Monterey/Santa Cruz/Carmel

Someone wrote:

: > We'll be going to the Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz area for : > a week next month, and would like to get some opinions : > on good restaurants in the area.

Also try:

      Cafe Sparrow            Aptos Village           country french
                                            & very charming
      Sea Bonne         Capitola Esplanade      good seafood, small
                                            & staff is fun.

      both seem to be good value, less overblown than the places
      that have higher profiles (like Crowsnest or Shadowbrook) and
      much better food.

      just my opinion of course....

Someone wrote:
>
>
>> We'll be going to the Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz area for
>> a week next month, and would like to get some opinions
>> on good restaurants in the area.
>
>> Post or email:
>>
>> Eric Herbert   [email protected]
>
>Fandangos in Pacific Grove!  We celebrated my fathers birthday there 9 months
>ago. We had great food/service. It would qualify in the nicer dinner category.
>

Since Carmel was part of the subject line, let me recommend one of my favorite places down there.

Try the Cafe Stravaganza located in the Crossroads Shopping Center at the corner of Rio Road and Highway 1.  If you go south on 101, just a little before 156 heading to Monterey, you'll see a billboard on the left hand side billboard advertising the Crossroads Shopping Center and how to get there.

Cafe Stravaganza specializes in Mediterranean Cuisine.  Also, their pizza is awesome.  My favorite appetizer is the Chicken Tamarind.  They also have daily specials which are always a surprise (i.e., they're not listed on the menu.)  You can sit inside or outside, weather permitting.

Another place to try in Monterey if you like seafood is the Warehouse restaurant.  If you like lobster tail, be sure to go early, about 6PM or 7PM latest.  They're close to Cannery Row and not too expensive. Plus their salad bar is very well stocked.

For more ideas, look around in the shopping centers or in front of supermarkets (such as where the Crossroads is) to pick up any of these free papers where restaurants are advertised:
      Carmel Pine Cone
      go!
      Coast Weekly

In article , [email removed] (Bob
Tennant) wrote:

> > We'll be going to the Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz area for
> > a week next month, and would like to get some opinions
> > on good restaurants in the area.
In Santa Cruz,
Vassili's for Greek (low price, no cards, sort of a dive, but gosh, the food is great) then go to Marianne's Ice Cream on Ocean st. for dessert. They make their own, in many flavors. Cafe Bittersweet (pricey, elegant, worth it, need reservations, don't pass on dessert whatever you do) In Pacific Grove (between Carmel & Monterey), El Cocodrilo (dinner only). Caribbean/Central American. Yum! Silver Jones, Creme Carmel, Fresh Cream & Cafe Stravaganza have good reps in the Carmel/Monterey area, but I haven't been there yet. If you'll be more specific about what you want in a private posting, I'll be glad to make further recommends in SC area.

> We'll be going to the Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz area for
> a week next month, and would like to get some opinions
> on good restaurants in the area.
>
> Post or email:
>
> Eric Herbert   [email protected]

Our favorite in the area is Tarpy's Roadhouse in Monterey.  It's on highway 68, about 3 miles east of highway 1.  The food is great, the atmosphere casual and the service is good.  We've been there a number of times and never been disapointed.

(attribution deleted because I lost track of who originally asked the question):

>>> We'll be going to the Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz area for
>>> a week next month, and would like to get some opinions
>>> on good restaurants in the area.

We have been to that area several times, altho not for several years, so assuming it is still there:

Just south of Carmel, at the Northern edge of Big Sur, is Nepenthe. Mediocre to good food, but my favorite restaurant of all time for the setting:

Open air, formerly, I think, a residence, with a terrific expansive view of the ocean, Big Sur bluffs, etc.

Just the kind of thing a Chicagoan (me and my family) look for in a beautiful setting like Big Sur.

David Silberberg
[email removed]

Woman I love got two teeth solid gold -
Got a lien on my body, mortgage on my soul -

    Johnny Shines

Someone wrote:

> > We'll be going to the Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz area for
> > a week next month, and would like to get some opinions
> > on good restaurants in the area.
>
> > Post or email:
> >
> > Eric Herbert   [email protected]
>
> Fandangos in Pacific Grove!  We celebrated my fathers birthday there 9 months
>
> ago. We had great food/service. It would qualify in the nicer dinner category.
>
> Debbie Hudson

hello,
  I'm out here in Santa Cruz, so I would like to tell you about a few places.
Papa's Church in the Seabright neighborhood is excellent. They serve dinner Wed-Sun, but you have to byob because they are still in process of obtaining a booze license. The chef is from Spain and the food has a Mediterrainean flair. However, the daily risotto is always incredible. They baked their own little breads each night, with olive oil for dipping. I highly recommend that you try to go there.
  The other place I wanted to mention was the Pearl Alley Bistro. This
place is downtown and has an excellent wine list (one of the things it is known for) and the menu changes almost daily. The food always proves to be a taste bud sensation.
  I would also make a plug for Fandango's. Fifi's Cafe in Pacific Grove
is also good.

  ENJOY!

Janis

In article , [email removed] (Irene
Hensley) wrote:

> Also try:
>
>         Cafe Sparrow            Aptos Village           country french
>                                                           & very charming
>         Sea Bonne               Capitola Esplanade      good seafood, small
>                                                           & staff is fun.
>
>         both seem to be good value, less overblown than the places
>         that have higher profiles (like Crowsnest or Shadowbrook) and
>         much better food.

Then there's the Veranda, across from Sparrow.  Great service, good selection,  good bar list and are happy to help you with any special requests they can accommodate. Reservations for them and Caafe Sparrow recommended.
  Shadowbrook is pretty to look  at, we were
unimpressed completely with Crow's Nest.  Shadowbrook has uneven service, and if you can't handle butter or cream,  skip it.  They don't substitute.  They put their nose in the air if you ask.

Glenn M. wrote:
>Someone wrote:
>>Fandangos in Pacific Grove!  We celebrated my fathers birthday there 9 months
>>ago. We had great food/service. It would qualify in the nicer dinner category.

I second that motion.

IMHO, there's only one place to go if you have one place to go for dinner in Carmel: La Boheme.  7th and Dolores.  (408) 634-7500.

>Another place to try in Monterey if you like seafood is the Warehouse
>restaurant.  If you like lobster tail, be sure to go early, about 6PM or
>7PM latest.  They're close to Cannery Row and not too expensive.
>Plus their salad bar is very well stocked.

IMHO the best thing you can do is stay AWAY from Cannery Row. Strictly for the turista.  The last time I ate at the Warehouse was probably 1979, so it may have improved, but the only reason I *ever* at there was because it was free (I worked at a radio station that traded ads for freebie dinners).

                                          spl

Someone wrote:
>> We'll be going to the Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz area for
>> a week next month, and would like to get some opinions
>> on good restaurants in the area.
>
>> Post or email:
>>
>> Eric Herbert   [email protected]
>
>Fandangos in Pacific Grove!  We celebrated my fathers birthday there 9 months
>ago. We had great food/service. It would qualify in the nicer dinner category.

Lots of great places, but I just went to Ristorante Italiano in SC this weekend and wanted to comment on it.  Food's really good, service is very friendly, very pretty place (on Soquel Ave).  There was a large party next to us, which I wasn't too stoked on (romantic evening for two), but they were crowded so I can't really blame the restaurant.  Also try Anna Maria's on the wharf in SC or on 7th and Portola.  The Portola one is quieter and smaller.  Anna Maria's makes their own fresh pasta.  Try the Hotter Than That Clam Sauce.

Rick

Text: Fandangos is good.  Old Bath House in PG is great.  Grill on Ocean Ave in Carmel good.

Someone wrote:
>Fandangos is good.  Old Bath House in PG is great.  Grill on Ocean
>Ave in Carmel good.

Grill on Ocean Avenue?  What's that?  I know Carmel pretty well, having lived in the area and I don't know it.

The Old Bath House in PG, IMHO, sells more view than food (great view, though, and the food is good.  I just don't classify it as "great."  Of course, your mileage may vary.).

                                          spl

Try Abalonetti's on the Wharf.  Now owned by John Pisto (a local legend) and the food is great. Good prices.  Right across is Domenico's another Pisto restaurant, where the fish is terrific but so are the prices.

Phil in Monterey

Someone wrote:

: > We'll be going to the Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz area for : > a week next month, and would like to get some opinions : > on good restaurants in the area.

: > Post or email:
: >
: > Eric Herbert   [email protected]

: Fandangos in Pacific Grove!  We celebrated my fathers birthday there 9 months : ago. We had great food/service. It would qualify in the nicer dinner category.

: Debbie Hudson

Someone wrote:

: > We'll be going to the Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz area for : > a week next month, and would like to get some opinions : > on good restaurants in the area.

Do NOT miss an opportunity to try one of the Fishwife restaurants. I know only the one at the ocean end of Sunset in Pacific Grove, but netter say there are a couple more in Monterrey area, somewhere. Great food and very reasonable prices with very good service. Seafood specialties.

My favorite Thai restaurant in that area, and one with some unique dishes, is Real Thai in a strip mall at Soquel & Seabright in Santa Cruz.  My favorite dish there is only available at lunch, a smoked fish curry over yellow noodles; comes with a lot of fresh, raw, crispy vegetables.  Ask for the "green" homemade table hot sauce; it's special.  The tod mun, pad thai and other curry dishes and soups are also good.  I usually avoid the dishes on the "specials" blackboard because they seem pricey, and no better than the stuff on the regular menu.

Will

From:  ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/sh/sheri/sc_cafes.html

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Surf City CafŽs

In a town filled with more cafŽs than any city I've ever visited (with the exception of Seattle), I thought I would give a short review of the cafŽs in this area. Mind you, I haven't been to ALL of the cafŽs in the area, but I do my best. This page will be evolving as time permits. I hope to cover most of the cafŽs I know about in this area so there should be more soon.

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                            Pacific Garden Mall

Cafe Royale

[Cafe Royale Logo] 123 Pacific Ave
CafŽ Royale is one of the few franchise coffee houses in Santa Cruz. Despite its roots, it is a cozy little cafe with wooden floors and furniture. Plan to get there early since there are only a few tables and they fill up quickly. Three tables in the front patio overlooking the downtown post office are ideal for watching the local action on Pacifice Avenue. On balmier days, you may find yourself lucky enough to get a table in the back patio. Surrounded by brick walls and luscious foliage, it's definitely a peaceful place to study or even just chat. The coffee tends to be a little pricy (from $1.50 to $3.50) but the atmosphere makes it worth the cost.

Georgianne's CafŽ

[Georgianne's Cafe Logo] 224 Pacific Ave

Georgianne's CafŽ is located inside (and outside) of Bookshop Santa Cruz. They serve great sandwiches and salads on their streetside patio. Centered in the hub of the Pacific Garden Mall, their tables witness street musicians and flower vendors -- as well as parades and marches...

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                          Harbour/Seabright Area

Java Junction

[Java Junction Logo] 436 Seabright Ave

Java Junction is a newcomer for Santa Cruz. Located on the railroad tracks just inland of Seabright beach, Java Junction has filled a definite niche in this community. Although its atmosphere is somewhat lacking, it hosts a sunny outside patio facing the street (and railroad tracks). The personnel are friendly and they make one of the best lattŽs in Santa Cruz. This is a great place to sit in the sun with a cup of your favorite brew and read the Sunday paper.
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If your craving for the glorious bean hasn't yet been satisfied, you might want to try a Traveler's Guide to Coffee Houses or visit ...Over the Counter (just about anything you could possibly want to know about coffee). If worse comes to worst and you can't get to a cafŽ, you can always order some beans from CafŽ Gourmet Coffees...

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[email removed]

From [email removed] Sun Feb 11 10:47:25 EST 1996
Article: 22676 of rec.food.restaurants