With tiled floors, straw chairs and polished wood, this family-owned restaurant offers traditional Italian food at a great price. Pasta entrees hover around $11 and $12 while the pizzas go for around $10. A spectacular choice is the 16-ounce Bistecca Alla Fiorentina for $16.95. A fine selection of wines can also be found, ranging in price from $20 to around $80. Every dish is made from fresh ingredients, and the service is unbeatable. The place even sells gift boxes with homemade dressings and olive oils.

Relax and have a healthy, light meal while listening to the waterfall at this charming little cottage. Nothing is fried here, only broiled or baked. Breakfast is served all day, and for dinner you can sample from a wide variety of sandwiches, pastas and other entrees including fresh swordfish. The drink menu features an impressive variety of coffees and a dozen or so wines, most of which are $14-20 a bottle. The place caters to tourists as well as locals, and the service is dynamite.

Flames burst from the rotisserie at this cheerful eatery. With the red-and-white tablecloths and the European ornaments adorning the walls, this is an ideal place to relax with friends or family. The menu offers a variety of pastas and other entrees with Swiss specialties that include mouthwatering Mountain Sausage Platter and the Veal Schnitzel with Capers. Wines run from $20-80 per bottle, including a handful of Swiss vintages. Swiss musicians play twice a week, usually Fridays and another day that varies from week to week.

This steakhouse and pub has been a local favorite in Carmel for more than 18 years. The regulars keep coming back to drink ales in the pub or gorge on steak in the dining room, where the huge arched windows give the place an airy, comfortable feel. The Prime Rib and Prawns, as well as the Steak & Lobster Tail, are popular choices. Find burgers, sandwiches, lunch specials and entrees in the pub for less than $10. The service is fabulous and the place caters mostly to locals.

With all the vintage auto memorabilia hanging on the walls of this place, you will think you are back on a racetrack in 1910. Dine on the heated patio, which has a great view of the valley, or have an indoor feast. The place somewhat resembles a gas station, but the margaritas are dynamite and it serves up a wealth of reasonably priced Mexican dishes. There are daily specials and occasional live music out on the patio. The friendly staff attracts a wide-ranging clientele.

This is a place for discerning customers who want only the best. The cuisine is primarily French with a definite California twist, and the service is beyond impeccable. The decor is low key so as not to detract from the incredible views. Highly awarded both locally and nationally, the kitchen offers meticulously crafted dishes such as Poached Salmon with Artichokes and Saffron-thyme Sauce, and boned and roasted Duck in Black Currant Sauce. Sit back and enjoy the harbor lights while sampling from the huge wine list.

This casual restaurant offers grilled dishes with a Southwestern flair. You can eat in the bar, which is covered with cartoons, or dine in the comfortable dining room. Try the Lamb Shank with Ale and Mushrooms. The wine list is extensive, ranging from $18-220 a bottle, including several Chardonnays and Cabernets. This place has won numerous awards, including Best in the Carmel Area by Adventures in Dining Magazine, and is an old favorite in the area. The unparalleled service brings in a wide variety of tourists and locals.

The dining experience here is superb. On the walls inside, find license plates, skillets, signs, toys, and all sorts of collectibles. On the patio outside is a stone rotisserie that cooks many of the meats. The menu has an excellent selection of center-cut steaks and pastas, and you can even get a crispy duck sandwich. The wine list is extensive, ranging from normal table wines to $110 bottles. The clientele is mostly locals, but tourists roll in now and then.

This is the only restaurant in the Monterey area that is right on the ocean. The inside is subdued, but it offers huge windows that are practically on the cliff. Watch sea lions, pelicans, and everything else as the waves come crashing in. The service is impeccable for the locals, tourists and wedding parties here. Specialties include swordfish steak and Filet Mignon. The wine list is fairly extensive. Day or night, the view is awesome.

Located in The Pine Inn, this elegant Italian restaurant serves up incredible bread in the morning and spectacular entrees at night. Not only is it a great place for wedding receptions and business meetings, it makes for a wonderfully romantic night out. The Veal Scalloppine and the Ravioli Di Verdura are excellent, as is the extensive wine list. The decor is fancy but not overbearing. The service is excellent. The place caters mostly to hotel guests and conference or wedding attendees.