Such a cozy quiet spot in Carmel! A little hidden, a little dim, a lot of warmth :) Intimate space both inside and outside, and even if fully packed I don't think it would interrupt the dining experience. My friend and I made a dinner reservation a couple weeks in advance, and it wasn't too crowded on Mother's Day weekend! Rucolina ($18): Salad to share, perfect amount for 2. Arugula, beets, Gorgonzola, candied walnuts are a classic combo and we polished it. Linguine Alla Pescatora ($45): I thought it was so funny two girls next to us ordered this to share, but my friend ate it all by herself LOL. A huge dish of seafood, they don't skimp! I tried a mussel and the sauce was excellent. Gnocchi (small $22, large $44): I was hesitant about ordering gnocchi because I never like the gnocchi I've ordered at other Italian restaurants. Never thought me a gnocchi snob, but here I am. But other reviews raved about Il Tegamino's gnocchi (our waitress included) so I did it. Ok fine it's the best gnocchi I've ever had. Pillowy soft, straight out of the oven, still sizzling and bubbling when it was placed in front of me. It was cheesy and potatoey without either flavor overpowering the other, and the mushroom truffle sauce is IT. It needs the sauce. I ordered the large and had leftovers to share with my mom, but you bet I could've finished it. I would come back just for this! We picked this place expecting it to be a treat and a bit of a splurge, so we expected the prices. Our server was lovely; my friend loves sweeter white wines but a Moscato wasn't on the menu. She disappeared into the kitchen and came back out with a heavy pour of Moscato and my friend loved it! I first thought it was bold of her to assume she'd want the full glass but she was right :) read more

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Tucked away from the main street, it is kinda of an intimate and more quiet spot to avoid the tourists crowd. The outdoor patio is super cute, but we were inside; the lights are soft and the place small so the feel of intimacy is there. The food is good, the salad was fresh and the linguini has a ton of seafood; maybe slightly over cooked for my taste, I am Italian and i want my pasta al dente Keep spaces for the dessert, you must try the sorbets because besides being super refreshing, they are as italian authentic as they could be (every pizzeria in italy has them). read more

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If it weren't for the terrible meal my wife attempted, but did not finish, at another restaurant earlier in the evening, we might never have stopped in to Il Tegamino. However, since she was still hungry and very unsatisfied, and knowing how she can get when she is HANGRY (just kidding, babe!), I knew this was a problem that needed to be solved. With no reservation, and a double-stroller in tow, finding a table at a restaurant during peak dinner hours in Carmel-by-the-Sea on a weekend started seeming like an impossibility, but we happened to luck into a patio table here at Il Tegamino. Having already dined myself, I sat this one out, content to keep the kiddos busy while my wife enjoyed her bruschetta and a glass of wine. Although we didn't get the "full experience", in the short time we were there, we conversed with two different couples who were seated around us, both of which claimed that this was their favorite restaurant in Carmel, and favorite Italian restaurant in general. In fact, one of the men, a self-professed former "regular" here (before he moved away for school), had made a special detour during his road trip specifically to dine here again that night. The owner definitely recognized him, and they had a familiar rapport that validated his story, and his enthusiasm. That sort of devotion says far more good things about this place than any review I could ever write. Stellar service, incredible food, romantic décor, and a quiet, beautiful location tucked away from the crowds of Carmel; Il Tegamino is a hidden gem that is worth seeking out, and comes about as close to replicating the vibe of Tuscany as you can get here in the states. Very, very recommended...and not just by my wife and I: those other two couples would assuredly back me up on this! read more

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Staff is very friendly and the food was delicious! Offers a variety of vegetarian appetizers and a couple of meatless mains. Very quiet but romantic ambiance. A little hard to find the restaurant itself but definitely worth it in the end. read more

IL Tegamino - Fig and Asiago Raviolini - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

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Service was great: servers were nice and attentive, they had decent availability for Friday dinner in October (we were able to make a reservation for 15 minutes out for baby and dog -- not always the easiest around these parts), and food was fast (very appreciated when we are tied to baby's sleep schedule). We sat outside, which was lovely although I think there was a mosquito flying around. We got the short rib pasta and sautéed vegetables. Short rib pasta had great flavors, although short rib could've been a little more tender but it wasn't dry like another review said. Sautéed vegetables weren't cheap, but is anything in Carmel? At least it was a heaping bowl of kale, spinach, and garnishes like chili flakes and golden raisins and pine nuts. Nothing fancy, but couldnt get enough -- definitely a nice reset and made me feel a lot better about all the heavy meals we've been eating during our Carmel trip! read more

IL Tegamino - Short rib pasta - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

The food and service were both 10 out 10. They deserve 5 stars. My husband and I took our two young daughters and they equally had a great experience. read more

When you dine with your Sicilian bestie, you rarely go out for Italian food because, of course, she can make anything better than you can get in a restaurant. And I stand by that statement. However, when your Sicilian bestie says "the Italian food is good here," you know it's damn good! And you go with her to said restaurant. In addition to incredible food, the atmosphere is very relaxed and welcoming. We dined al fresco on a chilly March night, but both the outdoor heaters and the warm and friendly service made us feel super comfortable. This is "Italian Comfort Food" in more ways than one. read more

IL Tegamino - burrata caprese - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

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Food was excellent! We ordered takeout and still noticed the high level of service. Next time we'll dine in. read more

Pretty sure the 3% credit card fee at the end of meal violates Californias pricing transparency law... food was soso read more

IL Tegamino - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Overpriced and mediocre food. Italian food is our favorite. We seek out Italian restaurants when we travel, We ordered the Octopus appetizer. It was like chewing rubber. Way overcooked. Our entrees were mediocre. The waiter was not friendly. They require a credit card when you make a reservation. If you try and cancel, they charge you 25 dollars for each person. Many better places in Carmel! read more

Quick, friendly and attentive service and good quality Italian food in a relaxed environment. We weren't starving so we split the Piemontese salad (Caesar) and the Paccheri Ragu, plus one of us had a class of Montepulciano. Not sure if the brothers who run the restaurant were there - I didn't feel the authentic Italian feel from the staff serving us. I would say it was a good Italian meal and a decent experience overall but nothing amazing. read more

IL Tegamino - Piemontese (Caesar salad) - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

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After a difficult time locating this location in downtown Carmel, we were presently surprised with the food and atmosphere. The interior location was small, but the food was amazing. We were greeted by a hostess, the server and the owner, who were all very eager to attend to us. I ordered the braised lamb shank with risotto, which came out looking amazing and it tasted just as it looked and the portion was a good size. Definitely was full afterwards.. I do have to admit I'm not too much into Italian wines and was looking forward to a cab with my food, but all they had was a selection of Italian wines. Wish they had a bigger variety of other types of wines although I know it is Italian restaurant. read more

IL Tegamino - Braise lamb shank with risotto - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Went to Carmel for a short anniversary getaway. We've been many times, so I was looking for someplace small, charming and, for us, a new experience. Il Tegamino seemed to fit the bill. And it definitely did for ambiance and quality of food. The interior is absolutely charming and warm. Our dishes were excellent. The reviews I had read glowed about the service, however, and that just felt a bit lacking, especially because it was a 'special' dinner for us. The hostess wished us an offhand 'Happy Anniversary' while grabbing menus to seat us and that was it for the evening. No further mention (would have been appreciated). The food, although delicious, was, as expected, on the expensive side and the portions adequate but not particularly generous. A small offering of bread would have enhanced the meal (always seems tacky for expensive restaurants not to do this). The service was leisurely, and we never felt rushed, which is great, and our waiter was pleasant. But I can get past the feeling of being somewhat ignored. read more

Delicious Italian food hidden a little off the Main Street. Yummy pasta in a cozy interior. read more

IL Tegamino - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

What an excellent place to go when you are craving fine dining in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The reception by the hostess was welcoming, and the ambiance was classy and cozy. The menu was fantastic, and we ordered food hoping for a good experience; this place far exceeded our expectations. The freshness of the ingredients, the flavor, and the portions were fantastic. This is a must-visit place in Carmel. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough room to ask for dessert, but we saw they have great cappuccino and pies. I will definitely recommend this place 100%. read more

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Despite being overpriced due to its location, this restaurant serves some of the most authentic and delicious pasta dishes that I have had in the US. Only in Italy have I had more delicious pasta dishes than they serve here. I ordered their nightly special pasta, which had prosciutto, peas, and tortellini in a cheese sauce. It was heavenly. My boyfriend got the ragu, and it was also delicious. The pasta was al dente and the sauces were full of flavor. The service was great and the ambience is very fancy and romantic. This is a perfect spot for a date night if you want to splurge on delicious Italian food. read more

IL Tegamino - Ragu and house special pasta - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

We started with the burrata and the zucchini appetizers, both of which were absolutely amazing. For my main course, I had the linguine alla pescatora, and it was fantastic! There was a generous amount of seafood, which I really appreciated. My boyfriend ordered the Cannelloni maiale e funghi and he loved it as well! The wine selection was great too, and we decided on a bottle of Pinot Grigio, which paired perfectly with our meal. The service was wonderful -- our server was attentive, friendly, and made our experience even more enjoyable. We came at 7:30 on a Sunday night and there was only a few other people there so it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. Highly recommend this place! read more

IL Tegamino - Cannelloni maiale e funghi - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

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It's a cute place for dinner but I would say the food is just ok and it's pretty cramped, at least where I was sitting. I don't feel that there was anything special with the dishes that I got, but they weren't bad, just got great to me. The best dish was maybe the seafood pasta. The sauce that comes with the octopus is nice too! The tiramisu was fine and I didn't like that pasta in the ceramic dish I got (pictured, but forgot the name). Staff is nice but appeared to be short staffed when we were there read more

First time eating at IL Tegamino but definitely not the last! The restaurant was a little hidden and not too crowded. We had a reservation and were seated right away. The waiter recommended the fig & Asiago ravioli to me which did not disappoint, 5/5! I easily ate the whole plate and was so satisfied. Our lava cake was a 3/5 and could have been a bit more gooey and "lava-ish" but it was still tasty! read more

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Excellent Italian food. Had some of the best gnocchi of any place. Very well seasoned, cooked, and presented. Everything we had was tasty. The service was great. The overall atmosphere is pleasant. Would definitely recommend this place! read more

Always outstanding food and amazing service. A must stop when we're in Carmel. Cozy and intimate dining room. Always a fantastic date night. Can't wait to come back. read more

Dishes were hit or miss. Zucchini flower app was good entree Ragu pasta was the best. Lamb with risotto was good but risotto a bit sweet. Rug ravioli was tasty but portion is very very small. I think there were 8 smallish raviolis. Service was pretty bad though, we were at one point the only table there and sat with 3 empty water glasses for half the meal and had to ask for more forks when they brought the entrees. For the prices they charge we expected better service. ambiance was fine most of the seating is in a quiet courtyard tucked off the street. The added 3% credit card surcharge is rip off as well. read more

We came to put in our reservation. We visited this restaurant last year and we finally found it. We will be visiting you guys tomorrow. I can't wait love the food and the ambience outside was beautiful and amazing. read more

IL Tegamino - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Food have a nice presentation and was served very warm . Ambiance was nice and pleasant. Good service . Six of us ordered two pork and two chanterelle cannelloni , one seafood carbonara. For the chanterelle cannelloni, the cheese is too much and the flavor is not as good as the same pasta we have in San Diego before . We finished half of the dish and did not want to eat anymore due to the taste . We were also disappointed at the seafood carbonara , the clams were chopped to so tiny they we could barely tasted any seafood at all . It was a disappointment for a $41 dish . Two of us ordered the Braised lamb shank over creamy risotto . It was the best item we had that evening . Meat was so soft that it fell off the bone . Risotto was cooked in chicken broth , white wine , onion ,parmigiano , parsley ) . The risotto was cooked with a lot of flavor and was quite delicious. The draw back was that the whole dish is too salty . Either the cheese was too salty or the chef added too many salts . If anyone one want to try this restaurant, I highly recommend to make a reservation and ask to be seated inside. Evening is cold in Carmel even with the heated lamps . read more

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With friends visiting from out of town and the desire to try a new place, I read recent reviews for Il Tegamino and was hoping for a better experience.... For starters, we had an appetizer truffle gnocchi, which was wonderful and a dish of olives with feta cheese, which was very good but missing something like bread or crackers. For a salad, we ordered two Piemontese (romaine) salads to split for three people. The quantity was good, but the lettuce was still defrosting, tasted a little frozen and was watery without flavor or crispiness romaine usually provides. When paying $40 for the two salads, I would usually expect fressher lettuce. For dinner, we had an order of Linguine Alla Pescatora (a seafood pasta with shrimp, scallops, mussles and clams), which contained good pasta noodles and seafood, but did not contain enough pasta and used a red sauce that I was not a fan of. A light white sauce or olive oil/white wine sauce would have been better combination. We also had an order of the Paccheri Al Ragu Napoletano (meat pasta, with large noodles, short rib and pork sausage). The pasta itself seemed good and was cooked well, the meat seemed to be cooked well, but the red sauce lacked flavor and the dish was overall underwhelming. For dessert, we had a tiramisu, which was a variation of the traditional recipe that included some chocolate and not really a tiramisu, but still tasted good. We also had a desert that included ice cream, biscotti and whipped cream with a shot of espresso over it. While it could have used some more ice cream, overall it was still very good; largely due to the fresh whipped cream. (Both deserts could have been a little bigger, even if it meant a bigger price tag.) Our server and busser were very attentive and friendly. The appetizers, deserts, service and outside ambiance saved the experience, but the barely edible salads and the boring entrees were not enough to make me want to revisit again. read more

This place is the best of Carmel. From the seafood dishes, to the traditional Italian, right down to the tiramisu. We had a fantastic Valentine's dinner! read more

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We had our rehearsal dinner (for 20 people) in the courtyard and it was great! The staff was so warm and welcoming (they let us bring our own flowers, too!), and the family style food was all wonderful! The gnocchi is so decadent and yummy (my fav), but the burrata salad, arancini, steak, roasted fish, and tiramisu were also perfect! They also had heat lamps set up outside so no one was cold with the Carmel fog. Highly recommend! read more

IL Tegamino - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Made a reservation here for a Wednesday night and sat on the patio. Overall, a lovely experience! Food - 5 Service - 4 Ambiance - 3.5 We started with the arancini which I actually thought would be much bigger. But, it's 5 small balls. It was, however, very delicious! We both also got a glass of the Montepulciano and highly recommend. The food is outstanding. My husband ordered the cannelloni stuffed with short rib and I had the branzino which was on special. Both delicious! Service here is very good, but suggesting a few minor tweaks to enhance the experience. Giuseppe was wonderful, friendly, knowledgeable and of course....Italian. My favorite part. He checked on us a good amount and overall was great. His counterpart, a Hispanic man who was also waiting tables near him, stopped over a couple of times nearing the end of our meals and was asking questions as if to rush us along. I mean, it's a Wednesday night, not busy and they weren't hurting for tables. Let us chill. The cobblestone is also uneven which made our chairs and table very wobbly the entire time, so we had to hold our wine basically the whole time. That was a little annoying. The ambiance overall isn't anything special and they should have plugged in the lights around the trees!!! We ended with the limoncello cake which I could eat for the rest of my days and be perfectly happy. Light, zippy and divine! I would return, but maybe sit inside for a different vibe. read more

Great food, ambiance and service. We ate at Il Tegamino to celebrate our wedding anniversary and are so glad that we did. If you didn't know about this restaurant it could easily be missed as it's tucked away behind the Main Street within a plaza. Since we had our dogs with us we booked a patio table which had an outdoor heat lamp so it wasn't too cold. From the beginning of our meal the service was great from start to finish. We ordered the arugula salad, seafood linguine and the special cannolini pasta and enjoyed all the dishes. Salad was fresh and tossed with just the right amount of vinaigrette , seafood linguine had a generous portion of seafood and the cannolini pasta, even though it had bechamel sauce and meat wasn't too heavy. At the end of the meal we were stuffed but our server was so nice and gave us complimentary dessert to celebrate our anniversary. Adding this to our Carmel list to come back again! read more

Perfect meal. Great table outside; kind, attentive service; and food was delicious!! Everything we had was excellent. Beet salad, fig ravioli, and gnocchi were all fabulous. Highly recommend. read more

We absolutely LOVE this restaurant. We found it by chance on a stroll around Carmel. My husband and I now have gone two years in a row for my birthday. The arancini was delicious. The bread (although not free) is fresh and so worth the buy. We also always order the ragu and the ravioli campagna. Then for dessert the bombolini is a MUST. One knock is that they do not offer hard alcohol they only have beer and wine but they have a great wine selection. Service was always efficient and the owner is normally always there and he is amazing! GIVE THIS PLACE A TRY! read more

La Vita è Bella! Comfort Italian food at its best. Twinkling patio, snuggly inside; romantic it is. Great service with welcoming 'va bene' heard every few seconds! For dinner, not to be missed is their house specialty,*Parmigiana Di Zucchine*; falling off the bone, absolutely delicious was their "Lamb Shank"; and, sumptuously creamy "Lemon Panna Cotta"! CHEERS! read more

IL Tegamino - Parmigiana Di Zucchine - house specialty, not to be missed! (August, 2023) - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

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Amazing meal! Service, atmosphere, and food were all delightful. We loved everything we ordered, especially the bread and zucchini appetizer. We would go back in a heartbeat. It's busy, so I'd recommend reservations. Everything we ordered and saw was impressive. Definitely try them out! read more

IL Tegamino - Paccheri Al Ragu Napoletano - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

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Wonderful food and great staff. Super dog friendly. We were already very happy with our dinner then I saw the kitchen.... I still can't believe the level of efficiency that comes out of that tiny space. Absolutely incredible and I appreciated our meal even more after seeing what they go through to deliver such a great meal considering the space they have to work with. Get the ragu- it's a must! read more

This is my love letter to Il Tegamino: I don't know how things usually go for 7pm on Sunday for dinner availability at restaurants in Carmel, but our table for two was able to be seated inside right away without a reservation. Call it luck, or maybe karma -- but after a minor car crash earlier in the day -- there were no other two people in this world that needed the comfort of authentic Italian food more than us. Carmel is arguably the cutest town ever and Il Tegamino is the cutest nook in Carmel - nestled in a little nook off of the south side of Ocean Ave between Lincoln and Monte Verde. We went directly from watching the sunset on the beach, walked a few blocks up Ocean Ave and voila -- there Il Tegamino was. They have a lovely courtyard outdoor seating area with twinkle lights and heaters. This whole area outside is dog-friendly and I just wish I could bring my dog here!! The inside is cozy, and you feel more like you're at a dinner party in Italy. The staff is so friendly, attentive, and funny! The owner goes around talking with everyone- with a thick Italian accent-- recommending dishes, serving freshly grated cheese and pepper, and overall just making everyone feel welcome . You can really tell that he loves what he does and puts so much heart and soul into this restaurant. Now for the food.... We started off with the burrata caprese and their bread basket. Yes, we know better than to fill up on bread before your meal but we just couldn't help ourselves. We finished the entire bread basket and the crostinis that came with the burrata caprese before our entrees got to our table. For entrees we ordered the brasato di agnello, a braised lamb shank on top of risotto. I gotta say, I think this was my favorite dish of the meal. The risotto really complimented the rich and gamey (in a good way) lamb so well. The paccheri al ragu napoletano-- which is their take on a ragu with pappardelle. The ragu was a mix of short rib and pork sausage -- you can just tell that this baby was slow cooked for hours. The way that the sauce gripped onto the pasta-- I know it's fresh but it also reminded me of when you have leftover pasta the next day. From the food, ambiance, service and everything in between- Il Tegamino will forever hold a special place in my heart. If it took being rear-ended in an expensive rental car to have found this place - it would have been worth it. I'll be dreaming about this meal and my whole experience at Il Tegamino for the rest of time. read more

Excellent food, great service in a cozy space. Great patio area. The Ragu is an absolute must and the gnocchi is exceptional

The food... Ragu Neapolitano was excellent. Really like it when the chef makes time to pull up a chair with the patrons and answer questions about preparation and ingredients. Superb service and warm ambiance. We'll be back for sure. read more

I had been hearing rave reviews about Il Tegamino for years and finally decided to see what all the hype was about. Suffice to say, the hype is well deserved and I will certainly be returning again! Service: Solid! Our waitor was friendly and attentive though some guests may have found him to be over the top. I personally think he's playing a bit of a part and if you get him, just consider it to be dinner and a show. Food/Wine: The food is what makes Il Tegamino really stand out and I can safely say this is some of the best Italian food I've ever had! I ordered the Lasagna and I think my wife had the Ravioli. Textures and flavors were all perfect, and the portions were pretty generous considering some of the other entree portions I've been served in Carmel "Buy the Sea" ; ) The wine list was decent and as I recall there were California wines available but we made the mistake of getting a recommended Italian wine. No body, no balance, no flavor and slightly acidic. I know some people prefer old world wines but they're imported (obviously) so they cost twice as much and I have yet to drink one that could hold a torch to a decent California red. Do yourself a favor and just order something local. Ambiance: Very spot on for the cozy Italian restaurant vibe you would expect. Soft lighting and appropriate decor in a comfortable seat made for a great place to enjoy some amazing food! I suppose the tables were a little small but maybe that's part of the charm. read more

IL Tegamino - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Came here for dinner after exploring 17 mile drive. Great romantic lighting/ambiance, and everything we tried (daily fish, bread with zucchini dip, carbonara gourmet) was phenomenal. Service was speedy and it's pretty easy to get a server's attention if needed. Highly recommend for a date night!! The inside seats about 20 people and the outside area looks pretty cozy as well. read more

IL Tegamino - Carbonara gourmet. Phenomenal - Italian Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

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What a wonderful Italian restaurant. We had a large party and when we saw the place we thought "no way" to handle it. Wrong! A table was set in a courtyard surrounded by heaters for comfort. Our server was amazing. No detail was missed. Food flavors were amazing. The The PARMIGIANA DI ZUCCHINE is an amazing appetizer. The LASAGNA had meatballs in the sauce and was so tasty. Reservations are a must. It's worth it. read more