We had a lovely couples dinner at Carmelo's. Great service and food and beer and apps and dessert!! A Covington gem! Highly recommended read more

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Having a birthday on Valentine's Day has always felt special to me. I love seeing couples celebrating their love all around me. As I get older, I try to love myself a little more, so each year I treat myself to something a little extra special. This year, that was Carmelo's. Honoring his Bisnonno, Carmelo Caserta, Chef Billy Grise & his longtime friend, Chef Mitch Arens, opened this slice of Sicily in 2024. They make you feel at home with a warm intimate atmosphere, top tier service & food so good you're sure to come back time & time again. My Server, Deron, was so friendly & helpful. His professionalism & expertise shined all throughout the evening! After explaining the full menu to & carefully selecting a signature cocktail for me, Carmie's Kiss, I selected the hand pulled Mozzarella served with Grilled Focaccia & Olive Oil, the savory & spicy Garlic Soup, the cheesy crispy Potatoes served with a Calabrian Chili Mayo, and the hearty indulgent Oxtail Ragu. Each bite I took whisked me away to another world filled with enticing scents, beautiful colors & bold flavors! Then, when I thought I was finished, Deron surprised me with a delicious slice of Tiramisu served with a delightful glass of Pinot Grigio, and it was absolutely heavenly!! I had such a lovely experience & I am so excited to go back again. My favorite bites were the deliciously perfect Potatoes & Oxtail Ragu! Whether you're celebrating a special day, going on a date night, or treating yourself, this is the perfect place to step away from your worries & celebrate life. Truly a 10/10 experience!! 434 Madison Ave, Covington, KY 41011 https://www.eatatcarmelos.com/ Instagram & TikTok: @biteswithmissb read more

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Exceeds expectations all around. Beautiful space, intimate and personal seating, and staff that clearly love their jobs. We did our research and took most of the recommendations of our fantastic server Harris. The Cauliflower flabbered my gasts it was so amazing. The crispness of the cauliflower, the bright spark of the lemon aoli, and the warmth of the toasted almond slivers come together in perfect bites all around. The Garlic Soup had five forms of garlic and transports you to a sixth dimension. Needs to be corrected in the menu description as it DOES NOT share well and if you love your table mates you will get individual portions. The Crispy Garlic Alfredo was so decadent and delightful. Definitely not for the faint of heart but a mound of pasta worth dying for IMO. The Tomahawk Pork was unfortunately our last dish and didn't get appreciated as it deserved due to logistics/stomach space. But it was perfectly crisped and ooeygooey on top with a vodka sauce with a kick. PS: we thought the experience was classy from the start but the labeling of the leftovers sealed the deal. Name and date, just their process not a special request from us. Cute since the Alfredo didn't last 24 hours. read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Classy leftovers - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Carmelo's offers an exceptional Italian dining experience in Covington. Every dish we had was unique and truly delicious, making it easy to understand why reservations especially weekend dinner hours are so limited. The warm welcoming atmosphere made the evening memorable. Special thanks to our server Nikki. Though she mentioned she was new, her gracious manner and thoughtful attitude elevated our visit. A lovely restaurant worth returning to. The only down side is that one of the shareable plates, Eggplant, was a little too salty to me. Cauliflower was a must to have!!! Too bad we did not have room for dessert as it was a late dinner. read more

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The ambience is spectacular. The food is amazing. I can't recommend it enough. Don't skip on the cauliflower. It was next level. read more

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Loved it! We sat at the bar and it was great. We loved the food and romantic ambiance. Second best pasta I've had in Cincinnati area, after Sotto. read more

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Recently came in for dinner. This is a recent addition to Covington, so had not been here before. The bar area looked very nice, and the overall vibe of the restaurant is nice. Not too fancy, but a nice intimate ambiance. I tried their garlic soup for an appetizer. Excellent! The garlic doesn't overpower the soup, while it gives a lot of flavor. For my entree I tried their tomahawk fried pork. Think bone-in schnitzel covered with vodka sauce and cheese. The pork was very tender, and this was delicious! Opted for a side of noodles Alfredo. These were very good also. I ended my dinner with a slice of their tiramisu. I'll be honest, I've had better tiramisu. It was fine, but not on par with my entree. Our server was very good, with excellent drink recommendations for our party, and kept things coming out in a timely manner. Overall, a solid addition to the northern Kentucky dining scene. read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Tomahawk fried pork with noodles Alfredo on the side. - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

OH MY! I cannot believe this place has been around for two years, and I'm just now eating here! EVERYTHING was perfect! We requested a small booth in the bar, which is beautiful - the whole restaurant is gorgeous. Old wood and tiles, and huge windows and tall ceilings. Warm and comfortable. Our server was Harris, and she was super nice and knowledgeable. And, every employee I spoke to was smiling, joking, seemed happy. That tells me all I need to know about a restaurant. You could tell this is a nice place to work, and if the employees are happy, it will be a good experience. As a vegetarian I came in with fingers crossed hoping that "vegetable bolognese" would mean vegetarian, and it did! That's not a choice I get very often (ever), and it was spectacular. Their red sauce is delicious and just a tiny bit spicy. It was such a treat! My friend got the Peas and Pesto, and that will be what I try next (minus the pancetta). My "not very, only just a little" dirty martini with Wheatley Vodka (made in Ky) was perfect with cheese olives. We had the Mozzarella Cheese starter too, and it was unlike any I've had anywhere. But it's easy to see why it's the most ordered item on their menu. The gelato selection is nice, and it's locally made. There are really interesting bars a few steps away and a very cool alley artwork that even kids would enjoy. A great little piece of Covington! read more

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My son took me to Carmelo's for an early Mother's Day dinner. We found the food to be exceptionally delicious. One dish I'd never had nor heard of it before was the Garlic Soup! Yum! Their polenta was topped with a poached egg, pasta sauce and pecorino - wow! Lasagna - fantastic! Definitely will go back there again! You will NOT be disappointed. read more

Had a stellar dinner at Carmelo's with my boss. Honestly, the whole experience was spot on from start to finish. Great cozy atmosphere. You have to try the meatballs and the green beans, both were packed with flavor and such a good way to kick things off. For the main course, the red snapper was excellent, but the oxtail pasta was next level. Seriously, one of the best pasta dishes I've had in a long time. Also, big shoutout to our server, Kristen. She was super kind, attentive, and really knew the menu inside and out. Her recs were perfect. If you're looking for a solid Italian spot in Covington, this is it. I'll definitely be back! read more

Celebrated my son's birthday at Carmelo's. The decor in the building provided a cool atmosphere. Exposed brick across multiple buildings that made it surprisingly spacious. The service was very good and the appetizers were our favorite. We chose the cauliflower, polenta, and the mozzarella cheese as well as a Caesar salad. The cauliflower was the best. It was surprisingly crispy and a good flavor. The polenta was good, but the egg was slightly overcooked and it was salty. Salad was an average good Caesar. Finally the cheese was excellent. The bread was really good and the cheese pulled into the bread was an experience. We then moved to the lasagna and the oxtail ragu and a side of meatballs. All were good dishes. The lasagna was a spicy vegetarian option. We liked the ragu the best. Overall a good experience and will come back read more

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Wonderful experience here tonight! Showed up with a 7:15 reservation a little bit early, but they ended up seating us on time! Our waitress was wonderful! We started with the cauliflower which was fried to perfection, shared a spectacular cesar salad that had the most delicious dressing, and each of our entrees. Their chicken was tender, juicy, with a crispy skin that was to die for. We didn't have room for dessert, but please give this spot a try if you're in town! read more

It just wasn't that great. Decent service. Spaghetti and meatballs I would never order again. Cauliflower is great and tiramisu 4/5. Wished for more read more

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We have another amazing Italian restaurant, and it lives up to the hype! Everything we had was so great, and I think Carmelo's is up there with Pepp and Delores. The ceasar salad was so punchy and cheesy, highly recommend that and the mozzarella to start. The pasta portions are plentiful, and the layered lasagna was a hit. The ambiance was great as long and the service , we would love to return. read more

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

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My wife and I have wanted to come here for some time so we made a reservation for our first year wedding anniversary--it did not disappoint! The Appalachian Sour was fantastic and the house red gravy served with the sourdough was addictive. I also loved my wife and I's pastas. Al was a kind and attentive server with great recommendations. We will be back soon! read more

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We went to Carmelo's for our wedding anniversary and we were delighted. The restaurant was ambiance was casual and lively. The food was excellent! I had eggplant Parmesan and my husband had the spaghetti with meatballs. The best part was our service. Our waiter was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. It was a wonderful experience and I can't wait to go back. read more

Delicious mozzarella and focaccia. Ordered again to have with the take home. Shared the Caesar Salad and dessert. The Lamb Sausage was mild and did not over power the dish. If I lived in Covington, Carmelo's would be a weekly dinner. read more

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I have heard great reviews, and I've come to agree with all of them. Dinner was exceptional. We dined on a crowded Saturday night. Parking was right across the street and the building had older charm with romantic vibes. We started with the Italian 75 and it was perfect. We ordered the mozzarella with focaccia and the Caesar salad to split for appetizers. Both were delicious. For entrees we ordered shrimp pasta, oxtail ragu, and the redfish. The pasta was cooked al dente and the shrimp pasta had great spice. The oxtail ragu was rich and comforting. The fish, however, was the STAR of the show. I WILL come back for the fish. 10/10. Flavor and texture were absolutely on point. Wine selection was great for those who love Italian reds. For dessert we tried the Budino and the tiramisu. Both were pretty good. I think some more variety on their dessert menu would be my only suggestion. (There are so many wonderful Italian desserts and ingredients to utilize). The after dinner espresso martini was made perfectly. I will be back to try more. Highly impressed. Service was also very good for a busy night. If you haven't been yet or have been unsure, GO! Thanks for a great evening, Carmelo's. read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Budino, espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Went to Carmelo's for the first time tonight and it exceeded expectations. We had been wanting to go for a while now and got a last minute reservation. They sat us slightly later than our reservation. Time in the manager made it a point to give us a free appetizer, which was not necessary, but showed they take great care of customers. Each food item was better than the last. I recommend anyone and everyone go check out Carmelo's. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Was finally able to snag a Saturday night reservation! The staff were friendly and attentive and the food was delicious. We had a wonderful experience! The lasagna and meatballs were our favorite. We'll be back with friends next time. read more

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Loved the ambiance. Harris was an over the top amazing server. one of the best ever! The lasagna and green beans were to die for! The mushroom marsala was okay but i sure wish they made our favorite, chicken marsala. The mozzarella bread was amazing! And the tiramisu was undoubtedly the best ever! Eric poured us all a little bubbly cheer for a toast before dinner that was very good....better than most champagnes i have had and lucky for me, three of the people with us gave me theirs!! My only complaint, and why I didn't give 5 stars is the chairs. Absolutely horrible and so uncomfortable! Okay, we are old. I know that! But I would think even young people like a well cushioned seat and back and one that doesn't feel like it is going to slip right out from underneath you and with a bigger seat...I definitely will go back...with my seat cushion and ask for Harris read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Paul Amman, Barb Ammann, Roseanne Klahm, Chuck Klahm, Kathy Machenheimer & Tim Machenheimer - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

I've been dying to dine here. I love the little nooks and rustic modern decor. The service was excellent and very warm. We both had cocktails and enjoyed them. Started with soup, mozzarella with grilled focaccia. The soup was good. Cheese and bread delicious. I do prefer grilled vs the standard that seems to be, charred. I really do not like the burned taste with the bread. Many places are doing this and I realize this is the way, I'd just like it grilled as in grilled cheese preparation. We split the ceasar, loved it. One had spaghetti and one the oxtail pasta. I loved the sauce on the spaghetti, had a little kick. Although my friend felt her pasta was a little over. My oxtail pasta was good but I wish it had the same kick as the spaghetti. We both enjoyed but we were not blown away. I'd most definitely come again. read more

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Fantastic all around! Some of the best service you'll find anywhere, and the ambiance and food were exceptional as well. The Caesar Salad was delicious and plenty to split between the two of us. We also ordered the Garlic Alfredo, Tomahawk Fried Pork, and a side of Potatoes (don't sleep on the potatoes!). For dessert, we split the Budino and Tiramisu, which were both delicious as well. We will be back! read more

Overall, our experience was great with room for improvement. The space itself is beautiful with soft lighting and upscale decor. Perfect atmosphere for a special occasion or date night. The entire restaurant was busy and packed full, and we arrived without a reservation, but we were able to find seats at the bar quickly. Our bartender was fantastic throughout the night -- offered great suggestions from the menu, knowledgeable, and checked in on us at appropriate intervals. We started with the cauliflower for apps, and it was delicious. Perfectly crisp, nutty and savory, and came out blazing hot. We had the lasagna and mushroom pasta for mains. The portion sizes were generous. The lasagna, unfortunately, fell short of expectations. The sauce was good, but the noodles themselves were thick and overcooked (mushy texture), and was lacking any distinctive flavor within the layers. On the other hand, mushroom pasta was delicious -- on the verge of being cooked past al dente, but the mushrooms and cream sauce worked so well together. Finished the night with Tiramisu. Again, portion size was generous (good to share between two people). It wasn't too sweet and the texture was good, but there is a bitterness that overtook most of the dish. I can see how some people would enjoy the bitterness, but it was a bit strong for our tastes. All in all, positive experience. Worth trying if you're in the area! Recommend the cauliflower and mushroom pasta. read more

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

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Finally made it in to try Carmelo's and it did not disappoint. Our service was fantastic and the food was on point. Love the rustic interior with various art work. Can't wait to come back and try new dishes. read more

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Italian is my favorite food, and so when a new restaurant opened in Covington, we knew we had to try it out. The vibe is very classy and quite nice (but maybe a tad too dim). We ordered the potatoes for an appetizer and the Oxtail Ragu and Mushroom Marsala with a side of focaccia to--as our server said--soak up the remnant sauce from our pasta. The garlic confit crispy potatoes came out a bit later, accompanied by a Calabrian Chili Mayo (I LOVE Calabrian chilis). It was so good. Spicy and creamy, but calabrian chilis add a touch of sweetness and richness that made every bite exquisite. Then the pasta arrived. My wife and I are prone to splitting/sharing our dishes, but we know what we prefer, so I dove into the oxtail ragu and she took the mushroom marsala. And we both really enjoyed them. We swapped to try the other's dish, and... Found that we both liked the other person's dish better. The oxtail ragu was meaty, salty, and hearty, really good stuff. But the mushroom marsala was--and I don't say this lightly--perfectly seasoned. Tons of herbs, a flavorful creamy sauce, and tons of mushrooms. the focaccia strips were also very good. This will likely be our go-to Italian spot in the future. Not the cheapest option out there, but not breaking the bank either. A nice spot for a date night. read more

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Fabulous service in a great atmosphere. Started with the mozzarella which was delicious. I had the eggplant parm which was the best I've ever had! Ended with budino and latte. We will definitely be back!! read more

Finally made it here and it's so good My pictures didn't turn out very well This place is phenomenal Our service was exceptional Keshaun was our server and we were friends by the end of the evening he was a friend Now the food Oxtail Ragu oh my goodness So good so tender My hubby got spaghetti and meatballs Our friends got the starter of mozzarella and the lasagna One pound of lasagna crazy This place is wonderful read more

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We went to celebrate my mom's 76th birthday. No surprise, It was fantastic. Morgan, our server was so attentive and competent. We of course, had the mozzarella...it was fantastic, but the focaccia helped make it! Also at the table, which we all took bites out of, was the garlic soup, which was more complex tasting, than I could imagine. The meatballs, were delectable. Apparently the oxtail ragu is a favorite. The meat melted in your mouth with a sauce that complimented it, but didn't take away from the star. The 1 lb lasagna... obviously enough for many days of leftovers. Finished up with the most amazing tiramisu and espresso martini. I was surprised by how large the restaurant is and Beautiful. The architecture of the brick and arches are breathtaking. Definitely make a reservation. You will not be disappointed. read more

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5/5 recommend this cute gem in Covington! I recently visited Carmelo's for a girls night out and I'm glad I did. Everyone loved their meals and drinks. I tried the Oxtail Ragu with gluten free noodles, cauliflower and calamari. All of it was sooo good. This was some of the best cauliflower I've had and the sauce on it was a hit! My friend tried the Caesar salad which she loved as well but was disappointed that she couldn't add a protein to the salad. That would be our only recommendation if additions are made to the menu in the future. We failed to make a reservation but were quickly sat at the bar and all of the servers were super engaging and fun to talk to! We will definitely be returning! read more

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Our experience at Carmelo's was unfortunately horrible; from the collective poor attitudes from everyone from the hostess to the busers and the food was just ok; particularly one of their signature dishes = Oxtail Ragu. Our biggest beef is how terrible they were at accommodating a group of only eight which isn't small, but isn't big either. They tried to separate us into two tables despite having plenty of room to create one table. It was utterly ridiculous. I understand needing access and pathways to serve and in case of an emergency; but, neither were hampered by the slight reorganization; in fact, the flow was even better after. The waitress was good in some respects; but, bad in others. For example, she asked if anyone had any allergies or food issues which was excellent, but when someone shares an issue don't dwell on it. read more

I was really disappointed with this visit for a few reasons. First our server was pretty distant, didn't check up on us, or give us recommendations for the night. We were seated almost immediately with our reservation which we appreciated, and the place was full on a Monday night. After already placing our order our server informed us that the fried pork was 86'ed for the night (don't know why we didn't lead with that). The mozzarella was good, but it could definitely use a little salt- the focaccia itself was amazing. The garlic alfredo was super buttery tasting which turned me off, although the chili flakes were a good addition to the dish. I was BUMMED to find out you couldn't customize the meals- you couldn't substitute a sauce (red sauce for spicy vodka), and you couldn't add protein to your pasta. The spaghetti and meatballs dish was good, but the meatball (singular) was bland and left what was similar to like a film on the roof of my mouth, which maybe it was just oily? The sauce itself was creamy and really delicious I will give them that. I will say you receive a generous amount of food with each dish. The space is really nice, but personally don't recommend this place. I was super bummed to be in town and trade my favorite (pepp & dolores) to try this place- don't think I'll be back. read more

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This is one of the best restaurants I have eaten at in the Cincinnati area! Went for a work dinner, and the table ordered mozzarella and the cauliflower for starters. Both were exceptional! I ordered the garlic soup. It was transcendent! This is a must if you go to Carmelo's. For the entree, I had the crispy garlic Alfredo. It was also fantastic. The person sitting next to me had the oxtail ragu, tried a bite, melts in your mouth. Person on my other side had the red fish. Simple in the presentation, but delicious. Also at the table, someone ordered the eggplant parm. They cut this in wedge shape and it was the largest order I have seen. I also tried this dish and again excellent! With as much as was served, we passed on dessert. Don't just walk to Carmelo's...run! read more

Just loved our experience which was delicious and filling. They accommodated my vegan meal request with a pasta and vegetable dinner. The chef even sent out two different small bowls to complement my meal. The herbal mixture and red pepper sauce were not needed as my meal was very flavorful. I did try them and loved them. My boyfriend got spaghetti and a meatball dish. The dish was topped with lots of finely shredded cheese. He commented on the light red sauce as unique and he couldn't quite determine if he enjoyed it or not. Finally decided it was just different than what he's had before. We felt like the meal needed bread. We looked on the menu but it wasn't available to be ordered and none was offered. I highly recommend making it an option to order if not complimentary. Just needed it. Our server Kristen was very good and explained the menu to us. The atmosphere is lovely and it appeared to have been that way for quite sometime but in a conversation with one of the owners we knew that it was band new. Well done. Highly recommend and we will definitely return. Perhaps they will expand the menu and offer bread for order as an option. Thank you for a great meal. read more

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We had an incredible time eating at Carmelo's. The vibe was warm, cozy, and intimate. Our waiter did an excellent job describing the menu to us, and after hearing about the oxtail ragu, I decided to try it. I was so glad that I did! The meat was tender, the noodles of the pasta were the perfect consistency, and the sauce pulled everything together. We also tried the cauliflower appetizer which I would definitely order again. If you like chocolate, then you should try the budino for dessert. It was decadent and topped off our meal perfectly! read more

INCREDIBLE. GO. NOW. Food. Drinks. Service. Ambiance. 10/10 Literally nothing bad can be said about this place. I can't wait to come back. Drove all the way from INDY to experience. read more

The Redfish: When simplicity meets perfection... I never eat the skin.... It was cooked so perfectly with a light crisp!!! I ate the skin! read more

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Had a top tier dinner last night at Carmelo's. The vibes are top level. Someone has invested a large sum of money into this place. The restaurant is quite large, much bigger than I expected. Beautiful decor with good music playing over the system. service was attentive without being annoying. Had their take on a Negroni to drink and it was gin forward and bitter in a nice way. Started with the mozzarella and it was fantastic. The bread they serve with it takes it over the top. The garlic soup is unlike anything I've ever had and I don't know of anywhere else in Cincy that makes something like it. Great textures and the chili crisp on top is a great touch. Not spicy. The pastas were rich and delicious. I loved all the parm on top of everything. Can't wait to go back. read more

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I really enjoyed my first dining experience here. The space is beautiful and divided which keeps the ambience delightful and not too loud. After planning to only have an entree so I could enjoy my full meal, I was sucked in to every course because... FOMO. The mozzarella appetizer had a fantastic seasoned bread. The garlic soup did not disappoint. I tasted my friends green salad which had a tangy well paired dressing. The star was my 101 layered lasagna which had a surprising and welcome KICK to the sauce (i took half home by this point). And then the milk gelato to round out the meal was the perfect choice for me. I was really in the moment and do not have any photos to share. Sometimes you gots to keep your phone off the table and just enjoy the meal, the space and, your company:) read more

We made a reservation through Resy and went on a Tuesday evening. The restaurant is beautiful and really adds to the Italian experience. My absolute favorite was the cauliflower shareable. I can't wait to go back and order one just for myself. ;) The 101-layer lasagna didn't disappoint either. If that sounds like a lot of layers you should think of it more like a lasagna croissant of pasta. It wasn't heavy, but it is a LARGE portion. The Oxtail pasta was a welcome option to short ribs. A bottle of Cottanera Rosato is a must for your meal. Don't forget to top it all off with some Carabello's espresso(we opted for decaf) and another large portion, the tiramisu. read more

Carmelo's Restaurant - Great ambiance - Italian Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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