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    Jacks Monterey, Restaurant in Monterey
    Restaurant
    Wine Spectator 2026

    Jacks Monterey

    Downtown Monterey, Monterey

    Restaurant in Monterey, United States

    The Read

    Price

    $30–50per person

    Dress

    Casual

    Why go

    Jacks Monterey is worth booking for a low-friction downtown meal where wine, seafood, and a comfortable coastal room matter more than tasting-menu ambition. The strongest case is dinner, especially if the Wine Spectator-recognized beverage program is part of the plan; breakfast is more useful for nearby stays or an easy start before exploring Monterey.

    About Jacks Monterey

    Jacks Monterey is a Monterey restaurant serving California Cultural Cuisine & Seafood with a casual dress code and an approximate price of $40 per person. Its hours are daily from 6:30–10:30 AM and 4–10 PM, making it useful for either a morning meal or an evening meal in Monterey.

    The verdict: consider it when you want seafood and California-leaning cooking in Monterey without a formal dress requirement. The signature dishes include Lobster Thermidor, Huevos Rancheros, Monterey Classic Eggs Benedict, and Prawn Scampi Pasta, so the known menu highlights cover both morning and evening occasions.

    Choose it for California Cultural Cuisine and seafood

    Jacks Monterey’s clearest identity is its California Cultural Cuisine & Seafood focus. The restaurant also holds a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 2026, which is a confirmed recognition to keep in mind.

    The signatures make the restaurant easy to understand: Lobster Thermidor and Prawn Scampi Pasta point toward seafood, while Huevos Rancheros and Monterey Classic Eggs Benedict fit the morning hours. That range is useful for diners who want recognizable dishes rather than a highly specialized format.

    Chef Pacifico Mata was appointed on January 1, 2026, following Carl Ashurst. Because that leadership change is recent, diners should treat current visits as part of the restaurant’s next chapter rather than relying on older assumptions about the kitchen.

    The room works for casual meals in Monterey

    The dress code is casual, which keeps the restaurant approachable for a low-friction meal in Monterey. With daily morning and evening hours, it can work as a morning stop or as an evening meal depending on the itinerary.

    For explorers planning a Monterey trip, use this as one option within a broader dining plan rather than the entire culinary agenda. The strongest confirmed reasons to consider it are the seafood-and-California cuisine focus, the signature dishes, the $40-per-person price point, and the 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

    The best fit is a diner who wants a direct Monterey meal with recognizable seafood and California-style dishes.

    How to use it in a Monterey itinerary

    For an evening meal, start with the seafood signatures such as Lobster Thermidor or Prawn Scampi Pasta. For the morning hours, the known options include Huevos Rancheros and Monterey Classic Eggs Benedict. Daily hours are 6:30–10:30 AM and 4–10 PM.

    Visitors building a broader food plan should use the Monterey restaurants guide for the rest of the shortlist, then check the Monterey bars guide if drinks are the main event. For hotel planning, the Monterey hotels guide is the better next stop, while wine-focused travelers can add the Monterey wineries guide and the Monterey experiences guide to round out the trip.

    Venue detailsLocal Sourcing
    Know before you goBefore you book
    Recognition and awards1 source
    Explore MontereyNearby
    Around this placeMore Pearl picks

    Planning details

    Hours
    Monday: 6:30–10:30 AM, 4–10 PM · Tuesday: 6:30–10:30 AM, 4–10 PM
    Location
    Two Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940
    Reservations
    Book on OpenTable
    Website
    portolahotel.com/dining/jacks-monterey
    Phone
    (831) 649-7830

    Venue details

    Ambiance

    California-inspired hotel restaurant with abundant natural light, live trees, fireplace seating, and a coastal, relaxed setting that is sophisticated yet not pretentious, blending refined design with a comfortable, casual feel.

    Tags

    Vibe

    SophisticatedModernScenic

    Best For

    Date NightBusiness DinnerGroup Dining

    Experience

    TerraceLive MusicPrivate Dining

    Sourcing

    Local SourcingSustainable Seafood

    View

    Street Scene

    At the Table

    Dress Code
    Casual
    Noise Level
    Conversational
    Service Style
    Upscale Casual
    Meal Pacing
    Standard
    Capacity
    Medium
    Kitchen
    Fusion
    Menu Format
    A la carte, Small plates
    Wine Program
    Deep wine list
    Drinks Focus
    Wine, Cocktails, Beer
    Dietary
    Pescatarian friendly, Vegetarian friendly
    Private Dining
    Available
    Outdoor Seating
    Yes

    Signature Dishes

    • Lobster Thermidor
    • Huevos Rancheros
    • Monterey Classic Eggs Benedict
    • Prawn Scampi Pasta
    Know before you go

    Know Before You Go

    Getting there
    Two Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940

    Planning details

    Hours

    Monday
    6:30–10:30 AM, 4–10 PM
    Tuesday
    6:30–10:30 AM, 4–10 PM
    Wednesday
    6:30–10:30 AM, 4–10 PM
    Thursday
    6:30–10:30 AM, 4–10 PM
    Friday
    6:30–10:30 AM, 4–10 PM
    Saturday
    6:30–10:30 AM, 4–10 PM
    Sunday
    6:30–10:30 AM, 4–10 PM

    Location

    Recognition and awards

    Explore Monterey

    Around this place
    Read more on Pearl

    Discover more on Pearl

    Unlock the full Jacks Monterey guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.

    FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I eat at the bar at Jacks Monterey?

    Bar dining has not been for Jacks Monterey. It is a $40-per-person restaurant in Monterey serving California Cultural Cuisine & Seafood.

    What are alternatives to Jacks Monterey in Monterey?

    If you want a different format, look for other Monterey restaurants that lean more casual or more formal than this California Cultural Cuisine and seafood option. Jacks Monterey is best considered when its dishes, daily morning and evening hours, and 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence match what you want.

    Is breakfast or dinner better at Jacks Monterey?

    Choose based on the dishes you want. Morning hours run daily from 6:30–10:30 AM, with signatures including Huevos Rancheros and Monterey Classic Eggs Benedict. Evening hours run daily from 4–10 PM, with signatures including Lobster Thermidor and Prawn Scampi Pasta.

    Is the tasting menu worth it at Jacks Monterey?

    A tasting menu has not been for Jacks Monterey. The confirmed case for the restaurant is California Cultural Cuisine & Seafood, a casual dress code, a $40-per-person price point, and daily morning and evening hours.

    What should I order at Jacks Monterey?

    Use the signature dishes as a starting point: Lobster Thermidor, Huevos Rancheros, Monterey Classic Eggs Benedict, and Prawn Scampi Pasta.