Carmine's on Penn

A true 5 star experience. Shockingly good food. Had a great server and service in general. I’d highly recommend the lemonchello to anyone. It’s house made and once or twice a week they squeeze their own lemons that go into the drink. Prices were pretty fair all things considered. Will be going back!

The service was average. It was NYE so busier than usual, I suppose. But the food...bleh. The chicken parm tasted like it was cooked in old oil. The sauce was so nondescript, it kept me longing for Raos jarred sauce. The rolls were hard and dry. The cocktail and house salad were delish, tho. Definitely not worth the cost. Olive Garden has richer, tastier marinara.

I went to the restaurant and it was just a disappointment. I was with my 8-month-old son and they left me waiting at the restaurant door. After a while, they took me to my reserved table. The food was the worst part. It shouldn't even be called carbonara. It didn't even smell like carbonara, and even though I tried to eat it like a pasta dish, it was still rum. I don't think it's the staff's fault. It seems like the restaurant doesn't have enough staff and everyone was trying hard, but obviously the customer isn't to blame either and should have been better received.

We had a wonderful night! And the food is an amazing as always. The Birthday Boy had never been, and was so pleased we came to your place. Thank you for a fantastic evening!!

Super disappointed in this place. We went last night for a friend’s birthday and had a reservation for a full two hours before we had to be at the second birthday event, and it took us so long to get the food that the birthday guy had to leave before the food even arrived. We were mostly ignored by wait staff for a full 30 minutes (even to order drinks), and when we finally spoke to the server about how much and what to order for our table, she walked away twice saying “you guys figure out what you want and I’ll be back to help you with the portion size” even though we’re basically ready to order. Our order didn’t get put in until 45 minutes after we got there, and it didn’t come until more than an hour later, so about an hour and 50 minutes after our reservation started. Our friend whose birthday it was had to leave to be at the next event and didn’t eat. They seemed to be extremely understaffed all around, and the server seemed shocked when we told her we needed to be somewhere else and said “oh I didn’t know, you didn’t tell me!” as if it is normal to have to tell a restaurant you have plans a full two hours later. They didn’t even offer us any kind of discount or comp something in our meal as an apology for such a disastrous evening, and we left with a $90 per person bill… which seemed unbelievable considering we sat there without food or drinks for half the time. The food was also not great. The “carbonara” did not resemble any kind of carbonara I’ve ever had, and the ravioli seemed store bought. Oh, and the tables were all covered in thick pieces of paper on top of the cloth tablecloths, which kept poking. The place is supposed to be classy but it felt cheap and tacky. All around very disappointed in this place.

My family and I recently celebrated my mother’s birthday at Carmine’s on Penn, and while the food was absolutely outstanding—the sauces were rich, the dishes vibrant and fresh—that’s not really what this review is about. What truly stood out was the service. My mom has some mobility challenges, and from the moment we walked in, the staff went out of their way to make her feel comfortable and at home. The owner, Brad, personally chatted with her about the menu, and it felt less like dining out and more like being welcomed into a friend’s home. Our server, Vic, was equally thoughtful—kind, attentive, and genuinely caring. Both Brad and Vic created an atmosphere of warmth that elevated the whole evening. Pair that kind of hospitality with phenomenal food, and you’ve got a restaurant experience that’s hard to beat. I would wholeheartedly recommend Carmine’s to anyone—whether you’re stopping in for a casual dinner or celebrating a special occasion. Thanks to the incredible team for turning my mom’s birthday into such a lovely and memorable night.

I brought group of 6 there from out of town on Friday for what I thought would be the usual legendary meal. What I got was so subpar I frankly was dismayed. The server was so dismissive of questions. I had been there many times and know the menu is on the chalkboard but when I said my friends were from out of town and might need some guidance, her responses was “it’s up on the wall”. Then left again. Next time we tried to ask for descriptions of the Montana or Strozz but nope she wouldn’t give us details. Settled on chicken piccata (flavor excellent but chicken way overcooked and chewy) and the Bolognese (less than unusual bright flavors). And the rolls you dream of? Hard on the bottoms to the point you just left that part on your plate. Salads: pear and Caesar were the usual reliable flavors and quality. Usually I can’t wait to come here but it will take a while before I forget this night and even reconsider trying again.

We had such a wonderful dinner at Carmine’s on Penn. Our server, Tommy, was fantastic—attentive, friendly, and made the whole evening feel special. The mussels were incredible, packed with flavor, and the veal parm was truly to die for. Even our 8-year-old, who normally doesn’t touch pasta, loved it here. A gem of an Italian spot in Denver—we’ll definitely be back!

This was my first visit to Carmines, as I was meeting new friends from a social app, so it sent me here! I was definitely excited to try the place. We ordered the bolognese and the pasta in clam sauce. What I first noticed about the bolognese was that the meat wasn't really tender, usually what I've been use to is tender ground meat and a richness to it that I didn't really get much of from the bolognese, the pasta with clam sauce was pretty good though and I enjoyed the flavors of that, it was garlicky, a bit lemony, buttery. Also to note the bolognese pasta was cooked a bit before al dente so it was still a little hard, wasn't bad and still edible so that was okay. The restaurant is lovely and clean, lots of space it looks like and a nice outdoor space as well. I don't typically eat Italian and might give this place another go. This place is definitely for parties of 2 or more since it's family style.

We went here for a day with about 7 of us. We first started out with the ceaser and pear salad. Both of these were great and it would be hard to pick only one. For our main we ordered the carbonara, gnocchi special which was a spicy vodka sauce, chicken parm, and the Ragu funghi. All were very good. I'd say our favorite was the gnocchi and our least was the funghi. Our server was excellent and personable. I would def venture back out here for another occasion.

My husband and I went out on a Saturday date. Evan was our server, he was great. Very helpful, super friendly and explained everything on the menu as it is normally family style. We loved that. Everything we ordered were delicious. No music but it was fine. The only person I thought were a little snooty to us was this guy that served our salad. I was asking him a question about one of the things on our charcuterie plate but the way he answered me seemed like I should have already known. Other than that, we had a great time. We will be back

We made a reservation through Open Table since it was a bigger group of us. We arrived a little early and were able to get seated. I've been to the McGregor Square one so it was fun to try a different location. We got to sit out in the patio. We ordered the bolognese, seafood al diavola, and the baked penne. There was 5 of us and we still had leftover pasta! The baked penne is very good and cheesy. The seafood pasta had a good kick to the sauce. The group are all the bolognese - lots of meat in the sauce (like chunks). After, we did get dessert. I tried the cheesecake - the seasonal on for the night was a peach one. And then there was a gelato cookie. That was my fave of the two. The cookie was soft enough and chocolate sauce all over the plate!! I liked this one just as much as McGregor square. The pasta is good. The family style is the part that's a little tough when there's several different taste/diets which is what made us over order.

I tried to call in an order for pick up and they refused to honor half portion orders which are clearly stated on their menu. They say that if I walked in, made the order in person, and then stood there for twenty minutes while the order was being prepared than they would honor their half portion menu. This may be the stupidest and most inconvenient policy I have heard to date. The food isn't even that good, and if ordering is this idiotic then for sure a pass for me going forward.

Came to Carmine's for Denver restaurant week because the friends we came with had heard great things. We all walked away with the same feel, it was fine but not authentic Italian and felts a bit like a Maggiano's (large portions, and not authentic). You had the option to order off the regular menu or partake in the restaurant week menu but the whole table had to do the same - that was a bit disappointing. So we all did the restaurant week menu. The deal was $45 for salad, bruschetta app, entree and a dessert. We had 3 couples. When the bruschetta came it was one two plates that we were all to share. Then the salad came and only two arrived (they definitely skimped on this because we should have received two Caesar's and one house salad) instead we got one of each and they wee the same size, no extra for the couple that also ordered a Caesar. Then the entrees came. Naturally when at an Italian restaurant we got pasta dishes. The portions were huge but the quality was just ok, definitely not fresh pasta. The one couple ordered linguine (as it was an option to select Thule of pasta you wanted) but got spaghetti. I would expect an Italian restaurant to know the difference. The deserts are delicious and rich. Overall, not with the price for lack of quality. There are better Italian rest in the city to experience.

Ross and I dined at Carmine's on Penn & had a fabulous Italian meal - la cena era deliziosa! Carmine's on Penn boasted a wonderful staff and equally good food to boot. We arrived at Carmine's on Penn and were seated in the dining room adjacent to the bar. The aesthetic of the restaurant was warm & relaxed with family sized portion Italian fare & a lively bar. General Manager, Jessica took great care of us. She was lovely and gave us a great background on the restaurant and menu items we should try. Our servers Shae & Aaron were attentive and quick with service. Shae started me off with a White Wine - the Argiolas Costamolino, Vermentino 2021, Sardegna. The Costamolino had flavor notes of ripe stone fruit & citrus. The wine's lemony acidity paired well with the vegetables in the bruschetta & Caesar salad. Jessica brought us garlic bread that was made fresh in house. The beautiful bread knots were warm, fluffy and filled with fresh garlic, butter, and olive oil taste. For Appetizers we had the Bruschetta made with fresh mozzarella, baked crostini and tomato bruschetta mix. The Bruschetta was bursting with fresh flavor. The bruschetta mix had a beautiful balance of mellow acidity and subtle garlic taste. The baked crostini was made in house and I loved that it had some flexibility to it - it wasn't messy and crumbly like standard crostini is. For Salad we had the Community Caesar made with romaine lettuce, housemade croutons, parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing. This Caesar was amazing - the romaine lettuce was perfectly coated in thick, tangy Caesar dressing and each bite had parmesan cheese in it. For Ravioli we had the Vodka Ravioli made with three cheese ravioli in a vodka cream sauce topped with arugula and garlic oil. The Vodka Ravioli was a lusciously melty dish. The vodka sauce was bright in color and flavor from the tomatoes, vodka and crushed red pepper. It was creamy on the tongue while the pasta had soft chew and a warm cheesy center. For House Specials we had the Beef Short Ribs made with a pound of chianti-braised beef short ribs, creamy gorgonzola polenta, roasted carrots and cider vinegar poached kale with a chianti reduction. "These are the best short ribs I've ever had" Ross exclaimed after taking his first bite. The short ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender. We didn't even need a knife to cut the juicy meat; it fell right apart under our forks. The ribs topped dreamy polenta that made for velvety bites against the steaming meat. Shae paired the Ravioli and Short Ribs with a Red Wine - the Cantele, Primitivo 2019, Salento. The Cantele had flavor notes of plum and sour cherry. It was an excellent pair for the rich vodka sauce of the ravioli and juicy red meat of the short ribs. For Dessert we had the Carmine's Tiramisu made with fresh baked lady finger cake, dunked in coffee, topped with rich mascarpone cream sauce and drizzled with chocolate. This Tiramisu was sinfully delicious and I couldn't get enough of the rich mascarpone cream sauce and chocolate drizzle that topped it. The pastry quality mascarpone cream was so silky and generously coated each bite of fluffy lady finger cake.

I have been dining here for nearly two decades and it just always incredible! It is very intimate and cozy but noise level is usually quite manageable, unless you have a loud group who is quite unaware sit at a large table near you but that is not a reflection of the restaurant! You will never leave hungry as all portions are served family style, even the portion for "2". A friend and I shared the carbonara ands the short ribs , which come on a creamy Gorgonzola polenta. We are like it was our last meal and we were wrong because we both took home enough for another whole meal!! Mango's! The service is impeccable and definitely a team caring for you. They still bring the food out and send it from a big player into individual portions in such a beautiful presentation! I won't be a stranger for so long this time, and look forward to trying the location down at McGregor square!

In response to your answer- this is your restaurant and you are required to pay your employees- the customer pays for your food and tips the server! It's Not our Responsibility to pay for your Kitchen help! I don't know any other business that expects the customer to pay the salary of that said business employees ! I'm very sorry you see it that way - I grew up in Denver and have never come across this Practice before and if I do I'll won't frequent that business for that same reason!

REVIEW AND PSA: Review: We have been eating at CoP for, well, decades and have always had a wonderful experience. So, when my sister and brother-in-law asked to meet for a holiday dinner, we immediately thought of CoP since they'd never been there. The experience was very DISAPPOINTING, to say the least. Our server seemed to either be very distracted or lacking any in depth of knowledge on the menu or how their process worked. When my wife had a question about the salads, before she could ask the Q entirely, he said "you can't just order the salad without ordering your entire meal". Ok, but that wasn't the Q. When we were close to finishing our meal, my wife said we wanted to order one of the dishes, which are family style, and have it split into 2 meals to take home for the next day. Our server responded "we can't do that" and when questioned as to why, he said I will have to check with the kitchen because that's never been done before." REALLY?!? So no one has ever ordered take out from CoP before! Hmmmm.... Each of us had a salad, but two people didn't get any of the pears (which was the highlight of the salad) ONE plate of pasta each and a total of six drinks. Three of us had coffee and the server brought the creamer in a large hot coffee mug and said "don't worry, the mug is hot but the cream is cold". ?? PSA: As we were having a general conversation, my brother -in-law pointed to the little placard in the center of the table which read "a 22% service charge will be added to all bills. Tips are appreciated, but not expected." We generally leave a 20% - 25% tip, depending on the overall experience. As stated previously, the service was about as bad as we've ever experienced, so it would have not been 20%; therefore, leaving an additional tip, even 15%, would have equated to a 37% gratuity overall. This forced service charge brought our bill for the dinner described above to $284!! Trust me, we understand the cost of everything is skyrocketing out of control and the management and owners of restaurants in general need to understand that for many of us, going out to dinner is no longer a Nice-to-have, but a luxury because, guess what, we work hard and everything is expensive for us too! If I am forced to pay a special service charge, please make it worth while. We WILL NOT GO BACK TO CoP and certainly won't embarrass ourselves by recommending them either. When you take into consideration the overall experience and tie it to the cost, the Olive Garden is a really good deal!!

The food, service and ambiance here were all average. The restaurant needs updating. We won't return because there are many other restaurants that are equal or better.

I've had it with this place -- we used to love coming here but unfortunately they keep cutting and short staffing the place. Last two times we came they seated us 50 minutes after our reservation time. Nobody checks in to say hi who are you/what time is your reservation. We all just stand there piling at the door not knowing what to do while they quickly walk past awkwardly and ignore everyone waiting. This was a cute little spot we looked forward to coming to but we won't ever come back and I'd recommend you don't too. Letting go of staff means losing customers.

What a gem of a place in the Wash Park area! Classic, family style Italian food, with great specials and wine! 22% gratuity is included here with all bills and I felt the service was amazing! I enjoyed the Bruschetta Appetizer with the Strozzapreti Pasta dinner! Both were amazing, though I wish the pasta dish had more pasta, compared to the amazing sauce we enjoyed--it was overwhelmingly sauce. Great family style, classic spot!

I have lived in Denver for far too long to have never tried Carmines! Went to the original location and sat on the lovely patio. The service was really great, food came quickly. The garlic bread is out of this world- Simple and delicious- careful not to eat too much, as the dishes here are all family style! We had the short rinds braised in Chianti and polenta- beef was tender and delicious and the polenta was creamy and very satisfying. We also ordered the carbonara that was very flavorful, but the sauce was thicker than I prefer. Though it was still good, I have had better carbonara. I definitely want to return to try their other dishes- overall, a very pleasant visit and we will be back!

We showed up a bit earlier than our reservation and it was a very busy Saturday evening (2nd weekend of restaurant week). After grabbing a quick drink next door we came back to see if they were ready for us. It was a brief wait until we were sat, but it was smooth sailing after that. Being that it was a late dinner, we were some of the last people coming in and I could feel the pace winding down. Our server (Bishop) was very helpful in answering questions and making suggestions and he gave us plenty of time to make our choices. We started out with the Caesar salad which was excellent! We chose two small entrees - the Lemon Shrimp with linguine and the Chicken Montana with rigatoni. Both were great, but the Chicken Montana is a must - sun dried tomatoes, asparagus and gorgonzola with a cream sauce. So good! We also had tiramisu and espresso to cap things off. This place is popular for a reason. The dimly lit, cozy atmosphere feels special and great attention is given to each dish. Service is friendly and fast (manager also came to check on us) and the portions were plentiful. Great date spot or place to take a large group.

Excellent food, mediocre service, weirdly no music playing at all. Chef greeted our table and he was delightful, we'll be back.

Carmine's is such a treat, I just love this place. The last time I was in I was well taken care of by Viv. The pear Gorgonzola salad is to die for- the pistachios really elevate it. Sane with the garlic knots, soooo yum! Chicken parm and vodka ravioli are my go to favorites but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The carrot ravioli that was on special on my last visit was phenomenal, such a unique and delicious combination of flavors.

Efficient timing of dishes, incredibly friendly staff. Fun paper table covering with crayons for hangman or tix tac toe!

The good, atmosphere and service were great, as it usually is here. Then why the one-star rating? This service fee. In general I'm not at all opposed to a service fee. But this time I am. The owner takes a portion of the service fee to "offset increased pay and taxes". That's very unfair. The owner should raise prices for that and leave the service fee to the staff that they fully admit they do not pay a livable wage. And the bill indicates that only 22% of the service fee goes to the staff. So the house keeps the rest? That seems very unfair.

I only eat here about once a year while in Denver visiting family. I love the atmosphere, the friendly staff and the good food.

No! The most mediocre Italian food I have ever had! Our Denver friends said it was the worst meal they have had in Denver! Our waiter who was very nice got our salad order wrong eventually brought the correct salad but charged us for both! He explained we would get a credit for the difference on our bank account in 3-5 days - what?? We have to wait to be credited for his mistake? Really this issue was minor in contrast for the very boring overpriced Italian food - save yourself the trouble. Next time we have an hour wait at Uncle we will just wait and not settle. Sorry we would have liked nothing more than to have enjoyed our meal but it's tough to pay $200 bucks for Olive Garden at best!

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in Denver. Great atmosphere, amazing staff, and perfect spot. I don't believe you could go wrong with anything on the menu...everything is SO good. I love the chicken parm with ziti (to die for!)...a Manhattan (whomever made my last one did with perfection) and the cheesecake. Great restaurant!!!

We haven't been to Carmine's in years and it was great! Its probably been 15 or 20 years since I have last dined at the restaurant and it was quite good. Loved the family styled dinner and it worked great for us. The four of us had the charcuterie board to start and 2 half pastas and a veal Parmesan. It was a lot of food and each plate was a nice change from the other. The service was great and never felt rushed at any point. Thank you Carmine's on Penn!

I'm giving 2.5 stars and it's because on the FRONT end (emails only) the communication was super good. I just hosted a party here in the private room. I've always loved Carmines on Penn and in fact I've hosted here in the past but not in the private room. Things that were good... 1) Carmines has been around awhile and they have dialed in their ability to communicate (emails only) on hosting these larger groups. Communication was very efficient and thorough leading up to our party. Things that were NOT good... 1) we had ONE WAITER. We needed at minimum TWO. He was likely new at this profession as well and completely unable to manage the room. I actually had to have words with both him and a manager in the middle of the room on this topic. It was inexcusable on Carmines management to place this kid and our entire party in this position. Nobody in our group will be back to carmines because of it. 2) the food was terrible. Every. single. course. Though who knows on the dessert as I had to leave with tired kids who'd been sitting around waiting for dinner all night. 3) we had to get up and pour our own prepaid wine. Nobody was told this would be how it would be. They just set it over on the long table and left it. My guests were mostly 70+ years old and this was in very poor taste. Especially considering we were not told this was the expectation. So in addition to waiting on food we waited on booze so we were all dead sober. 4)upon arriving in the back room...there is no music. No ambiance. So we had a GUEST bring a speaker so we could at least set a mood with some Sinatra. It would have been a complete dud of a room and space without this feature. Come on Carmines, get it together. AsI'm embarrassed for this was no easy thing for these adults to make it to. Parking is terrible at Carmines but I knew this and thought it worth the work for the payoff. Not any more. My rating is generous based on this experience and due to it being a larger group this isn't the kind of experience you come back from in any of our eyes. It makes me sad for multiple reasons. Primarily because people want to support this place and they have made it unwise to do so...

Meh, there's very little Italian in that Italian. Service was fine, not sure I like the 22% service add on plus gratuity. It is good choice for larger groups, thus the large family style servings. I guess quantity is the attraction here.

I have now been here twice. The first time I came here we had an excellent waiter and amazing food. sadly I cannot remember his name but he was absolutely wonderful. Today was the 2nd time we ate here and it was even better. How you may ask. Well first off it was our waitress Kylie. She is a 10/10. 5 starts. The best of the best. She was not only super attentive while having a very big table that was a little obnoxious. But she was just so kind. I can't recommend her enough. Kylie deserves a lot of praise. Also thank you to staff and the Manager Josh I believe. Sadly his name escapes me. But he was also so kind. This place is def one of our favorites. And now even more so with Kylie.

Food is good. 20% tip on eating there is also fine, as this is an expensive city. But charging 20% on to go orders and not telling you is a pretty ridiculous practice. Go to another place where the food is just as good or better and you don't get played with the bait and switch.

Had a family dinner here and it was delicious! We got several dishes to share. I chose a few appetizers; the bruschetta and the Caesar Salad. We also were served the house bread, which was really good! Main dishes consistent of Gnocchi, the Chicken Parm, Lemon Shrimp Pasta, and the meat balls. Everything was freshly made, flavorful, and the pasta in the dishes were done al dente, which we were all glad about. Service was top notch! And our server was so great in taking a few group pictures for us. Noticed a few other large parties having dinner and the staff was doing a great job considering how busy they were. We will return!!!

The bread was good. The service was good. We ordered the special ravioli and the pasta Ella Carmine. There were 3 of us and we ordered the meal for 2 which was plenty. The food was good and it was a nice restaurant.

I grew up in Denver and always remember this restaurant getting talked about. As you tend to do, you go to your favorites on repeat until it's Denver Restaurant Week and you get out of your routine. The RW menu was perfect for us. We share the bruschetta, the pasta alla capo, and the chocolate cake. The bruschetta was good, but didn't wow me. But the pasta did! The space is very cozy and the service was great.

I went here for my birthday, and we made a reservation for 12! We got seated immediately and also got drinks right away! Guests kept trickling in to sit at my table and they didn't miss a beat with drink orders, even though they were staggered. This is a family style restaurant but they do two people entrees as well. I loved this place! And will definitely be returning.

Our first time at this 25 year old family style Italian restaurant will absolutely not be our last. My person and I were joined by another couple on he night we went and we were all super elated by the food, and the ambiance, we all ordered portions for two and put it all in the center and shared everything. To our delight all the food was amazing. We started off with Tour f Italy, a cheese and meat appetizer, and for the main course we ordered the Chicken Parmigiana, Ravioli Bolognese, and the vodka ravioli. We then tuned it up with the tiramisu. Everything was amazing! This restaurant is definitely on my "eat here often list".

Heard many good things about this place. Service was excellent... as it should be, since they add a 20% tip to the bill. They certainly earned that. Tablecloths are brown butcher paper... the only place I've seen that before was BBQ joints in the deep South. The Manhattan I ordered was within acceptable parameters. The Eggplant Rollatini was edible. My friend raved about their ravioli special with pistachios... but it was only 6 raviolis. Tiramasu was trash. Wanted to love this place, but it just isn't gonna work out.

We went to Carmines on Penn last weekend and haven't been there in awhile. We were given a gift card from our children for our Anniversary back in November and decided it was time to use it as the weather was nice that evening. We were told the restaurant was holding onto the gift card so unfortunately for us we didn't have it in hand. We told the manager this and also had an email and invoice receipt stating all of this. She wouldn't honor the gift card and told us how does the restaurant know we have t already used it. She wouldn't budge, and my daughter in law called them from Houston. Close to the end of the dinner which we stayed for since we traveled 35 minutes to this establishment the manager decided they could honor the gift card. We have a mediocre dinner and the delight of celebrating our anniversary was ruined. She all but called us liars and welcomed us back. The owner called my daughter in law yesterday and apologized profusely as to how they screwed up on their end and there was no need to have been treated as we did. He's sending us another gift card! Too little too late I won't step foot back in this restaurant with such poor management, just okay food and a lack of customer service. This manager should be let go. Good luck to the owner and this restaurant as other friends have also told me of their poor experiences lately Anyone want the gift card that's coming? Don't waste your time money or character at this place!

Absolutely delicious, cozy vibe which is casual enough for a family but also nice enough for a celebration.

Similar to another reviewer. Be warned that if you order takeout by phone, a 22% service fee will be added when you go to pick up your food. Cool surprise..

Won't be returning. Charged a $25 service fee on a bill just over $100. Covid is over Carmine's. Pay your employees or build it into your food cost. Great way to lose customers forever.

We made reservations for 6 and failed to account for our infant and toddler. We arrived and the hostess scrambled to arrange a table for us to accommodate our family. In spite of being very obviously incredibly busy, we received top-notch service. Our waiter explained the menu to us and made recommendations. The hostess and bartender made sure our water, wine and cocktails were always full. The food was outstanding! Our waiter even served every plate table-side. Classy! The garlic bread was the best I've ever had, everything was seasoned perfectly, the chicken was tender, flavor explosions worth taking the time to stop and make a comment. The hostess also made special accommodations so I could feed my infant in private and shortly after brought me to a separate area with a changing table. My family now has a new "favorite place". Outstanding service and outstanding food!

Great family style Italian in a nice neighborhood setting . Plan on sharing as they don't make plates for one which is part of the experience

This is the best second wave Italian restaurant I've ever experienced. It's like every mediocre ski town Italian American joint but GOOD. It's impressive. Come here for enormous portions of classics-chicken Parmesan, ravioli, cheesecake, and something with a twist, chicken pot pie gnocchi. The recipes are straight forward but executed well and the ingredients are top notch. You can taste the freshness. Prices seem high at first, but just wait for it cause each entree is enough food for a village. Great for takeout or outdoor dining.

Fabulous service! Great atmosphere and delicious food! I just loved the chocolate strawberries! Will definitely return.

Excellent excellent excellent in quality of food, service & ambiance. I thought I was in Little Italy in New York.

Yet another 5 star for Carmine's. We went here with a group of 4 and the service was quick and delicious. We always get the community caesar and it served all 4 of us plus a second round. I got the meatball side again and it was delicious. One got the meatball vodka and said it was amazing. Another got the seasonal risotto with chicken, peas, and onions which was really good. The last person got the chicken parm and it always is superior from any other Italian restaurant. Jess yet again made our night and is always the friendliest face running around from table to table.

It is the time of covid-19 but have no fear, Carmine's has outdoor dining! You must make reservations and groups are limited to a max of 8 people. We arrived on a lovely night and ate some delicious foods! With our group of 7, we ordered the Seared Portabello, Bruschetta, Carbonara, Meatballs in Vodka Sauce, and the Chicken Piccata. All family style, and we still had leftovers! Probably leftovers enough for one more person, so keep that in mind when ordering for large groups! The garlic knots that they bring to the table are absolutely delicious. I think the best part is that the dough is slightly undercooked or underproofed which gives it this chewy, almost stretchy consistency and I love it so much!!! Yum. I loved both the appetizers, the Portabello was full of flavor and the balsamic drizzle adds a little tang to round out the savory flavor. The pastas were cooked perfectly al dente. The Carbonara was so creamy and cheesy, it was spot on for me. The meatballs in the vodka sauce were also very delicious!! I would say we probably picked the best dishes. The Piccata was pretty spot on as well! I would definitely recommend checking this place out if you're craving some Italian. In the evening, it's lovely to sit outdoors too!

I am reviewing a takeout dinner received during the coronavirus pandemic. The spaghetti and meatballs dish was very tasty but unlike what was promised, it was skimpy on pasta. Imagine, that, they got frugal on the cheapest item on the menu. The cheese raviolis and sauce was excellent but, once again, not generous. The mixed green salad was fresh, good, and generous. The three items combined totaled just over $100 but was advertised to to be enough to serve four adults. There wasn't any leftovers and three of the adults weigh under 135 pounds. It would have gotten four stars if the entree portions were a good value. Bring on the pasta!

Plus half a star When it comes to Italian style food it's usually hit or miss. You either really like Italian chain restaurants or you like something more like mama used to make. This place is good. Not great. But definitely worth the visit. Now of course much like most Italian restaurants these portions are FAMILY size. So large shareable plates. Which is nice if you have a large party. Sadly on my visit it was just me and the wife. Being it was her birthday she of course got her choice. She ordered vodka sauce with linguini. She is a big fan of Penne pasta sadly that wasn't an option here. Nevertheless. The pasta and the sauce was good not great (I may need to add I'm from the northeast. NYC area where good pasta and pizza is as common as air). So me saying it's good should actually hold some weight. Because it was the wife's bday and I setup this dinner in advance the owner/manager did a wonderful job bringing out a very nice piece of cheesecake. Very nice touch. The only issue I had which kept this place from a 4 star was the service. During the ordering process I told the waiter what We wanted. He came back a few min later and confirmed that was what we wants. Weird but it happened and I didn't think it was a big deal. Then I asked for an espresso with my dessert and it never came. Not sure if I was charged for it. I highly doubt it. So a little lax on the service side. All in all in were to come back to Denver I would certainly stop back in. I would definitely try some of the other options on the menu.

Excellent service the chicken Parmesan, meatballs , garlic bread were outstanding.I thought the price was reasonable ! Def will be back !

I've been eating at this restaurant for 20 years and have never left a review. I've dined here at least 50 times and 3 or 4 times in the last 2 years. It's been through a couple of different owners in that time, and it seems to still be going strong. And I'm not sure why? I will say the service was excellent, all around great service. The food, unfortunately, not so much. For a group of 4, we ordered the Chicken Frescha, Lemon Shrimp,and Spaghetti Bologonese. The chicken was mushy under an obnoxious amount of arugula salad and tasted bitter, the lemon shrimp was very overcooked and had an overwhelming saucy lemon zest taste, last and least the Bologonese was very acidic and bland. For dessert, we ordered the cookie ice cream sandwich and NY Cheese Cake. The cookie sandwich was ridiculously large, each cookie was probably 10oz, and as hard as concrete, actually hurt trying to bite through it, and tasted like it was 2 months old, the Gelato or ice cream inside tasted freezer burned. We were actually pretty annoyed that the server didn't mention that the ice cream cookie was large enough to feed 6 people, much less one 11 year old child. The cheesecake also tasted and appeared refrigerator burned, smothered in a jammy tasting strawberry preserve. And to top it off, they now add a 22% service charge to all checks without much explaination as to whom and how they distribute the $$ collected. Safe to say that after 20 years of visiting this restaurant I will not be back.

Delightful evening spent on patio. Good food! Great portions for 2. For sure , get the pear salad!