Whaling Station Steakhouse

We are here in Carmel for a nice vacation get away. This restaurant was recommended for us by our hotel Hofsa House Hotel. What a nice steakhouse! From the moment we arrived we (my husband and I) were treated like welcome guest and old friends. We arrived pre-​dinner rush at 6:30 pm and had the pick of the restaurant on where to sit. We chose a window seat. The décor is warm and inviting.
For my starter course I decided to go with the French Onion soup. Was not disappointed! Rich, creamy and cheesy! The soup was full of onions and simmered to perfection. A MUST when you visit. I cheated and looked at the menu online and opted for the Beef Wellington as it is one of my favorite dishes. WOW savory mushrooms with a nice broth inside a delicate pastry shell with a juicy filet mignon! Exceptional! The dish comes with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh spinach. A real treat! The spinach was delish, fresh and cooked with a little bit of bacon and olive oil with salt… perfect. The mashed potatoes were topped with thin strips of fried yellow onion… a nice crunchy add on for texture and taste. If you see those little cherry tomatoes on your plate… taste them!!! Chock full of tomato flavor they literally burst in your mouth like a firework of tomato flavor. As we had been eating all week-​end we skipped dessert. The service here is friendly and helpful and the wine prices are very decent. Would visit again!!!

Went in for dinner. Sat at the bar — great bartenders, great food. Would definitely eat here again. The Pear Cosmo was awesome.

The wine pairing the steak the lobster and a splash of spinach was very filling for this is well worth trip to Monterey.

Outstanding! My wife and I celebrated our anniversary here and I have to say the food and service were amazing! I ordered the filet and it was one of the best steaks I’ve ever had. My wife ordered the crab risotto it also was amazing! Our server was friendly and very knowledgeable! I would highly recommended this place!

So sad, it was not a great experience and was not what we were hoping for! On top of it, it was quite expensive!
First off, I used Open Table to reserve our table for dinner. There was a question asking if there was a special request, so I included it in the reservation. When we arrived, we were confirmed for our reservation and also asked if we were celebrating anything and we told them. So, they said «Happy Anniversary» and «Happy Birthday». Strange part is, that was the entire extent of the celebrations on their behalf.
Our waiter was alright. He brought out the tray to inform us of the cuts of meat and the particular sides he suggested would be perfect with the meats. So, we ordered our dinner — appetizers and entrees. (
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One thing we found to be a little odd or off-​putting, was the guy who refilled our water glasses, but when we said «Thank you», he didn’t speak. I don’t know if that is the way this place is run, but generally a reply or acknowledgement would be expected.
We started with a bowl of the Clam Chowder which was very good. We also tried the Short Rib Ravioli, can’t say the short rib was remarkable, but it was okay.
The dinner itself was hit and miss. I decided on the Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna with «noodles» made from zucchini & squash. I really enjoyed my dish. My son’s girlfriend ordered the Lobster Fettuccine and she liked hers as well. These dishes were a bit more than I thought they should cost, but they were still reasonable considering that this is a «fine dining» steakhouse.
My husband & son decided to share the Porterhouse for 2 which cost $ 99. The price was along the lines of the cost for their other steaks, since you are getting two steaks in one. Please steer clear of this steak choice! They did not cook it properly in the least! It was very inedible and a total waste of money! You’d think they’d know how to cook it! It was basically a raw mess on the plate although it looked nicely charred on the exterior. They said it would be cooked medium rare, but it was rare. We like our steaks cooked medium rare, so it’s not that we don’t know what we are asking for!
As for the Chantrelles, we didn’t care for them and they did not accompany each bite of the steaks perfectly as our waiter described.
When we were done, they promptly cleared our plates and asked if we’d like dessert. Um, no! We were actually hoping for a complimentary something sweet for our celebrations. Quite a disappointment considering how much this dinner was costing us. It’s not every day we indulge in eating at fancy steakhouses! More than that, it isn’t about the money… it’s more about asking if we’re celebrating anything and then they just ignore it.
So, we are definitely not going to come back here again. I also would not recommend getting the Porterhouse for 2 as this was a complete failure. Try their seafood options or other cuts of steaks. We didn’t order other steaks, but I’m sure they know how to cook some of those steaks! I am hoping that this 4 star Steakhouse just had a bad night when we were there.

We just finished an amazing dinner, we were fortunate enough to have Paul as our waiter. We started with the crab cakes and oysters on the half shell. The crab cakes were the best I have ever had, with an amazing tomato and basil side and hollandaise sauce. We then split a wedge salad– awesome. I had the larger filet, medium rare. It was amazing, you could have cut it with a fork– came with garlic mashed potatoes and wonderful spinach. My husband had the rack of lamb, huge portion and perfectly prepared. We were stuffed, having to take almost half of our dinner home, but decided to have the dessert and it was delicious! Fantastic dinner with impeccable service.

Ive never Eaten at the Whaling Station cause its Too Expensive for My Budget. Now I go Every FRIDAY at the BAR. Its the BEST in TOWN. Ive had 5 Items on the BAR MENU and My two Favorites are the Short Rib and BBQ Beef Sandwich. Thanks to 2 New Friends that Took me there 4 months ago. Natalie and Alex are Great Bartenders Very Attentive. Always In High Spirits to Make your Dining Experience the Greatest. The GM and Host Fredo is So Nice Always Making Sure Im Happy with the Food. There are Not too Many Restaurants that go the Extra Mile like the Whaling Station Steakhouse

This place was able to get us last minute reservations on a Friday evening and we were seated right away upon arrival. I was a bit surprised by how many young kids were at such a «fancy» establishment. More of a date night place in my opinion.
Our waiter, Abel, was extremely knowledgable and friendly. He informed us about the various cuts of meat available and showed them to us on a tray!
We ordered some good Cab from J Lohr to accompany our meal, and started out with the fresh, fried calamari. This calamari is caught locally and the flavor is amazing! The tarter sauce was so good, we had to order extra!
My husband ordered the beef Wellington for his entrée and I got the petite fillet mignon. Both were delicious and cooked to perfection. They came with a delicious side of spinach with bacon and garlic mashed potatoes and a basket of rustic bread served warm.
Sine we were celebrating our anniversary the waiter also brought us a cannoli to share and it was delicious!!!
Overall an amazing experience!

My husband & I had our New Year’s Eve celebration dinner at the Whaling Station. My husband booked our table on «Open Table» for 7:30 pm. We arrived about 10 minutes early, but was seated within minutes. The restaurant was quite busy but our serving staff were quick to serve our drinks & fresh bread. We ordered 2-​prime rib dinners (with suited spinach, garlic mash potatoes, & Yorkshire pudding). The prime rib was cooked to perfection. For dessert we share an order of Crème brûlée which was so smooth & delicious.
Would recommend this 5-​star ($$$) establishment for any occasion. Staff (reception, serving, asst servers) gave exceptional service. Will definitely come back!

Was in Monterey enjoying a romantic weekend with the hubs. Ate here several years ago, it’s definitely a special occasion place for us.
Conrad was our server, he was gracious, knowledgeable, and attentive without being annoying.
We had clam chowder (best I’ve had); calamari (crispy and delicious);Caesar salad (made at the table, wow!);Cowboy Ribeye (cooked to perfection); abs topped it off with flourless chocolate cake (rich and decadent).
Highly recommend Conrad and the meal, can’t wait to go back.

My fiancé and I were in Monterey and had planned to celebrate our engagement at Whaling Station. We had a reservation for 8:45pm, were running late, and had called the restaurant to let them know. When we arrived at 9pm we were told they couldn’t seat us as the kitchen was closed. This was Sat night and their hours say the restaurant is open until 11pm. We found another place to eat down the street however very sad to have not been able to celebrate this special day at the restaurant we had planned.
If you are planning to come here for a special event this may not be the most reliable place to dine.

We ordered the prime rib, rare which was «cooked» perfectly. The beef Wellington was good, but I’ll skip it next time since there are other steaks to be ate. The table-​side Caesar salad with dressing made extremely fresh, at your table, was to die for! The beef carpaccio was fresh and sliced nice and thin. The ambiance is old-​Gatsby style with a romantic feel.
I was disappointed they no longer have lobster and the table-​side bananas fosters.
You get what you pay for, be prepared to eat like queens and kings.

The Caesar salad prepared at the table was awesome. My beef wellington was the best I’ve ever had! Great digs for a tourist trap near Cannery Row. I was delighted to find this was a legitimate steakhouse and all around up to par fine dining experience. Service was impeccable! The food was excellent and the chef came out to see how all of the guests were enjoying the food. I loved this because it shows he really cared about how his food is received.
Be sure to try the Crème’ Brule, a huge tasty serving.
Complimentary valet parking available. Being in a touristy area, street or lot parking is usually a hassle.
Between the meal and dreamy digestive Limon cello, the food earns an A+. I have to shave off a point for the ambience, though. The restaurant was quite loud.
Overall, a FANTASTIC restaurant. You will not be disappointed.

So terrified every restaurant was a nasty tourist trap in Monterey I was delighted to find this was a legitimate steakhouse and all around up to par fine dining experience.
The wedge salad was fantastic; Im a major wedge connoisseur and this one the real deal. The château sirloin was excellent value and the drinks were well priced. Service was great; very suave thai frisco transplant, I enjoyed his humor.
The interior is comfy and rich.
It hits all the points of «steakhouse.»
You know its legit when Texas oil money dripping in diamonds and body weight, are planted next to you, raving that they must come here every year that they’re in pebble. ;)

My family and I have always wanted to try this restaurant out, and we finally got a chance. The first thing we asked was if they were family-​friendly, because we have a very … «active» three-​year-​old. The hostess replied very enthusiastically that they were indeed family-​friendly, so we got a table.
The service turned out to be possibly the best I’ve ever received. The first above-​and-​beyond move was when our waiter Jum offered to put in our kids’ orders while my wife and I looked over the menu, without us even having to ask. That’s never happened before, and was much appreciated!
The second above-​and-​beyond was when our kids’ Shirley Temples were brought out. The server noticed that our young son went right for the cherry. Without prompting, she brought back a small plate with a few extra cherries on it for him! Such a small gesture, but very meaningful for us, considering this was a fancy steakhouse.
I have to mention that the food was amaaaazing, but it’s really the service that stood out. If you’re looking to enjoy a great meal with your kids in Monterey, you can’t go wrong with this restaurant. They don’t just tolerate kids, they embrace them!

We were a party of seven adults and two children on a Friday night (⁸⁄₂₁) and were turned away by the snotty host for no reason he would give us. He even refused to get the manager when we asked to speak with one.
There were PLENTY of tables available so capacity certainly was not the reason.
Rather than making a scene which we were tempted to, we moved on as apparently they did not need our business.
We ended up next door at the Sardine Factory and had a much more pleasant dining experience. They were happy to take the 1k we ended up spending there.
Shame on you Whaling for discrimination!

If you are in Monterey and want to splurge on dinner I recommend the Whaling Station Steakhouse.
The restaurant is very elegant and service is the best.
We tried out this restaurant for the first time and were blown away. The servers catered to our every need. My wine glass never emptied without the offer of a refill and the server explained every cut of steak perfectly.
I ordered the ribeye and it was the best ribeye I’ve ever had! Flavorful, juicy and delicious!
The Whaling Station Steakhouse gets 5 stars for food, service and ambiance!

Great food, service and overall experience. Our server, Paul, was very helpful and friendly. The host was great as well and took a few pictures of us afterwards (it was our anniversary).
Hubby ordered the cowboy ribeye and I had the beef wellington; both cooked to perfection. We got the pavlova for dessert, first time trying it; very light, not too sweet, yet so delicious! Loved the texture!
The parking lot behind/​next to the restaurant is a plus too to avoid the parking garage/​street.
Would highly recommend!

Delicious steak! Martini’s were strong! Staff very friendly! Portions were good size.
Our waiter very knowledgeable, extremely nice.
The bread that is complementary is so soft melts in your mouth so delicious.
I loved everything about this place very cute restaurant.
The only reason I didn’t give it a five star is I ordered the apple pie and got something didn’t look anything like an apple pie. :(it looked more like an apple pudding topped with lots of whip cream. Taste was ok

It was a truly blessed happy anniversary to my hubby and I where we finally decided to cave in and make reservations at the Whaling Station Steakhouse. We passed it each time we’re in Monterey, which is very often since we park down the street. We drool at the sight of the dry age room, only seeing the steaks and meat hanging with the windows fogged up, barely making a visible view But we knew what was in store for us inside that time, temperature controlled room would be unbelievable. It’s never opened when we are in the area since they don’t open until 5pm and by that time, we’re using trying to fight our way out of traffic back.
So this glorious afternoon, we made extensive plans for our 6^th anniversary to ensure that it was one to remember. Reservations were at 7pm and we arrived early with time to spare. They almost knew who I was promptly and lead us to a spot in the back side of the restaurant, away from the noise near the wine room. Though the interior was older and rustic, I appreciate the staff early on trying to make our dining experience as good as possible.
Walking through to our table, I noticed that the fish tank was dirty, with no fish, I think there was one lobster and it looked sad. I’m assuming we’re at Whaling Station for their food but it would of been nice to see a bright, well light, brightly colored aquarium to go with the décor, spicing up the night. I wasn’t impressed with their interior at all, but at least it was clean for the most part.
Our waitress was Claire, and she was a darling. Excellent customer service skills and great smiles. She was always there to, no need to hunt her down, wave like a crazy hoard inside a restaurant. Instantly greeted us and wished us a happy anniversary. She went through the wine list and drinks with us and offered me a guaranteed, if you don’t like it, we’ll make something else. She knew exactly what she was talking about. Sipping on my glass and finally sinking my feet in, she asked if we were ready to hear about the steaks and selection.
I mean, it was like a story but an amazing story filled with information and it was just so fascinating. I don’t think I’ve learned that such in one sitting even in college! She knew every single cut, she talked about the aging process, how the age and what it’s aged with, type of meat and parts of body it was from, what was good and what was better, she knew the prices and was able to answer every single question we had asked her, and then some. The marbling on the meat was almost gone, but it comes with aging. I would have just paid for her extensive knowledge right there and not ate because it was that good. The only dry aged steakhouse and room from Monterey to LA!
I opted for my usual: a USDA Prime New York (48) that came with sautéed spinach and garlic mash. The char on the steak was on point. Crispy, yet juicy it was the PERFECT medium rare, it was perfection. There was the funk from the dry aged, but it let the flavors really seep through and with each bite, it built right on top of my dancing taste buds. Phenomenal.
For starters, I got the mac and cheese (6) which was cheesy just the way I liked it. The half dozen oysters (14) were super fresh from the Bay, loved every single bite and it came with the cutest tiny bottles of Tabasco. We decided to go out on a limb and try to abalone appetizer (30) I’m not a fan of fried seafood, but this breaded abalone was the definition of bomb dot com and came with an amazing butter to dip. I’m super asian so I’m a sashimi fan and seafood water salty flavors kinda gal, but this appetizer did abalone justice and I would highly recommend anybody to get this.
The overall experience was great with the ambiance of the area, I think being off in the corner helped since not much of the noise traveled that far. Claire came in and checked on us often and we were very happy. The prices were normal for the portion and quality of steaks compared to other steakhouses that we’ve been to. Whaling Station has definitely created an happy customer out of me and a highly recommended shout out for special dining here.
Their bar also has a happy hour with drinks and food I heard great things about. You can’t go into the dry aged room for reasons obvious, from a look from the inside makes anybody’s mouth water. On our way out, the staff and managers thanked us for dining and wished us a happy anniversary. Truly a blessed experience here.
(Tips: Parking lot in the back which is free, make reservations on opentable and add special requests ahead of time)