Great food, ambiance and service! Even at the gloomiest day in Monterey, this place will make you feel warm! read more

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Schooners had a great comfy ambiance, service was fast and effective. The waitress gave me great recommendations for food and everything I ate/drank was flavorful, fresh, and cooked to perfection Would definitely recommend and I would eat here again read more

Schooners Monterey - Halibut special with shrimp scampi - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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Food: ordered avocado toast and seafood omelette. Both were top notch. Would order again. Sent a pic to a friend and their reply was "that's a the fanciest avocado toast I've ever seen." The seafood omelette was delicious and had an impressive amount of shrimp and crab. Service: from the hostess greeting, to the beverage server to our main server, they all get high marks for their welcoming attitudes and great service. Wish I could remember our servers name. He is a long time employee and we can see why. He does his job exceptionally well. He was so happy to be of service. Loved having a moment to have a little chat. Ambiance: Perfect sunny day to sit outside and take in the view. Schooners will be a part of our travel itinerary every time we visit Monterey. Note parking is limited metered street parking or Monterey Plaza valet parking. Fun to walk through the hotel and head down the staircase to Schooners. There was a gingerbread house display since it was Christmas. read more

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Lovely brunch spot! The view from the outside balcony is simply breath taking! The waves are literally crashing under you. There service was great, able to get a table right away! I did call before arriving but was assured by the host there was no wait, and she was right. we sat inside at first but after seeing the balcony we asked to switch and we were moved problem My omelette was delicious! the food came out right away and perfectly hot. I wish we had more time to enjoy our brunch but we had other plans after! lovely spot, will have to check out there dinner menu when we're in town again read more

Schooners Monterey - The Plaza Omelet - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Even if you can't afford to stay at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, you can still enjoy the oceanviews for an hour or two with a meal at Schooners. It really does have the best views in the area with their patio tables as you're right over the ocean so impressive for a special occasion meal. Food wise, the Dungeness Eggs Benedict and Classic with Artichoke (for a surcharge) is good but nothing special except for the orange egg yolk in the benedicts. Also, I didn't realize their cold pressed juices were already bottled since I was not already familiar with the Perfectly Pressed brand. Overall, if you are looking for views, this place is unparalleled. read more

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Located in the first class Monterey Plaza, down the grand staircase. Schooners is a casual chic restaurant. First, check-in is in the hallway. Then, a waitress takes you to your table, with an option for indoor or outdoor dinning experience. We had our daughter (3yr old Bday girl), so, inside dinning was the pick. Surrounded by windows, with views of the ocean and beautiful hardwood and elevated nautical theme dinning room/bar. The service we experienced was first class. Was asked by two different waiters and the bartender, if we wanted drinks, food, etc. Attentive Beyond! We ordered the Fish and Chips and Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl. The beer batter fish was fresh, crunchy, acidic, salty, deliciousness. The fries were double fried, at least. Crunchy, yet still soft and not over done in the middle, choice! The Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl was elevated. Typical creamy, fresh clam, with vegetable deliciousness, with a fresh bread bowl. The difference is I swear I could taste, what seemed to be white wine, maybe the vegetables were sautéed in? Loved that elevated touch. The food is better than good, but the service was wonderful. They even surprised my daughter with a beautiful little cake! Great Touch! *Serve lunch starting at least 11am* read more

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Pricey - you pay for the location Food - good but not really worth the price. My husband did enjoy his buddha bowl but the 3 pc - seared ahi tuna on the side for $15 was definitely not worth the price. My fish and chips for $21 with only 2 fish just basic taste. Son enjoyed his plaza burger. Service - not happy with our server - Diana! She seemed distracted, she was on the phone for a long time, we had to ask another waiter to let her know we were ready to order. She just had a little bit of a snotty comment to my friend who asked if we can still have the brunch menu and when I asked for a kids menu. Location - inside the hotel, ambiance is nice but won't be back when in the area. You can still try it. Tip: reserve before hand if you have a big group read more

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What a lovely place to dine and talk about the view from the restaurant, water front! The entrance to the restaurant is on the ground floor at the hotel. The restaurant and staff was friendly. Lunch and wine and of course oysters. The had the fish tacos and fish and chips. The fish tacos were tasty with each bite. Perfect portions. The fish and chips were huge portions and overall perfect. I will definitely return for another lunch or dinner date. read more

Schooners Monterey - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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I really enjoyed my shrimp gnocchi and they went extra mile to customize it the way I like it. Nice views, although small and can be chilly in the evening. read more

This fine restaurant makes me wish I lived in Monterey so I could try everything on the menu! Fresh, fresh, fresh oysters as an appetizer were fantastic. Followed by Black Sea Bass, that was prepared perfectly! Top that off with a berry cobbler dessert ended a great meal exactly right. The ambiance was casual yep you knew you were in an excellent, and welcoming establishment. Our server has clearly been there forever. She knew everything on the menu first hand, and was delightfully efficient. Can't wait to return. read more

My sister and I had the great fortune of celebrating a birthday here Friday night. One of the best meals we've had in a VERY long time. Absolutely outstanding from start to finish. Ambience, service, food, value (huge portions). Sully, our server, went above and beyond to accommodate - as did the entire staff. 5 stars across the board. Definitely a welcome addition to our favorites list. read more

The views and service were impeccable but the food not so much. I've had fresh oysters from all over the bay that were cold, firm, and smelt like fresh ocean air. However, the ones from this restaurant had a pungent fishy odor that was very unpleasant. The lobster spring rolls were mediocre at best. There was barely any flavor and even though the sweet and sour sauce makes sense for spring rolls, it doesn't do anything to enhance the lobster. For my entree I order the 8oz tenderloin, medium. The outer rim of my cut was medium but the center seemed closer to rare. The green beans had uncut edges so I had to bite out the stems and the mashed potatoes was lacking in butter. The only compliment I can give to the dish was the chimichurri garnish on the beef. read more

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I live in Monterey but had never been to Schooners. My brother visited and treated us to a dinner. What a disappointment. I had the seafood salad - tiny dollop of crab that tasted odd, two small pieces of ahi tuna that tasted like black pepper and salt and 1 lame shrimp. The 'salad' was a forkful of mixed greens dressed in oil. All for just $38! The $8.00 focaccia bread for the "table" was the size, texture and flavor of a very small hockey puck. Other than the appalling food and egregious prices, the service staff were commendable. What a ripoff. read more

Schooner or Later Located inside the Monterey Plaza Hotel, Schooners offers up modern American cuisine that's highlighted by their sustainably-sourced seafood and large bar featuring a large selection of adult beverages. They are also quite popular for their weekend brunches, which we could've tried, but we're not brunchy people and opted to wait for lunch. The Good: *Carissa's grilled salmon dish was cooked perfectly and she really loved it. *Chocolate Mousse Cake was delicious; it had a deep chocolate flavor and not too sweet. *Amazing views from their outdoor patio *Hotel will validate two free hours of valley parking *Pliny™ on-tap! *Reservations thru OpenTable® The Meh: *Waitstaff was pleasant enough but a bit disorganized and confused at times. *Quite the odyssey to get to the restaurant itself walking thru the hotel. *Prices are steep but it is Monterey and it is a fancy-schmancy hotel. So what're you gonna do? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The Ugly: *To be perfectly frank, that "Lobster Roll" was downright offensive. Carissa (aka Miss Maine) was appalled that they buried the beautiful, sweet tasty lobster meat in an avalanche of bread crumbs. Seriously. Who does that?! To be fair, I'm not saying it wasn't edible but it was essentially eating a lobster flavored breadcrumb sammich. I will say the roll and fries were delicious, so there's that I suppose. TLDR: Overall 3.5* but can't bump up because that lobster roll is pretty unforgivable. read more

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First time checking out Schooner's, wanted a nice restaurant by the sea while visiting Monterey. Made a reservation about few days in advance for 4. Views were immaculate, dishes came out timely! Complimentary bread was given out. Felt like the ceviche was missing something, not as tangy as I would've liked and doesn't have some ingredients in typical ceviche. Baked mussels in Thai curry were delicious, although wish the curry sauce was a little thicker and more flavorful because it tasted a bit watered down. I've eaten some oysters in my lifetime and frankly the oysters here were a little disappointing. I'm a big fan of buttery oysters but these weren't as buttery as I personally would've liked. The ahi tacos and Cioppino were actually my favorites. The ahi was fresh, although salty, it tasted pretty good! read more

Schooners Monterey - West Coast Oysters on the Half Shell, Ahi Tuna Poke Tacos, Monterey Squid and Poached Prawn Ceviche - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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We came out for my birthday dinner & specifically wanted to come here because I remember how great it was 2 years ago when we came for my birthday trip... it definitely wasn't the trip I remember. Food was good but service was terrible. We had an older lady and she barely checked on us and was definitely giving other tables more attention & acted like we didn't belong there which was crappy. Her attitude alone made me almost want to leave before our food even arrived. Definitely thought we would've gotten better customer service and hospitality on $130 check read more

Schooners Monterey - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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Came here for dinner. Plenty of tables by the water and they sat me behind two heaters. They said it's because of the wind which had subsided. I was reseated. Ordered mussels which were good. Focaccia was old tasting. They had it in a skillet but the bread was too small like they were trying to make it seemed baked in the skillet. Nope!Tasted microwaved. Chewy. Ordered asparagus which never came. Did not bother to reorder. At least they didn't charge me. Bummed it wasn't as good as last time I came. read more

This place was amazing! My friend and I were looking for seaside brunch recommendations, and were suggested this restaurant. We weren't disappointed as the views and food were amazing! I had some wine and the big little lies drink which was delicious, and the right amount of alcohol. For food I had the ceviche which was delicious and surprisingly filling. My friend got the fish and chips which looked amazing as well. Price was reasonable and 100% would come back! read more

Schooners Monterey - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

My husband took me here for our 45 wedding anniversary. Extremely beautiful breathtaking a place that you wanna go to over and over.. every place we went to has a view to kill you. Our hotel suite was gorgeous right on the water. read more

Delightful way to start the day! Came here for breakfast and sat outside; glass railings make the view great, and there are heaters for cooler mornings. Food was solid, service attentive. Everyone left full and happy. read more

Today I was denied service. I'm in Monterey on business trip. I don't eat fish . But they had outdoor seating. I wanted a few cocktails and couple of appetizers as like 3 pm . Just wanted to relax after working and see ocean with cocktails. The hostess was happy to seat me till I said I was just eating light . Which still would have been about $70 dollars. She denied me sitting on balcony and said only if I were to order a full lunch . I said in my 63 years, I have NEVER heard anyone tell you what you can or can't eat . She said if I just want appetizers...go to bar inside. I'm like "are you serious?" I was humiliated and will never be back . They lost my business and also my company's business. How degrading! Never read more

Only came for drinks and apps but all positives! The service staff was wonderful and extremely informative about the wine selection and food offerings. We got a few glasses of different wines (all really good) and the Dungeness crab drip, which was some of the best I've ever had. Ambiance was easily an A+ considering the view overlooking the ocean. Would certainly recommend! read more

Schooners Monterey - Warm Dungeness Crab dip - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Ambience is the best but service lacks. We had a table of 6 on a Wed 2:20pm. Not very busy and they couldn't make the effort to swing a table sideways and remove the extra table so we could all sit together. Some places cater to the customer, and others just don't care. We were celebrating 2 bdays with a lunch including my grandma turning 100- three seniors including wheelchair. Very inflexible and unapologetic hostesses. The view is wonderful but there are other places in Monterey where I can enjoy the view and receive wonderful service. Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks service is terrible based on many other reviews. read more

Great location. Great view. Yummy food. We came here for lunch and dinner on two separate days as we were staying in the hotel. Service was friendly, kind and attentive. We had fish and chips, clam chowder, the Buddha bowls, Brussel sprouts, cheeseburger and fries, St. Louis ribs, roared chicken with risotto, salad, and cocktails. Everything was prepared well, tasted good and served quickly. I'd come back here! read more

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After working our appetites in the Monterey bay aquarium we were lucky to have the table available in that local gem. Restaurant located in the posh sea front hotel and in order to be seated you have to pass through the hotel lobby. The main attraction of the restaurant is not in the menu-it is unobstructed view of the bay. To get that you will need to seat outside. We started our lunch experience with home-made focaccia bread, that was very rich and chewy inside and crusty on the edges! For mains we ordered clam chowder soup in a bowl, tuna tacos, steak sandwich and fish and chips. The bred on the sandwich was a bit battery and overpowering the taste of the meat. Ahi tuna tacos was fresh flavorful with just enough sour and spice. Fish and chips on a side has outstanding French fries. The best ordered item was clam chowder that did not have bacon and yet was perfectly creamy and rich! The sourdough bowl was amazing, freshly baked( outsourced from local bakery)-soft and melting and crispy! Our waitress, Maria was great-friendly, attentive and extremely patient with our demands and children!! She alone earn 5 stars to this establishment!! Will be back for sure! read more

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Made reservations prior to going here for my boyfriends bday. We arrived at 5:00 pm , we were able to move our reservation up since it wasn't too packed at that time. We got seated outdoor and it was well spacious. We got to see the nice view of the ocean and it was spectacular. It wasn't too cold so it made the experience pleasant. We ordered the local ceviche and a dozen of raw oysters as starters. Everything was complete freshly from the seafood. The local ceviche was tasty but the sauce was lacking flavor, it needed more salt. For the oysters , the sauce was too vinegary. For our main course we got a pesto gnocchi and the hanger steak. I was speechless when I took a bite of both food. The hanger steak was super tender and flavorful , the mashed potato and roasted veggies blended the whole dish together. Best steak I've had in awhile. The pesto gnocchi starchy yet filling and delicious . The server was so sweet and accommodating he surprised us with a slice of cake for my boyfriend's birthday. I can tell they were busy but they still made the experience a good one. Overall the experience was amazing . Customer service 5/5 Food 5/5 read more

Schooners Monterey - West Coast Oysters on the Half Shell and Local Ceviche - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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I had the best Mother's Day lunch, it was our first time in Monterey. Our server was Zadiel (I hope that's correct) he had the best hospitality and was extremely attentive. The food was delicious we ordered the dungeons crab pasta and the fish and chips both fresh and delicious along with the Mai Tai and whiskey best drink, best date night/Mother's Day can't wait to come back! read more

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Trying to enjoy the last few days of this perfect warm days with calm winds. Went to have breakfast at Schooners because I wanted to be outdoors by the water (although there are sooo many options for outdoor seating). They don't have a lot of vegan or vegan-gluten free options. I ordered the avocado toast (vegan but not gf) and was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was. They topped the mashed avocados with diced cucumber, red onion, tomato, mint, and some chives I think plus some sprouts. My husband ordered the Eggs Benedict (he subbed the ham with bacon, which was a bad decision because it was too salty). The roasted potatoes were decent though. Oatmilk cappuccinos we're decent, nothing great. We also ordered the almond croissant (not vegan nor gf), highly recommended by our Server, and it was delish! Service was pretty good, everyone was smiling and in a good mood. Why not, they're right by the ocean and soaking up the sun! :) and it wasn't busy when we got there around 10am. The place is nice and clean. Schooners is pretty open so whether you sit inside or outside it'll probably feel the same, just less wind, and a bit farther from the water. I might want to come back to try their lunch menu (the Buddha Bowl sounds good). :) read more

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Sweeping view, clean environment, at the right time of the day almost deserted. Thank you Oscar for the excellent Bombay Sapphire gin and tonic and the suggestions of the focaccia and garlic fries and tempura shrimp. A quality experience and tasty food. I will be back read more

Schooners Monterey - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Diane and I enjoyed a convenient lunch here at the Monterey Plaza Hotel where we were staying. A half-dozen West Coast Oysters on the Half Shell were extremely fresh and great dipped in Mignonette or adorned with hot drops from requested Tabasco Sauce. And we each had a hot cup of Coastal Clam Chowder that was very good but largely filled with potatoes. Fish & Chips for her were extra crispy, but the Fries were warm rather than hot. And my Shrimp Boil entree was a welcome change of pace from steak and other seafood preparations we had recently experienced. It included very large shrimps, mild Andouille Sausage, Red Onion, a Sweet Corn Cobette, and boiled potatoes cooked in an iron skillet that stayed warm throughout the meal. As a counterpoint to these flavors, Apple Cider Slaw was creamy and also very tasty. And my glasses of Iced Tea were accompanied by Stevia Eco-Sticks. Excellent gloved and masked service was provided by our server, Gardine, and his team. Booth seating inside the restaurant was comfortable in a casual setting for only 32 diners, with large windows that looked out to the bay below. Piped in jazzy music played in the background. XXXX-1/2 stars overall! read more

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Usually I try and reserve 5* for the mom-and-pop type places, but we had such a great experience here at Schooners that we'll likely be making a trip back for sure! Came through Monterey for a babymoon and decided to have our dinner here. We didn't stay in the hotel but there was enough street parking nearby on a Sunday and we were able to get reservations/seating even though it was fairly last minute (and OpenTable only had a few spots left). Food was very tasty - the clam chowder bowl was nicely seasoned, the fish and truffle fries were all very good, and the drinks were well made (recommend Old Fashioned!). Prices are a little high, as probably expected for the city and the area (and the view). We were able to sit on the pier and had a lovely view of the water during sunset. Servers and host staff were top notch! So friendly, perfectly attentive, and polite/professional. They made the whole dinner feel like a night out. If you're looking for a nice date night seafood place w/ a good view in Monterey, give this place a look! read more

Wow! Great dining experience! From In-Room dining for breakfast to a romantic dinner in the restaurant right on the water.. Schooner's was most definitely on point with their delicious food, awesome presentation and great service. Enjoyed a Seafood Cioppino and King Salmon Entree as the Monterey Bay waves splashed against the rocks below. Unforgettable date night to say the least! Schooner's In-Room dining prepared the best eggs, waffles, country potatoes and coffee to get our morning started as well. Food presentation and quality was fabulous, scrumptious and worth every penny. Special Thanks to Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa. (But that's another review for another day !) read more

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While on Cannery Row dining at SCHOONERS, is definitely a go to! We started off sharing a beet salad which was amazing!! I have what was considered an appetizer Muscles in a coconut milk sauce! I must say every time I have Muscles, no matter where I go I'm delighted but this was the first time I've ever had them in a coconut milk sauce and they were beyond sensation. My friend chose a pesto gnocchi which was delicious as well!! We sat outside with a beautiful ocean view! The service was absolutely amazing as was the food it was a beautiful evening on the Monterey Bay at Schooners! read more

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5 stars across the board. 5 star service, 5 star location, and 5 star drinks. Don't miss out! read more

Schooners Monterey - View from our table - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Loved the views and food! Such a fancy hotel too! Live music was great :) the server lost our reservation but the food and service were great! read more

First night in Monterey and we enjoyed the views at Schooners. We sat on the patio and saw dolphins and sea otters. Our server, Zabdiel, was great. He was friendly and gave us some great tips for our visit to the area. The food was average. The salmon dish was overly flavorful, while the seafood pasta could have used more. The dessert and latte were tasty! Definitely recommend for the views. Might be a better menu at lunch than dinner. read more

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Views and service here were incredible! My husband ordered the wagyu burger and I got the bolognese, and we ordered the truffle fries as an "appetizer" and everything was delicious! Request a table outside by the water--it's worth it! read more

Schooners Monterey - View from our table - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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The staff was friendly, though our waitress made a mistake with our order, and we had to wait for our second dish. The environment is only worthwhile if you're seated outside--inside felt like a fancier version of Denny's. We were misled by the glowing brunch reviews, but dinner was a disappointment. For $40-50 a plate, we barely touched our food. They need to improve dinner or stick to brunch read more

Schooners Monterey - Roasted Pacific Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

My husband and I dined here the other night with our two children and it was delicious! And what a view! Just beautiful with the glass looking out to the ocean. We were able to see seals jumping in the bay during our dinner with a pink sunset. I had the juice which was fairly expensive for juice, but worth every penny because it was so good. ;) I mixed it with champagne and it was a fantastic combo! My kids also enjoyed a few sips that I shared. The short rib ragou stood out as our favorite dish. The halibut ceviche was amazing too! We will definitely be back next time we are in Monterey. read more

Schooners Monterey - The only way to do dinner with kids ;) (am I right?) They watched Finding Dory... fitting for Monterey! - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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Food not up to par for the price. Schooners is in a very good location, and the view from the outside patio is excellent. The setting was spoiled by the amount of large pesky flies that had congregated there. This is not a critique of the restaurant because they obviously have no control of the flies, but it is a warning that if you go there and choose to sit outside you might have to endure swarms of flies. My main complaint is that the food was lacking in quality and presentation. I ordered the skirt steak with chimichurri. The steak was very tough and the chimichurri basically non-existent. I asked the server for some extra chimichurri as I could not see it or taste it on the steak. The server brought me a tiny container approximately the size of two thimbels. It was mostly oil and garlic. Either they don't know the composition of chimichurri or they were out of herbs. The food could be considered edible, but at $28 the expectation was for a better tasting, better quality product. If you're choosing a restaurant within that area, you can do better than Schooners. read more