Café Fina - Monterey (CA)

3 /5 Gavin Pathross: ​I’d rate our experience at Café Fina a 3.5 out of 5. There were some definite high points, but a few things kept it from being perfect. ​The Wins: ​Desserts: These were the absolute stars of the show. We tried three different desserts and all of them "crushed it"—honestly to die for. ​The View: We had a table right by the window, and the view of the water was very nice and added a lot to the atmosphere. ​Pasta: We ordered two pasta dishes; both were solid and better than your average wharf food. ​The Downsides: ​Not Toddler Friendly: It’s worth noting that the restaurant isnt very accommodating for toddlers. It felt a bit tight/uncomfortable for a family with a small child. ​The Chowder: Being on the Wharf, expectations are high, but the chowder here was just average. ​It’s a good spot if you want a nice view and incredible sweets, but maybe not the first choice if you’re looking for the best chowder in town or traveling with a toddler.

4 /5 Local Guide Mr. Z: We were seated at a really nice spot with a view of the beach and seals, servers were professional and polite. Food was great too, especially the chowder. However, my issue lies with the pasta fina, I expected the sauce to be much thicker, it was much too watery for my liking, the sauce just didnt stick to the pasta and it tasted quite bland. The price of this place though expensive, is very reasonable and slightly cheaper than others at this tourist hotspot.

5 /5 Tyler Baker: My wife and I went to Cafe Fina to celebrate ) my birthday. Although we are local, we had not eaten on the Fishermans Wharf before. Cafe Fina had good reviews, and we like both Italian food and fish, so we gave it a chance. We had a great meal. Our server Leonard (I think, it was an "L") was friendly and gave good advice about the menu. We decided to share two appetizers and a main dish. Leonard made it easy for us to share, bringing extra plates and utensils. I had a cupl of clam chowder which was thick and creamy and very tasty. My wife ordered crab cakes had got two large delicious cakes. Our main was the house special petrale sole which was a great piece of fish that was perfectly cooked with a light crust and a delicate cream sauce. It included wonderfully sautéed vegetables and light orzo pasta. It was plenty for the two of us after the appetizers. The wharf has the feel of a state fair, with a lot of people, lights and noise, but inside the restaurant it was quiet and attractive and easy to talk to each other. The desserts looked good, but we were full and happy so we will have to review them another time. Overall, we had a really high quality meal and experience at Cafe Fina.

5 /5 Pete Torres: Amazing water view with sea lions at the rocks. The octopus with the balsamic glaze was amazing. We shared the cioppino, which was also awesome. Had a great flavor lots of seafood and plenty for two. The bread pudding was the top we had extra caramel and it was moist and amazing. All in all, this was an amazing find! Thank you.! Happy new year. Extraordinary service and friendly too!

1 /5 Hunter Zyniecki: Easily one of the worst meals I’ve had in a long time. The paella tasted off, the shrimp pasta was obliterated into bits and had no flavor, and even the bread was bland. The server was kind and did their best, but the walls were covered in flies, which said enough about the place. When we gave honest feedback, the owner came out immediately defensive, questioning where we were from as if that explained our opinion. He mentioned studying in Spain decades ago, but based on the food, that experience hasn’t stuck. He refused to comp the paella and claimed to comp the shrimp, though all he actually did was take 30% off the bill.