www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 20-26, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 43 CHILL How often do people say of a couture cocktail that it is too pretty to drink—but then they go ahead and down it anyway? Well, catch the right lighting and the Lavender Citrus Spritz at Oystertown shimmers like amethyst. “I didn’t know I was a mixologist,” Oystertown General Manager Monica Schweiger says with a chuckle. The brisk bite of citrus is mellowed by lavender-infused simple syrup, its sweetness in turn eased by lemonade, made in-house. The sip is deftly balanced, with a gentle floral note and a soft ripple of effervescence that brings a hint of minerality when the drink is finished with prosecco or a touch of salinity in the non-alcoholic sparkling water version. Either way, there is a depth of flavor to what is otherwise a simple and refreshing cocktail. Yes, you will cave in and finish the drink, despite its gem-like sparkle. And as you do, the richness of the purple may puzzle you. Lavender is a much more delicate shade. Well, a dip of blue butterfly pea flower tea accounts for the spritz’s dazzling hue. When stirred with citrus, the inviting azure of the tea deepens into a regal purple—a bold color that leaves you ill-prepared for the soft strokes of lavender in the flavor profile. It’s a clever cocktail, one of two spritzes on the Oystertown menu. The bespoke little restaurant does a lot with a little, and that extends to its brief list of house-made drinks. Oystertown, 281 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. (831) 312-8150, oystertownusa.com. The Look A spritz at Oystertown proves that beauty can be more than skin deep. By Dave Faries SEND IDEAS TO: chill@montereycountynow.com DAVE FARIES Thurs – Sat. & Mon. 4:30 – 9PM Sunday 11:30AM – 4:30PM 281 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey www.oystertownusa.com ’25 Best New Restaurant Simply. Good. Food. Brought to you by pioneering Chef Philip Wojtowicz of the Big Sur Bakery and Poppy Hall Happy Hour 4:30–6PM TRY OUR NEW Tapas Happy Hour & Mid-Week Specials 4:30 - 6:00pm daily #Tapas! A Happy Hour Beyond Compare. Adjacent to the Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa | 700 Munras Avenue, Monterey Reservations Recommended | 831-375-0176 | estebanrestaurant.com DELIGHTFULLY ALFRESCO ’25 Voted Best Appetizers/ Small Plates Three-Course Thanksgiving Dinner Nov. 27th, 2-8pm ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • GEAR-000383, GEAR-000376, GEAR-000375 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==