The food is 5-star. The rest is 4-star. The food and drinks were delicious and reasonably priced. 3 Tapas plates and a dessert were enough for 2 of us. Try the Basque Cheesecake.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Myra
This is the perfect place to sample a variety of delicious tapas. We had the Brussels sprouts, Coca Catalan, patatas bravas, crispy mushroom and burrata, croquetas de jamon and jamon Serrano y manchego. All were beautifully presented and tasty. The red sangria was lovely and the desserts were a perfect ending - Basque cheesecake, Crema Catalana and a trio of delicious ice cream - banana, strawberry and coffee. This is my second time here, and I will return for more of the scrumptiousness. The service was professional and attentive. .
Service was so slow from the start. We had a 4:30 reservation. Showed up at 4:35, and the hostess tells us we have to wait for them to set our table. I thought that maybe they were doing something special for my husband's birthday, but when she finally seats us, nothing. I informed the restaurant that we were celebrating my husband's birthday, yet no one acknowledged it/him. My children asked for apple juice. Our alcoholic beverages came out, and still no juice. Finally, the server comes back and says they don't have any more apple juice. Later, my child asked to see a dessert menu. That took 20 minutes to receive. My kid ordered ice cream. Another 20 minutes go by, but nothing. Finally, someone else comes over and says that they are out. Decent happy hour menu, still expensive for happy hour, but the size of their tapas plates have increased since the last time I was here.
HaleyW
Wine list was well appointed. Food was excellent. Service was good but has room to be more attentive. The interior dining space is comfortable but it's the outdoor courtyard seating that is the show-stopper.
Riky
So for Sunday lunch this place is the best kept secret!. Not your usual brunch fair... Well, seasoned beautiful presentation. The place is quiet enough for conversations we brought friends with us and they loved it! The potatoes were kind of dry and cold like they had been prepared For people at 7:30 in the morning and we were there at 12 noon! But everything else is amazing and we will definitely be back. We enjoy their dinner, menu that starts at 4:30 and many locals come in to enjoy a quiet and lovely old Monterey space!
Maddison B.
Went here for Valentine's Day. Not good at all. Horrible service & horrible food. There was a special for $90 each... they were out of scallops (dish 2) which we learned about after the first dish was done. They offered us to share a tapas so we ordered empanadas, which we had to share 1 order. It came 1 hour after our first dish. They were good, but we had to ask 3 times for an update. We had to ask for water and sprite several times as well. The steak entree was off... the pomegranates were not a good add at all. We boxed it up because we were ready to leave. Ordered dessert and they gave us one to share (we're paying for 2!!). We were excited for this place as it was our first time, but it was a horrible experience. Would not recommend at all. $230, still hungry and upset.
The food was delicious and priced very well for the quality. We shared the pulp, steak, paella and empanadas and they were all delicious. I wish the weather was better as I would have loved to be outdoors next to the fireplace. Great place for a date night.
Johnny Ohl
It's hard not to love the staff at Esteban's. They genuinely seem to enjoy working there. We've eaten inside and on the patio. Last night we just stopped and got empanadas and the crispy brussel sprouts...OMG. We also got our dog the chilled marrow bone. She decided to eat it back at home :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tapas
Okra W.
First time here, very impressed. We stayed with the tapas menu, and everything was really, really good. Patatas bravas, brussels sprouts, mussels and clams, everything was wonderful. Great service. Very nice ambience. This is the place to go!
Jerrold B.
Great Restaurant must go when in Monterey. Great paella & tapas Paella Del MarWarm Pita Basket Short Rib Beef back soon,Pulpa Confit.
Octopus and beet salad - some of the best I have ever had!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Steakloverdbsp
Oh my! Esteban exceeding our expectations big time. Our service was excellent. Our waitress was one of the best we've ever had, but the entire staff from manager to busboy were all pleasant, helpful and customer friendly. The size of the tapas items we chose were giant. The paella was one of the best paella's ever. And we've been to Spain many times. Highly recommend
Muhammad Saqib
First of all, shoutout to our king! Our server Byron was incredible - the nicest and provided great recsWe had the patatas bravs - perfect with the fried egg on topBrussel sprouts (no bacon) - Byron recommended, and we recommend them to you!!Coca flatbread - Byron recommended! Goat cheese and mushrooms… perfect combo - favorite item of the nightEmpanada - salsa verde is chef’s kissBurger - best burger in the area for a reason!Wagyu bavette - medium rare… tender and great presentationThank you to Byron for making the meal even more enjoyable!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Westholme Wagyu Bavette, Patatas Bravas, Tapas, Chef Burger and Fries
TJ Chen
If you're looking for a quiet place for dinner, Estéban is great. Great selection of Tapas. The paélla will take a while. The lamp chop is excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tapas
Yoko O.
I used to avoid Monterey because I dislike tourists. Now I go as often as I can. Two reasons besides otters - 1. Wonderful bike trails, and 2. OMG the food at Esteban's. We had a big lunch the day we went but we wanted to end the trip with Paella. Of course we headed right to Esteban. As always, the service was impeccable. We were treated like honored family. Fast service but with the warning of which dishes take a while. You cannot rush Paella. So if you want to order that, do so as soon as you sit down. Order the paella with your beverages. Then order the empanadas. We ordered food to share. Those were our two favorites this time.
The food is 5-star. The rest is 4-star. The food and drinks were delicious and reasonably priced. 3 Tapas plates and a dessert were enough for 2 of us. Try the Basque Cheesecake.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
This is the perfect place to sample a variety of delicious tapas. We had the Brussels sprouts, Coca Catalan, patatas bravas, crispy mushroom and burrata, croquetas de jamon and jamon Serrano y manchego. All were beautifully presented and tasty. The red sangria was lovely and the desserts were a perfect ending - Basque cheesecake, Crema Catalana and a trio of delicious ice cream - banana, strawberry and coffee. This is my second time here, and I will return for more of the scrumptiousness. The service was professional and attentive. .
Service was so slow from the start. We had a 4:30 reservation. Showed up at 4:35, and the hostess tells us we have to wait for them to set our table. I thought that maybe they were doing something special for my husband's birthday, but when she finally seats us, nothing. I informed the restaurant that we were celebrating my husband's birthday, yet no one acknowledged it/him. My children asked for apple juice. Our alcoholic beverages came out, and still no juice. Finally, the server comes back and says they don't have any more apple juice. Later, my child asked to see a dessert menu. That took 20 minutes to receive. My kid ordered ice cream. Another 20 minutes go by, but nothing. Finally, someone else comes over and says that they are out. Decent happy hour menu, still expensive for happy hour, but the size of their tapas plates have increased since the last time I was here.
Wine list was well appointed. Food was excellent. Service was good but has room to be more attentive. The interior dining space is comfortable but it's the outdoor courtyard seating that is the show-stopper.
So for Sunday lunch this place is the best kept secret!. Not your usual brunch fair... Well, seasoned beautiful presentation. The place is quiet enough for conversations we brought friends with us and they loved it! The potatoes were kind of dry and cold like they had been prepared For people at 7:30 in the morning and we were there at 12 noon! But everything else is amazing and we will definitely be back. We enjoy their dinner, menu that starts at 4:30 and many locals come in to enjoy a quiet and lovely old Monterey space!
Went here for Valentine's Day. Not good at all. Horrible service & horrible food. There was a special for $90 each... they were out of scallops (dish 2) which we learned about after the first dish was done. They offered us to share a tapas so we ordered empanadas, which we had to share 1 order. It came 1 hour after our first dish. They were good, but we had to ask 3 times for an update. We had to ask for water and sprite several times as well. The steak entree was off... the pomegranates were not a good add at all. We boxed it up because we were ready to leave. Ordered dessert and they gave us one to share (we're paying for 2!!). We were excited for this place as it was our first time, but it was a horrible experience. Would not recommend at all. $230, still hungry and upset.
The food was delicious and priced very well for the quality. We shared the pulp, steak, paella and empanadas and they were all delicious. I wish the weather was better as I would have loved to be outdoors next to the fireplace. Great place for a date night.
It's hard not to love the staff at Esteban's. They genuinely seem to enjoy working there. We've eaten inside and on the patio. Last night we just stopped and got empanadas and the crispy brussel sprouts...OMG. We also got our dog the chilled marrow bone. She decided to eat it back at home :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tapas
First time here, very impressed. We stayed with the tapas menu, and everything was really, really good. Patatas bravas, brussels sprouts, mussels and clams, everything was wonderful. Great service. Very nice ambience. This is the place to go!
Great Restaurant must go when in Monterey. Great paella & tapas Paella Del MarWarm Pita Basket Short Rib Beef back soon,Pulpa Confit.
Restaurantji Recommends
Octopus and beet salad - some of the best I have ever had!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Oh my! Esteban exceeding our expectations big time. Our service was excellent. Our waitress was one of the best we've ever had, but the entire staff from manager to busboy were all pleasant, helpful and customer friendly. The size of the tapas items we chose were giant. The paella was one of the best paella's ever. And we've been to Spain many times. Highly recommend
First of all, shoutout to our king! Our server Byron was incredible - the nicest and provided great recsWe had the patatas bravs - perfect with the fried egg on topBrussel sprouts (no bacon) - Byron recommended, and we recommend them to you!!Coca flatbread - Byron recommended! Goat cheese and mushrooms… perfect combo - favorite item of the nightEmpanada - salsa verde is chef’s kissBurger - best burger in the area for a reason!Wagyu bavette - medium rare… tender and great presentationThank you to Byron for making the meal even more enjoyable!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Westholme Wagyu Bavette, Patatas Bravas, Tapas, Chef Burger and Fries
If you're looking for a quiet place for dinner, Estéban is great. Great selection of Tapas. The paélla will take a while. The lamp chop is excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tapas
I used to avoid Monterey because I dislike tourists. Now I go as often as I can. Two reasons besides otters - 1. Wonderful bike trails, and 2. OMG the food at Esteban's. We had a big lunch the day we went but we wanted to end the trip with Paella. Of course we headed right to Esteban. As always, the service was impeccable. We were treated like honored family. Fast service but with the warning of which dishes take a while. You cannot rush Paella. So if you want to order that, do so as soon as you sit down. Order the paella with your beverages. Then order the empanadas. We ordered food to share. Those were our two favorites this time.