Massive portions, family-style Italian feasts w/ a lively, loud vibe. A true NYC group dining institution.
This classic Italian-American restaurant is known for its massive, family-style portions, perfect for sharing with a group. While some consider it a tourist hotspot, many rave about the generous servings and the lively, albeit loud, atmosphere. It's a go-to for a celebratory meal or a large gathering, offering a quintessential New York dining experience.
This establishment serves large, family-style portions of Italian-American cuisine. Reviews frequently highlight the generous servings, with pasta dishes and items like chicken parm and shrimp parm being mentioned positively. While generally well-regarded for its substantial offerings, some feedback suggests it can be a bit heavy or tourist-oriented.
"Dishes frequently recommended include large pasta portions, chicken parm, shrimp parm, veal saltimbocca, and spedini. The Frozen Cosmo is also specifically mentioned as a notable drink."
Customers generally praise the incredibly generous, family-style portions and the festive atmosphere, making it ideal for groups. However, some note it can be loud and geared towards tourists.
Important Note
The restaurant can be very loud and is often described as a tourist hotspot, which may not appeal to everyone. Some find the portions excessively large, leading to food waste if not managed properly. There are also mentions of difficulty reaching the restaurant by phone.
"The commenter recommends Carmine's for large parties, noting its family-style dining and availability of large round tables or private rooms."
Positive"Carmine's is suggested as a restaurant that might be open on Thanksgiving, with a question about preferred cuisine or area."
Positive"The user stated that Carmine's uses both plastic containers with snap-on lids for large items and smaller aluminum containers for leftovers and smaller orders."
Positive"This user expresses fondness for Carmine's, acknowledging it's a 'touristy' spot but stating they don't mind."
Positive"The user recalled that many years ago, shortly after Carmine's first opened in its original Upper West Side location, large orders of spaghetti were delivered in plastic buckets."
Neutral"Acknowledging the OP's difficulty in reaching Carmine's by phone, the user suggested that they might have an email address for catering inquiries."
Neutral"In response to a suggestion to call, the user referred to their earlier comment about being unable to get through to the restaurant's phone system."
Neutral"The user questioned why the original poster (OP) did not call the restaurant directly to inquire about the take-out containers."
Neutral"The commenter describes Carmine's as having 'trough vibes' and dislikable giant bowls and waiters, though they admit to liking the pasta sauce."
Negative"This user, a foreigner, believes the atmosphere at Carmine's is not great, contrasting with the food quality."
Negative"The commenter highlights the large family-style portions at Carmine's, suggesting customers should under-order to avoid wasting food. They also mention the awesome atmosphere and recommend it for bigger groups."
Positive"Commenter states that while Carmine's portions are large, it's not a bad thing and advises customers to order less if they are not part of a large group."
Neutral"Carmine's on W 44th st is recommended as a dining option."
Positive"The user simply stated that Carmine's uses 'Aluminum rectangles' for their take-out."
Positive"The user indicated that Carmine's has always used aluminum containers for a long time, and they would be surprised if this had recently changed."
Positive"In response to a health concern about aluminum, the user clarified that they use glass containers at home and that this was a special circumstance. They also pointed out that food is often cooked in aluminum pots when dining out."
Neutral"This user has fond memories of Carmine's, noting that their children enjoyed going there for birthday celebrations when they were younger."
Positive"The user advised against heating food in aluminum containers, suggesting that it is unhealthy and recommending glass containers instead. This comment was made in response to the OP's question about reheating food."
Negative"The user expressed difficulty reaching Carmine's by phone for over two days, stating that none of the automated options connected them to a representative."
Negative"The user has consistently received aluminum containers for large orders from Carmine's for many years, suggesting that separate pans for reheating may not be necessary. They also recommend calling the restaurant to confirm."
Positive
