Abalonetti Bar and Grill - Monterey (CA)

2 /5 Erika Gardner: We arrived for our Open Table reservation- the proprietress had difficulty with the reservation. We had requested a window table. There was one set up but it was for a larger party. After some pleading on our part, we got the table and the larger setup was moved (that party never showed up). The place was pretty empty, so I dont understand why we were given hard time fulfilling our request. We started with a shared cup of chowder which was hot and tasty. The rest of the food was just okay. My boyfriend had fish & chips which were fine, except that the kitchen used a panko breading instead of the traditional batter. (Traditional is far better) I had the salmon salad. The salad was very lackluster and the salmon was over seasoned. Our waiter started off great but faded away after we received our dishes. He did show us a fun trick with our wine cork (see photo). Since there were so few patrons, the dining room was quiet. Not a horrible experience, but I would not go back.

2 /5 Sarah Cordial: Needed a reprieve from walking so stopped in for a quick bite; we were seated right away. Unfortunately, our table wasn’t completely in the shade and it got hot very quickly. We loved the outdoor area, but dining furniture clearly needed a refresh. The service was friendly enough, but slow and disorganized. We ordered a side of fries, calamari appetizer and a California shrimp cocktail. The fries were crispy and well seasoned. The calamari was tender, crispy and also well seasoned. The shrimp cocktail wasn’t what we expected; it was more a Mexican style shrimp cocktail versus the traditional poached & chilled shrimp served with cocktail sauce. It didn’t matter to us either way as we like both ways. The cocktail however, needed more heat. We thought the shrimp were too small; it got lost in all the other flavors and it ate a little slimy. For our beverages, we ordered a soda, old fashioned & an IPA. The old fashioned tasted fine but not the best. We paid $81.45 (with tip) which seemed reasonable, but definitely will check out other places next time we are in the area.

5 /5 Cortney Nickel: Visited the Fish & Chips Cafe right next door to the Abalonetti and found out they’re actually connected. The Bar and Grill is perfect for a cozy lunch inside but the Fish & Chips Cafe next door is perfect for a quick bite outside on the wharf. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The food was DELICIOUS. I ordered 5 fresh oysters for only $3.00 a piece, definitely couldn’t beat that. My daughters ordered the clam chowder bread bowls and devoured them! The bread was fresh and the soup was hot. We will definitely be returning next time we’re in Monterey.