98 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2026 montereycountynow.com/bestof Restaurants the circus. If it’s edible, somebody’s fried it—for fun. There’s no fried experiments at Phil’s Fish Market, only the tried-and-true favorites that are a staple on the menu for a reason. Start with appetizers of some spicy fried clam strips with fried zucchini and an Italian dipping sauce, then move on to french fried artichoke hearts. That’s a meal in itself. And if you’re still hungry, a helping of squid and chips should do the trick. BEST RESTAURANT - PACIFIC GROVE Passionfish 701 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 655-3311, passionfish.net Circus food typically consists of fun items like cotton candy or popcorn. At Passionfish, the “fun” is tied to the restaurant’s three main principles: sustainable seafood, realistic wine prices and a favorite spot to eat. Opened in 1997 by Ted and Cindy Walter, the team wanted ingredients to take the center stage; owner Berk Guvenç has allowed that performance to live on. Start with the smoked trout ceviche tostadas, followed by the dungeness crab salad and the rainbow trout—or whatever is fresh that day. BEST RESTAURANT - PEBBLE BEACH Stillwater 1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach (800) 877-0597, pebblebeach.com Stillwater has always been a destination restaurant. Last year, however, during a renovation of The Lodge, the Pebble Beach Company took the opportunity to make it even better. It’s like that moment when P.T. Barnum joined with James Bailey and the popular circus became a thrilling phenomenon. The bar now overlooks the famed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links and its cove and the setting is even more refined—if that’s possible. And while the kitchen team took the time off to tweak Stillwater’s menu, it remains as always—fresh, sustainable seafood, quality meats, seasonal ingredients, all with California coastal flair. BEST RESTAURANT - SAND CITY Sweet Elena’s 465 Olympia Ave., Sand City (831) 393-2063, sweetelenas.com This truth still holds, as of the fall of 2026: If you are hungry in Sand City during the day, Sweet Elena’s is a solid option. It’s a place for a breakfast of quiches and ham-and-cheese croissant sandwiches. Classic baked goods and the coffee menu don’t disappoint, nor do Elena’s signature seasonal pies. Baguette sandwiches and salads can make for a quick lunch. There are a few tables—inside and outside. One can view local art on the walls. It’s a perfect place for community-watching, while slowly finishing your treat. Like a clown car, Sweet Elena’s packs a lot into a small space. BEST RESTAURANT - SEASIDE Butter House 1760 Fremont Blvd. B-1, Seaside (831) 394-2887, thebutterhouse.com Between circus acts, performers need to refuel, and there is perhaps no more foolproof way than in a warm, homey, inviting brunch spot quite literally named after butter. There’s always a line out the door on weekends, for good reason. Maybe it’s the bottomless cups of coffee, the generous portions or the friendly ambiance courtesy of longtime hospitality professionals Benny and Susan Mosqueda, who dreamed of this concept in a former diner for years before building it into reality. The classic American breakfast menu, inflected with Filipino and Pacific Islander flair (lumpia, fried rice with Spam, longaniza), make this a repeat destination with comfort food transformed by various flavor profiles. BEST RESTAURANT - SOUTH COUNTY Rising Phoenix Pizzeria & Taproom 320 Broadway St., King City (831) 386-1138, risingphoenixpizzeria. com King City might be a small town, but its residents have a big appetite for the best pizzas. Every pizza at Rising Phoenix is made with fresh ingredients cooked in a wood-fired oven—and round, like a ring. Order three and— well, you know. Circus theme. Paired with 24 craft beers on tap and a selection of wines, along with some live music performances, it’s more than just a pizza place. It’s the main attraction in South County. Best Restaurant for a Special Occasion | Chez Noir
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