01-11-24

32 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 11-17, 2024 www.montereycountyweekly.com CHILL For many people, January is a month to celebrate—or at least tolerate—sobriety. One of the venues that showcases the non-alcoholic craft is Alejandro’s in downtown Monterey, an upscale Mexican restaurant that, in addition to offering an interesting menu, is simply a beautiful place to spend part of an evening. The bar itself is welcoming. You may not be drinking tonight— hence the mocktail—but nothing stops you from having a perfectly satisfying happy hour with a drinking friend. A bartender was confronted with one question only—one that made her chuckle: “Which mocktail tastes most like an actual cocktail?” The one we tested is the Pineapple Mule, prepared with distilled non-alcoholic spirit, pineapple gomme, ginger beer and lime juice. The Mule really delivers. The base is produced by Seedlip, a company that specializes in non-alcoholic spirits; gomme is a 19th-century predecessor of simple syrup. The menu also offers a Mojito alternative called a Nojito, with lime, mint, agave, soda and water. Conclusions? Ginger beer or soda is a must in a mocktail. Tropical pineapple works well and many cubes of ice play a role that should not be underappreciated: The Caribbean Sea meets the Arctic Sea. That’s how one discovers that a good conversation is a more important element of the bar experience than alcohol, a conversation that you will not regret tomorrow. Alejandro’s. 474 Alvarado St., Monterey. 7174781, alejandros.co. Tread Gingerly Alejandro’s proves that a mocktail can provide the same spirit as a cocktail. By Agata Pop˛eda SEND IDEAS TO: chill@mcweekly.com CELIA JIMÉNEZ INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING AND TAKEOUT Eat + Drink BEACH HOUSE RESTAURANT + BAR @ LOVERS POINT ★ Indoor dInIng & Take-ouT daIly, 4:30pm 620 Ocean View BlVd. Pacific GrOVe 831-375-2345 • beachhousepg.com lovers poInT Beach cafe Is also offerIng Take-ouT daIly, 9am-4pm Monterey’s MOST Recommended Pizzeria Open at 4pm Mon-Thurs • Open at 3pm Fri Open at 12pm Sat.& Sun. 725 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey giannispizzamonterey.com 831-649-1500 BEST PIZZA ’98-’23 ’23 JOIN US NIGHTLY FOR DINNER AT 5pm TWO HAppY HOURS DAILY 5-6pm & 8-9pm Call or go to sardinefactory.com for details, reservations. 701 Wave Street, monterey, 831-373-3775 BEST RESTAURANT IN mONTEREY! Fisherman’s Wharf’s Newest Restaurant Serving Fresh Seafood, Pasta, Steaks, Sandwiches Open Daily at 11:30am Great views at the end of the Wharf #1 www.rockfishmonterey.com • 831.324.4375 57 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey 831-373-1851 www.abalonetti.com ’23 OPEN FOR INDOOR DINING AND TAKE-OUT Everyday 11:30am-8:30pm Monterey County’s Best Calamari Indoor, Outdoor Dining & Take Out Tapas (Happy) Hour 4:30–6pm Nightly NOW OPEN FOR BRUNCH SATURDAY & SUNDAY 9am–1:30pm 700 Munras Ave., Monterey | 831-375-0176 | estebanrestaurant.com OPEN EVERYDAY for DINNER at 4:30pm Offering all your favorites plus wine, cocktails, bottle and draft beers. 763 Wave St., Monterey 831.373.3778 thewhalingstation.com ’23 Best Steak and Martini WOOD FIRED PIZZAS, BURGERS, PASTA, SALADS, SANDWICHES AND MORE 11:30AM MON-FRI, 10AM SAT & SUN melvilletav.com 484 Washington St., Downtown Monterey 831.643.9525 HAPPY HOUR FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS Daily 4-6pm WEEKEND BRUNCH WITH BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS news talk insight a community service of CSU Monterey Bay

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