Restaurants in Carmel-by-the-Sea

“The best restaurant we’ve been to since we relocated to the US. I’ve eaten in Michelin restaurants before, Chez Noir is clearly up to the standard. From the beginning to the end, no mistake. We’ve had an amazing gustative time. And the people working here and highly professional and nice.”

“A lovely little place in Carmel. Lovely pizzas. The staff were very kind to inquire regarding our dietary restrictions.

Vegetarian options: They have a few salads and veggie options, and a 'make your own' option where one can select toppings of one's choice.

Dietary restrictions: They have a gluten-free cauliflower-based bread

Parking: The parking lot is across the street and free of cost with plenty of spots.”

“Good meal but a little bit noisy and they are a little bit putting pressure to finish your plate and give your table”

“Just a fabulous experience! The service levels were over the top. Never wanted for anything. Ate at the restaurant and had an 8-course tasting menu! To die for!”

“Beyond amazing. Service ambience and food was impeccable”

“This is one of the most unique and exciting restaurants in Carmel. Amazing cocktails and the food is both creative and authentic. Wine list is great too! Never disappoints.”

“Absolutely fantastic restaurant and a breath of fresh air in the Carmel culinary community. The food was incredible and the service was top notch. The space is refreshingly chic and relaxing. The tables are spaced apart to allow for conversation and there's no rush to finish your meal. You are encouraged to linger and enjoy the best meal in Carmel!”

“Delicious pizza & drinks.”

“One of our favorite places breakfast. We're never disappointed by the food or the staff.”

“Amazing food, fresh, delicious, good presentation - everything was great. The place itself looks very basic and unassuming, but the food surely exceeded our expectations. Service was good, but I can see how some reviewers could describe it as “stoic” or “authentic Japanese”, anyway to me it was a part of the charm of this place. Highly recommended overall.”

“Three of us stopped by this charming restaurant and our server was attentive and able to tell us the history of the restaurant when we asked. It was a pleasure to be waited on by someone who enjoys working there! I see why. The service from the kitchen was timed perfectly.
After our appetizers we were served our piping hot, delicious meals we're presented. I had Geschnetzeltes, and the others ordered Schnitzel and Jager Schnitzel. All three were plum full of flavor. We were served enough to take home to enioy the next day. Such a yummy treat.

I highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the mood to visit Switzerland! It was a fun evening!”

“Amazing food. We tried the pasta plate, and the shrimp curry soup, and the aha tuna. Everything was perfect. The customer service was amazing. They are very friendly and welcoming.”

“Nice little bakery in Carmel. We stopped by because we saw a line and it looked intriguing. We shared a couple items, although it seemed like the main items were taken. The butterscotch blondie was good, although a bit too sweet for us. The oatmeal berry item was definitely the strongest. I wouldn't say anything here was super memorable, but cute nonetheless!”

“Amazing food and service. If you need gluten free options then this is the place! GF garlic bread, pasta, and more. soooo good!”

“We had very nice anniversary dinner at Stationaery. We sat outside, since we still do not feel comfortable for an indoor seating due to pandemic. The evening was cool, but heating lamps made it comfortable for longer and leisure meal. Both food and service were excellent. We highly recommend this friendly restaurant and will be back for sure🤩”

“Best food I have had in Carmel. Great service and the music was brilliant.”

“Stopped in for a couple of pints this afternoon, and were VERY impressed with the beer! Absolutely delicious. A true small-batch microbrewery, with a very relaxing vibe and friendly service. Brought a 4-pack home to enjoy on the deck, and we'll definitely be stopping by the taproom again.”

“We enjoyed cocktails and wine at Bud’s during our stay at LaPlaya last weekend!”

“This is pure perfection. The choices from the 3-choice menu were ideal, particularly if you like to share bites of different flavors. These are a true specialty, so if you've never had a perfect soufflé, and you're not holding an airline ticket to Paris, then this place in Carmel is the place to come. Merci!”

“Nice place to have family gatherings..very nice restaurant and foods they serve..”

“We celebrated our anniversary at this nice and romantic restaurant. Food was great, service was excellent and very nice ambiance. The reason for the 4 and not 5 star rating was the pace. Slightly too fast. We will be back!”

“Decent burger joint in Carmel. We each had the stro burger, mine was med rare and the other was well done.
Decent portion size and great service but the burger was under seasoned for me specifically. The cherry mule was tasty!”

“One of my favorite go to’s. Whether it’s for a special occasion or a Sunday night dinner. The staff is always super friendly, Chef Tim and Sonny do phenomenal job and always offering local seasonal dishes. Bryce is very welcoming and takes a lot of pride in his guests. A must try if you’re in the area!”

“Waitress and staff are very knowledgeable about making your meal vegan. They took the time to explain how all orders are made separately in clean pots and if you tell the waitress you’re vegan they’ll make it without egg, fish sauce, oyster sauce, chicken stock, and meat of course. It is a bit tightly packed but they make you feel at home.”

“I love this place! Also love that Synchronicity Holistic Dispensary is right next door! My favorite thing ever was the buffalo chicken dip, they only make it randomly but holy moly. Also they half flatbread and salad makes the perfect meal. Even if you don't like beer they have really great options of sours, ciders, and wine that are constantly changing. Love it!!!!!!!”

“Highly recommend!! We had a 90th birthday dinner for my mom with 11 people. Everything was superb! Outstanding service, excellent food and drinks. Outside terrace is pretty and even allowed our 2 dogs. Superb! Thank you to Z and the wonderful staff, everything was perfect!!!👍”

“Overall very good sushi spot. Plenty of rolls and other items to choose from. I will be back. The it’s a little off ocean ave and the inside looks a little dated in my opinion. The walls are covered in pictures which makes it look cluttered. I’m sure that’s a local thing. The service was pretty good although a little slow due to it being a little busy in there. I need to come back during their happy hour- three rolls for $20!”

“Great variety in their specialty roll options. I ordered pick up on DoorDash, food was ready and prompt at the estimated time. Only downside was the mango used on my Mango Crunch Roll was not ripe so it didn’t have much flavor at all, but otherwise fish was fresh and I enjoyed the Cherry Blossom Roll.”

“We had a wonderful time here! Toby was exceptionally memorable, as was his knowledge, hospitality, engagement and he certainly didn’t fall short on his cowboy jokes. Fantastic wine and a fantastic experience!!”

“Happy hour rolled into dinner and both were delicious !”

“Loved the food, Teo our server was exceptional. Cozy yet romantic. A must to enjoy when in Carmel.”

“If you're looking for an unforgettable winery experience, De Tierra Vineyards is the place to go! From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed and appreciated. The highlight of our experience, however, was the exceptional service provided by Drew. His knowledge of the wines was impressive, and his passion for the craft truly enhanced our tasting experience. Drew took the time to walk us through each wine, explaining the nuances of the flavors and the vineyard’s unique growing practices. He made our visit feel personal, engaging with us in such a warm and inviting way. Whether you're a wine enthusiast or a casual drinker, Drew’s expertise and the beautiful setting make this a must-visit destination. Highly recommend!”

“Amazing food. Amazing atmosphere and wonderful service.”

“We had an outstanding brunch! Delicious omelettes, perfect mimosas and exceptional service from Angel, Tiffany and the excellent bartender whose name I have forgotten.”

“Easily the best Mexican restaurant I have been to anywhere. Delicious food. Amazing cocktails. Five star service (waiter was Gabriel (?). Owner came by to check on us as well.”

“Loved the happy hour! Great food and drinks!! The service was fantastic!”

“The Quail has gone above and beyond my expectations and I’ve only been here 3 hours!! The service is amazing and the grounds are exquisitely perfect!! The suite is probably the nicest room I’ve ever stayed in. I am in love with this place. Don’t even want to leave to go anywhere else! I highly recommend!!”

“a fantastic hidden little gem with great food and excellent service. the desserts are spectacular, the pasta was lovely as well. very underrated, but highly worth it”

“Wonderful service. Owner was a sommelier and recommended a great wine reasonably priced. Great food. The oxtail with the anchovies paste- delicious! As were the prawns. Another favorite was the fried rice. Dessert was also yummy- both the shaved ice and fried banana. Agree that the Ube ice cream was delicious. Great ambiance and service!”

“Excellent food and great service and good live music.”

“Stumbled upon this gem when we needed to make a stop in Carmel. I had the caprese sandwich and lavender latte. Husband had the hot pastrami. Both sandwiches were delicious and very large portions. But geez were these sandwiches expensive. Very pricey but delicious. Would recommend maybe splitting a sandwich.”

“As a solo guest I had a wonderful time! The vineyard is beautiful with beautiful landscaping. I did not go on the tour, but I was able to enjoy the flatbread pizza and reserve wine flight. The pizza was delicious! It's definitely a mist try. I had the BBQ chicken. Lots of flavor, the crust cooked to perfection and the fresh cilantro was a great finishing touch. The flights were great! Such a big pour for the flights, I honestly couldn't finish it😅. Excellent customer service! The ladies were accommodating, I needed lots of sun. There is an outdoor veranda that's nicely shaded and several umbrellas. I really enjoyed the live music, food and relaxing!”

“Never fails to give great food and service.”

“one of the best in Carmel...”

“Love the BLTA. Need a quick lunch or snack? This is the place. Only reasonable prices in Carmel.”

“Great food, wonderful service and awesome atmosphere!”

“Fantastic seafood dishes and cocktails.
We really enjoyed our meal and time sitting at the bar. The staff is friendly and efficient. Really great value too!”

“Great piano bar! Awesome lemon drops😃”

“We recently visited Carmel to see our team at Carmel River Dentistry. We looked for a place to provide an array of breakfast items for our team and Carmel Bakery came through like a champ! Our entire team was simply amazed and the quality and vast array of options we picked up last minute. Thanks for taking care of our team! #shoplocal”

“Amazing wines and a tasting room that is the best in Carmel!”

“Muy rica comida pero sobre todo la atención y el servicio de primera gracias a Daniel y a Martín por su excelente atención 🙋🏻‍♀️”

“Jeffrey’s has the best food 🥘 and it’s very reasonably priced.”

“First off, we will be going here EVERY time we are in Carmel. That's how good this place is.

My wife ordered the salmon bowl and the veggies and fish were cooked to perfection. I had the chicken bulgogi and to say I was happy is an understatement. We had the soup and pork dumplings as well and was bummed I forgot to get some to go.

The service was fantastic, the waitress/host was extremely friendly and personable. They were really sweet to our little pup who was welcome in the outdoor patio area so he could sit with us!

1000% go here if you're in the area.”

“This is the real deal. It’s what a pasta production shop should be. Most of the numerous kinds of pasta are made for restaurants, but all are offered as walk- in gems for sale.

Prices are very fair for fresh pasta. Fresh Pesto and marinara sauces are also available, as is Parmesan cheese.

The owner and his son are very kind, patient and helpful. After your first visit, you’ll be a regular whether local or just visiting.

Pair it up with local Ad Astra sourdough and a bottle of wine from Neilsen Brothers market up the street and you will have created a traditional San Francisco meal. Pure heaven.”

“Always amazing. Great food and service. 👏🏼 my favorite”

“Good quality food the beans was really good meats tinder will definitely eat here again”

“Great time watching the Niners game.”

“While the service and ambience were very good, there were several shortcomings in our dining experience. First, when I made the reservation several days in advance I had stated that this was a birthday celebration and there was nothing to indicate that it was so for the entire evening. As for the food, upon our arrival at 6:30, we were told that one appetizer was sold out and no longer available. It so happens that it was my first choice and I can understand if it were 8 or 9'clock, but it is unacceptable for the kitchen and the chef to run out so early. Then one of my dinner companions had ordered her beef entree to be served medium rare. When it arrived, it was very rare and had to be returned to the kitchen for correction. While the food presentations were lovely, both those experiences detracted from our evening. Our server was very good and did his very best to assist us. I was very impressed with the ambience and the general idea of "Love Thy Neighbor" dinners, but I might be hesitant considering it is not inexpensive, to return.”

“Wonderful cappuccino. I had a lovely drink this Saturday morning and a banana latte today. I will most certainly stop by again with my family this weekend. Absolutely recommend! ☕️🙂 Beautiful area and good seating options.”

“Lovely shops in this beautiful town. We visited over 18 years ago, so pleased we came back”

“Run by three brothers which you can see from their portrait behind of the counter. The youngest one with the hat was so sweet. He greeted us and took our order, made a fantastic affogato with tiramisu Gelato. The pistachio slice was delicious. Will come back :)”

“Amazing wine and atmosphere”

“We got a Meatloaf sandwich, Chicken Tortilla soup and Potato salad. Went to the beach and picnicked while watching the beautiful waves crash. With great prices and good food, you can’t get much better than that!”

“There are many kinds of fish in their market and they serve several types in the dining area as well. The clam chowder is supposed to be the best around! I did not have it but those in my party said it was great!”

“Really beautiful place to sit in the sun and enjoy a great coffee and some breakfast. I had a blueberry scone which was delicious and a cold latte which was great. The girl smiled and was very good in her customer service.”

“Enjoyed an amazing lunch! Delicious and the service was great 😊 👍🏻 Totally recommend this place.”

“I ordered thru App. Buy one footling sandwich, get one free! Great deal!

Wheelchair accessibility: Handicapped parking spaces. Easy entrance.”

“Route 1 was closed and I had to return to Carmel from Big Sur and took Freeway 101 instead. So another pasta at Portabella! Always going back for it.”

“We sat outside with our pup. The server promptly brought him a dog bed and a bowl of water. Our server kept our glasses full and was very attentive. The food was good, we left happy.”

“Gorgeous!! I came to the ranch for a conference, and will definitely be coming back again. Could not ask for more lovely scenery, more activities (hiking! golf! archery!), or more considerate staff.”

“Great restaurant a few streets away from the centre of Carmel. We stopped for brunch before continuing along the PCH. The food was delicious. We had a fried chicken burger and the huevos rancheros.

They even give you a slice of crispy bacon with your Bloody Mary! I didn't know this was an option but I fully support it.”

“Barmel Love Love Love ❤️”

“They have good coffee here.”

“Very cute coffee shop. We had to wait in line for about 10 minutes but we knew it would be worth it. The staff were friendly and it really felt like a community. They had a variety of drink specials. We bought a couple of hot drinks and some coffee beans to take home.”

“I showed up in the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday. Nobody there except my server who was very kind. I hung out for a bit waiting for my pizza and what followed was me wishing I had paid more for it! Holy smokes. I got it to go but took a bite when I got to my car. This is a work of art and a delicious pie! Muchas gracias! I will be back sooner than later!”

“Chef Todd’s menu is awesome here and you can’t go wrong with anything! The BLT is my favorite right now and the beer selection is the best around with many local brews as well as cool things like Pliny on tap! Parker has also put together a really good wine selection from around the world with some killer value offerings!”

“We were visiting Carmel on Monday forgot the kids foods so we found China Delight. I ordered my foods didn't wait long. I told the waiter that I forgot my kids foods and we saw their restaurant and give a try. The waiter asked me if I wanted utensils and I said Yes, please!. I love how he knw how to take care a customer. I didn't think of asking cuz I were in a hurry to go. So I will give 5 stars to the waiter for his outstanding service.”

“Let me be clear. I do not write glowing reviews, especially for Mexican food. This is something we make at home, always better, cheaper and tastier. There are so many Mexican places out there it is hard for one to stand out. Island Tacos is a standout. I had the Mahimahi burrito and the tofu street taco. Wow, I was blown away. One of my new favorite places to eat. In Carmel at the Crossroads, go figure. Not where I would look for a place to eat, especially with Salinas and Castroville so close by. DON'T MISS THIS PLACE.”

“Picked up food to go last year and it was really good. So happy that we found this place again! Ordered garlic parm and spicy fried chicken wing plates, lemongrass chicken and beef meatball pho. Also ordered strawberry and melon boba milk tea and Vietnamese coffee with egg cream. Food and drinks came out quickly. Customer service was great. It was so good that we ate and drank everything! We will definitely come here again when we’re in the area.”

“First time I finished a burger!!”

“They have good coffee here.”

“Great light and healthy food❤️”

“As a born and bred NYer I know good bagels when I taste them and these are very good.I don't buy any sandwiches so have no opinion on that-just give me the really good fresh bagels and let me buy the Acme Lox from Costco and I'm a happy guy.”

“The power was out yesterday. Why are you closed today? The entire shopping center is open. I dont get it. Not giving low stars because I frequently visit and like the people there.. but why are you closed all day today, on a Sunday during the holiday months? I just drove by and saw like a dozen cars park within 10 seconds and upset people scratching their head the same way I am.”

“Charming small café, recommended by my ChatGPT! Lovely service. I sat outside and had the eggs benedict. No cappuchino etc., regular coffee only but served in cute mugs. Cash only!”

“Mini combo was Yummy!”

“Incredible food and service! We love Chef Moises at 40 Love Catering!”

“Absolutely fantastic restaurant and a breath of fresh air in the Carmel culinary community. The food was incredible and the service was top notch. The space is refreshingly chic and relaxing. The tables are spaced apart to allow for conversation and there's no rush to finish your meal. You are encouraged to linger and enjoy the best meal in Carmel!”

“Route 1 was closed and I had to return to Carmel from Big Sur and took Freeway 101 instead. So another pasta at Portabella! Always going back for it.”

“We had a wedding to attend in Carmel and several of our family members decided on Flaherty to stop by for a casual meal before heading back to the Bay Area. Three of us arrived when they first opened because we hadn't had breakfast. Then a group of 8 and a group of 4 at 12:30. Food came out in good order and no one had to wait for their dishes. Thank you.”

“Great food service and atmosphere”

“Never fails to give great food and service.”

“We had very nice anniversary dinner at Stationaery. We sat outside, since we still do not feel comfortable for an indoor seating due to pandemic. The evening was cool, but heating lamps made it comfortable for longer and leisure meal. Both food and service were excellent. We highly recommend this friendly restaurant and will be back for sure🤩”

“We recently visited Carmel to see our team at Carmel River Dentistry. We looked for a place to provide an array of breakfast items for our team and Carmel Bakery came through like a champ! Our entire team was simply amazed and the quality and vast array of options we picked up last minute. Thanks for taking care of our team! #shoplocal”

“one of the best in Carmel...”

“Great food, fantastic service and great atmosphere”

“Easily the best Mexican restaurant I have been to anywhere. Delicious food. Amazing cocktails. Five star service (waiter was Gabriel (?). Owner came by to check on us as well.”

“Enjoyed an amazing lunch! Delicious and the service was great 😊 👍🏻 Totally recommend this place.”

“We had a great meal last night and wonderful service with Bryan! Our lasagna and pizza were fantastic.”

“Run by three brothers which you can see from their portrait behind of the counter. The youngest one with the hat was so sweet. He greeted us and took our order, made a fantastic affogato with tiramisu Gelato. The pistachio slice was delicious. Will come back :)”

“Nice place to have family gatherings..very nice restaurant and foods they serve..”

“Loved the happy hour! Great food and drinks!! The service was fantastic!”

“Fun sitting at the Sushi Bar! Great team, great service, and of course great food!”