il vecchio

Wonderful trattoria. Had the chicken Marsala and it was fantastic. Happy hour meatballs and tomato sauce was good. Tomato sauce is bright but not acidic. I will be coming back!

Do yourself a major favor and go eat here. Everything from the decor, to the waitstaff, to the dessert is absolutely top notch and incredible. The food is simple yet elegant. 5 stars superb! We had the spaghetti with meatballs and the salmon. The “Prince” for dessert!!! It’s a value also.

Happy hour is amazing!! Loved the pork shoulder, the shrimp and the burrata.

Took my beloved truffle pasta home as I was too full to eat it.

Will try the lamb Ragu next time. Zero room for the gelato yet again.

I truly love this place.

Will soon be a regular.

By the way I confirmed with the waiter I think Sam who said on Wednesdays that they close at around 7:30.

Morale of that is get there early and on time.
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Tried looking for pictures on my phone for the truffle pasta but couldn't find it. I was so eager for it that I inhaled it. That said it was delicious. We loved it and the food and service was wonderful. Will definitely go back and get that pasta again and try the gelato. Didn't try that but will definitely consider due to the rave reviews.

What a great meal!

Stopped here when in town and was starving. Most food was poorly rated and highly expensive in the area, il vecchio was neither of these two.

Once stopping in we were able to be seated right away and the service was very quick, and the food was delicious.

One thing I would say to fix - the salmon dish says it’s paired with saffron risotto . This is not the case, it’s just rice - not risotto.

The soup of the day was split pea soup and it was just fantastic. Exactly how grandma use to make it !

Had a large family dinner here and the family style menu was a truly great experience. So much food and everything was incredibly tasty! Great spot, will return!

We discovered this hidden gem a year ago and honestly…I almost didn’t review it because selfishly I just want to keep it to myself! This place is AMAZING. Everything is homemade. The food, service, environment and charm is simply unbeatable. Watching the kitchen is mesmerizing - they are a well-oiled machine putting out hot, perfectly-seasoned and well-portioned hearty Italian meals. Order anything on the menu and I guarantee you’ll be happy!

I stopped by for lunch. Thankfully the breakfast menu is available through the short lunch duration so you and your friends can have pancakes, pasta, salad, and gelato at the same time if you prefer. The dishes are fairly priced and delicious for a restaurant near cannery row. Definitely call ahead for a reservation around dinner time. If you've never had gelato with a balsamic glaze I suggest you try it. It's a different but exciting flavor.

We arrived right before they opened and they sat us down no problem. They were short two cooks but our party of 20 was well serviced and the manager was very accommodating, recommending certain dishes and great selections of wine. The inside of the restaurant has a very cool vibe- very unassuming when looking at it from the outside. Food was excellent, highly recommend.

The service is quick at this place. They brought us our plates within five minutes of placing. The food made me and my wife a little sick in the stomach, but not sure why, given that it smelled and tasted really good. We ordered the Orecchiette and the Rigatoni.

Ive been here a couple of times and each time it's been delightful! The Sunday spare ribs special was exquisite-- falling off the bone and full of flavor! If I lived closer I would definitely go for this weekly offering!!
It's a relaxed, casual vibe with authentic Italian dishes and homemade pasta daily.

Incredible!! Order the lamb!! It was worth every penny. The service was wonderful, very helpful and knowledgable to help us order a delicious cocktail. So grateful we came here, this place was recommended to us and did not disapoint!! 5 Stars!!

Tasty calamari, beet salad, cheesecake, and rigatoni.
Kind, polite staff who use gender inclusive language!
You can hear your party even when the restaurant is busy!

We ended up at il vecchio after the wait at first awakenings was too long, and I’m so glad we ended up here instead! Very cozy and unique vibe, and the food was GREAT. I was especially impressed by the gluten free pancake - you won’t be able to tell the difference. Order it with fresh blueberries :)

I got the eggs Benedict with ham - the hollandaise sauce was really good and it came with TONS of ham

Highly recommend!

Love this restaurant!! The breakfast was phenomenal! Fried polenta was creamy and crisp. Basted eggs...a must try. The Molinari sausage was perfect because it was not over seasoned. I've been for lunch and never been disappointed. Decor is fun with old beaters made into lights. Old stressed painted chairs hanging from the wall add an interesting contrast to the old windows inserted to divide seating areas into more privacy but still allow the light through. Wait staff are friendly and non obtrusive. A must for weekend brunch!

I never get tired of this place. I mean, ratatouille with the silkiest poached eggs for breakfast? Sign me up. Every meal I've ever had here is incredible and the staff are awesome. Whatever you want to tip them: double it, because they just dropped their dinner prices by 30%!!! You'll still get a deal, you'll be a great tipper, and your server will be STOKED. Everyone wins. Have a great meal. 😀

GREAT Italian food and our great waiter even made good on a 25% discount (in honor of being voted best Italian food on the Monterey peninsula for three years running), after we forgot to mention the offer when we arrived. Top notch, first class establishment! See you the next time we visit the area!

Even with a short staffed kitchen, we were well taken care of. The staff was great, pleasant to deal with and kind. The food was incredibly reasonably priced, great drinks, and the desert was ridiculous.

Great aperal spritz and Negroni!

Great rustic place to have a meal. I have had lunch here many times, this was the first time I had breakfast. My frittata was served in a cast iron skillet. It was delicious, coffee was good too, they left the pot on the table so I just refilled my cup.

Absolutely delicious authentic Italian food. The Carbonara was excellent, and all their pasta is fresh and hand made. The restaurant’s atmosphere is homey and charming. Would definitely return :)

Everything about this restaurant is extremely thoughtful. The furniture, the servers, and the food have all been curated with an attention you cannot help but admire. In pace with the name, all of the furniture is sturdy, old, and deliberate in a charming way.

The dish that I ordered was the agnello con pappardelle, The house-made noodles were absolutely delicious, and were of course the focal point of the entire dish. The lamb, tender and warm, complimented the noodles rather than distract from them, and it could be appreciated in its entirely. The flavors landed delicately on the palette, and I it allowed me to savor each bite.

Lest I forget, the bread which was served as a starter was accompanied by the loveliest balsamic vinegar. It was a playful and absolutely served to whet my appetite for the main course. I could not be more pleased with my experience, and I will be returning if I find myself in Monterey again.