Not to quote the old 70s show, Gomer Pile, but Hops and Fog was a "Surprise surprise surprise!!!"…read more I expected them to have good beer because, well... heck, it's a beer place! But to have excellent food? HELL NAH! Well they do! Everything was deeeeelicious! Everything! You'd think we had been stuck on a deserted island for weeks and starving to death so that every crumb tasted extra tasty, but I swear that wasn't the case! I wasn't even hungry and planned on eating ONE of the tiny skewers of mozzarella cheese with tomato and basil. That's it! But then the hummus and bread arrived, and I could see that was special. We are talking drool-inducing special! The bread was pizza bread, my friends! It was hot, it was crunchy on the outside, and soft and chewy to perfection on the inside! And that hummus, I have no idea what exactly was in it, but if Heaven was a food item, that's what it would be! Then we ordered the soup of the day. This potato leek soup we ordered ran out, so they brought us this alternate one (some tomato bisque one), so I was disappointed....until I took a sip. Then my black coal of a heart melted into jelly beans of joy! I could have eaten a gallon of that. Hops and Fog Brewing is a misleading name. It should be called something like: Hops and Fog Brewing and OH SO MUCH MORE, CHICKADEES! If this brewery-restaurant was closer, I would come here regularly!

I've eaten here a few times now, and would say they have some of the best pizza in the Monterey…read morepeninsula. The sourdough crust is delicious! I love the combination of toppings they use, especially on the lemon artichoke pesto pizza. They cook the pizzas in a beautiful stone oven, so it takes a bit of time to come out, but while waiting you can sip on a fruity sour or smooth ale made there at the brewery. They offer other food options as well like salads, soups, and sandwiches. The seating here is somewhat limited first come first serve. You order at the counter first and they'll bring the food to your table. It's a small restaurant and can feel quite cramped inside when full, but there is outdoor seating in the front and back as well. It gets especially crowded when they have live music playing inside (which also gets very loud in the small space). The sfatt have been friendly for the most part. My friends and I have run into a few situations where staff have been a little rude or haven't addressed messy tables for a long time when it's busy. Overall though, I do enjoy eating here and will continue to support this brewery in downtown Pacific Grove.

As a British ex-pat living in America, I'm hyper critical of British pubs. There's nothing that…read moregrinds my gears more than a "British" pub serving fries with their "fish n chips." I'm from Reno and we don't have any good British pubs so when going out of town I always look to see if there's a good looking one where we will be going. I saw this place on Yelp and the first thing I noticed was how legit the fish and chips looked. Once I saw that you can get sides of mushy peas or curry sauce, I knew we had to check it out (this is how you would order fish n chips in the UK!) Stopped by on a Friday evening, it was definitely busy but we got lucky and got seated right away. The live band outside was a nice touch. Now I will say, the menu here is fairly small, with only a few British items. But the items they do have are very authentic and I was primarily going for the fish n chips anyway. Great big pieces of cod, batter was beautifully fluffy. The chips are perfectly thick cut. My only very very minor complaint is that I do wish the curry sauce was a little thicker and less spicy, more like a traditional chip shop curry sauce but that's just my preference. I still love that it's even offered! My husband had the BBC (bangers, beans and chips) and he loved it. I tried a bit of his banger and it was really good. Nice thick pork sausage. They had a good looking beer selection, I will have to try some on a future visit when I'm not pregnant! I was really really pleased with my meal here. Please add some bangers and mash though! Those bangers are delicious.

I haven't been here in over a year, only because I forget about them until I drive by…read more Well my mom and I had some time before appointment and had lunch here...just as good as ai remember...will definitely be back Fish pieces where big and artichoke hearts also big, you definitely get your moneys worth

Fieldwork is a place I've walked past several times near Peet's Coffee, but I never stopped in…read morebecause I wasn't planning to sit and have a drink. I didn't realize they offer single cans to go, which is a great option--you don't have to commit to a six-pack. You can try individual beers, plus non-alcoholic drinks, and sodas. The staff was very friendly, and I ended up picking up five different cans to sample. Everything I tried was excellent. The beer stood out as especially fresh--you can immediately see it in the pour with a tall, foamy head. It made me realize how worthwhile it is to buy directly from a local brewery like this. The beer is brewed in Berkeley and feels noticeably fresher than what you often get from stores, where even a full six-pack can sometimes taste flat or stale. I've also stopped ordering beer at many restaurants for the same reason--too often it's expensive and not at its best. This place is a keeper for me, and I'll definitely be back.

Great brewery with a very wide selection of beers. I got 2 full flights with all kinds of Hazy and…read moreWest Coast IPAs. Most of them were great! They have plenty of seating with some near fire pits, and they have some games to play. Their patio is dog friendly! Very friendly service. Great scenery. Awesome vibes!

Overall, we had a good experience with the food. I really loved the sandwiches -- they were…read moredelicious and definitely my favorite part of the meal. The pizza was also tasty, although it was way too salty for my taste, probably because of the cheeses they used. We also ordered a rice dish that came with an egg on top. I personally didn't really like the seasoning, so it wasn't quite to my taste, but the food itself was still good. The only part I wasn't very happy with was the service. The staff seemed a little cold and didn't really check on our table to see if we needed anything. I wanted ketchup for my sandwich the entire time, but no one came by, so I ended up using the small amount of ketchup that came with the fries. That being said, I have to give credit where it's due -- the food was fresh, good quality, and genuinely delicious overall. I especially enjoyed the sandwiches and would definitely recommend them.

This is an amazing location to stop by! It is a local favorite, great selection of beers and they…read moreare preparing for Oktoberfest so they rearranging the outside seating to beer-hall seating (I hope they keep it! It is better for conversing with others and seating more people). Make sure to keep an eye out for their seltzers!! They are only producing random small batches and they are AMAZING. The Daytona seltzer with pineapple, orange, and banana tasted like a Jamba Juice smoothie. They sold out within the first week of releasing it. I bought personally 6 4-packs and have been saving them for special occasions after finding out they sold out.

This place used to be my go to spot for weekly beer runs with the occasional whisky purchase,…read moredecent beer selection without having to drive down to Whole Foods. Well they recently changed ownership and it's gone downhill. My wife bought me a gift card in June for my birthday, I went in there today to try and use it and was told it was not valid bc of the change in ownership. Seems pretty ridiculous to pull that stunt over a $50 gift card when I bought over $100 in products and have been a repeat customer for a while. So it looks like I'll be going elsewhere from now on. As expected their whisky prices are all over the place, usually you're better off going to a grocery store or total wine if you're looking for spirits.

A small independent liquor store with an ok selection. Between selection and prices I prefer to…read moreshop elsewhere. Also, when I did go they had some "Typhoid Marty" behind the counter coughing, sneezing and spewing his germs on the customers. Maybe let the sickos call in sick. Fortunately, I only caught a cold from the guy (who I never got closer than 3 feet to, except to make a purchase). I expected with my luck and his germs that I'd end up with COVID... maybe next time...oh wait, there won't be a next time.

Had such a fun time at Tipsy Putt! The atmosphere was great, the games were so much fun, and it's…read moresuch a perfect spot to hang out with friends. The staff was friendly, the drinks were good and there was a really fun energy throughout the whole place. Definitely a great spot for a night out!

The food was so good, and the drinks were just as amazing. Everything we ordered was delicious, and…read morethe whole experience had such a fun, relaxed vibe. What really made this place stand out was all the entertainment! They have mini golf and other mini games, so you can eat, have drinks, and actually make a whole night out of it. It was the perfect spot because we weren't just sitting around eating we were laughing, playing games, enjoying our drinks, and having so much fun together. Definitely a great place for a date night, anniversary, or just a fun night out with friends. I'd absolutely come back!

Dust Bowl is a favorite of mine as a Monterey local! I go so much that I now have fun mixing the…read morebeers. As a woman who loves IPA's but hates the bloating of a heavy beer, a refreshing fix is to cut the IPA half with their frozen 3.5% mix - it calms down the high IPA%'s that are 10-11%, it makes it even juicier, and wayyyyy cooler. It is really nice as the ice melts into the beer - it is basically an IPA shandy. They charge you for the more expensive beer but it is worth it to me to lower the % because it is really easy to get drunk quickly just off a couple of their strong IPA's. Bonus of this to me is that is calms down the carbonation so you do not get bloated. l call my mix - The Sloshed Therapist, it is half The Confused Therapist and half their Mango slushie at 3.5%. Highly recommend all the beers, it is hard to go wrong. Make sure your first time to sit at the indoor bar and try a few tasters to see what you like. HIGHLY recommend the Strawberry Margarita Seltzer, even my partner who I swear has an anti-sweet tooth enjoys this Seltzer, NOTE it is 10% and it is not overly sweet so it is a perfect refreshing beverage alternative to the strong IPAs. The Wedos food truck is CRAZY GOOD - the carnitas quesadilla changed my life. Get extra of their sour cream sauce!

Every Monterey Trip Starts Here…read more I've been making the drive from San Francisco to Monterey for years, and this has become my traditional first stop before heading into town. Instead of rushing straight to Cannery Row or 17-Mile Drive, I like to slow down, grab a pint, relax for an hour, and then continue the trip. It honestly puts me in vacation mode. If you're an IPA lover, Dust Bowl Brewing Tap Depot is paradise. California has hundreds of craft breweries, and I've visited quite a few over the years. In my opinion, Dust Bowl deserves to be mentioned among the better IPA breweries in the state. What impresses me most isn't just that their beers are bitter. A lot of breweries chase high IBU numbers and end up producing beers that are simply harsh. Dust Bowl understands balance. Their stronger draft IPAs are incredibly layered. One sip starts with bright citrus, then shifts into tropical fruit, grapefruit, pine, resin, floral hops, and sometimes even hints of stone fruit. As the beer slowly warms up, the aroma and flavor continue to evolve. It's almost like drinking a well-crafted fruit blend--except everything comes naturally from the hops. That's what makes great West Coast IPA so enjoyable. Whenever they have one of their high-alcohol, high-IBU specialty IPAs on draft, I order it without hesitation. Those beers alone are worth stopping for. Honestly, if you're serious about IPA, don't just order one pint. Try several different drafts. You'll understand why people keep coming back. The nice surprise is that the rest of their beer lineup is also excellent. Whether you enjoy lagers, pale ales, porters, stouts, or seasonal releases, everything I've tried has been well made and consistently enjoyable. Another thing I appreciate is that this place never feels like a tourist trap. Considering you're in Monterey, the prices are very fair. The beer quality easily justifies what you pay, and the portions are generous. It's simply honest craft beer served by people who clearly care about what they're brewing. The food isn't trying to be fine dining, and that's perfectly okay. It's good, straightforward brewery food that pairs well with beer. Burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, and snacks are exactly what I want while enjoying a couple of pints. The staff has always been friendly every time I've visited. Even when they're busy, they're welcoming, patient, and happy to answer questions or recommend beers if you're unsure what to order. Great service always makes good beer taste even better. For me, Dust Bowl Brewing has become part of every Monterey trip. If you love craft beer, especially West Coast IPA, this place shouldn't just be on your list--it should be one of your destinations. There are plenty of breweries in California. There are plenty of places to drink beer. But if you're an IPA enthusiast like I am, Dust Bowl Brewing is one of those places that reminds you why California became one of the world's great craft beer capitals. Every trip to Monterey starts here. And I can't imagine starting it anywhere else.

We were there for football Sunday morning on September 20th. We had a FABULOUS server named…read moreRichard. He anticipated our every need and was quick with our beverages while we waited on the rest of our party to arrive. I will ALWAYS sit in his section!

I would give 5 stars to the staff, they were amazing…read more The decor reminds you of a 90's Bakers Square with a bar. Food was mixed. Tomato soup and grilled cheese were both delicious a 4.5! Tacos tasty 3.75 but the deep dish pizza was inedible. Disappointing. It was gooey in the middle (not cooked through and the cheese just pooled along with grease). Not sure I would go back.

A super fun spot! My…read morefriends and I swung by The Salty Seal for a night out and had a great time. One thing to note, if you are 22 and under and try to come in, you will need two forms of ID. I came with just my drivers license and was almost not let in because I did not have two IDs on me. Luckily, I had a photo of my passport which sufficed. The bouncer was definitely not the friendliest. He was super stern and not the most understanding. Once you're inside, you will be greeted by a dive bar type area. There are some pool tables and seating. It is a very lowkey and casual vibe in this area. The back area of this bar is very different. There is another bar, booths, and a dance floor where there is a bit more of a club vibe. We came the Friday night before the 4th of July. The music was fantastic. The DJ this night was playing absolute banger after banger. He was playing some great throwback hits. It had to have been the best local DJ I have ever seen. The dance floor was packed with everyone dancing and we totally caught a vibe. There is also an outdoor area with tables and stools. It is much quieter and lowkey back there. We had such a great time that we decided to come back the following night. I was prepared with my two forms of ID! As expected, the crowd was much smaller (it was the Fourth of July). The music wasn't my favorite this time around but it was still fun. The only thing that bugged me a little was that their Green Tea Shots were premade. We ordered about four of them and they were poured straight out of a jug. Other than that, this place is a great time. I will definitely be back.

Salty Seal Brew was an okay stop during a busy travel day. We stopped in mainly to take a quick…read morebreak, have a beer, and grab something to eat. The beer was cold, so that part was good. We ordered the chicken nachos, but they took forever to come out. When they finally arrived, they were okay, not bad, but nothing special either. It was fine for a brief stop and a little reset from the day, but I would probably keep expectations casual.

Cute vinyl shop in Monterey. Lots n lots of used and new records. Good place for browsing and…read moredigging. Found some interesting listens. Check it out and spend some time. Have fun!

I used to hit this spot up on weekly basis when I lived in the area and decide to stop through…read more They primarily carry used vinyl, cds and tapes along with new releases and some specialty items. I'm so glad that I stopped in as I found a rare Tank And The Bangas album that I had never seen before and it was well below the price in Discogs so I had to pick it up ! The overall layout of the shop is different from what I remember and overall the number of new releases available was surprising. Street parking on Lighthouse Ave was easy and didn't require feeding a meter which was nice.