New American Restaurants near Carmel Valley, CA

“Our group was in town for a wedding and we’re desperately searching for a place we could watch the Browns game Sunday Morning at 10am and Trailside delivered! They not only let us take over the TV and bar area but they provided exceptional service and the food was amazing! Highly recommend the Pesto Chicken and the artichoke app!!“

“We celebrated our Mom's birthday with the whole extended family in late July with a dinner at Lucia. It was an amazing evening from start to finish - a beautiful table in the inside/outdoor space at the front of the hotel, warm and impeccable service led by Donice who made the whole evening incredibly special, and fabulous food. We all left incredibly happy, especially our Mom who was so delighted. Thank you!“

“My wife and I enjoyed a relaxed lunch at Cafe Rustica, seated outside on a beautiful day.
We shared a bottle of Justin Cabernet and started with a small loaf of bread served with olive oil and balsamic. For an appetizer, we ordered the Crispy Calamari with chili aioli. The calamari was tender—not chewy—and the chili aioli was an excellent dip.
For our main, we shared a Margherita pizza with a thin crust, traditional sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes. It was well executed and easy to share. For dessert, we split the Fresh Lemon Pudding Cake, which came with sliced strawberries, whipped cream, and a strawberry drizzle. It was very unique and delicious, and a standout way to end the meal.
Service was excellent—Thomas took great care of us—and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Cafe Rustica is a very quaint spot, nestled in Carmel Valley about 12 miles east of Highway 1, and well worth the drive.

After lunch, my wife and I took a leisurely stroll through Carmel Valley, wondering why we hadn’t discovered this area sooner. Our walk formed a relaxed circuit along both sides of Carmel Valley Road, passing numerous wine-tasting rooms, restaurants, and beautiful scenery. We stopped often to take photos of the tasting locations, the mature oak trees, and even a majestic hawk perched on a fence.
The overall setting and atmosphere were wonderful, and it’s easy to imagine returning specifically for wine tasting—or even staying at one of the nearby resorts. Carmel Valley left a strong impression and is well worth spending time exploring.“

“You gotta visit just for the decorations!! Cowboy theme extravaganza!!! Some kinda creepy, but so fun.

Burger was very good!! Cooked well and came out juicy. The blue cheese was good quality.

A friend had the fried chicken and said it was excellent. Another recommended the Patty Melt.

But it's really all about the decorations!! The ceiling and walls are covered in old boots, animal skins, animal heads, signs, saddles, horns, pictures, chairs, hats, etc. etc. etc.

We were told by two locals during our wine tastings that this is the bar all locals come to at night.

The service was excellent!! Really wish I remember the server's name, but she has as much character as the restaurant does!!! Loved chatting with her. She gave us some excellent wine tasting recommendations too!!“