Cheap Eats in Carmel/Monterey
 

I'll be in Carmel for a day with the hubbo and Daughter #2 (who is 16). Do you have any inexpensive but good recommendations?

Also, tell me Point Lobos isn't one of the parks that's closed.

Oh, Brad?

He showed BTD and me a great little place to get chowder that didn't seem expensive at all. Not one of those fancy-schmancy over-priced Cannery Row restaurants, but had fantastic chowder.

Define inexpensive.

Per person, including beverage. Now, I am not on a strict budget but I just would rather spend the money on other stuff. So here's my guesstimate on inexpensive, CA style:

Breakfast - $6 or under

Lunch - $8 or under

Dinner - $12 or under

I'm happy if it's less and less happy if it's more.

Brad... paging Brad....



It was delicious and close to the aquarium.

Here are my Carmel and Monterey restaurant reviews; I hope they help!

I asked a coworker who lives their part time for some cheap recommendations but everything she sent me is above your price range, though short of fast food options I don't know that I've ever had breakfast in a restaurant for $6/person with drink.

Keep in mind as well that sales tax is 8.25-8.75% depending on which town you happen to be in.

She said there are lots of good taquerias and thai/vietnamese places that are pretty good and very cheap but she doesn't actually know their names.

First Awakenings is very good for breakfast/lunch but is closer to your dinner number.

For breakfast lunch and dinner: bread bowl with clam chowder on the pier. For dinner, add a crab cocktail.

Considering my clam and crab access is typically zero, I may need to consider this seriously.

Thanks for asking, Alex. It's appreciated.

Your sales tax is horribly high.

I like eating at Sea Harvest. It's near the aquarium. It's relatively inexpensive, but the area around the aq is pretty pricey because of all the tourists around there.

There's also a liquor store near the aquarium (across the street from the Carl's Jr.) that has a deli in the back. The food is really inexpensive and quite good. The lady that runs the place is a hoot, too.

Avoid anything on Cannery Row. Expensive!

Avoid the margaritas in Pacific Grove... it's a dry city. Their margaritas are made with wine. It doesn't taste good. Trust me.

Don't forget to visit the fabulous cheese shop in Carmel.

:)

I don't think any of the parks close till after Labor Day (you know, right when my camping trip is planned :rolleyes: )

Do you remember where you took me and E? I want to go there now and have NOMs!

Yep. That was Sea Harvest.
Fun times.
:)

YAY! Now to get some Sea Harvest noms.

Super fun times.

Here Sharky Sharky Sharky.

Sea Harvest! Must remember this forEVER.

Yelped here to help you remember (providing I got the correct location)

Thanks, all. It's appreciated. :cool:

Quickie Trip Report
 

Just back from a quick jaunt to Northern California. A busy, busy time it was and I didn't visit with anyone. Raincheck?

First sight that greeted me at the San Jose airport: a billboard with the slogan San Jose, Capitol of Silicon Valley. My instant reaction (as a former Palo Altan) was Let the dream die, San Jose. I ran the slogan by my Palo Alto relatives. "Maybe the newcomers believe it but not for long," my niece blurted out.

Yeah, didn't think so, San Jose.

We did take a one-day break at go to Carmel/Monterey. Mes observations:

1. The seahorse exhibit at the Monterey aquarium is even more beautiful and quick-come-here-you've-got-to-see-this! than the jellyfish exhibit. A huge wow from all of us.

2. I tried to get my crew to GC's recommendation but we ended up eating at the cafeteria at the aquarium. Clam chowder in a bread bowl and fresh cherries. All with a great view of sea lions and cormorants on the rocks and pelicans buzzing the water.

3. In Carmel, we ate at a Greek place on the main street (Ocean Ave.?). Food very good, service so excrutiatingly, nausteatingly, mindnumbingly terribleawfulhorrible that the owners gave us the meal for free.

4. We also ate breakfast at the Cottage in Carmel. Great breakfast place but beware if the resort rhythm of life (What me, hurry?) at a restaurant bugs you or you need to get on the road.

5. Carmel is more yuppified by the day, it seems to me. I think I may have reached saturation point. A lunch meeting in Castro Valley (Dino's, the cocktail lounge that time forgot) seemed like a nice antidote - no Tiffany's for miles.

What struck me most this trip: gardens. So many beautiful gardens. My sister's garden. The gardens at Allied Arts in Menlo Park. The Carmel Mission gardens. The gardens in neighborhoods we drove through. Even the oleander by Hwy 101.

Californians, your state is so beautiful. Take good care of it.

Yes, raincheck.

What she said.

Pics?

I only took a few.

So much has changed in my old stomping grounds since I was a kid. It really is fun to find things that haven't. Here's a sign on a barn near Woodside that hasn't changed since the late 1960's: