Maiden voyage to the peninsula

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and feel free to keep them coming... especially the restaurant recommendations.  As much as I love golf, I am really a foodie at heart.

Re: Pacific Grove, how quickly do you think you could play 9 holes first thing in the morning on a Sat?

[William_G]

Roy's @ Spanish Bay after cocktails on the outdoor patio....

http://www.pebblebeach.com/dining/the-inn-at-spanish-bay/roys-at-pebble-beach

[Howard Riefs]

And, restaurants for SF....

*  Slanted Door (Ferry Plaza, Vietnamese) -- www.slanteddoor.com/
*  Zuni Cafe (SoMa, American; order the roast chicken - really) -- www.zunicafe.com/
*  Boulevard (Financial District, American) -- www.boulevardrestaurant.com/

[Garland Bayley]

All of the suggestions made have merit but the best food in town is at La Balena, a recently opened small Italian restaurant on Junipero Street. Reasonably priced and has a good atmosphere.

By all means go down to Big Sur and depending on the weather have lunch at Rockey Point, (newly re-opened), Ventana, or the Post Ranch, the latter somewhat pricey.

The back nine at PG is a must if you have the time for it.

If you are into wine drive out to Carmel Valley Village and try out the wine at any one of sixteen tasting rooms.

Clint's Mission Ranch is a hive of activity in the evening with a chap tickling the ivories and and would be singers joining in.

Depending on your religious persuasion you might want to take in the Carmel Mission. The Bach Festival is held in July and you could kill two birds with one stone by attending all things Bach including the Mass in, ;oops' I have forgotten  the key.

Bob

Off the top of my head, wouldn't that be B minor?

[David Ober]

As a fellow Californian (albeit from the south), I can attest to the "bring warm clothes" stuff. If you are going to golf, bring:

1) Warm socks
2) Good, waterproof shoes
3) Rain gear (just in case)
4) A great "wind breaker" type of golf shirt/jacket to go over your normal golf shirt (I prefer a lined sweater vest for cold weather golf, as it leaves my arms free).
5) Ear muffs (yes, ear muffs).

I played a couple years ago in July at Poppy Hills, and the high was 61, but with the wind and the dampness, it felt like it was no warmer than 45 - 50. I will never go to Monterey unprepared again.

The next day was 74 and the sun was out most of the day, so I never even put on my wind-breaker, but you just never now in Monterey.

Most of us know how to dress for cold weather golf, but it just never dawns on people that it can feel like the dead of winter in the middle of summer in Monterey/San Fran. Mark Twain's saying is true....

[Chris_Hufnagel]

And, restaurants for SF....

*  Slanted Door (Ferry Plaza, Vietnamese) -- www.slanteddoor.com/
*  Zuni Cafe (SoMa, American; order the roast chicken - really) -- www.zunicafe.com/
*  Boulevard (Financial District, American) -- www.boulevardrestaurant.com/

As usual, Howard has some good suggestions...

One place I would really recommend would be Delfina. It was our neighborhood restaurant for four years when we lived in the city. I recommend the calamari appetizer, whatever pasta is a special for the night, and the panna cotta.

As for your golf, the recommendations to layer for the weather is the best advice so far.

Enjoy even minute of Cypress Point and Pebble Beach.  Make sure to check out the "Mackenzie" tee on #15 at CP - it is a pretty cool look from up there...

[Jim Hoak]

Close to 0% chance of rain that time of year.  But cool is correct.

[David_Tepper]

"One place I would really recommend would be Defina."

Chris H. -

I think you mean Delfina, and yes it is very good.

http://www.delfinasf.com/

DT

[David_Tepper]

"Re: Pacific Grove, how quickly do you think you could play 9 holes first thing in the morning on a Sat?"

Geoffrey W. -

If you tee off by 7:30am, I can't imagine it will take you much more than 2 hours to play the back-9. I would definitely check with the golf shop there to make sure it is still permitted and the coast will be clear on the Saturday you will be there.

Your biggest risk is that the course will be socked in by the fog and you won't be able to see where you are going.

DTl

[Chris_Hufnagel]

"One place I would really recommend would be Defina."

Chris H. -

I think mean Delfina, and yes it is very good.

http://www.delfinasf.com/

DT

David, you are correct Delfina.  I missed an "l" on my iPad - thanks for correcting...

[Jud_T]

http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/best/restaurants/2012/

[Sven Nilsen]

In San Francisco, go to Capp's Corner in North Beach for drinks.  Tell Terry the bartender the German sent you.

When you've worked up an appetite, walk around the corner to either Firenze by Night (for gnocchi) or Soto Mare (for the seafood linguine).  Then go back to Capp's.

[Bill_McBride]

In San Francisco, go to Capp's Corner in North Beach for drinks.  Tell Terry the bartender the German sent you.

When you've worked up an appetite, walk around the corner to either Firenze by Night (for gnocchi) or Soto Mare (for the seafood linguine).  Then go back to Capp's.

Sven, Capp's was an old favorite when I lived in the City, up until 1978.  I had dinner there last August with my wife and Kevin Reilly and it certainly wasn't as good as in the old days.

But still a first rate drinking spot and watching the Giants on TV.

I remember being in Capp's years ago and meeting Johnny Weismuller Jr at the bar with a honey.  Next morning in Herb Caen's column I learned they were in town for a porn shoot!   

[JLahrman]

I remember being in Capp's years ago and meeting Johnny Weismuller Jr at the bar with a honey.  Next morning in Herb Caen's column I learned they were in town for a porn shoot!  

I didn't catch the "Jr" at first...I was going to ask if it was an AARP porn shoot or if the year was 1937!

[Sven Nilsen]

Bill:

Last time I was in Capp's the owner was in the house (he lives most of the year in Hawaii).  We left to go to dinner at Firenze, and low and behold he shows up at the next table.  Not sure if he was looking for a change of pace or if even he won't eat at his own place.

Shame we haven't met, sounds like we like the same joints.

Sven

[Adam Clayman]

"Re: Pacific Grove, how quickly do you think you could play 9 holes first thing in the morning on a Sat?"

Geoffrey W. -

If you tee off by 7:30am, I can't imagine it will take you much more than 2 hours to play the back-9. I would definitely check with the golf shop there to make sure it is still permitted and the coast will be clear on the Saturday you will be there.

Your biggest risk is that the course will be socked in by the fog and you won't be able to see where you are going.

DTl

If it takes two hours, you let 7 groups go through.  Even on your first go around, 90 minutes is likely. I've walked it in an hour, without rushing.  Trust me, if the fog is in, you won't want to leave.

[Bill_McBride]

Bill:

Last time I was in Capp's the owner was in the house (he lives most of the year in Hawaii).  We left to go to dinner at Firenze, and low and behold he shows up at the next table.  Not sure if he was looking for a change of pace or if even he won't eat at his own place.

Shame we haven't met, sounds like we like the same joints.

Sven

Definitely!   What about Vesuvio?

[Sven Nilsen]

You could lose 5 years of your life in that place.

A friend of a friend opened Rickhouse and Bourbon & Branch.  The former has an amazing cocktail menu and can't be more than 4 or 5 blocks from Vesuvio.  If you ever make it through, sit at the back bar.  The latter is a prohibition era speakeasy that has been reclaimed.  It has some of the original speakeasy features, including a trapdoor that opens to reveal a grand staircase down to the basement, and an escape route that will take you up to street level a block away.  They've added some hokey features like needing a password to get in and the bookcase on hinges, but the behind the scenes stuff that is still there is pretty cool.

[David_Tepper]

"The former has an amazing cocktail menu and can't be more than 4 or 5 blocks from Vesuvio."

Sven N. -

My office is little more than a block from Rickhouse. Sorry to be picking nits, but it is 8 blocks from Rickhouse to Vesuvio.

DT

[JLahrman]

Last time I was at Rickhouse I had the High Plains Drifter. I didn't even look at the ingredients. I was wearing my cowboy boots; I didn't feel I had a choice. I've never been to Bourbon & Branch but I will have to check it out.

[Bill_McBride]

Last time I was at Rickhouse I had the High Plains Drifter. I didn't even look at the ingredients. I was wearing my cowboy boots; I didn't feel I had a choice. I've never been to Bourbon & Branch but I will have to check it out.

Cowboy boots in The City?  That used to be kind of a SoMa look, didn't it?   Not that there's anything wrong with that!

I always loved the legend above the entrance to Vesuvio:  "We are itching to get out of Portland, Oregon."

[Sven Nilsen]

Last time I was at Rickhouse I had the High Plains Drifter. I didn't even look at the ingredients. I was wearing my cowboy boots; I didn't feel I had a choice. I've never been to Bourbon & Branch but I will have to check it out.

Try the Laphroaig Project next time (I think they have it at both B&B and Rickhouse).  Its a perfectly balanced drink, even though it uses one of the smokiest scotches made.

We had a reservation at Wayfare Tavern last trip and didn't make it.  What's the consensus on the place?

[David_Tepper]

"We had a reservation at Wayfare Tavern last trip and didn't make it.  What's the consensus on the place?"

Sven N. -

Good, but overpriced.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/841583

DT

[Mike Hendren]

Interesting drinks.  In Nashvegas all we have is The Hipster - a can of PBR with a well shot - $6.

Bogey

[JLahrman]

The Wayfarer Inn is a good old-school place, I like it a lot. I've only eaten there on the company dime though, no idea what the prices are like.