TripAdvisor

Make a reservation!
This place is a classic and it's SUPER popular.
For being by the water, and over 75yo this place does not smell musty. It's a clean place, with old would charm, helpful staff, and massive portions.

We'd return.
The bartender, Karen, is a magician. She nailed the Sidecar Which is VERY tough to make well (biion)

Other yummy cocktails: lemon drop, bloody Mary
Mocktail was fun for the kids.

Wharf platter is EASILY enough for 2 people. Calamari was nice and crispy. Cup of clam chowder was plenty AND lived up to the hype.

Good location, dark interior, varied menu. We went for a seafood boat. This was visually stunning and the scallops were outstanding. The main downside was feeling a little like we were on a conveyor belt. Staff were quick and helpful but overall lacked charm or making us feel truly welcomed and at leisure.

As long time locals, we know where to find the best clam chowder in the area, and this is it! It has been 30 years since I worked on the wharf in one of the candy shops and the clam chowder today is just as good as it was when I used to buy it for my lunch break, perhaps even better! This restaurant exudes old school hospitality in the best way possible. From the friendly employees out front that greet you, to the wait staff, to the hostesses, chefs, and bartenders, every person we have ever encountered here does their very best to ensure guests have a wonderful experience. You will never leave this restaurant without leftovers and a huge smile. It is our go favorite spot to take friends visiting from out of town for one reason, it is unfailingly reliable as a place for a wonderful, generously sized comfort meal served by an impeccably trained staff. We appreciate you all and we cannot recommend the Grotto highly enough!

Most excellent seafood and service

I always look for cioppino at seafood restaurants. The menu said their cioppino was the best on thec wharf. My husband and I ate there for the first time. The no strollers, no high chairs was not a problem for us bc our son would have been a problem 34 years ago. I really liked the handsome, chatty, well dressed hosts ( suit and tie). The decor was romantic and charming, plus we we seated at a table by the water. I was quite pleased with welcoming hosts. The servers wore black vests with gold embroidered logos, I'm into that. I ordered the bbq oysters. THE BEST PREPARED I have ever had. I order oysters Rockfellor all the time, but these were juicy, and delicious. The waiter lost a bit of his jovialness (word?) When we turned down the 25% off a bottle of wine. The only non alcoholic beer they served was definitely good, but Heineken zero is the BEST. when will restaurants pick up on this? I got all the tools and a bib for the cioppino. It arrived HOT, temperature wise. That was a huge hit for me. The table bread arrived fairly hot also. The octopus was part of the meal, but never my favorite. The broth could be a bit more spicy. It was a tad mild. The garlic toast was tasty, well seasoned. The seafood inside was plentiful. At the end of the meal I couldn't finish the cioppino. The waiter brought a to go box for my husband's halibut and said someone else was bringing something for my dish. When the fellow arrived, I asked him to pour the cioppino into the container. He seemed a little miffed, and asked me if I wanted HIM to do it. The bowl was quite large, I could imagine myself spilling it all over the table. He did it
We ordered a dessert to go. Restaurants needs to come up with more original desserts that are not exceedingly manicured. The waiter placed a long stem red rose in my hand. I was wondering if I would get one, since I saw other women receiving them. We liked the place, I will remember the bbq oysters.

A lovely restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf. It was a “pot luck” selection as there are plenty of restaurants to choose from but what a find. A friendly welcome to a charming family run restaurant with a great menu and extensive wine list. The chef adapted the linguine Isabella for me (extra scallops) which was very much appreciated. Our server, Jeanetta, was polite & friendly with a great sense of humour and the lovely farewell with a long stemmed red rose made our night.
If you’re ever in Monterey definitely check this place out.

While visiting from So-Cal, we made a late-evening reservation in the off-season making wait time none. Parking was still sparse but the walk in the brisk night air was refreshing with the biting breeze on our faces. It was easy to find the neon lit facade of Old Fisherman’s Grotto on the boardwalk.

We were welcomed at the host stand and escorted to our table in the dimly-lit, cozy dining room. Our server Sol was a delight, answering all of our questions, making helpful suggestions, exhibiting patience for our table’s young ones, and radiating brightness.

We ordered the Clam Chowder, Grilled Oysters, Ultimate Seafood Pasta, Local Abalone, and a giant Australian Lobster Tail. There was not a single miss. Every dish was phenomenal with balanced flavors and freshness that surpassed what was expected. Each dish was rich and well worth the price point. My dish was the pasta: made in-house with each piece of seafood cooked to perfection from the plump and buttery lobster tail to the crispy salmon. Our favorite at the table was the Cioppino, packed with seafood and wine-forward flavor, it was the perfect shareable for our table.

Sol came around with the dessert tray to round out our meal. With full rounded tummies and heavy eyes we could not help but order what delicious displays were presented. We ordered the cheesecake, key lime pie, and crème brûlée.

With stomachs stuffed, hearts full, and soul satisfied, Sol ended our celebratory dinner with a long stemmed rose for the ladies of the table. The service was impeccable, food was delectable, and the overall experience left us beyond satisfied. This is an experience well worth returning to Monterey for.

Excellent food and service. Outside of the restaurant facing the water is dilapidated and an eyesore.

The location on the wharf, the beautiful atmosphere, excellent food and great service!

Very delicious! Would definitely return. Everything was such an amazing experience. Our waiter was very nice and attentive.