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Sardine Factory, Monterey, CA
Award-winning

Sardine Factory

4.7 (5131)
$50 and over
Seafood
701 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 54 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Romantic
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
    (831) 373-3775
  • Website
    http://www.sardinefactory.com/
  • 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
  • Location
    701 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Neighbourhood
    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

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Menu

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What 5,131 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
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • California Central Coast

    Seafood

  • California Central Coast

    Most Booked

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Best Ambience

  • 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 offers a "fantastic experience" with "amazing service" and "delicious food." The Conservatory is a "beautiful" dining space, and the "piano music" adds a "romantic" touch. Known for its "terrifically crafted" wine list and "professional servers," this iconic restaurant promises a memorable dining experience.
5,131 Reviews

  1. Hugh

    San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful 50th Anniversary celebration! Staff could not have been more professional or kind. Thanks to Don and team. Special thanks to manager and Wine Cellar crew for an unforgettable revisit of family gathering!

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  2. Kay VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Bob was wonderful! Thank you for helping my mother in law Angie take a trip down memory lane.

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  3. Ronni VIP

    Phoenix / Arizona14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    What a wonderful place! Great food. Great service. Great ambiance. A little pricey, but a fantastic dining experience!
    Sardine FactoryResponded 4 days ago
    Dear Ronni, Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit overall, we truly value your feedback, and we look forward to your next visit!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Tom

    Phoenix / Arizona1 review

    5.0

    Dined on July 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    An unexpected visual surprise with excellent menu. Wonderful experience.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 4 days ago
    Dear Tom, 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?

  5. John VIP

    California Central Coast16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The best spot on the peninsula! The lobester special was amazing! My guest had the tomahawk! Amazing as always
    Sardine FactoryResponded 4 days ago
    Dear John, Thank you for your recent visit and for taking the time to review our restaurant. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed the lobster and tomahawk steak. Both excellent choices. We appreciate your patronage and hope you will visit us again very soon.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Paul VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area63 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We have been enjoying The Sardine Factory for many years. Several dinning rooms to choose from. A piano man plays nearly every night. The food, wine list, cocktails are terrific with very professional servers.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 4 days ago
    Dear Paul, Thank you for your kind words, for sharing your experience and for being a great guest over the years! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your most recent visit, we truly value your feedback, and we look forward to your next visit!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Vickie VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I've been visiting the Sardine Factory one a year or when time allows, and it never disappoints. It has maintained the same level of service and quality all the years I've been there. I had an outstanding dinner once again. Thank you for providing such a beautiful and amazing restaurant.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 4 days ago
    Hi Vickie, Thank you so much for your continued support over the years—it truly means the world to us. We're honored to be a place you return to time and again, and we’re so glad to hear that your recent visit lived up to the experiences you’ve come to expect from The Sardine Factory. Consistency, quality, and warm hospitality are at the heart of everything we do, and it’s guests like you who inspire us to keep that tradition alive. Thank you for your kind words, and we look forward to welcoming you back—whether it’s next year or whenever time allows! Warmest regards, The Sardine Factory Team

    Is this helpful?

  8. Rus VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area7 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on July 3, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Good wine selection, good interior, the steaks were mediocre.

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  9. John

    San Francisco Bay Area5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    First rate fine dining experience. Seating is varied due to many rooms with seating. Go when you want to splurge and enjoy it
    Sardine FactoryResponded 4 days ago
    Dear John, 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?

  10. Janis

    Sacramento / Sacramento Valley1 review

    5.0

    Dined on July 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Eating at The Sardine Factory was a bucket list item, and it did not disappoint. Made a reservation and got to sit in the conservatory (atrium) room - so beautiful! Got the early bird 3 course dinner (4:30-6:30) and had clam chowder, lobster tail, and Kahlua chocolate gelato (omg, best chocolate gelato!). Prawns sambuca also delicious and worth a choice! When we left, there was a piano player in the bar area playing great show tunes. Overall, the whole dinner was a fantastic experience!
    Sardine FactoryResponded 4 days ago
    Hi Janis, Thank you so much for sharing your experience—and for making The Sardine Factory a bucket list destination! We're honored to have earned a spot on your list and even more thrilled to know your visit didn’t disappoint. It sounds like you made the most of the evening—starting with the Early Bird dinner (we agree, that chocolate gelato is something special!), enjoying the Conservatory’s beauty, and ending with live piano and show tunes in the Lounge. We’re so glad everything came together to create a memorable night. We hope it won’t be your last visit, and we’d love to welcome you back whenever you're in Monterey again! Warmest regards, The Sardine Factory Team

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Sardine Factory is rated 4.7 stars by 5131 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
7:00 p.m.
Booked 54 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
  • Neighbourhood
    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
  • Website
    http://www.sardinefactory.com/
  • Phone number
    (831) 373-3775
  • 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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