Best Dinner in Carmel

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Clean Plate Club

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At the end of a long day taking in the sights of Carmel, nothing hits the spot quite like a relaxing dinner. As expected from an area as popular as Carmel, there are a lot of dinner options and a lot of choices to make. Why spend ages figuring out where to eat when tired and hungry, when you could take a look at this shortlist of restaurants guaranteed to hit the spot?

Feature Photo: Courtesy of Grasing’s

Carmel-by-the-Sea

A freshly baked pizza with a vegetarian topping, including cauliflower and kale, sits on a wooden paddle near a traditional wood-fired oven. Another slice with red sauce is on a separate paddle, and the oven's flames are burning brightly in the background—truly the best dinner Monterey Peninsula has to offer.
Photo: Casanova
5th Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea
831.216.3811

One of Carmel-by-the-Sea’s biggest destinations of the last two generations — and biggest successes — Casanova does locally sourced French with aplomb, so bring on the potato croquettes, ribeye tartare, duck confit and braised beef cannelloni. The house bread program proves outstanding, the wine cellar is award-winning and the gorgeous setting matches the rustic food.

A marble table is set with a variety of dishes, including a tall round loaf of bread with butter on a white plate, grilled mussels on bread, oysters on the half shell, and a glass of red wine. The food is arranged elegantly, reminiscent of the best breakfast on the Monterey Peninsula.
Photo: Chez Noir

The most anticipated restaurant in a decade doesn’t disappoint. Executive Chef Jonny Black borrows from stints at Per Se, Quince and Bar Crenn to create a deeply seasonal seafood spot that “can only exist in Carmel.” Tastes like charred abalone and handmade coonstripe shrimp ravioli are mesmerizing, the cozy backdrop is stunning, and the joy of passion is palpable. Like his wife/front of house savant Monique says, “We created the restaurant we want to eat at.” Trust the “Let Us Cook for You” for a most special splurge.

A colorful spread featuring a bowl of nachos topped with black beans, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and cherry tomatoes—the best dinner on the Monterey Peninsula. Surrounding the bowl are small dishes with sauces, nuts, and a bowl of multicolored tortilla chips. A yellow drink and wrapped cutlery are also visible.
Photo: Cultura Comida y Bebida

For a taste of Oaxaca on the Central Coast, there’s no surer bet than Cultura Comida y Bebida. Superb food, great service and an outstanding setting — including a nice outdoor seating area away from the street — make this a fail-safe. A great date spot, you’ll find an assortment of family-style dishes on the menu as well as a full bar specializing in unique cocktails and traditional mezcal. Order the street tacos or the chicken tinga burrito and wash it down with a rotating mezcal creations born of regular staff retreats to the southern edge of Mexico. For dessert, try the oat milk flan.

A plated dish featuring a grilled bone-in ribeye steak, garnished with roasted potatoes and greens, sits on a wooden table. Next to the plate, a glass of red wine and a bottle are partially visible, suggesting this could be the best dinner on the Monterey Peninsula.
Photo: Grasing's

Grasing’s was already capital-G great. When Chef Cal Stamenov came here from Bernardus, he turned a great restaurant into a superlative one. He jokes that his job is to sell the big bottles from the wine cellar, which enjoys arguably the best wine list in the region, but he’s being self-deprecating. More than a generation of the area’s most celebrated chefs trained under him, and he continues to deploy the sourcing and savvy to create wow-worthy chophouse fare with flair. Great bar menu too.

A white plate filled with paccheri pasta topped with a rich, meaty bolognese sauce, garnished with fresh basil and a sprinkle of grated cheese. The background is softly blurred, highlighting the dish's hearty and appetizing appearance—truly the best dinner on the Monterey Peninsula.
Photo: Il Tegamino

Carmel comes packed with quality Italian spots, including Aubergine sister restaurant Cantinetta Luca. Il Tegamino, named for the giant traditional pan hanging on the wall, qualifies as Local Getaways’ favorite. That’s for a range of things that include the adorable (and tiny) dining room, romantic patio, rustic Italian comfort food — Carbonara! Lasagna di Carnevale! Meatball trios! Bucatini! — great wines and masterful hospitality from hands-on owner-operators.

A dish featuring three grilled prawns garnished with chopped herbs, served atop a bed of arugula and white beans. Lemon wedges are placed on the side for garnish on a light-colored plate. It's the best dinner Monterey Peninsula has to offer.
Photo: La Balena

La Balena — “whale” in Italian — shows that fried chicken can be elegant. Just take a look at their pollo fritto. It’s half of a Fogline Farm chicken that’s crusted with arborio (an Italian short-grain rice) and served with a small side salad. Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, it doesn’t get much better. Other standouts at this unassuming and exceedingly hospitable spot include the bruschetta topped with Seka Hills olive oil, and a robust wine list.

Who’s writing these?

Meet our always-hungry team of foodies who compiled this list.
Please let us know if we’ve missed your favorite eat@localgetaways.com.

More Please!
For more suggestions on the best restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula, the best things to do on the Monterey Peninsula and the best places to stay on the Monterey Peninsula, click here.
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