Opinions AUBERGINE Carmel

Aubergine is the best fine dining experience in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The food, presentation, ambience, and service are all of the highest caliber and well-deserving of the recognition earned by this restaurant. Aubergine was more than accommodating of my personal request for plant-based options in lieu of their traditional prix fixe menu, and they exceeded my expectations. I would have to travel to New York to another world-renowned restaurant to receive the same level of consideration and experience a similar level of culinary excellence. My wife was able to enjoy the traditional prix fixe menu options while I was thrilled by the creativity of the kitchen. She informed me later that this was the first time Aubergine had catered to a complete plant-based course for dinner. Absolutely magnifique. We were also introduced to a terrific Sauternes by the sommelier, a novelty we hadn't explored before, but now embrace. Thank you to Chef Cogley and the entire staff for making our visit so memorable. We will return. John and Rhona

Aubergine is a fine dining gem. Its intimate dining room ensures that your table will receive plenty of attention from the staff. The wine and drinks list is ample. The sommelier is deliberate about the wine choices and has good information to share. The bartenders work far in advance of the meal to prepare bases for delicious cocktails and “mocktails.” The food itself is an inventive journey through local fare, vegetable-forward dishes, seafood, and meat. Desserts are beautifully crafted and help close out the meal. (My son had performed well in a chess tournament, and they made him a beautiful and delicious dessert that incorporated chess into the theme!) Our family has dined here now 3 years in a row and we already are looking forward to our next visit.

This is definitely one of the best one-Michelin star experiences that I have been to. The food is delicious and creative. I really enjoy sea food dishes. A couple of the seafood items remind me of those at Le Bernadine. Menu is seasonal. Wines are amazing. Service was top notch and of course includes that Michelin star bread crumb service. Ambience is classy. The restaurant is located in a very cute part of Carmel.

Dined in December 2022

Wine pairing price 250 USD (300 w/ default included tip)
Retail value 54
Markup 4.7x (Closer to 4x w/out errors, see below)

This is in the lower 20th percentile of value compared to the 34 pairings I've documented.

There are two pairing offerings, the basic for 175 and a reserve for 250 which was pitched as offering some older vintages.

Overall the wine offered was unique with offerings from Austria, Greece, France, California, and sake from Japan. Avg (retail) price per bottle served was 80. The pours were definitely on the smaller side, I took 2 sips before the amadai fish was served and almost ran out of wine. It wasn't clear that the last wine was to go over 2 dessert dishes and my partner ran out of wine before the 2nd was served. The oldest vintages served were 2012, 2013, and 2014, which pales in comparison to similarly priced tastings at 3-michelin star spots like Quince (275 in 2019) which offered pours from 1985, 1989, 1996, and 2006.

According to the menu that we asked for at the end, we realized that they didn't bring us the first pairing w/ the amuse bouche which was a pour from a $120 small bottle of sake and would have made the markup for the pairing to a 4x markup which is more reasonable, but still on the higher side in the bottom third of value.

The food was really nice. I loved the explanations from the sous chefs Tiffany and Diane. Diane even came out when we had a questions about the jus served alongside the ribeye and gave an excellent description of the 2+ day process which we really appreciated.

The first dessert was nice (sweet, creamy and pretty). The 2nd was disappointing. Generally both lacked a strong texture. The ending dessert bites were elegant and delicious!

Not gonna lie, I spent an arm and a leg here, but it was worth it to treat my partner and I out on a weekend getaway! I would say expect to spend around $400-$500 for two (without any extras like wine, etc etc.). Everything was solid, but MAN the brioche bread stole the show (trust me, it’s the most amazing bread that I’ve tasted and felt in my mouth. The softness, butteriness, lightness, melt-in-your-mouth-ness is unreal.). My partner and I have been craving the bread ever since! They also gave us a complimentary aubergine/eggplant chocolate to bring home!

The cuisine and wine pairings were absolutely outstanding. The staff did an excellent job with each course presentation were very informative. The sommelier staff did an excellent job with their wine selections for both the standard and premium tastings and they were also the catalyst that created a wonderful energy in between the courses. We would definitely recommend the wagyu "add on". The wagyu blew us away! Thanks Aubergine Carmel for a magnificent night and a birthday my wife will remember forever!!

A fantastic restaurant well worth a visit

AMAZING! Every bite was tasty, every dish was thoughtful and perfectly composed. The service was impeccable, the ambiance was unmatched. As someone that has eaten at all of the 3 star Michelin restaurants in New York (working on the ones in Cali!), I have to say that this eclipses all of them and stands as one of the best meals I have had!

The food is way above & beyond my expectations. The food is a very great combination between Japanese & French flavoring to me. Many seasoning surprises happen across different dishes, even on the one I thought I suppose to know before. Very impressed by how the chef can create so many layers of flavors in a small dish.

Amazing experience!!!

Over the weekend, my family of three visited my favorite restaurant in Monterey Bay, L'Auberge Carmel. The restaurant's head chef, Justin Cogley, is a fun-loving multi-talented individual. He was born in Chicago and previously served as the Executive Sous Chef at the renowned Elysian Hotel, where he was responsible for opening a new kitchen. Additionally, he is a well-known figure skater. During his time residing in Japan, he became deeply fascinated by Asian culture and learned the techniques and essence of Japanese cuisine. His innovative dishes combine French creativity with the fusion of Japanese influences into modern American cooking. He has received multiple Michelin star ratings and, after joining Aubergine, led the restaurant to receive the Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence and Forbes Travel Guide's top five-star rating. Food & Wine magazine has also named him California's outstanding chef.

Our dinner began with fresh oysters accompanied by yuzu sauce and cucumber jelly, which awakened our taste buds with their exquisite flavors. Next, we enjoyed an artful cake filled with blue mussels, honeycomb, and mint, creating a perfect combination. We also tasted sea urchin paired with sweet soy sauce and potatoes, offering a truly unique flavor. In addition to these dishes, we indulged in fresh tomatoes with lemon thyme and caviar, as well as sardines with a lemon-infused taste and trout roe. The dining experience lasted for a total of 2.5 hours, during which we immersed ourselves in the presentation of Japanese sushi served in a jewelry box, as well as lobster infused with creative soup. A few glasses of wine accompanied the meal, and time flew by.

The restaurant is also known for its extensive wine cellar, housing over 3,500 bottles of top-quality wines from around the world. We opted for the Reserve Wine Pairing, which offered unique and lesser-known boutique wines that perfectly complemented each dish. It's worth noting that the tasting consisted of 8 rounds, with the first round featuring Japanese sake, followed by 7 rounds of various wines, including mixed drinks. The portions were quite generous, so those with lower alcohol tolerance should proceed with caution.

As for the cost of the meal, the Tasting Menu for two adults was priced at $265 per person, and the Reserve Wine Pairing was an additional $250 per person. Additionally, my husband and I chose to upgrade to 2 ounces of HOKKAIDO WAGYU | A5 Japanese snowflake beef, which incurred an extra $200. Our child ordered desserts, grilled salmon, noodles, and milk. The total bill came out to less than $1,700. If you exclude the wine and HOKKAIDO WAGYU | A5, the price would be significantly lower.

Although the restaurant currently holds only one Michelin star, I believe it is even better than many two-star establishments. So let's conclude today's sharing by providing the address of this restaurant: Monte Verde at 7th Ave., Carmel-by-the-Sea, 93921, USA.

さすがにミシュランです^ ^サービスもお料理も最高です。コース料理の構成も良く、ペアリングにも日本酒の大吟醸［醸し出し九平次］がスタートで出ました！さすがにシャンパンが好きなのでチェイサーでシャンパンのアンリジローをオーダーしましたがお料理が日本の食材が多く、日本酒のペアリングが最高でした。語り尽くせないほど素敵な時間でした。オシャレでレストルームも清潔、サービスクオリティも高く、カーメルに行ったらまた行きたい場所です。オーベルジュなので次回は泊まりたいです。今回から滞在したハイアットからも近くバレット付きで便利です。

As expected, it's Michelin ^ ^ The service and food are excellent. The composition of the course menu was good, and the Japanese sake Daiginjo [Kushidashi Kuheiji] was served as a pairing to start! I love champagne, so I ordered the champagne Henri Giraud as a chaser, and the food had many Japanese ingredients, and the sake pairing was great. It was such a wonderful time that I can't say enough about it. It's stylish, the rest rooms are clean, and the service quality is high, so it's a place I'd like to go to again if I go to Carmel. It's an auberge, so I'd like to stay there next time. It's convenient because it's close to the Hyatt where I stayed this time and comes with valet service.

TOP

Perfect execution paired with innovative flavors and artistic plating.

Incredible experience. Like another reviewer stated, “it’s like a dream”. One of the top 3 culinary experiences in my life. We went big, $1200 for two. Can’t do that very often, but for my 60th, it did not disappoint!

And the anniversary culinary experience continues up the California coast. Probably the best dining experience I ever had. Aubergine is a Michelin star restaurant in Carmel by the Sea. The menu is a predetermined surprise tasting menu. It was absolutely incredible from start to finish and the chefs and service were unmatched. The chefs literally serve and explain every dish. Top ten experiences of all time.

One of our favorite.. came here couple of times for birthdays and anniversaries. deserve another Michelin star.

Wow. Deserves a second Michelin star. Outstanding service. Inventive and luscious food, fun wine pairing.

This is simply one of the best fine dining restaurants in the world. They deserve international acclaim; they're vastly underrated with a single Michelin star designation.

They recently updated the dining room to convey a sense of place -- mere blocks from the Pacific ocean -- that's more closely tied to the cuisine, which is seafood-focused with techniques that lean more Japanese than French in many cases. All of the dishes were flawlessly executed with a high level of creativity and precision.

The service is impeccable. Formal yet warm. The staff is keen to share their extensive knowledge, whether it's the sourcing of the ingredients or the details of the cooking techniques.

The wine pairing had so many interesting selections, each with a unique and memorable story. The flavor profiles were matched perfectly to complement the dishes.

Can't wait to come back!

The single best restaurant we've ever been to, with the best wagyu steak we've ever had (definitely worth paying more for that optional course). The presentation, plating, food, sauces, and chefs serving and explaining dishes is exquisite. Expensive, but worth it.

My husband and I had a great time at Aubergine during our honeymoon!! We go out for tasting menu dinners occasionally, and Aubergine was a must try for us during our stay in Carmel. It ended up being my husband’s favorite tasting menu so far! I highly recommend the wine pairing, especially, if Ryan is working—we enjoyed his presence, knowledge, and of course, the wine! I even tried a couple nonalcoholic wines, and they were lovely! Thank you, all at Aubergine, we hope to see you over and over again!

Top service, great ambiance, and the best food. The combination of seafood and meat dishes presents itself with flavor and decadence. Not to be missed while traveling in the area. Book in advance.

Phenomenal food.

What could they do better? Have the music volume lower, and servers speak louder. Properly understanding what you’re eating and its origin enhances the experience. I would take a star away because of this but the food quality itself made up for it!

This was the ultimate food experience. Great service, creative looking and tasting dishes in a intimate setting. Highly recommended for that special occasion.

Updating after a second visit- still a fantastic restaurant with delicious food and perfect service. They’ve remodeled and you can have a pre-dinner cocktail if you arrive early. The food is *so good*.

Original Review:
Wonderful dinner- worth the trip to Carmel- the wait staff was very attentive. We were seated in the courtyard which we actually enjoyed; a little bit of people watching as the evening went on. We were there on a Wednesday and didn’t feel rushed at all. I enjoyed the different wines paired with the food, but would have liked a bigger Pinot with the ribeye course. I brought my two teenagers and they enjoyed all the food and the fun mocktails.

The tomato corn dish was my favorite. My son loved the bread baked in abalone, and the ribeyes. The duck was my daughter’s favorite.

I finished my dinner with a Negroni— beautifully made with perfect balance.