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Will's Fargo Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Steakhouses Restaurants American (Traditional) Steakhouses, American (Traditional) [Edit]
19 E Carmel Valley RdCarmel Valley, CA 93924
(831) 659-2774
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
33 reviews for Will's Fargo Restaurant
Review Highlights
"The stuffed mushroom was very good & a nice way to start..."
(in 3 reviews)
"I had a very nice filet mignon."
(in 3 reviews)
"I like my old school in the form of decor, not beer choices."
(in 3 reviews)
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33 reviews in English
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Review from H M.
San Jose, CA
3/20/2010
Outstanding dinner and service. Chicken done to perfection ($20). Succulent Rack of Lamb ($30). Hamburger melts in your mouth ($12). All dinners include soup or salad plus side. Try double baked Baked Potato. Do not try cheesecake.
We'll definitely go back. -
Review from Marguerite G.
Redwood City, CA
2/1/2012
Ate at Will's Fargo Restaurant on the weekend and was disappointed. We had not been there for a while. The vegetables were old, the steak not edible, we ordered a wine on the list and were told it was not available. I could go on and on but why bother. There were hardly any people there on a weekend during dinner time. OVERPRICED FOR WHAT THEY SERVE. The fish restaurant closed and we really liked it, but I don't think this restaurant will take its place.
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Review from Randy m.
Monterey, CA
1/8/2012
Will pass, thank ya. Carpaccio with so much lemon juice it arrives well done. Semi-homemade cooking tip: Mashed spuds become chewing gum when over- mixed or (yeah) overcooked. The exec chef is renowned, so I have to believe he's not in the kitchen, 'cause this is minor league. They could, at least, get some folks out of food-cookin' school if they're charging this much.
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Review from Dani P.
Mountain View, CA
7/4/2011
We stopped by one evening for dinner on a warm July night. Had a drink in the cozy bar area served by a very accommodating woman bartender. The large front door was open letting a breeze come in the bar. You don't find the feel and character that this place has in too many CA restaurants. Then we sat on the back patio for dinner. I have to say, our server Laurie was so pleasant, helpful about questions on the menu, checked back with us at all the appropriate times. You can tell she knows her job well and loves what she does. I will be requesting a table of hers when we come back.
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Review from Bernadette Z.
Gonzales, CA
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
My husband & I had dinner at Will's Fargo on Oct 8. I called to make a reservation, but as no one answered, I left a message with the time slot I wanted & number in my party. When I got a call back, I asked to change my time slot & the person said that wouldn't be a problem, which was great. My husband & I arrived for dinner & were seated quickly. Once seated, we did wait a bit to have our order taken. The couple that was seated after us at the next table actually had their order taken first. (They did have a different waitress). Our waiter was running around like he was in a big hurry. He eventually took our orders and we sat back to wait...we were served a complimentary small veggie plate as a starter which was nice and then we sat back & waited...we waited for a while...we eventually got our food (I had the rib-eye & my husband had the steak & lobster)..My steak was cooked perfectly but was a little bland. My husband said his steak was good, but that his lobster was not. I tasted it & it was a bit chalky...almost like it had been frozen for a while & then over cooked a bit. Our waiter hurried by & did a "drive-by" style "how's everything?" We barely stammered out a "fine" when he was off & running. I think he had tables in the front of the restaurant & the back...probably not the best thing in terms of planning on the manager's part. Since it was a special occasion, I ordered dessert. I ordered the creme brulee..vanilla & coffee..this dessert is definitely one to share & it was pretty good...a nice crunchy sugary crust on both pots of creme...yummy! Overall it wasn't a horrible meal, but the service did take too long. I doubt we will be going back...
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Review from Jacqueline D.
Los Angeles, CA
5/30/2011
My only critique about this place is that it could be updated a bit. It seems that, that's the look they're going for but it could be less campy in my opinion. The food was really good and the portions were on the larger size. We had the stuffed mushrooms, beef carpaccio, pasta carbonara and ribeye. Our server was also extremely nice and timed our meal perfectly when we asked to take our time. This is a definite stop next time we're in Carmel.
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Review from Frankie F.
San Francisco, CA
4/24/2008
4.5 stars.
My dining experience was amazing. Wills Fargo is a steak and seafood restaurant with a nice dining room and amazing outside dining area with benches, fire pits and garden.
The food is to die for. When you get seated you are served with raw veggies and ranch dip. We started with the beef carpaccio which was to good for words. The bread comes grilled and you have your choice of soup or salad with your entree.
My beef cut was to die for, hardly any fat. I had the rice and the meal comes with asparagus. I also ordered the side of sauteed mushrooms. Everything was amazing.
I ended the meal with the chocolate moose which was more like a brownie moose dessert which was perfect because I could not decide on the moose or brownie and I got the best of both worlds. -
Review from Carlos B.
Monterey, CA
8/5/2009
Nice review, Katie. Katie and her brother Dylan grew up with my kids.
Its a small town.
Hadn't been at Will's for awhile, the kids were in town, so we all wanted to see Dylan and check the place out.
We left full and happy. I loved my rib-eye, my wife had the stuffed mushroom and we drank assorted proper vintage cocktails. This was a nice outing and it was fun for everyone to reconnect.
It is really that kind of place.
We like to try different places, and have a budget so we can only go out so often, but we will come back again soon.
Oh, and the Volcano Grill at the end of town is NOT affiliated with Wills. That reviewer meant to say that Bernardus owns Wills. Volcano is owned by an individual. -
Review from Andrea C.
Boston, MA
10/10/2009
Loved it! Loved It! A great meal with great service! Wish I wrote this review much sooner because for the life of me I can't remember the name of our waitress but she was AWESOME with a capital "A".
We were a group of four and were seated right away. The menu is for a carnivore and definately not a vegetarian, that being said we enjoyed our rib eye, lamb curry, swordfish, and pork tenderloin. We debated about getting a couple other items, but our waitress was honest and straightforward and told us what was going to be excellent and what wasn't that night. We greatly appreciated it.
The portions here are huge and what made the night perfect is how they perfectly timed each course for us. Nothing came out too slow or too fast and we were able to enjoy a wondeful meal with our dear friends. -
Review from Matt O.
San Jose, CA
10/8/2009
Great Place for Meat!
Rumor has it that this used to be an old road house between Carmel and Greenfield in the Salinas Valley. While a little on the expensive side, it serves up a big, tasty hunk of meat in a nice (but not too fancy) atmosphere.You used to be able to to pick your own cut of beef from the in-house butcher but rumor is that they don't allow it anymore (haven't been here in a while). That made the whole experience more fun. Oh well. -
Review from Shal J.
San Francisco, CA
4/14/2009
LOVED IT.
Will's is the new tradition for our annual trip to the valley. Loved the old school ambiance/decor, loved the service, loved the food.
The stuffed mushroom was very good & a nice way to start our meal.
The veggie burger was clearly homemade and I appreciated that. It was a little soft/mushy for my taste, but still good. The fries were excellent.
I think this place has officially replaced Wickets as our annual stop.
Our only words on the comment card were a request for more California beer. The beer choices literally started with "Bud, Bud Lite, etc". I like my old school in the form of decor, not beer choices! That's serious business.
See you next year! -
Review from Edgard O.
Redwood City, CA
9/3/2008
Awesome place to eat a great steak ( may I add the volcano grill is part of their family , great place as well)
our host Dylan was friggin awesome and NICE ! he was able ot squeeze us in for a 9 pm dinner , or else out noght would have been a total failure.
steaks are good and nice portions , drinks were flawless, Eddie the bartenders knows how to make them......
the whole staff was very attentive , YOu want steaks in carmel ?!?!?!
go to WIlls Fargo !!!! -
Review from linda w.
Carmel, CA
8/9/2011
Wills is a funny place. It is hit and miss. Sometimes we go and everything is good, sometimes it is just mediocre. Tonight is was mediocre. Their usually yummy garlic cheese bread was just toasted bttered bread, the vegies in the relish tray were sad looking,our meals were just ok..nothing to write home about. I wish this place would be more consistant because I love its charm. The chef on Tuesday night was not on his A game!
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Review from lulu d.
Santa Barbara, CA
6/26/2010
an easy place to go for a drink and bite with friends.
the food is pretty good, not writing home, but definitely
good enough for repeat visits. -
Review from Lonnie R.
Danville, CA
8/17/2010
Dined here on Saturday and found this place to be very good. The waitress was OK but not the best. The atmosphere here is rustic. I had a very nice filet mignon. I am not sure if I would make this a destination spot but if I was in the area and hungry I would definitely stop for food. I would really give it 3.5 stars.
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Review from Don N.
East Pittsburgh, PA
12/12/2008
Will's Fargo cooked the best steak I have had in a very long time. Visited for my wife's birthday, and she was thoroughly satisfied. She is a steak and potato type of girl.
Her filet was cooked to perfection, and my ribeye had the perfect amount of marbling.
We started off with the steak bites. Do not pass them up.
Being own by a Bernardus vineyard, I was tempted to try some wine, but I stuck with my tradtional dirty martini, and my wife Mandarin and cranberry juice. Just enough spirit to taste but not overpower.
We loved our experience, and my wife appreciated a great meal for her birthday. It worked well for a special occasion, but I would definitely visit on any day of the year! -
Review from Christina G.
Pacific Grove, CA
7/30/2010
The Cobb Salad is amazing....as well as their chicken sandwich on the dutch crunch roll! Lynn is the best bartender there is!!!
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Review from Gina H.
Sunnyvale, CA
7/5/2011
Too bad I feel the need to give only one star as the food was pretty good but service was bad enough to warrant one star. We came here the other night with and had our toddler with us who we had to keep taking outside since he was getting impatient due to the slow service. Our server seemed to know the few people that were seated throughout the restaurant as she was mingling with them the entire time - she even sat down with these two ladies and talked for awhile. You would think when you're paying this kind of money in a restaurant - you would get more attentive service. I would also think since we had our little one with us - they would have moved us along a little quicker but they definitely did not. They even lost my Mom's credit card after she paid the bill. No apologies or compensation of any part of the meal or anything. We go to Carmel with our family every year and will not return to Will's Fargo...
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Review from David J.
San Leandro, CA
6/25/2011
We last dined at Wills Fargo about 5 years ago. It is a funky old restaurant with lots of homey touches. Unfortunately food is not all that interesting. The corn chowder was sieved and was a puree. Both the pork tenderloin and t he veal liver were frozen and lacked taste. The garlic bread was good. The green and wax beans were adequate. It was a bit pricey for what you get and I don't think we would repeat the experience. Adequate service and the Bernardus wine was good (sic).
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Review from Michael M.
Philadelphia, PA
8/5/2010
Steak was decent, Drinks were fair. The place was so-so with the decor. Wait staff was at least friendly and efficient. -Darth
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Review from Rachel C.
Monterey, CA
Updated - 3/29/2009
Fargo burger delish with the perfect cook. Mushroom still 100 % worth it. I have to say this is my favorite resturant in this area. Hands down!
Listed in: Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/19/2009
This might be a little bias. I love Will's every time without fail I get the stuffed mushroom top… Read more »
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Review from Shiho F.
Carmel by the Sea, CA
12/4/2006
I wish I found this gem earlier on in my life since I would have hit this restuarant up every time I craved a salad. Best Salads Ever! Have it tossed and order the steak. Oh so GOOD!
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Review from Sierra S.
Nevada City, CA
9/8/2006
This is a fancy, expensive restaurant. I always enjoy the food here. It is traditional American. The decor is pleasing -- sort of like an old hacienda. They take pride in their beef. The bar is too small.
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Review from Mrs. C.
Monterey, CA
5/10/2011
We love Wills Fargo! Especially our favorite waitress Lynn Campbell, though all the service staff are excellent. They can accommodate large parties for us in one of their private rooms which is great as we love dining with large gatherings of friends. A warm, inviting, relaxed spot in the village. The saloon is also a fun spot to meet pals or grab a quick bite. We miss Spike the old bartender but love the new gal as well.
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Review from Cassie P.
6/25/2007
A scenic and beautiful drive takes you up to this throwback restaurant. If it is beef you want, this is the place. Expensive, not so much. Pretty standard menu and tasty food.
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Review from John B.
Palo Alto, CA
5/29/2007
Big salads (the bleu cheese on the Iceberg Wedge is the bleuest I've ever had)... big steaks (does anyone really eat a 20 oz. Porterhouse any more?)... big pours (especially wines from Bernardus, owner for a few years now)... small Old West saloon ambience. Service was fast and gracious, befitting a restaurant that's been a fixture in town for decades. Not inexpensive, but a delicious steakhouse that plays to its strengths. Try to make a reservation a few days in advance, especially for a weekend night.
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Review from Jerry K.
Lincoln, CA
5/30/2010
WE went to this restaurant in 1962 on our honeymoon and have been back a few time since then. Yes it was and is a fun and great place. We will be there again on June 30th to enjoy the benefits a fine fun casual dining in Carmel Valley!
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Review from paul o.
Alameda, CA
3/8/2010
Just ok. Service could have been better. Fish is advertised with a mango salsa. My girlfriend ordered it and the waitress brought it to the table without the mango salsa and walked away. We had to flag her down to find out they ran out. WTF? She should have told us before we ordered or at the very least when she came out with it instead of her running away.
Heavy pour on the wine. Decor is very dated. I get the whole rustic thing but you can update it without loosing the feel. -
Review from JOSH S.
Monterey, CA
5/10/2010
Wow,
One of my worst dining experiences ever. I've been here a few times, mainly because one of my close freinds loves this place. Food is usually good and decor is dated, but cool aand prices are reasonable for the area. Soooo, getting to the one star review...
Two couples go to lunch on a sunny Sunday afternoon, we ask to sit outside. We're sat in a table by the back wall that's in the shade and a little cool, then left there for 30 min before we see anyone. Durring that time we decide to move to the next table over, in the sun, because there is nobody else sitting outside. Our server finally comes back to take our drink order and asks us, rudely, why we moved. When we explain she asks us to move back to our original table in case thay get busy later. When I asked why they couldn't use our first table for someone else if they got busy, she turned and walked away in a huff. 15 min more pass and she comes back for our order, my freind and I order rare steaks. This is a steakhouse so I'm surprised when our steaks come and they're medium well. I'm a bit apprehensive about bringing this to the attention of the demon waitress from hell, but decide since the steaks are so far off and I'm not paying $30 for something I didn't order, I'll risk it. I flag her down and she comes over and asks what I need. I explain that our steaks aren't rare and she goes on the tell me that they look rare to her. After 5 minutes of arguing that the steaks aren't even pink, let alone rare, she askes me what I want her to do about it. I ask for two new steaks and she tells me she doesn't think she can do that since our steaks look fine. WHAT?!? Didn't we just spend five minutes on this? I din't ask for them to comp the meal, just fix the mistake. When I explain this, we place new drink orders and she goes off. After 30 min she doesn't return so I go to find the manager. As it turns out she never placed the order for the new steaks because there was nothing wrong with them!?! The manager agrees that our steaks are nowhere close to rare and makes her get us new steaks. 5 minutes later she comes back with two raw steaks, I mean still ice cold in the center and tell us that "my manager says I have to apologize, but I don't see why I should". Really, did that just happen. So I ate half my raw steak, my friend wouldn't touch his, we paid for our meal that they comped nothing on and left no tip. She actually had the nerve to follows us out and confront us in the lobby about not leaving a tip. I didn;t hesitate to let her know what I thought about the experience. I will NEVER go back! -
Review from Art F.
Sacramento, CA
1/25/2009
Always the best steak on the west coast. All the cook it with is olive oil and salt & pepper. The staff makes you feel like your family. They will make any accommodations that are needed with no fussing. Stuffed mushrooms are the bomb.
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Review from Ariana B.
Carmel, CA
3/21/2009
Wow! What can I say! Amazing service AND food. How refreshing with so many over-rated restaurants in the area! Dylan got us right in and was super friendly and we sat at Jack's station, who was also amazing! We had refills for our drinks before we even finished them! The asparagus soup was to die for and my prime rib was outstanding!
I can't wait to return with friends and sit in the patio outside by the firepit! -
Review from Kathy W.
Alameda, CA
10/13/2010
I had the unpleasant experience of going here a few nights ago. I was with my wife and had my service dog with me and it was our anniversary. We wanted to go someplace fun and nice and Will's came highly recommended. We got in the front door and Lynne, the bartender, who had nothing but rave reviews from others before we walked in, yelled from behind the bar, across the room at us "Got papers for that dog?" Yes, we did. But how incredibly rude. Then, we were not asked if we wanted to sit inside or out, we were just placed at the farthest table in the restaurant, outside. No heat lamp lit. We had to ask that it be lit. I'm already pissed at our treatment and considering leaving when we ordered our wine. Nice $50 bottle of Rombauer. The year on the menu and the year he brought us didn't match up. At this point, I cannot imagine spending a dime in this place. Horrible. Rude. Trying to pull a fast one on the wine. Sending us to Siberia to eat. Just unbelievable. We just got up and walked out.
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Review from Harriet P.
Albany, CA
3/9/2010
We loved it! We were staying at the nearby Bernardus Lodge and wanted something close and easy for our first night. The same chef runs Will's Fargo so we headed that way. It is totally charming when you walk up--like an old hacienda building or something--and the charm continues inside with old fashioned lights (dim and romantic atmosphere) and wood planked walls. The service was impeccable throughout--outshining many much pricier restaurants--and we really enjoyed the convivial and warm feeling with a big roaring fire in the bar room where you enter. They greet you with crudite and ranch at the table--a nice touch that bespeaks the casual simplicity of the place--and yummy hot garlic bread comes with the meal too. Delicious! My husband had the mixed green salad and filet mignon. He loved his steak--it was excellent! My roasted half chicken was literally the best chicken I've ever had. The skin was absolutely crisp--so crisp it seemed like it was fried or something--and inside was the most moist and tender chicken. We both got the twice baked potatoes and plates came with roasted cauliflower with cheese sauce. I cannot say enough what a tremendous meal this was and at a bargain price. My total meal, complete with a cup of the most velvety cream of artichoke soup, chicken, sides, garlic bread, crudite, etc was $19.95. I could not even finish half of my plate. And we had to skip to dessert because while the 3 page dessert menu with coffees and drinks was amazing, we were stuffed! Anyone who is visiting Carmel Valley should have a dinner here. And if I lived nearby, I know my husband and I would be eating here very often.
