Where do I begin? We came here to celebrate my husband's birthday. Made the reservation online a week in advance. And from the moment we stepped foot into the building, we were transported to a new place. We let them know we were here for our reservation, we were seated promptly. There were multiple managers on the floor, the one that sat us, told my husband happy birthday. That was already such a nice start to the evening. Our busser was Enrique, he was so friendly, kind and quick with making sure we had water and cheesy bread. The sommelier came by, didn't catch his name but he was also so friendly and helpful. We ordered a bottle of a red wine local to the area. Our server was named Christian, he was fantastic. Very knowledgeable about the menu and lots of great recommendations! We both ordered a cup of soup, one cup of clam chowder and one cup of abalone bisque (one of the best soups I've ever had). As well as the oysters which were great. For our entrees, my husband ordered the chilean sea bass. Which he loved! I ordered the NY steak, cooked medium rare. Absolutely perfectly cooked and delicious. We received a slice of carrot cake for my husband's birthday, timed perfectly at the end of our dinner with a candle in it for us to celebrate and quietly sing together. Just the two of us. This was, without a doubt, one of the best dinners we've ever enjoyed together. From the attentive service and inviting ambiance to the exceptional food, every aspect of the evening was flawless. We will 100% be back again. Thank you for this memory. read more

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Overall, I would recommend this restaurant if you're looking for an upscale, seafood dinner with unique offerings that's going to leave a dent in your wallet. The food is delicious but the price is a bit steep for the experience we had. My husband and I made reservations for our anniversary dinner on a Friday night at The Sardine Factory when we were on a recent trip in early June to Monterey and the surrounding area. We were looking forward to it for several weeks and had seen videos online of the beautiful restaurant interior, so we made sure to dress for the occasion. Upon arriving we were somewhat disappointed to be seated right near the host stand and next to the front door, practically in the bar area. We had hoped to sit in a more quiet area or in the atrium (especially considering we arrived several minutes before our reservation time and were not a walk-in couple), but we were still happy to enjoy the night. Being near the bar we were in immediate earshot of the piano player, who was singing soft and mellow songs that added to the ambiance when we first arrived. It was a nice start to accompany our drinks and appetizers. Unfortunately that didn't last long as the music swiftly became louder, karaoke-style songs that the bar patrons were happy to (loudly) sing along to. The noise became so overwhelming and didn't let up for the rest of the night. We couldn't hear each other speak or even hear our server. That type of setting is not at all what we envisioned for this caliber of a restaurant, or we would have booked our anniversary dinner elsewhere. Needless to say we wrapped up our meal more quickly than we would have liked and did not want to stay and enjoy dessert as we had planned. It took quite a while to receive our entrees and even longer for the check to finally arrive, but we were quick to leave and don't plan a return trip in the future. We were quite disappointed as we had such high hopes for a nice evening out. read more

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If you have an hour, feel free to read everything. But to summarize, thank you Argenis Mata, Derrick, Don, Eddie, General Manager Jimmy Oh, Pedro, Raul, Reggie and Staff ... are awesome. Sardine Factory pays attention to detail (even to the point of which way the dishes, silverware are facing). The food is the best you can get from anywhere in the World, and presented beautifully both in the arrangement of food and presentation. Our Gang of Bay Area Eaters follows "MPep" (the fiercest Food Critic ever). There's a large group of us that frequent Sardine Factory. We sometimes eat at Sardine as much as 4 times a week. This last week, my friend (I'll just call her "M-Pep" because a reincarnated chicken that was originally Austin's came back and we call her "eMily Pepper" so "MPep" for short). I digress. So my friend whom chicken MPep was named after has been at Sardine 3 times this week. Oh, Austin and his family and friends eat at Sardine all the time. It was Aus and "Sis" that introduced MPep to Sardine. There's generally about 2 - 4 people / friends that start out for Sardine from the San Jose area. We rendezvous in the Monterey general area and end up at Sardine in a group from 2 - 9 people. Mpep is the big fan here and will literally throw a fit if we don't go to Sardine. Every good exam grade, birthday, reward for cleaning the house and cars - "What reward do you want?" "Sardine!" She says. So every trip to Sardine can be a 3 - 4 hour one way trip to Monterey, with getting back to the house as late as 1 - 2 am. It's a day trip for sure, but honestly, we're just both impressed and honestly somewhat puzzled that she's apparently - with her young heart - fallen for this Factory. We'll try to add and incorporate more names, but one Sardine Family we want to thank for sure is the General Manager Jimmy Oh. We watch him go from table to table, eager to learn about every guest, and making sure every customer and table is very happy with their experience. I've been in the restaurant and service industry, and Jimmy Oh is ... someone like him is nearly impossible to get on staff or management. So I hope he's recognized for putting an amazing image for Sardine. (Well, we found out upon creating this review that Jimmy is the General Manager. He has all the Professional Hallmarks of a very good GM, but approachable and grateful for feedback in a way that many or even most GM's somehow lose). As you can probably guess from this very review, we're a mix of unusual special personalities. Most of us have physical disabilities, some are very elderly, and at least two in our group have traumatic brain injuries either from injuries related to severe heart issues and one had severe injuries from getting hit by another driver / car under the influence. We need help getting to and at our tables. We often keep repeating things or asking about a dish over and over. The staff has always been welcoming and patient to our special needs. Mpep is young and instead of being treated - brushed aside for being "a kid" - she is allowed to ask about all the dishes. This has led to a systematic "log" she makes about all the dishes and she is intentionally going from dish to dish to try everything at Sardine. I have seen at other establishments where she was even asked to leave. She simply has a special personality (started college at 11 years old) - so I've never been angry at other establishments misunderstanding her or even kicking her out. But at Sardine, she's treated like family and I've never seen anyone receive her with anything but joy and cheer that she's come back "again." I'll try to add photos within the next day or two. We have an elderly grandma in our group and given her recent ER stay, we can't be sure how long she'll be around. But we're grateful for the staff and waiters being so patient with her requests and repeated questions. It's just good to have "a place" we know we can be treated by family and have food that's simply amazing and presented artistically with such a sincere desire for the guests to love this experience. read more

We got there at 5:30 and got seated right away. They do recommend to get reservations. We got seated in the dinning patio which is enclosed. Around 6pm it started to get more busy. The staff was really nice, our server was Antonio who was really nice. Now the food: they bring out fresh warm bread with butter, so good and breadsticks. We got the cooked sardines which were really good as well. I got the special which was salmon with a prawn on top it and asparagus which were kind of fried however I was able to take the fried part off and able to eat it and it was so good. We also got cioppino and the broth was a bit watery/thin but really good taste. I got the tiramisu and it had khalua and rum, it was really good, highly recommend it. Overall the food was good, we would go back. I would say it's probably around the $$$. read more

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A treasured piece of Monterey history. Opened in 1968 on Cannery Row, once the heart of California's sardine-packing industry made famous by John Steinbeck, the restaurant occupies what was once an actual sardine cannery. The interior is softly lit in golden lighting. The laden dark wood walls and white table cloths give the place a sense of comfortable elegance. The restaurant was recognized by the Michelin Guide in 2025 which really speaks loudly to its consistency and reputation. The menu is seafood forward featuring much of the richness in beautiful Monterey Bay. Of course we had to have the Smoked Sardines in heirloom tomato confit, sweet white wine and extra virgin olive oil sauce. Sooo good! Rich tender and not fishy. I could've slurped the sauce with a straw. There's something nostalgic and romantic about eating sardines at a former sardine cannery on Cannery Row. Especially if you're a big John Steinbeck fan like I am. We also enjoyed the Pacific Coast Sand Dabs. The flat white fish is abundant in Monterey Bay. The meat is mildly sweet with a delicate flavor, it reminds me of a cross between a trout and flounder. Service was excellent throughout the evening. Friendly, professional and attentive. We will definitely come back. Happy Eating!! 40 read more

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Great place for a splurge dinner for a special occasion. I recommend making reservations so you can sit in the conservatory-like dining area which has a historic feel to it. The seafood is sustainable, and there are beef options for those who are in the mood for steaks. As fans of seafood and being at a place called Sardine Factory, we decided to go with all seafood dishes. We shared the California Smoked Sardines which are cooked in a white wine-olive oil and come with buttery slices of bread - the fish was mild and smoky. Recommend dipping the bread in the sauce to soak in all the flavors. For entrees, I had the miso glazed butterfish which was amazing! The butterfish was locally caught from Monterey Bay, and it tasted so fresh - the fish was buttery and slightly sweet. It came with a delicious furikake sushi rice topped with a cream sauce. The roe added a nice salty and smoky flavor to the dish. My husband had the furikake crusted ahi tuna which was seared perfectly and melted in your mouth. Since we were celebrating a birthday, they brought my husband a piece of carrot cake which was a lovely way to end the meal. read more

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I have enjoyed many a meal here and every time the food was definitely a gold ribbon winner. The greeter was so friendly. The servers are top notch, and really know their menu and explain everything so clearly. Eating here has always been a first class adventure. I will for sure go back. read more

Went here for the first time and overall the experience was good. Wish I could give them 4.5 stars. We started with a drink in the bar area. A dirty martini, which was well made. An Old Fashioned which was just okay. They don't have the single large cube so it gets watered down relatively quickly. We then went to sit in the dining room. We got ice water pretty immediately and then were given the menus including the HUGE wine menu. There were some specials we were told about as well about 3 that all sounded good. They had a sommelier who asked what we were in the mood for and directed us to a beautiful Toscana whixh was delicious! We started with the cheesy bread which to be honest was a big let down. Just toasts with garlic/olive oil topped with Cheddar cheese and broiled. In my opinion not worth the cost. For dinner we opted for the "Factory Famous Tomahawk Steak for Two" came with grilled asparagus, truffle potato pave and a Dijon pepper corn sauce. Also came with a cup of soup (Abalone Bisque or Monterey Bay Clam Chowder which isn't your typical type as it has a tomato cream in it) and also your choice of a house salad or Caesar salad. The meal for 2 was delicious. Steak cooked perfectly. They slice it for you and asked if the temp was to our liking. The asparagus came with a hollandaise sauce and the potatoes looked more like an au-graten potato and was to die for! Our salads were nice and we were asked if we wanted a chilled fork with them, which was a nice touch. I would have liked to give them 4.5 stars but they definitely don't deserve 5. Worth trying and apparently their happy hour is a really good deal! read more

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IG: rs.Albright TikTok: m.albright The food was good! Happy hour is only in the lounge area and I wish they had told us that before seating us here. We stayed because it was our anniversary and we loved the view, but it was so expensive lol. Also the bread isn't complimentary and I wish they told us that too. We had amazing service and it was nice anniversary dinner! read more

Wow! A true 5-star experience. Wonderful food, wonderful ambiance, wonderful service. A trifecta of wonderfulness. The Sardine Factory is a terrific place for a date or for just great food or both. A friend of mine raved about it so I had to give it a try and he was right! This place really delivered. FOOD: We ordered the Monterey Bay Clam Chowder (an interesting and delicious blend of Manhattan and New England) which was excellent. We also ordered the cold-smoked salmon plate as an appetizer and I could have eaten that for a meal. But wait there's more. I had the miso butterfish and it was excellent. Miso butterfish is my go-to dish and this one was different since it had a cream base, but just super melt-in-your-mouth and better yet, they cooked the fish to perfection. My wife had the calamari steak with prawns and risotto and that was amazing, too. SERVICE: Really great service along with great plating and great portions. Such a well run restaurant with great ambiance. COST: Pricey, but worthwhile. Seriously worth every penny but it's a lot of pennies. Perfect for a date or special occasion. Will definitely be back. Maybe next time make room for dessert. read more

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The Sardine Factory remains a heavy hitter for a reason. It balances that "old-school" Cannery Row elegance with dishes that still feel vibrant and thoughtfully executed. If you're looking to capture the essence of a meal featuring these two plates, here is a review-style breakdown: The Seafood Fettuccine (or Linguine): This plate is a masterclass in coastal comfort. It's a high-piles-of-everything situation that feels genuinely indulgent. The Seafood:The clams and prawns are the stars--tender, sweet, and clearly sourced locally. Unlike many pasta dishes where the seafood feels like an afterthought, here it is the main event. The Sauce: It's a bright chardonnay and lemon butter base. It's silky enough to coat the pasta without making it feel heavy, and the addition of roasted garlic and fresh tomato adds a nice acidic pop to cut through the richness of the shellfish. The Verdict: If you love a classic, "everything but the kitchen sink" seafood pasta, this is a must-order. It's generous, fragrant, and classic Monterey. The Pan-Seared White Fish (Sea Bass/Butterfish) This dish is the move if you want something that feels lighter but still sophisticated. The Texture: The sear on the fish provides a delicate, golden crust that gives way to incredibly moist, flaky meat. It's often paired with a light cream or sake-butter sauce that complements the natural sweetness of the fish. The Sides: The asparagus is consistently grilled to a perfect "snap"--vibrant green and not over-salted. It adds a necessary earthiness to the plate. The Verdict: This is for the diner who appreciates technical precision. It's clean, elegant, and lets the quality of the fish speak for itself. Quick Takeaways The Vibe: The Conservatory room is the place to be. Dining under the glass ceiling with the hanging ferns makes the meal feel like an event. The Service: It's formal without being stuffy. Expect your water glass to never stay empty and the staff to know the wine list inside and out. Pro Tip: If you're a fan of a little extra flavor, the restaurant's legendary cheese bread is the perfect tool for soaking up any leftover sauce from that pasta. read more

The Sardine Factory - L - Steakhouses Near Me - Monterey, California

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Celebrated my mom's birthday tonight. Wanted to treat her and this restaurant was recommended. We were greeted and we sat at the 'greenhouse' looking dining room. The views are beautiful and love the ambience. It was quiet when we sat down but it does get a bit noisy with more people. Don was our server and he was friendly and enjoyed his company. We ordered the cheesy bread for appetizer. It came out hot and the cheese was perfect. For our entrees, we ordered the seafood marina linguine, sea bass and the 50 year aged prime ribeye. All the food was delicious and the pasta was probably my favorite dish. Overall, I absolutely recommend coming here for a special occasion or just because. We all enjoyed our meals and will be going home satisfied. read more

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Food was so good, our waiter was the best, beautiful interior the conservatory was amazing. We enjoyed our experience so much we went 2 days in a row. read more

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Wow, beautiful environment and delicious food. Service was phenomenal - never felt so pampered at a restaurant before. Ordered the early bird three course dinner specials in addition to two appetizers: one with sardines and the other of fried calamari. Our party had the shrimp entree with soups and the salmon with orzo accompanied by a salad. We tried all of the desserts too. Will be back again in the future read more

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Wow, they has so many unique dishes we had to try. Smoked sardines, Abalone Bisque and the Grilled Calamari Steak. Very unique and the flavors where amazing. Don't let the name fool you, this is closer to fine dining so dress appropriately. Loves the atrium where we sat and the wait staff where are very nice . Would highly recommend of in the area read more

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A one of a kind meal! Must try foods are the miso butterfish as well as their Ribeye 16OZ with the truffle butter. Absolutely delicious. Service was amazing, with a mix of casual conversation and good recommendations. Great drink selections as well, a good mix of cocktails and mocktails! Next time we want to sit in the conservatory, so pretty outside! Can't wait for our next visit here. read more

The Sardine Factory - calamari steak - Steakhouses Near Me - Monterey, California

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Came in on a saturday night with a reservation. This place is absolutely stunning and each room is like walking into a different museum attraction. Service is wonderful here and you are well taken care of. We also got to meet the owner and he gave really good marriage advice since I came during my bachelorette. We all got the three course meal deal which was absolutely worth the price! The soup, pasta, and tiramisu were all to die for and i still think about it this place. We asked to sit in the conservatory on the reservation and it was SO PRETTY and i loved being in there. only downside was it was freezing next to the door. read more

The Sardine Factory - Steakhouses Near Me - Monterey, California

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Had a fantastic dinner here from start to finish. The service was outstanding, attentive, professional, and never rushed. My wife ordered the filet, which was cooked perfectly, and I had the steak and lobster, both were excellent. Don't pass up the cheese bread amazing 10/10! The atmosphere was amazing and honestly not at all what I expected in the Cannery Row area. Elegant, warm, and surprisingly intimate. This is truly a five-star restaurant. If you're looking for a romantic evening or an impressive spot for a corporate dinner, this is absolutely the place to go. read more

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Upon a recommendation my son and I checked out this spot and we weren't disappointed. We sat in the lounge as that's where they have happy hour. There a several different rooms in this restaurant that gives it an allure all its own. We ordered a few items off of the happy hour menu and all were delicious. Needless to say we were very full. The serve was very knowledgeable about the restaurants history and the menu. Needless to say we did some damage to our meal. Highly recommended for this old school spot near cannery row. read more

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This was such a surprise visit! I've visit Monterey many times before and always thought this spot was a tourist trap - boy was wrong. Serves me right! Lol. We came for our anniversary and assumed we would make happy hour and then head over to our favorite sushi restaurant for dinner. Wrong! Lol. The happy hour prices were good and the quality of the food was even better! We loved the charcuterie board to start - the pickled veggies and cheese were sooo good! I encouraged my Honey to try the steak and he loved it! We were stuffed and obviously didn't make it to what we thought would be dinner, lol. They kindly brought out a carrot cake dessert to share for our anniversary. Everything was amazing and we had a wonderful experience. There are 3 different rooms also! This restaurant is quite big. We hope to return and dine in the hotel Observatory on our next visit. It is such a beautiful restaurant and I'm so glad we got to experience this for our special occasion. read more

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I have a low expectation coming here because I thought this is one of those tourist trap restaurant in a prime location. Surprisingly, everything we ordered were good! Price is on a higher side, but with the location, and the quality of the foods, I'll say it's worth it. We were celebrating my husband's birthday and they gave us a nice dessert! They also have live music playing on a friday night. We walked here from our hotel, but we saw that they have a parking lot next to the restaurant. All in all, we would definitely be back if we are in the area! read more

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This place is something really special. We had a late reservation and the server accommodated us with so much warmth. The food, by far the best meal I've ever had in my life. Rich and wonderful experience- not to be missed. We sat in the conservatory, and it's really just another world. Step back in time- and enjoy the experience of a lifetime. read more

The Sardine Factory - Escargot En Toscani - Steakhouses Near Me - Monterey, California

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We have dined at Sardin Factory many many times for graduations, father/mather's day, birthdays, just because, in the parking lot during COVID, etc. Tomorrow, we are going to celebrate our youngest son's graduation and our anniversary "as usual" in Sardine Factory. I've been checking the menu and can't wait till tomorrow. We always trust that Sardin Factory will make every occasion special, service, quality, staff friendliness & knowledge..... Thank you for what you do for your guests! read more

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Came into the restaurant to celebrate a buddy getting his degree, and we had a fabulous time. The decor was wonderful and the food was pretty spot-on (although I will say both of our steaks were undercooked, but they fixed them quickly), and of course the wine selection is magical. Loved the live pianist the front when you come in. But the star of the show was Jennifer who was one of the best servers I've ever had, and I've been to a couple dozen Michelin starred restaurants. Her knowledge and affability are literally why I'm writing this review. If you're reading this, request her, you won't be let down! read more

The Sardine Factory - Ribeye with black truffle - Steakhouses Near Me - Monterey, California

Great food. Service was top notch. I also love all the interior design especially the Conservatory Room. Can be loud during times. But definitely an experience we would never forget. Will come back when we come to Monterey. read more

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We had made a reservation to try this place prior to our trip because we had heard about the good reviews and wanted to enjoy the cuisine that is known to this area, which is seafood. We parked down the street in one of the lots and walked over and up the stairs. Once we arrived we were seated at a table in the front room. We ordered a bottle of white wine to compliment the seafood and then all the other dishes. We wanted the bread, but they ran out so they gave up complimentary dinner rolls instead which were also okay. Sardine Appetizer -- 8.5/10 -- had to try this one because of the name of the restaurant. Overall not bad. It came with a bread piece for each person and a sardine for each person. The sauce was pretty good, was olive oil, tomatoes, olives, and garlic confit. Miso Butterfish -- 9/10 -- pretty good, and a decent portion as well. We were able to share it with everyone. Abalone Bisque -- 9/10 -- had to give it a try because of the raving reviews, was pleasantly surprised how tasty and creamy it was Chocolate Bons Bons -- 9/10 -- tasty and it came with a tableside show, which was a bonus! read more

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A beautifully unique restaurant where we ate in the atrium full of bright light and plants surrounding us. Very knowledgeable and professional service. Plan for a few hours to visit and enjoy your delicious meal. read more

The Sardine Factory - Wedge salad, cup of clam chowder & red wine...YUM! - Steakhouses Near Me - Monterey, California

great ambience and top notch service! Tim was amazing...attentive, funny and a true pro...great wine rd a and an amazing 22,000 bottles in stock! We hit it early and found the early bird special and it was amazing! if they lit up the cherries jubilee it would be perfect! Highly recommend read more

For our 22nd anniversary splurge dinner, we booked Monterrey's famous Sardine Factory. The restaurant name is strange and the venue was probably a sardine canning business back in they day. Inside however, is a gorgeous restaurant that offers a dark, intimate setting with fireplace. I recommend dining in the Atrium of course - its brightly lit with natural light and even more elegant. Imagine dining in a greenhouse! The food and service were outstanding -mostly 5-star and a few 4-star dishes: Our son was a huge fan of the "extra" cheese pizza. A humble dish but they nailed it. Super light, crispy crust and gobs of melted cheese right just the right amount of red sauce (5 stars). We also could not pass up on the famous 1968 cheese bread which is equally addictive. Cheesy like the pizza but here you get some nice crispy texture contrast (5 stars). The Grilled Octopus had a nice sear but was generally a little more rubbery than we liked - its needs a longer, deeper massage (4 stars). Both fish entrees we ordered were 5-stars. Wife got the Misoyaki Butterfish with that rich, melt-in-mouth texture we're accustomed too. She complained a bit about the rice for some reason. My mac-nut Chilean Seabass was succulent and went well with a multi-layered potato gratin. It was as if we were dining in Hawaii, only inside a garden! For a free dessert, they comped us a slice of carrot cake for sharing. It was a nice touch and much appreciated. We thought about ordering a dessert but the menu options look way too heavy and rich. read more

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I saw this restaurant on TikTok and decided to check it out for my solo birthday dinner. This was a wonderful part of a trip that reset me mentally, and I felt very well treated by the staff. Orlando was attentive and quick to respond - although he didn't ask me if I was celebrating anything (all good, I don't like too much attention), I know that the older couple next to me were celebrating their anniversary and got some nice touches to their desserts. He was also very quick when the couple did not like how their steak was cooked because a replacement came super quickly and was more to their liking. I did not have reservations and walked in around 4:45pm, and was very pleasantly surprised when they seated me in their lovely Conservatory! What a gorgeous setting! Throughout the meal I tried to stay off my phone and just soak in the atmosphere, and I think being in the conservatory helped a lot with that. I sort of went all out with food, because I could not make up my mind. For appetizers, I went for the abalone soup (I thought it was ok - very creamy but as a person who hasn't had abalone in a very long time... I didn't love the texture of the abalone) and a wedge salad. I love wedge salads and I can pretend it's mostly water and doesn't contribute to stomach capacity. I super appreciated Orlando checking in to see if I wanted more dressing or more toppings (he offered the same to the husband of the couple next to me, so I assume it's just part of their wedge salad service haha). For my main, I selected the miso-glazed butterfish and WOW!! That sake butter cream sauce just blew my mind. I could not get enough of it, and it paired really nicely with everything on the plate (the fish, the smoked trout roe, the asparagus). For dessert, I gave in and got the bonbons, which were delivered on dry ice. They were chocolate covered ice cream balls, with sides of peanuts and caramel sauce. I think this is probably the most overhyped part of the meal - I thought the chocolate covering was ok. The caramel actually tasted better by itself - it had a lot of nuanced flavors, but those nuances disappear when poured onto the bonbons (yes... I did lick the spoon). Overall, Sardine Factor made my night. I will come back and I will have that miso-glazed butterfish again!! read more

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This was hands down the best restaurant ive been to this YEAR! We weren't expecting the Michelin sign on the front. From the reviews, this felt like a bit of a whole in the wall, and honey, I'm here to tell you, it is far from that! This place gives old money luxury and do not make the mistake like us and come in dressed under par! This is a sexy date night restaurant. Each section of the restaurant has a different decor and we were seated in the greenhouse back room. The service here is some of the best I've experienced. I am so confused by the reviews. This was such a terrific experience. We did their famous tomahawk for two, and added on lobster Do not walk away from this restaurant without trying the abalone bisque. LIFE. CHANGING. Don't sleep on the martinis. We were entirely too full to have the dessert in house so we got 2 spumonis to go. They put it on dry ice for us to ensure it was nice and cold for when we got home. The spumoni is different than "traditional." This was a bit more like a fruit cake type gelato. Delicious, but not as what I consider spumoni. read more

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Had a chance to dine at the Sardine Factory in Monterey over the weekend. They've been open for over 50 years, and once you walk inside you can feel that history and culture. There is a prominent well-stocked backlit bar near the entrance. The host walked us through various themed dining rooms until we reached the awe-inspiring Conservatorium. It is a dome with a metal frame and glass panels accented with green carpet and seating. Plants outside radiate more green into the dome, along with golden hues of the setting sun. Once we placed our order, the waiter coordinated the timing of the dishes. We received the oysters and cheese toast first. The cheese toast was impressive, with Tillamook cheddar, Romano and parmesan perfectly melted onto round slices of sourdough bread. My partner was picking out bits of shell from her oysters two or three times, which is not good when there are only six oysters. Next came out California smoked sardines and abalone bisque. The bisque was very creamy with a light taste. The smoked sardines were visually nicely presented in a pan with tomatoes, cloves of roasted garlic and four points of toast. The sardines were a bit dryer than I expected. Finally, the off-menu special Cioppino was served. There were chunks of salmon, shrimp and crab legs served with shell crackers and bibs. The broth had a rich tomato base with hints of all the seafood in the pan. I also ordered a Pink Sardine cocktail, which was reminiscent of a lightweight Paloma. Dining in the Conservatorium at the Sardine Factory was a nice memorable experience but the food fell just short of being as excellent as the decor and hospitality. read more

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Service: Special shout out to Jimmy Oh. Exceptional service and hospitality! My friend and I had traveled all day and we were trying to find a unique and memorable restaurant. I was not expecting to receive such a wonderful tour of the different parts of the restaurant. YOU MUST HAVE A RESERVATION. Jimmy Oh made sure my friend and I felt comfortable and provided us with a great table. Angel, Eddie, Pedro, and Johnny were also great! They were patient with our questions and made sure we were taken care of. Great for a date or celebration! I definitely want to come back. The live music was fantastic as well! Food: We got the Ahi Tuna with black rice with broccoli and oysters. Excellent flavors and beautifully made. The drinks were also delicious! High quality alcohol! The desert was to die for and super creative with a great taste. Ambiance: I have never seen nor experienced such a magical restaurant! Parking: Not too bad. Street and garage available. read more

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The best Cioppino you will ever have is here. It was the nightly special and was delicious- the owners, grandmothers recipe from Sicily!! The service was impeccable and food was on the table from start to finish. Hardly any wait. I'm headed back tonight for more. read more

The Sardine Factory - Cioppino - Steakhouses Near Me - Monterey, California

My husband and I went to The Sardine Factory for the first time last night to celebrate our anniversary. It was phenomenal from the moment we walked in the door. I had noted on our reservation that it was our anniversary, and we were greeted warmly by the hostess who wished us a happy anniversary and showed us to a table in the Captain's Room. It felt like being transported into a glamorous, historic time with white tablecloths and old portraits on the wall. Service by Evan and Alonso was impeccable. Attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. We enjoyed the half dozen oysters to start. I loved combining the horseradish and cocktail sauce to complement the oysters. I chose the sea bass for my entree which was beautifully presented and the ideal portion size with potatoes and asparagus. The fish was cooked perfectly. My husband had the ahi tuna. He remarked that the black rice tasted more like a bulgur than what he was expecting. To end the evening, Evan presented us with a slice of carrot cake on a Happy Anniversary plate which was a nice, thoughtful touch. He even offered to take our photo once I pulled out my phone to capture the sweet dessert. All in all, the perfect way to celebrate our special night. Thank you! read more

The Sardine Factory - Anniversary carrot cake - Steakhouses Near Me - Monterey, California

Best meal we have had in 2026 Outstanding dinner in the beautiful conservatory, server Trevor was great! Thank you Sardine Factory and Team read more

The experience here is a must. Dylan, our server, was the best! He was an expert with the menus items and his service was excellent. I recommend the Cosmo and Old Fashion, simple but perfect. We had meatballs, calamari, and fish tacos with the mango salsa. Not only would we come back here again.... We will forever recommend this restaurant to everyone we know. Thank you Dylan for your excellence in service! read more

The Sardine Factory - Cosmopolitan and old fashion. - Steakhouses Near Me - Monterey, California

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GUYS. I'm going to be honest we came for happy hour, which is only available in the pirate lounge- just a few things to share. And honestly -- it was not as fun as i hoped. Maybe I should've tried other things. The escargot was alright. It was defo swimming in the sauce, which overpowered much of the flavour. the oysters were okay too. not the most amazing i've had. the tacos were tasty! i like. good flavour and nice fresh garden on it. It was a pretty fun experience. the servers have big sections it seems, might have gaps in your service. maybe just me. idk :) read more

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It's easy to get caught up in the search for the next great restaurant. As a consequence, we forget the classic old school pantheons that paved the way for fine dining. Tonight we had the joy of celebrating an anniversary at The Sardine Factory. We have been several times before, but this was a special event. We were greeted by the front desk staff who asked which dining area we preferred. We were seated immediately in our choice of rooms and offered the menu and the overwhelming wine list. This is classic old school dining. The chairs are comfortable, the napkins are of fine cloth and the decor in the Captain's room takes you back to a bygone era. Let's start with the service. Just outstanding. Not overly formal but focused on making your dining experience memorable. We shared a wedge salad and it was a pure delight. Crisp fresh iceberg lettuce with croutons and blue cheese to enhance the dressing. Service was timely without feeling rushed. For entrees my wife selected polenta with mushrooms. I'd love to review the dish but she never offered my a bite. Suffice to say she seemed totally content. I chose the 12 oz ribeye (there's a 16 oz as well) accompanied with asparagus, broccoli and potatoes. The rubies was prepared just asi requested. So flavorful and not laden with fat. Whatever cooking technique that the chef has used, it's fire. So, while we debated what dessert to share, the kitchen provided a n anniversary gift of cake and candles to celebrate. That was followed by cappuccino and Spumante. It was a perfect finale to a fantastic meal. read more

We stayed nearby & came across this restaurant ...& all the positive reviews are all true! We had a bowl of clam chowder (my favorite) & oysters to start, then filet mignon & lobster linguini for our entrees, & crème brûlée for dessert. Everything was so good!! And shout out to Angel, who was our server - he was impressively knowledgeable & very friendly / & even knew the history about the restaurant :) read more

The Sardine Factory - Lobster tail linguini - Steakhouses Near Me - Monterey, California