PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

I always get a little nervous traveling to a new city. If you think about it, a lot can go wrong on your trip. Along with not being able to book a hotel, getting lost, and countless other mishaps, you could find yourself trapped in a touristy area forced to eat at an over-priced and under-staffed restaurant, leaving you with a hurting pocket book, a growling stomach, and a bit of resentment.

I’ve actually found out a handy trick to avoid this problem. Whenever you’re headed to parts unknown, travel with a local! I was a bit shocked however, when on a recent trip to Monterey my "local" guide had led me into one of the most touristy parts of the city to get a bite to eat…smack in the middle of the Fisherman's Wharf. "You've got to be kidding me!" I thought silently as she led me down the wharf, which was full of screaming kids running around hopped up on ice cream with frustrated parents in tow.

My "local", who at this point I thought had lost her mind, re-assured me we were eating at a good place, and eventually led me to a relatively simple looking restaurant called the Old Fisherman's Grotto. The restaurant sign said it had been on the Wharf since 1950, so I figured it had to be at least OK. We walked in and I prepared for the worst.

This restaurant is usually packed with tourists because of its location and free samples offered outside, yet to my surprise, despite the commotion we were seated quite quickly. There were two things that I immediately noticed with this restaurant; it had a great view of the harbor from the dining room, and, despite the fact that it was located right on Fisherman’s Wharf and had a great view, the prices were pretty decent. A sandwich with fries costs between $8-$10 dollars, whereas a more sophisticated seafood meal like crab or lobster will cost between $16 and $22 dollars, which considering the location, wasn’t too bad.

I opted for a sandwich and a bowl of their clam chowder. While the sandwich was good, it wasn’t anything to write home about (the turkey was a little dry), but the clam chowder is hands down the best clam chowder I’ve ever had in my lifetime, and I think that means a lot when you take into consideration that i don’t care much for seafood. The bread that they gave you with the chowder was not your run of the mill free restaurant bread either, it was actually quite moist and fresh. If you don’t want your chowder in a regular bowl, they also offer chowder in fresh sourdough bread bowls. My friend enjoyed her half chowder half-sandwich special ($9 dollars), and actually was so full by the time she got to her sandwich she couldn't even finish it. Throughout our lunch the wait staff were actually quite nice, attentive and served us very quickly. Overall it was a pretty good place to eat, and it didn't hurt the pocketbook too bad either.

My only complaint with The Grotto was that there isn’t much to select from on the menu if you’re not big on seafood (lunch wise, I had a choice between chicken and a sandwich). Also, the ambience of the restaurant is not that great (it’s a great place to take your wife for lunch or meet up with some friends, but not quite first-date material.). I would definitely recommend the place to anyone who is a fan of clam chowder and fresh seafood (My local friend told me that the fried Calamari is one of her favorites).

If you’re looking for a quick place to grab dessert, there is also a LOT of ice cream and candy stores within a short distance of The Grotto. I stopped by Carousel Candies on 31 Fisherman's Wharf, which is next door and has prided itself on making handmade fudge, toffee, and chocolates for over 45 years. I grabbed myself a quarter pound of toffee for $5 dollars, and it was so rich and full of flavor that I was actually quite impressed! They even show you part of the toffee making process in the front window display of the store. Even though I think my dentist might hate me after eating a quarter of a pound of sugar, overall, I would have to say my trip to Monterey was a sweet success.