The food was decent. We had the fig flat bread and roasted garlic appetizer. The patio seating was in the dirt in small uncomfortable bistro chairs. The server was nice enough but not much else. We were anxious to leave. read more

My fiancé and I had made our first ever visit to Carmel. We landed in to Monterey Airport and immediately started looking for local places for lunch. We stumbled on Corkscrew Cafe and we couldn't have chosen a better place! It is very quaint and perfect after a long morning of travel! The pizza was delicious, the wine was great, and the service was impeccable! The staff went ABOVE AND BEYOND to make sure our experience was great. The manager even ended up driving us to our next destination when we were unable to order an Uber. This place is beyond 5 stars read more

I have to schedule rides in advance and am running behind on work so I really should not have come because I might miss a deadline. So today is a forbidden pleasure day as I decided to sneak out.... couldn't decide between the beer salad, which looks delicious and is healthy or the pastrami sandwich. I like be cured meat but don't eat them because they aren't healthy. Apparently my conscience is zapped because I just went for it, and whoa am I glad. I started with a plate of pickled vegetables, which is new on the menu. Pickles are good for you, and this dish has a variety of veggies. Not all of them are pickled together, so there's a variety of that sour factor, but nothing was overwhelmingly sour. I'd order it again and I'm glad they have a healthy appetizer on their gluten-heavy menu. But onto the sandwich. It is just so perfectly delicious! It's well presented on a cute cutting board but you quickly discover that you need the board because you need to cut the sandwich to eat it and once you cut it, the yolk comes drizzling out. One reason I hesitated to order this 'which is because of the size. I'm miniature and it's hard for me to do anything too big. But the sandwich is so well-constructed that it's easy to devour it, thanks to the homemade brioche bun, which is rye but not sliced rye. The bread is soft and only has a hint of the rye flavor of traditional rye bread. It's made in house so is a little reminiscent of the Corkscrew of old (no in house baker here anymore). Over easy eggs are a great comfort food for me, it was one of the few foods I could still have on my elimination diet so of course I loved the way it made this sandwich pop with the texture it created. I mean, if the Corkscrew would have a brunch dish with an over easy egg, I'd be here all the time. But I haven't even gotten to the best part. I like pastrami but today's is out of this world. It's definitely house-cured. Fat trimmed. Tender. Flavorful. The only missing was a mustard and the server just happened to plop down a dish of condiments, which included a Dijon mustard that was not too putrid, but mild enough for me and added just the right amount of tart to the pastrami to make this lunch a masterpiece with no exaggeration. None of my regular servers were here so timing was off but what a great diversion and totally worth cheating today. I'm afraid it might be the last time I try this because it's important for me to stick to gluten free for my health but I'm glad Corkscrew made my binge noteworthy. Maize dessert was interesting. A corn sorbet sprinkled with cornbread crumbs and caramel. read more

Excellent food and service every time we come here. This time we had the pastrami sandwich which comes with a huge helping of house-made french fries. The sandwich is on a house-made bun and included and egg (or two) in between layers of pastrami. The pastrami tasted fresh and house-made and was delicious. The only thing really keeping me from five stars on this review is the pricing...compared to similar restaurants in Carmel Valley, the prices are a bit steep. However, that isn't a reason to avoid Corkscrew at all...we just probably would go more often if the prices were a bit lower. read more

Corkscrew Cafe - Belgian beer served with gouda and celery salt. - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

We seriously CANNOT get enough of this place. After going here for a friend's birthday party, my husband and I have been mesmerized by the craft and quality of their pizza--we have been so enamored with the joint that we even drove all the way back there the following weekend (from San Jose) just to experience their spicy sausage and magical Meyer lemon pizza. Their artisan salads are bang-a-rang (out of this world!), their crust is to die for, and their customer service is wonderful. We absolutely can't wait for the next time we can make it out there for another spectacular evening of delectable salads and gourmet pizza with an addictive lemon twist! read more

We LOVE Corkscrew Cafe! The food is incredible, and the setting is charming! We have always had excellent service! We always suggest Corkscrew to new friends! read more

Has COVID-19 killed customer service? Message: Fish tacos/ cannot taste fish, cabbage( bitter) and way too much HOT jalapeños. Friends order (salad) no bread. She had to purchase bread. Below is management's response to my comment: "Bread has not been served with a salad since the 70s I you taste fish it mean it's old If it's to season hot for you don't order Mexican food. Cabbage is bitter  by nature. The Corkscew is definitely not for you. Walter Georis Owner" read more

We went here for lunch. Fantastic pizza with solid service and a concise menu. We shared the Meyer lemon arugula pizza which paired perfectly the Georgis Sauvignon Blanc. My honey got a beer out the door at $56 including an 8$ tip. read more

Meyer lemon pizza $17 Hamburger $15 with fries- salty fries, Hamburger was juicy but we asked for medium rare and it came out more medium. Brioche bun was good. Outdoor seating for dog Nice friendly staff Sad that bread was not provided Next time would consider going next door to the wine place (same owners) and ordering pizza there! 3.5 stars Will round up because they care enough to leave a comment and address my concerns. read more

Oh dear...we had such a shabby lunch! Overpriced, mediocre sandwiches, pre-made dessert, meh.. I'm local and this was not what I had in mind when I invited my senior friend for a holiday lunch. Sorry to see our favorite places get overworked.. read more

Formerly a good option for casual dining with charming atmosphere, unfortunately Corkscrew is currently poorly managed, over priced and offers sub standard fare. The ambience remains but nearby Rustica Cafe blows Corkscrew away in all categories. Suggest skipping Corkscrew. read more

I've been coming here for 10 years and this meal was less than mediocre. The mushroom truffle pizza was flavorless. Low quality ingredients. The fish tacos were made with fish "nuggets". The goat cheese appetizer...the garlic was so hard & dry you had to pry out the garlic. The quality has gone down at this place, which is very sad. Now with that being said....our waitress Jessica was AMAZING. She's the only reason this isn't a 1 star review. read more

A came for dinner on Oct 3rd to celebrate my husbands Birthday & our Anniversary. The food & service was very good. Just need to improve on the wine list. read more

Where do I start? Their prices are beyond laughable. $5 for an 8oz Diet Coke, and it goes up from there. The pizza was Little Caesar's quality and almost $20 for an individual size, there is no service because you order A la carte. This place portrays themselves as a French restaurant and all of the employees are continually talking (loudly) and laughing loudly in Spanish. One of the worst and overpriced restaurants in Carmel Valley. read more

We came here for dinner on a Saturday late afternoon. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor areas, so given nice weather that day, we sat outside. We ordered a few pizza's: mushroom, lemon/prosciutto and lamb. They were alright, but quite a bit overpriced for the size and taste. On the other hand, having lived in New York for a long time, I am a bit spoiled when it comes to pizza. A decent stop if you are coming from the wineries - only 8 minutes walking distance! read more

We have come here, several times, for the Happy Hour Pizza's at half off. Nooooooooooo! As of yesterday, that has been discontinued. Because it was my birthday dinner, and we had our dog, we were seated at the dog patio (small and not quite as nice as the "other patio. I love their Pear & Gorgonzola Salad with Toasted hazelnuts. It's pricey at $16 but it's glorious! I always get the Meyer Lemon Pizza with Prosciutto and arugula. Yummy! For dessert... I have to get a slice of that lemon pie with a billowy marshmallow meringue topping! Divine! I absolutely must find a way to replicate that pie-- and if I had one criticism it would be that the crust is a bit tough and over baked. I only say this, because I have mastered the art of perfect and flaky pie crusts. Still, it's so good! One beer, one pizza (for two), one gorgeous salad and one slice of dessert $52.00 Totally worth it. read more

See all

Six of us went to Corkscrew for lunch on a Saturday. We had reservations and were seated promptly -- and then completely ignored for 20 minutes until we waved down a waitress. We ordered food and wine -- and waited another 20 minutes before the drinks showed up. It was another 25 minutes (more than an hour since we sat down) and no food appeared. We again complained, at which point the food quickly started appearing. One of the pizzas though was barely cooked with a soggy crust and refrigerator cold mozzarella balls sitting on top. Clearly they had pulled it out before it was done just because they realized we were unhappy. The restaurant is in a great location, right by the tasting rooms in Carmel Valley. The menu is varied and looks good. Unfortunately the experience was totally spoiled by the extremely poor service. read more

Amazing pizza, fresh food, great wine from their sister winery across the street, beautiful patio, lots of outdoor seating in their beautiful garden! read more

See all

Small informal clean place. You order at the entrance and go find a table in the garden . Pepperoni pizza was 4 stars ( not too greasy ) well cooked . Pear salad with Gorgonzola and honey was delicious , fresh and savory . People are friendly and proactive on COVID protection . A right stop before going to the winery for serious wine testing ( cheese and meat at the winery take you away from the wine ) read more

Only great things to say about this gem! Food is always good, service friendly and the atmosphere rustic and peaceful. The Winery, Georis is across the street. Have not had anything off the menu that wasn't tasty. Best: poached pear salad, pizza, cheese board and breads, burger, fish tacos...really everything. Absolutely worth the trip. read more

Only went once ... it's was great ... the outside dining is quaint and beautiful.. the pizza is amazing .. the burrata salad was delicious ... good service .. read more

No service anymore. Order at counter then dirty plates not cleared as finished. Order pulled pork sandwich...very little pork...and burnt. Pizza ordered had very little prosciutto..,prices have increased as well. Disappointed with cowgirl Rosė. Tipped when paying ahead so can't do anything about the bad service. Won't be back. Used to be a go to in the valley. read more

Great takeout options for a vacationing family - the Smash Burger fed two kids amply, the crispy fish tacos were spicy and flavorful, the Pear Salad was superb, and the mushroom pizza was a truffle-infused joy. Very friendly staff had the food ready quickly, and the prices are fair. Highly recommended - can only imagine how it would be if we'd been up for dining out! read more

The food was really good. Cute patio. Took a star off for the service our waiter was a bit condescending and rude.

Amazing atmosphere outside. Feels like south of France. Great lunch spot for wood fired pizzas and salads

Just enjoyed a wonderful post-hike lunch (after a nice trek through Garland Ranch) at Corkscrew Cafe this afternoon. What a fantastic place! I love the rustic decor with Old Monterey influences. Amongst the large outdoor patios, you will find colorful luscious gardens, fountains, brick walkways, vintage bicycles, wheel barrow planters, bright-colored bistro tables and a couple of world-class wine tasting rooms (adjacent to Georis and Talbott Tasting Rooms & Gardens). Fresh herbs and vegetables come straight from Corkscrew's fruitful tended gardens. With only a lone Luna Bar in my system (and it was around 3:30) I needed some fuel replenishing and a little protein pick-me-up after a day spent hiking around Garland Ranch. I decided to go with the Croque Monsieur (grilled French ham and gruyere cheese on house-made sourdough bread topped with more melted cheese). It was the ultimate ham-and-cheese sandwich. The sweet and nutty taste of the gruyere cheese combined with the smokiness from the ham and creaminess from the sauce and the crunchiness from the bread totally hit the spot for me. It was perfect for a mid-day lunch treat. My friend had the Snakes River Wagyu Cheeseburger (your choice of gruyere or Vermont cheddar cheese) on a house-made bun with a side salad medley. It was very delish - we both agreed! Great flavor packed into one thick and juicy patti. Enjoy some wonderful eclectic fare, excellent service and fine wines underneath the flowering vines and energizing sunshine at Corkscrew Cafe in the heart of Carmel Valley. read more

See all

We had a good meal at Corkscrew. The place looked cute when we passed by, so we gave it a try and I'm glad that we did. The restaurant itself is kind of a rustic little cottage. I found it cute and we were able to choose our own table. Our waitress was very friendly and gave us time to peruse the menus. We had a few starter, the crab cakes and the pear salad. The crab cakes were good, though a bit heavy fried. The salad was excellent, half a blue cheese caramelized pear, toasted hazelnuts, baby greens and a honey vinaigrette. My better half had the heirloom tomato pizza, with olives and roasted garlic. Her brick oven fired za was much to her liking. It was tasty with olives, roasted garlic and goat cheese. I went with the shrimp rellenos. I figured that a seemingly out of place option would be good, and I was spot on with that call. Shrimp chile relleno with black beans, greens and a good mole sauce. I devoured it. read more

Amazing value for the Groupon My boyfriend and I enjoyed the pizza, an appatizer, pork belly sliders, dessert​(salted caramel gelato) and local wine. Our server was so helpful and service oriented- a petite brunette who had great knowledge of the menu. We will dine here again! read more

Corkscrew Cafe - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

Excellent for pizza. A bit off the beaten track in Carmel Valley Village. I heard they had some issues managing through the pandemic though, but last time I was there it was actually quite enjoyable. Looking forward to spending more time at their adjacent coffeehouse, which opened about a year ago. read more

If you are in Carmel Valley, this is a great place to checkout. Corkscrew Cafe has some great wines, and some very unique, but delicious, items on the menu. We ordered several apps, including salads, and a few flatbreads. We enjoyed the Meyers Lemon flatbread the most. I know...sounds a little strange, but I would highly recommend giving it a shot. If back in Carmel Valley, I will definitely stop by, the staff are also extremely and friendly. They recommended getting dessert, and we did, and I don't regret it at all! read more

Best mushroom pizza I've ever had. Soo good! The fish tacos were great too. I wish they had a few more dessert options, but the strawberry rhubarb pie was a subtle finish to the meal. My only complaint was the loud music. The reggae music did not go with the vibe of the restaurant at all, and was much too loud. We were waiting for a waiter to walk by so we could ask that the volume be lowered, but somebody else must have complained, because the volume was turned way down before we could ask. I will return. I will have the mushroom pizza again! read more

Thanks to other Yelpers, we stopped here while cruising through the valley. It was an odd time of day for a meal but we were starving, so the agreeable waitstaff and prompt service were welcome. The kitchen was closed, so we were resigned to pizzas, but we literally inhaled the warm and crispy mushroom topped pie when it arrived. I felt like Goldilocks, the pie was the perfect size, not too little, not too big, for two people to share. It was not overdone with cheese, but just the right amount of fresh toppings. The side salad was fresh and crispy. The garden is delightful, with outdoor rooms made of tables and interwoven lighting on a gravel patio. The sun filtered in through the trees, the foutnain tinkled away, and the food restored us for the long trip south. read more

This restaurant was one of the best cafes I've ever been too. If you want to get away from the summer fog along Carmel's cost, head up to Carmel valley, do some wine tasting and eat here. Great cheese board, amazing pizza and good salads. Great garden as well making it kid friendly. read more

Favorite lunch spot in Carmel, hands down, no question! Please see @trailofgold for additional food reviews and pictures! The pizza here is incredible, wood-fire, hand made with farm fresh ingredients, I don't drink but I'm told the wine selection is fantastic. If you're in Carmel, go here read more

Corkscrew Cafe - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

See all

We came here for dinner on a impromptu road trip to Carmel...first off - let me say it was easy (comparatively) to get a reservation and the restaurant itself is adorable with lots of outside seating. It was an old home converted into a restaurant - so lots of little "rooms" And a big pizza oven when you walk in. We had a little room practically to ourselves. A bottle of wine was ordered - the Cowgirl Pinot Noir - The winery is apparently right down the street. It was $50 and about the least expensive bottle on the menu. We spilt the spring salad which was really an incredible "ode to spring" with lots of fresh peas and mint and hard boiled quail eggs (so cute!). I am not usually a salad fan - but this one was just perfect - I suppose a complaint would be I would have liked more of it so would have liked it bigger for the price. Then we ordered the lemon & arugula pizza to split, and the short rib to split. We did not specify - but I would have preferred the pizza as the next course - then the short rib. The short rib was the disappointment of the night- not bad really - just could have been warmer. It was a large piece and tender, with very little in the way of sides (a few pieces of roasted patty pan squash and a smidge of cauliflower puree). The pizza was very interesting and I really liked it - I did request "well done" and that was not necessarily accommodated. For dessert we split the coconut cream pie, we both agreed that the crust was too chewy and not flakey enough, but thoroughly enjoyed the filling. The service was pretty good, there was a table near us that was a large party and very needy- so I think our server had his hands full there. The bill was $100 - we both agreed was a fine deal (not a steal, but good value). I would return. read more

Great food, great ambiance & fun local spot. Always a favorite. Their new elote pizza & their onion rings make it impossible for me to stick to my diet but that is another story! read more

This has been a favorite of mine for many years. We went back today after a wonderful, sunny drive down from Los Gatos. The restaurant is as it always has been; a visual and gustatorial delight reminiscent of a garden in Provence. Sitting in the garden outside in the shade of a large tree we shared the cheese platter as an appetizer which was accompanied by some wonderful figs that had been brazed with balsamic. The cheese and toasts were wonderful, but the figs stole the show. They were so good, we asked the waitress how they were prepared. After explaining the preparation, she offered to send us home with more at a very moderate price. They are wonderful! The appetizer was followed by both of us enjoying the sole with small new potatoes and a very mild and rich white wine and cream sauce. The sole was perfectly crisp on the outside and completely boneless. We washed all this down with a reasonably priced Louis Latour Pouilly-Fuissé. I love this restaurant. The only recommendation I could make would be to improve the seats - they are very, very uncomfortable. read more

Corkscrew Cafe - The garden - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

See all

Ambiance is super cute. It has a very rustic feel and plenty of outside seating. Not sure that the colorful paper decorations go with the overall decor, but overall I appreciate the effort and attention to detail. The service is on key, our girl was very attentive, quick and friendly. Everyone smiled as we walked by. Now to the most important part-the food. We've been to Cafe Rustica twice and wanted to come here to compare. The oven pizza was tasty, although it was slightly burned. Overload of mushrooms made it tasty. My burger was excellent. The additional egg and bacon was icing on the cake-a must. The fish tacos lacked a sauce on the cold slaw, needed a bit more flavor to bring it all together. Not sure about using a flour tortilla for fish tacos though... The salmon dish was smaller portioned, the presentation made up for it, I suppose. In short, you won't be disappointed if you go here. However, if you're debating between here and Cafe Rustica, I'd definitely go across the street. read more

See all

The food is fabulous as is the waitstaff so why the bad review, in a word the prices. We had 2 salads, 2 pizza's and 2 beers for $140.00. Go ahead and gouge the tourists but maybe give the locals a discount. We won't be going back which is a shame because it is really good. read more

My fiancé and I stopped here on a whim not knowing what to expect and all I have to say is "wow"! The outdoor seating was great especially when the weather outside was sunny and beautiful. The restaurant had this old world feel and reminded me of Italy or Spain and I fully enjoyed the food. The service was also spectacular. Our waitress was very attentive and personable. We also had the privilege to meet the owners (Walter and wife) and we spent at least 30 minutes just chatting and having a good time. They also own a couple other restaurants in Carmel and we have stopped at Casanova's in downtown Carmel (but I'll save that for another review!). read more

Corkscrew Cafe - The olallie berry pie - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California