Fandango, Pacific Grove

This used to be my go-to place when I wanted to take someone out for a nice lunch or dinner. Recently I ordered their special, called veal by the waiter. When it came it was totally disgusting and looked like vomit. Served with it were two teaspoons of mashed potatoes and some overcooked broccoli that was half yellow.

The place has gone downhill and into the ocean and land at the stinky beach. The service is awful, the food now carters to the tourist so they can get away with serving subpar food and charge above average prices, because they are not worried about return customers.

Went there last night with my wife to celebrate our 10th anniversary. I guess from the good reviews I had my expectations set way too high. A lot of minor things were amiss: we had a 15-minute wait despite having a reservation and seemingly many vacant tables. We were shuttled through a prep station to wait for the table to a cluttered bar area stacked with boxes and junk. When we were finally seated there was no water to drink and we were ignored for another 10 minutes before we were even presented a wine list or asked for a drink order. I'm pretty easy going and would usually ignore any of the above but the cumulative effect was starting to bug me. The straw that broke the camel's back for me was that the food was no better than the service. I had the seafood paella ($27.95) that was so overcooked that it was difficult to cut the shrimp with a knife. We're talking galvanized-rubber consistency! The flavor was fairly bland in the paella also. I was so put off that this was the first time I've ever complained to a waiter about the quality of a meal. In the restaurant's defense the waiter did offer to get me another dish which I declined. My wife's food was a salmon fettucine that was pretty good, but not world-class by any stretch. Maybe I'm the only one to get a lousy meal there as lots of other people seem to rave about the restaurant. We went there as it was highly recommended by friends. It does have a nice ambience and the wait staff was attentive (after they finally figured out we were there). In short - there are lots of other great restaurants in town that would like to earn your business. I'm afraid Fandango merely expects it. I know I won't be back.

very very good Downsides, though, are: very crowded usually (get your reservations), noisy, cramped tables.

I've come here time and again for great food and service. Never disapointed. Open 365 days a year, and great every one of them.

In a drab weather beaten building lies the heart of great food; complete as a southern French, or Italian cottage with its alpine charm. A well groomed staff whose service is remarkable. An outstanding bar, with immense choices of great wines. The caesar salad is made the way a salad is supposed to be made. Soup beyond expectations. We will return as often as we can. OK to dress causual. Very great food in a polygot of hash houses.

The service at this restaurant is excellent from the moment you walk in the door. I love the fact that it feels like a beautiful home that you're comfortable in. The place is broken down into small cozy rooms that feel romantic. The ambiance is superb. The food is also very good. Not only have I dined here but also had my wedding reception in the upstairs room which was wonderful. Everyone loved it and couldn't believe what a perfect place it was to do such a thing. The view is nice from the windows upstairs and it feels so warm. They also have a private bar and bathrooms and stairs that go from the kitchen to the dining room so the food comes straight to you. The staff was so nice and did such a good job serving our 50 guest with appetizers, wine, dinner, etc. I highly recommend this place!

My husband and I recently found this lovely restaurant in Pacific Grove. The menu selections were very good. I highly recommend their canneloni nicoise for an entree. Excellent. My husband had osso bucco. Another very flavorful and delightful dish. While the prices are higher than norm, the service and presentation are impeccable. Our server advised us of the prices of all specials and answered all our questions. Fresh flowers and beautiful vases adorned the tables. We were seated at a cozy table for two near the fireplace. Very enjoyable evening. We will definitely return.