Gem
Guest Book
Brian & Patricia Leighton Buzzard
Bedfordshire, England
“Thank you for an excellent evening. The food & service was perfect.”
Bette & Merl Spencer
“Superb and delicious food especially the hearts of palm salad—premier quality. Many thanks.”
Joan (11/15) & Dick Dely
“Thoroughly enjoyed our evening & dinner. The service by Josh and the gourmet food prepared by ? was excellent.”
“We very much enjoyed your hospitality, food & wine! You have a great thing going—keep it up—Good Luck!”
The Miller’s—AKA Lee Roy Brown
“Good food—Good time—Will be back….if your lucky.”
Sharon Claudius
“A charming place to dine and wonderful cuisine! Thank you!”
“I recommend the brie, stuffed chicken” Gordon
Claudine VanVleet (Jan 5)
“Great food, service!!!”
Vicky Holman (8/27)
“Wonderful!”
Joan (7/19) & Vic (7/25) Ouimette“Very good food—very friendly and good servers. Happy to recommend you to all our friends—and good luck in your endeavors.”
Maureen (12/21) & James (12/11) Brennan
“Wishing you both all the best for a prosperous new restaurant. The food was divine and the service was impeccable.”
Vincent H. Dean
Pebble Beach, CA
“Many thanks for a wonderful evening. The food, service and ambiance were superb; as was the attention to detail. Kudos to Kendra and Josh.”
Jim Dickson, Liz, & Stephanie
“We always enjoy the food and the hospitality. Thank you!”
Daniel (4/3) & Patty (9/12) Yee
“The tradition continues. Great good & great new owners. All the best!”
Carol & Michael Montana
“We love yaw!”
“Thanks for a lovely evening—what a change! Now it’s a great place to come!” Best regards, Jim R.
Dave & Jeanne Fahey
Anniversary: 6/17
“Thank you!”
Jim & Anne
“Thank you—better than last year! We will definitely do desserts next time. We’ll be back—same time next year.”
Carmel, Ca 93921
Deborah Strickland (3/7) AKA Ms. Hattie’s sister “I’ve been at the Gem 6 times and will come again—wonderful!”
Brian & Heather Strickland
Nora & Dick Strickland
“We started this group—enjoyed your food and definitely will be back.” Mama Strickland
Karen Strickland (Jan 12)
Frank (1/26) & Ronnie (12/18) Ramistella
Anita & Hugo Getruers
Anniversary: 6/7
“The dinner was simply delicious!”
John & RoseAnn La Luna
“The Gem is Ten!”
Tony & Cece Dettle
“The food was excellent, and Josh was a great host—thank you!”
Bob & Ame Brown
“What a delightful evening with excellent food and atmosphere!”
Monice Kwok (3/29)
“Thank you for a great dinner, with such attentive service.”
Sherry Woo (2/24)
“This is our first visit to Gem. Margaret at Skengaards suggested Gem as a good restaurant for dinner. We were very pleased with the restaurant setting and the superb service. This was a great way to start our weekend in Carmel. Thank you!”
Steve & Sharon Lewis
Bakersfield, CA
Fanny Carlos
“Wonderful crepes Neptune!”
Anna Chanes & Brian Tablah
Sacramento, Ca
“The food and service was excellent—a wonderful evening. Thanks.”
3/12/04
“A memorable evening.”
Patsy & Bill
3/12/04
“Thanks for a delightful dinner and enjoyable evening.” Bill Smith
3/12/04
Leslie K. Johnson (1/14)
Steve Guerra (10/3)
“We were here on Maria Starrow’s B-day party! Good place.”
Eric Jiss (EKSBlue@earthlink.net)
Lori Innes, Cara B.
“Great, Great, Great. Maria Starow Bday party!!! We had the bestest time thanks to fine wine, fine dinner, and fine friends. Thank you so much for making the night come together for a perfect time!”
“More food, more fun—we loved it!” Anonymous
Lori Innes
“Great place, will definitely come back.”
Cara Brown
“Great place, will definitely come back.”
Aaron & Shelby Spain
“We loved everything!”
Margaret & Harry Robinson
“Our very favorite restaurant!”
Cathy & Cliff Gray
“Wonderful restaurant—great waiter! Coach Mori recommended a great place!”
Don & Nellie Hall
(We are here in California to celebrate our Aunt’s 100th Birthday.)
“Wonderful experience. Great food and beautifully presented—glad we came in. We will recommend your restaurant to our friends when they come to California. Our congratulations to you!! The marinated mushrooms are something we will try at home!”
Charlotte & Jerry Suida
Larry (9/1) & Nancy (3/26) Fay
Anniversary: 2/3
“Good Luck to you—Hopefully this will be the beginning of a lot of wonderful evenings with you!”
Jim & Hilary Sutcliffe
“We wish you both the best of luck and much succcess in your new endeavor. We love your restaurant and quality iss beyond reproach.”
“You have not skipped a beat since changing hands—a superb chef is key, but perserverance and commitment is vital. First 2 years will try your patience, but “stay the course”. I’m in this business since ’78 and you two belong.” Anonymous
Mr. & Mrs. Art Lee
Anniversary: April
“A true gem and pleasure! Hope to see you again soon, and best wishes to your business.”
Phil & Joan Brady
“A great meal—good luck in your new venture!”
3/18/04
Carmen (1/19) & Richard (9/2) Cardill
Anniversary: 11/7
“Food was fabulous. See you next March!”
3/18/04
Ron & Kay Werner
Anniversary: 3/17
“Great evening—loved the sunset—food was wonderful too! Been here, done this, enjoyed it! Thanks for the memory!”
3/20/04
John P. & Bj. Anderson
“Lovely little spot for a quiet, romantic dinner. The service was great and food excellent. Thanks, I will return.”
3/20/04
“Thanks for your hospitality. We know you’ll be successful!”
Gerhard & Louise Krahn
“Good success for your future. We hope to eat here again.”
Dawn Oliveira (4/6)
“Excellent food and even better service!! Thank you!”
Raylene Carllisiero (11/20)
“We were referred to this wonderful restaurant form Kimberly and Larry in San Jose. We are very glad we came here and we will refer this restaurant to all of our friends and family! It was good food, good service, and fun!
Steven & Chantal O’Shaughnessy
“We will come again!! Thank you”
Pat Wirsing & Pamela Emong
“See you in September when we get married! We love it here. Tahnks for letting us eat here at 9 pm on a Sunday night!”
Bob & Donna Clark
“Kendra, Great dinner, great time and most of all we enjoyed meeting you. Thanks for a wonderful dinner and dessert.”
Jim (1/14) & Jennie (7/8) Brick
“We will be back in October.”
Janet (3/24) & Mark (9/5) Easterling
Anniversary: 10/9
“Thanks for a great evening!!”
Gail (8/1) & Jim (11/10) Biben
Anniversary: 9/6
“Be back next winter!”
Anniversary: 10/22
“Wonderful food and atmosphere! Good luck!”
Wendy & Howard Brickman
Anniversary: 4/7
“Mazel-tov! Have a wonderful journey!”
John & B. J. Auston
Vancouver, Canada
“We had such a pleasant and delicious dinner at The Gem and it most certainly glittered tonight!! Thanks everybody!”
“We loved it-delicious, good luck, we’ll be back!” Anonymous
David and Sherry Shollenbarger
“Magnifique”
Dudley & SueAnn Few
“Thanks, it was delightful”
Dick & Ramona Andre’
“We also have a place in Carmel, close to you. Good reason to return for good food!”
Chuck & Karen Gang
Anniversary: 8/22
“The food & service is excellent!”
Dick & Barbara Ely
“Food was delicious!”
Dick & Barbara Stiles
“Thanks for your excellence”
The D’Ambrosio Family
“We had a fabulous celebration! Thank you for your scrumptious food & caring service.”
Anniversary: 6/22 “Great place! We have been here before, and wee will be back!”
Steve & Sona Dennis
“Lovely evening. Wonderful to find a restaurant quiet enough to talk. We’ll be back.”
Monta Potter (Chamber of Commerce Exec. Director)
Cynthia Vernon
“Great food—thanks so much—one of the best!”
3/28/04
Maureen & Martin Graul
“We would like to thank you for your wonderful hospitality and fabulous food! And for helping to make our honeymoon so special. Best Regards…P.S. We shall be back!”
Joseph M.
“Wonderful dining and atmosphere.”
John Hicks
“A superb, generous, unpretentious, lovely dinner and so cheerfully relaxing.”
3/28/04
Rob & Marge Amato
“Fabulous food, excellent dinner. We would love to have your restaurant in our city of Portland, Or. Darling restaurant with so much warmth. We will come back on our next trip.
George & Linda Patten
“Wonderful dining experience. We walked up & down the center trying to decide where to eat. We are so glad we decided to stop here!”
Chris & John Weaver
My wife and her cousin ate here 4 years ago and insisted on coming back. The coachmaris also recommended the restaurant and I am very glad we came. Thanks for good food, good service, and pleasant environment.”
3/30/04
Nancy & Bill Prideman
Massachussets
“We’ve been here twice in the last two weeks—will be back again often before we leave Carmel later in April. Great food and ambiance!”
3/30/04
Trevor & Pat Jiem
England
“We tried to dine here on the 29th but were turned away because we were late. I am glad we returned—this is a real gem. Good food and very excellent wine, but most important, excellent service that makes you feel at home. We will be back. Thank you.”
Jackie & Ralph Tober
Anniversary: 7/28
“A wonderful evening. Good food, good friends”
Anne Bell
“You have a delightful name! Lovely sand dabs! I will definitely bring my guests here. Lovely ambiance!”
P. Missud
“Enjoying a delicious dinner. The food is exellent.”
Peggy Purchase
Carmel
“Wonderful dinner, hope to come again soon!”
Al & Ali
“Excellent!!! We are hooked. Everything was excellent and we know when and where it isn’t—not here!”
Dede Huini
“We’ve enjoyed The Gem since our son “turned us on” to it about for years ago (he was in high school at the time). Keep doing what you’re doing!”
Kirker Kocek
“Always enjoy the duck! Guaranteed to be a winner each time!!”
Maddie & Ron Fat
Los Angeles, CA
“Wonderful dinner!! Very friendly service….Great ocean view!!”
Denise & Lori
Carmel, CA
“My family & I enjoyed a wonderful dinner this evening. A surprise on this day and not an April fools on today 4/1/04.
Dolly Slade
“To Josh & Kendra—fabulous job w/ a thoroughly enjoyable food and unique presentation to this food—did I say it was delicious?!! Keep up the good work to keep the journey moving forward.”
“We had a wonderful meal…Mahi Mahi was delicious! ???
Lorna Gelderman
“thanks Kendra—the food is fabulous, the ambiance even better! You’re the BEST!”
Barbara Giayolbe (Carmel Pine Cone)
“Thank you Josh & Kendra!! I’ll certainly be back!”
Judy & Leland Lewis
“Great food, great atmosphere”
Trevor & Jean
Pebble Beach
“Wonderful food—and service. We will return.”
Jack & Loa Clauvian
“Thank you, Kendra & Josh. We make the “Gem” a regular dining out experience. We love the food, service, ambiance and all…the carrot cake is scrumptious.”
Ed & Lil Huenerfautd
“Delightful treat. Delicious food—we will come back.”
4/13/04
Michelle
“This little haven is a rare find. The restaurant is not in a “touristy” place. Everything was delicious, and I am hard to please. I am French, I will see you again and I hope you do well. Take care.
Bill Gormley
“Thanks for the best meal I have had in a while”
Mike & Sariya Edwards
“Superb cuisine. What a pleasure!”
Doug & Cheryl Gould
“Best food—best style. Our favorite place to be! We wish our friends Mary & Steve (they brought us here the first time) had been with us tonight!”
4/18/04
Ed & Lillian Del Carlo
“Delicious dinner. Thank you for the party. Good luck…see you next time!”
Susan Rafter
“It’s great when the hosts fit right in to your group.”
Sally & Jim Skelton
“Wonderful!”
Ann & Alastair Winn
“Loved it!”
Joyce Lukamoki
Susan & Larry Long
“Shalom…Good luck—lots of success & happiness.”
Sara Ivie
“Four courses—and every one of them delicious! Thnk you for making this special offer available through the mail. We had good service too!
Patricia Ivie
“Delightful meal but I had a hard time getting my share of the desserts with my dinner companions!”
Maria Theren & Tom Wadegriff
Dublin, CA
6/8/04
Jana & Don
Boulder, CO
“Loved the ambiance & food & your service—for a special meal. Thanks.”
Nancy Jones & Charlie Granling
“One of our favorite Carmel haunts. Keep up the good work (and great food)!”
7/5/04
Tom & Kathy Boone
“Warm hospitality & wonderful food. Thank you and God bless you! We hope to be back soon and look forward to the delicious bread pudding.”
Antonello Kappen
“Look forward to bringing my friends.”
F.C.
“Thanks Josh—we had a lovely time—all was great. Your friend…
The Chens
“The foods are great. The smiles from servers are most wonderful. We enjoyed the beautiful night at here. Your service and food both are superb! We will definitely recommend to our friends! Good night!”
Roger
Taiwan
“Seven Seas Pasta is perfect.”
Dan, Gemma, Harry, Lilian, Rosie, Michelle, Rene, & Josh
“Thank you to Josh, we had a fabulous engagement party and dinner at “The Gem”. Congratulations! July 31, 2004”
Danny & Gemma
“Josh, we know you’ll be a restaurant mogul before you’re 30! The Gem is a beautiful place and we are so happy to have had our engagement celebration with you here and with our family! The roses for Gemma are gorgeous, and the whole dinner was amazing—thank you so much!”
Rene’
“Dear Josh, Thank you very much for the nice engagement party. We had a great time. Everyone enjoyed it. The food was great! Good luck in the restaurant business and many happy years ahead.”
8/4/04
R.J.
Sweden
“This was fun! I am back in Carmel, it was 30 years ago. Lovely dinner with my three sisters. Thanks.”
A.U.
“Most delightful evening with you Josh. We will be back. Thanks.”
S.W.
“Thanks for a great dinner. We had great food and enjoyed ourself tremendously.”
Walt & Eunice Isaiah
“A great place to celebrate an anniversary! Delicious food-good waitress.”
Linda & Steve Setzer
“Thanks for making our weekend a “romantic” one with a wonderful dinner! This place is a real “Gem”.
Ed V., Terry McCarthy, Greg McCarthy, Kent Weaver, Denis Holland
“Great, great service (Sissy). Great food, a warm environment, great menu (although you are out of the rak of lamb)—Keep it up—from five locals.”
Ken N. & Michelle
“Thank you so very much for a wonderful dinner—you were great for Richard & the daughter (the vegan)’s 21st b-day. Thank you, we will return to see Sissy again….”
8/10/04
Jane & Bob
Dallas
“Our first to Carmel was last year and we came to Gem on our first night. It remains our first night first choice—Josh was very attentive and don’t you dare not ask for the bread pudding or you will be sorry! P.S. ask for Ten House Pint Noir”
Gregg & Valerie
“Take it from a pro—this place has got what it takes! Ingredients—dessert—service—the whole package! Good luck Josh.”
Etta & Ernie Leudman
Palm Beach, Fl
“Dear Josh, We’ve had a wonderful sand dab meal and we’ll continue to return to your romantic restaurant. The service and ambiance can’t be beat. We wish you all the best!”
8/15/04
Trish, Bob, Nia, and Jeanie
“Thank you soooo much for (as usual) such a terrific meal! You have great style and it comes through in your meals! This time next year our son and fiance’ will be married here.”
Daniel
Carmel Valley
“This is our first time at your restaurant! The food was fantastic and the service was from another world! We will be back! Thank you.”
8/19/04
Lonnie & Guy, Donna & Wayne
Dallas, TX
“A friend told us this was her favorite restaurant so we came…and loved it! Sissy is a “Gem”!! A very warm, friendly place—good food & atmosphere!!”
8/22/04
Joan & Doug Rion
“Great food, great service, great atmosphere. We will be back.”
Richard C.
San Francisco
“Dear Josh, Great food—Excellent service—good experience—great ambiance.”
Sam & Anne Courtiss; Peter Voky & J.B Jones
“Loved the personal attention. (Okay, the story about the snake was scary). We really enjoyed the food and the ambiance. We’ll be back.”
8/24/04
Kyle King & Rob Miller
Santa Cruz
“Thank you! Generous, caring service and delicious food—we enjoyed ourselves. P.S. Thaks for taking care of the specialty orders! Who wants berries & heavy whipping cream anyway?! Well, I did! Rob”
“80th birthday family celebration! You were the hearts of the brothers & the dad—(their minds are already shot) wow!! The food & service was great! (I second the motion—the mother)”
The Elliots
“70th birthday family party! Wonderfully done—we appreciated how well you worked with all 22 of us! Thanks again…”
The Griffiths
“Great time enjoyed by all of us. Thanks for helping us celebrate mom’s 70th. The cake was fab!!”
The Wrights
“Wow the food!!! Awesome evening w/wonderful food.”
The Hilbeys
“Excellent as always! The best food in town! Thanks for the best restaurant!”
8/29/04
Teresa J.
Turlock, Ca
“Excellent service, great time, good food. Thanks for the great experience.”
Pat & Hugh Campbell
“We’ve been looking forward to enjoying your renowned restaurant for a long time. Tonight we were not disappointed! Delicious food, caring service. We’ll be back to celebrate special occasions.”
9/3/04
John & Jennifer Hatch
Tustin, CA
“Visiting form So. Cal. The restaurant is beautiful. The service & food was excellent. We can’t wait to come back and visit.”
Virginia & Jack Kerr
Pittsburgh, PA
“Gem is great. We enjoyed our dinner & our waitress. Thank you!”
9/3/04
Beverly & Cliff Mitchell
Raleigh, NC
“We are traveling the CA coast, Napa Valley, & Yosemite. This meal was delicious and the service excellent. A memorable restaurant and town for a special anniversary!”
9/3/04
Anonymous
“The atmosphere is fabulous! I love the service & food. Keep it up!”
9/3/04
Scarlett R.
“Had a great time with my friend & Sissy was great. Good job!”
9/3/04
Nicole Queeney & Kim Linh Harris
Orange County
“The halibut special was absolutely out of this world. Crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside, just like every fish desired to be cooked. The mango sauce just topped it off. Kudos to the chef!”
Kim Linh Harris
Orange County
“The service was excellent, but the Host and Humberto were always on top of everything.”
Justin Denlinger & Sandy Block
LA, CA
“We had a wonderful time. Thanks for everything.”
Jo & Ed Steine
San Jose, CA
“Excellent food, excellent service & excellent atmosphere—we’ll be back!”
9/5/04
Lynn & Ron A.
Napa, CA
“The very best dining spot in Carmel. Excellent food, great presentation and service is what we all desire. See you next time we are in Carmel.”
9/5/04
B.
“Thank you for exceeding our expectations.”
Mike & Debbie Faccini
Fresno, CA
“Thank you for the best service and the best food. It’s definitely a “Gem”. Best kept secret!”
9/5/04
J. W.
“We had a great meal with great service. An excellent experience.”
Brenda & Steve Foster
England
“We have had a great meal and a wonderful time. Thanks for everything.”
9/5/04
Bob & Jaque G.
Vancouver, WA
“An excellent meal, we just happened by on a slow Sunday night and were so pleasantly surprised by the service and gracious host and well cooked and presented food.”
9/6/04
Gordon & Mariane Clemens
“We had a great dinner. We’ll be back.”
9/7/04
Mel & Margaret Kanlan
Carmel
“The environment is very conducive to a great dining experience and we enjoyed ourselves.”
Margaret & Brad
Australia
“As a couple of Aussie gastronomes, we know good dining only by the hospitality of our host. At the Gem ours was terrific. We got the lot. (Best meal in California!)”
Carol & Don Hilburn
Carmel
“Had a great meal—everything was perfect—from the welcome at the front door, to the very attentive service throughout the meal—and the coquilles, lamb shanks and sand dabs were delicious. We rate these the Best Sand dabs we have ever had! (and we have had many!) Thanks for a super experince. We’ll be back soon.”
9/14/04
S.E.
“I had a very nice experience. Please keep your good taste & menu. I will see you next year…”
Maureen & Jenni
Ohio
“Gem—what a fabulous word to describe this restaurant. The service was friendly and made our dinner experience that much more enjoyable. We will definitely recommend your restaurant to our OH & CA friends. P.S. You might want to try a class in photography!”
The Nash’s
“Thanks for the friendly & typically USAmerican service and the wonderful dinner! Unluckily, I’ll leave Carmel tomorrow—otherwise I would be back.”
9/9/04
The Holtons
Carmichael, CA
“Excellent dinner, service & ambiance. Our first experience under the new ownership—we definitely will return.”
9/10/04
“Good food, good wine, & excellent host Josh. Josh helped make a special time for me to remember my husband, Herb, who recently died—a special one. Josh, may God bless you and yours in the fullest. (Joshua 1:8-9 in the Bible)”
Karen & Rick
“As usual it was a great dinner with a great partner reminiscing about good food & good times.”
Louise & Ray Stagnaro
“ A great restaurant—great food.”
Ken & Patti
“Thank you for the wonderful food…great food & delightful mousse cake. Best Regards…”
9/10/04
Charles & M. Clawson
Las Vegas, NV
“This was our first meal on our first visit to Carmel. What a great memory! The service was so awesome—I’d hire every single employee. Oh, and we ate our first “sand dabs”—yum! Thanks to Margaret at the Cypress Inn for the referral.
9/11/04
Joan & Dan Craber
San Diego
“We’re celebrating our 30th anniversary and you were a find! Thank you—the meal, the wine, the ambiance—PERFECT!”
9/13/04
Real & Patricia Millette
Calgary, Canada
“We were looking for fine dining and we found it here. The food & staff were superb.”
Margaret & Harry Robinson
“At last—we’re “allowed” to sign the guestbook! It only took a year of outstanding food & wine & a darling couple to run this great restaurant. Our best…”
9/16/04
Ralph & Linda Rhodes
Ft.Worth Tx
“We came here (CA) to get married and what a fabulous place this is. Carmel is a paradise and the “Gem” was a wonderful experience. The food and service has been surperb—thank you for making an addition to our memories.”
9/17/04
Joe & Janette Hernandez
San Jose, Ca
“Josh: The “Gem” certainly lives up to the name! We were looking for something special & romantic for our last day visiting Carmel. Food was wonderful! We felt like newlyweds—touched under the stairs, holding hands & sharing a kiss…or two. We’ll be back soon for more special memories in the making.”
9/17/04
The Morris’s & The Mill’s
“Josh—the food was great!! The owner was very friendly and made us feel very comfortable. We will be back.”
Elizabeth & Steve
“Thank you Josh & Roberto for the wonderful service & food. We enjoyed spending our 10-year anniversary with you. We hope to return very soon and will recommend you highly.”
Penny Patton & family
“It was so much like being at home with the people I love to share by birth at the “Gem” Thank you for a “precious” time! The food was so delicious, we wanted to eat the dishes! Best Regards…Vote! Kerry!…”
9/18/04
Eileen, Sue
Menlo Park
“Good food, good drinks, good service—all with good friends.”
9/20/04
Sam & Diane Y.
“We always come for the scampi which is wonderful as well as for your great hospitality.”
9/20/04
John & Margaret Allen
Beaconsfield, England
“We’ve had a great time in
