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I was so excited to try this place bc of the Michelin Star and the great reviews. This place did NOT disappoint. It was as good or better than I imagined it would be. I'm Italian and very picky about my food, especially gnocchi. To start off with they brought us home made rolls, but the dipping sauce of olive oil, balsamic, pesto, red pepper, basil and grated Parmesan was to absolutely die for. I knew at that point we had a winner. This was THE very best dipping sauce I have ever had for my bread. I wanted to lick the plate. Then the food came out, we had spaghetti & meatballs, gnocchi pomodoro, caprese and chicken parm. EVERYTHING was a strong 10! Delicious in every way and cooked to perfection. If you want great Italian food that you will talk about for years, this is your place. FANTASTIC and they earned their Michelin Star.
We head to the North End with a reservation at Carmelina's. The only reservation we were able to secure was for 9 PM. I was surprised by the lack of openings, but when I got to the restaurant and saw just how small it was, it made sense. We started with their garlic shrimp dish. It was good, don't get me wrong, but it was nothing special. Just...shrimp in a light garlic sauce. The drink menu did leave much to be desired. I like ordering fun cocktails, but they only offered prosecco-based cocktails. I got the passionfruit spritz which was...fine. But I knew going in from the menu online that these were the only cocktails they had, so I can't hate. I ordered the brasato which was a short rib dish with risotto. While I didn't feel that it stood out compared to other short rib dishes, it still was very good. And the risotto was delicious. My wife ordered their bolognese. She said it was the best bolognese she's ever had. I did agree that it was solid, but wouldn't say it was the best I've ever had. They don't have dessert, but we were both too full anyway. Overall, it was a good dinner that we were satisfied with. Did it stand out? I wouldn't say so.
I was only in Boston for two days, and everyone told me Carmelina's was THE place I had to try. Reservations are incredibly hard to come by, so I took my chances walking in alone. The wait? Two and a half hours. But honestly, the wait became part of what made the night so memorable. It was an absolutely beautiful October evening, and I completely fell in love with Boston's North End. Wandering the streets of Little Italy, taking in the atmosphere, and overhearing countless people rave about Carmelina's only made me more excited. There was something magical about the whole evening. When I finally got my seat overlooking the open kitchen, I ordered the lobster ravioli. Absolutely incredible. Rich, flavorful, beautifully prepared, and every bit as good as I'd hoped. After all that anticipation, the food somehow still exceeded my expectations. I've eaten at plenty of great restaurants, but it's rare that the entire experience leaves such an impression. Carmelina's wasn't just my favorite meal in Boston. It became one of my favorite memories of the trip. Five stars. No hesitation. And yes, I'd gladly wait another 2.5 hours.
I was really excited to finally try this place, especially after hearing so much about it. I waited about 40 minutes to get in, which honestly wasn't too bad. I started with a glass of wine and clams, and they brought out bread with olive oil, which was a nice touch. For my main course, I ordered the seafood pasta. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to the hype. The food was decent, but nothing particularly memorable, and the service was just okay. I also felt a a little bit rushed. Overall, I'm glad I finally tried it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back. I was expecting a lot more.
We lucked into a Friday evening reservation as a party of three. It's very cozy inside. The service and food were all great. This restaurant lives up to the hype. Everything was good but we particularly loved the bolognese.
My food here was good but not the best I've ever had so I felt a little let down considering the hype around it. I got the carbonara and it was a little bit on the peppery side. I think maybe I just got the wrong dish? We had some anxiety about my husband eating here as he's allergic to wheat and dairy and the kitchen is tiny. However, they were able to make him the shrimp dish safely. He really enjoyed the shrimp but we were both a little disappointed in the size. There were only 5 pieces of average sized shrimp. Our waiter was very nice and professional but not overly warm. This place had a line out the door before open on a Tuesday and we felt a little bit like a part of an assembly line. It definitely had a fast paced feel, not a slow Italian vibe.
Came here the afternoon before my HYROX race. The place was good, but the service was just okay. We mostly ordered pasta. The seafood pasta was amazing, but the gnocchi was just alright, to be honest. The service was okay, and they required a minimum 20% tip. Honestly, the service was worth about 18% at most. They also couldn't split the bill across multiple credit cards, which was annoying. Overall, the food was great, but the service was just meh.
I went here once a few days ago with my family. We sat outside during COVID. Not sure if their seafood dishes are the star dishes here. I thought the calamari was fine, as well as the seafood pasta and seafood risotto. The dishes tasted a bit fishy, which I didn't mind, and I thought the seafood flavor was masked by the rich, decadent tomato sauce. I would love to go back to try their crazy alfredo, it looks crazy delicious. The mushroom penne also looks to die for!
Carmelina's is a dining destination for us when visiting Boston. Reserve well in advance because last minute reservations are difficult to get - if at all. You may also reserve through Yelp. We were seated quickly, and the wait staff was helpful and attentive. Our appetizers of "garlic shrimp in a pan" and "tuna arrabbiata" was delicious and it could have been our meals. My entree of classic Bolognese was decadent. Always consistently great. This is a small restaurant and tables are close together. We will return!
We absolutely LUV great Italian food and we've been to the North End several times in recent years and have wanted to try Carmelina's for a while now, so for this most recent trip we made reservations to give them a try for lunch. Getting there right at opening we were able to pick our table and we selected the kitchen view counter, where we overlooked the action in the kitchen. This can be a good or bad thing, as you get to see how everything is made, which is good; but you also get to see things you probably shouldn't see - such as the cooks wearing gloves while playing on their phones while food was stewing away and then putting the phone down to handle food and go back and forth between the phone and food - Not a good thing. Their menu here is excellent! Loaded with so many amazing options, it was hard to decide. My wife chose their Frutti di Mare while I chose their Bronx Tale. They were quite busy while we were there, even though we were the first to enter for the day, many more came in behind us. To it definitely was exciting to see them preparing the various dishes, my favorite was to watch the Carbonara. I loved watching the amount of chef flipping he did to mix the egg in, off the fire, immediately after being cracked then plated. Technique was great for most all the dishes. Only exception was the seafood, such as what went into the Frutti di Mare, as it stewed down a little too long and as such the seafood in our dish came out way over-cooked and rubbery. I can say that the meatballs in the Bronx Tale were OUTSTANDING! Great texture and flavor! The sauce was really good as well. Sausage was OK, but lacked depth of flavor. The penne was excellent as well, perfectly cooked and a nice texture. Overall, we would most definitely return and highly suggest coming here, but we'd try something different. The atmosphere is great here... small, quaint, inviting - just like a typical Italian Osteria; the menu here even started with wine!
We've walked by Carmelina's many times and there is always a line. This weekend was my partners 40th and by the grace of God there was no line and they were able to seat us right away! The service was AMAZING. So friendly, helpful, and happy to chat even through it was busy. The food was spectacular. Came out piping hot and delicious. The portions are large so bring an appetite or be excited for leftovers. The restaurant itself is very small, but sitting at the high top gave it a warm, family feel. A thousand out of ten recommend.
Carmelinas has always been on my bucket list, but can never seem to get a table. This time we tried our luck walking in, when it said online there were no tables available. The host was quite gracious and found a seat for us and it was the best damn Italian food I've had in years maybe ever. Do not miss this amazing stop if you were in Boston, but definitely reserve first... we got lucky.
The service is exceptional and the food is absolutely delicious. Each serving size is enough to feed a family of four or more. We ordered wine and three different plates (bolognese, Sunday Macaroni, and the Bronx Tale. It all begins with the base sauce, and this one is delicious. The wait staff are really funny, good, and helpful. They make each moment there incredible. I would highly recommend this restaurant, although I would hate to have to wait to get in again!
Reviews are largely positive. People praise the flavorful Italian food, attentive service, large portions, and a cozy lively atmosphere.
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2 months ago
Its a small restaurant and very busy so I would suggest making reservations. Food was real good Crazy Alfredo (slight kick) and the Chicken Parmesan. Servers were attentive. I saw another post about pepper not being on the table (which was correct). Which is correct but let the cook do the seasoning in my opinion. read more
3 months ago
In my Top 100 restaurants. A Fantastic meal. It's worth the hype and high demand to get in. Wow! Where do I even start on this review? Small restaurant so getting in was/is a challenge as I made my reservation a month in advance. suggest sitting at one of the outside tables. Casual feel and dress code. Best restaurant in North End. No doubt. What I ordered at the table. Table side bread was fantastic. Tuna Ahi Arrabbiata - Had to pull this from menu. Seared rare sashimi grade ahi, mandoline potatoes, sweet and hot peppers, moroccan olive dressing. Wowzers, absolutely amazing taste and enjoyment. probably one of the best appetizers I have ever ordered at an Italian restaurant. Look at all my Italian reviews. This dish definitely goes in my top 100. it's the taste & creativity that makes this dish a top choice for me. Wow!. Puttanesca - Spicy Roman tomato sauce with garlic, capers, touch of sicilian anchovy paste and Kalamata olives. Wowzers. So yummy and fresh. Like I was eating in Italy which I have traveled to several times. A+ also ordered at the table was a bolognese dish, like you would expect. Wow, what big portion size. Just fantastic. The service was also good along with the glass of Italian wine. A+ highly recommended! read more
We had a reservation made months before and were seated promptly at 11:30. We just had to come back here based on our experience last visit. It was a great experience just like last time. The service was amazing. We had a large party and they were very accommodating to us. We all got a variety of different items. The waiter recommended the Carbonara for me. I enjoyed it very much but I needed some pepper, I love extra pepper, and none was found on any of the tables. My kids both had the chicken parm. It is huge and they got it last time. They still talk about how they loved it. Glad it could be replicated again. Our view outside was perfect. We had the most amazing weather. The seat looking out into the quaint neighborhood made it a perfect spot for another outstanding meal here. Do yourselves a favor and eat here. read more
7 months ago
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
We decided to come here after reading the great reviews on Yelp. We stood in line and were seated without a reservation upon its opening. It's a small restaurant and reservations should be made, we were lucky to get seated. With that said we ordered our food and waited a long time for our food to come out. It seemed a bit hectic at opening. The food finally came out and it was okay. Not something I would ever come back to or stand in line for. The dishes were not seasoned well and lacked flavor. Maybe we went at a bad time but the experience did not match the amazing Yelp reviews. read more
4 months ago
26 days ago
3 months ago
The best part of our experience was that calamari. Oh my oh my it's a must. The Sunday pasta with trio of delicious meats was incredible. I can't speak enough about how good that meal is. Every meat had incredible depth of flavor and the sauce was absolutely delicious. The ambiance is great and service very quick given the time limit per table. For the not so great part....the carbonara. It was very oily and I feel like missing the creaminess of an egg yolk and cheese. It felt more like an oily cacio e pepe with a lot of thin pancetta or cut of bacon (and primarily only that bacon flavor). read more
7 days ago
1 month ago
11 months ago
This is local hub it appears, in Little Italy. Came here with a group of friends while in town, for a special someone's birthday dinner. We tried to get a resy beforehand, with no luck. We actually had a resy with another restaurant just up the street. But it was closed when we arrived, which was strange. But luckily when we arrived to this one, we were able to be seated without one late in evening. This areas restaurants close pretty early it seems? Parking- don't recommend planning to street park here. My guess is, it would be a struggle. This area is packed with foot traffic and cars, very small streets with parking on both sides, and folks hoping in and out of Ubers throughout. We Uber'd to the area, but still had to walk to get there due to the traffic. Service- was good, Sean was our server. Food came out hot. Food- As a starter someone ordered calamari for the table, it was seasoned pretty well. For my entree I got the mushroom risotto $25. It was good, but not amazing. I meant to eat only half of it, and save the rest for later, but we planned to go out after and I didn't feel like carrying it around all night. One of my friends got the Carbonara she loved it, and that was the best bite I had of the dinner. It was the perfect texture chew of the noodles, and very tasty seasoning, would def recommend. Another friend got the Lobster ravioli $50, it was a pricier dish for what looked like a less substantial amount, but only because of the plating in a cooking pan. I love a rustic presentation just as much as anyone. But my take on this dish for this price point is had it been presented in a small plate dish, it would look like a lot more, therfore felt like the price, a mind shift if you will. My other friend did not enjoy his Pesce pistachio fish. It didn't look all that desirable, kinda dry looking. I didn't try it, but you may love it? And my other friend got the Sunday macaroni which looked like an interesting dish, not what I was expecting. The piece of meatball I tasted was ok. For the prices we paid, not sure it matched the taste of all the food. Overall it was some hits and misses. I would say a solid meal as a whole, but not enough blew me away. But the place is clearly popular, tons of people enjoy this place. read more
4 months ago
9 months ago
Awesome experience that we were fortunate to get. We walked up and were able to get a table even though they were fully booked. It goes to show it always pays to ask! We are big pasta people and Carmelina's didn't disappoint. Not to mention the vibe was popping inside, the restaurant itself is a little small so inside it is very hustle and bustle which is nice, if you are looking for an intimate date night I would choose a different location. Also make sure to get a reservation as we lucked out to get seated, if not we were looking at over an hour wait. read more
If you are one of the lucky ones to get a reservation count your blessings, you are in for a treat. We were double lucky to also get a spot at the chefs counter so we could watch all the action. First off, be ready to order all at once. They will course it properly. It's a tiny kitchen so much easier to mange that way. Second, the extremely reasonable pricing makes this a great value for a high quality meal. A bottle of wine for $45, I had to ask if it was right! The wine was great, so great I got a second bottle! The food is fantastic! If I was a Bostonian I would try to have a standing weekly reservation. We loved everything from the delicate carpaccio, to the in your face Sunday macaroni. The Sunday macaroni would have been enough for us both but I had to try more. Don't miss the meatballs in the Sunday dish or elsewhere. They are super tender and tasty. Also the pasta was al dente and the red sauce was perfect. Service was efficient and everything was timely. Can't recommend more! read more
3 months ago
Food was really good and portions are huge! The pasta was cooked to perfection. Our chicken parm was nicely crispy on outside and tender and juicy inside. Our table for two was cozy and very close to the next tables. This was great for us, but if you're looking for a nice private table you'll have to look elsewhere. Service was amazing! Prices were very fair. Looking forward to the next time we can eat here! read more
2 months ago
Been here before but this time the food was quite disappointing. The carbonara spaghetti were not al dente and quite salty even for a carbonara. The shrimp appetizer was overly sour. The saffron risotto lacked depth in its flavor profile. read more
2 months ago
10 months ago
Carmelina's only has approximately 15 tables, so you can imagine it's not the easiest place to eat at. There are 2 ways to get a table at Camelina's: reservations at least 2 weeks in advance or if you're a very lucky walk-in. We ordered Brasato, beef short ribs where the meat is so tender it fell off the bones, and Crazy Alfredo, which was a perfect mixture of chicken, sausage and soppressata with a touch of heat. Do be aware that you'll need to eat quickly as you're only allowed to keep the table for a certain amount of time. Once the food comes, though, this shouldn't be a problem as it's so tasty. read more
5 months ago
1 month ago
Really great ; HUGE DELICIOUS chicken parm, delicious shrimp and garlic appetizer. If you can get in there, DEFINITELY do. Staff very awesome too. Overall SUPERB read more
Carmelina's is an Italian restaurant in the North End area of Boston, situated amongst the various other restaurants in the area. It's a small place, with just a handful of tables and a bar. My husband and I went Friday night, intrigued by the glowing reviews a All in all, not a place I'll be back to unfortunately. The food was super lackluster - no particular dish was memorable for flavor. We felt rushed with our meal, the server was clearly ready to turn the table over and kept checking in on us to pick up plates and keep us moving. read more
11 days ago
2 months ago
5 months ago
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
4 months ago
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
1 month ago
10 days ago
11 months ago
Great food for a more upscale home style Italian. Not the most phenomenal Italian I've ever had but for sure fantastic food, and rounded up for the gnocchi - I've been searching for a springy gnocchi that feels cooked through and not at all grainy and they nailed it here. The ricotta was the perfect addition to balance the dish. Our server was fantastic and had incredible recommendations, including the wine. Very small and cozy ambiance, slightly fancier than casual. Great food! read more
13 days ago
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5 months ago
A Friday lunch of perfection. Service ambience and food all 5 star! A gorgeous afternoon in Boston was just what was needed read more
Location: Boston north end. Must make reservations, it's a small restaurant. I prefer making reservations, I don't like standing in line FCFS. I loved it here. A LOT. We went to one other fancier Italian restaurant in north end but this feels more traditional Italian, and I liked it better here. The food comes out in saute pans, portions are generous. Food is delicious 10/10 worth the hype. I was told it's touristy but hey we are tourists. My pistachio crusted fish was possibly the best fish dish I've ever eaten. The gnocchi came with a scoop of ricotta. The pancetta in the carbonara was awesome, my daughter loved it. The chicken in the piccata and parm was perfection. The caprese salad was more like burrata with pesto and pomodoro sauce, very unique and delicioso. read more
North end is like the wild city with not enough space. We jumped in here on a weekday, bright and sunny out and walked in. Wait was about 30 minutes. You just put your name and number down and stroll down the street to see what else North End has to offer. Once we came back and got seated at the high top table, like most North End establishments you could be sharing tables with strangers but that's quite alright to us! We ordered the wild mushroom penne (menu changes with time last time it was risotto) and it was good, tasty and el dente. The bolognese was a staple, i never tried theirs but though the pasta was good, i thought the flavor was a bit lacking for my order. I needed some salt shaker or red peppers or something but service was busy and lacking on the day. Quick in and out as we had other places we needed to be. Might have to try their calamari next time because that's my goto dish for an appetizer whenever available! Open window seating, open kitchen. Tight in there but they all make it work. read more
1 year ago
We got lucky to get a table here! Don't bother calling they won't answer! Lol. Just walk in and share a table if you are lucky! We wanted to eat everything but just ended up eating a couple items because we were stuffed. This place is tiny but don't let it fool you. People come here for the epic food in Boston. Must eat here when visiting! read more
More info about Carmelina's
307 Hanover St
Boston, MA 02113
North End
Directions
(617) 958-2549
Call Now
Visit Website
http://carmelinasboston.com/
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Ask the Community - Carmelina's
Are walk ins allowed, it's currently booked for the new 3 months for dinner?
I just walked up and went in. It was just me and sat at the bar. But it was very cool as I could watch them cook.…
There is not one single reservation (for 2) for any time slot the entire month of July. Does that seem right?
yes by far best place in the north end try n go at off hoyrs say before 5 etc n see if u can talk yourself into a seating they are bery nice n worth it get the mussels amazing
Yelp is showing no availability (dinner for 2) January through July 2026, as of January 5, 2026. Is that right!?
Our Yelp query also showed no availability, but we walked up to the restaurant and asked, and we were promptly seated to 2 seats at the bar (great entertainment watching and interacting with the staff). Granted, it was early, about 5 pm. If you…
Is there a separate Lunch menu, or do lunchtime diners order from the dinner menu?
Same menu from open to close
How to reserve for 1 seat?
they only take reservations on Yelp and they book very fr in advance especially weekends
Can I put my name on a wishlist for a reservation?
No. You must stalk Yelp and seize the opportunity when presented.
We made a reservation months ago and got a text back, but reso is NOT showing up on my husband's yelp account. who do we contact - Yelp?
Yes. Apparently, they do everything through yelp. They don't answer the phone.
How do i get a hold of someone when I call? I've tried 10 times and it just rings and rings. I've tried slightly before they were open, slightly after, and throughout the day. I just want to confirm a res I made months ago but misplaced confirmation
You don’t ever reach them by phone. You must to do all your reservation managing on yelp.
I read that they want you to finish your dinner in an hour and a half so as to prepare for the next reservation. Does the restaurant push the 1.5 hour time limit to eat?
Yeah, it's a super small spot and it's always pretty busy. That said, I've never felt rushed because the service and food are speedy, so I have plenty of time to enjoy eating.
Is this restaurant near TD Garden?
Yes, it's about half a mile from TD Garden. Very easy to walk from the restaurant to the Garden with crosswalks and sidewalks.
Does Carmelina's allow patrons to bring your own bottle (BYOB) and charge a corkage fee?
No- They have beer wine and some mixed drinks.
Do they still serve cacio e Pepe? I have seen some reviews about it but cannot find it on the menu.
Traveling on my own next week. What is the likelihood of being able to walk in and sit at the little bar? Or is that bar for reservations only?
It is a 5 seat counter-there is no bar....i think you would be ok-still might have a little bit of a wait but its worth it!
Do they accept take out order and is reservation necessary for takeout?
No they do not do take out!! Whoever said yes is wrong. Right from the website : Take out notice: we…
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