Food was absolutely delicious and the staff was amazing. We came as a big group and the service was irreproachable. Highly recommend!

Had an absolute blast celebrating a friend's birthday at La Côte Bleue with a big group of 20. Organizing dinner for that many people is usually a headache, but the staff set up a custom special menu for us and made the whole night feel completely effortless. The food across the board was genuinely great, but you seriously cannot leave without getting dessert--the crème brûlée was hands-down amazing. Super warm vibe, great hosting, and just an all-around fantastic spot in Pacific Grove if you've got a celebration coming up. read more

At first glance this quaint restaurant seems quiet and elegant but the moment you walk in the ambiance of great food over comes you as well as the elegance! The two waiters i encountered were Ruben and Mateo. Mateo greeted me initially and had specials at the ready and Ruben had the kindness and smile that I had been looking for out of all the restaurants along the main strip. Courteous, kind men and better service than I could have asked for! Tucked away you'll find fantastic service and prices I was astonished by! I ordered 2 proseccos and 2 plates of oysters as they only come in 6. Being on the coast I was expecting, ehh, decent oysters but their shucked raw oysters blew me away with freshness! And I'm a gal who grew up on the coast and knows my mollusks. A place I was willing to try and once I did it was hard to leave, a staple in Monterey I cannot wait to come back to! Cote Bleue is a MUST TRY! read more

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I made the mistake of booking this restaurant for my anniversary, I shouldn't have. They treated it like just any other reservation and they didn't even have a generic placard or anything, let alone a personalized one. The waiters didn't even know the occasion... they thought I brought my wife and our kids all dressed up... just to eat dinner??? When I said we had a reservation, they also just sat us at a random table that was open, there was no intention behind it. Another couple came in and also had a reservation, the lady asked to not sit in the sun: you see, the afternoon heat has nowhere to go, that's why they leave the front door open. Starting at 5:30pm the sun beats down into the restaurant and starts encroaching further and further to cover more tables. The waiter gave them a table that was actively in the sun! The food, I must say, was good. The chef clearly has a head on their shoulders even if the front staff do not. However, in my opinion the food is overpriced because the rest of the experience doesn't match the quality of food. Don't charge me $50 for a steak if you're not going to congratulate my wife and I. And don't charge $30 for a fish if my wife asks the waiter what the daily special is and the waiters don't know! read more

We went here for our anniversary and we were so glad we picked this place. The food was divine. My husband got the whole bronzino and I got the paella mixta. The seasoning on the paella was just right--very flavorful but not overpowering. We also shared the stone fruit and burrata salad, which had very fresh ingredients. The ambiance was nice, although I think the space could benefit from bolder or large-scale art. However, it was lovely and elegant. There was very little ambient noise, so we were able to have a conversation with needing to raise our voices. At the end of the night, they surprised us with the creme brulee, which had a delicious Chantilly raspberry sauce. Overall, we enjoyed our dining experience and plan to return. read more

La Cote Bleue - Creme brulee - Modern European Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Really nice service, friendly and attentive. The bread was heavenly, I heard another table get another plate because they ate theirs so fast. I was dining alone this day so I got all those beautiful lumps to myself, which was more than enough! The herb crusted cod was good, but oddly the bread and creme brûlée were so exceptional that the cod paled in comparison. I felt the cod could've used a little bit less salt, and a bit firmer of a crust. As for the creme brûlée, it was perfect. Glassy crust on top that cracked when I hit it with the spoon, and creamy smooth silky custard on the inside. I'll be back next time I'm in PG! read more

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Overall we had a lovely group dinner to try out the new spot in town, so I would give 4.3 if I could... The dinner rolls with herbed butter were warm & super yummy! The seafood paella was wonderfully full of flavor & a nice mix of ingredients, but pretty salty, so just needed to tweak that down. Bouillabaisse in this town needs to be pretty up to par to compete on the Monterey peninsula, so it was a bit underwhelming with a dull sauce. Arugula salad with stonefruit was good, and I ordered a side of veggies that wasn't on the menu that was delicious, because there weren't enough warm vegetable options on the menu. It's a cozy bright dining room with plenty of tables. We got a quick response for our online reservation. Look forward to them tightening up & adding more options to the menu! read more

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There is a new seafood restaurant on the block, 100% I recommend stopping in for dinner, but make sure you save room for the dessert. Located at the old Max's restaurant in Pacific Grove on Forest Ave, just off of Lighthouse. The owners of this new restaurant are well acquainted to the Monterey Bay Area, past Chef of Old Fisherman's Grotto & his son Juan (brother to Rodolfo of Rodolfo's on Lighthouse). Just one week after opening it is apparent that La Cote Bleue is a must if you are looking to go out. Soon to become a staple of the Pacific Grove restaurant scene. The menu is small, but all items are carefully prepared fresh that day, full of tons of flavor, and menu items pivot based on seasonality. Since the restaurant was new, our party thought we would try out a variety of dishes: Crudo, oysters, salad, whole fish, freshly made focaccia, and of course, my favorite thing about the crème brûlée. The calamari was actually one of the most enjoyable dishes that we ordered. Our waiter had suggested it! Lightly battered with a unique flavorful batter, but the spicy marinara sauce that went with it made the dish. We actually had to ask for more sauce. I would recommend trying this as your appetizer over all of the other appetizers on the menu. Usually, I do not like to order fried food, but this did not feel fried. It felt light and fluffy. My husband ordered the whole fish, which is one of his favorite dishes to order when it is on any restaurant menu. The way the fish was cooked and cut made it extremely easy to take off the bone and enjoyable for eating versus creating a giant enormous mess like usual (lol) Highlight of the evening was actually dessert. Crème brûlée, is my favorite dessert and if not, prepare correctly is often a large let down. 1,000,000% one of the top crème brûlée I have ever had in my entire lifetime. This pistachio cake was also great however, the crème brûlée is the win for the evening. I would come back time and time again for a glass of wine and this dessert anytime any day. It should be noted that the menu provides both land and sea options as a main course but the main focus of the restaurant is seafood. If you are a seafood lover or not La Cote Bleue has something for everyone. Oh, and did I mention it's an excellent price point!!!! read more

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Love the seating, and the ambience of this restaurant. The owner of this restaurant takes great pride, in giving great customer service, and he has a top level chef to make your dining experience something special. Great food choices across the board. read more

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Last visit : the frito misto (calamari) was too salty. Previous visits were better They are now open for lunch. The lunch menu has some subtle differences, but similar to the dinner menu Beef ribs morphed into a French dip with ad astra baguette. Wife loved it, I was hoping for something closer to sliced roast beef, but can't fault the flavor There is a fried shrimp option to try.. Pretty quiet on Sunday noon meal; people still discovering the place read more

La Cote Bleue - French dip sandwich - Modern European Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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We absolutely loved La Côte Bleue! The food was amazing, with generous, well-portioned servings, and everything we tried was delicious. The staff was incredibly kind and welcoming, which made the experience even better. Merci! read more

This is a very nice little restaurant tucked off a side street, and only open 5 months. Appetizers (oysters, fritto misto) were very good as were the entrees (Duck confit, halibut special, and 'Champagne lobster' which was a nice sized tail on top of pasta in a rich and slightly spicy tomato base). Desserts were also very good as well. It's a little quiet, and though we had reservations they didn't even check the record as there were many tables available - perhaps that's what happened to the reviewer below who was disappointed not to be recognized with a special request made during the reservation process. Our waiter was very attentive, and the whole meal was quite good. There are many good restaurants to choose from in the area, and this fits right in. read more

La Cote Bleue - 'Champagne Lobster' special - Modern European Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

The French dip was out of this world the bread was incredible that roasted onions and the meat was so tender the au jus was like butter only thing I felt about the meal was the fries reminded me of In and out burger but they had parsley and garlic I wished they served it with a Aoli instead of just plain ketchup read more

Food: short rib and polenta was excellent! King salmon which was the special was small but OK. I should mention that all the fish is very fresh from Monterey Bay. Probably would skip the calamari appetizer tho next time, and salads are large enough to split. All in all the food was excellent. The ambience is beautiful. I would suggest getting window shades to blackout the sun. It gets very warm and the sun is nearly unbearable if you're sitting anywhere near the window plus the front windows really need to be kept clean. They were quite dirty. The owner, MIGUEL, came to every table to introduce himself. Lovely man. When our female waitress was pouring our wine, which was red, every time she poured, she spilled drops on the white tablecloth read more

Was looking for a new place in PG to eat at and came across this little gem. My wife and I had lunch on July 9th after looking in the window and at the menu. We were greeted by Miguel ( owner) and sat down for a very relaxing lunch. We had the Fresh Bucatini w/ Shrimp & a light cream sauce. I had the French Dip sandwich which was made with braised short ribs on an Ad Astra Baguette. Yummy!! We ended getting a bottle of wine with our meal and enjoyed the experience. We also met the Chef, Carlos Ponce and had a nice chat about the restaurant. We will definitely be back. I highly recommend La Cote Bleue. read more

La Cote Bleue - Dinner Menu as of 7/9/26 - Modern European Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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A Culinary Delight at La Cote Bleue! I recently had the pleasure of dining at La Cote Bleue, one of Pacific Grove's newest dining hot spots, and I can't recommend it enough! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted warmly by one of the owners, Michael Ponce, and seated in a charming dining room that exuded a lovely vibe. For starters, we indulged in their popular crab cakes, which were about 95% crabmeat and only 5% filler. They were absolutely exquisite and easily the best crab cakes I've ever had--a must-try for any seafood lover!Next, we enjoyed the Green Goddess Salad, featuring local organic romaine lettuce tossed with avocado herb dressing, tarragon, lemon, garlic, and croutons. It reminded me of a cherished throwback recipe from my mom's kitchen, warming my heart and palate. For the main course, my brother opted for the slow-roasted prime beef French dip sandwich, served with freshly baked bread made on-site, caramelized onions, au jus, and pommes fries. I chose the Sea Harvest Pasta, a treasure of the sea with tri-colored pasta in a light Americane sauce, accompanied by salmon, jumbo shrimp, and clams. Both dishes were absolutely divine! To top off our experience, Chef Carlos came to our table to share insights about how well La Cote Bleue has been doing in just four short months. He mentioned plans to open for breakfast soon, which is fantastic news! If you're looking for a new culinary delight, make sure to visit La Cote Bleue. You won't be disappointed! read more

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We just dropped in to try out La Cote Bleue, which recently had its soft opening in PG. It was very quiet (Monday night), only one other table occupied, so we got full attention - and we loved it. The food was really excellent. They served us a small plate of homemade bread and butter, which was very tasty. We shared two starters, the house salad which had a really fantastic dressing; and the crudo, which was out of this world - my favorite course of the meal. I should also add these are huge, generous portions, we easily could have shared just one. My girlfriend had the cod, I had the salmon, both excellent preparations but more than we could finish and we took them home. And we each had a glass of a nice Santa Cruz pinot. (A real bonus, at least as of now: no corkage.) If we had it to do over, we would either share a starter or a main. We were disappointed to skip dessert but we will without doubt return. The space was a bit chilly tonight but I imagine as it fills with customers it will warm up. It's a great new addition to the local dining scene. I wish them well and will be back before you know it! read more

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La Cote Bleue provides a wonderful experience from the time you enter the restaurant to the time you exit, very satisfied. The service was attentive and informative, the food was delicious, elevated and presented beautifully. The ambiance very relaxing and inviting. If you are in Monterey this restaurant is a must! read more

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If you are a seafood lover, this is the place to be! My husband got the herb-crusted cod, and loved it! He said it was delicious! Well seasoned, well prepared, a large serving, moderately priced. What more could you ask for? All the tables around us seemed well- chuffed with their various entrees, too. My experience as a vegetarian was not as positive, sadly. On their website, they advertised one vegetarian dish, but when we got there, alas, there were no hot vegetarian entrees to be had. I had to settle for a salad that was largely lettuce, with capers and croutons. Not much of a meal. We may be back because my husband's entree was SO good, but we may not, because there is nothing for me to eat. read more

Charming European bistro with the most divine menu. We have been twice already and have decided this is our new go-to restaurant. This chef-owned gem is all you hope for when dining out: exemplary, personalized service, scrumptious appetizers (try the market salad and bbq oysters), delectable entrees (we all had something different and it was all fantastic - swordfish, branzino, steak frite and seafood pasta), the absolute best desserts (the pastry chef was formerly from Pebble Beach - we had sticky toffee pudding, pistachio cake, tiramisu, and mango cheesecake), and charming ambiance. Also, the homemade popovers are a show stopper. Trust me - this is the best restaurant on the peninsula. 10 out of 10! read more

La Cote Bleue - The best dessert on the peninsula - Modern European Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

The crab cakes here are the best I've ever had. The seafood is fresh and portions are large. Excellent service. It's not noisy and we were able to enjoy ourselves and relax. read more

We have eaten here two times, and it was excellent both times. And the prices are reasonable relative to other top restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula. read more

La Cote Bleue occupies the former space of Max's in Pacific Grove. Tonight was our first visit and we'll definitely be returning again (and again). The menu is eclectic - - a bit of French, Spanish and Italian, and we had a tough time deciding which of the beautiful courses to select. My wife ultimately picked the scallops, while I indulged in the paella. Both were outstanding, attractively presented and tastefully seasoned. The wine list is small but inviting, eschewing the old warhorses for less common but reasonably priced varietals and labels. The service was terrific. The staff were all welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. If you're on the Monterey Peninsula and want a break from the Carmel crowds, make your way to La Cote Bleue in charming Pacific Grove for a delightful dinner. read more

Service was horrible, Cesar should be demoted to dishwasher. We almost starved to death waiting for the food. People that arrived after us were served first. The salad arrived no salt or pepper, when my pasta dish arrived no Parmesan cheese was offered On the upside, when the food finally arrived it was very good, after several complaints we were offered comped meals, which we turned down, but countered with free salad and water, first/last time. read more

Exceptional food at very reasonable prices. The wine by the bottle is a good value. We had a few orders of whole fish Branzino at the table and everyone liked how crispy the skin was and how good the flavor was. Every bit was eaten. I don't eat seafood and they thankfully have a few non seafood options to suit everyone, I got the short ribs on polenta. It was very solid. The polenta was very creamy, the short rib had a good reduction caramelized on it. Overall I cleaned my plate. For dessert the Tiramisu was enjoyed by everyone. read more

Customer Service is the best Food 10/10 not one thing I can complain about even the restrooms are clean read more

La Cote Bleue - Steak frites - Modern European Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Lovely relaxed ambience. Excellent service. Interesting menu. Food was delicious - fresh seafood! We will be back again!

This restaurant is off to a great start and has the feel of a real neighborhood gem. The bread service was delicious. The fish was fresh and well prepared. The service was attentive. Miguel made us feel like we were welcome regulars on our first bisi read more

La Cote Bleue - Red Snapper with Roasted Vegetables - Modern European Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

It is a lovely restaurant with so friendly staff The food was so delicious and the portion was so generous! Definitely will come back! Highly recommend! read more

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We had a fabulous birthday lunch at Le Côté Bleu in Pacific Grove! We started with the brioche Parker House rolls served with herb butter, which were absolutely terrific. Next came the Farmers Market Salad, a beautiful combination of sliced fresh peaches, creamy burrata, arugula, fig jam toast and a sweet vinaigrette dressing--the flavors worked wonderfully together. For our entrée, we enjoyed the Herb-Crusted Cod accompanied by silky pommes purée, seasonal vegetables and a delicious mushroom butter sauce. Absolutely wonderful! We finished our celebration with Tiramisu, complete with a birthday candle, which was the perfect ending to a memorable meal. The restaurant has a comfortable, inviting dining room located in a charming old Victorian building, with a large front window that's perfect for watching the activity along the street. There is also plenty of convenient street parking nearby. Owner Miguel Ponce was friendly, welcoming and professional, working alongside his brother, Carlos Ponce. Both bring plenty of restaurant experience to Le Côté Bleu, and it shows in the food, service and attention to detail. It's truly a family affair: their father, Juan Ponce, is the longtime Executive Chef of Old Fisherman's Grotto, where he continues to serve in that role today. Excellent food, gracious hospitality and a lovely setting made our birthday lunch at Le Côté Bleu (translating into the "blue coast") a very special experience. We're already looking forward to coming back and sampling more dishes from their Italian- and seafood-inspired menu! read more

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We had the special tonight my husband and I split it Best salmon I ever had in my life Great service And an excellent glass of wine Hope this restaurant has a great success read more

So glad we tried this new restaurant! Fresh flavors and an interesting menu. My husband and I shared the green goddess salad and the lettuce was perfectly crisp and clearly NOT from a bag! I had the herb crusted cod and it was lightly breaded on a bed of whipped potatoes and topped with mushrooms. Every bite was absolutely delicious. Our server was kind and attentive. We will be back! read more

We went to celebrate a birthday at the newly opened seafood restaurant. All the food was delicious and the owner/chef, as well as the rest of the staff members were very polite. My favorite were the fresh oysters and the tuna crudo (raw fish). The vibes are good. The light in the dining room is perfect and the portions are reasonable. Good luck!!! read more

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Best seafood in area. Service was on point. Ambiance was amazing nice and clean. Was visiting area strolling downtown pacific grove work family and spotted this place glad we seen it. Will be back. read more

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My wife and I had a lovely meal. The appetizer, my wife's sandwich and my seafood pasta were all delicious. Our desserts were also very tasty as was my wife's hot mocha. read more

We had such a great experience! We ordered the BBQ oysters, Mixed Paella, and Goddess salad--everything was absolutely delicious. The service was excellent from start to finish, staff was friendly and the owner was attentive to detail. We'll definitely be coming back soon! ¡Tuvimos una experiencia excelente! Pedimos los ostiones BBQ, la paella mixta y la ensalada Goddess--todo estuvo absolutamente delicioso. El servicio fue excelente de principio a fin, el personal fue amable y el dueño fue muy atento a los detalles. ¡Definitivamente volveremos pronto! read more

While the pasta was disappointing, the takeout short ribs were amazing, as was the polenta that accompanied them. The small crown-shaped bread roll for two showed creative initiative. My taste buds encourage them to make the pasta dishes a bit zippier. Then, they deserve five stars from me. read more

This restaurant is amazing! The waiter was very friendly and attentive, and the food was excellent. The prices were very reasonable as well. read more

They served us seafood that was reheated ; i do i know .? cooked well done but COLD in the middle. read more

Reservation for four last night at 6:30 PM started off with appetizers had the swordfish and tiramisu. Not only is the food gourmet but the staff is very friendly would highly recommend. read more