Mezzaluna Pasteria

The food was absolutely amazing. I had grilled octopus, gluten free homemade bread, and amazing gf homemade pasta. Probably the best I've ever had. I'm not sure what precautions they take but they understood I needed gluten free. I'm pretty sensitive and I didn't get sick. Service was excellent. I'll definitely be back.

This place is incredible. The service was great. Our waitress was very sweet and answered all of our questions with kindness. The food was outstanding! Can’t wait to come back!! Dinner: Burrata con Funghi, Polpo alla Griglia and Gnudi con Cavoletto di Bruxelles. Dessert: Pistachio, Chocolate and Vanilla Gelatos, and a Bourbon Barrel Stout Float

+1

Believe the reviews! Mezzaluna is a wonderful date night, special occasion, or any time spot! The humble looking facade belies the airy, elegant open space inside. On this visit, we enjoyed a Sicilian lemon gin tonic and a rosemary paloma mocktail. For starters, a refreshingly bitter insalata tricolore and the fantastic burrata con piselli. These were followed by a local salmon over pasta seasonal special for my husband, and the linguine con bolognese di melanzane for me. This deceptively simple looking plate was absolutely loaded with flavor from the slow cooked sauce. The pasta was perfectly cooked and I savored every forkful! I love that Mezzaluna has a 'Blue Zone' menu with so many enticing plant-based options. For dessert we could not resist the tiramisu, and we were well rewarded for that choice. From the starters, to an end of meal espresso, tutto è buono at Mezzaluna!

This is a must visit restaurant. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable about their food. The dishes have so many flavors and the presentation is amazing. I'll definitely be back.

+1

Best kept secret on the peninsula, except it's no secret! Wonderful food and drink. Outstanding standard of service! Top of my list, when we visit.

What a place! We ordered Polpo alla griglia and Burrata con piselli for our appetizers. The octopus was cooked perfectly with the right balance of flavors, and the burrata was light and well-balanced with asparagus. For our main course, we had Linguine con aragosta and Rigatoni alla buttera. The pasta and meats were cooked and seasoned just right! The craft cocktails were unique and delicious, and the perfect balance of flavors. Thanks to Andres and Christian for their drink and food recommendations, as well as their excellent customer service! They tend to get busy quickly after opening, so it would be best to make a reservation!

+2

Everything here was AMAZING! Food, drinks, service! The pasta was so incredible. I will definitely come here again when I visit Carmel :) A+!! I also loved that they provided blankets for each person, as it did get a little chilly sitting outside in the evening.

+2

The manager really cares about providing a good customer experience. The servers are friendly and helpful when I asked for advice on the menu. The food was very good.

We really enjoyed this family-operated restaurant. Our waiter was wonderful — charming, attentive. We had a good beet and mozzarella appetizer, a linguine ai funghi entree, and butternut squash ravioli. Good cocktails (I recommend the boulevardier if you like bitter) and yummy tiramisu for dessert, served in a small mason jar. We’d happily go back!

Possibly the best pasta I've ever had, in my life. Amazing food, well curated wine list, and excellent service. Highly recommend.

Great food, great service. Surprisingly busy but we were still.able to walk in in a Wednesday evening for dinner. Recommend the Beef ravioli, the clams and the home made gelato.

Fresh pasta joint in Pacific Grove. Parking is easy and situated in local dining area. Walnut Old Fashioned was top notch and the duck pate was excellent. Pastas are on the firmer side but with nice chew; sauce work is well executed. Portions are small to medium. As for desserts, gelato is more icey than smooth; flour less chocolate cake was classic.

Food - Solid pasta, bread and burrata looked good. Note that their portion sizes are likely more than what you’re used to at an Italian restaurant. Service - Top notch. We even missed our reservation and they accommodated us in their hangout area. Overall, highly recommend. Please do yourself a favor and get a reservation!

Loved everything from appetizers to dessert! Cocktails were excellent—the watermelon Aperol spritz was especially refreshing. We tried the bucatini all’amatriciana, rigatoni alla buttera, flourless chocolate cake with strawberry gelato, and the affogato—all absolutely delicious!

Came here for my birthday, and everything was AMAZING. The ambiance is chilled, but very warm and welcoming. The staff was very attentive, sweet, extremely knowledgeable about the menus. The food did NOT disappoint! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and tasted like it was made with love! I highly recommend trying their lamb meatballs with polenta as an appetizer! Can’t wait to come back!

Unbelievable. Amazing service and food. We had several servers check on us throughout the night. Highly recommend. Even the Elderflower mocktail was amazing. Will definitely be going back! The crab ravioli and scallop special were fantastic! The homemade pasta was delicious!

What an amazing dining experience! From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed—even on a busy night. The manager greeted me at the door, and although I sat at the bar, I was treated like a VIP thanks to the incredible service from Mr. Dre, the bar master. He promised to “transport me back to Italy,” and honestly, he and the kitchen delivered on that. I started with the Tre Mozzarella and a refreshing Capri Spritz—both were delicious and beautifully presented. The mozzarella trio had just the right balance of flavor and texture. Before I even had to ask, Mr. Dre had my next drink and main course ready like clockwork. That kind of attention to detail is rare. To top it all off, I ended the night with an Espresso Martini hands down the best I’ve had in the city. As a local, I felt genuinely welcomed and appreciated. I’ll definitely be coming back soon. This place is a hidden gem with five star service and flavor to match!!

Great local pasta place. Pasta made onsite - and it shows! (And tastes). Affordable wine-list. Great service. Could be busy - make reservations. We’ve been here a few times, consistently great. Try duck pate.

Came here as a "cheat day" of sorts. Service is impeccable. The bread that is served is so very tasty. I could have made a meal just out that. The pasta is devine. The pictures I took weren't great, but I don't care. I was in a hurry to get the food in my mouth. My husband enjoyed the wine offered as well. Well worth coming here. Be sure to get a reservation.

Had a wonderful dining experience at Mezzaluna! The staff was super responsive, there when needed, and the timing was spot on. The food was delicious. From the Gnocchi to the salad to the braised rib ravioli! The Fugitaboutit was memorable and the espresso martini was a great way to end the night. While it can be a tad bit loud, overall a top spot.

You'll want a reservation here and its well worth the trouble. Food was excellent, as was the service! We all enjoyed everything and ordered a wide variety of dishes. We spent quite a bit but splurged on pre dinner drinks, wine, after dinner Amaro and some take home gelato. Gnocchi appetizer was fantastic. My spicy Rigatoni alla Buttera was in fact spicy, especially since I had to request they leave out the cream. Wine prices were reasonable with a great selection. Lots of Amaro choices, which we really enjoyed.

If there was more stars from food I would give them unfortunately we had a miscommunication on the price of wine which double the price ouch. And manager would not help at all not cool. We will be back. I appreciate your response but you never made any comment about the wine I paid $85 when your waiter said it was 43 that was very disappointing!

Food: Ordered the Tre Mozzarelle, Rigatoni alla Buttera, and Ravioli Di Spinaci. The mozz plate was such a good assortment that all went great together, especially the red peppers and pickled cauliflower. But the highlight was definitely the rigatoni. Super rich, creamy, and has lots of sausage. I tried the Spinach Ravioli, it was good, but the rigatoni set the bar too high for me. I found that the ravioli filling was a little watery and lacked flavor, but the sauce was really good. Service: Really good and professional. Liked the wine suggestion, and I felt like she truly listened to our preferences. Atmosphere: perfect for a date. in an unassuming part of Monterey, but that just means there's parking.

So accommodating to us being gluten free! It has been forever since I’ve actually had ciabatta rolls and baguettes served upon request gluten free. It’s the little things like dipping in oil and pairing with peppers that I miss out on with celiac disease and Mezzaluna gave me that back for an evening. They were above and beyond, double-checking whenever they were unsure. It was a great experience & we’ll definitely be back soon.

The food is delicious! Servers very professional. Flavors combinations are yummy and I love the bread too!

Geoff Holmes

Great food, great service. Surprisingly busy but we were still.able to walk in in a Wednesday evening for dinner. Recommend the Beef ravioli, the clams and the home made gelato.

James N.

Fresh pasta joint in Pacific Grove. Parking is easy and situated in local dining area. Walnut Old Fashioned was top notch and the duck pate was excellent. Pastas are on the firmer side but with nice chew; sauce work is well executed. Portions are small to medium. As for desserts, gelato is more icey than smooth; flour less chocolate cake was classic.

Lee

Loved everything from appetizers to dessert! Cocktails were excellent—the watermelon Aperol spritz was especially refreshing. We tried the bucatini all’amatriciana, rigatoni alla buttera, flourless chocolate cake with strawberry gelato, and the affogato—all absolutely delicious!

Krishna Kannan

Food - Solid pasta, bread and burrata looked good. Note that their portion sizes are likely more than what you’re used to at an Italian restaurant. Service - Top notch. We even missed our reservation and they accommodated us in their hangout area. Overall, highly recommend. Please do yourself a favor and get a reservation!

IA

Great local pasta place. Pasta made onsite - and it shows! (And tastes). Affordable wine-list. Great service. Could be busy - make reservations. We’ve been here a few times, consistently great. Try duck pate.

Ashley Reynolds

Came here for my birthday, and everything was AMAZING. The ambiance is chilled, but very warm and welcoming. The staff was very attentive, sweet, extremely knowledgeable about the menus. The food did NOT disappoint! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and tasted like it was made with love! I highly recommend trying their lamb meatballs with polenta as an appetizer! Can’t wait to come back!

Ellie

Unbelievable. Amazing service and food. We had several servers check on us throughout the night. Highly recommend. Even the Elderflower mocktail was amazing. Will definitely be going back! The crab ravioli and scallop special were fantastic! The homemade pasta was delicious!

Katarus Moore

What an amazing dining experience! From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed—even on a busy night. The manager greeted me at the door, and although I sat at the bar, I was treated like a VIP thanks to the incredible service from Mr. Dre, the bar master. He promised to “transport me back to Italy,” and honestly, he and the kitchen delivered on that. I started with the Tre Mozzarella and a refreshing Capri Spritz—both were delicious and beautifully presented. The mozzarella trio had just the right balance of flavor and texture. Before I even had to ask, Mr. Dre had my next drink and main course ready like clockwork. That kind of attention to detail is rare. To top it all off, I ended the night with an Espresso Martini hands down the best I’ve had in the city. As a local, I felt genuinely welcomed and appreciated. I’ll definitely be coming back soon. This place is a hidden gem with five star service and flavor to match!!

Roger Peverini

If there was more stars from food I would give them unfortunately we had a miscommunication on the price of wine which double the price ouch. And manager would not help at all not cool. We will be back. I appreciate your response but you never made any comment about the wine I paid $85 when your waiter said it was 43 that was very disappointing!

Faviola Fernandez

What a place! We ordered Polpo alla griglia and Burrata con piselli for our appetizers. The octopus was cooked perfectly with the right balance of flavors, and the burrata was light and well-balanced with asparagus. For our main course, we had Linguine con aragosta and Rigatoni alla buttera. The pasta and meats were cooked and seasoned just right! The craft cocktails were unique and delicious, and the perfect balance of flavors. Thanks to Andres and Christian for their drink and food recommendations, as well as their excellent customer service! They tend to get busy quickly after opening, so it would be best to make a reservation!

Liz Dimauro

Came here as a "cheat day" of sorts. Service is impeccable. The bread that is served is so very tasty. I could have made a meal just out that. The pasta is devine. The pictures I took weren't great, but I don't care. I was in a hurry to get the food in my mouth. My husband enjoyed the wine offered as well. Well worth coming here. Be sure to get a reservation.

Brian Garneau

This is a must visit restaurant. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable about their food. The dishes have so many flavors and the presentation is amazing. I'll definitely be back.

Bee Dub

Had a wonderful dining experience at Mezzaluna! The staff was super responsive, there when needed, and the timing was spot on. The food was delicious. From the Gnocchi to the salad to the braised rib ravioli! The Fugitaboutit was memorable and the espresso martini was a great way to end the night. While it can be a tad bit loud, overall a top spot.

Sandy Scheel

You'll want a reservation here and its well worth the trouble. Food was excellent, as was the service! We all enjoyed everything and ordered a wide variety of dishes. We spent quite a bit but splurged on pre dinner drinks, wine, after dinner Amaro and some take home gelato. Gnocchi appetizer was fantastic. My spicy Rigatoni alla Buttera was in fact spicy, especially since I had to request they leave out the cream. Wine prices were reasonable with a great selection. Lots of Amaro choices, which we really enjoyed.

Tanya Fish

Food: Ordered the Tre Mozzarelle, Rigatoni alla Buttera, and Ravioli Di Spinaci. The mozz plate was such a good assortment that all went great together, especially the red peppers and pickled cauliflower. But the highlight was definitely the rigatoni. Super rich, creamy, and has lots of sausage. I tried the Spinach Ravioli, it was good, but the rigatoni set the bar too high for me. I found that the ravioli filling was a little watery and lacked flavor, but the sauce was really good. Service: Really good and professional. Liked the wine suggestion, and I felt like she truly listened to our preferences. Atmosphere: perfect for a date. in an unassuming part of Monterey, but that just means there's parking.

Great Restaurant! We made a reservation for two and had the Paté, the bolognese, rigatoni. Food was fresh, delicious and very filling. Our servers were excellent too. 10/10 would recommend

We have been coming to Mezzaluna for years. Definitely our favorite Italian spot in the Monterey area. I would recommend making a reservation as the resturaunt isn’t huge and it fills up quick! Intimate atmosphere, excellent service and fantastic food. The cocktails are great and definitely save room for a tiramisu for dessert!

Had dinner here for my birthday with my young daughters on a whim with last minute reservations - it was perfect! Service was impeccable and made the evening truly special. The kids claimed it was their favorite part of vacation. The food was also incredible. We will be returning next time we are in Monterey!

Mezzaluna Pasteria surpassed all expectations on all fronts. The interior is cozy and intimate. The servers are very attentive and kind. Every detail is well thought out. The dinner was beyond amazing. The best Italian meal I have ever had.

Mauricio Rosencwaig

Great Restaurant! We made a reservation for two and had the Paté, the bolognese, rigatoni. Food was fresh, delicious and very filling. Our servers were excellent too. 10/10 would recommend

Erica Hoffmeister

Had dinner here for my birthday with my young daughters on a whim with last minute reservations - it was perfect! Service was impeccable and made the evening truly special. The kids claimed it was their favorite part of vacation. The food was also incredible. We will be returning next time we are in Monterey!

John Means

Mezzaluna Pasteria surpassed all expectations on all fronts. The interior is cozy and intimate. The servers are very attentive and kind. Every detail is well thought out. The dinner was beyond amazing. The best Italian meal I have ever had.

From beginning to end, I loved everything, I took one star only because the ravioli was a touch over cooked and the mushrooms didn’t have the flavor that they should have, besides that, they are helping to keep that Monterey bar high.

4.5 stars. Mezza Luna lived up to previous reviews with a vibrant atmosphere, attentive service, a wide-ranging menu of Italian specialties. Clearly a popular spot for dinner with an upscale decor and clientele. They specialize in mozzarella bar which showcases the different types of mozzarellas made in house with a well curated selection of accompaniments such as beets, wild mushrooms, eggplant, etc. Along with the mozzarella, they make all the pasta and gelato in house daily. The menu reflects this with just antipasti (with parmesan gelato!), mozzarella, and pasta sections. Our server could not have been more helpful and attentive. The mozzarella appetizer we chose consisted of the three types of cheese available. A buffalo mozzarella, a burrata, and a Fiori di latte mozzarella made with cow’s milk. Served with crostini, pickled olives, pickled cauliflower and roasted red peppers. The Fiori I considered fairly bland. Just not a lot of flavor. The burrata was delicious-it’s our favorite type. And the buffalo was as expected, tasting exactly like the cheese we were served in southern Italy. A great way to start a meal. After much deliberation we make our pasta selections. DW chose the Pappardelle con Bolognese di Maiale-pork Bolognese with red wine and pistachios-with my choice being Rigatoni alla Buttera. This dish is one that the chef has made for a long time starting in NYC. It’s rigatoni pasta with Italian sausage, peas, and a tomato cream sauce. Both of our pasta dishes were delicious (though beef is preferred by the Bolognese eater). You can truly tell the pasta is fresh and the food is created by people who care about what comes out of the kitchen. We unfortunately left no room for dessert-missed the gelato opportunity dang it. This is certainly one of the most popular places for dinner in Pacific Grove. And many patrons clearly knew one another. We would dine here again without question. Highly recommended.

Home made pasta was exceptional. I had their chicken sausage lasagna; wow! Great for a date night. Cocktail and wine menu was excellent. Busy so reservations are recommended.

The food was good, some dishes better than others. For me the bolognese was the best dish we had. The pasta was fresh but cooked well. Service was amazing and attentive.

Nice restaurant. Food good although portions, particularly the Caeser salad was on the small side. All the rest of the food was excellent as was the server and the service

We tried this place out because they offer outdoor seating. There are not a lot of outdoor tables. The seating is literally on the sidewalk along the front of the restaurant facing the street parking lot. There is a parking lot next door but can be crowded during busy times. Overall the food was okay. Some dishes we loved and others not so much. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Tim Chan

We tried this place out because they offer outdoor seating. There are not a lot of outdoor tables. The seating is literally on the sidewalk along the front of the restaurant facing the street parking lot. There is a parking lot next door but can be crowded during busy times. Overall the food was okay. Some dishes we loved and others not so much. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Every was just fine yet my main course was very disappointing. I ask the special being salmon and I specifically ask the waiter if was Not farm raised , he assured me was wild. It came out to be on pieces, tasteless and it was not wild. I can tell the difference. I couldn't send it back being a guest and appropriate to my host. The appetizer,duck Pate was very good as the lobster pasta dish.

It was an ok Italian restaurant but is very expensive for what it is. The amatriciana seemed good. The squid ink pasta with clams was pretty salty. The tiramisu was average. The wine list is really really good so if you are looking for good wine this is a place to go. For 3 people 250$ for 3 pasta 3 deserts and 1 bottles of wine.

I was so disappointed. It was like they tried to "elevate" Italian food and only succeeded in making it not Italian food at all. Very crowded. The atmosphere certainly did not match the prices. We ordered the salumi for the table. Though not bad, I was not impressed with the quality of the meats, especially charging $25 for about 12 very thin pieces of meat that were the exact size of the little crostini. Appetizers should not cost more than main courses. As there was nothing that sounded appetizing on the pasta menu, i just ordered the only thing that sounded ok from the mozzarella bar menu, the burrata with pea something (it isn't on the online menu so I'm not sure of the name). I have NEVER seen or heard of burrata being served like this. There was no seasoning at all and no olive oil. It was pureed peas with no seasoning, pea plant stems, 28 peas, and HALF of one burrata. It had no flavor at all except the very fresh peas. I could have put it all in my small hand. Extremely boring and worth about $5.50 but it cost about $20. My daughter got the pasta that had goat meat in it. The sauce did not pair well with the meat. My husband got a different pasta dish that came in the same sauce and he said it was alright, but not GOOD. Just overall not flavorful and too expensive. Our check (with no alcohol and no dessert) was $130 and the food was not even as good as you'd expect from a cheap family restaurant; certainly not even 1/8 as good as my cooking. This was such a waste of vacation dollars. To top it off, the cappuccino wasn't even made right! They have more alcohol than food so i think they are banking on you being drunk and thinking the food is as good as the wait staff. This restaurant gets a 2 instead of a 1 because the wait staff are excellent.

Two stars - - One to a young Asian male waiter who showed me sincere sympathy after my tongue got cut bleeding from a metal wire in my pasta (he’s serving other tables at the time - I really appreciate his kindness) - One to good drinks from their bar —————— The seasonal watermelon salad costs $19 when there’re few tiny watermelon chunks, sliced cucumbers, and a slice of mozzarella. Not worth it in our table’s humble opinion. Clam chowder with bone marrow was tasty, according to my friend who ordered it. Duck sauce pasta has good hand-made noodles though the sauce is pretty mediocre. Squid-ink pasta with clams - I really wanted to like it until a thin metal wire cut my tongue. Our waiter then said “the meal” is on the house, but later it turned out they meant “the dish” when the bill came. While we were trying to figure out the awkward tipping situation among ourselves, nobody came to give a clear explanation. A person who seemed like a manager was happily toasting to guests at other tables. Maybe she’s not aware of what happened to the little table in the corner, or maybe such things are pretty common at this place. All in all, no further explanation. Oh, our waiter did say the chef apologized. Thanks, Chef. They probably have a wire scrub or similar item in disrepair that they aren't aware of. Hopefully no more customers got hurt from metal wires or other foreign objects in their pasta.

I was very disappointed with the service of this restaurant. I have nut allergies and informed them to tell me if they bring anything that had nuts onto the table. It was my aunts birthday and so they gave us a complimentary dessert. The waitress didn’t inform us that it was pistachio flavored and so I ate some. Once I had a reaction to the nuts then the waitress remembered that the ice cream did have nuts in it. When we informed her of her mistake she did care and acted like it was my fault because I didn’t tell her I would be having some of the dessert. Very poor service. Strong advise to stay away.

Natasha Homji

I was very disappointed with the service of this restaurant. I have nut allergies and informed them to tell me if they bring anything that had nuts onto the table. It was my aunts birthday and so they gave us a complimentary dessert. The waitress didn’t inform us that it was pistachio flavored and so I ate some. Once I had a reaction to the nuts then the waitress remembered that the ice cream did have nuts in it. When we informed her of her mistake she did care and acted like it was my fault because I didn’t tell her I would be having some of the dessert. Very poor service. Strong advise to stay away.