"A place by the sea,
Like the banquets halls
Of long time yore,
The Grotto shines;
The place to be!"
José Alejandro Morán

If you find yourself in Monterey, do yourself a favor and head over to The Old Fisherman's Grotto. The food was incredible! The vibe was perfect for a date or wonderful dinner for a family with older children, who can appreciate the light sophistication in the room. And, the service was warm and inviting. Angel took care me and my family.

that shi was goooodddddddddddddddd best clam chowder i've ever tasted in a bread bowl. it's a bit pricey but if you're a tourist then might as well drop money on it for your visit

Still my favorite restaurant in Monterey. Had an amazing meal with the wife for our anniversary. Great food/ambience and outstanding service.

crab cakes were packed with meat and the lobster tail was cooked just right. the service was excellent and it remains a true classic on the wharf.

My husband and I choose this restaurant because of the cozy historic atmosphere. We arrived at 5:00 on a weekday and were able to get a booth by the window. The waiter was very friendly and the menu had lots of options. I ordered the jumbo shrimp and they were delicious. They offered a generous portion at a competitive price. We watched the seals play in the ocean as we enjoyed a quiet romantic dinner together. We visit the beautiful city of Monterey often and will add this restaurant to our “favorite” list.

Two friends and I are enjoying a girls' getaway in Monterey and decided to have dinner on Fisherman's Wharf tonight. We chose Old Fisherman's Grotto, and where we were encouraged by the friendly hostess to wait just a bit so she could give us a prime view table. Once seated, Justino our server very knowledgeably reviewed the specials and made some recommendations. We ordered drinks, and then a large platter of calamari and grilled artichokes was brought to our table. We politely explained that we hadn't ordered it, but were told that it was compliments of the house. We agreed that it was among the best calamari and artichokes we had ever had. In addition, warm, freshly baked sourdough bread and butter was provided as well.
We ordered our dinners, which were beautifully prepared and presented, as well as being extremely generous portions. I can honestly say that it was an exceptional meal and reasonably priced as well. As we finished our entrees, Chris the owner stopped by our table to ask if we had enjoyed our dinners. He said that his parents had opened the restaurant 76 years ago, and it continued to be a family owned and operated business.
I looked forward to writing this review, because this dinner was that rare experience where ambiance, service, food preparations and portions, and a bit of history made for a truly special and memorable dining experience.

I want to mention that this restaurant is a tourist destination and it definitely holds up to the hype.

My girlfriend and I came here to celebrate our one year anniversary and we couldn't have picked a better spot to do so! The ambience was incredible, wine was affordable, and the food was fantastic.

We ordered two appetizers, a bottle of wine (which was discounted by 25%) and two entrees all for just over $100.

I ordered the captains plate and it was absolutely amazing. The presentation alone was stunning and the food tasted as good if not better than it looked. I'd highly recommend it!

Our server Angel was also incredibly attentive. I did not pick up my bottle of wine or water for a refill, he was always there just on time when I was ready to pour another glass.

Try this place out! It lives up to the expectation!

Great service! Clean restaurant and bathrooms. Has a variety of food choices if you're not interested in seafood. Fast service and very attentive servers.