THE 2016 GOLDEN PINE CONES
IT’S FUN to think about — did Sinclair Lewis ever get into it with
Robinson Jeffers over where the best fried abalone was to be found•
Did Bing Crosby and Bob Hope ever argue about the best place to buy
a new 9-iron?
Even if you’re not a celebrity, as a Pine Cone reader, you almost
certainly have estimable opinions about where to get a great
breakfast, a good massage and where to go pop out a dent in your
Beemer’s fender.
That’s why we asked — and for the ninth year you responded. More
than 14,000 readers of our email edition (go to
www.carmelpinecone.com to subscribe) were polled in an election
that’s pretty tough to rig. The results are in — this year’s Golden
Pine Cones for everything from where to take a hike or grab a burger
to where to get your Rolex or your Louboutins repaired.
Under the headings of things “you don’t want to need, but want to
have done well when you do,” you told us where to find a good
lawyer, a terrific physical therapist and an excellent plastic
surgeon. Do-gooders are also honored, as are good bosses. And of
course, all things kitty and puppy are part of the fun.
So read on, enjoy — and remember to shop locally!
FOOD and WINE AWARDS
• Best Neighborhood Market
• Best Butcher
Bruno’s Market & Delicatessen — Junipero and Sixth - 7
a.m. to 8 p.m. daily - (831) 624-3821
With all the items you might need to run out to the market for — a
loaf of bread from a local bakery, a head of lettuce grown in the
Salinas Valley, the best hot sauce or a quart of milk — Bruno’s
Market is everything a corner store should be, and more, with name
brands and basics, house-made and made-to-order. It’s the ideal spot
to run to for steaks to cook for friends or fruit for the kids,
along with a freshly made sandwich for lunch. Also voted best
butcher, Bruno’s Market’s meat counter carries top-grade beef,
choice cuts of pork and other prime meats. It’s an especially busy
place during the holidays.
• Best Fruits and Vegetables
Farmers Markets — oldmonterey.org - montereybayfarmers.org -
everyonesharvest.org - westcoastfarmersmar-kets.org -
cipponerifamilyfarms.blogspot.com
If you live here, why even bother shopping for produce at the
grocery store, when a nearby farmers market has better goods for
lower prices practically every day of the week• Pine Cone readers
know the best fruits and vegetables are found at their local farmers
markets — and there are plenty. The largest market takes over
Alvarado Street in downtown Monterey on Tuesdays from 4 to 8 p.m. (4
to 7 p.m. in winter), while Monterey Peninsula College hosts a
popular market on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Monterey
Fairgrounds opens Gate 8 on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific
Grove presents a modest Monday afternoon market on Central Avenue
from 4 to 7 p.m. Seasonal markets take place at The Barnyard at the
mouth of the valley on Tuesday mornings May through September, and
outside Whole Foods at Del Monte Center in Monterey on Sunday
mornings May through October. The newest markets are held on
Thursdays on Sixth Avenue in downtown Carmel from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
and in Carmel Valley Village on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Best Organic Produce
Whole Foods – 800 Del Monte Center, Monterey - 8 a.m. to 9
p.m. daily - (831) 333-1600 - www.wholefoodsmarket.com
At Whole Foods, the produce is fresh and abundant — and much of it
is local and organic. Lavish displays are kept fresh and well
stocked by knowledgeable staff members who can explain every
product’s source and benefits, from Asian pears to zucchini. Adding
to the benefit of shopping there, prices are often competitive,
despite the market’s reputation as a spendy choice. The store is
full-service, of course, also carrying fresh and frozen meats,
dairy, cheeses, dry goods, baked items, plenty of vitamins and
supplements, wine and beer, and even some household items, clothing
and accessories.
• Best Seafood Market
Sea Harvest Fish Market & Restaurant — 100 The Crossroads
and 598 Foam St., Monterey - (831) 626-3626 and (831) 646-0547 - 8
a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily in Carmel; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Monterey -
www.seaharvestcarmel.com
A stone’s throw from the Pacific, Sea Harvest market boasts the best
in fresh seafood daily, from locally famous dungeness crab and sand
dabs, to halibut, sushi-grade tuna, and a wide range of other
shellfish and bounty from the sea. Whether you are served at one of
the market restaurants or take your fish home, Sea Harvest’s
knowledgeable staff is there to help you select the freshest
choices.
• Best Bakery
Lafayette Bakery — 3672 The Barnyard - Monday-Saturday, 6
a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. - www.lafayettebakery.com
“Bread & Happiness,” notes the website of Lafayette Bakery, a
local favorite since it opened its doors at the Barnyard shopping
center a few years back. Owned by master baker Jean-Bernard Vial —
who has been baking since 1976 — and also tapping into the skills
and knowledge of pastry chef Pascal Merle, Lafayette has impressed
patrons with its lovely and diminutive French pastries, tarts,
whimsical cookies and cakes, breads, quiches and other delights.
Most mornings, the charming spot is crammed with people sipping
coffee and nibbling something delectable.
• Best Catering Company
Aqua Terra Culinary — (831) 657-9790 -
www.aquaterraculinary.com
Offering corporate catering, as well as catering for weddings and
other private events both on- and off site, Aqua Terra Culinary was
started by executive chef Dory Ford and focuses on farm-to-table
cuisine that’s innovative as well as accessible. Ford and his team
turn out bright, beautiful and creative dishes, and he says on the
company’s website that regardless of size and type, his firm “has
the staff, equipment and know-how to match.” Aqua Terra also
recently expanded to Colorado.
• Best Kitchen Shop
Sur La Table — Carmel Plaza, lower level - Monday to
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - (831)
626-6433 - www.surlatable.com
If you’re looking for a baking sheet, the latest chef’s knife, or
any other tool for the kitchen, Sur La Table is the place to go for
anyone who cooks, whether professionally or just for fun. The store
has lots of gifts and great gadgets, books, napkins, glasses — and,
of course, everything a chef needs in the kitchen — as well as the
staff to help you make the most of it. Splurge on a new Le Creuset
pot or stock up on more martini glasses for the bar, and drop off
your knives for sharpening while you’re shopping. Whatever you need
for the kitchen, you’ll find it here.
• Best Wine Store
Nielsen Bros. Market — NE corner San Carlos and Seventh - 8
a.m. to 7 p.m. daily - (831) 624-6441 - www.nielsenmarket.com
A classic Carmel market that was operated by the same family for
decades until it was sold in 2009 to Tigran and Azniv Amirkhanian,
Nielsen Bros. has never lost its small-town feel while carrying an
impressive collection of wines from all over the world. Its wine
cellar regularly hosts free tastings, and the resident wine staff is
knowledgeable and helpful, whether you’re looking for a
splurge-worthy Champagne to celebrate a milestone, or a Spanish
sleeper that will impress your friends without breaking the bank.
• Best Monterey County Chardonnay
• Best Monterey County Sauvignon Blanc
Bernardus — Tasting Room at 5 West Carmel Valley Road - 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. daily - (831) 659-1900 - www.bernardus.com
Bernardus Pon launched his namesake winery in Cachagua 26 years ago,
and while he started with the goal of creating a red wine that would
rival the best of Bordeaux, the winery’s Chardonnays, Pinots and
other varietals have also garnered praise from near and far. Nearest
of all, Pine Cone readers selected its Chardonnay and Sauvignon
Blanc as their favorites of those varietals this year. Vineyard
manager Matt Shea cultivates Bordeaux and Burgundy grapes at the
winery’s estate vineyards in Cachagua and Carmel Valley, and
winemaker Dean DeKorth and his team work to produce the wines that
keep fans coming back.
• Best Monterey County Rosé
Dawn’s Dream Winery — Tasting room at the NW corner San
Carlos and Seventh – noon to 6 p.m. Sunday through Friday, noon to 7
p.m. Saturday - (831) 659-2649 - www.dawnsdreamwinery.com
Once dismissed as syrupy sweet and not worthy of real wine drinkers,
rosé has become the darling among many locals who appreciate the dry
(as in, not at all sweet) version’s drinkability, diversity and
affordability. While 15 years ago, only one or two local wineries
produced a dry rosé, they now number more than a dozen, and Dawn’s
Dream was the favorite again this year. Owned by Dawn Galante, the
winery produces a rosé of Pinot Noir that offers bright citrus notes
and juicy hints of fresh berries. It’s dry and crisp, while still
being layered with flavor, making it ideal for any occasion.
• Best Monterey County Pinot Noir
Silvestri Vineyards — Seventh between San Carlos and Dolores
– noon to 7 p.m. daily - (831) 625-0111 – www.silvestrivineyards.com
In 1989, award-winning film composer Alan Silvestri and his family
moved from Los Angeles to Carmel, and they subsequently decided to
take on a new venture, planting vines in the grape-friendly soil of
Upper Carmel Valley. Over the years, the Silvestris and their
winemaker have turned out consistent vintages, which they showcase
in their tasting room in downtown Carmel, as well as at the many
charitable events to which they are very generous. They make several
different Pinots, each distinctive, and all praised for their
balance, elegance and craft.
• My Favorite Monterey County Wine
• Best Monterey County Merlot
• Best Tasting Room
• Best Monterey County Cabernet Sauvignon
Galante Vineyards — Tasting room on Dolores between Ocean and
Seventh – noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 7 p.m.
Friday through Sunday - (831) 624-3800 – www.galantevineyards.com
As Carmel celebrates its 100th birthday this year, the Galante
family is celebrating alongside it, with a special centennial
bottling of red wine. And that makes sense, considering founder Jack
Galante’s great-grandfather, J. Franklin Devendorf, was one of the
founders of the city, a place known for its scenic beauty, festivity
and creativity. The Galantes have always focused on growing the
finest grapes possible on their Cachauga vineyard and letting the
fruit express itself in their wines — efforts that have been
rewarded with praise and support from Pine Cone readers, who not
only selected the winery’s Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as their
favorites, but chose it as their favorite tasting room and their
favorite wine overall.
• Best Family Restaurant
Il Fornaio — Monte Verde between Ocean and Seventh –
breakfast 8 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, brunch 9 a.m. to 2
p.m. Saturday and Sunday, lunch 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through
Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends, and dinner 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday
through Thursday and 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday - (831)
622-5100 - www.ilfornaio.com/carmel
When it comes to preparing authentic Italian food, the chefs at Il
Fornaio have been at it for decades, and the Carmel location is as
beautiful as its food is delicious. Regularly celebrating the
cuisine of various regions of Italy, Il Fornaio at the Pine Inn is
also a great place to take the whole family, considering its
spacious interior and relaxed but lively atmosphere. The restaurant
offers a great Happy Hour and wine dinners featuring local
producers, with special menus to match.
• Best French Restaurant
Fifi’s Café and Bistro — 1188 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove –
Dinner from 5 p.m. nightly, lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday and
Friday only, and brunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday – (831) 372-5325
– www.fifisbistrocafe.com
Owned by Calvin and Michele Wilkes, this authentic and charming
French bistro transports you from Pacific Grove’s busiest street to
a quiet village in France as soon as you walk in the door. Since
1985, Fifi’s has consistently served quality French cuisine in a
quaint, intimate setting that’s elegant, but also informal. Fans go
for traditional favorites like moules frites, Escargots de Bourgogne
and duck confit salad, and the restaurant has a wine store that
carries a wide selection of exceptional wines. Now under the
guidance of Jacques Melac, the wine store at Fifi’s offers tasting
on many weekends.
• Best Chinese Restaurant
Tommy’s Wok — Mission between Ocean and Seventh - 11:30 a.m.
to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday - (831)
624-8518 - www.tommyswokcarmel.com
It’s always busy and bustling, and with good reason: The dishes
paraded out from its tiny kitchen are bright, fresh, aromatic and
satisfying in the ways that only really good Chinese food can be.
And that’s why Tommy’s Wok, the city’s only Chinese restaurant, is a
perennial favorite among Pine Cone readers. Tommy’s serves up a menu
of Szechuan, Hunan and Mandarin specialties, and is popular for
takeout, as well as dining in.
• Best Indian Restaurant
Ambrosia India Bistro — 565 Abrego St., Monterey - 11:30 a.m.
to 2:30 p.m., and 5 to 10 p.m. daily - (831) 641-0610 -
www.ambrosiaib.com
With an extensive menu, including many vegan options, Ambrosia India
Bistro is the best spot on the Monterey Peninsula for Indian food,
bar none. And while lunch and dinner provide numerous choices, the
weekday lunch buffet is legendary for its delicious food and great
value. The chefs at Ambrosia pride themselves on providing
authentically flavorful Indian food in an elegant atmosphere. Locals
and visitors become regulars at Ambrosia to enjoy lunch or dinner
inside, or on the patio by the warmth of the outdoor fireplace.
• Best Italian Restaurant
Little Napoli —Dolores between Ocean and Seventh avenues –
11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily - (831) 626-6335 -
chefpepe.com/restaurants/little-napoli
Since 1990, Little Napoli has helped bring a little bit of Italy to
downtown Carmel, and owner Rich Pepe is proud of his legacy. With
the feel of a café in Naples, Little Napoli offers antipasti, pizza,
pasta and risotto that are “prepared perfectly with the handed down
Pepe family signature recipes,” according to the restaurant. Among
the favorites is the veal osso buco ravioli with mushrooms and
porcini cream, and, of course, the various Pizza Napoletana
offerings.
• Best Japanese/Sushi Restaurant
Robata Grill & Sake Bar — The Barnyard Shopping Village
- Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8:30 p.m.,
and until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday - (831) 624-2643 -
www.robata-barnyard.com
Robata has been an institution practically since it opened its doors
more than 35 years ago in the charming Barnyard shopping center.
There, dark-wood ambiance melds with delicious and consistent
Japanese fare, from teriyaki and nikumaki, to more than a dozen
specialty rolls, classic sushi and sashimi. The variety of house
cocktails matches the abundant menu, with specialty Bloody Marys and
other popular libations, including more than a dozen sakes. Meet old
and new friends in the bar, or settle in with the family or your
date a booth to share a Japanese feast that can’t be beat.
• Best Mediterranean Restaurant
• Best Middle Eastern Restaurant
Dametra Cafe — Ocean and Lincoln, Carmel - 11 a.m. to 11
p.m. daily - (831) 622-7766 - www.dametracafe.com
People flock to Dametra for the lively atmosphere, the delectable
Mediterranean food, and the music performances that can happen at a
moment’s notice. Friends Faisal Nimri and Bashar Sneeh were brought
together by their love of music — both play the traditional Middle
Eastern stringed instrument, the oud — and their desire to create a
restaurant that feels like home led to their opening Dametra Café.
Always with a line out the door, Dametra offers all varities of
Mediterranean dishes. Nimri, from Jordan, and Sneeh, from Syria,
continue to build their following by displaying their inimitable
hospitality, which fans can also now experience at their new
restaurants, Mediterranean and PortaBella.
• Best Mexican Restaurant
Baja Cantina — 7166 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley –
from11:30 a.m. Monday to Friday, and from 10 a.m. Saturday and
Sunday - (831) 625-2252 - www.carmelcantina.com
Some people go just for the margaritas and to dance to the band
playing on the outdoor deck, while others prefer to sip some of the
more unusual offerings among an extensive list of tequilas. But most
of those who flock to Pat and Gina Phinny’s cantina go for the broad
and unexpected menu of fresh Mexican fare served with flair. Fresh
fish tacos, organic garden tamales and mole enchiladas are just a
few of the many favorites. Baja Cantina is more than a Mexican
restaurant — it’s a place where friends meet and strangers become
friends — and is particularly popular among car guys and gals, since
much of Phinny’s abundant collection of automobile and motorcycle
memorabilia is on display there. With a large bar and several
televisions, Baja is also a great spot to grab a beer and watch the
game or a Formula 1 race.
• Best Thai Restaurant
Pacific Thai Cuisine — 663 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific
Grove - 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through
Friday, and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday - (831)
646-8424 - www.pacificthaicuisine.com
In a restaurant founded on the motto, “We are Thai Family,” the
owners of Pacific Thai Cuisine pride themselves on sharing family
recipes with distinctive and traditional flavors and textures.
Located in the heart of Pacific Grove on Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific
Thai offers great food at reasonable prices in a casual setting.
Chef specials include Gina’s fried calamari with Thai dipping sauce,
and coconut milk artichoke soup, while mainstays like Pad Thai and
an array of green, red, yellow and Panang curries are always solid
choices.
• Best Restaurant for Seafood
Passionfish — 701 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove - From
5 p.m. daily - (831) 655-3311 - www.passionfish.net
If ever there was a restaurant that epitomized “doing well by doing
good,” it’s Passionfish. The Pacific Grove hotspot can be fairly
categorized as an institution, since it opened nearly 20 years ago
in 1997. In addition to serving up sustainable seafood, meat and
poultry, owners Ted and Cindy Walter, ably aided by Jannae Lizza,
the wine director, have made it their mission to make good wine
accessible to everyone. Wine selections are eclectic, and are
carefully paired with dishes like sturgeon, halibut or sea scallops.
The Walters are also very generous in donating their efforts and
resources to local charities.
• Best Restaurant for Steak
The Whaling Station — 763 Wave St., Monterey - From 4:30 p.m.
daily for cocktails; dinner begins at 5 p.m. - (831) 373-3778 -
whalingstation.net
Speaking of local institutions, this one’s been around for more than
40 years. If you’re seeking USDA Prime aged beef and service that
hearkens back to gentler days, this is the place. There are red
wine-braised short ribs, beef Wellington, a porterhouse for two and
a rack of lamb. You can add a lobster tail and have your Caesar
salad made tableside. Add all your steakhouse favorite sides,
including loaded twice-baked potato, sautéed wild mushrooms, creamed
spinach or scalloped potatoes. And the bartender still knows how to
make a Rob Roy. If you’re looking for something slightly lighter and
easier on the pocketbook, the bar menu offers up crispy organic
cauliflower, prime rib egg rolls and a blackened king salmon filet
with an iceberg wedge and fries. And your server just may have been
there for a decade or two!
• Best Restaurant for Vegetarians
Julia’s Vegetarian Restaurant — 1180 Forest Ave., Pacific
Grove - 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, 5
p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and lunch 12 p.m. to 2:30
p.m. Saturday and Sunday - (831) 656-9533
At Julia’s Vegetarian Restaurant in the back of the Forest Hill
Shopping Center near Fifi’s, the vibe is more hippie than hipster.
The staff will process your scraps for compost and serve only the
finest reverse-osmosis filtered water. Entertainment Mon. through
Thurs. starts at 6:30, and promises to take you back to the ’60s and
’70s. In addition to the requisite veggie burgers and roasted tofu,
there is a seitan and barbecue sauce pizza and a variety of salads,
including a strawberry salad and one made with roasted veggies.
There’s also a hot Thai green curry and a rice biryani with spinach,
tofu, roasted vegetables, golden raisins and pumpkin seeds.
• Best BBQ
Big Sur River Inn — 26 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1 - 9
a.m. to 9 p.m. Daily - (831) 655-1704 - bigsurwww.riverinn.com
There’s something magical about whiling away the afternoon in an
Adirondack chair with your toes in the Big Sur River, and something
even better about beginning or ending that afternoon with some
top-quality barbecue from the Inn’s restaurant. The pulled pork
sandwich with a refreshing side of crunchy coleslaw will take you
straight to North Carolina, while the baby back ribs will leave you
satisfied and possibly in need of a nap. Besides the ’cue, there’s
buttermilk fried chicken and a double cut pork chop with onion
marmalade. On the lighter side, there are plenty of salads and
starters, as well as the restaurant’s signature hot apple pie for
dessert. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily to happy
locals and tourists alike.
• Best Sandwich or Burger
r.g. Burgers — 201 The Crossroads, Carmel, and 570 Munras
Ave., Monterey (next to Trader Joe’s) – 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily,
and until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Carmel; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
daily, and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Monterey - (831)
626-8054, (831) 372-4930 - www.rgburgers.com
These burgers are indeed “r.g.” — real good! They’re always juicy,
and plenty of choices are at hand. There are more than 20 burgers,
from the Hawaiian with grilled pineapple and teriyaki sauce, to the
Mediterranean with sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese. Or you can
take the simple route and have yours with a slice of American cheese
and some of the restaurant’s special sauce. Your burger can be made
from ground beef, ground turkey, chicken or falafel and there are
plenty of vegetarian sides and entrée salads. Step back in time with
a 50/50 (orange soda with vanilla ice cream), and since you’re not
even pretending to eat healthy at that point, round out the meal
with a chocolate brownie sundae.
• Best Breakfast
Katy’s Place — Mission between Fifth and Sixth, Carmel -
7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily - (831) 624-0199 - www.katysplacecarmel.com
The Pine Cone readers’ favorite place for the most important meal of
the day since 2008, Katy’s Place continues to reign supreme. It’s
even trademarked its brand, “Carmel’s Breakfast Tradition,” and as
its website says, “The most precious ingredient that goes into every
meal at Katy’s Place is ... Love.” Of course, contrary to popular
romantic delusion, you can’t really live on love, so let’s get down
to business. How about eight kinds of waffles and 11 kinds of
pancakes• Or maybe you’ll be egged on to choose from the 20 kinds of
Benedict, including a Cajun offering with shrimp or a luxury edition
with lobster. And please bring the kids — there’s a box full of toys
to keep them occupied while the grownups sip on their mimosas.
• Best Coffee
• Best Coffeehouse
Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co. — Roasting facility at
212 Mid Valley Center, Carmel Valley, with retail locations on Ocean
Avenue in Carmel, The Barnyard Shopping Village, The Crossroads
Shopping Village, Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove, and the City
Center at Broadway and Fremont in Seaside - Hours vary by location,
but generally open between 6 and 7 a.m. - See
www.carmelcoffeeroasters.com for locations, hours and contact phone
numbers
Mermaid• What mermaid• No matter where you are in and around town, a
delicious cup of freshly roasted coffee is only a few minutes away
at this local wonder. In business since 1994, CVCRC set out to do
one thing: “provide serious handcrafted coffee, using the finest
Arabica beans, delivered very fresh to discerning customers.” It’s
also a certified organic roaster by California Certified Organic
Farmers. Roast Master Tina Muia and her staff slow-roast organic
coffee beans daily, churning out the original Carmel Foglifter and
14 other varieties and blends. Owners Dean and Janet McAthie “get”
coffee culture, too. Every location is designed for relaxation and
convivial pleasure. Baristas are friendly and knowledgeable, and
there are plenty of locally produced snacks to nosh on. Sip in the
shop or take home a bag o’beans — or do both.
• Best Desserts
Rosine’s — 434 Alvarado St., Monterey - Monday through
Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. -
(831) 375-1400 - www.rosinesmonterey.com
Rosine Culcasi and her family have been serving up extravagant
desserts since the place opened in 1980. The family makes all the
desserts in-house, and they’re proudly displayed by the entrance, so
you can start making decisions while you’re waiting to be seated. On
any given day you might be confronted with a six-layer German
chocolate cake, a chocolate peanut butter cake and pie, and a key
lime pie, just to name a few. Portions are plenty big enough to
share, and the sweets are as pretty as they are tasty. If you’re
afraid you won’t have room, you can take one to go — or take this
bit of sage advice: Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.
• Best Happy Hour
Vesuvio — Corner of Sixth and Junipero - Daily, 4 to 11 p.m.,
Happy Hour from 4 to 6 p.m. daily - (831) 625-1766 -
www.chefpepe.com/restaurants/vesuvio
Named for the volcano, Vesuvio is part of Chef Rich Pepe’s Italian
empire. The paisan from Jersey grew up making homemade wine with his
family every year, laughing and enjoying their company, so it was
only natural to want share that fun and lively atmosphere with his
customers here. Or as he put it on his website, “Today, it is my
passion and dream to pass along and share my family’s lifestyle and
traditions through my restaurant, wine, travel and hospitality
ventures.” Vesuvio has two bars, one indoors and one on its rooftop
terrace, and each serves up great cocktails, including an Aperol
Spritz, made with the Italian aperitif, Aperol, prosecco, and soda.
Order something from the trattoria-style menu of small bites, pizza,
pasta or a big bowl of cioppino. Sit back, sip, relax, repeat. Alla
salute!
• Best Ice Cream
Cold Stone Creamery – 1470 Del Monte Center, Monterey -
Daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
- (831) 649-1346 - www.coldstone-creamery.com
It takes a lot for Pine Cone readers to vote for a franchise
operation as their favorite, but once again, in the Best Ice Cream
category, it’s Cold Stone Creamery, hands down. With ice cream
churned fresh in-house daily and almost infinite combinations with
fresh ingredients like strawberries and bananas, it’s always time
for dessert. They mix up your favorite add-ins in signature
combinations like crème berry brulee, with crème brulee ice cream,
strawberries, blueberries and caramel; or “That’s how I roll” with
cake batter ice cream, chunks of yellow cake, pecans and cinnamon.
Don’t care for any of their suggestions? Pick from among the many
flavors of ice cream and the 30 or so add-ins and make your own
creation, mixed up on the eponymous cold stone in the store
.
• Best Pizza
Allegro Gourmet Pizza – 3770 The Barnyard - Monday through
Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to
9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12 to 9 p.m. - (831) 626-5454 -
www.allegrogourmetpizzeria.com
On the southwest corner of The Barnyard shopping center is a place
that’s been dishing up pizza by the pie and the slice since 1988. If
you’ve ever picked up a big wedge of East Coast pizza, folded it in
half and nibbled from tip to crust while molten cheese burned your
mouth, its offerings will be satisfyingly familiar. Allegro’s
cranking out traditional combos like pepperoni and cheese, and
meatball and cheese with homemade meatballs, and fancier pies like
the Sicilian with a thicker crust, olive oil, light tomato basil
sauce, oregano, caramelized onions, provolone and Parmesan. There
are some combinations that might push a traditionalist to the edge,
too — a bacon cheeseburger pie and “The Artichoke Hot Wing Thing.”
There’s a pleasing selection of wines by the glass and you can taste
a flight of three reds or three whites for $6. Pull up a chair in
the restaurant, decorated with hanging bunches of empty Chianti
bottles and braids of garlic, or get your pizza to go.
• Best Fast Food
In-N-Out Burger — 1350 Del Monte Blvd., Seaside - Sunday
through Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday 10:30
a.m. to 1:30 a.m. - locations.in-n-out.com/312
The paint at the much-vaunted and long-awaited Peninsula location of
In-N-Out Burger’s was barely dry before a queue of cars filled with
cult-like devotees formed around the building and out the driveway.
It’s always busy, but efficient, and does what MacDonald’s was once
best at — providing a limited menu of well prepared items quickly.
Like in John Belushi’s Olympia Restaurant on Saturday Night Live,
you can get “hamborger, cheezborger.” Unlike it, you can get fries,
no chips and Coke, no Pepsi.
• Best New Restaurant
Cultura Comida y Bebida — Dolores between Fifth and Sixth -
Monday and Tuesday, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., Thursday through Sunday,
11:30 a.m. to 12 a.m., closed Wednesday - (831) 250-7005 -
www.culturacarmel.com
Managing partner Sarah Kabat-Marcy and chefs John Cox and Michelle
Estigoy, all formerly culinary power players at Post Ranch’s Sierra
Mar restaurant, left their office above the rocks and waves of Big
Sur for more modest and casual digs here in town selling elegant
Mexican food. That’s good news for locals who no longer have to make
the trek south for their creative cooking. It’s quite a bit more
wallet-friendly, too. After its August opening, it rocketed to the
top of the list of “Top 12 Restaurants in Carmel,” as chosen by
Michael Bauer of the San Francisco Chronicle, and garnered five-star
ratings on Trip Advisor and Yelp. The food is sophisticated but
recognizable, with Estigoy drawing on her Oaxacan heritage to turn
out items like chicharron (fried pork rind), street tacos, Monterey
abalone with a charred pasilla pepper and pickled seaweed, and
halibut ceviche served in a coconut shell. If you imbibe, there’s an
emphasis on mezcal, the smoky liquor from the agave plant that you
can think of as tequila’s more complex cousin.
• Best Place to Take Clients
Rio Grill — 101 Crossroads Blvd. - Daily from 11:30 a.m. to
9:30 p.m. - (831) 625-5436 - www.riogrill.com
Great food that won’t break the budget? Check. Friendly atmosphere
where you can still hear the conversation? Check. Full bar and rooms
for private parties? Yup. And all in a place where you’ll feel
equally at home in a suit or a pair of jeans. The service is
terrific — warm and knowledgeable — and Chef Cy’s southwestern food
is creative without pretense. You can share appetizers like
empanadas with tri-tip and Hatch chilies, and calamari with an
orange-sesame dipping sauce replacing the ubiquitous tartar and
cocktail sauces. Lighter entrees like the sweet/sour/salty/crunchy
Chinese chicken salad and sandwiches like the salmon BLT with
avocado are good choices, as are entrees like house-smoked chicken.
• Most Romantic Restaurant
• Best Restaurant in Carmel
Casanova — Fifth Avenue between Mission and San Carlos,
Carmel - Daily, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 5:30 to 10 p.m., and until
10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday - (831) 625-0501 -
www.casanova-restaurant.com
When you think of romance, do you think “stiff” and “formal•”
Probably not. You think of someplace relaxed and intimate — a place
like Casanova. Since 2008, it’s been the “winner winner romantic
dinner” spot for Pine Cone readers. Why• Its short and simple menu
is packed with complex flavors, from the bread with house-churned
butter and sea salt to the chocolate cake with banana and banana
hazelnut ice cream. And you won’t be left struggling with food words
you can’t pronounce. The service is understated and the surroundings
bring a touch of Europe to your date. The wine list is extensive and
staff is ready to explain, describe and pair to your dinner
selection. For a really special occasion, reserve Van Gogh’s table
and dine where the “Starry Night” painter took his meals. All you
have to bring to the table is your charming personality.
• Best Wine List
• Best Restaurant Service
The Sardine Factory — 701 Wave St., Monterey - Daily, 5 p.m.
to 9:30 and 5:30 to 10 p.m., and until 10 p.m. Thursday through
Sunday - (831) 373-3775 - www.sardinefactory.com
So, let’s say you’re Leon Panetta and you’re hunting down the worst
terrorist in the history of the United States. And let’s say a
friend who’s a restaurant owner promises you a bottle of wine if you
succeed in getting the bastard. You want that guy to be Ted
Balestreri and you want the restaurant to be that Monterey mainstay,
the Sardine Factory. The bottle for Mr. Panetta was an 1871 Chateau
Laffite Rothschild valued at between $10,000 and $15,000, and by all
accounts, it was pretty good. Of course, you don’t have to spend
that much to get a great glass of vino at the Factory, but
oenophiles should budget an extra 10 to 15 minutes to peruse the
list. Expect classic and unobtrusive fine dining service with
flourishes that will take you back to more genteel and formal days —
but still allow you to dine in comfort.
• Most Dog-Friendly Restaurant
Cypress Inn – Lincoln and Seventh, Carmel - Daily, 11:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m. lunch, 5 to 10 p.m. dinner, noon to 3 p.m. for afternoon
tea Friday and Saturday, Sunday Brunch 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., bar open
daily noon to 11 p.m., and until midnight Friday and Saturday -
(800) 443-7443 - www.cypress-inn.com or www.carmelterrys.com
Que sera sera. And in this case, what will be is the height of le
chien chic, at the hotel and restaurant owned in part by Doris Day
and named for her late son, record producer Terry Melchior. Order
your best friend a Mutt-ini and get yourself a Prawn Martini — five
big ol’ shrimp with spicy horseradish cocktail sauce in a martini
glass. Or have the classic Monterey Sand Dabs: succulent, delicate
fillets with tarragon cream sauce and potatoes. The cocktail menu’s
been curated — no, really — from Hollywood history. Have a Marlene
Dietrich with whisky, grand Marnier and citrus accouterments, or the
classic French 75, an elegant Champagne cocktail unexpectedly named
for a French artillery shell. The best thing about having drinks
with your dog is that he won’t shame you, or post an unflattering
photo with what you said about your ex on Facebook later.
• Best Buffet
Crazy Horse — 1425 Munras Ave., Monterey, in the Bay Park
Hotel - Daily, 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. - (831) 649-4771 -
www.crazyhorserestaurant.com
The buffet at Crazy Horse in Bay Park Inn hasn’t changed much since
at least 1988, before Paul Miller even thought about owning a
newspaper, and it’s still a Very Good Thing. Unlike a
post-millennial tofu-ridden arugula fest, this place has shaved
roast beef, turkey and hard-boiled eggs on the line. The triple-seed
bread is just as crunchy and flavorful, the bottomless iced tea is
just as fresh, and the curried shrimp salad is just as savory as it
was in the days of big hair and Wham! In an outstanding example of
“if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” this spot is still packed for
lunch, even on a Tuesday in the off season. Pine Cone readers know
value when they see it.
• Best Deli
Bruno’s Market and Delicatessen — Sixth and Junipero — Daily,
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. - (831) 624-3821
Need a nosh• Maybe a juicy roast beef sandwich almost as big as your
head• Bruno’s is the place to go, at least in our readers’
always-tasteful opinion. You can be the captain of your picnic and
have it made to order, right down to the type of bread and the
condiments, or you can grab something ready to go from the
refrigerated case. Hardcore DIY’ers, can get deli meat cut to order
and then go home and slather on that special mustard Aunt Hedwig
sent over from Munich.
• Best Outdoor Dining
Forge in the Forest — Corner of Fifth and Junipero, Carmel -
Open daily from 11:30 a.m.; Sunday-Thursday until 9:30 p.m.; Friday
and Saturday until 11 p.m.; Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. -
(831) 624-2233 - www.forgeintheforest.com
While this restaurant’s fame stems from its origins as an actual
working forge (still preserved in the bar), its exalted status as
the best place to enjoy lunch on a sunny afternoon can be attributed
to its cozy patio, where locals and visitors alike love to while
away the hours enjoying specialties like ceviche, seafood ravioli
and the Forge’s legendary grilled cheese sandwich. Dogs are welcome,
too, which always adds to the fun, and so do the restaurant’s
generous happy hours, everyday from 3 to 5 p.m., and again from 9
p.m. to closing.
• Best Brunch
• Best Piano Bar
Mission Ranch — 26270 Dolores St., Carmel - Dinner nightly
from 5 p.m., Sunday Jazz Brunch 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - (831)
625-9040 - www.missionranchcarmel.com
This is where locals go while tourists are still trying to spot
Clint at the Hog’s Breath. Owned by the former Hizonner, this
hotspot by the sea is a place for song lovers, food lovers and
lovers of the civilized outdoors alike to congregate and enjoy life.
Take a walk on the nearby beach and work up an appetite, or watch
the herd of sheep feeding nearby and relax. Brunch is pretty much
whatever you want — a Benedict, an omelet to order, or even salmon
and a salad. There are so many options you could eat here every
Sunday for a year and not have the same meal twice. Or come for the
dinner menu that’s precisely what you’d expect from Clint — chops,
steaks, straightforward seafood and local produce on the side.
Finish up with some New York cheesecake and a glass of port, and
you’ll be ready to sing along with the Great American Songbook at
the best piano bar in town.
• Best Restaurant for a Special Occasion
• Best Bartender
Grasing’s Coastal Cuisine/Ira Comello — Sixth and Mission -
Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.,
Saturday and Sunday brunch 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., lunch 11 a.m. to 3
p.m., dinner 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Lounge 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Friday, open at 10:30 Saturday and Sunday - (831) 624-6562
-www.grasings.com
Sometimes you need somewhere special for a day that’s a really big
deal — a marriage proposal, retirement, turning the big five-oh or
celebrating that silver anniversary. While there are many such
places around here — an embarrassment of riches, in fact — Pine Cone
readers chose Grasing’s as this year’s winner. Kurt Grasing has
created an atmosphere of modest elegance in which diners can still
hear conversation while feasting on dishes like herb crusted sea
bass with white beans, bacon, spinach, shiitake mushrooms, oven
dried tomatoes and roasted garlic cream sauce; or a perfectly
roasted half chicken with truffle polenta. The wine list is one of
the best in town and you’ll find no shortage of quality
recommendations to accompany your menu selections. You could also
enjoy one of bartender Ira Comello’s signature libations. The
longtime “social chemist” combines creative ingredients, to make
wonders like the Bellini-tini, with peach puree, Champagne, and a
dash of Stoli peach vodka. If you don’t have a special occasion,
Grasing’s can make just about any night into one.
• Best Chef
Tim Wood, Carmel Valley Ranch — One Old Ranch Road, Carmel
Valley - various locations around the resort and openings daily;
call or check the website - (855) 421-2958 -
www.carmelvalleyranch.com
The picture of chef Tim Wood on Carmel Valley Ranch’s website tells
you much of what you need to know about him. He’s standing in the
Ranch’s organic garden, with a handful of multicolored beets he’s
thrusting toward the camera, leaving Wood slightly out of focus in
the background, smiling broadly. And that’s him — he expresses
himself and his happiness through his food. There are bees kept
there for honey, and the restaurants at the resort harvest their own
sea salt. Don’t let that lead you to think this is snooty food,
however. Like Wood, it’s very down to earth — huevos rancheros
for breakfast, donuts from Red’s (a Monterey institution),
sandwiches for lunch, truffle fries (OK, that’s a little snooty, but
delicious) and roast chicken for dinner — simple food, but elevated
to a level you’d expect at a resort like CVR.
• Best Restaurant in Big Sur
Big Sur Bakery — 47540 Highway 1, Big Sur - Bakery opens
daily at 8 a.m.; breakfast and lunch served Monday through Friday,
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., brunch Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2:30
p.m.; dinner Tuesday through Sunday, 5:30 p.m. to close - (831)
667-0520
This little restaurant wants you to “slow down and come to your
senses.” The team at Big Sur Bakery turns out breakfasts and
brunches that will carry you through the hike to the waterfall in
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. There are pastries, house-made
granola and great coffee — and they’re just getting warmed up. For
lunch and dinner, pizzas are prepared in a wood-fired oven with
toppings familiar — marinara and buffalo mozzarella — and
unusual, like chili verde, chicken, purslane and queso fresco.
Vegetarians can enjoy a risotto made with them in mind, while
carnivores can feast on a wood-fired half chicken. And the desserts•
Well, it’s a bakery, for crying out loud. How about some strawberry
rhubarb pie or a flourless brownie with hot fudge, candied walnuts
and walnut ice cream•
• Best Restaurant in Carmel Valley
Café Rustica — 10 Del Fino Place - Tuesday to Sunday, 11
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 8:30 p.m. - (831) 659-4444
- www.caferusticavillage.com
Café Rustica lives up to its name. With a Mediterranean feeling and
simple, country home furnishings, it’s the perfect place to pull up
a chair with a companion on a Friday morning. Inside, it’s warm and
cozy — outside, almost always sunny on the heated patio. For solo
diners, the counter is a welcome sight. It means having someone else
to converse with, or not. And of course, dining for one at a table
is perfectly fine. The soups are consistently delicious and the
food’s unfussy fare with roots in Tuscany and Alsace. Don’t miss the
Hungarian paprika goulash, and bring your patience — this place’s
popularity means that sometimes, you’ll wait a little while for a
table.
• Best Restaurant in Pacific Grove
Fandango — 223 17th St., Pacific Grove - Monday through
Saturday, lunch 11:30 to 2:30 and dinner 5 p.m. to close; Sunday
brunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner 5 p.m. to close - (831)
372-3456 - www.fandangorestaurant.com
Let’s start at the end. You must have the profiteroles — cold ice
cream in little warm pastry shells, swimming in hot fudge sauce. Now
that that’s out of the way — Fandango is a place where you can sit
by a fire, be waited on by a grownup who actually understands the
food, and truly dine. Not in the American tradition of checking the
time to get in and out in under 40 minutes, but in the European
tradition of enjoying conversation, and tasting — really tasting —
the food. The classics are all here. Start with a cup of the French
onion soup, or the pate maison. Salads are generous, and the paella
is more than enough to share. Or indulge in a rich, braised veal
shank osso bucco. Let owner Pierre Bain or one of the other wine
experts guide you through the voluminous wine list that spans the
globe and the decades.
• Best Restaurant in Pebble Beach
The Bench — The Lodge, 1700 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach -
Lunch and Dinner daily - (800) 877-0597 -
www.pebblebeach.com/dining/the-bench
Even those with fond memories of Club XIX have been known to be won
over by its replacement, the Bench. Its odd name is from the bench
at the 18th Hole, commemorating the 1999 purchase of Pebble Beach by
an investment group led by Clint Eastwood, Peter Ueberroth and the
late Arnold Palmer, who bought it back from a Japanese company. The
view of sky and sea is exceptional, and there are no bad seats. Even
on a cool day, a seat at a fire pit on the patio can be pleasant,
what with heaters and blankets and perhaps an adult beverage to keep
you cozy. Chef Aaron Burns’ food rocks — Portobello fries are crispy
outside, and juicy inside with a smoked cheddar-Parmesan dip that’s
a perfect complement. The grilled flatbreads are fun finger-food and
the black mussels in coconut chili-lime broth are an Asian twist on
classic moules frites.
• Best Restaurant in Monterey
Montrio Bistro — 414 Calle Principal, Monterey – Daily, from
4:30 p.m. - (831) 648-8880 - www.montrio.com
Montrio is the kind of place where you want to go, hang out with
your friends and try the bar’s offerings, then share some plates.
Chef and co-owner Tony Baker’s menu is an ever-evolving creative
exercise that’s playful, but never silly. You’ll find traditional
treats like mac and cheese, and smoked bacon-wrapped shrimp (Baker
makes his own bacon), but you can also order up a Szechuan popcorn
and duck confit. You’ll find good old Caesar salad and the requisite
kale salad, but you can also chow down on a BLT — salad with bacon
and blue cheese, heirloom tomatoes and gem lettuce. Did we mention
the bacon? With names like “Beaureguard’s Revenge” and “Fractured
Fairy Tale,” the cocktail menu deserves some attention, too. Even
non-tipplers can enjoy a creative spiced maraschino cherry soda or a
pineapple ginger beer.
• Best Restaurant in Sand City
Sweet Elena’s — 465 Olympia Ave., Sand City – Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - (831)
393-2063 - www.sweetelenas.net
Elena Salsedo-Steele’s little bakery café isn’t the easiest thing to
find — but once you do, you’ll be amply rewarded for your efforts.
Delicious homemade pies, breads and biscotti await. It’s not just
sweets, either. There are quiches and savory pies with flavors like
smoked salmon and leeks or spinach, ricotta and mushroom. Or, grab
one of the cute little baguette sandwiches that are just the right
size for lunch. She also sells homemade granola, cookies and gift
items. And just a tip — the croissants are flaky, buttery bites of
heaven.
• Best Restaurant in Seaside
Gusto’s — 1901 Fremont Blvd., Seaside - Daily, 11:30 a.m. to
2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. - (831) 899-5825 -
www.gustopizzeriapasta.com
Denis Boaro, owner and general manager of Gusto’s, was born and
raised in a tiny town in the province of Treviso, northwest of
Venice. His grandfather owned a restaurant, and Boaro used to watch
him cook, making pasta and pizzas from scratch. Chef Michele
Cremonese is from Verona, where he learned to cook from his mother.
The two longtime friends have joined forces to open up a friendly,
casual eatery that reminded them of home. There are 11 house pizza
combos, and 14 pasta dishes, plus a choice of antipasti and salads,
sure to leave you feeling full — but just in case, you can also pick
up fresh pasta and sauce to take home for a midnight snack.
RECREATION and THE ARTS
• Best Local Artist
Melissa Lofton — www.mlofton.com
The daughter of another respected local artist, the late Richard
Lofton, Melissa Lofton has long charmed locals and visitors with her
colorful and graceful paintings, which often capture the landscape
that surrounded her Big Sur home and studio. Sadly, both were
destroyed in the Soberanes Fire in July, but her paintings survived
the blaze. While Lofton struggles to rebuild her home after the
fire, friends and neighbors have rallied to support for her, and her
artwork has received much-deserved attention. For a closer look at
Lofton’s paintings, you can visit the Carmel Art Association, The
Gallery at Ventana and Carmel Bay Company.
• Best Photo Gallery
Weston Gallery — On Sixth between Dolores and Lincoln
- 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday - (831)
624-4453 - www.westongallery.com
Perhaps the most famous family in fine art photography, the legacy
begins with Edward Weston, who established himself as one of the
world’s most influential photographers in the early 20th century.
Two of his sons, Cole and Brett Weston, followed in their father’s
footsteps, and each received acclaim for their own work. Today, the
images of all three can be found in the Weston Gallery, along with
photographs by Cole’s daughter, Cara Weston. Besides showcasing the
talents of one family, the gallery also features work by luminaries
like Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock and Imogene Cunningham.
• Best Sculpture Gallery
Steven Whyte's Sculpture Studio and Gallery — On Dolores
between Fifth and Sixth - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily - (831) 620-1917
In a town that appears to be filled with more art galleries than
working artists, sculptor Steven Whyte’s downtown studio and gallery
stands out as a hub of industry and creativity. With his trusty
canine companion, Wellington, by his side, Whyte has brought to life
ambitious, large-scale sculptures depicting a wide range of
subjects, from Martin Luther King and John Steinbeck, to Jumbo the
Elephant. A life-sized sculpture of the latter had to be
helicoptered into Tufts University so it could be installed. In his
studio, you can watch the artist and his sidekick at work on their
latest piece.
• My Favorite Park
• Best Place to Take Visitors
Point Lobos State Reserve — On Highway 1 three miles south of
Carmel - 8 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset daily -
www.pointlobos.org
Offering nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts an ideal “Gateway to
Big Sur,” Point Lobos State Reserve is dwarfed in size by other
local parks, mostly because only 550 of its more than 10,000 acres
lie above the surface of the sea. But with its dramatic coastline,
quiet groves of pines and oaks, rich history, user-friendly trails
and easy-to-reach scenic vistas, the park packs a mighty punch. It’s
also just a quick jaunt away from the heart of the Monterey
Peninsula and its many fine restaurants — making it easy to follow
up your hike with a culinary adventure.
• Best Place to Watch the Sunset - Best Place to Walk Your
Dog - Best Beach
Carmel Beach — Ocean Avenue and Scenic Road - free parking
along Scenic is permitted from 6 a.m. to midnight -
www.ci.carmel.ca.us
It may not get as many sunny days as Malibu or Waikiki, but Carmel
Beach is in a league of its own if you’re looking for the perfect
place to put your toes in the sand. Mother Nature smiled on the
Central Coast when she created this crescent-shaped beauty, which is
world famous for its white sands and its thriving resident
population of canines. It’s a wonderful place for a contemplative
stroll, a romp in the surf with your dog, or a romantic picnic at
sunset. It’s also a great destination for a late night marshmallow
roast, but be sure to check the latest city regulations on beach
fires because they are a work in progress.
• Best Art Gallery
Carmel Art Association — West side of Dolores between Fifth
and Sixth - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily - (831) 624-6176 -
www.carmelart.org
One of the oldest operating nonprofit galleries in the United
States, the Carmel Art Association was founded in 1927, and today,
it represents more than 100 local artists, including familiar names
like Johnny Apodaca, Will Bullas, Albert Paley, Erin Gafill, Warren
Chang, Mark Farina and Melissa Lofton, who was named Best Local
Artist in this year’s Golden Pine Cone readers’ poll. Besides
staging monthly exhibits and receptions — and serving as the
epicenter of the local art scene — the recently-renovated downtown
gallery is the site of numerous events ranging from art
demonstrations and lectures, to films and theatrical productions.
• Best Local Theater Company
PacRep Theatre — Monte Verde and Eighth - (831) 622-0100
(box office) - www.pacrep.org
PacRep Theatre produces an array of theatrical productions and
events throughout the year, including the annual Carmel Shakespeare
Festival. Founded by Stephen Moorer as GroveMont Theatre in 1982,
the theater company’s name was changed when it moved into the Golden
Bough Theatre 12 years later. Besides the many plays and musicals it
stages at the Golden Bough and Forest Theater, PacRep produces an
enduring and ever-changing rock ’n’ roll tribute concert that calls
attention to the pop music of the 1950s and 1960s. The theater
group’s School of Dramatic Arts introduces local youngsters to the
joys of live theater.
• Best Concert Venue
Sunset Center — San Carlos between Eighth and Ninth - (831)
620-2048 - www.sunsetcenter.org
What started in 1926 as a school is now a state-of-the-art
performing arts center that attracts world-class talent from around
the globe. Owned by the city and run by a nonprofit group, the
theater offers an eclectic schedule that’s full of surprises. This
year’s slate of events includes performances by Chris Botti, Graham
Nash, Boz Scaggs, the Havana Cuba All-Stars, the Chieftains, Bela
Fleck, the Vienna Boys Choir, Smuin Ballet and many others. The
theater hosts classical music concerts presented by three local
groups, the Monterey Symphony, Chamber Music Monterey Bay and the
Carmel Music Society. The center also is home to Carmel Yoga Center,
the Arts Council for Monterey County, and the Center for
Photographic Art.
• Best Place to Relax and Listen to Music
Cypress Inn — Lincoln and Seventh - lunch, noon to 4 p.m.;
afternoon tea, 1 to 4 p.m.; dinner, 5 to 10 p.m. daily - (831)
624-3871 - www.cypress-inn.com
Elegant yet casual, Cypress Inn offers locals and visitors an ideal
place downtown to unwind, savor a cocktail and enjoy live music.
Some of the Monterey Peninsula’s finest musicians play here Friday,
Saturday and Thursday evenings, and Sunday afternoons when brunch is
served. When Carmel lifted its longtime ban on the practice 10 years
ago, the Cypress Inn became the first business in town to add live
music. Perhaps because Doris Day is a part-time owner, the inn is
famously friendly to people’s pets, who like their owners, seem to
enjoy its jazz-heavy lineup of performers.
• Best Local Music Group (classical)
Monterey Symphony — 2560 Garden Road, Suite 101, Monterey -
(831) 646-8511 - www.montereysymphony.org
Founded in 1947 and now led by conductor Max Bragado-Darman, the
Monterey Symphony is Monterey County’s only all-professional
orchestra. Each year, the symphony presents a half dozen concerts in
Salinas and Carmel that showcase the orchestra, call attention to
world-class guest performers and keep alive the legacy of classical
music.
• Best Local Music Group (rock, jazz and pop)
The Money Band — (858) 752-3590 - www.moneyband.org
When word gets out that the Money Band is playing, customers turn
into crowds, creating standing room only, which is okay since no one
wants to sit down. Perhaps the most popular cover band on the
Monterey Peninsula, fronted by dynamic lead vocalist Zoe Alexander,
the Money Band plays every style from country to classic rock, disco
to funk, reggae to modern rock and plenty of pop. No matter the eras
of their music or the ages of their audience, everything old is new
again. We’re putting our money on this one. Apparently, so is
everyone else.
• Best Piano Bar
Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant — 26270 Dolores - (831)
624-6436 - www.missionranchcarmel.com
Besides its fabulous brunch and its perfect setting for watching the
sun set over Point Lobos, Mission Ranch is a magnet for jazz lovers.
Pianists Maddaline Edstrom, Gennady Loktionov, Tom Gastineau and
David Kempton take their turn at the keys, serving up the perfect
background music for a relaxing evening of food and drink. Also, be
sure to check out Loktionov’s jazz duo, which plays every Sunday for
brunch starting at 10 a.m.
• Best Local Festival
Carmel Bach Festival — NW Corner of 10th and Mission - (831)
624-1521 - www.bachfestival.org
Every summer when the Carmel Bach Festival comes to town, classical
music emanates from Sunset Theater, the Church in the Forest, San
Carlos Cathedral, Carmel Mission and All Saints Church. From its
humble beginnings as a four-day series of concerts, the festival has
grown into a three-week celebration of concerts, recitals, master
classes, lectures, and open rehearsals. Calling attention to the
works, inspiration and enduring influence of Johann Sebastian Bach,
the festival remains a favorite among local and visitors.
• Best Church-Sponsored Event
Jewish Food Festival — 5716 Carmel Valley Road – (831)
624-2015 – www.carmelbethisrael.org
People wait all year for a taste of rugelach – that small swirl of
flaky pastry wrapped round chocolate or cinnamon and sugar. Or
freshly made latkes, homemade challah bread, and the creamiest
cheesecake west of New York. Every year, on the last Sunday in
August, a village springs up on the grounds of Congregation Beth
Israel in Carmel, conjuring the fictional 1905 Anatevka from Fiddler
on the Roof. Represented by traditional Jewish costumes and rituals,
music and dance, food and drink, the village harkens congregants to
their heritage and the culture that reminds them who they are and
what they represent.
• Best Bicycle Shop
Bay Bikes — 3600 The Barnyard Shopping Village and 585
Cannery Row, Monterey - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9
a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday -
(831) 655-2453 - www.baybikes.com
Bay Bikes offers sales, services and rentals to help you enjoy every
scenic mile. The business is an official showroom for Specialized
Bicycles, the Morgan Hill company that created the world’s first
mass-produced mountain bike. The natural beauty and rolling
coastline or rugged trails of the Monterey Peninsula are a
bicyclist’s bliss, and Bay Bikes makes it easy to get out there and
pedal through paradise.
• Best Martial Arts studio
American Karate — 182 Country Club Gate, Pacific Grove - 3:30
to 9 p.m. Mon. to Fri., 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Sat. - (831) 372-5425
- www.americankaratemonterey.com
American Karate of Monterey teaches students of all ages, but
specializes in children’s programs. Starting as early as age 3, kids
can learn coordination and self control through the martial arts.
“At American Karate, we strive to develop the body, mind and spirit
through rigorous training,” says owner Matt Durney. “We have all
kinds of students, and everyone is welcome at our dojo.” Durney
offers a free week of karate lessons and a free month of
cardio-kickboxing for new clients.
• Best Fitness/Health Center
• Best Yoga Studio
Carmel Valley Athletic Club — 27300 Rancho San Carlos Road,
Carmel Valley - Mon. to Fri., 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sat. to
Sun., 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. - (831) 624-2737 - www.cvaconline.com
Honoring its heritage as a racquet club with its traditional tennis
program, Carmel Valley Athletic Club is a multifaceted fitness
facility. Besides its cardio, weight and spin-bike rooms, the club
offers a fantastic array of fitness programs, including yoga,
pilates, zumba other classes led by experienced instructors and
personal trainers. The club is also home to a beautiful pool,
and its European-inspired hydrothermal relaxation spa, Refuge. With
its rough-wood architecture, lofty ceilings, crackling fireplace and
living room lounge, the lobby looks like a ski lodge, and is where
members gather for wine tastings and other gatherings.
• Best Golf Course
Pebble Beach Golf Links — 1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble
Beach - Hours vary by season - (831) 622-8723 - www.pebblebeach.com
Even those who have only seen it on television would probably vote
for it. Designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, the course hugs
the rugged coastline, providing wide-open vistas, cliff-side
fairways and sloping greens. Since 1919, the exquisite beauty and
unique dynamics of the Pebble Beach Golf Links have challenged and
thrilled golfers and spectators. The famed course has been the site
of golf’s most prestigious tournaments, including the annual
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and the upcoming U.S. Open
Championship in 2019. There are also chipping and putting greens,
the Peter Hay par-3 golf course and a practice range.
• Best Museum
Monterey Museum of Art — 559 Pacific St., Monterey –
Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - (831) 372-5477 -
www.montereyart.org
Founded in Carmel as a chapter of the American Federation of Arts in
1959, its mission is to inspire appreciation of the evolving
California artistic legacy and to expand a passion for the visual
arts. The Monterey Museum of Art, with its eight galleries of
American artwork, remains the leading visual arts organization in
Monterey County. The museum is distinguished by its exceptional
permanent collection, vibrant exhibitions, and engaging educational
programs. The strengths of the collection include early California
paintings, photography and modern and contemporary art. The Museum
welcomes all visitors to connect with art and to learn about the
enduring artistic significance of the Monterey region.
• Best Inn/B&B
Mission Ranch Hotel & Restaurant — 26270 Dolores St. -
Dinner nightly from 5 p.m., Sunday Jazz Brunch 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- (831) 625-9040 - www.missionranchcarmel.com
To awaken in your rustic Bunkhouse, 1850s Farmhouse, Main Barn or
the new Meadowview rooms, to the sheep grazing in the meadow, the
surf crashing on Carmel River Beach, or the beautifully landscaped
gardens with their riot of bougainvillea is something most people
only dream of. Accommodations scattered across the landscape of the
legendary ranchland are charming and spacious, with fireplaces,
private baths and luxury linens. The atmosphere is home as you wish
it were and, for the duration of your stay, it’s yours. For the
ultimate in private, cozy accommodations, consider the Hayloft, with
its king bed, fireplace, private bath with whirlpool tub under the
apex of the open, shingled ceiling. The Honeymoon cottage is perfect
for newlyweds and other romantic couples, for your own little
getaway by the sea. Despite the celebrity of its owner, Clint
Eastwood, Mission Ranch Restaurant is perhaps best known for its
piano bar, which features local favorites at the keyboard and just
about anyone with a sense of socializing and song. Hotel guests can
simply wander across the lawn to dine at the restaurant, which
offers a special Sunday brunch, or a savory dinner in the dining
room or out on the deck overlooking that same stunning coastal
landscape you saw from your room.
• Best Hotel
La Playa Carmel — Camino Real and Eighth, Carmel - (800)
582-8900 - www.laplayahotel.com
Designed to be reminiscent of the Carmel Mission, La Playa was built
in 1905 as a private mansion by artist Christian Jorgensen for his
wife, heir to the Ghirardelli fortune. Its elegant
Mediterranean architecture played gracious host to many prominent
guests until the 1920s when The Grande Dame was converted to a
boutique hotel. Although the property has been upgraded and expanded
considerably over the years, its ambience has remained true to its
historic nature as an intimate inn of the hamlet by the sea.
• Most Dog-Friendly Hotel
Cypress Inn — Lincoln and Eighth - lunch noon to 4
p.m., afternoon tea 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., dinner, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
daily - (831) 624-3871 - www.cypress-inn.com
When the inn is located in one of the world’s foremost canine
communities, and owned by dog devotee Doris Day, there will be room
at the inn and a place at the table for your pet. An animal activist
renowned for her efforts to save and shelter dogs, you can rest
assured Ms. Day will house her guests and their dogs in high-quality
accommodations. Although established in 1929, the landmark hotel
offers fresh, elegant furnishings, with luxurious linens and robes,
a sip of sherry, and a little something for Scruffy. All rooms are
non-smoking, pet friendly and provide free WiFi. Your room comes
with breakfast downstairs in Terry’s Lounge for you and your
four-legged friend. Terry’s Lounge is ideal for parties up to 20
guests, and fully furnished conference rooms accommodate a dozen.
Located in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea, guests and their dogs can
wander easily through town and on down to the beach.
RETAIL
• Best Florist
Twigery — Seventh, between Lincoln and Dolores – Monday
through Saturday,10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - (831) 626-8944 -
www.twigery.com
Master floral designer Michael Merritt believes, “Beauty is not
primarily planned; it is the phenomenon that occurs at the moment
when all relationships are perceived to be harmonious.” Merritt is a
visionary artist renowned for his artistic expression and diversity
of design. He gives the same attention to a floral arrangement in a
vase as he does to the floral décor for a political reception for
1,000 guests in Washington, D.C. While his work has been showcased
internationally and across the country, in exhibitions, grand events
and magazines, he also delights in creating his floral artistry
through Twigery, the boutique he and his wife Cheryl have owned and
operated since 2009.
• Best Furniture Shop
Mum’s Place — 246 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove - 10 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday - (831)
372-6250 - www.mumsfurniture.com
Customers here tend to take their time, to linger, lie down and
relax until it feels right. Some things just cannot be hurried, such
as finding the furniture to complement or create your lifestyle.
Mum’s Place is an enclave of fine home furnishings, where the modest
storefront belies a 10,000-square foot showroom filled with a
diversity of furniture, accessories and objets d’art. Wandering
among the classic, traditional, transitional, Country French and
contemporary collections, clients can access their aesthetic in more
than 80 furniture lines and some 5,000 fabrics that enable them to
customize their choices. If they don’t find what they want, they
just might want what they find. Owner Mugo Tersakyan is dedicated to
bringing in the latest designs on the market, in great variety to
please every taste, every budget. Rarely do you find the owner of a
furniture store on the floor, he says, working with clients. It is
this personalized service that people respond to. And it is,
perhaps, why Mum’s won the Golden Pine Cone award.
• Best Golf Shop
Pebble Beach Pro Shop — 1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble
Beach – Daily, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. - (831) 622-8723 -
www.pebblebeach.com
When guests walk in, employees here know that most are about to
embark on their Pebble Beach Golf Links experience. The golf shop
will be one of the first parts of the experience, so people there
work to ensure it lives up to their expectations. “We know our
guests are traveling from all over the world,” said Director of
Retail Kevin J. Kakalow. “So our mission from a retail standpoint is
to ensure we provide them products and services they are not likely
to see elsewhere. For international tourists who have never held a
golf club, or avid golfers who experience a number of golf clubs in
a year, our teams are really good at balancing the new and exciting
with proven core brands.” Because the merchandise is also a souvenir
of guests’ Pebble Beach experiences, the pro shop tries to provide
products worthy of bearing the Pebble Beach brand.
• Best Hardware Store
Carmel Ace Hardware, Forest Hill Ace Hardware, Pacific Grove
Hardware — 290 Crossroads Blvd., 1146 Forest Ave., Pacific
Grove, 229 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove, 10 East Carmel Valley Rd.,
Carmel Valley - www.acehardware.com
Perhaps it’s those great radio commercials that create a cultural
context for the seasons — lawn mowers and barbecues in the summer,
Halloween décor and landscape lighting in the fall, outdoor hardware
for winter clean-up, pipe wraps and lighted snowmen for winter
holidays, and fresh paint colors and plants in the spring •that make
folks feel at home at Ace Hardware. Or maybe it’s that each Ace
Hardware store is a member of the largest retailer-owned hardware
cooperative in the business, giving customers a sense of shopping
locally, but with the backing of big business. Possibly it is the
specialized service of independently owned stores that remind
customers, “Ace is the place with the helpful hardware folks.” It
sure is!
• Best Housewares Store
Prim’s — 546 Carmel Rancho Blvd. – Monday through Saturday, 8
a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - (831) 620-1251 -
www.primscarmel.com
Prim’s had to rise to the challenge of replacing a store with 50
years of history — and it has succeeded as our readers’ choice for
Best Housewares Store. Prim Family Partnership, the landlord for the
previous store, opened Prim’s in late 2012, following renovations to
the property. Rather than continuing what was, the company created a
fresh venue, increased the hardware, housewares and paint sections
of the store; developed the patio, home furniture, bedding and gift
departments; and brought in new vendors, such as the Do It Best
Corp, a distributor of lumber, hardware, and building materials.
Living up to the company motto no doubt brought home the Golden Pine
Cone: “We stand out from the competition because we deliver the
products you can’t get anywhere else. We not only offer the best
products but the best value for you.”
• Best Craft-Knitting-Quilting Shop
Knitting-by-the-Sea — Fifth and Junipero - Monday
through Saturday,10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. - (831) 624-3189 -
www.knitcarmel.com
During its nearly 40 years in business, Knitting-by-the-Sea has
spent 30 years in its present location, 18 of those under the
ownership of Maurya McBride. An engineer by trade, she has knitted
and crocheted her way through life. Enamored of the fabulous yarns
she always found at Knitting-by-the-Sea, she decided she wanted to
be involved in the store. So, she bought it. “I have come to realize
the longevity of my store has a lot to do with me. I can solve any
problem and get you through any project,” McBride said. “I am a
natural-born teacher, who can help you accomplish your goal. I’m not
just selling yarn. It’s about getting customers through their
projects.” Yarns have changed a lot over the years, says McBride,
who cites a greater tendency toward luxury, such as her 50 percent
cashmere-and-50 percent Yak yarn. “There’s no reason your yarn has
to itch anymore.”
• Best Pet Store
Diggidy Dog — Ocean and Mission - Daily, 10 a.m. to 6
p.m. - (831) 625-1585 - www.diggidydog.com
It only makes sense, in a canine-crazy community, to have a
dedicated dog boutique. Jeff and Napisa Pollock opened Diggidy Dog
in 2003 to cater to canines, flatter felines, and provide a place
where their people could indulge them. In a 2,000-square foot space,
they focus on unique, functional and healthy products for dogs — and
cats. “Made in the USA, and having a certain level of style are
huge factors that determine whether or not a product gets floor
space at Diggidy Dog,” said the Pollocks. “We really don’t have too
many items for sale that are actually for humans, as our main focus
is the dog or cat. Our own personal experience with our pets helps
us decide what’s for sale at Diggidy Dog. If ours won’t touch it, it
likely won’t make the sales floor.” Diggidy Dog’s wide array of
treats, toys, apparel, collars and leashes is sure to satisfy the
most discerning dog or finicky feline.
• Best Garden Shop
Griggs Nursery — 9220 Carmel Valley Rd. - Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. - (831) 626-0680 - griggsnursery.com
Ken Griggs grew up on the Peninsula, working for his parents,
managing their namesake nursery. Ken and his wife Catherine
eventually bought the business from the senior Griggs, who are still
around, “making olive oil on the hill.” For 16 years, Griggs Nursery
has been in its present location, where customers have been watching
the newest generation of Griggs kids grow up among the plants. When
the economy took a downturn, the family changed the way they did
business. They started identifying the holes in the nursery market,
and hand-selecting their plants. “What is most important,” said
Catherine, “is customer service, getting people what they want and
need. So we hand-pick our plants for them, most of which we grow on
a five-acre parcel on Schulte Road, and then bring to the nursery.
That way, we have a better control of the type of plants we provide.
We know what works here, so we can grow the variety and quality we
want for our customers.”
• Best Camping/Skiing/Surfing Store
On the Beach Surf Shop — 693 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey -
Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday & Saturday,
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - (831) 646-9283 - onthebeachsurfshop.com
Kelly Sorenson was just 20 years old in 1986 when he and Mike
Locatelli co-founded On The Beach Surf Shop at Ocean and Mission.
Three years later, he became the sole owner and, in 1993, he opened
a second store on Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey. Six years later, he
closed the Carmel store. Thirty years and various moves and
renovations later, On The Beach fills nearly 6,000 square feet of a
tropical-themed retail space, designed by Sorenson and created by
contractor Chris Murren. With bamboo and beach sand throughout, tiki
huts filled with clothing, and classic surfboards, On The Beach,
says Sorenson, feels like a surfer’s paradise, filled with clothes
from all the coolest surf and skate companies, and a great selection
of accessories. “What means the most,” said Sorenson, “is that I’ve
been able to watch our community’s kids grow up in the surf and
sand, making On The Beach their hangout and source of active outdoor
gear.”
• Best Place to Buy Athletic Wear
The Treadmill — 111 Crossroads Blvd. - Sunday through
Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. - (831)
624-4112 - www.thetreadmill.com
The founders began with a vision, just over 30 years ago, to develop
a store that would anchor the running community like a starting
line. They focused on running, but featured a wider array of fitness
products, both high tech and low maintenance and called it The
Treadmill. It was established in the Crossroads, next to what would
become the finish line for the Big Sur International Marathon.
Current owners Janice and Chris Cleary, and his sister Cathy and
Mike Hirst, are coming up on five years since they bought the store
and shifted the focus to athletic and athleisure wear. The store is
very community oriented. “Our kids are growing up here, and our
community gets more and more important,” said Chris. “We’re always
doing fund raisers. We support the Big Sur Land Trust and the
Ventana Wilderness; if people come to us, and we believe in what
they’re doing, we support it.”
• Best Pharmacy
Carmel Drug Store — Ocean between Dolores and San Carlos -
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, 8
a.m. to 10 p.m. - (831) 624-3819 - www.carmeldrugstore.com
This classic drug store and family pharmacy has been independently
owned and serving the community since 1910. Known for offering
quality products and service, this drug store might just be the most
convenient game in town. Located in the heart of town, its narrow
storefront is chock full of almost everything you — or a forgetful
out-of-towner — just might need. The back of the store looks like
the old-fashioned pharmacy it is, yet it provides state-of-the-era
service and products. The store carries greeting cards and
postcards, magazines and books by local authors. It has hair
accessories and hygiene products, perfume and make up, candy and
scented candles. It carries reading glasses, and sunglasses,
Vitabath, bubblebath, sunblock and lip balm, plus Bonny Doon Farm
lavender soap and Sierra Essentials soy candles. The only thing
missing is a soda fountain.
• Best Camera/Photo Store
Green’s Camera World — Fifth and San Carlos, 555 Del Monte
Center, Monterey - Daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - (831) 624-8880 -
www.greenscamera.com
Serving Monterey County since 1921, Green’s Camera World is known as
a one-stop shop for cameras, featuring Sony, Canon, Nikon,
Fuji and Samsung. Whether it’s a popular, brand-name
camera in mind, or a specialty camera for fine-art or professional
photography, the experts at Green’s Camera World know what their
clients need. Prepared to provide products for every project and
price, Green’s is considered the county’s complete camera shop for
sales, service and solutions.
• Best Toy Store
Thinker Toys — Seventh and San Carlos - Monday through
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - (831)
624-0441 - www.thinkertoys.com
Plenty of parents and grandparents have used Thinker Toys as
childcare while they “just ran an errand or two up the street.” And
plenty of kids hardly noticed. Partly responsible is the great
diversity of toys and games. It’s also because kids are allowed to
touch them, to try them out and to play to their heart’s content.
Which is likely why Thinker Toys, which has been a local landmark
since 1969, is regularly the readers’ choice for Best Toy Store. The
store prides itself as an “old-fashioned toy store, featuring
classic educational and imaginative toys for children and adults.”
If you’re thinking of stopping in, plan to stay awhile. You’ll find
cards and costumes, birthday presents and party favors, coloring
books and crayons, Barbies and baby dolls, board games and books,
Sesame Street and Schleich figures, Legos and lollipops, K’NEX and
Kanoodle, and that’s just in the first five minutes.
• Best Children’s Clothing Store/Boutique
Heaven Children’s Wear — Lincoln between Ocean and Seventh –
Monday through Saturday,10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- (831) 624-6550 - www.heavenincarmel.com
Theirs is a match made in Heaven. He is a fashion maven from
London, whose Vancouver boutiques have been known among those who
know style. She is a costume designer from the movie industry. But
surely, it was the arrival of their child, Alia, that really brought
them to Heaven. Ash and Monique Vasanji celebrated the grand opening
of “Heaven,” their European-style children’s boutique designed for
the customer who has “exquisite taste and wants quality and style,”
in 2001. It all sounds pretty pricey. Some of it is, which
keeps things interesting. Some of it isn’t, which is even more
exciting. Located on Lincoln, “Heaven” beckons customers through
double doors into a gracious, well-lit salon appointed with very
special, very select children’s apparel. It’s as if you’ve wandered
into the custom wardrobe of a privileged child. Surely it is a haven
for gifts, grandmas and that little something special that turns
every day into a special occasion.
• Best Men’s Store
Khaki’s of Carmel — Carmel Plaza on Ocean – Monday through
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. -
(831) 625-8106 - www.khakisofcarmel.com
Those who still value the shopping experience as an integral part of
the purchase work with Khaki’s of Carmel, a respected purveyor of
contemporary European and American menswear that still sells
clothing the old-fashioned way — up close and personal. The essence
of Khaki’s lies in the touching — some of the finest fabrics in the
world; the trying — to see if it becomes you before it becomes
yours; the tailoring — including custom fits and made-to-measure
apparel; and the tradition — of providing the ultimate in customer
service. The store is the pursuit and the passion of Jim and Connie
Ockert, who met in high school, later married, and combined creative
and entrepreneurial talents to raise a family and grow a business.
Both continue to thrive. “What makes us different,” said Jim Ockert,
“is our ability to think, react and change with our market. I don’t
wake up and think about the competition, I think about our customers
— who they are, what they want, and how to provide it.”
• Best Men’s Shoe Store
Hedi’s Shoes — Ocean and Mission – Daily,10 a.m. to 6 p.m. -
(831) 624-5580 - www.hedi.com
Hedi’s Shoes has always been about comfort. When Haydar Movahedi
opened the shoe store more than 20 years ago, European comfort shoes
was an emerging category. “Hedi” cobbled together comfort, quality
and convenience and, as his daughter, Shara McIntyre says, “He hit
the nail on the head.” When her dad opened Hedi’s, she added, “a
65-year-old woman was a grandmother who wore sincere clothing and
had resigned herself to sensible shoes. She sacrificed fashion for
function and form for fit.” Today’s 65-year-old woman has been on a
low-carb diet for the last 10 years, and exercises regularly. She is
active in mind and body, and applies a great sense of style to more
form-fitting clothes. She is not ready to give up fashion, even if
it means settling for a lower heel. She still wants to look
fabulous. And, according to Pine Cone readers, Hedi’s has what she
and plenty of others are looking for.
• Best Women’s Clothing Boutique
GBG — Mission and Seventh - Daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. -
(831) 626-3368
Girl Boy Girl, which recently celebrated its silver anniversary, has
enjoyed 25 years of dressing women in fashions considered not trendy
but current. Consider Ula Johnson, Isabel Marant, Vince, Golden
Goose, Veronica Beard, Theory, and a large selection of cashmere and
denim, designed to fit and flatter. Drawing from a stable of more
than 50 contemporary designers, all “thoughtfully curated” for the
store, GBG specializes in “wearable clothing” for women of all sizes
and shapes, ages and aesthetics. “We have to get dressed, so we
might as well enjoy it,” said owner Sweet Pea Ivester. “Our staff is
an amazing team, who has worked here a long time, and we love
styling people. We are grateful to have had the store this long and
for our customers who shop here.”
• Best Women’s Shoe Store
Lloyd’s Shoes — Ocean and Dolores - Daily, 10 a.m. to 6
p.m. - (831) 625-1382 - www.lloydsshoes.com
Family-owned and operated, Lloyd’s Shoes celebrated its 36
anniversary in July. The family prides itself on offering
merchandise based on the “highest style, comfort, function and
quality.” “I think it’s our very thoughtful mix of products
that stands out to our customers,” said manager Tess Calhoon, “and
that is what we hope differentiates us from other retailers. We aim
to have something for every shopper.” Whether that is the trendiest
new style of the season or the best shoe to take on trips, Lloyd’s
makes it its mission to satisfy its customers’ needs. Lloyd’s
currently features more than 50 shoe brands; most popular are
Aquatalia, Arche, AGL, Beautifeel, Dolce Vita, On Running and
Thierry Rabotin. Handbag lines from Rebecca Minkoff, and Foley +
Corinna also are very popular.
• Best Place to Buy Designer Clothes
Debra C — 129 Crossroads Blvd. - Monday through Saturday,10
a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. - (831) 624-9400 -
www.debrac.com
Debra Couch, clad in a cashmere twinset over a slim pant, pulled
together with a fabulous alligator belt, makes it look easy. It is,
she says, particularly if you shop at Debra C, her eponymous
boutique of European designer apparel for women. She started with a
store in Beverly Hills and then, in 2011, she opened a second store
at The Crossroads. The important thing, she says, is whether you’re
looking at Valentino, Missoni, Bogner or even the store’s private
label, you don’t have to be so dressed up anymore. It’s about the
way it’s put together. “We’re high end,” she said, “so the apparel
endures. You can do the same look next year, or add a new piece and
mix it up.
• Best Women’s Accessories
• Best Leather Goods Store
Augustina’s — Ocean between Mission and San Carlos – Daily,
9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. - (831) 624-2403 - www.augustinaleathers.com
Established in 1987, Augustina’s offers unique designs and
personalized service. Augustina’s invites customers to indulge
in exclusive designs by Paula Lishman - Original Hand-Knit Fur. It
also carries styles by Olvi’s, Tadashi Shoji, and Komarov. Men
will appreciate Northern California’s largest collection of sterling
silver buckle sets, golf shoes by Michael Toschi, and Remy Leather
jackets. Clients are partial to designer jewelry by Paul
Morelli, John Hardy, Pomellato, Armenta, and Konstantino.
Augustina’s friendly and knowledgeable personal stylists are ready
show customers the finest designer fashions and accessories from
around the world.
• Best Vintage Clothing Store
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Shop — 26388 Carmel Rancho Blvd. -
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday - (831) 626-8480 -
www.yellowbrickroadbenefitshop.org
The road to Oz was paved with good intentions. And everyone who
traveled its way got what they deserved. More than 20 years ago,
Shirin Snyder, wife of Reverend John Snyder, pastor of Carmel
Presbyterian Church, sought a way to effect a wider outreach in the
community. Her plan was to create a benefit shop that would give
some people a chance to give, others a chance to buy bargains, and
those in need, a chance to receive. Not everyone believed a benefit
shop would thrive in an upscale community. But Snyder saw the
affluence as an asset, a resource for quality castoffs. She made a
plan and set out to realize her vision. Along the way, she began to
gather friends from her faith community. Within a year, she and her
committee had established The Yellow Brick Road Benefit Shop to sell
donated household goods and apparel, with the proceeds benefiting
local nonprofit charities and projects. There is no place like home
to start giving.
• Best Jewelry Store
Fourtané Jewelers — Ocean and Lincoln - 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday - (831) 624-4684 -
www.fourtane.com
Fourtané Jewelers first offered its unique jewelry and objets d’art
to residents and visitors in 1950. Today, Fourtané is one of the
country’s leading providers of estate jewelry and watches dating
from the modern era to 300 years ago. In particular, Fourtané is
renowned as an authorized Rolex retail store and specializes in
vintage Rolexes. Although its clientele now spans the globe, and the
store has significantly expanded, Sandy and John Bonifas, who
purchased the business in the 1980s, have maintained the original
intimate, friendly, and personalized atmosphere customers
appreciate. “Our parameters for buying any piece are that it has to
be pretty, be well made, and offer good value,” John Bonifas has
said. “Integrity in any business is important.”
• Best Shopping Center
The Crossroads — 243 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel - 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday - (831)
625-4106 - www.thecrossroadscarmel.com
With dozens of interesting shops, boutiques, restaurants and
service-related businesses, many of which have been tenants for a
long time, The Crossroads off of Rio Road has been a go-to place for
Carmel residents and others for decades. So go to The Crossroads and
grab a bite to eat at Rio Grill or Sea Harvest before checking out
the Rolex watches at Hesselbein's Jewelers, the latest travel gear
at Tops n Travel, the coolest running and hiking accessories at the
Treadmill, or the most indulgent sweets at Lula’s Chocolates or
Nothing Bundt Cakes. With more than 60 shops, restaurants and
services, why go anywhere else than The Crossroads for shopping•
• Best Antique Shop
Wittpenn’s Antiques — San Carlos Ave. between Seventh
and Eighth streets - 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Wednesdays. - (831) 624-1336 -
www.wittpennsantiques.com
Just the windows at this little gem hold enough eye-catching
antiques to keep shoppers occupied for a while. Come browse a wide
selection of antiques and collectibles including sterling silver,
Victorian furniture, books, globes, clocks, musical instruments,
desks, Quimper, China, porcelain, Early American, Renaissance
Revival, Louis Phillipe items and many others.
• Best Bookstore
River House Books — 208 Crossroads Blvd. - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday - (831) 626-2665 -
www.riverhousebookscarmel.com
There’s something wonderful about holding a brand new book and
anticipating what you’ll find as you turn its pages. Choose from an
exciting and changing selection of new works in the humanities and
sciences, bestselling fiction and nonfiction, children's classics,
youth favorites, travel, foreign and domestic magazines and
newspapers plus gift-worthy tomes on architecture, art, cooking,
gardening and many other topics.
• Best Car Dealer
BMW of Monterey — 1 Geary Plaza, Seaside - 8:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday - (831) 474-5628 - http://www.bmwmonterey.com
The folks at BMW of Monterey offer top-notch customer service, which
is one of many reasons why Pine Cone readers awarded them a Golden
Pine Cone this year. BMW of Monterey thrives on helping its
customers find their next car, whether its the new 2017 BMW 230i
Convertible, the 2017 BMW 740i Sedan or a certified pre-owned
vehicle.
• Best Gas Station
Lemos 76 — 544 Carmel Rancho Blvd., Carmel - 6:30 a.m. to
9:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. - (831)
624-2925 - https://my.datasphere.com/node/6815814
Lemos 76 is a trusted source for fuel and complete automotive
repairs. Family owned and operated since 1961, not only is Lemos 76
the “premier 24/7 fuel station,” it offers propane tank refills as
well as complete auto repair service and smog inspection. “We strive
to provide a great experience, with free Wi-Fi, a dog-friendly
policy, and shuttle service to the Carmel area with shopping
nearby,” according to Lemos 76.
• Best Car Wash
El Estero Car Wash — 590 Fremont St., Monterey - 8 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. (hours vary
in winter) - (831) 373-1801 - www.elesterocarwash.com
The folks at El Estero recycle 70 percent of the water they use.
With that in mind, having your ride detailed isn’t an indulgence,
it’s an act of conservation. Drive in dusty, drive away shiny and
fresh-smelling with some greeting cards from the gift shop. Your
conscience will be clean, too.
• Best Computer Store
Apple Store — 240 Del Monte Center, Monterey - 10 a.m. to 9
p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday - (831) 647-4480 - www.apple.com/retail/delmonte
Apple users are a different breed. They’re hip, they’re cool, and
they demand an equally hip and cool place to shop. This is it —
glossy white tables with the latest technology displayed like museum
pieces and the acolytes of Apple can’t wait to show you the Apple
Way.
• Best Place for Brides to Shop
Collezione Fortuna Fashion — Lincoln Ave. between Fifth and
Sixth streets in Su Vicino Courtyard - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday,
Closed Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. - (831) 626-1287 - www.collezionefortuna.com
Brides-to-be should make a one-on-one appointment for the personal
attention that helped make this shop this year’s winner. Mothers of
the bride and bridesmaids of all ages will find something to make
them look almost as good as the bride. Almost.
• Best Gift Shop
Carmel Bay Company — Ocean Ave. at Lincoln - 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. daily - (831) 624-3868 - www.carmelbaycompany.com
If ever there was a place to shop for that hard-to-buy-for in-law,
this is it. It’s also a great spot for browsing. Interesting, often
whimsical, and decorative items large and small can be found at
every turn. Customer service is enthusiastic and helpful, making
gift shopping fun.
• Best Music Store
Do Re Mi Music & Video — 26135 Carmel Rancho Blvd., Suite
B1 - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday
- (831) 625-1229.
Just as there’s nothing like holding a real newspaper, there’s
nothing like having a great collection of music that’s more
down-to-earth than housed in the cloud. Family-owned and operated,
Do Re Mi’s dedication to great service and good music sets them
apart.
• Best Candy Shop
Cottage of Sweets — Ocean Ave. between Monte Verde and
Lincoln - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily - (831) 624-5170 -
www.cottageofsweets.com
There’s a reason this place has been satisfying sweet tooths
(teeth•) for 45 years. Mouthwatering fudge, crunchy chocolate and
caramel turtles and rich, creamy truffles are all tucked away in a
charming historic cottage right out of a fairy tale. Temptations for
kids of all ages await! “For the best tasting sweets on the West
Coast, turn to our shop. We offer a variety of fudge and licorice
candies made in store and imported from abroad,” according to
Cottage of Sweets.
• Best Carpet and Flooring Store
Carpet Caravan — 877 Broadway Ave., Seaside - 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday - (831) 394.2700 -
www.carpet-caravan.com
Founded by Frank Flores, Carpet Caravan offers hardwood, carpet,
laminate, vinyl and tile flooring. Whether you’re buying carpet for
the first time or the 57th time, Carpet Caravan’s team is on your
side. The good guys at Carpet Caravan say they “take pride in giving
our customers exactly what they need … not what we want to sell to
them.”
SERVICES and HEALTH CARE
• Best Place to Work
• Best Real Estate Company
Sotheby’s International Realty — Brokerages in Carmel, Carmel
Rancho, Carmel Valley and Pacific Grove - Hours vary - (831)
624-9700 for Ocean Avenue brokerage -
www.sothebyshomes.com/Monterey-Real-Estate
Sotheby’s International Realty offers some of the most exceptional
homes for sale on the Monterey Peninsula, but it’s also a great
place to work, according to its employees, who landed the business a
Golden Pine Cone for the Best Place to Work. The Pine Cone’s real
estate section is always full of the company’s latest offerings, or
you can look online to view some of the amazing properties Sotheby’s
has on the Monterey Peninsula — or elsewhere. Among the many
stunning homes Sotheby’s has for sale right now is a 10,000
square-foot, $22 million Mediterranean estate on Del Ciervo Road in
Pebble Beach. It features four suites with an optional fifth suite
or office, stunning kitchen, formal living and dining rooms,
elevator, extensive patios and exquisite gardens. If that wasn’t
enough, the home offers truly panoramic views of Carmel Bay, Point
Lobos and The Pebble Beach Golf Links from virtually every room.
It’s homes of this caliber and Sotheby’s impeccable customer service
that helped it win two Golden Pine Cones.
• Best Place to Volunteer
Carmel Foundation — Lincoln and Eighth - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday - (831) 624-1588 -
www.carmelfoundation.org
Seniors who want to socialize, get help with their technology, or
just enjoy a great lunch know that the Carmel Foundation’s the place
to go. In addition to onsite events and lectures, the Foundation’s
outreaches like in-home meals and support help people live longer
lives in their own homes. Qualified volunteers lead activities such
as bridge, a men’s discussion group, wood carving, needlecraft and
photography, among others. More than 50 fun things to do are
available to its members each week.
• Best Place to Get Married
Carmel Mission — 3080 Rio Road, Carmel - 9:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday - (831) 624-1271
In diminutive Carmel lies arguably the most iconic mission in the
state — San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission — known more commonly
as the Carmel Mission. So it’s no surprise that readers of The Pine
Cone voted it the Best Place to Get Married. “The church seeks to
help you prepare yourselves for the great day of your wedding as
well as helping you with spiritual, psychological and practical
things that will make your wedding day a Sacrament that will last a
lifetime!” according to the Mission’s website.
• Best Place to Get Married (non-church)
Gardener Ranch — 114 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley -
call for hours - (831) 298-7360
Tucked along the banks of the Carmel River is Gardener Ranch, a
property with a rich history of hosting U.S. presidents,
dignitaries, and movie stars seeking exclusive, private, and rustic
charm. The property is an idyllic 24 acres of majestic oaks and lush
meadows that can also host myriad events including weddings.
Gardener Ranch says it combines the rustic charm of Carmel Valley
and the simple elegance of its natural setting to offer the “wedding
of your dreams.” We don’t doubt it.
• Best Retirement Community
Carmel Valley Manor — 8545 Carmel Valley Road - marketing
offices open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday - (831) 624-1281 -
www.cvmanor.org
Remember when you couldn’t wait to be old enough to do something,
like drive, or vote• This place could bring back that longing. The
setting is beautiful, and the amenities include a swimming pool,
spa, computer center, hiking trails, and terrific food. For half a
century, Carmel Valley Manor has provided seniors with the
opportunity to relax and enjoy every day. Carmel Valley Manor has
with an emergency response system, onsite clinic and licensed
registered nurses available 24 hours a day. If you require more
care, such as temporary in-home assistance or assisted living — the
Manor can provide those things, too.
• Best Electrician
Cate Electric — Dolores and Seventh - (831) 624-5361
For more than five decades, this family-owned business and Golden
Pine Cone veteran has been committed to the local community. Cate
Electric specializes in customer service from service calls to home
remodels to landscape lighting and more.
• Best Plumber
A&R Plumbing — 1720 Contra Costa St., Sand City - 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 24-hour emergency service - (831)
394-7221 - www.aandrplumbinginc.com
Need a new hot water heater or your toilet replaced? The kind folks
at A&R Plumbing in Sand City will gladly oblige. While other
plumbing companies have changed to "flat rate" pricing,
A&R feels “the traditional method is a more honest and fair way
to charge customers,” according to Sand City-based business. With
customer compliments like, “prompt,” “lots of energy,”
“professional,” and “very courteous,” it’s clear their employees are
their greatest assets. If they can’t prevent a problem with one of
their maintenance and inspection programs, they’ll be there when you
need them to fix it.
• Best Architect
Adam Jeselnick — Lincoln between Fifth and Sixth - (831)
620-5164 - www.adamjeselnick.com
Adam Jeselnick has worked on several high-profile projects,
including Affina Food and Wine, the Event Center at Seventh and
Dolores and The Dance Center in the Carmel Rancho, which was
completed in 2015. He thinks of himself as a “community-minded
architect” who supports sustainable designs that fit into their
environments.
• Best General Contractor
Acosta Builders — 24215 Pheasant Ct, Salinas - (831) 484-5899
Pine Cone readers hold Acosta Builders in such high esteem they
awarded the construction company a Golden Pine Cone this year. Owned
by Reynaldo Acosta, Acosta Builders offers residential construction,
custom-home builds and green construction.
• Best Landscaper-Gardening Service
Mission Landscaping — Pacific Grove - (831) 373-8293 -
missionlandscaping.com
For more than 30 years, Mission Landscaping has brought a mosaic of
expertise to countless projects. Whether you need stone work, a new
driveway, water features, outdoor railings or a fire pit, the
company’s talented construction staff of carpenters, masons,
irrigation specialists and gardeners are there to help. “We are
dedicated to providing custom design services and quality
installations to enhance our unique area and satisfy the most
discriminating client,” Mission says.
• Best Real Estate Lender
Wells Fargo Bank — Locations pretty much everywhere - check
website for individual openings and phone numbers -
www.wellsfargo.com
One of largest banks in the United States, Wells Fargo Bank offers
mortgage-lending services for first-time home buyers, those who have
previously gone through the buying experience or those who want to
refinance their home. With branches in Carmel and other areas on the
Monterey Peninsula, you’ll have no problem finding someone at Wells
Fargo to help.
• Best Title Company
Chicago Title Company — 26609 Carmel Center Place - 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. Monday to Friday - (831) 625-5676 - www.chicagotitlerene.com
Respected for more than 160 years of outstanding customer service,
with special attention to making the escrow process smooth and
complete. Chicago Title’s stated goal is to help ensure growth and
success for lenders, builders, developers, attorneys and real estate
professionals. A full page of testimonials on the Carmel branch
website applaud Vice President Rene Ayers and his staff for
patience, helpfulness, knowledge, positive attitude, availability,
and making use of the latest technology.
• Best Personal Bank
Chase Bank — (877) 937-9357 - www.chase.com
A full range of banking services are available with prompt, friendly
service, at convenient locations in Carmel, Carmel Valley, Pacific
Grove and Monterey — just part of the reason Chase Bank is a repeat
winner of The Golden Pine Cone. The earliest incarnation of what
today is Chase Bank received its charter in 1799, and the current
corporation ranks as a leading global financial services firm with
assets of $2.4 trillion. Chase operates in more than 100 countries,
employs 235,000 people, and serves millions of consumers, small
businesses, corporations, institutions, and government clients
worldwide.
• Best Business Bank
Monterey County Bank — 3785 Via Nona Marie, #100, with
additional branches in Monterey, Pacific Grove and Salinas - (831)
625-4300 - www.montereycountybank.com
To earn the distinction of being the oldest locally owned, locally
managed bank in Monterey County, you’ve got to be doing a whole lot
of things well. Monterey County Bank has been open since May 1977,
specializing in all aspects of business banking, including bragging
rights as the No. 1 Small Business Administration lender in the
county. This is a business that takes pride in providing very
competitive commercial lending products, outstanding merchant
credit card services, and personal attention to its clients.
• Best Investment House/Adviser
Monterey Private Wealth Management — 2340 Garden Road, #202,
Monterey - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday - (831) 372-3426 -
www.montereyprivatewealth.com
Monterey Private Wealth Management can boast of more than 70 years
of combined experience between partners Steve Merrell, Ken Petersen,
Gary Alt and Cristofer Cabanillas, who have established an
exceptional reputation for helping clients gauge risk, stay ahead of
inflation, and protect their assets for the next generation. The
stated mission of this company includes operating with complete
transparency, avoiding conflicts of interest, and disclosing all
details, fees and expenses. Clients’ interests always come first.
• Best Veterinarian
Carmel Valley Veterinary Hospital — 13738 Center Street,
Carmel Valley Village - 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday,
7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday (831) 659-2286 -
www.carmelvalleyvet.com
This is a remarkable, full-service veterinary practice, beloved
locally for its intense focus on providing your pet with the very
best professional care. Dr. James Holt, who has operated the
hospital since 1975, takes pride in a staff that prioritizes your
pet’s health and well-being, and will love your pet the way you do.
Holt says his favorite part about being a veterinarian is “the
human/animal bond,” and says he derives great personal satisfaction
from knowing he is helping both the animals and their owners.
“Friendly, caring, kind,” writes a 30-year client. “I feel my dog
gets the very best treatment offered.”
• Best Pet Boarding
Casa de Amigos Animal Hotel — 715 Foam, Monterey - Daily, 7
a.m. to 7 p.m. - (831) 373-0482 - www.casadeamigosanimalhotel.com
Casa de Amigos Animal Hotel has a longstanding local reputation for
providing quality lodging for dogs and cats on the Monterey
Peninsula since 1970, a legacy enhanced by recent upgrades in
services, extended hours, and increased staff since Dr. Ben Wilson
took the helm several years ago. The mission statement of this
business is to make every animal’s stay as comfortable and fun as
possible. Services include overnight boarding, doggie daycare, and
full-service grooming. “The staff treats my little dogs like
royalty,” raves one client, praise typical of several testimonials
on the hotel’s website.
• Best Pet Care
Purrfurably Cats — 481 Cortes St., Monterey - Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. - (831)
655-2287 - www.purrfurablycats.com
Dr. Kathleen Marcus oversees Monterey County’s only feline-exclusive
veterinary hospital, but Purrfured clients also receive TLC from a
cat-loving staff that will groom your feline diva, clean her teeth,
and provide preventive care. High-quality veterinary care in a
state-of-the-art facility ensures your cat’s health and safety, and
recognizes the special needs of felines. Their deluxe boarding
facility has a sunny playroom for daily workouts while pet owners
are away, making Purrfurably Cats a preferred resort for kitties
since 1995.
• Best Car Repair Shop
Nystrom Automotive — San Carlos and Fifth - Monday through
Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. - (831) 626-4407
Eric Nystrom’s reputation for integrity and quality work dates back
to 2004, when he opened his business as a Shell station and began
establishing its current five-star rating on Yelp, which features
multiple rave reviews from satisfied customers, including this one:
“Very talented on all makes and models, from vintage Jags to late
model Beemers. Good work at a fair price, along with respectful
customer service. It doesn’t get any better than that.” Nystrom, a
lifetime Carmel resident, has established himself within the
tight-knit community as a friendly, professional and honest.
• Best Auto Body Shop
Marina Collision Repair — 228 Reindollar Ave., Suite C,
Marina - Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - (831) 883-1014
When things go bump in the night — or day — and leave a dent or
blemish in your beloved vehicle, readers agree that this is the
place to take your baby for healing. Marina Collision Repair has a
well-deserved legacy of top-drawer body work on virtually any make
or model, and maintains a spotless reputation among its customers.
Its perfect five-star rating on Yelp includes more than a dozen
reviewers who rave about stellar customer service, quick repairs,
outstanding integrity, reasonable prices, and a friendly, helpful
and knowledgeable staff. From cosmetic touch-ups to infrastructure
repairs, this is a hospital for body damage.
• Best Dry Cleaners
Carmel Cleaners — Junipero and Third - Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. - (831) 624-3616
Well-known for courteous and friendly service, the highly-trained
staff at Carmel Cleaners handles any type of dry-cleaning task,
large or small. This business specializes in the preservation of
wedding gowns, prom dresses, and other treasured garments.
Technicians there are skilled at alterations and garment repairs,
making Carmel Cleaners a one-stop shop. Owner Deok Chong’s mantra
for more than 30 years of exquisite service has been “Good clothes
deserve good care.”
• Best Travel Agent
Carmel Monterey Travel — 601 Abrego, Monterey - Monday
through Friday, 9 a.m to 5 p.m. - (831) 649-4292 -
www.carmelmontereytravel.com
Travel always brings surprise — that’s often the whole point — but
the trick is to ensure that most surprises are pleasant. A
knowledgeable, diligent staff takes care of virtually every detail
in your travel needs, whether you’re driving down the coast, booking
a cruise to Alaska, or journeying to distant and exotic locales like
Kenya, Tanzania, Bora Bora, or Egypt. Carmel Monterey Travel is
famous for offering exceptional, often hard-to-find travel deals and
equipping clients with expert advice, enhancing the probability that
every surprise will be a pleasant one.
• Best Hair Salon
March Hare — Fifth Ave. and Mission - Call for appointment,
Tuesday to Saturday - (831) 624-3024 - www.marchharesalon.com
There’s plenty to be said for a barbershop with a striped pole out
front, or that noisy corner beauty parlor, but there’s a heavenly
alternative. March Hare offers a peaceful, comfortable, spa-like
setting that creates an idyllic atmosphere for both men and women to
relax and be pampered. MaryAnna Stahl’s skilled, friendly and
creative staff renders great haircuts, flattering styles, and just
the right highlights and coloring to enhance your look. The
trademark scents of the Aveda product line heighten an
always-pleasurable experience. For a reliable everyday style or a
spectacular new look for a special occasion, March Hare awaits.
• Best Skin Care
• Best Dermatologist
Coastal Valley Dermatology/Dr. Roya Javid — 26366 Carmel
Rancho Lane, Suite H - Call for appointment, Monday to Friday -
(831) 293-8458 - www.coastalvalleydermatology.com
The body’s most aesthetic organ — your skin — deserves the utmost
care by the best medical professionals you can find, which, luckily,
is just a few minutes away. Coastal Valley Dermatology, led by Dr.
Roya Javid, offers the best care in medical, surgical, and cosmetic
dermatology, using state-of-the-art technology and the latest
world-class techniques. The Johns Hopkins-educated dermatologist is
renowned for her expertise and quality care, whether she’s
performing microsurgery to remove skin cancer or cosmetic procedures
designed to keep her patients looking young. Aesthetician services
include medical-grade facials, and skin-care consultations. Among
the available cosmetic procedures are neck, eye and hand
rejuvenation, laser hair removal, and scar-reduction therapy.
Medical dermatology treatments are available for acne, nails,
psoriasis, sun protection and other conditions. Javid and her staff
have a reputation as medical professionals who love their work. “I
firmly believe that the skin is an indicator of what’s happening
inside the body, and truly enjoy educating my patients about their
skin care and health,” she said.
• Best Nail Salon
Nails Spa by the Sea — Seventh and Monte Verde - Call for
appointment - (831) 625-2623 - www.nailsspabythesea.com
A Golden Pine Cone winner for the eighth consecutive year, Nails By
the Sea is celebrated by readers for its consistency in pampering
clients with the highest-quality nail treatments in a relaxing and
nurturing atmosphere. Enjoy a spa manicure using warm citrus oils,
or an ocean-fresh foot soak, with hot towels. Lose your stress with
an hour-long Swedish massage, Shiatsu, a deep-tissue rub, hot stone
therapy, or aromatherapy. Discover how enjoyable an hour of your day
can be.
• Best Massage Therapist
Donna Ferguson, Central Coast Massage — 26344 Carmel Rancho
Lane, Suite. 5U - Call for appointment - (831) 760-9696 -
www.centralcoastmassage.net
Donna Ferguson believes that “massage was never meant to be a luxury
… it’s a basic human need.” Donna and her husband, Randy, both
Certified Massage Therapists, offer more than 18 years of training
and practice and results-based massage therapy custom-tailored to
meet the specific needs of each client. A 2000 graduate of Chico
Therapy Wellness Center & Institute for the Healing Arts, Donna
has a natural ability to look at or feel a client’s body and tell
exactly what needs to be done to get results. She offers multiple
types of massage, including Himalayan, deep tissue, Swedish,
reflexology, trigger point, Thai, hot stone, sports, and medical.
She also works closely with local physical therapists and
chiropractors.
• Best Spa
Spa at Pebble Beach — 1518 Cypress Drive, Pebble Beach - Call
for reservations - (831) 574-5574 -
www.pebblebeach.com/the-spa-at-pebble-beach
Forbes Travel Guide bestowed its five-star rating upon the
22,000-square-foot Spa at Pebble Beach for a third consecutive year,
a rare distinction. “These properties wow you with extraordinary
design and facilities, and uncompromising service,” raves Forbes.
The Spa offers a variety of world-class services designed to reduce
stress and enhance balance, including signature massages, body
scrubs and wraps, water treatments and aesthetics, as well as nail
care and hair styling. Its signature services incorporate the
healing properties of plants, herbs and minerals indigenous to the
Monterey Peninsula.
• Best Dentist
Dr. Bradford Carl and Dr. David Hatton (tie) — Dr. Carl:
26485 Carmel Rancho Lane - Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4
p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. - (831) 624-2111 -
www.bradfordcarl.com; Dr. Hatton: 26365 Carmel Rancho Blvd., Suite A
- Call for appointment - (831) 624-7950
Dr. Hatton gets high marks from patients for outstanding service,
painless procedures, and successful results at moderate prices in
comfortable facilities. He practices general dentistry, including
teeth whitening, and is trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent
diseases of the gums, teeth, and jaw.
Dr. Carl, who has treated patients in Carmel for more than 30 years,
promises personalized, gentle care from a team that takes pride in
providing patients with the information they need to make decisions
about their oral health needs. His office offers cleanings and
prevention, cosmetic dentistry, treatment of periodontal diseases,
and restorations. “When you visit our office, your smile is our top
priority,” the doctor says.
• Best Ophthalmologist
Dr. Leland Rosenblum, Monterey Bay Eye Center — 21 Upper
Ragsdale Drive, Suite 200, Monterey - Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. - (831) 375-2020 - www.montereybayeyecenter.com
The multiple Golden Pine Cone recipient, in private practice at
Monterey Bay Eye Center since 1994, has clinical interests in
cataract surgery, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy treatment and a
variety of other procedures. Dr. Rosenblum, a third-generation
physician, was the first ophthalmologist in Monterey County to
implant the ReSTOR® intraocular lens. Dr. Rosenblum is a Diplomate
of the American Board of Ophthalmology, a fellow of the American
Academy of Ophthamology and serves on the Board of Directors for the
California Academy of Ophthalmology. He’s an avid cyclist, and
although his dreams of winning the Tour de France have long since
faded, he is a proud sponsor of the Monterey Bay Racing Team.
• Best Orthopedist
Dr. Christopher E. Clevenger — 980 Cass St., Monterey -
Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. - (831) 622-2760
Dr. Clevenger became a member of the medical staff at Community
Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in 1998, the same year he
graduated from Texas Tech University Health and Science Center
School of Medicine. The veteran physician also holds a 1993 degree
from Dartmouth Medical School, Dr. Clevenger is bilingual, speaking
both English and Spanish. Clevenger says he takes pride in giving
his complete attention to every patient who comes through his
office. “I’m not trying to see somebody every five minutes,” he said
“I listen to them and give them more time.”
• Best Pediatrician
Pierre LaMothe, Monterey Peninsula Pediatric Medical Group -
2 Upper Ragsdale Drive, #210, Monterey - Monday through Friday 9
a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon - (831) 333-0999 -
www.mppmg.com
He was born at Peninsula Community Hospital in Carmel, and after
obtaining his education at UCLA, Wayne State, and UC San Francisco,
Pierre LaMothe came home to practice medicine as a board-certified
pediatrician. In 2011 he was recognized with a “Patients Choice
Award” and “Compassionate Doctor Recognition Award” from Vitals.com.
Dr. LaMothe loves his job, he says, because “helping kids is fun.”
Also fun for the doctor are surfing, cooking, gardening and golf — a
sport in which he carries a 2 handicap.
• Best Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Douglas Sunde — 856 Munras Ave., Monterey - Monday
through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - (831) 372-0200 - www.drsunde.com
Dr. Sunde was the readers’ choice for The Golden Pine Cone for the
ninth consecutive year thanks to an evergreen zeal for his
profession and a penchant for maintaining up-to-date techniques.
Specializing in plastic surgery, the doctor provides individualized,
state-of-the-art cosmetic and reconstructive treatments, with
personal attention to the needs of each patient. A native of
suburban Chicago, Dr. Sunde was an Eagle Scout, a National Merit
Scholar, and valedictorian of his high school before pursuing higher
education at Stanford, where he graduated with distinction, and UC
San Francisco Medical School, where he was part of the medical honor
society for leadership and academic excellence in medical
scholarship. He’s been practicing in Monterey since 1994.
• Best Physical Therapist
Chuck Krpata, Krpata Sports Therapy — 26617 Carmel Center
Pl. - Call for appointment - (831) 622-0599
The veteran physical therapist, who recently retired, took great
pride in a sports medicine approach to identifying problems and
constructing a program to achieve the desired results — an approach
he leaves to the talented staff that will continue his business in
Carmel. Services at Krpata Sports Therapy are performed by highly
skilled professional physical therapists in a caring and
professional setting. “We utilize progressive treatment programs,
which are tailored to each individual patient’s recovery,” said
Krpata. “Whatever your expectations are, we try to exceed them.”
• Best Chiropractor
Dr. Aaron Gaily — 1299 Pacific, Monterey - Monday, Wednesday
and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. - (831)
657-0191 - www.chiropractormontereyca.com
Born on the Monterey Peninsula and raised in Carmel Valley, Dr.
Gaily was a 1995 graduate of Carmel High, where he was a standout in
water sports. He’s been head coach of the Padres’ water polo team
since 2003, the same year he opened the doors of his chiropractic
practice in Monterey. “Being a chiropractor is one of the most
rewarding things,” he says. “We get to watch people reduce or
eliminate their pain, and get back to healthy living, day in and day
out. It’s a lot of fun coming to work every day and watching
people’s lives change.” This year’s Golden Pine Cone Award is
Gaily’s fourth in the last five years.
• Best Divorce Lawyer
Barbara J. May — 409 Washington, Suite 202A, Monterey
- Call for an appointment - (831) 649-1253 - barbaramaylaw.com
Breaking up is so very hard to do, but a skilled lawyer like Barbara
J. May can streamline the process, which is why readers honored her
as Best Divorce Lawyer. A family law specialist, May is committed to
providing personalized, compassionate, and cost-effective legal
representation, and has a gift for communicating clearly, to ensure
that clients are equipped to make well-informed legal decisions. A
graduate of Monterey High School and Monterey College of Law, May
established her own firm in 2005 after working at two different law
offices as an associate attorney and partner. Her specialties
include family law, divorce, custody and visitation, child support,
property division, adoption, domestic violence, conservatorships and
guardianships.
• Best Estate Planning Attorney
Kyle Krasa — 704-D Forest Ave., Pacific Grove - Call for an
appointment - 831-920-0205 - krasalaw.com
Kyle Krasa’s family has been part of the Monterey Peninsula for more
than six decades. His grandfather, Karel A. Krasa, taught Czech at
the Defense Language Institute while his grandmother, Zdena, worked
at a Monterey cannery. His mother, Joan, taught for nearly 30 years
at Bay View Elementary in Monterey, and his father, Peter, was an
elementary school administrator and principal. As a student at UC
Davis School of Law, Kyle Krasa already knew he wanted to focus
on estate planning, elder law/Medicaid planning,
probate/estate administration, and asset protection, and he brings a
passion for those specialties to his practice that clearly is
appreciated by his clientele. Outside the office, Krasa leads an
active life that includes playing ice hockey, hiking, cycling,
swimming, golf, classic cars, and rooting for the Green Bay Packers,
of whom he is a proud shareholder.
• Best Lawyer If You Need To Sue Somebody
Andrew Swartz — 550 Hartnell, Suite A-1, Monterey - Call for
an appointment - (831) 373-3235 or (800) 624-9911 - www.ssklaw.com
If somebody is wearing a pair of pants that quite clearly need to be
sued off, the best attorney to hire is a member of The Million
Dollar Advocates Forum, The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum,
and an honoree among The Top Trial Lawyers in America —distinctions
on the resume of Andrew H. Swartz. Swartz has practiced law in
Monterey since 1973, specializing in a broad spectrum of civil
litigation for plaintiffs and defendants, ranging from personal
injury to defamation, and has won multiple high-profile cases.
Swartz holds degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, the Santa
Clara Law Review (magna cum laude), and the University of Santa
Clara School of Law. Besides law, his other passions include
swimming, cycling and running. He’s run in the New York, Boston, San
Francisco and Big Sur marathons.
• Best Defense Attorney
Larry Biegel — 2801 Monterey-Salinas Highway, Suite A,
Monterey - Call for an appointment or free consultation -
831-373-3700 - www.biegellaw.com
For veteran attorney Larry Biegel, The Golden Pine Cone is somewhat
of a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his exceptional record
as one of California’s most skilled and respected trial attorneys.
Biegel has successfully tried criminal cases involving major
felonies (including a death penalty case), civil actions involving
complex business issues, and personal injury cases. He’s a past
president of the Monterey County Bar Association, and was the 2006
winner of the Lewis L. Fenton Award, which recognized his
outstanding jury trial skills. His wife, Cristina, is a partner in
the firm.
• Best Insurance Agent
Matt Little, Carmel Insurance — San Carlos and Eighth -
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - (831) 624-1234
Matt Little is part of a family legacy that dates back three
generations in Carmel, during which the Littles and their colleagues
have remained dedicated to providing locals with the best possible
service and advice on insurance. Robert Little established Carmel
Insurance Agency, Inc. way back in 1948, when he began delivering
quality solutions in the areas of commercial, personal health and
life insurance. In 1968 the agency became a corporation, with son
Matt Little taking the reins as president. Nowadays Matt works
alongside his daughter, Amy, and son Matt Jr., serving markets in
California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Florida,
Georgia, Michigan, and Hawaii. Their focus on providing personalized
attention and top-drawer customer service is the reason this iconic
family business continues to thrive. Something’s obviously working:
This is the fifth year readers have honored Matt Little with a
Golden Pine Cone as Best Insurance Agent.
• Best Shoe Repair
Federico’s Drive-In Shoe Service — 542 Abrego St., Monterey
- Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. - (831) 649-3322 -
federicoshoes.com
A lot has happened since Federico’s Drive-In Shoe Service first
opened its doors in Old Monterey. The Allies defeated Adolf Hitler.
Elvis Presley and the Beatles changed the way kids listened to
music. Somebody invented a phone that does everything but sweep your
floor. Since 1939, Federico’s has brought old world craftsmanship
and the art of shoe repair to the Monterey Peninsula, instilling new
life into all kinds of footwear with repairs, polishes, shining,
dyeing and more. You just don’t find businesses like this one
anymore, but, thankfully, Federico’s continues to thrive.
• Best School
Carmel High School — 3600 Ocean Ave. - 831-624-1821 -
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. -
www.carmelunified.org/Page/1931
When it opened its doors in the fall of 1940, Carmel High was almost
revered as a college prep school, an ideal place for parents to send
their children for a top-drawer high school education in an idyllic
setting. Decades later, that reputation remains intact. The home of
the Padres remains a standard bearer for outstanding teachers,
innovative programs, and high achievers who go on to do great things
with their lives. Areas of study at modern-day Carmel High range
from traditional English, history, math and science courses, to
visual and performing arts, languages, computer and technology,
industrial technology, and electives like student leadership,
culinary arts and health occupations. Carmel High also boasts one of
the most successful athletic departments in recent California high
school history. During the 2015-16 school year, the Padres won boys’
league championships in football, soccer, tennis, baseball,
volleyball, and swimming and diving, and girls’ titles in golf,
basketball, softball and swimming and diving.
• Best Principal
Ryan Peterson, Tularcitos Elementary School — 35 Ford
Road, Carmel Valley - Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - (831)
620-8195 - www.carmelunified.org/Page/931
Educators used to have polished apples on their desks, but students
and parents keep bringing Golden Pine Cones to Ryan Peterson. The
principal at Tularcitos Elementary was chosen by readers as the
repeat winner of the honor thanks to his energetic passion for
education and an uncommon dedication to the job. Peterson came to
Tularcitos in 2011 from Carmel Middle School, where, as assistant
principal, he was lauded for his supervision of the mathematics,
social studies, physical education, world language, technology,
music and arts departments. (Did we mention he’s energetic•) He also
was active on the CUSD Drug and Alcohol Prevention Committee there,
and showed a penchant for using high-tech classroom tools. On
Peterson’s watch at Tularcitos, the school recently received a Great
Schools rating of 81 percent in English Proficiency (the state
average is 44 percent) and 68 percent in Math Proficiency (state
average: 33 percent), plus a perfect five-star Community Rating from
parents and former students asked to rate their experience with the
school.
• My Favorite Nonprofit
SPCA for Monterey County — 1002 Monterey Salinas Hwy. -
administrative offices open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- (831) 373-2631 - www.spcamc.org
What’s not to love about a nonprofit that’s all about love? The SPCA
for Monterey County has been serving local animals and people since
1905, sheltering homeless, neglected and abused pets and livestock,
and providing humane education and numerous other services. In 1945,
a local newspaper wrote, “The list of animals handled at the shelter
reads like Noah’s checklist for sailing day on the Ark.” Reportedly
lodged there at the time were 833 dogs, 1,050 cats, a horse, five
cows, a bull, four goats, 13 rabbits, 23 chickens, three ducks, five
deer, a pigeon, a coyote, two raccoons, an opossum, three white
rats, a pheasant, a pelican, two seagulls, a parrot, a canary, a
squirrel and a snake. Today’s SPCA offers low-cost spay and
neutering, vaccination and microchips, engraved pet tags,
pet-friendly listings, puppy and dog training, humane trap rentals,
wildlife rescue and free expert advice.
