A pioneer in Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch and Restaurant Partner program, family-owned Passionfish has served sustainable seafood for nearly two decades. The seasonal menu offers small plates and entrees that are balanced, thoughtful, and fresh. Dishes such as smoked trout ceviche and Dungeness crab salad are offered alongside a considerable 400-item list of local and imported wines offered at close to retail prices.

Poppy Hall serves a menu of classic comfort food at lunch and brunch only. Lunch brings dishes like the Hippy Hand Grenade, a half avocado with a veggie-packed salad topped with sprouts and carrot ginger dressing. Dine in the bright, cozy dining room or grab a seat on the outdoor sidewalk patio with twinkly lights and room to relax.

A gem of Pacific Grove, Jennini is an unassuming wine bar situated on Lighthouse Avenue. The menu is best described as Coastal Mediterranean, with dishes influenced by the flavors of Greece, Southern Spain, the Middle East, and North Africa. Crispy lamb shank is served with chickpeas, harissa, poached radish, brown butter, and herbs. The wine list, curated by seasoned somm Thamin Saleh, offers abundant options by the glass or bottle.

With all of the buzzy new food businesses opening up shop in Seaside recently, it would be remiss to not mention some of the diverse spots that have been serving locals this whole time. One such restaurant is Noodle Bar, an aptly named skinny hall with sparse seating (pre-COVID) and affordable Vietnamese-leaning takeout: flavorful pho, as well as soupless rice vermicelli bowls topped with cilantro, mint, house dressing, and chopped peanuts. Vegetarians have a full menu page of options to choose from.

El Cantaro defies any resistance customers might have toward the idea of vegan Mexican food by offering fresh, traditional flavors that nobody can deny. And it happens to be non-GMO, mostly organic and completely devoid of animal products. The menu is astoundingly large, broken into appetizers, soups, salads, traditional plates, combination plates, enchiladas, tacos, burritos, and tostadas. Those looking to try something new might opt for the kipes (fried bulgur and potato croquettes) or the empanaditas made with red beet flour. There are also traditional dishes like mole, pozole, and enmoladas, all made with Chickin’ instead of chicken. If you still can’t decide, just ask the cashier: She won’t miss a beat in telling you to order the crispy potato tacos.

The often ignored strip-mall town of Seaside, in North Monterey County, is having a food and drink revival, and Other Brother Beer Co. is one of the main attractions. This breezy craft beer spot, founded by two brothers who helm a California olive oil company with the same name, offers a diverse variety of fresh brews (not just IPAs) for local pickup and delivery. They also just unveiled a new outdoor parklet called “Heermann’s Landing” — the perfect spot to enjoy the remarkable onsite baked goods of chef Ron Mendoza’s Ad Astra Bread Co.

This is the newly opened sister location to the original Las Cazuelas in Marina, which has many fans. It serves a vast menu of solid, generous, fresh taqueria food with a spiffed-up ambiance. The variety of wet burritos, tacos (including hard-shell and soft), and tender sopes make it easy to frequent this place, especially during this time when takeout reigns supreme. A nice breakfast menu and freshly squeezed orange and carrot juice are a bonus. Other Brother Beer Co., located directly across the street, offers a great solution to post-beer dinner dilemmas.

First and foremost, the Meatery is a butcher shop. Chef-owner Kevin Hincks opened the shop in 2019, bringing a strict whole-animal, small-batch, sustainable philosophy to an unassuming Seaside strip mall. But the Meatery is also an excellent place to get sandwiches like the customer favorite bahn mi or Italian po’boy. Weekly specials include pulled pork on Thursdays and smoked brisket on Saturdays. Quintessential deli case items, like mac salad and a bacon-loaded potato salad, are at the ready, along with fermented hot sauce by the bottle.

The Old Town District of Monterey is chock-full of history and lore, and one of the richest places to absorb some of it is in the newly rehabilitated Cooper-Molera Adobe and the surrounding grounds. The project to revitalize this property was no small feat, and one of the principal players was Ben Spungin, formerly of Post Ranch Inn and now culinary director of Alta Bakery & Cafe, which is housed in this historic corner on Munras Avenue. The tucked away garden courtyard is a lovely spot to sip a pine and huckleberry latte or rosemary vanilla mimosa, while nibbling on one of Alta’s daily doughnuts like lemon verbena or miso glazed. Try the anchovy and manchego tartine or delicata squash and burrata pizza later in the day.

This tiny new sushi spot in Carmel took its chances by opening during a pandemic. Luckily, Toro’s ethos of only serving extremely fresh fish and simple, high-caliber ingredients has ensured return customers. It is a traditional menu, with a few appetizers, salads, and simple rolls. Nigiri is the star, and the omakase is a great way to try 16 pieces of the chef’s choice. The sommelier has curated the sake list, offers flights and interesting sake-based cocktails like the Tokyo Smoke (Junmai sake, Japanese Bermutto vermouth, shiso, and mesquite smoke).

Stumbling upon Stationaery, hidden within the quaint San Carlos Square, is like discovering a secret note written just for you. Except it is no secret, as everyone now knows about the delicious food to be found here. The tiny 34-seat space has outdoor seating too, which helps accommodate the long wait for the popular brunch featuring items like the potato pancake with salmon, miso, creme fraiche, and soft boiled egg (get decadent and add caviar for $12) or a lobster roll on an Ad Astra brioche bun. Dinner includes some of the same delicious brunch items, with the addition of comforting things like spaghetti Amatriciana and butterscotch budino. Online ordering and takeout are available for those who don’t feel like waiting. 

Don’t be fooled by the inconspicuous location and worn-in appearance of this family-run Italian restaurant. The minimal decor and straightforward use of simple, fresh ingredients are intentional, and resemble the classic osterias of chef Emanuele Bartolini’s hometown of Florence. Menu highlights include tender grilled octopus, crispy fried chicken, hand-made gnocchi, and compulsively eatable chili-infused fried cauliflower. The extensive wine list features small producers and highlights female winemakers, as well as organic and biodynamic wineries. The bubbling fountain and soft twinkle lights set a romantic Old World mood on the front and back patios, which is suitable for their outdoor-only dining and takeout service.

A local favorite for industry folk and avid eaters alike, this little no-frills spot serves artful sushi that is both delicate and delicious. Exceptional offerings — made from local and imported seafood — easily make up for the minimal service. Definitely ask about specials first before ordering your standard go-tos; otherwise, you might miss the local spot prawns, glazed black cod, and live Monterey abalone sashimi that are offered alongside a variety of soups, salads, and hot and cold sakes. Hours vary, so check in advance.

In an intimate garden courtyard space within the tiny L’Auberge hotel, award-winning chef Justin Cogley and pastry chef Yulanda Santos serve innovative and artful dishes for a whimsical nightly tasting menu ($205) focused on seasonal coastal cuisine. Expect eight to ten courses that range from a single turnip baked in salted dough and served with nori in a hollowed-out ciabatta bun, to a Monterey Bay abalone finished with caviar and fine strands of hand-foraged seaweed and potato — all served outdoors. Wine pairings will complement your Michelin-starred meal (and more than double the price of your ticket if you opt for the “Reserve Tasting”). Reservations required.

The Folktale Group, Gregory Ahn’s mini empire of a dozen wine labels, has broadened its scope to include some high-quality restaurants as well. In 2017, Seventh & Dolores opened in a former 1970s-era bank in Carmel, and it’s still the place to be for living large. The lavish steakhouse menu offers all the sauces and sides you would expect with your 32-day dry-aged Kansas City steak, with a seasonal focus to highlight the local produce: Think roasted acorn squash with hazelnut pistou or Brussels sprouts with pumpkin romesco and seed brittle. Up the street is Rise + Roam, another Folktale spot that specializes in naturally-fermented sourdough, tempting baked goods, and Roman-style pizza by the yard.