Passionfish — 701 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove – (831) 655-3311, passionfish.net
Known for sustainable seafood and an extensive wine list at “realistic prices,” according to its website, Passionfish is committed to fresh, local ingredients, farmers and sustainable farms and fisheries. The “Last Hometown” seems like an apt place for a restaurant devoted to quality food, harvested nearby. It was recently purchased by a member of the family that owns The Fishwife in P.G., and they have wisely decided to stick close to the eatery’s original vibe, while introducing new special dishes now and then.
Diners’ favorites include Nancy’s buttery buttermilk biscuit from the starters menu. Gifts from the sea include Dungeness crab salad with avocado, spicy ginger vinaigrette and braised fennel, Alaskan halibut, served with roasted Brussels sprouts, squash, maple pecans, cranberries, lemon-herb oil and many others. If seafood isn’t your jam, try the spoon-able 12-hour lamb breast with chickpea and Meyer lemon stew, or the chef’s take on classic duck confit served with a honey reduction, smoked chile-potato cake, and grilled broccolini. For dessert, try the organic mint and espresso mud pie or the maple-banana bread pudding, then walk some of that off with a stroll through P.G., where you can take in the Victorian homes or the crashing waves along Ocean View Boulevard.