Dining in Carmel - midweek but special occasion?
Mar 30th, 2015, 10:37 AM
#1
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Dining in Carmel - midweek but special occasion?
Will spend 2 1/2 days in Carmel to enjoy it and have a birthday dinner for someone who wishes it weren't a birthday.
1. Recommendations for good but not break-the-bank expensive restaurant? Appreciate fine food, interesting, ethnic and/or locovore cuisine well-conceived and prepared, but under, say $60-70 per person?
2. Are reservations generally needed mid-week?
1. Recommendations for good but not break-the-bank expensive restaurant? Appreciate fine food, interesting, ethnic and/or locovore cuisine well-conceived and prepared, but under, say $60-70 per person?
2. Are reservations generally needed mid-week?
Apr 6th, 2015, 05:30 AM
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if the person doesn't want to focus on their birthday, wouldn't it be more considerate to maybe do a casual dinner or picnic and do something like a beach walk or something instead of having a focused "birthday dinner".
Apr 6th, 2015, 05:42 PM
#8
I could be wrong, but I think the "wishes it wasn't a birthday" was more of an "I wish I wasn't getting older" rather than "I don't want a celebratory meal". Which we can all relate to.
I mean, as much as I don't like getting a year older every year (and the days seem to go really fast now!), I'd be pretty pissed if my husband simply ignored it or went casual on me!
In fact, when I got a doctor's referral report describing my age, I honestly thought the person they were describing was someone else . . . .
I mean, as much as I don't like getting a year older every year (and the days seem to go really fast now!), I'd be pretty pissed if my husband simply ignored it or went casual on me!
In fact, when I got a doctor's referral report describing my age, I honestly thought the person they were describing was someone else . . . .
Apr 6th, 2015, 07:46 PM
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What surfer girl said is the situation. Doesn't mind people celebrating anniversary of her birth, but does mind how many of those anniversaries there have been.
Patty's recommendations are helpful. Narrowing it down to Andre's Bouchee and La Balena. We went to Mundaka tonight just for ourselves -- they had limited the menu (after Easter weekend, I guess) and a number of their best dishes were 86'd. But what we did have was amazing - raviolis and cauliflower notably.
Will keep you posted.
Patty's recommendations are helpful. Narrowing it down to Andre's Bouchee and La Balena. We went to Mundaka tonight just for ourselves -- they had limited the menu (after Easter weekend, I guess) and a number of their best dishes were 86'd. But what we did have was amazing - raviolis and cauliflower notably.
Will keep you posted.
Apr 15th, 2015, 08:44 AM
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Thought I'd update with a report that we were treated to a lovely dinner at the Mt. Hamilton GrandView Restaurant, overlooking (from WAAAAAY up - quite a drive!) the San Jose valley and lower bay. Food was special and better than average although not quite 4-star - large (too large) portions and occasionally overdone sauce. But for a birthday it was great (there were 3 other birthdays being celebrated and a hard-sell taste-sampling for a wedding going on around us. Nonetheless, the setting and sunset were commandingly lovely so we didn't mind.
Apr 15th, 2015, 08:50 AM
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That was after we went to Carmel -- obviously (a very long drive to Mt. Hamilton area from Carmel). In Carmel we had a nice but very limited tapas supper at Mundaka (cauliflower was surprise winner) and next night a very nice dinner at Grassings -- very well presented. Andree's was out of our hosts' comfort zone both re: price and cuisine. Balena was closed that night.
Had such a nice time at Cypress Inn (popovers for breakfast!) that I hope to go back exactly there, and get all the dogs greeting when we walked through the lobby.
Had such a nice time at Cypress Inn (popovers for breakfast!) that I hope to go back exactly there, and get all the dogs greeting when we walked through the lobby.
