You cannot help but notice the bright blue tablecloths out in the garden patio of this immaculate European restaurant. Entrees like Veal San Domenico or Chilean Sea Bass are perfectly complemented by a huge array of California wines. The service is efficient. The Hungary-born owner has been in the business for decades. Housed in an old-style Comstock building, the restaurant caters to the discerning customer, one who truly appreciates the variety of aromas that pour out of the kitchen as he or she eats at the table. Bohemian in appearance, the eatery is a favorite among locals.

Tourists and locals alike flock to this contemporary restaurant for its French Provincial atmosphere, its spectacular entrees and its alluring aromas. The decor is what you'd expect from an elegant place, and the service is as attentive as it is friendly. Dinners like Pan-Roasted Quail with merlot and Escargot Ravioli are all affordably priced, and the wine list, abundant with Merlots, perfectly complements the chef's eclectic menu. Enjoy a quiet breakfast, a casual lunch or an elegant dinner. Open daily from 11.30am

This new restaurant was voted the best by Adventures in Dining Magazine's readers' poll and it offers a delicious variety of Central California coastal cuisine. Locals haunt the place. The selection of wines is designed to perfectly complement the dishes: a 1998 Honig Sauvignon Blanc is paired with Mustard-crusted Halibut, for example. You can eat inside, surrounded by polished wood surfaces, or on the patio. It is a great bet for a reception or an intimate dinner. The service is warm and friendly.

An old adobe house with beautiful gardens, houses one of Carmel's most romantic restaurants. Its Celebrity Room has photos of the celebrities who have dined there; the French Provencal Harvest Room has charm; the Milagro Room has a working fireplace; and, the outdoor patio has the shade of a Brazilian pepper tree. Try the Pan-seared Filet of Salmon served with pasta. The wine cellar holds more than 30,000 bottles of wine, some costing more than the average house. The restaurant regularly wins the Wine Spectator's Grand Award. With unparalleled service for tourists and locals, it is highly recommended.

Inside this romantic restaurant you can sit amidst warm pastel colors and exquisite oil paintings, while the staff grants your every wish. Outside on the patio, you can dine next to fountains and gardens. Catering to an upscale crowd of locals and tourists, it specializes in delicacies such as Filet Mignon and Farm-raised Monterey Abalone. Enjoy a Rack of Lamb carved right at your table. With more than 600 wines to choose from, you cannot go wrong.

Located in The Pine Inn, this elegant Italian restaurant serves up incredible bread in the morning and spectacular entrees at night. Not only is it a great place for wedding receptions and business meetings, it makes for a wonderfully romantic night out. The Veal Scalloppine and the Ravioli Di Verdura are excellent, as is the extensive wine list. The decor is fancy but not overbearing. The service is excellent. The place caters mostly to hotel guests and conference or wedding attendees.

The dining experience here is superb. On the walls inside, find license plates, skillets, signs, toys, and all sorts of collectibles. On the patio outside is a stone rotisserie that cooks many of the meats. The menu has an excellent selection of center-cut steaks and pastas, and you can even get a crispy duck sandwich. The wine list is extensive, ranging from normal table wines to $110 bottles. The clientele is mostly locals, but tourists roll in now and then.

This casual restaurant offers grilled dishes with a Southwestern flair. You can eat in the bar, which is covered with cartoons, or dine in the comfortable dining room. Try the Lamb Shank with Ale and Mushrooms. The wine list is extensive, ranging from $18-220 a bottle, including several Chardonnays and Cabernets. This place has won numerous awards, including Best in the Carmel Area by Adventures in Dining Magazine, and is an old favorite in the area. The unparalleled service brings in a wide variety of tourists and locals.

This is a place for discerning customers who want only the best. The cuisine is primarily French with a definite California twist, and the service is beyond impeccable. The decor is low key so as not to detract from the incredible views. Highly awarded both locally and nationally, the kitchen offers meticulously crafted dishes such as Poached Salmon with Artichokes and Saffron-thyme Sauce, and boned and roasted Duck in Black Currant Sauce. Sit back and enjoy the harbor lights while sampling from the huge wine list.

With all the vintage auto memorabilia hanging on the walls of this place, you will think you are back on a racetrack in 1910. Dine on the heated patio, which has a great view of the valley, or have an indoor feast. The place somewhat resembles a gas station, but the margaritas are dynamite and it serves up a wealth of reasonably priced Mexican dishes. There are daily specials and occasional live music out on the patio. The friendly staff attracts a wide-ranging clientele.