Chez Noir - Carmel-By-The-Sea (CA)

5 /5 Philip F. DeCamargo: The food was amazing, to put it simply. We had the full menu plus the wine pairings and dont regret what we spent there. The flavors and textures dance in your mouth, and the wines compliment it all exquisitely. Its truly a dining experience Id recommend if you have the money to spend.

5 /5 Jake Byman: Lovely experience at Chez Noir! The ambiance was really cozy and intimate, it felt like a small restaurant in Europe. Everyone was extremely kind and welcoming. The food itself was quiet good as well. The abalone was our favorite of the night, but generally speaking we liked everything! The bread was delicious as well. I wouldnt say that the food completely blew us away, but overall it was good! Its a very high price point, which was notable, but no real complaints as a whole. Great time overall!

5 /5 Mary Hejl: We had such a delightful time at Chez Noir. We didn’t have a reservation and met the GM Nate Cohen at the front desk. Nate was so nice and said they were booked but had dining in their quaint lil’ bar. We had the most amazing meal of delicious food and wine with Chelsea the sweetest bartender. We did the tasting menu which she highly recommended with some delicious wines that paired nicely with our courses. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. Stephen Hilton the sommelier came and said hello welcoming us with the sweetest smile and had fantastic suggestions for the area. We absolutely loved our time there. We are here for our mini honeymoon. This place is definitely worth the hype. The food was fun and unique - so delicious! And the service 5 + stars if there was such a thing. It’s a must try!

3 /5 William Keck: Miscommunication on timing of availability isn’t really acceptable at a one starred spot. The server only knowing a cocktail is going to not be too sweet either. Not hating on the place and its quality, but I’m exceptionally surprised that this place even got a bob gourmand, let alone a star. Much better places are deserving. Wish the staff well - beautiful venue.

3 /5 Sarah Cordial: Admittedly, I’m a tad late on this review but here it is. Firstly, service was impeccable from the timing, precision and inviting warmth. The dishes were marvelously constructed and presented. We each ordered a different item for every course allowing us to sample everything on the menu. Here’s the menu: ADD-ONS: Fresh Oysters and oyster “Rockefeller” - I’m not a huge fan of oysters, but these tasted of clean ocean; briny and salty with some sweetness. The slight crunch of the “Rockefeller” was a nice contrast to the softness. Abalone skewers and toast - flavorful and set the tone of the upcoming meal. FIRST COURSE: Porcini mushroom “carpaccio” - beautifully cut mushrooms paired with fresh and distinct flavors. Loved everything about this dish but wished it had more Parmesan. Washington King salmon Crudo - clean taste and good textural contrasts. Duck liver terrine - rich and savory balanced with sweetness. ADD-ON: bread - freshly baked, warm and soft. The salted butter with the bread was sublime. SECOND COURSE: Brentwood corn triangoli - pasta texture was perfect, but was not a fan of the sweet corn filling. The sauce tasted of tabasco which was interesting in a way that left you questioning if you liked it or not. THIRD COURSE: Vermillion rockfish “a la Provencale” - the fish was flawlessly prepared; the crispy skin was delectable. Hated the morel mushroom in the dish. It seemed like an after thought and the flavor was strangely unpleasant. Grilled Wolfe ranch quail - crispy but still moist. Balanced flavors. Superior farms lamb “Paloise” - unanimously voted as the worst dish of the evening. Lamb was cooked well, but the accompaniments were disappointing. They didn’t enhance the lamb and the sauce wasn’t delicious. Unfortunately, my daughter only took 2 bites of this dish. Chez Noir offered to make something else for her, but at this point she was just over it. DESSERT: Prevadelli farms berry tart - amazingly tasty and homey. I would come back just for this dessert. Mille feuille - loved the filling, but not the crust. Kashiwase farms peach sorbet - bright, light and yummy. We spent $1,065.40 with tip. Based on the service alone, I would have ranked Chez Noir highly, but considering the meal and the price, I had to lower the rating.