Where should you go for a great steak in Monterey?
Tarpy's, at 2999 Monterey-Salinas Hwy, has been serving steak on the Monterey Peninsula since 1992. Every steak on the dinner menu is USDA Prime: a 14oz ribeye, a 12oz New York with truffle butter, an 8oz filet mignon and an 8oz sirloin chateau. It's all cooked in a historic ranch house that locals have been booking for more than thirty years.
There is no shortage of restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula. There is a short list of places where, when you order a steak, you know exactly what you're going to get: a well-sourced cut, seasoned correctly, cooked to temperature and served by a kitchen that takes the ribeye as seriously as every other plate.
Tarpy's has been on that short list since before most of the Peninsula's current restaurant scene existed.
What makes a steakhouse worth going back to?
A steakhouse and a restaurant that happens to serve steak differ on the fundamentals: sourcing, high-heat technique, seasoning, and cooking a piece of meat to an exact temperature across a full service. A kitchen doesn't learn those overnight. It builds them over years of repetition, in front of people who know what they're paying for.
Tarpy's opened in 1992 in a ranch house built around 1917 on the old Ryan Ranch homestead. You can read the full story on our about page. More than three decades later, the USDA Prime cuts at the center of the menu come from that accumulated experience.
Which steak should you order at Tarpy's?
USDA Prime Rib Eye (14oz). The richest cut on the menu. It's well marbled and made for the hard sear that crusts the outside and keeps the inside warm. It's served with roasted marble potatoes, fire-grilled broccolini and a black pepper demi-glaze. Order it medium-rare and trust the kitchen.
Grilled USDA Prime New York Steak with Truffle Butter (12oz). It has a tighter grain, a firmer bite and a more assertive flavor than the ribeye. It's seasoned with peppercorn and spice and finished with truffle butter. Pick it if you want a steak that pushes back a little.
USDA Prime Filet Mignon (8oz). The leanest and most tender of the cuts. It comes with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms and beef jus.
Angus Sirloin Chateau, USDA Prime (8oz). The steakhouse classic, served with Gorgonzola spinach, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a black pepper thyme demi-glaze.
The Famous Meatloaf. It isn't a steak, but it may be the most important thing on the menu to understand. Tarpy's meatloaf has outlasted every food trend on the Peninsula. It comes with roasted garlic mashed potato, green beans and a Marsala-mushroom sauce, and it tells you everything this kitchen cares about: technique, seasoning and the confidence to serve something simple better than anyone else. Order it at least once.
What wine goes with a steak at Tarpy's?
For a USDA Prime ribeye or New York, look to the Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends section of the Tarpy's wine list. It's structured, dark-fruited and has the tannin grip that well-marbled beef calls for. The list leans on California, including the Carmel Valley Bernardus "Marinus" Bordeaux blend. By the glass, the Justin Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles is an easy match. Your server can steer the pairing to your cut.
Every Wednesday through December 31, 2026, bottles on the Wine Promotion List are half price, which makes midweek the best-value steak night on the Peninsula. Here's what to open on Wednesday wine night.
Why is fall a good time for a steak dinner in Monterey?
As fall settles over the Monterey Peninsula, conditions line up for a proper steakhouse dinner. The evenings are cooler, the garden patio holds the last of the warm afternoons, and the red wines that felt too heavy in July taste right again.
Tarpy's was named Best of Monterey County 2024 and holds a 4.6 overall rating across more than 5,700 Google and OpenTable reviews. The steak has been at the same address for more than thirty years.
Reserve your table at Tarpy's, or call 831.647.1444.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best steak to order at Tarpy's?
The 14oz USDA Prime Rib Eye is the richest cut on the menu. For a firmer, more assertive steak, order the 12oz USDA Prime New York with truffle butter. If you want the most tender cut, order the 8oz Prime filet mignon.
Are Tarpy's steaks USDA Prime?
Yes. The rib eye, New York, filet mignon and sirloin chateau on the current menu are all USDA Prime. Ask your server about sourcing for the evening's cuts.
What wine pairs best with steak at Tarpy's?
A California Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux-style blend from the wine list. Your server can match it to your cut. On Wednesdays, bottles on the Wine Promotion List are half price through December 31, 2026.
What are Tarpy's hours?
Tarpy's opens daily at 11:30 a.m. Hours are Monday–Thursday and Sunday 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m., and Friday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
📍 2999 Monterey-Salinas Hwy, Monterey, CA 93940 | 📞 831.647.1444 | Reservations | Open daily 11:30 a.m. | Fri–Sat until 9 p.m.