Beautifully cooked Italian food! Gorgeous atmosphere for its small location.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tommy
We chose Balena because it shows up on a lot of bloggers' lists but our experience was unremarkable - nothing particularly bad or good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Esther Yeoh
This place used to be very good. This is my fifth time eating here. I tried to make it a point to come here every time when I am in town.Their appetizers are still good and it is still dog friendly.The cauliflower and octopus are delicious.The pasta however are all very bland and not great. It is very unfortunate because this place used to be excellent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Craig Balaban
La Balena is among the finest restaurants in Carmel. We dine there every time we visit. The Lasagna is the best we have had. On our last visit the cauliflower appetizer was impressive. The staff is attentive and the wine list features some real treasures from Tuscany.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Cauliflower, Lasagna
Wendy Brickman
We enjoyed a fantastic dinner al fresco in the beautiful cozy front patio at La Balena decorated with colorful purple and white lights. First of all, the service was friendly, very attentive and professional. The food was fantastic and unique, too. We started with the delicious Burrata Tartufata (garnished with truffles), toasted bread, sea salt and olive oil. We then enjoyed the amazing chanterelle (great flavor!!!) mushrooms with linguini in a wonderful light sauce. We split their famous crispy giant Pollo Fritto which is half of a Fogline Farm Fried Chicken with flavorful mashed potatoes. We finished with a refreshing lemon sorbet nestled inside a giant lemon accompanied by Italian Biscotti. The owners, Emanuele Bartolini & Anna Abney Bartolini, stopped by to say hello and were so welcoming and kind. The restaurant also features an indoor dining room and back patio, but the front patio is my favorite! An outstanding dining experience in Carmel by the Sea. Very highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pollo Fritto
Charlie McBride
Really pricey for under-seasoned food. I had the fig salad ($17) and the pesto pasta ($32). Both were quite bland and nothing about them justifies the price. We also paid $5 for unsalted bread and a thimble of olive oil. Overall kinda bummed, but the service was good and helpful.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
adriana Pizzia franc
Had ricotta gnocchi had no flavor but I added my husband's pesto sauce from his dish and it helped a
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Craig Berger
We went here for our 25th anniversary, on the recommendation of Emmanuela (someone we met in town). Her recommendation did not disappoint! We booked a reservation easily, arrived early and were seated early. My husband had the bisteccca and I had the fish of the day. Both were incredible! The service was impeccable and timely (but not rushed). They even brought us a sweet dessert on the house for our anniversary. Thank you for letting us enjoy your Carmel hallmark. It was a vacation highlight.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lauriann1112
First they brought the wrong wine which they corrected when prompted. Then our appetizer of meatballs were RAW inside. They offered to bring more....we passed...then they said they would remove them from the bill...how kind!! Three of four entrees lacked any notable flavor. Unlike our other dinning experiences in Carmel were very disappointed.
Cody Law
Service was bad. Meatball appetizer was over cooked. Spaghetti carbonara was flavorless and pasta was undercooked. Would not recommend. Go anywhere else for better food and service.
Expensive for a mediocre food! I had the friend chicken and it was just undercooked and tasteless.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Skyler Shi
Service was great, food really was not.Paid 200 bucks for unseasoned seafood risotto, coagulated carbonara, mid meatballs, chefs salad that was just 10 lettuce leaves. Branzino was good, but I’m so surprised I wound up paying 200+ for such a meal. Not fine dining imo.Have nothing against this restaurant, just shocked I paid 200 for such a meal
Patrick Byrne
Amazing spot in Carmel, very fresh fantastic food. Locally owned and managed. Very authentic Italian.
Benton C Bainbridge
Excellent food at a popular spot. Sometimes they get too busy to accommodate takeout orders
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Knight130
Balena is superb. Finest Italian food in Carmel and the whole of the peninsula. Fresh, hand made with love and great skill. Fabulous wine selection.
Beautifully cooked Italian food! Gorgeous atmosphere for its small location.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We chose Balena because it shows up on a lot of bloggers' lists but our experience was unremarkable - nothing particularly bad or good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
This place used to be very good. This is my fifth time eating here. I tried to make it a point to come here every time when I am in town.Their appetizers are still good and it is still dog friendly.The cauliflower and octopus are delicious.The pasta however are all very bland and not great. It is very unfortunate because this place used to be excellent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
La Balena is among the finest restaurants in Carmel. We dine there every time we visit. The Lasagna is the best we have had. On our last visit the cauliflower appetizer was impressive. The staff is attentive and the wine list features some real treasures from Tuscany.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Cauliflower, Lasagna
We enjoyed a fantastic dinner al fresco in the beautiful cozy front patio at La Balena decorated with colorful purple and white lights. First of all, the service was friendly, very attentive and professional. The food was fantastic and unique, too. We started with the delicious Burrata Tartufata (garnished with truffles), toasted bread, sea salt and olive oil. We then enjoyed the amazing chanterelle (great flavor!!!) mushrooms with linguini in a wonderful light sauce. We split their famous crispy giant Pollo Fritto which is half of a Fogline Farm Fried Chicken with flavorful mashed potatoes. We finished with a refreshing lemon sorbet nestled inside a giant lemon accompanied by Italian Biscotti. The owners, Emanuele Bartolini & Anna Abney Bartolini, stopped by to say hello and were so welcoming and kind. The restaurant also features an indoor dining room and back patio, but the front patio is my favorite! An outstanding dining experience in Carmel by the Sea. Very highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pollo Fritto
Really pricey for under-seasoned food. I had the fig salad ($17) and the pesto pasta ($32). Both were quite bland and nothing about them justifies the price. We also paid $5 for unsalted bread and a thimble of olive oil. Overall kinda bummed, but the service was good and helpful.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
Had ricotta gnocchi had no flavor but I added my husband's pesto sauce from his dish and it helped a
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
We went here for our 25th anniversary, on the recommendation of Emmanuela (someone we met in town). Her recommendation did not disappoint! We booked a reservation easily, arrived early and were seated early. My husband had the bisteccca and I had the fish of the day. Both were incredible! The service was impeccable and timely (but not rushed). They even brought us a sweet dessert on the house for our anniversary. Thank you for letting us enjoy your Carmel hallmark. It was a vacation highlight.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First they brought the wrong wine which they corrected when prompted. Then our appetizer of meatballs were RAW inside. They offered to bring more....we passed...then they said they would remove them from the bill...how kind!! Three of four entrees lacked any notable flavor. Unlike our other dinning experiences in Carmel were very disappointed.
Service was bad. Meatball appetizer was over cooked. Spaghetti carbonara was flavorless and pasta was undercooked. Would not recommend. Go anywhere else for better food and service.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Expensive for a mediocre food! I had the friend chicken and it was just undercooked and tasteless.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Service was great, food really was not.Paid 200 bucks for unseasoned seafood risotto, coagulated carbonara, mid meatballs, chefs salad that was just 10 lettuce leaves. Branzino was good, but I’m so surprised I wound up paying 200+ for such a meal. Not fine dining imo.Have nothing against this restaurant, just shocked I paid 200 for such a meal
Amazing spot in Carmel, very fresh fantastic food. Locally owned and managed. Very authentic Italian.
Excellent food at a popular spot. Sometimes they get too busy to accommodate takeout orders
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Balena is superb. Finest Italian food in Carmel and the whole of the peninsula. Fresh, hand made with love and great skill. Fabulous wine selection.