Monterey Coastal Cuisine

We decided to try this new locally-owned restaurant in Carmel on Easter. They were able to accommodate our large family. The moment we walked in, it was like a breathe of fresh air--- from the intriguing jellyfish aquarium to the comfortable seating. The Monterey had a warm atmosphere with unique touches of elegance. The staff greeted and served us with genuine Hoosier hospitality. We tried several dishes. Everything we ordered was delicious and innovative .Be sure to save room for dessert, you will not be disappointed! We are eagerly looking forward to our next opportunity to dine at the Monterey!

It would be a dream to be able to dine here every day for the rest of my life. This was my third time visiting Monterey, and, yet again, they did not disappoint. Spider roll was magnificent (not pictured), and excellent sea food risotto and shrimp pesto linguine. Octopus nigiri on the side *chef’s kiss* 💋 and topped it all off with a complimentary birthday dessert featuring brownie and ice cream with a gorgeous chocolate and caramel drizzle. My goal is to now convince my relatives, friends, and every other person in my life to come here to celebrate any occasion on the off chance I may happen to be invited.

First time in this restaurant and I will be back. We got lobster bisque soup, sushi, salmon and tuna poke bowl, and peach sake. Everything was fresh and tasty, and we left fully satisfied without feeling heavy. Perhaps one suggestion for the restaurant is to include some baguette with the lobster bisque soup (as in complimentary, not for additional charge). Our server Jennifer was wonderful and did a great job getting our orders in a timely manner and checking on us without being intrusive. We were sitting by the window, overlooking the street, which I liked. Next time I'd sit at the bar as it looked very inviting! I certainly recommend this place!

Yum. This was my husband and my first time at MC. The decor is very warm and inviting. We sat outside on the small, but cozy terrace. On the menu it’s say the appetizers shareable. It’s true, the servings are bountiful. I ordered the crab artichoke dip. It was served piping hot with crostini. The ration of cheese buried the crab and artichoke but I was ok with that. My husband ordered the calamari. He said it was lightly battered and cooked perfectly. We didn’t order dinner because we were stuffed from the appetizer, but we did enjoyed the cream brûlée and chocolate brown desserts. Oh I forgot, if you’re a light weight drinker like me and don’t like the taste of alcohol try the raspberry kush.

Monterey Cuisine in Carmel was an incredible dining experience! The Mahi Mahi was perfectly cooked and full of flavor, and the oysters were fresh and delicious. To top it all off, they served us the biggest brownie ever—it was absolutely decadent! Our server, Laura, was amazing—so kind, attentive, and truly made our experience memorable. The warm and welcoming atmosphere made our meal even more special. We’ll definitely be back and highly recommend this place for great seafood, desserts, and outstanding service!

Let me set the scene....We went on a perfect outdoor weather day with no wind and it was awesome sitting on the covered patio with mid 70 degree weather. We met up with another couple that had eaten here before but still didn't know about the secret food item that I will share with you toward the end of the review. The Service: The service was great minus a few long periods of not seeing our waiter but we were totally fine with it. We came there to catch up and I think our waiter picked up on that and he had several other tables to focus on too. He kept our water glasses full and made sure we had everything we needed. He was also very personable and knew the menu well. So 5 out of 5 for service. The Food: The food was what you would expect. It was not a knock your socks off new adventure or anything that would leave you craving to come back but it was really good. Keep in mind they do a lot of different food items and they do them all well and I know that is not an easy task so they get a 5 out of 5. The oysters were delicious and fresh. The sushi was tightly rolled with fresh fish and great combinations. The chicken dish was good but I subbed out the sides to get Brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes at the recommendation of the waiter and I was very thankful that I did. The goat cheese and beet salad was also a huge win. Then the secret menu item went to a table beside us and our curiosity was peaked due to the fact none of us saw it on the menu. It's table bread. I know it's nothing exotic but if you dont know about it and ask for it they won't bring it out. It's so fresh and paired very nicely with our marinera and whipped cheese appetizer. The atmosphere: I have to say the interior design and atmosphere were well thought out and well curated. Great work all around. Ps. If you are running late like we were they have valet right in front and it was only $7.

Lovely dining experience for special occasions. Fantastic food. Beautiful facility with modern decor. Geat service. If I had any criticism it would be that it takes a while for your food to come. Good news is that the textures and flavors make the pain of the wait disappear.

Superb! The seafood is fabulous and FRESH! My favorite place to sit is right at the bar. Engaging, Friendly staff. Craft cocktails never disappoint and the wine list is super. My #1 choice for lunch/dinner out. If this place was closer to my home I would be here multiple times a week.

Before going to any restaurant, I look at the reviews and the pictures. With this restaurant the reviews were good, but the pictures from other people did this food no justice. I told my husband that the food didn’t look good, BUT that was not true. This food was so flavorful and delicious. We started with goat cheese dip and edamame. The dip was a favorites and be sure to get the angry butter with the edamame.There were four different entrees at the table, and no one had any complaints. The entrees included shrimp pesto pasta which was spicy just like I like it. The pork chop was topped with bacon and was cooked to perfection and apples in coleslaw really good. The ribeye was almost as big as the plate and the Brussel sprouts were delicious. The blackened grouper was so thick and flaky. Now you’re wondering what is that drink. Nothing special but an Arnold Palmer, and it looks beautiful. Let’s not forget desert carrot cake and snicker pie omg sooo good. On top of the great food, the service was top-scale. Our server was everything, and everyone else from the time we walked out was so nice. We will be going again.

Had a flawless duning experience. We were seated immediately and our server took excellent care of us. The sashimi exceeded my wildest hopes. The sea bass was memorable and beautifully presented. And my dining companion's risotto with shrimp and scallops tempted me to steal his food too. I will definitely come back. If you find this review helpful please give it a thumbs up.

5 stars. This place was an awesome experience, will be back. I appreciated that we could split an entree at no extra charge, it allowed us to try multiple sushi rolls! The grouper was perhaps the best I have ever had.

Fantastic dining experience. Attentive, friendly service in a large, comfortable dining area. Outdoor seating is also an option with covers/fans. Food was great, it was obviously cooked freshly and brought to the table immediately. Great draft selection

Am in town for business and was recommended this restaurant by a colleague. Absolutely loved the sushi, goat cheese appetizer and wine selection. Wish I lived closer as I would be here often!

I most say that this is a very elegant place to be! It was an honor to have photographed and tasted some of Monterey's delicious meals and deserts. On the other hand, my wife has asked me on several occasions, when will I take her there for a date night... it is on my to do list! Great place!

Our servers name is Twyla she's very knowledgeable, friendly and overall great server. The ambience is very nice and subtle, romantic, great music and not real noisy and over crowded. Food choices great you can't go wrong here. seafood choices, beef, choices, pork choices, and vegan choices. If that's what you want. I suggest you check it out.

I brought my mom here for Mother's Day; it was both of our first time. The food was AMAZING and beautiful, our server (Taylor) was wonderful. Everything was absolutely perfect, best meal I've had in years, if not ever!

Take a Chanse (the sushi chef's name I think) roll, which is a "surprise", never disappoints. Service is great, nice ambiance, never had anything bad there. Restrooms are also very clean and nice. One of our favorite places to dine in downtown Carmel.

Everything about this place was wonderful! My fiancé and I were walking around Carmel’s Art district this Labor Day weekend to celebrate buying our first home together. We smelled something wonderful and just had to see where it was coming from. We tracked it down to Monterey Cuisine and decided that’s where we would have our dinner! Our party walked in to see an absolutely stunning live jellyfish display. Inside the atmosphere was very cozy and welcoming. I wish I would’ve taken pictures of everything I saw! Great to bring your love, coworkers, business, etc! To start, our table had the Oysters Rockefeller. It was an amazing start! We were also given a nice fresh, cold bottle water to enjoy with our food as well. I knew then that we had made the right choice with this restaurant. My fiancé LOVED the Big Sur Burger. The side of fries that came with it were very crispy and satisfying. I had the Lobster roll and it was VERY good as well. Great portions of juicy lobster on each piece. I also had the Raspberry Kush cocktail, it was so delicious that I just had to have another. The service was amazing; we loved our waitress! She was very quick to help if there were any issues. I loved her sense of humor. Be sure to try their homemade desserts as well if you come! I was absolutely blown away with the Lemon Posset. Just the perfect amount of lemon with a very creamy, sweet base. It was topped with juicy fresh fruit. My fiancé had the Brownie A La Mode. It was so gooey and delicious. You absolutely can not go wrong with picking a nice homemade brownie made with love. The dessert portions were HUGE. This restaurant made my weekend one I will not soon forget. It was our first time here, and definitely won’t be our last! It’s such a shame I didn’t take photos of our entire meal.

The Miso Seabass, Bluefin Toro, and the salad were unbelievably good.

My husband and I celebrated my birthday at Monterey and loved it!! It was our first time after hearing a lot of great things from friends. We sat at a small booth in the bar and although it was very busy we were still able to hear each other and our server was very attentive and got our drink order immediately. We had the calamari as an app and I could eat a whole bowl of the lotus root that came with it! So good! There were 4 pieces of that so it was mostly calamari, which was also very tasty. We also had a lobster roll and sweet Caroline roll which were awesome. Lastly we shared the Monterey street tacos which were different with the nori shell but we really enjoyed them! All in all yummy food, great ambience and worth the money for a nice date night!

My husband and I came to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary. From the moment we encountered the valet, we felt recognized and appreciated. When we entered the restaurant, hostess and front staff were very nice. Our waiter was extremely attentive the whole night and made sure our experience was great. The restaurant bases it's dishes on the coastal Monterey, CA (where I come from) and I'll say they did a VERY good job representing the food and vibe. Their tuna poke bowl was literally the best I've ever had. My husband had the twin lobster tails and they were cooked to perfection and very flavorful. We celebrated with an English custard dessert that our waiter suggested (forgot the name of the dessert).

Went with the whole family. It was a wonderful visit. As this is the fourth time this spot has changed restaurants, I do hope this one stays since it's the best out of all of them! I had a couple mixed drinks, shrimp cocktail, and sushi. It was amazing and so delicious!

We took our grandma for her first lunch in Carmel and she loved it. We had the crab cake appetizer with lobster toast, salmon and tuna bowl, and sushi sampler for lunch and everything tasted amazing. Our server Taylor F. was amazing and explained everything so well and grandma was super happy with her experience and her food. Thank you Taylor!

So happy to discover this new, independent restaurant. The food was AMAZING and the interior so beautiful. The pictures on the web do not do the decor justice. It is very stylish and elegant. The chandelier made of natural crystals and fish tank of jellyfish are unique and beautiful. The sesame crusted salmon and rainbow roll were delicious!

We had mother's Day lunch here and it was fabulous! Thanks to Joachim for the attentive and personalized service.

Tyler, our waiter was amazing. The recommendations were on point. The appetizer was great and the sushi was to die for. We got the bread pudding. It was top three desserts I've ever eaten. You won't be disappointed if you eat here!

What a beautiful place in Carmel! Monterey offers great food with many options available, including a nice sushi bar if you’re craving something different. The service is good and friendly, and the location right next to the Monon Trail is perfect. Be prepared to spend a little more—it's not a cheap place—but the quality easily makes the experience worth it.

We had the most exquisite time at Monterey. Our server was Anna - she was so kind, patient, perfectly attentive, and knowledgeable about the dishes we asked about. We will definitely be back and without a doubt asking for her as our server. The food and atmosphere were also AMAZING to top it off!

2025.10.10 Came here after a disaster trying to visit elsewhere, so we were a bit underdressed, yet we were very warmly welcomed. Called ahead for a reservation, which we were about 10 minutes late for, and they still got us a table. Well done. Rose is a fabulous server. We compared hair ( mine freshly purple, hers red). Love her nails. (im part squirrel, I like shiny distractions). We asked her WAAAAY to many questions about everything being our first visit, and she knew the answer to everything. Class. The avocado rolls are great as an appetizer. We both got the black cod, which looked at pretty as it tasted. My gawds, your key lime pie. The absolute best ive ever had anywhere. The salted caramel creme brulee had to work to catch up, and it did. Love this place, hard-core will be back.

Absolutely the best crab cakes I have ever eaten! Chose over grouper and sea bass, which I also like, because so few places have crab cakes on the menu. Was so glad I did! Our server was very good, as was the atmosphere. Loved my first experience here. Difficult to find fault with this place, but if pressed it would be that the mashed potatoes were barely warm. That might have been because the AC was keeping the temp very cool. Seafood affectionistsp will love Monterey.

I visited recently for a work dinner and was thoroughly impressed. The atmosphere was perfect for a professional gathering, not too loud, but still lively. While the blackened salmon was cooked to perfection and full of flavor, the crab and artichoke dip absolutely stole the show. It’s easily one of the best appetizers I’ve had in a long time. Highly recommend!

Off work today!! Did a lot of catching up with my friend. Loved the atmosphere great music and the food was delicious!! The only reason why I'm giving it four stars is because of my drink. I ordered a Bahama Mama. It was a little bit too strong couldn't even finish my drink. The amount that I paid for the drink was ridiculous. The food was great I had crab cakes and a side Caesar salad. My friend had scallions wrapped in bacon. The cheesecake was delicious. The only thing I can suggest is lower the price on the drinks. Also learn how to make a good drink. Will come back again for the food but not for the drinks.

The service was excellent and the presentation was perfect! Everyone loved their food. I got the salmon, it was good esp the spicy sauce on the side. My only critique was that all the meals could’ve used a bit more salt.

Just had the most amazing sushi experience at Monterey Cuisine! 🍣🌟 From start to finish, it was an absolute delight. The freshness of the fish was unparalleled, and each bite was a burst of flavor. The presentation was simply stunning, making it almost too beautiful to eat. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, ensuring that every need was met. The ambiance was perfect - cozy and inviting. Whether you're a sushi connoisseur or a newbie, this place is a must-try! Trust me, you won't be disappointed. Five stars all the way! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have a love hate relationship with Monterey. The food is always amazing and we have had many great meals here. But on a recent visit to the bar to just have a cocktail, I was super disappointed. The crowd at the bar were drunk and obnoxious and it just totally changed the classy atmosphere I loved about this place. It felt like I was at 3up which I avoid for that very reason. The cocktails we had weren't even nice- we ordered old fashioneds that came out sickly sweet and watery. Disappointed with this experience of one of my favorite carmel restaurants.

I went there for the first time last weekend. I started with the shrimp cocktail and it was pretty average. 1933’s shrimp cocktail is much much better. Next, I got the Napa Valley salad, and the picture on the website makes it look amazing; the actual salad was very average and aesthetically, they really kind of dropped the ball. For a main, I got the pork chop, which was very good, but the sides were an afterthought - fingerling potatoes were very boring and the slaw completely missed the mark.

I made a reservation well in advance for Valentine's day dinner fully expecting to be seated in the dining room as there was nothing to indicate otherwise. It was disappointing to be seated in the corner of a cold, dreary patio next to the valet stand. Had I known this was even a possibility I would have made other arrangements. With our meal including valet parking being just under $500 we expected more than dollar menu ambience.

For a restaurant trying to position itself as a high-end destination, Monterey misses the mark completely. Bland, uninspiring food with lack of presentation and ingredients, that can easily be forgotten the moment you leave the restaurant. The menu and pricing suggest a high-end dining experience, but what you actually get is poorly presented, bland food that feels like an afterthought. Nothing about the dishes stood out — not the taste, not the creativity, and definitely not the plating. With sky-high prices and such mediocre execution, it’s hard to justify ever coming back.

If you have a gluten allergy or celiac I do NOT recommend this restaurant. They did not take the necessary precautions or listen to me when I stated I needed all of my food to be gluten free multiple times throughout the order. They proceeded to bring me a salad that contained gluten and when I asked the food runner if this was gluten free he confidently stated yes when it was not. I took one bite of my salad the waiter rushed over and said it’s not gluten free I can just make another took my plate and rushed off. At that point it was too late and the damage was already done. I no longer felt safe to dine at the restaurant. My reactions to gluten are extremely severe and are not to be taken lightly, I was told that they could accommodate me and I notated and stated multiple times I needed everything to be gluten free even at the time of booking the reservation. The night had to be cut short, I was there with my family to celebrate my sister’s birthday and the night was completely ruined by everyone’s inability to communicate if they could not accommodate me or understand the severity of the situation. My family and I will never dine here again.

Hello, We chose your restaurant to celebrate our anniversary, expecting a memorable experience, but unfortunately we left feeling very disappointed. The crab roll did not contain real crab, the ribeye was under-seasoned, and six oysters cost $30—which is excessive given the quality and portion. We had no drinks and still spent $250 in total. For a special occasion with premium pricing, we anticipated far better quality and value. We hope you will take this feedback seriously and make it right so that future guests—and perhaps ourselves on another occasion—can have the experience your reputation promises.