I was concerned by some of the mediocre reviews of the food here, but my visit turned out to be superb. A 6 p.m. reservation ensured one of those coveted tables along the wall of glass for sunset viewing. The view was AMAZING!! We ordered the butternut squash soup, short rib, bone-in rib chop, and a side of fingerling potatoes, and the peanut butter caramel bar for dessert. Everything tasted really fresh and delicious. The short rib was really tender and well-complemented by the risotto, mushrooms and vegetables. The bone-in rib chop was cooked to perfection. My only gripe is that portions here are small and things are pricey. But, it's worth it for at least one visit.
(4)
Jerry G.
Easter brunch buffet was great although they started to close things up at 2:30 which given our 2:00 reservation made the experience a little rushed. Menu items were your standard omelette station, seafood selection, salads, etc. Always a great ambience and the service was solid.
(3)
Mastercraft R.
I went to the Pacific Edge many years ago when they belonged to the Highlands Inn group. At the time, the food wasn't great. The cost was indicative of the setting, not the food. However, after the Hyatt took over, it became the Hyatt Higlands Inn with the Pacific Edge Restaurant. It is now an amazing place. The setting, staff, food, dessert, wines, etc....... You name it. Everything is amazing. I have traveled to many destinations around the world. I have to say this is my top 5 fav restaurants in the whole world!!!!
(5)
Candace C.
When I go to a restaurant and shell out over $100 for a tasting menu, I expect something resembling food items to be present. The amuse bouche of mushroom soup was okay but nothing could prepare me for what was to come. You know, as a kid (I'm dating myself here) , there was this show called "You can't do that on Television" by Nickelodeon. Y'know - the show that would pour green slime all over you if you said "I don't know". Well, I believe the chef had solved to mystery of what the green slime is made of --- cucumber mint soup with creme fraiche! Wow! Needless to say, my bf and I sent the bowls back virtually untouched. Everything was served with creme fraiche. It was as if adding creme fraiche could detract from the chef's overall lack of imagination. The main entrees were passable but nothing out of the ordinary. I believe I'm blanking out what they served because either a) I was still PTSD from being slimed or b) they were singularily unremarkable dishes. Usually at this point, if anything, dessert will usually present some sort of redeeming quality to an otherwise bad meal. It's that same quality that makes babies all happy when you give them sugar water. I was hoping this was going to happen. At least there would be something along the lines of - "at least dessert was pretty good." I hate to say it - not so at Pacific's Edge. Mango and chocolate. I normally love mangos. I normally love chocolate. But the combination of the both together brought out the unpleasant sourness of the mango and the grainy bitterness of the chocolate. Despite my sweet tooth, I left most of the dessert unfinished. You know, views are nice. But enjoying the views does not necessitate punishing yourself by trying their chef's menu.
(1)
Sam C.
Went there with my wife and three year-old daughter, and when we walked in the door the first thing out of their mouthes was, "Are you looking for fine dining?" From there, we had better service from the bread and water servers than our actual server/waiter. I paid over $200 for a meal that was alright at best and service that was worse than I could have gotten from a chain restaurant. I recommend Mission Ranch Inn, Whaling Station or Chart House over this place any day of the week, I would even rather go to Henry's BBQ or Cannery Row Brewing Company! Very disappointed.
(1)
Pamela S.
Quite possibly one of my all-time favorite restaurants. The view was amazing. The layout of the restaurant wisely took advantage of the breath-taking view. Had red wine (can't remember the details) and it was super good. The rib-eye was the best rib-eye I've ever had as the flavor was amazing and it was cooked to perfection. Appetizers and desserts were a wonderful way to begin and end the meal. Bread was fantastic too. Service was top-notch. Entire staff made my boyfriend and me feel like royalty. For everything you get, this place is very fairly priced. I can't wait to return!
(5)
Ron B.
The location and building are great, pleasant atmosphere. We had the Tuna tartare and it was surprisingly bland. The beet salad was ok. For main course I had the Seabass and yet again bland. My wife had the scallops and to me tasted fishy. Great wine selection, not so much on the cocktail side. Overall it did not raise to its expectation. I cannot recommend this place.
(1)
William A.
Since this was our first Valentine's Day, I wanted a special place to celebrate. The Wine Spectator Top 20 hooked me, and Angie had seen the place before for a conference. I booked on Open Table, and had to use Amex for a $100 deposit in the event of a no show, or -72 hour cancel. Angie has pushed back a bit, as it was violating our pact of frugality we made, but I pushed we'd never get a 2nd time for a our First Valentine's, and I wanted a special weekend. We spent the day first wine tasting in the St Lucia Highlands, made our way to the hotel, and then here. The sitting area around the restaurant is very charming. Lots of couches, fireplaces, and a very talented older gentleman was singing. Service was a bit lacking out in the area, so we abandonded our couch to grab a spot at the bar for a cocktail. Angie's muddled berry cocktail was quite tasty. We were given a very nice table (weather was crummy so little view). The dining room is well layed out, with enough space between tables, which I like. Being goo-goo eyed apparently delays being served so we stopped whispering sweet nothings until we were brought water, menus etc. For the most part the service was very good, usually friendly (almost overly, liked forced) although we both noted a lot of the staff seemed either young or inexperienced.....something a place of this price should aim a little higher for in wait staff. I did the special Valentine Prix Fixe with a wine pairing, a mere $135. Angie ordered a la carte, and decided to try my wine pairings until she found one she liked. The food, and the pairings were excellent. The made a small boo boo with a delay between a course and not bringing me a pairing, but recovered quickly. Angie liked the New Zealand Pinot, asked for a glass, and the wine steward gave her a generous pour that was almost two glasses. (why do WOMEN always get that ;) ) We had no complaints at all, everything was beautiful, complex, well made. The desert at the end, with a pour of Ten year old Tawny port that 4 people could have drank, was a great finish. And to top it off they brought a nice orchid like flower to each female. It was a great experience. I am being a bit stingy with the 5th star; for a $250 tab, and a such a high rating, they need to polish a few more things, but nonetheless, its a find.
(4)
Megs H.
This is a review for the Sunset Lounge, not the restaurant itself, as we canceled our restaurant reservation after viewing the menu online. Don't get me wrong, everything looked fine...but if I'm going to spend $250 on a meal, it better be a damn good meal. And it just looked...fine. So we went to the Sunset Lounge, which has the same views but you don't have to spend $250. If we had just gotten drinks, and they were cheaper, this would be 5 stars, hands down. The drinks are AWESOME. I don't know what they do to them back there, but I don't drink hard liquor and we were parked at the Lounge every day of our trip. The Aristocratic Manhattan will change your view of stodgy old drinks, and if I had kids, I might trade them for a pitcher of Kiwi Lemon Drops. The mixed drinks are $12 however. Which isn't awful, I guess. But we chose mixed drinks because the wine was $15-$22 THE GLASS. Now I get that it's nice wine and all, but come on. The standard profit on liquor is supposed to be 200 percent, not 500 percent. The view ain't THAT good. We got a few appetizers, but nothing special. Frankly, they simply made us glad we didn't eat dinner here. They were just, as we suspected,...fine. Waitresses were awesome. Super nice, super friendly, on top of our orders without hovering. I would like the waitresses and the drinks, at half the price, and I would feel better about giving this a higher rating.
(3)
Christine H.
This is a review for the Sunset Lounge. We had heard about the impressive views at this property so we ventured up after hiking around Point Lobos just down the road. The property itself is up the cliff just off Highway 1 and consists of several buildings that look like condos. In the main building you'll find the bar/lounge area just off the lobby. We were in sneakers are being at Point Lobos so we were concerned with being under dressed but it was fine for the bar. We ordered a couple of drinks and decided to try the cheese plate which was a good appetizer and fairly priced at $15. We thought about staying for dinner but Pacific's Edge is pricey and we wanted something a bit more low key. The views from the lounge itself are stellar. You look out over the ocean and Point Lobos. Unfortunately we got there just after sunset so we only had a few minutes of great views. If you go make sure to get there for sunset and it will definitely enhance your experience.
(4)
Carol Y.
Several visits over several years. Beautiful views of the ocean and trees. Only once were we able to see the sun set without fog. The whole restuarant stopped to watch and applaud. It's a great place to dress up but they no longer require the men to wear a tie. You can could o the food and wine to be excellent.
(5)
Vanessa V.
Disappointed with the overall mediocre food and borderline poor service. A couple of very good dishes like goat cheese fritters with baby beets, and asparagus with prosciutto. Many other dishes needed salt. Very pretty presentations. Gorgeous view. Waiter was ridicuously inattentive. Thank god for the busboy. Of course, the view was gorgeous. Don't go for the food, just the view. I would have rather dined at their more casual California Market for half the price.
(2)
Randy C.
ice cold Bombay sapphire martini's - 8.00 Decent (not the greatest) Osetra Caviar - 80.00 Decent Foie Gras - 26.00 Sunset View - Priceless. The view is great, the service is great, the food is pretty great - could be better. But the view carries the place. Where else can you get Osetra for 80 bucks?
(4)
Sherry G.
My husband and I took visiting friends for Valentine's Day and felt so ripped off! $125/person not including wine and their added 18% gratuity meant a very expensive meal that was just not worth it. The appetizer choices were good but the portions were very small and the entry nothing that exceptional. My friends scallops although tasty had only two which were served over a tiny amount of greens. The other friend ordered the fish which again was so small. There was no dessert selection, passion cake was the choice for the evening. What a disappointment, six tiny tastes of sorbet and we were not even sure we tasted the passion cake. Coffee was offered after the dessert was eaten but otherwise the service was very attentive. We never mind spending good money for dinner but it better feel like we've gotten an exceptional meal creatively prepared for our money. So including a $65 bottle of wine and $750.00 later no wonder we felt ripped off.
(2)
Riya K.
Came here for drinks/apps only, after deciding against dinner reservations partially due to their ambiguous dress code ("business casual attire"). Cocktails are AWESOME - made with fresh fruit and expertly mixed. Apps were good, but not amazing. Got the oysters, deviled eggs and Angus sliders. Service was great. View was great (but I'd still give the edge to Sierra Mar for sunset views). I think it's a little weird that it's in a Hyatt hotel. I always associate Hyatts with airports, and couldn't quite shake that airport hotel feeling. Not sure why this place gets such high Zagat ratings for decor. It was nice enough, but definitely a little, um, Hyatt-y. Would most definitely come back for drinks and the view, but wouldn't go out of my way to have a nice dinner here.
(4)
Augusto L.
First off, the view is amazing. Well, I assume it's amazing since we arrived a little after the sun had already set. We could still see the waves crashing on the beach. They have giant bay windows overlooking the ocean. I imagine the view is spectacular in the spring or summer. The restaurant is flawless. The tables are nicely separated so that you don't feel like you are having dinner with strangers. In the bay area, this seems to always be an issue in intimate restaurants. I know, the bay is limited on space but it can get very annoying. The staff is extremely friendly. The manager came to our table and personally made sure we were enjoying our meal. I had alerted them beforehand that it was my girlfriend's birthday, so the manager personally wrote a thank you card for choosing to dine at their establishment and wished her a happy birthday. Our plates were amazing. My girlfriend had the Pan Seared California Snapper and it was very tasty. I had the Herb Roasted Free Range Chicken with mashed potatoes. The chicken was cooked perfectly! The dessert, Valrhona Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte, was very rich and savory. It didn't last long!!! I would highly recommend this place for a romantic dinner. If you can catch sunset, even better! The only negative comment I have about this place was the temperature. It was freezing inside! If you get cold easy, you may want to request to be seated closer to the fireplace.
(4)
Happy C.
Ok, the views are spectacular. And the wine list is extensive. So, you just have to accept the big mark up as the price of admission. A bottle of red that knocks you back 40 bucks at the store will be a bit over 100 here. My rule of thumb is double retail is fair for all, when it starts approaching triple retail, I feel like I'm getting squeezed. But you got the view. The food is solid, if unspectacular. Ceviche, polenta, filet, all good. Grilled asparagus was a little underdone. The cocktails were interesting. The staff was professional, and friendly. More of a view spot than a foody destination, but sometimes that is ok.
(3)
Rachelle M.
4 of us ate here celebrating a B-day and Annivesary. Wine and Food were excellent! We are all early thirties and felt that the wait staff may have slacked off on us compared to the rest of the diners. Try to go during sunset, the views are beautiful. Ask for a table by the windows.
(4)
Amanda C.
I haven't been here in 2+ years, so I'll keep my review short. You MUST get an early dinner reservation or otherwise you'll miss out on the most unique part of eating at Pacific's Edge, which is the view. The food is good, the service has been fabulous, but the view is out of this world and only available here. If you arrive at dinner past 7ish, there's a chance you'll arrive to a room surrounded by black, deceptively normal-looking windows. At that point, you might as well be eating somewhere much less expensive. Very romantic spot. Although pricey, it's worth it to show someone special a memorable time.
(4)
Kawak B.
Wow I must say. I was prepared to have dinner at Pacifics Edge this weekend however after reading some of the disappointing reviews I have changed my mind. I expect that some people will never be happy but for the prices and perceived level of restaurant there are way to many dissatisfied customers. Especially on service. That should be the easy part.
(1)
Cindi W.
We went here for dessert after we went to Mission Ranch. Ok, lovely lemon berry tart and hubby had creme brulee. Both yummy! We also had tea...OH Highlands, there is a problem. ....what? Ok, those who use the same URN or pitcher or pot that had coffee in it, should never put water in it for tea. Did I order coffee? NO, I ordered tea and I want to taste tea not coffee. We expressed concerns with the floor manager who insisted that the water used is only used for tea and they don't mix containers etc. BUT, not true for the pure tea drinkers that we are. And we didn't get it free since we complained. We were nice too. MOST managers would apologize and not charge us for the tea...but no...not good customer service.
(3)
Genevieve M.
Swanky! I thought this wasn't going to be an impressive place, but I was wrong! The restaurant is very chic and upscale, overlooking an amazing view. Great service-very formal. No rookies would feel at ease here...bust out your best manners and culinary knowledge...you're going to need it to impress the waitstaff and show them you are worthy. I liked the ambiance...redwood walls and a sleek design. The food was legit as well. Great bread! Large wine list...well-mixed mojitos. We ordered the indulgence lobster appetizer to start, and the short rib and lamb entrees. Although at about halfway through our meal I began to lose my palate due congestion from a bad cold, the food that I did get an opportunity to taste was very good. After we had finished our dinner, this random guy came up to our table and offered to buy us drinks. Apparently, he had attempted to buy the entire house a round at the bar, but the restaurant staff said they "didnt feel comfortable allowing that" so he walked around to every table and individually offered drinks to everyone. Oh, COME ON!!! What is this world coming to!? That seemed overly formal to me- just let the poor guy buy a round, dammit! Seriously...if someone doesn't want one they could just decline...god. I thought they were too rigid with sticks up their asses about that. Other than that, everything was great! And, we were entertained watching the bats fly around crazily outside the window during our dinner. Although the bf was kind of freaked out by that, I thought it was a neat touch.
(4)
Peter H.
Real fancy and real expensive with beautiful views. Food was great and service was OK. Great for fancy date night, and be to go earlier before sunset.
(4)
Jenni C.
My Experience Here: Walk in to a nice table right after sunset. Beautiful view. Waiter hands us a menu and recites specials. Specials don't sound great, but I figure the menu will have something. The menu has a crazy mashup of things with ingredients that don't really seem like they would be good together.... not really excited about this. Finally decide to go with the chef's tasting menu, the only thing that looks good and cohesive. That finished we decided to check out the wine menu. Holy crap. Practically every page in this inch thick book of wines includes a bottle that is over $1000. WTF? We live in Norther California! Whatever though, we talked to the sommelier and he recommended a "complex" wine. When we got our glasses we discovered that "complex" meant it has a weird chemical aftertaste. It was awful. Then we received a complimentary mushroom soup from the chef in tiny espresso cups. Cute. Also, lukewarm and tasting of campbell's. Now, I have no trouble dropping money on good food. What I do have a problem with is dropping money on crappy food to pay the rent for a fantastic view. I said I was sick, we paid for the wine and went back to our room at the Tickle Pink to order pizza. BTW, the Tickle Pink is incredible, stay there and DO NOT go to Highlands Inn for dinner.
(2)
Yvonne L.
I came here for lunch when we stayed at Highlands for our annual timeshare week.. We had the fish tacos, seared halibut sandwich and clam chowder. it was BOMBBB but i don't think any of the other guests would describe it as so.. I guess I should be more proper.. the fish tacos were my favorite because they actually use different types of fish =9 i however did NOT like the.. relish? they put in the clam chowder. ickk!!!!! a lot of rich middle to upper class people so dress accordingly, especially for dinner. the view out on the patio is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G... really breathtaking. the service is top notch. alsooo-- talking on your cell phone is not allowed so pls don't be one of "those people" :)
(4)
Vinchia O.
We went there after a whole day exploring Monterey Bay Aquarium. The view is incredible. We were lucky that we got the window seats because we arrived there pretty early. Excellent place to celebrate anniversaries!
(5)
Laurin A.
Hellz yeah this place is 5 stars all the way I'd easily give it 100 bazillion if I could... even without the drop dead gorgeous view. Between my husband and I, we sampled at least 8 items on the menu... 10 if you include dessert... 11 if you include the Champagne! Real Champagne... not sparkling wine. We went all out and it was worth every penny. I wish everyone could dine here at least once. I would like to be able to describe to you how wonderful the morsels here were, but I can't even begin to explain the complexity of all the beautiful flavors. I'm just glad I live an hour away so that it isn't so easy for me to dine here ALL the time. Update 6.5.07 They don't do the sampler menu anymore :( But.... it's still a beautiful place.
(5)
Gabriel N.
Wow. Short drive from Pebble Beach, breathtaking view, award winning decor, exceptional food, presentation and service!? Lets just say it will be a dining experience you'll never forget just based on the view alone. My first course, day boat scallops topped with foie gras was a delicious pair, especially with the carrot emulsion which added a sweet flavor to the dish. My second dish was also spot on, but the dessert lacked a bit of luster. That would probably be the only thing negative about my dining experience here. My gf had the duck breast as her second course which was simply amazing. I was just blown away on how smokey and succulent the duck was prepared and served. Our server was also very helpful in recommending dishes and pairings. She made the evening very pleasant and was on top of everything. We will definitely be back, and hopefully the duck stays on the menu.
(4)
G M.
I'll keep this simple and short: +2: Gorgeous ocean view... very romantic ambiance +1: good (but not GREAT_) food. Had the brussel sprout salad (more raw than cooked, but light and tasty) and the mushroom bisque (creamy, not too salty). Lamb was perfectly cooked to medium, ravioli's were quite diappponting ($26 for 5 pieces = more than $5/piece!) and the pasta edges were a bit al dente. The dessert was a hazelnut/chocolate concoction with ice cream ( forgot the name of the dish... sorry)... pretty yummy, but not amazingly fancy +1: Good service -1: Pricey meal; two appetizers + 2 glasses of wine + 2 entrees + 1 dessert = $150 with tax and tip. Fortunately, we got a $41 discount from a promotion we got from staying at the Highland Inn hotel (where the restaurant is located). woo hoo!
(3)
Kristina R.
Views, views, views! If you want to impress your honey, come here. It's absolutely beautiful, with stunning ocean views. Try to come at sunset, if you can get in. The food is quite good, and I know the sommelier is exceptional...order wine, that's mandatory! And take your time here. Eat a three hour meal, if you can.
(5)
Allen B.
Ok food. Attentive waiter. What we shared was split and brought on two plates.
(4)
Eric T.
Best meal we've had in years. Fantastic food, top notch service, and a breathtaking view all make this place an easy 5 star rating. It's spendy but worth it for a special occasion.
(5)
Jeremy D.
What a great placce to have a great dinner. My GF and I had a nice weekend in Carmel and decided to have dinner here, which was on the same street as our Hotel. Great Food, Great Service, and Amazing view from any seat in the restaraunt. We will definitely be back.
The view was amazing but the food is so so. The clam chowder my partner ordered arrived lukewarm. My Brussels sprout salad had warm grapes (weird). My main course, ravioli with mushrooms was drowning in oil. Nobody ever asked us how we liked the food until the waiter brought the bill. We did not order dessert because I was eager to leave.
(3)
Scott S.
I'd give this place one star if it weren't for the view. Pacific's Edge is a rip-off of epic proportions. The menu is a ludicrous mix of dishes that don't go together save for the overpriced "chef's tasting menu" which is the only way to have a marginally cohesive meal. The meal starts with the chef sending out what I'm certain was Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup. It didn't stop with the food though. Either the sommelier really didn't like us or he had no idea what he was talking about. Topping that is the wine list being INSANELY expensive - this place doesn't do the usual double shelf price for a bottle, they quadruple or quintuple it. Like the menu, it's a mishmash of ill-fitting, unrecognizable wines which manage to be mediocre to poor and exorbitantly expensive. We had a New Zealand Shiraz, which is almost always a pleasant red, and it managed a bland palate and the most unpleasant aftertaste. I can go to Trader Joe's and get better wine for 1/50th of the price. Not that they're prone to the problems depicted in the movie, but I couldn't help but think of the restaurant in Fight Club. Ricky would have been the nice but hapless bread server, Tyler the chef and Tyler's boss as the sommelier. The similarities were as numerous as they were utterly strange. Anyway, I suppose it's easy to get sucked in once they bring you a $200 bottle of French Thunderbird, so do yourself a favor and have a drink at the bar instead. Skip the restaurant part.
(2)
Jim H.
I know this restaurant has lots of glowing reviews, so it has a huge reputation to live up to-but it is that good. The service was outstanding and fast. Great menu. Large wine list with good variety in both price and varietal. We had an abalone appetizer, and an heirloom tomato salad to start, followed by mushroom ravioli and local striped bass for the entrees. The presentations were perfect and creative. The flavors were fantastic. The pastry chef gets double kudos. That salted peanut bar with chocolate ganache and shortbread was out of this world. This place is expensive, but a treat. The only negative that I could mention is that it was easier for me to acquire a reservation through open table than to get one over the phone. As a hotel guest, I called from my room phone and left voice mail, called the front desk-who said vm would be checked-but was not. Finally got reservation from open table app on cell phone.
(5)
Darren L.
My date and I got to the restaurant right at sunset but it was a foggy so we couldn't really see much of view from our table. It was not what I planned for but what happened after made up for it. The restaurant had large windows so you actually see the ocean on a nice day.... dim light, wood everywhere.... very romantic and comfortable. The meal took about 3 hours... we did the tasting menu with wine pairing. Whew.... it was a lot of wine... the servers were attentive and we were amazed with each dish that came out. Everything was perfect......make sure you bring someone you won't drive you crazy because you'll be there for hours. We ended up going to the lounge right next to the restaurant to enjoy some jazz music... a drink or two before we left.....what a night! =) This was actually my first fine dining restaurant experience from years ago....and this sparked my interest to many more restaurants...the beginning of my foodie adventures!
(5)
Amanda S.
Hotel restaurants often get a bad rap, but Pacific's Edge gets it right. The view is spectacular, the service is good, and the food is excellent. Try the short rib or seared scallops for entrees, fresh oysters or butternut squash soup for an appetizer.
(4)
jose c.
We had dinner at pacific edge restaurant. The food was delicious, my wife had the clam chowder with bacon. She loved it and said it was one of the best she ever had. Her main course was Monterey salmon which was tender and flavorful. I ordered Kansas City steak which was full of flavor and very juicy. Now the service was excellent, at every hyatt restaurant you can expect the best. The view is to kill for. We were seated next to the window and we were mesmerized. We stayed at the hyatt highlands and have the same view in our room! Great location all around. If you want to reserve a table at restaurant go to open table, FYI.
(5)
Matthew K.
Everyone raves about the view justifiably and as a few people had mentioned, I was worried because I thought the food would leave something to be desired...but we were pleasantly surprised! The chefs absolutely deserve 5 stars. From a non-predatory valet to perfect coordination with OpenTable for providing us with an ocean front table in unison with a whale dotted sunset. We were tickled with our whole experience and if it didn't cost $300 for two we would be here every night at sunset!
Best kept secret around! Dine in the sunset lounge and get the views of Pacific's Edge! My guy had the steak and pommes frites. His entree came with an arugula Parmesan salad. I wasn't hungry, so I had the Caesar salad. We cleaned our plates! I had the scorpion-brandy, light rum, dark rum, lime juice, orange juice, orgeat syrup & bitters! Yummy! We r waiting for the chocolate croissant bread pudding-sea salt, olive oil emulsion, nut praline, balsamic caramel ice cream. Decadent!! I was going to take a pic but we ate it! Now for some after dinner drinks! Ninito makes the best coffee drinks!!
(5)
Hieu H.
Absolutely amazing views! A great way to end a day trip to Carmel. Be sure to book an earlier dinner time, like around 7pm for a table next to the window for a prime view of the ocean. Entrees are a little pricey, and if you're not that hungry, you can definitely split an entree and order a couple of sides. Again, I cannot stress how breath-taking the views are from Pacific's Edge. Worth the splurge.
(4)
Shing H.
Three stars only because I added one for the view, which of course is amazing. Food and service much less impressive -- 2 star range. We had high hopes, and the hostess was super awesome about getting us a table by the window (which of course everyone was requesting). But that's where things started to go downhill. I asked for an old-fashioned w/o fruit, light ice. A long time passed then our waiter came by to say the bar had made it with fruit and was redoing it. Cool, no big deal. When the drink finally arrived, there was a small fruit fly still swimming around in it! Had to exchange that one and the new drink came out filled to the brim with ice. Gave up on the drink at that point. The waiter very highly recommended the octopus appetizer, so we got that, but it was super disappointing. The texture was all wrong and flavor meh. Also tried the caesar salad and faro salad, both of which were fine. We then tried the rib chop and short ribs -- rib chop was the best part of the meal, even though slightly overcooked. Short ribs meh. Both overpriced by about 20% compared to even the best steak places I've tried. We waited a long while to order dessert, but it took so long for the waiter to come back after dropping off the menus that we decided just to leave. Our bill had two items priced incorrectly on it, both for a few dollars over -- so not a ton but how do you even do that and try to sneak it in? Overall very disappointing meal. Watching the sunset from the table was sweet, but there are lots of restaurants on the coast around there. Or watch the sunset from anywhere and then go eat somewhere else with better, less expensive food.
(3)
Fausto C.
Valet parking. Modern rest. Very nice. Fancy. Out of this world view (this fact by itself is reason enough to visit). Great service. Ample wine selection. Very good food. Portions are just right for dinner. Try the deserts, you wont be disappointed Expensive but worth it. Great for special occasions. 5 star.
(5)
Kelsey J.
Went here with my parent as we were staying at the highlands inn. We basically just samples a bunch of small plates and then split one entree. Great selection of appetizers. Really loved the abalone. It was my first time having abalone and it was excellent. The Brussels sprouts were below average, but the mushroom soup was awesome. They accidentally brought us the clam chowder at first so they comped all three soups. Not a bad deal considering we got to try the clam chowder as well. The beet salad was pretty good and the warm bread and butter was great. My dad ordered the short ribs and we all enjoyed it. We did not drink at this meal, but they do have an impressive wine list. Problem is that the cheapest bottle is $60 and the average is above $200. Not for the feint of heart. The view, now, the view is spectacular. Try your best to get a seat at the windows.
(4)
Paige B.
Delicious meal, excellent service, incredible sunset view. Had the caviar starter, then the mushroom ravioli, the ended with the citrus cake. So fabulous all of them. We loved our sommelier, she was so great. Got us an excellent champagne that we fully enjoyed through out our meal. Go for a special occasion, or just a fabulous treat.
(5)
Neela F.
Came here on a date with my boyfriend and was highly disappointed. The views were honestly beautiful, though they didn't sit us by the window even though they assured us there would be window seats when we made the reservation. Food and service was way below what we expected. We had the clam chowder and Caesar as appetizers which tasted good but the serving size of the chowder was way too small. I ordered the fillet mignon medium, but it was as rare as could be on the inside and when I asked to have it cooked more, they brought it back with the same rare inside and burnt on the outside! My boyfriend ordered the Kansas City, which was decent but definitely not worth the price or the wait. The next day we were charged for the bill and they overcharged the card significantly. The views were nice but definitely not worth the bad service and disappointing food. I wouldn't come back
(2)
George W.
This was my wife and my third visit to the Pacific Edge Restaurant. The first was about ten years ago and it was very good. We returned a few years latter and it was not good. Since we were staying at the Hyatt, and we were told there was a new chef, we decided to give it another try. It was very average. The menu was limited. we were told by the waiter that it was going to be expanded. I ordered the tuna tartare it was not bad, however, a rather small portion. My wife and I felt the dinner and desserts were just lacking that quality you would expect in a five star restaurant. We had a drink, no wine, and the bill was 252 dollars. That is a lot of money for an average dinner. There are far better choices in Carmel. Don't waste you time here. If you want the view, which is incredible, have a drink at the bar and the bar food is good.
(2)
Chad H.
Our server was Fredric from France. He was so amazing. The four of us decided to go with the chef's choice 3 course meal. We had the tuna tartare, abalone, and the Kansas City. Plus, we all had 4 separate desserts. The food was mouth popping! Everything was very fresh. Best tuna we've ever had. Our server paired each meal with a wine of his choice. He knew exactly how to pair. We could not have asked for a better wine with each meal. If you've never been to Pacific's Edge you simply must come. My wife and I were here for our 10 year anniversary 11 years ago and it was the best meal we ever had up to that point. The food is pricey here so come prepared to spend about $300 per couple. I assure you though, it is worth every cent. I would gladly pay for that quality food again. Thank you Pacific's Edge! You truly are a classy restaurant. Did I mention the view? Sitting at an Oceanside view on a hill, watching the sunset was one of the most romantic views we could order. Perfect view for a perfect meal. We will definitely be back!
(5)
steve p.
Had an amazing meal. I must say the the waiter David is the man. Not only was the view amazing so was the service. Ask for David. Guaranteed great service.
(5)
Manda Bear B.
********************* 1142 ********************* I love it here at Pacific's Edge at the Hyatt Carmel Highlands. The food is delicious, the view is breathtaking, and the service is top notch. We got to try food from the main dining room and the lounge side, both were equally very good. I came here with many dates before :-) again, at the Concourse d'Elegance event for Monterey Car Week, then recently with my parents. My parents couldn't stop taking pictures of the view rocks and the ocean. The moment we got in, the valet supervisor even recognize me and said hello right away. The hostess looks like the beautiful younger version of Diane Ross, she has a big smile, she was so nice. We got the table we requested. - Highlands Inn Clam Chowder - Manila Clams, Yukon Gold Potato, Bacon, Chive - this was very good, that my mom ordered 2 bowls. - Grilled Quail - Anson Mills Polenta, Bloomsdale Spinach, Natural Jus - it was a nice dish to share as an appetizer. - Littleneck Clams - Chorizo, Lemongrass, Rice Wine, Grilled Ciabatta - we couldn't stop dipping the grilled Ciabatta to the broth, it was delicious, and the clams were gigantic size. - Charcuterie - Duck Prosciutto, Parma Ham, Coppa, Bresaola - Dungeness Crab Cakes - Shaved Fennel, Roasted Red Pepper Remoulade - nice and falvorful. - Colorado Rack of Lamb - porcini confit, lardon, cipollini jus - I love this dish so much here. - Maine Dayboat Scallop - crab whipped potato, fava bean, oven dried tomato, basil-leek emulsion - Salted Peanut Butter - Caramel Bar - Peanut Shortbread, Jivara Chocolate Ganache, Caramel Sauce, Milk Chocolate - Caramel Mousse, order this you thank me later ;-) COCKTAILS: Mom loves all of it! - Cherry Berry Fizz - Effen Black Cherry Vodka, Fair Trade Goji Berry Liquer, Fresh Lemon Juice, Fresh Raspberries, Simple Syrup, Topped with Prosecco - Purple Haze - Fuzzy's Vodka, Lavender Elixir, Lime Juice, Fresh Blueberries WINES: 1 of the top 20 restaurants in the US by Wine Spectator, Pacific's Edge is ideal for every occasion, a amazing wine list! The service at the dining room was perfect. My parents and I stayed at the Hyatt Carmel Highlands, so we got to try the Sunset & Lobos Lounge food, and the service wasn't the same. 2 waiters running around like mad on a Sunday evening was definitely not good. We had to look for our server a few times. Mom drinks were gone, and we had to wait a while to re-order. Reservation is highly recommend it. Pacific's Edge is definitely 1 of my family's favorite destination.
(4)
Kelly E.
AMAZING!! The view was incredible and the food was heavenly. My fiance and I shared the brussel sprouts as a starter; yum! They were warm and savory with delicious bacon pieces throughout. The grapes in there were a little weird. Never had hot grapes before, let alone with brussel sprouts (I just moved them to the side). I had the filet mignon and my fiance had the rack of lamb. Both were excellent dishes! My filet was so tender and flavorful. I had a bite of the lamb and it was also melt-in-your-mouth good. We shared a side of the Au Gratin potatoes... to die for! Needless to say, I was ooh-ing and ahh-ing with every bite. Even the bread was the best!! All topped off with a cute half bottle of yummy Zin. (p.s. A half bottle got us about 3 glasses, total). This restaurant is like cloud 9. Very romantic and very memorable experience. I would highly recommend it.
(5)
Michael N.
Great scenery! Food is delicious. My only critique is the prices are expensive. You won't be disappointed. This is a an awesome place to dine--very classy! Exceptional view!
(4)
Christine I.
Believe it or not, the bar food was so good it made us choose Pacific's Edge as our last dinner in Carmel. It all started with a little Charcuterie and fried calamari. My husband and I were throwing back filthy vodka martinis and old fashions at the bar and needed something more than the courtesy almonds. I saw the words Duck Prosciutto under the Charcuterie description and my husband saw the word Fried and we ordered accordingly. We were not disappointed, everything was delicious. So we had to do the typical Carmel by the Sea restaurants because when in Rome, but we decided on our last night we were going to hang out at the hotel, enjoy our room view and since the bar food was so fantastic we were going to try the restaurant. We were seated at the corner most table with a panoramic view of the rocky coastline and we caught the last glimmer of sunset. Our waiter and sommelier were both extremely knowledge about the menu and wine selection. We ordered by the glass because we're heathens and cannot agree on a bottle of wine. My husband does not see the fried calamari on the appetizer menu and asks me to ask our waiter while he goes to the restroom, which meant he wanted ME to ask the nice waiter at this very fancy restaurant to fry up a little something in the back - and they most graciously did. I ordered the Highlands Clam Chowder to start because I'm civilized. Amazing. For entrees I ordered the Wild King Salmon with chanterelles in a chardonnay sauce and it was simply delicious; the mushrooms were tender while the salmon was crisp and well-cooked. The husband ordered the filet with bearnaise and he couldn't put his fork down. We couldn't muster the room to dive into dessert so we opted for coffee and port. We will definitely be back, the restaurant and hotel are amongst our favorites. Great experience and great staff.
(5)
Neal S.
The view of the ocean/sunset is exceptional. The wine list is also very deep and our service was really good. But the food was simply OK. My wife's caesar salad was yellowish and the dressing was pretty average. I had the rib eye and it was OK -- not great. For the price and their ratings, I was expecting to be really impressed. This is a great place to go if you want some cocktails around sunset, but I would look elsewhere if you want a memorable meal. Try Casanovas in downtown Carmel.
Food was really good, had the 4 course meal for valentines and loved everything except the second course. Our server was excellent and made sure to top off our drinks and our food was ok and the sea bass was the highlight of the day. My wife also enjoyed the fillet mignon which was spot on but the shrimp was a bit over cooked. Overall was a great experience but I think it was a bit pricey for something comparable but overall would recommend.
(4)
Nancy B.
The ambience of this restaurant is very romantic. The view is spectacular and nothing compares. The customer service was A+, very attentive. Our meals were fantastic. We had duck and cod. Savory. The wine list was extensive. The only sour spot was the sommelier. She was rushed and pushed us for a quick decision. When we said we were still perusing the wine list, she became offended and then she was snobbish for the rest of the evening. We did not allow this to dampen our evening. We waited a long time for this vacation and this reservation. We would still recommend this restaurant for a don't miss in Carmel. Nancy Bartnik and John Seibert
(4)
V W.
Being a local I still enjoy the view but was VERY disappointed in the Easter menu. Was greeted by a very rude female hostess that obviously was not happy to be there. Her coworker was kind enough to make a point to apologize for her rudeness, but never received an apology from her. The food was very disappointing, for $50 a person there wasn't much to it. Made it sound great on menu when it came out you felt like saying were is the rest. Was disappointed in the lack of freshness. Will I go back? Only for drinks and view
(1)
Francesca K.
We arrived at a boutique hotel very close by and were recommended to try this restaurant since it was within walking distance! George was wonderfully helpful; I regret not getting the sommelier's name; he advised us about substituting a wine since they were out of the wine we wanted; it was perfect. The service was excellent; the food was delicious and we will come back. It ended up being the celebratory dinner we wanted on the spur of the moment!
(5)
Yum Y.
Utterly shocked by mistreatment here. Separate and unequal treatment for my family. Wanted to celebrate my wife's 40th birthday here. Got a room for two nights at the Hyatt. We have 2 kids, so made reservation for 4 (since thats what you do) at the restaurant by the window for the views. We show up at the restaurant and they tell us we should have told them we had 2 children not 4 adults, and therefore they can't seat us by the window since they can't allow high chairs by the window seats. The reasons keep coming out flimsy to me from the manager: the waiters need room to move (a high chair at the end of a booth seems more like an obstruction), they need these tables since they expand (but what about my reservation! ). The concierge and front desk later confirm they've allowed high chairs by the window before. We're Offered a booth by the adjoing empty room. If i wanted to celebrate my wife's 40th birthday in a booth, i would have went to Denny's. Left scrounging for a restaurant in a nearby shopping center. Happy 40th birthday to my wife :( Service: 0 Food: NA Ambience: 0 for the empty adjoining room
(1)
Gary E.
There's something about coastal restaurants between Monterey and Big Sur, a sort of unspoken agreement between you, the diner, and they, the restaurateur. They know you'll stop. They know you want the view. And they'll charge you for the privilege, while giving you sub-standard food along the way. Hey, the land that their establishment sits on is prime real estate - it's not cheap, and they gotta pay for it somehow. The result is that you get places like Nepenthe down in Big Sur - stunning views, but you're paying crazy money for a buger and fries, which tastes like Eddie Murphy's famous welfare burger. Then there's Pacific's Edge. This past weekend the wifey and I were down in Carmel celebrating our anniversary, and I decided to book a table at Pacific's Edge. Our reservation was at 7:45 - right at sunset - and we duly pulled up an hour early so we could enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in the lounge. When we arrived, the host offered to seat us immediately, and showed us to a table at the back, far away from the window. When I pointed out that I'd requested a table next to the window, he said we'd have to wait until our reservation time, which was fine. So off we went to the bar to grab a couple of $15 cocktails. Alas the lounge was chock full of people already occupying the seats, sipping on glasses of water while enjoying the view, with other groups hovering around the tables like vultures in Death Valley - the sight of a waiter bringing someone the bill caused at least a half dozen groups to suddenly spring to their feet like startled meerkats, as they began nonchalantly strolling to get access to the carrion... table. But after a little bit of maneuvering, we grabbed a seat with a bit of a view, and relaxed with drinks in hand. From our vantage point, we couldn't help but notice several tables along the window in the restaurant sitting empty. We assumed they were for people running late, and sure enough some were filled eventually, but a few still were empty. I asked our waiter if he could see if we could grab one prior to the sun setting, and he duly went off to ask, returning to let us know that we'd have to wait. Finally, a little after 8:00pm, when the sun had already gone down and the only thing visible was the tree right outside that was artificially lit, the host seated us... at one of the tables that had been sitting empty for an hour. Other than that... slightly annoying situation, the food was top notch. The tuna tartare was delicious, although the accompanying toast points were far off the pace. The ceviche was excellent, and my rib chop was perfectly cooked (if a little fatty for my taste). Wifey had the scallops, which she sighed repeatedly over, and I could see why. Flawlessly cooked, with a perfect sear. Dessert? Sure, why not... croissant bread pudding and peanut butter cake? Yeah, go for it, it's a special occasion. Is pushing $300 a lot to pay for a three course dinner, with a glass of wine each? Yeah, it probably is. But you have to remember, this isn't just dinner. It's an experience. I can go to any number of spots in the City and pay far less for a meal, but a month later I won't remember it. This one will live in the memory for quite some time...
(4)
Claude G.
Ate there in June 2014. Great views, average food, poor service. Two stars for the view. Yes - the views are among the best you'll find anywhere. Most of the good reviews are driven by the views, by the 'bones of the place. Yes - the food is 'meh for the caliber of restaurant. If once a year you eat out at a really fancy place, the food will probably impress you, if you eat out often enough, you'll find it average, but a solid average. Yes - I was surprised, but not surprised to see our waiter explicitly named in another review, he was among the worst I've ever had. The bus boys are pretty good though, they'll be waiting on you most of the time probably. Try talking to the manager earlier in the meal and maybe he'll make sure you're OK - he's good., so get him in early. He's the bomb dot com. Instead of eating here, go upstairs and have a drink in the lounge, enjoy the view at sunset, then cruise to your dinner reservation at one of the many amazing places in Carmel. Mission Ranch, or Little Napoli, or L'Escargot.
(2)
John T.
Beautiful views. I wish i could give more stars, but can't. When a restaurant has the La Chaine emblem, one expects a certain level of service and food. One also expects some recognition when informed we are members of the organization they advertise with that particular emblem. When we arrived we told the hostess we were La Chaine. She went blank and slack jawed, but covered with "that's nice." We were seated at a fabulous table and the waiter approached. Once again we were excited to say we were La Chaine. Again with the blank stare and slack jaw. Here comes the semollier. Dressed in the strangest outfit where nothing really matched. Finally recognition of our organization, but stated that the chef who was hasn't worked there for four years. He needed to back off the snooty rudeness, he didn't wear it well at all. So, why three stars. The ambience was great, the food was delicious, it was the staff. We didn't feel welcome or that our business was anything more than a regular workday. Pity that the staff weren't even capable of making the customer feel welcome. The exception was the busser. He was friendly and helpful.
(3)
G P.
Very disappointing dinner there on Saturday night. We are staying next door and excited to try this lace. Waiter was very rude, made us wait forever between courses and practically threw out entree plates in front of us. He was handling several tables but no excuse for rude service. Tuna was ok but sat atop a mess of wilted, very bland veggies. Came home with the worst stomach ache. We won't return even though we were next door for 3 more days. Bad food and bad service for a $150 meal .
(2)
Nancy C.
It's OK in a pinch. Great location, but rooms are not the best; outdated and has the feel of a 1960's older apartment complex. Nice if you can snag a parking space, but your SOL if you can't.
(3)
Latimer L.
Service: 2 out of 5 My wife and I stayed at the Highlands Inn and set up a reservation for 8pm. Unfortunately, we got back from our hike a little earlier than we thought and were hungry. We walked over to the restaurant and asked if they would be able to seat us earlier. Mind you, the place was practically empty at this point, but the hostess said that she would "take care of the folks that were on line behind us and count the tables." We sat down in the lounge where we made ourselves clearly visible. The line cleared, and 20 minutes later, with 16 open tables (I decided to count myself), she still hadn't returned to at least give us a status update. Our hunger eventually past and we went back to our room a little upset. We came back at 7:45, and of course there was a table for us, but it was nowhere near a window. In fact, it was the farthest table from the window and by the kitchen. Tough luck, eh? Anyway, the service we actually received while dining was okay - not great. They were attentive but not too invasive. They forgot to provide spoons with the soup, but quickly rectified it. They offered us extra bread, we accepted, and they came back stating that the person with handling the bread basket wasn't there. Hm - weird. It also took a long time for our server to offer us dessert. Food: 4 out of 5 The short rib was really tender, but lacked some of the flavors I was expecting. It wasn't bad though. My wife had the Wild Mushroom Ravioli and I thought that it was cooked to perfection. The best thing about our meal was the dessert. The chocolate croissant bread pudding was fantastic. I highly recommend saving some of your appetite for it. Ambiance: N/A As many have commented before, the views from this restaurant can be amazing. Unfortunately for us, it was a bit cloudy on the day we dined here and we didn't get a window seat, so it would be unfair for me to rate it. One thing worth mentioning is that there's a tree which could potentially block someone's view.
(3)
Chris S.
Million dollar views that doesn't match up with its service. You would think they can't screw up a table for one, but oh they did! Took over 10-15 mins for water and 20 mins for someone to deliver the bread. The food is vastly overpriced. I had the wild mushroom ravioli and it seemed overcooked. Never seen any ravioli like the one that was served and I go to many Italian restaurants. Bottom line, if you want amazing views and can take the shortcomings in service, by all means come here. If you're looking for really good food with good service then you can do much better in downtown Carmel by the sea.
(2)
Dana W.
Stayed at the Hyatt for 2 nights for a birthday celebration (already reviewed the Hyatt)). We chose this Resturaunt for the birthday meal and were not disappointed. After a less that great experience the night before at the Mission Ranch (see review), the staff here pulled out all the stops. My husband had told the manager about our MR experience bcz he referred us, so I hope the amazing service is their standard, not a result of our previous experience. In any event, it was wonderful. My husband had pre-ordered appetizers that arrived almost immediately. Oysters and soft-shelled crab-amazing. We brought a magnum of our own wine, bought wine and champagne and gave the manager and sommelier samples of our wine. The usual fee of 45$/bottle was waived! Our party of 6 all ordered different meals, and everyone was very happy with their selections. I ordered the tomato salad and cerviche, my husband had the rack of lamb and beet salad. With a party of 6, they did add in the tip. Because we were staying there, and listened to a brief (10 minute)spiel asking if we would even be interested in the full 90 minute time share talk (we declined), we received 10% off all our food for the stay. The view is breath taking. We sat in front of the window and arrived before sunset. It was a very special evening all around, and we will be back.
(5)
Pbrr P.
This was, without a doubt, the absolute worst dining experience my spouse, friends and I have ever encountered. We had reservations for four on Monday, April 28, 2014 at 7:30pm. We arrived about 15 minutes early, and were seated promptly, at a table with a beautiful view of the ocean. We were a bit surprised when the hostess declined our request to take a photo of the four of us, responding that our server would do so. It wasn't as if there was a line waiting. Once seated, we discovered that we had two different menus, which our server had no idea about. The bus boy took care of that. After a wait of approximately 10 minutes, the water arrived, and then the real waiting commenced. Our server was 'busy' with a single diner, while we waited for him or someone to stop by and take our drink order, and discuss the evenings offerings, which we felt were both mediocre and over-priced. After waiting 25 minutes after check in, with not one person stopping by to take our drink order or even acknowledge our presence, we left. No one stopped and asked why we were leaving, and the hostess appeared to not care. We were surprised when we received a cancellation notice from Opentable.com , when in reality, we had shown up, were completely neglected, and left. We went into Carmel, and had a fabulous dinner at Rio Grill - the staff there were attentive, the menu was fabulous and creative, and we had a wonderful time chatting with an employee of the Rio Grill, who was there on her day off, that's how great the food and service are there. We literally spent half of what we could have spent at Hell on the Pacific. Perhaps an episode of "Restaurant Impossible" could be filmed here, since Robert Irvine would have a field day trying to improve the less-than-stellar service and menu that this restaurant features. Avoid at all costs, and spend your dining money elsewhere.
(1)
Chip D.
I just finished having dinner at Pacific's Edge restaurant to celebrate our anniversary. What an overall lousy experience! Starting with the hostess seating us at an upper level table where the glare off the ocean was so bright (7:00p) I couldn't stand it. Mentioned it to the hostess and she agreed, yes, it's bright and walked away. Didn't offer to seat us at another table. So the message was loud and clear, if you are seated at a table with considerable glare, put on your sunglasses and suck it up! We were told by the manager that lowering the blind wouldn't be done as "that is why people come here, for the view". Obviously not for the customer service. We brought with us a bottle of champagne to celebrate our anniversary, we were told it is a $40 corkage fee. So instead of buying a bottle of their champagne we chose to get a glass of wine. The food was so overpriced I almost choked. An 8oz. filet mignon for $56??????? Ruth Criss Steakhouse doesn't charge that. The entrees we got were average in quality and even though the manager gave us dessert, when we asked for decaf coffee, they chose to give the fancy French pressed coffee (which we didn't ask for) and charged $17 for it. Needless to say that will our last dining experience at this overpriced, underwhelmed food quality, with the attitude of "just suck it up if you don't like the glare" with really poor customer service. We had dinner the night before in downtown Carmel at a more casual seafood restaurant and the experience was 5 star all around. I would NEVER recommend coming to Pacific's Edge unless you enjoy spending way too money for poor customer service, mediocre food and attitude.
(2)
Tei A.
I seldom do reviews on Yelp but this one deserves not only a great review but also 5 stars. We celebrated my husband's birthday at the Pacific Edge with our 7-month old son and we had a wonderful time. David's service (our server for the night) was excellent. Food was delicious and fresh. We had tuna tartare and clam chowder for appetizers; hubby loved his Kansas steak and I enjoyed my rib chop. We are definitely going back to this restaurant.
(5)
Q N.
We are regular guests there at the hotel and restaurant. We have frequent here every few months. This place had gone down hill since the last couple of years. Our experience last night at this restaurant especially was a grave disappointment. Dinner for two with alcohol is never under $300 for us. The entrees were over priced for the quality received. The worst was their sommelier who had insulted us with her lack of interest and hospitality when we forgo the wines and just had champagne to celebrate. Sadly, we will not be dining here again after 7 years as their patrons unless the services and menu changed. We will miss the view.
(2)
Cooper K.
We stayed next door at the Tickle Pink Inn and walked over for a light dinner, some drinks and the view from the restaurant's Sunset Lounge bar. It's a beautiful space, but was really dead. And soooo hot. We kept getting up to step outside to cool down some. Otherwise, it was enjoyable.
(3)
Yue L.
I still remember the first time I came here with my best friend. She's from Carmel and introduced me to this gem by taking me to lunch here. The view is gorgeous!!! You cannot find better view of the Big Sur and the ocean in another restaurant in this area. Highlands Inn sits up top a hill and I hear the room prices are around $600 a night! I've never stayed here but have been here several times for lunch. On this particular day, we were driving by and I said, let's go for drinks! We came at 4pm, just when the sunset lounge area opened. Sunset lounge is right next to Pacific Edge restaurant which opens for dinner at 5. The drinks are definitely pricey ($15-20 per drink) here but you are paying for the view! My babe ordered his usual manly scotch drink and I got my girly glass of buttery Chard. We sat on their comfy lounge couches and enjoyed the floor to ceiling views of the wonderful coastline. So romantic and relaxing. A must stop if you are in the area.
(5)
Wes C.
The service at the restaurant reminds me of how much I dislike this place. It was my wife's and I's anniversary and we wanted to give this place a second chance. I should of just drove my car off Hwy 1. The host was rude, the server was nonexistent. My wife's Salmon was flipped upside down. And the dessert menu was empty. Hellen Keller could of done a better job managing the restaurant. I will say the valet driver was excellent. 150$ dollars later and I should of stayed in Carmel By The Sea
(1)
Shell J.
I believe to have fine dining experience in front of a beautiful landscape is the best treat, Pacific's Edge is one of those places. There's very large wine list. We picked a Chardonnay from a local winery called Lucia. It was decent. Food was absolutely wonderful. We ordered oyster and soft crab for appetizer and Coriander crusted pan seared tuna, Seared Dayboat Scallops, and wild mushroom as main courses, all of them are fantastic. Our dessert was bread pudding, very nice too. We had dinner at sunset, the view was brilliant, probably one of those things you don't often get from other high end restaurants.
(5)
Brad K.
I am trying this place again in a night other than New Year's Eve. I am expecting it will be much better.
(5)
Kenneth K.
Let's start with the positives: they fixed the service as pointed out in previous reviews as the Sommellier was awesome and service attentive. All agrre that the ambiance is fabulous. Now for the negatives: The food and wine prices are startlingly expensive. However, we reserved knowing this and expected a great experience. Unfortunately, there is little attention to detail in the kitchen. The oysters were dry (probably shucked hours before and left in the refrig), the "prime" short ribs tender but tasteless ( if you don't believe me see an earlier review), the heirloom tomato salad with mediocre tomatoes, and the ravioli pasta with rancid hazelnuts!! It seems as though Hyatt takes us for a bunch of dummies who don't know "prime" from "sub-prime".
(2)
Michael W.
View incredible, service excellent, but $32 for a tiny abalone appetizer was a bit much. The rest of the meal was just ok and pretty expensive. After the sun goes down, there really isn't much view.
(3)
Sue L.
I love coming to this place because it holds a special place in my heart! Breath taking view and watching the sunset is phenomenal! Get seats by the window and bring a pair of sunglasses! Just a tip that you should come early to secure a seat by the window even though you made reservation, its first come first serve basis. Food is ok and could be better. 1 star for the food 3 star for the view
(4)
D R.
This review is only for the Sunset Lounge, not the sit-down restaurant. We've gone twice now, and both times spent a nice long relaxing evening enjoying the views and the ambiance of the place. Service both times was very warm and friendly, and the seats in the lounge are very comfortable. It's a nice non-pretentious vibe. The first time we went the food was all great. This most recent time we were let down somewhat. The caesar salad was just OK, could've used more garlic, more anchovies, more dressing. The free range chicken was blah, and a bit overcooked. The clams were excellent, but we wish there were more of them! The sliders and fries were very good. The couple sharing the table with us ordered steak frites - we think that's what we'll go for next time. It looked very good and cooked medium rare just like they ordered. Last year when we went we got the peanut butter mousse cake and it was excellent. They've got some good and interesting mixed drinks on their list, good wines to choose from byt he glass, and a nice selection of Scotch, ports and dessert wines. Since we stayed for a few hours both times we visited, we took advantage of the bar! This is a place we'll return to on all of our visits to Carmel. I don't know that we'd spring for the restaurant since the lounge menu is not consistent, but the lounge works very well for us! We've got very happy memories from both visits.
This restaurant robs people of their money, although most people might mistakingly think that the miniscule sized portions correlate to good quality and taste.. DO NOT BE DECEIVED! My mom straight up ate a flower as one course of her 4-5 course dinner, I mean come on, if she wanted to eat a flower she would join my beagle in our backyard.
(2)
Andrew C.
Pacific's Edge is the restaurant in the Hyatt Carmel Highlands. As the name suggests, it's is on a hill overlooking the ocean with a wall of windows providing great views ( yelp.com/biz_photos/AHFH… ) We grabbed a drink and a snack while "watching" the sunset (hidden by distant fog) and had half a dozen oysters ($18) which came with some mignonette and those cute single serving Tabasco bottles ( yelp.com/biz_photos/AHFH… ). They were fresh and meaty. Service was very good. Drinks definitely had that hotel pricing (cocktails $15, glass red wines $15+).
(4)
Danielle G.
Horrible service, average food, and outrageous prices. I don't mind paying $400 for a velentines day meal if I get top notch service with excellent food. This had neither. Major disappointment!
I was expecting a lot better. The host was extremely blunt that she did not want to be there. Was very rude and not welcoming, if it wasn't Easter i probably would have stopped there and turned around. The view was beautiful, our server was sweet but didn't come very often to check on us, food didn't meet our expectations, was very "Blah".... The kids area was sweet....Might have to try it on a day when its not a holiday so everybody doesn't seem so upset about working...
(2)
tim h.
Excellent, go with the chefs menu You really have to appreciate the care and thought put into the overall meal, outstanding, service was perfect. and since it was our 25 th anniversary they even made a desert for us, with a special message, highly recommend.
(5)
Alyssa G.
The views here are incredible and we enjoyed our wine selections, so for that I give two stars. However, everything else is mediocre at best. Service was very rushed- we sat down around 6:15 and I got the feeling they were trying to get another seating in before sunset. We had the mushroom soup, beets, filet mignon, and pork. All were "meh" except the filet, which was probably the worst I've had in any restaurant- way over-cooked and tough, even though ordered medium rare. This kind of food would be passable at a Chili's, but not at a restaurant when you're paying $100 a head for the meal. If you're here to enjoy the view, have a drink at the bar and then go somewhere better for dinner.
(2)
Leslie K.
We had a table in the corner right by the windows so the view was magnificent. There really aren't many options for vegetarians but I had a mushroom ravioli with spinach dish that was amazing. Not too rich...pasta was cooked to perfection. Sometimes a ravioli's edges can be a little hard...these were beautiful clouds that melted in my mouth.
(5)
Andrea M.
Arrived on time for a 7:30 reservation on Valentine's Day only to be told, like several other parties, that it would be a 30-minute wait for a table because it's busy and most of the previously reserved parties 'arrived late'. Uh, what's the point of a reservation then?? If people arrive late they should go to the back of the line, not be accommodated at the expense of the guests that showed up on time. My boyfriend made the reservation a month in advance. A week prior to the dinner the restaurant called my boyfriend to ask for a credit card # to hold the reservation. So they're eager to take money but don't bother honoring a reservation or even calling us to let us know there would be a delay. My boyfriend and I went to get a drink at the bar while we waited and were told the hostess would come get us when our table was ready. She never did and my boyfriend had to approach her again to find out that our table was ready. Upon seating the sommelier, who was very sassy, bordering on unprofessional, approached us offering to help us navigate the very extensive wine menu - as in about 42 pages worth. We asked if we could sample one of the wines and were told no. The markups on the wines are huge. We ended up ordering a Duckhorn merlot, which was good. Our waiter was nice. For Valentine's Day they had a prix fixe menu which I'm not usually a fan of, however the food was pretty good. It was $125/person before drinks/wine. The filet mignon - I take mine rare - was excellent, my favorite part of the meal. Unfortunately they wanted us to select all four courses at the beginning of the meal, we were not given an opportunity to decide what we wanted next during dinner. At night it is pitch black outside - Carmel apparently has a thing against street lights - so you will not have any view whatsoever, just complete darkness outside every window. I'm sure it's wonderful during the day. All in all, an okay experience, though I expected more at that price point and on such a special occasion. Service: 2, Food: 4, Atmosphere: 3. If you're looking for a great restaurant in Carmel, especially for a special occasion, try Casanova.
(3)
Emily B.
So we did take them up on their offer to comp our next meal there, but it really wasn't worth it. They refused to comp our drinks, even though we only had 1 each, and once the waiter found out we were being comped, he was MIA for the rest of the dinner because he probably assumed we weren't going to tip him well. We are usually really good tippers though, and, had he hung around, we probably would have ordered more drinks and he would have received a better tip. But, alas, tips are not mandatory, so you only get what you work for. The bus/bread guy was awesome though, so we gave him $40 in cash and left a tip reflecting the service we received from the actual waiter on the card. They did earn one more star because we were actually able to enjoy our meal this time, and it wasn't horrible...but it by no means was worth what they charge for it. The meat was overcooked, vegetables were burned and the service was subpar, so 2 starts fits them. Overall, it was just MEH...I wouldn't waste my time here. Even if it was free again.
(2)
Laura S.
The best views in California!! There is nothing like watching the sun go down on a clear and beautiful sunny day on the Monterey Coast. WOW. We stopped by for cocktails on our 16th anniversary - we planned to have dinner elsewhere in Carmel. They have two bar areas for drinks, both with great views. After several cocktails, feeling great, and no desire to drive elsewhere for dinner, we decided to stay for dinner. We got the corner table with 180 degree views of the ocean and carmel mountains. The food was unbelievable. I had the braised short rib - it was cooked for 12 hours i believe. WOW!! The waiters are amazing - exceptional service!!! Great dining experience. Grazie Highlands Inn! There was a wedding downstairs which was cool to see. We stopped by the pool and hung out at the firepit. It was a magical night. Very romantic. Great for cocktails or a full night of hanging out at this amazing hotel. Either way you cant go wrong, unless you forgot your checkbook. Cha ching!
(5)
Sara T.
My husband made reservations here for our 1st wedding anniversary. Each table has a beautiful view of the coastline & if you get there at the right time you can see the sun setting over the water. Romantic! We opted for the Chef's Tasting Menu for $155/person, which included wine pairings. The Chef's Tasting Menu w/out the wine pairings is $105. The food and service was great. We started off with a deconstructed oysters rockefeller. This was awesome. The second course was halibut. While I LOVE the nice crisp on the outside, our fish was overcooked. Our 3rd course was wagyu beef ordered medium rare. This was cooked perfectly! For dessert we had a passion fruit cake that was done wonderfully. I think this was the most expensive dinner we've ever had, and it was worth the money. It's our first anniversary, so we have to do it big. The regular menu items looked yummy as well, so if you're looking for a romantic place to eat, this is the place.
Food was amazing, service was amazing, the view of the ocean was beautiful. Highly recommend for a romantic date night. We will be back!
(5)
Chrissy C.
Loved the sliders and halibut! View is completely worth it and also bar menu is cheaper! Worth the visit.
(4)
Dean B.
An amazing meal with an amazing view of waves crashing on rocks below! I started with corn chowder with lobster knuckle, and then the tia snapper with chantrelle mushrooms. I love corn chowder soup, and this one was very good with a few pieces of lobster that made it special. The snapper was also great and the mushrooms and chardonnay reduction went perfect together. I am embarrassed to say I pretty much licked the plate clean. We had the roasted chicken the night before in the lounge and loved it, so my wife ordered it again. I normally would not order chicken in an expensive restaurant, but this chicken is worth it- tender and moist. We also had the side of herb risotto and probably the best we have ever had. The desserts are also great, so make sure you leave room. This restaurant is expensive, but great for a special night out.
(5)
Haroon M.
Just for the VIEW. Me and my wife don't eat pork and the chefs tasting menu which was recommended had pork so we decided to choose our own meals. No biggie THE FOOD: The pea soup. YUCK. Taste was bland. Way to thin. Lamb shanks were OK. For the price, I got just about 5 bites. The best tasting meal that I had were the French fries. THE SERVICE: The only pleasant person whom I encountered was the individual with whom I made reservations and showed us to our tables (don't remember the name unfortunately). The waiter was arrogant, rude, and whenever I asked any questions he felt as if he did not have to answer them and kept sighing in between. I asked him with the papas Fritos were as I didn't not know and he answered with a smug smirk. Unfortunately I don't remember his name but he was an elderly man with white hair. He took so long to check with us when we needed refills and such I had to pull another waiter who was very pleasant and nice when asked. THE VIEW: We came during the sunset and it was magical. The waves splashing against the rocks with the orange sunset in the back; amazing. For the price I paid I expected A LOT more. Maybe he was having a bad day? Well, it ruined ours. Hopefully they've made improvements by now.
(3)
Colleen C.
It took me quite a long time to pen this review, because I felt a little "so-so" about the whole affair... This is the hotel restaurant at Hyatt Carmel Highlands, the hotel at which we stayed several nights in January. My boyfriend made a reservation here for the night of our arrival to ease on the logistics of getting to an offsite restaurant, etc. Obviously it is quite pricey, but its reputation is quite stellar. Unfortunately, I felt the food was a bit...boring. It was all just fine, but nothing stood out. The view is something to behold...but obviously, not at night. So I stared at my reflection every time I glanced out the window. This obviously is not their fault entirely, but I would recommend for stellar views that this spot is best for an early dinner (at suneset!) or brunch, etc. Otherwise the view is a moot point, and you are paying quite heavily for it. The wine list is quite extensive as you might imagine. We enjoyed a nice bottle of a California Cabernet, and no complaints. The sommelier even breezed by our table to check in, a nice touch. For a $300 dinner bill I expected to be wow'ed a bit more...and the only thing I walked away with was "well, don't eat there at night." Despite knowing there is a brilliant ocean view, you cannot see it. That's my .02 cents. I'd certainly try again on our next trip (especially if we stay at the hotel), but this is a fine dining type restaurant where the food doesn't quite measure up to what I had hoped for.
(3)
Lynn K.
Great wine selection! Went at night so wasn't able to enjoy the view of ocean. The food was good but I've had better. The service was a little slow.. But overall I would definitely go back.
(4)
Candice T.
YOU HAVE TO GO HERE! Don't miss it! It's so romantic and has the best views of the Pacific. Amazing good too! Ah-maze-ing!!!
(5)
Thomas S.
This place could get five stars alone for the view. It's unbelievably beautiful. We had reservations for 8pm, however we showed up early and asked to sit at the bar. The almonds are addicting, the drinks are strong. We went to get our seats and the hostess said she wanted to seat us earlier so we could have a window seat...however the table she took us to was perfect. Almost every seat in the restaurant is facing the view. The hostess is the star of this restaurant. I'm not sure of her name, but she was great. After reading the reviews I wasn't sure what to expect. However everything was perfect. The service, as well as the sommelier were great. For appetizers we order the clam chowder, and the osteria caviar. The clam chowder was good, the caviar was the star of the evening...besides the sunset. I would highly recommend it to anyone with a warning....it may be highly addicting. Entrees we had the bone in rib chop....sinful, and the yellowfin tuna....again excellent. The portions are great, maybe a bit too much. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone who enjoys good food and good service.
(5)
O K.
This restaurant was good - prior to Hyatt ownership. Now it is just a view restaurant. So many people complain about this restaurant that it is a standing joke in the Carmel area. For example, the Ceasar salad is nothing more than one you'd get at Denny's with an anchovy that is not dried. The entrees are small portions of poorly cooked seafood or meat: the salmon was overcooked, the tuna crusted to the point of inedibility and the food was much too salted. Silverware and glasses looked old and unwashed. I could even see other guests' glasses having stains and dirt through the sunlight as they held them up to drink. What a shame that the prices are commensurate with a fine restaurant when the food is on a par with a hole in the wall restaurant. Consider eating at a restaurant in Carmel such as Andre's Bouchee if you want to spend serious money. If I could give no stars I would.
(1)
Bill H.
Pacific's Edge has a rockin' Easter Brunch. The views are everything you've read about and more. Most of the tables we saw had fantastic views of either the oceans and/or the cliffs. The actual spread was delicious. A full-on raw bar, oysters were fresh, ceviche was fresh and full of fish. Steak and poultry were well-cooked. I also ordered a bloody mary. I was told by others that the bloody mary at Pacific's Edge was absolutely full of veggies and fish(!); mine was not the case, but was still delicious. Prices were steep (understandably), but I'd definitely be back. The normal dinner and lunch menus looked delicious.
(5)
Debra H.
It is nice Randall responded to my review. He hoped to hear from me, I don't know what he hoped to hear. After two very expensive and disappointing experiences, there is nothing he could say or do to entice me to return to his establishment. My husband and I are returning to Carmel for a special anniversary (just so happened special birthday and anniversary happened in the same year). Should we go to Pacific's Edge?.....hahahaha, what a joke.
(1)
Gary J.
The value to quality is just not there; much to do about nothing special.
We used to live in area and Pacific's Edge WAS the place to have a fine meal, always pricey but always excellent. We dined with family a few days ago and can only say is mediocre food and more expensive than before. We were told that the only reservations were 6pm or 8:30. We took 6 and only 1/4 of restaurant was filled...thought that was odd. We all ordered a steak of some kind. I had the short rib and it was like roast and over salted. All the steaks were overcooked. The abalone appetizer ($32) had two small abalone with two tiny potatoes..ridiculous! Started talking with my Monterey friends and they won't even dine there anymore! The take over by Hyatt seems to be the time things started going down. It is such a shame to have this beautiful location and average, pricey food. We will be back to the area in another year or so but won't go here unless we find out there's been a big change. I don't know if the Hyatt has too much control over the kitchen or the GM and Chef need replacing. These bad reviews have been going on for sometime now. I didn't bother looking at yelp (like I normally do) because I knew how wonderful the food USED to be. Hope this place can get its food back to the quality it was before.
(1)
Anna W.
We honeymooned at Highlands Inn 10 years ago and had indulged in the Tasting menu with wine pairings at Pacific's Edge. Thus, when we returned this past weekend to celebrate our 10th anniversary, we decided we'd eat at Pacific's Edge again. Frankly, I can't remember much from that first dinner 10 years ago, but I know it was delicious and the ample pours on the wine pairings made the rest of the details fuzzy. We made reservations for 6 pm, right when the restaurant opened and noted our anniversary in the hopes of securing a coveted window seat. Success! It was absolutely mesmerizing to watch the ocean and the sunset on a clear sunny day. Usually, we stay clear of any restaurants with a view but I was pleasantly surprised how good the food was at Pacific's Edge. Truly--it can stand up to most other gourmet restaurants without the view, but it is still priced higher as a "destination" restaurant. This time around, we chose individual appetizers and entrees. I started with the fois gras duo and the clam chowder while my husband ordered the lobster special and abalone appetizer. For the main course, I had the rack of lamb and he had the scallops. The stars of the meal were the fois gras duo (guilty pleasure, I know, but it's being outlawed in California in mere weeks so I had to have it one last time), the clam chowder (even better than Hog Island Oyster Bar SF's version, which was my favorite), and my husband's scallop. Service was great, but for the sommelier, who didn't come over until we were nearly done with our meal. I suspect he saw that we had cocktails in hand (we started at the bar as they weren't quite ready for us when we first arrived). Still, I would expect that he would introduce himself nonetheless to check. Also, the sommelier charged the neighboring table's $90 bottle of wine to our tab. It could have been easily missed, as my husband signed the check (to charge to our room) and didn't notice it. Thankfully, I peeked over to check the total and caught the mistake. George, our waiter, was attentive but not intrusive. He checked on us a few times and was around when needed. I think he only had 4 tables to serve, which meant he wasn't overwhelmed. I will say I was surprised we didn't get an offer of some small dessert, as most restaurants do something special for an anniversary/birthday. Alas, we were probably too full to have it anyway, but something to note since so many go here to celebrate their anniversaries and other special occasions (the table next to us was also there for their anniversary). Nonetheless, the meal at Pacific's Edge was a wonderful way to celebrate 10 blissful years of marriage and the primary highlight of an otherwise disappointing stay at the Highlands Inn (see my review).
(4)
Hung N.
One of the best sunset meals I have ever had! The view is spectacular! The appetizors were fairly good and the entrees are even better. Their deserts were amazing and I enjoyed my 250 meal. It was well worth it for the experience!
(4)
Sue S.
This restaurant was horrible. A reservation means give or take an hour. The food was mediocre and Derek who seats you was confused and rude. The bright spot was the bartender who was fabulous. While we waited for Derek. With all the great restaurants in Carmel, I have no idea why someone would choose to eat here except for the view...
(1)
Angelique L.
I came to the Highlands Inn to watch the sun set on the recommendation of a docent at Point Lobos. It's a nice drive up to the inn and the grounds are beautifully landscaped so the walk from the parking lot was also enjoyable. The restaurant is beautiful and the lounge has a big fireplace in the middle makes it feel classy and cozy. We sat at the bar and ordered Calamari, Tuna Tartare and a couple of cocktails. The appetizers were great. Fresh, delicious and beautifully presented. But the highlight was the Cucumber Martini! Vodka, fresh cucumber puree, lime juice and simple syrup. It was heavenly, the best cocktail I've ever had. Refreshing, delicious and just a hint of sweetness. We met fun people, had some spontaneous conversation and enjoyed chatting with the bartender as well. The perfect bar experience! They even have the hooks underneath for ladies' handbags. The sunset did not disappoint and we weren't the only ones there for that reason. It's pricey but definitely worth a stop.
(5)
Mr. C.
The view from the lounge is one of a kind. And then it pretty much went downhill from there. We seated ourselves as there wasn't anyone around and then we saw a number of other people also start to file in as it was getting close to sunset. We all sat around for about 15 minutes before we saw the first waiter or server run by. A few minutes later, we tried to flag another one down so that we can place our orders. She said she'll be back and another ten minutes went by before we were able to place our order. It is not as though the waiters were standing around not doing their job, but more of a lack of a system to keep track of the guests and doing the basics like asking people if they would like another drink or if they would like a glass of water. Really basic stuff that you would expect from even the simplest diner let alone at this price point. The drinks and the food are fine, and we had no complaints. It was the service that really detracted from the experience. Another minus (this may just be our preference) was the cheesy live music they had going with a guy on the piano singing cover songs. It was loud and I would be preferred soft music while gazing at the gorgeous sunset. To the restaurant's credit, they did give us a small discount as they realized that they had kept us waiting. But this is one place that we won't be coming back to.
(2)
Chris G.
Not usually a fan of restaurants in hotels, as the captive nature of the beast lends itself to overpriced, inferior food and service. Not the case here. Beautiful setting, decent menu not overloaded with choice. Caesar salad was the greatest I've ever had EVEN though the large garlic crouton had the consistency of a piece of dried dogshit(note to chef there: Get rid of it. Break it up. I don't want to have to break it up so I have crouton in every bite. Doesn't do much for presentation either.) Cold crispy lettuce and great, great dressing. Entree was decent, prices aren't fantastic. It was nighttime so couldn't really enjoy the view, but the interior was beautiful and well appointed. Could really be a great experience, but they do need to make some tweaks.
(3)
Peter F.
Beautiful view and setting, mediocre food and horrible service (Frederic 919)! What a disappointment.
(1)
Tonya M.
Name says it all. At the edge of the world over looking the most beautiful ocean, eating the most well prepared foods. A must for couples and special occasions that you want a view. Tickle Pink hotel is right next door and one of my favorite views as well. If its crowded, wait and it will be worth it. enjoy!!!!
(5)
Chester M.
Went here with my fiance and it is definitely a great restaurant to go to in Carmel. It definitely has the best views. I made a reservation through Open Table at their website. I arrived a few minutes early and was seated very promptly at table 7. The sun shining through gave the restaurant a great ambiance. Our server David was very good. He was very attentive and knowledgeable of our the menu. We ordered the Monterey Bay Abalone for the first course. It was very good. For the main course I got the Wild Pacific King Salmon and my fiance ordered the Free Range Chicken. Being a french restaurant I was surprise that portions for the main course would not be a lot but I was definitely served a decent portion and was full. For dessert we ordered the Chevre Cheesecake. The crumbs were really full of flavor and was great. The service we got was spectacular. My fiance never noticed that her glass was empty. Our server also offered to take our photos and not only did he take one but took several shots at many angles. I'm glad we had David we had a few photographs of us. I'll definitely come back here again for .
(5)
Jeff K.
I get angry every time I think about what a disappointing meal I was served for $175 on the tasting menu and how little they seemed to care.
(1)
H W.
My boyfriend and I went to Pacific's Edge for a nice sunset dinner on Saturday. 2 stars for the amazing view. 3 stars for the great food. Both of our first courses were delicious. My boyfriend had the Goat Cheese Fritters and I had the Forelle Pear Tart. For the main course, he liked his "Daily" Fish Creation very much and my Rack of Lamb, medium rare, cooked to perfection. Unfortunately, I have to subtract two stars because our waiter George (who is on the older and heavier side among the wait staff) kept showering our table with the specimens of his saliva. First, when he was telling us about the specials, something shinny was passing by my eyes and three tiny beads of George's spit landed on my menu. When he came back to take our order, a big drop (at least 1.5mm in diameter) landed on the black plate in front of me and more on my menu. Luckily, the plate was only for deco. They took it away before the food was served. After the food was served, we were hoping George would be busy with other guests, but George kept coming back to our table, pointing to each item on our plates and telling us what they are; then asking us how do we liked our food. Each time he came to our table, I got a little stressed -- holding my arm up above my plate and hoping his saliva wouldn't land on our food. To be fair, other than dotting our table with his spit, George did provide decent service. I am sure that he didn't mean to spread his spit like that. The poor fellow can't help it. I would like to make couple of constructive suggestions. 1) Maybe George can stand a little further from patrons' tables when he speaks, so the guests' food would be out of his spitting range; or 2) maybe George can wear a mask. That way Chef Mark Ayers' wonderful creations wouldn't be contaminated by George's saliva shower.
(3)
Bonnie H.
The view is worth the trip. I would stay away from the oysters/raw bar because our platter was disappointing.
(3)
Emy B.
Went on a special occasion t o celebrate my 4 year anniversary with hubby. It was convenient since we stayed at the Highlands Inn. Reserved my table on opentable.com . Stated o the reservation that it was my anniversary. When I got there it was really crowded and we got seated on some far away from the window table but then the maitre-d came in a move us to a table right by the window and right on the corner, where both me and my hubby could see the ocean without any obstruction. We started with a hamachi poke appetizer- it was quite small but delicious. By looking at the size of the appetizer I figure it that the main course might also be smaller portions. I was wrong. I ordered a scallop and my hubby the special fish of the day. Even though the menu said Scallop (singular), it was definitely more than 4 scallops with a very right french style sauce and puree potatos with fresh crabs. It was delicious!!! I was hungry but I was not able to finish my meal since it was sooo rich. My hubby loved his special local fish. The fish was from around the Monterey County and it tasted super fresh. It was a full fish with head and everything. We went on a special occasion but If I ever am around South of Carmel area, I will make sure to beg my hubby to take me there again. The waiter Brian, I believe it was his name was young and very competent and very friendly. Definitely recommended.
(4)
Julie L.
We just finished dinner here. The food, as others have suggested, only deserves a 2 star. It is worse than mediocre. We ordered appetizers : abalone and hamachi poki and clam chowder. They were just ok. For main dish we had 15 oz ribeye and the rack of lamb which were so tough and dry. I think outback steak even beat it by a yard. Dessert was real good we got the chocolate ganache. Anyway we got a 25 restaurant coupon and still it costed $150. The service is ok; a bit unsophisticated for this type of fancy place. Of course as everyone has said the ambiance is really phenomenal. Can't really beat it. It feels like you are on a nice cruise ship. I love this hotel though. It's got a really homey feel to it. You are paying a premium for indulgence. One tip if you want to stay here cheap. Do the timeshare for hyatt vacation club and you can get 3 nights at $99 each night. Not a bad deal. The sales person greg is pretty cool.
(3)
Luis A. S.
Very disappointed to have come back after a year and to see such a previously terrific restaurant deteriorate, particularly disappointed as a property residence owner and someone who regularly visits the wonderful Highlands. While the food was OK, the service and lack of hospitality were well below our expectations. Found the entire staff to be arrogant and un-attentative, additionally both my wife and I were served our main course well ahead of our two friends, rendering the dining experience awkward.Luis S.
(2)
Andy L.
Eat at Pacific's Edge?????? I'd love to, but it's way to expensive. What my wife and I usually do is get drinks in the lobby-area. It's awesome. There's a server and you get to enjoy one of the best views on the California coast. Get there before sunset.
(4)
Angela Y.
The entire experience was simply amazing! The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 was b/c the waitstaff seemed to hover a lot and although their intention was to be attentive, it was a little bothersome and we couldn't really delve into a deep conversation b/c they always seemed to be right within earshot. Also, the valet parking was ridiculous - we waited 20 minutes for our car and he totally burned the clutch and we couldn't get rid of the smell for like 10 minutes. Yikes...also, the couple before had the same issue. Apparently the guy couldn't drive the car uphill so after a valiant struggle while we all watched, he gave up and drove down the hill, signaling to the owner of the car to follow him and get the car himself. Kinda sad... Anyway, every course was delightful and delicious! Started off with a complimentary amuse-bouche. I had the oysters - fresh, succulent and the shallot mignonette for garnish was the perfect touch. The "steak & eggs" was inventive but kind of bland. The carpaccio tasted like paper but the quiche was great. For entrees, we had the Rack of Colorado Lamb & the Seared Tasmanian Salmon - both cooked to perfection and AWESOME! The gorgonzola bread pudding side was fantastic. Also, they have a VERY extensive and impressive wine list, complete with a list from local wineries in Monterey and Carmel. Ended our meal with the Creme Brulee Trio and called it a night. I don't smoke but found it a classy touch that they have a cigar menu. Also, before our table was ready, we were able to sit at the cozy lounge and have a couple cocktails - some of the most yummy drinks I've ever tried, EVER. Lastly, the view is just breathtaking. The windows are almost floor-to-ceiling and extends from one end of the restaurant to the other and you just see an entire expanse of the Pacific coast, with waves crashing against the rocks....sooo pretty :) And then when it gets dark, you can watch the bats darting around in the moonlight - great for dinner entertainment!!! (jk...ick!) Overall, a fabulous experience and I will definitely come back the next time I'm in the mood for fine dining and wining in Carmel!
(4)
Skip F.
It's hard to beat this kind of ambiance. The setting and service alone get you to four stars. The food, though not the finest I've ever had, is certainly high enough caliber to make this a destination restaurant. The restaurant is about four miles south of Carmel off Highway 1. Time your reservation so that you get to see the sunset. Although every seat is really nice, put in an early request for a window seat. It's just a tad nicer. The service is absolutely tops. Never invasive, but always there and attentive. They didn't even pause when I gave them my (now common) request for a blue cheese stuffed olive for my martini. Our waiter ASKED if we'd like to take some time between our appetizer and main course. How often does that happen?? Some food suggestions - Though everything was great, I though the abalone and was fantastic as were the short ribs. Two more bits of advice - Order off the wine list. The sommelier told me that Hyatt is trying to pare down this extensive list so there are many great deals here. Also, stay at the highlands inn! Then you can stumble back to your room after the blue cheese martini and wine. Go for another ocean side view.
(5)
Andrea C.
I'm surprised Pacific's Edge doesn't have a better rating. My husband and I love to come here for special occasions when we can splurge (a lot) and drive down from San Jose! The views are amazing and we've always had a great table to enjoy them. The first time we came was in August for our anniversary and then in October for my husband's birthday. If we return to a restaurant we normally like to try something else but I think we had the same meal (or at least appetizer) the two times we've been here - it was that good. We highly recommend the abalone appetizer. I also appreciate the staff - they are attentive but not overbearing and don't rush you out for another sitting. And now I'm craving a fabulous super expensive meal I cannot afford at the moment....but it's so yummy!
(5)
Brian S.
My girlfriend took me to Pacific's Edge for my birthday. We were greeted by a friendly host and, as promised, since we arrived at 6:30 pm, we were able to snag an ocean view table. The views were impressive, but the food and service were sorely lacking. A steak knife was not even available at the restaurant for my filet mignon, which is entirely unacceptable for a restaurant of this purported caliber. Also, three failed attempts at bringing me a poor quality knife, two of which were absolutely filthy, with no apologies and slow haughty responses. I have had better 7 dollar burgers in the Bay Area!! Definitely good for a drink and relaxing in the lounge, but it would be better to take your money elsewhere for dinner, perhaps in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea for half the price.
(2)
anthony j.
Went here for dinner after a day at the monterey bay aquarium. The food was ok nothing special... The ocean views is what makes this place special. Had a $25.00 off coupon from restaurants.com
(3)
Hannah Q.
The views are outstanding, but after the sun sets, it's just a fancy and REALLY expensive restaurant stuck out in the boonies. I found the food to be just a little flat and, considering the hype, I'd really expected more out of it. Sure, there's nothing on the menu (except maybe the coffee) that I could make at home, so that's fancy and special on its own, but... considering the price, it's just... "eh." I've been really spoiled by having blow-your-mind meals at Aqua and Lacroix, so perhaps I'm just jaded. When we ate here, our reservations were for about 10 minutes after sundown. We got there early enough to see the sun drop into the ocean, but if I ever eat here again, I'll make sure we're dining, or at least seated, with 30 minutes to spare before the sunset. The restaurant itself is too large and bustling for a truly relaxed fine-dining experience and, strange but true, our waiter started flirting with me, not in a "I'm gay so it's okay" non-threatening way, but in a "hey, if you wanna meet up later..." tone right in front of my husband. I would have been uncomfortable even if my husband wasn't there, but the energy was just... yuck. blech. So, will I go back here? Sure, if you're or someone else is paying, but only if I'm already down that way and if we get to see the sunset. It's just not even worth the drive to Carmel for me.
(3)
McKenzie M.
The food here is incredible. We've been three times and service was great the first two. The last time it was just so-so but the food is amazing.
(5)
Alison N.
This is only my second 5-star rating and it was well deserved. I was told about this place by my friend who is a bigger foodie than me and I trust her taste completely. This was my first mind blowing dining experience and I'd like to recreate it for you here and now. The guy I was dating at the time wanted to go to Monterey for the weekend, so I thought it was the perfect time to experience Pacific's Edge. He was a total foodie too, so I knew he'd appreciate a fine meal. Our reservations were for right after sunset and it didn't matter that we couldn't see the sun set because it was so foggy you couldn't see it anyway. We arrived about 20 minutes early, so we sat at the bar and had a couple of cocktails. This is where I've had the BEST Cosmo of my life. It has yet to be duplicated. It's definitely a sign of confidence when the bartender pours your Cosmo and it's clear and he says "here's a sidecar of cranberry juice for you. I didn't want it to taint the vodka." Let me tell you - it was the best damn Cosmo I've EVER had. My date had a Maker's over, and you can't really mess that up. Once we were seated, our server came by and informed us how to order (it's kinda like a 'make your own tasting menu'). I asked him for a wine recommendation and he delivered with a VERY nice pinot. Granted, it was $100, and who spends a bill on pinot? I do, I do! Now, I don't remember exactly what we had to eat, but what I DO remember is that it was absolutely delish. Even the the cauliflower soup with truffle oil was beyond belief. We each had 3 courses and shared a dessert. I remember that we had a rhubarb/strawberry beggar's purse with confectioner's sugar and it was the perfect blend of tart and sweet to end the evening. After all was said and done, the bill was a pretty penny, but well worth it. The service was perfect - we weren't rushed; the food phenomenal - very good recommendations; and the Cosmos - what else can I say about them.
(5)
Helen G.
My husband and I had the opportunity to dine here this past weekend, on Friday and Saturday evenings. We appreciated the warm reception from the hostess. Our servers, Alex on Friday evening and Tim on Saturday evening were very helpful in regards to the menu . We were able to enjoy a variety of foods, all prepared to perfection by Chef Matt. Paul Fried demonstrated his expertise of wine and food pairings as well. His knowledge, friendly and warm personality truly made our evening a memorable one along with the rest of the staff. The view was incredible as well. We will definitely return.
(5)
Bernard M.
Incredible view, but the food was mediocre. Not tasty or even a hint of tasty. We're not price sensitive, but I will say for what we paid it was just not worth it. They try to position themselves as an upper-tier restaurant, but the food was just mid-tier non-tasty. Well, we just went there one time, so maybe we should give it another chance down the road.
(2)
Amy O.
I have been here a few times for Easter brunch, and it is the best buffet or high-end items...you'll be full, but definitely worth the meat, fruit, desserts, veggies...especially since you are dining witha a beautiful view of the ocean.
(4)
Larry L.
My wife, daughter and I had dinner this evening at the Pacific Edge restaurant. Alex our waiter was very attentive and performed very well. The rod was good overall, a 8.5 out of 10. Our disappointment was the sommelier this evening. First he insulted us as e went it f his way to ask if we understood the corkage policy. Policy??? We brought a $800.00 bottle of wine with us. Dd he need to go over the corkage policy with us especially in an insulting way? To add insult to injury, we asked him for a bag to place the reminder of the wine that was in our bottle in a bag enforce leaving. His reply, we are out of bags. Really, you expect me to believe that an high end restaurant can come with a bag for our wine bottle after spending $300.00 on dinner and the $40.00 corkage? I said nothing, and mentioned to my wife that when Alex comes ack, I am going to ask him for a bag, which he delivered without hesitation. When I asked to speak to his manager, I ended up with a gentlemen, that was cold, rude and offered nothing but "I will take care of it" Not the response I expected at a high end restaurant. Very sad that two associates in important positions are lacking in basic customer service skills. Larry
(1)
Sara B.
I have had wonderful experience both times I have eaten here. The staff made my husband and I feel like VIP from the start....was a nice touch. The food was a-mazing, not to mention the wine list, and the view. It was an incredible evening.
(5)
Sarcastic T.
We went to Pacific's Edge for the Christmas Day dinner (set menu) and I can't find a single thing to pick on. Wait - yes I can! The wine menu is two books (large books) and tilted to the expensive end - just be forewarned. The food was beautiful and very good - they serve European size servings which is a nice change. The staff were top-notch and very professional. Add the ambiance of the amazing views, and you have a delightful romantic restaurant.
(5)
Dietrich H.
Pacific's Edge is the Highland's Inn restaurant. It's situated in the Inn, along the cliffs of the Carmel highlands and has a MAGNIFICENT view of the Pacific. Even though it's branded Hyatt, don't expect the standard hotel restaurant fare. This food is amazing. Lunch or dinner, they have fantastic American cuisine. I've enjoyed their, lamb, duck, steak, and fish over a number of special meals I've had there. It's nothing most of you haven't seen before, but it's done extraordinarily well. My wife and I spent our engagement weekend in the Carmel/Big Sur area, and Pacific's Edge, being the 2nd restaurant we'd eaten at since getting engaged, will always be special to me. For the food. Please, I'm not that cheesy. The food, coupled with the view and company is 2nd only to Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn in the area.
(5)
K T.
I'm from the area and finally visited this renowned location this weekend. What a delight! It is pricey- but you are paying for the view and the "culinary experience." The food is excellent. Great wine list (however marked up more than the norm) We sat next to the window-ladies..bring a coat or sweater- its a chilly spot but the view makes up for it! Alternate idea- you can sit in the bar area (which has a view as well) and just order a cocktail or dessert! Service was great too! Highly recommend! One of the best spots to eat on the Monterey pennisula.
(5)
Barbara J.
Pacific's Edge reputation lived up to the hype last Saturday night. When it was apparent that it would be impossible to make the last seating because of the rain and wind on Highway 1 causing delays from Cambria, I was reassured that my party could arrive late. That professional courtesy set the tone for a very memorable meal which began with a glass of champagne and the succulent Hamachi Poke, followed by the Maine Dayboat Scallops with a black truffle emulsion and finally topped off by a deliciously decadent Holiday sticky pecan bun. For all of these reasons would recommend this restaurant without reservation.
(5)
Jones T.
Damn this place is expensive. Came here on Christmas Day. Had a fixed menu for 85 dollars. Food was great. View was better. The view is absolutely amazing. The service was great. I don't know whats holding me back from giving this place 5 stars, but something just ain't right.
(4)
Greg V.
One of my all time favorites ...although I don't get to Carmel as much as I'd like (technically, I believe this is Carmel Highlands, with Pacfic's Edge located in the luxuriant Highlands Inn / Hyatt Park Carmel). While Pacific's Edge is definitely pricey, this is one of the cases where for a special occasion, I think its well worth the extra bucks if you got 'em. Pacific's Edge serves tapas-style with assortments of small and large plates that you then mix and match (and share) -- all of which have been wonderful, by the way. The waiters have always been extremely helpful in guiding us in matching the ranges and sizes of dishes. I would list some of them, but (a) I can't remember most of them (although I remember they were great) and (b) they change regularly. Pacific's Edge also has an amazing wine list. It is pretty much an encyclopedia, although don't fret, there's help. And of course there are the breathtaking views overlooking the Carmel seashore. So yeah, its pricey, and yeah, it's dressy, and yeah, it's a long drive from the greater Bay Area, and yeah, its not particularly popular (so far as I know) with the hip crowd, but hey, none of that should stop you from trying it out for yourself. Oh, and did I mention the decor is a 60's modern - not retro, original. Groovy! :-)
(5)
Jules M.
You pay for the view. The food was a bit disappointing (I'm from near SF so I have many choices of great 4 star restaurants). I don't know where the chef went to (if he/she even did) culinary school, but some of the stuff he came up with was mind boggling. Ingredients he put in the dishes didn't complement; my fiance took one bit of his dessert and pushed it away. We had the five course meal and after the first course, I felt queazy. One good thing about this restaurant are the many complementary chef dishes. Usually you walk out of 4 star restaurants feeling content, not full. We walked out of this restaurant feeling FULL. Be prepared to stay there for a long time (3 hours) if you get the 5 course meal! I would recommend doing a la carte because all the dishes, except 1 on the 5 course menu was a disaster.
(3)
Alana F.
The only reason for the 3 stars was the service. The food was fantastic and the view spectacular. The server thought way too much of himself but was slow. The Sommelier helped us pick out a great wine that went with both of our entrees then we never saw him again. He went to all three tables around us and poured their wine but not ours. He clearly ignored us. In fact the server didn't pick up on this either. Sorry but for $300+ for dinner, I'd like my wine poured for me. Call me crazy. They were slow to clear our dinner plates and took so long with the check we went to the host stand to pay. We also told the GM of our experience and gave us his card, apologized profusely and asked us to send him a letter. He never did anything with the check. You couldn't pick up our dessert and coffee?? Now I have to take more time out of my day to write you a letter about the experience I just told you about?? I think I'll yelp instead.
(3)
Russ C.
Quite simply the best meal I've ever had. Food, service and setting were all stunning. The menu was unique in that you choose 3, 4, or 5 small dishes. I understand the menu rotates frequently so I won't bother with too many details, but each course was outstanding. I highly recommend cocktails in the lounge at sunset. Awesome views and great whale watching in season.
(5)
Katlyn M.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars. The service was really good, although I felt a bit rushed to order. It was however 8:55pm when I finally ordered. The signature dishes/recommendations were just "eh" such as the abalone and short ribs. The flavor pairings were a bit odd such as the abalone and sea bass dishes with red wine reduction. Red wine just doesn't seem to pair well with seafood, and it turned out to be be way too overpowering on the abalone I ordered. The abalone appetizer, which costed $30, was chewy and disappointing. I did however enjoy the lobster that I ordered as an entree. It was very rich, perhaps a bit too rich as all I could taste was butter on the lobster, in the sauce and in the potato risotto. I love butter, so I did enjoy it nonetheless. I figured I couldn't go wrong with something that is really quite simple to make. I also tried the scallops, and it came with foie gras on top, which again was an odd pairing for me. I like to be able to taste the star ingredient, and again the foie just overpowered the dayboat scallop. My husband's short rib was disappointing, as it tasted very common. However, I've never had short rib at a fancy restaurant that I liked. It just seems like a lesser cut of beef, and no one seems to make it better than Korean restaurants do. The foie gras that my husband ordered though was absolutely delicious! It came with a side of what tasted like cherry jam and toast, and it was very nicely seared. We had a very nice table with a "view." Unfortunately, there was so much fog we couldn't see a thing. Perhaps it is better during the day or at sunset during the foggy season. Overall, the dishes were hit or miss and then quite expensive. My husband was trying to take me to a nice place with a view, but unfortunately it was too foggy to see. With this restaurant, that's what you're really paying a premium for - the view. It's nice to have tried it, but for the price I'd recommend Marinus in Carmel. Food - 7 out of 10 Service - 8 out of 10 Decor - 8 out of 10
(3)
shadi m.
The view is spectacular. The sunset was beautiful and even at night, the lit trees and water look amazing. The service was so so. The waitress was a little clumsy and she didn't really have anything insightful to say about the menu except repeating every item one by one and saying how great it was. The wine was great! Good selection and the bottle of cab we had was fabulous. I had the sea scallops for my appetizer which were nicely prepared and huge. For my entree, I had the salmon. Def. one the of the better salmon dishes I've had. They did a great job of keeping the outside crispy and the middle very soft and yummy.
(4)
Angie M.
Incredible view, cool ambiance, nice architecture, fabulous food, impeccable service - this place has it all. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the rugged grandeur of the Pacific is dazzling, and they also did something cool with the lighting so the outside has a subtle glow. Was quite a visual spectacle when it was pouring rain as well; made the whole place feel very cozy. Also liked the split levels, and the dim lighting - both gave the place a seductive, intimate feel. On to the food... everything i put in my mouth was perfect and delicious. I was part of an 11-person party, which made it all even more impressive. From the fresh from the oven rosemary bread (a server walks around offering 3 kinds: sourdough, cinnamon walnut, or rosemary) to the wine the chef suggested for us to the sea bass with trumpet royales to the bites of several kinds of desserts and everything in between (chef also brought us all little mini pumpkin soup and the most exquisite bit of lobster in a creamy corn risotto, perfectly presented salads - every dish they brought was gorgeous. the sea bass was perfectly done - creamy white flesh, crispy skin on top. food nirvana. service was impeccable, too - perfect delivery without ever being obtrusive. I give this place 5 stars hands down and thank god for the industries that can expense impressive dinners :)
(5)
Jeremy S.
Top notch dining in the most amazing of settings. Unreal views of rocks and ocean. No sacrifice on the cuisine either; delicious small plates and an award winning wine list. Business casual dress required.
(5)
Kirill B.
A wonderful place to watch the sunset to live retro tunes on Fridays and Saturdays
(5)
David H.
I have been eating here for the past seven years and also stay at the hotel whenever I am in the area. I have had, lunch, brunch, and dinner here (probably thirty times) and the food and service is always consistent. You really have to eat here to appreciate the food, view, and atmosphere. Every appetizer, entree they have served me has been excellent. The wine list is also excellent; save room for dessert. Great place a date, special occassion, or just anytime if you are in this area. If I lived in Carmel this would be on the top of my list.
(5)
O.J. W.
We decided to eat here since we were staying at the highlands. They were able to accommodate us without a reservation since it was a Monday night. We were sat at a table and ignored for 10 minutes, no offer of water, no bread and there were 2 different busboys standing around doing nothing. Finally a rather snooty sommelier came over to us. The wine list in my opinion was obnoxious, celebrating everything but California wines unless it had an inflated price attached to it. Our waiter finally came over and did not even apologize for his lack of service, not even a glass of water. Never saw a manager and our waiter did not do anything to make up for the fact that we waited 10 minutes for a glass of water or his acknowledgement of our existence at one of his tables. I did not expect a discount or free desert but I did expect an apology. Instead he spent the entire meal acting as if it never happened! No apology, no acknowledgement, not even a blaming the lack of service on the hostess. It was as if it never happened, even after we told him point blank we were annoyed. The food was good, not great. We had short ribs that were tasty but not succulent or remarkable in any way. The tuna tartar was ok but the ceviche was excellent. The desserts were great, top notch and we ordered coffee to go with them, but we were nearly finished with our desserts long before our coffee was served. That same inattentive and clueless waiter David didn't even notice or acknowledge the poor timing. Overall, for the price, I would've expected to be treated better and would've expected more remarkable food or at least a more attentive diner focused experience.
(3)
Alex C.
We were fortunate enough to have dined here when Executive Chef Cal Stamenov and Wine Director Mark Jensen ran the show prior to heading over to found Marinus Restaurant at the Bernardus Lodge. The loss of these two would have wrecked most restaurants and, for a time, it seemed like Pacific's Edge was similarly fated. I recall one meal in particular. The style of the menu had completely changed and the change was not in keeping with the tradition of excellence that this place has established. We were debating whether or not we should go back at all. But we did and we were delighted to see that this restaurant with a gorgeous view did not have to get by on looks alone. To behold the rise and fall of greatness can be sadly awesome. It reminds us how delicate perfection is and how subtlety, excellence, and nuance are reflections of the same gem. However, observing this process pales next to the witnessing of the entire process of the transmogrification from something sublime to something equally excellent, though new and different. The current Executive Chef, Mark Ayers, is certainly at the helm of something great. His pork belly was killer.
(5)
Melissa K.
Its a very romantic restaurant. The service and food is top notch. The restaurant is so fancy, even the waiters have business cards. If you go there, get a table near the window, the view is fantastic. The lobster bisque soup was great for appetizers.
(5)
Kristen L.
This place gets 5 stars for the food, service and incredible sommelier, Mark! He is soooo good...we are still craving the Dirt Worshiper, thank you very much! The setting of the place is just to die for and of course, would be a wonderful complement to any food, but particularly to what pacific's edge has to offer. I really enjoyed their protein dishes. The lamb was perfect and the tenderloin was as well. I had the baked pasta and unfortunately, despite it's monstrous portion, it didn't really deliver like I expected, it was honestly a little bland, good but a little bland. But as you can see, that doesn't spoil my perception of the place seeing as how I gave them 5 stars. We came for my parent's anniversary and they were really sweet about it, they had decorated the table which was a nice gesture. For desert we had the chocolate souffle and if there's one thing you order when you're here, let it be that (other than the Dirt Worshiper). My advice is to order a protein when you go because I think they take true pride in that. And you must, must talk to Mark and ask him for The Dirt Worshiper, trust me, you will NOT be sorry!!!
(5)
Katie M.
My boyfriend and I were driving down highway 1 and sightseeing. We had heard the view so unbelievable amazing, and that we had to have a drink at the restaurant. The restaurant is at the Highlands Inn. You will first see valet parking, but there is also a self-park lot. We were there at about 4 pm, which I know is a transitional time in a restaurant between lunch and dinner, so I'll forgive the weird-ish vibe in there. Though, I find that hotel restaurants often have a kind of awkward atmosphere. The view CANNOT be beat though, so I have to recommend going there, at least for a drink. Caveat, it's very expensive--wine, by the glass, is between $12 and $20!
(4)
Tiffany W.
If you are going to splurge, this is the place to do it! The food was excellent, the service was great, and the view was amazing! They do not have many vegetarian options, but I was impressed with what I ordered. The food is creative, but not overboard, and a delight to the palette. The sommelier was very knowledgeable and interesting to talk with. Be aware if you bring your own wine, they charge a ridiculous $35 corkage fee. They do offer an impressive wine menu of their own, including a nice selection of dessert wines.
(5)
Michelle M.
We were just at the Highlands Inn and had an anniversary dinner here. We've eaten here before & have never been disappointed. The service, food, wine selection, and views are just incredible. This place is a must for dinner if in the Carmel area.
(5)
Julia W.
Delicious seafood, nothing on the menu disappoints. Stunning Views, elegant setting, great service!!!
(5)
Tim L.
The view is definitely awesome: we had our reservation at 6:15 and requested a table near the window, so we saw the sun slowly set during our entire meal. However, the food was unimpressive - I didn't really appreciate the French influence in the food. Was it tasty and did I clean off my plate? Uh-huh, but for the price, we were expecting a little more... Judging from the crowd, I think we were one of the youngest people in the joint; it's restaurant a la baby boomers .. a la rich baby boomers I might add (one of the nearby patrons exclaimed that he had a lamborghini and blah and blah.. I almost aspirated on my stupid martini thinking of our honda civic parked in self parking)! In conclusion, Pacific's Edge has a great view for a romantic dinner and serves good solid, conservative American fare that will leave you satisfied, but won't amaze your palate.
(4)
Alex A.
Be prepared to drop a couple of Benjamins to eat here.. but know that you will probably be having the best meal you have ever had. Get there early and ask for a window seat. By far one of the best views of Carmel and the Pacific Ocean. We aren't high rollers and were hesitant to pick a wine.. so we opted for the champagne which was oddly affordable to the point that we thought it was a typo.. yeah.. they have some of the best wines around.. but go for the champagne because it was good.. matched well with everything... and adds that extra panache to what will be an evening of culinary foreplay.
(5)
Liz N.
Beautiful views of the ocean and great for a special occasion. It's quite pricey but definately worth it! Everything we had was beautifully executed to perfection! The only thing I would complain about is the staff is on the stuffy side. The waiter was so serious and not too friendly...need to learn to smile :)
(5)
Larry W.
Had dinner with my spouse on a Tuesday night. She had chicken and I had the rack of lamb. We split an oyster apetitizer. Food was excellent and service was great. Unfortunately the fog started to roll in late in the afternoon so we were not able to see the sunset.
(5)
Greg J.
My wife and I went here for our 5 year anniversary, chosen partly because of the great reviews here on Yelp and also because of a recommendation from a family member. The view from our table right next to the window was gorgeous. That's about the only good thing that came out of this experience. The very next day, I had a very bad case of diarrhea which lasted for about 5 days. Here's what we ordered: heirloom tomatoe appetizer, lobster appetizer, braised beef short ribs entree, duck breast entree, and the chocolate sphere for dessert. My wife and I shared everything with the exception of the duck breast entree which leads me to believe that was what caused me getting sick. I did call the restaurant to complain and of course they said that they had not received any other calls with similar circumstances. They said they would be sending me a gift certificate which they did, but the amount I received was not even 25 percent of the final bill, pretty disappointing. Aside from getting sick, I felt that the food was pretty mediocre, I probably wouldn't go back even had I not gotten sick, now I definitely won't be returning. The restaurant's manager was apologetic and his intentions were okay, but my expectation of compensation for this experience obviously differs from his.
(1)
Rose C R.
This place had the most stunningly beautiful views, perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific with massive floor-to-ceiling windows that made the view the star of the show. I hafta say that the meal we had was secondary as compared to the gorgeous view. Don't get me wrong, because the service and the meal were top-rate, but we went to Passionfish in Pacific Grove the night which knocked our socks off. Overall, it was a truly romantic, elegant and beautifully stunning dining experience fit for a princess! Fancy dining with impressive views... Fantastically expensive that is sure to put a huge dent in the wallet..
(4)
Kumi B.
Fancy, sophisticated, romantic restaurant with ceiling-high windows to gaze out at the spectacular ocean view. I would have given them 5 stars just for their delicious 5 course meal (i think i remember 5) that my boyfriend and I enjoyed on Valentine's Day this year, except we had to wait for an hour to be seated. Although it was an understandable freak mix up between our reservation and another patron's reservation, it resulted in us waiting over an hour to be seated, on top of the fact that we had already driven an hour and a half from Mountain View to get there. We had reservations at 8pm and were seated around 9:15pm. However, they still get 4 stars since they gave us an assortment of wines (a glass for each course) to compensate for the wait. Excellent food, excellent wine, excellent ambiance and breathtaking views...I highly recommend eating around sunset. Reserve in advance. The mix up and wait that kept us starving was a little disappointing, especially on Valentine's Day, but by the end of the evening, everything was worth the wait.
(4)
KC W.
Excellent service and attention to detail. Fabulous food and breathtaking view. The facilities (restrooms, etc.) other than the restaurant could use an update.
(5)
Tony L.
Its hard not to like a restaurant with as stunning views of the California coastline as those that one enjoys while dining at Pacific's Edge. As part of the Hyatt Carmel Highlands resort and sitting at the very edge of the rocky coast, you can have an amazing experience mostly because of how breathtaking the views are, especially during sunset. This is a spot where you'll want to break out the almanac in order to capture that precise moment and make it really special. Arrive early to give yourself some time to get acquianted with the space and everything it has to offer. We parked ourselves at the bar and enjoyed a couple of nice glasses of wine (after perusing through the massive wine list - it is literally over 50 pages long). At the time, I was a pretty big fan of Chardonnay and particularly enjoyed the Sleepy Hollow Vineyard from Talbott. The decor is quite fancy; most patrons were wearing business casual or above. The space itself was quite large and can be dizzying at first to navigate through. I remember there were a number of large groups as well. Obviously, the best tables are the ones next to the windows where you'll be able to gaze out into the Pacific and when darkness falls, spotlights shine through the trees. You might even catch a bat or two flying about. I had the filet mignon with bernaise sauce - medium rare and cooked to perfection, it was very juicy and tender, full of flavor and well-seasoned. Each bite basically melted in my mouth. I also tried the California white sea bass served with roasted butternut squash, brussel sprouts, applewood smoked bacon, parsnip puree, and truffle jus. This restaurant is clearly a place where you would save for a special occasion and cherish every moment you have while you're there.
(4)
Doll F.
One of the most amazing views in town. My husband and I decided to swing by for dinner one night and enjoyed the location. His steak was good, my pasta was pretty flavorless. The best part of the meal was the candy bar desert. Go here for a drink and enjoy the sunset. I'm willing to give it another try, even though I was disappointed by my first visit.
(3)
Jon F.
Wow. Amazing view as everyone else here on Yelp has stated. We stopped in for lunch & ate outside on the patio. The prices are little high but expected and are completely justified by the view. My wife really enjoyed her shrimp salad and my chicken sandwich was also really good. Complimentary bread was also delicious! I would definitely recommend this one.
(5)
Amy N.
The view was great but the food and the service were ok. We sat all the way in the back to avoid the noise because we had a baby so the view was semi-blocked by a green roof. We ordered the tuna tartare and ceviche for appetizer and short ribs and rib chop for main course. Both appetizers were very small portioned and didn't have any wow factor. The same can be said for the two main courses. The short rib was bland and dry while its sauce was very salty. The rib chop was a bit too salty and not worth $62. We had told them in advance we were coming to celebrate our wedding anniversary but they didn't bring us anything as pictured by some on here. Lastly, our waiter didn't seem too thrill we didn't order wine or dessert. If you want to come enjoy the view, dine next door at California Market restaurant. The view is as spectacular and the servers didn't seem as pretentious..I'm sure the bill would be half what we paid too.
(3)
Star M.
Food: 4 Stars Views: 5 Stars Service (Wine): 4 Stars Service (Food): 2 Stars (3 Stars for the bus staff only, 1 Star for the waiter) Overall Taste in my Mouth: 2 Stars The good: Made a last minute reservation on Open Table for an 8:30 seating -- after sunset. Got a great corner 2 top table -- view would have been stellar, if it had been daylight, but it was still lovely at night, with the moon and the clouds and the water. A very private table because the two of you sit 90' to each other, with only glass on the other two sides, so your back is to the rest of the diners. Sommelier made a great wine recommendation with our dinner selections. Our food was great -- braised short ribs were divine and rack of lamb was lovely. The bad: Our waitress was very friendly and nice; however, the greet time was in excess of 5 minutes (closer to 10), she didn't tell us about any daily specials when she gave us the menus and wine list, so we had already ordered our wine based upon our initial review of the menu items as the night was already dragging a bit; and the bus boy and sommelier did the rest of her work, including delivering our food, clearing plates, asking about water and bread refills and dessert order, etc. Once our order was in, she essentially disappeared. We had noted in our reservation that it was our anniversary & the hostess wished us happy anniversary as did our waitress. But, coincidentally the two tables next to our also were celebrating anniversaries -- one of them got two glasses of champagne and the other got a free dessert with a candle, etc. So, for our waitress to simply say "Happy Anniversary" seemed a bit hollow and awkward. What makes it worse is the fact that we used a Restaurant.com gift certificate for $25, which automatically added 18% to our total bill, including our $165 bottle of wine and the tax amount. [We are frugal -- that's how we afford our wine!] So our tip amount was over $47 for two entrees that totalled $99. I'm hoping the sommelier got part of the tip share, because after our bill was $303 (including the $47 tip and $27 tax), we chose not to tip him. We expected the 18% on the food -- but not on the wine or the tax. [MANAGEMENT: YOU MAY WANT TO RECONSIDER A FIXED 18% WHEN SOMEONE SPENDS $165 on wine]. Affixing a mandatory tip to a bottle of wine is unconscionable. We would have given her a $20 tip on the approx $100 food bill (prior to the $25 gift certificate) [NOTE -- which would have been 20%, which is more than 18%] and the Somm $20 or $25 on the wine separately. You do not customarily tip the same amount (15 - 20%) on the marked up bottle of wine [$165 for a $75 retail (not even wholesale) bottle], particularly if you have a Somm in addition to the waiter. THAT IS JUST BASIC FRONT OF THE HOUSE SERVICE KNOWLEDGE. Net -- we probably would have spent within $5 - $10 of the same amount at the end of the meal. But -- the way it was handled and the mandatory 18% on WINE was beyond the pale . . . . If the wine hadn't been so delicious, we definitely would have left with a very bad taste in our mouth. We love Carmel, we are Hyatt Gold Passport Members, we like wine and views -- but we will be hard pressed to EVER visit or recommend this restaurant. It's a shame -- it was a lovely evening, we enjoyed our meal and the wine and the views. This could have been a 4 Star (not quite 5 Star review -- still the issues with Sonja's service). But, alas, it is all I can do to not give it 1 Star review. Dan & the wine saved the evening.
(2)
Sherry G.
We stayed at The Highlands Resort and was looking forward to the dinner after viewing the menu at the hotel. The view is fabulous! I will say the windows were not clean and when you are selling this view that was distracting. The food - a mixture. I ordered the Cesear Salad one if the best - crisp romaine hearts with a fabulous dressing and topped with a crostini. I also ordered the Sea Bass with chantrelle mushrooms and polenta. The Sea Bass was perfection - would have liked more than just a smear of polenta. Polenta should be rich and thick on the plate not barely brushed on. The truffle shavings were delish. Husband ordered the Kansas City Steak medium and pommes frites. Steak was OVERDONE he is nicer than me and did not send it back. He did inform our waiter George, who was aloof and said, yes that happens with aged beef. Well...no it happens when you over cook the meat. The pommes frites- if they are frozen shoestring French fries like mcDonalds please don't call them pommes frites...and charge $8.. Awkward moment when sommelier brought over a wine we did not order. Service: attentive service. George was a little smug and corrected my husband when he ordered French Fries and he said oh you want pommes frites? George we have been to Paris at least a dozen times we know what they are. Again would expected a fresh potatoes. We did not order dessert, sort of wanted to be done with George.
(2)
Cynthia G.
Beautiful Location!! This place overlooks the Rocky California Coast at its best. I had one of the most amazing steaks ever, and I would not classify this place as a steakhouse. I also had great oysters. This place is a little pricey, but I expected this from an upscale restaurant. I would recommend this place for a romantic getaway dinner!
(5)
Stella W.
the food was great...we got there at 5pm winter..so can't see the view outside. without the view...i say it's not worthy for the price..
(3)
Rick B.
Good stuff: The wine list had lots of good selections. The somm came over and helped pick out a stellar white Burgundy. The view is what you come for, and we had a good seat for it. My wife really enjoyed the first course and her dish. Bad stuff: The server forgot to put in one of our first course orders. The $45 halibut plate came out and the fish was overcooked. Really dry and lacked in flavor although the description sounded really good. More good stuff: The server took off the $45 plate and replaced it with something else and also didn't charge me for 2 desserts and a glass of wine. More bad stuff: It's expensive. If you read other reviews you'll see a consistent theme. Overpriced for the caliber of food quality and service. For 2 people we dropped $350 and for that kind of coin you'd expect the best service. They not only forgot to put in one of our orders but also messed up the bill. Overall, it's a 3-star experience. Probably won't go back but glad we experienced it once.
(3)
Shiho F.
Still haven't dined here but I've enjoyed numerous cocktails in the lounge by the windows overlooking the Pacific. Service is solid and prices are high but I don't mind, I'm paying for the total experience and it's so worth it. I love California Market but next time I look forward to trying the food at the Edge.
(4)
Maureen R.
The most romantic date I can remember! Especially enjoyed dancing in the lounge after dinner...mid-century modern... throw back! Loved our waiter, reminded me of Einstein! Cocktail Hour: Chopin Martini Aristocrat Manhattan: Knob Creek, Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Orange Bitters, Brandied Cherries Wine: Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: Domaine Serene - Evenstad Reserve 2007 Starters: Yellowfin Tuna Tartare - jalepeño -lime aioli, brioche Heirloom Tomato - swank farms, burrata, pesto, herb fin Main Course: Sonoma Duck - carrot "confit", pomme ancienne, huckleberry jus Wild King Salmon - swank farms white corn, chanterelle, chardonnay sauce Dessert: Salted Peanut Butter-Caramel Bar shortbread, chocolate mousse, jivara chocolate ganache, peanut butter parfait, malted milk ice cream After dinner drinks: Champagne Louis Roederer - Brut Premier, Reims, France Aristocrat Manhattan: Knob Creek, Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Orange Bitters, Brandied Cherries
(5)
Larry S.
An outstanding view, great service and very very friendly people in all positions from hostess, waiter and wine steward and very very good menu! We enjoyed ourselves and wished we had such a good option back home. I know there are recent reviews that were not the best - we did not have any of those issues. Ask for Tim. He was great. When my wife dropped her glasses he dropped to the floor to find them. He was helpful in making menu choices.
(4)
Angelo A.
Amazing food, exceptional wine, and incredible service. I had trouble finding a wine that would please everyone in my party. Thank God for Donald or Don Mallery (the Sommelier). He is professional, incredibly knowledgeable, and one of the best in the business. He suggested great wines (not just expensive) but wine that we would love. We had a great experience and have returned many times and it is always the same. Perfect. Go to Pacific's Edge (one of the best views in the country so I highly suggest visiting at Dusk) and ask for Don Mallery, enjoy the food, wine, and view. You will return. I promise. Service and food as it should be. No complaints.
(5)
Angela P.
This is the place for that romantic dinner, overlooking the ocean, watching the sunset and having a glass or two of wine with your main squeeze. The service is impeccable, the food excellent, and the prices outrageous. If someone else were paying the tab, or this is that one time event, then ok. Otherwise, it is overpriced. We reccomend just going for a drink, and then going on into Carmel or Carmel Valley for some good food that dosen't require taking out a loan.
(3)
Christian G.
Very mixed bag. The wine server was very attentive. Not so the waiter. We had the wines for the first and the main course on the table before we even had the chance to order the food. The first course was excellent, the steak was well done not medium as ordered. Did not have the chance to complain since the waiter was nowhere to be seen. When the check arrived we knew the reason for his attitude or the lack thereof: 20% service charge was already added on. We will certainly opt for another place in Carmel to celebrate a special occasion.
(1)
Lori F.
We went here for our 3rd anniversary dinner, purely to eat while having an amazing view of the setting sun on the Pacific ocean. They did have a chef's tasting menu but we really weren't too excited about the offerings. They have an extensive wine list, and had a sommolier available for any questions. Ultimately we decided to create our own tasting menu, and ordered a la carte. We started out with the Monterey abalone with mussel saffron emulsion, parsnip puree and black trumpet mushrooms. I was surprised by how tender the abalone was. The black trumpet mushrooms gave the dish a great depth and earthiness. My husband also had an order of oysters. They were very fresh, and came with some great garnishes. For our second course we split an order of the porcini soup. It had an espresso foam and a brioche crouton. The kitchen was kind enough to split our order into 2 separate bowls. This soup was amazing! It was so silky, and mushroom-tastic! Our main course, I had the Maine day boat scallops. Scallops are my favorite food, and I can't resist getting them whenever I can. At first I was a bit disappointed with the portion size, of only 3 scallops, but they were very large, and proved to be more than enough. They were served on top of a sunchoke, chantarelle gratin and a black truffle emulsion. So good. One of the best scallop dishes I have had in a very long time! My husband had the coriander crusted, pan seared yellow fin tuna. We asked our server whether or not this tuna was sustainably caught or not, and he went to the trouble to ask the chef where and when the fish was purchased. It was a sustainably, line-caught fish, by the way. His fish was served on top of baby bok choy, and fingerling potatoes. Very tasty. For dessert my husband ordered the salted peanut butter~caramel bar comprised of peanut shortbread, jivara chocolate ganache, caramel sauce, and a milk chocolate~caramel mousse. I ordered manjari chocolate decadence cake, crème fraîche, toffee butter crunch, sea salt, caramel ice cream, chocolate snaps. It was so rich and delicious! They brought out our desserts with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate on our plates. It was a very touching gesture, and we really felt that our special occasion was important to the staff as well. Overall this was a very special dinner, and the bill with tip was $275. That includes 4 glasses of wine (2 per person), 2 first courses, 1 soup, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts, all ordered ala carte. The view was amazing, and there is no better scenery to enjoy while eating dinner.
(5)
Jake T.
Great view! Especially check out sunset! Wine menu cannot be beat! We've been here 3 times so far...each to celebrate an event (anniversary). Did the tasting menu the first time with wine pairing and it was phenomenal. The bread is to die for! Different servers take care of different things (bread, drinks, etc) so you constantly have your ever need attended to. The tasting menus change and so it's sometimes hit or miss depending on your taste....my wife always gets the steak and she loves it. Fantastic desert menu. Haven't tried anything from the cheese menu but that's next on my list for next time! If you can, get a reservation for sunset and just enjoy the view!
Wonderful ambiance and delicious food. Best sunset views in town, hands down. Must try their scallops!
(5)
David Y.
My fiance and I dined at Pacific's Edge last night to celebrate her new job, and it was a fantastic experience all the way around. Neither one of us had ever dined there before, and although we did read some of the reviews (good and bad) here on Yelp, we both went with open minds. Going on somewhat the spur of the moment, we weren't able to get a reservation for sunset to take advantage of the amazing views that the restaurant is known for. Even so, we were greeted warmly at the reception desk, and led to a window table. The staff, from the moment that we were greeted, till the time that we signed the check, was attentive, but not smothering. Everything flowed smoothly, and we never really had to wait for anything. Our drink order was taken, and in a matter of a couple of minutes, our bottle of Pinot Noir was at our table. My fiance had the Wild Mushroom Ravioli, and it was a delicious dish. My Yellowfin Tuna was cooked to perfection, and in all honesty, was the best that I have ever tasted. The portions were good, we even saved room for a slice of the Chevre Cheesecake, which arrived at out table adorned with a small chocolate "Congratulations" square on top, recognizing my fiances achievement. A very nice touch. Let's get one thing straight, this is not an inexpensive restaurant, by any stretch of the imagination. I have never minded paying top dollar for a meal, and that includes the entire restaurant experience, from beginning to end. Pacific's Edge served what we both considered was a world class meal, and delivered it with the service to back it up. Will we be return customers? Oh yes, and we'll be there to enjoy the view next time!
(5)
Mr. R.
Let me start by saying that our server, Sonya was, as always, very courteous, and is very good at what she does. She is unassuming, and not at all snooty (although we have had a snooty waiter here before). Sonya is the tops and does a great job answering questions about the menu, etc. We have eaten here probably 7+ times in the last 4 years. Feel free to see my prior review. We ordered the Tasting Menu: -Sashimi (Salmon, Yellow Tail, Sea Urchin, Tuna, Caviar) -Pork Chop / Wild Boar -Duck Breast -Almond Cake Our suspicion was that it wasn't going to be enough food, so we supplemented in with an additional course that we ordered a la carte. The sashimi course was our favorite, followed by the duck breast. The sommelier helped us pick out a nice champagne, that was reasonably priced, very crisp and paired nicely across a wide variety of foods. So, great service... a nice menu, why 3 stars? Well, for starters, our Pork Chop / Wild Boar Chop, was cooked correctly for my wife, but massively undercooked for me. Unfortunately I didn't notice this until I had already had a piece. OK, OK, OK, I can see the meat titans of the world staring at me right now. I eat my beef Rare Plus (between rare and medium rare). I am not scared of blood. But with pork, the center of this meat was raw for mine. Again my wife's was fine, but it left me a little alarmed that I had already eaten some undercooked pork. I pointed this out to Sonya, and she had one look at it, then looked at my wife's, and rushed mine back to the kitchen and quickly replaced it. The thing that struck me was that it would have been apparent to the person plating the dish that it was undercooked for pork, and a completely different color than the one right next to it (my wife's). Additionally I continue to struggle with the value of the tasting menu, it doesn't have quite enough oomph for my wife or me, in terms of quantity of food. It is priced similar to many other 5 or 6 course tasting menus, at similar quality restaurants, but we generally need to order an extra course when we dine here. Our dining experience here was roughly $375, and while it wasn't bad, it didn't blow me away. I have had dinners at that price point blow me away, in fact, they usually do. There was nothing wrong with our dinner (other than the undercooked item), but we just weren't dazzled like we expected to be. We have been dazzled by a tasting menu here in the past, but weren't this time. All in, it was a 3.5 star dinner, maybe could have grabbed the 4 star but for the pork. But the root cause of my rating? Very good, doesn't get you 4 stars at that price point - it needs to be Excellent... and truly Outstanding to get a 5.
(3)
Jenny H.
Ugh, I had a horrible experience here mostly because of my rude waiter named Fernandez. I'm not sure if it's because I brought in a restaurant.com coupon that included 18% gratuity so he didn't feel like he had to be nice to us, or if it's because I didn't order any wine at the beginning and he thought I was being cheap. I don't handle alcohol too well, so I usually don't order any wine with my meals if I want to enjoy it. Here's a few examples of what our server did during the meal to upset me: - After we got seated I took out my DSLR to take some photos since we had a window seat with a nice view. I set my camera down after the bread came. Fernandez comes by and tells me "You should put your camera away otherwise we'll probably get food on it." He said this with some attitude, when he could have just asked me to move it to other side away from where they serve the food. I don't understand why I should put my camera away, and I've never had anyone else ever tell me to do that at a restaurant. - After our food came, I noticed he didn't come by to check up on us for a long time. I didn't particularly care, but I only noticed because I overheard him asking the table in front of us, then walking past us and checked up on the table behind us. He briefly came by when we were almost done with our entrees and said "How's the food" and "Okay". He was chatting quite a bit with those two tables about the food, weather, and Carmel, but didn't even bother speaking more than a few words to us. - When it came time for dessert, we were quite full and decided to share the Highlands Inn Kit Cat bar. After I ordered saying "We'll have a ..", our server replied with "Just one?" There was no need for him to make that comment. - After we finished dessert a good 20 min passed and our server did not come by to give us the check so we tried to flag him down. He made eye contact and I thought he nodded, but continued to walk to another table so we had to wait another 5-10 min. It was getting late and I wanted to leave so I was irritated that I had to wait even longer for him. As for the food, we had the Roasted Beet Carpaccio and Yellowfin Tuna Tartare for starters. I enjoyed the beets more than the tuna tartare which is usually my favorite. I found the sauce a little too creamy for my taste, and I didn't like the brioche croutons it came with. For entrees we had the Bone-In Ribeye and the California White Sea Bass which were both pretty good too. My favorite part of the meal was the Highlands Inn "Kit Cat" Bar that we had for dessert. Overall 4 stars for the food, -1 star for the horrible service, -1 star for the price. I wouldn't come back just because I didn't find the food that impressive and was not worth the price.
(2)
Joe N.
This is my 50th review on yelp and have been waiting for a place that was worth making my 50th....maybe I'm a little sentimental...who knows.... I had planned an entire day around Monterrey, Pebble beach, and Carmel and wanted to end with something special. I don't think I could have picked a better place....I called ahead of time to get reservations and asked for a table by the window...the hostess explained to me that they were first come first served and typically fill up around 6PM but since this was a special date she said she would try as hard as she could to save a table for us.... When we got there they had a table dead center of the room by the window for us....I couldn't have picked a better spot myself. It was a little warm with the sun beating down so make sure you have your sunglasses with you but it was well worth it...we had the pork and the lamb....the pork was good but the lamb was one of the best I've ever had...we also had the Ceviche and tuna tar tar....both good choices although it didn't blow me away....skip the mushrooms for the sides but the whipped potatoes were pretty good....lastly...for dessert make sure you get the chocolate bread pudding....I'm not typically a dessert connoisseur but my date was...especially when it comes to bread pudding and apparently this was the best she ever had... One other suggestion, if you bring your own bottle of wine make sure it's a nice bottle...the corkage fee is $40 which they will waive the fee if you buy a bottle (although they were pretty marked up)....
(5)
Kim D.
Views are spectacular!! There's literally not a bad table in the restaurant. I can see why this place made "Top 10 Best Restaurants with a View". So beautiful! They have a separate lounge area for drinks & appetizers too if you're not interested in a formal dinner. We found the service and food to be amazing. On the evening we went, we ordered the Monterey Bay Red Abalone, Rack of Lamb, Fish of Day, & Black Forest Cake. All were excellent. Reservations were recommended...the place was packed!
(5)
Felix H.
Wonderful service. Great view. Amazing food. Hands down couldn't have asked for more.
(5)
Anthony L.
Visiting Carmel for the Christmas holiday and staying at the Highlands we naturally jumped at the idea of eating dinner here. We had a 7PM seating in December, so it was pitch black dark. However we saw the view earlier during check-in and it's pretty amazing. The service was a little slow to get rolling, but once into the meal it was more than satisfactory. For Christmas dinner they had a fixed four course meal and the choices were good. For my main course I had the most amazing bone-in rib chop in my life. Pan seared in a cast iron skillet, it was cooked to a medium-rare perfection! We had a hard time picking a bottle of wine, so one of the in-house Sommelier suggested a bottle of French Pinot Noir. It was wonderful! Why not five stars? Value. Even though an excellent meal, it was very expensive and could have been a better value.
(4)
Tara M.
Ok let's see. This is what we all refer to as a "view restaurant" and that is exactly what you get. The food is a step below mediocre, as is the staff. I remember coming here years ago and really enjoying my experience. Maybe they are coasting (no pun intended) off of a reputation they had in their heyday, but that as clearly passed. We were staying next door so decided to come over for a dinner. It being my birthday we brought a special bottle of wine that we wanted to drink. Now, we are not typical bring our own wine type of people but this was a special occasion. We are then told that their corkage is "$40 maybe $45 let me check." Backup. Who is the world charges $40 (or $45) dollar corkage. I'll tell you who - a restaurant that currently aligns themselves with $10 for $25 gift certificates on restaurant.com , that's who. I'm not one to scoff at corkage but REALLY, c'mon you serve FRIED CALAMARI. That really blew us all away. It wasn't the money, it was the principle. Anyway, I won't be back. Luckily we even convinced some other people staying at the property we were at not to go the next night. Hope that $40 corkage was worth it Pacific's Edge! Go check out Marinus in Carmel Valley. No view - but you'll have a much more memorable dinner!
(2)
Mark E.
Dinner for two valentines day. $125 per person plus a $65 half-bottle of wine. Total bill of $400, because 57% gratuity included. Okay that's fine. I sign the check. My bank statement shows $485. Eventually I was able to get a hold of staff and ask, their only response was that it "might" be a security deposit so I have to now keep checking on it. Two days later ANOTHER $485 charge shows up. WTF?! So now I'm $900 in the hole. These guys will take you for a ride. Be warned.
(1)
Lawrence L.
Definitely a fan... My wife and I were celebrating our 12th anniversary in Carmel, and decided to celebrate with good food and a nice view. This place definitely had both of the main things we were looking for. We were greeted by the host, who also congratulated us on our anniversary. We were seated by the windows with the expansive view of the cliffs and pacific ocean (although, it was a bit foggy). Another host came by to sprinkle some glittery stars on our table (nice touch). We started off with oysters, red abalone (scrumptious), and scallops for appetizers. We both had the braised pork belly with chorizo reduction for our main entree, and we ended the meal with the black forest chocolate cake... I had the wine pairings which made the meal that much better! We both ended off the night with a latte' and cappucino. Surprisingly, we didn't have to roll out of the restaurant, as the servings were just right. The service was excellent and very friendly, and the view was a bit covered by the fog, but was gorgeous nonetheless. I highly recommend Pacific's Edge for anyone looking for a top quality with a great view. We would definitely come back again!
(5)
T N.
The only thing I can say for this restaurant is that it has amazing views. As far as the food is concerned, it is really awful. Food is bland and overpriced. I ordered the fish and my wife ordered the ravioli. The fish had no taste and the ravioli was swimming in oil. We could have cooked a much tastier meal at home. Go there for the views and maybe a drink but skip the food.
(1)
Daniel G.
For our one year anniversary, my wife and i decided to return to the scene of the crime and head back to Monterey for the weekend. In doing so, i choose Pacific's Edge for us to have our anniversary dinner based on the recommendations from several Yelp friends. To sum up our experience here, the food was excellent, the view was stunning, and the service was terrible. We got the earliest seating available, which was 6:00 PM, so that we were ensured a window seat with a view of the sunset. In retrospect, most seats in the restaurant would have been just fine for the view with the exception of a wing that runs along the side wall which only had a view to the south. The restaurant itself is situated pretty much right at the edge of a hill about 50m above and away from the coastline, which provided for a spectacular view of the surrounding area, and particularly of the sunset. The food was fantastic. For starters, we had the following: -Half a dozen of the chilled oysters, which i believe happened to be miyagi oysters on the day that we went. -The sea bass and scallop ceviche. This dish was okay, but needed more citrus added to it. Also, it was served with what tasted like a cheap-o store bought Old El Paso tostada shell -Roasted beet carpaccio. I be rockin' them beets. I'm crazy about beets lately, and this dish was excellent. Just a note, there was no actual meat so i'm not sure why they called it a carpaccio... -Endive. Kind of like a salad, also very tasty, had a great blend of tart and sweet flavors, and the nuts added great texture. For entrees, i got the fish of the day, which was a sea bass and Nique got the scallops. Both dishes were excellent. The fish and the scallops were lightly salted before cooking which gave them a flavorful cooked on 'crust' from being grilled. To go with the entrees, we got two starches, the polenta and the risotto, but in hindsight, we should have only gotten one or the other. Dessert was comped since it was our anniversary, and we were given the chocolate decadence cake. It's fudge, nothing special. I which we would have requested one of the other options that they had for dessert because i wasn't terribly happy with the cake. As far as the service, my wife put it best, no one likes to be served by a big, sweaty jerk. Our waiter seated us and took our drink order and then promptly forgot about it and went on to seat the rest of his section. We ordered water to start, sparkling and still, but had to remind the waiter after 20 mins that we still hadn't gotten it. That's a bad sign. For the rest of our stay, he was about a step away from being just plain rude in my opinion. My wife won't necessarily agree with that statement, but i just felt like this guy was annoyed that we were there, and i don't like that feeling coming from a waiter. And this guy was sweaty, like, the whole time, which is gross. I don't even want to think about some dude walking around, sweating all over my food, it really takes away from the experience. Lastly, he messed up our bill and charged us for drinks that we did not even order or receive, which was just icing on the cake at this point. I would give 4 stars for the food and easily give 5 stars for the ambiance, but for our waiter, i'm going with a 2. All in all, we had a good experience here and i would definitely come back, but for the amount of money that we paid, i would not be served by the same waiter the next go around. 4 stars.
(4)
Anson D.
It was our third visit last Saturday on February 11th. Unfortunately, I have to rate the experience significantly lower, because of the decline in appropriate service and food taste. The server, Alex, was overly attentive and kept interrupting us while we held hands and conversed. Obviously he did not pay attention and instead insisted on doing what he wanted regardless of our conversation and intimacy. Instead of approaching from the side to retrieve dishes or lay out knives and forks, he instead reached between and over us as we held hands. We had to stop talking and release hands to accommodate him! I understand restaurants need to turn tables, but we got there early and ordered promptly. His reaching between us started before and after the food arrived. As for the food taste, I ordered the sea bass and my fiance had the short rib. Although portions were very small....something we knew in advance, the fish was overcooked and could have used some sauce to minimize the dryness. As for the short rib, that too could have used some sauce to moisten the dry meat as well as add more flavor. The Cesar salad surprisingly lacked much taste, especially when the two small slivers of anchovy barely had much flavor, not to mention the bland dressing. As for the carrot cake dessert, that too was a disappointment along with the vanilla ice cream that barely tasted vanilla. All-in-all, we selected Pacific Edge because it offers a very romantic ambiance, wonderfully situated, and holds a special meaning for us from earlier experiences, but the service needs to improve, as well as the food taste, to elevate the restaurant to a higher rating in our books and to justify a fourth visit. Kudos to the host because she was very friendly, polite, and pleasant.
(2)
Sam K.
This restaurant is at the Highlands Inn, a quarter mile drive up from the freeway. Come here for the VIEWS, the SUNSETS, the NIGHTTIME SKY & LIGHTS VIEWS, the romantic special anniversary, birthday events with your loves ones! Do not bring kids to this restaurant as the atmosphere is totally for couples only. (a lot of couples kissing and holding hands, rated "R" sometime ). Of course, we come here for the views, not exactly the food. We are actually quite disappointed with the food quality since our food was luke warm and not hot. That's a real bummer. I did not like my steak since it tasted like a steak you can order from Denny's. The food is on the "expensive" side, and for the price paid, you will get super disappointed if you come here to eat, and eat only! Please do keep this in mind. Come here for the romantic talks, the views, the holding hands, the kisses =))) Will we be back, maybe.
(5)
Joe M.
Most amazing dinner view! Perfect overlook of the pacific coast from our table made for the most romantic sunset meal. Wild mushroom ravioli was ok. Service was great.
(4)
Kari D.
We went here for Valentine's day last week, for the four course dinner. The views are definatley amazing, we were promptly seated right by the huge window overlooking the water. The fog kinda killed the sunset and since it still gets a little darker earlier, our reservations were about 6:00 and sunset was I think 6:15 ish. So the rest of the time we were staring out into the dark abyss. But I am sure its amazing in the summertime on a nice no foggy day! The set menu was definatley above and beyond, we did the wine pairings, which we were told $175 per person. We were overcharged at the end, which we didn't speak up about, but they charged us $200 per person. The wine pairings were a good idea though, you get a full glass with each course that is paired with your dish, so 4 glasses total. I kinda regret going to the wine reception before hand, at the tickled pink inn, where we were staying because I drank way above my limit. The food was really good and we each ordered something different so we could sample all the offerings. I can't say I was dissapointed with one dish. Service was good, although at times I felt like the server treated us kind of condescendingly. Maybe because I asked for a lemon to go with my oysters instead of dipping it in the vinagrette that was offered. One thing I have to mention-I don't want to sound like a snob, but the restrooms are definatley one you would see at a mall. I have to applaud the sardine factory for one of the most amazing bathrooms that seemed posh and fit the restaurant's style. In no way would I ever rate a restaurant soley by their bathroom. But if you need to go, it isn't as lush as I would have imagined. No biggie. I really enjoyed my time here, but I probably woudn't visit again, I just wanted to cross it off my list :)
(4)
Michael H.
Not the cheapest place to eat but one of the most memorable. This restaurant at the Highlands Inn Hyatt has three important things going for it. 1) The stunning view of the Big Sur coastline ... at dusk. 2) The food 3) The wine list Highlights of the meal for me were the super succulent Tuna Tartare and the perfectly cooked Filet Mignon which was up there with the best steaks I've had at both the Plumed Horse and Alexanders. JZ's Squash Tart was gorgeous, as was her main course of Seabass. The carrot cake was beyond moist. Mmmm. Drinks were also well made. Finally, service from our waiter Mark was exceptional. After your meal, you can head through to the lounge and enjoy some chilled out piano music. Tip: Get here nice and early so you can get a window table and watch that sunset!
(4)
Jared B.
The Pacific's Edge Restaurant is as near perfect is it gets. This is a kind of place you go to for a special event. Excellent food and the perfect ocean view. They offer a five or six course meal which makes it the perfect two hour even. Must be topped off with a bit of their house made ice cream
(5)
David G.
This is one of the Monterey Peninsula's most expensive restaurants, so excellent service is expected. Regrettably, it's not what customers receive. I suffer from migraines. On a recent visit, I ordered "plain" green tea, i.e., with no added flavorings that could trigger a headache. When the tea was served, it was not plain. After considerable delay, they brought a different pot-still not plain tea. At this point I spoke to the maitre d'hotel. He found some tea bags, and one of them seemed possible. A waiter removed the tea bag and disappeared to get hot water. Meanwhile, bread was served. We were told the choices were sourdough and rosemary. I dislike sourdough, so I selected rosemary. I took one bite and learned that the so-called rosemary bread was actually sourdough bread with rosemary added. By then, I'd been in the restaurant for an hour. I'd eaten nothing, had nothing to drink, and I'd developed a migraine. Things didn't improve much as the evening progressed. I'd hoped to order polenta as a side dish. However, because of my food sensitivities I was concerned with the preparation. I explained this to the waiter. When my entree was served (with a vegetable side) the waiter said that the polenta did include something I could not eat. Of course, now it was too late to order pommes frites as a starch to accompany my entree which was already cooling on the table. Pacific Edge has a gorgeous setting and serves some good food. Nonetheless, I cannot recommend this restaurant. I live nearby, and I'm much happier when I avoid the restaurant and order the bar food.
(2)
Sheeva G.
What a gorgeous restaurant! When you walk into this place, you pretty much get the most gorgeous panoramic view of the coast. Bf and I stayed at the lovely Hyatt Carmel Highlands for the weekend and we chose to eat here for an amazing romantic dinner. We sat at the corner table (best in my opinion) and had a lovely meal. We started out with the mission fig tart and the roasted beet carpaccio. Both were decent but not amazing. Then we had the Colorado rack of lamb and the filet mignon. The lamb was beautiful and my filet was one of the best I've had. We also had a side of potato puree which was lovely. Then we had the chocolate bread pudding and it was very yummy, but I would have liked it a little warmer. We had very nice wines and the service was great. I will definitely be back to this restaurant because it was so gorgeous and romantic. Nothing beats a romantic dinner with my bf ;), especially with a stunning view!
(4)
Bryan F.
The food wasn't bad and the view was incredible, but the service was horrible. The first thing our waiter said was "what do you want to eat?" He didn't go over the menu, make any suggestions, or anything that an experienced waiter would do. After our meal we had to ask to see a dessert menu, and after waiting 10 minutes for him to come take our order we decided to leave without dessert. If you decide to go here and you get Fredrick as your waiter ask for someone else. The other waiters we overheard at nearby tables were great. Also, the waiters assistant was phenomenal. We wish he could have been our waiter because he actually seemed like he cared about the customers.
(2)
Bobby B.
Poor service. 15 minutes before they took our drink order. Same for the rest of our meal. Food just OK. And better ask for a seat near the window because that's the only thing here worth the prices.
(2)
Mihir M.
As others have stated, the views are great when it is not dark. Service was superb. The vegetarian options are limited, but are good. We had the sweet corn bisque soup which was outstanding. The herb risotto was good not as often happens with risotto, the rice could be a little softer. The asparagus was simply grilled tasteless asparagus, but healthy nonetheless.
My GF decided to surprise me and take me here for my B-day. From the moment we walked in this place was Amazing...The Views are breathtaking. I decided to go with the Chef's Menu with wine pairings. it was Awesome!! all four courses were perfect with the wine suggested. My Gf had the chicken, it was the best chickens both of us have ever had. super tender, and juicy. The deserts were just as amazing as the dinners we had. Service was ok. but it was super crowded there. Still you need to try this place. I know i will be going back
(5)
Jeff P.
Top 5 meals of my life. The setting from the views to the fixtures is awesome. The staff is amazing. As the age old joke goes, men are hesitant to ask for directions. Apparently, so am I..... when it comes to getting wine recommendations from the Sommelier. When I finally relented and discussed my desired food selections and ideas of a wine paring, Don jumped in and nailed it. I had decided to begin with a Caesar salad followed by the pork chop. So, I was thinking Chardonnay. He recommended the '04 Mount Eden. Mount Eden is known for their ageable Chards so I agreed. Unfortunately, I sensed something off when I tasted the wine and Don agreed and offered up the '05 at the same price. Not only did it pair perfectly with my meal, it was definitely one of the top five wines I have ever had. My Caesar was unremarkable. I began to get nervous knowing the financial commitment I had made to the meal. However, the garlic crostini which acted as the croutons were to die for. The pork chop was perfect and as near to heaven as I could imagine. Cooked perfectly, the texture, taste and temperature were consistent throughout. A life changing pork chop. I had it with a side of their herbed risotto which was sublime. My dessert of an off the hook, chocolate bread pudding was also life changing. Easily among the top three desserts, if not the best dessert I have ever had. All in all, an amazing food & wine experience.
(5)
Joel F.
Positives: --attentive waitstaff --fresh seafood --amazing views --my entree, the yellowfin tuna, was great. perfectly seasoned Negatives: --too few selections of wine by the glass --abalone app was really expensive ($28)...though it was great
(4)
Stephen K.
No complaints about the great food or incredible view. Both were as good as Yelp's reviews led us to believe. But the service was absolute crap. I have eaten enough $200+ meals to know when I am being snubbed. I know the difference between giving us time for conversation and outright ignoring us. Waiting 45 minutes to order dessert falls into the latter category. We finally flagged down a sommelier who wrangled our waiter. We had no appetite for dessert at that point. The waiter managed to delivered our cheque and wish us goodnight without making eye contact, presumably to drive home that fact that we weren't welcome. I was better dressed than most of their customers and am no stranger to restaurant etiquette. The only reason they that I can think of to explain their treatment is my age. Maybe they figured I wouldn't tip well; that is their mistake, but with this treatment I was more than happy to reinforce the stereotype. I know that if I had silver hair and a hefty paunch they would have treated us better. It's a shame, because the restaurant really is as beautiful as they say.
(1)
lisa l.
This was - hands down - one of the best meals I ever had. Every bite was perfect. The chef is a GENIUS. Brilliant brussel sprout salad, the best scallops I have ever eaten, abalone appetizer is a MUST TRY. The service is fantastic -- waiters and the rest of the staff extremely attentive... The views are spectacular!!!! Oh -- and the desserts are OFF THE CHARTS. Do NOT leave without trying the bread pudding. Can't wait to come back to Carmel and will be dreaming of Pacific's Edge until the next time I visit...
(5)
Gary F.
Out of the Way - Pacific's Edge - Carmel, California Some restaurants are so fortuitously sited that the wisest thing that a chef can do is to stand out of the way, not blocking the diner's line of sight. This is the challenge of Chef Matt Bolton at Pacific's Edge. The Pacific's Edge restaurant, located in the Hyatt Highlands Resort in Carmel-by-the-Sea, has an astonishing view. It was named as one of the ten best restaurants with a view by USA Today in 2006. The award is deserved. Looking out over, yes, the Pacific, the restaurant remind us just how fortunately those living on the coasts can be, and with its high perch even a tsunami would not diminish the pleasure of dining. All tables have a view of the Pacific, but some are nestled up against the windows, awarded on a first-come/first-served basis. We were grateful to have been informed of this policy, allowing us to snag a 6:00 p.m. reservation and a window view. The sunset was not as glorious as some, but was superb none-the-less. Pacific's Edge serves well-prepared, if somewhat conventional, modern cuisine. A four-course "tasting menu" ($99/person) is not overly adventurous, but is quite successful, never failing to please. We began with an Asparagus Vichyssoise with a luscious Truffle Pecorino Grilled Cheese petit-four, crispy spring onions, and prosciutto de parma. While the soup was delightful, the two-bite sandwich was ideal. The Wild King Salmon with Olive Oil Poached Artichoke, Oven Roasted Tomato, and Chanterelle was a pleasant, properly cooked piece of fish, if a bit minimalist. Our main course was a well-conceived, evocative Pan-Seared Breast of Sonoma Duck with a five-spice pastilla (fried duck confit basket), English Peas and Shoots, and Duck Jus. The pastilla was unfortunately greasy, but the rest of the dish was sturdy and warmly evocative of a California April. Dessert was a Meyer Lemon Semolina Cake with Pine Nut Sable and a sparkling Raspberry-Rosemary Sorbet. While this was not an elaborate creation, it was creatively presented and flawless. It is perhaps unfair to note that the food at Pacific's Edge is not among California's best. That may be true, but it doesn't mean that the evening isn't as pleasing as any. Pacific's Edge is a restaurant to see and to sea.
(5)
G M.
Fabulous views, good food & good service. We were there middle of Oct, on a day when there was a heat wave & the dining room was too warm. Many people fanning themselves with their menus. We had the tuna tartare (yums!), ceviche (just ok), short ribs (fork tender & yummy), black bass (again, yummy), chocolate bread pudding (tasted more like chocolate lava cake, just ok) & hazelnut cake (good). I had mentioned that it was DH's bday & they comped his dessert. The chef even made a little chocolate 'happy birthday' sign that they put on his dessert. Server could have been a little more attentive but he certainly wasn't neglectful.
(4)
Raina C.
My Fiance and I just recently stayed at the Highlands Inn and dinned here at the Pacific's Edge and we don't have a negative thing to say about either. The view from the windows of the restaurant are breathtaking. The service was above and beyond- EVERYTHING was delicious, and the dining experience was fantastic due to the great service.
(5)
Christine H.
For our 6 year anniversary, he chose this spot in beautiful Carmel to celebrate. We arrived promptly and were seated within minutes. The manager was kind enough to switch us to a table at the window for the beautiful view, as a table had opened up. He did it without my requesting.. which is very nice. We ordered the following: - Yellowtail Tuna Tartare: fabulous.. I wanted a second plate. It was so well presented and the flavors were delicate and married wonderfully. - Bone-in Rib-Eye: good, a bit overcooked and the flavor was unique and unexpected. More of a bold flavor. - Risotto side: good, a bit salty and undercooked? - Asparagus side: good - Highlands Inn Kit Cat Bar dessert: good - Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp dessert: good Our server was also really attentive and wonderful. The sommelier was attentive and suggested a wonderful cab to go with the rib-eye. The manager came by before our meal and grabbed our camera to take a photo for us. He was very kind and read my mind very well. ;) They were so sweet to comp us on the desserts. SO SWEET! I hope to go here again to try their other offerings, maybe try their cigars too.
(5)
Emily B.
First of all, this restaurant is a must visit for the views alone. On a recent vacation to the central coast of California, we searched for a place where we could have a belated Valentine's Day dinner on the ocean. On the day of our reservation, it rained off and on. We arrived at Pacific's Edge around 4PM and sat in the bar along the window. The views of the ocean and the rocks below are unbeatable. In addition, there were two rainbows that formed when we were there, making the view absolutely picturesque. Beware though, make sure that you arrive before sunset. The sunset is gorgeous, but the ocean is not able to be seen after dark. The food was alright. I had the scallops, which were average. My fiance had the short ribs and he enjoyed them. The food is a bit overpriced for the quality, but it is worth a visit for the views. I would recommend going for a drink and an appetizer, and then moving on to another restaurant for dinner.
(3)
Ian N.
Over priced for the quality of food, weird service/wait staff, ridiculously pompous wine list and a menu that is far too pretentious... We were very disappointed. We went to a restaurant the following night (flying fish in Carmel) which was twice as good and half the price.
(1)
Louise K.
Overall we had a good time, great views food was OK but very expensive. they had a huge wine list, but the staff was helpful sorting through it
(3)
Michelle C.
Go for drinks in the bar and the view. Do not eat in the dining room. Our food was terrible and the service was extremely disappointing. We saw our server when he took our order, brought my wine and brought our check. When we informed him that our soft shell crab was too greasy and cold, he gave us attitude. The beet carpaccio featured about 4 slivers of beet. However, the worst part about the entire experience though was the restaurant menu itself. For a restaurant situated right next to a plethora of tasty seafood, they source almost nothing locally. Red snapper, Maine scallops, Colorado lamp. This restaurant is wasting the opportunity to showcase the bounty of the Bay and is selling overpriced, overcooked, under flavored food fit for the masses. Not only will I not return but I will also not recommend this to anyone.
(1)
Rita Y.
This place was awesome. No restaurant I've ever dined at has a view like this. You might find one in Hawaii, but this is pretty breathtaking. Hubby & I came here for our anniversary and I was not disappointed. The interior is simplistic, modern and open. Tim, our waiter, is a local guy from Salinas and was excited about playing golf at Pebbles Beach golf course the next day ( i was excited for him, know how hard it is to get a tee time and how expensive it is). He graciously took our picture and I saw him do the same for the table of 4 next to us (French tourists). It's worth making reservations to see the sunset (we didn't get the orange glow because Monterey was foggy week long). My tuna tartare ($17) was good, but I've had better. I thought it had too much mayonnaise. Hubby liked his chowder ($9) and really liked his lamb ($32). I loved my large scallops ($34) which was nicely plated and the flavors were very good. Hubby's glass of local pinor noir (Candela, $15) was flavorful and the sommelier was helpful. I didn't like hubby's peanut butter and choc torte ($10) but my choc marquis (with pistachio, $9) was great. Would I go back? Absolutely. I wanted to sit there all nite long and watch the ocean and maybe get lucky and see a whale swim by. And the bathroom is really nice too, you must check it out even if you don't need to use it.
(4)
Jill B.
I would give 4 stars for the quality of food; HOWEVER, the prices are very high and for that I would have expected amazing service (not just amazing food). The time change (fall back) has just passed, so the sunsets at 5:30. We came here FOR the beautiful views; however, they don't sit people until AFTER the sun has already set and it is dark outside... so, NO VIEWS. What is the point then?? ARGH. We were the first to be sat and I let the hostess know that we wanted the best view and pointed at an option. We sat, took our coats off, and I mentioned that it was my man's birthday that night. She said "OH! We have a very romantic table over here, if you'd like". We followed her and sat... only to realize it was far away from all other patrons... kind of "in the back by the kitchen". Absolutely no view of anything. I saw some gorgeous "lit up trees" view and went over and asked her if we could sit there, she said "No, that is for the bar/lounge". Yet minutes later, I saw people being sat there and served. Hmmm... On top of the ZERO view and kitchen entrance/exit sitting, the service was VERY slow and disappointing. At one point, we were completely done (food/drinks), we sat and waited for the bill... and waited... and waited. Our waiter finally came by to give us our bill and left before I could hand him my card (was trying to get out of there!). Waited and waited again to have come by and pick up the card. Waited and waited again for him to come by with the receipt/card. Although the food was nice, we were really disappointed as we expected much better service (it was supposed to be really special for his bday and for our money) and a great view that we by no means received. I would advise them to open up at least an hour earlier ESPECIALLY AFTER THE TIME CHANGE, so people can enjoy what's best about you: the view!
(1)
Elvis J.
We always make a point to stop here when in Carmel. The view is amazing at all hours of the day and can make for a very romantic evening. The food in our experience has always been very good although my wife's flat iron steak was lacking in seasoning on this visit. Do yourself a favor and have the Knob Creek Manhattan. On a previous trip management was kind enough to give me the recipe but I still can't make it exactly as it is served here.
(4)
Jenny L.
Upon my annual trip to Carmel, I was excited to go and try Pacific's Edge. Five stars definitely on location. The views left me breathless; the view of sunset is indescribable. Then I began to notice how unclean the windows were [hence, minus a star]. I mean, if the restaurant's harping on it's views as the main attraction, the LEAST you can do is make sure your money maker is spick and span. Okay, let's talk food: We started with the Goat Cheese Fritters for apps. YUMMY! Three different types of delicious beets. I ordered the Pan Seared California Snapper and the bf had the New York Steak. We had the grilled asparagus and whipped Yukon potatoes for sides. Gotta say... I had to take out another star for the food. It wasn't bad... but it wasn't good. Bummer. xo
(3)
kathleen m.
This restaurant is a mixed bag. The views are wonderful, world-class. The food is pretty good. But the service is just weird. The waiter greeted us with "You've been here before, right?". When we said yes, he then kinda sneered and said "Yeah I remember you...". Odd and not at all welcoming. We ordered and the extremely pretentious wine sommelier then suggested various glasses of wine. I ordered off the menu, a $12 glass and he recommended a glass of red wine for my spouse, never mentioning that it cost $28! We should have asked, never again. The dessert was really spectacular- a chocolate croissant bread pudding, mmmmm. But the whole experience is ruined with their terrible service.
(2)
Girish N.
Go there for the view. Food is expensive as expected but did not disappoint.
(4)
Lu E.
The view from this place is incredible. The hotel looks like a great place, but we were only coming for dinner. We had great service and the food was overall pretty good. I had the halibut for my main course and i thought the fish was cooked well and was tasty. The marscapone polenta was also a hit. I had the goat cheese fritters as my appetizer...you had me at fritter and then you kept me at goat cheese...it was good. We also had some great desserts that we shared as a group. There was a chocolate peanut butter dessert that was really great and I am not even that big on chocolate in general. If you are in the area, I'd highly recommend. For the amount of food and the quality of service it was quite reasonably priced. Random thing that freaked me out while at the restaurant--while enjoying the beautiful sunset, i saw a bat outside. So that part could actually be pretty cool, but it kinda freaked me out. However that has no bearing on the restaurant...or this review really. I am just being random now. Don't mind me. However, do come for the sunset--it's remarkable.
(4)
SJ E.
The view should be amazing, but during winter time it's just darkness at dinner. The food was great, delicious, BUT not memorable. Nothing made me want to return and try again. Service and timing was spotty, as we waited for drinks and an hour between ordering and getting our food. Price point was not earth shattering, but you can save some more $$$ by getting certificates from Restaurant.com first. (This means that business must be bad though...)
(3)
jan d.
Well first of all it's a beautiful drive up to the place, and the outside landscaping -Asian in style is tranquil and calm, valet parking is a nice touch. Every table has a view of the ocean, get there before sunset for great views. Hugh wine list with a wide range of prices and half bottles too. had the abalone app. cooked great, a brussel spout salad with a warm dressing nice combo, and then the salmon cooked perfect. All dishes were beautifully presented. Desert bread pudding with a hint of chocolate with lavender ice cream just perfect. later we went to the lounge for dancing and a night cap. A great night out!
(5)
Bruce N.
Ive been to this resturaunt countless times and must say, WOW!!! The atmosphere of this place is like a dream. Not to mention they have a beautiful view of the ocean from where you sit to eat, a 200 foot drop to the water. the food is exquisit and the service is very friendly! I love this place soo much I spent my new years there and it was perfect! French food to make your mouth water and your eyes want to explode from exciting dish set ups. Savor the flavor of every bite becuase you will want to. This place is great for first dates, Birthdays and special engagements. This place has such a strong pull of influence in atmosphere and class! I had a women actually propose to me here. Its to bad I refused, but at least the food was unbelievably heavenly and i still left with a smile! Pacific Edge Resturaunt, a perfect place and a smile on your face!
(5)
M. N.
Very nice place and the waiter was great. Food would have been killer expensive but we just ordered a la carte and our whole meal cost $110 for 2, which is not unreasonable for the environment and quality. We loved the fact that before and after dinner we could relax by the fireplace right next to restaurant as well as listen to a great live band (piano/bongo/vocal/jazzy)...In hindsight we would have loved to stay in the hotel (restaurant is inside of the Hyatt), but it was too expensive. Can't really hold that against the restaurant but that's the only reason why I can't give 5 stars ;)
(4)
Leslie K.
The servers are so kind, sometimes a little slow. The food I've had is consistently good. The view, the fireplace, used to be Joe at Piano four- five nights (he was best part, classical and all). Joe may now only play Friday and Saturday with a singer. Nenito's drinks are always good.
(4)
sandy s.
31/2 stars for pacific edge. First off, the view from the restaurant is truly amazing. it can't be beat. one of the main reasons i would return ( and did return) is because of the incredible view. my husband and i had a table at the front window with an absolutely beautiful view of the sunset, but the views from most if not all the tables are pretty great! the ambiance of the restaurant is also great. it is an upscale restaurant and offers an upscale dining experience, but the staff makes you feel welcome without feeling overly stuffy or formal. it has a bit of a casual comfortable feeling unlike some other restaurants in upscale hotels. the staff made us feel comfortable there and the service we had that evening was top notch. everything was very timely. we never felt we were waiting for anything and we never felt rushed. the food was good. i didn't feel it was outstanding or memorable. some things were better than other things. i am not a meat eater so maybe i missed out on some of their better dishes. i feel their food and wine is overpriced for what i was served. my husband was happier than i was. i just felt the food was kind of average for such an upscale restaurant. Overall, pacific's edge offers a nice dining experience and if one is in the carmel area, i would recommend going, mostly for the view!
(3)
Suzy S.
This was the highlight of a weekend at the Highlands Inn. The food and drink was both excellent. My lamb was prepared perfectly and the brussel sprout salad was much better than it sounded. The one good thing about staying at Highlands Inn is we could toddled off back up all those stairs to our room in an food/alcohol induced haze. Service is smothering. Just a bit too over the top. I prefer not to have someone at my elbow throughout the entire meal. That took away from some of the ambiance. Be prepared to pay for an wonderful special occasion meal. It's well worth it.
(4)
Sung A.
Great food great views. Highly recommend the chefs tasting menu with wine pairing. Simply awesome
(5)
Elizabeth R.
I would have given this place 2 stars but the view was great. I ate here 2 years ago and I should have reviewed it then but forgot!! It was mediocre food and decor for the prices. We should have just walked to a restaurant in carmel and had better food. Sad times, view was great though.
(3)
Timothy F.
The best part is having a drink while looking over the Pacific at Sunset. Quiet, contemplative. Jacques will make your dining experience complete. He is charming and knowledgeable with great recommendations.
(4)
Steve H.
Okay the views are unreal, the service is great but the food was disappointing. We both had fish, the tuna was better than the snapper special but the portions were very small and weren't offered with a lemon wedge. The cheapest bottle of wine was $55.00 and the corkage fee is $40.00.
(3)
Cathi W.
We stayed at the Tickle Pink Inn right up the hill from the Pacific's Edge at Highlands Inn. When we arrived on Saturday evening, on New Years Eve weekend, we had wine and cheese at the reception at Tickle Pink. We met a few people who actually ordered room service from Pacific's Edge so we decided to give it a try. I had a steak and my husband had fish. It was DELICIOUS! We are not fans of room service but because Tickle Pink does not offer dinner we were delighted and the price was perfectly reasonable. Now the BAD experience.... We made reservations for 8:00 for the New Year's Eve five course dinner. Based on our "room service dinner" we were so excited! We arrived and were escorted to a corner table with absolutely no elbow room right next to the service buffet where they serve iced water, etc.... We politely asked to be moved to another open table next to the window. Our waiter obliged. The hostess then came to our table and asked if we "checked in yet" and what was the last name on our reservation. It was embarrassing to say the least. After a lengthy wait, we were asked if we would like wine. We ordered a very nice Italian red. My husband wanted champagne which was to be included in our inclusive dinner price. His champagne arrived after the 2nd course came. (Late wouldn't you say?) He was only approached one more time for the champagne during dinner. It's New Year's Eve people! The five course dinner was beautifully presented but was slight to say the least. Nothing to write home about. We each chose a different entree in the 5 courses so that we could experience the flavors and pairings with (empty) glasses of wine and champagne. The portions were so small that we ended up wishing for a pizza or SOMETHING when we got back to hotel. For dessert we ordered Irish Coffee with the dessert presentation. The coffee ice cream was the only hit I would write home about. This was a HUGE $700.00 DISAPPOINTMENT! I tried to call the restaurant upon returning home. I called and expressed my disappointment on January 3rd. The reservationist transferred my call to the restaurant manager. I left a polite message to tell them how disappointed we were. NO ONE EVER CALLED ME BACK. Today is the 16th of January and still nothing. This is my first Yelp review. I had to let Pacific's Edge know this way because the lack of response has finally driven me to this social effort. We are coming back for the AT&T Pro Am in February but won't be back to Pacific's Edge. There are too many other restaurants in Carmel that by far surpass this experience especially for close to $700.00 for a dinner with wine. If we come back for New Year's in 2013 we will be dining elsewhere for sure. The only reason I gave 2 stars is because one of them is for the room service meal. Sorry!
(2)
Araceli W.
Of course the food was wonderful. Although as a fan of eating, I'm used to larger portion sizes, but dinner with dessert was perfectly filling. For the price, I was really hoping to take a doggie bag home, and quickly realized this isn't the type of place to give doggie bags lol. One thing that struck us, is that they have very specific menu items, so substituting was not so easy and that's the only reason I gave them 4 stars instead of 5. My husband just wanted an easy salad with ranch, but they don't have ranch dressing. Another no-no for this posh place :) Make sure you RSVP in advance, I don't think they take walk-ins. We celebrated our anniversary, and they added the cutest touch to our desserts (see photos!) We'll definitely be back again next year! I really want to try the sampling menu, it was $90/person but you get to try everything! And I think that included paired wine! YUM!
(4)
Stanley C.
Went there for NYE for the prix fixe 4-course dinner. The wait staff was excellent as were the roaming sommeliers. Had a great dinner where the portions were 'just right' and the sommelier made picking a memorable bottle of champagne easy. From the moment I sat down til I left, I was genuinely happy. Wait staff did an excellent job of describing the menu and were right on the money when it came to replacing my eating utensils. The food was 'ok', not great like a Gary Danko, but more like a La Folie. I was not impressed with my goat cheese beet salad, and my date who had the lobster bisque lacked any punch and was sub par to my advanced palate (the bisque, not my date). Main course was forgettable, as I think the bottle of Rose was taking a toll on this lightweight. The ambiance was amazing, as the dining area was bursting with class and romanticism. Although we arrived too late to catch the sun down, I was downright impressed with their green lighting outside the large windows. A good mix of creepy and cool. I'm not usually fond of hotel restaurants, but I found it somewhat relaxing to graze the compounds after dinner. The whole place just oozed with class and sophistication. I believe I counted 3! fireplaces in the lobby and much to my surprise was natural wood burning... The huge photographs of Yosemite and the like that surrounded the lobby were a nice touch, but the price tag on each print sort of lowered the class a bit. From the moment I arrived til the minute I left, I felt like I was well taken care off, even though I lacked the distinguished look from the other male diners. Would I return? Sure, but probably only on special occasions.. I don't think the food was all too memorable, but the whole experience sure was. I say if they had a world class chef like a Mina or like, it would be contention for one of my favorite restaurants.. And that's really saying a lot.
(4)
Katie W.
This place is amazing! We found it from fellow yelp users and are so happy we did! We ended up going back the next day for lunch at their fellow restaurant. The atmosphere on friday nights is amazing. They have live music, dancing, breathtaking views, and awesome food. We had so many different staff members helping us through the night, I felt like we were celebritys! Everyone pitched in to make our night perfect. Next time I'd love to stay in the Hyatt Highlands and enjoy that place every night!!!
(5)
Tanya P.
This, our last night, we decided to stay close to the hotel and made reservations at the restaurant in the hotel. I actually LOVE that the rating above says "Meh" because that was pretty much it. View=beautiful. Ravaged Carmel coastline. Even in the fog, the ambience was superb. The food, however, left MUCH to be desired. The wine list was big. BIG. Every region from everywhere was respresented. Christine knows French, so once again, we settled on French. I have to admit, she has yet to disappoint. 2006 Chassagne-Montrachet. Minerally, lovely. The menu was brief, which I appreciated. There was a "Chef's Tasting" that featured salmon and duck and quite frankly, I just wasn't in the mood for either. The menu was split into course offerings. First offered salads, soups, oysters, hamachi poke with fennell pollen and the like. Second took on the entrees: half meat dishes like chops, the seemingly omnipresent take on short ribs, and the filet; and half chicken and fish such as sea bass and tuna; plus one vegetarian pasta dish. Well, a menu is only as strong as it's vegetarian pasta dish, right? If they can't pull that off, then the rest is just posing. Besides, Wild mushroom ravioli, made with locally foraged mushrooms, no less, in a brown butter sage sauce just sounded warm and all umami on this foggy evening. Sounded like it would be the perfect foil for this earthy wine. We both ordered the same. I was feeling carby, so I also ordered a side of Pommes Frites. I started with the Beet Carpaccio, which came fairly quickly. Three colors of heirloom beets sliced mandoline thin and topped with frisee, fava greens, chevre and a grilled spring onion and dressed in a delicate lemon vinaigrette. I stared at my salad, drooling ever so slightly, as we waited for Christine's fresh English Pea soup to arrive. We waited. And waited. We drank. We asked for more bread. I rolled my eyes a couple of times. Christine took a text from her husband about our wine choice. We admired the view. We played a bit of "What are those people doing here?" with the fellow diners. We twiddled our thumbs, adjusted our napkins, cleared our throats, and still no soup. What the hell?! Finally, after 19 minutes, her soup arrived with a swift apology from a different waiter than the one who took our order. He explained he hadnt seen the notation of the soup on the ticket. O well, no harm done. Hot soup! It's a good thing. Except, of course, it wasnt. It was so oversalted as to be inedible. Now, I'm losing patience. We flag the original waiter and explain that the soup is like the dead sea. She offers to swap it for the chowder, explaining that the chef is in love and not paying attention. Gracious as always, Christine acquiesces. The chowder arrives promptly but is also oversalted, though not as bad as those poor battered peas. They're English Peas, for chrissakes! Delicate! Feminine! Aaaanyway....my salad was a total highpoint! The beets were sweet and diaphanous, the goat cheese her perfect foil, the spring onion ever so slightly charred and smoky, her wise counterpart. The frisee and fava greens delightful, crunchy jesters all wound up in that sweet and sour lemon vinaigrette. I realize this sounds like one of those geeky renaissance faire's, but work with me here. I was lost in this salad. Again with the beets, I know, but this is one foodie fad I hope is here to stay. And now...the entree. A large bowl of ravioli arrives. It looks promising. Puffy duvets of pasta teeming with "locally foraged" mushrooms, surrounded by spinach and pine nuts and sage. A cup of crispy pomme frites is plopped down between us. I immediately launch into the fries, while Christine stabs at her pasta. The pommes frites are sublime. I think they are maybe coated in egg white before frying. They are crispy beyond belief and salted to prefection! I am in crispy, crunchy, salty nirvana, when I hear Christine ask "Hey. Isnt browned butter supposed to be...you know, brown?" "Eh?" I ask, regarding my entree. I create the perfect bite. A forkful of ravioli, spinach and pine nut and lift it to my mouth and you know what? It's greasy. And I mean GREASY. Like oily and slippery, alkalotic and Danny Zuko's hair. The browned butter is not browned as promised, at all. The filling is foresty and sumptuous, but the grease is so...greasy. Honestly, it's like butter flavored pommade. So, so disappointed. Something so simple. I search the plate for those granular tell-tales of butter delicately smoked in a watched sautoir, but there are none. This meal must end. We finish our wine. The waiter offers dessert but we decline, remembering the incredible pot de creme from La Bicyclette awaiting us in the room. Maybe we were here on an off night. Maybe the chef was simply "in love" and not paying attention. If so, his new paramour just lost him a patron. Although...I took the Pomme Frites!
(2)
Sean C.
The food was good, but I thought it was a bit overrated. I got the short rib and my wife the scallops. It was too fancy for me and the meals just weren't amazing... still good though. I would have rather come here while the sun was still up b/c it's a shame to come here at night with all the huge windows and not be able to enjoy the view.
(3)
Diane A.
K and I stopped here for lunch on our drive from SF to LA on the Pacific Coast Highway. What a nice place to stop! We sat outside on a sunny late December afternoon. I drank a raspberry margarita and K had lemonade. My lobster bisque was light yet creamy and the ceasar salad was so fresh. K's fish tacos were... well amazing salmon tacos, though not quite Mexican in their soul. Nonethless it was lovely and I would highly recommend lunch here. I liked having binoculars on the table. We didn't see any whales, but the table next to us did.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Carolyn K.
I was concerned by some of the mediocre reviews of the food here, but my visit turned out to be superb. A 6 p.m. reservation ensured one of those coveted tables along the wall of glass for sunset viewing. The view was AMAZING!! We ordered the butternut squash soup, short rib, bone-in rib chop, and a side of fingerling potatoes, and the peanut butter caramel bar for dessert. Everything tasted really fresh and delicious. The short rib was really tender and well-complemented by the risotto, mushrooms and vegetables. The bone-in rib chop was cooked to perfection. My only gripe is that portions here are small and things are pricey. But, it's worth it for at least one visit.
(4)Jerry G.
Easter brunch buffet was great although they started to close things up at 2:30 which given our 2:00 reservation made the experience a little rushed. Menu items were your standard omelette station, seafood selection, salads, etc. Always a great ambience and the service was solid.
(3)Mastercraft R.
I went to the Pacific Edge many years ago when they belonged to the Highlands Inn group. At the time, the food wasn't great. The cost was indicative of the setting, not the food. However, after the Hyatt took over, it became the Hyatt Higlands Inn with the Pacific Edge Restaurant. It is now an amazing place. The setting, staff, food, dessert, wines, etc....... You name it. Everything is amazing. I have traveled to many destinations around the world. I have to say this is my top 5 fav restaurants in the whole world!!!!
(5)Candace C.
When I go to a restaurant and shell out over $100 for a tasting menu, I expect something resembling food items to be present. The amuse bouche of mushroom soup was okay but nothing could prepare me for what was to come. You know, as a kid (I'm dating myself here) , there was this show called "You can't do that on Television" by Nickelodeon. Y'know - the show that would pour green slime all over you if you said "I don't know". Well, I believe the chef had solved to mystery of what the green slime is made of --- cucumber mint soup with creme fraiche! Wow! Needless to say, my bf and I sent the bowls back virtually untouched. Everything was served with creme fraiche. It was as if adding creme fraiche could detract from the chef's overall lack of imagination. The main entrees were passable but nothing out of the ordinary. I believe I'm blanking out what they served because either a) I was still PTSD from being slimed or b) they were singularily unremarkable dishes. Usually at this point, if anything, dessert will usually present some sort of redeeming quality to an otherwise bad meal. It's that same quality that makes babies all happy when you give them sugar water. I was hoping this was going to happen. At least there would be something along the lines of - "at least dessert was pretty good." I hate to say it - not so at Pacific's Edge. Mango and chocolate. I normally love mangos. I normally love chocolate. But the combination of the both together brought out the unpleasant sourness of the mango and the grainy bitterness of the chocolate. Despite my sweet tooth, I left most of the dessert unfinished. You know, views are nice. But enjoying the views does not necessitate punishing yourself by trying their chef's menu.
(1)Sam C.
Went there with my wife and three year-old daughter, and when we walked in the door the first thing out of their mouthes was, "Are you looking for fine dining?" From there, we had better service from the bread and water servers than our actual server/waiter. I paid over $200 for a meal that was alright at best and service that was worse than I could have gotten from a chain restaurant. I recommend Mission Ranch Inn, Whaling Station or Chart House over this place any day of the week, I would even rather go to Henry's BBQ or Cannery Row Brewing Company! Very disappointed.
(1)Pamela S.
Quite possibly one of my all-time favorite restaurants. The view was amazing. The layout of the restaurant wisely took advantage of the breath-taking view. Had red wine (can't remember the details) and it was super good. The rib-eye was the best rib-eye I've ever had as the flavor was amazing and it was cooked to perfection. Appetizers and desserts were a wonderful way to begin and end the meal. Bread was fantastic too. Service was top-notch. Entire staff made my boyfriend and me feel like royalty. For everything you get, this place is very fairly priced. I can't wait to return!
(5)Ron B.
The location and building are great, pleasant atmosphere. We had the Tuna tartare and it was surprisingly bland. The beet salad was ok. For main course I had the Seabass and yet again bland. My wife had the scallops and to me tasted fishy. Great wine selection, not so much on the cocktail side. Overall it did not raise to its expectation. I cannot recommend this place.
(1)William A.
Since this was our first Valentine's Day, I wanted a special place to celebrate. The Wine Spectator Top 20 hooked me, and Angie had seen the place before for a conference. I booked on Open Table, and had to use Amex for a $100 deposit in the event of a no show, or -72 hour cancel. Angie has pushed back a bit, as it was violating our pact of frugality we made, but I pushed we'd never get a 2nd time for a our First Valentine's, and I wanted a special weekend. We spent the day first wine tasting in the St Lucia Highlands, made our way to the hotel, and then here. The sitting area around the restaurant is very charming. Lots of couches, fireplaces, and a very talented older gentleman was singing. Service was a bit lacking out in the area, so we abandonded our couch to grab a spot at the bar for a cocktail. Angie's muddled berry cocktail was quite tasty. We were given a very nice table (weather was crummy so little view). The dining room is well layed out, with enough space between tables, which I like. Being goo-goo eyed apparently delays being served so we stopped whispering sweet nothings until we were brought water, menus etc. For the most part the service was very good, usually friendly (almost overly, liked forced) although we both noted a lot of the staff seemed either young or inexperienced.....something a place of this price should aim a little higher for in wait staff. I did the special Valentine Prix Fixe with a wine pairing, a mere $135. Angie ordered a la carte, and decided to try my wine pairings until she found one she liked. The food, and the pairings were excellent. The made a small boo boo with a delay between a course and not bringing me a pairing, but recovered quickly. Angie liked the New Zealand Pinot, asked for a glass, and the wine steward gave her a generous pour that was almost two glasses. (why do WOMEN always get that ;) ) We had no complaints at all, everything was beautiful, complex, well made. The desert at the end, with a pour of Ten year old Tawny port that 4 people could have drank, was a great finish. And to top it off they brought a nice orchid like flower to each female. It was a great experience. I am being a bit stingy with the 5th star; for a $250 tab, and a such a high rating, they need to polish a few more things, but nonetheless, its a find.
(4)Megs H.
This is a review for the Sunset Lounge, not the restaurant itself, as we canceled our restaurant reservation after viewing the menu online. Don't get me wrong, everything looked fine...but if I'm going to spend $250 on a meal, it better be a damn good meal. And it just looked...fine. So we went to the Sunset Lounge, which has the same views but you don't have to spend $250. If we had just gotten drinks, and they were cheaper, this would be 5 stars, hands down. The drinks are AWESOME. I don't know what they do to them back there, but I don't drink hard liquor and we were parked at the Lounge every day of our trip. The Aristocratic Manhattan will change your view of stodgy old drinks, and if I had kids, I might trade them for a pitcher of Kiwi Lemon Drops. The mixed drinks are $12 however. Which isn't awful, I guess. But we chose mixed drinks because the wine was $15-$22 THE GLASS. Now I get that it's nice wine and all, but come on. The standard profit on liquor is supposed to be 200 percent, not 500 percent. The view ain't THAT good. We got a few appetizers, but nothing special. Frankly, they simply made us glad we didn't eat dinner here. They were just, as we suspected,...fine. Waitresses were awesome. Super nice, super friendly, on top of our orders without hovering. I would like the waitresses and the drinks, at half the price, and I would feel better about giving this a higher rating.
(3)Christine H.
This is a review for the Sunset Lounge. We had heard about the impressive views at this property so we ventured up after hiking around Point Lobos just down the road. The property itself is up the cliff just off Highway 1 and consists of several buildings that look like condos. In the main building you'll find the bar/lounge area just off the lobby. We were in sneakers are being at Point Lobos so we were concerned with being under dressed but it was fine for the bar. We ordered a couple of drinks and decided to try the cheese plate which was a good appetizer and fairly priced at $15. We thought about staying for dinner but Pacific's Edge is pricey and we wanted something a bit more low key. The views from the lounge itself are stellar. You look out over the ocean and Point Lobos. Unfortunately we got there just after sunset so we only had a few minutes of great views. If you go make sure to get there for sunset and it will definitely enhance your experience.
(4)Carol Y.
Several visits over several years. Beautiful views of the ocean and trees. Only once were we able to see the sun set without fog. The whole restuarant stopped to watch and applaud. It's a great place to dress up but they no longer require the men to wear a tie. You can could o the food and wine to be excellent.
(5)Vanessa V.
Disappointed with the overall mediocre food and borderline poor service. A couple of very good dishes like goat cheese fritters with baby beets, and asparagus with prosciutto. Many other dishes needed salt. Very pretty presentations. Gorgeous view. Waiter was ridicuously inattentive. Thank god for the busboy. Of course, the view was gorgeous. Don't go for the food, just the view. I would have rather dined at their more casual California Market for half the price.
(2)Randy C.
ice cold Bombay sapphire martini's - 8.00 Decent (not the greatest) Osetra Caviar - 80.00 Decent Foie Gras - 26.00 Sunset View - Priceless. The view is great, the service is great, the food is pretty great - could be better. But the view carries the place. Where else can you get Osetra for 80 bucks?
(4)Sherry G.
My husband and I took visiting friends for Valentine's Day and felt so ripped off! $125/person not including wine and their added 18% gratuity meant a very expensive meal that was just not worth it. The appetizer choices were good but the portions were very small and the entry nothing that exceptional. My friends scallops although tasty had only two which were served over a tiny amount of greens. The other friend ordered the fish which again was so small. There was no dessert selection, passion cake was the choice for the evening. What a disappointment, six tiny tastes of sorbet and we were not even sure we tasted the passion cake. Coffee was offered after the dessert was eaten but otherwise the service was very attentive. We never mind spending good money for dinner but it better feel like we've gotten an exceptional meal creatively prepared for our money. So including a $65 bottle of wine and $750.00 later no wonder we felt ripped off.
(2)Riya K.
Came here for drinks/apps only, after deciding against dinner reservations partially due to their ambiguous dress code ("business casual attire"). Cocktails are AWESOME - made with fresh fruit and expertly mixed. Apps were good, but not amazing. Got the oysters, deviled eggs and Angus sliders. Service was great. View was great (but I'd still give the edge to Sierra Mar for sunset views). I think it's a little weird that it's in a Hyatt hotel. I always associate Hyatts with airports, and couldn't quite shake that airport hotel feeling. Not sure why this place gets such high Zagat ratings for decor. It was nice enough, but definitely a little, um, Hyatt-y. Would most definitely come back for drinks and the view, but wouldn't go out of my way to have a nice dinner here.
(4)Augusto L.
First off, the view is amazing. Well, I assume it's amazing since we arrived a little after the sun had already set. We could still see the waves crashing on the beach. They have giant bay windows overlooking the ocean. I imagine the view is spectacular in the spring or summer. The restaurant is flawless. The tables are nicely separated so that you don't feel like you are having dinner with strangers. In the bay area, this seems to always be an issue in intimate restaurants. I know, the bay is limited on space but it can get very annoying. The staff is extremely friendly. The manager came to our table and personally made sure we were enjoying our meal. I had alerted them beforehand that it was my girlfriend's birthday, so the manager personally wrote a thank you card for choosing to dine at their establishment and wished her a happy birthday. Our plates were amazing. My girlfriend had the Pan Seared California Snapper and it was very tasty. I had the Herb Roasted Free Range Chicken with mashed potatoes. The chicken was cooked perfectly! The dessert, Valrhona Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte, was very rich and savory. It didn't last long!!! I would highly recommend this place for a romantic dinner. If you can catch sunset, even better! The only negative comment I have about this place was the temperature. It was freezing inside! If you get cold easy, you may want to request to be seated closer to the fireplace.
(4)Happy C.
Ok, the views are spectacular. And the wine list is extensive. So, you just have to accept the big mark up as the price of admission. A bottle of red that knocks you back 40 bucks at the store will be a bit over 100 here. My rule of thumb is double retail is fair for all, when it starts approaching triple retail, I feel like I'm getting squeezed. But you got the view. The food is solid, if unspectacular. Ceviche, polenta, filet, all good. Grilled asparagus was a little underdone. The cocktails were interesting. The staff was professional, and friendly. More of a view spot than a foody destination, but sometimes that is ok.
(3)Rachelle M.
4 of us ate here celebrating a B-day and Annivesary. Wine and Food were excellent! We are all early thirties and felt that the wait staff may have slacked off on us compared to the rest of the diners. Try to go during sunset, the views are beautiful. Ask for a table by the windows.
(4)Amanda C.
I haven't been here in 2+ years, so I'll keep my review short. You MUST get an early dinner reservation or otherwise you'll miss out on the most unique part of eating at Pacific's Edge, which is the view. The food is good, the service has been fabulous, but the view is out of this world and only available here. If you arrive at dinner past 7ish, there's a chance you'll arrive to a room surrounded by black, deceptively normal-looking windows. At that point, you might as well be eating somewhere much less expensive. Very romantic spot. Although pricey, it's worth it to show someone special a memorable time.
(4)Kawak B.
Wow I must say. I was prepared to have dinner at Pacifics Edge this weekend however after reading some of the disappointing reviews I have changed my mind. I expect that some people will never be happy but for the prices and perceived level of restaurant there are way to many dissatisfied customers. Especially on service. That should be the easy part.
(1)Cindi W.
We went here for dessert after we went to Mission Ranch. Ok, lovely lemon berry tart and hubby had creme brulee. Both yummy! We also had tea...OH Highlands, there is a problem. ....what? Ok, those who use the same URN or pitcher or pot that had coffee in it, should never put water in it for tea. Did I order coffee? NO, I ordered tea and I want to taste tea not coffee. We expressed concerns with the floor manager who insisted that the water used is only used for tea and they don't mix containers etc. BUT, not true for the pure tea drinkers that we are. And we didn't get it free since we complained. We were nice too. MOST managers would apologize and not charge us for the tea...but no...not good customer service.
(3)Genevieve M.
Swanky! I thought this wasn't going to be an impressive place, but I was wrong! The restaurant is very chic and upscale, overlooking an amazing view. Great service-very formal. No rookies would feel at ease here...bust out your best manners and culinary knowledge...you're going to need it to impress the waitstaff and show them you are worthy. I liked the ambiance...redwood walls and a sleek design. The food was legit as well. Great bread! Large wine list...well-mixed mojitos. We ordered the indulgence lobster appetizer to start, and the short rib and lamb entrees. Although at about halfway through our meal I began to lose my palate due congestion from a bad cold, the food that I did get an opportunity to taste was very good. After we had finished our dinner, this random guy came up to our table and offered to buy us drinks. Apparently, he had attempted to buy the entire house a round at the bar, but the restaurant staff said they "didnt feel comfortable allowing that" so he walked around to every table and individually offered drinks to everyone. Oh, COME ON!!! What is this world coming to!? That seemed overly formal to me- just let the poor guy buy a round, dammit! Seriously...if someone doesn't want one they could just decline...god. I thought they were too rigid with sticks up their asses about that. Other than that, everything was great! And, we were entertained watching the bats fly around crazily outside the window during our dinner. Although the bf was kind of freaked out by that, I thought it was a neat touch.
(4)Peter H.
Real fancy and real expensive with beautiful views. Food was great and service was OK. Great for fancy date night, and be to go earlier before sunset.
(4)Jenni C.
My Experience Here: Walk in to a nice table right after sunset. Beautiful view. Waiter hands us a menu and recites specials. Specials don't sound great, but I figure the menu will have something. The menu has a crazy mashup of things with ingredients that don't really seem like they would be good together.... not really excited about this. Finally decide to go with the chef's tasting menu, the only thing that looks good and cohesive. That finished we decided to check out the wine menu. Holy crap. Practically every page in this inch thick book of wines includes a bottle that is over $1000. WTF? We live in Norther California! Whatever though, we talked to the sommelier and he recommended a "complex" wine. When we got our glasses we discovered that "complex" meant it has a weird chemical aftertaste. It was awful. Then we received a complimentary mushroom soup from the chef in tiny espresso cups. Cute. Also, lukewarm and tasting of campbell's. Now, I have no trouble dropping money on good food. What I do have a problem with is dropping money on crappy food to pay the rent for a fantastic view. I said I was sick, we paid for the wine and went back to our room at the Tickle Pink to order pizza. BTW, the Tickle Pink is incredible, stay there and DO NOT go to Highlands Inn for dinner.
(2)Yvonne L.
I came here for lunch when we stayed at Highlands for our annual timeshare week.. We had the fish tacos, seared halibut sandwich and clam chowder. it was BOMBBB but i don't think any of the other guests would describe it as so.. I guess I should be more proper.. the fish tacos were my favorite because they actually use different types of fish =9 i however did NOT like the.. relish? they put in the clam chowder. ickk!!!!! a lot of rich middle to upper class people so dress accordingly, especially for dinner. the view out on the patio is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G... really breathtaking. the service is top notch. alsooo-- talking on your cell phone is not allowed so pls don't be one of "those people" :)
(4)Vinchia O.
We went there after a whole day exploring Monterey Bay Aquarium. The view is incredible. We were lucky that we got the window seats because we arrived there pretty early. Excellent place to celebrate anniversaries!
(5)Laurin A.
Hellz yeah this place is 5 stars all the way I'd easily give it 100 bazillion if I could... even without the drop dead gorgeous view. Between my husband and I, we sampled at least 8 items on the menu... 10 if you include dessert... 11 if you include the Champagne! Real Champagne... not sparkling wine. We went all out and it was worth every penny. I wish everyone could dine here at least once. I would like to be able to describe to you how wonderful the morsels here were, but I can't even begin to explain the complexity of all the beautiful flavors. I'm just glad I live an hour away so that it isn't so easy for me to dine here ALL the time. Update 6.5.07 They don't do the sampler menu anymore :( But.... it's still a beautiful place.
(5)Gabriel N.
Wow. Short drive from Pebble Beach, breathtaking view, award winning decor, exceptional food, presentation and service!? Lets just say it will be a dining experience you'll never forget just based on the view alone. My first course, day boat scallops topped with foie gras was a delicious pair, especially with the carrot emulsion which added a sweet flavor to the dish. My second dish was also spot on, but the dessert lacked a bit of luster. That would probably be the only thing negative about my dining experience here. My gf had the duck breast as her second course which was simply amazing. I was just blown away on how smokey and succulent the duck was prepared and served. Our server was also very helpful in recommending dishes and pairings. She made the evening very pleasant and was on top of everything. We will definitely be back, and hopefully the duck stays on the menu.
(4)G M.
I'll keep this simple and short: +2: Gorgeous ocean view... very romantic ambiance +1: good (but not GREAT_) food. Had the brussel sprout salad (more raw than cooked, but light and tasty) and the mushroom bisque (creamy, not too salty). Lamb was perfectly cooked to medium, ravioli's were quite diappponting ($26 for 5 pieces = more than $5/piece!) and the pasta edges were a bit al dente. The dessert was a hazelnut/chocolate concoction with ice cream ( forgot the name of the dish... sorry)... pretty yummy, but not amazingly fancy +1: Good service -1: Pricey meal; two appetizers + 2 glasses of wine + 2 entrees + 1 dessert = $150 with tax and tip. Fortunately, we got a $41 discount from a promotion we got from staying at the Highland Inn hotel (where the restaurant is located). woo hoo!
(3)Kristina R.
Views, views, views! If you want to impress your honey, come here. It's absolutely beautiful, with stunning ocean views. Try to come at sunset, if you can get in. The food is quite good, and I know the sommelier is exceptional...order wine, that's mandatory! And take your time here. Eat a three hour meal, if you can.
(5)Allen B.
Ok food. Attentive waiter. What we shared was split and brought on two plates.
(4)Eric T.
Best meal we've had in years. Fantastic food, top notch service, and a breathtaking view all make this place an easy 5 star rating. It's spendy but worth it for a special occasion.
(5)Jeremy D.
What a great placce to have a great dinner. My GF and I had a nice weekend in Carmel and decided to have dinner here, which was on the same street as our Hotel. Great Food, Great Service, and Amazing view from any seat in the restaraunt. We will definitely be back.
(5)Xavier D.
Unless you have a wallet like Bill Gates, this place is not for the casual diner. When you come here be ready to fork out at least a couple bills if you want to do things right. First off, the location is beautiful. Every seat in the restaurant has an ocean view. You'll score a lot of points if you bring a date. It was cloudy the day we were there, but I can imagine the sunsets must look amazing. We started with the lobster and crab spring rolls. It was one of the best spring rolls I've ever had and they are a must if you come here. They are served with a home made Thai chili sauce that is better than anything I've ever tasted out of a bottle or at a Thai restaurant for that matter. For dinner, we had the grilled rack of lamb and roasted tenderloin. Both were cooked perfectly to a medium rare. The herb demi glas and cabernet reduction they came with were both really good also. There was a high quality to all of the ingredients which is what you should expect from a place like this. One of the things we enjoyed the most was the parmesan sweet potato gratin. It was sweet and cheesy ...mmm. The other side dish we had was the roasted forest mushrooms which were good, but not great. Also, the wine list is pretty impressive. I bought my own bottle ($40 corking fee), but if you don't want to spend $200 on a bottle of wine, you can head to back of the list for bottles under $70. For desert we had the chocolate soufflé. It was damn good. I still day dream about it sometimes. Overall, for the location and the quality the food, I thought this place was pretty freakin good. When my wallet recovers, I'm coming back to explore more of the menu.
(4)Gabrielle D.
The view was amazing but the food is so so. The clam chowder my partner ordered arrived lukewarm. My Brussels sprout salad had warm grapes (weird). My main course, ravioli with mushrooms was drowning in oil. Nobody ever asked us how we liked the food until the waiter brought the bill. We did not order dessert because I was eager to leave.
(3)Scott S.
I'd give this place one star if it weren't for the view. Pacific's Edge is a rip-off of epic proportions. The menu is a ludicrous mix of dishes that don't go together save for the overpriced "chef's tasting menu" which is the only way to have a marginally cohesive meal. The meal starts with the chef sending out what I'm certain was Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup. It didn't stop with the food though. Either the sommelier really didn't like us or he had no idea what he was talking about. Topping that is the wine list being INSANELY expensive - this place doesn't do the usual double shelf price for a bottle, they quadruple or quintuple it. Like the menu, it's a mishmash of ill-fitting, unrecognizable wines which manage to be mediocre to poor and exorbitantly expensive. We had a New Zealand Shiraz, which is almost always a pleasant red, and it managed a bland palate and the most unpleasant aftertaste. I can go to Trader Joe's and get better wine for 1/50th of the price. Not that they're prone to the problems depicted in the movie, but I couldn't help but think of the restaurant in Fight Club. Ricky would have been the nice but hapless bread server, Tyler the chef and Tyler's boss as the sommelier. The similarities were as numerous as they were utterly strange. Anyway, I suppose it's easy to get sucked in once they bring you a $200 bottle of French Thunderbird, so do yourself a favor and have a drink at the bar instead. Skip the restaurant part.
(2)Jim H.
I know this restaurant has lots of glowing reviews, so it has a huge reputation to live up to-but it is that good. The service was outstanding and fast. Great menu. Large wine list with good variety in both price and varietal. We had an abalone appetizer, and an heirloom tomato salad to start, followed by mushroom ravioli and local striped bass for the entrees. The presentations were perfect and creative. The flavors were fantastic. The pastry chef gets double kudos. That salted peanut bar with chocolate ganache and shortbread was out of this world. This place is expensive, but a treat. The only negative that I could mention is that it was easier for me to acquire a reservation through open table than to get one over the phone. As a hotel guest, I called from my room phone and left voice mail, called the front desk-who said vm would be checked-but was not. Finally got reservation from open table app on cell phone.
(5)Darren L.
My date and I got to the restaurant right at sunset but it was a foggy so we couldn't really see much of view from our table. It was not what I planned for but what happened after made up for it. The restaurant had large windows so you actually see the ocean on a nice day.... dim light, wood everywhere.... very romantic and comfortable. The meal took about 3 hours... we did the tasting menu with wine pairing. Whew.... it was a lot of wine... the servers were attentive and we were amazed with each dish that came out. Everything was perfect......make sure you bring someone you won't drive you crazy because you'll be there for hours. We ended up going to the lounge right next to the restaurant to enjoy some jazz music... a drink or two before we left.....what a night! =) This was actually my first fine dining restaurant experience from years ago....and this sparked my interest to many more restaurants...the beginning of my foodie adventures!
(5)Amanda S.
Hotel restaurants often get a bad rap, but Pacific's Edge gets it right. The view is spectacular, the service is good, and the food is excellent. Try the short rib or seared scallops for entrees, fresh oysters or butternut squash soup for an appetizer.
(4)jose c.
We had dinner at pacific edge restaurant. The food was delicious, my wife had the clam chowder with bacon. She loved it and said it was one of the best she ever had. Her main course was Monterey salmon which was tender and flavorful. I ordered Kansas City steak which was full of flavor and very juicy. Now the service was excellent, at every hyatt restaurant you can expect the best. The view is to kill for. We were seated next to the window and we were mesmerized. We stayed at the hyatt highlands and have the same view in our room! Great location all around. If you want to reserve a table at restaurant go to open table, FYI.
(5)Matthew K.
Everyone raves about the view justifiably and as a few people had mentioned, I was worried because I thought the food would leave something to be desired...but we were pleasantly surprised! The chefs absolutely deserve 5 stars. From a non-predatory valet to perfect coordination with OpenTable for providing us with an ocean front table in unison with a whale dotted sunset. We were tickled with our whole experience and if it didn't cost $300 for two we would be here every night at sunset!
(5)Anne C.
Had a wonderful dinner here with my Grandma and Grandpa to celebrate my birthday! First of all, the sommelier was divine! We decided to go with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot - that's a safe option for grandma and grandpa haha. My grandma and I got the seabass and my grandpa had the ahi tuna. It was soooo yummy! For dessert we had the creme brûlée and some ice cream. Service was excellent! The view is incredible. We saw whales! It was so cool!!!
(5)Deana M.
Best kept secret around! Dine in the sunset lounge and get the views of Pacific's Edge! My guy had the steak and pommes frites. His entree came with an arugula Parmesan salad. I wasn't hungry, so I had the Caesar salad. We cleaned our plates! I had the scorpion-brandy, light rum, dark rum, lime juice, orange juice, orgeat syrup & bitters! Yummy! We r waiting for the chocolate croissant bread pudding-sea salt, olive oil emulsion, nut praline, balsamic caramel ice cream. Decadent!! I was going to take a pic but we ate it! Now for some after dinner drinks! Ninito makes the best coffee drinks!!
(5)Hieu H.
Absolutely amazing views! A great way to end a day trip to Carmel. Be sure to book an earlier dinner time, like around 7pm for a table next to the window for a prime view of the ocean. Entrees are a little pricey, and if you're not that hungry, you can definitely split an entree and order a couple of sides. Again, I cannot stress how breath-taking the views are from Pacific's Edge. Worth the splurge.
(4)Shing H.
Three stars only because I added one for the view, which of course is amazing. Food and service much less impressive -- 2 star range. We had high hopes, and the hostess was super awesome about getting us a table by the window (which of course everyone was requesting). But that's where things started to go downhill. I asked for an old-fashioned w/o fruit, light ice. A long time passed then our waiter came by to say the bar had made it with fruit and was redoing it. Cool, no big deal. When the drink finally arrived, there was a small fruit fly still swimming around in it! Had to exchange that one and the new drink came out filled to the brim with ice. Gave up on the drink at that point. The waiter very highly recommended the octopus appetizer, so we got that, but it was super disappointing. The texture was all wrong and flavor meh. Also tried the caesar salad and faro salad, both of which were fine. We then tried the rib chop and short ribs -- rib chop was the best part of the meal, even though slightly overcooked. Short ribs meh. Both overpriced by about 20% compared to even the best steak places I've tried. We waited a long while to order dessert, but it took so long for the waiter to come back after dropping off the menus that we decided just to leave. Our bill had two items priced incorrectly on it, both for a few dollars over -- so not a ton but how do you even do that and try to sneak it in? Overall very disappointing meal. Watching the sunset from the table was sweet, but there are lots of restaurants on the coast around there. Or watch the sunset from anywhere and then go eat somewhere else with better, less expensive food.
(3)Fausto C.
Valet parking. Modern rest. Very nice. Fancy. Out of this world view (this fact by itself is reason enough to visit). Great service. Ample wine selection. Very good food. Portions are just right for dinner. Try the deserts, you wont be disappointed Expensive but worth it. Great for special occasions. 5 star.
(5)Kelsey J.
Went here with my parent as we were staying at the highlands inn. We basically just samples a bunch of small plates and then split one entree. Great selection of appetizers. Really loved the abalone. It was my first time having abalone and it was excellent. The Brussels sprouts were below average, but the mushroom soup was awesome. They accidentally brought us the clam chowder at first so they comped all three soups. Not a bad deal considering we got to try the clam chowder as well. The beet salad was pretty good and the warm bread and butter was great. My dad ordered the short ribs and we all enjoyed it. We did not drink at this meal, but they do have an impressive wine list. Problem is that the cheapest bottle is $60 and the average is above $200. Not for the feint of heart. The view, now, the view is spectacular. Try your best to get a seat at the windows.
(4)Paige B.
Delicious meal, excellent service, incredible sunset view. Had the caviar starter, then the mushroom ravioli, the ended with the citrus cake. So fabulous all of them. We loved our sommelier, she was so great. Got us an excellent champagne that we fully enjoyed through out our meal. Go for a special occasion, or just a fabulous treat.
(5)Neela F.
Came here on a date with my boyfriend and was highly disappointed. The views were honestly beautiful, though they didn't sit us by the window even though they assured us there would be window seats when we made the reservation. Food and service was way below what we expected. We had the clam chowder and Caesar as appetizers which tasted good but the serving size of the chowder was way too small. I ordered the fillet mignon medium, but it was as rare as could be on the inside and when I asked to have it cooked more, they brought it back with the same rare inside and burnt on the outside! My boyfriend ordered the Kansas City, which was decent but definitely not worth the price or the wait. The next day we were charged for the bill and they overcharged the card significantly. The views were nice but definitely not worth the bad service and disappointing food. I wouldn't come back
(2)George W.
This was my wife and my third visit to the Pacific Edge Restaurant. The first was about ten years ago and it was very good. We returned a few years latter and it was not good. Since we were staying at the Hyatt, and we were told there was a new chef, we decided to give it another try. It was very average. The menu was limited. we were told by the waiter that it was going to be expanded. I ordered the tuna tartare it was not bad, however, a rather small portion. My wife and I felt the dinner and desserts were just lacking that quality you would expect in a five star restaurant. We had a drink, no wine, and the bill was 252 dollars. That is a lot of money for an average dinner. There are far better choices in Carmel. Don't waste you time here. If you want the view, which is incredible, have a drink at the bar and the bar food is good.
(2)Chad H.
Our server was Fredric from France. He was so amazing. The four of us decided to go with the chef's choice 3 course meal. We had the tuna tartare, abalone, and the Kansas City. Plus, we all had 4 separate desserts. The food was mouth popping! Everything was very fresh. Best tuna we've ever had. Our server paired each meal with a wine of his choice. He knew exactly how to pair. We could not have asked for a better wine with each meal. If you've never been to Pacific's Edge you simply must come. My wife and I were here for our 10 year anniversary 11 years ago and it was the best meal we ever had up to that point. The food is pricey here so come prepared to spend about $300 per couple. I assure you though, it is worth every cent. I would gladly pay for that quality food again. Thank you Pacific's Edge! You truly are a classy restaurant. Did I mention the view? Sitting at an Oceanside view on a hill, watching the sunset was one of the most romantic views we could order. Perfect view for a perfect meal. We will definitely be back!
(5)steve p.
Had an amazing meal. I must say the the waiter David is the man. Not only was the view amazing so was the service. Ask for David. Guaranteed great service.
(5)Manda Bear B.
********************* 1142 ********************* I love it here at Pacific's Edge at the Hyatt Carmel Highlands. The food is delicious, the view is breathtaking, and the service is top notch. We got to try food from the main dining room and the lounge side, both were equally very good. I came here with many dates before :-) again, at the Concourse d'Elegance event for Monterey Car Week, then recently with my parents. My parents couldn't stop taking pictures of the view rocks and the ocean. The moment we got in, the valet supervisor even recognize me and said hello right away. The hostess looks like the beautiful younger version of Diane Ross, she has a big smile, she was so nice. We got the table we requested. - Highlands Inn Clam Chowder - Manila Clams, Yukon Gold Potato, Bacon, Chive - this was very good, that my mom ordered 2 bowls. - Grilled Quail - Anson Mills Polenta, Bloomsdale Spinach, Natural Jus - it was a nice dish to share as an appetizer. - Littleneck Clams - Chorizo, Lemongrass, Rice Wine, Grilled Ciabatta - we couldn't stop dipping the grilled Ciabatta to the broth, it was delicious, and the clams were gigantic size. - Charcuterie - Duck Prosciutto, Parma Ham, Coppa, Bresaola - Dungeness Crab Cakes - Shaved Fennel, Roasted Red Pepper Remoulade - nice and falvorful. - Colorado Rack of Lamb - porcini confit, lardon, cipollini jus - I love this dish so much here. - Maine Dayboat Scallop - crab whipped potato, fava bean, oven dried tomato, basil-leek emulsion - Salted Peanut Butter - Caramel Bar - Peanut Shortbread, Jivara Chocolate Ganache, Caramel Sauce, Milk Chocolate - Caramel Mousse, order this you thank me later ;-) COCKTAILS: Mom loves all of it! - Cherry Berry Fizz - Effen Black Cherry Vodka, Fair Trade Goji Berry Liquer, Fresh Lemon Juice, Fresh Raspberries, Simple Syrup, Topped with Prosecco - Purple Haze - Fuzzy's Vodka, Lavender Elixir, Lime Juice, Fresh Blueberries WINES: 1 of the top 20 restaurants in the US by Wine Spectator, Pacific's Edge is ideal for every occasion, a amazing wine list! The service at the dining room was perfect. My parents and I stayed at the Hyatt Carmel Highlands, so we got to try the Sunset & Lobos Lounge food, and the service wasn't the same. 2 waiters running around like mad on a Sunday evening was definitely not good. We had to look for our server a few times. Mom drinks were gone, and we had to wait a while to re-order. Reservation is highly recommend it. Pacific's Edge is definitely 1 of my family's favorite destination.
(4)Kelly E.
AMAZING!! The view was incredible and the food was heavenly. My fiance and I shared the brussel sprouts as a starter; yum! They were warm and savory with delicious bacon pieces throughout. The grapes in there were a little weird. Never had hot grapes before, let alone with brussel sprouts (I just moved them to the side). I had the filet mignon and my fiance had the rack of lamb. Both were excellent dishes! My filet was so tender and flavorful. I had a bite of the lamb and it was also melt-in-your-mouth good. We shared a side of the Au Gratin potatoes... to die for! Needless to say, I was ooh-ing and ahh-ing with every bite. Even the bread was the best!! All topped off with a cute half bottle of yummy Zin. (p.s. A half bottle got us about 3 glasses, total). This restaurant is like cloud 9. Very romantic and very memorable experience. I would highly recommend it.
(5)Michael N.
Great scenery! Food is delicious. My only critique is the prices are expensive. You won't be disappointed. This is a an awesome place to dine--very classy! Exceptional view!
(4)Christine I.
Believe it or not, the bar food was so good it made us choose Pacific's Edge as our last dinner in Carmel. It all started with a little Charcuterie and fried calamari. My husband and I were throwing back filthy vodka martinis and old fashions at the bar and needed something more than the courtesy almonds. I saw the words Duck Prosciutto under the Charcuterie description and my husband saw the word Fried and we ordered accordingly. We were not disappointed, everything was delicious. So we had to do the typical Carmel by the Sea restaurants because when in Rome, but we decided on our last night we were going to hang out at the hotel, enjoy our room view and since the bar food was so fantastic we were going to try the restaurant. We were seated at the corner most table with a panoramic view of the rocky coastline and we caught the last glimmer of sunset. Our waiter and sommelier were both extremely knowledge about the menu and wine selection. We ordered by the glass because we're heathens and cannot agree on a bottle of wine. My husband does not see the fried calamari on the appetizer menu and asks me to ask our waiter while he goes to the restroom, which meant he wanted ME to ask the nice waiter at this very fancy restaurant to fry up a little something in the back - and they most graciously did. I ordered the Highlands Clam Chowder to start because I'm civilized. Amazing. For entrees I ordered the Wild King Salmon with chanterelles in a chardonnay sauce and it was simply delicious; the mushrooms were tender while the salmon was crisp and well-cooked. The husband ordered the filet with bearnaise and he couldn't put his fork down. We couldn't muster the room to dive into dessert so we opted for coffee and port. We will definitely be back, the restaurant and hotel are amongst our favorites. Great experience and great staff.
(5)Neal S.
The view of the ocean/sunset is exceptional. The wine list is also very deep and our service was really good. But the food was simply OK. My wife's caesar salad was yellowish and the dressing was pretty average. I had the rib eye and it was OK -- not great. For the price and their ratings, I was expecting to be really impressed. This is a great place to go if you want some cocktails around sunset, but I would look elsewhere if you want a memorable meal. Try Casanovas in downtown Carmel.
(3)Jen B.
I'm giving this restaurant 5 stars due to a combination of things. First of all, the view alone puts this place in the 5 star bracket! Every table has an unobstructed, gorgeous view of the ocean. It's a floor to ceiling window, that you can't stop staring out of! Then there's the food... delicious! Tried the Caesar salad, steak, and cream brûlée, and all were perfect. Perfect to share. Lastly, the staff was great. Attentive, knowledgable, and they made you feel like royalty. What more could you ask for? If you're looking for a romantic place for dinner, or just a place to eat with a beautiful view- it's perfect.
(5)Jeffrey S.
Food was really good, had the 4 course meal for valentines and loved everything except the second course. Our server was excellent and made sure to top off our drinks and our food was ok and the sea bass was the highlight of the day. My wife also enjoyed the fillet mignon which was spot on but the shrimp was a bit over cooked. Overall was a great experience but I think it was a bit pricey for something comparable but overall would recommend.
(4)Nancy B.
The ambience of this restaurant is very romantic. The view is spectacular and nothing compares. The customer service was A+, very attentive. Our meals were fantastic. We had duck and cod. Savory. The wine list was extensive. The only sour spot was the sommelier. She was rushed and pushed us for a quick decision. When we said we were still perusing the wine list, she became offended and then she was snobbish for the rest of the evening. We did not allow this to dampen our evening. We waited a long time for this vacation and this reservation. We would still recommend this restaurant for a don't miss in Carmel. Nancy Bartnik and John Seibert
(4)V W.
Being a local I still enjoy the view but was VERY disappointed in the Easter menu. Was greeted by a very rude female hostess that obviously was not happy to be there. Her coworker was kind enough to make a point to apologize for her rudeness, but never received an apology from her. The food was very disappointing, for $50 a person there wasn't much to it. Made it sound great on menu when it came out you felt like saying were is the rest. Was disappointed in the lack of freshness. Will I go back? Only for drinks and view
(1)Francesca K.
We arrived at a boutique hotel very close by and were recommended to try this restaurant since it was within walking distance! George was wonderfully helpful; I regret not getting the sommelier's name; he advised us about substituting a wine since they were out of the wine we wanted; it was perfect. The service was excellent; the food was delicious and we will come back. It ended up being the celebratory dinner we wanted on the spur of the moment!
(5)Yum Y.
Utterly shocked by mistreatment here. Separate and unequal treatment for my family. Wanted to celebrate my wife's 40th birthday here. Got a room for two nights at the Hyatt. We have 2 kids, so made reservation for 4 (since thats what you do) at the restaurant by the window for the views. We show up at the restaurant and they tell us we should have told them we had 2 children not 4 adults, and therefore they can't seat us by the window since they can't allow high chairs by the window seats. The reasons keep coming out flimsy to me from the manager: the waiters need room to move (a high chair at the end of a booth seems more like an obstruction), they need these tables since they expand (but what about my reservation! ). The concierge and front desk later confirm they've allowed high chairs by the window before. We're Offered a booth by the adjoing empty room. If i wanted to celebrate my wife's 40th birthday in a booth, i would have went to Denny's. Left scrounging for a restaurant in a nearby shopping center. Happy 40th birthday to my wife :( Service: 0 Food: NA Ambience: 0 for the empty adjoining room
(1)Gary E.
There's something about coastal restaurants between Monterey and Big Sur, a sort of unspoken agreement between you, the diner, and they, the restaurateur. They know you'll stop. They know you want the view. And they'll charge you for the privilege, while giving you sub-standard food along the way. Hey, the land that their establishment sits on is prime real estate - it's not cheap, and they gotta pay for it somehow. The result is that you get places like Nepenthe down in Big Sur - stunning views, but you're paying crazy money for a buger and fries, which tastes like Eddie Murphy's famous welfare burger. Then there's Pacific's Edge. This past weekend the wifey and I were down in Carmel celebrating our anniversary, and I decided to book a table at Pacific's Edge. Our reservation was at 7:45 - right at sunset - and we duly pulled up an hour early so we could enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in the lounge. When we arrived, the host offered to seat us immediately, and showed us to a table at the back, far away from the window. When I pointed out that I'd requested a table next to the window, he said we'd have to wait until our reservation time, which was fine. So off we went to the bar to grab a couple of $15 cocktails. Alas the lounge was chock full of people already occupying the seats, sipping on glasses of water while enjoying the view, with other groups hovering around the tables like vultures in Death Valley - the sight of a waiter bringing someone the bill caused at least a half dozen groups to suddenly spring to their feet like startled meerkats, as they began nonchalantly strolling to get access to the carrion... table. But after a little bit of maneuvering, we grabbed a seat with a bit of a view, and relaxed with drinks in hand. From our vantage point, we couldn't help but notice several tables along the window in the restaurant sitting empty. We assumed they were for people running late, and sure enough some were filled eventually, but a few still were empty. I asked our waiter if he could see if we could grab one prior to the sun setting, and he duly went off to ask, returning to let us know that we'd have to wait. Finally, a little after 8:00pm, when the sun had already gone down and the only thing visible was the tree right outside that was artificially lit, the host seated us... at one of the tables that had been sitting empty for an hour. Other than that... slightly annoying situation, the food was top notch. The tuna tartare was delicious, although the accompanying toast points were far off the pace. The ceviche was excellent, and my rib chop was perfectly cooked (if a little fatty for my taste). Wifey had the scallops, which she sighed repeatedly over, and I could see why. Flawlessly cooked, with a perfect sear. Dessert? Sure, why not... croissant bread pudding and peanut butter cake? Yeah, go for it, it's a special occasion. Is pushing $300 a lot to pay for a three course dinner, with a glass of wine each? Yeah, it probably is. But you have to remember, this isn't just dinner. It's an experience. I can go to any number of spots in the City and pay far less for a meal, but a month later I won't remember it. This one will live in the memory for quite some time...
(4)Claude G.
Ate there in June 2014. Great views, average food, poor service. Two stars for the view. Yes - the views are among the best you'll find anywhere. Most of the good reviews are driven by the views, by the 'bones of the place. Yes - the food is 'meh for the caliber of restaurant. If once a year you eat out at a really fancy place, the food will probably impress you, if you eat out often enough, you'll find it average, but a solid average. Yes - I was surprised, but not surprised to see our waiter explicitly named in another review, he was among the worst I've ever had. The bus boys are pretty good though, they'll be waiting on you most of the time probably. Try talking to the manager earlier in the meal and maybe he'll make sure you're OK - he's good., so get him in early. He's the bomb dot com. Instead of eating here, go upstairs and have a drink in the lounge, enjoy the view at sunset, then cruise to your dinner reservation at one of the many amazing places in Carmel. Mission Ranch, or Little Napoli, or L'Escargot.
(2)John T.
Beautiful views. I wish i could give more stars, but can't. When a restaurant has the La Chaine emblem, one expects a certain level of service and food. One also expects some recognition when informed we are members of the organization they advertise with that particular emblem. When we arrived we told the hostess we were La Chaine. She went blank and slack jawed, but covered with "that's nice." We were seated at a fabulous table and the waiter approached. Once again we were excited to say we were La Chaine. Again with the blank stare and slack jaw. Here comes the semollier. Dressed in the strangest outfit where nothing really matched. Finally recognition of our organization, but stated that the chef who was hasn't worked there for four years. He needed to back off the snooty rudeness, he didn't wear it well at all. So, why three stars. The ambience was great, the food was delicious, it was the staff. We didn't feel welcome or that our business was anything more than a regular workday. Pity that the staff weren't even capable of making the customer feel welcome. The exception was the busser. He was friendly and helpful.
(3)G P.
Very disappointing dinner there on Saturday night. We are staying next door and excited to try this lace. Waiter was very rude, made us wait forever between courses and practically threw out entree plates in front of us. He was handling several tables but no excuse for rude service. Tuna was ok but sat atop a mess of wilted, very bland veggies. Came home with the worst stomach ache. We won't return even though we were next door for 3 more days. Bad food and bad service for a $150 meal .
(2)Nancy C.
It's OK in a pinch. Great location, but rooms are not the best; outdated and has the feel of a 1960's older apartment complex. Nice if you can snag a parking space, but your SOL if you can't.
(3)Latimer L.
Service: 2 out of 5 My wife and I stayed at the Highlands Inn and set up a reservation for 8pm. Unfortunately, we got back from our hike a little earlier than we thought and were hungry. We walked over to the restaurant and asked if they would be able to seat us earlier. Mind you, the place was practically empty at this point, but the hostess said that she would "take care of the folks that were on line behind us and count the tables." We sat down in the lounge where we made ourselves clearly visible. The line cleared, and 20 minutes later, with 16 open tables (I decided to count myself), she still hadn't returned to at least give us a status update. Our hunger eventually past and we went back to our room a little upset. We came back at 7:45, and of course there was a table for us, but it was nowhere near a window. In fact, it was the farthest table from the window and by the kitchen. Tough luck, eh? Anyway, the service we actually received while dining was okay - not great. They were attentive but not too invasive. They forgot to provide spoons with the soup, but quickly rectified it. They offered us extra bread, we accepted, and they came back stating that the person with handling the bread basket wasn't there. Hm - weird. It also took a long time for our server to offer us dessert. Food: 4 out of 5 The short rib was really tender, but lacked some of the flavors I was expecting. It wasn't bad though. My wife had the Wild Mushroom Ravioli and I thought that it was cooked to perfection. The best thing about our meal was the dessert. The chocolate croissant bread pudding was fantastic. I highly recommend saving some of your appetite for it. Ambiance: N/A As many have commented before, the views from this restaurant can be amazing. Unfortunately for us, it was a bit cloudy on the day we dined here and we didn't get a window seat, so it would be unfair for me to rate it. One thing worth mentioning is that there's a tree which could potentially block someone's view.
(3)Chris S.
Million dollar views that doesn't match up with its service. You would think they can't screw up a table for one, but oh they did! Took over 10-15 mins for water and 20 mins for someone to deliver the bread. The food is vastly overpriced. I had the wild mushroom ravioli and it seemed overcooked. Never seen any ravioli like the one that was served and I go to many Italian restaurants. Bottom line, if you want amazing views and can take the shortcomings in service, by all means come here. If you're looking for really good food with good service then you can do much better in downtown Carmel by the sea.
(2)Dana W.
Stayed at the Hyatt for 2 nights for a birthday celebration (already reviewed the Hyatt)). We chose this Resturaunt for the birthday meal and were not disappointed. After a less that great experience the night before at the Mission Ranch (see review), the staff here pulled out all the stops. My husband had told the manager about our MR experience bcz he referred us, so I hope the amazing service is their standard, not a result of our previous experience. In any event, it was wonderful. My husband had pre-ordered appetizers that arrived almost immediately. Oysters and soft-shelled crab-amazing. We brought a magnum of our own wine, bought wine and champagne and gave the manager and sommelier samples of our wine. The usual fee of 45$/bottle was waived! Our party of 6 all ordered different meals, and everyone was very happy with their selections. I ordered the tomato salad and cerviche, my husband had the rack of lamb and beet salad. With a party of 6, they did add in the tip. Because we were staying there, and listened to a brief (10 minute)spiel asking if we would even be interested in the full 90 minute time share talk (we declined), we received 10% off all our food for the stay. The view is breath taking. We sat in front of the window and arrived before sunset. It was a very special evening all around, and we will be back.
(5)Pbrr P.
This was, without a doubt, the absolute worst dining experience my spouse, friends and I have ever encountered. We had reservations for four on Monday, April 28, 2014 at 7:30pm. We arrived about 15 minutes early, and were seated promptly, at a table with a beautiful view of the ocean. We were a bit surprised when the hostess declined our request to take a photo of the four of us, responding that our server would do so. It wasn't as if there was a line waiting. Once seated, we discovered that we had two different menus, which our server had no idea about. The bus boy took care of that. After a wait of approximately 10 minutes, the water arrived, and then the real waiting commenced. Our server was 'busy' with a single diner, while we waited for him or someone to stop by and take our drink order, and discuss the evenings offerings, which we felt were both mediocre and over-priced. After waiting 25 minutes after check in, with not one person stopping by to take our drink order or even acknowledge our presence, we left. No one stopped and asked why we were leaving, and the hostess appeared to not care. We were surprised when we received a cancellation notice from Opentable.com , when in reality, we had shown up, were completely neglected, and left. We went into Carmel, and had a fabulous dinner at Rio Grill - the staff there were attentive, the menu was fabulous and creative, and we had a wonderful time chatting with an employee of the Rio Grill, who was there on her day off, that's how great the food and service are there. We literally spent half of what we could have spent at Hell on the Pacific. Perhaps an episode of "Restaurant Impossible" could be filmed here, since Robert Irvine would have a field day trying to improve the less-than-stellar service and menu that this restaurant features. Avoid at all costs, and spend your dining money elsewhere.
(1)Chip D.
I just finished having dinner at Pacific's Edge restaurant to celebrate our anniversary. What an overall lousy experience! Starting with the hostess seating us at an upper level table where the glare off the ocean was so bright (7:00p) I couldn't stand it. Mentioned it to the hostess and she agreed, yes, it's bright and walked away. Didn't offer to seat us at another table. So the message was loud and clear, if you are seated at a table with considerable glare, put on your sunglasses and suck it up! We were told by the manager that lowering the blind wouldn't be done as "that is why people come here, for the view". Obviously not for the customer service. We brought with us a bottle of champagne to celebrate our anniversary, we were told it is a $40 corkage fee. So instead of buying a bottle of their champagne we chose to get a glass of wine. The food was so overpriced I almost choked. An 8oz. filet mignon for $56??????? Ruth Criss Steakhouse doesn't charge that. The entrees we got were average in quality and even though the manager gave us dessert, when we asked for decaf coffee, they chose to give the fancy French pressed coffee (which we didn't ask for) and charged $17 for it. Needless to say that will our last dining experience at this overpriced, underwhelmed food quality, with the attitude of "just suck it up if you don't like the glare" with really poor customer service. We had dinner the night before in downtown Carmel at a more casual seafood restaurant and the experience was 5 star all around. I would NEVER recommend coming to Pacific's Edge unless you enjoy spending way too money for poor customer service, mediocre food and attitude.
(2)Tei A.
I seldom do reviews on Yelp but this one deserves not only a great review but also 5 stars. We celebrated my husband's birthday at the Pacific Edge with our 7-month old son and we had a wonderful time. David's service (our server for the night) was excellent. Food was delicious and fresh. We had tuna tartare and clam chowder for appetizers; hubby loved his Kansas steak and I enjoyed my rib chop. We are definitely going back to this restaurant.
(5)Q N.
We are regular guests there at the hotel and restaurant. We have frequent here every few months. This place had gone down hill since the last couple of years. Our experience last night at this restaurant especially was a grave disappointment. Dinner for two with alcohol is never under $300 for us. The entrees were over priced for the quality received. The worst was their sommelier who had insulted us with her lack of interest and hospitality when we forgo the wines and just had champagne to celebrate. Sadly, we will not be dining here again after 7 years as their patrons unless the services and menu changed. We will miss the view.
(2)Cooper K.
We stayed next door at the Tickle Pink Inn and walked over for a light dinner, some drinks and the view from the restaurant's Sunset Lounge bar. It's a beautiful space, but was really dead. And soooo hot. We kept getting up to step outside to cool down some. Otherwise, it was enjoyable.
(3)Yue L.
I still remember the first time I came here with my best friend. She's from Carmel and introduced me to this gem by taking me to lunch here. The view is gorgeous!!! You cannot find better view of the Big Sur and the ocean in another restaurant in this area. Highlands Inn sits up top a hill and I hear the room prices are around $600 a night! I've never stayed here but have been here several times for lunch. On this particular day, we were driving by and I said, let's go for drinks! We came at 4pm, just when the sunset lounge area opened. Sunset lounge is right next to Pacific Edge restaurant which opens for dinner at 5. The drinks are definitely pricey ($15-20 per drink) here but you are paying for the view! My babe ordered his usual manly scotch drink and I got my girly glass of buttery Chard. We sat on their comfy lounge couches and enjoyed the floor to ceiling views of the wonderful coastline. So romantic and relaxing. A must stop if you are in the area.
(5)Wes C.
The service at the restaurant reminds me of how much I dislike this place. It was my wife's and I's anniversary and we wanted to give this place a second chance. I should of just drove my car off Hwy 1. The host was rude, the server was nonexistent. My wife's Salmon was flipped upside down. And the dessert menu was empty. Hellen Keller could of done a better job managing the restaurant. I will say the valet driver was excellent. 150$ dollars later and I should of stayed in Carmel By The Sea
(1)Shell J.
I believe to have fine dining experience in front of a beautiful landscape is the best treat, Pacific's Edge is one of those places. There's very large wine list. We picked a Chardonnay from a local winery called Lucia. It was decent. Food was absolutely wonderful. We ordered oyster and soft crab for appetizer and Coriander crusted pan seared tuna, Seared Dayboat Scallops, and wild mushroom as main courses, all of them are fantastic. Our dessert was bread pudding, very nice too. We had dinner at sunset, the view was brilliant, probably one of those things you don't often get from other high end restaurants.
(5)Brad K.
I am trying this place again in a night other than New Year's Eve. I am expecting it will be much better.
(5)Kenneth K.
Let's start with the positives: they fixed the service as pointed out in previous reviews as the Sommellier was awesome and service attentive. All agrre that the ambiance is fabulous. Now for the negatives: The food and wine prices are startlingly expensive. However, we reserved knowing this and expected a great experience. Unfortunately, there is little attention to detail in the kitchen. The oysters were dry (probably shucked hours before and left in the refrig), the "prime" short ribs tender but tasteless ( if you don't believe me see an earlier review), the heirloom tomato salad with mediocre tomatoes, and the ravioli pasta with rancid hazelnuts!! It seems as though Hyatt takes us for a bunch of dummies who don't know "prime" from "sub-prime".
(2)Michael W.
View incredible, service excellent, but $32 for a tiny abalone appetizer was a bit much. The rest of the meal was just ok and pretty expensive. After the sun goes down, there really isn't much view.
(3)Sue L.
I love coming to this place because it holds a special place in my heart! Breath taking view and watching the sunset is phenomenal! Get seats by the window and bring a pair of sunglasses! Just a tip that you should come early to secure a seat by the window even though you made reservation, its first come first serve basis. Food is ok and could be better. 1 star for the food 3 star for the view
(4)D R.
This review is only for the Sunset Lounge, not the sit-down restaurant. We've gone twice now, and both times spent a nice long relaxing evening enjoying the views and the ambiance of the place. Service both times was very warm and friendly, and the seats in the lounge are very comfortable. It's a nice non-pretentious vibe. The first time we went the food was all great. This most recent time we were let down somewhat. The caesar salad was just OK, could've used more garlic, more anchovies, more dressing. The free range chicken was blah, and a bit overcooked. The clams were excellent, but we wish there were more of them! The sliders and fries were very good. The couple sharing the table with us ordered steak frites - we think that's what we'll go for next time. It looked very good and cooked medium rare just like they ordered. Last year when we went we got the peanut butter mousse cake and it was excellent. They've got some good and interesting mixed drinks on their list, good wines to choose from byt he glass, and a nice selection of Scotch, ports and dessert wines. Since we stayed for a few hours both times we visited, we took advantage of the bar! This is a place we'll return to on all of our visits to Carmel. I don't know that we'd spring for the restaurant since the lounge menu is not consistent, but the lounge works very well for us! We've got very happy memories from both visits.
(4)Gary A.
Visiting Monterey and Carmel occur about twice per year for my wife and me. On the occasion of my wife's birthday, I made reservations to stay for a couple days in the Monterey/Carmel area. I searched "open table.com" for a special place to take her to dinner. When I found this beautifully positioned restaurant overlooking the Pacific coast from the Carmel Heights, I felt this was the spot. To be there for sunset, I made our reservation for 7:30 pm. We were met by a valet and soon we were entering the club and restaurant to the sound of smooth jazz and quickly escorted to our table. So far, so good. Incredible view! Our server introduced himself and gave us time to look over the wine list and menu. To my surprise, the limited selections (food) were twice the price as indicated by the menu on open table... Kansas City steak= $65 (as opposed to the listed $56, Filet Mignon= $56 to another lower price). Knowing we were both having beef, we selected a 2010 Merlot ($16 per glass). The wine came (cool - no opportunity to breathe) and we placed our order. As the wine reached a proper temperature, we tasted. To me, it was good, to my wife (former wine cellar host at Cave d'Sarragan) was not pleased. When the steak arrived, it was centered in the middle of a plate with rosemary and sautéed green beans... Cooked to perfection, my wife took note of the beef being good, but the presentation of the meal and texture of the green beans as poor. Again, my birthday girl was not pleased and I must admit, this restaurant was way overpriced for the quality of the meals presented. While service was consistently excellent, the Pacific Edge was a huge let-down. Not worth the view...
(2)Tatiana G.
This restaurant robs people of their money, although most people might mistakingly think that the miniscule sized portions correlate to good quality and taste.. DO NOT BE DECEIVED! My mom straight up ate a flower as one course of her 4-5 course dinner, I mean come on, if she wanted to eat a flower she would join my beagle in our backyard.
(2)Andrew C.
Pacific's Edge is the restaurant in the Hyatt Carmel Highlands. As the name suggests, it's is on a hill overlooking the ocean with a wall of windows providing great views ( yelp.com/biz_photos/AHFH… ) We grabbed a drink and a snack while "watching" the sunset (hidden by distant fog) and had half a dozen oysters ($18) which came with some mignonette and those cute single serving Tabasco bottles ( yelp.com/biz_photos/AHFH… ). They were fresh and meaty. Service was very good. Drinks definitely had that hotel pricing (cocktails $15, glass red wines $15+).
(4)Danielle G.
Horrible service, average food, and outrageous prices. I don't mind paying $400 for a velentines day meal if I get top notch service with excellent food. This had neither. Major disappointment!
(2)Steve E.
We had the pleasure of dining at Pacific's Edge for the first time recently and I must say, it was the best meal we have had on the Monterey Peninsula. We have eaten at the casual restaurant at the Highlands Inn many times and the food has always been great, but the Pacific's Edge Restaurant is at another level. The view of the Pacific Ocean from the restaurant is the best in the area. The service was excellent and the food was impeccable. Jacques, the Manager of the restaurant, was friendly and welcoming. The hostess made us feel very special. We met the chef whose resume' is impressive and it was evident that he puts great thought in to every meal. The sommelier is extremely knowledgeable and we took his recommendation for our wine selection and are so happy we did. There were four of us dining and we shared samples of our food with each other and all entrées and deserts were excellent. This restaurant is a gem among restaurants in this area. We just returned from Kauai and while there ate at the St. Regis Hotel in Princeville the week before dining at the Pacific's Edge and although the view was great there too, the food did not compare. Sometimes the best choice is in your own back yard and you just need to experience it!
(5)Nicole S.
I was expecting a lot better. The host was extremely blunt that she did not want to be there. Was very rude and not welcoming, if it wasn't Easter i probably would have stopped there and turned around. The view was beautiful, our server was sweet but didn't come very often to check on us, food didn't meet our expectations, was very "Blah".... The kids area was sweet....Might have to try it on a day when its not a holiday so everybody doesn't seem so upset about working...
(2)tim h.
Excellent, go with the chefs menu You really have to appreciate the care and thought put into the overall meal, outstanding, service was perfect. and since it was our 25 th anniversary they even made a desert for us, with a special message, highly recommend.
(5)Alyssa G.
The views here are incredible and we enjoyed our wine selections, so for that I give two stars. However, everything else is mediocre at best. Service was very rushed- we sat down around 6:15 and I got the feeling they were trying to get another seating in before sunset. We had the mushroom soup, beets, filet mignon, and pork. All were "meh" except the filet, which was probably the worst I've had in any restaurant- way over-cooked and tough, even though ordered medium rare. This kind of food would be passable at a Chili's, but not at a restaurant when you're paying $100 a head for the meal. If you're here to enjoy the view, have a drink at the bar and then go somewhere better for dinner.
(2)Leslie K.
We had a table in the corner right by the windows so the view was magnificent. There really aren't many options for vegetarians but I had a mushroom ravioli with spinach dish that was amazing. Not too rich...pasta was cooked to perfection. Sometimes a ravioli's edges can be a little hard...these were beautiful clouds that melted in my mouth.
(5)Andrea M.
Arrived on time for a 7:30 reservation on Valentine's Day only to be told, like several other parties, that it would be a 30-minute wait for a table because it's busy and most of the previously reserved parties 'arrived late'. Uh, what's the point of a reservation then?? If people arrive late they should go to the back of the line, not be accommodated at the expense of the guests that showed up on time. My boyfriend made the reservation a month in advance. A week prior to the dinner the restaurant called my boyfriend to ask for a credit card # to hold the reservation. So they're eager to take money but don't bother honoring a reservation or even calling us to let us know there would be a delay. My boyfriend and I went to get a drink at the bar while we waited and were told the hostess would come get us when our table was ready. She never did and my boyfriend had to approach her again to find out that our table was ready. Upon seating the sommelier, who was very sassy, bordering on unprofessional, approached us offering to help us navigate the very extensive wine menu - as in about 42 pages worth. We asked if we could sample one of the wines and were told no. The markups on the wines are huge. We ended up ordering a Duckhorn merlot, which was good. Our waiter was nice. For Valentine's Day they had a prix fixe menu which I'm not usually a fan of, however the food was pretty good. It was $125/person before drinks/wine. The filet mignon - I take mine rare - was excellent, my favorite part of the meal. Unfortunately they wanted us to select all four courses at the beginning of the meal, we were not given an opportunity to decide what we wanted next during dinner. At night it is pitch black outside - Carmel apparently has a thing against street lights - so you will not have any view whatsoever, just complete darkness outside every window. I'm sure it's wonderful during the day. All in all, an okay experience, though I expected more at that price point and on such a special occasion. Service: 2, Food: 4, Atmosphere: 3. If you're looking for a great restaurant in Carmel, especially for a special occasion, try Casanova.
(3)Emily B.
So we did take them up on their offer to comp our next meal there, but it really wasn't worth it. They refused to comp our drinks, even though we only had 1 each, and once the waiter found out we were being comped, he was MIA for the rest of the dinner because he probably assumed we weren't going to tip him well. We are usually really good tippers though, and, had he hung around, we probably would have ordered more drinks and he would have received a better tip. But, alas, tips are not mandatory, so you only get what you work for. The bus/bread guy was awesome though, so we gave him $40 in cash and left a tip reflecting the service we received from the actual waiter on the card. They did earn one more star because we were actually able to enjoy our meal this time, and it wasn't horrible...but it by no means was worth what they charge for it. The meat was overcooked, vegetables were burned and the service was subpar, so 2 starts fits them. Overall, it was just MEH...I wouldn't waste my time here. Even if it was free again.
(2)Laura S.
The best views in California!! There is nothing like watching the sun go down on a clear and beautiful sunny day on the Monterey Coast. WOW. We stopped by for cocktails on our 16th anniversary - we planned to have dinner elsewhere in Carmel. They have two bar areas for drinks, both with great views. After several cocktails, feeling great, and no desire to drive elsewhere for dinner, we decided to stay for dinner. We got the corner table with 180 degree views of the ocean and carmel mountains. The food was unbelievable. I had the braised short rib - it was cooked for 12 hours i believe. WOW!! The waiters are amazing - exceptional service!!! Great dining experience. Grazie Highlands Inn! There was a wedding downstairs which was cool to see. We stopped by the pool and hung out at the firepit. It was a magical night. Very romantic. Great for cocktails or a full night of hanging out at this amazing hotel. Either way you cant go wrong, unless you forgot your checkbook. Cha ching!
(5)Sara T.
My husband made reservations here for our 1st wedding anniversary. Each table has a beautiful view of the coastline & if you get there at the right time you can see the sun setting over the water. Romantic! We opted for the Chef's Tasting Menu for $155/person, which included wine pairings. The Chef's Tasting Menu w/out the wine pairings is $105. The food and service was great. We started off with a deconstructed oysters rockefeller. This was awesome. The second course was halibut. While I LOVE the nice crisp on the outside, our fish was overcooked. Our 3rd course was wagyu beef ordered medium rare. This was cooked perfectly! For dessert we had a passion fruit cake that was done wonderfully. I think this was the most expensive dinner we've ever had, and it was worth the money. It's our first anniversary, so we have to do it big. The regular menu items looked yummy as well, so if you're looking for a romantic place to eat, this is the place.
(3)Pj P.
Very delicious ahi tuna, halibut ceviche, and delicious crem brûlée. Very happy with our meal and would come back again
(5)Mariah M.
Food was amazing, service was amazing, the view of the ocean was beautiful. Highly recommend for a romantic date night. We will be back!
(5)Chrissy C.
Loved the sliders and halibut! View is completely worth it and also bar menu is cheaper! Worth the visit.
(4)Dean B.
An amazing meal with an amazing view of waves crashing on rocks below! I started with corn chowder with lobster knuckle, and then the tia snapper with chantrelle mushrooms. I love corn chowder soup, and this one was very good with a few pieces of lobster that made it special. The snapper was also great and the mushrooms and chardonnay reduction went perfect together. I am embarrassed to say I pretty much licked the plate clean. We had the roasted chicken the night before in the lounge and loved it, so my wife ordered it again. I normally would not order chicken in an expensive restaurant, but this chicken is worth it- tender and moist. We also had the side of herb risotto and probably the best we have ever had. The desserts are also great, so make sure you leave room. This restaurant is expensive, but great for a special night out.
(5)Haroon M.
Just for the VIEW. Me and my wife don't eat pork and the chefs tasting menu which was recommended had pork so we decided to choose our own meals. No biggie THE FOOD: The pea soup. YUCK. Taste was bland. Way to thin. Lamb shanks were OK. For the price, I got just about 5 bites. The best tasting meal that I had were the French fries. THE SERVICE: The only pleasant person whom I encountered was the individual with whom I made reservations and showed us to our tables (don't remember the name unfortunately). The waiter was arrogant, rude, and whenever I asked any questions he felt as if he did not have to answer them and kept sighing in between. I asked him with the papas Fritos were as I didn't not know and he answered with a smug smirk. Unfortunately I don't remember his name but he was an elderly man with white hair. He took so long to check with us when we needed refills and such I had to pull another waiter who was very pleasant and nice when asked. THE VIEW: We came during the sunset and it was magical. The waves splashing against the rocks with the orange sunset in the back; amazing. For the price I paid I expected A LOT more. Maybe he was having a bad day? Well, it ruined ours. Hopefully they've made improvements by now.
(3)Colleen C.
It took me quite a long time to pen this review, because I felt a little "so-so" about the whole affair... This is the hotel restaurant at Hyatt Carmel Highlands, the hotel at which we stayed several nights in January. My boyfriend made a reservation here for the night of our arrival to ease on the logistics of getting to an offsite restaurant, etc. Obviously it is quite pricey, but its reputation is quite stellar. Unfortunately, I felt the food was a bit...boring. It was all just fine, but nothing stood out. The view is something to behold...but obviously, not at night. So I stared at my reflection every time I glanced out the window. This obviously is not their fault entirely, but I would recommend for stellar views that this spot is best for an early dinner (at suneset!) or brunch, etc. Otherwise the view is a moot point, and you are paying quite heavily for it. The wine list is quite extensive as you might imagine. We enjoyed a nice bottle of a California Cabernet, and no complaints. The sommelier even breezed by our table to check in, a nice touch. For a $300 dinner bill I expected to be wow'ed a bit more...and the only thing I walked away with was "well, don't eat there at night." Despite knowing there is a brilliant ocean view, you cannot see it. That's my .02 cents. I'd certainly try again on our next trip (especially if we stay at the hotel), but this is a fine dining type restaurant where the food doesn't quite measure up to what I had hoped for.
(3)Lynn K.
Great wine selection! Went at night so wasn't able to enjoy the view of ocean. The food was good but I've had better. The service was a little slow.. But overall I would definitely go back.
(4)Candice T.
YOU HAVE TO GO HERE! Don't miss it! It's so romantic and has the best views of the Pacific. Amazing good too! Ah-maze-ing!!!
(5)Thomas S.
This place could get five stars alone for the view. It's unbelievably beautiful. We had reservations for 8pm, however we showed up early and asked to sit at the bar. The almonds are addicting, the drinks are strong. We went to get our seats and the hostess said she wanted to seat us earlier so we could have a window seat...however the table she took us to was perfect. Almost every seat in the restaurant is facing the view. The hostess is the star of this restaurant. I'm not sure of her name, but she was great. After reading the reviews I wasn't sure what to expect. However everything was perfect. The service, as well as the sommelier were great. For appetizers we order the clam chowder, and the osteria caviar. The clam chowder was good, the caviar was the star of the evening...besides the sunset. I would highly recommend it to anyone with a warning....it may be highly addicting. Entrees we had the bone in rib chop....sinful, and the yellowfin tuna....again excellent. The portions are great, maybe a bit too much. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone who enjoys good food and good service.
(5)O K.
This restaurant was good - prior to Hyatt ownership. Now it is just a view restaurant. So many people complain about this restaurant that it is a standing joke in the Carmel area. For example, the Ceasar salad is nothing more than one you'd get at Denny's with an anchovy that is not dried. The entrees are small portions of poorly cooked seafood or meat: the salmon was overcooked, the tuna crusted to the point of inedibility and the food was much too salted. Silverware and glasses looked old and unwashed. I could even see other guests' glasses having stains and dirt through the sunlight as they held them up to drink. What a shame that the prices are commensurate with a fine restaurant when the food is on a par with a hole in the wall restaurant. Consider eating at a restaurant in Carmel such as Andre's Bouchee if you want to spend serious money. If I could give no stars I would.
(1)Bill H.
Pacific's Edge has a rockin' Easter Brunch. The views are everything you've read about and more. Most of the tables we saw had fantastic views of either the oceans and/or the cliffs. The actual spread was delicious. A full-on raw bar, oysters were fresh, ceviche was fresh and full of fish. Steak and poultry were well-cooked. I also ordered a bloody mary. I was told by others that the bloody mary at Pacific's Edge was absolutely full of veggies and fish(!); mine was not the case, but was still delicious. Prices were steep (understandably), but I'd definitely be back. The normal dinner and lunch menus looked delicious.
(5)Debra H.
It is nice Randall responded to my review. He hoped to hear from me, I don't know what he hoped to hear. After two very expensive and disappointing experiences, there is nothing he could say or do to entice me to return to his establishment. My husband and I are returning to Carmel for a special anniversary (just so happened special birthday and anniversary happened in the same year). Should we go to Pacific's Edge?.....hahahaha, what a joke.
(1)Gary J.
The value to quality is just not there; much to do about nothing special.
(1)Steve L.
My wife and I came back here during the Summer. The kids were away, and my wife and I took the opportunity to have a nice, romantic dinner together. We've been dining here almost every year for the past 5 years whenever we're in the Monterey Bay Area during the summer. As I mentioned in my earlier reviews, the view of the ocean and Pt. Lobos from the restaurant are spectacular. Even on an overcast day, the view is breathtaking ( yelp.com/biz_photos/AHFH… ). We were seated along one of the windows, facing the ocean. With a view from any of the tables in this restaurant, it's OK for diners to just gaze out of the window minutes at a time without saying anything. Mark Ayers was the chef of Pacific's Edge for a number of year. Just this year, a new chef, Matt Bolton, took over the kitchen, and we were interested on some of the new offerings on the menu, as well as his interpretations of long time favorites. Rather than order the tasting menu, we ordered off the menu. -Seared Foie Gras ( yelp.com/biz_photos/AHFH… ): This was pan-seared, and served with a brandy-poached peach, and marcona almond. This was only offered as part of the tasting menu, but my wife asked if they can prepare it as an appetizer, and they gladly obliged. -Monterey Bay Abalone ( yelp.com/biz_photos/AHFH… ): This was a different preparation from the previous chef. The abalone was pan fried, served with an artichoke barigoule, fava bean purée, and oven-dried tomato. Well done, and the abalone was almost fork-tender. -Day Boat Scallops ( yelp.com/biz_photos/AHFH… ): Served with a cumin scented carrot purée, bloomsdale spinach, chanterelles, and parsley sage. -Short Rib ( yelp.com/biz_photos/AHFH… ): This was braised in red wine, and served with potatoes that look like risotto. The short rib was placed on top of Swiss chard, and topped with forest mushrooms. The meat of the short rib was fall off the bone tender! Went well with a Hall Merlot. Desserts: -House sorbet ( yelp.com/biz_photos/AHFH… ): The sorbets that evening were mango, passionfruit, coconut., served with seasonal berries. Very refreshing! -Highlands Kit Kat Bar ( yelp.com/biz_photos/AHFH… ): Chocolate and Hazelnut ganache, served on top of a crispy cookie crust on the bottom, and served with a caramel crunchy pearl ice cream. Very rich and chocolaty! As always, we've been very happy with the service at this restaurant, and Sonja, our server was no exception. Once again, my wife and I had a wonderful time here, and will be back again.
(5)Sarah B.
We used to live in area and Pacific's Edge WAS the place to have a fine meal, always pricey but always excellent. We dined with family a few days ago and can only say is mediocre food and more expensive than before. We were told that the only reservations were 6pm or 8:30. We took 6 and only 1/4 of restaurant was filled...thought that was odd. We all ordered a steak of some kind. I had the short rib and it was like roast and over salted. All the steaks were overcooked. The abalone appetizer ($32) had two small abalone with two tiny potatoes..ridiculous! Started talking with my Monterey friends and they won't even dine there anymore! The take over by Hyatt seems to be the time things started going down. It is such a shame to have this beautiful location and average, pricey food. We will be back to the area in another year or so but won't go here unless we find out there's been a big change. I don't know if the Hyatt has too much control over the kitchen or the GM and Chef need replacing. These bad reviews have been going on for sometime now. I didn't bother looking at yelp (like I normally do) because I knew how wonderful the food USED to be. Hope this place can get its food back to the quality it was before.
(1)Anna W.
We honeymooned at Highlands Inn 10 years ago and had indulged in the Tasting menu with wine pairings at Pacific's Edge. Thus, when we returned this past weekend to celebrate our 10th anniversary, we decided we'd eat at Pacific's Edge again. Frankly, I can't remember much from that first dinner 10 years ago, but I know it was delicious and the ample pours on the wine pairings made the rest of the details fuzzy. We made reservations for 6 pm, right when the restaurant opened and noted our anniversary in the hopes of securing a coveted window seat. Success! It was absolutely mesmerizing to watch the ocean and the sunset on a clear sunny day. Usually, we stay clear of any restaurants with a view but I was pleasantly surprised how good the food was at Pacific's Edge. Truly--it can stand up to most other gourmet restaurants without the view, but it is still priced higher as a "destination" restaurant. This time around, we chose individual appetizers and entrees. I started with the fois gras duo and the clam chowder while my husband ordered the lobster special and abalone appetizer. For the main course, I had the rack of lamb and he had the scallops. The stars of the meal were the fois gras duo (guilty pleasure, I know, but it's being outlawed in California in mere weeks so I had to have it one last time), the clam chowder (even better than Hog Island Oyster Bar SF's version, which was my favorite), and my husband's scallop. Service was great, but for the sommelier, who didn't come over until we were nearly done with our meal. I suspect he saw that we had cocktails in hand (we started at the bar as they weren't quite ready for us when we first arrived). Still, I would expect that he would introduce himself nonetheless to check. Also, the sommelier charged the neighboring table's $90 bottle of wine to our tab. It could have been easily missed, as my husband signed the check (to charge to our room) and didn't notice it. Thankfully, I peeked over to check the total and caught the mistake. George, our waiter, was attentive but not intrusive. He checked on us a few times and was around when needed. I think he only had 4 tables to serve, which meant he wasn't overwhelmed. I will say I was surprised we didn't get an offer of some small dessert, as most restaurants do something special for an anniversary/birthday. Alas, we were probably too full to have it anyway, but something to note since so many go here to celebrate their anniversaries and other special occasions (the table next to us was also there for their anniversary). Nonetheless, the meal at Pacific's Edge was a wonderful way to celebrate 10 blissful years of marriage and the primary highlight of an otherwise disappointing stay at the Highlands Inn (see my review).
(4)Hung N.
One of the best sunset meals I have ever had! The view is spectacular! The appetizors were fairly good and the entrees are even better. Their deserts were amazing and I enjoyed my 250 meal. It was well worth it for the experience!
(4)Sue S.
This restaurant was horrible. A reservation means give or take an hour. The food was mediocre and Derek who seats you was confused and rude. The bright spot was the bartender who was fabulous. While we waited for Derek. With all the great restaurants in Carmel, I have no idea why someone would choose to eat here except for the view...
(1)Angelique L.
I came to the Highlands Inn to watch the sun set on the recommendation of a docent at Point Lobos. It's a nice drive up to the inn and the grounds are beautifully landscaped so the walk from the parking lot was also enjoyable. The restaurant is beautiful and the lounge has a big fireplace in the middle makes it feel classy and cozy. We sat at the bar and ordered Calamari, Tuna Tartare and a couple of cocktails. The appetizers were great. Fresh, delicious and beautifully presented. But the highlight was the Cucumber Martini! Vodka, fresh cucumber puree, lime juice and simple syrup. It was heavenly, the best cocktail I've ever had. Refreshing, delicious and just a hint of sweetness. We met fun people, had some spontaneous conversation and enjoyed chatting with the bartender as well. The perfect bar experience! They even have the hooks underneath for ladies' handbags. The sunset did not disappoint and we weren't the only ones there for that reason. It's pricey but definitely worth a stop.
(5)Mr. C.
The view from the lounge is one of a kind. And then it pretty much went downhill from there. We seated ourselves as there wasn't anyone around and then we saw a number of other people also start to file in as it was getting close to sunset. We all sat around for about 15 minutes before we saw the first waiter or server run by. A few minutes later, we tried to flag another one down so that we can place our orders. She said she'll be back and another ten minutes went by before we were able to place our order. It is not as though the waiters were standing around not doing their job, but more of a lack of a system to keep track of the guests and doing the basics like asking people if they would like another drink or if they would like a glass of water. Really basic stuff that you would expect from even the simplest diner let alone at this price point. The drinks and the food are fine, and we had no complaints. It was the service that really detracted from the experience. Another minus (this may just be our preference) was the cheesy live music they had going with a guy on the piano singing cover songs. It was loud and I would be preferred soft music while gazing at the gorgeous sunset. To the restaurant's credit, they did give us a small discount as they realized that they had kept us waiting. But this is one place that we won't be coming back to.
(2)Chris G.
Not usually a fan of restaurants in hotels, as the captive nature of the beast lends itself to overpriced, inferior food and service. Not the case here. Beautiful setting, decent menu not overloaded with choice. Caesar salad was the greatest I've ever had EVEN though the large garlic crouton had the consistency of a piece of dried dogshit(note to chef there: Get rid of it. Break it up. I don't want to have to break it up so I have crouton in every bite. Doesn't do much for presentation either.) Cold crispy lettuce and great, great dressing. Entree was decent, prices aren't fantastic. It was nighttime so couldn't really enjoy the view, but the interior was beautiful and well appointed. Could really be a great experience, but they do need to make some tweaks.
(3)Peter F.
Beautiful view and setting, mediocre food and horrible service (Frederic 919)! What a disappointment.
(1)Tonya M.
Name says it all. At the edge of the world over looking the most beautiful ocean, eating the most well prepared foods. A must for couples and special occasions that you want a view. Tickle Pink hotel is right next door and one of my favorite views as well. If its crowded, wait and it will be worth it. enjoy!!!!
(5)Chester M.
Went here with my fiance and it is definitely a great restaurant to go to in Carmel. It definitely has the best views. I made a reservation through Open Table at their website. I arrived a few minutes early and was seated very promptly at table 7. The sun shining through gave the restaurant a great ambiance. Our server David was very good. He was very attentive and knowledgeable of our the menu. We ordered the Monterey Bay Abalone for the first course. It was very good. For the main course I got the Wild Pacific King Salmon and my fiance ordered the Free Range Chicken. Being a french restaurant I was surprise that portions for the main course would not be a lot but I was definitely served a decent portion and was full. For dessert we ordered the Chevre Cheesecake. The crumbs were really full of flavor and was great. The service we got was spectacular. My fiance never noticed that her glass was empty. Our server also offered to take our photos and not only did he take one but took several shots at many angles. I'm glad we had David we had a few photographs of us. I'll definitely come back here again for .
(5)Jeff K.
I get angry every time I think about what a disappointing meal I was served for $175 on the tasting menu and how little they seemed to care.
(1)H W.
My boyfriend and I went to Pacific's Edge for a nice sunset dinner on Saturday. 2 stars for the amazing view. 3 stars for the great food. Both of our first courses were delicious. My boyfriend had the Goat Cheese Fritters and I had the Forelle Pear Tart. For the main course, he liked his "Daily" Fish Creation very much and my Rack of Lamb, medium rare, cooked to perfection. Unfortunately, I have to subtract two stars because our waiter George (who is on the older and heavier side among the wait staff) kept showering our table with the specimens of his saliva. First, when he was telling us about the specials, something shinny was passing by my eyes and three tiny beads of George's spit landed on my menu. When he came back to take our order, a big drop (at least 1.5mm in diameter) landed on the black plate in front of me and more on my menu. Luckily, the plate was only for deco. They took it away before the food was served. After the food was served, we were hoping George would be busy with other guests, but George kept coming back to our table, pointing to each item on our plates and telling us what they are; then asking us how do we liked our food. Each time he came to our table, I got a little stressed -- holding my arm up above my plate and hoping his saliva wouldn't land on our food. To be fair, other than dotting our table with his spit, George did provide decent service. I am sure that he didn't mean to spread his spit like that. The poor fellow can't help it. I would like to make couple of constructive suggestions. 1) Maybe George can stand a little further from patrons' tables when he speaks, so the guests' food would be out of his spitting range; or 2) maybe George can wear a mask. That way Chef Mark Ayers' wonderful creations wouldn't be contaminated by George's saliva shower.
(3)Bonnie H.
The view is worth the trip. I would stay away from the oysters/raw bar because our platter was disappointing.
(3)Emy B.
Went on a special occasion t o celebrate my 4 year anniversary with hubby. It was convenient since we stayed at the Highlands Inn. Reserved my table on opentable.com . Stated o the reservation that it was my anniversary. When I got there it was really crowded and we got seated on some far away from the window table but then the maitre-d came in a move us to a table right by the window and right on the corner, where both me and my hubby could see the ocean without any obstruction. We started with a hamachi poke appetizer- it was quite small but delicious. By looking at the size of the appetizer I figure it that the main course might also be smaller portions. I was wrong. I ordered a scallop and my hubby the special fish of the day. Even though the menu said Scallop (singular), it was definitely more than 4 scallops with a very right french style sauce and puree potatos with fresh crabs. It was delicious!!! I was hungry but I was not able to finish my meal since it was sooo rich. My hubby loved his special local fish. The fish was from around the Monterey County and it tasted super fresh. It was a full fish with head and everything. We went on a special occasion but If I ever am around South of Carmel area, I will make sure to beg my hubby to take me there again. The waiter Brian, I believe it was his name was young and very competent and very friendly. Definitely recommended.
(4)Julie L.
We just finished dinner here. The food, as others have suggested, only deserves a 2 star. It is worse than mediocre. We ordered appetizers : abalone and hamachi poki and clam chowder. They were just ok. For main dish we had 15 oz ribeye and the rack of lamb which were so tough and dry. I think outback steak even beat it by a yard. Dessert was real good we got the chocolate ganache. Anyway we got a 25 restaurant coupon and still it costed $150. The service is ok; a bit unsophisticated for this type of fancy place. Of course as everyone has said the ambiance is really phenomenal. Can't really beat it. It feels like you are on a nice cruise ship. I love this hotel though. It's got a really homey feel to it. You are paying a premium for indulgence. One tip if you want to stay here cheap. Do the timeshare for hyatt vacation club and you can get 3 nights at $99 each night. Not a bad deal. The sales person greg is pretty cool.
(3)Luis A. S.
Very disappointed to have come back after a year and to see such a previously terrific restaurant deteriorate, particularly disappointed as a property residence owner and someone who regularly visits the wonderful Highlands. While the food was OK, the service and lack of hospitality were well below our expectations. Found the entire staff to be arrogant and un-attentative, additionally both my wife and I were served our main course well ahead of our two friends, rendering the dining experience awkward.Luis S.
(2)Andy L.
Eat at Pacific's Edge?????? I'd love to, but it's way to expensive. What my wife and I usually do is get drinks in the lobby-area. It's awesome. There's a server and you get to enjoy one of the best views on the California coast. Get there before sunset.
(4)Angela Y.
The entire experience was simply amazing! The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 was b/c the waitstaff seemed to hover a lot and although their intention was to be attentive, it was a little bothersome and we couldn't really delve into a deep conversation b/c they always seemed to be right within earshot. Also, the valet parking was ridiculous - we waited 20 minutes for our car and he totally burned the clutch and we couldn't get rid of the smell for like 10 minutes. Yikes...also, the couple before had the same issue. Apparently the guy couldn't drive the car uphill so after a valiant struggle while we all watched, he gave up and drove down the hill, signaling to the owner of the car to follow him and get the car himself. Kinda sad... Anyway, every course was delightful and delicious! Started off with a complimentary amuse-bouche. I had the oysters - fresh, succulent and the shallot mignonette for garnish was the perfect touch. The "steak & eggs" was inventive but kind of bland. The carpaccio tasted like paper but the quiche was great. For entrees, we had the Rack of Colorado Lamb & the Seared Tasmanian Salmon - both cooked to perfection and AWESOME! The gorgonzola bread pudding side was fantastic. Also, they have a VERY extensive and impressive wine list, complete with a list from local wineries in Monterey and Carmel. Ended our meal with the Creme Brulee Trio and called it a night. I don't smoke but found it a classy touch that they have a cigar menu. Also, before our table was ready, we were able to sit at the cozy lounge and have a couple cocktails - some of the most yummy drinks I've ever tried, EVER. Lastly, the view is just breathtaking. The windows are almost floor-to-ceiling and extends from one end of the restaurant to the other and you just see an entire expanse of the Pacific coast, with waves crashing against the rocks....sooo pretty :) And then when it gets dark, you can watch the bats darting around in the moonlight - great for dinner entertainment!!! (jk...ick!) Overall, a fabulous experience and I will definitely come back the next time I'm in the mood for fine dining and wining in Carmel!
(4)Skip F.
It's hard to beat this kind of ambiance. The setting and service alone get you to four stars. The food, though not the finest I've ever had, is certainly high enough caliber to make this a destination restaurant. The restaurant is about four miles south of Carmel off Highway 1. Time your reservation so that you get to see the sunset. Although every seat is really nice, put in an early request for a window seat. It's just a tad nicer. The service is absolutely tops. Never invasive, but always there and attentive. They didn't even pause when I gave them my (now common) request for a blue cheese stuffed olive for my martini. Our waiter ASKED if we'd like to take some time between our appetizer and main course. How often does that happen?? Some food suggestions - Though everything was great, I though the abalone and was fantastic as were the short ribs. Two more bits of advice - Order off the wine list. The sommelier told me that Hyatt is trying to pare down this extensive list so there are many great deals here. Also, stay at the highlands inn! Then you can stumble back to your room after the blue cheese martini and wine. Go for another ocean side view.
(5)Andrea C.
I'm surprised Pacific's Edge doesn't have a better rating. My husband and I love to come here for special occasions when we can splurge (a lot) and drive down from San Jose! The views are amazing and we've always had a great table to enjoy them. The first time we came was in August for our anniversary and then in October for my husband's birthday. If we return to a restaurant we normally like to try something else but I think we had the same meal (or at least appetizer) the two times we've been here - it was that good. We highly recommend the abalone appetizer. I also appreciate the staff - they are attentive but not overbearing and don't rush you out for another sitting. And now I'm craving a fabulous super expensive meal I cannot afford at the moment....but it's so yummy!
(5)Brian S.
My girlfriend took me to Pacific's Edge for my birthday. We were greeted by a friendly host and, as promised, since we arrived at 6:30 pm, we were able to snag an ocean view table. The views were impressive, but the food and service were sorely lacking. A steak knife was not even available at the restaurant for my filet mignon, which is entirely unacceptable for a restaurant of this purported caliber. Also, three failed attempts at bringing me a poor quality knife, two of which were absolutely filthy, with no apologies and slow haughty responses. I have had better 7 dollar burgers in the Bay Area!! Definitely good for a drink and relaxing in the lounge, but it would be better to take your money elsewhere for dinner, perhaps in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea for half the price.
(2)anthony j.
Went here for dinner after a day at the monterey bay aquarium. The food was ok nothing special... The ocean views is what makes this place special. Had a $25.00 off coupon from restaurants.com
(3)Hannah Q.
The views are outstanding, but after the sun sets, it's just a fancy and REALLY expensive restaurant stuck out in the boonies. I found the food to be just a little flat and, considering the hype, I'd really expected more out of it. Sure, there's nothing on the menu (except maybe the coffee) that I could make at home, so that's fancy and special on its own, but... considering the price, it's just... "eh." I've been really spoiled by having blow-your-mind meals at Aqua and Lacroix, so perhaps I'm just jaded. When we ate here, our reservations were for about 10 minutes after sundown. We got there early enough to see the sun drop into the ocean, but if I ever eat here again, I'll make sure we're dining, or at least seated, with 30 minutes to spare before the sunset. The restaurant itself is too large and bustling for a truly relaxed fine-dining experience and, strange but true, our waiter started flirting with me, not in a "I'm gay so it's okay" non-threatening way, but in a "hey, if you wanna meet up later..." tone right in front of my husband. I would have been uncomfortable even if my husband wasn't there, but the energy was just... yuck. blech. So, will I go back here? Sure, if you're or someone else is paying, but only if I'm already down that way and if we get to see the sunset. It's just not even worth the drive to Carmel for me.
(3)McKenzie M.
The food here is incredible. We've been three times and service was great the first two. The last time it was just so-so but the food is amazing.
(5)Alison N.
This is only my second 5-star rating and it was well deserved. I was told about this place by my friend who is a bigger foodie than me and I trust her taste completely. This was my first mind blowing dining experience and I'd like to recreate it for you here and now. The guy I was dating at the time wanted to go to Monterey for the weekend, so I thought it was the perfect time to experience Pacific's Edge. He was a total foodie too, so I knew he'd appreciate a fine meal. Our reservations were for right after sunset and it didn't matter that we couldn't see the sun set because it was so foggy you couldn't see it anyway. We arrived about 20 minutes early, so we sat at the bar and had a couple of cocktails. This is where I've had the BEST Cosmo of my life. It has yet to be duplicated. It's definitely a sign of confidence when the bartender pours your Cosmo and it's clear and he says "here's a sidecar of cranberry juice for you. I didn't want it to taint the vodka." Let me tell you - it was the best damn Cosmo I've EVER had. My date had a Maker's over, and you can't really mess that up. Once we were seated, our server came by and informed us how to order (it's kinda like a 'make your own tasting menu'). I asked him for a wine recommendation and he delivered with a VERY nice pinot. Granted, it was $100, and who spends a bill on pinot? I do, I do! Now, I don't remember exactly what we had to eat, but what I DO remember is that it was absolutely delish. Even the the cauliflower soup with truffle oil was beyond belief. We each had 3 courses and shared a dessert. I remember that we had a rhubarb/strawberry beggar's purse with confectioner's sugar and it was the perfect blend of tart and sweet to end the evening. After all was said and done, the bill was a pretty penny, but well worth it. The service was perfect - we weren't rushed; the food phenomenal - very good recommendations; and the Cosmos - what else can I say about them.
(5)Helen G.
My husband and I had the opportunity to dine here this past weekend, on Friday and Saturday evenings. We appreciated the warm reception from the hostess. Our servers, Alex on Friday evening and Tim on Saturday evening were very helpful in regards to the menu . We were able to enjoy a variety of foods, all prepared to perfection by Chef Matt. Paul Fried demonstrated his expertise of wine and food pairings as well. His knowledge, friendly and warm personality truly made our evening a memorable one along with the rest of the staff. The view was incredible as well. We will definitely return.
(5)Bernard M.
Incredible view, but the food was mediocre. Not tasty or even a hint of tasty. We're not price sensitive, but I will say for what we paid it was just not worth it. They try to position themselves as an upper-tier restaurant, but the food was just mid-tier non-tasty. Well, we just went there one time, so maybe we should give it another chance down the road.
(2)Amy O.
I have been here a few times for Easter brunch, and it is the best buffet or high-end items...you'll be full, but definitely worth the meat, fruit, desserts, veggies...especially since you are dining witha a beautiful view of the ocean.
(4)Larry L.
My wife, daughter and I had dinner this evening at the Pacific Edge restaurant. Alex our waiter was very attentive and performed very well. The rod was good overall, a 8.5 out of 10. Our disappointment was the sommelier this evening. First he insulted us as e went it f his way to ask if we understood the corkage policy. Policy??? We brought a $800.00 bottle of wine with us. Dd he need to go over the corkage policy with us especially in an insulting way? To add insult to injury, we asked him for a bag to place the reminder of the wine that was in our bottle in a bag enforce leaving. His reply, we are out of bags. Really, you expect me to believe that an high end restaurant can come with a bag for our wine bottle after spending $300.00 on dinner and the $40.00 corkage? I said nothing, and mentioned to my wife that when Alex comes ack, I am going to ask him for a bag, which he delivered without hesitation. When I asked to speak to his manager, I ended up with a gentlemen, that was cold, rude and offered nothing but "I will take care of it" Not the response I expected at a high end restaurant. Very sad that two associates in important positions are lacking in basic customer service skills. Larry
(1)Sara B.
I have had wonderful experience both times I have eaten here. The staff made my husband and I feel like VIP from the start....was a nice touch. The food was a-mazing, not to mention the wine list, and the view. It was an incredible evening.
(5)Sarcastic T.
We went to Pacific's Edge for the Christmas Day dinner (set menu) and I can't find a single thing to pick on. Wait - yes I can! The wine menu is two books (large books) and tilted to the expensive end - just be forewarned. The food was beautiful and very good - they serve European size servings which is a nice change. The staff were top-notch and very professional. Add the ambiance of the amazing views, and you have a delightful romantic restaurant.
(5)Dietrich H.
Pacific's Edge is the Highland's Inn restaurant. It's situated in the Inn, along the cliffs of the Carmel highlands and has a MAGNIFICENT view of the Pacific. Even though it's branded Hyatt, don't expect the standard hotel restaurant fare. This food is amazing. Lunch or dinner, they have fantastic American cuisine. I've enjoyed their, lamb, duck, steak, and fish over a number of special meals I've had there. It's nothing most of you haven't seen before, but it's done extraordinarily well. My wife and I spent our engagement weekend in the Carmel/Big Sur area, and Pacific's Edge, being the 2nd restaurant we'd eaten at since getting engaged, will always be special to me. For the food. Please, I'm not that cheesy. The food, coupled with the view and company is 2nd only to Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn in the area.
(5)K T.
I'm from the area and finally visited this renowned location this weekend. What a delight! It is pricey- but you are paying for the view and the "culinary experience." The food is excellent. Great wine list (however marked up more than the norm) We sat next to the window-ladies..bring a coat or sweater- its a chilly spot but the view makes up for it! Alternate idea- you can sit in the bar area (which has a view as well) and just order a cocktail or dessert! Service was great too! Highly recommend! One of the best spots to eat on the Monterey pennisula.
(5)Barbara J.
Pacific's Edge reputation lived up to the hype last Saturday night. When it was apparent that it would be impossible to make the last seating because of the rain and wind on Highway 1 causing delays from Cambria, I was reassured that my party could arrive late. That professional courtesy set the tone for a very memorable meal which began with a glass of champagne and the succulent Hamachi Poke, followed by the Maine Dayboat Scallops with a black truffle emulsion and finally topped off by a deliciously decadent Holiday sticky pecan bun. For all of these reasons would recommend this restaurant without reservation.
(5)Jones T.
Damn this place is expensive. Came here on Christmas Day. Had a fixed menu for 85 dollars. Food was great. View was better. The view is absolutely amazing. The service was great. I don't know whats holding me back from giving this place 5 stars, but something just ain't right.
(4)Greg V.
One of my all time favorites ...although I don't get to Carmel as much as I'd like (technically, I believe this is Carmel Highlands, with Pacfic's Edge located in the luxuriant Highlands Inn / Hyatt Park Carmel). While Pacific's Edge is definitely pricey, this is one of the cases where for a special occasion, I think its well worth the extra bucks if you got 'em. Pacific's Edge serves tapas-style with assortments of small and large plates that you then mix and match (and share) -- all of which have been wonderful, by the way. The waiters have always been extremely helpful in guiding us in matching the ranges and sizes of dishes. I would list some of them, but (a) I can't remember most of them (although I remember they were great) and (b) they change regularly. Pacific's Edge also has an amazing wine list. It is pretty much an encyclopedia, although don't fret, there's help. And of course there are the breathtaking views overlooking the Carmel seashore. So yeah, its pricey, and yeah, it's dressy, and yeah, it's a long drive from the greater Bay Area, and yeah, its not particularly popular (so far as I know) with the hip crowd, but hey, none of that should stop you from trying it out for yourself. Oh, and did I mention the decor is a 60's modern - not retro, original. Groovy! :-)
(5)Jules M.
You pay for the view. The food was a bit disappointing (I'm from near SF so I have many choices of great 4 star restaurants). I don't know where the chef went to (if he/she even did) culinary school, but some of the stuff he came up with was mind boggling. Ingredients he put in the dishes didn't complement; my fiance took one bit of his dessert and pushed it away. We had the five course meal and after the first course, I felt queazy. One good thing about this restaurant are the many complementary chef dishes. Usually you walk out of 4 star restaurants feeling content, not full. We walked out of this restaurant feeling FULL. Be prepared to stay there for a long time (3 hours) if you get the 5 course meal! I would recommend doing a la carte because all the dishes, except 1 on the 5 course menu was a disaster.
(3)Alana F.
The only reason for the 3 stars was the service. The food was fantastic and the view spectacular. The server thought way too much of himself but was slow. The Sommelier helped us pick out a great wine that went with both of our entrees then we never saw him again. He went to all three tables around us and poured their wine but not ours. He clearly ignored us. In fact the server didn't pick up on this either. Sorry but for $300+ for dinner, I'd like my wine poured for me. Call me crazy. They were slow to clear our dinner plates and took so long with the check we went to the host stand to pay. We also told the GM of our experience and gave us his card, apologized profusely and asked us to send him a letter. He never did anything with the check. You couldn't pick up our dessert and coffee?? Now I have to take more time out of my day to write you a letter about the experience I just told you about?? I think I'll yelp instead.
(3)Russ C.
Quite simply the best meal I've ever had. Food, service and setting were all stunning. The menu was unique in that you choose 3, 4, or 5 small dishes. I understand the menu rotates frequently so I won't bother with too many details, but each course was outstanding. I highly recommend cocktails in the lounge at sunset. Awesome views and great whale watching in season.
(5)Katlyn M.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars. The service was really good, although I felt a bit rushed to order. It was however 8:55pm when I finally ordered. The signature dishes/recommendations were just "eh" such as the abalone and short ribs. The flavor pairings were a bit odd such as the abalone and sea bass dishes with red wine reduction. Red wine just doesn't seem to pair well with seafood, and it turned out to be be way too overpowering on the abalone I ordered. The abalone appetizer, which costed $30, was chewy and disappointing. I did however enjoy the lobster that I ordered as an entree. It was very rich, perhaps a bit too rich as all I could taste was butter on the lobster, in the sauce and in the potato risotto. I love butter, so I did enjoy it nonetheless. I figured I couldn't go wrong with something that is really quite simple to make. I also tried the scallops, and it came with foie gras on top, which again was an odd pairing for me. I like to be able to taste the star ingredient, and again the foie just overpowered the dayboat scallop. My husband's short rib was disappointing, as it tasted very common. However, I've never had short rib at a fancy restaurant that I liked. It just seems like a lesser cut of beef, and no one seems to make it better than Korean restaurants do. The foie gras that my husband ordered though was absolutely delicious! It came with a side of what tasted like cherry jam and toast, and it was very nicely seared. We had a very nice table with a "view." Unfortunately, there was so much fog we couldn't see a thing. Perhaps it is better during the day or at sunset during the foggy season. Overall, the dishes were hit or miss and then quite expensive. My husband was trying to take me to a nice place with a view, but unfortunately it was too foggy to see. With this restaurant, that's what you're really paying a premium for - the view. It's nice to have tried it, but for the price I'd recommend Marinus in Carmel. Food - 7 out of 10 Service - 8 out of 10 Decor - 8 out of 10
(3)shadi m.
The view is spectacular. The sunset was beautiful and even at night, the lit trees and water look amazing. The service was so so. The waitress was a little clumsy and she didn't really have anything insightful to say about the menu except repeating every item one by one and saying how great it was. The wine was great! Good selection and the bottle of cab we had was fabulous. I had the sea scallops for my appetizer which were nicely prepared and huge. For my entree, I had the salmon. Def. one the of the better salmon dishes I've had. They did a great job of keeping the outside crispy and the middle very soft and yummy.
(4)Angie M.
Incredible view, cool ambiance, nice architecture, fabulous food, impeccable service - this place has it all. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the rugged grandeur of the Pacific is dazzling, and they also did something cool with the lighting so the outside has a subtle glow. Was quite a visual spectacle when it was pouring rain as well; made the whole place feel very cozy. Also liked the split levels, and the dim lighting - both gave the place a seductive, intimate feel. On to the food... everything i put in my mouth was perfect and delicious. I was part of an 11-person party, which made it all even more impressive. From the fresh from the oven rosemary bread (a server walks around offering 3 kinds: sourdough, cinnamon walnut, or rosemary) to the wine the chef suggested for us to the sea bass with trumpet royales to the bites of several kinds of desserts and everything in between (chef also brought us all little mini pumpkin soup and the most exquisite bit of lobster in a creamy corn risotto, perfectly presented salads - every dish they brought was gorgeous. the sea bass was perfectly done - creamy white flesh, crispy skin on top. food nirvana. service was impeccable, too - perfect delivery without ever being obtrusive. I give this place 5 stars hands down and thank god for the industries that can expense impressive dinners :)
(5)Jeremy S.
Top notch dining in the most amazing of settings. Unreal views of rocks and ocean. No sacrifice on the cuisine either; delicious small plates and an award winning wine list. Business casual dress required.
(5)Kirill B.
A wonderful place to watch the sunset to live retro tunes on Fridays and Saturdays
(5)David H.
I have been eating here for the past seven years and also stay at the hotel whenever I am in the area. I have had, lunch, brunch, and dinner here (probably thirty times) and the food and service is always consistent. You really have to eat here to appreciate the food, view, and atmosphere. Every appetizer, entree they have served me has been excellent. The wine list is also excellent; save room for dessert. Great place a date, special occassion, or just anytime if you are in this area. If I lived in Carmel this would be on the top of my list.
(5)O.J. W.
We decided to eat here since we were staying at the highlands. They were able to accommodate us without a reservation since it was a Monday night. We were sat at a table and ignored for 10 minutes, no offer of water, no bread and there were 2 different busboys standing around doing nothing. Finally a rather snooty sommelier came over to us. The wine list in my opinion was obnoxious, celebrating everything but California wines unless it had an inflated price attached to it. Our waiter finally came over and did not even apologize for his lack of service, not even a glass of water. Never saw a manager and our waiter did not do anything to make up for the fact that we waited 10 minutes for a glass of water or his acknowledgement of our existence at one of his tables. I did not expect a discount or free desert but I did expect an apology. Instead he spent the entire meal acting as if it never happened! No apology, no acknowledgement, not even a blaming the lack of service on the hostess. It was as if it never happened, even after we told him point blank we were annoyed. The food was good, not great. We had short ribs that were tasty but not succulent or remarkable in any way. The tuna tartar was ok but the ceviche was excellent. The desserts were great, top notch and we ordered coffee to go with them, but we were nearly finished with our desserts long before our coffee was served. That same inattentive and clueless waiter David didn't even notice or acknowledge the poor timing. Overall, for the price, I would've expected to be treated better and would've expected more remarkable food or at least a more attentive diner focused experience.
(3)Alex C.
We were fortunate enough to have dined here when Executive Chef Cal Stamenov and Wine Director Mark Jensen ran the show prior to heading over to found Marinus Restaurant at the Bernardus Lodge. The loss of these two would have wrecked most restaurants and, for a time, it seemed like Pacific's Edge was similarly fated. I recall one meal in particular. The style of the menu had completely changed and the change was not in keeping with the tradition of excellence that this place has established. We were debating whether or not we should go back at all. But we did and we were delighted to see that this restaurant with a gorgeous view did not have to get by on looks alone. To behold the rise and fall of greatness can be sadly awesome. It reminds us how delicate perfection is and how subtlety, excellence, and nuance are reflections of the same gem. However, observing this process pales next to the witnessing of the entire process of the transmogrification from something sublime to something equally excellent, though new and different. The current Executive Chef, Mark Ayers, is certainly at the helm of something great. His pork belly was killer.
(5)Melissa K.
Its a very romantic restaurant. The service and food is top notch. The restaurant is so fancy, even the waiters have business cards. If you go there, get a table near the window, the view is fantastic. The lobster bisque soup was great for appetizers.
(5)Kristen L.
This place gets 5 stars for the food, service and incredible sommelier, Mark! He is soooo good...we are still craving the Dirt Worshiper, thank you very much! The setting of the place is just to die for and of course, would be a wonderful complement to any food, but particularly to what pacific's edge has to offer. I really enjoyed their protein dishes. The lamb was perfect and the tenderloin was as well. I had the baked pasta and unfortunately, despite it's monstrous portion, it didn't really deliver like I expected, it was honestly a little bland, good but a little bland. But as you can see, that doesn't spoil my perception of the place seeing as how I gave them 5 stars. We came for my parent's anniversary and they were really sweet about it, they had decorated the table which was a nice gesture. For desert we had the chocolate souffle and if there's one thing you order when you're here, let it be that (other than the Dirt Worshiper). My advice is to order a protein when you go because I think they take true pride in that. And you must, must talk to Mark and ask him for The Dirt Worshiper, trust me, you will NOT be sorry!!!
(5)Katie M.
My boyfriend and I were driving down highway 1 and sightseeing. We had heard the view so unbelievable amazing, and that we had to have a drink at the restaurant. The restaurant is at the Highlands Inn. You will first see valet parking, but there is also a self-park lot. We were there at about 4 pm, which I know is a transitional time in a restaurant between lunch and dinner, so I'll forgive the weird-ish vibe in there. Though, I find that hotel restaurants often have a kind of awkward atmosphere. The view CANNOT be beat though, so I have to recommend going there, at least for a drink. Caveat, it's very expensive--wine, by the glass, is between $12 and $20!
(4)Tiffany W.
If you are going to splurge, this is the place to do it! The food was excellent, the service was great, and the view was amazing! They do not have many vegetarian options, but I was impressed with what I ordered. The food is creative, but not overboard, and a delight to the palette. The sommelier was very knowledgeable and interesting to talk with. Be aware if you bring your own wine, they charge a ridiculous $35 corkage fee. They do offer an impressive wine menu of their own, including a nice selection of dessert wines.
(5)Michelle M.
We were just at the Highlands Inn and had an anniversary dinner here. We've eaten here before & have never been disappointed. The service, food, wine selection, and views are just incredible. This place is a must for dinner if in the Carmel area.
(5)Julia W.
Delicious seafood, nothing on the menu disappoints. Stunning Views, elegant setting, great service!!!
(5)Tim L.
The view is definitely awesome: we had our reservation at 6:15 and requested a table near the window, so we saw the sun slowly set during our entire meal. However, the food was unimpressive - I didn't really appreciate the French influence in the food. Was it tasty and did I clean off my plate? Uh-huh, but for the price, we were expecting a little more... Judging from the crowd, I think we were one of the youngest people in the joint; it's restaurant a la baby boomers .. a la rich baby boomers I might add (one of the nearby patrons exclaimed that he had a lamborghini and blah and blah.. I almost aspirated on my stupid martini thinking of our honda civic parked in self parking)! In conclusion, Pacific's Edge has a great view for a romantic dinner and serves good solid, conservative American fare that will leave you satisfied, but won't amaze your palate.
(4)Alex A.
Be prepared to drop a couple of Benjamins to eat here.. but know that you will probably be having the best meal you have ever had. Get there early and ask for a window seat. By far one of the best views of Carmel and the Pacific Ocean. We aren't high rollers and were hesitant to pick a wine.. so we opted for the champagne which was oddly affordable to the point that we thought it was a typo.. yeah.. they have some of the best wines around.. but go for the champagne because it was good.. matched well with everything... and adds that extra panache to what will be an evening of culinary foreplay.
(5)Liz N.
Beautiful views of the ocean and great for a special occasion. It's quite pricey but definately worth it! Everything we had was beautifully executed to perfection! The only thing I would complain about is the staff is on the stuffy side. The waiter was so serious and not too friendly...need to learn to smile :)
(5)Larry W.
Had dinner with my spouse on a Tuesday night. She had chicken and I had the rack of lamb. We split an oyster apetitizer. Food was excellent and service was great. Unfortunately the fog started to roll in late in the afternoon so we were not able to see the sunset.
(5)Greg J.
My wife and I went here for our 5 year anniversary, chosen partly because of the great reviews here on Yelp and also because of a recommendation from a family member. The view from our table right next to the window was gorgeous. That's about the only good thing that came out of this experience. The very next day, I had a very bad case of diarrhea which lasted for about 5 days. Here's what we ordered: heirloom tomatoe appetizer, lobster appetizer, braised beef short ribs entree, duck breast entree, and the chocolate sphere for dessert. My wife and I shared everything with the exception of the duck breast entree which leads me to believe that was what caused me getting sick. I did call the restaurant to complain and of course they said that they had not received any other calls with similar circumstances. They said they would be sending me a gift certificate which they did, but the amount I received was not even 25 percent of the final bill, pretty disappointing. Aside from getting sick, I felt that the food was pretty mediocre, I probably wouldn't go back even had I not gotten sick, now I definitely won't be returning. The restaurant's manager was apologetic and his intentions were okay, but my expectation of compensation for this experience obviously differs from his.
(1)Rose C R.
This place had the most stunningly beautiful views, perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific with massive floor-to-ceiling windows that made the view the star of the show. I hafta say that the meal we had was secondary as compared to the gorgeous view. Don't get me wrong, because the service and the meal were top-rate, but we went to Passionfish in Pacific Grove the night which knocked our socks off. Overall, it was a truly romantic, elegant and beautifully stunning dining experience fit for a princess! Fancy dining with impressive views... Fantastically expensive that is sure to put a huge dent in the wallet..
(4)Kumi B.
Fancy, sophisticated, romantic restaurant with ceiling-high windows to gaze out at the spectacular ocean view. I would have given them 5 stars just for their delicious 5 course meal (i think i remember 5) that my boyfriend and I enjoyed on Valentine's Day this year, except we had to wait for an hour to be seated. Although it was an understandable freak mix up between our reservation and another patron's reservation, it resulted in us waiting over an hour to be seated, on top of the fact that we had already driven an hour and a half from Mountain View to get there. We had reservations at 8pm and were seated around 9:15pm. However, they still get 4 stars since they gave us an assortment of wines (a glass for each course) to compensate for the wait. Excellent food, excellent wine, excellent ambiance and breathtaking views...I highly recommend eating around sunset. Reserve in advance. The mix up and wait that kept us starving was a little disappointing, especially on Valentine's Day, but by the end of the evening, everything was worth the wait.
(4)KC W.
Excellent service and attention to detail. Fabulous food and breathtaking view. The facilities (restrooms, etc.) other than the restaurant could use an update.
(5)Tony L.
Its hard not to like a restaurant with as stunning views of the California coastline as those that one enjoys while dining at Pacific's Edge. As part of the Hyatt Carmel Highlands resort and sitting at the very edge of the rocky coast, you can have an amazing experience mostly because of how breathtaking the views are, especially during sunset. This is a spot where you'll want to break out the almanac in order to capture that precise moment and make it really special. Arrive early to give yourself some time to get acquianted with the space and everything it has to offer. We parked ourselves at the bar and enjoyed a couple of nice glasses of wine (after perusing through the massive wine list - it is literally over 50 pages long). At the time, I was a pretty big fan of Chardonnay and particularly enjoyed the Sleepy Hollow Vineyard from Talbott. The decor is quite fancy; most patrons were wearing business casual or above. The space itself was quite large and can be dizzying at first to navigate through. I remember there were a number of large groups as well. Obviously, the best tables are the ones next to the windows where you'll be able to gaze out into the Pacific and when darkness falls, spotlights shine through the trees. You might even catch a bat or two flying about. I had the filet mignon with bernaise sauce - medium rare and cooked to perfection, it was very juicy and tender, full of flavor and well-seasoned. Each bite basically melted in my mouth. I also tried the California white sea bass served with roasted butternut squash, brussel sprouts, applewood smoked bacon, parsnip puree, and truffle jus. This restaurant is clearly a place where you would save for a special occasion and cherish every moment you have while you're there.
(4)Doll F.
One of the most amazing views in town. My husband and I decided to swing by for dinner one night and enjoyed the location. His steak was good, my pasta was pretty flavorless. The best part of the meal was the candy bar desert. Go here for a drink and enjoy the sunset. I'm willing to give it another try, even though I was disappointed by my first visit.
(3)Jon F.
Wow. Amazing view as everyone else here on Yelp has stated. We stopped in for lunch & ate outside on the patio. The prices are little high but expected and are completely justified by the view. My wife really enjoyed her shrimp salad and my chicken sandwich was also really good. Complimentary bread was also delicious! I would definitely recommend this one.
(5)Amy N.
The view was great but the food and the service were ok. We sat all the way in the back to avoid the noise because we had a baby so the view was semi-blocked by a green roof. We ordered the tuna tartare and ceviche for appetizer and short ribs and rib chop for main course. Both appetizers were very small portioned and didn't have any wow factor. The same can be said for the two main courses. The short rib was bland and dry while its sauce was very salty. The rib chop was a bit too salty and not worth $62. We had told them in advance we were coming to celebrate our wedding anniversary but they didn't bring us anything as pictured by some on here. Lastly, our waiter didn't seem too thrill we didn't order wine or dessert. If you want to come enjoy the view, dine next door at California Market restaurant. The view is as spectacular and the servers didn't seem as pretentious..I'm sure the bill would be half what we paid too.
(3)Star M.
Food: 4 Stars Views: 5 Stars Service (Wine): 4 Stars Service (Food): 2 Stars (3 Stars for the bus staff only, 1 Star for the waiter) Overall Taste in my Mouth: 2 Stars The good: Made a last minute reservation on Open Table for an 8:30 seating -- after sunset. Got a great corner 2 top table -- view would have been stellar, if it had been daylight, but it was still lovely at night, with the moon and the clouds and the water. A very private table because the two of you sit 90' to each other, with only glass on the other two sides, so your back is to the rest of the diners. Sommelier made a great wine recommendation with our dinner selections. Our food was great -- braised short ribs were divine and rack of lamb was lovely. The bad: Our waitress was very friendly and nice; however, the greet time was in excess of 5 minutes (closer to 10), she didn't tell us about any daily specials when she gave us the menus and wine list, so we had already ordered our wine based upon our initial review of the menu items as the night was already dragging a bit; and the bus boy and sommelier did the rest of her work, including delivering our food, clearing plates, asking about water and bread refills and dessert order, etc. Once our order was in, she essentially disappeared. We had noted in our reservation that it was our anniversary & the hostess wished us happy anniversary as did our waitress. But, coincidentally the two tables next to our also were celebrating anniversaries -- one of them got two glasses of champagne and the other got a free dessert with a candle, etc. So, for our waitress to simply say "Happy Anniversary" seemed a bit hollow and awkward. What makes it worse is the fact that we used a Restaurant.com gift certificate for $25, which automatically added 18% to our total bill, including our $165 bottle of wine and the tax amount. [We are frugal -- that's how we afford our wine!] So our tip amount was over $47 for two entrees that totalled $99. I'm hoping the sommelier got part of the tip share, because after our bill was $303 (including the $47 tip and $27 tax), we chose not to tip him. We expected the 18% on the food -- but not on the wine or the tax. [MANAGEMENT: YOU MAY WANT TO RECONSIDER A FIXED 18% WHEN SOMEONE SPENDS $165 on wine]. Affixing a mandatory tip to a bottle of wine is unconscionable. We would have given her a $20 tip on the approx $100 food bill (prior to the $25 gift certificate) [NOTE -- which would have been 20%, which is more than 18%] and the Somm $20 or $25 on the wine separately. You do not customarily tip the same amount (15 - 20%) on the marked up bottle of wine [$165 for a $75 retail (not even wholesale) bottle], particularly if you have a Somm in addition to the waiter. THAT IS JUST BASIC FRONT OF THE HOUSE SERVICE KNOWLEDGE. Net -- we probably would have spent within $5 - $10 of the same amount at the end of the meal. But -- the way it was handled and the mandatory 18% on WINE was beyond the pale . . . . If the wine hadn't been so delicious, we definitely would have left with a very bad taste in our mouth. We love Carmel, we are Hyatt Gold Passport Members, we like wine and views -- but we will be hard pressed to EVER visit or recommend this restaurant. It's a shame -- it was a lovely evening, we enjoyed our meal and the wine and the views. This could have been a 4 Star (not quite 5 Star review -- still the issues with Sonja's service). But, alas, it is all I can do to not give it 1 Star review. Dan & the wine saved the evening.
(2)Sherry G.
We stayed at The Highlands Resort and was looking forward to the dinner after viewing the menu at the hotel. The view is fabulous! I will say the windows were not clean and when you are selling this view that was distracting. The food - a mixture. I ordered the Cesear Salad one if the best - crisp romaine hearts with a fabulous dressing and topped with a crostini. I also ordered the Sea Bass with chantrelle mushrooms and polenta. The Sea Bass was perfection - would have liked more than just a smear of polenta. Polenta should be rich and thick on the plate not barely brushed on. The truffle shavings were delish. Husband ordered the Kansas City Steak medium and pommes frites. Steak was OVERDONE he is nicer than me and did not send it back. He did inform our waiter George, who was aloof and said, yes that happens with aged beef. Well...no it happens when you over cook the meat. The pommes frites- if they are frozen shoestring French fries like mcDonalds please don't call them pommes frites...and charge $8.. Awkward moment when sommelier brought over a wine we did not order. Service: attentive service. George was a little smug and corrected my husband when he ordered French Fries and he said oh you want pommes frites? George we have been to Paris at least a dozen times we know what they are. Again would expected a fresh potatoes. We did not order dessert, sort of wanted to be done with George.
(2)Cynthia G.
Beautiful Location!! This place overlooks the Rocky California Coast at its best. I had one of the most amazing steaks ever, and I would not classify this place as a steakhouse. I also had great oysters. This place is a little pricey, but I expected this from an upscale restaurant. I would recommend this place for a romantic getaway dinner!
(5)Stella W.
the food was great...we got there at 5pm winter..so can't see the view outside. without the view...i say it's not worthy for the price..
(3)Rick B.
Good stuff: The wine list had lots of good selections. The somm came over and helped pick out a stellar white Burgundy. The view is what you come for, and we had a good seat for it. My wife really enjoyed the first course and her dish. Bad stuff: The server forgot to put in one of our first course orders. The $45 halibut plate came out and the fish was overcooked. Really dry and lacked in flavor although the description sounded really good. More good stuff: The server took off the $45 plate and replaced it with something else and also didn't charge me for 2 desserts and a glass of wine. More bad stuff: It's expensive. If you read other reviews you'll see a consistent theme. Overpriced for the caliber of food quality and service. For 2 people we dropped $350 and for that kind of coin you'd expect the best service. They not only forgot to put in one of our orders but also messed up the bill. Overall, it's a 3-star experience. Probably won't go back but glad we experienced it once.
(3)Shiho F.
Still haven't dined here but I've enjoyed numerous cocktails in the lounge by the windows overlooking the Pacific. Service is solid and prices are high but I don't mind, I'm paying for the total experience and it's so worth it. I love California Market but next time I look forward to trying the food at the Edge.
(4)Maureen R.
The most romantic date I can remember! Especially enjoyed dancing in the lounge after dinner...mid-century modern... throw back! Loved our waiter, reminded me of Einstein! Cocktail Hour: Chopin Martini Aristocrat Manhattan: Knob Creek, Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Orange Bitters, Brandied Cherries Wine: Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: Domaine Serene - Evenstad Reserve 2007 Starters: Yellowfin Tuna Tartare - jalepeño -lime aioli, brioche Heirloom Tomato - swank farms, burrata, pesto, herb fin Main Course: Sonoma Duck - carrot "confit", pomme ancienne, huckleberry jus Wild King Salmon - swank farms white corn, chanterelle, chardonnay sauce Dessert: Salted Peanut Butter-Caramel Bar shortbread, chocolate mousse, jivara chocolate ganache, peanut butter parfait, malted milk ice cream After dinner drinks: Champagne Louis Roederer - Brut Premier, Reims, France Aristocrat Manhattan: Knob Creek, Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Orange Bitters, Brandied Cherries
(5)Larry S.
An outstanding view, great service and very very friendly people in all positions from hostess, waiter and wine steward and very very good menu! We enjoyed ourselves and wished we had such a good option back home. I know there are recent reviews that were not the best - we did not have any of those issues. Ask for Tim. He was great. When my wife dropped her glasses he dropped to the floor to find them. He was helpful in making menu choices.
(4)Angelo A.
Amazing food, exceptional wine, and incredible service. I had trouble finding a wine that would please everyone in my party. Thank God for Donald or Don Mallery (the Sommelier). He is professional, incredibly knowledgeable, and one of the best in the business. He suggested great wines (not just expensive) but wine that we would love. We had a great experience and have returned many times and it is always the same. Perfect. Go to Pacific's Edge (one of the best views in the country so I highly suggest visiting at Dusk) and ask for Don Mallery, enjoy the food, wine, and view. You will return. I promise. Service and food as it should be. No complaints.
(5)Angela P.
This is the place for that romantic dinner, overlooking the ocean, watching the sunset and having a glass or two of wine with your main squeeze. The service is impeccable, the food excellent, and the prices outrageous. If someone else were paying the tab, or this is that one time event, then ok. Otherwise, it is overpriced. We reccomend just going for a drink, and then going on into Carmel or Carmel Valley for some good food that dosen't require taking out a loan.
(3)Christian G.
Very mixed bag. The wine server was very attentive. Not so the waiter. We had the wines for the first and the main course on the table before we even had the chance to order the food. The first course was excellent, the steak was well done not medium as ordered. Did not have the chance to complain since the waiter was nowhere to be seen. When the check arrived we knew the reason for his attitude or the lack thereof: 20% service charge was already added on. We will certainly opt for another place in Carmel to celebrate a special occasion.
(1)Lori F.
We went here for our 3rd anniversary dinner, purely to eat while having an amazing view of the setting sun on the Pacific ocean. They did have a chef's tasting menu but we really weren't too excited about the offerings. They have an extensive wine list, and had a sommolier available for any questions. Ultimately we decided to create our own tasting menu, and ordered a la carte. We started out with the Monterey abalone with mussel saffron emulsion, parsnip puree and black trumpet mushrooms. I was surprised by how tender the abalone was. The black trumpet mushrooms gave the dish a great depth and earthiness. My husband also had an order of oysters. They were very fresh, and came with some great garnishes. For our second course we split an order of the porcini soup. It had an espresso foam and a brioche crouton. The kitchen was kind enough to split our order into 2 separate bowls. This soup was amazing! It was so silky, and mushroom-tastic! Our main course, I had the Maine day boat scallops. Scallops are my favorite food, and I can't resist getting them whenever I can. At first I was a bit disappointed with the portion size, of only 3 scallops, but they were very large, and proved to be more than enough. They were served on top of a sunchoke, chantarelle gratin and a black truffle emulsion. So good. One of the best scallop dishes I have had in a very long time! My husband had the coriander crusted, pan seared yellow fin tuna. We asked our server whether or not this tuna was sustainably caught or not, and he went to the trouble to ask the chef where and when the fish was purchased. It was a sustainably, line-caught fish, by the way. His fish was served on top of baby bok choy, and fingerling potatoes. Very tasty. For dessert my husband ordered the salted peanut butter~caramel bar comprised of peanut shortbread, jivara chocolate ganache, caramel sauce, and a milk chocolate~caramel mousse. I ordered manjari chocolate decadence cake, crème fraîche, toffee butter crunch, sea salt, caramel ice cream, chocolate snaps. It was so rich and delicious! They brought out our desserts with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate on our plates. It was a very touching gesture, and we really felt that our special occasion was important to the staff as well. Overall this was a very special dinner, and the bill with tip was $275. That includes 4 glasses of wine (2 per person), 2 first courses, 1 soup, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts, all ordered ala carte. The view was amazing, and there is no better scenery to enjoy while eating dinner.
(5)Jake T.
Great view! Especially check out sunset! Wine menu cannot be beat! We've been here 3 times so far...each to celebrate an event (anniversary). Did the tasting menu the first time with wine pairing and it was phenomenal. The bread is to die for! Different servers take care of different things (bread, drinks, etc) so you constantly have your ever need attended to. The tasting menus change and so it's sometimes hit or miss depending on your taste....my wife always gets the steak and she loves it. Fantastic desert menu. Haven't tried anything from the cheese menu but that's next on my list for next time! If you can, get a reservation for sunset and just enjoy the view!
(4)Jeff Y.
Was here last night. Came here to catch dinner at sunset. The view and service is pretty much the only thing we enjoyed this evening. We've been to quite a few high end restaurants (not many reviewed, 'cause I get lazy). I tend to only write a review if I'm compelled to do so because it was THAT good or THAT bad. And this is one of them. The service was attentive. The ambiance and view was great (as long as it's not pitch black yet). Google the time for sunset and book a reservation 30 minutes before that time. The 2 stars is because of the Food = boring, uninspired. When you're charging this much for food, you BETTER deliver...this place did not. I would only come back to this place for a drink and the view, NEVER for the food. A couple notes for the chef in case you read this (This only applies to our experience last night). -The heirloom tomato dish: the burrata was old and gross, why would you serve something like that?, basil oil needs seasoning, & the balsamic reduction was burnt (this dish sucked). -The Free Range chicken was cooked perfectly, but the poorly roasted head of garlic was inedible. -The Mushroom Ravioli was greasy and bland. The taste did not equate to it's cost. We nearly ordered the meat entrees, but my fiancée warned me that this place was unlikely to rival the quality/taste of the steaks at Peppoli at Pebble Beach for nearly the same price. I'm glad I listened to her. Come here for the view and service, but don't come for the food.
(2)Kristen F.
Wonderful ambiance and delicious food. Best sunset views in town, hands down. Must try their scallops!
(5)David Y.
My fiance and I dined at Pacific's Edge last night to celebrate her new job, and it was a fantastic experience all the way around. Neither one of us had ever dined there before, and although we did read some of the reviews (good and bad) here on Yelp, we both went with open minds. Going on somewhat the spur of the moment, we weren't able to get a reservation for sunset to take advantage of the amazing views that the restaurant is known for. Even so, we were greeted warmly at the reception desk, and led to a window table. The staff, from the moment that we were greeted, till the time that we signed the check, was attentive, but not smothering. Everything flowed smoothly, and we never really had to wait for anything. Our drink order was taken, and in a matter of a couple of minutes, our bottle of Pinot Noir was at our table. My fiance had the Wild Mushroom Ravioli, and it was a delicious dish. My Yellowfin Tuna was cooked to perfection, and in all honesty, was the best that I have ever tasted. The portions were good, we even saved room for a slice of the Chevre Cheesecake, which arrived at out table adorned with a small chocolate "Congratulations" square on top, recognizing my fiances achievement. A very nice touch. Let's get one thing straight, this is not an inexpensive restaurant, by any stretch of the imagination. I have never minded paying top dollar for a meal, and that includes the entire restaurant experience, from beginning to end. Pacific's Edge served what we both considered was a world class meal, and delivered it with the service to back it up. Will we be return customers? Oh yes, and we'll be there to enjoy the view next time!
(5)Mr. R.
Let me start by saying that our server, Sonya was, as always, very courteous, and is very good at what she does. She is unassuming, and not at all snooty (although we have had a snooty waiter here before). Sonya is the tops and does a great job answering questions about the menu, etc. We have eaten here probably 7+ times in the last 4 years. Feel free to see my prior review. We ordered the Tasting Menu: -Sashimi (Salmon, Yellow Tail, Sea Urchin, Tuna, Caviar) -Pork Chop / Wild Boar -Duck Breast -Almond Cake Our suspicion was that it wasn't going to be enough food, so we supplemented in with an additional course that we ordered a la carte. The sashimi course was our favorite, followed by the duck breast. The sommelier helped us pick out a nice champagne, that was reasonably priced, very crisp and paired nicely across a wide variety of foods. So, great service... a nice menu, why 3 stars? Well, for starters, our Pork Chop / Wild Boar Chop, was cooked correctly for my wife, but massively undercooked for me. Unfortunately I didn't notice this until I had already had a piece. OK, OK, OK, I can see the meat titans of the world staring at me right now. I eat my beef Rare Plus (between rare and medium rare). I am not scared of blood. But with pork, the center of this meat was raw for mine. Again my wife's was fine, but it left me a little alarmed that I had already eaten some undercooked pork. I pointed this out to Sonya, and she had one look at it, then looked at my wife's, and rushed mine back to the kitchen and quickly replaced it. The thing that struck me was that it would have been apparent to the person plating the dish that it was undercooked for pork, and a completely different color than the one right next to it (my wife's). Additionally I continue to struggle with the value of the tasting menu, it doesn't have quite enough oomph for my wife or me, in terms of quantity of food. It is priced similar to many other 5 or 6 course tasting menus, at similar quality restaurants, but we generally need to order an extra course when we dine here. Our dining experience here was roughly $375, and while it wasn't bad, it didn't blow me away. I have had dinners at that price point blow me away, in fact, they usually do. There was nothing wrong with our dinner (other than the undercooked item), but we just weren't dazzled like we expected to be. We have been dazzled by a tasting menu here in the past, but weren't this time. All in, it was a 3.5 star dinner, maybe could have grabbed the 4 star but for the pork. But the root cause of my rating? Very good, doesn't get you 4 stars at that price point - it needs to be Excellent... and truly Outstanding to get a 5.
(3)Jenny H.
Ugh, I had a horrible experience here mostly because of my rude waiter named Fernandez. I'm not sure if it's because I brought in a restaurant.com coupon that included 18% gratuity so he didn't feel like he had to be nice to us, or if it's because I didn't order any wine at the beginning and he thought I was being cheap. I don't handle alcohol too well, so I usually don't order any wine with my meals if I want to enjoy it. Here's a few examples of what our server did during the meal to upset me: - After we got seated I took out my DSLR to take some photos since we had a window seat with a nice view. I set my camera down after the bread came. Fernandez comes by and tells me "You should put your camera away otherwise we'll probably get food on it." He said this with some attitude, when he could have just asked me to move it to other side away from where they serve the food. I don't understand why I should put my camera away, and I've never had anyone else ever tell me to do that at a restaurant. - After our food came, I noticed he didn't come by to check up on us for a long time. I didn't particularly care, but I only noticed because I overheard him asking the table in front of us, then walking past us and checked up on the table behind us. He briefly came by when we were almost done with our entrees and said "How's the food" and "Okay". He was chatting quite a bit with those two tables about the food, weather, and Carmel, but didn't even bother speaking more than a few words to us. - When it came time for dessert, we were quite full and decided to share the Highlands Inn Kit Cat bar. After I ordered saying "We'll have a ..", our server replied with "Just one?" There was no need for him to make that comment. - After we finished dessert a good 20 min passed and our server did not come by to give us the check so we tried to flag him down. He made eye contact and I thought he nodded, but continued to walk to another table so we had to wait another 5-10 min. It was getting late and I wanted to leave so I was irritated that I had to wait even longer for him. As for the food, we had the Roasted Beet Carpaccio and Yellowfin Tuna Tartare for starters. I enjoyed the beets more than the tuna tartare which is usually my favorite. I found the sauce a little too creamy for my taste, and I didn't like the brioche croutons it came with. For entrees we had the Bone-In Ribeye and the California White Sea Bass which were both pretty good too. My favorite part of the meal was the Highlands Inn "Kit Cat" Bar that we had for dessert. Overall 4 stars for the food, -1 star for the horrible service, -1 star for the price. I wouldn't come back just because I didn't find the food that impressive and was not worth the price.
(2)Joe N.
This is my 50th review on yelp and have been waiting for a place that was worth making my 50th....maybe I'm a little sentimental...who knows.... I had planned an entire day around Monterrey, Pebble beach, and Carmel and wanted to end with something special. I don't think I could have picked a better place....I called ahead of time to get reservations and asked for a table by the window...the hostess explained to me that they were first come first served and typically fill up around 6PM but since this was a special date she said she would try as hard as she could to save a table for us.... When we got there they had a table dead center of the room by the window for us....I couldn't have picked a better spot myself. It was a little warm with the sun beating down so make sure you have your sunglasses with you but it was well worth it...we had the pork and the lamb....the pork was good but the lamb was one of the best I've ever had...we also had the Ceviche and tuna tar tar....both good choices although it didn't blow me away....skip the mushrooms for the sides but the whipped potatoes were pretty good....lastly...for dessert make sure you get the chocolate bread pudding....I'm not typically a dessert connoisseur but my date was...especially when it comes to bread pudding and apparently this was the best she ever had... One other suggestion, if you bring your own bottle of wine make sure it's a nice bottle...the corkage fee is $40 which they will waive the fee if you buy a bottle (although they were pretty marked up)....
(5)Kim D.
Views are spectacular!! There's literally not a bad table in the restaurant. I can see why this place made "Top 10 Best Restaurants with a View". So beautiful! They have a separate lounge area for drinks & appetizers too if you're not interested in a formal dinner. We found the service and food to be amazing. On the evening we went, we ordered the Monterey Bay Red Abalone, Rack of Lamb, Fish of Day, & Black Forest Cake. All were excellent. Reservations were recommended...the place was packed!
(5)Felix H.
Wonderful service. Great view. Amazing food. Hands down couldn't have asked for more.
(5)Anthony L.
Visiting Carmel for the Christmas holiday and staying at the Highlands we naturally jumped at the idea of eating dinner here. We had a 7PM seating in December, so it was pitch black dark. However we saw the view earlier during check-in and it's pretty amazing. The service was a little slow to get rolling, but once into the meal it was more than satisfactory. For Christmas dinner they had a fixed four course meal and the choices were good. For my main course I had the most amazing bone-in rib chop in my life. Pan seared in a cast iron skillet, it was cooked to a medium-rare perfection! We had a hard time picking a bottle of wine, so one of the in-house Sommelier suggested a bottle of French Pinot Noir. It was wonderful! Why not five stars? Value. Even though an excellent meal, it was very expensive and could have been a better value.
(4)Tara M.
Ok let's see. This is what we all refer to as a "view restaurant" and that is exactly what you get. The food is a step below mediocre, as is the staff. I remember coming here years ago and really enjoying my experience. Maybe they are coasting (no pun intended) off of a reputation they had in their heyday, but that as clearly passed. We were staying next door so decided to come over for a dinner. It being my birthday we brought a special bottle of wine that we wanted to drink. Now, we are not typical bring our own wine type of people but this was a special occasion. We are then told that their corkage is "$40 maybe $45 let me check." Backup. Who is the world charges $40 (or $45) dollar corkage. I'll tell you who - a restaurant that currently aligns themselves with $10 for $25 gift certificates on restaurant.com , that's who. I'm not one to scoff at corkage but REALLY, c'mon you serve FRIED CALAMARI. That really blew us all away. It wasn't the money, it was the principle. Anyway, I won't be back. Luckily we even convinced some other people staying at the property we were at not to go the next night. Hope that $40 corkage was worth it Pacific's Edge! Go check out Marinus in Carmel Valley. No view - but you'll have a much more memorable dinner!
(2)Mark E.
Dinner for two valentines day. $125 per person plus a $65 half-bottle of wine. Total bill of $400, because 57% gratuity included. Okay that's fine. I sign the check. My bank statement shows $485. Eventually I was able to get a hold of staff and ask, their only response was that it "might" be a security deposit so I have to now keep checking on it. Two days later ANOTHER $485 charge shows up. WTF?! So now I'm $900 in the hole. These guys will take you for a ride. Be warned.
(1)Lawrence L.
Definitely a fan... My wife and I were celebrating our 12th anniversary in Carmel, and decided to celebrate with good food and a nice view. This place definitely had both of the main things we were looking for. We were greeted by the host, who also congratulated us on our anniversary. We were seated by the windows with the expansive view of the cliffs and pacific ocean (although, it was a bit foggy). Another host came by to sprinkle some glittery stars on our table (nice touch). We started off with oysters, red abalone (scrumptious), and scallops for appetizers. We both had the braised pork belly with chorizo reduction for our main entree, and we ended the meal with the black forest chocolate cake... I had the wine pairings which made the meal that much better! We both ended off the night with a latte' and cappucino. Surprisingly, we didn't have to roll out of the restaurant, as the servings were just right. The service was excellent and very friendly, and the view was a bit covered by the fog, but was gorgeous nonetheless. I highly recommend Pacific's Edge for anyone looking for a top quality with a great view. We would definitely come back again!
(5)T N.
The only thing I can say for this restaurant is that it has amazing views. As far as the food is concerned, it is really awful. Food is bland and overpriced. I ordered the fish and my wife ordered the ravioli. The fish had no taste and the ravioli was swimming in oil. We could have cooked a much tastier meal at home. Go there for the views and maybe a drink but skip the food.
(1)Daniel G.
For our one year anniversary, my wife and i decided to return to the scene of the crime and head back to Monterey for the weekend. In doing so, i choose Pacific's Edge for us to have our anniversary dinner based on the recommendations from several Yelp friends. To sum up our experience here, the food was excellent, the view was stunning, and the service was terrible. We got the earliest seating available, which was 6:00 PM, so that we were ensured a window seat with a view of the sunset. In retrospect, most seats in the restaurant would have been just fine for the view with the exception of a wing that runs along the side wall which only had a view to the south. The restaurant itself is situated pretty much right at the edge of a hill about 50m above and away from the coastline, which provided for a spectacular view of the surrounding area, and particularly of the sunset. The food was fantastic. For starters, we had the following: -Half a dozen of the chilled oysters, which i believe happened to be miyagi oysters on the day that we went. -The sea bass and scallop ceviche. This dish was okay, but needed more citrus added to it. Also, it was served with what tasted like a cheap-o store bought Old El Paso tostada shell -Roasted beet carpaccio. I be rockin' them beets. I'm crazy about beets lately, and this dish was excellent. Just a note, there was no actual meat so i'm not sure why they called it a carpaccio... -Endive. Kind of like a salad, also very tasty, had a great blend of tart and sweet flavors, and the nuts added great texture. For entrees, i got the fish of the day, which was a sea bass and Nique got the scallops. Both dishes were excellent. The fish and the scallops were lightly salted before cooking which gave them a flavorful cooked on 'crust' from being grilled. To go with the entrees, we got two starches, the polenta and the risotto, but in hindsight, we should have only gotten one or the other. Dessert was comped since it was our anniversary, and we were given the chocolate decadence cake. It's fudge, nothing special. I which we would have requested one of the other options that they had for dessert because i wasn't terribly happy with the cake. As far as the service, my wife put it best, no one likes to be served by a big, sweaty jerk. Our waiter seated us and took our drink order and then promptly forgot about it and went on to seat the rest of his section. We ordered water to start, sparkling and still, but had to remind the waiter after 20 mins that we still hadn't gotten it. That's a bad sign. For the rest of our stay, he was about a step away from being just plain rude in my opinion. My wife won't necessarily agree with that statement, but i just felt like this guy was annoyed that we were there, and i don't like that feeling coming from a waiter. And this guy was sweaty, like, the whole time, which is gross. I don't even want to think about some dude walking around, sweating all over my food, it really takes away from the experience. Lastly, he messed up our bill and charged us for drinks that we did not even order or receive, which was just icing on the cake at this point. I would give 4 stars for the food and easily give 5 stars for the ambiance, but for our waiter, i'm going with a 2. All in all, we had a good experience here and i would definitely come back, but for the amount of money that we paid, i would not be served by the same waiter the next go around. 4 stars.
(4)Anson D.
It was our third visit last Saturday on February 11th. Unfortunately, I have to rate the experience significantly lower, because of the decline in appropriate service and food taste. The server, Alex, was overly attentive and kept interrupting us while we held hands and conversed. Obviously he did not pay attention and instead insisted on doing what he wanted regardless of our conversation and intimacy. Instead of approaching from the side to retrieve dishes or lay out knives and forks, he instead reached between and over us as we held hands. We had to stop talking and release hands to accommodate him! I understand restaurants need to turn tables, but we got there early and ordered promptly. His reaching between us started before and after the food arrived. As for the food taste, I ordered the sea bass and my fiance had the short rib. Although portions were very small....something we knew in advance, the fish was overcooked and could have used some sauce to minimize the dryness. As for the short rib, that too could have used some sauce to moisten the dry meat as well as add more flavor. The Cesar salad surprisingly lacked much taste, especially when the two small slivers of anchovy barely had much flavor, not to mention the bland dressing. As for the carrot cake dessert, that too was a disappointment along with the vanilla ice cream that barely tasted vanilla. All-in-all, we selected Pacific Edge because it offers a very romantic ambiance, wonderfully situated, and holds a special meaning for us from earlier experiences, but the service needs to improve, as well as the food taste, to elevate the restaurant to a higher rating in our books and to justify a fourth visit. Kudos to the host because she was very friendly, polite, and pleasant.
(2)Sam K.
This restaurant is at the Highlands Inn, a quarter mile drive up from the freeway. Come here for the VIEWS, the SUNSETS, the NIGHTTIME SKY & LIGHTS VIEWS, the romantic special anniversary, birthday events with your loves ones! Do not bring kids to this restaurant as the atmosphere is totally for couples only. (a lot of couples kissing and holding hands, rated "R" sometime ). Of course, we come here for the views, not exactly the food. We are actually quite disappointed with the food quality since our food was luke warm and not hot. That's a real bummer. I did not like my steak since it tasted like a steak you can order from Denny's. The food is on the "expensive" side, and for the price paid, you will get super disappointed if you come here to eat, and eat only! Please do keep this in mind. Come here for the romantic talks, the views, the holding hands, the kisses =))) Will we be back, maybe.
(5)Joe M.
Most amazing dinner view! Perfect overlook of the pacific coast from our table made for the most romantic sunset meal. Wild mushroom ravioli was ok. Service was great.
(4)Kari D.
We went here for Valentine's day last week, for the four course dinner. The views are definatley amazing, we were promptly seated right by the huge window overlooking the water. The fog kinda killed the sunset and since it still gets a little darker earlier, our reservations were about 6:00 and sunset was I think 6:15 ish. So the rest of the time we were staring out into the dark abyss. But I am sure its amazing in the summertime on a nice no foggy day! The set menu was definatley above and beyond, we did the wine pairings, which we were told $175 per person. We were overcharged at the end, which we didn't speak up about, but they charged us $200 per person. The wine pairings were a good idea though, you get a full glass with each course that is paired with your dish, so 4 glasses total. I kinda regret going to the wine reception before hand, at the tickled pink inn, where we were staying because I drank way above my limit. The food was really good and we each ordered something different so we could sample all the offerings. I can't say I was dissapointed with one dish. Service was good, although at times I felt like the server treated us kind of condescendingly. Maybe because I asked for a lemon to go with my oysters instead of dipping it in the vinagrette that was offered. One thing I have to mention-I don't want to sound like a snob, but the restrooms are definatley one you would see at a mall. I have to applaud the sardine factory for one of the most amazing bathrooms that seemed posh and fit the restaurant's style. In no way would I ever rate a restaurant soley by their bathroom. But if you need to go, it isn't as lush as I would have imagined. No biggie. I really enjoyed my time here, but I probably woudn't visit again, I just wanted to cross it off my list :)
(4)Michael H.
Not the cheapest place to eat but one of the most memorable. This restaurant at the Highlands Inn Hyatt has three important things going for it. 1) The stunning view of the Big Sur coastline ... at dusk. 2) The food 3) The wine list Highlights of the meal for me were the super succulent Tuna Tartare and the perfectly cooked Filet Mignon which was up there with the best steaks I've had at both the Plumed Horse and Alexanders. JZ's Squash Tart was gorgeous, as was her main course of Seabass. The carrot cake was beyond moist. Mmmm. Drinks were also well made. Finally, service from our waiter Mark was exceptional. After your meal, you can head through to the lounge and enjoy some chilled out piano music. Tip: Get here nice and early so you can get a window table and watch that sunset!
(4)Jared B.
The Pacific's Edge Restaurant is as near perfect is it gets. This is a kind of place you go to for a special event. Excellent food and the perfect ocean view. They offer a five or six course meal which makes it the perfect two hour even. Must be topped off with a bit of their house made ice cream
(5)David G.
This is one of the Monterey Peninsula's most expensive restaurants, so excellent service is expected. Regrettably, it's not what customers receive. I suffer from migraines. On a recent visit, I ordered "plain" green tea, i.e., with no added flavorings that could trigger a headache. When the tea was served, it was not plain. After considerable delay, they brought a different pot-still not plain tea. At this point I spoke to the maitre d'hotel. He found some tea bags, and one of them seemed possible. A waiter removed the tea bag and disappeared to get hot water. Meanwhile, bread was served. We were told the choices were sourdough and rosemary. I dislike sourdough, so I selected rosemary. I took one bite and learned that the so-called rosemary bread was actually sourdough bread with rosemary added. By then, I'd been in the restaurant for an hour. I'd eaten nothing, had nothing to drink, and I'd developed a migraine. Things didn't improve much as the evening progressed. I'd hoped to order polenta as a side dish. However, because of my food sensitivities I was concerned with the preparation. I explained this to the waiter. When my entree was served (with a vegetable side) the waiter said that the polenta did include something I could not eat. Of course, now it was too late to order pommes frites as a starch to accompany my entree which was already cooling on the table. Pacific Edge has a gorgeous setting and serves some good food. Nonetheless, I cannot recommend this restaurant. I live nearby, and I'm much happier when I avoid the restaurant and order the bar food.
(2)Sheeva G.
What a gorgeous restaurant! When you walk into this place, you pretty much get the most gorgeous panoramic view of the coast. Bf and I stayed at the lovely Hyatt Carmel Highlands for the weekend and we chose to eat here for an amazing romantic dinner. We sat at the corner table (best in my opinion) and had a lovely meal. We started out with the mission fig tart and the roasted beet carpaccio. Both were decent but not amazing. Then we had the Colorado rack of lamb and the filet mignon. The lamb was beautiful and my filet was one of the best I've had. We also had a side of potato puree which was lovely. Then we had the chocolate bread pudding and it was very yummy, but I would have liked it a little warmer. We had very nice wines and the service was great. I will definitely be back to this restaurant because it was so gorgeous and romantic. Nothing beats a romantic dinner with my bf ;), especially with a stunning view!
(4)Bryan F.
The food wasn't bad and the view was incredible, but the service was horrible. The first thing our waiter said was "what do you want to eat?" He didn't go over the menu, make any suggestions, or anything that an experienced waiter would do. After our meal we had to ask to see a dessert menu, and after waiting 10 minutes for him to come take our order we decided to leave without dessert. If you decide to go here and you get Fredrick as your waiter ask for someone else. The other waiters we overheard at nearby tables were great. Also, the waiters assistant was phenomenal. We wish he could have been our waiter because he actually seemed like he cared about the customers.
(2)Bobby B.
Poor service. 15 minutes before they took our drink order. Same for the rest of our meal. Food just OK. And better ask for a seat near the window because that's the only thing here worth the prices.
(2)Mihir M.
As others have stated, the views are great when it is not dark. Service was superb. The vegetarian options are limited, but are good. We had the sweet corn bisque soup which was outstanding. The herb risotto was good not as often happens with risotto, the rice could be a little softer. The asparagus was simply grilled tasteless asparagus, but healthy nonetheless.
(4)Jacques T.
One of a handful of restaurants in California with the quintessential ocean view and excellent food combination. Even on a cloudy day, it was a view to kill for. But, it really is about the food, and we were not disappointed. The scallop, the short rib, the steak entrees were all excellent. The creme brûlée and chocolate cake deserts were exquisite. The only complaint was the service. Our waiter was more interested in talking to a neighboring table about his ability to play Pebble Beach at good rates. For the price do the evening, we expected better.
(4)Blake R.
My GF decided to surprise me and take me here for my B-day. From the moment we walked in this place was Amazing...The Views are breathtaking. I decided to go with the Chef's Menu with wine pairings. it was Awesome!! all four courses were perfect with the wine suggested. My Gf had the chicken, it was the best chickens both of us have ever had. super tender, and juicy. The deserts were just as amazing as the dinners we had. Service was ok. but it was super crowded there. Still you need to try this place. I know i will be going back
(5)Jeff P.
Top 5 meals of my life. The setting from the views to the fixtures is awesome. The staff is amazing. As the age old joke goes, men are hesitant to ask for directions. Apparently, so am I..... when it comes to getting wine recommendations from the Sommelier. When I finally relented and discussed my desired food selections and ideas of a wine paring, Don jumped in and nailed it. I had decided to begin with a Caesar salad followed by the pork chop. So, I was thinking Chardonnay. He recommended the '04 Mount Eden. Mount Eden is known for their ageable Chards so I agreed. Unfortunately, I sensed something off when I tasted the wine and Don agreed and offered up the '05 at the same price. Not only did it pair perfectly with my meal, it was definitely one of the top five wines I have ever had. My Caesar was unremarkable. I began to get nervous knowing the financial commitment I had made to the meal. However, the garlic crostini which acted as the croutons were to die for. The pork chop was perfect and as near to heaven as I could imagine. Cooked perfectly, the texture, taste and temperature were consistent throughout. A life changing pork chop. I had it with a side of their herbed risotto which was sublime. My dessert of an off the hook, chocolate bread pudding was also life changing. Easily among the top three desserts, if not the best dessert I have ever had. All in all, an amazing food & wine experience.
(5)Joel F.
Positives: --attentive waitstaff --fresh seafood --amazing views --my entree, the yellowfin tuna, was great. perfectly seasoned Negatives: --too few selections of wine by the glass --abalone app was really expensive ($28)...though it was great
(4)Stephen K.
No complaints about the great food or incredible view. Both were as good as Yelp's reviews led us to believe. But the service was absolute crap. I have eaten enough $200+ meals to know when I am being snubbed. I know the difference between giving us time for conversation and outright ignoring us. Waiting 45 minutes to order dessert falls into the latter category. We finally flagged down a sommelier who wrangled our waiter. We had no appetite for dessert at that point. The waiter managed to delivered our cheque and wish us goodnight without making eye contact, presumably to drive home that fact that we weren't welcome. I was better dressed than most of their customers and am no stranger to restaurant etiquette. The only reason they that I can think of to explain their treatment is my age. Maybe they figured I wouldn't tip well; that is their mistake, but with this treatment I was more than happy to reinforce the stereotype. I know that if I had silver hair and a hefty paunch they would have treated us better. It's a shame, because the restaurant really is as beautiful as they say.
(1)lisa l.
This was - hands down - one of the best meals I ever had. Every bite was perfect. The chef is a GENIUS. Brilliant brussel sprout salad, the best scallops I have ever eaten, abalone appetizer is a MUST TRY. The service is fantastic -- waiters and the rest of the staff extremely attentive... The views are spectacular!!!! Oh -- and the desserts are OFF THE CHARTS. Do NOT leave without trying the bread pudding. Can't wait to come back to Carmel and will be dreaming of Pacific's Edge until the next time I visit...
(5)Gary F.
Out of the Way - Pacific's Edge - Carmel, California Some restaurants are so fortuitously sited that the wisest thing that a chef can do is to stand out of the way, not blocking the diner's line of sight. This is the challenge of Chef Matt Bolton at Pacific's Edge. The Pacific's Edge restaurant, located in the Hyatt Highlands Resort in Carmel-by-the-Sea, has an astonishing view. It was named as one of the ten best restaurants with a view by USA Today in 2006. The award is deserved. Looking out over, yes, the Pacific, the restaurant remind us just how fortunately those living on the coasts can be, and with its high perch even a tsunami would not diminish the pleasure of dining. All tables have a view of the Pacific, but some are nestled up against the windows, awarded on a first-come/first-served basis. We were grateful to have been informed of this policy, allowing us to snag a 6:00 p.m. reservation and a window view. The sunset was not as glorious as some, but was superb none-the-less. Pacific's Edge serves well-prepared, if somewhat conventional, modern cuisine. A four-course "tasting menu" ($99/person) is not overly adventurous, but is quite successful, never failing to please. We began with an Asparagus Vichyssoise with a luscious Truffle Pecorino Grilled Cheese petit-four, crispy spring onions, and prosciutto de parma. While the soup was delightful, the two-bite sandwich was ideal. The Wild King Salmon with Olive Oil Poached Artichoke, Oven Roasted Tomato, and Chanterelle was a pleasant, properly cooked piece of fish, if a bit minimalist. Our main course was a well-conceived, evocative Pan-Seared Breast of Sonoma Duck with a five-spice pastilla (fried duck confit basket), English Peas and Shoots, and Duck Jus. The pastilla was unfortunately greasy, but the rest of the dish was sturdy and warmly evocative of a California April. Dessert was a Meyer Lemon Semolina Cake with Pine Nut Sable and a sparkling Raspberry-Rosemary Sorbet. While this was not an elaborate creation, it was creatively presented and flawless. It is perhaps unfair to note that the food at Pacific's Edge is not among California's best. That may be true, but it doesn't mean that the evening isn't as pleasing as any. Pacific's Edge is a restaurant to see and to sea.
(5)G M.
Fabulous views, good food & good service. We were there middle of Oct, on a day when there was a heat wave & the dining room was too warm. Many people fanning themselves with their menus. We had the tuna tartare (yums!), ceviche (just ok), short ribs (fork tender & yummy), black bass (again, yummy), chocolate bread pudding (tasted more like chocolate lava cake, just ok) & hazelnut cake (good). I had mentioned that it was DH's bday & they comped his dessert. The chef even made a little chocolate 'happy birthday' sign that they put on his dessert. Server could have been a little more attentive but he certainly wasn't neglectful.
(4)Raina C.
My Fiance and I just recently stayed at the Highlands Inn and dinned here at the Pacific's Edge and we don't have a negative thing to say about either. The view from the windows of the restaurant are breathtaking. The service was above and beyond- EVERYTHING was delicious, and the dining experience was fantastic due to the great service.
(5)Christine H.
For our 6 year anniversary, he chose this spot in beautiful Carmel to celebrate. We arrived promptly and were seated within minutes. The manager was kind enough to switch us to a table at the window for the beautiful view, as a table had opened up. He did it without my requesting.. which is very nice. We ordered the following: - Yellowtail Tuna Tartare: fabulous.. I wanted a second plate. It was so well presented and the flavors were delicate and married wonderfully. - Bone-in Rib-Eye: good, a bit overcooked and the flavor was unique and unexpected. More of a bold flavor. - Risotto side: good, a bit salty and undercooked? - Asparagus side: good - Highlands Inn Kit Cat Bar dessert: good - Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp dessert: good Our server was also really attentive and wonderful. The sommelier was attentive and suggested a wonderful cab to go with the rib-eye. The manager came by before our meal and grabbed our camera to take a photo for us. He was very kind and read my mind very well. ;) They were so sweet to comp us on the desserts. SO SWEET! I hope to go here again to try their other offerings, maybe try their cigars too.
(5)Emily B.
First of all, this restaurant is a must visit for the views alone. On a recent vacation to the central coast of California, we searched for a place where we could have a belated Valentine's Day dinner on the ocean. On the day of our reservation, it rained off and on. We arrived at Pacific's Edge around 4PM and sat in the bar along the window. The views of the ocean and the rocks below are unbeatable. In addition, there were two rainbows that formed when we were there, making the view absolutely picturesque. Beware though, make sure that you arrive before sunset. The sunset is gorgeous, but the ocean is not able to be seen after dark. The food was alright. I had the scallops, which were average. My fiance had the short ribs and he enjoyed them. The food is a bit overpriced for the quality, but it is worth a visit for the views. I would recommend going for a drink and an appetizer, and then moving on to another restaurant for dinner.
(3)Ian N.
Over priced for the quality of food, weird service/wait staff, ridiculously pompous wine list and a menu that is far too pretentious... We were very disappointed. We went to a restaurant the following night (flying fish in Carmel) which was twice as good and half the price.
(1)Louise K.
Overall we had a good time, great views food was OK but very expensive. they had a huge wine list, but the staff was helpful sorting through it
(3)Michelle C.
Go for drinks in the bar and the view. Do not eat in the dining room. Our food was terrible and the service was extremely disappointing. We saw our server when he took our order, brought my wine and brought our check. When we informed him that our soft shell crab was too greasy and cold, he gave us attitude. The beet carpaccio featured about 4 slivers of beet. However, the worst part about the entire experience though was the restaurant menu itself. For a restaurant situated right next to a plethora of tasty seafood, they source almost nothing locally. Red snapper, Maine scallops, Colorado lamp. This restaurant is wasting the opportunity to showcase the bounty of the Bay and is selling overpriced, overcooked, under flavored food fit for the masses. Not only will I not return but I will also not recommend this to anyone.
(1)Rita Y.
This place was awesome. No restaurant I've ever dined at has a view like this. You might find one in Hawaii, but this is pretty breathtaking. Hubby & I came here for our anniversary and I was not disappointed. The interior is simplistic, modern and open. Tim, our waiter, is a local guy from Salinas and was excited about playing golf at Pebbles Beach golf course the next day ( i was excited for him, know how hard it is to get a tee time and how expensive it is). He graciously took our picture and I saw him do the same for the table of 4 next to us (French tourists). It's worth making reservations to see the sunset (we didn't get the orange glow because Monterey was foggy week long). My tuna tartare ($17) was good, but I've had better. I thought it had too much mayonnaise. Hubby liked his chowder ($9) and really liked his lamb ($32). I loved my large scallops ($34) which was nicely plated and the flavors were very good. Hubby's glass of local pinor noir (Candela, $15) was flavorful and the sommelier was helpful. I didn't like hubby's peanut butter and choc torte ($10) but my choc marquis (with pistachio, $9) was great. Would I go back? Absolutely. I wanted to sit there all nite long and watch the ocean and maybe get lucky and see a whale swim by. And the bathroom is really nice too, you must check it out even if you don't need to use it.
(4)Jill B.
I would give 4 stars for the quality of food; HOWEVER, the prices are very high and for that I would have expected amazing service (not just amazing food). The time change (fall back) has just passed, so the sunsets at 5:30. We came here FOR the beautiful views; however, they don't sit people until AFTER the sun has already set and it is dark outside... so, NO VIEWS. What is the point then?? ARGH. We were the first to be sat and I let the hostess know that we wanted the best view and pointed at an option. We sat, took our coats off, and I mentioned that it was my man's birthday that night. She said "OH! We have a very romantic table over here, if you'd like". We followed her and sat... only to realize it was far away from all other patrons... kind of "in the back by the kitchen". Absolutely no view of anything. I saw some gorgeous "lit up trees" view and went over and asked her if we could sit there, she said "No, that is for the bar/lounge". Yet minutes later, I saw people being sat there and served. Hmmm... On top of the ZERO view and kitchen entrance/exit sitting, the service was VERY slow and disappointing. At one point, we were completely done (food/drinks), we sat and waited for the bill... and waited... and waited. Our waiter finally came by to give us our bill and left before I could hand him my card (was trying to get out of there!). Waited and waited again to have come by and pick up the card. Waited and waited again for him to come by with the receipt/card. Although the food was nice, we were really disappointed as we expected much better service (it was supposed to be really special for his bday and for our money) and a great view that we by no means received. I would advise them to open up at least an hour earlier ESPECIALLY AFTER THE TIME CHANGE, so people can enjoy what's best about you: the view!
(1)Elvis J.
We always make a point to stop here when in Carmel. The view is amazing at all hours of the day and can make for a very romantic evening. The food in our experience has always been very good although my wife's flat iron steak was lacking in seasoning on this visit. Do yourself a favor and have the Knob Creek Manhattan. On a previous trip management was kind enough to give me the recipe but I still can't make it exactly as it is served here.
(4)Jenny L.
Upon my annual trip to Carmel, I was excited to go and try Pacific's Edge. Five stars definitely on location. The views left me breathless; the view of sunset is indescribable. Then I began to notice how unclean the windows were [hence, minus a star]. I mean, if the restaurant's harping on it's views as the main attraction, the LEAST you can do is make sure your money maker is spick and span. Okay, let's talk food: We started with the Goat Cheese Fritters for apps. YUMMY! Three different types of delicious beets. I ordered the Pan Seared California Snapper and the bf had the New York Steak. We had the grilled asparagus and whipped Yukon potatoes for sides. Gotta say... I had to take out another star for the food. It wasn't bad... but it wasn't good. Bummer. xo
(3)kathleen m.
This restaurant is a mixed bag. The views are wonderful, world-class. The food is pretty good. But the service is just weird. The waiter greeted us with "You've been here before, right?". When we said yes, he then kinda sneered and said "Yeah I remember you...". Odd and not at all welcoming. We ordered and the extremely pretentious wine sommelier then suggested various glasses of wine. I ordered off the menu, a $12 glass and he recommended a glass of red wine for my spouse, never mentioning that it cost $28! We should have asked, never again. The dessert was really spectacular- a chocolate croissant bread pudding, mmmmm. But the whole experience is ruined with their terrible service.
(2)Girish N.
Go there for the view. Food is expensive as expected but did not disappoint.
(4)Lu E.
The view from this place is incredible. The hotel looks like a great place, but we were only coming for dinner. We had great service and the food was overall pretty good. I had the halibut for my main course and i thought the fish was cooked well and was tasty. The marscapone polenta was also a hit. I had the goat cheese fritters as my appetizer...you had me at fritter and then you kept me at goat cheese...it was good. We also had some great desserts that we shared as a group. There was a chocolate peanut butter dessert that was really great and I am not even that big on chocolate in general. If you are in the area, I'd highly recommend. For the amount of food and the quality of service it was quite reasonably priced. Random thing that freaked me out while at the restaurant--while enjoying the beautiful sunset, i saw a bat outside. So that part could actually be pretty cool, but it kinda freaked me out. However that has no bearing on the restaurant...or this review really. I am just being random now. Don't mind me. However, do come for the sunset--it's remarkable.
(4)SJ E.
The view should be amazing, but during winter time it's just darkness at dinner. The food was great, delicious, BUT not memorable. Nothing made me want to return and try again. Service and timing was spotty, as we waited for drinks and an hour between ordering and getting our food. Price point was not earth shattering, but you can save some more $$$ by getting certificates from Restaurant.com first. (This means that business must be bad though...)
(3)jan d.
Well first of all it's a beautiful drive up to the place, and the outside landscaping -Asian in style is tranquil and calm, valet parking is a nice touch. Every table has a view of the ocean, get there before sunset for great views. Hugh wine list with a wide range of prices and half bottles too. had the abalone app. cooked great, a brussel spout salad with a warm dressing nice combo, and then the salmon cooked perfect. All dishes were beautifully presented. Desert bread pudding with a hint of chocolate with lavender ice cream just perfect. later we went to the lounge for dancing and a night cap. A great night out!
(5)Bruce N.
Ive been to this resturaunt countless times and must say, WOW!!! The atmosphere of this place is like a dream. Not to mention they have a beautiful view of the ocean from where you sit to eat, a 200 foot drop to the water. the food is exquisit and the service is very friendly! I love this place soo much I spent my new years there and it was perfect! French food to make your mouth water and your eyes want to explode from exciting dish set ups. Savor the flavor of every bite becuase you will want to. This place is great for first dates, Birthdays and special engagements. This place has such a strong pull of influence in atmosphere and class! I had a women actually propose to me here. Its to bad I refused, but at least the food was unbelievably heavenly and i still left with a smile! Pacific Edge Resturaunt, a perfect place and a smile on your face!
(5)M. N.
Very nice place and the waiter was great. Food would have been killer expensive but we just ordered a la carte and our whole meal cost $110 for 2, which is not unreasonable for the environment and quality. We loved the fact that before and after dinner we could relax by the fireplace right next to restaurant as well as listen to a great live band (piano/bongo/vocal/jazzy)...In hindsight we would have loved to stay in the hotel (restaurant is inside of the Hyatt), but it was too expensive. Can't really hold that against the restaurant but that's the only reason why I can't give 5 stars ;)
(4)Leslie K.
The servers are so kind, sometimes a little slow. The food I've had is consistently good. The view, the fireplace, used to be Joe at Piano four- five nights (he was best part, classical and all). Joe may now only play Friday and Saturday with a singer. Nenito's drinks are always good.
(4)sandy s.
31/2 stars for pacific edge. First off, the view from the restaurant is truly amazing. it can't be beat. one of the main reasons i would return ( and did return) is because of the incredible view. my husband and i had a table at the front window with an absolutely beautiful view of the sunset, but the views from most if not all the tables are pretty great! the ambiance of the restaurant is also great. it is an upscale restaurant and offers an upscale dining experience, but the staff makes you feel welcome without feeling overly stuffy or formal. it has a bit of a casual comfortable feeling unlike some other restaurants in upscale hotels. the staff made us feel comfortable there and the service we had that evening was top notch. everything was very timely. we never felt we were waiting for anything and we never felt rushed. the food was good. i didn't feel it was outstanding or memorable. some things were better than other things. i am not a meat eater so maybe i missed out on some of their better dishes. i feel their food and wine is overpriced for what i was served. my husband was happier than i was. i just felt the food was kind of average for such an upscale restaurant. Overall, pacific's edge offers a nice dining experience and if one is in the carmel area, i would recommend going, mostly for the view!
(3)Suzy S.
This was the highlight of a weekend at the Highlands Inn. The food and drink was both excellent. My lamb was prepared perfectly and the brussel sprout salad was much better than it sounded. The one good thing about staying at Highlands Inn is we could toddled off back up all those stairs to our room in an food/alcohol induced haze. Service is smothering. Just a bit too over the top. I prefer not to have someone at my elbow throughout the entire meal. That took away from some of the ambiance. Be prepared to pay for an wonderful special occasion meal. It's well worth it.
(4)Sung A.
Great food great views. Highly recommend the chefs tasting menu with wine pairing. Simply awesome
(5)Elizabeth R.
I would have given this place 2 stars but the view was great. I ate here 2 years ago and I should have reviewed it then but forgot!! It was mediocre food and decor for the prices. We should have just walked to a restaurant in carmel and had better food. Sad times, view was great though.
(3)Timothy F.
The best part is having a drink while looking over the Pacific at Sunset. Quiet, contemplative. Jacques will make your dining experience complete. He is charming and knowledgeable with great recommendations.
(4)Steve H.
Okay the views are unreal, the service is great but the food was disappointing. We both had fish, the tuna was better than the snapper special but the portions were very small and weren't offered with a lemon wedge. The cheapest bottle of wine was $55.00 and the corkage fee is $40.00.
(3)Cathi W.
We stayed at the Tickle Pink Inn right up the hill from the Pacific's Edge at Highlands Inn. When we arrived on Saturday evening, on New Years Eve weekend, we had wine and cheese at the reception at Tickle Pink. We met a few people who actually ordered room service from Pacific's Edge so we decided to give it a try. I had a steak and my husband had fish. It was DELICIOUS! We are not fans of room service but because Tickle Pink does not offer dinner we were delighted and the price was perfectly reasonable. Now the BAD experience.... We made reservations for 8:00 for the New Year's Eve five course dinner. Based on our "room service dinner" we were so excited! We arrived and were escorted to a corner table with absolutely no elbow room right next to the service buffet where they serve iced water, etc.... We politely asked to be moved to another open table next to the window. Our waiter obliged. The hostess then came to our table and asked if we "checked in yet" and what was the last name on our reservation. It was embarrassing to say the least. After a lengthy wait, we were asked if we would like wine. We ordered a very nice Italian red. My husband wanted champagne which was to be included in our inclusive dinner price. His champagne arrived after the 2nd course came. (Late wouldn't you say?) He was only approached one more time for the champagne during dinner. It's New Year's Eve people! The five course dinner was beautifully presented but was slight to say the least. Nothing to write home about. We each chose a different entree in the 5 courses so that we could experience the flavors and pairings with (empty) glasses of wine and champagne. The portions were so small that we ended up wishing for a pizza or SOMETHING when we got back to hotel. For dessert we ordered Irish Coffee with the dessert presentation. The coffee ice cream was the only hit I would write home about. This was a HUGE $700.00 DISAPPOINTMENT! I tried to call the restaurant upon returning home. I called and expressed my disappointment on January 3rd. The reservationist transferred my call to the restaurant manager. I left a polite message to tell them how disappointed we were. NO ONE EVER CALLED ME BACK. Today is the 16th of January and still nothing. This is my first Yelp review. I had to let Pacific's Edge know this way because the lack of response has finally driven me to this social effort. We are coming back for the AT&T Pro Am in February but won't be back to Pacific's Edge. There are too many other restaurants in Carmel that by far surpass this experience especially for close to $700.00 for a dinner with wine. If we come back for New Year's in 2013 we will be dining elsewhere for sure. The only reason I gave 2 stars is because one of them is for the room service meal. Sorry!
(2)Araceli W.
Of course the food was wonderful. Although as a fan of eating, I'm used to larger portion sizes, but dinner with dessert was perfectly filling. For the price, I was really hoping to take a doggie bag home, and quickly realized this isn't the type of place to give doggie bags lol. One thing that struck us, is that they have very specific menu items, so substituting was not so easy and that's the only reason I gave them 4 stars instead of 5. My husband just wanted an easy salad with ranch, but they don't have ranch dressing. Another no-no for this posh place :) Make sure you RSVP in advance, I don't think they take walk-ins. We celebrated our anniversary, and they added the cutest touch to our desserts (see photos!) We'll definitely be back again next year! I really want to try the sampling menu, it was $90/person but you get to try everything! And I think that included paired wine! YUM!
(4)Stanley C.
Went there for NYE for the prix fixe 4-course dinner. The wait staff was excellent as were the roaming sommeliers. Had a great dinner where the portions were 'just right' and the sommelier made picking a memorable bottle of champagne easy. From the moment I sat down til I left, I was genuinely happy. Wait staff did an excellent job of describing the menu and were right on the money when it came to replacing my eating utensils. The food was 'ok', not great like a Gary Danko, but more like a La Folie. I was not impressed with my goat cheese beet salad, and my date who had the lobster bisque lacked any punch and was sub par to my advanced palate (the bisque, not my date). Main course was forgettable, as I think the bottle of Rose was taking a toll on this lightweight. The ambiance was amazing, as the dining area was bursting with class and romanticism. Although we arrived too late to catch the sun down, I was downright impressed with their green lighting outside the large windows. A good mix of creepy and cool. I'm not usually fond of hotel restaurants, but I found it somewhat relaxing to graze the compounds after dinner. The whole place just oozed with class and sophistication. I believe I counted 3! fireplaces in the lobby and much to my surprise was natural wood burning... The huge photographs of Yosemite and the like that surrounded the lobby were a nice touch, but the price tag on each print sort of lowered the class a bit. From the moment I arrived til the minute I left, I felt like I was well taken care off, even though I lacked the distinguished look from the other male diners. Would I return? Sure, but probably only on special occasions.. I don't think the food was all too memorable, but the whole experience sure was. I say if they had a world class chef like a Mina or like, it would be contention for one of my favorite restaurants.. And that's really saying a lot.
(4)Katie W.
This place is amazing! We found it from fellow yelp users and are so happy we did! We ended up going back the next day for lunch at their fellow restaurant. The atmosphere on friday nights is amazing. They have live music, dancing, breathtaking views, and awesome food. We had so many different staff members helping us through the night, I felt like we were celebritys! Everyone pitched in to make our night perfect. Next time I'd love to stay in the Hyatt Highlands and enjoy that place every night!!!
(5)Tanya P.
This, our last night, we decided to stay close to the hotel and made reservations at the restaurant in the hotel. I actually LOVE that the rating above says "Meh" because that was pretty much it. View=beautiful. Ravaged Carmel coastline. Even in the fog, the ambience was superb. The food, however, left MUCH to be desired. The wine list was big. BIG. Every region from everywhere was respresented. Christine knows French, so once again, we settled on French. I have to admit, she has yet to disappoint. 2006 Chassagne-Montrachet. Minerally, lovely. The menu was brief, which I appreciated. There was a "Chef's Tasting" that featured salmon and duck and quite frankly, I just wasn't in the mood for either. The menu was split into course offerings. First offered salads, soups, oysters, hamachi poke with fennell pollen and the like. Second took on the entrees: half meat dishes like chops, the seemingly omnipresent take on short ribs, and the filet; and half chicken and fish such as sea bass and tuna; plus one vegetarian pasta dish. Well, a menu is only as strong as it's vegetarian pasta dish, right? If they can't pull that off, then the rest is just posing. Besides, Wild mushroom ravioli, made with locally foraged mushrooms, no less, in a brown butter sage sauce just sounded warm and all umami on this foggy evening. Sounded like it would be the perfect foil for this earthy wine. We both ordered the same. I was feeling carby, so I also ordered a side of Pommes Frites. I started with the Beet Carpaccio, which came fairly quickly. Three colors of heirloom beets sliced mandoline thin and topped with frisee, fava greens, chevre and a grilled spring onion and dressed in a delicate lemon vinaigrette. I stared at my salad, drooling ever so slightly, as we waited for Christine's fresh English Pea soup to arrive. We waited. And waited. We drank. We asked for more bread. I rolled my eyes a couple of times. Christine took a text from her husband about our wine choice. We admired the view. We played a bit of "What are those people doing here?" with the fellow diners. We twiddled our thumbs, adjusted our napkins, cleared our throats, and still no soup. What the hell?! Finally, after 19 minutes, her soup arrived with a swift apology from a different waiter than the one who took our order. He explained he hadnt seen the notation of the soup on the ticket. O well, no harm done. Hot soup! It's a good thing. Except, of course, it wasnt. It was so oversalted as to be inedible. Now, I'm losing patience. We flag the original waiter and explain that the soup is like the dead sea. She offers to swap it for the chowder, explaining that the chef is in love and not paying attention. Gracious as always, Christine acquiesces. The chowder arrives promptly but is also oversalted, though not as bad as those poor battered peas. They're English Peas, for chrissakes! Delicate! Feminine! Aaaanyway....my salad was a total highpoint! The beets were sweet and diaphanous, the goat cheese her perfect foil, the spring onion ever so slightly charred and smoky, her wise counterpart. The frisee and fava greens delightful, crunchy jesters all wound up in that sweet and sour lemon vinaigrette. I realize this sounds like one of those geeky renaissance faire's, but work with me here. I was lost in this salad. Again with the beets, I know, but this is one foodie fad I hope is here to stay. And now...the entree. A large bowl of ravioli arrives. It looks promising. Puffy duvets of pasta teeming with "locally foraged" mushrooms, surrounded by spinach and pine nuts and sage. A cup of crispy pomme frites is plopped down between us. I immediately launch into the fries, while Christine stabs at her pasta. The pommes frites are sublime. I think they are maybe coated in egg white before frying. They are crispy beyond belief and salted to prefection! I am in crispy, crunchy, salty nirvana, when I hear Christine ask "Hey. Isnt browned butter supposed to be...you know, brown?" "Eh?" I ask, regarding my entree. I create the perfect bite. A forkful of ravioli, spinach and pine nut and lift it to my mouth and you know what? It's greasy. And I mean GREASY. Like oily and slippery, alkalotic and Danny Zuko's hair. The browned butter is not browned as promised, at all. The filling is foresty and sumptuous, but the grease is so...greasy. Honestly, it's like butter flavored pommade. So, so disappointed. Something so simple. I search the plate for those granular tell-tales of butter delicately smoked in a watched sautoir, but there are none. This meal must end. We finish our wine. The waiter offers dessert but we decline, remembering the incredible pot de creme from La Bicyclette awaiting us in the room. Maybe we were here on an off night. Maybe the chef was simply "in love" and not paying attention. If so, his new paramour just lost him a patron. Although...I took the Pomme Frites!
(2)Sean C.
The food was good, but I thought it was a bit overrated. I got the short rib and my wife the scallops. It was too fancy for me and the meals just weren't amazing... still good though. I would have rather come here while the sun was still up b/c it's a shame to come here at night with all the huge windows and not be able to enjoy the view.
(3)Diane A.
K and I stopped here for lunch on our drive from SF to LA on the Pacific Coast Highway. What a nice place to stop! We sat outside on a sunny late December afternoon. I drank a raspberry margarita and K had lemonade. My lobster bisque was light yet creamy and the ceasar salad was so fresh. K's fish tacos were... well amazing salmon tacos, though not quite Mexican in their soul. Nonethless it was lovely and I would highly recommend lunch here. I liked having binoculars on the table. We didn't see any whales, but the table next to us did.
(4)