Top 15 Budget-Friendly Restaurants Near You in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

MARY ALLAG Brophy’s Tavern absolutely blew me away, especially considering we visited on Thanksgiving Day. Devin and Asia were running the entire bar and floor by themselves, and you would never know it — they were in perfect sync. No one waited to be greeted, sat, served, or poured. The whole room had this energized, effortless flow that you only get from people who are really good at what they do. The food was unbelievably delicious; we got the Reuben calzone and the filet mignon sliders. Whoever was making the food behind the scenes was truly on it. Devin made me the “Ted on the Water,” and Asia told us the best story about Ted, and Jaws, we just had to take home the shark cup! As someone who works in the industry, I would’ve assumed they needed at least one more person… but these two handled it flawlessly. They’re rockstars, and Brophy’s is lucky to have them.

Henry Ting Cash Only. There are 2 MUST REVISIT places every time that I come here: one is Patisserie Boissiere for their French onion soup and salad combo, and the second is Katys Place for breakfast. They have over 15 variations of Eggs Benedict, everything from a more traditional style to a lobster eggs Benedict. They can also do the same dozen styles but in an omelet. The 2 of us shared the corned beef eggs Benedict and pancakes short stack. My favorite must-have is their huge, fluffy buttermilk pancakes with a side of Canadian maple syrup. OMG. Our 2 pancakes were big enough for the 4 of us to share. One the best. Great service. But CASH ONLY.

Janet Dang Food was good. Service was sloooooow! We grabbed a table for 5 and they had us wait for a chair and then a random patio chair was brought over. Orders were placed and we brawl sat there for 3 hrs total between waiting, ordering the food, and then getting the food. Do not come here if you are hangry or on a time crunch. Service was inattentive after we received our plates, that was that. We didn’t get checked on or ask if we needed anything else. All the dishes were good though so no complaints on the food. Just know they are very busy and they had two ppl for the whole entire restaurant. Bring your patience

Mark McDonald We came for Tuesday dog night from 6 to 8. There were dogs all around. The live music was a two-person band. We each ordered their hamburger which was delicious. The fries were spectacular, extremely crispy. Good work chef! Theres a pop-up bar but its limited in the selections. Good place to see your dog friends and make new ones.

Hannah Clitheroe I was nervous about bringing our 10 month daughter out to dinner in NYE but they were so accommodating! I made reservations for 5:15 (before people who didn’t want a nosy baby near them came to dinner) and we were seated immediately. The service was amazing! We ordered a bottle of Pinot noir, the crab cakes, My husband got a burger. Ans I had the seafood linguine - it was AMAZING! I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the restaurant was and how easily they accommodated kids, there’s a kids menu and plenty of high chairs. We will definitely be coming back!

Jea Kim Heard this was the brunch spot everyone talks about, so had to make this our first stop. Scored a reservation just two days ahead, and I guess we got lucky, because walk-ins looked nearly impossible without a wait once the tables started filling up. Most people went straight for the standard breakfast plate, but we opted for the potato pancake and the chilaquiles. Best call of the day. The potato pancake was one of the best brunch plates I’ve ever had. A perfect stack: light creaminess from Stepladder fromage blanc, fruity sweetness from stone fruit, and that punch of umami from Ibérico ham. The crepe-thin potato pancake underneath gave everything contrast, soaking up the toppings with a little crisp and just enough grease. Absolute magic. The chilaquiles were solid. Balanced flavors, satisfying enough, but after the high of that pancake, they felt a tad plain. If you’re in the area, this place is worth the reservation for breakfast or brunch.

William Fox Impeccable service and atmosphere. We walked in without a reservation and were welcomed in right away. Great wine list, reasonably priced. We had the branzino which was prepared with artichokes and shallots with a light sauce (very different, very delicious!) the Pistacio Mousse was a great dessert touch. Highly recommend!

Sunny The food was very good and had great quality and quantity. However the food took long to come. In my order we got 2 pizzas and 1 pasta, instead of 1 pasta we got one we didnt order. It was just a misunderstanding and we gave it back!

Andre Manzoni I really like my experience over there. The server was very attractive to details. The food was soo rich in flavor. I personally loved the paella. I totally recomed this place.

Yura Jeong I come to Cafe Luna in Carmel all the time because the people here are really kind and the food is always great. The açaí bowl is one of my favorites. It has so many ingredients and it tastes fresh every time. I also tried the kimchi ramen, the chicken Caesar salad, and the chicken with rice. Everything I ate here so far was really good. The owner is super nice too. He gave us a ten percent student discount, and he even gave us ice cream for service, which was such a sweet surprise. The whole place feels nice and clean, and the food always makes me want to come back. I really recommend this cafe if you want something good to eat in Carmel.

J. G. This is a great local place, and I highly recommend it. The staff is excellent, very professional and attentive, and one of the best atmospheres you could ask for in a dining room. The spicy crab spaghetti is an absolute must try, also, so please, do yourself a favor and come here when youre in Carmel.

James Bowden Came because we saw a review about the scone being really moist, and it was true — ginger apricot, maybe the best scone I’ve ever had. Poached eggs done just right, and the sausage was tasty too. Good service and good fireplace ambience.

Jacque James I have yet to get a meal here that wasnt FANTASTIC. My go to is the French Onion Soup and it is always satisfying. The atmosphere is warm and comfortable, and the staff have great personalities and very helpful. Boissiere is my first stop every time I come to Carmel.

Melinda Simmons Everything we ordered was delicious. Our servers were great. I wish the waiter for a table near ours had not discussed politics loudly for so long, but I dont blame the restaurant for that.

Makena Berchem Been coming here since I was a kid. Best waffles in town. They are light, fluffy & crispy. Service is always great, but expect a wait for a table! Come early and put your name in.