More of Monterey County’s best new restaurants for 2015.

Call it a cocktail party.

Islas Marietas (757-4165) is only weeks into its existence on Main in Oldtown Salinas, but it can already claim something no other restaurant in the area can: a menu page devoted entirely to seafood cocktails and its close cousins.

There appears shrimp cocktail with cucumber, tomato, onion and avocado ($9.99/small; $13.99/large), octopus ($10.99, $13.99) and the campechana with shrimp, octopus and crab ($10.99, $13.99).

Those come flanked by aguachile ceviches like the mixto with shrimp, octopus, scallops, oyster and crab ($18.50). Three seafood salads include an abalone with scallops, octopus and shrimp ($19.99). Four tostadas offer similar ingredients at a smaller size and price ($3.99-$5.99)

The place is recent enough that it slipped through my ranking of this year’s record-breaking amount of new restaurants. Check out #21 through #30 on the blog, www.mcweekly.com/edible, where I will also post all of 30 on Christmas.

There are many inspiring things about the new restaurant boom, but the coolest would be the fact all but one are family owned and operated (but evenBernardus’ Lucia can feel familial), like Islas Marietas, where the warmly colorful setting dovetails with warm hospitality.

Here appear new spots #11 through #20; #1 through #10 run next week.

20. Coconut Thai (883-8399) continues the Thai food legacy in the little house at 210 Reindollar in Marina that was once D’Anna’s Thai Kitchen and My Thai. Customers are greeted with wafts of Thai basil-, mint – and curry coming out of the kitchen. From there comforting favorites like the pad Thai and sweet-and-sour tom yum await, but so do house specials like flavorful pumpkin curry and extra crispy trout with mango curry. Already an early favorite for Best Restaurant Marina in the Weekly’s annual readers poll this spring.

19. Dim Sum Inn (998-8396) at 1938 N. Main St. comes from the family behind Eagle Restaurant (751-2312). DSI provides a big, clean restaurant with a menu to match. The massive lunch menu includes 30 dim sum ($5.50 each) items, 17 fried rices ($10.99) and 11 “kitchen specials” like chow fun ($10.99) and steamed bok choy ($9.99). Then there’s a whole other dinner menu with 106 items, from egg flower style soups to mushi pancakes ($11.99), but it’s the dim sum like the Shanghai-style dumpling that are the top draw. It’s already busy on the weekends, and hopefully brings enough commerce that they can break out cart service soon.

18. Bon Ton L’Roy’s Lighthouse Smokehouse (375-6598) has taken over Amir’s Kebab House on 794 Lighthouse Ave. in Monterey and given the county an all-too uncommon barbecue spot, and an excellent one at that. Combo plates with slow-smoked ribs, brisket and tri-tip (with a choice of two-sides) are a mainstay, as are sandwiches like the pulled pork shoulder with medium-hot tangy barbecue sauce on Palermo’s sesame rolls. But there are also surprises from the people who formerly ran Bayside Cafe, like gumbo and borscht. Full bar too.

17. Pupuseria Marleny’s proves a quintessential Salvadoran comfort food. The gordita-like corn puck pockets include the classic revuelta (chicharrones, beans and cheese); carne asada con queso (grilled beef with cheese); camaron con queso (shrimp and cheese) and loroco con queso (a green Central American flower with cheese). Pasteles con carne (empanada-esque beef pies), chicken tamales, fried yucca with chicharron and Salvadoran chicken and egg sandwiches round out the offerings.

16. Dametra Fresh Mediterranean (275-5555) rolls out a welcome alternative to the other food choices at the Del Monte Center. Compared to the original Dametra Cafe in Carmel, the format and prices have changed but the hospitality and flavor hasn’t. From an assembly-style layout, diners pick from Greek-leaning meats like lamb or beef gyro, chicken kebob and then “wrap it” in lavash or pita or make it into a platter. The yellow saffron rice, creamy hummus and zesty dolmas are among the favorites additives. Friendly attendants help generate as much volume as any nwe 2015 restaurant.

15. Namu Fine Korean (624-3318) at 3600 The Barnyard in Carmel crafts creative Korean including squid-ink fried calamari, an incredible potato pancake filled with squid, pork and prawns and a range of bi bim bap wonders, while pouring quality sake in an expansive and attractive space at the heart of the garden-laden shopping destination. It’s a little pricey – rent at the sizable spot isn’t exactly cheap – but very interesting and flavorful upscale Asian.

14. Scales Seafood & Steaks (375-1331) is a huge, shimmering and strangely-named new installment from the Chris Shake-Sabu Shake Jr. restaurant group (Old Fisherman’s Grotto, Fish Hopper) in the former Gilbert’s on Fisherman’s Wharf, with four businesses within a business. (There’s a fish market, cafe-deli and gift shop too.) Bring on chowder with crab meat, salmon BLTs, seafood paella, linguini Isabella and $25 Ultimate Seafood Bloody Mary with a bacon-wrapped prawn, oyster and crab slider on top.

13. Boardwalk Sub Shop (264-1171), at 470 Alvarado St. in Monterey, does Jersey cheesesteaks, Philly cheesesteaks, pizza cheesesteaks, Italian sausage sandwiches, house-roasted turkey sandwiches, the flagship Atlantic City Italians and more – including calzones and salads, soups and sides, garlic fries, gravy fries, duck fries and Philly cheese fries. Plus Philly soft pretzels and beers, wines and craft sodas, all on tap, WiFi and neat recycled-wood-and-stainless-steel decor.

12. Salinas Brickhouse (755 -7775) on 66 W. Alisal, Salinas took over El Callejon to establish a new spot from the same heartfelt and hands-on owners of Norma’s Family Restaurant. The focus is on sit-down comfort food, build-your-own burritos and robust soups and salads, either in the stylish interior or on the sizeable brick patios in front. Items include lemon chicken with couscous, broccoli, carrots and garlic bread; chili verde, available in taco, burrito or salad form; and the Ortega grilled chicken sandwich, which includes mixed greens and red onions on crusty ciabatta. Big portions and bigger value inspired Weeklyfood critic Daniel DeCamp to write, “I’m not only betting the Brickhouse is here to stay for awhile, I think it’s got what it takes to become an Oldtown Salinas institution.”

11. La Bahia Mexican American Grill (884-5269) on 675 Lighthouse Ave. in New Monterey has won a loyal following thanks to its friendly, family-run feel and big colorful plates of things like twice-battered chile rellenos, spinach-and-artichoke enchiladas, chicken mole and chiles verde. Deals on beers and constant specials sweeten things. The chefs are brothers, and worked for decades at super-popular Peppers before starting their own shop. The setting is simple, as is the formula: homemade, family-run, with big value matching big flavor.

Quickbites

• Carmel Coffee House (626-2095) on Ocean between San Carlos and Dolores does $1 coffee 7-8am Monday-Friday.
• Buy one half gallon ($24) and get one 50 percent off through Dec. 25 at all the Perfectly Pressed juice joints.
• Evil Twin Brewing tap takeover 3pm-midnight Friday, Dec. 18, at Post No Bills in Sand City (324-4667).
• Giant Artichoke above Starbucks on Cannery Row (643-9524) has some solid promotions going: 10am-7pm daily happy hour, $3.50 pints 4-6pm every day, $1 taco Tuesdays after 8pm (with drink specials), country music Friday with $3 beers and $5 shots of Jack D.
• Georis’ new tasting room (659-1080) proves as pretty in person as in pictures, with superb estate La Chapelle a a standout among the many good wines.
• Get more QBs on the blog, 
  www.mcweekly.com/edible.
• ake on complementary varietals.
• Moutons blends to match the stately setting with balance, depth, earth and a pleasantly chalky finish that invites additional sipping. Apparently Damien Georis knows what he’s doing.
• El Charrito (424-9446) on W. Market in Salinas quit its liquor license because of so much beer theft. Fortunately the deli counter remains as busy as ever, with lines frequently out the door for crave-ready chili verde burritos.
• Carmel Road’s new tasting room at Lincoln between Ocean and Sixth gives free tastings in exchange for canned food or other nonperishable food items.
• J.R.R. Tolkien: “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”