Carmel dining only!
 

We are leaving for Carmel next week for 4 nights. We have reservations at Grasing's and Christopher's. We are considering Flagherty's, Flying Fish Grill, and The Grill. Comments on any of the above or additional thoughts would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks.

You may also want to consider Bouchee for one of your dinners. The Pacific's Edge at the Highland's Inn is also very nice for a gourmet meal in a beautiful setting. :)

The Sunday Jazz Brunch at the Mission Ranch is also very good. Last Dec. the weather was warm enough for us to eat out on the patio with pretty views of the grounds. Enjoy Carmel! ***kim*** ((f))

Drive to Big Sur and go to Nepenthe. It's beautiful, and the food is good. If the weather is warm, sit on the back patio overlooking the ocean. They have a wonderful store with beautiful and unusual things, as well.

We had a great lunch at Casanova's.

Agree with motor city girl, Casanova is very good for lunch. We have been twice now and both times our meal was very good. :)

We like to sit out on the back patio. ***kim*** ((#))

If you enjoy wonderful food, consider the previous posts pooper-scooped, OK? If you're not so picky, then throw darts and grab any of the aforementioned.

What kind of cuisine? Do you want to be within walking distance of our downtown area or is the entire peninsula up for grabs?

Grasing's and Christopher's are two of my favorites in Carmel, so obviously I think you have made a good choice with those. If you are looking for the same quality in other restaurants, I personally would steer clear of Casanovas -- kind of tired cuisine in my opinion. I liked Bouchee when it first opened, but I haven't eaten there recently, so I'm not sure of the quality anymore.

TTess - You helped me out when we visited Monterey/Carmel last year. I'm guessing that you live in the area. Passionfish was terrific!! This time we would like to stay within Carmel proper. Do you not approve of Grasing's & Christopher's! I have heard great things about both. As for Casanova's, we had dinner there last year. Perhaps lunch is different. The only thing I can recall being memorable is the wine menu which was soooo over the top pricewise we couldn't believe it. I am a big seafood lover and thought that Flagherty's might be good. We would prefer not to be eating just to be eating, but rather to really enjoy the experience. We have two nights open as yet, so what about Bouchee?

Thanks you ALL for your comments. I have got to start packing.

Wow, I thought Casanova's was good for lunch and we had great wine. It was very expensive wine but I was being treated by a vendor of my husbands so I wasn't paying. I also agree with kim that sitting out in the "patio" was nice. I had a great seafood pasta, salad and a mushroom appetizer. All very good. I am not a local, so my no means an expert to food in the area. Just speaking from my experience. I am sure there are plenty of great restaurants. BTW, I didn't notice any "poop" at Casanova's.

I have also heard great things about Christopher's but did not make it. Our other meals were already planned.

Pam--Tess will speak for herself I'm sure, but she is the person who recommended Christoper's to me, so I know she does like it.

We were in Carmel for our honeymoon this summer and we both loved Cassanova. Excellent food, wine and service.

Pacific Edge at Highlands Inn was a spectacular view but the food was just "ok" in my book and very expensive. I was more impressed than my husband. But I think there were other restaurants that we both would have rather tried.

Any thoughts on Italian food? Tutto Mundo or ?? We eat at Il Fornio at home, so would prefer something different.

I hope that I have not offended anyone. I guess I came on a bit strong re Casanova. It isn't always fair when you have only been to a restaurant one time, as it could have been an "off" night for us. Still, the wine list was one of the priciest!

Thanks again to all.

Little Napoli is very good for Italian food in Carmel. Enjoy your trip! ***kim*** ((f))

Pam I think it is perfectly OK not to like a restaurant that others think highly of. People have different tastes, so long as you don't actually accuse someone of having terrible taste, there is no reason to be offended. If someone perceives criticism of a restaurant that they like to be a criticism of their taste, that is their issue.

Sorry, can't help with Italian restaurants in Carmel--it has been too long since I have eaten at any. You might check out Cantinetta Luca, it looks like a cut-above your standard Italian/American cuisine.

SAB - Thanks for the words of encouragement and for your recommendations. I think we will definitely try Cantinetta Luca. I checked the menu (What would we do without the internet?)and it sounds terrific, having been prepared by a chef with quite a history. Bouchee is still up for grabs. Wish we could stay longer to enjoy all of the great restaurants. Hope we don't both need two seats each on our flight home.

One would think that all we have planned is eating. Good grief, no!! We have to walk, shop and sightsee during the day to work-off dinner.

Pam, everyone's tastes are different and every restaurant has bad days. My second comments were not in regard to what you said.

I think everyone on this board appreciates honest opinions and I did not take what you said as harsh at all. No sweat, sweetie!

I forgot that in your original post you asked about Flying Fish Grill--I have only been once, but I liked it. When I want fish, we usually go to Passionfish, still one of my all time favorite places on the Penninsula. Actually I think we go to Passionfish every time we go to Carmel!! But now it will have to share time with Christopher's.

Passionfish (Pacific Grove) did not impress us the one time we had dinner there. The food was mediocre and the service spotty, tho they do have a nice wine list. ***kim*** ((#))

Good experience at Il Tuto Mundo. Would go again.

I like Bahama Billy's at the Barnyard/ Crossroads.
Also Montereys Fish House which in in Monterey and not Carmel.

Oh boy...Pam's probably here and I haven't had a chance to respond. Sorry, Pam. Of course, you chose well with Grasings and Christopher's. Sab, I haven't been to Bouchee, so please don't include that restaurant in my previous comments. Italian? As somebody else who posted here, has learned from me - Little Napoli.
Have a nice trip - it's beautiful here, today!

Hey Tess--As noted I haven't been to Bouchee lately, so I have no current knowledge upon which to recommend it. I know that you never mention it, now I know why. Any particular reason why you have never been--too expensive, just not interested?

Hi Sab, the opportunity just hasn't been there for me. Maybe one day. Cost? LOL...ummm, no...we've dined at Roy's, Club XIX and Fresh Cream in the last couple of weeks alone. Check out this post so you can get a good idea on how we dine: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34871830

Tess--I certainly did not intend to imply that you could not afford Bouchee, I was only inquirying whether you thought the food was not worth the price. Many times although I can afford a restaurant, I will find it is overpriced based on the quality of the food. I believe that it should not be difficult to produce excellent food at a high price, i.e. if a restaurnat is expensive I expect great, not adequate food. What I really value is producing excellent food at a moderate price.

Has anyone been to Bixby's yet? See website:
http://bixbysouthwestgrill.com/index.htm
Kai is so cute!

SAB - you stated some of the reasons we love Christopher's so much.

Happy Thanksgiving. We have to get dressed and drive up to the bay area to our family get together. Oh, I wonder what kind of traffic we're going to face.