I feel like Yelp steered me wrong on this one. Based on the high ratings, I decided to give this…read moreplace a try and ordered a carnitas burrito. The price was reasonable--about $10, with an additional charge for toppings such as tomato, cilantro, onions, sour cream, and guacamole. Before ordering, I asked which meats were fresh, and I was told that all of the meats had been prepared that day. I took my burrito to a nearby park and was disappointed from the first bite. The carnitas were very dry and seemed to have little flavor beyond salt. The meat also had a slightly gray appearance and did not taste like freshly cooked pork. It seemed as though it had been reheated, which only made it drier. There were also a couple of small burnt bits in the burrito. The burrito itself was mostly refried beans, with a small amount of rice. For roughly the first three-quarters of the burrito, I barely noticed any of the extra toppings I had paid for. When I finally reached the center, there was a very small amount of guacamole, even less sour cream, and a little tomato, onion, and cilantro. The cilantro was actually the highlight of the burrito--it tasted fresh and added some flavor--but there wasn't enough of it to make much difference overall. Unfortunately, this meal did not live up to the reviews or my expectations. While the price was fair, the quality and flavor were disappointing, and I would not order the carnitas burrito again. I ended up throwing away 1/2 of the burrito. As far as ambiance, it is just a tiny place geared toward takeout with some outside seating right along the road.

I just had the Kathy's little kitchen chicks tacos and after eating the breakfast burrito earlier…read moretoday... and friends having chicken burritos... I'm honestly not that impressed, and similarly neither were my friends - for them it was their first time. I feel like they've gone downhill I don't know what's going on. Maybe Kathy's cutting costs or they got a new chef? Hope hope they're able to fix this because historically their burritos have been packed with flavor and taste and deliciousness and lots of gooey cheese and goodness where is now I think they've removed a lot of of the ingredients probably to cut cost and it really tastes like it too it feels that way The ambience is always quaint and intimate. Still waiting for her ice cream shop next-door to open. Kathy or the owner is really sweet but she looks a little more stressed more recently so I'm guessing that's why the food is lacking nowadays. Hopefully it changes back to the old ways.

Our server was great and the food was delicious! This place is super quirky and fun, with old…read morefashioned gas station decor everywhere, a cute patio with a fireplace where they do love music on the weekends, and a darker cozy atmosphere with cloth napkins. We stopped by for dinner after a book signing in Carmel Valley Village, and service was quick and attentive. We ordered two types of enchiladas, one with green sauce and chicken, the other with red and pork. The red sauce was just barely spiced, Smokey, and slightly sweet. The pork was perfectly cooked and fall apart delicious. My friend loved her chicken enchiladas with mushrooms. Each plate came with beans and rice as well. Mexican hot chocolate was tasty as was an Arnold Palmer. I will definitely be back!

There was 4 of us for a birthday lunch. Between COLD fajitas,COLD burger/onion rings(which were…read moreover cooked burned flavor cold with greasy taste) room temp green salad which had a heavy fish flavor(she hates fish) almost refrigerated temp on rice and beans. Server asked me if it was, ok to microwave to reheat when I brought it to her attention. We had asked for more chips and salsa(only good thing) she brought only salsa. Again when brought to her attention you could see/hear the HUGE SIGH as she walked away, 10 minutes later we grabbed the attention of her coworker to finally get our chips. I've been in food/bev for 30 years so this is absolutely unacceptable. This is the 2nd time we've been this disappointed in 3mths, after coming here for 20 years. Sorry won't be a 3rd.. I understand a bad day but this was to much..A great server would outshine the bad food and vise versa, both was to much..

Oh my gosh, I had the best meal here and I'm still thinking about it! I had the white mole with…read morebraised short rib and it was fantastic! The flavor was so amazing and nothing like I've ever eaten before. I usually don't finish my meals, but I couldn't stop eating this delicious meal! The homemade corn tortillas were so sweet and flavorful as well. I live in Southern California so, unfortunately, I can't come here very often, but I will make a special trip to come here again in the future. PS: My husband had the birria tacos and he said they were amazing as well!

I love myself a bougie Mexican restaurant, especially in an area like Carmel by the sea…read more Unfortunately, they're not quite ready for large parties and the busyness that come with Carmel's tourism. We waited almost 2 hours for food for a party of 10. Totopos and salsa can only do so much for so long. Did margaritas help? Of course, but then I just wanted to keep that going and forego the food . Food was 4/5 stars, price reallly hard to justify what you're receiving. The molcajete is unique and worth trying, the enchiladas were meh, tuna a hit or miss. We will return to give this place one more try.

I visited Cultura with my greyhound, so we sat outside in the courtyard near the firepit tables…read moreshared with Vin, next door. It was a cool, breezy night, typical when the summer marine layer moves in over Carmel, but the propane heaters kept us toasty. If you prefer dining indoors, the interior bar and dining spaces had an intimate, funky, but very cool vibe. The host and servers were all extremely friendly and helpful. Despite being outside in the courtyard, they were also incredibly attentive, checking frequently to see if we needed anything. Their recommendations were spot on, too. I was wowed by the cocktail menu. I'll have to return to try more of their bar offerings. This trip, I took advantage of Happy Hour to order the blood orange margarita, and I was not disappointed. I ordered the ceviche appetizer. My greyhound thought it smelled as wonderful as I did. He rested his head between my feet in hopes of catching any ceviche dropping from my hands. This was so tasty, he was out of luck on the table droppings. I also had the chicken enchiladas for my entree. It was one of the best enchiladas I've had in a couple of years. My server, Mario, brought me out a small cup of their take on Mexican hot chocolate, made with oat milk, as an aperitif. It was so delicious, I almost wished I'd ordered a full cup as dessert.

Stopped by Cultura for a light dinner takeout order after over overindulging in seafood during the…read moreday. Everything I ordered --Lime/hibiscus agua fresca, guacamole, house made tortilla chips, salsa and smoked mushroom taco, was on point and I enjoyed chatting with Gladys and Mario. Definitely plan to enjoy a full meal here the next time I'm in town.

Spent the weekend in Carmel and had to try El Bistro. One of the best brunch places I've had in a…read morewhile, the wait was about 45min on a busy Memorial Day weekend, we went on Saturday and it was well worth the wait. Our waitress was so attentive, sweet, and funny! The mazapán French toast was the perfect amount of fluff and sweetness. The habanero chilaquiles were actually spicy, and the tortillas were the perfect amount of crispy. Both our lattes were incredible, they were able to add cold foam on ours per request. The energy was lively and the outside patio area was absolutely gorgeous.

A charming Mexican owned spot with an extensive menu that is bound have something for everyone. Our…read morefamily sat on the lovely back patio and we received attentive and friendly service. I had the limoncello french toast which was so delicious especially with the combo of berries and tartness of the lemon. My partner and kids had : 1- messy but big and yummy Monterey burger 2: Habanero Chilaquiles 3: American breakfast I also had two mimosas and the rest of the fam had variations of coffee drinks. Everyone was happy and full. I want to come back for sure because there are so many delicious sounding options.

After multiple failed attempts to find somewhere to eat with our dogs in tow, we arrived at Sur at…read morethe Barnyard hungry, tired, and a little defeated. What a wonderful surprise. It was just me, my two girls, and our two dogs, and from the moment we arrived, we were met with genuinely excellent service. The staff was kind, attentive, and welcoming. The food was absolutely fantastic, fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Sometimes a meal is more than just a meal. After a long day of searching for a place that would work for our little crew, Sur felt like exactly where we were meant to end up. We left happy, full, and already looking forward to coming back. Highly recommend.

We dropped in to SUR today after hiking a bit. We hadn't been there before, and since Scratch was…read moreclosed and this place a great reviews, we decided to check it out - and I'll chalk this up to anther time Yelp did us wrong. TLDR:: Meh.. I wanted something to drink that wasn't sweet, so I tried their raspberry ice tea. They used a sugary syrup to flavor the tea, and that was a strike out. It was sweeter than a soda, so it went back and I swapped it out for a plain unsweetened ice tea. Then we tried the cheesy garlic bread, which we were really looking forward to. Welp, it came out with mozzarella cheese and a ton of corn. No butter. No garlic. We all looked at each other when we tried it. Ok, let's try their brussel sprouts. Those are hard to mess up - but sure enough, they managed to. They deep fried them to the point they were black and charred. There wasn't anything left of the brussel sprout itself, it was mostly crunchy charcoal. At this point, we all ordered something we assumed would be safe for our main. I got the sliders and a side salad. I had the salad but only of the sliders. The cheese on it was queso, like you use to dip chips, so it was ran all over the place and the burger was a grease ball. I won't even get into what everyone else had, but they had similar experiences. Overall, it was pretty disappointing. Maybe there are other things or other times where this place is better, but it was a swing and a miss for us.

Went on a weekend to have lunch to celebrate my Mom's birthday. My parents have gone here multiple…read moretimes and love it! Great atmosphere & friendly staff. We sat outside as it was a lovely sunny day. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli, very flavorful & I enjoyed every bite! :) Well done chef! They even brought out a nice dessert for my Mom and sang Happy Birthday to her. Lovely staff & great food! My whole family was happy & enjoyed their meal. :)

It has been awhile since I've dined at Cafe Rustica. Tonight I brought my family for dinner here…read more Although the food was solid as usual, the service tonight was excellent. Lauren was our server, and together with the young men supporting her, the experience was professional, attentive, and genuinely friendly. Food: Although not my choice, we started with the grilled eggplant napoleon (4/5) to share. This is a fresh solid appetizer, surprisingly yummy for an eggplant naysayer. I had the roasted half chicken (4/5). It was good, but nothing to brag about. My wife, daughter, and grandson all ordered pizzas. The Loraine, Dynamite, and a cheese pizza. They all enjoyed their pizzas. I'm still looking for my 'go to' dish at Cafe Rustica, but with such great service, I look forward to continuing my journey through the menu searching for that perfect dish, probably sooner than later.

I almost didn't make it to my 7:30 reservation. Another frou-frou establishment with lackluster…read moreexecution and catchy titles like "locally sourced", blah blah blah. Send me home hungry and bill me $$$ for 2, at least i get to stay in my PJs. I'm glad I stuck through with the original plan and was blown away by the endless mindfuck of plates that permanently altered my brain chemistry. In all seriousness, the menu itself doesnt seem too special: crabcakes, ceasar salad, creme brulee. Very unassuming and no real twists to it. BUT -- everything was executed to PER-FECT-SHUN and I found myself just shy of licking every. frikkin'. plate clean. No stone left unturned - in this case, not a single kernel of corn or garnish was left uneaten. I'll jump right to the food: - Half dozen raw oysters: honestly might be the more underwhelming dish of the meal only because the oysters didn't have much flavor. No brine. No sweet. The mignonette was so great though! it gave the oysters what it needed. Add a flake of salt and we're cookin'. - Caesar salad: Good all around. The assembly is what made it so over-the-top. The classic caesar but with ribbons of parm, light and fresh anchovies, whole thinly sliced loaf of crouton that held that salad up like a house of cards but crumbles to touch. I was picking up every crumb that tumbled off to the table and was audibly slurping the ribbons of parmesan. - Crabcakes: Not just another crabcake. The batter was crunchy but didn't make the dish heavy. a cooling and smooth avo creme. but OH MY GOD the grilled corn on the plate really made the dish shine! It added a nice sweet pop and smokiness that made the dish more complex. Not even assembled in a cute pile, just scattered little kernels on a plate got me out here picking them up one-by-one like a mere peasant dusting the sidewalk for nickels. yes, humble me chef. I had to apologize to the waitress who cleared my plate for how embarrassingly clean my plate was. - Thai mussels: A cliche of a mussel dish on every modern menu. I've had a lot of versions of this dish and this plate wowed me in that the mussels were simply cooked perfectly. the sauce was not thin, not too pulpy nor salty. The sauce actually penetrated the mussels. The mussels were fresh, and no empty shells, which is a low bar but so common to see these days. There might even be a couple straggling that i was able to fish from the bottom. Just a clean dish overall. The fries were the perfect accompaniment. The walls of the extra starchy and crispy fries grabbed alot of the sauce for dipping. So smart. - Beef cheeks: Perfect textures all around. It feels wrong to complain at this point but I wanted more unctuousness from the protein. The beef was actually a backdrop to the polenta and mushrooms. i wanted more fat, more melty gelatinous tendon bites. what it produced though was a perfect fancy gravy for the polenta - so creamy and perfectly seasoned. A leafy green here and there. The maitaki mushrooms were cooked perfectly, not greasy. I was really just scraping the plate for the polenta and grabbing a bite of beef cheeks as sauce. Not a bad way to live by any means. - Acai sorbet: I almost never order dessert at a restaurant. It tends to disspoint and overpriced but i have never trusted a chef so much with a full meal so of course i got TWO desserts. The acai was accompanied with raspberries and granola. Super fresh and light. The acai broke apart upon touch, didnt slide around eventhough it's on a plate, but the plate choice was nicely textured to grip the icy sorbet (WHY AM I THINKING ABOUT THEIR PLATE CHOICE??) Gronola was not clunky and added a (rice) crispiness rarely found in granola. Such great care and attention to detail. - Orange and Tarragon Creme Brulee: I looked at the creme brulee with distain. Why did we order a 2nd dessert when the acai sorbet was already perfect. Orange and tarragon sounds like they're trying to sound "complex" but rarely delivers on balance and impact. I cracked the torched sugar top and gave it a chance, knowing that i havent been dissapointed tonight yet... and CUE the hallelujah angels choirs. I looked my partner in the eye and audibly said "YUMMMM... TRY. THIS. NAOOO.". We switched from the acai to the creme brulee and never stopped until the sides were hallowed out and every crystal of torched sugar was scraped off the walls. The torched sugar top cracked with ease and stayed CRISPYYYY the whole time. The custard was smooth, thick but light, and packed with orange flavor that was fiercely tempered by the herbaceous tarragon. The one sliver of orange peel candy was not supposed to wow me with it's texture and left me wondering how they managed to get the cracker-like crackle without too much sugar and not leave it leathery?? What a way to end a meal. On my way home, I got a twinge of the orange peel left in my teeth and it instantly brought me back to the magic that was the Mission Bistro. and it was HOT.

Cute quaint dinner spot in Carmel. I'd give it between a 3.5 - 4 stars, depending on what you…read moreorder. Food: charcuterie board (jalapeño pepper jam was the best I've ever had), burrata appetizer & beet salad were excellent. Mussels were amazingly good. The steak frites & uni pasta were mediocre. Felt like it was missing something. Service: waitress was a little odd and unpleasant. She questioned some things we ordered and seemed judge mental. I would come back for the mussels! Everything else was good but for the price, could be better.