Just to explain, Fuse Lounge has an amazing free happy hour avail tues thru fri and changes daily, but is always good.
I hosted a group happy hour event the previous month, Â which wasn't enjoyable to me, due to the busy, flustered service.
Well, we came back for another happy hour meet-up. Â
I tried to do a good job of keeping the rsvp's tight, because last time we came people bombarded the place without rsvp-ing. Â We needed extra seats and the lady looked flustered. Â But the interesting thing about our first time is I don't even think she finished processing our transaction. Â I asked and she said "I still haven't looked at it. Â I just got a big wad of cash and it's sittin' there.". ....yeah, ok. Â It didn't hit me til later because we werent charged for everything or at least I don't think so. Â So I called later to ask for a receipt. Just confusing and chaotic and not fun.
I had a lot of requests to return, so our group went back. Â Well, we once again had people just showing up. Â Different server, less friendly and more flustered than the first one. Â She got impatient when one of our group asked which drinks were on happy hour. Â She hadn't been given a menu.......most of the group just went to the bar to buy a drink and get a plate. Â I didn't like that she didn't inform a couple people that happy hour was over and since they don't do separate checks, I was shorted. Â I told her, knowing it was just my responsibility but she didn't answer or seem to care. Â
I do understand that it's hard to serve a large group, and they are giving away free food so the workers are doing the same amount of work as they would if a group were ordering from a menu, and since they don't add the tip on with groups like others do, they aren't paid what they should be. Â And since I'm taking care of handling the check, I see that people don't tip for their free food. Â I know they're not doing it on purpose.
I returned alone after this and the lady said they just won't be taking reservations for happy hour any longer. Â So my crazy group has ruined it for any future events. Â
I will return for their happy hour, and killer cocktails- altho the last time I came in they even got that wrong- but the group is going where we are welcome and right down the street we got stellar, welcoming service at Bahama Island Grill.
This is coming from the understanding that groups are difficult, sometimes forget to tip on value, and show up without lettin' everyone know. Â I KNOW we were difficult, but have still been treated better at other spots. Â Being busy is the goal of most businesses and even if you're rushed, the customer should never feel unwelcome.
Nice place to hang out by the fireplace , bar , comfortable chairs and booths not to pricey on the drinks , no cover charge . They have a great wooden dance floor and on saturday night all the best dancers showed up and were west coast swinging all night long.
Service is ok but sometimes they get slammed when a bunch of people show up and you have to watch their math when it comes to your bill.
the acoustics are kind of bad so the live music can seem too loud, they need to install some fabric to to keep the sound from bouncing around .
I don't know of any other place that has as good a set up , especially for dancing plus  the seats are comfortable , not  old rickety wooden chairs that are ready to collapse  or some metal barstool  with a hubcap on top.
Hit the Fuse Lounge a few times during our recent stay at the Carmel Mission Inn. The first time was Friday night , we only came in for a bit, but sat at a table for nearly 30 minutes and a cocktail waitress never came by. Finally decided to just go with the Alcohol we brought in the room. The band did sound nice..although your typical 'hotel cocktail lounge band'.
Saturday morning came down as part of the breakfast buffet we got with the room. The buffet costs $15. Our server did advise us we could order off the menu if we liked. The buffet was very good..especially the scrambled eggs..which are usually powdered..or the consistency there of..these were very fluffy..and the top had originally been covered with Cheese.
Came back again Saturday night after we closed the Rio Grill (see separate review)..and again listed to the good but cheesy hotel band, but were rudely treated once the band was done at midnight. No where was it posted that the lounge closed at midnight, there was no last round by a cocktail waitress (never was attended to by one)..and the bartender wouldn't even answer us when we called out..but was just pulling the liquor from the shelves...really..they could have advised..and made another couple of hundred from our party..instead we headed over to Flanagan's!
The next morning we came down again for breakfast..we arrived a little before 10 (breakfast was until 11) and the buffet was very picked over and not replenished. There were 3 in our party..but our breakfast ticket was for 2..so one would either have to definitely pay for the !5 buffet or order off the menu. The Sunday server would only allow the extra person to order off a menu and pretty much expected us to remember what was on the from the day before.
Would i go here again..yes if i was staying in the hotel..but i certainly would not make it a stop while i was in Carmel.
I'm pretty sure our waitress didn't want to be here tonight. Â That's never a good start. Â I had the $18 prime rib sandwich which was mostly prime gristle. Â Hubby had the smoked chicken sandwich. Â It looked and tasted like smoked ham, which is fine unless you wanted something that tasted like chicken. Â The homemade chips were good though, and the shoestring fries were ok.
Service was amazingly slow considering there were just 3 tables occupied. Â We def. won't be eating here again.
Checked out their appetizer special on a Friday night and found that was as good as reviewed in the local "GO" magazine. Â The free appetizers were good, and the pasta was delicious. Â Appetizers off their bar menu are limited but good, plus 1/2 off on Fridays and Wednesday during their happy hours from 4 to 7 pm. Â Despite the strange driveway entry next to the gas station, we were pleasantly surprised by the low-key but tasteful ambiance of the hotel and lounge. Â Looks like the hotel was upgraded to a more modern look with lots of carmel stone, wood, and quiet earth-tone colors.
Review Source:Nice job on the renovation. Â Our cocktail waitress was very nice and patient while we were trying to decide what to order. We ordered this great little edamame dish - whoohee! spicy...Nice. Some sort of artichoke thing, good. Â Some ahi tuna thing - ok. Â The bartender took forever to make our drinks - our poor waitress was just standing there waiting for him to stop yakking and pour. Â When they did arrive, they were A-Ok. Â Here's the lame part! Â Aaaackkkk, the music is terrible it doesn't fit with the theme at all. Â They need to have some cool swingy, rat pack era, loungy music. Â What do they have? Â Loud, strip club, live band...You literally have to yell the entire time in order to be heard. Â Cannot go back if they don't fix the terrible music.
Review Source:I ate there last night. Â Is this the only restaurant in the Carmel area that appears to care about people under 40 years of age? Â It seems to be the case. Â
The ambiance is very off-the-beaten-path mod aesthetic; the lounge was half full on our Thursday evening repast. Â
We were a group of 7 eating off an expense account, so we were able to sample a number of appetizers. Â We particularly liked the fire cracker edamame, salty and spicy soy that was a treat. Â Also, the calamari were light and crispy. Â The angus burger was ordered medium, but really came more medium well. Â Alas, I ate it anyway.
All in all, an enjoyable restaurant with a sense of humor in a place that takes its "casual" restaurants far too seriously.
This new lounge that opened 3 months ago as a part of Carmel Mission Inn's renovation has potential.  I had heard about their Friday 5 to 7pm happy hour so we stopped in for a drink before hitting up a little shindig.  Their HH includes discounted drinks and an apps. buffet which was a nice touch.  Apps. included veggie platter with ranch, calamari with thai chile dipping sauce, some pesto penne pasta and cheese tray.  This place  is a medium large lounge like area with comfortable looking tables a good place to catch up with old friends or to rent for a business meeting.  We sat at the bar and our bartender was a nice guy who whipped up a solid gin martini.  I had the house Chardonnay which was ok.
The crowd was pretty mixed with a younger couple and a couple seniors at the bar and a table full of 60 plus taking advantage of the app. buffet. Â They also offer live music after 7pm and the atmostphere it pretty welcoming.
A few things that would be nice and that I recommend would be:
Signature Cocktail Menu
Wine List
Staff (servers) Â with more energy and charisma.
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