Ristorante La Giostra - Monterey - Restaurants, Cafes & Food Reviews

La Giostra, which means "Carousel" in Italian, is a fairly authentic Italian restaurant situated among the dozens of hotels on Munras Ave. From outside appearances, La Giostra doesn't look too impressive. The building is an unassuming concrete facade with windows overlooking a busy street. However, once you take a look at the authentic menu (which uses Italian names) and are welcomed in by Massimo, the incredibly friendly owner, you will feel at ease.

I found the food itself good, but a little bit on the salty side. I had a dish with a pancetta and parmesan cheese sauce (forget the name, but it was a special). The pasta was homemade and cooked well, but the cheese sauce was a bit too heavy and salty for me. Otherwise, it was good.

Perhaps the best part about the restaurant is that the owner really makes you feel at home. He stopped by our table to ask how our meal was, and even gave us a free sample of some risotto.

I would go back and visit again, but would try a different dish.