Central Coast - Coastal California - page 615

( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.ponohawaiiangrill.com ; 120 Union St; mains $7-15; 11am-10pm Sun-

Wed, to 11pm Thu-Sat)
Inside the Reef bar, this kitchen runs on 'island time' as it mixes up your fresh ahi tuna, sal-
mon, shellfish or veggie poke (cubed raw salad) in a bowl or ladled on a plate with two-
scoop rice and creamy macaroni or tossed green salad. The loco moco burrito with spicy
gravy is a huge hit.

Engfer Pizza Works PIZZA
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.engferpizzaworks.com ; 537 Seabright Ave; pizzas $8-23; usually

4-9:30pm Tue-Sun; )
Detour to find this old factory, where wood-fired oven pizzas are made from scratch with
love - the no-name specialty is like a giant salad on roasted bread. Play ping-pong and
down draft microbrews while you wait.

Soif BISTRO
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 831-423-2020; www.soifwine.com ; 105 Walnut Ave; small plates $5-17,
mains $19-25; 5-9pm Sun-Thu, to 10pm Fri & Sat)
Bon vivants swoon over a heady selection of three dozen international wines by the glass,
paired with a sophisticated, seasonally driven Euro-Cal menu. Expect tastebud-ticklers like
roasted beet salad with fava beans and maple vinaigrette or squid-ink linguini with spicy
chorizo.

Laili AFGHANI
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 831-423-4545; www.lailirestaurant.com ; 101b Cooper St; mains $13-28;
11:30am-2:30pm Tue-Sun, 5-9pm Tue-Thu & Sun, to 10pm Fri & Sat)
A chic downtown dining oasis, family-owned Laili invites diners in with an elegant high-
ceilinged dining room and garden patio. Share apricot-chicken flatbread, tart pomegranate
eggplant, roasted cauliflower with saffron, succulent lamb kebabs and more. Service is
spotty. Reservations advised.

Drinking & Nightlife