Restaurant spotlight: Casanova

With a menu and atmosphere that elicits the South of France and Northern Italy, this restaurant is a must-eat-at for anyone taking a trip to Carmel. According to LovetoEatandTravel.com, Casanova's "quaint little rooms make you feel as if you're dining in a private home," which makes perfect sense since the restauranteurs opened Casanova in a renovated house back in 1977. And if the weather suits, you can dine al fresco on the heated garden patio. If you happen to be a oenophile, you'll be happy to know the restaurant's wine list was deemed one of the greatest in the world by Wine Spectator in 1999 and they keep all that greatness in a hand-dug wine cellar. Their fresh-made pasta comes in dishes like the Cannelloni Casanova, homemade pasta filled with spinach, ricotta cheese, basil in a fresh tomato sauce, au gratin; and the Linguini con Scampi, pasta, prawns and mushrooms in a white wine veloute with parmesan cream sauce. The dinner menu includes medallions of veal, salmon and other plates of deliciousness as well. You can't visit a restaurant like this without trying dessert. Our mouth waters at the description of the Dolce di Cioccolate: warm chocolate cake with Armagnac ice cream. Wow.

CASANOVA
5th Street between Mission and San Carlos
Carmel, CA 93921
831.625.0501