Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Carmel

Always a beautiful, delicious, perfect experience every single time. We always choose the Grotto for all our special occasions because we know we won't be disappointed. The food is the best, the service is even better! We had dinner for Valentine's Day. Like always, it was a perfect experience. Our server, Jose, was fantastic! Attentive, kind, and an absolute pleasure. Service is a big deal to us. Bad service is a deal breaker, regardless of the food quality. The Grotto has outstanding service, from the owner greeting you on your way in, to the service you get inside.We both had the calamari, it's our favorite! We also had the clam chowder because, let's be honest, it would be criminal to go to Old Fisherman's Grotto and NOT have the clam chowder. It's literally the best in the world! Even something as simple as French fries is a big deal. I don't know what makes them SOOO good, but they are! Warm sourdough bread and butter at the table is something we also look forward to and appreciate(also to dip in the chowder). The service here is top-notch. Every person who walks through the door is met with kindness by every employee they encounter during their visit. I would dine here because of the service alone, but their food is equally matched. Even when they're crowded, it's still a relaxing, lovely atmosphere. The views and ambiance are romantic. This is a perfect place to have a quiet, romantic dinner or a casual night out. I've been dining here for decades and will continue to enjoy it for years to come. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. They certainly check all the boxes, great food, service, views, ambiance, and overall experience. The lovely rose you're given at the end is the cherry on top. What a perfect Valentine's Day! I'm already looking forward to next time! If you've never been here, you're missing out! They never disappoint. There's a reason why this is my favorite restaurant.

We had a great Valentine meal at Anton et Michel. They had planned well for a busy night with plenty of staff, and did not over book. We received a friendly greeting and were promptly taken to our table. There are various dining spaces, all are modern and inviting. Marco provided friendly and prompt service. Since my spouse doesn’t drink, I appreciated that they had a nice selection of half bottles, including several sparkling wines. My husband had the filet mignon, which he found an excellent quality and cooked a perfect medium rare. He would have liked a bit more sauce, so he will ask for extra next time we visit. I had the seafood fricassé, which included scallops, shrimp and smoked salmon ravioli in a decadent cream sauce. We ordered cherries jubilee table side for dessert. The presentation was lovely with an abundance of cherries. The perfect ending to a delightful meal. Highly recommend!

Another fantastic Thanksgiving Day dinner experience from Chef Michael Rotondo and crew! If you have ever experienced the Coastal Kitchen 5 star meal, then this is the 5 star Thanksgiving Day dinner meal done right! Diestel family turkey cooked to perfection with outstanding side dishes of cranberry sauce, green beans, corn bread stuffing, mouth watering baby carrots, variety of salads and if turkey is not your style then the slow cooked prime rib with Yukon golden mashed potatoes and gravy can’t be beat either! Thank you Chef for such a wonderful meal!! We will be back next year!

We had planned to go for dinner, but they are not servicing food at this time :( wine was great!