Pacific Grove - thoughts on Passionfish & Fandango

[DebitNM]

We will be in Carmel mid March. I have am thinking about having dinner at one of these places. I have found a good hotel deal that will include a $50 dining certificate to either of these.

I have tried to find current posts on them, but can only find old ones.

We like Mediterranean; Italian; French; Seafood/fish [the latter especially since we don't get any decent seafood here in SW].

What are you current experiences at these restaurants?

Is there somewhere else you would recommend?

Any thoughts on Fifi Cafe or Fresh Cream? I didn't prices on Fresh Cream's menu online -- how expensive is it?

Thanks,
Deb

[susancinsf]

ok, now that you are on the correct board, a search will turn up many, many posts on Passionfish in the last year, and indeed, quite a few in the last month or so. You won't find as many on Fandango. There is a reason for that. If you like seafood and particularly if you like wine, I think it is a no brainer: go to Passionfish. It is wonderful. My last meal at Fandango was at least four years ago, but was only average.

And I would love to know about a hotel deal that includes $50 to Passionfish!

By the way, both restaurants are in Pacific Grove, NOT in Carmel.

I think Fifi is also in PG, Fresh Cream is in Monterey. I've actually never eaten at either one: Fifi gets mixed reports on the board, Fresh Cream gets mostly positive mentions. It is more expensive than any of the other places you mention, and quite a bit more than Passionfish if you order wine, not even counting that $50....(Passionfish's wine prices are near retail).

There is a new mediterranean restaurant in Monterey, Esteban, located in the Casa Munras Hotel. If you check it out, do report back!

[DebitNM]

Thanks susan! I realized about 1 minute after I posted this in California board that I had hit the wrong link when choosing where to post.

I will search again for info on Passionfish. We really need to get our fill of fish & seafood on this trip.
Deb

[Quenton]

I live in Pacific Grove and enjoy both PassionFish and Fandango equally. PF has a greater following, but I must say I've been disappointed twice while eating there. Fandango is Mediterranean and has some very good dishes. I will recommend a couple other places nearby that you might try as well.

Monterey; near the aquarium I like Bistro Moulin. Very well known and respected chef from Cassanova in Carmel opened this restaurant about a year ago. I've eaten there a few times (once for lunch) and it was excellent. The menu is small, simple and fairly basic.

Another good lunch place in Monterey is Tarpy's on Canyon Del Rey in Del Rey Oaks on Hwy 68 near the airport. Not near where you will likely be, but consistently good and varied food. The soup is almost always great and their salads are better than just about anywhere.

Pacific Grove; Try the Little Red House Cafe. Chris D'Amelio and his wife run this place and it's probably the best in my hometown. Great soups and excellent daily lunch specials. I eat here weekly and am probably too biased in my opinion. Salads here are also very good. Chris also runs the restaurant concession at the municpal golf course. Excellent salads and burgers if you are so inclined.

Taste Bistro is on Forest Ave. and you would enjoy the daily specials there too. One thing I like about Taste is that if you buy wines from Taste of Monterey (wine store on Cannery Row featuring only Monterey wines) and ask TOM to stamp the bottle as coming from them, Taste will open your wines and not charge a corkage fee. Pessango Pinot Noir (Gary's Vineyard) is excellent.

Carmel; Little Napoli. Consistently good and do call ahead to make a reservation. Actually do that at Taste Cafe as well if you decide to go there. Little Napoli is fantastic; wonderful pasta dishes and a pretty big menu. You'll like this place as well.

Salinas; sorry to say that meals I've had there weren't as good as those I've mentioned above. Ginos for Italian - a bit too standard but many like it. Hullaballoo on Main St. is one of the better restaurants but one time I ate some tainted beef there and haven't had the fortitude to try them again.

Good luck and enjoy your visit!

[Ed Dibble]

I have eaten a few times at Fifi's. French Onion soup is very good, and I had a simple avocado and shrimp salad for lunch a couple of years ago that was outstanding. Also had a dinner there with friends in 2006, and it was good, but not over the top good. My friends and I were not unhappy, but it was not a memorable meal. Sortof casual old-school French, if that makes any sense. Wine list heavily leans French, which is a nice contrast to most in the area.

Fandango was at its prime 20 years ago. I have heard that the original partners split. It is Mediterranean cuisine, but none of my local eating friends has any interest in trying it again. I still have memories of the rack of lamb from there, but all recent reports are that it has gone downhill seriously.

Passionfish, on the other hand, is a personal favorite. Not everything there is spot on, but it is creative interesting food backed with a wonderful wine list. I did 3 posts about the place for Kirk's mmm-yoso blog. Here's a link to the first one:

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2...

Obviously, I would go there. Your results may differ.

ed

[alanbarnes]

Haven't eaten at Fandango in years, so can't help you there.

Fresh Cream is a great restaurant. For me it falls into the "special occasion" category. Definitely fine dining. Apps around $15, entrees around $40, a decent wine list at standard restaurant markup.

Passionfish is my favorite restaurant on the Monterey peninsula. I'd be a regular if I lived nearby. It's casual, but still nice. The food is great, with a little east-meets-west thing going on. The chef isn't afraid of taking chances, so some dishes are more successful than others, but I've never had a bad meal there. The wine list is the real highlight - it's got a lot of interesting bottles, and everything is priced at the restaurant's cost plus $5. So you can drink some very special wine without having to take a second mortgage.

[Beach Chick]

Wonderful birthday dinner at Passionfish a couple of months ago and from the food...lots of seafood...kick ass half bottle wine list..love this place!

www.passionfish.net