Saturday August 1st party of 5 we walked over after wine tasting at I. Brand Wines what an…read moreincredible experience. Seafood nachos was our absolute favorite appetizer and the carne Asada was perfect. Thankyou again for the wonderful experience.

While in Carmel Valley for a long weekend my mom and I went to Plaza Linda for lunch. We got there…read morearound when they opened at 11:30am and thought it was closed at first because the parking lot was fairly empty and the restaurant seemed dark. Turns out we were the first customers for lunch. We were greeted and seated immediately, and the waiter was attentive during our whole meal. I had two carne asada tacos and rice, which were delicious. My mom had a cheese enchilada plate with rice and beans and she enjoyed it very much. We ordered chips and salsa, too, which cost a little extra; unfortunately, the chips were a bit stale. The salsa was good though. Several more customers arrived before we finished, but I think it must get busier later in the afternoon because the waitstaff was busy wiping down all the patio tables while we were there. Overall, an excellent lunch at a comfortable establishment.

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.

I have been to the Baja Cantina Grill and Filling Station a few times. I have had two very fun…read moretimes there. One time my daughter and I sat in the bar, had drinks and appetizers, and watched a Giants game. The other people in the bar were a lot of fun and we had a blast. The other time was on a cold, rainy day and my friends and I sat on a couch and chairs in front of the fireplace in the bar and had pitchers of margaritas and nachos. They still talk about what a great time they had. Every time I have been there the food and service has been good. The margaritas were really good. The Baja Cantina is not dog friendly--not even on the outdoor patio. Fortunately during our visits when we had our dog with us, it was cool enough to leave him in the car and there are some parking stalls with a lot of shade.

Still the best chips and salsa around--unlike anything you'll find at another Mexican restaurant…read more Unfortunately, unlike nearly every Mexican restaurant, you have to pay extra for them. The restaurant itself is still a destination, especially if you're a racing fan. There's an incredible amount of racing memorabilia throughout the place, which gives it a unique atmosphere and plenty to look at. Then, unfortunately, there's the food. The food has become bland and almost devoid of flavor. We ordered the Carnitas, Fajitas, and Molcajete, and sadly, all three were nearly indistinguishable. Different dishes, but they were essentially the same meal. The protein portions have also decreased noticeably, while multiple varieties of beans now seem to occupy nearly two-thirds of the plate. It's still worth visiting for the atmosphere, racing memorabilia, and outstanding chips and salsa. But when it comes to the food, it's a very different experience than it used to be--and not in a good way.

Beautiful setting, wonderful food. Great for birthdays! Make sure to check on slow/winter seasons…read morefor hours of operation.

We loved the food and the place a place that you must for sure try when visting Carmel.read more

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.

Eh...we really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately, we're not fans and probably won't be…read morereturning. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, exactly what we were looking for. The service was pleasant, although at times it felt a little condescending. They have their own very specific tequila collection, so don't expect to see many familiar brands. That's not necessarily a bad thing. We're always willing to try something new. The margaritas, however, were very tart. Just too much lime juice. We ordered tacos and asked for flour tortillas, only to be surprised when they arrived on corn tortillas. When we asked about it, we were told they simply don't serve flour tortillas. Fair enough, but that would have been helpful to know when we ordered. The good news: the chicken tinga, barbacoa, and carnitas were all excellent. Unfortunately, we just couldn't get past the corn tortillas which fell apart when you tried to eat the tacos. Ended up using a fork. For dessert, we ordered one of our favorites, churros. They arrived warm, but were very dry and tough. A churro should make you happy. These made us wish we'd stopped for dessert somewhere else. There were definitely some bright spots, especially the meats and the cozy atmosphere, but restaurants generally get one first chance to make us want to come back. Unfortunately, this one didn't.

The restaurant has a nice indoor area, but the patio is awesome. Covered from the sun and a sort of…read moresecret garden vibe. Very nice reprieve from the heat. We chose to share a Carnitas Omelette with cheese from the area and the salad was locally sourced farms. The service was quick and kind. Would come here again when in Carmel

El Bistro by the Sea is every bit as cute as it looks. The space is bright and charming, the food…read moreis beautifully presented, and the drinks are just as pretty. More importantly, the food actually lives up to the Instagram-worthy setting. The chilaquiles were a standout and received very high praise from my Mexican family--which is a much more meaningful endorsement than anything I could say! We also enjoyed the pancakes, and everything that came to the table looked as good as it tasted. My only hesitation is really a consequence of the restaurant's popularity. This place is hyped, and there can be a long wait to get in. When I know people are waiting for a table, I find myself feeling like I should hurry through my meal rather than relax and savor it. That's unfortunate because this is exactly the kind of place where you want to linger over brunch and another drink. And, as with almost anywhere in Carmel, parking can be a challenge. Don't spend your morning circling endlessly for the perfect spot--plan to park where you can and enjoy the walk. Great food, great drinks and an absolutely charming little restaurant. I'd happily return; I'd just try to go at a less popular time so I could enjoy it without feeling rushed.

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.

The food was so good last time that I decided to come back with my family for my birthday dinner…read more There were eight of us with a 5pm reservation and the hostess kindly seated us a little bit early on the patio. The service at Cafe Rustica is outstanding. We had a waiter who took our orders, another one serving our food, and a third pouring water. All were very friendly and professional. I ordered the chicken apple sausage dish I loved so much last time. Others in the party ordered chicken, pinto bean soup, and I think the salmon. Everyone enjoyed their food. My sister surprised me with a small birthday cake she had purchased earlier from a bakery. The waiter brought us small plates and forks and we all had a piece.

My husband and I had a delightful evening at Cafe Rustica! After spending time in the hustle and…read morescene of CBTS, the vibe of this restaurant and surrounding businesses was just what we were after for a cozy, delicious, dinner. Roman took amazing care of us, efficient and friendly and making sure our plates weren't empty for long. Made great recommendations on the menu. Food was incredible, all seems to be homemade/from scratch, and had great flavors. Grilled shrimp skewers, beet salad, butter lettuce salad, lentil soup, vegetarian pizza, and passion fruit sorbet, finished with a decaf americano... would order it all again in a heartbeat! Memorably good spot for us!

Such a lovely, home away from home experience From the hostess stand to the chef personally…read morebringing out the dessert! Of course the food was impeccable and cooked just to our liking! The whole vibe of a Sunday night was enjoyable and I'll definitely be back for future celebrations and events

Food was fab, atmosphere is amazing, so relaxing, my wife and I feel like we are on the best…read morevacation ever when we dine here, but the best thing: the staff are exceptional. We love this place.

Returned to Carmel Valley last weekend with family to celebrate my birthday. We had four rooms at…read moreLos Laureles Lodge and were happy with our accommodations, although strangely it seemed some rooms had coffeemakers while others did not. It didn't really matter because the eight of us had the continental breakfast in the common room every morning and there was plenty of coffee available there. For breakfast they had coffee cake, fruit, hard boiled eggs, granola, and juices. I brought additional food for everyone, which the staff didn't mind. Everyone liked the continental breakfast. We ate at the restaurant on Friday evening. I made reservations well in advance, which was a good thing because it was quite busy. They set us up in a private dining room with a window. I had the special prime rib because it was so good last time I dined there. I ordered it medium rare and it was delicious again, except for the very center, which was so rare I couldn't cut it. The mashed potatoes and veggies that accompanied it were very good. Others ordered ribs and burgers, and everyone enjoyed their meal. The waitress was quite busy running around to all her tables, but she was as attentive as she could be with so many diners. I love the peace and natural beauty of Los Laureles Lodge and will probably always stay there when in Carmel Valley.

Los Laureles Lodge - Carmel Valley I was hesitant to stay…read morehere because the property looked very rustic, but it was one of the recommended hotels for a wedding at Stonepine Estate and a shuttle stop, so I decided to join the group. Unfortunately, the reservation process was a major issue. Despite multiple calls ahead of time confirming room types and occupancy, several reservations were incorrect upon arrival, leaving guests scrambling to find rooms, adjust arrangements, or pay unexpected additional costs. The property itself is rustic but clean. We did not experience any bugs or critters, and the grounds are actually quite nice to explore. The rooms, however, are very basic and dated, with dark wood paneling, minimal amenities, cramped bathrooms, and inconsistent shower temperatures. Our decorative headboard was not securely attached and fell off the wall, which was unsettling, especially since one of the few outlets was underneath it. The refrigerator worked well, and the front desk provided extra towels when requested. The complimentary breakfast was simple but adequate (coffee, tea, hot cocoa, juice, melon, hard-boiled eggs, and coffee cake). We did not use the restaurant or bar during our stay. The property has a pool and event spaces that looked nice, although they seemed quiet during our summer weekend visit. Bonus: there are two resident cats, one very friendly and one more mangy. The best part of our stay was Colin at the front desk. He was kind, helpful, and went above and beyond,helping with questions, last-minute deliveries, and even assisting with a wedding-related printing request. Overall, I'd rate this as a solid 3-star hotel. It's clean, safe, and has a charming rustic setting, but the rooms and amenities are very basic. I would consider staying again only if the price was reasonable and options were limited.