As a family that's new to Wallingford, we've ordered Carini's pizza and calzones for takeout several times and have always loved them. This was our first time dining in and trying a variety of their entrées, and it exceeded our expectations. We came with a party of eight--four adults and four young kids--and everything was great. The Caprese salad was fresh and light. I generally don't think much of tuna but I decided to try the tuna wrap and it was surprisingly good. The pasta entrées were cooked perfectly, and the meat lovers calzone was huge, packed with meat, and every bit as amazing as we remembered. Dessert was the perfect ending. The homemade tiramisu was light, rich, and one of the best we've had, and the carrot cake was moist, delicious, and clearly homemade. What truly made the evening special was our server, Patti. She was warm, welcoming, incredibly accommodating with our four young children, and made the entire dinner fun and enjoyable. Her friendly personality and attentive service made us feel like regulars even though it was our first time dining in. Carini's has officially become one of our favorite restaurants in Wallingford. Between the authentic Italian food, generous portions, homemade desserts, and exceptional hospitality, we can't recommend it highly enough. If you've only ordered takeout like we had, do yourself a favor and dine in--you won't be disappointed! read more

We went to Carini's for a post funeral lunch with 30 people. I contacted John about 3 days prior and he was very accommodating. We had a private area, and the food was very good. My grandsons gave there stamp of approval to Carini's meat lovers pizza! Carini's also delivers too now. read more

New owner not using the same recipe admittedly raised prices less quality ingredients the end of an Era Gaetano and his wife worked tirelessly to establish a quality amazing pizza place in wallingford conn now it's gone such a disappointment not even close to the same pizza from Gaetano they dropped foxon soda Used to be my go to pizza place not anymore I won't go back read more

NEW OWNERS....Just opened under new Management. Did takeout from Carini's Pizzeria & Restaurant, got two dinners and everything was very good. Staff was friendly and helpful. Definitely want to go back and dine in. A must try. read more

Had an excellent calamari fra diavola pasta dinner with pasta fagioli soup as a side. Would definitely go back again. This restaurant is under new ownership since Feb 2025 and is now open for dining in service. read more

They have a bit of work to do. The pros: my chicken and the noodles it came with were perfect, the restaurant is very clean, and the bathrooms are clean as well. The cons: the main con is service. One server was there when we were there on a Sunday night and they were pretty busy. And he wasn't the most pleasant of people. They need to hire more staff and they'd have higher ratings, guaranteed. The other con was the salad house dressing and the house rolls, way too greasy on both counts. If they fix the service and lay off the olive oil, they can start really changing things around. read more

If it's going to take an hour and fifteen minutes for one pizza than just tell me that. Don't tell me take out is going to be 30 minutes.

Excellent family business. Great pizza uses the freshest of meats , cheese and awesome sauce.

This is my go-to neighborhood restaurant. Guy and Rosa are awesome people and the food is fantastic! I recommend the Carini's Vegetarian pizza, well done and the pasta rustica. But all the food is home made and well prepared. And don't forget the bread. It's baked on premises and is awesome! read more

One of my favorite places to get pizza in town. The crust is always thin and crisp. There are a variety of toppings to choose from and we often change things up and have been satisfied each time. Prices have gone up recently but the cost it still comparable (if not less) to other pizza places across and down the street. Currently, Carini's only does take out but their staff has always been kind and courteous to us. read more

I'm not a huge fan of the food here - things just seem like a hit or miss. I've come about 3 times now and about 2/3 times, the food is either a little too bland or a little too tangy. The first time I've come, their alla vodka was fantastic. Not so much after that. Their menu has the classic Italian meals and the prices are on level with other Italian restaurants. Interior isn't modern but it is clean. Waitstaff is usually friendly when you talk to them, otherwise they don't seem too happy or smiley. Other than that, the parking lot could be bigger! read more

I ordered a large pizza rustica mainly because it had shrimp on it , and I understand it being 11bucks more than a pepperoni pizza because of the shrimp $30.95. But I ate half of the pie and only found 2 tiny pieces of shrimp in total. So I probably paid about $200 buck a pound for the shrimp . It was tasty but raising prices is one thing which I understand. Just give me what I ordered read more

Food is fantastic. Gaetano the owner was wonderful. I came in for a to go and talked to me for 10 minutes. He told me I can have whatever I wanted and he will make it for me even if it wasn't on the menu. I was craving chicken breaded cutlet with hot peppers and potatoes with mushrooms and onions in a white sauce. It was absolutely fantastic. He is very accommodating!! His bread was also fantastic . The boys that worked the counter were so respectful and polite! Beautiful decor inside. Can't wait to eat in their dining room. read more

I went to a wedding and didn't eat there, but came to Carini's afterwards to eat because the food is superb, like my grandma's, homemade, flavorful, scrumptious, and I was looking forward to it all day! This is my favorite restaraunt! read more

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We were in town and hungry later at night so we order 2 pizzas. We got the vegetable pizza and the buffalo chicken. It was only about 20 minutes for take out and they came out hot. We got home and the crust was thin and crispy the buffalo chicken one was very flavorful and with the right amount of spice. The vegetable one was not great all the vegetables were overcooked and made the pizza slimy and soggy with little flavor. I would definitely recommend the buffalo chicken but not the other one. I would be hesitant to come here again we got 2 pizzas and only 50% was tasty seems like they are hit or miss. read more

Italian food has a habit of falling into the wrong hands and becoming bastardized or made nouveau when it doesn't need to be. Carini's is not that kind of place. They serve standard Italian fare done well. I've never had a bad meal there. Pizza is the best you'll find in Wallingford, though takeout on a Friday night can get a little hectic as they get overrun pretty quickly. Still worth it, tho. read more

Carini's is a good Italian Restuarant located on the East Side of Wallingford. While not my favorite pizza in town, they do make a good pie. I'm more inclined to have one of their dinners while I'm there, as they're usually pretty good. It's a relatively small place, and sometimes the service can be spotty, but overall they do a good job. If you're looking for a good Italian meal, I would definitely consider Carini's. For pizza, I prefer Napoli's Pizzaeria in Wallingford. read more

Wow, I would have never guessed that this place would be so good!! It's in a dingy little strip mall right near where I live. The first time, my boyfriend and I got take out from here and it was so gooood!!! He got the gnocchi and I had the cheese manicotti. The inside of the restaurant is actually very nice, despite it's ugly surroundings, so we decided to have dinner there. They are really great calamari and good desserts! All the dinner entrées come with a salad, I'm pretty sure. And all the people who work there are very friendly! read more

Well this was a toss up. I would give there pizza 4 stars. But unfortunately I would give pretty much everything else, service, pasta, etc. It is not bad per say but for the prices it is terrible. If this was a cheaper restaurant it would not be bad but for what they are asking I expect better food. But back to the pizza. That is really good anytime we get pizza we get it from here. read more

Carini's Restaurant - Small but nice - Italian Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

This place is awsome. I live around the corner and i either go sit down and eat in their nice dinning area or i order for pick up. My mama Rosina, she loves them too. She orders there so much, she just says "a pizza for Rosina" and they know how to make it up. Great food, I say go try it out! :o) read more

So far so good. I have read a lot of negative reviews on this site and I can agree with them on location and lack of people inside but: This is some of the best pizza I have had in the area. It does not hold a candle to Napoli pizza, but if you are coming off of 91 or live in the area, it is good enough to save a trip down route 5. Parking lot is in a strip mall and always crowded, but I never have trouble parking. I ordered a Cheese and onion pizza and it came out perfect. The staff seemed very friendly. The place was empty and I did pick up and bring it elsewhere, but I enjoy it so much I am giving this a 4 star. Pricing is average for a large pizza. There was plenty of seating inside and the decor was well furnished considering it is inside a strip mall. I will be eating at Carinis again in the future and plan to write another review to let you guys know if my opinions have changed. Give it a chance and see for yourself. If you disagree with me, feel free to post your on review on here. read more

Carini's Restaurant - Cheese and onion pizza - Italian Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

My family and I enjoy eating at Carini's. Gaetano and his wife make an authentic southern Italian tomato sauce that is similar to my mom's homemade sauce. The meals are delicious and ample portions. Even their pizza pies are very good. Definitely recommend Carini's Restaurant for lunch or dinner. read more

I will make this short and to the point. The food here is very good, excellent really. We like it very much, but we stopped coming here regularly because of the poor service. It's hard to describe how bad the wait-staff is. The poor runs the gambit. complaining to patrons about the owners, ignoring customers, rude behavior, etc. Last night we arrived and were told to sit anywhere. There were three waitresses and the restaurant was not busy. After being ignored for more than ten minutes, we decided to go elsewhere. It's a shame the service is so poor because this could easily be a very nice place to dine. read more

I had a coupon for Carinis from Social Living and checked it out tonight. Its the first time I have been in years and remember going there for pizza and subs about 10 or 15 years ago. Unfortunately for Yelp I had pizza recently and pasta for lunch so I went with the steak. It was good but not great but thats what I get for not ordering Italian at an Italian place. No beer on tap? They really need to get with the times. Any dive bar these days will have at least 6 or 7 taps. The direction the restaurant business is heading seems to be towards more craft beer selections even while maintaining the family image. Bottle beer only. I did have a pretty good glass of vino, forgot what it was but the house wine is good and a better selection of wine than beer. The table next to us got pizza and it smelled great. They seemed very pleased with their choice. My wife got a seafood dish with clams and shrimp (no idea what it was, I dont do seafood) and said it was good but her eyes didnt light up or anything. Like I said, if you go to ihop get pancackes if you go for Italian fare get exactly that. The atmosphere was family friendly, nothing very unique but the staff was great and really on top of things without being annoying. Id like to give them 3 and 1/2 stars read more

Carini's Restaurant - DelMonico steak Rocco style with mushrooms, garlic and dark sauce. The preparation was right but just an OK cut of beef. - Italian Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

Don't order takeout from here on a Friday or Saturday night. The food has always been good but their kitchen can't keep up with orders. I ordered 2 dinners and a pizza and was told my order would be ready in 45 minutes. I arrived at the restaurant 50 minutes after my call to see a long line of other patrons waiting for food. Unfortunately, it was another 45 minutes before my order was ready. My dinners were cold. The pizza was fresh. Clearly they don't have enough oven space and take more orders than they can accommodate making. The food is good. However if you're looking for an easy Friday dinner the frustration of having to wait for 3 times the amount of time you're told your order will take isn't worth it read more

Wow, I would have never guessed that this place would be so good!! It's in a dingy little strip mall right near where I live. The first time, my boyfriend and I got take out from here and it was so gooood!!! He got the gnocchi and I had the cheese manicotti. The inside of the restaurant is actually very nice, despite it's ugly surroundings, so we decided to have dinner there. They are really great calamari and good desserts! All the dinner entrées come with a salad, I'm pretty sure. And all the people who work there are very friendly! read more

I should have known that something has gone very wrong at this restaurant. At one time you had to wait for a table on a Friday night. When we arrived, the restaurant was largely empty with only a few tables taken. When we left the dining room was still more empty than full of eager diners. I had my last meal at Carini's on Friday July 27th. The onslaught of digestive problems began before I left the restaurant and still continue almost 48 hours later. I am a seasoned diner and have never experienced this type of digestive issue from a restaurant. The meal consisted of very basic elements - a mozzarella, basil and tomato appetizer; garden salad; and cheese raviolis for the main course. Bu bye Carini's! read more

Waited too long to visit again. Today's event was better than the first. Escarole side was sauteed with chicken, capers, and anchovies .....EXCELLENT. Small pizza with house roasted peppers, mushrooms, and meatball was cooked and assembled PERFECTLY. Great sauce, super crust, and toppings were portioned just right. Michael (Server) was attentive, competent, caring, and was not lacking on any level. Met the owner again and he was engaging, interested if the meal was pleasing, and added to the visit. EXCELLENT PLACE FOR A GREAT MEAL, GOOD VALUE, AND A HOME ATMOSPHERE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL YOU ARE DINING IN SICILY......LOVE IT. Do not miss. I really suggest the pizzas, but everything has been very good. The setting may be a bit dubious, but let that deter you. Already counting the days to my next visit, read more

We went here tonight and the food was really solid - awesome bread, nice red sauce, pizza was spot on, and the calzone was outstanding - we'll come back here for sure - portions are huge - Staff is friendly - nice homey atmosphere read more

Management and service is less than professional. High turnover of servers is likely due to owner mistreatment. On the 3 occasions I dined at Carini's, I observed the owner yelling at waitstaff as though the waiter was a 5 year old child, and right out in the open in the presence of customers! Sure, they may make a decent Pizza, but the food is as good as the average Italian in the area. I'd suggest checking out Avanti's in South Meriden. They're prices range about average, but their efforts in creating "Authentic Italian Cuisine" rate far better in Pizza, Entrees, Appetizers, and especially prompt, friendly, professional service. But if you must go, keep in mind that Carini's is ill equipped to handle a dinner rush! I'd suggest ordering your food "to go", especially if you wish to eat it in less than 2 hours. Perhaps the owner's ploy of forcing patrons to wait for silverware, water, and bread will theoretically increase the amount of the check, tip, and assist in inflating his ego. This tactless practice ultimately left a bad taste in this reviewer's mouth. The food and service wasn't nearly worth allowing myself to be forced to fill my aching belly with soda and appetizers while the kitchen and waitstaff tried to get it together. If you wish to attempt to dine and disregard this warning, whatever you do, don't go to Carini's for a sit down dinner on a weekend evening, it's simply not worth the wait or the hassle! If Carini's wants to survive in this economy, someone over there should seek professional advice from one of those reality TV shows... read more

Oh my I Love this place it has been one of my ct favorites for years the husband and wife owners make this one of the most welcoming restaurants you will find in Wallingford the food is just as fresh as sitting down for a meal prepared by mom herself Bring the kids for lunch or a quite evening with your honey I promise Carinis will not disappoint read more

Awful Dont know which was worse the service or the food. We ordered soup which was served 1 minute before our main course came out. Soup tasted like it came out of a can. No fresh ingredients in our meals. Mushrooms were also csnned. Skimpy cheese on pizza. Out of the 5 of us who were there 3 of us had stomach aches within the hour of leaving there. read more

Terrible service!! Went at 4:30 when the place was practically empty and waited over 1 1/2 hrs for our entrée. The food was good but not worth the wait. read more

This restaurant is a great place! I have eaten there and the service is great, definitely a family oriented atmosphere where they know their regulars and are happy to have new patrons. Food is always good and they have the best margarita pizza in the area, a must try! read more

The one star is not for the food. It's for the service. So me and my mother ordered out and got a medium pizza and a meatball grinder. When she brought it back I opened my grinder it was a sausage and peppers so I went back while my mom went out and got her mail. So now I'm at Carina's and the poor girl who didn't do anything wrong but take orders on the phone is getting yelled at while she was on the phone with my mother who just noticed she didn't get the right pizza. So now the owner suggest that after I bring my meatball sandwich back home my mother drives back for a 3rd time to return the pizza.. so she can get her correct one. What a shit show. This was clearly a mistake but the way management handle it was an absolute disgrace. He wasn't gonna re sell the pizza we had already taken. then he wouldn't give me my mother's pizza or offer anything at all! Never going there again. read more

Went here in whim one Sunday with family and we had a great meal! I'm glad to say that the service was great and the food was too.

Wanted something that I could take to the winery and munch on while I was having a glass of wine. I got the meatball sandwich. It was huge for one person only get a half if you are by yourself. I also got a lovely salad that had black olives and I used the peppercorn dressing. Fresh and tasty. I would eat here again if I was in town. read more

This is my favorite pizza place anywhere in the country to go... I don't know what it is about the pizza but it's amazing! Living out of state I craved it even more. Their white pizzas are very good but my favorite is the plain cheese pizza. I'd choose this pizza over a lot of places and we order it a lot when we have guests over and everyone enjoys it. read more

Loved having Carini's to kick of my Christmas visit with family in CT! Grew up in Wallingford and now live in Seattle - always look forward to Carini's (or East Side Pizza - preferably both!!) when I come home. The calamari and the pizza were both awesome! read more

BEWARE THIS PLACE IS A SCAM!!! My family and I have come here 3 times in the past 2 years, each time paying with a gift card from a good friend of ours. All three times the staff claims the gift card isn't working or wasn't activated. After eating here tonight, the total comes out to 94 dollars ( which didn't add up to what we had ordered, the total should have been 60) so we give the waitress 2 50 dollar gift cards. She returns saying one of them works the other doesn't, then tells us to make sure our friend isn't using the cards then gifting them. Taking the rather rude comment into account it was then we realize something sketchy is going on. Definitely a scam operation, I really hope this doesn't happen to anyone else. That is why I urge everyone to stay as far away from here as possible, there are cheaper, better quality Italian restaurants all over the area. read more