What Is Monterey Bay Stars Awards
View 2025 Winners
Contest Info
News & StoriesAward Categories
- Eat & Drink
- Best Bar Menu
- Best Beachfront Restaurant
- Best Beer Garden
- Best Breakfast Spot
- Best Brewery
- Best Brunch Spot
- Best Calamari
- Best Clam Chowder
- Best Fine Dining
- Best Happy Hour in Carmel
- Best Happy Hour in Monterey
- Best Mexican Restaurant
- Best New American Restaurant
- Best New Restaurant
- Best Oceanview Restaurant
- Best Outdoor Patio
- Best Outdoor Veranda
- Best Pizzeria
- Best Rooftop Bar
- Best Steakhouse
- Best Whisky Lounge
- Best Wine Garden
- Places to Stay
- Venues
- People & Personalities
- Monterey Car Week
- Entertainment
- Events & Activities
- Services
Best Calamari
Abalonetti Bar and Grill
57 Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey CA 93940
One of the Wharf's original restaurants, Abalonetti Seafood features casual waterfront dining, where Monterey's squid (calamari) is the star! Prepared more than a dozen ways, many invented and found only here, our local calamari tender versatility makes for a delicious and memorable dining experience.
Come and enjoy our full bar and great selections of local wines at our pet-friendly patio "oh we do have a Dog Menu too"!
Best Calamari
Fishwife at Asilomar Beach
1996 Sunset Dr, Pacific Grove CA 93950
Fishwife has long been a favorite along the Pacific Grove coastline, known for its fresh seafood and relaxed California-coastal cuisine. Their calamari stands out as a house favorite—lightly prepared, perfectly seasoned, and consistently praised by guests for its tender texture and balanced flavor.
With its welcoming atmosphere, coastal charm, and a signature calamari dish that keeps locals and visitors returning, Fishwife has earned the 2025 Monterey Bay Stars Award for Best Calamari.
