Whaling Station
763 Wave St., Monterey
(831) 373-3778 www.whalingstationmonterey.com
John Pisto’s Whaling Station is more than the Peninsula’s longtime, go-to spot for top-notch steak euphoria. It’s an education that begins with a mouthwatering, tableside visual aid, showcasing the various cuts available: filet mignon, cut top sirloin, bone-in rib eye, New York strip, porterhouse and dry-aged natural rib eye. Learn about the dry aging process, which yields flavors more complex than Chinese algebra. The culmination of a Whaling Station steak dinner: A scholarship to beef heaven. Like the proverbial Julia Child once professed: “The only time to eat diet food is when you’re waiting for your steak to cook.”