Monterey Restaurants

It may not come as a shock that one of the most common type of restaurant along Monterey Bay is the seafood restaurant. With plenty of commercial fishing still occurring in the bay, the fresh catch comes in daily. Tuna, salmon, shrimp, crab… the list could go on and on. Try some sushi for the freshest preparations. Or stop into one of the many American seafood houses for some clam chowder, a seafood sandwich, or some right-off-the-grill fillets. With the Monterey Bay Aquarium nearby, much of the fish caught and served is listed as sustainable on their watch list, too, so you can dig in guilt-free. With so many top-notch hotels in the area, you may not even want to leave your sleeping quarters when looking for some grub. Many hotels have excellent chefs who are masters at integrating the multitude of flavors from California's ingredients into elegant and delicious dishes. When out in Santa Cruz and strolling the boardwalk, you may find yourself hungry and looking for something other than fair food. Don't worry, there are plenty of options within close walking distance. Smaller family-owned Mexican, mid-range Italian, and high-class American restaurants all offer a shoreline view -- just to name a few. To get some international flavors, head to the Moss Landing area for some great authentic Thai food, or to Aptos for some Indian. Sushi and other Japanese flavors can be found almost anywhere. And for the most authentic Mexican food, Watsonville's your place to be. Or in Carmel, like in any well-to-do living area, there are French restaurants galore. Some are overpriced but some are quite reasonable, and many have delicious and sometimes fusion (think French techniques meet California flavors) food. Italian restaurants probably take a close second to French here, and luckily many feature the bay's seafood in pasta dishes and in delicacies like cioppino.

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