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    Cafe Rustica

    4.2 (665 reviews)
    Closed Closed

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    CAFE RUSTICA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Rustica

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    Reviews With Photos

    Kim B.

    We grabbed lunch at Cafe Rustica after spending the morning at the refugue. The service was ok. It took awhile for our orders to be taken and then filled. The server refilled our waters. I had a burger. They do not offer gluten-free bread so I just had it on lettuce. They serve butter lettuce so it actually could be used as a bun alternative. The burger was grilled and was cooked medium rare as I requested. It needed sauce for flavor. It was accompanied by a large helping of french fries. My daughter had the salmon sandwich. It came with a side salad. I thought the salad was very tasty. She enjoyed the sandwich.

    Spinach salad & pizza Napolitano
    Laura E.

    We sat outside last night under the heat lamps, which kept us warm. I enjoyed the napolitano pizza and had the leftovers for lunch today. Dad's partner and I shared a spinach salad. She had Jose's pizza and dad had the pork chop. My dad also ordered the Tuscan white bean soup (one of the specials) but they forgot to bring it out. Waitress was friendly. Yesterday could have been an off night but we would still come back when we're in Carmel.

    Oven Roasted Pork Loin Medallions
    Benjamin B.

    Stopped by after wine tasting and live music. This place actually seems to be the most happening and packed spot in the area. No reservations but got here when they opened so we chose to sit outside. Greeted fast and nicely and seated to our choice. Great host. Immediately got a waiter to check in. He was pretty nice and awesome. We started with bread and butter which was great and a Cesar salad. The salad was almost perfect. House made croutons would have made it flawless. Got the dynamite with extra cheese and the pork medallions. The pizza was decent. Fresh ingredients and cheesy. Now if you follow me you know I rate a lot of pizza spots. So my nitpicks are the pizza had almost no sauce. So it was more like pizza bread. Considering how fast it came out. They could have done a little extra cook so that it came out gooey. But it was a lil cooler and hard. Other than that it's a good pie. Thin crispy. Good ingredients. Best in Carmel valley. Just not the best. Or near or. Pork medallions were delicious. The size portion flavor was good and the pile high of spinach was great as I love spin. Only issue. They advertised it with potatoes. But it was not mash potatoes. It was yams. To sweet for me. Either way. It's a great spot with good service and food. I wish I could give them a five if they adjusted some things

    Passion fruit sorbet
    Restaurant C.

    A hidden gem in the serene, pastoral village of Carmel Valley. Excellent dishes. The Hungarian goulash has red pepper. It is made with pot roast. I did not expect spinach soup; it was the highlight of my meal. It is to die for. It was not expensive for this special soup. The passion fruit sorbet and the latte were an excellent ending to my meal. Our waiter made some suggestions. He was friendly. It is a small restaurant. We had reservations, as it is very popular. There is plenty of outside seating. As it was a cool day, we sat inside. It was a long trip, but worth it.

    We ordered a pizza to go!
    Shy C.

    Wow! What a great place...from the moment we walked in, we knew we found our kind of place. The inside is cozy and warm. The staff were amazing and so accommodating. And the food...outstanding! I highly recommend making reservations. We arrived at 5:00pm and they said they had two seats at the bar open, so we enjoyed a bottle of wine and the clam appetizer, then ordered a pizza to take back to the inn we were staying at.

    Kids Pasta with marinara sauce
    Franny Z.

    We ordered the soup of the day which I believe was a mushroom soup, Smoked Salmon on Crème Fraiche, Crispy Calamari Cattleman's Rib Eye Steak, and a kids pasta with marinara sauce (huge portion) for our main meal. Dessert we had the gelato and the root beer float. The pizza was phenomenal.

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    2 months ago

    Good food, on time for take out, did ask for med well steak but it was medium,like raw, only complaint really.

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    7 months ago

    Best place to eat in Carmel Valley. All was very consistent. Staff is very professional menu is really interesting.

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    1 year ago

    I love this place! Best pizza and menu! The service is great and I love to eat outside because they always keep it warm!

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    Cafe Rustica Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cafe Rustica

    Do they take reservations?

    Yes this is my favorite place to eat

    Do they have parking?

    They do. Easily accessible

    What are the correct hours? It's Tuesday at lunchtime and you're closed?

    Rustica's posted open hours on Tuesday are from 5:00 pm until "Closing."

    View All 6 Questions

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    Mission Bistro - Steak + Seafood

    Mission Bistro

    (575 reviews)

    $$$

    We had such a wonderful experience at Mission Bistro in Carmel. The restaurant itself is relatively…read moresmall, but that's part of what makes it so special -- it's very cozy, beautifully decorated, and has a really warm, welcoming ambiance that makes you want to sit, relax, and enjoy your meal. Every single dish we ordered was amazing -- you can really tell the kitchen is being led with care and creativity. A special thank you to the new Executive Chef, Jake Behnke. Even though the restaurant was very busy, he still took the time to come out and greet us, which made the evening feel extra special. That kind of hospitality really stands out and meant a lot to us. The wait staff was very friendly and welcoming. Because they were so busy, it did take a little while to get our drink and food order in, but the staff remained attentive and kind throughout the night, and the food was absolutely worth the wait. Overall, a great dining experience and we will definitely be back. Highly recommend!

    Had a lovely time at Mission Bistro. The restaurant is clean and the workers are attentive…read more We came as a party of 4 to celebrate a birthday. The bread and butter that it is served with it is very good. We ordered more, not realizing it was not complimentary. Oops that's another $12. Though pricey for a bread basket, I would order again. The ceaser salad was a good size and very flavorful. It's even topped with fresh sardines. Probably the best one I had 10/10 I ordered the black cod and though it looked burnt, it was just blackened and extremely flaky and juicy. The noodles served with it was good. 8/10 Crab cakes-need more flavor. Would not order again 3/10 Steak frites- 8/10 the sauce used in the steak is yummy and the fries were cooked to perfection. Beef cheek-there is a LOT going on that plate. The beef was good, but I thought it was too many ingredients mixed together 5/10. The meal seemed heavy. The bday girl was treated to a slice of cheesecake. The cheesecake looked good, but, it was pretty dry. 3/10 All in all, I rate this 4 stars.

    Valley Kitchen - House Made CVR Ricotta

    Valley Kitchen

    (195 reviews)

    $$$

    I had a few meals here and every single time was a special in different ways. My favorite dishes…read morewere the roasted duck and filet mignon. The two dishes were cooked perfectly with great flavors accompany , sweet potato for the duck and mashed potatoes for the filet mignon. Black cod was also cooked perfectly and the fish was so soft, but the flavor for that dish, which was a burnt bitter taste, was not fit for my preference. For appetizers, I'd recommend the crispy shrimp for the amount and also flavor! The ambience of the space was comfortable but classy. All the staff were very friendly and helpful. Worth the long drive for this property!

    While the hotel was nice and restaurant in itself doesnt have any issues, the host who works at the…read morerestaurant is absolutely rude and unpleasant of an individual. I arrived at the restaurant around 5:00 PM for a 5:30 PM reservation, hoping to be seated a bit earlier as my baby was hungry. At check-in, I politely explained the situation to the receptionist, who curtly replied that the restaurant was busy and could not seat us before 5:30 PM. While I understand policies and seating procedures, what was troubling was her dismissive and condescending attitude. She avoided eye contact, spoke in an unwelcoming tone, and bluntly stated that there were "5 PM seatings not even seated yet" and that she "would not accommodate." She also pointed to another group behind me and said I needed to wait, even though no one else was in line at the time. I waited another 15 minutes and noticed that the restaurant and waiting area remained mostly empty. When I politely asked again, she became defensive and argumentative. I explained that I wasn't demanding special treatment but was simply hoping for some understanding since my baby was getting fussy. Her response--"that's none of my problem"--was shockingly unprofessional and unempathetic. By the third interaction, when I tried to calmly express that her attitude was unnecessarily rude, she accused me of yelling, which was completely false in front of other guests as a way of defending her behavior. At that point, I requested to speak with a manager, but the damage had already been done. The entire exchange was unnecessarily hostile and completely inconsistent with the standards I would expect from any restaurant. Making false accusations in front of other guests has clearly crossed the line. I want to emphasize that this was not about being seated a few minutes earlier--it was about being treated with basic respect and courtesy. The receptionist's dismissive behavior and lack of empathy were unacceptable and made what should have been a pleasant family dinner an upsetting experience. This restaurant is worth skipping entirely. If I were to visit this hotel again, I will dine out in the Carmel downtown area.

    Flying Fish Grill - BLACK BEAN HALIBUT ($37) Alaskan halibut, fermented Chinese black beans, mushroom, ginger & scallions En Papillote, veggies & riceball

    Flying Fish Grill

    (1.1k reviews)

    $$$

    What a special place! Had the best dinner! And got to be waited on by the owner himself. You can…read moretell how much he loves what he does. Thank you Honza for the best experiece....We felt so cared for and welcome. Our plates were licked clean! Definitely order the peppered ahi...you won't regret it. The Halibut was incredible too. We can't wait to go back. 10

    Fish You Were Here A…read moreJapanese fusion fish-centric restaurant located in Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, it has had the same owners since 1975, when it was FKA "Shabu Shabu" before receiving its current moniker in 1993. The Good: * We loved the location--down a set of stairs into a dimly lit, cozy space. * And speaking of cozy spaces, we love that every table is its own private booth. Nothing is more annoying than having to dine with strangers just inches away, in my opinion. * Service was, uhhh, interesting but passable. We actually liked the dude who was following up behind our server, as he seemed like a really cool guy with definite opinions on the food. * Make sure you order their unique take on chips and salsa! Their fried wonton wrappers paired with a deliciously unique ginger pico de gallo were fantastic. * The Fried Fish Cakes (a daily special, so they might not always be on the menu) were delicious and full of flavor. * We both loved our entrées; my Black Bean Halibut was cooked perfectly--tender and flaky--and I loved the funky fermented black bean sauce. Carissa is still talking about her Almond Sea Bass weeks later, so 'nuff said. * The Warm Tempura Banana Sundae was a bit odd but worked in a weird way. We normally skip dessert unless it's something unique, and this certainly fit the bill! The Meh: * Reservations are handled the old-fashioned way: via telephone. * No outdoor dining. The Ugly: * While being underground is part of their charm, as mentioned above, it is definitely not ADA-compliant. So if you or anyone in your party has difficulty traversing stairs, this probably isn't the place for you. Conclusion: Fantastic date-night spot with great service, ambiance, and food. Highly recommended.

    Cafe Rustica - french - Updated May 2026

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