- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Pacific's Edge
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Restaurants French American (New), French [Edit]
120 Highland DrInside Highlands Inn
Carmel, CA 93923
(831) 620-1234
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
127 reviews for Pacific's Edge
Review Highlights
"Pacific's Edge also has an amazing wine list."
(in 16 reviews)
"Roasted beet carpaccio."
(in 4 reviews)
"Rack of Lamb - perfectly prepared and YUMMY."
(in 9 reviews)
Loading...
127 reviews in English
-
Review from Anthony L.
Federal Way, WA
12/25/2011
Visiting Carmel for the Christmas holiday and staying at the Highlands we naturally jumped at the idea of eating dinner here. We had a 7PM seating in December, so it was pitch black dark. However we saw the view earlier during check-in and it's pretty amazing. The service was a little slow to get rolling, but once into the meal it was more than satisfactory. For Christmas dinner they had a fixed four course meal and the choices were good. For my main course I had the most amazing bone-in rib chop in my life. Pan seared in a cast iron skillet, it was cooked to a medium-rare perfection!
We had a hard time picking a bottle of wine, so one of the in-house Sommelier suggested a bottle of French Pinot Noir. It was wonderful!
Why not five stars? Value. Even though an excellent meal, it was very expensive and could have been a better value.Comment from Jonathan D. of Pacific's Edge 12/26/2011
Anthony, Thank you for the wonderful review. We are so happy… More » -
Review from Kayvon P.
Palo Alto, CA
11/27/2011
First off, this restaurant and its view are so amazing it's really hard to even talk about the food! But the food is also very good and makes for a memorable experience for sure. Got to celebrate a wonderful night with my gf at the Hyatt in Carmel Highlands and their flagship restaurant (Pac's Edge) didn't disappoint at all.
What I've Had: Cheese/Fruit/Nuts Plate, Mission Fig Tart, Roasted Beet Carpaccio, Colorado Rack of Lamb, Filet Mignon, Potato Puree, Chocolate Bread Pudding
The cheese/fruit/nut plate was one of the BEST I've ever had. So reasonably priced and SO MANY dried fruits (apricot, pears, strawberries...etc) and nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts...etc) that it was amazing. The cheese and crackers were top notch to complete an absolutely perfect start to a great meal.
The mission fig tart and the roasted beet carpaccio were very subpar. These dishes should be removed from the menu or improved upon because they failed in all regards. The fig tart had mediocre accompanying salad, bland figs and not that great of a tart crust. The roasted beet carpaccio just wasn't very good as well and both dishes need more flavor and sauce to complete. The fact that the cheese plate, the entrees and the desserts were SO GOOD tells me that these dishes can be improved upon for sure.
Regarding the entrees, my rack of lamb was outstanding. Awesome meat, awesome crust, awesome cooking. Loved it. My gf's filet mignon was also awesome and better than some "pricey steakhouse" filets she has ordered before as well. That's always a great sign especially considering this isn't really a steak/chop house at all.
The chocolate bread pudding was awesome although it should have been a bit warmer. However, every bite was nuts and the chocolate was so tasty that I couldn't get enough!
We'll definitely be coming back to this hotel and this restaurant since the food and the service were awesome! The view is one of the BEST you'll ever see with all the trees and the ocean and we caught a bit of sunset here as well which was pretty fantastic. Views aren't enough to bring you back so it was great to see that this place served some awesome dishes as well.Comment from Jonathan D. of Pacific's Edge 12/24/2011
Thank you for the great review! We are proud to offer our… More » -
Review from Star M.
Rockport, TX
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food: 4 Stars
Views: 5 Stars
Service (Wine): 4 Stars
Service (Food): 2 Stars (3 Stars for the bus staff only, 1 Star for the waiter)
Overall Taste in my Mouth: 2 Stars
The good:
Made a last minute reservation on Open Table for an 8:30 seating -- after sunset. Got a great corner 2 top table -- view would have been stellar, if it had been daylight, but it was still lovely at night, with the moon and the clouds and the water. A very private table because the two of you sit 90' to each other, with only glass on the other two sides, so your back is to the rest of the diners.
Sommelier made a great wine recommendation with our dinner selections.
Our food was great -- braised short ribs were divine and rack of lamb was lovely.
The bad:
Our waitress was very friendly and nice; however, the greet time was in excess of 5 minutes (closer to 10), she didn't tell us about any daily specials when she gave us the menus and wine list, so we had already ordered our wine based upon our initial review of the menu items as the night was already dragging a bit; and the bus boy and sommelier did the rest of her work, including delivering our food, clearing plates, asking about water and bread refills and dessert order, etc. Once our order was in, she essentially disappeared.
We had noted in our reservation that it was our anniversary & the hostess wished us happy anniversary as did our waitress. But, coincidentally the two tables next to our also were celebrating anniversaries -- one of them got two glasses of champagne and the other got a free dessert with a candle, etc. So, for our waitress to simply say "Happy Anniversary" seemed a bit hollow and awkward.
What makes it worse is the fact that we used a http://Restaurant.com gift certificate for $25, which automatically added 18% to our total bill, including our $165 bottle of wine and the tax amount. [We are frugal -- that's how we afford our wine!] So our tip amount was over $47 for two entrees that totalled $99. I'm hoping the sommelier got part of the tip share, because after our bill was $303 (including the $47 tip and $27 tax), we chose not to tip him. We expected the 18% on the food -- but not on the wine or the tax. [MANAGEMENT: YOU MAY WANT TO RECONSIDER A FIXED 18% WHEN SOMEONE SPENDS $165 on wine]. Affixing a mandatory tip to a bottle of wine is unconscionable.
We would have given her a $20 tip on the approx $100 food bill (prior to the $25 gift certificate) [NOTE -- which would have been 20%, which is more than 18%] and the Somm $20 or $25 on the wine separately. You do not customarily tip the same amount (15 - 20%) on the marked up bottle of wine [$165 for a $75 retail (not even wholesale) bottle], particularly if you have a Somm in addition to the waiter. THAT IS JUST BASIC FRONT OF THE HOUSE SERVICE KNOWLEDGE.
Net -- we probably would have spent within $5 - $10 of the same amount at the end of the meal. But -- the way it was handled and the mandatory 18% on WINE was beyond the pale . . . . If the wine hadn't been so delicious, we definitely would have left with a very bad taste in our mouth.
We love Carmel, we are Hyatt Gold Passport Members, we like wine and views -- but we will be hard pressed to EVER visit or recommend this restaurant. It's a shame -- it was a lovely evening, we enjoyed our meal and the wine and the views. This could have been a 4 Star (not quite 5 Star review -- still the issues with Sonja's service). But, alas, it is all I can do to not give it 1 Star review. Dan & the wine saved the evening.Listed in: Paso & area Wineries Trip
Comment from Jonathan D. of Pacific's Edge 12/31/2011
Thank you for taking the time to post your review. We are… More » -
Review from Rick B.
San Rafael, CA
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good stuff: The wine list had lots of good selections. The somm came over and helped pick out a stellar white Burgundy. The view is what you come for, and we had a good seat for it. My wife really enjoyed the first course and her dish.
Bad stuff: The server forgot to put in one of our first course orders. The $45 halibut plate came out and the fish was overcooked. Really dry and lacked in flavor although the description sounded really good.
More good stuff: The server took off the $45 plate and replaced it with something else and also didn't charge me for 2 desserts and a glass of wine.
More bad stuff: It's expensive. If you read other reviews you'll see a consistent theme. Overpriced for the caliber of food quality and service. For 2 people we dropped $350 and for that kind of coin you'd expect the best service. They not only forgot to put in one of our orders but also messed up the bill.
Overall, it's a 3-star experience. Probably won't go back but glad we experienced it once. -
Review from Tara M.
Healdsburg, CA
7/22/2011
Ok let's see. This is what we all refer to as a "view restaurant" and that is exactly what you get. The food is a step below mediocre, as is the staff. I remember coming here years ago and really enjoying my experience. Maybe they are coasting (no pun intended) off of a reputation they had in their heyday, but that as clearly passed.
We were staying next door so decided to come over for a dinner. It being my birthday we brought a special bottle of wine that we wanted to drink. Now, we are not typical bring our own wine type of people but this was a special occasion. We are then told that their corkage is "$40 maybe $45 let me check." Backup. Who is the world charges $40 (or $45) dollar corkage. I'll tell you who - a restaurant that currently aligns themselves with $10 for $25 gift certificates on http://www.restaurant.com, that's who. I'm not one to scoff at corkage but REALLY, c'mon you serve FRIED CALAMARI. That really blew us all away. It wasn't the money, it was the principle.
Anyway, I won't be back. Luckily we even convinced some other people staying at the property we were at not to go the next night. Hope that $40 corkage was worth it Pacific's Edge!
Go check out Marinus in Carmel Valley. No view - but you'll have a much more memorable dinner! -
Review from Daniel G.
5/24/2011
For our one year anniversary, my wife and i decided to return to the scene of the crime and head back to Monterey for the weekend. In doing so, i choose Pacific's Edge for us to have our anniversary dinner based on the recommendations from several Yelp friends.
To sum up our experience here, the food was excellent, the view was stunning, and the service was terrible.
We got the earliest seating available, which was 6:00 PM, so that we were ensured a window seat with a view of the sunset. In retrospect, most seats in the restaurant would have been just fine for the view with the exception of a wing that runs along the side wall which only had a view to the south. The restaurant itself is situated pretty much right at the edge of a hill about 50m above and away from the coastline, which provided for a spectacular view of the surrounding area, and particularly of the sunset.
The food was fantastic. For starters, we had the following:
-Half a dozen of the chilled oysters, which i believe happened to be miyagi oysters on the day that we went.
-The sea bass and scallop ceviche. This dish was okay, but needed more citrus added to it. Also, it was served with what tasted like a cheap-o store bought Old El Paso tostada shell
-Roasted beet carpaccio. I be rockin' them beets. I'm crazy about beets lately, and this dish was excellent. Just a note, there was no actual meat so i'm not sure why they called it a carpaccio...
-Endive. Kind of like a salad, also very tasty, had a great blend of tart and sweet flavors, and the nuts added great texture.
For entrees, i got the fish of the day, which was a sea bass and Nique got the scallops. Both dishes were excellent. The fish and the scallops were lightly salted before cooking which gave them a flavorful cooked on 'crust' from being grilled. To go with the entrees, we got two starches, the polenta and the risotto, but in hindsight, we should have only gotten one or the other.
Dessert was comped since it was our anniversary, and we were given the chocolate decadence cake. It's fudge, nothing special. I which we would have requested one of the other options that they had for dessert because i wasn't terribly happy with the cake.
As far as the service, my wife put it best, no one likes to be served by a big, sweaty jerk. Our waiter seated us and took our drink order and then promptly forgot about it and went on to seat the rest of his section. We ordered water to start, sparkling and still, but had to remind the waiter after 20 mins that we still hadn't gotten it. That's a bad sign. For the rest of our stay, he was about a step away from being just plain rude in my opinion. My wife won't necessarily agree with that statement, but i just felt like this guy was annoyed that we were there, and i don't like that feeling coming from a waiter.
And this guy was sweaty, like, the whole time, which is gross. I don't even want to think about some dude walking around, sweating all over my food, it really takes away from the experience.
Lastly, he messed up our bill and charged us for drinks that we did not even order or receive, which was just icing on the cake at this point.
I would give 4 stars for the food and easily give 5 stars for the ambiance, but for our waiter, i'm going with a 2. All in all, we had a good experience here and i would definitely come back, but for the amount of money that we paid, i would not be served by the same waiter the next go around. 4 stars. -
Review from M. N.
Chicago, IL
10/10/2011
Very nice place and the waiter was great. Food would have been killer expensive but we just ordered a la carte and our whole meal cost $110 for 2, which is not unreasonable for the environment and quality. We loved the fact that before and after dinner we could relax by the fireplace right next to restaurant as well as listen to a great live band (piano/bongo/vocal/jazzy)...In hindsight we would have loved to stay in the hotel (restaurant is inside of the Hyatt), but it was too expensive. Can't really hold that against the restaurant but that's the only reason why I can't give 5 stars ;)
Comment from Jonathan D. of Pacific's Edge 12/26/2011
We are glad you enjoyed our inviting lounge after your… More » -
Review from Three N.
Cheshire, CT
9/8/2011
An outstanding view, great service and very very friendly people in all positions from hostess, waiter and wine steward and very very good menu! We enjoyed ourselves and wished we had such a good option back home.
I know there are recent reviews that were not the best - we did not have any of those issues. Ask for Tim. He was great. When my wife dropped her glasses he dropped to the floor to find them. He was helpful in making menu choices.Comment from Jonathan D. of Pacific's Edge 1/14/2012
We are glad you enjoyed the wonderful view and friendly… More » -
Review from Ron B.
Moraga, CA
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
The location and building are great, pleasant atmosphere. We had the Tuna tartare and it was surprisingly bland. The beet salad was ok. For main course I had the Seabass and yet again bland. My wife had the scallops and to me tasted fishy. Great wine selection, not so much on the cocktail side. Overall it did not raise to its expectation. I cannot recommend this place.
Comment from Jonathan D. of Pacific's Edge 12/24/2011
Ron, Thank you for taking the time to review our restaurant.… More » -
Review from Michael H.
Campbell, CA
4/7/2011
Not the cheapest place to eat but one of the most memorable. This restaurant at the Highlands Inn Hyatt has three important things going for it.
1) The stunning view of the Big Sur coastline ... at dusk.
2) The food
3) The wine list
Highlights of the meal for me were the super succulent Tuna Tartare and the perfectly cooked Filet Mignon which was up there with the best steaks I've had at both the Plumed Horse and Alexanders. JZ's Squash Tart was gorgeous, as was her main course of Seabass. The carrot cake was beyond moist. Mmmm. Drinks were also well made. Finally, service from our waiter Mark was exceptional. After your meal, you can head through to the lounge and enjoy some chilled out piano music.
Tip: Get here nice and early so you can get a window table and watch that sunset! -
Review from David G.
Carmel, CA
6/27/2011
This is one of the Monterey Peninsula's most expensive restaurants, so excellent service is expected. Regrettably, it's not what customers receive.
I suffer from migraines. On a recent visit, I ordered "plain" green tea, i.e., with no added flavorings that could trigger a headache. When the tea was served, it was not plain. After considerable delay, they brought a different pot-still not plain tea. At this point I spoke to the maitre d'hotel. He found some tea bags, and one of them seemed possible. A waiter removed the tea bag and disappeared to get hot water. Meanwhile, bread was served. We were told the choices were sourdough and rosemary. I dislike sourdough, so I selected rosemary. I took one bite and learned that the so-called rosemary bread was actually sourdough bread with rosemary added. By then, I'd been in the restaurant for an hour. I'd eaten nothing, had nothing to drink, and I'd developed a migraine.
Things didn't improve much as the evening progressed. I'd hoped to order polenta as a side dish. However, because of my food sensitivities I was concerned with the preparation. I explained this to the waiter. When my entree was served (with a vegetable side) the waiter said that the polenta did include something I could not eat. Of course, now it was too late to order pommes frites as a starch to accompany my entree which was already cooling on the table.
Pacific Edge has a gorgeous setting and serves some good food. Nonetheless, I cannot recommend this restaurant. I live nearby, and I'm much happier when I avoid the restaurant and order the bar food. -
Review from Blake R.
Hercules, CA
4/26/2011
My GF decided to surprise me and take me here for my B-day.
From the moment we walked in this place was Amazing...The Views are breathtaking.
I decided to go with the Chef's Menu with wine pairings. it was Awesome!! all four courses were perfect with the wine suggested. My Gf had the chicken, it was the best chickens both of us have ever had. super tender, and juicy. The deserts were just as amazing as the dinners we had.
Service was ok. but it was super crowded there. Still you need to try this place. I know i will be going back -
Review from Lori F.
Santa Clara, CA
5/14/2011 9 photos
We went here for our 3rd anniversary dinner, purely to eat while having an amazing view of the setting sun on the Pacific ocean. They did have a chef's tasting menu but we really weren't too excited about the offerings. They have an extensive wine list, and had a sommolier available for any questions. Ultimately we decided to create our own tasting menu, and ordered a la carte.
We started out with the Monterey abalone with mussel saffron emulsion, parsnip puree and black trumpet mushrooms. I was surprised by how tender the abalone was. The black trumpet mushrooms gave the dish a great depth and earthiness. My husband also had an order of oysters. They were very fresh, and came with some great garnishes.
For our second course we split an order of the porcini soup. It had an espresso foam and a brioche crouton. The kitchen was kind enough to split our order into 2 separate bowls. This soup was amazing! It was so silky, and mushroom-tastic!
Our main course, I had the Maine day boat scallops. Scallops are my favorite food, and I can't resist getting them whenever I can. At first I was a bit disappointed with the portion size, of only 3 scallops, but they were very large, and proved to be more than enough. They were served on top of a sunchoke, chantarelle gratin and a black truffle emulsion. So good. One of the best scallop dishes I have had in a very long time!
My husband had the coriander crusted, pan seared yellow fin tuna. We asked our server whether or not this tuna was sustainably caught or not, and he went to the trouble to ask the chef where and when the fish was purchased. It was a sustainably, line-caught fish, by the way. His fish was served on top of baby bok choy, and fingerling potatoes. Very tasty.
For dessert my husband ordered the salted peanut butter~caramel bar comprised of peanut shortbread, jivara chocolate ganache, caramel sauce, and a milk chocolate~caramel mousse. I ordered manjari chocolate decadence cake, crème fraîche, toffee butter crunch, sea salt, caramel ice cream, chocolate snaps. It was so rich and delicious! They brought out our desserts with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate on our plates. It was a very touching gesture, and we really felt that our special occasion was important to the staff as well.
Overall this was a very special dinner, and the bill with tip was $275. That includes 4 glasses of wine (2 per person), 2 first courses, 1 soup, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts, all ordered ala carte. The view was amazing, and there is no better scenery to enjoy while eating dinner. -
Review from Steve H.
Pleasanton, CA
11/30/2011
Okay the views are unreal, the service is great but the food was disappointing. We both had fish, the tuna was better than the snapper special but the portions were very small and weren't offered with a lemon wedge. The cheapest bottle of wine was $55.00 and the corkage fee is $40.00.
Comment from Jonathan D. of Pacific's Edge 12/24/2011
We are sorry you did not enjoy the food on your visit with… More » -
Review from Peter H.
San Francisco, CA
10/16/2011
Real fancy and real expensive with beautiful views. Food was great and service was OK. Great for fancy date night, and be to go earlier before sunset.
Comment from Jonathan D. of Pacific's Edge 12/26/2011
Peter, Thank you for taking the time to review our… More » -
Review from Gary F.
Glenview, IL
4/30/2011
Out of the Way - Pacific's Edge - Carmel, California
Some restaurants are so fortuitously sited that the wisest thing that a chef can do is to stand out of the way, not blocking the diner's line of sight. This is the challenge of Chef Matt Bolton at Pacific's Edge.
The Pacific's Edge restaurant, located in the Hyatt Highlands Resort in Carmel-by-the-Sea, has an astonishing view. It was named as one of the ten best restaurants with a view by USA Today in 2006. The award is deserved. Looking out over, yes, the Pacific, the restaurant remind us just how fortunately those living on the coasts can be, and with its high perch even a tsunami would not diminish the pleasure of dining. All tables have a view of the Pacific, but some are nestled up against the windows, awarded on a first-come/first-served basis. We were grateful to have been informed of this policy, allowing us to snag a 6:00 p.m. reservation and a window view. The sunset was not as glorious as some, but was superb none-the-less.
Pacific's Edge serves well-prepared, if somewhat conventional, modern cuisine. A four-course "tasting menu" ($99/person) is not overly adventurous, but is quite successful, never failing to please.
We began with an Asparagus Vichyssoise with a luscious Truffle Pecorino Grilled Cheese petit-four, crispy spring onions, and prosciutto de parma. While the soup was delightful, the two-bite sandwich was ideal.
The Wild King Salmon with Olive Oil Poached Artichoke, Oven Roasted Tomato, and Chanterelle was a pleasant, properly cooked piece of fish, if a bit minimalist.
Our main course was a well-conceived, evocative Pan-Seared Breast of Sonoma Duck with a five-spice pastilla (fried duck confit basket), English Peas and Shoots, and Duck Jus. The pastilla was unfortunately greasy, but the rest of the dish was sturdy and warmly evocative of a California April.
Dessert was a Meyer Lemon Semolina Cake with Pine Nut Sable and a sparkling Raspberry-Rosemary Sorbet. While this was not an elaborate creation, it was creatively presented and flawless.
It is perhaps unfair to note that the food at Pacific's Edge is not among California's best. That may be true, but it doesn't mean that the evening isn't as pleasing as any. Pacific's Edge is a restaurant to see and to sea. -
Review from Emily B.
Minneapolis, MN
3/23/2011
First of all, this restaurant is a must visit for the views alone. On a recent vacation to the central coast of California, we searched for a place where we could have a belated Valentine's Day dinner on the ocean. On the day of our reservation, it rained off and on. We arrived at Pacific's Edge around 4PM and sat in the bar along the window. The views of the ocean and the rocks below are unbeatable. In addition, there were two rainbows that formed when we were there, making the view absolutely picturesque. Beware though, make sure that you arrive before sunset. The sunset is gorgeous, but the ocean is not able to be seen after dark.
The food was alright. I had the scallops, which were average. My fiance had the short ribs and he enjoyed them. The food is a bit overpriced for the quality, but it is worth a visit for the views. I would recommend going for a drink and an appetizer, and then moving on to another restaurant for dinner. -
Review from Betsy C.
Seaside, CA
3/22/2011 5 photos
OK, let's start off by saying that, yes, the views are unbeatable. We are local and there really isn't much better. That being said...
We've been looking forward to splurging on a night out at Pacific's Edge for some time. We finally made it on, of all nights, a Tuesday! We were seated at 6:15 - perfect for the sunset. You must get a seating before 7:00 or else you'll be looking at your reflection in the giant windows rather than the gorgeous Pacific coast.
We had a glass of wine in the lounge before our seating and the view was spectacular. If I had known better, we would have just stayed in the lounge and ordered off that menu...but I'll get to that.
We were seated in what should have been the best seat in the house, the southern corner seat. Except that the giant picture window in front of us had something wrong with it...it was all blurry and fogged (and the others weren't). They need to fix that.
I ordered the tasting menu:
White Asparagus Salad - totally bland and uninspired.
Maine Lobster - OK, caviar was good though.
Veal Costoletta Chop - tasty...as expected tender and flavorful
Chocolate Marquise - Ummm....nothing special. Husband claims he's had better from Sam's Club!!!
My husband ordered:
Clam chowder - OK, but you can find better even on Fisherman's Wharf (and that's not saying much!)
Rack of Lamb - perfectly prepared and YUMMY!
Grilled Asparagus - Perfection as well!
Overall, the service was at best slow and at worst we wondered (along with the tables around us) where everyone had gone! The food was so-so (the lamb and asparagus are saving this). The poor waiter brought us the wrong bill first. Then we had to just bring it up to the hostess station (who was MIA). Then I had to track someone down to find my coat and to call up our car. We're pretty easy but COME ON!
The sommelier was ridiculously slow. I ordered a glass of sparkling wine and (after sitting with my empty glass for 10 minutes) ordered another glass of white. I would have had more except that no one ever bothered to come over to ask if I wanted more (or to check on us for that matter!!!!) Nor did he ever bother to make ANY suggestions or offer any tastes. The table next to us (we couldn't help but overhearing) was comped their entire meal and wine because they complained so much about the service. OK, I'm not about do that but I would seriously expect better service for this price point.
Overall, for the price, not worth it. The view is so beautiful I wanted to like this place - but I just couldn't! If you're after the view (which IS SPECTACULAR) sit in the lounge and order some apps and drinks. You'll be happy you saved about $200. -
Review from Steve L.
My wife and I came back here during the Summer. The kids were away, and my wife and I took the opportunity to have a nice, romantic dinner together. We've been dining here almost every year for the past 5 years whenever we're in the Monterey Bay Area during the summer.
As I mentioned in my earlier reviews, the view of the ocean and Pt. Lobos from the restaurant are spectacular. Even on an overcast day, the view is breathtaking (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). We were seated along one of the windows, facing the ocean. With a view from any of the tables in this restaurant, it's OK for diners to just gaze out of the window minutes at a time without saying anything.
Mark Ayers was the chef of Pacific's Edge for a number of year. Just this year, a new chef, Matt Bolton, took over the kitchen, and we were interested on some of the new offerings on the menu, as well as his interpretations of long time favorites.
Rather than order the tasting menu, we ordered off the menu.
-Seared Foie Gras (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): This was pan-seared, and served with a brandy-poached peach, and marcona almond. This was only offered as part of the tasting menu, but my wife asked if they can prepare it as an appetizer, and they gladly obliged.
-Monterey Bay Abalone (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): This was a different preparation from the previous chef. The abalone was pan fried, served with an artichoke barigoule, fava bean purée, and oven-dried tomato. Well done, and the abalone was almost fork-tender.
-Day Boat Scallops (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): Served with a cumin scented carrot purée, bloomsdale spinach, chanterelles, and parsley sage.
-Short Rib (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): This was braised in red wine, and served with potatoes that look like risotto. The short rib was placed on top of Swiss chard, and topped with forest mushrooms. The meat of the short rib was fall off the bone tender! Went well with a Hall Merlot.
Desserts:
-House sorbet (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): The sorbets that evening were mango, passionfruit, coconut., served with seasonal berries. Very refreshing!
-Highlands Kit Kat Bar (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): Chocolate and Hazelnut ganache, served on top of a crispy cookie crust on the bottom, and served with a caramel crunchy pearl ice cream. Very rich and chocolaty!
As always, we've been very happy with the service at this restaurant, and Sonja, our server was no exception.
Once again, my wife and I had a wonderful time here, and will be back again.Listed in: Monterey/Carmel...
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
8/11/2009
This is has become a tradition for us whenever we're down here for the week at the Highlands Inn in… Read more »
-
-
Review from Vinchia O.
San Francisco, CA
9/19/2011
We went there after a whole day exploring Monterey Bay Aquarium. The view is incredible. We were lucky that we got the window seats because we arrived there pretty early. Excellent place to celebrate anniversaries!
Comment from Jonathan D. of Pacific's Edge 1/14/2012
We are glad you chose to visit us and experience the… More » -
Review from Raina C.
Monterey, CA
3/10/2011
My Fiance and I just recently stayed at the Highlands Inn and dinned here at the Pacific's Edge and we don't have a negative thing to say about either.
The view from the windows of the restaurant are breathtaking. The service was above and beyond- EVERYTHING was delicious, and the dining experience was fantastic due to the great service. -
Review from Jeff P.
Oakland, CA
9/21/2010
Top 5 meals of my life.
The setting from the views to the fixtures is awesome.
The staff is amazing.
As the age old joke goes, men are hesitant to ask for directions. Apparently, so am I..... when it comes to getting wine recommendations from the Sommelier. When I finally relented and discussed my desired food selections and ideas of a wine paring, Don jumped in and nailed it.
I had decided to begin with a Caesar salad followed by the pork chop. So, I was thinking Chardonnay. He recommended the '04 Mount Eden. Mount Eden is known for their ageable Chards so I agreed. Unfortunately, I sensed something off when I tasted the wine and Don agreed and offered up the '05 at the same price. Not only did it pair perfectly with my meal, it was definitely one of the top five wines I have ever had.
My Caesar was unremarkable. I began to get nervous knowing the financial commitment I had made to the meal. However, the garlic crostini which acted as the croutons were to die for.
The pork chop was perfect and as near to heaven as I could imagine. Cooked perfectly, the texture, taste and temperature were consistent throughout. A life changing pork chop. I had it with a side of their herbed risotto which was sublime.
My dessert of an off the hook, chocolate bread pudding was also life changing. Easily among the top three desserts, if not the best dessert I have ever had.
All in all, an amazing food & wine experience. -
Review from Bruce N.
Sunnyvale, CA
5/4/2011
Ive been to this resturaunt countless times and must say, WOW!!!
The atmosphere of this place is like a dream. Not to mention they have a beautiful view of the ocean from where you sit to eat, a 200 foot drop to the water. the food is exquisit and the service is very friendly! I love this place soo much I spent my new years there and it was perfect! French food to make your mouth water and your eyes want to explode from exciting dish set ups. Savor the flavor of every bite becuase you will want to.
This place is great for first dates, Birthdays and special engagements. This place has such a strong pull of influence in atmosphere and class!
I had a women actually propose to me here. Its to bad I refused, but at least the food was unbelievably heavenly and i still left with a smile!
Pacific Edge Resturaunt, a perfect place and a smile on your face! -
Review from Sheeva G.
11/14/2011 1 photo
What a gorgeous restaurant! When you walk into this place, you pretty much get the most gorgeous panoramic view of the coast. Bf and I stayed at the lovely Hyatt Carmel Highlands for the weekend and we chose to eat here for an amazing romantic dinner. We sat at the corner table (best in my opinion) and had a lovely meal. We started out with the mission fig tart and the roasted beet carpaccio. Both were decent but not amazing. Then we had the Colorado rack of lamb and the filet mignon. The lamb was beautiful and my filet was one of the best I've had. We also had a side of potato puree which was lovely. Then we had the chocolate bread pudding and it was very yummy, but I would have liked it a little warmer. We had very nice wines and the service was great. I will definitely be back to this restaurant because it was so gorgeous and romantic. Nothing beats a romantic dinner with my bf ;), especially with a stunning view!
-
Review from Tanya P.
Novato, CA
6/4/2011
This, our last night, we decided to stay close to the hotel and made reservations at the restaurant in the hotel. I actually LOVE that the rating above says "Meh" because that was pretty much it. View=beautiful. Ravaged Carmel coastline. Even in the fog, the ambience was superb. The food, however, left MUCH to be desired.
The wine list was big. BIG. Every region from everywhere was respresented. Christine knows French, so once again, we settled on French. I have to admit, she has yet to disappoint. 2006 Chassagne-Montrachet. Minerally, lovely.
The menu was brief, which I appreciated. There was a "Chef's Tasting" that featured salmon and duck and quite frankly, I just wasn't in the mood for either. The menu was split into course offerings. First offered salads, soups, oysters, hamachi poke with fennell pollen and the like. Second took on the entrees: half meat dishes like chops, the seemingly omnipresent take on short ribs, and the filet; and half chicken and fish such as sea bass and tuna; plus one vegetarian pasta dish. Well, a menu is only as strong as it's vegetarian pasta dish, right? If they can't pull that off, then the rest is just posing. Besides, Wild mushroom ravioli, made with locally foraged mushrooms, no less, in a brown butter sage sauce just sounded warm and all umami on this foggy evening. Sounded like it would be the perfect foil for this earthy wine. We both ordered the same. I was feeling carby, so I also ordered a side of Pommes Frites.
I started with the Beet Carpaccio, which came fairly quickly. Three colors of heirloom beets sliced mandoline thin and topped with frisee, fava greens, chevre and a grilled spring onion and dressed in a delicate lemon vinaigrette. I stared at my salad, drooling ever so slightly, as we waited for Christine's fresh English Pea soup to arrive. We waited. And waited. We drank. We asked for more bread. I rolled my eyes a couple of times. Christine took a text from her husband about our wine choice. We admired the view. We played a bit of "What are those people doing here?" with the fellow diners. We twiddled our thumbs, adjusted our napkins, cleared our throats, and still no soup. What the hell?! Finally, after 19 minutes, her soup arrived with a swift apology from a different waiter than the one who took our order. He explained he hadnt seen the notation of the soup on the ticket. O well, no harm done. Hot soup! It's a good thing. Except, of course, it wasnt. It was so oversalted as to be inedible. Now, I'm losing patience. We flag the original waiter and explain that the soup is like the dead sea. She offers to swap it for the chowder, explaining that the chef is in love and not paying attention. Gracious as always, Christine acquiesces. The chowder arrives promptly but is also oversalted, though not as bad as those poor battered peas. They're English Peas, for chrissakes! Delicate! Feminine! Aaaanyway....my salad was a total highpoint! The beets were sweet and diaphanous, the goat cheese her perfect foil, the spring onion ever so slightly charred and smoky, her wise counterpart. The frisee and fava greens delightful, crunchy jesters all wound up in that sweet and sour lemon vinaigrette. I realize this sounds like one of those geeky renaissance faire's, but work with me here. I was lost in this salad. Again with the beets, I know, but this is one foodie fad I hope is here to stay.
And now...the entree. A large bowl of ravioli arrives. It looks promising. Puffy duvets of pasta teeming with "locally foraged" mushrooms, surrounded by spinach and pine nuts and sage. A cup of crispy pomme frites is plopped down between us. I immediately launch into the fries, while Christine stabs at her pasta. The pommes frites are sublime. I think they are maybe coated in egg white before frying. They are crispy beyond belief and salted to prefection! I am in crispy, crunchy, salty nirvana, when I hear Christine ask "Hey. Isnt browned butter supposed to be...you know, brown?"
"Eh?" I ask, regarding my entree. I create the perfect bite. A forkful of ravioli, spinach and pine nut and lift it to my mouth and you know what? It's greasy. And I mean GREASY. Like oily and slippery, alkalotic and Danny Zuko's hair. The browned butter is not browned as promised, at all. The filling is foresty and sumptuous, but the grease is so...greasy. Honestly, it's like butter flavored pommade. So, so disappointed. Something so simple. I search the plate for those granular tell-tales of butter delicately smoked in a watched sautoir, but there are none. This meal must end.
We finish our wine. The waiter offers dessert but we decline, remembering the incredible pot de creme from La Bicyclette awaiting us in the room. Maybe we were here on an off night. Maybe the chef was simply "in love" and not paying attention. If so, his new paramour just lost him a patron.
Although...I took the Pomme Frites! -
Review from Christine H.
San Jose, CA
7/28/2010
For our 6 year anniversary, my hubby chose this spot in beautiful Carmel to celebrate.
We arrived promptly and were seated within minutes. The manager was kind enough to switch us to a table at the window for the beautiful view, as a table had opened up. He did it without my requesting.. which is very nice.
We ordered the following:
- Yellowtail Tuna Tartare: fabulous.. I wanted a second plate. It was so well presented and the flavors were delicate and married wonderfully.
- Bone-in Rib-Eye: good, a bit overcooked and the flavor was unique and unexpected. More of a bold flavor.
- Risotto side: good, a bit salty and undercooked?
- Asparagus side: good
- Highlands Inn Kit Cat Bar dessert: good
- Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp dessert: good
Our server was also really attentive and wonderful. The sommelier was attentive and suggested a wonderful cab to go with the rib-eye. The manager came by before our meal and grabbed our camera to take a photo for us. He was very kind and read my mind very well. ;) They were so sweet to comp us on the desserts. SO SWEET!
I hope to go here again to try their other offerings, maybe try their cigars too. -
Review from Timothy F.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
4/17/2011
The best part is having a drink while looking over the Pacific at Sunset. Quiet, contemplative.
Jacques will make your dining experience complete. He is charming and knowledgeable with great recommendations. -
Review from Rita Y.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2010
This place was awesome. No restaurant I've ever dined at has a view like this. You might find one in Hawaii, but this is pretty breathtaking.
Hubby & I came here for our anniversary and I was not disappointed. The interior is simplistic, modern and open.
Tim, our waiter, is a local guy from Salinas and was excited about playing golf at Pebbles Beach golf course the next day ( i was excited for him, know how hard it is to get a tee time and how expensive it is). He graciously took our picture and I saw him do the same for the table of 4 next to us (French tourists). It's worth making reservations to see the sunset (we didn't get the orange glow because Monterey was foggy week long).
My tuna tartare ($17) was good, but I've had better. I thought it had too much mayonnaise. Hubby liked his chowder ($9) and really liked his lamb ($32). I loved my large scallops ($34) which was nicely plated and the flavors were very good. Hubby's glass of local pinor noir (Candela, $15) was flavorful and the sommelier was helpful.
I didn't like hubby's peanut butter and choc torte ($10) but my choc marquis (with pistachio, $9) was great. Would I go back? Absolutely. I wanted to sit there all nite long and watch the ocean and maybe get lucky and see a whale swim by. And the bathroom is really nice too, you must check it out even if you don't need to use it. -
Review from Stephen K.
7/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
No complaints about the great food or incredible view. Both were as good as Yelp's reviews led us to believe. But the service was absolute crap. I have eaten enough $200+ meals to know when I am being snubbed. I know the difference between giving us time for conversation and outright ignoring us. Waiting 45 minutes to order dessert falls into the latter category. We finally flagged down a sommelier who wrangled our waiter. We had no appetite for dessert at that point. The waiter managed to delivered our cheque and wish us goodnight without making eye contact, presumably to drive home that fact that we weren't welcome.
I was better dressed than most of their customers and am no stranger to restaurant etiquette. The only reason they that I can think of to explain their treatment is my age. Maybe they figured I wouldn't tip well; that is their mistake, but with this treatment I was more than happy to reinforce the stereotype.
I know that if I had silver hair and a hefty paunch they would have treated us better. It's a shame, because the restaurant really is as beautiful as they say.Listed in: California
-
Review from J B.
Sacramento, CA
11/10/2010
I would give 4 stars for the quality of food; HOWEVER, the prices are very high and for that I would have expected amazing service (not just amazing food).
The time change (fall back) has just passed, so the sunsets at 5:30. We came here FOR the beautiful views; however, they don't sit people until AFTER the sun has already set and it is dark outside... so, NO VIEWS. What is the point then?? ARGH.
We were the first to be sat and I let the hostess know that we wanted the best view and pointed at an option. We sat, took our coats off, and I mentioned that it was my man's birthday that night. She said "OH! We have a very romantic table over here, if you'd like". We followed her and sat... only to realize it was far away from all other patrons... kind of "in the back by the kitchen". Absolutely no view of anything. I saw some gorgeous "lit up trees" view and went over and asked her if we could sit there, she said "No, that is for the bar/lounge". Yet minutes later, I saw people being sat there and served. Hmmm...
On top of the ZERO view and kitchen entrance/exit sitting, the service was VERY slow and disappointing. At one point, we were completely done (food/drinks), we sat and waited for the bill... and waited... and waited. Our waiter finally came by to give us our bill and left before I could hand him my card (was trying to get out of there!). Waited and waited again to have come by and pick up the card. Waited and waited again for him to come by with the receipt/card.
Although the food was nice, we were really disappointed as we expected much better service (it was supposed to be really special for his bday and for our money) and a great view that we by no means received. I would advise them to open up at least an hour earlier ESPECIALLY AFTER THE TIME CHANGE, so people can enjoy what's best about you: the view! -
Review from Jerry G.
Malibu, CA
4/24/2011
Easter brunch buffet was great although they started to close things up at 2:30 which given our 2:00 reservation made the experience a little rushed. Menu items were your standard omelette station, seafood selection, salads, etc. Always a great ambience and the service was solid.
-
Review from Happy C.
Sausalito, CA
6/5/2011
Ok, the views are spectacular. And the wine list is extensive.
So, you just have to accept the big mark up as the price of admission. A bottle of red that knocks you back 40 bucks at the store will be a bit over 100 here. My rule of thumb is double retail is fair for all, when it starts approaching triple retail, I feel like I'm getting squeezed. But you got the view.
The food is solid, if unspectacular. Ceviche, polenta, filet, all good. Grilled asparagus was a little underdone. The cocktails were interesting. The staff was professional, and friendly.
More of a view spot than a foody destination, but sometimes that is ok. -
Review from Jenny L.
Los Angeles, CA
6/5/2010
Upon my annual trip to Carmel, I was excited to go and try Pacific's Edge.
Five stars definitely on location. The views left me breathless; the view of sunset is indescribable.
Then I began to notice how unclean the windows were [hence, minus a star]. I mean, if the restaurant's harping on it's views as the main attraction, the LEAST you can do is make sure your money maker is spick and span.
Okay, let's talk food:
We started with the Goat Cheese Fritters for apps. YUMMY! Three different types of delicious beets.
I ordered the Pan Seared California Snapper and the bf had the New York Steak. We had the grilled asparagus and whipped Yukon potatoes for sides.
Gotta say... I had to take out another star for the food. It wasn't bad... but it wasn't good.
Bummer. xo -
Review from Lu E.
7/5/2010
The view from this place is incredible. The hotel looks like a great place, but we were only coming for dinner.
We had great service and the food was overall pretty good. I had the halibut for my main course and i thought the fish was cooked well and was tasty. The marscapone polenta was also a hit. I had the goat cheese fritters as my appetizer...you had me at fritter and then you kept me at goat cheese...it was good.
We also had some great desserts that we shared as a group. There was a chocolate peanut butter dessert that was really great and I am not even that big on chocolate in general.
If you are in the area, I'd highly recommend. For the amount of food and the quality of service it was quite reasonably priced.
Random thing that freaked me out while at the restaurant--while enjoying the beautiful sunset, i saw a bat outside. So that part could actually be pretty cool, but it kinda freaked me out. However that has no bearing on the restaurant...or this review really. I am just being random now. Don't mind me.
However, do come for the sunset--it's remarkable. -
Review from Angelique L.
Newport, OR
6/29/2010 2 photos
I came to the Highlands Inn to watch the sun set on the recommendation of a docent at Point Lobos. It's a nice drive up to the inn and the grounds are beautifully landscaped so the walk from the parking lot was also enjoyable. The restaurant is beautiful and the lounge has a big fireplace in the middle makes it feel classy and cozy.
We sat at the bar and ordered Calamari, Tuna Tartare and a couple of cocktails. The appetizers were great. Fresh, delicious and beautifully presented. But the highlight was the Cucumber Martini! Vodka, fresh cucumber puree, lime juice and simple syrup. It was heavenly, the best cocktail I've ever had. Refreshing, delicious and just a hint of sweetness.
We met fun people, had some spontaneous conversation and enjoyed chatting with the bartender as well. The perfect bar experience! They even have the hooks underneath for ladies' handbags. The sunset did not disappoint and we weren't the only ones there for that reason. It's pricey but definitely worth a stop. -
Review from Mr. R.
Redwood City, CA
2/15/2011
Let me preface this by saying this is a combined rating of 4 different visits over the last 24 months. We stay at the Hyatt Highlands Inn every year, and dine in the restaurant 1-2x each stay.
Let me also say that we do eat at high end restaurants quite a bit, so perhaps we are a bit jaded. We are former NYC foodies that actually think service matters... A LOT... Certainly as important as the food.
I have to say, the views are very nice, however just to moderate peoples expectations - not materially better than what you get with your oceanview rooms at the Hyatt. For people that aren't staying in the Hyatt, expect to be impressed - and its definitely worth coming to take in the views - however getting the right seat is not something you can "guarantee". That said 60-75% of the seats are designed for and around the view, so chances are you will do well. For those that are coming from the Hyatt, or have been hanging out at Pebble Beach, expect more of the same.
Our first visit 2 years ago was a bit comical. We had a waiter that was somewhat domineering and perhaps was really was used to dealing with "tourons". I expect the waiter to have an opinion, but I should have the final choice - he was overly assertive to the point that on one item I didn't even feel like I could waver from his guidance given how strongly he reiterated it, etc. I am NOT saying waiters shouldn't have opinions - they definitely should - they are paid to guide me based on what I tell them and why I ask. It was his manner. And many of his comments also fell into the overarching snootiness and looking down on us that I rarely get, and am frankly offended by. I realize that given the location coupled with the vistas, they probably get a lot of inexperienced diners. We are not some of them, and don't expect to be "guilty until proven innocent' unless you want us coming in with a chip on our shoulder as well and assuming this is an overpriced tourist trap with snooty servers.
If I ask you "how is the fois gras prepared - is it pan seared?", I am asking you how it is prepared, NOT what fois gras is. Gimme a break, man... Similar talking down reaction to a question on the wines (only from the waiter, but the sommelier, Matt, was excellent and unassuming). We have dined at 75% of the Michelin rated restaurants within 150 miles of here, and have a 1500 bottle wine cellar. Just because we are in our 30s doesn't mean we are inexperienced. Perhaps size up your audience, listen to their questions a bit, before assuming they are tourons. That was just an example of multiple interactions we had on our first time eating there.
We have tended to order the ala carte, largely because the math seems to be stilted towards doing so - you can hand pick a 4-5 course meal (that will be quite sizable) for the same price as the tasting menu, and get exactly what you want - we have noticed this "math issue" every time we have gone. This bias has served us wrong... We found the ala carte to have pockets of greatness, but on the whole to be fine & good but not great... But were VERY impressed with the tasting menu, which we did on our most recent visit in the last few weeks. We did one night ala carte, and one night of the tasting menu. I strongly push people towards the tasting menu - it was outstanding, was perfectly prepared, amazing ingredients, and fabulous presentation. Hats off.
On our most recent trip, we had the same waiter as our first visit, and also an outstanding Swiss? woman waiter. The waiters spend a lot of time in the kitchen - I have consistently noticed that, so you can literally spend 5-10 minutes trying to just get a glimpse of your waiter if you need something, etc. It has universally been the case in this restaurant - when they are with you they are very attentive. They aren't spread thin, they just don't spend a lot of time on the restaurant floor - which can be challenging. Not something I really care about if I am spending $100-200 for dinner with my wife, but quite different if I am spending $300-450.
Not sure if I had a tough (but flavorful) cut of the Kansas City Steak entree ($50ish) in this last visit, but I needed a real steak knife. It's a bone-in NY styled cut, so it shouldn't be tender, but I had to request an alternate knife, which was still not adequate. On the Saturday night we had to wait 30 minutes past our reservation time (which was after 8) to be seated. Note to manager - when this happens, come by the table immediately and apologize and offer to comp the apps or a cocktail so you aren't starting behind the 8-ball from a diner satisfaction standpoint. 10 minutes is nothing, 30 is different.
Of note, I would rate the night that we had the tasting menu paired with the European female water (sorry I can't remember your name to sing your praises), we would have rated that one night 4 stars, but the other 3 encounters were 3 stars (and perhaps 2 stars for our first visit 2Y back. -
Review from William A.
Healdsburg, CA
2/15/2009
Since this was our first Valentine's Day, I wanted a special place to celebrate. The Wine Spectator Top 20 hooked me, and Angie had seen the place before for a conference. I booked on Open Table, and had to use Amex for a $100 deposit in the event of a no show, or -72 hour cancel.
Angie has pushed back a bit, as it was violating our pact of frugality we made, but I pushed we'd never get a 2nd time for a our First Valentine's, and I wanted a special weekend. We spent the day first wine tasting in the St Lucia Highlands, made our way to the hotel, and then here.
The sitting area around the restaurant is very charming. Lots of couches, fireplaces, and a very talented older gentleman was singing. Service was a bit lacking out in the area, so we abandonded our couch to grab a spot at the bar for a cocktail. Angie's muddled berry cocktail was quite tasty.
We were given a very nice table (weather was crummy so little view).
The dining room is well layed out, with enough space between tables, which I like.
Being goo-goo eyed apparently delays being served so we stopped whispering sweet nothings until we were brought water, menus etc.
For the most part the service was very good, usually friendly (almost overly, liked forced) although we both noted a lot of the staff seemed either young or inexperienced.....something a place of this price should aim a little higher for in wait staff.
I did the special Valentine Prix Fixe with a wine pairing, a mere $135. Angie ordered a la carte, and decided to try my wine pairings until she found one she liked. The food, and the pairings were excellent. The made a small boo boo with a delay between a course and not bringing me a pairing, but recovered quickly. Angie liked the New Zealand Pinot, asked for a glass, and the wine steward gave her a generous pour that was almost two glasses. (why do WOMEN always get that ;) )
We had no complaints at all, everything was beautiful, complex, well made. The desert at the end, with a pour of Ten year old Tawny port that 4 people could have drank, was a great finish. And to top it off they brought a nice orchid like flower to each female.
It was a great experience. I am being a bit stingy with the 5th star; for a $250 tab, and a such a high rating, they need to polish a few more things, but nonetheless, its a find. -
Review from Genevieve M.
San Francisco, CA
7/23/2008
Swanky! I thought this wasn't going to be an impressive place, but I was wrong! The restaurant is very chic and upscale, overlooking an amazing view. Great service-very formal. No rookies would feel at ease here...bust out your best manners and culinary knowledge...you're going to need it to impress the waitstaff and show them you are worthy.
I liked the ambiance...redwood walls and a sleek design. The food was legit as well. Great bread! Large wine list...well-mixed mojitos. We ordered the indulgence lobster appetizer to start, and the short rib and lamb entrees. Although at about halfway through our meal I began to lose my palate due congestion from a bad cold, the food that I did get an opportunity to taste was very good.
After we had finished our dinner, this random guy came up to our table and offered to buy us drinks. Apparently, he had attempted to buy the entire house a round at the bar, but the restaurant staff said they "didnt feel comfortable allowing that" so he walked around to every table and individually offered drinks to everyone. Oh, COME ON!!! What is this world coming to!? That seemed overly formal to me- just let the poor guy buy a round, dammit! Seriously...if someone doesn't want one they could just decline...god. I thought they were too rigid with sticks up their asses about that.
Other than that, everything was great! And, we were entertained watching the bats fly around crazily outside the window during our dinner. Although the bf was kind of freaked out by that, I thought it was a neat touch.Listed in: Places with good bread.
-
Review from Iliana P.
Emeryville, CA
3/4/2010
My boyfriend took me here for an unforgettable birthday!
The service was outstanding, from the moment we arrived there were about 4 different people who constantly asked us if everything was okay.
I had the Pan Seared California Snapper which was very tasty with some delicious mashed potatoes. For dessert we had the Valrhona Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte which was great; it disappeared in a few minutes.
Definitely go during the day to enjoy the view and try to go during the summer when the weather is warmer! (We went in December and it was extremely cold). -
Review from Hannah Q.
Denver, CO
3/22/2007
The views are outstanding, but after the sun sets, it's just a fancy and REALLY expensive restaurant stuck out in the boonies. I found the food to be just a little flat and, considering the hype, I'd really expected more out of it.
Sure, there's nothing on the menu (except maybe the coffee) that I could make at home, so that's fancy and special on its own, but... considering the price, it's just... "eh." I've been really spoiled by having blow-your-mind meals at Aqua and Lacroix, so perhaps I'm just jaded.
When we ate here, our reservations were for about 10 minutes after sundown. We got there early enough to see the sun drop into the ocean, but if I ever eat here again, I'll make sure we're dining, or at least seated, with 30 minutes to spare before the sunset.
The restaurant itself is too large and bustling for a truly relaxed fine-dining experience and, strange but true, our waiter started flirting with me, not in a "I'm gay so it's okay" non-threatening way, but in a "hey, if you wanna meet up later..." tone right in front of my husband. I would have been uncomfortable even if my husband wasn't there, but the energy was just... yuck. blech.
So, will I go back here? Sure, if you're or someone else is paying, but only if I'm already down that way and if we get to see the sunset. It's just not even worth the drive to Carmel for me.Listed in: Charge It To The Underhills
