Carmine's Italian Restaurant - Washington D.C.

We actually dined here 2 nights in a row 🤭 Sat night - Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna, Strawberry Shortcake- loved (and ate) it all.
Yes we were 🐷 (didn’t have lunch).
Louis was our waiter and service from the staff was very attentive.
We sat near the pathway from the kitchen so we got to see some amazing dishes walk by.
Portions are HUGE and delicious. Sun night - No reservation but walked in at 5 and it was a 45 min wait.
Bar is open seating and had plenty of seats but we had a kid and could only sit at the bar high tops which were full.
We were willing to wait and after 2 min, the host Kevin came by and said a table was available.
We felt very welcomed and were so appreciative.
Jeremy was our waiter and checked with us several times to ensure we had what we needed.
He also brought us a bread basket which was such a treat.
We ordered chicken Marsala, broccoli, and a kid’s chicken parmigiana (it’s an adult portion in the normal world and a steal at $10!) Tips: * Use Open Table for reservations (set an alert if your date/time is not available since things change) * Come hungry or prepared to take home leftovers * Scope out the bar if you have a smaller, adult group (they have bar specials too) * Chicken Parmigiana = YES * You can order the lunch sandwiches for dinner! We saw a meatball sandwich and a sausage/peppers walk by. All the food was great and we would order it all again but the real stars are the staff that provide such AMAZING service!!

It was my initial visit to this establishment, and I was unfamiliar with the concept. I will begin with the positive aspects: - Our server exhibited exceptional courtesy, politeness, and professionalism. - The wait time for the dish was remarkably brief. - The complimentary bread was of exceptional quality. - The ambiance and decor were aesthetically pleasing. - The drinks were very good However, there were two negative aspects: - Upon entering the restaurant, we approached the reception desk where two female staff members were present.
They failed to acknowledge our presence or offer a greeting. - After initiating a conversation and requesting a table for two, they continued to refrain from making eye contact or providing a verbal response.
Approximately 40 seconds elapsed before one of the staff members uttered, "Okay, follow me," without further elaboration. The other negative aspect pertains to the pricing.
We ordered the shrimp pasta, which was priced at $40.
Upon its arrival, we were surprised to find that it contained only ten shrimp (I counted them).
When we expressed our concern to the waiter, he informed us that the dish was intended for two to four people.
While the pasta was satisfactory, it did not warrant the price of $20 per person for a serving that included only five shrimp. Despite these shortcomings, I intend to revisit the establishment to sample different menu items before finalizing my assessment. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.

Owner response

This is a great family style italian restaurant.
HUGE portions.
The 2 plates we got, the salad and pasta fed 4 of us and we still brought home leftovers.
Only complaint is service was a bit slow.
We had a train to catch so i asked for the bill, took her 20 min to bring our bill.
I was able to go on open table and get a last minute reservation, so that was good.
Wish we had time to get dessert because they looked amazing.

Owner response