The most recent thread that comes up on a search is 4 years old. Any suggestions for good dining. Price and type of food are very flexible. Not looking for the most expensive 5 star place, but atmosphere (quiet to romantic) is most important, right up their with food quality.
Places I remember seemed to be very packed and very noisy. This is for the last week in August. What's unique and wonderful, hopefully a walk to in the town.

Also, what's happening these days at Big Sur? We might drive down a ways on Tuesday for lunch. I seem to remember very mixed reviews about Ventana -- any others? A nice lunch with a great view?

I haven't tried it but John Cox took over the kitchen at Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn and they serve a prix fixe lunch which might be worth trying http://www.postranchinn.com/dining/

Aubergine is excellent and very quiet but perhaps too high end http://www.auberginecarmel.com/

A lot of restaurants in Carmel are fairly small and can feel crowded/noisy inside when busy. We usually sit outdoors on the patio and don't have any crowding/noise issues. I would suggest La Balena http://labalenacarmel.com/ they have a nice back garden patio with heaters or Casanova http://www.casanovarestaurant.com/ has several different indoor and outdoor seating areas. Those come to mind for a combination of good food and nice atmosphere. There are a few others I'd recommend for food but they do get noisy.

If you want lunch with a view and don't make it down to Big Sur, try The Bench at Pebble Beach http://www.pebblebeach.com/dining/th...each/the-bench

Thanks for the suggestions. I was shocked that Post Ranch is only $45 for three courses at lunch -- but if we do that, it probably means we won't want dinner that night!

I found a couple pictures of labalena, which makes it look like s super casual lunch cafe or something -- but is the patio really nice and "romantic" at night"?

Yea, Aubergine seems just "too too", more of a big deal that I think we'll want.

I forgot Casanova, and have eaten there. Just loved it. I see some reviews say "slipping" and "not what it was", but I did love the atmosphere.

Does anyone know anything about Rocky Point these days, since it reopened in March? We might even be able to do that for dinner rather than lunch. Views, not quite as dramatic as Post Ranch, but not nearly as far either.

Hmmm. Maybe stop at Pebble Beach for lunch on the way down from Saratoga on Monday morning.

Patrick, the remodel at Rocky Point is very nice, the food--not so much!! We have always loved the view from Rocky Point, and were very happy when it re-opened, but were very disappointed with the food. New owners are not restaurant people, so that might explain it.

BTW Patrick I don't know if you are interested, but the Beach House has opened at Lover's Point in PG--where the Old Bath House used to be.

Also I have been to Ventana 3 times in the last 3 months, and have never been disappointed with the food at lunchtime. Never been for dinner however.

I haven't been to the new Rocky Point. I was also going to mention the Beach House as another view place http://www.beachhousepg.com/ which I haven't been to either.

La Balena is casual but I wouldn't say super casual. I think the back garden patio is nicer than the front patio but can't seem to find a good photo online. The inside may get a bit noisy. If you do go, make sure to reserve. Very few places in town are as high in atmosphere factor as Casanova. I've only eaten at Casanova for lunch recently and it was good/fine.

If you're interested, I have a report with photos from last year on Chowhound http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/851540 That may have been the last time we had dinner at Casanova. I haven't written any trip reports recently but if you click on my CH screen name I think I did post some photos from La Balena.

I like Pacific Grove better, a bit less stuffy of a feel. We have had a great meal at Passion Fish and one where my entree was very [black] peppery, which they compted.

We ate at Christopher's on Lincoln which was nice.
Also - Wickets Bistro - Bernardus Lodge, Lodge Restaurant at Carmel Valley Ranch both in Carmel Valley - both lovely.

A couple of months ago, I had a delightful lunch at the Rio Grill in Carmel Valley. There's a lot of seating outside, which made for a pleasant day. www.riogrill.com

It's also a nice drive through the valley. You'll pass Panetta Road, where Leon's family is from.

DebitNM,
Passion Fish is pretty noisy though, isn't it?

Rastaguytoday,
Could you be thinking of some place else because Rio Grill is located in the Crossroads Shopping Center off Hwy 1 and not in Carmel Valley and the last time I looked, they had no outdoor seating.

There are some cute places in the valley like Cafe Rustica. Lokal in Carmel Valley has good food but not so high on atmosphere.

First time, we went early and it wasn't busy. Second time, we had a nice table in the corner. I find almost all restaurants in CA to be loud.

We found a great deli in town - don't remember the name. It's not the one that is inside the liquor store as you enter the main street. Anyway, we spent a fortune on a few meals in town before we discovered the deli, after breakfast we ordered our sandwiches and snacks from the deli and packed it to go on our daily excursions. We saved a ton of $$ and ate really well!

We picked up some wonderful cheese here:
The Cheese Shop
Carmel Plaza,

made for a great picnic.

http://www.thecheeseshopinc.com/

The Cheese Shop is fun. They offer free tastings.

For dessert, pick up something from Pastries & Petals https://www.facebook.com/pastriesandpetals

cyberbooze,
Could it have been the Salumeria? http://salumerialuca.com/

Casanova has always been my go to for romantic and delicious... also the Cheese Shop is a regular favorite.

My new favorite "experience" with good food, albeit not gourmet, is technically in Pacific Grove at The Inn at Spanish Bay. You can park (free) and walk into the lobby and then out the glass doors to the left to the outdoof patio. You can choose to sit at a table for more privacy or at the firepits with others.

Dress warmly and bring a blanket.. their bar menu is quite delicious, but get there early because near sunset a bagpiper begins playing in the distance and plays for about 40 minutes or so... it's breathtaking. The ocean, the beautiful golf greens and the people watching is priceless.

They have cigars on the menu, if you like that, great coffee drinks, exemplarly service and it was a woonderful experience.
Potential to be a trip highlight.

Welcome to California!

I think you are looking for La Bicyclette in Carmel.

Marinus, Inn at Spanish Bay, Casanova - all wonderful, of course.

Patty - You're absolutely correct. Nothing like short term memory loss.

I had to recheck Zagat to find the restaurant. It's Cafe Rustica. www.caferusticacarmel.comcaferusticavillage.com/

Lovely place with a Zagat food rating of 24, which is pretty good. Just across the parking lot from Talbott Winery.
http://www.talbottvineyards.com/

Casanova is also a very good, venerable, restaurant. Eat outdoors at night.

Boy, I'm having a miserable night. The link from the restaurant didn't work. This is the actual link. Duh!

http://www.caferusticavillage.com/

lynni, it's funny how different people regard things differently, the only thing I can think of worse that hearing bagpipes for 40 minutes would be the smell of cigars from a near by table! And wrapping up in a blanket to keep warm sounds more like a football game than dinner to me. (And doubt that two men snuggling under a blanket is what they'd appreciate either). Three strikes and they're out! LOL

Cafe Rustica looks nice, but I think we're now taken care of for lunch, and it seems a little "less" that what we're looking at for dinner.

Cassanova is a definite for one night. Now for the other night. Still thinking sunset at Rocky Point would be great, but about that not-so-wonderful food. . .