In Carmel, the Rio Grill gets lots of attention, but my mid-range pick is just up the street: Silver Jones. Nearby, the California Market at Highlands Inn is a mid-range way to enjoy the property, the view and the culinary resources without the fine dining expense of their Pacific Edge‹‹which is top notch. And in San Luis Obispo, F. McClintock's Saloon at 750 Matte Road Shell Beach, is one of my favorite restaurants ANYWHERE. I drive the 420 mile round-trip for a steak-fix there at least twice a year. The ambiance is coyboy steakhouse. There's entertainment in the lounge. Don't be discourage by the crowds. The place is deceptively large and waits are reasonable. For more than 20 years Tunney Natali and Bruce Brualt have been serving drinks in mason jars to wash down tons of their signature turkey-nut appetizer with fresh salsa. Entree prices are in the $12-$22 range (except farmed abalone). In addtion to a fork-tender steak they include: € Onion rings and salsa € Hot spinach salad € Beef-rib ranchito beans € Garlic bread and fresh tortillas with butter € A cast-iron skillet of fried potatoes € Choice of dessert or after-dinner drink I recommend the turkey nuts appetizer w/salsa for starters. Bacon-wrapped or extra-thick fillet mignon, mixed grill or the 20-year anniversary special of ribs, prawns and steak (upgraded to a filet mignon).
Monterey, CA
Carmel - Monterey Restaurants
David S. wrote: >And in San Luis Obispo, F. McClintock's Saloon at 750 Matte Road >Shell Beach, is one of my favorite restaurants ANYWHERE. ... > >For more than 20 years Tunney Natali and Bruce Brualt have been serving >drinks in mason jars to wash down tons of their signature turkey-nut >appetizer with fresh salsa. ... Just for the record, its Tunney Ortali. I used to work with him when he was still schlepping around selling radio time... I second the motion on McClintock's. They also have a smaller bar that serves pub type food in SLO itself -- I forget whether its on Higuera or Broad Street but it's on the main drag, anyhow. Do the waitrons still refill the water glasses from about 3 feet above your head? BTW, in Carmel I've *got* to recommend La Boheme. One of the finest restaurants anywhere. I make special trips to Carmel just to eat there... They have a web page at http://www.carmelnet.com/laboheme/laboheme.htm so you can see what's for dinner. I've never been partial to the Highlands Inn -- IMHO, they're trading more on view than on cuisine. They're not bad, mind you. Just not as good as they could be. spl