Okay, so I know that "Throwback Thursday" is more traditional, but I'm typically a day behind. Plus, I happen to have today off, which made Kyla and I nostalgic over the Fridays we had together while I was in grad school in Monterey - when the girls were in school and we had the morning and early afternoon to ourselves. Those Fridays typically resulted in some sort of gastronomical adventure in the Monterey area, often ending with us walking the kids home from school with wine on our breath.
This week's memory posting is one of our favorite little cafe's in Monterey,
Louolu's Griddle in the Middle. I say little because the restaurant is easy to miss being near other larger establishments, and the indoor seating could barely fit twenty people. Despite the diminutive size, Loulou's is still a local favorite and a must visit for any closet foodie looking for a good meal in a quirky environment. Part of the quirky charm is Lulu's location, which is right in the middle of the Municipal Wharf adjacent to Monterey City beach. For newcomers and visitors to Monterey, do not confuse the Municipal Wharf with the Fisherman's Wharf. The Municipal Wharf has working fish vendors at the end, and you could often see trawlers offloading their catch of calamari or sardines that will end up in markets or restaurants within the day. Fisherman's Wharf, on the other hand, is a tourist trap with a bunch of crappy, overpriced places to eat and souvenirs shops devoted to separating you from your money.
Loulou's Griddle in the Middle - Better than any tourist trap on Fisherman's Wharf
Most of our trips to Loulou's involved a wait for a table, owing to the restaurant's popularity and small size. With its location, we'd often walk along the wharf, watching people fish, or watch the numerous birds, harbor seals, sea lions, and sea otters play in the surf. Since there isn't a whole lot of room to sit and wait at the Loulou's (have I mentioned it's a small cafe?) the staff will take down your cell number and text you when your table is ready, giving you plenty of latitude to walk on the pier or even get your toes wet on the beach while waiting for a table. If you're not into waiting, I recommend going during an off peak time, but not to wait too long. The restaurant is closed from the mid afternoon until the dinner service to allow the chef to prepare his nightly dinner special. And if you plan on dinner at Loulou's you can call ahead for your table.
Sea otters near the pier
Once seated, you're in for a treat from chef Benito. I highly recommend getting a seat at the counter where you can watch Benito work and interact with the kitchen staff, who are very friendly. I don't think I ever ordered straight off the menu, since Benito's specials were always the most intriguing offer of the day. On "normal" days, the special was often a specially prepared fish with salad, with the fish coming straight from the bay to the table. Our favorite times to head to the pier were the special theme nights Loulou's would have, such as Buffalo Night, Crab Night, or Abalone Night - with the themed nights normally coming on a Thursday or Friday. These evenings were definitely a treat, with generous portions of buffalo ribs and chili, steamed dungeness crab, or fried abalone sliders expertly prepared and filling my belly. Our oldest child was a fan of Benito's specials, whereas our youngest was a bit pickier. Even though Loulou's does not have a dedicated kids menu, Benito was more than happy to prepare a hot dog, grilled cheese sandwich, ladle a bowl of his award winning clam chowder soup, or make sure the kids mugs were always filled with the locally produced Sparky's Root Beer for children of more discerning taste (i.e., picky). Aside from the adventurous cuisine, the breakfasts at Loulou's were also a hit with the kids, especially the pancakes that were as big as the plate. Finishing the pancakes was always a team effort for the family, but well worth it.
Oldest daughter with the dungeness crab special - and yes, she finished it!
Loulou's isn't special for the great food, local ingredients, or generous portions though. What kept us coming back was the welcoming atmosphere and friendly service. We were always greeted by the same people, who were always happy to see us, and especially happy to see our girls. When we were fortunate to get a seat inside, Benito would pay special attention to the girls and make sure that their dining experience was special. We did eat outside fairly often since those would be the only tables available, and with the central California weather being what it is, the staff was always prepared with a blanket for patrons who hadn't figured out that sweaters and/or jeans were a necessity during a Monterey summer. If you happen to find yourself in the beautiful Monterey peninsula, there are a plethora of dining options available. You would do yourself a favor by going slightly off the beaten path and taking a stroll to Loulou's Griddle in the Middle on the Municipal Pier.
