Reaching New Heights at Carmel Restaurant & Lounge

My favorite restaurant meals are not only the ones that give me a great new experience, but also the ones that jog old memories, reminding me of past travels and rekindling fond family moments. This is exactly what happened when I dined at Carmel Restaurant & Lounge for the first time, and it's easy to say I now have a new go-to restaurant in Coppell.

The space at Carmel feels warm and inviting, and the menu is rich with Israeli and California influences. You're sure to experience something totally new and different, while also reaping the feel-good benefits of the Mediterranean diet.

Located on Denton Tap Road, you might miss this gem when driving by, so I'm here to tell you to drive there on purpose, settle in, and get ready for what is easily one of the best restaurant experiences you'll find in Coppell. Whether you live nearby or want to make a little drive for dinner (I call this "destination dining", and it was a way of life in my small hometown in Alabama), I think you'll be as enchanted as I was with Carmel Restaurant & Lounge.

The Carmel 77

A family owned restaurant, Carmel got it's name from two places: Carmel, California, and the Carmel Mountain range in Israel. The kitchen gets it right, fusing two cuisines for an irrestible array of fresh dishes like upsale coastal fare and Mediterannean classics.

To begin, you'll be presented with complimentary fresh baked pita chips with Labneh; a sort of yogurt cream cheese, which is made by straining cow's milk yogurt and then preserved in olive oil for snacking. I call this "Carmel Chips & Queso". The texture is sort of like a mascarpone or goat cheese, and the flavor was so creamy and delicious I couldn't stop dipping until it was gone, very typical for me in most queso-esque situations.

Yes. "Queso-esque". We're saying that now.

Pita Chips with Labneh

Ready to drive over and order yet?

To start, try the Oven Roasted Carmel Goat Cheese. Sundried tomato, fresh herbs, Kalamata olives, served with roasted garlic smeared crostini - a smooth and creamy starter for your exquisite Mediterranean-inspired meal. Also on the Small Plates menu, you'll find their Signature Hummus Dip, which is customizeable. You can even add beef tenderloin, sauteed mushrooms, or roasted red peppers to snazz it up. A couple of salads and a soup of the day are also options as a prequel to your main course at Carmel.

For the main event, choose from a large selection of proteins from both land and sea. Their Signature Sea Bass is absolutely one of the best fish dishes I've ever eaten. It is slow roasted with EVOO, herbs, confit cherry tomato and garlic, and served with veggies and mashed potatoes. Also from the sea they've got Bacon-Wrapped Scallops, Ruby Red Trout, Salmon, Cod, and more, including a nightly feature. From the land, choose from a selection of steaks, skewers, chicken, pork, and lamb chops. Something for every meat eater, indeeed!

Carmel's Signature Fresh Chilean Seabass

It's pretty much impossible for me to resist any pasta dish involving seafood. The Lobster Fettuccine instantly spoke to us from the menu, and absolutely satisfied the craving, as the Sauvignon Blanc Cream Sauce was spectacular, and the grilled shrimp were an added bonus. They also serve Lobster Ravioli, Cajun Mardi Gras Pasta, and a Vegetarian option as well.

Even though you'll likely be full from all of the previously mentioned courses, I'd like to convince you to save room for the Jerusalem Ice Cream. It's creamy and peanut buttery in flavor, topped with an Israeli candy that tastes much better than it looks. :) Seriously, I'm not usually big on ice cream, but this one surprised me, so go taste and see!

Jerusalem Ice Cream

And, of course, I must mention the draw of the Carmel lounge. Featuring a spirited cocktail menu with choices of classics like the below Angel's Envy Old Fashioned, their Carmel 77, and a number of other fun martinis and wine cocktails, Carmel is also a prime destination for Happy Hour or after dinner drinks. Happy Hour at Carmel offers 8 different $6 martinis, a number of other discounted cocktails, and wines at $5-$6 a glass.

Angel's Envy Old Fashioned 

So make your reservations now at Carmel Restaurant & Lounge, where you'll leave full of mouthwatering morsels and fond memories.

Carmel is open Monday through Saturday for dinner only.

Carmel Restaurant & Lounge

215 S Denton Tap Rd Suite 100

Coppell, TX 

972.745.1300

Side note: This is one of the memories I was referring to in my opening paragraph. I was actually lucky enough to visit Mount Carmel in Israel on a family trip 7 years ago, and I have a fond remembrances of petting a turkey (random facts with Delia Jo, you're welcome). Here's a couple photos that captured that fine memory.

*While our meal at Carmel was complimentary, as always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own.