Cuisine:

• Coffee Houses
• Mediterranean
• East and West
• European
• Pizza

Cafe Rustica Description:
This casual spot in Carmel Valley Village once housed a pizzeria, and though there are plenty of choices on the menu---from grilled chicken to roasted pork---the best thing here now, ironically, is the pizza, which arrives with a thin, crisp crust and elegant stylings. The Lorraine pizza stands out, with caramelized sweet yellow onions, maple smoked bacon, lots of Swiss Gruyère and parsley. We can't help but mention the smoked salmon pizza---another favorite. We also like the flammekueche, an Alsatian tarte flambée, presented with diced prosciutto, onions, fresh thyme and crème fraîche---it takes on a lovely smoky character after succumbing to the flames of the oven. Much like a mezze plate is the appetizer of marinated and grilled shrimp skewers on a Tuscan white bean salad with roasted red peppers. Heartier fare includes a lovely Hungarian paprika beef goulash on egg noodles. The wine list features several selections from the nine AVAs of Monterey County. Although Julien Belliard has taken over from longtime owners Sylvia Medina and Paulo Kautz, the menu and the service are still the same, and Café Rustica remains a hot-spot for locals who fill the tables and call this place their own.


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