FOOD NEWS
The 20 Best Restaurants To Dine At In Carmel-By-The-Sea
BY ALLIE LEBOS
Aubergine Carmel
Tucked into the boutique hotel L’Aubergine Carmel, you’ll find an intimate restaurant with coastal artwork, massive windows, and a marine-inspired menu.
The restaurant is an ode to seaside life, with a daily tasting menu featuring options like oysters with a yuzu emulsion and cucumber gelee with uni, sweet soy, and potato.
La Bicyclette Restaurant
With a menu featuring updated European cuisine and décor including copper pots, well-worn wood, and chalkboard menus, La Bicyclette transports guests to the European countryside.
The menu boasts wood-fired pizzas and Steak au Poivre with a peppercorn cognac sauce and truffle pomme frites.
Seventh & Delores
At the steakhouse, Seventh & Delores, you’ll find a light, classy ambiance featuring a bright, airy dining room, sky-high ceilings, a white marble bar, and a massive outdoor patio.
The restaurant serves up an impressive drinks selection and a thoughtful menu featuring humanely-sourced and delicious offerings like their renowned 1200° onion soup.
Cultura Comida y Bebida
With a cozy ambiance, one of the state’s largest traditional mezcal collections, and a menu shaped by the cuisine of Oaxaca, Mexico, Cultura Comida y Bebida is not one to miss.
The menu boasts options like toasted grasshoppers, mole with smoked pork cheek and saffron tortillas, and zucchini ribbons with cherry tomatoes, cilantro, and cauliflower puree.
L'Escargot
Located in an unassuming, bougainvillea-draped cottage, with subtle beachy meets French-bistro décor, L’Escargot has been a Carmel favorite since 1958.
Menu items include golden-brown beef Wellington, lamb rack with cabernet reduction and herb crust, French onion soup, and escargot, either served in the shell or in mushroom caps.