Eating in Monterey (California)

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The local specialties are artichokes and sanddabs. Artichokes can be found at nearly every restaurant - fried, grilled, broiled, boiled, in soup, on pizza and almost any other way you can imagine. The nearby town of Castroville is "the artichoke center of the world," and the local source for the wealth of artichokes. Sanddabs are a local seafood, often served fried. Clam Chowder in sourdough bread can be found at Fisherman´s Wharf. Abalone is available, too, but expensive. The area is notable for other seafood delicacies, including calamari and Dungeness crab.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium runs a "Seafood Watch" program, and keeps a list of which sea life is overfished and which are safe, and environmentally friendly, to eat. Pick a copy of the list up at the Aquarium, or around town. Many local restaurants have signed on to the Seafood Watch program.

Monterey's status as a tourist destination have provided it with a wealth of restaurants beyond what might be expected in a community this size. Almost every cuisine, from oriental to occidental, may be found represented - and usually represented well - in the local area, including the neighbouring communities of Pacific Grove, Seaside, and Carmel-by-the-Sea and the Carmel Valley.

• Ambrosia India Bistro, 565 Abrego St, ☎ 831-641-0610, www.ambrosiaib.com. 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5PM-9:30PM daily. Authentic Indian cuisine from appetizer to dessert. Faults in the service are redeemed by the extraordinary flavors and presentation of the meal. $10-$30.

• The Fishwife's Turtle Bay Taqueria, 431 Tyler Street, www.fishwife.com/turtlebay.htm. Creative Mexican dishes with Caribbean flair and a wide selection of salsas, served in a relaxed and colorful (literally) atmosphere. Claim your table with a number flag - stuck into the back of a rubber turtle.

• Epsilon, 422 Tyler Street, www.mbay.net/~petros. A truly charming restaurant - cozy, well-lit, hand-decorated, with superb Greek food and a passionate staff. The spanakopita with a Greek salad can make a meal on its own.

• Rosine's, 434 Alvarado Street, www.rosinesmonterey.com. A downtown, family-friendly classic serving up wonderful portions of comfort food. Famous for its spectacular cakes - make sure you have someone to share with!

• India's Clay Oven, 150 Del Monte Avenue. The second best Indian food in the area, after Ambrosia's. Try the "naan burrito" - a perfect blend of Indian tradition and Monterey historical heritage!

• East Village Cafe, 498 Washington Street.

• Stokes Adobe, 500 Hartnell Street, (831) 373-1110, www.stokesrestaurant.com offers the finest in California cuisine in, appropriately, a gorgeously restored adobe landmark.

• Tarpy's Roadhouse, 2999 Monterey-Salinas Highway, www.tarpys.com. For a taste of Monterey history head to this historic former homestead, housed in a beautiful stone building nestled into a hillside. Classy atmosphere with classic California cuisine - accompany your meal with one of the many local wines on offer.

• Tabouli's Deli & Mid-Eastern, 309 Lighthouse Avenue. If you are looking for a relatively cheap (particularly for Monterey prices), but great meal, Tabouli's is a great place. Tabouli's has great food and great company. The owner and cook is friendly but not overbearing. Because he's the only one running the place usually, it's not place to go if you are in a hurry.

• Pizza My Heart, Del Monte Center on Munras. Great, cheap pizza, made with all fresh ingredients, and open until 10PM. If you're looking for a live show that night, just ask the staff; they know everything going on in town.

• Parker-Lusseau Pastries, 539 Hartnell St, www.parker-lusseaupastries.com. Tucked away in the historic Fremont Adobe building next door to the post office, this small patisserie offers some of the best French pastries and lattes this side of the Atlantic.