When a server says, "I have some bread coming for the table," I assume it's complimentary... but not at Carmelina Restaurant. While not an exorbitant charge, we did notice a $3-per-basket fee on the bill. You can upgrade to garlic bread for $13, which gets you four slices of fluffy, warm bread brushed with oil and garlic, topped with shredded parmesan, plus a trio of dips and olives. Again, not outrageous, but a bit more transparency would've been appreciated. Especially since I didn't really need the extra carbs. Carmelina's portions are generous. The grilled calamari ($22) arrived as two smoky pieces of squid on a bed of tropical salad with grilled peppers and olives. It was nicely cooked: tender, full of flavour and felt fresh thanks to all the vibrant accompaniments. Unfortunately, I barely made a dent in the salad, let alone the toasted poppadum bowl, before the mains came flying out. Pacing is a real issue here. For a restaurant with live entertainment - a loud but talented musician serenading us first on piano, then guitar - Carmelina seems eager to rush you through your meal. The busboy repeatedly tried to clear the wooden garlic bread board while there were still pieces on it. We joked that maybe they were running low on boards and needed it back immediately. Sure enough, when the lobster and shrimp risotto ($37) hit the table, I hurriedly finished my last bite of salad before the remaining calamari was whisked away. The champagne and saffron infused risotto was rich and plentiful. While the half lobster tail was overcooked and chewy, the five sizeable prawns were well prepared and thankfully made up for it. The pappardelle al verde ($33) was a flavour bomb: mushrooms, caramelized onions, arugula, gorgonzola, and sundried tomatoes folded into a creamy, nutty sauce. The noodles had that proper fresh chew, which made the dish especially satisfying. And finally, once the mains landed, we were mercifully left alone to eat and enjoy the crooning serenade. Even though we couldn't finish our mains, we still made room for tiramisu ($14). Moist, creamy, and unmistakably homemade, it was a comforting end to the meal. A slightly stronger espresso hit would've made it perfect, but I was happy regardless. read more

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Discovered this restaurant due to my boyfriend's family taking us here for a birthday celebration. All the dishes we ordered were delicious and portions were very generous. I came back on Friday night and discovered they had a live musician playing piano, guitar and singing to the guest. He even took requests for songs by guest. We ordered the lamb of racks and pasta special of the day and both were delicious! The bread was good but I wish the restaurant would let guests know there is a $3 charge for fresh bread instead of discovering that at the end of our bill that there is a charge for bread. Service otherwise was really good. read more

Carmelina Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Service: 5/5 The servers are friendly and regularly checks up on us throughout our whole night. They actually enjoy their jobs unlike other restaurant servers. Food: 3/5 I thought the food was pretty standard. Nothing wrong, but also nothing stood about the taste. The portion is decent though! I rated the food 3 out of 5 mainly due to the price. For a standard pasta, it cost around $36 which is quite pricey. Atmosphere: 3.5/5 The restaurant has a vintage and warm atmosphere. The interior decorations are a bit updated. If you're nostalgic and want to travel back in time to the 2010s, I highly recommend bringing your family here for a cozy dinner experience. The live guitar and piano performances are great though! Overall Impression: Worth-A-Try read more

Carmelina Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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I can't believe I've never been to this restaurant before. I've been to the neighboring restaurant a few times, but never thought to come here. I only stumbled upon Carmelina Restaurant as I was looking for somewhere to have a nice dinner to celebrate Christmas. We ordered via telephone. You can order from the regular menu or takeout/delivery menu, but not from the prix fixe menu if you want to do takeout. On a Saturday around 6pm, our food took 20mins to be ready. From the brief time I was inside to pick up the food, I noted that it looked really cute inside! We got the spaghettinii all francoise and the black angus striploin. We really enjoyed both dishes. Despite being takeout, the steak was delicious and perfectly cooked. Loved the amount of veggies and potatoes it came with. The spaghettinii all francoise was sooooo tasty. They gave a lot of scallops and shrimps in it, which weren't overcooked. The lobster tail was on the smaller side, but we weren't expecting it to be large in a pasta dish. The meal came with bread that was also really good. Overall, definitely would order from here again and dine in for the cute atmosphere. Love that I found a gem in Markham! read more

Carmelina Restaurant - Black angus striploin - Italian Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Food is all right but not impressive. The bread was very good until I realized it wasn't free and they charged $3 on the bill. The service was good, especially before I paid the bill. read more

I've actually never heard of this restaurant before but my bf decided to order their Valentine's Day dinner package (take-out) which came with an antipasto platter, 2 mains, 2 desserts & a bottle of wine for $150. We very much enjoyed the entree that came with BOTH lamb and steak, which were grilled perfectly and so flavourful with the red wine jus. For the second entree, my bf picked seafood which came with garlic butter lobster tail and giant shrimps. I loved the variety and everything was so delicious! They were both very sizeable portions so we ended up being so stuffed from the entrees that we barely touched the antipasti platter. For desserts, I wasn't a fan of the ruby chocolate champagne cake, but we loved the lemon lavender cheesecake which was so fragrant and yummy! The bottle of wine and the single rose was a nice touch to the package. Overall we both really enjoyed the meal and I would definitely consider checking out the restaurant when they re-open. read more

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This is a great find in Markham. I must say the service was impeccable, one of the best owner managed restaurants we've been to since after the lockdown (owner helped with the service throughout) What can you say with marble pillars and marble wall paneling... Mediterranean anyone? And it comes with a piano bar whose artist serenaded it's guests with Italian and new music on piano and as a strolling guitarist. He did customer request. The food was great and the wine list was much appreciated. We stayed for over three hours of great food, service, company and experience.. $$-$$$ read more

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Came here on a Friday night, and there was live music! A beautiful baby grand in the middle of the restaurant, providing the best ambiance for any special occasion. It was a little awkward when the musician came to each table and played in front of us. Was really nice, but I wasnt sure what to do at the time and I felt bad staring but also felt bad not paying attention, although I'm generally awkward like that lol The fresh bread, while was $3, was really soft and enjoyable. Great notes of sweetness and flavour, paired nicely with butter but even on its own, with the bits of sesame was wonderful. They asked if we wanted it, while they didnt let us know there was a price, I anticipated it to be charged, but heads up to you foodies! Crab Cakes 4/5 - came with 2 pieces, but the two were packed with real crab meat, well seasoned, a hint of the aioli underneath with charred corn was a bit bland but did add a creamy component to the otherwise quite moist crab cake. Not over battered nor was there too much flour, so you knw youre at least getting the good seafood bits! Came with a handful of greens. Seafood risotto 3.5/5 - flavours were quite subtle, not heavily seasoned and delicate. You can taste the individual grains of rice within their risotto, and I've never had an authentic one, but perhaps i'm more used to a saucier and mushier type of risotto, so this one was less to my liking. Good amount of seafood, particularly calamari. Mussels were quite small, but i did enjoy the chunks of fish meat hidden within the risotto. Tomato sauce base was light. Not a bad dish, but unsure if I would pay 33 for it a second time. Friend ordered linguini which looked nice. She enjoyed it but I didnt try. Tiramisu 3.5/5 - ladyfingers well drenched in kahlua and the alcohol shines through, although subtle and not overly powerful. Quite wet base, good mascarpone and sweetness, right amount of cocoa powder. Overall enjoyable, but nothing too out of the ordinary/ memorable. Overall nice place for a taste of 'fancier' and 'fine dining' ish experience for italian in markham. May come back to try their pasta dishes as it did look quite nice. read more

This is a hidden gem in Markham and is now my favourite special occasion uptown restaurant. From the talented pianist who also sang and played guitars to the big portion but yummy Italian pastas, this dinner became one the best I've had in a long time in the area. SERVICE: We came here for a friends birthday on a Sat evening around 7pm celebration and the service was impeccable! We were seated next to the piano so front row seats to the music! From explaining the items on the menu to getting played with bday song twice (once on piano and once on guitar), this was the most romantic birthday dinner I've ever experienced. FOOD: Being a big fan of seafood pasta, we ordered the Linguini Frutti Di Mare and the Spaghetti Alla Francoise. The Frutti Di Mare came with abundance of mussels, shrimps, scallops and calamari. The spaghetti was beautifully assembled with scallops, tiger shrimps, bell peppers, and big chunks of lobster! We paired both dishes with a red wine and white wine. Since it was a birthday celebration, we were gifted with a decadent tiramisu, decorated with a small candle on the top. Yum yum! P.S. They also do private group celebrations. Just make sure that you make reservation ahead of time for the big group. read more

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Beautiful experience throughout. The decor really set the tone and the musician, who was a pianist and sung, was wonderful. Service came often and was not too overbearing (I mean, I like when they leave me alone to eat). It was my first time coming and it was for dinner. Everything was classy and the food was great! It was a good balance of various tastes and nothing overpowered the other. They had a wide array of wines for you to choose from. I came with a wine connoisseur and he paired us up with different ones. If you're a wine person and like legit Italian food, Carmelina is the way to go. read more

First time trying out this restaurant. Place was nice and cozy. It was on a Friday evening and the place was packed. My husband and I ordered the lobster spaghettini Francois and I ordered the blue crab fettuccini and my daughter got the pasta kids menu. The lobster was nicely presented and had the flavours, the kids menu typical basic pasta and sauce and a bottle of wine. But let's say my blue crab fettuccine .... no where had any sites of flavours of blue crab! kept searching and searching re read the menu thinking why name it blue crab if there is any spot of it or worst no flavours!!!! I decided to bring to another waitress's attention because mine was no where to be seen, she didn't even know if there's suppose to be crab. So of course she went to the kitchen to ask and blurted out loud... few minutes later she came back to take my plate. Few mins later... came back... looked like they just re tossed it with extra cream sauce, threw in a load of smush blue crab on top! And there it was.... Also... server never came back to ask how it was, nor ever refilled my water. He probably never knew my dish was totally messed up! Don't think I would intentionally drive here to eat this restaurant. I decided to give it two stars bc the lobster dish was pretty good. read more

Carmelina Restaurant - Lobster spaghetti - Italian Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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I came here with my husband and his side of the family for a birthday dinner tonight. The decor is quite nice and they had live piano and guitar music! The service was definitely lacking though - the restaurant was about 50-60% full and we had to ask multiple times to get our menus, place our orders, etc. food was also mediocre. Our niece and nephew ordered pizza - it was lackluster at first glance. My rack of lamb had good meat texture but no taste. The capers in the sauce added nothing to the dish. My favourite part was the roasted potatoes - which were crispy on the outside and nicely seasoned. They did make fairly decent desserts and coffees - and we even got a tiramisu with a candle for the birthday boy. Overall, the food and experience were ok at best. I was a bit underwhelmed. read more

Carmelina Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Markham, Ontario

3.5 stars I was lured to Carmelina Restaurant not by all these 4 stars Yelp reviews, but the promise of Prix Fixe on their website... Prix Fixe is just an excuse for me to have extra food instead of just a main, since I just could not resist a bargain? How come NO prix fixe menu? The waiter that's only for group! But it is on their website!! and 2 of us is a group..?? Ended up can only order from the a la carte.... Linguine Frutti Di Mare ($18) - I have to say this is the best Seafood Linguine I had in that price range. The scallops are huge, size of a toonie and the shrimps are tiger shrimps too. Veal Lemone ($20) - Veal is tender and the white wine lemon sauce is zesty! I know I will be back to Carmelina again... as I know someone wants to have that Seafood Linguine again for sure! read more

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This restaurant has been on my radar for several years, it was been hiding in my bookmarks and somehow, someway we finally ended up here, twice! This restaurant does seem to be quite the little hidden gem, so much that the second time we came here was for a birthday celebration. If you are in the area and you are in the mood for Italian, this is an excellent option! Both times that I have came, it was peaceful and relaxing. Was only a handful of tables and service and food were excellent. If anything it was too much food as the portions are very generous! Also - There is a separate lunch menu with different options which you can have at dinner, just be prepared to pay extra to have it at dinner... I am knocking off two stars because of this, especially not being told ahead of time it would cost $10 more... read more

I came here for the first time to dine in and it was a big disappointment. Service was okay, the gentleman was really nice and was the only one working the dining room. The food was very very bad. The bread was pretty good, but the appetizers were not the best. They came very very quickly which seemed odd for something fried. The calamari coating wasnt crispy and felt like it was just reheated. The crab cakes kind of felt like they were microwaved because the inside was way hotter then the outaide. So we thought the mains should be better right? But when the mains came they were even more disappointing then the apps. The seafood in the spaghetti was not fresh. Especially the lobster tail. For something that's $30 I expect better. The lobster tail was hard, dry and mushy. I don't know how long they have stored this lobster for but I felt like spitting out the lobster after taking my first bite. And don't get me wrong, I love to eat lobster. But the worst was the risotto. It was so drenched in oil that my partner could not even finish it. By the time she ate half she could scoop out so much oil from the bottom. And it also felt like it was microwaved since the middle was very hot and only reheated risotto would have this kind of oil. 10/10 would not come back for this. Also ordered two glasses of 10$ wines and that brought us to $140 after tips which is pretty expensive for what we got..... read more

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Good food attentive service. Had the vegetarian pasta and the Arctic char, both good. Calamari was nice and crispy. Lui and Tina provided excellent service read more

Came to this place today for lunch for the first time, for a work function.. The place was nearly empty when I first got in around lunchtime, but it started filling up very quickly to an almost full house by the time we left. The crowd was mostly professionals and work groups, and the ambiance was set just right for such atmosphere. The interiors are a little rustic with a warm cosy look and feel, It has little private sections here and there which is great for a little groups to have a semi-private dining experience. I was there for a quick lunch, so I did not get to try a couple of appetizers as I usually would like to do, but I will certainly come back to this place since the only plate that I tried was very good. I ordered the beef scallopini with lemon and capers sauce, this entrée comes with sautéed vegetables and potatoes. The sauce reduction was just right with the perfect level of sourness..The meat was also cooked perfectly, and the whole dish components worked well and complimented each other. I'll be back pretty soon! Highly recommended read more

It was my grandmother's birthday so we came here to celebrate. The food was amazing but the service even better. The waitress was very attentive to our table and also engaged my grandmother in conversation, asking if she liked the food, how she liked the wine, even though my grandma didn't know English. I thought it was very sweet of her. They even have live music with a man playing the piano and guitar - which he also used to sing happy birthday for our table. I got the spaghattini, which was sooo good. The scallops were huge, the seafood was cooked perfectly, but the sauce was definitely the best part. We also got the key lime cheesecake which was really good as well. Portion sizes were very generous, so it's very worth the price you're paying for food and service. read more

Carmelina Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Markham, Ontario

This was my second time here and the food is typical for an Italian restaurant from appetizers, salads, pizzas to pastas and risotto. Went to celebrate two friends August birthdays for lunch and it was pretty busy so it was a good thing that we made reservations. I ordered the steak salad from their express lunch menu and it was cooked perfectly mediun rare with cherry tomatoes, cheese, caramelized onion, roasted red pepper on a bed of mix greens with honey balsamic dressing. For the birthday ladies, they gave a complimentary duo slice of carrot and chocolate cake. The first time I visited here with coworkers for a Friday dinner and there was a gentlemen serenading guests by singing with his guitar and then with the piano. There is also a patio area but we sat inside. The decor adorned with inspirations from Italy. read more

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Been coming to Carmelina for a few yrs now and we've always loved the atmostphere, service and food. Sometimes they will have an accordion player and you could request classic songs :) Service has always been excellent. My bf was super tired and wanted to order a ice coffee (which they do not serve) but they made smth just for him. It was really nice of them. They are always courteous & polite. I absolutely ADORE the Risotto Con Funghi here. It's prob. the best I've had so far. The fried calamari is also a great appetizer. Comes with a bit of salad & sauce. I duno what's in that calamari sauce but it's damn good! What I've noticed from the last few yrs is... the portion of the risotto has gotten slightly smaller. Not sure about the other dishes as I haven't ventured out of my box yet :) Will always be coming to this place. I don't know why but the place doesn't seem very busy. It's such a shame cuz this is prob. one of my favourite Italian restaurants! Parking - shouldn't be a problem. But sometimes it does get quite busy w/ other adjacent restaurants. You can also park at Royal Bank (who works after hours?) It's super close. read more

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Food is okay. Ordered the spaghettini alla francoise. Portion is big. Lobster tail is a bit tough and pasta not enough sauce. We arrived 12:15 on a Monday. Food took half an hour or so. Group of 6 and we split the bill. The server missed me while going around the table with the card machine. After I called her back, I joked and asked if I get a discount for being honest (obviously not actually expecting anything). She smiled and said "of course darling" then keyed the wrong amount (more than my bill) on the card reader. Didn't notice it after I paid. It's less than a dollar, but still very careless on her part. 17% service charge included on the bill. read more

Came here for lunch for a work social with my coworkers and didn't know what to expect. Ive never had Italian food around Markham. It was pretty cool to see the decor they had inside the restaurant as they make it seem like you're somewhere in Italy. Water we were served was sparkling but you could get the choice of flat and the bread they gave was perfect because it had a nice crunch and was soft on the inside. I believe it was packaged though because the waitress brought it out to show the table beside us.. either way it was still good. The olive oil and the balsamic vinegar with the bread was delicious. Usually when I do have italian food, I would opt out of that combination and stick w butter. For the entree, I ordered the grilled chicken. Im not sure what sauce they used but it was a creamy white sauce. Paired with mash potatoes and the vegatables, hands down the best grilled chicken Ive had at a restaurant. Will be taking my girlfriend here for sure!! read more

Carmelina Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Markham, Ontario

I came on the recommendation from a hotel. I walked in around 6pm on a Monday and it was empty. The servers were extremely nice and knew and tasted the specials, which I could appreciate. I had the soup of the day, which was a Mushroom Purée (no dairy) and was absolutely amazing. My entree was the Seafood Alla Newburg. The seafood was awesome, but the veggies were under cooked. One of the poor things was that because it was so quiet, you could hear every conversation in the kitchen and the chef was not coming off as a very nice person. He yelled at the servers on several occasions and whether or not they deserved it, it was not pleasant to hear during dinner. It is a very nice restaurant - prices a little higher, but the ambiance better on the inside than it looks on the outside. I would come back! read more

Carmelina Restaurant - Seafood Alla Newburg - Italian Near Me - Markham, Ontario

I have passed by this restaurant for years. It was located beside The Fish House which was one of my favourite places. It closed. Then Diana's Seafood opened next door. Another favorite. Now, for the first time, I went to Carmelina. I was very impressed. The menu is great in the sense that there's something for every taste. The appetizers are very varied. You can make a meal out of appetizers, if you are a light eater. There is an express lunch menu which is affordable. The mains are tasty and generous. I must also give my complements to the wait staff! They are attentive and knowledgeable. Tip them well. read more

Came here on a Friday wasn't too busy at all, only 2 servers so service is slow took about 2 hours to get dinner which wasn't so bad because of appetizers but kids were getting tired and falling asleep. It's on the expensive side 4 adults 2 non drinkers and 3 kids under 6 total costing a little over $360.. portions are on the smaller side surf and turf is more of a steak meal as u only get 1 piece of shrimp for seafood.. the chicken kabob meal had to be recooked as the chicken was still bloody read more

Carmelina Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Markham, Ontario

The atmosphere was classic and quaint. The staff are friendly and informative. They make you feel welcome. Service was slow in comparison to the size of the restaurant. Food was mediocre at best. The seafood risotto was soggy however had a good portion of seafood. Wish the same could be said for the 10oz rib eye and shrimp (which came with a side of one shrimp); not worth the hefty price tag. I also had the veal chop on the bone which was very chewy. The do, however, recommend the fried calamari as it was crispy and well cooked and the sauce is delicious. Overall it was a good environment for an elegant night out. read more

Carmelina Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Markham, Ontario

It is amusing to read the reviews here explaining how Carmelina has a European atmosphere and décor. We walked in and I could immediately see the Persian design, carvings and historic replica design. As if that was not enough they served Iranian bread with butter as complimentary appetizers. Finding non-East Asian food in the area is difficult (unless you call Tim Horton's sandwiches food and are on a suicidal bent) so we went there for lunch as a foursome and found the restaurant's Italian cuisine concentrates on pasta, risotto and meat entrees. In the last section there is fish, beef and chicken. They also offered several specials for the day. Most food there is cooked in rose or white wine and comes with a side of salad or potato. The calamari appetizer was excellent, light, fluffy and tasty. The Carmelina Chicken with four cheeses and scallops was very good. As moist and tasty as the chicken was the scallop was extremely succulent. The pepper flavour enhanced it. The service was efficient and attentive, but the waitress worked hard to cross-sell stuff. Want wine? Two or more appetizers? How about sparkling water? Dessert menu was promptly delivered without being asked for, etc. Poor lady must be on a quota. laughing this off, as we can fend for ourselves, I have two issues with Carmelina: one is that the food took a long time to arrive. I believe it came 30 to 40 minutes after we placed our order. This was their chance to push the appetizers and extra this and that. Do not go here on a work lunch break. Secondly, my pet peeve, they have a TV. Every time you enter a restaurant and you see a clichéd TV you do not feel like you are in a classy or quality restaurant. There is enough parking next door and the restaurant was busy, but not packed. We enjoyed the food, but for a better experience do not sell us stuff, informing is enough, and take the stupid television off. It just does not fit among the Iranian historical characters and pillars. The Italian food was good, flavours were there and the quantity more than adequate. read more

If you are in the area and you want Italian food, Carmelina is one of the limited choices in the area. The atmosphere here is warm and comfortable. The food was just okay. I tried the pappardelle pasta and the risotto here. The food wasn't bad but it wasn't memorable either. If you are seeking a restaurant in Markham with a nice ambience, Carmelina is an option. read more

True story. One Saturday evening, last summer, my gorgeous lady and I were down on a packed Queen's Quay. It was about 8:45 p.m. and we were trying to get out of the area. Traffic was crawling with vehicles getting caught in intersections and leaving traffic lights almost useless. We wanted to have dinner and likely could have dined in the area but with the roads rammed the way they were, we wanted to get out of there. Having been to Carmelina before, it came to mind again but with us bogged down in traffic and the restaurant a good distance from where we were and set to close soon, we figured we'd never arrive in time. Nevertheless, we called. After explaining our situation, a very welcoming voice said "A table for two? Yes, please come." "Are you sure?" I asked. "We're barely snaking our way to the Gardiner!" Again, we were reassured the restaurant would accommodate us. (This unintentionally added to the anxiety of trying to get there!!) And get there, we did. We were greeted by the very gregarious host, Louis, as amiable and cordial as ever, as he ushered us to our table. We apologized for the lateness of our arrival but he waved it off and told us "There's no rush." He actually said that. This is Carmelina. Yes, their food has incredible depth of flavour but the dining experience is more than that. Louis and the rest of the wonderfully attentive and courteous staff make you feel like you matter. A word to the wise. Try not to become addicted to their Chicken Carmelina like I am. Whenever there, I always say I'm going to try something else. Can't do it. The thought of the tender chicken and that sauce? One day, I'm going to request a bowl of it and a panini. read more

We came here for dinner on a weeknight. Right when we got in , the atmosphere was very friendly and quiet. It will be the ideal place for a first date. The waitress was kind and friendly and got is hot water to start on a chilly night. There was a bread basket with vinegar and olive oil. Nothing to complain about here. We got the Spaghettinii alla Francoise and Pappardelle all Verde. Both dishes came within a reasonable time (25-30 minutes ?) But the plates were not warm like other Italian restaurants. The food was on greasy side the the seafood was overcooked. Word of advice: make sure the small flies can be removed from the restaurant. It can be a deal breaker when youre eating but have to swat the small flies from your plates. read more

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One of the most challenging things to find in Markham is a decent, erm... non-Asian restaurant. Markham/Scarborough area has always been the go-to destination for all things delicious when it comes to Asian food, but on those days when you just want a heaping plate of gourmet pasta or a hearty steak, come to Carmelina's. This place has a patio in the front and is quite nicely decorated on the inside. Despite the fact that the place was quite empty on a weekday evening, the food (and service) were outstanding. Hearty morsels of seafood on homemade (tasting?) pasta, hot bread out of the oven, and the vegetarian at our table had no problem finding a dish. When one of our party's steak came out a bit overdone, the waiter hurriedly replaced it with one that was just right. Despite being ridiculously full post-entree, we couldn't resist the housemade tiramisu. Worth it. read more

Carmelinaaaaa ... isn't that a song by Matthew Good? The song, not so good; however, the restaurant is VERY good. I'm confused by the low rating from others. Maybe they went on a bad day? Maybe I went on a good day? Maybe they're referring to the song? What matters is that both the hub and I liked it very much. The restaurant is close to home, but we were skeptical to go because of some of these reviews. My in-laws tried it and recommended it (and they are very picky). So we bought a couple of WagJag coupons and decided to try it. The hub ordered a halibut, salmon and shrimp on basmati platter, and it was delicious. I had the lamb risotto and I'm still craving for more; the rice was perfectly cooked, steaming hot (as it should be), and the meat was juicy and tender. The portions were big, and I could not finish mine. For dessert we had the tiramisu and it was really good too. Some may find it pricey but you are getting a lot for your money, and although it may not look like it from outside, it's nice and fancy inside. We were even serenaded by a nice gentleman playing the guitar (no, he was not singing Carmelina). It's nice to know that we have a good Mediterranean restaurant in our city (Markham), we definitely recommend it, and we'll be returning soon. read more

Carmelina Restaurant - Lamb Risotto, Halibut, Salmon and Shrimp on Basmati, Tiramisu, and singing dude! - Italian Near Me - Markham, Ontario

It was alright. That mushroom soup for the appetizer was unbearably sparse, where be the mushroom? I was slurping salty water. Calamari was pretty delicious and so was the bread. The main I tried was the seafood risotto - mussels, shrimps, scallops + salmon, calarmari in a rich saffron broth - okay, I guess this was pretty good. Comparable to the average Italian resto, probably would've stood out to me more if we didn't stuff ourselves on the apps. Overall, probably one of the better Italian restos in Markham read more

Great spot out in Markham that actually gives you a very European feel with its décor and atmosphere. Service is also very friendly with servers that know the menu very well. I'm guessing the server we had has been there for eons. We originally ordered a label of red wine but he suggested to spend just a little more for a better label. Not a big drinker but the wine we had (sorry, can't remember which) was very good. Definitely a place I'd recommend if you're looking for something a little more than just casual especially on a special occasion. We went on a weeknight so the place wasn't busy at all. May have to book a table on the weekends, though. [Appetizers] Crispy Calamari - Nothing out of the ordinary with this, though you do get a good serving that can be shared. 4/5. Bruschetta - Also a good serving size that can be shared with up to 4-5 people. Had a really nice crunch to it and a generous amount of toppings. 5/5. Grilled Portobello Mushroom - A must try if you love mushrooms and/or goat cheese. Definitely a must try for vegetarians. I'm a huge fan of both mushrooms and goat cheese so I absolutely enjoyed this salad which I had as a main. 5/5. read more

I've been wanting to try a nice Italian restaurant around the area for a while now and decided to give this one a shot despite the not so flattering reviews. I came in for lunch with a colleague and was seated immediately. The ambiance was pleasant. The decor although a little over done added character. The servers were very professional, even the table cloths were fancy! We received a variety of bread with mini packets of butter. Bread didn't seem fresh and it would've been nicer to have an actual stick of warm butter or olive oil. It would compliment the image they are going for of an upscale Italian restaurant. I ordered the pasta con pollo which comes with a wide variety of pasta styles to choose from. I was recommended fusilli (long curly pasta). It took maybe 15 mins before we were served. The chicken was flavorful, but a tad rubbery. The olive oil and pasta sauce complimented each other, loved the sprig of thyme. The pasta itself was flavorful and al dente. The actual menu is a little pricey which is expected for the type of restaurant they want to be. I ordered from the express menu and it cost $15 plus tax and tip. Overall, I plan to come again and perhaps try the chicken florentine or halibut and shrimp with a tiramisu dessert. read more

I've been to this restaurant previously with friends and family, and they've always been decent, but I've never gotten the bill for the table. This is the first and also the last, as this restaurant is now blacklisted for on my eats list. Their quality has diminished over the past year or so, and are over charging for their quality of food, as well as service. Food is bland and their sauce doesn't stick to the pasta. Bruschetta is not traditionally made and the ingrediants are not fresh, thus the reason why they used a crap load of cheese to cover it and baking it like a friggin pizza. Prime rib was served without offering any black pepper and finished it over the grill without my consent. Worst of all, I absolutely feel like this resto is sneaky and deserving of a bash/boycotting at this point. The staff charged me 21.5% gratituity without explaining the breakdown nor gave me the option to select my tipping. I had a small table and was not a table of 6 plus. There was no service or food quality/presentation worth 21.5% since it was less than typical and the staff is only present when you don't want them to be. They even charged me $3 for bread which I did not order, but they placed on my table. They might as well charge me for water as well (this isn't Italy, you're just an Italian cuisine). Not to mention the staff even gunned off after dropping the merchant machine and bill in front of me and not saying anything. I can assume they stuck me with a fixed 20% tip and a 1.5% credit card fee. Eaters beware, this restaurant is a must AVOID at all cost. No wonder they asked us "are you here for Diana or Carmellina", cause no one wants to be at such a non-transparent and sketchy restaurant. read more

The food is decent, nothing special, and I'm not one to judge whether it's authentically Italian (though I'm inclined to guess that it isn't). Nonetheless, the flavours are all OK and it makes for a decent meal, albeit not quite worthy of the price point of the menu. I did enjoy the desserts however. What really shines here is the live music, decor, ambience, and service. So if you look at it from that perspective and accept that you're paying a premium for those things, then you'll walk in with more realistic expectations. read more

Food was delectable :) Just make sure you clarify when making custom orders. Had the lobster.... Must try, the sauce was creamy and buttery. Nice quiet restaurant to bring you date. read more

Carmelina Restaurant - Pasta of the day :) - Italian Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Came here on a Friday night, lovely atmosphere I must say. They also had a musician who played the piano and sang until closing. The food is average. We tried the mussels and PEI crab cakes for appetizers. Crab cakes were great, the sauce complemented the dish very well. For the main I tried the chicken Carmelina, which I thought was the best dish out of all the dishes we ordered (blue crab pasta, special of the day which was shell pasta with seafood in a tomato base). Chicken was a bit dry however the creamy sauce went well with the dish. The dish also came with scallops shrimp, potatoes and broccoli. Overall, not too shabby for a close to home Italian joint! read more

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Came here to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Loved it so much, we are contemplating to celebrate it here yearly. I wouldn't categorize this restaurant as casual, because most of the customers arrived in formal attire. The décor is, interesting. A fusion of middle eastern and Roman art/statues with a few nostalgic pieces here and there. The place is small enough to create a quaint setting. The waiters are out of this world, with positive attitude, attentiveness and a general comradery amongst each other. The musician played classic ballads ranging in decades. The food was OKAY (but not out of this world). We also appreciated the quiet table they sat us at, when we told them we were celebrating. BRAVO! read more