Having a birthday on Valentine's Day has always felt special to me. I love seeing couples celebrating their love all around me. As I get older, I try to love myself a little more, so each year I treat myself to something a little extra special. This year, that was Carmelo's. Honoring his Bisnonno, Carmelo Caserta, Chef Billy Grise & his longtime friend, Chef Mitch Arens, opened this slice of Sicily in 2024. They make you feel at home with a warm intimate atmosphere, top tier service & food so good you're sure to come back time & time again. My Server, Deron, was so friendly & helpful. His professionalism & expertise shined all throughout the evening! After explaining the full menu to & carefully selecting a signature cocktail for me, Carmie's Kiss, I selected the hand pulled Mozzarella served with Grilled Focaccia & Olive Oil, the savory & spicy Garlic Soup, the cheesy crispy Potatoes served with a Calabrian Chili Mayo, and the hearty indulgent Oxtail Ragu. Each bite I took whisked me away to another world filled with enticing scents, beautiful colors & bold flavors! Then, when I thought I was finished, Deron surprised me with a delicious slice of Tiramisu served with a delightful glass of Pinot Grigio, and it was absolutely heavenly!! I had such a lovely experience & I am so excited to go back again. My favorite bites were the deliciously perfect Potatoes & Oxtail Ragu! Whether you're celebrating a special day, going on a date night, or treating yourself, this is the perfect place to step away from your worries & celebrate life. Truly a 10/10 experience!! 434 Madison Ave, Covington, KY 41011 https://www.eatatcarmelos.com/ Instagram & TikTok: @biteswithmissb read more

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Exceeds expectations all around. Beautiful space, intimate and personal seating, and staff that clearly love their jobs. We did our research and took most of the recommendations of our fantastic server Harris. The Cauliflower flabbered my gasts it was so amazing. The crispness of the cauliflower, the bright spark of the lemon aoli, and the warmth of the toasted almond slivers come together in perfect bites all around. The Garlic Soup had five forms of garlic and transports you to a sixth dimension. Needs to be corrected in the menu description as it DOES NOT share well and if you love your table mates you will get individual portions. The Crispy Garlic Alfredo was so decadent and delightful. Definitely not for the faint of heart but a mound of pasta worth dying for IMO. The Tomahawk Pork was unfortunately our last dish and didn't get appreciated as it deserved due to logistics/stomach space. But it was perfectly crisped and ooeygooey on top with a vodka sauce with a kick. PS: we thought the experience was classy from the start but the labeling of the leftovers sealed the deal. Name and date, just their process not a special request from us. Cute since the Alfredo didn't last 24 hours. read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Classy leftovers - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Our experience at Carmelo's was unfortunately horrible; from the collective poor attitudes from everyone from the hostess to the busers and the food was just ok; particularly one of their signature dishes = Oxtail Ragu. Our biggest beef is how terrible they were at accommodating a group of only eight which isn't small, but isn't big either. They tried to separate us into two tables despite having plenty of room to create one table. It was utterly ridiculous. I understand needing access and pathways to serve and in case of an emergency; but, neither were hampered by the slight reorganization; in fact, the flow was even better after. The waitress was good in some respects; but, bad in others. For example, she asked if anyone had any allergies or food issues which was excellent, but when someone shares an issue don't dwell on it. read more

My son took me to Carmelo's for an early Mother's Day dinner. We found the food to be exceptionally delicious. One dish I'd never had nor heard of it before was the Garlic Soup! Yum! Their polenta was topped with a poached egg, pasta sauce and pecorino - wow! Lasagna - fantastic! Definitely will go back there again! You will NOT be disappointed. read more

Recently came in for dinner. This is a recent addition to Covington, so had not been here before. The bar area looked very nice, and the overall vibe of the restaurant is nice. Not too fancy, but a nice intimate ambiance. I tried their garlic soup for an appetizer. Excellent! The garlic doesn't overpower the soup, while it gives a lot of flavor. For my entree I tried their tomahawk fried pork. Think bone-in schnitzel covered with vodka sauce and cheese. The pork was very tender, and this was delicious! Opted for a side of noodles Alfredo. These were very good also. I ended my dinner with a slice of their tiramisu. I'll be honest, I've had better tiramisu. It was fine, but not on par with my entree. Our server was very good, with excellent drink recommendations for our party, and kept things coming out in a timely manner. Overall, a solid addition to the northern Kentucky dining scene. read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Tomahawk fried pork with noodles Alfredo on the side. - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Celebrated my son's birthday at Carmelo's. The decor in the building provided a cool atmosphere. Exposed brick across multiple buildings that made it surprisingly spacious. The service was very good and the appetizers were our favorite. We chose the cauliflower, polenta, and the mozzarella cheese as well as a Caesar salad. The cauliflower was the best. It was surprisingly crispy and a good flavor. The polenta was good, but the egg was slightly overcooked and it was salty. Salad was an average good Caesar. Finally the cheese was excellent. The bread was really good and the cheese pulled into the bread was an experience. We then moved to the lasagna and the oxtail ragu and a side of meatballs. All were good dishes. The lasagna was a spicy vegetarian option. We liked the ragu the best. Overall a good experience and will come back read more

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My wife and I have wanted to come here for some time so we made a reservation for our first year wedding anniversary--it did not disappoint! The Appalachian Sour was fantastic and the house red gravy served with the sourdough was addictive. I also loved my wife and I's pastas. Al was a kind and attentive server with great recommendations. We will be back soon! read more

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Wonderful experience here tonight! Showed up with a 7:15 reservation a little bit early, but they ended up seating us on time! Our waitress was wonderful! We started with the cauliflower which was fried to perfection, shared a spectacular cesar salad that had the most delicious dressing, and each of our entrees. Their chicken was tender, juicy, with a crispy skin that was to die for. We didn't have room for dessert, but please give this spot a try if you're in town! read more

It just wasn't that great. Decent service. Spaghetti and meatballs I would never order again. Cauliflower is great and tiramisu 4/5. Wished for more read more

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Delicious mozzarella and focaccia. Ordered again to have with the take home. Shared the Caesar Salad and dessert. The Lamb Sausage was mild and did not over power the dish. If I lived in Covington, Carmelo's would be a weekly dinner. read more

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We have another amazing Italian restaurant, and it lives up to the hype! Everything we had was so great, and I think Carmelo's is up there with Pepp and Delores. The ceasar salad was so punchy and cheesy, highly recommend that and the mozzarella to start. The pasta portions are plentiful, and the layered lasagna was a hit. The ambiance was great as long and the service , we would love to return. read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Loved the ambiance. Harris was an over the top amazing server. one of the best ever! The lasagna and green beans were to die for! The mushroom marsala was okay but i sure wish they made our favorite, chicken marsala. The mozzarella bread was amazing! And the tiramisu was undoubtedly the best ever! Eric poured us all a little bubbly cheer for a toast before dinner that was very good....better than most champagnes i have had and lucky for me, three of the people with us gave me theirs!! My only complaint, and why I didn't give 5 stars is the chairs. Absolutely horrible and so uncomfortable! Okay, we are old. I know that! But I would think even young people like a well cushioned seat and back and one that doesn't feel like it is going to slip right out from underneath you and with a bigger seat...I definitely will go back...with my seat cushion and ask for Harris read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Paul Amman, Barb Ammann, Roseanne Klahm, Chuck Klahm, Kathy Machenheimer & Tim Machenheimer - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

I have heard great reviews, and I've come to agree with all of them. Dinner was exceptional. We dined on a crowded Saturday night. Parking was right across the street and the building had older charm with romantic vibes. We started with the Italian 75 and it was perfect. We ordered the mozzarella with focaccia and the Caesar salad to split for appetizers. Both were delicious. For entrees we ordered shrimp pasta, oxtail ragu, and the redfish. The pasta was cooked al dente and the shrimp pasta had great spice. The oxtail ragu was rich and comforting. The fish, however, was the STAR of the show. I WILL come back for the fish. 10/10. Flavor and texture were absolutely on point. Wine selection was great for those who love Italian reds. For dessert we tried the Budino and the tiramisu. Both were pretty good. I think some more variety on their dessert menu would be my only suggestion. (There are so many wonderful Italian desserts and ingredients to utilize). The after dinner espresso martini was made perfectly. I will be back to try more. Highly impressed. Service was also very good for a busy night. If you haven't been yet or have been unsure, GO! Thanks for a great evening, Carmelo's. read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Budino, espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Went to Carmelo's for the first time tonight and it exceeded expectations. We had been wanting to go for a while now and got a last minute reservation. They sat us slightly later than our reservation. Time in the manager made it a point to give us a free appetizer, which was not necessary, but showed they take great care of customers. Each food item was better than the last. I recommend anyone and everyone go check out Carmelo's. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Fabulous service in a great atmosphere. Started with the mozzarella which was delicious. I had the eggplant parm which was the best I've ever had! Ended with budino and latte. We will definitely be back!! read more

Was finally able to snag a Saturday night reservation! The staff were friendly and attentive and the food was delicious. We had a wonderful experience! The lasagna and meatballs were our favorite. We'll be back with friends next time. read more

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I've been dying to dine here. I love the little nooks and rustic modern decor. The service was excellent and very warm. We both had cocktails and enjoyed them. Started with soup, mozzarella with grilled focaccia. The soup was good. Cheese and bread delicious. I do prefer grilled vs the standard that seems to be, charred. I really do not like the burned taste with the bread. Many places are doing this and I realize this is the way, I'd just like it grilled as in grilled cheese preparation. We split the ceasar, loved it. One had spaghetti and one the oxtail pasta. I loved the sauce on the spaghetti, had a little kick. Although my friend felt her pasta was a little over. My oxtail pasta was good but I wish it had the same kick as the spaghetti. We both enjoyed but we were not blown away. I'd most definitely come again. read more

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I was really disappointed with this visit for a few reasons. First our server was pretty distant, didn't check up on us, or give us recommendations for the night. We were seated almost immediately with our reservation which we appreciated, and the place was full on a Monday night. After already placing our order our server informed us that the fried pork was 86'ed for the night (don't know why we didn't lead with that). The mozzarella was good, but it could definitely use a little salt- the focaccia itself was amazing. The garlic alfredo was super buttery tasting which turned me off, although the chili flakes were a good addition to the dish. I was BUMMED to find out you couldn't customize the meals- you couldn't substitute a sauce (red sauce for spicy vodka), and you couldn't add protein to your pasta. The spaghetti and meatballs dish was good, but the meatball (singular) was bland and left what was similar to like a film on the roof of my mouth, which maybe it was just oily? The sauce itself was creamy and really delicious I will give them that. I will say you receive a generous amount of food with each dish. The space is really nice, but personally don't recommend this place. I was super bummed to be in town and trade my favorite (pepp & dolores) to try this place- don't think I'll be back. read more

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INCREDIBLE. GO. NOW. Food. Drinks. Service. Ambiance. 10/10 Literally nothing bad can be said about this place. I can't wait to come back. Drove all the way from INDY to experience. read more

The Redfish: When simplicity meets perfection... I never eat the skin.... It was cooked so perfectly with a light crisp!!! I ate the skin! read more

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Overall, our experience was great with room for improvement. The space itself is beautiful with soft lighting and upscale decor. Perfect atmosphere for a special occasion or date night. The entire restaurant was busy and packed full, and we arrived without a reservation, but we were able to find seats at the bar quickly. Our bartender was fantastic throughout the night -- offered great suggestions from the menu, knowledgeable, and checked in on us at appropriate intervals. We started with the cauliflower for apps, and it was delicious. Perfectly crisp, nutty and savory, and came out blazing hot. We had the lasagna and mushroom pasta for mains. The portion sizes were generous. The lasagna, unfortunately, fell short of expectations. The sauce was good, but the noodles themselves were thick and overcooked (mushy texture), and was lacking any distinctive flavor within the layers. On the other hand, mushroom pasta was delicious -- on the verge of being cooked past al dente, but the mushrooms and cream sauce worked so well together. Finished the night with Tiramisu. Again, portion size was generous (good to share between two people). It wasn't too sweet and the texture was good, but there is a bitterness that overtook most of the dish. I can see how some people would enjoy the bitterness, but it was a bit strong for our tastes. All in all, positive experience. Worth trying if you're in the area! Recommend the cauliflower and mushroom pasta. read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Finally made it in to try Carmelo's and it did not disappoint. Our service was fantastic and the food was on point. Love the rustic interior with various art work. Can't wait to come back and try new dishes. read more

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We had an incredible time eating at Carmelo's. The vibe was warm, cozy, and intimate. Our waiter did an excellent job describing the menu to us, and after hearing about the oxtail ragu, I decided to try it. I was so glad that I did! The meat was tender, the noodles of the pasta were the perfect consistency, and the sauce pulled everything together. We also tried the cauliflower appetizer which I would definitely order again. If you like chocolate, then you should try the budino for dessert. It was decadent and topped off our meal perfectly! read more

We had a family reunion with ten people there on a Saturday night. Everything was beyond reproach. The food was excellent, the service was wonderful, and all ten people loved the experience. Our server, Harris, was attentive and took command of the meal, all in a good way. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone! read more

Italian is my favorite food, and so when a new restaurant opened in Covington, we knew we had to try it out. The vibe is very classy and quite nice (but maybe a tad too dim). We ordered the potatoes for an appetizer and the Oxtail Ragu and Mushroom Marsala with a side of focaccia to--as our server said--soak up the remnant sauce from our pasta. The garlic confit crispy potatoes came out a bit later, accompanied by a Calabrian Chili Mayo (I LOVE Calabrian chilis). It was so good. Spicy and creamy, but calabrian chilis add a touch of sweetness and richness that made every bite exquisite. Then the pasta arrived. My wife and I are prone to splitting/sharing our dishes, but we know what we prefer, so I dove into the oxtail ragu and she took the mushroom marsala. And we both really enjoyed them. We swapped to try the other's dish, and... Found that we both liked the other person's dish better. The oxtail ragu was meaty, salty, and hearty, really good stuff. But the mushroom marsala was--and I don't say this lightly--perfectly seasoned. Tons of herbs, a flavorful creamy sauce, and tons of mushrooms. the focaccia strips were also very good. This will likely be our go-to Italian spot in the future. Not the cheapest option out there, but not breaking the bank either. A nice spot for a date night. read more

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Finally made it here and it's so good My pictures didn't turn out very well This place is phenomenal Our service was exceptional Keshaun was our server and we were friends by the end of the evening he was a friend Now the food Oxtail Ragu oh my goodness So good so tender My hubby got spaghetti and meatballs Our friends got the starter of mozzarella and the lasagna One pound of lasagna crazy This place is wonderful read more

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We went to celebrate my mom's 76th birthday. No surprise, It was fantastic. Morgan, our server was so attentive and competent. We of course, had the mozzarella...it was fantastic, but the focaccia helped make it! Also at the table, which we all took bites out of, was the garlic soup, which was more complex tasting, than I could imagine. The meatballs, were delectable. Apparently the oxtail ragu is a favorite. The meat melted in your mouth with a sauce that complimented it, but didn't take away from the star. The 1 lb lasagna... obviously enough for many days of leftovers. Finished up with the most amazing tiramisu and espresso martini. I was surprised by how large the restaurant is and Beautiful. The architecture of the brick and arches are breathtaking. Definitely make a reservation. You will not be disappointed. read more

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5/5 recommend this cute gem in Covington! I recently visited Carmelo's for a girls night out and I'm glad I did. Everyone loved their meals and drinks. I tried the Oxtail Ragu with gluten free noodles, cauliflower and calamari. All of it was sooo good. This was some of the best cauliflower I've had and the sauce on it was a hit! My friend tried the Caesar salad which she loved as well but was disappointed that she couldn't add a protein to the salad. That would be our only recommendation if additions are made to the menu in the future. We failed to make a reservation but were quickly sat at the bar and all of the servers were super engaging and fun to talk to! We will definitely be returning! read more

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First time at Carmelo's and it was a really enjoyable experience. Cozy atmosphere, solid Italian food, and a great spot for a relaxed date night where you can actually slow down and enjoy the meal. Service was good and the pacing felt right. While not quite a five-star experience for me, it's definitely a place we'd return to and recommend. read more

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Just loved our experience which was delicious and filling. They accommodated my vegan meal request with a pasta and vegetable dinner. The chef even sent out two different small bowls to complement my meal. The herbal mixture and red pepper sauce were not needed as my meal was very flavorful. I did try them and loved them. My boyfriend got spaghetti and a meatball dish. The dish was topped with lots of finely shredded cheese. He commented on the light red sauce as unique and he couldn't quite determine if he enjoyed it or not. Finally decided it was just different than what he's had before. We felt like the meal needed bread. We looked on the menu but it wasn't available to be ordered and none was offered. I highly recommend making it an option to order if not complimentary. Just needed it. Our server Kristen was very good and explained the menu to us. The atmosphere is lovely and it appeared to have been that way for quite sometime but in a conversation with one of the owners we knew that it was band new. Well done. Highly recommend and we will definitely return. Perhaps they will expand the menu and offer bread for order as an option. Thank you for a great meal. read more

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Best experience! We sat at the bar. Felt like we were downtown Chicago which we love. Cool environment and great bartenders. The fresh mozzarella app is amazing. Also enjoyed garlic soup, Caesar salad, ox tail rigatoni and tiramisu. Shared all of it. Loved every bit but that fresh mozzarella was amazing. We'll go back for just that! . read more

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Had a top tier dinner last night at Carmelo's. The vibes are top level. Someone has invested a large sum of money into this place. The restaurant is quite large, much bigger than I expected. Beautiful decor with good music playing over the system. service was attentive without being annoying. Had their take on a Negroni to drink and it was gin forward and bitter in a nice way. Started with the mozzarella and it was fantastic. The bread they serve with it takes it over the top. The garlic soup is unlike anything I've ever had and I don't know of anywhere else in Cincy that makes something like it. Great textures and the chili crisp on top is a great touch. Not spicy. The pastas were rich and delicious. I loved all the parm on top of everything. Can't wait to go back. read more

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I really enjoyed my first dining experience here. The space is beautiful and divided which keeps the ambience delightful and not too loud. After planning to only have an entree so I could enjoy my full meal, I was sucked in to every course because... FOMO. The mozzarella appetizer had a fantastic seasoned bread. The garlic soup did not disappoint. I tasted my friends green salad which had a tangy well paired dressing. The star was my 101 layered lasagna which had a surprising and welcome KICK to the sauce (i took half home by this point). And then the milk gelato to round out the meal was the perfect choice for me. I was really in the moment and do not have any photos to share. Sometimes you gots to keep your phone off the table and just enjoy the meal, the space and, your company:) read more

We made a reservation through Resy and went on a Tuesday evening. The restaurant is beautiful and really adds to the Italian experience. My absolute favorite was the cauliflower shareable. I can't wait to go back and order one just for myself. ;) The 101-layer lasagna didn't disappoint either. If that sounds like a lot of layers you should think of it more like a lasagna croissant of pasta. It wasn't heavy, but it is a LARGE portion. The Oxtail pasta was a welcome option to short ribs. A bottle of Cottanera Rosato is a must for your meal. Don't forget to top it all off with some Carabello's espresso(we opted for decaf) and another large portion, the tiramisu. read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Great ambiance - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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I am in town for family function and found myself alone for dinner. As per my hotel bartenders recommendation I walked up the street and found a great seat at the corner bar, which was pure luck because the restaurant was packed with a few groups of patrons waiting for tables. I ordered the Sea bass and side of kale it was so delicious. I was jealous of my bar mates sitting next to me had the ox tail ragu looked amazing. I'd love to go back and sample the menu another time. read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Sea Bass & kale - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Love the rustic Italian countryside feel. Our food was delicious, the Caesar salad, lasagna, eggplant Parmesan. Our server, Liam , was fabulous; charming and knowledgeable, with helpful suggestions. Can't wait to go back and try some of the other dishes. read more

Plan to make reservations as this place is HOT. Have been to Carmelo's twice now and the service has been great each time. If possible try to get seated next to the kitchen so you can see the magic being made. The bathrooms are a bit lackluster but get the job done. We enjoyed all parts of the meal but the budino was the most memorable. The lasagna has a lot of basil going on but overall nice flavor. The Oxtail was so tender and full of flavor. Was a bit loud but was also very busy. read more

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This place is amazing! It's so hard to find really good Italian food and this is it. The inside is beautiful and the staff were so nice. They have amazing drinks and cocktails and everything we ate was delicious. The pasta was super fresh. We will be back! read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Mushroom Marsala - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Where to begin! This place was great from start to finish, we started with the appetizer, going in with no idea that it wasn't going to be mozzarella sticks caught me off guard in a good way!! The rosemary olive oil infused mozzarella was amazing. Followed by the Ceasar which was pretty good nothing out of the ordinary... unlike the lasagna, which was top 3 lasagnas i've ever had!! and it was vegetarian. It was creamy the sauce complemented the cheese so well. the mushroom pasta was delicious as well i cannot lie!! 10/10 experience. read more

Our birthday celebration...and this place was highly recommended. We try every new restaurant in town and were excited to eat here. Food - fantastic. A variety of things to choose from! Very homemade feeling. The owner even delivered and cut up our appetizer! What a great touch!! We were thrilled. Mozzarella! Lasagna is great. Tiramisu is fabulous. Even a birthday treat! Atmosphere- hip and trendy without making you feel like you aren't hip and trendy enough. Very comfortable and cozy. Service - I won't go into detail in a review but the service was a dealbreaker for us. In the nicest possible way - the hostess was indifferent and our server really needed more attention than we could provide them. It was exhausting listening to them talk when we just wanted to visit with each other. read more