Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Monterey / Carmel

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Monterey / Carmel? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Kona Steak and Seafood

4.8

4.8 (102)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Monterey

About the restaurant

KONA Steak & Seafood was voted the "Best New Restaurant" winner on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula for 2023. Located in the popular Del Monte Shopping Center in Monterey, just minutes from Carmel, Pacific Grove, & all Peninsula cities.
A fabulous menu! Enjoy fresh seafood, lobster, Hawaiian loco moco, fresh ahi tuna, a great bacon cheeseburger, bone-in rib eye, miso-glazed seabass, filet mignon, macadamia nut crusted halibut, entree salads, cioppino, seafood pasta, Maui onion soup, coconut curry soup, and a large host of enticing appetizers. Enjoy KONA's generous portions, good value, & free abundant parking! The house baked desserts are worth a trip on their own..... incredible!! The gorgeous "ZenDen Bar" features full bar & "Tiki Bar" style concoctions curated with house made ingredients, and nightly Happy Hour from 3:00-9:00pm. Local wine list, craft draft beers, kid's menu, dog-friendly lanai/patio dining, continuous lunch & dinner service 7 days a week from 11:00am.

Top review

John

Dined 1 day ago

Best Loco Moco ever. Started with the tempura artichoke hearts which were cooked to perfection with a very light tempura coating and served with an excellent sauce. Enjoyed a couple of Elvis Presley cocktails that were incredible. Definitely would recommend this place. The service is always a balance of friendly and professional and the kitchen is always “on point”. Thank you Billy Quon, another awesome evening at one of your restaurants.

Dametra Cafe

4.7

4.7 (229)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Carmel

About the restaurant

Dametra Cafe is a casual Mediterranean restaurant. Here, diners can expect high-quality healthy food delivered quickly in a relaxed atmosphere. The decor and styling of the dining room is distinctly Greek, specifically like one of the many coastal cities that the country is known for. Between that and the hearty portions and prompt service, Dametra Cafe sits nicely between an upscale restaurant and quick-service places.Dametra's Cafe features primarily Greek cuisine, with some Italian and Spanish thrown in for good measure. Appetizers include hummus with pita bread, fried calamari, grilled jumbo prawns and steamed mussels in a white wine and garlic sauce. The meals are split between sandwiches, pasta and entrée offerings and features dishes such as shrimp and crab ravioli, a salmon burger with red onion and tomatoes, lamb shish kebab and a Greek style lamb shank with rice pilaf and fresh vegetables.

Top review

RussellVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Expect live entertainment, and audience participation. A fun evening.

Nicolas Cocina de Herencia

4.7

4.7 (277)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Carmel

About the restaurant

Reservations are not needed but are recommended, Walk ins are Welcome.

The newest creation from the owners of the beloved Villa Azteca in Downtown Salinas (Salinas City Center), the eatery honoring the Alvarez family patriarch will open Summer 2023 in Carmel Plaza. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant will have indoor dining, bar seating and a small outdoor space, serving specialty Michoacán dishes as well as other Mexican favorites, incorporating three generations of family recipes.

Top review

LornaVIP

Dined 1 day ago

We had a great birthday dinner! The Paraiso martini was wonderfully flavorful with a kick of subtle heat on the salted rim. I had the halibut mole. The mole had amazing depth of flavor and a gentle heat. The fish was a bit overcooked and dry, but with so much delicious mole it hardly mattered. All of the sides were thoughtfully prepared and paired nicely with the entrée. My husband had the chicken enchiladas and he said they were the best that he has ever had. Since it was my birthday, they gave me a free scoop of ice cream and we also ordered a slice of the tres leches cake to share. Both were very good. Our server (Guillermo?) was attentive and friendly. We will definitively be back.

Turn 12 Bar And Grill

4.6

4.6 (390)

$30 and under

American

Monterey

About the restaurant

Due to limited seating during this time we are only accepting phone in reservations.
Our outdoor patio is open and we are doing take-out.

Turn 12 Bar and Grill waved the green flag on October 1, 2013. The modern and sporty decor surround a spectacular 50 foot custom zinc bar top with tire tread inlay. Vintage motorcycles, historic racing artwork, and multiple televisions capture your attention upon entering. With a menu that serves a little of everything, from steaks and pasta, to pizza, burgers and salads Turn 12 is a casual American Bar and Grill with something for everyone.

The name Turn 12 is related to the famous Laguna Seca Raceway that has 11 turns and meant to invite guests to visit us at the corner of Tyler and Franklin as the last turn of the day.

Top review

Allyson

Dined on Nov 30, 2024

Food was 5/5, highly recommend the corkscrew burger. Service was 5/5, the server was attentive and friendly. The drinks were 2/5. A margarita is not complicated to make, yet this one seemed to be missing both the flavor of the lime juice and the tequila. There was a sour taste to it. It was a birthday celebration not sure if anything special is done but it wasn’t acknowledged. Other than that, I do recommend coming to eat here but hold off at the cocktails.

Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro

4.6

4.6 (101)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Carmel

About the restaurant

Situated in the Carmel Plaza in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, our bistro offers beers from our R&D program crafted on a pilot five barrel brewhouse - the only of its kind in one of the most picturesque and famed coastal towns in the country. Featuring an expansive, 60+ seat outdoor patio and a full bar, along with an ample dining room that can be sectionalized for private events. And the food! The Bistro offers California coastal cuisine with a regional twist, utilizing locally sourced ingredients that vary with the season.

Top review

RichardVIP

Dined on Dec 4, 2024

The smashburger was excellent. Crisp fries and other sides were great too.

Fish Hopper

4.5

4.5 (3748)

$30 and under

Seafood

Monterey

About the restaurant

Experience the beauty of the Pacific Ocean combined with world-class dining on historic Cannery Row, just a short walk from the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The newly renovated Fish Hopper, housed in an original sardine cannery building, offers spectacular views of the stunning Monterey Bay from every table, including our heated outdoor patio. The Fish Hopper specializes in fresh, sustainable seafood, certified Angus beef, pastas, and live shellfish. Our seafood is either locally caught or shipped in fresh daily, and our produce is locally grown in the Salinas Valley. Some favorites include fresh Monterey Bay abalone, macadamia-crusted halibut, our famous “Tomahawk Chop” bone-in rib eye, and fresh Dungeness crab. Start your meal with our award-winning clam chowder, and indulge in one of our many exotic cocktail creations or a selection from our extensive wine collection. While enjoying your delicious meal, you can watch sea otters at play and even catch a glimpse of the occasional whale.

Top review

Nick

Dined 2 days ago

The food and service was great. We’ve been going there for years and my daughter wanted to go there for her 16th birthday dinner. Our favorite restaurant on Cannery Row.

Salt Wood Kitchen and Oysterette

4.5

4.5 (1287)

$30 and under

Unspecified

Marina

About the restaurant

Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette is an award-winning upscale seafood restaurant in Marina, CA. Indulge in a culinary experience like no other with a live show kitchen, tantalizing oyster bar, and perfectly cooked steaks. Join us for daily happy hour and enjoy our carefully crafted cocktail and wine program. Savor weekend brunch while relaxing on our pet-friendly patio. Whether you're planning a wedding, memorial, or business dinner, our private dining spaces are available to create a memorable event. Come and discover why our seafood restaurant is a top choice for those seeking exceptional cuisine and unforgettable dining experiences in Marina, CA. Open Monday - Friday from 2 PM- 9:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10AM - 9:30PM.

Top review

AllisonVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing service from start to finish beginning at the hostess stand. We never had to worry about whether our server was coming back to check on us, he also had an assistant server who cleared plates and checked in on us as well. (The check in’s were not overbearing). Food was phenomenal, we had the 14h NY strip, clams, oysters, olive bread & sea salt and a bottle of Daou Cab. Great ambiance, cool setting - there is even a display of oysters on the wall with rocks behind a metal bar caging. The bathroom also had a unique approach to soap- used an essential oil infused salt! Highly recommended and will definitely return on our next trip to Monterey!

Discover more

Popular dish

Grilled Oysters

Flaherty's Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar

4.3

4.3 (1456)

$30 and under

Seafood

Carmel

About the restaurant

We know good seafood, we know how to buy it and we know how to prepare it. Unlike most restaurants (even the best of them) where fish is often a secondary item on the menu. at Flaherty's it's all about seafood.

Top review

ROBERT

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Rodney is a great server and pours a mean drink! Outstanding!

Discover more

Popular dish

English Fish and Chips

Popular dish

English Fish & Chips

Abalonetti Bar and Grill

4.3

4.3 (536)

$30 and under

Seafood

Monterey

About the restaurant

Abalonetti Bar and Grill is one of the original restaurants on Monterey's Historic Fisherman's Wharf. Famous for Monterey calamari, we now feature more than 20 different preparations from local squid processed in-house. With ample ocean views, the Wharf's largest waterfront pet-friendly patio, a full bar, cocktail menu and local wine list, Abalonetti has been a favorite of locals for decades, providing a fun and casual waterfront dining experience.

Top review

NeliVIP

Dined on Dec 9, 2024

This is fhe first time my family visited Abalonetti Bar and Grill, and we liked it. The food was delishious, and the service was spotless. I especially liked the oysters with pesto, and my husband liked the crusted rockfish. My mother enjoyed her angel hair pasta, too. On the flip side, they have only four deserts on the menu and tiramisu is not one of them. They do not have espresso, either. Very disappointing. I recommend this restaurant for its great location, delicious food and the friendly and professional service.

Discover more

Popular dish

Calamari Tacos

Edwin's Kaona Carmel

4.2

4.2 (179)

$30 and under

Asian

Carmel

About the restaurant

Edwin's Carmel is a South East Asian Fusion Restaurant located in the heart of Carmel by the Sea, CA.

Top review

Xin

Dined on Dec 1, 2024

Great food, cute location, friendly server! Also had live music- a bonus since it was unplanned-for. Since we had a group of 4, we went for the "small" island basket, which was 3 entrees and 2 appetizers on a giant woven basket / platter. Very special experience (and SO much food :-) Only downside was that we'd originally made lunch reservations but the restaurant was clearly not open when we showed up (on time for the reservation itself; half an hour after the restaurant's opening time for the day). Ended up going in for dinner instead (hence the "unplanned" part of the live music). Would highly recommend, aside from the owner's opening-up glitch.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Monterey / Carmel

Explore more Diners' Choice lists