82 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 montereycountynow.com/bestof Restaurants Best Bakery Ad Astra 479 Alvarado St., Monterey adastrabread.com Monterey County residents waited so long for this pop-up to have a store. And now we have a store in Monterey, where iconic Ad Astra breads and pastries are available every day. The bakery has a limited menu, featuring its signature Basque cheesecake and cardamom rolls, which seem to sell out just a few minutes after they hit the shelf. A daily offering of breads includes Seaside sourdough, olive sourdough, seeded sourdough—it was sourdough, after all, that fed pioneers, miners and cowhands alike. But there is so much more here, such as French baguette and focaccia. Best Breakfast First Awakenings 300 David Ave., Monterey, (831) 372-1125 171 Main St., Salinas, (831) 784-1125 firstawakenings.net In a different life, cowboys would be carbo-loading at First Awakenings, not chewing on salt pork and eggs. Why wouldn’t they want their choice of omelet filled with various cheeses and veggies with a side of spuds? Or wait in long (but worth it) lines for First Awakenings’ famous giant pancakes, which come in flavors like raspberry coconut, blueberry ricotta and more? Locals have long known it’s the best way to start the day. Plus, it really does beat salt pork. Best Brunch Red House Cafe 662 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 643-1060, redhousecafe.com. Homesteaders needed a hearty meal. So do you. Red House Cafe has the best brunch to start your day. Dig into a traditional stack of buttermilk pancakes, a country breakfast, complete with eggs, potatoes and your choice of meat—an earthy portobello burger, a savory calamari steak, and so much more. OK, so Ma never served portobello or calamari in Little House on the Prairie. Red House may look like part of the past with its cozy fire, but the menu has modern flair. Best Cheap Eats Michael’s Grill and Taqueria 1126 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 647-8654, michaelstaqueriapg.com 265 Reservation Road, Marina (831) 884-2568 321 Main St., Salinas (831) 754-8917, michaelsgrilltaqueria.com In the 1800s, it was the Mexicans living throughout the West of what became the U.S. who had the greatest influence on what cowboys ate out on the range. They learned from the original cowboys, the vaqueros, who brought beans, potatoes, peppers and other New World ingredients to the campfire to create tasty, inexpensive grub. The first recorded Mexican restaurant in the U.S. was born in 1849 during the California gold rush. “El Farolito” was opened in San Francisco by a woman named Juana Machado who served up traditional enchiladas and tamales. Here in Monterey County we are fortunate to have Michael’s Grill and Taqueria, where the Mexican food is good, plentiful and won’t break the bank. You can thank the vaqueros and Juana Machado for influencing the cowboys, miners and the future of U.S. cuisine for giving Michael’s life over 150 years later. Best Comfort Food The Butter House 1760 Fremont Blvd., Seaside (831) 394-2887, thebutterhouse.com In a sense, the name tells you everything you need to know. No, granny isn’t spending hours churning butter out back. Instead, the lovingly prepared breakfast, brunch and lunch staples here are created with plenty of the good stuff. But there’s more you should know if you’re seeking comfort out on the range, and the people waiting in line every weekend for a Best Restaurant - Cannery Row | Fish Hopper
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