Tutu

The Best of Monterey County star casts a long shadow.

Often deciding what to order for dinner out is just way too difficult (in a good way). Which means this decision—or, more accurately, this series of decisions—is no small feat.

The finalists are in place for Best of Monterey County 2017, in dozens and dozens of meaningful and competitive categories (and some more whimsical and abstract categories too).

Quite possibly the most contentious vote is for Best New Restaurant. This year the finalists include Aabha Indian Cuisine, Cultura Comida y Bebida, Mulligan Public House, Poke Lab and Billy Quon's Sur

Each of those appears on my top 10 new Monterey County restaurants for 2016, and I could make a case for each of them.

Other compelling categories include—but are in no way limited to—Best Restaurant in Monterey County, Best Cheap Eats, Best Restaurant for Vegetarians and Best Italian.

And that's just a tiny taste of the Restaurants category. Specialty Foods; Around Town; Agriculture, Arts, Entertainment & Nightlife; and Shopping & Services also await reader input.

That happens at the Best of Monterey County voting page. The deadline to vote is Thursday, Feb. 23.

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