“The Indian restaurant near me— Namaste—is great,” Rodas says. “You have to make reservations, because it gets busy at night.” Owners say the mix of new, upscale establishments and favorite standbys make Lighthouse more vibrant and attracts more traffic. “I’m surprised,” Elrayes admits. “I was worried because of parking, but a lot of people come.” Catering to locals also brings people to Lighthouse. A sizable population lives within walking distance of the street, and many places offer locals’ discounts. For example, on Thursdays, area residents receive 20-percent off at Lighthouse Bistro. “We want people in the neighborhood to walk on down,” Wojtowicz says of Oystertown. “And we definitely get local people. They talk to others at the bar.” According to Rodas, the difference in his four years on Lighthouse is noticeable. In Mission 19’s first year, the restaurant took in around $250,000. Now he is on target to top $1 million and is looking into a second location. And he has expanded the menu. Birria ramen is a fun dish. Not only is it a collision of two culinary traditions that makes perfect sense, but at Mission 19 Taqueria, they present it with chopsticks, which brings a moment of amusement. And it’s a hearty presentation. So it’s best to get in a walk before dessert—the chocolate pudding at Oystertown. And that, Wojtowicz says, sums up the advantage of the street, for both diners and owners: “You can start, middle or end at Oystertown.” WWW.MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM 15 662 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove ✦ 831-643-1060 ✦ redhousecafe.com Red House Cafe Weekend Brunch Fri, Sat, Sun & Mon 8am-2:30pm Breakfast Tues - Thurs 8am-11am Lunch Tues - Thurs 11:30am - 2:30pm Dinner Tues - Sat 5pm - 9pm (Closed Sunday & Monday nights.) Voted Best Brunch ’15 ’14 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 Fresh Contemporary American Fare with European Flair ’25 RedHouse_1-3s_ED26_DG.indd 1 4/16/26 10:45 AM VB EOSTTE FD RME NO NC HT ERRE YS TCAOUURNATNYT’ S ’24 Sabrina and Federico Rusciano invite you to experience authentic European cuisine through their signature dishes, matched with fine wines that will take you on a trip to Europe. 867 Wave St. Monterey, 831-333-1200 Open Wednesdays - Monday Closed Tuesdays One block above the Aquarium www.BistroMoulin.com bistro_moulin_1-3s_VG25_gk.indd 1 6/6/25 4:38 PM
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