Crab Loui's Bistro

This Bistro is really good. I came for Clam Chowder and wasn’t disappointed. I wish I had purchased the bowl not just get a cup. Legit, one of the best recipes for Clam Chowder I have ever eaten. The salmon filet was in great sauce, the veggies, and rice was also delicious. I will gladly come back here in the future.

Seafood pasta made my taste buds dance. 10/10 perfect blend for of seafood. The Coconut Prawn was amazing, the clam chowder had a great blend of spices and a ton of clam! Great service all around! Will definitely come back!

+1

This was one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had. Right after seeing a sign outside one of their competitors basically disinviting anyone with kids, we walked in front of Crab Louie's with Donald out front inviting us in saying, "We love kids." It only got better from there. Danny, our waiter, was amazing and extremely attentive to our kids and had no problem with the extra mess they bring. The food was delicious and there was a large selection of wines and beers but unfortunately Pepsi products were served here and my wife drinks Diet Coke. The View was incredible as we watched boats come in to Harbor for the night and every employee saw to our needs. Go here if you have kids and ask for Danny. If you don't have kids go here anyways.

+2

So... I can't say enough about this place!! Crab Louie's is absolutely the best! From the service from Donald to the Freshest Seafood Around. We had a window seat over looking Monterey Bay while enjoying great drinks and the best seafood. You can definitely tell how fresh the food is. Even for a smaller place the ambiance is fantastic.

We tried to go to another restaurant on the wharf and were told no kids. This restaurant was very friendly, played with our kids, treated my husband and uncle to free beers for early Father’s Day, brought out a banana for our baby, and gave my son crackers for the sea gulls. Food was all very good! We had seafood pasta, salmon, and fish and chips. Calamari appetizer is kind of a tease but a nice gesture. Kids menu was also pricey $15 for essentially boxed Mac and cheese but all the attention they gave made it a very enjoyable meal

Like all of the other restaurants on the Fisherman’s Wharf, they have a greeter outside trying to get your business. She was a fun lady and said, ”Come on in for lunch! Happy hour and free Calamari!” I said, “What did you say about Calamari?” She replied, “You heard me girl!”. I also expressed we love Clam Chowder and she asked her guests that were seated next to her, “How’s the Clam Chowder?” They responded, “Very good!” She just seemed to have a fun personality and loved selling her restaurant. We were sold after walking up and down the pier looking at other restaurant menus. No regrets and we did in fact receive a small free appetizer of Calamari as she advertised. Waiters & Waitresses seemed to be having fun and enjoying their job. We got lucky and got moved to a table with a view. Everything was delicious and there were a lot of items to choose from on the menu. Be prepared that prices are going to be inflated since you are eating right on the pier just like anywhere else. We had two mimosas, Chicken Tenders & Chips & a Clam Chowder Bread Bowl (Free Calamari of course!) and the total was around $65 before tip. Try this place! You won’t regret it!

After an afternoon of whale watching, we came back a bit quizzy so the prospect of greasy fried food wasn't very appetizing. But as we headed off the wharf, we were enticed by the host outside of Crab Louie for a calamari appetizer included with special entrees from the menu. Hungry and eager to have warm food to calm our bellys, we thought to give them a try. Our waiter was great, accommodating, and attentive. Come to think of it, we were the only ones there since it was early in the evening. We ordered a lobster roll sandwich, stuffed sea bass, 2x fish & chips, and seafood pasta. Every entree was perfectly executed. Nothing was overcooked. Our meal included clam chowder soup and the promised calamari appetizer which tasted freshly made. French fries were crispy, just like the way we like it. The included cole slaw with some entrees tasted mild, flavorful and delicious. We expected a large tab especially with 7 guest and tip was automatically included. After revealing it was my birthday, our waiter immediately brought out a lava cake with ice cream to top our meal. Just like the movie, "Chef", the chocolate ganash in the center of dessert was "molten". We shared it amongst ourselves and it was divine. We felt so much better after our meal so our decision to eat at Crab Louie Bistro was worthwhile.

Kayla Dawn

We tried to go to another restaurant on the wharf and were told no kids. This restaurant was very friendly, played with our kids, treated my husband and uncle to free beers for early Father’s Day, brought out a banana for our baby, and gave my son crackers for the sea gulls. Food was all very good! We had seafood pasta, salmon, and fish and chips. Calamari appetizer is kind of a tease but a nice gesture. Kids menu was also pricey $15 for essentially boxed Mac and cheese but all the attention they gave made it a very enjoyable meal

Deborah Kindler

The food here is excellent! I had a crab cake, calamari appetizer, and salmon, snapper, and prawn platter. It was so good. Fresh ingredients, tasteful presentation, and great service. Thank you.

Taylor Finn13

Like all of the other restaurants on the Fisherman’s Wharf, they have a greeter outside trying to get your business. She was a fun lady and said, ”Come on in for lunch! Happy hour and free Calamari!” I said, “What did you say about Calamari?” She replied, “You heard me girl!”. I also expressed we love Clam Chowder and she asked her guests that were seated next to her, “How’s the Clam Chowder?” They responded, “Very good!” She just seemed to have a fun personality and loved selling her restaurant. We were sold after walking up and down the pier looking at other restaurant menus. No regrets and we did in fact receive a small free appetizer of Calamari as she advertised. Waiters & Waitresses seemed to be having fun and enjoying their job. We got lucky and got moved to a table with a view. Everything was delicious and there were a lot of items to choose from on the menu. Be prepared that prices are going to be inflated since you are eating right on the pier just like anywhere else. We had two mimosas, Chicken Tenders & Chips & a Clam Chowder Bread Bowl (Free Calamari of course!) and the total was around $65 before tip. Try this place! You won’t regret it!

Carlos Mangrobang

After an afternoon of whale watching, we came back a bit quizzy so the prospect of greasy fried food wasn't very appetizing. But as we headed off the wharf, we were enticed by the host outside of Crab Louie for a calamari appetizer included with special entrees from the menu. Hungry and eager to have warm food to calm our bellys, we thought to give them a try. Our waiter was great, accommodating, and attentive. Come to think of it, we were the only ones there since it was early in the evening. We ordered a lobster roll sandwich, stuffed sea bass, 2x fish & chips, and seafood pasta. Every entree was perfectly executed. Nothing was overcooked. Our meal included clam chowder soup and the promised calamari appetizer which tasted freshly made. French fries were crispy, just like the way we like it. The included cole slaw with some entrees tasted mild, flavorful and delicious. We expected a large tab especially with 7 guest and tip was automatically included. After revealing it was my birthday, our waiter immediately brought out a lava cake with ice cream to top our meal. Just like the movie, "Chef", the chocolate ganash in the center of dessert was "molten". We shared it amongst ourselves and it was divine. We felt so much better after our meal so our decision to eat at Crab Louie Bistro was worthwhile.

Brandon Uribe

My Wife and I decided to try this spot since we were staying in a hotel nearby for work meetings. Let me tell you the service was A+++ we honestly haven’t had such a hospitable experience like that in some time. We were valued guests and we got a plate of salmon and Ribeye and both were great portions and great flavor. It was so good it made me want to write a review. It honestly is a great spot and if you’re lucky enough to dine next to the window you have a wonderful view to the water. Thanks to our server tonight for a great evening. We also had the clam chowder and it was delicious. Such a great spot if you are considering where to go on the pier.

M Warner

We decided to eat here on our day trip to Monterey, and we surely don’t regret it. As soon as we came in we were welcomed warmly and the ambience of the restaurant was very welcome. We were sat and ordered. As our food was being made, the owner personally gave us free appetizers, 2 bowls of clam chowder and a plate of calamari, on the house. Our food arrived very quickly, and tasted amazing. The salmon Alfredo and fish tacos were amazing, and the owner accommodated to our dietary needs. Overall our visit was amazing, and food was so good we wouldn’t mind if they raised their prices. We would 100% come again.

This place is very unassuming- I have had fresh fish all over the world and this was one of the freshest and tasty grilled fish that I have ever had! All the fish they serve is locally caught and you can taste the quality in the dish. The servers were very attentive. I was shocked when I checked yelp afterour meal and saw the low star rating for it truly deserves 5 stars! :)

Step into 1960 Diner and you’re instantly wrapped in fisherman’s warmth and classic charm. The food is absolutely delicious, with portions generous enough to share (or take home for later!). Every dish tastes homemade and comforting. The friendly service makes you feel like you’re coming home rather than dining out. A true gem.

Mona Ziadeh

This place is very unassuming- I have had fresh fish all over the world and this was one of the freshest and tasty grilled fish that I have ever had! All the fish they serve is locally caught and you can taste the quality in the dish. The servers were very attentive. I was shocked when I checked yelp afterour meal and saw the low star rating for it truly deserves 5 stars! :)

Grabbed a bite to eat before our Whale watching tour. Service was friendly, food was fresh and fast! I would agree with other reviews that it was a little expensive what what we received but it was delicious!

Was on a stroll with my woman an stumbled upon some really really good local clam chowder as a sample... Not knowing the owner was there,just having a causal conversation about the area, an figured we would give it a shot. I was really amazing with the taste of the crab meat sandwich,it paired nicely with Fatlip Amber Ale... The LUNCH special are soo good its hard to decide which one to order... My Woman order the fish & chip special... The fish was larger than expected,the chip was crispy an not too season or salted... Dont be afraid to chat with the locals while visiting there is soo much to learn about an see...

We got free calamari and clam chowder apps with our entrees. Not bad. Lobster roll was pretty good, and the seafood Louie was too. We ate outside with our dog, and had good service. A bit pricey for the quality, but just what you expect at a high traffic tourist spot.

We went in blindly and gave it a chance!! Cute little place and our food was good. Service was very friendly. We got a table with an ocean view and got a bit of a show. I also have to give praise for their french fries, they were soooo good. They were a perfect golden crisp 🤌 I hope you try it and have the same experience as my family did.

Miss Mia Lynn

We went in blindly and gave it a chance!! Cute little place and our food was good. Service was very friendly. We got a table with an ocean view and got a bit of a show. I also have to give praise for their french fries, they were soooo good. They were a perfect golden crisp 🤌 I hope you try it and have the same experience as my family did.

Service was amazing. Excellent and the guy was very kind and polite allowing us to have the baby with the stroller however, the food can improve. I’m giving it four stars because the grotto next door was extremely rude. About us having a baby gotta give crab Louise a shout out for welcoming us with the baby very kind person.

Server at the front was borderline fun/aggressive we did decide to go in because she was so encouraging. The food wasn’t as good as some other food we tried and it was the most expensive. I had the calamari and fries, my husband got the fried fish which they put on a bun for him. The server moved us to a window seat by the ocean when available, amazing view! If money is no option to you I enjoyed my time there but the price for the food quality just wasn’t connecting for me. Wish I had picked a different spot since we only ended up eating at the wharf once. Guess I’ll have to visit again!

They offer free calamari for one table. the calamari is good and tender . we got the Clam chowder and we find its taste average. ordered the recommended Seafood pasta and it is ok. Server is really nice and helpful. our table has a view of the bay and near the boats. you can open the window and get to feed the hungry seagulls. For three people our total bill was around $70.

+6

Nice dinner in Monterey. Diane had macadamia crusted halibut that was good but just a little bland. I had the Crabby plate with 1/2 Dungeness crab, scallops and shrimp that was very good. Calamari appetiser was tender and lightly breaded.

+1

My seafood omelette had shrimp in it. They looked like they came from a can. The cheese in the omelet was thrown in the middle. C’mon, kitchen, nobody wants two good bites of food and the rest less than stellar. Spread the ingredients around! And overpriced. Do not recommend.

So outside they tell you free appetizer which is the calamari so I asked if they have tentacles with it. They said yes we can make it with or without. I go in with my brother. It's his birthday lunch. He wants to go in here... We sit down and the waitress kept coming up to us every 45 seconds. And yes I was counting five times and we couldn't even discuss anything by the 5th time she says. Do you need help? Can I assist? And I'm like no. We looked already at the two of the three menus you gave us. Is there an issue with us sitting here? Do you have a problem with this because you're you're up in my face so much... She immediately went to the cook. Brought him out tall gudark guy He comes over very nicely but it was too late.. your waitress is pushy. Then I give him the order me and my brother who's older than me and then I asked him about the appetizer. It's going to be tentacles right? They said no no tentacles... What that's why we're in here for the calamari with tentacles. So I stand up to leave and my brother asked me are you going to leave? Yes, I'm leaving to everyone's surprise. I'm leaving yes I'm going to leave. I'm born and raised here. I know exactly what I can get on this wharf and this restaurant right here is not good. Then I asked him do you want to stay? Do you want to eat here? And his reply was yes .... In the end he says Michelle. We had really bad service. I spent $76 and that's not including a tip I'm not ever going in this restaurant again... The grotto is my place and anything that Christopher shake owns because he's on top of it. He's always there and he's professional with his appearance and respect with his customers which his staff extends 110%.. Crab Louie is a tourist attraction Anyone can go in there and and be happy. But you want true good food and good professional service Don't go to Crab Louie, they are messy. You have an undertone of unorganized unprofessional service which I will never forget.

Michelle Baker

So outside they tell you free appetizer which is the calamari so I asked if they have tentacles with it. They said yes we can make it with or without. I go in with my brother. It's his birthday lunch. He wants to go in here... We sit down and the waitress kept coming up to us every 45 seconds. And yes I was counting five times and we couldn't even discuss anything by the 5th time she says. Do you need help? Can I assist? And I'm like no. We looked already at the two of the three menus you gave us. Is there an issue with us sitting here? Do you have a problem with this because you're you're up in my face so much... She immediately went to the cook. Brought him out tall gudark guy He comes over very nicely but it was too late.. your waitress is pushy. Then I give him the order me and my brother who's older than me and then I asked him about the appetizer. It's going to be tentacles right? They said no no tentacles... What that's why we're in here for the calamari with tentacles. So I stand up to leave and my brother asked me are you going to leave? Yes, I'm leaving to everyone's surprise. I'm leaving yes I'm going to leave. I'm born and raised here. I know exactly what I can get on this wharf and this restaurant right here is not good. Then I asked him do you want to stay? Do you want to eat here? And his reply was yes .... In the end he says Michelle. We had really bad service. I spent $76 and that's not including a tip I'm not ever going in this restaurant again... The grotto is my place and anything that Christopher shake owns because he's on top of it. He's always there and he's professional with his appearance and respect with his customers which his staff extends 110%.. Crab Louie is a tourist attraction Anyone can go in there and and be happy. But you want true good food and good professional service Don't go to Crab Louie, they are messy. You have an undertone of unorganized unprofessional service which I will never forget.

Not recommend to anyone! Seafoods are not fresh, most likely frozen foods. Offered free calamari and it was just a tiny dish with like 3 pieces in it. Waiter keep saying the oysters are fresh off the boat. This is the most plain tasted oysters I ever had. It has no taste at all. If you are not looking. You probably not gonna know what you are eating. The fish in the Cioppino is also not fresh. First time I had a Cioppino that is very fishy tasted. The steak we have was medium rare and the meat is very tough. Service is ok. Magarita also tasted weird.

+5

Picked this restaurant in Fisherman’s Wharf for a sunny day lunch. But the decision turned out to be totally bad. The platter was terrible, except fries rest all - fish, calamari s were very bad. Fish is like a powder inside. Calamari was just terrible, Shrimp was as hard as it can be, left all the food as it. It was like a cold food and heated up and given to us. Pasta was okay and very average. What I like - the coconut shrimp, that was delicious and looked fresh. Very very average experience

Quick read: Tourist trap, don't be drawn in by the hostess at the entrance. Service: The server was alright, but the lady outside was very aggressive. Decided to give it a try from there. Food: Everything is overpriced for its quality. We tried the Halibut, the Stuffed Sea Bass, the Seafood Pasta, and a dozen Blue Point Oysters. The good: The Halibut was good, as was the complimentary calamari appetiser. The bad: The Stuffed Sea Bass was undercooked in the middle, the pasta was under seasoned, and the Oysters were very small. Also, some of the dishes come with rice. The rice is basically inedible, it was hard and had a weird taste. The okay: They served a complimentary clam chowder, which was pretty alright. The seafood that came with the seafood pasta was also pretty decent. Overall, if you have a specific dish you liked from here, great, cos the service is still okay. But if you're here for the first time, it may not be a good time.

Bec

Quick read: Tourist trap, don't be drawn in by the hostess at the entrance. Service: The server was alright, but the lady outside was very aggressive. Decided to give it a try from there. Food: Everything is overpriced for its quality. We tried the Halibut, the Stuffed Sea Bass, the Seafood Pasta, and a dozen Blue Point Oysters. The good: The Halibut was good, as was the complimentary calamari appetiser. The bad: The Stuffed Sea Bass was undercooked in the middle, the pasta was under seasoned, and the Oysters were very small. Also, some of the dishes come with rice. The rice is basically inedible, it was hard and had a weird taste. The okay: They served a complimentary clam chowder, which was pretty alright. The seafood that came with the seafood pasta was also pretty decent. Overall, if you have a specific dish you liked from here, great, cos the service is still okay. But if you're here for the first time, it may not be a good time.

Steve Kwok

Not recommend to anyone! Seafoods are not fresh, most likely frozen foods. Offered free calamari and it was just a tiny dish with like 3 pieces in it. Waiter keep saying the oysters are fresh off the boat. This is the most plain tasted oysters I ever had. It has no taste at all. If you are not looking. You probably not gonna know what you are eating. The fish in the Cioppino is also not fresh. First time I had a Cioppino that is very fishy tasted. The steak we have was medium rare and the meat is very tough. Service is ok. Magarita also tasted weird.

I should’ve read the reviews before coming. I was drawn in by the hostess outside who “sold” me on the deal that included chowder and calamari with my order. I went in, ordered the mixed seafood grill to-go, and asked about the deal. The chowder turned out to be barely 5–6 spoonfuls, and the calamari was just a tiny sampler-sized portion. The food itself was disappointing, but what really ruined the experience was the customer service. The lady at the counter asked me, “No tip?” after I signed for my to-go order. When I replied, “Tip for what? I just ordered takeout,” she pointed toward the door and said, “Go wait outside for your order!” with an attitude. Overall, poor food and even worse service.

Hi all, I'm not trying to be bias. But from my experience of eating here. If I could leave 0 stars I would. The lady who was outside, waving down customers and saying that all fish, clams, and crabs are fresh from the boat. But that was all a lie, tried their special for dinner which was Cippino and all the seafood was not fresh at all! I am not an expert at fresh, but I ate enough seafood to know that it was old frozen fish and frozen seafood that they heat up for me to eat. The tomatoe sauce for the cippino dish tasted sour, and had an off tasting. Not appetizing at all. The other dish was lobster and steak, priced at $140 or a little over. Lobster was not fresh, steak was bland. It was so disappointing to eat here. All I can say is that, the most fresh thing on their menu that night was probably their carrots 🥕 and broccoli 🥦. But to make it better enough, our waiter and the lady who was waving down customers outside had a mid argument during dinner. Our waiter didn't want to serve anymore people, while she waved down more customers to come in. They had a disagreement and was being loud. It wasn't professional to be doing that around their guests and customers. But, I dont think I would be returning anymore because their menu and specials was all a lie. FROZEN FOOD! NOT FRESH AT ALL!!!

Avoid this place like the plague!!! This place is a tourist trap where they lure tourists with a free appetizer. My immediate thought was that it was a red flag. Not to mention, all the other restaurants on the wharf were full and packing while this restaurant was practically empty. Our server acted overly friendly, probably to mask the scams that they were cooking back in the kitchen. The free appetizer was a small plate of rubbery calamari with only 5 pieces. We actually had to remind the server of our free appetizer, hoping that we would forget about it during our meal. Food is overly priced and for something as simple as fish and chips, I think the frozen ones they sell at the grocery store tastes better. Fish tasted stale, coleslaw tasted rotten, and portion sizes were miniscule. Upon getting the bill, gratuity was already included. I understand that with larger parties, this is an automatic add on. My party only had three people including myself and gratuity was 19% based on my calculations on the post total. Since when was gratuity already selected at a sit down restaurant? We were also falsely charged for an item that we did not purchase. For three people, the total came out to be 132 dollars with just entrees and no drinks or alcohol purchased. This place is a tourist trap and save yourself the hassle and wait that extra time at a real restaurant. Not this place. This place should change their name to Scam Louie's.

avoid. tourist trap. so so foods, high prices and automatic 20% tips added for so so service that was negligible. twas such a nice day outside, so we opted to try a different restaurant instead of waiting do our favorite next door and across the street (g). greeter offered free calamari appetizers and clam chowder at the front. we asked if there is a table by the window, they said they will moved us once 1 opened up which never happened despite of the restaurant was half filled when we left. free appetizer was a tiny plate. tasted: meh. we felt rushed in looking at the menu. ordered 3 main dishes + an extra bowl of chowder (was confused. when i asked if chowder was included, waitress said no. only calamari. - ended up there was a small bowl of bland chowder came with each entry). the tomato base of the cioppino was tasty. and the stuffed fish was decent. though the option of adding a crab to the cioppino (came with half a tiny crab at premium additional charges). small tiny portions except for the cioppino. overall the food was eatable but for the price and forced gratuity, definitely not worth it. no wet nap was available in a seafood restaurant. shocking. the busboy was trying his best to removed all plates asap while we were still eating our lunch. total bill for 4 was over $211. almost $40 was the forced gratuity. absolutely absurd and ridiculous. absolutely never coming back. highly not recommended to try.

Overpriced for the quality of food provided. Clam chowder came out luke warm and the crab cake was cold at the center. I'm guessing they "cooked" it from frozen! The table felt tacky and dirty from the cheap plastic covering over the table cloth. Server was funny but that was the only positive part of the dining experience. I'm kicking myself that I did not read reviews first! Ugh!

We were persuaded by the host and came in with some friends (5 to be exact with us included) we sat down for drinks ($6)and each plate was $20-30 dollars food was a solid 3/10 Crazy part was we did separate checks me and my husband and our other friends that were a couple with there child both checks were $100-$140 on top of a REQUIRED 15% to 20% tip which was $15-$20 NEVER AGAIN SUCH A SCAM‼️‼️‼️‼️

The waiter was extremely rude and was mansplaining the daily specials on asking the second time since he decided to explain all of it as we were grabbing our seats! We came in with good expectations based on the convincing host, but the reality fell short. The food, the vibes and everything else could be all made up for but the rudeness of the waiter can’t be. He was borderline screaming at us for asking basic questions and to top it all off he had the audacity to make snarky comments. I very rarely have a bad experience and I’m usually not critical because not all restaurants can be perfect but their motivational and pleasant staff keeps the show running but it’s something that was hard to say about this establishment.

Nice ocean view is the best part of this restaurant. Food was pretty average/bland. Fish tacos were were mediocre. Clam chowder bread bowl was hard. They start cleaning our table before we’re even done eating. Definitely don’t recommend. There are plenty of other restaurants to check out around this area. Go elsewhere.

Came in for the free calamari but instead got robbed! Family 4 seated at a table against the wall No ocean view. Food was way way overpriced and subpar at best. We ordered clam chowder to start was given 4oz bowls bearly enough for 4 spoonfuls @the price of $12.95 each then we ordered the platter plates with fish/shrimp/calamari and french fries the fish tasted old not fresh shrimp was ok calamari was chewy like eating a rubber band. The Free appetizer (calamari) literally 4 pieces and tasted like rubber. They added the tip in the check even though it says for parties 6 or more people. Would definitely Not recommend eating here. Not worth the price or view. We spent $210.00 on our meal.

Not worth it!!! The food is not good and over priced. I had a feeling they wouldn’t actually give a complimentary appetizer, so I asked the server if they do provide a complimentary appetizer. She looked so annoyed by my question. I wish I took a picture of the burger, it was such a sad tiny unappetizing burger. My husband said it should have been $5 instead of $20 because of how cheap the ingredients were, from the $1 buns to the tiny piece of ground beef. Inn N Out is fancier than their burger. My linguine clam pasta was yuck. I ate it only because I was hungry and it cost us $33. My husband said it tasted bland, I thought it tasted like pure cheap white wine. Anyway here is a picture of their “complimentary appetizer”. The only real good restaurant there is the Old Fisherman’s grotto. And if you don’t want to wait, then most restaurants in Monterey is way better than on the pier.

SCAM ALERT !!! NO FREE APPETIZER !!! BAD FOOD I want to leave this review as a warning for families visiting the pier. We also had a very bad experience at Crab Louie’s Bistro, and everything felt misleading from the moment we walked in. The host at the entrance was extremely pushy and kept insisting that the food was “the best on the pier.” He also promised a free calamari appetizer, but what they actually bring is a tiny plate with barely anything on it not a real appetizer. The restaurant itself is very small and honestly quite dirty. The prices are extremely high for what you get, and just like others mentioned, they automatically add the tip to the bill even if you are only a small family. We were four—two adults and two kids—and they still added the gratuity without saying anything. The food was disappointing, overpriced, and not fresh. Nothing matched what they promised at the door. To make things worse, when we left, we noticed that all the way at the end of the pier there was actually one of the best restaurants—with an amazing view, beautiful tables, and a real ocean-side experience. We wish we had seen that before being convinced to walk into this place. Overall, it was a terrible experience for us, and I’m sharing this so other families can be cautious before choosing this spot. Save your money and choose a different restaurant on the pier.

If I could give zero stars, I would. Crab Louie’s is the kind of tourist trap that takes advantage of visitors with dishonest practices. We were invited in with smiles and “free fried calamari,” but the food was mediocre and the real problem came at the end: they added a $32 automatic “gratuity” without telling us, without it being listed on the menu, and even though we were only three adults and a baby. When I asked about it, the server suddenly “didn’t understand,” then tried to justify the charge with excuses. In the end, he charged the full amount anyway. We ended up paying $182 for a fish & chips, a Caesar salad with a thin slice of salmon, mac & cheese for a baby, fries with chicken for the dogs, and two beers. Completely unreasonable. The worst part isn’t the money — it’s the attitude. Dishonest, manipulative, and taking advantage of people who are polite and respectful. There are many honest places to eat in Monterey. This is not one of them.

⭐☆☆☆☆ Disappointing Experience – Not Worth the Hype We were drawn into Crab Louie’s Bistro by the very friendly and persuasive host at the door, who confidently told us this was the best food on the pier. He was definitely convincing—and honestly, he deserves a raise for doing his job well. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to the promises. We ordered the fish and chips, and it was very underwhelming. The fish was a small portion, overly oily, and the fries were cold. The coleslaw was warm, barely there, and didn’t taste fresh. They offered us a free promo calamari as a starter, which we appreciated, but it was honestly one of the worst we’ve ever had. We also ordered a kid’s fish and chips for $16.95—which didn’t even include a drink. The portion was tiny: just a small handful of fries and two mini pieces of overly greasy breaded fish. One positive note: the view at the back of the bistro was beautiful, with a lovely look over the boats and the ocean—we even saw a seal swimming nearby. A heads-up: they automatically add 18% gratuity to the bill, and then provide another receipt with an empty tip line, which can be misleading if you’re not paying close attention. In total, we spent nearly $100 for 2 adults and 1 child, drank only water, and barely touched most of the food. We left disappointed and wouldn’t return. Save your money and choose another spot on the pier.

!!!!!SCAM ALERT!!!!! They will rip you off and serve you mediocre seafood. This restaurant will register tables of 2 people as 6 people in order to trigger the automatic 20% gratuity at the register, but they hope you don’t notice and try to trick you into tipping 45%. I saw this and asked for the manager, the waiter first pretended that he was the manager, then he tried to get his other buddy to pretend he was the manager, then the manager actually showed up and reversed the transaction. This was clearly intentional by the restaurant as you can see many complaints about it in the reviews. I ordered the “crab louie” which is supposed to come with crab, it had maybe 2 oz of crab “shavings” for $30.

All of the places on the Wharf try to pull you in with specials. We were looking for crab so went with Crab Louie's...I can't recommend them to anyone. After seeing pics and reading reviews we said okay let's go for it. The only thing I can say good is that they serve Pepsi products and it had good carbonation. The free appetizer was calamari. No flavor at all. Aoli also had no flavor. The clam chowder bowl tasted like pure powder we had to send it back. I said okay let's go with the pastas since there were so many. I ordered the shrimp fettuccine. I've never seen shrimp so small ever. This must have been pulled out of the womb. They were Itty bitty Itty bitty. The Alfredo had no flavor. I ordered crab cakes and it had some sort of horseradish sauce with it as I was moving the plate, it fell into my pasta. I thought oh nooooo but as I scraped as much out that i could and stirred the rest in the pasta it actually gave it a little flavor. Still not edible enough. I hate giving ones but there were a few things that I couldn't get it to a 2. They had to clean the table as someone else was leaving and the staff were not communicating. One told us to sit then then other told us to wait it wasn't ready. We politely backed up. We had to ask for our soft drinks several times when they took our request as soon as we sat down. Lastly a couple had apparently been sat in the front of the restaurant and their server was never alerted so they walked to the window area and told the waitress they had been waiting and were forgot about so they were then reseated by the window. That last oversight said I couldn't even give them a 2 as much as I wanted to try for the carbonated soda. If you are looking at reviews I can't vouch for this one. We tried several things and clam chowder should be the draw. That was the worse thing we had unfortunately then the pasta came in strong second.

Stacy Adams

Not worth it!!! The food is not good and over priced. I had a feeling they wouldn’t actually give a complimentary appetizer, so I asked the server if they do provide a complimentary appetizer. She looked so annoyed by my question. I wish I took a picture of the burger, it was such a sad tiny unappetizing burger. My husband said it should have been $5 instead of $20 because of how cheap the ingredients were, from the $1 buns to the tiny piece of ground beef. Inn N Out is fancier than their burger. My linguine clam pasta was yuck. I ate it only because I was hungry and it cost us $33. My husband said it tasted bland, I thought it tasted like pure cheap white wine. Anyway here is a picture of their “complimentary appetizer”. The only real good restaurant there is the Old Fisherman’s grotto. And if you don’t want to wait, then most restaurants in Monterey is way better than on the pier.

Ana Bautista E

SCAM ALERT !!! NO FREE APPETIZER !!! BAD FOOD I want to leave this review as a warning for families visiting the pier. We also had a very bad experience at Crab Louie’s Bistro, and everything felt misleading from the moment we walked in. The host at the entrance was extremely pushy and kept insisting that the food was “the best on the pier.” He also promised a free calamari appetizer, but what they actually bring is a tiny plate with barely anything on it not a real appetizer. The restaurant itself is very small and honestly quite dirty. The prices are extremely high for what you get, and just like others mentioned, they automatically add the tip to the bill even if you are only a small family. We were four—two adults and two kids—and they still added the gratuity without saying anything. The food was disappointing, overpriced, and not fresh. Nothing matched what they promised at the door. To make things worse, when we left, we noticed that all the way at the end of the pier there was actually one of the best restaurants—with an amazing view, beautiful tables, and a real ocean-side experience. We wish we had seen that before being convinced to walk into this place. Overall, it was a terrible experience for us, and I’m sharing this so other families can be cautious before choosing this spot. Save your money and choose a different restaurant on the pier.

Eniko Czomba

⭐☆☆☆☆ Disappointing Experience – Not Worth the Hype We were drawn into Crab Louie’s Bistro by the very friendly and persuasive host at the door, who confidently told us this was the best food on the pier. He was definitely convincing—and honestly, he deserves a raise for doing his job well. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to the promises. We ordered the fish and chips, and it was very underwhelming. The fish was a small portion, overly oily, and the fries were cold. The coleslaw was warm, barely there, and didn’t taste fresh. They offered us a free promo calamari as a starter, which we appreciated, but it was honestly one of the worst we’ve ever had. We also ordered a kid’s fish and chips for $16.95—which didn’t even include a drink. The portion was tiny: just a small handful of fries and two mini pieces of overly greasy breaded fish. One positive note: the view at the back of the bistro was beautiful, with a lovely look over the boats and the ocean—we even saw a seal swimming nearby. A heads-up: they automatically add 18% gratuity to the bill, and then provide another receipt with an empty tip line, which can be misleading if you’re not paying close attention. In total, we spent nearly $100 for 2 adults and 1 child, drank only water, and barely touched most of the food. We left disappointed and wouldn’t return. Save your money and choose another spot on the pier.

John A

!!!!!SCAM ALERT!!!!! They will rip you off and serve you mediocre seafood. This restaurant will register tables of 2 people as 6 people in order to trigger the automatic 20% gratuity at the register, but they hope you don’t notice and try to trick you into tipping 45%. I saw this and asked for the manager, the waiter first pretended that he was the manager, then he tried to get his other buddy to pretend he was the manager, then the manager actually showed up and reversed the transaction. This was clearly intentional by the restaurant as you can see many complaints about it in the reviews. I ordered the “crab louie” which is supposed to come with crab, it had maybe 2 oz of crab “shavings” for $30.

agus tirto

avoid. tourist trap. so so foods, high prices and automatic 20% tips added for so so service that was negligible. twas such a nice day outside, so we opted to try a different restaurant instead of waiting do our favorite next door and across the street (g). greeter offered free calamari appetizers and clam chowder at the front. we asked if there is a table by the window, they said they will moved us once 1 opened up which never happened despite of the restaurant was half filled when we left. free appetizer was a tiny plate. tasted: meh. we felt rushed in looking at the menu. ordered 3 main dishes + an extra bowl of chowder (was confused. when i asked if chowder was included, waitress said no. only calamari. - ended up there was a small bowl of bland chowder came with each entry). the tomato base of the cioppino was tasty. and the stuffed fish was decent. though the option of adding a crab to the cioppino (came with half a tiny crab at premium additional charges). small tiny portions except for the cioppino. overall the food was eatable but for the price and forced gratuity, definitely not worth it. no wet nap was available in a seafood restaurant. shocking. the busboy was trying his best to removed all plates asap while we were still eating our lunch. total bill for 4 was over $211. almost $40 was the forced gratuity. absolutely absurd and ridiculous. absolutely never coming back. highly not recommended to try.

T Bessard

All of the places on the Wharf try to pull you in with specials. We were looking for crab so went with Crab Louie's...I can't recommend them to anyone. After seeing pics and reading reviews we said okay let's go for it. The only thing I can say good is that they serve Pepsi products and it had good carbonation. The free appetizer was calamari. No flavor at all. Aoli also had no flavor. The clam chowder bowl tasted like pure powder we had to send it back. I said okay let's go with the pastas since there were so many. I ordered the shrimp fettuccine. I've never seen shrimp so small ever. This must have been pulled out of the womb. They were Itty bitty Itty bitty. The Alfredo had no flavor. I ordered crab cakes and it had some sort of horseradish sauce with it as I was moving the plate, it fell into my pasta. I thought oh nooooo but as I scraped as much out that i could and stirred the rest in the pasta it actually gave it a little flavor. Still not edible enough. I hate giving ones but there were a few things that I couldn't get it to a 2. They had to clean the table as someone else was leaving and the staff were not communicating. One told us to sit then then other told us to wait it wasn't ready. We politely backed up. We had to ask for our soft drinks several times when they took our request as soon as we sat down. Lastly a couple had apparently been sat in the front of the restaurant and their server was never alerted so they walked to the window area and told the waitress they had been waiting and were forgot about so they were then reseated by the window. That last oversight said I couldn't even give them a 2 as much as I wanted to try for the carbonated soda. If you are looking at reviews I can't vouch for this one. We tried several things and clam chowder should be the draw. That was the worse thing we had unfortunately then the pasta came in strong second.

Cute little spot on the wharf however the older lady who served us was rude and unfriendly. She doesn't smile and doesn't look like she's enjoying herself. The food is mediocre at best. I ordered the Lobster Benedict and the hollandaise sauce tasted like mayonnaise. Gross! The menu stated this item was 37.95 however when I received the bill, it was listed as 40.95. My mom had the California Benedict and that wasn't any better. My daughter's French toast was probably the best tasting. Either way, save your money and time. There's plenty of better restaurants in Monterey.

$200 for 6 of us! They do the bait and switch, so if you eat outside your better off and way less money. If they bring you into the restaurant a different menu awaits you with more aggressive prices. The food was ok. I would definitely try other places. Our waiter was unpleasant to be around as she was not super friendly at all!! The dude out front is the friendliest you will get.

Restaurant is a total scam. They get you with free calamari. News flash. It's not free. We ordered crab sandwich and fish and chips. Sandwich barely had any crab meat. Bread was really hard. Fish and chips very dry. Food had absolutely no flavor. We ordered sodas. The bill was $101. $18 for gratuity. They snuck the price of calamari in there. I didn't even argue the bill. Just paid and left. Never ever again.

CODY LOTT

$200 for 6 of us! They do the bait and switch, so if you eat outside your better off and way less money. If they bring you into the restaurant a different menu awaits you with more aggressive prices. The food was ok. I would definitely try other places. Our waiter was unpleasant to be around as she was not super friendly at all!! The dude out front is the friendliest you will get.

Cheryl D

Overpriced for the quality of food provided. Clam chowder came out luke warm and the crab cake was cold at the center. I'm guessing they "cooked" it from frozen! The table felt tacky and dirty from the cheap plastic covering over the table cloth. Server was funny but that was the only positive part of the dining experience. I'm kicking myself that I did not read reviews first! Ugh!

Gabrielle Perez

Cute little spot on the wharf however the older lady who served us was rude and unfriendly. She doesn't smile and doesn't look like she's enjoying herself. The food is mediocre at best. I ordered the Lobster Benedict and the hollandaise sauce tasted like mayonnaise. Gross! The menu stated this item was 37.95 however when I received the bill, it was listed as 40.95. My mom had the California Benedict and that wasn't any better. My daughter's French toast was probably the best tasting. Either way, save your money and time. There's plenty of better restaurants in Monterey.