76 The Best of Monterey Bay ® 2024-2025 Big Sur Big Sur Roadhouse American A mandatory stop along your travels down the coast for breakfast or lunch, the Big Sur Roadhouse enjoys outdoor patios with fire pits to pair with a hand-picked wine list and beer selection. 47080 Highway 1, Big Sur. (831) 667-2370, glenoaksbigsur.com Big Sur Smokehouse Barbecue Set in a historic home along Highway 1, Big Sur Smokehouse is a casual spot to relax on the deck and enjoy some essential American low and slow cooking. The pitmaster draws on several barbecue regions, both major and minor—think Memphis and central South Carolina. 48123 Highway 1, Big Sur. (831) 667-2419, bigsursmokehouse.com Big Sur Taphouse American Beyond the great (and constantly changing) selection of beers on tap, there’s a robust menu of pub food to keep you happy, from sandwiches and wings to tacos and quesadillas. There are vegetarian options, too. 47520 Highway 1, Big Sur. (831) 667-2197, bigsurtaphouse.com Coast Big Sur Eclectic Coast Big Sur is a go-to for any Big Sur visitor, with a small but flavorful menu starring local ingredients, pastries, along with coffee, beer and wine and seasonal lemonades. 49901 Highway 1, Big Sur. (831) 667-2301, coastbigsur.com Deetjen’s Restaurant Global Big Sur favorites have a habit of sticking around for awhile. Maybe it’s the setting, maybe it’s the home-style cooking paired with a carefully curated wine list. Candlelit dining rooms don’t hurt the mood. 48865 Highway 1, Big Sur. (831) 667-2378, deetjens.com Fernwood Tavern Pub Dine under the redwoods on the spacious back deck or pick a table inside. It’s a relaxed space with an equally comfortable menu of tacos, pizza, salads and the always popular tavern burger. 47200 Highway 1, Big Sur. (831) 667-2129, fernwoodbigsur.com Homestead Restaurant American Tucked into Big Sur Lodge in the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, the kitchen keeps the menu small, but somehow manages to have something for everyone (where else is it possible to find plant-based seafood next to a Wagyu burger?). And the chef draws on local ingredients. 47225 Highway 1, Big Sur. (831) 6673100, bigsurlodge.com Monterey County has long supported a core of destination restaurants, from the family-run favorites on Fisherman’s Wharf to venerable spots like Nepenthe in Big Sur, Monterey’s Sardine Factory or Ichi-Riki, which brought sushi to Seaside back when raw fish was still a novelty to many. Over the past decade, however, the dining scene has burst to life, with fresh ideas and innovative approaches from a crop of talented chefs. Villa Azteca, Foray, Coastal Kitchen, Alejandro’s, Lucia, Cella—many kitchens are responsible for this culinary renaissance. This spirit has been rewarded with two Michelin stars, one for Aubergine and the other for the chef-driven menu at Chez Noir, both in Carmel. The landscape features everything from street tacos to white tablecloths, with a number of hidden gems tucked in between. And at least one restaurant—Stokes Adobe—claims to be haunted. For a county of small communities, there’s a lot going on. food Jacks Monterey
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