First Awakenings
300 David Ave., Monterey, 372-1125 171 Main St., Salinas, 784-1125 firstawakenings.net
Eating breakfast at First Awakenings feels like a Monterey County rite of passage, and with locations in Salinas and Monterey, you never have to travel too far to take advantage of the restaurant’s famous breakfast/brunch menu – if you can get a table, that is. First Awakenings on the Peninsula moved from its Pacific Grove location to Monterey in 2021 after almost three decades inside the American Tin Cannery. The line is typically out the door and the wait, without a reservation, can be hours. Plan ahead, people – it’s worth it if for no other reason than to try the wheat germ pancakes, a local delicacy hard to replicate.