In the 1930's, as Pacific Coast Highway was being built, a Norwegian immigrant named Helmuth Deetjen settled in Big Sur and built an inn on the edge of Castro Canyon, a redwood gorge just outside of the village. Using redwoods and other native California materials, he followed the traditional European style that he knew best. Today Deetjen's Inn has remained virtually unchanged since it was designated in the late 1980s as an historical landmark. Dark and cozy on the inside, the walls of the restaurant are covered with antiques Deetjen collected, like plates, silverware and old German beer steins. Landscapes painted by local artists decorate the walls of the three dining rooms.

Food here leans toward the hearty traditional old European styles that use a lot of duck, poultry, beef and rack of lamb. Deetjen's is open for breakfast and fills up fast with locals and families staying at the inn or the neighboring inns or lodges in the area. But at night, the crowd tends to lean towards couples. The dim lighting, fireplace and soft, classical music in the background make for very romantic dining. -- Jeff Custer