Foray 5th Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921

"We had a lovely evening at Foray. The service was incredible (thank you Ernesto!) We had 2 cocktails; I enjoyed the Carmelcito. For bites we ordered oysters, row duo and the brown butter brioche- my favorite was the brioche. For starters, we got the scallop, abalone risotto, and short rib raviolo. The presentation was truly stunning and the abalone risotto with truffle was a standout. Not pictured was the Mexican vanilla ice cream for dessert, also excellent."

"Absolutely fantastic experience, from the service to the cocktails to the food. Owners Caroline and Michael have done a phenomenal job of creating a welcoming restaurant with top-notch, Michelin-worthy food. I had the tasting menu with wine pairing, along with a cocktail and a couple of oysters from the happy hour menu to start, and every dish was wonderful. Probably my single favorite dish was the saltwater roe trio (adding California sturgeon roe to the duo on the regular menu) -- generous helpings of roe with lime creme fraiche in delicate nests of crispy potatoes. The roasted scallop was also next-level, and the abalone was the most tender abalone I've ever had. The space feels elegant but homey, and has been thoughtfully designed acoustically -- a welcome change from many modern restaurants with echoing surfaces and deafening volumes. I can't wait to return, and I can't recommend this restaurant highly enough!!"

"Only great things to be said about this restaurant. My wife and I chose Foray tonight as the place to celebrate our Big Sur elopement earlier today. Boy, am I glad we did! We were greeted by a friendly host, and promptly seated at a table that was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers and candlelight. We felt very welcomed and comfortable throughout the night. Our server, Ernesto, was so friendly and informative. He walked us through the menu and answered any and all questions we had. The food - wow. This genuinely might have been the best dinner I’ve ever had. I did splurge and get the 55 day aged strip loin since we were celebrating, but my goodness. Everything from the artichoke confit small plate, to the kale salad, to our main courses were all incredible. If you are looking for a place worthy of spending a magical night, Foray is where you need to go!"

"Amazing experience. The restaurant has been opened for a year. Made reservations just a few hours before our seating. The location is quintessential Carmel. Service was spectacular from the moment we arrived. The food was at another level. Everything we had was well done, seasoned and nicely presented. We had the artichoke small plate, the lyonese salad, an Alaskan King Salmon and the chicken. All plates are 5 star recommendations. We went with cocktails for our libations. The lavender cocktail was excellently executed. The passion fruit cocktail could be improved. I mentioned this to the waiter, but they did not do anything to fix this part of the experience. Perhaps an area of improvement. Overall, awesome place and highly recommended."

"Chef Michael and his lovely wife Caroline really made our first year wedding anniversary extra special and we so appreciated ALL of the attention to detail. They made us feel like VIP’s. There is no other restaurant like this in Carmel in terms of the professional service, the amazing FOOD, hand crafted cocktails, and superb wine list. It is absolutely exquisite. The decor is fresh, new, on trend, and something Carmel by the Sea has needed for a very long time."