JerryFF

For a combination of food, setting, and atmosphere, I still think the Highlands Inn ranks #1.

Recommendation retracted!! See below

Luvtworce

Having lived in Pacific Grove almost all my life I realize I don't get out and try many of our wonderful venues but I will say on the food list not to be missed would be.

1. Rosines on Alvarado in downtown Monterey close to the Wharf and have killer desserts.
2. Taste in Pacific Grove is small but definately well worth it.
3. Monterey Bay Aquarium has a great open area to eat overlooking the bay.
4. First Awakenings in Pacific Grove has killer breakfasts and is walking distance to Cannery Row, plus it was also featured on the $40.00 a day with Rachel Ray.

cblaisd

Update: Ate lunch there last week after a much-too-long sabbatical. Incredibly good (the Chef's special of lobster ravioli and blackened ahi was one of the best seafood dishes I've ever had). And very good value too with nicely sized (instead of skimpily symbolic ) portions.

JerryFF

I wish to retract this statement. It was true in the past but we have had two very disappointing meals there recently. The view is still the same but the overall quality of the food and service has really gone way down while the cost has gone up. We will not go back any time in the near future.

DJ_Iceman

Against my better judgement I am going to recommend my favorite restaurant on the planet, which is a hidden gem that very, very few people know about. Part of what makes it so amazingly special is this exclusive nature, which is not created by design by is simply inherent in the kind of place it is.

The restaurant is called Baum & Blume in Carmel Valley. It started out as a family-run catering business, that then opened a little take-out counter, that now has a tiny 6-table restaurant open only on nights they're not catering. I can't describe in words how charming this place is. The family is wonderful--they make magic together. The food is delicious, but you have to be ready for a fairly limited menu of whatever was fresh at the farmer's markets and fish markets that day. I heard they recently got a liquor license but when I've been it was BYO. It is, quite simply, the best food presented by the nicest people in the most eclectic setting I've ever experienced.

There--the secret is out. I have shared it with my fellows here at FT in the hopes you will not REALLY spill the beans and potentially ruin what is a true hidden gem. Go and enjoy, and tell me if I'm not right about what an amazing place this is...

SanDiego1K

Thank you. I've added it to my personal list for an upcoming visit. Here is some online information that shows it is open Wed-Sat, noon-7pm.

A few blocks away is a newly opened shop specializing in olive oil and balsamic vinegar called Quail and Olive. We stumbled on the shop last fall about a month after it opened. We'll replenish our winter ambrosia vinegar when in Carmel Valley. We bought several kinds, and this one immediately became our favorite.

SanDiego1K

I just updated the first post and hopefully have captured all the advice in the thread. Now that we have nonstop AS daily service from SAN-MRY at just 4,500 Avios one way, Monterey is easily accessible to us.

Is the restaurant below still open? The website doesn't work: http://www.firstawakenings.net However, there is a Yelp review from last month.

Splittin' Aces

Hi SD1K - Yes, it should be open still. I haven't heard anything about it closing. I ate there about a month ago and walked by it a couple of weeks ago. Nice choice for breakfast - great spot to walk it off after eating too!

SanDiego1K

We returned to the tried and true and also had good experiences with two new restaurants.

1) Tarpys - the AS flight from San Diego arrives at 8:30pm. We can be off the plane, in our rental car, and drive the 5 minutes to Tarpys by 9pm. It's our go to place our arrival night and never disappoints.

2) We like a shop (Red Plum) and an olive oil shop (Quail and Olive Oil) that are within the same block as Cafe Rustica in Carmel Valley. Cafe Rustica continues to have excellent food and a very nice outside patio.

3) Rio Grill - This was our first visit and we enjoyed it very much. The restaurant is just 3 miles from the Hyatt Carmel Highlands. It's very popular and bookings are essential.

4) Rocky Point Restaurant was a new find, just a 10-15 minute drive south of Hyatt Carmel Highlands. We spotted it driving by one day and returned the next. The views are incomparable up and down the Big Sur coast. We were pleased to find excellent food as well.

BayAreaTraveler

I went to Dametra Cafe years ago and thought the food and ambiance was pretty good. Anyone been there before? Surprised it's not on the list and it also seems to get good reviews on Yelp and TA.

riphamilton

i'll be in MRY for 24 hours early next week (8p-8p). i initially had no plans to do anything other than a quick turn because i'm MR'ing from BOS, but i found a ridiculously cheap hotel and got a decent deal on a car from hertz, so i figured i'd stay for a day. hotel is in carmel.

i'm thinking that i'll take sandiego1k's advice and go to tarpy's the night i arrive.

in the morning i'll stick with the hotel breakfast because i would like to rent a bike and cycle 17 mile drive, starting and finishing in carmel around noon. there's a gym near the bike shop, so i'll get a day pass and shower for the sake of whoever's next to me on the transcon redeye.

after lunch, i'm free 1-7p. any suggestions? i wouldn't mind checking out laguna seca, but it doesn't seem like any tours are offered so that might be a waste of time. i really don't want to have to deal with checking golf clubs, but that is another thought - particularly since it's currently 9 degrees with a foot of snow on the ground here.

Splittin' Aces

Hi - we've been having great weather, so your bike ride should be great. As far as other things to do, it all boils down to interests and budget. Golf is an option, but can be expensive. You can call Spanish Bay or Pebble and see if you can rent clubs and get a tee time. Other ideas since you have a car would be driving down to Big Sur, or hiking at Point Lobos. The Monterey Aquarium is world class. Carmel is a quaint town and you can walk around there for a couple of hours (art galleries, shopping). And then there are outfits that do whale watching tours and ocean kayaking. Check out Trip Advisor for both Monterey and Carmel to give you some ideas. Have a great trip!

riphamilton

thanks for the tips! i think i'll try to get out on the water since it'll be a while until i can even think about taking the shrinkwrap off my boat. don't think i'll have time to get on a fishing boat, but even a few hours kayaking sounds great as long as the weather cooperates.

nainas28

For a quick breakfast, the Paris bakery Cafe is amazing. Some of the best pastries I have ever eaten. Ever.

frontrangeFF

The Old Monterey Cafe on Alvarado street is good for breakfast or lunch.