Red House Café
662 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove | (831) 643-1060, redhousecafe.com
The familiar red Victorian home built in 1895 and converted into a restaurant a century later looks picture purr-fect. All it needs is a lazy cat curled up by the fireplace, or sunning on the welcoming front porch, to complete the cozy, homey ambiance. Patrons keep coming back to the café’s weekend brunch for delicious favorites, like the housemade crab cakes served Benedict-style on flaky croissants ($13.75), fluffy buttermilk pancakes ($9.25), and cinnamon brioche French toast ($10.75). There are also eight tasty sandwiches to choose from, plus hearty fare like the steak with French fries ($13.50) or a grilled calamari steak sandwich with chili aioli ($12.50).