Carmine's Italian Restaurant

Reviews about Carmine's Italian Restaurant

• 5 / 5

  By Evie M
  Unexpectedly good, quite delightful. From the sun-dried tomato butter for the homemade rolls (I was told they change up the butter frequently) to the music playing (Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong) to the service (just attentive enough but not overbearing, excellent timing, friendly but not overly familiar, and cute on top of everything!). Restaurant is clean, well decorated but not kitschy, well lit. The beer and wine list reflect both standards and local fare. The bread was quite nice, soft and not overwhelmingly crusty, and exactly the right size. I had the in-house balsamic vinaigrette, and you should too: it's close to f'ing perfect. Slightly peppery, very simple, it relied on the basic interplay of the flavors in the vinegar and oil, highlighted masterfully by the spices. I had a pasta dish with anchovies, capers, garlic, raisins and a spare handful of Roma tomatoes: it WAS perfect. Personally, I could have used more anchovies, but I'm far more fond of them than most people, and I imagine they work perfectly in their more subtle capacity for the average person. I'd bet money they'd adjust any elements that you could feasibly request changed, but it strikes me as probable that the best advice is to just trust the chef, trust the food, and eat.
  January 19, 2017