How does Yelp help for road trips?
Well, when you know your travel companions favorite dishes, this is a helpful tool when you've never been someplace... I mean, like ever. In traveling to the Monterey peninsula for the 1st team (me, that is), I put the two names of their favorite dishes and searched before finding this low key restaurant.
Not being familiar with the area, I was surprised to learn that it was only about six blocks from the hotel where I stayed. To start, I also ordered a drink, the guava juice (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=72&select=mWAZCI1TrtSvKrBxq3tBHg) which was a generous glass and not overly sweet.
Here is what we had for our meals:
1. Fried Monterey calamari (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=72&select=iUBFENyWxDJeT17qxW4e9A), shared - Tartar and cocktail sauce.
2. Fried artichoke hearts, shared (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=72&select=4C-IvRChXAGvgV52zOMtMg) - Garlic aioli sauce, ranch.
3. Quick bite (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=72&select=x_pLMA89od_fNPPJRFBxoA). (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=72&select=a3H0crBS_sNvcUez5UlexA), shared - Cup of clam chowder, garlic bread, side salad. This was a meal in itself given the salad portion. The chowder was good but my expectations were likely too heightened by their signage.
4. Steamed clams (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=72&select=tBRH-pVNB37C5XQIxHou4w), shared - White wine sauce. I tried a bite only and it was fine.
Mains
5. Linguini calamari and clams, garlic butter sauce (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=72&select=2ejcowCN86kFiVAHuo9Rmg) - I generally lean towards red sauce for this and I didn't want to repeat another diner's order of this with Alfredo sauce. I enjoyed this but, sauce wise, I would likely order the Alfredo sauce when here again.
A friend who ordered the chicken Marsala entree (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=72&select=wbFprhkXRl-_W1sg9eFN3Q), chicken breast sauteed with fresh mushrooms and Marsala wine sauce; this came with pasta (ordered plain) and vegetables (kale and butternut squash). Another friend let me try her linguini calamari and clams with Alfredo sauce (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=72&select=gAIVwQccBkkkXH_bWk1j-w) which I enjoyed a little more than mine due to the creaminess as mentioned above here.
Our waiter was a bit cold when we started but warmed to us as the meal progressed. The dining room was only 1/4 full, odd for a Saturday evening. The waiter and bus staff were efficient in removing empty plates and bowls, refilling water glasses, and packing our leftovers to go.
Epilogue: How good was that Marsala? I was one of three guests who returned the next day after lunch to bring a takeout order. One fail was the restaurant mistakenly gave us the House pasta instead of the requested linguini calamari and clams with Alfredo sauce as the diner does not particularly enjoy fish.
Will be back to dine in, and who knows, perhaps bring meals home again. read more