Flying Fish Grill is a seafood restaurant in Carmel Plaza, Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Editorially verified August 21, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Abalone
Must order: A clay pot dinner, the house's signature format.
Tip: Book by phone between 09:00 and 16:00; the timbered room is small, split dinners carry a $10 charge, and the patio takes walk-ins.
Address: Mission St between Ocean & 7th Ave, Carmel Plaza lower level, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921
Flaherty's Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar anchors 6th Avenue in Carmel with freshly shucked oysters, its famous clam chowder and wild-caught sand dabs.
Signature: Sand dabs, Clam chowder, Monterey Bay calamari
Order: Wild-caught sand dabs with lemon tarragon beurre blanc.
Tip: Chowder and the raw bar carry the menu; lunch is the easier seat, and the crispy calamari makes the best table-opener.
Little Napoli plates Chef Pepe's southern Italian family recipes at Dolores and 7th in Carmel, with Bar Napoli pouring beside the dining room.
Order: Whatever pasta the kitchen calls a family recipe that night.
Tip: Bar Napoli's happy hour runs Sunday to Friday 16:00-18:00, and weekend lunch from 11:30 is the only lunch service of the week.
Vesuvio runs the Pepe family's wood-fired Neapolitan kitchen at 6th and Junipero in Carmel, with the rooftop Star Bar pouring above the dining room.
Signature: Neapolitan pizza
Order: Wood-burning-oven pizza or the truffled gnocchi.
Tip: The rooftop Star Bar takes no reservations; it closes at 22:00 on weeknights and runs to 23:00 on Friday and Saturday.
Yafa runs a family-owned Mediterranean dinner house at Junipero and 5th in Carmel, open nightly from 17:00 with hosts who still work every table.
Order: Ask the host for the night's mezze and grill pairing.
Tip: The room fills with return visitors and celebrations; reserve ahead, and note dinner is the only service of the day.
Il Tegamino hides in Carmel's Court of the Golden Bough off Ocean Avenue, a small family-run room cooking Italian comfort food behind a candy shop.
Order: The night's baked tegamino, the namesake pan dish.
Tip: Find the courtyard entrance tucked behind the Cottage of Sweets; the room is tiny, so book before you plan the rest of the evening.
Akaoni serves traditional Japanese cooking and sushi at Mission and 6th in Carmel, a small room listed in the Michelin Guide and booked by phone.
Order: Sushi from the day's fish list, called out at the counter.
Tip: Seats are few and hours are short; call ahead, and remember lunch only runs Thursday through Saturday.