Wow, what a terrible experience. The food was fine, the atmosphere was horrible. So loud I cannot hear my wife talk to me. Specialty cocktails not good at all. How would you like to be at a table for 2 enjoying date night and have a table of 20+ sat next to you. The food was not bad however when I asked the waiter about portion sizing.... He said it was not large portions but appropriate for one. It was definitely enough for 2 in each pasta serving. Manager came over to ask how things were and told him we needed boxes and about check and did not expect this mess of an environment. He did quickly box our food and get our check however nothing was done about the circumstances.. Wait staff did nothing wrong but the overall experience was horrible. Will never go back. read more

Visiting from I'm Dallas, my friend wanted Italian and I wanted steak. Carmine's is the best of both worlds. I had an amazing filet served over sautéed spinach. The spinach was lightly tossed in olive oil and garlic, it just kissed the fire. It was perfectly tender and not overdone. The filet was grilled perfectly to my request. Which isn't the easiest thing (based on my experiences with other steak houses)since I'm picky wanting my steak medium well +. I also had three grilled jumbo shrimp. Very meaty, not under or over cooked. Seasoning was spot on. It basically melted on my mouth. If I lived on Chicago this would be one of my regular restaurant visits. Love love loved it. I highly recommend this place. Oh, and the service was fantastic. read more

Carmine's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice place to stop in for lunch and or dinner. Food is delicious and so are the cocktails. Waitress service should've been more hospitable and less lackadaisical. read more

Carmine's - Fried calamari Caesar salad - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The staff was great!!! We enjoyed the stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer. My wife had the Arrabbiata Cavatelli and it was delicious. I had the 12 oz Filet and it was cooked to medium rare perfectly. We'll definitely be back!!! read more

Nothing bad to say about this place. Delicious and worth it. I had the fettuccine Alfredo, tried the steak, and we shared the vodka sauce pasta. Chicken Alfredo was delicious and huge!! Super creamy, BIG, but not enough salt (you could easily add that though). What I liked about this place was that the dishes were HUGE for a fair price. Very worth it, especially the leftovers. Really recommend this place for a date or gathering, dishes can be shared they're that big. read more

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Waiter was not good at one point told to hold on because I was asking for something. Never came to ask us if we wanted refills. Food took about 1 hour to arrive. Hostess guys were very nice but our waiter needs to retire. Wasn't attentive at all. read more

Well known restaurant in the heart of Chicago on Rush Street. Right across from Gibson Steakhouse. Let me start by saying it was average at best. I don't understand why so many people post five star ratings. My three person party tried Branzino European bass, lasagna and Bolognese. The fish was okay . The lasagna was very good with a terrific sauce but the bolognese with square noodles was at best average. The sauce was not good. The service was fine though we waited a while for drinks. An Old Fashioned was made in a mediocre fashion. A Diet Coke was flat and was served from a 2 liter bottle. We sent it back and the second one was no better. How do you not have a fountain soda? That sums up why this place is not at all near being a good Italian restaurant. read more

Dude you cannot charge a 22% tip without saying anything. That's bullshit and predatory. I paid an additional 25% on top of a $600 bill. Not coming back, carmine. read more

Delicious dishes like my Italian mama would make. That's where I got my heart disease and cholesterol from.

Extremely disappointed in how downhill Carmines has gone. We used to love coming here - great food, great service, and great atmosphere; however, it seems the quality of food has been lowered substantially as well as the wait staff. 1. We sat down with no plates or silverware. A busboy walked by and gave us silverware, server came up to us at least 3 times to get drink order, food order, and give us bread and STILL no plates. (We mentioned twice by this point we needed plates) When our appetizer came out we had to ask AGAIN for plates. 2. When our entrees arrived, we saw that the busboy had placed our tray of food about 15 feet away from us. We were sitting in the patio and our food was outside where it proceeded to sit there for 10+ minutes until the server realized it was ours and brought it over. By the time we received it, it was lukewarm and not good. Overall deeply saddened by the new bar Carmines is setting. I used to recommend this place all the time but now that has changed. The place was crowded so I understand you may be short staffed but efficiency is still a critical part in any successful business. read more

T-bone steak in half with my wife enjoyed sharing a large meal it was huge: Yvonne or Ivan waiter was awesome took care of us made us feel very comfortable: great news great times: a definite place to visit when you hit Chicago read more

Carmine's - T-bone steak and half - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent food here... wow, very delicious and authentic. I got the Veal Parmesan and the portions were HUGE. My sister got the lobster Mac, which isn't as large portion-wise, but was still very filling. Don't forget about dessert! Their tiramisu was very large (two can easily share) and delicious as well! There's also a full bar inside, which is nice if you just want a drink or if you're alone. The restaurant is pretty large inside and I believe they have an upstairs, though I haven't seen that part myself. There is also outdoor seating, but keep in mind, the wait times for sitting outside can be upwards of an hour. The only thing I will say, is that I felt a bit rushed by the waitstaff. They were attentive and moved plates away quickly, but I got the sense that they were rushing us out a little. There was a man singing and playing the piano inside, near the bar. I love live music! Extra star for the entertainment. read more

Great food and atmosphere! We came in earlier but didn't have any problems to be seated 40 min before our reservation!

Great spot for pasta! Love the outdoor patio space. The service and staff were amazing. read more

Carmine's - Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had the seafood salad here for a light lunch. We sat outside which was a lovely experience! The seafood salad was unique and the portions were huge! You definitely get your moneys worth! I think it is a beautiful setting and you can't go wrong with this Chicago classic! read more

Stopped in for Dinner before a show at a local theater...Service was spot-on. We were given several options for seating areas and were seated at a well set table in the breezeway. The bread, Olive Oil and Parmesan was brought with the menu's and all of the various selections were explained to you if you need any questions answered. The prices were commensurate with the area (High), but not out of line with the quality of the food. There are several other VERY good restaurant's nearby and they definitely hold their ground well!! The food was served fresh and hot and the portions were huge. Neither of us could even begin to finish all of it. (Only downside was we were going to the theater - No doggie bags. :( food would have spoiled) . We tried the Godiva Chocolate cake for dessert.... It was over 9" tall and enough to feed 4 people!! and Delicious?...Oh my yes.... If you are in the area and are looking for a great meal in a great setting. Come here!! read more

I enjoyed my meal. Traditional Italian restaurant, where the pasta is a must try. Large, family style portions. I was here with a group; the servings were huge. Our server was outstanding. We ordered a variety of appetizers and entrees; along with two extra pasta dishes to share. We left very full and happy! read more

An absolute Chicago favorite. My wife and I have been dining at Carmine's for over a decade and cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. The ownership, staff and patrons are always so friendly and outgoing. We had our first date here and now we bring our family back time and time again. On our most recent two visits we brought our boys, ages 6,4,3 and boy do they love it. Danny has been our waiter both times and he is the best. He takes care of our boys all while mom and day enjoy a quick cocktail or glass of wine. The boys love the buttered wheel noodles as they are requested by name. The service is fast and the food is absolutely delicious. Recommendation: Mama's Meatballs and the Veal Piccata. Portions are huge so think about splitting/ sharing to get a bite of everything. Overall, the price and portions are spot on. You will not leave hungry nor will your wallet. If you are looking for a friendly Chicago staple, in the heart of the city, check out Carmine's and bring the family. read more

Okay for being in a very nice area, service was horrible! We went on a Tuesday night. Around 7:15pm. There is a separate hostess area for inside and outside seating which didn't make any sense but just note that if you go. Outside area was really jammed packed and crowded. Seems they try and fit as many tables as they can outside. Service was horrible. Took drink order for one person, we were a table of 4. Didn't ask to take order. We had to hunt him down ourselves. Dropped off check before asking if we wanted dessert. Did not clear dishes. We were stacking them and asking whomever walked by if they could grab them. Food was decent. Typical Italian food, wasn't anything special. We had the carrot cake for dessert and it was so dry. Most likely it was a few days old, I do not recommend getting this at all. read more

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First time there. Appetizers and drinks were good. Veal Parmesan was tough and crusty. Very thin and chewy/rough.

So where do you go on a Monday night in March when the temps are pushing 80 to sit outside and dine "al fresco"? Well, Carmine's, of course. Headed over to what the girls and I call the "Viagra triangle" with some friends last night to enjoy a summer evening surprisingly at the end of March. We scored a great table outside and had not only a wonderful dinner but the opportunity for some of the best people watching in the city! Even saw Cedric the Entertainer at a table nearby. Word to the wise- the portions here are huge so get a couple of them and split them. We split the chopped salad 4 ways which was plenty to start with and then ordered the veal Parmesan and the bolognese "wheels" pasta and split that as well. Plenty for the 5 of us! The service was great (Philip did a great job given his table load), the food was good and the people watching superb! What could top that on a Monday in March? Just sitting outside with a drink for the first time this year and wearing some strappy sandals! Always makes the night go better! read more

Wonderful Christmas Eve dinner! Elaina was awesome! Always a wonderful experience! Food exceptional and cocktails perfected! read more

Eh. It's a decent Italian meal, but why go here when you can have an AMAZING Italian meal at La Scarola or Rose Angelis. My brother picked this always bustling Italian restaurant for his bday celebration dinner. Actually, he picked David Burke Primehouse, but when I reminded him I'm somewhat on a budget (although you could never tell by my reviews :)) he chose Carmine's. We made our way to the Viagra Triangle, where Carmine's is located, and when we went to the bar to wait for our table my boyfriend said "are those hookers over there?". By the looks of them they very well could have been or perhaps just some women slutting themselves out for a night on the town...and they certainly came to the right area in town! Our meal started off pretty good...warm, soft bread and the grilled calamari appetizer that was absolutely delicious! The service itself was pretty awful- so awful that my boyfriend suggested a 10% tip at the end of the meal, which we've never done before. We actually ended up leaving 15% because I felt bad being cheap even though they deserved about 2%. It took the waiter about at least 30 minutes to ask us if we were ready to order and he was pretty much invisible most of the night...perhaps he was busy hanging out at the hooker's table. :) For our entrees I went with the shrimp frances, which was very good...probably the best thing on the menu. The boyfriend got the salmon, which I immediately could tell he didn't like...I had a few bites and have to agree with him. It was just OK, but for the price it should have been great. My brother got the chicken parm, which he really enjoyed, but chicken smothered in sauce and lots of cheese- what's there not to like? And then came dessert- I was stuffed, but can't pass up dessert when it's someone's bday! We ordered the tiramisu (my boyfriend's favorite). Once again...good, but not great. The total for the 3 of us came to $140 and while the meal was OK I would have much rather spent that money at Hugos across the street. However, the birthday boy left happy and I guess that is what's most important. read more

03.12.2020 I visited this institution for the first time. My friends and I decided to eat Italian food, but to my deep disappointment we didn't find anything similar there, the food delivery looked boring and it was not tasty, the bartender was completely unable to make cocktails, the interior was old and shabby - it needs to be renovated. two stars for the service. read more

Carmine's serves classic American-style Italian food, with classic American-Italian style decor, and provides classic good service. Though the chain feel was present, I do have to say that I liked the food a lot better here than at other places like Maggiano's. The food was better prepared and tasted fresh. Portions are huge and great for sharing. My friends and I ordered a few plates to share. We got the Rigatoni alla Vodka (a light tomato and mascarpone cheese sauce with vodka), eggplant parmesan, and Eggplant Salad (tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, pan-fried eggplant and basil drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette). Everything was delicious and tasty. Our server and the bus boys were very attentive. I'm always pleased with a nice glass of wine and good solid Italian food, even if it's not totally authentic. read more

We came on a busy Saturday night and lucked out with a prime table on the front patio which was fantastic for people watching. Bread with olive oil and cheese was promptly served, and we ordered a bottle of Chardonnay which was great on a hot day. Our server brought out an ice bucket to keep it cold which was a nice touch. My wife couldn't decide between the rigatoni alla vodka and the cavatelli al forgo, and the waiter suggested the cavatelli in the vodka sauce - perfect! Her pasta was great, but I ordered the tortellini carbonara and I was incredibly disappointed. First off, it really wasn't carbonara and was basically a cream sauce (see picture). Second, the prosciutto was almost non-existent in the dish and I barely noticed it. I would avoid this dish at all costs, and you'll be disappointed if you are expecting a true carbonara style dish. read more

Carmine's - Tortellini "carbonara" with barely any prosciutto - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

********************* 1104 ******************** Carmine's offers Italian dishes, spirited nightlife, and live music.Their canopied patio boasts great city views and is the perfect place for people watching, located on the famous N. Rush Street & E. Bellevue Place. Another Golden Triangle :-) with fancy fast cars, older man and younger women, want to see and be seen. Carmine's famous for their Italian dishes, and also operates many other sister restaurants in Chicago and the suburbs such as Rosebud's steakhouse, seafood, and Italian. - Cavatelli Arrabbiata - Homemade ricotta dumplings in spicy marinara sauce with fresh chilies, pancetta and white wine, so good and only $14.95 - Veal Marsala - Veal medallions sauteed with fresh mushrooms in a sweet marsala wine sauce served with a side of pasta, only $23.95 - Steamed Mussels - Plump Mediterranean mussels simmered in garlic and white wine or spicy tomato broth, really good and only $11.95 The portion here is ENORMOUS, good price, and effective service. They are kids and dogs friendly too, oh and valet parking as well. read more

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Dinner was amazing. I got the chicken parmesan and penne with marinara sauce. The chicken came with 2 chicken breast so it was plenty. The sauce was soooooo good. For dessert I got the carrot cake. It too was very delicious. This is one of my favorite restaurants. They always give me reason to keep coming back. read more

Carmine's - Chicken parmesan and penne. Amazingly delicious. - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This joint is pretty quintissential Chicago. All about the total package: Italian food, straight-up attitude, motley mix of patrons, loungey atmosphere. And don't forget the unnecessary bathroom attendant ('cause it's a really small bathroom downstairs). I admit it. I cheated & had a (very rare) whole bowl of pasta. Asked the server to pick for me, she recommended the Cavatelli Arrabbiata (5-stars, so fresh, so awesome) & a glass of house chianti (3-stars but frankly I didn't see any 5-star reds by the glass anyway). Head-on hIt every spot on me that needed to be hit. Service was fast with a bit of attitude, just what I wanted. Ahhhhh, Chicago, I do miss you. In June, anyway. Not enough to move back, though. read more

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Disclaimer: I RARELY give out 5 stars. The star system on this bloody sight is inflated because people don't understand authentically great-tasting food! So call me a snob. But at least my reviews mean something!! I went to Carmine's, again! They never fail to impress. I took a former student of mine who recently moved to Chicago. He too was impressed, and he knows food! When you go, YOU MUST ORDER THE GRILLED CALAMARI OFF THE MENU!!! The only calamari on the menu is the fried, ask the waiter to grill it and you won't be disappointed. It's grilled in balsamic vinegar that is so meaty and tender!! Eat it with the bread! It is perfectly marinated and seasoned. It's to die for! Other things to order are the veal scallopini...very tender, very satisfying, big portions, and the lemon is just the right amount of flavor! If you come to Chicago, or are looking for a place in the "Viagra Triangle" on Rush St. Carmine's is a MUST!!!! read more

This was our 3rd or 4th time being to Carmine's and as usual it did not disappoint! We were seated in the garden area which was very nice. The wait staff was very attentive and helpful with suggestions. We had a house salad to start off and then moved onto the entree's. We shared a bottle of Austin Hope Cabernet with the meal and it complimented things well. We had the eggplant Parmesan which was perfectly cooked. We also had the Seabass Mediterranean special which also was the perfect combination of seafood around the sea bass and sitting in a nice white wine sauce! The boys shared the fettuccine Alfredo which they said was fabulous. And then they topped off their night with lemon and raspberry gelato! We will definitely be back! read more

Carmine's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this restaurant. Staff is always at your service, very attentive, fast and ready to fill your requests. Food is always great. There is not one plate I've tried there that I haven't liked. This time we started with the stuffed mushrooms and bruschetta. As an entrée I had the Tortellini Carbonara (Ricotta-filled pasta "rings" simmered in parmesan cream sauce with mushrooms, prosciutto and sweet peas) - Delicious. Portions are big so you get leftovers of your amazing meal for the next day. Great wine list and pairing recommendations. For Dessert we had an apple pie/ tart but the one I really liked was a chocolate mousse cake, it was the perfect ending to this meal. And with a strawberry on the side - Yum! Every time we travel to Chicago, for work, we schedule a dinner here - this is how much we like it. I suggest you plan a lunch/ dinner here too. You will be happy you did. Bon Appetite. read more

I took my own advice, returning Thursday night with a client and my VP of sales. A fantastic meal with impressive service. Warning: the lasagna is massive. 7 inches square and 4 inches high, enough food for three hungry people. read more

Carmine's - it's a great experience if you know what you're in for. Pros: - The service is quick and efficient - The menu has all my favorite staples - Portions are more than generous (read: Rosebud huge) and the food is always good Neutrals: - It can be really loud in there. Great if you're with a big party, not so great if you're looking for a quiet romantic evening - The people watching is always excellent and a little insane (if you're into that kind of stuff) Cons: - The tables are packed very closely together, so you'll always be eating with your 50 closest friends - Sometimes they run *very* late on reservations (but don't always allow you the same courtesy of running late) - Coat check is super inefficient, which is surprising given how efficient the rest of the service is. Last time it took them 10 minutes to hang my coat up and 20 minutes to find it after dinner. Overall, I thoroughly enjoy Carmine's, despite its few flaws. The food is excellent and consistent, and the service is quick. Yummy. Also, make sure you order carefully because the portions are really HUGE. read more

Carmine's - My glass of prosecco - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch. They had a lot of tables open. We were walking down looking for a place to eat and I saw they had outdoor seating. I had my Great Dane with me so I asked the hostess if dogs are allowed in their outdoor seating. She said she would ask her manager all while giving me a judgmental look. Didn't mind it at first because I thought she was just surprised how big my dog is. She told us we could but we had to walk all the way around. Again, she gave us a look. We sit down and she meets us at the table with the menus. She gives us a look again and asked if my dog could sit in the a condescending way. She didn't smile at all. Just gave us a look and a rude attitude. Everyone else was great. The busboy gave us water for my dog. The waiter was cool. Anyway, we ordered pizza with prosciutto and arugula. It's $22. It's good enough for three people. The whole thing is covered with arugula that it almost looks like a salad. There is some prosciutto--enough to cover the pizza and add some flavor. It's really good. I would order it again. I would come back again for the food but damn that service just sucked. read more

Great place. We make a point to stop here every time down here for business or personal visits. The shrimp is fabulous and the calamari is on our list for one of the best we've ever tasted. Ask for Danny! This waiter is top notch and knows how to treat customers to make them feel like he really cares they chose this restaurant. read more

Carmine's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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5 star service by the bartender as after I couldn't decide what kinda pasta with certain ingredient that I was craving and after looking long and hard on their pasta menu he stept in asked me what I looking for and if not on the menu hell make the cook do custom order also he recommended the bean soup. I couldn't ordered it better my self. I've been coming here about once a month and after today I'll make sure I come once a week. Thanks to the great bar staff. Very impressed. read more

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I thought Carmine's was good, but not amazing. Perhaps I ordered wrong. People have raved about the calamari on Yelp. The portion was huge and really big pieces of calamari, but didn't have anything special about it. Was just plain in regards to flavor. Cocktail sauce was just that. Could use some spices or a nice aioli. My wife had a caprese salad which was really good. Main course the Mrs. had the cheese ravioli. Again that was really good. I had the Chicken Parmesan which was also good, but nothing special. Another HUGE portion. Perhaps it should get four stars, but to clarify my rankings, three stars is good, would eat again but would look for something more interesting. Four stars is "great" would definitely make it a regular stop. Five stars is amazing, everything I'd expect and more. read more

This was a great experience.The atmosphere is cozy and great.Staff is very friendly and service was perfect.The Chef went by everybody's table and greeted them which makes the experience even better.The food was AMAZING and I mean everything we had was good,tasty,and very nicely presented.I will definitely be going back here,nothing else like it in the city. read more

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My FAVORITE restaurant in Chicago! It's so nice to sit outside there too! My favorite appetizer is the sausage and peppers, and the calamari! The dishes here are so good! Staff is awesome! read more

Carmine's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois