About to roll into Monterey. We are going to be there for about a month.

Looking forward to the golf, but also interested if folks have any recs for good restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, wineries and other hangouts.

Completely random and not golf advice, but go to Compagno's deli early in your trip for lunch - you will want to go more than once.

Second for grabbing a sandwich at Compagno's. Lucy's in pacific grove does different style hot dogs, mostly outdoor seating and good for kids. Rosine's has fantastic cakes and the food is good. Check out Mission Ranch in Carmel-by-the-Sea for a dinner. Reds donuts is overrated (IMO) if you need donuts Monterey Donuts on Fremont is better, specifically the fritters.

Are you staying in Monterey? Do you want to stay local with eating dining, or do you plan on spending time in Carmel?

We will be here a while so definitely interested in both.

We are staying in Pacific Grove up the hill above Cannery Row. A cashier at Trader Joe's recommended Bulldog Pub as a place he would go personally. Another lady recommended Chez Noir in Carmel as a fancy dinner option.

Looking for any and all recs.

La Bicyclette in Carmel

https://www.labicycletterestaurant.com/

If not already, the bagpiper at the Spanish Bay - more specifically at the Patio.

Do it once. It's quite enjoyable.

Sardine Factory in Monterey and Sunday brunch by the 18th green at Pebble Beach.

Also Sunday brunch at Mission Ranch. Best one we have ever been to. Beautiful setting.

Here's an easy hangout for you.

Tarpys Roadhouse in Del Rey Oaks, about 10 min from Pacific Grove. Actually it's near the airport. I used to live 2 blocks away from Tarpys.

Make a reservation and sit in the courtyard near the fireplace or heater. Their buttermilk chicken sandwich is really good.

I remember 8 of us hanging out there after golf and another time taking my daughter and her college friends. We love it.

Don't forget to play Bayonet Black Horse in Seaside.

See you in the F Golf thread after Bayonet and then I LOVE GOLF thread after Black Horse, maybe.

Poppy Hills is a must.

Not in Monterey proper but if you're there that long make the jaunt up to Santa Cruz and play Pasatiempo.

The greens and bunkers are still being restored but I think one of the nines is complete and you can play it twice at quite a discount.

I was going to mention this as well until I found out you can only play the front nine right now.

I actually have only played the front 9 there. Went years ago, while the wife was on a business trip. Drove over to get on as a single and had to sit around for four hours until they finally got me on. But I only had enough time to play the front 9 before heading back to San Jose. Still worth it.

You can play the front nine twice right now. Not cheap but think I'm gonna go do it. I feel like it'd be wrong to not play it while I'm here.

Blueberry pancakes at Ripplewood Cafe in Big Sur.

aginlakeway said:

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Blueberry pancakes at Ripplewood Cafe in Big Sur.

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Can you get down to Big Sur now with the highway washout? If so, I would also recommend Nepenthe restaurant. Nice drive down there and a beautiful setting right on the coastal cliff.

Duckhook said:

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aginlakeway said:

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Blueberry pancakes at Ripplewood Cafe in Big Sur.

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Can you get down to Big Sur now with the highway washout? If so, I would also recommend Nepenthe restaurant. Nice drive down there and a beautiful setting right on the coastal cliff.

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Great restaurant. Better view.

Duckhook said:

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aginlakeway said:

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Blueberry pancakes at Ripplewood Cafe in Big Sur.

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Can you get down to Big Sur now with the highway washout? If so, I would also recommend Nepenthe restaurant. Nice drive down there and a beautiful setting right on the coastal cliff.

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I think the problems with the highway are south of Big Sur.

Is that #1? I was a member there about 15 years ago - before the renovation. Really fun place.

I'm playing Poppy Wednesday. I'm looking forward to it

It's so nice to play a round a golf and not think about the temperature. Just the smell of the pines, the grass and the ocean.

One good outcome of covid was that Pebble finally started allowing push carts. That old policy was such a shakedown

I think the first one is #1. I think the second one is 17.

I played Pacific Grove muni when I was there. How did you get a tee time at Pebble? That seemed tough unless staying on property.

AggieDruggist89 said:

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If not already, the bagpiper at the Spanish Bay - more specifically at the Patio.

Do it once. It's quite enjoyable.

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That is a fun time!

You just call the day before and if they have openings they will get you on. The website says 24 hours but my buddy called Wednesday and they gave us a spot on Friday. So I think 24 hours is more of a guideline than a rule.

bagger05 said:

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I think the first one is #1. I think the second one is 17.

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Yep, now I see it…17 is tricky and I always walked so I was a little worn out. Long approach shot there typically.

Yep, their tee time rule is 24 hours if not staying on property, but both times I played it, I called 7-10 days out and they gave me one. Was actually the first off both times. That said, I was a single looking for a midweek tee time. It's also non-cancelable 7-10 days out, so they know they are getting your $$$ for sure

Unless the tee sheet is pretty full, they seem to play ball. The first time, I was calling just to confirm the rule, but the guy proactively offered to see how full the sheet was and put me down. The 2nd time I talked her into it a bit (the fact the guy did it before gave me angle), but she didn't take much coaxing

We just booked today for Thursday. So the 24 hr rule is definitely not hard and fast.

Played Pebble yesterday. 89 with some sloppiness in there. One of the hardest things was not overthinking every shot. The round was BRUTALLY slow and you're waiting a long time on every shot. I had plenty of time to talk myself out of a smart play.

Did have an awesome birdie on 6. Hit a great 3w to a foot short of the green.

Course is a lot harder than I was expecting. Looking forward to playing again next week.

Spanish Bay today.

Pebble is very open, but it's defense is the size of the greens. Smallest of all PGAT stops and about 50% the size of the average green. And they are well protected by steep-faced bunkers if you miss. So the approach shot game and bunker game have to be dialed.

Played Spyglass today.

I've heard people say it's better than Pebble and I can see why. I think it depends on how you define "best." Spyglass didn't really have any weak holes.

I thought Spanish Bay was fine. I didn't think it had a lot of character. I heard they're renovating it next year. I hope they do to it what they did to Pinehurst. It's on a great piece of property and I think if they let nature be the star it would be a lot better.

Also if you're coming to Monterey, check out the Duke's membership. Discounted rates at Spyglass, Spanish Bay, and DelMonte plus some free rounds at The Hay.

Might be a winner if you're playing multiple rounds at some of these places.