Tarpy’s Roadhouse
2999 Monterey-Salinas Highway, Monterey | (831) 647-1444, tarpys.com
Tarpy’s is one of the first restaurants in town to introduce an electronic wine list. Maybe it’s the combo of solid food and lots of wine and other adult beverages that makes it so easy and fun to do business over lunch. (Try the Twisted Greyhound, which is a spruced-up version of the OG made with Ciroc peach vodka, grapefruit bitters and rosemary simple syrup.) It’s conveniently located next door to the airport and Ryan Ranch, between Monterey and Salinas, with a range of seating options—including a pooch-friendly patio—and endless temptations, including shrimp and grits, chili-crusted chicken breast and smoked Wagyu brisket.