“We love coming to Pacific Grove and when traveling with kids it is hard to find a place with something to keep everyone happy. They gave us a cute table outside in the beautiful weather. The wagyu burger was great and the onion rings are some of the best we have ever had! We even came back the next day for some more. The Pizza was delicious and pasta and salads were great and fresh. Get the focaccia bread as an appetizer and you can’t go wrong. We will be back!“
Italian • $$$
“This place is insanely delicious. From the greeting at the door to the owner checking on us at the end was amazing. My goodness such creative and on point pasta dishes. Perfectly executed. And that lava cake at the end left a mark on my heart. Wow.“
“A true family run restaurant that serves great food. You know it's good when most customers are locals. We had dinner, I had the filet of sole and husband had the steak. Both entrees were delicious. We will be back to try their breakfast next trip.“
“Don’t let the building fool you, this is a great pizza place! Had the BBQ chicken flat bread pizza, the garlic cheese bread, and a pepperoni pizza. It was all cooked perfectly. Came out quick and hot! I would definitely recommend coming here! The staff was very nice as well! 9/10“
“We got there a little late, maybe 40-30 minutes before closing and you could tell the place was packed. I was worried they would turn us away, but not only did they not do that, they were super nice and seated us really quickly.It took a while before we were able to place our order, but it was worth the wait. The food came out faster than it took to get our order in. The food was good, and not as pricey as other places in the area.Kid-friendliness: They have markers and paper coloring/activity sheets and a small kids menu.“
“The food is so delicious. We ordered Farfalle with side of grilled chicken, Wild Rock Cod and Pesto Penne. All are very delicious. We went on Wednesday for lunch. Both portions and prices are very reasonable. The service was a little bit slow but we understood the situation. There was only one lady serving customers and a helper bringing water and took empty plates. And they got a huge group of people before us to serve. We waited around 25 minutes to get her to take our orders but just in 10 minutes, our orders came to our table. It’s worth the wait because the food is so… good!?“
“The food was wonderful, as always. My husband and I grew up eating here with our families on vacations, however, this was our best experience yet! Our server, shout out to Tara, was prompt with bringing our food and was extremely personable with all of her table including us. She absolutely made our evening with her joyful personality. The support staff was also pleasant; they kept drinks fill and table clean. Great experience overall!Dietary restrictions: Dietary restrictions friendly! Vegan and gluten free option available.“
“Old school, old school, old school is all I can say! 35 year successful establishment with the owner on the premises and hands on. His brothers are the chefs. True, classic Italian family run restaurant. Food is traditional and the clam chowder unreal. The owner will talk your ear off, so be careful! Great experience. They truly care. This is a serious restaurant, not a tourist trap.“
Italian • $$
“Delicious dinner, stared with crab cakes, very flavourful lots of crab (not filled with breadcrumbs), lobster ravioli was amazing. Osso Bucco was hearty and delicious, finished off with Tiramisu. Great dinner topped off with a lovely conversation with the owne. Highly recommend when in Carmel. Lots of locals seem to dine here.“
“What a find. Walking distance from our hotel, lovely place and staff. Delicious Greek and Italian food. We had the bolognese and the lamb. So much food! Could not even finish it. Great wine pour. Can’t add photos. Ate it all including the complementary desert bite.“
“Little Napoli is a pretty nice Italian spot in Carmel. The service is pretty solid, the food is good, and the setting is quite nice.One thing I’d definitely recommend is to get a reservation, though. Me and my girlfriend were able to get a seat, but only at the open bar, after waiting for some people to leave.It was a bit stressful, but it was still nice to grab a bite to eat here.“
“Always a fantastic experience. We come out from Texas two or three times a year and always have a meal at PortaBella. Fantastic food, friendly professional service, warm ambience and a definite one to repeat. Fantastic braised short ribs. The bisque is amazing. My wife loves the salmon. plenty of dessert options.“
“The pepperoni pizza was delicious. Lots of pepperoni topping while the crust wasn't too thick. The Italian salad that I got was disappointing. I paid $4 more for salami but it wasn't cut into strips like previous photos. They were round and not what I expected . The red onions overpowered the taste and smell of the salad. I'd skip it next time but would definitely get another pizza or two.“
“This is a gastronomic delight, where authentic recipes are infused with passion by the hospitable owner Maurizio, and served by a charming team in a spectacular West-facing coastal setting. It was so good, we can't possibly eat anywhere else on our second night here!“
“We had a great time at vesuvio. We weren't overly hungry and had the pizza. Who would have thought adding honey to Pizza would be so good? We met some new friends, too! Be sure to go upstairs to the roof top bar. You can eat up stairs as well.“
“Please carefully read through my review if the price range is not within your daily consumption level:You need to adjust your expectation before dinning here. The price that you paid for the food obviously contains a premium, considering the restaurant locates inside the most luxurious lodge with the best view you can find in Monterey. (I'm sure there is no "one of the best".)I would reckon a 30%-40% premium contained in the price, comparing to a similar level of food and service elsewhere. $100+/persion can get you a 1-star Michelin restaurant anywhere else in CA.Now, back to the view: GREAT if you are lucky enough to avoid rainy, cloudy days during winter times, as the day goes completely dark after 5:30 while the restaurant only start operations at 5:30; GOOD if you encounter any situations listed above, but it remains a question for you to decide if you are willing to pay for the overly priced food when the entire coast has no sunlight at all.Last, I don't think the food is that amazing as some other reviews described. I'm not sure if they pretend to say so as they are purely staggered by the view or they rarely have the chance to walk inside a decent Italian-style restaurant. In either case, you should expect a decent level of cooking as you can normally get in this price level and a not very generous portion. (eat as many free bread as possible)“
“My husband and I visited here while on a little get away in Pacific Grove. Oh my word!!!! Best Pizza ever!! The bread sticks were unlike any I've ever had before. Boy was it busy!! Which is a good indicator that it's a great place to eat. We called in our order ahead of time for pick up. The atmosphere was quite comfortable. The pick up line was somewhat confusing and crowded but completely worth it! We didn't indulge in the several flavors of Gelato but everyone else sure was. This is a hoping place for sure. Definitely a must!Parking: No fault of their own, this restaurant has definitely out grown it's parking lot. Gianni's is located in a super cute, little drive through coastal town, loaded full of shops, restaurants, pubs, and coffee establishments so there is parking on the street as well. Again, busy is better“
Italian • $$$
“This is a hidden gem you will find in Carmel downtown. The food was really delicious in addition to its cozy atmosphere. The brother of the chef took our order, who was very gentle and detailed, gave us excellent recommendations and descriptions. Oh don't forget to try their deserts!!“
“We came here for the first time last weekend and we had a great time! We ordered the truffle pizza, calamari, Gilroy garlic, and the clams and mussels. Everything was delicious and we also thought that the service was solid. The ambience on the rooftop is amazing and they have a lot of little bonfires and heat lamps to keep you warm. It makes for a cute and romantic ambience! The drinks were also tasty! All around we highly recommend!“
“After learning Le Bicylette had a 1.5 hour wait on a Sunday, we peeked down the little alley way and allowed ourselves to be enticed to select an outdoor table for a delicious pizza lunch. Started with the Cesar salad (extra anchovies!) followed by the Pepe Board. The four of us then split two pizzas, the San Vito and the Diavola. Took home the last 3 slices for lunch the next day. Charming patio! Definitely worth a return.“
“The breathtaking quality of this cuisine brought me to tears right there at the dinner table. Never, in my 38-months-long career as a local guide, have I encountered such acute and accommodating staff that brought the grapes of Italy (in form of their wine) and the tomatoes of Sicily (in form of their pasta) straight to my plate. I left this place with a full tummy and a happily-beating heart. Raw, real, riveting: this is Italy abroad.“
“Are you kidding me!?!? This pizza was by far some of the best pizza me and my husband have had. We had togo place a second order it was so good. We were very impressed by this place. The Caesar salad and Sicilian salad I think it’s called? Was sooooo good!!!!! Huge slices of pizza. Just wow. My husband is a huge food critic lol so I know it was that good if he kept talking about how good it was. I highly recommend giving them a try. We ordered pepperoni pizza. A Hawaiian slice. And their Margherita slice. Soooo good. And the slices were HOT!!!! The pizza crust was amazing. So worth going to. Customer service was great. We absolutely loved it here. No complaints at all! Not one!!Try it!!!Kid-friendliness: Yep. Kids approve!!!!“
“Stopped by here before boarding for whale watching, waited on by Shanel in the bar. She was delightful and let us know a big party just came in and we may have a bit of a wait...we only waited for about 10 minutes and our food was bagged and "boat" ready. Fish sandwich and fries were delicious, will definitely be back to explore the menu! Four stars only because the gentlemen host in the front was very standoffish, maybe because we were ordering to go, nevertheless not very welcoming.“
Italian • $$
“I visit Allegro Pizzeria every time I visit my parents who live in the Monterey area, and I keep forgetting to write a review, but today is the day! I can't eat gluten, and they have the BEST gluten free pizza I've ever had. I usually order to-go and enjoy it at a nearby beach. Even with to-go orders, the staff is always amazing and friendly. One day soon I will dine in. :) Highly highly recommend this place!“
“Food is good, but not everything was OMG. The bruschetta was spot on, and the pistachio gnocchi was a tasty surprise and delicious. I ordered the ribeye, one of the most expensive dishes on the menu. Although it was good, it was all steak. There were a couple brussel sprouts and baked gnocchi balls underneath but nothing to speak of, so basically I just had a steak which for the price was not worth it. Really needed more sides and sauce to justify what they're asking for it. My girlfriend had spaghetti and meatballs, which was dry and not nearly enough sauce. Service was good and it's a lovely restaurant, even had a guitar player and singer which made the atmosphere nice. But for the $300 for 4 people (no wine just 2 beers) it was a hard ticket to swallow. I advise knowing what you want and not going high price hoping it's the best. UPDATE: I've changed my review of the service to 5 stars, thanks to the kind staff that picked up my credit card I had left behind and mailed it to me at no charge! I really appreciate it!“
“Holy crap this place is amazing! The food was delicious and every bite had so much flavor in it! I had the gnocchi and I just don't understand how they made it so fluffy! 10/10 would recommend. Our server was also absolutely amazing. He checked up on us often and was really helpful and even made a few jokes.“
“Cool little spot specializing in pasta, with a seafood centric menu. Stopped here after the aquarium. Service was phenomenal, nice childrens menu for the little ones, and pretty fun cocktail list. I got the special, chipotle honey chicken pasta it was really good. My wife got the chicken parm. Very generous servings. Highly recommend if you’re in the area.Kid-friendliness: Very kid friendlyWheelchair accessibility: Elevator to second floor“
“My wife and I celebrated our anniversary here and we had a marvelous time. The food was superb and the wine list is incredible. The ambiance is cozy and relaxed, but lively and fun. The highlight of the evening was the service, however. Our server made the evening truly memorable--very engaging, helpful, patient, not to mention hilarious! The table was guaranteed for two hours but we were there for almost four! We couldn't recommend a better place in Carmel to enjoy a fabulous meal.“
“Excellent food and atmosphere is very inviting and easygoing. We originally had it to go but ended up eating it all in one sitting, it was so delicious and piping hot! Perfect pizza, great dough, cooked just right, good amount of cheese and sauce. Managed to take a picture of the last slice before it was devoured in 2 minutes. Thanks guys! We will definitely be back ;)Parking: Several spotsKid-friendliness: Great for kids, family-friendly and cool for a small group setting.“
“Stumbled upon this place after 8pm on a Thursday and couldn’t be happier! Phillippo was an amazing server - everything came quickly and the food was fresh, not overdone with the flavors and sooooo good. Atmosphere was spot on, food was great, coffee was Italian Perfection. Loved it “
“La Balena is among the finest restaurants in Carmel. We dine there every time we visit. The Lasagna is the best we have had. On our last visit the cauliflower appetizer was impressive. The staff is attentive and the wine list features some real treasures from Tuscany.“
“Favorite restaurant in all of Carmel. The ambiance feels like a Roman restaurant in Trastevere. The food is just as delicious too and plenty of wine options! I recommend the octopus and pasta allá carbonara. The quality of the guanciale adds to the texture and flavor of the dish. A must visit if you’re in Carmel.“
“I went here for a light lunch last week and was very pleased. I had a nice table overlooking the bay, ships, and I got to see an otter swim on by. I had the Caesar salad with chicken and it was good.The service was attentive and the atmosphere was enjoyable... and of course the views!“
“I’m out here for a Women’s Council of Realtors event. We walked passed and was seated right away. Party of 10. The service was amazing Samantha and Louis was very accommodating and attentive to all of our needs. I ordered the claim chowder with garlic bread. Ummm good.“
Italian • $$
“Had an amazing food and wine experience for lunch, Federico and Dennis were fantastic hosts to our group of six. Octupus appetizer was a star, tagliatelle, amazing, wine recommendations were spot on. I would go back in a heart beat.. loved it!!“
“I have dined at this restaurant many of times in the past years. However it has been a couple years since I've been here. We did have 6:00pm reservation and we were sat promptly and Francisco our server approach our table with enthusiasm and very welcoming greeting. We were there to relax and just have a leisure dinner. However it appears the restaurant did get very busy and we could tell our level of service and the timing of receiving our drinks and food declined. Our server did apologize a few times to let us know they were short handed which create the slow service, which was disappointed. Overall we will be back and hopefully the restaurant will manage the reservations with the staff they have to serve the customers.Parking: Very convenient parking right across the street“