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Food - The Whaling Station Steakhouse, Monterey, CA

The Whaling Station Steakhouse

4.7 (2674)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
763 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940

Make a booking

A photo of The Whaling Station Steakhouse restaurant

The Whaling Station Steakhouse

4.7
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Monterey

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 23 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
The internationally acclaimed Whaling Station Steakhouse, perched just above Steinbeck’s Cannery Row has been Monterey County’s #1 Steak House for over 50 years, The Whaling Station takes the term “Steakhouse” seriously...Select your USDA Prime cut of the USA’s finest beef from a silver tray or enjoy our slow-roasted USDA Prime, Prime Rib. An award-winning wine list and full spirits bar compliment your dining experience. Serving Dinner and cocktails from 4:30pm daily. The Bar at The Whaling Station Steakhouse has its own menu and its own local following, with drink specials and lively conversation served nightly. Parking in our private lot.
A private, 50-seat banquet room is also available.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Seafood, Prime Rib
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Daily 4:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (831) 373-3778
  • Website
    https://thewhalingstation.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Pete Martinez
  • Private party facilities
    The Whaling Station offers private dining for groups of 16 to 50. Having a birthday, special event or party please contact us directly to reserve or get additional information.
  • Location
    763 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940
  • Area
    Monterey
  • Cross street
    Prescott Ave.
  • Parking Details
    Enjoy free parking in our private lot. Valet parking available on Friday and Saturday.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Menu

This menu from The Whaling Station Steakhouse.

View menu on restaurant's website (opens in a new tab)

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at The Whaling Station Steakhouse.

4.7

4.7
(2674)
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • California Central Coast

    Steakhouse

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Whaling Station Steakhouse in Monterey is celebrated for its "excellent food and service," making it a top choice for "special celebrations." Diners appreciate the "fantastic" steak and seafood offerings, with standout dishes like the "Porterhouse for two" and "Beef Wellington." The "classic old style steakhouse" atmosphere adds to its charm, while attentive staff ensure a memorable dining experience. Despite some mixed reviews, the restaurant remains a beloved spot for many.
2,674 Reviews

  1. Steve Gold

    Sacramento / Sacramento Valley4 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Prawns and pasta was overcooked and over seasoned.

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  2. Wes

    Orange County3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server Paul was the best, been there since the 70’s and a true pro.

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  3. Sam

    Houston3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    I work in this industry. My entire career has been spent in restaurants, and I do not leave bad reviews. But this was bad. I came for my engagement celebration dinner. The only recognition we received was at the host stand, when the manager glanced at the note on my reservation. We were then shown to a plain four-top in the center of the dining room. We enjoyed our cocktails and ordered two appetizers—both were fairly good. The server was present but offered no suggestions or recommendations. After the first course I ordered a bottle of Carmel Valley Cabernet, which was excellent. I then ordered the beef Wellington and my fiancée ordered the crab ravioli. Only at that point did the server mention that the Wellington takes 40 minutes—information that would have been useful during the initial greeting. We enjoyed our wine and waited. Exactly 40 minutes later the entrées arrived. While we ate, we watched three separate tables receive complimentary dessert with a sparkler. None of that was offered to us. The Wellington was overly salted and underdone. The tenderloin was full of tendons and difficult to cut—not what you expect from a specialty item. After we declined dessert we sat awkwardly in the middle of the restaurant as it wound down. No gesture, no acknowledgment, just the check. As someone who takes pride in delivering exceptional dining experiences, this was cringe-worthy. I cannot wait to head home to Texas and enjoy some actual southern hospitality on the happiest day of my life. Do better.
    The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded 2 days ago
    Hi Sam, first and foremost, we want to extend our heartfelt congratulations on your engagement. We're genuinely sorry that we fell short during what should have been a joyful celebration for you and your fiancé. It’s disheartening to learn about the lack of acknowledgment and service quality you experienced with both the beef Wellington and crab ravioli. If you could reach out to us via email at info[at]thewhalingstation. com, we would appreciate a chance to address your experience. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us; it truly helps us strive towards bettering our service moving forward. We hope to hear from you soon.

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  4. Laurie

    South Carolina8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent food, great service , low key, unpretentious
    The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded 3 days ago
    We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed our excellent food and great service. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, Laurie. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

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  5. Gregory

    Fresno / San Joaquin Valley37 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 30 October 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    As I’ve stated many times before the Whaling Station is by far my favorite restaurant in Monterey. That being said this was my worst meal to date. The famous wedge salad was superb but my Whaling Station Cheeseburger was overcooked & not at all juicy, it was extremely dry. And the fries were grossly over salted like somebody poured the entire salt shaker on them. Very disappointed with the food. Daniel was my waiter & he provided excellent service. My overall experience tonight a C minus.
    The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on 31 October 2026
    We're thankful that you enjoyed the famed wedge salad and received excellent service from Daniel. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Gregory!

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  6. Krizten

    San Francisco Bay Area10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 29 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Staff was very attentive and the food was very good.
    The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on 30 October 2026
    Thank you for your generous words, Krizten. We look forward to welcoming you back for another delightful experience!

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  7. Gregory

    Fresno / San Joaquin Valley37 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 28 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Whaling Station is my favorite restaurant in Monterey. The food is fantastic & the service is unsurpassed . Your hostess Giovanna is an absolute joy & she even remembered me from previous visits! Very impressive! My only complaint is that the bartenders were a bit too chatty for my liking. I also ordered a double scotch on the Rocks but it certainly was a double shot. But aside from the Bar experience a very pleasurable night.
    The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on 30 October 2026
    Thank you for choosing to dine with us, Gregory! We're happy that you enjoyed our fantastic food and experienced exceptional service from Giovanna. See you back next time!

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  8. Kenneth Gold

    Phoenix / Arizona64 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 27 October 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent food and service. Would come back on return visit
    The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on 28 October 2026
    We’re pleased that you enjoyed both the food and service during your visit. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, Kenneth!

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  9. Glen

    California Central Coast1 review

    4.0

    Dined on 24 October 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall it was pretty good, but my $79 steak had too much fat and gristle.
    The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on 26 October 2026
    We are glad to hear that you found your overall experience pretty good. We value your feedback and will certainly take it into consideration as we continually strive to improve our offerings. Thanks for your support, Glen!

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  10. John

    Berkshire11 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on 16 October 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    We were showed to our table and given the menus. I choose French Onion soup, followed by Center Cut Sirloin - USDA Prime. The French Onion soup was tasty and unusually sweet, plus enjoyable. We were given sharp steak knifes for our main course. The steak wasnt tender and hard to cut, even with the steak knifes. I asked for broccoli as I dont like spinach. The broccoli was rock hard. My wife ordered surf and steak and they said it was a communication issue, that her wrong dish was brought out. Once I finished my main dish, her dish was brought out. So its a great shame we couldn't eat together and not much apologies from the waiter, saying mistakes happen in life and we are all human. Hence we didn't provide a tip.
    The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on 17 October 2026
    Thank you for sharing your experience with us, John. We're genuinely sorry to hear that your meal did not go as expected, especially regarding the Center Cut Sirloin and the timing of your wife's surf and steak dish. It's disappointing to know we missed the mark on both food quality and service during your visit. We strive to provide a seamless dining experience, so it's concerning that we fell short in several areas. Your feedback is invaluable to us; if you could take a moment to email us at info[at]thewhalingstation. com, it would be immensely helpful as we work towards addressing these issues. We appreciate your understanding and hope for the opportunity to improve in the future. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Seafood, Prime Rib
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Daily 4:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (831) 373-3778
  • Website
    https://thewhalingstation.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Pete Martinez
  • Private party facilities
    The Whaling Station offers private dining for groups of 16 to 50. Having a birthday, special event or party please contact us directly to reserve or get additional information.
  • Location
    763 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940
  • Area
    Monterey
  • Cross street
    Prescott Ave.
  • Parking Details
    Enjoy free parking in our private lot. Valet parking available on Friday and Saturday.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

FAQs

Portions tend to be generous, guests frequently describe servings as plentiful, with one noting a New York strip around 12–14 oz and many leaving comfortably full.

The Whaling Station has a classic, warm Monterey steakhouse feel, guests describe it as welcoming and old‑school, with a polished steakhouse vibe, though serviceable noise on busy nights and many celebratory tables give it a lively energy.

Smart casual is the guide at The Whaling Station, polished but relaxed, a good fit for the many guests who visit for birthdays, anniversaries, and special dinners.

Yes, The Whaling Station serves cocktails and has a full spirits bar plus an award‑winning wine list, with guests enjoying martinis and Bordeaux from the list.

Thursday evenings are a great pick, guests note the restaurant can be pleasantly quiet then, making it easy to enjoy a celebration or a relaxed meal.

Yes, the menu lists at least one gluten-free option: the Monterey Clam Chowder is marked as gluten free.

For a quieter visit, The Whaling Station Steakhouse often feels calm on Thursday evenings (guests note it wasn’t too busy then); expect busier weekend nights and peak events like Car Week.

Yes, The Whaling Station Steakhouse is often chosen for anniversaries and special evenings, praised for attentive service, celebratory touches, and its award-winning wine list.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. California Central Coast
  4. Monterey / Carmel
  5. Monterey

Make a booking

A photo of The Whaling Station Steakhouse restaurant

The Whaling Station Steakhouse

4.7
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Monterey

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 23 times today
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