Carmine's Italian Restaurant & Bar

The bar is great to watch a basketball, football, or baseball game. The drinks are good and fairly inexpensive! The salads are great at the restaurant...but I'm not a big fan of the other dishes served! :)

I have been going here for over 10 year and the food is cheap and always good. Service is consistently quick so it's perfect for lunch time. Try the pizza with peperoni and red onions. Very tasty!

We use to enjoy Carmine's as a family dinner celebration restaurant, and taking out of town guests there, birthday dinners, etc.

Last night we went to dinner, expecting a great evening and meal . March 2009

First off, our server was HORRIBLE. Our busboy was great, and helped more and answered questions, and took care of our needs, as we actually saw more of him. The restaurant was not too busy, but our server had an I don't care attitude.

Finally after about 15 minutes, she asked about drinks. We only wanted water. More attitude, maybe she was bummed we weren't going to run up an alcoholic bill?

About 15 more minutes, she finally takes our order.

This is the WORSE PART. We were brought some sort of flat bread, two lousy pieces.

Carmine's reputation and drawing card were their GREAT, HOT, FRESHLY BAKED Sourdough rolls, that use to come usually as you were first seated, and kept coming. Oh my gosh, those were the highlight of that place..

Since our server was no where to be found, we finally asked our busboy " Where are the Sourdough Rolls?"

He explained that about three weeks ago, they started using this new bread, and the rolls were gone.

GUESS WHAT? SO ARE WE !!!!

Because our server was so slow and not caring, and since we had put in our order SEVERAL minutes before this new bread arrived, we didn't feel we should just walk out. WE did not enjoy our meal or the evening as we always had before. WE asked for a bit more bread, whatever was available.

As the evening went on, our server was still mostly invisible, and so was most of her tip !!!!!

We are very disappointed in this change and will not be going back again.

I think this is a huge mistake on Carmine's part, and when enough of their regular customers catch on that sourdough rolls are not part of the dining experience, I think others will stop going too.

BIG MISTAKE!!! And get rid of the moody servers. Either she wants a job and wants to work, or not. But don't shine your customers on. I wish we could have left our entire tip to the busboy. He actually earned one.

I've only been to Carmine's on three occasions. The first two visits were nothing to, er, write home about. I think I may have had the Pasta Pesto the first time, and the second time I came to meet a group of friends but had already had dinner, so there was nothing memorable there.



However on this latest visit I enjoyed the sausage, peppers and onions, along with a small side of pasta with marinara sauce, and all in all it was decent.



Some folks rave about this place - not sure if it's the bar for the big games or karaoke, or folks who like the homey-ness of the place, with food that while good, is not out of reach for any decent cook to make at home. But it's decent and filling, and good for an early Sunday supper, so for that, I'd say it's good.