Hi all,
will be travelling with the family in California in February
1 night in SF
2 nights in Monterey
2 night in Pismo Beach
4 nights in LA
And are looking for 1-2 great Restaurant exp along the way. I will bring wine from the cellar at the trip - so corkage is a plus (unless there is some great priced wine lists out there).
I am not looking for 3* restaurants (as I am bringing kids, 15-11-9Y) but still a great exp.
Thx
Asger
Asger, how old are your kids, and how well do they eat?
Central Monterey is very touristy, I would avoid most restaurants there (except for the fact that a couple are right on the water, even over the water, so pretty cool ocean views, but you get plenty of ocean in Denmark lol). Instead, I would suggest Pacific Grove, which is just a few minutes away. Passionfish is a popular destination for those of us who live in the Bay Area. Itâs a small menu, but the food is good, and the wine list is excellent. You can find very nice California wines, and also a good selection of european wines at what to us are fair prices.
The other option is to drive a few miles south to Carmel, where there are lots of restaurant choices. Bicyclette is a french bistro style place, quite casual, with good food and a nice, affordable wine list. Casanova a little nicer and more expensive, but still a place you can easily take your kids. Extensive wine list thatâs not cheap, but you can find some decent choices.
Donât miss taking 17 mile drive. I havenât been around many coastal areas of Denmark, but you honestly wonât find more beautiful ocean scenery anywhere on earth than 17 mile drive.
Most restaurants in California allow corkage. Unless itâs a really high end place, the corkage prices are usually reasonable, on the order of $30-50.
Just donât call it Cali to the locals, you will get looked down upon.
Or Frisco, San Fran.
But I often write âcaliâ as shorthand here 
Cali is a city in Colombia.
So Passionfish for the Monterey leg. I think they have food, too
Thanks for heads-up have corrected post
Thx for the mail
And agree - cost line is amazing. Have been there before kids - and are now bringing them to see
Denmark also has amazing coastline - but this is something different
kids are 15-11-9 and also enjoys nice restaurants and food - however two youngest are less adventurers and are not not into full set meny .
Iâll second Alanâs recommendation of Bicyclette in Carmel. My wife and I ate there at the urging of Berserker George Chadwick and it was a terrific meal. A very warm and inviting place and your kids should be fine.
You can find their menus online. Passionfish is more fish oriented, but they usually have a couple of meat options. Their duck confit is excellent. Even the big tourist restaurants along Cannery Row in Monterey arenât bad, just be aware that itâs all tourists lol. If you want something a little different, there is good Mexican food in the area, frankly everywhere in California. Asian as well.
Ideas for San Francisco with non-adventurous eaters,
Agree with everything Alan says about Monterey and Carmel. Two things to add: the aquarium in Monterey is excellent. The mexican restaurant Cultura Comida y Bebida in Carmel is excellent especially their queso dip; they also have grasshoppers for an optional appetizer snack, which should appeal to the teenager, at least? Anyway, the other dishes are good there, too. The restaurant is busy and loud.
There are good tide pools all around Monterey, including on 17 mile drive itself, Best Places for Tide Pooling | See Monterey County, CA. Consult tide tables for best time to visit (low tide). There are smartphone apps for local tides.
The Thai recommendations (Khin Kao, less formal, Nari very refined) are special
places and not likely something youâll get outside Thailand. The executive chef at these two is also the exec chef at Nahm in Bangkok.
Boulevard has always been a favorite for California cuisine but havenât went post pandemic. 4 course prix fixe now, one more course than I usually want.
State Bird Provisions is a small plate format, may work very well for a group with differing tastes.
Kokkari Estatorio is great. Super high quality Greek food, nothing ornate, but really good and fits a lot of dining preferences (meat or fish or veg, etc).
All in SF, corkage usually very easy,
Where in LA will you be staying? No need to spend extra time in the car going across town in LA for dinner in my opinion.
For SF, there are obviously a ton of options. Some are harder to get into, and can be a little expensive for a family. Zuni Cafe is a mainstay I would recommend. Frankly, with three kids, Iâd be tempted to go full tourist mode, and go to something like Scomaâs on the wharf. Itâs an institution, and you donât get more âSan Franciscoâ than that. Hit Pier 39 for the ultimate tourist experience lol. Many people donât know you can actually walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, if youâre looking for an adventure. There are parking areas on either side, but they get crowded on weekends.
Thx for recommendations
in LA, will be staying downtown at Level South Olive (https://book-southolive.stayinglevel.com)
Thx - and the Tide Pooling looks fun - will try that
Assume you have a good reason for staying Downtown, like tickets at the Ahmanson. Plus a museum. Just one activity wouldnât outweigh the traffic hassle of getting elsewhere. Lots of restaurant choices though.
If you are trying to see the sites of LA, maybe find something better located.
Well, thanks for the heads-up. But booking is not possible to change - so have to live with it
have tickets to a Lakers game - that is nearby.
No one has given you suggestions for Pismo, and unfortunately I donât have much to suggest either lol. But since I just noticed you said February, be aware that the weather can be quite variable. Pismo in particular stays pretty cool, even in the summer. Unless a storm is coming through, itâs likely to be sunny and comfortable, but it can get breezy, even foggy at times (more likely in summer). I realize you know cold weather, but itâs common for people coming to California to think everywhere is warm and sunny lol.
I drive by there often, but have never spent time or eaten there. That area of Pismo and Grover Beach is quite casual and âbeachyâ. The one restaurant I can recommend is Blue Moon in Avila Beach, not far from Pismo. Otherwise, Iâd find a place for burgers, bbq, or Mexican, and enjoy the vibe.
Another off the beaten path suggestion: on the drive to Los Angeles you will go past the tiny town of Los Alamos (which is not the famous one in New Mexico). There is a nice little bakery we stop at called Bobâs Well Bread, if they are open on the day you drive. They have some good breads, cookies, etc., and make some very good little baguette sandwiches (the ham is particularly good). Just a suggestion for a stop on your way to stretch legs and see something different.
Oh yeah, whatever you do, donât waste your time going through Solvang. It is meant to be representative of a Danish village, and is kind of embarrassing lol. Totally tourist attraction, and not worth your time.
I donât get downtown much because of the traffic.
If I did, the first place Iâd try is Baroo. Factory Kitchen is good Italian (noisy). Bavel is very good Israeli food.
Grand Central Market is a food court great for lunch. But I havenât been in years, others could recommend specific places. And I defer to those who dine there more regularly.
You might plan out your days and eat dinner where you are sightseeing. If on the Westside, avoiding driving back to DTLA (downtown LA) between 4pm and 7pm is advisable. There are great restaurants everywhere in LA.
One place I take out if owners is the La Brea tar pits. Very unique and great if you like natural history. Many restaurants nearby (A.O.C is good and moderately priced, Iâve heard great things about Republique and itâs walking distance from the pits),