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 | Carmel-by-the-Sea Restaurants | Tips 11 - 20 of 72 |  |
Hola is spanish for hello and this restaurant got me at Hola.
Entering the wide open bar area and having the aroma of freshly made margaritas and in house home made tortilla chips fill your lungs is enough to make an ol'gourmet cry.
A brightly lit and colorful interior sets the mood for this unique mexican restaurant. Great food and great drinks make a great mexican restaurant and hello, this is the place, Hola.
Crab enchilladas are my downfall. Put a margarita in one hand and a fork in the other and what do you get. Ole! A very happy diner. Leave a Comment Theme: MexicanPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 3600 The Barnyard Shopping Village, Carmel, CAPhone: 831 626-1814Directions: At the Barnyard Complex about 2 miles south on Hwy 1 from the main street of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Ocean Ave.Website: http://www.holarestaurant.com/carmel.htm
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After having breakfast one morning at our hotel we weren't that keen to repeat the experience, so on our second morning in Carmel we headed to Katy's Place. Katy's is open daily, from 7am - 2pm and serves up giant breakfasts and lunches. I had read it was 'the' place to have breakfast in Carmel, and we certainly enjoyed it.
It was already busy when we arrived around 7.30am on a weekday, and there seemed to be plenty of locals dining, along with fellow tourists. Service was very friendly and efficient and the décor eclectic.
They specialise in versions of Eggs Benedict - with 16 different combinations to choose from! We had the Classic Eggs Benedict - Tender Canadian bacon layered between eggs and muffin; and the Sonora Benedict - poached eggs and Canadian bacon with guacamole. Both were delicious, with copious amount of creamy hollandaise sauce and a pile of crispy country potatoes. Leave a Comment
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Carmel has no shortage of decent seafood and red meat restaurants capable of serving excellent food, even if the prices are higher than most tourists are willing to spend on the average night. And, decent wine lists are also not unusual, but to combine the two with excellent service at a less than astronomical price is hard to find. Fortuantely, Flying Fish Grill is one of these places. Service here is excellent. The wine list immediately impressed me as both sensible in length and smartly chosen. It wasn't deep on older vintages, but the wines weren't soda pop drinkable now style wines either. I received help in making my selection and was literally blown away by the deal that I got. As an experienced consumer, I expect to pay around $40- for a decent wine, but the Etude '03 Carneros Pinot Noir was more solidly built than the average restaurant wine. Rich in fruit complexity, balanced in acid, it was also quite smooth, although an extra 6 months would have been OK too. The Seafood was artfully produced and not overdone. The only trick I saw was that the evening specials were double the price of the top menu entres, and not necessarily worth it. Lobster and farmed abalone are tasty but there's not enough wow factor in them for me to double my entre ticket price. The other draw back, one that is inevitable for a no reservations needed restaurant in Carmel is the lack of spectacular view out the window. This restaurant isn't so much about atmosphere as the providing of excellent food and wine at a price that's affordable, even if the price puts a lump in your throat when the check comes.
I like the almond seabass that my niece chose, although my scallops and prawn with pasta was quite satisfying. I wouldn't hesitate to chose anything from the menu. The wine list is not long, but its so excellent, we purchased more than one bottle of the same wine. Leave a Comment
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Hog's Breath Inn is a charming, cozy and unique location in central Carmel. Its tiny little alley opens into a neat red brick courtyard with 5 gas fires, perfect for cool nights. At the back of the courtyard is a rustic cabin that serves as the main bar, and the modern building along the street has plenty of indoor dining, the kitchen, and a little gift shop. Made famous because it was once owned by Clint Eastwood, the historic-looking cabin was built in about 1974.
Their menus are relatively small, simple, and bland with lunch options consisting of light dishes ranging from burgers & sandwiches to salads, crab cakes, & some seafood. Dinners are a little more extensive with items like ribs, salmon, pastas, steaks, & salads. For lunch I had the "Dirty Harry burger" with fries on a ciabatta roll for about $9.50 (plus $0.50 each for cheese or bacon). The bun was good, the fries excellent, and the veggie toppings fresh, but the meat was nothing special--unseasoned and a little overcooked. I also had a few Hog's Breath Pale Ales for about $5 each. On a later visit I had huge onion rings that were way overpriced at $10 for about 8 & the chicken quesadilla, packed with delicious meat, but also nearly $10.
Legend says that it was Eastwood's experience as owner of the Hog's Breath that encouraged him to run for mayor of Carmel. When the city's restrictions prohibited him from expanding the restaurant, he ran for mayor, won with 72% of the vote, and worked on changing the town's regulations to make them more flexible. Once his changes were made and his term was up, he declined to run again. The restaurant closed in 1999 for a few years until the site was leased in early 2002 to Kaiser Morcus, a successful restaurant owner and friend of Eastwood.
The Hog's Breath is now operated by a company called The Kaiser Group headquartered in Palm Springs. They run 5 other restaurants including a 2ndHog's Breath that opened in La Quinta, California, in 2004. Leave a Comment
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 THE FOOD IS HOT AT THE VOLCANO
GRILL by travelgourmet, 4 more photos
Billy, himself, is around to say hello to everyone and treats you like family. The food is the main reason you go to the Volcano Grill, but the drinks are a close second. Many dishes to choose from in this Pacific Rim style of food preparation. You won't be upset driving to Carmel Valley Village to enjoy a meal at the Volcano Grill. This tropical restaurant is open 7 days a week from 4:30pm to 10:00pm . If you go, and you must to know what fantastic cuisine is all about, then please say hi to Billy from travelgourmet. I just wish I lived closer to Carmel Valley so I could go more often.
Well, as it may sound a little silly to some, I enjoy appetizers more than main courses. Why? It's all the different samplings one can have at a sitting. With Billy Quon, the appetizers he presents are pure paradise. The Volcano Grill & Mai Tai Bar has an appetizer platter called "Herbie's Kahuna Platter" with Panko-crusted Jumbo Prawns, Volcano Spring Rolls, Black & Blue Ahi, and Moku Calamari. It is so delicious with the different tastes that only a Volcano Grill Mai Tai drink could make it complete. Just click on the website for the Volcano Grill to see all the tasty treats that will be in store for you if you dine at Billy Quon's Volcano Grill & Mai Tai Bar. Make that another Mai Tai. Mahalo. Leave a Comment Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific RimPrice: US$21-30 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 27 E. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley, CAPhone: 831 659-1280Directions: From Hwy 1 before the Barnyard Shopping Complex, take Carmel Valley Road to the Carmel Valley Village, just 12 miles east into the valley on the right hand side of the street.Website: www.volcano-grill.com
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This is a very popular brunch place in Carmel - so popular that it is not unusual to see long lines snaking out of there into the adjoining street. It looks like a traditional country kitchen with menus scribbled on the walls on a blackboard. There is a verendah which seats about twenty people.
The breakfast menu is great - omlettes, egg benedictines, waffles, pancakes and berry pies.
The many varieties of egg benedictine - From the smoked salmon Nova scotia style variety, to the Maryland blue crabcake egg benedictine to the traditional smoked canadian bacon.
Also try the traditional omlettes - I liked the egg white omlette with avacadoes and mushrooms.
I liked this place so much that I went here for breakfast every day.
The breakfast is so big that I did not need lunch. Leave a Comment
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 by Krystynn
The Mixed Seafood Grill and Lobster Ravioli. Yummy!!!! One of my friends had Cioppino... and it looked delicious (although she never did quite offer me a bite). :-)) Theme: OtherDirections: Located on the south side of Sixth Avenue between Dolores and San Carlos.Other Contact: Pic Below
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 by bugalugs
The prices were not as high as I had expected. In fact I thought it was very good value.
There is seating outside in a courtyard as well as inside. We sat outside.
I had a BLT which was huge, and of course I could not leave without sampling the wine! Leave a Comment Theme: AmericanPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: San Carlos/5th and 6thPhone: 625 1044
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We stopped in here for a beer and to get off our feet after hearing it was pretty much the only "normal" bar in Carmel. By normal, I mean, we wore jeans, sweatshirts and sneakers and fit in perfectly.
On the weekends, the bar features live music and drink specials. The restaurant has a nice selection of Cajun, TexMex and some nice steaks. Entrees are reasonably priced, which is nice in this town. Theme: LocalComparison: less expensive than averagePhone: (831) 624-2336Directions: Located on Delores Street between 5th & 6th Streets, Inside Su Vecino Court.Website: http://www.jacklondons.com/
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I read that Jack London's is one of the few casual "blue collar" places in Carmel, so we stopped in one evening just before sunset. Beers were about $3.50 each, very cheap for Camel, and we saw George Carlin here when we were getting ready to leave.
They have about 8 beers on tap and burgers for the Carmel standard rate of about $9. Apparently this is one of the places where the younger people from Carmel and Pebble Beach hang out on weekend nights. This is also supposed to be the only restaurant in sleepy central Carmel serving food past 10 pm.
Other relatively casual bars in Carmel include Ocean Sports Bar & Grille (San Carlos St), Big Dog Sports Bar (at The Crossroads Shopping Village), Brophy's (San Carlos & 4th Sts) and A.W. Shucks Oyster Bar (Ocean Ave between San Carlos & Dolores). Leave a Comment Theme: LocalPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: Delores Street between 5th & 6th StreetPhone: (831) 624-2336Directions: Inside Su Vecino CourtWebsite: http://www.jacklondons.com/ Other Contact: jacklondonsgrill@sbcglobal.net
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More Carmel-by-the-Sea Tips |
More Carmel-by-the-Sea Travel Deals Hotel Carmel By The Sea
Free Breakfast. Super Saver Rates. Near Aquarium, Beach, Golf & Wharf. Monterey's New Lux Hotel
Luxurious beds overlooking the Bay on Cannery Row. Reserve now & save! Pine Inn, Carmel
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San Carlos Street & Fourth Ave. P.O. Box 101, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Quail Lodge Resort And Golf Clu
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Ocean Ave. & Torres Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Candle Light Inn
San Carlos Street Between Fourth and Fifth avenues, P.O. Box 101, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Highlands Inn Park Hyatt Carmel
120 Highlands Drive, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - The Tradewinds At Carmel-By-The-Sea
Mission Street at Third Avenue PO Box 3403, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Pine Inn
Ocean Avenue and Monte Verde PO Box 250, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - The Wyndham Carmel Valley Ranch
One Old Ranch Road, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - L Auberge Carmel
Monte Verde Street at Seventh Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Cobblestone Inn
Junipero Between Seventh & Eighth PO Box 3185, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Crystal Terrace Inn
24815 Carpenter Street at Valley Way, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Carmel Mission Inn
3665 Rio Road, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Wayside Inn
7th & Mission Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Carmel Valley Ranch
One Old Ranch Road, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
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