promptly and with kindness although we were one of the last to be seated before closing. We were so starving and ordered a margarita pizza to share as well some ahi tuna. There was a little mixup in delivering our food to the table next to us, but they were very understanding as it turns out we ordered the same dishes. I had a tropical drink with rum and fruit (i forget exactly what) and it was so good, as was the food. The ambiance is dressy casual and it makes a great spot for a date with the low light atmosphere. Bar seating is available as well as tables in and outside the restaurant. We appreciate the quality service after such a long day! read more

Jacks Monterey - Bar - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

Plu was the best server and food was amazing! Bacon is the best and bottomless mimosas are for the win!

Service and ambiance was great. Dog friendly menu too. However the food was fine. Apparently a new kitchen crew and delays getting food out. The ahi tuna sandwich surprised us on how badly this sandwich was done. A sweet soft brioche with sweet coleslaw conflicted with the soft tuna already. Then the odd taste with a large slab of pickled ginger ( much like the side you would get with a sushi roll) that really made the whole sandwich taste overly sweet and off putting. Would not order that again. We let our server know to try the sandwich in the future. Mother in law liked the shrimp scampi. Kids meals were fine. Clam chowder was ok. Overall, I wished the food was better or we ordered something else. read more

wonderful food, Excellent service with Plu. They really go the extra mile. Highly recommend the French Toast.

Excellent service from Plu and the rest of the staff. Plu really made an effort to connect with my family and I. The whole staff was quick and overall service was great. The brunch menu was simple yet delicious. The staff at this restaurant made our stay at the Portola so much more special. Highly recommend the brunch! read more

Wow! Not only was the food delicious but this restaurant was dog friendly. Our dining experience was as good as it gets for a family and their beloved pets. The wine selection was really good and the deserts were a perfect way to end the dinner experience. I have to mention the staff that waited on us this evening were the Best! Breakfast was absolutely delicious especially the Fluffy pancakes that came with fresh fruit. read more

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Mommy and toddler breakfast date while daddy packed. Highchairs available which was great. TWO EGGS YOUR WAY $16 (choice of ham, bacon or chicken apple sausage) - I opted for bacon + scrambled egg for my toddler omelet & egg breakfasts are served with country potatoes & your choice of toast I asked for wheat and for it not to be toasted for my toddler. My toddler had half a piece of bread and some scrambled egg. The meal was enough for me even with her eating some. The country potatoes were delicious and well seasoned. Comes with a piece of watermelon. Jam and butter came with the bread. Two slices. Overall, great breakfast and all the staff were friendly. Someone came over to refill my coffee without asking. read more

We had an amazing time at Jacks Monterey! The service, food, drinks were great. Everyone is so nice and it is such a cute restaurant! Would definitely come back m! read more

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Restaurant is located inside the Portola Hotel. It has a great ambiance and wasn't loud or crowded on a Friday night. Service was friendly and attentive, and the food was surprisingly good as well. read more

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This dog friendly restaurant includes menu items for our four-legged friend. We stayed at Portola and tried Jacks for breakfast. Located in Portola's lobby, it had a good variety of breakfast items. Reasonably priced, good portion. read more

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I really enjoy Jacks even after the restaurant renovation. The service is top notch and genuinely friendly. I miss their booths and the outdoor seating but, understandably they're making do after the pandemic fallout that hit the travel/hospitality/restaurant industries. I like that they took up half floor of the Portola Hotel & Spa lobby so that Fionanabear could sit and eat with us. Thank you to our server Antonio A. for being so attentive, patient and kind. The Eats: Scallops appetizer was decent but, at $21.00 will probably skip next time (pan seared scallops, spaghetti squash, chimichurri, mango butter sauce) Pork Oso Bucco entree was super yum and so filling! (creamy polenta, bok choy, port wine, wild mushroom, demi glaze) You like meat? Get this. You're welcome. Paired well with the prisoner red blend. Ron R. had the Cioppino (filled to the brim with clams, mussels, prawns, and fish) paired with some garlic bread was pretty nom nom nom! (Would be even better with buttery crab) Drinks by glass Menu: Works well with their food menu and I was pleasantly surprised. Split the La Marca Prosecco to start @ $12 Ron had the PB Amber Ale @ $10 I had the Prisoner Red Blend @ $18 All in all fair pricing by the glass for the location and industry standards and I appreciate the service here They have an espresso machine (Thank the heavens/caffeine spirits) and I rounded off the night with chocolate ice cream and a cappuccino Convenient to just walk down from your hotel room and enjoy a great dining experience with your dog child. read more

Jacks Monterey - Ósso Buco w/ THE PRISONER RED BLEND, Napa for me Cioppino w/Amber Ale for Ron R - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

Waiter Plu was excellent. Very friendly and service was excellent. Environment and food was excellent.

Went for breakfast! Really good service! We had Plu as our server and he was amazing and very attentive!

My compliments to the chef! Not only was the steak very presentable, but very flavorful and juicy. read more

Jacks Monterey - New York steak with Yukon gold potatoes and asparagus. - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

Great breakfast and service! Loved our waiter, Plu! He made our morning start perfectly! Holly and Martin.

TASTY OR WASTEY? Tasty is the chocolate cake....the food, not so much. I have tried several items on their menu, and, I'm always disappointed. I would only recommend the desserts. The hotel itself, is amazing. Quiet rooms. Always very clean. read more

Jacks Monterey - Chocolate cake. - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

We are staying at the Portola Hotel, and took advantage of the meal plan which includes breakfast at Jack's. Beautiful place to eat, and a nice choice of breakfast items. Our favorite part was our delightful waiter Plu (Plutarco). He was attentive and helpful, and charming! Ask for him when you stop at Jack's. read more

Service was great! Staff were amazing especially on Christmas day! Had the Christmas set menu and was excited but left disappointed. The lobster bisque was SUPER salty. The turkey was meh but at least it wasn't dry. The pecan pie was also reallly salty??? Both the filling and the crust :/ super salty. Sad Christmas dinner $483 for 5 of us all the way from Indonesia read more

10/10 Huevos rancheros were perfection with salsa verde made fresh daily. Our waiter Plu was welcoming, attentive, and very knowledgeable about the food. read more

Jacks is a beautiful place to dine with great atmosphere, food, drinks and service! Their seafood chowder, craft cocktails (servers have given me good recommendations based on taste) and salads are especially great. Jacks has special menus and festive music & decor for holidays (St.Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Christmas, New Year's Eve...) and the open, sunny "indoor forest" dining area with live trees is gorgeous year-round. For a romantic or festive meal, or tasty drinks in the fireside lounge, Jacks had never disappointed me over many years! read more

Jacks Monterey - Lounge area - Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

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Last night we ordered Jack's and brought it up to our room and it was absolutely delicious! I had a Garden Bowl that was really fresh, filling, and warm. Also - the Kobe beef burgers only come in sets of twos, but I was told they were delicious.I absolutely loved it so when we woke up, we figured we'd eat from there for breakfast too. We called around 9:20am and were told that we'd be called when to come down and pick it up. We ordered a plate of silver dollar pancakes, and a breakfast sandwich. Around 30 minutes after, we went down since we hadn't heard back, and were sent away that our food "wasn't ready yet". We ended up coming back up, and still waiting. We tried calling them to follow up after 2 hours since the order was placed, and were told that they were 'closed after 10:30am' which would put that at an hour and 10 minutes after our first call I believe. They had larger parties in the lobby waiting for a table when we went down, but we had still called ahead and were told it wasn't ready. It's not that these groups were eating yet, they were still waiting too. So I'm not sure exactly what happened. We had planned to grab breakfast and leave back home this morning, but since this set us back, we're going to grab something quick somewhere else instead. What makes this situation worse, is we were back and forth in calls between Jacks and the front desk this whole time. We ended up going one last time around 11:30am (now, Jack's is 'closed' until 4pm and others are seated). We came downstairs, and they told us "we never got your order" which makes no sense considering they shooed us away and told us they'd call when it was ready. Either the order was 1. Thrown out 2. Never put in. There was a lot of misleading information at this location and with an apology it didn't really make the situation better. All that was said was "Sorry" and "you can try Peter B's" another restaurant. This was insulting considering we had made multiple attempts for a breakfast here. Maybe Peter B's wouldn't make their customers wait 2 hours? Waiting over 2 hours for food and checking in only to be sent away is downright rude and poor customer service. We ordered ahead of the rush, but clearly that was our fault. Dinner was delicious, but the breakfast experience was a huge let down. read more

The ambiance was amazing, the food was delicious and our server was very nice. I can't wait to come back to town, stay in this hotel and try more of there options. The sourdough bread with garlic butter was fabulous and certainly stuffed myself with it. My toddler had an interesting request of an open faced peanut butter sandwich which they made for him. It was silly since he made it into a sandwich but three is a funny age. I truly can't wait to go back. read more

The Poké bowl, my salad everything we ordered was fantastic! Oh, and don't even get me started on the garlic bread loaf!

PLU is a wonderful, kind, attentive server. The environment is quiet, & the food is very good & not crazy expensive.

I stayed at the hotel and enjoyed the fact that there was a restaurant right there in the lobby. All the trees made it a really unique vibe, felt like I was in a green house. Next, we ordered the yogurt and granola and my child ordered the pancakes. Plu was our server and he got us our order so quickly and checked in to make sure we had a good time. His service was exceptional and I wouldn't definitely like to come back. read more

Very nice, airy place to eat dinner. Located within the Portola Hotel & Spa. It boasts an atrium dining area with fairy lights adorning the trees. Jack's has a nice selection at the bar and a smaller menu, but tasty choices of which we've tried a few. Everything I've ever ordered here, I thoroughly enjoyed. I have eaten here twice on two different trips to the area and will inevitably come back on a subsequent visit as well. My wife and I really enjoyed our dinner then walked it off in the close by Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey Bay. read more

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Thanks for the great breakfast! Up for Cali Vibes and server Plu was an awesome and hospitable server

Plu was a wonderful server! He was extremely nice, accommodating and professional! I spilled food on my shirt and he brought a glass of club soda to our table within seconds! He made our dining experience top notch! The food was incredible as well! Esmerelda was a delightful server as well! She was so sweet and gave great recommendations! My family was so pleased with our breakfast! read more

Outstanding menu on the Asian influence items. My favorite sandwich is the seared ahi tuna. Start with a thick slice of ahi, seared with Japanese Shichimi seasoning giving a long burning mild spice, topped with purple cabbage and pickled ginger on a brioche bun. Melt in your mouth delicious. I pair this with sweet potato tots and this makes for a great lunch. Dinner, the Pacific Salmon is excellent over noodles and hoisin vegetables. Each bite full of flavor. I have tried the various specials and they were delicious as well. You can sit in a regular table, booth or near the fireplace. You are also next to the wharf if you want a nice after meal walk. Park in the Chase Bank lot which is shared with the hotel, but try to find a regular spot and avoid the reserved hotel parking. After bank hours, you can use the bank parking spaces. read more

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Delicious food- the buttermilk pancakes were amazing! Our server, Plu, took great care of us and went above and beyond to ensure we had an excellent experience. We will definitely be back! read more

I got the hummus and veggies. It was a lot of food! It was really good, veggies were fresh and service was great too

We've come to Jacks prior to the renovation. Which I like the modern feel but I don't like the new menu. The food was ok we had a party of 9 and the size of the table and area was so hard to eat. We had to out dishes to the side of us and make it work. I had the filet mignon and it was cooked to perfection very good, but hated the crazy amount of leeks. We had drinks here earlier in the night and the bar setting is really nice great place for drinks by the fire. One of our orders was the Korean short ribs which I didn't get a pic of :( but they were very flavorful and I think besides the Brussels Sprouts/Filet those were the best choices. read more

We where rush out by our waitress , ruining our dinner. At the end we just decided to go next door for coffees d dessert.