The multi course menu as well as the tasting menu are an exquisite experience. Yakitori grilled abalone is beautifully done and presented. Chilled crab, buttered lobster, rib eye Wagyu steak and other experiences are craft fully presented. read more

Aubergine - Rib eye Wagyu steak. - New American Near Me - Carmel, California

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Truly one of the best dining experiences that I have had in my life. My wife and I wanted to have a special dinner and we had one here at Aubergine. Hands down experience! Thank you! read more

An incredible experience! I don't know why this place doesn't have a Michelin Star!! So many wonderful comments to make about this place I don't know where to begin. All of the food was memorable and amazing! (Make sure to order the wagyu beef!!) Besides the food, I was highly impressed by their handmade pottery the food was served on as well as the creative presentation of each dish. The tasting menu was a delight for the senses as the courses were kept a surprise but a brief menu with some of the star ingredients left us eager to see what would be served before us. The sommelier's wine pairing was equally incredible and I think it's a must to have a truly special meal. I also love that the restaurant is very small and initimate, we were able to take our time enjoying our meal and were not rushed. If you are a foodie, this is a must if you are in Carmel! read more

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My wife and I were there last weekend for dinner, and were impressed by the creativity of the chef, as well as the knowledge of the staff. However for the pretentiousness of the establishment, it left you feeling that you had paid FAR TOO MUCH for getting less than what would be expected for what you pay. Having eaten in Michelin starred restaurants on many occasions, I know what to expect when paying $360.00 for two people WITHOUT wine. Be prepared to pay $65.00 per bottle for corkage if you bring your own. Of course, if you are bringing Rayas, La Tache, or Petrus you needn't be concerned. On the whole, I'd make this a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and then just admit to people that you paid too much for too little. read more

I had the tasting menu and was not overly impressed. Wine pairing was an extra $125 and I expected to be served some higher quality wines. None of the wines stood out as exceptional when paired with each course. The waiter unenthusiastically explained each wine pairing. He seemed like he just memorized off a card how he was instructed to present each pour. I should have brought my own bottle and paid the corkage fee as other diners there did, as there are exceptional wineries in the central coast region, and much better wines can be purchased locally. There were no other beverage options except for coffee which of course costs $5.00. So if you do not drink alcohol, you are only able to order sparkling water, which is just tap water carbonated by the kitchen. The total charge for water was $28 dollars after I received my bill, Which is outrageous. If you are going to charge for a glass bottle of tap water, leave the bottle at the table, do not simply refill a half empty glass and walk away with the remaining bottle. It's surprising that this restaurant charges so much for water, then add an automatic 20% gratuity on top of it. Our waiter didn't even think to offer any other beverage options, which I guess was correct since there weren't any. An innovative kitchen could have created a refreshing beverage for a guest with fruit, simple syrup, or even an herb, such as basil, as a substitute at a restaurant in this price range. Hint, perhaps offer iced tea with lemon. Another issue is the automatic gratuity of 20% added to each bill at the end, so they basically added an extra $100 at the end plus an additional $28 for water. One quarter of my bill was for water and gratuity, yet the overall experience was uninspired. Carmel, CA has many other fine restaurants to choose from. I cannot recommend Aubergine. read more

Simply the best in Carmel-by-the-Sea!!!!every dish was heavenly , would definitely come back again when I visit next time.

Aubergine is a Carmel must! John, the newest member of Aubergine, was very attentive and makes the best classic drinks. He is very knowledgeable about the wines and very approachable. Stop by for the "Throwback Thursdays" for a great drink and oysters! read more

Aubergine is outstanding on every level. We have been to Michelin-rated restaurants in Paris, NYC, San Francisco, Florence, etc. This tiny restaurant in charming Carmel-by-the-Sea is now at the very top of our list. The chef effortlessly ties together an astounding range of flavors and textures with one common ingredient: the element of surprise. Go for the wine pairings with the chef's tasting menu, then buckle up and enjoy the ride. read more

Superb! Experience this restaurant, if you can. To celebrate our 25th Anniversary, my wife and I decided to revisit and stay in Carmel, where we had spent part of our honeymoon. We chose L'Auberge Carmel and made reservations for dinner at what we hoped would be the finest restaurant in Carmel, Aubergine. The dining experience was simply fantastic. Chef Justin Cogley prepared an outstanding selection of courses for our dinner and we had the opportunity to pair each course with the appropriate wine. Nathaniel was absolutely the best host, picked our wine pairings and made our special day one that we will never forget. Here are the adjectives: intimate, warm, delicious, welcoming, personal, private, splendid, impressive and creative. read more

This restaurant deserves more than 5 stars because it is in a class of its own. There are many fine restaurants in Carmel where one can enjoy a wonderful meal with lovely ambience and terrific service. Aubergine provides all that, but it is not just a meal. It's an experience of a lifetime, and you will be comparing all meals the rest of your life to the meal you enjoyed at Aubergine. If you are a "foodie," this is your place for a truly special experience. We went there two years ago, and returned again last night for a family celebration. The meal was great two years ago, and even better last night. This is not a standard restaurant with a menu. The chef prepares a multi-course prix fixe meal. We had a party of 9, and when making the reservation the kitchen wanted to know if there were any foods to avoid. One of us didn't eat seafood. We did not know what the menu would be but the chef accommodated us all and our non-seafood eating guest was very happy with the delicacies she was served when a course included seafood. The meal consisted of a series of courses focusing on local fresh food, each course presented uniquely, perfectly prepared and presented, each with surprising and marvelous flavor and texture. (This is an understatement but words can't describe the experience. You just have to taste it.) We elected the wine pairings. John, the sommelier, presented a selection of wines perfectly matched to each course (imagine how much preparation is involved in matching wines to an ever-changing menu). He offered lots of information on the wines (and wine in general), without pretense or artifice. He genuinely loves wines and was happy to share his knowledge, which magnified our enjoyment of his wine pairings. (Because we had a large party, we were seated in the wine cellar surrounded by the restaurant's wine collection. Electing the pairings saved us from decisional paralysis presented by the vast collection of superlative wines.) For those of us who did not drink, there was a generous selection of nonalcoholic mixed drinks that were flavorful and different. The service was impeccable. It's hard to serve 9 people simultaneously with food and maintain the food's peak temperature and flavor, & without making one end of the table wait to eat the food cooling before them until the servers come back with the food for the other end of the table. At this restaurant, the food was presented to all at the same time, quickly, unobtrusively and professionally. I've eaten at the French Laundry, Chez Panisse, and a long list of world-class restaurants in New York, San Francisco, London, Paris and Berlin. They were wonderful meals, but Aubergine is not just a wonderful meal, but also a unique experience. Yes it's pricey- and worth every dollar. You can always treat your guests to a great meal, but this is where you take them for a great meal and an experience to remember. Thank you, Chef Cogley and your wonderful staff! read more

Why lie? This is not the kind of dinner where you walk away feeling like you got a deal. In fact, when you eat here, you might want to sign the slip without looking and cram it into your wallet for your CPA to deal with later. However, this IS the kind of dinner where you walk away feeling like you should wait before eating food like this again. It's a pretty quiet, unassuming restaurant. Upon closer inspection it excels in many ways you might think a first-rate restaurant should. Textured linens, unconventional silverware, padded tabletop, remarkably pristine kitchen, courteous and knowledgeable waitstaff, seamless service and course-pacing from start to finish, even a little extra something-something to take home, and of course, the center of attention: absolutely outstanding food. When eating here you can choose from either side of the menu, four-course tasting or a spontaneous chef's tasting menu for the more adventurous diner. Where some people prefer the freedom of choice when it comes to ordering dinner, I rather like a set menu. After all, when you dine at a restaurant, you leave the execution and presentation of a dish up to the chef, why not let the chef choose what he makes best? With the four-course tasting, you get the best of both-- limited selection, guaranteed awesome. I don't want to say too much about the food because the element of surprise is part of what makes it so good and so memorable, but I must say that the white corn mousse is among the top five best things I've ever put in my mouth. While the execution level of the dishes here are such that I could not even guess how they were produced, the flavors are not lost or abstracted in any way. In fact, they are extraordinarily pure. As if the complexity helps you appreciate the simplicty. It's almost like eating a paradox. Look, you are probably going to end up spending a fortune here in Carmel anyways. You might as well eat like a king. Well done, Aubergine. Five stars well deserved. Consider this a written standing ovation. read more

They think they're classy, but they're not. I had a most unpleasant experience with the restaurant and hotel. When I checked in, I was told that the breakfast in Aubergine was included, but apparently that is only for the code-named "signature breakfast" menu. My bill included a $49 breakfast charge. I was surprised and mentioned that I had been told breakfast was included free. The clerk graciously struck the charge. But then I was subsequently informed by email that the charge had been reinstated upon orders from above. I then got the criminal treatment from Mr. Munoz of Aubergine, who "researched" and discovered that I had signed the breakfast check. He apologized that the server "failed to verify that I understood how to read the menu." But...still my fault. Silly me, at the Four Seasons the breakfast menu has prices and the charges are struck at the front desk when breakfast is included. Different policy at Aubergine, I guess. But I didn't expect to be treated like a check-forger because I signed the breakfast check. The assistant manager - Ramy - wasn't much more help - he too researched the situation and apparently my misunderstanding is my problem. So I guess it is. The hotel manager, George, was sorry that I was miffed, but I don't think he thinks his staff did anything wrong. This place prides itself on its snobbery. If you'd like to be treated as though you are a boorish American in France, this is definitely the place for you. read more

The tasting menu was incredible. We choose to do the wine pairing as well and were not disappointed. I have to admit.... I'm at a crossroads. This place was so good it should get a star, so I'm rating it as if it was. My wife and I got the food and wine pairing. So... it's going to sound like I'm a dick, but I only seek to help. Food was off the hook! If the chef does not own the place, pay him more. Sounds odd... but the cutlery was "heavy" as well as the platting. And again... I'm being HYPER CRITICAL using a Michelin thought process. The food is of the caliber that would warrant a 2 star but so much of that ranking is plating an service. If you're a foodie COME HERE! The chef is the real deal. Each course built and delivered to expectations. The first Michelin in Carmel should be here! read more

This place is perfection. Perfect setting, perfect service, and amazing food. Read an earlier review where the girl just got engaged and said she liked it but gave 4 stars. This place is 5 Star. It is a special occasion destination, and priced accordingly read more

This place Well deserve Michelin rating for The creativity, service, and wine pairing. Visited here since 2011 and kept me look forward to visit year after year. Maybe the atmosphere could be improved? It's not a big space and probably it has the limitation. It s pleasant as it is, didn't mean anything the atmosphere is unpleasant. I am just saying there is room for improvement atmosphere wise to match the excitement of the dishes the restaurant offers. read more

4 course menu (ribeye supplement) and really enjoyed it amuse bouche: apple juice with st germain liqueur apple spherification quite nice, and not too strong starter: kumamoto oyster with cucumber gelee, yuzu foam, over smoked sea salt -- so good and indicated how the meal was gonna be *1st course chilled DUNGENESS CRAB, young coconut, roasted banana, candied peanut -- had a sheet of clear coconut water and jelly foam with the perfect contrast of texture and no single flavor overpowering. delicious *2nd course monterey bay ABALONE, butternut squash, toasted pepitas, cocoa nibs--the lobster reduction with cardamom sauce and toasted pumpkin seeds. again excellent, nice blend of texture and bold scrumptious flavor also had japanese KANPACHI, parsley meringue, citrus, ice plant -- delicately cooked sous vide with meyer lemon butter and dehydrated grapefruit, lily bulbs, remind me of a dish from Amber in HK *main course PINTADE, celery root, pearl onion, tatsoi -- guinea fowl served as medallions with a saltier flavor but mixed with foie gras and thus super moist sausage like and had RIBEYE, smoked eggplant, black garlic, barley miso, walnut -- with black mushroom and black truffle, great smokiness and another solid dish *dessert caramelized APPLE bread pudding, brown butter sorbet, cranberries -- the mix of everything worked great, bread pudding could be a little warmer also had GUANAJA cremeux, condensed milk, cashew, lime sherbet -- chefs use of nuts for this meal was perfect, dense chocolate intense. this restaurant is great for a special occasion, and they really take care of you. oh, and the hotel is a perfect old world type of stay as well (plus heated bathroom floors) read more

Whenever we come home from Carmel or Monterey, our question is "Besides Aubergine, what was the best meal we had?" Because Aubergine is always the most spectacular meal we've had; nothing else comes close. Dinner is a "surprise" tasting menu with a handful of key ingredients listed, so there's not much decision-making required and everything arrives like a little present on a plate. The service is excellent and the plush dining room is ridiculously small; the combination makes for an experience which is intimate and quiet without being stuffy. Truly the highlight of any trip to Carmel. read more

By far the best meal in our lives. Right now this is probably the best restaurant in Northern California. We had the chef's tasting menu, the wine pairing and the Wagu beef option. I'm impressed that other reviewers can remember details of each of the 9 courses, but a few highlights: - the wine parings were expertly done - each brought out and highlighted the flavors of each dish. - the Abalone in the green tea broth was fun - neither of us had ever had Wagu beef. And both of us were skeptical that anything could be worth what they were charging for it. We were wrong. Get 4 ounces each and you'll be talking about it for days. - the service was flawless. - the last time I saw a bill this large it was for an entire corporate event - but it was worth every penny. read more

What a snobby, obnoxious place. When we arrived for our 7:30pm reservations, we were one of only two couples in the entire restaurant. One waiter promptly seated us. Shortly thereafter, yet another waiter brought us our dinner napkins, using a pair of tongs to place the napkins on our plates. A third waiter then brought our menus. (No tongs used this time.) Yikes! We're no country bumpkins but we felt like we needed a dictionary to figure out what the various menu options were. Cardoom, anyone? After realizing that the menu was prix fixe...and, by no means, inexpensive, we saw the small print informing us that a 20% tip would be automatically added to the ticket. Before even taking a bite, I began to feel sick to my stomach. Revulsion set in when waiter #2 (or was it waiter #1?) began serving our l-i-t-t-l-e appetizers to us while wearing white gloves. The appetizers were so small I couldn't even tell you how they tasted! That was enough for us. We got up, told waiter # 3 that we'd take the bill for what we had already eaten but we weren't staying. We left, walked up the street to another very good and much less pretentious restaurant where we had a wonderful meal...with a little money left over for ice cream on the way home. read more

We got what we paid for: exceptional food, creative ingredients, superior wine selection and top notch service. We have both lived in the US, Europe and Asia before, and have sampled a lot of authentic and diverse flavours in high-end joints. We were delighted with the dinner menu for two, and overall culinary experience at l' Aubergine. Highlights: - Chef made full use of fresh locally sourced ingredients, namely seafood (lobster, scallops, abalone, prawns, dungeness crab). - Dishes were delicately seasoned and balanced, without being too overpowering -- which can be the case with seafood - Happy to find items we don't eat too often such as abalone and monterey sea grapes (a first for us!) on the menu - Creative use of common ingredients like celery, pear etc.. - Excellent wine pairings from Spain, Germany and France which complimented each dish (we definitely have a new appreciation for Spanish grapes) - We enjoyed all our dishes, but these stood out specifically: 'pear celery root mousse, brioche strudel', 'young coconut dungeness crab, geranium, rose water, 'diver scallop cooked in shell w/ lemon balm,' 'abinao nasturtium, praline and grapefruit' and the cheese-plate with selections from France, Amsterdam, California (blue cheese, yum) and UK - Excellent service from knowledgeable staff, with a special mention to the Sommelier. - Received a small complimentary cake in honour of a birthday which was a nice personal touch L'Aubergine is a quaint small restaurant nestled inside the boutique l'Auberge hotel. It wasn't busy when we visited during Presidents Day (likely due to the high prices). We warn you, there will be damage to the wallet. However, if you appreciate fine dining and a gastronomic adventure like we do, then it is money well spent. read more

Chef was great. That's where it ends. **Service was seriously subpar. ** Reservation time was not honored, water not refilled, there was a long delay btwn courses, etc. Not what we expected from the new Zagat star. Some good French wine, but no bargains..... The 2009 Chambolle Chambertin Grand Cru was great! read more

My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary in Aubergine. What a great choice! hubby earned points for picking the place. We had a wonderful time...from the friendly and thoughtful staff, excellent service and to the yummy creative food. We had the four course dinner, but with all the added extras it actually totalled 9 courses. I am amazed at the quality of food and service, comparable to San Francisco. Will definitely return here. Highly recommended. I had the following: 1: Dungeness crab with rose water - crab was perfectly cooked and sweet. Went well with the rose water. 2: Abalone with sea grapes - I've never had sea grapes. Very creative use. I felt like I was tasting the ocean! 3: Lobster with curry - plain delicious. ** Cheese course (extra $20) - one order was enough for both of us. 4: Pear, celeriac mousse - Celery with your dessert! But it worked. They have a sense of humor, too. At the end of the meal, they presented us with a platter of "rocks and pebbles". Some were real, but there were 2 sweets mixed in. Fortunately they hanged around to make sure we picked correctly. We live in Santa Cruz, and it is good to know that we have this place to visit. Thank you for a special dinner. read more

The restaurant itself is definitely charming with a warm cozy ambience...and this, frankly, is the only thing to recommend. We tried the prix fixe tasting menu because those who ordered ala carte were seated in a room near the lobby which was less appealing. The nine course "tasting menu" ($120 pp) might more accurately be termed the "nine bite" tasting menu. I don't have a problem with tiny portions (some are literally one bite) but I do have a problem waiting 20 minutes between the bites. It's not that the service was inattentive, but rather very poorly staged. Like a previous reviewer, we finally asked for our check before the meal was completed..some four hours after having been seated. That finally speeded up the service, but by time the main courses arrived, we couldn't have cared less and merely wanted to leave. The food itself is decent, if overly ambitious, but sophisticated diners aren't going to be snowed by this presentation; the restaurant takes itself waay too seriously. My advice to the young chef: Cut the pomp and start serving real food along with an accessible wine list for people who actually drink wine on a regular basis. Whenever you're planning to spend $500 on dinner for two...don't do it here. read more

I do believe I must have been sitting very close to a previous diner..Marco ., because my review will sound quite similar. (oh, and I was there on the same evening) Anyway...my husband received a gift certificate from a co-worker for L'Augerge...a lovely dinner, with wine pairings, for two. (read, two) I felt as the other reviewer did...quite special..and way underdressed. Not because the other patrons were dressed nicer, but because the wait staff was white gloved. Now, I've eaten at some of the swankiest places in the world...but usually knew what to expect. This is Carmel, where dinner can cost 400.,00, easily, but no one is in anything nicer than designer jeans... anyway...it was strange. Both my husband and I were immediately served, what seemed like 27 different appetizers, "amuse bouches" before we presented our gift card...and then were clearly told..."oh, very nice, you have a 4 course meal with wine for two....order at will" or something like that.... Then, a new guy comes out...our actual waiter, I'm guessing..and takes our order. We both ordered something we thought we might like...the menu is very oddly written and not for the average foodie. Most of the appetizers were very good...my husband hardly touched anything because to him, they were unrecognizable. Lots of pink. Then, we were served a cold pink soup. Oh, and little breads were served pretty much every 5 minutes. All fine and splendid. I ordered sea bass, as a first course.... and at this point, I was feeling quite out of my comfort zone. I was given utensils I had never seen before. I honestly had no idea if I were holding a "fork" or a spatula... anyhow, when I noticed my sea bass was raw, I didn't want to mention it out of fear of appearing naive. I ate a little and moved on to the next course. Our entrees finally did arrive....very small portions, as they should be given that we've already been served a few dozen appetizers...and here's where they fall. My lamb could have been liver....could have been spoiled beef.... it looked quite beautiful...tasted...quite horrible. But, I had a cheese course coming, so I didn't mind that I wasn't satisfied yet. The cheese course, again, beautiful...but was mostly a plate of cheeses you blame for the "smell" in the cheese shop. I wish I had liked the selection. I didn't. however, the wine was good..... Dessert...the waiter said we could have one...my husband didn't want just one...he wanted HIS. This is where it starts getting very uncomfortable. He is now saying things like..."do you BOTH want dessert wine?....can SHE also have a port"....like he was either our dad or he was monitoring everything he ate. About a half an hour after we were clearly finished.....our "bill" came. Really, it was just a receipt, given that we were there on a fully covered gift card that very clearly stated in included a generous gratuity. There was nothing to sign, no place for a credit card...no surprises. We got up to leave. The waiter asked my husband if we needed change. Seeing as how he was standing 6 inches away from us and had to have seen that no money was placed in the book...he knew we would not need change. We were not paying customers. We got no more than 6 feet out of the restaurant when he shouted to us from the door..."excuse me...there is a problem. You didn't pay for one of your meals. Your gift certificate is for one person, not two". Huh...we thought... first of all, our friend would never have given US a dinner for one...second of all, we knew what the cerfiticate said..right down to the tip and third...our first of many gloved servers instructed us to order at will! I'm pretty sure that everyone still in the restaurant heard him. they couldn't NOT have. It's a small place and for the two plus hours we were there, I was able to hear every conversation of everyone in there (see Marco's note) He then had to check the computer to see if we or HE was telling the truth. In his opinion, he had been generous with his pouring of two wines...and two desserts and two blah blah blah.... of couse, he was wrong, we were right and without an apology...we left. The positives...it WAS a culinary experience. New and adventurous food, new utensils, new wine (amazing, btw). Over the top service by the bread boy and the napkin picker upper.... Negatives.... well, I was out of my element in a place I'm normally right at home. I LOVE fine dining, but I hate it when it is so in-your-face-sit-up-straight-hands-on-your-lap that you can't enjoy yourself. All fine for a dinner out for someone you really need to impress...but not necessarily feed. Whatever happened to, ..."the customer is always right".... I hated how I felt, leaving there...that we had to prove to this guy that we did not just steal from him. read more

This chef could work anywhere in the world. Subtle, inventive, aesthetic. The wine list, however, is sub par. And the service is not deserving of $200 per head. In a major market, this place wouldn't last a year. Lucky for the management the local crowd is less demanding and discerning. read more

Had the 8 course tasting menu after an australian patron said it was better than Quay in Sydney. They must of been smoking smoking something. I couldn't even finish some of my courses from lack of creativity and taste. Chef is in love with crushed nuts at the moment. read more

Aubergine is spectacular. I've dined at this small restaurant a dozen times. Every time is a 5/5. Expensive, yes - worth it, yes. Let's face it... Carmel is an expensive town. This restaurant is small, only serving a handful of people each night. They offer incredible tasting menus combined with outstanding service. This is a luxury restaurant, showcasing seasonal and carefully crafted rich dishes... expect interesting and playful combinations. This is probably the best restaurant in downtown Carmel, and the most expensive. Don't complain about the price or quantity of food. They offer TASTING menus, not family style! The staff is very friendly and attentive. If you have a $300 - $600 bucks to spend on dinner with someone special check out Aubergine. read more

amazing experience, worth a short trip from San Francisco specifically for the dinner.

If you are within 50 miles of Carmel and don't stop at Aubergine for dinner, you have committed a sin. The food and service were exquisite. We had an eight course tasting menu with wine pairings and everything worked together very well. The wines were interesting and matched the food well. The food was inventive and we had the best abalone ever (abalone is very difficult to cook well, but they managed using sous vide). This restaurant is worth a huge detour in any trip. The only misgiving I have is they used the European service compris, adding about 20%. that's what I tip usually anyway, but I would have preferred that the decision not be made for me. Even so, I gave the waiter something extra. Not to be missed, if you know and enjoy truly exceptional food. read more

What a fabulous experience! Lovely atmosphere, amaaaaazing presentation and cusine! We did the 4 course WITH the wine pairings! I have to say the wine pairings take it up one more notch! The staff is knowledgable and their service is impecable! Definitely one of the best places in town! read more

From the start, we knew it would be a special evening. Walking in, you immediately feel relaxed (greeted by name at the door!) and also intrigued by the cheese cave that's viewable as soon as you come through the door. A welcoming glass of champagne was in our hands as soon as our coats came off, followed by a beautiful amuse bouche of shizo, ginger, and sea spinach. The food was unique, delicious, and beautifully plated - shells used as bowls, wood and slate used for plates. We went for the 8 course meal which consisted of tastings of abalone (oh so tender), creamy risotto with shaved white truffle, an outstanding melted cheese and barley course, dry-aged ribeye, hijiki, lamb, fermented plum, and a palate cleanser of horseradish ice cream (seriously inventive and delicious). Of course, there were soft yet crunchy, fresh from the over buns served with local butter, that were also amazing! Attentive yet not hovering service - sophisticated but not pretentious. The Sommelier was incredibly knowledgable and offered several interesting pairings (even a Tokaji early in the meal!). We were allowed to peak into the kitchen upon our departure, and found it to be sparkling and well thought out. We agree with others that this place should definitely be Michelin stared - it's a mystery that it isn't! We are already looking forward to our next experience at this outstanding restaurant. read more

Awesome service and great food. Should've eaten here on our last night because it was so much better than everything else we ate!

Last year at Aubergine I had a fabulous 8 course tasting meal, and so I eagerly looked forward to dining there again. Approximately a week prior to my visit, I called to make the reservation, and spoke with the person answering the phone about an 8 course tasting menu again, and my dietary preferences for a primarily vegetarian oriented meal. He said that he had it on file from the last time that I dined there, and they would be happy to do so. I then e-mailed the Chef directly perhaps 3 days before my reservation, and asked for a copy of his planned menu to be sent to me prior to dinner, as it makes it easier for me to take notes during the meal, since then I have all the necessary ingredients covered with needing to ask unnecessary questions. No answer to my e-mail. An hour before my reservation, I received a voice mail telling me that an unexpected last minute private party for 30 had taken over the restaurant, and they would be moving me to the bistro for dinner. I wasn't particularly pleased, since the dining room is so lovely, and the bistro not as much so, but as long as the food is superb, it wasn't that big of deal. When I pointedly yet politely said that I had not yet received an e-mail detailing the menu, was told that it would be sent to me within 5 minutes. It wasn't. I arrived, and was shown to my table. Again inquiring about the menu, I was told that Chef had decided to make it up as we were speaking. Clearly, he had not prepared anything, which in itself was not a simple misunderstanding or innocent mistake, but deliberate. Nonetheless, I assumed he would do something lovely. Then the sommelier came out and said Chef wanted to do a special wine pairing for me with each course. I had not requested anything but water to drink, and assumed it was a nice gesture made to make up for the lack of menu preparation. Although I am not a wine drinker, I agreed to try them, although I said it was unlikely I would have more than one or two sips of each, and certainly nowhere close to the three ounces each they normally pour per glass. Th first course was brought - something definitely not on the list of things I could eat. I was a little shocked, but thought it was a minor error, and said nothing. The second course was brought and again, nothing I could eat. I was concerned and said something to the maitre d', and he showed me the list of what I had requested, and said they would be going according to that. (Chef came out to speak to another table and asked me how I liked my meal. Nonplussed, and not wanting to embarrass him in front of the other customers who were seated close by, I again assumed he would be correcting his mistakes from here on out, and the rest of the meal would be lovely. I was dead wrong in giving him the benefit of the doubt..) They did not. The entire meal was taken strictly off the existing heavily fish and game oriented menu, and I refused the last few courses outright. I was fuming inside, for I would not have dined at the very expensive Aubergine had I known Chef had no intention whatsoever of preparing a tasting menu that I could eat. It is one thing if when I had made my dietary requests, the kitchen/Chef had regretfully said this was something they could not do. They had not done so, and instead my promised expectations were deliberately not met. I had several desserts which were good, and then requested a bill. The 8 course dinner came to $272 dollars, including a $95 charge for the wine pairing, and a mandatory 20% gratuity. What a total outrage for a meal that except for dessert I could not eat, unrequested wine pairings, and such unprofessional behavior from a restaurant that prides itself on its stellar reputation. This is most certainly not how you treat a customer at any time or for any reason, let alone a repeat customer. read more

12 course tasting menu was innovative and clean. We munched on foie gras, wagu beef, uni, spot prawns, wonderful wines and mixed drinks- had a great time. Chef Justin is going to give this place a Michelin star, he's pushing out food as good as Cyrus, Danko, Masa, and Manresa or better. 2 drinks, 2 glasses of wine, 2 tasting menus +gratuity=$400. read more

I really wanted to like this place but in my opinion, it's a little bit overhyped. My husband and I had the Easter brunch on 4/5/15. We basically had 5 shared dishes and individual desserts. Overall, the service was good. The staff was nice and very attentive. We felt kinda bad every time our waiter would take a plate and he would say "did you not enjoy that"? Honestly, the presentation was excellent. If I eat with my eyes, I'd give them a 5. But the food were all pretty bland and very rich. The only 2 dishes we liked were the halibut and our desserts. It's also very expensive. It's $110 per person but with the added service charge, two sodas, and a coffee, our bill came out to $300. Definitely won't mind paying a lot if the food was good. We've paid more than that somewhere else and they had better food. I'm not sure how their tasting menu is compared to the brunch menu so keep that in mind if you want to try this place. Also, the door guy greeted us with a smile and a whopping "you're late"! Are you kidding me?? We called to inform them we would be about 10minutes late but we actually were only 2 minutes late. Besides, there was only 1 other couple in the restaurant. I'm just glad the people in the restaurant wasn't like him. That remark was uncalled for. Anyway, I don't think we'll be coming back here again. :( read more

Aubergine - Easter Brunch - 4/5/15 minus 3 plates we didn't get a pic of. - New American Near Me - Carmel, California

Fabulous dining experience! I was able to make a reservation for 1 a week in advance and was very excited since I felt it was last minute. The service was wonderful and the wine pairings were outstanding. Each dish was cooked to perfection and the plating was gorgeous. I also got the cheese plate and wagyu pairing. I couldn't recommend the wagyu enough, and as a cheese lover, I was very much impressed by the selection. After service the staff even let me go in the kitchen and meet the pastry chef since they overheard I was currently in pastry school. I highly recommend coming to dine here! read more

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The food & wine was amazing! Some of their dishes were possibly even better than some of the dishes my fiancé and I had at 3 Michelin star restaurants in the past. Due to COVID restrictions, my fiancé and I were seated in their outdoor courtyard but as other reviews mentioned, they did such a great job maintaining a romantic and quiet atmosphere - allowing a peaceful and enjoyable dinner experience. The courtyard was filled with beautiful plants and strong heat lamps so we never once felt cold. Every single dish was put together with so much attention to detail and the flavors were to die for! The selected wines for the wine pairing went really well with each dish. Can honestly say we did not have a single complaint after we left. 10/10 would recommend if you live in the area or if you decide to swing by Carmel for a getaway. Wish we could relive the meal experience again. It was that good! read more

This review pertains to L'Aubergine (the restaurant). Service: The best I have ever experienced in a restaurant. I felt the staff was professional and courteous, and they were on top of everything with us. The wine pairings were spectacular, but more than that, I really appreciated having an explanation for every pairing, why each wine was chosen to go along with the varying courses of our meal. The Food: Well, you can't really go wrong here. They served us an oyster dish that was one of the most interesting things I've ever eaten. That's the best thing about really good food - I can't sit here and write out to you why it was good, or what exactly it was that I tasted, but I can say that it was an experience that you ought to enjoy. Overall, I admit that I felt that the dishes could have been a bit larger (especially given the price), but that's just the overfed American in my talking. The fois gras was stunning, and I would go back just to enjoy that. The Price: Holy G*d. I have no problem throwing down a few bills on a great dining experience, but I didn't really get the sense that what we ate was worth the $250/person that we were charged. Not that there are some random hidden costs or anything like that, or that the food was bad, or that the wine was anything but amazing. Rather, it just made me flinch, enough so that I had to actually take off a star. In sum, I would recommend L'Aubergine just for the experience in taste, so long as you're able to throw your credit card at someone without regret. If price is in any way a concern of yours, then this really ought not to be your first choice. read more

Amazing. Abso-freaking-loutely amazing. I've come back home for the week and decided to go to dinner with an old friend to catch up and I couldn't have been happier with the choice. I'm dumbfounded as to why this isn't in the SF Bay Area Michelin Guide...it deserves at least 2 stars (when you compare it to Michael Mina or what I'm more familiar with in NYC that has 2 stars like Danube, Bouley or Del Posto). The setting is great and is the epitome of the central coast and what Carmel embodies (Spanish hotel, stucco, 12 small tables, big windows opening on Monte Verde). The service was white glove (literally) and I loved that every detail of the course was explained right down to some random and rare South American pepper that had but 3 small shavings on top of the scallops in the corn soup. They now have two options ($75 4 course and $110 chef's deg. menu) with 2 wine pairings of matching amounts. 20% service is included in the check. Overall I was very delighted with the food and everything on the menu. The only thing I was disappointed with was part of the beef 2 ways which had a small bit of 48 braised beef with Hudson Valley foie gras on top. The beef in that preparation was very fatty and with the foie gras it was almost not palatable. Also, I got the $10 black truffle supplement for the beef and I didn't really detect any taste in that. 2 people, 2 cocktails each, tip, total bill $250. read more

We stopped by one night for a drink and an appetizer. We ordered the oysters, which were absolutely flawless. The service was excellent, but a bit stuffy. The atmosphere was warm and charming, but the courtyard outside looked a little rundown. read more