Monterey Fish House
2114 Del Monte Ave., Monterey | (831) 373-4647, montereyfishhouse.com
Their hospitable staff and comfort food from the sea combine to inspire enough pilgrimages that there’s a line down the front ramp on what are slow nights elsewhere. If you want to go big then order off their specials, like their in-demand Monterey spot prawns (extremely seasonal). Like all the super-fresh fish, you can do them almost anyway you want—oak grilled, scampi style, in cioppino broth, cream sauce, sake butter, or sauteed in a white wine garlic sauce.