Recs for lunch en route to Monterey fr. SFO?

[ATLGAL]

My husband and I are making our first trip to Monterey/Carmel & Hwy. 1 this Labor Day weekend (despite the traffic). We fly into SFO on Friday morning and out of OAK on Monday morning, staying at Quail Lodge during our time there. I already have reservations at Passionfish on Friday night. Any recommendations for a place to stop for lunch on the way down to Monterey. Still haven't decided if we'll take the long way aruond Half Moon Bay and through Santa Cruz or stay on 101--would be interested in your thoughts on this regard, as well as other recommendations. (I'm combing through the past posts now.)

Also would love to get recommendations on wineries/tasting rooms in the area.

Thanks!

[curiousgeo]

A couple of places I have on my list of restaurants to try in the area are, Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay, Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing, and a barbeque place that has been mentioned on these boards, in I believe Gilroy, whose name totally escapes me at the moment, maybe someone else will post the name. I'll be making the same drive as well, so hope you report on wherever you happen to try. Good luck.

[Ed Dibble]

I think the bbq place is Central Texas BBQ in Castroville.

Also popular on the boards are some of the Mexican places in Watsonville - in particular Fiesta Tepa Sahauyo.

Here's a link to one of th discussions

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/89123

ed

[curiousgeo]

Central Texas BBQ, that's the one! Thanks.

[ChinoWayne]

Yeah, Central Texas, not bad at all, feasted on 'Q there once, and then brought the left overs back to the hotel room, better than the hotel food. The proprietor is a dead-ringer for Willy Nelson.

[ricepad]

Wherever you end up, make sure you build extra time into your itinerary for your return trip to Oakland. The SF-Oakland Bay Bridge will be close for the weekend for seismic work, and other routes across the bay could end up carrying a lot more traffic than usual.

[ATLGAL]

I read that earlier today. We have an 11:30am flight to get back to the east cost so I have a feeling we'll be up early! Thank you so much for the tip!

[toodie jane]

reguarding your route leaving SF:

IMore chow opportunities on the coast route, Hiway 1--most definitely!! .

Muuuuuch more attractive, many more places to stop and appreciate the local farming communities you'll pass through. From SFO, you can drive south on 101 to 92, then straight up and over the ridge to the coast at Half Moon Bay.

There is Swanton Berry Farm (u-pick) then through the cozy community of Santa Cruz, (search 'Calif board' for many discussions for lunch places) on through the hills south into Watsonville (home of some tremendous Mexican eateries) and along the coast through Moss Landing (buy salmon off a boat) past Castoville and the "Giant Artichoke" veggie stand's Deep Fried Artichokes (requires a short side trip through C'ville), and quickly along the sand dunes to Monterey. Order some artichokes to be shipped home at Pezzini Farms just south of Castroville where you turn south towards Monterey and the coast.

I'd skip eating on Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey--pretty touristy fare--but lots of places to get a snack in Monterey or Pacific Grove ("PG" to locals) if you missed lunch along the way. A place in Marina, minutes north of Carmel on Hiway 1, that ed posted about is still on my must-try list. http://www.chowhound.com./topics/313747

Chowing on the way to Oakland: 101 would be the least congested route to Oakland on Monday. a helpful link for planning your chow route back to Oakland: :http://www.baybridgeinfo.org/

From Mont. drive Hiway 68 east to Salinas (Melanie Wong has a fav breakfast spot here) catch up 101 northbound up through San Jose to 580, around the east side of the bay up to Oakland. You might want to stop in San Jose in the Tully/Story Rd area for some treats for the plane at one of the Asian bakeries. (real French bread, sliced, slathered with sweet butter and sugar. Outrageous! my brother brings me some when he comes to visit. Sorry I don't know any bakery names). Get a very early start--it's a 21/2 to 3 hour drive without stops or congestion.

Have a great time and let us know what chow you find!

[Alan408]

I was going to recommend taking Watsonville Road/Hecker Pass for winerys, but I googled the area winerys and looks like 1) not all of the have tasting or 2) they are not advertising. Seems that I see many more winerys when driving in the area than I was able to find on the internet. Watsonville Road is in Morgan Hill, off 101.

Google: gilroyvisitors.org, on that site is a list of south country winerys.

[toodie jane]

For wineries from Quail Lodge, in about 45 minutes you could take gorgeous, winding Carmel Valley Rd east up and over the hill to Arroyo Seco, then north to the Santa Lucia Highlands wineries of Paraiso, Hahn, etc. This area is well-known for Pinot grapes. http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Santa-Lucia-Highlands.html

map:http://www.santaluciahighlands.com/map.php

Perhaps someone with knowledge of particular tasting rooms here could chime in.

The area is stunning with good weather and views to boot.

here is a winery map of the entire area:http://www.montereywines.org/win...

-----
Paraiso Vineyards
38060 Paraiso Springs Rd, Soledad, CA 93960

[Ed Dibble]

I love Carmel Valley Road - even if it narrows to one lane in places. Good wine tour advice. So much better than Hecker Pass - or the tasting in the Cannery Row area.

[toodie jane]

I drive the road with my window down, weather permitting--on the lookout for low-flying ducati's