Yafa

This is our second time dining at Yafa. The food is tasty — which is why we returned. Sad to see they got rid of the parklet space (outdoor dining spots) — the restaurant is a bit crowded inside and the outdoor dining allowed you to feel more spread out (even though it was on a downhill slope). The hummus is delicious — wish they had gluten free pita; the table said the regular pita was amazing. The grilled octopus was good — flavors were there, texture was a bit chewy, rather than charred, for us. The pear salad was perfect for summer — great texture and combo of feta, walnuts, field greens, and pears; didn’t even need the dressing. Other folks enjoyed the lamb ravioli, salmon entree, and the lamb/beef kabob — all the dishes are highly recommended. The one thing that impacted the meal is that the restaurant seemed understaffed (which we recognize is a problem these days) — it seemed there were only two people helping with tables (plus greeting station) — beverages took a while and water was never refilled. May seem like a petty complaint, but it is is part of the overall experience, especially when you are paying $30-$50 per person for a meal.

Wonderful, romantic, family-owned, fun Palestinian/Mediterranean resturant in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The restaurant is owned by family from Yafa, Palestine, hence the name. Love the food and the atmosphere. Jack and his son Benjamin are great hosts. They have music, tasty Mediterranean food, and fun atmosphere. Highly recommended. The service was excellent and attentive. Jack started encouraging the customers to dance and it was so much fun. People were dancing, clapping, taking pictures and having a wonderful time. Yafa has Vegetarian, Vegan options and will show you how to order gluten free options, on the top of the beef, lamb, and fish selections. They have nice wine selections, wonderful décor. Jack makes you feel at home. Love the appetizers, and the lentil soup. I go there every time I am in Carmel. Five stars. Highly recommend.