
An elevated, community-driven restaurant rooted in coastal California cuisine, Chez Noir is the passion project of husband-and-wife team Chef Jonny Black and Monique Black. Located in charming Carmel-by-the-Sea, guests will discover a modern bistro with a seafood-centric menu showcasing pristine ingredients sourced from throughout the Monterey Peninsula.
Hours
| Friday | 5–8:45 PM |
| Saturday | 5–8:45 PM |
| Sunday | 5–8:45 PM |
| Monday | 5–8:45 PM |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 5–8:45 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 5th Ave between Dolores and, San Carlos St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921
Website: http://cheznoircarmel.com/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Chez Noir | Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Chez Noir – Carmel-by-the-Sea – a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
Chez Noir (@cheznoircarmel) • Instagram photos and videos
Reviews
The amuse bouche was amazing. The mushroom tartare was not to my taste, but I should have realized I would not enjoy raw mushrooms. The funnel cake with caviar I pictured to be a little funnel cake with caviar and delicious embellishments. Boy was I wrong. It was expensive and I could only taste $10 fairgrounds funnel cake. Why pay $50+ for caviar (that I usually love) and not be able to taste it? The next few dishes were good, but not memorable. My fish was improperly cooked and nearly inedible. How embarr2this meal was from a Michelin star restaurant. The desserts were both very good. If it had. Not been prix fixe, we would have left after the appetizers.
Their menu is very small (which I can understand due to budgeting), but they do not have enough variety to appeal to a lot of people. Do not waste your time and money.
ADD-ONS:
Fresh Oysters and oyster “Rockefeller” – I’m not a huge fan of oysters, but these tasted of clean ocean; briny and salty with some sweetness. The slight crunch of the “Rockefeller” was a nice contrast to the softness.
Abalone skewers and toast – flavorful and set the tone of the upcoming meal.
FIRST COURSE:
Porcini mushroom “carpaccio” – beautifully cut mushrooms paired with fresh and distinct flavors. Loved everything about this dish but wished it had more Parmesan.
Washington King salmon Crudo – clean taste and good textural contrasts.
Duck liver terrine – rich and savory balanced with sweetness.
ADD-ON: bread – freshly baked, warm and soft. The salted butter with the bread was sublime.
SECOND COURSE:
Brentwood corn triangoli – pasta texture was perfect, but was not a fan of the sweet corn filling. The sauce tasted of tabasco which was interesting in a way that left you questioning if you liked it or not.
THIRD COURSE:
Vermillion rockfish “a la Provencale” – the fish was flawlessly prepared; the crispy skin was delectable. Hated the morel mushroom in the dish. It seemed like an after thought and the flavor was strangely unpleasant.
Grilled Wolfe ranch quail – crispy but still moist. Balanced flavors.
Superior farms lamb “Paloise” – unanimously voted as the worst dish of the evening. Lamb was cooked well, but the accompaniments were disappointing. They didn’t enhance the lamb and the sauce wasn’t delicious. Unfortunately, my daughter only took 2 bites of this dish. Chez Noir offered to make something else for her, but at this point she was just over it.
DESSERT:
Prevadelli farms berry tart – amazingly tasty and homey. I would come back just for this dessert.
Mille feuille – loved the filling, but not the crust.
Kashiwase farms peach sorbet – bright, light and yummy.
We spent $1,065.40 with tip. Based on the service alone, I would have ranked Chez Noir highly, but considering the meal and the price, I had to lower the rating.
The food itself was quiet good as well. The abalone was our favorite of the night, but generally speaking we liked everything! The bread was delicious as well.
I wouldn’t say that the food completely blew us away, but overall it was good! It’s a very high price point, which was notable, but no real complaints as a whole.
Great time overall!
The Wagu is wonderful but the Squab is amazing.
Cocktails are also next level.
• The Brioche bread is out of this world
• Second course: Costara Romano Zucchini Tortelli
• Dessert: Minazzoli Farms Peach Melba
• Red wine: Zinfandel Blend & Cabernet Franc
They even send you home with cookies, which was such a thoughtful touch. The ambiance makes the whole experience. The space is stunning inside and equally beautiful outside. The patio is cozy with trees strung with lights. They also have heaters and blankets, so if you get a reservation outside, you’ll still enjoy it. The service was impeccable from start to finish. A special thanks to Louis for taking such good care of us.
Overall, this is a one-star Michelin and well worth a visit. I’m giving 4 stars only because, compared to other Michelin restaurants, the third courses were good but didn’t “wow” us. Still, highly recommend dining here!