Above-average Indian restaurant. The usual dishes, but executed well using fresh ingredients. My only complaint is they only have cheap blended wine (a la Summit); food this good would be enhanced by a decent cabernet or zinfandel (but not chardonnay, the food is spicy).

Fish house behind Symphony Hall. They offer relatively simple dishes, to preserve the flavor of the fish. They offer some interesting sauces that you can match to a range of fish, plus some special preparations. Good, but I have been disappointed on occasion by the quality of the fish; some of it seems frozen, but there's no indication on the menu.

Superb special-occasion restaurant on cliff overlooking the Pacific. We went on a Thursday in mid-September at 6 and had no trouble getting a window table, which adds to the experience. Cuisine is nouvelle Californian; don't expect large portions but exquisite combinations of ingredients. I had the prix fixe meal, but a la carte selections of my companion were just as good. I also opted for small glasses of three wines chosen to accompany my dinner, and all were excellent, as were the selections by the glass for my companion, even though half were from obscure wineries; obviously the sommelier is quite capable. Seasonally available ingredients were used effectively in the cuisine, which suggests good planning. Hats off to the executive chef because only a good one could pull off this kind of consistently superb cuisine; but also hats off to the kitchen staff, who executed the dishes flawlessly on a weeknight.

Upscale Bistro in downtown Monterey, in the former firehouse. It was featured in Esquire a year ago as one of the best new restaurants in the country, but seems overrated to me. The food was too exaggerated: Flavors were too strong and too unbalanced, sort of a cartoon of California cuisine. We went on a weekday evening, so this may just reflect a second-string chef, however. Makes more sense as a lunch place to me since the menu seems oriented that way.

A Bistro with some pretensions; mainly traditional French cuisine. This means traditional sauces (NOT low in fat) and preparations. At dinner I noticed overuse of the same sauces and ingredients (like fresh mint), but this is not so noticeable at lunch. Onion tart was nicely prepared, scallops in cheese sauce was not.

Traditional American breakfasts of good quality at quite reasonable prices. The omelettes are a lot of food. But it's too high-fat for my taste; I wish they had some real low-fat choices on their big menu besides Yogurt. It's pretty busy 9-11 on weekends.

Chili house in a multiuse building on the main street of Pacific Grove (note that Lighthouse in Monterey is different from Lighthouse in Pacific Grove). They have several kinds of chili, including vegetarian, plus salads and a variety of other options. But their food is too bland for my taste; maybe they are trying to do too many things. Generally unfriendly service. Nice dining area.

Good vegetarian option in an area (Monterey Penisula) where there aren't many. Politically correct food, but I just wish it tasted better. The cooking and preparation is fine, it's just the wierd combinations of ingredients. But if you're a vegetarian you may be accustomed to this.

Branch of the nearly identical restaurant in Carmel. Politically correct vegetarian cuisine, just wish it tasted better. But if you're a vegetarian it may taste fine to you.

Nice little place serving gyros, falafel, etc. done with care and with high-quality ingredients. "Plates" come with salad and bread, a good lunch. My only complaint is that their menu is too large and they don't have everything everyday. In a mini-mall near the corner of Broadway.

Restaurant in a beat-up old diner doesn't look like much, but has some wonderful unusual dishes like a number of noodle ones. Of course, some of the dishes are quite spicy.

Cafe with the gimmick of featuring peppers in nearly everything on the menu. It was an average quality a few years ago, but on my most recent visit everything was too spicy for my taste, and I am not afraid of a little spice. Menu doesn't give much in the way of clues as to what is spicy. As a result I had a most unpleasant dining experience.

Nice fish restaurant in a tiny building (that used to be a tiny bar) that is packed on weekend evenings; lunch is a better bet without reservations. High quality fish; the owner obviously has good contacts with the fishing business. Not a big kitchen, so don't expect anything too fancy, but basic stuff is done well. Also some surprisingly nice wine selections. I defintely prefer this to anyplace on Fisherman's Wharf or Cannery Row.

Excellent fish and seafood in a functional building. Small number of tables, but this location focuses on takeout: You sit and wait while the cook to order in a few minutes. A popular and busy place most of the time (it was voted best fish restaurant in the Monterey area in 1995). Seems to have a Caribbean connections judging by the preparations they offer. Owners also have a sitdown restaurant of the same name in Pacific Grove.

A Bistro with especial emphasis on wines to match the food. Some nice wines, but the food was not well prepared: too much oil, and the vegetables should have been stir-fried longer. But they are attempting some interesting dishes.

Good but small restaurant; be sure to get reservations.

Yes, some of the dishes are innovative and good, but there are also a lot of standard Chinese-restaurant dishes indifferently done. It hasn't changed much in the last ten years, which suggests overconservatism.

Good place for cheap eats. They just have a counter, and don't have "service" per se. Strictly vegetarian and I believe vegan though they don't say so.

Unimpressive glorified Bistro food of uncertain California-French-Italian ancestry. Basic things were ok but fancier things fell short. Rude, unpleasant service apparently reflects a desire to seem authentically French. Bad neighborhood, and our van was broken into while we were dining.

High-fat, traditional food for families. Menu loaded with gimmicks, and too long.