Situated in an old stone house dating back to the 1880s, this is a good place for a romantic dinner. Dine inside by the fireplace or under the stars on the flowery patio. It features good old-fashioned country dishes such as Herb Rotisserie Duck and Grilled Center Cut Pork Chop with Bourbon Molasses. Rooms are available for private parties and catering is also available. The extensive wine list begins at the low end and includes several Syrah, Cabernets, and rare Magnums. The impeccable service attracts many types, from couples on romantic getaways to tourists to locals.

This authentic British pub serves dinner until midnight and the heated outdoor patio is legendary. You will think that you are in London, as the decor is truly British in all respects. The grub is typical pub fare: fish and chips, meat pies, sandwiches and the like, most of which tips the scales under USD10. Twenty beers are on tap and there is an extensive selection of single-malt scotches. It is never hard to stir up conversation. The bartenders are great, and the place attracts all walks of life, from business professionals to college students. See website for menu, bar info, and more.

The service, the atmosphere and the food are top notch here. Catering mostly to locals, the place features a relaxing outdoor garden heated by a fireplace and surrounded by flowers. Specialties include Rogan Josh and Fish Tikka. It also offers quite a few vegetarian dishes, rice creations, and a variety of breads straight from the wood-fired oven. Bottles of wine range from USD15-36. This is a great place to introduce yourself to Indian cuisine.

Start the morning right with a huge, heavy plate of eggs and bacon, biscuits and gravy, or Eggs Benedict. A number of variations on Eggs Benedict are also served. Prices are low to medium. At lunchtime, try one of the specials; the Sunday turkey spread is one of the best. The cafe is located in lovely Pacific Grove, within walking distance of several B&Bs and just a mile away from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Located right on the waterfront, this restaurant has a spectacular view of the water. You will even see otters leaping around right outside your window. The friendly professional staff serves up great seafood dishes like Dungeness Cracked Crab and several steak, pasta, and grilled dishes. Most importantly, this place features the only piano bar in all of Monterey. Entertainment begins at 7pm daily and this place makes for a great casual dinner, a romantic evening, or just a place to grab a cocktail and to escape the tourist masses.

Vaguely nautical from the outside and quite contemporary from the inside, this restaurant is one of four ventures by Peninsula celebrity chef John Pisto. The interior is white on white on white with a few indoor trees and potted palms adding patches of green. The paint job plus the amount of light that filters in through the oversized windows causes the place to almost sparkle when the sun is at its peak. Guests dine on fresh fish, seafood pastas, wood-fired pizzas and, the house specialty, calamari prepared in one of a half-dozen different ways. See website for menu and more.

This legendary seafood restaurant is located at the end of Fisherman's Wharf and its origin goes back to the 1950s. It has been family run for decades, and the service is impeccable. Specialties include Linguini Shellfish and Swordfish Steak. An ample wine list features a 1995 Rutherford Estates Cabernet Sauvignon as its high end (USD38). This is the place to get some of the freshest fish around. The restaurant caters to tourists as well as locals. See website for menus and more.

The only waterfront pub on the West Coast, this British-style drinking hole has over 60 international beers, indoor and outdoor seating, traditional pub games, a gift shop, and lots more. The interior is decorated in the traditonal British pub-style, with memorabilia all over the walls. The menu offers a variety of salads, as well as British dinners and Happy Hour specials. The friendly bartenders bring in all walks of life. See website for menu and more information.

Since this four-star seafood restaurant is right on Fisherman's Wharf, the view cannot be beat. It specializes in Sicilian seafood and the photographs lining the walls depict the owners' fishing background. A variety of tasty fresh fish meals with pasta are available, but the cioppino (fish stew) is the specialty of the house and is terrific. The wood-burning oven cranks out some great steak and lamb dishes as well. The wine list is eclectic, topping out with the usual USD200 Dom Perignon and an Italian Red, Tignanello, Marchesi Antinore at USD132. The service is family-like and locals frequent the place on a regular basis. See website for menus, videos, and more.

The menu at the Red House Cafe is simple yet selective and American with an interesting European twist. The place is well lit and a delightful experience on a sunny day. Breakfast is only served on weekends. The menu available here is very dynamic and changes often according to market and seasonal availability giving the patron the freshest options. If you want a fine dining experience which is easy on your pockets as well, check this place out.