Atmosphere: 5/5
Customer Service: 5/5
Ambience: 5/5
Scenery: 5/5
Food Overall: 4/5
Clam Chowder: 5/5

Fisherman's Grotto on the Monterey Wharf is a true Monterey classic. It has a beautiful setting right on the pier, a great old-school seafood restaurant atmosphere, and some of the best scenery you can ask for. The ambience, the location, and the overall experience are excellent.

The customer service has always been very strong. The staff is usually courteous, professional, and attentive, and the family behind the restaurant does a great job keeping the place consistent. A lot of locals still go here, which says a lot for a restaurant located in such a tourist-heavy area.

The food overall is good, and I would rate the regular menu a solid 4 out of 5 stars. There are other seafood restaurants in the Monterey and Carmel area where I may prefer certain dishes, but Fisherman's Grotto still delivers a very enjoyable meal in a beautiful setting.

The clam chowder, however, is on another level. I would rate the clam chowder 5 out of 5 stars. In my opinion, it is the best clam chowder on earth. It is absolutely my favorite anywhere. Even when I am not dining inside, I stop by at least every couple of months just to get the clam chowder to go. It is rich, flavorful, comforting, and worth the trip by itself.

One thing guests should know is that the restaurant is not very kid-friendly in the traditional sense. They do not allow strollers inside and they do not provide high chairs. They are clear about that policy and may turn people away if they need a stroller or high chair. While that may not work for every family, I respect that they are trying to preserve the dining room experience and maintain the atmosphere they are known for.

Overall, I would rate Fisherman's Grotto 4.4 out of 5 stars. The scenery, service, ambience, and clam chowder are all five-star experiences. The rest of the food is good, just not quite at the same level as the chowder. For me, this is still a Monterey staple and a place I will continue coming back to for years.

Old Fisherman's Grotto was a solid Monterey dinner experience right on Fisherman's Wharf. We started with a cup of chowder and the Dungeness crab cocktail, which felt like the right move for a coastal seafood stop.

For dinner, we shared the surf and turf with the 5 oz filet and lobster tail, served with fresh vegetables and a twice-baked potato. The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare and was incredibly tender. The lobster was excellent too, although it definitely needed butter on the side.

The only downside was the twice-baked potato. It was burnt and a little too crispy, so that part missed the mark. Still, the rest of the meal was very good, and the quality of the steak and lobster carried the plate.

A nice spot if you want a classic Monterey wharf meal with seafood, chowder, and a bit of splurge. Connect with us! @wanderinglovebirds

Very friendly service and great atmosphere...and top that beautiful view and fabulous food. Every time of gone there I am never disappointed. Did I mention great service...oh yes. Thank you Grotto for still providing wonderful service, food and a great atmosphere.
Looking forward to future visits
Loretta

The Grotto was a good place for a Sunday lunch. The view is great with a nice ocean view. The staff is was good and attentive.

The clam chowder was good. It was full of clams and potatoes. Flavor wise, it was good. The Calamari Sandwich was an open faced fried calamari sandwich with a huge piece of squid cooked to perfection. My wife didn't think too much of her chilled bay salad sandwich as she didn't finish it. They had other menu items that we wanted to try if it was dinner time.

We liked it, and may be back when in the area.

Service, food, my hubby! Tara was incredible!!! Thanks for the memory. We celebrated our 20th anniversary at pebble beach, icing on the cake.

I had done a search for the best clam chowder in Monterey and they are at the top of almost every list, and they were right! I got the clam chowder in the garlic sourdough bowl I highly recommend them! My wife, Michele got risotto with caramelized onions, shrimp and sole. We had a view of Monterey Bay and some sea lions playing. Our server, Giovanny, was phenomenal! He brought Michele a piece of complimentary cheesecake and a rose for her birthday. 🌹 I had the chocolate creme brûlée. Great start to our mini-vacay in Monterey!

I had done a search for the best clam chowder in Monterey and they are at the top of almost every list, and they were right! I got the clam chowder in the garlic sourdough bowl I highly recommend them! My wife, Michele got risotto with caramelized onions, shrimp and sole. We had a view of Monterey Bay and some sea lions playing. Our server, Giovanny, was phenomenal! He brought Michele a piece of complimentary cheesecake and a rose for her birthday. I had the chocolate creme brûlée. Great start to our mini-vacay in Monterey!

Our waiter Pablo was amazing!! Food was great service was impeccable! Amazing view and beautiful drinks!

If I were someone who was visiting the Monterey peninsula I will have to say that this is an absolute must the clam chowder here is the you'll get anywhere in California id recommend a bread bowl with calimari but you can't go wrong with any option this an absolute must if you're in Monterey