Il Grillo - Carmel

As an Italian pasta lover, I found the Carbonara to be a bit disappointing. The seafood was decent, but considering the price, I expected more.

Exceptional food and service! The staff was both friendly and skilled. The food truly shines on its own. The grilled octopus was incredible!

I had a fantastic experience at this restaurant! The food was excellent and the atmosphere was lovely and cozy. The service was friendly and interesting, adding a nice touch to the evening. They have an extensive wine list featuring both local and Italian grape varieties, all at reasonable prices. We started with the octopus and sausage appetizers to share, which were delicious. For the main course, the pork chop was not only big but also incredibly tasty. The pasta with short rib ragu was also excellent and a perfect portion for one. Overall, a delightful dining experience!

Intimate single room, with a significant amount of background noise. Amazing Bruschetta! Great pastas. The staff helped to select the wine and even ran into the sister restaurant a block and half of it to get an additional bottle.

I did ample research before arriving to Carmel so that my culinary experience there would be the best it could possibly be. Il Grillo had phenomenal reviews, but none of these reviews could ever amount to the experience I had there. The manager, Jay, was a class act. He treated us extremely kindly and was a pleasure to get to know. The food was incredible. We ordered the squid ink risotto and the papardelle bolognese, and could not put our silverware down. This place is, according to the locals, a hidden gem that they do not like to share, but I could not help but write a review to commend Jay and the kitchen for their stellar service.