Great to see a new restaurant opening in the COV. The menu is simple allowing the kitchen to focus on a good product. The food was above par for the area. The service was adequate but not entirely professional. The location and decor is good and at or slightly above expectations. May go back. read more

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

Everything was a 10/10. Absolutely everything. We were sat immediately when early for our reservation. We were given water, and a fantastic selection of wines for the first round. We got the sourdough for an appetizer and the sauce was amazing. We got our food quickly and it was amazing we cleaned our plates completely. We ordered another round of drinks and they were all delicious. 10/10. We got the gelato and that was amazing. Could. Not. Recommend. More. read more

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I decided to try this restaurant because of all the hype, and we chose it for our anniversary date. The staff was wonderful--friendly, knowledgeable, and very attentive. The restaurant had a very intimate feel, which I really appreciated. Unfortunately, we were seated near a loud table, which was a bit frustrating for someone soft-spoken like me, especially since the rest of the restaurant felt much more peaceful and there was a lot of empty tables. As for the food, I was excited to try the pasta. I ordered the lasagna, and while it was good, I was a bit disappointed to find that it didn't have any meat--maybe I misread the menu. The flavors were nice at first, but after a while, it felt a bit repetitive. My fiancé ordered the oxtail pasta, and we ended up swapping dishes, which worked out well because I really enjoyed it! We also had the meatballs as an appetizer, which were delicious. For dessert, I tried the tiramisu, which had great reviews, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me. The portion was generous, but the flavor was much more bitter than I expected. I've had many tiramisus before, and none tasted quite like this. I did take it home and ate it little by little--it wasn't bad, just not my preference. One thing I really appreciated was that the owner personally made rounds to check in on guests, which was a nice touch. Overall, while this visit wasn't perfect for me, I'd be open to giving it another shot and trying a different dish next time! read more

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We ordered: meatball app, mozzarella app with focaccia, Caesar salad, simple green salad, 101 layer lasagna and Alfredo pasta Meatballs were excellent! Also ordered an amaretto sour to drink which was good too. The pastas were a bit salty for us, music was super loud inside too. Would recommend the apps for sure! Tiramisu cake for dessert was nicely creamy, bitter and not overly sweet. Server was Grace and she super nice and attentive! read more

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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

The first time we went (months ago) everything was great! The food was delicious! However this last visit was completely different. COMPLETELY! The salad was pure cheese and soggy. The Alfredo was so mushy and gross, I couldn't even eat it. So disappointing. read more

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

This is a really pretty restaurant in downtown Covington. It's a comfortable space broken into several dining rooms. The noise level was low and it was easy to have a conversation. Service was attentive without being overbearing. We were a table of 5 celebrating a birthday. The cauliflower appetizer was amazing--fresh, hot and beautifully seasoned and presented. I could have made a meal of it. Most of the table ordered the Alfredo and, while they said it was good, no one really was excited about it. I had the lasagna--it was good but not that special. They did make a decaf espresso martini for one of our party and it was a nice special touch. I ordered a martini that was--for the price--on the puny side and served in a wine glass. Everything on the menu is a la carte--even the bread--so it does get a bit pricy. It was certainly above average across the board in terms of food, service, and ambiance but it left me feeling kind of meh... read more

Stopped in for a quick bite. The veggie lasagna is as good as advertised! I am a meat eater, but the flavors on this dish popped! I need to go again. read more

Simply put - outstanding. Party of four and we each tried different dishes. We started with the Mozzarella appetizer with cocktails. Dishes included the lasagna (may be my new favorite meal out), the oxtail ragu, the spicy shrimp and the chicken. All were incredibly well prepared and presented. We also enjoyed the tiramisu to cap off the meal. The restaurant itself is in a classic storefront in Covington, giving an old world vibe that complimented the meal nicely. I should also compliment the service - waitstaff were helpful without being intrusive and everything was delivered promptly. We'll definitely be back and bring others to enjoy as well. read more

Great food meets great vibe! Service was very good! The lasagna lowkey was my favorite thing! Scale your evening down as a date or scale it up with friends! read more

Amazing food. PLEASE order the pork chop (on bone) Parmesan dish. So amazing and meat melted in your mouth. Staff was so great, loved the moody vibe and orange wine! read more

Good was wonderful, the mozzarella appetizer was my favorite! Give this place a try while you're in the Cincinnati metro! read more

Great new Italian spot in Covington in a beautiful location. Exposed brick throughout and nice ambient lighting provided a great atmosphere and the food was even better. The garlic soup is a must order! Lasagna was very good as entree and was a sizable portion. Definitely will be back to try some other stuff on the menu. read more

Tate was fantastic , explained the wine selections, answered any food questions that we had , timed our appetizers and entrees perfectly and quietly delivered our leftovers behind our chairs while we (12) continued our conversations. Everyone was throughly delighted with their selections of food. My only criticism is that it is noisy but the food is so worth it ! read more

We were able to get a last minute reservation. Apparently, this is the new hot spot in Covington. The ambience is fantastic. What a beautiful restaurant. We were incredibly pleased with everything about our experience. The mozzarella appetizer seemed like it would be a boring option, but it was outstanding, but as good as it was the garlic soup we shared was even better (the chef's sister happened to be sitting next to us and recommended both). We got the lasagna and the sausage plate. Both were very good. The sausage was a very unique plate and I enjoyed that more than the lasagna. All-in-all this is a fantastic restaurant with great food, service, atmosphere. read more

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Went to Carmelo's for dinner with a friend and was pleasantly surprised by the flavors. Everything was delicious and the service was lovely. My friend had the oxtail ragu, which I didn't care for, though I've seen it's very popular. I had a creamy pasta dish with chili crisp and garlic. It was delicious but you should really, really like garlic. All-in-all we had a wonderful Italian dinner and would recommend it over many of the Italian places in and around Cincy/Nky read more

Fantastic food and service. I loved the lasagna. The music and the lighting were so lovely. I'm so impressed! read more

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

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We came here for my birthday dinner, requested by me. I've seen lots of hype about this place so I was excited to check it out. The service was great, our server Grace was so nice and very helpful with the menu. Loved her!! We started with the Caesar salad and split garlic soup. The soup was tasty but I felt like it wasn't out of this world. I felt like it was heavy cream with garlic and croutons. Needed something more to it. The salad was delicious. Fresh greens and loads of Parmesan, just the right amount of dressing. Loved it. Following this, we had the calamari. My boyfriend loved it and said he would order again. I only ate the little peppers and olives (fried, so good!) as I don't eat calamari. For our entree we had Alfredo and added a meatball. We also had the 100 layer lasagna. I felt like both meals were heavy pasta and cheese. The meatball was so small! I was expecting an oversized meatball for the large portion of pasta, but no. The meatball was fine, not much to note. Not great not bad. The Alfredo was fine but again, not much to describe it with besides that it was a lot of pasta and cheese. The lasagna was a huge let down. There was no meat in it, barely any cheese, and the noodles were thick and bland. After 4 bites I was over it. We finished with tiramisu. Overall, I really hope this place can expand the menu as there are not many options. I would like to see more protein used in the meals. I loved the ambiance in there. Very classy, moody, and elegant. Hopefully with some tweaking this place can really soar! read more

Food, drinks, atmosphere and service were beyond excellent. We will definitely be back.

This place is amaz8ng and feels like home to me. Also great selections for folks with food allergies

Carmelo's does not disappoint at all. We had a post Valentine date and was extremely impressed with the food and service starting with the cauliflower appetizer, Caesar salad and the redfish that melted in our mouth with a side of sauteed kale. read more

I've never been a meatball guy. Just a food guy. Will try most anything. On my first visit to Carmelo's, picked up an order of the meatball appetizer to go (along with a bunch of other stuff.) The cauli appetizer was delish, mozzarella fantastic. But the meatball. . . what dreams are made of. On our next trip, my wife's idea, I ordered spaghetti and meatball. Pretty sure the last time I ordered that, I was like 8 years old. Let me just say that I now dream of this dish. So simple, yet amazing. The meatball, firm, moist, hearty, just a big ball of delicious. Add to is the pasta, gravy and cheese. Wow. My mouth is watering just typing these words. When chef and owner Mitch stopped by our table I shared my love for these meatballs. So happy to have these in my life. I can say that I will judge all other meatballs against these. I'm sure there's other stuff worth eating, but only if I taste it on my wife's plate! read more

This is not a quiet restaurant! There is pounding music in the background and hard surfaces bounce back restaurant conversation. While the food was good and the service excellent, our party of four had great difficulty hearing each other. read more

Rustic industrial type feel. Staff was knowledgeable on menu and made good suggestions to pair with our meals. The food had a fusion vibe more than just Italian straight up. I had hear amazing things about the tiramisu and we were so excited to try it. It was good but I think it was soaked in chocolate? It wasn't our favorite but they gave us a budino (not pictured) also well and that was so good. Great experience and glad we tried it. read more

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Great experience, Anna our server was excellent from suggestions on the menu to timing of arrival of various courses. She was pleasant and professional. The food was superior we had the fresh mozzarella with focaccia and the meatballs as a starter. The mozzarella was very good with just enough pull in a flavorful olive oil, the focaccia was light and airy with great taste. The meatballs were tender and moist with excellent texture and taste, the sauce complimented. As a main course we had the eggplant which was a different presentation with slices lengthwise. The eggplant was lightly breaded and covered with cheese, pesto, and sauce. One of the best examples of eggplant parmigiana out there. read more

The lasagna was AMAZING! We went with a group of 6 at 9:30pm and it was a beautiful, candle lit meal. The service was great, we got a couple bottles of wine, a few appetizers, and the garlic soup (AMAZING also) we will definitely be returning!!!! read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - 101 Layer Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Food was absolutely amazing. The Garlic Soup is a must have! All of the apps are great. The spaghetti and meatball was fresh and delicious. My husband said the chicken was the best he ever had. The service was impeccable. The restaurant decor was hip, trendy, romantic, and cozy all at the same time. Highly recommend and would give 10 stars if I could. read more

Great new Italian spot in Cov, reminds me a lot of Mama's on Main. Perfect for a date night with nearby bars. The cauliflower and mozzarella with focaccia were good apps--very unique and flavorful. Spaghetti and meatball were filling. Only downsides: the ambiance feels a bit flat (maybe lighting or music), and the cocktail menu is a bit too creative--I'd prefer more classic Italian and American options. Overall solid option, def will be back read more

Had never been here before and stopped in last night. I lived in Chicago for 15 years and ate at nearly every Italian spot the city had to offer. I think this is as good as anything I've ever had. We had the calamari (pan fried perfectly), the mushroom masala (get this...no brainer) and the tomahawk pork chop. Service was great and my wife and I had to bust out the leftovers before bed to have one more bite. That good. Go to Carmelo's. read more

It was good. We weren't blown away by everything we ate but will keep trying. I recommend you don't miss the garlic soup and celebrate the service! read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Garlic soup! - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Food was phenomenal, consistently delicious. Service was good, we were not educated at first on dishes/wine until we asked then she was a fountain of information. Ambiance was beautiful it was just very cold and breezy. Need to warm the place up. Other than being cold, and I'm never freezing, Carmelo's was a wonderful experience. We will definitely return, maybe when the temperature outside is warmer read more

Ambiance was very nice. Our server was very knowledgeable and friendly. Food was good not great. But try for yourself.

The service was great even though it was really busy. Our food was fantastic. Will definitely be back again with the whole family!!

Great service great food! Server definitely made our dining experience I just can't remember his name! Also love the option of splitting appetizer into small portions. read more

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So damn good! Polenta 10/10 Mozzarella 6/10 Caesar salad 10/10 Garlic soup 15/10 Shrimp pasta 10/10 Alfredo 15/10 Potato side 15/10 Green beans 8/10 Tiramisu (I'm a traditionalist so the chocolate vs true lady fingers threw me off, but other in the group loved it) read more

Food was amazing, service was amazing! We tried most of the menu and haven't had a bad dish.

I'm not really sure where to start when reviewing Carmelo's, so I will get the boring stuff out of the way first. It is easily accessible, parking is close (and cheap $3) and very safe. Andrew was our server and he was such a great one. I love it when servers can make good suggestions. The owner, Billy, stopped by and gave us a great suggestion on wine. Andrew had suggestions for an appetizer and we chose the meatballs. They looked tasty and they were amazing. I had the oxtail ragu and it was both rich and light at the same time. I have no idea how they did that. My husband had the eggplant and he loved it. We split tiramisu and it was a great end to an amazing meal. One of the things we noticed is that it doesn't seem like a new restaurant because everything ran so smoothly. If there were any bumps for them, we didn't see them. You will not be disappointed. It is a truly wonderful experience. read more

Amazing service & food. Started with the mozzarella and had the Alfredo for dinner. Highly recommend

The place is very neat inside with exposed bricks, unique lighting, and seemed to be buzzing with happy patrons. The food was expensive and the portions were adequate. We had garlic soup first and it was pretty tasty, we had calamari next, and it was like chewing on rubber bands, and the sauce was like tihick Campbells tomato soup. The entrees were the sausage, and the linguine Alfredo. Both were disappointing as well. The lamb sausage seemed to be old , and it was not hot. The linguine was ok, but the value was not there. Out server was reallly sweet, and on top of things, I can't remember her name, Iwe did feel rushed when she asked to "collect my autograph" with the signed credit card pickup before the plates were cleared. The staff was all really good, and that would be the only thing that would make me give it a. Second chance. read more