Il Vecchio
110 Central Ave., Pacific Grove, (831) 324‑4282, ilvecchiorestaurant.com
At Il Vecchio, the only way to make great Italian food is to use the old way of the Old World. Think of ragu simmering for hours on the back burner as an attentive cook constantly stirs. No microwave. You can’t rush perfection. And you can’t go wrong with classic dishes like gnocchi paired with a velvety pesto or eggplant parmigiana that could come straight from grandma’s kitchen. It’s unfortunate that Steinbeck didn’t experience meals like this during his visit to Palermo. There, he mostly ate from a can while Germans were firing at him and those around him. Luckily for Weekly readers, Il Vecchio does a lot better than that on ambiance.