Published June 4th, 2025
By ALEXANDER FREDERICK
Allegro Pizzeria’s vast menu contains a multitude of pizzas and pastas. photo by ALEXANDER FREDERICK
The Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel contains more than 50 stores, and inside and around its borders lie especially delicious global dining from bakeries to pizzerias to indian cuisine to satisfy any palate. In each restauraut awaits diverse meals that can take taste buds on a world tour without leaving The Barnyard.
Aabha Indian Cuisine has an affordable yet expansive menu. photo by ALEXANDER FREDERICK
In walking through the front doors at Aabha Indian Cuisine, customers are warmly embraced by the smell of cumin, turmeric, and cardamom. The cuisine is expansive while being rich with flavor and reasonable in price. The outside seating area teems with flowers, and the inside is just as inviting. The rogan josh and the vindaloo is flavorful and moderately spicy, but well-seasoned meat from both meals is tender and delicious. The mango lassi is uniquely sweet, and the naan bread has a distinct freshness that makes it easy to combine with any main dish.
Lafayette Bakery is a classic French bakery full of rich pastries and sandwiches. photo by ALEXANDER FREDERICK
Only a few steps–and a giant pizza triangle sign–away is Allegro Pizzeria. Though Allegro Pizzeria markets itself as a family-owned Italian and New York-style pizzeria, its vast menu contains many different options for pastas and delicious desserts. Of course, the pizza remains the star of the show.
Ingredients are flavorful, and pizza comes out within minutes of ordering it. Almost all main dishes are in the $20 range, and the lasagna, especially, is well worth it. The pasta is soft and sauce holds flavors from cheese and meat in perfect harmony. The Caesar salad is also flavorful. The seating area is clean, and the atmosphere both inside and outside is comfortable.
From Scratch is always full of customers lining up for burritos or pancakes or more. photo by ALEXANDER FREDERICK
For those looking for breakfast, though, From Scratch is a classic, and therefore needs no introduction. Located in the lower level of The Barnyard would make them harder to find if not for the constant lull of voices floating up from a packed seating area. There’s a reason the restaurant is always full. The menu contains all aspects of a classic American breakfast from skillets to burritos to cinnamon roll pancakes. There is no wrong pick other than not ordering enough. Only one item on the menu cracks the $20 mark and the rest fall comfortably around $17. From Scratch satisfies the stomach without breaking the bank.
Finally, the way out of the upper entrance leads to Lafayette Bakery, a classic French bakery established in 2013 by a French family that brought their recipes from home to Carmel. They serve freshly baked bread, pastries and sandwiches to a large line of customers in a small area that can leave those in line pressed against the wall and crammed in the corners of the bakery. The experience though is indicative of the quality of the bread and baked goods. Croissants are externally flaky and contain a scrumptious, more doughy center, especially in the chocolate croissants. The vast majority of the time an order won’t cost more than $10, even with a drink.
