A delightful seafood restaurant recommendation in Monterey

After the hotel front desk enthusiastically recommended it, we decided to give Old Fisherman’s Grotto a try. We walked in without a reservation and waited about 15 minutes—while other restaurants were quiet, this one was packed! It started with the bread: salty, fragrant butter mixed with the unique grainy aroma of the bread. Every bite was so satisfying, making you crave the next immediately. The bread was warm, just enough to melt a bit of the butter 😋 Every dish had us nodding in approval, with an involuntary “mmm” after each bite. We ordered BBQ oysters, a lobster 🦞 seafood platter, and clam chowder—a rich soup made with clams, potatoes, onions, cream, or milk, with a creamy, savory, and smooth texture. The oysters were plump and fresh, and with a dash of tangy-spicy Tabasco, we didn’t want to waste a single drop of the sauce 🍯 A little episode: The service was fantastic—you could tell this is a restaurant that truly cares about customers. The hotel had given us a voucher for a free appetizer, but we forgot it. When we told the server, they didn’t hesitate to give us a new one. We joked they’d probably skip the most expensive option, but they actually gave us the priciest snack: a whole fried octopus. That’s sincerity! 🐙 I also noticed that when taking orders, the server didn’t keep asking “anything else?”—instead, they just said “thank you” after each dish, which felt really comfortable. After the meal, they gave a rose to every lady at the table, which put a smile on our faces. Happy customers naturally tip well—smart business move! 🌹 #Monterey #MontereyTown #WestCoastRoadTrip #USWestCoastRoadTrip #SeafoodRestaurant #RestaurantRecommendation #Highway1RoadTrip