La Dolce Vita Ristorante-Carmel, Carmel-By-The-Sea

Rustic elegance characterizes the menu at La Dolce Vita Ristorante, a Carmel-by-the-Sea eatery where the Melendez family prepares Italian cuisine following old family recipes. The family crafts housemade pastas, bakes gourmet pizzas, and presents fresh seafood in specialties such as crab ravioli in rich, creamy champagne sauce. The restaurant's warm hospitality is just as comforting as its food—attentive servers move amid tables draped in white linens, describing dishes and gently popping the corks of Italian and Californian wines.