Peppers
170 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 373-6892, pepperspg.com
When it comes to honoring what the Founding Fathers wanted, Peppers has it dialed in. Here’s the origin story of their margarita recipe: It was about 15 years ago that they were moving on up and applying for a liquor license. The whole staff developed and tasted a homemade margarita mix, and settled on one that emphasizes freshness and simplicity: 50/50 lemon/lime juice, with just a dash of orange juice. “And we put a lot of tequila into our margaritas,” owner Lisa Weiman adds. “We don’t skimp.” Make that 100-percent agave tequila, hand-shaken, and voila – a recipe that’s as timeless as, say, the Declaration of Independence.