110 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2026 montereycountynow.com/bestof Specialty Foods funnel cake, the waffle is topped with powdered sugar. Not into that? No problem. Fried chicken also comes on a sandwich or a biscuit. It’s all good. BEST CHICKEN WINGS Woody’s at the Airport 200 Fred Kane Drive, Monterey (831) 373-1232, woodysmontereyairport. com Woody’s at the Airport’s chicken wings are certainly walking the tightrope between sweet and umami. The Americana restaurant’s “Honey Chile Chicken Wings” are doused in locally-sourced honey and perfected with a sea salt crunch. Their buffalo wings aren’t to be missed, either. Despite being located at an airport, the place is awash with locals, according to chef Tim Wood, who pulled the flavors from his upbringing in New York and Asian fusion. Wood says that on top of the main show—the food and the airplanes soaring overhead—the people-watching is pretty good. Sneak a peek at the audience around you, if you so please. BEST PIZZA PLACE Gianni’s Pizza 725 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey (831) 649-1500, giannispizzamonterey. com With their signature breadsticks and a variety of pizzas, Gianni’s Pizza will keep the whole family fed. The checkered tablecloths give it a true pizzeria feel, and there’s a full bar for the adults. The gelato bar is so colorful, calliope music should be playing. Manager Andy Gambino promises fresh ingredients and a menu that has remained the same since its opening in the ’70s, a pride which the owner Chris Costa honors. BEST BBQ BEST CATERING COMPANY Kleinfeldt Family BBQ T&A Cafe, 1 Harris Road, Salinas (831) 225-0447, kleinfeldtfamilybbq.com An article in Humanities magazine recalled the aromas of the big top— burning sugar from the cotton candy machine, hot peanuts, wood shavings. Barbecue creates an even more memorable and desirable sensation. The smoke, the caramelizing meat—you want this. Kleinfeldt Family cooks low and slow, with a menu featuring brisket, tri-tip, chicken and ribs served on sandwiches or as part of a plate or platter. But even before taking over T&A Cafe, the family had an established catering company that remains wildly popular. Why not? Like the circus comes to your town, the catering company brings the meat to your occasion. BEST BUTCHER SHOP The Meatery 1534 Fremont Blvd., Seaside (831) 656-8810, themeateryseaside.com There is dry-aged prime beef, Japanese A5 Wagyu, cut to order, house-made sausages, whole chickens, Duroc pork and prized meats, cured and imported. And that is just the start at this always-popular butcher, which also serves deli sandwiches and hot case brisket and ribs. Chef Todd Fisher and his team prepare sides and stock game meats and other goodies. But there is a risk here. Everything is so tempting, you might end up looking like Dolly Dimple or The Human Freight Car. Given the quality of meats, it’s worth the risk. BEST CUPCAKE BEST CAKES Layers Cakes 9 Soledad Drive, Monterey (831) 655-1544, layerscake.com Specializing in a circus act, whether it’s acrobatics, clowning or juggling, takes years of work perfecting every aspect and knowing what your audience actually enjoys. Baking perfect cakes or cupcakes and creating intricate designs also takes skill and dedication. At Layers, people can find colorful, delightful cakes and cupcakes for every occasion. Some have audacious names, including Princess or Death by Chocolate, while classics like carrot cake and Red Velvet are also available. BEST COOKIE Sweet Reba’s 206 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel. (831) 601-4818 268 Main St., Salinas. (831) 676-0628 sweetrebas.com A dessert headliner that steals the show almost always includes a good cookie. It’s a staple, and the best of the best typically feature a gooey center— the real star, often a chocolate chip cookie that balances chewy, gooey, buttery and crispy in delicate fashion. Sweet Reba’s not only takes the cake, but bakes the best cookie. The small-batch bakery carries a selection of cookies every day, their chocolate Best Local Red Wine | Scheid Pinot Noir
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