The food was amazing from the bread and oil mix to our meals ! It's a very busy fast paced place but everything is made to order and soo good read more

Carmelina's - Lobster Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Carmelina's has a North End vibe - you feel part of the family. Awesome people work there. Come watch them make fresh food in a tiny kitchen, and work together like an A team. read more

The food was amazing! Serving size was fantastic. I got the scampi and the shrimp were huge and I got a nice amount. My husband got the Crazy Alfredo and he said it was delicious. My daughter got the gnocchi and loved it. The service was great! Esp the host he asked us our names and kept using them as if he knew us which made us feel very welcome. The ambiance was also great! It was a louder environment but was not bothersome. You could have a conversation and hear the person next to you. Excellent place! Highly recommend! read more

This place takes the cake for best Italian meal I've had! It put me back at my grandmas table with the portions and flavor! The caprese was so fresh and tasty. Bright flavors from the pesto and burrata. The bread to dip came right out of the oven. The meatballs... again tasted exactly like my grandmothers. So tender and juicy. Packed with flavor. I got the Sunday macaroni, and this was spectacular. Hand-made penne, meatballs, sausage, and a beef rib. The rib was fork tender! The sauce had incredible depth of flavor, and the dollop of ricotta was the chef's kiss. There is a reason it's extremely hard to get a reservation - the food is that good. this place is on the Michelins guide, and rightfully so - it's incredible! read more

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Definitely make a reservation here as it can get packed; it's rather cramped and small (enough room for maybe 30 people), and reservation grace periods are strict. Wait for walk-ins can be an hour or longer and despite making a reservation, we still needed to wait about 8 min for our table. I'd also recommend bringing a phone since their menu is QR based (online), and does not have photos of the food on it. Ordered the Crazy Alfredo, Wild Mushroom Penne, and the Exploding Little Neck Clams. The clams were fantastic- large, juicy, and succulent - and served with stewed tomatoes. The Crazy Alfredo is absolutely incredible. It's a little heavy handed on the cream sauce but it's delicious and hearty. Highly recommend it. I'd pass on the Mushroom Penne next time. It's flavorless compared to the Crazy Alfredo. Our server had the gruff New England charm and was friendly enough. Carmelina's DO take card. Prices are about $25-50 per entree. And they also have an expansive wine offering. Overall, great experience and I'd come back again! read more

We just happened to be walking past this place looking for anywhere to get lunch. We managed to have a 20 minute wait for it without a reservation. We ended up at the bar seating. Which gave us a front row to the kitchen. This place is tiny. It said on the menu they ask one entree per person. We considered just doing an app and an entree and asking if that would be okay. But went ahead and did the two entrees. The pistachio cream on the rollatini was amazing. I was happy to have extra bread to dip into it. I would have loved just to have that and plate full of pasta. The spaghetti like dish was also delicious two very different flavor profiles but equally good. It's a working environment and not a show as the cooks were frying and chopping while casually browsing on their phones. That is an observation more than a critique. They charged kitchen staff appreciation and food service charge. read more

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Very Italian vibe and authentic Italian cuisine and service! The seafood and fresh and flavorful! The house bread and dipping sauce are amazing. So lucky to get a table during the weekday lunch time without reservation! Love the service we received. Thank y'all! read more

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I always avoided it, thinking it was a tourist trap, but my visit yesterday completely changed my mind: very delicious Italian food in a casual setting. We had the tuna - pistachio pesto, pasta arbiatta , eggplant, and carpaccio. The tuna was very high quality (and the pasta it came with was delicious) and so was the carpaccio . l was not a fan of the arbiatta, bring too spicy for my taste. read more

Carmelina's - 2 dishes of tuna - both delicious, pasta arbiatta ( spicy! ), and eggplant. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came here right as they opened without a reservation. We got lucky. They had a spot for us. I would definitely recommend a reservation. Kudos to the Carmelina's team for finding us a table. Service was impeccable and the ambiance is great. The food. Oh the food. It was delicious. It hit all the flavor notes you expect and it exceeds them. The fried calamari was delicious! Lightly breaded with lemon and salt. It was one of the better calamari's I have had. The Gorgonzola Penne was a blue cheese lovers dream. It was rich and tasty of Gorgonzola. It was balanced perfectly. If you like blue cheese...this is for you! The crazy Alfredo was delicious. The amount of meats combined into this crazy dish made it well....crazy. It hit all the notes you expect in an Alfredo and more with the meats. This place is phenomenal. I would return any time I am in the North End. Well done! read more

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We went to Carmelina's without a reservation and luckily scored two seats at the bar after a short wait. It's a small, cozy, and bustling spot--no more than about 50 seats, all close together, which adds to the energy. The moment you walk in, you're hit with the irresistible aroma of garlic and butter. It was so fun watching the two cooks working nonstop, sending out plate after plate of piping hot, fragrant dishes. Their signature littleneck clam appetizer was 1000% delicious--something I could happily eat again and again. The pastas were packed with flavor and cooked to the perfect al dente. read more

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Walking in, it's a small cozy spot that is dimly lit and feels warm and homey. The service was great, an extremely efficient. They are always quite busy so I recommend making a reservation, but it's worth the trip! We have a Caprimosa which was prosecco and limoncello- delicious and extremely refreshing! We split the Caesar salad- which was very fresh and light! ( topped with sardines) For dinner we had the Brasato- the meat fell off the bone like butter and it was an incredible pair with the risotto. We also split the gnocchi- which was incredibly tasty. The sauce was light and tasted freshly made.. and it was topped with the best ricotta I have ever had. ( and being Italian, I've had a lot ) They do not serve dessert, but encourage patrons to try the local pastry shops. read more

Carmelina's - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I asked the waiter between two items and he was very decisive. I went with his suggestion of the bolognese. It was huge. I don't think I ate 1/4 of it. The meat was savory, the pasta perfect, the sauce delicious, and the cool dollop of ricotta on top a perfect extra sending the flavor in the stratosphere. This place is really small so be prepared to wait. I didn't try wine or drinks. The atmosphere is very north end Boston. If you want a great run down do the north end food tour and you'll get a very local take on all these places. read more

Carmelina's - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I sat at the bar on a very busy Tuesday evening. Seating is limited and the ambiance is intimate. My server was awesome and chose all my food. Eggplant appetizer was flavorful with a wonderful tomato sauce. Short rib was incredibly tender. The risotto was a tad al dente for a risotto but cheesy - I did ask the server to pass along the message. Parking is non existent but the walk was beautiful. Definitely a must try. read more

Carmelina's - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

A must go to while in Boston. Make a reservation is a must. Bar seating is nice but the tables by the windows are the best. read more

Carmelina's - Front window tables are the best - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This was our first ever restaurant in the North End on our most recent trip to Boston. It is a tight space, as most of the city restaurants are so watch out for peak times. We ordered the Shrimp Scampi and the Frutti di Mare. The seafood pasta was delicious and full of flavor. I wanted to drink the remaining broth/sauce. The scampi, however, was a let down. It was full of water as if they did not fully drain the pasta. This diluted the flavor to almost nothing. It was basically watered down pasta and shrimp. I can see why this place has overall good reviews and we assume that the scampi was just a mis-fire this time. I would still recommend eating here. Service is also quick and friendly. read more

Carmelina's - Frutti Di Mare which was delicious! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Last night we squeezed into Carmelina's and let me tell you... this place doesn't just serve dinner, it runs a full-on Italian production in about the size of your living room. No reservations, packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and somehow we were seated in about 20 minutes -- which in the North End feels like someone pulled a favor behind the scenes. We kicked things off with the meatballs and yeah... these weren't just "good," these were the kind that make you slow down mid-bite just to process what's happening. Rich sauce, perfectly tender -- no notes. I went with the arugula salad to balance things out -- fresh, bright, nicely dressed, just leaned a little heavy on the salt. Not a dealbreaker, just Boston reminding you it seasons with confidence. For the main event, the Bolognese came in hot and didn't miss. Deep, hearty, slow-cooked flavor that hits like it's been simmering since noon. My coworker went with the chicken parm -- classic, generous, and the kind of plate that shows up like it knows it's the star. The whole vibe? Tight space, loud energy, servers moving like it's organized chaos, and plates coming out like they mean business. Travelin' Broke approved -- proof that a small spot with big flavor doesn't need reservations, just patience and a solid appetite. read more

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Went here after work with some workmates and had a wonderful team dinner. They were very accommodating even though we all had out suitcases and backpacks to travel back home. Service was prompt and frequent and the ambiance was very nice. My Carbonara which is pictured was probably the best I've ever had. Loved it! read more

Carmelina's - Carbonara was fantastic! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

On this day, I proudly held the title of designated food finder for our team while traveling and Yelp always helps me find great spots so I chose Carmelina's after seeing all of your reviews and I have to say... I absolutely outdid myself. This place did not disappoint. The food tasted as good as it looked. We spent the day walking all over Boston, soaking in the charm, the history, and of course all the amazing foodie gems. Something about the city just felt magical. It actually reminded me of the book and movie It Ends with Us. Like everything truly is better in Boston. The ambience, the energy, the endless places to try... it was one of those days you just know you'll remember forever. Of course we had to end our day dining here and it did not disappoint. And that pasta? It was definitely memorable. It was buttery, creamy, rich, absolutely delicious. I can still taste it like it was yesterday. Definitely one for the books. read more

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My favorite spot during my visit to Boston. The food. The service. Everything 10/10. I wish I would have visited earlier in my trip so I could have stopped by twice. Since I had one shot at trying this place out, I went with the lobster ravioli.. It was so freaking good that I packed my leftovers and took them back to Houston with me to enjoy again. Definitely need reservations but lunch service is available which is a little easier to snag.. Will definitely stop by every Boston visit. read more

Carmelina's - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I ask the server if he had any recommendations and he said the lobster pasta and It was amazing! I loved the tanginess but at the same time you could actually taste the lobster like separately! The serving portion was kinda small for me but the taste was good! read more

Carmelina's - Lobsters Pasta - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

It's a pain to get reservations here, but we finally made it! The bread game is strong- I love that it's served warm with a yummy oil/balsamic/garlic/herb mixture. I typically don't like bread and oil but liked this one a lot! The caprese salad wasn't my favorite - it's more of a tomato relish with olives in it. I like caprese salads that have a lot of fresh tomatoes. The bolognese was okay- the pasta was fresh and the sauce a little looser than I expected. I actually didn't like the extra ricotta on too because I felt it took away from the sauce. The pasta Gorgonzola was our favorite - it was well seasoned and the sauce was so good with a little bit of funk from the gorgonzola. Service was pretty sparse but I appreciated that the food came out pretty quickly and steaming out. read more

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Mamma Mia you have to try this place. I grew up in an Italian family and this may be the best Italian meal I've ever had. It is so worth the hype and a must visit in Little Italy. We got caprese, Sunday macaroni, and bolognese. We originally weren't able to get a reservation, but I walked in a few hours before and asked if anything was available. They had an "offline" table and we were able to snag it. Our meal and experience was unreal! read more

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The bottom line: a variety of delicious Italian dishes in a cozy, dark-hued environment, with friendly service. The mussels were delicious with a lemony garlic broth, the Sunday macaroni was huge with solid red sauce, not too sweet, which encouraged more eating. The beef fell off the bone, the sausage was savory, and the meatballs were tender and juicy. The frutti dei mare was packed with seafood and lift-off-the-plate capellini. The calamari appetizer was delicious with some tasty jalepenos, just craved a bit more volume. read more

Carmelina's - Sunday Macaroni - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now and thought it would be perfect to do so while my friends were in town. They gave free bread with flavored olive oil mixture, super tasty. But make sure to limit consumption of that as the pastas are rich and massive haha, we could barely finish them. We got the Fried Calamari, Mussels Bianco, Lobster Ravioli, Scampi, Crazy Alfredo, Rollati, and Bronx Tale. The Calamari and Mussels were solid apps. The Lobster Ravioli portion looked small at first, but we were proven wrong. The Crazy Alfredo was definitely crazy calories: protein-packed and so creamy. The Scampi was a great palate cleanser. The Rollati was my personal favorite--really good pistachio cream sauce. The Bronx Tale had huge meatballs and was tasty too. Definitely recommend booking a month early as the restaurant is very popular! read more

This place was a nice little gem! Being in Boston, I realized the restaurants on this side are on the smaller side, but I loved that it was small and cozy, and could be good for date night, girls night, or solo dolo!! We were informed they closed at 10 when we walked in and if that was ok, and we of course said yes, bc we were all hungry, and ready to eat, and we like all types of food!! We were sat quickly, our sever Sean came to explain that they take the full order at once and they space it out based on the food we order. We all knew what we were feelin and ordered everything at once. We ordered an app, the calamari, get that!! It was delicious. And not the traditional fried like you think, great flavors. We also got some different dishes, the mushroom risotto, the cod with veggies, lobster ravioli with shrimp, carbonara, and a platter of short rib, sausage and meatballs! Short ribs so tender! I'd say I needed more salt for the meatball, but it was still super tender and a great bite! My fave was the carbonara! It felt authentic with the pancetta, parm, fresh noodles, so so good!! Would definitely eat again! Great place, they sell wine and beer, no full bar, but the Prosecco I had was nice and crisp and worked well with the carbonara! read more

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A Friday lunch of perfection. Service ambience and food all 5 star! A gorgeous afternoon in Boston was just what was needed read more

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A local recommended Carmelina's as the best restaurant on Hanover St and he was so right. It was so cute inside. We absolutely loved it. It was some of the best Italian food that I've ever had outside of Italy. I absolutely loved my penne with Gorgonzola. It was a great recommendation from my server. I ate way too much because it was unbelievable. My husband loved his a Bronx tale. It had three giant delectable meatballs. My husband loved them because they were more breadcrumb forward and they reminded him of his grandmother's meatballs which was nice. The sausage and sauce was very good too. When we come back to Boston, we'll definitely be back. read more

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It's very difficult to get a reservation here especially on the weekends, so definitely book WAY ahead! We came in 2022 and were blown away by how delicious the pasta was. The Crazy Alfredo and Sunday Macaroni were both outstanding and I loved that they served the dishes in pans. However, we came back recently and were disappointed. Not sure if the chef changed or what happened, but every dish we ordered was very average. We got the Crazy Alfredo again (since it was our favorite from before), along with the Fruitti di Mare and fried calamari. There was no dipping sauce for the calamari, and the Crazy Alfredo didn't come in the pan anymore and tasted completely different. The overall vibe was off too - it used to be a cute date night spot but now feels like they're just trying to get you in and out to seat the next guests. Really sad because our first experience was so good! read more

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Fantastic meal from start to finish, with just a few small service misses. We started with the calamari, which was perfectly cooked with a great spicy kick--easily one of the highlights of the night. The wine selection was also impressive, with plenty of great options. The meatballs were incredibly soft and flavorful, and they stood strong on their own. The starter bread came out warm and fresh, and it was actually really good--which matters, because way too many places cheap out on bread. This one didn't. For mains, everything was outstanding. The Sunday Macaroni is an absolute must-order: the beef rib falls right off the bone, and the generous dollop of ricotta completely makes the dish. The portion is massive--easily 2-3 meals. The chicken parm is also enormous, truly an over-the-top portion in the best way. The carbonara and the bolognese were both delicious--rich, well-balanced, and exactly what you want from classic Italian dishes. One small knock on service: for a smaller restaurant, the staff didn't come around very often, and grated cheese and black pepper weren't offered--which feels like a small but important touch, especially with pasta. To cap it off, there's a dessert café right across the street, which makes for a perfect post-dinner move. Overall, an excellent meal with massive portions and great flavors--just needs slightly more attentiveness to be truly perfect. read more

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The food was outstanding, the service was impeccable and the ambiance was super fun. This is a MUST eat place. You won't be disappointed. read more

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I went there the other day but found no seats and was not able to get inside. Today I went there at around 4pm and was told the seat at the bar could be available in 20 minutes. They got my number and I got the notification just within 10 minutes that told me my seat was open! I got a Bolognese. They had an open kitchen just right in front of the bar, so customers could watch their chiefs cooking the dishes. Such a wonderful experience! Their food was amazing as well! But the quantity was a little too much that many people could hardly finish all the dishes and had to take a to-go box or get the food wasted. read more

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Carmelina's is one of those establishments everyone will suggest you visit when you're in town and they're not wrong. We made a reservation for lunch but I honestly don't think we needed it. We sat next to the door and most people coming in for lunch were walk-ins. If you're like me, feel free to make that reso but I don't think it's necessary for lunch. The service here was really good, even if it were a little aloof. These guys are too cool for school but they do give good service. The place is a bit small but they use the space pretty well. The tables are a little close to each other but that didn't bother me, especially since I wanted the opportunity to actually eat here and there were no reservations available for dinner in the 6 days we were in Boston over a month before we arrived. And the food... so freaking good. The meal started with free bread and an amazing vinegar and oil dip. I would have paid for this, it was so good. The caprese we had was weird looking but incredibly delicious. The pastas we got were out of control delicious and worth the trip to this restaurant. I highly suggest trying this restaurant out. So good. read more

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My BF made a reservation for Carmelina's back in August(?) of this year and we only just went today (early November). The only reservation he could get was on 3pm on a Saturday, so we decided to go for a linner/dinch. The move is either to make a reservation or put your name down early and wander around the North End for an hour. We really enjoyed the food here! We were first served with warm bread and an olive oil/balsamic dip. We ordered a Caesar salad, calamari, the Sunday Macaroni, and the Wild Mushroom Penne. All were amazing. The Caesar salad was pretty standard but delicious nonetheless. I really dug the calamari--crispy and seasoned well, especially with the fried peppers and capers topping it off. As for the mains, the portions were quite large!! Both had the homemade penne, and we could tell how fresh the pasta was. You definitely get your money's worth with the Sunday Macaroni, since it comes with a beef rib, several meatballs, and a sausage. The wild mushroom penne was pretty simple but had a delicious sauce and was a nice contrast to the meat-forward macaroni. This place is DELICIOUS but no-frills. All of their dishes are simple but executed well. This is not the place to go for a leisurely meal--there's a 1.5 hour limit on the tables and the food comes out quickly. I wouldn't say we felt rushed, but the focus is definitely on getting the food to you as efficiently as possible and keeping parties moving in and out (since it's so popular). Service was attentive. Since there's no dessert/coffee, we ended up walking around and stopping at Caffé Vittoria and Bova's! read more

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I have mixed reviews when it comes to Carmelina's. The food was absolutely delicious and memorable for sure. The bolognese was absolutely delicious with so many rich flavors. The meatballs were also amazing, coming from someone who would never order meatballs from a restaurant. The clam pasta was okay. I wouldn't order it again. The only true complaint I have is that the environment is extremely busy and it kind of feels like the staff is pushing you out. The prices are also pretty high but standard these days. The portions are definitely huge and worth sharing! read more

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Love the North End & all things in Little Italy! I had never been to Carmelinas but saw they had amazing food from a foodie blog online. Went here with a friend to see what all the hype was about. When we got here from Quincy- I made reservations at the spot ( which is a must because its crowded). Our wait time at the door was 1.5 hrs. We killed some time walking around the North End and thankfully our wait was not the full 1.5 hrs. Maybe 1 hr and some minutes. We were seated quickly and served bread and drinks. The menu is short with a few Italian favorites with some twists. Prices can vary but generally range from $20-50. The portion sizes are big and they offer great cuisine with amazing taste!! My friend got the Bolognese pasta with ricotta and I got the lobster ravioli with shrimp served in a slightly spicy tomato vodka sauce. :) a 10/10 & definitely worth the hype. I'll be back soon!! read more

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3 stars because I liked the complimentary bread more than my main, which was the Crazy Alfredo. I came here right when it opened for lunch, after unsuccessfully trying to get a table for dinner a few days before. Due to the popularity of Carmelina's, I had high expectations, but... I wasn't blown away. The Crazy Alfredo sauce was so oily and heavy - I felt full after barely eating half of it. I wasn't the biggest fan of how the meat chunks were blended in the dish either. Service was slow. It was difficult to get the attention of the server. Also, the server offered the next table more free bread, but didn't do the same for me :( read more

Carmelina's - Free Bread - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Make the reservation and go! Solid Italian food. Keep checking for openings, we snagged 1 lunchtime opening the night before. And that was the only reservation open for the next few days! I think someone might have cancelled last minute. I noticed at lunch it wasn't full at opening, so you might be able to get away with walking in at lunch. The table next to us told us they booked over a month in advance! We really enjoyed the bread, meatballs, and lobster ravioli (one of their best sellers we were told)! Good service. We took a Lyft here. Parking seems like it would be a nightmare in the area. The woman next to us said her husband was driving in circles for maybe 20 min or more before finding parking. read more

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Had the pasta here and it was absolutely amazing! The service was great and the portions were very generous. I ordered the Sunday Macaroni and the Crazy Alfredo -- both were delicious, full of flavor, and perfectly cooked. Nothing to complain about at all! Definitely make a reservation if you plan to go -- we walked in and waited almost an hour since the restaurant is on the smaller side with limited seating. The ambience is cozy and inviting, which made the wait worth it. I'd definitely come back to try more of their pasta dishes! read more

Carmelina's - Sunday Macaroni and Crazy Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Thank you, team Carmelina's for a memorable family dining experience! Authentic Italian food with warm and hospitable service and ambiance led by the welcoming hostesses. We will definitely be back when we're in the neighborhood. read more

Great location. Shrimp scampi overcooked. Had sausage and meatballs with penne and was beyond disappointed. Meatballs loaded with bread filler and sausage was like a rock and no flavor. Sadly we were looking forward to a great experience. read more