Rio Grill

Barmel is a must place to stop and grab a cocktail. Their espresso martini is pretty good!read more

Only bar open late in Carmel where the younger generation hangs out…read more Highlights: - Open spot for a drink past 10pm - Fun music Midlights: - Just bullet ginger $18 Lowlights - Have $25 cover and a rope for a line like it's a Vegas club - Packed later at night

Le Bicyclette Burger

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Cocktails

The Star Bar at Vesuvio

4.2(199 reviews)

fun place to lounge and enjoy the music! lively!…read more it gets BUSY in the evenings and weekends. hard, very hard, to find a table. i came, saw no seats, left for dinner, came back after to wait for a table. still waited a long time pretty sweet spot for a date. food is good.

Cool spot for a drink in downtown Carmel. 3.5 stars…read more Highlights: - Nice space at night with hanging lights and fire pits Midlights: - Lots of old school Britney Spears playing Lowlights: - Can get crowded and run out of seating - Didn't care for the old fashioneds and tried 2 different ones

6/24/25 FYI. Happy hour, Full bar. First floor.

Fireplace

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Sade's Cocktails

4.0(204 reviews)

•$

Best fkn bar ever! Famiky reunion vibes. Walk in not knowing anyone and leave having made a bunch…read moreof new friends. Bring back SADE's!!!

If you're looking for a good chill vibe, come here! We…read moreended up coming when the power came back on due to the tree falling into power lines barely came Back on but we were greeted by Parker who was so kind and had such hospitality. They had power out for a few days but were still so Chipper They serve beer wine and cocktails Everyone was so warm and friendly Parker had such a romantic vibe going on with all The candles on his bar So sad to hear he will be relocated across the street but so glad we got to experience this bar here while it's still in this location My mom and I loved the bathroom due to how good it smelled funny note but we love meyers soap and Parker had it ! Parker is such a character and such a vibe He has a few cats and a dog which were unfortunately not at the bar but def shows his true character as a pet dad. Can't wait to be back and visit the new location. What a Christmas 2025 this was. This is also a pet friendly bar! (: Thanks for such a great vibe our first Xmas Parker You're such a great host!

Street view

Cocktails at Sade's Cocktails

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Bud's at La Playa

4.2(35 reviews)

Absolute hidden gem!! We were in town and I asked the local bartender at a restaurant where to go…read morefor a drink. He suggested Buds and it totally made our night! Swanky spot in a gorgeous hotel and the cocktails and bar bites were on point! Love the vibe but also loved learning about their history and the renovation that was done. Will for sure be back any time we're in town!

Looked like cool ambiance initially, but I was under the impression this was more like laid back,…read moreold school, not pretentious and kinda stuffy? We sat at the bar, the hostess was very nice and helpful, but once we took our seats it took forever for the bartenders to say anything to us or even acknowledge us, which I found very rude. Cocktails were good but bartenders seemed annoyed, not solely at us, but just their overall vibe.. it was very strange. I'd expect this type of service in a NYC, popular-scene, swanky bar but this attitude seems out of place. Even asking the bartender about a drink we saw him make, because it looked good and we were about to order, he responded like we were bothering him. It was totally uncalled for. There is nothing wrong with questions or small talk, and a good bartender should know this. We were there Saturday evening around 7pm if you all want to retrain your staff. I wouldn't go again, but fine to try once.

Old Fashioned

Pretzel (@joeynht)

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Mission Revival... So good!

A W Shucks Oyster Bar And Cocktails

4.1(1.3k reviews)

Fun to try several different oysters. Fish and chips were very bland. We liked tha atmosphere, but…read moredid not love the food.

Great fish and chips , we passed on the chips and had a salad instead. Conveniently located in the…read moremiddle of all the shops, we sat right at the bar and enjoyed our meal. Spicy bloody was delicious too! Service was very good and we had a front row seat to watch the chefs in action . Definitely recommend checking out Aw Shucks!!!

It fills up at the bar, but service is always fast!

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Vibe

Brophy's Tavern

4.3(827 reviews)

1.6 mi

Stopped in on a whim while passing through Carmel and so glad we did. The ambience is fantastic,…read moredimly lit with great music and TVs everywhere, the kind of place I'd love to come back to and watch a game. Service was excellent. Our waitress Rachel was great and took good care of us. We ordered the French dip (added Swiss, onions, and mushrooms) solid sandwich, though it could've used a touch more salt. The real star though, was the fish and chips. Genuinely some of the best I've ever had. Lightly battered, flaky, perfectly cooked. The vibe lands in that sweet spot of upscale casual without crossing into fine dining, comfortable but elevated. Highly recommend if you're passing through Carmel. We'll definitely be back.

Lunch after a beach walk was just what we were looking for. Walk in and find a seat. Music and…read moreambiance brought a nice vibe the whole time we were here. Food is tops. The fish and chips is the ultimate meal. The burger was savory, soft and creamy just he right amount. It perfectly paired with the Talbott pinot noir they recommended. The only comment is make is the amount of French fries that were served with the burger. The plate was a lot larger looking because a sparse amount of fries was served alongside. Maybe add a little more next time just to balance it off. The servers/bartenders knew their stuff. They provided what they could in terms of what was popular and well liked. They said both items we ordered were the most popular. The fish and chips have won best fish and chips 3 years in a row. I would agree with this since I usually am not wowed with this dish. I couldn't resist ordering a dessert. The applied tart with vanilla ice cream was so satisfying. Overall service, food quality and experience was very good. If return over and over again for this same food and experience. If I could give 10 stars I would. Carmel and Brody's is a new destination.

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@feedmeimei

Cultura

4.2(1.1k reviews)

1.5 mi

I visited Cultura with my greyhound, so we sat outside in the courtyard near the firepit tables…read moreshared with Vin, next door. It was a cool, breezy night, typical when the summer marine layer moves in over Carmel, but the propane heaters kept us toasty. If you prefer dining indoors, the interior bar and dining spaces had an intimate, funky, but very cool vibe. The host and servers were all extremely friendly and helpful. Despite being outside in the courtyard, they were also incredibly attentive, checking frequently to see if we needed anything. Their recommendations were spot on, too. I was wowed by the cocktail menu. I'll have to return to try more of their bar offerings. This trip, I took advantage of Happy Hour to order the blood orange margarita, and I was not disappointed. I ordered the ceviche appetizer. My greyhound thought it smelled as wonderful as I did. He rested his head between my feet in hopes of catching any ceviche dropping from my hands. This was so tasty, he was out of luck on the table droppings. I also had the chicken enchiladas for my entree. It was one of the best enchiladas I've had in a couple of years. My server, Mario, brought me out a small cup of their take on Mexican hot chocolate, made with oat milk, as an aperitif. It was so delicious, I almost wished I'd ordered a full cup as dessert.

Eh...we really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately, we're not fans and probably won't be…read morereturning. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, exactly what we were looking for. The service was pleasant, although at times it felt a little condescending. They have their own very specific tequila collection, so don't expect to see many familiar brands. That's not necessarily a bad thing. We're always willing to try something new. The margaritas, however, were very tart. Just too much lime juice. We ordered tacos and asked for flour tortillas, only to be surprised when they arrived on corn tortillas. When we asked about it, we were told they simply don't serve flour tortillas. Fair enough, but that would have been helpful to know when we ordered. The good news: the chicken tinga, barbacoa, and carnitas were all excellent. Unfortunately, we just couldn't get past the corn tortillas which fell apart when you tried to eat the tacos. Ended up using a fork. For dessert, we ordered one of our favorites, churros. They arrived warm, but were very dry and tough. A churro should make you happy. These made us wish we'd stopped for dessert somewhere else. There were definitely some bright spots, especially the meats and the cozy atmosphere, but restaurants generally get one first chance to make us want to come back. Unfortunately, this one didn't.

Another side of the bar seating area

NY steak, black beans, & assorted vegetables.

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Wine & Warm Water

Terry's Restaurant + Lounge

3.9(267 reviews)

We had previously enjoyed live music in the lounge and vowed to come back another time for a meal…read morebecause of the ambience and menu. We came back last night and enjoyed a delightful meal. Some had the fish tacos, others had salmon and sand dabs. All were excellent and topped off with the peach cobbler. (Also excellent!) The only negative was the hostess. We were torn between the inside or outside because of the chill and the inside had no ambiance. The hostess was quick to seat us inside but the wait staff let us know there were blankets available which made our dining experience excellent. Blankets and a heat lamp made all the difference. I'm not sure why the hostess did not offer the blankets right away!

Another great meal at Terry's. Started with an old fashioned and a glass of the clos du val cab…read more Had a Ceasar salad and a bowl of beef barley soup. The soup was delicious. It was flavorful and so tasty. Not many restaurants make delicious, homemade soups, but Terry's does not disappoint. We had the short ribs and filet mignon. Both tender and delicious. We ended with a keoke coffee and the molten chocolate chip cookie with caramel sauce. Jacob was our server and he was attentive and professional. We have never been disappointed here. Good job Terry's!!

Nice cozy spot inside.

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Irish coffee and dogs!!

Grasing's

Locally owned & operated

Grasings is a very good fine meal option for Carmel with great menu that doesn't remain static. It…read moreshines as a singular Carmel restaurant when the town is moving towards too many restaurants owned by two groups that have turned into tourist food traps serving less than average food. However, the differentiator at Grasings is the bar and that differentiator's name is Kevin. If not for Kevin, we would still frequent from time to time but with Kevin we go in at least once weekly. Kevin and servers like Kevin are solid gold in Carmel and ensure 5 star ratings for atmosphere and service. When you find them you never have a bad experience in fact you are guaranteed a great experience. The menu caters to all, carnivores, seafood, steaks and vegetarians - love the veggie burger! Great place to meet locals and tourists, especially if Kevin is working. We admit that when we walk to Grasings and find that Kevin isn't working, we find another venue. That isn't a knock on Grasings but rather a nod to Kevin.

Grasing's is one of those restaurants we make a point of visiting once or twice during our annual…read moretrip to Carmel by the Sea, and the food never disappoints. They have a great selection of wines and cocktails, and our go to entrée is the 8 ounce filet mignon with a spiny lobster tail and loaded baked potato. The steak is always prepared perfectly, the lobster is excellent, and the chef consistently delivers. The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable, making it a great spot for a nice dinner in Carmel. The service on this visit was professional and polite, although the bartender/server was a little short on warmth and personality. Nothing bad enough to spoil the evening, but a smile and a little friendly conversation never hurt anyone. Someone might also want to remind the staff that conversations about staffing problems or the performance of other servers are best saved for the back of the house. Hearing employees complain about staffing and coworkers in front of customers is uncomfortable and reflects negatively on the culture of the restaurant. This a leadership problem that needs to be addressed. Whatever you do, save room for dessert. Their chocolate brownie with chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream is easily one of our favorite desserts in Carmel by the Sea. Rich, warm, decadent, and worth every calorie. Grasing's remains one of our regular Carmel stops, and we'll likely be back.

Highest grade prime cuts and wagyu beef

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Terrace Bar

4.5(6 reviews)

Located in the La Playa Hotel is the Terrace Bar. Want to go way back in time? In a good way? I'd…read morerecommend Terrace Bar for great cocktails, and a fun bay food menu. First the good Stuff: dark and cozy inside, lots of wood, missing was a fireplace but plenty of those in the hotel. Started with Martinis, Old Fashioned. Superb. Very generous pours. Like the old days....the menu offered about 15 items- salads, apps, burgers, steak, fish, pasta all Priced very fairly. It's feels like a date night without the fuss. Go, soon, enjoy. I'd say it's 4.4.

Stopped by to get the famed pretzel and so worth it. And the drinks were great. With beautiful…read moreviews of garden and ocean.

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View from the outdoor seating area

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Bar at the hotel

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57 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Anthony L.

3 years ago

Very disappointed: cold food and very slow service. My wife and I are locals and have been going to Rio Grill for over 20 years and always got good food and excellent service. Our first time back since a change in ownership however was disappointing. The wait time to receive our appetizers was at least 30 minutes. Both salads were room temperature which should have been cold and crisp. They had obviously been sitting in the kitchen a while before being served. Our drinks took an unreasonable amount of time before being served and the one beer was not cold. The wine pours were stingy. The scallops were served room temperature along with the asparagus and potatoes. This after being served after the guest sitting next to us ordered, were served, and had finished their meals while we waited for our food to arrive. Ditto for the lamb shank; slightly warmer but definitely it had been sitting in the kitchen way to long. The shank was, however, excellent save for the temperature. We complained about the room temperature scallops and returned them uneaten. We didn't want them reheated because by that time the dinner had been ruined. There was no charge for them when we settled the bill. Overall, very disappointed and after all these years would not be inclined to go back if this is the new normal. If they are short of staff then it is a management problem that they were overbooking. Clearly, something has changed with the new ownership. Unfortunately, a good evening was spoiled and there is no making up for that. read more

John R.

15 years ago

This place used to be top notch, I'm not sure what's happened. The food here used to be some of the best cuisine in Carmel, but after my last few visits here I am pretty sure I will not be returning. The bread, which used to be fresh and hot sourdough, was stale. The Calimari, which used to be a plate overflowing with fresh delicious seafood, has been reduced to a tiny fryer basket about the size of a rubix cube with squids that look like they were the runt of the pack. My entree, the shrimp pasta, used to be enough to feed 3, was barely enough to satisfy my hunger. Their entrees have decreased in both size and quality and to top it off their priced have increased significantly. So apparently they have cut costs during the recession right? Apparently not... as now all their wine lists are iPads! Yes you heard me right, they have an iPads for their wine lists (and no they didn't have any games). This a great restarant if you like pretty entrees and useless electronics. read more

Steven L.

1 year ago

Rio Grill is a Must-Visit! Just had one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time at Rio Grill. From the moment we walked in, the vibe was warm and welcoming -- you can tell this place takes pride in what they do. The food? Absolutely phenomenal. Every dish was full of flavor, perfectly cooked, and plated with care. Whether you're here for the wood-fired specialties or something lighter, you're in for a treat. What really took this visit over the top, though, was the manager Mirra . You can tell she genuinely cares about their guests and their team. She was present, personable, and attentive -- checking in on tables, chatting with diners, and making sure everything was running smoothly without ever being intrusive. It's rare to see that level of hospitality done so effortlessly. Rio Grill isn't just a restaurant -- it's an experience. Huge kudos to the staff and especially the manager for setting the bar so high. Can't wait to come back! read more

Stacey B.

14 years ago

I'm definitely coming back to this place my next coastal trip. I have never had a salmon sandwich, but when I read their salmon BLT, I thought, "you're on"... sounds fantastic... and it was a really nice combination. I also had a spinach salad and their ice tea is to die for. I love places that serve special tea, and this one was a really fresh citrus-y flavor that I couldn't even tell you what it is. Kind'a tasted like mango but I'm not sure that that was it.. unless it was a combination. Next time, I'm going for dinner because I took a peak at their dinner selections and I really like the people and the atmosphere. I really enjoyed their lunch, it was simple and delicious. read more

Matteo P.

12 years ago

Everyone here was very friendly and helpful. The food was absolutely fresh, perfectly prepared, and plated like each table was full of judges for Top Chef. Even the kid's meals look super perfect and taste incredible. I like that the wine and beer lists were on a tablet. It's interesting, the decor is very arty and upscale, but they provide games at each table, so you can kind of create your own atmosphere from casual to romantic. I was there with three generations of family and everyone was raving about the restaurant. Prices are in the medium-high range, but there are a few very reasonable options. read more

K R.

14 years ago

The Rio Grill is awesome! A group of us had dinner there last night. We were seated immediately for our 6:30 reservation. The table was decorated with beautiful confetti. The wine was excellent and the food was delicious. I highly recommend the artichokes and the calamari for appetizers. For dinner, I order the salmon which was amazing. For dessert we passed around the lemon pie, a chocolate torte and a bread pudding. It was also wonderful! To top it off, the service was fabulous. Thank you to our waiter and to Becky for making it such a special night for us. read more

betty d.

15 years ago

My husband and I live in Carmel and LOVE the Rio Grill. We live nearby and go often either for dinner or just drinks and appetizers. Consistency is very important in resturants. In over 20 years we have never had a bad meal. The food is always great and the seasonal changes are fun to try and always tasty. Congenial staff, good service and always a pleasant evening both socially and foodwise. We often eat dinner in the bar-same menu as the restaurant. Really good atmosphere, upbeat but not so noisy that you can't hear. read more

Norm V.

3 years ago

I hadn't been here in 20 years. Let me tell you, something has changed. They must be under new ownership because there is a different "lack of energy" in the air. If it is under new ownership, I give them credit for not taking the Half Smoked Chicken off the menu. This is the reason I came back. Of course, it cost me $33 (for chicken), but it was as delicious as I'd remembered. Overall, this isn't the Rio Grill of days past, and I probably won't be back any time soon. read more

Helen F.

11 years ago

Rio grill is one of favorite restaurants but the bar is the best. No matter how horrible your day went u go go n see Sarah S n your frown goes into a smile She is a gem n should be in the bar every. Night Sorry Sarah no nights off. U always leave with a smile. We will coming n having our own personal cheerleader read more

Chris B.

17 years ago

This place has good consistent food and service. Staff is attentive, friendly and offer up good food and drink recomendations. Prices are good and their wine list offers an extensive selection of great wines. Try the fire-roasted artichoke... It's the best out there! This place gets my top vote in the area. read more

Silvia A.

4 years ago

I've come to the Rio Grill many times, and I must say that it gets better every time I visit. The service, the atmosphere, and of course the food, are always top notch. I enjoy spending my money and finding value in places that show how much they care about their craft. Keep up the great work!! read more

Shawn A.

2 years ago

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Monterey. The food, ambiance, and service are consistently excellent. My son had an incident in their parking lot and management an ownership handled it with professionalism, class, and generosity. They have our dining business for a lifetime. read more

Dave D.

4 years ago

We came here while on vacation in Monterey. I can't say enough how great this place is and I wish we lived here permanently. The food was terrific and the service was excellent. All four of our family members loved everything. What a gem and we will definitely be back when we return. read more

Gabriela R.

5 years ago

Excellent food and ambience. Had a glass of wine with my prawn pasta which was absolutely divine. Everything we had was delicious and we had a great time just chatting in our own little quiet area. We visited during COVID so it was relatively quiet. 100% recommend and will be back! read more

Deanna T.

4 years ago

It was a really great experience! Our server was amazing. Accurate, attentive, personable! He really made the experience enjoyable. The food was well prepared- to everyone's specifications. Great dining experience!!!! We are fortunate to have such a wonderful restaurant in our area. read more

Maria O.

12 years ago

Food was ok but my husband and me waited for almost an hour to get our food, 3 tables that got there after us got their food first than we did. Table next to us order same thing us we did and got their food faster and they came 20 minutes after us. read more

Carol C.

5 years ago

This was where I went on my first date and thanks to Katherine my excellent server, she was very knowledgeable of the menu and the local wines, the night was unforgettable. The food was great I look forward to my next visit read more

Debbie L.

3 years ago

Worst wedge I ever had! Few tomatoes, no bacon, no avocado. Lettuce yellow! Pork dinner broccoli was burnt and calamari was greasy! Nothing like when previous owner had it! Door Dash refunded $5.00!! Unexceptable! read more

Ron N.

11 years ago

I was not expecting this place to be so good considering it's in a shopping center, who knew. If you run out of options in town, try this place. Actually you might not get in here either it's that good. read more

Marissa D.

756

9 years ago

Really love this restaurant. Always a good experience--staff is incredibly nice, and food is always delicious! Good for family, fun atmosphere, and definitely recommend Rio if you're in town! read more

Rio Grill - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

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Covey Grill

4.3

(22 reviews)

Great service! Tasty food!…read moreLovely dining atmosphere! Our Server was a lovely man who was patient with me as I asked questions and went through my usual indecision and finally landing on Butternut squash soup followed by Branzino. The soup Hit The Spot! Vegetable based (so no cream).... This soup was incredibly satisfying. Of course I love me some soup so this hit all my comfort notes on a cool evening after wine tasting and gallivanting all day. The Branzino was perfectly prepared... Just falling off the skin and melting in my mouth. Hubs enjoyed his steak thoroughly! I got a small bike and thought it was quite good.... tender, meaty, good flavor not over seasoned so you can actually taste the beef... Perfect chew. It had texture and was not mushy. All in all, a wonderful dinner experience that I would go back to again.

This is the restaurant inside the golf club " The Quail " . It opens daily for breakfast from 7 am…read moreto 10:30 am . We ordered latte and cappuccino coffee . It tasted great and the texture was smooth . I enjoyed the pretty ceramic cups and plates . Tables setting were very classic and they seated us on a table by the window. We could over look the pond with a bridge and fountains . There were a group of geese playing around in the morning. Food was great . We had the two eggs omelette with a choice of bacon , ham or sausage . Plating was beautiful. The country potatoes came with red potatoes and brown potatoes. The side salad with vinaigrette dressing was fresh and delicious. We got toasts with butter and jam . So much food and I could not finish . The lobby outside was nicely decorated with decorative details . We enjoyed it very much .

il vecchio

4.0

(1.8k reviews)

I have to be very honest in this review. Ever since I took my niece to dinner at this restaurant I…read morehave been thinking about it. I need to go back. The ambience is amazing. The restaurant is actually quite stunning the little details of every chair at the table being different made you feel like you were coming to dinner at a friends very well decorated friends home (with a view) the fixtures and textures were absolutely worth mentioning The service was out of this world. Avery helped us. His service was top-tier. It definitely matched the ambience and the food. Unforgettable. Now for the food, oh my goodness the food we started with a garlic cheesy bread and the burrata appetizer. You can absolutely tell that this bread is baked fresh in house daily and was delicious the burrata appetizer mouthwatering ,fresh & crisp just wonderful. The balsamic made me crave for more. It just was really that good. But now for the absolute star of the show the vodka pasta. Life-changing. I've been thinking about it for the last two weeks and I need to go back. I made a date with my mom next weekend to take her. I already know what I'll be having. I know I know we should all try something new but let me tell you it was that phenomenal. You can literally watch them making the pasta right there in the front window. It's all in the details here. Thank you for the wonderful staff for treating my beautiful niece and I to a wonderful evening. You have made a customers for life. Honestly I'm mad I haven't found this place earlier. I will definitely definitely be back

We chose this place on the recommendation of a former resident. We weren't disappointed! It starts…read moreoff with the very friendly service. We were given good advice to spend our money on another pasta dish than on an appetizer, given we were a family of four hungry people. The homemade pasta made such a difference! Each of us had our favorite, though we liked everything. I enjoyed the carbonara, the consistency of the noodles was something I'd never really had, it was marvelous. My younger son selected the cacio e pepe, enjoying the tasty mushroom and sausage dish. The older boy selected the orecchiette, besides a good pasta the chicken had a grilled flavor that stood out. My wife favored the rigatoni, which featured a really good rago sauce. Keeping in mind it's all homemade fare, the price is justified. The portions don't look overwhelmingly huge, yet none of us complained about being hungry when we were done. I definitely will try one of their seafood dishes on our return visit.

Porter's Grill & Pub

4.4

(158 reviews)

Beautiful view from the restaurant overlooking the golf course and the forest. I started with a…read moreprickly pear. Margarita. The sausage pizza was amazing... Rustic, homemade crust, mozzarella, pickled onions, homemade sausage and hot honey. Delicious. I feel like this spot was not as pricey as the golf courses on 17 mile drive.

Lazy bartender. Told me that they didn't have a happy hour. I told him it was on the website. Then…read morehe agreed and acted annoyed. When we ordered a second round of drinks he charged us list price. I didn't want to argue with him so I just paid the bill. Will never go back. The 4 of us spent 500.00 to play golf. Another 85.00 in the bar. Won't be going back to porters again. They blew it. Told all my fellow golfers. Stay away.

Sea Root

3.9

(88 reviews)

Located inside the Hyatt Regency Monterey property!…read more We had breakfast and dinner at the restaurant during our stay. Traveling with our dog, pet friendly spaces are incredibly appreciated, and we were able to enjoy both meals outdoors on a fine June day! We had breakfast out in the big tables while our pup settled next to us - we had steak and eggs, chia fruit, a side of bacon and a side of boiled eggs (for the pup). For dinner, we dined by the fire pit and had the steak and bolognese pasta! So happy we got a great spot by the fire pit and we were able to roast marshmallows after. Both meals left us feeling fulfilled and happy. Service at the host table was wonderful - we're always grateful for outdoor options when traveling with our dog.

What started off as a bit of a doozy turned into a very unexpected and pleasant surprise. When we…read morechecked in Thursday evening, and were greeted us warmly and was incredibly helpful in recommending local restaurants and activities, which we truly appreciated. However, there was some miscommunication during check-in at both the hotel and the restaurant. We were told that our stay included complimentary breakfast. Although we had initially planned to explore local spots, we decided to take advantage of the breakfast at the hotel instead. On Friday, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast, believing it was included, and then spent the day exploring beautiful Carmel and Monterey. On the day of checkout, we returned for breakfast and were surprised when our server, Rudy, informed us that our stay did not include complimentary breakfast. We explained that we had been told otherwise at check-in. Rudy was very kind and even went to the front desk on our behalf to clarify, as we were concerned about an unexpected $75 charge. Unfortunately, he confirmed that breakfast was not included, which left us confused. We decided to speak with the manager , Jessica to share our experience so she would be aware of the situation. She was incredibly understanding and, to our surprise, generously offered to take care of both Friday's breakfast and the breakfast that morning. This was completely unexpected and we just wanted to make sure we didn't get charged the $75 and we simply wanted to bring the issue to her attention to help prevent it from happening to others. We were truly impressed by her professionalism, kindness and understanding. Along with the excellent service from Rudy, this turned into an overall great experience at Sea Root. Thank you, we will be back soon!

Edgar's Restaurant

3.8

(113 reviews)

This is a go- to in Carmel Valley. I love Quail Lodge and if it is sunny anywhere on the Monterey…read morePeninsula, it is here in this part of Carmel Valley. Service Is consistent, as is everything on the menu. Eating outdoors here is the move, overlooking the golf course. The Farmer's Market salad ( add your protein) is my favorite. Happy Hour is a great time to come to Edgar's.

Service was decent. Waitress a bit abrupt. Smash burger with the chimichurri sauce was wayyyy…read moretooo salty! I had the penne bolognese was tasty but too al dente.

Monterey Cookhouse

3.6

(738 reviews)

We stumbled upon Monterey Cookhouse and boy were we surprised at how good it was…read more The food was fantastic, the atmosphere outside in the garden was fantastic, not fancy but cozy. I am not sure that I can find a word to express the service and wait staff but amazing! Loved everything about it. We go out to eat every weekend from cafe to upscale and I have never had a solid 10 before. Hats off to Monterey Cookhouse

Absolutely love this spot. Great food Perfect mixed…read moredrinks AND the staff The view, vibe and dog friendly garden patio in the beautiful,historic Monterey Peninsula

Sticks

4.1

(221 reviews)

Was pleasantly surprised to see Lobster Roll in their menu since I've been thinking about the one I…read morehad at Beach Club Cafe a couple of years ago. This one, on the other hand, was just as delightful. Service is always excellent at Sticks!

Very pricy but excellent food and service. Had a great time with my family. The inside is relaxed…read more- no formal attire or golf attire required. TV's throughout the dining room made for a fun night eating and watching football with my family. We enjoyed their soup, chili, nachos, burgers, fish tacos, and lobster roll. I forgot to snap pics of all our food but I managed to get a couple. Bottom line is the food is great, the service is excellent. It is a bit pricy but we had a wonderful time. Suggest making reservations online so you can show the guard at the gate to avoid having to pay the entrance fee into PB.

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4.0

(1.6k reviews)

We were visiting friends in the area. After going to the aquarium, my family of 4 decided to meet…read moreour friends--another family of 4--here for lunch on a Sunday all because I told my husband "Just take me somewhere with Sanddabs on the menu." The hostess didn't seem overly thrilled when we showed up to this tiny restaurant (we didn't know how tiny it was when we chose the place) asking for a table for 8, but after a 30-ish minute wait, they were able to accommodate us. I really appreciate how kid friendly they were. It had a great kids menu beyond the typical chicken finger/burger options that are standard at most restaurants. But going further than that--the waitress offered to bring the kids' food out first, which is next level service. The food was delicious. Our glasses stayed filled. The oysters were fresh and wonderful, and my sanddabs were perfection. A really great meal with a fabulous view of the boats passing by. But if you're going to roll up with a party of 8, I'd recommend a reservation or be prepared to wait a bit. But definitely worth it either way.

Everything was amazing. Delicious food, incredible scenery located right on the water, and our…read moreserver, Pablo, provided us with everything we needed, including great conversation! We even had a view of the sea lions! Both entree's, the burger and shrimp tacos were great! Will definitely be back.

Pacific Grille

3.6

(52 reviews)

Great food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Definitely a restaurant worth visiting…read moreagain!

Located in the Hampton Inn, across from Lobby, is Pacific Grille. The service is nice. Waiters…read moregreet and seat you. You are given certain items for free, but if you want certain things (hot), you have to order and pay. The prices are pretty high! My daughter enjoyed it. *For the quality, it's too expensive*

Trailside Cafe & Beer Garden

3.7

(264 reviews)