I'm back! The restaurant is located on 389 Main St. in East Hartford, CT. It's been a few months since I was last here (December) which is a crime. Carmine's is a fresh from scratch kitchen that is ALWAYS open. Their appetizers, pastas, entrees and desserts combine old-world traditional Italian flavor with a modern flair for presentation, and the freshest ingredients around. Menu staples like rigatoni bolognese, fettuccine carbonara and chicken Milanese are coupled with unique recipes like chicken ala vodka and toasted almond cake. They've staffed the kitchen with a dream team of chefs and you can tell instantly! They also do parties, catering and online ordering/delivery. The restaurant is well known for its live music. There is never a cover and parking is always free. This place and produces absolutely amazing food and drinks. I have noticed quite a few menu changes. The Happy Hour menu has expanded. It's also no longer all day Monday. The main menu no longer has prices on featured drinks (although that's the tre d these days). Note that the Bar Bites menu is available open to close! The Main Menu looks the same although there is a new Wine List (that's a first here). The music is very pleasant and the right volume level. It's always a big cool in here too. For my first drink, I'm having a Pratt N Whiskey. This is made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, sweet vermouth, red wine and sour mix. It's definitely an unusual drink. It's not garnished, but it tastes great. The wine sticks out for sure. It's clearly a shaken drink not often found with a whiskey component except for maybe Whiskey Sours. For my first item, I'm having the House Salad made with spring mix, basil, tomatoes, julienned (thinly sliced) carrots, cucumbers and house red wine vinaigrette dressing. This is a big portion! I love this dressing! This tastes great! For my next item, I'm trying the Carmine's Secret Tenderloins. These are off of Carmine's "Secret Menu." They are pan seared, caramelized chicken tenderloins, made with wine, olive oil, cracked black pepper (dried black peppercorns broken into coarse, uneven pieces), kosher salt (a coarse, flaky salt named for its use in the Jewish koshering process of drawing blood from meat), shredded Parmesan and a very special "secret sauce." I'm curious as to what this sauce tastes like. Wow! Nice presentation! These are good! I love that sauce! There's a good crowd in here (20 people). Only one worker (bartender and server). She's damn good at what she does! For my next drink, I'm having a Connecticut Cosmo. This is made with Litchfield Vodka, Wild Moon Cranberry, Triple Sec and lime juice. This vodka is the Gold Medal Winner 2018 & 2019 at the New York International Spirits Competition. Silver Medal Winner at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition!Our Gluten-Free Batchers' Vodka is distilled from luscious corn grown during the beautiful summer months in Somers, CT. We distill 4 ¾ times and use a gravity-fed charcoal filter that takes 12 hours to filter 100 gallons. The longer the vodka sits on the charcoal, the more impurities are removed, which creates an incredibly smooth taste. Bottled at 80 proof. It is impeccably clean, slightly sweet, velvety smooth mouthfeel and sweet buttery overtones. It's smooth with a warm finish with subtle notes of sweet ripe corn at the end. I actually sat down next to the owner of the Distillery at a wine pairing dinner at Flemings in West Hartford about 7-8 years ago. This looks nice! Wow! This has great flavor! For my next item, I'm having the Rigatoni Matinara. Rigatoni is a large, tube-shaped pasta with ridges on the outside and straight-cut ends. Marinara sauce is a tomato sauce usually made with tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and onions. I don't eat pasta all that often. This will serve as my appetizer before I hit the main course. This is a BIG portion! It is very good! For my entree I'm having the Pan Seared Salmon which is "hand cut" salmon with zesty orange glaze served over mashed potatoes with seasonal vegetables (broccoli). Add LOTS of crushed red pepper. Nod that's "LOTS." This is spicy! My kinda spicy! The plate is nice and hot! I like the presentation. This tastes great! What a great meal here! read more

I can't believe we were charged for bread - twice! We got a small half of a loaf (not even as big as a half grinder roll) and asked for more. Never have I ever paid for bread in a restaurant and we were asked if we wanted bread - no mention of we had to pay extra for it. Side salads are an extra charge too. If you get a chicken meal expect it to have a very charred taste to it. We found the food to be middle of the road and not very big portions considering we usually take food home from other places. There was a birthday party going on in the restaurant, not in a separate room. Not that it bothered us, but it was extremely loud in there and it seemed to bother the table next to us. Don't expect a quiet dinner in this place. Getting the attention of the waitress was impossible. I had to stand at the bar and wait to pay our bill. The party had the entrance blocked because they were filming and we had to exit through a side entrance, which didn't bother us, but not the best from a safety point of view. Do we recommend the place - no. Will we go back - no. read more

We didn't eat anything We were together with the guests from Türkiye . And we want to stop by and eat after soccer game. Unfortunately we made a reservation but there is a reunion and it was noisy. They are short on staff! We wait for a while and our guests said that we cant eat anything here. Nobody still come to ask for orders they can't make ready 10 peoples order. So we left the place! The parking area was full to. Couldn't find any place. !!! İ saw the owners Reply! İ am glad that we didn't stay. This is inaccurate too because no one didn't come to ask our order!!!My husband went and find someone to take our orders. Even not 3 times. Who said that to you? When we tried to give order we realized that even will be harder to prepare to orders for 10 peoples. And it's too noisy and yes it's not suit for baby. When we call for reservations you have to tell us about your reunion party! read more

Carmines is my local hangout! Here every week and it is CONSISTENTLY DELICIOUS. they listen to our feedback and the atmosphere is always fun, friendly and welcoming w happy hour music that is not so loud that you can't talk to your neighbor. Highly recommend sausage and peppers for the best most flavorful lean meat, harvest chicken for a sauce to die for, banging wings and a drink menu that has something for everyone!!! Come come Come!!! read more

Very nice space. Came in and live music hit my ears; jazz. They are STRICTLY 21+. A very brief menu if I could say however, they are diverse with food (sorry if that doesn't make sense). Don't get the fries. It's like biting into an oil pool. Get the pastas. The alla vodka - bomb. The meatballs - mid, but where are you going to find good meatball except an authentic deli. Service is normal. People are very mild here. Peace read more

Happy Hour music by Brian McDonald was terrible last night. Entire bar and most tables left during his set. Get better happy hour bands please read more

I came here for drinks and tenders. I wasn't impress and people say good things about this place. My friend got whisky sour and it taste wack and nothing like a whisky sour. I got a holiday drink and it wasn't good either. Went on a Friday night and it was filled with older crowd. I prob will try it out and get a pasta dish since the photos look decent. I need to give this place another try to have my honest opinion about this place. read more

Had an absurdly long wait, when it wasn't even busy. We saw some workers just standing around instead of doing anything. The food was decent, but definitely not worth how long we waited. The ambiance was alright, but definitely didn't make up for everything else. read more

Note: This rating does not apply to the food. I apologize for my first response, which was inaccurate and too abrupt. After spending more time pondering our experience here, I've realized the issues were mostly procedural. The main problem was a lack of communication. On a Monday in April, my husband and I flew to New York City on a fun/work trip. The following afternoon, we picked up a colleague in New Jersey and headed to Hartford for a business meeting. After arriving at our hotel, I checked Yelp for sit-down dinner restaurants in the surrounding area. Only two of the higher rated ones were open past eight o'clock. Carmine's sounded good, so we headed over there. We parked and followed a sidewalk to a door in the side of the building. We walked into a room dominated by a large, wrap-around bar surrounded by wooden tables and chairs. A few customers sat at the counters. All the tables were empty. The only staff member seemed to be a woman standing in the middle of the bar area. She was busy talking to a friend or perhaps a waitress. The interior did not match some of the descriptions I'd read, and I started feeling confused. No one greeted us. We stood there a moment, wondering if the place was actually open. Then someone said, "Just sit anywhere." We chose a table near the bar since it seemed convenient for easy service. After we waited a few minutes, a pleasant but slightly flustered waitress handed us menus, took our drink orders, and left. We waited another ten minutes. To pass the time, I studied the menu. The selections seemed limited. It was getting late, we were tired and hungry, and my blood sugar was crashing. The possibility of eating a meal before 9 pm seemed to be slipping away. We decided to leave and try the second option on my list. We drove to a steakhouse ten minutes down the road. The hostess there gave us a warm, personal welcome, and a waiter promptly escorted us to a booth. Water was poured, the menu discussed, a bread basket brought, and appetizers ordered within ten minutes of our arrival. A dramatic contrast to our previous reception or lack thereof. Carmine's does seem to be a fun place for locals, and the food is highly rated. But we are not locals, and I still feel confused about the set-up. Did we accidentally come in the back door? Was the short menu a "bar" menu? Was there a dining room with booths in another part of the building? If so, someone should have told us so the waitress didn't have to run back and forth. Little things can make a big difference. A glass of water can revive a weary traveler. A bread basket can keep a hungry customer at the table. A cheerful greeting can prompt guests to share their needs or ask those pesky questions. read more

We had such a wonderful dinner here! I ordered the Chicken Parmesan and it was easily one of the best I've ever had - rich, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Every dish that came out of the kitchen looked incredible, and our entire table was raving. The service was prompt and polite, and the restaurant has a lovely, cozy feel. Can't wait to go back! Mangia read more

Definitely a favorite dining spot for us now. We held our daughter's surprise birthday celebration at Carmine's and it was an unforgettable evening. The staff is friendly and professional and the food is AMAZING!!!! it is the perfect venue to celebrate a special occasion. Great music and lighting made for a great lively ambiance. Holly and her team are the best!!!!! looking forward to more events at this place for sure. read more

Just got into Connecticut on a late flight and went to Carmines because it was still open at 10pm. Were completely surprised at the quality of food we found here. First, lovely place, we were told we could sit anywhere so we took a booth towards the back because the live band playing. The bands were great- service was really wonderful, nice bartender who checked in on us and gave advice. I got the shrimp pasta but made gluten free (so no ravioli, but the gluten free penne instead). Wow it was good, the sauce was really tasty. Excited they had gluten free bread to go with it. My bf got the steak tips pasta and really enjoyed it. Wish we lived closer because this was some pasta we'd want to come back to. Really lovely space you should check out. read more

Carmine's - Shrimp pasta (gf instead of ravioli) - Italian Near Me - East Hartford, Connecticut

See all

I stopped in for happy hour on a Friday night which happened to be on Cinco de Mayo. And because of that the bar wasn't too busy since I was at an Italian restaurant. You can tell the patrons are regulars and they make you feel welcome from the moment you walk in. Despite being in the bar I still got to try their food which included chicken wings (which were perfect), raviolis, a mushroom flatbread (which is the size of a regular pizza), truffle fries, and a Mexican dip from their Cinco De Mayo Special. All of it was tasty but the truffle fries were the winner for me. When I'm back in town I could totally see myself stopping by for a drink. I will say, they have a band that plays, which was cool, but you do find yourself yelling to speak to others there so just keep that in mind. read more

Carmine's - Bar Bites - Italian Near Me - East Hartford, Connecticut

Never fails, no matter what I order, amazing tastes, abundance of food and great service. Been there by myself and with a large party, always a good time read more

Great service live music and tasty fried pickles. Salads were ok, lots of toppings needed more something. Will be back to try more read more

See all

I only came for the beer on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The beer selection is really solid, was very happy with the beer I got. If I lived here, I'd be a regular. read more

Excellent delivery from Carmine's. Food arrived hot, well-packaged, and delicious. Good portion sizes and everything was fresh. Reliable timing and professional delivery. Highly recommend for takeout. read more

A Slice of Italy (and a Dash of West Palm Warmth!) in East Hartford. As a proud West Palm Beach resident, my heart often aches for the vibrant flavors and lively entertainment that defines the local culinary scene I grew up with... So, every time I find myself in Connecticut (old stomping ground) I always have to visit Carmine's in East Hartford to get my Italian craving fix! From the moment I walk in, Carmine's exudes a charming, inviting atmosphere. While it might not have the palm trees and ocean breeze of Florida, it certainly has a warmth that makes me feel welcome; the staff always greets me with genuine smiles that instantly put me at ease. Now, let's talk about the food - because that's what truly brought a taste of Italian dishes I miss so much. This last visit, I started with the brussels that are crispy and served with soppressata, a beautiful addition!! And, love the balsamic reduction! Perfectly crisp and flavorful, a delightful prelude to the main event. For my entrée, this last time I opted for the shrimp ravioli. Each bite was a symphony of fresh ingredients and authentic Italian spices; wow, the shrimp was pan seared with an addition of spinach and sun-dried tomatoes in a lemon cream sauce and topped with toasted breadcrumbs! One of my favs, but seriously I've loved all the dishes I have had there. And to my absolute delight, the evenings are made even more special by the live entertainment! The presence of live music at Carmine's adds an extra layer of enjoyment and vibrancy to the dining experience. It's clear this is a place where people come to enjoy good food, good company, and great entertainment! I always make this the meeting place to reunite with old friends when I'm in town. The service is attentive without being intrusive, and my glass is always full. Each experience there doesn't just satisfy my craving for Italian food; it provided a little slice of comfort and reminds me that incredible culinary experiences can be found anywhere. Knowing they also feature live entertainment makes it an even more enticing spot. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to the Northeast, and a return trip to Carmine's. Highly recommended for anyone seeking authentic Italian cuisine, a warm, inviting dining experience, and delightful live entertainment! read more

I am a retired Special Education Teacher and Poet. I recently performed my Poetry at their Open Mic, on Feb. 5 & 9, 2026, targeting Social Justice, with the house band's accompaniment. My Poetry was critical of Trump and his MAGA policies that are harming Hardworking Immigrant Families and murdering American Citizens on our streets. Although the Messages seemed well received by the culturally diverse crowd, I was informed by the Host after my performance on the 9th, that the owner, Carmine, was not a fan of my Poetry and I could no longer perform my Stuff there. This was the 7th different Open Mic that I have performed at in Connecticut and the FIRST time that I was Censored for supporting Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and denouncing Trump's cruelty. Support Democracy and Freedom of Speech with your pocketbook.......and be Kind to those who struggle for a better life in the United States of America. read more

I was suppose to go to a restaurant I thought was the same name I was wrong I'm glad I was. The food was fresh and great tasting staff was great as well. The price was way reasonable for the quality of the food read more

Food was very good. Their pasta sauce is excellent and the prices are very reasonable. Would recommend!

The band that was there on 11/7/25 was good the service from the two bartenders absolutely shit. Worst service I have had ever in my 30 years of eating out. just cause we didn't order bar drinks doesn't mean for us to be treated any differently. food was sub par could've been better. The Alfredo sauce could've been so much better. read more

1st times at Carmines. Went on a Saturday night. Parking is small and it was full. However when going inside the restaurant there was open tables available. The bar is big with lots of seating . Band was playing as well in a separate room Open to all to enjoy. Service was great so no complaints there. My friend ordered calamari to start along with drinks. I love sangria and normally that's what I order elsewhere but I did not like the Apple Sangria. Not sure if it was the mix of apple but it didn't taste fresh and fruity. There was GF options to choose from. I had steak Tips with GF pasta( Jack Daniel Steak Tip) Tasted good but nothing that Wowed me. My friend ordered the Coconut shrimp bowl but it definitely wasnt worth the price and we excepted more. A bigger bowl . What she got was just a small cup of rice with 4 shrimp surrounding it. It appears there were many regulars there which is great but im Not sure if I'd go back for a second time . I do have friends that love Carmines but I wasnt crazy about it. read more

See all

Arrived late into town and needed some dinner. Ordered over the phone for pickup. Was ready when they said and food was delicious. Pasta and flatbread were quite tasty. read more

I had dinner at Carmine's for the first time the other night. It felt like more of a bar than a restaurant. The decor was pretty dated, but there were lots of customers. We had some cheesy garlic bread, Buffalo chicken bites, linguini with rose sauce and shrimp, and pasta carbonara. The food was pretty good, although nothing stood out as particularly remarkable. The cheesy garlic bread and linguini with rose sauce were the best dishes. The Buffalo chicken kind of reminded me of those appetizers that you make at home with crab and English muffins. The pasta carbonara could have been better, the portion was a bit small and it lacked red pepper and acid. It tasted very much like egg yolks. Drinks were priced well. Would I rush back? Maybe for happy hour. read more

See all

The Food was phenomenal the service leaves little to be desired. The bartender prioritizes co-workers and friends, waited over 25 min for a drink bc she is a chatty cathy with her friends read more

I love the food, but I always feel uncomfortable eating here. I always go to the bathroom first, so I can get comfortable and an employee always follows me into the bathroom and I still end up feeling even more uncomfortable. I don't know if they think I'm doing drugs in the bathroom, but I'm absolutely not. I am black though so that's probably why I get followed in there. Two stars only for the food zero stars for the Customer Service. And the food is really, really good. I honestly would rate it five stars but overall with the Customer Service included yeah only two stars. I wish I knew what it was like to get the same Customer Service as the white customers. read more

Great atmosphere, good food , and Carmine! What more can I say? I had the veggie flatbread was very fresh and filling

The house bread is amazing. I asked the bartender to make a Ruby relaxer; I showed her the recipe and she nailed it. The garlic fries were delicious. There was life music playing. It wasn't from my favorite music genre but it was a vibe. The flatbread was over cooked on the edges but over all had a good flavor. I sent my hubby back the next day to get take out. I ordered the Alfredo, garlic bread, Ceasar salad (will order the dressing on the side next time and ask them to bag it separate to prevent it from getting warm); salmon, mashed potatoes, and broccoli. The man that took the order was super nice. The order was correct. The salmon needed a little more seasoning but was good. The Alfredo was garlicky just like I like. read more

I'll be honest, this place surprised me. Looks like a dive bar from the outside and looks like someone's newly renovated basement from the inside (minus the bar itself which is probably there from when the building was first built) but has a lot of great qualities. Came here for after work drinks with some coworkers and they had live music which was nice. Service was decent, I can't say that the place was very full, maybe 20 people inside. What really surprised me though was the food. I had the butternut squash ravioli and it was soo good even the bread they serve on the table had this nice salty sweet flavor to it. One of my coworkers got a pizza and it was huge! It looked yummy too, thin crust nicely toasted. I also appreciated the magnet word wall in the bathroom. Fun addition! read more

I was truly impressed with this place. The chicken piccata was a large serving and was delicious, very flavorful. It came with pasta that was al dente. The woman who took my order was very pleasant, professional, and went above and beyond. (I didn't catch her name, but she was blonde and working Oct 4 around 4:30pm) I don't live in the area, but I would absolutely make a trip back. read more

Update: Carmine really deserves a solid 5 PLUS‼ The man himself goes over and above and will definitely treat you like family. He is patient and kind, he truly LOVES what he does a puts his heart and soul into his business. It really shows. We always feel taken care of and we will continue to patronize this humble local establishment. We think you should, too! Come on in, it feels like home. Had a great fun time at a great price at this local East Hartford bar for happy hour tonight with a couple of Yelp friends! We were looking for some local place to have a light dinner & drinks before bowling at silver lanes. We did a quick Yelp search & found two knowledgeable Yelp buddies checked into Carmine's for happy hour (til 7!) & score! We came in and we're pleasantly surprised to see a nice clean spacious bar restaurant that want cray loud and has great prices. It kept getting better when I spied my favorite light dinner of chili as the special tonight. We joined our friends Eric & TicfNy & got the lay of the land. I picked $3 house merlot (twice, lol) & the hubby got a gin & tonic. The chili was nice and the merlot was mighty fine. Hubby had two orders of $5 wings & enjoyed them, especially Cajun. I ate the side veggie sticks which were perfectly fresh. Bartender is quite competent, hard working & she has a good personality. Try the happy hour here. We'll be back fur sure. It's all good! read more

See all

Don't go here for food. Service and music were great but the "homemade" pasta and sausage and peppers special were really awful.

Another great find in Connecticut. I was looking for a good Italian place that had homemade pasta. This place is fantastic. Kelly, my server, was amazing. Very obvious to see the employees enjoy each other. The Fra Diavolo with homemade rigatoni, homemade sausage and shrimp was simply delicious! I highly recommend this dish. Enjoyed a few glasses of Italian Pinot Noir also. Next time in Connecticut, I will be back!!!! read more

Great place! Chicken a la vodka was delicious and large portion. We were also here when they had live music and it was a great choice. Will definitely come back. Service was also wonderful as well. Friendly staff read more

Refreshingly casual/comfortable for an Italian restaurant while still having super refined food and drinks. Can't wait to name it a regular spot for my family. The bartender took great care of us. read more

I've been to Carmine's a few times now and it never disappoints! The quality of the food is always so fresh and delicious. I think during one of my visits they said all the pasta is homemade, but I'm not a big pasta fan so I've never tried. This visit I got the bacon blues burger, so good! Perfectly cooked bacon and super fresh ground beef. The fries are also nice nice and crispy. Their happy hour is great - $3 mixed drinks and beers during certain hours, can't beat that price! The prices of their food are also super reasonable - I don't think any entree on the menu is over $20. The service is always great here, the bartenders are super nice and attentive. I think ever time I've been there Carmine is too - it's nice to see how involved the owner is here. Definitely my go-to when I'm in the area! read more

Carmine's - Grilled Shrimp - Italian Near Me - East Hartford, Connecticut

See all

Please excuse the timeline of this review. I had it saved on Yelp and never posted it sadly. But I mean every word! Enjoy! Came out here for work and looking for a spot to get some good food. Yelp had high marks for Carmine's and Italian seemed just right. When we got here, we were a little apprehensive at first seeing how the place was not too full. However, it's a million degrees below zero and it was really early so duhh. Food started off great and only got better. Homemade tomato bisque soup with bread that I wanted to steal a loaf of. Then another appetizer - fried mozzarella - also excellent. Then came the main dishes: rigatoni Bolognese for me. My girl had the pasta carbonara with shkkkrrrrimps. All of it was excellent. But then Carmine himself came over to pay us a visit, see how we were enjoying our meal and then hype up dessert. Well, rarely has a business owner's hype lived up to the product. But the super friendly Carmine did just that with two desserts that he, himself, went to prepare in the kitchen. I'm sorry folks but maybe it's the Los Angeles in me that took this whole affair of dinner at Carmine's as quite a shock. Only very rarely has a business owner taken this much care of us. And our server Lindsey was fantastic, too. And before I forget...they had a very good band playing some nice rock and roll jams. Drinks were good and the tab...for the tons of food and drinks that we had...was 30% less than what I was expecting. Great value given the great food and the personal service. Carmine came by several times to see how we liked everything. Thank you sir for taking care of business! Much success! read more

Carmine's never disappoints! They have delicious food, great prices and friendly service! Monday is happy hour ALL DAY! You can't beat it. Every other week day happy hour is until 7 pm. Live music nightly! Carmine and his wife Holly are always there which is very impressive to me. They are truly committed to the success of THEIR business. Pictured here are the meatballs which are amazing! It's all about the delicious homemade sauce. The garlic parm wings are so flavorful, best I've ever had! read more

Carmine's - Garlic Parmesan wings - Italian Near Me - East Hartford, Connecticut

See all

Went to Carmines last night for a quick dinner as we were in the area. It was a busy night with a full parking lot. The bar was full with happy hour patrons and the tables with diners. The front end where there are tables and a stage area had a class of some sort going on, looked to be a terrarium of sorts. We ordered tomato basil bisque. Very good Boneless buffalo wings.... large order. Yummy Hangar steak..... very good. Seasoned well and tender Ravioli of the day ( 3 cheese) with a shrimp scampi sauce. Was told it was very good. Pasta carbonara. Mine. Made with a cream sauce peas and prosciutto. Everything was from scratch. They make their pasta and the peas were not canned or frozen. Yummo Def check it out if you are in the area! Friendly, fun, clean place. Nice crowd. read more

See all