Paluca Trattoria - (Near Monterey, CA)

5 /5 Olivia: Visited on a Friday night. It wasnt too busy when we arrived, but as the night went on, it was packed! We were kindly welcomed by the hostess and while she worked on getting us a table inside, two guys, a waiter and another staff member, asked if wed been helped and also pitched in to set the table and lead the way. Within minutes of arriving, the staff made sure we were taken care of and for that we are so thankful and impressed! The waiter was also friendly, informative and quick. We ordered the lobster pasta special with catch of the day cod and the cod fish and chips. Lobster dish was rich and decadent. Fish and chips were thick breaded, crispy, and the tarter sauce was the best Ive ever had. Our waiter was also attentive with providing water extra sauces and simply checking in. Would highly recommend this quaint and charming location for any special or spontaneous occasion.

4 /5 · · McMurphy: They have a great view here, and it’s a quiet little spot tucked right inside a busy area. I ordered a cappuccino and a tiramisu—both were decent—but my husband totally won the dessert lottery with his dish (it’s the one in the second picture… I forgot the name, sorry!). If you dine here, I highly recommend trying that one. You won’t regret it!

5 /5 Noelle Sercer: Every other place on the dock seems touristy and gross. Boyfriend found this place as a last resort and it was cute and delicious! An underrated gem. Jenny and Lina were so sweet, attentive and thoughtful. They even came and put the umbrellas over us when the sun came out. You should eat lunch here!

2 /5 Anibal Machado: The starters — calamari and clam chowder — were excellent. Unfortunately, the main courses were a huge disappointment. The salmon linguine and the lobster ravioli were both very poorly prepared. One went straight to the garbage, the other sent me straight to the bathroom. Really unfortunate experience. Based on the food quality, I won’t be returning.

2 /5 Salvatore Piazza: We decided to try Paluca Trattoria in Monterey and unfortunately, it was not a good experience. The food itself was just okay—nothing that stood out or made me want to come back. For the price and location, I expected more flavor and quality, but it was very average. The biggest disappointment was the service. From the moment we sat down, things felt disorganized. People who arrived after us received their food before we did, which was frustrating and hard to overlook. On top of that, I had to ask my waiter three separate times for bread, and each time he either forgot or didn’t bring it until much later. Something that simple should not be so difficult, and it set the tone for the whole meal. Normally, I’m a very generous tipper because I understand how hard restaurant work can be. But in this case, I didn’t feel the service deserved one at all. Being ignored and forgotten multiple times is not acceptable, especially when we were polite and patient. The only reason this review is 2 stars instead of 1 is because of the host. She was welcoming, kind, and friendly when we walked in, and that was the one bright spot in an otherwise disappointing evening. Sadly, the rest of the experience did not match her level of hospitality. Overall, Paluca Trattoria just didn’t deliver. Between the mediocre food, the long waits, and the inattentive service, it’s not a place I’d return to. There are too many great restaurants in Monterey to waste time and money on one that can’t get the basics right.