DINE LOCAL GUIDE

All of these restaurants emphasize local ingredients, and they also advertise in Edible Monterey Bay! Stop by for a free issue, and tell them that we sent you!

APTOS

Carried Away

7564 Soquel Drive • 831.685.3926 www.carriedawayfoods.com A cozy, green-certified, take-out or eat-in café, Carried Away has a menu that changes weekly and features primarily organic, locally sourced ingredients. Owner/chef Tom McNary worked for many years at Chez Panisse, and his dishes reflect the seasons. Soups, salads, entrées and desserts are all made freshly daily. Thin-crust pizzas available on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Open M–F 11am–7pm, Sa 11am–5pm, Su closed.

BIG SUR Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn

47900 Highway 1 • 831.667.2800 www.postranchinn.com Executive chef John Cox has created for this iconic restaurant a nine-course “Taste of Big Sur” dinner tasting menu that delivers an inventive and gorgeous take on the Big Sur experience through exceptional ingredients grown on site or procured from local foragers, fishermen and farmers. Lunchtime guests can enjoy the breathtaking views from Sierra Mar’s floor-to-ceiling windows and cliffside terrace as well as a three-course prix fixe option and a five-course tasting menu comparable to the restaurant’s evening fare at a fraction of the price. Open daily for lunch 12:15–3pm, dinner 5:30–9pm.

The perfect pizza crusts at Gusto come from the bright red wood-fired oven that greets visitors to Denis Boaro’s Seaside restaurant as they walk through the door.

BOULDER CREEK New Leaf Community Market

13159 Highway 9 • 831.338.7211 • www.newleaf.com The perfect place to stop for made-to-order sandwiches, trail mix and picnic supplies for hikers on their way up to Big Basin or Castle Rock State Parks. All ingredients are fresh and natural, meats are hormone free, produce comes from local growers. Open daily 9am–9pm.

CAPITOLA New Leaf Community Market

1210 41st Avenue • 831.479.7987 • www.newleaf.com The Beet Café at the entrance offers great alternatives to fast food, serving economical daily specials, wraps, pizza and homemade soup and smoothies—with free wi-fi in the dining area. Inside, a full deli has made-to-order sandwiches, healthy takeout salads and entrée items. Open daily 8am–9pm.

Shadowbrook

1750 Wharf Road • 831.475.1511 www.shadowbrook-capitola.com Everyone’s special occasion restaurant, this unique destination is perched on a lush hillside above Soquel Creek. Its multi-level rock and redwood dining rooms are decked with fairy lights and you arrive in a vintage cable car—a truly romantic experience! New executive chef Roger Gowen offers farm-fresh local produce, fresh herbs from a rooftop garden and many vegetarian options. Open M–F 5–8:45pm, Sa 4:30–9:45pm, Su 4:30–8:45pm.

Monte Verde at Seventh • 831.624.8578 www.auberginecarmel.com Located within the romantic L’Auberge Carmel, a visit to Aubergine feels a bit like a trip to Europe. But the food is the real draw here: executive chef Justin Cogley was named one of Food & Wine’s best new chefs of 2013 and it’s no wonder. He’s an eloquent and imaginative interpreter of fine seasonal ingredients and executive pastry chef Ron Mendoza—who won the reader-selected 2015 EMB Best Pastry Chef Award— delights with surprising and inventive desserts. Open daily 6–9:30pm.

Basil Seasonal Dining

San Carlos Street between Ocean and Seventh avenues (Paseo Courtyard) 831.626.8226 • www.basilcarmel.com “Organic, local and seasonal” are not just buzzwords at Basil. This cozy restaurant in the Paseo Courtyard is the first and only one in the area to earn three stars from the national Green Restaurant Association. General manager/owner Denis Boaro and chef/owner Soerke Peters turn out intensely flavorful dishes—like black squid ink linguine with sea urchin sauce and Monterey abalone in vermouth butter sauce—and provide a full bar with a great selection of California wines. Many vegan entrées available. Heated, dog-friendly outdoor seating. Open daily for lunch and dinner from 11:30am, Su brunch 11am–3pm.

California Market at Pacific’s Edge Hyatt Carmel Highlands

120 Highlands Drive 831.620.1234 • www.pacificsedge.com Enjoy organic, sustainably sourced farm-to-table favorites on the redwood deck overlooking the Pacific or indoors next to the cozy pot-bellied stove in California Market while waiting for the highly anticipated upstairs restaurant (formerly Pacific’s Edge) to reopen in midApril. Breakfasts include vegetable fritatas and eggs benedict, lunch features fresh soups, salads and fish tacos. At dinner the focus is on seafood; don’t miss the octopus confit appetizer. Happy hour M-F in the Sunset Lounge. Breakfast and lunch 7am-3:30pm; dinner 5:30-8:30pm, winter; 6-9pm DST. Sunset Lounge 3:30-9:30pm.

Cantinetta Luca

Dolores Street and Ocean Avenue • 831.625.6500 www.cantinettaluca.com Prepared in the Tuscan tradition, using the freshest and simplest ingredients sourced locally or imported from Italy, this authentic Italian eatery serves housemade breads, pastas and sauces, hand-cut premium meats and antipasti with chef Jason Balestrieri’s artisanal salume. Guests are served in an atmosphere of warm tones and dark woods, which invites lingering over a second glass of wine or another bite of tiramisu, apple crostata or cheese. Open Su–Th 11:30am–9pm, F–Sa 11:30am–10pm. Doud Craft Studios • San Carlos Street at Ocean Avenue • 831.624.1600 • www.carmelbelle.com This bright, airy restaurant is a favorite gathering place among families, hipsters and others of all ages looking for a casual atmosphere and a stellar breakfast, lunch, dinner or freshly pressed juice. Chef Kyle Odell and pastry chef Eden Hutchison source only the best local and organic ingredients for their seasonally driven menus. Sign up online to receive Belle’s pop-up calendar and its changing Farmers’ Market Friday offerings. Wednesdays are Game Night. Enjoy your meal next to the fire pit or take advantage of the curbside pickup service to bring it home. Open W–Su 8am–8pm, M–Tu 8am–5pm.

Earthbound Farm’s Farm Stand

Organic Kitchen 7250 Carmel Valley Road • 831.625.6219 www.ebfarm.com/ourstory/ At its Carmel Valley Farm Stand, Earthbound Farm’s certified organic kitchen delights with housemade soups, sandwiches, baked goods and a vibrant salad bar. Experience picturesque Carmel Valley as you stroll through Earthbound’s sun-soaked organic gardens and learn about its pioneering local heritage and commitment to organic integrity. Food is available for take-away picnics or a relaxing afternoon at tables in the gardens. Organic groceries also are available for replenishing your pantry, watch Facebook for special events and classes! Open M–Sa 8am–6:30pm, Su 9am–5:30pm.

Edgar’s Restaurant at Quail

8205 Valley Greens Drive • 831.624.2888 www.quaillodge.com Wholeheartedly dedicated to farm-to-table cuisine, globetrotting chef Ken MacDonald has transformed this clubhouse restaurant into a paragon of fresh, local, organic meals. Enjoy salads like kale, almond and spelt or the traditional iceberg wedge garnished with foraged mushrooms. There are tempting flatbreads and hearty entrées, including line-caught Santa Cruz sanddabs, grassfed steaks and burgers, as well as vegetarian options such as quinoa pasta and seasonal ravioli. All ingredients come from local farms and ranches—including, starting in 2015, Quail’s own on-site farm. Open daily 11am–9pm.

Il Grillo

Mission Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues 831.238.9608 • www.ilgrillocarmel.com The intent behind this new sister restaurant to Carmel’s popular La Balena is to create a more casual spot where diners can gather for a glass of wine, simple pastas and small plates of carpaccio and other Italian specialties. Prices are also lower than at La Balena, but the same chef, Brad Briske, winner with La Balena of EMB’s 2014 Local Heroes award for Best Chef/Best Restaurant, is creating the dishes, so expect impeccable sourcing and delicious results. Garden seating available. Open M–F 11:30am–9pm, Sa 5–9pm.

La Balena

Junipero Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues 831.250.6295 • www.labalenacarmel.com La Balena’s seasonal menu changes daily but always expresses a spectacular and inventive take on the rustic food of a classical Tuscan trattoria. Chef Brad Briske sources ingredients from local organic farms and prepares the restaurant’s pastas and slow-cooked meats from scratch daily. Owners Anna and Emanuele Bartolini have created an excellent Italian wine list and a warm, inviting atmosphere, complete with back garden seating. Open Tu–Su 5–10pm, Sa–Su 11:30am–3:30pm.

Bernardus Lodge & Spa 415 W. Carmel Valley Road • 831.658.3400 bernarduslodge.com/wine-cuisine Where once there were walls, glass panels now can be folded back to bring the outside—including Carmel Valley’s nearly constant sunny weather—into the new Lucia Restaurant & Bar. Named for the Santa Lucia mountain range and wine appellation that beckons to the south of the lodge, the expansive restaurant replaces what once was Wicket’s Bistro and Marinus. And best of all, renowned chef Cal Stamenov is still in the kitchen, serving both his signature tasting menu and dishes à la carte. Wine list is equally notable. Open daily 7am–2pm and 5–10pm.

ROUX

6 Pilot Road • 831.659.5020 www.rouxcarmel.com Chef Fabrice Roux opened his namesake restaurant Roux in Carmel Valley in December, creating a charming European atmosphere with a romantic, contemporary interior and sun-drenched garden. The popularity of his small plates and paella just might be surpassed by his housemade French beignets with local fresh-fruit filling, served with Illy coffee as early as 7:30am for those who stop in. Open daily 11:30am–10pm, Sa–Su 10:30am–3pm for brunch.

Valley Kitchen

Carmel Valley Ranch 1 Old Ranch Road • 831.626.2599 www.carmelvalleyranch.com A fun, vibrant restaurant that embodies the unique values and spirit of the Carmel Valley Ranch experience, Valley Kitchen draws inspiration from the resort's gardens, orchards and vineyards as well as its pristine natural surroundings. Acclaimed chef Tim Wood is inviting everyone into the kitchen to commune with one another, ranch style. Devotees can expect the same focus on sourcing fresh, local and sustainable ingredients as well as more small plates and sharable options. Beyond the sophisticated yet rustic bar and roaring fireplace, two new dining rooms open to the view over the vineyard and gardens. Open daily 7am–10pm.

Will’s Fargo Steakhouse + Bar

16 W. Carmel Valley Road 831.659.2774 • www.wfrestaurant.com Originally built in the late 1920s to refresh travellers on the stagecoach run between Monterey and Tassajara, this beautiful, landmarked steakhouse still draws loyal customers from miles around. Attentive service and excellent steaks, burgers and dishes that make the most of our region’s fresh produce have been its trademark; watch for a new chef in 2016. For seating, guests may choose between the historic dining room, a seasonal outdoor courtyard patio and the lively saloon. Petfriendly. Dinner 4:30–9:30pm F–Sa, 4:30–9pm Su–Th.

DAVENPORT Whale City Bakery

490 Highway 1 • 831.423.9009 www.whalecitybakery.com Davenport’s artistic charm and oceanside location make it hard not to slow when you pass through on Highway 1. Those in the know stop at the historic Whale City Bakery. The bakery tempts with housemade breads, pas-

tries, muffins and pies, but it’s only the beginning. Whale City also offers a full restaurant that serves up comfort classics and other hearty dishes. The bar and live music every Thursday attract a loyal local following. Open daily 6:30am–8pm.

FELTON The Cremer House

6256 Highway 9 • 831.335.3976 www.thecremerhouse.com Housed in the oldest building in Felton, The Cremer House showcases progressive, handmade food and drink with a nod to its historic mountain surroundings. This collaborative restaurant project between the Felton New Leaf Market and Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing has filled a niche in the San Lorenzo Valley, bringing organic craft beer, cider and wine on tap, and artisan, housemade breads and “pantry” products to this restored and revered property. Open Su–Th 11:30am–9pm, F–Sa 11:30am–10pm.

New Leaf Community Market

6240 Highway 9 • 831.335.7322 • www.newleaf.com New Leaf offers the best fresh food made and grown here on the Central Coast. Made-to-order sandwiches, salads and hot foods are all natural. No nitrates, hormones, antibiotics or artificial ingredients. Open daily 9am–9pm.

HALF MOON BAY New Leaf Community Market

150 San Mateo Road • 650.726.3110 www.newleaf.com Green plate specials offer healthy organic lunches for $5 daily and full dinners for $9.99. Lunches like Diestel turkey wraps and tri-tip sandwiches change daily. Hot dinner specials include classics like meatloaf with mashed potatoes and Smart chicken parmesan. Open daily 8am–9pm.

HOPE VALLEY Sorensen’s Country Café

14255 Highway 88 800.423.9949 • www.sorensensresort.com The next time your travels take you to Lake Tahoe, remember the adorable Sorensen’s Resort’s full-service restaurant. Enjoy specialties such as Mary’s natural chicken with a gremolata topping, fresh and wild fish, New York steak, garden-fresh salads and homemade desserts, such as housemade bread pudding and a wonderful berry cobbler. Enjoy Eggs Benedict on weekends. Accompany your meal with a fine wine or specialty beer. Open for breakfast M–F 7:30-11am and Sa–Su 7:30am–noon, lunch daily from 11am–4pm, dinner 5–8:30 pm daily.

MARINA Wild Thyme Deli & Café

445 Reservation Road • 831.884.2414 www.wildthymedeli.com Wild Thyme Deli & Café in Marina blends East Coast comfort food with West Coast organic and fresh cuisine. Offering a sumptuous array of sandwiches, salads and desserts, roasted meats and chicken, all items are made freshly on site every day, using the finest regional ingredients. Chef Terry Teplitzky also owns the renowned Michael’s Catering, which has served the greater Monterey Peninsula for nearly 20 years and is a partner in Monterey’s Boardwalk Sub Shop. Open M–Sa 10am–4pm, Su closed.

500 Hartnell Street • 831.643.1833 www.restaurant1833.com Executive chef Jason Franey, formerly of Seattle’s Canlis, and pastry chef Ben Spungin, formerly of Bernardus Lodge & Spa and now corporate pastry chef for 1833 owners Coastal Luxury Management, have joined forces to create an exceptionally creative and sophisticated menu, helping 1833 win notice as Monterey’s Best Restaurant by San Francisco Chronicle’s food critic, Michael Bauer, earlier this year. The cocktail program is also a standout. Open Su–Th 5:30–10pm, F–Sa 5:30pm–1am.

Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill

426 Alvarado Street • 831.655.2337 www.alvaradostreetbrewery.com Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill modernized the old Regency Theatre to create a lively spot for beer geeks and foodies alike. Libations consist of 20+ tap offerings—house and guest drafts—wines by the glass/bottle plus craft cocktails. Edibles include usual brewery-type appetizers with ASB’s signature twists and unexpected creations such as the Vietnamese Lamb Burgers and Ale-Soaked Apple Pie. The open kitchen houses a wood-fired oven for the signature flatbreads. Outdoor beer garden coming soon. Open M–Su 11:30am–11pm.

Boardwalk Sub Shop

470 Alvarado Street • 831-264-1171 www.boardwalksubsmonterey.com Some people know Santa Cruz, but these boys know Atlantic City. Famous for the world’s first seaside boardwalk, a place both salty and sophisticated, brothers Howard, JT and Terry Teplitzky spent their summers there, jumping and diving and digging into submarine sandwiches. Working with stainless steel and reclaimed wood, now they have recreated for Monterey an East Coast-style seaside setting to match their Philly and Jersey cheesesteaks; cheese, gravy, crabby Cajun and other classically loaded fries; as well as meatballs and, of course, a wide array of stellar sub sandwiches. Open Su–Th 10:30am–11pm, F–Sa 10:30am–1am.

Cannery Row Brewing Co.

95 Prescott Avenue • 831.643.2722 www.canneryrowbrewingcompany.com A tower of kegs topples off a big brick building on historic Cannery Row. Inside, guests are greeted by a keg room chilling the 75 beers on tap. A convivium of comfort food, executive chef Justin Robarge’s menu gives permission to indulge. Enjoy a CRBC Burger, ShortRib Grilled Cheese Sandwich or Hickory-Smoked Pork Chop, and wash it down with a Rock Star Beer or Small Batch Bourbon. Save room for dessert. Open Su–Th 11:30am–12am, F–Sa 11:30am–2am.

Jacks Restaurant & Lounge

2 Portola Plaza 831.649.2698 • www.jacksrestaurantlounge.com Perfect for any occasion, Jacks Restaurant offers the finest local cuisine the Central Coast has to offer. Sit down for breakfast, dinner or plan a private event on the pet-friendly heated patio or indoors in the fireside dining room. Features a breakfast buffet with made to order omelets and bottomless mimosas, locally grown produce, Certified Angus Beef and fresh seafood for dinner. Jacks Lounge features daily Happy Hour from 4:00pm–6:00pm with small bites, an award winning wine list and barrel-aged cocktails.

Peter B’s Brewpub

2 Portola Plaza 831.649.2698 • www.peterbsbrewpub.com Experience Monterey’s original craft brewery, Peter B’s Brewpub, located behind the Portola Hotel & Spa. Enjoy great food and award-winning handcrafted beers. Watch your favorite game on one of 18 HDTV’s or enjoy the pet-friendly heated patio with fire pits. Peter B’s is open daily with nightly Happy Hour from 4pm – 6:30pm. Open Su–Th 11am–11pm, F–Sa 11am–12am.

Schooners Coastal Kitchen & Bar

400 Cannery Row • 831.372.2628 www.schoonersmonterey.com Sit out on the oceanside patio if you can, but it’s still considered seaside dining if you are seated inside the dining room, whose polished wood, bay windows and seafaring décor seem like the interior of a sailing ship. Schooners Coastal Kitchen & Bar serves executive chef James Waller’s sustainable seafood and creative American cuisine of soups, fresh salads, sandwiches and woodfired flatbreads, paired with a diverse wine list featuring local favorites. Open daily 6:30am–11pm.

Stone Creek Kitchen

465 Canyon del Rey Boulevard • 831.393.1042 www.stonecreekkitchen.com A glass-walled kitchen in the middle of a spacious cookware shop turns out imaginative Mediterranean deli treats and sweets to take away or eat under the market umbrellas outside. Petite baguette sandwiches—like grilled chicken, artichoke hearts and Boursin cheese— are little works of art. Don’t miss the pistachio/cherry chocolate bark or the paella Fridays. Open M–F 10am–7pm, Sa 10am–4pm, Su closed except during November and December.

TusCA Ristorante

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa 1 Old Golf Course Road • 831.657.6675 www.tusca.com/hpr/tusca/en/monterey.html Blending the beauty and bounty of Tuscany and California, and inspired by the hearty appetite and abundance of southern Italy, TusCA serves up seasonally sourced menus made from fresh, local produce, meats and fish. Focused on foods that are “good for their guests, good for their community and good for the planet,” TusCA chef Steve Johnson delights diners with meals both intriguing and indulgent, particularly those baked in his wood-burning oven or served with the housemade pastas. Open daily for breakfast and lunch 6:30am–1:30pm, dinner 6–9pm Tu-Sa.

The Wharf Marketplace

290 Figueroa Street at Wharf No. 2 and Del Monte Avenue 831.649.1116 • www.thewharfmarketplace.com The Wharf Marketplace is Monterey’s newly remodeled, go-to fresh, local market with free 24-minute parking. Features The best-grown Salinas Valley lettuces and vegetables, artisanal cheeses, wines, draft beer, and other tasty food and drink options from Monterey County. The Café & Grab-n-Go selections are designed to satisfy your cravings for every meal. Catering made easy for any staff breakfast or lunch and ready-to-take home dinners are sure to delight. Comfortable indoor/outdoor seating available. Open daily 5:30am–7pm; Taste It Thursdays offer complimentary wines and beer tasting with one-bite wonders 4:30-6:30pm. 7902 Moss Landing Road • 831.633.5843 www.hauteenchilada.com Gourmet Latin fusion dishes await those who venture off Highway 1 and into this fanciful restaurant with its new entertainment venue out back. Fiesta-colored walls are crammed with enormous gold leaf paintings by coowner Luis Solano. Try dishes like Peruvian Ceviche, Squash Blossom Empanadas, Crab and Huitlacoche Enchiladas or the popular Pescado Cubano—line-caught red snapper in a pistachio/pumpernickel crust served with tomatillo avocado sauce. Ingredients are organic as much as possible. Open daily 11am–9pm.

PACIFIC GROVE Happy Girl Kitchen Co.

173 Central Avenue • 831.373.4475 www.happygirlkitchen.com The menu changes daily at Happy Girl’s airy and bright Pacific Grove café, but the food is always delicious, organic and reasonably priced. The sandwich of the day is $6.50, and a bowl of the soup of the day is $6. To drink, you’ll find kombucha on tap and freshly roasted Four Barrel coffee brewed to perfection. Homemade baked goods include a daily scone, cookies and turnovers. Open daily 7:30am–3pm.

Jeninni Kitchen + Wine Bar

542 Lighthouse Avenue • 831.920.2662 www.jeninni.com Inspired by flavors of the Mediterranean, Jeninni Kitchen + Wine Bar’s rich and decadent cuisine takes you on a journey from Morocco and Spain to the Levant, birthplace of owner and sommelier, Thamin Saleh. Don’t miss the crispy octopus, lamb burger with signature eggplant fries and occasional paella nights and other special events. Readers of EMB selected Jeninni for the Best Restaurant Local Heroes Award of 2015. Open Su–Th 4–9:30pm, F–Sa 4–10pm. Closed Wednesdays during the winter. Happy Hour—”sips and snacks”—4–6pm every day (except Wednesdays).

Passionfish

701 Lighthouse Avenue • 831.655.3311 www.passionfish.net If you’re looking for a restaurant with playful, spectacular food and a scrupulous commitment to sustainability, this green-certified restaurant is hard to rival. The elegant dining room is celebratory yet relaxed, and the award-winning wine list features many sustainable names and is priced at retail. Chef Ted Walter’s menu is ever changing with the seasons, but always includes delicious organic local produce, inventive slow-cooked meats and an array of sustainable seafood choices. Open daily 5pm.

Point Pinos Grill

79 Asilomar Boulevard • 831.648.5774 www.ptpinosgrill.com With sweeping views of the coast near Point Pinos Lighthouse and a relaxed clubhouse vibe, this scenic spot has blossomed under the direction of executive chef Dory Ford. For breakfast, choose from huevos rancheros, chicken fried steak, eggs benedict and an array of tasty omelets. For lunch through dinner, enjoy dishes like Ale-Steamed Mussels, Crispy Fried Dry Rubbed Jerk Chicken Wings and all-natural beef burgers at lunch or dinner paired with craft beers, local wines or a variety of house specialty cocktails with our new

PEBBLE BEACH Porter’s in the Forest

3200 Lopez Road ∙ 831.622.8237 www.poppyhillsgolf.com/porters This recently renovated club atmosphere of understated elegance, with mustard-colored leather chairs, dark wood tables and architectural finishes, presents a new menu of chef Johnny De Vivo’s California artisanal cuisine, with local and regional products paired with craft beer, local wine or fresh cocktails, prepared by mixologist Carlos Colimodio. Chef De Vivo considers his breakfast, lunch and dinner menus what golfers and others like to eat, with a twist. Open M–Tu 6am–7pm, W–Su 6am–8pm.

SALINAS The Bakery Station

202 Monterey Street • 831.783.1140 www.thebakerystation.com In a hip vintage gas station, brother-and-sister owners Sarah and Richard Torres fire up a traditional stone hearth oven to produce crusty Old World breads, scones and muffins and serve them with Acme coffee. The Bakery Station is also a popular lunch stop, turning out addictive sandwiches like the Road Hog, with pulled pork and whiskey sauce on a brioche roll, and the BelAir, with freshly roasted turkey, bacon, avocado, gouda and homemade chipotle aioli on fresh sourdough. Open M–F 6am–4pm, Sa 7am–2pm, Su closed.

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA Vertigo Coffee Roasters

81 Fourth Street • 831.623.9533 www.vertigocoffee.com Artisanal coffee roasted on site as well as wood-fired pizzas, freshly made soups, salads, sandwiches, breakfast burritos plus pan dulces from El Nopal bakery in Hollister have made Vertigo a locals’ favorite as well as a great find for visitors en route to the San Juan Mission, Pinnacles or other area attractions. Owners Dmitri and Kitty Fridman have recently added regional craft beer, served on a 21-and-over beer garden, out back. Open Tu–F 7am–7pm, Sa–Su 8am–7pm. Closed M.

SANTA CRUZ

Assembly

1108 Pacific Avenue 831.824.6100 • www.assembleforfood.com This full-service restaurant from Penny Ice Creamery founders Kendra Baker and Zach Davis offers rustic California cuisine based on local, seasonal and sustainably sourced ingredients. Chef Carlo Espinas brings a contemporary twist to the approachable yet intriguing menu. The restaurant’s wood-metal-stone décor radiates from a long community table that anchors the center of the dining room, which is filled with natural light in daytime and bathed in the soft glow of copper accents at night. Open for lunch weekdays 11:30am, dinner W–M until late, brunch 10am Sa–Su, Tu closed.

702 Soquel Avenue • 831.458.3020 www.butterybakery.com Tantalizing cakes, pies, tarts, pastries and European-style breads fill the display cases inside this friendly, only-inSanta Cruz bakery and café. On the deli side, everything is freshly made, from soups to salad dressings, using local produce from places like Live Earth Farm as much as possible. Lots of take-out options are available including daily special dinner entrées, but you can’t go wrong ordering their famous turkey potpie. Open daily 7am–7pm.

Charlie Hong Kong

1141 Soquel Avenue • 831.426.5664 www.charliehongkong.com Charlie Hong Kong has been providing the Santa Cruz community with healthy, fresh, high-quality food since 1998. The restaurant’s fusion of Southeast Asian influences and the Central Coast’s local organic produce is what has made it a neighborhood favorite. Its slogan is “love your body, eat organic,” and its cuisine is proof that fast food can be good for you. Open daily 11am–11pm.

The Crow’s Nest

2218 E. Cliff Drive • 831.476.4560 www.crowsnest-santacruz.com A perfect spot to enjoy lunch or catch a sunset while watching sail boats glide in and out of the harbor, the nautical-themed Crow’s Nest is a Santa Cruz institution that never goes out of style. There’s always something happening, from free seasonal Thursday night beach parties to comedy nights and happy hours. Famous for its salad bar and house-smoked salmon, The Crow’s Nest is a member of Seafood Watch and is a certified green business. Open daily for breakfast 7:30am–11:30am; lunch M–F 11:30am–2:30pm and Sa–Su 11:30am–3pm; dinner M–F 5pm, Sa–Su 4:30pm.

Food Lounge

1001 Center Street • info@scfoodlounge.com www.scfoodlounge.com This airy, open space with a large courtyard is the creative staging ground for exciting pop-up dinners and special events, including an innovative brunch on Sundays (Ty’s Eatery), the First Friday Art Walk and the Artisan Food Market every second Friday. The new bar features local beers, wines, ciders and small-batch craft spirits. Pop-up retailer, Ashby Confections, offers handmade chocolates, hot cocoa and treats. See the calendar at www.scfoodlounge.com for all dynamic events and hours.

Laílí

101B Cooper Street • 831.423.4545 www.lailirestaurant.com Exotic flavors of the Silk Road are served in a stylish dining room decorated in eggplant and pistachio colors and on a hidden candlelit patio. Locals rave about Laílí’s homemade naan served warm from the oven with a selection of Mediterranean dips. There is a wide variety of deliciously spiced vegetable dishes, organic whenever possible, and all meats are hormone free and free range. Open daily for lunch 11:30am–2:30pm, dinner 5–9:30pm. 538 Seabright Avenue • 831.457.2782 www.lapostarestaurant.com A cozy neighborhood bistro not far from the Santa Cruz yacht harbor, La Posta chef Katherine Stern prepares northern Italian cuisine using local ingredients—some foraged and some grown on nearby organic farms. Charcuterie is house cured, and the rest of the menu reflects whatever produce is freshest right now. Visit the chickens in the restaurant’s backyard and enjoy the eclectic atmosphere. Open Tu–Th 5–9pm, F–Sa 5–9:30pm, Su 5–8pm, M closed.

New Leaf Community Market

1134 Pacific Avenue • 831.425.1793 www.newleaf.com New Leaf’s headquarters in an old bank building on Pacific Avenue is a worthwhile stop for all foodies. Crowded with gourmet natural foods, it also has a deli with sandwiches, salads and hot entrées. A dining area out front is great for people watching and listening to street musicians. Open daily 9am–9pm.

New Leaf Community Market

1101 Fair Avenue • 831.426.1306 • www.newleaf.com The Westside New Leaf has a large deli counter and coffee bar, with a big selection of sandwiches, salads, bakery items, soups and other hot foods. You can eat at an in-store counter or at tables outside. There is a community classroom here for frequent cooking classes. Open daily 8am–10pm.

The Penny Ice Creamery

913 Cedar Street • 831.204.2523 www.thepennyicecreamery.com Lines out the front door of its converted Spanish bungalow are evidence of Penny’s popularity. All ice cream, including bases, is made from scratch on the premises using local organic ingredients when possible. Dozens of exotic flavors rotate seasonally, but two favorites are bourbon bacon chocolate and strawberry pink peppercorn. Open daily noon–11pm. Downtown – Kiosk 1520 Pacific Avenue, Ste. K2 Open Su–Th noon–6pm, F–Sa noon–9pm. Pleasure Point 820 41st Avenue Open Su–Th noon–9pm, F–Sa noon–10pm.

The Picnic Basket

125 Beach Street • 831.427.9946 www.facebook.com/thepicnicbasketsc Across the street from the main beach, owners of The Penny Ice Creamery have opened an alternative to boardwalk fast food. Sandwiches, organic salads, coffee and beer, all from local food artisans, and of course Penny’s popular ice cream, are all on offer to eat in or outside with your feet in the sand. Open M–Th 7am–4pm, F–Su 7am–9pm.

Ristorante Avanti

1917 Mission Street • 831.427.0135 www.ristoranteavanti.com This popular, Mediterranean-style bistro recently moved into a lush, more upscale location with a larger bar and expanded seating to better accommodate its loyal fans. Avanti’s menu remains true to its long-time commitment to supporting local organic farms as well as local ranchers, foragers and fishermen. The menu changes with the seasons, and specials are offered every day using local organic produce and meats, wholesome oils and imported Italian cheeses. Open for lunch M–F 11:30am–2pm, dinner Su–Th 5–9pm, F–Sa 5–9:30pm.

1220 Pacific Avenue • 831.426.9930 www.rosiemccanns.com This lively Irish pub with Santa Cruz style offers dozens of beers on tap, good bar snacks and so much more. Rosie’s kitchen prepares traditional Irish dishes like lamb stew, shepherd’s pie, corned beef hash and fish and chips, along with delicious California specialties such as grassfed burgers, coriander wild salmon, organic salads and fish tacos. All desserts are made in house, so save room for the Guinness-Ghirardelli chocolate cake. Open M–F for lunch 11:30am–4pm; dinner 4–10pm. Open Sa–Sun for brunch 9:30am–2pm; dinner 2–10pm.

Soif Restaurant and Wine Bar

105 Walnut Avenue 831.423.2020 • www.soifwine.com Celebrating the finest produce and meats from local farms, chef Mark Denham’s cuisine shows a Mediterranean flair, with seasonal dishes like speck wrapped figs, dry-farmed tomato panzanella and spice crusted albacore with lentils and Meyer lemon. A new expansion allows diners to see into the kitchen or sit at a gleaming copper bar and sip from Soif’s extensive wine list. There’s a new local focus in the bottle shop next door and a cozy seating area for sampling wines. Monday evenings there is a raw oyster bar with live jazz. Restaurant open Su–Th 5–9pm, F–Sa 5–10pm. Wine bar opens at noon Tu–Sa and at 5pm Su–M.

SEASIDE

Gusto

1901 Fremont Boulevard 831.899.5825 • www.gustopizzeriapasta.com Gusto owner Denis Boaro, a partner in Carmel’s Basil Seasonal Dining and a native of Northern Italy, named the restaurant for the Italian word for taste and his enthusiasm for delivering delicious rustic Italian food and great service can be seen in the happy faces of his diners. The bright red-tiled, wood-fired oven just inside the entrance both sets the restaurant’s festive tone and produces terrific pizzas. Pastas are from Sand City’s Bigoli pasta and are made from organic flours. Open daily 11:30am–2:30pm and 4:30–9pm.

WATSONVILLE Gizdich Ranch

55 Peckham Road • 831.722.1056 • gizdich-ranch.com Visitors from great distances love this third-generation, family-run farm business that popularized the “pik-yorself” experience just east of Watsonville’s Interlaken neighborhood. Tour the farm, pick fresh apples or berries or watch the action inside the juice-pressing barn. No one leaves hungry if they spend time at the bakery-deli that pleases with its fresh pies, shortcakes and pastries, along with hearty sandwiches and box lunches. This family friendly experience is also a treat for kids, who will enjoy the wide-open spaces and the homemade popsicles and slushes. Open daily 8am–5pm.