Carmine's Restaurant

06/13/08

Inconsistent

Contributor at Insider Pages

The first time we went it was on a whim late on a tuesday night, the food was great, the service was decent although it left room for improvement. The night was exceptionally quiet, we were the only ones in the restaurant. The food was so good that we went back the next thursday for dinner. And it soured the whole perception of this restaurant, the dining room was crowded to the point that there were just too many tables too close although we were seated fairly quickly the service was unacceptable, we were ignored by the waitress, my date nearly bumped elbows with a left handed person next to us. We waited through nearly an hour from being seated because the food was that good, was was delivered on our plates was both chared and undercooked. We took our complaint to the onduty manager who did not appologize for the delay or the quality of service or the quality of the food, stating simply its the exact same menu. He refused to waive the check for food that was unapatizing and unsafe to eat. We paid our bill and vowed never to return.

To have such widely varying experiences within a week is shocking. If you don't mind a gamble it is well worth it. At its high Carmine's is amazing, but at its low I would rather just play it safe at a chain for the sake of consistency.

11/24/09

Skip this place, save your money

by Chelsey101 at Citysearch

This place used to be a lot better. Maybe there's a new owner, how else to explain it? But every time I go to Carmine's it just gets worse and worse.

Portions used to be huge, and now they're skimpy.We always ordered the steak salad and a steak pizza to share, and the last time we were there they had removed the steak pizza altogether & the steak salad that we ordered was just made of .99¢ bag lettuce and 4 little pieces of steak. So my dining partner and I ended up with 2 measly pieces of steak in our salad. And it was expensive! But I did like the candied nuts in it. I'll give it that much credit.

The full loaded chicken pizza looked good on the plate and had NO FLAVOR. The veggies were plain, not roasted and the whole thing tasted like cardboard.

I had gently complained about the portion size of the salad to the maitre d and was offered free dessert. The apple pie was tasteless (was probably store bought) but the cannoli was pretty good, although I'm not buying the maitre d's "line" about it being a 40yr old recipe.

The waitress was void of personality and had basically no clue how to answer a few of our simple questions.

Over all it was a disappointing visit, a complete waste of money, and we won't return...ever.

• Pros: Cannoli was good, and that's it.
• Cons: 1970's decor and matching 1970's food

08/02/08

Excellent food, Huge portions, Fast & Friendly service. Early Bird specials--priced very well, over all good pricing.

by tggrl at Citysearch

Excellent food, Huge portions, Fast & Friendly service. Early Bird specials--priced very well, over all good pricing. Ambiance a bit dark. When you enter, the smell from the SWEET FIRE WOOD Pizza oven is amazing .

05/22/06

Awesome Pizza

by mkdunk at Citysearch

I love this place! Wonderful pizza, great food overall. Service could be a little friendlier. Good place for a date.

• Pros: Good Food, Nice atmosphere
• Cons: Unfriendly servers

Much more than your average pizza joint, this restaurant's wood-fired oven adds flavor and atmosphere.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
The red-hot coals glowing in the brick oven set the stage for Carmine's wood-fired pizzas, made by white-hatted chefs in full view of the bar and the adjoining dining room. An upscale, mostly suburban crowd enjoys plush booths and warm camaraderie in the main room, while a third, sky-lit room is perfect for larger parties and families with children.

The Food
Start with deep-fried battered artichokes with spinach-gorgonzola dip, a Carmine's specialty. Pizza is just one aspect of Carmine's broad Italian menu: The fabulous carbonara is topped with alfredo sauce, plum tomatoes, prosciutto, several cheeses and delicious caramelized onions. But the 800-degree brick oven makes the pies outstanding. Carmine's pizza wizards base their specialty on a crisp crust topped with pesto, alfredo or garlic sauce, then add innovative combinations of fresh vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, and an array of imported Italian cheeses.