Village Corner Bistro
6 Dolores St, Carmel, CA, 93921
Village Corner Bistro Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Diabetics at Village Inn
Village Inn is a tough place for diabetics, and you must be extra cautious while ordering food at the Village Inn, especially if you're a diabetic. The food items low in sodium are high in sugar or cholesterol at Village Inn which makes it difficult for diabetics to choose the right food at the diner.
Foods to Avoid at Village Inn for Diabetics
Village Inn offers very few items edible for diabetics without any threat. You can avoid sandwiches and burgers at Village Inn and try the light breakfast items on the menu. You must also skip the shakes as well as other juices from the beverage menu. Almost all the dinner items on the menu are high in sodium except Grilled Tilapia and 6 oz. Top Sirloin & Toast. Avoid Soup bowls and opt for cups instead at Village Inn.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Village Inn
2 Egg Low-Cholesterol Egg Substitute Omelette with Part-Skim Mozzarella
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 15g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 490mg sodium, 2g carbs, 1g sugar, 0g fiber, 21g Protein
Toast, Rye
Nutritional Facts: 350 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 440mg sodium, 50g carbs, 2g sugar, 4g fiber, 10g Protein
Toast, Sourdough
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 560mg sodium, 48g carbs, 1g sugar, 2g fiber, 10g Protein
1/2 Waffle
Nutritional Facts: 260 calories, 13g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4.5g), 460mg sodium, 26g carbs, 1g sugar, 0g fiber, 5g Protein
Fresh Fruits
Nutritional Facts: 30 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 7g carbs, 6g sugar, 1g fiber, 0g Protein
Country Potatoes
Nutritional Facts: 420 calories, 25g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3g), 180mg sodium, 45g carbs, 0g sugar, 5g fiber, 5g Protein
Seasoned French Fries (Sides)
Nutritional Facts: 370 calories, 3g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 270mg sodium, 34g carbs, 0g sugar, 3g fiber, 3g Protein
Hot Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Carmel for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at Village Inn
If you are concerned about high blood pressure, then you must try food items from the kid's menu at Village Inn as most food items on their regular menu are high in sodium. However, you can always bet on salads for rescue. Instead of dining alone, you can visit the Village Inn in groups to keep the sodium intake in check.
Foods to Avoid at Village Inn for High Blood Pressure
Avoid Sausage Links & Eggs, Sausage Patties & Eggs, Biscuit & Gravy with Eggs, 6 oz. Top Sirloin Eggs, Ham Steak & Eggs, Egg Benedict, and Country Benedict from Village Inn's breakfast menu. It is also recommended to skip the Skillet options at Village Inn for its high sodium content. Among the omelets, avoid Denver Omelette, Country Music Star Omelette, and French Spinach & Bacon Omelette. You must also skip Sandwiches and All-World Double Cheeseburger every time you visit Village Inn.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Village Inn
Quaker® Oatmeal Plain
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 4.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 10mg sodium, 37g carbs, 1g sugar, 5g fiber, 8g Protein
Toast, White
Nutritional Facts: 270 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 400mg sodium, 34g carbs, 2g sugar, 1g fiber, 6g Protein
English Muffin
Nutritional Facts: 170 calories, 2.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 380mg sodium, 30g carbs, 1g sugar, 2g fiber, 6g Protein
2 Pieces French Toast
Nutritional Facts: 260 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3g), 350mg sodium, 32g carbs, 8g sugar, 1g fiber, 11g Protein
Fresh Fruits
Nutritional Facts: 30 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 7g carbs, 6g sugar, 1g fiber, 0g Protein
Country Potatoes
Nutritional Facts: 420 calories, 25g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3g), 180mg sodium, 45g carbs, 0g sugar, 5g fiber, 5g Protein
Side Salad (no dressing)
Nutritional Facts: 30 calories, 0.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 50mg sodium, 6g carbs, 2g sugar, 1g fiber, 1g Protein
Hot Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Carmel for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Village Inn
Most items served at Village are made up of eggs, bacon, chicken, or steak. Hence, these food items are often high in cholesterol. You can try the salad items, juices, or light breakfast items from the menu to keep the cholesterol in check. You can also try food from the kid's menu to ensure that you consume fewer calories than usual.
Foods to Avoid at Village Inn for High Cholesterol
You must skip burgers and sandwiches at the Village Inn as these items are very high in cholesterol. You should also avoid the Garden Salads menu at Village Inn except for Southwest Salad, lunch size. You can order all the soups, but you must avoid Tomato Basil Bowl and Wisconsin Cheese Bowl. Almost everything on the dinner menu is also high in cholesterol and must be avoided. Also, skip shakes at Village Inn.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Village Inn
2 Egg White Omelette with Part-Skim Mozzarella
Nutritional Facts: 200 calories, 13g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 360mg sodium, 2g carbs, 1g sugar, 0g fiber, 20g Protein
Toast, Wheat
Nutritional Facts: 350 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 540mg sodium, 50g carbs, 6g sugar, 4g fiber, 10g Protein
Fresh Coleslaw
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 260mg sodium, 10g carbs, 9g sugar, 1g fiber, 1g Protein
2 Buttermilk Pancakes
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3.5g), 440mg sodium, 24g carbs, 6g sugar, 0g fiber, 4g Protein
Fresh Fruits
Nutritional Facts: 30 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 7g carbs, 6g sugar, 1g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Q & A on Village Inn
Does the Village Inn serve breakfast all day?
Since the year of 1958 when Village Inn was opened in Denver Colorado, the restaurant has been offering its guests great food all day. So, if you want to have a heavy breakfast, light lunch or enjoy pancakes at dinner, the Village Inn is the place to visit.
Does Village Inn still have free pie Wednesday?
Village Inn offers a free slice of pie with any dine-in purchase. Every Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. customers can enjoy a featured pie with any of their purchase. For more information on the pie, one can ask the servers while visiting the restaurant in the area.
Does Village Inn have vegan options?
Unfortunately, there are very few Vegan and Vegetarian options at Village In. There are fruits and salads but most of the items are not Vegan or Vegetarian. We advise asking the server before making the orders.
What time does the Village Inn Open and Close?
Village Inn restaurant opens from 6:00AM-12:00
Is the Village Inn closed during holidays?
Village Inn is among only a few restaurants which remain open on any major holiday's which includes Easter Sunday, Christmas and New Year.
How to find the nearest Village Inn restaurant?
There are over 212 operating Village Inn restaurants in the United States. This restaurant is known for its wide variety of Breakfast Menu. Today, people from all over US visit Village Inn to enjoy food and pies which have won many awards from American Pie Council. The best way to search the nearest Village Inn location is by using our Restaurant Listings Directory which gives you the exact address of the restaurant near as per your location.
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About Village Inn
Village Inn is an American dining restaurant that serves the best American breakfast items on its menu. Founded by James Mola and Merton Anderson, Village Inn began its operations in 1958 as Village Inn Pancake House in Denver. However, during the 1980s, Pancake House was dropped from the title and the name was changed to Village Inn. Registered as VICORP Restaurants Inc., the restaurant company acquired over 71 restaurants in the United States.
Village Inn began serving lunch and dinner menus in addition to breakfast items during the 80s. The pies at Village Inn have won several awards from the American Pie Council. You can order a variety of sandwiches, burgers, healthy salads, melts, and other dinner items. Spread across 212 locations in the United States, Village Inn is a renowned restaurant brand among foodies who love American breakfast menu.
Healthy Food Options at Village Inn
Village Inn is the place to go if you have cravings for enjoyable breakfast items. Most breakfast items are high in sodium and not consumable for certain health conditions. You must be extremely picky to have a healthy breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Village Inn. Village Inn offers a wide range of breakfast and dinner menu to choose from. While most of the items on the menu are high in sodium and cholesterol, you can still find some healthy food options in salads and simple breakfast items.
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Address :
6 Dolores St
Carmel, CA, 93921 - Phone (831) 624-3588
- Website https://villagecornerbistro.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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George M.
Good breakfast good, and nice patio seating.
(4)Gail K.
Good eats! I have been here a couple of times now and haven't been disappointed yet! They have a good veggie-benedict (although no where close to Katy's) and they make an amazing grilled veggie sandwich. If you go make sure you sit on the patio!
(4)Jenn H. H.
Ok, 3 stars for the service, but if it weren't for the service, I would give it 4. In the adorable little town of Carmel, I stopped by here for a quick lunch. I got seated outside on a particularly beautiful sunny day. The service from the blond waitress was fairly awful. Not only was she bad, she knew she was bad, but didn't care. But I absolutely loved my baby spinach with grilled prawn salad, and the al fresco seating could not be beat. But please, get some real servers!
(3)Meena H.
Just had lunch...Pretty good of your on Carmel. Not the best if your a vegan but the Mediterranean sandwich with no cheese was pretty good. Outdoor seating is best. The bread and dipping red sauce was awesome!
(3)Karen C.
Wow, this is a great lunch spot! I ordered the crab ravioli because I was craving carbs after a hard tennis playoff match. I could tell the ravioli wasn't just some mass produced packaged pasta because it tasted fresh and was cooked just perfectly. I'm a real stickler for the perfect pasta texture - al dente - not too mushy and not too hard. Delicious! I was there with my entire tennis team, so quite a large party and the service was great. Everyone else loved their food as well. My fiance had a fish sandwich and the bite I had was quite nice. Would definately go back. What a great find we happened to stumble upon.
(4)J. S.
Great place to come for breakfast. Pancakes are wonderful. Side patio is dog-friendly, so my pups had a great time hangin' out with us for breakfast. We've been here a few times - always go back here for breakfast because everyone is friendly, the food is good, and they are very welcoming to dogs in the outdoor area.
(5)Janet S.
We have had breakfast/brunch several times at Village Corner because it has a dog-friendly patio. The food in the morning is typical breakfast/brunch fare, and this last visit I had the eggs benedict with smoked salmon (very good!), and my friend ordered the corned beef hash (freshly made, not out of the can). The service is good, and we were offered dog biscuits and a bowl of water for our pooches. We enjoyed our meal on the patio along with two other tables of dog-owners and another two or three tables of diners without dogs. Everyone's dogs were well-behaved and almost invisible sitting under or alongside the tables, but every once in awhile I would hear a snarky comment from the cranky locals at nearby tables about how the place has "gone to the dogs" along with some other unflattering comments about the other diners with dogs. Needless to say, we ate our meal quickly and left. The food was enjoyable, but the experience as a whole was not. Perhaps the restaurant should make it known to people choosing patio seating that they may be joined by guests with dogs and if that is unacceptable to them, perhaps they should dine inside (where there is ample seating and nary a dog in sight!). It's Carmel, for goodness sake, almost everyone has a dog!
(2)Jasmine C.
The best thing this place has going for it is the location. Other than that the food was average, the coffee was weak and the service slow. What's worse about the slow service is they were not busy - only had 4 other tables seated when we were there. 1 star for location.
(1)Betty D.
Two words - French Toast with Pecans .... okay more than two words but OMG!!! This was the best French Toast I have EVER had!! I'm waking the boyfriend up tomorrow morning and dragging him down there to see for himself! The only down side was that if I wanted to sit outside I had to sit almost on top of the fire pit - I opted for inside.
(5)Reyna C.
My mother and I decided we wanted to try a new restaurant, the Village Corner. After entering the restaurant the hostess told us to go around the back so she could seat us outside. I informed her that I was allowed to go through the restaurant because it's a service dog. She then went to discuss the issue with the the manager or supervisor. Then the hostess came back and said yeah it's a dog you need to go around. I said no I don't think you understand if you don't let me walk through the restaurant you are committing a federal offense and you could be charged with a misdemeanor. The manager told me fine fine I'll serve you but you better hope that the health department doesn't come after me.I said you need to look up the law and educate yourself and she said oh I know the law and I said clearly you don't or I would have to be having this conversation with you she said fine fine have a seat where ever you want and my mother said forget it we aren't eating here and she said good. We ended up at another one of your establishments that we normally have lunch at called Porta Bella were the service is absolutely exceptional. More establishments should be run in this manner. This type of harassment by this establishment is a violation of local, state, and federal laws under the "Americans with Disabilities Act." (see below as I have attached the California Penal Code). Needless to say I will never go there again.
(1)Alan K.
Every time I come to Carmel I accidentally run into this place. And every time I am pleasantly surprised. Their food is excellent, moderately priced, their service is outstanding, there is a wide variety for all palates and the patio is both beautiful and dog friendly. Always a great stop for a nice lunch in Carmel.
(5)H C.
Been here only once, but that was enough for me. Wait staff was nice, but seemed a tad clueless/confused. The patio is super cute and fabulous to sit on, but the food wasn't anything to write home about. I had a very plain, simple salad and it was fresh, but mediocre (and there were weird items added that weren't listed on the menu, like kalamata olives in my Cobb salad). My husband enjoyed his pasta bolognese but again, it wasn't anything all that special. I guess bottom line is that the patio is cute and enjoyable to sit at but there wasn't really anything else here that makes me want to come back.
(2)Russ B.
My first time was a very pleasant surprise. The food is Mediterranean and California style. I had a Mediterranean omelet which was excellent. The eggs were fluffy with the right amount of ingredients. My friends had Blue Nose Sea Bass Salad, and also the Eggs Benedict. The both loved the food. The wait staff was very quick, and good. Overall, an excellent place for breakfast and lunch, I am looking forward to trying dinner.
(4)An O.
Good people. Good food. You'll leave feeling good.
(4)Tolga E.
I stumbled upon the Village Corner when walking the mean streets of downtown Carmel with my girlfriend. It was a dark, Sunday night and there weren't very many people around downtown (this is the best time to go to Carmel!). Almost every single restaurant we passed was empty, but Village Corner was hoppin' with people. We figured this was a good sign, and grabbed a table. The inside is nice, but the dining patio was great. There are four space heaters and a large fire pit in the center. There are four tables around the fire pit and we were able to snag one. So, even at night, when its 54 degrees, foggy, with the coastal winds blowing, you can be warm eating here. It's awesome for lighting as well. Anyways, enough of the ambiance, now to the food! Being in downtown Carmel, I figured I'd get some sort of americanized, touristized, seafood of some sort with some vaguely mild pasta. Turns out Village Corner has a great and distinct menu. I had the half-chicken in guajillo chile sauce with almondine green beans - wow. It was awesome and a bargain at the price as well. You cannot eat this well in Palo Alto for $16.50! My girlfriend had the lobster ravioli, which had generous amounts of lobster meat in it and was awesome as well. The house Merlot was enjoyable and fruity. For a reasonable price, this is an awesome restaurant with distinct food and comfortable outdoor dining. It's also dog-friendly and I loved our neighbor's greyhound who hung out while we ate. 5 stars for Village Corner!
(5)Slim B.
We arrived in Carmel after a full day so we were looking for a snack and glass of wine. We were seated promptly at a table next to the fire pit. It's cozy and intimate. We shared lobster ravioli which was very fresh and tasty. The split portion was just right and would have been ample had I wanted dinner. The steak I saw going to someone else looked very good. I'll get that next time. The service was excellent.
(4)Nelli K.
This restaurant is a really great option for dinner too. I ordered the home made lobster ravioli , wich was to die for I am really not a huge fan of sea food nor ravioli but this dish was very good.I also got the greek salad wich was very fresh and crisp. For dessert I got the creme brulee wich was ok .Great service, nice location, the only bad thing about this place is that there is only one bathroom, that is super tiny not well kept, and right next to the kitchen.
(5)Henri W.
We were there for thanksgiving day and it was a very good experience. We sat in the patio area with our two dogs and it was pretty uneventful, which is a good thing. The food was good, especially the sun dried tomato paste that comes with the bread. The manager was very nice and accomodating. The only down side was the female waitress, no smile the entire time.
(4)Christine W.
My husband and I have been to this restaurant several times. They are dog friendly and have a beautiful patio that is covered, food is fine. The wait staff is always somewhere between brusque and unfriendly. This last time they were just rude. We had our dog with us and we ordered an egg for him. I asked our waitress for a paper plate or something I could feed my dog on. She told me to go ahead an use the plate so I did. Not 5 minutes later another server came over and chastised me for using their plate to feed my dog. I explained that I had asked for a paper plate and that my server was the one who told me to use their plate, not even an apology! The staff here just couldn't care less about creating a nice experience and that is too bad. Of all the dog friendly establishments this is probably the prettiest but also the most unfriendly!
(2)Jason A.
Wow. My Wife and had ate a meal outside on the patio. We requested a table close to the fire pit. The gas flame put out some serious heat! It felt great on a cold August night. The bread was nothing special, however in combination with the sun-dried tomato/olive oil it was excellent. The atmosphere was great. The food was fantastic! We spent around $60 for dinner. We spent a week in CA for a vacation and this was easily the meal of the week.
(4)Michael D.
My wife and I were looking for a reasonably priced restaurant with good food where we would be comfortable bringing our 8 month old. Village Corner was exactly what we were looking for. We sat on a beautiful covered patio which really added to the experience. It was pretty crowded, but bringing in a stroller wasn't a problem. The menu was standard American/Italian. There was nothing especially interesting. I had the Chicken Picatta which was very tasty but not amazing. My wife ordered the Seafood Penne which was also good, and the portion size was quite large for both. The prices were also reasonable (for Carmel). Overall, a very enjoyable experience and we will be back. My only complaint was that the service was rather slow, although it was a busy Saturday dinner.
(4)Bunny H.
i had the chicken picatta. the mashed potatoes were awesome. the veggies were perfect and the chicken was very good. it was a great place to take my family
(4)Chad J.
Wonderful patio and dog friendly. Try the bruschetta and sand dabs sandwich.
(4)squirrel l.
We went to this place because we were excited about the paella and we could sit outside and enjoy the nice evening. The appetizers were rather bland (unseasoned white mushrooms with no flavor on top of some puff pastry & unexciting bean soup). The paella was full of seafood, but the shrimp & clams were overdone while the salmon & chicken were really bland and unexciting (seasoning anyone?). The actual rice part was good, but that didn't make up for the badly prepared proteins. Even the chorizo was not very flavorful! Overall, this is an overpriced and not-very-exciting restaurant with mediocre food. The only saving grace is the lovely patio with the fire pit, but that's not worth paying $80 (without wine) for a mediocre meal.
(2)C. L.
July 30, 2011 - lunch OVERALL RATING: 2.25 / 5 FOOD: 2 / 5 What we had: 1) Petit filet with gorgonzola crust - 1 / 5 Only reason this gets a 1 is because the meat had a nice sear on it. Gorgonzola crust was too thick, therefore overpowering. "Sauteed" spinach tasted more like blanched spinach, watery and clumped together. Gravy tasted like standard gravy mix from a pouch. Worst thing about the dish was that the meat arrived with a huge cut from the center to the edge, through the entire thickness of the meat -- seemed like the cook did this to check the doneness of the meat (I ordered medium rare, but it came out uneven). Of course the meat was dryer than what's typical for a filet, with all of the juices most likely leaking out onto the cutting board before getting moved to the plate. If the cook is unable to check doneness just by pressing on the meat, at least use a meat thermometer next time to check internal temperature. I know this is not a steak place, but I'd expect some basic level of quality, care and respect in preparing a steak. 2) Greek gyro - 3 / 5 Standard, but if this is one of those dishes that qualifies this place as a "Mediterranean bistro", then maybe there should be a tad more flair added to this dish. And the side salad? Only way to describe it is... picture someone wearing an outfit made out of the most absorbent fabric in the world, standing in the pouring rain and then stepping indoors. That's how it looked. 3) Kids' hamburger - 2 / 5 Overcooked, dry, gray meat. Close to resembling a hockey puck. At least the bread was okay, the veggies were fresh and the fries were crispy. SERVICE: 2 / 5 The gentleman at the front was nice enough, and the waiters were polite. Drinks and food came out quickly, but no one checked on us during the entire meal. Only time we were asked how things were was when we requested for the bill. AMBIENCE & AMENITIES: 3 / 5 Had the option of sitting indoor or outdoor, and chose the latter, but got a bit annoyed with the small black birds that kept flying over/near our table. Nearby street parking was convenient. Restroom was clean enough, but would have been nice to have more than a shared restroom for both men & women, especially because there was hardly any room outside for a line; the restroom was flanked on both sides with swinging doors to the kitchen and the dishwashing room, and with workers walking hastily in and out of those doors, well, good luck leaving that area unscathed. :o) BANG FOR THE BUCK: 2 / 5 It's true that this place is relatively more reasonably priced compared to many restaurants in downtown Carmel, but as I mentioned, cheaper doesn't have to mean lower quality. OTHER COMMENTS: Last time my family and I ate here a few years ago, I remember having a much better experience with both the food and the service, which was why we decided to go back during this visit to Carmel, but much to our disappointment. Unfortunately, the best thing about the whole meal was the free olive tapenade.
(2)Craig R.
Dogs are welcome here (as in many other Carmel establishments), but no doggy menu that I can recall. I think we've just ordered some plain hamburger and chicken for them. Been here a half dozen or so times. Consistently good, but not out of this world. Known for their fish and some meat dishes and lesser extent pasta dishes. Comfy outdoor seating, big central fire pit and propane heaters keep you warm. Kids do well here (or at least ours--6 and 3--seem to). It's nice stand-by place if you can't get reservations at some of the nicer spots in Carmel.
(3)Grace T.
i don't know how you could go to carmel and not totally love it. i mean, besides the gorgeous beach (that's dog friendly by the way!) and the quaint shops and ambiance, you also have delicious places to eat... one of such places is the village corner...my mom and i have been twice now and i'm sure will be going many more times in the years to come...we stumbled across it one time while looking for a place to brunch and it was quite the "find"... the eggs benedicts are great, the omelets are hefty, and the breakfast burrito is delicious. and if brunch is this great, i'm looking forward to trying lunch one day too! ps. try finding parking on the south side of the main street...it seems to be easier...
(4)C C.
They don't know how to cook a meat for sure. Also the pasta was definitely overcooked. The chef/cooks just don't seem to have a fine-tuned cooking skills that need to be competitive with other fine restaurants in the area. It may last for a while as the price is not high.
(2)Michelle Z.
We stopped here for breakfast because we were hungry and it was puppy friendly. So glad we did!! We all ordered different things and everyone thought their food was the best. Very nice outside area and the staff was very friendly even though they were incredibly busy. (And very dog friendly - our pup was one of 5 dogs there at one point.) :) We'll be thrilled to make that a regular breakfast stop!
(5)Paul S.
The patio is quite nice with the fire pit to keep you warm. Started with a cup of corn and crab chowder...nice chunks of fresh crab and sweet corn meshed. On to tilapia with mango salsa over mashed potatoes...tilapia was nicely done but the potatoes were lackluster. Food was good overall....service could use an upgrade. One waiter and one busboy for the whole place maxed out wait times on ordering.
(3)Janice's A.
Janice says: I LOVED this cute place. We were lucky that we randomly ran into it as it was not easy to find being across the street from where most of the shops were. Anyways, it's a perfect brunch place on a nice day. And we went on a nice day, everything was perfect. : ) The service was pretty good but our waiter seemed a little tired. But everyone pays attention to you and the mgr. was really gracious. I think the only good time to go here is for lunch as you can get great plates for good prices. I got the salmon capelini pasta and it was amaaazing. Derek got a club sandwich and it was huge and colorful. Calamari was ok. But we sat out in the patio and the environment was so nice, taking advantage of a beautiful day! : ) I reccommend it to anyone visiting carmel for lunch.
(5)Rebeca S.
Stumbled on this place on a trip to Carmel and now I'm hooked. I eat at Village Corner pretty much every time I am in Carmel for multiple reasons. The first being that they have a great patio which we can sit at with our dog! (That's a big plus in my book.) And the second reason would be the food and service. I have ordered the burger, chicken sandwich, gyro, Chicken with Mushroom Demi Glaze, and I love them all. Overall this is a great place to go while in Carmel.
(5)Dani H.
4 girls on a spontaneous road trip to Carmel..beautiful coves..gorgeous houses..and amazing food! We decided to end our night at The Village Corner and it was a wonderful experience! We shared three dishes and a bottle of wine. A chicken dish with risotto and asparagus, crab ravioli (yum!), and a prawn angel hair dish. They were all great especially the crab ravioli. The service was good and the hostess was very nice. It was also warm and cozy..the atmosphere was perfect to walk into after being out in the chilly streets of Carmel. Also I left my iPhone there and they mailed it back to me. So very nice. I definitely recommend this place!
(5)Russell S.
was very happy here with the service and the food especially. I had the Acapulco omelette this morning with fresh salsa. Very fresh ingredients in the omelette. Convenient corner (duh) location and very prompt service.
(5)Damon O.
We've eaten dinner here several times. Service has always been prompt & friendly. It has one of the better outside seating arrangemebts tha Carmel has to offer. Now for the food...The Tandori lamb is well seasoned & proportioned, mashed potatoes are good. Beet salad is good, although the almonds are unneccessary to the dish. The mushroom galettte can be hit or miss pending the pastry, but 4 out f 5 times the pastry is light and delicious. Capelinni usually good, again every now and then the pasta is over cooked. Roasted chicken is always tender. Overall a solid dining experience at a reasonable price in comparison to its neighbors.
(4)Jo S.
It's a cute little restaurant with a garden patio sitting area. I always get the scallop ravioli, and the appetizer sampler. It's a great place to chill after a stroll on the beach. :)
(4)devorah d.
The host was uber nice and called my cell when a patio table was ready as we did not have reservations on a busy Saturday night. Great food and very good service. They went out of their way to make the whole dining experience a wonderful evening out.
(4)E K.
Loved this place! Came here for dinner on a busy holiday weekend, and were seated promptly. I had the crab ravioli and scallops; husband had the scallops. Both were spot-on and reasonably priced for the quality and the area. Service was great, and we enjoyed spending the cool Carmel night seated by the fire. We will definitely be back next time we are in the area, perhaps with our dogs!
(5)Josh D.
Love the Village Corner. Believe it or not, one of my favorite places in Carmel. Great patio with fire pits and heat lamps. You could sit out there for hours and just watch the people go by. First class staff. Our waitress was joking around with us, but was so efficient, that she was still meeting the needs of her other tables. The food was served fast and tasted great. I had a burger that must have weighed close to three pounds! This place is also dog friendly. The prices are unbelievable. Was I really in Carmel? Yeah...go check it out.
(5)Wendy L.
Great dining spot with outdoor seating. The waitstaff was really nice and the food was very good. It's supposed to be a Mediterranean restaurant, but there weren't many Mediterranean dishes on the menu...but it was good anyway! I had the taco salad which was pretty hearty considering that I'm not a huge fan of lettuce...
(4)Chico M.
Nice patio with fire pit and heat lamps. Dogs are allowed. I had a vege risotto dish ($18) which was very tasty. My wife ordered sand dabs piccata ($25). What she got was some kind of white fish which were not sand dabs. She said it was good though. I asked the waiter what was the Fat Lip draft - he said it was a dark beer. It was actually an excellent pale ale.
(3)Terry S.
Service was good, atmosphere excellent, linguini & clams was poor, my wife had the samon which was fair.
(3)Brett K.
A wonderful, intimate setting with great service. Food is very reasonably priced, and the quiant setting makes you feel like you might just be in Italy (if you shut your eyes really tight and think about soccer, at least). There's a great patio with a firepit for warmer nights or during the day. If you're looking for fine but reasonable dining in Carmel, I recommend the Village Corner Cafe!
(5)Abbey Q.
We ate here for breakfast and the food wasn't any better then Denny's or IHop, but the service was good and the outdoor seating we had was nice. We had our 2 dogs with us and the were very accomodating and got sat right away.
(2)Kristen N.
It is with a heavy heart that I give this place 2 stars. We use to absolutely adore this place and ate here every time we visited Carmel, but there was something off about it last Saturday when we had lunch here. As usual, it was very busy and bustling. We sat on the patio. Good thing there were heat lamps and the fire pit bc it was pretty chilly. In my previous visits, I always ordered the gyro which was my favorite. But I decided to be adventurous and order something different. Regretfully, I had the crab ravioli with pine nuts in a tomato pesto. Sounds delicious, right? But it was poorly executed. The sauce was very thin, like a soup. It reminded me of minestrone soup with ravioli. It did not work well at all because the acidity of the tomatoes overpowered the delicate crab flavor. And there was barely any stuffing in the ravioli. (Signs of hard times, I see.) I was terribly disappointed as was my bf who ordered the blue cheese crusted filet mignon with spinach and mashed potatoes. It wasn't really crusted, the blue cheese was merely plopped on top. I believe that if mashed potatoes are good, it would not rely on gravy to give it flavor. Unfortunately, the mashed potatoes tasted like it came from a box, and the gravy was not much better. The calamari was ok. Not as crispy as I remembered it to be. And the bread was also disappointing. I think they changed their bread. I prefer my bread to be crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. It was just soft all over and looked like a wheat mix. Good thing they didn't change the dipping sauce because it was probably the most redeeming thing about the meal. Service was ok, a little slow. Ambiance was quaint. I love the cheery flowers in the patio and the sophisticated orchids inside the restaurant. It will probably be years before I get a chance to come back, and I am very sad that this place was so disappointing this time around. Until my next visit to Carmel, I will try to reminisce of the good ole days when I had my tried and true: greek gyro with beef. Now onto happier times...dinner at Passionfish. Mmmmmm.
(2)Paula L.
I was so impressed with this restaurant. We were greeted immediately by a very friendly host. We sat outside by the gas fire and the wait staff approached us very soon after. The food was very good and they presented it quite nicely as well. They are very accommodating regarding substitutions which is a mark of a good restaurant. The prices are very reasonable considering the quality, the ambiance and the fact that it's in the heart of downtown Carmel. Put this on your must do list when visiting Carmel.
(5)Brad C.
I was disappointed with this place, mainly because of the service. First, our server didn't ask if we wanted more bread. Then, he never asked if we wanted more water. Finally, when we were done with our food, he never came by to ask if we done. The server had no problem asking the couple that was sitting behind my girlfriend and me, if they wanted more bread, water, etc. Maybe it was because we brought in a restaurant.com couple. As for the food, I ordered the chicken with demi-glazed mushrooms, which was extremely salty. Maybe people like their meat dishes to be extremely salty in Carmel. I tried Bouchee, and their meat dish was also extremely salty. And I thought I wouldn't mind salty dish, especially since I'm Chinese, and I went to a lot run-down, very cheap Chinese restaurants in SF were salty food was the norm.
(1)Anya E.
I've been here several times now, and each time has been a great experience. Located smack in the middle the shopping-art galleries mecca of Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Village Corner is a wonderful spot to grab lunch. Their outdoor patio has the best seating with the fire pit in the middle to keep you warm and toasty on chilly days. The tomato gazpacho is delicious. The calamari and homemade aioli sauce are great, too. Great place to hang out and take your time at a meal while enjoying the scene.
(4)Ian M.
A cute little place for lunch, I only had a quick salad that was good but not great, but my friend liked her salad a lot and the entrees I saw looked good. Staff was friendly and if anything they were overstaffed, which is somewhat of a relief. Had it not been wet from rain the outdoor patio looked great.
(4)Cher E.
Great little lunch spot and the perfect spot for people and dog watching. I've never seen so many dogs decked out with Louis Vuitton and other designer attire, including one in a backpack called "Pucci Purse." These dogs are better accessorized than I am. Anyway, back to the restaurant. The patio is adorable with great flowers and a fire pit. I had the beef gyro which was delicious, albeit the yogurt was a little more sour than I like. The ice tea was free flowing and the server was good about checking in on us. My friends enjoyed the baby spinach and prawn salad. Fairly reasonable for Carmel standards.
(4)A P.
Ate at this place twice. First time was OK, but the second time, we had the worst customer service ever. The host had no personality and had a "I hate people" look on his face the whole time. Our waitress, although somewhat friendly, screwed up a few times. I ordered the Prawn Salad (during lunch) but within 5 minutes was told they did not have any prawns until dinner time (what???) so I had to order something else. Then 2 minutes later, she comes and tells me that they had enough prawns just to make my salad. Asked for the salad dressing on the side but did not get any dressing at all. We also ordered a sandwich to go, but our waitress completely forgot about that order. Lastly, I ordered a strawberry yogurt but was given plain yogurt. When I told the waitress this, she looked at me like I was the one that was wrong. Luckily, there are a lot of great restaurants to choose from in Carmel, so I will never have to go back to this place again!!
(1)Jane S.
This is very cute and nice restaurant. Service is good, very cute patio. Food is nice and not pricey compared to other restaurant in down town Carmel. We were there for lunch first day and went back for brunch next day!! I will definitely come back whenever I come to Carmel.
(4)Bernard M.
Decent place. Some good food, good wine.
(2)W Y.
We stopped here for lunch while stopping for an afternoon in Carmel while driving up the coast. The food was great. The outside seating was tucked away off the sidewalk behind a little wall and shaded by trees. It was nice and private feeling. The staff here was also very friendly. Not a single complaint. If I lived in the area, I think I'd come back here pretty often.
(5)Diane B.
The Village Corner has a great patio for dining with your pooch. There's a big fire pit and several heat lamps to keep you warm if needed. We've found that the Village Corner more often than not hits just the right spot for breakfast (Carmel's Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros) and lunch (Classic Caesar Salad, Club Sandwich, Oak-Grilled Hamburger). Dinner is a little pricey for what you get but the ambiance and service guarantee a nice night.
(4)N B.
We've eaten here 2 times and both enjoyed the meal. First time we had paella and second time we had salmon and filet mignon. The restaurant has a good mix of choices and all done well. The price is also very reasonable. This will become a usual place for us when visiting Carmel/Monterey.
(4)Luba R.
Not sure why, maybe their amazing huevos rancheros but this place is my favorite brunch place in downtown carmel! Maybe it's the outside seating or the cute fire place but I am looking forward to coming here everytime :)
(5)Bucky M.
A little disappointing. It's supposed to be Mediterranean/seafood, but almost no Mediterranean dishes. The outdoor patio was nice, but the plastic patio chairs were very uncomfortable to sit on. Bread - not very good. They served with some kind of watery hummus-like sauce, which was interesting, not bad. Appetizers were very good: lobster ravioli, portabella mushrooms. Dungeness crab ravioli and grilled scallops entree - scallops were excellent, but the ravioli was not good. I could not tell there was fresh crabmeat in there. And the dish was way too creamy (and I like creamy sauces) that I couldn't finish it.
(3)D N.
I have never been more disrespected in my life while dining at any restaurant. For the past two visits of mine, the food was mediocre, and the service was horrible, if it was possible to scale the overall experience on 1-10, I would give it a negative number. Before arriving to the restaurant, I called to see if it was necessary to make reservations, the gentleman on the phone told me not if i plan on coming by within 10/15 minutes because they are not busy, and to just walk in the patio and a server will come to us. We do just as that, and soon enough, their MANAGER, out of all people, tells us 'oh, I see you've let yourself in and sat at one of our nicest tables, feel free to move if you want to let someone else enjoy the fire pit, this table usually requires reservations,' even though I had just phoned them and asked if I need to make reservations. One time, okay, maybe something happened. But the second time, the server told me to move my 25lb dogs because it was 'in the way', yet my dog was under the table not visible, managed to step on my dogs tail over 5 times, did not apologize. My girlfriends and I waited over 20 minutes for our beverages to arrive, now I know, it takes no more than 2 seconds to combine water with ice, especially when there are only 4 other tables being served by 2 other servers. After the beverages arrived, took them another 20 minutes to even COME BY to ask us if we were ready to order. Service is horrible, food is over rated, and the only thing slightly mediocre about it, is the location. OH HEY VILLAGE CORNER, I work at a PET FRIENDLY hotel in Carmel, and I hope you can understand when I tell everyone and anyone to avoid your restaurant.
(1)Elizabeth M.
Delicious classic American breakfast. It was great to be able to eat out on the patio with my dogs.
(4)Narendra R.
Quick, clean and very good food. Try the acapulco omelete or the pecan encrusted french toast. It has to be one of the best breakfast places in town. The lunch and dinner menus looked tasty as well.
(4)Mike S.
Clearly the best feature of this restaurant is the outdoor patio. Get a table by the mesmerizing fire pit and prepare to while away a good portion of your evening. The food is quite good - fresh and well prepared. I would say the menu is predominantly mediterranean with a lot of choices in the seafood department. The desserts menu is pretty impressive as well. Friendly and relaxed staff make for an altogether pleasant dining experience.
(4)Wayne K.
The Village Corner is a great place for a light quick simple lunch out of doors in Carmel. The prices are reasonable, the food is fresh and delicious. The salads, sandwiches (sand dabs), seafood dishes (calamari and chowder), tapenade, and bruchetta are good. I'm not sure about breakfast or dinner. The VC should get a 31/2 to 4 but it looks like there are plenty of 4/5s to balance my rating. If you go and expect 4/5 dining, you'll be disappointed but if you're looking for a solid 3 lunch (good food priced right), this is it.
(3)Jess B.
Dealing with the hostess/owner was unpleasant. She was very rude. It appears other patrons had similar experience.
(1)Rachael C.
We had a wonderful experience here. Ordered a breakfast burrito and french toast and both were perfect! The staff quickly seated us and took our order in time to beat the 11:30am end of breakfast deadline. Apparently, the computers stop accepting breakfast orders past that time. This effort was very appreciated especially considering how busy they were. The patio was very pleasant and well decorated. We plan to eat breakfast here again during future trips to Carmel.
(5)LB D.
A nice little place to have lunch. Food was good and when there was an issue it was quickly resolved. Thanks!
(3)Rachel P.
We went to the Village for Breakfast on a Sunday morning - all of the other restaurants in Carmel were packed, with long waits. We were seated promptly, the server came immediately and the food came out quickly. We sat on the adorable patio, with fire pit and heaters to keep us nice and toasty. We have a baby, and found that we had plenty of room for our stroller and a high chair - the tables aren't packed in like at many restaurants. The food was wonderful!! We ordered: - Pecan French Toast - coated with crispy pecans, soft and scrumptious on the inside, absolutely perfect - Eggs Benedict - the one with mushrooms and spinach - was perfectly cooked, creamy but not disgustingly rich, and a generous serving size - Coffee was OK, nothing special
(5)Drew M.
Good food and price, they need to wash their dishes better though.
(4)Steve G.
Absolutely Delicious!!!! Friendly prompt service and the Chicken Picatta was amazing! This is a small romantic place for dinner! Absolutely worth it and a must!!!
(5)Sergey M.
The food was below average, all three of us didnt finish half of our plates. We were recommended raviolli and linguine pasta dishes. Ravioli came with a very heavy sauce and it seemed like it was frozen. It didnt taste good at all. Clams in the linguine tasted bitter and were probably not fresh either. Another dish was chicken dijon. Mashed potatoes in that dish were full of butter and was probably frozen also. Our bill was almost $100 and we left pretty disaponted. One star for nice decore.
(2)Jamie S.
Good service. Cute fire pit. Food was subpar for the price. The pork chips were over cooked, dry and sickly sweet. The linguine and clams wasn't flavorful. The NY strip special was perfection. Salmon cake were great. Skip dessert here!
(3)Priscilla k.
Delicious meal we had for our anniversary, and we enjoyed it with our fur kid, Spike! Roasted beet salad with goat cheese was good. Liked the crunch of the almonds. My entree was dungeness crab ravioli with seared sea scallops, in a Marsala cream reduction sauce with sun dried tomatoes. Decadence! For dessert, I had apple pie with warm caramel sauce and pecan gelato. Was bummed they were out of their homemade vanilla ice cream, but the pecan gelato was a good substitute. Good pie. Could've done without the whipped cream. Patio is charming with heaters and a fireplace. Romantic, but casual.
(4)Shelly T.
DOG FRIENDLY I like putting that first and large so it's easy to see when searching. They were very nice and accommodating for a Friday night with a dog. We ended up being one of several diners with a dog on their patio. The crowd was a little different than other dog friendly places in Carmel, but not uninviting. The food was tasty, and the service was fast. They even brought out colored treats for our puppy in the French Flag colors. Super cute. Would definitely return in the future.
(3)David T.
We have been here twice (my significant other and I) for our respective birthdays; one in 2010 and again just this weekend in 2012. This place hasn't changed! It still has it's small restaurant feel but the food has still been consistent from two years prior. We always get the Crab Ravioli and had the Calamari to start which was fantastic. This time I opted for the Greek Gyro which did not disappoint, it was juicy and fantastic. Overall, a great meal and we drove over 2 hours to get here!
(4)Cathy K.
This place is nice. They have a beautiful patio outdoors with a lovely fireplace and you can bring your pooch to the patio. They have a lovely menu and I had a really fresh fish when I went. They have a great wine list and the menu isn't overwhelming, but everything looks delicious so you will need some time. There are so many great places to eat in Carmel and this is one of them. This place has been around for a long time and they are a Carmel-By-The-Sea staple. The service is great and the staff is super. This place makes a great stop for lunch or brunch so be sure to take your furry friend and have a glass of wine or something. Afterward, you can hit the 5 or so galleries within a stone throws distance from the restaurant.
(4)Reann C.
Mixed seafood grill for 2 was a fantastic value. Mousse cake, just okay.
(3)Nancy W.
We came here for brunch and had the pancakes with fruit and the vegetarian benedict. The pancakes were yummy, though no different than the ones you'd make from a box except for the creme fraiche and berry garnish. The béchamel sauce for the eggs benedict was unappetizing - underseasoned and too thick. The vegetables were also under seasoned and the english muffins were tasteless. Not satisfying and further confirmation of my general view of brunch - that it's never as good as homemade breakfast food. On a positive note, I agree with some other reviewers that some of the dishes are creatively conceived. Unfortunately, execution was lacking.
(2)Eric K.
Been here about four times in the past two or three years. Had been average, a great place for kids. But lately the quality has taken a dive. While the salads are good the main dishes leave much to be desired. The lobster penne was oily and tasteless for 22 bucks and the swordfish lacked any flavor-- was clearly frozen. NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE
(1)Kaycee M.
Great place for brunch! They make really great eggs benedict! Nice outdoor patio that is dog friendly. Also a fire pit for the colder months.
(4)Dwight J.
Terrible service overwhelmed the good food. First off, I would expect to have the hostess smile to us-- at the very least. We went there with our double (side by side) baby stroller and she seated us near the entrance. She then told us that we couldn't leave the stroller right next to our table because it was blocking the way. Luckily, a nice couple offered to park the stroller next to them (we couldn't fold the stroller because our 2 year old was sleeping). After we finished our food, we wanted to order a to-go meal for our sleeping child but she just gave us our tab without asking whether we needed anything else. She also did not thank us! We still tipped the place over 15% but we will definitely not go back there again.
(1)Anita R.
after many visits, we will NOT be returning to this restaurant. First, I would not consider them "dog friendly" as they barely tolerate our furry friends. For example, I had to ask no less that four times for water for our dog. This is normally offered at other restaurants in Carmel. It was reluctantly brought. Next, the service has been sporadic and indifferent. We had no fewer than five servers and not one of them cleaned the table. Lunch was eaten amidst dirty dishes and glasses. The food is pedestrian at best. It does not make use of abundant fresh local ingredients...with the hamburger being the only exception. To top our lunch off, or not top it, the cheesecake was advertised as being covered with berries. The cake arrived with three lonely raspberries. With so many superb Carmel restaurants to choose from, I would not waste my time at this one.
(1)Esther G.
This place used to be good. The service and food went downhill. Presently, the service is neglectful. Food is not fresh and tasted old. All the bread contained MOLD! I had to bring this to the attention of our waitress. I had to keep asking for service (to refill coffee). Probably won't return.
(1)Deniz V.
Had the oak grilled salmon with chipotle cilantro sauce and it was delicious. I also finished my fiancee chicken sandwich which was blackened to perfection and delicious before also finishing my friend Josh quesadillas which coincidentally enough was also delicious. I drank a beer which was also equally as delicious. Delicious!
(4)John H.
Had a late lunch here Wednesday, nice they stay open through the afternoon. The food was delicious, Sicilian style calamari, beet and goat cheese salad, crab ravioli, and double espresso creme brule. The creme brule was awesomely decedent. The latte we ordered with it was a super coffee explosion! Gets me wired just thinking about it. Patio was pleasant, and the shades were a nice relief from the sun in our eyes.
(4)Meghan F.
My husband I just moved to the area. We brought friends here because it was supposed to be a good locals place. We have had some excellent calamari in Monterey. So we were disappointed that their calamari appeared to be frozen or pre packaged.
(3)Matthew S.
The "outdoor" seating was great. They have heaters at each end of the room and a firepit in the middle. For brunch the prices are reasonable and the amount of food is generous. The waitstaff was very helpful and polite. My wife thought the eggs benedict was to die for...
(5)Brittney S.
Whether its breakfast, lunch or dinner Village Corner never fails to satisy. They have a great variety of items to select from and everything I have ever gotten has been good. Must recommend their Paella, not sure if its always on the menu or may have been a special but it was excellent. Oh and the bread and sauce to dip it in they give you? The sauce is amazing, I always try to stay away but can never manage!
(4)J C.
If you can, go elsewhere. We were starving and this was the closest thing to us that was opened. Don't let hunger dictate where to eat. There are SO many wonderful restaurants and cafe in Carmel and we happened to walk into one of the bad ones. While the menu wasn't spectacular and the offerings didn't have anything that stood out, it was the horrible service that incites me to write this review. I'm sure the food was decent on some level but the overall experience killed it for me. From the sound of some of the other reviews, a few of the waitstaff have poor attitudes and poor service to match so I'm not alone in my review. We came in looking for a breakfast menu and got in around 11:45 not knowing that they stopped serving at 11:30. We were handed the breakfast menu and when our waitress came around to take our order, she unapologetically mentioned that we were handed the wrong menus and that they were now serving lunch. I asked if it was still possible to order breakfast seeing how breakfast dishes were still coming out of the kitchen but she took the menus and walked away saying the lunch menu had 4 breakfast options. I would've at least appreciated that she asked the kitchen (perhaps all the while knowing it couldn't be done) and come back with a "sorry, no" answer. She came back with the menus without a word. The rest of the meal went over without too much issue. Drinks were capped off, plates were picked up, etc. but that was pretty much it. Nothing else to really write home about and as a result, the tip we left matched accordingly. Growing up with restauranteurs for parents, I know the value of a good server and have always been taught to tip well for excellent service. This time, our waitress got what she put in which wasn't much.
(2)Jill C.
Horrible don't waste your money. The service was fast and non friendly to say the least and the manager he lacks major customer service skills. My steak and eggs were gross. No flavor. My husband had the Benedict and they didn't even toast the English muffin!!!
(1)Nancy M.
This review is long overdue however, I had to come back to review this place because it was so memorable to me. During Thanksgiving break, my friends and I came from SoCal to roadtrip to San Francisco and stopped by Carmel for our Thanksgiving dinner. This town is really small and quaint and the restaurant we picked to eat at was fully reserved, not to mention that restaurant's host was very rude to us because we didn't have a reservation...... However, I am glad that we couldn't eat at the other restaurant because our experience at Village Corner was pretty unforgettable. My party of 6 starving, tired, loud girls was promptly seated (no waiting on Thanksgiving day!). The whole table ordered the traditional turkey/gravy/mashed potatoes/green beans/cranberry sauce dinner (it was Thanksgiving after all) & everything was perfect. Even my friends who normally think turkey is extremely dry thought that the turkey was nice and moist. When we walked around to the restroom, we saw the other patrons eating other foods and everything looked/smelled delicious too! The waiters were extremely nice and attentive too. They were happy to help our group of girls take their "must needed" group pic whenever we go out to eat (: If I lived in Norcal or around Carmel, I would totally come here again, however, the only memory I have of this place are the pictures and the food that was once in my stomach.
(5)Andrea R.
Outdoors eating with the dog was nice. Pretty patio. I was bummed that they no longer served breakfast except for a few items. I had the eggs with bacon & potatoes. Nothing spectacular. Watered down 7up. Overlooked scrambled eggs. I expected more for the area and price. Real bummer!
(2)liz s.
Stumbled upon this restaurant while in Carmel and really recommend it for breakfast or lunch. (We didn't have dinner here). They have a large covered patio so it's great for those of us who travel with fido. The wait staff was wonderful, the menu was large and diverse. A little bit pricey I thought but the portions are large and the food was excellent. BTW...they serve a very, very good vanilla latte. I don't think it's on the menu but if you ask for it they will make it for you. We will definately come back again and again.
(4)Linda K.
We were here on a Sunday during lunch time. At first we didn't have such a good impression of the waitress but through our visit she definitely proved us wrong! Friendly service. I ordered the tomato mozzarella portobello sandwich with fries which was delicious! Fries were really crispy and the sandwich really fresh! Nice atmosphere outside! Definitely recommend this restaurant
(4)Ridam P.
Beautiful outdoor ambience... Awesome food and great choices.... Everything we ordered tasted great. Quick service. Will definitely go there again.
(5)C B.
This restaurant is great. The fare isn't unexpected but solidly prepared standard dishes. Like a club sandwich, but a really really good club sandwich. I'm not sure if service is spotty sometimes, but when we went we were really impressed with the service. We had our two dogs with us and they were super accommodating to them, bringing them a water dish and dog cookies! In addition to filling our water, they were attentive to the dog's water dish, too. We also noticed a couple with a baby, and they were extremely accommodating to them as well. Everyone was just so nice and we thought the food was great so go figure against the negative reviews (it's usually me to leaves the bad reviews)!!!
(5)Golda R.
My husband and I came here for breakfast and we both had the corn beef hash. We thought it was an interesting take on corned beef hash - beautiful presentation and very flavorful. The meal was also decently priced especially since the portions are generous. Service was also great. We had at least 3 different waiters come by to check up on us. They made sure someone took our drink/food order and made sure our coffee mugs were filled. It does get a little busy, but that's probably a good indication of a great place. Good things come to those who wait. My one Debbie-downer comment would be how cozy the seating is. I swear I felt included in conversations to the left and right of me because we were all so close to each other.
(5)Joey M.
Awesome food for all ages. Penne Lobster was really good. All four of us voted it was the best meal of a two week California trip, which is saying a lot. Very reasonable prices got the quality of the food. Desserts were also good too.
(5)matt m.
We had a reservation at 5 PM for Valentine's Day and wanted to sit out on the patio, but were told they had no tables available. Upon arriving for our reservation we noticed several vacant tables outside and they remained vacant during our entire dinner. We also couldn't notice how loud it was as the wait staff was putting silverware away and prepping for dinner service. Almost sounded like a cafeteria. As for the food it was rather nondescript. It wasn't great, but it also wasn't bad either. We ordered the veggie penne pasta and the blackened chicken alfredo. The penne was bland with a few veggies. The alfredo had a lot of chicken, but the blackened part was less than impressive. Actually there were so many dried herbs used in the seasoning it was almost crunchy in the sauce. Not something you want. We did order the steamed artichoke as an appetizer and it was actually quite good. Highlight of the meal. Given the number of other great cafes and bistros in Carmel we would go somewhere else next time.
(2)John B.
After an amazing breakfast yesterday, my wife and I came back today for lunch. I have never had a quesadilla that was so light it was like eating a sheet of puff pastry. The staff are amazingly attentive, providing a water bowl for our dog.
(5)Jeff E.
My wife ordered a $7.00 salad and asked to add a piece of salmon. The salad was OK but the price was $25.50. Ouch. I ordered Chicken Piccata. In a word....bad. So many great restaurants to choose from in Carmel. We will not be back. Oh yeah, our waiter was stoned.
(1)Ty B.
Horrible service but the food was good. Wrong beers, no waters, and no refills. Didn't come and check in on you. Would rather go somewhere else next time. Expensive for the bad service. Took forever to get the check.
(3)Alameda M.
Spicy grilled shrimp, beets salad and dipping sauce a must!!! Friendly staff and trickling water fountain = music to my ears and put the little one to sleep in the stroller. would come back anyway!
(5)W W.
Chose this diner due to proximity to hotel. Had breakfast on Sunday 8-17-14, sat on the patio (this is a dog friendly diner?) the animal was on other side of patio, so it was not an issue. I would not eat at a restaurant while a thoroughbred mongrel pants near my table. I'm not impressed by people bringing dogs to food establishments, parading them as multi million Bugatti super cars??? Breakfast was well prepared, and no issue. The service was slow and had to make a couple requests, coffee refill, condiments and ultimately the check. The manager/server seemed to be quite distracted with female coworkers. Obviously the lead supervisor was not onsite. Took the bill to the cash register due to excessive wait. No verbal correspondence with the clerk,- how was your meal?, thank you etc... Just mouth breathing? Would not go out of my way to return.
(3)irene x.
1. rude waiter and service. we arrived hungry after a day in 17 miles. we were asking for a little bit more bread. however, waiter neither responded or later told us to order the entrees first and then later they will bring 2 second bread with additional charge. (:-) ) 2. we got know this place via groupon, we like to have a try since we may visit camel/monetary a lot of time in the coming future . picked up $38 for $70 worth of bistro dinner for parties of four or more. when we arrived, my wife and i with 2 6/7 girls , we picked up two entries and two appetizers (since no kids menu). however, once we finished the order. they came again and told me that we have to order 4 entries. so I have to order two more entries. those are expensive and tasteless. In the end, i have to pay totally $100+ bucks for us for a very mediocre dinner. it is just unethical. 3. i told the owner that their website is down. 4. definitely no come any more.
(1)Donato J.
I'm on the fence between a 3 star and 4 star review. However, since others in my party didn't enjoy it much, I'm going with 3 stars. They have a pretty good bread and dip (olive oil, dried tomato, garlic, and...?) Dinner was good, but not fantastic. -Crab cakes were REALLY salty, but otherwise yummy -the prawns wrapped in bacon were awesome... except there were only 3. really? 3 prawns? and it's not like there's anything else on the plate. It's literally 3 prawns wrapped in small pieces of bacon. WTF... -The chicken dijon was okay. Chicken was a bit on the overcooked side, and I'm not sure if the mustard-mixed-with-milk combo works, but my wife seemed to enjoy it. meh. -clam/oyster (whatever) pasta had no flavor, but LOOKED good. What was good was that it was close to our hotel (candlelight inn) and close to the main street area. very central location and nice ambiance. Service was decent too.
(3)Patricia N.
The patio seating what captured my heart! It was a pretty cold night, so my bf and I decided to sit inside. The staff was very nice, and the manager is very friendly, the food is amazing with nice warm atmosphere in the cozy dining room. Reasonable price for great service-great place-great food.
(5)Kim W.
Food - 4 stars Service - 5 stars Dog Friendly - 5 stars We selected this place because it was dog friendly and we had a restaurant.com gift certificate ($1 for $25 certificate- yay!) but I would return and pay full price Doggie diners sit in the patio area near a cozy fire pit which did a good job keeping us warm that 52F night. We split the sand dabs appetizer and two dinner entrees: lamb chops and roasted chicken. Both entrees were spicy just how we like it. Food was very good but without the same artistic presentation as Grasings. The server did a great job refilling water and coffee despite a busy night. Pros: Good food, dog friendly patio, friendly server, restaurant.com gift certificate, huge dinner entrees (good for sharing), other patrons were dog friendly and actually ate with one of our dogs sitting on his lap. Cons: Can't really think of one!
(4)Jessica S.
Would have gotten another star but the waiter was just an a$$. He was either really tired or drunk. I actually think he was drunk. Food was good. Outdoor area was dog friendly which was cool.
(3)M F.
For a restaurant in a place like Carmel, I expected more. I felt as if eating from a can. Very greasy, over powering creaminess that took away from the taste. The only thing worse than that were the constant tree droppings into our food and water. Maybe some umbrellas or a mesh would remedy this. A plus is their large patio, however it got so crammed with all the tables that we had some coordination to do in order to get in/out... With so many choices in that downtown, I won't be paying them another visit.
(2)Lance T.
Still disgusted with last experience there on 6/29/13! Hostess/waitress/acting manager actually fought with me over a table assignment. We brought guests, have been going there for years (even though food is so so and over-priced), but will never return and will continue to tell the story!
(1)shalimar g.
I have a dog, so based on dog friendliness of this place I really wanted to like the food. And i tried hard. But the food is simply horrible. I had the lobster penne: an oily, over saturated affair, lacking taste and presentation. My partner had the bland unimaginative vegetarian penne. We didn't even bother with the dessert. There are plenty of good restaurants in the area with a similar price point, don't bother coming here.
(1)Dennis O.
The outdoor seating was nice but everyone is pretty much next to each other. You can hear all the conversations on the tables on all sides. Imagine a big family hugging each other next to you before leaving the restaurant and coughing while you're eating. Medium rare steak and eggs = Overdone steak and eggs. Even the server knew they were overdone beyond what we ordered. She pretty much didn't ask about our meal after that. I'll be ashamed too if I served the wrong thing. Is that why this meal took more than 30 minutes to arrive? SF Angus beef omelet = bland, dry and grainy. I swear I can make cooking mistakes like this when I was 12. What a waste of meat. It was so dry I can't taste it. Only the onions. I was so hungry after a long day and I didn't even bother finishing this meal. The only good thing is the bread and minced dried tomato/olive oil that was given around. Its a nice looking brunch place but the 2 examples of your best dishes are not exactly worth to be called your best.
(1)Brylan R.
Very Very Very RUDE! Completely blown away by how we were treated by our waitress (I think her name is Julie). Our food was served with a mealworm in it and when we informed the waitress her response was "that can happen" and made no attempt to exchange our meal or take it off the tab. She then began to argue with us about us having a low IQ in food preparation and very sternly let us know that she "not going to get into with us" and that we can "leave". She continued to tell a fellow waiter about the ordeal and they began to laugh!!! WE DID NOT PAY FOR OUR MEAL! We have NEVER been treated this bad before and we will NEVER be back to this restaurant!
(1)Mandy C.
We came for lunch on a whim and ended up quite pleased with our simple, elegant meal. Service was fast and attentive. Liked the flavor and spice of the spicy prawns. I was pleasantly surprised with the gyro and the side salad was tasty. We also got a SF BELT sandwich. I didn't like the egg personally, but my bf thought it was good. Would certainly try it for dinner because I really liked the outdoor patio/fire/ambience. Also- I highly recommend their iced tea. The flavor is some kind of fruitiness without sweetness and is delicious!!
(4)Kristin T.
Ordered the Iceberg Wedge Salad- amazing blue cheese and the steak was cooked perfectly! Good wine selection, our group of 8 was seated within 5 minutes, even on a holiday, food was served quickly and with great service.
(4)Caitlin K.
So upset. I will say that this restaurant had been a favorite for a long time until our last visit - which was probably the worst restaurant experience I've ever had. I literally was in tears by the time we left. My husband and I would regularly come here for anniversaries so we were excited to come here with our friends. When our friend found a bug in her artichoke, the waitress came over and asked if anything was wrong. We told her what my friend had found (a huge mealworm-looking bug) and she told us that they couldn't control that because "bugs can get on vegetables sometimes." No kidding. And her attitude was very sarcastic. She didn't even offer to take it back at first. Instead we got a biology lesson about how sometimes bugs can be found on vegetables. She finally offered to take it back and replace it after we pretty much sat there in silence. She promptly went into the other room and began talking about us with the other waiter. We could see them looking at us and laughing through the window. She came back again and said the artichoke would be ready soon and commented again on how there was nothing they could do about having bugs on the artichokes. At this point I was over her condescending tone. I told her that her comments were unnecessary and rude. We know that bugs can get on vegetables. We just want you to fix it without a snide comment or talking about us in clear view. She responded that she felt she needed to explain the bugs because some people don't understand what goes into cooking food. I'm assuming she meant people like us. Eventually another waiter came over to talk to us. While we were explaining the same waitress came over to defend herself and interrupted me as I explained why I was upset. At this point, we're baffled that something that was such a simple fix turned into such a conflict. Her final words to us: "I'm not going to get into it with you." Wow. Don't waste your time or money here. We come to Carmel often and there are plenty of other great places that put customers first.
(1)Sue P.
I have gone to this bistro for years. Unfortunately it has not retained its excellence. They now charge for bread, after giving a first basket of 4 one inch pieces. The server was delightful however, which makes up for the horrible hostess! While the hostess should be the most welcoming, on Friday July 11th, the hostess was clothed in gym attire, was obviously unhappy, and was very loudly describing how a patron did not leave enough money to cover the check. I was not sure why the other patrons had to listen to her complaint!! We never saw this young lady smile or inquire about the diners experience. With so many choices in Carmel, we will definitely look elsewhere for lunch!
(3)Cossette P.
Update: Since we enjoyed our first visit we thought of coming back a week later. This time with our dog in tow. Definitely loved the fact that my dog was welcome to dine with us...a big PLUS, PLUS! We sat in the beautiful patio next to the fire pit. It was a chilly morning but the fire pit kept us warm. Our server was way better this time (different guy from last week). Overall a better experience and will definitely be on our "favorite" restaurant in Carmel.
(5)Renata D.
I LOVE their breakfast! Every time we are in Carmel it is a MUST stop for me. Service is average... It depends on their mood.
(4)Nilu r.
For breakfast it was ok. The Omelet was on the bland side and it was sort of on the small side. I had the Joes omelet. It was ok after I doused it with hot sauce. The coffee was ok, better than most brunch place coffees. Too expensive for what we got but hey, this is Carmel. Service was semi friendly and fast. The dining room was really cold that was lame...the last thing I want is to shiver through brunch.
(3)Janet O.
I must say that we've only had breakfast here. I was really impressed with the cook's ability to fry an egg to order! Our server, was very helpful in steering my husband to dishes that can be made gluten free. They even made some changes to assure that the dish came to him gluten free. We would definitely have breakfast here again. Now having said that, the food is probably 3 stars - good but not great.
(4)William O.
The aromas from this place drew us in. Great unique salads like arugula spinach pear salad. Very good. The BBQ prawn appetizer was fantastic. Everything hit the spot. Quaint bistro. But then again, everything in Carmel is quaint. If I find myself in Carmel again, I would definitely dine here again.
(5)Jackie D.
The pistachio crusted halibut was delicious. Sicillian style Calamari for starters plus a berry pie for desert made for a wonderful dinner
(5)Rob S.
My family and I have been to this establishment many times over the years and this time was was a bad experience . We were a group of 12 and the waitress only took some of our drink orders 4 of the 12 didn't get drinks when I asked if we could get some drinks , clearly she was irritated and rolled her eyes at me , when I looked away my wife and nephew noticed that she gave us a dirty look . My nephews pasta dish had a hair in it I mentioned it to the manager and also informed the manager of the waitress and her attitude and told him that 18% gratuity was reasonable for good service and I stated that she would not receive that from us , his response " I have worked with her for along time and have never seen her do that and if you to want to leave that amount you don't have to" later after handing him the credit card he ran the card with the full gratuity and I approached him and told him to remove the gratuity and clearly he was mad and said " no one said anything about not adding the gratuity " and as we were leaving , he commented to my sister and I that " you got off cheap " . Some advice For the waitress and manager - learn some customer service skills and don't insinuate That the customer is being dishonest and control your tongue with with the parting snotty remarks , we will not be returning. Ps don't be so stingy with the bread know one should have continuously ask for it, especially when they are dropping $300 plus Dinner 10/12/13
(1)Tiffany V.
The day after Valentine's, my loverman and I spent the morning/afternoon in Carmel. This place was recommended to us by the front desk of Casa Munras. Something went awry with my gps and it led us to the middle of nowhere suburbs. Haha. The directions seemed right though so it could have easily just been my lovermans fault (you know how men are with directions). The restaurant is super bright and clean? I don't know how else to describe it. Haha. I hate that the waiting area is a bench outside but luckily it wasn't too cold that day. I got the Mediterranean omelette and he got some other omelette (Acapulco?) They have these little paper fold out menus that had a smoked salmon omelette listed but when he asked our waitress, she said they had it and then she was like "wait no, we only have the stuff on our big menu available." There was a smoked salmon scramble on the menu, couldn't they have made it into an omelette? Hmm? The food took a while to come out. We both ask for dry whole wheat toast and it came buttered but the waitress noticed the mistake as she was giving us our food so she apologized and then brought us another plate of toast. My omelette was delicious but crazy heavy on the cheese. The potatoes were also pretty good. They have a nice variety of little prepackaged jams/preserves on the table. There were two women sitting next to us who both got the Mediterranean omelette too. She asked for her potatoes and toast to be substituted with a pancake and they did it for her! Haha. They were sitting really close, thats how I overheard this. When you order tea, they give you this gigantic wooden tea bag organizer for you to choose your tea bag from. Its pretty comical, at least to me. Haha. Service is really mediocre here and their music is weird. I swear I heard one of the waitresses say "Someone asked me to turn the radio down. PSSSSH yeah right." The food is decent but there is nothing special to it and its kind of on the pricey side. Oh and its dog friendly but you have to sit outside. Anyone else get a kick out of seeing streets like Dolores and Ocean in Carmel? Haha. *I am typing like a total idiot tonight, please forgive any grammar/spelling mistakes.
(3)Scott L.
This place has a nice heated outdoor patio you can sit and eat outside with your dog. The service is great and the food is really pretty good. They have some nice food choices and a wide range of wines too. We really enjoyed our meal and being able to sit outside with our dogs was a bonus. Fortunately, we were in a hotel within walking distance because it looked like parking was pretty bad in the area.
(4)Greg T.
Village Corner holds special meaning for us. My wife and I had dinner on the patio after I proposed to her on the beach in - yikes - 2002. I'll emphasize here that we don't feel any older. However, it would appear that we've outgrown Village Corner's largely unchanged menu. The word of the day is unimaginative. The pork chop was blaringly tart with dried apricots. The risotto positively screamed sun dried tomato. All in all, the food wasn't quite as good as what I make at home, and isn't the whole point of going out to get something a little nicer than normal? Our painfully disinterested waitress didn't help matters, either. All in all, I'm sad to say that this is the last time we'll be visiting. At least there's Passionfish...
(3)Steve L.
To continue with our little time for ourselves without the kids, the wife and I did some leisurely window shopping around Carmel-by-the-Sea. It was getting late in the morning, and we were ready for some breakfast. We were thinking of going to one of our favorites in town, Patisserie Boissiere, but it didn't open until 11AM. I remembered seeing Village Corner the last time we were here, and suggested this place to my wife. And besides, I had a craving for some hearty pancakes. It was around mid-morning on an overcast week day, and we had no problems getting a table. In fact, we were asked if we wanted to sit inside or outside. Without looking at the outside, we chose to sit in. In hindsight, the outside patio would have been nice. Most of the tables were arranged around a large fire pit, which would have been nice for a cozy breakfast. After we were seated, we were asked what we wanted to drink, and I made my request. A mug filled with hot coffee arrived at my table ( yelp.com/biz_photos/wEfm… ). Our orders were taken, and our dishes arrived within 10 minutes. -Smoked salmon scramble with hash browns ( yelp.com/biz_photos/wEfm… ). My wife enjoyed her order. She was still full from dinner at Passionfish the night before, so she didn't eat any of the hash browns, but I took a few bites, and the were cookes just right. Crispy on the outside, soft in the center. Like I mentioned earlier, I was craving some pancakes, so I ordered the full stack of banana pecan pancakes. Not has huge as the full stack I had at First Awakenings in Pacific Grove, but still sizable and hearty nonetheless ( yelp.com/biz_photos/wEfm… ). The bananas were sliced and placed in the pancakes with the pecans after the batter was poured on the griddle. Whipped butter and warm syrup was served on the side. The sliced bananas were still hot from the griddle. The pecans gave it a nice texture and taste, and there was just enough added to the batter so it wasn't lumpy. Overall, we were pretty satisfied with our breakfasts, and would consider this place again.
(4)jim b.
.....I am an official expert on Breakfasts...This is best one I found in Carmel....The Corned Beef Hash done with peppers etc. is great....two people can have a fine breakfast for $20-$30 including tip. A local turned me on to the nice little place across the street Swiss Cafe said it was better...no way...their hash was Hormel and more expensive...The only better breakfast as I said was at Madonna Inn on Sunday, that one is good as it gets...
(3)Franzy S.
We've been having a hard time finding a decent and affordable place to have dinner at in Carmel. I just headed there with a few girlfriends in June and we ate at Forge in the Forrest and it was just mediocre. And unfortunately this place was just mediocre food wise too. I had the linguine with prawns and it was good. But nothing to impress a "foodie" with. The ambiance was nice though. The fire pit on the patio adds to it and since it gets pretty chilly, they also have heaters tastefully mounted to the wall above each table. The staff was nice and worked swiftly.
(3)Lisa L.
Food and service was great. Family out from the east coast and all eight of us enjoyed eating here. I loved the pastrami sandwich and my father enjoyed the clam chowder. I would come back again.
(5)Sue D.
First, the one star is for accommodating my dogs in the patio seating area. After that, it all goes down hill. I had a gift certificate of $25 which could be applied to the bill of $37.50 or more. So we ordered two entrees and an appetizer for lunch. The waiter was not very invested in spending time to explain what vegetarian options we could get. We ordered and got out food which was okay (or so I thought at the time.) Waiter never came back to check in on us or refill water glasses. Finally, the bill comes and I give the waiter the gift certificate that I planned to use. He comes back and says "Well, there is a minimum charge of $37.50 and your bill total is only $37.43." Seriously!!!! You are going to jam me up for 7 cents! So I ordered one of their crappy $3 sodas to make the minimum purchase. He could have easily rounded it up to $37.50 and just applied the certificate but that would have involved initiative on his part! The worst part is that I had intestinal problems after having the food and even had a rash develop. I think they need to take a good look at the cleanliness in food handling and preparation. Would not recommend this place to my friends and I don't think I will be going back there for a meal.
(1)Mary G.
Great location but the 2 times we were there they either tried to short change me (3 times) or double charge me. Once, giving me change for a $5 and then for a $10 when I had given the cashier a $20 for one coffee. Then, the next day, we went for a meal with a 15% off coupon. They forgot to use the coupon and re-rang the ticket with the coupon when asked, posting BOTH charges to my card! I am still disputing it 4 mos later... We go to Carmel often and VC was always a pleasant experience. I don't know what has changed but clearly they are hard up to pocket whatever they can and we are done!
(1)Judy W.
Wonderful service. Great food at reasonable prices. Sit in the patio and people watch.
(5)VB L.
Truly the finest Crab Benedict I've ever eaten! Lots of large pieces of real crabmeat on top of a moist English muffin. The eggs were those little, round blobs that are done in a hot vat of water instead of the little pans and they were fluffy and delicious! The Hollandaise sauce wasn't overly buttery or lemony - it was perfect. The potatoes were cooked to perfection and it killed me that I was too full to finish every last one. Enrique was a gem - attentive and giving service that matched the Benny!! TIP: It's busy and you'll have to wait to sit on the patio, but it's so worth it. Love the fire pit and all the dogs! Woof!
(5)Alicia J.
Host greeted us with a smile. Service was about 10% and food was awesome. Was ready to walk out. I had to tell the bus boy to get our waiter in Spanish - I was very disappointed!!!!' we then proceeded to order desert it was soft and creamy yuck!!!' Silverware dirty and again service sucked!!
(2)Cheryl C.
Came here with a party of 8 Mon morning for breakfast. I split the Veggie Benedict with my sister, which they were nice enough to separate for us on 2 diff plates, including the country potatoes. Everything was yummy. Both my sister and I would have liked more lemon in the hollandaise sauce, but it was still very good.
(4)Eyeris Y.
one of my favs here in Carmel.....luv the patio and luv the dog friendly staff - always received good service. food is good - have not received a bad tasting dish yet. recently had the macadamia nut crusted salmon - was very good. seafood pasta on their special was also very tasty. they have this bread dip that is to die for.....please please bring me some more!! i want to lick that little plate clean!! def would recommend this place - get a seat in the patio by the fire pit and tell them to bring you more bread for that dip!!!
(4)Tammy V.
My bf and i came on a Sunday for brunch~~ My bf ordered the Denver Omelette and I was going to order the Breakfast Express, and the waiter told me they don't serve it anymore... so I ordered the same thing as my bf. Denver Omelette was pretty good, I like their potato ~~ The reason i gave them a 3 stars because the services was not so good.... They were busy all the time, I had to wait for everything, such as ordering food and drinks. If the services was better they will get better rating....
(3)Kris M.
When my mom and I come down to the Monterey Peninsula, our second day usually involves a stroll up and down Ocean Ave. here in Carmel. Window shopping makes us hungry! We found Village Corner through a restaurant.com coupon and had to try it out - that was 4 years ago. Now every time we come down here, we inevitably go to Village Corner for lunch. This is a pretty awesome restaurant. I think one of the things I like best about it is that it feels like a locals' restaurant - something that people who actually live there in Carmel actually go to, rather than just tourists like most of the restaurants on Ocean. We usually sit inside, but outside is also quite lovely on a sunny day. The food is served with large portions and it's always delicious. The one issue we have had in the past has been with the service. It can take them quite a while to do simple things like bringing drinks, and there have been a few times where we've seen people who came in well after us gets their drinks and even food before us. You often have to ask them to bring the bread and such that comes with every meal. If it wasn't for that issue, I'd probably give them five stars - we enjoy eating there that much!
(4)Ana O.
Could not have had a better lunch. After hiking Point Lobos in the morning and having overindulged on several dinners during vacation, we were looking for a filling and delicious meal. We visited on a recommendation of a friend who was local. After waiting a bit for a patio table (it was busy but only a 10 minute wait on a nice Sunday afternoon) we were seated on the lovely covered patio near the gas fire pit. The patio was full of locals and their dogs, so very pup friendly. We ordered the SF BELT and chicken quesadilla and really enjoyed both. The quesadilla was fantastic - it had very tender, fresh chicken and green onions in addition to cheese, which really addded great flavor and dimension. The tortilla was chewy but crispy, really perfectly done and serves with taste pico and guac. Wish they had a better selection of local beers and better fries, but everything else was top notch.
(5)Norm H.
Went here for breakfast today. Got seated right away. Very friendly staff. I had a $25 gift card which was awesome but prices are actually really good for the quality and quantity you receive. I ordered the crab avocado Benedict with a side of apple sausage. My wife ordered the strawberry and banana oatmeal. Both plates were very tasty. I will be back. They also have a great outdoor patio seating area.
(4)Ginger A.
Not too bad for breakfast, been several times, and it has always been fresh, priced reasonably and with decent although not great service. However, as the day wears on, some mysterious chemistry seems to occur. Maybe the staff starts changing, who knows. The more complicated lunch items seem to be a bit of a challenge for the cook, and the presentation and promptness by the servers definitely goes downhill.
(3)Leigh K.
I have only been to this restaurant twice. Both times I loved it. I don't live in Carmel... I'm from San Diego. But when my family and I go camping, we usually do a day stop in Carmel to walk around and enjoy a meal out, even though we're grubby looking and not fitting too well with the look of Carmel. The first time I came here, my brother and I stumbled on this place and popped in for breakfast. I don't know if I was just starved for some decent food "out," but it was delicious. The next year we came back around the same time... we had gone camping and wanted breakfast. The first time I came I had the Veggie Benedict. The last time I had the Mediterranean Omelette. Both times the food was delicious. Great coffee, inviting atmosphere, and to top it all off, we didn't feel looked down on for wearing camping clothes. When I return to Carmel I will definitely eat breakfast here again. I can't comment on lunch or dinner since I've only done the breakfast.
(4)Joni S.
Pros: The paella is delicious. Dog-friendly patio. Cons: Service was horrible. Waited for a long time and were sat in a high traffic area. Tip: Restaurant.com participant. But make sure they apply the coupon. The waiter didn't and we had to ask the host. They rely on the auto 18% tip way too much. So don't expect too much. Just good food.
(3)Elle T.
On a street corner of the quaint town of Carmel is a small diner called the "Village Corner". Maybe it was the weather. Maybe it was because I sat next to a window. Maybe I just felt breezy that day. Whatever it was, this establishment really gave an open-air restaurant vibe... and we weren't even outside! They did have a lovely patio area which was filled up, of course, but even if they didn't, the atmosphere was loose, airy, and relaxed. Staff here was pretty friendly and fast. we shared Valley Greens salad and I ordered the Linguine & fresh clams. The beau had the Penne with chicken in Gorgonzola sauce. Were those clams fresh! I can't remember the last time I had clams THAT fresh and in THAT abundance. No, they were not stingy with the shellfish at all, and the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. I could not ask for more. I tried a bit of the penne as well - creamy + smooth! Lunch was more than filling and thank you, restaurant.com again, for certs to a gem of a restaurant in a gem of a town :) It was very reasonable, and our food was very fresh, or they could have fooled me! This has to be some of the best and freshest food I've experienced; good pick, Beau :)
(5)Amy O.
I just have to update my review to share this... You absolutely must try the lobster ravioli appetizer. It's not the same one as the dinner plate...but it is so fricking good. So, there's my 2 cents.
(5)Rita Y.
Cute dining establishment right on the corner. Has a cottage look to it, like something out of Goldilocks. I've seen it over the years during our visits to Carmel but this is the first time we dined here. They have a patio with roof and it was a sunny weekend in Carmel so eating outside was nice. Hubby tried the penne pasta & chicken. He said something tasted bitter. It had raddichio and gorgonza cheese, $14. He said he wouldn't order it again. Don't know why he did as he's lactose-intolerant but that's what you get for now knowing what gorgonza and raddichio are. Their serviing of fried calamari, $9.95 was not as large as what they give you at Crown & Anchor, but hubby liked the lightly floured, crispy crust. Reminded me of a light tempura. I still prefer the Crown & Anchor calarmari. My spinach prawn salad was good, $10.75. It was layered with thin slices of apple, bits of mandarin orange and prawns with an orange-flavored dressing. Very light and tasty. The waiter told me it was one of their more popular salads. They serve you a wonderful sun-riped dried tomato puree dip (with olive oil and garlic) along with chunks of soft bread. They should bottle that dip to sell if they haven't already.
(3)Duke A.
Went with a group of 7 people, we sat on the patio which was well decorated. Had a nice and refreshing atmosphere. We all ordered different dishes and had a family style breakfast. Everything was tasteful and the staff was outstanding. Will come back next time we visit Carmel!
(5)George C.
Cute place in downtown Carmel. Sat on the patio; real nice on a warm day. We arrived 5 minutes too late to get the breakfast menu; kinda disappointed since I love breakfast. Had the Reuben sandwich as a second choice. Not the best I have had but ok. My sweetie had the chicken Caesar salad and said it was good but needed something to 'zip it up'. Not sure if I'll back but may try again for breakfast if I can get myself there on time.
(3)Jacqueline C.
I am shocked to see that I have never written a review for Village Corner Bistro! I imagine my lack of review was motivated by pure selfishness. Every single time we go to Monterey (and I mean EVERY TIME), we plan breakfast at Village Corner Bistro. One reason: Crab Benedict -- a generous portion of lump crab (NOT CRAB CAKE) topped with some avocado and Hollandaise, all laid to rest on a toasty English muffin. BEST THING EVER. We don't even look at the menus when we order. I do see people all around enjoying other dishes, though, and maybe someday I'll try something else, but not anytime soon! Village Corner Bistro is super casual. They have great outdoor seating, perfect for a sunny Carmel morning. The service is friendly and fast.
(4)Izah S.
Thumbs up for the ambiance...
(4)Allison P.
Had a fabulous brunch here. Down to earth homecooking that is just delicious!! A perfect little cafe/bistro with nice inside and outside seating. Service was super quick. Food portions were generous, and most importantly food quality was amazing. The best calamari steak sandwich I have ever had with delicious fries. My husband had steak and eggs, which was excellent. We also got a chicken quesadilla as an app. Of course we needed a to go box. A really great spot for breakfast or lunch. I would imagine dinner would be great too. When in Carmel I will definitley visit the Village Corner again.
(5)Simret N.
The ambiance and outdoing seating area is very nice. It is also nestled in between some art galleries/shops near cute shopping area but the food is just OK. The food resembled diner food.
(3)Tim A.
The service for our mid-afternoon lunch was so fast, shall I say brusk, that he wanted to bring our entrées with the soup and salad we had ordered, and he ran off before we could order the wine. Do they have desserts? None were offered. The cream style clam chowder soup of the day (one of my favorite soups) was very good, seasoned in a style I had not encountered before. The spinach and grilled shrimp salad was excellent, as was the wild mushroom raviolies. The crab raviolies was a disappointment, quite bland. Some salt helped a little but the search for flavors came up empty.
(3)Jeanne S.
I love the ambiance of Village Corner. Beautiful flowers outside, twinkling white lights. Large windows, flickering candles, romantic fire pit, patio seating, blooming flowers. This little restaurant is perfect for a fun family gathering or a romantic dinner for two. I took my parents here for dinner and we were seated by the fire pit. Red wine, warm fire, good conversation over delicious food...it was such a great experience. The paella at village corner was the best I've ever tasted. It was a bit pricey at $45 but it was enough to feed three people. I loved how the paella here includes baked fresh fish of the day- most paellas just have some shell fish, prawns and chicken. I compare all the paella I have tried to the paella here (Alegrias, Cascal, B44). Perfectly juicy, not too wet or too dry, flavorful. We also ordered the Oven Roasted Pork Chops with dried apricots, plum stuffing and apricot wine sauce. The apricot wine sauce was amazing and I loved the pairing of fruit and meat. Pork chops can often be too dry or tough but Village Corner roasted it perfectly. There was a really adorable couple seated next to us. They shared a bottle of wine, gazed into each other's eyes...I kept furtively glancing over to them. I made a mental note to take my next boyfriend there (as in, if I take you to Carmel and Village Corner...you know you'll get lucky).
(5)Heath C.
This is a great bistro with a cozy outdoor patio. I thought it was a bit pricy but the atmosphere and the food are worth it. The eggs benedict was the best I've had and I eat a lot of eggs benedict. You must stop in Carmel if you're driving up the California coast. And, I'd definitely recommend the Village Corner Bistro above the other options, for breakfast or lunch.
(4)Corey P.
A wonderful example of a locally-owned Carmel restaurant. They offer a creative spate of fresh, well-prepared creative food in a lovely space within spitting distance of the loveliest beach in California. That said, they really do pack tables together very tightly.
(4)Carol H.
Stopped in today for lunch. We had our two small fur-pals with us, so sat out on patio. Great lunch, reasonably priced, out of the rain under the patio cover and warmed by patio heater. What more could we ask for? Yes, good wine. They had it. We will definitely be back for more. Went back for dessert, pie and port. We were the only people out on the patio. Excellent service, wonderful dessert, great company. Village Corner is definitely dog friendly. We will go back whenever we need shelter and good food!
(4)Elizabeth C.
The setting was nice, with white lights and blown glass ornaments dangling around the outside patio to bring a festive atmosphere to the guests. If you can get a seat next to the fire pit, you'll be toasty for the whole meal! As for food, the salmon and egg white dish was a delicious breakfast. The bussers were working their butts off, and they did everything except take the actual order. Though it was good, I would probably check out a couple nearby spots before returning for more.
(4)Ross K.
Great spot to sit on the heated patio for lunch. The meatball soup of the da was tasty, but slightly overlooked. The steak fajitas were well made. The menu has many creative dishes on it. The wait staff were very helpful and friendly.
(4)Sonya P.
Everytime we come to carmel this is our breakfast spot, the food is always great and done perfectly. The service is awesome and the people are super friendly.
(5)Angela K.
Yummy lunch with family on a Saturday--they have a "breakfast for lunch" section for those wanting breakfast. This Florida girl had sand dab for the first time, and was not disappointed (or grossed out). Service was friendly, and menu had good variety. We sampled steak quesadillas, clam linguine, egg BLT, calamari sandwich, and eggs benedict, and all were excellent. The sundried tomato dip they bring with the bread is addictive!
(4)Jennifer C.
The family and I brunched before embarking upon the famed 17 mile drive, and we were very happy. The brother loved the fresh Illy coffee, and I finished my entire plate of eggs Benedict. The mom, who only likes "crispy waffles," had no complaints and munched away happily on what must have been a crispy waffle indeed. Beautiful patio with cheerful flowers and a seaside breeze. Will come again!!!
(5)Edward W.
Hostess has more bark than my dog. Came in side gate but made mistake of setting two (well 4 paws) just inside restaurant to ask for table. Snarls from hostess. Moved on to Cottage Cafe for a nice breakfast.
(2)Richard R.
Only so-so. I arrived @ 11:30 on Sunday and they were already serving from the lunch menu . They would not give me a breakfast menu. There were 4 breakfast items on the lunch menu so I ordered the "Carmel" Benedict, made with ham instead of Canadian bacon. That was OK, but the eggs were hard boiled and there was very little sauce. Disappointing.
(2)Jenna D.
Awful. After poor service & even worse food, the waitress came after us outside of the restaurant to see why we left a small tip. It was so pathetic we just handed over some cash & left. I love Carmel & all the fun restaurants but I will NEVER return here. Absolutely terrible.
(1)David H.
Cute little romantic haven with pretty amazing food. Services were great, and the setting was beautiful (see pixs that I posted). Came here around 4, and servers was more than willing to let us order from the Lunch menu. That along with the restaurant.com gc that we bought made this place a steal. We ordered the Fried Monterey Bay Calamari $9.95, and love it by itself or a little squirt of lemon. The appetizer also came with two sauces, one of which was a wasabi based sauce which was interesting. We also had the Linguine with Fresh Clams which both of us loved. However, the Chicken with Mushroom Demi Glaze was on the salty side, but the flavor was there, and the texture was perfect. The services were great. We came with a dog, and asked the server to seat us near the corner and he was glad to seat us where we wanted. Water was filled promptly, and he explained to us that the sauce served prior to us ordering the calamari. Overall, we were pleased and would revisit if we happen to be in town.
(5)Seth B.
We have eaten here before and it was great. This time was quite different, there was only one waiter for the whole restaurant so the service was terrible. We sat there 15 min. before we were served water, then another 10 to order a drink. Then they brought me a draft beer that was just a bit colder than warm. I sent it back. The food we ordered was mediocre. Overcooked shrimp and salty, sour cheesy pasta sauce. I dont know if we'll give it another try...
(2)Sean M.
Did NOT eat here tonight, but ate here once 6 years ago and we will NEVER return. In the Carmel area for dinner at a another resturaunt tonight I went looking for this place so I could sure to write a bad review. Many people on Yelp know me to review fairly. My wife asked for a Diet Coke and they brought a regular Coke. Then we asked for a Diet Coke and they brought Dr Pepper, so we asked one more time they brought a Root Beer. At this point we gave in and waited for our food order. We both ordered some type of seafood chowder with extra french bread. The chowder was good till later that night when we both got unbelieveably sick. Our hotel stay was ruined as we did not enjoy or stay the full weekend. I have no proof, but they were doing some renovation in the kitchen and my doctor (could not get to the Dr office till Monday) said I clearly had food poisening.
(1)Babak S.
Food was fine but a bit overpriced. Hostess was nice, but once we were seated and had our food ordered, no one came back to check in on us at any point. The mushroom ravioli was pretty good, but again, pretty pricey given how much they offer. I'd advise anyone on a romantic date to get a spot next to the fire, it looks like a beautiful dining area.
(3)Vivek P.
We sat outside on their patio which is a nice spot on a warm evening. I liked their flavorful polenta with wild mushrooms and thought the buffalo mozzarella was really fresh. The Chicken Picatta, on the other hand, wasn't really anything special. The service was efficient and friendly. If I were to go back, I'd probably try brunch instead of dinner.
(3)Christian S.
Food was delicious. My girlfriend had the clam linguini and I had the pork chop, but were good. Ended up here after wandering around Carmel for a while on a dark, rainy night. Not a ton of seating, and the ambiance is definitely more casual than formal, but all around a good place to go for dinner.
(4)Sacha O.
My husband and I ate breakfast here this morning. We could smell the restaurant from down the street. It drew us in. We were seated immediately though it was faiu crowded. Only patio seating was available. We were sat next to the fire pit which was a bit warm. The service was good. The food was pretty good. The chicken and apple sausage was great. They ran out of oatmeal so I had a parfet which was Pretty good. The French toast was, well, french toast. :) would eat jere again. The atmosphere was relaxed. I enjoy that pets were allowed on the patio. It gave it a family feeling.
(4)deb L.
Dog Friendly maybe...people friendly...NO We tried to dine there but we walked in the front door (WRONG) with our small dog and small brunette waitress came unglued. We didn't see the side door (DOG Entrance) and there wasn't a hostess station to stop us so we walked in looking to be seated. The waitress saw our dogs and freaked out and raised her voice and asked us to "please leave the restaurant right now or we will be shut down by the health department." I understand that but...why not stop people before they come in? Besides the dog section was about 10 feet from where we were standing. We were embarrassed and left quickly. If she had been sweet, calm and not pointed us to exit, I wouldn't be writing this. She was rude and uptight so we went elsewhere to spend our tourist dollars.
(1)Jeff L.
I really don't like to write profoundly negative restaurant reviews unless I feel the restaurant has almost worked to earn it, but definitely give this place a pass. I ate here this weekend. The patio is a lovely setting, but the service is grumpy and unresponsive and the food was, well, awful. Chicken sandwich gave me an unhappy stomach the rest of the day.
(1)Daisy L.
Food is very mediocre. Really bad service both times I have been there. The waiter was impatient and rude. The only thing this place has going for it is a really inviting atmosphere.
(2)Alexandra I.
Came here with some girlfriends and we had a lovely time. I got the crab stuffed prawns and it was AWESOME! The waiters were friendly and fun :)
(4)Steven M.
Very good restaurant off the beat and path service was great
(5)Eli Y.
This place is a staple for our day trips to Carmel. We usually go for lunch as they have great salads and other nice lunch menu items. Last night however, we went for a birthday celebration dinner and got to try their dinner options. We went for the seafood grill for two. It was simple and great. Sea scallops, prawns, halibut and salmon. All of it drizzled with a lobster wasabi sauce. So good!
(4)Austin R.
Enjoyed everything from the patio ambiance to the appetizers, dinner and dessert. I had a cappuccino with dessert that really surprised me, perfectly made.
(5)Jonathan R.
When we wanted to go to the Ocean Grill for lunch, we were politely pointed in the direction of their sister restaurant, Village Corner Bistro. Were we excited about this? No, but we were on a time limit and it was very close, literally right around the corner. We walk inside and it's completely empty inside. A server brings us outside to the patio where there are a few other groups eating, and seats us right next to the fire pit in the middle. It's a cozy patio, with lots of plants, flowers and warm colors. The service was quick and friendly. The first thing brought out to us was a plate of cold bread and marinara sauce. When I say cold, I don't mean stale, but just cold, which was nice. The sauce was a little chunky, and you could see a sheen of oil on it. Pretty good though in my opinion. I originally was intending on going for a burger, but after seeing that it only came with meat and literally everything else is a $1.50 extra I decided on the Portobello and Mozzarella sandwich. I am extremely happy with my change of mind. The sandwich was much bigger then I was expecting. Cut in two, and stacked with the mushrooms, THICK slices of mozzarella and sun dried tomatoes that were so soft it was like jam. For such a thick sandwich, you still leave feeling pretty light because of all the vegetables. You get a choice of fries or salad with every sandwich. I decided to go light and get a salad. Another great decision on my part. The salad is lightly dressed in a vinaigrette, and has crumbled feta cheese, a slice of tomato and a slice of cucumber. The whole plate was just delicious. The one only tiny criticism I would have is that the bathroom is stuck right between the two kitchens, so you have to be very careful, if walking to it, or waiting for it. Other then that, a must try if you're in the area.
(4)Kalvin R.
After patiently waiting 20 minutes to take our order the food arrived 30 later it came cold and stiff as a board. We sent it back and a miracle happened 7 minutes later a hit breakfast the picture provided was 57 minutes of waiting you decide if it's worth the wait.
(2)Lynn B.
To be fair we walked away because of the rude greeting. We had our dog and was given a list by the concierge with this restaurant on it but could tell we were not welcome. This might be saying they welcome dogs but I don't think so.
(2)Laurie S.
Love this restaurant! Perfect breakfast place! Came here with kids and enjoyed the sunny patio (they have heaters for when it's cold). Also dog friendly! Food and service were excellent! I had the pecan-crusted french toast, and kids had a Belgian waffle, eggs, bacon, and fruit. Highly recommend it!
(5)Sunny J.
My bf and I love this place and we are in love with the gorgonzola herb crusted stake and mash potatos. I am not a fan of blu cheese like cheese but its very mild on this dish and doesnt over power flavors. Even the sandwiches look delishous.
(5)Jessica A.
Came here for breakfast around 10:30 and we were seated right away inside for a party of 4. I ordered the pancakes with berries, and the others ordered calamari steak and eggs, crab Benedict and crab and avocado omelette. Everyone was very pleased and content! We left full and happy--will definitely be back!
(4)Rui C.
This usually is our go to spot since this is very kids fruit friendly. But today was an all time low and will probably be our last time here. My kids are great eaters and they love it here. But when they start eating their usual dish and don't wanna take more than 2 bites, something is up. For starters, we got fried calamari. Usually it's very plump and juicy, but today's tasted like day old leftovers. It was dry and nasty... Like left over bag of chips left out on the open for a month. We also ordered linguine with clams. I'm no pro chef, but even I can make it taste so much better. There was a foul smell to it and though it didn't taste sour like bad food... The clam was definitely not fresh. Here's a trick to knowing if your seafood is bad. Drink some water to clear up your palettes and take a bite of the seafood only.. No additional sauce or anything. While chewing, exhale slowly out of your nose. If it smell like rotten fish, it's bad. Girls had the linguine with marinara sauce, which is their usual with some of our linguine with clams. They took two bites and said it's not the same as before. I tried it and sure enough.. It's not good. The sand dab sandwich was bland as usual, which is expected. At least that remains consistent. Not sure if owners or chef has changed, but this is the first time I remembered coming here without waiting in line. Maybe this was the reason why.
(1)Sara H.
I rarely write reviews and have never written a bad review, but had to comment on this restaurant after my experience here. I highly recommend that you do not eat at Village Corner. All pasta dishes are $20-$30 but are worth less than $10. Poor service, old ingredients, and terribly cooked food. We could not eat more than 3 bites of our food before leaving.
(1)Lori M.
Who knew that it's okay to have your dog with you for lunch and dinner in Carmel but so hard to find a breakfast place that is dog friendly? We know now, after walking all over looking for some place to eat. Fortunately, a turn around a corner brought us to Village Corner Bistro. The dog friendly patio is spacious yet cozy. There are heaters for cooler weather. We settled right in to a prompt delivery of coffee. Our dogs settled in at our feet for a snooze. All was right with our morning. Mom's omelet was generous and very tasty. I really enjoyed my hash. The waitress was consistently friendly and efficient with our coffee refills. Even nearby patrons were friendly. I'm sure that there are other solid breakfast places in Carmel. However, I won't be trying any. Dog friendly, people friendly, and fresh, tasty food: I'll walk around the corner again to stop at Village Corner Bistro.
(4)Mai C.
nice place with nice service. however it depends on which food you eat. I ordered the crab ravioli and it sounds fancy but it is basically just a crab salad with too much mayonese and its too salty. I dont like it at all but my friends ordered oak grill salmon, spicy prawns and chicken tortados or something ans they were all really good. The steak burger is also really good. I recommend this place but not the ceab ravioli
(4)Babak G.
Very nice place, beautiful fire place for dinner time and a delicious food. We enjoyed it and will return in our next visits.
(5)Maria D.
Great place to eat for breakfast/brunch. We were seated right by the fire pit with our 2 kids and dog. It was 11:22 AM and they begin serving lunch at 11:30. Of course my daughter wanted pancakes. Our waiter was extremely accommodating, and got her order in with no issues. I had the SF BLAT with a fried egg on top-so good! Husband ordered the Reuben and reported it as good as well. Our son had the steak and eggs and enjoyed it. We will be back!
(4)Jerry M.
As we walked around downtown Carmel, it was hard to decide where to eat lunch because there are just so many choices. We decided on the Village Corner Bistro because (as the name indicates) it was on a corner and had windows on all sides and an outdoor courtyard. It was bright, open, and cheerful. . .perfect for a sunny day. I noticed that the servers knew several of the customers seated around us as "regulars". So, I figured if "locals" go there, the food must be good! And, yes, it was good. My friend and I shared a couple of items, a Reuben sandwich and a Joe's Special. The Reuben was good sized with decent corned beef and came on grilled marbled rye, along with a side salad. The Joe's Special was three eggs scrambled with Angus ground beef, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and spinach. It came with a side of big chunky grilled breakfast potatoes. In sharing those two items, I think we covered all the different food groups. Anyway, it was a perfect lunch in a pleasant and friendly place!
(4)Alia M.
We walked in late in the evening with a large party and they seated us immediately. The kids were famished as were the adults. We ordered pasta, steaks, and salads... So good!!!! We are so glad we passed by this restaurant! We now leave happy and full. :)
(5)s s.
Straight from pebble beach golf to eat. Needed a casual but quality place that wasn't too pricey. Village bistro was perfect. Fresh salads, very good calamari. Service was impeccable. Engaging, culinarily enlightened mgr made 6-8 suggestions . We tried them all- rack of lamb, crab ravioli, halibut- everyone was extremely impressed. Very nice but affordable wine list. Nice patio. Other places were booked up but so glad we tried this place.
(5)Hazel J.
This place consistently sucks. The only good thing about this place is the outdoor fire pit that is dog friendly. Food is sub par and overpriced. Service is horrible. I once ordered raviolis for lunch and had to send them back, twice, because they were cold and uncooked. The only reason this place is still open is because of the location and tourists. I'm sworn off. Sorry.
(1)Ernest A.
Great breakfast... Food is fantastic... Our baby's loved the doggy friendly place...The Carmel by the sea vibe is so here...
(4)Jana C.
The greatest thing about this corner place are all of the super powerful heat lamps, and the lovely fire pit aglow and spreading warmth to these two diners Friday night. Seated right next to the fire pit, it was like our own private outdoor dinner, and service was good. Utilizing a retaurant.com cert gifted us by our B&B, we tried the beet salad, Mahi Mahi with cilantro chipotle sauce, spinach, and mash, and chèvre arancini with veg ragout ( chard, onions, mushrooms). Their bad: menu stated roasted beets....uh, do i look like I don't cook or something? Those beets were canned. My risotto had too much tomato sauce, rendering it very salty, and the wild mushrooms stated on the menu were barely there. A strand or two perhaps, but basically button mushrooms. Pricy for the quality of food, but somewhat reasonable for dining in Carmel.
(3)Hayley G.
The 2 stars is based on the customer service. I shouldn't be seated and have to wait 5-10 min for a menu and then have to get up after 10 minutes of not even meeting out waiter to place our order. The food is good, nothing amazing. Probably won't come back.
(2)Joseph K.
By far the worst customer service ever. The waitress was rude and the rest of the waitstaff was very unprofessional. It was a shame to waste an evening here, especially after driving from out of town. Honestly, for the prices here I would expect so much more. Food was just okay. Nothing to write home about. Fettuccini Alfredo with a bunch of random seasonings for almost $18? What a joke. Never coming back.
(1)Jordan K.
I got food poisoning...just don't Also the staff was rude As a Carmel resident there are MUCH better resturants in town
(1)Thomas K.
Great food, good service & wonderful atmosphere! Try the calamari steak and eggs for breakfast, you definitely won't be disappointed.
(4)Kate M.
The 4 stars are for the delicious food, atmosphere and wonderful manager. The minus 1 is for the unfriendly server who seemed bothered that the manager made an exception on our Groupon, which we mistakenly brought for lunch and was meant for dinner. I don't think she said more than 5 words to us the whole time! Her bad attitude still didn't take away from our great lunch and the beautiful atmosphere. We will be back for sure, we will just be sure to request a different server;). Ps- Be sure to try the "Carmel Benedict"!
(4)P Y.
Delightful dining experience! We sat outside by the fire pit, which was cozy and intimate. We had the grilled polenta, carrot soup, the wedge salad, artichoke ravioli, and peanut butter pie. The entrée, artichoke ravioli, had shrimp, Kalamata olives, capers, red peppers, and a light sauce. It was so delectable. Every flavor popped. We thoroughly enjoyed every bite of our entire meal!
(5)Tracy L.
On a Sunday at lunch time, we were able to walk in and get seated right away - so that was a plus. However, the food here was only okay (we had the eggs benedict and crab (?) ravioli). It wasn't too bad, but it was nothing to boast about. The service was very slow (and forgetful). Next time we'll pass this place by and try something else.
(3)James M.
STINKY FISH Had the catch of the day----tasted like it was caught last year, also rubbery. My stomachs hurts now
(1)David L.
The food was good--not great, but still enjoyable and worth the fair prices, especially in the heart of downtown Carmel--and the portions were generous. I had the Reuben sandwich and opted for the side salad instead of the fries. I was pleasantly surprised when I got a nice-sized Greek salad instead of the usual pile of iceberg lettuce that commonly serves as a "side salad." The outdoor seating area is also nice, including a central fire pit and space heaters around the sides. It's dog-friendly, too. The downside of this place was the service. The host was abrupt and pointed us to our table rather than walking us there, which is less than the treatment you'd get at a diner. The rest of the service was much like a diner: waiters and busboys literally rushing through the eating area and not even coming to a full stop to refill water or check on our meals. The decor has the potential to create a relaxing environment, but the service was so frenetic that I simply couldn't relax or enjoy my meal; I ate half my sandwich and wanted to get out as quickly as possible SO I COULD FINALLY RELAX! I should also mention that the place wasn't even full, so where's the fire, guys? Any restaurant can put together decent salads and sandwiches, so I'd give 3 stars for being average in that regard. However, the service made the experience so particularly unenjoyable that it dragged my rating down to 1.5 stars. Since Yelp likes integers, I'll round up to 2 to be nice.
(2)Marlon R.
Friendly staff, great service, fresh food. After many visits I will continue to come to VC. There's always great additions to the menu and the chef uses mostly local seafood and ingredients. The portions are great. VC is a must and if you're undecided about where to eat go to the VC. You won't regret it.
(5)Alayna A.
The service wasn't great. The poor guy that showed us our table was our waiter as well. He looked harried and over-worked, although he was pleasant. The food was decent but could not overcome the lack of service. I would visit this restaurant if your 1st and 2nd choices were too busy.
(3)Robert W.
We ate here because we had a Living Social deal on vacation. Boy are we glad we did! The seafood combo for two is exquisite. Super fresh and tasty. $55.00. We also had the Zaca Mesa Viogner wine that was a perfest match. The desserts looked good but we were done by then and satisfied. 5 star!
(5)Jamie B.
GREAT place! We were in town for the night and came here on a recommendation from a local couple on the street. It was a nice quiet Tuesday and Eduardo was so sweet and took fantastic care of us. I had the crab ravioli with sea scallops and it was perfect. Everyone at my table agreed that the marsala cream sauce was the best they had ever had! Highly recommend it and am so glad we went!
(5)Cloudy C.
We went here for dinner and the menu looked good. Lots of interesting choices. The outside patio was charming with the fireplace. All the servers were friendly and helpful. The salad was really good. However the pistachio crusted salmon came swimming in sauce, so much sauce that it looked like soup. The fish and potatoes weren't great, tasteless. I had the swordfish (which was cooked perfectly) however the glaze was so salty and the swiss chard was swimming in oil, there was a lot of oil/butter floating around on the plate. For an $80 meal I would have liked to say what a great meal we had however we were both disappointed and my stomach was a little queasy later in the evening.
(2)Deena A.
Loved it here. The balcony was a quaint and pretty place to sit. The food was delicious, starting with the bread and oil dip ending with the filet mignon. Totally worth the trip.
(5)Jeni F.
Food was mediocre at best (all came out cold) but the service was JUST TERRIBLE. The manager was inconsiderate and probably the most unfriendly of all. Our servers were fine but inattentive. Save your time. There's far better places in Carmel to eat.
(1)Jeff K.
The food for our brunch was OK. I liked the bacon. The smoked salmon platter was decent. The waffle and breakfast burrito seemed pretty run of the mill. I was hoping for more tastiness with the calamari steak but it was ok. The service was friendly but very slow. Like essentially absent. There is no kids menu, which I found hard to believe for a touristy place. I would say prices are on the high side for what you get, but then again it is Carmel so it's not completly unexpected. At least my dog got to sit with us on the patio.
(2)Meagan M.
We came here from Los Angeles for a conference, Mario the server was EXCELLENT!!! Will come back here!. Thank you Mario!
(5)Candace S.
Very good! Thank you! Service was quick, attentive, consistent, and appreciated! For my entrée I had the Crab Ravioli and even though it is not an exact pairing, I washed it down with a tasty Bellini (after my day I needed every drop of that Bellini and good service). For dessert I had the Cappuccino Cream Brule..... *sidenote I saw the table next to me having a peach ice cream something or other - when I turned around to see if the bathroom was vacant and turned back to see if they liked it the damn thing was finished HAHA, needless to say, but I will be getting what they got next time. Price: $32 - Bread & Dip (complimentary), Bellini, Pasta, Dessert.... EH Service: 5/5 Environment: 5/5
(5)Carmen V.
I don't quite get this place, Mexican or Italian or a mix...in any case, you get your dose of quesadilla and burritos and Greek gyros in between. I was very hungry after a day of hiking and my friends and I ended up at the Village Corner Bistro because we could not find something better (or what we were looking for). The calamari appetizer was pretty good, especially because of the alioli sauce. I was not super fan of my Gyro sandwich (only the fries were really good). It was too pre-manufactured for the price and I have had much better for less $. Still, we were at the patio and was nice to be there. Some friends arrived after 5 and were asked to request from the dinner menu, and we have to convince that we were already a bunch of people there and wanted just a light lunch, not a full dinner and after all this was reconsidered and no issue. Oh, the bread and sun dried tomato sauce they serve complimentary is really good.
(3)Dean B.
We found the Village Corner Bistro a great place for breakfast. It was a Sunday morning, so the place was crowded but we found a table with no problem. The food came quickly and all of us cleaned our plates, so we must have all liked the food. My French toast was perfect, and my companions loved their omeletes. We will be back when we visit Carmel again.
(4)Ivy R.
The last morning in Carmel we walked around looking for breakfast. There are more than a few breakfast options in Carmel to choose from. A family member recommended this place so we walked over from our hotel. It was busy and there was a wait for outside seating but no wait for inside. We usually sit inside anyways. We got the big corner booth. For a family with little kids it's a nice seat. We squished the little guy right between us to keep him in line. I had the Breakfast Express, two eggs, two buttermilk pancakes & choice of bacon or sausage. I went with sausage. It was good, pancakes were alright and my eggs over easy were perfectly fine. My son got the Belgian Waffle. He wasn't too thrilled. I had a bite to see why and I'll say that it did have an odd flavor. Something wasn't right about it. My husband got the French Toast. He liked his just as much as I liked mine and had no complaints. He also treated himself to a mocha. It was really busy on a Sunday morning. The service wasn't personable but they were fast and just kept everything in motion. As long as it isn't too busy this is an easy walk up the street from a hotel to get your breakfast fix in the morning.
(3)Forest H.
One of the few dog friendly places for breakfast in Carmel? So if your in the mood for more than the coffee house and brought a member of the Nation (read the Chet books) this is the place to go. The food is good, the staff is friendly, and the fire is nice on winter mornings. We've had dinner here a few times and it was very good.
(4)Patrick S.
We went for breakfast. I really liked it. Beautiful outdoor dining area. Seems like they get a decent local crowd which is usually a good indicator. We had eggs Benedict and an omelet. I never used to like eggs Benedict. I'll admit I was rather fond of theirs. Its not the cheapest breakfast I've had but considering the area its priced appropriately. The server was a little stuffy and not so friendly.
(4)Maggy L.
This place was so cool they didn't have room inside, no problem, they have tons of heaters outside. Their food, one word, delicious!!! The wild mushroom ravioli is to die for. I highly recommended.
(5)Suzie H.
Kudos to the Village Corner for allowing dogs, especially since the patio is a bit crowded. You'll do well here as long as the little girl at the table 6 inches from you isn't terrified of dogs. Really? A family with a child THAT frightened of dogs chose one of the most dog-friendly restaurants in town?? I digress. The food. Meh. I ordered the Nicoise salad. This is generally a healthy dish high in protein with fresh interesting suprises to pluck with your fork. A deep-friend potato, however, has no place in a Nicoise salad. Also, the salmon was really greasy and thin. A nice thick juicy salmon steak grilled with a swipe of olive oil and lemon slice on top would have been perfect. Also, any chance of adding another restroom? There's always a line protruding into the outdoor dining area of diners who would much rather get in, get out and back to their relaxing meal with their companions.
(2)Bob V.
Another resturant that would allow the dogs on the patio. They had plenty of heaters and a cool fireplace. The Patio is kind of tight and you may have to sit next to a dog family, but the do not allow dogs inside. They were accomodating to the dogs, even bringing a water dish. The wait staff was solid and were available but not overbearing. They were able to answer all questions about the food and wine. We had several items and all were flavorful, well seasoned and nicely presented. We will go back again on our next visit.
(5)Steve X.
I find it hilarious that this place has a 4 star rating but oh well. Here's my review: We were seated without a bit of courtesy, which was fine since my expectations from a hostess are minimal and it was moderately busy I suppose. We ordered and that was the last time we were given refills for our drink. I ordered the crab ravioli and it was horrible. It was a bit undercooked, there was only so many pieces inside the soup-bowl full of 'sauce'. The sauce had way too much pesto and trust me, I like pesto. This is made worse in that the undercooked raviolis were seriously lacking in flavor. My girl ordered the gyro and it was the same in gyro fashion...very little meat and a lot of the yogurt sauce. It was pretty pathetic to see both items in such poor condition, and yet both items are so easy to cook. The french fries were good but that's it. The check came in the form of the waiter tossing it on the table next to my girl instead of me or in the middle. Also, we were never followed up by our waiter to see how the food was or if we needed anything, because I had an earful as the lunch went on but nevertheless I was able to enjoy the nice patio instead of venting his incompetence. I'm very easy going and usually don't get upset at bad food or service but when its BOTH that's a shame and I really didn't want to pay for this food. I would have refused except that I didn't want the hassle...I had been driving all morning and afternoon and I had a long drive to go back home. I'm no stranger to Carmel but this place was something that really seems out of place. I couldn't find my favorite place so I settled on this but never again. It has a great patio but that's it. Food/Service sucks and what else is there? It kills the atmosphere when those two are bad.
(1)C. C.
Chosen mainly because of the dog-friendly patio. For that it was excellent for the dining experience just average. The eggs were very greasy but saved by the wonderful pancakes with berries. Skip the eggs.
(3)Tom M.
The food and experience were just average during our recent visit. Not bad but not special either. Three of us had Joe's Specials for Sunday brunch - bland and the portions were on the skimpy side. The prices are competitive and reasonable. The patio is a nice venue.
(3)Alicia C.
Came here based off a recommendation from one of the ladies working at Lush. Great local place, friendly wait staff, and good food! I ordered the Cesar Salad with Avocados and Prawns and it was delicious! My hubby got the fish sandwich on foccacia which was also great!! Would definitely come here again!
(4)A L.
Although the service was not excellent, the ambiance of this restaurant makes up for it. A really cute place to have breakfast or lunch (I have not tried breakfast here but the menu looked very appealing). It has a Mediterranean feel to it. I highly recommend getting a table outside. I ordered the beef gyro and I do not recommend it. Do not get it if you have had gyros before at an authentic mediterranean restaurant! I was highly dissapointed with what I was served here - too dry, tasteless, and no lettuce or green vegetables in the gyros. The food others ordered at my table seemed to be much better. Overall, I would rate 3.5 for food and 3.0 for service.
(4)Greg M.
Our waiter scratched his ass at the table. Need I say more? Well, I will: cold flavorless food, dirty floor and bathroom, inattentive staff (with itchy butts). We ended up with stomach aches. Would've been better off at Jack In the Box. This place should have one of those disclaimers like the drug commercials: warning - side effects may include nausea, bloating and oily discharge.
(1)Christina S.
Three stars for being dog-friendly and having a nice patio. The food was dull and had no flavor what so ever.
(3)Holly H.
I probably wouldn't have loved this place as much if it hadn't been such a gorgeous day. Perfect weather for sitting outside on the cute patio. We came around 11:30 when the breakfast menu was turning over to lunch. Luckily, all the egg dishes were still available. I had the smoked salmon scramble and my boyfriend ordered the eggs benedict. Both were amazing and satisfying. The environment was relaxed and casual, the service was super quick, and the meal was great. I will definitely come back next time I'm in Carmel.
(4)John M.
My wife and I had breakfast here and we enjoyed the food, the restaurant, and the surrounding area. Carmel is a very nice place to relax and have a good meal. The Village Corner Bistro served us well.
(3)Vicky T.
I feel like this place has gone down hill from when I was little Believe or not, you are not the only people who speak Spanish- If you are going to talk shit about customers-- have the balls to say it to their face. (Ustedes no son los unicos que hablan espanol. Si quieren decir algo-- dime a la cara mia.. o de los otros clientes.. es un falto de respecto cuando estan hablando de los clientes cuando por los meno estan cerca..como cinco pies en frente de su grupo JERKS!!!!) .. They were so busy talking shit... our food got cold and the customer service was horrible. The restaurant was damn near empty and we were given the minimum service.. for Carmel that is no-no. Our food took forever (40 minutes) when there were only three other pairs/ trios in the place. They made my order wrong-- I was hungry so I ate it anyways. I asked for egg whites only and they gave me an omlette with the yolk, the cheese was not fully melted and the smoked salmon was literally a big slab--- it was not attractive at all and was cold.... my brother and dad's food was tepid (luke warm fries are gross) ARGH!! I had to ask for refills of coffee....and we were given our check my dad pulled out his card... the guy walked away and started talking AGAIN to his compas in the back... so I had to go up and give it to someone. I worked in food service for a while-- it is okay to talk to folks when you are working, but you are supposed to stay professional.... not having your back turned to your client unless necessary, keeping your voices low, and making sure you are being attentive to your tables. If you are going to flirt and try and teach the hostess Spanish-- that is all fine and dandy...just be less obvious about it and give her some personal space... you two looked like you were going to make out. I could pull the racist card (sometimes I have found folks won't seat Asians or will give them minimal service) but in this particular situation they were just a bunch of shit talkers who are unprofessional.....I would skip this place for brunch... try it for dinner. It is a different crew at night.
(2)Monika D.
Ate breakfast hostess not friendly, food greasy, not worth the calories. We were headed to a recommended place to eat Katie's place but it was packed with an hour wait. We should have waited.
(1)Dana D.
Used a restaurant.com certificate here and had a fantastic breakfast. We did have to order extra food though in order to hit our $35 minimum. Too bad drinks couldn't have been included! I would have had a couple of mimosas!!! The outdoor patio is really cute with a fire pit. Next time I'm in Carmel I'll have to go back for lunch or dinner!
(4)Jennifer K.
Always a treat when we visit The Village Corner in Carmel. Eduardo is the best waiter as is the food. Never disappointed. Sand dab sandwich, gyro wrap or penne pasta are always wonderful as is the calamari appetizer. Never had breakfasts there so we must try next visit!!!
(5)Orielle J.
Nice and cozy environment. Their Gyro is something you can skip... I've had better ones somewhere else. However, you should go here for their mushroom raviolli. It's certainly worth going back for!
(4)Marsan S.
3 of us ordered different meals and all were nothing but impressed! The chocolate Grenache cake was delicious!
(5)Erin O.
We were just in Carmel for the evening, yet we felt like we were on a true vacation when we dined on the patio at Village Corner. It was a cool October night, but the fire pit kept us toasty warm. We had great service: A waiter who didn't need to write anything down, served everything in a timely manner, and checked back frequently without being annoying. The food? I had a delicious salmon crusted with pistachios on top of a huge mound of mashed potatoes and spinach. It was encircled by three sauces, the outermost green was a spicy wasabi concoction and I couldn't figure out the white and red. I also had a beet with goat cheese salad (nice, not the best I've had). And we shared an eggplant and mozzarella appetizer with a scrumptious red sauce. Great garlicky sauce for dipping your bread in too. The salmon was only $20, which is a great price anywhere, but especially in Carmel. I can't get good salmon for $20 in San Jose. Only downside for me was the 'dog friendly' thing. I'm allergic to dogs and think they have no right to be anywhere near me and my food, even if outdoors. But that's Carmel. Overall, I liked this place and would go again.
(4)Julia C.
This is a very good option for brunch in Carmel if you have a dog. The food was great: I had a salmon platter and my husband got a chef salad. We both liked ours a lot. They also brought our puppy his own water bowl, so he was happy. The place was packed, but the service was very friendly and attentive. The prices were good too.
(4)Kristin P.
Fantastic food and friendly service! What more can you ask for?
(5)Darlene C.
This place had great prices for its location. The menu was somewhat limited, but the food was very good. We sat right next to the outdoor fire pit, so the atmosphere was nice on a chilly afternoon. The chairs and table were a little wobbly, but the food and atmosphere and prices made up for that. Also great service.
(4)Vanessa y.
If staying in Carmel again for the weekend, this would be my first choice for breakfast! Such a cute little place with fast service and a beautiful outdoor area with a fire pit. I had poached eggs and bacon with English muffin and potatoes. All delicious! My boyfriend seriously enjoyed his huevos rancheros and the orange juice is Odwalla which was yummy. Like a true yelper, I selectively picked my dining for our little weekend away and was very happy with this choice.
(5)Tim W.
We ordered the a chicken and lamb dish. Chicken dish had large portion, but the meat was a bit dry. The lamb chops were OK, didn't really have that lamb after taste. Overall, for the portions and price, we felt the value wasn't really there. Service was great.
(3)Alena W.
Yum! We ate here on our way to go camping near Big Sur (Limekiln State Park rocks!). I had a $10 Restaurant.com gift certificate and put it to good use. The hubby and I shared a cheeseburger with grilled mushrooms and fries and also a steak gyro (where's the lamb?) with a side salad. The food was great and the place was cute. I only wish the bread was warm and I didn't care for the dipping sauce. Side note: only in Carmel will you overhear a 10-year old girl touting her love for a spinach salad with prawns and rice noodles. I was all about Chicken Crispers at Chili's when I was that age!
(4)Michael B.
Delicious and expensive this quiant restaurant has it all. The mimosas are excellent. I wanted to dance in the aisles of how amazing the food was. They're dog friendly and had a gorgeous patio.
(4)Jerod Y.
We enjoyed eating at Village Corner today for lunch! We sat outside, but they had a warm heater above us which was nice. There were three of us eating today. One of us had the chicken tostada which was great! The tostada shell was tasty too. I had the blackened chicken sandwich and it was pretty delicious. I loved the salad greens that came with it...yummy! Another friend had the smoked salmon scrambled egg whites. The place is pretty busy, but overall the food and service was good. The only down side is that they only have one small restroom, so you will most likely need to wait in a line for that.
(4)Mark N.
I will begin with what I ate: dunguness crab mixed with eggs with a hollandiase sauce over an English muffin! pieces of crab were falling off the English muffin with a side of chicken apple sausage. imagine that! that's all I had to say...
(4)Tim S.
The place is very nice, I honestly was driven by the smell of the food, about 5 minutes we were seated in a nice area, I had the rib eye, and the missus had the fish of the day which I believe was "sea bass" , she gave me a bite, was good, she felt it was a little dry but she's used to asian style cooking, personally I'm not much of a fish eater, but I liked it. The Rib Eye was great, didn't need any sauce, and I ate it all up, she liked it too, the potatoes included with it complimented the steak. Waiter was knowledgable and polite. Nice romantic place for couples. One of the reviewers here oddly made me a bit more comfortable in her negative review, I'm glad I'm sitting in a restaurant where I don't have to eat next to a dog defecating "oh isn't that cute, he made a poo poo!", there's places for that, but this isn't it. Didn't get a refill offer on my drinks, but overall a great experience at a reasonable price.
(5)Barbara C.
What a perfect date night restaurant. We came here on New Years Eve for dinner and had a wonderful time. The food was outstanding from starter to dessert and we really enjoyed the back patio atmosphere. I love Carmel and am thrilled that we now have a restaurant to look forward to every time we return.
(5)Epi I.
We were seated after waiting a while here. The place was busy so I understand. Then, our waiter assigned to us was a hispanic male who in the beginning appeared to be passing the buck when it came to waiting on tables. He'd get the busboy to do things I saw other waiters doing. Not sure if he was training the busboy or not. Then he took our order and didn't offer anything and said nothing else. Then brought out food to our table and we never saw him again. I had to flag down the busboy to get us extra condiments and more water because our waiter never checked up on us the whole time we were there. This is a cute place and the food is good. Am sorry to give it a 1 STAR for the bad service we received. This waiter needs to be either demoted to dishwasher or fired for not doing his job and maybe letting that busboy move up to do his job since busboy appeared to be the one to care about taking care of the tables instead of the waiter. I'd understand it if our waiter had been busy but I was watching him from where I was sitting and our waiter was just standing around posing or something. He appeared as if he didn't want to work. Later when we settled our bill, on my way out I told the hostess (a friendly and pretty lady) about what a horrible service we received. She was nice enough to acknowledge this and said she had received several complaints about this waiter prior to me bringing this up. She offered a 15% discount on our next visit if we metioned her name which was nice of her but the damage had been done by the useless waiter. I intend on contacting the restaurant later and letting a manager know. It's not fair that because of one person, the restaurant gets a bad rating from me here on YELP.
(1)Dadasd d.
Sucks. Wait was forever. Coffee was disgusting. Lipstick on my coffee cup and too loud! Get me outta here! I'm gonna die!
(1)Bob V.
Similar to others, I stumbled across this restaurant by accident. I was walking to the beach with my fiancee when the outdoor patio caught our attention. It was just a typical day trip to Carmel with nothing planned so we decided to give it a try. We were seated on the patio and presented with the dinner menu. I ordered the Capellini with Jumbo Prawns. While waiting for the meal I relaxed and enjoyed a nice brew with the future Mrs. as the sun began to set over Carmel. The food arrived within a reasonable time span, but it didn't matter since I had all the patience in the world thanks to the surrounding environment. I'm not much of a critic when it comes to food, nor am I one to have my taste buds rocked off with excitement, but this dish was indeed delicious. As the sun disappeared we remained warm with the fire pit in the middle of the patio that was complemented by a few portable heaters. It turned out to be quite the romantic dinner triggered by unexpected brilliance. A few months later we decided to go back to Carmel with the sole intention to visit this restaurant, however, it didn't have the same feel to it as our initial visit. Service was still up to par and our lunch food was decent, but our expectations were set to meet the romantic vibe that could only be rendered through a nonchalant mindset that we originally possessed making it impossible to duplicate our first experience. Overall, pretty tasty food, decent service, and an amazing atmosphere.
(4)Paul S.
More great service and fantastic food making our past weekend even more memorable. Thank you Village Corner. Late morning, early afternoon. My wife and I just walked the length of the sadly storm-shortened Carmel Beach, and we wanted a late brunch. I remembered my old standby and we marched up and were promptly seated inside. (No available seats outside, not a problem.) Coffee, bread with a sun-dried tomato oil for dipping, and juice for me. My wife loved her Eggs Benedict (she always does, but she said these were particularly good) and my Acapulco omelette was just what the doctor ordered for my savory cravings. The staff here was moving at top speed, and before we knew it, we were all done with our meal. Another great place in Carmel.
(4)Mimi F.
Bottom line: terrible service, bland food, manager did the right thing. Details: went here for dinner. Had been there a few years ago with dogs and had a nice experience. This time, not so nice. Restaurant about 1/2-2/3 full. Waiter came out reasonably quickly to take orders. Took another 20 minutes to get bread with weird sauce. We had to remind waiter 20 minutes later that we had ordered an app. Took another 10 minutes to arrive. Eggplant parmesan. Nothing special but not bad. Another 20 minutes later our Entrees arrived. My chicken piccata was bland. I had to squeeze lemon from my water on to get some flavor. Hubby's chicken unfortunately was cooked with same weird red sauce as bread. He ate about four bites and had to quit. Waiter came by about ten minutes later to ask us if everything was ok. If he hadn't actually been walking away when he asked us, we might have told him the truth. When the manager came to see if we wanted dessert, we told him our food was inedible. He offered to cook us something else but at that point we just wanted to get the &!&@ out of there. Manager did the right thing by not charging for that plate of "food". All in all a waste of 90 minutes, not to mention hubby's stomach ache for the next two days. Won't be going back there any time soon.
(1)Christine D.
Nope. Definitely not a fan. Food was sub-par, and when you're in Carmel there is just no excuse for that with all of the amazing options around. Service was just lame. We had our dog with us, which they allow on their patio, and while B went inside to the host stand I waited out front. The host motioned him to follow her, and he motioned me, only for me to be yelled at, (yes, literally) by an employee saying "NO DOGS ALLOWED!!!!" Ok, crazy... I'll go around, but no need to sting my eardrums looney. When I made my way to the table, it was completely obvious how innapropriate of a spot this is to allow dogs. The patio is TINY, and I'm sorry as much as I love my dog, not necessarily everyone else does and she was LITERALLY resting up against someone else's leg because there was no other room for her. Luckily, the other patron was darling and didn't mind, but jeez... Perhaps the Village Corner should allow dogs when possible, not just to cram in another table and make another buck. Whatever. Our server was pretty non-descript, mainly because we rarely saw her. She was pleasant when we did see her, so nothing too bad to say. My food was gross, seemed like low quality produce, and I left with a stomachache. B's looked gross and soggy, although I didn't try it, but again wilted lettuce and just an unappetizing presentation. If this was a place I stopped along I5 on my way to LA or something, I'd either not review it or give it three stars. But since it's in foodie Carmel, I'm even less impressed since I know there is so much better out there. My tummy ache from here will guarantee I won't ever eat at Village Corner again, but god, for others sake I hope they fix their dog policy.
(2)J E.
Came for brunch while we were in town. They have a great patio to dine on. Had a great, filling meal and they have everything a wonderful, easy brunch place should. They also serve lunch and dinner so there is something for everyone. This isn't just a dinner place that does breakfast, they have it covered. Would actually stop in for late day meal next time.
(4)D M.
I have been here a bunch of times. The food is great but the service has really gone down the tubes. I guess I will be looking for a new place to eat while in Carmel.
(2)Kara S.
I really didn't care for this place much at all and definitely wouldn't return. First of all, we were started with bread + sundried tomato spread and it tasted like, well, tomato paste out of a can. When we mentioned it to the waiter/host, he completely freaked out, took it personally, and grabbed the plate away and said "i'll bring you some butter." Then, the server couldn't speak that well of English and brought us the wrong item for lunch, but we ended up keeping it because it looked good-and it was. It was the spicy shrimp appetizer-really yummy! Husband had the grilled salmon which was good/average and we also split the beet salad which was just ok. I love beets and this definitely wasn't that great. Bottom line, mediocre food at best.
(3)Melissa S.
Great breakfast. Not sure about lunch? I went there with a friend at 1115 for lunch and they were still serving breakfast... Bummer! A little pricey too. Sat by the fire pit on a chilly day-felt very nice! Parking was difficult!
(4)Cece L.
Like someone said below... Belly-busting bliss! BF and I came here for vday brunch and sat on the patio by the fire pit.. so pleasant! we split a mozzarella-tomato plate which was good, not incredible. The sand dab sandwich was insanely good and he liked his veggie sandwich. Prices are totally reasonable, but the mimosa was a bit expensive at $7.50
(5)Art H.
A terrific place for corn beef hash. Three eggs, on a wonderfully light pile of shredded beef, cooked nicely with peppers and onions. Great portion size. Got there before 8am on a Saturday, which was near perfect. By 9 there was a line waiting to get in.
(4)Greg C.
Eaten here once before when it was called the Village Corner...since when did this place become the Village Kennel? Food here is good and patio atmosphere is nice but I might as well been eating at the Carmel dog adoption center. I think there were more creatures with 4 legs than 2. Get the laid back, dog friendly culture in Carmel, but this was kind of ridiculous. I would avoid this place and choose one of the many other restaurants in the downtown area.
(2)Joyce L.
Based on y'alls reviews and recommendations, my husband and I came here yesterday and we had a great lunch. Looking at ideas from you guys, I ordered the beef gyro (it was big, but not as big as I expected based on one of y'all's reviews) with a salad on the side (yummy greens + feta cheese + just the right amount of dressing). My husband ordered the tri-tip philly cheese steak sandwich and it was good sized (with fries which were ok, standard, nothing to write home about but good enough). I liked the dipping sauce/olive oil thing for the bread and the bread was soft and yummy. The funny thing was my husband loves sweets, so he just took some jelly/jam that was on the table and had it with the French bread instead of the olive dip which he didn't care for. We also ordered the fried calamari appetizer (yum!) and as y'all said, the wasabi sauce was excellent (I love me some wasabi!!!) and the other sauce was also pretty good. Finally, we ordered a dessert to share. We had the raspberry panna cotta which was ok, not sweet enough, but interesting as we've never had it before. It was really expensive being just the size of a small sundae glass for $7.50. I wouldn't order a dessert here again seeing how expensive it is, but we decided to splurge a little yesterday. Overall, we had a great time, the food was good, the service was quick, sitting outside in the courtyard was a nice experience and the weather yesterday was great yesterday! =) We would come back again, maybe next time we'll bring friends/family! I personally want to try the pork chops with apricot and/or the paella. Y'all made those items sound yummy.
(4)Grady R.
Second time there and was not impressed with the wait staff. We were given a bill that wasn't ours (no itemized list), was told it was and they said they took off the OJ and coffee and said they couldn't itemize because of computer issues. I asked for the manager but she/he wasn't working that morning. The woman I got was the rudest person I have know. I said I wasn't going to pay without an itemized reciept. She finally printed one out only to find out it was cheaper than the original reciept I got in the first place, even with OJ and coffee added to it! I felt I was being cheated and duped and will NEVER go back and NEVER recommend to friends. I will be telling others too.
(1)T L.
Meh... So-so food. So-so service. Nice patio area but slanted at an angle where most anything placed on the tables are in danger of sliding off. Come for the atmosphere, but don't have high expectations for the food.
(3)Seanbria T.
The Village Corner has a great patio dining area and a cute setting. I love that there were dogs all around. The service was lacking, almost to the quality you'd expect from a diner. Perhaps they were just under-staffed that day. Food was tasty and the portions were just right. Beware of the bathroom! There is only one toilet for the restaurant and if you're waiting in line you're likely to get hit by the swinging doors as the servers come in and out of the kitchen.
(3)Laura M.
First off, if you think you don't like Mediterranean, fear not, I would call this more Californian than Med. Now where can you lunch in Carmel when it's about to rain and you have to dine outside since you're with your dog? Well, Village Corner of course. Talk about optimism. It's been raining off and on for days yet there was the warm fire pit and the outside tables set with flowers just waiting for you, and me, since I was actually there. I maneuver the dog over to a table by the fire pit. Hostess comes out immediately to invite me to sit wherever I like, nice. The busboy brings out hot tea and in moments I am so comfy, I am staying for awhile. I have lunched here before on a business lunch and remember thinking what a pleasant place it had been. Am back and this time I choose their version of a Caesar with tapenade. There are no anchovies (in a Caesar salad?!) which kinda bums me out but I recover to add shrimp and avocado to the salad mix. Bread arrives, which I share with a cute beggar bird-- I know, I probably screwed up the earth balance of nature. All told, the meal was lovely. Service was attentive, venue was terrific and the salad was delicioso to be sure. I mean they delivered in every way. As to dining al fresco, an awning is in the works for a full on cover on the patio, making the outdoor experience even more enjoyable in any weather. So, enjoy Village Corner, I know I do. .
(4)L W.
Had breakfast for lunch. I ordered the Acapulco omelette and my husband order the Smoke Salmon scramble. Mine was good good with a mix of chile, avocado, onions and salsa. I liked my husband's better though. The salmon had a good smoky flavor. Wasn't too happy with the service. Didn't really get the personal attention like most of the other places we visited. The watiresses were gossiping in the back instead of asking us if our food was ok.
(3)Alireza A.
Shitty service by servers with attitude. Food is below average and given all the restaurants in Carmel, you really don't want to waste your money here.
(1)Steve H.
Yum! I'm a local and today was the second time I went to the Village Corner. I had the Acapulco omelette. It was extremely fresh tasting and the ingredients were a nice blend of cilantro, onion, jalapenos and other veggies. I substituted potatoes and toast with cottage cheese and it was also fresh (many times I get spoiled or near spoiled cottage cheese). Service was fine. Outdoor seating was heavenly with the weather but cramped. I will definitely return.
(4)Leon C.
The food was very good here! My friends and I came here for dinner and sat outside patio. Nice place in Carmel, but I liked the variety the menu offered. We had fried calamari for starters, which was good, not too oily. For entrees the spanish paella for two, excellent combination of seafood, rice, and vegetables! Couldn't get enough of it! Also the homemade lobster ravioli!!! Good stuff, ravioli nicely cooked in delicious cream sauce! Also the pork chop which was cooked right, tender and delicious! Good portions and decent price! Service was attentive. Highly recommended!
(5)John B.
When a patron leaving said the food was great, we decided to try it. Big mistake. We started with spinach and arugula salad. Too much cheese and too much dressing. I had the risotto cake - too much sauce, too many onions. I was starving but couldn't finish it. GF had pork chops, $25 yikes, okay but not great. This combined with Bette Middler playing forever on the speakers I couldn't take it much longer. On a positive note, service by Eduardo was quick and attentive. I will go elsewhere next time.
(1)Rednikki G.
I have tons of food allergies. They carefully checked for everything I'm allergic for and made sure I could eat the things I wanted to order. That was awesome! Dessert, also awesome. My partner's dinner, awesome. My dinner, kind of mediocre. However, the setting was very nice (seated right next to the lovely firepit!), and I'd be willing to give them another shot to see if my entree lived up to my partner's.
(4)Jeremiah V.
It may be hard to find the right place to eat in Carmel for lunch since they have so many places scattered around the main drags. The Village Corner was the place we chose because our travel book classified the place as a Californian cuisine. Being from CA, we wanted to know what that meant! My girlfriend and I were happy that brunch was being served. Seating is a bit tight, but so is everyplace in Carmel. Food was good, but I can't remember what I had, so that says something about the place. The server and the hostess were real gems. The seating is great for people watching, but if we go back, we'll definitely wait for the outside patio dining.
(3)Amy L.
I've only been here once and that was for dinner. We were looking around for a place for dinner and not knowing the area we just wandered out to this corner. After checking the menu we decided to bite---literally. It turned out to be one of the better steaks I've had recently and the fruity red wine was a perfect pairing. We sat in the outdoor courtyard which proved to be windy. Not even the heat lamps could keep up with the biting breeze. :( But I would go back. Times visited: 1
(4)Yvette W.
Absolutely terrible service, mediocre food. What's up with the lame dining in Carmel??
(1)Jeff B.
Nice ambiance on the patio with a warm, inviting fire pit. Restaurant was crowded and service was average..they were quite rushed...nothing of note. Did a wonderful job of honoring our reservation right on time. The wait without reservations was an hour. As this is Carmel, pooches were everywhere, but well-behaved and the prices were a bit high given the food quality and portions. We had the paella for two...not up to par. My girlfriend is from Spain, so she knows paella and this left a lot to be desired. We waited a long, long time to get our check. All in all, we probably won't be returning.
(3)Jenny H.
My husband and I went to the Village Corner for lunch on a Saturday. It was pretty busy. We waited 20 minutes for a table on the patio. Here are the good things about our experience... - the patio is so cute, love the ambiance with the flowers, fire pit, etc. - the bread and tomato olive oil was excellent - my fish sandwich, side salad and ice tea were good - my husband had the chicken philly sandwich and fries which were ok - prices were reasonable for the area and quality - we liked dog and people watching :-) Things that we did not like about our experience.... - once seated, or barely seated, our drink order was taken but then our actual server didn't come over for a very long time. We knew what we wanted because we read a menu while waiting before being seated. So it's not like our menus were open, we were looking for someone to take our order. - the gas fire pit was a little too warm, everytime the wind blew, the gas was burning our faces. I managed for the sake of ambiance, but my husband did move to a different side of the table out of the direct wind. So, basically I couldn't give this restaurant 5 stars because of the service and because we did not speak up and ask them to turn down the fire pit and/or move to a different table (hopefully you detected the sarcasm there).
(3)Jim T.
We have eaten here several times, usually on the patio when it isn't too cold. The food is decent, although our waitress this last time had attitude.
(3)Chris G.
The service is absolutely wonderful. The crab ravioli was to die for! So were the desserts. Salads also are excellent.
(5)Elizabeth S.
Well, they tried. We went for lunch there. They have a menu with all manner of fancy food on it, but it's just not made quite right. The beet salad had a very dull dressing on it and the beets were not warmed. My husband's pasta was very ordinary. On the other hand, their prices are only moderately pricy, compared to the other places in town that really do it right but also really charge for it. I found the music much too loud. The service was good. If you are just looking for something with lower prices and ok food, this place will do fine.
(3)John R.
Simple Italian foods, easy setting.
(4)K C.
We stopped there for a quick lunch and we were pleasantly surprised by quick and professional service. Good place for lunch. Food is good.
(3)Anna P.
Deliciously rich and fresh food! Stopped here after a short walk around downtown Carmel. Sat outside in the patio near the fire pit and stayed warm even on a windy, brisk day. We started with the grilled polenta with the sauteed mushrooms in an herb demi-glaze. My vegan sister got the portabella mushroom and oven-roasted tomato foccacia sandwich garnished. I had the smoked salmon capellini. A well-enjoyed lunch!
(4)Tiffany K.
Another spot I happened to come across by accident! We were there in mid-winter and the sun just happened to be shining in the right spot at the right time. It was magic - warm sun on my face and no need for a jacket. Anyway, I LOVE their tomato-garlic-olive oil-anchovy tapenade thingy that they serve with bread. Absolutely addictive. I was there for lunch on the patio, obviously. The servings are quite huge. If you order the club sandwich, I suggest splitting it with a friend. I ordered the portabello sandwich, which is not quite as large. You also get a choice of fries or salad with your sandwich. Definitely will be back. They also serve illy coffee which is a plus. Last time I found illy was back in Sydney.
(5)Petronila P.
Went here for breakfast on Labor Day. They were very busy yet got me a table right away (next to the fireplace). They service was excellent - attentive and speedy. The food was very good. The prices reasonable too. I left a 30% tip because it was such a pleasure.
(5)Kristine T.
I really can't think of another restaurant more worthy of 5+ stars. I first ate here two years ago and loved it, since I've recommended it to 4 other people who have all unanimously agreed. My bf and I went on Sat. of 4th of July weekend and were lucky enough to score a seat out by the fire pit (with no reservations !). We ordered the Hahn 2006 Pinot Noir wine and let's just say, I am still trying to hunt down a web site where I can buy a case. It was light and fruit like a good Pinot should be but still delivered some complexity with a smooth finish. We started with the Wild Mushroom Galette, and Sand Dabs both were a strong 5 out of 5 stars (highly recommend). For dinner we ordered the Seafood special for two, which was a mouth-watering platter of Salmon, Halibut (the seasonal fresh fish), Scallops, and Shrimp over mashed potatoes with a veggie medley and 3 delicious sauces (one of which was a lobster brown butter I was told, which by far was my favorite). For dessert we had the Panna Cotta which was refreshing but rich enough to satisfy my sweet tooth. I can't say one bad thing about this place. The food is EXCELLENT, really truly, just fresh, flavorful, amazing food. The service can make or break a meal for me and the 3 times I've been here have not been a disappointment. Another great tidbit is that they are super dog friendly, so if you're looking for a nice romantic dinner but want to bring your 4-legged friend, they are welcome. Sorry if I am obnoxiously raving about this place but I do consider my palette and judgment discerning and this is one of my favorite dining experiences all round. (We even went back there the next day for lunch....)
(5)Mark O.
Very good place to go for lunch. Every time I'm working in Carmel, I see this place packed and everyone looks happy - it's for a reason. Atmosphere is great, service is good, and my food was delicious (quesadilla). They have one of the nicest outdoor eating areas in Carmel-By-The-Sea
(4)plot t.
"Shall we try it again?" "Yeah, maybe it'll be better than last time." ........ "Do I still have my nose on my face?" "What? Yeah, why?" "Because when I tried to talk to our waitress about the hideous Home Fries (of course I had to GO FIND HER because it's not like they actually do decent service at the Village Corner) she BIT MY FACE OFF." Do not go. They are quick and easy and you (as I) may really really want them to be fun and happy and a great place, but they SUCK. They regularly forget 1 - 3 parts of your order, cram way too many people and dogs into the space, are permanently shortstaffed, and act pissed off if you are so rude as to pay with cash and want change. Change back? The very idea! Well, I never! What kind of a customer do you think you are?!?!?!? Blarf. Go elsewhere.
(1)Ken K.
Village Corner is one of very few kid friendly as well as reasonably priced restaurants offering quality food in the seaside town of touristic overpriced mediocrity of Carmel. Service was spot on, and the lunch soup of the day (lentil) was a hint of sour, hearty in terms of flavor but overall light once it hit your stomach. The spinach and grilled chicken tostada salad entree was nothing to write home about, but the real good and cheap winner here for my partial ASIAN CHEAPNESS ASS was the $8.95 gyro, as opposed to some burger or regular sandwich. Served with a generous side of salad with a very nice dressing, with a toasty pita with tomatoes, yogurt like sour cream sauce, onions, and perfectly grilled tender beef. This was also one of few restaurants to also open on Christmas Day for both lunch and dinner.
(4)Jemille C.
Just went here today for lunch with my sisters and our dog. Great place to take your dog because they offer outdoor dining which is a plus and the patio was nicely decorated. As for the food, I ordered the linguine bolognese which I imagined a lot different than what I received, when I imagine bolognese I think of a hearty sauce, but it was watery and overall did not taste good. One of my sister had the sandab sandwich and they messed up her order, she ordered the salad yet received french fries. They did bring a side of salad when we questioned their mistake. This sandwich was nothing to spectacular. My other sister had the smoked salmon omelet which I also tasted, and was not pleased. I guess they have a tendency to under season their food. This restaurant received a low score because the staff was not tentative and the food took a long time. There were at least three tables that received their food before us!!! and I know we ordered before them. The only highlight was the dessert, the tiramisu was homemade and delicious. Would only come back for dessert!!!
(1)Esther R.
The cute restaurant is about a short block or two from the main Ocean Avenue. We went in for breakfast on Sunday. We were seated in the open area nearby the fire pit. The table and chairs were on un-level ground, but it didn't bother us too much. The orange juice was so refreshing. I sneaked a peak, and I believe they use Odawalla OJ. We ordered the breakfast burrito and an omelet. It tasted great. The place is small, but we only waited about 15 minutes for a table.
(4)Paul C.
We go to Carmel about once a year, and every time, this place has a long line. So this weekend, we decided to give it a try. We got there at 11:15 and this is near the end of the breakfast and before their lunch service. So when we tried to order a breakfast item and a lunch item - the waiter gave a rude - "do you know what time it is". He did let us order the breakfast sausage skillet first and then order a lunch philly sandwich 10 minutes later. More important, both the sausage skillet and sandwich were just ok. The sausage was bland, and they put a lot of onions in it. The philly sandwich had a couple of thin slices of beef, so essentially just bread. Best part - was eating outside in their patio. Not sure why this place gets all these great reviews but did not work for us. Maybe it's getting complacent, as we noticed there were no lines for lunch as we were leaving.
(2)Sivan W.
The atmosphere was a 4; Food a 3; and employees a 2. I haven't been called "man" so many times since my last stroll down Haight street. My wine had what looked like broken glass sitting in the bottom, to which the waiter informed me that it was "just sugar." Much better than glass, but still not great. He explained how it forms naturally in some white wines. Fine, just leave it in the bottle. Food was good but not exceptional. I will say that, although it was busy, the staff was very attentive and was trying. I think with a bit of polishing they could get 4 stars from me.
(3)Andrew G.
Great spot for brunch. Excellent Crab Benedict. Also had clams and linguine- very good, generous portions of clams. Sat on the patio by the fire pit. Highly recommend. Cheap prices for Carmel dining.
(4)Kirstin B.
Love, love, love this place. This is one of our "must visits" whenever we do a day or weekend trip to Carmel. The food is excellent, we have never had anything that disappointed. We have been here for breakfast (awesome), lunch and dinnger ... and have loved everything on the menu. They have a fantastic wine list, wonderful service and the ambiance can't be beat. (OK, well if the ocean was out the front door...) They have recently done some renovations to their outdoor patio - but nothing that makes it seem too over the top or "new" - it feels like the same, old place - only better. We have never sat inside (even in bad weather) - the patio is part of the experience. We have been here for a romantic lunch, we have come with dogs, kids - you name it - and their service is always wonderful. For the dogs they bring a water bowl, for the kids, they brought crayons and coloring pages (and a lot of patience) .... Two enthusiastic thumbs up!
(5)X X.
Village corner is okay, but not great. Over the last few years, the quality of their food has taken a noticeable decline in some areas, while prices have steadily increased. Some items on the menu are still very good, but you definitely have to be on your toes when ordering. As far as the staff, some of the people are great and very friendly, while others probably have no business in the service industry. There is one heavy set woman, in particular, who is rarely a pleasure to have interaction with. The bottom line is that it's pretty much a crap shoot usually. Some visits are good, others are not so good. Some items are quite good, while others are simply marginal at best. There are many great places to dine in Carmel - hopefully village corner will work to become one of them again.
(2)Emily F.
This place was so delicious, laid back, and truly dog-friendly that we ate lunch here two days in a row. The second day, we spent about an hour walking around and couldn't find another place we'd rather eat at. Their patio is great; our big dog spread out and took a nap both days. That fire pit throws a lot of heat so you don't have to sit next to it to stay warm. Service was attentive, they even kept the dog's bowl filled with ice water. Over 2 lunches, we had: the tri-tip Philly, caesar salad with prawns & avocado, gyro, sand dab sando, bruschetta, and some kind of crap soup (maybe crab chowder?). Everything was good and BIG. Good prices for Carmel - I think we spent $45-50 for two people, with apps and drinks. (They had some local beer too, which I was happy for in wine-heavy Carmel.)
(5)