Wild Goose Bakery Cafe - Carmel Valley

The service was excellent; our waitress was friendly, attentive, and genuinely nice. One of the standout features of this restaurant is its use of fresh ingredients. Being located in the heart of Carmel means they have access to locally grown produce and fresh seafood from the nearby ocean, all of which contribute to a fantastic meal. The meal began with delicious French bread, baked with a stone crust to perfection. It was crispy on the outside and was served with hummus—absolutely delightful. I enjoyed a fresh salad with walnut vinaigrette and marinated pieces of mozzarella, and it was evident that the freshness and quality of the ingredients made all the difference. We also ordered a calamari appetizer, which was very well prepared. Often, calamari can be overly greasy, but this version had a light, crispy batter that was refreshingly tasty. My only complaint was that the garlic aioli served with it was a bit too heavy. While all the dishes were impressive, the highlights were even more remarkable. The beef short rib was very good, but I was particularly enamored with the seafood linguini, which featured salmon, mussels, and shrimp in a delicious tomato sauce. The flavors melded beautifully, showcasing the freshness of all the ingredients—simply superb. Dessert was a slight letdown, perhaps because my expectations were so high after the other courses. The brownie with vanilla ice cream was fresh and enjoyable, but I found the raspberry pie to be a bit too tart for my taste. If it weren't for this, I would have rated the meal five stars. The best part of the experience was the price—very reasonable for such high-quality food. You could easily spend twice as much in San Francisco and not find food this good. We spent about $50 per person for a generous selection of food and wine (including taxes and tips), making it a fantastic deal overall. If you're willing to make the drive to Carmel, I highly recommend paying a visit to Corkscrew Cafe.