Il Tegamino

Welcome to Il Tegamino, a cozy Italian restaurant nestled on the South Side of Ocean Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA. This hidden gem offers a delightful mix of Italian comfort food, salads, and appetizers that will transport your taste buds to Italy.

The menu at Il Tegamino boasts an array of mouth-watering dishes, from the Parmigiana di Zucchine and Burrata Caprese for starters to the Lasagna di Carnevale and Paccheri Al Ragu Napoletano for primo. The Chicken Cacciatore and Controfiletto Al Pepe Verde are standout options for the secondi, while the Verdura del Giorno and Melanzane alla Sorrentina make excellent contorni choices.

Customer reviews rave about the exceptional food quality and service at Il Tegamino. Guests praise the friendly and attentive staff, the intimate and romantic ambiance, and the delicious flavors of each dish. With options for outdoor seating, this restaurant is perfect for a romantic evening or a gathering with friends.

Whether you're craving classic Italian flavors or looking to try something new, Il Tegamino has something for everyone. Come experience the warmth and hospitality of this charming Italian eatery, where every dish is prepared with love and passion. Dine at Il Tegamino for an unforgettable Italian culinary experience in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Il Tegamino Menu

Location

Address: South Side Of Ocean Avenue Between Lincoln And Monte Verde Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921
Phone: (831) 677-6750

🕓 Work Hours
MON Closed
TUE Closed
WED 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
THU 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
FRI 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
SAT 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
SUN 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Business info

  • Takes Reservations
    Yes
  • Offers Takeout
    Yes
  • Delivery
    No
  • Not wheelchair accessible
    No
  • Accepts Credit Cards
    Yes
  • Accepts Apple Pay
    No
  • Accepts Cryptocurrency
    No
  • Outdoor Seating
    Yes
  • Intimate, Romantic
    Yes
  • Moderate Noise
    Yes
  • Dressy
    Yes
  • Good for Groups
    Yes
  • Good For Kids
    Yes
  • Good for Dinner
    Yes
  • Street Parking
    Yes
  • Waiter Service
    Yes
  • Beer & Wine Only
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • Gender-neutral restrooms
    Yes
  • Offers Catering
    No
  • Wi-Fi
    No
  • TV
    No
  • Bike Parking
    No

Last Reviews

  • Author: Susan C.

    08 August 2024

    Best in Carmel by the sea for all food and by far best Italian. The service is great too.

  • Author: Seth E.

    14 June 2024

    I had been hearing rave reviews about Il Tegamino for years and finally decided to see what all the hype was about. Suffice to say, the hype is well deserved and I will certainly be returning again! Service: Solid! Our waitor was friendly and attentive though some guests may have found him to be over the top. I personally think he's playing a bit of a part and if you get him, just consider it to be dinner and a show. Food/Wine: The food is what makes Il Tegamino really stand out and I can safely say this is some of the best Italian food I've ever had! I ordered the Lasagna and I think my wife had the Ravioli. Textures and flavors were all perfect, and the portions were pretty generous considering some of the other entree portions I've been served in Carmel "Buy the Sea" ; ) The wine list was decent and as I recall there were California wines available but we made the mistake of getting a recommended Italian wine. No body, no balance, no flavor and slightly acidic. I know some people prefer old world wines but they're imported (obviously) so they cost twice as much and I have yet to drink one that could hold a torch to a decent California red. Do yourself a favor and just order something local. Ambiance: Very spot on for the cozy Italian restaurant vibe you would expect. Soft lighting and appropriate decor in a comfortable seat made for a great place to enjoy some amazing food! I suppose the tables were a little small but maybe that's part of the charm.

  • Author: alexia y.

    25 May 2024

    A fantastic little restaurant sort of hidden in a courtyard in downtown Carmel. The family walked around the area and stopped by here for dinner on a Wednesday night. The restaurant was so cozy. The manager/owner was so friendly, easy going. He greeted us warmly and sat us down immediately. Our 3-year old was very hungry so he placed his order first and brought out the best tasting "butter noodle" I have ever tasted! It's simple; linguine and cheese are all that you can tell but oh my gosh it's so delicious. My son loved it! Hubby and I ordered an appetizer of gnocchi and then got the two specials that they had of the day. Mine was a pesto and hubby's was a cream sauced pasta (forgive me for not remembering the exact type of pasta and protein: they aren't the regular penne/bacon but more authentic Italian). Ordered two glasses of wine per the recommendation of the manager, both were excellent and paired so well with our dishes. We finished with the BEST lava cake gelato dessert. We have been to many Italian restaurants. Where we are from we have a great Italian restaurant scene but this may just be the best Italian food we have ever had. Hence the five stars! We only wish to be able to visit this little gem again in the future when we visit the area again.

  • Author: StaciLei T.

    27 April 2024

    This is my love letter to Il Tegamino: I don't know how things usually go for 7pm on Sunday for dinner availability at restaurants in Carmel, but our table for two was able to be seated inside right away without a reservation. Call it luck, or maybe karma -- but after a minor car crash earlier in the day -- there were no other two people in this world that needed the comfort of authentic Italian food more than us. Carmel is arguably the cutest town ever and Il Tegamino is the cutest nook in Carmel - nestled in a little nook off of the south side of Ocean Ave between Lincoln and Monte Verde. We went directly from watching the sunset on the beach, walked a few blocks up Ocean Ave and voila -- there Il Tegamino was. They have a lovely courtyard outdoor seating area with twinkle lights and heaters. This whole area outside is dog-friendly and I just wish I could bring my dog here!! The inside is cozy, and you feel more like you're at a dinner party in Italy. The staff is so friendly, attentive, and funny! The owner goes around talking with everyone- with a thick Italian accent-- recommending dishes, serving freshly grated cheese and pepper, and overall just making everyone feel welcome . You can really tell that he loves what he does and puts so much heart and soul into this restaurant. Now for the food.... We started off with the burrata caprese and their bread basket. Yes, we know better than to fill up on bread before your meal but we just couldn't help ourselves. We finished the entire bread basket and the crostinis that came with the burrata caprese before our entrees got to our table. For entrees we ordered the brasato di agnello, a braised lamb shank on top of risotto. I gotta say, I think this was my favorite dish of the meal. The risotto really complimented the rich and gamey (in a good way) lamb so well. The paccheri al ragu napoletano-- which is their take on a ragu with pappardelle. The ragu was a mix of short rib and pork sausage -- you can just tell that this baby was slow cooked for hours. The way that the sauce gripped onto the pasta-- I know it's fresh but it also reminded me of when you have leftover pasta the next day. From the food, ambiance, service and everything in between- Il Tegamino will forever hold a special place in my heart. If it took being rear-ended in an expensive rental car to have found this place - it would have been worth it. I'll be dreaming about this meal and my whole experience at Il Tegamino for the rest of time.