Carmello's of Old Town Manassas

5/5. I took my fiancé here for dinner tonight for her birthday, it was our first time eating here. Start to finish very impressed, the ambiance was classy, our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable. The food was delicious. We had declined dessert as we were too full but our waiter insisted on a complimentary crème brûlée for my fiancé. Everything was great, we highly recommend and will be back in the future.

We went on a Sunday evening and enjoyed the calmer atmosphere which makes it easier to enjoy a conversation than busier places. The food was really good, especially the veal and the gnocchis, and the sea scallops we had for appetizers. The menu changed recently we were told, so I’m putting it here

The service, food, wine, atmosphere, and everything about it is just incredible. We had Renee as our server and she was an absolute star. I highly recommend anything with their steak or lamb as it was incredible. They have a wonderful selection of wines that pair nicely with everything. We will be returning.

We hadn’t been to Carmello’s in Old Town Manassas in several years, so we recently went back with friends. They offer a corking fee, we were told it was $20 when we called, but when we got the bill, it was $25, which isn’t too bad, as we brought 2 bottles to share. Everything about the experience was excellent! Our server, Brian (Hispanic guy with longer hair tied back) was very very good! I’m calling him out, because they need to ensure all their servers are of his quality and training. He was spot-on with taking care of our table, corking and pouring our wine, making recommendations and telling us about their menu, etc. His great service definitely made the meal and experience that much better! All the items we got were great! Yes, the prices are a little high for PWC, but once you see the platings and taste the food, you’ll agree that it’s worth it! We’ll definitely return!

Food was all very good: bread, salad, soup, fish. I don’t like truffle oil, so the server accommodated by offering an alternate salad dressing. The blue cheese dressing was delicious but at the same time let the other ingredients come forward. The soup was served in an unusually large bowl with high sides. It was a little awkward to work around its edges. I will definitely return here for any special occasion in the future. The Portuguese red wine (Quinta de Chocopalha) was a nice accompaniment.

Carmello's in Historic Manassas offers a charming and authentic taste of Northern Italian cuisine in a warm and inviting setting. This established restaurant has a long-standing reputation for its classic dishes, prepared with care and using quality ingredients. The atmosphere exudes a cozy and traditional Italian trattoria feel, making it a beloved local spot. The menu at Carmello's features a range of traditional Northern Italian specialties, from flavorful pasta dishes and creamy risottos to expertly prepared meat and seafood entrees. You can expect to find comforting classics like lasagna, fettuccine alfredo, and osso buco, all made with time-honored recipes. The wine list complements the cuisine, offering a selection of Italian and other international vintages. The ambiance of Carmello's is part of its appeal, often featuring warm lighting, comfortable seating, and perhaps touches of traditional Italian décor. It's a place that feels both familiar and special, perfect for a romantic dinner or a gathering with friends and family. The service at Carmello's is typically attentive and professional, reflecting the restaurant's commitment to providing a pleasant dining experience. Staff members are usually knowledgeable about the menu and happy to offer recommendations. In short, Carmello's in Historic Manassas provides a delightful and genuine taste of Northern Italy. Its classic dishes, warm atmosphere, and attentive service make it a reliable and cherished dining destination in the area. It's a place where you can enjoy a comforting and authentic Italian meal.

This is a top shelf place to eat! If you like quality and are willing to pay for it, you will find it here! Everything in this establishment is first class! The food, the people and the decor! Leave the kids at home please! This is a great place for special occasions. If you get on their mailing list they will send you a really birthday offer! Alice is the owner and she is an amazing lady! Enjoy your visit! I promise you will love it! They need to work on bringing back some of the old charm and serving the food hot, my oysters came out cold. Very subpar for this restaurant.

Took my wife here for our anniversary and the service was top notch. They gave us complimentary wine and dessert which we truly appreciated. Staff is very friendly and attentive. Overall, it was a great and special experience. One of the best restaurants in Old Town Manassas!

The appetizers were amazing but disappointed by my entree. The beef tips were amazing to me but my husband didn't enjoy it. I also enjoyed the mushroom and pomegranate with asparagus and the clams. The seafood with pasta was only okay. Clams were a bit small and it was an amalgamation of seafood but for some reason it didn't have strong flavor at all. It also needed more sauce. Someone else in our party had the fish and that dish was good.

As you can see from my last review my family of seven really enjoyed our dinner here last year. This was my second time visiting here with my smaller family of only four for our 5:15 PM dinner reservation on a Friday evening. Carmello's and Monza in Manassas, VA, are sister restaurants and are owned by the same company. Both establishments are owned by Alice Pires. Carmello's opens at 5 PM. We were the first customers to arrive. A second and third group of customers arrived about 5-10 minutes after us. They offered us a table for four in the center. I requested a booth, which they obliged me. We were seated to the right side in a nice booth. We noticed the movable wall was closed between the two sections of the restaurant. I assume they had fewer customers than last time, when we were here on Mothers Day. The restaurant was packed on Mothers Day. I enjoyed my two Black Stags up with Makers Mark, bitters, lemon juice, blackberry syrup and soda for $13 each or $26 for both. I also enjoyed my seafood linguine pescatora for $46. I was charged a 3% credit card surcharge. My total bill was $297 excluding gratuity. Javier V. served us very well although a bit slow at times considering the fact the place was not packed with customers. I would rate this place slightly less than my last rating of 4 stars down to 3.5 stars. More to come regarding our flights tomorrow from IAD to ORD.

Beautiful location in Old Town Manassas! My son took me here for Mother's Day. ** Pass the restaurant for parking** short walk to the entrance. They did a nice job with decor and maximizing the use of the space. Waiter was very personable and friendly. Very large wine selection. They also have a bar that has a separate entrance. Food as amazing! My son had the pork special that was super tender. I went for the Agnolotti con Formagio pasta with juicy grilled shrimp on top. Pasta was filling and we didn't have room for desert. Noticed all the awards on the wall on my way out. Plan on visiting again to try more dishes!

This was a spiritual experience (I little dramatic I know) but this by far, is one of the best fine dinning experiences I've had so far, though the restaurant is simple, class is something is not lacking. I came on a Wednesday evening, was almost empty and it felt quiet and silence, I like busy places but I really enjoy the quietness of the restaurant that day. Starting with the sangria, delicious!!!! I order the polenta and pork belly and the flavor will explode in your mouth, sublime fruity and sweet flavor in every bite. I had the paella as an entree, I've had jaw-drop paellas before, even though this one is not the top 3 I've had, is definitively a very good paella, good amount of see food and the rice was cooked to perfection. Come to this cozy restaurant if you want a fine dining experience and delight your taste buds with this culinary encounter.

After several years, we returned to Carmello's to give it another try. We did not have a great experience when we visited and we were hoping that our experience would be a lot better this time around. Carmello's is the fine dining restaurant in Old Town Manassas and has been in the area for years. Unlike most restaurants, the front area looks more like a living room and not a reception area. At first we were confused on who to approach but a staff member appeared after a minute or two and got us seated immediately. The restaurant looks like a grandma's dining room - and it's not an insult. However, we could see some spots that may need to be improved - again, this is expected as the restaurant has been in operation for a while. While waiting for our food, we had red wine and warm bread (which was obviously not house made, but it was okay). For appetizers, we had Folhados de Bife, Chicken Cauliflower Soup, and Insalata Cesare. The Folhados de Bife is filet mignon tips on sticks - tender but tiny. The Chicken Cauliflower Soup (which I now realized was the same soup I had in my first visit) was delicious but the bowl it was served in makes it challenging to eat. The Insalata Cesare is meh. For main entrees, we had Filetto Di Pesci Alla Sabatino (Mahi-Mahi on Parmesan Risotto) and Costellas de Cordeiro (Lamb Rack) and we were quite disappointed. The sauce on the mahi-mahi was runny and the temperature on the risotto was inconsistent - some spots on my plate was even cold. The lamb rack was similar, and came with less lamb rack than what we expected. The only positive thing (aside from the soup) was the service. I'm really not sure where the accolades come from but this restaurant really needs to reassess their menu given their price point. There are too many restaurants opening in the area that are taking their food and service seriously that I would rather go to those places and spend good money than return to Carmello's.

I came all the way from Miami to try Carmello's for my employer's Holiday Party near our main office, and can say it was worth the trip! Located in a historic building in Old Town Manassas's restaurant row, the building retains some features like the the classic red brick wall, in its more modern wine cellar (which by the way has some great reds). The dim lighting and jazzy / holidayish tunes were perfect for our celebration. Our group had a preset menu in the aforementioned private dining area, and started with a (mostly) tasty looking appetizer: arancini, beef wellington empanadas, and shrimp. I informed our servers on my food allergy, and he was able to accomodate a plate with just the empanadas as that was not cross contaminated with the shrimp. The space was well ventilated to the point I wasn't triggered by my coworkers who partook in seafood. For my mains, I ordered their Garden salad with fresh greens & chickpeas. I was also able to sub out the creamy Italian dressing for my preferred balsamic. My main was their tasty chicken piedmont. This tasty cutlet was topped with melted cheese, tomatoes and red peppers, and accompanied with roasted potatoes and green beans were both healthy and tasty. The creme Brulee was perfect with its lightly crispy crust and custard. Besides the aforementioned red, I enjoyed a glass of Angel's Envy to help me thaw out from the 30 degree weather. We also had the option of coffee or tea (black Americano for me). The space was big enough for our group to celebrate the year with speeches from management as well as our white elephant gift exchange! (I ended up with a pretty good gift). In addition to the catered / fix menu, I noticed there's also a "regular" dining room I would definitely check out next work trip.

Good service, delicious food, and surprisingly reasonably prices. The only downside is not their fault, it can be hard to find parking nearby, but that's Old Town Manassas for ya! Definitely check it out, especially if you're interested in Portuguese cuisine. (And if you're not, you should be, it's one of those often-overlooked gems of the world.)

To say I'm obsessed with this place is an understatement. My parents have been coming here for over 30+ years so I grew up in this restaurant for special occasions. It's now become a staple for my husband and I for date night. Javier is an absolutely wonderful person and server. He introduced us to a tasting of their Vinho Verde and I have to get a bottle every time we're there. From the interior ambiance to the music, I always am put in a relaxed mood and ready to eat. My absolute FAVORITE dish is the lobster agnolotti. I'm happy to see it stay on the menu for the past 1-2 years now because it's that good. Both sides of my family are full blood Italian so as an Italian-American, pasta and sauces are a normal household food staple for me. It's hard for me to really enjoy elsewhere and this is the place I adore for it. If you're looking for a flavorful, satisfying dinner for a special occasion or date night, this is a great place to check out. Nothing disappoints!

I hosted my daughter's bridal shower at Carmello's. Alice, Peter, and staff did a wonderful job, as always. Their prices are more reasonable for daytime events than other venues in the area (and you get so much more). They are very accommodating, easy to work with, and the food and service are great. I highly recommend.

Beautiful room, kind and attentive service, delicious food, and awesome wine list. A true classic and great experience.

Excellent fine dining. Delicious food. Impeccable service. Lovely dining room. From starters and salads to mains and dessert, everything was delicious and plated beautifully. We started with complimentary Portuguese wine. I ordered lamb chops (excellent!). My mother had the clamb chowder and escargot and enjoyed both. Husband really enjoyed his angliotti with lobster and crab. Brother loved the veal scallopini with gnocchi. We shared the creme brulle and the peach cobbler. Our waiter was one of those rare professionals that ensures your evening is perfect. Lovely gentleman that really took care of us. Highly recommend Carmello's for an excellent dining experience!

I enjoyed dinner here last night with my husband! We spend a lot of time in Old Town Manassas, and although we have eaten at so many other restaurants and Monza (partner restaurant), we had never tried going here. The service, food, and drinks were all on point! The vibe is upscale and cozy, which we loved. We started the meal with complimentary glasses of rosé and bread, which were both great. We shared the baked squid appetizer (yum!!!) and each got a seafood entree. All of the food was fabulous and the portion sizes were nice. We have a new date night spot for sure.

We hadn't been to Carmello's in Old Town Manassas in several years, so we recently went back with friends. They offer a corking fee, we were told it was $20 when we called, but when we got the bill, it was $25, which isn't too bad, as we brought 2 bottles to share. Everything about the experience was excellent! Our server, Brian (Hispanic guy with longer hair tied back) was very very good! I'm calling him out, because they need to ensure all their servers are of his quality and training. He was spot-on with taking care of our table, corking and pouring our wine, making recommendations and telling us about their menu, etc. His great service definitely made the meal and experience that much better! All the items we got were great! Yes, the prices are a little high for PWC, but once you see the platings and taste the food, you'll agree that it's worth it! We'll definitely return!

We received a basket with warm bread and butter that I always appreciate. We ordered Oysters Rockefeller as appetizer and they were delicious. As Main entree I got the Filete de Bronzini which came with little pieces of sweet potato and my husband got the ribs, both were good. We received 2 complementary glasses of wine. Later I ordered a delicious pomegranate non-alcoholic drink. When we made the reservation they asked us if we were celebrating something. We said our 33 anniversary. At the end of the meal they gave us a cream brulle in a big plate that read Happy 33 Anniversary. It was a nice touch. We are looking forward to go back and try other dishes.

This is my all time favorite American restaurant . We came here Sunday night rainy day . Our waitress was super nice and polite . First we ordered wine , cocktails and Oyster Rockefeller and Mini Beef Wellington . Superb beef melts in your mouth also the sauce too . Then we ordered our dinner entree Beet salad very nice .Lobster and beef which was house special was too good . The lobster tasted so yummy sweet .Beef was soft & tender . My fish was so tasty . Overall a very good experience . They must have a very good chef .

I've been a customer for almost 40 years, and Carmello's consistently provides delicious food and impeccable service. Their wait staff is first-class and does everything wonderfully and professionally. We had a group of 20 at our dinner and the staff took care of everything with smiles on their faces and impeccable attention to every detail. Carmello's always delivers a fantastic experience!

Easter Brunch was very good. Nice offering of food and the service was excellent. It was also reasonably priced.

Way too expensive for the food. Chicken Marsala for $38.00 - really?? Service was fantastic but prices ridiculous and food quality mediocre at best.

Still awesome, I used to come here 25+ yrs ago while on business travel. Came back last week and wasn't disappointed, Carmello's may actually be better now (and it was amazing before) so that's saying a lot. We had a party of 10, tried almost everything on the menu, big favorites were the seafood pasta special, rack of lamb, and all the appetizer were great. Wine list is massive and well thought out, we had a few Barolo's all were terrific. Very attentive and friendly staff!! Everyone had a great experience!

My husband and I went to Carmello's on a date night and were quite impressed. We began with their complimentary bread/butter and aperitif. The menu had many delectable choices. We ordered the Paelha Valenciana and the Filetto di Pesce Alla Messinese. The paella had a generous amount of seafood; all cooked perfectly. The salmon dish was divine; lots of baby shrimp and one of the best salmon filets I've ever had. We asked our waiter for wine recommendations, and both paired beautifully. He returned a few times to ensure our satisfaction. For dessert we decided on the New York cheesecake, which wasn't too sweet or heavy - just delightful. My decaf coffee was good (and actually decaf), and my husband tried the yummy 20 year port with dessert, a perfect ending. Carmello's atmosphere was quiet and charming, the food was fantastic, and the staff well-versed and attentive. An all-around excellent dining experience that upstages a certain bistro in Occoquan.

Had dinner here tonight - 2nd time dining here - both times were amazingly good! When you sit down you're are greeted with a complimentary glass of champagne. I started with the snails - Trastevere Lumache - very good but wanted a hint more garlic. Wife had the Oysters Rockefeller - they were amazingly delish! Had a great selection of wines - from dry to not so dry to mellow and then some jammy and others earthy. I had several tastes of different wines and they had something for every pallet. For entrees, I had the Bucatini Fruta Di Mare - great balance of flavors and had a hint of lemon across the plate - enjoyed every bite. My wife had the rack of lamb - again very delish - everything was spot on. The pace of service was correct - the food was great - and the cocktails and wine were spot on. Highly recommended.

We had the pleasure of dining at Carmellos last weekend for my daughter's wedding shower. It was an outstanding experience all around! Right from day one, we were met with professionalism with prompt communications, and personalized care to design a custom brunch menu and beautiful mimosa bar. On the day of the event, the elegant ambiance, top notch service, and fabulous food made the shower extra special. I am immensely thankful to Carmellos, their staff and the events coordinator for working hard behind the scenes to make a day full of happy memories.

Went there for a Birthday. Nice free dessert! The specials were very good. The pasta dishes were tremendous. Great inside. Felt like I was in Italy. Our server and all the folks were great! A good time for all! Highly recommend. We will be back for sure!

The bread was delicious ! The service was also good. Our food had amazing presentation. The Applewood flatbread was also delicious. I believe the desserts were the best part! The apple cobbler was amazing.

This tiny Italian restaurant is nestled in downtown Manassas. Our friend recommended it so we did a double date here last night. They offer open table reservations but it didn't look like a lot of people made them. Steven was our waiter for this magical experience. Our party decided that desert looked really delicious, and we wanted to ensure we had room for it - so we ordered it first! The crème brulee and limoncello cake were on my side of the table, so naturally I favored those two! Steven brought out complimentary white wines for our table to try. I figured it tasted pretty good so I got a glass. For entree's I ordered a capellini with rosa sauce (combination of the three sauces they have) and scallops with a side of broccolini. My husband ordered and appetizer it was meat rolled up like a cigar with mozzarella cheese inside. They gave him four pieces for around $13. Our dates ordered a pasta dish and the avocado and strawberry salad. The restaurant is very quaint. The seating rooms is fairly small and tucked and navigating around tables is tight. I felt the service was exceptional. We always had water refills and were able to order new things when our dishes finished. The food quality was great! Taste, atmosphere and company was epic! We would definitely come back.

Attended a financial literacy dinner here and enjoyed a pre-fixe of dinner of green salad which was small and fresh already dressed with a vinaigrette dressing. Warm little wheat and while bread rolls and butter. Husband has a beautifully prepared and well seasoned medium steak with onions and mushrooms and two sides, steamed broccoli and mashed potato. I had the salmon which was good, a tiny bit overcooked for me, but well seasoned and drizzled with dill lemon sauce with a side of steamed broccoli and roast potatoes which were well seasoned. Since we had another couple at our table we did not take pics. The service was okay since it was a timed dinner - everyone was served at the same time once presentation was complete. We sat in a long rectangular room with several tables. The space is well cared for. Linens and glasses clean and appearance of servers as expected for a restaurant like this. The restaurant is on the other side and we peeked into the restaurant and it looks very inviting with linen tables and dark wood interior. It is a cosy looking space and we will be going back there for our son's birthday dinner. They seem to have an extensive collection of wines. It looks like a fine dining establishment for the little Old Town Manassas. I am excited to return and experience the full restaurant service.

Beautiful setting, great staff, and delicious food. Parking was easy to find. Loved the sample of the wine before dinner.

I had the pleasure of being served by Brodie during my recent visit, and she truly made the experience exceptional. Besides the great food and atmosphere, Brodie was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu and offered great recommendations that didn't disappoint. The southern fried chicken BLT was apparently her favorite, and now mine too! We felt well taken care of throughout the meal. It's clear Monza takes pride in providing excellent service. I'll definitely be coming back, thanks to Brodie's outstanding hospitality!"

Carmello's is worth it! Worth the drive in rush hour traffic and worth it for the price. I enjoyed an incredible meal with some friends on a Friday night. Our waiter was very nice and gave great recommendations. We tried the scallop appetizer, oysters Rockefeller, rack of lamb entree, paella, agnolotti, and marscapone mousse at his suggestion. Everything was fantastic and the entire group left stuffed and happy.

I truly appreciate the response that came from management. It seems this was just a one off aberration.

To be honest I wasn't expecting too much when my parents wanted us to make a trip out Old Town Manassas but I was very pleasantly surprised! Service: 5/5 - Our servers, Stephen and Chris, were both very friendly, respectful, and attentive! Very knowledgeable about the food and wines and provided great recommendations. Food: 4/5 - Their bread rolls are fresh out of the oven with a crispy exterior and warm, fluffy insides - delicious with their flavored butters which are changed out periodically! For appetizers we got the shrimp bisque (a hit with the table!) and grilled octopus (cooked very well, super tender, but the accompanying vegetables/olives were a bit lacking). For entrees we got the swordfish (which also came with scallops and a jumbo head-on shrimp!), lamb chops with potato gratin (delicious), and the angel hair pasta with jumbo shrimp and shredded squash ("Gamberi Griglia Genovese" which was creamy, well balanced, and flavorful). For dessert we got the profiterole cake, which was just okay. The layer of chocolate mousse was good but the layer of chocolate cake at the bottom and profiteroles on top were a bit dry. Overall 4.5/5 stars - a great place to come for date night or special occasions. Looking forward to coming back to try more dishes!

A preface: I went to Carmello's to hear a pitch for retirement planning--one of those "Spend an hour listening to our pitch and we'll give you a free dinner." Unfortunately, due to very heavy traffic, I arrived late and wasn't permitted to hear the pitch. However, the dinner's sponsors did provide the dinner in a separate (the main) dining room. So, on the one hand, I received a free meal at Carmello's. On the other hand, the free menu was limited and I suspect the serving sizes were much smaller than Carmello's regular dinners. Nevertheless, I did have an opportunity to judge the restaurant. Location Carmello's is in Old Town Manassas. It's convenient to 66 and 28, though I was delayed about 20 minutes taking 28--it was raining during rush hour. Yes, I should have known better. However, despite the summary of the place's features above, it offers no parking. There's no valet service, no parking garage, and very limited on-street parking. There is parking a few blocks away--several free lots and reportedly a few garages. So you may have to walk a few blocks. Ambiance Nice but not great. Brick walls, wood floors, padded chairs and booths. The place was nearly empty--there were three other groups of two or three people. Even then, the hard surfaces caused sound to carry. It wasn't bad nearly empty, but it probably could get pretty noisy if the place gets busy. Some music--maybe Sinatra--was playing quietly in the background. Lighting was okay. Temperature was okay. Food This may be the weakest part of my review since--as I mentioned--I had intended to attend a private dinner with a limited menu. The choices were steak, salmon, and chicken. I had the salmon, which came with broccoli and roasted potatoes. It was preceded by a salad and a warm dinner roll. All of that was pretty good. The bread was warm and tasty, with some sort of special butter. The salad was definitely fresh, and was okay. The salmon, too, was fresh and properly cooked. Very small portion, though--which probably was due to the limited menu selection. And ice water. There was no opportunity (even though I knew I'd have to pay for it myself) for coffee, tea, drinks, or dessert. And that brings us to . . . Service Service was poor. The other three tables were served by a chipper, friendly, helpful, attentive female server. Nice personality and from what I saw she interacted well with the other diners. I got a dour male server. (I mention their sexes just to distinguish the two.) He wasn't impolite or nasty, just cold, inattentive, and noncommunicative. I asked him--as I often do--what menu item he'd recommend. As mentioned above, the three choices were steak, salmon, and chicken. I asked specifically about the steak and salmon. All he could offer was: "They're both popular." O...kay. He came around just once to fill my water glass and to provide a clean knife. As I mentioned above, I would have ordered and paid for tea or coffee and a dessert but--maybe because it wasn't on the limited menu--it wasn't even offered to me. At the end of the meal he just vanished. Maybe because he figured I was only there for a free meal, he didn't see a need to be attentive. I really don't know. I did leave him a tip, though--about 25% on what I figured the sponsors had paid for the meal. After about 10 minutes, I just stood up and left into the nighttime drizzle for a three-block walk back to my car.

Had the pleasure of celebrating our 23 year Anniversary at Carmello's tonight. The food, wine and service was excellent. Our waiter Nick was so attentive and made the best recommendations. The scallops appetizer and our main courses of Paella and rack of lamb were so delicious. Perfect spices in the food. The manager also came by to make sure we enjoyed our evening. The creme brûlée desert was also delish. Highly recommend and we will be back. Thank you for making our anniversary special!

A rare 5 star from me (maybe more accurately a 4.8 for a few minor details but... I'll explain those... first bc they are minor).. the negative first bc the rest was fantastic. Butter-- they make fresh hot rolls but the compound butter is rock hard lol-- it should be spreadable. My husband's pet peeve. He irked me for 15 minutes complaining about that. Second-- the crème brûlée, which was homemade in house, is not bad but it's missing a little oomph acc to my husband who will choose this above all other desserts except his mom's tapioca pudding... lastly, the mains seem a little on the high side particularly the pasta, chicken and pork loin dishes when you consider relative pricing to filet mignon and seafood but it's hard to complain when at least mine was sooo good...now for the rest! Service is fantastic. The waiters are polite and professional, attentive without being cloying. We did have to ask for a few things like water refills but in the scheme of things on a Saturday night it was really refreshing to have such good service. The manager Stephen stopped by and we had a nice chat about some of his ideas for a new website and how they've tweaked dishes, the concept of the restaurant and its history and the place next door which is in the same family. It was like being in a small neighborhood place where you get to know folks which is lovely. There is a reason this made the top 50 (after 34 years in business BTW which is really quite cool). The drinks were very good. My Negroni was en pointe and the Moscow mule was just standard but properly made. The prices were very reasonable for NOVA as well for a fine dining concept (but as I note I did think the relative pricing of certain main items was a bit out of balance; however, the apps and salads seemed well priced overall). We chose a variety of things from the menu for apps and mains: we had the seasonal salad which they split beautifully between us without batting an eye lash. The salad was dressed d with a tangy vinaigrette that had the most delicious smoked truffle oil that hit me right off the bat and a sharp citrus vinegar. There was apple maybe fennel as well as arugula and pepitas and some cheese crumbles. Fantastic. we also shared the scallop app which had three delicious and perfectly cooked sea scallops on three big and well cooked spears of asparagus and a mushroom sauce (shiitakes which were yummy). Hubs had the shrimp bisque which was a bit like cl chowder to me and came in a giant bowl that was pretty full (he took about 1/3 home). He also had the steak tip app. Two smallish skewers but well cooked (medium seems to be the default) and a tasty coulis type berry sauce or something like that drizzled on the plate. The salad with the skewer was an after thought and just pieces of lettuce as a bed..of all the dishes we tried this one I'd skip on price to quantity and quality balance but it wasn't not tasty. Just not as tasty and nice as the rest For my main I had the veal scaloppine which came with Brussels sprouts and soft pillowy delicious gnocchi (as a rule I don't order these bc I never like them but I asked so many questions about dishes and such that I didn't have the heart to ask to substitute and I'm glad I didn't)... I never understood why anyone would eat gnocchi or why they were called soft and pillowy until today bc these must be the real deal. The tasted like what I always see written as what you should expect. The Gorgonzola sauce was modestly dressed and not over powering which I count as good. When I looked at the menu I thought it was really strange that they would have two rather rich sauces in one dish-- sauce for the gnocchi and a second caper and lemon based sauce for the scalloping. Well call me silly bc it was really great! The scallopine sauce was fabulous as well. It also had Brussels sprouts with bacon which was perfectly cooked. It's a rich dish and all the elements seem a bit wacky but it was really really good. Given we had I doubled in bread salad and scallops I had over 1/2 to take home to the wee ones because let's face it... I was going to have dessert too. My husband had the crème brill mentioned above and I had an absolutely divine apple cobbler (to be honest I'd probably call it an apple crumble or crisp or maybe even a Brown Betty but not a cobbler bc there is no biscuit or other top but rather an oatmeal like crumble on top and it has a crust which a cobbler does not-- but neither does a crisp-- but here I am being a little bit picky when whatever I you want to call it, I'd call it delish...) and it had a scoop of ice cream. On a not so indulgent evening I'd happily share this with my kids. All in all one of the best meals I've had off the NOVA best restaurants lists over the years. It was a splurge for sure but then we ate literally 1/4 of the menu. Our total with tax top and a small surcharge for using a credit card was about $170 but it's very rare that I turn out a 5 star review so...

The food was good, not great. The service was ok for upscale dining but not for Fine Dining. The one thing that was stomach churning was the dirt and a bug I spotted on the floor. Not what I expected for the money.

I was so disappointed in my meal tonight. I haven't been to Carmelo's in years and was really looking forward to it. The chicken was dry and the pasta tasted funny. Definitely not a $38 meal. My friend had the salmon with crabmeat and said the crabmeat also tasted funny. The limoncello cake was delicious, though.

Ok where has this place been my whole life!!! I've never been so happy over a pie of pizza. I've been everywhere and some places I can say is unlike any other but this is absolutely my favorite in comparison to anything close by. I've been on the pizza hunt for a while. Following Dave from barstool sports, this is just everything I look for. Some places have great sauce, not great texture. Other have great texture but sauce is eh. There's always something but not this one. It all hit me like little Nicky having Popeyes chicken.

Wonderful place to have business dinner meetings ! The food is remarkable and the staff is awesome !

If you're looking for a fine dining experience, a place to celebrate a special occasion or gather with friends for a unique dining experience, this is your place. Cate and I finally made it here for dinner on Sat evening and had a wonderful experience. Our server Javier was able to make some excellent recommendations. We had the grilled portobello mushrooms and the sea scallops for appetizers and then shared the fruite de mare for our main. All this paired nicley with the Vinho Verde white Portuguese wine. It was all exceptional and a truly singular experience that Cate and I will not soon forget.

Service was wonderful, food and wine were delicious. Celebrated a birthday here and it was a wonderful choice. Will definitely be back!

This restaurant is stellar. The service was impeccable, the food divine. Renee was our waitress and as soon as we walked through the door, she asked what the occasion was that we were celebrating. We explained that it was for two birthdays and she immediately told us the deserts would be comped for them. She was very engaging and was on top of everything especially for the size of our party. The food was delicious! The scallops and shrimp were cooked to perfection. There were 11 of us, and everyone had a terrific dinner. It was so good that everyone ordered dessert. Highly recommended.

We had our babysitter cancel on us so we brought our 2.5 year old with us, expecting them to say that he couldn't come in. But to our surprise they said it was not a problem. They seated us in the side room which was so much better for our son. The waitstaff was wonderful. They were great at recommendations and service. The food: Appetizer- Fois Gras Delicious. The glaze on top was perfect and the mushrooms and onions complimented the fois gras perfectly. Salad- Insalata Carmello's Great house salad. Delicious. Entrees- Rack of Lamb and Short Rib Rack of lamb was amazing. Meat cooked well. Short rib was not what I was expecting. They told me that it had pasta underneath but not at all what I pictured. The short rib itself was amazing. Fall apart and delicious. The pasta was light and tasty. But my idea of what it was going to be made it fall short. Desert- Pecan pie with ice cream Raspberry and orange slice not needed. Too many components on plate. It was so delicious that the fruit wasn't necessary. It was so good.

I'm not sure why this isn't the top spot in Manassas. We are not from around here and researched several places with friends for a nice dinner out following a business meeting, and Carmellos was in the middle of several lists. It looked appealing to me so we took a chance. I expected average cute downtown Italian fare. Carmello's delivered a delicious, friendly, comfortable and welcoming meal that was way above my expectations. Our group had salads, wine, a filet and the vegetarian lasagne, followed by homemade apple cobbler. All were delicious and hearty without being over-seasoned. Service was prompt and friendly without being too present, and the environment was great for a conversation. Everyone in the place seemed to be having a fantastic time. This is the place you want.

One of my fav Manassas spots. Been these for special days and they do not disappoint. The waiters are well versed in the food selection. Steaks and pasta made perfect every time.

Food was absolutely amazing! Wonderful, friendly staff. We were very pleased and will definitely be returning.

Absolutely amazing food and service with a cozy atmosphere. 5+ stars. The perfect date night and we'll be back soon!

Food and ambiance is good. Good service but the kitchen staff needs to keep it down, could hear them yelling in the back. However for a fine dining restuarant, there is a lack of dress code or it is not enforced. People were wearing tanks and baseball hats.

Hi there- I arrived late and flustered on Sunday evening because my phone died just before I got to the restaurant and I didn't have the exact address. The team calmed me, welcomed me and charged my phone for me while I enjoyed your wonderful food and service. I left 110% satisfied with a 93% charge on my phone. What more could I ask for? It was a delightful experience and our waiter Javier led the way. Many many thanks and I promise we will be back- on time - and not so needy! Best, Tracy

I lived in Manassas area for a while, but I did not notice this restaurant. Perhaps because it is hidden behind a tree. I was pleasantly surprised. Great food and nice atmosphere. We will be back!