The Salty Seal — Restaurant in Monterey

This was a really fun place to hang out!

I have to admit initially I was a bit skeptical about going to Cannery Row on a Friday night, as I'm more interested in where the locals go than tourists. But my friend and I met up with her friend she knew that lives in the area, and it was where he suggested we meet up.

I was glad that we did. I accidentally left my phone in the car, so I walked back by myself to go get it and felt perfectly safe walking alone without a phone or protection (until of course I had my phone in case of an emergency, which of course I didn't).

When I got back, I asked the waitress (sadly, I could not recall her name, but she was very helpful and attentive. Sweet blonde young lady) what she recommended for my one drink, as did my friend I was visiting with. I decided on one of her recommendations, the prickly pear margarita. It was delicious! It's not the strongest drink I ever had, but it's definitely worth mentioning. I also ordered a virgin one, as I was driving. To be fair, I really could have had a second one, as I ate quite a bit, and like I mentioned, the drink wasn't very strong.

I also let my friend try my drink as I tried hers as well. I can't recall exactly what she had, but it was blue and I believe had vodka in it. It was the drink listed next to mine on the menu. It was also good. But personally, I'm a margarita girl, so it's not one I would normally order.

The guy we met up with (my friends friend, I just met that night) had a rum and coke. I didn't try it, as for one, I've had them before and more so, I didn't know him. So I can not say as to his drink. But it looked good.

I had the cod chowder specially made by them with their original recipe and a grilled cheese sandwich. It was very tasty! Not at all what I expected. But it's definitely worth ordering again. My friend said she had been there before and tried it and didn't like it when she had it a few years back. So you never know. I knew going in that it was tomato based and not cream based, which was why she didn't care for it.

She had the pork belly and fries along with clam chowder. I didn't try her clam chowder, but it looked good. The pork belly and fries were probably my favorite thing I ate. Next time, it's definitely going to be my order! The BBQ sauce alone was noteworthy! The other person we were with had a grilled cheese sandwich, so I'd say it was probably pretty good.

I then had to have dessert, because that's become kinda my thing. And I had the cheesecake after asking the waitress what she recommended. That was HEAVENLY! It was nice and rich and completely delicious! Another item I'm definitely ordering again!

There was live music on the patio along with what looked like a fire pit. A bunch of people playing pool in another section and all in all a great atmosphere. It's certainly somewhere I will go back to when I'm back...

Updated Review: I want to thank the current owner for taking the time to leave such thoughtful/detailed feedback. A rarity. I have made edits based on their comments. I wish them well as they transition out of owning the business.

The Salty Seal is basically Bullwacker’s with a new awning and sign. Seriously. You can still see the old name’s outline (as well as the even older name of the establishment before it was Bullwacker’s) out front. I guess you would call the interior ‘turnkey’ as they have made little to no visible improvements . . . and other changes aren’t allowed given it is a historical building. Which is fine, as I like the vibe. Could they do a refresh on the carpets? Sure. Could the bathrooms be updated? Certainly. And the current owners have sold the place, so some tweaks might occur in the future. But, if you step in here expecting a 'haute' experience, you are either blind or clueless.

I ate here years ago and it was fine. Not great. Fine. But I have been back several times in recent years for drinks with friends before dinner elsewhere. Like I said, I like the vibe, esp. towards the back. The bar is casual and inviting. The outdoor patio/courtyard (complete with fire pits) is a treat. And when they have the Wharf Rats playing it can actually be quite magical. They are a good group of musicians. And they put their spin on songs from the 70s, 80s, and 90s . . . and do so with a smile and a gracious ease.

Bar snacks? Well, they have a full menu. But we lean towards chips and salsa, etc., esp. since we usually come here before dinner. Drinks? The usuals. The cost? About what you would expect for this area, if not slightly lower than some of the other stops on the Row that gouge you because they are next to the water.

I’m going to knock this place a star for a very specific reason. On our most recent visit, we had a waiter who was so bad it almost seemed like an act. Kind, lanky dude. But I think he can’t handle things when it gets busy. Brought the wrong drinks . . . three times. Brought us things we didn’t order. Started clearing plates when we weren’t done. If not for the guy who was the bartender, I would actually have dropped it another star. But, seriously, they really need to keep an eye on him. Like I said, amicable guy. His service skills are horrible though.

Also, make sure you take some of those negative (I mean, really negative) reviews with a grain of salt. Reading some of them made me laugh. You either don’t know where you are or don’t know how to post accurate reviews.

If you are on the Row, I would recommend this place. No view of the ocean. But a great vibe and a lovely courtyard. Service though? Let’s just say it can be...

we travel the country for my husband's career so when we arrived in the area we decided to look for a nice place to dine for dinner. When we first arrived, we were greeted immediately by the amazing hostesses at the door. We decided to sit at the bar to have a few drinks prior to being seated at the table we reserved. The gentleman working the bar was new and had no clue how to make drinks and didn't bother to ask for help. He made me a martini and didn't know how much vodka to put in it. He just kind of sat there confused, and the drink was awful. When you pay over 20, you don't want a perfect drink. You expect it. It was the end of the night, and one of the staff members kept coming behind the bar and complaining to the gentleman about all the work she was doing and had to do because he was new. She was telling him if the manager came back to tell him she did this and tell him she did that, it was unbelievably unprofessional, and we felt awkward just sitting there listening to it. It happened the whole time we sat at the bar. We were seated in back and loved the environment as far as Decor view etcetera despite being night time so we couldn't really see anything it was still a lovely environment. Again it was later in the evening and people were hustling and bustling to get the heck out of there as fast as possible . Our waiter treated us shortly after being seated. He didn't offer drinks he didn't offer water he didn't offer anything except to drop off menus and leave. He was quick to finish our sentences and appeared to just want to get us out of there so he can go home also. From the reviews online I guess we thought it was a nicer place. Turns out it was a decent meal at best with poor service in a lovely environment. I've never felt so rushed and so pressured by what appeared to be annoyed staff. Definitely was our 1st and last...