Maligne

Visiting the Central Coast for the first time, we decided to try Maligne since it was one of Seaside’s best rated restaurants. We love trying new places and are generally not picky eaters. The atmosphere was beautiful, but unfortunately the service was quite disappointing. Our server checked in on us maybe three times the entire evening and never asked if we wanted another drink or a water refill. The food was good and we enjoyed everything, but nothing really stood out as great. The service definitely took away from the experience. The oysters were very fresh and the grilled scallops were cooked perfectly. They also had a clarified margarita on the cocktail menu that was delicious.

Every dish was a delight! Weekend trip to Monterey to do some whale watching with the fam…. Looking for a nice dinner place, found a table for 5 in this restaurant. Turned out to be a memorable meal! The whole branzinho a la poivre was the best we have ever eaten. The appetizers, especially the beets, were fantastic. The yams were quite a surprise - smoky and flavorful. The lamb was succulent and tender, with an amazing sauce, the thickness of the slices were just right. Scallops and clams also had a wonderful flavor. We almost licked the plates off. Even the desserts were thoughtfully made! I think we might just have to visit again, even if it’s a couple of hours from the Bay Area. Kudos to the chef!

The restaurant has a very cozy space with atmosphere of art, which makes me surprised. Seafood is very fresh and steak is tender and delicious. The green vegetables which recommended by the staff is also amazing. Even the dessert, nice and warm staff told us that it is popular because of not so sweet. Really know the taste of dessert for Asian people

We had dined at this restaurant twice last year and really loved it tonight. It was just my husband and I. The prawns were a little slimy, and the housemaid aïoli tasted basically just like mayonnaise, I asked if they had cocktail sauce and they did not, The ribeye was tasty, but it took a really long time to get to the table. They served the broccolini we had ordered to accompany the ribeye, but it came out way ahead of the ribeye and came out cold. The steak tartar was very good, hoping it was just an off night

I was genuinely shocked. It might have been an off night. The last time we were here (July 2025) it felt warm, welcoming, and amazing. Tonight, Wednesday, January 28th, 2026. The menu made no sense. Why were the scallops cut in half? It was incredibly salty. The entire night I felt like my partner and I shouldn't be there. The cocktails were absolutely amazing. The polenta was wonderful. They forgot part of my order and knocked off some of the bill. That was nice. But it was very disappointing. People laughing at cell phone videos on the line while I'm dropping what amounts to quite a bit for me. Just a very disappointing experience.

Maligne Restaurant holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand (as of 2023–2025). This Michelin designation recognizes the restaurant for serving high-quality, French and Italian-American-inspired cuisine at an affordable, "good value" price point. In my opinion this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Our party of two spent just a tad over $200 (tax + tip) on 4 menu items (milk bread, branzino, ribeye, and a soda). When we arrived the restaurant host stressed this is a “sharing plate experience.” This was repeated later as well. Basically, this is a restaurant where they want you to share the pricey food on your plate while you enjoy their list of fine wines and other assorted alcoholic beverages. Hopefully you’ll drink enough alcoholic beverages while eating off various plates to ease the feeling that you just overspent by several multiples on Michelin recommended cuisine a couple notches above mediocrity (so much for the Michelin rating system). I want to stress the restaurant’s host and few servers were very nice and did their best to attend to all the restaurant customers the night we sat down, but it was painfully obvious they were short staffed and struggling to attend to the needs of diners in attendance. The ambiance and dedicated seating was different but just meh. I make an effort to support our local businesses that offer a great product at a sensible price point. Malignes definitely has neither to offer.

Food was all 7/10. Good but not great. We had the crudo, crap dip, oysters, scallops and the Burger. The service however was the worst I’ve had in a while. He barely attended the table. The chef brought more of the food than the sever. Super disappointing. Absolutely could have been better with a server that tried.

Our favorite new restaurant in the Monterey region! We came for dinner to celebrate our anniversary and had a fantastic experience overall. The service was warm, very considerate, and felt personal, without hovering. All of the items on the menu looked appealing, and everything we ordered was made with fresh high-quality ingredients and expert preparation. The dining experience overall felt relaxed, easy, and very satisfying. Highly recommended! We look forward to returning many times. Thank you to everyone at Maligne for such a wonderful evening.

Maligne is awesome. I'm so happy to see a restaurant like this in Seaside thriving. I was worried at first since it's definitely the highest price point dinning establishment in Seaside, but they seem to have cracked the code. Every time I've been there, either weekends or week days, this place is jamming. It's not uncommon to see most restaurants busy on the weekends, but to be as busy as this place is, during the week is really wonderful. I think the fact that Maligne's as busy as they are speaks to the quality of their food. I've listened to various people while I've been waiting and there, the customer base is from all over. It's sad that this is probably could/would be one of the better restaurants in Carmel-By-The-Sea just because they actually change their menu and care about their food. I appreciate a place that is willing to change and challenge themselves. With that being said, it's very difficult to find a restaurant that will do what I'm about to describe. We asked the kitchen to just bring us out food. Anything on the menu, or whatever they could/wanted to do was fine with us. They absolutely killed it. I don't know many other places who'd be willing to execute this, let alone even attempt it. The only thing I'd say, that's slightly negative, is that the restaurant could benefit from some acoustic treatment. I'm all about the open concept, but it can be difficult to keep track of conversation when it's really going in there.

I booked Maligne after seeing it come up in my recommendations list for Monterey and I'm so glad I did! I came by after spending a day at the aquarium and nearly missed this place because it doesn't have a name out front, you just have to know/look for it. Since there was a reservation, I was seated pretty quickly although I did see a few people try to walk in and wait a bit. I ordered milk bread, smoked tomato salad, Octopus salad, and the pork belly donabe. The smoked tomato salad was absolutely delicious. It was just the right amount of acidity and sweetness. The octopus salad was really tender and flavorful. The highlight for me was the pork belly donabe. It was kind of cold and drizzling outside so this donabe was really comforting and warming. I would skip the milk bread next time! I had a great time dining here and I would definitely be back if I'm in the area!

Beware of this place. You have to place a reservation using Tock, which places a $25/per person charge on your credit card that is *suppose* to be removed once you show up for your reservation. Well it didn't for me and I've spent the last 2 months fighting with my credit card company to get the $100 charge removed. I just "lost" my dispute even after showing my receipt for my $300 dinner on the date in question. They don't pick up the phone, so don't bother calling. As for the food...it's fine. Over priced and just okay. I'll never step foot into that place again.

We've been excited to try this place out for a while now and with our 25th wedding anniversary it felt apropos to break the ice. Netting out our experience, we really enjoyed it, the team there were friendly accommodating, ambience is boho warehouse and food was on the money. I felt based on the quality of the food and the attention to ingredients that the prices were fair but we were a tad disappointed seeing the evenings menu choices which were a mystery till we actually sat down. I left this review alone till I settled my thoughts, I absolutely understand why Michelin noticed this place, they are passionate and there simply isn't a dining experience in the Monterey area like it .. Its akin to finding a cool vibe restaurant in a downtown Manhattan, unapologetic, boutique, funky, eclectic, relaxed and buttoned up service and food execution The menu is split into small plates and large plates... I think they started off small and ended up getting feedback on portions so added larger sharable plates.. Problem is, its kind of confusing, it doesnt sit easily and as an example we hared the .. I cant help feel they have a few more turns of the ethos to do. We ended up with 2 small plates and a large plate.. - Milk bread, Seafood platter and the burger.. All were super, absolutely no complaints and we couldn't hit the deserts. Why the 1 star drop ? We checked the website and got excited about the menu only to find it was 100% different and 'just and example. OK, I love the idea of seasonal but I dont want to drop a deposit down for a table then turn up to a mystery menu without knowing what's on it. We sort of had our heart set on a few dishes and a desert and nothing was the same. So if they post a current menu then we will likely have this place on rotation but if its a mystery then we will likely skip it as the food was good but nor head and shoulders over some of our regulars and at least there we know what we will be paying for. I loved the vibe, the team and ethos but I dont love the mystery

People a 10. Vibe a 10. Food an 8. Smoked beets outrageously good. Milk bread, homemade warm bread rolls but bread rolls nonetheless. Grilled polenta very good. NY Strip cooked perfectly but do you go there for steak and pearl onions? Scallops and clams, meh. The clams have a microscopic amount of clam in the shell and the scallops were great. But clams and scallops in a dish with nothing else with them is unusual. Chocolate mousse was chefs kiss. You order everything at once and they pace the dishes. The pace was done very well. Firing and expediting is on point. I would encourage you to give them a try. Nice to have a Michelin Bib Gourmand in Seaside and $250 for 3 people (including one cocktail) is indeed a good value for the experience.

We decided to visit for a date night, the Friday after Thanksgiving, hoping for good food and to give ourselves a break from family. We were immensely satisfied on both fronts. The sharing plates may make it a bit difficult to estimate just how much food we needed, but our server walked us through things very well and we ended up with a number of delightful plates, each of which left us wanting just one more bite. We started with the milk bread, accompanied by a peppery olive oil for dipping. The little gem wedge salad (so we could pretend that we were being healthy, but absolutely worth it without such a pretense), the kampachi crudo with capers and shallots (which prompted a small fight over the last piece), and six oysters. Next up was the 12 oz woodfire cooked ribeye, with pearl onions and fries. The steak was perfect, with the wood smoke rounding things out well. Desert was Ilse Flotante, which didn't get photographed because it was inhaled as soon as it hit the table. The restaurant itself is a lovely space, and not at all noisy - even with all the large parties present. It felt cozy, welcoming, and almost familiar. We both have back issues but had no discomfort, or even had to stand up during our visit. TLDR: the food was great, the portion sizes were actually very good for 2 people, and we really enjoyed hanging out for 2 hours. Definitely some place to look into for special occasions or splurge nights

We had booked our first trip to Monterey and while doing some research on places to check out, this restaurant came across my path. To make a reservation they do require a $25 dollar deposit per diner, which you get back when you either cancel at least 24hrs before your resy or when you show up for your reservation. The outside of the restaurant is modern and unsuspecting and we actually walked past it. Once in, you're greeted by contemporary set up with an exposed kitchen area so you're able to see the staff preparing your meal. We were seated and provided with a menu which our hostess did a wonderful job of explaining. The dishes are meant to be shared so it was suggested that we get aboit 4-5 between two people. We decided to order the Crudo, Wagu beef tartare, Calabrian chili lamb meatball, and the Smoked halibut. Because the food is served to order Please keep in mind the dishes are a la minute so it may take a bit of time for the dish to be served. The highlight of our meal was definitely the Wagu beef tartare. The beef was buttery and melted in your mouth. My boyfriend loved that they added capers which really helped to balance the dish. Maligne is definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. It lives up to all the praises it receives and I can't wait to come back.

Stopped by with my mom while on a short weekend trip and she loved it so much I have to give it five stars because it was the highlight of our trip for her (and not just because the wine was good!) Starting with the good, a lot of the apps spoke to us so we went heavy on the small share plates which was the right way to go with only two people. We debated on getting the milk bread but finally caved after seeing it come out to so many tables. It was soft and crispy and the olive oil was gorgeously rich. Couldn't leave a roll behind even though I was stuffed. Also grabbed the crudo which was to die for, ingredients are well sourced and on display in the crudo for sure. Every piece of it was special. Same thing with the smoked wagyu toast. Now for the not so good, street corn was just okay... it came out lukewarm and I think that was its downfall. Felt like it was missing something (a bag of Doritos maybe ). We got the Monterey halibut for obvious reasons which was good but just barely overcooked -- enough for it to be noticeable. But if the fish had been buttery and flaky, the dish would've been perfect. Their take on succotash was certainly delicious and I enjoyed dipping the bread in it! We finished off the with cobbler which was really good but they added some sort of smoky flavor to it and really overdid it in my opinion. Butttttt... my mom says it reminded her of pancakes over a campfire and was the perfectly nostalgic. Always love an open kitchen concept and a look behind the curtain. Service was wonderful and attentive, of course a little slow during peak hours, but nothing unexpected. All in all... to each their own and Maligne is definitely worth a try if you're in the area!

Wow. Wow. Wow. In Seaside? Really? I felt like I was in New York. Los Angeles. San Francisco. Chicago. Miami. Simply fantastic. The service was impeccable, not overbearing but perfectly on point. The food exceeded expectations. Truly. From the lamb leg special to the cabbage and everything in between. The flavors, preparation, plating, all of it. Fabulous. Savory bites every single time. Just right. It felt like I was sitting inside of a friendly dining room, not too loud, but you could hear the laughter and the noise of those around you While still being able to focus on the conversation at your table. Look, I'm sure there's better food somewhere in the world. I'm sure there's a better environment somewhere. I'm sure there is more attentive service. You can probably find it. And into that, I wish you good luck. Truly. If you find the one or two places on earth that exceed this let me know where they are. I'll hop on a plane.

Staycated recently & didn't want to drive all the way to Carmel for a nice restaurant. Maligne is seriously a hidden gem of Seaside! We had passed the restaurant several times without giving it a second glance, until discovering this place via Yelp. Our waitress was very knowledgable about the menu & gave us some great recommendations. The milk bread was flaky yet soft.. perfection & their chicken parm bites had just enough kick! From what we gathered, Maligne may be the only restaurant of its kind/elevated dining in Seaside. Would definitely come back!

The food here was good, but the portions were pretty small. We had 7 people, ordered about 75% of the menu and it ended up being about 80/person and I don't think we were very full. However, the food was good and I enjoyed it. They had a pork in clay pot and the rice was so crunchy and not in a burnt way, that was probably my favorite dish. There were some beets that were good and honestly dishes were well done but idk if I would come back just due to the portion sizes and cost. You probably need to spend about 120/person to be satisfied here and that doesn't include drinks. I actually went back and ate some ramen.

Maligne is on the Michelin guide so we decided to stop by. Tucked away on an assuming street in Seaside, the customer service and food was amazing. Constantly changing their menu, the team at Maligne do an incredible job utilizing fire and the grill to finish off meats and create delicious entrees. To this day, I still rave about the whole roast chicken I've had. Truly the best roast chicken ever. However, Maligne is not without flaws. Firstly, without a full or even complete bar, basic drinks such as a Negroni are incapable of being made--despite having excellent gins and spirits to choose from. Furthermore, at this price point, pre-mixed cocktails made in batch should not be in the picture. The wine selection is good, but limited--so it may be best to consider accepting a corkage fee. Additionally, my friends and I have come to the belief that the pasta dishes are a bit lackluster. Bottom line, Maligne is an excellent restaurant that SHINES when it comes to cuts of meat and fish but falls short in pasta dishes. The bar and wine selections are great but limited at the price point. Beautiful settings, conversational art, immaculate customer service, and a homie feeling round out the space and experience to be overall positive.

Amazing food and experience! We were able to get a same day reservation (within the hour) and headed right over on a Saturday evening Once you enter, it is extremely smokey inside from the grill. Ambiance is very cosy We ordered: - Smoked paloma: great balance of flavor - Chicken parm: HUGE portion, but our least favorite of the 3 - Pork: SO good! Juicy and tender - Duck: he said it was delicious - Tiramisu: can't go wrong with dessert! It was your average tiramisu, nothing incredible Definitely on the more expensive side and more of a "treat yourself" or special occasion meal. Average age of the patrons dining was 50-60+. We felt like we received sub-par service because we were the youngest in the restaurant. The manager brought the table next to us free drinks and kept stopping to ask how everything was, perhaps they were friends. We couldn't even find our server the entire meal, hence the 4 stars

Let me just say, I reserve the integrity of my one star reviews and my five star reviews. To get five from me, you need to have it all. Ambiance, service, exceptional food, and value and sure enough Maligne had it all. Came in here on a weeknight with my husband for my birthday. Servers were very attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. The ambiance is mid century modern cozy aesthetic. We ordered the steak tartare, lamb, grilled polenta, and duck confit. Everything was fresh and I was truly blown away. I felt the prices were for how upscale it was was fair. As someone from the Bay Area, this is more value than Napa prices so I guess everything is relative. Our server insisted on dessert and gave us a cream puff on the house which was nice! It was flaky and delicious. We will certainly be back.

This is a lovely homey and contemporary place. Service and food excellent while being unpretentious! https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/article/michelin-cred-chef-seaside-calif-restaurant-21131897.php

Made a last minute reservation here for dinner on a Friday night, and we were pleasantly surprised that our meal was so good. Grilled whole branzino ($45) was the standout and possibly the best grilled fish I've ever had. Expertly smoked while hanging on a hook over an open flame, this fish was fall off the bone tender, and loaded with flavor (even though I think it was just chives, salt and lemon). Just beware if you sit near the cooking area (or maybe anywhere inside?)--your hair and jacket and child's stuffed animals will smell strongly of smoke. Fine for the hubby, but bothersome for me! Next time I'll leave my jacket in the car and wear my hair in a bun. My only critique on this dish is that there was nothing served with it (where's the starch?) while the short rib came with both salad and fries. Smoked short rib w/fries and a delicious salad ($58) - short rib was boneless (my only question to the waiter lol), tender, very rich and covered in chives. Fries were skinny, crispy and tasty, though I didn't get to eat much since my daughter loves some fries with her ketchup. The salad was simple, fresh and wonderful, covered in cheese. I don't usually order salads, but if this is separately on the menu I totally would. Overall solid, large entree with the 2 accompaniments, but still that branzino was the clear winner. Albacore crudo ($23) - 3 thick slices, smothered in more chives, as well as olive oil and capers. I love me some chives, though since it happened to completely cover 3 of our dishes, it made the menu seem very one note in flavor. We wanted to return on Sunday because the meal was surprisingly good, however they are closed on Sunday, so plan accordingly.

The best chicken parm you will ever have. It was so good. I love the open kitchen concept. The service was super amazing. The staff was very friendly. Definitely a must try place.

Absolutely phenomenal experience! From the moment we walked in, the hostess made us feel incredibly welcome, warm ,friendly , and attentive.The service was seamless, and the food ? Simply amazing! Every dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. You can tell the kitchen puts real heart into their work. This place is a gem

...... this is a very different type of restaurant, definitely off the beaten track & worth it~ very casual (this doesn't mean wear your sweats!!) & friendly plus unpretentious menu will appeal to most people. Most of us ordered their burger upon recommendation from a local, however this isn't a burger joint. Some beautiful salads, appetizers plus dinner options. Open kitchen so you see what's happening &. Really GR8 Bar too . I would invite you to go and use your navigation as I don't believe they have ANY SIGNAGE

Visiting Monterey/Carmel we wanted to find a restaurant that had the full package. Grateful to have found Maligne, the ambiance, food and service was wonderful. It felt like eating in someone's well traveled kitchen. Mixing recognizable foods with twists you wouldn't expect. Loved the art and interior. Left a lasting impression and will recommend to anyone visiting the area. Thank you Chef!

Ohh what a treat ! Love the ambiance and atmosphere.. for our first time we stuck to small plates and the seafood platter.. Smoked Beets were beyond description-( 3 days in the smoker) Flavor is over the top yum, Honest, like no beets you have ever tasted ! The lamb balls and simple salad with delicious with house buttermilk dressing- then a raw seafood platter with - mignonette dipping sauce . Servers are knowledgeable about the wine selection. With a Michelin * -Star on Broadway in Seaside! You must experience Maligne.. be a tad indulgent- experience a meal !

Came in for an early Fathers Day dinner with my family. This was a Michelin recommended restaurant. I have been to several 1, 2, and 3 star Michelin star restaurants throughout the world, but this has got to be the worst food I have eaten and the service was horrible. I am not even sure how this place was Michelin recommended, unless they knew beforehand the Michelin reviewer was coming and made an exception meal for him or her. The service started off nice, we were greeted and seated and then the rest went downhill from there. There was only one server in the entire restaurant and she was just over worked I assumed. We all asked for water with ice and lemons. Well the water came but no lemons. My sister, my nephew, my brother as well as me asked the waitress 4 separate times for lemons...well we never got lemons. Next we all placed orders from the menu including food, wine and appetizers. She recommended several appetizers which we ordered. The roasted broccolini was undercooked and barely edible. We couldn't even cut it. For $18 I would give it a zero star. Next we ordered the grilled octopus. It was tough as well, I have eaten really good grilled octopus, but this was not one. For $28 I would rate this a 1 star. The grilled carrots were good, but for a few pieces and $16, I would not order again. The crudo ie aged kampachi was really good, 4 stars for this dish. The flavor and texture were good. The special appetizer of the night was beef tartare and it fresh and smooth tasting, 4 star for this dish as well. The wedge salad wasn't anything special either, presentation looked nice but taste wise, it wasn't anything special than I could make at home. We didn't get any WOW from any of the appetizers. As for the entrees, we ordered lasagna, the burger, seabass, halibut, wagyu, and the rack of lamb. The lasagna was quite spicy and tasted bland but the flavor just wasn't there. Let's just say nothing I would have expected from a Michelin recommended restaurant. The burger was cooked well, but hey how can you mess up on a burger. Burger was cooked to perfection and tasted great. The seabass was really good as well. It was tender and the sauce was amazing. The halibut tasted good and the meat was flakey and overall cooked well. The Knights Valley Wagyu was a huge disappointed, it was basically inedible. For me being a meat eater I expected amazing. This wasn't even close to thst. For $180 for the plate you would think it would melt in your mouth, but it was super chewy and had zero flavor. We couldn't even cut the steak with the knife. It would have been nice if they gave us a steak knife rather than a butter knife. Honestly this was the worst piece of steak I have ever eaten. I mean Outback steak was better and more tender than this and I don't even like Outback steaks. A real disappointment for our entire table. We also ordered the rack of lamb which was cooked well, but it was just way too gamey for our liking. I have had amazing rack of lamb at other restaurants in the past that was not gamey...this restaurant was not one. For desserts we tried four selections...the mandarin creamsicle, the pistachio tart, the tiramisu and the affogato. The mandarin creamsicle was very good, the rest was just average. In the end they forgot the entree for one person in our party. My sister NEVER got her entree. We kept asking the waitress and she said it was coming and was getting rude with our party. In the end she asked if we wanted to just take it home, since they totally forgot her order. Normally most restaurants I have been to would apologize and comp that entree, but not Maligne, no apologies from our waitress, they just ended up taking it off our final bill since my sister never received her entree. Disappointment all around. They ended charging us a mandatory tip of 22% for a party of 9. We would NOT have tipped 22% because not only was half our food inedible but the service was horrible. The waitress had a horrible attitude and just asking her simple questions she just wasn't attentive and never even smiled. No way could this restaurant ever get a Michelin star in my opinion. I would give an A for presentation, but that's about it. Anyone can make a meal look good to the eye, but making it taste good is another story. Maligne missed the mark on food and service and I would highly NOT recommend this place if you are staying in Monterey. There are many other restaurants in Monterey you can choose from. For a meal that was over $1300 I would have expected more.

Wow! Lucky you, Seaside, for having this little secret, AWESOME gem of a restaurant in your hood. We've been coming up to Carmel/Big Sur annually for over 20 years and we are always looking for new places to try since we've exhausted all our usual favorite foodie spots. So, when we got referred to Maligne by our friends at Aubergine (best restaurant in the Central Coast btw) we knew we had to try it. Maligne is only a 15 minute drive from Carmel and very easy to find however the restaurant is in a very nondescript building so be on the look out. Street parking is easy to find too. We actually came here for dinner last night but to be honest we were worried it was going to be closed from the previous reviews we had read here on Yelp but nope. Maligne was definitely open and filled with happy diners. Upon walking in, you enter through antique, heavy, dark wooden door and are greeted by the delightful smoky smells wafting from the wood burning stove in the open kitchen where all the magic is happening. The restaurant itself is modern, dark and cozy. Alexander was our host/server of the night and he was magnificent at his job. We ordered and liked everything single thing we ordered. -Little Gem Salad -Beet Salad (beautiful herbaceous dish) -Crudo -Chicken Parmesan (most unique way we have seen seen chicken parm served and it worked) Steak Diane (Yum. Perfectly executed and the sauce was divine) Fries (Loved them the aioli they are served with) Blood Orange/Mandarin Semifreddo (just wow!) I will DEFINITELY be putting Maligne on our list of favorite restaurants to visit while we are up here from now on. Even though you probably hold the record for the tiniest martinis ever served. Thank you Alexander and Maligne for the good times and fantastic food. And cheers to your talented chefs!

We enjoyed a great dinner here once our table was finally ready. We had a 7:30 pm reservation ($25 deposit required per person), arrived at 7:45 (called but they didn't pick up the phone), and were seated around 8:30 pm. We enjoyed a cocktail / wine while waiting which was eventually comped (thanks!) but there wasn't a good place to stand and wait for our table. Once we were seated, our waiter was great and we loved the 6 oysters ($30) and amazing beet salad (smallish but so good). Then my husband had the GIANT chicken parmesan and I had the mussels with fries. Everything was delicious! My husband had another glass of wine (both glasses he chose were very good) and I had a dirty martini which was good too. We shared a great affogato for a light dessert. The ambiance was cool and a bit dark (in a good way) and our table wasn't too loud despite the restaurant being very busy. We'll likely be back and will just be hoping our table is ready around the time of our reservation.

We had a reservation at 8 PM on February 13 to celebrate our 26th anniversary. I have the confirmation email for the reservation. And the restaurant was closed. I got a confirmation about the reservation. I tried to call them and the greeting said the mailbox has not been set up yet. So I could not leave a voicemail. Very frustrating and very upsetting especially when we were here to celebrate our 26th anniversary. Not acceptable for this level of restaurant. Not acceptable for any restaurant. I will never come back.

We LOVE Maligne!!! My boyfriend grew up in the area and we recently moved back. We found Maligne as it was mentioned in the Michelin Guide. We now visit regularly almost monthly because of how much we love it! We like that the menu does change and new,exciting things are added. Both of us enjoy fine dining and this place is absolutely our go to date night for something a little more casual. We've tried a variety of menu items and cannot recommend the beet salad and chicken parm enough. I DREAM of the tiramisu too. Staff is friendly and they have been growing their front of house for some time. Back in the winter we came in one rainy night for our reservation, but tables were very slow to get up (likely because of the rain). Staff took excellent care of us while we waited. We were brought complementary drinks, had our appetizer and desert comped as well. We are so happy to have found Maligne and that it can be a regular date night spot for us!

Lovely spot for a nice meal in an unassuming, working-class area. Something about the way the restaurant is laid out makes it feel like one massive house, and I liked the open kitchen. Portions are small, but it worked well for me since I wasn't very hungry. We tried the foccacia, figs & proscuitto, and fried calamari as starters. The fried calamari was excellent ("some of the best calamari I've ever had" - my boyfriend), and the figs were nicely sweet (though the dish itself is super basic). My boyfriend really liked the focaccia. I ended up just getting the grilled maitake and beet salad as my "main". Beet salad was unique (slices of beet rolled up), although I'm not sure I loved the buttermilk dressing. The grilled maitake I would skip next time. My boyfriend enjoyed his royale with cheese, though he didn't love the pickle flavored sauce it came with. Tiramisu was a solid way to end the meal.

We ate at this restaurant to celebrate my wife's birthday. The ambiance was very chic and modern. It was an open kitchen and the staff all seemed very focused and professional. We ordered the chicken parm, beef tartare, and the beet salad. It was the best beet salad dish we've ever tasted. It was on the smaller side but it packed so much flavor and freshness to it. The chicken parm was really big and also very good. The beef tartare was just okay, but it wasn't bad. Overall, a great dining experience and romantic night out. We'd definitely go back if we're in the area.

Service was excellent, restaurant also has a unique vibe. Wines and their list was top notch. Not a fan of the flies swarming around, the music is off, and I was expecting so much more from the menu and food. But a cheeseburger for $30 that you are supposed to share family style, yet they do not cut it for you?? Very underwhelmed. For the bill being $350 for three people I wanted to restaurant to live up to the hype. It just didn't.

Had the pleasure of dining at this upscale spot recently, and it was an experience to remember. Our host and server (John) was impeccable, who made sure everything was just right. The modern city ambiance, combined with the open kitchen, created a lively and engaging atmosphere. The Royale Cheese burger was a delightful indulgence--juicy and full of flavor. The grilled polenta was perfectly prepared slightly crispy and soft inside, an absolute treat. The smoked beet salad added a refreshing, smoky twist to the meal, balancing out the richness of the other dishes. We also tried the meatball appetizer and a bowl of steamed muscles - equally as good as the others. Everything was top-notch. I'm giving it four stars only because in my opinion nothing is ever perfect in life, and there's always room to strive for even greater heights.

Lovely meal here! Amazing burger, oysters, and focaccia. Particularly the focaccia, which was truly one of the best I've ever had. The service was great, too. I'd say that the chicken parmesan was the weakest one, a bit dry. I'd also call out that the whole thing felt a bit overpriced.

I liked the casual chic ambiance of Maligne, and the service was good. The food was solid...I had the Mt Lassen Trout with corn and haricot vert ($42), which was perfectly cooked and tasty. I tried the Beet Salad ($15), which was unique. It had a nice smoky taste, and I liked the presentation with the rolled up beets. The Fried Calamari ($20) was fine...pretty standard. The Tiramisu ($14) was good but the Strawberry Trifle was in the tiniest little cup and overpriced for what it was ($15).

Great food and ambience. Had the burger and some of the appetizers. Very downtown NY vibe. Attentive service.Parking is not easy but worth the walk after you find a spot. $$$ but worth it!

Amazing, best food I've had in Monterey. Very high quality ingredients and cooking techniques (hence the price). Smaller portions but the food was great. We ordered the beet salad, we've never had beets shaved like how they were. Shaved paper thin and rolled into a taquito shape. The branzino was tender and had crispy skin. We paired it with Polenta, which was served like a corn bread with a cheesy crispy top. Very unique flavor and paired as a good carb side option with the fish. We ended with the tiramisu which was quite a big slice! And definitely stood out as we've all had many tiramisu. It was just the two of us, wish we had a bigger group so we could try more! They change their menu monthly and make tweaks throughout the weeks based on ingredients they source. Will definitely be back.

Again I am speechless Sergio and John were even more amazing than the food which was amazing.We felt like we were in an upscale eatery in New York. The decor which was especially made for Maligne added to the experience! Did I mention the chef came out and helped with service? The desserts were good but they need a chocolate choice. The meal was soooooo excellent that I could not even take the time to snap a photo. Make reservations as this place is jumping

Drop in on this place because I saw a sign board that they were open for lunch, no reservations needed. I walked in and was seated immediately. Small table for two with a view of the open kitchen and the rest of the restaurant. This place is pricey but I have to say I was impressed by the presentation and the uniqueness for downtown Seaside, California. I started off with sparkling water and a glass of a French Sparkling Rośe. I ordered the Kampachi Crudo, basically a type white fish bathed in buttermilk, olive oil and lemon. This was very good and came out quickly. The entree was the Chicken Parmesan - it was huge with a salad on top. It was almost the size of the plate. I took home half of it. Service was wonderful and efficient. Overall, a great first time experience. I am sure going during lunch time I did not experience any issues and had a great time.

We took two friends, both locals who had never heard of Maligne, and, frankly, we were more than a bit embarrassed. The food was OK to very good, three of us enjoyed our meals, the fourth, who had ordered the Halibut, did not as he found it to be fairly dry without much flavor. What unfortunately made the evening stand out in the wrong way was that we received perhaps the worst service we have ever experienced in Monterey. Part of this was that they were clearly understaffed, but the servers they did have were slow and not very good. Two glasses of the same wine were ordered, only one delivered, but it took several inquiries over five minutes to determine that they bottle had run out -- the server hadn't bothered to tell us nd hadn't thought to ask if another wine would be acceptable. Multiple requests for butter for their very good but expensive milk bread were made, it was only after the third, when the bread had cooled that we were told that the kitchen had run out. I doubt we'll be back.

Had a reservation for a Thursday night. We showed up at 6:30 and the lights were off. No call to tell us they had closed and when we called the number it said the voicemail box had not been setup. Mind you they charged $50 for our reservation to make sure we would show up and didn't have the courtesy to do the same for guests. We are still very excited to try the restaurant as it looks beautiful. But we will definitely call the next time and confirm with staff. Update: called the next day multiple times and no one answers. Also, all the numbers on Google and Yelp have one number but the website shows a different number. When you click on the phone on the website it calls a different number than what is displayed. But there is no recording to even tell you if you reached the correct number. But we did receive an email thanking us for dining with them even though they weren't open! This was for our Valentine's Day dinner as we always go out the day before so it was extra disappointing. Update: Curious to find out if the restaurant was even in business we drove to the restaurant the next day and they were indeed still in business. We spoke to the hostess and she informed us that they had a kitchen issue and couldn't make food. She said they called everyone with reservations but we never got a call and there is another reviewer that also didn't get a call. They also confirmed they are having technical difficulty with the phones and there is no way to call the restaurant. The hostess dismissed us to seat the next people that came in. We waited so we could make a reservation for the next evening but when she returned to the host stand she picked up her iPad and walked off. There was no apology, and no offer to help us make another reservation. They refunded our reservation charge but never even offered an explanation. As people who eat out 3 to 4 times per week, it's one of the worst customer service experiences we have had. I felt like such an inconvenience and they couldn't wait to be done with us. Very sad because it looked like a very cool place but not worth patronizing. We will give our business to restaurants that actually want it.

Lovely restaurant with amazing service from the staff. We came for lunch, didn't have a reservation, but our cheerful hostess happily seated us by the window where we got a lot of beautiful, natural light. Everything on the menu looked delicious, we ordered the wedge salad, broccolini, moules frites, milk bread, and a glass of sparkling brut. The bread was the winner, house-made and served with a luxurious olive oil. It was also perfect for soaking up the broth that came with my mussels. The mussels were super-fresh, plump, and sweet. Probably among the best I've ever had. The salad and broccolini were alright, but I think the bread and mussels really stole the show. If I'm back in the area, I'd love to return for dinner to try some other items and I'd happily recommend Maligne for it's understated elegance and fine fare.

Beautiful restaurant, nicely decorated and great location. Parking can be challenging. I found the menu to be limited and over priced. The dishes we ordered, lacked quantity and flavor. For appetizers we orders a grilled scallop. I should've paid more attention during the English class that when it is missing an S it is singular. Well for $22 we got a single scallop. We also ordered the Padron peppers which were excellent. The service was slow so finally when the main dish was served, my wife had ordered a grilled mackerel and I had chosen the Blue fun tuna. The Ahi was seared but the center was cold, meaning it was not seared enough to warm the center. The mackerel was grilled on one side and the other side was completely raw. It was also fishy and tasted more like a sardine than a mackerel. The wines selection was limited. Best part was the desert and French fries.

I enjoyed my dining experience at Maligne. My partner and I opted for the steak with fries. We asked for medium rare and the taste of the beef did not disappoint. It was an excellent dining experience.

A fee for making a reservation I thought was a little bizarre. The food was great though so I'm glad we went. A little bit on the slow side. I'm glad we had all night. Maybe that's another reason for the high prices. They don't turn a table very quickly. Would I go again.... the answer is yes, only if someone else was paying.

Gem in Seaside! First visit to this new restaurant from chef-owner Klaus Georis! The entry is unmarked so look for the grey cement building on the corner where the inside is filled with warm/stylish mid century furniture under a vaulted chic barn interior where the walls are decorated beautiful female forms and the kitchen is open. It's a really stylish restaurant and we loved sitting close to the kitchen so we can watch the team prep and cook! We started with drinks and really enjoyed the fun creativity behind the drinks - I had one of the best mocktails I've ever had, the Macci G Iced Tea - it was a fun take on the Arnold Palmer - there was a frozen mountain of homemade Meyer lemon granita where they poured in a blend of rosehip and rooibos teas with a mint crisp on top... beautiful, fun and refreshing. The Negroni and Seaside were also well balanced and hit the spot. We ordered the tuna crudo, Sicilian sashimi, Rockefeller oysters, salanova salad, royale cheese burger, onion rings and Mille Feuille - all of which were delicious in their own way. Super hero favorites include the best onion rings we've ever had (get these!), juiciest burger and the sashimi. We got to watch them cook/ assemble all it with care and it was indeed impressive. Our burger was well done with no pink but it also melts in your mouth - amazing! The tuna sashimi was cut just right so it practically melts in your mouth also. Loved it! The restaurant is really into local, high quality sourcing and we were informed of the sourcing when dishes were delivered and I enjoyed learning about it! Menu changes often so looking forward to coming back again soon! Street parking out front but restaurant is busy so make reservations on tock early.

4.5 STARS WHOA. Like a good whoa. *Emoji Heart Eyes* And, that's usually reserved for furbabies. Didn't expect this in Monterey County cuz I've had some really mixed dining experiences...mainly underwhelming. During my research on where to dine on my recent stay in Carmel, I came across Maligne, a new live-fire restaurant focusing on seafood. The team have fine dining backgrounds having worked at Bar Crenn, Saison, and SingleThread so very promising. Maligne is open for indoor dining with outdoor dining to come in the garden patio. Rezzies for the lounge and dining room available via Tock. For those still concerned with Covid, they open early so you can pretty much have the space to yourselves if you don't mind eating at 4:30 pm on a weekday. I eat earlier than seniors so ideal for me. M E N U Raw bar and wood-fired seafood. No full bar but they have several cocktails with their housemade gin fermented from grains. 20% service charge added to the bill which I'm used to and all for to ensure staff is equally compensated... BUT when I asked if this was gratuity, I was told it's to support the staff and there was no mention that it was in lieu of tip. Obvs didn't want to stiff the hardworking staff so I tipped 22% on top of the 20% service charge. I later read an article that the service charge counts as gratuity so I think more clarity is needed to avoid confusion. D R I N K S * Seaside 75 w/ gin, lemon oleo, cremant, seafood salt ($20): https://bit.ly/3BB4RAY Maligne's take on a French 75 - refreshing, crisp, and citrusy with a salty briny bite from the seafood salt. * No. 47 Negroni w/ gin, vermouth's, louisiana bitters ($20): https://bit.ly/3qyJeus Usually not a Negroni fan because it tends to run too sweet for me but this came recommended. Really well-balanced with a herby, bitter fruitiness. F O O D * Oyster Rockefeller w/ totten, shigoku ($5 each): https://bit.ly/3By79k4 Solid, the plump oysters were smothered in a deliciously rich and buttery sauce with a slight salty sharpness from the cheese and subtle smokiness from the wood-fire. * Sicilian Sashimi w/ tai snapper, tuna, kampachi (Small-$25): https://bit.ly/3QCOhVl Uber fresh and delicate slices of tai snapper, tuna, and kampachi dressed with olive oil, capers, lemon juice, and sea salt. Simple and done right. * Tuna Crudo w/ ramp oil, chive ($18): https://bit.ly/3eBOPxn Saving the BEST for last...the Tuna Crudo! Ok, I know it's just a tuna crudo that doesn't require any cooking BUT it was the best damn crudo I've had. The slices of tuna were pristine, silky smooth and meaty with the ramp oil adding a kiss of oniony flavor. Perfect example of sourcing and showcasing top-notch ingredients with thoughtfulness and care. S E R V I C E Refined and prompt. A M B I A N C E The hearth, open kitchen takes center stage of the dining room so you can watch all the action. Def a hot date night place...literally cuz you can feel the heat from the live-fire cooking. P A R K I N G Easy street parking. Overall, I think Maligne is really raising the bar for restaurants in the area when it comes to creativity and offering a unique dining experience. IMO, they're the Birdsong and Angler of Monterey County and one to watch for. Unfortunately, I gotta round down because the 20% service charge needs more clarity. Def plan on returning for a full on dinner when their garden patio is ready!

This place makes you feel like you ran away to Europe for the day. The beautiful open kitchen where they are cooking over a hot fire on a rainy day was perfection. Every dish was better than the last. Just go. The quality and flavor of the food is inspiring to say the least. You won't find a better burger anywhere, ever.

Solid food and a spectacular setting - but a bit pricy, and there's more food than you'd expect. There's clear ambition in the kitchen, and the dishes work great. But I felt over-stuffed by the end of the meal, and it's service's responsibility to steer you away from making that mistake. The tartare was excellent, and the chicken was cooked perfectly. I just wish I'd have had room for dessert.

great food and service. sergio and megan were awesome. megan ran the floor like a GOAT. ambiance was amazing -Jenn

Food, service and ambiance. Great view of the ocean. The service was outstanding and the food was excellent.

If I could give half stars they'd get a 3.5 but the food was so disappointing I can't justify a solid 4. We've heard good things about this spot and we're excited for something new and more upscale in seaside. AMBIANCE - the restaurant was done nicely and it super cute. The chairs were comfortable and we loved the open kitchen. SERVICE was fine, nothing special but no complaints. Everyone was friendly and service was timely. They have a decent wine selection. Honestly didn't look at the beer options. The FOOD was so bland. We started with the milk bread and peppers. Didn't like the bread but that's more preference. The peppers had absolutely no seasoning but the char was done really well. For dinner, the dishes were grossly over garnished. The chicken was moist and flavourful, probably the best part of the meal. The veggies it came with were, again, bland but well charred.