montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 83 BEST NEW RESTAURANT Oystertown 281 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey (831) 312-8150, oystertownusa.com In Balderdash, players come up with a false definition for a word or phrase. For example, if the subject is “oyster bar,” one might submit “place with amazing pea soup” or “go-to spot for great meatballs.” OK, those would never fool anybody. “Where they make hot cross buns and banana pudding to die for,” perhaps? The problem is, Oystertown defies definition, because it serves amazing fresh and prepared oysters, but also all of the above— and more. And because Chef Philip Wojtowicz and his team specialize in small plates, you can spend some time at the handsome counter or cool patio and order another round. The menu changes, so you can always come back for more. It’s very much worth your while. BEST OUTDOOR DINING Schooners 400 Cannery Row, Monterey (831) 372-2628, schoonersmonterey.com The patio at Schooners feels like an extension of the Aquarium, perched above the kelp forest along the coast. The barking of sea lions and the calls of gulls echo through the air, and at any given moment, one might see a sea otter kicking back, swimming by to say hello. It’s hard to imagine a better way to spend a meal or a drink than looking out and letting all the life wash over you. Play your cards right and order seafood caught in the same bay. It’s the best game of all. BEST PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH Tarpy’s Roadhouse 2999 Highway 68, Monterey (831) 647-1444, tarpys.com Remember that word-guessing game hangman, where if one doesn’t guess the word before too many incorrect guesses, the man hangs? What the hell kind of game is that? It’s the kind the game a mob played in 1873, when they took Matt Tarpy from the Monterey jail and hung him at a place that became known as Tarpy’s Flats, near the location of the restaurant. This is a place where business gets done—a natural meeting spot between the Peninsula and the Salinas Valley, it’s right next to the airport and Ryan Ranch, and the microclimate here can’t be beat. A few drinks, some nice food, sitting outside in the sunshine— how can a deal not get done? BEST RESTAURANT FOR ROMANTIC DINING Pacific’s Edge 120 Carmel Highlands Drive, Carmel Highlands (831) 622-5445, hyatt.com If you’re looking for a romantic night out, you don’t want to take risks and spin the bottle. You want to choose something guaranteed to feel elevated. Readers have again landed on Pacific’s Edge, located high up on the rocky crags above the Pacific Ocean, where every seat in the house offers a sweeping view (if you can take your eyes off your date). The menu summons California cuisine—approachable, fresh, unpretentious but prepared attentively. Start with a classic cocktail, at your table or in the sun-soaked bar in the adjacent Pacific’s Edge lounge. You—and your partner—are worth it. BEST RESTAURANT FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION Chez Noir 5th between Dolores and San Carlos, Carmel cheznoircarmel.com You have to be reasonably good at drawing the constellations to win Look at the Stars. Or you could go to Carmel, because Chef Jonny Black and Chez Noir have a Michelin Star. And it’s well-deserved, because Black is one of the finest chefs in the country. The prix fixe menu at Chez Noir can change every night. The chef’s creations—and the bartender’s, for that matter—depend upon ingredients that are fresh and local. The chef takes it from there, crafting dishes that make your eyes close and linger in your memory for the rest of your life. Meanwhile Monique Black and the wait staff create a warmth that makes the finest of fine dining feel comfortable. That’s star power. BEST RESTAURANT MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD Old Fisherman’s Grotto 39 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey (831) 375-4604, oldfishermansgrotto.com It takes a lot to make it for 10 years in the restaurant business, such as developing a loyal local following, even in a tourism-driven neighborhood. It takes even more to make it for 75 years, which is how long Old Fisherman’s Grotto has been serving up its famous clam chowder (see Specialty Foods section), crab cakes, cioppino and more. Besides staying true to a culinary vision, the Shake family helped make Fisherman’s Wharf what it is today. “It’s a very personal business where you get to know your customers,” owner Chris Shake says. “As long as you are consistent and their favorite Best New Restaurant | Oystertown RESTAURANTS
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