Carmel's Hidden Gem Restaurant

Great little place. Food was wonderful, really nice brunch fare. We went on a (busy) Saturday before Mother's Day...definitely worth the wait!

genuinely the slowest service ever. waited 20 minutes for water and 1 hour for food. auto gratuity of 20% added and then the check comes out asking for more tip. also a credit card fee. food was okay. but service sucks.

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.

Beware, this restaurant scammed me twice,
First he put charges that we did not eat or drink, 2 items,
Then we find out the fact and asked him to correct it, then he did not drop the first charge then he charged me twice with corrected fee.
What a BAD surprise!! SCAMMER!

The food wasn't all that, waiting for food was so long. The manger guy was rude . There was 6 of us, they didn't even let us know that tip was included already but my son look and pay it . The guy came and ask my son why didn't he tip and my son said oh the tip was already included in there and he went back and look and was like oh my back was very rude .

The food wasn't bad but not worth it.The manager guy was kinda rude. When we were leaving he ask us after we pay already and said why didn't we leave a tip. My son told him, the tip was included in there already because there is 6 of us which they didn't even tell us , but my son always look to check. The guy look at the receipt and was like oh my bad.

We had Sunday brunch at this delightful little restaurant today and it truly is a hidden gem! We sat outside, the patio is cute and there was relaxing music playing to complete the vibe. The service was fantastic, very attentive. The food was absolutely incredible…we had the Swedish pancakes with a lingonberry compote (homemade and not ruined with a bunch of added sugar) on top and the bacon and cheddar Belgium waffle topped with arugula (who knew this combination could be this amazing!). Also their maple syrup tasted natural, again not too sugary and overly sweet. I wish we would have taken pictures but we were so hungry that it didn’t cross our minds.
For mimosas, the mix-in options were orange, lavender, cranberry or strawberry. Delicious!
Next time we are in Carmel we will definitely be going back!

Absolutely RUDE restaurant. Walked all the way from the main street for that restaurant and had to walk out because we were feeling so uncomfortable and not welcomed in any sense. We had to ask 3 times before they even take any order and while the male server was taking the order he was so so rude the whole time which made me so pissed. Are you guys rasist or what Would NOOOT recommend. HIGHLY! such a horrible experience

Hidden Gem was a very nice breakfast experience. The food was excellent. We had the Eggs Benedict, Swedish pancakes and their specialty bacon.

Unfortunately, the excellent food led to a slight disappointment. My husband always likes to pay the bill a bit early so he can enjoy the rest of his meal and not have to think about it. While he was signing the bill, the rest of his meal was grabbed and spirited away without being asked if he was finished. This was a little disappointing and could have been avoided with a quick question. Also, the final total seemed a little high.

All in all, a good experience.

Food is pretty mid, waited a long time to get our food and they charged us for something they never brought us and they were weird about taking it off the bill. Not an awful place but no reason to come back / I’d rather we went elsewhere

We had an amazing brunch today at Carmels Hidden Gem! I almost didn’t want to share to keep it hidden!
The owner and his wife were delightful and the food was wonderful I highly recommend the lavender mimosa!

Gem means ‘a precious or semiprecious stone, especially when cut and polished or engraved. I can certainly attest to this when it comes to the light fluffy crepes and beautifully brewed coffee which is my favorite item for breakfast. The French, chic and jazzy atmosphere bustling locals and spotlessly clean dining area is a true gem in hospitality. Almost an atmosphere reminding me of the Austrian countryside with French vibes is how I would describe this little treasure. Intimate, calming and serene - Best breakfast in Carmel. Merci! Lunch and dinner a treat too in every way!

As a local, I can tell you this is truly a hidden GEM. It is not easy to find, but oh boy when you do!! The food is amazing. I have tried so many items it is hard to narrow down my favorites. I'd say the Huevos rancheros, Gem burger and Salmon. The owners are on site and attentive to their guests (and dogs if you bring them).
Since Carmel does not addresses and this is not on the tourist beaten path, the easiest way to find it is to locate Mission Street, head north to 5th street, continue toward 4th and you will see their green awning on the right hand side of the street.

This place truly is hidden but worth the find!!! The food was quality - we ate at other restaurants on the main strip and the Prices were high and the portions were skimpy. This place serves up fabulous brunch and we Are so glad we found ourselves there!

A less busy breakfast/brunch option because it's just off the beaten path in Carmel! Indoor seating and outdoor seating in essentially the courtyard of a motel next door. Inventive ingredients, and their black pepper bacon is worth it! But the corn & chile waffle could use more flavorful ingredients. Maybe go for the bacon & cheddar instead...