I moved away from Monterey over five years ago, but I remember enjoying:

- The Old Bath House. Elegant but unpretentious, on the water in Pacific Grove. I know they're open for dinner, but maybe lunch too?
- Hula's. A casual eatery on the main drag (away from the water) in Pacific Grove, but with authentic Hawaiian fare and the ridiculously friendly attitude to go with it.
- Billy Quon's and Bahama Billy's. Both are owned by the same guy (can you guess his name) and feature slightly different takes on upscale casual fare, but it's the outstanding service that really kept us coming back.
- Tarpy's Roadhouse. On the outskirts of Monterey heading toward Salinas, this little nugget generally provided good food at a good price, but the service was a bit inconsistent. We still often took out-of-town visitors there because the menu was quite varied and the decor unique.

And finally, our absolute favorite:
- Baum & Blume. Even most life-long residents of Monterey don't know about this absolute marvel in Carmel Valley. It's owned by a family who specializes in catering to the rich and famous of the area, but they operate a tiny (~6 table) restaurant on nights when they're not out putting on events. You MUST call first to get a reservation. The menu is chosen daily based on what they've gotten at local farmer's and fish markets, and you have to bring your own wine. But I can guarantee you've never had a dining experience as wonderful and pleasurable as what they will provide. It's like dining at a friend's house, only the friend has a family who give the finest chefs in the world a run for their money.