Dining Reviews
Big Sur Taphouse
Tapping Excitement: Big Sur Taphouse pours out great value and a surprising amount of character.
After the Big Sur Bazaar closed in 2008, the Mayer family, who owns the space as well as the adjoining Big Sur Deli next to the post office, put out a suggestion box asking what ...
Phoebe's Cafe
Hidden Heaven: Phoebe’s Café helps make picturesque Asilomar a nice getaway for everyone.
Even for locals, a trip to the new Phoebe’s Café at the Asilomar Conference Grounds can feel like a mini vacation. Tucked into a nook of the spacious Phoebe Hearst Social Hall – where visitors ...
Athena’s Cafe
Freak for Greek: Athena’s Cafe widens Nimri brothers’ family of welcoming restaurants.
Greek is good. Not only has Greece given us the first working version of civilization, pillared architecture and modern democracy, but grub with historic impact. One can thank Alexander the Great for this cuisine’s originality: ...
Sushi Moto
New, mini Sushi Moto revs up large sound and big selection of creative rolls.
Upon entering new Sushi Moto near the Golden State Theatre in downtown Monterey, the first thing I noticed was the extremely loud techno music. Intermingled with some Lady Gaga, it laid out a much different ...
Caffe Trieste
Cool Beans: Espresso pioneers of the West Coast Caffe Trieste bring good java, Italian cuisine and lasting legacy to Monterey.
Ever since Caffe Trieste first opened its doors in 1956 in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, it’s been a Mecca for artists, writers and freethinkers to congregate. In a swirl of caffeine and hot, frothy ...
Il Vecchio
Straightforward but sexy tastes at good prices in a crafty environment make il Vecchio an instant local hit.
It’s an unlikely set of qualifications for a restaurateur: two enthusiastic daughters, an adventurous spirit, a doctorate in clinical psychology, a career in psychotherapy, and experience opening an Indian restaurant in Rome more than 30 ...
Point Pinos Grill
Sweet as Sunset: Dory Ford’s new Point Pinos Grill deserves wider hours – and now has them (at least temporarily).
It all started with the ice water. It must have been filtered. The slice of fresh Meyer lemon was a refreshing and classy touch. Whatever the case, I can’t remember enjoying complimentary water more. This ...
Diggitty’s Hot Dogs and Ice Cream
That’s My Dog: The Burchell family celebrates an all-American classic with the new Diggitty’s.
For more than a century, the hot dog has been an iconic staple of American comfort foods. Globally, the hot dog can be traced as far back to Homer’s Odyssey, written in the 9th century ...
The Mucky Duck
Different Feather: The Mucky Duck makes some improvements on a Monterey landmark with a mixed history.
One of the most interesting items on the new Mucky Duck’s menu proved impossible to resist from the start: the fried pickles appetizer ($7.95). And yes, a couple of black-and-tan beers sounded just about right ...
Lodge Restaurant at Carmel Valley Ranch
Ranch Rules: Lodge Restaurant packs ‘sophisticated rustic’ flavor behind seemingly private gates (hint: they’re not).
After the brief splash made by celebrity chef Michel Richard and Citronelle restaurant at Carmel Valley Ranch, the renamed Lodge Restaurant reflects the vision of the new owner, John Pritzker, a scion of the Hyatt ...
Vesuvio
Through the Roof:Rich Pepe gives Carmel more bustle, housemade breads and Italian flavor with new Vesuvio.
Vesuvio, named after Italy’s Mount Vesuvius, erupted three months ago in the old Piatti Ristorante space at Junipero and Sixth in Carmel. As the volcano responsible for burying the town of Pompeii and a symbol ...
Place Apart
Restaurant 1833 uses setting and gold-plate-pedigree chef to match the hype and then some.
Monterey’s 1833 Restaurant, named after the building’s year of origin, is the latest in a series of restaurants to occupy Stokes Adobe, the home of former mayor James Stokes, whose name stuck with it. The ...
Mundos Café
A pair of brothers seduces the Peninsula one sandwich at a time.
The guy that recently won the Food Network’s “Next Food Network Star” competition came up with a universally relatable concept for a new show: “The Sandwich King.” The theme behind the show Jeff Mauro will ...
Stone Creek Kitchen
Rockin’ Food : Stone Creek Kitchen assembles a hit list of retail cooking tools, gourmet hot food and cheffing classes.
Stone Creek Kitchen is the kind of place that requires some serious time to dig in. So I blocked out half my day in order to seize the grand experience, and was left with the ...
Salinas City BBQ
Veteran Salinas City BBQ converts nonbelievers into barbecue disciples.
I’d heard about the barbecue joint that took the place of Smalley’s Round Up a year ago from my friend who works nearby. He swears it has transformed him into a barbecue addict. So it ...
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