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Sardine Factory, Monterey, CA
Award-winning

Sardine Factory

4.7
4.7
5070 Reviews
$50 and over
Seafood
701 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 42 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Romantic
  • Charming
Every city has that one can’t miss restaurant, where celebrities feel at home and every other guest feels like a celebrity. Since October 2, 1968, The Sardine Factory’s cachet has made dining in our historic Cannery Row setting a tradition for world leaders, sports heroes and entertainment icons. Our award-winning chefs prepare delectable creations of fresh, sustainable seafood and USDA Prime Aged Beef; winner of Restaurant Hospitality Magazine’s "Best Wine List in America" award. The Lounge’s live entertainment, Happy Hour and affordable menu are a casual alternative to our other dining rooms. Celebrating over 50 years under the same ownership and management! Voted "Best Restaurant in Monterey" by Monterey County Herald readers.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Steak
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 5:00 pm–6:00 pm Daily 8:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Benjamin Brandt
  • Private party facilities
    Whether a family gathering or a corporate event, our professional and warmly attentivestaff assists in coordinating each detail. The Sardine Factory offers three unique and elegant dining rooms which provide a choice of ambiance for groups from 12 to 220 and luncheon groups from 25 and up. Call us to get your event started! (831) 373-3775
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Neighborhood
    Monterey
  • Cross street
    Prescott
  • Parking details
    Enter off of Wave Street ascending the driveway. Self park Sunday through Thursday with self park or valet service available Fridays and Saturdays. ADA Wheelchair entrance from parking lot.
  • Public transit
    MST stop less than 2 blocks away on the corner of Wave St. & David.
  • Entertainment
    David Conley at the Piano Tuesday through Saturday. David has been a professional musician since the age of 17. He has played in numerous bands, opening for various acts such as Steppenwolf, Black Oak Arkansas, Rick Derringer, Crash Test Dummies and more. Versatile and accommodating David takes and plays requests from Led Zeppelin to Elvis Presley to the Everly Brothers.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 5,070 people are saying

Sardine Factory reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • California Central Coast

    Romantic

  • California Central Coast

    Seafood

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Best Ambiance

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Great for fine wines

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Romantic

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Good for special occasions

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Seafood

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Sardine Factory in Monterey offers an "amazing experience" with its "outstanding" service and "excellent" food. Guests enjoy a "beautiful" ambiance, particularly in the Conservatory, and rave about dishes like the butterfish and Chilean sea bass. It's perfect for special occasions, with many patrons returning for "memorable" celebrations.

5,070 Reviews
  1. Sterling VIP

    Naples25 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Love listening to David Conley the pianist. He is fabulous! Every song he plays is know and recognizable. Does the best rendition of Secret Agent Man you have ever heard. Great atmosphere and of course the food is terrific.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Richard VIP

    San Francisco36 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was not our first time at The Sardine Factory, but it was perhaps our best experience. The craft cocktails before dinner were excellent, and the wine list was impressive. The calamari, sardines, and crab cakes were a great way to start the meal. The abalone bisque was epic as always. For a main, we had a pasta, the sole, and the abalone- all of which were delicious. The ginger peach intermezzo served in an ice swan was both beautiful and delicious.  The ice cream bonbons flowing with dry ice was a creative presentation for a delicious dessert. The only thing better than the food was this service. We will definitely be back. 
    Sardine FactoryResponded 2 days ago
    Dear Richard, Thank you for your recent visit and for taking the time to review our restaurant. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your food and even better service. We love hearing that! We appreciate your patronage and hope you will visit us again very soon.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Mick

    Hawaii1 review

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was excellent however the Abalone was not to my liking! Additionally rib eye steak moderate not worth the price. Calamari appetizer was delcious! Great place for drinks and appetizers!
    Sardine FactoryResponded 2 days ago
    Mick, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We’re glad to hear there were some positives during your visit, but we also recognize there’s room for improvement. Your feedback is valuable, and we’d appreciate the chance to make your next visit truly exceptional.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Greg VIP

    Dallas15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Easter dinner, well planned, excellent food and great service.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 2 days ago
    Dear Greg, Thank you for choosing The Sardine Factory to celebrate Easter with us. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed our "excellent food and great service." We appreciate your patronage and look forward to serving you again!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Kornelia VIP

    Central Coast10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We all ordered the Prix Fixe menu on Easter Sunday. The halibut, lamb, and prime rib with their respective sides were excellent, as were the tomato bisque, wedge salad with creamy avocado dressing, and desserts. The service was friendly and efficient. Enjoying a great meal in the restaurant's beautiful Conservatory on a gorgeous spring day made the day even more special. Overall, a very pleasant experience - just like every other time we've eaten there.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 2 days ago
    Dear Kornelia, Thank you for choosing The Sardine Factory to celebrate Easter with us. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your delicious food, great service and memorable atmosphere. We appreciate your patronage and look forward to serving you again!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Jeff

    Los Angeles5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Just a great dining experience, service and food outstanding. Always enjoy the knowledge of the Sommelier’s and the wine cellar tour. Can’t recommend enough! Thanks Dave and Angel
    Sardine FactoryResponded 2 days ago
    Dear Jeff, We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit and thank you for your review. Your patronage is appreciated and we look forward to serving you again very soon!

    Is this helpful?

  7. CHRIS

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our favorite restaurant in Monterey. We just celebrated our anniversary and were treated special (thanks Mauro and Nacho). Their food is always delightful and well worth the money. Every time we visit the city, we have to stop by this restaurant.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 2 days ago
    Dear Chris, Thank you for choosing The Sardine Factory to celebrate your anniversary with us. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your delicious food, great service and memorable atmosphere. We appreciate your patronage and look forward to serving you again!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Jovy

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a marvelous time at Sardine Factory. We arrived a little early for our dinner reservation, so we took advantage of the weekend happy hour at the bar. The bartender was so friendly and took great care of us. Drinks were superb (old fashioned and lemon drop). We snacked on crisp shoestring fries and chatted with the bartender a bit. Time passed quickly and our table was ready in the Conservatory. This was a special birthday dinner and the food, service and attention to detail was spot on. He had the aged beef with creamed spinach and mashed potatoes, and I had the seared scallops with mushroom risotto. Heavenly! Antonio, our gracious waiter, brought out a celebratory slice of carrot cake garnished with fresh berries. The ambiance is beautiful and the food is excellent.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 2 days ago
    Dear Jovy, Thank you for choosing The Sardine Factory to a special birthday. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your delicious food, great service and memorable atmosphere. We appreciate your patronage and look forward to serving you again!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Matthew

    Las Vegas26 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great seafood dinner and service was excellent. Manager even checked on us to see how food was. Fresh and well prepared food with excellent flavors. Bread rolls were off the hook…..
    Sardine FactoryResponded on April 16, 2025
    Dear Matthew, Thank you for your recent visit and for taking the time to review our restaurant. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your fresh and well prepared food. We appreciate your patronage and hope you will visit us again very soon.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Steve

    Central Coast3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was great. The service was over the top. The conservatory has unbelievable ambience. Everyone was helpful and accommodating. I will return.
    Sardine FactoryResponded on April 16, 2025
    Dear Steve, Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit overall, and we truly value your feedback, and we look forward to your next visit!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Sardine Factory is rated 4.7 stars by 5070 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. California Central Coast
  4. Monterey / Carmel
  5. Monterey

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 42 times today
Google Map for Sardine Factory

701 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Cross street
    Prescott
  • Neighborhood
    Monterey
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 5:00 pm–6:00 pm Daily 8:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Steak
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Enter off of Wave Street ascending the driveway. Self park Sunday through Thursday with self park or valet service available Fridays and Saturdays. ADA Wheelchair entrance from parking lot.
  • Public transit
    MST stop less than 2 blocks away on the corner of Wave St. & David.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Benjamin Brandt
  • Entertainment
    David Conley at the Piano Tuesday through Saturday. David has been a professional musician since the age of 17. He has played in numerous bands, opening for various acts such as Steppenwolf, Black Oak Arkansas, Rick Derringer, Crash Test Dummies and more. Versatile and accommodating David takes and plays requests from Led Zeppelin to Elvis Presley to the Everly Brothers.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Private party facilities
    Whether a family gathering or a corporate event, our professional and warmly attentivestaff assists in coordinating each detail. The Sardine Factory offers three unique and elegant dining rooms which provide a choice of ambiance for groups from 12 to 220 and luncheon groups from 25 and up. Call us to get your event started! (831) 373-3775
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