Dametra Cafe

Had a lovely garden salad with a perfectly balanced dressing, and soup. The atmosphere feels unique, almost middle eastern, though it is Greek. Waiter was very polite and professional. The view was just lovely! Everything about it is unique!!! Went many years ago and was impressed and now I'm back and still impressed! The last time there was even free live entertainment!

Rating: 5/5 Delicious Food, Warm Ambiance, and a Memorable Experience Dametra Cafe is a quaint and charming spot serving delicious Mediterranean food. We visited on December 29th for dinner with friends, and though the wait time was around 30 minutes, it was well worth it. Once seated, the service was friendly and efficient, adding to the cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The food was sumptuous and flavorful, and the ambiance was delightful. The highlight of the evening was the live performance by the owner (at least I think it was him!)—a catchy and foot-tapping song that made the experience truly unique. Highly recommended for great food, amazing service, and a lively, memorable vibe!

My first impression from Dametra Cafe was, the place had a good vibe, and interesting atmosphere. However, the day we dined in, one of their restrooms had some problems and it was being fixed. Our waiter didn’t let us use the unbroken one but after some time we saw other customers were using it. That made my experience like losing my good vibe. However, I liked my food, it was well cooked and delicious. My husband’s food was a bit overcooked.

Let’s start with the positives: the atmosphere! It’s a very busy restaurant with warm interior decoration and even live music during part of our visit. The staff were also very friendly and accommodating. So far, so good. Unfortunately, I can’t give them a very high rating—and that’s because of the food. My salad didn’t taste good at all; the vegetables were fried in old oil, which was easy to taste. The gyros weren’t authentic Greek gyros either. It was more like a mix of different smashed meats. The worst part of the meal was the dolmas—extremely oily, lacking flavor, and the grape leaves tasted bitter. I travel often to Turkey and Greece, and these dolmas were far from anything I’d consider edible.

I had an amazing dining experience at Demetra Mediterranean Dining in Carmel-by-the-Sea! I visited with my parents, who were visiting from out of town, and it was the perfect spot to show them around. From the moment we walked in, we were seated quickly, and the service was outstanding throughout the night. The staff was incredibly attentive, making sure we had everything we needed, and they even surprised us with a complimentary baklava, which was such a sweet and thoughtful touch. We ordered a mix of dishes, and everything was absolutely delicious. My dad had the salmon, which he loved, while my mom enjoyed the Caesar salad. We also shared the bruschetta, which was fresh and tasty. I went for the four-cheese ravioli, and it was perfect—rich, creamy, and full of flavor. The atmosphere was just as impressive as the food. There was live music, and the vibe was so lively that people were even dancing. It added a festive, joyful energy to the whole experience. I can’t recommend this place enough if you’re looking for great food, warm service, and a fun, vibrant setting. Five stars all the way!

Love this place reminded of our trips to Greece and Spain. The food is amazing, and the atmosphere is energetic. Live music staff encourages dancing in the aisle. Fun fun fun. Good wine selection 👌.

I recently dined at a Greek Dametra Caf that offered a pleasant experience overall. The food was good, with flavorful dishes, though I wouldn't say it reached the top tier of Greek cuisine. The service was attentive and friendly, making the meal enjoyable. A nice touch was the complimentary bread served at the start and the free baklava at the end, which added a lovely finish to the meal. While it might not be the best Greek food I've ever had, it was certainly a satisfying experience.

Mina is the best host, making every visit feel warm and welcoming. The culinary delights are exceptional, with flavors that truly stand out. It’s a family-friendly spot where everyone feels at home. My experience was unforgettable, thanks to the perfect blend of hospitality and delicious food. Highly recommend!

This place is amazing. Lamb shank is so good I always order 2. The service is top. They treat their customer as family. It's just you are eating at home. Prices are reasonable. The staff is great and very attentive. I come here every time I am in Carmel. Have to stop by you will love it. They also have live music and get the customer dancing. Fun and positive.

We've been loyal customers of this restaurant for eight years, and when the owner is here, everything runs perfectly. However, when he's not, the service is unacceptable, and this visit was the worst yet. As soon as we sat down, a staff member rudely told my kids to stay quiet until the food arrived--completely uncalled for. The cups were dirty, and hot tea was served in Turkish coffee cups, which was very odd. It's clear that without the owner, the staff doesn't prioritize good service or hospitality. After years of coming here, we've decided not to return. It's disappointing to see how much the service has declined.

Dametra Cafe is such a gem. It was our first weekend visit to Carmel (ever!) and we heard such great things about this restaurant, including such stellar Yelp reviews. My parents had gone here before and loved the vibe from start to finish. From quality, value, and restaurant personality both with staff and interior, we picked a winner for sure. The staff was super kind in taking our stroller to a hideaway location while we ate; we arrived a bit after they opened ironically and were able to be seated right away. As we enjoyed lunch we noticed how popular this spot is as the line out the door made us feel like we were restaurant royalty for a minute of time. We started with the flaming cheese and pita/hummus. Always a fun presentation and equally delicious spread on the warm pita. This was baby's first hummus experience and it was a winner! We ordered a bottle of wine for the table and I did the gyro plate (comes with salad and rice), while others ordered the gyro pita with fries, one with rice, and my husband did the Jerusalem Kafta Kabob served with salad and rice. Omg what beautiful plating and portion sizes! We could only get through half of our meals, taking the rest to-go for fun snaking later on our weekend getaway trip. I see what the chatter is all about ~ such a perfect marriage of outstanding flavors in every bite. If you're looking for an aesthetically pleasing spot with comforting yet traditional bites with a little extra to taken with you on your journeys, this is no doubt the place to go. Also loved the complimentary baklava on the way out. A nice touch to end the meal with. Bravo! If and when we make it back to Carmel, this is for sure on our list.

My work team had a lunch here to celebrate the end of an event and it is such a cute cafe on a corner of scenic Carmel. We were seated right by a large window so we could look out and people watch. We started with their combo starter and everything tasted amazing. They had a wide variety of options for food, I would have expected only Mediterranean options, but there was something for even the burger and fries folks. I got a chicken sandwich which came with a salad and some awesome green goddess sauce/dressing and took half of it home. The servers were attentive and have a second round of explanation of what was on the appetizer platter since most of our party had been held up in traffic. To top things of, we were given a bit of baklava on the house and it was so so good and beautifully presented.

While looking into what restaurants we definitely had to try during our time in Monterey and Carmel, one name kept coming up among the recommendations from family and friends alike - Dametra Cafe. Whether it be about the food, the vibe, and just the experience as a whole, nearly everything we had heard about this place was more than a little positive. Of course, that was before seeing the sheer volume of positive reviews for them on Yelp! So, as much as I tried to avoid it, I'd be lying if I said I didn't come here with some lofty (and hopeful) expectations! Initially, as we first walked up to the door, the restaurant didn't seem all that large (the host stand is a small counter right by the door), nor did it seem very busy. However, not only did it fill up quick, but it's actually a lot more spacious that I thought, with enough room for them to even bring out music instruments and get folks (including us) to dance with them during the middle of the dinner service. Similarly, the menu is also surprisingly extensive, both in terms of the number of dishes they have and the range of cuisines it spans - Italian, Greek, Spanish, Lebanese, French, and even Syrian. It's not always a good sign when a restaurant covers that many, but we had faith based on everything we had heard. Plus, I can't say we minded having so many choices to pick from! -- BABA GHANOUGE - Fire Roasted Eggplant Mixed with Garlic, Lemon, Olive Oil, and Greek Yogurt with Pita Bread...$13.95 I usually opt for hummus, but I'm glad we got this. The baba ghanouge had a nice mix of flavors (I especially liked the hit of garlic it had), but the taste of the eggplant wasn't overpowered either. Plus, the consistency was perfect - thick enough to stay on the pita bread, but not chunky either. -- FRUTTI DI MARE with Mussels, Clams, Salmon, Snapper, and Shrimp in a Light Garlic Pinot Grigio Sauce over Spaghetti with Garlic Ciabatta Bread...$39.95 Ironically, I wish this had more pasta because this had a ton of seafood! The salmon and mussels, in particular, were great, but I wish the snapper hadn't fallen apart (it tasted dry). Also, I loved the taste of the ciabatta bread, but the edges were really hard/crunchy/ -- GREEK STYLE LAMB SHANK - Six Hours Braised Lamb Shank Topped with Lamb Au Jus Served over Potatoes Au Gratin and Vegetables...$36.95 First and foremost, plus points for portion size - the shank was huge! However, while it did fall off the bone, the lamb wasn't as juicy as I would've liked. The au jus certainly helped, but it was also fairly salty. Funny enough, the star of the dish was actually the potatoes au gratin - genuinely, the best I've ever had! -- BAKLAVA - Layers of Phyllo Dough with Chopped Nuts, Syrup, and Honey...$Free Not sure why they comped this (maybe because they roped us into dancing?), but I'm not complaining - it was great! The layers of phyllo dough were crisp and the filling layer of the fillings in between were both delicious and not terribly sweet. As far as service goes, all of the different servers who helped us, as well as the host (manager?) who stopped by to check on us, were terrific. They were all very friendly and made us feel super welcomed (it felt like they were genuinely happy to have us there, unlike another restaurant during our trip...). Between that and the fun and lively atmosphere (we saw lots of folks walking by stop to look in when they were playing music and singing), eating at Dametra is just as much about the experience as a whole as the food itself. Which is a good thing because, while our dishes were definitely above average, they didn't impress as much as I had hoped for. Then again, all of those preconceived expectations undeniably had something to do with it. I'd still come back, though I'm curious about other places too. THREE AND A HALF STARS for the food, but rounded up everything else.

Dametra Cafe is my favorite food spot in Carmel. I go here every time I come to Carmel. The restaurant is beautiful and has nice decorations. They also have a huge selection of wine if you're a fan of wine. The servers are always welcoming and very friendly. My go to order is the clam chowder, I think it's perfect to have near the beach. The clam chowder is creamy and delicious. It also is very filling. I love the complimentary bread and dessert, which both taste really good. For appetizers I have gotten the pita bread with hummus which tastes really good and the smoked salmon with goat cheese which I really enjoyed too. I highly recommend if you're ever in Carmel.

Dametra Cafe in Carmel by the Sea continues to be a gem, offering an unforgettable dining experience. A year later, we were seated at the exact same spot as our last visit, which added a special touch to the occasion. The service was impeccable as always, with Dalia hosting us with warmth and attention, and Nadeem ensuring everything was perfect by checking in with us on the food quality. Ameer remembered us from our previous visit, which made the experience feel even more personalized. As always, Ismael serenaded the guests with his soulful music, creating a memorable atmosphere. Now, let's dive into the food: Fried Calamari: The calamari was perfectly crisp, lightly battered to achieve a delicate crunch on the outside, while maintaining tender and succulent texture on the inside. Each piece was seasoned just right, with a squeeze of lemon bringing out the best of the flavors. Spanakopita: This dish was a true comfort food--crispy, flaky phyllo dough wrapped around a savory filling of spinach and creamy feta cheese. The richness of the feta paired wonderfully with the earthiness of the spinach, and the pastry was golden and perfectly baked. Grilled Jumbo Prawns: These prawns were grilled to perfection, each one bursting with juiciness and smokiness from the grill. The seasoning was light, letting the natural sweetness of the prawns shine through, while the slight char added depth and a savory edge. Almond-Crusted Halibut: The halibut was a standout, with a golden-brown almond crust that provided a lovely crunch. The fish itself was perfectly cooked, moist and flaky with a delicate flavor that paired harmoniously with the nutty crunch of the crust. A drizzle of sauce added richness and tied the dish together. Lamb Chops: These lamb chops were beautifully cooked, each one perfectly seared on the outside while remaining tender and juicy on the inside. The seasoning was bold and flavorful, enhancing the natural taste of the lamb without overpowering it. Each chop was a melt-in-your-mouth experience. Raspberry Cheesecake with Coffee: Ending on a sweet note, the raspberry cheesecake was a delight. The creamy, rich texture of the cheesecake was perfectly balanced with the tartness of the raspberry topping. The crust provided just the right amount of crunch, and the coffee paired beautifully with the dessert, giving a warm, bitter contrast to the sweet and tangy flavors of the cheesecake. Adding ahold to glory was a baklava serving that happened to be on the house and made our experience even more sweet :) Overall, Dametra Cafe offers more than just great food--it's an experience. From the welcoming staff to the soulful music, this restaurant continues to be a top pick in Carmel for both locals and visitors alike. The combination of exceptional dishes and an inviting atmosphere guarantees that we will be returning again and again.

Excellent service and engaging staff in the heart of Carmel. The menu gives an excellent selection of Eastern Mediterranean dishes. Well prepared and presented our chchoices were delicious. The owners are from Syria and Jordan, and the ambiance is casual but lively with live music (on a Monday night!) that added to the happy, friendly atmosphere. A good selection of wines and beer available as well.

Cozy Turkish restaurant with great vibe. It's quite popular at Carmel, we waited for awhile to get it. Dolmas - leaves wrapped with rice Baba ghanouge: eggplant served with pita bread. Both appetizers were mediocre. Greek moussaka- eggplant style lasagna, the ground beef was good. Almond crusted halibut- the best. It came with rice pilaf or potatoes. The rice was tasteless. Lamb shank- the meat was juicy and tender. They gave us complimentary small bites of baklava too.

Incredible experience at Dametra. In all aspects, great ambiance, service, and of course, food. It's located right on the corner of the main strip in Carmel-by-the-Sea. It has two window seating areas on the corner. Get one of those seating areas! You have a great meal whilst people watching. The wait staff is very attentive. They have waiters that take orders as well as servers that bring food. All great folks. But the food is the real reason. We started with warm bread coupled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Wonderful. We added another appetizer, the hummus with pita bread. Drizzled with olive oil. paprika and parsley. Yum! And for our meals, the Jeruselum Kofta Kebab Wrap was excellent. I like foods that I can pick up with to eat, like sandwiches, burritos, and wraps, so perfect for me. The meat was extremely tender and delicious. I'm to a salad fan, but this greek salad was very good. We also had the Istanbul Kebab. This was a plate so it came with rice and pita. And of course, the yummy greek salad. We were too full and even took home leftovers, so we waived dessert. Guess what? They brought us a small piece of baklava anyway, complimentary. And it was goooooood!

My partner and I had a wonderful time here at the Dametra Cafe. It was a beautiful, cultural experience. We went on a Monday evening and the service was incredibly attentive and checked in on us frequently. There was live music the night that we went and we danced around the space with some of the other patrons. Truly felt like we were in Greece! My partner got full off the calamari and complimentary bread before his meal came! He had the gyros plate and I had the veggie delight. Everything was very tasty , specifically the dips/ dressings and salad. We were given complimentary baklava at the end to end the night, which was very sweet and unexpected.

Great restaurant, everything is delicious. Loved everything we tried. Lots of celebrations happened the night we were there, so there was constant Happy Birthdays and loud music happening. It was hard to hold a conversation while the music was playing, especially went it went on for several minutes.

PRO'S: We came for a very early dinner at 4:00pm so we were seated very quickly although it was fairly full even at that hour. It's a tiny restaurant. The bread served before dinner was delicious and warm. The rice pilaf served with the kabob's was tasty and soft, and I liked the salad even though it was not traditional Greek salad. CON'S: Although the chicken on the kabob's had a tasty mayo based green sauce drizzled on it, the texture of the chicken tasted like it came from a can. Very strange. The ground beef "Istanbul" kabobs were nicely flavored but tough and quite small. The waiter barely put any olive oil or balsamic vinegar on the plate for our bread, then took our bottle away even though I noticed other tables got the olive oil left at the table. We never saw him after that so had to eat most of the bread dry. Not sure why they were so cheap with us? We saw the table next to us get a free piece of baklava, but not us. I wonder why they treat people differently? The couple next to us hardly ordered much food, so it's not based on how much you spend. I guess they didn't like our faces? Kind of unfair. The price of the entrees is much too high. They then also tack on a percentage if you use a credit card. That should be for the business to absorb not charge the customer! To be honest they did not deserve a tip but I left one cause I am way too nice.

Love this place. Food is amazing. Every single dish we tried over the years is just delicious. Great friendly atmosphere. Super busy. Make sure you make reservations ahead of time.

Came on a Saturday for lunch, restaurant was pretty full. Food was disappointing, definitely not worth the value. What we tried, best to worst: - Clam chowder cup: friend enjoyed this one. - Shrimp and crab ravioli: this was pretty good, lots of pesto sauce. - Grilled salmon entree: just okay, could've been better. - Frutti di mare: really lacking flavor, texture was off. Service and ambiance were just okay. Not sure I'd return next time.

The best Mediterranean restaurant in town! It is right in the downtown Carmel and we had a small line close to noon on a Thursday while the restaurant was packed. We only waited for a few minutes but I would imagine for a weekend the wait could be longer. The restaurant has a nice vibe with decorative murals, paintings and multiple flags from Greece/Italy/Lebanon. We ordered the following dishes and they were all great and 10/10! Greek starter plate - Comes with three dipping sauces /eggplant, yogurt and hummus) with pitas on the side. Chicken shawarma sandwich - Flavorful chicken in two half sandwiches and coleslaw with a side of Greek salad. Lamb and beef gyro plate - comes with gyro marinated in perfection (not overall salty). The rice pilaf has great flavor (saffron colored) and nicely firm texture too! At the end, I would recommend not ordering any dessert and they will bring a baklava for free!

Dametra Cafe sits pretty on Ocean Avenue in Carmel. With plenty of restaurants to choose from in a small proximity, you should consider dining here while on your vacation. Hands down it's the most lively restaurant you'll get to experience in Carmel. Family owned and operated, Dametra is a Mediterranean restaurant with a wide-ranging menu spanning numerous countries. My usual opinion is if a place is doing too much then it's not going to be a lights out meal, but I'll tip my cap to Dametra for doing a great job on making many types of foods from different Mediterranean cuisines very well. MUST ORDER: Dametra Royal Combination ($22.95) Hummus, Spanakopita, Dolmas, Baba Ghanouge, Tzatziki sauce. Serves two. All of it, I mean all of it, was outstanding. My wife and I were happy campers as we devoured this plate. Each bite was better than the rest. Almond Crusted Halibut ($39.95) Pan-seared wild Alaskan Halibut filet with Prawns over sautéed spinach with cream sauce and rice pilaf on the side. Good, but overpriced for the execution. It was all just overdone, though the flavors were there. It was a big plate of food, but the fish was dry even with the cream sauce trying to make up for it. THE BEST PART: The owner himself got the entire restaurant to stand up, clap, and start dancing. It turned into a full on production. Queue My Big Fat Greek Wedding! I'm not sure if I've ever seen an entire restaurant get on its feet and dance in the middle of service before, it was quite a sight for sore eyes. A memorable experience to say the least. They do pack a lot of people in here, which is fine for the party vibes, but maybe a bit excessive for a proper meal. They gifted us the last two seats at the bar, but it ended up being tight quarters considering the amount of servers running food and customers frequenting the bathroom. Still keeping Dametra as a must-do in Carmel. Talk about a fun time!

Food was fresh. Ambience was music and dancing every hour. Service was one on one like it should be. This place is the only restaurant open after 9 PM and still at 10:30. People were showing up even though they close at 11. Very professional staff and very friendly. This place is packed even in the middle of the week.

The service here was excellent! Very friendly staff that checked up on us frequently. However I'm going to give the food itself only 3 stars. I got the Greek combination plate and although the gyros were good, the chicken kebab was actually quite dry. My boyfriend got the chicken shawarma and it was smothered in sauce which was a bit overpowering to the dish. The decor of the restaurant is cute though and matches the whole Mediterranean vibe. They gave us a desert with our check and it was pretty good! I'm not sure what it was but it was a nice sweet treat.

3.75 stars Waited about 20-30 mins on a Saturday night for a group of 6. The service was fine though at times a little odd because our waitress would only bring water for the adults and leave out the 2 kids that were with us (same with plates and utensils). Eventually she did bring out plates and utensils for the kids after being asked a few times. However, it was pretty busy so I understand. The manager also came out to check on us a few times which was really nice. Now onto the food we got: Flaming cheese saganaki (comes out with a show of fire, tasted ok but would probably not get again) Grilled salmon (I chose the potatoes au gratin accompaniment, potatoes were good, salmon was ok) Greek combination platter (loved the tzatziki and gyros that this comes with, chicken was a little dry) Our friends also got the fisherman's cioppino which I didn't try but they said they liked. The ambience is very lively and fun! There was a guitar and drums duo coming out to perform about once every hour (we saw it at 6:30 and 7:40ish), and many people getting up to dance. It was definitely an experience to say the least and since the pandemic I've found moments like these especially precious. It also reminds me how far we have come since then and our resilience... Anyways, recommend the tzatziki and gyros for food. Oh and they gave us free baklava at the end of our meal, which was a nice touch!

Updating my review from 2019: Yet another great experience, with the owner, Bashar, treating us like regulars even though we only come in once a year. We brought friends this time to experience the fun and great food here. They loved it. As always, the singing and dancing were great, and so was the food. Original 2019 Review: Don't come here if you don't like having fun. The owners are the best at understanding how to create a great customer experience; treating everyone who walks through the door like they're a regular. We had talked to the owner a few days earlier when we had lunch at one of their other places, Portabella, and he remembered my name when we showed up for dinner at Dametra; and, he hugged me! It was like dining at a place owned by an old friend. So, how's the food? Incredible! They start you our with some excellent hummus drizzled with a very good olive oil and served with pita. Then they bring out fantastic bread served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. They don't have a full bar, but there is an extensive wine list. My only complaint is that I've never tried a middle-eastern wine and they don't offer it by the glass. Otherwise, our group of 5 had two orders of the Bruschetta, which had very flavorful tomatoes. For entrees, we had the Lamb Shank, Prawn Pasta, Shrimp & Crab Ravioli, Four Cheese Ravioli, and Spaghetti Bolognese. All were excellent. Then comes the music and dancing. Yes, you're going to dance! The owner plays an Oud (middle-eastern string instrument), staff play different percussion instruments, and one of the servers has a wonderful voice. Desserts were great and at the end of the evening, one of the owners (Faisal) walked us out and hugged us all, again like old friends parting until next time. Can't wait to go back!

I had the lamb shank and i was utterly amazed at how good it was. So good that i am now seriously considering traveling to here every year just to eat it again. Service was superb. The ambience was perfect. At this cafe, you definitely get your money's worth!

Tasty food, good size portions, friendly staff and relaxing atmosphere. Must visit for lunch when you in the area.

I've dined here many times. Most of the time we get there. Fabulous Greek platter. It's enough for two people. Today we tried something different. My guest ordered the mozzarella sandwich smashing with mozzarella basil tomato on a beautiful bread that was toasted. I ordered the artichoke ravioli. Round ravioli coated with fresh basil, a little garlic and olive oil. That was the only sauce off the charts. Demetra is one of our favorite places!

As always, Dametra Cafe was excellent. This was my first lunch here in a few years, as we normally make dinner reservations. The lunch menu has a wide variety of options. It's obvious that the ingredients are fresh. All of their dishes are authentic and delicious. The portions are perfect for lunch. If you are in the area, make the stop!

What a wonderful evening out with our Montana friends. We were welcomed at the door into a charming, warm restaurant. The menu has the usual middle eastern food choices, and we throughly enjoyed the hummus/olive appetizer served with a tasty bread. The complimentary baklava bites at the end were delicious. The best part of the evening was the live guitar, drum, singing, and dancing. For such a small space, they really know how to party here.

Authentic Mediterranean fare from all around the Mediterranean. Perfect Greek dolma to start , and delicious baklava to finish the lunch. Reservations for dinner are hard to come by so go for lunch....there is a reason it's hard to get dinner reservations....because it's worth the drive from Santa Barbara to eat here!

Food here was delicious! We made a reservation ahead of time and were seated right away when we came. I don't have it pictured but the calamari was our favorite! The Istanbul kebabs was a complete and tasty meal, and the moussaka was so good as well! Of course it felt a little pricy but for the large portions and considering the location, we felt it was worth it. Overall we loved it and would highly recommend!

A great stop when you're visiting Carmel! It's packed for good reason and my favorite dish here is the lamb kabob. They are generous with their bread and the portions are hearty. A great place to feast and then walk it off downtown!

mediocre at best. Maybe bc I went on a weekday? Everything moved very slow even though most tables were empty. I ended up taking my food to go bc it took so long. The people next to me sent their soups back bc it was still cold. :-O I ordered the Istanbul kebab. Good but dry. Lavash was old and stale. I thought there was outdoor seating based on pictures posted on Yelp. But the waiter said there isn't. I will not dine here again.

The food was not bad at all. I ordered the caprese sandwich and it was pretty good; the ingredients were fresh and the bread was crusty snd delicious. However, to say the least, the place is really busy. All the tables were camped together and it was hard to maneuver. Other than that I really enjoyed this restaurant and would totally come here again!

Love love love our time here! Delicious food with big portions and live music. Came here on a Monday night for a party of 2 with reservation made a week in advance. We got the best table by the window. We tried the clam chowder, fisherman's cioppino and Dametra pasta. Really enjoyed the complimentary bread with olive oil and vinegar. The clam chowder was thick and creamy. The pasta was cooked al dente and flavorful. The fisherman's cioppino was our favorite; it had a generous amount of seafood and the seafood tasted fresh. There was live music towards the end of the meal and all the customers were invited to dance. Love the vibe and the staff there were all very nice. We got a bite size baklava as dessert on the house. Will definitely come back next time!

I had been wanting to try Dametra's for the longest time but every time I'm in the area, there's a long wait. Finally got the opportunity to go when they opened but unfortunately I left disappointed. There is complimentary bread given after you order and is served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Spanakopita 4/5: Probably my favorite. The phyllo dough was so crispy and the warm cheese was chewy and tasty. The textures went well together. It was a lovely appetizer. Chicken shawarma wrap 3.5/5: I expected the chicken to be juicy and flavorful but it was bland and dry. The lavash wrap was tasty but the chicken pieces kept falling out along with everything inside it. It came with a side salad that had cheese dressing -- probably feta -- and was definitely not my favorite part of the meal. I couldn't finish it. There was also a creamy green dressing for the wrap that was not to my liking as well since it also tasted cheesy. I was disappointed in this dish, but probably just not my cup of tea. Baklava 3/5: This was complimentary. I have to be honest, I have had much better tasting baklava elsewhere. This one tasted particularly stale. The inside of the restaurant was nicely and colorfully decorated. It became pretty busy while we were eating and service was great. I just wish the food was better.

The food was delicious! They provide complimentary bread and olive oil while you wait for your food. We got the spanakopita for the appetizer , highly recommend it! For the main, we got the Lamb shanks, very juicy and flavorful. They even provide complimentary baklava at the end.

A very cute mediterranean restaurant in Carmel-By-The-Sea! My family and I were looking for a lighter lunch option while visiting the area and found this restaurant. We picked it mostly because there wasn't a huge wait. My family doesn't typically eat mediterranean/greek food but they were impressed by this place! We ordered a variety of dishes to share, including a salmon burger, a chicken pasta dish, and some meat skewers. All the plates had a lot of veggies (the skewers and salmon burger came with a fresh salad) so it felt like a pretty healthy lunch. The food was flavorful and plated really beautifully. We also got spanakopita as an appetizer which had a nicely thin crispy wrapper and was flavorfully filled. It was my family's first time trying spanakopita and they liked it a lot. We were even served complimentary baklava at the end of the meal, which was such so nice! The decor in this restaurant is really cool -- it's very on theme with the food they serve and makes you feel like you're somewhere in Greece eating at a local restaurant. The music they play is really soothing and peaceful as well. Great service & delicious food! Would highly recommend if you're looking for a lunch place while visiting Carmel. My family had a great time :)

This was a great spot to enjoy a late lunch/early dinner, while also avoiding the rain. My mom and k started with the labneh, which was quite delicious. It was actually pretty sizable for an appetizer so we filled up on that and the complimentary bread. My mom then got a cup of the clam chowder--excellent. We also shared the cioppino, a dish I've always wanted to try but haven't because I don't like the texture of squid and octopus also isn't my jam. Since there was no squid and octopus in this dish, it was my chance! Was it 'authentic?' Probably not, but it was mighty delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly, too. When we were getting ready to leave, there was a guitar player about to start. It's cool to see live music at a restaurant these days! The owner also came by to ask about our meals.

The shrimp and crab ravioli was divine! The pesto sauce was unbelievable. The service was lovely, but be aware there is loud and lively music.

This place is pretty amazing . The service was super amazing. Felt very romantic when you sit there to eat. The food was delicious! Definitely would come back here again !

One of the best restaurant experiences I've had the pleasure of enjoying. The staff is clearly VERY happy to be there. Positive energy in this wine-focused gem of a cafe. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5

We actually visited this place twice in two days ... first time just for a drink at their cute little bar then the next day for lunch. Their bar is mostly wine and beer and a few classic cocktails. The wines we had were really good. A Malbec and a glass of champagne. Next days lunch was so delish ! I loved the feel and warmth of their dining room. The music was cool Greek tunes. Very Mediterranean and classic decor. The service was superb. Every person who worked here smiled at you when they made eye contact and our servers were super courteous. The manager came by both days we were there also and talked to us and all other tables to see how we were enjoying our food and wine. Nice touch. For lunch I had a Aperol spritz to start and we chose the baba ghanouge , this fire roasted eggplant dip was insanely delicious and so fresh. The warm house made pita also soft and melt in your mouth good. There also bring you a bread service with olive oil. Again house made and nice carb goodness. This place is not for the anti carb folks! Suck it up and eat it all as it is delicious. I'm pretty much already full at this point but you go on ! I split the chicken shawarma wrap with my friend so we could fit in more food! A half is plenty!!! Yummy chicken seasoned perfectly and fresh tzatziki and veggies all wrapped tightly in lavash bread. So much flavor that you are literally salivating . I enjoyed this meal so much. You can't leave without dessert! So the raspberry cheesecake was calling me and again a fantastic menu choice. Creamy mousse like and I loved the crust and the raspberry sauce. They also gave us a couple of complimentary pieces of baklava . Housemade of course! That was nice and flaky and full of honey and nuts. It's not really my thing but this one being fresh was really good. It makes all the difference. Dining here was hands down One of the best experiences in Carmel. Wish I could have fit in a night visit as they have live music and entertainment every night. Next time for sure. This place is a must eat at in Carmel.

This is a happy place with very accommodating staff that sings! Our dinner consisted of lamb shish kebab, grilled salmon, and tiramisu. Unfortunately, the lamb was flavorless, the salmon tasted like burned oil, and what broke my heart was the tiramisu, which tasted like food fillers. We were not able to detect any traces of coffee or mascarpone cheese that are typically found in tiramisu.

Pretty disappointing experience at Dametra. It came highly recommended, so I was excited. We dined on a Saturday night and it was absolutely packed which seemed like a promising sign. First we were given the standard bread and oil. The bread was tasty, but when my partner turned it over there was a dark green spot that looked like mold. When we asked our server, she reassured us that it was not mold and actually pistachio because the breads get made together (???). So if someone had a severe nut allergy they'd be in trouble (if it was actually pistachio and not mold, of which we are still skeptical). Next, I ordered a "Sangria" which was not at all real sangria. Not one single piece of fruit, and very very very sweet. To start we ordered the Dametra platter, this was pretty solid, nothing stood out as phenomenal or terrible about it. Next up was the Greek salad. This was *not* at all what a Greek salad should be. It should not come with Lettuce and it was desperately missing red onions. I have no issue with spins on classic dishes, but this was way too far off. Taste was basic. Finally, we ordered the Dametra pasta. Just one look at the picture and you can tell the chicken in the dish is sub par. I wouldn't be surprised if these were frozen chicken nuggets that were heated up and served. The breading on them were extremely soggy from being mixed in the with the sauce. Otherwise the taste was OK. We were given complimentary Baklava which was nice and our server was very attentive. Bummer because I was looking forward to it.

Such a gem! My sister, 2-year-old daughter and I had dinner here on Thursday night and we had a fantastic time. We shared the hummus and baba ganoush starters - so, so good, but too much for just us since we were also getting entrees. (Don't worry - we enjoyed the leftovers the next day!) I then split the gyro plate with my daughter and my sister had the Greek salad with falafels added. We both were in love with our entrees. Even my 2-year-old happily ate the gyro plate. We finished off the meal with a little bit of baclava, which was also very, very good. I can see why this restaurant has such high ratings as the whole meal was perfection. To top it off, they had a little bit of live music, which we all enjoyed. Service was wonderful (everyone was very charming and friendly). It was a wonderful evening!

Food was flavorless. The clam chowder claiming to be the best was creamy, but not flavorful. Campbells does better. Salmon was ok, potatoes were ok. Just not great..

Perfect! Superb experience. My sister and I went in for dinner very early and we were given the best table by the window. Five stars all around. The food was all that we expected of a Mediterranean dish and then some. Our servers are both friendly and attentive. The ambience is perfection.

This place deserves ALL THE STARS! A must go dinner spot in Carmel. This was our second time visiting and each time did not disappoint. Their appetizers are divine! We started with the Spanakopita and the Labneh cheese. So much flavor, and such big portions! You can do well with just one appetizer for two. For dinner we shared the Moussaka and it is still hands down the best Moussaka we've ever had! Every last bite was full of flavor! We paired it with a red Lebanese wine bottle that was fantastic. Let's not forget dessert. We got the panna cotta and they also gave us Baklava on the house! The service was excellent! Very attentive wait staff and the owner came around checking on every table as well. The ambiance is also part of the experience. Gotta love the live music surprise. I can't wait to come back to Carmel and visit Demetra Café again.

We had the best time at Demetra! The ambiance was cozy and inviting, the staff was wonderful, and the food was delish! They even brought us complimentary baklava to end the meal. A must if you're in Carmel!

I got the Moroccan mint tea and this was good, they use real mint leaves. All of the sugar in the tea was at the bottom on the tea pot they give you. Think i'll try the persian tea next time to compare. The appetizers were the best part, the baba ganosh was creamy, smokey and delicious. I got the lamb shank and felt underwhelmed. The rice wasn't really favored and was a bit oily.

This is my second visit and as a lover of lamb shish this place is fantastic. Not to mention fun pretty laid back vibe with a musician strolling the dining room. A little pricey but you get two large skewers with lamb tomato onion a side of pilaf and salad. We also get a platter with our favorite appetizers. Super busy make a reservation no outside seating unfortunately. Worth the drive from Santa Cruz!