RESTAURANTS (stand with knees bent) or lava (stop). Anyone attempting a move without the teacher saying “Kuma Hula Says” first, is out. In Monterey County, Weekly readers say hula on over to Roy’s in Pebble Beach. Roy’s was originally founded in Hawaii in 1988 by Chef Roy Yamaguchi, regarded as the creator of Hawaiian-fusion cuisine. There are now 30 Roy’s, bringing Yamaguchi’s vision around the world, including to Pebble Beach. Roy’s Chef de Cuisine Pablo Mellin carries the vision forward in a menu with bold flavors of the Pacific Rim. Kuma Hula Says head to Roy’s then lava! BEST RESTAURANT - SAND CITY Sweet Elena’s 465 Olympia Ave., Sand City (831) 393-2063, sweetelenas.com An Easy-Bake Oven brought temporary joy. You could bake treats. However, the quantity was lacking. No such problem at Sweet Elena’s. Not only do they prepare mouth-watering pies, cakes and pastries, there are also plenty to go around (at least at the start of the morning—it’s a popular spot). In addition to freshly baked goods, Elena offers quiches, salads and sandwiches—typically on a baguette. There are a few tables inside and outside where you can drink your coffee and read a newspaper (yes, they carry the Weekly) or eat lunch. The steady flow of customers and the smell of something good happening in the oven will make your day. BEST RESTAURANT - SEASIDE Gusto 1901 Fremont Blvd., Seaside (831) 899-5825, gusto1901ca.com In a new family board game called Slice, players draw cards for different pizza toppings. Some combinations will be fabulous, while others are weird. Luckily for fans of standout real pizza—the edible type, not cards— Gusto is using an 800-degree oven to bake pizzas for just a few hot minutes. The dough is made using imported northern Italian flour for a famously textured crust. The menu goes well beyond pizza to elegant pasta dishes and beyond, plus there’s a wellstocked bar. There are as many reasons this place is always busy as there are pizza topping combinations, but defer to the experts here—the menu items are thoughtful and simple, like a margherita featuring tomatoes, housemade mozzarella, basil and olive oil. BEST RESTAURANT - SOUTH COUNTY Luigi’s Italian Restaurant 346 Alta St., Gonzales (831) 675-7800, luigispasta.net True or false: The Calabrian village of Donnici, Italy, is nearly on the same latitude as South County’s Gonzales. It’s no wonder then, that Luigi Bozzo, whose roots are from Donnici, opened Luigi’s Italian Restaurant and was determined to make a home and a life in the city. With passion, pride and heritage, Bozzo created a menu where Nonna’s meatballs and Margherita pizza can sit alongside burgers and 98 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof Thank You for voting us Best Restaurant for a Special Occasion for 2025 Book a table for your next big milestone; we can’t wait to welcome you in. cheznoircarmel.com ’25
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