Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
Sardine Factory, Monterey, CA
Award-winning

Sardine Factory

4.7 (5094)
$50 and over
Seafood
701 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
animated flamesBooked 63 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Romantic
  • Charming
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
  • Neighborhood
    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

Featured in

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 5,094 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

    Romantic

  • California Central Coast

    Seafood

  • California Central Coast

    Most Booked

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Best Ambiance

  • 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
The Sardine Factory in Monterey is a renowned dining destination, known for its "exceptional food" and "outstanding service." Guests rave about the "beautiful ambiance" and diverse dining rooms, including the Conservatory and wine cellar. Menu highlights include fresh seafood and expertly crafted dishes, making it a "must-visit" for special occasions.
5,094 Reviews

  1. Christopher

    San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I was extremely pleased with my experience at Sardine Factory. The service was wonderful and so was the food. My only recommendation would be that a dress code would be implemented and enforced, at least during dinner hours.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Christopher, Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience. We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed both the food and the service! We appreciate your thoughtful suggestion regarding a dress code. As a coastal destination, we welcome many casual travelers, but your feedback is noted and will certainly be considered as we continue to refine our guest experience. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Chris

    Birmingham/West Midlands (county)5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent overall. Customer service excellent with helpful and friendly staff providing informative information on food and wine choices. Great ambiance. Quality of food excellent. Expensive but worth it.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Chris, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had an exceptional experience at The Sardine Factory. Your kind words mean the world to our team, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable visit!

    Is this helpful?

  3. David VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area23 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Eating in the conservatory was amazing. Such a cool dining experience. Food was next level delicious and the service was exceptional. I would definitely return here.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 1 day ago
    Dear David, 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?

  4. Tim VIP

    Wisconsin72 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and food! Highly recommend. Courtyard indoor seating was a bit cold, but managable.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Tim, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had an exceptional experience at The Sardine Factory. Your kind words mean the world to our team, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable visit!

    Is this helpful?

  5. John VIP

    Indiana5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Ask to take the wine cellar tour - it’s an awesome place. Nicole was our sommelier - she was wonderful.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 1 day ago
    Dear John, Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great experience—and we couldn’t agree more, the wine cellar is truly something special. We're especially glad that Nicole helped make your evening memorable; we’re lucky to have her on our team. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments. We hope to welcome you back again soon—there’s always more to discover at The Sardine Factory!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Saman

    Las Vegas2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible place, with lovely staff. Very accommodating.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Saman, 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?

  7. David VIP

    Hawaii3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on June 3, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    The early 3-course menu is high quality and an excellent value. However, we were only presented with the regular (overpriced) menu when seated, so I had to request that the early 3-course menu be brought to the table. It's embarrassing to have to make such a request and shame on the restaurant for making me do so, especially because they promote the early menu prominently on their site.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 1 day ago
    Dear David, Thank you for your review and for the kind words about our food and ambiance—we’re so glad you enjoyed the early 3-course menu. You’re absolutely right: it should have been presented without you needing to ask, and we apologize for the oversight. That menu is something we’re proud to offer, and we regret that it wasn’t made readily available to you. Your feedback is appreciated and will be shared with our team to ensure we do better. We hope to welcome you back soon for an even smoother experience.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Vanessa

    Las Vegas1 review

    1.0

    Dined on June 2, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    Not great for special occasions, my family comes to the sardine factory often and recommended it to me. I came here on my birthday and booked months in advance. Although we booked in advance and came when the restaurant was pretty empty, we were seated in a very random corner at a table for 4 when it was just my partner and I. it took a long time to get service and every interaction felt like we were burdening the servers, we had to ask 4 times for a single glass of water. at the end of our dinner we were expecting to order dessert but when we asked for boxes, our food was packed up and the check came and our server never came back to ask if we wanted to order dessert. i don’t feel entitled to free dessert on a birthday but it felt disrespectful that another woman celebrating a birthday got a dessert for hers, and the couple directly in front of us who were filming their dinner got a free ice sorbet swan. I just wanted dessert so my fiancée could sing happy birthday to me. we sat around for an uncomfortable amount of time waiting for the option to order but we decided just to give up and leave. i was very sad, i had to go to walmart to get a cake and candles since it was the only thing open at that point.
    Sardine FactoryResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Vanessa, We're truly sorry your birthday dinner didn’t feel as special as it should have. We appreciate your honest feedback and have shared your concerns with our team. While we do our best to recognize celebrations, it’s never our intention to make anyone feel overlooked or unimportant. We also understand how frustrating service delays can be and regret that this impacted your evening. We’d love the chance to welcome you back for a better experience and hope you'll consider giving us another opportunity in the future.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Joe VIP

    Washington, D.C. Area22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service and good but pricey for sure! The rooms were beautiful!
    Sardine FactoryResponded on June 4, 2025
    Dear Joe, 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?

  10. Michelle

    Tahoe / Reno Area1 review

    4.0

    Dined on June 2, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service was great our server Don was the best, the runners there were it seemed like so many of them coming to the table it felt like we were being rushed. The atmosphere was beyond amazing. I ordered a shrimp pasta it was pretty expensive 61.00, when I got it the dish tasted sour, the sauce mainly that was disappointing, that sour taste overpowered the dish, however Don our server was the best. Super friendly, knowledgeable and made my daughter laugh alot so the sour pasta would t stop me from going back and trying something else.
    Sardine FactoryResponded on June 4, 2025
    Dear Michelle, Thank you for dining with us and for sharing your thoughtful review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the ambiance and that Don made such a positive impression—he truly embodies the warmth and hospitality we strive for. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. That said, we’re sorry to hear the shrimp pasta wasn’t to your liking. Your comments about the sauce are taken seriously, and we’ll share this feedback with our culinary team so we can take a closer look. We truly appreciate your understanding and willingness to return—we’d love the opportunity to provide a five-star experience all around next time. Please don’t hesitate to reach out ahead of your visit so we can help make it extra special. Warm regards, The Sardine Factory Team

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Sardine Factory is rated 4.7 stars by 5094 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 PM
animated flamesBooked 63 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
  • Neighborhood
    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

Featured in

Discover
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Our sites
Businesses
  • Restaurant reservation software
  • Industry insights
  • Hospitality resources
  • Marketing resources
  • Operation resources
  • How to open a restaurant
  • For restaurants
  • For restaurant groups
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo