Visited Chez Noir for a date night and had a really great experience. We ordered the prix fixe menu -- I had the rockfish and my partner had the chicken -- and both dishes were well-prepared and flavorful. The highlight for me was the brioche bread and butter, which was easily the standout item of the meal. Absolutely exceptional. Service was excellent throughout the evening. The staff was attentive and thoughtful without being intrusive, and we never felt rushed at any point. The drinks were well-made, and the wine list offered a strong selection. The ambiance is perfect for a date night -- intimate, cozy, and relaxed. Overall, a very enjoyable dining experience and definitely a place I would return to. read more

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Small Michelin star fine dining husband wife spot with great vibes. Food: 4 Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 Cost to worth it rating: 3 ($165 for 3 courses, $95 wine pairing) Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: maybe Highlights: - Great vibes: lively and comfortable fine dining like I like it Bread: mouth watering warm buttery brioche bread that looked like a wizards hat. 5 star - Abalone skewer amuse: I'm not an abalone person but the char on it was so wonderful. Excellent marinated bite with a tiny sliver of lemon. 5 stars - Canelles: best I've had. Perfectly crunchy on the outside and custardy on the inside. 5 stars Pate: tasty combo of liver and pork with pistachios. 4.5 stars - Gnocchi: delicate texture and flavor. My hub loved the cheesiness of it. 4.5 stars - Cocktails: had an orange vesper which was smooth and less in your face than a standard vesper. Hub had old fashioned which was his fave one he's had that day with a great balance of sweetness and bitterness and nice single clarified ice cube. 4.5 stars - Amuse soup: white asparagus and herbs cold was a delightful start. 4.25 stars - Tarte bruleed: like a mixture between a creme brûlée and key lime pie in texture and flavors which was fun. 4.25 stars - Rib eye steak: amazing bordelaise sauce and paired with white asparagus. 4 stars - Staff: excellent service and very friendly - Sommelier: Nate was knowledgeable and friendly and made our night as enjoyable as it was. Lovely he focuses mostly on local wines and gave excellent pairing advice - If you don't want the full wine pairing, it's option to get half glasses along the way - Menu: 4 courses with 3 choices each (pasta course with 2) and sizable portions for each Midlights: - Fish: cod was very delicate soft with a richer sauce mixed with mashed potatoes and few slices of abalone. Just ok for me. 3.25 stars - Rhum cake: tender and nice fresh fruit but rum was overpowering. 3 stars - Fazoletti: pasta was too al dente for me, saucy bit too rich with blue cheese, and I'm not a mussel person. I liked the crunch on top though. 2.5 stars Lowlights: - For non seafood meat eaters there's more limited selections for first 2 courses and they offer vegetarian options as replacements -- which are also heavy on mushrooms for those who don't care for those - Steak supplement at $95 was a bit steep - Menu rotates so you don't know what will be on it when booking which is harder for those with limited tastes read more

We recently dined at Chez Noir during our trip to Carmel. The experience was enjoyable overall. the ingredients were fresh, and the execution was solid. However, coming from Southern California, where there are many highly competitive fine dining restaurants, I found that the overall level of the dishes at chez noir felt comparable to places like Jeune et Jolie in Carlsbad , but at nearly double the price. At this price point, I was expecting more complexity, more memorable flavors, or a stronger sense of creativity in the menu. While everything was good, nothing stood out as particularly exceptional or unique. I understand that Carmel is a destination town and that dining here is part of the travel experience, but from a purely culinary perspective, the value felt a bit hard to justify. read more

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Such an intimate and romantic restaurant, the perfect start to our valentines weekend! Service was friendly and food was amazing. read more

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Chez Noir represents coastal California well, very well designed and executed seafood dishes, novel local expertise evidenced by the eternally on the menu abalone skewer amuse bouche, and clearly fresh and bright use of fish and quality meats. My pictures came out rather dark because I didn't want to use flash in the dim ambiance, and it was worth it to fully enjoy the romantic outdoor patio. It was a serene experience with delightful weather. The waiters were kind, helpful, young, and full of the requisite professionalism. The crudo was surprisingly my favorite dish, with delicately sliced apple and an accompanying jus. Didn't want to leave the Monterey Peninsula without trying it. Chef Jonny Black came out with after the meal and was incredibly personable. Canelé to finish was cathartic. Endowed with a Michelin star for good reason. read more

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Admittedly, I'm a tad late on this review but here it is. Firstly, service was impeccable from the timing, precision and inviting warmth. The dishes were marvelously constructed and presented. We each ordered a different item for every course allowing us to sample everything on the menu. Here's the menu: ADD-ONS: Fresh Oysters and oyster "Rockefeller" - I'm not a huge fan of oysters, but these tasted of clean ocean; briny and salty with some sweetness. The slight crunch of the "Rockefeller" was a nice contrast to the softness. Abalone skewers and toast - flavorful and set the tone of the upcoming meal. FIRST COURSE: Porcini mushroom "carpaccio" - beautifully cut mushrooms paired with fresh and distinct flavors. Loved everything about this dish but wished it had more Parmesan. Washington King salmon Crudo - clean taste and good textural contrasts. Duck liver terrine - rich and savory balanced with sweetness. ADD-ON: bread - freshly baked, warm and soft. The salted butter with the bread was sublime. SECOND COURSE: Brentwood corn triangoli - pasta texture was perfect, but was not a fan of the sweet corn filling. The sauce tasted of tabasco which was interesting in a way that left you questioning if you liked it or not. THIRD COURSE: Vermillion rockfish "a la Provencale" - the fish was flawlessly prepared; the crispy skin was delectable. Hated the morel mushroom in the dish. It seemed like an after thought and the flavor was strangely unpleasant. Grilled Wolfe ranch quail - crispy but still moist. Balanced flavors. Superior farms lamb "Paloise" - unanimously voted as the worst dish of the evening. Lamb was cooked well, but the accompaniments were disappointing. They didn't enhance the lamb and the sauce wasn't delicious. Unfortunately, my daughter only took 2 bites of this dish. Chez Noir offered to make something else for her, but at this point she was just over it. DESSERT: Prevadelli farms berry tart - amazingly tasty and homey. I would come back just for this dessert. Mille feuille - loved the filling, but not the crust. Kashiwase farms peach sorbet - bright, light and yummy. We spent $1,065.40 with tip. Based on the service alone, I would have ranked Chez Noir highly, but considering the meal and the price, I had to lower the rating. read more

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Amazing fixed price menu! The service was incredibly attentive without being too much. We came here to celebrate a promotion, and we had a wonderful time. Every course was delicious, but weirdly the bread course was my favorite. They offer an amazing gluten free bread. We sat outside on the patio with our dog, the weather was perfect. 10/10 would come again for very special occasions. read more

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The service and atmosphere were solid and what you would expect from a Michelin star restaurant. Unfortunately the food tends to fall short on an otherwise great experience. For the money, I would expect the food to be better. The first few dishes were good but nothing really wowed me. The main entree was good and the highlight of the meal. The desert was not good. Overall, I left with a feeling of "meh" for the food. I'm not saying it's a pass, as I saw several other reviews that regard it as a must-visit in Carmel, but I don't put Chez Noir in the same league as other Michelin star restaurants. It's over priced for the taste and experience and diners should now that. read more

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What a great experience we had at Chez Noir Saturday night. We dined with another couple. Me and my buddy did the wine pairing with our prix fixe meals. Our dinner started with two small bites: tuna tartar on a small wafer and an abalone skewer. Both were tasty. The abalone skewer was creative and one of my favorite bites of the night. My first course was a ham and parsley terrine served with whole grain mustard and a celery slaw. The terrine was interesting, and certainly enhanced when you included the mustard and slaw with each bite. The dish was successful when combined all together. The 2nd course was the best thing I ate all night, Costata Romano Zucchini Tortelli. This was a filled pasta like a large tortellini with a saffron jus I believe. Absolutely amazing! I'm still craving that dish a day later. 3rd course was a small wagyu filet and aldente vegetables in a Demi glaze. The vegetables were too raw for my taste. For dessert I had a 'peach Melba' served with a berry sauce. The peach could have been a little riper so it was not as flavorful as it could have been. Service? Outstanding! Yes certainly what you would expect from a Michelin star restaurant. Luis, Steven, and Carson were a great core team but the whole staff chips in to ensure every diner's experience is truly a fine dining experience without any pretentious attitude. My prix fixe dinner with the wine pairing was a home run, and at times, exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend Chez Noir if you are looking for a fine dining experience with creative food presentation, fulfilling flavors, and top notch service. We are already planning our next dinner here in a couple months. read more

Chez Noir - Food and wine pairing menu from our great dining experience. - Seafood Near Me - Carmel, California

Lovely experience at Chez Noir! The ambiance was really cozy and intimate, it felt like a small restaurant in Europe. Everyone was extremely kind and welcoming. The food itself was quiet good as well. The abalone was our favorite of the night, but generally speaking we liked everything! The bread was delicious as well. I wouldn't say that the food completely blew us away, but overall it was good! It's a very high price point, which was notable, but no real complaints as a whole. Great time overall! read more

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Delicious dinner. Delightful service. Totally worth of their Michelin star. We enjoyed the caviar funnel cakes, the tasting menu and a bottle of wine. Portions are larger than what we've seen for many tasting menus so we had a hard time finishing some of our dishes. read more

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Great experience! We dropped by here for our anniversary dinner with a reservation with our pup! Service was amazing - really great host. The food was also really good! Glad we got around to trying this while we were in town. The dinner took around 2.5 hours total! read more

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The service and food quality is definitely 5/5. The restaurant itself is very intimate and charming. They have a rotating menu, one we did not look at prior to our visit and wish we had. They had a variety of flavors and options, but nothing really appealed to us this time. We booked the restaurant based on an older menu, so this mistake was all on us. You will not leave this meal hungry, their portion sizes were very filling, I couldn't finish my dishes! Our waitress was kind enough to offer making me anything else, but I was truly so full my stomach isn't used to French cuisine. Their drink menu was also very creative, I enjoyed my pear old fashioned! read more

Amazing dinner experience - I can easily see why Chez Noir has a Michelin star; the food is delicately and beautifully prepared, staff is lovely, and the indoor and outdoor seating is cozy and not overly pretentious. They offer a 4-course tasting menu but with options for add-ons (extra appetizer, cheese supplement) or upgrade the 3rd course to wagyu. Thoughts on the courses: - Amuse-bouche: 1) tuna tartlet: light and refreshing, flavor explosion in your mouth 2) grilled abalone: tender and delicious with the lemon - 1st Course: my favorite of the savory courses; I had the cauliflower salad - the sauces were creamy and nutty and went well with the saltiness of the anchovies and freshness of the cauliflower. My husband had the halibut carpaccio which was light and had a kick of spice to go with some of acidity. - Bread with a head (I think that's what they called it) which came with the creamiest freshly made butter - my husband thinks this is the best bread he has ever had - 2nd Course: Zucchini tortelli dish - good but my least favorite of the courses - 3rd Course: I had the black cod which was smoky yet light and perfectly cooked. My husband opted for the wagyu upgrade which came with foie gras - the steak was cooked perfectly and the fattiness of the foie gras added a richness the dish. - Dessert: I loved the peach melba - light and summery way to end the meal. If you're a fan of rum cake with a strong rum flavor, you'll enjoy the baba au rhum. Lovely dining experience with chocolate chip cookies to go and we enjoyed them the next day. I would definitely go back for a special occasion if we're ever in the area again. read more

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Amazing experience at this michellin star restaurant. The ambiance was perfect and intimate. The food was all tasty and seafood themed Servers were always checking up on us and super attentive. I would love to come again in the future to try different rotating items. read more

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If you're feeling fancy, this place is worth the dollars when in Carmel. Pro tip: make reservations early. When you enter... beautiful yet cozy space, kind and happy staff. You're provided with a prix fix menu with some minor options to select to customize your experience. Everything top to bottom was delicious. Then as of you didn't already have a wonderful dinner, they give you a delicious cookie to take home so you can drool over and reminisce the sumptuous dinner the next day. (I'm picky with my cookies; it needs to be high quality chocolate and perfect texture a bit crispy edges with a moist inside and yup .. that's what you get .) read more

WE LOVED OUR FIRST CHEZ NOIR EXPERIENCE!!!! And we would definitely go back again. We were visiting Carmel for our honeymoon and had read that Chez Noir would be a special experience. Bottom line - We had the best time and we ate everything!!!! I can't tell you the last time I have eaten every morsel during a dining experience. We went hungry and I am so glad for that!! In short, we loved the entire experience - the food was delicious and creative. We felt welcome and treated like treasured guests. :) Everyone was extremely hospitable and personable. It was only until the end of the meal that we realized our main server was Monique, one of the owners. She was helpful in answering questions and making recommendations. Summary of the experience: Atmosphere - lovely and warm. Food - plentiful, full of flavor, delicious and completely worth the price. Anyone who says it's not worth the price just has another perspective on what they think things should cost, which is fine, but we totally thought the food was amazing and a great value for the price. We were stuffed when we left! Service - friendly, warm, helpful and thoughtful. Specifics: The amuse bouche - abalone skewers and some kind of crudo on toast - delish! They served yummy bread and butter - nice and hot and so fresh. We ordered grilled oysters (Two in an order) - yummy! We both had red wine and they offered us tastes so we could try before committing. The gnocchi were exquisite and melt in your mouth wonderful, light and fluffy - the cream adding extra deliciousness and the crispy kale on top was so enjoyable. The rabbit pate was both plentiful and tasty with the accompanying carrot salad so flavorful. The artichoke and squid salad was light and zesty. The skate Milanese (fish) was unlike anything we had enjoyed before and while fried, it was incredibly good. The quail was the perfect amount of food - succulent and sweet with the addd ham On top and the bouillon poured over top giving it an added salty deliciousness. The accompanying greens and shallots were both tasty additions. The chocolate tart was awesome! The sorbet float was so refreshing and we just loved the beautiful presentation and how it was served. The canales (with candle) were the cherry on top to our special celebration AND the cookies they sent us home with show the level of detail they pay to ensure their guests feel great about their entire experience. We definitely left smiling. Finally, we realized we lost our room key and reached out to the restaurant the next day. The other owner Jonny called us as soon as they received our message and reached out by Phone and text to let us know we indeed left it there and offered to bring it to us!!! Seriously, that's great service and kindness right there. We encourage everyone to go and enjoy a special night at Chez Noir. We were very impressed and hope to come back and be wowed again on a future trip. read more

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Came here for an anniversary dinner and it was such an amazing experience. All of the food was perfectly curated -- the brioche was maybe the best I've ever had. Absolutely top notch service (everyone was very friendly) in a romantic setting. I loved the open kitchen window. $165 for the pre-fix was worth it -- and portions were great -- I left so full. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a leisure paced high quality experience. read more

Chez Noir - Seafood Near Me - Carmel, California

While I had no complaints about the food and wine pairing, I wasn't completely blown away by anything either. We had a late reservation (8:30) and it seemed to take an inordinately long time to get the menu and to take our order - and since it's a pre fixe, you're not really left with that many options! We were pretty starving and a little hangry by the time we started eating. I also wish we weren't so close to the table next to us. One of my pet peeves is when other people are too close and you can hear their conversation without even trying, and then you have to make an active effort to not listen to them. It also wasn't like all the tables were spaced evenly apart - some had a reasonable amount of space between (like between our table and the one on my left was fine). Finally, i wasn't sure when the bread/popover was supposed to come out as the couple next to us got theirs before we got ours even though we were a couple courses ahead. A heads up that maybe it was baking or on the way would have been nice, as we felt like we had been overlooked or forgotten since we did get a butter knife twenty minutes before the bread and butter actually arrived. Anyway, I was slightly disappointed with all these aspects but that's being nitpicky since you could tell a lot of care went into all of the food and it was all good. I also did enjoy the wine pairing and the descriptions provided were quite nice. I won't be forgetting "barnyard" flavor soon! read more

First time visiting this cute little Michelin restaurant & we had a wonderful experience. There are limited indoor & outdoor seating, make sure you make reservations. The food was delicious, beautifully presented, a work of art. The staff were friendly & very attentive. We enjoyed everything we ordered, all the appetizers were fantastic. We got the pole bean frites (lightly fried green beans), salmon crudo (refreshing with great flavor) & corn triangoli (loved the sweet sauce). My husband enjoyed the rockfish, I got the lamb paloise which was a little too salty for me but still good. The desserts were also delicious, we got the peach sorbet & the Millie-feuille. They gifted us another small dessert for our anniversary and two cookies to-go. This restaurant opened 3 yrs ago and they change their menu every 6 weeks. We will definitely return the next time we're in the area. read more

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Food: 5 Decor: 4 Service: 5 Came here for brunch after booking a few days prior. Overall a great 1 Michelin star meal and would definitely come back again. Abalone skewer amuse bouche 5/5. Great start to the meal and tasty first bites. Washington king salmon crudo Nasturtium, schoch dairy yogurt, haricot vert 5/5. Excellent balance of king salmon with other ingredients. Brentwood corn triangoli Incontro Nduja, garlic scape, scallion 4/5. Tasty corn pasta. Vermilion rockfish a la provencale Fennel confit, petit zucchini, morel 4/5. Rockfish was cooked well, but the quail was better. Grilled wolfe range quail Minnazzoli farm fig, spanish peppers, porcini mushroom 5/5. Very well cooked crispy quail balanced with fig and veggies. Kashiwase farms peach sorbet 4/5. Very tasty sorbet palate cleanser with raspberries and some shaved ice. Mille-feuille 4/5. Pretty presentation with rhubarb, strawberries, and flaky pastry crust. $165 per person Service was good. read more

I had really really high expectations for this place due to the Michelin star. Service was absolutely excellent. Nice dim ambiance. But I'm not crazy about the food. The dishes were pretty as expected from a fine dinning place. And you can tell that they spent a lot of time and effort creating each dish. But I would never dine here again. There were no dishes that I loved. The bread was salty. My salad was too bitter. The custard on the dessert was not good. The best item was the amuse bouche which was abalone skewers. Price was 150 per person for the coursed meal. A 20% gratuity is required and added to your check. read more

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Very underwhelming to say the least. This was our 11th Michelin one-star experience and we would solidly put it in the bottom tier. Food: We started the night with the amuse bouche, which was probably the highlight of the evening. The fish tasted fresh and the bread underneath was crispy. For our first course we went with the carpaccio and the pork/duck pate en croute. It was my first time having pate en croute and I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. We went with a pear/walnut pasta and the sea urchin tagliatelle for the second course. My wife didn't enjoy the pear pasta, thought it was too sweet. For me, the sea urchin tagliatelle was wayyyy too sour - the lemon was overpowering. The uni balanced it out okay but there was only two measly pieces of uni so you'd have two bites of uni and like ten bites of sour pasta. Then for the third course, my wife went with the cod and I went with the veal. The veal was okay but not memorable and not something I felt was worth the additional supplement for. Finally brings us to the dessert, which was very disappointing. Not sure if it was just a bad batch but the apple tarte tatin had a strong bitter taste. I don't think we were the only ones to notice this as we noticed the lady at a table next to us also reacted poorly to her first bite of the tarte tatin as well and didn't finish it. The yogurt sorbet was rather bland and also forgettable. Service: We wish we could say the service made up for it, but that wasn't the case either. When we made the reservation, we put down that it was my wife's birthday (it was), but there was no acknowledgement on arrival, and they even asked us if we were celebrating something when we got seated. We again mentioned it was her birthday but nothing came out of that and no further acknowledgement the rest of the night. They don't take your coat at the door, unlike other fine dining restaurants and because some of the tables like ours have only bench seating, your coat is just left awkwardly on the bench. I took a look around the restaurant and every table had coats left on the bench or on the back of guests' chairs - very messy and unlike the other places we've been to. Our waiter was very casual both in demeanor and attire. When we made a comment about the bitter dessert, the staff member didn't really acknowledge it or at least even tell us he'd let the kitchen know. It was just brushed off. All-in-all, we were rather disappointed and wouldn't come back, or recommend it. It would be forgettable as a regular restaurant, but as a one Michelin star, it was memorable for the wrong reasons. read more

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Excellent food, and service. Prix fixe menu gives you good value. Highly recommend for a special meal.

Cozy is Chef Jonny and his wife, Monique's Chez Noir. Fabulous service with attention to the smallest detail. Memorable scrumptious courses with each visit. From a la carte to now tasting menu. Over the two years since its opening, I carry sweet dreams of their oysters, brioche, monterey bay abalone skewers, agnolotti, grilled rose veal loin, chocolate sabayon tart, and, caneles! CHEERS! read more

Chez Noir is a must when in Carmel. The quaint, upscale vibe is exactly the atmosphere that makes you feel like you are in an exclusive, yet very warm and welcoming spot. We sat in the bar area and had drinks and appetizers - the best way to start the night. The sugar snap vesper was very unique, a really fun cocktail. I had always wanted to try abalone, and was excited when they had a unique spin on it here - it was delicious. The bartender was very nice and welcoming, offering suggestions that didn't fail to impress. I would absolutely come back here! read more

Chez Noir - Cocktails were great! - Seafood Near Me - Carmel, California

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Good-excellent service cozy environment pleasant people Bad-mediocre food super expensive $250+ per person read more

Aces all around! Ambiance (superb music selection), friendly service without the uppity attitude we've come to assume of some places, excellent wine choices and of course the food! We came for a special treat to celebrate our birthdays and left feeling so happy to have chosen Chez Noir! We brought our four legged baby with us and they were beyond accommodating; the food from beginning to end was exceptional! If you're familiar with Remy from that Pixar film, we had that moment of utter bliss for our taste buds when savoring the abalone skewers and especially when pairing their brioche with the duck liver and the halibut - out of this world good! A few things to note though; the restaurant states on its website that there isn't a phone number to call (I found a bit odd) but alas you're given the option to email so we did. Only concern was we never heard back regarding our worries (we wanted to make sure we had enough space for our pup) It all worked out in the end but I think a phone # to call would be the better option or at minimum an automated email response (which I can only hope they're working to resolve) Impeccable service must be noted! From beginning to end, hostess/front of house/wait staff/etc. ALL GREAT! We notified the restaurant we were celebrating our birthdays (and they wished us happy birthday when we arrived) and it serendipitously was the restaurant's "birthday" as well along with one of the owners birthdays too! To commemorate their birthday they offered champagne from a huge bottle! An indication for us that they don't take themselves too serious and a silliness in the air that made the experience more enjoyable and cheerful! We wish to come back and check out their dining room/bar area for a more casual visit without our four legged baby - the coziness and warmth from the decor indoors reminded us of one of our favorite bistros in Paris - so we definitely hope to visit again on of our trips to Carmel. read more

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In 2013, my wife and I ate for the 1st time at Casanova just down the road from Chez. I fondly remember the starter being Escargot in bone marrow and drool just picturing it in my head. The same year I ate my 1st lamb shank at Dametra which simply falls off the bone with a wave of the fork and is accompanied by a naughty and delicious potato gratin. Last year, Passion fish where my wife still cant stop talking about the savory rice pudding and my mic drop moment in 2016 with the Flying fish and their Black Alaskan Cod. Yum.... Last night I had the honor to be invited to join two associates to dine at Chez Noir. On returning home, my wife asked me how the meal was and what I ate, to which I replied.. 'Let me pull the menu up as I cant really remember' (and no I had 1 glass of wine) I woke this morning hungry and thinking about my response to her question last night thus the tone of this review ! I love great food and this certainly delivered. However, if I drop big coin on a restaurant, I really want something to surprise me, to stick in my mind and with my response last night that sadly says it all. I started with the Tuna Curd, followed by Eggplant Agnolotti, main was Halibut and dessert the Sabayon Tart. The food was really good, the staff were on point and super. The place is buzzing and vibrant and perhaps a little more relaxed than I expected based on the buzz. But with all this, there wasn't a component on any of my chosen dishes that stood out for me to make a snap remark to my wife les than 30 mins from leaving the restaurant. If I think hard, I would say the highlight would be an amuse bouche offered at the start which was Monterey Bay albacore skewer ! Anyhow, Salute to Chez Noir for finding a winning formula. I have no doubt that the owners will adapt as the initial euphoria settles and the wannabe posers drift back into obscurity that it thrives offering a landmark local eatery. read more

Chez Noir - Seafood Near Me - Carmel, California

Still great. Kitchen slowed down to the point of an inquest at one stage, and I found a surprise sliver of aluminum in a dish, but: 1. The sugar snap vesper is terrific. Just unbelievably good. They kindly made us a booze-free spin on it that was also astonishingly good. 2. Service continues to be outstanding. Lovely people doing good work. 3. The food is still fabulous. The hen egg raviolo was superb. The lamb and the tenderloin equally so. Final note: what a lovely menu design. Really striking. read more

Chez Noir - Seafood Near Me - Carmel, California

The very best restaurant in Carmel-by-the-sea!!! The ambience is charming and relax typical of a California beach town. The service is attentive as one would expect at a Michelin-starred restaurant, with extra friendly warmth and touch. The cocktails are well balanced (I had a green Negroni). Each course of the omakase menu is unique and sublimely crafted, on par with what we had from a 2-star or 3-star Michelin. We did not ordered wine-pairing instead had two glasses of Txakoli from Basque Country that instantly transport us back to San Sebastián. By the way there is a large parking lot next to the restaurant that one can park for free after 5pm. read more

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We gave Chez Noir another try last night for a corrective experience (following a not so impressive 1st experience several months ago). Overall, we had a very good fine dining experience. The attention to service detail this time was outstanding and on point. We were welcomed back by practically all the front of house staff, and even Owner Chef Jonny Black himself stopped by. The menu (which is very seasonal and changes frequently) comprises mainly of a 4 course $150 Prix Fixe selection with optional upgrades (e.g. 3rd course steak upgrade was +$75, wine pairing +$85) and add-ons. This week's menu was a lot more interesting and appealing to our palate this visit, including their addition of several optional add on starters like Fried Delicata Squash and Oysters. Soon after being seated and placing our order, we were presented with an Amuse Bouche of their signature Grilled Abalone Skewer and a Grilled Octopus Skewer -- lovely treats to start off. Here's what else we had last night... * Optional Add On: Delicata Squash Frito Misto -- Battered and fried Delicata Squash Rings with Meyer lemon and honey. Nice starter, although some pieces with thicker batter had a somewhat mushy texture. * 1st Course: Dungeness Crab Salad -- Beautifully done. Fresh crab meat tossed with a celeriac slaw, topped with chunks of claw meat, organic greens and a touch of dill. Perfectly lightly seasoned to accentuate the fresh, sweet and tasty crab. * Signature Brioche Bun with butter to accompany the 1st Course. * 2nd Course: Fines Herbes Fazzoletti -- A delightful bicolor large square pasta with fresh mussels in a blue cheese sauce. I really liked the al dente pasta and fresh mussels, but I found the sauce a bit too salty. * 3rd Course (Diner#1): Skate Wing Grenobloise -- A grilled skate (fish) wing served with a meunière-style lemon sauce and croutons, garnished with nasturtium and grilled cauliflower. The skate wing was unique, fresh and tasty, and I enjoyed the grilled cauliflower. However, we felt this dish was let down by the sauce that was much too salty. * 3rd Course (Diner#2): Ribeye with Abalone (+$75 upgrade) -- The petite (6oz?) ribeye was delicious, cooked to a perfect medium plus as we had requested. The abalone topper was also very good, similar to scallop in taste but slightly firmer in texture. * Palate Cleanser: Orange Sorbet with Champagne -- What a fun and creative palate cleanser to wind down our meal. * Dessert (Diner#1): Persimmon Sticky Toffee Pudding with Sheep's Milk Yogurt Sorbet -- This was nice if you like pudding, sorbet was a good complement, but overall too sweet for my taste. * Dessert (Diner#2): Mont Blanc -- A coffee semifreddo, chestnut base, and candied citrus garnish. This was absolutely delicious. Best dessert we've had here. We had just had a wine tasting before dinner, so only ordered a glass of wine with dinner. They do have a full wine menu, as well as a drinks menu for wines and cocktail by the glass. Overall, it was a wonderful experience for elevated fine dining, excellent service, small intimate dining room ambience, and inventive fresh cuisine. However, I was surprised that a couple of dishes were served with oversalted sauces... seems like a detail that could be more easily quality controlled. Do expect to splurge at least $200+ per head, including an automatic 20% service charge regardless of party size. I do applaud the passion of the Owner husband-and-wife team Chef Jonny Black and Monique Black, and have no doubt they will continue to perfect their dining offering. I have seen significant improvements based on feedback since our last visit. Good for a special occasion pampering, but likely not a regular dining destination for us. read more

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There really isn't much more that I can say that hasn't already been said. Chez Noir was my preferred dining choice for my birthday. We made reservations weeks in advance. Highly recommend this as the venue is quite cozy. Inside is dimly lit and romantic, but also bustling and can be atad noisy. Outside was a little more peaceful and dog friendly, but of course the weather can be sometimes misty, wet and cold. For that, I'm glad we opted for inside. I spotted a corner booth when we entered and was secretly hoping we would be seated there. Anyone else scope out seats like that, or just me? As luck would have it, we were seated there! The menu at Chez Noir updates regularly, so there's very little point in rehashing my entire meal. Except to say that it was uniquely presented and entertaining to the senses. Yes, it was a little heavy on the seafood, but this close to the Pacific, what do you expect? We both opted for cocktails instead of wine. Every cocktail was superb and potent! Chez Noir was a lovely choice, and would definitely recommend as a destination restaurant. read more

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A gem worth more than five stars. A delightful experience starting with an adorable, quaint restaurant feeling as if we are in Paris. Service was more like good friends taking care of us. Might I say exceptional service with charm. I enjoyed speaking with beautiful Sophia, the hostess who not only complimented my attire but kept taking care of us during the meal. Nate, the general manager who also charmed us and watched over our every need. Stephen always with a smile serving us our wine. Enjoyed speaking French with Oscar too. Okay- let's talk food. Each dish was filled with love and attention to detail and nuances of flavors. I wish I could afford to come here for every new menu. Missed meeting the owners since they were not there that night, but you'd never know because the food still stood out. The oysters were beautifully different with flavors and an added crunch of radish. I can go ion and on about each dish that followed- including the tuna Crudo, and loved the Rock fish entree in the amazing fish stock reduction and both of our desserts too. Thank you to the Chez Noir team for a memorable experience. Sincerely, Stephanie and Rich read more

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This place has one Michelin star, which I thought didn't quite live up to it... let me explain. The food actually started out amazing but once it got to the main plate, I felt like the taste did not compliment well, especially the fish plate. The pasta was super delicious and the bread and butter too. Salad was surprisingly good as well. We were also able to see the chefs organizing each plates delicately, however... what ruined the experience for me was that I saw the lady who was putting together one of the desserts (chocolate one) and licked her fingers, then proceeded to touch that same dessert with her fingers! I mentioned this to my group and it was actually witnessed a second time.... Beware of this. Hopefully the restaurant will make sure their employees do not do this again. Overall this place had a beautiful ambience, very intimate and romantic feeling, perfect for a date in Carmel. read more

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The food was spectacular, and the drinks just as impressive. Service was incredibly accommodating of gluten and dairy intolerances (the house made gluten free bread is a must try, even for those who don't have any problems with gluten), which made the experience even better. The atmosphere was wonderful to top it all off -- I can't wait to return. read more

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Here's a secret if you can't get a reservation or don't feel like splurging on the entire tasting menu - walk in and grab one of the 6 seats at the bar. You'll be offered both the tasting menu and an a la carte menu, which offers most (though not all) of the items on the tasting menu. Having read so many glowing reviews for Chez Noir last year (felt like they were on every year end round up), I was expecting a lot. Unfortunately I felt the price to value left me a bit disappointed - the food felt comparable to SF spots that are 50% cheaper. We tried: Squid gildas - These were quite refreshing although quite olive-y so don't get this if you don't like olives. Brioche-a-tête - The brioche is really solid, super soft and pillowy. Abalone skewers - These were really good. The sauce is so umami + smoky, I wouldn't have guessed I was eating abalone if I hadn't known. This was definitely my favorite dish of the night. Quail - I found this disappointing. Compared to the other high end quail I've had (Benu, SSAL), this was much less tender and even a tad dry in some places (even though they all source their quail from Wolfe Ranch). The sauce was nice though. Dry aged brandt steak "a la Joe Beef" - The real reason to get this dish is for the duck liver terrine. It's probably the most creamy and delicious duck liver terrine I've ever had, my favorite singular bite of the night. But at $100, I find it hard to justify ordering this dish. The steak itself wasn't the most tender I've had in recent memory (can't beat a good wagyu) although I appreciated that the dry aged flavor here was subtle. read more

Another 1* Michelin restaurant for the books! I booked this restaurant online a month in advance for my husband's birthday. Upon arrival for our reservation, the staff was very welcoming. We were immediately seated. We were a bit worried about outdoor seating but there were plenty of warm lamp heaters surrounding us. I was also given a cozy lap blanket to stay warm. This restaurant operates off a prix fixe menu so it's 3 courses + dessert. There is also a wine pairing which my husband opted for. The food and service were 10/10! Each dish is prepared with care using high quality ingredients. We would definitely come back. read more

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Favorite dining experience in Carmel during our last visit A+ Service. It was amazing and the place is super cozy, both in the inside main dining room and the outdoor front patio My fav was the grilled abalone "snack" at the beginning. I've only had abalone as a traditional Chinese wedding dish but never had it from a western standpoint and I loved it! I also had sweetbread for the first time and it was a pleasant surprise. Think of a fancy tender popcorn chicken type of consistency. Delicious and loved the refreshing fresh salad on top for balance. Another stand out was the casoncelli pasta course. Short rib and tuna steak mains were both amazing. Dessert was just ok but the rest of the meal made up for it. read more

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We recently dined at Chez Noir during the final evening of our week-long visit to Carmel, where we had the opportunity to explore several Michelin-starred and highly recommended restaurants in the area. We made our reservation through Tock, where we opted for their 'Let us cook for you' menu, which was described as "A shareable, seafood-focused, 5 course feast of Chef's highlights and off menu dishes. Participation of the entire table required." -- Unfortunately, it seemed our entire meal did not include any off-menu dishes, and ended up being the entire menu shared between the two of us, with the choice of just one entree. Food 3.3/5 - Chez Noir places a strong emphasis on utilizing fresh and locally sourced ingredients, which largely relies on the expertise of the local farmers and the culinary team. Regrettably, on this particular visit, we found that many of these ingredients leaned toward the acidic side. Some dishes seemed to lack the perfect balance of seasoning, with a few appearing overly savory or overly acidic. There were instances where a lighter touch with savory elements in predominantly sweet dishes would have been appreciated. Service - 3/5 - Our service experience at Chez Noir was a mixed one. We encountered a range of personalities among the waitstaff, with some exuding warmth and enthusiasm while others appeared more reserved. At times, the service felt slightly awkward and less coordinated, although there were moments of genuine engagement and energy. The overall flow of service could potentially be improved, perhaps due to the restaurant's layout or varying staff dispositions. Ambiance - 3/5 - The restaurant boasts a chic French bistro ambiance, exuding a welcoming and cozy atmosphere that doesn't overly emphasize its beach-town location. While they offer an outdoor patio, we personally found it somewhat disconnected, almost feeling like an afterthought, especially given its proximity to the adjacent parking area near the entrance walkway. Consequently, we opted to dine indoors instead. Starting with the snacks: 1. Chilled oyster + Spot prawns - 4/5 - Fresh. Overly expensive. 2. Monterey Squid Gildas - 3.25/5 - Salty salty salty salty. The olives were so overwhelming. Only maybe 33% of the skewer seemed to be squid, the rest were overly salty ingredients. 3. Bluefin tuna belly tartare toast - 3.85/5 - The most well-balanced of the dishes. Good sweet, savory, slightly tangy flavors. The textures were on point, and the tuna was perfectly fresh. 4. Monterey Bay abalone skewers - 2.3/5 - Incredibly expensive for what it was. It wasn't good, it wasn't bad. Not worth it. 5. Brioche-a-tete 2.89/5 - I had very high hopes for this bread, but to me personally it felt like a cross between brioche and croissant without the benefits of either. The included cultured butter needs salt. Same with the bread. Middle: 6. Heirloom Tomato terrine "Basquaise" - 1.25/5 - My taste is quite biased against tomato, so this personally wasn't my cuppa. It's quite an old-style recipe, and its age shows quite a bit. 7. Monterey Bay Albacore Tuna Crudo - 3/5 - This dish was definitely a garden of colors. The most picturesque dish of the day. I loved the fish, the berries were a mixed bag of which were sour, sweet, or flavorless. Mostly there for texture, and not a good one. 8. Coal-roasted delicata squash - 2.3/5 - This dish felt a little bit unbalanced. The matsutake mushroom could've shined through quite a bit more if it had been roasted instead of thinly sliced. The cider sabayon didn't match the dish's flavor profile. Definitely not photogenic. 9. Costata Romano Zucchini tortelloni - 4.3/5 - The best dish. Good bite to the tortelloni, zucchini was delicious. Entree: 10. Grilled California Squab - 3.89/5 - Served a very nice rare, great skin. Included mushrooms were however flavorless. The sauce didn't adhere to the dish very well. The figs were pleasantly sweet as well. Dessert: 11. Goats milk yogurt sorbet - 3.2/5 - Very savory. The included peaches were the saving grace--very sweet. 12. Chocolate ambroisie tart - 4/5 - Warm center, hard crust. Included whipped cream seemed to imitate ice cream in a way that made me wish it was ice cream. 13. Canales de Bordeaux - 4.2/5 - This was the highlight of the meal for me. Good crust and a soft interior. In summary, our experience at Chez Noir was characterized by a distinctive menu with some standout dishes and a warm ambiance. While there were moments of exceptional service, there is room for refinement in certain aspects of both service and culinary execution. We appreciate the restaurant's dedication to local ingredients and look forward to seeing how they continue to evolve. read more

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