ANOTHER DINNER TO MEMBER AT THIS ICONIC RESTAURANT My 2024…read moremeal, also while staying in the Hotel, lauded the local cuisine and gentile service. Both years we had no sunset but saved that for breakfast again. Chris was our menu consultant and he confess that the fish of the day was Branzino. When I asked if it had arrived by sea or air and he added Italy is very far away! But the fish was splendidly fresh and perfectly prepared for two and ample. The wine list is that of a Michelin rated cellar. My daughter shared a pleasing rose from Paso Robles with our first plates and I enjoyed a Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Highlands an acclaimed local appellation and a perfect accompaniment to the Branzino.

I could not find a way to make reservations online. No matter what day and time I looked up,…read morenothing came up with availability. I had to call and was told reservations were reserved for guest staying with them but if there are any slots available you can make a reservation. That was it. I had to ask if there were any available and if I could take one. The person on the phone did not offer it up to me and volleyed between 'oh looks like we may have one' to 'oh yes we have a few but none at the time you would like, oh no wait we have one at this time.' They have guest parking but it is limited. We did their valet for $10 to avoid having to walk the distance and hills from their guest lots to the restaurant. We waited at the front by the host desk for a bit while we watched employees walk back and forth. We asked someone if we could be helped and they said we'd have to wait for the host. No host to be seen. A waiter eventually seated us. This kind of waiting with a reservation as well as the lack of hosting upon arrival is a first for me at a restaurant that's supposed to be a 'nice' dinner. It took 30 minutes for someone to take our drink order. We had a rotating number of people, we had at least 4 people, helping us until our actual waitress showed up. While the view is great, there are limited two top seaters along the windows. We were actually seated at a 4 seater even though it was only two of us and had to ask if we could be moved to any of the empty two seater along the view. They told us those seats were for people with reservations. Like the reservation we had? Guess not! What a curious and eye brow raising practice for this restaurant to partake in. Food was fine. I don't think it was worth the price tag. I was hoping for something that made the minor but obvious 'inconveniences' worth it. I don't think the menu is worth trying and would say you are better off having a drink at the bar over trying to get a reservation and then trying to kindly ask for better seats. I had the short rib that was served with carrots over cheesy polenta. What a pairing miss. Polenta didn't taste like anything and the grainy texture did not pair well with the chewy, fatty meat. This is the exact kind of place you eat at then go to straight to Taco Bell because of how hungry you still are after paying a $200 bill. Will I be back again? Sure, but it would be for the view and nothing else. Would I recommend it? Try at your own risk

Thank you Samantha at Sales for giving me the opportunity to explore and understand Carmel Hyatt…read moreHighlands Inn. I liked how you talked to me and taught me even though I don't speak much English yet. We really appreciated the Welcome package and envelope. You are always smiling and the main door where everyone comes in is a very smart and wise place to have you. My daughter needed something to lift her spirits. She's a really special girl and doesn't always "fit in" easily. Well, to be honest, she doesn't fit in most of the time sometimes. We brought her to Hyatt Highlands hoping to give her a good dinner because she hadn't eaten all day, and hoped that she might have a great dinner experience, enjoy the beauty of the scenery. I don't really like the phrase "special needs." I'll just say my daughter is special. She has unusual talents like memorizing a song - the music and lyrics - the first time she hears it. Or, she can handle and love animals that might bite or be fierce to anyone else. One time she saved an Eagle's life. However with people, she sometimes irritates people even with the best of intentions. To be really honest, we've been kicked out before because some places don't really understand her the way we do (her family). So yesterday the sunset was so beautiful. Everyone that had been dancing to TJ's (Pianist) music had gathered in a large crowd taking photos. My daughter is a photographer and also found a spot to take photos of the sunset. Jonathan from the restaurant was so patient with us, and was both professional and attentive to my daughter. I was afraid she would possibly offend him because she can come across a bit direct. But he was patient with her and even though they had never met before, Jonathan seemed to have this natural sense for people. My daughter really wanted dessert. We discouraged her because we thought the restaurant closed. We didn't want to give the staff too much work. Jonathan let her know they'd be happy to get her the dessert she really wanted to make her dinner perfect. (She's polar like that: It's either Perfect OR IT'S NOT!) At a restaurant like Highlands Hyatt, you are lucky to have a really professional staff. Jonathan was a blessing because he apparently is a "pay it forward" kind of person. When you have a special teenager, one of the best things for her is just to have a wonderful sunset, a perfect dinner, a new friend like Jonathan to have a reason to come back. Jonathan exuded a kind of care and patience we needed to give our Family a positive trajectory again. Thank you Jonathan. You're a professional server and your willingness to show care and serve everyone you come in contact with gave us an especially blessed day. You give all the customers your full attention which creates meaningful memories for anyone you take care of at the restaurant.

Mom started to have medical emergencies. At the ER, they kept her for days; found incidental but…read moreserious issues; been tough financially. We have (a good) history with Highlands because a couple family members love this place and sometimes invite us along. I watched a medical specialist doctor give mom bad news. She cried hard and the doctor was amazing to give her a big long hug from the heart. It's painful to see mom getting bad news and watching your parent cry like a little girl. When you're traumatized, you do some stuff that doesn't make sense. Sometimes God intervenes and just takes you to a situation you can get healing. We ended up randomly at Hyatt Inn a few days ago - drove aimlessly; ended up here. We had no business to be here because we couldn't afford the Hotel nor the Restaurant. We felt out of place. We intended to only try and get some glimpses of the architecture and Seascapes; stay out of the way of paying customers. Samantha (Sales) started talking to us. She made us feel from being intimidated to treating us like VIP's. Samantha found a way for us to get not only a Hotel (which our family members had treated us to before) - but even a Villa. Me and Mom came in for The Tour and the entire Sales staff was really nice and patient, especially to mom. Helping find the restroom and snack bar might seem simple, but my mom's condition requires people repeat things and explain slowly. I just liked how mom could talk to any of the Sales staff, and they helped her like family. Sales allocated 90 minutes for Robin to teach us about Vacation packages. We ended up taking THREE HOURS+ of her time! Then my mom's exhaustion hit and she suddenly needed to rest and sleep. Robin and Mo both showed mom tremendous compassion and patience. I was thinking in my head, "If someone took 3+ hours of my time and suddenly said they need to sleep, I WOULD HAVE BEEN MAD!" Sales was so patient and gave my mom an opportunity to recover and continue looking at packages. Samantha was so detail oriented, she had informed us of the wine tasting. Daniel from sales set a positive and fun tone for everyone at wine tasting. He, the Pianist, & Paul made a great Sales team. I was really focused on taking photos and videos of my mom, because I knew there might not be opportunities forever. I forgot to get wine and even after the event closed, Jonathan was so helpful to let us still get a sample. There were raffles and everyone was delighted how Daniel was super enthusiastic, making drum roll and with the Pianist making excitement from the event. Mom won a raffle (I promise no one knew of our situation). I got the whole thing on video and already put it on YT. What a blessing and precious memory - exactly what we'd hope for in our situation. If you want to test Aaron Dominguez's Leadership and talent to Inspire his staff to treat every person like family, just put a person like me at the best table of the Restaurant. Privately, I was already feeling bad I didn't tip Jonathan for his kind service & going the extra mile at wine tasting. Finances were bad, I cut my own hair and it looks terrible. I'm calling and arranging mom's medical needs, and answering her worried questions over and over. I don't think back on it a lot, but at one time I must have peppered mom with the same questions over and over as a child; now our roles were reversed. I went into Jonathan's section, into Hyatt's table looking completely like a homeless person (yes, with ruffled stuffed bags and everything - I'm really burned out). I know that 99.999% of any restaurant would have had me move on. I wasn't ordering anything, I know I looked extremely out of place, and "my type" can't tip either. Instead of making a person looking like they've been on the street leave, Jonathan (Waiter Food Beverage) just came up to me and assured me that if I needed or wanted to order, he'd be happy to serve me. Yet he let me remain here at their best table to get a breath of fresh air for someone that felt like they were drowning. (I don't even think I realized this until writing this review. I'm really experiencing severe distress). An "additional test" of an Establishment is to show up like me and mom, test everyone's patience, and see if Robin, Samantha, Jonathan, Mo, the Pianist AND SPIRITUAL MASTER Dino Vera, Jessica T (front desk), Daniel, Bryan (bartender), Diego & Lily (Front Desk Reception), Jacob, and Paul will give you VIP treatment when you come in with all the outward appearances of being and feeling like times are at one of their worst. Everyone at Hyatt Highlands Carmel has proven that they consistently give customers their best, even when we might be struggling. Some kind of Magic & Blessing that is pervasive at THIS VERY SPECIAL PLACE. I hope anyone reading, Staff or Customer, can have this highly unusual rare experience of being taken in like Family. At your worst or best, the staff genuinely tries to Uplift & Heal. Thank you Hyatt Highlands!

First time at Vesuvio's! Had dinner at the bar last night with another couple and it was magical…read more The fireplaces and pits are pretty at night and the food is fabulous.

fun place to lounge and enjoy the music! lively!…read more it gets BUSY in the evenings and weekends. hard, very hard, to find a table. i came, saw no seats, left for dinner, came back after to wait for a table. still waited a long time pretty sweet spot for a date. food is good.

Never have I ever felt so pampered and taken care of at an unassuming hotel breakfast restaurant…read more Angel made my morning and went above and beyond with her attentive service. She proactively offered to fill my empty water bottle as soon as she saw it and was just incredible thoughtful and warm throughout. I ordered the delicious shakshuka poached eggs two mornings in a row. They come out piping hot in a flavorful tomato sauce with a nice kick. Definitely add the goat cheese. The moment I pour some tea, Angel asks if I want a hot water refill. This is how every breakfast experience should be.

For a hotel restaurant, Shearwater Tavern is pretty darn good. The menu is simple and doesn't take…read moretoo many risk which is common for a hotel restaurant. Nothing about the drink or dinner menu was too wild or stood out as unique. Considering there are many interesting dining establishments in the Carmel area, I felt like Shearwater Tavern upheld their standard in a foodie town by sourcing local ingredients and craft beers. The artichoke dip pays tribute to a local crop and was pretty tasty. The serving was generous, so we were grateful to our server for providing some extra sourdough for scooping up the last of the cheesy, warm dip. Oh, and Wednesday's are half off bottles of wine! The restaurant was situated away from the hotel common area to allow for a more intimate dining experience but still close enough to the lobby and rooms for convenience. There were some folks smoking in the parking lot, and the smoke smell was making its way into the dining room. A band was wrapping up for the night as we were being seated, and it seemed like there is regularly live music in the lounge area of the restaurant. The service was friendly, prompt, and food decent. As a guest in the hotel, it was easy to charge the meal to the room. Solid choice for an easy meal if staying at the hotel. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to dine at Shearwater Tavern though.

My wife and I recently had our Friday welcome event for our wedding at Barmel - Brittany and her…read moreteam did a wonderful job putting it on! The service was excellent, the communication in advance of the event was seamless (notwithstanding the ownership change) and the cocktails were a hit with our party. 10/10 would recommend to others thinking of hosting an event in Carmel!

We were so happy to find this cosy bar in downtown Carmel, great service, amazing drinks and a…read morecosy, comfortable vibe. Next time we are in Carmel, we will stop by again.

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

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

Lotte is a rock star in the managing of restaurants!…read more The Sunday buffet is excellent and well presented!! There are enough servers making sure things are covered. I'm a one plate guy and the staff was explaining that I could get more. LOL...Now thats funny! The views are great and very chilled. Great place for a Sunday breakfast.

Extremely disappointing experience at Mission Ranch…read more We were genuinely looking forward to eating at Mission Ranch while visiting Carmel, but the way we were treated completely ruined the experience. We arrived with our child and were told the wait would be about an hour and a half. We understood that the restaurant was busy, so we decided to wait. Two hours later, we still hadn't been seated. What made the situation especially frustrating was watching the woman at the front seat people who had arrived after us, while repeatedly seeming to look us over and pass us by. After waiting well beyond the time we'd been quoted, with no meaningful explanation or acknowledgment, we'd had enough. We left. A long wait at a popular restaurant is understandable. What isn't understandable is giving guests a 90-minute estimate, leaving them waiting for two hours, seating later arrivals ahead of them, and failing to communicate what is happening. For a place with Mission Ranch's reputation, location, and prices, I expected a much higher level of hospitality and professionalism. Instead, we walked away feeling ignored and unwelcome. We never even got the opportunity to find out whether the food was good, because the front-of-house experience was bad enough that we weren't willing to give them any more of our time. Two hours wasted in Carmel. There are far too many wonderful restaurants in the area to spend an evening waiting around somewhere that doesn't seem particularly concerned whether you're there or not.

Grasings is a very good fine meal option for Carmel with great menu that doesn't remain static. It…read moreshines as a singular Carmel restaurant when the town is moving towards too many restaurants owned by two groups that have turned into tourist food traps serving less than average food. However, the differentiator at Grasings is the bar and that differentiator's name is Kevin. If not for Kevin, we would still frequent from time to time but with Kevin we go in at least once weekly. Kevin and servers like Kevin are solid gold in Carmel and ensure 5 star ratings for atmosphere and service. When you find them you never have a bad experience in fact you are guaranteed a great experience. The menu caters to all, carnivores, seafood, steaks and vegetarians - love the veggie burger! Great place to meet locals and tourists, especially if Kevin is working. We admit that when we walk to Grasings and find that Kevin isn't working, we find another venue. That isn't a knock on Grasings but rather a nod to Kevin.

Grasing's is one of those restaurants we make a point of visiting once or twice during our annual…read moretrip to Carmel by the Sea, and the food never disappoints. They have a great selection of wines and cocktails, and our go to entrée is the 8 ounce filet mignon with a spiny lobster tail and loaded baked potato. The steak is always prepared perfectly, the lobster is excellent, and the chef consistently delivers. The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable, making it a great spot for a nice dinner in Carmel. The service on this visit was professional and polite, although the bartender/server was a little short on warmth and personality. Nothing bad enough to spoil the evening, but a smile and a little friendly conversation never hurt anyone. Someone might also want to remind the staff that conversations about staffing problems or the performance of other servers are best saved for the back of the house. Hearing employees complain about staffing and coworkers in front of customers is uncomfortable and reflects negatively on the culture of the restaurant. This a leadership problem that needs to be addressed. Whatever you do, save room for dessert. Their chocolate brownie with chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream is easily one of our favorite desserts in Carmel by the Sea. Rich, warm, decadent, and worth every calorie. Grasing's remains one of our regular Carmel stops, and we'll likely be back.

We had previously enjoyed live music in the lounge and vowed to come back another time for a meal…read morebecause of the ambience and menu. We came back last night and enjoyed a delightful meal. Some had the fish tacos, others had salmon and sand dabs. All were excellent and topped off with the peach cobbler. (Also excellent!) The only negative was the hostess. We were torn between the inside or outside because of the chill and the inside had no ambiance. The hostess was quick to seat us inside but the wait staff let us know there were blankets available which made our dining experience excellent. Blankets and a heat lamp made all the difference. I'm not sure why the hostess did not offer the blankets right away!

Another great meal at Terry's. Started with an old fashioned and a glass of the clos du val cab…read more Had a Ceasar salad and a bowl of beef barley soup. The soup was delicious. It was flavorful and so tasty. Not many restaurants make delicious, homemade soups, but Terry's does not disappoint. We had the short ribs and filet mignon. Both tender and delicious. We ended with a keoke coffee and the molten chocolate chip cookie with caramel sauce. Jacob was our server and he was attentive and professional. We have never been disappointed here. Good job Terry's!!

Stopped in on a whim while passing through Carmel and so glad we did. The ambience is fantastic,…read moredimly lit with great music and TVs everywhere, the kind of place I'd love to come back to and watch a game. Service was excellent. Our waitress Rachel was great and took good care of us. We ordered the French dip (added Swiss, onions, and mushrooms) solid sandwich, though it could've used a touch more salt. The real star though, was the fish and chips. Genuinely some of the best I've ever had. Lightly battered, flaky, perfectly cooked. The vibe lands in that sweet spot of upscale casual without crossing into fine dining, comfortable but elevated. Highly recommend if you're passing through Carmel. We'll definitely be back.

Lunch after a beach walk was just what we were looking for. Walk in and find a seat. Music and…read moreambiance brought a nice vibe the whole time we were here. Food is tops. The fish and chips is the ultimate meal. The burger was savory, soft and creamy just he right amount. It perfectly paired with the Talbott pinot noir they recommended. The only comment is make is the amount of French fries that were served with the burger. The plate was a lot larger looking because a sparse amount of fries was served alongside. Maybe add a little more next time just to balance it off. The servers/bartenders knew their stuff. They provided what they could in terms of what was popular and well liked. They said both items we ordered were the most popular. The fish and chips have won best fish and chips 3 years in a row. I would agree with this since I usually am not wowed with this dish. I couldn't resist ordering a dessert. The applied tart with vanilla ice cream was so satisfying. Overall service, food quality and experience was very good. If return over and over again for this same food and experience. If I could give 10 stars I would. Carmel and Brody's is a new destination.