My favorite spot is The Highlands Inn - the views from the glass bar overlooking the ocean are gorgeous, and the service is amazing. You will drive right to it if you take the 1 just past carmel. If you go, ask for Faye or Amy - they are always very sweet! They have lots of great cocktails, including a special mix Amy makes for me when we go. Their calamari is delicious if you need a pre dinner snack to watch the sun go down.
We also have been going to the same restaurant since we first started going together almost 5 years ago... it used be called Bahama Billy's, then it was something else, now it's called Bahama's Island Steakhouse. It's tucked away in the Barnyard shopping center. I don't go for the steak though, I go for the appetizers! They have a delicious sweet potato fries with a mango chutney sauce that I could eat every day, and their garlic corn bread fills me up so much that I have learned not to order an actual entree. Between these two appetizers and a small salad, I am always good to go!
We also visit the Baja Cantina if we are in the mood for delicious margaritas and authentic Mexican grub. The cantina is so cute, it has a very homey feel with rustic decor and lots of stuff! Their margaritas and hand made guacamole are definitely worth ordering, and I usually get one of their huge burritos to eat.
There is something really special about the California Coast... it's a gorgeous place - and the cliffs that drop into the ocean are definitely worth seeing.