Shout out to my husband for finding this cute and romantic spot for our dinner date while we vacationed in Monterey! There's plenty of parking in the lot that's a short walking distance away. They offer both indoor and outdoor dining, and the patio is dog friendly. The inside was so intimate, felt like we were dining in someone's home. You get amazing views of the pier from the outside. We decided to sit inside since it was dark out and getting a lil chilly. Now onto the food (the best part!). The wines we ordered paired so well with all the dishes we had, I got a white and the hubby got a red. For our appetizers we ordered the calamari and steamed clams (must order!) Some of the biggest and freshest clams I've ever tasted. For our entrees we ordered their signature seafood pasta and salmon with linguine. All the seafood was so delicious and the pasta was perfectly al dente. All the seafood here is fresh and comes straight from local fisherman. To wash down all the food, we shared an affogato for dessert. The espresso was so rich and creamy, and the perfect shareable treat since we were pretty full already. Compliments to the chef, way better than any of the italian cuisine we've had here in vegas. you can tell that they are very passionate about their craft. Service was amazing and we even got to meet the owner Paul who told us it's a family business and the restaurant is named after him and his brother Luca, hence Paluca! We always try to support local when we can and you can bet we'll tell our friends and family about this place and come dine here every time we visit. read more

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Easily some of the worst service I've seen. Just constant attitude and every interaction felt like they were annoyed. Absolutely terrible experience, and will ensure we never come back and share our experience with everyone we know. Food was mid. I'd give it a 5/10 read more

There's a credit card SURPRISE fee of 3% that seems relatively new to me. It came as an extra fee after I added the tip. The staff claimed they had that for a while. I did not notice the previous times I came. They also claimed it was standard practice in Monterey Bay and San Francisco, which very doubtful about. I hoping they revisit the decision to include this surprise fee soon. read more

Well, as of all things for the weekend my Wife and I decided to come to Monterey being that my Family was in town and also we had seen that there was an Italian restaurant near us, so we decided to try it. So glad that we got an opportunity to make a reservation because if not, then there would've been a 45 minute wait time from the point of where we approached the hostess stand. After my family arrived about five minutes later we got seated. We were taken to the back and we were accommodated for a table with six people. In the beginning, the waiter was very tentative to our needs, he had asked on what we wanted to drink, and while part of my family had asked for water my Wife and I had asked for Sprite. At about the five minute mark, our waiter finally came over with the water and our sprites and then began to ask us for our entrées if we knew what we wanted to eat. My brother and his girlfriend had ordered the artichoke appetizer and in the process of that the waiter had stated that he would bring over some bread in the meantime while we wait for our food. And a little bit of time, he then brought the bread and the appetizers and he did bring enough bread for both my brother's family and my wife and I that we were able to share it all. It even came with butter as well. I must say that the artichoke appetizer was very delicious yet the dipping sauce tasted like homemade tzatziki dressing. After our waiter disappeared, it took a little bit for our food to finally be delivered. I ordered the meatball sandwich, my wife ordered the lasagna ravioli, and while my meatball sandwich was very delicious and the lobster ravioli was delicious as well, we had asked the waiter for Brad to Richie. He ignored our requests. My wife tried to get his attention and had asked for bread twice to which both requests were ignored. The main reason why I'm giving a 3 star is because of a request for bread was ignored, and while the food was good, the view was beautiful, our waiter disappeared, and was not very attentive to any needs that we might've had at the time. No drink refills and no extra bread. As a matter of fact, a lady came over, and then asked how we were doing, and that was when my wife had to ask for another Sprite. The one thing that we were very unhappy about is how we were not told that when our Price were refilled, but it was another four dollars to order. So if you come to this restaurant and you order any soft drinks, make sure that you understand that for each drink that you buy, you will pay another four dollars per drink per person that is ordered. The drinks unfortunately, are not unlimited as we had ordered 2 Sprites with refills that cost us a total of $16. If the waiter was more attentive, and if we were told about our drinks, not being unlimited, I would have given this a better review. I'm not saying that this isn't a good Italian restaurant, because it is it's just that the waiter we had was everywhere else taken care of other people, to which I understand but didn't check on us periodically as he is supposed to. Being that we got a chance to sit outside the restaurant and the view of the ocean was very beautiful, and I even got the opportunity to take a picture of some sea otters that were out by the water. Overall, I probably would have given this a five that the food was good and the view was beautiful. read more

Blood orange Italian soda wasn't too sweet. I guess we were craving linguini. It was the sunniest day all month, so we decided to have sparkling water as well as white wine at Fisherman's Wharf. The special was seafood pasta with clams and prawns. Two appetizers are enough for a party of four, but this is a difficult cuisine for someone with lactose intolerance. read more

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7/12/25 Zach, Coco and I walked to Paluca Trattoria from our hotel in downtown Monterey. We checked in with the host and we were thoughtfully seated in at a table where the wind wasn't blowing too much and the heat lamp was right next to us (since it was a chilly evening that day). Here's what we got: - clam chowder bowl (to share) - bolognese pappardelle (his) - linguine vongole (mine) Our waiter took a while to take our orders and bring/take the check, but the food quality and taste overshadowed that. We got started with the clam chowder bowl which was delicious. After Zach and I demolished it, we both wished we had gotten a bowl each haha. The portion sizes for our pasta dishes were generous. The linguine vongole had lots of clams, I only wish there was a little more sauce. Zach's pappardelle dish was really good as well. You can taste the freshness of the pasta and the seafood. We'll definitely need to come back. read more

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Our waitress was amazing! And the food was delicious. Probably the best food on Fishermans Wharf. We will for sure be back!

This restaurant is beautiful and one of my favorite hidden gems in the area. I bring my laptop to work at least a few times a month, and the staff is always super friendly and welcoming! Their butter clams with bread, seafood ravioli, and calamari are my favorites. If you're in the area, definitely stop by! read more

Paluca Trattoria - Calamari and Chardonnay - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Great Italian food on Fisherman's Wharf. We got to the area later in the afternoon, so we didn't want to fill up on too much food before dinner. We ordered the calamari, the spaghetti with meatballs and gamberoni. Everything was delicious. Service was super friendly and very attentive. Would visit again! read more

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We recently had dinner here. Visiting the area on vacation, we didn't realize the wharf was is a cliche tourist area. The nearest parking was about two blocks away. We booked a reservation and table was ready on time. Our table for two was in an odd location, right next to the stairs. The stairwell landing area was eye level to me. It's not exactly an enjoyable meal when peopl's feet are passing your face the entire time. Our waiter was friendly and accurate but seemed to disappear at times. The food was good; I had the smoked salmon linguini. Overall, the experience was fine but I don't feel the need to return. read more

After 4 hours of Whale Watching, we're always hungry. Over many years of visiting the Monterey Peninsula, we've pretty much tried every restaurant on the wharf, but somehow missed Paluca. The outdoor seating overlooking the marina is very nice. As is required, we started with the Clam Chowder. There are no bad renditions of chowder on the wharf, and Paluca's was no different. It's amazing to see how different each restaurant's versions are, but yet all be delicious. We were keeping it light, so we just had the Sicilian Meatballs. They were very good with clear flavors of basil, and maybe even fennel, but the dish only included 3 somewhat small meatballs. Not what we expected for $26. They chunky marinara that accompanied the dish was good. We'll need to come back to try other dishes. read more

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Best lobster ravioli!!! We saw this place after YEARS of going down the wharf and went in for drinks but told ourselves we had to come back and try the food. Tonight we did and we're sold! From the staff and ambience to the food, we're fans. I had the lobster ravioli and Caesar salad, best lobster raviolis, like I was actually eating lobster, absolutely delicious. Hubby had the chicken pesto sandwich which I'm assuming he enjoyed because one second it was there and I snagged a bite then it was gone! Dad had the meatball pasta, very tasty he said but the silence coming from the table said it all. Everything was so good, we'll definitely be going back. Beautiful water and boat view too and quiet. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Lobster ravioli missing two because I had to try it before snapping a photo - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

We stopped in Monterey on our way home from San Francisco. We decided to wonder around Old Fishermen's Wharf and came across Paluca Trattoria. If you're in the mood some of the most delicious Italian food and a beautiful view this is the restaurant for you. read more

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I really like this place. Best seating on the pier. Very ftiendly service. The server really knows the menu. And i really love Italian style cooking and this place serves up some of the best Italian food i have ever tasted. Anf the fact most items use seafood is a plus. My next trip to Monterey i will surely go back. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Outside - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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The food was really disappointing and disgusting. We ordered the clam chowder and it wasn't even hot, we asked for it to get reheated. Our next appetizer was the clams in butter cream sauce. The sauce tasted like spoiled milk and we realized because one of the clams was old and rotten. We told our waiter and he didn't even apologize. The clams stunk so bad like spoiled rotten egg. We don't even know how and why they didn't notice the smell before they served it to us. Lastly, the lobster ravioli was disappointing. It was sweet and barely had any lobster. All our dishes were too saucy and it was NOTA good. We're definitely not going back. I wish I could a full refund back. read more

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Good food, small portion. We ordered special menu of the day - two orders of seafood pasta. They NEED to improve customer service. We constantly feeling attitude and judgmental. If you see the customers confused about the special menu, please explain it again! Not just looking at our faces. I wanted a garlic clams as appetizer and seafood pasta (included clams) for entree, which was a very clear order, but the waiter- Paul looked confused..like we need to pick what kind of seafood for the pasta?? Or we can't order the garlic calms because the pasta already included calms?? Me and my bf were super awkward and thinking what was the problem of our orders, so we decided not to get the garlic calms, but only two seafood pasta. In the receipt, asking for the least 20% of tips, for sure not worth that high tips read more

Paluca Trattoria - Seafood pasta - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Nice casual place with outdoor sitting on the wharf. Recommended by a local friend for dinner as we normally avoid this touristy spot. Good: Calabrian prawns as a starter was good, and so were the Seafood pasta (linguini) and freshly-made meatballs with linguini which we had for entrees. Fun: A seal was playing and splashing nearby! Just a few feet away in the water. Nice interaction with the owner's sons - Paul (waiter) and Luca (who kept trying to light our patio heater . Chef owner came over and determined it was out of propane- fixed!) Recommended: Get a reservation as they may stop seating for dinner after 7pm for walk-ins as they get busy or may have large parties. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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Love this restaurant. The food is superb and a highlight every time we are in town. My husband is very selective in his choices/spots he chooses to eat and this one is always the top of his list! 5 star! read more

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It was a colder Friday evening and we needed a place to eat that had outdoor seating as we had our dogs with us from our day of adventure. We were able to be seated right away in the outdoor patio. Our server was able to take our orders and gave us the specials of the evening, which was the seafood pasta. It sounded good with what was is in entree. We also ordered the calamari as appetizers and the clam chowder. We asked the waiter about the portions and he said that the portions are pretty big so my husband and I decided to share the entree since we didnt want to bring back seafood to the hotel. Calamari was good. The clam chowder was really hardy and creamy, perfect for the cold winter weather. Hit the spot with the bread that it came out with. The special seafood pasta, which just had clams, shrimp, and a piece of cod was ok. The sauce and flavor was lacking esp after the clam chowder. And the portion was decent but definitely was NOT Special enough for the $45 price tag. We should've just ordered another pasta dish or the meatball sandwich that my husband wanted. It wouldve been enough and not with that hefty price tag. They definitely should tell you the price of a dish if its a special... read more

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We decided to try Paluca Trattoria in Monterey and unfortunately, it was not a good experience. The food itself was just okay--nothing that stood out or made me want to come back. For the price and location, I expected more flavor and quality, but it was very average. The biggest disappointment was the service. From the moment we sat down, things felt disorganized. People who arrived after us received their food before we did, which was frustrating and hard to overlook. On top of that, I had to ask my waiter three separate times for bread, and each time he either forgot or didn't bring it until much later. Something that simple should not be so difficult, and it set the tone for the whole meal. Normally, I'm a very generous tipper because I understand how hard restaurant work can be. But in this case, I didn't feel the service deserved one at all. Being ignored and forgotten multiple times is not acceptable, especially when we were polite and patient. The only reason this review is 2 stars instead of 1 is because of the host. She was welcoming, kind, and friendly when we walked in, and that was the one bright spot in an otherwise disappointing evening. Sadly, the rest of the experience did not match her level of hospitality. Overall, Paluca Trattoria just didn't deliver. Between the mediocre food, the long waits, and the inattentive service, it's not a place I'd return to. There are too many great restaurants in Monterey to waste time and money on one that can't get the basics right. I would highly reccomend going to canary row they have way better restaurant its worth the extra walk. read more

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This restaurant was such a lovely experience. We were able to eat outdoors and take in the beautiful views, and there is always so much to see and enjoy when hanging out on Fisherman's Wharf. The food was honestly a lot better than I expected for a touristy spot, which kind of adds to the charm. Still, quality matters, and Paluca Trattoria definitely delivered. We ordered the Creamy Pesto Pappardelle and added a grilled rosemary chicken breast for some additional protein. The pasta was outstanding. It tasted fresh with basil, had that pesto-style cream sauce with parmesan and just a hint of lemon zest. Super flavorful without feeling heavy. It was perfect. We also got the Short Rib Ravioli and wow, also outstanding. The pasta tasted homemade and was filled with braised short rib, asiago, and herbs, all covered in a creamy garlic mushroom sauce. Oh yeah, we also had a bowl of clam chowder, and everything we tried was delicious. Service was great too. The only downside is we were so full we couldn't even attempt dessert, which just means we will have to come back. We will definitely be back. read more

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I agree with the overall 4 star rating. It's a nice place, little pricey. It's hard to find gnocchi even around the Italian areas but this place has it so I tried it out after a whale watch. The gnocchi itself is pretty good, pesto sauce was excellent and the potato dumplings were alright. Great view as well. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

We had the steak and the shrimp pasta. The creole sauce is definitely creole and not a Shrimp scampi type, but it was good. Steak was very good and the calamari appetizer was also very good. Waitress was kind and attentive without being too much. The hostess looks like she hates her job and was kind of blah about anything. read more

We had a truly delightful lunch at Paluca Trattoria, and it exceeded our expectations in every way. A fantatstic taste of Italy without leaving the Monterey Peninsula! We started with the bruschetta, topped with fresh tomatoes--it was absolutely fabulous, bursting with flavor and perfectly balanced. The salad was a standout: a delicious combination of Italian dried figs, creamy goat cheese, applewood bacon, and glazed walnuts, all brought together with a light champagne vinaigrette. It was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully composed. For our main course, we had the pasta aglio e olio. It was excellent--light, with just the right amount of mild garlic, and the linguini was cooked perfectly.Sautéed garlic, Sicilian olive oil, Italian flat leaf parsley, chili flakes. Simple ingredients, done exceptionally well. To finish, we enjoyed decaf lattes paired with delicious biscotti, which made for the perfect sweet ending. Dining al fresco at Paluca Trattoria (featured in season one of Big Little Lies) on Old Fisherman's Wharf made the experience even more special. You can really feel the authenticity here--from the dishes to the olive oil, which is specially imported from Italy and adds a rich, distinctive flavor. Highly recommended if you're looking for authentic Italian cuisine in a beautiful waterfront setting. read more

Was craving pasta during Monterey Car week and I called up the restaurant if they do all day pasta since the previous place we went to didn't have it around brunch time. This place was very nice, delicious and we were sat right on the dock next to the water. There were umbrella shades so it wasn't too hot. I did think the calamari could've had more flavoring, but it was still good (just expected a bit more) Waitresses were very accommodating and attentive, so we do plan on coming back! read more

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Honestly this was the best Italian food I've had in a long time. I ordered the gamberoni and my husband got the Sicilian meatballs, both super delicious. They give complimentary bread and butter as well. Everyone working from the host to the server was so kind! I know this restaurant is in a heavy traffic/tourist area but it felt like we found a hole in the wall with REALLY GOOD pasta. We will definitely return when we find ourselves back in the area. read more

Took some out of town clients here for lunch today. My first time here and it was fabulous! Paul and Luca are the best ! The Sicilian food is amazing! Fresh and delicious! Service was excellent! The limoncello spritzer was a hit !! I will definitely be back soon! Patio dining was so nice on the water , very relaxing! read more

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We were reluctant to eat on the pier as touristy but very pleasantly surprised! Great atmosphere, good, dessert, espresso...Very enjoyable.

Wonderful food and service. We sat inside and found it to be quaint. I had a cocktail, but would recommend sticking to wine. Delicious pasta! And cool to be in the restaurant where Big little lies was filmed. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Outdoor patio overlooks the bay - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

The food was exceptional. We ordered the lobster ravioli, the short rib ravioli and the fried calamari. All of them were so good we had to order the ravioli again! Best one I've had. The staff was super nice and accommodating. We had to sit outside because we had our furry baby with us but they were super nice and turned on the heaters. The views are beautiful, overall it's one of the best restaurants I've been in Monterey Bay. Definitely coming back! read more

Food is delicious and service was fast. Area it is located in is also a lot of fun. You are able to explore the wharf after.

Keep Points: - delicious food - Accommodates young children - Kids meals had generous portions - Back Drop of HBO's "Big Little Lies" We visited Paluca Trattoria for a nice lunch with friends and all of our kids during our last day in Monterey. We were looking for a spot on Old Fisherman's Wharf and were intrigued by the good Yelp ratings--and the fact that this place served as the backdrop for Big Little Lies on HBO! Our large party, full of fidgety kids who couldn't sit still was accommodated pretty well by the staff. I honestly felt they were exceptionally patient, opting to take orders for appetizers and kids' entrees first before returning again for the adults' orders. The Mrs. and I were relatively full from our previous latte and breakfast so we opted to share an entree and a clam chowder. The Lobster Ravioli came in a beautiful orange-pink-ish sauce. So essentially a salmon color? It was creamy, rich, and delicious. While not necessarily the best ravioli we've ever had, it definitely hit the spot. The table shared two plates of calamari. It was definitely better than the version we had at Sandbar the night before, and was fairly decent, but still lacked some degree of crispness. The kids all had variations of linguini. Our Little One got the buttered version with meatballs, while the other kids had theirs with red marinara sauce. The portions were surprisingly large for a kids' meal. It actually reminded us of that episode of Peppa Pig when everyone ordered spaghetti at the fancy restaurant and it was the biggest dish at the table! The base price was $6, which was exceptional, but I did think the extra $8 for meatballs was a bit steep, but overall, evened out to $14 for the plate, which felt reasonable given the portion size. We were too full to try dessert, but the view of the Wharf was absolutely stunning! All in all, a great experience and a wonderful place that can accommodate families. read more

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We found Paluca Trattoria on Yelp. It is a gorgeous setting, tucked away at the beginning of the wharf. It boasts a pretty view both outdoors and indoors. There were a few things that colored our experience a bit negatively here. The service staff was kind and helpful, but the person who served our calamari spilled a few pieces onto the table. I was a bit disappointed that there were no croutons in the Caesar salad - I've never had one without croutons. The pasta was solid with generous portions. It was probably the best dish we had. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Calamari - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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UPDATE, Next morning... Everyone in our party, including my 1year old grandson was sick with diarrhea the next morning after eating here. We tried calling the restaurant and all we got was an AI recording saying no one was available. The meatball appetizer was mildly warm at best and red in the middle. The flavor of the meatball was so so and the canned tomatoes as a sauce was gross. Super bland special which was local caught cod with prawns and clams (full of rocks) on linguini. No garlic, no salt no seasoning. The bread served with dinner was stale and cold and the butter was practically frozen. The waiter was nice but the food was, NO BUENO!! We asked for water but never got any. We asked for fresh ground pepper and they brought a pepper shaker. Do NOT bother eating here. OVER PRICED for SURE. Even Denny's serves better food than this. read more

The food was authentic and amazing. Will be visiting them again when in Monterey. Anything you ask of an Italian dish, they will make it and out do any original. read more

The food was warm, and the ambiance was amazing. It's located in a great area near downtown Monterey on the Wharf, so it was easy to get to. The staff were friendly and they have warmers if you're sitting outside so staying warm isn't hard.. recommend for a chill night out. read more

Had fish and chips the fish was so fresh we ordered a second plate of it! So good! Chowder was good as well!

My husband and I had the best dinner experience! We looked out upon the sailboats and bay while enjoying the best lobster raviolis we have ever tried. The fis and chips, smoked salmon bruschetta and Pino Noir topped off the eveNing. We highly recommend this wonderful family owned restaurant. read more

Meh. It was alright. Service was slow and part of our order came out wrong. The hostess took a long time to notice we were waiting to be sat while 2 other employees kept looking at us waiting and didn't do or say anything. The food was way over priced for what you got. I was upsold the fish special which included mussels, clams, prawns, and black cod over linguine in a wine butter garlic sauce. The regular linguine with clams cost $26. This special cost $45 using cheaper mussels as the majority of the shellfish. Two prawns. I don't know. Seemed like an outrageous price increase. Flavor was okay, but lacking salt and needing some citrus. Hubby got the same dish, only with prawns only as the only protein. Same meh experience. We shared a side Ceasars salad. It was sad. Reminded me of those salad kits from Costco. Cheese didn't even appear to be freshly shredded; seemed like the kind from a plastic tub. Overdressed with dressing that was underwhelming in flavor. Kid ordered plain linguine with the side breast of chicken. It arrived swimming in butter. They fixed it, but her chicken breast was dry. Won't be back. read more

Paluca Trattoria - Prawns in a wine- butter-garlic sauce. - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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We were able to dine outside on the deck on a beautiful day, so that was a great start! We ordered the starter of Calabrian Prawns, which were fantastic - and had just the right amount of heat. My husband had the Gamberoni and I had the salmon pasta. Service was exceptional. It was a good night! read more

Paluca Trattoria - Gamberoni (back) and salmon pasta. - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California