Best Restaurant That Is Hidden In Plain (Somewhat) Sight
Coastal Kitchen
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, 400 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 645-4064, coastalkitchenmonterey.com
Circus barkers don’t whisper. To slip quietly along would not attract crowds to the big top. In terms of hospitality, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa is the big top (see Best Hotel). But its signature restaurant prefers to speak softly. Chef Michael Rotondo and his team serve Michelin star-worthy dishes in an almost serene atmosphere – great view, reverence for ingredients – nearby the much more boisterous Schooners restaurant. Instead of calling for attention, Rotondo prefers to let the dishes speak for the restaurant. And with each bite, guests fall under their spell – hence the hush that falls over the room. So one of the best restaurants in Monterey County is there, but you might not notice.