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Anton & Michel Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Modern European Restaurants Seafood Modern European, Seafood [Edit]
Mission St & 7th AveCarmel, CA 93923
(831) 624-2406
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 3 pm
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
75 reviews for Anton & Michel Restaurant
Review Highlights
-
"1 Most Romantic Place in Carmel/Monterey" Wow." In 4 reviews -
"They have cherries jubilee and crepe suzette." In 7 reviews -
"I had wild mushroom ravioli off of the starter menu." In 4 reviews
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75 reviews in English
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Review from Mike F.
Pebble Beach, CA
1/6/2012
What an honor for us to review this remarkable restaurant. After my last two less then glowing experiences at other establishments Anton Michel delivered! Christmas Eve with a family table for 7. It was beautifully decorated, intimate and professionally managed. From a warm and elite greeting at the door, to the coffee at the end we never felt rushed or uncared for.
The food was remarkable! Appetizers to desserts were meticulously prepared and the flavors balanced, fresh, and well proportioned.
The rack of lamb is a well known specialty and delivered beyond expectation.
Although pricey, I felt service, experience, and taste made it a bargain.
I'll be back next Christmas eve or as soon as I have an inkling for real food. -
Review from Joyce L.
Castro Valley, CA
4/29/2012
We came here for lunch. It was the first restaurant we saw after parking in the garage at Carmel Plaza so we decided to stop in. The reviews were right, this place caters to an older, reserved crowd. BUT...they were very kind and open to us even with our kids. My potato cream soup sounded ordinary but was actually really good. The mixed green salad was very refreshing and the dressing was some sort of vinaigrette. My scallops in the seafood pasta were cooked to perfection. Overall, we were satisfied.
The only reason why I didn't give the 5th star was because it took a while to get our food. (nearly 1 hour and there were not very many guests) Also, they don't have a children's menu, so my boys shared one adult entree. We were charged a split plate fee. I know this was common a few years back but I haven't seen that for a long time...not a big deal but I think it's silly to charge when 2 people share a plate. -
Review from Jorge C.
Bernal Heights, San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
Always my go to place while in Carmel by the Sea. Even though the environment is a little older and elegant...the food is great!!! If you want a happening, young, preppy pace, this is DEF. NOT IT! But if you want a romantic and good food place, this is the place to be!!!
-
Review from Joyce S.
Granite Bay, CA
3/1/2012
We really enjoyed lunch! We were starving after running around and were hungry. One of us had a calamari salad that was full of calamari. The french soup was wonderful. The girls really enjoyed the vegetable soup. The bread was also yummy! The service and view were perfect.
-
Review from Tiffany D.
Pacific Grove, CA
5/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a disappointment! My boyfriend and I chose to eat at A&M because we wanted a good meal in a romantic setting for our anniversary. This is what we got...
We were seated at probably the best table in the place, smack in the middle of a large window overlooking the courtyard and fountains, very charming. However, the two tables on either side of us were so close that I had to whisper in order to avoid broadcasting our conversation to the whole place. Some nice background music instead of crickets chirping would have been nice.
We ordered a bottle of the 2008 Bernardus Pinot Noir which was fantastic and perhaps the highlight of the meal. Followed by a Spinach salad for me and a Caesar for the guy. My salad was pretty good, with toasted pecans that had a kick, good flavor combinations that I have not experienced elsewhere. The Caesar was good but dowsed in dressing, making the lettuce and croutons soggy.
Finally the main course, the star of the show, the reason we came to A&M! I ordered the tiger prawn and scallop fricassee, again it was good, but not mind blowing and with a little practice, something I could have whipped up at home. My boyfriend ordered the seafood pasta special and when it arrived, it was nothing like the waiter had described. The cream sauce was replaced by a runny red tomato sauce and there were no scallops, which he had indicated were a part of the dish. This mistake ruined the meal for us. We left without dessert :-(
Overall, we were better off driving to the valley, picking up a bottle of the Bernardus 2008 Pinot and having a picnic rather than spending $150 for a mediocre meal. -
Review from EurJean C.
Santa Clara, CA
8/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have to disclose that we had dinner here the night my love proposed, but I'll try my best to put my foodie hat on for the rest of the review.
This restaurant was chosen for it's romantic atmosphere and I can definitely see why people have rated it highly for being romantic, but it's a bit old fashioned (I found Fifth Floor and Farallon more modern romantic). If you can get seated at the window, the view of the fountain is really lovely.
The lobster bisque and endive salad were average and the short ribs and salmon were also okay, but nothing mind-blasting. The dessert was interesting, we ordered cherries jubilee (couldn't resist after seeing UP!) and it's served table side. It wasn't as fancy as I hoped, but I'm glad I can say I've tried it.
Overall, if you're in the mood for a blast from the past, this restaurant is for you. -
Review from Kim F.
Redwood City, CA
8/17/2011
My girlfriends and I drove down to Carmel to have celebrate a birthday. Finally finding the restaurant we all walked up to the host. He stated we had no reservations at 12:30pm on Open Table for us. I then shown him the confirmation on my IPhone. Well, when he read it his eyes changed so fast into daggers! "This is Anton & Michel not Andre's Bouchee it's over there pointing up the street"... To our surprise and shock, I apologized we left and laughed at his reaction! We all decided we wouldn't even go back to try the restaurant due to his rudeness about my mistake!
Andre's Bouchee Bistro up the street was very inviting and excellent food & service!! -
Review from Jean K.
Oakland, CA
11/7/2011
Loveliest backyard patio in Carmel. Sadly, the food doesn't match, being pedestrian and tired.
The mushroom bisque was ordinary. The calamari salad was generous in size but dull in flavor, with a dressing that tasted of nothing more than mayonnaise, lemon juice, and a few herbs.
The sand dabs were juicy and nicely crusted, yet flavorless. The mashed potatoes and parcooked/buttered vegetables were identical to what Christopher's/Carmel had served us the night before (they aren't associated). They didn't impress us there, nor did they impress us here.
They tout their flambeed desserts, but they're super-sweet although properly done. The crepes Suzette sauce was vastly inferior to what K&L Bistro/Sebastopol (of all places) did for us earlier this year on another one of our swings through the Wine Country.
The decor is tired, pastel pink with white moldings. It's the kind of place your parents might have thought was fine food back in the 1950's.
But these days - with Andre's Bouchee just a few steps away from A&M? Don't waste your money here. Go eat at Bouchee, which is one of the finest restaurants in Northern CA for truly wonderful French cuisine. -
Review from Vahan A.
Fresno, CA
2/6/2011
Growing up in England my family was in the Hotel and Restaurant Industry, Anton & Michael was actually considered one of the worlds greatest restaurants a place we always wanted to visit... now many years later I finally made it !
Bye gone era best describes the atmosphere, as I've mentioned before i like that...the surroundings are definitely very calming and somewhat elegant...overall a comfortable place for me.
Started with ...no i didn't order the crab cakes ! Wild mushroom ravioli and the Rock shrimp & Roma Tomato Risotto...both OK I'm not big on OK...the shrimp were good but with this history and reputation i expect nothing short of excellence.
Rack of Lamb with Garlic Confit, lamb was perfectly prepared... pity about the confit and the non house made Dijon. Herb Seared Salmon, came with a tasty polenta, the Salmon...well.. fresh but just Salmon.
Bourbon vanilla creme brulee actually very good, I'm really not much of a dessert person but had to give it a sample.
The shinning star here is the wine list, this seems to be my weakness !
Started with a very luscious 1975 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Ended with a half bottle ! of 1993 Chateau d'yquem...In my humble opinion these two wines are really in my top five wines of all time...of course i managed to sneak in rather wonderful glass of Calvados !
Service wise this place in my opinion is flawless...as to be expected..Overall...yes three stars may seem low however if i ate exactly the same food at another restaurant that did not have the reputation as Anton & Michel carries, definitely another star or maybe two may have been awarded. I'm trying to grade in context if that makes any sense !
Will i go back...sorry can't do it, glad i finally went, yes...actually I'm very disappointed, wanted to like this place so much...just didn't happen. -
Review from Thao L.
Manhattan, NY
2/10/2011
Great service!
I'm particular about lamb, but they really out did themselves here. Delicious.
But--what was 10x's better was the lobster fricasee, wow! Out of this world. You can't go here and NOT try it!
Great ambiance, although the decor is a little dated. Oh and the bathroom...it kind of looks like Thelma from Mama's Family barfed in there and bounced.
I'd love to return one day! -
Review from Susan C.
What does Susan want on her romantic mini vacation with the bf? To eat somewhere romantic with FANTASTIC food!
This is such an adorable little restaurant. The decor is homey yet old-world-classy. It is romantic and warm. We sat at a little table by a window overlooking an urban garden with a fountain and reflection pool. Did I mention romantic? The charm of this place really reminds me of what fine dining looked like during the Victorian era.
Our server was Renee, who warmed up to us quickly and was very friendly and helpful. We never felt rushed and all the staff made us feel very at home.
This romantic evening included their (justifiably) signature rack of lamb. Perfectly cooked and juicy, these were right up the the dining partner's alley (he can't eat anything from the ocean, nuts, and strongly prefers his food to have had mothers.)
For me, I started with an absolutely stellar cream of broccoli soup. Smooth and creamy without feeling overly fatty. The flavors were perfectly balanced.
I also treated myself to my first orgasmic bites of abalone. These two 3" medallions were fried in a delicate egg batter and covered with a buttery caper sauce. There was a side of veggies and wild rice. I probably took 25 minutes to eat this dish. Savoring every little bite of highly restricted sea food.
We polished off the evening with Bananas foster, which Renee prepared table side with a flourish.
Overall, this romantic dinner satisfied my mind and my tummy. -
Review from kristen t.
Venice, CA
12/6/2011
Thank you Anton & Michel for making our Wedding Dinner so fantastic and special. The service was impeccable and the food was delicious. You guys went above and beyond in servicing the couple of our children in our party, and were most accommodating in switching out the bottles of wine for my husband. EVERYONE enjoyed this restaurant--you really made our night memorable. Thank you!
-
Review from Yan G.
San Francisco, CA
11/30/2010
Every time I go to Carmel, I notice how nice and friendly people are. Whether it's the residents, the employees or the tourists - everyone is ready to offer a smile or a piece of advice. As we walked into yet another trendy boutique, one of the salespeople struck up a conversation with us. When we told her we were going to Anton & Michel for dinner, she said: "Oh. That place has kind of an old vibe." Perfect.
While some people think "old" = bad, I believe that "old" = tested, proven and classic. Her fair warning notwithstanding, we decided to proceed with our dinner plans. Besides, where else would you rather go for an early bird dinner?
I personally enjoyed the decor very much. It made me feel as though I was dining in a wealthy person's mansion in the 1970s. Think Dynasty, but less contemporary. We were seated at the table by the window, where we enjoyed the view of the fountains and an artist's studio. Gilded picture frames, flowers and statues created an atmosphere of retro opulence. I could see how some people would consider it stuffy, but I really enjoyed it.
Our waiter looked and sounded exactly like Kenny Bania from Seinfeld. He was friendly, but a little goofy. All of us thought so, as we struggled to remember who he looked like. I vowed to myself not to write this review until I figured it out, so voila! He wasn't particularly knowledgeable and seemed stumped by the simplest of questions, but he meant well and tried to be helpful. I can respect that. Major props to the Hispanic waitress who helped us several times even though we were not at her table. She even offered to help watch my friends' baby for a couple of minutes.
As for the food.... well, the value of the prix fixe early bird menu could not be beat. Sunset Menu, as it is known at Anton & Michel, is an amazing value at $25.50. Let's face it, a 3-course meal for $25.50 at a posh restaurant is a pretty good deal. This is Applebee's prices! The quality of the meal, however, left all of us wanting more.
I started with the wild mushroom puree soup which was too salty. I tried to neutralize the extra salt with pepper, but that just made my soup peppery and salty. Not great.
For my entree, I went with the filet mignon in pinot noir reduction (add $4.50 to the price of the prix fixe). I asked for my filet rare, knowing that they would probably overcook it. I guess I should have specified how rare I really wanted it, because my filet was closer to medium. Due to the wine reduction sauce, it was still edible, so I bit my tongue and ate my steak. It came on the bed of potatoes au gratin which I really liked. The grilled vegetables were good too: you can't go wrong with grilled pearl onions, baby carrots and string beans.
For our third course we chose tiramisu. This tiramisu was way too soft, and it seemed to "melt" all over the plate. I felt as though the lady fingers were a bit stale, and the mascarpone was far too runny. Even the massive quantities of liqueur the chef had added to the tiramisu couldn't salvage their disappointing dessert.
Anton & Michel is kind of like a Hyundai Elantra: it looks good from the outside and it seems like a good value, but inside ... it's still a Hyundai. -
Review from Jay G.
Seattle, WA
9/1/2010
Food (40%): 3
Value (30%): 0
Service (20%): 4
Ambience (10%): 4
Appetizers:
Lobster spring roll - Asian slaw tasty, but nothing too unique compared to a Chinese restaurant even - 3
Grilled artichoke - too much aioli for my taste - 2
Entrees:
Short ribs - Kobe beef did not taste much more tender than normal beef. Sauce was good. Mashed potatoes ok. Side veggies well done - 3
Sea bass - basic grilled fish with very good pesto sauce - 4
Dessert
Tiramasu - very average - 2
Drinks
Half bottle Monterey wine - average
Value - $150 for 2 ... Way too much given quality of food as nothing special
Ambience and service - enjoyed the pink walls, large windows looking into fountain courtyard and friendly/efficient service. -
Review from Sheeva G.
10/3/2011
This place was beautiful. I came here with my family and had a lovely meal. I had an amazing new york steak here. one of the most memorable things about this restaurant is the darling courtyard in the back of the restaurant with a beautiful water fountain. very romantic and elegant :)
-
Review from Dan P.
Mission Viejo, CA
9/12/2011
My wife and I dined at Anton & Michel's two evenings ago, and it was very disappointing.
Carmel is a magical place, and every time we returned we've had a wonderful time. Not this time.We like to order different entrees, so we appreciate diverse wines by the glass (not getting locked into a red or a white). Sorry - you need to order half bottles.
Our waiter pushed the most expensive items on the menu. This is typical waiter behavior, but his aggressiveness was off-putting.
The food. My duck breast was evidently warmed up in the pan and grossly overdone on the surface touching the pan (hard and near crunchy). My wife's halibut was dry. Our rice was akin to Rice-a-roni. Vegetables were only OK.
Not worth $150. Not going back. Dined on 09/05/2011 -
Review from Denise S.
Monterey, CA
One of the last hidden gems in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Anton & Michel is as romantic as it gets. Sitting in the beautiful Court of Fountains, this piece of history has sat for about 30 years, and keeps locals and visitors alike returning for more memories.
The dining room is draped in white table cloths and the tables illuminate with candles. The music is lighthearted and orchestral. The wait-staff is friendly, professional, and eager to please. The management is very knowledgeable of the city, the food, and the extensive wine list. The GM, Bert, has been running Anton & Michel for years and is guaranteed to make your experience memorable.
The rack of lamb is to die for! As is the endive salad! The Caesar salad can be prepared table-side if ordered and is made to order... the rack of lamb can be done this way as well. If there is still room after all the good food Anton & Michel has to offer, splurge for a flaming dessert. It's a great date dessert and puts on one awesome fiery show. The bananas foster is my absolute favorite!
Anton & Michel is also open for lunch and has an exciting menu available.
While the dress is business casual to formal in the dining room, the bar is always open and allows casual dress attire. The bar menu offers smaller portions of signature dishes and more "bar" food, like lamb pot-pie and a Kobe beef burger! The fries are the best in town, hands down! -
Review from Allan A.
Morgan Hill, CA
7/11/2011
I was looking for an upscale place to take my wife for her birthday. We don't get a chance to visit Carmel and Monterrey very often so I researched places and Anton Michel had glowing reviews about the food, service and atmosphere. I made reservations for Saturday night and included my 16 year old son.
I should have known we were in for trouble right when we walked in. At 6 Pm the place was 95% empty. The one table occupied near us was being served cherries jubilee, Cherries Jubilee? I have not seen this desert on a menu in more than 25 years. The waiter passed out menus and went over the specials. Then we waited and waited and waited for water. Never mind there were 6 servers/bus boys just standing around no more than 30 feet from us doing noting. I had to half stand in my seat to get some attention and request water.
We all ordered the lobster bisque to start and it was mediocre. Lets face it use enough butter and cream and how can you make a soup taste too bad? My son and wife ordered the Kobe braised short ribs at $30 a plate and I ordered one of the fish specials, a local fish similar to Bass. The Kobe arrived a brown fatty slab of meat with a non-descript sauce. My fish was a paper thin filet with an olive/artichoke tapenade sauce on top of rice pilaf. The tapenade looked like it was painted on the fish and resembled a frozen dish we buy from Trade Joe's. The meat was barely edible and since I was starving I ate the fish and shared half with my son.
Since it was my wife's birthday the waiter offered her a free desert. She picked a chocolate torte. What she was served looked and tasted like a slab of Ex-Lax sitting in water thin pool of raspberry syrup. All this for a mere $150. What a monsterous theft expertly pulled off by the corporate owners of this stogy, time warped establishment.
To make matters worse my wife ended up sick the rest of the night with stomach cramps and nausea. I've traveled around the world and have eaten and many Michelin one, two and three star restaurants. I've eaten off street carts in Singapore and taco vendors in Mexico. So I have a good feel for what good food is and is not. By far this was one of the worst restaurants I've eaten at. The mashed potatoes served with the Kobe must have contained 10,000 mg of sodium, inedible but good for some science experiments no doubt.
The place is serving food created 25 or 30 years ago when diners did not know any better and thought anything served on white linen was gourmet.
I'm baffled at what the other reviewers had to say. Blind, without taste buds and perhap plied with free booze by the management.
Anton Michel needs to close its doors, get a new chef and enter the new world of cooking. Until then I would stay far, far away from this place. There must be 10 better restaurants in Carmel. -
Review from Jennifer F.
Seal Beach, CA
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went for a girls weekend trip. Maybe a bit romantic and small for that, would have been good with a date.
-
Review from Han C.
San Francisco, CA
3/19/2009
So cute. Guys, take your ladies here, please. Every girl should be treated to a romantic dinner at a place like this once in awhile :)
We came here on Valentines Day weekend and loved it. First of all, Carmel is just an amazing little town... and Anton & Michel is right in the middle of it. Beautiful restaurant. Great fountain outside. Be sure to ask for a seat by the window.
The food is just as awesome as the ambiance. Simply delicious. What else can I say?
Highly recommended! -
Review from Ron O.
Cupertino, CA
9/5/2011
Nice ambiance for a classy European style restaurant, but the food appears to be overrated. Somewhat bland and overcooked food reminiscent of places my grandparents would have liked. Their signature dish of 25 years (as the server bragged) was the Jerusalem Chicken -- it was dry and bland. Me thinks they need a new signature dish. Salmon was dry and a little more done than I'd expect for a modern day eatery, with no delicate sear. The Chocolate Coffee Creme Brulee was a taste mess and not so memorable. The Caesar salad may have been the best part of the meal.
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Review from Lisa R.
1/26/2010
This is a really nice romantic restaurant, especially if you are able to go during warm weather and can sit outside by the pond.
The staff is very attentive and the bathrooms are super fancy. When we got dessert, they made it right at our table which was fun to watch.
The only thing that ruined my visit was some super obnoxious over the top loaded (as in money) people that sat at the table next to us. While I was trying to enjoy the nice dinner that my boyfriend so thoughtfully decided to take me to just b/c he felt like being romantic, was ruined by the people next to us talking in loud voices about who was sleeping with who and all of the expensive shit they bought and they were rather demanding/rude with the staff. By the way I described these people they probably sound like obnoxious college students spending their parents money, but instead these were grown adults in their 40s and 50s, ruining the atmosphere for everyone else. I wished the staff would have made them lower their voices or move them to a different table. -
Review from Amy C.
Morgan Hill, CA
2/20/2011
Ambiance,decor, service-all 5 stars. But food is what you come for. And sadly, I have to say it was just OK.
We ordered off the sunset dinner menu--a small prix fixe menu for diners between 5 and 6:30. We both had the Caesar salad. I had the braised lamb shank and my husband had the filet mignon.
Ok, the salads: croutons were stale and the romaine was drenched in what I can only assume was bottled dressing. I've made homemade Caesar dressing....this wasn't it.
My lamb shank smelled and looked wonderful, but was clearly not braised. Braising takes hours and the meat is juicy and falling off the bone. This may have been baked or broiled and then had juices thrown on...but it was dry.
The filet mignon was small....I'm talking size and shape of your palm (ala dieters portion).
I will give 3 stars for my dessert however. I had the creme brulee Crunchy and caramelized on the top and creamy underneath...that part was delish.
For those used to eating at places like Chili's or Red Robin, this would be heaven, but I am a food snob....I admit it. I like Gary Danko, The Plumed Horse, Fuzia...
If we had had these items off the regular full price menu we probably would have been more upset. but given the price for the salad, main course and dessert, we didn't object. $25.50 each. -
Review from christina a.
Oakland, CA
6/5/2006
Anton & Michel is perhaps the most elegant of downtown Carmel's restaurants. We tend to come here for special occasions - special visitors, Christmas Day dinner, things like that. My mother loves to sit in the back room, at one of the garden tables overlooking the fountain. Everything is delicious and fresh, so you can't really go wrong, but I'd especially recommend the ceasar salad, made tableside.
If you enjoy Anton & Michel, the same family owns quite a few other restaurants in town - Village Corner, Portabella Restaraunt, the Grill on Ocean Ave, and others. Each restaurant has a bit of a different vibe, but Anton & Michel is by the far the best of the lot.
[A question, for future diners: do you think some of the servers' accents are fake?] -
Review from K. C.
Palm Springs, CA
12/29/2010
I literally feel someone has stolen $150 out of my wallet. The food was so repulsive, the decorations so tacky, the service so "fast food", I want to forget this experience as fast as I can. Restaurants like this leave me not wanting to eat out at all. Unfortunately, I had no choice, Carmel was jammed and my daughter wanted to eat ASAP. This was the only restaurant we could find that wasn't fully booked. In this day of internet reviews, it pays to do your research.
I would be serioulsy wary of any positive reviews of this sham. -
Review from Gil S.
10/28/2005
A&M is either the sweetest restaurant in the most romantic city in California or a high-maintenance waste of your precious life.
So famous, other restaurants advertise that their chef used to understudy here. The one who made it so, Max Muramatsu, has now moved on. Food is mannered, mid-priced (by fine dining standards) and french-ish, e.g. seafood pasta in a rich broth, warm spinach salad, flaming crepe desert. A wonderful belgian endive salad; lamb pot pie tasted great but the lamb itself was overcooked and not tender and the sauce had too much corn starch by a factor of several.
On a sunny afternoon a window table against the "fountain court" is magical -- you can see happy birds in the fountain, children with balloons, dogs, shoppers hauling purses and dresses out of GBG's next door. The decor is dainty white tablecloth yet frayed at the edges -- the bright sun reveals stains in the walls and linen, the fussily folded napkins are not straight or perfect, bathroom fixtures are cheap and mounted askew.
It can be sparse and lazy for lunch, jampacked at weekend dinner. The patrons, far older or perhaps aged before their time, carry on noisily above the smooth jazz and classical: where is the best spa, society gossip, and other rich people things.
I have returned again to compare, to wash from permanence of memory the visit before. It almost works. So choose carefully. -
Review from Wayne P.
San Jose, CA
6/24/2008
This is a very good place to take a date. The place is very romantic. The walls are adorned with original oil paintings, the service is excellent, and the food is above average.
The menu is kind of old fashion, the dishes are far from exotic. And the deserts are a throw back to the 60's. Where else can you get Banana Foster or Cherries Jubilee prepared right at your table. -
Review from Kevin D.
1/22/2010
CARMEL AT IT'S BEST!
I dined with a party of four at Anton & Michel for a birthday celebration and they made us feel like VIP's. We began with a bottle of sparkling wine to toast, then explored the good-valued, vast selection of California red wines on their list.
For our main courses, we especially enjoyed the Kobe-Style braised short ribs and the locally caught haddock, which was the feature of the night. The Bordelaise sauce that accompanied the short-rib was succulent and delicate all at once. Del-ic-ulent.
Renee, our server was gracious and knowledgeable and the timing was great all night.
When making a reservation, request the fountain room- a much nicer location within the restaurant in my opinion. -
Review from Kevin K.
Saratoga, CA
2/15/2009 1 photo
My valentine and I capped off an afternoon stroll through Carmel's boutique filled downtown with dinner at Anton & Michel. We highly recommend Carmel as a romantic day trip for the folks in the Bay Area.
We had rather early reservations at 6:30, but we ended up staying until 9:30 - the parking garage across the street closes at 9:30 otherwise we would have stayed for a bit longer. To say the least, we had a wonderful time.
The food is straight up old fashioned French fare with friendly and attentive service. Our waitress provided excellent suggestions as we were reviewing the menu. We had the mushroom raviolis, Caesar for Two, Lamb Chops for her and Short Ribs for me. The lamb chops were excellent. We had it prepared medium rare - chef's recommendation. When they arrived, the chops looked very rare, but if you like it medium rare it was perfectly prepared. Ah, so tender and juicy. The Short ribs are tasty and the potatoes accompanying the short ribs were wonderfully seasoned.
They have an extensive wine list and is moderately priced compared to Bay Area standards. We had the David Bruce 2006 Petite Sirah, which paired perfectly with our flavorful lamb and beef entrees.
As other posters have mentioned the Caesar is made table side, and its purpose is both an advertising tool and an entertainment value, but at least you can dictate what is going into the salad. I'm confused why other yelpers complained about the salad preparation since the wait staff can accommodate to your preferences during the preperation. In addition, we had the Banana Foster for dessert which is also made table side. We got a kick out of the pyrotechnics involved during the preparation, but it fell a bit short upon tasting it.
My only other complaint is the table arrangement. The tables were crammed together like a can of sardines and lessens the romantic atmosphere. Nevertheless, we were able to have a wonderful experience. -
Review from Matt P.
Fresno, CA
11/8/2009
Solid 4.5 rating.
Awesome restaurant, never disappoints.
The interior color scheme is very questionable and dated, but can't help to add to the 'charm' that this place has -- so, I can't really hate on that (although people often have no problem doing!).
The gf and I have been here several times, and are usually more than happy with every item we order, maybe with the exception of ONE thing -- the lobster bisque which was good, but not great or 'the best' we've had.
Bottom line, this is an excellent restaurant. Every time we visit Carmel, we always try to fit this into one of our meals, it's a requirement. I feel this is saying a lot, mainly because there's a LOT of spectacular restaurants in Carmel -- Anton's can definitely stand on its own.
It's easily a staple of the Carmel area. -
Review from Joyce L.
Fullerton, CA
5/25/2009
I generally don't do well with dated decor, but this Anton & Michel's more than makes up for it with excellent food and service.
Some suggestions:
Ask for a window seat when making a reservation.
For appetizer, order the lobster spring rolls--stay away from the wedge salad.
For dinner, try the braised short ribs and/or the filet mignon--it is a very big slice of meat for a filet.
For dessert, the tiramisu is yummy and comes with a scoop of ice cream!
If you get there early, you can chill at the bar/lounge area and have a beer while watching a game. -
Review from kate a.
Seattle, WA
8/3/2008
I have been coming to Carmel for fourteen years, and somehow had never eaten at Anton and Michel's before this year. A girl friend and I decided to give it a shot one night and walked in and were able to be seated without a reservation which was nice (but it was a wednesday night). Being two young ladies, when dining without my father we had sometimes been waited on poorly, the waiters thinking that we didnt have enough money or sense to tip well, but thankfully at Anton and Michel's we were treated very well.
We had a delicious meal.. I had the best duck i've ever had with a wonderful rhubarb chutney and cinnamon couscous. Then we finished up with the Banana's Foster! What a fun treat right at our table.. and amazingly delicious. -
Review from Amanda S.
Brooklyn, NY
5/20/2010
Walk up in here, and you'll be all like, "Hey, did Blanche from the Golden Girls design this place? Where's Dorothy?"
The food was decent, but the entire restaurant, like it's decor, is stuck in the past. -
Review from Miriam G.
Berkeley, CA
1/16/2012
Very meh at best. The corn bisque (soup of the day) was excellent, the other appetizers were quite poor: mushroom strudel - more like a very soggy dumpling, and "English pea risotto" - rice (not arborio or the like, so no starchy/creamy finish) very boring, mushy and tasteless. Of the mains, the short ribs were quite good, but the tournedos were tough and dull-tasting, and the fish (barramundi) was extremely fishy (UGH). Accompanying vegetables were the same with all dishes and were OK but not delicious. We wanted a place that we could walk to from our central Carmel B&B, and we did get that, but we also compromised on the quality of the food to a degree that we had not anticipated. Definitely do not recommend.
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Review from Gary Y.
Mountain View, CA
5/30/2006
Elegant little french restaurant with a bar and dining room. Dinners seemed to range from $20-$30/plate. They had an extensive wine list, but didn't serve by the glass. They did have a page of half-bottle selections though.
I had a very good cod dinner with unusually good carrots. Their Crab Risotto was also very good. Despite the very upscale appearance, they didn't complain when I came in with sand on my clothes from the beach. -
Review from M. W.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
4/5/2010
We walked in off the street Saturday night & were immediately greeted & seated by an extremely friendly & efficient gentleman which is a lot more than French place right up the street could do for us...
I know it has already been said, but I've gotta get mine in too. The decor is OLD and needs an update! The bar is also lackluster in that they could do so much with it. It has the size & design to be a true eye catcher, but they dumb it down to where it looks like a temporary bar set-up at a hotel convention center...
The menu is very limited, but the food is excellent. You simply cannot go wrong with anything you choose providing you order something that suits your taste buds to begin with and the service is on par with the money you spend.
In typical California fashion they will serve you in plain street clothes, but you really should be a bit more on the dressier side...
All in all we enjoyed our meal immensely and will definitely be back! -
Review from Lisa M.
Pacific Grove, CA
8/24/2011
My favorite restaurant in downtown Carmel. The food and ambience are elegant; the service impeccable.
Try the Nicoise salad, the seafood combination, or lamb. They're truly remarkable.
They also have a formidable wine list. -
Review from Greg B.
San Jose, CA
6/8/2009
I'm being gracious with the four stars. Yep, just as others have pointed out, the decor is very dated. Yep, as others have pointed out, the restaurant appears to be in decline. However, the service was attentive and the food was good. Went with waiter recommendations - lamb chops and kobe short ribs. Lamb was generous, the Kobe ribs were too fatty. (yes I know by definition...) Ok fine. Appetizer and salad were middle tier. The reason I didn't give this restaurant three stars is because it was like dining at a favorite aunt's house, where everything is lovely. But the food is OK. Four anniversaries that night. Seems like that kind of place. Dint get me wrong, it was a nice experience, if you go in for 'nice'.
Guidance: Foodies steer clear unless you want nice. They have an outstanding wine collection - Good reading, bring your own and pay the corkage, if you have to. Food is certainly adequate, not exceptional.
Very pleasant. How about that. -
Review from Matt T.
Dublin, CA
2/26/2011
We ate here once about a year ago and loved it. The ambiance was a bit outdated, but very charming and lovely, the service was very good and the food exquisite. It jumped to the top of our list for places to have dinner when we are in Carmel.
That was less than a year ago and we will not return.
We made a reservation about 4 months ago for tonight and requested a 4 top in front of the window overlooking the courtyard. We eagerly looked forward to returning and have recommended A&M to many friends. Upon arriving tonight we were greeted by the Maitre'D and taken to our table. The restaurant only had 2 or 3 other parties seated so we asked it we could have a 4 top in front of the window instead of the 2 top we were assigned to, directly next to another couple (albeit, also a window table). Very condescendingly he replied that those were reserved for larger parties. He offered a table on the other side of the aisle we could have - also a 4 top, but not near the window.
When the server came by she also made a snide remark about the first table not being good enough for us and jested about us moving.
It's a dead weekend in Carmel and they were clearly not busy. They seemed quite a bit more pretentious than before and perhaps their heads have outgrown themselves.
We left and found a nearby restaurant (Nico) that welcomed us in to any table in the house we wanted, served us wonderfully and had terrificly yummy food.
It's a shame that Anton & Michel blew it. First impressions last and we will not be returning on our next visit, nor would we recommend it to anyone. We loved them, but apparently we aren't good enough for them anymore. -
Review from Craig H.
Arlington, VA
We lived in Monterey back a decade ago and always enjoyed lunch or an occasional special evening at Anton's. A touch of class remains in the vast sea of casual nice restaurants.
