A 3% kitchen fee to pay the kitchen staff??? All set,ill skip these types of establishments
Rich Johnson
We enjoyed a fabulous meal which reminded us of of our treasured recent visit to Italy! WOW!!! Very impressed . Our server was delightful as were all of the staff who worked together as a team to make the time spent at Carmine’s’an overwhelming delightful evening!!! Food was phenomenal 👏👏👏obsessed with the Exoloding Clams in rich broth and deliscious enormous Vesl parm over a unique homemade pasta !!!
Jack
The best Italian restaurant in the NH/MA coastal area. I loved my food so much for forgot to take a photo of it for my 5 star review. I will be coming back here wothout a doubt.
SCOTT SHERMAN
Excellent Italian cuisine! Warm atmosphere. Good cocktails. Great service - Dennis has waited on us several times & has consistently been great.
Josh G
Good service. Good food
Juliana
A MUST GO!!!! If you love Italian food this is definitely the place to go to !! The appetizers we got were eggplant parm and meatballs both incredible along with the bread and oil service ! For dinner I got the chicken parm with vodka sauce I am speechless the crispiest most flavorful chicken cutlet I’ve ever had!! I love how they do their vodka sauce as well with the meats in it as well ! Delicious wagon wheel pasta it’s the best I can’t say anything but amazing things about this place!!!! Highly recommend
Diego Rivas Garita
Even though we had a reservation, had to wait outside for half an hour.
Esther Sayer
Always amazing food & great staff It’s one of my go to’s
Cathy Mccoy
We sat at the bar, we had the best service, the bartenders were awesome, drinks were delicious, the meatballs were fabulous and our meal was to die for. It was so good! I can't wait to go back 😍
The good - second time at Carmine with a couple who go semi-regular. Lively spot with a rough 90-minute reservation expectation. Drinks were got, appetizers of mussels & meatballs were great. Server recommended a good bottle of Cabernet. Braised Rib, Chix Parm & the Veal special were solid.
The bad – 10 minutes into the appetizers, we were rapidly presented with two out of our four entrees (veal & chix parm). The food runner stood as we juggled plates & consolidated items to allow him to drop off. It took an additional 5 minutes or so for the other two entrees (ribs & clams) to appear, so clearly the timing was off somewhere. We joked that we may have gotten another tables dinner.
My wife got the $36 clam special but after a taste or two, she said it was very salty. The other couple tried it & agreed. For probably only the third time in 28 years of knowing her, my wife told the server that she couldn’t eat her meal & he offered to have it remade. My wife said the taste had put her off the dish & wanted the Veal special as an alternative. By the time the alternate came, us three had basically finished up, so a box & the bill was asked for. The $36 overly salted clams remained on the bill. We asked the server why so, and if he could remove it. He said he couldn’t as my wife had refused to allow them to remake the overly salted clams & had ordered the alternate veal dinner but retreated to ask the chef.
The ugly – Our server didn’t come back, but the ‘manager’ came over asking what the issue was. We restated ours & he basically told us that if the restaurant wasn’t allowed to remake the overly salted clams, we must pay for the inedible salted clams. Having now spent over $400 on a couple’s dinner, we asked for a revised bill but were refused. At no time was the typical comp in a similar situation or an apology offered, nor an attempt made to placate the situation. Customer service was clearly not on top of the mind as the conversation became heated & loud.
If it is indeed restaurant policy to remake a dish that the customer feels they cannot eat due to its taste, the server should have been crystal clear on this $36 dish. Knowing that, my wife most likely would have simply not eaten at that point.
Food runners should know to peak at a table before dropping entrees, clear off apps etc.
Manager needs some hospitality classes & learn to have some humility while dealing with customers. Instead of the ‘like it or leave’ attitude, Google the blameless apology.
Our last time eating there.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parm
Joe Nasr
Excellent experience. Won’t be disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stella Chen
Really liked the Garlic Shrimp in the Pan appetizer! The sauce is very flavorful. Thumbs up to the complimentary bread with the garlic infused olive oil. It’s simple but delicious. We also ordered the chicken parm which is good too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
todd trudeau
So this was my birthday dinner very, very disappointed on the whole. Experience. So When we got there for our reservations, the hostess was not so inviting Or seemed like she did not want to be there. She kind of made a big deal that she had to go clean a table off for us to go sit down at which she never took us to but just pointed and said there your table. No menus were brought to us and nobody said we had to scan the QR Code that was at the table. When the waiter came he did not Mention any specials. We ordered our food. Which came out before the bread even came To the table which we had to ask about. We had to ask the waiter to bring us a few things which he forgot. The first time around and then a few times after that. The food looked like it was taken from the bottom of the pan and put on a plate and called it a day. It had no taste and It was not presented to restaurant quality. The waiter never came back to check on us, even though he did come back to check other tables that were around us , we needed salt and pepper, were my other half found the pepper on different table, I had to get up and go into the Restaurant To ask for some salt, The check was brought to us without asking. If we wanted any dessert or mentioning anything about my birthday which they knew about. Because we put it on our reservation. And the time we went for dinner. The place was not busy so they can't use that as a reason for poor quality all around and I can understand 1 person having a off day. But the whole thing from start to end was off.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Shep Castillo
This restaurant was beyond disappointing. Visiting Newburyport for the first time for a birthday on 9/13/24. Recently dined at Carmine's for a special occasion, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. Upon arrival, the hostess seemed visibly annoyed when we requested an outdoor seat which we did when making reservation which set a negative tone for the evening. She didn't escort us to our table after clearing table and appeared uninterested in providing a warm welcome.
The service did not improve with our waiter, who began our meal in a friendly manner but failed to inquire about appetizers or desserts. Despite mentioning it was a birthday when making the reservation, there was no acknowledgment or gesture from the staff to celebrate the occasion. We had to ask for bread a few times and finally someone brought bread . No bread basket just 2 tiny slices
One major issue was the delayed service. I requested sweetener for my iced tea, but it took over 20 minutes for it to arrive—by which time I had to ask again. When it finally came, it was a tasteless, unpleasant experience that did not enhance the drink.
The meal itself was underwhelming it was a tasteless, unpleasant experience . The dish I ordered was bland, dry, and lacked the expected flavors and presentation. The portion was meager, and the overall quality seemed thrown together without care.
Throughout our visit, the waiter disappeared for extended periods, and another staff member had to take over to bring salt for my tasteless Carbanero and the check. The service was inattentive, and the restaurant was not particularly busy at the time. We were sitting outside and there was only one other table of 2,
Overall, Carmine's did not meet expectations for a special celebration, and I would not recommend it based on this experience.
A 3% kitchen fee to pay the kitchen staff??? All set,ill skip these types of establishments
We enjoyed a fabulous meal which reminded us of of our treasured recent visit to Italy! WOW!!! Very impressed . Our server was delightful as were all of the staff who worked together as a team to make the time spent at Carmine’s’an overwhelming delightful evening!!! Food was phenomenal 👏👏👏obsessed with the Exoloding Clams in rich broth and deliscious enormous Vesl parm over a unique homemade pasta !!!
The best Italian restaurant in the NH/MA coastal area. I loved my food so much for forgot to take a photo of it for my 5 star review. I will be coming back here wothout a doubt.
Excellent Italian cuisine! Warm atmosphere. Good cocktails. Great service - Dennis has waited on us several times & has consistently been great.
Good service. Good food
A MUST GO!!!! If you love Italian food this is definitely the place to go to !! The appetizers we got were eggplant parm and meatballs both incredible along with the bread and oil service ! For dinner I got the chicken parm with vodka sauce I am speechless the crispiest most flavorful chicken cutlet I’ve ever had!! I love how they do their vodka sauce as well with the meats in it as well ! Delicious wagon wheel pasta it’s the best I can’t say anything but amazing things about this place!!!! Highly recommend
Even though we had a reservation, had to wait outside for half an hour.
Always amazing food & great staff
It’s one of my go to’s
We sat at the bar, we had the best service, the bartenders were awesome, drinks were delicious, the meatballs were fabulous and our meal was to die for. It was so good! I can't wait to go back 😍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very tasty veal dish enjoyed, nice staff
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The good, the bad & the ugly
The good - second time at Carmine with a couple who go semi-regular. Lively spot with a rough 90-minute reservation expectation. Drinks were got, appetizers of mussels & meatballs were great. Server recommended a good bottle of Cabernet. Braised Rib, Chix Parm & the Veal special were solid.
The bad – 10 minutes into the appetizers, we were rapidly presented with two out of our four entrees (veal & chix parm). The food runner stood as we juggled plates & consolidated items to allow him to drop off. It took an additional 5 minutes or so for the other two entrees (ribs & clams) to appear, so clearly the timing was off somewhere. We joked that we may have gotten another tables dinner.
My wife got the $36 clam special but after a taste or two, she said it was very salty. The other couple tried it & agreed. For probably only the third time in 28 years of knowing her, my wife told the server that she couldn’t eat her meal & he offered to have it remade. My wife said the taste had put her off the dish & wanted the Veal special as an alternative. By the time the alternate came, us three had basically finished up, so a box & the bill was asked for. The $36 overly salted clams remained on the bill. We asked the server why so, and if he could remove it. He said he couldn’t as my wife had refused to allow them to remake the overly salted clams & had ordered the alternate veal dinner but retreated to ask the chef.
The ugly – Our server didn’t come back, but the ‘manager’ came over asking what the issue was. We restated ours & he basically told us that if the restaurant wasn’t allowed to remake the overly salted clams, we must pay for the inedible salted clams. Having now spent over $400 on a couple’s dinner, we asked for a revised bill but were refused. At no time was the typical comp in a similar situation or an apology offered, nor an attempt made to placate the situation. Customer service was clearly not on top of the mind as the conversation became heated & loud.
If it is indeed restaurant policy to remake a dish that the customer feels they cannot eat due to its taste, the server should have been crystal clear on this $36 dish. Knowing that, my wife most likely would have simply not eaten at that point.
Food runners should know to peak at a table before dropping entrees, clear off apps etc.
Manager needs some hospitality classes & learn to have some humility while dealing with customers. Instead of the ‘like it or leave’ attitude, Google the blameless apology.
Our last time eating there.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parm
Excellent experience. Won’t be disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really liked the Garlic Shrimp in the Pan appetizer! The sauce is very flavorful. Thumbs up to the complimentary bread with the garlic infused olive oil. It’s simple but delicious.
We also ordered the chicken parm which is good too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
So this was my birthday dinner very, very disappointed on the whole. Experience. So
When we got there for our reservations, the hostess was not so inviting Or seemed like she did not want to be there.
She kind of made a big deal that she had to go clean a table off for us to go sit down at which she never took us to but just pointed and said there your table.
No menus were brought to us and nobody said we had to scan the QR Code that was at the table. When the waiter came he did not Mention any specials. We ordered our food.
Which came out before the bread even came To the table which we had to ask about. We had to ask the waiter to bring us a few things which he forgot.
The first time around and then a few times after that.
The food looked like it was taken from the bottom of the pan and put on a plate and called it a day. It had no taste and It was not presented to restaurant quality. The waiter never came back to check on us, even though he did come back to check other tables that were around us , we needed salt and pepper, were my other half found the pepper on different table, I had to get up and go into the Restaurant To ask for some salt, The check was brought to us without asking. If we wanted any dessert or mentioning anything about my birthday which they knew about. Because we put it on our reservation. And the time we went for dinner. The place was not busy so they can't use that as a reason for poor quality all around and I can understand 1 person having a off day. But the whole thing from start to end was off.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
This restaurant was beyond disappointing. Visiting Newburyport for the first time for a birthday on 9/13/24. Recently dined at Carmine's for a special occasion, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. Upon arrival, the hostess seemed visibly annoyed when we requested an outdoor seat which we did when making reservation which set a negative tone for the evening. She didn't escort us to our table after clearing table and appeared uninterested in providing a warm welcome.
The service did not improve with our waiter, who began our meal in a friendly manner but failed to inquire about appetizers or desserts. Despite mentioning it was a birthday when making the reservation, there was no acknowledgment or gesture from the staff to celebrate the occasion. We had to ask for bread a few times and finally someone brought bread . No bread basket just 2 tiny slices
One major issue was the delayed service. I requested sweetener for my iced tea, but it took over 20 minutes for it to arrive—by which time I had to ask again. When it finally came, it was a tasteless, unpleasant experience that did not enhance the drink.
The meal itself was underwhelming it was a tasteless, unpleasant experience . The dish I ordered was bland, dry, and lacked the expected flavors and presentation. The portion was meager, and the overall quality seemed thrown together without care.
Throughout our visit, the waiter disappeared for extended periods, and another staff member had to take over to bring salt for my tasteless Carbanero and the check. The service was inattentive, and the restaurant was not particularly busy at the time. We were sitting outside and there was only one other table of 2,
Overall, Carmine's did not meet expectations for a special celebration, and I would not recommend it based on this experience.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
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