Moss Landing
Phil's Fish Market and Eatery, 7600 Sandholt Rd., Moss Landing 831-633-2152
Fish market and eatery en route to or from Monterey, if you go by Moss Landing
On Highway 1, you need to stop in at the S. Harbor
Seaside
BBQ place Seaside (no clue)
Can't remember the name, but is excellent.
Monterey/Pacific Grove
Anne Kelly's by the Lake, 55 Camino Aquajito, Monterey 831-646-2002
The Aquarium Cafeteria and Restaurant 886 Cannery Row, Monterey
Neither is terribly expensive and food is good and location can't be more convenient for eating while there.
Ariana's Cafe (no listing)
On Lighthouse in Pacific Grove, around 15th for great fancy French style desert
The Bulldog (no listing)
After dive lunches (a pub with great messy burgers, across from Bamboo Reef)
The Charthouse, 444 Cannery Row, Monterey 831-372-3362
Best salad bar in California, and good beef. Jeans OK, but don't look like a complete slob. Takes reservations for half the tables, walk-in's get the rest. Not open for lunch.
Fandango Restaurant, 223 17th St., PG 831-373-0588
Delicious Italian food with beautiful atmosphere. Great wine list and an excellent place to take someone for a first date. Very romantic.
First Awakenings, 125 Ocean View Blvd. PG 831-372-1125
The BEST breakfast place on the peninsula hands down.
Fishwife, 1996 Sunset Dr. PG
Across the street from the Asilomar Center at Asilomar and Sunset. It doesn't look like much on the outside but has excellent seafood, Very, popular with locals, you need a reservation for dinner. Weekdays are much easier for access. Prices are very reasonable and quality is outstanding, service excellent.
Fishwife's turtle bay; there are 2 of them - one at down town, which is more for fast eat after dive or the one pass coral street (continue down the road on right hand side next to a small Inn) is the original place. Good food at reasonable price. (no clue)
Gianni's, 725 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey 831-649-1500
Dive instructors do their paperwork here. Good veggie lasagna.
Hula's (Hawaiian), 622 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey 831-655-4852
On Lighthouse, just a couple of doors down from the Bamboo Reef) is really yummy and not very expensive.
The italian place (?)
above the Breakwater deli, whose name is escaping me is good. You can't go in wetsuits, but jeans are fine.
London Bridge Pub, Wharf #2, Monterey 831-655-2879
The only waterfront Pub on the west coast (supposedly) this place has a menu, which is just beyond belief. In addition to the usual British-themed bar food, they have endless variations on, well, just about everything. Incredibly diverse and consistently tasty menu.
The Old Bathhouse, 620 Ocean View Blvd., PG 831-375-5195
At Lover's Cove. Don't wear jeans. Maybe wear a tie.
Old Monterey Café, 489 Alvarado St., Monterey 831-646-1021
Great Breakfast (almost always a line, but good)
Pagrovia, 589 Lighthouse Ave., PG 831-642-0214
It has a very creative menu, with a touch of a Russian flare. Very distinctive from all the other Italian and seafood places. The owner is also an artist (painter, sculpture) and the restaurant is filled with his work. It makes for a pleasant (and very different) atmosphere. Bring cash or local check -- they don't accept credit cards (but there is an ATM about a block away). Prices are typical for the area, $12-20 for main entrees.
Passion Fish, 701 Lighthouse Ave., PG 831-655-3311
If you are interested in wine, and include the cost of a bottle in the total, Passion Fish will actually come out to be less expensive than many of the others listed (certainly less than Sardine Factory), since their wines are all sold at retail, (not marked up 2 to 3 times in typical restaurant fashion) making the Passion Fish wine list one of the true bargains of the Monterey Peninsula.
Peppers (Mexican), 170 Forest Ave., PG 831-373-6892
Rosine's, 434 Alvarado St., Monterey across from the cigar shoppe. Excellent food. Plus a huge assortment of deserts to die for.
The Sardine Factory, 701 Wave St., Monterey 831-373-3775
Generally considered to be the best restaurant for "special occasions" but more then a few locals have said it isn't worth the prices. Still, more then a few people feel it's the first and last place to visit in Monterey if you have an expense account to abuse.
Toastie's, 702 Lighthouse Ave., PG 831-372-1125
In Pacific Grove...lots of food and great breakfast and lunch.
Turtle Bay Taqueria (no listing)
Near the wharf is at Tyler and Bonifacio streets. Excellent Mexican and South American food in an informal, fast food type place.
Vivolo's Chowder House, 127 Central Ave., PG 831-372-5414
Great cheap seafood place on Lighthouse, about two minutes away from the aquarium. Great selection of seafood and the best clam chowder sourdough bread bowl in the universe. The cook will take the lid and prepare it like a piece of garlic cheese bread pure bliss after a couple of dives.
Carmel Restaurants
Carmel does not have street numbers. Numbered Streets run East- West
Romantic
Casanova's On 5th between San Carlos & Mission
Anton & Michel On Mission between Ocean & 7th
French Poodle On Junipero & 5th (AAA 4 diamond, top 10 in US )
Piatti On 6th & Junipero
Nico Nico On San Carlos between Ocean & 7th
Village Corner 6th & Dolores corner (great outdoor fireplace)
Forge in the Forest 5th & Junipero corner (great outdoor fireplace)
Grasings On 6th between San Carlos & Mission
Tourist Trap ;-) but still good.
The Hogs Breath On San Carlos between 5th & 6th
Seafood
Flaherty's On 6th between San Carlos and Dolores
Mexican
Club Jalapeno On San Carlos, in the middle of block down a courtyard toward Mission
Bar & Food open late
Jack London's On Dolores, down another courtyard, toward Lincoln
Chinese
China Gourmet On 5th between San Carlos & Dolores (across from Post office)
Grocery Stores, Sandwiches - Roasted Chicken- Tri Tip
Bruno's On Junipero & 6th (Tri Tip sandwich is the best!)
5th Ave deli On 5th between San Carlos & Dolores
Steak
The Chop House On San Carlos & 5th
Others in Carmel/Big Sur
Il Fornaio, Ocean Ave. @ Monte Verde, Carmel-by-the-Sea 831-622-5100
Part of a chain with a restaurant in Carmel. Reasonably priced, nice atmosphere, very tasty traditional Italian food.
Nepenthe, Highway One, Big Sur 831-667-2345
It's about a half hour south of Point Lobos, but the views are incredible and the food is quite good, albeit pricey. Service can be hit or miss, but the views on a sunny day are worth it.
The Rocky Pt. Restaurant, PO Box 223281, Carmel 831-624-2933
About 15 minutes south of Pt Lobos. Good food. Casual OK, slob not. A great place to spend a January afternoon watching whales.
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