This is my love letter to Il Tegamino: I don't know how things usually go for 7pm on Sunday for dinner availability at restaurants in Carmel, but our table for two was able to be seated inside right away without a reservation. Call it luck, or maybe karma -- but after a minor car crash earlier in the day -- there were no other two people in this world that needed the comfort of authentic Italian food more than us. Carmel is arguably the cutest town ever and Il Tegamino is the cutest nook in Carmel - nestled in a little nook off of the south side of Ocean Ave between Lincoln and Monte Verde. We went directly from watching the sunset on the beach, walked a few blocks up Ocean Ave and voila -- there Il Tegamino was. They have a lovely courtyard outdoor seating area with twinkle lights and heaters. This whole area outside is dog-friendly and I just wish I could bring my dog here!! The inside is cozy, and you feel more like you're at a dinner party in Italy. The staff is so friendly, attentive, and funny! The owner goes around talking with everyone- with a thick Italian accent-- recommending dishes, serving freshly grated cheese and pepper, and overall just making everyone feel welcome . You can really tell that he loves what he does and puts so much heart and soul into this restaurant. Now for the food.... We started off with the burrata caprese and their bread basket. Yes, we know better than to fill up on bread before your meal but we just couldn't help ourselves. We finished the entire bread basket and the crostinis that came with the burrata caprese before our entrees got to our table. For entrees we ordered the brasato di agnello, a braised lamb shank on top of risotto. I gotta say, I think this was my favorite dish of the meal. The risotto really complimented the rich and gamey (in a good way) lamb so well. The paccheri al ragu napoletano-- which is their take on a ragu with pappardelle. The ragu was a mix of short rib and pork sausage -- you can just tell that this baby was slow cooked for hours. The way that the sauce gripped onto the pasta-- I know it's fresh but it also reminded me of when you have leftover pasta the next day. From the food, ambiance, service and everything in between- Il Tegamino will forever hold a special place in my heart. If it took being rear-ended in an expensive rental car to have found this place - it would have been worth it. I'll be dreaming about this meal and my whole experience at Il Tegamino for the rest of time.
Kelli M.
Delicious food and warm and attentive service, definitely recommended when visiting Carmel! Salvatore was great! Was even accommodating to our large dog who came along to dinner.
Matt M.
We made reservations and this place is tucked in the back of business's on downtown. Room is small like most businesses co-owner was the server, and was polite and courteous. We ordered the variety bread which came out warm with oil and balsamic vinegar. It was so good. We also ordered the mozzarella buffalo cheese, and it was delicious with sauce. I ordered the steak and salad. The steak was dry but the salad was fresh and green. My wife ordered the tortellini and it was heavenly. It was so cheesy and creamy. The lights were romantic. Price is up there.
Kristy A.
Highly recommend this hidden gem. Atmosphere -5star Food - 5 star Service - 5 star We had the smoked mozzarella appetizer. With no expectation this was so so good! Husband and I both ordered the ragu. This dish didn't disappoint. For dessert I ordered the affogato. Ugh, I left so full and happy. We will be back!! Ps. The owner sang happy birthday to the table next to us in Italian.
Young Jun Park
This is a hidden gem you will find in Carmel downtown. The food was really delicious in addition to its cozy atmosphere. The brother of the chef took our order, who was very gentle and detailed, gave us excellent recommendations and descriptions. Oh don't forget to try their deserts!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrew N.
Huge shoutout to Salvatorre for making fun conversation with our honeymoon dinner! Fantastic food too!!
Vladi C.
It's quite rare for my wife to sit through an entire 4 to 5 course meal but at this restaurant, we felt the need to enjoy the full experience. The caprece and narrate with smoked mozzarella was oh so delicious. For the main entree my wife had the fig ravioli which was a unique and very delicious dish (highly recommend). I had the beef ragu which was very filling, bold tomato flavor, and perfectly cooked beef. To top it all off we had the Bambolini with cappuccinos. Their coffee is very good! The overall ambience made us feel like we were in the heart of Rome. From the owner of himself entertaining his guests and sharing in detail about the menu, to the tight space within the restaurant, it shouted "authentic Italian cuisine". Very happy with us to try something new tonight!
Susan K.
While the food was all delicious, the seating felt a bit cramped. Nonetheless, every dish we had tasted amazing. Prices were a bit high and portions were a bit small which is why I didn't give 5 stars.
Justin H.
Highly recommend. Authentic and very fresh. Service was excellent. Our favorite was the tiramisu.
euridice vazquez
We had dinner and everything was amazing!Great service and super friendly staff. Must try the Ragu Napoletano.
Wow. Loved everything about this place. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable. We had the bread along with special olive oil. Pastas. Wine. Lasagna. All excellent. I highly recommend!
golfer7
Very nice servers. Food was flavorful but uneven: great gnocchi, octopus app was luke warm, wine selection was great, zucchini flower was a bit light on zucchini. Enjoyed the experience; just need a bit more food consistency.
Elaura
Adorable and off the beaten path, Il Tegamino is a gem in Carmel. I wasn't thrilled with the pasta special I got, but my partner's ragu was incredible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Anita D.
We tried this restaurant last night and loved it! My husband had the Napoleon pasta and I had a cream sauce fettuccine with peas and pork sausage that was a special. The food was excellent! I docked a star because it was pretty pricey ($40 per pasta plus they charged $3 for the hot water without letting us know there is a charge for that). Additionally, the hostess was a bit rude because we had a reservation and asked if we could sit inside, but she said no. The couple that came right after us didn't have a reservation, but seemed to be regulars, and she gave them a table inside. Other than that, the owner was wonderful and the food was great!
Gretchen J.
What a great find! The food was excellent, authentic Italian food. I have seen some of the selections on the menu since my last trip to Italy. It was so good we are bringing our friends next week! It is small but did not find it noisy and the outside courtyard patio is really charming. The waitstaff is energetic and truly loves his restaurant and is extremely knowledgeable about the food as well as wine pairings. Fresh local ingredients were used and highlighted in the specials. The pricing is in line with most all the restaurants in Carmel. It is not an easy place to find, it is behind (not beside) the Carmel Sweet Shop.
This is my love letter to Il Tegamino: I don't know how things usually go for 7pm on Sunday for dinner availability at restaurants in Carmel, but our table for two was able to be seated inside right away without a reservation. Call it luck, or maybe karma -- but after a minor car crash earlier in the day -- there were no other two people in this world that needed the comfort of authentic Italian food more than us. Carmel is arguably the cutest town ever and Il Tegamino is the cutest nook in Carmel - nestled in a little nook off of the south side of Ocean Ave between Lincoln and Monte Verde. We went directly from watching the sunset on the beach, walked a few blocks up Ocean Ave and voila -- there Il Tegamino was. They have a lovely courtyard outdoor seating area with twinkle lights and heaters. This whole area outside is dog-friendly and I just wish I could bring my dog here!! The inside is cozy, and you feel more like you're at a dinner party in Italy. The staff is so friendly, attentive, and funny! The owner goes around talking with everyone- with a thick Italian accent-- recommending dishes, serving freshly grated cheese and pepper, and overall just making everyone feel welcome . You can really tell that he loves what he does and puts so much heart and soul into this restaurant. Now for the food.... We started off with the burrata caprese and their bread basket. Yes, we know better than to fill up on bread before your meal but we just couldn't help ourselves. We finished the entire bread basket and the crostinis that came with the burrata caprese before our entrees got to our table. For entrees we ordered the brasato di agnello, a braised lamb shank on top of risotto. I gotta say, I think this was my favorite dish of the meal. The risotto really complimented the rich and gamey (in a good way) lamb so well. The paccheri al ragu napoletano-- which is their take on a ragu with pappardelle. The ragu was a mix of short rib and pork sausage -- you can just tell that this baby was slow cooked for hours. The way that the sauce gripped onto the pasta-- I know it's fresh but it also reminded me of when you have leftover pasta the next day. From the food, ambiance, service and everything in between- Il Tegamino will forever hold a special place in my heart. If it took being rear-ended in an expensive rental car to have found this place - it would have been worth it. I'll be dreaming about this meal and my whole experience at Il Tegamino for the rest of time.
Delicious food and warm and attentive service, definitely recommended when visiting Carmel! Salvatore was great! Was even accommodating to our large dog who came along to dinner.
We made reservations and this place is tucked in the back of business's on downtown. Room is small like most businesses co-owner was the server, and was polite and courteous. We ordered the variety bread which came out warm with oil and balsamic vinegar. It was so good. We also ordered the mozzarella buffalo cheese, and it was delicious with sauce. I ordered the steak and salad. The steak was dry but the salad was fresh and green. My wife ordered the tortellini and it was heavenly. It was so cheesy and creamy. The lights were romantic. Price is up there.
Highly recommend this hidden gem. Atmosphere -5star Food - 5 star Service - 5 star We had the smoked mozzarella appetizer. With no expectation this was so so good! Husband and I both ordered the ragu. This dish didn't disappoint. For dessert I ordered the affogato. Ugh, I left so full and happy. We will be back!! Ps. The owner sang happy birthday to the table next to us in Italian.
This is a hidden gem you will find in Carmel downtown. The food was really delicious in addition to its cozy atmosphere. The brother of the chef took our order, who was very gentle and detailed, gave us excellent recommendations and descriptions. Oh don't forget to try their deserts!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Huge shoutout to Salvatorre for making fun conversation with our honeymoon dinner! Fantastic food too!!
It's quite rare for my wife to sit through an entire 4 to 5 course meal but at this restaurant, we felt the need to enjoy the full experience. The caprece and narrate with smoked mozzarella was oh so delicious. For the main entree my wife had the fig ravioli which was a unique and very delicious dish (highly recommend). I had the beef ragu which was very filling, bold tomato flavor, and perfectly cooked beef. To top it all off we had the Bambolini with cappuccinos. Their coffee is very good! The overall ambience made us feel like we were in the heart of Rome. From the owner of himself entertaining his guests and sharing in detail about the menu, to the tight space within the restaurant, it shouted "authentic Italian cuisine". Very happy with us to try something new tonight!
While the food was all delicious, the seating felt a bit cramped. Nonetheless, every dish we had tasted amazing. Prices were a bit high and portions were a bit small which is why I didn't give 5 stars.
Highly recommend. Authentic and very fresh. Service was excellent. Our favorite was the tiramisu.
We had dinner and everything was amazing!Great service and super friendly staff. Must try the Ragu Napoletano.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Carbonara, Ragu Napoletano
Restaurantji Recommends
Wow. Loved everything about this place. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable. We had the bread along with special olive oil. Pastas. Wine. Lasagna. All excellent. I highly recommend!
Very nice servers. Food was flavorful but uneven: great gnocchi, octopus app was luke warm, wine selection was great, zucchini flower was a bit light on zucchini. Enjoyed the experience; just need a bit more food consistency.
Adorable and off the beaten path, Il Tegamino is a gem in Carmel. I wasn't thrilled with the pasta special I got, but my partner's ragu was incredible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
We tried this restaurant last night and loved it! My husband had the Napoleon pasta and I had a cream sauce fettuccine with peas and pork sausage that was a special. The food was excellent! I docked a star because it was pretty pricey ($40 per pasta plus they charged $3 for the hot water without letting us know there is a charge for that). Additionally, the hostess was a bit rude because we had a reservation and asked if we could sit inside, but she said no. The couple that came right after us didn't have a reservation, but seemed to be regulars, and she gave them a table inside. Other than that, the owner was wonderful and the food was great!
What a great find! The food was excellent, authentic Italian food. I have seen some of the selections on the menu since my last trip to Italy. It was so good we are bringing our friends next week! It is small but did not find it noisy and the outside courtyard patio is really charming. The waitstaff is energetic and truly loves his restaurant and is extremely knowledgeable about the food as well as wine pairings. Fresh local ingredients were used and highlighted in the specials. The pricing is in line with most all the restaurants in Carmel. It is not an easy place to find, it is behind (not beside) the Carmel Sweet Shop.