Carmaleno's Pushcart Restaurant

As soon as we walked in we were greeted. The chicken Parmesan dinner was so big that we were able to split it in half. The waitress had the Chef place it on two plates. It was the perfect amount for two dinners. There was still room enough for ordering tiramisu. It had the perfect texture. The restaurant also reflects a friendly family atmosphere. If you are looking for an amazing environment to have an Italian dinner this place is it!

There were only 4 other parties in the restaurant. We waited 15 mins. before someone came to us got our drinks waited another half hour before the server asked if we were ready to order. The party of 3 across came in about 20 mins. after us but somehow their food came out before ours. Bottom line the service was horrible. The food was good.

I was starving, is the only reason why I ate half my dinner. Meatballs not homemade definitely frozen, and raviolis not the worst I've had but definitely not top 100,sauce was running out of my takeout tray and the bread was cold. Not too happy right now. Like I said wasn't the worst, but so so far from great Italian food.

Amazing staff and great atmosphere! Food tasted amazing and wine list was great. The family who runs the restaurant is so sweet and hospitable. I will definitely be back

Staff is amazing! Food is outstanding! Absolutely my favorite place to eat! Everything is made fresh and you taste the freshness for sure! From pasta to pizza Everything is delicious.

Quite busy. Staff was nice. Scampi was fantastic. Tablemates alfredo seemed watery. But good service. Will return

First Time there ABSOLUTELY Loved It Hidden Jewel Stared with a Martini before some bread and The Best Dipping oil before moving on to wine and IPA From Maine's Beer Co. "Lunch" The Way It Should Be Serviced 16.9 Bottle. Then on to dinner Chicken Angelique with Ziti "Amazing" We'll be back Loved Everything!!!

Food is excellent & the portions are great size to fill you up & take home for late night snack or lunch the next day. Staff is outstanding & the cook will make your meal the way you ask. Atmosphere is like the old fashioned North End restaurant family style. The bar is stock & the bartenders are great. When you want to go out and feel like your home this is the SPOT.

We came to Pushcart for my mother-in-law's birthday dinner recently, and had a great time! They have a pretty big menu with all of the Italian favorites on it. I had the ravioli which I thought was very good! Everyone agreed that the fresh pasta was worth the additional cost, and recommend ordering that if you have the chance. I will say some of the menu is a little pricey for this type of place, but you can pick and choose from the menu to fit your price range. Good service and a good meal! We definitely want to come back again soon and try out the pizza, as we have heard good things.

One of my all time favorite pizzas -- North End Pizza Garlic Infused Oil, Light Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Roasted Peppers, Caramelized Onion & Grilled Chicken YUMMY! I'm

Nice little place! We loved it here. The food was good (with the exception of the stuffed mushrooms and the watered down sodas) and tasty. The wait staff were friendly. The place was clean and we were greeted as we came in and when we left. Definitely will eat here again!

This place is the best! I've been twice I'd def go back but it's in saugus so it's a ride for me otherwise I'd be there more often

Amazing food. The dishes we ordered were delicious and the service was spectacular. We will be back.

Food is good. Service was ok. With those two major things the value is on the expensive side. Its location is convenient. Place is small in size to bring a coziness to it.

Extremely disappointed especially after hearing so many good things about pushcart from others. Waited over 45 minutes for a pizza that was small at best for the price I paid. Pizza crust was burned but somehow cold.

This was our first visit to Carmaleno's after hearing good things. We sat down and it took ten minutes for a waitress to come and take our drink order. The food was not very good, my wife got lemon chicken it had a pale appearance and tasted gamey and I got the chicken parmesan and it lacked flavor. We paid $4 extra for the homemade fusilli and it was tough. I would describe the staff as cordial but not overly friendly. The limoncello cake and the cappuccino was the highlight of the night. I would not recommend this place and will not return.

Awesomeness pizza great marcorni great Ordered take out sunday great food eush it was open earlier

We come to this restaurant often. The food and service are always excellent. It is a smaller family run place very welcoming and can accommodate large groups Would highly recommend

We come here frequently and it is a great family environment and the food is Fabulous. They have everything from pizza to unique dishes such as the pollo Carmelina. They have just renovated the interior so that it is much more wide opened and they have a very nice bar area that used to be much smaller. Everyone there is always so kind and helpful.

If you are looking for authentic 5 star Boston Italian food, look no further. The original restaurant was in The North End for over 30 years and has relocated here. Tomato Sauce: 10 out of 10. Sweet, but not too sweet, tasty and flavorful. The chef makes an awesome Marsala sauce and delicious Sorrento sauce as well. Try them all. Food is super consistent, we've had it dozens of times and actually had them cater our company with about 5-60 people every month for the past few years. Everyone leaves full and happy. Definitely try the: Shrimp Dipeppo Chicken Parm, Veal Parm, Eggplant parm combo (I order 2 to take home) Clams Casino Pollo Carmalino! Chicken Francese is awesome. The meatballs are delicious too! Also fresh homemade pasta options as well! Seriously, if you want to taste Authentic Original North End Italian, this is likely one of the last ones in existence! Do NOT miss it. OG Epic.

Wow wow wow, why is this delicious Italian restaurant in Saugus?! (no offense). This was surprisingly delicious and I ate every bite of my meal. A few friends and I went to catch a movie but wanted to grab a bite to eat before hand. One friend suggested this place, and I cannot thank her enough!! This felt like a tin hole in the wall, and when we walked it, it felt so warm and homey. We were seated, given some bread/oil and waters to start. Even if you're on a diet, you need to try some bread with oil, it has a little parmesan cheese in it, which just pairs so beautifully. We all ordered, one got the calamari, one got a chicken caesar salad, and two of us ordered the pasta special of the night. The special, chicken cutlet strips, cheese and spinach in a creamy garlic sauce, needs to PERMANENTLY be on the menu. It was creamy, cheesy, and better than I expected. Our waitress was such a sweetheart, and suggested that pasta to us because it was her favorite. I am hoping that means that it is regularly on the special lists. My friends also commented that the calamari was good, as was the salad. I was the only one to eat all of my food, because well, being an Italian I can't NOT eat all my pasta. Can't wait to bring my family and other friends here, just so I can eat some more pasta. God bless pasta.

Came here a few times with my wife and once with my friends and have to say every time I did the food service and atmosphere were all great. I always get the garlic bread with cheese and shrimp scampi appetizers that's automatic and I'm never disappointed I like lot of garlic and it's perfect. I've had the pork chops w vinegar peppers and roasted potatoes the chicken perm I've had chicken Marsala also had the chicken special Dipeppo always left full and satisfied. Food was fresh cooked to perfection and all served exactly right times no rushing or delay just perfect. Servers were friendly engaging but also let us enjoy our meals without too many interruptions although they did make sure our drinks were always full and we were satisfied with everything. Definitely a must try

Awesome! They are the nicest people serving the best Italian food! Avoid route one! They are the best! Love all their dishes! Best pizza, pasta and chicken parmigiana! A family owned and run business! We are so blessed to have stumbled across this place! It had become our family place to go for all special events or just a weeknight dinner or takeout!!! Love, love, love!!!

WOW! I have NEVER been spoken to as rudely as I just was by the woman that just answered the phone at this establishment. I made an order online through doordash. Turns out the restaurant I ordered it from (their Express location next door) has been closed, I don't wonder why having just experienced the way they treat their customers. She says they have nothing to do with door dash. Ok, I get that. But you DO have something to do with your google business page, you CAN call door dash and notify them that the other location closed. You can list the location that IS open properly with the service. She says she has people from door dash calling them all the time upset. No kidding! You've got your restaurant that is no longer open listed as open. Of course they are calling you people are placing orders for food from the place thinking they are ordering from the main restaurant that is still open because that is what it says on the site. I have literally been sitting here waiting for food for two hours that I paid for and she hangs up the phone on me when I try to explain to her how the internet works and why there is a problem. I own two businesses the correct way to handle that would have been to make my order and apologize for the inconvenience. I live in town, I eat out all the time. I will NEVER visit this location again for how rude this woman just was to me. So much for ordering food at home for a stress free Saturday night! Unbelievable! Will also add if EVER an employee of mine spoke to a customer that way she would not be walking through my door again. If that was the business owner I am disgusted. I am really absolutely dumbfounded right now over how I was just treated at a supposedly nice establishment. Also just got an email that I have to wait 5-7 business days for my $70 refund from DoorDash. Ridiculous.

Awesome service and food. Will be back. Local Saugonian Nicole B loves this place now. Fantastic hostess, too. Thanks guys. Have a happy Easter.

Glass of chianti. Meatballs. House salad drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette. Eggplant and chicken parmigiana. Penne pasta. Food was quite tasty. Large portions. Most of my meal is traveling home. Toni at the bar was spot on terrific and a family member of this family run restaurant. I'll def be back.

This restaurant has never disappointed me. Their food is always fresh and delicious. They aim to please. The service is always excellent. This is a wonderful family owned restaurant. You'll also love the new bar they just put in. You won't be disappointed. Jan B.

I was disappointed with the whole experience and will never give pushcart any more opportunities to redeem themselves. I had diarrhea for 3 days And went through a case of pedialite.

Only because I would of gave it a 3 1/2 but no halfs so I had to do a 3 star. It's a decent place friendly and nice and food is ok not bad just ok . Started with stuffed mushrooms ( not a very big appetizer selection ) eww not good at all ( sorry) . Carbonara was very cheesy and the Marsala was way to much wine .

Authentic Northend Italian food in Saugus ! If you're looking for a good old-fashioned Italian food like parmesan, cacciatore, and pasta this place has a great selection and the red sauce is very good. I've been here many times and I usually get one of the house specialties or a nightly special-My favorite is the Chicken Angelique in a Marsala sauce. I've also had a special of gnocchi, spinach and chicken in a garlic cream sauce which was amazing! They also have some different appetizers like fried tomatoes and artichoke ravioli- I need to go back to try these! The portions are huge and there is plenty of parking. It's very unassuming from the outside as it is located in the corner of a little strip mall, but once your inside you'll see how good it is!!! Buon appetito

I've been coming here for years, love the food. However, the service was AWFUL. we waited for 30 minutes before we got our drinks, our appetizers came out before they did. There was only one waitress for the entire restaurant. Very sad.

My family has always loved the Pushcart. Delicious food, great staff, what more could you ask for? Their menu has enough variety that it could be tough to choose, but I almost always get the DiPeppo combo because I just love it! Portions are generous and the kitchen typically doesn't leave you waiting. A nice selection of desserts too, I mean, who can turn down a scrumptious cannoli? And an extra star (if I could) for take-out during Covid-19. Brought out to my car, with a surprise for the birthday boy. Thanks for making this crazy birthday dinner a little special, much appreciated!

Really bad! I got Lasgna it was burnt. I I told the waitress and she said she would let the cook know. Really? They should have seen it when they put it in the plate. Food was really salty too. Was overcharged for the salad and drinks vs the price on the menu AND was charged for the burnt Lasgna $20 for a small slice. I feel like I just wasted my money. The food was not edible no wonder why the restaurant was empty. Next time I will be going to Victors in Saugus or Capone's in Peabody the food is MUCH better there, more reasonable priced and larger portions. The waitress was nice maybe she didn't know better.

This place has the best food! Love the fact you can taste that each dish is made from scratch. And the raviolis cooked perfectly al dente! Great prices and service.

Best authentic north end Italian food in the greater Boston area. Super fresh and a massive variety of food.

My girlfriend and I went here for Valentine's Day a few months ago and really enjoyed it. It's in a little strip mall but don't let that stop you from giving it a shot. It's small and cute on the inside. We started with the calamari appetizer and it was delicious. I got the chicken broccoli ziti dish for my main course that we both enjoyed. She got the steak parm dish and we both thought it was only okay. Steak was a little overcooked and seemed dry (ordered medium rare). We both shared a side of meatballs which we both thought were pretty good for restaurant meatballs. We are both pretty picky when it comes to meatballs. We got a dessert special that was only offered on Valentine's Day and I thought it was a pretty good end to an enjoyable meal. Their regular desserts looked appetizing. The wine selection wasn't bad for such a small place and we enjoyed the wine we ordered. The menu is moderately priced ($10-$25 a plate) and I would definitely eat at this place again.

Visited about a month ago for dinner and had an unacceptable experience...we have dined there more than once and really like the food and service, but on this occasion we arrived around 5:30 ....sat down and ordered...noticed a large party at the back of the dining room Our server said the kitchen was a little backed up...no problem... 90 minutes later I commented to the hostess (owner?) that we still had not seen any food...her response was and I quote " we cook to order and if you want fast food go somewhere else "... Totally rude from someone in this industry...I do not know why we did not leave at that point...in all that time the only thing offered was a water refill...the food arrived a few minutes later and it was good...

Never going back. The food was ok but nothing crazy. Got the veal marsala and it was tough and bitter. When I told the server she said sorry but still charged me for it. I felt weird saying something because the right thing to do is take the meal off the bill. The manager should have been notified but wasn't. When I called and talked to the owner she was a complete bitch to me. Talking to me like I was a little girl. I may not have been in the restaurant industry for 40 years, bit I've been in the industry long enough to know what good hospitality is and looks like and they absolutely failed.

Took my wife here for dinner tonight. I have nothing but great things to say about the Pushcart. We both were very comfortable with the place right away and loved the atmosphere as well as the decor of the restaurant. I ordered the Chicken Parm with Ziti and my wife ordered the Pasta Cabonara. My Parm was fantastic and the sauce was very, very good. My wife really enjoyed the Cabonara and the Pushcart is one of the few places that actually has Cabonara on the menu. The waitstaff was on the ball and very friendly. We both are looking forward to our next visit.

Let me start off my review by just letting everyone know I am not a HUGE Italian food eater. Gasp! I know, people can't understand it but I just don't eat it a lot. Now, with that being said, all of the times I have come in here with someone who really wanted Italian food, I have LOVED whatever I have gotten. The sauce is sweet, the sausages are sweet and so is the staff. The portions are huge, the drinks are good and dessert is a must! Definitely a hidden gem in Saugus, I am glad I found it.

I take my mom and mother in law (Along with the rest of our family) here every year for Mother's Day and never have a problem getting a table to fit us all! Waitstaff is always out going and happy! The food ..... Lets start with the Apps! i strongly recommend the Mozzarella triangles, stuffed mushrooms and caprese salad! Happen to like Italian wedding soup? I LOVE IT! And Push cart's doesn't disappoint! Main course, My choice is usually the chicken angelique, and its heaven in my mouth every time! i get it with the marsala sauce and angel hair, and the portion size is HUGE! Why go to the north end for italian when a piece of the north end is waiting to be found at the push cart in saugus?!?!?!

Absolutely love this place. The staff are very nice, attentive, and welcoming. The food is amazing and authentic. Highly recommend this restaurant!

I had a really, really delicious meal here the other day. I was at an appointment in Melrose that ran late, and cut way into dinner time, so by the time I left, I was utterly starving. I wanted Italian food, and this little spot was the first thing that came to mind, so we decided to give it a go. Good call. It's in a strip mall, and looks pretty unassuming, but rest assured that it's a quality place. We got in there, and the hostess showed us to our seat and was very friendly. The waitress brought over some bread with some delicious dipping oil, which helped my empty stomach. The mister and I decided to share a couple of things: the artichoke and mascarpone ravioli in tomato pesto cream sauce as well as an eggplant dish (sort of like eggplant parm, but the eggplant was marinated and came with some ricotta cheese, etc). The eggplant came with a side of pasta, so I ordered the house-made fusilli, which cost an extra $2. When the food came, I was very surprised by the portions. The food wasn't cheap - the eggplant dish was about $16 - but it was humungous, and came with a big plate of the pasta. And it was so good. The eggplant was tender and flavorful, and ordering the fusilli was my best decision of the night - it was fantastic. The ravioli was good as well. Even though we shared those two dishes, we still left with a heaping container of eggplant and fusilli, and that provided me with two whole meals as leftovers. And it was just as delicious the second and third time eating it as it was the first. We spent a bit more money here than we typically spend for a regular old dinner out, but it was a nice change of pace and I wouldn't hesitate to return.

I just can't give this five stars although I would like to. It's clean people were friendly and the food was good but it's just not quite five star status

Very disappointed! ! Poor service! I went there for many year even when they were in the north end of Boston. The service and food was good in the past but this time when I went I was very disappointed. I just walked out because they sat several parties that walked in after us and when I spoke to the hostess and the manager and there excuse was they called ahead. but the hostess told me when I first walked in that there was only a few parties ahead of me. After a 45min. Wait and watching several parties being seated. I spoke to the hostess and manager. I said this is not appropriate service I am very disappointed they apologized but still did not seat us. So I left. Went to the warf in Revere. The food was excellent and service was above and beyond my expectations.

We really want to like this place because it's located right up the Street from us. However, every time we order food from The Pushcart we are disappointed. I ordered the Chicken Marsala, it was extremely dry and the chicken was thick and tasteless. Worst Marsala meal I've ever had. My husband got the Chicken Parmigian which was better, but still not great. We are both Italian with very Italian families, so we know and love good Italian food. This place is way overpriced, they are skimpy, and the food is mediocre at best. Very disappointing.

Absent Yelp it is highly unlikely I would have found Carmaleno's. Tucked in a strip mall it is definitely a low visibility restaurant. Fortunately Yelp search and the accuracy of the reviews lead me here last night. Here is my take: Parking: Easy and readily available. A+ Atmosphere: Nice and low key with thankfully no TVs in the main dinning area. A Drinks: They have a limited liquor license so any hard liquor is confined to menu drinks. They do pour a decent drink and glass of wine. A Service: Service is good; prompt but you do no feel like they are trying to turn the tables. A Food: They serve a wonderful bread with an addictive olive oil. Interestingly they are do not overwhelm you with a huge basket which I appreciate. The fried mozzarella with marina sauce was awesome. The stuffed mushrooms were good but compared to everything else they are a B / B+. The steak masala was incredible. Cooked perfectly it was substantial but not over the top. I ate every bite. The eggplant Villianese (spelling might be off) was vast (the lesson here is go easy on the apps). You need to like ricotta since they have a heavy hand with that one cheese. Sautéed broccoli with garlic was delicious. Overall the food is definitely an A. My only suggestion is that these folks might want to add water service since that was missed. Overall my advice is bag the North End with the high prices and crowds and come here for better food, better prices and absolutely no hassle. A

I was told to go there by a co work they said the food was awesome there.Well I was there last night I order the Italian wedding soup which had no taste to it what so ever then I order the chicken parm again no taste to it what so ever I told my co worker I went there they felt so bad I said it's not your fault they said it is I said go there the food is good I said dont feel bad at all it's there fault they cant put food out that taste good

BF and I went to Carmaleno's tonight. We both live in the North End. Carmaleno's is better than any North End restaurant. EXCELLENT food (fried tomatoes to DIE for), and service. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone! Worth the drive from the North End to Saugus.

Hands down my favorite Italian Restaurant of all time!!!! The food is absolutely delicious and the staff couldnt be nicer. Best family restaraunt. I will never go to the North End now that the Pushcart has opened in Saugus - Free Parking, You cant beat it!! Some of my favorites are the Chicken Parm, Fried Cheese, Pesto, and the pizza is to die for! Also, my favorite red sauce EVER! I Cant say enough good this about this restaraunt and the people that work there - Everyone MUST TRY!

Very nice small Italian restaurant. Easy parking, very nice staff. Accommodated our family on a Saturday night with ease after calling ahead. Service good - food delicious, bread, shrimp florentine special excellent. My sons ate all their ravioli / meatballs. My wife enjoyed her chicken broccoli and ziti (or equivalent). Full liquor license might propel this to 5/5. Definitely recommended for a great Italian meal without the hassle of the North End (minus the charm of the North End neighborhood). Reasonable pricing as well. Worth checking out!

This place is great!!!! The pizza was amazing! The salad was amazing! The service was amazing!!! There is nothing negative about this place!! Nice neighborhood restaurant, you feel like you're dinning in the north end, but you're in Saugus!!! I met one of the owners, she was a sweetheart!!! Very very nice people, that appreciate their customers, and treat them as family!!! I went there last night, and I'm still full!!! I can't wait to go back

This is the epitome of a family run business and they make you feel at home complete with some of the best Italian food in the area. We have visited them on several occasions and the service has always been warm and on point. they often have one of my favorite dishes on special, "Pollo Carmaleno". This special consists of chicken layered with their addictive ricotta cheese, topped with prosciutto and mozzarella and served over pasta with a killer pink pink sauce (I can't remember what's in it but it doesn't matter because I love it). We started with Pepe's Calamari, lightly breaded and deep fried and served with a spicy and very light sauce. Tonight I had the haddock in white wine and my beautiful date had the Chicken Angelique with marsala sauce. The haddock is always fresh and it's a huge portion and HEALTHY as well. We skipped desert tonight but in the past they have been very very good and sometimes include a nice homemade treat. The dining room is immaculate and tastefully decorated and brings back that North End feel. The owners are super friendly and the staff is very attentive. We love this place!

Stopped in here recently after learning that Fat Fingers closed and this new shop opened. I ordered a chicken parm sub which was good but not mind-blowing. I also ordered a caprese sub *with prosciutto* -- got the sandwich for my husband, brought it home -- no prosciutto. I was even charged the extra $2.50 for it. The cashier appeared to be new and asked for some help at the register when I put in my order. I should have checked the sandwiches after witnessing her confusion. Overall, not a bad place for lunch. Their dinner menu looks yummy so I'd definitely consider stopping in again. The restaurant itself is very small -- can't seat too many groups at once.

Sorry, but if you don't order the special, don't bother. Sauce is ok. Nothing great to say. Over priced. IMHO.

All done exquisitely. A real gem of a place. Superb haddock, eggplant parmaggiana. Tiramissou to die for. Very friendly and attentive service.

After much urging from Friends decided to try the Pushcart in Saugus, situated in what was formerly the home of another Italian restaurant -La Vita Mia which has moved to Hamilton Street in Saugus, just entering invoked old memories of great Italian food and specialty dishes, to say I was enthusiastic was appropriate. The waitress arrived very quickly said hello and immediately started telling us about that day's specials which she reeled off fairly quickly and then asked if we would like to order a beverage, I asked for a wine list, she seemed a bit put off but returned with the list and again immediately asked if we would like a beverage, I asked if we could have a minute and she scurried off. At this point my radar was up because even though the restaurant was 80% empty they seated us with a party directly behind us and another directly in front of us, how about a bit of spacing?? 2 Minutes later she was back for our food order!. the entire ordering process was WAY too rushed. We ordered an appetizer of a Caprese Salad and our entrees. The caprese salad was not great, but not horrible either, and definitely OVERPRICED.As for the main Courses, the Pork chops were large and juicy, but were seriously lacking in any flavor at all, in my hurried state to order, I had not noticed that the Italian pork chops with oven roasted potatoes, Peppers and Onion, did not have ONIONS,I realize I missed that - but who serves them like that??,They instead used Mushrooms which added a piquant flavor of eating a mouthfull of rubbery soil to the plate, the entire dish was tasteless and a disappointment -My wife ordered the Eggplant, suffice it to say that the tomato sauce tasted canned and was on the Cold side, which was frankly a sad depiction of an Italian Classic peasant dish, as it was a small, thin portion with the bad, cold tomato sauce and a rumor of mozzarella cheese, VERY DISAPPOINTING and REALLY, you screw up EGGPLANT?? We never were asked if we wanted another drink, My server gave us our check, and returned a full 17 minutes later - although she did have a lively 10-12 minute chat with the people in the booth to our right, I hope she enjoys her upcoming cruise, I heard ALL about it.- yes they fill the room from front to back as more guests arrived -8 full tables up front the remainder of the rectangular dining room? EMPTY. We left with the firm knowledge that we will return to traveling to Hamilton Street to get great Italian food again- Danny- I will have the Pork shank please!! I chose 1 star because you can't go lower and we saw no vermin