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    Aubergine

    4.3 (381 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndNew American
    Closed 5:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    Aubergine Photos

    AUBERGINE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Aubergine

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    Wine Cellar Florals
    Lanha T.

    Aubergine was amazing from when you walk in to when you walk out. Our group of 5 were sat downstairs in the wine cellar to celebrate our friend's birthday. It was an intimate setting away from the main dining room but we never felt forgotten. The amuse-bouche board was a lovely way to start off the meal with every single bite being so delicious. My favorite dishes of the night were the scallop with laminated brioche, ribeye & onion tart with a side of sourdough bread & beef bone gelée butter, and the pumpkin gelato. Appreciated Chef Cogley presenting two of the dishes of the night. There were so many people making it a well oiled machine that you can't keep up with who was who. I would definitely come back time and time again and highly recommend for everyone to dine in if in the area.

    Brandon Y.

    Just had the most spectacular meal at Aubergine! Lots of Asian and some Latin American influences in the courses. The food is fun, inspired while the service and techniques combine old world fine dining with warmth and a sense of familiarity. Some courses that do this phenomenally are their squid ink tart with carmelized onions. They also serve a duck in a Oaxacan mole sauce. As well as a Kinmedai lettuce wrap with chawanmushi and a broth. Chef Justin does all this with a sense of rhythm and intention. Staff is awesome. Huge thanks to John, Joachin, Danny and Katie.

    Margaret T.

    I knew the space at Aubergine was intimate, but I wasn't expecting it to be that small! It does add to the charm though, so I didn't mind it. Most diners sit side-by-side, and there was only one 2-top where the party sat facing one another. Service was impeccable and I found some new non-alcoholic drinks that I would have never otherwise discovered! Some staff are quite friendly and welcoming whereas the others are a bit stiff, so personality-wise, they seem a bit over the place (someone else also mentioned this, so I know I'm not alone!). The menu is kept a surprise and they change the courses seasonally. There's a total of 8 courses before you end the meal with some chocolate bon-bons and they send up home with what I call their version of kit-kats. The kitchen was able to accommodate my dietary restrictions with acceptable substitutions and I really enjoyed the first few small bites. My salmon with the chimichurri sauce was the only dish that fell somewhat flat. I didn't think there was much flavor, which was actually pretty surprising. I did really enjoy the last dessert course and they also gave me the last scoop of ice cream (after I inquired about it since they present 3 scoops and only give out 2). I saw Chef Justin greeting 3 out of the 5 tables. He skipped ours and the table next to us. Not sure if that was because of time constraints or what not, but it seemed odd to only greet a few tables considering there's only a total of 5. I did see him lingering with diners in the other room where they offer a bar menu or a la carte selections.

    Aaron K.

    This review is long overdue for one of the best meals I've ever had, one that still lingers vividly in my memory years later. We came to Aubergine to celebrate my wife's birthday, and from start to finish, the experience was nothing short of perfect. The staff were so welcoming and incredibly knowledgeable, not just about every course but also the background of the space itself, sharing how each piece of glass and plate ware was meticulously selected and sourced with a clear vision in mind. Every course was a work of art, each with its own story tying back to the meal's overall theme, and with every bite, the chef's intentions shone through in perfectly. Though every course was memorable and delicious in its own right, my absolute favorite was the asparagus ice with caviar and it still stands as one of the single best dishes I've ever eaten, especially because it was so delightfully unexpected. The contrasting flavors, textures, and temperatures all wove together into something so complex yet so cohesive and unforgettable. I can't recommend Aubergine enough as a fantastic spot to celebrate something truly special, and there's no better way to spend a weekend than at one of Carmel's spectacular B&Bs.

    Allie P.

    One of the best dining experiences of my life. From customer care, expert wine knowledge and incredible food this establishment has raised the bar for the culinary world. The Chef is a visionary, allowing his art to wow the eyes with colors and textures that jump from the plate. He pushes the envelope on flavor pairings such as steak with anchovy, which one would think is strange but boy does it work. Every dish was superb even down to the homemade bread which was the perfect crunch to soft. The cook on the proteins was perfect and the duck was out of this world. It brings me great joy to see a Chef's love for his craft be presented in every bite. And Bravo for exploring flavors and textures and bringing us the unexpected- this truly shows you are a master of your craft. Simply one of the best meals of my life. If you are ready for some magic with some unexpected turns you, my friend, have come to the right place.

    ML ..

    This is such a warm restaurant with delicious food and wonderful service. The space is cozy and on the smaller side. But the tables are nicely spaced out so it doesn't feel cramped. We sat in a booth. Chef came out and greeted us and brought out our dishes a couple times. He was very friendly. Would recommend.

    Tim W.

    TL;DR - wonderful fine dining experience, service struck that perfect balance of warm, professional, elegant, and personal. Food was wonderful - impeccable presentation, interesting and daring choices. Wine pairings were very well explained, most well paired with the cuisine. Longer: We stayed at L'auberge (the hotel in which Aubergine is hosted) and thus had a no-travel experience. Dining room is very small and intimate (5 tables total, all occupied at our seating), and two seatings per evening. Dress code is business casual, and all but one of the other parties honored that. As we'd dined the evening prior at Chez Noir (also recommended) we were not up for a full 7 course wine pairing, and staff offered shared pairing for my wife and I...perfect for us that evening and a perfect way to enjoy the pairing selections without being over served. This review will not attempt to provide detailed descriptions of every course. Suffice to say you will not be disappointed at the 2 Michelin Star choices to develop and execute a wide variety of unique culinary choices and selections. Some of the selections skew Asian on the taste palette, but the overall vibe is "pan-American" if that makes sense. Our associate sommelier provided lengthy descriptions of each of the wine courses (including, at one point, the note that the origin vineyard is adjacent to where Cardinal Richelieu obtained his grapes...The Three Musketeers, anyone?). In most cases, the wine was a delightful complement to the accompanying course. If you note a small bit of reservation here, I would offer that the most perfect pairings I have ever experienced were at the storied Chez Panisse; in that case, each pairing seamlessly married with the course, and brought out nuances in both the wine and the food which you might not pick up on their own. I have yet to experience as powerful a soup-to-nuts pairing experience...although Aubergine's was far closer than many of the attempts I've had over the years. I'll be reviewing the other Michelin-lauded restaurant (afore mentioned Chez Noir) separately - both are highly recommended for diners who would like to experience a dining "event" and want to spend the cheddar these kinds of places demand these days.

    Emily C.

    Lovely experience and friendly staff. I believe it was 7-8 courses. Ordered non alcoholic drinks and asked for bartenders choice and absolutely loved my drink! Favorite of the night was the fish course with a broth and peanut xo sauce over rice. The strawberry shortbread cake was also a favorite as the flavors were delicious. Wagyu was an extra addition and sadly was too fatty for me.

    Fenny C.

    2 Michelin Star in Carmel by the Sea. As soon as I saw an opening, I just reserved the dinner reservation 8pm, and book my flight right away. Parking: easy free 2hr street parking Dress code: business casual. But I also see a guest wearing jeans. Restroom: 2 individual gender neutral restrooms. If you get there to early for your reservation, you can walk around the town, plenty of stores you can explore. This restaurant has a hotel and restaurant. The restaurant has 2 seating 5pm and 8pm wed thru sun only. Tasting menu appetizers + 8 course tasting menu for$285 per person. The whole restaurant can only serve 20 people per seating. Reservation via tock, must be prepaid and 20%, service charged included. Wine, beer, champagne or non alcoholic beverages pairing are available for extra. You also just can get 1 glass. Their selection of beverages is like a Bible. Wow. There's a bar seating area you can order any drink while they are getting your table ready, or you can sit outside in their courtyard that connect to their hotels. The hospitality and service is outstanding. The chefs takes turn and came out to your table serving and explained the courses. Very intimidate experience. We added a A5 miyazaki wagyu $220 per 4oz, which we shouldn't, we were so full. Not a fan. It's too fatty. All the tasting menu changes almost every week. The flavour profile is more asian fusions, they use a lot of coconut milk. Overall, they are amazing. Desserts were outstanding.

    Noel C.

    Such a great restaurant as my first solo dining experience. The restaurant is just beautiful and the staff were welcoming. They even provided me a culinary reading book during dinner. The presentations were immaculate but the taste of each dish was even better. Enjoyed my delicious cocktail as well. Definitely recommend AUBERGINE if you are any where near Carmel.

    Dominique C.

    My overall experience at Aubergine (while staying a L'Auberge) was nothing short of extraordinary! Was lucky enough to be the only ones dinning in the dimly lit room which made it even more exceptional. The service was warm, intuitive and flawlessly executed! The presentation was exquisite. Each course was thoughtfully composed and bursting with seasonal ingredients that celebrated California's coastal bounty. The sommelier's pairings also elevated the experience to another level. Highly recommend for anyone looking to indulge in an elevated Michelin-star dining experience!

    Grant S.

    An absolutely stellar experience! The food was amazing with mix of Asian-inspired dishes we really enjoyed. The staff also did an excellent job and the pacing of each course was very well done. The dining experience was much more intimate than we expected and even though there were 4 other couples dining, we felt like the only ones in the room.

    Linda P.

    Overall C: celebrated with my husband this past weekend at the 3-star Aubergine Salon in Carmel by the Sea. Creative presentation, decent service, nice intimate environment, however surprisingly expensive for what we got for dinner: crab dip (so we good we should have ordered twice in place of one of the entrees), oysters, cheese board, salmon. Recommend, if you have high tastes and a big budget.

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    2 months ago

    Good food and service although slow in bar area. Michelin is well deserved. Good wine pairings.

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    2 months ago

    amazing talent and flavors! would definitely recommend checking it out if you're looking for amazing food.

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    9 months ago

    Perfection. Outstanding service. The steak frites melts in your mouth. Extensive wine list.

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    Aubergine Reviews in Other Languages

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    Foray

    Foray

    4.7
    (164 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$$

    Foray completely delivered, the food felt thoughtful and intentional without trying too hard. Each…read moredish was balanced and beautifully executed. You can tell the chef is pushing to become the best. Nothing was over complicated, just clean flavors done at a very high level. It's rare to leave a restaurant feeling genuinely impressed by the cooking itself, but that was the case here. Major credit to the chef, the ambition and attention to detail are obvious. We are excited to dine at Foray again!

    Beautiful experience from start to finish. The ambiance is stunning. Lighting is well adjusted and…read morecustomizable to your preference. Service was prompt, professional and engaging. Every dish felt personal. We chose to dabble in the 3 course menu in hopes to maximize our experience and it delivered! Chef Michael is truly a visionary and brought us an experience we will not forget. The tide tumbled oysters with pomegranate granita is the best I've ever had. The texture and flavor were pinnacle to anything else I've had thus far. My other half does not even like oysters and was proud to be able to enjoy them, and that was just the beginning... please do yourself a favor and indulge here. You will love everything that comes to your table AND pairings are expertly done. Each pairing that we had elevated every dish to an extraordinary level. Between chef Michael's cuisine, and pairings from Jose Gutierrez you will leave completely satiated and happy.

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    Inside the venue
    Inside the venue
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    Carmel’s Hidden Gem

    Carmel’s Hidden Gem

    4.1
    (282 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Thai tea would get a Canchola's 6th star because of how delicious and for how amazing the service…read morewas. By far one of the best breakfasts I've had. They have indoor and outdoor seating , we got their early so the seats were a little wet but Rita wiped down the seats and provided us with blanket covers so the seats were not cold and we had some warmth. She was beyond kind and it was very much appreciated. Also there are only a few parking in front so you may have to park a street or two over. Servicewas just outstanding... Rita checked on us often, brought out treats and water for our dogs and was just amazing. Food: The braised corn beef hash: was absolute perfection... I love corn beef hash and this take with the braised corned beef just spoils you with deliciousness. The poached egg was perfect, I have never braised corned beef but I'm going to learn to try and make a dish like this. My wife got the chicken and waffles, and she gave me some and it was perfect, the one thing that hit the most was the breading on the chicken was so delicious , they made sure the flavor complemented the sweetness of the waffle and syrup, the chicken was tender and with the waffle it was just something else. I also tried their biscuit and gravy and it was so good. The sausage in the gravy and the flavor was so delicious. Overall you can't for wrong here... the complement to the chef and the Rita... you truly have a hidden Gem that we are glad we found.

    Husband and I passed by and stopped in for breakfast at 9am. We were seated quickly, drinks came,…read moreno coffee because espresso machine was broken :( Husband ordered the lobster eggs benedict, they were DELICIOUS!! Sauce was out of this world. I don't remember what I ordered but it was beans, salsa, eggs and avocado. It was lacking flavor. Add a little more salt or a grilled jalapeno to the side of this dish. Cute and clean. Decent place. Pretty pricey.

    Photos
    Inside dining area
    Inside dining area
    Juevos Rancheros
    Juevos Rancheros
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    The Pocket

    The Pocket

    4.2
    (333 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    Service - 2.5/5: waitress was nice enough but couldn't talk about the food much and seemed…read moreindifferent at times. Service overall was lacking for what's passing as an upscale restaurant - we were left with no serving utensils at times or they took plates away to refresh but they were never replaced until asked. Food - 1/5: overall, drinks were okay and food was lackluster. Main dish was undercooked - we got blue steak and asked for medium rare. Our octopus appetizer was also cold and it came out questionably fast. Accompaniments were all over salted and everything else we got was just so-so. Nothing particularly good or memorable. Ambiance - 2/5: nothing really special indoors. Decor is a bit plain and outdated. I was quite disappointed we passed on our go-to restaurant to try this spot after the meal concluded. I would not come back.

    Nice patio spot for a midday drink and snack off the main street…read more Food: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Service: 4 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: no, but via their website (via Tock) Return worthiness: sure Highlights: - Patio: nice elevated area you take stairs up to and one part covered - Gnocchi: wonderfully soft texture and was like a French onion soup with short rib chunks. Fun double cheese topper with a crisp flat circle of cheese plus a dollop of gruyere espuma on top. Only drawbacks were it was spendy at $37 and not much meat to be found. 4 stars - Cocktails: we're fine. I got a grapefruity spritz and hub a piggyback old fashioned. 3.5 stars - Service: was friendly though odd swaparoo of people helping is in between - Was able to walk in on a Saturday late afternoon Lowlights: - Heard their flatbreads are great and one was on the menu outside of the restaurant, but not on the menu we were provided

    Photos
    Cozy inside on a cold night.
    Cozy inside on a cold night.
    Nana's Meatballs
    Nana's Meatballs
    Dog friendly outdoor dining patio

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    Dog friendly outdoor dining patio
    Brophy's Tavern

    Brophy's Tavern

    4.3
    (817 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Stopped in on a whim while passing through Carmel and so glad we did. The ambience is fantastic,…read moredimly lit with great music and TVs everywhere, the kind of place I'd love to come back to and watch a game. Service was excellent. Our waitress Rachel was great and took good care of us. We ordered the French dip (added Swiss, onions, and mushrooms) solid sandwich, though it could've used a touch more salt. The real star though, was the fish and chips. Genuinely some of the best I've ever had. Lightly battered, flaky, perfectly cooked. The vibe lands in that sweet spot of upscale casual without crossing into fine dining, comfortable but elevated. Highly recommend if you're passing through Carmel. We'll definitely be back.

    Lunch after a beach walk was just what we were looking for. Walk in and find a seat. Music and…read moreambiance brought a nice vibe the whole time we were here. Food is tops. The fish and chips is the ultimate meal. The burger was savory, soft and creamy just he right amount. It perfectly paired with the Talbott pinot noir they recommended. The only comment is make is the amount of French fries that were served with the burger. The plate was a lot larger looking because a sparse amount of fries was served alongside. Maybe add a little more next time just to balance it off. The servers/bartenders knew their stuff. They provided what they could in terms of what was popular and well liked. They said both items we ordered were the most popular. The fish and chips have won best fish and chips 3 years in a row. I would agree with this since I usually am not wowed with this dish. I couldn't resist ordering a dessert. The applied tart with vanilla ice cream was so satisfying. Overall service, food quality and experience was very good. If return over and over again for this same food and experience. If I could give 10 stars I would. Carmel and Brody's is a new destination.

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    Brophy's Tavern
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    The Grill On Ocean Ave

    The Grill On Ocean Ave

    4.0
    (127 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    This is a great locals spot! I've been going there for three years and am now treated like family!…read moreFood is amazing. Prices are reasonable and the wine is local.

    I should have taken the fact that the restaurant was completely empty as a warning sign…read more This was honestly one of the worst dining experiences my family and I have had in a long time. The fish and chips were inedible--the fish was gray on the inside and didn't look appetizing at all. The chicken sandwich came with wilted, brown lettuce and a tomato that was clearly spoiled. It had a sour taste and a foul odor that immediately ruined the entire sandwich. When we brought it to our server's attention, there wasn't even an apology. Instead of addressing the overall issue, he simply brought out another tomato. The chicken quesadilla was shockingly small, looked like something from a kids' menu, and had almost no flavor. Even the beer tasted off. At that point, it felt like every item that came to the table had a problem. The most surprising part was that the bathroom seemed cleaner and better maintained than the food being served. We spent around $140 and left wondering what exactly we paid for. To make matters worse, several members of my family felt sick after eating here. Between the poor food quality, lack of concern from the staff, and overall experience, I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.

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    Picture of the an appetizer
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    From Scratch Restaurant

    From Scratch Restaurant

    4.3
    (2.2k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Chose this place off the cuff and was really impressed with how good it was. We came with a party…read moreof 11 and was seated within the hour and we got our food relatively fast. We got the patty melt fries and a banana walnut pancake and I got the tuna melt and a side of chilli. The brisket chilli was really really good, and the sandwiches were amazing. The pancakes smell so good we all gasped when they brought it out. The potions are very large so honestly you could split every meal besides maybe the skillet dish. But every sandwich our table got was huge and all tbe food was really well made. For the price it was also very worth it. The place is surrounded by a nice walkable area and the resturant itself is very cute, I was expecting a random restaurant along the road but it has a very aesthetic design here. You could easily come here for an elevated but not crazy fancy brunch and enjoy the day.

    Really tasty breakfast spot in Carmel that definitely gets busy, so expect a wait during peak…read moretimes. The food was worth it though, and everything tasted fresh and homemade like the name suggests. Loved the little store attached to the restaurant too. It was fun to browse after eating. The surrounding shopping area is also really nice to walk around and explore. A highlight for my daughter was the Mickey Mouse pancake! Overall a solid stop if you're visiting Carmel and looking for a good breakfast or brunch spot.

    Photos
    View of inside seating
    View of inside seating
    Hot chocolate
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    Bloody Mary

    Aubergine - newamerican - Updated June 2026

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