Carmel's Hidden Gem Restaurant — Restaurant in Carmel-by-the-Sea

We decided to give it a try so we got to the restaurant and it looked packed. As I looked around I noticed not many tables had food. I got in line behind two people. After about 10min a few groups got in line behind us. After 10 more minutes we started wondering what was going on. The two people in front of me had been seated but after 20mins no one said anything to me or the groups behind me. After a few more minutes we started to get frustrated. I told the people behind us we may go to another place. I finally stopped the server/manager and mentioned we had been in line for over 20mins and no one said a thing and if she could please tell me a wait time. She snapped at me and said “I can’t seat you inside!” I said that’s fine. We would be happy to sit outside. She then disappeared back in the restaurant instead of seating us at the open table, so I’m assuming she was going to get menus and settings but by this point we had been rubbed the wrong way. I understand being a server and being short staffed but this was very rude. I told the people behind us that they could take our spot and so we left. We walked to another restaurant and they had a very long wait and then we went to a third restaurant and sat down and had a great meal. The little French restaurant past Ocean on Mission did not disappoint! We had a leisurely breakfast. We walked all the way back across town and passed by this restaurant because our vehicle was parked near it. As we walked by, we saw the two people that we’re in line behind us sitting outside. I called to them and they looked over and I gave them the thumbs up or thumbs down symbol with my fingers and they both gave me the thumbs down signal and then shouted to us that they hadn’t even received their meal yet?!?! We were all flabbergasted (including them). Even if the food was 5 star, it wouldn’t be...

AND YOU NEED TO READ THIS BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN!

This place was like a circus. The poor staff was in full panic when we walked in, and it got worse by the minute!

So, 7 full tables, and no one had any food on them. First red flag, right? I noticed everyone was already nervous, but we sat down anyway.

We made a very simple order: pancakes and avocado toast. Things started to get weird when, 30 minutes in, we didn't have our black coffee and water on the table. When I asked, there were no apologies, and they tossed the coffee on our table. Then I started to pay attention to other things.

At one of the tables, a family of 6 with 4 kids, Dad got so angry he dropped some cash on the table and took off mad. At another table, another family was held hostage while the dad had to get cash to pay for breakfast. THEY ONLY TAKE CASH OR ZELLE!?!?!

This is 55 min in, and our food was not out! I asked politely, and the one man show guy got mad and told me we were 3rd in line for food. I told him I was paying for my coffee and my taking my hungry kids out of this place.

On the way out, I told a nice lady about our experience as she was sitting down with her family of 6, and she rudely said: "Why are you saying this to me?". Looking forward to her Yelp review ;)

The place was looking good in Yelp. In real life, it is halfway on a parking lot and half way in a room that looks just put up yesterday. And that bathroom experience is like no other! It's outside, and it's so dirty and disgusting that my 5-year-old son didn't want to wash his hands in there.

I hope you read that before you sit down. And sorry, guys, but I don't see your business having any returning clients or ever thriving. It's a total TRAP with those nice pictures on, yep, but we won't...

Plus: great seafood risotto, ravioli & crab cake. (See pics with price). But it’s not $10-20 shown on google. It’s ~$70 per person before tax/tips. 1 appetizer, 2 non-alcoholic drinks, 2 main courses.

2 stars because of discriminating service. Differential treatment to people by the owner/manager.

I booked the indoor table for 2. The server showed us 2 tables: 1 was 3 steps from entrance, cold. The other was at corner with tight space. There was a table for 3-4 but I figure they may need that for bigger party. So, I did not ask for that table. While we were waiting for menu/service. The owner/manager came in, went around all table with smile, talked to all tables, served them. Ignored our table. We were invisible. No asking if we got service yet. we waited for 20+ mins before server came.

Half hr later, a couple walked in. Owner/manager shook hands with them. Gave them that 3-4 people table right next to me immediately. Served them free alcohol. An Asian family walked in. The owner/manager sat them outside. The owner/manager went to sit down at a table and chit chat with the customers near us twice. While no one served the asian family (my seat can saw the outdoor). It was 50F outside, they waited 20-25 mins. Finally they left.

But to be fair, the only server worked his best to serve all tables...