Coastal Kitchen

Delicious food, excellent service, and beautiful location on Monterey Bay. My husband and I enjoyed the tasting menu with wine tour. We loved the view of the bay, watching sea otters and other wildlife (they even had binoculars at the tables), while also enjoying the yummy food and wine parings. The service was great, especially Rachel, Jesus, and Emily. The kitchen staff were awesome, although we never met them, the food was delicious. The waitstaff brought a very personal touch to each table, so attentive, kind, personable, and making you feel like you’re the only people at the restaurant! Highly recommend and if we’re ever back to visit we will definitely come back.

We took our granddaughter (who is a golfer) on a trip for her 16th birthday to Pebble Beach. As a foodie and caterer, I did my research well in advance on where to eat. Coastal Kitchen looked like a winner, but it was totally booked each of the four nights we were in town. I put us on the “Notify me” list for Saturday night and booked a dinner reservation elsewhere. Lo and behold, I received a call the night before saying we could be seated so I enthusiastically grabbed it and cancelled our alternate reservation. Getting there and parking was easy. It’s quite the trek through the hotel to get there, but once we arrived the cutest hostess seated us. That, was the only positive experience we had all night. Our service did not meet the standard you should expect. There were plenty of empty tables and plenty of servers so we should have been well taken care of. We ordered cocktails first, which seemed to annoy our server. Too bad. Since it was a prix fix menu there wasn’t a lot to decipher. I chose to do the wine pairings, another disappointment. The food was not outstanding and after the third or fourth course, I told our server not to bring another one unless it was hot. I had read about the acclaimed chef and was excited to see him there. He wasn’t cheffing though and I felt he should have been working the room instead of just standing in the same place all night reviewing the orders. I almost felt sorry for him though because he looked sad. The two servers that were bringing the courses spoke too quietly, and even after asking them to speak up so we could hear their descriptions, they didn’t. I had read that in two of the reviews I read so maybe that’s intentional. It was obnoxious. I cannot recommend Coastal Kitchen. It’s ridiculously expensive for THAT type of dining experience.

Incredible view of the ocean made the whole experience unforgettable. The wagyu beef was absolutely outstanding — tender, rich, and full of flavor. We loved the wine pairings and the thoughtful tasting menu. The staff, especially Jesus, made us feel truly cared for. Highly recommend this place — both for the food and the atmosphere.

Fine dining with the flavors of Monterey at it's finest. I loved every dish!! We had a fabulous time, service was so friendly and perfect. The wine pairing is a must!

From the moment you walk through the doors of Coastal Kitchen in Monterey, you'll feel like an absolute VIP. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure that every guest is treated with warmth, care, and genuine attention. Whether it’s their detailed knowledge of the dish and ingredients or checking in with perfect timing, the team’s impeccable service elevates the entire experience. And the view? It’s truly unparalleled. Every table offers a breathtaking, unobstructed view of the ocean, allowing you to soak in the beauty of Monterey Bay while you dine. The combination of the stunning scenery and the delicious, locally sourced seafood creates a magical atmosphere that feels both exclusive and intimate. It's the kind of setting where you can truly relax and savor every moment. Speaking of the food, Coastal Kitchen serves some of the freshest seafood you’ll ever taste. Each dish is a celebration of Monterey’s local bounty. The chefs pay meticulous attention to every detail, ensuring that every bite is perfectly balanced and bursting with flavor. Coastal Kitchen isn’t just a meal—it’s an experience. With its breathtaking views, extraordinary seafood, and a staff that treats you like royalty, it’s a must-visit destination for anyone who wants to feel truly special while enjoying the best of Monterey’s coastal offerings.

My wife and I ordered the five course tasting menu for my birthday. We were sat near a window overlooking the bay, and our hostess asked us where we were from, whose birthday it was, and so forth. Erika was the hostess, and she was very pleasant. Multiple waiters assisted with bussing, drinks, and plate changes, but our favorite was Elijah, who presented each tasting course with excellent enthusiasm and flair. We are non-alcoholic, and while the restaurant does not have a non-alcoholic pairing menu (they have a pairing menu for alcohol as an add-on that neighboring guests seemed very happy with) we asked to be surprised with a cocktail and recieved an excellent ginger strawberry mix that was, frankly, beyond my expectations. The meal was excellent all around. My favorite course was was actually the amuse-bouche, a three item single bite which was oyster and pomegranate, a gooey duck bite with paprika that reminded me of my favorite street taco, and a prime-rib brioche which I would eat a dozen of as a slider if I could. My wife's favorite was the miso soup course, which had the most perfect mussels in the mix. Every course was excellent, and we were quite full at the end. We both enjoyed the duck equally (pictured). Dessert was presented with a candle on my plate for my birthday and consisted of Earl Grey ice cream on a peach pastry that was beautiful. All around, we had an amazing experience, and I highly recommend Coastal Kitchen as a fine dining experience for any occasion. Reservation was at 530pm on a Friday evening. We had no wait time and left our table around 7pm.

Nestled within the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, Coastal Kitchen is an experience not to be missed. Our evening was personalized with impeccable service, perfectly timed courses, and spot-on wine pairings. The staff were not only attentive but genuinely engaged, making us feel welcomed and valued. We even got to talk to the chefs! From the moment we arrived to the time we left I felt so at ease. The space is intimate and inviting with stunning views of Monterey Bay, perfect for a date night or celebration. My favorite main course was the pasta - rich, flavorful, and made by hand. Thank you for creating such a memorable evening for us, we can’t wait to return!!

My husband and I made a reservation here for our 10 year wedding anniversary and asked for a table with a view and they completely delivered with a wide view out of the large, panoramic windows overlooking the beach. We had amazing table service by Sarah and Eli who mainly took care of us but there were several other staff members that came by and each wished us a happy anniversary. The 5 course prefix menu was delicious and we upgraded to include the wagyu beef with the main course. We enjoyed an amazing bottle of Chianti for the experience and they provided a champagne toast as we sat down. Each course was beautifully plated and presented. The menu changes every 3 months so we look forward to coming back some time to try a new variety of course.

DO NOT BOOK HERE! I made a reservation for 4 when I was in town for work and called to cancel the day before, no one picks up the phone and even after leaving a voicemail to cancel one day before they refused to waive the fee when it showed up a few days later. Even spoke to a manager! Don't book at this place, you would think they would be mildly accommodating.

Came here for my anniversary * Absolutely enjoyed the tasting menu & the view from our seats. They have binoculars for you to use- there were plenty of sea lions and otters when we went around 6 o'clock. The tasting menu came with 5 meal courses ( Pacific Oysters, grilled calamari, tempura squash blossom* Early Grill tomato* Wild King Salmon*Dry aged duck* red wine braised short rib* Cheesecake, two small candy treats) + a little dark chocolate gift bag at the end. Overall, I had no complaints of each dish but I definitely liked the Red Wine Braided short rib the most. It was perfectly cooked and soft. Each dish was served quickly and the waitors explained everything that was served to us.

It's wonderful warm place with excellent staff and service, The tasting menu was amazing, 5 course menu all courses were very unique, superbly done with great accuracy, and a really complexion of tasty and textures. If I had to guess, I would think it's a 2 stars restaurant.

The food was delicious! We were able to get a window seat and there were binoculars that you could use. We thought the 5 course tasting menu wouldn't be enough food but we were wrong. We were so full by the end. Great service and ambiance. Will be back!

Coastal Kitchen has a panoramic view of Monterey bay! They provide binoculars at the table for otter watching. We had the three course menu which was delicious. And the service was friendly and gracious.

We decided that we wanted to try a highly rated restaurant, The Coastal Kitchen. They only offer a seasonal prefix menu which can also enjoy a glass of wine with each course. The prefix menu has 6 courses. My husband and I are seniors and unable to eat that many courses. The restaurant offered a 3 course menu for us to select from. This was perfect. Each course was delicious and the presentation was superb. Gourmet delicious! I have attached a small sample of what we chose from the 3 course set menu. A must try restaurant, expensive, but worth it

First off, absolutely the best view in Monterey for any restaurant. Great ambience, great service and good pacing on the tasting menu. Food was excellent overall, but they missed slightly on the duck and the dessert. Duck was a little overcooked and the olive oil cake dessert could have been a bit more moist. Otherwise, the black cod was very, very good and the crab and shrimp soup was excellent. Tortellini was also very tasty, but the chef really should let them shave the truffles at the table. Wine pairings were also nicely done with some unique wines. A couple more tweaks to the menu and they've got a michilen star for sure!

PRIX FIXE ADVENTURE BY THE WATER "A prix fixe menu?" I said, wishing I'd starved myself to prepare for such a journey of a feast. Rachel responded with a pleasant smile. "The chef wants you to experience his creative spirit- from Amuse-bouche to the final dessert." It's rare to experience a taste so potent and fragrant that it needs to be reduced in size. "Three bites is just enough. A fourth would diminish the experience." I told Rachel as she glided past our table. "My thoughts exactly." She echoed. While her support staff laid down new silverware for the next course, we could hear the tables complimenting the food from every corner of the restaurant. The restaurant environment had a muted harmony that made you feel a sense of integrated privacy. The powerful wooden beams outlining the open layout absorbed the sharp noises while allowing the peripheral, soft clinking of forks and spoons to chime across your eardrums. Their focus on allowing each diner to experience the dish before them - without feeling alone, is executed flawlessly. This Michelin Guide-listed restaurant deserves at least one star. The artful decadency of its dishes and the kind professionalism of the service staff may need an intimate curvature within the dining room. One with the visual warmth of partitions and booths, mirroring the view of the coastal landscape and adding a seating arrangement that resembles the view of the Pacific Ocean while experiencing this season's current menu. This restaurant deserves to have its entrance - distinctly separated from anything else. Adding an 'A la carte' option would heighten the diner's experience into that exact dopaminergic alignment of creativity the chef feels - making the meal more profoundly and intricately involved. This is an experience I'd want to repeat when dessert and drinks are the only desires of a future night. It takes many years to accomplish exquisitely even one aspect of the dining experience. To systematically achieve the myriad of moving pieces is a work of art, passion, and dedication. Coastal Kitchen does a phenomenal job fulfilling its attempt to put each individual into this season's dining trance.

From the atmosphere to the amazing staff the Coastal Kitchen is an amazing dinning experience. The meticulously prepared meals from the chef and the perfectly picked wine pairing for each course can not be equaled. The attention provided by the staff to ensure our 30th anniversary dinner was perfect is unmatched. I highly recommend to anyone visiting the Monterey area.

We recently discovered that Coastal Kitchen is frankly one of the best restaurants in the Monterey/Carmel community. Being a resident of Monterey, we would generally avoid the restaurants on Cannery Row. However during a recent power outage, we decided to try Coastal Kitchen because Cannery Row still had power. What a pleasant and unexpected surprise! First of all, the service was amazing reminiscent of the service at any Michelin star restaurant. Our servers/somms, Rachel and Sarah, provided one of the most pleasant and enjoyable experiences we have ever had at a restaurant. Both of them were attentive and just such nice people. The food was absolutely delicious. We enjoyed the prix fix menu with three courses rather than the five course fare. I am not one to go into detail about the individual plates and courses. But I can say that the food rivals the other nice restaurants in the Monterey/Carmel community such as Chez Noir, Foray, Cella and Stokes Adobe which are our go-to restaurants. The only downside is the ambiance. You need to walk through the Monterey Plaza Hotel to get to the restaurant which imparts a rather institutional vibe. But once inside the restaurant you are afforded a lovely view of the Monterey Bay. All in all, the Coastal Kitchen should not be missed and will be added to our rotation of great restaurants in Monterey Bay.

We went to the Coastal Kitchen for dinner at the recommendation of the front desk and convenience of dining at the same hotel we were staying. The waiter offered the five course menu and an alternative three course meal. We chose to go for the three course meal. We each had a different appetizer but decided that the linguini was the winner between the two. We ordered the same meal, a duet of beef, for the second course because, well... beef. When the plate arrived, it was a portion of short rib, a small serving of mashed potato, and what they said was a rib eye. The short rib was great. It was juicy and tender. Then I cut into the "rib eye." Never have I been more certain that it was a New York Strip. When I asked the waiter, he said it was a rib eye. He even went back to ask the chef, although it was barely enough time to talk before he was back. How do I know it was a NY? It was lean, beefier in taste, thinner in cut, and it just tasted like a NY strip. The waiter said it was a cut from a California cow, so it could be confused for a NY Strip. I guess CA cows must be on a very strict diet. I'm from CA and have never had such a lean ribeye, even when buying a cheap store cut. The cheesecake was overcooked and clearly noticeable by the toasty browned top. The raspberry sorbet gave a nice sweet tartness to the cheesecake. It came with pistachios that were toasted in butter, too. That provided a nice, sweet, crunchy addition to an otherwise overcooked cheesecake. The fact that the waiter lied and the cheesecake was overcpoked sets this rating at a 2 star. We were otherwise content with the meal, but it bugged that I was told rib eye when it was clearly not.

Third visit update. I am going out on a limb here--not very much risk, however, to offer an opinion-- that Coastal Kitchen is the absolute best restaurant in the Monterey Peninsula. And yes, we've been to Foray numerous times and love it! We've been to Chez Noir, Auberge....and CK is the best. The setting is right on the Monterey Bay and the restaurant is designed to have a lot of tables with views. Just lovely. A fairly large dining room with tables spaced far enough away from other diners. Quiet setting prevails without the loud noise that sometimes comes with popular spots. Service here is extremely good and very professional. We recognized several wait staff and the two Somm's. Conrad is always on his game and I trust his recommendations. Last night we both did the wine tasting with the meal. $95 each. Worth every penny. Each course paired with a different wine. Not stingy pours -one note, we had one wine that just didn't seem right for the food. Later Conrad came by and asked how we were liking everything, I told him "All Good" and mentioned our half filled glasses with the not so good wine. We did not complain. Rather it was to inform as maybe we weren't the only ones feeling this way. We were ready for the next course and the next thing that happened was a supplement was placed in front of us with a exceptional wine to accompany. We were blown away. But frankly that's how they do business. They are first class. Start with the menu-- it's always Pre Fixe-- Chef creates a fabulous offering that comprises the best ingredients available for that period he serves the menu. He usually will have one or two "supplements" available to mix it up a bit. Last night was Waygu and the Tagliatelle offerings. Each is carefully and artfully crafted to bring out the delicious flavors from the food. I've added pictures of the nights offering. They were all A plus. He starts with an Amuse Bouche -- not the usual single spoon of "wonderful things to come." Rather there are 4 individual surprises. So essentially you're getting a complete course offering. First time I've ever seen this. The meal service took about 2 1/2 hours. Perfectly timed courses. Obviously no rushing here and also no long wait periods in between. The restaurant is in The Monterey Bay Hotel. Shares an entrance with Schooners. I still think this is a little weird because they are so different -- CK is special and think they should highlight it and not "share" space. Once you're in the restaurant it's fine and there is no distraction. One last comment-- the hotel isn't The Lodge at Pebble Beach or Spanish Bay. Those are 5 star hotels and people that stay in those places can afford CK. I don't think all the folks staying at Monterey Bay can afford CK. One of the servers mentioned it had been a little slow. With current economic conditions I can understand that. The dinner was $145 each plus $95 each, plus a cocktail, service charge and tax. It adds up. The night we were there was pretty full. I hope they keep it up. If you're looking for a real treat for a special night, then CK is for you.

My husband and I had had the Prix Fixe experience. The food and the presentation of it were fine, but underwhelming. The service was great. The sommelier was wonderful, though the wine pairing could have been better. The cocktails were good. The ambiance was excellent for me. We sat next to a window viewing whales and other wildlife. This was my favorite part of the experience. The host station and finding the entrance to the restaurant was confusing. The host greeted patrons for 3 different restaurants I think. At first I thought I was way over dressed compared to the other people checking in before realizing this. For fine dining, I recommend Aubergine Carmel if you have not had it yet. It's always a wonderful experience.

This was a special treat. We enjoyed the smaller chefs menu and every item was fantastic. Our server made the meal particularly memorable with her engaging demeanor and great wine knowledge. Beautiful atmosphere right on the water.

Came here on a weekend for the tasting menu. It was good value and the majority of the dishes were great. They weren't too busy that night(half full by the time we left) so we were able to pick a table right by a big window. The restaurant provided validation for 2 free hour of valet parking which was around the time we took to finish the meal. Note that for street parking near by the hotel, the parking meters were enforced until 8pm so it's probably a good idea to utilize the valet parking. Ceci - borba, olive, fennel; Tempura - artichoke, black button sage honey; Everlasting Carrot - walnut jam, popped sorghum: This was my least favorite dish of the night. The veggies were kind of bland and not memorable. Oyster - pacific gold, sunchoke, apple sabayon: The oysters were lightly poached and there were three of them. My husband had the oysters while mine was substituted with scallops. The scallops were juicy, succulent and cooked really well. Wood Roasted Local Black Cod - sweet corn, shishito, squash blossom, roasted coconut jus: Favorite dish of the night. The black cod was so moist and cooked to perfection! Ravioli in Brodo - corvus farms duck, pumpkin, pear butter: The duck filling was a bit dry. Dry-Aged Flannery Beef Ribeye- smoked spinach, candied onion, baker's bacon: The ribeye was tasty and everything went well together. Sweet Alyssum -fig, marigold, pistachio: the panna cotta was creamy, a delightful dessert. The staff was really courteous. It was a nice fine dining experience without breaking the bank.

I was working in the area for the weekend and my love interest insisted on coming with. She found this place and we made the latest reservations possible. Located in the Monterey plaza hotel it might take you a second to actually find the restaurant but it's well worth the hunt.. the hotel also has around 300 rooms so if you're staying here, you'd be crazy to pass this pace up. We did the tasting menu experience to see what this place was about. To our surprise the chef pushed our palate to newer heights. Flavors we never thought could work together such as strawberry, raspberry and salmon matched up so well that the chef fully had my attention at that point.the black cod was arguably the best I've had if not top 2 fish dishes that I can think of. The tortellini came in a sauce emulsion that will not disappoint. We opted for the waygu upgrade on the steak portion of the course. The only thing that I could remotely complain about is the fennel seed in the bread lol. I'd go with some rosemary as a substitute but I wouldn't take it as a complaint because there is so much to rave about in the experience. In the reviews this place was compared to the likes of French laundry so I was a bit leery on the pricing because I didn't see anything to guesstimate the ball park but to my surprise this place was way more affordable than I thought or what the quality suggests. I believe the chef is named chef Michael and brilliant is the only way I would describe him. I also want to add about the great service we were given by the entire staff checking on us but Rachel and Rachel were very helpful with explaining the dishes and wines on top of just being really cool people. 3 way tie for today's game ball between Rachel squared and chef Michael. Lastly I hope this place gets the recognition it deserves being that the views,food and service are second to none in the area. I wouldnt be surprised if this establishment receives a Michelin star sooner than later. From what I was told the majority if not all of the employees have experience in the bourgeois top of the line restaurants so you're basically getting the entire experience at a fraction of the price. I literally worked 16hrs in steel toes panicking if I was gonna miss my reservations so the relief that we made it and the entire experience gave me one of the best Monterey weekends for the books.

Simply delicious & tasty. Good value for money. Why ? Because usually, nice views inflate prices. But 145$ for a 5 course menu is right. Service was excellent and not overwhelming. Our only remark : no champagne stoppers. Quick tip : come earlier to enjoy seeing the Otaries with the binoculars provided by the restaurant.

We love chefs choice tasting menu experiences especially for special occasions. The food was really good not the best I've had . The price was 150pp and 95pp additional for wine pairing. The sever and Somali lacked personality which degraded the experience for me . The host was great the server was not rude but lacked social skills and was hard to understand the Somalia was ok but lacked any conversation skills and spoke so quietly you could barely hear her . This was a one and done for me and altho a good meal I'd choose a different option next time.

This restaurant needs to be voted Michelin. From start to finish, everything was perfect. Everyone was extremely friendly and attentive, we got a booth that looked out to the bay - beautiful setting. In addition to the tasting menu, we also included the supplement: risotto and wagyu. Couple items from the menu that stood out the most were: - the black cod, perfectly seared and tender - wagyu, instantly melts in your mouth - Meyer lemon mousse, very light and refreshing, not too sweet Glad we were able to enjoy this experience, will definitely be back!

Incredible food, service and atmosphere! We live 5 hours away and cannot wait to get back. The tasting menu and wine pairings was extraordinary and I find myself still thinking about the striped bass.

WOW! This restaurant was amazing. It is indoors overlooking the Monterey bay, and each table situated near a window had a pair of binoculars (there were quite a few otters in the bay below)! The staff were professional, knowledgeable, and polite. They expertly explained each dish when it was served. When we went, it was a fixed course menu- one could order either the three or five course dinner. One thing to note is that everyone at the table must order the same number of courses; we couldn't have two people ordering the three course menu and one person having the five. For my first course, I had the salad with a balsamic vinaigrette. It was absolutely delicious and refreshing. The lettuce was crispy, it had spiraled carrots and beets, and the dressing was perfectly distributed. The second course was a wine braised short rib and a ribeye- also delicious! The short rib was on the sweet side and perfectly fell apart when cut into. The ribeye was nicely cooked with some pink in the middle. It had less marbling than my ideal ribeye would, but it was still amazing and I would order it again. The dish was served with mashed potatoes and a gravy like sauce. For dessert, I had the basque cheese cake, which was light and had a lovely rich flavor! It came with a scoop of sorbet. I am not usually one for cheese cake, but I would order this one again! Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a nice dinner- perhaps an anniversary or special occasion.

Service 5 stars Plating 4 stars Taste 2 stars Ambiance 4 stars Overall I would not go again. The service, plaiting and ambiance were nice, but the food fell flat. The amuse Boucher was just ok, the highlight was the white asparagus. Soup next, unfortunately there were pieces of shell. Next was the cod, the skin was tough and rubbery. The duck was a little better, but overcooked. After that short rib with wagyu beef side. The short rib was dry, wagyu was overcooked to medium, and the sweet potato purée was way too sweet. Last was the olive oil cake and gelato. The cake was dry and gelato had chunks of ice, it was not smooth at all.

Food - absolutely not worth the hype nor the price. 100% of their efforts is making the plates look like art forms of food. Service - worse than awful. e.g. Pea soup - looks fabulous when brought to table, served from incorrect side and taken away from incorrect side. Soup spoon delivered by hand of waiter to 6 people at table. The soup was so thin that it was like green pea water. Bus boy was able to tell us more about the food and how it was cooked than the waiter. Waiter never checked on us with any course, never explained much on the food, never offered us drinks nor wine when we sat down. Chilean Sea Bass - not fresh, clearly fresh frozen, not cooked enough and piece big enough for a child. The plate was absolutely gorgeous - looked like an art form (food not so good, but had the most wonderful appearance). The prices are ridiculous for what is served including the wine. Beware - we didn't have the tasting menu - we did the 3 course fixed price dinner...BEWARE, it's going to look great...BEWARE WHEN THE BILL ARRIVES- 6 people, no wine, 4 cocktails, 1 mineral water and no extras, not even coffee, total billing: $875. So - we went to dinner and nearly paid to buy the restaurant!!!

Just okay...would not return. Had to ask for more water when my glass was empty. Tomato soup was blah....fish good....dessert very good. Expensive for the service and food.

we did the full gusto experience whatever it is called. The upgraded upgrade. Extremely enjoyable experience. Food was excellent and paired very well. I enjoyed the view, the quiet, calm and romantic setting. I think it was a 7 or 9 course?. We were stuffed and rolled out of there happy as one could be. The wagu was better at Alexanders in Cupertino, this one did not melt like butter in our mouths, and we did pay wagu prices, and we have had wagu several times. Actually, mine was tough to chew. The rest was very good and I would come back. It is better than most but not close to Manresa, which sadly I think closed. However, for sure we will be back. Service was great. A screw up on the wagu is forgivable, this time. ;)

The ambience and views were great. Our water server was great. Other than that, I ordered the 3-course meal, and both cuts of beef came out cold. But never had a chance to let the server know because other than taking our order and dropping off the check, she was no where to be found (and it was not busy tonight). For the price point here, even if the food isn't great, the expectation is great service. Neither was even mediocre tonight. We tried this place while on our anniversary trip based on good reviews, but this was the most disappointing meal I've had in a long time. Better to stick with downtown Carmel restaurants.

Coastal Kitchen is a hidden gem, literally. The place is incredibly hard to find. It's located inside the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa but there's no signage at all. Once you do find it (next to Schooners) you think you're going to Schooners because again, signage is terrible. However, highly recommend going. The 5 course tasting ($145) + wine pairing ($95) is amazing and a very good value. The views are amazing and the service incredible. Rachel and Sarah took great care of us and I was even able to swap out a beef course for scallops. Also highly recommend the wine pairing since it really elevates the already wonderful food. Will definitely be coming back!

This was absolutely a solid 5-star experience!! The six course tasting menu was exquisite!! Every morsel was total perfection. Our server Racheal was so knowledgeable and knew ever minute detail about our meal. We did not do the full wine pairing but asked for wine to go with the ribeye. She spent a full 5 minutes describing in detail the profile, history and significance of the wine she recommended. The GM is a sommelier so the wine selection is impressive. Don't let it scare you away that this restaurant is inside a hotel, it's truly a unique and delectable experience! The views and cocktails are also superb! Costal Kitchen is downstairs at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. The restaurant is tucked away. Check in at the hostess stand for Schooners. I also want to mention the other gentleman who assisted Racheal. They were all very attentive and eager to provide a fine dining experience. I highly recommend!

Hotel food masquerading at high end Californian. Some of it works, some seems unpolished for the price. Mostly though, just comes across as Monterey tourist chic.

Excellent tasting menu from chef Michael Rotondo who was previously at Charlie Trotter in Chicago and Ritz Carlton San Francisco. Restaurant has a nice view of the ocean next to the casual restaurant Schooners at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. Tables are well spaced apart and the wine pairing is highly recommended. Food and service is very good and the locally sourced seafood is nicely featured. Menu is changed at least monthly so look forward to future visits

Hands down the best meal I've had in a very very long time. The tasting menu is incredible. Service was impeccable. We skipped the wine pairing and did bubbles and a bottle of Pinot which was wonderful. But seriously, I can't believe this place wasn't packed with no reservations available. The tortellini is worth it alone.

Wow. This has to be the best tasting menu and best meal we have had in a long, long time. In fact, four days later we are still talking about it. Where do I begin? Each dish was so beautifully and thoughtfully created, the flavors perfectly complemented each other, and the service was some of the best we've ever had (many Michelin starred restaurants included). We had a window table, and trust me... these are some of the best views in Monterey. But honestly, I would have enjoyed eating this food in a back alley as well. The salmon was both our favorite dish of the night. My husband claims to "hate" cooked salmon. This salmon was lightly cooked and the tomato broth, rhubarb granita and herbs played beautifully together. 2nd favorite for me was the miso black cod and 3rd, the tortellini in cheese broth was so creative and full of flavor. The chocolate raspberry dessert was beautiful. Do the wine pairing. The sommelier is amazing and the price reasonable as every dish is paired, including dessert. We have already decided that we'll be back next time we're in Monterey. Hats off to the amazing chef, kitchen and waitstaff for this incredible restaurant and experience.

Mmmm. Just returned from brunch at Coastal Kitchen and I want to encourage all of our Monterey County neighbors to treat themselves to this culinary delight. As a longtime local, the Monterey Plaza Hotel has never disappointed, and Coastal Kitchen is no exception. It is the perfect location to enjoy staycations, special events and any Sunday of the year! (okay-any day of the year!) It goes without saying that the dining room boasts views that always awe and amaze! (even for locals!) The food, service, ambience and what seemed like a bottomless glass of champagne delivered with the perfect balance of charm, humor and local camaraderie delivered by Rachel were all chef's kiss!10 out of 10! Her colleague Jose' rounded out the experience with his exceptional service delivered with his kind & gentle demeanor. Of course, hat's off to the kitchen artists who created the delectable and decadent plates! And the icing on the cake? They validate for valet parking! Seriously, spoil yourself! Thank you, Coastal Kitchen! We'll be back!

Just amazing! We had such a delicious and memorable dinner here: polite and friendly service, unbelievable 5 course meal full of fresh flavors, and truly elegant and beautiful in every way. All tables have great ocean views. Each course is delivered with impeccable detail. We were blown away! Thank you for a lovely dinner. $135/person/pre-fixe dinner +$80/person wine pairing (Totally worth the money, especially if a special occasion.)

Simply fantastic! We enjoyed a fantastic and unforgettable supper here: pleasant and helpful service, an incredible five-course meal full of fresh flavors, and a genuinely classy and gorgeous setting in every manner. The service is excellent, and the locally sourced fish is prominently displayed. The ocean is visible from every table. Each course is delivered with meticulous attention to detail. We were astounded! Thank you for a wonderful supper. Would suggest getting a bottle of wine instead of the $80 wine pairing. Definitely coming back here again!

What a nice surprise to find out 1 of awesome chefs is now an executive chef here at the brand new Coastal Kitchen at historical Monterey Plaza Hotel on Cannery Row, Monterey, chef Michael Rotondo. The Coastal Kitchen is located on the lower level of the hotel, next door the the popular Schooner restaurant (where chef Rotondo is also oversee the menu). Such a romantic restaurant with a beautiful water view. I suggest early sitting 5:30-6pm is a better option, because you can enjoy the peaceful view and water before it gets dark! Chef Rotondo last worked at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, Parallel 37. He worked at many Michelin-starred restaurants and Forbes five-star hotels across the United States and Europe, including the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges and Charlie Trotter's. In 2008, Rotondo was awarded "Most Promising Chef" by chefs Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller after competing in the United States Bocuse d'Or culinary competition. After the pandemic, Parallel 37 shut down. We didn't know where chef headed next, but I was over joy to locate him here in Monterey Bay where seafood and farm to table Ingredients are plenty here. Such a perfect spot for him and we got lucky to try his food again. A fantastic tasting menu seafood centric but the short rib takes the trophy for the night! The seafood tray with oyster, clam and mussel is an absolutely MUST TRY! Seafood lovers, you are in for a real treat! While vegetarian would love this starters: WHITE ASPARAGUS hoja santa, seabeans, remoulade SUNCHOKE trout, green garlic HEIRLOOM BEETS tangerine, anise hyssop - love this so much MAINE DIVER SCALLOP - snap pea, celtuce, buttermilk, almond, horseradish - lot of texture, like a party in your mouth good! MISO MARINATED BLACK COD - watermelon radish, grated carrot, kishu mandarin, coconut jus - so fresh like Spring has Sprung in your mouth! BROCCOLI TORTELLINI - moonflower, pistachio, parsnip milk - MUST ADD on fresh black truffle :-) 48-HOUR BRAISED BEEF SHORTRIB - forbidden rice, grilled pan di zucchero, black trumpet mushroom bouillon - DELICIOUS VALRHONA ISPAHAN raspberry, lychee, rose, champagne, pink peppercorn - hubby devoured it! VERY REASONABLE price, I don't think you can find food this tasty, high quality, fresh AF, for this price, in San Francisco or Silicon Valley! Beautiful wine list, love, love the Italian selection, the wine pairing ARPEPE for the short rib was absolutely beautiful together. My hubby and I loved every dish, GENEROUS portion, texture and flavor through our all his dishes. We are looking forward to bing our parents back here soon! So glad to have found him again here!! Thank you CHEF for the love, thanks to our wonderful and beautiful server Paige and back servers for the excellent service! Thank you Somm Andy for the wine chat and service, as well as Sommelier Conrad Reddick for the warm hospitality. This is a must when you visit Monterey Bay, reservation please!

Outstanding service from the minute you walk in, they already remember it's your birthday! The staff is super friendly and attentive and every course changes out your silverware and makes sure you have a glass full of water. The food was delicious. Every course was the perfect amount. While it may look "small" each course all together really fills you up, especially because of how decadent each dish is. The restaurant was clean and the atmosphere was cozy romantic. While it was expensive, they were not an overly stuffy staff where you feel out of place if you're wearing jeans and a tshirt (which someone was wearing). Definitely will be back !

Amazing food. Great atmosphere and customer service. I had non alcoholic drinks which were very tasty!

Such an amazing experience! The servers were extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes. Every single plate was mind-blowing and well worth the price tag. Definitely try their berry mojito while you're there

TASTY OR WASTEY? Totally tasty!!! We have been coming to this restaurant for years. Made reservations, not knowing that it had changed. It is now a "Tasting " restaurant. You pay one fee, per person ($145) and you get a 5 course meal, prepared by a Micheline star chef. We hesitated at first, because, I had a hankering for Cioppino. But, we said, let's try it, for the experience. It was a 2 hour and 20 minutes of fancy pants food. Presentation was absolutely beautiful. I told myself, no matter what, I'm going to try everything. I loved 80% of everything served. I didn't care for the extreme amount of mint in the pasta. Some things were overly salty for my taste. But, our waitress was amazingly friendly, and, the best service. I will be back. Menu changes every 6 weeks. I will come back once a year, for a special occasion. I highly recommend. We ended up paying $407 with tip. We don't drink. I suspect others pay at least an extra hundred or more for alcohol.

We enjoyed our date night here. The service was outstanding - the team concept works well here and the courses flowed. Wine pours could have been more generous, but we left happy. Might not have been worth $600 but you only live once!

Amazing view and classy restaurant. We sat right next to a window. They give you binoculars so you can look out into the Bay for otters or whatever else might be out there. Service and food were both excellent. We were given fresh fruit and pastries. Also, two pieces of bacon, two sausages, and two hash brown patties. All wonderful. We didn't finish our first course or all of the extras because we were trying to save our appetites for the second course. Our second course came and one of us had huevos rancheros and I had the short rib hash. By that time, we were so full. We asked to take everything we didn't finish home. Our server, who was very good otherwise, took everything away, saying he'd pack it to go for us. The only thing he packed were our first course, the smoked salmon flatbread. Everything else had been tossed! Of course we didn't notice we only received our first course to go until we got home. Such a disappointment, especially for the amount of money we paid.

As good as it gets and best dining experience in the Monterey Peninsula. Why this place doesn't yet have a star is beyond me. Michelin - anyone out there listening? Hard to believe Chez Noir is ahead on this score. Seriously. Sent a note to the crew today saying the following: Just wanted to say thank you to chef Michael, Rachel and yourself (and staff) for the fabulous dinner last evening. We enjoyed a memorable birthday dinner and the experience was sublime. Always appreciate your fine establishment and just wanted to send a note of gratitude. Thanks for a special evening! This restaurant hits it out of the park on all fronts. The food is fresh, amazingly prepared, served beautifully and tastes amazing. Their five course tasting menu (this is now our third time there) is always a winner with enough changes to keep things fresh and seasonality front and center. The courses are balanced with seafood and fish taking center stage but short rib and duck was present too and bonus: amazing specially made pasta last evening with Iberian ham and truffle - mouth watering - OMG so good. We always opt for the wine pairing which makes for a treat as these are wines we'd never try and are very well matched. One choice didn't hit the note for us and the next thing we knew a special course 'to make up for it' was placed in front of us. Unnecessary but the type of class this place offers on all dimensions. And the grey goose martini to start off the evening (our tradition) was the right ice cold and also beautifully made. Bonus round: the staff is the same and very welcoming and the view - well lets just say it rounds out the experience and is positively breathtaking. Love love love this place. We love Lucia, Foray, People, Grasings and many others we are blessed with in our area. Stillwater we won't go to anymore - it's tired. We haven't been to Aubergine and will give it a try. Chez Noir - our one and only time was 'meh' conceptually conflicted and a bit of a mess. We chalk that up to being newly opened. But for us Coastal Kitchen is at the head of the pack with a close 2nd and 3rd with Foray, and Lucia. They are all up there in the fine-dining arena-- - yet the type of place you can go to on a weeknight. Coastal Kitchen is that special experience space worth every penny and generous on all fronts. It's simply incomparable on the central coast and we love love love it.

Celebrated 20th anniversary here. Amazing food, service, drinks and atmosphere. Highly recommended

Both the meal and the service were exceptional. My husband and I rolled in looking a bit shabby after a long day of travel and were treated with five star service from the start. The hostess staff were incredibly professional and seamlessly guided us to our table, explained the lay of the land, and took our coats for safe keeping until we finished our meal. We then had the pleasure of being served by an incredible service staff that managed to all be a perfect mix of warm and friendly while maintaining the highest level of professionalism and skill. We chose to do the wine pairing with the meal and enjoyed our interactions with the sommelier as they described the history and tasting notes of each wine. The wines also paired perfectly with each dish. This is a tasting pairing for a tasting menu so do not expect a full glass of wine at each course. You will receive a serving of about 4-5 sips which ends up being the perfect amount to compliment each course. The food was incredible and the menu had obviously been meticulously thought out which is impressive for a seasonal menu where ingredients could change daily based on availability and freshness. Each dish had clean yet complex flavors and was perfectly seasoned, prepared, and presented. Normally when I eat out, I will keep a list of notes in my head of how the food could be improved upon or how I might prepare it differently, but not so here. This was truly a celebration and respect of food and the dining experience in general. My only regret is that we booked a reservation for after the sun had gone down as the restaurant has incredible views and even provides binoculars at each table. I highly recommend coastal kitchen for anyone looking to have a truly wonderful and special dining experience. We will definitely be returning the next time we find ourselves in this area of the world. Tip: the restaurant is not easy to find and shares a dining room with Schooner's. I don't think we ever saw a sign for Coastal Kitchen. You must enter the lobby of the Monterey plaza hotel, then take the central stairs down a level, then navigate a little maze of hallways before checking in at the host stand for Schooner's.

Restaurant ambiance was nice but I requested a window table well in advance when making the reservation and was on time, but was given a booth instead. However, a couple that walked in just before us without a reservation was given a window table. Food quality was acceptable but underwhelming in taste/creativity for the price. We did appreciate the wine pairing. I found dessert to be the highlight - their take on "Toast and Jam" with buttered toast ice cream was delicious.

I was alone, but had the wine dinner. it was absolutely delicious. The sommelier was knowledgeable, friendly, and did an excellent job describing the food and wine that was presented. The views,ambience. And food were first class!

A fairly new establishment with a very well curated prie fixe menu. I highly recommend the wine pairing and the wagyu substitution, it took our meal up a notch. We were fortunate to be seated next to windows with spectacular bay views. I look forward to returning here in the future.

Their service is Awesome! The wait staff made us feel so welcome; they were warm and attentive without being obtrusive. I think that this establishment is so lucky to have such wonderful staff! If I could, I'd hire them myself! And their sampling menu is excellent too.