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Nicolas Cocina de Herencia, Carmel, CA

Nicolas Cocina de Herencia

4.6 (356)
$31 to $50
Mexican
ocean avenue & Mission St suite 111, Carmel, CA 93921

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 16 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
Reservations are not needed but are recommended, Walk ins are Welcome.

The newest creation from the owners of the beloved Villa Azteca in Downtown Salinas (Salinas City Center), the eatery honoring the Alvarez family patriarch will open Summer 2023 in Carmel Plaza. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant will have indoor dining, bar seating and a small outdoor space, serving specialty Michoacán dishes as well as other Mexican favorites, incorporating three generations of family recipes.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mexican
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Daily 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Andres Becerra & Susana Alvarez

What 356 people are saying

Nicolas Cocina de Herencia reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Innovative

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Hot spot

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Romantic

  • Monterey / Carmel

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Nestled in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Nicolas Cocina de Herencia offers "authentic modern Mexican cuisine" in a "stylish and spacious" setting. The "superb service and awesome menu" are highlights, with standout dishes like the Shrimp Enchilada and bone marrow shrimp. While prices are on the higher side, the "great ambiance" and "creative drinks" make it worth the visit. Notable for its "unique and creative" offerings, this restaurant is perfect for those seeking an upscale dining experience with a touch of Mexican tradition.

356 Reviews
  1. Denise

    Los Angeles2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I showed up early and they were still able to accommodate me and my dog. They were so kind about the dog and getting cushions and the heater on outside. Were very quick to get me all the food and drinks I ordered.

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  2. Joshua

    Las Vegas2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a gem in Carmel by the Sea. The food was exceptional as were the drinks. 10/10

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  3. Hailey VIP

    Seattle9 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Service started out great then our server disappeared. Food finally came after forever. Fish was so overcooked and dry and the enchiladas were swimming in sauce, entirely too much. Guac and margaritas were good otherwise it was an awful dinner. We had been here before but sadly won’t be back

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  4. Jody

    San Francisco27 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Our server, Esperanza, was fantastic and really added to our overall positive experience at our first time dining at Nicolas Covina de Herencia. We had the Esquites, which was one of the best I’ve ever had to date. It’s a dish I always order if it’s on the menu. We also tried the Salsa Trio, which were all very delicious. Then we split the Shrimp Enchilada, which was served with deliciously seasoned rice and beans. The Enchilada was so bright and flavorful. I would order that again as well. I had a glass of Serial Cabernet from Paso Robles, which was very good, and my husband had a margarita which he raved about. We can’t wait to return!

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  5. Elisa

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Piatti davvero ben presentati e buoni ,porzioni dei piatti principali giganti,si può tranquillamente ordinare un piatto principale e dividerlo ,siamo rimasti molto soddisfatti dalla qualità del cibo e del servizio

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  6. David

    Washington DC1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lively place serving non standard Mexican fare. Stylish and spacious. Some biggish parties but it’s spacious and you aren’t going to find yourself swamped if there are only two of you. Service was good and not rushed. Take your time he said after the check came. Prices quite high (because it’s different) but some cheaper options and wine by glass reasonable for the area. Owner came and checked us out. Would definitely go again.

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  7. Randy VIP

    Nashville12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food quality along with service were outstanding

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  8. Marc VIP

    Denver19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    If you're looking for authentic modern Mexican cuisine in a very cool setting you will be ecstatic that you found this outstanding Carmel-by-the-Sea jewel. They even accommodated a few out of the box requests without hesitation. Bottom line: superb service and awesome menu! 😋

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  9. lynne VIP

    San Francisco205 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 3, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Pricey but worth it. Nice decor, high quality ingredients, helpful service. Good margaritas too.

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  10. Lisa

    Greater Boston3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great spot! This will be a go to for years to come.

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FAQs

Nicolas Cocina de Herencia is rated 4.6 stars by 356 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. California Central Coast
  4. Monterey / Carmel
  5. Carmel

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 16 times today
Google Map for Nicolas Cocina de Herencia

ocean avenue & Mission St suite 111, Carmel, CA 93921

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Carmel
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Daily 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mexican
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Executive chef
    Andres Becerra & Susana Alvarez
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Wine
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