Il Fornaio - (Near Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA)

Chuck Hart Mediterranean Grill with Greek influence. Quality always fresh, taste always delicious. Some of our favorites are their Lamb Chop entrée, chicken entrées and wide variety of vegetarian dishes. House-made baklava is exquisite. Good wine selection, family friendly, and exceptional service. Plenty of indoor and outdoor covered seating.

Aaliyah S ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) We came into Din Tai Fung around 12–12:30 PM and got lucky with perfect timing. Even though this location is huge with tons of indoor and outdoor seating, it wasn’t very busy when we arrived. No wait at all, and there were seats available at the bar, so we walked right in and sat down. This was our first time at this location (we’ve been to many others), and it did not disappoint. David was our server/bartender and he was super friendly and attentive the whole time. Food came out quickly and everything was amazing classic Din Tai Fung consistency. Every dish we ordered was great, and we even took some home. You can always count on the food being solid here, which is why I love this place. By the time we were leaving, a line had started to form and it was getting busy, so we definitely hit it at the right time. Overall, a great experience and always a go-to spot.

E C Deluxe 1717 is our restaurant of choice anytime my I and/or my husband are in the area (we live 70 miles away, or else we’d be there all the time)! We even went there for brunch to celebrate our wedding anniversary after attending service in the church where we got married in LA – sure, there are tons of great LA options we could have gone with, but there is something extra special about Deluxe. The food is beyond excellent, with a varied and creative menu. The wine list is unique and offers great pairing options. The service is always friendly and attentive. All this, in a charming ambiance. Well worth the trip every time! I’ve mostly been there for brunch, savoring dishes like smoked salmon arepa benedict, roasted cauliflower and leek quiche, mushroom quiche, seasonal waffles, Bolivian empanada, Cuban sandwich, burrata, tuna carpaccio, and my favorite, olive oil poached wild mushrooms with forbidden rice. Their quiche of the day comes with locally sourced greens that melt in your mouth. Their dinner menu is also fabulous, such as the Deluxe nachos, grilled hanger steak carne asada, Peruvian grilled chicken, Cuban bowl, miso carbonara. Favorite desserts include their Thai tea crème brulé and strawberry rhubarb galette. Drinks I or friends/family have enjoyed: rosé by the glass, exotic fruit mimosas, hibiscus (with or without champagne!), and reds like Miroballi Pinot Noir, La Bastide Cote Du Rhone and Brick Mason Red Blend. Aside from brunch and dinner, they frequently do special events ranging from “Thursty” Thursdays with fun appetizers, multi-course dinners with pairings, themed menus and drink, and holiday parties. The space is classy and cozy, with comfy indoor seating and walls filled with a fun blend of artwork, as well as a cute patio. The location is convenient to access while also not congested. Above all, Deluxe is run by wonderful people. Onil, the owner, is one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet, with infectiously positive energy. He is an absolute delight to be around! The staff are all so lovely and warm, in addition to providing top-notch meals, service and wine pairing suggestions that are on point! They also care for their community. Notably, in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire earlier this year, Deluxe hosted free neighborhood meals for their community and first responders, collected donations to help affected home and business owners, supported fundraising efforts, and more.

Kyle Bergeron This place is good! Highly recommend. Wide selection of seasoned poke and bowl choices for a quick bite or a larger meal. Very fresh! If you have any questions on the menu, don’t be shy they’re more than happy to help. Super chill place.

Kathy Briccetti My friend and I celebrated July 4th here for lunch and loved it. The lunch special menu was varied and very reasonable. We had non-alcoholic drinks, salads, pasta (one was gluten-free) and desserts and enjoyed everything. Service was excellent and the food scrumptious!

Lisa Stone We had such a wonderful dinner here the other night and enjoyed the experience from start to finish. The outside patio was really nice. The highlight of the meal was definitely the Citrus Habanero Organic Chicken. It was flavorful, tender, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of spice. The veggies were also excellent, fresh, and cooked to perfection. We also tried the ribeye which was sooo good and the cheesy garlic bread. We decided to try the mac and cheese, but it turned out to be a bit too oily for our taste, so we’ll probably skip that one next time. That said, everything else we ordered was absolutely fantastic, and we left feeling very satisfied. Overall, it was a great evening with delicious food, and we’re already looking forward to coming back again soon.