Not sure what happened to this place as it used to be very good. 4 people in our party and everyone's food was plain horrible. 2 of us ordered shrimp and calamari over pasta with house sauce. Shrimp was over cooked and like rubber, calamari was served whole not cut up and also like rubber. Sauce had a burnt taste. Had this dish many times before and always been good. Another person in our group ordered shrimp scampi and scampi sauce was like water and shrimp were like rubber. 4th person ordered a veil dish which was supposed to be in a white sauce but came with red sauce with cold mozzarella cheese. Also seemed like half the things on the menu were not available. Just a note that Angelo who usually cooks and basically runs the place was not there and whoever is now doing the cooking is not qualified. Total waste of money and never going back. read more

We were put in a booth that we had to squeeze into. As you passed the kitchen on the way to be seated nothing but dirty dishes. The waitress was nice and the food fair. No bread and loud bad wedding dance music the same loop over and over. Disappointed after what I read and heard. read more

I really enjoyed a dinner here on 8/24/24 the waitress was funny and polite. I ordered one of the specials, which was Gnocci, manicotti, cheese raviolis, and meatballs. I thought it was very tasty and a nice proportion. My dad had the same meal and said his wasn't very hot. It took an hour and a half to get our meal, which was our only complaint, mainly my dad I thought he was going to eat the table cloth. The decor was a retro style from the 80's Which I really enjoyed. I will definitely be back some day. read more

Carmella's happily accommodated our large family and served us a wonderful meal to celebrate a graduation. The service was wonderful and the food was immaculate. Carmela's was a wonderful family style dining experience in which they brought out several courses. We started our dining experience off with antipasto, freshly baked bread, and Caesar salad. Next came the main entrées which included several meat dishes, pasta dishes, and even a seafood dish. We concluded our dining experience with a platter of several desserts. Carmella's is very affordable and our family was very pleased with our experience. read more

See all

Pros: Food & Service Cons: Location, Ambiance Wife and I had dinner at Carmella's for the first time on a recent Friday evening. Yes, as noted in other reviews, the location is in a out of the way corner of Dunmore, however the good news is you don't have to worry about parking as there are several signs to direct you to a large parking area. There were no parking spots painted on the blacktop, so it was a bit concerning as how to park, but we lined up with other cars so no big deal. We made our way through the front entrance and were a bit confused as to which way to go. There are stairs leading up, a smaller dining area and bar to the right, and a large dining room/banquet room on the left. A man immediately met us and led us into the large dining room to a booth. First impressions for me concerned the lighting and decor. It was very dimly lit and furnishings and decorations appeared to be from the 1990's. There was some classic Sinatra and Dean Martin music playing which was nice. Although it was dated, everything seemed to be in decent condition and clean. We were given some menus that had seen better days. They were sort of tattered paper enclosed with staples in a clear plastic cover. A very friendly server greeted us, read the specials, and soon thereafter returned with a delicious warm fresh loaf of bread with butter. I had a few questions concerning menu items, as several of the items were "Market Price" and found out they were out of scallops and fillet. The menu was heavy with "Italian American" specialties such as baked pastas, meatballs, raviolis etc., but I was looking for something a bit more healthy. The stuffed long hot peppers (a special) I ordered arrived quite quickly. These were two large long hots stuffed with fine ground sausage and cheese topped with red sauce and more cheese. Spicy and excellent taste. This was followed by antipasto (for one) which included roasted red peppers, black and green olives, pepperoncino, prosciutto, salami, sopressata?, provolone and a small dish of balsamic dressing. Very tasty indeed and enough for two. My wife wanted to order a cocktail or beer and was hoping they had a drink menu, but none seemed to exist unfortunately. She decided to simply ask for a Corona, which they said they had, but seemed to have gotten a glass of Coors instead. Our entrees were Salmon, mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables and Ribeye steak, pasta with red sauce and mixed veg. Although my Salmon meal at first sight looked lack-luster it was absolutely delicious. The potatoes were creamy, a bit garlicky and fantastic, and the California mixed veg were cooked perfectly. My wife reported her steak was good, and really enjoyed her side of pasta's sauce. Carmella's sauce is excellent, and I'm sure it is great on raviolis etc.. Overall, service and food was very good, in fact we had two different servers, so I guess they must just share tables. There were only about 4 tables filled while we were there, but a larger group near us seemed to really be enjoying their pasta meals and looked like they had huge servings. They do charge more if you use a credit card, so bring cash to save money. 3/5 starts due to dim lighting, old furnishings, tattered./inaccurate menus and lack of drink menu. My guess is the only reason this place is still open in it's current state and location is the good food at a fair value. Some updates would go a long way and some new menus! If we return, we may ask to sit in the bar area, which looked really nice and inviting. read more

I must agree with some other reviews. I've lived in the area all my life and don't recall ever going here. It is in an unusual location and the interior is very vintage, but that sort of adds to the charm. If I were the owner, I might add something to soften the "din" of the openess, maybe some noise reducing ceiling panels, or perhaps a wall or two to segregate the booths from the center of the restaurant and I would add soft music (they eventually did and it was perfect). Service was excellent and the food was very reasonably priced and delicious. We came to use a restaurant.com certificate and it was a celebration. We ordered lobster bisque, clams casino for appetizers. Served fresh and nicely presented. Our main meals were two veal dishes and each one was excellent and nicely presented. During our meal, there was a group celebration utilizing the open center of the restaurant. That was a bit odd, but okay. You can tell that many diners are local and there is a lot of pride in this establishment. read more

See all

Slick sez Just good 'old-fashioned' food .. EVERYTHING on their menu is great AND the service is excellent. Do yourself a 'flavor n get there .. it's also easy on the pocketbook! read more

Incredibly long wait just for drinks, sat for an hour and a half and got a plate of bread and one order of drinks. Would not recommend.

Attended an after funeral luncheon recently held at Carmella's in Dunmore. Really hard to get to! Very crowded tiny dining room. Forget about using the ladies room if you use crutches or a walker because they are not in the least bit accessible, with stalls so small that only a child could fit. The ADA doesn't seem to apply here for bathrooms or parking. A waitress did her best, but could not accommodate the group of 45 or so. Dining room was nice, just very tight. No designated handicap parking, no designated parking spots at all, just park wherever. No disability entrance, just a back door that had to be unlocked. Ravioli was good, but they ran out for half the guests. read more

Was in a residential neighborhood so we were a little worried, we walked in and it was almost completely empty, so we got really worried, but we stayed and WOW REALLY REALLY good . We ordered the Veal and Shrimp Scampi, Eggplant Parm, and Mixed grill (chicken, scallops, filet) everything was awesome, the veal was perfectly cooked and sauced well, the eggplant parm was breaded well and stayed crispy even while covered in sauce (which was impressive), and the mixed grill was seasoned and cooked well. Everything was delicious. The portion sizes are very large and the prices are pretty cheap. Its a very homey vibe and the service was great, it felt like my aunt was serving us. 5/5 going back soon. read more

I haven't been to this restaurant in years and I'm so glad they are still there! Even during Covid they have an extensive size menu and many things that I would love to try. The prices are great and the food was excellent. We went once my husband and I, and then we took another couple and everyone enjoyed the meal. However if you're fussy about your cocktails, they don't get too fancy. We both got a martini but Don't ask for particular liquors. The atmosphere is old Italian and they probably have a lot of older patrons. But I think this could be a GEM for younger generations for great food at a great price and a fun atmosphere if you want some thing that doesn't look like those cookie cutter modern chain restaurants. And the chef has a very strong Italian accent. read more

The BEST! Fresh Italian menu, shipped from NY. Veal parmigiana was delicious.. fresh grated Romano pecorino..pasta always al dente...prices VERY reasonable...love that they play Italian music.. the main cook checked up on us,very polite. Make sure you save room for desert..fresh pastry's are amazing.. I highly recommend EVERYONE to put this place on your bucket list. read more

See all

I'll start off with saying - my husband and I are EXTREMELY picky about Italian food. Living in an area with hundreds of Italian restaurants within a 30 min drive from where we live, the possibilities are endless. We decided to try Carmella's last night. We haven't been here in at least 10 years and wanted to go somewhere different. This is our new go to place! The service was outstanding. The food wasn't rushed out and was paced well. Usually you leave somewhere feeling like a brick in your stomach - here we felt satisfied. The drinks were awesome. We both ordered Blood Orange Moscow mules and they were huge! We got 2 appetizers (stuffed mushrooms and lobster ravioli) - they were the test before the meal and they passed with flying colors. Then this wonderful round of warmed bread with olive oil and parmesan cheese came out and honestly, I would have been forever happy there. It was just...wow! Finally, our meals. I ordered the Chambord Chicken and the husband got a Filet w/shrimp scampi. My dish was amazing! The flavor was unlike anything I've ever had. The husband's steak was cooked perfect and was almost infused with the light scampi sauce (not heavy on butter like most scampis). Out of this world! I am glad we stopped in and will be back again and again. You won't be disappointed! Thanks for the great meal! read more

If you are looking for a throw back Italian restaurant with an out of the way "unique" location and great food, this is it. Don't judge a book by its cover must be applied here. From outside the place doesn't look like much. We sat in a dining room that could have been a movie set for My Big Fat Italian Wedding! Then the food started... We were given bread to start that was out of this world! For entrees I had the chicken francaise with the best alfredo sauce with penne I have ever had. My husband had the chicken cacciatore made with red sauce with penne. He enjoyed his dinner just as much as I did. The portions were so big that we will have at least one more full meal each. Would definitely eat here again if it wasn't 6 hours drive! read more

My wife and I visited Carmella's after receiving a discount coupon from restaurant.com. The location is not great (near a junk yard) , but the rest of our experience was fine. The decor reminded us of a wedding hall complete with chandeliers and swags hanging from the ceiling. The wait staff was friendly and efficient. Now for the important part. We both ordered the featured selections. I had veal Parmesan, and my wife had Italian roast chicken breasts over spinach and rice. The veal was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of cheese and sauce. The sauce was very tasty and not too salty. The chicken on the other hand was bland. My wife, who never adds salt to her food, found herself reaching for the salt shaker. A nice touch was the National bakery dinner rolls which came out warm and crusty. For dessert we shared a slice of German chocolate cake with coffee. Both were excellent. We will visit Carmella's again. Our experience was enjoyable, and the food excellent. read more

We had such a great experience at Carmella's, the food was spot on and our Server Angelo treated us like family, Coming from NYC born and raised we know How to Appreciate a great restaurant and this is one of them!! read more

THE BEST DINING EXPERIENCE ! The Food, Service & atmosphere in the restaurant WERE ALL A "10". This is a TRUE 5 STAR PLACE ! Don't let the outside location sway you. This is the Best Restaurant We Have Eaten at In This area & Everywhere... PERIOD! ALL THUMBS UP !! With the Quality of Food like MAGGIANOS ( in Philadelphia, King of Prussia , PA & Orlando, Fl. ****A1! BEST ! Appetizer was Great with Tomatoes & Fresh Mozzarella, Etc. The BEST Chicken Francaise I have ever had at a restaurant & my wife's Shrimp Scampi was GREAT ALSO with BIG Shrimp & both Really Nice Portions.. Cannoli for Dessert Was Also Spectacular , Very Fresh, Tasty & Crunchy! Tiramisu with Mascarpone Cheese & Coffee Liqueur.. Delicious !! I am from Bensonhurst in Brooklyn, NY. Grew up Eating my Italian Grandmother's GREAT FOOD and I am used to great restaurants, bakeries & deli's & I Cook. WE FELT LIKE FAMILY, there with our Server/ Cook, Angelo, Tending to our every Need & The Owner, , Marge taking the time to sit down at our table to Welcome Us & Talk with us. The Entire Staff there was Very Warm & Friendly. Great Restaurant Everyone Should Try read more

Ate here with a very large group (rugby team). Awesome service and food was an excellent value. Very thankful for this great spot.

Carmella's is one of many old-school Italian restaurants in Dunmore. I got a great deal on a gift certificate at a particular website and decided to check it out. The restaurant is poorly located in a tiny neighborhood well off the beaten path, wedged between a highway overpass and a junkyard. I was surprised to smell cigarette smoke in the entrance foyer, presumably from the bar area. The dining room, which is large and dated, was entirely too bright and too quiet. There were about three or four other tables occupied on a Friday evening. Unlike the other tables, my party of two was assisted by two friendly servers, which I found to be both accommodating and confusing, since they were clearly not working in concert. Menus - which were falling apart and had a weird, tacky page over-explaining a $1.00 surcharge on salads - had some really tasty sounding choices. Too bad that two of our entree selections were no longer being offered. Also, the menu claims that the desserts are homemade - however, this unfortunately applies only to the cannoli filling. Also, they "have no orange dressings," when asked whether French was offered. Onto the food: stuffed mushrooms were soggy but tasted OK. The house salads with the house dressing were exactly what a standard house salad should be - fresh, zesty housemade Italian dressing and no iceberg lettuce. My veal scaloppine, with mushrooms and a brandied cream sauce was good, but not great - same for the chicken Calabrese. Insisting that my dessert be made in house, we ordered a single cannoli to split - it was OK. We were actually brought several cannolis by our well-meaning server who didn't seem to understand the reason for splitting. On the other hand, I wouldn't be too happy paying $6 for a single, just-OK cannoli. On that note, the tab for an appetizer, two entrees and dessert - and no alcohol - came to almost $60. Not a very good value. Thankfully, I had the aforementioned gift certificate. You could spend less at AV. The value equation is the reason for two stars instead of three. I can see how some people might love Carmella's, and although I was satisfied overall, I probably wouldn't go back. It's not that they did anything especially badly, there are just too many other places doing more, better. read more

Food was awful and was cold. It was served at different times for our party, which was only two people. Service was extremely slow. There were four people total in the dining room including us...should have been a warning sign. read more

Place is great!! Coming from New York my entire life and eating in some of the best places back there this place has the best food and service by far each time we go there. A little pricer but you get what you pay for. If you want good food and service with a relaxing atmosphere give this place a shot well worth it. read more

Food was absolutely THE BEST that I have had in a long time. Savory tomato sauce, tender veal, colossal shrimp, delicious, Chef Angelo came out and chatted with us at the end of our meal. A little difficult to navigate to, don't get discouraged by the fact that it is under rte 81. It is worth the trek. Prices are reasonable, 4 meals, 2 appetizers and a large salad, drinks (no room for dessert) and generous gratuity $200. Would absolutely go back in a heartbeat! read more

Had a wonderful dinner here last night. My wife and I have been wanting to try Carmella's for some time now. Got there early, about 5:15 as we were near by conducting some business. As soon as we sat down our waiter was at our table with menus and taking our drink order. We both ordered a glass of wine and looked at an extensive menu. We started with appetizers, stuffed mushrooms and a cold antipasto for one. Both were delicious but beware, the antipasto for one was large enough for two. The antipasto was true Italian, capicola, prosciutto, provolone, red peppers, hot peppers and olives. It was GOOD. We were so full, didn't know if we would be able to eat our main course. Entrees arrived, my wife ordered shrimp scampi and filet mignon and I chicken breast in, I think, an apricot/orange cream sauce, sorry can't remember the name and it's not on the published menu. Well, my wife couldn't stop raving about her steak. It was tender as butter, cooked just right, with some of the scampi sauce drizzled on the steak, plain delicious. I had to have a taste, it was good. She also enjoyed the fresh shrimp but the steak was one of the best she has ever had. My chicken was absolutely wonderful. I have never had a dish like this, was delicious. Well as far as the food was concerned, some of the best in the area. Our waiter, Angelo, was super. He was constantly checking on us and was there for our every need. Had some short conversations with him and throughly enjoyed his comments and observations. By the way, he has been working here for 29 years. We had a throughly enjoyable evening. Don't like to give 5 stars, however, it deserved 5. It is a little out of the way and I 81 interstate overpass is directly above, no view, location is odd (looks like the restaurant was there before the I 81 overpass was built) but could not deduct a star as the food was incredible. Will be back, loved it. read more