Cibo Ristorante Italiano
317 Alvarado St., Monterey (831) 649-8151, cibo.com
Being founded in 1990 makes this downtown hotspot just a year younger than this newspaper. But you won’t find ’80s-era big hair, spandex and glam rock here; the musical menu is jazz, jazz and more jazz. The cuisine is notable as well, but the Italian classic Costoletta di vitello (veal chop) aren’t the only chops on display given the considerable musical chops of local jazz luminaries like Roger Eddy, Lee Durley, Joe Indence, songstress Andrea Carter, and ace reedman Ben Herod and his trio who riff there. The house churns out live jazz six nights a week (and on two Sunday afternoons a month) with a $3 well, and a wine and beer happy hour from 4-7pm daily.