Best Restaurants in Monterey
Given the fabulous array of activities competing for your attention in Monterey, finding the time to sit down to a meal is more difficult than finding a good place to eat
Monterey is a city of exceptional restaurants. The bay is full of fish, the foothills are home to game and the valleys overflow with vegetables that feed the state. Local chefs use these ingredients in their fresh, California bayside cuisine.
LouLou’s Griddle in the Middle
LouLou's Griddle is a diner that is both fun and funky. The decor is whimsical with its bright Caribbean hues. The motto is fun: "Good eats and crazy waitresses," and their food is just as comedic with names like "hubcap cake," a griddle cake nearly as big as a wheel, and "mini vacation,", a little bistro platter with clam chowder, salad and fruit nibbles. This place won't break the bank and the family will want to go back tomorrow.
El Cantaro Mexican
Mexican food lovers enjoy cheese, vegetables and of course, more cheese, but at El Cantaro, vegans can also get in on the fun! This vegan Mexican restaurant on Cannery Row is run by a couple whose mission it is to bring healthy food—free of genetically modified organisms—to the states. With all the great spice combinations, you might not even be able to tell that the "meat" never lived in a barnyard. The prices are low so try a few of the more exotic dishes like the Salpicón soy meat tostada or the Tlayudas Oaxaqueñas.
Alvarado Street Brewery and Grill
Alvarado Street Brewery and Grill , in its terrific location inside the former Regency Theater in downtown Monterey, strikes a note somewhere between cozy and industrial. You will walk into 4,900 square feet of space with a soaring ceiling and exposed steel beams. Its magnificence is balanced by the old-fashioned deli-style black and white tiles on the floor. The food is fresh and interesting, often flavored with or cooked in the beer brewed at this location. Try the fish tacos with beer salsa and wash it down with one of the 11 types of ales Alvarado brews. Or get your greens on with the crispy Brussels sprout side dish.
Restaurant 1833
For celebration dinners in Monterey, you can do no better than Restaurant 1833 in the heart of downtown. The dining room decor is strictly elegant, from the polished wood floors to gorgeous chandeliers lighting the tables. But it’s the food that draws customers and caused 1833 to be named one of the best new restaurants in the United States by the James Beard Foundation. The menu changes regularly, but odds are that any dish you order will be exceptional.
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About Monterey
It's all about the bay in Monterey, and families gather here to play in and around it.