Monterey Restaurants

[Fred C]

In Monterey Monday to Wed, any recommendations for good restaurants? Any cuisine, casual elegant. Mexican lunch?

[toodie jane]

anyone try the newish restaurant in Carmel Valley Village run by Michael Jones' son? can't remember the name.

[PattyC]

Lokal, we enjoyed lunch there in May.

[Nastallion]

For the quality and value, the Whaling Station in Monterey is a fantastic experience.
http://www.whalingstation.net/

[villadeste92]

Breakfast Club in Seaside. Mundo's Cafe right on the Seaside/Monterey border. Fabulous sandwiches, Falafals and burgers. Ferdi's also in seaside- Lunch only M-F Cajun and Creole-good sandwiches-great milkshakes. Pho King also in Seaside, very good.vietmanese. and Baan Thai also in Seaside. La tortuga-in Seaside-mexican tortas, Pico de Gallo-Del monte blvd near the Navy School. Lulu's griddle in the middle-Wharf number 2-breakfast lunch and dinner. I like Il Vecchio in Pacific Grove (Near aquarium) for italian.

[syrahgirl]

The Haute Enchilada and the Whole Enchilada are not to miss in Moss Landing for Mexica food! :)

[porkchop]

Total agreement with Whole Enchilada, and if in Moss Landing, take a look at Phil's Fish House.

[toodie jane]

Are you asking just for lunch? or do you need dinner and b'fast too? Will you have a car?

I'm going to start with The Red House in Pacific Grove. Cafe Fina on Fisherman's wharf is good and not touristy-kitschy. White tablecloths, but not overly $$. Or just grab some cooked/marinated fish or shellfish and some roasted garlic, some crunchy Italian bread, grab a spot in the sun on the wahrf and scarf it.

---Actually, I should start with fresh hot donuts from Red's Downtown, before sunup!

As with any place that's touristy busy, getting to lunch at 11:30 before the rush starts helps if you are in a time crunch.

For Mexican, just about any Mexican market large or small in Seaside has a deli with good tacos, torta sandwiches, etc. Tico's up in Marina (15 min north of Mont.) is a nice sit down cafe. They do breakfast too.

For breakfast or lunch with the locals, the Wagonwheel 5 minutes out Carmel Valley Rd from Highway 1 at Valley Pines, is great. Banana-Pecan wafles, tuna melt, m-m-m-m.

Good coffee anywhere they serve Carmel Valley Coffee Roasters.

If you're a good driver on narrow mtn roads, check out Cachagua Store, about 25 minutes east of Carmel Valley Village in the mtns. Monday night dinner ONLY. Res recc'd.

[Fred C]

Staying in Seaside, and expect a drive. Like to think we are foodies. Have not eaten in area for several years. Used to love fresh cream and mo trio, have heard good things about restaurant 1833.

[Ed Dibble]

Have you tried Passionfish? Not as fancy as what you list, but great wine list. Often good seafood preps.

[Stephanie Wong]

Since you're staying in Seaside, here's a link to a google map to Red's in Seaside, where they actually make the donuts:

http://goo.gl/maps/RmaK6

I like their devil's food donut with chocolate frosting/glaze. I've been known to call from Oakland to reserve these Red's Downtown and they were all sold out at 7:45 a.m. (some conference bought everything)! The Monterey store returns their unsold donuts to the Seaside location in the afternoon so by the time i got to Seaside, there were a couple saved for me (but no chocolate devil's food <;--{