Food and drinks were very good. Highlight was our server - Angel - who made us feel welcome and seen. Very helpful, courtesy and welcoming.
Vivian
Food was very good. Waiters were not experienced. They were rushing us with bringing out our main couse before we finished our appetizer . They did applogise and brought out wine on the house. They also rushes us with the check.
TracyinAZ
Angel was an amazing server. Food was very good. I had the rigatoni and my daughter had the hanger steak- said it was one of her favorite meals on our trip! Everyone is helpful and friendly at this restaurant. If you don't want to venture out while staying at the Carmel Mission Inn... Shearwater is a GREAT option! 👍👍
Kristin
The host was so gracious. As we were leaving, he brought a birthday gift out to my mom, since our table passed on dessert. What hospitality!
Marc
Our breakfast was excellent and the server was great as well. 8:30 am is a quiet time in the restaurant, so it was quiet. The eggs were cooked perfectly, the potatoes delicious and the coffee was good - could have been a bit stronger.
Lauren
It was a nice atmosphere and fairly quiet, very relaxing. I could see that it could get crowded and could get loud, but we dined about 7:15pm on a Saturday and it was fairly slow. Wait staff was super nice. I would go back!
Wendy Brickman
We hadn’t visited the Carmel Mission Inn for several years and knew that it had been refreshed since our last visit. We decided to have dinner at Shearwater Tavern, tucked inside the Carmel Mission Inn and had an absolutely wonderful experience. Our outstanding dining experience began with a delicious Caesar Salad paired with their wonderful signature Parker House Rolls—warm, house-baked, and served with local honey butter and a bit of sea salt. These starters set the tone perfectly for the main event: a flawlessly grilled bavette (flank steak), a favorite of ours, topped with a rich green peppercorn sauce and accompanied by crispy shoestring frites. Our steak arrived cooked precisely to our medium-rare preference and request, showcasing the kitchen's attention to detail.
The staff was exemplary—friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. Our waiter, Leonel, brought warmth and expertise to the table, clearly drawing from his years of experience. John, a talented Manager on site this evening, was equally attentive and informative, making us feel right at home.
The ambiance at Shearwater Tavern is another highlight. The two dining spaces are both casual and tastefully designed, and the lobby’s modern refresh, cozy outdoor firepits, large fun painted cow, and even the attractive restroom wallpaper add to the inviting vibe. With ample parking, visiting or dining there is a breeze. They also have an attractive bar and a happy hour. If you stay here, you will be right across the street from the fabulous Crossroads Shopping Center and near The Barnyard Shopping Center.
This is a place we plan to revisit soon, and their intriguing menu offers even more delightful dishes waiting to be discovered!. Shearwater Tavern at Carmel Mission Inn is a must-visit—highly recommended!
In December 2024, we recently returned to Shearwater Tavern for dinner and had another fantastic experience. The staff, including the wonderfully kind and helpful Angel, made us feel so welcome. We couldn’t resist ordering the flank steak and frites with peppercorns again—it was just as amazing as we remembered. This time, we also tried the delicious sea bass dish, flavorful meatballs, and warm dinner rolls. Everything was absolutely satisfying and delicious. The comfortable ambiance, great service, and ample parking made for a perfect evening. We’re already looking forward to our next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Richard Garcia
The pork belly was amazing. Goat cheese, guava sauce and fried pork for a crunchy texture. Soo good. The drinks are really good and delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marisa
Well, if you haven’t been here as a local, you’re missing out on great food and wonderful service! 😀Finally made it to their Sunday brunch, ends at 11am. I think I found my new Sunday brunch spot, no standing in long lines, fighting for parking and sitting space with tourists 🙄
We really wanted to enjoy our meal at Shearwater Tavern. We had been there a few times over the past 2 or 3 years, but we stopped going because it was just "fair." We heard there was a new chef/new menu, and the reviews seemed to be better as well. So we thought we would try it again. Unfortunately, we really did not see very much improvement, and the prices seemed much higher than they should be. $30 crab cake appetizer? That's considerably higher than at Mission Ranch, for example. In addition, Shearwater's $24 hamburger was reminiscent of the pre-formed (but high quality) burgers available frozen from a grocery store. Other Carmel establishments charge $22 or so, but their burgers are bigger, tastier, and better presented. And $10 for Parker House rolls - hmmm, unlimited fresh sourdough (or even fresh made garlic bread) is complimentary at 2 of our other favorites in town. Even their molten chocolate was disappointing, though we appreciate the GREAT SERVICE of the waitress (who gave it to us as we were celebrating an anniversary) - this cake, like some, seemed to undercook the center to create the "lava;" as a result, it tasted like cake batter. A single chocolate ganache truffle dropped into the batter makes for a much more delicious cake, IMHO. So, again - GREAT WAITRESS, fast service, but food was just OK, and the prices seemed unreasonably high, even for a resort town, when compared to other (arguably better/better atmosphere) dining choices in town. The Locals' discount card is a nice touch, but they're going to have to really improve before we try it again. Even with that, the food isn't worth the price. Sorry.
Scarlet King
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The food and the service. The Parker House Rolls are so good and I mean good. The shrimp the everything was great. Must must try this place. Go early they might run out of rolls. Kaitlyn out server was top notch. We will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Parker House Rolls, Grilled Salmon with Vegetables, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shearwater Tavern Burger
Anita
We were seated immediately and pleasantly by someone who I think was the manager, very nice man. Our server Stephanie, could not have been more professional or knowledgeable about the food offerings as well as being pleasant and fun to talk to. Our dinners and appetizer were delicious and well presented. A gem of a restaurant, relaxing and easily accessible from Hwy. 1.
lucas ludwigson
Any other option for dinner would be preferable over this place. My wife had the smoked salmon sandwich it tasted horribly fishy couldn’t eat it. My daughter had the chimichurri burger which had a half of a teaspoon of sauce on it and over cooked. My son and I both had the braised short rib ragu, a piece of leather on top of pasta with some tomato sauce somes it up. The only thing they got right was the dinner rolls. Way over priced for what they are selling here folks!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
Kylah Vigil
The food was great, but the service was terrible. He sat us down asked for our order and gave us our food. He never asked if we needed water or checked if we needed anything. He over charged us and overall just had an attitude.
Food and drinks were very good. Highlight was our server - Angel - who made us feel welcome and seen. Very helpful, courtesy and welcoming.
Food was very good. Waiters were not experienced. They were rushing us with bringing out our main couse before we finished our appetizer . They did applogise and brought out wine on the house. They also rushes us with the check.
Angel was an amazing server. Food was very good. I had the rigatoni and my daughter had the hanger steak- said it was one of her favorite meals on our trip! Everyone is helpful and friendly at this restaurant. If you don't want to venture out while staying at the Carmel Mission Inn... Shearwater is a GREAT option! 👍👍
The host was so gracious. As we were leaving, he brought a birthday gift out to my mom, since our table passed on dessert. What hospitality!
Our breakfast was excellent and the server was great as well. 8:30 am is a quiet time in the restaurant, so it was quiet. The eggs were cooked perfectly, the potatoes delicious and the coffee was good - could have been a bit stronger.
It was a nice atmosphere and fairly quiet, very relaxing. I could see that it could get crowded and could get loud, but we dined about 7:15pm on a Saturday and it was fairly slow. Wait staff was super nice. I would go back!
We hadn’t visited the Carmel Mission Inn for several years and knew that it had been refreshed since our last visit. We decided to have dinner at Shearwater Tavern, tucked inside the Carmel Mission Inn and had an absolutely wonderful experience. Our outstanding dining experience began with a delicious Caesar Salad paired with their wonderful signature Parker House Rolls—warm, house-baked, and served with local honey butter and a bit of sea salt. These starters set the tone perfectly for the main event: a flawlessly grilled bavette (flank steak), a favorite of ours, topped with a rich green peppercorn sauce and accompanied by crispy shoestring frites. Our steak arrived cooked precisely to our medium-rare preference and request, showcasing the kitchen's attention to detail.
The staff was exemplary—friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. Our waiter, Leonel, brought warmth and expertise to the table, clearly drawing from his years of experience. John, a talented Manager on site this evening, was equally attentive and informative, making us feel right at home.
The ambiance at Shearwater Tavern is another highlight. The two dining spaces are both casual and tastefully designed, and the lobby’s modern refresh, cozy outdoor firepits, large fun painted cow, and even the attractive restroom wallpaper add to the inviting vibe. With ample parking, visiting or dining there is a breeze. They also have an attractive bar and a happy hour. If you stay here, you will be right across the street from the fabulous Crossroads Shopping Center and near The Barnyard Shopping Center.
This is a place we plan to revisit soon, and their intriguing menu offers even more delightful dishes waiting to be discovered!. Shearwater Tavern at Carmel Mission Inn is a must-visit—highly recommended!
In December 2024, we recently returned to Shearwater Tavern for dinner and had another fantastic experience. The staff, including the wonderfully kind and helpful Angel, made us feel so welcome. We couldn’t resist ordering the flank steak and frites with peppercorns again—it was just as amazing as we remembered. This time, we also tried the delicious sea bass dish, flavorful meatballs, and warm dinner rolls. Everything was absolutely satisfying and delicious. The comfortable ambiance, great service, and ample parking made for a perfect evening. We’re already looking forward to our next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The pork belly was amazing. Goat cheese, guava sauce and fried pork for a crunchy texture. Soo good. The drinks are really good and delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Well, if you haven’t been here as a local, you’re missing out on great food and wonderful service! 😀Finally made it to their Sunday brunch, ends at 11am. I think I found my new Sunday brunch spot, no standing in long lines, fighting for parking and sitting space with tourists 🙄
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very good food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
We really wanted to enjoy our meal at Shearwater Tavern. We had been there a few times over the past 2 or 3 years, but we stopped going because it was just "fair." We heard there was a new chef/new menu, and the reviews seemed to be better as well. So we thought we would try it again. Unfortunately, we really did not see very much improvement, and the prices seemed much higher than they should be. $30 crab cake appetizer? That's considerably higher than at Mission Ranch, for example. In addition, Shearwater's $24 hamburger was reminiscent of the pre-formed (but high quality) burgers available frozen from a grocery store. Other Carmel establishments charge $22 or so, but their burgers are bigger, tastier, and better presented. And $10 for Parker House rolls - hmmm, unlimited fresh sourdough (or even fresh made garlic bread) is complimentary at 2 of our other favorites in town. Even their molten chocolate was disappointing, though we appreciate the GREAT SERVICE of the waitress (who gave it to us as we were celebrating an anniversary) - this cake, like some, seemed to undercook the center to create the "lava;" as a result, it tasted like cake batter. A single chocolate ganache truffle dropped into the batter makes for a much more delicious cake, IMHO. So, again - GREAT WAITRESS, fast service, but food was just OK, and the prices seemed unreasonably high, even for a resort town, when compared to other (arguably better/better atmosphere) dining choices in town. The Locals' discount card is a nice touch, but they're going to have to really improve before we try it again. Even with that, the food isn't worth the price. Sorry.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The food and the service. The Parker House Rolls are so good and I mean good. The shrimp the everything was great. Must must try this place. Go early they might run out of rolls. Kaitlyn out server was top notch. We will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Parker House Rolls, Grilled Salmon with Vegetables, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shearwater Tavern Burger
We were seated immediately and pleasantly by someone who I think was the manager, very nice man. Our server Stephanie, could not have been more professional or knowledgeable about the food offerings as well as being pleasant and fun to talk to. Our dinners and appetizer were delicious and well presented. A gem of a restaurant, relaxing and easily accessible from Hwy. 1.
Any other option for dinner would be preferable over this place. My wife had the smoked salmon sandwich it tasted horribly fishy couldn’t eat it. My daughter had the chimichurri burger which had a half of a teaspoon of sauce on it and over cooked. My son and I both had the braised short rib ragu, a piece of leather on top of pasta with some tomato sauce somes it up. The only thing they got right was the dinner rolls. Way over priced for what they are selling here folks!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
The food was great, but the service was terrible. He sat us down asked for our order and gave us our food. He never asked if we needed water or checked if we needed anything. He over charged us and overall just had an attitude.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
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