I really like Passionfish because of the food and esp. the relatively cheap wine list.
The grilled artichoke at Tarpy's is killer.
Finally tried Taste in Pacific Grove in February and it was very good...made reservations early and ended up with the best table in the house....and who comes in just after us and sits at the table next to us: Bill Murray and his gang! They'd been golfing at the AT&T at Pebble.
My other favorite in Monterey, Stokes, closed last November but is evidently opening with new owners, soon or already.