Dining at Estéban was a real pleasure. My husband and I spontaneously chose to have breakfast…read morethere, and I'm happy we did! I ordered huevos rancheros, which were delicious with all the toppings I wanted. The only small mistake was that I got over-easy eggs instead of the over-medium I requested. Since I don't like runny yolks, that was a minor disappointment, but the other ingredients made up for it. I also enjoyed a perfectly made Bloody Mary. Hubby had coffee and avocado toast--no complaints from that, except maybe having freshly sliced avocados instead of mashed. The outdoor seating was cozy, with a view of the courtyard fireplace. Everyone from the host to the waitress and busboy was friendly and attentive. I'm looking forward to coming back.

Was looking forward to a nice birthday dinner at a new place for us, disappointing! When…read morereservation was made through open table app it was indicated that we choose them to celebrate a birthday. There was NO acknowledgement of this, in fact a message was sent to restaurant asking a question and never received a reply, so a call was placed to get the answer which was answered by hotel front desk . What is the point of offering guests an option to send a message, someone's not checking ? Table was set VERY sparse , napkins and silverware and what I thought were bread plates. In fact no bread was offered, not sure if they do. NO salt and pepper, decorations or lighting on table either, VERY plain. Food was decent and menu was limited in the choices. Tapas are overpriced and not varied in my opinion . The entire salmon dish was very heavy on the butter All in all , an OK and highly disappointed experience. Wait staff ok , food ok , food and the space was visually appealing but the restaurant lacked something that should could make it a memorable experience.

My friends made a reservation at this Michelin Star restaurant and it was a 5-star experience…read moreindeed! From the food to the drinks to the overall chic and comfortable ambiance, it was an absolute treat! The service was impeccable for our party of 8. We had various tequila drinks and the chips, salsa, hot sauces (some quite hot!) made for an exceptional start. I ordered the salmon, which was sitting on a bed of cauliflower mashed potatoes and draped with an arugula salad, topped with a mache chili oil drizzle. The taste was as perfect as the presentation! The best salmon I've ever had, indeed. One of the guest had birria tacos served with a split bone marrow! Never saw that combination before! He let me try some and it was delicious! Overall, a perfect setting, a perfect meal and a truly 5-star evening!!

Tried Alejandro's because it's part of the Resy dining network, and we wanted to use our quarterly…read moreAmex Platinum dining credit. If you're an Amex Platinum cardholder looking to burn Resy credits in Monterey, this Mexican restaurant is worth a try -- but manage your expectations. We had a reservation and were seated right away, which was a plus. Started with chips and guac and a couple of drinks, then ordered the chicken enchiladas and the skirt steak and arugula salad, adding shrimp to the salad. The food was fine, the atmosphere was fine, the service was fine -- nothing memorable, nothing bad. The real issue is price. Adding shrimp to a salad cost about $15, and our total with tip came out to around $140 for two people. For that price point in Monterey, I expected more from the food and overall experience. Would I come back? Probably not at full price. But if you have the Amex Platinum and quarterly Resy dining credits to use, it softens the blow enough to make it worth trying once.

The service here is absolutely amazing! The views are stunning and the food is out of this world!…read moreWe started with the oysters and they were fresh and delicious. We then ordered the Cesar salad and the waiter heard us talking about how we loved the anchovies and brought us over extra! We each ordered one of the amazing specials and my fish with truffle ravioli was DIVINE!!! They also have a fabulous wine list and amazing desserts. The cannolis are made in house and sooo good! There is plenty of parking in the lot. The bathrooms are pristine. The ambiance of this spot is just stunning! Perfect for a romantic date night and it has that quaint, high end, intimate Italian restaurant vibe that truly makes you feel like you're on a getaway in Italy. I can't recommend this place enough and I am very excited to go back and try more of their delicious dishes!

We went without a reservation. Had a small wait for a table of four. We got there just before a…read morerush of reservations. It took a bit to get served but when our server arrived, he quickly got our drinks and reviewed the specials. The meal and appetizer was wonderfully delicious. Portion sizes were just right. Not sure if it was a busy weeknight for service staff to tables or if that's normal here. The food was great and the atmosphere was pleasant. We would definitely return. Others had the tagliatelle and the chicken Alfredo

My girlfriend and I ate hear yesterday and loved it so much we came back to eat again the next…read morenight. The Food here is AMAZING. Our service Oscar was the best. Super sweet. Checked on us multiple times throughout the night to make sure we were doing great. Thank you Oscar!! The ambiance is also incredible. We love sitting by the fire pits. 10/10

We wanted a special dinner so my husband surprised us with a reservation here. The restaurant is…read morecute and the service was excellent. I did wish the food was better to make the cost more worthwhile. Maybe our expectation was a little high. We ordered: Drinks: husband had the old fashion (very good), I had grey goose martini (perf prepared) Duck Liver: very generous portion for $21 but it's not for everyone Caesar salad: delicious. Hint of egg in the dressing and it was just the right amount (I didn't taste anchovies which I don't prefer) Crispy potatoes: I can see why it's a favorite Crispy cod: small portion, I had a taste and it was ok for me Pork chop: beautiful presentation. Not as tasty as some of the ones I've had elsewhere Overall, we enjoyed our experience, but wished the food was more wow.

We came to Bistro Moulin with a group, which was perfect because we got to share and try several…read moredishes. I had the filet mignon special, and it was genuinely out of this world...perfectly cooked and served with asparagus, carrots, and silky puréed potatoes. We also shared the Sicilian eggplant pasta, which was absolutely delicious, along with the arugula salad and several desserts. Everything we tried was excellent. Incredible food, wonderful service, and such a warm, charming atmosphere. I already can't wait to come back to Monterey and eat here again!

We were really looking forward to our meal, but unfortunately it didn't meet our expectations. The…read moremussels had a strong, unpleasant odor that concerned us. I felt bad about sending them back and was apologetic when we brought it to the owner's attention. He was responsive, explained that it was the natural smell of the sea, and kindly showed us the invoice proving they were purchased that day. He also offered to check with the vendor. While we appreciated his efforts, the smell was off-putting enough that we decided to order something else. We tried the lamb lollipop special instead. For $42, the portion was quite small--just five thin, uneven pieces--and the lamb was overcooked and overly salty. When we gently mentioned this to our server, she responded with an eye roll, which was disappointing. We genuinely dislike leaving negative feedback, especially for small independent restaurants, but the overall experience left us quite disappointed. Hoping they can improve these items, as the restaurant has potential.

We had another delicious meal at Montrio with family while we visited Monterey. Located downtown,…read moreit has indoor and outdoor seating. On some occasions, they will open up the front wall which provides a great environment during good weather. Our food was excellent. I had short rib ravioli, which I never had before. The dish convinced me it should be one of my favorites. For desert, we had Chocolate cake with ices cream. The service was fantastic! Looking forward to coming back and enjoying their food again next time!

Montrio is a restaurant struggling with the same dilemma everyone wanting to open a fine-dining…read morespot in a touristy area does. The closer you are to ground zero-Fisherman's Wharf in SF or Pikes Market, Seattle-the harder it is to remain profitable. Geographically, the density of Taco Bells and tee shirt shops increases. So, kudos to Montrio for trying to run an up-scale business as close as they are to the Wharf. Unfortunately, they fall well short of the mark. We arrive early and the place was nearly empty. To start with, we ordered the Porcini Pomme Frites ($14) as an appetizer. The fries came out limp and starchy-raw in the center. I sent them back. The replacement or refry of the original batch came back a little past GBD. They pushed the limit on the far side of doneness. And they tasted exactly and precisely like In-And-Out's awful fires. The match was amazing. For reasons known only to the Snyder family, and in spite of endless terrible reviews from food critics, I-A-O refuses to double-cook their fries. So they come out tasteless with an off-putting consistency. Not qualities anyone should try and emulate, IMHO. Now, ostrich and octopus, for example, are famously difficult to cook correctly. But fries are the polar opposite easy to do well. To screw them up twice in a slow kitchen at a $14 price point is inexcusable. I knew we were in for a rocky ride. I ordered the scallops. Yes, you guessed correctly, the kitchen screwed them up big time too. They had a light seer and were stone-cold raw in the center. The creamed corn side was excellent BTW, but not forty nine dollars good. Why didn't I send them back? Well, first, I knew they couldn't cook fries or scallops. Why would their second effort on the second course hold out any promise. Secondly, I refuse to be that guy who sends every course back, even when it should be. At a certain point my philosophy is shut up, learn your lesson, and share an honest review so that other might avoid the sad experience. My wife had the short ribs and enjoyed them. I thought they were dry, which is hard to achieve with fatty short ribs. Her mashed potatoes were okay, though under-seasoned. But if she was happy, so was I.

I visited Cultura with my greyhound, so we sat outside in the courtyard near the firepit tables…read moreshared with Vin, next door. It was a cool, breezy night, typical when the summer marine layer moves in over Carmel, but the propane heaters kept us toasty. If you prefer dining indoors, the interior bar and dining spaces had an intimate, funky, but very cool vibe. The host and servers were all extremely friendly and helpful. Despite being outside in the courtyard, they were also incredibly attentive, checking frequently to see if we needed anything. Their recommendations were spot on, too. I was wowed by the cocktail menu. I'll have to return to try more of their bar offerings. This trip, I took advantage of Happy Hour to order the blood orange margarita, and I was not disappointed. I ordered the ceviche appetizer. My greyhound thought it smelled as wonderful as I did. He rested his head between my feet in hopes of catching any ceviche dropping from my hands. This was so tasty, he was out of luck on the table droppings. I also had the chicken enchiladas for my entree. It was one of the best enchiladas I've had in a couple of years. My server, Mario, brought me out a small cup of their take on Mexican hot chocolate, made with oat milk, as an aperitif. It was so delicious, I almost wished I'd ordered a full cup as dessert.

Eh...we really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately, we're not fans and probably won't be…read morereturning. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, exactly what we were looking for. The service was pleasant, although at times it felt a little condescending. They have their own very specific tequila collection, so don't expect to see many familiar brands. That's not necessarily a bad thing. We're always willing to try something new. The margaritas, however, were very tart. Just too much lime juice. We ordered tacos and asked for flour tortillas, only to be surprised when they arrived on corn tortillas. When we asked about it, we were told they simply don't serve flour tortillas. Fair enough, but that would have been helpful to know when we ordered. The good news: the chicken tinga, barbacoa, and carnitas were all excellent. Unfortunately, we just couldn't get past the corn tortillas which fell apart when you tried to eat the tacos. Ended up using a fork. For dessert, we ordered one of our favorites, churros. They arrived warm, but were very dry and tough. A churro should make you happy. These made us wish we'd stopped for dessert somewhere else. There were definitely some bright spots, especially the meats and the cozy atmosphere, but restaurants generally get one first chance to make us want to come back. Unfortunately, this one didn't.

This was our favorite meal during our week in Carmel. We had an 11a lunch reservation. The oysters…read morewith mignonette and cucumber was simple yet super tasty. The gnocchi, as others have pointed out, was delicate and had a wonderful texture. My duck was out of this world. It had a Thai cream sauce with a medley of nicely cut julienne veg. Pizza was wonderful (perfect crust) and a tomato salad was very much enjoyed by our group. Service: quick and responsive to requests. This is Michelin-rated for good reason and should be on your program while visiting. On our next visit, we'll go for breakfast, which is only Friday-Sunday.

I came here for my friends bday celebration- it is one of her fav places - I was able to get…read moreopentable reservation for it - yay! Much better experience compared to last time. The servers were so happy and delightful! Felt like you were in Italy - tight seatings - inside decor was like someone sitting inside a home with a window - super cute & adorable! Things that will make me come back again with my family: - truffle & fig pizza - best pizza in Carmel - oysters - so smooth and tasty - spicy oil - OMG! - bread and butter - service of the waiters Things that were good but didn't blow my mind: - roasted cauliflower - gnocchi Thank god for Open Table - will come back again to try other dishes! Yummy!!

First time to Roux and they didn't disappoint…read more Drink - Glass of sparkling rose each Starter - We shared the roasted Brussel sprouts Mains - My wife had the truffle fettuccine and I had the salmon on a bed of cauliflower risotto Desert - we could not make our mind up so ended up with both the lemon cheesecake and the crème brûlée I've attached pictures of all the dishes (literally) !.. you'll figure that piece out and how much we enjoyed them. I'd read up on the fan fav. French onion soup but was put off as someone said it was filling so skipped it .. After seeing it served at another table I was kicking myself but we will hopefully return for a lunch and will pray that's on the menu. Talking of menus, the only tiny gripe is the website had a menu that is out of date and the 2 dishes I really fancied were no longer available (lobster fettuccine and crab ravioli) .. please please could you update your website or the menu on Yelp or at the least take a photo of the new menu and delete the old ones as they are all 6+yrs old and I forgot to photograph it !. Anyhow, the ambience was great, service was faultless and food devine. Both my wife and I came away (from her birthday dinner) feeling we'd chosen really well with a sincere desire to return !. Thank you to the team for your obvious passion for food, there's lots of choices in the area and Roux stands tall in the valley of giants as a solid recommendation.

Just enjoyed a great meal here! 3/4 of us got the seafood pasta, which was amazing. I had the white…read moresangria, which was sweet and not too heavy on the alcohol. 2 people in our party got the French onion soup. I tried a bit of the cheese and it was out of this world! Maybe I'll get the soup next time with an appetizer because I would have been too full from both the soup and the pasta. The lobster fettuccine and crab ravioli also looked amazing. Easy to make a reservation online and the restaurant wasn't too crowded. There was plenty of outdoor seating. Our waiter was great too. We can't wait to come back!

HIGHLY recommend!! Wow! My only disappointment is that we did not have time to return and try some…read moremore of their fantastic dishes. I really wanted to try the arancini but we ordered enough. We were in town for a wedding, found this place on OpenTable, where I was able to make a reservation. From the time I arrived, it was smooth sailing. The hostess was professional and efficient. She got us to our table quickly. Service was also prompt and on point. The restaurant is clean and beautiful, not too loud, nice date night ambience. Finally, the food!!! Wow, just wow! My husband and I shared a salad, a couple pastas and clam chowder. The chowder was the best I'd had in Monterey on our trip-the most tender clams, inspiring even. We had the Gorgonzola gnocchi with apples and pecans. Delicious but strong flavor-was grateful we were sharing. And also the carbonara-absolutely delicious! I am spoiled with good food often and also love to cook. I can tell you the ingredients are fresh and quality and the kitchen staff knows what they are doing. Very grateful to have found this place. Don't miss out!!

My entree was wonderful, but 2 others in our group of 6 described their entree's as "okay". My…read morewife had the seabass special. The fish was perfect but the gnocchi was "just okay". Another person had the short rib which was presented perfectly. The meat was tender but he said it was extremely salty. Everyone else really enjoyed their food. It was crowded but they found a table for us outside. We were in the sidewalk dealing with foot traffic and cars but it was fine. Our server was extremely attentive and very helpful. I recommend giving this place a try.