“The coastal kitchen was a wonderful experience. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. At each course they explained in great detail what the particular flavor characteristics were of the outstanding prepared food that we enjoyed We did the wine pairing, which was also quite a lot of fun. I admit, I enjoy a certain style of wine. But with an open mind was able to understand a nuances of different variables, as it was paired with food. The Somalia had a great deal of knowledge, and was very skilled at explaining a nuances of the wines we enjoyed. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, pretty pricey, but well worth it if you can afford that type of thing“
“The sort of place you stumble upon, then wonder why everyone isn’t talking about it.The food was divine. A perfect mix of flavours and delicately executed. I especially recommend the Yellowtail Crudo to start, and the lemon olive oil cake to finish.You might struggle to park but there aren’t many better places to eat in Monterey than this!Parking: On site, around the back“
“Aubergine is the best fine dining experience in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The food, presentation, ambience, and service are all of the highest caliber and well-deserving of the recognition earned by this restaurant. Aubergine was more than accommodating of my personal request for plant-based options in lieu of their traditional prix fixe menu, and they exceeded my expectations. I would have to travel to New York to another world-renowned restaurant to receive the same level of consideration and experience a similar level of culinary excellence. My wife was able to enjoy the traditional prix fixe menu options while I was thrilled by the creativity of the kitchen. She informed me later that this was the first time Aubergine had catered to a complete plant-based course for dinner. Absolutely magnifique. We were also introduced to a terrific Sauternes by the sommelier, a novelty we hadn't explored before, but now embrace. Thank you to Chef Cogley and the entire staff for making our visit so memorable. We will return. John and Rhona“
“Always delicious, always fresh. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and explained things in beautiful word pictures that truly helped guide our ordering choices. PLEASE - Do yourself a favor...get a $3 biscuit for yourself. You could share it, but you will be a little sad you did afterward. Life changing.“
“Everything was incredible! Service was excellent, food was extremely delicious in my opinion ! I can tell chef was put all his heart in every single dish and created it incredible with the best ingredients! I definitely going back again when i visit Carmel . And sorry took me so long to review this and i think this restaurant deserves my 5 stars reviews.“
“Had a wonderful dinner here. The owners are so friendly and the food was delicious. Will definitely be coming back!!! We had the beef Shawarma wrap special and the burger. As well as calamari appetizer. Everything was great. The lemon sparkling Italian soda was also really good.“
“This place is amazing. Hands down one of the best restaurants in the area if not the best.I have come here several times and I always leave happy.Fresh ingredients and care and attention to detail.Staff is always great.It is always hard for me to decide what I want when I come here because everything is so delicious!Come here you won’t regret it.“
“The food is excellent, though the prices are high. The one quibble I have is that the service is a bit too American: the food arrives very quickly and the plates are cleared before everyone has finished eating. When we told the waiter we weren't ordering dessert, he had the prepared bill in his hand to present to us. We purposely reserved at a late for Monterey hour of 8 PM, so that we wouldn't be rushed out.“
“A true family run restaurant that serves great food. You know it's good when most customers are locals. We had dinner, I had the filet of sole and husband had the steak. Both entrees were delicious. We will be back to try their breakfast next trip.“
“Memorable evening. This hidden gem is welcoming and cozy. The staff is very attentive and friendly and helped us with our choices. It was hard to decide with so many great things in the menu but we decided on squash ravioli , chicken piccata , shrimp rolls and mango mousse. The flavors were amazing.“
“Awesome little place in Pacific Grove near the beach. I ordered the Salmon and Potato Pancake and think it was prob the single best breakfast meal I've ever had! Smoked salmon + potato pancake + crème fraiche. I also added a fried egg on top. We will def be back“
“Garlic Roasted Mushroomsthey were okay I wish they were dripping in garlic butter.Almost PalomaTequila Blanco, lime juice, house-made grapefruit shrubTastes exactly like a good Paloma but without the fizz of soda. Would recommendSnake River Farms Wagyu Eye of RibeyeGrilled over almond wood, duck fat fried marble potatoes, charred onion, huckleberry demi-glaceJust get it because it's that good melt in your mouth seriously, but pro move ask for a little salt to sprinkle on top it will enhance the flavors truly.Jumbo Lump Blue Crab CakesPan-seared, apple-carrot slaw, pomegranate seeds, pomegranate reductionGood, but it is sweet, I would have preferred it a little more with savory notes but I recommend it because it's a really fresh take on the crab cakeMiso Glazed Pork BellyPickled apple arugula salad, garlic chili oilThis I would order again and double it.. soo good. The salad was absolutely refreshing paired well with the rich tender pork belly. I was so mesmerized.Olo Ranch Braised Beef Short RibConfit of cherry tomatoes, vegetable sauteed spinach, pommes puree, pan jusTender TENDER TENDER I recommend ordering this everytime you go.Parking: Parking is extremely limited we were lucky enough to find parking in the parking garage for free in the evening. we drove around for about 10 min until we lucked out.“
“Fantastic experience of hospitality and cuisine! Colin was super friendly, responsive and charming. Inspired new California cuisine was delicious! We had a nice private dining room for our daughter’s Birthday. We will definitely be back!“
“Short review:Nice staff, they have VERVE coffee! Chicken & waffles are fire.Longer review:I had one of the best breakfasts ever years ago in Monterey. It was a place that served verve coffee & had these bomb chicken & waffles with country gravy. I always wanted to go back to that place but found out they closed. However I did some digging & found out that that former owner owned THIS restaurant & they also serve Verve coffee (which is the best coffee) & made the same chicken & waffles. We decided to go here & it did not disappoint, it was once again one of the best breakfasts I have ever had.I’m not sure how it makes sense to put together fried chicken, sweet syrup, slightly spicy country gravy & a waffle to make a perfect breakfast but it just works & is I believe a marvellous example of God’s good common Grace.There are many things that will keep me coming back to Monterey, & this place is definitely one of them.Their crab Benedict was also pretty good, & its right next to a gold course & you have a view of the ocean.“
“10/10 recommend this spot! The food was fantastic and our server, Grant, provided fantastic attention and service the whole evening (even our judgmental Shiba enjoyed him lol). He made sure we were never forgotten while sitting outside, which was especially appreciated. Definitely recommend the Bon Bon dessert too - great taste with even greater presentation. Will absolutely return here again.“
“I've eaten here close to 10 times now, and each and every time has been a delight. The service is excellent, the host, Dia, is warm and inviting, and the food is great. It is such a quaint and romantic place. I welcome change from the touristy spots down the street. I highly recommend this restaurant.“
“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“
“the portion size for the fajitas was very large, although the taste was pretty average for its price. i enjoyed the clam chowder and onion rings, and the seafood pasta was decent. fantastic service as well. overall, it was a good experience, but maybe i wouldn't come back besides on special occasions.“
“We stayed here 3 nights for our anniversary.April 2024- Highly recommend this property!Such an enchanting experience.. unlike the usual run of the mill places.The dining was exceptional! Halibut & scallops were amazingly prepared and the prices are reasonable. The Sunday brunch on the deck with the fatted sheep grazing in the sun was a wonderful treat.“
“Food: Fresh, tasty.Service: perfectionAtmosphere: intimate, friendly, neatCleanliness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Our family (grandparents, parents, two year old) enjoyed Sunday afternoon brunch in a quiet upbeat setting.We had mimosas with fresh squeezed orange juice, the freshest calamari with a lovely spicy dip, amazing melt-in-your-mouth bread & butter, smoked fish soup, fish tacos, cod burgers, fries to knock your socks off and champagne.It was a wonderful experience.“
“What a great experience! It was to stop here for our dog's birthday and treat him to a meal off the dog menu. We seated in the outdoor patio which had great ambiance. The lighting was very nice being slightly dim and the area was heated by gas, fire pits and gas powered heaters. Even though it was raining, it was still such a pleasant meal. We stayed dry on the patio and our dog loved his food. It was a great stop on our dog Marley's birthday. We stopped by on our side cart electric bike rented from mad dogs bicycle shop down the street. Thank you!“
“We visited this restaurant during Easter. We ordered Full Moon seafood, Mu shu pork and potsticker. All were very tasty. Portions are quite big, enough to feed two adults and 2 kids. Price was also very reasonable with an excellent service. Overall good dining experience“
“Get ready for a flavor fiesta that'll have your taste buds doing the salsa at Tico's! Despite its modest size, this place packs a punch that'll leave you craving more. As I stepped in, I caught Tico himself in action, orchestrating culinary magic in the kitchen. The food was so divine that I just had to snag a pic with the maestro himself to commemorate the moment. From flavor to service, Tico's hits all the right notes with its charming mom-and-pop vibe. If you find yourself in town, do yourself a favor and pay Tico a visit--it's a taste sensation you won't want to miss! “