Comfort Food Restaurants near Seaside, CA

“Wonderful restaurant. Great for single diners!!“

“It was my 80th birthday and they opened up early for us for a private party of 30 people. I was AWESOME. Thank you so much for your kindness and service. The food was delicious and very well prepared. We will be back.“

“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.“

“We enjoyed the Mother’s Day picnic box. It was delicious and so easy. The corn chowder was fantastic as was everything else.. There was plenty of food and no clean up. I would definitely do it again next year.“

“Excellent food!!! It beats what we had in Maui recently.“

“Great time watching the Niners game.“

“I’ll offer a better than expected review. Our party of five went for Sunday brunch. 1/2 wait for an outdoor table. Excellent Southwest eggs Benedict; chicken fettuccini; fruit salad and Cinnamon toast special with eggs. Chocolate Oreo cake for dessert. Excellent service for a relaxing Sunday. Glad to return and recommend. Cheers!“

“This is our second time eating at Il Tegamino, and both times it was absolutely delicious. It is definitely a step up from your basic Italian American cooking. The pacchieri in ragu sauce was the winner, but everyone enjoyed the other items we got. The service is very attentive. Both times we ate outside. But because the terrace is all enclosed and with the space heaters, we were perfectly comfortable, even at the end of January. This place is a hidden gem in a town of frequently overpriced and mediocre restaurants, catering to tourists. “

“Visiting from out of state. Stopped by and oh my word. The food is so good! Definitely recommend this place.“