BestOf
MONTEREY 07

•PUB

CROWN & ANCHOR | 150 West Franklin St., Monterey • 649-6496

Located just below street level, the polished black bow of the Crown & Anchor ship is always lit up with lively conversation. The Crown scores points for its three distinct scenes. Mateys chat up their neighbors while perched around the vessel’s impressive formation of draft Irish stouts, English ales and microbrews. Dinner parties share small talk as white-shirted servers carry out plates of succulent lamb shanks and hearty meat pies. And outside on the patio, unconfined by walls or ceiling, drunken revelers forget their table manners and holler across the stern. All of which explains why those who start their pub crawl at the Crown usually end up staying the whole night.

•MARTINI

LALLAPALOOZA | 474 Alvarado St., Monterey • 645-9036

This isn’t your grandfather’s martini. The place rocks the shaker, marrying juices and liquor for concoctions like the biting Purplesaurus Rex, the mysterious Pink Panty, and the trippy raspberry-infused Purple Haze that’ll make you think your mother was dropping hits the day you came to be. This place realizes, urban legends aside, that size matters. Everything’s a double in this joint. And hip is not an option; patrons are drizzled in it just walking in the door. So grab Gramps and show him what Lallapalooza does with a bottle of Bombay. Bet the old man can still drink you under the table.

•MARGARITA

BAJA CANTINA | 7166 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley • 625-2252

To taste the best of what ice, lime juice, sweet and sour and the glorious agave plant can do, take a ride to Baja Cantina and find a place to settle in on the fireplace-warmed outdoor patio. This locals’ favorite, with its classic car theme, famous happy hours and extensive Mexican food menu, is Margarita Central for the Peninsula. No fewer than 70 quality añejos, reposados and other tequilas make the initial decision tough, but once your drink arrives—or, in the case of the Shaker, once it’s handmade tableside—all your troubles are over.

•NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

•BEERS ON TAP

•SINGLES BAR

•HAPPY HOUR

MUCKY DUCK | 479 Alvarado St., Monterey • 655-3031

When last month’s fire raged through the 400 block of Alvarado Street, causing over $5 million in damages and destroying 21 restaurants, retailers, and offices, the Mucky Duck was forced to close its doors due to electrical problems, safety issues, and the element of traumatic shock. But less than a week later the Duck was wide open for business once again, kick-starting the healing process by pouring pints and dishing out the pub grub like it has been doing for the last 15 years. Of the many awards the bar has won in these pages throughout the years, perhaps none is as well-deserved as the Best Neighborhood Bar. Shortly after the fire, owner Eric Waddell took out two prominent ads in both of the county’s major newspapers offering condolences and well wishes to all the business owners whose lives were ravaged by the fire. “Monterey small business—it’s family,” the ad read. And down at the Mucky Duck, that’s exactly what they invite you to do: join the family. Happy Hour is a great time to do it—Monday through Friday from 4-7pm, all draft beers and well drinks are $2, and appetizers are half-priced. Yes, there are plenty of reasons to lift a pint at this locals’ favorite.

•DRINK WITH A VIEW

SCHOONERS BISTRO ON THE BAY | Monterey Plaza Hotel, 400 Cannery Row, Monterey • 646-1706

The visual gratification begins immediately, walking from the street-level entrance of the sumptuous Plaza Hotel down the carpeted staircase and out to the bar. Then it gets way better. On the deck at Schooners, you are part of the view, perched just far enough above the rocks and waves to ensure that you won’t get wet. In the foreground seals and otters play in the surf; the middle-distance reveals sailboats, kayakers at play and fisherman at work; Del Monte Beach stretches prettily nearby; and beyond is the whole of Monterey Bay, both intimate and spectacular. The food and drinks are good, too.

•WINES BY THE GLASS

RIO GRILL | Crossroads Shopping Center, Rio Road at Hwy 1, Carmel • 625-5436

For all of the awards Rio Grill has won during its long tenure, this one may come as a surprise to some. Rio Grill has always been like the girl who has almost everything—beauty, brains, money, grace, spunk, a flair for song and dance—but she had a poorly-concealed secret. She didn’t know her wines by the glass.General Manager Chris Bahrami took over the wine list and the wines by the glass, and the Weekly ’s readers, with their keen eye for a good value, have apparently noticed the improvement. Kudos also go to Executive Chef Cy Yontz, who has not only added some fine new dishes but has taken the very same dishes regulars have loved for years and miraculously made them better.

•BAR FOR POOL

EASY STREET BILLIARDS | 511 Tyler St., Monterey • 333-0825

The words “pool hall” don’t exactly conjure up comforting images. One typically pictures dank, dark, smoked-fills bars frequented by bearded beer-swilling bikers wielding pool cues that can become deadly weapons. But Easy Street Billiards isn’t your typical pool hall, to say the least. The proprietors have created an atmosphere where people of all ages and skill levels can play a few rounds of 9-ball without having to worry about the Hell’s Angels, the Pagans, or any reenactments of scenes from Road House.

•BAR FOR DARTS

PENNY FARTHING | 9 E. San Luis St., Salinas • 424-5652

The Penny didn’t make it into these pages just because it has free darts and two boards to aim them at. Much like most of its 22 draft beers, this British pub has a full and inviting flavor. You can wash down those fish ‘n’ chips with a Black and Tan or slice into some liver and onions with a glass of red wine. Whether it’s quiz night on Tuesdays or the occasional hosting shows for local rockabilly bands, the Penny appeals to the gamut of Salinas folk. In a city where every little bit of nightlife counts, this pub is a haven of ready-made entertainment.

•SPORTS BAR

KNUCKLES AT THE HYATT REGENCY | 1 Old Golf Course Rd., Monterey • 372-1234

Watching sports in a bar means guzzling unnatural quantities of beer, chowing down on burgers, fried foods and wings while living and dying with each of your team’s plays. That’s as American as it gets. The recipe for success is pretty straightforward: plenty of television sets, plenty of peanuts and popcorn, plenty of party atmosphere and plenty of beer. Knuckles has all that and more, including a couple of adjacent ballrooms where they set up giant screens for the really big games.

•COFFEEHOUSE

STARBUCKS | Various locations

You know what they say: the patrons of more than 12,000 coffee outlets around the globe can’t be all wrong. There’s a reason for Starbucks’ popularity, and it has to do with consistency and kick-ass cappuccinos. Starbucks is simply the most readily available source of always-delicious coffee drinks in the world. There’s another thing about Starbucks, for you conscientious folk out there in Jonesland: Starbucks has the power to move markets, and insofar as they sell organic, fair trade and shade-grown coffee, that’s a good thing—for all of us.

•MOVIE THEATER

OSIO CINEMAS | 350 Alvarado St., Monterey • 644-8171

The Osio’s got all the glamour of an old-school movie house with a key modern convenience: comfy seats. The popcorn is tasty, too. This perennial reader’s pick is the place in Monterey County to check out the smartest, hippest films. In other words: want to see Almodóvar’s new flick? Head downtown to the Osio. Plus, with Cafe Noir located near the lobby and the Crown & Anchor pub next door, there are plenty of options for post-movie discussion over a cappuccino or a pale ale.

•HANGOUT AFTER A MOVIE

CAFÉ NOIR | 365 Calle Principal, Monterey • 649-6647

Which brings us to our next subject. Let’s say that in the manner of civilized people everywhere, you’ve decided to do Dinner and a Movie. That’s Dinner; then Movie. And what comes after that? Dessert. A slab of Snickers bar pie or chocolate cherry cheesecake or macaroons and a mocha, all the while discussing whether the movie’s plot successfully moved the director’s premise forward or ran it into the ditch.

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