Love Carlos and Carlos! One of my favorite Italian restaurants in the area. All of the food is so good. Love the bread and olive tapenade they provide. Service has always been great and friendly. It does get pretty busy and is a small space so I can get loud in there. Definitely recommend checking it out if you're in Arlington Heights! read more

My colleague had recommended me this place many times and few weeks made a plan to dine here. This place is owned by a Costa Rican (Carlos) but the food is so delicious. One could see how much effort he has put in this place. We enjoyed our food paired with red wine. Our service was fast and efficient. I liked the bread and olive oil with butter that they served when we all were seated. The best part is that they bring whole dessert platter and we can pick what dessert we want - gives a good idea how the dessert would look like. Their creme brûlée is good and also the mango-peach cake with ice cream. I could not stop eating it. This place has good vibe inside and outside. First time for me being in Arlington Heights downtown, I felt really nice to walk around. read more

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Carlos & Carlos are located in downtown Arlington Heights next to Salsa 17 (should be renamed Salt 17, but you can see that review on their page). They have the corner space and in the warmer months have a lot of outdoor seating. I had been here before with my wife and parents and sat outside and it was a beautiful night with lots going on outside and the meal was good. You saw I wrote "was good" (foreshadowing...) We visited with another couple for a Saturday night dinner. And we were seated right away. And then they proceeded to ignore us for nearly half and hour. A server would approach us and say they'll be right with us as they were bringing something (food, drinks, napkins, bills) to other tables, but no one came by us. We had long ago finished looking at our menus and were looking at drinks, but by the time a manager came to our table to see how we were doing and then noticed the menus on our tables, he finally asked if we had been helped. We said no and were about to get up and leave. I'm sure we could have walked into Peggy Kinneanens (sp?) or Cortland Garage or Mago and been served right away. He said he'd get the server and the guy came over looking unhappy. Oh, I'm sorry, did we bother you with having to take our order? Blow it out your butt, Magoo. Anyway, we were long past ordering wine and just stuck with water (it was already 8pm and we knew they'd be booting us out as soon as we finished our meals). A couple salads were ordered, the roasted beet salad and the La Bella. I recall their being an issue with the beet salad, but we complained to another server as ours never came by. We had to flag down the bus boys to get water refills. Finally our server returned with our dinners. I ordered the Pollo Piccata as that is my go to at Italian restaurants (especially when it looks like they have other typical dishes that they put their own spin on (gnocchi had an olive oil sauce - really? Not a vodka sauce or marinara? Nope. And when you start changing menu items, they tend to mess them up. I asked for no capers in my sauce and still received capers. Ick. Other orders were the bacciolo, biete, and linguini. All were okay and a tad salty. Did we get dessert? No. By the time we got our dinners and finished, they were closing and our server immediately brought our check during dinner and said, "no rush, whenever you're ready". Um, by dropping it off, you're essentially rushing us. We then purposefully stayed and waited until they were cleaning tables and turning chairs over to pay our bill and leave. We all stopped at Dairy Queen for dessert. With so many Italian restaurants in the area, I think I can skip this one. read more

I'm giving Carlos & Carlos 4 stars because I really love the food. Absolutely great Italian food. You get huge portions for the price and everything tastes fresh. But, there is no way I can give 5 stars due to the service. Granted, I came here on Mother's Day so the restaurant was busier than usual. But, we were sat inside because the outside seating was completely full. The servers were mainly tending to the people that were outside and seemingly forgot about us. We didn't seem to have a server for our table and had to actually grab a random person from the staff to come take our order after sitting and waiting for 30 minutes. After we got our food, again it was hard to get someone to give us the bill. I hesitate to come here again because of this ordeal but perhaps it was just a busy day, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt - especially because the food is so great. read more

Carlos & Carlos - Black Pasta - Italian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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Dinner with friends, a party of 8. My first time at the restaurant in AH. Everything about the evening was fair: food, ambience, service, attention to detail. You can have this experience any place and have the same below average dinner. Back to Rosebud. read more

Went here for my first time and thought it was great. We had the hearts of palm salad- amazing a deep dish pizza and past with vodka sauce. The service was also great. Can't wait to go back! read more

My favorite place in DTA. Great food, fast and friendly service, generous drinks. Not inexpensive, but good value.

They get 3 * for food and 1* for service. Food - nothing to rave about, pasta was pretty good, but others - appetizers and desserts dissapointing. Home made tiramisu seemed to lack mascarpone cheese and done with whip cream? Service - as soon as we sat down, someone stopped by every 2 minutes asking if we are ready to order - they were rushing us constantly. And that's not even the worst part - when bill came. They over charged us on couple items (price higher than what was on the menu) and then added 20% tip on the after tax total, not pre tax. We had a larger group so between overcharging and tip on tax it was easily extra $20-25. They fixed it when I pointed it out, but every time I see a mistake, it is never in my favor, which tells me it is not accidental... read more

I'm not sure how this restaurant has a total rating of 4.4 but after this past Saturday night, I feel like it should be -1 out of 5 at most. Food was bad, only good items that were decent were the complimentary bread and the black pasta. Food took 1.5 hrs which is unacceptable for a $$ restaurant. Maybe if it was higher end and a Michelin star, I can understand a little. I've been to many Michelin and omakase restaurants, and the service and food are always superb. The lamb chops were horrendously butchered. We asked for medium rare and it came out well-done. First time, I experienced anything above medium rare for lamb chops. It was way too chewy. Veal porterhouse was slightly better, it was cooked medium rare. However, it could have been juicier, a little dry in some spots. The pasta with scampi was way too salty. Service was nonexistent. Water refilled once. After they dropped off the food, they never came back to ask how our food was. We didn't really know who was our waitress or waiter was because it was that terrible. After they finally cleared our plates, they had the audacity to ask if we wanted dessert. I would highly recommend skipping this restaurant if you're in the area or just grab pizza nearby. This place is garbage. Oh btw for some reason they were out of dinner plates, so they gave us 3 tiny plates. read more

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We've always walked by this place but never actually gone in and I'm glad we did. To begin with, the second you step foot in Carlos & Carlos you are instantly transported out of Arlington Heights and into a small Italian restaurant in New York. The smells, the vibe, the quaintness. It's very small but that really adds to the charm. It was also Saturday night at 7pm so it was pretty loud. This didn't bother us. We were immediately seated and ordered the Barolo to try, which is a wine I think is excellent value for what you get. The olive tapenade that comes with the fresh bread is outstanding. The waiter recommended Spaghetti and Snapper, so we went with that. The Snapper was very good. The Spaghetti and meatballs were A+ and would definitely be back just for that. Decided to end with a slice of tiramisu which was also a home run. I think this place is somewhere between a 4 and a 5 but it checked too many boxes for me to give it a 4. 5 stars for me. Give Carlos & Carlos a try today, perfect for date night. read more

Exceptional quality food, every bite is delicious. The Italian dishes are always wonderful. Delicate pastas with light, flavorful sauces. We also had a pork stuffed with pesto, cheese and prosciutto, it was amazing! The portions are large, which is nice to take home for lunch the next day. Wonderful staff who are knowledgeable about the menu and wines. Nice atmosphere. read more

Don't go on a night with an outdoor concert. Rush to order dinner from the minute you sit down read more

My family just moved to Arlington Heights and this restaurant was the first one we tried. We really enjoy coming here -- the food is great and the staff was friendly and welcoming. It's clear that a lot of thought goes into the guest experience. That said, one thing that would really make a difference for families like ours would be the addition of a baby changing table in the restroom. As a parent, it's tough when there's no safe or sanitary place to change a diaper, and it often means we have to cut visits short or avoid certain places entirely. I had to use this wobbly side table that was in the women's restroom so that I could change my 5 month old which felt unsafe. I hope the team might consider adding one -- even a small, wall-mounted unit in a unisex or accessible restroom would go a long way. It would show families that they're truly welcome and make your restaurant even more accommodating to a wider range of guests. read more

They have a popular and vibrant dining environment here in the heart of Arlington Heights' restaurant row.  Our party of 4 came for a pre concert dinner and it was delightful.  Outside, Campbell St was blocked off for their annual summer fest and there were plenty of diners out in the various patios on this delightful weather evening, including Carlos and Carlos' own patio.  I really liked what I saw and the friendly and inviting feel of this little area as we've never hit Campbell St. before.  We've been to nearby La Tasca Tapas years ago, but it's on the corner periphery and not nearly the same as being right on Campbell St. frankly.  For dinner, our party enjoyed generous servings of: - Veal Sorrento - Black pasta - Grilled tilapia, shrimps, and scallops  - Spaghetti with filet mignon and veal meatballs (my dish) We also shared desserts of flan and chocolate cake.   Service was attentive and friendly.  The dining room can get quite loud when it's busy and festive.  The food was in the 4 star range and a decent value.  Besides, I just came back from eating at Carbone in NYC, and I can't just hand out the same 5 stars to any 'ol Italian place, ha. read more

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Went here before going to the Metropolis. Service and food were awesome. Will definitely come back when in the area.

Went there for desserts, on an extremely busy street. I could tell you the desert was tiny and pricey . Servers were not that happy seeing everyone, possibly because they were exhausted. So will definitely give them second chance when I am in the area, but will definitely pass on the deserts. Also the place look old! read more

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We LOVE LOVE this place. Have been going for years and tonight was our 25th anniversary so we decided to go to our favorite restaurant. It's always a treat! The wonderful owners are always friendly and accommodating. The bread with the butter and olive spread just heavenly. Pasta is homemade. So many great tasting entrees to choose from. The Bar can make anything and the service always attentive. It really is my first choice for a great night out, especially in the lively downtown Arlington Hts. restaurant area. I can't say enough great things about this special place. read more

Carlos & Carlos - Italian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Can I give them 15 stars? My husband and I celebrated our Birthdays last night there and it was magical. We were seated by the window that looked out to all the beautiful holiday lights in downtown Arlington Heights. All of the staff came over to wish us a Happy Birthday. We started with Clams Casino, outstanding. My husband ordered sea bass and I had the Fruiti del Mari. Both meals were epic. My meal was big enough for a family of four. The staff brought us both free desserts. I gave one to another table to help celebrate the night. They rolled out a liquor cart and offered us a free after dinner drink. We split an amazing almond drink. Something that we would not order. It was super delicious. Please visit this restaurant, you will make it your special place. read more

I would definitely come back here even if it's a little far from where I live. I love Italian food and the food here was just so delicious, fresh, and of high quality! The restaurant is located in downtown Arlington Heights in a cute little plaza with other restaurants. Service was very good! All the waiters were so kind and always smiling. We sat outside on their cute patio decorated with cute lights. Fried calamari: You can never go wrong with this appetizer. We originally ordered the grilled calamari from their menu, but the waiter said they also offer fried calamari which is not on their menu. We ended up opting for the fried version. The portion size was huge and perfect for sharing. The calamari pieces were beautifully presented with tomatoes, shredded parmesean and pepperoncini peppers with a lemon wedge. There was a nice ratio of calamari to baby octopus. Highly recommend and very very delicious! Gnocchi di casa: Oh my goodness. This was probably the best gnocchi I've ever had in my life. First, portion size was huge I barely made a dent in my plate! It comes with a hefty amount of gnocchi, filet mignon, spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms in a delicious sauce. The steak was perfectly made - so tender, juicy and flavorful! Not a piece of dry meat in sight, I was so impressed. You can tell that they make their pastas in house which makes it taste even better. I don't know how to describe the sauce but it was delicious and complimented the dish so well. Its gravy-like but with a thinner consistency. The sauce wasn't meant to over power the pasta, just compliment it. The gnocchi and filet mignon did the dish justice. Chocolate bomb: A perfect way to end the meal. The presentation was so beautiful - decorated with strawberries and different colored sauces. The small lava cake is paired with vanilla ice cream. A classic dessert! read more

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My meal consisted of minestron soup, spaghetti, and meatballs. It's one of my better meals in a while. Waitstaff, Jane, was on top of everything--a great experience. I strongly recommend this restaurant. read more

It was great to see the restaurant busy on a Friday night because as I was walking through the downtown area of Arlington Heights, the streets and other restaurants were quiet and empty. I am a sucker for squid ink pasta so I have bookmarked Carlos & Carlos for a couple of years already. Since I was in the area, I made sure to stop by this past Friday evening. My friend and I were greeted warmly by the host and were seated at a corner table. Our server immediately came and gave the menus and glasses of water. There were different members of the crew who would stop and check on us so there was never a time when we felt neglected nor ignored. We tried the following: BLACK PASTA- I wasn't sure if it the pasta was just colored black or if squid ink was incorporated. I did not taste that distinct sea saltiness from the squid ink flavor but the dish was actually salty. The cream sauce was quite heavy for the pasta although, I was impressed with the amount of shrimps and scallops that were in the dish. FRIED CALAMARI- Delicious. PENNE FARCITA- This dish was good (a tad salty) but nothing special. Overall, the service was excellent and the place had a friendly vibe. I wish it was warm enough that night so we could have enjoyed their outdoor seating. I would visit their new branch in Wilmette and try different items from the menu. I am also a sucker for risotto so I have my eyes set on trying the Risotto Gamberi. Til next time Carlos & Carlos. Stay strong. read more

Carlos & Carlos - Calamari - Italian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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I love this place for great food, drinks. It's the best Mexican food in Arlington Heights It is so nice to have the outdoor dining as well. read more

Came here for the first time for a weekday evening dinner with a friend. I called ahead of time and they advised that two people did not need a reservation. Luckily parking in downtown Arlington Heights all those streets are closed off there are still some free parking spaces. Menu looks very traditional but extensive. Staff is very very friendly and service is done communally. Which meant that we were asked four times if we wanted to order some thing to drink other than water. Portions are fair and pricing is on the higher end but on par for downtown Arlington Heights. Food arrive to the table super hot which was fantastic. They were also very flexible with making accommodations and adjustments to all their dishes. I would definitely come back as I do consider it a very straightforward simple good Italian meal. read more

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Food was incredible. The server Janet was so kind. We were cold; she noticed and offered to change our seats to inside, even after we had made a mess. read more

The finest Italian cuisine I've had in IL past Capriccios. Carlos and his chefs are masters of making the freshest pasta and dishes made to order. The service is always attentive and efficient and the restaurant itself has a wonderful atmosphere. My personal recommendations are the Fettuccine Alfredo with Black Past or anyway you like your pasta, and for desert, Tiramisu with a little Lemon Cello to complement it nicely. The other cocktails won't disappoint either. I highly recommend having a meal here if you haven't already. read more

I got the black pasta, and he got the penne. We were both very pleased with the food and the portion for the price. Definitely go when it's nice and sit outside so you can feel the ambience of downtown. read more

Carlos & Carlos - Black Pasta Penne Farcita - Italian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Just outstanding. I didn't realize that almost every restaurant closes their kitchen at 8pm in downtown Arlington Heights. Carlos & Carlos did not, and I decided to sit at the bar. I was dining solo, which I do often, and I am a proud resident of Arlington Heights. Yet somehow I had never brought myself to Carlos & Carlos. I ordered a grey goose martini, and it was made to perfection. I then ordered the beef carpaccio as an appetizer, and the Fettuccine and Short-ribs for entree. Both dishes were incredible, and the fresh cheese, and warm bread just made it all come together. The ambiance was a fine dining, yet comfortable space for those who are looking for a truly exceptional dining experience. I won't be frequenting anywhere else in Downtown Arlington Heights and I'm pleased to know that Carlos & Carlos is a restaurant establishment in the town that I live. 5 stars across the board. read more

Carlos & Carlos - a plate of pasta with meat and vegetables - Italian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Three of us met to have dinner here. The restaurant was not crowded, which I assume was because of the rain. In lieu of a table we and we choose to sit at the bar. I definitely recommend the cosmos. I had the scampi Di chef, the fresh pasta, bordelasies sauce, and prawns were delicious. I was impressed by the fresh made pasta. Each one of us were more then satisfied with our meals. The serving staff were efficient and effective, timely, and very professional. The ambiance was very classy and formal, and also warm and comfortable. I would recommend this place for dates, a special night out, birthdays or anniversaries or dinning out for a great meal. read more

Carlos & Carlos - BACCIOLO~ sauteed shrimps, scallops - Italian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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Amazing food and service. Highly recommended for local Arlington Heights residents or even as a destination restaurant. It will be one of your favorites. Recommend the chicken parmigiana and tiramisu. read more

Great service, cute environment, great food, wonderful experience, and highly recommended read more

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Wonderful restaurant. Guatemalan/Italian fusion. Wonderful concept & great dishes. We have dined here multiple times. Pro tip get a table outside in the spring-fall months for the Arlington Al Fresco experience. People watching while enjoying a phenomenal meal makes for a great date night. read more

my second time here and both times the food was amazing and the service was First Class. I'm from California and here for work, this is now my go-to restaurant each time i'm in town. If you want authentic Italian food served by exceptional staff, this is the restaurant that will treat you like family. Thank YOU! see ya next year. - Mike read more

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Had an amazing dinner the other night at Carlos & Carlos. The service was wonderful! Their prices are very reasonable and great portions I shared the Chicken Vesuvio which was moist and very flavorful and, the spaghetti and meatballs. The spaghetti with meatballs was wonderful and they even gave you 4 meatballs Completely enjoyed the restaurant and dining experience ! Highly recommend! We sat outside and enjoyed the view. read more

Owner as well as other workers in the kitchen walking around with no mask chatting everyone away turned me off to this place. Hence, the lower rating. Otherwise, huge tasty portions. I had the Salmon Carlos while my husband had the filet. My salmon was very tasty and buttery but unfortunately did not sit well with me stomach wise. My husband ordered his filet medium rare, however, it came out medium well. He was not a big fan. Otherwise friendly family atmosphere if you don't mind lax covid protocols. read more

Carlos & Carlos - Squid appetizer. Others at the table said they loved it. - Italian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

My friend Kevin & I dined here when the COVID ban was lifted & it was Super Busy! Even with all that foot traffic, our experience was Lovely! We started with the Caprese salad: the slices of Buffalo mozzarella were thick & soft, the red onions, basil leaves, fresh avocado quarters, & tomato slices were a perfect combination for a summer day! I asked for a little of the vinaigrette to take home & received 2 ramekins worth. The grilled calamari was light & bright, the pieces of calamari were large & tender. The veggies (tomatoes, peppers, garlic, black olives & capers) were plump & juicy. I also Loved the simmering sauce so much I ate all of it. All. Of. It. Kevin had the whitefish primavera & the fish was flaky while the butter sauce was creamy & the veggies were tender. For dessert, the cannoli had a crisp shell with a hearty & sweet filling. The peach cobbler was also delicious, baked extra warm with house made whipped cream & fresh strawberries on top. ~ I also placed a to-go order, and just like with dinner, all the food I took home was delicious as well! For a salad, I got the gold/red roasted beets with bleu cheese, carrots, mixed greens & caramelized pecans. The salad was flavorful by itself, so I used very little of the red wine vinaigrette. Entree #1 was the homemade langostino ravioli filled with lobster meat, ricotta cheese, basil & sundried tomatoes. The lobster cream sauce was So Decadent I couldn't eat it all at, I saved some for later. I also enjoyed the large sun tried tomato pieces- they really added a ton of flavor! Entree #2 was the spaghetti & meatballs for my son. He loved it! The spaghetti was tender & the meatballs were flavorful without being hot or too seasoned. The sauce was a little more chunky than what my son was used to, but he didn't mind it at all. The take-our dessert was a chocolate ale with whipped cream & strawberries- my mom & son Loved it & I just thought maybe the cream would've been better on the side. All in All this was a wonderful dining experience! I really appreciated the customer service as well: We sat at the bar & I ordered a spicy margarita but it had too much sour mix in it- the bartender said she doesn't make them much & I loved her honesty! I stick to Sauvignon Blanc for the rest of the night :) read more

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Although they don't take reservations, the wait is worth it, the service is always top notch & they will make off menu Italian specials. read more

Carlos & Carlos - Langostino - Italian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

They get 2 stars because the food is good, other than that * Be prepared to wait tor service foreeever *Be prepared to wait for food forever *Once you place your order you will never see your waitress or waiter again ! Not even for your bill ! Asking about food and refills or anything ! Just like the waitress said to us "once I leave I leave " and we heard her said that to more than one table !! Horrible service ! We had to go and get our to go boxes ourselves We had to get up and find her to pay our bill and she just said Give me the cc! Omg ! Incredible lack of service Also when you walk in, is so confusing on where to go for you to get sitting But because of the absolutely lack of customer service is why we are not going back again NO ACCEPTABLE PERIOD read more

I sat at the bar and ordered a glass of Mark West Pinot Noir. The bartender reached into the well below the bar and poured from a bottle that had a light colored label with black script writing. Mark West Pinot Noir is a dark bottle with a red cap and a bright gold label with printed name. When I asked the bartender if the wine he served me was Mark West he said, "Yeah!". He did not pour Mark West, and as I watched him for a while I observed that he poured wines repeatedly from bottles in the well, not wines from the wine list. This restaurant uses the branding of quality wines and pours off-brand, cheap wines in their place. Dishonest! read more

Went here recently on Friday night at 7. Had reservations inside because outside is first come first serve. Luckily when we showed up there was one table left outside and we were able to be seated out there. Service wasn't great. There was no menu that contained the spirits they have at the bar and the wait staff had no clue either. Took 3 people to get an answer on their bourbon and scotch selection. We were warned the kitchen was running 45 minutes behind and that it was. So we started off with their table bread which was great and some calamari. Over an hour later the overly dressed spinach salad and special seafood pappardelle came out. Both were decent size and taste was pretty good but wouldn't say it was worth the price of a $32 pasta. Overall, not too impressed. read more

Absolutely loved this place! We had the ROASTED BEET SALAD, LINGUINI PESCATORE, GNOCCHI DI CASA with no sundried tomatoes and glasses of the Paso Robles wine. The bread with butter and Oliver tapenade was phenomenal. Our server was super friendly and attentive. We will definitely be back. read more

Carlos & Carlos - GNOCCHI DI CASA - Italian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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