The Sardine Factory

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Cannery Row Institution Since 1968

When Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino opened The Sardine Factory on October 2, 1968, Cannery Row was, by their own admission, a run-down and forgotten stretch of Monterey. "Everyone thought we were nuts," recalls Balestreri, "but it was affordable — that was the keyword." Starting with just 72 seats and one dining room, the two experienced restaurant managers built something that would outlast every skeptic: a fine dining destination that has drawn world leaders, Hollywood icons, and sports figures for more than five decades.

The Kitchen and the Philosophy

Co-owner and Executive Chef Bert Cutino has guided the kitchen from the beginning with a clear principle: "Buy the highest quality product." The seafood served at The Sardine Factory follows the approved sustainable seafood guide, and the menu reflects the remarkable diversity of fresh, local ingredients available on California's central coast. Standout dishes include the Abalone Bisque — a house creation famously served at the "Taste of America" for President Reagan's inauguration — alongside California Dungeness Crab Cakes, Chilled Seafood Indulgence platters, and the signature Cheese Bread that has been on the menu since 1968. USDA Prime Aged Beef rounds out a menu that moves confidently between land and sea.

A Wine List Unlike Any Other

The wine program is, in many ways, what set The Sardine Factory apart from the beginning. With the guidance of Fred Dame — Master Sommelier and winner of the 1984 Krug Cup — the restaurant built one of the most awarded wine lists in America. Today it spans more than 2,000 labels and tens of thousands of bottles, including a 1919 Chateau Margaux alongside well-chosen organic, biodynamic, and sustainably farmed selections. Wine Spectator recognized this achievement with its Best of Award of Excellence, and Restaurant Hospitality Magazine named it the "Best Wine List in America." The cellar itself is worth the visit: an underground room furnished with 16th-century antiques and a 25-foot redwood banquet table.

The Rooms, The Lounge, The Atmosphere

The restaurant has grown from its original single room into a collection of distinct spaces — the Conservatory, the Wine Cellar, the Steinbeck Room, the Captain's Room — each with its own character. Several scenes from Clint Eastwood's Play Misty for Me were filmed at the bar, and guests over the years have ranged from Julia Child and Rachael Ray to Prince Albert II of Monaco. The Lounge offers a more relaxed alternative, with live piano music most evenings, daily happy hours, and a rotating selection of oysters on ice on Monday through Wednesday nights. The same standard applies everywhere: as Balestreri puts it, "Every customer has to be treated like the most important person on earth."