We were immediately sat and given a spot next to the open windows. I was very happy about this. Our waiter, a older gentleman, greeted us and read the menu's specials in a calm, mannered voice. But we weren't interested in ordering $50 wine or specials but we thanked him. Instead we ordered oysters, crab cakes, and a giant garlic bowl of clam chower. The display was beautiful when we received it. However, our waiter didn't seem too happy when we ordered the other items instead of the specials. He frowned a little. Whatever. Maybe he's surviving off commissions or tips and this is his way to get closer to what he needs. Unfortunately, we just want other food. Everything was delicious. Top tier. And the view outside made it better. Our waiter took one of our plates away when we weren't done. I had to politely call out to him if I can have the salad at least . He brought back the plate. I noticed he did this to another girl behind us. He took her bread bowl without asking and was already gone. It's whatever, as long as we can eat peacefully.
At the end of our meal, he brought out a giant platter of desserts and THEY WERE ALL SO PRETTY! I chose the strawberry cheesecake and was given new forks and napkins. The cake was beautifully displayed once again and when I took a bite? It was so creamy, not too sweet, just perfect. The sauce helped make it a bit more sweeter. I loved it! Only $15 extra. Our waiter was a lot of smiley and laughed a bit after we recieved the cake. The vibe felt more welcoming. He then presented a rose to me "for the lady." Overall, I actually had fun enjoyed my experience here. We spent over $100 so expect to spend!!

Great service and the food was delicious especially the CIOPPINO and BBQ oyster special - came back again on same trip !

I like to stop in here after a whale watching trip for the free calamari appetizer. I ordered the bone-in ribeye again, lightly salted, it was perfect! I was served by Giovanny. Great service, great food, wonderful atmosphere. For a lighter side, try the sandwich and chowder combo. The Grotto Is my favorite restaurant in Monterey for a delicious rib-eye steak.

Clam chowder in a garlic toasted bread! Just thinking of it makes me crave it! The best ever.

Best clam chowder in the area and a lot of other really tasty menu items as well. Nice, upscale ambience.

Old Fisherman's Grotto is an amazing restaurant. From the service to the food, everything is immaculate! The servers are very attentive and provide the best service, whether it's regarding the food, the atmosphere, or even touring tips.
The menu I had ordered off of was for that day's specials, which I will be searching for next time!

We had such a wonderful dining experience with our family tonight, and I just have to share how well we were taken care of. Iman was our server, and he truly made the evening special. He was so kind, friendly, and attentive without ever being overbearing--just the perfect balance. It honestly felt like genuine hospitality, which is becoming such a rare art these days. We genuinely enjoyed his presence and felt so comfortable being in his care.

On top of the incredible service, the food was absolutely delicious. We ordered the crab ravioli, half crab, goat cheese salad, and shrimp and cod risotto--every single dish was flavorful and beautifully prepared.

Between the amazing food and Iman's exceptional service, this was such a memorable experience. We'll definitely be coming back!

Also, not pictured but we had the famous clam chowder, the absolute best I've ever had!!

The Old Fisherman's Grotto will be the place I always think about when visiting Monterey. I first fell in love with their creamy clam chowder from their sister business "Fish Hopper" that I had to come back for a sit down dinner at the Grotto. I was seated next to a window with a view of the ocean. All the servers were attentive and kind, I was even greeted by possibly the owner/manager to make sure everything was okay. My server Sal was the absolute best. He was so kind, attentive, polite & always ensured I was doing well. He recommended his favorites and they were all delicious!! Thank you Sal and the staff of Old Fisherman's Grotto. Will be back many many times!

In Monterey went to the old cannery road to go check out what they had. My son really wanted oysters however they didn't sell them by the dozen. They sold them by half the dozen here. The service was really good however, our waiter messed up our drink order twice, and also brought us the wrong food. I don't wanna hold it against them since he was an older gentleman, which is why I only gave them four stars instead of five. The restaurant was kind of muggy and didn't have any circulating air but other than that the food was great when we got it. Amongst the other restaurants that are in this area, I would definitely recommend this one.