Esteban
Casa Munras Garden Hotel and Spa, 700 Munras Ave., Monterey (831) 375-0176, hotelcasamunras.com/esteban-restaurant
There’s fire inside, outside and on the menu at this beloved Monterey establishment featuring tapas. Large plates sound equally tempting, but the stars here are smaller bites like lamb albondigas, “Huevos Diablo,” cheese montaditos and chicken achiote. Slightly bigger plates can be chosen from the vegetable, fish or meat sections, such as roasted pears with harissa and goat cheese, clams and chorizo, pulled pork empanadas and lamb chops. Drooling yet?