Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
Seafood restaurant · Duquesne Heights ·

Monterey Bay Fish Grotto

Seafood restaurant · Duquesne Heights ·

Panoramic riverside views with elegant seafood, prime beef, and truffle frites

spectacular view
crab cakes
great service
angel food cake grilled cheese
romantic atmosphere
attentive staff
seafood
special occasion
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by Brittany Spinelli
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto by null

Information

1411 Grandview Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15211 Get directions

$100+

See Menu
Usually a wait
Reservations required
Restroom
Popular for dinner
Cozy

Information

Static Map

1411 Grandview Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15211 Get directions

+1 412 481 4414
montereybayfishgrotto.com
@montereybaypgh
𝕏
@MontereyBayPGH

$100+ · Menu

Features

•Usually a wait
•Reservations required
•Restroom
•Popular for dinner
•Cozy
•Romantic
•Trendy
•Fancy

Last updated

Jan 14, 2026

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A Weekend Travel Guide to Pittsburgh Restaurants - Eater DC

"Monterey Bay Fish Grotto is a renowned seafood restaurant in Pittsburgh offering beautiful views of the city skyline." - Missy Frederick

https://dc.eater.com/2023/7/10/23785654/pittsburgh-weekend-guide-food-restaurants
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
@eater
391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

The 38 Best Pittsburgh Restaurants - Eater

"The stunning view of Pittsburgh’s skyline from Monterey Bay is unmatched, as are the fresh seafood, top cuts of beef, delectable sides like truffle frites, and the MB Mac n’ Cheese, which comes loaded with snow crab and Mexican paradise shrimp. Paired with soft music, dim lights, and scenic views of the three rivers, the Fish Grotto makes for a wonderful place to celebrate birthdays, promotions, and any other special occasion." - Briana L White

https://www.eater.com/maps/best-pittsburgh-restaurants
Brittany Spinelli
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto

Alexander F.

Google
A 5 star restaurant through and through. A beautiful restaurant overlooking the city (a bit difficult to get to- I recommend taking the Duquesne incline up). The attention to detail was incredible, everything was perfectly done. We visited for an anniversary and they took all the steps to ensure a wonderful experience for us. We started with the heirloom tomato burrata and it was incredibly fresh and the tomato’s were perfectly meaty and paired perfectly with the house sour dough bread. The Parmesan crusted swordfish was so tender and perfectly salty! Paired well with a bottle of wine recommended by the one and only, Buffalo Blake! The French onion filet mignon was so perfectly cooked and tender, and the au jus was so tasty I could have drank right from the serving cup. We finished with some crème brûlée that was perfectly creamy and sweet. The service staff also brought us out a sample of their house bourbon and one of their angel cake grilled cheeses for our anniversary celebration. This place just did not miss! Also please ignore our big back activity of trying two different deserts; they were well worth the taste! Would definitely love to come back here for more special occasions. If you can, ask for Blake, he takes great care of his guests!

Dane

Google
5 Stars - Impeccable Food, Atmosphere & Service I highly recommend dining at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto; you won’t be disappointed. The seafood selection is excellent, and the crab cakes are an absolute must-try. Be sure to save room for their decadent dessert options as well! The restaurant is the top floor of a large building on Mount Washington with with stunning views of the Pittsburgh skyline visible from every seat in the house. The service we received was second to none, thank you to the entire team. It is also an excellent venue for small parties and events, guests will love it. Valet parking is available and makes arrival seamless.

MICHELLE C.

Google
I'd never been so my son took me for my birthday. It was great, our servers name is believe was Madison she was phenomenal. She explained the menu with ease, made sure we got exactly what we wanted. It is a bit pricey, but I think the food and the service makes it worth it. Hands down a wonderful experience. I didn't get pictures of everything but I have a couple.

Ahri A

Google
The view alone makes this one of the best spots in Pittsburgh—absolutely spectacular and perfect for a special evening. Add in the food and service, and you’ve got the recipe for a perfect date night. I have never had duck cooked as well as I did here. The skin was beautifully crispy, the meat tender, and the tangy cranberry sauce tied everything together with just the right balance. The salmon was also outstanding—light, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. Everyone on staff took wonderful care of us, making the experience feel both relaxed and elevated. If you go, definitely request a window seat to make the most of the view. This is a restaurant I’d happily come back to again and again.

Citlalli G.

Google
Unbeatable service! I've never seen such excellent service anywhere, especially for our daughter. When they assigned us a table, they gave her a gift with small toys that kept her calm throughout our stay. They have a menu specially designed for young guests. I truly applaud this because it's not very common in many restaurants. The view is spectacular. Anne's friendly service made us feel very comfortable at all times. Her menu recommendations were very accurate. The prices were reasonable. The appetizers, cocktails, dinner, and desserts were truly delicious. Overall, they made it a very special evening for my birthday celebration. At the end, they gave her a beautiful postcard, ideal to keep as a souvenir of the restaurant. Every detail from beginning to end was wonderful. We will definitely return. This is a highly recommended restaurant!

Cynthia L.

Google
I can confidently say this is in my top 5 of the best restaurants I’ve ever experienced. 5+ scores on all 3 categories. The atmosphere and views of the rivers and city are spectacular and breathtaking. The food was beyond delicious! We started with the surf and turf appetizer, which is a must, followed by the she-crab bisque and Caesar salad. We had the special offered that evening which was linguine with 6 petite lobster tails chopped up swimming in a white wine, parmigiana sauce. What made our experience top notch was our server, Alissa. She is the shear definition of perfection pertaining to hospitality. She raised the standard for us concerning the restaurant industry. If you can ask for her, you can thank me later!

A.G. P.

Google
Without a doubt THE best crabcake I have ever had anywhere. I don’t wanna hear about Maryland or anywhere else! Piles and piles of lump meat very little cake, absolutely tremendous the sauce was perfect. From the time I got there the valet was super kind and super nice super helpful. We were shown to the lounge to wait for our table as we got there early. My daughter is four years old and they had a gift bag ready for her with very nice gifts to keep her entertained and occupied. Our server at the lounge made our drinks got to our table as we were called before they were served, our table server was just as good as our lounge server new the specials by heart lobster was perfect street corn absolutely unbelievable fresh corn not overly done with mayonnaise.Yukon gold potatoes were cooked perfectly. And the steak with the French onion topping and green cheese was absolutely unbelievable. First class experience start to finish could not have been easier to get in park and get out. This is a must attend must go. You will be surely sorely disappointed if you pass this up 10 out of 10.

Peter K

Google
It had been a while since my last visit but this one did not disappoint. Took some European customers out for a business dinner and everything was great even for our table of 8. Drinks were good and they even had craft non alcoholic beers which was great. The seafood was epic! I had a trio which had Seabass, Swordfish and Salmon skewers along with a crab cake and two shrimp skewers! It was a perfect portion size for being full but not stuffed. Which was good as I was able to try the creme brulee which was epic! To top of it off the weather was clear and there were red, white and blue on the sister bridges downtown. Would highly recommend if you are looking for a great meal with a great view!
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Lissett I.

Yelp
We had our wedding dinner at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, and it was truly everything we had envisioned and more. From start to finish, the experience was exceptional. The food was absolutely outstanding. As a self-proclaimed foodie with very high expectations, I can confidently say every single one of them was exceeded. We hosted a private dinner for 75 guests, and not only was the food delicious, but every single plate came out perfect. Our guests are still talking about how incredible their meals were. The service was equally impressive, attentive, seamless, and truly white-glove. The staff made every guest feel cared for, accommodated dietary needs effortlessly, and ensured everyone felt comfortable and well taken care of throughout the evening. A special thank you to Angelina, the private event coordinator, who was absolutely amazing. She was attentive, professional, warm, and on top of every detail. Her guidance and care made the entire planning process feel easy and stress-free, and the execution on the day of the event was flawless. We've dined at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto many times for regular dinners, and the level of food and service is consistently just as exceptional as it was during our wedding. That consistency speaks volumes. Add to that the absolutely stunning views of the city of Pittsburgh, and the experience is truly unmatched. Hosting our wedding dinner at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto was one of the best decisions we made. The combination of incredible food, top-tier service, breathtaking views, and an elegant private dining experience created a night we and our guests will never forget. We couldn't recommend it more highly for anyone looking to host a special event or enjoy an unforgettable meal.
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Deah B.

Yelp
Food was good not a wow for the price. The crab bisque was good. The portion of crab was deminished compared to previous visits. The Australian lobster tail was very fresh and had a great taste. The crab cake, scallops and scrimp were good. Also had the creme brulee. The cherries and blood oranges were a nice touch. Service was exceptional. Ambiance was clean and good lighting for a 5:30pm dinner.
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Maria M.

Yelp
Very impressed! We visited for my mother-in-law's 70th birthday. This is the first time we've taken her to dinner and she has not complained about the food. The home made sourdough bread was a nice change from traditional bread or rolls. The calamari was the best I've had in the USA. Only bested by the calamari I've had in Greece. The lemon garlic aioli it came with may be my new favorite condiment. I would have purchased it by the bottle had that been an option. The trio appetizer with the blackened shrimp, ichiban skewers, and crab cakes had such a nice variety of flavors. We tried a bit of everything. Crabcakes were all crab and very little filler. The scallops were cook perfectly and full of flavor. The lobster tails were large and juicy. The shrimp huge. The swordfish full of flavor! It was breaded and pan fried then topped with the lemon aioli and a mango salsa. The only items we ordered that did not come out absolutely perfect were the salads which were soggy and lacked dressing. The server was very knowledgeable and able to answer all of our questions regarding both food and drink. He did not miss a beat. The view of the city was phenomenal. And then there were the deserts, we tried three. The angel food cake grilled cheese and the crème brûlée We had a wonderful experience. I can't wait to return.
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Allyson H.

Yelp
Amazing service! Our server was so attentive and friendly. The food was delicious! We got the trio appetizer (crab cake, fish skewer, shrimp) burrata salad, crabcakes, Brussels and tuna! Highly priced but it is fine dining. Felt a little over rated but the crabcakes were huge so that made sense.
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Ha B.

Yelp
Nom! Nom! Nom! What a great dinner. If I have to rank everything we ate, the fresh oysters would come in #1. So fresh and sweet and properly cleaned (no gritty taste). The fillets are a close second--great steaks. The scallops were yummy and crispy on the outside. Everything tastes good honestly. Old fashions are delish. Can't wait to return.
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Karen H.

Yelp
We had a private event yesterday night and had one of the private rooms downstairs. The lighting was fantastic and the staff was nice and attentive. The food was delicious as always, especially the crab cakes! The side we got were decent if a little boring but at least the green beans had some flavor to them. We ended with dessert and I'm sad that the portion size of the angle food cake grilled cheese decreased (it used to be twice the size) but it was good along with the other desserts we got.

Tim M.

Yelp
The ambience is a nine The crabcake was off the charts The lobster tail was excellent The asparagus was good, but was blown away by the brussels sprouts The tuna which was seared on the outside and raw on the inside served over a wasabi sauce was amazing The service was very nice and the waitress very pleasant
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Jayme B.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I had a date night at Monterey Bay on a Sunday evening. We made a reservation in advance. While there is valet parking available, we were able to find street parking close by so we just did that. First off, the views are incredible. You start your visit by taking an elevator upstairs- and the elevator boasts beautiful views. Once upstairs, we were seated after about 5-10 minutes. We had a great table by a window which also boasted amazing views! Our service was great from start to finish. We started with the oysters Rockefeller and the she-crab bisque. For entrees, my boyfriend ordered the chicken chasseur and I ordered the Fritto Misto. Both entrees were generous! We were stuffed after dinner but we did take dessert to go! My boyfriend ordered the chocolate covered pretzel cheesecake and I ordered the dark chocolate mousse. Both desserts were also amazing. Overall, we had a great date night here. Can't wait to visit again!
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Sam S.

Yelp
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto - Pittsburgh, PA 1/2 (4.5 stars) What a treat! Monterey Bay Fish Grotto offers absolutely spectacular views paired with superb service. If you're in the Pittsburgh area, this is the restaurant to visit. From the moment we arrived, everything from the food to the drinks to the ambiance was excellent. It's a fine dining experience without feeling stuffy, and the views overlooking the city are simply stunning -- a perfect spot for a special night out. I would have rated it a full 5 stars, but the steak appetizer missed the mark for me. It came with a very generous portion of steak -- perhaps too generous -- and it was on the chewy side, which ended up being too filling before our entrées even arrived. For my entrée, I had the thinly pounded pork chop Milanese. Visually, it was impressive (you can tell from the pictures -- it was huge!). However, only one corner had the arugula and salad topping, which was unfortunate since the chop itself was a bit dry and really benefited from that flavor contrast. A more even distribution would've made a big difference. That said, I'm already looking forward to my next visit. The overall experience was fantastic, and I highly recommend Monterey Bay Fish Grotto to anyone in the area -- especially if you're looking to impress guests or celebrate something special.
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Rachel M.

Yelp
Would highly recommend Monterey Bay Fish Grotto for a special occasion/high end experience! We loved getting drinks in the lounge before dinner and taking in the beautiful skyline views. The drinks were delicious, and everyone's entrees were delicious! We love the collab with Sarris for the peanut butter buckeye dessert.
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Greg T.

Yelp
Pittsburgh's date night scene is topped by Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, sitting on the upper floor of the Grandview Pointe building in Mt Washington. A friend from work suggested it to meet up and wow did it deliver. Mostly, this is a place where you want to get a reservation ahead of time, but a last minute secret is their amazing lounge/bar one level below the main restaurant. With a full menu and a handful of 4 person tables, this was a terrific place to meet friends on a snowy Saturday evening. The waitress was a delight and very attentive. My wife and I ordered two delicious specialty drinks, her the fruitier "Not My Monkeys, Not my Circus", me the citrusy "Wry Smile". Both were excellent to start while we awaited my coworker and his wife. Once settled, the table ordered appetizers of calamari and a burrata with tomato's. The Calamari was crispy with a delicious aioli sauce and spicy peppers (arrabbiata preparation) and the burrata was a creamy cheese paired wonderfully with blistered tomato's and balsamic dressing. The waitress was thoughtful to provide us plenty of time to enjoy our appetizers before she put in our main order. I ordered the Sablefish, a decadently buttery fish that paired well with the bitter broccoli rabe and tarragon Dijon sauce. Combined with the shareable asparagus and yams, the effect was satisfying. My wife enjoyed their excellent crab cakes (signature style served with 2 sizable lump cakes in a remoulade sauce). It was plenty for her combined with the shareables. Nothing felt rushed and we had an amazing time, enjoying the view of the snow from the cozy confines of the lounge. Time slipped by and as my wife and I left we were certainly glad for the valet service which at $8 was a bargain compared with dealing with snow coming down. A fun night which we are sure to repeat!
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Micky C.

Yelp
Iconic restaurant in Pittsburgh with an amazing view of the city & historic bridges. I came here recently on a business trip with about 10 people (some of them local/native, some first timers). The service was great & the sommelier confirmed my choice in wine which was delicious. There was at least one vegan item on the menu which was a simple veggie pasta. I was told it would have some kind of oil based sauce but I couldn't really taste it. I ended up dumping one of the bread dipping plates on the pasta plus a lot of salt & pepper. It was just a little bland for me. The fries (sans parm) were really good and the simple salad I had I lieu of seafood apps was good. Dessert was a mango sorbet which was delicious. Would I go back? For sure - but I hope they figure out how to put a little more flavor in the vegan pasta by then.
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Brandywyne D.

Yelp
Best crab cakes I've ever had. However, expect to spend a decent bit here, all dinners were over $50 at least. I began with a house Cabernet. The table split the appetizer special which was a crab cake, skewers with tuna, swordfish and salmon and two shrimp. For my dinner, I ordered the lobster arancini appetizer which was very filling and delicious. The sauce it came with was my favorite. The server was very kind and accommodating. We were lucky enough that there was a game at PNC and got to see fireworks. PS. Anyone with a fear of heights like me: There's a glass elevator to the rooftop. Worth the view.

Neli A.

Yelp
Place has an amazing view of the city. My Husband made reservations to celebrate our anniversary here and was not disappointed. Staff were friendly and service provided impeccable. We started with a seafood sampling which included crab cake, fish and shrimp. For entrees I ordered the Chilean sea bass, husband ordered the French onion fillet recommended by our waitress as well as the fettuccine aragosta for our son. All delicious with lots of flavor. For the sides we order the fries and Brussels sprouts which were basic. For special occasions, they include a dessert. Note: sadly an hour or so after, my son had severe stomach pain and threw up multiple times. We had to take him to the ER. He has no allergies so unsure what was the cause.

Cecille C.

Yelp
I cannot rave enough about this restaurant. Make a reservation though! We asked for seating by the window and oh my was it breathtaking at night! Our server was spectacular, so nice, described everything . Food and drinks where 10/10! The parmesan oysters where so good!
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Angie H.

Yelp
OMG...such a fantastic dining experience!!! The atmosphere and view were amazing!! The staff was very friendly and our server, Brent, was absolutely wonderful! He gave excellent recommendations. The lobster tail was the best I've ever had. It was so fresh and cooked to perfection. The Seabass was soooooo good, but a huge portion. I was very sad I couldn't finish it. The stuffed flounder was good, as well. It could have used a bit more flavor but still very good. The lobster bisque was super tasty, too. Drinks were good. I preferred the old fashioned over the martini, and the sweet potato old fashioned was a unique drink to try, but not my cup of tea. The grilled cheese dessert was unique and definitely a must try! I will definitely dine there again when I'm in Pittsburgh. An absolutely awesome dinner!!!
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Antoinette S.

Yelp
Stopped by for dinner last night to celebrate mom's birthday n Father's Day. Lovely restaurant located in mount Washington on the top of a luxury apt building. Riding up the elevator wow what a view. Fancy restaurant w friendly attentive staff n great views of Pittsburgh skyline n the 3 rivers meeting up No doubt it's a pricey restaurant. We had the calamari w arrabiata sauce n Cesar salad w anchovies. Very generous portions. Tasted good. The complimentary bread n butter were good too. We got the penne vodka w shrimp ,Monterey bay best of both w crab cake shrimp n scallops n Monterey bay best of all w crab cake. Shrimp, scallops n lobster. The crab cakes tasted so good n n lobster was full of meat n good. Shrimps were quite large n scallops were good. The pasta tasted good n generous amounts of shrimp. We also got the Mexican street corn which was really good. We topped it off with angel food cake grilled cheese sandwich and mango moment. The grilled cheese sandwich desert was different n so good w berries n sauce. Enough for 3 to share. And the mango moment had mango mousse w fresh cubes of pineapple, mango boba. Was v refreshing. Thanks for a great meal. Will certainly come back for a meal again to celebrate.
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Samuel M.

Yelp
Always amazing, the service is incredible, making special occasions feel personable. The crab cakes are some of the best I've had, and the angel food grilled cheese dessert is to die for. Not to mention a great view of Pittsburgh.
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Charles F.

Yelp
I really really wanted to fall in love with MBFG but we all walked away with that shaking feeling that it wasn't worth it. Let start with the beginning. MBFG is a celebration destination. Birthdays, Anniversaries, Wedding proposals, Client agreements, and more. MBFG offers stunning views of downtown Pittsburgh. With the tall glass windows in the dining rooms and in the lounge area, you have a clear view of downtown Pittsburgh and the surroundings. The service is attentive and with the new menu there's now something for everyone but that's where the accolades come to a screeching halt. One diner's Linguini Pescatore had an overcooked lobster tail and overcooked shrimp. The other diners Linguini Pescatore was just okay. While I appreciate the vegan option Linguini with vegetables it lacked flavor and seasoning Full disclosure - Jen our server did check on us multiple times and we didn't discuss our issues with her. The bottom line is the views and service are outstanding but our dishes didn't meet those levels.
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Sarah K.

Yelp
I've been wanting to go to Monterey Bay for awhile now because I've heard so many great reviews about the restaurant. My hubby & I decided to try it out for our 1st anniversary. First off, I was a little disappointed that they didn't place us next to the window since we were celebrating a special anniversary and specificallly noted that on the reservation. However, overall, the service was great and our waitress allowed us time to think through our decisions and didn't rush us throughout the night. For starters, my husband and I shared the lobster arancini. It's really hard to mess up arancini, so these were tasty. However, I was wanting more lobster & lobster flavoring from this dish. We also ordered the seafood sampler as an appetizer, which included crab cake, salmon, and swordfish. Everything was cooked well, but each dish was lacking in flavor. For our entrées, my husband ordered the Cioppino dish and was pleased with his choice. I chose the French onion filet. Having our waitress pour the French onion soup broth over the filet was a nice touch, but the taste left something to be desired. It just was not seasoned enough, and the filet was lacking a sauce to tie the dish together. We also got the broccolini and parsley potatoes that weren't anything special. Since it was our anniversary, we did get a dessert on the house, which was their famous angel food cake grilled cheese. This is the reason I came to this restaurant because I've heard amazing things about this dessert, which is award winning. However, once again, the flavor wasn't there. You could barely taste the marscapone filling and the berry compote wasn't strong enough to make the dish well rounded. Although this restaurant is aesthetically pleasing due to its views of Pittsburgh, I much prefer Altius and LeMont, the other infamous Mt. Washington restaurants. I'm not opposed to coming back to try some different dishes; this just may not be my first choice on Mt. Washington.
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Dalv C.

Yelp
Another awesome place. Come for the view and stay for the food. Came here with some friends for a good non stressful time. 1) Place is excellent. Extremely fancy, welcoming, and clean. 2) The views are worth the price. Bring your big wallet. 3) The food is excellent! Every dish was great! This place is a perfect place to bring friends, colleagues, and that special someone in your life. It is expensive but don't let that scare you. Great place! Great food! Excellent service! Amazing city view. Love it!
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Opal I.

Yelp
Outstanding food with a spectacular view! Ordered the crab cakes & scallops - best scallops ever!!! Dessert - Angel food cheese sandwich DELISH!!!!
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Tammy L.

Yelp
Monterey bay is such a great staple in Pittsburgh- and you really can't beat those views! The food is always top notch. The crab cakes are spectacular and the grilled angel food cake dessert is insane. This time I noticed the menu changed a bit so I tried the Chilean sea bass instead. The Chilean sea bass was probably one of the best tasting fish dishes I've ever had! It was sitting on top of this amazing smoke beurre de blanc mixture with squash, carrots, fennel, and more - it was SO GOOD! They also had some fabulous new desserts including the creamsicle cheesecake and praline crunch. I loved the creamsicle cheesecake and will definitely get that again next time. The praline crunch was a bit too sweet for me. Can't wait to come back!
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Ryan G.

Yelp
Great experience at Monterey with my lady. From the valet parking, to our elevator ride up, to our service with Blake, everyone was fantastic. Of course the food was absolutely amazing too. And the view!!! Unreal. I definitely recommend for that special night out. Make a reservation and grab that window seat ahead of time!
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Suzan H.

Yelp
LOVE their food. LOVE their bar choices (especially their wine list). LOVE their staff (especially Zach, James and Thomas). Will definitely be back often. We weren't going to order a dinner as we just wanted drinks and appetizers, but the GOLDEN TILE FISH sounded intriguing. And it was! We shared it and had plenty for the two of us. We also order a salad that was terrific. Throw in their amazing cheesecake (type) dessert and you have one amazing meal (and I don't like cheesecake). Let's meet there next time you go!

Bryan M.

Yelp
First off I will say that I've dined at this restaurant many times over the years and usually always have a great experience (hence why I keep coming back). I've had momentous occasions in my life around a meal here. I threw a retirement party for my dad in 2007 here with a party of 25+ people, I ate here right before proposing to my wife on Mt. Washington, etc. I've also hosted MANY out of town corporate visitors here over the years. Which is what brought me to visit earlier this week- a work dinner. There were multiple things that happened which lead me to write this review. 1. I ordered surf and turf medium well. When our food came out for the table, the waiter also had the manager with him. I had my food set down in front of me and immediately heard him say to the manager quietly "you're going to need to address this" or something to that effect. Before even picking up my knife or fork, the waiter immediately explained that my steak was done medium rare and not medium well as I had ordered it. I could order something else or they could finish the steak. Why even put it down in front of me if you already knew there was a mistake? That's really strange. I told them to finish the steak as I ordered it, not a big deal at all. They took my entire meal back- then a few mins later brought just my lobster back so I could eat that while my steak cooked. A few minutes later my steak came back, no big deal. Apology was offered and accepted- no issue. 2. When the bill came is when multiple problems happened. I'm always in the habit of checking my bill no matter where I go. I'm glad I did. We were charged for a $7 bottle of spring water that no one ordered at our table. I politely told the waiter, he apologized and took it off and ran my card for the proper amount. Ok fine. Whatever. 3. When my card and paperwork returned, strike 3 happened. My card was run for nearly $170 LESS than what my bill total was. Jackpot right?!?!? No. I'm an honest person and I called the waiter back over yet again and asked him why I was charged so much less than the bill. He was super apologetic and said it was a mistake. He had the manager zero out the initial transaction then ran my card again for the proper amount. So all of this stuff on its own is not a big deal. At all. I was super polite. Nice as could be. Didn't complain. Didn't ask for a manager. Didn't ask for anything. I fact, by opening my mouth about the billing mistake I paid an additional $170 (plus generous tip) than I could've gotten away with paying. Because I'm honest. But you know what- after 3 strikes during this meal- it sure feels like the absolute least they could've done ( besides apologize and thank me several times for being honest) was to actually do SOMETHING to apologize for all their mistakes. Take something off my bill (my steak was done wrong but they knew about it immediately and brought it out anyway which was weird). Offer a free dessert. $20 off. Something. Anything. Show me that you appreciate me as a customer and all the hiccups we had. I spent almost $500 on this meal. Again food was awesome and overall service was good too. But after all the issues, it sure feels like something could've been done or offered to make me feel more valued besides a handshake and thank you. It's going to make me think twice the next time my boss comes to town about where to go.
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Tiffany Y.

Yelp
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto is an upscale seafood restaurant that is located on Mount Washington and offers gorgeous views of the Pittsburgh skyline. The dining room has two levels and has glass walls that allow customers to see downtown Pittsburgh's skyscrapers and rivers while they eat their meals. The menu lists foods such as oysters, calamari, shrimp, mussels, lobster, crab cakes, scallops, sea bass, flounder, salmon, swordfish, tuna, branzino, etcetera. My husband and I have eaten meals at this restaurant for over a decade. During our most recent meal, the seating hostess promptly greeted and seated us. Our waitress was prompt and courteous. Here are my reviews for our foods: Peach-Please mocktail - 5 stars. This mocktail contained peach ginger beer, ginger peach tea, blackberry syrup, and lime. Surprisingly, it tasted very sour, even after mixing it, but I really liked it. Mediterranean salad - 5 stars - I greatly enjoyed the large amount of greens, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, red onions, pepperoncini, chick peas, feta cheese, and red-wine vinaigrette. Caesar salad - 4 stars - This Caesar salad was fresh and tasted as expected. Seafood trio appetizer - 4.3 stars - The crab cake was very meaty and tasted very good (5 stars). Skewers contained chunks of tuna, swordfish, and salmon (4 stars). A couple of shrimp were nicely cooked and seasoned (4 stars). Jamaican king salmon - 5 stars - The salmon was cooked perfectly, and I liked its jerk seasoning, curry-butter sauce, and side of Caribbean confetti rice. Ahi big-eye tuna - 2.5 stars - My husband ate this entree, and he did NOT like the large amount of sinew or connective tissue, which gave the tuna an extremely chewy texture. Tuna is his favorite fish, and he orders it at many restaurants, and we have not seen so much sinew elsewhere. He did like the spicy sauce and the side of pesto linguini. Angel-food grilled-cheese sandwich - 5 stars - This dessert might sound unusual, but it was delicious. Caramelized angel food cake contained cream-cheese filling and was served with berry compote, vanilla ice cream, and almonds.
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Alexa C.

Yelp
The angel food grilled cheese sandwich totally lives up to its hype! Caramelized angel food cake, cream cheese filling, berry compote, vanilla bean ice cream, toasted sweet & salty almonds
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Sam T.

Yelp
Ambience... Phenomenal! Drinks... Phenomenal! Service... Decrepit x2 When the redheaded server realized that we weren't staying for dinner, her entire demeanor changed. This was also the second time she did this to us when it was time to close out. They also added a 20% gratuity... Didn't tell us... And didn't provide an itemized receipt.
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Alan M.

Yelp
The ambience and view (if you are able to get a window seat - they aren't guaranteed even if you make a reservation) is nice and makes for an enjoyable experience. Looking at the city all lit up at night from on-top of a mountain is hard to beat. The service was less than stellar. It appears they use a swarm approach where multiple people attend to tables (at least in the lower floor/lounge area, where we sat). I've seen this approach work at other high-end restaurants but this restaurant does not have that methodology figured out - at least not the crew serving us that evening. We probably got as much help from the busboy as we did from our servers because our servers were less than proactive about drink refills and condiments for our appetizers and entrees (also no steak knife provided for a huge steak, so I sat and looked at my food for several minutes before a busboy was kind enough to get me one). The food itself was of good quality- definitely recommend the crab cakes and swordfish. The steak was good and cooked as requested but seemed to have a fair amount of tendon which made for a chewy bite here and there as well as difficulty cutting (especially since there are no tablecloths of the tables in the lounge area). I will say, I'm being fairly critical of many details because a meal here for two people easily gets into the $200 range, and for that kind of money, everything should be perfect or near perfect. Compared to the other high-end restaurants we've patronized, the only reason I would come here over some of the others we enjoy would be the view. Otherwise, the food, and certainly the service, didn't impress me enough to come back/choose this venue over some of my/our other favorites.
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Geno C.

Yelp
Everything is amazing. Took my wife here for her birthday and we were really amazed with the food, the scenery, service and everything!!!
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Colin S.

Yelp
The views are great. The servers are nice. I liked the bread and the cocktail. The rest of the food was very average. My Pescatore Linguini with a "spicy tomato sauce" was very disappointing. The sauce tasted like it was just tomatoes. No seasoning whatsoever, not even salt. On the spiciness scale, it was a zero. I'm not trying to be mean here. I was just very surprised that a $60 bowl of pasta was so bland. I added salt and pepper and it was a little better. The scallop was the best part, so I can recommend people order that, just not in this dish. My companions thought their crab cakes and shrimp were decent, but nothing more. We shared the brussels sprouts and they were so covered in sweet sauce we could only eat a little bit. We were celebrating a birthday and they nicely brought us a complementary piece of their "grilled cheese" angel cake dessert which pretty good, and appreciated. Sorry to write a bad review, but for the price, this was a fail.
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Johannah C.

Yelp
I took my mom here for her 70th birthday. The staff made her feel extremely special. Everything was amazing. The service was phenomenal, the ambiance was great and the food was delicious. It was a lovely evening and we will be back

Carol B.

Yelp
This is one of best restaurants in Pgh Great view wonderful food but really pricey It's a special occasion place. High end service and great drinks but be prepared to spend at least $50.00 a person
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Vol T.

Yelp
Spectacular view of Pittsburgh from Mt Washington. I was there for work team building event. We had our own area. Service was great. Food was delicious! The crab cakes were served as hors d'oeuvres, and so happy. I grabbed 4 of those lol. Sooooo good!!! Real chunks of crab mmm. I had the sea bass for main, which was excellent. Dessert was their signature, I forget the name but it was delicious. Overall a great experience. Fantastic venue. I really enjoyed it.
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Erin H.

Yelp
Chris was an incredible server! The food was to die for and the view is absolutely beautiful. Perfect restaurant for a special night with family or friends. Would 100% go back when in town!
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J E.

Yelp
First off, the views here are probably some of the best in the City! You drive up, drop your car off at valet out front and then take a elevator with glass walls up to the dining room. The elevator ride offers amazing views, but the line to get on (from the bottom or top) is ridiculous. Once at the top, the hostess takes your info and gets you a seat - In our situation, we had an amazing seat on the very upper deck with views out 3 sides of the restaurant's windows - amazing! The shades are automatic and will go back up when the sun goes down, giving more views. Bottom line - amazing views here!! The menu is quite expansive and very nice... prices on the food are high, but prices on the wines are decent - doesn't seem to make sense. Calamari is $29, entrée is $45, and wine is about $50 - Odd! But in the end, it seems to work out. The calamari was spot-on! Tender, not rubbery, incredible batter - great flavors! We tried both styles and loved them both! Salads are excellent! Ceasar comes with anchovies on top as an option. Greek was excellent! Then, entrées - There fish selection was incredible, large, and amazing! The servings are huge! But those crab cakes are amazing! This is from someone from Maryland - Easily some of the most amazing crab cakes we've had! Then, save room for dessert - definitely worth indulging! That's "grilled cheese" dessert was innovative and pretty darn good! Service was excellent, friendly, knowledgeable, and very helpful! Of course the venue is outstanding! Overall, definitely a great go to for special occasions!!
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Cassie D.

Yelp
Amazing! 10 stars! You HAVE TO GO. We had a few "must eat" placed recommended to us and we can't stress enough how fabulous this dining experience was. From the elevator ride up overlooking the city to the instant warm welcome and instant availability of a window table we couldn't have been more excited. Our server James was kind, super knowledgeable and ensured we made informed menu decisions and had a wonderful window picture! We each had a cocktail to start, I tried the rhubarb gin one which was outstanding and my bf had the classic old fashioned. From there we split the Caesar salad and the lobster arancini's to start. The salad was phenomenal and such a fun presentation. The lobster arancini's were also wonderful, but definitely hearty! For our mains we did the French onion filet and the best of all crab cake entree and a bottle of Bordeaux. Everything was absolutely delicious, the manager came to check on us and our server went above and beyond. We had such a wonderful experience and will definitely be back.
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Nicci S.

Yelp
The service was incredible, and the ambiance was so romantic. It was very cute that I got a free birthday desert and it was so delicious!! We started with crispy calamari and it was okay, it wasn't really crispy and some pieces had a weird texture but the lemon sauce was good. I ordered the she-crab bisque to start and it was really good! The brussel sprouts were very tasty as well they were like an orange chicken sauce Asian style (idk how else to explain it lol). The chicken supreme mashed potatoes were so good, and the chicken was okay, I would've preferred it without all the skin but once I took it off it was fine. Overall a great experience!
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Gloria M.

Yelp
The atmosphere in the main dining room was really nice and it was a full house on a Tuesday. I made a reservation for 1 but the host suggested I just go to the bar area, which was a level below. I was able to sit at a window table there but the service wasn't great. Caesar salad was disappointing (as pictured) and I had to ask for utensils and napkin. Scallops and crab cake were good but not good enough to go back.
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Joey V.

Yelp
Took my girlfriend to MBFG for her birthday and it was a lovely evening. The place has one of the best views of the city and makes for a very romantic setting. Our server was very friendly and took great care of us throughout the evening. As far as the food, we started with the crispy calamari and it was good. I wish it was a little more crispy but was still good. I then got a Caesar salad and it was delicious. My main entre was the stuffed shrimp and it was very good. The shrimp was tasty and the veggie noddles with sauce was excellent. Concluded the evening with the desert and it was fantastic!!! 5/5 two thumbs up. Very happy with our visit and hope to be back soon.
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Peter C.

Yelp
We went here this past Saturday night to celebrate my daughter's birthday. John our server was amazing. Bread was served with dinner and they also had a hot gluten free bread for as well. I had the gluten free crab cake which was a big portion. The photos are the seafood pasta dish which my daughter loved and had a lot of leftovers. The desserts are the tiramisu and the house specialty, angel food grilled cheese sandwich. They were both outstanding. Very gluten free friendly restaurant. Thomas the maitre de was very accommodating as well. What a great night
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Kaylie W.

Yelp
Monterey Bay has what I think is the best view of the Pittsburgh skyline. Before, my Mt Washington pick for views was Altius, but Monterey Bay really blew me away. In my opinion, Altius has better interior design, but Monterey Bay has the better view as it sits atop a higher building with larger windows. Service was impeccable and fast. We came for restaurant week and the deal was amazing. $45 for a three course meal. Thus, the food might be different than their norm. The starters were all amazing. The goat cheese in the salad exceeded my expectations. I am not a big goat cheese fan, but this one was smooth, buttery, with no smell. The she crab bisque was also well done. I've had it at different places around Pittsburgh and so far, Monterey Bay was the best. There are small chunks of crab, and the bisque is not too salty or thick. The entrees, however, were not great. Again, this might be due to the fact it's a restaurant week menu. The entrees didn't hit the fine dining expectation that much. The filet mignon was over cooked and a bit hard. The chicken piccata was too sour. The shrimp Florentine wasn't bad, and the flavor profile was complex. Buttery with hints of lemon. However, nothing that really blew me away as the presentation of the dish looks like any normal pasta. But the portions were generous, and was the size of two meals for me. Dessert and drinks were exceptional. I like trying interesting menu items, and the angel cake grilled cheese definitely left an impression. It tasted like cheesecake with fruit jam on the side to balance the sweetness. I wouldn't recommend the crème brûlée though as it was way too sweet. Drink menu was also intriguing. I got the why yuzu serious and my friend got the peru we love you. I enjoyed the yuzu one as it was refreshing and original. One thing is that I couldn't really taste the vodka, whereas my friend had the opposite problem. For her, the rum in her drink was too strong and overpowered the other flavors. Overall, Monterey Bay is a restaurant I'd go back again to try their regular menu. The ambiance left a great impression on me, as did some of the dishes.
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Imani B.

Yelp
The food is delicious, atmosphere & ambience are too die for. The view from the window tables, absolutely amazing. The general manager personally came too my table and checked on me during my meal, which was appreciated.
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Lauren S.

Yelp
First off - you cannot beat the view and service that Monterey Bay offers! It is a must go at least once. But with that being said, their food is only so-so at best. If you're looking to take someone on a one of kind type dining experience, this place nails atmosphere and service. Just temper your expectations when it comes to the food...
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Michelle Z.

Yelp
Lovely place to celebrate a special occasion! The views of Pittsburgh are spectacular here. If you're lucky to be seated near a window, it's probably one of the best dining experiences you can get in the entire city! The interior of this place feels really luxurious and upscale. Big floor to ceiling windows really complete the grandiose vibe of the place. It's an absolutely gorgeous place to dine. The food here is pretty unique for your typical fine dining place imo! They have a lot of interesting menu options with various flavor profiles, so there's something for everyone. We ordered calamari to share, and for my main I got the halibut. It tasted fresh and pretty healthy -- not too heavy or oily. For dessert we got the "grilled cheese" which was so decadent! They customized it for our special occasion too which was such a nice touch. The service here is top notch too. We felt well taken care of the entire night. Would highly recommend if you're looking for an excellent place to treat yourself or someone else to a wonderful meal!
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Marissa W.

Yelp
Monterey Bay is a fabulous experience from beginning to end. Pro tip - make your reservation for 30 minutes prior to sunset so you get to see the city in various lights. It is also easier to get a window table with an early seating (you can't make the request via reservation but you can when you arrive). I appreciated the valet parking and coat check, solidifying the high end experience. While I would return and pay full price, we visited during restaurant week where a three course meal cost $45. It was an absolute steal with no compromise on service. The food is fresh and thoughtful, be sure to save room for dessert. The cocktails were inventive and strong and the wine menu was great. I appreciated the menu was clearly marked with gluten free items (although risk of cross contamination) and gluten free bread was provided to start the meal. I look forward to returning!
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Nayda M.

Yelp
This restaurant is amazing the food and service is always great. the view of this restaurant is amazing. when we are in pittsburgh we always come here.
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Juan D.

Yelp
My girl and I spent the weekend in Pittsburgh (her 1st time) and I wanted to take her somewhere with views of the city and spectacular food. Mission accomplished! They were fully booked Saturday so we decided to sit at the bar. First off, this may be one of the only places in the city where it only costs $8 to valet park your car! Secondly, the elevator ride up to the restaurant was itself a treat. Views of the city I didn't expect. When we arrived there were 2 seats at the bar so we didn't have to wait. This area/floor of the restaurant is first come first serve and I really like that. Again, spectacular views while you sip and dine. James the bartender was AMAZING. Very knowledgeable with accurate descriptions of any of the entrees we asked about. My girl picked the scallops with risotto and I went with the pork chop in a siracha bbq sauce. Both were perfection!! Very little talking during dinner lol. I mean how good can you really make a pork chop? Well apparently they have a well executed secret the rest of the culinary world doesn't know yet. From what pairs best recommendations to talk of traveling, James was one of the best bartenders I've met. He made the experience exceptional in addition to the food. I left my LV sunglasses there when we left and was happy that they were turned in and kept safe till I got them the next day. I will say, one of the best experiences we've had ever. We will definitely visit Monterey Bay again when we are in Pittsburgh. 5 Stars!!!