Had a lovely lunch with my staff and husband when we were in town a while back. They were kind enough to honor our request for "best table in the house" by giving us the lone table at the end of the patio closest to the bay. Outstanding view on a gorgeous day! The food was above average or better, depending on the dish. While some other reviewers have remarked about their clam chowder being too thin, I didn't find that to be the case. Certainly not thick and creamy but it had some body thanks to its plentiful contents and it was very tasty. On service, I will say that the hostess and our waitress were both friendly enough, but otherwise the service was in the 2-3 star range. Provided menus and asked for our drink orders simultaneously but we said we wanted to take a look at the offerings and decide, but then the server didn't come back for far too long. A variety of other issues, including getting one of our entree orders just completely wrong, not checking back with us, taking one drink to refill but not checking in with the rest of the table, not clearing appetizer plates before arriving table side with the entrees and just standing there with plates in hand like we should clear our own app plates - well it left a lot to be desired from the service perspective. It's too bad, really, given their amazing location and view coupled with their pricey menu options. With that said, I'm still giving this place four stars (rounding from 3.5). A classic Monterey restaurant with very lovely outdoor seating option and view, fairly extensive list of food and drink options and worth the visit! read more

Schooners Monterey - View from the best table on the patio on a beautiful day! - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

My boyfriend and I went on a whim with no reservation. We were promptly seated, waited on, and served. We sat right on the patio overlooking the ocean, and there were heaters out too. Food was very delicious and I'm glad we chose this spot! read more

Schooners Monterey - Surf & Turf and Schooners Seafood Pasta - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

My husband and I've been visiting Schooners for 8+ years. It was our favorite place until recently. The staff and atmosphere is still amazing, but the food made both of us sick. We stayed at the hotel and ate at Schooners three times. The food was consistently bad every single time. The poke tacos were very fishy, the ribs tasted old, the chicken was gamey, the burger was very well done, and had a funny smell. The food is covered in sauce, and we didn't realize how bad it was until we were up all night in our room with pepto. I really hope that Schooners will return to its former quality because we would love to be able to eat here again without fear. read more

Schooners Monterey - Plaza Cheese burger $23 - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

We came here for a late lunch today- we were able to snag a last minute reservation and got a table inside. Views were spectacular and the food was great. Our favorites were the seafood salad, ceviche and curry mussels. What really inspired me to go out of my way to write this review was the service- we were traveling with 3 kids under 3, and after eating fast food or a much more "kid-friendly" restaurant all weekend, we wanted to go somewhere a bit more upscale and I was nervous that we would get looks dragging our stroller in there. They were very accommodating, and our server, Masha, was so very gracious, kind, and patient, as well as the rest of the wait staff. I have been to many restaurants before and I can tell right off the bat when my kids aren't welcome. Didn't feel that here at all. We are so thankful for the experience- we got to eat what we want and there were items on the menu fit for the kids as well. We will be back! read more

Very friendly service when we dropped in for an early dinner, which was consistent across the board with each staff person with whom we interacted. We had the halibut ceviche, which was delicious, although too much avocado in my view. Seasonings and presentation were great. The clam chowder soup bowl was very good and the shrimp cavatappi was excellent. The juice drink was very tasty and my Sauvignon blanc was very good. The view of course is wonderful. read more

See all

Honestly, their service with the waiters was good, not particularly bad, but the issue with their reception staff was very bad. They couldn't help me with anything. Most importantly, when I paid the bill at that restaurant, they brought it and I added a tip to it. Today, I noticed that more than the amount I wrote down was taken from my card. read more

Great place for catching the sunset and some cocktails. Their raw oysters were pretty fresh (from Morro Bay). My husband had the sea bass and I had the mussels in Thai Curry sauce. Grab some extra bread to dip into that sauce. So good and this place did not disappoint. read more

See all

Their Crispy Brussel Sprouts and their daily special of shrimp linguine was a hit for the table! We sat inside due to the cold weather but still got to enjoy the views! read more

Schooners Monterey - Crispy Brussel Sprouts and their daily special of shrimp linguine - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Experienced very poor service. The food was okay. The view was really nice. Would not return.

The good. Situated downstairs in the opulent Monterey Plaza Hotel. This may have been the best breakfast I have ever had. A lightly cooked seafood Omlette w dungeness crab and prawns and I think mozerralla cheese perfectly seasoned. They subbed oatmeal for my potatoes , steel cut w nuts. And berries. Needed salt but very tasty. The bad: After a horrible experience last night in two different dining rooms, I was dubious about eating here this a.m. However, since the issues were all related to seating and hostess attitude and her complaint about how my chair was situated inside after not sitting me at a virtually empty railing outside because I was a single party (I got up and left) I'm giving the benefit of a doubt. I'm thinking because I was dressed so casually I may have been brushed aside. Not knowing I was a Plaza Preffered Member..ooopps. Anyway, a bit pricey, but it' was rated Conde Naste so.. enjoy. read more

See all

My husband and I have been coming to Schooners for probably 20 years. I have to say that the food isn't as good as it was back then but still a great place to eat and the ocean front views can't be beat. We always ordered the steamed mussels when we come here....they are so good and love slurping up the sauce that they come in. Back in the day, they used to make the mussels with a garlic wine sauce but have since changed it to a Thai Style sauce which isn't as good but still a great way to eat the mussels. Everything we have ever ordered has been good and very kid friendly as well. I used to order the Sea Bass BLT every time we came here but it hasn't been on the menu in years. Maybe one day they will bring it back! Service is always nice and usually pretty efficient. The views are great and super family friendly too. read more

I really wanted to love this place because the view was great and our waiter was so nice. But man I was so disappointed in this place. First, we were sat at the world's smallest table outside. You couldn't even move the chairs away from the table because another table was stacked behind it. OK annoying but I can deal with it. Then what do they do? Sat a couple RIGHT behind us. It was so tight we had to literally turn our chairs to the outside of the table. It was so ridiculous. Why the hell they put 2 tables in that spot was beyond me. I made it very clear when I called in I needed an open end table since my husband is visually disabled. But the space itself is a terrible design so there wasn't much option because most tables were full. So I'm already annoyed and really wanting to move. But it kept piling up and really no more seats outside. I was willing to move inside but the whole reason we picked this place was the view. We ordered bread bc at this point we're starving. We order the warm focaccia and it's COLD. like ice cold. To top it off, it had horrible flavor. At this point I'm pissed and want to leave. The last straw was the soda. I asked for a diet coke twice. Took one sip and it was regular. I know it sounds so small but the entire meal ruined our anniversary dinner. We got the check and left. I really wanted to like it. The waiter was nice and the view was good. But the food was awful and the setup of this place sucks. It's not very accessible for those with disabilities either. read more

The views are lovely! We watched sea otters play and kayaks glide by as we ate our lunch. The clam chowder in a bread bowl was fantastic. The harvest salad looked nice but was not good as it was overdressed so we ended up just splitting the chowder. It was fine, the views were worth it. Make sure to reserve your table ahead of time; we saw walkins get turned away even at lunchtime. read more

See all

We had an awesome lunch here by the ocean. The servers were very friendly and attentive and we had a lot of fun. I would definitely come back. Their cocktails were outstanding. Their fish and chips were great! read more

Schooners Monterey - Cucumber cocktail - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Absolutely horrendous service. The hostess was very rude and unfriendly. First they sat us in direct sunlight with out toddler, then they failed to offer us an umbrella or shade. then we finally requested to be moved to a different table. They started to bring out the appetizers but didn't bring us plates. Never checked back with us to see if we needed anything. We had to flag the waiter down and ask him to bring us some plates, which he did but didn't distribute it to people which was very rude and passive aggressive. Then we ordered some juice which he brought is a sealed bottle and just left them on the table with two dirty glasses. The food itself was bland messy and not at all how it was described in the menu. The atmosphere was beautiful but you could really go to any other restaurant in the area and get the exact same view and vibe, maybe even better read more

About a 10-15 minutes walk from Cannery Row, this place is a good option if you want some place that is not crowded by tourists but that still comes with a good view. My husband and I had our baby with us and were hungry - when we checked in at the hostess stand, the hostess was honest with us in that she had a table ready for us right away but that it wouldn't come with the best view but it was a warm location that would get us food in our bellies. Sold. Our table actually ended up being a good location for us with the baby - it was set a little apart and behind a corner from the rest of the tables, but that gave us some privacy and a little more quiet for our baby to nap. Even though we didn't have the best view, it was still pretty darn good - you could see most of the coast. The food here is super pricey (as upscale seafood places typically are) but it was definitely high quality. I got their clam chowder to start and their salmon for my entree and you could and you could certainly taste the freshness in each dish. However, I think that for the price I paid for my entree, the dish could have used a little more pizazz. It came with some gnocchi and some pesto dressing but everything tasted on the bland side to me. Also, our table was right next to a floor heater and after a couple of minutes, the temperature got extremely warm. When we asked our waiter if he could turn down the temp just a little, he said that there was no dialing down of the temp - either it was on or off and they had to leave it on so it could heat up the area for the rest of the patrons. That was a little frustrating to hear as we were pretty uncomfortable at that point, but a few minute later, another person came by and said it was fine to turn the heater off, so not sure why we got mixed messages. read more

Schooners Monterey - Grilled Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Came here for brunch after going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and it was such a relaxing meal with a view of the ocean and even live music. We arrived at around 1:30pm but didn't have a reservation so we put ourselves on the waitlist. We ended up getting a table about 15-20 minutes after signing up. The Fresh Catch (4/5) with the added lobster tail was a filling appetizer for two. It comes with 5 oysters, 5 shrimps, octopus ceviche with tortilla chips and the option of adding on half a lobster tail for an additional cost. I really enjoyed eating this appetizer because it was fresh; however, the added on lobster tail was only half of the tail so I didn't think it was worth the additional cost. I also had gotten their specialty Bloody Mary (4/5) which came loaded with two different types of olives, bacon, shrimp, celery and a pickle. It was huge! I would say my only complaint was that i couldn't taste the vodka. For the main entrees, we got the Dungeness Crab Benedict (4/5) and the Steamed Mussels (5/5). The Benedict was good but it wasn't anything mind blowing that I haven't tried at other brunch spots. The star for me was the mussels that also came with a piece of garlic bread. Dipping the bread into the sauce was absolutely delicious. The service was great. Our server checked up on us frequently and made sure we even had an umbrella for the table so we wouldn't be hot in the sun. I highly recommend this place! read more

See all

Beautiful setting for waterfront dining. We didn't have reservations but with a 45 minute wait ( get a drink upstairs and hang by the water) we were lucky to get a table right on the waters edge. Portions are good. I have the starter version of the short rib option which was just the right side. For our anniversary they have us each a flute of champagne. The view is really the outstanding point with good food as a compliment. Not an extensive menu. read more

See all

Amazing view and service! Food is fresh and delicious! Highly recommend coming here for cocktails + apps or dinner! Friendly and prompt service. 10/10! read more

See all

They were wonderful and the food was awesome. We sat outside and when it got hot they accommodated us with an umbrella for shade

Sometimes you get lucky with a restaurant that has both the views and the food. Schooners is absolutely that. We loved the relaxing views of the Monterey shoreline and kayakers as we ate outdoors. They had plenty of shaded umbrellas and heat lamps as well. The Monterey Cioppino was delicious and hubby and I both enjoyed it. The Blacked Cod tacos tasted fresh although the fish pieces were a little smaller. Our son loved the kids menu, complete with crayons and activities for him to do. We'd love to come back next time we're in town. read more

Schooners Monterey - Monterey Cioppino Pot - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

Great ambiance ocean breeze felt amazing the view was exceptional. The food was great the prices were reasonable the service was awesome. I took both my daughters here on separate occasions and they both loved it as well. Thank you read more

This is a MUST place to eat when you're in Monterey Bay. Highly recommend making a reservation beforehand to make things easier. I came here for my birthday dinner and it was absolutely amazing! Our server was super sweet and did not rush us at all. We ordered fun cocktails, and they were delicious! However, the food... left my fiancé and I speechless! We were able to sit outside too and got a seat right by the water view. How cool is it that we were able to eat, drink and watch otters by the kelp forest in front of us?! Love love loved this place! read more

See all

I am surprised I waited this long to give this place a review. It was just a very solid restaurant. I would've like to have had dinner there but I had a different reservation, but their lunch was very good. The bloody Mary was almost a meal in itself, but still packed that liquor punch that a lot of bloody Mary's lack. I had an awesome IPA (I wish my memory was better), and I really just wanted a nice, solid hamburger...they came through!! It was cooked nicely, a little pink but not still alive, some cheese, some veggies, bacon...just a really, really good burger...def quality meat which can make all the difference. Their fries were a good side. Only complaint was we got no Carne asada in our Carne Asada omelet...but they quickly fixed that error with a ton of Carne aside which was very well prepared. Super friendly staff, great view, and really good food!! read more

Schooners Monterey - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Enjoyed a delicious lunch of oysters, octopus ceviche, chips & guacamole, and mussels!! We sat in the bar area & we delighted that the bar staff and server were willing to prepare some East Coast beverages for us. Thank you, Danny R & Team for making sure our birthday celebration and reunion were delicious, full of laughter, and fun. We know that the hotel & restaurant were very understaffed, but we appreciated the smiles & COVID restrictions. Bathrooms & all public areas were very clean. The view is exceptional (all Bay view) from each seat at our table. Sophisticated system for host staff to contact waiting patrons make the wait go smootly. Negatives: dirty plate provided for my meal & not replaced, it was tough to get the server (or anyone) to bring us bread & plates, no water refills read more

Schooners Monterey - Dozen delicious oysters on the half shell.. fresh & sweet - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

We made reservations to eat here as we have done so in the past and love their ambience. We got seated out in the patio by the water. The view was beautiful. This was a new experience for our two kids- the service staff was so kind to bring out blankets for us because it was a little chilly even with the heaters on. We ordered the special of the day- "Halibut stuffed with lobster and crab" both my son and I loved this dish, my husband ordered the seafood pasta. My daughter just wanted spaghetti without the meatballs and sauce mixed with it. And the wait & kitchen staff took care of this. All in all we had a wonderful time, didn't disappoint us at all, we will be going back here! Thank You read more

See all

My family had the most delicious dinner with the most beautiful view of Monterey Bay. Recommend sitting outside on a beautiful evening. Our server was the sweetest. read more

Celebrated our wedding anniversary in Monterey last year during Covid, and enjoyed a really nice dinner here overall - which was also really convenient since we were also staying in this hotel. The service, outdoor patio/deck, vibes and ambiance were all amazing - unfortunately the food was just a bit underwhelming overall and some dishes just fell a little short from my expectations. I would def. come back and try this place again - but maybe more so for lunch than dinner though. Food talk: (1) Fresh Catch Appetizer - the oysters & shrimp were fresh and tasty, the ceviche was OK overall - the taste was similar to a very tart light marinara sauce - nothing particularly special/unique. (2) Fish & Chips - the fish was tender inside and the batter was nice and crispy, but overall the flavor was lacking. The fish def. need some kind of seasoning inside, and batter just seemed simple (didn't get any taste/hops from beer if there was any in there). (3) Tiramisu - ended up taking this back to the room, and it was def. worth it. This was tasty - rich/creamy and strong coffee flavor but not overwhelming. Great dessert. (4) Big Little Lies cocktail - this was ok, tasted like a light soda - def. didn't taste any liquor here. read more

See all

Amazing food, amazing service and amazing views! Will always be a stop every time we are in Monterey. read more

Schooners Monterey - Cioppino - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

We made a reservation here since we were staying at the hotel. I would recommend doing so because the people that arrived before/after us without a reservation were told that they had to wait about 25 minutes. They were very busy. Took them a while to bring the heater to us. The staff were kind but forgetful since it gets so busy. The staff who took care of water, bread, and bringing the food were very diligent. The food was okay. They give you bread and butter after you order. Get another loaf if you want since it is free ;) We ordered seafood pasta, cioppino pot, clam chowder, short rib, and a lemon drop cocktail. The food was okay. The clam chowder was the best and the cheapest ($11). I wish they put more shrimp with the cioppino. ;) The short rib sauce was not my favorite (but maybe it is just me). We had three of us and the table was small lol so it was hard to fit all the food. View was pretty and nice to get some pics. It is windy so bring a jacket. Overall, I'd come again but order differently. I definitely miss the clam chowder! read more

See all

Excellent service and location. We used to come here often pre pandemic and came today for lunch. Their menu has changed. Pros: *we walked up and were seated for a late lunch on a Sunday without a wait outdoors. *service was excellent. *good wine, beer and cocktail menu. *good appetizers and clam chowder. *the view from the outdoor seating area is incredible. Looking over the bay is worth it! They have heat lamp outside since it is always chilly there. Cons: *pretty pricey for the quality of food. *was unimpressed with the calamari Banh Mi. Bland and calamari was rubbery and lacked flavor. *their menu is pretty limited now. Assuming due to the pandemic. Hoping that will change with time. If this review was for food, I would give them 3 stars. However, their service is consistently excellent - great friendly people. Look forward to coming back in the future and hoping for a better food experience. read more

See all

Conveniently located in a hotel between Cannery Row and the San Carlos Park. They have both indoor and outdoor dining. We were fortunate to make a last minute reservation with only a 1hr wait for brunch. The outdoor dining opens to the ocean view, which was spectacular. Beautiful scenery while enjoying some delicious food. The baguette and garlic bread were on point - perfect crunch on the outside and soft on the inside. Dungeness Crab Benedict (3.5/5) - Well cooked crab meat with 2 sunny side eggs on a muffin bun. Not bad, but not a lot of flavor overall. Mussel and Oyster dishes (per friends 4/5) - the soup was packed with flavor. A perfect way to warm up on a cold day by the ocean Seafood Trio Salad (5/5) - my favorite. Good portion, delicious light dressing, fresh seared/cooked seafood (crab, shrimp and tuna) on the side. Good to share to get some greens in. Service was prompt and friendly. read more

See all

Decent place with nice views. Had a reservation on a Monday night for a birthday dinner and was expecting to be sat in the formal dining room but turns out that the dining room is not open on certain days? This wasn't explained to our party at the time and was left a bit disappointed when being sat in the patio with some basic seating. The food overall was also just OK. The clam chowder starter was a bit watery, I prefer chowders that are a bit thicker. The caesar salad was nice and the dressing was very tasty. The cioppino had a lot of seafood which is a big plus, wished that it did come with some pasta or additional garlic bread, 1 slice just isn't enough. read more

Schooners Monterey - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Lunch al fresco at this place is delightful. Do yourself a favor, and order the steamed mussels with extra bread. The broth is outstanding. They have a kids menu with a lot of choices, which is a plus for us. read more

Such a beautiful view. Sit on the patio! I love their Bloody Mary! Family friendly or a romantic spot. Good food too. read more

Schooners Monterey - Oysters from morro bay - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

Food and drinks were delicious, loved seating outside and enjoying the ocean. Attentive and food was ready quickly. read more

See all

Great vibes and views that overlooks the Monterey bay! Their sea bass tacos and crab pasta were amazing mains, got the seafood tower (crab was so fresh), we also got garlic fries as our side and that was so delicious too. also ordered some aperol spritz for a boozy brunch, was definitely a move. Service was super fast and attentive. Restaurant is located in the plaza hotel on the 1st floor -- signs are located everywhere so hard to miss. read more

See all

Fancy. Great view. But food was not the greatest. We were seated outside and we were amazed by the view. But the waiter was awkward. Dung. Crab appetizer: 4 pieces of bread for a bowl of crab and cheese. Bread was not enough but the appetizer overall wasn't bad. Just didn't amaze me. Monterey Cioppino Pot: basically tomato soup with a variety of seafood. The seafood itself in the pot were small. Clam and mussels didn't taste as fresh. Salmon and other fish were overcooked. Did not fill me up. "10 oz." Sirloin steak: this was the biggest disappointment. Steak was really small for it to be 10 oz. Asked for medium rare, got rare. Random mushroom top, 2 broccolis, 1 cauliflower. For just those pieces of veggies, the steak was the same size so it definitely was not 10 oz. Overall, view was great. Food was very disappointing. I had the pot and knew the clams/mussels tasted weird. My date had the sirloin steak and also said it wasted weird. We both ended up in the bathroom with a painful, upset stomach. 0/10 would go again. read more

The service was very attentive and kind, and the food came out quickly. The seating is also beautiful with a great oceanside view. My friend and I had the clam chowder with a bloody mary each. The clam chowder was extremely flavorful and came in a big portion. The bloody mary was even bigger and came with garnishes such as olives, celery, pickles, shrimp, and even bacon. 10/10 place if you're looking for somewhere to spend a relaxing evening dinner. read more

Schooners Monterey - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

They said they were dog friendly but they weren't. They wouldn't let us sit outside with our dogs. We went be going back there.