Tarpy's Roadhouse is a great place to go when you want a great meal with little hassle, and a wonderful ambiance. It is an old ranch house and the front has some old stone work that adds to the atmosphere. Outdoor dining during lunch is great and you have the occasional plane flying overhead because of the airport being in close proximity. I have never been disappointed with any item we order and my favorite is the Chili Crusted Chicken Breast with scalloped potatoes... can you say YUM!!! The service is great and the food even better. My first visit was almost 10 years ago and we go back every chance we get (multiple times a year) We even had our rehearsal dinner in the library room up the stairs.... it was spectacular!! The private dining options are great and the attention to guests is wonderful. If Tarpy's was a bit closer to me, we would have events there all the time! The only thing I do not like about the menu is the Iced Tea... it is a "sport tea" and has a bunch of added stuff in it...not my favorite and I wish they would also offer a regular version. Although, their lemonade is really good... it is tart and bubbly from carbonated water... very refreshing.... (they would get 5 stars if not for the iced tea) I highly suggest you give it a try, you will be pleasantly surprised... read more

I was visiting Monterey as part of a central coast CA trip, this being the nicest part of my visit, I decided to spend a little more on a nice meal. I went to Tarpy's on a Monday night alone and was seated at a table next to the bar. I ordered a blood orange margarita, expensive ($9) but very good. I had calamari as an appetizer which was not bad, but nothing special. The entree was the prawn pasta. The seafood seemed good and fresh, the pasta was very overcooked, falling apart as a fork was put into it. I had to scoop the penne with my fork. The corn in the dish seemed out of place and the sauce was bland. So, overall it is definitely not worth the money you will spend. The worst part of the experience was the service. I'm not sure if the lack of attention was due to me being a lone diner, or the nature of the waitress or restaurant in general. Every interaction with my waitress was as she was rushing past my table. Never once did she slow down, stop or otherwise spend more than 5 seconds speaking to me. I had 3 people serve me drinks, appetizers, water, as my waitress wasn't around to deliver any of these. Oh and I was pan-handled on the way in.....how classy. Don't waste your time here, find somewhere else to dine. read more

Tarpy's is one of the many gems on the Monterey Peninsula! Not only is the food here delicious (it's soooo difficult to choose from the many exquisite menu items), but also the atmosphere is genuinely unique and pleasant. Our last visit, my wife and her mom split the lobster and prawn pasta in lobster sauce (they only gave me a couple bites!) and I got the Bison steak (never had it before, but it is incredibly flavorful) with garlic potatoes. I recommend Tarpy's for anyone looking for a unique dining experience, especially if you want to impress out of towners (or a first date!) It's a little on the pricey side, but worth every penny for the quality of the food, the service, and the atmosphere. ALSO, ask to be served by Nick. He's been our server our last few visits and I can honestly say he's one of the friendliest, most accommodating servers I've ever had. See you next time, Nick! read more

A favorite place for lunch, dinner, and appetizers and cocktails with friends. Consistently good food. I had the salmon last week for lunch and really enjoyed it. Always excellent and friendly service. 3/2013 Update: food and service are still fantastic but, wow, Tarpy's your prices have gone up substantially. I do realize that beef prices are really high right now, but I just do not consider anything "special" about an entree when it is almost $50. I will still visit but you can be sure it will have to be less often. read more

The last few times I have been to Tarpy's the food has been well above average. However, since Chef Todd Fisher has returned, the food is INCREDIBLE! This man is a genius in the kitchen! If I could give half-star ratings I would have given the place 4 1/2 stars this visit. The only (small) drawback was that my second rum and coke came to me as a coke:) Somehow, the waiter either forgot what I had been drinking, thought I was looking too tipsy, or the bartender simply had a brain fart... If anyone comes to the peninsula without having dinner at Tarpy's, they are cheating themselves out of a tremendous treat! I can't wait for my next visit! read more

I went to Tarpy's for the first time last weekend and had a lovely lunch. The European courtyard was so charming with its rustic stone walls and climbing ivy, really great atmosphere. I was impressed with the eclectic drink menu too! K-tonic anyone? Citrus Vodka, Muddled Ginger, Jalapeno and Ginger Beer...yes please! This was one of the spot on recommendations our server, Alfredo made. He was super sweet, knowledgeable & friendly. Thanks for the great suggestions Alfredo!! I live locally and look forward to returning again soon! read more

Was able to sit outside and really enjoy the atmosphere. I had the decadent Kobe Burger with lobster. My aunt had the Sturgeon and both were great. Also had the white bean soup with Oxtail and it was delicious. Recommend if you want a great meal. read more

Tarpy's Roadhouse - Kobe burger - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

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The ambiance is amazing and the food was great, but it's the service that really sets the restaurant apart. The hostess was really accommodating about our seating preference, and Wendi--our waitress--was outgoing and friendly, as well as attentive and helpful. Already looking forward to returning again. read more

Tarpy's Roadhouse - Our dessert, which was absolutely delicious: lemon mousse with clementine orange marmalade. - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

Had lunch here on Dec 19th...sorry for late review. The waiter we had was incredible today- service here is generally very good. I have eaten at Tarpy's or over 15 years, and it has always been consistently good no matter what you order. With that said, this past year was a little rocky. The kitchen has recently been taken over by a new chef and you can tell, much better experience this last time. I almost wrote off Tarpy's the last time my husband & I ate there (Early 2014). Glad to see its the old Tarpy's again. I had the Cobb salad, hard to go wrong with this salad...always a good choice if you like Blue Cheese which I LOVE. My sister had the Quinoa & Argula salad which is great for a vegetarian eater. We celebrated with a 1/2 bottle of Champagne at the gentle suggestion of our waiter...which turned out to be a really nice suggestion! Espresso coffee was wonderful! read more

We have had a nice experience at tarpeys good drinks, fast service, I mean I was amazed I ordered a filet mignon and my hubby ordered the duck and it was ready in about 20 minutes, wow I'm amazed, the steak was good. But the food is extremely over priced.. all in all it was a nice nignt. I would recommend this place to someone who wants a date night. read more

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Great choice for dinner, with nice sized portions and very good food. Not cheap, but then again this is Monterrey, you're not going to find anything considered reasonable around here. We came in a huge party and our wait staff were elegant in handling the size of the party and splitting up the checks at the end. Definitely coming back after my next trip to Laguna Seca. read more

Tarpy's Roadhouse - Scallops, great choice! Scallops are hard to cook but these were done just perfectly. - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

They play country music. They have a nice variety on their menu at reasonable prices. This place is tastefully decorated. The service is top notch. The setting is fun & beautiful. Plenty of parking. They also have a wine bar. Great stop on a road trip. read more

Tarpy's Roadhouse - Meatloaf - perfection, with mushroom gravy, Mashed potatoes, green beans. Coffee. - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

Definitely some good and definitely some bad. Got the following: Spicy tuna tacos: 4.5 stars - amazing flavor and texture, but with a slice of avocado, they would have been PERFECT Bloody Mary: 4 stars, very good, but could be a little spicier for my taste Ribs: 1 star. Took one bite and was done. The meat had no flavor, and the ribs were burnt beyond edible Kobe beef burger: 3.5. Good flavor and very juicy, but I have had better. I would recommend this to someone who hasn't had it before, but I won't get it again. I'll be back to try some of the other signature dishes read more

They purposely based the tip on the total instead of the subtotal so the tip amount is higher. It's just dishonest. read more

Tarpy's Roadhouse - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

We had a really good experience here! We were visiting Monterey from out of town and were looking for a dog-friendly lunch place since we had our pup with us. After searching Yelp, I came across this place. First, the grounds are beautiful and there is a pond outside surrounded by grass. We sat on the patio since we had our pup and they were sweet enough to turn on the heaters outside because it was pretty cold that day. I thought it was so cute that they had a doggie menu (choice of chicken, beef or salmon I believe). We ordered our little guy the chicken and weren't sure what to expect. They brought it out pretty quickly in a dog bowl- thick, good-quality grilled chicken breast, rice and fresh veggies (without sauces or seasonings- I asked). I was really impressed with the quality! They also gave us a water bowl so our doggie was very happy :). As for the human food, our selections were really good as well. I ordered the Angus burger and my boyfriend got the brisket sandwich. The Angus burger was very juicy, great flavor, and just filling enough. It was served with thick homemade fries, which were super good. I tried my boyfriend's sandwich and loved the smokiness of the brisket. His came with potato salad, which normally I'm not a fan of because I don't like mayo. This one was actually really really good though! It wasn't doused in mayo (a nice change), so I ended up eating quite a bit of it. We liked our food, but in the future, more options on the lunch menu would be great! Their drink list is soooo extensive though (it's more of a book, really). Whether you're into beer, wine or cocktails, they have it all. We will definitely be back when we're in the area! read more

Tarpy's Roadhouse - Chicken, rice and veggies from the doggie menu :) - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

Great food. Really interesting takes on traditional dishes and a few originals. The atmosphere is lively and fun. Great wine list. The service is top notch. Great for birthdays, celebrations but also great for office parties. read more

Probably the hardest thing for me about the covid lock down is missing sitting down at Taryp's (I'm privileged I know)

This place was recommended by the staff at Comfort Inn close by. We had dinner and it was a beautiful environment and great decor, romantic but family atmosphere also. Service was great and the food was tasty. I had a salad and my husband had ribs, both were well portions and yummy! read more

Went to Tarpy's for a corporate banquet. The setting was beautiful and the food delicious. Loved all the different appetizers. Always has been one of my favorite restaurants in the area. read more

Super cool ambiance! Very friendly and accommodation! The soft pretzel was so good we had to have 2! Not many vegetarian options but food was great! My mom left her sweater and they tracked us down and called us to let us know we forgot it! That's going out of their way..super cool! read more

Ayyee!! Esskedditt!! Kobe lobsta burger words cant tell u bout the flavor party u gotta fux wid this surf & turf burger, cant forget bout those steak n eggs appetizers next level shyt read more

Great place to have dinner and even a Family Event. We had a great time and the food was outstanding. The Service was on spot and friendly. I highly recommend this restaurant and look forward for another dinner here. So I give it 2 thumps up. read more

My family and I enjoyed a great meal here. It offers dining inside and outside, both are a lovely setting. It wasn't too busy when we got there, but as we were leaving it was obvious we missed the rush! My husband had the ribeye, one of my girls had the salmon and the other had baby back ribs. I had a dish with chicken- don't want to butcher the spelling- but it had spinach pasta, some veggies, chorizo and Cotija. Interesting mix and very tasty. We all enjoyed the great food, and we received excellent service. read more

I had the pork shoulder and my wife had the Salmon fettuccine. Also tried the Kobe burger and it was delicious. Taste was extraordinary and ambiance was nice, but don't sit too close to the door at dinner hour it gets chilly. Service was spectacular, but don't forget your credit card because it is pricey. read more

Wow. First time for slow, poor service at Tarpy's. Lunch, noon reservation on a Thursday. We were served water immediately without asking, which was fine as we all three would have requested it. Our waiter returned about ten minutes later to take our beverage order. He returned in ten minutes with our coffee, ice tea, and lemonade. Said he would be right back. We knew what we wanted for lunch and were ready to order... It took more than twenty minutes for him to return and take our order. My ice tea was empty and the coffee needed a refill. Lunch was served. A coffee refill was requested. That finally appeared. I pointed to my empty ice tea glass, but he was gone before I could request a refill. He didn't offer to refill the coffee again nor was my ice tea ever refilled. We finally had to request the check. We three are retired so a two hour lunch was not a problem, but the wait for our order to be taken and no refills on our beverages was disappointing. Possibly he is new. We saw several tables arrive after us, be served and leave. Every other time I've been to Tarpy's the service has been excellent and the food always outstanding. One inexperienced waitstaff can give a poor impression of a restaurant. Hope he ups his game for Tarpy's sake! read more

So quirky and cute! My new favorite restaurant. The chili-crushed chicken w/scalloped potatoes, green beans and cornbread is amazing! A party party party. I don't know how they make those potato's but I want more of everything. read more

I first had a dinner with my girlfriends and immediately decided that I need to bring my hubby here! Every dish is terrific...it's hard to say which I love the best! read more

I've reviewed Tarpy's in the past, but this is my first "social distancing " review. Tarpy's has always been my favorite spot, and our dinner Friday just confirms that this establishment is one of the best, even with the new ownership. The outdoor patio is incredible! There was live music, heaters to keep us comfortable and the larger tables had personal table top fire pits. Service, as always, is the best (shout out to Nick). The night was awesome, except for the masks, for a few hours we were able to forget about the situation we are all in. Dining at Tarpy's helped me to remember how it used to be....people enjoying good food, service, and company and for that I thank you! read more

Their food is very good, a little pricy but definitely worth it! We tried a little of everything and were not disappointed!

I am so sad to give a bad review as I have loved Tarpy's for years, but my god, today was so bad. I usually eat or drink at Tarpy's about one time per month. Today, I arrived with friends and asked to sit in the bar area, as we were just having cocktails. I asked for the Happy hour menu, which apparently has been discontinued. We ordered drinks and one menu item. The waiter was not particularly attentive, but that was fine, as we were socializing. However, he came to us and told us we could only remain for 15 more minutes, as they "needed the table", even though there were plenty of empty tables. He then literally dug through our money on the table even though it was partially covered by the menus and we DEFINITELY had not handed it to him, and walked away. I have never been treated like this. We were made to feel completely unwelcome and I will not be returning. So disappointing. read more

We're back again!! This time a small family reunion for lunch. Previous post listed Christin as our server, it was Levi. Levi again took care of our group and did a spectacular job as usual. She gives 100% to detail, care and not to mention a very welcoming attitude and beautiful smile. The meals were fantastic, also, as usual. The staff here is so gracious and accommodating, the food preparation is out of this world. I can't say enough about Tarpy's except that if you're looking for great service, food and atmosphere don't pass this place up. Will be back again! read more

We went to have lunch and considered the Chart House in Monterey. Tarpys looked fun and the menu looked tasty, so eight of us met for lunch there. Great choice! The cocktails were perfection, the atmosphere nice and the service was quite good. Each of us was very happy with the delicious food. If opportunity knocks, we'll be back! read more

Very recently, my wife and I had dinner at Tarpy's. We had dined there about eight years ago and loved it, so we were excited to go back and see if it was the same. And it was the same and better! The menu offers a very wide variety of dishes, something for everyone. Our meals were wonderful, hot, very tasty and the presentation was right on. Our server, Kirsten, was very friendly and knowledgable, offering good advice on what we might like to order. So, we are looking forward to our next trip South to Monterey and when we go, Tarpy's will definitely be one of our stops. read more

Great mix of classy and casual dinning tarpys has a great mix of food from meatloaf to seafood The meatloaf and sweet corn is what I come here for read more

I love this one-of-a-kind restaurant!!! I have been eating there with my Mom, once a week for years. The staff is world class and has great teamwork. We always ask for the world's best waitress, Debra!!!! read more

Upon entering, the hostess looked very stressed and seemed like she couldn't be bothered. We had had an extremely bad eating experience earlier in the day so I thought "oh here's round 2". We were given the option to sit in the patio area or go home. We were hungry so we chose the patio area. Upon meeting our server, the whole thing turned around and we felt at home. Wendy was outstanding in every aspect. The place was really busy so we didn't see as much of her as we'd have liked to (we were the only ones outside) but she was great. We ordered 3 small plates: the Philly cheese steak spring rolls, the shrimp and lobster quesadillas and the calamari. The calamari was, hands down, the best I've had. That dipping vinegar is outstanding. The quesadillas were ok, nothing too great. I think more cheese and a little longer on the toaster would have them perfect. The Philly cheese steak spring rolls were really out of the ordinary. They tasted fantastic! The only complaint here is that they didn't have any dipping sauce. I asked a passing server if they had any sauce I could dip them into. He replied, "we don't have sauce but let me see what I can whip together for you." For me, that is extraordinary behaviors to make an offer like this. For dessert, we had the special banana ice cream with brownie and toffee and caramel. WOW. That's all I have to say. If you're in the area and you're hungry: eat here! You won't regret it. read more

When we were making plans to take my husband's father out to lunch and he said he wanted to drive all the way down from the SF Bay Area to Tarpy's Roadhouse in Monterey, and I looked at some of the poorer reviews on Yelp, I have to admit I wasn't exactly filled with eager anticipation. But it turned out to be an acceptable experience overall, though mixed. I would give about 3 and a half stars if I could. First, I should say the ambience is very bright and cheerful, including some whimsical touches, and the service is friendly and welcoming. It is certainly a most comfortable place to spend some time over a leisurely meal. (Note: I was surprised and sorry to hear about the people who were completely ignored; we weren't locals or regulars either, but were treated well. Also, I believe someone mentioned unclean dishes and menus, but I found the dishes, menus, and everything else to be immaculately neat and clean.) Now to the food. I wish I could say it was outstanding, but I can't--although it was definitely better than I had expected from some of the reviews. To start, the hot sour dough bread was just fabulous, and I could have eaten half a loaf. So far so good. Then it was on to the main course where I had selected the grilled salmon sandwich, which, although OK, could have been better. The salmon itself was fresh and nicely cooked, but the cold bun, the overabundance of greens (I like greens, but these were piled so thick that they 'took over', and made the sandwich difficult to eat), and the lack of any sauce to speak of or any distinguishable flavoring made for a result that was a bit on the bland side. It was still reasonably tasty since the salmon was good, but not really special. (By the way, my husband and his father seemed to have better luck with the salmon entree.) As for dessert, I had ordered the pineapple upside down cake. And unfortunately I chose poorly--this was about the worst pineapple upside down cake I've had. The cake tasted like it came from a cheap cake mix, and on top were placed some canned pineapple pieces that didn't seem to have been cooked in brown sugar, or caramelized in any way (or cooked into the cake as normally expected). I will say the whipped cream and berries on the side were good though. And finally, the coffee was better than decent--especially for restaurant coffee. So again, a mixed experience. If I were already in the area, I would possibly try Tarpy's Roadhouse again, but more likely I would try other restaurants in the Monterey area. read more

I had a few times lunch Togo from Tarpy's before. First time get there for dinner. We ordered fried calamary, prime angus sirloin, prown pasta, baby back bbq ribs, creme brulee, upside down pineapple cake and some drinks. Wendi was super nice and gave us very good proposes. We had a very nice diner time on Chinese New Year day. For sure, I'll take my chance to go back there again with my families and friends. read more

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a birthday celebration. I chose the shrimp and grits appetizer for my entree. It was very good. Our server Wendi was very good. read more

I came here in either March or April? My girlfriend and I usually just have coffee for breakfast, but we were starting our day slightly different. We pulled into Tarpy's parking lot with zero expectations. The whole building & surrounding park, etc.. was very cute. We ordered and ate at the bar. Didn't ask for seating on the patio or inside the dining area, but there were a few open seats. (I wanted to watch Golf on TV) Our bartender (female) was great! She was friendly , hustled, and smiled. We ordered brunch items. I had some cornbeef-hash type skillet that was insanely good. Beyond Good! (It was super good, I still think about it) My girlfriend ordered a fish sandwich, and she said "it was awesome". We had some beers & wine too. We will go back every single time we're in town. I just told some friends to go there (They're headed to Monterey in a couple weeks) Thanks, Chris read more