La Bicyclette

The story

La Bicyclette: European Country Cuisine in Carmel-by-the-Sea – Michelin Recommended

A Return to Roots

La Bicyclette, on Dolores Street in Carmel-by-the-Sea, is a story of family and place. The Georis family opened their first restaurant, La Boheme, in this same spot in 1974. Back then, they served a single prix fixe dish each night, posting the monthly menu in the window. The food was simple and fresh, drawn from the family meals of their childhood in the Belgian countryside. To their surprise, a line formed out the door every evening. Though they had not planned to become restaurateurs, they found joy in sharing their culture where good food and wine went hand in hand with conversation and friends.

In 1978, they sold La Boheme to a waiter and opened Casanova Restaurant. Thirty-seven years later, they returned to their first location, remodeled it, and opened La Bicyclette. When the corner store next door became available, they expanded, adding a wood-fired oven that is now the cornerstone of their cuisine and bakery. The return to the original address is also a return to their roots—the décor and food evoke the joys of riding bicycles through the countryside and the delicious family meals they enjoyed at home.

European Country Cuisine, Hand-Crafted

The kitchen is tiny. All food is prepared on a six-burner stove and in that wood-fired oven. The menu changes weekly, allowing the team to make use of the freshest locally sourced ingredients. The cooking style is European country cuisine—simple and spontaneous, blending flavors and techniques rooted in tradition yet creative. The wood-fired oven shapes both savory dishes and baked goods, lending a rustic character to everything that emerges from it.

This approach has earned La Bicyclette a Michelin Recommended distinction in 2026, recognizing the restaurant’s commitment to quality and its distinct sense of place. The recognition fits naturally: the restaurant’s food is unpretentious and ingredient-driven, the kind of cooking that speaks for itself.

An Invitation to Feel at Home

The Georis family invites guests to feel at home. The atmosphere is welcoming, with outdoor seating available and air conditioning for comfort. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible. Whether you come for brunch or a leisurely dinner, the spirit is the same: great food and wine, good conversation, and the warmth of a family table.