Best Dinner in Monterey

Picture of Mark C. Anderson

Mark C. Anderson

Mark is a serial explorer and award-winning columnist based in both Bay Areas who serves on the Monterey County Food System Coalition.

Here are our top picks for dinner in Monterey, selected by our editors.

A table set for the best dinner on the Monterey Peninsula features various dishes including soup, bread, cheese, a plate of meat and vegetables, and a dish topped with greens. There are also two glasses of wine and a glass of water. A small vase of flowers is visible in the corner.
Photo: Courtesy of Bistro Moulin
867 Wave Street, Monterey
831.333.1200

If pressed to present a go-to date spot for the Monterey region, this would be it. That’s the level of welcome from Wine Director Colleen Manni and French chef-owner Didier Dutertre and interplay of wine guidance, bang for your buck, seasonal Parisian-leaning food and picture book bistro backdrop. The best options are often simple and classic — escargot, coq au vin, moules frites, confit de canard — and the house signature dish, spinach gnocchi, is a must-do. 

A table set with a variety of gourmet dishes and a cocktail promises the best dinner in Monterey. Plates include a salad with greens, a seafood dish topped with herbs, bread with grilled lemon, and asparagus with grated cheese and nuts. A margarita garnished with lime and a flower sits beautifully in the center.
Photo: Courtesy of @EstebanRestaurant on Facebook
700 Munras Ave, Monterey

As the onsite restaurant for Hotel Casa Munras, Estéban Restaurant serves a blend of Spanish and California cuisine, with plenty of rich seafood dishes and house-crafted cocktails. Eating here is also a chance to taste the local flavors of Monterey — ingredients are sourced locally and ensured to be the freshest possible, giving guests an equally beautiful and delicious meal. 

A beautifully presented dish featuring small appetizers topped with garnish on a round wooden platter. Next to it, a woven basket is filled with golden brown, baked pastries, garnished with fresh green leaves and some plums—perfect for the best dinner on the Monterey Peninsula.
Photo: Courtesy of Cella Restaurant & Bar

525 Polk St., Monterey
831.920.1046

A historic space pairs with two star chefs, a strong wine program and modern mixology slate to give Old Monterey a new favorite. The seasonal items from chef-partner Ben Spungin range from grilled Spanish octopus to market oysters to a cavatelli carbonara to a celebrated burger. Great breads from sister spot Alta next door and smart desserts too. Plus Spungin brought on celebrated exec chef Cal Stamenov to elevate everything further. 

A seafood platter featuring fresh oysters, shrimp, lobster tails, and a bowl of seafood ceviche, garnished with green herbs and served with lemon wedges and dipping sauces on a bed of greens—truly the best dinner Monterey Peninsula has to offer.
Photo: Courtesy of The C Restaurant + Bar
750 Cannery Row, Monterey
831.375.4800

The soaring windows give way to the adjacent Pacific, and every table and booth has a great sightline. More eye-popping visions appear on the plate. Executive Chef Matt Bolton has been a star chef in the area for a generation, and assembles the thoughtful sustainable seafood dishes to reflect it — from the Dungeness crab pappardelle to the king salmon in mussel-saffron sauce. Located in the Intercontinental Hotel on Cannery Row. 

A restaurant table with a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, a glass of white wine, two glasses of water, a white plate of salad with bacon pieces, and a rectangular plate with garlic breadsticks and marinara sauce, all set on a dark wood surface with red napkins—truly the best dinner you’ll find on the Monterey Peninsula.
Photo: Courtesy of Gusto Handcrafted Pizza and Pasta
1901 Fremont Blvd, Seaside
831.899.5825

When I named Gusto best new restaurant of the year back in 2015, it was a bit of a coup. People travel from Seaside to eat in Carmel, not vice versa. But the bedroom community known better for taquerias and noodle bars got a sit-down star specializing in authentic Northern Italian-style pizzas like the diavola and carnivora, handmade pastas with rustic sauces like the bolognese and porcini-marscapone, and other treats like chicken parmigiana and slow-braised short rib. 

A person holds a freshly made Chicago-style deep-dish pizza on a metal tray. With its thick, golden-brown crust, generous layer of chunky tomato sauce, and visible pieces of sausage and olives, it’s undoubtedly set to be the best dinner on the Monterey Peninsula.
Photo: Courtesy of Monterey County Weekly
700 Cass Street #102, Monterey
831.717.4363

Some might be surprised to see a pizza place on a list with so many upscale spots, but such is the power of HPC’s deep dish pies. Pizzas like the namesake “Heirloom” with garlic, mushrooms, bacon and spinach can be done with Chicago depth — or thin crust — and without gluten. Combined with elements like a good wine list, local and exotic draft beers, fresh and hearty salads, it was enough to make it one of 10 best new Monterey County restaurants of the last decade. 

Two plates of food are shown, showcasing the best dinner on the Monterey Peninsula. The left plate has a hearty stew topped with a dollop of creamy sauce and garnished with herbs. The right plate features a whole grilled fish with crispy skin, accompanied by sautéed vegetables, including green beans, peppers, and potatoes.
Photo: Courtesy of Passionfish
701 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove
831.655.3311

Our favorite seafood restaurant by the bay, Passionfish earned an international following for its leadership around sustainable sourcing. But it’s Chef Ted Walter’s creative treatments, and a wine list notable for its rare finds and rare affordability, that make it a local legend. Some tastes to consider: sea scallops in tomato-truffle butter, Saltspring Island mussels in bacon-fennel broth, and an otherworldly Dungeness crab salad-avocado tower with spicy ginger vinaigrette. 

A gourmet dish featuring a seared piece of fish topped with a tomato and pine nut relish, served on a bed of sautéed greens. Crispy fried strips are placed on the side, and cherry tomatoes with capers garnish the plate. Elegantly plated on white china, it's among the best dinners on the Monterey Peninsula.
Photo: Courtesy of the Sardine Factory
701 Wave Street, Monterey
831.373.3775

The icon that really made Cannery Row a culinary destination continues to be run by the families who founded it, and remains required viewing. The bar lounge area, dining rooms and cellar are as memorable as they come aesthetically, and the Factory has been around so long the food (like the abalone bisque, Pacific sand dabs, filet and lobster tail) are perhaps taken for granted by now. The Wine Spectator-celebrated wine list and double happy hour certainly are not. 

A close-up image of a fresh salad dish featuring thinly sliced cucumbers, green tomatoes, and garnished with herbs. Seasoned with black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil, it has a vibrant and appetizing appearance on a white plate—certainly one of the best breakfast options on the Monterey Peninsula.
Photo: Courtesy of Stokes Abode

500 Hartnell St., Monterey
831.264.8775

One of the most storied properties in the region — and home to generations of famous restaurants, from Gallatin’s to Restaurant 1833 — has found fresh expression, and Michelin mention. The welcoming spaces of the historic home and spacious fire-pitted patio set the mood; truffle chicken, kampachi crude and Australian Wagyu bavette steak provide the caloric comfort. 

More Please!
For more suggestions on the best restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula, the best things to do on the Monterey Peninsula and the best places to stay on the Monterey Peninsula, click here.
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