Steve's Stray Stuff

The 32oz. porterhouse steak was cooked to a perfect medium-rare and the chef carved it up nicely for two to share. The mashed potatoes, asparagus and fried onions were delicious and the cannoli was very fresh and crunchy. The service was fantastic. Our service staff was very friendly and professional.

+3

Shannon

Perfectly cooked and served. The staff was wonderful. Seated at the bar while we waited for a table. Had great drinks. Server was awesome. If you’re looking for a great place to enjoy quality food and service (and 3 different kinds of salt!) I’d try here.

Aly Arce

Sweet baby Jesus the ribeye was the best steak we’ve ever had, hands down! Their crab ravioli was so creamy with the best asparagus. If I could give 100 stars I would. Found this gem of a restaurant while searching for places to eat when visiting Monterey. Thank God for technology! My husband and I will definitely be back! Paul was attentive and is responsible for the recommendation on the ribeye. Every staff member was friendly, from the gentleman that seated us to the waiters that offered pepper for our meal. You won’t find a better steakhouse in California.

Ronen Coren

One of the best steakhouses I went to in the US, and I have had my share … very professional service, very good old vibe of a place that is not attempting to be modern but rather show its aged beauty… and very fresh, tasty and perfectly grilled steak, with the perfect side dishes to go along … and the Malbec of the Napa valley was exquisite. Would certainly come back if again in town.

Wendy Brickman

The Whaling Station is truly the premier steakhouse in Monterey, serving guests with excellence since 1969. My husband and I enjoyed a superb dining experience from start to finish. We began with their fabulous French onion soup with a perfect brother and lots of cheese on top, followed by the incredible Cowboy Ribeye Steak—tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor, easily one of the best steaks I’ve ever had. The sides were equally impressive: fresh thick asparagus with hollandaise sauce, a perfectly prepared twice-baked potato, and to finish, the most heavenly Pavlova dessert from New Zealand with soft meringue, whipped cream, and fresh fruit. A delicious glass of red wine paired beautifully with the meal, and an Irish Coffee was the perfect finale. Our server, Jose, was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, adding to the warm atmosphere. We enjoyed the comfort of a half-booth and admired the lovely décor and artwork, including a lovely mural. The restaurant easily accommodates groups and provides a refined yet welcoming setting. The Whaling Station also holds a special place in my heart—it was the very first restaurant my husband and I dined at when visiting Monterey back in 1988 for a Paramount Pictures sales meeting. After moving here in 1990, we’ve enjoyed many wonderful meals over the years, and the quality has always remained top-notch. Highly recommended for anyone seeking an outstanding dining experience with high quality food, impeccable service, and the very best steaks in Monterey.

+2

Jennifer B

You receive service before experiencing the food and this place provided amazing customer service. The food was equally excellent. The bread itself was the best table bread I’ve ever had… crispy crust and the softest white bread. We ordered the oysters, Caesar salad, filet mignon and lobster fettuccine Alfredo, deliciousness! The atmosphere fine. The decor is a bit dated. Lovely place to have a nice dinner.

David Wasson

We're down here a couple of times every year when we're in Monterey. Always the same consistent high quality food, great service and awesome cocktails. Highly recommend any of their steak dinners and seafood. Don't skip on dessert either they are phenomenal

claudio console

From the hostess who welcomes you to when you arrive the waiter who suggested me and explained the menu outstandingly. The manager cane a few times making sure I was enjoying the steak (and I surely did) and considering that the restaurant was full I truly appreciated his professionalism. I ordered a porterhouse and it was exceptional! Then a dessert to die for. Wonderful I will surely come back next year during car week.

Tim Belmont

Our go to steakhouse when we visit Monterey. The food is consistently spectacular. This visit westarted with fresh oysters that were sweet and plump with ocean flavor. For the mains, we had the Cowboy Steak, bone in ribeye, done to perfection. The other is the mahi mahi with crab risotto. Their crab risotto could and should be it's own dish. Super delicious! Finished off the evening with their creme brulle, cappuccino, and an Irish coffee. Great atmosphere curated by Paul and Mecedes. From the moment we walked in by a welcoming hostess greeting, our night was spectacular!

+2

Miguel Castillo

Amazing Experience at Whaling Station Steakhouse! From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The food was absolutely top-notch — the steak was cooked to perfection, full of flavor, and paired wonderfully with the drinks. A special shoutout to Jermar, the bartender, who truly made our night. His attention to detail, friendly service, and excellent drink recommendations made us feel well taken care of. If you’re looking for a place with great food, a welcoming vibe, and outstanding service, Whaling Station Steakhouse is it. Definitely recommend!

+1

Michele Godina

Cannot say enough good things about this steak house. We visit every year for our anniversary and leave every time so happy with our meal and especially the service. Our waiter Paul was top notch, the hostess was so sweet, and the food was AMAZING. If you're considering stopping for dinner, this is the place!!

Luis “LouGgle” C

I will start off with the host being accommodating even though we didn't have reservations, thank you young kind lady! Food presentation was phenomenal how they bring you the real cuts of steak 🥩 on a platter to provide visual aid for the pickings, loved 😍 it! The server was very polite and had the best boundaries for coming around and not forcing anything upon us. Enjoyed the appetizers, am very much so an appetizer person. Highly recommend the Rockefeller if you like oysters! Prime rib egg rolls were definitely different but pulled it off. The clam chowder was amazing with the compliment bread 🍞 which was so soft and had crispy crust which made even that much better to eat it with!!!! The porterhouse 🥩 Steak for ✌️was so soft and the all the flavor is on the outside. Gotta love it medium rare. Aged for 21 day I believe, they'll let you know during presentation. Will mention that the middle of steak was more tender then tasteful. Ended the night with a canoli which was light and delicious 😋 Beautiful place and great decor!

+10

Kymberly Sulamo

It was a nice place. An old school feel about it for sure , the decor the table settings etc. Waited an extremely long time for service and our food. Husband's steak was raw supposed to be medium. Disappointed after such a long wait. They were generous enough to remove it from the bill which was nice. Offered to remake it but didn't want to wait another hour. Just expected a lot more especially when your paying $65 for a steak. My salad however was amazing. It's salad too so not too much effort there. Waiter wasn't very attentive but nice. Won't give it another whirl but it's a decent place.

Bil Y

Had the prime rib and escargot. Escargot was very good. Prime rib was good and cooked perfectly. Got the 8 oz cut came out as a very thinly sliced sliced piece of meat (8oz?) They had a selection of salts to put on each bite of the meal which I thought was interesting and a nice touch. GF had the crab ravioli which were very good. Our waiter was excellent. Very pricy would opt for something other than the prime rib next time.

Geronimo C Ramos

Celebrated our wedding night at Whaling Station after tying the knot on the Pacific Grove beach, and what a rollercoaster of an evening it was. We came specifically hunting for gluten-free options and top-notch steak – and honestly, this place delivered on half that promise spectacularly. Started with fresh oysters that were absolutely pristine, though I was genuinely shocked they don't serve mignonette. Even when we asked, they just shrugged. The escargot was a complete disaster – weird texture, off flavors – and we had to send it back without hesitation. But then the steaks arrived, and wow. My wife's Creekstone ribeye special ($88) was hands down one of the best cuts I've experienced at any steakhouse. Perfectly marbled, flawlessly cooked, and while the accompaniments were simple – just potatoes, spinach, and crispy onions – the quality spoke for itself. My prime rib was equally impressive, tender and juicy with excellent jus and horseradish. Those crispy onions on the mashed potatoes were a brilliant textural contrast. The evening took a serious turn when they served my celiac mother-in-law breadcrumbs despite our explicit warnings about gluten. She took a bite thinking it was safe, and it made her genuinely ill. Completely unacceptable for a restaurant at this price point. They did redeem themselves slightly with a complimentary wedding Pavlova that was divine – light as angel food cake with perfect textures throughout. Service was attentive and accommodating overall, but that gluten cross-contamination was a major failure. The steaks are legitimately exceptional, but the price point feels steep for what you're getting. Still, those ribeye and prime rib were restaurant magic.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

+12

Jarod Arand

Hostess was great. Waiter was entertaining. The starter bread was excellent. The twice baked potato was one of the best I’ve had. But the salad was mediocre, the $165 tomahawk was overcooked, the waiter was rushed and disinterested in the tables he was looking after (including when he asked how the food was, we said overcooked and dry, and he said ok great), and the valet wasn’t particularly friendly. See pictures of a steak ordered medium rare. Overall expected much more from this place, but would not recommend it.