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Tarpy's Roadhouse
Categories: Restaurants American (Traditional) Restaurants American (New) American (Traditional), American (New) [Edit]
2999 Salinas Hwy 1Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 647-1444
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Fri 11:30 am - 4:30 pm
Mon-Thu 4:30 pm - 9 pm
Thu 11 am - 4:30 pm
Fri 4:30 pm - 10 pm
Sat 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sun 11:30 am - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
The Monterey Cookhouse is part of a movement towards homeade, fresh and natural cuisine, slow cooked from scratch. Our "comfort cuisine' ranges from… read more »
157 reviews for Tarpy's Roadhouse
Review Highlights
"Tom had chili crusted chicken which he thinks is excellent."
(in 8 reviews)
"A standout was the Chinese five spice ribs that fell off..."
(in 2 reviews)
"I had the Lemon Creme Brulee of the day."
(in 7 reviews)
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157 reviews in English
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Review from Ashley M.
Salinas, CA
12/10/2011
Only been to lunch here, but I think this place is fantastic!!! Crab cakes are divine and their salads are delish! Crisp and fresh...
The back patio is awesome when u catch a sunny & warm day in Monterey... Only bummer is the occasional airplane the blares overhead...
Don't miss their specialty tea! Yumo!Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 12/13/2011
Ashley, Thank you for the great review! The tea is a local… More » -
Review from Hannah E.
1/7/2012
All I could think of as I left this place was "Thank god I ordered what I ordered, and not what anyone else ordered."
Because my meal was just dandy: salmon cooked just right with a tzatziki-like cucumber tomato relish. Kinda weird combination, but perfectly acceptable, and I scarfed it appreciatively.
But everyone else's that I tried... I'm not sure what exactly was going on. Lingcod cheeks, the special of the day, tasted old and rubbery. The giant prawns about which the waiter enthusiastically crowed were so overcooked and underseasoned that it was like chewing on a very meaty styrofoam peanut. The vegetarian pizza was burnt so badly that its consumer, who usually will consume absolutely anything to the end, actually left his crusts, something I've never seen him do.
So I just ate my salmon, liberally offered it around to the rest of my companions (sadly, no takers), and thanked my lucky stars.Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 1/8/2012
Hannah, We are sorry there were so many issues with your… More » -
Review from Bill H.
Monterey, CA
11/9/2011 7 Check-ins Here
Both the chili crusted chicken and the meatloaf make me want to lick my plate.
I've always had great service, visit after visit, and tonight was no exception. The manager, Alethea was awesome.
Thank you Tarpys. I needed that.Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 11/10/2011
Bill, Thank you for the great review! The Chili Crusted… More » -
Review from Janet D.
Monterey, CA
10/19/2011
Our group has gone there in the past for lunches and enjoyed it. We went there two months ago on a Wednesday for Happy Hour and enjoyed it At that time, the waiter gave us seperate checks as we asked.
However, this time, the waiter, a man, dumped a bill for $176 and refused to give us separate checks although we had asked him. He said "So sorry, computer says more than 8 no separate checks. I told him we would not come back for Happy Hour again. I guess Tarpy's doesn't care. It was very difficult to figure out who owed who. We all ordered two drinks each and some of our group ordered dinner. We received better service at "Black Horse Bayonet Golf Course for Happy Hour and they gave us separate checks and appreciated our business. "Black Horse" sends us a menu every week. Not impressed with "Tarpy's".Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 10/23/2011
Janet, Thank you for taking the time to review. We are sorry… More » -
Review from Mandy T.
Fremont, CA
1/7/2012
Omg this place is AMAZING!!! My husband had the chillie crusted chicken, I the chilie crusted halibut. Both were out of control. We had the deep fried banana split for desert and all I wanted was more. This place is an amazing find and very reasonable prices. All that dinner plus beer and desert only $60.
Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 1/8/2012
Thank you for the great review! We are glad you enjoyed the… More » -
Review from Yamona S.
Pacific Grove, CA
11/5/2011
Tarpy's is always solid - I don't find it really good or really bad - it's just solid fare in a nice atmosphere. Last night was not one of my better experiences, but I want to preface my review by saying that all my past experiences have been A - OKAY. And I have eaten at Tarpys probably about 60 times over the last few years.
It was super busy on a Friday night - I had the pup with me so we had to sit outside. BFF ordered a top shelf Margarita (around $11.00 ish dollars I think). I ordered a glass of Pinot Noir which was okay. We both had the calamari to start - neither here nor there, the breading needed a little more something - salt perhaps?
I ordered the special Halibut with a chilli crust - I requested it NOT well done - I like my fish on the underdone side. Food took sooooo long. When it finally came it was super dry and the crust tasted like char! I was so hungry that I just dove in and tried to cover everything in sauce. There wasnt much sauce so I then had to cover everything with my salad dressing. I knew they were busy so I didn't want to complain - when Kirsten our server came back out - I told her what was going on. I said, this is going to seem strange as I am complaining however I have eaten most of my dish, but I couldn't wait, I was too hungry. I did not expect for them to take my food off the bill as I had eaten it. They did which was classy -
No harm, no foul. I shall be back. Thanks to Kirsten for being so proactive.Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 11/10/2011
Yamona, Thank you for taking the time to review. We are so… More » -
Review from Christine J.
San Diego, CA
1/27/2012
We just went here to celebrate our anniversary and had a wonderful time. Tarpy's has a certain rustic charm that you don't get just anywhere. We ordered the braised bbq pork shank and the lobster pasta. Everything was to die for. We also got martinis and they were surprisingly a good value. Their espresso bread pudding was so incredible my mouth is watering as I think about it. Can't wait to go back. (Plus we had our wedding reception here a few years ago and it was fabulous)
Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 1/30/2012
Thank you for the great review! Our bread pudding is a local… More » -
Review from Rick C.
Santa Cruz, CA
1/7/2012
I love coming here. The food is great, the service outstanding and the room is full of excitement and life. I love to stop by the Ventana Winery next door and do some wine tasting and pick a bottle for when we get home, This is where the locals go so if you want to experience the best of Monterey Bay I highly recommend you include Tarpy's on your list
-
Review from bob b.
Bangor, CA
11/12/2011
Amateurish service on a Monday night...A few apps were decent, the pizza was horrible!
This place could be so much better considering its charming location in Carmel valley.Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 11/20/2011
Hi Bob, We are sorry you did not enjoy your meal with us on… More » -
Review from Nicole D.
Monterey, CA
10/20/2011
The setting here is absolutely gorgeous with dimly-lit elegant rooms, a cavernous room with a wine bar, perfectly manicured grounds, intricate stonework, a large tranquil pond, beautiful luscious gardens, a lovely gazebo and ivy-laced walkways.
As you wend your way through elegant room after elegant room, you can see all the groups/couples thoroughly enjoying themselves. The jubliance was very infectious.
We dined outside on Saturday night, underneath the mounted heating lamps. From our dinner vantage point, we looked out to the beautiful courtyard lawn with gorgeous gardens and a cute water well.
For starters, we shared the Bruschetta with Sonoma goat cheese, roma tomatoes and roasted garlic. Very enchanting! We also delighted in the Iceberg Wedge Salad, which was bold and beautiful! I had the Herb-Crusted Salmon Filet with a lemon butter sauce and rice. Large juicy salmon filet heightened to perfection with a creamy lemon-infused sauce. My boyfriend had the Braised Pork Shank with a beatiful medley of juicy julienned vegetables and au gratin potatoes. I loved the large portion sizes and the beautiful detailed presentation.
Lovely restaurant with lots of character and charm. We hope to come back soon. My boyfriend wants to get his talons on the Rib Rack.Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 10/23/2011
Nicole, Thank you for the wonderfully written review! We are… More » -
Review from Jean A.
Monterey, CA
12/16/2011
I'm surprised at some of the negative reviews. I've never had a bad meal here. You can't beat their Recession Meal Deals Sunday through Thursday. For $9.95 (lunch) or $12.95 (dinner), each day offers a unique dish. I suggest the Sunday meatloaf and the Tuesday Chili Crusted Chicken (I know, I know, it's chicken but I'm telling you it's delish!)
Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 12/21/2011
Thank you for the wonderful review! The meatloaf is always a… More » -
Review from Jess J.
Hacienda Heights, CA
12/9/2011
I'm reviewing Tarpy's for wedding and banquet purposes. I had my wedding reception there in September in the Library Room on a Sunday afternoon. Tarpy's is really pretty with nice, natural touches so you don't have to dress it up too much. When guests arrive, they usually comment about how nice the outside looks. Of course, some of my friends decorated the Library Room and set up my table centerpieces (I was on a budget so I did all the table decorations myself).
Originally, Alethea was the event coordinator at the time and she was really nice and helpful. However, a couple weeks before my wedding she got promoted and there was a new banquet manager. This is a nightmare for brides because you get scared that maybe all of your plans would be forgotten by this new person and that your reception would fall apart. Luckily, the new manager was ok.
Tarpy's food is very good. If you have food allergies, like I do, they will accommodate you- just notify them of what you're allergic to.
These were the food items that we ordered--
Appetizers:
* Dungeness Crab Cakes with Annatto Aioli (good)
* Roasted Duck with Apricot Mint Chili Glaze on a Crisp Wonton (very good)
* BBQ Chicken, Caramelized Onion & Garlic Flatbread Pizza
* Sea Scallop, Shrimp & Salmon Ceviche (pretty good but not everyone liked, probably because some ppl don't like seafood and some don't like ceviche)
Entrees:
*Grilled Pork Tenderloin with a Bourbon Molasses Glaze and Apple Butter over Whipped Potatoes and Braised Red Cabbage (my husband was very happy with this dish)
*Roasted Alaskan Cod Filet with a Cucumber-Tomato Relish drizzled with Lemon Beurre Blanc over Colossal Cous Cous and Garden Fresh Vegetables (Pretty good although some of the fish was a little dry)
I like Tarpy's Roadhouse's appearance, decor and food, but I was NOT happy with the servers who were taking care of my wedding reception. I had told the new event coordinator prior to the wedding that I wanted servers to refill guests' champagne glasses for the toast (we brought extra champagne so everyone could drink more than 1 glass) and once all guests received a plate of mini cheesecakes, more could be passed out. Neither of these were done. Also, one of the servers wasn't very nice to me and kept rushing... it wasn't until my mom talked to her that she started being nicer to me and everyone.
Keep in mind, if you have an event in the Library Room, you need to be aware that it has a different audio system than the outside adjoining patio. This was fine for me because we had an iPod play music while we ate and chatted inside, and then had a DJ outside on the patio playing different music.
Overall, I was very satisfied with Tarpy's except for the wait staff during my event.Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 12/13/2011
Jess, We are thrilled that you chose to have your wedding… More » -
Review from Melanie V.
San Jose, CA
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate our anniversary. He made reservations and I was able to call and move them up with ease; since we had arrived to the restaurant earlier than expected.
Nice location - there is a winery next door and a chapel in the lot area. Happened to be a wedding going on the night we went.
We were seated immediately and greeted promptly.
Starting beverages: Blood Orange Margarita, Pineapple Mojito.
both good beverages.
Appetizer - Crisp Monterey Bay Calamari with a Lime-Thai Dipping Sauce..: this was a nice twist on your typical calamari. very good.
Bread is served immediately. They have those paper kind of table covers with crayons in a jar so that you can draw on your table :) I'm still a kid at heart so I love that kind of thing.
downside - after we finished our beverages and the food came, I ordered a Mango Margarita, but unfortunately never got it :( if it was a miscommunication idk..but it was kind of too late to have one by the time we finished our dinner.
upside- I ordered a b52 latte with dessert (fried banana split) and that was bomb diggity.
dinner: Since there wasn't a "lobster and steak" entree, my boyfriend ordered the Roasted Wild Caught Lobster Tail (10 oz) with Drawn-Clarified Butter, Twice Baked Potato & Asparagus and I ordered the Grilled Angus Ribeye with Herb Au Jus & Fresh Horseradish Sour Cream on Mashed Potatoes.. switched the vegetables for Maple-Glazed Yams with Pecans; and we shared :)
Both very tasty and the sides were excellent. I actually cut my ribeye in half, and saved the other half to go home (to save room for dessert)
food was excellent. ambiance was nice. couples were everywhere and/or large groups of folks just having good conversation and good food. Also- they sell their candied pecans - I should have gotten some!Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 10/2/2011
Melanie, We are happy you decided to celebrate your… More » -
Review from Stephanie T.
San Francisco, CA
6/21/2011 1 photo
I came here for lunch with a friend recently, I have to say for the price of our meal, I wasn't very impressed.
To start we ordered some bruschetta. This was actually my favorite part of the meal. It came out warm with some melted cheese on top, it was very good.
For lunch I had the Chicken breast and Ham sandwich that came with jalapeno Havarti and honey Dijon mustard. The sandwich itself was very small and it was served with a side of fries. I did not love my sandwich. It was lacking in flavor, I was expecting some heat from the cheese but there was none. I was expecting a sweet kick from the mustard, but that was also missing. The bread was also a little hard and it was small so that made the sandwich fall apart as I ate it. Overall pretty disappointing.
The fries were big steak cut fries and were ok, they were kind of cold when they arrived but they were seasoned well.
My friend ordered a salad, but apparently they have a sandwich by the same name so they brought her the sandwich initially. They corrected the mistake but it took a while for her to get the correct meal.
Our bill came to just about $60 bucks, for lunch. Needless to say I will not be rushing back to Tarpy's for lunch any time soon. -
Review from Amanda W.
Monterey, CA
8/19/2011
I had a nice enjoyable lunch at Tarpy's today with a dear friend of mine. We weren't in the mood for a full meal so we both ordered one of their salads. I had the Greek with Grilled Chicken, and my friend order the Fuji with Grilled Chicken. I also tried their berry lemonade, which was delicious! The salads were very tasty and of large portions, neither one of us finished our salads. Of course we had to try a dessert while we were there and opted to share the Gizdich Ranch Olalliberry Pie with the Maple ice cream; this pie was superb. The waitress did a great job recommending it to us.
We ate our lunch out on the patio; it was the perfect day to do so. Cool with a tad ray of sunshine. The waitstaff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The prices are reasonable for the quality and amount of food you receive.
I will defiantly be back to try more of their yummy food!Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 10/9/2011
Amanda, We are happy you enjoyed out sunny patio! The berry… More » -
Review from Randy C.
10/26/2011
Tarpy's was able to easily handle our large group. Service was good. Food was very good. Overall, quite happy and we will keep Tarpy's in mind for future visits.
Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 10/31/2011
Randy, thank you for the great review! We are happy to… More » -
Review from Adam G.
Silicon Valley, CA
9/18/2011
It's a noisy, crowded place with a broad, generic menu.
Convenient to Laguna Seca.
The table staff are untrained and inefficient -- nice enough, but ultimately fail to serve the table, so food arrives late, drinks arrive flat or poorly mixed or are simply forgotten.
Apologies are the most common thing brought to the table.
Each of the meals were "fill the plate" and emphasized quantity over quality. I suggest you make a point of insisting on no salt or butter whatsoever. Everyone complained of excessive fat and wildly excessive salt.
Sitting at a table of eight, -- we had all been here before -- the consensus was "a generous five out of ten" and we all agreed it would be fine to eat here again, but only as a matter of convenience.
The pizza place in the same strip mall was a lot more satisfying and I've since been there twice with consistently good food.Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 10/2/2011
Adam, Thank you for taking the time to review Tarpy's. We… More » -
Review from Jeremiah B.
Pacific Grove, CA
6/8/2011
I eat here a lot. Probably too much. Typically not interested in spending $30 for lunch, so here are my remarks on dishes and the place in general.
First off Lara is the best! She's my favorite dish.
Other Favorite dishes:
Warm Napa cabbage salad - It's a crap shoot if it's actually server warm to you. I love the blue cheese, green onion and bell peppers though. Could do without the chili chicken breast. They use it like a pat of butter at this place. $16 or thereabouts
Pastrami Sandwich - The meat is piled on high. There isn't any sauerkraut which seems like a sin, but the coleslaw makes up for it. The fries are awesome, but you can also get a good house salad too.
$10
Calamari - Maybe some of the best calamari around. No tentacles here. Tangy lime dipping sauce can be drunk by itself. Get it during happy hour for $3.
Ahi Tuna Salad - This is the first thing I got hooked on. Damn good and you get a lil' wasabi and pickled ginger too.
Soup of the Day - Generally something pretty hearty. A bowl and a side and you're good. They also make a mean lobster bisque.
Oh yeah, sit at the bar and have some spicy peanuts.
Avoid:
Greek Salad - A pile of lettuce, some slices of red onion, cucumber, and get this, the tomato addition was 2 cherry tomatoes cut in half placed on the side of the plate. More like a Weak Salad.
Flatbread or Quesadilla- Seems like they scrape whatever is on the counter onto some dough, sprinkle it with some kinda gooey cheese and call it $11
Pizza - Same goes for the pizza. I don't know what cheese they are using, but it's wrong.
Kobe Burger - I don't think you're going to taste the difference from their Angus burger, so save your money.
Snap peas side dish - drenched in oil
Mushroom polenta app - not worth $10. -
Review from D H.
Bakersfield, CA
8/24/2011
Snooty service!
Obviously the Tarpy's staff tends to cater to the money crowd.Too bad for one shouldn't treat clients with such disregard. I would opt for a spot further on down the road that's not guided by the scent of money.Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 10/8/2011
We are sorry you did not receive polite, attentive service… More » -
Review from Walter S.
Florence, SC
5/31/2011
Great white tablecloth meal at reasonable prices. We enjoyed wine, Tarpys' Ale, steaks, crabcakes, strawberry rhubarb pie (that day's special!) and coffee.
Although a grownup place, they handled our little ones like pros and all dined in style. The staff was wonderful across the board. -
Review from caleb m.
Stockton, CA
7/7/2011
My girlfriend came here first to try the place out with her family. They had a very good server who was knowledgeable and accommodating to their many needs. They had come here to see if they wanted to use the place for her after grad lunch. They went during lunchtime and there was only the manager and one server. Even though there was only one server he was able to give them a tour of the restaurant and explain the different venues to them for parties or groups.
The food was also very good, the salmon salad with the watermelon is what my girlfriend got and she really liked, said it was everything she would like in a salad. Her dad got the angus burger and really enjoyed the simplicity of the burger and loved the fries.
We came back here for after her graduation for her lunch with a large group of around 20. My girlfriend and I got there late because her graduation was taking much longer than anticipated and the others went to make sure we didn't miss the reservation. When we got there the service seemed a little rushed; the waitress seemed very overwhelmed with such a large group. If we had our original server from the first time it would have been wonderful because he was a very good server.
The food was good and I would recommend it for the venue, very pretty. -
Review from Darren B.
Atlanta, GA
3/8/2011
Tarpy's is one of my favorite restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula. I love the ambiance, the food, the wine and the service here. I've been several times and each time I can't complain. It's great for dates as well as parties. I notice a lot of wedding receptions and rehearsal dinners here, but you still get your privacy.
My second favorite restaurant on the peninsula after Shadowbrook. -
Review from Brent J.
Gilroy, CA
4/8/2011
My wife and I ate hear for the first time this evening in on of her Birthday. I had booked the table with Open Table and made a note about the birthday. On arrival, the hostess quickly took us to a nice table with a couple of balloons on it...a nice touch.
Since we were celebrating, we ordered a couple of starters to get the festivities rolling. I had the Fire Roasted Ocean Mist Farms Artichoke. It was very flavorful with a hint of spices. The Basil-Pesto Aioli was a nice complement. The Birthday Girl tried the Cajun Philly Steak Spring Rolls. It was another hit. She liked it even better with the Basil-Pesto Aioli too.
For Dinner, the Wife had a salad with Fuji Apples, Candied Pecans, Gorgonzola & Baby Lettuces. She loved it. I had the Dijon-Rosemary Lamb Tenderloin. I loved the fact that the sauce was served on the side. The grilled meat tasted wonderful by itself. Adding the sauce was like having a totally different meal...Two excellent tastes for the price of one. The Scalloped Potatoes that came with the lamb didn't look too appetizing (rather bland and white) but that was far from the case. They were probably some of the best tasting scalloped potatoes that I've had.
On to dessert...We started with the complimentary Birthday Mango sorbet. The special dessert items were more plentiful than the dinner specials so we had to go for more. The wife ordered the Chocolate-Espresso Bread Pudding. She's very fond of bread pudding but said this one was disappointing (we thought they had brought a lava cake by mistake).
I had the Lemon Creme Brulee of the day. It was delicious. Made my wife wished she had ordered it.
The wait staff was friendly and competent but could have been more attentive. My water glass was empty for a fair part of the meal. The bus boy could have cleared empty plates faster but nothing major. As the room filled up, it did tend to get noisier but not horrible. The Mrs. did comment that it was the nicest "Roadhouse" she'd ever been in.
We're happy to say we found another place in Monterey to add to our regular dinner rotation. -
Review from Ozzie O.
Folsom, CA
12/23/2010
On one of our frequent trips to the Monterey Bay area my wife and I were hungry for a GOOD steak. We have our usual haunts we love in the area but decided to check out the restaurant binder at our hotel....
One thing I know is photography can make anything look good . After looking at all the places in this guide and not seeing much we felt comfortable with we found this card in a rack
Tarpys Roadhouse ( Being from the Midwest / East Roadhouse usually spells Country style Barn Burning Bar type Food) The Photo showed 5 star type dining? BUT The Claim is WOOD FIRED PRIME STEAKS/WILD GAME.... FRESH SEAFOOD............ SO we BIT on it. The Card also posted a menu with pricing which looked OK.
We put the directions in the ole GPS and off we went from our Place in Pacific Grove.... 12 miles.... once we got on the road 9 HWY 68 the GPS then said 12 miles? as we were Driving down the Road in a DOWNPOUR RAIN IN THE DARK we blew right past this place..,.. it was on the Left and DARK with a Small sign that I Just happened to see in some trees...... OK when we drove in the place looked Impressive .. a Massive place cars Jammed in everywhere and we thought this is a GREAT SIGN.......... NOT!
We made a reservation due to its popularity and being a Saturday night, we were told they only had a couple tables available...There were many empty tables when we arrived.
We were taken back through through a couple rooms to our table which was a good table in a window, Greeted by a friendly waiter who took our drink order........Sparkling water with lemon..... after asking us 2 times lemon or lime and we were very clear lemon, the water arrived with LIME! Strike ONE!
Then looking through the Appetizers we chose the Cajun Prawns, Described as Large Fresh Prawns with Shoestring and Roasted Garlic Potatoes........ When it arrived we thought WTF is THIS! 4 medium Costco Shrimp Jammed in a pile of mashed potatoes with some crunchy burnt fries in the top...... the Shrimp had absolutely nothing that resembled anything CAJUN... this was the most Bland Colorless Tasteless Dish I have ever Had ANYWHERE ! It was like all beige...
We made our dinner selections, my wife ordered the filet and I ordered the grilled Angus Rib-eye with Au Jus........ OK this is what we got...........
..
the Descriptions on the menu are dead on but wait..... WHO IN THE HELL ACTUALLY DOES THIS TO A STEAK.......
The Filet was unevenly cut and about an inch and a half thick on one side and 3/4 and inch thick on the other side ( you cant cook a steak right with that sad cut......then the Steak (a FILET) came buried in a pile of Betty Crocker whipped mashed potatoes with the Asparagus buried under it all with just the tips showing and all this was drowned in some kind of CRAP Sauce like gravy..... absolutely the worst presentation I have ever seen in any restaurant hands down....... what a Disaster......... My wife was very Unhappy... and this dish was 38.00 bucks......
My steak was the Rib-eye.. a Nice size steak cut pretty well... not cooked the way I wanted but close... it was also Buried in a Pile of those Betty Crocker mashed potatoes with some cold mixed vegetables on the side, not cooked nearly enough.It was all Covered in this Gravy of some sort and it was not Au Jus... It was like some pre packaged beef broth that had been thickened. I sawed my way through looking for some good in it..........
Then to Top off this Disaster we thought what the hell, lets get dessert... ROTFLMAO!
We got Coffee ( The Highlight of the Meal) and ordered a Chocolate Bread Pudding..... this was hilarious... not sure what it was but I can guarantee it had been microwaved and Hershey Syrup poured over the top............
the waiter was nice enough, although he couldn't even get Lemon or Lime right... should have been our first clue of what was to come.....
In conclusion, If you like good food and Love your MONEY, STAY AWAY from Tarpys, I really can't believe the other GOOD reviews on this site ...those that think this place is great or good need some culinary lessons. In my humble opinion this is just another tourist trap gimmick of Monterey... there are far better places to eat with a great dining experience for much less money in the area(See other reviews of this area).
Thanks for reading and Happy Yelping -
Review from Bill M.
Gardnerville, NV
8/21/2011
My wife and I love Tarpy's and make a point of eating there whenever we are in Monterey. We took our friends there the last time we visited. Being a meatloaf fanatic, I always go for the classic meatloaf. I can't seem to get enough of it (the mushroom gravy is delicious) . My wife had the wood grilled sirloin steak and thought it was excellent. One of our friends had the meatloaf on my recomendation and the other had the BBQ baby back ribs. Satisfaction all the way around. Good food, reasonably priced in a nicely appointed restaurant, that's Tarpy's.
Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 10/8/2011
We are happy to be your go-to when visiting Monterey! The… More » -
Review from Norm H.
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Went here for the first time yesterday. I have been a big fan of Montrio Bistro for a while and always wanted to try Tarpy's. I went for lunch and was very happy with my experience.
I ordered the prawn pasta. I loved every bite of it. First of all the pasta seemed homemade which was such a nice treat. The prawns were big and juicy. The pasta also had fresh spinach and fresh cut corn. It was served in a tasty lobster sauce.
My wife had the lunch size salmon and my friend had the brisket. They both enjoyed their plates.
The atmosphere is wonderful set in a old winery and the service was right on. They have great cocktails also. I always love the butcher paper so I can draw wacky pictures while I eat!Listed in: Awesome Monterey Area…
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Review from Bill N.
3/16/2011
Went on a Saturday night about 7:30. It seemed like a slow night with some of the dinings rooms totally empty with the lights off. By the time we left the restaurant, we were the last ones there. But that may be the older crowd that we saw all over town. There just are a lot of old people in Carmel and Monterey that have different hours....
I had an excellent braised pork and Meg had a pretty good steak. The steak wasn't super thick but was really tender. I would rather have tender than thick any day. Service was attentive. -
Review from Jan P.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2011
I flew down to Monterey last Friday night. The airport staff at Del Monte Aviation recommended Tarpy's, and even had a coupon for a free appetizer. The restaurant is a five minute drive from the airport.
Upon arriving I noticed the name of the restaurant was actually Tarpy's 'Roadhouse'. The name turned me off a bit. But this place doesn't seem like your typical roadhouse at all, it's actually pretty nice, but not over the top. It's nicely decorated with a rustic feel. My vote: Take 'roadhouse' out of the name. Anyway, back on track...
They brought out bread and placed it directly on the table. A bit odd, but the table had been freshly 'repapered', so I suppose that makes it okay? I ordered the brushetta as an appetizer, very good. For dinner I recommend the vegetarian pizza (also available with chicken).
All in all, great service and good food. I'll be checking this place out again next time I roll though Monterey. -
Review from Jessica K.
Lynchburg, VA
8/19/2011
I could not possibly say enough good things about Tarpy's. I am a very content Bride! :)
I recently held my reception here at Tarpy's. We chose the Library room upstairs.
Lighting in the room was perfect. The tables were arranged exactly how I wanted them, even if I did change the details every couple days. The room was modern looking and had a gorgeous fireplace inside it. Tarpy's allowed me to remove the art that was hanging on the wall and replace it with pictures of my husband and I. I thought this was very nice! The Library room leads to a garden patio outside that makes for some very romantic pictures. Twinkle lights, bistro tables, and a beverage corner makes the patio a great visiting area. All of the waiters were professional, courteous, and very fast and accurate. They served my desserts with precision, and apologized when the main meal took just a couple minutes extra to be served.
I was able to design the menu, add a dessert menu, and request last minute changes on the food choices.
They had an ipod dock for the sound system so I could play my own playlist for the reception.
The chairs were modern looking and would work well with any color scheme.
The ceiling looks like rafters to some degree, and luckily enough- it served as a great way to hang some fabric or decor.
The bathroom was clean and private to our party.
And Tarpy's also has some incredible spots for photos! It has a unique, almost cottage feeling, and has a courtyard, staircase, and patio that make for some wonderful shots.
Alethea was the lady I worked with in setting up the entire event. She is AMAZING!!! Wonderfully talented at handling a nervous bride, and very detail oriented. She took all of my last minute changes and applied them perfectly. Very professional, as well. I appreciate her involvement in the reception, as I know she must have fulfilled most of the last minute changes to the decor in the room. She even helped us bring the boxes inside from the car! I would strongly suggest this facility not only for their excellent location and rooms, but for Alethea!
As for the food,
I chose chicken and pork meals for the reception. Both meals were wonderful! Large quantities, fresh vegetables, and quick service. My guests enjoyed their meals and the uniqueness of their presentation.
Very affordable as well. Each plate was on average $28 that night. Definitely cheaper than other places in that area!
If you are looking for an AFFORDABLE and CLASSY reception site for your wedding in Cali, please please consider Tarpys!Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 10/9/2011
Jessica, We are so happy you chose to have your reception… More » -
Review from Dave H.
Marina, CA
2/18/2011
FOOD POISONING!!! My wife and I thought we'd enjoy our Valentine's Day evening by trying out Tarpy' s for the first time. We both ordered steaks and within one hour our stomachs were rumbling. Let's just say any future romantic activities were put on hold that night. For the next few days I was in the bowels of hell with diarrhea and dehydration so bad that I had to call in sick to work for several days. A trip to the doctor and a prescription for antibiotics finally put a stop to it. Thanks, Tarpy's!!!
Food poisoning aside, the dinner was not on par with what I was expecting. I thought the steak be a higher caliber than. . . oh say, Applebee's, but it was nothing special. Just your run-of-mill steak for about $10.00 more than your average place. I'm sure the food poisoning is more the exception than the rule there, but sorry Tarpy's. . . I'd be crazy to go back again. I hope others don't have the same unfortunate experience as us! Good luck! -
Review from Sarah M.
Malibu, CA
10/16/2010 9 photos
My husband and I had our wedding reception at Tarpy's and it was a dream come true! From the first time we went there we loved this place. With its wonderful staff, the old Tuscan looking buildings, and the amazing food there was no where else like it!! Throughout the year that we were planning our wedding we brought our families and friends here to try the food and show off our wedding location. It was a hit and unlike most weddings where people chose chicken or fish (boring!!) we had a delicious endless list to choose from (will include menu later). This place is truly one of Monterey's hidden gems!!
Corinne helped us execute our vision from the very beginning and was always so accommodating. She even helped to set up and have meetings with my vendors at Tarpy's. Initially we were only going to use the Library and Patio for our wedding, but midway through the planning process we decided that we wanted to have a bigger dancing area so we talked to the owner of Tarpy's to use the courtyard in addition to the Library and Patio. That was the best decision we made because we had dinner in the courtyard, which was perfect with it beautiful natural gardens and ambient light in the summer time (perfect for pictures)! Then we brought in a big dance floor for the Library room where we had a DJ, cake cutting, bouquet toss, and garter toss. Finally, we had the patio where we had an open bar and we set up a photobooth (Funtastic Photobooth, San Jose, CA) for all of our guests!
As most couples do we had to also consider our budget! When we were initially looking one place wanted to charge us $100 per person, including only appetizers and the meal. Plus they wouldn't let us even taste the food. The great thing about Tarpy's was that we paid $40 per person and got to have 3 types of appetizers, a salad, a chose of 3 different main courses from their whole menu, and dessert! It was an amazing deal! We went back so many times trying to decide what we wanted on the menu for our wedding, but everything was so good and it was hard to decide! Here was our menu:
Appetizers:
1) Dungeness Crab Cakes with Annatto Aioli (Everyone loved these!!!)
2) Brushetta with Roasted Garlic, Herb Goat Cheese and Roma Tomatoes
3) Lime Ginger-Sesame Crusted Chicken Skewers
Salads:
1)Hearts of Romaine with Caesar Dressing, Herb Croutons and Asiago Cheese
2) Mixed Field Greens with Roma Tomatoes in a Red Wine Vinaigrette
Main Courses:
1) Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon Molasses Glaze, Apple Butter and Braised Red Cabbage (My favorite)
2) Dijon Lamb Tenderloin with a Burgundy Wine Reduction and Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes (My husbands favorite)
3) Chili Crusted Chicken Breast with an Apricot BBQ Sauce and Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes
Dessert:
We brought in our own desert! Little mini cheesecakes (See my review for Cheesecake Dreamations, Monterey, Ca) which were a little pieces of heaven!
I love Tarpy's and I would recommend it to anyone!! -
Review from S M.
Los Angeles, CA
4/25/2011
I'm from L.A. and stumbled upon Tarpy's when visiting Monterey. Oh My God! SERIOUSLY! How I wish this place was in L.A.! I would eat here constantly!
Don't let the name fool you, Roadhouse? Not at all! (Guys, rethink that name, it is so misleading).
We ordered the burger, the wedge salad and then a bunch of sides and all of it was to-die-for!
Nick C, out waiter, was so friendly, so helpful and chatted with us about the history of the place, so interesting!
Seriously, if you are anywhere near Tarpy's, GO! It's so rare to go out to eat and everything from the salad to the strawberry shortcake was nothing less than spectacular.
Thanks guys! We will be back asap! -
Review from Kimberly C.
San Ramon, CA
9/18/2010
THIS is a roadhouse?! Such a beautiful place...who expected it to be next to a shopping center? The front was just as lovely as the interior. Weddings are held just at the entrance of the restaurant; that is how pretty it is. And in front of that is a pond/lake and a fountain.
Depending on what you order, your meal can be an affordable price. Prices begin around $9 and up to around $25. If there's still a kid in you, like my date (whom I found out later is bad news, but I will try and exclude that further in the review) and I, we began to use the crayons (left in a glass at each table) to draw on the place mats. Who doesn't enjoy a few rounds of hangman? I almost forgot how to play until that day!
The food came out at a reasonable time and service was courteous and friendly. The fresh sourdough bread had the perfect crust and soft interior and piping hot. For my entree, I had the salmon burger with spinach on a wheat bun served with crispy seasoned potato wedges and an aioli dipping sauce. It was truly delicious- not the best thing I ever ate, but definitely satisfying.
The only con was that they placed the bread on the paper lining the table. And that the mojito was not strong at all! But for the pleasant atmosphere and food, I'll be back, as long as I don't see my former date there. Otherwise he will find trouble. =P -
Review from Cassie P.
10/24/2010
Uhhhhh, NO.
Came today for brunch with a largish-party and we had a rezi. Since they were expecting us I would have expected better service. While our server was VERY polite, the food was slow, no refills on drinks or coffee, etc. The food was marginally good. Some of our dished were very dry (waffles) others were very greasy (fritatta). I don't think we would be back. -
Review from sharon a.
Sunnyvale, CA
7/18/2011
Highly recommend for reasonably priced catered events. Lovely site to stop by and have a light snack and a drink. Ventana tasting room also on site.
Our visit to Tarpy's for dinner was not too memorable - except I had a great mixed drink there....some sort of martini. I definitely would go back and have another! It's a really interesting menu - bar menu - ambiance -
What I really recommend them for is their catering. Corinne rocks! We were looking to have a wedding rehearsal dinner on the beach - and found the menu selections and pricing options for Tarpys to be outstanding. And Corinne was very timely and helpful in her responses.
Our party was on Carmel City Beach - if Tarpy's brought the food to us (they had three options - we pick up - they drop off - or they stay and serve), we had to get a city catering permit. So, we had a friend pick up the food and bring it to us. Unfortunately, when they arrived with the food, we found Tarpy's had forgotten to include all the serving utensils, plates, etc. One phone call to Tarpy's and they were scrambling. It took a while, but Corinne brought everything we needed down to the beach - in her heels and all - and she was utterly devastated at the omission. She takes great pride in their service and food - something that is a rarity these days!
Our friends, in the meantime, had found ways to adapt. Bean shooters anyone? Baked beans were being drunk from cups, chicken by the fingers, pulled pork by the cups.....everybody adapted and though it was not by any means the meal we had hoped for, it just added to the crazy night.
$17.95 per person: barbecue chicken, pulled pork, salad, rolls, baked beans, fruit salad, and wonderful pudding with whipped cream and strawberries!
Thank you Tarpys!Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 10/18/2011
Sharon, Thank you for recommending us for catered events! We… More » -
Review from Amanda t.
Bakersfield, CA
9/2/2011 Seated via OpenTable
This place was a complete let down. The food was below average, and the service was just okay. I had the New York Steak with veggies. The meat was cooked to my liking, but there was absolutely no flavor. My husband and Dad got the rib-eye and they explained the meat to taste grass fed, not really what we are into. My sister had the chicken sandwich, which had great potential, but the chicken was so over cooked, you could hardly take a bite without your teeth pulling from your skull. The server was more interested in have a conversation with me about our daughters that were similar ages, rather than do her job of refilling our drinks and making sure we had everything we needed/wanted.
Comment from Debbie E. of Tarpy's Roadhouse 10/8/2011
Amanda, we are sorry you did not enjoy your recent… More » -
Review from Tylor M.
11/16/2010
Beautiful, delicious, and unique. This place definitely doesn't represent what "Roadhouse" implies. Fancy, but not over the top. Great patio, great view, and I love the menu. It's got a little bit of everything and a meal can cost you anywhere from $5 to $65 a person.
I had the chili-crusted chicken, or whatever it's called. It was VERY modestly priced and I definitely got more than I paid for. The portion was just right and it was freakin' delicious!!! Service was good, even though the person I had lunch with had to send a glass back because there was lipstick on it (check your glasses, waiters!).
I definitely recommend this place. You can get a very expensive meal here or a modestly priced one, but the entire dining experience makes you feel like you should be paying a higher price. -
Review from Qe I.
Pacific Grove, CA
5/17/2010 1 photo
Was there a child let loose in the kitchen running amuck ????- Refer to crab cake decoration.
Actually, it was quite a good start, crabcakes served with slaw and lashings of mango sauce all over it - see pic. Quite tasty, despite the mess and there seemed to be a good portion of crab in it. But it went downhill from here.
They bring out the wonderful freshly baked bread loaves and set them on the table, NO bread basket. This really irks me: (1) You'll have crumbs all over the table (2) It's a loaf that you have to pull apart to get a piece. Therefore you've got every Tom, Dick and Hairy's paw germs all over the bread. BAD! Especially in this H1 day and age.
I selected a special: The shrimp and crab poached salad with a ginger sesame dressing. Served on Iceberg lettuce, a tiny amount of brown-spotted avacado, a few soy beans, very bland dressing, prawns were itty bitty bay shrimps, I was expected big honking prawns, disappointing and uninmaginative presentation. I find it terribly hard to forgive effing up a salad, you know???? If I had seen this salad on anothers table I would not have chose it.
Refill miss? The waitress asks. "OK" I respond, "there is a refill charge, by the way", she responds. Nickel and diming in this type of restaurant, for a diet coke, just bad business.
Service was capable enough.
Bottom line: The only saving grace at this lunch - those crabcakes.
An amateur effort on the salad.
_____________________2 1/2 STARS_______________________ -
Review from Darrin J.
San Jose, CA
8/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
Tarpy's Roadhouse is a great example of "Never judge a book by it's cover." Although the decor lived up to the imagery on the website not much else did. The restaurant doesn't have the feel of a roadhouse (e.g. old barn, etc.) but is more like an an old inn with the large spaces converted in to dinning rooms (of which there are at least three). The decor is wonderfully done but the lighting was lacking and all the rooms are noisy at moderate or higher occupancy. The bathroom was messy and a bit dated.
The service was over all sub-par. The hostess was very nice and helpful (both on the phone and seating us). The waitress started out with promise but soon became disengaged which wasn't helped with the tag-team server approach. The service overall was very slow with the meal taking twice as long most other places. This is a perfect example of why gratuity shouldn't automatically be included for large parties.
The food was sub-par as well lacking flavor and being on the expensive side. The ribs had a char on them that I didn't like, texture of the meat wasn't to my taste and there was no extra BBQ sauce provided. The cob of corn was perfectly cooked but really didn't have much flavor. My wife thought she had ordered prime rib with au jus but got a prime rib eye steak (they should have said Rib Eye - Prime Cut).The menu was confusing. She instead got the lobster tail which was generous in size but lacking in flavor which was particularly surprising.
In a nutshell, there are so many other options for restaurants with good food AND good service that I will pass on Tarpy's Roadhouse in the future. -
Review from Ajay K.
San Francisco, CA
8/20/2010
One of my favorite local restaurants. Doesn't hurt that its a pretty quick drive from home either. My favorite dish would have to be their lamb. Its the dish that I order everytime I come here.
Nice setting with great service too. Definitely a place to check out if your passing through.
