Duck Club Grill, Monterey

Executive chef James Waller makes the most of Northern California's bounty at this epicurean outpost in the Monterey Plaza Hotel . House-made pasta, fresh-caught seafood and organic produce figure heavily into the menu. It changes seasonally, but items might include Steinbeck's duck, roast rack of lamb or broiled swordfish. The dining room is sophisticated and richly decorated with Oriental carpeting and floral-patterned upholstery. Glass windows along two sides of the restaurant afford excellent views of the Bay. The service is terrific.