Pacific Grove

Passionfish earns its Wine Spectator nod with a focused, seafood-smart list that won't embarrass you on a date or drain your wallet. It's not a destination wine experience, but it's a reliable one — and on the Monterey Peninsula, that's worth something.

Fandango is the rare neighborhood restaurant that treats its wine list like a long-term project, not an afterthought — over three decades of Wine Spectator recognition doesn't happen by accident. If you're eating on the Monterey Peninsula and want a serious bottle with a French-California bistro dinner, this is where you go.