Caffé Buondí — Restaurant in Carmel

I recently visited Caffè Buondì, and my experience was delightful, thanks in large part to my server, Maria B. She was incredibly helpful in answering all my questions about the menu and the various Lavazza espresso options. Her friendly and knowledgeable service added a special touch to my visit.

I decided to try the Biscoff Stuffed French Toast, which came with raspberry sauce, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. The whipped cream was a standout—light, fluffy, and firm, with an airy, creamy texture that was nicely sweetened but not overly so. It paired beautifully with the Biscoff filling and the bread.

However, the bread itself was a bit dense and slightly hard to chew, which affected the overall texture of the dish. That said, the whipped cream helped to balance this out, making the dish enjoyable. Between the two sauces, I found myself preferring the chocolate sauce over the raspberry, as it complemented the flavors better for my taste.

I also tried the Espresso Torinese, which was very indulgent. The bold espresso had a nice sweetness at the end, making it a satisfying choice for any coffee lover. I chose not to mix the heavy cream topping with the espresso and found that I preferred the drink that way, as it allowed me to enjoy the distinct layers of flavor.

Overall, Caffè Buondì offers a lovely atmosphere inspired by Italian breakfast, lunch, and brunch. While there were some minor aspects of the dish that didn’t fully meet my expectations, the excellent service and the quality of the other components made for a pleasant dining experience. I would definitely recommend giving it a try, especially if you’re a fan of creative and indulgent...

Can I give them zero stars?! TERRIBLE SERVICE!! We were told to call in and they were extremely rude. The manager was HORRIBLE. They let at least 10 groups in ahead of us, as we put our name in way before. Made us wait over an hour. You could tell this was purposeful. No reason for such rude behavior. Made my grandma cry on Mother’s Day weekend.

Dear Andrea,

Thank you for taking the time to respond, though I must admit I was taken aback by the tone and content of your message. As a paying customer, I find it incredibly disappointing and frankly quite ridiculous to be spoken to in such a passive-aggressive and dismissive manner — particularly with a closing remark like "I hope this is helpful to you for any restaurant you visit in the near future." That comment was not only unnecessary but condescending, and it's quite telling about the level of respect you seem to have for your guests.

While I understand that restaurants have protocols, the way this situation was handled — both in person and in your response — lacked the professionalism and courtesy that one would expect from any hospitality establishment. Speaking to a group of customers as though we're uninformed or unreasonable, especially on a day that held great significance for our family, is not only unacceptable but reflects poorly on your leadership.

It's unfortunate that instead of acknowledging a breakdown in communication and offering a sincere apology, your reply came across more like a defense of your protocol than an effort to understand our very real frustration. This wasn’t just about a wait time — it was about how we were treated, both during the visit and...

Wish I could give it a ZERO. WORST experience ever. The manager was incredibly rude and made my grandma cry on Mother’s Day weekend. We called ahead days before and were told our name would be on the list. The manager tried to argue that we “misinterpreted” the call but he “put our name down” anyway. We waited over an hour, and they seated many groups before us including people who arrived 45 minutes after us. Unbelievably rude, dismissive and unprofessional.

In response to your comment below: There were groups of 4+ who arrived after us, waited outside, and then were still seated before us. Not just walked right in. I also am disappointed in your inability to take ownership for the rudeness in which we were treated. If you did, in fact, watch videos, you would have seen complete unprofessionalism in the way in which we were addressed and approached on arrival. You would have seen us be asked by the host "if we were leaving" after 45 minutes as we were still sitting there patiently, and you would have seen my grandmother crying. Additionally, you would have in your logs the phone conversation in which we were promised by one of your employees that we would be able to call ahead. If this is not your policy, I recommend clarifying that with your staff before they misinform the customers who plan their day around that information. Point blank, unprofessional and rude and unaccommodating to make up for mistakes your own...