Cantinetta Luca Opens in Carmel

Cantinetta Luca is the name of the new casual Italian restaurant from the owners of Carmel's Bouchée Restaurant & Wine Merchants and L'Auberge Carmel hotel and restaurant.

Located in the heart of downtown Carmel on Dolores Street between Ocean Avenue and 7th Street, Cantinetta Luca opened September 15, offering Italian dining in a casual, modern setting for local residents and families as well as area visitors.

Cantinetta Luca's bar opens daily at 3:30 p.m. The restaurant opens daily at 5:00 p.m. Additionally lunch service will begin in a few weeks. For more information telephone 831-625-6500.

Inspired by Visits to Italy

"We were inspired by visits to Italy and impressed by the simplicity and great flavors of Italian cantinettas. We wanted to bring that style here to Carmel," said owner David Fink.

David Fink, managing partner of Mirabel Hotel and Restaurant Group, LLC is a well known area hotelier and oenophile with more than 25 years experience as general manager at resorts Highlands Inn, The Lodge at Pebble Beach and other exclusive properties.

Working with him on the project is the team that has brought about the successes of Bouchée and L'Auberge Carmel, including chef/partner Walter Manzke, architect Jeffery Fink, David's brother, and interior designer Kathleen Fink, David's wife.

The executive chef at Cantinetta Luca is Jason Balestrieri who worked with chef Walter Manzke at Patina, the famed Los Angeles restaurant of star chef Joachim Splichal.

Casual and Informal Dining

"Cantinetta Luca is casual and informal," shares Manzke, "offering menu items such as pizza, which will be baked in an authentic, Italian, no gas, wood-burning pizza oven. We'll also specialize in antipasti, a dozen or so varieties of salumis and handmade pasta. Whole fish and roasted meats will be served family style.

"All of the presentations will be simple and rustic; food prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients to bring out bold flavors. There's going to be lots of activity giving diners the opportunity to watch chefs in action because we've designed a completely open kitchen.
The stove is an island, accessible from all four sides."

Antique-Modern Style

The interior decor of the 100-seat restaurant reflects the antique/modern ambiance often found in the old buildings of Italy. It's antique/modern style is a design blend of stone, brick and glass,
chiseled wood, mosaic tiles and rich textured fabrics in bright Italian colors. The decor features a barrel vaulted ceiling, brick and chiseled beams contrasted by contemporary furnishings and modern lighting all set off by bright colors and textile accents.

The exterior of the building on Dolores Street is of charming Carmel-by-the-Sea construction and has the advantage of being adjacent to a city "pocket park". The interior design makes the most of this feature, windows of the dining area look out onto this green space.

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