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    Carmel

    4.6 (410 reviews)
    Closed 5:30 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Carmel Photos

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    CARMEL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise

    Recommended Reviews - Carmel

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    Reviews With Photos

    Red snapper schnitzel
    Monica R.

    My friend brought me here for my birthday and it was AMAZING. Everything we ordered was delicious and packed with flavor. Our server was really nice, welcoming and attentive. We started our visit with a shot of Arak, and it was so refreshing. The drinks were good and the jaffa breeze was refreshing and unique. We ordered way too much food but it was great because we were able to try a variety of things. The tuna tartare was small but so fresh and tasty. The Moroccan frena was soft and went really good with the grilled blue prawns. The pastas were cooked to perfection and the sauces had so much flavor. The hangar steak was a little tough but the red snapper schnitzel was perfect. The ambiance is chill, the tables are just a tad bit too close for comfort. But overall the place is a must try.

    Japanese sweet potato fries, cucumber salad, red snapper schnitzel.
    Monica C.

    Everything we had here was incredible!! So much flavor. From the complimentary shots, to the drinks and every plate, we were all so impressed!! Our favorites were the kanpachi crudo & snapper schnitzel. There was a salad that I didn't get a photo of, but even that was sooo good and flavorful!! Amazing dressing and fresh greens. Our waiter was super friendly and helpful with recommendations as well.

    Mushroom Cigar
    Jennifer E.

    Overall 10/10 meal and 10/10 service. It's on Melrose, busy and bad parking but they have valet!! The second you walk in you completely forget where you are, the whole place transforms into open kitchen restaurant. The only time you remember you're on Melrose is when someone opens the front door and the street noise sneaks in like "surprise, traffic still exists." Definitely worth it though.

    Jerusalem bagel
    Martin T.

    Would give 6 stars if I could. This place is a monthly go-to for me. Go for brunch. Go for dinner. The food is creative and excellent across the menu. The chefs are at the top of their game. The open kitchen counter is a vibe - sit there or at the bar or at a table - can't go wrong. The service is great and the staff are the friendliest. Love the music that's playing too, Shazam is always on standby. Here's almost everything we've tried and loved. Must get: - The Bread (Moroccan Frena) - Japanese Sweet Potato Fries - Woodfire Octopus Shawarma - KFKW (Kentucky fried kampachi wings) - Jerusalem Artichoke Tortellini - 6-hour Braised Short Rib Pappardelle - Hanger Steak Kebab - 14 oz woodfire grilled grass fed ribeye - New Zealand Lamb Rack - Harissa-glazed Jidori Chicken - Steak and eggs - Jerusalem bagel - brunch pancakes (forgot what they're actually called)

    Joanna P.

    Carmel was an okay experience overall. The food was decent, but nothing that really stood out. The service was fine, nothing exceptional, but no major issues either. One nice surprise was that they brought us complimentary mixed drink shots, which were actually really good. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, but it also wasn't memorable enough that I'd go out of my way to return.

    Menu
    Elise B.

    Went for dinner shortly after they opened and it got busier as the night went on. The small plates and appetizers came out right away. The Moroccan Frena is a MUST order- it comes out hot with different dips. The young crispy cauliflower hummus was smooth and refreshing- delicious with the Frena. The Japanese sweet potato "fries" were thick cut with a little bit of spice heat. The Falafel balls were 5 to the plate, perfect size for shared starters. The Nonna's mushroom bolognese size can easily be for one or can be shared- it's a flavorful savory, red sauce pasta. The Hanger steak kebab was tender & juicy, definitely a MUST order as well! Parking- valet $15

    Biscuit cake

    This meal was off to a rough start before it even began because we realized street parking next to the restaurant is not allowed after 6pm. Valet was $16, and there is a $2 credit card fee so please make sure to bring cash. Our spirits were lifted when the bruleed eggplant came out. I don't know how and why cracked sugar over eggplant dip works so well, but it seriously wowed me. The Japanese sweet potato fries felt like something I could recreate at home so I would skip on those next time. The hanger steak kebab deserves its own paragraph. It was so perfectly smoky and paired beautifully with the chimichurri. I cannot recommend this enough, you cannot recreate this at home. I was also a massive fan of the biscuit cake, it's like tiramisu's cousin but with four layers of biscuit and maybe even better. Overall, vibes and flavors were incredible, I would bring someone here for their birthday in the future.

    Karina P.

    A great meal, but definitely on the pricier side. I really enjoyed how the items here were pretty unique and veggie-forward. Farmers market hummus was great, the platter with feta was great, sweet potatoes were AMAZING. For mains, the short rib pappardelle was good but on the sweeter side, and the snapper schnitzel was perfectly crispy. The sundae was the perfect dessert to top it off, but at this point we were beyond stuffed. A good Middle Eastern place in LA but I'd recommend ordering fewer items.

    Frena
    Sharika M.

    Carmel was such a nice date night spot. It had the charm of an elevated Mediterranean market. Our server was very kind. The food was 100/10. When we got there, they also had happy hours. We had the Peruvian scallop crudo and chicken Bao buns from this menu. They were divine. From the main menu, we had the frena, sweet corn tortellini and hangar steak kebabs. The bread was perfectly spiced, the tortellini was sublime and kebabs were such an elevated take on steak with chimichurri. One super minor thing: I think they could have been even better if it was medium rare, but it was still amazing! Can't wait to go back!

    Shannon S.

    My friend and I dined at Carmel on a chilly Tuesday evening and had a fabulous time. This cozy spot in the corner of Melrose and Martel oozes Mediterranean flair from the moment you walk in. Deep brown and gold hues illuminate the space where you'll find table seating, a few elevated booths along the window, and bar seating with an exposed kitchen. We were seating a two-person table in the middle and taken care of with friendly service throughout the meal. We started off with a couple glasses of wine and dined on hummus, Moroccan bread, smoked eggplant with feta brûlée, tuna tartare, and octopus shawarma. All of the dishes were the perfect size for sharing and very flavorful! My personal favorites were the bread, hummus and tuna tartare! They even have an aperitivo menu from 5:30p-7p, which is a great deal. My friend and I ate everything up with pleasure, so we were too full for dessert; although they all look so good! Overall we had a lovely time at Carmel and highly recommend for a cozy intimate date night (solo, friend date or otherwise!).

    Apertivo Menu, February 2026
    Yael F.

    Wow - we had the best date night here. It was Sunday of Valentine's Day weekend and we had a 5:30pm reservation. It was empty when we arrived and was filled up by 5:45pm. Despite how busy it was, the service was excellent. Our waiter, Henry, was kind, attentive, and very helpful as we navigated the menu. Each dish that arrived was better than the last. To start, we ordered: - Farmer's Market Hummus - Crispy Chicken Bao Buns - Spicy Merguez-Stuffed Fried Olives - Grandma's Mushroom Cigar Our entrees were: - Jerusalem Artichoke Tortellini - Wild-Caught Striped Bass Drinks & Dessert: - Bossa Nova - Strawberry "Mule" 8 - Knafe We are already talking about the next time we can come back!!

    Bluefin tuna tartare

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    6 months ago

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    Hey, Karen! We’re honored to have provided an enjoyable experience.

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    8 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    Hey, Robert! We appreciate your visit and your kind words — thank you!

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

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    Hey, Nuha! Thank you for your support — hope to see you soon!

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    We’re thrilled to hear your visit was a success. Thanks Jacob!

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    1 month ago

    Lovely perfection. Beautiful environment and design, exceptional food, warm service and impeccable food. An absolute YES!

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    Hi Kelly! We’re honored you enjoyed your meal with us.

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 month ago

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    Hey, Kim! Thank you for choosing us — hope to welcome you back soon!

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    5 months ago

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    Hey, Kmama! Your words truly made our day — thank you!

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    15 days ago

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    2 months ago

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    Hey, Elana! We’re grateful for your visit and support — thank you!

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

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    2 months ago

    The food was incredible and the atmosphere was stylish and energetic. Great date night spot.

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    Hey, Molly! Thank you for choosing us — hope to welcome you back soon!

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    11 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    Hey, Asaf! A big thank you from our whole team!

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    Hey, Anita! Thank you for your support — see you soon!

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    3 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    Hey, Crystal! So happy you enjoyed everything — thank you!

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    6 months ago

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    Hey, T W.! We’re thrilled to know you enjoyed it — thank you!

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    Page 2 of 11

    Carmel Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Carmel

    Is it kosher?

    The place is not kosher, I know they have kosher options in the manu

    Is there valet parking?

    Yup!

    Are there any gluten free and dairy free dishes?

    Yes

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Bavel - Baked Alaska

    Bavel

    4.4(3k reviews)
    7.4 miArts District, Downtown
    $$$

    Thank god Bavel does not disappoint. I've been meaning to come back ever since I had that AMAZING…read moreduck at Bavel. I see why I love this place so much after watching the Odyssey too hahah the little lotus they served with the duck MUST be the lotus Charlize Theron has been feeding Matt Damon! That aside, this time we ordered the Fried Quail and the lamb manti. Both are just eye-opening delicious. It's fatty it's juicy and it's delicate. I do not want the food to run out, and it's much like the odyssey, hours later, I woke up to a different day and i still think about how insanely delicious they are! Different server this time, but still the and level of hospitality. Always checking in on us, bringing new utensils and recommending menus. It feels like we are the guests at a well run family dinner party. Loved the cocktails too. Nava and Semir are both excellent but maybe the former has a little too much ice. Loved their subtly. Definitely pricy, but I'd say it's on par with many of the Michelin starred place I've tried! Highly recommended for special occasions!

    Bavel is an upscale Middle Eastern style cuisine restaurant. It has modern decor with massive ivies…read morehanging down from ceiling planters. It's best to make a reservation in advance if you plan to dine here as they are almost always fully at capacity. They have both indoor and outdoor dining. If the weather is not too hot, I recommend sitting outside. Our mistake was choosing the indoors because it gets awfully loud to the point where you can't even hear the server(s) or your own party speak. Truth be told that's the major factor in the minus 1 star as it negatively affected our overall dining experience. 1. Farm Cheese Spread (5/5) The farm cheese was super light and airy. It's seasoned with sumac/fig leaf za'atar, rose petal (mostly for decor than taste) and fresh rosemary. It's served with 2 slices of crispy edged, doughy centered, black sesame bread that's toasted to perfection. 2. Baba Ghanoush (5/5) This is a dip dish made of smoked eggplant, Jimmy Nardello peppers (adds sweetness and smoky flavor), fennel escabeche, dill and olive oil. It's served with sites of fried pita bread. The eggplant was perfectly savory from the grilled onions and non-spicy, smoky flavor of the peppers. The Pita bread is like a fried beignet donut in terms of flavor. Another enjoyable appetizer to share. 3. Oyster Mushroom Kebab (5/5) Amazing smokey, well-charred and juicy mushroom with a nice price tag attached to it, but still worth to enjoy. It's served with avocado-lovage puree and sumac, which paired well with the mushroom flavor. 4. Grilled Octopus (5/5): The octopus tentacles were cooked to perfection - soft & melts in your mouth. It's almost like eating a very soft rice cake with a hint of seafood flavor note. It's served with sides of skordalia potato puree, brocooli, lamb xo sauce and coated in dill to give it a slightly spicy and savory profile. 5. Slow-Roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma (4.5/5) Super tender lamb meat that's also very fatty. It's served with a side of basil-cilantro like sauce, pickled vegetables and tahini sauce which was super creamy and helped to cut the gaminess of the lamb. The dish also comes with a full size laffa bread, which was fresh (made in-house; you can literally see them making it in the background) and pillowy-soft to wrap the lamb meat in. 6. Cherry Sumac & Ricotta cheese pastry (4/5) We ended with a crispy Cherry jam tart. The puff pastry was flaky puff while the cherry jam was tart and sweet. It paired well with their ricotta cheese, which was light and airy and sprinkled with sumac. It also comes with a scoop of Pistachio ice cream that's subtly nutty and floral but was a bit too sweet for our liking. Overall, the food here was good, but the dining environment was too loud for our liking. This place is often compared to Bestia, which we prefer. Fun fact - Bavel and Bestia are owned by the same owners.

    Photos
    Bavel - Interior

    Interior

    Bavel - Oyster mushroom kabob

    Oyster mushroom kabob

    Bavel - *Dry Aged Trout Crudo

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    *Dry Aged Trout Crudo

    Open Sesame - Chicken Tawook plate. So good!

    Open Sesame

    4.2(1.1k reviews)
    0.6 miFairfax
    $$

    We just got home from dinner here and my wife and I loved it. The food was absolutely top notch. We…read morestarted with the potatoes in garlic sauce and an order of the haroumi and watermelon. What a great kick off! As for our mains, we both ordered a variation of the combo plates. I had the chicken tawook and beef. The Mrs. had the chicken and lamb. All good. Based on the food alone, we would recommend this place to anyone with a beating heart and more importantly, a mouth. This is quality food at a quality price. The atmosphere? Really great. It's a little dark and twinkly inside which sets a nice tone. There is cool artwork adorning every piece of wall, the place is very easy on the eyes...including the restrooms. Very clean. Our sever, didn't catch his name, but what a nice dude. Was super helpful without being "too much" he should teach a server class. He's pretty much who you want taking care of your table. He knew the menu well and made great suggestions. It was actually refreshing. We will come back, most likely with the family. Our waiter told us that they can accommodate larger groups which is great. I recently ate food at Saffy's and I didn't enjoy it one bit. The servings there are too small, too pretentious and too overpriced. Open Sesame is the exact opposite and that's why it rules. A wonderful experience in Beverly Boulevard.

    How Do I Start This Rationally ? Atmosphere Is A 5/5. Service Is 5/5. Food was 2.5/5. I Will…read moreExplain. If You A Charging $145 For A Group Platter, Then Everything Must Me PERFECT ! The Chicken Shawarma Was Inedible Because Is Was Obviously Dry And Lying Around For The Next Customer. The Beef Was Good. The Beef Shawarma Was AMAZING ! Probably The Best Thing. On The Menu. Tabouli Was Great. $260 With Tip Divided By Three Is Too Expensive For My First Experience Here. I Told The Manager That They Shouldn't Have Served The Chicken Shawarma If It Was Dry. Anyways.

    Photos
    Open Sesame - Dining room

    Dining room

    Open Sesame - Chicken Tawook

    Chicken Tawook

    Open Sesame - Chicken Tawook

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    Chicken Tawook

    Panini Kabob Grill

    Panini Kabob Grill

    4.1(2k reviews)
    5.8 miDowntown
    $$
    Healthy dining
    Grab-and-go

    Okay hi guys , the food was really good as well as the service i got seated right as i walked in …read more every nice interior as well , our waiter was also a nice person don't remember his name but he was very helpful with translating . the food was bussin like 10/10 . your gonna get your moneys worth

    Man, Panini Kabob Grill just never disappoints. Every time I come here, I'm reminded why it's one…read moreof my favorite Mediterranean spots. There are so many different kebabs to choose from, and I've yet to have one that wasn't delicious. My personal favorites are the steak and the chicken--both are incredibly tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. You can really taste the quality of the ingredients in every bite. One thing you absolutely cannot skip is the edamame hummus. I had never even heard of edamame hummus before coming here, and now I can't believe I went so long without trying it. It was smooth, fresh, and full of flavor while putting such a unique twist on traditional hummus. It's one of those dishes that completely changes your expectations and has you thinking about it long after you've left the restaurant. On top of the amazing food, the service was outstanding. Everyone made us feel genuinely welcome, and the atmosphere was warm, relaxing, and perfect whether you're grabbing a casual lunch or having dinner with friends or family. The menu is packed with so many dishes that I still want to try, which just gives me another reason to keep coming back. Panini Kabob Grill continues to deliver an incredible experience, and I can't recommend it enough.

    Photos
    Panini Kabob Grill
    Panini Kabob Grill
    Panini Kabob Grill

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    Carmel - mediterranean - Updated September 2026

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