29 Best American Restaurants in Carmel By The Sea

“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!“

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

“The Pocket in Carmel-by-the-Sea serves beautifully prepared seasonal dishes, with standout fresh seafood and inventive small plates that showcase local coastal flavors. The intimate atmosphere is cozy and elegant, making it ideal for a romantic dinner or special celebration, whether you choose the warm indoor seating or charming patio. Service is consistently attentive, warm, and thoughtful from start to finish. The quality of the food, curated wine list, and overall experience make it a true gem in Carmel—absolutely delightful and highly recommended.“

“Love this place. But depending on staff, welL? Signature burger requested as rare. Severed like leather. Gets reserved tables requests wrong most times. Beet salad with two tiny beets? Not good. Still, a strong recommendation.“

“Great piano bar! Awesome lemon drops😃“

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

“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!“

“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!!“

“yummy food and great atmosphere my sliders were epic and the wine choices were great,Andrew was really attentive thank you“

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

“This is a Real Gem a few tables, clean, nicely decorated, the food is always fresh and sources from great places, seasonal, from appetizer to main course Amir and his team are very attentive, friendly and patient. Nice wine list, the home baked bread is so tempting you can't stop eating. The meat and seafood is so fresh and cooked to perfection. A locals secret place always a pleasure to return“

“Food and service was amazing! French onion soup and calamari to start. We both had the hanger steak which blew my mind. Cooked perfectly. Dessert was creme brulee and panna cotta both were amazing. Much more affordable and humble than anything in carmel by the sea and equally good if not better. Will definitely return for dinner again.“

“We had a wonderful experience dining at The Covey. We sat at a window table with a view of their water feature. The staff was extremely attentive and friendly. My husband ordered the Branzino and I had the Chicken Saltimbocca. Both dishes were excellent! Not only were the proteins cooked to perfection but the vegetables and farro that accompanied them were also very good. We look forward to dining here again.“

“We celebrated our anniversary there and had the BEST time. Faisal always makes you feel like family. The food and music are the best!!!“

“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 service and food!! Fast service and cozy atmosphere“

“Great food, wonderful service and awesome atmosphere!“

“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.“

“Never fails to give great food and service.“

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

“Great food and a total hidden gem! Service is slow with only one server for many tables, so the food takes a while. However, the staff is sweet and provided blankets when it got cold midday. 2-hour street parking is available. Not sure how busy weekends get since we went on a weekday, but we highly recommend it!“

“Very good food and excellent service!! It was as a very nice experience !!“

“Excellent atmosphere and food“

“Really fun spot and super friendly staff.“

“What another extraordinary evening at Seventh and Delores Steakhouse. We were treated so specially by our waiter Oscar and his assistant. And the restaurants owner/ general manager was one of the most congenial and welcoming I’ve met in Carmel. It was my birthday and after a perfect steak dinner, cocktails and wine—Oscar, his assistant and the GM surprised me with a cheesecake with two mini Roman candle-like sparklers. They all sang happy birthday —only a little embarrassing but kind- and the whole restaurant sang and clapped afterwards. What an evening, but then again, birthday or not—every evening at 7th and Delores Steakhouse is. Thank you Oscar, to the Owner/parter and Oscar’s assistant. A night to remember.“

“From farm to fresh right on the plate; try the walnut apple salad and add chicken if you like. The atmosphere by the fire warms one inside and out.“

“An unexpected highlight of our recent visit to Carmel! Warm, welcoming, fun vibe, great food. There are places one just doesn't insist on veggie options. 🤫“

“Great food, fantastic service and great atmosphere“

“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🤩“