At Vesuvio Restaurant in Carmel-by-the-Sea, the evening has two settings: an Italian dinner downstairs and the open-air Starlight Lounge above, with string lights and a fire trough. The Pèpe family’s restaurant sits directly across from Devendorf Park, with a wood-fired oven anchoring a menu of Neapolitan pizza, baked pasta and Italian-American classics.
The truffled gnocchi makes a substantial opening: baked with tartufata and fonduta di fontina, it costs $22. Hand-stretched pizzas run from Margherita to Diavola. Artichokes get two treatments—fried crocchette with house aioli, or a grilled heirloom artichoke from Scattini Farms—while veal, chicken and eggplant Parm come with a choice of spaghetti marinara or pappardelle Alfredo.
For dessert, there is cocoa-topped tiramisù or strawberry creme pie layered with Bavarian cream, strawberries and whipped cream. Drinks include spritzes and an aged Negroni. Happy hour runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday through Friday, exclusively at the Downstairs Bar and rooftop lounge, rather than in the dining room.
Vesuvio is at 543 6th Avenue, at the northwest corner of 6th and Junipero. It opens daily at 4 p.m., with the last dinner seating at 10 p.m.; bars close at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The restaurant closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Super Bowl Sunday. Dining reservations are offered through Tock or by phone, while the rooftop is strictly walk-in; the downstairs bar and some dining tables are also held for walk-ins. Takeout ordering opens at 4 p.m., and payment is cards only.
