When I heard about Aubergine at L'Auberge Carmel, which focuses on using products from local and sustainable farms, and all of their wonderful accolades I knew I wanted to dine here. I am always on the hunt for a foodie haven everywhere I travel and I was not disappointed. We came in for a 8:30 dinner on Sunday. The tiny intimate dining room of 16 seats was about half full. It only took me a few moments to notice Larry King eating at the table next to us. I was already pretty familiar with the menu for I had been obsessing over it on their website for about 2 weeks. Soon, we ordered cocktails and started our dinner. First off I must comment on how amazing the service was. Each waiter, the maitre d and the sommelier had a grace when speaking or serving, were never condescending, and dropped each course like they were carrying a baby bird. I loved that each of them whore white gloves, something I haven't seen in a restaurant in a long time being that it is so old fashioned, but in this case it worked. After we each ordered our 5 courses, 3 sets of amuse-bouches were presented to the table. The first, 2 Gougères which are classic French cheese puffs. I found them a bit dry, I have had better. Next came an avocado creme served on a long crisp, one small fresh radish with butter and salt and a tiny cup of beet mousse. The avocado bite was so salty and satisfying I longed for a whole bowl! The beet mousse was my favorite thing of the night. I don't even care for beets, but this was fluffy and creamy, sweet and had so many layers of flavor I couldn't even identify everything that was in it. Finally, a heirloom tomato "tar-tare" with fresh tomato consommé poured over the top. I loved this simple preparation becuase it really let the quality of the tomato shine through rather than being muddled by other flavors. Next the bread arrived. You had a choice between 4 kinds of tiny popovers- rosemary, olive oil, french or brioche with fresh local creamery butter. Let me tell you, I could have eaten a DOZEN of these! Next I had the tomato, red pepper coulis, basil, goat cheese ravioli, socca, stuffed zucchini blossom. I actually found the zucchini blossom a bit bland, but oh boy that goat cheese ravioli was probably one the best single bites of food I have ever had. I forgot how real pasta actually can taste! My date had the oysters, wild watercress, sea bean, paddlefish caviar, beausoleil oyster "aspic" with brioche bread. At one point I tore off a piece of his bread and swirled it all over his plate and it about knocked me off my chair! The flavors were out of this world! Next we both had the artichoke confit, chorizo, Carmel valley olive oil, garbanzo bean, seared branzino. I ordered this even though I don't eat fish becuase I was so intrigued by the rest of the components of the dish. It was perfectly tasty and balanced. Third course, I had the turnip, red onion consommé, foie gras "cromesquit", seared squab breast. This was my favorite complete dish of the night. The squab was so perfectly cooked. The delicious skin was crisped to perfection and with the rich layer of fat underneath, it was better than any duck breast I had ever had. The red onion consommé was like comfort food. Hot and soothing. My date had the plum, verjus, almond, "kramik"brioche, foie gras torchon and at one point when I asked him how it was, he simply replied, "dont talk to me". It was that good he didn't want to speak! Now this is the point in the meal when my boyfriend leaned over and stated "I feel drunk". We had had a few cocktails but nothing enough to have us inebriated, I realized he was having an experience with being food drunk, or on a food high as I like to call it. "So this is what you are always talking about when you say you feel euphoric from good food?", he asked, ahh he was finally in my world. Next came the heirloom carrot, bordelaise jus, salsify purée, braised Kobe beef cheek. The carrots were perfection and the cheek was so tender I didn't even need my knife. My boyfriend then had the squab dish I had previously and was in agreeance over its supremacy. Finally to end the meal I had a glass of Royal Tokaij and the sauteed crêpe, white peach, nectarine, ollaliberry sorbet. Although the crepe, peaches and sorbet were delicious, I didn't care for the stuffing inside the crêpe. My date had the vanilla bean panna cotta, yuzu meringue, raspberry granita. Unfortunately, the granita was so sour and there wasn't enough of the panna cotta to cut through the sourness, so he didn't enjoy the dish as a whole. 2 hours later we were both smiling, full and already feeling our food "hangover". We were both in agreeance that it was one of the single most best meals of our lives. We made a quick trip into the kitchen to meet the Sous chef and the pâtissier, who were both so friendly and gracious. Overall the night was so exquisite. We had such a wonderful night and felt so satisfied. I am counting the days till our return! read more

Aubergine - New American Near Me - Carmel, California

I am very excited to have on my radar Aubergine restaurant in Carmel by the Sea. The chef, Justin Cogley, comes from an amazing pedigree - Charlie Trotters in Chicago - and now he is at the Relais & Chateaux property where Aubergine resides. I'd say I'm lucky because by chance I had the opportunity to attend the EAT DRINK SF event yesterday and be a participant at the first industry seminar with Justin Cogley & Justin Yu (of Oxheart in Houston, TX). Justin C. (so as not to confuse our Justins) put up a "transition" dish which was a sample of fresh abalone cooked in a chicken broth with bits of red garnish (which turned out to be an essential element - preserved plum - giving this dish a burst of citrus notes), Japanese red seaweed, a beautiful greenish-red leaf/maybe shiso, mitake micro/hothouse grown mushrooms (only 3 of them in the dish), a little kale powder, green tea powder and additional unknown ingredients. Amazing! Such a small bite packing so much depth of flavor, surprises to the palate and also a beautiful aesthetic!! This restaurant deserves a drive down to Carmel by the Sea just because of this bite. In fact, I'm so intrigued I want to try more... read more

The waiter came by and said scan the QR code for the wine list - after looking at 127 pages of microscopic letters, I was ready to walk up the street to another restaurant. Can't blame the restaurant because of the COVID rules of not having hard copies of the 127 page wine list! Then the waiter comes by and mumbles through his face-mask about the "GIFT" appetizer from the Chef - only thing is a couldn't understand a word he was saying. After the second dish of not understanding what he was saying, I asked for the paper menu so I could follow along. He said, "But it will spoil the element of surprise!". I was like, are you kidding me? Bring the menu please! Anyway, no menu, no price list, and surprise! $205 per person, just like that. I wish I would have known before we sat down. Now, you're probably saying, I should have known. Well, I've been to 4 other Michelin restaurants, and at least a dozen 5 Star restaurants and everyone of those restaurants gave you a list of what to expect. This specific location sure did have that "ELEMENT OF SURPRISE"! Not going back... The Ribeye was not impressive. Was not worth the $600 dinner for two. read more

Had an absolutely delicious and memorable eight course chef's tasting menu with A5 Wagyu, which is an absolute must!!! Hands down the best meal I've had in a very long time. And the wine pairings were a great compliment to the food and experience. The staff was very attentive and ensured we had a glass of wine at all times! If you're not into wines, they also have a full bar. Can't wait to go back! read more

I took my wife to Aubergine for a special dinner to celebrate her 40th birthday and our 10th wedding anniversary. We have traveled all around the world, live in the NYC area, and this by far was the best dinner I have ever had. We chose the tasting menu minus the wine pairing (I had my own bottle in mind), which included - Dungeness Crab, Halibut, Abalone, Caviar served over an Oyster, warm Mushroom/Cheese combo, Lamb, and we opted for the Kobe Beef and extra cheese platter. Every dish was better than the last and the desserts were wonderful. This was truly a special night, so good that I gave the chef a big hug because he basically dropped the mic and walked away food-wise - dining out will never be the same again. For those that complain about the decor, there is nothing wrong with the dining area. The decorum is simple and elegant, it is designed to make you focus on the food and the people you are dining with. Also, is it expensive? Yes, it's expensive. The price of a special night out doesn't warrant deducting stars, especially since one should know what they're getting into when dining at a place such as this. Our experience was to celebrate a once in a lifetime occasion and you can't put a price tag on something that was so special. read more

Aubergine - Kobe Beef - New American Near Me - Carmel, California

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Awesome dinner if price does not matter. It is a wonderful intimate dining experience with dotting service, wonderful matching wines and fabulous food. We had the chef's tasting menu at 11+ courses when you consider the extras the chef treats you to. The focus is on local ingredients and some of the more fabulous courses included black cod, abalone, Wagu beef (fabulous!) and a chocolate dessert. The menu changes regularly and one of the key components is the surprise of the course preparation so I will not ruin the surprise. If it is a special occasion and spending $400 to $500 per person (including wines) is acceptable, you will have a fabulous experience. read more

Overall very satisfied. Great food and cocktails. If I were to nit pick I'd say some of the dishes were a bit on the salty side. Because of COVID we were forced to sit on the patio which was actually a really nice setting. I will definitely be back soon. read more

I came here for Valentine's Day dinner w/ my bf (I know this review is long overdue, but better late than never!). We spent the afternoon walking around Carmel before arriving at Aubergine for dinner. Everything from the decor to the ambiance was perfect -- very intimate yet modern. Our four course menu consisted of: dungeness crab & hamachi, turbot & risotto, wagyu beef & squab, artisan cheeses, and milk chocolate & valrhona araguani. Wow -- everything was delicious! My favorites were definitely the risotto, beef and valrhona araguani. Aside from that, the bread selection was amazing: warm and soft, fresh from the oven. I would definitely recommend this place for a special occasion! -L. read more

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I saved my 300th review for this place... Here goes nothing, this is going to be one longggg review but a good one. My bf took me here for my birthday and I knew it was going to be a fancy one. We kind of were lost for some reason looking for the place, but we were standing by it the whole time. It was the day before thanksgiving so it was fairly empty. I forgot her name...Jamie? our hostess...sommelier (sp?)...was fantastic. very cozy atmosphere, didn't feel too snobby. opened up the menu and on the front page said happy birthday! silly me was wondering if everyone had that on the menu, but nope just me cuz its my bday! but yea yay special. we opted for the chef's tasting menu at $110 per person T___T expensive wine pairing would have been another hundred or so per person, but Jamie kindly showed us other options, by the glass or half a bottle and such. We did half a bottle of white and half of red, which was around $75 each. They gave us comp champagne to start off which was very nice. Now on with the food....these are the notes I could get while the server was talking so... the white wine was really good, it starts off light and as it sits, the flavor develops, and the red wine was perfect for me as I don't like the dark wood taste. Persimmon and oolong tea soda to start with, tasted like a fizzy...asianny drink Kafir lime jelly. Mousse cocoa and pickle veggies.- very very strange first dish...I was scared the rest of the dishes would come out weird. the texture wasn't something I was fond of... * favorite*Roasted chestnut purée, crab and apples- really nice chunk of crab meat, great balance of flavors Frozen white corn. Mousse. Sea urchin. Fried mussel. Mussel frost. Basil. Cavier- very unique! delicious *favorite*Tomato flour. Lemon grass tomato water. Campeche.- I think this is the fish one....really fresh and meaty bread- they had soft warm bread, my favorite. one had a cheesy top and one was plain. a little oily but soft and flaky. mmm Abalone. Pickled sea lettuce. Hijiki. Kumumboche plum with chicken sauce- a lil on the sour side for me. **favorite**Ginny hen. Mustard seeds. Crosnes. Maple leaf. Ginny hen reduction-really yummy!!! fancy version of regular chicken, but the flavors together were really good. *favorite*Rib eye. Roasted beets. Roasted black garlic. Tonka bean powder Hosorati. Raspberry bean. - can't go wrong with rib eye Honeydew melon sorbet. White chocolate and cucumber,Honey meringue- very refreshing for ending meal but a lil underwhelmed. just when we thought we were done, they brought out this plate of rocks....but one of those rocks was edible! very creative, like a mochi. they even gave us a pumpkin dessert to take home! the timing for every dish was perfect, and i really enjoyed the meal. pretty expensive meal but once a year is not bad? We got to meet the chef and see the kitchen which was really nice. We also dined next to Leslie Mann and her husband and her kids....AWESOME A really good night, wish I could afford to go back! read more

Truly magnificent! We came here to celebrate my girlfriends birthday..that was several weeks ago and we are still raving about it and will be for years to come. Every part of our experience was excellent. The food was unlike anything we had ever tried. It's tasting menu only (they are great about replacing foods you don't like), and the menu you get at the start gives you only the main ingredient of each dish. I recommend NOT looking at pics or reading reviews that describe the courses, as part of the experience is the element of surprise. Each course is like a work of art..from the plates themselves (all of which looked entirely original), to the actual plating of the food, to the taste. Personally, I LOVE great table service. At Aubergine, numerous courses were brought out and described in all kinds of unique and creative ways. We couldn't wait to see what the next one would bring and it was oh so hard to not try to peek ahead at the table next to ours. The service was awesome. We had three people looking after us, they skillfully guided us through our meal. It felt like the were there exclusively for us. Aubergine's dining room is intimate. The decor is understated and classy. Let's be clear, unless you got money coming out of your orifices, this is a place for special occasions. Be prepared to spend a pretty penny..heck, be prepared to spend a lot of pretty pennies. It is ABSOLUTELY worth it! Thanks, Aubergine, for an unforgettable dining experience!! read more

This review is for the desserts. And the patissier. Once upon a time, a girl came across a dessert blog by the elegant name of One Spoon Quenelle. It was a picturesque chronicle of delicious fairy tales that seemed too good to be true but were magically created and captured. Months later, she decided to pay homage to this land of deliciousness otherwise known as the Aubergine. With three friends, she trekked up the PCH from Los Angeles to Carmel in search of the dreamy treats she saw only in pictures. Upon arriving at the beautiful town, the Fellowship of the Tummies walked through the evening fog to Aubergine. As they approached its gate, a man exited the premises. In the fleeting encounter as he walked past them, the girl saw his face. Wait, she thought. That looks like Ron.. Could it be that he was leaving for the night? Was it too late? She paused in her steps. I can't risk walking into the restaurant and finding out he is gone! She swung around. "Excuse me, are you by chance the patissier here? Ron?" "Yes?" "HI! I am a huge fan of your blog! My friends and I just came from LA to visit you!" "Oh wow, thank you - what a surprise! It's my birthday today!" "OH! Happy birthday!" "You guys just caught me - I am leaving tomorrow morning for a Germany." THAT is how magical our encounter was. Ron was as nice a person as amazing a patissier - he didn't abandon the four dessert-hungry girls and served four of his magical creations on the fly. And at the birthplace of the beauty that are the creations of one amazing patissier where he delivers happiness to the world, one spoonful at a time, the Fellowship of Tummies tased and knew that this must be what heaven must taste like. And really, beautiful doesn't cut it. Ron's creations are innovative. Abstract yet solid, from the wispy dance of tempered chocolate twists and the airy lemon-breathed foam that is heavenly as it melts away on the palate, to the rich but none-too-rich smoothness of sweet potato creme melting away... and that is how our beautiful night closed, with four happy girls leaving on clouds keeping them afloat. Imagination into reality, and reality outimagined. He is a visionary, and all his works change constantly, following the seasons. Definitely worth a trek and most highly recommended. read more

This was our first Michelin rated restaurant we ate at and we weren't sure what to expect. The service was great. The food had a lot of unexpected textures. The ambience was nice, felt like we were in Europe somewhere. It was set in their courtyard (due to Covid) with an overhead canopy and lights and private heaters for all the tables. ( definitely wear long sleeves/ sweater/ jacket). Great experience for our 30th wedding anniversary. Was able to sample raw oyster and caviar, Wagyu beef ( amazing flavor and texture that melts in your mouth). The lamb chop was excellent along with the sea bream type fish. The most surprising thing we ate wasn't the meat or seafood, but that ultimate comfort food, their brioche bread. Yum :). We had their wine pairing as well. The overall taste of the wine was very good on the palate and was very smooth. This is not your Trader Joe's wine. Overall, a wonderful night that we will always remember. read more

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The chef here finishes service at 11PM and gets up at 4:30AM to go running on Sunday mornings. That speaks exactly to the type of dedication and work ethic that this place puts into the dining experience. The place is tiny (I counted 9 tables) - so reserve ahead. The couple next to us asked for a banquette table to sit next to one another , which I'm totally doing next time. Easy street parking and you can hang out at the L'Auberge Carmel lobby if you get there early and you can evesdrop on the wait staff team motivational team huddle. The service is as tight (and formal) as you'll find in any 2-3 star Michelin. I freaked out when they knew our first names and said my hard to spell and pronounce first name. Somebody did their homework. Our obnoxious dietary restrictions were carefully considered and manged. The chef signed and wrote a nice personalized message on the menu. Small touches mean so much. There's no point in going into the menu because it changes, but after few recent fine dining duds, this was a nice surprise in sleepy Carmel. Presentation is simple and beautiful. They use some of my most favorite dishware that I've seen at 2-star Baume. Innovative, local, modern without being over the top, and straight up tasty. The seafood items were the highs, but the desserts could have used some work - interesting but not exactly delicious. At the end of the day that's the last thing you remember and I'm a dessert girl and I got needs. Otherwise this would have been a solid 5 -star review on par with some of the best 2-star Michelin's I've been to. read more

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By far, our most upscale dining experience on our California trip! Aubergine was a true experience from top to bottom! There were some plates that dazzled, like the bone broth & morel stuffed with chicken! My wife and I felt that it was the perfect ending to our time in Carmel-by-the-Sea! Thank You Chef! read more

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This restaurant is not for the faint of heart or shallow of stomach! We opted for the chefs tasting menu and were not disappointed. This is not the place to go if you are a picky eater or are not adventurous. However, if you're a true foodie at heart and have a discerning palette - you will not be disappointed. From the moment we walked in the door, we were greeted with warm smiles and were attended to well during our 3 hours / 13 courses there! It was truly an experience...each dish tastier then the last. My favorites - no surprise - potatoes w/nori, cheeses, wines and dessert. But, that's me. My foodie friends had a true appreciation for the finer dishes like fois grois, barnacles and or oysters with caviar. Food - delicious Staff - pleasant Ambiance - fine dining establishment, intimate read more

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Fabulous from the get go! Every serving was better than the previous! Great dining experience for a special birthday! read more

A memorable experience... every dish was not only delicious but also a work of art...service is impeccable, Michelin Star level yet not pretentious, everyone was so thoughtful and made us feel special. Not for the faint of heart price-wise but a once in a special occasion type of restaurant... a wonderful experience all around. read more

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Four stars for the food and 3 stars for being far too overpriced for the quality of service and food. And there's not much transparency in how the prices are structured. My husband and I went here for an upscale date night experience and were expecting a one Michelin star experience but the surprises were mixed. The food was really really good but having been to other 3 Michelin star places like Quince (in SF), it wasn't at that level. Nevertheless we were satisfied after the meal but when the bill arrived it was more than $1,000! The cost of the Wagyu was separate from the tasting menu and even the chamomile tea offered at the end was an extra charge. The Wagyu wasn't up to the quality we had even in a non Michelin star place in Tokyo. The 3 Michelin star places we've been to have been more upfront with their prices. A few suggestions: 1) I'd highly encourage the service team to speak with a more measured approach and more succinctly. Rattling off everything with such speed isn't a hallmark of service quality. 2) Be a little more transparent with pricing. Although I think more importantly bring your pricing in line with the overall experience. Sadly we will not be coming back here and recommend the same to friends who visit the area. read more

Incredible food, service, and elevated without being pretentious. They kept the tasting menu exhilarating for my pregnant wife without missing a beat. read more

Went here during our Honeymoon stay in Carmel. We both got the 5 taste from the chief. Overall it was good, but not as good as French Laundry. I think after French Laundry nothing really can compare. But if you looking for a nice dinner during your stay at Carmel this place should definitely be on your list. We did have something interesting a prosciutto that was from boar that were only fed acorns, really nice touch to the meal. I think my favorite taste was the flava bean and the morel mushrooms really good. The pork shoulder was really nice. The Kobe beef was OK. Don't order the foiegras not too good here. The crab bisque is basically the juice from the inners of the crab... (yuck imo) Overall good read more

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What a great restaurant in lovely Carmel! Has the service and food worthy of a Michelin restaurant. The service was definitely en pointe. My favorite entrees were the Kumamoto oyster, English pees with mint, and abalone. Unfortunately the ribeye was a bit disappointing, but the lamb was good. There were three different types of dessert, all which were good. The price for the tasting menu was actually really reasonable, but they get you with the champagne that they offer you when you walk in, and they charge for water. All in all, a great experience! And, you get to go back to the kitchen and meet the chefs! That was really neat and added a personal touch. read more

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Unquestionably the finest dining experience in Carmel-by-the-Sea. They are trying so hard for a Michelin star. Great spot for a special occasion, very small and intimate dining room serves a chef's tasting menu with optional wine pairings. Yes it is very expensive (as of 2018, the chef's tasting menu is $175 per person, plus a 20% service charge is added to every bill). read more

Aubergine - The S'mores - New American Near Me - Carmel, California

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The service was excellent! Intimate setting was very special. Went for birthday/anniversary and they added a few extra treats that were delicious. The wine pairing really complemented the meal. It didn't even feel like it was a 2 hour meal. We were just eagerly anticipating every course. The wagyu add on was well worth it. The location was great as well, walking 5-10 minutes to the beach. Will definitely be returning here again!! Loved it!!! read more

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Came here only to try a certain item on the menu, not stay for the weekend which I wish I could have. The spot is locate din downtown Carmel a stones throw away from lots of other boutiques and restaurants. The place is a splendid getaway from the world as it was absolutely serene. Elegant decor, homey and classy all the same time. Centralized court yard w/ patio and heaters to lounging. the dining area directly to the left and rt of the entrance. The staff is absolutely gracious and accommodating, even to those who are staying for the weekend. This is definitely a posh place to stay and take a significant other for a short min vacation. Now onto the point of the review! I came with a few local friends who absolutely wouldn't let me leave town without trying their duck burger. Not that i had to be coerced to much..anyhow The burger is not so much a burger I guess, in a sense it really a slider than it like a 1.5 slider (fat boy math, lol). Were talking succulent duck breast w/ seared foie gras (yes that's right folks, we added insult to injury on that fowl) on a freshly baked brioche bun. It was topped with a spicy arugula and organic black currant whole grain mustard. This heart attack in brioche is accompanied by freshly made kettle chips and coarse sea salt. I washed the bad boy down with a nice Spaten in the center courtyard right next to the fountain and contemplated how I could justify buying another one for the road back to San Jose.(its like an hour drive, and I get low blood sugar sometimes, OK?) The burger itself without the Spaten is $25, total bill as they include service was about $45-50 which is extremely pricey, but hey... this IS Downtown Carmel, and I AM eating a duck foie gras slider. I mean cmon whaddya think it was gonna cost? read more

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One of the best meals I've had in a while. I just went to a two Michelin star restaurant in SF (Lazy Bear) two days before coming here and hands down the meal here tasted better. When they called to confirm our reservation, they did mention that jackets are required for men but when we arrived half the male guests were dressed casual. I prefer casual but I came in full suit since they told us it was required. I wish they said it's preferred but not required. The one thing that I wish they had was a non-alcoholic drink pairing. I did ask for a mocktail but it never came. Other than that, service was great. They gave us a cake with a candle in addition to our desserts for my birthday celebration. I love the chef signed menu at the end. I asked how often the menu changes and was told to just let them know and they can change the entire menu by request. Too bad I live three hours away or else I would come back often. Great place for special occasions. read more

AMAZING! I've luckily been to this restaurant twice. Once, two years ago and it was incredible. Back again and this time I remembered to write a review. The chef designs the menu based on local ingredients that are available for the season and the menu simply lists the ingredients that will be used at some point during the tasting. We opted to go for the wine pairing as well. Every dish was spectacular and so incredibly flavorful and balanced. The entire dinner lasted 3 hours and I did not want it to end. The service, pace, wine pairing and food were exceptional and if you are in Carmel and are a foodie, I highly recommend checking this place out. I'm shocked they don't have a Michelin star yet. Already can't wait for my next chance to go back. read more

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I'm sorry, but for $900 for two (included one wine pairing) I expect at least one course to knock my socks off. No memory of anything that special. Kind of amazed at the other food reviews, especially if you've traveled in Europe. Can think of at least two other longtime Carmel restaurants (both with Italian names!) with a more satisfying food experience for one-third the cost. Service was fine until the end of the evening when the staff disappeared and we found our way to the door. read more

I will preface this review in the fact that I might not be giving Aubergine a fair shake. My wife and I had traveled to Northern California from Texas to celebrate our 19th anniversary and the day before our experience at Aubergine we had a more than 5 star experience at Single Thread in Healdsburg. The tasting menu at Aubergine was to be the next stop on our culinary adventure. The problem was that we did not get to experience the full tasting menu. We just so happened to make our reservation on the one night a month that the restaurant does a smaller 4 course prix fixe menu called "Redefining Flavor Menu". Now, this was not the restaurants fault that our reservation was on the wrong night, but it was a disappointment to what we were expecting. This is the part of the review that might be unfair. The setting and service for the meal were just what we expected - a real fine dining experience in a boutique hotel setting. The servers handled our disappointment in the lack of full menu with thoughtfulness and grace. The food in general was very good with a couple of misses though. The first course was an innovative take on a Caeser salad. The salad was served on a flatbread and had a Kimchi Caeser dressing. Very tasty dish, but the flatbread my wife's salad was served on was overcooked to the point it couldn't be cut through. Mine however was just fine. The other misses were the tiny portions served on courses two and three. The quail course and lamb chop course were tasty, but the sizes were way too small for a 4 course meal. They felt like they were sized for the 8 course regular meal. The fourth course was a very good chocolate mousse cake dessert. The pairings went well with the meal. 5 Star Service 3.5 Star Food 2 Star portion sizes (had to eat a second dinner at Roy's at Pebble Beach) 2 Star dissappointment in not getting the full experience we had planned on. 3 - 3.5 star review read more

I am writing this review less than 12 hours after having one of the best meals of my life at Aubergine. We enjoyed 3 "gifts" from the kitchen followed by 9 courses (one of which was the optional cheese board add-on) and it was all excellent. The best part of the experience was the service and while the staff was of course a big part of that, it also really helped that we went on a Monday at 6pm. For most of the meal we were the only folks in the restaurant which made it feel like all the staff was just there for us! The waitstaff was professional but also very personal as well as we chatted about one another's lives, families etc. if you are celebrating a very special occasion, don't be afraid to check this place out! Also, if you can, go on a Monday so you get extra-attention! read more

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I love a fancy chef tasting, but Aubergine fell short of the five-star experience I expect. The intimate dining room and service were excellent, but some of the dishes were forgettable, and the menu was confounding. We started off with a few "gifts from the kitchen," some of which seemed to be on the menu. The dishes were brought out of order vs. the menu which was confusing. Some of the dishes were fantastic - the uni on potato, the oyster with caviar, and the panna cotta, for example. However, the wagyu at an upcharge of about $130 wasn't worth it, although it looked great. The smoky celery root was fun and had a great texture, but a big miss on the too-sweet BBQ sauce. The other dishes were creatively plated but didn't wow on taste as one might expect from this Michelin star-hopeful candidate. Happy to drop a dime in this cute town on an elegant meal, but I expect the best at this splurge price point and with such accolades. It's still a lovely experience despite the poor value, so four stars it is. read more

Exceptional in every way. We ordered the New year's Eve feast for 4-6 and it totally exceeded our expectations in every way. Starting with the Krug champagne, the duck liver mousse, the oysters. Then on to the potato leek chowder with truffle and crab, the Dover sole, the lobster thermador, then the filet with bbq mushrooms and spinach, the cauliflower Gartin, the chocolate dessert. What was amazing was the ease of heating and serving all dishes. Aubergine is a special restaurant. The staff is always friendly, responsive, courteous. Thank you for a memorable New Year's Aubergine! Pat and Ginger C. read more

I had the tasting menu ($150 each) and sommelier wine paring ($125). With 20% included gratuity and the price tag of the dinner, my bf and I expected better services and more consistent delivery of dish descriptions than we experienced tonight. Food (3/5): Hits and misses. Generally a little too much salt on the sauces. Drinks (3/5): Good paring with the dishes, but generally overpriced. Pastries (5/5): Definitely best part of the dinner tonight. Services (2/5): We had three pre-course meals with no drink offered or asked. The dishes were quite salty, and we could not enjoy them much with plain glasses of water. Confusing or wrong explanation of the meals they served, and no one was at the reception to see us off when we left the restaurant after they picked up the check. read more

Came here a million years ago but memories of the food, ambiance, and overall experience still gives me so much happiness. While definitely Michelin quality, it felt humble and cozy. I'll be going back soon... read more

Nothing less than exceptional! These entire staff is so welcoming and knowledgeable! The dishes were surprising, the tableware over the top gorgeous and so fitting considering where you are in Carmel. Fun getting to have the chef serve you a course. read more

Let me get my one tiny disappointment out of the way. I spent about a week emailing back and forth with the reservations agent about making a reservation for my husband's 50th birthday dinner. When he called the day before to confirm the details, he asked if this was for a special occasion and what was my husband's name... Now on to my glowing review. Dining at Aubergine is an EXPERIENCE, not just a meal. You get 8 courses, each brought to your table by a different server or chef. And the meal is tailored to your dietary restrictions or preferences. Every single person we spoke to was extremely friendly, warm and welcoming. Because of the pandemic, all seating was moved to the courtyard but it felt like it was meant to be that way. Gorgeous view anywhere you sit. And this picky eater loved every single bite they put in front of me. Worth every penny! read more

NOT a positive experience!!! My husband and I went to Aubergine for his birthday, thinking it would be a slam-dunk, as the reviews sounded so promising. We pre-ordered the tasting menu with the wine pairing and were super excited to go. Given the roughly $900.00/couple price tag, we assumed the experience would at least be in the ballpark of 2-3 star Michelin restaurants (we've been to several and the price tags are right in line with Aubergine). Long story short, this was NOT that....not even close. We were greeted warmly and the atmosphere was quite nice. That all changed within minutes of our arrival as the Sommelier came over to ask if we wanted a drink. We replied that we had ordered the wine pairing. He then informed us that the first 2 courses did not include a wine. Odd for sure. Since it was my husband's birthday, we decided to share a glass of sparkling which arrived well after the first course. The overall vibe was very uncomfortable and it seemed a bit cheap to not include a pairing at the start of the meal. Another big disappointment was that the Sommelier was extremely difficult to understand. His very thick accent and the style in which he spoke made it almost impossible to truly take in all he was saying. A big bummer as we enjoy learning about wines and the regions they come from. We did ask a few times for him to repeat, but that only made the whole situation even more painful. At this point we were worried but still hopeful that the rest of the meal would go smoothly. It was not to be. If you think about a ballet, with all the dancers and the music choreographed just so, it's seamless. With a meal like this, you rightfully have expectations of a ballet-like performance from the staff. This is a big part of the price tag and the experience - to never want or need for anything. And that is exactly what you get at a place like French Laundry and others. At Aubergine, there was a lot of confusion and poor communication between the food servers and the Sommelier. They were literally bumping into each other and it felt disjointed and awkward. Interestingly, the food was not the issue. That's right...the food was executed quite well with many delicious bites. While great food is one key element to the overall experience, it is not the only element. The unrehearsed, amateurish feeling we had was disappointing to say the least. Especially so when spending that kind of money. The last straw came with the bill. We had been charged $8 for water. Really? Are you kidding me? You can't include that in your price tag? Felt very cheesy and cheap and we said something. They did take it off and looked proud that they responded to our questioning. But that did not change our feeling of the overall experience. We left feeling sad, disappointed, and cheated. Sorry Aubergine... you've got a long way to go to justify your price tag... read more

I was kind of underwhelmed at Aubergine compared to the one in Napa. Firstly, in place of a first course where my partner revived a Kumamoto oyster, I got a shot of pineapple and strawberry soda. Super disappointing. I asked if this was an amuse or my first course and there was a lot of confusion between waiters. The wagyu they serve here is 32/ounce with a minimum of 4oz, so the 128$ is a bit less than the entire tasting cost of 150$. Really? Why bother serving it at all? The wine pairing was 125/head, which I'm sure would have been phenomenal but we opted for cocktails instead. Even then, they ran out of Nolets and Whistle Pig after our one cocktail. Overall there was a serious lack of fish and meat on the menu. The fava bean dish was excellent. I have to say that the service was superb, but the substitutions were kind of BS. I even called and gave them a heads up to prepare (I wasn't crazy picky, I think) and the food still fell pretty short. Won't return. Sorry guys! read more

I've never experienced anything quite like Aubergine. I'm from New York and even though we have our fair share of restaurants nothing compares to my experience at Aubergine. You can only order from their prix fixe menu but once you order the food gets better and better. It's like you're watching a show each plate is presented so beautifully. The staff were so knowledgable and their wine list was very impressive, those sommeliers know their stuff. It's the perfect place for a intimate romantic date with your loved one. I had such a great time and at the end of our dinner we were invited to meet the chefs. I can't wait to come back to Aubergine! read more

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Absolutely phenomenal meal, exceeded all expectations! The chefs came to present some of the dishes, which was really nice. They focus on sourcing local, high-quality ingredients, and turn it into a masterpiece. We loved every course and definitely plan to return! read more

The experience felt very performative. The restaurant was so quiet it felt uncomfortable to have a casual conversation. We got judgmental looks from some of the other patrons (which could have been related to our being about 30 years younger than anyone in the room). The food was solid, but for the price I'd expected something more outstanding. We've had several other tasting menu experiences (including michelin star spots) that were just as good or better but significantly less (and where we didn't feel like we had to whisper the whole time). We appreciated the accommodations for dietary restrictions. read more