Carmi Soul Food Express - Southern Take Out

Never knew of this place, I was originally gonna go nextdoor to Hook N Fish but saw this place and figured I’d try it. So glad I did! I was warmly greeted and could tell the food was made with love, heart, and soul. I ordered the catfish and grits meal though I’ve never found grits that I liked. These grits however, where on a whole other level, they were seasoned to perfection and to me, tasted like cheesy mashed potatoes, best grits I’ve ever had! The catfish was seasoned to perfection and was delicious! You could tell they make the food with love. I will be back.

Food was good except for the fried green tomatoes. You could tell they were frozen and then reheated. I sent them back. For the price of it all, you should get at least 2 pieces of catfish. The salmon was pretty good but could've been better with a little more flavor. The yams, greens and Mac and cheese were the best out of it all. The cornbread was like cake... perfect. I really enjoyed the artwork that was displayed throughout the restaurant. The employees... the 2 ladles were very helpful and customer service oriented.

Great experience and perfect atmosphere for my family of five . I highly recommend the chicken and waffles , it is cooked to perfection! The smothered wings were 3.5/5 , fried chicken 3.5/5 , mac and cheese 4/5 ( very creamy and good ) , chicken tenders 4.5/5 these were our favorite !! That waffle was made with love and extra butter , it was soft just like we like it definitely 5/5 ! Thank you Carmi for taking care of my family . Hope to see you in the future !

This place is a gem! Try the glazed salmon on Fridays - it's amazing. The chicken & dumplings soup and shrimp & grits are scrumptious. When people are passionate about what they do and have the experience to back it up, great things (and food) happen. Great staff. Wonderful people. Family-owned and operated. Can't wait to come back for more.

We ordered so much food when we were here and we're obsessed. Every single thing you can get at this restaurant is so good. There is so much flavor in every dish and side. I can not wait to go back again! If you like spicy or cajun food do not sleep on this place it will blow your mind.

If I can give 0 stars I would. Lettuce in salad was wilted. The Cook was eating the damn fries in front of me that that goes with my order.. no proper etiquette what so ever, ordered a slice of cake it was hard as hell smh…. Just straight trash throw the whole restaurant away

Stopped in for brunch and was amazed. I don’t see why more people weren’t dining in. Tried the shrimp and grits, and it was some of the best I’ve had. Cheesy goodness and a huge portion. Mouth is watering just thinking about it. Mac and cheese and catfish looked amazing. The only complaint was it seems it took the food a while to come out, but it was so worth the wait.

I was in the city this weekend & gave this spot a chance. I ordered: BBQ Pork Sandwich, 4 fried wings w/ Mac n cheese & seafood salad. Wife: smoked pork ribs w potatoe salad. Food was good, hit the spot! We didn’t have the pleasure of tasting the “potato salad or seafood salad” b/c the server forgot & I didn’t check my bag. I called to see if we could be accommodated for this error. A lady called the next day saying come get those two sides. That was very respectable service ;-) I would eat here again, but hopefully they get a bigger spot to dine in.

First off, it wasn't clear to me until I got there that this was takeout only. Yelp has separate entries for Carmi Soul Food and Carmi Express, and I thought they were separate outlets. That it was takeout only presented a dilemma for me, as I was just visiting the North Side for the day by bus and foot, and had no place to take my order. Of the two people behind the counter, one could not have cared less about my dilemma, but the other was of some help with this and my order. I wound up walking two blocks downhill to a park with benches. Second, that all orders are cooked to order and take 25 minutes. Fortunately there is a branch of the Pittsburgh Public Library across the street and it was open, so that occupied my time. The food: the chicken and catfish are fried in light crispy breading, very fine. The chicken wingettes were delicious. The catfish was not easily flaked and was ever so slightly rubbery, which would have been a very bad sign if it had been any more so. But it wasn't too bad. Green beans are a good side dish at this sort of joint, and these were good, seasoned with meat and sautéed onions mixed in. The white rice was entirely plain but tasty.

The food is always fresh, flavorful and fantastic! Reasonable prices and great portion sizes. I ordered through Grubhub today and it was delivered on time and still warm and the potato salad and sweet potato pie cold. Absolutely delicious.

Its been a year or two since I've had a sweet potato pie from Carmi. They were always so delicious so I'm not sure what happened to the pies I remember but they are not the same. I recently bought two pies and unfortunately the crust was not done. I also found a few pieces of skin and a sprout from the potato, inside. Extremely disappointing! I had to put them in the oven as well, to brown the crust. They were pretty tasty while warm but I should not have to finish baking them at home.

The food was perfectly fine and cooked fresh, but I'm not sure I will be returning. I had the pulled pork sandwich and the macaroni and cheese. My bf had the buffalo chicken sandwich and fries. The biggest thing I will say is they have no seating so plan to take everything to go. It was decent, but anything to write home about. I give it a solid 3.5 stars.

Great service from Tijae. She was pleasant and provided great details when we were unsure what to get. My whole family left the restaurant happy and with take home boxes because the portions were generous and the prices were reasonable. My only disappointment was that they only had 1 dessert option (banana pudding) but I was too full to be sad about it. The seasoning of everything was on point- not salty, not bland, just right. Tried catfish nuggets, fried mac n cheese, and chicken wings with sweet potato waffle. Fried mac bites were huge and way bigger than expected. It makes no sense how they perfectly fried that much mac n cheese. It wasn't greasy or burnt or under cooked. The mac inside was actually flavorful and cheesy as if you were eating a side of mac n cheese alone. I don't think anyone makes fried mac n cheese as big or as good as Carmi's. Chicken & sweet potato waffle- Taste amazing together; taste amazing separately. The waffle doesn't need syrup. The chicken seasoning is special. I can't believe this is the 1st time I've been here but it won't be the last.

Unfortunately, I do not have pictures. The restaurant is small without place for seating. That was ok because we were ordering food to go. The person taking our order was kind and polite. He explained the menu and food that was available. The food was tasty.

I used to enjoy Carmi so much when visiting the North Side location.However the last few times I visited it was less than enjoyable. From the time I walked in I didn't feel welcomed. The food came out lukewarm and our server never returned until it was time to bring the check. I didn't bother with any photos.

They charge entirely too much for their dishes. You can make the same food at home for a much cheaper price and have left overs. The over charged prices is why it's hard to support some black businesses.

Haven't been since they moved but everything is mouth watering delicious. Guarantee it's only improved with the relocation and facilities. Can't wait to check out the new digs! TheCandied Yams, Cuts, chicken and sides were fresh and good! Parking should be easy down on Carson

Delicious food. The chicken dumpling soup is the best I ever had. You will need to gave patience waiting for the food but it's well worth it.

Came this past weekend during the Covid-19 fiasco. I called in advanced and there was a 30 minute wait which wasn't too bad for a Friday night. As everything was to-go, I walked in and did my best to steer clear of the other patron waiting on his food. Because the entry is so small, it was kinda hard to social distance but not impossible with just two. Unfortunately another guy came in and it was impossible...oh well...hope we're all safe. Cashier came by a few minutes later to get my name and meal. I got the fried chicken dinner with a side of mac and cheese and potato salad. Both sides were plentiful and I really enjoyed the potato salad especially. The cornbread was a little too dry for my taste but had a nice flavor. Finally, the flavor of the chicken was really nice with the cracked pepper and crispiness, but the chicken breast was small and chicken wing had almost no meat... Overall I enjoyed the meal but found it to be a little overpriced.

I loved the service received here! Came in on a Saturday for brunch and it wasn't busy at all. Our meals came out very quickly and delicious. The only reason they got a 4 star from me is because I was not the biggest fan of the yams. They were more on the savory side and almost tasted as if the yams were overly ripe so I tasted some bitterness. They do not offer parking so come prepared to look for a street meter parking. I will definitely be back anytime I'm in town.

READY to have tastebuds activated. The baked beans I give a 5, try( SHOWCASE BBQ). The smoke wings not dry slight smoke flavor. I give them a 5 as well. (Showcase wins again)

Oh my! What a treat. This place is the real deal. Anyone hungering for some real down home soul food and southern cooking... Look no further and do yourself a flavor get your booty down here. So much to choose from it's a hard decision. Everything was absolutely amazing. Solid 5 stars.

Wow! I have been wanting to try Carmi's for some time now and I'm so happy I did! We went for brunch on a Sunday and the restaurant was packed but we were seated immediately. I didn't realize how much room there actually is in the restaurant. They had variety of music playing if was louder toward the back. - Service was slow - we were NOT being ignored it's was because everyone was super busy and our waitress was working hard! Beverages : coffee, pitcher of fruity mimosa Brunch: Queen breakfast -biscuit, eggs your way, bacon, and grits. Fried chicken Mac and cheese biscuit and greens The biscuit was incredible and I loved the grits. Fried chicken was flavorful and the Mac was cheesy and homemade. My boyfriend didn't like the greens but I did! It's worth a try! You leave full, happy, and relaxed! I would 100% go back!

the food speaks for itself. the people leaving bad reviews, you need more jesus. i will pray for you. carmi has the best everything. all their food is made with love and care. its handsdown the best restaurant in pittsburgh pa! i wish i could eat the chicken and the corn bread everyday!!! i love you guys! god bless you all!

My parents ordered dinner here recently and the food was WAY undercooked! They've reached out multiple times for team members to inform them "management will be in touch." It's been over a week with now two attempts and nothing... This is unacceptable, especially considering what we pay for dinners here. The service is just ridiculous.

Saturday February 18, 2023 Slow Disorganized Need to work on their process. Just seemed all over the place. Their greeter seemed unsure about where people were sitting or if she even had seats. Online ordering has to be better. Your meter is showing the food is done when it isn't. You have to do better.

After touring Univ of Pitt/Carnegie Mellon we were starving and looking for a good spot for lunch. The marketing for Carmi's says "the best Soulfood in Pittsburgh" now this is my first time in Pitt, but I'll bet this is the truth!! The food was absolutely mouth watering! I ordered the lunch option of catfish w/a side of sweet potato fries and mixed greens. I asked for the catfish crispy, which was delivered and the fries had a sprinkle of cinnamon which is missing when most folks prepare sweet potato fries (Thanks for the person that indicated this in their review), the greens were mixed with Kale (a bit diff) mustards and collards w/turkey (always a plus). They have a full bar, so I also Indulged in the TN sweet tea! My 4 colleagues enjoyed their meals as well, one was new to soul food and throughly enjoyed her chicken/waffles; the waffles were a bit "light" to me; but they enjoyed it! The wait was a bit; but it was 100%worth it! If I ever make it back to Pitt, I'll definitely go back to try the shrimp n grits!

I ordered fried chicken, waited for 30 minutes with no one checking on the food so I asked the waitress. She went to the back and they obviously forgot my order and said it would take another 10 minutes. I arrived later for lunch, 1pm so it wasn't too busy. I'm dissapointed I couldn't try the food. I left after sitting there for 40 minutes.

Loved Carmi (pronounced Car- my). It's run by a dynamic husband and wife. All of the staff and incredibly friendly. Wait staff is young and whatever they lack in experience they make up for in effort. I visited on a Sunday during a work trip (when my flight was cancelled *cue uncontrollable eye rol. I was traveling solo so I sat by the bar where I sparked up a conversation with who I found out later was one of the owners. I could sort of tell because I noticed she was the same one on the t-shirts lol. I ordered the carmi punch and the catfish and grits and a side of mixed greens with smoked turkey. Food was exactly what I wanted/needed. Definitely had a lot of soul and southern flair. Cornmeal crust on the catfish was super crispy, the mixed greens had all that smoked turkey flavor and the cheese grits were damn near perfect. I could have done with the yellow cheese on top of the grits tho (but then maybe they wouldnt be cheesy grits). I could tell based on the conversations that its a place loved by the community. There were a lot of "hey Aunties" and "long time no sees", seemed like there are a lot of regulars. If Im ever in Pittsburgh again Im coming back for seconds.

If you are sick of bar food on carson Carmi is a great option. I was finally able to give this relatively new restaurant a try. The menu offers a great selection of dishes; it was really hard to choose! I ordered the fried chicken and it did not disappoint. Each dinner comes with the option of soup or salad and two sides. I got the hot sausage soup; which was just alright. To be honest it tasted like elevated chef boyardee but that's not necessarily a bad thing! I picked sweet potato fries and cornbread stuffing as my two sides. The fries were wonderful and complimented the savoriness of the chicken very well. The stuffing on the other hand was a little dry for my taste. If I go again I'd definitely try the Mac and cheese. The service was a tad slow but very friendly and helpful. Overall, I would recommend Carmi and I'd definitely go again.

Great food, very fresh and tasty. Lobster Mac and cheese was huge and amazing! Service was attentive and efficient, and very welcoming. Really nice spot in a convenient location.

I still love Carmi so much. During Covid they have made takeout very easy. Everyone needs some comfort food right about now, and this is just the place to go. They give you a nice portion size, and everything is always so tasty. I will say the dinner prices are a bit steep though. I paid $18 for my fried chicken dinner, and I was kind of disappointed in the chicken. It was sort of underwhelming, and the quality of chicken wasn't the best. The sides are unbelievable! I highly recommend the cornbread stuffing, mac & cheese, and greens. They give you a really decent portion of sides with your dinner and a piece of cornbread. Also the stuffed chicken dinner is my absolute favorite entree. Two chicken breasts stuffed with the cornbread stuffing, covered in gravy. YUM. You gotta give them a try.

Rather than going to the same chain restaurant for the fifth time this month, we tried out something new and were pleasantly surprised. It's not too often you get a great vibe, service, and food at family owned restaurants. But this place did just that! We were greeted with some 90's RnB music upon entering with a very accommodating staff. The food was cooked and delivered as ordered. I ordered the Carmi Platter and it sent my tastebuds on a euphoric journey. The perfect amount of savory and crunch. Stop by the next time you're craving some fried or smothered goodness. This black-owned eatery will surely send your taste buds to heaven.

I have had my eye on this restaurant for a little bit . We were truly hungry for some comfort food. We came during dinner time on a Tuesday . I think it was around 430pm so the restaurant was pretty empty. We were seated immediately and they came to take our orders fast. We ordered chicken and waffles with collard greens. My boyfriend ordered catfish and grits . The food came out hot and ready to eat. I have to say if you have not come here, you need to. My waffle was big and fluffy . The chicken was juicy and crispy on the outside. It was like my grandma made it. The catfish was crispy and very big. The grits were very good but somewhat oily so be aware of that. The meal was not overly expensive. It was comparable to what you'll see on the southside. This place is a hidden gem

What's for Lunch? (Friday: February 19, 2021) Fried catfish, Mac-n-cheese & green beans!! I love their catfish!! The Mac-n-cheese is good but oily/buttery... like, toooo oily/buttery. There was a puddle of it at the bottom of the container. The green beans aren't great. I took a few bites but that was it. But, I had enough to eat with the Mac-n-cheese & catfish not to care! Side note: This time when I asked for the list of sides I wasn't given attitude. Instead, I was given the options to choose from!! Progress Bon appétit!!!

This is some of the best food in Pittsburgh. And hands down the best wings. The people who are leaving bad reviews are straight up trash. They have no taste in food and probably think Eat n Park or Tequilla Cowboy is a nice night out. It upsets me they are bringing down the score of this amazing soul food establishment. You think soul food is supposed to be fast food? Take your stupid ass to Popeyes then. Good food takes time because there is love, and, you guessed it, soul put into it. Your opinions are bad and you should feel bad.

Went here the other day and really liked the soulfulness in the food. If your looking for authentic soul food, a good place to try. I'm new to soul food but, I thought this was fun and I'm now a bigger fan!

Honestly you can't go wrong with Carmi's chicken & waffles. I like my waffles a little fluffier but these were still good. The chicken is tender and locally sourced. My favorite thing about Carmi (besides the great atmosphere) is the Mac & Cheese. If cheese was good for the waistline I would eat this with every dish. The entree's come with a ton of options including 2 sides (I typically double up on the Mac & Cheese). You will always leave this place full and satisfied. The only knock I'd give is some spotty service. Other than that this place is splendid for high quality soulful cuisine.

(to-go order) Food was good, quick and easy to pick up. Portions were a little lacking for what you pay for.

Had breakfast today - the Carmi Breakfast.. pretty good. Bacon was crispy just how I requested .. and no shortage there. I liked the potato's .. well done and not too much spice nor bland. They were just right.. and easy to eat. Slightly above average in price but well worth it.

It really pains me to write a review like this and I also sat on it for a week to get my final verdict. Short review: 4 for the food. 2ish for the service. I went to Carmi last Sunday for brunch with two of my friends. When we walked in, we were greeted with a very awkward "Oh you can scan the code for the menu." No "good afternoon" or "Welcome to Carmi." We were then seated right in front of the door on this cold day and the restaurant was empty. Maybe they had reservations??? Our server greeted us maybe 10 mins after. She was nice but just...awkward. She didn't have too much knowledge about the menu and didn't check on us too much while we were there. My biggest issue with this establishment was that we ordered the mimosas which did not reach our table until our food came out because they had to "get the champagne from upstairs." Once we finished our mimosas and asked for a second round, we were told that they did not have any more champagne...on a Sunday...for brunch....1 hour into opening. They literally had one bottle for the round that we had...on a Sunday...for brunch. Despite this mishap, the food was quite good and the portion sizes are wonderful for the price. After enjoying our meal and one mimosa, I couldn't help but notice the same three tables in the entire restaurant so there was no need to sit right by the door. I missed taking pictures of the food because we were rushing to enjoy the rest of our brunch somewhere else. Would I try Carmi again? Sure. Maybe. Eh...

Great food, great staff, love the decor which is pretty chill and relaxed vibe and the menu has great comfort food options. Clean and not too crowded.

Do you know what the AHA is? Well you better now. I ordered pick up and I was disgusted by the quality of food. I love soul food but this didn't do justice. First, I ordered their fried chicken and it just tasted like salt and oil. It was beyond salty. Then I got an order of cheese grits with shrimp. Yes I know there was butter in it and butter is needed in the dish but I kid you not... there was a layer of just oil on top of my food when I got it. I was literally pouring the oil out of the container because it was so much. Mac n cheese was over cooked and just tasted like butter and cream. Pasta was super gummy. Only good thing was their collard greens and the yams. This is why I give them 2 stars was for these two side dishes. And if you are wondering still wondering what AHA is? American heart association.

The food is great! The service is meh. It's cute inside and definitely warm. I appreciate the cool art that lines the dining room. The food is decent. If you're craving good quality soul food, try here. Very generous portions and everything was very tasty. I tried some of my friend's candied yams and they might've been the best I ever had. They were so sweet and full of flavor. I ordered the shrimp and grits. This was good at first however, I definitely recommend getting an extra serving of shrimp. There was way too much grits left over once I was done eating all the shrimp. The service was lackluster at best. No one ever came back to refill our water. Once someone finally did refill our waters, the server spilled the whole pitcher on my friend's lap! She only apologized once and no one offered to "make the wrong.. right". Sometimes the included sides don't come with your meal either. The first time my friend and I went here, they forgot our cornbread which on the menu said, was included with our dinner entree. We didn't really mind since we were appeased with the generous portions of food we already received. This second time I visited, they also forgot my friend's cornbread. I used a Groupon here and that caused a little bit of confusion. My friends called ahead to make sure we could use two groupons for a group of four people. The woman that answered the phone said that shouldn't be a problem. There was a lack of communication because once we tried paying for the groupons- the server told us that we could only use one per table. That was a minor annoyance. The real annoyance that comes with this issue is the fact that my served redeemed one Groupon but then the manager had to come up and tell me that my Groupon could not be redeemed because I did not order two entrees. The served told me that they would reverse the redemption so I could use my Groupon another time- they never did so, I lost the equivalent of $12 (amount paid for the Groupon). I would come here again because the food is decent. However, the customer service is lacking here. I did not feel truly welcome at this establishment.

This place is AMAZING!! Every bite was absolutely delicious. We started with the Carmi rolls which had this great dipping sauce! I ordered the smothered chicken with potato salad, mac & cheese, & candied yams and everything exceeded expectations! I high recommend this restaurant! The staff was just as amazing as the food! 10/10!

Pleasantly surprised! Food was SO GOOD! Portions huge. It was our first time there. My wife had the shrimp and grits and I had the smoked pork spareribs, seasoned French fries, and macaroni and cheese. Scrumptious!

I was so excited to eat soul food, well I always am, truly. Yeah, I can cook it and find it in the south, but I wasn't home, was in the 'Burg for the game and wanted some that day! Shoot! Food was really good. There were 3 of us, so I won't mention EVERYTHING we ordered, but just know the chicken, Waffle and chicken and dumpling soup was bomb. I don't 'DO' dumplings, but this concoction was so good. It had a creamy touch to it and noodles, so yeah...thanks for putting me on. Our service started out a little slow, but it ended up well. I think we all went back to the hotel and went to sleep after...#outtathere! Lol

I went to Carmi Soul Food with four of my friends. We were quickly seated for dinner. The restaurant has a delightful ambience, with a great selection of music playing for our entire dining experience. I got the Fish and Grits with sautéed onions and peppers. Large portions, I left the restaurant feel full. The meal comes with cornbread. I received my cornbread towards the end of my meal. Our waiter Nate was very kind. He was very accommodating when separating our checks for party.

Terrible food brought brunch there on 2/26/23 Order chicken,greens and yams, got to the store and order there potato salad which I truly regret I did so there food is grossly bad !

Carmichael Ok we arrived right before the kitchen closed and this something I hate to do especially on a holiday weekend. The kitchen closed at 5:00 on Sunday but the restaurant closed at 6. I could tell on some faces that they were ready to go but that did not stop them from being friendly and very helpful. I mean everyone we interacted with was pleasant even though we were just getting in under the wire. We even slipped in a chicken and dumpling to go.. (after 5) I ordered the chicken wing dinner with a side salad, sweet potato fries and greens and my friend ordered the meatloaf which was a massive portion with greens, macaroni and cheese and the chicken and dumpling soup. Everything was hit, fresh and came out in a timely matter. We also got the Carmel cake to go! Thank you Carmi's for a great Sunday dinner as we were from out of town. We will stop through earlier next time. We appreciate the food and service and highly recommend. Yummy

This is a newer soul food restaurant with southern favorites. It's a clean restaurant on the Southside with African flare and two floors. They have a large menu for lunch and dinner. I ordered the chicken and waffles with a side of mixed corn. My waffle was good, my chicken was tender but had a hard batter crust on it. I'd prefer a seasoned breading. My corn was ok. My service was a little spotty but they were nice. An interesting place to try if you like southern soul food.

Stopped in for a late dinner with my two youngest kids and had the pleasure of having a perfect server - Michael take great care of us after being seated by the friendliest hostess. Carmi never fails to make me happy. And of course my portions were too big for me to finish so I will be celebrating eating those leftovers very soon!

Delicious! Service was super awesome and our server was down to earth. Also, the music was perfect. The Mac and cheese was MOUTH. WATERING. The cornbread stuffing... to die for. And the chicken was seasoned just right. Also side note, the amount of gravy they put on was perfect! No skimping out on it at all. Ive now craved the egg rolls on the appirizer menu for the past few days and may have to go back and order 5 servings of them!

Chicken and waffles. Enough said. Chicken came out hot with a perfectly crisp skin and moist meat. The waffles were lightly sprinkled with powered sugar and had a slight sweetness to them. I also ordered the mac and cheese. It was okay, but towards the bottom, it started getting greasy. Pass on the mac and cheese. Just eat alllllllll the fried chickennnnnn. Heads up: they charge you a fee if you use a credit card (I think it was 25 cents??).

Menu is so much smaller, hate that they took away the Fish Stew. Customer service is good though.

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Finally, authentic soul food in the Pittsburgh area! Carmi has the authentic southern soul food feel that the city has been missing. From hospitable service to healthy portions, Carmis is everything you could ask for from a soul food joint. The buzz has been around Carmis for quite some time and it's easy to see why. The menu is extensive with traditional soul food dishes like fried chicken, turkey ribs, fried catfish and cornbread. Even the Soulmosa, a tropical spin on the traditional orange juice and champagne drink, has that southern taste to it. I recommend the Mac n cheese, greens and sweet potatoes as side dishes. Carmis did not disappoint one bit. We are excited to make plans for next week's brunch at Carmis again!

I love having brunch with friends and this place by far had the best music planing as well as great food. The staff was friendly and worked hard to accommodate our large group. Everyone enjoyed their hearty breakfast meal and some were already making plans to come back. I enjoyed the Carmi breakfast with bacon and eggs sunny side up along with the tasty biscuit with honey butter. The place was packed by the time we left which really speaks to the quality and popularness of this restaurant.