
Anyone who knows me well also knows that I'm addicted to Mexican food. Add brightly colored, tropically-inspired decor and a Mexican restaurant gets more big points. Incorporate a broad range of fresh seafood and place an eatery within blocks of 'big water' - in this case, an estuary of Monterey Bay, California - and it's no wonder The Whole Enchilada stole my heart and taste buds several years ago (The restaurant recently reopened following temporary closure due to COVID-19. Check for current hours).
![]() Specialties listed on a more recent menu included Stuffed Gulf Prawns, Deep Fried Calamari and Mariscos Chile Rellenos Verde (with crab and shrimp). Despite addictive 'mains' served here, save room for dessert too. My deliciously dense flan was almost as creamy as the mound of whipped cream that accompanied it. And I found it tough to stop eating crisp-soft churros that stood in a tall glass full of vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce. Flan remains on this expansive menu, or satisfy your sweet tooth with some Mexican Cinnamon Chocolate Ice Cream. We were fortunate to meet gregarious and welcoming owner, Rey Retez too, when he stopped by our table. It was the perfect end to this one-of-a-kind dining experience. Note: As a writer associated with the travel industry, I received a complimentary lunch for the purpose of this review. While it has not influenced this post, I wish to disclose all potential conflicts of interest. | If you love seafood this Moss Landing restaurant is a terrific place to enjoy a meal. If not, you'll find far fewer options. Perhaps my favorite dish was crab enchiladas served atop rich, chipotle-flavored lobster cream sauce. Three rolled tortillas were packed full, of small crab bits. ![]() On another plate, a handful of huge prawns surrounded a crisp empanada, adorned with a large helping of guacamole. House-made tortilla chips accompanied a generous side of creamy, savory refried beans and rice too. |