Top 10 Stories of the Summer 2025

Sept. 2, 2025—Ultimately summer, like brunch, is a state of mind.

Yet some humans, constrained by man-made creations like time and calendars, observe Labor Day as a conclusion of the season.

Melissa Kirsch evaluates the sitch with wisdom, noting Labor Day arrived early, “like the teacher’s pet impatient to break out the new school supplies.” (I feel seen.) 

“The holiday’s hasty entrance seems a little unfair…” she writes. “I urge you not to give up summer so readily.”

Melissa, we won’t surrender out here along Monterey Bay, where the holiday weekend 1) signals the start of second summer, aka Indian summer, perhaps the best weather of the year, and 2) it provides a pause to take stock of recent ice-cold scoops to temper the heat.

Here appear the 10 biggest stories of the summer gone by. 

Quick editor’s note: These aren’t Edible’s choices for most gripping stories of the summer, but among those which received the very most response from readers. All of the listed scoops rank among the top dozen viewed online.

#1 • “Meet the Intriguing New Owners of Davenport Roadhouse” • A popular local chef helping out in his tiny town of residence + a family of Davenport loyalists + ample experience in restaurants and business = a promising future for a landmark property + #1 viewed story at ediblemontereybay.com in the last few months.

#2 • “Nora’s Soft Opens With ‘Carmel’s Comfort Cuisine’” • The summer’s second-most viewed tale explores how a family operation honors the restaurant namesake with a daring diversity of dishes—chicken ‘n’ waffles, clam chowder bread bowls, grandma’s chili and prawn scampi among them—a courtyard setting and sublime service in the former Basil Fine Dining.

#3 • “New Residency in Former Alderwood Gets Lit” • “Death Box” typically means the dangerous filter at the edge of a pool repurposed for skateboarding. Now it means a smash hit from skate- and punk- and tattoo- and great food-savvy chefs Mikey Adams and Lance Ebert, appearing thrice weekly in the old Alderwood in downtown Santa Cruz.

#4 • “Hog’s Breath Inn—‘Tribute, Not Reinvention’—Soft Opens” • Tedious delays added to the breathless anticipation for the Breath’s rebirth. Spoiler alert: It was worth the wait.

#5 • “Found Treasure: Cocktails With Otters” • As the culinary options from Exec Chef Justin Robarge continue to pop with intrigue, thought and flavor, it was big news for readers to learn you can now explore Monterey Bay Aquarium’s expansive exhibits with a batch-made cocktail from the new concierge bar.

#6 • “Butter House Team to Launch Second Concept, Benny Walker’s in Monterey” • A beloved community favorite that feels like it’s been there far longer than five years (The Butter House) looks to provide even more rib-sticking comfort food with a Pacific-Asian twist on Alvarado in Old Monterey.

#7 • “Landmark Rosine’s Restaurant to Add Sand City Spot” • An adored family-friendly diner with all the skyscraper cakes, satisfying specials and legendary lasagna is well on its way to adding a bespoke coffee-cafe-bakery with many of its greatest hits headlining, in a convenient shopping center location.

#8 • “Ad Astra Atelier Debuts in Carmel Valley” • Some of the best sourdough in the area code finds a satellite outpost where the offering include plenty of bread, but more prepared—and thoughtful—sandwiches plus an aspiring social scene starring wine hours and live music at a Mid Valley Shopping Center spot hungry for it.

#9 • “Manresa Bread To Take Over West End Space (With Mystery Involved)” • Arguably the most celebrated chef Santa Cruz has seen call the city home is also famously secretive about his projects. But David Kinch couldn’t keep Edible from discovering he and star Manresa Bread partner and head baker Avery Ruzicka have something bigger baking next door to their 300-square-foot space.

#10 • “Found Treasure: Carlitos Crispn Chicken” • It’s nice to end a full-bodied list like this with a satisfying crunch. And some heat. Rocket-ship hit Carlitos borrows from family tradition and youthful instinct to give a spicy operation liftoff in Salinas.