Aubergine has been awarded a second Michelin star, becoming the first restaurant so honored in Monterey County.
The Carmel destination was one of three new two-star restaurants in Michelin’s California guide, joining Vespertine in Culver City and San Francisco’s Sons & Daughters. Of Aubergine, Michelin’s critics noted that “Chef Justin Cogley balances classic technique with a sleek, modern aesthetic, and his cooking captures a sense of place that feels wholly his own.”
Critics also took note of Aubergine's wine list.
While there were no new one-star restaurants named in Monterey County, Chez Noir in Carmel retains its Michelin star. Chef Jonny Black’s restaurant earned the star in 2023, in its first year of operation.