Just look most everyone who has reviewed Aubergine, I give it 5 shining stars! We came here for our wedding night dinner (we eloped) and it was the most magical experience. From the moment we pulled up, our car doors were opened, we were escorted up and met with the friendliest experience ever. The staff truly anticipated every need we had. The ambiance is amazing--a little courtyard adorned with romantic lighting and heaters for the cold. As for the food--I have no words. We went with the sommelier pairing and I thought it was super worth it! The tasting menu was incredible and we truly enjoyed every single thing. My favorite part of all was that the chefs would come out and explain each dish--this was something I hadn't experienced at other Michelin star restaurants before. I would 100% go back and would absolutely recommend! read more

See all

I expected more from a Michelin 2 star restaurant. Not sure why it has 2 stars rather than 1. The good first. All of the food was very good. The amuse bouche was spectacular looking. The presentation for all of the courses was lovely. The 3 seafood courses were tasty. The duck breast was excellent. The brioche was delicious. Waygu beef was good. The let down was the dessert. They said 2 dessert courses. One was just a sorbet palette cleanser, does not seem like a dessert course. The main dessert was corn ice cream. I'm sorry but that was a total let down for dessert. The room is nice, though simple. It is very small only 5 tables. Service was a let down. We arrived early, and were asked to wait in the lounge. We waited 15-20 minutes and no one came to take a drink order. We finally asked for someone. She came by and said that they were busy. No apology. I don't expect that kind of attitude. It's a Michelin spot, I expect much more attentive service. read more

Aubergine - Corn ice cream - New American Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

Food was good. Champagne tasting menu consistently was nearing a spoiled taste. I'd did the high end wine pairing and it wasn't worth the money. Great people, good food, and seemed like the wine suffered from poor provenance. read more

Absolutely stunning meal. Each dish was beautifully presented, with each component thoughtfully placed for the perfect balance of flavor and texture. Highlights for us were kaluga caviar with tomato, fermented potato, and cucumber; the kinmedai with iberico, chawanmushi, and corn; and the shiro dashi and Hokkaido scallop with carrot and smoked trout roe. Servers were very attentive, friendly, professional, and accommodating for food restrictions. We left very impressed and questioning why they only had one Michelin star - the second star they have since received is well deserved! read more

See all

Perfection. Outstanding service. The steak frites melts in your mouth. Extensive wine list.

For our first wedding anniversary, my wife and I wanted to celebrate somewhere truly special. When we discovered this Michelin-starred gem nestled within a beloved historic hotel, we immediately made reservations for both our stay and dinner! The hotel felt very elegant while preserving its original charm. Aubergine, tucked away in a cozy corner of the hotel, offers an interior design that diverges from the hotel's ambiance, leaning towards nautical and aquatic motifs that beautifully reflect the city's character and the seafood-centric cuisine. We arrived right on time for our reservation and were seated at the last available table. It was clear that other parties had also reserved that evening; some who arrived after us were seated outside, where the hotel's complimentary breakfast is served. Our 7-course dinner was a culinary journey, and I made an effort to remember each dish as it was served. Here's what we had: Course 1 (Appetizers): Mini Seafood Bites Assortment Course 2: Asparagus Ice & Asparagus Cream, Last Year's Miso Cream, Scallions and Caviar Course 3: Golden Eye Snapper with Celery Juice, Pickled Radish, Blackened Garlic, Mushroom Shoots, and Scallion Sauce Course 4: Brioche with Browned Butter, Carrots and Carrot Shoots, Dungeness Crab, and Tapioca Pearls with White Soy Cream Course 5: Lamb Rack encrusted in Pistachios finished with Lamb Au jus with Pickled Mustard Seed, Lettuce Bloom with Kohlrabi and Strawberries, and Lamb Puff with Caviar Course 6 (Main Dish): Wagyu Beef Ribeye with Wagyu De jus Sauce, Onion with Fava Bean Paste inside topped with Forget-me-nots, Radish, Onion Flowers, Mushroom Puree, and White Rice with Onions Mixed in House-made Sourdough Bread with Butter and Brown Rice toppings Course 7 (Dessert): Olive Oil & Basil Cake with Lemon Curd Filling, served with White Chocolate Ganache, Strawberry Purée, Fresh Strawberries & Dehydrated Strawberries, Strawberry Glass, and Dehydrated Basil, Dark Chocolate Truffle with Huckleberry Ganache, Mochi Donut with Rhubarb Glaze, and Mini Ice Cream I thoroughly enjoyed every dish and left the restaurant completely satisfied. My wife, who isn't particularly fond of seafood, was accommodated with substitutions for the seafood dishes, which she absolutely appreciated. To top it off, we were surprised with a complimentary celebratory dessert--chocolate mousse topped with chocolate ganache and edible gold--which was absolutely delicious and a perfect ending to the meal. The service was outstanding from start to finish. The staff were attentive, professional, and passionate about their craft. They patiently answered my questions about some of the ingredients and were very helpful in making us understand how to consume them properly. Chef Justin even made an appearance to personally serve one of our dishes, which we found to be a thoughtful touch. Though our interaction with him was brief, it added to the overall experience, and we appreciated the gesture. Overall, our experience at Aubergine was one we will cherish forever. The intimate, romantic atmosphere, coupled with the exquisite food and top-tier service, made our anniversary celebration unforgettable! We're so glad we chose to celebrate here and will hold these memories dear for years to come. read more

See all

Be prepared- when you are sitting at your $275 per person meal, you'll be solicited for an up charge of Wagyu and given a price of $55 and told you'll get 2 pcs per person. The impression you get is that you're charged $55 but what they mean is it is $55 a BITE and you get 4 bites in an order. That's $220 added to your dinner. Did it taste good? Just as good as the wagyu I had at a chain restaurant I visited recently (for a fraction of the cost). Is the sales tactic pushy and misleading? yes. And that is poor business etiquette and no way to treat your patrons. read more

I've been here twice now and we have had the opportunity to dine in the dining room, and outside in the courtyard. Once was in the Summer and now in late Spring. Both times were different and both meals were amazing, highlighting each season. I absolutely love the dining room - it's a beautiful space and a prefect setting for the Chefs menu. Both visits all of the staff were excellent, friendly and attentive, yet not overly intrusive. All of the staff who came to our table and spoke with us were sincerely thoughtful and made our evening a memorable one. The Sommelier was also excellent and very personable. He had fantastic pairings for each course and I was more than delighted to see Krug show up as a pairing with the scallop course. Chef Cogley came table side to spoon the shiro dashi sauce around the scallop that was topped with smoked trout roe and sitting on tapioca pearls cooked in carrot juice. This was simply amazing and I was blown away by the dish itself and the pairing. To start a work of art was brought to the table with 5 bites each composed beautifully on a plater that looks like it was pulled from the tide pools. This was amazing and something would you would see at a Michelin 3 star. Oyster, abalone with uni & squid ink tart, crispy wagyu beef & egg yolk, kampachi & red masa taco, bluefin tuna & caviar. Each was incredible and packed with flavor. The kampachi taco was amazing and perhaps my favorite bite. The asparagus dish was delicious - thin layer of asparagus ice, underneath was onion cream (?), with snap peas and caviar. it was so refreshing. The passion they have here is shown in each dish. Presented like art, the attention to detail is amazing. The beef dish, aged ribeye sat next to onion filled with fava beans topped with pickled daikon & chive blossoms, next to that was a silky smooth chanterelle mushroom purée. Then a chef came table side and spooned over XO sauce made from dry abalone, tamari and wagyu beef fat. Alongside was two perfectly shaped mini sourdough batards that were crusty and piping hot, served with cultured butter that had an incredible texture and crispy rice (?). Every course is served on amazing plates that are reminiscent of the oceanside and surrounding landscape, they are all beautifully crafted and exciting to eat off of. I was impressed with the wide array of dessert that was presented. On the side of the main dessert course were three small courses: mini ice cream cone of sorghum and brown rice, ricotta fritter with rhubarb, chocolate truffle. The main dessert was basil olive cake, and it was perfectly balanced and really delicious, especially with the strawberries and the white chocolate ganache. Every course is thoughtful, creative, balanced just right and perfectly seasoned. The nuances and depth of flavors, temperatures and textures are exciting. There are some tasting menus out there in which a few of the dishes are not memorable, that is not the case here - each and every course was delicious and something we will remember. There is so much I love about here that I could go on and on. Chef Cogley and his team do a phenomenal job. I couldn't be more grateful and thankful for the chefs generosity. This is one of my favorites in all of the Bay Area. I will be returning and I am looking forward to it. read more

See all

My wife and I were on a quick trip to Carmel and then San Francisco and were lucky to get a reservation at Aubergine. We reserved the 8:00 pm seating. Arrived about 15 mins early and they sat us in this quaint sitting area (may also be hotel lobby?) around the small bar area. We ordered some pre dinner cocktails from the cool little bar. The bartender was awesome and the drink menu was extensive. We were taken to our table promptly at 8:00. The dining room is small and cozy, with just 5 tables. In our case, each table had 2 people seated, so only a total of 10 diners, so very intimate. I think they can seat up to 4 people at 2 or 3 of the tables, so imagine it is always pretty quiet. Once seated we were quickly met by numerous staff ready to explain the menu and drink options. The service was over the top - attentive but not at all "pushy" or intrusive. Super professional. I won't go into details on the food...I will post some pics. Bottom line, the food was amazing. Exactly what we were looking for - an elegant but not pretentious tasting menu executed to perfection. It's clear why this place has 2 Michelin stars. They are well deserved. We also got the "reserve" wine pairing with our meals and were treated to some amazing wines, many of which had some nice age on them. Thank you to the entire staff for such a memorable night. Next time we are in town we will definitely be back. read more

See all

Phenomenal food with portions that'll leave you fighting to finish your meal in the best way possible. Service was amazing, its always a great experience to have the chefs explain their food to you and the best ways to eat them. It gives you an appreciation for the art of it all. Attention to detail was not lost on me and the intimate environment made us feel well cared for. Flavors are some that Ive never before had and make me eager to return again for more. read more

See all

In the charming town of Carmel by the Sea, lays an even more charming small European cottage, that happens to house Auberge hotel and a Michelin starred restaurant by the name of Aubergine. The interior consists of just a few tables and also some additional seating in a subtly lit, romantic courtyard. The vibe here is dreamy and if somebody could dare say that this is not the epitome of romance, a curious spark of curiosity would emerge to better understand such a person. Justin Cogley, the head chef here, has an interesting story of being an ex ice skater and more recently a big marathon aficionado who managed to eat around world's best restaurants to then start a kitchen of his own. Despite the varied background, the team he assembled is spectacular, paying attention to the smallest of details. This, by the way, is not easy. The meal consisting of many extravagant courses was sensational, with anemone, oysters, caviar creme and excellent desserts. While the lamb and the ribeye courses were not particularly memorable personally due to very muted meat flavor, the rest of the meal made up for it. The dessert was spectacular in flavor, but a bit on the overly sweet side, but again, we are in America and that is likely a common preference across guests. Chased with some Delamain Vesper XO cognac, it was a perfect meal. Aubergine is a true gem of a restaurant, with flawless service from the team, inventive memorable food and an atmosphere that can only be compared to a fairy tale. read more

Excellent service, great ambiance, good food, awesome desert, with extras to bring home for breakfast and tea the next day. read more

See all

I've written earlier about my experience with Aubergine's bar food. These two pictures illustrate the value of eating light in the Bar. Let's not forget the 2 Star experience is off the charts. Let's also remember both salmon dishes came out of the 2 Star kitchen. They are both different experiences. You pick which is best for you. Last night another couple joined us for cocktails and food in the bar. The drinks Daya made were again superb. 3 of us chose salmon. No regrets. Much pleasure. Taste incredible. Service was amazing. Several servers from the Big Show served us and the Somm was attentive. Great care and we were not treated as "seconds." Shows how training and culture matter and why they got the stars. 2 cocktails, dinner of split salad and salmon plus 1/2 bottle of Roar Pinot tax and service-$250 per couple. For what we got this was extremely fair. They do not advertise this menu so I'd say its secret is now out for you to enjoy. Please only tell your close friends. Haha read more

Aubergine - Salmon from the same kitchen for the bar menu. $38, worth every penny and outstanding - New American Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

Amazing creativity in every aspect of our visit. Crazy expensive, but worth it if you are truly into fine dining.

We savored every aspect of the 8-course dinner. The service was exceptional, creating a relaxed ambiance. This restaurant consistently delights; my husband and I have cherished it since before it earned its Michelin star read more

See all

Food: 5/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 3/5 The food was mind blowing and filling, the cocktails were delicious and strong, but we were a bit underwhelmed with the service and interior design. I will preface this with stating that my partner and I have minimal fine dining experience and decided to go big for our first Michelin star restaurant to celebrate our engagement. Our expectations were largely based on what we had seen in the media and we were looking forward to exceptionally friendly and attentive service that seems to have gone away since the pandemic. We booked 6 weeks ahead for 8PM on a Sunday. I had noted that the occasion for the booking was to celebrate our engagement that day. The charge is immediate, so you pay for the dinner and 20% tip at the time of reservation. Not great, but I get it. It was about $700 for the pre fixe menu for two without any upsells or drinks. We didn't take any upsells, as the food was plenty and we are not big on wine. We did spend $100 on 4 cocktails. Building / Vibes: The interior of the restaurant is small, intimate, and honestly kind dull and blue. We were seated side by side in a booth locked in by a table that had to be pulled out for us to stand up. The only A/C & Ventilation for the 5 table interior seating is from a mini split, which is kind of an eyesore for a fine dining establishment. With some slight sunburn from the days activities and 1 cocktail deep, being tucked into the back corner with no airflow in business casual attire felt claustrophobic. The restrooms were basic. Food: I was happy to see that they were not doing any silly try-hard things you often see online. It was purely good and exciting dishes with amazing contrasting and unique flavors. The pre-fixe menu is great, because you don't have to make any decisions, you're just along for the ride. Every dish is delivered by a chef who explains each portion and does some table side preparation. Literally every bite was mind blowing and left you excited for more. The creativity, care, and knowledge that went in to the preparation is very obvious. Some dishes were very powerful and surprising, but were followed by something more subdued, smooth, and calm. I really enjoyed the first course tasting platter, the sea foam oysters were salty and sweet. It took me back to being a child who after eating mouthful of candy ran out into the ocean to get immediately smashed by a massive wave. The fish with the crunchy edible scales, omg. The spoon bread and caviar was like nothing I have ever tasted before. The chicken had a consistency that I could not believe chicken could have. The steak and the accompanying sauce were delectable. Desserts were amazing. Like how do you make a churro a fine dining experience, how the heck is this apple so rich? We left so full and satisfied. I was grateful to get to shake Chef Justin's hand at the end of the meal. Service: Overall we had a great time, but I think there is quite a bit of room for improvement. Everyone involved with the kitchen was quite warm and welcoming, however, the front of house staff did not feel very hospitable, and maybe kind of programmatic or just 'out of it.' The warm damp towels to wash your hands before the first course is a nice touch, but my partner, who is sensitive to smells was turned off by the chemically / mildew-y smell of the towel. We got zero attention from the staff during the breaks between courses, we had to ration the water in our cups because they were not attentive in terms of our drinks. We had to ask a passing by server for a water refill. When I finished my first cocktail I placed the empty glass at the very edge of the table for many minutes and it was not cleared. I tried to make eye contact with any staff that I could. I eventually had to flag someone down and ask for a new drink when the next course came. For the main course, our bread was left in the kitchen and was delivered cold and hard some minutes later. At dessert they brought a little mousse cake as an extra for our engagement celebration, however the other desserts were much more exquisite and stole the show. Aside from an early congratulations that was the extent of acknowledgment of our milestone. Ultimately the whole dinner was our celebration, but I had expected a little bit more. Maybe a champagne? At the end my partner left for the restroom and while waiting in the lobby I had to find someone to request our coats back, they asked my name, and then brought me the wrong coats and I stood holding other's coats for a minute before I realized the mistake, and I had to walk back and find the coats myself. Overall not the attention to detail and customer experience I had really hoped for in our first foray into Michelin dining, but the food makes up for it. read more

Aubergine - New American Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

Our family will never stay at another hotel other than L'Auberge. The customer service and management are impeccable in their service to their guests and truly made our stay feel like a family one. The Aubergine restaurant was outstanding. We had plans to eat at various restaurants in Carmel, but the dining at Aubergine was so amazing, we ended up eating once in the restaurant and twice we ordered for room service. read more

To preface- my husband and I are major foodies and have been to several Michelin Star rated restaurants around the world. We gave up drinking alcohol over a decade ago and now look to indulging in fine dining for our vice. Aubergine and its intoxicating flavors without a doubt gave us the "high" that we were looking for. The surprise-no menu given- seven course meal was exceptionally crafted and delivered. The service was superb and the plating made us feel like we were dining in some sort of Modern Art Museum of the Pacific Ocean. Every dish was so creatively layered and flavored, there were no words to describe. Instead, each course just left us "oohing and ahhing" and smiling. The staff all take their jobs so seriously and the executive chef, Justin, and sous chef, Tiffany, even delivered and explained some of the courses themselves. Justin is so understated and cool and fun fact, used to be a figure skater! In addition to the food, our favorite element was the non-alcoholic "wine pariring" option. We have had our fair share of mocktails and we've had our fake wines- but these were no sparkley grape juices, they were well thought out alcohol free libations, served in fine stem ware, that had flavor profiles that were uniquely curated to enhance the flavors of each dish. Listening to the sommelier, John, eloquently describe each of the wines- and made me wish he had a podcast that I could go home and listen to. It was such a creative experience- I happily downed 7 glasses. Good thing I wasn't driving! ;) Most importantly perhaps was that each pairing made us feel accepted, included and even honored amongst the "real wine" drinkers of the world. It was a warm welcome and will bring us back. We will always remember our meal at Aubergine and its staff that so thoughtfully prepared it. read more

Our experience here was INCREDIBLE! I loved that the menu was a surprise. Normally with multi- course dinners there'll be just one or two stand out dishes but honestly each & every course was unbelievable. We also got 2 different wine tasting options so we could compare. It was a very interesting tasting unlike any we've had before, there were 2 sake pairings, chamblis, champagne, 2 very interesting reds from Austria & then an amaro with dessert that had a beautifully clear cube in it. The service was up there with other Michelin star restaurants we've been to. Everyone was very knowledgeable on the unique wine. One of the chamblis/Chardonnays was my favorite & when I let them know, they came back & poured me another glass. It's small things like that that really elevate the experience. I feel like we left completely satisfied wanting for nothing. This is definitely in my top 5 dining experiences. read more

Aubergine - Lamb - New American Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

4.5 stars - Visited Aubergine for a special occasion. We walked around downtown and arrived 15mins before opening at 5pm. We waited in the waiting area and got seated right away. We didn't know what to expect since it was our first time here. You have an option to seat in the dining room or courtyard, we opted for the dining room since it was a bit chilly. The staffs were friendly and attentive. The tasting menu entailed the following: July 2021 [Gifts from the coast] Caviar, corn, almond Shiro dashi, cherrywood smoked maitake mushroom, North Sea cod Abalone, koshihikari rice, radish Duck, radicchio, apricot glaze American dry aged ribeye, egg yolk, asparagus - we opted to supplement the A5 wagyu Strawberry, streusel, roasted meringue Smoked chocolate, marshmallow, walnut I must say I wasn't a fan of the duck dish due to the toughness of the meat. Overall, great ambiance and dishes. read more

See all

Eight course meal with reserve wine pairing at Aubergine at Carmel-by-the-Sea. Service: four star. One star lost to the melted ice cream when served at cold outdoor weather. Food: treatment of veggie and seafood really stood out while first soup is on the saltier side. Price: on the pricier side for a Michelin one-star. read more

See all

Celebrated a birthday dinner for my boyfriend and enjoyed the experience! It is 8-courses and they are more seafood and plant focused but one of the main entrees is red meat. They were able to accommodate pescatarian and offer us a fish forward main entree! I am also dairy free so they were able to work around accommodating my dietary preference. read more

Aubergine - New American Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

Definitely a must eat. While there is no choice in the prix fix menu, you certainly are able to choose from the expansive wine list when it comes to beverages. There's also a small page nestled in there dedicated for non-drinkers like myself. Sommelier is very knowledgeable on ingredients and flavor profiles so you won't be disappointed if you ask for recommendations. Now onto the food... I LOVED IT. It truly is hard to like every single dish but I loved every single dish. Even dessert which I'm not a huge fan of especially when it's chocolate. However, each dish was well prepared, flavors complemented each other and I never felt weighed down and was consistently surprised by the next dish. There is a wagyu supplement although the meal includes ribeye already. Minimum 4 ounces and beautifully cooked - I was overzealous and committed to it before I realized that it was quite a bit of food. Still felt good after the meal - not gross and weighed down. All of the servers were so fun and nice. Really enjoyed the service and conversation. They even have a great playlist for music! All in all, it's pricey ($700) but one of the best meals and experiences. Would definitely come back again. Thank you, Aubergine team! read more

See all

I guess I either won out in the husband department or am just a really lucky girl because my husband spoiled me with an amazing dinner at Aubergine for my birthday weekend in Monterey/Carmel. Every course was beautifully served and the flavors were memorable. We did the wine pairing, and their somm is genius at complimenting some really unique dishes. Service is of course, outstanding. As mentioned in previous reviews, the price was expectedly high. Because of that, I'd say for most of us, this is definitely a special occasion restaurant, but an excellent one at that. read more

Expect the unexpected was the theme of the night here. The night began with some small bites. A magnificent oyster, wagyu tartare the highlights. About what I might have expected so far. We came for my wife's birthday and were very excited. The first course was local lettuces from Carmel Valley with pistachio paste and an amazing spreadable allium cream with caviar and chives. Just a great spring course to start things off. Following this was a beautiful Kinmedai, barely cooked and full of toasty flavor, a light but incredible broth and amazing herb oil. I opted for the sommelier pairing and everything paired very well. They did a sake to start with, wines the rest of the way and finally a house made amaro riff to end with the last dessert course. The next course was our absolute favorite of the evening. Served by chef Justin himself, a delicious pair of morel mushrooms bathed in an herb butter sauce with salmon eggs and English peas. A delicious side of knotted butter flaky bread, and a tempura fried pair of Tokyo turnips so crisp and moist inside I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. The single best course I've ever been served. Following that was a beautifully cooked piece of lamb in its own bone jus. A side of roasted cauliflower with cauliflower foam and a lightly dressed frisee salad accompanied this great course. Finally on the savory side, a beautifully cooked piece of Omaha Ribeye, with an incredible XO sauce made from abalone and wagyu served next to a perfectly cooked piece of white asparagus with forget-me-nots. We also upgraded this course to have a couple pieces each of amazing A5 Wagyu ribeye cooked simply over a Japanese charcoal grill. This was the best Wagyu we've eaten as well. The first dessert course we were served was a white chocolate ganache orb with several forms of delicious strawberry and some graham cracker. An excellent dessert that was well balanced. The second dessert course was a chocolate lava cake of sorts with some caramel cream on the side and chocolate stick and flour crumbles. A good dessert for the chocolate lover and not too sweet. My wife also received a chocolate mousse cake with ganache on top for her birthday which was great. Following that was a bunch of tasty dessert bites. They then sent us on our way with a take home dessert which looks like some kind of white chocolate bark with some fruity gems inside. The meal was incredible start to finish. The service we received was also top notch to match. Lots of staff each doing their own part to ensure we were well taken care of. The course were all spaced perfectly and the rhythm of everything was fantastic. We were left wondering why the restaurant has not received its second Michelin star yet. read more

See all

This was such a fantastic meal. One we will remember for the rest of our lives. We came here after getting engaged in Monterey. It is a superior dining experience with service unequivocally unmatched anywhere. This isn't a meal to be frugal. Get it all. Upgrade it all. Go for the full wine pairing option. read more

Aubergine - New American Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

I don't even know where to begin... definitely one of my favorite meals and wine pairings I've ever had. My husband and I booked our stay at L'Auberge Carmel not realizing there was a restaurant inside. Once I realized the caliber of Aubergine, I booked our reservation ASAP and my gosh I'm so glad I did. Before we made the trip up to Carmel, I started following the chef (Chef Justin Cogley) and Sommelier (John Haffey) on Instagram so I could get excited for what was in store. I can't even begin to describe the detail, execution, and deliciousness of this experience. Truly. I don't even know if I can pick out my favorite course because they were all so uniquely good. I will say the first course of "first bites" was just so insanely gorgeous that I can't stop thinking about it. The restaurant is very small and reservations are an absolute must. It felt super intimate and the wall art was my favorite. Everyone was so kind and knowledgable. We really appreciated it and the extra chocolate dessert at the end to celebrate our anniversary. I introduced myself to the Somm, John, and he helped us out with an extra glass of wine at the hotel bar after the dinner was over. He also let me to take a picture of the wine lineup (in my attached pics!). The stemware used for each course was Grassl, a brand I had not heard of before but I couldn't get it out of my mind once we returned home so I purchased a glass for myself and now every time I drink out of it, I'm reminded of this truly unforgettable experience! We can't wait to go back! read more

See all

This is an interesting menu. You don't get one ! The first courses a delight. And wine pairing very good. Non alcohol pairing was delightful. Only a little salty in sauce on 2 meat courses. However. Overall lovely and inventive read more

See all

Amazing food. Came during covid and although it was freezing outside, they had strong heat lamps and offered blankets. They did a good job still trying to keep up the ambiance notwithstanding the circumstances. Loved everything we ate but the tasting menu and wine pairing (especially the latter) will out a pretty dent in your wallet. That said, I loved the food and service and would highly recommend! read more

See all

The first couple of seafood dishes were absolutely amazing, while the meats are more like, okay read more

See all

We enjoyed a FABULOUS meal prepared by Chef Justin Cogley and his team. The beauty, skill and care in every dish made for a VERY special evening. A million thanks and congratulations to Chef Cogley and his team. As you can see from the attached photos, this was an incredibly special meal. Deserving of MORE Michelin Stars. The service was perfect (thank you Cyrus) and the wines outstanding (thank you Jahn Haffey - Sommelier) https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32172-d1367785-r942797504-Aubergine_at_L_Auberge_Carmel-Carmel_Monterey_County_California.html# read more

Best meal me and my partner ever had! EVERYTHING from a-z was amazing! Highly recommended!!!! read more

See all

Amazing dinner the other night at Aubergine! Service, food, and ambiance were all spectacular. We recently dined at another 1-star Michelin restaurant and it was like night and day difference with Aubergine clearly coming out on top. We were served a variety of courses that ranged from oysters to the best asparagus of my life to Kobe Wagyu beef (supplement). We declined the wine pairing this time because they had really interesting cocktails and essentially a beverage bible. The staff was still able to pair some of our other courses when asked and complemented the dishes nicely. My gf LOVES Madeira and really enjoyed her 1908 glass which was a real treat. A must try when in the Monterey/Carmel area! read more

See all

I'd rate this restaurant as competent at best , but overall underwhelming and disappointing. Cocktails were just plain sweet and nothing special. Amuse bouche (oyster, A5 Wagyu tartare, abalone) was excellent and the best part of the meal, then it just meandered downhill from there. Squash wrapped in seaweed tasted like dense squash paste, though the cheese and caviar sauce was quite delicious. Japanese fish was good. Japanese scallop was overcooked and served with tapioca balls that turned gummy. Dry aged California lamb was good but a little too salty with sauce. Dry aged Nebraska steak looked sort of pink on the outside, but cutting into it revealed overcooked brown meat with the consistency and flavor of supermarket chuck, which was topped with another salty sauce. There was a $220 upsell for A5 Wagyu beef ($55 per ounce, 4oz minimum per table). Having eaten the tasty but fatty beef many times before, 1oz per person would have been sufficient but they required a pricey minimum order so we passed. The granita in the dessert was very tart and had no sugar so it was awful to eat, and there was something else bitter in the dessert that was unpleasant as well. They said the restaurant is California coastal-inspired, but half the proteins came from Japan and maybe a turnip and squash came from nearby. Service and the servers were great and super nice. read more

See all

Great experience at Aubergine. The staff was incredibly welcoming and personable. My husband made a reservation for my birthday, and each staff member greeted me when first coming to our table. Highly recommend the wine pairing if within your budget. The executive chef came out to serve/finish plating two of our courses, which we thought was really cool. read more

See all

Excellent service. Awesome food. Imaginary presentation. From the start to the end it was quite experiences. Recommend people to try. Enjoy every moment. read more

I visited Carmel for the weekend and decided to book Aubergine for dinner. We started off the night with delicious mezcal cocktails - the bartender who is also one of the servers was very knowledgeable and friendly. The same can be said about every server who served our table that evening. Overall, the tasting menu was impressive and enjoyable. It was seafood-centric, but the main dish turned out to be a very juicy lamb chop. We also paid extra for Japanese wagyu strips to pair with the main dish ($30 per oz, minimum 4 oz). As a side note, be prepared to pay a few $100 per person. My only criticism is the level of saltiness in some of the sauces, which is why I gave it a 4 out of 5. Curious to know if that's done intentionally to offset other flavors or perhaps an oversight that evening. Regardless, I still recommend this California contemporary dining experience - it truly was one of a kind. read more

Aubergine - Tasting Menu - New American Near Me - Carmel, California

Aubergine was a fancy treat for us on our roadtrip from LA to SF last week! It's a Michelin starred tasting menu restaurant in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea. It was definitely a splurge, but a special experience! You won't be given a menu - so I tried to pay close attention as they explained the courses! I lost track of how many there were - 8, 9? There were several opening courses (snacks, a play on a salad, a seafood course, and a vegetable-focused course), two meat courses (lamb and beef), and three dessert courses (one rose, one chocolate, and one dessert bites/snacks) - with a chocolate treat served in a box to go! The service was, of course, great - attentive, thoughtful. The restaurant is small, classic, traditional, and beautiful. We didn't do the wine pairing options (the meal itself was already a huge splurge for us), but we had a few glasses of wine and a couple of cocktails (skin contact French wine for me, cocktails for him). The food was interesting and beautiful. And delicious of course. I definitely had favorite courses (1 or 2 fell a little flat for me), but overall the food was great. We added some wagyu onto our beef course (if you're already splurging...) - worth it. There were many ingredients I hadn't heard of or tasted before (I wish I could remember them now - and that they offered a menu or list of dishes at some point during the meal that I could have kept for reference or as a souvenir), which was very cool! I loved some bites more than others, but I loved the California products/produce, and the dishes were elegant and complex and intricate. It was definitely a special occasion splurge for us, but it was a special experience. read more

See all

Chef Cogley really at the master craft. The food is transposed as an art form with amazing percision and wonderful plays on food. My wife and I were delighted to have dined here and can see all that is to offer with the amazing food. The abalone was wonderful and crunchy and one of the highlights amongst the many morsels you get to try. read more

Exceptional service, exceptional staff, exceptional food. My expectations were high eating here and they did not disappoint. Well it is expensive, this is a fabulous experience, especially if you are a foodie. read more