Well if you are in Monterey and looking for BBQ then look no further, seriously don’t look any further, I am pretty sure this is the only spot in town. That said. this place is built into a quaint little house, outdoor fire pit and friendly staff. The food is good, nothing that will win them a James Beard award, but good. Here are some photo’s I had some ribs and sampled the Fare…
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Kula Ranch Island Steakhouse, Marina, Ca
14 JulI recently visited this restaurant, it used to be an AJ Spurs steakhouse. It is a large venue, and in a very peculiar area near the ocean in Marina, Ca. There are several hotels near the restaurant, so I assume that it must receive good foot traffic. I did a 30 mile bike ride, the middle of which consisted of a lunch at this location.
The ambiance is very good, however with the rather obscure location, and the food being just OK, it is not a place I plan to visit soon. However, the restaurant does have a very good happy hour, and stays busy. If your in the area, stop on for a drink and check it out for yourself.
Bistro Moulin Monterey, Ca
18 JunI am not the hugest fan of boutique little crafty nook style restaurants. However I am a bit fan of good food. this man Chef/Owner Didier Dutertre, formally trained in some of the worlds greatest kitchens, was lured to the area some 30 years ago by the owners of Casanova restaurant in Carmel. He was head chef of the famous restaurant for 25 years before opening this fantastic little joint.
Come in for his famous Spinach Gnocchi Au gratin, or have a glass of nice french wine, with some escargot’s either way, you will spend a pretty penny, but the food and venue are worth it. Make a reservation.
Oh also, the crazy guy has signs posted that NO PHOTOGRAPHS are allowed, sucks if you wanted to pop the question their and commemorate it!
Cannery Row Brewing Company, Monterey Ca
7 JanThis larger than life brew pub offers 40 draft beers, a selection of house brew, a full bar complete with an impressive bourbon list, served up on two levels of restaurant.
An initial installment of the Coastal Luxury Management Team, lead by Dave Bernahl and Robert Weekly, the pub mirrors some of the better gastro-pubs in the US.
There are obviously a few areas where the pub falls short, and shy of its initial intent. Initially there was a CLM burger on the menu made with Kobe Beef a fantastic item – Gone. The Oyster Po Boy, the Lobster Roll; all initial items that have disappeared due to poor execution and lack of proper culinary oversight as the restaurant sank in its noble intent into a more pedestrian tourist attraction.
Still, they have a phenomenal Ahi Poke appetizer, juicy burgers, and amazing slow smoked wings – but the restaurant will never be measured with the great gastro-pubs with such a lack of strict product oversight. Clearly the means of the CLM crew are too varied to make this project a truly amazing one. That is why on most travel sites it recieves middle of the rung reviews.
Also service is sluggish on a good day. Still though, you cant beat the beer menu, tasty burgers and fireside chat with some good friends on Cannery Row. I will still be back, and just know that my experience will reflect the items reviewed above…
overall 3.5 stars out of 5 from this critic.
Peter B’s Brewpub Monterey Ca
7 JanAs far as pubs in Monterey go, there is no other Craft Brewery like this in the area, there is no other Craft Brewery actually. There is, however, English Ales in Marina, Ca that makes great beer, but they are technically considered a Micro Brewery.
On the note of Peter B’s, they brew all of their own beer right there in the brewery/restaurant always nice and fresh, second, their Amber ale is fantastic! I can IV it! Third, they have a new brew-master who is quite good.
Food is typical pub food, they have a very nice happy hour and during the football season they do 49Cent Beers if the Niners win! Overall Great local spot. Try the Corralito’s Dog for some local frank action as well. If they are smart the will put the Bavarian Cheese sausage on the Menu!!
1833 Restaurant Monterey Ca
29 DecThis little Gem is situated on a purportedly Haunted Historic Monterey Peninsula Adobe (originally built in 1833). It is the home of the former Stokes Adobe restaurant. It has recently been renovated and re-opened by the peninsula’s dynamic team Coastal Luxury Management – actually an appendage (through acquisition) of Daniel Snyder’s many enterprises (owner of the Washington Redskins).
The décor gets 5 stars to be sure, eerily reminiscent of Disney’s Haunted mansion in décor, one of the dining rooms actually features a photograph of a woman who lived in the house at one point, and never left.
The food is really quite pedestrian; I expected more from this team. I had the pork chop which came with collard greens and grits (Seared Pork belly was on top of the Collard Greens). Good flavor, just not very exciting. Attached are some photo’s of the appetizers. Deviled Eggs, Marinated Olives, and the pork chop.
One shining light at the end of the Disney-esque tunnel was the Sommelier – Ted Glennon. Extremely knowledgeable and put together a very nice wine list that varies greatly form the run of the mill California wines dominating most menu’s. He suggested a very nice Borolo, also available by the glass. This particular wine had a fair dose of brettanomyces, giving it a bit too much barnyard for this palate, it did however have a flush and nice fruit and tannin structure. More importantly it paired excellently with my dish.
Overall, I give the restaurant 3.8 out of 5 stars, mostly because the menu was rather disappointing in my opinion, too standard and uninspired. Or if it is inspired I would be interested in learning what it was.
For more on the Haunting check this out http://www.hauntedhoneymoon.com/hauntedplaces/stokes.html
Urban Spoon
