Wow. Just wow.Let me break it down from the top. The parking, not the best. But I didn’t let that stop us. I knew good things always take a little work, so I was cool with that.The restaurant itself was small, but my gf is also small, and she’s great, so I assumed the same.When we ordered, Me and my gf both got the chicken and waffles. We figured, why not? Right?When it came to the table, it was a pretty big plate. Huge fluffy waffle with a couple thick pieces of chicken. I didn’t know where to start. So I panicked and just dumped the syrup over the whole thing. It was a great idea, which usually doesn’t happen for me so early in the morning. It was amazing. We really enjoyed it, but bummed that we heard it was closing down. Good stuff here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Country Chicken and Waffles
Michael Rosenvall
Great morning spot with pups ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggs Benedict, Pancakes
Denver Dale
Food and service were both solid but it was rather cold and stark inside. Prices were high but this is Carmel.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
M B
Carrot and apple soup was so tasty that we could not resist ordering a second plate. Crab cake was delicious, and a generous portion of salmon was very very good. Potato dumplings and sweet red cabbage made a very nice addition too. This restaurant is definitely worth wandering off the beaten path.Dietary restrictions: We asked to serve salmon without bacon, which they did.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jumbo Lump Crab Cake
Jennifer C
Stellar menu options and specials. Wonderfully attentive service. Our rack of lamb and seafood risotto were excellent. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Juan M.
I've eaten here close to 10 times now, and each and every time has been a delight. The service is excellent, the host, Dia, is warm and inviting, and the food is great. It is such a quaint and romantic place. I welcome change from the touristy spots down the street. I highly recommend this restaurant.
Marc W.
My wife and I ordered the Salmon Benedict and Chicken and Waffles. We shared and both dishes were perfect. Flavor and texture was phenomenal, nice and quiet outdoor seating next to a heating tower with great service (even our dog received a bowl of water and his own little doggy bed). Next time we are in Carmel, we will definitely visit again.
Jen N.
We decided to dine here today based on the reviews and we are at a loss AMBIANCE 0/5: We were seated inside in front of the hostess stand facing the ~lovely~ parking lot. The interior is bare bones and not exactly inviting. They do have outdoor tables but it was freezing cold and they only had one heater FOOD 1/5: I ordered the bacon and cheddar waffle and added a fried chicken on top ($20) - the fried chicken was good but the waffle was extremely dry. I thought the bacon and cheddar would be cooked in the waffle, but they just sprinkled it on top. They were also extremely stingy with both the cheddar and the bacon. My boyfriend got the steak and egg burrito ($17) and it gave him diarrhea. Enough said SERVICE 0/5: the food took almost 45 minutes to come out. Everyone was nice but we asked for napkins and they never brought them. The cherry on top is they charged us not once, but TWICE for the bad meal. We first paid with Apple Pay and he said it didn't go through. So he charged me credit card. Both ended up going through but unfortunately none of the servers knew how to use a POS system. They said they had to call the owner to refund it. I eventually received a refund of the double charge 3 days later... They also don't have a bathroom in the building, you have to go around to the bathroom outside. It was so dirty I couldn't even bring myself to use it. If you're looking for a restaurant in Carmel, literally go ANYWHERE else
DanNo
It was unfortunate that our group was seated outside in the cold and rain. Wait staff was quick to respond, but we were not prepared to sit outside with no prior knowledge and get rained on. Average age of our group was 66. One meal of the 6 of us was served 15 minutes earlier than the other 5 (he had fish) which also was a bummer. They short poured two glasses of vino, but made up for it with a free glass which was nice. Over all, the food was pretty damn good. The steak was prepared differently than expected, but was still good. The fish was excellent. It did take a good long time for us to get waited on. I would give it another try before the final verdict. Right now, C+. Sincerely, Principal Dan
Rebecca D.
Fantastic brunch in beautiful Carmel. Just outside the downtown area, but close enough to walk. Fast service, not a bad wait for food. Recommend making a reservation. Coffee was strong, hot, delicious. My sister and I shared the lemon ricotta pancakes (the perfect texture!) and the burrito, which was massive and kind of a mess to eat but tasted great. They provided dog beds and water for the customers with fur friends in the outdoor seating area. The building is next to some kind of maybe apartment building which steals from the general ambience but not enough to not go back.
Let me start out by saying that the restaurant name is very fitting! Located on a small street, away from the busy touristy foot traffic. We would not have found this spot, if it weren't for Yelp. First impression was that the interior was a lot smaller than the photos suggested. Yes, they did have outside seating, but the building itself was tiny with only a few tables. So it was a good thing that I had made prior reservations. Our party of six took up a huge table in the corner. There was only one server and he looked young. I was surprised at the professionalism and the hospitality he showed us. I'm a huge fan of lemon ricotta pancakes and, of course, I had to try theirs. Oh man was I blown away! It was everything I wanted it to be - light, fluffy, and just the right amount of zesty lemon flavor. My side of bacon was perfection as well. My family also enjoyed the savory meat skillet and the house braised corn beef hash. I'd love to return and try other menu items! Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with anything here. This is a must if you're searching for brunch in Carmel!
Stephen S.
It is LOUD inside. If you want boisterous, this is it. Quiet Sunday brunch, not so much unless you sit outside. On the plus side the food is delicious and the portions generous.
Cassandra Ho
We came here for our anniversary at the end of our trip to Carmel and we are only sorry we didn’t come sooner! This was one of the best meals we have ever had. We had the entire place to ourselves and the service was friendly and efficient. We were treated to complimentary tastes of dishes and wine we did not order so we really got a feel for the talent and range of the chef’s abilities. We didn’t tell them it was our anniversary, but there would have been no need since they treated us so well already. The ravioli my husband ordered was incredible and we were both sad when it was all gone. The fisherman’s stew was very generous with the seafood, while not being a heavy meal, exactly what I was looking for that night. I wish them lots of success so we can return next time with more of an appetite.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fishermans Stew, Hand Made Porcini Wild Mushroom Ravioli, Bread Pudding
April D.
My experience at Carmel's hidden gem restaurant was nothing short of delightful. The pet-friendly atmosphere instantly won us over, as we were able to enjoy a lovely lunch with our furry companion. The staff's accommodation for our dog was impressive, making us feel right at home. The highlight, though, was the freshly cooked food. If you're in Carmel and looking for a charming spot with great food and a welcoming attitude towards pets, this hidden gem is a must-visit!
JoeM
Average food. Ordered mussels and a few did not taste fresh. The dish also was full of sour flavor without much to offset it - kind of a mess in terms of flavor profile. The other dishes we had tasted better, but no real standouts. The only thing we enjoyed was the location/ambience.
Wow. Just wow.Let me break it down from the top. The parking, not the best. But I didn’t let that stop us. I knew good things always take a little work, so I was cool with that.The restaurant itself was small, but my gf is also small, and she’s great, so I assumed the same.When we ordered, Me and my gf both got the chicken and waffles. We figured, why not? Right?When it came to the table, it was a pretty big plate. Huge fluffy waffle with a couple thick pieces of chicken. I didn’t know where to start. So I panicked and just dumped the syrup over the whole thing. It was a great idea, which usually doesn’t happen for me so early in the morning. It was amazing. We really enjoyed it, but bummed that we heard it was closing down. Good stuff here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Country Chicken and Waffles
Great morning spot with pups ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggs Benedict, Pancakes
Food and service were both solid but it was rather cold and stark inside. Prices were high but this is Carmel.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Carrot and apple soup was so tasty that we could not resist ordering a second plate. Crab cake was delicious, and a generous portion of salmon was very very good. Potato dumplings and sweet red cabbage made a very nice addition too. This restaurant is definitely worth wandering off the beaten path.Dietary restrictions: We asked to serve salmon without bacon, which they did.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jumbo Lump Crab Cake
Stellar menu options and specials. Wonderfully attentive service. Our rack of lamb and seafood risotto were excellent. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've eaten here close to 10 times now, and each and every time has been a delight. The service is excellent, the host, Dia, is warm and inviting, and the food is great. It is such a quaint and romantic place. I welcome change from the touristy spots down the street. I highly recommend this restaurant.
My wife and I ordered the Salmon Benedict and Chicken and Waffles. We shared and both dishes were perfect. Flavor and texture was phenomenal, nice and quiet outdoor seating next to a heating tower with great service (even our dog received a bowl of water and his own little doggy bed). Next time we are in Carmel, we will definitely visit again.
We decided to dine here today based on the reviews and we are at a loss AMBIANCE 0/5: We were seated inside in front of the hostess stand facing the ~lovely~ parking lot. The interior is bare bones and not exactly inviting. They do have outdoor tables but it was freezing cold and they only had one heater FOOD 1/5: I ordered the bacon and cheddar waffle and added a fried chicken on top ($20) - the fried chicken was good but the waffle was extremely dry. I thought the bacon and cheddar would be cooked in the waffle, but they just sprinkled it on top. They were also extremely stingy with both the cheddar and the bacon. My boyfriend got the steak and egg burrito ($17) and it gave him diarrhea. Enough said SERVICE 0/5: the food took almost 45 minutes to come out. Everyone was nice but we asked for napkins and they never brought them. The cherry on top is they charged us not once, but TWICE for the bad meal. We first paid with Apple Pay and he said it didn't go through. So he charged me credit card. Both ended up going through but unfortunately none of the servers knew how to use a POS system. They said they had to call the owner to refund it. I eventually received a refund of the double charge 3 days later... They also don't have a bathroom in the building, you have to go around to the bathroom outside. It was so dirty I couldn't even bring myself to use it. If you're looking for a restaurant in Carmel, literally go ANYWHERE else
It was unfortunate that our group was seated outside in the cold and rain. Wait staff was quick to respond, but we were not prepared to sit outside with no prior knowledge and get rained on. Average age of our group was 66. One meal of the 6 of us was served 15 minutes earlier than the other 5 (he had fish) which also was a bummer. They short poured two glasses of vino, but made up for it with a free glass which was nice. Over all, the food was pretty damn good. The steak was prepared differently than expected, but was still good. The fish was excellent. It did take a good long time for us to get waited on. I would give it another try before the final verdict. Right now, C+. Sincerely, Principal Dan
Fantastic brunch in beautiful Carmel. Just outside the downtown area, but close enough to walk. Fast service, not a bad wait for food. Recommend making a reservation. Coffee was strong, hot, delicious. My sister and I shared the lemon ricotta pancakes (the perfect texture!) and the burrito, which was massive and kind of a mess to eat but tasted great. They provided dog beds and water for the customers with fur friends in the outdoor seating area. The building is next to some kind of maybe apartment building which steals from the general ambience but not enough to not go back.
Restaurantji Recommends
Let me start out by saying that the restaurant name is very fitting! Located on a small street, away from the busy touristy foot traffic. We would not have found this spot, if it weren't for Yelp. First impression was that the interior was a lot smaller than the photos suggested. Yes, they did have outside seating, but the building itself was tiny with only a few tables. So it was a good thing that I had made prior reservations. Our party of six took up a huge table in the corner. There was only one server and he looked young. I was surprised at the professionalism and the hospitality he showed us. I'm a huge fan of lemon ricotta pancakes and, of course, I had to try theirs. Oh man was I blown away! It was everything I wanted it to be - light, fluffy, and just the right amount of zesty lemon flavor. My side of bacon was perfection as well. My family also enjoyed the savory meat skillet and the house braised corn beef hash. I'd love to return and try other menu items! Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with anything here. This is a must if you're searching for brunch in Carmel!
It is LOUD inside. If you want boisterous, this is it. Quiet Sunday brunch, not so much unless you sit outside. On the plus side the food is delicious and the portions generous.
We came here for our anniversary at the end of our trip to Carmel and we are only sorry we didn’t come sooner! This was one of the best meals we have ever had. We had the entire place to ourselves and the service was friendly and efficient. We were treated to complimentary tastes of dishes and wine we did not order so we really got a feel for the talent and range of the chef’s abilities. We didn’t tell them it was our anniversary, but there would have been no need since they treated us so well already. The ravioli my husband ordered was incredible and we were both sad when it was all gone. The fisherman’s stew was very generous with the seafood, while not being a heavy meal, exactly what I was looking for that night. I wish them lots of success so we can return next time with more of an appetite.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fishermans Stew, Hand Made Porcini Wild Mushroom Ravioli, Bread Pudding
My experience at Carmel's hidden gem restaurant was nothing short of delightful. The pet-friendly atmosphere instantly won us over, as we were able to enjoy a lovely lunch with our furry companion. The staff's accommodation for our dog was impressive, making us feel right at home. The highlight, though, was the freshly cooked food. If you're in Carmel and looking for a charming spot with great food and a welcoming attitude towards pets, this hidden gem is a must-visit!
Average food. Ordered mussels and a few did not taste fresh. The dish also was full of sour flavor without much to offset it - kind of a mess in terms of flavor profile. The other dishes we had tasted better, but no real standouts. The only thing we enjoyed was the location/ambience.