We visited in the evening, and the staff was incredibly friendly. They recommended a fantastic California wine for my friend's meat pasta, and it was a perfect pairing. We started with the hummus and artichoke appetizers, and they were absolutely incredible. For my entrée, I had the day's special, the sole, and it was outstanding. Everything was delicious, and the atmosphere was wonderful. I can't wait to come back and enjoy these dishes again! read more

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If I could give 3.5 stars, I would. Our experience at Yafa was okay, with some things very good and others poor. The good: the Greek salad was fresh and had a tasty dressing. The baba ghanoush was delicious: smoky and the exact right texture. The less good: making a reservation was a challenge although I finally realized one could do it through yelp. The table was wobbly - although the waiter did fix it (why not stabilize tables before a customer asks?!). I ordered a glass of white wine and was given an empty glass only. Then the owner arrived and asked if I wanted another glass, not realizing that I hadn't been given the first one. The. The owner brought over a small carafe and poured it so aggressively that it splashed on the table and me. The lamb kabobs were cooked to the temperature we asked but the meat was TOUGH. It was well seasoned but the way the meat was cut for the kebab resulted in pieces with a lot of inedible connective tissue. The tzatziki was good and the rice was flavorful. So, overall a mixed bag. The place definitely is cute and has some charm. It just needs more attention to details. read more

I rarely leave negative reviews, but this experience was bad enough that I feel compelled to share it. We arrived at 6:45 p.m. for our 6:50 p.m. reservation and were seated promptly as a party of three. The waiter "threw the menus" on our table and walked away. About 10-15 minutes later, someone finally came to take our order. We ordered three entrées, a hummus appetizer, and a cheese bread. By around 7:00 p.m., our order had been placed with the kitchen. Unfortunately, we did not receive any food until approximately 7:45 p.m. After waiting 45 minutes, we politely asked our waiter if he could check on our order and give us an estimate of how much longer it would take. His response was surprisingly rude: "I don't know how much time your order will take. I'll have to go check." He disappeared into the kitchen and returned holding a small piece of paper with our order written on it. He then began reading the items back to us. Naturally, we assumed he was trying to verify the order, so my friend started confirming the dishes. The waiter immediately held up his hand to stop him and said, "I can see what you guys ordered. You don't have to say it to me." I explained that he appeared to be confirming the order, which is why we were responding. He simply walked away. At this point, we were frustrated by both the wait and the attitude. We told him that if the food could not arrive within the next five minutes, we were willing to pay for what we had already received and have the rest of the order canceled. Rather than apologizing or trying to resolve the situation, he pushed back and launched into a strange lecture. He told us that where he grew up, people were not taught to "talk back" and then gestured toward our table while saying that nowadays everyone feels entitled and wants their food immediately. For the record, asking about food 50 minutes after placing an order is not entitlement. Had we been demanding our food five minutes after ordering, that would be a different story. We were simply asking for basic communication and reasonable service. As for the food itself: - The hummus was decent, but the Lebanese lamb hummus contained very little lamb and was mostly topped with tomatoes. - The cheese bread was disappointing. The bread tasted stale and wasn't properly toasted. - The Chicken MishMish was interesting and probably the highlight of the meal. The chicken itself wasn't particularly juicy, but the sauce was flavorful and well executed. The rice portion, however, felt quite small. - The lamb ravioli was good and easily the best dish we ordered. - The kafta meatballs were solid but not particularly memorable. In the end, did I miss out on anything by not eating here before? No. Did I gain anything from finally trying it? Not really. Would I go back? Definitely not. What I will remember is not the food but the service. The entire experience felt like the staff were doing us a favor by allowing us to eat there. Spending roughly $150 and leaving feeling disrespected is not something I plan to repeat. If you're looking for an average meal accompanied by long waits, unnecessary attitude, awkward conversations, and a tense dining environment, then Yafa might be exactly what you're looking for. Good luck! read more

We were in town for the weekend and randomly stumbled into this Mediterranean spot after seeing all the awards on the storefront. Definitely seemed to be a family-run restaurant, only two people were working the floor (potentially the owner and one other gentleman). Everyone was super warm and friendly, but service was insanely slow throughout the night. It was difficult to flag someone down when we needed something, even though the restaurant wasn't particularly busy that night. Nothing came across as rude or dismissive though. This leads to the only real downside to the dining experience. We thought we'd be in and out in about an hour, but the meal ended up lasting around 2.5 hours. Great if aiming to have a long, relaxed dinner, but not so great if anyone has a time constraint. As for the food, incredible! We ordered the Lebanese hummus, chicken freekeh special, ragu pasta special, and chocolate cake for dessert. Skip the cake - beautiful looking slice, but was dry. The hummus and chicken freekeh were out of this world though! Would absolutely come back for those two dishes alone. The ragu pasta was also done exceptionally well, but the chicken freekeh stole the show! Definitely worth trying if anyone is on the fence about it! No regrets! read more

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We came around 5:30pm on a Saturday evening and were seated immediately without a reservation. We started our meal with the lebanese hummus, it came with thinly sliced pita bread. We enjoyed the smokiness from the lamb. For our main course, we shared the lamb shank freekeh and mishmish chicken. Both were phenomal. The freekeh dish is a must-try, the ancient grain blended with nuts was so unique and delicious. Highly recommend. read more

Yafa - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

We dropped in here for a light dinner after a day of exploring Carmel because it happened to be close to our hotel. The place is rather tiny, so if your group is more than two people, we'd recommend reservations. We went on a Monday evening and it was quite busy. We'd had a rather large lunch so we opted for a couple of salads: the Roasted Pear salad and the Yafa salad, and we split an Ouzo Shrimp appetizer. The Pear salad turned out to be very tasty, though the Yafa salad was good, but not great. The appetizer was wonderful. The restaurant was very busy, so service was good, though a tiny bit slow. We would go again, but I think we'd delve a little deeper into the interesting menu next time. read more

Yafa - Yafa Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

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We visited for a casual dinner and overall had a pleasant evening, but the food fell short of expectations. The dishes lacked bold flavor -- not as vibrant as what we've loved at Rumi's Kitchen in Atlanta -- and kabobs vegetable were undercooked. Service was friendly. read more

Yafa - Mishmish chicken and kabobs - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

The food was good,but unfortunately our server was not paying attention as he was trying to multi-task as waiter and cashier. Our total bill was $75.00, but to our surprise the next day we checked our account balances, and found that he had charged us $2,037.00 for dinner. it took us almost an entire day to sort this out, which disrupted our vacation plans the following day. We eventually received the money from our bank, but it was a stressful situation to be in. After eating at the restaurant, make sure you check your accounts as soon as possible, to make sure the correct amount is charged. This is a Michelin restaurant, so we expected more. read more

Small little place tucked in the corner of Carmel. Carmel sadly is really dark place at night with not much streetlights, so had some trouble finding it in general without a map. The place itself is quite small, but the service is unmatched. The waiter promptly gave us recommendations, checked on us, and always ready with water or beverages. Due to how small it is, it can get quite rowdy as well depends on the patrons, so don't expect a quiet night. Off to the food review!! 5/5 - Grilled Octopus - Was hesitate on ordering this, but saw it was their number 1 app, and highly recommended. To my surprise probably the best tasting dish of the night. Tender, and easy to cut into. Lemon adds that nice acidy with the herbs and greens makes it a perfect way to start the meal 3.7/5 - Chicken Kebab - I felt the chicken was a bit dry for my liking. The two sauces does help the issue, but doens't resolve it. The garlic sauce was great, and was given more when asked. My partner liked the dish but i think it could have been better. 4.2-5 - Lamb Chops - One of the better lamb chops I've had. Cooked perfectly medium to medium-rare as I asked. Tender with each bite and no game-y flavor at all. Tried to keep myself from grabbing it by the bone, but hard not to as not sure how to get all the meat off perfectly without a knife. 4/5 - Hummus Labanese - Hummus with some charred lamb piece in it. Great tasting dish, the charred meat added a bit of smokiness that can't be matched and with the smoothness of the hummus and pillow soft and warmth of the pita it can't be beat. Definitely thought there could be a bit more pita bread, but the flavor is amazing. read more

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My party of six had arrived here for our reservation @6:30 PM on a Sunday evening. I was able to book my reservation easily on Yelp the day of. I was given the impression that I would be blown away by this restaurant as it was Michelin rated. An older male (who I believe is the owner) took our order and was super welcoming. We had received all of our drinks, appetizers, and main course meal within 30 or so mins after ordering. The gentleman did forget an appetizer we had placed but told us that it would be on the house after all of our food arrived. I rarely eat vegan food but the butternut squash ravioli that I had was superb! I also really enjoyed my rose lemonade (which wasn't on the menu). I also liked how they provided spring water from the bottle instead of tap water. The ambiance was also very dim and cozy I almost fell asleep! Furthermore, I would come back if I went back to Carmel :) read more

Yafa - Butternut Squash Ravioli(Vegan Option) - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

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Delicious and unique mediterranean meal. I ordered the Mishmish chicken and lamb shank freekeh. The freekeh was delicious, with nuts mixed in as well. Lamb shank was very tender, super good with the roux. The Mishmish chicken had a sweet apricot sauce which complemented it very well. I would come again if I'm ever in Carmel! Super delicious and a gem. read more

When our original dinner plans in Carmel Valley fell through due to bumper to bumper traffic, we turned around and headed over to Carmel By the Sea and discovered this charming Mediterranean eatery. I almost always get octopus when I see it on the menu as I have yet to master it myself. Their grilled octopus appetizer was tender and flavorful and a perfect starter. Followed it up with the specialty kebab kafta skewers and I could not say no to the fall of the bone tender slow roasted lamb shank special with Gold Yukon mashed potatoes. That lamb shank was so good and such a generous portion, I recommended it to the neighboring table and they got one to share. read more

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This was by far the best meal I have ever had. We had the dolma, grilled pear salad, and a chicken special. It was absolutely amazing. The owner was gracious and staff attentive. read more

First time coming here and let me tell you.. food was amazing. Music playing in the background was epic. Everything is made from scratch and could notice. Pita bread and humus was very delicious. I would recommend. Chicken was very soft and sweet! Definitely a hidden gem for tourists. Will be coming again. One thing to keep in mind is place is small so reservations are recommended. read more

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This place is a little home in the wall, small room, great vibes and ambiance. Service is good and quick. But the food is definitely the star. Each of our dishes were phenomenal. There were so many depths of flavors in each thing we ate. I never mind having to add salt, but salt can't replace a lack of flavor. There was none of that here. We indulged in the mezza plate and octopus to start, we each got an entree, most of which was from the list of specials. For dessert, we loved the chocolate cake! We tried the pistachio pudding but we wouldn't recommend that unless you love a floral taste - it kind of reminded us of sunscreen. read more

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Came here with my coworker since there was nothing by Ft Hunter Liggett. Although it gave me a lot of date vibes, we went there just for dinner since we were hungry and let me tell you... it was worth it!!! I had the prosciutto board along with the lobster ravioli and I never had a ravioli taste like that! I literally do dishes this in less than 5mins! This was definitely expanding my taste buds for sure!!! However, the GuideMichelin app needs to rate this a $$$ instead of a $$ as I didn't think its was going to be pricey as I thought. Lastly, the service was exceptional. The waiter explained to us the different dishes in the beginning in detail and also had attention to detail. Whenever we ran out of water, he would refill it for us every time without asking and checked in with us every time! Overall a 10/10! read more

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I've been coming to Carmel 1-2x a year for many years. Every trip I try and branch out and try a new restaurant. On this trip, I decided ti try Yafa as I was craving a Greek salad. The restaurant is charming!! It's small and not noisy like many restaurants in Carmel. The service was great! Angelo really knew the wines and I loved the Greek red he recommended. It's one of the best red wines I've had in a long time and I never would have tried it had he not described it so perfectly. The Greek salad was delicious! The lettuce was crisp and fresh and tossed with the perfect amount of dressing. The chicken on the kebabs was cooked perfectly. I loved that the kebabs came with two different dipping sauces. I wish I'd had room for dessert as they all sounded amazing and I'm a huge baklava fan. Next time, as I will definitely eat at Yafa again when I'm back in July. read more

Yafa - Specialty Kebab with chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

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The Lebanese hummus and grilled artichoke are amazing! And the baklava! Everyone is so friendly and it's a great place to either dine in or take out. read more

Made a reservation for a weekend night, dinner with my husband, and we both were very impressed and delighted by the service and quality of the food. The vibes inside were also very homey and friendly, very warm. We each ordered glasses of wine which we thought were very delicious. My husband ordered the Kafta Meatballs which he said were delicious, and I ordered the lamb kebab skewers. The lamb was flavorful and juicy although I believe that if my teeth were weaker, this would have been hard to chew. I would definitely recommend making a reservation here for a date night after a day of browsing Carmel. read more

Yafa - Lamb skewers - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

Amazing fresh baba ganoush! Loved the pulpo appetizer, and shrimp. The pulpo was seasoned so well and loved how tender it was. It was my favorite! For entrees we ordered the mama's meatballs and the lamb shank - omg everything was so flavorful and delicious! There was a good rotation of people going in and out- this place seems popular and for a good reason. Would love to come back and dine again if I'm in the area! read more

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WonderfulGreek and Mediterranean food. Nice wine list. Friendly service Try the watermelon salad and follow it with the lamb kebabs

Food was great! The chicken was superb! The meatballs were delicious! Dia was very accommodating to our dietary needs!! read more

Yafa - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

Great food overall! Horrible wait time which they apologized for I had a reservation but their system didn't get updated with it so we had to wait over 30 mins to get seated and then food arrived in another 30-40 mins after getting seated. Ambiance is cozy and nice. Most people waited 30 mins between dishes and it looked like there was no more than one cook in the kitchen. The host was nice, funny and apologetic about it all. Food won't disappoint but be prepared for waits during weekends especially long weekends read more

This place was wonderful and accommodating to our group of 9 with 3 little kids! The hummus was a perfect starter! I personally loved my chicken kebabs, and my husband loved his salmon! Reasonable price for the area (this is Carmel after all). Reservation was easy to make and adjust via Yelp app. The rest of our group tried a variation of the mishmish chicken, pear salad, and meatballs. All were phenomenal. Will be coming back here again, if in the area. We came on a Saturday at 5:30 and the restaurant is starting to fill up! So recommend a reservation . Lovely atmosphere and service was great!! The pictures speak for themselves!! Wow! read more

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The service at Yafa was exceptional. I went with my wife on a slower night and I believe I was served by the owner of the restaurant. He was attentive and knew the menu very well. I have not eaten much of this food type before so the menu recommendations were helpful. We had the prosciutto appetizer as well as Lamb Shank and Lamb Kebabs. The food was very good. I'm not a big fan of lamb but the lamb was tender and fell off the bone. the tzatziki sauce was amazing and I could have drank it. I would go back here again. The only call out is don't order still water its $9, just drink tap water. I thought this was a solid bang for your buck experience. read more

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This was the most homey dinner I have ever had. The owner/waiter was Greek and was so fun to interact with. He had great recommendations for food and wine. The food was all delicious and the little house the restaurant was in made the experience even better. read more

Yafa - Baba Ghanoush (top) and Vegetarian Dolmas with Tzatziki (bottom) - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

The Greek salad was good and tasted fresh but the yafa pasta didn't taste like much. The sauce was watery and the meat was too chewy. The restaurant is small and aesthetic but I don't think I'll be back anytime soon. read more

Had a highly enjoyable meal here. Not the typical lebanese food I'm used to, but a more homemade version. The octopus is a must. It was crunchy on the outside without being tough on the inside. The marinade/sauce for it was complex. The main courses (chicken and lamb) were refined and had that "comforting" quality to them. I found out at the end of the meal that our waiter was the owner. He was kind and informative. Will go back next time I'm in Carmel. read more

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Went for a quick family meal today and were really disappointed by both the food and the pricing. We ordered a kids' pasta with chicken, which ended up costing the same as a full entrée--definitely unexpected. The Greek salad looked like a pre-bagged chopped salad you could buy at Safeway for $4. It was mostly lettuce, with maybe ¼ cup total of cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions. The feta also seemed store-bought. When we asked about the missing olives, the server said they had run out and forgot to mention it. Would not recommend this spot if you expect the food quality to match the prices. read more

We decided to check out Yafa while in Carmel due to it's Michelin Bib Gourmand status. We made reservations but there was plenty of seating at 5 pm on Sunday night. The entire time we only saw one person (who was likely the owner) manning the front desk, taking orders, and serving food and water. Accordingly, service was pretty slow. I couldn't decide between the mishmish chicken and the kafta meatballs so I asked for the owner's advice and he strongly recommended the meatballs. It arrived in a nice stewy bed of tomatoes and rice, very homey and perfect for the chilly evening. The spice on the meatballs was just right. Everyone agreed my dish was the best. I also sampled the octopus appetizer, lamb and chicken kebabs, hummus, and sole. My favorite (after the meatballs) was the octopus. It was so tender and juicy. My least favorite was the sole as it didn't taste like much beyond fish. The kebabs were pretty good. Flavor wise I can see why this place has good reviews based on my favorite items. However, it's a bit pricey for what you get. Must be those Carmel prices. I am glad to have checked this place out but likely won't return soon. read more

Came here a week ago to celebrate an anniversary. The atmosphere was really moody and I enjoyed it. We did wait a while for service after we were seated, but not a huge complaint. We had the Lamb Ravioli and the Yafa Pasta. The flavors were amazing. I wish I ordered more. I wish the serving for the lamb ravioli was bigger because it was so good. The feta and the tomatoes gave it a wonderfully acidic flavor that went perfect with the lamb. The Yafa pasta had a delicious flavor full of spices. Very aromatic flavor. The meatballs were amazing. The usage of lamb is perfect, giving it a great taste and texture. Highly recommend both of these dishes. The owner was incredibly kind enough to bring our dessert (Beirut Pistachio Pudding) with a candle for us to celebrate. It was perfect. So light and airy, with a nice contrasting texture from the pistachios. The flavor and texture left me feeling satisfied. I really hope to come back to try out the other dishes. read more

Yafa - Beirut Pistachio Pudding - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

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Such a wonderful little spot with superior food and service to match. We absolutely loved our night here!!! It's smallish so make your reservation early! You will not be disappointed. read more

The vinegrette on the grilled peach salad was really good. Mezza platter plentiful! Lamb ravioli was just ok. There was a dessert w rose water that was too rosy that it tasted like hand lotion but when paired w the butter sautéed dates, edible. Nice service. read more

Celebrating my daughters birthday, and we do love Mediterranean cuisine. Adorable, quaint space, comfortable. Started with the Mezza appetizer - perfect in all ways - offerings, quality and quantity. We shared the tabouleh salad - I must say, this was one of the best I've ever had, ingredients were well portioned, very pleasant to the palate. My daughter ordered the Lebanon wine - first try and she enjoyed it; I had a rose lemonade. For the entrees she chose the seafood pasta, which we both noticed more seafood than pasta - what a lovely surprise! I ordered the Kafta - delectable and I'm having the second one for lunch today - this is what's going to bring me back! And the Beirut pistachio pudding made with rose water. Delish! Don't miss it! Took us a long time to get there... so glad to finally have the time. read more

This is an absolute gem in Carmel! I noticed the Michelin guide sign and decided that I needed to check it out. Among the restaurants in Carmel, this is one of the homier, charming, and low-key restaurants. Like a breath of fresh-air compared to the "fancier" restaurants in Carmel. The restaurant is small with a bunch of tables spaced pretty close to each other, but we never felt crammed. I enjoyed the turkish-style lights with mosaic glass decorating the restaurant. We asked our server for dinner recommendations. We ended up getting the grilled octopus appetizer and the meat balls for our entrees. I"m not the biggest octopus fan, but I surprisingly really enjoyed it! It wasn't too chewey, light, and the sauce was amazing! The herbs...the capers... the lemon! Salt, heat, acid, and fat perfectly balanced! The meatballs were delicious! Very flavorful in a very herby, tomato-y broth! We really enjoyed it! The portions are decently generous, so I had leftovers for lunch the next day. read more

I went to Carmel by the Sea to celebrate Valentine's Day with my husband yesterday and we picked Yafa for our dinner celebration. First time there, the restaurant is very cute and the service was awesome. The food was also great. I ordered Mama's Kafta Meatball, it comes with Safron rice, vegetables and of course Kafta meatballs. The mix of flavors were a must, I like and have tried lamb but it was my first time trying Kafta and I liked it. My husband ordered their Gorgonzola Filet mignon, I didn't take any pics of it but he said that the meat was very soft and it tasted delicious. I really liked this place and I recommend it for any occasion. read more

Yafa - Mama's Kafta Meatballs - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

The service is horrid. Tables are covered by plastic that is sticky and dirty. Every single table rocked. Wine bottles are hot, kept at an unpleasant temperature. These would not matter, if it was a family atmosphere restaurant; but here you get bourgeoise prices and attitude without the good parts. Empty restaurant, and he comes and asks our kids to lower the volume of them laughing... again, we were the only table. He rushed through orders and makes everything uncomfortable. He was so rude, I politely told him we could just leave; he became apologetic but the night was ruined already. Paid +$150/person for a bad experience. I got the sense that the wait person was the owner. For the prices he charges he probably can hire a professional. It's sad that a place with such an amazing food has such poor service. read more

I made a reservation at Yafa for Valentine's Day weekend two weeks in advance, knowing how busy Carmel would be and fully expecting a bit of chaos. We arrived 20 minutes early, only to find ourselves--and four other groups--completely ignored for about 30 minutes. It quickly became clear that they were incredibly short-staffed in the front of the house, and with every table in the small, intimate space occupied, it was obvious that our reservation didn't mean much. We're pretty easygoing, and the ambiance, charming décor, and music were all lovely. Plus, the food coming out looked great. But not honoring a reservation, especially for a restaurant with a Bib Gourmand distinction on a holiday weekend, felt a little disrespectful. They could have been better prepared. Once we were finally seated, the hangriness faded, and the food came out quickly--which was a relief after waiting much longer than expected. We started with the oven-baked artichoke with aioli, which was hands down the standout of the night--so simple yet delicious. We also ordered the artichoke and fontina cheese ravioli and the kafta kebabs. Portions were just right--not too big, not too small--but I found it odd that the kebabs came with rice and tzatziki but no pita. Still, everything tasted great, and we agreed the meal was worth the frustrating wait. We wrapped up with baklava, which was solid--honestly, it's hard to go wrong with baklava. The food lived up to its Bib Gourmand rating, but service can make or break a dining experience. I wavered between a 3 and 4-star review but ultimately landed on 3 because of the service. Not sure I'd return next time I'm in Carmel, but I'm grateful to have experienced that artichoke appetizer. read more

We've been coming to Carmel-by-the-Sea since 2019, and every single trip has been shaped around one non-negotiable: a visit to Yafa's. It has become our tradition, our comfort, and honestly, one of our favorite parts of being in Carmel. The food is consistently incredible -- fresh, flavorful, and made with such care that you can taste it in every bite. The service is always warm and genuine, the kind that makes you feel remembered, welcomed, and valued. There's something about the atmosphere, too... cozy, vibrant, intimate. It has a way of slowing you down and making you feel like you're exactly where you're meant to be. A place we return to, year after year We've had our wedding lunch here, anniversary dinners here, spontaneous evenings, and meals that felt like the highlight of our trip. No matter how many beautiful places we explore in Carmel, Yafa's remains the place we look forward to most. A true 5-star experience in every way -- consistently, beautifully, and wholeheartedly. If you're visiting Carmel, don't miss this gem. It's the kind of place that keeps you coming back year after year. read more

Yafa - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

The food was out of this world - very different and unexpected. The music playing was very relaxing and the ambient noise was good enough to have a conversation. Felt like a European restaurant with tables very close to each other. They seem short staffed - servers felt like they were overwhelmed. I want to come back to try more dishes! read more

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