3rd visit
Another '2 for $25' (Sunday and Monday evenings - shared app, salad or soup, entree, plus shared dessert for 2) night! Plus, cheap fancy drinks off their 'After 5' menu (5-7 app and drink specials). Great deal!
We've decided your overall experience at Carmel Cafe depends on your server and the items you chose. We had a server with an attitude problem last time and chose bad items, this time was like our first visit - great server and great choices.
App - warm spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips - typical warm spinach dip, very good.
Salad dressings were different this visit - Caesar dressing was outstanding, garden salad dressing tasted like pickling juice (way too much vinegar and fresh dill) - yuck.
Entrees: Steak Frites - solid and fries are straight up awesome. Salmon was great - large portion with Quinoa. The Steak Frite and Salmon are the best choices in my mind.
Dessert - can't pass up the Chocolate lava cake - amazing!
After hearing how great Carmel Cafe was, I went in with high expectations and was not disappointed! Â It was a busy Wednesday night around 6pm and we were seated promptly by a very welcoming gentleman who asked if it was our first time there and gave a thorough explanation of the restaurant concept and ipad menus. Â We wanted to get there early enough to try the 5 at 5 specials which is a great happy hour concept of certain small plates, drinks and wine for $5 from 5pm-7pm. Â We immediately began toying with the ipad. Â I love that you can look at pictures of every item on the menu and even order from the ipad. Â That did not in any way hinder the service. Â Our waitress was friendly and attentive. Â Several food runners came out with the food and asked if we needed anything. Â The manager even stopped by to make sure everything was good. Â
We ordered several small plated beginning with the shrimp and mango flatbread, followed by the Rustic Grilled Chicken Skewers, Steak Frites and Ravioli Verde (which is available on their seasonal menu). Â Everything from start to finish was absolutely divine with the ravioli being at the top of my list. Â I also ordered two of the cocktails: Â Italian Old Fashioned and Watermelon Granita. Â The watermelon granita was at the suggestion of the waitress. Â It was light and refreshing but just not my type of the drink. Â The Italian Old Fashioned was amazing. Â The perfect blend of Buffalo Trace Kentucky bourbon and peach jam finished with amarena cherries. Â YUM.
I would highly recommend Carmel Cafe to anyone. Â A fun, hip, trendy place that could easily become "the" place to gather after work with friends.