Chez Noir

This experience moved me in ways I can not express. The food made me feel like I was reading a whimsical, romantic comedy but through my taste buds. Chef Black is an absolute artist. His wife Monique is a warm and inviting woman. You can see their passion in both the front of the house and the back of the house. I will never in my life forget this experience. It was extremely impactful. Chef made his way around to talk to us after our meal, and that really put the icing on the cake. It was so much more personal. If you are seeing any "bad reviews" from Google nominated "local guides," ignore them. This place should be 5 stars period. I recommend this beautiful Chez Nior to anyone who is looking for an experience and a story through food. Everything is locally sourced, which touched my soul. This husband and wife dup are doing amazing things! Thank you!!

I was with family and was looking for a place to eat. We walked in without reservation, and despite being an upscale Michelin star restaurant, the staff were very welcoming and accommodated us right away. We sat at the bar, and the bartenders were also very amicable as well. They also explained all of the dishes and their nuances in great detail. All of the dishes were of high quality, but I did prefer some dishes over others. Nevertheless, I was very satisfied with the experience, and I loved their roasted quail. The cherry on top is that the staff handed us some VERY delicious cookies on the way out. I highly recommend Chez Noir if you are in the area.

Overall wonderful experience. Delicious food, incredible service, excellent drinks. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting the area!

What an incredible meal across all courses. The chilled oysters with raspberry are a bite I will think about for years to come. Again, all the food was unreal. Incredible service and the ambiance was so cozy and modern.

My husband and I were coming to Carmel for work close to our anniversary, so I wanted to surprise him with our first Michelin star restaurant experience. Monique was amazing and squeezed us in for a reservation the night before & we are so grateful! Everything was delicious from the surprise snacks to the main dishes. The quail was incredible, our desserts & drinks were fantastic, and the service was beyond. Thank you for making our special occasion even more special!

Aces all around! Ambiance (superb music selection), friendly service without the uppity attitude we've come to assume of some places, excellent wine choices and of course the food! We came for a special treat to celebrate our birthdays and left feeling so happy to have chosen Chez Noir! We brought our four legged baby with us and they were beyond accommodating; the food from beginning to end was exceptional!

Impeccable experience from soup to nuts. Warm but not stuffy service. Spendy of course but I felt value for money as well. Will return

Went opening night with a friend and we both were overwhelmed with the entire dining experience. The food was over the top amazing. We both enjoyed the creativity of the menu along with the quality and attention to detail in the taste and presentation. The service was friendly and attentive. How great to sit in a restaurant and have surrounding tables all excitedly sharing their meals with the others at their table. I'd give it ten stars given the opportunity!! Kudos to Jonny and Monique... job well done down to the last detail.

My partner booked Chez Noir for a celebratory meal after he proposed earlier in the day and all I can say is this place is AMAZING. The service was unmatched, every person who spoke to us was so thoughtful and wonderful. The food was like nothing we’ve ever eaten, so fresh and all the dishes were just so well thought through. We arrived to champagne on ice and a cocktail in the perfect little bar, the whole vibe was just so intimate and welcoming! Thank you so much to the team there, you truly made the most beautiful day even more perfect!!

The setting and service were excellent. Emily was friendly and knowledgeable and watched over us carefully without being doting. The outdoor patio is French diner chic and appetizing. The food skillfully cooked with lovely fresh local ingredients. Two people spitting each dish can try everything except one entree. The wine pairing goes back and forth between local and European. It’s not super fancy but serves the food very well. Michelin star + dog friendly = pawfect!

Chez Noir offers multi-course gourmet meals, sophisticated service and wait staff, and an upscale dining atmosphere. The food at this fine dining establishment was of the highest quality, made with luxurious ingredients, and served in unique and beautiful presentations. The quality of the dishware and cutlery was a great touch, as the décor and even the architecture of the restaurant building had notable details of the owners ability to put their love of food and class into their restaurant.

Chez Noir, a restaurant deeply rooted in coastal California cuisine, describes itself as a European-inspired bistro located in Carmel-by-the-Sea. It was proudly awarded one Michelin star in 2023. Chez Noir delivers an exceptional fine dining experience with impeccable service from start to finish. The ambiance is warm and inviting, setting the stage for a truly memorable meal. We started with the Double 8 Dairy Stracciatella, which showcased fresh, creamy cheese punctuated by bright spring flavors. The only critique would be that it was very slightly over-salted. The Chilled Oysters were incredibly fresh and beautifully complemented by the carrot and chili granita. For mains, the clear standout was the Dungeness Crab Tortelloni. The pasta was exquisite, filled with sweet crab and bathed in a sherry sauce that initially seemed unusual but harmonized into absolute perfection with the fennel soffritto and wild sorrel. A truly inspired dish. The Mt. Lassen Trout was cooked ideally, though the accompanying sauce, while tasty, seemed more akin to a hollandaise and didn't pair as gracefully with the fish. The Superior Farms Lamb Rack was another highlight, with tender lamb offset by the bright artichoke and anchovy-olive jus. Chez Noir's wine list is extensive, though the by-the-glass options for reds felt a bit limited for a restaurant of this caliber. The surprise of the night was the brioche bread service. While the crust was slightly over-baked, the interior was an airy, buttery delight that we couldn't stop eating. For dessert, the Paris-Brest wowed with its delicate chocolate and pistachio flavors accented by vibrant orange. Service was attentive without being overbearing throughout. In summary, Chez Noir is a true destination for refined French cuisine made with exceptional local ingredients. With a few minor critiques aside, it delivers an overall amazing dining experience worthy of its Michelin star status.

Let's start with the warm welcome from Monique and the excellent service from Emily, it already tells you that you're in for a treat. We knew about the skills of Chef Jonny for having tasted many of his dishes at various events. But having them all on the menu (and more) and being able to enjoy them at his table is a real blast! Everything is perfectly selected and prepared, the portions are just the right size to fully appreciate the dishes. The wine list is long enough and full of little delicious gems, and pre or post-dinner drinks are amazing with here as well a great selection of spirits by Ashley. An amazing experience, worth trying again and again as they tend to regularly update the menu!

We throughly enjoyed our experience at Chez Noir and the bonus of supporting a local family owned business was icing on the cake. The food was flawless and we tasted the most incredible gluten free bread. It was a special touch to be able to meet the owners and hear more of their story. We are so glad we took a chance on this special gem in Carmel - what a way to celebrate our 10 Year Wedding Anniversary all the way from Canada. Well done Black family!

Chez Noir has arrived. The food was done with care and honored each ingredient. If you’re looking for a great meal in Carmel, make a reservation stat. Dishes: Chilled Oyster 10/10 Must order: Fresh as the cold crisp sea, fat creamy little Blue Point (?) oysters with a super bright lime, perfect bite. We ordered 4 more after the first one. Grilled Oyster 9.5/10 Umami, loved the passion fruit layer, gorgeous bite. Fried Artichokes with pistachio aoli 10/10 Must order: crisp and tender. How I want to eat all artichokes in the future. Would love to see this dish with different aoli’s over different seasons as new ingredients are available. Abalone Skewers 10/10 Must order: This bite will make you smile. We almost ordered another but knew we had to pace ourselves. Brioche 8.5/10 Beautifully baked with a soft pillowy interior and really nice butter. Flakey salt on the butter would have been next level. Great to order for dipping in all the sauces. Cauliflower Salad 9/10 The hazelnut purée was outstanding. Loved the freshness of the ingredients, all played together beautifully. Could have held its own without anchovy, but just a personal preference. Dungeness Crab Tortellini 10/10 Must order: Perfect bite, sauce was absolutely divine and perfect for dipping extra brioche in. Would eat about 20 more of these. Rack of lamb with sunchoke frites 10/10 Must order: first off, all the sauces at Chez Noir are all beautifully done. The olive tapenade held up to the lamb which was perfectly cooked and not too gamey. Sunchokes are not often seen on menus and a personal favorite ingredient. The sunchoke frites were perfect poppable bites, crisp on the outside but perfectly tender on the inside. Gorgeous. Citron Tart 8/10 I love lemon tarts. Loved the slice of lemon on top, was the perfect bite with the side of cream. Would have preferred a slightly mellower level of tart but again that’s a purely personal preference and each lemon tart has a different personality. It was hard to pick a favorite dish as each one was outstanding in its own way. The beautiful town of Carmel needs beautiful food and I’m grateful to have experienced it at Chez Noir. There was a built in 20% gratuity which I thought was fair as it has to be sustainable for the staff as well. Michelin worthy. Would travel again to dine here.

Insanely delicious food in a well appointed, cozy space. We went for our anniversary and it was so special and delicious. Definitely worth it to get the oysters and their wine list was great. Would go back any time.

Wow; they nailed it! Impeccable food. Gorgeous build-out of the space. Staff is engaged, aware, and knowledgeable. Really nice to have dedicated Maitre ‘d, busers, waitstaff, and greeter. The uni in/on the house-made pasta was fresh. Oysters were amazingly plump and fresh. Squid gildas were delicious. Abalone was perfectly prepared. Chocolate tart was appropriately portioned and fantastic. To that latter point, the portion sizes were just right. I ordered plenty of dishes, but left feeling like I’d had an ideal amount of food. So great to see this kind of investment in Carmel. It’s been decades since we’ve had a great restaurant like this open up. As someone who is frustrated with online reservation systems and handling, I was a bit worried that they statedly do NOT have a phone. This means all communication is done over email/Instagram messages. The emailing I did with them to make some changes went fine though. They were super responsive. Curious to see if they can hold this line (pun intended). I appreciate the reservation deposit system and 20% gratuity being baked into the bill. I’m weary of restaurants trying to make it work the old way where we patrons could leave them hanging with no skin the game. That was just unsustainable. Thank you Chez Noir for blazing a new path here; I hope you can stick to it amidst what will undoubtedly be a lot of complaints. Music was a bit loud for my taste.

This is such a gem in Carmel. The restaurant is super cute, inside and outside. Service is attentive and very friendly. Food is amazing. Tete de Cochon is a must. Wines are refreshing. They feature a lot of local ingredients and local vineyards.

Outstanding service and food. I came here with my fiancée and parents right after getting engaged and we will remember it forever!

Hands down the best restaurant in Carmel. The food was exquisite, beautifully executed by chef Johnny. I believe we ordered everything on the menu and it was such an experience. From the brioche à tête (delicious and I am French) to the tomato toast, the chicken you won’t believe that chicken can taste that good. It was stuffed with liver that made it just juicy and delicious. The desert, millefeuille with red berries, baba au rhum and the canelé de Bordeaux it was really comparable to the best pastry chefs in Paris. The wine selection was amazing, gracefully selected and presented by the team. We had such an experience, we will be back for sure.

Hi team, we so enjoyed dinner with you last night. The entire team was great, especially Qeetra as our server. Jonny's food was extraordinary, the squid/anchovy/olive starter was off the charts. Coal charred eggplant was awesome. We were intrigued by the umami direction with the abalone and porcini mushrooms. The brioche was heavenly, as I mentioned, when we cut into it, angels flew out. ;-) Nate was an excellent host and beverage director, we appreciated the top up on the pino after I misjudged the appropriate wine for the abalone. Cocktails and shrubs we cool. We absolutely loved the white Temperanillo, what a great discovery. Who knew? Music and energy were perfect, build out was great, Monique was so welcoming and Ashley was a great first experience when we came in to book off the street. We'll tell Anthony at Stationaery how much we enjoyed our experience. Looking forward to seeing you again, we're spreading the word, and waiting for that Michelin star! Bravo/Brava to all.

My husband and I had the pleasure of dining here last night. Lovely decor, great ambiance, knowledgeable and attentive staff. Food was fantastic and the portions were just right. They have a great wine list. We look forward to coming back and trying their cocktails.

Every dish was a masterpiece. The staff was absolutely lovely and the ambience was perfect.

We had a very good time at Chez Noir. The food was very savory accompanied by a wonderful service. Our favorite dish was the mackerel!

Chez Noir offered an exceptional dining experience from front of house to the kitchen. The dining room is an intimate setting with views of the kitchen at work. My only comment would be the choice of house music. Seemed off for the setting but soon blended into the background as courses arrived. Stand out food included the salt cod salad, Dungeness pasta course, and veal. The trout course was also delicious, though the visually appealing crisp skin presentation was challenging to navigate without smashing the delicate fish below. The pig head course excellently showcased the kitchen's skills in preparation, but the delicate pork was overpowered by the paired greens and another ingredient we could not identify, leaving a bitter taste at the end of the bite. It is the only course we did not finish. Two clear stars of the evening were the abalone skewers and halibut chips offered by the kitchen at the start of the meal. We could eat those all day. On service, front of house staff were knowledgeable about wine pairings, course preparation, table food allergies. The hostess was engaging and checked in throughout the meal. A few minor issues from our perspective. It did take roughly 10 minutes from seating to a service staff greeting/taking our cocktail order. My dining partner also was not asked whether she wanted something more to drink after her cocktail glass was removed. We had to flag staff down to order a glass of wine for the pasta course. We also observed staff forcefully remove something off a napkin that was being set at the table next to us. He threw whatever it was to the floor. Why not simply replace the napkin with another? To this observer, it gave the perception that caked on food was being removed as opposed to the fuzz he said it was when asked. There have been customer comments about the 20% service charge added to the bill with the option to add a tip. I think the goal of wage equity is admirable but muddled. We had multiple front house and back of house staff service our table. A service charge for all to split would make sense. Why not integrate this cost into a higher price per person for the food courses with the customary option of a tip (which could be shared among staff). Take away the ambiguity and awkwardness at the end of a nice evening. We also suspect that under the current practice customers might feel a 20% service charge adequate and not leave an additional tip which means lost income for everyone. This has been the case reported by several high end restaurants which have since decided to remove the service charge at the request of their service staff. Food for thought. Great evening overall! Photo is of the tasty Dungeness crab pasta course.

Everyone should have the full dinner at least once but once you get the vibe then sit at the bar or the super comfy patio and order a la carte. Service is absolutely charming and worth the price of admission. The menu changes a lot but if you see the abalone skewers then they are a must have. Cocktails are approachable and match the vibe perfectly. It's a regular stop for us.

All around amazing experience, we got in. Got a glass of wine at the bar. We were then promptly brought to our table which was clean, the ambiance is quaint. The only issue I have is the one bathroom that needs to be shared, but other than that an amazing experience. It is a tasting dinner, we did a couple of additions all of which were amazing. My personal favorite was the chanterelles and gnocchi. But a lot of great highlights. Overall, I support the creativity and experience they are putting out. Well deserved Michelin star, will be back to see what other great creations they come up with.

It’s easy to understand why Chez Noir has earned a Michelin Star...the entire experience was extraordinary. We’ve dined at Michelin-starred restaurants in New York, Las Vegas, Paris, Copenhagen, Lyon, France and Nerano Italy, and Chez Noir ranks solidly at the top, first or second among them all. Every course was exquisite. The mini funnel cake topped with caviar was one of the most creative and delicious bites we’ve ever tasted. The bread...served warm with what I believe was a house-made French butter, may honestly be the best I’ve ever had. The steak and fish courses were cooked to perfection, and the fig tart was flawless. The service was impeccable, truly next level. The entire team worked in perfect harmony, attentive without ever being intrusive. The sommelier was exceptional: knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging. The wine pairings were thoughtfully curated, beautifully complementing each course. While the pairing is priced at $95, the quality, quantity, and rare selections make it well worth it — each pour elevated the experience. It’s a shame to see a few reviews lowered because of price. Chez Noir is a destination restaurant, a place for a special night out where you’re paying for the remarkable attention to detail, world-class service, and phenomenal food. From start to finish, our evening at Chez Noir was flawless. Carmel is incredibly fortunate to have a restaurant of this caliber — it truly stands among the best anywhere in the world.

This is one of the finest restaurants in America. The chef inspired creations here are superb. I went with my wife for a romantic evening out. Every dish was amazing. Somehow there were no second rate dishes. The service was second to none. The wine pairings by the Sommelier were just perfect. We love this place. I highly recommend Chez Noir!

Exceptional dining experience in every possible way. The service was impeccable, and the food?? OMG fabulous. Every single bite was a party in the mouth - a very happy party. Such exquisite flavor combinations, with equally wonderful wine pairings. HIGHLY recommend!

Chez Noir impressed us with an unforgettable dining experience. We had a special menu curated by guest chef Marti Buckley, which couldn’t be modified, and it was worth it! The risotto was creamy and perfectly cooked, while the beef cheeks were melt-in-your-mouth tender. Truly exceptional flavors and presentation!

An incredible dining experience with a few honorable mentions: • 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!

4.8 stars What a lovely dinner treat for my birthday at Chez Noir! We had the privilege of a husband and wife team - Jonny and Monique Black who hosted us! Both of them are amazing in their culinary and hosting skills. The venue was cozy and charming, set in the Carmel town. The service was attentive and friendly! Very good! The menu for the night was a set dinner but it had some choices which was nice! Overall the taste of the food was elegant, flavorful with great wine pairing. I can tell that they are not here to get us drunk but enhance the flavor of the food which I appreciate. I enjoyed my fish dish which is as good as Micheal Minna’s Aqua in 2010. Yes it was still embed in my mind! You have restaurants that serve quantity and sub standard acceptable food or restaurants that serve small but high quality food and the latter is of Chez Noir! You don’t feel bloated after the meal. You are left with memories of the exquisite taste in your mouth you savor, even after a week has passed by! All in all, we are glad that a little jewel is found in the heart of Carmel by the sea for all who appreciates good,high, quality food! I will be back again to savor more - Jonny and Monique! PS the sign of a quality Resturant takes pride in her bread- go try the brioche it’s to die for!

We visit Carmel regularly and had been recommended this restaurant multiple times, we were finally able to get a reservation and were really looking forward to the experience. Overall, we felt this was over hyped - we paid $800 for 2 people meal with wine pairing, it was good but not memorable. If you’re visiting Carmel and you’re disappointed you weren’t able to get a reservation here, don’t worry there are many great options in town!The food was good, ingredients are top quality and well executed, however there was nothing that stood out to us. The service was polite, but we felt rushed throughout the meal - we ordered an aperitif to start and we were brought our first glass of the wine pairing at the same time, I’ve never had that happened to me before, I was also asked to remove my plate when it was not finished at every serving. Overall we were out after 1.5h, it felt intentional that they wanted to turn our table quickly. The setting and ambiance is beautiful, it’s a very small restaurant.

Admittedly, I’m a tad late on this review but here it is. Firstly, service was impeccable from the timing, precision and inviting warmth. The dishes were marvelously constructed and presented. We each ordered a different item for every course allowing us to sample everything on the menu. Here’s the menu: 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.

Miscommunication on timing of availability isn’t really acceptable at a one starred spot. The server only knowing a cocktail is going to not be too sweet either. Not hating on the place and its quality, but I’m exceptionally surprised that this place even got a bob gourmand, let alone a star. Much better places are deserving. Wish the staff well - beautiful venue.

We've found this place to be hit or miss every time we've been here. For a Michelin starred restaurant, that's unusual. There's some outstanding plates of food, some just meh, and some just not our cup of tea. Good wine list with both new world and old world options. The cocktails are inventive, even if I don't always love what I chose.

A brioche to remember🤤everything else on the tasting menu was just ok. Service is impeccable and michelin star worthy for sure. Restaurant is small but beautifully appointed. The outdoor patio is wonderful on a perfect evening with good weather. Now back to the food: im starting to think that what most michelin star restaurants have in common (I’ve been to a few) is the service, fun food presentation, small portions, and somewhat inventive ways to prepare food, but not necessarily memorable flavors or satisfying meals🤔 The “experience” of it all, being forced to wait for each serving while you enjoy your wine and conversation is maybe what you’re getting out of it, and maybe we need it, to slow down! But if seriously good food is what you’re after, theres better spots in Monterey. I’d go back for cocktails only…oh and the brioche!

I would say 2.5 stars. We were very puzzled about our experience. Out of 9 different courses we loved just 3. Out of 8 different wines (we ordered wine pairing) we liked (not loved) 2. It would be better and cheaper to just have a bottle of wine of our liking. The service was nice. We were offered two nice dessert offerings after dinner and two cookies to go, which we plan to give to our kids. Overall, in one visit we had more bad food and more bad wine than in years of going to regular (high rating) restaurants. (And we travel abroad a lot too.)

Do not order the fish or the caviar. We went for our 30th anniversary and had been looking forward to our visit since we could not get a reservation months before when we tried. 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.