Café Carmela
Italian restaurant · Pennypack
2859 Holme Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19152
Highlights
Pizza, cheesesteaks, pasta, and chicken parm are highlights here.
Pizza, cheesesteaks, pasta, and chicken parm are highlights here.
"When you drive by Café Carmela, you’ll see a line that looks like PennDOT on the weekends. And it’s no wonder—they’ve mastered the carb holy trinity of pizza, sandwiches, and pasta. The interiors are a mix of classic Italian red booth seating, checkered tablecloths, and bulb marquees spelling out “pizza” that always gets the attention of kids with their families. There’s not a bad dish on the menu (we checked), but if you stop by and don’t try the American Boy pizza with creamy mozzarella or a cheesesteak with thick cuts of ribeye, you’ll miss out on what everyone in that line is probably waiting around for." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"When people think of cheesesteaks, they don’t always think of the Northeast (or Italian restaurants). But if you stop by this casual spot in a shopping center on Holme Ave., you’ll see a line of people waiting for one like it’s the hottest club in town. The signature here is the Don Cheech’s Steak, an ideal combination of thick-sliced ribeye, melty cooper sharp, and fried onions on a seeded roll. Although there may be a wait to get your hands on one, once you do, you might briefly mistake the Northeast as the center of the universe." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"We’re a meat-and-red-sauce town, and that even goes for our salads. Sure, this meatball salad in the Northeast has all the elements of a classic: romaine, a few tomatoes, red onions, red wine vinegar, and EVOO. Cafe Carmela just takes it over the top with saucy meatballs and ricotta cheese. It’s a happy clash of temperatures and toes the line between a light lunch and a comforting Sunday dinner. And in Philly, that makes complete sense." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"This family-owned restaurant in Northeast Philly has grown a loyal following for its impressive cheesesteaks made with tender ribeye steak. From a traditional cheesesteak made with Cooper Sharp to specialty menu items, like their buffalo chicken version, they have become a local favorite." - Annemarie Dooling
"When you drive by Café Carmela, you’ll see a line that looks like PennDOT on the weekends. And it’s no wonder—they’ve mastered the carb holy trinity of pizza, sandwiches, and pasta. The interiors are a mix of classic Italian red booth seating, checkered tablecloths, and bulb marquees spelling out “pizza” that always gets the attention of kids with their families. There’s not a bad dish on the menu (we checked), but if you stop by and don’t try the American Boy pizza with creamy mozzarella or a cheesesteak with thick cuts of ribeye, you’ll miss out on what everyone in that line is probably waiting around for." - candis mclean
