We went to downtown Monterey with a purpose. We wanted to eat again in the place with the humongous cakes. We had eaten here on a previous visit, but while waiting for a table, we had observed the largest pieces of cake we had ever seen. We could feed six friends on one of those if we served it back in Tokyo. During that meal, to our amazement, the couple behind us complained that the slices seemed smaller than when they ate there previously.

We had no recollection of what the restaurant was called or even where in downtown Monterey it was located, but we had every intention of finding it again. We found street-side parking easy enough, even taking into account that we moved the car twice while pondering the exact meaning of the local parking restrictions. We strolled through a light drizzle, seeing numerous alternative restaurants that were utterly unsuitable for our troupe. I was starting to ponder whether I should ask someone where the place with the big tarts was but shuddering at the thought of what the answers might be fortunately held me back just long enough for us to find ourselves standing right in front of the place.

It is called Rosine’s, and it prides itself on its fine home-style cooking with an emphasis on Californian cuisine. While waiting for a table, I sneaked a photo of the cakes, still full-size. Service here is fast and friendly, and a baby seat was offered even before we had to ask. The menu is extensive, with dishes ranging from around $7 to just over $15. Portion size is large without being excessively so (at least by American standards). A special menu is available for children, and pencils are supplied to keep the young ones occupied while waiting for the food.

We were in the mood for burgers or sandwiches, and while my wife settled for a cheeseburger, I preferred a slightly healthier chicken sandwich with avocado and cheese. Everything was cooked to perfection, with the chicken being particularly juicy and the trimmings very fresh. The child pizza was delicious, too, and a far cry from the frozen microwave pizza that often masquerade under the name of child’s pizza. Devouring half of it helps explained why I was once again unable to actually order one of those humongous pieces of cake. (Previously, 5 years of Japanese-size portions meant that we could not even polish off half the main course.)

I have every intention of returning to Rosine’s, and next time I’ll come at coffee time to ensure I finally get to taste one of those cakes, or Kalorienbombe (calorie bomb), as they would be described in Germany.

For the portion size and quality of food, the price is very well worth it. It's a local favorite. Almost everyone I know around here knows about Rosine's. They also sell a cookbook with some of the favorite recipes.

Our waitress was not attentive and didn't stop by to see how our meal was. When she brought our meals, we asked for ketchup and had to flag her down about 10 minutes later to get it. We had read good reviews about dessert on this site, and when we asked to see a dessert menu, there was none. We were told we would have to go upfront (where it had become very crowded) to see them. Well, nothing was labeled and the woman behind the counter didn't seem all that interested in answering our question of, "What is that?" We decided on a peanut-butter pie, which was good, and the piece was larger than usual, but I don't know if that justified that $6 price.

The food was okay, but not worth the money we paid. I'd have to compare it to Olive Garden, a little bit more in terms of price, a little less in terms of food and not as good. Overall, I thought the place was overpriced and not as good as other reviews led me to believe.

Visit online at rosinesmonterey.com