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The Best Eats Around the Monterey Peninsula, With Lady & Larder
When sisters Sarah and Boo Simms opened the second location of their beloved cheese and charcuterie shop, Lady & Larder, in Carmel Valley late last year, it was a true homecoming. After establishing the brand in Santa Monica in 2016, it quickly gained notoriety with a spot on Oprah’s Favorite Things. But the twins always planned to raise their kids in Carmel, having fond memories of growing up here themselves. Now, their showstopping boards, overflowing with gorgeously styled selections of seasonal fare, are a must among Peninsula natives and visitors alike. “It’s the best of what’s available at the farmers market that week,” says Sarah. (The pair visit local farmers market religiously.) This summer, they added a wine-drinking patio, Marmee’s, to the shop. Its weekend-only menu features small plates, grab-and-go sandwiches, natural wines, summer spritzes, and more. When they’re not at the shop, find Sarah and Boo frequenting local favorites, new and old — from Stationaery to Phil's Fish Market. Read on for all their recs for the best bites on the Peninsula.
AM
Start the day with:
A flat white made with Sightglass Coffee and a tropical green smoothie with chia from Earthbound Farms’ Farm Stand in Carmel Valley. (During the day, be sure to try their Straus soft serve ice cream swirl, too—they always have rotating seasonal flavors!)
For the best…
Bread: Always, always Ad Astra Bread Co in Monterey — the sleeper hit is the olive oil soaked focaccia.
Salad: Current favorite is the broccoli salad at Stokes Adobe in Monterey. The Caesar dressing and fiscalini cheddar shaved on top are insane—epic cheese to broccoli ratio and the broccoli is raw and super crunchy.
French Fries: At Cella in Monterey, the fries are super crispy and have lots of herbs and a pile of pickles on top. There's a dreamy ranch dip situation, too—everything you want in a fry!
Hidden gems:
Flying Fish Grill (literally, hidden downstairs at Carmel Plaza). A childhood favorite for all the crispy wontons and ginger salsa you can eat, plus delicate fish steamed in parchment and a tempura banana split at the end.
Mariscos Puerto Nuevo in Seaside for delicious micheladas and seafood. Boo loves the chili relleno and our kiddos love their rice.
Michael’s Taqueria in Pacific Grove. We have been going since we were kids! We love their blackened chicken and they have the best salsa ever—it’s the perfect texture.
Tommy's Wok (also, literally, hidden). We love the spicy eggplant, walnut prawns, pan-fried potstickers and crispy sesame beef. There's a tiny dining room but it's always great for takeout.
Lucy's on Lighthouse in Pacific Grove. Go for hotdogs and corn dogs with the kids. There's a cute little patio.
Kid-Friendly Spots:
Baja Cantina for crispy chicken tacos, chili rellenos, and margaritas for the adults. The kids love getting their meal served in a cardboard classic car. The layout at Other Brother Beer in Seaside is so relaxed. Parents can drink cold beers, there are so many fun board games to play (Connect Four is our fave!) and our kids love their epic grilled cheese and the pinball machine upstairs. Also try The Tap Room at The Lodge in Pebble Beach. Sometimes we bring our putters and sneak in some golf before dinner, or take in the sunset over Stillwater Cove. We love the classics there, like French onion soup and the crab Louis salad. Our kids go nuts for the giant ice cream sundae they serve.
PM
Insider Secrets:
There are 30 wine tasting rooms out in Carmel Valley Village—it's the best secret ever. There is a whole day of wine tasting to be had out there. Most of them are open five to seven days per week. You can stop by Garland Ranch Regional Park on the way for a nice walk or hike, then treat yourself to lunch at Corkscrew Cafe (get the fried onion towers and spicy sausage pizza) or Taqueria del Valle (order the Mexican chicken salad and top it with tons of pickled onions from the salsa bar) and finish with wine tastings at spots like Corral Wine Co. and Holman Ranch.
We always take visitors to:
Carmel Beach for a long walk, then a stop at artist Marie-Clare Treseder Gorham's Carmel Shell mural on 6th and Mission. Mission Ranch for live piano and an evening cocktail with a view of the sheep. And, a real classic, we love taking people over to Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach for the sunset bagpiper and a cold beer by the fire pits. For a little adventure, rent a bike or kayak from Adventures by the Sea. They are a wonderful family-owned business. We love riding along the path from Monterey to Pacific Grove, over by Lover’s Point.
End the day with dinner at:
Cafe Rustica in Carmel Valley for steamed clams, Lorraine pizza, and calamari. Always ask for a table on the patio in the summer. Order a bottle of grenache or rosé. Revel in the magic of warm Carmel Valley evenings. (Local’s tip: the patio is dog friendly.)
The perfect place for a night cap:
Pearl Hour in Monterey for cocktails and live jazz on Wednesdays and Sundays. Bud’s at La Playa Hotel for live music on Thursdays and Sundays. We also love Grasing's bar for martinis and popcorn—find us a better espresso martini, we'll wait! And we love, love, love the bar at Chez Noir, where you can order off the a la carte menu (crispy sunchokes and grilled oysters!) and sip cocktails pre or post dinner. There is no one that does warmth and hospitality better than owners Jonny, Monique and their team. If you’re in Carmel Valley, The Running Iron for cold beers and the jukebox—we love putting on some Fleetwood Mac (cue, Say You Love Me!) and dancing in the bar to end an evening.
The thing I appreciate most about living here is:
The stars at night. The quiet. The pace of everything. The fact that you cannot go anywhere without running into at least two people that you know.
Illustration by Kelsey Wisdom
PLAN YOUR DAY
on the Peninsula
- Earthbound Farms’ Farm Stand
Carmel Valley, CA - Ad Astra Bread Co
Monterey, CA - Stokes Adobe
Monterey, CA - Cella
Monterey, CA - Flying Fish Grill
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Mariscos Puerto Nuevo
Seaside, CA - Baja Cantina
Carmel Valley, CA - Other Brother Beer
Seaside, CA - Corkscrew Cafe
Carmel Valley, CA - Taqueria del Valle
Carmel Valley, CA - Corral Wine Co.
Carmel Valley, CA - Holman Ranch
Carmel Valley, CA - Cafe Rustica
Carmel Valley, CA - Pearl Hour
Monterey, CA
