For a great mid-day experience, drive out to Carmel Valley and have lunch at Cafe Rustica (right). Fabulous soups, salads and sandwiches, and some truly awesome thin-crust brick oven pizzas. Try the "Lorraine" pizza: carmelized onions, bacon and gruyere. The "Flammekueche" pizza is also nice with diced proscuitto, onions, thyme and creme fraiche.While you're out there, go wine tasting. Two nice wine tasting rooms are located just around the corner from Cafe
Rustica: Georis and Talbott Vineyards. Georis makes some nice wines with a European touch (they have wine flights for $20 including a cheese plate). Talbott makes truly outstanding Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs that start at around $13 and go up from there. I've not tasted a bad wine there, just good, better and oh-my-gosh (priced accordingly, of course). A block or so away is Joullian Vineyards (left), which makes some nice wines, notably Zinfandels and Chardonnays.For dinner, you have to try Passion Fish in Pacific Grove. Creative dishes (right) featuring sustainable
seafood, slow-cooked meats and organic greens. The servers are friendly and very helpful in selecting dishes or wines. One nice feature: they barely mark up their wines, allowing you to enjoy a nice bottle of wine without breaking the bank. Bring your own bottle of wine and if you buy one of theirs, they'll waive the corkage fee. This is our favorite restaurant in the area.You should also check out Montrio Bistro in Monterey. Like Passion Fish, it offers an elegant yet casual atmosphere, an award-winning menu and fine service. We didn't order main courses, but kept a steady stream of their "small bites" appetizers, things like pancetta wrapped prawns, lobster mac and cheese, and polenta with mushrooms.
If you like Greek food, you must try Epsilon in Monterey. We've been there several times and have enjoyed it immensely each time. Entrees in the $15-$20 range.
There are, of course, so many other places worth trying, but these will do for now.
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