Carmel’s Fairytale Town Michelin Two-Star 🌟🌟

📍 Aubergine (Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 🇺🇸) (Stole the header shot from AlDentest because the lighting had me fuming — my phone just wouldn’t capture it 😤. This meal actually made me buy a camera… maybe? 📸) Quick take: If you’re already in Carmel, you could swing by for the star… but it’s not worth a special trip. Freshly promoted to two stars, but not quite there yet. ▪️ Tasting Menu $285/person ▪️ Nonalcoholic Pairing $125 ▪️ Single Farm Wagyu $55/oz ▪️ PYCM Hautes Cotes de Beaune 2022 $45/glass ▪️ SLS Pelio Vineyard Pinot Noir $40/glass Total per person ~$658 It started with 5 beautifully plated bites — only the “blue bubble” was tasty. The oyster was fishy, salmon tartare too salty. The pumpkin blini with caviar and scaled fish with steamed egg custard were lovely though!😘🙌 The cover dish — carrot purée & scallop — worked well… until they added tapioca pearls and it all got confusing. Mains — lamb & beef — were decent, but the added Wagyu felt like a letdown (and a wallet-drain). Dessert apple rose was tangy and sweet — totally my vibe. Their nonalcoholic pairing was unexpectedly sweet — almost dessert-level. My mood through the meal was a rollercoaster 🎢 — highs and lows throughout. Anyway, there aren’t many fine dining options around Carmel… maybe I’ll try again after they change up the menu. #Carmel #BayArea #BayAreaEats #FoodExploration #Michelin #MichelinRestaurant