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Shearwater Tavern, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Shearwater Tavern

4.2
4.2
101 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American

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2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 6 times today
  • Good for groups
  • Good for business meals
  • Great for happy hour
Located in the idyllic seaside community of Carmel, Shearwater Tavern features breakfast and dinner within the Carmel Mission Inn. Our dinner menu has a selection of smaller plates to share along with some larger individual plates.
We have partnered with a local dairy, coffee roaster, honey purveyor and bakery.
Our Chef Fabian Di Paolo's menu is New American with Influences from his Argentinian, Italian, Floribbean roots. Our cocktail program features beautiful classic and specialty cocktails along with craft beer and California wines. You must try his House made Parker House rolls.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Breakfast, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 7:00 am–10:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 7:00 am–11:00 am Dinner Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (831) 624-1841
  • Website
    https://www.shearwatertavern.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Fabian Di Paolo
  • Private party facilities
    Visit https://www.carmelmissioninn.com/special-events/start-planning/ to fill out a request! We have a private dining room as well as other meetings spaces and a lovely patio.
  • Location
    3665 Rio Rd, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93923-8609
  • Area
    Carmel
  • Cross Street
    Carmel Mission Inn on Rio Rd.
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Public transit
    Across the street at Crossroads Shopping Village
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Menu

Greens

  • Parker House RollsUSD 10.00

    • Baby ArugulaUSD 15.00

      dried cranberries, goat cheese, pepitas, pickled pumpkin, blood orange vinaigrette

      • Classic CaesarUSD 14.00

        chopped romaine, shaved parmesan, creamy garlic dressing, sourdough crouton

        • Protein from the Grill Marinated Chicken BreastUSD 7.00

          • Protein from the Grill SalmonUSD 14.00

            • PrawnsUSD 15.00

              Shareables

              • Cured Meats & CheesesUSD 20.00

                california cheeses, curated salumis pepper jelly, grain mustard, grilled bread

                • Artichoke DipUSD 12.00

                  toasted baguette

                  • Garlic HummusUSD 11.00

                    fresh vegetables, grilled bread

                    • French Onion SoupUSD 12.00

                      guyere, sourdough crouton

                      • Crispy CalamariUSD 17.00

                        salsa macha aioli, grilled lemon

                        • Piri Piri PrawnsUSD 19.00

                          spicy tomato broth

                          • Lump Crab CakeUSD 22.00

                            mustard aioli, cucumber, capers

                            • Steamed MusselsUSD 18.00

                              smoked tomato espelette broth, bread – add garlic parmesan fries 6

                              • Pacific Pearl Onion DipUSD 12.00

                                kettle chips

                                • Roasted Shishito PeppersUSD 12.00

                                  lemon, sea salt, tahini

                                  Large Plates

                                  • Tavern BurgerUSD 21.00

                                    smoked gouda, caramelized onion, animal sauce – choice of fries or salad

                                    • Fish & ChipsUSD 24.00

                                      pacific rockfish, malt vinegar fries, california tartar

                                      • Steak FritesUSD 38.00

                                        grilled bavette, shoestring fries green peppercorn sauce

                                        • Grilled Ancho EggplantUSD 20.00

                                          pumpkin, garbanzos, oyster mushroom, cotija

                                          SIGNATURE COCKTAILS

                                          • Espresso MartiniUSD 17.00

                                            titos, fresh espresso, kahlua, bailey float

                                            • Carmel BreezeUSD 17.00

                                              ketel one, fresh strawberries, lemon juice, sugar rim

                                              • Mission WaterUSD 17.00

                                                lalo blanco, pineapple, sparkling mineral water, sugar rim

                                                • Shearwater MojitoUSD 17.00

                                                  silver rum, fresh watermelon, mint, lime

                                                  • East of EdenUSD 17.00

                                                    hendricks gin, cucumber, st. germain elderflower liqueur, lime

                                                    • Monterey MargaritaUSD 17.00

                                                      camarena blanco, fresh raspberries, cointreau, salt rim

                                                      THE CLASSICS

                                                      • Delayed FlightUSD 16.00

                                                        titos, grapefruit, aperol, lime

                                                        • ManhattanUSD 16.00

                                                          bulleit rye, sweet vermouth, angostura

                                                          • Lavendar FieldsUSD 16.00

                                                            bombay sapphire, lavender honey, lemon

                                                            • Aperol SpritzUSD 16.00

                                                              prosecco, fever tree soda

                                                              DRAFT BEER

                                                              • Other BrothersUSD 10.00

                                                                seasonal ale

                                                                • Alvarado St. BrewingUSD 10.00

                                                                  pilsner

                                                                  • GuinessUSD 10.00

                                                                    stout

                                                                    • Stella Artois

                                                                      pilsner

                                                                      • English Ale Brewery

                                                                        west coast ipa

                                                                        BOTTLES & CANS

                                                                        • Modelo EspecialUSD 7.00

                                                                          • Blue Moon BelgianUSD 7.00

                                                                            • HeinekenUSD 8.00

                                                                              • Bud LightUSD 6.00

                                                                                • Lagunitas Lil Sumpin' AleUSD 8.00

                                                                                  • Angry Orchard Hard CiderUSD 7.00

                                                                                    • High Noon Hard SeltzerUSD 7.00

                                                                                      • Miller LiteUSD 6.00

                                                                                        Last updated: 7 November 2024

                                                                                        What 101 people are saying

                                                                                        Overall ratings and reviews

                                                                                        Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

                                                                                        4.2
                                                                                        4.2 based on recent ratings
                                                                                        • 4Food
                                                                                        • 4.4Service
                                                                                        • 4Ambience
                                                                                        • 3.8Value

                                                                                        Noise • Moderate

                                                                                        Loved For

                                                                                        • California Central Coast

                                                                                          Good for groups

                                                                                        • Monterey / Carmel

                                                                                          Child-friendly

                                                                                        • Monterey / Carmel

                                                                                          Innovative

                                                                                        • Monterey / Carmel

                                                                                          Good for groups

                                                                                        Review summary

                                                                                        AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                                                                                        Shearwater Tavern offers a diverse menu with standout dishes like "octopus is out of this world good" and "the onion soup was terrific." The service is praised for being "attentive" and "high-end professional." While some diners found prices steep, the restaurant's central location and "ample parking" enhance its appeal.

                                                                                        101 Reviews

                                                                                        1. Claire

                                                                                          Hawaii

                                                                                          31 reviews

                                                                                          5.0

                                                                                          31 reviews

                                                                                          Dined 1 day ago

                                                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                                                          2. Food 5
                                                                                          3. Service 5
                                                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                                                          Wonderful classy place for breakfast. All the breakfast dishes were really delicious and nice quality

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                                                                                        2. Ani

                                                                                          San Francisco

                                                                                          4 reviews

                                                                                          4.0

                                                                                          4 reviews

                                                                                          Dined on 21 December 2024

                                                                                          1. Overall 4
                                                                                          2. Food 4
                                                                                          3. Service 4
                                                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                                                          Great place for cozy night out with family, friends, or date night. Food was delicious and a decent selection of options for happy hour too.

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                                                                                        3. OpenTable Diner

                                                                                          Dallas

                                                                                          1 review

                                                                                          4.0

                                                                                          1 review

                                                                                          Dined on 29 November 2024

                                                                                          1. Overall 4
                                                                                          2. Food 4
                                                                                          3. Service 4
                                                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                                                          It was a perfectly homey yet sophisticated Thanksgiving dinner service for the travelers. We enjoyed the juicy turkey and pungent butternut squash soup very much. And the dessert- pumpkin fran was the best!!

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                                                                                        4. M.J.

                                                                                          San Francisco

                                                                                          2 reviews

                                                                                          5.0

                                                                                          2 reviews

                                                                                          Dined on 29 November 2024

                                                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                                                          2. Food 3
                                                                                          3. Service 5
                                                                                          4. Ambience 3
                                                                                          Customer service was very good. We had Thanksgiving dinner and felt the food was overdone. The menu notes Parker House rolls, which were only a hodgepodge of dinner rolls. And the “brûlée” sweet potatoes were just mashed. The salad was very sad and wilted.

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                                                                                        5. OpenTable Diner

                                                                                          San Francisco

                                                                                          1 review

                                                                                          4.0

                                                                                          1 review

                                                                                          Dined on 29 November 2024

                                                                                          1. Overall 4
                                                                                          2. Food 4
                                                                                          3. Service 4
                                                                                          4. Ambience 4
                                                                                          Enjoyed family style Thanksgiving dinner; wait staff was very attentive and personal. Ambience was delightful, with ample space between tables. The bar is particularly attractive, and as locals we will surely frequent the Shearwater Tavern.

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                                                                                        6. Wendy

                                                                                          San Francisco

                                                                                          1 review

                                                                                          5.0

                                                                                          1 review

                                                                                          Dined on 10 November 2024

                                                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                                                          2. Food 5
                                                                                          3. Service 5
                                                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                                                          We hadn’t visited the Carmel Mission Inn for several years and knew that it had been refreshed since our last visit. We decided to have dinner at Shearwater Tavern, tucked inside the Carmel Mission Inn and had an absolutely wonderful experiencey. Our outstanding dining experience began with a delicious Caesar Salad paired with their wonderful signature Parker House Rolls—warm, house-baked, and served with local honey butter and a bit of sea salt. These starters set the tone perfectly for the main event: a flawlessly grilled bavette (flank steak), a favorite of ours, topped with a rich green peppercorn sauce and accompanied by crispy shoestring frites. Our steak arrived cooked precisely to our medium-rare preference and request, showcasing the kitchen's attention to detail.

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                                                                                        7. Megan

                                                                                          Tahoe

                                                                                          19 reviews

                                                                                          3.0

                                                                                          19 reviews

                                                                                          Dined on 3 November 2024

                                                                                          1. Overall 3
                                                                                          2. Food 2
                                                                                          3. Service 2
                                                                                          4. Ambience 2
                                                                                          Very small dinner menu on a Saturday night. It’s not the menu they post on their website. Service was just ok. Calamari appetizer was way over cooked and tough. Chicken Cesar and the burger were good. Don’t plan to return in the future.

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                                                                                        8. John

                                                                                          VIP

                                                                                          Seattle

                                                                                          5 reviews

                                                                                          1.0

                                                                                          5 reviews

                                                                                          Dined on 20 October 2024

                                                                                          1. Overall 1
                                                                                          2. Food 2
                                                                                          3. Service 1
                                                                                          4. Ambience 1
                                                                                          Hotel restaurant. Dated. Awful service. We walked out.

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                                                                                        9. Sean

                                                                                          San Francisco

                                                                                          2 reviews

                                                                                          4.0

                                                                                          2 reviews

                                                                                          Dined on 20 October 2024

                                                                                          1. Overall 4
                                                                                          2. Food 4
                                                                                          3. Service 4
                                                                                          4. Ambience 3
                                                                                          Food as excellent. Ordered a few small plates to share and it turned to be satiating both from a taste and amount perspective. The cocktails were a disappointment. Ordered two different kinds and both seemed as thought the ratio of ingredients were off.

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                                                                                        10. Michael

                                                                                          Los Angeles

                                                                                          9 reviews

                                                                                          5.0

                                                                                          9 reviews

                                                                                          Dined on 19 October 2024

                                                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                                                          2. Food 5
                                                                                          3. Service 5
                                                                                          4. Ambience 4
                                                                                          First class menu, and the service high-end professional. Quality of food is excellent - local, healthy, fresh. Very interesting menu - and amazing wine list. A little bit noisy for an intimate dinner, but still a beautifully designed/built dining room. Overall - an excellent choice and only 5 min. from Carmel Village.

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                                                                                        FAQs

                                                                                        Shearwater Tavern offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (831) 624-1841.

                                                                                        Shearwater Tavern is rated 4.2 stars by 101 OpenTable diners.

                                                                                        Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

                                                                                        Make a booking

                                                                                        2 people
                                                                                        7:00 pm
                                                                                        Booked 6 times today

                                                                                        Order delivery or takeout

                                                                                        Google Map for Shearwater Tavern

                                                                                        3665 Rio Rd, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93923-8609

                                                                                        Additional information

                                                                                        • Cross Street
                                                                                          Carmel Mission Inn on Rio Rd.
                                                                                        • Area
                                                                                          Carmel
                                                                                        • Hours of Operation
                                                                                          Breakfast Mon–Fri 7:00 am–10:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 7:00 am–11:00 am Dinner Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
                                                                                        • Price
                                                                                          $30 and under
                                                                                        • Cuisines
                                                                                          Contemporary American, Breakfast, Cocktail Bar
                                                                                        • Dining style
                                                                                          Casual Dining
                                                                                        • Dress code
                                                                                          Casual Dress
                                                                                        • Parking details
                                                                                          Hotel Parking
                                                                                        • Public transit
                                                                                          Across the street at Crossroads Shopping Village
                                                                                        • Payment Options
                                                                                          AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
                                                                                        • Executive Chef
                                                                                          Fabian Di Paolo
                                                                                        • Additional
                                                                                          Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine
                                                                                        • Website
                                                                                          https://www.shearwatertavern.com/
                                                                                        • Phone number
                                                                                          (831) 624-1841
                                                                                        • Private party facilities
                                                                                          Visit https://www.carmelmissioninn.com/special-events/start-planning/ to fill out a request! We have a private dining room as well as other meetings spaces and a lovely patio.
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