TripAdvisor

I had done a search for the best clam chowder in Monterey and they are at the top of almost every list, and they were right! I got the clam chowder in the garlic sourdough bowl I highly recommend them! My wife, Michele got risotto with caramelized onions, shrimp and sole. We had a view of Monterey Bay and some sea lions playing. Our server, Giovanny, was phenomenal! He brought Michele a piece of complimentary cheesecake and a rose for her birthday. 🌹 I had the chocolate creme brûlée. Great start to our mini-vacay in Monterey!

Awesome food and ocean views! I highly recommend this place.

The food and the views were amazing!

The food was amazing and so was the service and we were celebrating our anniversary and they set up a beautiful white cloth with roses on the table. I would highly recommend making a reservation !! It was fabulous !!

Great atmosphere, located on the wharf with excellent view of the harbor. Fresh fish, great selection, friendly staff.

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.