Amazing! Best Italian food around. Ashamed we never tried this place until now. Pasta, bread, drinks, salad....all excellent with fair portions and fair pricing. Very small and intimate with friendly and authentic staff. Yes, they tell you there is an hour time limit but we stayed over an hour and no one told us or pressured us to hurry up and leave. In fact, or bar tender said to take our time and asked numerous times if we wanted anything else. And it was on a VERY crowded Valentine's Day night. The people who are complaining about being told to leave after an hour are almost certainly pretentious jerks who think they can just sit at a table and talk and not order any drinks or food. When your meal is over...it's time to leave. We never felt rushed or pressured the entire time we were there and had and amazing and relaxed night with excellent food and drinks. read more

I stopped in solo on a Saturday evening, fresh off a family dinner while they enjoyed a show, with one singular mission: to try the Spicy Sicilian cocktail. As someone who considers a well-constructed savory cocktail one of life's finer pursuits, I was genuinely excited. The hostess was lovely, warm even, but informed me that without a dinner reservation, the bar wouldn't be available until 9 pm. I was not welcome to simply sit and have a drink. I asked -- politely, I'd like to think -- whether an exception might be made. I was only in town for the weekend and promised that I could be in and out in twenty minutes but the answer was an unambiguous 'no'. There's something particularly unwelcoming about turning away a solo guest who has sought you out specifically for something only your restaurant offers. I came because Carmine does something nobody else does, at least nowhere I've found. And I was unceremoniously turned away with nothing to show for it. I understand the math. A Saturday evening at a restaurant like this lives and dies by full dinner covers, and a solo drinker nursing a cocktail for twenty minutes does not move the needle. But hospitality, real hospitality, has never been purely a numbers exercise. The irony is that I adore this restaurant. The food is spectacular, full stop. Had I possessed a second stomach, I would have happily demolished the Tonno Royale Spaghettini without a moment's hesitation. Carmine has earned genuine loyalty from me as a diner. But a Spicy Sicilian remains, for now, on my list of unfinished business -- and that is a small, specific disappointment I wasn't expecting to leave with. read more

If the Soup Nazi was a restaurant. You have to eat in 60 mins You have to have food to drink at the bar. Don't like your food, you're welcome to pay for something else. All set Carmine. read more

We took a little weekend trip up north & stopped at Carmine Newburyport in Newburyport on the way to use one of the many gift cards I won in a contest. First of all, Newburyport is an adorable coastal town with tons of great foodie options, & Carmine is definitely at the top of the list. We were greeted by hostess Matty, whose enthusiasm truly made our night. We started with cocktails & the meatball appetizer--the sauce was perfect, & the added ricotta really took it over the top. I had the eggplant parmesan with fusilli, & he ordered the fettuccine in a pomodoro cream sauce with sausage, scallops, shrimp, & chicken. The pasta was perfectly al dente-- just right. For dessert, we finished with a pistachio martini, which was the perfect ending to the meal. All in all, a fabulous visit with amazing food & great service. Highly recommend! Make a reservation this place gets busy. read more

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What a great date night option while we were in Newburyport! I'm a sucker for homemade pasta so we made sure to make reservations ahead of time as they fill up quickly! Just note that the reservations are time limited - for 2 people they give you an hour, we did our homework and made sure to know exactly what we wanted prior to going. The place is small and they try to maximize every spot so you might feel a tad bit cramped. We were seated at a high top table, not ideal but it had to suffice. Our server was excellent - all smiles and super friendly as well as the front of house. We put in our drink and entree orders promptly - we were asked if we wanted bread (I didn't realize it was not complimentary, $5 for the bread and oil). But it was absolutely delicious and worth the $5. The meals came out FAST and they were piping hot! I went with the Chicken Vodka. It was cooked nicely and the pasta was perfect. Although the vodka sauce was good - it isn't the best I've had. I actually preferred the mister's red sauce better. Just note the place does not offer dessert (prob to make the reservations more efficient) but there are a few ice cream shops open late for those sweet cravings - which is what we did after our meal. We really did enjoy our meal and I think our server was impressed that we were as quick as we were with our time there. We didn't want to be the reason there's a holdup with the next reservation so although we didn't feel rushed - we also went in with a plan already. If in the area - we would def come back. read more

Carmine - Bread Service - Italian Near Me - Newburyport, Massachusetts

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The absolute best restaurant penne alla vodka is amazing the ambiance is a good vibe and the server are very personable I've been going for a few years and the quality is very consistent. The food overall is well balanced with flavors. read more

In a word awesome. Particularly being Italian American I am very picky of what I eat. I went there with a group of about six every single meal that we got was better than the next, the veal was tender as could be.. A couple of my friends got the Tuna which was incredible also.It was very busy and quite noisy to be honest, but that's expected for a place like that overall I give it a 10 out of 10 service and food was incredible. read more

Had a perfect meal today at Carmine's. My wife had the classic spaghetti and meatballs. Meatballs were soft, moist and delicious. I had veal parm and fusilli. The sauce was great a little tangy with crushed red pepper. The veal cutlet was cooked perfectly. Love this place. Wait staff were attentive and funny. read more

Carmine - Spaghetti and meatballs. Veal parm with fusilli. - Italian Near Me - Newburyport, Massachusetts

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Food was excellent along with the service. Ambiance was outstanding.Will definitely go back.

No surprise, the owner is related to Carmelina's in the north end because the food was equally divine here! They know flavors!! The food was phenomenal. I really enjoyed my veal and vodka sauce this mussels and beet salad. Everything was first class. Carmine is small, but I had a very early reservation and did not feel rushed and enjoyed my meal. My husband ordered the short rib and that was delicious! Will come back here again! read more

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We enjoyed Carmines. It's warm, cozy, nice ambiance. Love the exposed brick. Just feels good sitting in there. Our meal was delish. Shared arugula salad to start. Was plenty for two. For mains, we had the scallop fra diavolo and the veal with vodka sauce. The scallops tasted very fresh and the fra diavolo had a nice kick. The veal was pounded thin, nice crust, very tasty sauce and pasta. Hearty fare. Our waitress was lovely. My only dings: * very loud. They could use a little acoustic dampening. * QR code menus. I'm neither old nor old fashioned. I simply don't like sitting at the dinner table staring at a menu on a phone. It's a nice restaurant. Get some real menus. All in all a good dinner. I'd return. read more

WOW what an amazing meal we had here. My new favorite Italian restaurant. Started with mussels in the wine sauce and Caprese salad. Mussels were cooking perfect and the sauce OMG get extra bread to dip in that. The pasta dishes were delicious as were the cocktails. Service also 5/5. Can't wait to go back. They don't have dessert but do yourself a favor and get an espresso martini - best I've ever had. read more

Carmine - Lobster ravioli - Italian Near Me - Newburyport, Massachusetts

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Awful experience even though the food was good, 60 minutes to have your drink and eat your appetizer and your dinner entree. After 60 minutes you get bounced out of the restaurant. Hilarious rule to have at a restaurant. Ive been to restaurants that have 90 minute and 2 hour policies but 60 minutes is just ridiculous. Be aware if you go to this place that they will make you uncomfortable if you aren't eating fast enough. The time limits are on the website which unfortunately I didn't read... my bad. Read the website so you know in advance what you are getting into. 60 minutes, then the door. read more

Our first time here was outstanding beginning to end. Bartender from the second we sat down was so pleasant and friendly! Manager (maybe head chef?) came and chatted with us, turned out he and my husband knew a lot of the same people from their home towns. They custom made a meal for my husband with no problem. The frutti di mare was incredible and the homemade pasta that went along with it was cooked to perfection. Love the atmosphere and the brick work! We will be back! read more

The good, the bad & the ugly The good - second time at Carmine with a couple who go semi-regular. Lively spot with a rough 90-minute reservation expectation. Drinks were got, appetizers of mussels & meatballs were great. Server recommended a good bottle of Cabernet. Braised Rib, Chix Parm & the Veal special were solid. The bad - 10 minutes into the appetizers, we were rapidly presented with two out of our four entrees (veal & chix parm). The food runner stood as we juggled plates & consolidated items to allow him to drop off. It took an additional 5 minutes or so for the other two entrees (ribs & clams) to appear, so clearly the timing was off somewhere. We joked that we may have gotten another tables dinner. My wife got the $36 clam special but after a taste or two, she said it was very salty. The other couple tried it & agreed. For probably only the third time in 28 years of knowing her, my wife told the server that she couldn't eat her meal & he offered to have it remade. My wife said the taste had put her off the dish & wanted the Veal special as an alternative. By the time the alternate came, us three had basically finished up, so a box & the bill was asked for. The $36 overly salted clams remained on the bill. We asked the server why so, and if he could remove it. He said he couldn't as my wife had refused to allow them to remake the overly salted clams & had ordered the alternate veal dinner but retreated to ask the chef. The ugly - Our server didn't come back, but the 'manager' came over asking what the issue was. We restated ours & he basically told us that if the restaurant wasn't allowed to remake the overly salted clams, we must pay for the inedible salted clams. Having now spent over $400 on a couple's dinner, we asked for a revised bill but were refused. At no time was the typical comp in a similar situation or an apology offered, nor an attempt made to placate the situation. Customer service was clearly not on top of the mind as the conversation became heated & loud. If it is indeed restaurant policy to remake a dish the customer feels they cannot eat due to its taste, the server should have been crystal clear on this $36 dish. Knowing that, my wife most likely would have not eaten at that point. Food runners should know to peak at a table before dropping entrees, clear off apps etc. The manager needs some hospitality classes & learn to have some humility while dealing with customers. Instead of the 'like it or leave' attitude, Google the blameless apology. Our last time eating there. read more

Carmine - Italian Near Me - Newburyport, Massachusetts

How good is this place? So good we came back 2 nights in a row. I've been reviewing Italian restaurants for years, this might be the best I've ever reviewed. Photos from back to back nights. Started with the garlic shrimp and bread served in the pan. Simply out of this world. Pasta was epic. We had catchio pepe and rigatoni Gorgonzola . Reservations are recommended but the second we eat at the bar. Bartender was knowledgeable and friendly our waiter from the night before recognized us from the night before and stoped by to say hi. So genuine "so glad you came back to visit us". All the staff acted like owners making sure everything was special for their guests. We enjoyed sitting at the bar the second night to watch the action in the kitchen. Tight quarters with bursts of flames. Amazing read more

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Beautiful indoor atmosphere and patio dining. We got in with no reservation at 5 but they get busy real fast so reservations after 6 are needed. Our server was great and kept up with drinks and checking in. The food was delicious, very fresh and clean. They do lunch on Saturdays but need reservations to go. Highly recommend read more

Carmine - Arugula salad with grilled shrimp - Italian Near Me - Newburyport, Massachusetts

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I recently went to Carmelita's for the first time and LOVED it. When I heard Carmine opened in Newburyport, I knew I had to check it out. My family and I went for my mom's birthday and we had a great time! Everyone loved their food, especially the chicken parm and penne alla vodka. The crazy chicken alfredo was really good, but not quite on Carmelina's level IMO. This is definitely my new go to spot in Newburyport! read more

Carmine - crazy chicken alfredo - Italian Near Me - Newburyport, Massachusetts

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We recently had dinner at Carmine in Newburyport, MA- Located off of State St. in downtown Newburyport, this is a very nice but small spot. Seating is very tight, but it works. Our server was fantastic- friendly and attentive. The drinks were delicious- the Luxardo Old Fashioned was perfect. The server was also super accommodating when asked about non-alcoholic options. The food was phenomenal. Highly recommend the Eggplant Parm appetizer. The Crazy Alfredo is unique but delicious- has a heat scale from 1-4 that you can choose from. Options 3+4 are made with habanero, and #3 was no joke, but it was delicious. The homemade pasta in it was incredible. All in all, a fantastic meal. Would highly recommend! read more

We really enjoyed our meal at Carmine in Newburyport, this is a sister restaurant to Carmelina's in Boston's North End. The menu is classic old school Italian with hefty portions. A few things to know that may put some folks off. First, this is not a leisurely meal. They state on their website that they are high volume, and two persons are allocated about an hour for dinner. Dessert and coffee are not offered. Finally, they do add a 3% fee to compensate the back of the house, this is in addition to any tip you want to leave your server. We knew all of this going in, and so were not upset. Service here is friendly and fast, but honestly we were never felt rushed. Food was very good. We tried the garlic shrimp "in the pan", and they were great. I had to ask for more bread as the sauce was so good, I wanted to mop it all up with more bread! For an entree, I tried their bolognese. Very good, rich and hearty dish. A little odd that they added a meatball and sausage on top of the meat sauce, but those were also tasty. Cocktails to start were great as well. We thought this was certainly some of the better Italian food in the area. read more

Carmine - Pasta Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Newburyport, Massachusetts

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Certainly not going back with a time limit if 60 minutes for my wife and I. A relaxing drink, an appetizer and entree doesn't add up to an hour especially for the top dollar you pay...there's LaRosa's read more

well went with my friend to this restaurant first time saturday afternoon, after eating and having a drink we wanted a expresso martini....waitress informed us we needed to get up because there was a reservation at out table keep in mind it is 3pm...a very nice couple at the bar said here take our seats to enjoy your cocktail well the waitress informs that we cant sit at the bar for a DRINK ONLY...strange we just ate here paid out tab now we are basically getting kicked out...I have to say thank you to this place because 3 other parties heard this and walked out with us we went next door and had such amazing afternoon none of us will ever go back to this place. read more

Deliciously Mediocre The food was good--technically well-prepared--but lacked the depth of flavor you'd expect at this price point. Every dish seemed to be missing that final touch of seasoning or creativity that turns a meal into an experience. The menu was also surprisingly limited, and to our disappointment, had no dessert options at all. Service, on the other hand, was excellent. The staff were attentive, professional, and clearly well-trained. Unfortunately, the night ended on a sour note. Just as we were winding down our $200+ meal, we were abruptly told that our time was up and we had to vacate the table. Not exactly the relaxing fine dining experience we were hoping for. In summary: definitely recommend if you're on a diet, in a time crunch, and looking to overspend! read more

Had booked at 7pm Saturday night anniversary reservation months in advance and was really looking forward to our night (huge fans of sister restaurant Carmelina's in Boston!) but the night unfortunately did not meet our expectations. We arrived promptly at 7pm for our reservation and could tell things were running a bit behind. We didn't mind waiting at first, and then the hostess directed us to sit at the bar while we waited. However, we went to sit at the bar but one of the bartenders and another waitress told us very brusquely we weren't allowed to just sit there and to check in with the host. We calmly told them we had already checked in with the host and she directed us to sit here, and their demeanors changed but they did not apologize for their behavior. Overall, it was not very hospitable and left a bad taste in our mouth. We didn't end up getting seated until 7:45pm. Aside from the service/hospitality, we enjoyed our meals- we started with the eggplant parm appetizer, which was delicious. I got the crazy Alfredo without meat and it was great, despite being different than Carmelina's. Overall, a solid spot for delicious Italian food. read more

Carmine - Crazy Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Newburyport, Massachusetts

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The food was amazing. Fresh, high quality ingredients. The veal was the best I have had. The service was terrible. The food came out timely once we ordered which took about 15 minutes of waiting. Once the food arrived, we requested a second round of drinks (1 beer, 1 wine) and extra grated cheese. The drinks arrived 20 minutes after requested and at the end of our meal. No extra cheese but we were done eating by then anyway. I was getting up to cancel the drinks (which I have never done) when they came. Our reservation was at 5:30 and the restaurant was full. I still expected more attentive service. We will be back because of the food. It was that good. Hoping the service is better. read more

Don't know why it has taken me so long to review this place. I have been here several times & the food is always fantastic. The drinks are great too. Hands down one of the best restaurants in Newburyport & the Italian food rivals that of the greatest in the North End. read more

Food is the best in Newburyport! Service is always timely and friendly. Small location which makes it feel very homey... George is an amazing bartender! Highly recommend read more

The food: 4.5/5. Service and comfort: 2/5. Congratulations, Chef: You've done a wonderful job with the menu. All the appetizers and main courses were excellent. I do not generally give this kind of praise to restaurants but you really have done a wonderful job with the food. The service needs to be significantly improved. Dining Location: The dining venu inside and outside is very uncomfortable. Inside is incredibly noisy so look into a few sound absorbing surface options. Outside due to the slope of the road, I felt like i was sitting in a hole on 1 side of the table and on an incline on the other side. If your budget allows, please look into a patio option that levels that patio. Service: This started bad while we were waiting to be seated on the patio. I saw the hostess (who was at the entrance inside) come outside with a kitchen cloth to clean up, She dusted an entire blob of what looked like what powdered cheese and threw it on the chairs that we were to sit on. I kept looking and she did the quickest awful cleaning job as anyone can do. I asked her to get another cloth and clean the chairs because this was not cleaned well. After beating the chairs on the patio and then dusting them off more, we seated. Off to a bad start... Suggestion for improvement: Teach your staff to clean with more finesse. After seating: Aps arrived. No utensils. Asked the person who got the apps out. He said he would get them. Waited until server came 5 mins later. Asked him. Finally got the utensils. Incredibly friendly and good attitude but please come ask me if I want more water at least once during my meal. I asked. Trickled a few drops into my glass and pitcher was out of water. Didn't come back with more. I had to ask again. Suggestion for improvement: Please train staff better to have a little more warmth and care. Overall suggestion to chef/owner: Youve done a wonderful job with food but when we spend $250+ on a meal for 2/3, I expect more than good food. This was a letdown in that regard. read more

Review of Carmine in Newburyport ... looked forward to our first dining experience here on a Saturday afternoon. We had reservations, checked out the menu ahead of time. I'm a carbonara fan so decided on that . Different from any other I've had in the past, but open minded when I saw it . Sauce had a glue type texture & I gave up on eating it , after every mouthful having pure cubes of fat I understand that guanciale is pig cheek & fattier than pancetta, but this was like biting into pure blubber . One & done https://carminenewburyport.com/ read more

Carmine - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Newburyport, Massachusetts

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Everything was amazing! So what that I had to wait a bit for my seat. I opted to sit at the bar -Nicole & George were very attentive. The apps, entree and cocktails they recommended were delicious. Highly recommend. Service was perfect! read more

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This is fresh fast food. If you are looking for a nice relaxing meal out- this is not it. You are timed from the moment you sit in order to get you out of there fast. I understand that places want to turn tables- and it's a small space. But I feel like they should just offer to go or a sort of counter service- they don't want you to stay and relax and enjoy. If I could stay longer my bill would more than double because I'd order more food and drink - I am out to enjoy after all. The food is good- but it's nothing amazing. So if you want to go have a quick one course meal out- this is for you! Otherwise look elsewhere read more

Having spent vacation time recently in Palermo, Sicily, our bar was high for some good pasta. Carmine's didn't disappoint. The bolognese was simply perfect in every way, as was the chicken Milanese. We sat at the bar because we love that vibe and had a bird's eye view into the kitchen where staff were hard at work and really dedicated to their craft. Our servers at the bar, Nicole and Jaime, were great. Carmine's is small on the inside which made for a loud setting, but well worth it. Can't wait to go back and try any of the several pasta with seafood dishes. read more

Really poor experience. Sat us 15 minutes late and asked us to leave table early. Was very rude about it too. 3% kitchen fee is a great way to not pay your kitchen staff a livable wage. Service was slow and inconsistent. Food was actually pretty good. Will not return. read more

Service took too long. Food ordered was simple, but took too long to serve. Two salads should not take 30-45 minutes. Not busy enough! read more

Always a 5/5 when we go here. Get the eggplant parm for an app and you will never be disappointed! Great portions, great drinks and great service. We will continue to come back over and over again. Definitely recommended reservations as it is small inside, but cozy! read more

Great food, great atmosphere, fantastic staff. So many great menu options and an excellent wine list

I've never eaten at Carmine before, I booked a reservation, but decided to cancel it, based on the 60 min. time limit to eat, and 3% kitchen fee. I don't like to have to choke down my food when dining out, to meet a time limit. read more

Carmine has outstanding food and I do not mind paying a little more for it as the prices are somewhat higher than the average Italian restaurant. But, for me, the last time I was there, again for an outstanding meal, I was charged a separate $3 {for the crew in the kitchen}. That will be the last time I pay extra for the crew as I will not return. Note: 1 star off for the $3. read more

Food: cacio de pepe a 10! My boyfriend had the cutlet and vodka penne a 10 plus! We shared the best salad. It was yummy but do selfishly wish there were more beets. The wine list was very good and though they don't serve dessert, I opted for an espresso martini that was excellent! Which brings me to service...George at the bar/head of the front of the house, is a superior front house guy and his experience with wines and dedication to service making grabbing a seat at the bar as good if not better than grabbing a table. Benefit of bar is there is also no time limit at the bar. There is at a table. The ambiance is warm and inviting and reflects the family traditions, the chef owner, Luca brings to Carmine! A fabulous edition to the North Shore Food scene. read more

Very Meh~ not worth the rush. I eat at a lot of Italian restaurants and Carmines has a lot of promise only to end up disappointing. The build up was great, we were advised to make reservations well in advance given hype, so we did, four weeks ahead. Two days ahead of our reservation, I was in Tuscaloosa Al, and dined at Chuck's Fish, a seafood restaurant but well known for their Italian dishes. The head chef lived and studied in Rome then returned to the US to open the restaurant. The food was fabulous, a culinary fusion of northern Italian and southern culture. So the bar was set high but the expectations Carmines was in no doubt. We arrived at Carmines and was greeted with a wonderful architectural space, a traditional NBPT federal style shotgun-retail space, brick lined with the front of the restaurant lined with 4-tops and the bar in the back flanked by 4-seat high tops, that's where we were seated A little dense, but that's what made the place exciting, lot of energy and noise. That's where it stopped for us. The waiter was friendly at first, quick, responsive, we got our drinks very quickly. Then the apps in a flash, then diner before they served us bread (I had to remind him of the bread) then the bill before we finished diner. We knew that they limit 2-seats to an hour but we were only 45mins in and they were trying to turn over the table. By the end, the waiter had lost his charm. The food was just ok and somewhat average in price. If you need to go, try to sit at the bar, better service and the best atmosphere in the place. read more