We did try their signature pizza but it was very greasy. The reason we only finished half and took the rest back to the hotel. When it was 4 hours eating it, it soaked up two napkins. Their salad was really good. We finished that and wanted more. We came like 2 pm on a weekday so there were only a few tables occupied. It has this rustic charm about it. You look at the window and feel like you are in the countryside. It was quite a relaxing meal. The service was attentive. read more

Corkscrew is probably our favorite restaurant (our kids' favorite too!) in Carmel Valley and there are so many great restaurants to choose from! Some favorite dishes: - onion strings stack - the whole family LOVES these - Cowboy Bordeaux blend by the glass or bottle - so good! - Tomato salad - one of my favorite dishes - pizzas especially the one with corn! One tip if you're doing takeout is to skip the beet salad since it's delicious but tends to be a small portion. Overall dine-in is better than eat out especially for the salads. Enjoy! read more

Wonderful ambiance in this quaint eatery. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Wonderful food and staff. Temperature of food was great and it was served timely. You can actually bring your own bottle of wine to have with your meal which was nice. Highly recommend. read more

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Go off the beaten path, get our of Carmel and head to the Valley. This little food treasure was worth the drive. Corkscrew Cafe is a pleasant, clean and far from pretentious restaurant,. Staff very helpful with selecting plates, the fish tacos and the "Myer Lemon Pizza" (who would have thought)--- major surprise and a good one. Price are priced very very reasonable and the quality is perfect. Bravo! read more

This review isn't about corkscrew cafe per se, but about the tacos that were being made right out in front of corkscrew. We randomly drove past here & decided to stop. We saw a grill & someone making tacos in front of the restaurant! We went inside corkscrew & placed our order for shrimp tacos. The tacos were street style & were excellent! The shrimp was perfectly seasoned & grilled & the tortillas were a blue corn! These tacos had just the right amount of spice on them! The tacos were served fast & fresh hot off the grill! We grabbed a seat in corkscrew cafes outdoor seating area. Great outdoor space to enjoy our tacos! No idea what the connection between corkscrew & these tacos are but they were some of the best shrimp tacos we've eaten & we hope this is a regular thing! read more

Corkscrew Cafe - Shrimp tacos - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

I love going to this restaurant on date night! Everything you order is great! I especially love the Meyer lemon pizza and the fish tacos!

This quaint little stop in Carmel Valley is the perfect afternoon get-away. They have a great variety of shareable bites and a great wine selection! The service was great as well! Definitely will be coming back! read more

Corkscrew Cafe - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

Such a great environment! Loved the interior and was able to eat outside by goldfish! The garlic bread is delicious, and they serve it with roasted garlic you remove from the hull. Had the beet salad- so delicious! Also had the lemon Myer pizza- a unique flavor combo but it works and the thin crust was perfect! Ok. I cannot lie. It was so good I went back the next day. Ordered the Meyer lemon pizza again(again delicious!) and the beet salad again and added the pear salad and the heirloom tomato salad. It's that good! I'm going again before I leave the area...several times! read more

We're staying at Carmel valley ranch and the hotel recommended this restaurant. When I entered I was acknowledged by a man but the two women in front continued to ignore me. The once finally acknowledges me but says there are no tables "due to the way the tables are set up." What does that even mean. She said that I can put my name on a waitlist and she'd give me a call in 30 min. Spoiler alert: I never got a call. Not long after giving them my number I asked if I can order to go (thinking that pizza is a very easy menu item to take out). She said they can't do that since they're backed up as they are expecting a party of 19. (Key word here is expecting). Honestly they're a bit snobby and I actually wonder if they're racist. They clearly do not want me to spend my money at their establishment, so I would suggest spending your money elsewhere. read more

After a day of wine tasting and not eating anything, I was starving--lol! This place has such a charming ambiance as soon as you walk in. Right by the entrance, there's a guy making pizzas, which was really cool to watch. The weather was perfect, so we sat outside in their cute courtyard. I had the smash burger, which was absolutely delicious! My friend got the fish, which she loved, and her husband had the fish tacos, which he said are epic. Next time I'm in town, I'll definitely be trying their pizza, which I hear is incredible! read more

Corkscrew Cafe - Smash burger - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

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Down in Carmel Valley for a few days to celebrate Dad's 92nd b-day. We went out to dinner at the Corkscrew. The venue is fabulous. Lots of cute seating areas with rustic decor outside. Social distancing was easy to accomplish. Our table was nestled between three old barn wood walls. There were cymbidiums in pots and other flowers decorating the area. A heat lamp was nearby if we needed it. You help yourself to water, utensils and side plates. Salt and petter are available in individual paper packets. After previewing the menu we decided on burgers, salmon and two salads to share. The burgers were really big and served with a ton of French fries. The salmon was delicious, served with baby potatoes and green beans. The beet salad was fresh as was the Caesar salad. The host was very friendly, though he was slammed with customers. We had forgotten to order dessert and he came back to our table when I went up to the desk to take our order. My sister and her hubby regularly dine here. We will be back. read more

Everything was excellent.....service, food, ambience! I've never had a bad meal here!

We have been to Corkscrew Cafe many times. However, it must have lost the chef or changed hands recently. The menu is now the one shown online, but all the wonderful pasta has disappeared from the menu. I get the feeling that they are just firing pizza and tossing salad. They do have some main courses, but they are a little pedestrian. The choice of white wine by the glass is also sparse. The garden is as beautiful as ever, but it the menu is formulaic and abbreviated. The service was a little slow but it was crowded for lunch on a Friday. I am guessing that they are trying some cost-cutting measures. If you are a tourist, it is good to try for the ambiance. I used to bring international visitors for the artichoke pasta, but it is gone. read more

This little bistro located just before you get into Carmel Valley is a charmer. I have been many times today. We ordered their mushroom pizza although my companion wanted the Meyer lemon pizza we also split their phenomenal pear salad. I am particularly fond of the.Geogis "lavender" Chardonnay. Previously you walked in the front door and placed your order. Now you're showing to your seat and you order from your table. If you get an opportunity to sit outside, do it's very charming. read more

Corkscrew Cafe - Pear salad. Abundant greens topped with fine cheese and hazelnuts. Cannot recommend this highly enough. - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

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We have not been to Corkscrew Cafe since Covid protocols ... and unfortunately it did not live up to our pleasant memories of past visits. Not bad, just not five stars. I totally understand restaurants being short staffed. Main change was placing our order at the counter and taking a number for our table. The server brought out our plates, but table water was self serve. On chillier days eating inside has always been fun. Love the decor. However, it was a warm day and eating on the patio seemed like a better option. DH enjoyed his pulled pork sandwich ... nice soft roll and lots of the frilly onion rings. My three fish tacos filled the plate. I didn't think I could eat three, but they were short on fish and long on cabbage. Once I pushed aside half the cabbage, it was easy to finish all three. They were a bit too spicey for my taste. I was looking forward to cooling off with some chocolate gelato. Unfortunately, they only had vanilla gelato or tiramisu. Neither fit my mood ... so no dessert for me. Instead I ended my meal by stolling around the patio and taking some pictures. Something fun around every corner. read more

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Visited after watching a Check Please Bay Area show. Cute courtyard for a brunch/lunch. Food/service ok.

Recently ate lunch at this delightful spot in Carmel Valley. We split theMeyer lemon pizza and the fish tacos. So delicious! Can't wait to go back and try more yummy things! read more

Astonishingly great pizza. The sausage pizza with pickled shallots and calabrian chilis is almost perfection. I don't think there's a single thing I would change about it. Bread with roasted garlic is an exercise in simplicity and deliciousness. I think my only complaint there would be to salt the butter - all the ingredients were great, but a little seasoning made it exceptional. Corkscrew was about an hour away from where we were staying and it was well worth the trip. Absolutely a must visit if you're anywhere nearby. read more

I'm giving 3 stars because of the patio and the service. patio was nice and wait staff were great. The food was very underwhelming and overpriced. I know everything is expensive now, but we left there hungry. We went there because we saw it on check please. I was so disappointed. I ordered the trout it was so small and it was stuck to the plate like it had been left under a lamp. It came with the roasted vegetables and potatoes but it was a very small portion. It was supposed to come with this lemon butter sauce but it was so dry. My friend got the fried fish tacos. They were 3 tiny tacos very dry. read more

We saw this restaurant on the show "Check Please" the first thing that surprised us was the location, Carmel Valley. We have been visiting Carmel for years, but never Carmel Valley. This was a must try place. We drove out to Carmel Valley this morning to discover this new place. Carmel Valley is more rustic than Carmel. Still, very cool. Corkscrew Cafe did not disappoint. We had the charcuterie board, Meyer Lemon Pizza, beet salad and asparagus salad. All of the food was top notch. The service was excellent. We also had wine which was made by the owner and it was excellent. Totally recommend this as a day trip. read more

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California Dreaming Restaurant Visited the cafe for Mother's Day. The restaurant's warm, inviting atmosphere, adorned with wood accents sets the stage for a memorable dining experience. Whether you're seated indoors or outside in the garden, the experience will sure be great. We sat inside as it was too hot for us outside. We were recommended to try their pizza and pear salad, which we did and have no regrets there. Everything was fantastic. We did not try their famous desserts but will next time. With its inviting ambiance, thoughtfully curated menu, and impeccable service, this Cafe is a true gem nestled in the heart of the Carmel Valley. Recommend to all romantics out there. read more

Delicious BOP! I was staying nearby and heard raving reviews from locals to come visit this spot. We opted for outdoor seating and it was so lively. They did have a ton of space inside but everyone was seated outside. You can bring your dogs too as they're pet friendly. For dinner we tried the meyer lemon pizza, pear salad, and roasted garlic bread. The meyer lemon pizza was really unique and had pieces of prosciutto, parmesan and arugula. It had a thin crust too and a nice shareable portion size. The pear salad consisted of mixed greens, gorgonzola, hazelnuts, and was topped with honey. It was pretty good. The roasted garlic bread had baked goat cheese and was very filling. Service wise - it took a while to get a hold of our waitress but once our order was placed our food arrived in a timely manner. read more

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We had a reservation at 6pm for 4 ppl. We requested outside. We sat at the table till 6:20. Still nobody came over to greet us or even give us water. There were servers walking around on the patio. But nobody even looked our direction. Finally somebody in our party got up to get help. Food was just OK. Definitely would not go back due to service. I've been in the industry for a very long time. Service like this is never acceptable. read more

This place was totally off my radar until the Carmel by the Sea Visitors Center volunteer recommended this place. I told him I was bummed that Bicyclette was completely full on reservations. I gotta say their wood fired pizza was on par with Bicyclette and might possibly be better. The Lemon Meyer was an exceptionally great amalgamation of shaved lemons, prosciutto, olive oil and arugula. The crust was perfectly charred and crispy. The dough was definitely homemade and flavorful. I tried a bite of my wife's carnitas tacos and it rivaled any of the top tier taco joints you would find in the People's Republic of California. The outdoor patio was lightly shaded with thin drapes. Well maintained plants and garden. The service was great and boasted some of the best regional wines on their menu. The prices seemed fair as well. If you want to do wine tasting and have a great appetite, look no further than the Corkscrew Cafe! read more

Corkscrew Cafe - Lemon Meyer pizza - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

Why 1 star? simple we ordered to-go for pickup and they still charged us a 22% gratuity b/c it was over $200.00.

Friendly service, delicious food, and a lovely patio garden where we could bring our dog. We came on a weekday mid-afternoon and didn't have to wait but were surprised by how busy it was. I had their pear-Gorgonzola salad which I especially liked because of the hazelnuts. Their pizza with lemon, arugula and prosciutto was tasty! My husband said their generous smash burger and fries were excellent. My delicious Chardonnay was from the local Cowgirl winery, which has a shop steps away across the dining patio. read more

Located in Carmel, the corkscrew café is a great place to grab some pizza and have a quaint outdoor lunch. We have had the Meyer Lemon Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza and Sausage Pizza- all have been delicious! read more

Amazing flavor! Amazing staff! Would come here again and again! Loved the pizza, light and delicious! My wife loved the artichoke ravioli and the staff were friendly and came by to check on us frequently. The outdoor seating was relaxing. read more

Corkscrew Cafe - Artichoke Ravioli w Lemon Cream sauce. My wife loved this! - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

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We dined here for dinner. The server seemed rushed and just wanted us to leave. We were a party of 8 with a reservation. The server forgot one of the entrees in our party, our food was cold and we kept having to for water refills from different waiters. Our waiter forgot about us. There was so much staff lurking around and doing anything, it seemed very over staffed for the amount of guests that were dining. They also need to update their hours on their website, yelp, Google and their answering machine. Everywhere says that they are open from 8am to 8pm. This is not the case. read more

Staying in Carmel Valley with our fur-baby, we wanted a casual, relaxing dinner not far from our hotel. We picked Corkscrew Cafe based on reviews. Let's just say, we were disappointed. I'll start with the positives. Small parking lot in front of the restaurant and lots of street parking. Pet friendly with an outdoor space. Friendly staff that is welcoming. Sadly it went downhill from there. The menu looked good. We had the arugula artichoke and parmesan salad (3/5) and burger with bacon (3/5). Our food took nearly 30 minutes. Far too long given the fact that the restaurant was not super busy and it was still early. Both dishes were just ok. The arugula salad was fresh with a smattering of shaved artichoke and parmesan. For the price I was expecting a little more artichoke. The burger with bacon (add on) was on a brioche bun and had a decent amount of lettuce and tomato. The thick burger wasn't well seasoned. And while it was cooked ok it was dry. The fries, according to my family were the best part of the meal despite the fact they were probably frozen from a bag. Sitting outside with a ton of trees, potted plants, plants in water meant leaves, bugs, and dirt were simply part of the ambiance. And while I really appreciate a pet friendly restaurant, getting bit by mosquitoes while eating dinner just isn't fun. And while our server was nice, once the food arrived, he never came around to check on us. We had to flag someone down just to get the check. For the price, food, and service our dinner was a letdown. LOCATION: 4/5 FOOD: 3/5 SERVICE: 2/5 VALUE: 2/5 AMBIANCE: 3/5 PET FRIENDLY: 4/5 CLEANLINESS: 2/5 PARKING: 3/5 read more

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We had a reservation last night at 6:30 for 6 people. We arrived on time and were seated outside as requested. This would have been my 20th visit to the restaurant. Not one time did the staff approach our table for even a drink order. They were buzzing around but making no eye contact with us or others. I even tried calling someone over and went inside. Just plain weird. Anyway 35-40 minutes later we got up and left. I felt sad for the place as I love(d) the food and ambiance. Anyway we walked around the block to Cafe Rustica and had a good meal. I would include a cool food or drink photo but we didn't have the opportunity to enjoy either. read more

Found this delicious restaurant from a recommendation by another local business... great choice. Fresh ingredients, good portion sizes, and friendly service for a good price. read more

Corkscrew Cafe - Roasted beet salad & yummy Coke - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

Shared the squash pizza and pear salad. Both were really good and service was good. 3 stars because the prices for these items are so high compared to what you get. The salad was the size of a side salad and $24. Pizza about the same price and not very big. They were also playing loud 80s pop music which just does not jive with the European ambience. Food is good and setting is nice, but prices and music kind of ruined it. read more

This place is GREAT! Husband and I went on a Friday evening around 6 and there were a ton of tables available to choose from in the back garden. We enjoy their style where you order at the front desk then take a number to your table. We both ordered pizza. I got the mushroom, he got the sausage. Both were two thumbs up. Quality ingredients, just the right amount of pizza oven char, and the perfect size! We would consider them individual size. If we weren't moving away in a week, we would be back VERY often to try the rest of the menu. We'll miss this place! read more

Corkscrew Cafe - Sausage Pizza (top) Mushroom Pizza (bottom) - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

Went in for lunch yesterday with my friend from Australia. We ordered French onion soup, pizza and fish tacos. 25 minutes later we asked if the soup was on its way. The server acted maybe she had forgotten to put the order in and then said we're on top of it. I'm local and have eaten at Cork Screw many times. I was disappointed. So we left. I'm sorry but 25 minutes is a while for soup. I'll be back. Just bummed I was showing off taking my friend there. read more

Incredible service. Love the colonial spanish vibe and can't say enough how good the food is! read more

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Great food at good prices! Beautiful location and gardens to sit in the shade and enjoy lunch or dinner!

Love your restaurant but do you really need to charge $7.00 for iced tea?! It's off putting.

This spot in Carmel Valley Village is a gem. From the minute we walked in to inquire about the menu and wine offerings I felt welcomed and relaxed. All of the staff wore masks and gloves and even though I couldn't see their smiles, they were so warm and welcoming. Katjeeya (?) was super helpful and steered us towards the mushroom pizza which was amazing with a drizzle of truffle oil. So good! We will defy be back to dine in the beautiful courtyard read more

Corkscrew Cafe - Sorry, but we couldn't wait to enjoy this mushroom pizza with truffle - American Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

It was a little cold in the restaurant, but the food was good and service friendly. I guess go in the summer vs winter