Need a Good non-tourist restaurant in Monterey

[Chuck Tribolet]

Peppers in Pacific Grove (Mexican, sorta)
Massaro & Santos above the Breakwater Deli.
I don't care for the Central Texas. The Trail Dust in Morgan Hill (not Monterey, but
on the way home for a lot of you) is MUCH better.
Breakfast: Toasties in Pacific Grove.

 

[Ben_ca]

Breakwater Deli?

 

[Ishie]

Ooh, Vivalos is good, especially if you want deep fried artichoke hearts. Giannis is great; went there yesterday.

I'm a curry-holic, so I'm partial to both Indian Summer and the Clay Oven. The latter has great food and except for one waiter, terrible service, so be prepared.

The Fish House is incredible, but bring your American Express card. Cha-ching.

BW deli has great smoked stuff, if you can handle the enormous 'tude of the owners and a perpetually nonfunctional ATM. Don't eat anything other than the BBQ fare unless it's prepackaged. With the potato salad, you can almost taste the fine texture of the salmonella.

 

[nilsdiver]

Steak: I've heard the Whaling Station is excellent.

Best steak I have ever had was there... :eat

 

[jumsted65]

The Fish Hopper is kinda touristy but I like it. Great view. Good food. Reasonable prices.
I Hula's still there? I was there once and liked it a lot. Wanna go back and have something macadamia encrusted.
Fish Wife is a favorite of many. Crab cakes good Sea Harvest fish market was nice. There's one in Monterey and Carmel too. I had fish kebobs of some sort. Yummy. Very fresh. It's a fish market after all. Ya can pick out your own wine too. Not much seating. Dunno how crowded it gets. I've been there at off times.

Then there's Ben_ca's tailgate. BYOS. (Bring your own sandwich.) Good times.

 

[Deuces]

Yes, Hula's is still there. I've never been there but ya, a lot of good reviews for it. Different kinds of food with an "Hawaiian Inspiration." Bamboo Reef is just a few doors down, I still don't know why I've never been.

 

[rhlee]

The Fishwife by Asilomar. Make reservations (or call at least an hour in advance).

 

[JustinW]

BW deli has great smoked stuff, if you can handle the enormous 'tude of the owners and a perpetually nonfunctional ATM. Don't eat anything other than the BBQ fare unless it's prepackaged. With the potato salad, you can almost taste the fine texture of the salmonella.

You are absolutely correct on the "'tude" of the owners. Walked in there twice last weekend on the offchance that last time they were just having a bad day(both times walking out pissed off). Sometimes they try, other times its as if your patronage is bothering them.

On a good reccomendation, the Bulldog british pub has good burgers that will fill you up. There is a cluster of good restaurants near the Trader Joes (take David street up from the aquarium). Pisto's restaurants have a locals night midweek sometime and he has great food specializing in local cuisine.

 

[D_O_H]

Another vote for Monterey Fish House. I even think it's a pretty good value for what you get (outstanding borderline-gourmet seafood).

I still tolerate the breakwater deli for the tri tip, though the owner dude does give me a serious case of the creeps.

I'm stoked to try some of these other recommendations.

 

[dannobee]

The owner dude has actually been nice to me lately. I've been in there quite a bit, so he probably "knows" me by now.

BTW, it's actually called "Bay View Deli," though we all know it by breakwater deli or the tri-tip place.