Good was decent, atmosphere was great and very authentic, service was awful (and I worked in the industry and this was really bad. Wine came 15-18 minutes after ordering. 20 minutes after we ordered our food I had to ask if the bread and salad come before the meal or with because it never came out, was given someone else’s bill, and then asked for some Parmesan for the pasta that came out 20 minutes after originally asking. I have never seen less attentive and slower service in my life! Empty water glasses too that weren’t refilled.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Hani
Small family business with good food tastes and very friendly staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Berit Andreone
Really good Italian food and the interior is very comfortable. Love the old music.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
J W-W
The food here was delicious across the board, down to the bread basket they brought to the table. The atmosphere was very nice and cozy, had a retro sophisticated look to it, along with great golden era music. If I am being completely honest, the service could have been better. Our waitress forgot my husband's beer and we had to really flag her down to get a 2nd glass of wine ordered after that. She was a little pushy on ordering, although we were barely into our 1 1/2 hours of reservation time allowed per table. The wine was quite pricey and a less than modest pour. My total take away is, we will definitely come back for the wonderful food and atmosphere, but avoid the alcohol to keep the bill down a bit and hopefully get a different waitress. We will go back though for the wonderful food. I encourage anyone to give this place a try, you will leave full and happy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Nancy Esslinger
Maybe it was an off night. Our waiter was the owner, both coursss were delivered to the table with the wrong food and had to be fixed and brought back. The pasta I had had gelatinous sauce- it was overcooked, and the cream had been boiled out of the sauce. The service was just non to speak of, no eye contact, in a hurry and basically asked us to hurry up. We asked our waitress for things like more water and it never came, I finally gave up and drank my husband’s water. My husband’s salad came with the wrong dressing, and was taken away before he finished it. The wine pour was really small. I was so looking forward to going there, so it was an extra bummer.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Lalo Gomez
Went for Valentine’s Day! Very romantic!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Karsen Yack
So cozy! Ambiance is fantastic here. Good and attentive service. We really enjoyed the arancini and sausage arrabbiata. Add to your date night list!
It has been at least a decade since the last time I was in Carmelos, but based on my recent singular visit: Service is a little slow, and my chicken Parm was not amazing (it was acceptable). The bread isn't great, but its not awful. BUT the Arancini is amazing.It is LOUD, and it is CROWDED however.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 3
Soren Peterson
Flavor was there but my carbonara came out with the rest of the dishes. There's were hot but mine was like warm. Flavor was good just wanted it warmer. Waitresses nice but a lol
First, we waited 10 minutes to be seated because the hostess was waiting for a two-top table to leave, even though a small booth and 4-top tables were available. Then we were sat in the worst spot - next to the kitchen door, an ashtray (no kidding), and two feet from another couple. It was so uncomfortable, and cramped, that we could not have a conversation without the couple next to us hearing every word. We were ignored for 10 more minutes while the hostess and server walked by us numerous times as they went to the kitchen. Neither of them even took our drink order. The whole time I watched the hostess do the same thing to another couple who came in - wait for a two-top table to open. It was a Thursday and they were NOT busy so there is no reason to make a party of two wait for a two-top when a 4-top or booth is available. We finally walked out. We were treated horribly and I will not return. There are so many other places to go with better service and atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Michael Okerlund
Holy Smoke, is this place ever a treasure. I spent several years trying in vain to duplicate their red sauce at home (spaghetti & meatballs / arancini) and I got sorta close. But damn, that's a fine sauce. Nothing like it. And the Shrimp Macalester: incredible. Bread: amazing. I'm running out of superlatives here, but what a lovely, lovely place. Oh, also the Ceasar! Go here. Also: you're welcome.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Caesar Salad, Shrimp Macalester
Sonny Tengblad
Adorable candlelit hole in the wall - best date night spot in the area! We had arancini, Caesar salad, ravioli Carmelo, and tiramisu. Everything was excellent. Spent around $50 per person including drinks and tip.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bill Stewart
Lovely traditional Italian restaurant in St Paul. We had Arancini, salads, fresh baked bread, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Sundried Tomato Pesto pasta. The dining room is nice and cozy. Service was friendly and attentive. We had reservations at 5pm and the restaurant filled up quickly and stayed full the entire time we were there.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Caesar Salad, House Salad
Anthony Ostrem
The food is soooo delicious! Particularly, the Arrabiatta is unreal - on par with the homemade version I had by my friend's Italian grandma in a small town outside of Rome. We have dined here or done take out on numerous special occasions as the fantastic food and superb service make the evening that much more special.
Good was decent, atmosphere was great and very authentic, service was awful (and I worked in the industry and this was really bad. Wine came 15-18 minutes after ordering. 20 minutes after we ordered our food I had to ask if the bread and salad come before the meal or with because it never came out, was given someone else’s bill, and then asked for some Parmesan for the pasta that came out 20 minutes after originally asking. I have never seen less attentive and slower service in my life! Empty water glasses too that weren’t refilled.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Small family business with good food tastes and very friendly staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really good Italian food and the interior is very comfortable. Love the old music.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food here was delicious across the board, down to the bread basket they brought to the table. The atmosphere was very nice and cozy, had a retro sophisticated look to it, along with great golden era music. If I am being completely honest, the service could have been better. Our waitress forgot my husband's beer and we had to really flag her down to get a 2nd glass of wine ordered after that. She was a little pushy on ordering, although we were barely into our 1 1/2 hours of reservation time allowed per table. The wine was quite pricey and a less than modest pour. My total take away is, we will definitely come back for the wonderful food and atmosphere, but avoid the alcohol to keep the bill down a bit and hopefully get a different waitress. We will go back though for the wonderful food. I encourage anyone to give this place a try, you will leave full and happy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Maybe it was an off night. Our waiter was the owner, both coursss were delivered to the table with the wrong food and had to be fixed and brought back. The pasta I had had gelatinous sauce- it was overcooked, and the cream had been boiled out of the sauce. The service was just non to speak of, no eye contact, in a hurry and basically asked us to hurry up. We asked our waitress for things like more water and it never came, I finally gave up and drank my husband’s water. My husband’s salad came with the wrong dressing, and was taken away before he finished it. The wine pour was really small. I was so looking forward to going there, so it was an extra bummer.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Went for Valentine’s Day! Very romantic!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
So cozy! Ambiance is fantastic here. Good and attentive service. We really enjoyed the arancini and sausage arrabbiata. Add to your date night list!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Exceptional food and service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Macalester, Sausage Arrabbiata
It has been at least a decade since the last time I was in Carmelos, but based on my recent singular visit: Service is a little slow, and my chicken Parm was not amazing (it was acceptable). The bread isn't great, but its not awful. BUT the Arancini is amazing.It is LOUD, and it is CROWDED however.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 3
Flavor was there but my carbonara came out with the rest of the dishes. There's were hot but mine was like warm. Flavor was good just wanted it warmer. Waitresses nice but a lol
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
First, we waited 10 minutes to be seated because the hostess was waiting for a two-top table to leave, even though a small booth and 4-top tables were available. Then we were sat in the worst spot - next to the kitchen door, an ashtray (no kidding), and two feet from another couple. It was so uncomfortable, and cramped, that we could not have a conversation without the couple next to us hearing every word. We were ignored for 10 more minutes while the hostess and server walked by us numerous times as they went to the kitchen. Neither of them even took our drink order. The whole time I watched the hostess do the same thing to another couple who came in - wait for a two-top table to open. It was a Thursday and they were NOT busy so there is no reason to make a party of two wait for a two-top when a 4-top or booth is available. We finally walked out. We were treated horribly and I will not return. There are so many other places to go with better service and atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Holy Smoke, is this place ever a treasure. I spent several years trying in vain to duplicate their red sauce at home (spaghetti & meatballs / arancini) and I got sorta close. But damn, that's a fine sauce. Nothing like it. And the Shrimp Macalester: incredible. Bread: amazing. I'm running out of superlatives here, but what a lovely, lovely place. Oh, also the Ceasar! Go here. Also: you're welcome.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Caesar Salad, Shrimp Macalester
Adorable candlelit hole in the wall - best date night spot in the area! We had arancini, Caesar salad, ravioli Carmelo, and tiramisu. Everything was excellent. Spent around $50 per person including drinks and tip.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lovely traditional Italian restaurant in St Paul. We had Arancini, salads, fresh baked bread, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Sundried Tomato Pesto pasta. The dining room is nice and cozy. Service was friendly and attentive. We had reservations at 5pm and the restaurant filled up quickly and stayed full the entire time we were there.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Caesar Salad, House Salad
The food is soooo delicious! Particularly, the Arrabiatta is unreal - on par with the homemade version I had by my friend's Italian grandma in a small town outside of Rome. We have dined here or done take out on numerous special occasions as the fantastic food and superb service make the evening that much more special.
Food: 5
Service: 5