Overlooking landmark Morro Rock and the busy harbor at Morro Bay, Windows on the Water stands out for both its top-notch view and for creative dishes showcasing local ingredients, especially organic ones.

With the Central Coast’s rich farming and fishing heritage, Windows on the Water has a great backyard when it comes to ultra-fresh foods. The kitchen only serves free-range and grass-fed meats (including from nearby Hearst Ranch), while the seafood is wild caught or farmed according to sustainable practices. Start off with an appetizer featuring abalone raised in nearby Cayucos, then take your pick from Morro Bay halibut in an heirloom tomato salsa, or a balsamic-glazed (grass-fed) filet mignon. Watch the chefs working in the open kitchen—if you can take your eyes off the panoramas through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows.