Carmine's Restaurant

We were at carmine's on mon dec 14 for lunch. after many dinners at all carmine's in ny and atlantic ciity we were very disappointed. the chicken parm was dried out and the cheese was microwaved. terrible!!!! told the waitress when ready to leave wasn't to interested in what we had to say. the calamari was also rubbery!!! first time for that too. All in all the meal left a lot to be disired.
Pat W.

Whether one is looking for a unique, family-style dining experience or simply a magnificent meal, Carmines is the place to go.
As you step into the lively environment, your senses are awoken as the smell of fresh, home-cooked Italian cuisine wafts into your nose, readying your taste buds for what is to come. The dcor is nostalgic: a grand ballroom with high Victorian ceilings, elegant chandeliers, and charming portraits and paintings lining the walls. To the right lies a fully equipped bar, lined with antique, wooden barstools, while in the back sits a grand marble staircase leading up to the second floor. The lighting is neither dim nor bright, and the temperature neither cold nor hot, making the restaurant an ideal place to enjoy a delightful and leisurely meal.
From the moment you are seated, a waiter will introduce him or herself, supply you with a basket of freshly baked bread, and describe the various mouthwatering specials. Each of the restaurants waters and waitresses were clean-cut and well-trained, catering to the customers every need. The service was helpful and attentive, without being too pushy

Pros: really good

Cons: not bad

Excellent place for the whole family to enjoy a great Italian dining experience. Food is service 'Family-Style' which means each dish serves 4 people so sharing is a must. Easy ordering with oversized Menus on the walls. Carmine's is a must for any special occasion in which you want to leave a lasting impression and a memory that will not fade anytime soon! Garlic is abundant but easily difused with complimentary mouthwash in the washrooms! Its location in the heart of time square and located in the middle of the theater district, its a 'Must-See' compliment to any Broadway show!

Pros: Middle of 'Times Square'! Large Family Portions! Garlic!

Cons: Crowded so service can be delayed!

If you live in the neighborhood, order this in. The staff is downright rude and inefficient. It is a shame because Carmine's is a wonderful family restaurant. We live in the area and have always enjoyed the food but over the years it has become a place for tourists, celebrations and other out of towners...i.e. B&T folk! They must not mind this sort of service but I do. I must have asked for silverware 5 times before someone else brought it to me after saying, he is busy with other parties to deal with, sorry we were only 8 people. The waiter practically ignored us and the prices are outrageous. My children ordered plain pasta, fine $7 but it was so small even they were complaining, while the grown ups had tons of food. It would not hurt them to throw a few additional noodles on the kids plate. Finally we asked that my children receive their food as soon as it was ready. Instead they brought it with our entrees. One of my children fell asleep (he is 9) before the food ever arrived, we had to wake him to eat. Sadly folks who eat here from out of town probably do think New Yorkers are rude if based on the staff here, I would too!

Pros: Food

Cons: Everything Else

I went to Carmine's on 4/29/09 for lunch with my family from Italy. There were 12 of us. The restuarant was basically empty. Despite that fact, the service was horrible!!! It started with the wine and the person trying to serve us unable to understand we did not want a $60 bottle of wine. Then they came back with a Red wine we did not order -- we had requested a white wine. Then they opened the wine and just dropped the wine on the table without pouring or asking us to try it. After asking many questions about the day's hot antipasto and asking if there was enough for 12, not only was the portion smaller than they described not all the items listed on that days menu where served. When asked about the missing items, we got a shoulder shrug. It gets better -- we ordered pasta and in the pasta came a surprise -- the screw from the handle which cooked the pasta which looked to plastic was extra flavor they added and which one of the guest bit into -- while they removed the pasta dish from the check, the point is how could could they have prepared it without knowing. The veal portion we ordered was slim pick'ns and we needed to order a second dish so that everyone could eat. We had to ask for more bread several time before we actually got a new basket of bread. At they end we passed on dessert and coffee and are totally turned off. Done!! never again will I go to this restuarant! It has always been over hyped and the food was never more than belly filler but this day was over the top in bad service and food!

Pros: Cannot think of any

Cons: Poor food, bad service

I really enjoyed this place a lot. The huge platters just really shocked me, I thought I was eating for 10 but I was actually the only one. Carmines is a great place to celebrate any occasions. I believe they have tons of space and high ceilings for great events such as weddings,debuts,and other coporate related events. I enjoyed their friendly staff as well as the huge platters.

Great Job Carmines.

Pros: Great service.

Cons: table are too tight/crowded

Carmine's is fantastic. They serve their entrees family style, Italian. The food is really really good. It does have a lot of garlic in it though. The service has been good everytime I have went. I read on another website somewhere else that they were complaining that their are tourists here and cougar woman, and in Chinatown they serve larger portions, how ridiculous, do you not think a lot of yourself to critize other people and what does Chineese food have to do with it, probably never even ate here. If you went to Europe you would be a tourist too. I just go for the food and restuarant not who is there. We always have the penne with vodka sauce, salads, meatballs, we practically tried it all, and love it. So do many other families that I know. We will be coming back.

Pros: A lot of food and great too

Cons: A lot of food - you have to eat it there

Let me tell you all something, Me and My Family love to dine out and for some 15 years now we have been avid Carmine fans especially cause of the family size dishes for many years. Although for many years we have been doing the midtown location on some occasions we have gone to the upper west side location for convenience especially after a movie. Today was the Second time we had eaten there and ironically we got the same server named Jose.
I am one to say if you get bad service don't go back, but like many people you don't heed to your words. Jose did come to us after 10 minutes of sitting funny no one was really in the restaurant at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon. He was like "Hi You Guys Been Here Before Right"? and really kind of skimmed thru what the specials were and was kind of like yeah what ever. Anyway to close this up:
1) We asked for bread he said I told the other guy to do it.
2) When the appetizers arrived he never brought us table utensils nor napkins, the busboy had to do it.
3) He never tended to us when our food was served.
However Jose was very attentive to the other tables in his area which seem to be of Caucasian color. Now I am not one that picks and chooses what crowd I'm around but I swear this guy was working all these tables like if his life depended on it! and what ticked me off the most was when our main dinner platter arrived I waited a few minutes to see if he would serve us but he looked real quick toward our table and kept it moving. I stood up and served my Family. He had the audacity to ask later if everything was OK.
Anyway Jose got a (DOLLAR) tip and sorry to say that will be the last time I will be at the Uptown location!

Pros: Food is equal, quantity and quality

Cons: Waiters need to know how to treat all races and creeds the same!

I went there already 3 times. In average the staff if sympathic, some are not friendly at all. The dished are huge as it is a family concept, I have never been dissapointed about the quality and the quantity, it's even sometimes too much, but we can take it home.

Pros: value, quality & quantity, ambiance

Cons: some staff are not really friendly

What a great place to eat, too bad that is far from me, and parking is impossible aroun that area. Dishes are enormous, enough for more than one, decor is nice, nothing over the top, a great place to dine in large groups. Prices are very accommodating, and servers are very friendly. Recommended restaurant!!

Pros: food quality, portions, prices

Cons: parking

Went to Carmines with a group of ten (girlfriends family was in town) and we absolutely loved it. The food was great and the portions were MASSIVE. One dish can EASILY serve 3 people... we ordered 7. Everything was great and our waiter, who the girls at the table all loved and were trying to get was awesome and very attentitive. The Carmines house wine tasted worse than Chateu De La Cat's Pisss, but what can you expect from a Magnum that costs 12$. I can't wait to come back here with a big group, there's no better place to be loud, get drunk, and eat great family style food.... the Italian way! Also, they gave us a bottle of Sambuca that was 3/4 full on the house with our coffee and desert!

Pros: EVERYTHING

Cons: the Carmines house wine

This is the best Italian food in Manhattan. Family style portions so you don't need to order a lot, one dish for 2 people is the rule, and you might still have food leftover. Also, they brew thir own Chianti which isn't bad at $29/bottle. Must visit Carmines on your trip to NYC!!

Pros: Great Food, Huge Portions, Resonable price

Cons: Loud, Long wait so make reservations

food is pretty good here, we go here once in a while. the calamari is awesome. this place serves huge portions so go there with a big apetite or a big party. service is pretty good too.

great for groups...if it's do-able definitely better to dine at the uptown location - less crowded. great for groups, kids, and family style dinners.

Pros: family-friendly atmosphere

Cons: not good for a couple of people - too much food

I love the food here. I think it is one of the best place's in the city for groups. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is so fun! We had a great server, and enjoyed the whole experience!

If you are looking for fine Italian food at a very fair price, go to Carmine's. The portions are quite large and very delicious. The room is huge and noisy. Not a place to go if you are looking for a romantic setting.

Pros: Large Portions

Cons: Noisy

This place is fantastic. The food is great, the service is better. Huge plates of food, endless bread, and the feeling of being in an old world restaurant/kitchen. This place is huge but, you do not get that feeling when you are there.

Each dish we order was great, we were a group of 21 and the service was better than I could have expected. From appetizer to deseert and coffee, we had a great experience and cannot wait to go back.

Pros: Truly GREAT food

Cons: With any NYC restaurant...Parking

The service is exceptional and the food is quickly climbing the ranks as one of my favorites in NYC. Traditional Italian food, family style servings are huge and overall prices are very affordable- Carmine's is truly a gem. Definitely geared towards large groups (make a reservation) however if coming with a group under 4 or 5 the wait is not that long.

Pros: Friendly Bartenders, Good Affordable Food , Huge Portions

Cons: Crowded, Sometimes Noisy

this is no place to go for fewer than 4 ppl. i've been here numerous times and the food is consistently good. the value is wonderful if you end up sharing a few dishes with ppl. i LOVE their foccacia bread..it's what keeps me going back. try their chicken parm. i'd go back any day. it's really noisy though, bc the place is really spacious. i have never left unfilled...

When you go to a place like Carmines, you must expect that food is not going to be spectacular authentic Italian fare. The place is great because of the atmosphere, which encourages obnoxious food consumption and heavy drinking (for the people there without children). I have been to Carmines at least 20 times and I must admit that the food is good but nothing special but I have had so much fun every time I have gone there, that it is beyond worth it. The place is popular for sure and not just for tourists, but I doubt it is for the quality of their food.

Pros: Atmosphere, Drinks at the bar, Magnum wine botles

Cons: Food quality, long wait, crowded

I love coming to Carmines! The food is good and the atmosphere is festive. The restaurant is extremely noisy, so don't look for romance--though there's a birthday being celebrated every 5 minutes. Note: make reservations or suffer the consequences.

We had dinner reservations for 13 to celebrate my sister's graduation. A busboy grabbed two of our serving plates before we were finished with them. We tried to get his attention, but he apparently didn't hear us. When confronted, the busboy was dismissive. The manager's attitude was also unprofessional. Eventually, we found our waiter. He said, "I can't control them. It's not my fault. How much food was actually left?", but that sounded like, Come on! How much food was actually left? My sisters have worked in restaurants. They understand the pressure, but they found the demeaning attitudes disgraceful. The manager eventually lowered the $280 bill by $40. My father told him and the waiter, "You were rude and very unprofessional. We planned to order more plus dessert, but now we're leaving." People probably accept it when they rush you out the door. It's clear they don't need our business.

Pros: The food was ok, Strong mixed drinks

Cons: Extremely noisy, Inconsiderate service, Tourist-trap attitude

Carmine's is great. We go to the uptown one more because we seem to get seated faster there. The food is always fabulous. If you don't like rich, garlicky food, this isn't your place. But, if you love a good variety of great Italian food, this is it! Everything I've tried has been excellent. And the service is always very friendy.

Pros: Great food

Delicious Italian food at very affordable prices. Our group of seven got a salad appetizer and three entrees and then split two desserts, and no one went away hungry! Our waiter was very helpful in explaining how dishes were prepared and suggesting how many of each course to order for the table. The house wine is also quite good. It was also packed on a Wednesday evening so I'd definitely make reservations.

Pros: fabulous food, reasonable prices, helpful service

Cons: noisy

This restaurant has everything you need to enjoy a meal with friends and family. I have been to Carmine`s more times than I can count on my two hands. The food is superb and affordable. Seating is comfortable and is not too loud or too close to other tables. Each waiter that I've had has been very inciteful and friendly about which entrees to choose, what wines to drink, etc. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone-couples, families, or large group of friends. Also, during the holidays that restaurant itself looks spectacular.

Pros: Excellent food, Location, Helpful staff

Italian style cafeteria catering to clueless porcine tourists downing hub caps full of tasteless (unless you think garlic is the only taste) overly sauced staples. "The lines at the door, belie what's in store, for anyone seeking more, that a pitchfork full of bore".

Pros: location, price

Cons: , service, wine

I have been to this restaurant approximately eight times, and each time is better than the last. From the bread to the entrees this restaurant is fabulous. You get family sized platters fit for a king. The price is definetly worth it. Although there can be a lenghty wait for a table.....it's well worth it.

Pros: Inexpensive, Great Food, Great Drinks

Cons: Crowded, Long Wait for tables

I have eaten there two times. The food is, at best, medicore. The place is over-priced. Enough said.

I ate there with 10 other people and the food was all show. I didn't enjoy one thing about it. Working in the food service business for 5 years this is the worst I have seen in awhile. The only thing big about this restaurant was the plates.

Cons: over rated

My date and I enjoyed Carmine's while on a recent trip to the city. We're both from Houston and have enjoyed just about all the Italian food places Houston has to offer. Carmine's beats them all! We would return to NYC just to eat at Carmine's. We arrived about 9 p.m. on a Thursday night, had two glasses of wine while waiting 30 miutes for a table, then enjoyed the best veal and linguine w/ marinara that we've ever had. I would strongly recommend Carmine's to anyone wanting the true NYC Italian experience!

Pros: Food, Doggie Bags, Wine

This place is awesome! Great for big groups. Food is indescribable by words. I was in heaven from from the appetizers to desserts. A definite must-try.

Pros: Excellent Food, Quick Service, Big Portions

I have never seen such large portions in my life but it was delicious. We were 6, ordered for 4 and went home with 4 doggie bags. The Osso Bucco special on thursday was awesome and the saturday Carmine's special sounds like a feast for a real meat eater. I'm getting a bunch of friends and we're going back. Didn't have time to try to the dessert but this is the restaurant to go to after the gym when your metabolism is at full steam.

I really don't. Carmines serves tourist quality Italian and people line up. It's very weird. The portions are huge, but lots of slop is not really a good thing. This is a step or so above chain food, and to be avoided.

Pros: huge portions

Cons: huge crowds, bland food

If you come here, make sure you haven't eaten for the day. Portions, well, this is why the country may be so fat, the portions could feed a whole family. But you'll this boisterous, loud , party with great food. Try to come with a group if possible.

Carmine's is an excellent place to go with a large group of people. We went in a group of 14. We had reservations and were immediately seated. THe entire bill for all 14 of us was only $300!!! And along with the several appetizers and five or six dinners we ordered, we also went through 5 bottles of wine. How cheap! It came to 25 bucks a person! The food was unbelievable. My mouth waters each time I think of it. Try the garlic bread, the penne, and for dessert, definitely get the Titanic!!!!

...a great place for a large group of people. They take reservations for groups of 6 or more (which I highly recommend), and the food is good. Family style eating with each dish serving 3 or 4. Try the veal, and the rot gut wine is always entertaining! Just don't expect a quiet, romantic atmosphere. Carmine's is always a good, crazy time!

Pros: service, food, value

Cons: crowded

Carmine's is by all means top drawer for quality food. None of the weird entree's you receive at other quality places, just plain old fashion great Italian food. The portions are enormous. The price for one would be expensive, but since you share the food the cost for four is very cheap.

Pros: Inexpensive

I love this place! Their food is delicious and cheap when you divide among friends. I was very happy about the service as well. I live near by and always see a crowd waiting to be seated. Their pasta dishes are tasty! They also have yummy bread. Go and enjoy!

Pros: large portions, delicious food

Cons: waiting in line

The food is ok, but you are being sold on gimmick here. Dont go if you dont plan on eating for 4 (or with 4). I cant help but reminisce to when this space was the best chinese restaurant on the upper west side. Times change, but it seems like this restaurant is primarily populated by people who drive in with large groups from the burbs.

I have had the chicken parm, the tortellini and calimari. Chicken parm was good, but not spectacular, tortellini was greasy and the calimari was average. As I said, it is more about the gimmick of being a family style italian place then real good italian food.

The bartender there makes a great drink.

Carmine's is the prototypical restaurant for group dining as it has a great ambiance, fantastic food(with family style portions) and overall good service. The Klumps couldn't finish the portions of food if they tried.

Pros: Great Food Value

Cons: Parking, Inconsistent Service

I have been here several times. No matter what we order it has always been delicious. Carmine's is consistantly excellent. The chicken marsala was the most tender any of us had ever had!

Pros: reasonable, ample portions

Cons: Loud, crowded!!

I really was impressed by Carmine's on Broadway. I thought the atmosphere was spactacular for family dining. I really liked the idea of everyone in the family eating from the same serving dish. I also thought the family pictures on the walls were a nice touch. The also had wonderful Chicken Marcella over angel hair pasta......mmmmm!!! Great Traditional dining.

Pros: Food, Atmosphere