Disclaimer: I'm a New Yorker who's moved to Chicagoland so maybe I'm a bit snooty but the regular Yelpers in the Midwest should always be viewed with a star and a 1/2 less than what is expected normally. Can't remember the last time we were here but the wife remembered us enjoying their food. Went back last night and was again, a great experience. Fresh pasta, well-seasoned proteins, generous cocktail portion, and 2 bussers whom I felt like, were there to solely cater to our table only; I love restaurants when you don't have to ask, they just know. I would highly recommend this place if you're in the area for an NU event. If you're a local, get your butt over there tonight! read more

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I was looking for a place to have dinner with a former co-worker who lives up near the border of Wisconsin. I was trying to find a place at least midway between us and discovered Carlos and Carlos on Yelp. Carlos and Carlos is old school from the perspective you actually have to call the restaurant to make a reservation. The space itself is located in what I think is a condo building. The space itself is compact, with tables relatively close together. We ended up sitting at table next to the kitchen door, which for me turned out not to be too bad as we were not sitting on top of other folks. The restaurant and bar were packed as it was a Saturday. Based on the size of the space and number of tables, I would strongly suggest making a reservation if you go there. We started out with fresh bread and one of their specials for the night: flash fried calamari served w/fresh tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, shaved garlic, black olives, capers & garlic butter. This was a first for me as I have never had calamari served this way and it was great. Definitely a dish I would drive back to get. The bread was wonderful and hot. I could see through the kitchen as fresh bread was being pulled out of either a warmer or oven, not sure. It was served with some sort of olive oil and pesto, I think. It made for a lovely spread on the bread. For dinner I ordered a dish called "Meatballs" and it was just that, a whole lotta meatballs with some spaghetti thrown in as a side...HAHAHA! Not complaining, just staying a fact. The meatballs and pasta were good, but I would say there was a fair amount of garlic in the dish. I had my dish as a leftover and as I was warming it up, The Doctor commented that he could smell the garlic. The Doctor had the Pollo Vesuvio, which also came with pasta. I had a small piece and it was pretty nice. Again there was more meat than pasta, but again we were not complaining. The chicken was nice and tender and had a lovely flavor to it. My GF got the Risotto Al Fungi (Arborio served with wild mushrooms & goat cheese). Prior to sampling her dish, I would have absolutely stated that this was a dish I would not order in a restaurant as I wouldn't have any interest in it. I tried a spoonful of my GF's and was amazed at how good it was! The broth that the risotto was cooked in was chicken and I think beef. That with the goat cheese made this a very nice dish and the second reason I would drive here to do a repeat visit for dinner. Portion sizes were nice as The Doctor and I had plenty to eat and enough for light snack the next day. My GF had no leftovers, she became a member of the clean plate club. For dessert we shared a slice of the chocolate mousse cake, which was really nice. It had a lovely dark flavor to it and was creamy in texture. Service was nice and everyone was friendly. There is plenty of street parking within walking distance as well. While this is a bit of a drive for us to get to since it is outside of the city, I could see coming back here. I think I want to try a serving of that risotto on my own instead of a taste. read more

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Food was incredible as was service. My husband and I split Shrimp Genoese and a Caesar Salad. I had a dish of very vanilla ice cream (gelato?) and he had creme brûlée - all so tasty!Charming, busy, dining room w/ bar anchoring one side of room. Obviously a neighborhood fav! When in the area we will return for another great meal. read more

Many people specifically mention that the crust of the bread before the meal is crispy and the inside is as soft as clouds. Paired with high-quality olive oil, it makes people unable to resist ordering more. read more

Amazing. Every single thing our party of 6 ordered was terrific. We went over one week ago and everyone is still talking about it. Salmon was amazing, filet was amazing, house gnocchi was to die for. We will be back. read more

WHAT A TRUE GEM IN WILMETTE! I discovered a gem tonight! I picked up an order of Carlos Salmon and a spinach salad for dinner, and I'm so glad I finally stopped in after passing by this restaurant for years. I've been missing out -- this is now my #1 favorite dinner spot in Wilmette! The meal was absolutely delicious and prepared to perfection. I'm a very picky eater, but the salmon was cooked flawlessly and the flavors of the sauce and vegetables were memorable. Even for a carryout order, the service was outstanding. What appeared to be the owner, manager, and chef (who came out from the kitchen) all made sure everything was just right. I arrived about 15 minutes before closing, near the end of their dinner rush, and everyone was still warm, gracious, and attentive. What a special restaurant -- exceptional food, wonderful people, and genuine care for their customers. I can't wait to return! read more

This is a really great restaurant with really great food and drinks. It is very loud. The service is outstanding.

I must have passed Carlos and Carlos hundreds of times on Green Bay Road, always wondered if it was a Mexican restaurant. Found out it's Italian, so based on positive reviews, my wife and I went there early last night. To start they bring out a warm mini-loaf of crusty bread with a small serving of garlicky olive tapenade -- we knew right away we were gonna enjoy this place. The Bella salad had a huge amount of arugula, pear, figs and goat cheese, enough for two. My wife had a special: spinach stuffed ravioli, with a paper thin dough -- very light and buttery. I had the tasty vermicelli amatriciana -- a huge serving, the leftovers was my lunch today. What's interesting was the waitstaff tag-teamed us: Everyone could do everything from take our orders to bus dishes -- you could see they were pros, had worked together for a long time. The only negative (which I will not deduct a star for): There were two huge TV's playing with their sound off -- this did not add anything, were rather distracting. But the food and service won us over -- we will be back. read more

Carlos And Carlos - Italian Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

We love the place. Good food, good people! Even the leftovers were always carefully wrapped with Saran Wrap over the entire container. Want to alert the chef that our last visit was less than perfect. Both the pasta and the fish entrees had too much oil. read more

Excellent freshly made pasta in delicious sauces. The service was fantastic!! Friendly wait staff. Great freshly baked bread to start. Generous pour for the wine. Delicious Caesar dressing. The dessert tray looked amazing, but we were full from dinner. We may have to come back to Chicago just to have another meal here. read more

As usual, our neighborhood place delivered. Good food. Great service. We even got to sit outside having a beautiful summer day. I'm not a pastor Guy, but they are fantastic chicken, the chop, and also fish. read more

Pretty friggin good! Large authentic Italian menu, good portions, friendly staff. Homemade sangria was lovely. read more

Carlos And Carlos - Pollo Giardineira - Italian Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

This isa wonderful restaurant that we have been many times; always with total satisfaction. We have brought many out-of-towners here who, without exception say that they wish that a restaurant like this was in their hometown, Food is great (especially the veal carlos), the staff is welcoming; nothing left to be desired. Best Italian restaurant on the North Shore. read more

My wife and I were at Carlos & Carlos in Wilmette last Saturday! The service was as usual over the top professional and welcoming! The food did disappoint us! I had a calamari appetizer which was very greasy and my main dish was a Salmon dish which was overcooked and very "swimming" in oil! We never had these these issues before at this establishment and we assume that they must have a new and inexperienced cook in the kitchen, read more

We have been here several times since they opened and keep coming back. It was crowded when we arrived at 7pm but that's a good thing. Several veal dishes are on the menu, all are great. Staff is attentive and accommodating. read more

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I came here for another early dinner because I was craving pasta and didn't want to drive into the city. TBH, I've driven down Green Bay Road so many times and never noticed this restaurant before. There's plenty of street parking, so that's a plus. When you're seated, the staff brings you warm bread and an olive spread. I will say that the service is impeccable. Everyone and their mom checked in on us, lol. Our entrées were really good too. The vesuvio potatoes are a must! I was just underwhelmed by the dessert. I ordered a tiramisu at their recommendation, and I thought it just had way too much of the cream filling in the layers. Still, I enjoyed the meal, and I had enough for leftovers! read more

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This place rocks. Their food is fantastic and the ratings are well deserved. Go, if you can get a reservation.

Always been a favorite for my wife and I on date night. Superb service great fish and pasta and fair pricing. Been goin there for years and never disappoints !!! read more

My husband and I arrived for our 7:00 reservation on Saturday, February 28. We were seated 45 minutes later. The owner spoke to us during dinner and again by telephone. NEVER apologized. Their policy is to make reservations with no cutoff. We have been regular customers for years. No more. Worth the wait? My husband's veal porterhouse was pure gristle. We will not return. read more

It was the first time at this location and I am so glad that I finally got to try Carlos & Carlos-Wilmette with my kids. I called a few days ahead to make a reservation for a Wednesday night dinner. There were a few parking spots on the street so we got lucky finding one. The place was pretty basic, nothing fancy, but it was clean. We were seated right away by the hostess and our server welcomed us with a warm greeting and smile. My kids wanted to try different things so we ordered various dishes: VESUVIO POTATOES- very satisfying side dish GNOCCHI DE CASA- The beef broth was so flavorful, the meat pieces were tender, and the gnocchi was cooked perfectly. BLACK PASTA - there were so many pieces of seafood! The pasta was done well, and the dish was great. RISOTTO GAMBERI- The huge pieces of shrimp were delicious. The risotto was cooked well. The overall dish was outstanding. CHOCOLATE MOUSSE- excellent. We really enjoyed our dining experience here. We had no complaints about all the dishes we tried and the service that we received was just as great. 'Til next time! read more

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We were here for a reception after a memorial Mass nearby. The staff was amazing. They worked very well together, helped, clear plates, even served a few people some food from the buffet, set up to get things rolling in the beginning. All of the dishes were very tasty and we were so impressed that we said we would return for dinner. It is right across from the train station and easily accessible. Plenty of free parking on the street in the evenings. read more

Carlos And Carlos - Italian Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

This place is awesome. Great staff, amazing food, and a pretty sweet ambiance. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available, and the food comes out pretty quick. I've been here multiple times, and haven't been disappointed once. The brothers who own this place are the kindest people as well. 100% would recommend. read more

Amazing experience, the atmosphere was family oriented, the food was outstanding, the service was top tier. I would definitely go back. thank you for a great time. read more

Carlos And Carlos - Italian Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

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Food is top-notch and wonderful! Service also is good. BUT ambiance needs serious help. Acoustics are terrible: you have to yell for people at your own table to hear you. Another issue: tables are practically on top of each other. Some might call that warm and comfy; I call it problematic. I'll use this restaurant for carry-out and while I still can eat outside, but that's it. read more

Outstanding service, great food and an ambience that reminded me of a French bistro (with Italian food). Can't wait to go back.

Had dinner with another couple. Two people had the beet salad and four different entrees. The food was excellent. Service was a little slow at first but was fine after that. As mentioned in other reviews tables a too close together and at peak times it is very loud. read more

Ordered carryout for a special occasion. Everything was super tasty with a wonderful variety. Service was friendly and our rather large order was packed up nicely. The space looks cozy and comfortable for dine-in. read more

The black pasta was one of the best pastas I've had in my life last night and eating leftovers today SO GOOD! So many shrimp and scallops- generous portion and the flavor was/is amazing! So so good! The restaurant itself is loud and a bit cramped but amazing food and service! read more

This is a comfortable, old fashioned place with a pleasant, casual vibe and amazingly swift service. The pasta registered high on the comfort food meter and the homemade dessert tray was another highlight. Entree portions could have been a bit bigger considering the price, however, and $9 for soup seemed too high. My wife has been going to this place since back in the days it was on North Avenue and then in Northfield. She said it hasn't missed a beat. Not necessarily a five-star place, but maybe 4.5 in part because of the ambience. We'll be back! read more

Hostess is terrible at keeping the flow of patrons moving. We had reservations for 7:00 on a Saturday. We got there at 6:45, and left at 8:00 without being seated. The hostess also penciled in a reservation before our's. I heard the food there was phenomenal, and drove from Grayslake to experience it. That won't be happening again. read more

One of the best Italian places I've ever been and one of the best pastas! A relatively petite venue but all the food we tried were amazing! read more

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The food is AMAZING the service is GREAT the ambient is charming, the waiters and busboy are amazing. I will come back. Thank you Carlos and Carlos! read more

Honestly one of the most delicious places I've eaten in my entire life. Firstly, the food was phenomenal. First time ever having gnocchi and it blew my expectations away. The risotto was cooked so well. It had great texture and had the perfect amount of sauce. Additionally, I was very full after the entrees but wanted to try some dessert. Again the food did not disappoint because the chocolate mousse was amazing. The food was great and was not overly priced. Secondly, the service was spot on. We never were out of bread nor water. The inside was nice and clean. Overall, the food was beautiful to see and taste. I would go back again in a heart beat. I recommend this place to anyone and everyone. read more

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Wonderful food wonderful service! Bread was piping hot! Had a special for the day Branzino and a white fish! Delicious. We will be back.

Finally Long lost brothers are back on the Northshore. First time here at this location and what a great food experience. We started with a good bottle of Chianti reserv followed by shrimp scampi appetizer along with the stuffed banana peppers what a treat. Of course the salads are included in any dinner entree and the dinner entrees were both amazing. Filet with mushroom bordelaise and the veal porterhouse with apricot sauce were both fantastic and cooked to perfection. Now talk about getting your monies worth is an understatement for what you get. Thank you guys for coming back and wish you great success. We will be considered regulars read more

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I had a delightful dinner on Valentine's Day at Carlos and Carlos. They decided to open on a Monday because of the special occasion and we were lucky enough to find a seat at the bar because we didn't have reservations. It was a wonderful evening talking shop with the owner and bartender. My husband and I each had different salads and my house salad was delicious. I so loved Seafood with homemade pappardelle noodles and mild white sauce that I enjoyed more the next day. One of my peeves is overcooked seafood and the shrimp scallops clams and mussels were perfect. What was also appreciated was the clams and mussels were substantial and that is unusual. Kudos to the chef! The broccoli and dried roasted tomatoes added such a colorful dish. Like a work of art! Desserts are heavenly but what is really sad is they are closed on Mondays and this is also my husband's only day off. We'll have to figure something out because I have to come back! read more

Carlos And Carlos - a plate of seafood and broccoli - Italian Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

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Incredibly kind and friendly server. Good was great too. Please come here. My family and I really enjoyed ourselves :)

Absolutely love this place. Food is made from scratch and you can taste it. You can't understand half the things the waiters say but it always works out in the end. read more

The service was prompt and friendly- albeit we went at 4:30 on a Thursday, so we were the only customers just as it opened. We went to celebrate a birthday and having passed by this place many times, it always seemed crowded & other reviews were good, I was hoping for better. Sadly, my sister and I were really disappointed. As mentioned, we went just after opening, so your thought would be the food will be fresh. It was not. The salad was the arugula & pear. Such a simple salad, I make it at home all the time. This was soggy AF, the pears cut into hunks & the overload of dried fruits in it, completely unnecessary and overly sweet, if only to compensate for the sloppy dressing. The mushroom risotto- meh. Perfect risotto is neither dry nor soupy. This was soupy and the mushrooms rubbery which leads me to- reheated with extra liquid thrown on it. My sister had the POLLO SOSTANZA. We were told that takes an extra 20 minutes- so not worth any wait. The chicken skin was simultaneously crispy & underdone, but if there weren't tiny bones we were picking out, there was fat and gristle. The sauce, absolutely underwhelming. The vegetables that came with it, laughable- half of a tiny potato, 4 green beans and some weird shredded beet clump. Needless to say we paid over $80 plus tip for garbage food. My sister mentioned that the chicken was inedible and it was clear we had taken very little of it or the risotto. Nothing offered, no complimentary dessert- just full bill. We took the leftovers for the dog- since we paid $100 -though we'll have to pick bones out. As for ambience, we entered and it was loud kitchen music playing with no attempt to turn it down & they sat us right by the kitchen window. Then piped music went to playing The Godfather theme while the kitchen staff music was playing loudly over it. The tables - well let's just say there are A Lot of them, a ridiculous number. The decor - a cross between Olive Garden's idea of Italy and My own 1990's Marshall's Italian waiter on a wall plate collection. This seems to be a newer building, so don't ask me how this place looks like it's stuck in 1997 (not in a good way) and generally looks tired and kind of dirty. Tip: a restaurant should look as nice during daylight as it does when it's dark. Again, the staff seemed nice and friendly, but this was definitely a meal I felt awful about parting with money. I think this place relies on a heyday reputation that is long gone & maybe a full bar, it's certainly not the food. read more

2 1/2 stars really. Food was excellent. Service was not great. A seasoned waiter, going through the motions, felt rushed, never really looked at us, hardly stopped walking when he came by our table. Atmosphere is ok, a little dated. Food was good though. read more