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The Pocket

4.2 (338 reviews)
Closed • 3:30 pm - 9:00 PM

The Pocket Photos

THE POCKET ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Intimate

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Recommended Reviews - The Pocket

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Reviews With Photos

Chicken curry
Greg C.

Been a while and happy to report a good night at The Pocket. Outside seating is very nice and despite cloudy night very pleasant outside comforted by blazing heaters. Cocktails generous and perfection. Food choices interesting and tasty. I'll go back. You should too.

Duck with Jerk Spices
jon k.

Meal of the year! Fantastic food, excellent service and a vibey atmosphere. The Carmel Apple salad was unbelievable along with the fresh baked rolls. My Jerk Spiced Duck was amazing as was my wife's scallops with Asian rice noodles. We could not have had better service. Melissa and her team are friendly and provide exceptional service!!

Dog friendly outdoor dining patio
Doug T.

We came to The Pocket for their Happy Hour 3:30 to 5:00. Greeted with smile's immediately and gave us our choice of seating in the sun or shaded. Sun was hot so we picked shade. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor patio. Decent happy hour drink menu but the food options are a bit limited. We were a bit disappointed in that the website menu did not match the menu we were given. We saw images of a charcuterie board which was enticing and octopus as well but sadly both these were no longer available. So we just ordered drinks. The Pocket Potion and Aperol Spritz. Happy to say their drinks are very generous and quite tasty. Their dinner menu looked good.

Lucy K.

We went to The Pocket on our last night in Carmel Beach. It was a beautiful evening outside with fire lamps and a large fire pit creating such a cozy atmosphere. The setting actually reminded me of restaurants in Naples, Florida. The restaurant filled up quickly around dinner time, which added a lively energy to the night. The food was good, but I was a little disappointed about the vegan options. I had called ahead to ask what could be made vegan and was told that several dishes could be adjusted by removing certain ingredients. When we arrived, our waitress shared a different set of limitations, which made the ordering process a bit challenging. I still found something to enjoy, but I wish the information had been more consistent. Overall, we had a lovely experience at The Pocket. The ambiance is wonderful, the service was kind, and the location makes it a nice spot for a relaxed evening in Carmel Beach. I would consider returning, especially if the plant based options become more clear and consistent.

Peach salad
Win L.

Really friendly service in a good location in Carmel. The patio is tightly packed in so I felt a bit claustrophobic but I appreciated the dog friendly patio seating option. We ordered a number of items to share. Nothing was particularly bad (other than the insanely salty strawberry salad!!) but nothing was particularly great either. The best item was the pork chop - giant size and actually quite good - highly recommend this item. The rest of the items weren't that memorable taste wise but weren't bad either. It was just ok. The service however is on point with plate/utensil changes and water refills. The service was quite attentive from the team and we really appreciated the birthday dessert. Not sure we would make special trips to return here but it's a solid dining option in Carmel.

Raised been short rib.

We heard great things through a Reddit review. We're celebrating our honeymoon and had to give it a try. The Pocket did not disappoint. I don't typically leave reviews but when food is that excellent I have to. Mikey was our server and was wonderful. He guided us through the menu and advised us appropriately. We ended up starting with the Scallops. We typically don't order fishy dishes but this was devine. My husband doesn't like mustard and loved the dish. Next up was the squash fritters. Crispy little pieces of heaven. We ended up deciding on the famous Curry Chicken. Apparently this is a menu staple, and I can see why. GET THE CURRY CHICKEN. Pro tip... ask for extra sauce. You can't over indulge in that curry sauce. My husband ordered the braised beef ribs. Okay guys,.... When my man says how amazing a dish is ..every ....single ...bite, AND the next day. You know that meal was wonderful. He continued to express his appreciation for the demi glaze. We'll 100% be back. Not just for the food, but Mikey too! Cheers to the chef! Sir, you are doing things right.

$40 corkage, but worth it to bring in your own wine
Taryn L.

Wonderful restaurant! We had a lovely dinner here to celebrate my birthday. Got the seared scallops to start (incredible), shared the blueberry salad, and for entrees-half duck & halibut. Everything was delicious, beautifully presented, and perfect. Service was impeccable! Will absolutely return next time we're in Carmel!

Strawberry Salad
Alyssa V.

Possibly the best dining experience I have ever had! This team knows how to deliver hospitality. From the host stand, to your server, bussers, managers, and the kitchen magic...nothing disappoints. Thankfully dined in with five friends so we were able to enjoy dishes family style. We ordered all of the dishes at once, and our server informed us that she would be coursing them for us. Everything was delivered perfectly with several rounds of fresh plates and silverware. Our server Janet was friendly and attentive. She knew the answer to every one of our questions regarding sauces and ingredients on dishes. Amazing wine, spirits, and cocktail selection. Do not skip dessert! I highly recommend ordering something that you wouldn't typically lean towards, you never know and will be surprised that you loved it!

Sea Bass
Tareq B.

My wife accidentally made the reservation thru open table which connected us with the pocket in San Diego, a Mexican restaurant. Unaware we showed up and were told that we didn't have a reservation for six. The restaurant manager , Sunny, quickly made arrangements at chefs table and saved the day!! This was not our first time here. We have been here multiple times with friends. In fact we died there last Sunday. We talk so much about it that our other son and her fiancé wanted to experience it so we took them there. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone. It has one of the best bars in Carmel.

Duck
Kristen G.

This place was awesome !!!! We went for our 1 year Anniversary dinner. Jeanette took care of us, we loved her. The food was sooooo good, the drinks were perfect, and the surprise dessert was divine. Will definitely be back.

Striped bass
Susan C.

We were in Carmel for a few days and ate at some great restaurants. The Pocket was my favorite restaurant for dinner! We ordered the following: Meatballs $22 - it was just mid. Don't order this. The meatballs were rather dry. Burrata $22 - ORDER THIS! This was so delicious. Served with olive tapenade! I would come back and order this all for myself Spicy crab noodles $37 - perfectly cooked noodles nested in a bowl with chunks of dungeness crab. This is so delicious, but it is *spicy*. Do not order if you have low tolerance for spicy food. Striped bass $42 - my husband's entree. He enjoyed it! English Pea Risotto $29 - this had a great balance of puréed peas and Arborio rice. It had a cheese crisp that added great flavor to the dish. While it's a savory dish, it had a touch of sweetness from the peas. The interior was stunning! Service was impeccable! Great spot for a special dinner! .

Bolognese
Alex K.

Location is stunning, you can see the ocean sunset from your table. Decor is somewhat outdated ( like an old steakhouse) . Server was attentive , and service was decent . But that's about where it ends . Food: Absolutely awful . I got the black cod, it was forgetful. Not awful but not good . My wife ordered the crab tagliatelle. It smelled fishy , noodles were overcooked mushy, it was inedible. She sent it back and ordered the bolognese. The penne was dry , the sauce was flavorless (for sure canned ) just bad, came with little bits of beef. My 12 year old could have whipped up a better pasta . This place is a fraud , it looks fancy , but they have no clue how to make food. I don't believe there is a trained chef in that kitchen . I'm shocked at so many positive reviews. Should have sent the second dish back as well. Save your money, find somewhere else to eat!

Crispy crab pasta
Andrew S.

Food was mighty tasty. I came with friends and we ordered up just about everything in the menu and every bite was as delicious as the next. Atmosphere was wonderful and service was excellent. Great spot for a small group or date night. Don't eat for a few hours before and be prepared for good sized portions of delicious.

Grilled octopus

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Fresh food. Wonderful service! Made us feel so welcome. Unique space with some cool people photographs.

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Ask the Community - The Pocket

Do they have several gluten free options?

I believe so, however it is always best to check with the kitchen to make sure. .... Cheers

Is it good for groups? Around 6-8 people?

Yes! Absolutely. Outside or in they can accommodate groups. The food is wonderful and the ambiance perfect. Go!

Does this place offer bottomless mimosas?

I didn't see it on the brunch menu. In fact, my first brunch there i had champagne and the waitress didn't offer anything such as bottomless mimosas. maybe we can suggest it!

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Little Swiss Cafe

Little Swiss Cafe

4.1
(598 reviews)
0.1 mi
•$$

This place is awesome. The service is top tier- so friendly and also so quick! They were great…read morehosts. The vibe inside is also very fun. There is some really cool art on the walls, and seems to tell a story. I'd recommend trying to sit in the middle section if possible- it has a cool mural around the whole room that's very fun. We sat in the front by the window and it was cool but I'd love to be by the mural next time. We split an order of the cheese blintzes and a waffle with eggs and sausage. All of it was amazing. The blintzes were so rich, it would have been a lot to eat by itself, so I'm glad we split it. The waffle was incredible, and the rest of the meal was also solid. It was also just so quick. Even though they seemed busy, we were in and out in a relatively short period of time on a Monday morning in May.

I am not much of a breakfast person, but we decided to grab a quick bite to start the day at this…read morecozy little restaurant in the heart of the sleepy village of Carmel by the Sea The restaurant itself is quite small, and if you blink you could miss it. The interior isn't much more spacious, but it's cozy, older, and has character The breakfast menu offers a variety of classic and European style breakfast dishes. The plates are very hearty, well plated, and tasty Our server was very kind and efficient. Or order came out almost immediately. As someone who isn't a breakfast person, when I ordered the granola I feel like I was given an "is that all you want" Vibe, but all and all we were well taken care of Some tips: For coffee lovers, they only have traditional brewed coffee. It's tasty and hits the spot, but for those who prefer espresso drinks (lattes, flat whites, etc) you may have to stop elsewhere The granola was actually some of the best granola I've had in recent memory. It was simple yet delicious Check the sign in the main entryway for daily specials. There is also a lunch/dinner menu. And they have alcohol on their drink menu as well Parking would be difficult, so, you may need to park off the main drag, but it shouldn't be hard to find something, and the walk is fairly scenic Cheers!!

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Little Swiss Cafe
Little Swiss Cafe
Little Swiss Cafe

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From Scratch Restaurant

From Scratch Restaurant

4.3
(2.3k reviews)
1.4 mi
•$$

From Scratch is DELICIOUS!! Everything on the menu looks amazing and the portions are large. The…read moreambiance is very nice and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. Shout out to Waylon who was able to make a simple modification to my fruit cup and is passionate about working here as well as very knowledgeable on the history of this restaurant and had great suggestions for those visiting from out of town! This is also a dog friendly restaurant with lots of tales outside. We had a wonderful experience and will be back again soon, thank you Waylon!

Chose this place off the cuff and was really impressed with how good it was. We came with a party…read moreof 11 and was seated within the hour and we got our food relatively fast. We got the patty melt fries and a banana walnut pancake and I got the tuna melt and a side of chilli. The brisket chilli was really really good, and the sandwiches were amazing. The pancakes smell so good we all gasped when they brought it out. The potions are very large so honestly you could split every meal besides maybe the skillet dish. But every sandwich our table got was huge and all tbe food was really well made. For the price it was also very worth it. The place is surrounded by a nice walkable area and the resturant itself is very cute, I was expecting a random restaurant along the road but it has a very aesthetic design here. You could easily come here for an elevated but not crazy fancy brunch and enjoy the day.

Photos
View of inside seating
View of inside seating
Hot chocolate
Hot chocolate
Bloody Mary

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Bloody Mary
Carmel Plaza Shopping Center

Carmel Plaza Shopping Center

4.2
(71 reviews)
0.2 mi
•$$$

They have our favorite stationary store. We try and stop by anytime we go to Carmel on vacation.read more

One thing about going to a new city is how you imagine an area in your mind's eye, sometimes…read moredoesn't match the reality. Knowing that this outdoor shopping center was 3 stories and had over 30 stores, I expected the area around it to be like a city center, with heavy foot and car traffic, lots of noise, and business advertisement. Instead, I wasn't sure if we were in the right place, because the neighborhood looked residential. The city planners/architects did a really nice job to implement this intention. The shopping center first opened in 1960, as an open-air courtyard style with a luxury department store, unheard of at the time for a town that small. Throughout the years, it hosted a major department store chain (Saks Fifth Avenue) as well. Now, in keeping with Carmel's intention to not have any national brand retail in it's city limits, the majority of stores/restaurants at this mall are local (though there are exceptions like Tiffany & Co, Anthropologie, and Brunello Cuccinelli). We got lucky and found free street a block from the center. Even on a Monday late morning, it was quite busy with tourists and locals alike hanging out in the main courtyard. A really nice feature was the large outdoor gas firepit that people were using to keep warm. We had come for a particular restaurant, but were informed that they were closed for the day for a private event (no signs or mention on their website)...I guess that's how this particular business rolls.

Photos
That samsung galaxy s25 ultra camera zoom! Wow!
That samsung galaxy s25 ultra camera zoom! Wow!
Carmel Plaza Shopping Center
Main courtyard

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Main courtyard

The Pocket - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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