Carmel Belle Puts Posh Twist on Fast-Casual Dining

Carmel-by-the-Sea has all sorts of tucked-away courtyards and unexpected gems and there is no better example of this than Carmel Belle. The cafeteria-esqe restaurant sits in an unassuming building just down from Ocean Avenue. Their humble sign, just outside of the Doud Craft Studios Complex, deceives the beautiful setting (and food) just inside.

Crafty chalkboards, country décor and a farm fresh menu all give reassurance you’re in the right place. The space is spotless with modern touches like stainless steel seating and an amazing indoor fire pit; perfect for those cool Carmel mornings (or evenings)!

Carmel Belle is unique in comparison to other Carmel-by-the-Sea eateries with an open floorplan, casual seating arrangement, and no waiters. Guests order at the front counter for speedy service and then can chill out in either of their dining spaces; might I suggest by the fire pit? You can even get your grub to go for a picnic on the beach!


Carmel Belle’s tagline is “Good Food” - simple, to the point and, most importantly, 100% true. Their breakfast, lunch and dinner menus are truly a work of art with uncomplicated and honest ingredients. They pride themselves on sourcing sustainable, high-quality products from small local farms for the freshest experience possible.

Breakfast is Carmel Belle’s specialty and is unlike any other joint in town. One of their most popular items is the avocado toast. Sounds simple enough right? The thick artisan toast, finely sliced avocado, olive oil drizzle and cracked sea salt is a magical combination that will have you putting down the Smucker’s jar in no time.

Another rare breakfast commodity on the menu is the hot polenta bowl. Skip your typical morning oatmeal and go for the gooey, comforting, yet decadent cornmeal which can be spruced up with savory additions like truffled mushrooms, roasted tomatoes and poached eggs; how’s that for diverse?

The lunch and dinner menus offer equally appeasing items like the slow-cooked Berkshire pork sandwich and grass-fed Angus beef & veal meatloaf.

If you’re in-between meals, the juice bar is a sure way to quench your thirst and those mid-day munchies. Try the Omega-Tron for all of your nutritional needs complete with avocado, pear, pineapple, orange, chia seeds and dates.


The best way to start any meal for that matter is with their Snack Board. This ingenious carte de jour allows you to mix and match from a selection of flavorful cheeses and cured charcuteries, yum!

Carmel Belle is open Monday and Tuesday from 8am-5pm and Wednesday through Sunday from 8am-9pm. Don’t miss their weekly special events like “Game Night Wednesday” and “Farmer’s Market Fridays”.

The White Hart: Time to (Tea) Party in Pacific Grove

Nicknamed "America's Last Hometown," Pacific Grove is known for Asilomar State Beach, the annual migration of the Monarch butterflies and its array of unique and colorful Victorian homes; the city is actually home to more Victorian ladies per capita than anywhere else in the world. With its rich heritage it only seemed natural for Victorian homeowners Jim and Kathy Turley to turn their classic English mansion into an authentic Victorian-era tea room.

“The White Hart” has been a landmark on Lighthouse Avenue for the past 120 years. Dr. Andrew J. Hart built the home in 1893 and it was passed down for three generations. In the last few decades of the 19th century home has been a variety of restaurants, an art gallery, and now a classic tea house.

The grandiose three-story mansion sits high and mighty on the corner of Lighthouse Avenue and 19th Street. The interior is just as breathtaking, the décor is mainly original including the custom stain-glass window above the door reading “Dr. Hart” dating all the way back to when the house was built.

The charm continues throughout the ground floor of the house where the main tea room features colorful stain-glassed windows, crystal chandeliers and imported patterned wallpaper. Picture frames from its yesteryear show photos from the Hart family as well as watercolor paintings of the home’s facade which add a touch of personality to the old-world design.


The White Hart’s afternoon tea is as authentic as it gets. Served every other weekend from 12pm-4pm, guests can enjoy much more than just a pot of tea. The typical Victorian “tea” is more like a lunch with an array of made-from-scratch sandwiches, scones and desserts all accompanied by specialty teas, of course.

The loose leaf tea selection is extensive including lemon mint herbal tea, gunpowder green tea, ginger orange peach and many more.

Teas also come with a plethora of tasty treats on a three-tiered tray loaded with sandwiches, freshly baked scones and delightful sweets. The key here is to start at the bottom and work your way up.

The lower-tier comes with a variety of petite sandwiches. The smoked salmon on pastry puff and English cucumber sandwich are particularly tasty!

In the middle you’ll find a bounty of freshly baked scones. These tend to go fast with the organic clotted cream and Meyer lemon curd, all made in-house.

Last but not least, the top tray is reserved for dessert. Chocolate-dipped strawberries and bite size desserts are the perfect way to end an incredible afternoon of elegance. Don’t skip the chocolate truffle cream marquise, truly decadent!

All of this tea talk have you intimidated? Don’t be! Proprietors Jim and Kathy are happy to walk you through the process without all of the attitude. The menu also includes champagne, wine and beer to further ease you into the process.

Afternoon tea is $25 per person and includes your choice of tea and a selection of treats. A lighter “Cream Tea” and “Teddy Bear Tea” are also available. Click here to view the schedule of tea times.

Have a special occasion coming up? Live like a king or queen and have your next event at The White Hart. It’s the perfect location for meetings, parties, receptions, or just a proper afternoon tea with a group of friends.

Rio Grill: Enjoy Classic Southwest Cuisine in Carmel

Southwestern charm meets creative California cuisine at iconic hitching post Rio Grill in Carmel. Since 1983 this popular restaurant, located at the Crossroads Shopping Village, has been serving up hearty dishes, tasty cocktails and good-old-fashion hospitality to first time visitors and loyal locals alike; so much so, that the bar area is adorned with cartoon versions of their most frequent customers!

Aside from the quirky caricatures, the main décor looks like something you might find in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The unique desert design permeates throughout the cozy restaurant with faux cactus plants, ranchero chandeliers and colorfully imaginative paintings on the wall. The casual and rustic ambiance is perfectly paired with warm, thoughtful service and wholesome grub.

The eclectic menu is inspired by classic California cuisine with an infusion of the southwest, adding a touch of spice and flavor from their wood-burning grill and oak wood burner. Chef Cy Yontz dedicates his bold dishes to the cornucopia of fresh and local ingredients from Monterey County’s diverse farming region, making for a truly delicious dining experience!

The lunch and dinner menus are chock-full of appetizing items ranging from fresh fish, pasta, sandwiches and salads, but first one must indulge in one of Rio’s addicting libations. A favorite amongst locals is the Blood Orange Rita made with Herradura Silver, Cointreau and (wait for it…) Chef Cy’s chili syrup. The spicy kick is unexpected but certainly welcomed!

For something a little more soothing, try the Spa Treatment which, as you may have guessed, is a slice of ohm in a glass. The cucumber concoction is mixed with Hendricks gin, St. Germain and muddled cucumber - sure to have you relaxed in no time.

Every meal at Rio Grill must start with an appetizer. Meat eaters will rejoice in the “Jolly Rancheros” which are generous bites of candied pork belly with an intense yet delicious kick of honey.

For those looking for something on the lighter side, the habanero deviled eggs topped with a creamy yolk filling and a dollop of bacon jam will not disappoint.

Entree options are robust and the portions are mighty plentiful. Two of their more popular items include the house-smoked chicken and oven-baked duck breast.

A juicy half chicken comes out smokin’ hot (literally) with a melted chile butter that would make even a rubber boot taste delicious. The accompanying baby artichokes and potatoes are perfect for scooping up any remaining remnants of the lusciously creamy compound.

The seared duck breast is yet another testament to the successful south-of-the-border elements served with chilaquiles, Oaxacan mole rojo sauce and duck confit tamale. The texture from the tortilla chilaquiles is spot on with the juicy poultry. 

Rio Grill is not only a great place to catch up with friends over a unique cocktail or celebrate a birthday with family, but it’s also the perfect haven for larger group gatherings. Aside from the main dining room, Rio Grill hosts two private rooms, and one even features its own private bar; talk about a VIP party!

A New Fish in the Sea: Big Fish Grill

If you’ve been down Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf recently you may have noticed something new. Anchoring the wharf at the far end, the former Rappa’s building has now morphed into something much bigger - the Big Fish Grill and their new flashy neon sign is sure to catch your eye!

This iconic (and big!) restaurant can comfortably seat 200 hungry diners all with incredible views of the Monterey Bay. The eatery’s ideal location at the end of the wharf gives it a one-up on its competition with 360 degree waterfront views. Here you can kick-back and watch all of the action going on down below; you can even watch busy squid boats unload their catch of the day at the working pier just across the way.

Once you have soaked in your surroundings its time to soak in one (or three) of their tasty libations. The Orange Julius cocktail is particularly dangerous - the creamy citrus concoction makes it hard to stop at just one.

Fresh bread is a must at any seafood restaurant and Big Fish Grill does not disappoint. Their warm, crispy bread is the perfect accompaniment to any of their seafood appetizers, and is especially useful to scoop up remnants from their sinful roasted pacific oysters which are topped with pieces of rich crab meat and a creamy artichoke gratin.


Another appetizer to note is their grilled salmon cakes. Meaty chunks of fresh salmon come together with scallions, dill, bell peppers, and onions, all lightly fried and topped with a savory roasted pepper aioli.

Entrée items include all of the comfort foods you would expect on the wharf like clam chowder, fish and chips and calamari. Diners with a more diverse palate can enjoy a seafood cioppino, house made gnocchi or tangy Bang-Bang shrimp among others.


Insiders Tip: Ask for the Locals Menu. For just $13.95 you can indulge in a 2-course meal (seven entrees options) with a choice of clam chowder or soup.

Big Fish Grill is open daily from 11am to 9pm.

Abalonetti Bar & Grill is the “Best Calamari Restaurant in Monterey” for Good Reason

No trip to Monterey is complete without some killer calamari, and nowhere serves it up quite like Abalonetti Bar & Grill.

Located on Old Fisherman’s Wharf, this iconic restaurant prides itself on good food, great service, phenomenal views of Monterey Bay, and has successfully done so for the past 64 years. The teal blue restaurant is just a short stroll down the historic wharf and is well worth a visit for lunch or dinner, where the kick-back, comfortable atmosphere is what most people are looking for after a long day of sightseeing.

The bar is particularly welcoming and one could easily envision chatting it up with one of the friendly bartenders as if they were a long lost high school friend.

The main dining room offers up incredible ocean views from almost every seat in the house.

Just outside is one of the restaurant’s main features: an expansive waterfront patio that is truly a rare find on the wharf. Here you can fully take in the sights and sounds along the bustling wharf and see passing boats and playful sea otters down below.

The best way to kick off any meal at Abalonetti’s is at their famed antipasto bar. Here you’ll find a plethora of tasty items like roasted garlic, seared bell peppers, fresh feta cheese and marinated artichokes. Pair this hearty dish with some of their fresh oysters and award-winning calamari and you have yourself a party!


Speaking of calamari, did we mention they offer it 20 different ways? It’s no wonder Abalonetti’s has been voted “Best Calamari Restaurant in Monterey” for a solid 14 years in a row! This is also because Abalonetti is one of the only restaurants in Monterey County that cleans its squid in-house. Their secret weapon for cleaning these messy cephalopods is longtime employee Faustino Perez who averages about 1,000 lbs. of squid per week!

Luckily we can all reap the benefits of his slimy efforts with calamari done almost every way imaginable including a traditional fried style, Baja California style, and Buffalo style. The Baja California calmari is quite the treat, prepared lightly breaded and fried, served with a chipotle sauce and fresh pico de gallo salsa; boy does it have a kick!

Insiders Tip: Ask for the Locals Menu. For just $9.95 you can choose from an array of delectable entrees any time of day!

Abalonetti Bar & Grill is open daily from 11:30am to 9pm.