I still love Cafe Rustica. We stop in almost every time we visit Carmel Valley Village. Service is always top notch and everyone is so friendly. This last visit we finally tried the steamed clams in a lemon beurre blanc. So delicious! The clams were fresh and had that slightly briny taste of the sea. The sauce was so good I sopped up as much as I could with the complimentary French bread. Delicious! We've had the pizzas more than once and really enjoyed the Dynamite. Fennel sausage, pepperoni and Black Forest ham all atop a thin, crispy crust with just the right amount of sauce and cheese. The crust had the perfect char. Again delicious! Although we did not have reservations on a Sunday afternoon, there was a table available outside. Plenty of heaters to keep you comfortable and a lovely patio where you can enjoy lunch. Highly suggest making reservations if you come on a weekend. If you are in and they offer their mushroom soup, just order. It's the best! I'll be back. read more

Cafe Rustica - The Dynamite - French Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

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This is a place that is always fantastic, the service is great, the food is always fantastic, and the ambiance is great.

Service and ambience were very good. Unfortunately, the food tastes very bland. Bolognese tastes like it had eggplant rather than beef - no flavor at all. read more

I ordered dinner takeout over the phone and it was a breeze. They open at 5 p.m. for dinner so they are able to prep the food by 5:10-5:15 p.m. I tried the cattleman's ribeye steak (medium) and the oven roasted pork medallions. The steak was so buttery and soft. The sauce just made it even better. The green beans were fresh and cooked perfectly. The pork medallions were okay. The meat could use some more time in the oven to soften even more. The flavors were a bit more muted and was mostly drenched in mushroom sauce, which was gravy-like. I think it could use a little more salt or garlic to make it more savory. The sweet potatoes were seasoned with cinnamon, which sort of threw me off as the meal was more on the plain side. The sweet potatoes tasted sort of a like a dessert. They packed the takeout meals really well with saran wrap tightly wrapped around the containers so that it could flip over in your car and nothing will come out! The portions were huge and can last 2-3 leftover meals. read more

Cafe Rustica - Cattleman's ribeye steak - French Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

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Came here for dinner and I got the butternut squash ravioli and it was super delicious and flavorful. I really like the brown butter sage sauce that went with it and the portion was the perfect amount for me since it was a bit on the rich side. I also ordered the fresh steamed clams and the sauce that came with it was really good. This is a really cute spot for lunch or dinner if you're in the area. read more

put this place on the MAP! easily one of the best lunches ive had this year, EVERYTHING was excellent (fish special, salad, steamed clams, and mushroom pizza were a hit), the service was also stellar. dog friendly and warm! read more

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Years later dining back at Rustica, and I'd give it 4.5 stars - very good! Funny that this time we dined with our 3 young kids and last time I mentioned it would likely be good with kids (before we had any...). I loved the great wine by the glass options and my mussels, everyone loved the calamari, and my husband loved the wine and his pizza too. A really solid spot for dinner for the whole family (or just for the adults). read more

Consistently the best restaurant in Carmel Valley Village. While there are certainly other good restaurants, this is the one with the most long-standing consistency and quality of both food and service. Nice venue, not too noisy. Indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Came here at 5:30pm with hubs and another couple. Decor was cozy and quaint. There was also outside seating with heating lamps blasting warm air by the tables. We were immediately seated at our table inside the restaurant. Ambience was pleasant. We could hear each other talk without having to raise our voices. The menu was extensive with many good choices. 3 of us ordered the beef goulash and 1 ordered 1/2 chicken dinner. Each couple also ordered red leaf salad to share. The salad was a hugh portion and had pears and pecans dressed with a light but tasty and delicious vinaigrette. We also ordered calamari which we thought was just okay. The goulash dish was a big portion but the meat was dry and chewy. The pasta underneath the stew could have been more al dente also, imo.... The 1/2 chicken was hugh and was surrounded by lots of veggies. Potatoes were included but wanted to go low carb. We ended our meal with 2 desserts, mint chocolate gelato and brioche bread pudding. Both exceeded our expectations. Service was spot on. A shout out to Juan and Matt who both waited on our table and did an excellent job. Although hits and misses in the food, service made up for it. Was a very pleasant evening meal. We will surely be back when we're in the area. read more

The restaurant is a five star restaurant with delicious lunch and dinner entrees that everyone will love. tt is a drive from Monterey to Carmel Valley Village but worth every mile. it is the best restaurant in the entire Monterey Pendin, Carmel, area. The food, the service, and the beautiful locat is amazing. Five stars read more

We don't usually order pizza but their salmon pizza was DIVINE. We figured we'd take some home for the next day-NO WAY, we ate every bite! The red leaf salad was superb, highly recommend it! The flourless chocolate torte with raspberries was so good, not too sweet at all!! I highly recommend Cafe Rustica read more

This is such a wonderful place to eat. The atmosphere is what really makes it. But the food will bring you back again and again. The salads are divine. The wood fired pizza is unique and so much better than the ones you get from the big pizza chains. The sandwiches are delicious. And the ravioli is what keeps me coming back I have been going here since they opened since the 80's. They have definitely done a great job to last that long. And for good reason. read more

Delicious food! Very European ambience. Servers are friendly. Have been 3 times and look forward to the next.

Always a great meal. Ambiance is terrific inside and out. Chef Julien does an amazing job.

The food was beautifully prepared. Had the cream of mushroom soup - the best I've ever eaten! Husband ordered the goulash, and it also was fantastic. Top it off with excellent service, and you have a winner! We will be coming back ....... read more

What is wrong with the diners of Carmel Valley? All the positive ratings for a rundown restaurant with terrible service and unsanitary practices just doesn't make sense. First, the staff are almost entirely outfitted in dirty, dingy, worn-out white shirts that look gray from the grime on them. Our water glasses were sat down on the table by their rims, eeww! Our server, "Randy," did not greet us and just abruptly asked what we were drinking. I ordered a beer, and my significant other ordered ice tea. They were never refilled, and we were never asked if we'd like more. Our empty glasses just sat there all dinner. Next, I ordered soup as an appetizer, and it never came. The bread might as well have been a loaf of Wonder Bread. It was as plain as could be. The NY Steak I ordered came out as a Ribeye. It was ok, but not for the price. It was very small and not cooked as ordered. The sides of scalloped potatoes and green beans were very good, so there's that at least. The restaurant is very small and very noisy. This primarily due to the open kitchen 3 feet away. Outside seating is offered, but there's no ambiance. Just tables on a paved patio. It really isn't worth the drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea when there are dozens of fine dining places there with a lot more to offer. Rustica Cafe, just because you've been around for years doesn't make you a great restaurant... average at best with horrible service. read more

Just ate there tonight. I had the cod special. It was delicious. Service was excellent too.

Food was way above average, probably 4.5 stars but the ambiance and the service was fantastic. Just a fabulous staff and a great vibe. Can't wait to go back! We had pizza, a pasta, and a pork dish, all excellent. Oh, and the beet salad was terrific too. read more

Great food, worth the treat even though prices are a little high. Beautiful outside patio.

We ate dinner here while on vacation. Overall the food and atmosphere were fantastic! The service was a little curt, but that added something to the experience in a way and didn't bother us too much. My wife had the seafood special and loved it. The sides were also amazing. However, the Ribeye was smothered in sauce and ended up being mostly fat and grissle and was hard to eat. I have had a lot of fantastic ribeyes for less money. This one was not worth the price. read more

Visiting the area with friends and this restaurant was incredible. The ambiance was exceptional, service was friendly and knowledgeable on every wine and dish on the menu. The butternut squash was so tasty and creamy, I wish there was more! We sat in a cozy booth that perfectly fit the 9 of us. You won't regret trying it out! read more

Cafe Rustica - Outside patio - French Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

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Love this Carmel Valley gem. Cozy and intimate. Great wine selection and the staff is very professional and knowledgeable. We visit Carmel 3-4 times a year and always enjoy a meal here. Often busy but they have outside dining with heaters when it's chilly. I had the fish special which was a Pacific rock cod and my wife had salmon. Both were delicious. The crème' brûlée was bigger than most and enough to share. We will be back in the spring. read more

This place is awesome!!! From their food to their service, everything was fantastic! They accommodated our group of 6 adult, 2 kids and two pups in their courtyard. They offered some delicious local wines , and an expansive menu of pizza, pastas and main dishes. Everything we got were delicious! But the highlight was the lamb filet with red wine sauce and the duck special. The only bummers is that I wish I lived closer so I can come back here again soon! read more

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First of all the setting for Cafe Rustica is perfect. It is like a small French, country bistro with about half the tables being outside. The wait staff is always attentive and very nice and knows their trade well, with great knowledge of the food and ingredients. Second, the food is a fresh as one can get. The salads are always made with extremely fresh lettuces, tomatoes, etc.. Butter lettuce particularly good. The menu has great variety, which is unusual for most French chefs. The ambience is always perfect, and most of the people seem to be local, which speaks to the desire of returning often. The owner/chef, Julien and his wife, Julia always are attentive and kind. This place is a constant for ourselves and often guests. What a constant treat! read more

Great ambience. Clams were a tasty starter. Service was at the pace we wanted. A bit noisy in the front room in front of the bar. We will be back. read more

* service is top notch, friendly, attentive, helpful but not intrusive. * the outside patio is quaint. as it can be chilly in carmel valley, the heat lamps are a must and definitely radiate warmth * The food was good, solid food. The butter lettuce salad was the best tasting dish of the evening ... the vinaigrette was tangy and clean. The cesar salad romaine looked tired and was lacking punch/taste (I couldn't taste the garlic in the garlic croutons or briney-ness from any anchovies). The red leaf lettuce was nice. The short ribs were the nightly special and the green beans were cooked to perfection ... nice bright green color and bite (crisp) to it. The short ribs were fork tender. Two people ordered the dish and there were noticeable serving size discrepancies, thus while the food tasted great, the inconsistency was surprising. The bbq chicken pizza was ok, nothing stood out which is unfortunate as the pizzas look mouth watering and we saw so many take out orders of pizzas as we ate. The baked chicken is good. We all splurged and had dessert. The lemon pudding cake was light and lemony. The apple in the apple galette was perfect ... al dente and bright tasting, though unfortunately it tasted like the carmel sauce was burnt (it was pretty dark for carmel sauce). the butter scotch pudding was subtle on both buttery-ness and flavor profile. The wines are nice, which are no surprise as the valley is brimming with so many wonderful wineries. read more

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Overrated. Food reminds me of college cafeteria food. The servers are nice though and they warmed up the bread for us. read more

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The best dessert ever! Apple gallette with fresh strawberries and hot caramel gallette read more

Cafe Rustica - Yummy ever dessert! - French Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

This restaurant was recommended to us and it certainly didn't disappoint. Food and service were outstanding. We had the pasta Rustica, onion soup, and the red leaf lettuce salad. The desert was their lemon and fresh strawberries special and it was exceptionally prepared. Wine list and prices overall were excellent. We definitely recommend this restaurant and we look forward to coming back read more

Pretty far from Carmel. Although we had reservations for 7pm, we were rushed. All staff had a nervous energy and seemed stressed out. I could not wait to leave. They were running out of the specials and wanted us to decide rapidly if we wanted one of them. I wanted the goulash but they ran out. So I chose the fish special. It was nice, good flavor, but the plating was overwhelming. Plate was super full, too many vegetables, too much fish and a huge ball of potatoes with creme fraiche I could not eat. Only the fish and the caramelized onions were good. The waiter told me they usually close at 7:30!! But if they are busy they close the kitchen at 8!! That was a surprise! We left fast. Not a good experience. :-( read more

We visited Carmel valley and looked up this place on yelp, as soon as we walked in we were greeted and seated, they were busy but still provided great service, our server was so kind and sweet, he kept checking on us and making sure we are happy and enjoying our meal, his name is Max I believe, he made us feel very welcomed! The food was delicious, we enjoyed the pizzas, burger and a salmon egg sandwich, it was delicious! The place is large , we enjoyed sitting on a cozy patio! read more

Kinda "meh" for me. We were a party of 6 with a reservation outside. We were seated promptly. I know it is Carmel and it can get cool - so there were tons of heat lamps on the patio...But on too high and too many of them for this evening, we did get one of them near our table turned down eventually. We ordered 2 pizzas and a calamari for the table - The pizza I think was the highlight for me. My husband and I split two entrees: -Short ribs: really just regular short ribs not super juicy - nothing special, served some plain (again, nothing special) mashed potatoes - I have had better. -Butternut squash ravioli: a bit greasy, meh Our table split 2 desserts: butterscotch pudding and a bread pudding - the bread pudding was better. Our waitress was fine - but not too knowledgeable about wine. read more

Cafe Rustica - Short ribs - French Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

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Food service and ambiance continues to impress at Carmel Valley Village. Here at Cafe Rustica inside is intimate date night and outside is casual date night or brunch. We had butternut squash ravioli and beef rigatoni - nom nom! Will come back again! read more

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My husband and I were in the area on a golf trip. We had assumed we would be driving back to Carmel for meals but were pleasantly surprised by all the local eateries available. Cafe Rustica was walking distance from our motel. We arrived without reservations on a Sunday evening. It was busy but we were seated immediately. My husband ordered a Ribeye with peppercorn sauce. The steak was cooked perfectly and the sauce was amazing. I had a Cesar salad because I wasn't extremely hungry. To my surprise it was very large. The lettuce was fresh, croutons homemade, and generous amounts of shaved parmesan cheese made for a delicious meal. The hostess and wait staff were friendly and pleasant. This is on our list of must return places in the area. read more

Café Rustica is by far the best restaurant in the village. The pizzas are excellent, and their specials even better. The red leaf butter lettuce is excellent. Wine selection is decent. Nothing better than sitting outside in a beautiful Carmel Valley afternoon enjoying their salads and pizzas with a cold glass of Chardonnay or Vinho Verde read more

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What a terrific dinner! Very good Ribeye and Lamb with a caesar salad. Just outstanding!! The service was perfect!!

My wife and I ate here for first time and had a great experience. I ordered the Roasted Chicken and it was absolutely delicious and enough to satisfy my hearty appetite. My wife had tge Butternut Squash Raviolis and loved her meal. We ordered the Apple Galette for dessert and the pastry part was light and fluffy so the apple and carmel taste stood out. It has some strawberry slices and whip cream also, so good. Derek took such great care of us and added to the overall great experience. We highly recommend Cafe Rustica. read more

Amazing service! Extraordinary Team ExcelleNt food .. fresh and tasty Do not miss the thin crust pizza .. far away the best in this area The Sole and the lamb were so delicious The wine list is superb and the price very raisonnable Do not miss this place A GEM read more

Always such a pleasure! Beautiful Cali winter day and a yummy brunch before hitting the wineries. Thank you Cafe Rustica (and Roman) for always providing a consistently happy and fulfilling experience read more

Cafe Rustica - Lorraine pizza! - French Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

Another amazing experience at Cafe Rustica. All thanks to our phenomenal server Jonathan. He was so kind, attentive, and wonderful. To say that he was the highlight of our night is an understatement. He went above and beyond to cater to our needs. I also have many dietary restrictions and he was more than accommodating. Highly suggest requesting him if you come in! Also amazing food and ambiance. read more