Made a reservation 1-2 months before and was still only able to get an outdoor reservation. After briefly seeing the inside, I do think the outside patio is preferable as the tables are spaced apart slightly more. The inside seemed pretty cramped, although pretty dim in lighting and a bit on the romantic side (although the tightness seems to diminish the mood). Service was great throughout the night - attentive, efficient, and approachable. I wish I had taken a picture of the full menu, as it was slightly different than the menu on their website. I actually think the new additions were more enjoyable than what was on the website. Also opted for the wine pairing, which was good - all wines are from California. Almost all dishes we had were great, from the shrimp hand roll addition to the starters like the tuna crudo. Second course sweet corn pasta was also a surprise as it was sweet, creamy, salty, and even slightly spicy (only a hint). Sauce was great. The complementary bread (brioche) was great with the butter. Slightly crispy outside but soft and airy on the inside. Reminded me of the bread they give at House of Prime Rib. My lamb entree was tasty, although it was 25-35$ or so extra. Very well cooked lamb, along with some sort of flavorful red pepper sauce roasted lettuce. There was also small sides of yogurt and another side with the lamb that you could use as a sauce/dip. Dessert was good but not my favorite, as it was a cherry tart. I'm more of a cake or pudding person, but the tart was still light and not too sweet with the pistachio gelato on top. read more

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I'm always down for an excuse to return to Carmel, so decided to scratch another Michelin starred restaurant off my list. Of the 5 courses, I enjoyed the tuna appetizer the most, but it was mostly just my personal preference of enjoying raw seafood. None of the courses stood out to me in a good way. Unfortunately, I also just did not like the flavor they used for the salmon sauce at all. The meal came out to ~443 for 2 people. For fine dining in California, the price isn't insane, but I did not feel like it lived up to my expectations for a Michelin starred restaurant to justify it. The service was pleasant, but I'm mostly here for the food. When my husband and I got home, we both got diarrhea :) read more

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Disappointing dinner at Chez Noir. The biggest problem is that our table was not served bread. We got a butter knife and when the waiter asked if we were finished with the bread, we told her that we hadn't gotten any. Still no bread. The prix-fixe menu offered wine pairing at $95, but did not list the wines paired with each course. This makes it very hard to determine if you want to order the wine paring or just order by the glass (or bottle). Finally, the occasion was our anniversary and although I indicated this on the reservation, it was not acknowleged until we told the wait staff. This is not typical of a Michelin-starred restaurant. To their credit, when I complained, we were comped the cost of the wine pairing and the 20% service fee. The food was very good. Not amazing. We have eaten in several Michelin-starred restaurants in New York, DC, Napa, and Sacramento. I'm sorry to say that Chez Noir was not up to those standards. We won't be back. read more

We unfortunately had to leave mid-meal after some of the appetizer and cocktails because we received news that a family member had passed away. The staff was incredibly kind and compassionate (with our teary eyes although they had no clue what happened) and they boxed up our entrée and dessert for us even though we honestly had no appetite afterward. From what we were able to try, the crudo appetizer was excellent and the hospitality alone made a lasting impression on us. Hoping we can come back under better circumstances to properly experience the rest of the menu! read more

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Worst service ever. I can't believe they have Michelin Star. Do not recommend if you are treating to have a nice relaxing night.

Visited Chez Noir for a date night and had a really great experience. We ordered the prix fixe menu -- I had the rockfish and my partner had the chicken -- and both dishes were well-prepared and flavorful. The highlight for me was the brioche bread and butter, which was easily the standout item of the meal. Absolutely exceptional. Service was excellent throughout the evening. The staff was attentive and thoughtful without being intrusive, and we never felt rushed at any point. The drinks were well-made, and the wine list offered a strong selection. The ambiance is perfect for a date night -- intimate, cozy, and relaxed. Overall, a very enjoyable dining experience and definitely a place I would return to. read more

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Such an intimate and romantic restaurant, the perfect start to our valentines weekend! Service was friendly and food was amazing. read more

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Admittedly, I'm a tad late on this review but here it is. Firstly, service was impeccable from the timing, precision and inviting warmth. The dishes were marvelously constructed and presented. We each ordered a different item for every course allowing us to sample everything on the menu. Here's the menu: ADD-ONS: Fresh Oysters and oyster "Rockefeller" - I'm not a huge fan of oysters, but these tasted of clean ocean; briny and salty with some sweetness. The slight crunch of the "Rockefeller" was a nice contrast to the softness. Abalone skewers and toast - flavorful and set the tone of the upcoming meal. FIRST COURSE: Porcini mushroom "carpaccio" - beautifully cut mushrooms paired with fresh and distinct flavors. Loved everything about this dish but wished it had more Parmesan. Washington King salmon Crudo - clean taste and good textural contrasts. Duck liver terrine - rich and savory balanced with sweetness. ADD-ON: bread - freshly baked, warm and soft. The salted butter with the bread was sublime. SECOND COURSE: Brentwood corn triangoli - pasta texture was perfect, but was not a fan of the sweet corn filling. The sauce tasted of tabasco which was interesting in a way that left you questioning if you liked it or not. THIRD COURSE: Vermillion rockfish "a la Provencale" - the fish was flawlessly prepared; the crispy skin was delectable. Hated the morel mushroom in the dish. It seemed like an after thought and the flavor was strangely unpleasant. Grilled Wolfe ranch quail - crispy but still moist. Balanced flavors. Superior farms lamb "Paloise" - unanimously voted as the worst dish of the evening. Lamb was cooked well, but the accompaniments were disappointing. They didn't enhance the lamb and the sauce wasn't delicious. Unfortunately, my daughter only took 2 bites of this dish. Chez Noir offered to make something else for her, but at this point she was just over it. DESSERT: Prevadelli farms berry tart - amazingly tasty and homey. I would come back just for this dessert. Mille feuille - loved the filling, but not the crust. Kashiwase farms peach sorbet - bright, light and yummy. We spent $1,065.40 with tip. Based on the service alone, I would have ranked Chez Noir highly, but considering the meal and the price, I had to lower the rating. read more

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Chez Noir represents coastal California well, very well designed and executed seafood dishes, novel local expertise evidenced by the eternally on the menu abalone skewer amuse bouche, and clearly fresh and bright use of fish and quality meats. My pictures came out rather dark because I didn't want to use flash in the dim ambiance, and it was worth it to fully enjoy the romantic outdoor patio. It was a serene experience with delightful weather. The waiters were kind, helpful, young, and full of the requisite professionalism. The crudo was surprisingly my favorite dish, with delicately sliced apple and an accompanying jus. Didn't want to leave the Monterey Peninsula without trying it. Chef Jonny Black came out with after the meal and was incredibly personable. Canelé to finish was cathartic. Endowed with a Michelin star for good reason. read more

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The service and atmosphere were solid and what you would expect from a Michelin star restaurant. Unfortunately the food tends to fall short on an otherwise great experience. For the money, I would expect the food to be better. The first few dishes were good but nothing really wowed me. The main entree was good and the highlight of the meal. The desert was not good. Overall, I left with a feeling of "meh" for the food. I'm not saying it's a pass, as I saw several other reviews that regard it as a must-visit in Carmel, but I don't put Chez Noir in the same league as other Michelin star restaurants. It's over priced for the taste and experience and diners should now that. read more

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What a great experience we had at Chez Noir Saturday night. We dined with another couple. Me and my buddy did the wine pairing with our prix fixe meals. Our dinner started with two small bites: tuna tartar on a small wafer and an abalone skewer. Both were tasty. The abalone skewer was creative and one of my favorite bites of the night. My first course was a ham and parsley terrine served with whole grain mustard and a celery slaw. The terrine was interesting, and certainly enhanced when you included the mustard and slaw with each bite. The dish was successful when combined all together. The 2nd course was the best thing I ate all night, Costata Romano Zucchini Tortelli. This was a filled pasta like a large tortellini with a saffron jus I believe. Absolutely amazing! I'm still craving that dish a day later. 3rd course was a small wagyu filet and aldente vegetables in a Demi glaze. The vegetables were too raw for my taste. For dessert I had a 'peach Melba' served with a berry sauce. The peach could have been a little riper so it was not as flavorful as it could have been. Service? Outstanding! Yes certainly what you would expect from a Michelin star restaurant. Luis, Steven, and Carson were a great core team but the whole staff chips in to ensure every diner's experience is truly a fine dining experience without any pretentious attitude. My prix fixe dinner with the wine pairing was a home run, and at times, exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend Chez Noir if you are looking for a fine dining experience with creative food presentation, fulfilling flavors, and top notch service. We are already planning our next dinner here in a couple months. read more

Chez Noir - Food and wine pairing menu from our great dining experience. - Seafood Near Me - Carmel, California

Lovely experience at Chez Noir! The ambiance was really cozy and intimate, it felt like a small restaurant in Europe. Everyone was extremely kind and welcoming. The food itself was quiet good as well. The abalone was our favorite of the night, but generally speaking we liked everything! The bread was delicious as well. I wouldn't say that the food completely blew us away, but overall it was good! It's a very high price point, which was notable, but no real complaints as a whole. Great time overall! read more

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I'm sad to write a poor review of this place. The staff were welcoming, the decor was nice, and we enjoyed the food. It was good, but we have had food at least as good or better elsewhere for less. But none of that was a problem until we got to the end of the meal and a server told me "the 20% mandatory service charge does not include gratuity." Um, I'm sorry, yes it does. When I picked this restaurant, I looked online at the menu, the prices, and saw the 20% mandatory service charge, and figured fine, we tend to tip 20% anyway. If the restaurant isn't keeping the lights on and everyone paid without a 20% surcharge on the bill before tipping, then raise your prices 20% so I know what the deal is going in, instead of making it a weird "you're stiffing us if you don't tip 40%" surprise after a nice meal. I had asked earlier about how often the menu changes, and was considering coming back later on to try their food again, but this single awkward bait and switch moment at the end of the meal when we should be happily paying and leaving means I will just find somewhere else to eat next time. read more

Amazing fixed price menu! The service was incredibly attentive without being too much. We came here to celebrate a promotion, and we had a wonderful time. Every course was delicious, but weirdly the bread course was my favorite. They offer an amazing gluten free bread. We sat outside on the patio with our dog, the weather was perfect. 10/10 would come again for very special occasions. read more

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We recently dined at Chez Noir during our trip to Carmel. The experience was enjoyable overall. the ingredients were fresh, and the execution was solid. However, coming from Southern California, where there are many highly competitive fine dining restaurants, I found that the overall level of the dishes at chez noir felt comparable to places like Jeune et Jolie in Carlsbad , but at nearly double the price. At this price point, I was expecting more complexity, more memorable flavors, or a stronger sense of creativity in the menu. While everything was good, nothing stood out as particularly exceptional or unique. I understand that Carmel is a destination town and that dining here is part of the travel experience, but from a purely culinary perspective, the value felt a bit hard to justify. read more

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Delicious dinner. Delightful service. Totally worth of their Michelin star. We enjoyed the caviar funnel cakes, the tasting menu and a bottle of wine. Portions are larger than what we've seen for many tasting menus so we had a hard time finishing some of our dishes. read more

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Small Michelin star fine dining husband wife spot with great vibes. Food: 4 Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 Cost to worth it rating: 3 ($165 for 3 courses, $95 wine pairing) Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: maybe Highlights: - Great vibes: lively and comfortable fine dining like I like it Bread: mouth watering warm buttery brioche bread that looked like a wizards hat. 5 star - Abalone skewer amuse: I'm not an abalone person but the char on it was so wonderful. Excellent marinated bite with a tiny sliver of lemon. 5 stars - Canelles: best I've had. Perfectly crunchy on the outside and custardy on the inside. 5 stars Pate: tasty combo of liver and pork with pistachios. 4.5 stars - Gnocchi: delicate texture and flavor. My hub loved the cheesiness of it. 4.5 stars - Cocktails: had an orange vesper which was smooth and less in your face than a standard vesper. Hub had old fashioned which was his fave one he's had that day with a great balance of sweetness and bitterness and nice single clarified ice cube. 4.5 stars - Amuse soup: white asparagus and herbs cold was a delightful start. 4.25 stars - Tarte bruleed: like a mixture between a creme brûlée and key lime pie in texture and flavors which was fun. 4.25 stars - Rib eye steak: amazing bordelaise sauce and paired with white asparagus. 4 stars - Staff: excellent service and very friendly - Sommelier: Nate was knowledgeable and friendly and made our night as enjoyable as it was. Lovely he focuses mostly on local wines and gave excellent pairing advice - If you don't want the full wine pairing, it's option to get half glasses along the way - Menu: 4 courses with 3 choices each (pasta course with 2) and sizable portions for each Midlights: - Fish: cod was very delicate soft with a richer sauce mixed with mashed potatoes and few slices of abalone. Just ok for me. 3.25 stars - Rhum cake: tender and nice fresh fruit but rum was overpowering. 3 stars - Fazoletti: pasta was too al dente for me, saucy bit too rich with blue cheese, and I'm not a mussel person. I liked the crunch on top though. 2.5 stars Lowlights: - For non seafood meat eaters there's more limited selections for first 2 courses and they offer vegetarian options as replacements -- which are also heavy on mushrooms for those who don't care for those - Steak supplement at $95 was a bit steep - Menu rotates so you don't know what will be on it when booking which is harder for those with limited tastes read more

Great experience! We dropped by here for our anniversary dinner with a reservation with our pup! Service was amazing - really great host. The food was also really good! Glad we got around to trying this while we were in town. The dinner took around 2.5 hours total! read more

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Amazing dinner experience - I can easily see why Chez Noir has a Michelin star; the food is delicately and beautifully prepared, staff is lovely, and the indoor and outdoor seating is cozy and not overly pretentious. They offer a 4-course tasting menu but with options for add-ons (extra appetizer, cheese supplement) or upgrade the 3rd course to wagyu. Thoughts on the courses: - Amuse-bouche: 1) tuna tartlet: light and refreshing, flavor explosion in your mouth 2) grilled abalone: tender and delicious with the lemon - 1st Course: my favorite of the savory courses; I had the cauliflower salad - the sauces were creamy and nutty and went well with the saltiness of the anchovies and freshness of the cauliflower. My husband had the halibut carpaccio which was light and had a kick of spice to go with some of acidity. - Bread with a head (I think that's what they called it) which came with the creamiest freshly made butter - my husband thinks this is the best bread he has ever had - 2nd Course: Zucchini tortelli dish - good but my least favorite of the courses - 3rd Course: I had the black cod which was smoky yet light and perfectly cooked. My husband opted for the wagyu upgrade which came with foie gras - the steak was cooked perfectly and the fattiness of the foie gras added a richness the dish. - Dessert: I loved the peach melba - light and summery way to end the meal. If you're a fan of rum cake with a strong rum flavor, you'll enjoy the baba au rhum. Lovely dining experience with chocolate chip cookies to go and we enjoyed them the next day. I would definitely go back for a special occasion if we're ever in the area again. read more

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Amazing experience at this michellin star restaurant. The ambiance was perfect and intimate. The food was all tasty and seafood themed Servers were always checking up on us and super attentive. I would love to come again in the future to try different rotating items. read more

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If you're feeling fancy, this place is worth the dollars when in Carmel. Pro tip: make reservations early. When you enter... beautiful yet cozy space, kind and happy staff. You're provided with a prix fix menu with some minor options to select to customize your experience. Everything top to bottom was delicious. Then as of you didn't already have a wonderful dinner, they give you a delicious cookie to take home so you can drool over and reminisce the sumptuous dinner the next day. (I'm picky with my cookies; it needs to be high quality chocolate and perfect texture a bit crispy edges with a moist inside and yup .. that's what you get .) read more

WE LOVED OUR FIRST CHEZ NOIR EXPERIENCE!!!! And we would definitely go back again. We were visiting Carmel for our honeymoon and had read that Chez Noir would be a special experience. Bottom line - We had the best time and we ate everything!!!! I can't tell you the last time I have eaten every morsel during a dining experience. We went hungry and I am so glad for that!! In short, we loved the entire experience - the food was delicious and creative. We felt welcome and treated like treasured guests. :) Everyone was extremely hospitable and personable. It was only until the end of the meal that we realized our main server was Monique, one of the owners. She was helpful in answering questions and making recommendations. Summary of the experience: Atmosphere - lovely and warm. Food - plentiful, full of flavor, delicious and completely worth the price. Anyone who says it's not worth the price just has another perspective on what they think things should cost, which is fine, but we totally thought the food was amazing and a great value for the price. We were stuffed when we left! Service - friendly, warm, helpful and thoughtful. Specifics: The amuse bouche - abalone skewers and some kind of crudo on toast - delish! They served yummy bread and butter - nice and hot and so fresh. We ordered grilled oysters (Two in an order) - yummy! We both had red wine and they offered us tastes so we could try before committing. The gnocchi were exquisite and melt in your mouth wonderful, light and fluffy - the cream adding extra deliciousness and the crispy kale on top was so enjoyable. The rabbit pate was both plentiful and tasty with the accompanying carrot salad so flavorful. The artichoke and squid salad was light and zesty. The skate Milanese (fish) was unlike anything we had enjoyed before and while fried, it was incredibly good. The quail was the perfect amount of food - succulent and sweet with the addd ham On top and the bouillon poured over top giving it an added salty deliciousness. The accompanying greens and shallots were both tasty additions. The chocolate tart was awesome! The sorbet float was so refreshing and we just loved the beautiful presentation and how it was served. The canales (with candle) were the cherry on top to our special celebration AND the cookies they sent us home with show the level of detail they pay to ensure their guests feel great about their entire experience. We definitely left smiling. Finally, we realized we lost our room key and reached out to the restaurant the next day. The other owner Jonny called us as soon as they received our message and reached out by Phone and text to let us know we indeed left it there and offered to bring it to us!!! Seriously, that's great service and kindness right there. We encourage everyone to go and enjoy a special night at Chez Noir. We were very impressed and hope to come back and be wowed again on a future trip. read more

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While I had no complaints about the food and wine pairing, I wasn't completely blown away by anything either. We had a late reservation (8:30) and it seemed to take an inordinately long time to get the menu and to take our order - and since it's a pre fixe, you're not really left with that many options! We were pretty starving and a little hangry by the time we started eating. I also wish we weren't so close to the table next to us. One of my pet peeves is when other people are too close and you can hear their conversation without even trying, and then you have to make an active effort to not listen to them. It also wasn't like all the tables were spaced evenly apart - some had a reasonable amount of space between (like between our table and the one on my left was fine). Finally, i wasn't sure when the bread/popover was supposed to come out as the couple next to us got theirs before we got ours even though we were a couple courses ahead. A heads up that maybe it was baking or on the way would have been nice, as we felt like we had been overlooked or forgotten since we did get a butter knife twenty minutes before the bread and butter actually arrived. Anyway, I was slightly disappointed with all these aspects but that's being nitpicky since you could tell a lot of care went into all of the food and it was all good. I also did enjoy the wine pairing and the descriptions provided were quite nice. I won't be forgetting "barnyard" flavor soon! read more

First time visiting this cute little Michelin restaurant & we had a wonderful experience. There are limited indoor & outdoor seating, make sure you make reservations. The food was delicious, beautifully presented, a work of art. The staff were friendly & very attentive. We enjoyed everything we ordered, all the appetizers were fantastic. We got the pole bean frites (lightly fried green beans), salmon crudo (refreshing with great flavor) & corn triangoli (loved the sweet sauce). My husband enjoyed the rockfish, I got the lamb paloise which was a little too salty for me but still good. The desserts were also delicious, we got the peach sorbet & the Millie-feuille. They gifted us another small dessert for our anniversary and two cookies to-go. This restaurant opened 3 yrs ago and they change their menu every 6 weeks. We will definitely return the next time we're in the area. read more

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The service and food quality is definitely 5/5. The restaurant itself is very intimate and charming. They have a rotating menu, one we did not look at prior to our visit and wish we had. They had a variety of flavors and options, but nothing really appealed to us this time. We booked the restaurant based on an older menu, so this mistake was all on us. You will not leave this meal hungry, their portion sizes were very filling, I couldn't finish my dishes! Our waitress was kind enough to offer making me anything else, but I was truly so full my stomach isn't used to French cuisine. Their drink menu was also very creative, I enjoyed my pear old fashioned! read more

Food: 5 Decor: 4 Service: 5 Came here for brunch after booking a few days prior. Overall a great 1 Michelin star meal and would definitely come back again. Abalone skewer amuse bouche 5/5. Great start to the meal and tasty first bites. Washington king salmon crudo Nasturtium, schoch dairy yogurt, haricot vert 5/5. Excellent balance of king salmon with other ingredients. Brentwood corn triangoli Incontro Nduja, garlic scape, scallion 4/5. Tasty corn pasta. Vermilion rockfish a la provencale Fennel confit, petit zucchini, morel 4/5. Rockfish was cooked well, but the quail was better. Grilled wolfe range quail Minnazzoli farm fig, spanish peppers, porcini mushroom 5/5. Very well cooked crispy quail balanced with fig and veggies. Kashiwase farms peach sorbet 4/5. Very tasty sorbet palate cleanser with raspberries and some shaved ice. Mille-feuille 4/5. Pretty presentation with rhubarb, strawberries, and flaky pastry crust. $165 per person Service was good. read more

I had really really high expectations for this place due to the Michelin star. Service was absolutely excellent. Nice dim ambiance. But I'm not crazy about the food. The dishes were pretty as expected from a fine dinning place. And you can tell that they spent a lot of time and effort creating each dish. But I would never dine here again. There were no dishes that I loved. The bread was salty. My salad was too bitter. The custard on the dessert was not good. The best item was the amuse bouche which was abalone skewers. Price was 150 per person for the coursed meal. A 20% gratuity is required and added to your check. read more

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Came here for an anniversary dinner and it was such an amazing experience. All of the food was perfectly curated -- the brioche was maybe the best I've ever had. Absolutely top notch service (everyone was very friendly) in a romantic setting. I loved the open kitchen window. $165 for the pre-fix was worth it -- and portions were great -- I left so full. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a leisure paced high quality experience. read more

Chez Noir - Seafood Near Me - Carmel, California

Cozy is Chef Jonny and his wife, Monique's Chez Noir. Fabulous service with attention to the smallest detail. Memorable scrumptious courses with each visit. From a la carte to now tasting menu. Over the two years since its opening, I carry sweet dreams of their oysters, brioche, monterey bay abalone skewers, agnolotti, grilled rose veal loin, chocolate sabayon tart, and, caneles! CHEERS! read more

Chez Noir is a must when in Carmel. The quaint, upscale vibe is exactly the atmosphere that makes you feel like you are in an exclusive, yet very warm and welcoming spot. We sat in the bar area and had drinks and appetizers - the best way to start the night. The sugar snap vesper was very unique, a really fun cocktail. I had always wanted to try abalone, and was excited when they had a unique spin on it here - it was delicious. The bartender was very nice and welcoming, offering suggestions that didn't fail to impress. I would absolutely come back here! read more

Chez Noir - Cocktails were great! - Seafood Near Me - Carmel, California

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Very underwhelming to say the least. This was our 11th Michelin one-star experience and we would solidly put it in the bottom tier. Food: We started the night with the amuse bouche, which was probably the highlight of the evening. The fish tasted fresh and the bread underneath was crispy. For our first course we went with the carpaccio and the pork/duck pate en croute. It was my first time having pate en croute and I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. We went with a pear/walnut pasta and the sea urchin tagliatelle for the second course. My wife didn't enjoy the pear pasta, thought it was too sweet. For me, the sea urchin tagliatelle was wayyyy too sour - the lemon was overpowering. The uni balanced it out okay but there was only two measly pieces of uni so you'd have two bites of uni and like ten bites of sour pasta. Then for the third course, my wife went with the cod and I went with the veal. The veal was okay but not memorable and not something I felt was worth the additional supplement for. Finally brings us to the dessert, which was very disappointing. Not sure if it was just a bad batch but the apple tarte tatin had a strong bitter taste. I don't think we were the only ones to notice this as we noticed the lady at a table next to us also reacted poorly to her first bite of the tarte tatin as well and didn't finish it. The yogurt sorbet was rather bland and also forgettable. Service: We wish we could say the service made up for it, but that wasn't the case either. When we made the reservation, we put down that it was my wife's birthday (it was), but there was no acknowledgement on arrival, and they even asked us if we were celebrating something when we got seated. We again mentioned it was her birthday but nothing came out of that and no further acknowledgement the rest of the night. They don't take your coat at the door, unlike other fine dining restaurants and because some of the tables like ours have only bench seating, your coat is just left awkwardly on the bench. I took a look around the restaurant and every table had coats left on the bench or on the back of guests' chairs - very messy and unlike the other places we've been to. Our waiter was very casual both in demeanor and attire. When we made a comment about the bitter dessert, the staff member didn't really acknowledge it or at least even tell us he'd let the kitchen know. It was just brushed off. All-in-all, we were rather disappointed and wouldn't come back, or recommend it. It would be forgettable as a regular restaurant, but as a one Michelin star, it was memorable for the wrong reasons. read more

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Aces all around! Ambiance (superb music selection), friendly service without the uppity attitude we've come to assume of some places, excellent wine choices and of course the food! We came for a special treat to celebrate our birthdays and left feeling so happy to have chosen Chez Noir! We brought our four legged baby with us and they were beyond accommodating; the food from beginning to end was exceptional! If you're familiar with Remy from that Pixar film, we had that moment of utter bliss for our taste buds when savoring the abalone skewers and especially when pairing their brioche with the duck liver and the halibut - out of this world good! A few things to note though; the restaurant states on its website that there isn't a phone number to call (I found a bit odd) but alas you're given the option to email so we did. Only concern was we never heard back regarding our worries (we wanted to make sure we had enough space for our pup) It all worked out in the end but I think a phone # to call would be the better option or at minimum an automated email response (which I can only hope they're working to resolve) Impeccable service must be noted! From beginning to end, hostess/front of house/wait staff/etc. ALL GREAT! We notified the restaurant we were celebrating our birthdays (and they wished us happy birthday when we arrived) and it serendipitously was the restaurant's "birthday" as well along with one of the owners birthdays too! To commemorate their birthday they offered champagne from a huge bottle! An indication for us that they don't take themselves too serious and a silliness in the air that made the experience more enjoyable and cheerful! We wish to come back and check out their dining room/bar area for a more casual visit without our four legged baby - the coziness and warmth from the decor indoors reminded us of one of our favorite bistros in Paris - so we definitely hope to visit again on of our trips to Carmel. read more

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In 2013, my wife and I ate for the 1st time at Casanova just down the road from Chez. I fondly remember the starter being Escargot in bone marrow and drool just picturing it in my head. The same year I ate my 1st lamb shank at Dametra which simply falls off the bone with a wave of the fork and is accompanied by a naughty and delicious potato gratin. Last year, Passion fish where my wife still cant stop talking about the savory rice pudding and my mic drop moment in 2016 with the Flying fish and their Black Alaskan Cod. Yum.... Last night I had the honor to be invited to join two associates to dine at Chez Noir. On returning home, my wife asked me how the meal was and what I ate, to which I replied.. 'Let me pull the menu up as I cant really remember' (and no I had 1 glass of wine) I woke this morning hungry and thinking about my response to her question last night thus the tone of this review ! I love great food and this certainly delivered. However, if I drop big coin on a restaurant, I really want something to surprise me, to stick in my mind and with my response last night that sadly says it all. I started with the Tuna Curd, followed by Eggplant Agnolotti, main was Halibut and dessert the Sabayon Tart. The food was really good, the staff were on point and super. The place is buzzing and vibrant and perhaps a little more relaxed than I expected based on the buzz. But with all this, there wasn't a component on any of my chosen dishes that stood out for me to make a snap remark to my wife les than 30 mins from leaving the restaurant. If I think hard, I would say the highlight would be an amuse bouche offered at the start which was Monterey Bay albacore skewer ! Anyhow, Salute to Chez Noir for finding a winning formula. I have no doubt that the owners will adapt as the initial euphoria settles and the wannabe posers drift back into obscurity that it thrives offering a landmark local eatery. read more

Chez Noir - Seafood Near Me - Carmel, California

The very best restaurant in Carmel-by-the-sea!!! The ambience is charming and relax typical of a California beach town. The service is attentive as one would expect at a Michelin-starred restaurant, with extra friendly warmth and touch. The cocktails are well balanced (I had a green Negroni). Each course of the omakase menu is unique and sublimely crafted, on par with what we had from a 2-star or 3-star Michelin. We did not ordered wine-pairing instead had two glasses of Txakoli from Basque Country that instantly transport us back to San Sebastián. By the way there is a large parking lot next to the restaurant that one can park for free after 5pm. read more

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Still great. Kitchen slowed down to the point of an inquest at one stage, and I found a surprise sliver of aluminum in a dish, but: 1. The sugar snap vesper is terrific. Just unbelievably good. They kindly made us a booze-free spin on it that was also astonishingly good. 2. Service continues to be outstanding. Lovely people doing good work. 3. The food is still fabulous. The hen egg raviolo was superb. The lamb and the tenderloin equally so. Final note: what a lovely menu design. Really striking. read more

Chez Noir - Seafood Near Me - Carmel, California

Good-excellent service cozy environment pleasant people Bad-mediocre food super expensive $250+ per person read more

Excellent food, and service. Prix fixe menu gives you good value. Highly recommend for a special meal.

We gave Chez Noir another try last night for a corrective experience (following a not so impressive 1st experience several months ago). Overall, we had a very good fine dining experience. The attention to service detail this time was outstanding and on point. We were welcomed back by practically all the front of house staff, and even Owner Chef Jonny Black himself stopped by. The menu (which is very seasonal and changes frequently) comprises mainly of a 4 course $150 Prix Fixe selection with optional upgrades (e.g. 3rd course steak upgrade was +$75, wine pairing +$85) and add-ons. This week's menu was a lot more interesting and appealing to our palate this visit, including their addition of several optional add on starters like Fried Delicata Squash and Oysters. Soon after being seated and placing our order, we were presented with an Amuse Bouche of their signature Grilled Abalone Skewer and a Grilled Octopus Skewer -- lovely treats to start off. Here's what else we had last night... * Optional Add On: Delicata Squash Frito Misto -- Battered and fried Delicata Squash Rings with Meyer lemon and honey. Nice starter, although some pieces with thicker batter had a somewhat mushy texture. * 1st Course: Dungeness Crab Salad -- Beautifully done. Fresh crab meat tossed with a celeriac slaw, topped with chunks of claw meat, organic greens and a touch of dill. Perfectly lightly seasoned to accentuate the fresh, sweet and tasty crab. * Signature Brioche Bun with butter to accompany the 1st Course. * 2nd Course: Fines Herbes Fazzoletti -- A delightful bicolor large square pasta with fresh mussels in a blue cheese sauce. I really liked the al dente pasta and fresh mussels, but I found the sauce a bit too salty. * 3rd Course (Diner#1): Skate Wing Grenobloise -- A grilled skate (fish) wing served with a meunière-style lemon sauce and croutons, garnished with nasturtium and grilled cauliflower. The skate wing was unique, fresh and tasty, and I enjoyed the grilled cauliflower. However, we felt this dish was let down by the sauce that was much too salty. * 3rd Course (Diner#2): Ribeye with Abalone (+$75 upgrade) -- The petite (6oz?) ribeye was delicious, cooked to a perfect medium plus as we had requested. The abalone topper was also very good, similar to scallop in taste but slightly firmer in texture. * Palate Cleanser: Orange Sorbet with Champagne -- What a fun and creative palate cleanser to wind down our meal. * Dessert (Diner#1): Persimmon Sticky Toffee Pudding with Sheep's Milk Yogurt Sorbet -- This was nice if you like pudding, sorbet was a good complement, but overall too sweet for my taste. * Dessert (Diner#2): Mont Blanc -- A coffee semifreddo, chestnut base, and candied citrus garnish. This was absolutely delicious. Best dessert we've had here. We had just had a wine tasting before dinner, so only ordered a glass of wine with dinner. They do have a full wine menu, as well as a drinks menu for wines and cocktail by the glass. Overall, it was a wonderful experience for elevated fine dining, excellent service, small intimate dining room ambience, and inventive fresh cuisine. However, I was surprised that a couple of dishes were served with oversalted sauces... seems like a detail that could be more easily quality controlled. Do expect to splurge at least $200+ per head, including an automatic 20% service charge regardless of party size. I do applaud the passion of the Owner husband-and-wife team Chef Jonny Black and Monique Black, and have no doubt they will continue to perfect their dining offering. I have seen significant improvements based on feedback since our last visit. Good for a special occasion pampering, but likely not a regular dining destination for us. read more

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There really isn't much more that I can say that hasn't already been said. Chez Noir was my preferred dining choice for my birthday. We made reservations weeks in advance. Highly recommend this as the venue is quite cozy. Inside is dimly lit and romantic, but also bustling and can be atad noisy. Outside was a little more peaceful and dog friendly, but of course the weather can be sometimes misty, wet and cold. For that, I'm glad we opted for inside. I spotted a corner booth when we entered and was secretly hoping we would be seated there. Anyone else scope out seats like that, or just me? As luck would have it, we were seated there! The menu at Chez Noir updates regularly, so there's very little point in rehashing my entire meal. Except to say that it was uniquely presented and entertaining to the senses. Yes, it was a little heavy on the seafood, but this close to the Pacific, what do you expect? We both opted for cocktails instead of wine. Every cocktail was superb and potent! Chez Noir was a lovely choice, and would definitely recommend as a destination restaurant. read more

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This place has one Michelin star, which I thought didn't quite live up to it... let me explain. The food actually started out amazing but once it got to the main plate, I felt like the taste did not compliment well, especially the fish plate. The pasta was super delicious and the bread and butter too. Salad was surprisingly good as well. We were also able to see the chefs organizing each plates delicately, however... what ruined the experience for me was that I saw the lady who was putting together one of the desserts (chocolate one) and licked her fingers, then proceeded to touch that same dessert with her fingers! I mentioned this to my group and it was actually witnessed a second time.... Beware of this. Hopefully the restaurant will make sure their employees do not do this again. Overall this place had a beautiful ambience, very intimate and romantic feeling, perfect for a date in Carmel. read more

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