Carmel-by-the-Sea: Where to eat when you’re not sipping wine
Give sipping a rest with a slow lunch at any of these tried-and-true restaurants (always pay attention to the daily specials). For the adventurous, we’ve included a few within easy driving distance.
Carmel
La Balena: Anna and Emanuele Bartolini brought their Italian heritage and New York City savvy with them to open this small retreat in 2013. The town is still buzzing. One best bet: gnocchi with wild mushrooms.
Junipero between 5th and 6th; 831-250-6295, www.labalenacarmel.com
Grasing’s: Chef-owner Kurt Grasing’s formal steak-and-seafood house is a showplace, but we favor the kick-back shaded patio. One best bet: the half-pound Black Angus bistro burger is well-dressed with cheddar cheese, crisp bacon and avocado; add an order of from-scratch beer-battered onion rings.
6th and Mission; (831) 624-6562, www.grasings.com
Village Corner: Always a dependable go-to, with a surprise: It opened in 1948. Sit on the covered patio, next to the fire pit, and people-watch ’til your eyes cross. One best bet: Chili concocted from slow-roasted brisket, topped with avocado and cheddar, with buttermilk corn bread on the side.
Dolores and Sixth; (831) 624-3588, www.villagecornercarmel.com
Anton & Michel: The menus and ambience are formally impressive, but go casual on the poolside patio. Inside, feast your eyes on the burnished wood and creamy-colored Carmel-stone; it’s a distinct stone indigenous to the area. One best bet: The bacon-spinach- grilled shrimp club could be the best sandwich in town.
Mission between Ocean and 7th, 831-624-2406, www.antonandmichel.com
Pacific Grove
Little Chicken House: Two brothers from El Salvador opened this tiny BBQ joint in the mid-‘90s and – astonishingly – have thrived amid tourist-laden four-star dining houses. One best bet: crispy-juicy chicken from the oak-fired rotisserie.
1193 Forest Ave.; (831) 655-1704, (no website) (cash only)
Il Vecchio: The traditional recipes have roots in Rome, Umbria and Tuscany. Quite a mix, but the eclectic décor is equally eccentric. Uh, why are seven old chairs mounted on the wall? One best bet: house-made focaccia bread stuffed with local rock cod, olives, capers, tomato, garlic and fresh spinach.
110 Central Ave.; (831) 324-4282, www.ilvecchiorestaurant.com.
Monterey
Cafe Fina: The most authentic restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf. Monterey-born-and-raised Dominick Mercurio offers an old-school menu tilting toward fresh seafood and Sicilian fare. One best bet: Pasta Fina is house-made linguine with bay shrimp, Roma tomatoes, black olives, green onions and shallots swimming in clam-butter sauce.
47 Fisherman’s Wharf; (831) 372-5200, www.cafefina.com
Crown & Anchor: Take a break from pasta and seafood and quaff a Guinness at the closest thing you’ll come to an authentic British pub. One best bet: The Henry VIII Roast Beef Dinner is a heaping let’s-share pile ’o gravy-covered, thinly sliced rump roast, with mash and Yorkshire pudding (which is not pudding at all).
150 Franklin St.; 831-649-6496, www.crownandanchor.net
This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 2:09 PM.