Aubergine

One of the top 5 restaurants I've ever eaten at, Aubergine combined expertly crafted dishes, excellent service, and a delightful wine pairing into an intimate dining experience for for the best celebrations in your life. The theme of the menu when we visited was "surprise" and we found the menu to be entirely that.

The thrice seared A5 miyazaki wagyu took the show for my wife and I, followed closely by the duck breast and confit.

Aubergine is delightfully appointed, comfortable, quiet and intimate. If you have a chance to enjoy a meal here odds of disappointment are very low.

Imagine stepping into a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Carmel by the Sea. The moment you enter, the ambiance greets you like an old friend, setting the stage for an unforgettable culinary journey. It's not just a restaurant; it's an experience, a voyage through the captivating worlds of land and sea. As you walk in, you're greeted by a visual feast - seashells and succulents artfully arranged on rocks, as if Mother Nature herself curated the decor. It's like walking into a cozy living room of a dear friend, where every detail is chosen with care and affection.

The small bites was a love letter to the sea and the earth, a storybook filled with tales of abalone, caviar, and Wagyu. Each dish is a character in this gastronomic narrative, with the sea bass stealing the show, daring to keep its skin unskinned, giving you that extra crunch that surprises and delights.

The squid waltzes in, draped in a buttery, creamy sauce that's practically a dance on your taste buds. And the bread? It's not just a side, it's the perfect partner in this flavorful tango.

The main courses are the heroes of this culinary tale. The duck, lean and tender, strikes the perfect balance, while the rib eye, with its onion sidekick, forms a carnivorous duo that leaves you wanting more.

Dessert arrives like the grand finale, and you're treated to a spectacle. Opt for green tea, served in a kettle that could easily win an award for aesthetics. Each dessert takes a bow, creating a sweet harmony that feels like the perfect ending to a wonderful story.

This Carmel by the Sea gem is more than just a place to eat; it's a comforting embrace that envelops you. The ambiance is set by the soft lighting, which creates a cozy atmosphere. The staff are passionate food experts who are eager to share their knowledge with you. This restaurant is more than just a meal; it's an adventure that you'll never forget. Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience.

Just look most everyone who has reviewed Aubergine, I give it 5 shining stars! We came here for our wedding night dinner (we eloped) and it was the most magical experience. From the moment we pulled up, our car doors were opened, we were escorted up and met with the friendliest experience ever. The staff truly anticipated every need we had.

The ambiance is amazing--a little courtyard adorned with romantic lighting and heaters for the cold.

As for the food--I have no words. We went with the sommelier pairing and I thought it was super worth it! The tasting menu was incredible and we truly enjoyed every single thing. My favorite part of all was that the chefs would come out and explain each dish--this was something I hadn't experienced at other Michelin star restaurants before.

I would 100% go back and would absolutely recommend!

We enjoyed a FABULOUS meal prepared by Chef Justin Cogley and his team.

The beauty, skill and care in every dish made for a VERY special evening. A million thanks and congratulations to Chef Cogley and his team. As you can see from the attached photos, this was an incredibly special meal.

Deserving of MORE Michelin Stars. The service was perfect (thank you Cyrus) and the wines outstanding (thank you Jahn Haffey - Sommelier)

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32172-d1367785-r942797504-Aubergine_at_L_Auberge_Carmel-Carmel_Monterey_County_California.html#

Excellent service, great ambiance, good food, awesome desert, with extras to bring home for breakfast and tea the next day.

Chefs head platter "gifts from the sea" carried the entire Valentine's Day experience for us. Caviar on eggs two ways and souffléd potatoes was probably the most outstanding dish (out of 6) after that head platter...prime rib is the best you'll get as the final entree of a $1000 experience for two, they'll even try to up-charge you mid meal for wagyu!
Overall I don't recommend. You can easily attend a matching 1 star Michelin restaurant for half the price and better ingredients.
Sad that you pay so much more for the Valentine's Day experience and the best meat they provide is prime rib!

A Michelin star restaurant you can get reservations for week of? Yes. It is rare but amazing in more ways than just availability. The rotating menu(which they don't give you but just guide you and tell you as you eat) is phenomenal and fresh geared towards the produce in the region. The chefs individually come out with each course and go through how it was prepared. You are tucked in a hotel courtyard giving Italy small town vibes. This is a great romantic restaurant or girls night out.

We savored every aspect of the 8-course dinner. The service was exceptional, creating a relaxed ambiance. This restaurant consistently delights; my husband and I have cherished it since before it earned its Michelin star

Expect the unexpected was the theme of the night here. The night began with some small bites. A magnificent oyster, wagyu tartare the highlights. About what I might have expected so far. We came for my wife's birthday and were very excited.

The first course was local lettuces from Carmel Valley with pistachio paste and an amazing spreadable allium cream with caviar and chives. Just a great spring course to start things off. Following this was a beautiful Kinmedai, barely cooked and full of toasty flavor, a light but incredible broth and amazing herb oil.

I opted for the sommelier pairing and everything paired very well. They did a sake to start with, wines the rest of the way and finally a house made amaro riff to end with the last dessert course.

The next course was our absolute favorite of the evening. Served by chef Justin himself, a delicious pair of morel mushrooms bathed in an herb butter sauce with salmon eggs and English peas. A delicious side of knotted butter flaky bread, and a tempura fried pair of Tokyo turnips so crisp and moist inside I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. The single best course I've ever been served.

Following that was a beautifully cooked piece of lamb in its own bone jus. A side of roasted cauliflower with cauliflower foam and a lightly dressed frisee salad accompanied this great course.

Finally on the savory side, a beautifully cooked piece of Omaha Ribeye, with an incredible XO sauce made from abalone and wagyu served next to a perfectly cooked piece of white asparagus with forget-me-nots. We also upgraded this course to have a couple pieces each of amazing A5 Wagyu ribeye cooked simply over a Japanese charcoal grill. This was the best Wagyu we've eaten as well.

The first dessert course we were served was a white chocolate ganache orb with several forms of delicious strawberry and some graham cracker. An excellent dessert that was well balanced.

The second dessert course was a chocolate lava cake of sorts with some caramel cream on the side and chocolate stick and flour crumbles. A good dessert for the chocolate lover and not too sweet. My wife also received a chocolate mousse cake with ganache on top for her birthday which was great.

Following that was a bunch of tasty dessert bites. They then sent us on our way with a take home dessert which looks like some kind of white chocolate bark with some fruity gems inside.

The meal was incredible start to finish. The service we received was also top notch to match. Lots of staff each doing their own part to ensure we were well taken care of. The course were all spaced perfectly and the rhythm of everything was fantastic. We were left wondering why the restaurant has not received its second Michelin star yet.

I know it has taken a long time for me to review but life happens lol. I was here for my 40th and of course we had the tasting menu and wine paring. This is my first time doing wine paring and it did not disappoint! They have the lost rarest and unique options such as sake and wine all over the world. The place was so serene and peaceful. Services was on point. We felt so well taken care of. Did not have to lift a finger except to eat. I felt spoiled and so worth the Michelin star. Hope to come back for the next special occasion.