california ~ classic american
Bahama Billy’s
Sit back and relax in the tropical setting of Bahama Billy’s. The Caribbean-inspired cuisine is as creative as it is delicious, with innovative dishes such as sweet potato fries, Calypso ciabatta bread, prime steaks, lobster tail and Alaskan king crab. Full bar and outdoor heated patio. 3690 The Barnyard, Carmel, 626-0430.
Big Sur Bakery
Much more than a bakery, this laid-back, airy house-turned-restaurant offers perfect coffee drinks and sandwiches during the daytime and wine, pizza and heartier entrees at night. The style is hippie nouveau, with an emphasis on simple preparations and fresh produce. Highway 1 in Big Sur, near the post office, 667-0520.
Big Sur River Inn
American-style comfort food made with organic ingredients and grass-fed beef awaits at this cozy roadhouse on the river. Summertime sees live music every Sunday afternoon as locals drag bent-willow chairs into the shallow creek for a cool little getaway. 25 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, Big Sur, 667-2700.
Bouchée
Newly renovated, this cozy locals’ favorite offers a modern bistro menu based on local ingredients. The wine list is superlative; Bouchee shares a 4,500-bottle cellar with its sister properties L’Auberge and Cantinetta Luca. Mission between Ocean and Seventh, Carmel, 626-7880.
Café Rustica
Located in sunny Carmel Valley, charming Café Rustica brings the flavors of Italy, Alsace and California together in one irresistible package. The setting is casual but upscale and so is the food; thin-crust gourmet pizzas, fresh seafood, and abundant seasonal vegetables are the order of the day, as is the carefully crafted wine list. Reservations advised. 10 Delfino Pl., Carmel Valley Village, 659-4444.
Chart House
Just because one’s expectations are high upon walking into the Chart House doesn’t mean a meal there can’t be surprising. Slow-roasted prime rib, Caesar salad and fresh seafood specialties anchor the menu. And then there’s the Chocolate Lava Cake. 444 Cannery Row, Monterey, 372-3362.
Christopher’s on Lincoln
Chef Christopher Caul presents elegant comfort food in a casually chic environment. Think pan-seared chicken with polenta and wild mushrooms, or the tequila-cured salmon. Lincoln between Fifth and Sixth, Carmel, 626-8000.
Che Pez Grill
Flavorful sandwiches at lunch and steaks and pasta at night, all with a twist, are complemented by a small, pleasantly affordable wine list. 266 Reservation Rd., Marina, 883-9455.
Cielo
Organic seasonal produce harvested from Ventana Inn’s own gardens is paired with the freshest seafood, poultry and steaks on this inspired Mediterranean-influenced menu. The breathtaking natural setting of this famous resort confirm that Cielo indeed deserves its name, which means “heaven.” Ventana Inn, Highway 1, 28 miles south of Carmel, Big Sur, 667-4242.
Corkscrew Café
The owners of Georis Winery created this restaurant in a building reminiscent of an Old West café, with a garden patio out back for those balmy Carmel Valley evenings. A select menu is big on organic foods (thanks to a next-door garden) and creative touches. 55 W. Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley, 659-8888.
The Covey
This celebrated restaurant’s ever-changing menu highlights the freshest ingredients from local farmers and fishermen. The Covey is widely recognized as a premier Carmel Valley destination. Tableside service is enhanced by an award-winning wine list. 8205 Valley Greens Dr., Carmel, 620-8860.
Dishes Bistro & Grill
California and the Mediterranean come together in flavorful, fresh and natural cuisine. Dishes boasts everything from fresh seasonal seafood, steak and chicken to gourmet pizza. Full bar. 330 Reservation Rd., Marina, 883-1207.
The Duck Club Grill
Located 15 feet above the Monterey Bay inside the stunning Monterey Plaza Hotel, The Duck Club pairs its picture-perfect location with classic American cuisine and a dash of California flair. Lobster, oak-grilled Harris Ranch steaks and pomegranate-lacquered halibut are a sampling of what’s in store. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations recommended. 400 Cannery Row, Monterey, 646-1706.
Earthbound Farm’s Organic Kitchen
Since 1984, Earthbound Farms in Carmel Valley has delivered fresh, organic, and pesticide-free produce to the world at large. Its Organic Kitchen, next to flower fields and an organic farm stand, continues this tradition with healthy and delicious soups, salads, and much more. 7250 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley, 625-6219.
Forge in the Forest
The Forge is a decades-old Carmel tradition that sets the standard in local al fresco dining. Choose from hearty soups or sandwiches served with thick, satisfying fries or indulge in steak, seafood or pasta. At night the cozy garden patio is heated with brick firepits so you can dine in comfort beneath the stars. Fifth and Junipero, Carmel, 624-2233.
Grove Bistro
Less is more at this charming little bistro, which offers an excellent but pared-down menu with all-too-rare half-order options. The wine list highlights small, owner-run wineries. 650 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove, 655-1399.
Hog’s Breath Inn
Clint Eastwood’s famous Carmel eatery is steeped in cool Western ambiance, thanks to rustic décor and numerous paintings of Our Hero plus a nice patio tucked away out back and lit by a half-dozen fireplaces. The no-fooling-around menu appears to be straight-ahead American fare but has a tasty California twist. San Carlos and Fifth, Carmel, 625-1044.
Hullaballoo
Barbecued ribs and chicken-fried steak share a place on the menu with European-inspired offerings like daily risotto specials. Note to chocoholics: Pay special attention to the dessert menu. 228 Main St., Oldtown Salinas, 757-3663.
Jack’s Lounge and Restaurant
An elegant nautical-themed restaurant and pleasant outdoor patio enhance the experience of dining on Colorado rack of lamb and serious cioppino. Portola Plaza Hotel, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey. 649-2698.
L’Auberge Carmel
Executive chef Timothy Mosblech prepares fresh-from-the-farm contemporary California cuisine with European flair. The 12-table restaurant features an underground wine cellar constructed to house a 4,500-bottle collection. Bistro L’Auberge offers a more casual dining option with a limited menu. Monte Verde between Ocean and Seventh, Carmel, 624-8578.
LALLApalooza
This airy restaurant/martini bar in downtown Monterey overflows most evenings with well-dressed professional types. The American menu highlights gourmet burgers, grilled salmon, ribs and Angus steaks. The full bar has almost two dozen martinis; requests of “shaken, not stirred” are most assuredly honored. 474 Alvarado St., Monterey, 645-9036.
Marinus
Chef Cal Stamenov’s mastery of European-inspired cuisine and Bernardus’ magnificent wine cellar, coupled with four-star service, explain why Marinus is one of the Peninsula’s only Zagat-rated dining rooms. A must-visit for any serious foodie. 415 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley, 658-3595.
Max’s Grill
Owner/Chef Hisayuki Max Muramatsu has enjoyed chef stardom in his native Tokyo, where he regularly won best chef awards at Tokyo’s famed Maxim’s of Paris. Stateside, he earned the same nod at Carmel’s Anton & Michel. His mastery of classical French and Japanese cuisine makes this a local treasure for fans of delicious California food and warm hospitality. 209 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove, 375-7997.
Mission Ranch
Sheep grazing on green lawns against views of Point Lobos, white picket fences, a large outdoor patiothere’s plenty of charm to go around at Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch. Add great preparations of food like steaks and salmon, a Sunday brunch and a piano bar, and it’s clear why Mission Ranch is the place to be for casual dinners and laid-back nightlife. 26270 Dolores St., Carmel, 625-9040.
Montrio
Montrio’s bustling downtown location, stylish décor and friendly service have won it a place in locals’ hearts, but it’s chef Tony Baker’s flavorful California cuisine that locked in a culinary award from Esquire. Try any of the creative “small bites” and one of the outrageously tender steaks. The ever-changing seafood specials are a sure bet, too. 414 Calle Principal, Monterey, 648-8880.
Nepenthe
People come for the scenery and fall in love with the food. For 55 years Nepenthe has been cooking up all-American favorites like steak, seafood and burgers; it also boasts one of the best views of the Pacific Ocean in the world. Whether you sit outside on the oak-shaded deck or dine within the rustic wood interior, be forewarned: once you relax in this very special restaurant, you may never want to go home again. Highway 1, Big Sur, 667-2345.
Norma Jean’s
An oasis of warmth, serenity and good food awaits at this North Monterey eatery. Located on Fremont Street near many hotels, Norma Jean’s features handcrafted specialty plates of local fish and produce with a Mediterranean flair. Serving lunch and dinner and also breakfast on the weekends. 2339 N. Fremont St., Monterey, 372-3265.
Ol’ Factory Café
A true original, this eco-friendly eatery in a trendy corner of industrial Sand City makes eating gourmet sustainable food both fun and affordable. Artisanal breads and cheeses, local Corralitos meats and produce from Monterey Bay farmers are combined in unique but unpretentious dishes at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Think goat cheese omelets, bison sausage sandwiches and lavender panna cotta. 1725 Contra Costa Ave., Sand City, 39-GREEN or 394-6000.
Pacific’s Edge
Soul-stirring ocean views mark this beautiful, upscale Carmel Highlands restaurant, where a huge wine list and award-winning California cuisine always make for a memorable evening. Downstairs, the less formal California Market offers its own stunning views and delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner options, either inside or on the heated terrace. Highlands Inn, Highway 1, four miles south of Carmel, 622-5445 and 622-5450.
Pacifica Café & Bar
With a new chef and a revised menu emphasizing sustainable seafood choices, Pacifica is redefining the hotel restaurant. Inventively prepared halibut, scallops and sablefish, plus Cornish game hen, steak and burgers, give everyone something to love. The local wine list is a big plus. In the Embassy Suites Hotel, 1441 Canyon del Rey Blvd., Seaside, 393-1115.
Passionfish
This out-of-the-way jewel has attained near-cult-like status among local foodies, who swoon over its Wine Spectator-award-winning cellar and mouthwatering menu. Dishes like Alaskan halibut with black-pepper rum sauce and rack of lamb with goat-cheese ratatouille timbale are made with only the finest sustainably harvested ingredients. 701 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove, 655-3311.
Point Joe’s Monterey
Two chefs from the Monterey Bay Aquarium teamed up to create a refreshing dining experience that’s eco-friendly as well as delicious. Don’t miss the fresh grilled tuna sandwich or the breaded sand dabs with organic greens. 2169 N. Fremont Blvd., Monterey, 655-3355.
Red House Café
Simplicity, comfort, and relaxation reign here, from the decor to the food to the service. Three small dining rooms and a porch fill up with locals looking for “contemporary American” that includes robust salads and outstanding small plates. 662 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove, 643-1060.
Rio Grill
A vibrant, lively atmosphere and colorful décor provide the perfect complements to the Rio Grill’s innovative mix of California and Southwest regional cuisine. Start with the fire-roasted Castroville artichoke, then move on to the pork tenderloin or the pumpkin seed-crusted salmon, and you’ll know why the Rio is one of the area’s top restaurants. Crossroads Center, Highway 1 and Rio Road, Carmel, 625-5436.
Rocky Point
When asking for the best seat in the house at Rocky Point, you’ll have to be more specific. A spectacular view of the ocean and coast is visible from every table. The menu includes fine steaks, fresh rainbow trout and baked lobster tail. 10 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, Big Sur, 624-2933.
Rosine’s
Rosine’s has taken American comfort food and elevated it to an art form. Generous portions, friendly staff, reasonable prices, and a terrific old Monterey location make Rosine’s a favorite for locals and visitors alike. Don’t miss the towering layer cakes. 434 Alvarado St., Monterey, 375-1400.
Sierra Mar
The stunning glass-and-granite Sierra Mar restaurant offers its guests a panoramic view of the Big Sur coastline from 1,200 feet in the clouds. It’s an apt setting for chef Craig von Foerster’s masterful delivery of California and French-influenced cuisine. See why Zagat has ranked it the top hotel restaurant in California. Post Ranch Inn, Highway 1, 27 miles south of Carmel, Big Sur, 667-2800.
Stokes
Set in a gorgeous, airy 175-year-old adobe in downtown Monterey, Stokes restaurant is a fitting showcase for chef Brandon Miller’s rustic but elegant sensibility. Pan-seared fish, homemade cheeses and pastas, and a stunning duck confit complement slow-roasted meats from the wood-burning oven on Stokes’ intriguing menu. 500 Hartnell St., Monterey, 373-1110.
Tarpy’s Roadhouse
Whimsical sculptures and beautiful watercolors adorn this attractive stone ranch house, built in 1917. Excellent salads and innovative entrées, ranch-raised venison, game chops, and fresh seafood are prepared and served with impeccable style. Highway 68 and Canyon Del Rey Boulevard, Monterey, 647-1444.
Terrace Grill at La Playa
Fresh Monterey Bay seafood and lush Salinas Valley produce culminate in tasty European-inspired creations. Enjoy dinner on the open-air heated terrace while the sun sets over the Pacific. La Playa Hotel & Cottages-by-the-Sea, Eighth Avenue and Camino Real, Carmel, 624-4010.
The Whaling Station
At celebrity chef John Pisto’s dining emporium, intensely flavorful seafood pasta dishes and tender aged beef are the stars of an innovative menu of legendary quality. Superb service and a strong selection of fine wines and spirits help make this a destination for special celebrations. 763 Wave St., Monterey, 373-3778.
