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My wife and I were searching for wineries in the Carmel Valley and stumbled upon the Corkscrew Cafe, located about 12 miles east of Highway 1 along Carmel Valley Road. While I’m not certain of any formal affiliation, the restaurant serves wines from the neighboring Georis and Cowgirl wineries.
The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and we opted to sit outside to enjoy the beautiful weather (a perfect 69°). We were seated at a table for two next to a small water feature and pond. The atmosphere was excellent—ideal for a late lunch or early dinner. Because we were seated behind the restaurant, traffic noise from Carmel Valley Road was minimal and pleasantly masked by the gentle sound of the water feature.
We ordered a bottle of Georis Cabernet Franc to share. It was an approachable, well-balanced red—full-bodied without being heavy, smooth on the palate, and dry enough to pair nicely with food.
For appetizers, we chose the Calamaretti Fritti and the Bread Service. The calamaretti arrived with both a light tartar sauce and a cocktail sauce.
The bread service was excellent. The bread arrived in two pieces, each roughly four inches square—almost flatbread-like, but thicker—with an open, lacy crumb and a well-burnished crust, each piece approximately an inch thick. It was served with an outstanding olive oil dipping blend of balsamic, chili flakes, parmesan, garlic, and basil—a perfect pairing.
For our main, we shared the Margherita pizza, topped with traditional sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and cherry tomatoes. The pizza had a thin crust and measured about 12 inches in diameter—ideal for sharing. The slightly oven-roasted tomatoes were a standout.
Of course, we had to top off the visit with a shared lave cake and vanilla Gelato.
We were very happy to have found this little gem and will definitely be back. Service was excellent—attentive without being intrusive. Highly recommended.