Sanddabs and runway views at Woody’s before security
Table-service restaurants are rare at regional fields, and Woody’s at the Airport Restaurant and Bar sits landside at Monterey Regional Airport with a full menu, bar, and windows facing the runway. It’s outside security, so plan at least 30 extra minutes if you want a sit-down meal before a domestic flight out of MRY.
Woody’s runs in the $$ range, with most mains in the low-to-mid $20s and bar bites under $15. The draw is local-style American fare rather than chains: think burgers, salads, fish plates, and a kids’ menu that keeps families sorted before a 90-minute hop to LA or San Francisco.
The signature order here is the sanddabs, a coastal classic you actually see on local Monterey menus in town. If you’re hungry, pair them with a starter like wings or fries instead of pushing it with dessert right before a 1–2 hour flight. Portions run on the generous side for an airport spot, so one shared appetizer plus a main each usually covers two people.
The bar pours beer, wine, and basic cocktails from open to close, handy if your 6 p.m. departure slides to 7:30. Drinks land in the $8–$15 range depending on pour, and you’re paying normal airport uplift, not big-city hotel pricing. Just remember you’ll still need to clear security after that last round, and MRY’s checkpoint can briefly back up when a cluster of departures hits.
Service pace varies with flight banks, but plan for 45–60 minutes for a full meal ticket-in to check paid, especially around midday departures. If you’re tight on time, stick to sanddabs or a burger and skip anything that sounds like it requires extra prep.
Tip: Clear security first if your flight boards within 60 minutes; otherwise, eat at Woody’s landside, then leave yourself a 20–25 minute buffer to get through the single checkpoint and stroll to your gate.
Sanddabs