The Polite Traveler

Dear Polite Travelers, One of our favorite restaurants in Davis, California, Paesanos , offers simple Italian fare.  We tend to visit once a month, a tradition which began after my last birthday.  Since Davis, CA is a casual university town, most restaurants are as well.  So, even though Paesanos is somewhat casual, it is a step up from the usual $5-beer-with-pizza joints so common when students are in the mix.   Consequently, it was a no-brainer, special-event choice for a b’day dinner.  Sitting in the Restaurant Instead of outdoor or bar seating, we chose to dine in the main room of Paesanos for this special day.  The theme of the restaurant is eclectic, somewhere between old-style Italian and bohemian hip.  Pictures of Italy, especially Venice, adorn the walls.  Tables are tasteful, but not stuffy.  Service was attentive but not pushy and I never had to wait for my water glass to be filled.    The Restaurant...

Probably best known for its connection to Cannery Row, made famous by John Steinbeck’s novel of the same name, Monterey is a delightful blend of funky, sublime, and an ode to the working class.  Funkiness abounds on Cannery Row with its quaint, stuck-in-time business facades simmering in a cannery atmosphere.  There’s no escaping it nor would anyone wish to.  It’s just downright fun. Of course, there’s much more to Monterey than that one street with the cannery influence and that is why we chose this area of Monterey, and more specifically, Pacific Grove.  We chose Pacific Grove for its quiet and focus on nature , which excelled excellently.  As for this small portion of Monterey, well... Recently while watching Obama’s new docuseries, Our  Great National Parks , we learned that the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the largest in the continental U.S.  It’s a mind-blowing 6,094 square miles with 276 miles of shoreline.  As a native C...

Authentic Fish & Chips in the Heart of Pacific Grove Hello, dear polite travelers, Recently, my hubby and I took a trip to a London pub via Pacific Grove, California.  Since it was a tad chilly, we skipped the lovely outdoor seating, to sit inside this charming restaurant .  Once inside, I felt as if we slipped via a wormhole directly into an English pub, albeit a small one.  The requisite heavy wooden bar hosted four stools facing a plethora of liquor labels as a colorful backdrop. We learned that most staff are from the UK.  In fact, we learned a bit about Wales from our server.   Warm, welcoming, and quite lovely, he darted around the room tending to everything from taking orders to pouring drinks at the bar. Since The Monarch is known for its fish and chips, my hubby enthusiastically ordered it, pairing it with a medium-bodied beer.  In my opinion, the chips, aka French fries, were dry and somewhat akin to cardboard.  However, th...

Homey, Friendly, & Yummy Eats Dear Polite Travelers, For our last night in Pacific Grove, we wanted something special and found it at the Red House Café .  Outdoor seating is limited but charming.  A few tables surrounded by colorful potted plants fill an area carved out next to the sidewalk while the remaining tables dot the porch.  "Farmhouse" is the first word that comes to mind when trying to describe the restaurant’s appearance.   Comfy.  Cozy.  Farmhouse.  The same motif continues when stepping inside.  Small wooden tables fill small rooms accentuated by simple accents, like small mason jars used as water glasses. But don’t confuse the menu—or wine —with simple farmhouse cuisine.  Nope.  I chose the perfectly balanced portobello sandwich generously stuffed with goat cheese, basil, roasted red bell peppers, and caramelized red onions on a ciabatta roll.  All was topped with a balsamic vinaigrette.  As ...

Dear Polite Traveler, I asked my favorite travel buddy—aka hubby —to please choose a less expensive hotel for our upcoming three-day Monterey excursion.  Perhaps a blast-from-the-past option one can find in historic, and extraordinarily charming Pacific Grove, which is firmly attached to Monterey.  Well, he found one.  Exactly what I suggested, and it was...interesting.  Charming?  Historic? To call this motel quaint would be kind.  Due to its decades-old appearance, it does ring that “nostalgia” bell.  Still, that bell is drowned out quickly once a person attempts to live in the rooms as one is accustomed to doing in a typical motel. Nostalgia be damned.  This Clarion is outdated, uncomfortable, and downright old .  Sigh. First, we check-in.  Stepping into the tiny, and less than charming, lobby, I look around to find the few breakfast scraps.  Optimistically, I hoped for more options in the morning as the manager arrive...

  Italian Charm & So Much More Hello, dear polite travelers, Craving an Italian dinner in a quiet restaurant with a homey feel for our first night in Pacific Grove, CA., we chose Aliotti’s Victorian Corner Restaurant in charming downtown.   As we stepped into the small, but well-appointed restaurant , we were welcomed warmly and seated at a table tucked into a window-framed nook.  It was lovely.  Reading the menu was a delight.  All items are authentic and homemade. Plus, we found that all dishes can be customized.  Since I prefer a light olive oil and garlic rather than the alfredo sauce that dressed the roasted butternut stuffed ravioli I chose, my wish was promptly granted.  Excellent.  My hubby chose a lasagna layered with ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese and their well-balanced, meaty Bolognese sauce.  Surprisingly, it was light, not heavy like most.  Pairing well with our meals we chose their house wh...