Maligne - Seaside (CA)

5 /5 Ke Cao: The restaurant has a very cozy space with atmosphere of art, which makes me surprised. Seafood is very fresh and steak is tender and delicious. The green vegetables which recommended by the staff is also amazing. Even the dessert, nice and warm staff told us that it is popular because of not so sweet. Really know the taste of dessert for Asian people

5 /5 Teresa Abunto: Every dish was a delight! Weekend trip to Monterey to do some whale watching with the fam…. Looking for a nice dinner place, found a table for 5 in this restaurant. Turned out to be a memorable meal! The whole branzinho a la poivre was the best we have ever eaten. The appetizers, especially the beets, were fantastic. The yams were quite a surprise - smoky and flavorful. The lamb was succulent and tender, with an amazing sauce, the thickness of the slices were just right. Scallops and clams also had a wonderful flavor. We almost licked the plates off. Even the desserts were thoughtfully made! I think we might just have to visit again, even if it’s a couple of hours from the Bay Area. Kudos to the chef!

5 /5 Andrea Guevara: We drove up from San Diego to visit Monterey for a long-awaited road trip. I combed through dozens of restaurants in the area and landed on Maligne because of their menu, reviews, and reputation. Our experience fell nothing short of our expectations. The food was absolutely incredible, the service was delightful, and the ambience was casual yet elegant. We started with the focaccia and hamachi crudo. The focaccia was perfectly seasoned with salt and herbs, had a deliciously toasted crust, and was paired with olive oil for dipping. The hamachi was delicate, served with fresh plums and refreshing shiso. For our entrées, we shared the lamb chops and gnocchi. The lamb basically slid off the bone, the cabbage was perfectly cooked, and the sauce was delicious. The ragu with the gnocchi was so warm and comforting, and it was truly the best gnocchi I’ve ever had, so pillowy and decadent. To end our meal, we had the banana pudding which was creamy and nostalgic. Our server, Sergio, was attentive, kind, charming, and funny. He made our experience incredibly personal and memorable, and we certainly look forward to visiting again one day and seeing him, along with the chef at Maligne. I highly recommend dining here as this is an experience you will never forget.

5 /5 Daniel Johnson: My new favorite restaurant in the Monterey Bay Area… Wow. This contemporary yet quaint well designed restaurant in Seaside hits all the marks. The service was super helpful, friendly, attentive. The ambiance was simple and clean. The food was hit after hit, no disappointments. They are a farm-to-table establishment so expect an ever changing menu with the seasons but man, the cooking is top notch. I highly recommend avoiding Monterey and Carmel and going to this spot, you won’t be disappointed.

2 /5 Torsten George: After my wife and I independently read about Maligne in the Michelin Guide, we chose it to celebrate our wedding anniversary in Monterey, CA. With the guide describing the cooking as a “coup de cœur,” our expectations were high. Unfortunately, the experience fell well short. Within an hour—30 minutes spent waiting for our entrée—we were already questioning Michelin’s judgment. We ordered the milk bread, oysters Rockefeller, fried polenta with lamb ragout, a small crudo, and a lamb T-bone. Most dishes were underwhelming: the milk bread was underseasoned; the polenta contained barely a spoonful of lamb ragout; the crudo was bland and overly oily; and the oysters were overwhelmed by spinach. The lamb T-bone was the low point. Priced at $70 and recommended as sufficient for two people, it arrived without any temperature preference having been requested. Two tiny, bone-heavy cuts were served, with almost no edible meat, and what little there was was severely overcooked—nearly impossible to cut. We even observed another table returning the same dish. While the waiter removed the lamb from the bill, the damage to our anniversary dinner was done, and we left without dessert. It’s disappointing to see Michelin promote an experience like this while overlooking many excellent local restaurants.