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    Valley Kitchen

    3.9 (204 reviews)
    Open • 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    About Valley Kitchen

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    Valley Kitchen Photos

    VALLEY KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Valley Kitchen

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    Menu November 2025
    Shandy T.

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

    Lemon meringue tart
    Tyler S.

    Went out here after watching Chef Molly on food network. Mostly went for the desserts but the food menu had lots of good looking options. Went with the lamb which was cooked perfectly! For dessert I got both the lemon tart and the cheesecake. Personally the cheesecake was my favorite but both were amazing! Will definitely add this to my must visit when I'm in town.

    Pool area
    Elmer G.

    From the moment you turn into Old Ranch Rd you start to feel that relaxation and begin to separate yourself from everyday life and the mind goes into relax mode, well for me It did. It's a beautiful drive up to the restaurant as you go by a golf course and beautiful views. Once you arrive at the parking lot, if you pay attention you will see a tree with a swing near by. Look closely or you might miss it. The restaurant personnel gives you a warm welcome, we had a reservation and sat us at our special table as soon as we arrived. I could tell the restaurant was at at peak time, and through all that we received an amazing service throughout the whole dining experience. The drinks were on point, each of our cocktails and wine recommendation did not disappoint. We were really pleased with the Charred Beets Salad. Perfect acidity balance through each bite and we could taste a bit of chard through each beer bite. My wife and I, ended up sharing our plates. The burger was perfectly cooked, the beef patty was juicy and full of flavor and its served with thick chunks of bacon something we love on a burger. My veal pappardelle was packed with flavor, I could taste the veal and herbs. I was surprised and very pleased as the veal tasted so good. The desserts were amazing as well. The apple berry cobbler hit a home run! I would really like to thank the Valley Kitchen staff for all of their attention! All I mentioned on reservation was that if they could accommodate a table with a view as that night we were celebrating our wedding anniversary. From the moment we arrived we were greeted with a warmth welcoming feel, and the service provided through the whole dining experience felt so amazing! Thank you for making our night that much more special!

    Elainey G.

    Excellent service and super dog friendly. Everything came out quick and the food seemed farm fresh. Love that they had an indoor area to sit at if you have a dog with you. Because it was too cold to sit outside.

    Sarah C.

    We had reservations for 630pm for Sunday night. Our first evening at Carmel Valley Ranch. Our toddler was hungry so we checked in early and we were seated right away. Loves how child friendly this place was. High chair given along with a sticker sheet and children's menu. Chicken tenders and fries for the little one - they also gave her a toddler friendly plastic cup with straw. Large portion - can feed two + toddlers or a really big kid. Or an adult. Both my husband and I got drinks. I got a low proof cocktail and my husband got a glass of white wine. My husband got the ribeye- cooked perfectly. It was very good and juicy. I got the calms - comes with a lot and two slices of toast. We shared the Cesar salad - It was definitely worth its 20+ dollar price tag. It was one of the highlights of our entire two night stay. It was a large portioned and seasoned very well.

    Tomo S.

    This was a first: a fine dining experience for my dog--and I'm officially jealous of my fluffy dining companion. We visited the restaurant at Carmel Ranch Valley Hotel, which has a cozy, inviting ambiance and even a special area where well-behaved pups can join their humans. It was a delightful surprise to see other canine guests, all looking just as excited as their owners (if not more). The Dog Menu: Yes, you read that right. My lady Samoyed had the luxury of choosing between Salmon, Chicken, or Ground Beef, all priced between $17-$20. Inflation really does hit everywhere--even dog fine dining! This might just be the most expensive bowl of dog food I've ever purchased, but hey, it's all part of the experience. She went with the Chicken with Pilaf and Chef's Choice of Local Vegetables--which honestly sounds fancier than half the meals I make for myself. The portion was generous, though she demolished it in 30 seconds flat. Clearly, a five-star rating from her! Meanwhile, I enjoyed a deliciously tender braised beef with cheesy polenta that was so good I momentarily considered growling if anyone tried to take a bite. Their cocktails? Top-notch. Definitely a spot where both dogs and humans can dine in style.

    Anna T.

    We did the breakfast buffet on the morning we checked out and I will say they had an excellent selection of items. They kept up with replenishing items and the food was fresh and delicious. It's located right near the pool so we had a nice view as well. The downside of the buffet was that our server was nonexistent and took over 30 minutes to appear after we were ready to pay the bill. The latte also needed a bit of help. Overall enjoyable experience.

    Birthday
    James M.

    We had an amazing dinner and breakfast here while staying at Carmel Valley Ranch this past November for my birthday. I usually have lower expectations with hotels restaurants, but Valley Kitchen ended up being one of the best meals I've had in Carmel in recent years. Some of our favorites from dinner were the kale brussel sprout caesar, bread with butter, and chicken piccata. Breakfast was just as good and enjoyed their egg plate and pancakes. The restaurant has a completely different vibe from dinner to breakfast, and we had a particularly cozy dinner sitting at a corner table with a view of the restaurant. We'll definitely be back. Pros: Phenomenal food for breakfast & dinner, friendly staff, and cozy setting.

    Flourless Praline Torte

    It had been months since I last enjoyed lunch at Valley Kitchen, and a perfect sunny winter day felt like just the right excuse to drive out to Carmel Valley Ranch with a friend. My friend and I split three dishes which were all fabulous! We started with the delicious Ranch Avocado Toast featuring Hass avocado smash, arugula, CVR olive oil, Meyer lemon zest, marinated garden veggies, all served on a toasted country loaf. For our main, we chose the Veggie Scampi with tomatoes, basil, oregano, garlic, lemon, and white wine--made even better with the addition of shrimp. Every bite was beautifully prepared and full of flavor. We finished with an excellent Flourless Praline Torte with chocolate mousse, praline and nib brittle with salted caramel ice cream, the perfect sweet ending. Add in the stunning views of oak trees and grapevines along with attentive service, and it was a truly memorable lunch. Highly recommended!

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    Tim is an amazing Chef! Always a treat to enjoy his food. We now eat there at least once a week. Very busy on the weekends.

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    Page 5 of 6

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    Ask the Community - Valley Kitchen

    Do I need to be staying at the hotel/ranch to dine in here?

    No, but reservation is recommended

    Is this restaurant dog friendly...any outdoor drinks/dining?

    Yes

    View All 4 Questions

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    Jeffrey's Grill & Catering - Mocha w/whipped cream

    Jeffrey's Grill & Catering

    4.3(392 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    •$$

    Had an absolutely amazing breakfast here today. The orange juice was spectacular. Fresh squeezed…read moreand delicious. Their homemade sausage is to die for, they cook scrambled eggs perfectly soft, and the hashbrowns were salty and delicious and perfectly crisp. Cute little patio outside and quick and efficient service. Fantastic spot in Carmel Valley. Forgot to take pictures because it was so delicious.

    Would not recommend or return. Came with the kids and took awhile for the servers to acknowledge…read morethat we were waiting for a table. Took a very long time to flag someone down to take our order. The plastic glasses are yellow. Had to ask 3 times (from 2 different servers) for straws. Asked twice for silverware. The food took quite awhile to come, one of the servers even thought we were already done and asked how we were and then realized we hadn't even received our food. The plating was absolutely horrible. They placed the fruits on the plate with the French Toast and it made the French toast soggy. The whole plate was drenched with fruit juice. The breakfast burrito was horrible!! Do not get it! The tortilla was soggy from the pico de gallo on the plate. The filling was stuffed with pcio de gallo too, there wasn't any substance. Just cheese and pico de gallo. Paid extra for protein and couldn't find hardly any pieces of meat. No one came back once to ask how the food was and if we needed anything. The server that's a shorter than the other two, with dark brown hair was not very friendly. The other two servers were friendly . Sadly, this place feels like a soft opening restaurant. Three servers and they seemed very disorganized.

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    Jeffrey's Grill & Catering - Inside - 12/22/2022

    Inside - 12/22/2022

    Jeffrey's Grill & Catering - Apple Fritters are so good.

    Apple Fritters are so good.

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    Kathy's Little Kitchen - Chicken tacos

    Kathy's Little Kitchen

    4.5(207 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    •$

    I feel like Yelp steered me wrong on this one. Based on the high ratings, I decided to give this…read moreplace a try and ordered a carnitas burrito. The price was reasonable--about $10, with an additional charge for toppings such as tomato, cilantro, onions, sour cream, and guacamole. Before ordering, I asked which meats were fresh, and I was told that all of the meats had been prepared that day. I took my burrito to a nearby park and was disappointed from the first bite. The carnitas were very dry and seemed to have little flavor beyond salt. The meat also had a slightly gray appearance and did not taste like freshly cooked pork. It seemed as though it had been reheated, which only made it drier. There were also a couple of small burnt bits in the burrito. The burrito itself was mostly refried beans, with a small amount of rice. For roughly the first three-quarters of the burrito, I barely noticed any of the extra toppings I had paid for. When I finally reached the center, there was a very small amount of guacamole, even less sour cream, and a little tomato, onion, and cilantro. The cilantro was actually the highlight of the burrito--it tasted fresh and added some flavor--but there wasn't enough of it to make much difference overall. Unfortunately, this meal did not live up to the reviews or my expectations. While the price was fair, the quality and flavor were disappointing, and I would not order the carnitas burrito again. I ended up throwing away 1/2 of the burrito. As far as ambiance, it is just a tiny place geared toward takeout with some outside seating right along the road.

    Had a great lunch here. The adobada meat is really flavorful and juicy. Great price point and…read morefriendly staff. Lots of tables outside too.

    Photos
    Kathy's Little Kitchen
    Kathy's Little Kitchen - Enchiladas

    Enchiladas

    Kathy's Little Kitchen - The view.

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    The view.

    Plaza Linda - Excellent prime rib!!!

    Plaza Linda

    4.2(215 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    •$$

    While in Carmel Valley for a long weekend my mom and I went to Plaza Linda for lunch. We got there…read morearound when they opened at 11:30am and thought it was closed at first because the parking lot was fairly empty and the restaurant seemed dark. Turns out we were the first customers for lunch. We were greeted and seated immediately, and the waiter was attentive during our whole meal. I had two carne asada tacos and rice, which were delicious. My mom had a cheese enchilada plate with rice and beans and she enjoyed it very much. We ordered chips and salsa, too, which cost a little extra; unfortunately, the chips were a bit stale. The salsa was good though. Several more customers arrived before we finished, but I think it must get busier later in the afternoon because the waitstaff was busy wiping down all the patio tables while we were there. Overall, an excellent lunch at a comfortable establishment.

    We had a late lunch at Plaza Linda today. We have ate here before, but it has been years since we…read morelast stopped in. It was pretty quiet with 5-6 tables of diners. We were greeted as we walked in and chose to eat inside, but they do have a nice outdoor patio also. I went to their restroom and was super impressed with how clean it was. I don't normally comment on bathrooms, but I had to take a picture to show you. If Yelp offered smell technology, you would also be able to smell how clean it was as well...maybe a feature for Yelp in years to come . We started with the calamari appetizer (4/5) and chips & salsa (4/5). Chips and salsa are not complimentary here ($5) which is a bummer, but frankly I kind of understand. The calamari was a thin tender fresh calamari steak breaded and fried. There was nothing very Mexican about this preparation, but it was still pretty tasty. Our entrees came out of the kitchen pretty quickly. My wife ordered a combo plate with a cheese enchilada and a chili relleno (3/5). The flavors for both items weren't her favorite. However she loved the accompanying black beans (5/5) and the rice (4/5). I ordered the carnitas plate (5/5) and loved it. The pork was super tasty with that great carnitas porky flavor. It was crisped up on the griddle. Wrapped up with corn tortillas, I will definitely get this again. I also agree with my wife that my black beans served in a mini crispy corn tortilla shell were the 2nd best thing I ate today. Service? The service was solid. This gentleman (could have been the Owner) running the front of the restaurant and waiting on all tables was hustling the entire time we were there. Drinks were refilled right away. Our orders were taken promptly. He was on it! Value? Hmmm? $90 before tip for 2 people without alcohol is pretty steep for a non taqueria Mexican restaurant. I will be back for the carnitas for sure and will just have to convince my wife to give it another try.

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    Plaza Linda - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Plaza Linda - Carnitas tostada

    Carnitas tostada

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    Cafe Rustica - Pizza

    Cafe Rustica

    4.2(676 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    •$$

    The food was so good last time that I decided to come back with my family for my birthday dinner…read more There were eight of us with a 5pm reservation and the hostess kindly seated us a little bit early on the patio. The service at Cafe Rustica is outstanding. We had a waiter who took our orders, another one serving our food, and a third pouring water. All were very friendly and professional. I ordered the chicken apple sausage dish I loved so much last time. Others in the party ordered chicken, pinto bean soup, and I think the salmon. Everyone enjoyed their food. My sister surprised me with a small birthday cake she had purchased earlier from a bakery. The waiter brought us small plates and forks and we all had a piece.

    My husband and I had a delightful evening at Cafe Rustica! After spending time in the hustle and…read morescene of CBTS, the vibe of this restaurant and surrounding businesses was just what we were after for a cozy, delicious, dinner. Roman took amazing care of us, efficient and friendly and making sure our plates weren't empty for long. Made great recommendations on the menu. Food was incredible, all seems to be homemade/from scratch, and had great flavors. Grilled shrimp skewers, beet salad, butter lettuce salad, lentil soup, vegetarian pizza, and passion fruit sorbet, finished with a decaf americano... would order it all again in a heartbeat! Memorably good spot for us!

    Photos
    Cafe Rustica - Kitchen

    Kitchen

    Cafe Rustica - Calamari

    Calamari

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    The Dynamite

    Valley Kitchen - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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