Best Restaurant for a Special Occasion
Chez Noir
431 5th Ave., Carmel
In Monterey County, Chez Noir is a leading contender for The Greatest Show on Earth. The kitchen and service are exquisitely choreographed without being stiff or stuffy. The atmosphere is just as you would have it – welcoming, alive and fun. But the real entertainment is on each plate of the multi-course prix fixe menu. The presentation, the nuanced flavors will make you gasp. Anticipation for the next course is as great as those moments before the shallow pool diver makes the plunge. And as Michelin, James Beard and other critics will attest, Jonny Black is one of the best chefs in the entire nation.