RESTAURANTS BEST COMFORT FOOD The Butter House 1760 Fremont Blvd., Suite B-1, Seaside (831) 394-2887, thebutterhouse.com The oft-quoted Willie Dixon maxim “built for comfort not for speed” seems relevant here, but there’s much more than butter to this pillar of local fare. All the usual suspects appear: Grits, chicken fried, fried chicken, meat loaf. You know, the classics never go out of style. Sure, you can load a realistic race simulation program on your computer, but rolling Hot Wheels down a plastic orange track and looping the loop is still a lot of fun. It’s just like that. ‘Nuff said. BEST RESTAURANT IN A SHOPPING CENTER Kona Steak & Seafood 1200 Del Monte Center, Monterey (831) 920-2911, konamonterey.com In the traditional Hawaiian game of kónane—somewhat similar to checkers or chess—players must employ strategy to capture and block their opponent’s pieces. When he opened Kona in 2023, restaurateur Bill Lee built a Hawaiian-Asian-fusion menu that was basically a winning version of kónane: He took the best dishes he’d perfected, and added flavorful interpretations of classics. There are generous tiki drinks garnished with tropical fruits and flowers. There’s even a shaved ice shack offering the beloved dessert. To dine in a shopping center and feel transported across the ocean is a feat even tougher than winning at kónane. BEST RESTAURANT FOR VEGETARIANS Julia’s Vegetarian Restaurant 1180 Forest Ave., Suite F, Pacific Grove (831) 656-9533, juliasveg.com It doesn’t take a lot to make veggies tasty, but to make it the main course and the focus of a dish takes a lot of heart and practice. Julia’s delivers on the mission, breakfast, lunch and dinner every time. The chef makes a mean French toast, with locally sourced and caramelly candy cap mushrooms, and playfully reinvents classic fish or meat-focused dishes like fried oysters (using blue oyster mushrooms instead) and green eggs and ham (no ham, but a whole avocado with eggs covered in guasacaca). Given the inventiveness here, the chef would be tough to beat at Mr. Potato Head. BEST FOOD TRUCK Big Sur Taco (831) 917-1244 Looking for food trucks can be a bit like playing Where’s Waldo? Sure, farmers markets, fairs and events are a good bet, but otherwise you’ve got to keep your eyes peeled—or check social media for clues. The difference is when you do find Big Sur Taco, you’re rewarded not just with the satisfaction of finding a guy in a stripey hat, but with handmade tortillas, well-seasoned meats and spicy salsas. It’s worth the hunt. BEST DOG-FRIENDLY DINING Terry’s Lounge Lincoln and 7th, Carmel (831) 620-7454, cypress-inn.com/terrys Carmel is consistently ranked on national lists as one of the most dog-friendly towns in the U.S., so it makes sense that dog-crazy locals know that Carmel is the place to be, and Terry’s is where it’s at when they want to eat, drink and fetch in the company of their furry companions. Humans can nibble on omelets at brunch and sand dabs for dinner, while sipping on classic cocktails like Negronis and French 75s. Meanwhile, their doggies have their own menu, including the Dino’s Delight, which consists of a Nathan’s hot dog, carrots and rice. That’s basically a steak dinner to them, right? BEST RESTAURANT AT A GOLF COURSE The Grill at Point Pinos 79 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 375-1313, grillatpointpinos.com Considering the quality of golf course restaurants in Monterey County, this is no participation trophy. Indeed, people treat The Grill at Point Pinos as a destination restaurant, and may not even know about the possibility of golfing (too bad—readers voted Pacific Grove Golf Links as the Best Public Golf Course). The fried chicken is prized, and the huevos rancheros is an award-winner. Up and down 86 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof Best Seafood Restaurant | Monterey Fish House
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