Review Carmine's Bistro - Melbourne

Absolutely terrible. Ordered the Rigatoni Amatricana which was unbelievable. It consisted of what tasted to be Coles penne pasta and a very weak thin tomato sauce with 3-5 very small almost indiscernible pieces of pancetta. The wait was long, and the guy seating the table was clearly incentivised to seat as many people as possible regardless of quality of service.

Pizza & spaghetti were ok. Very crowded at night.

Extremely accommodating staff and fantastic food! My partner and I arrived quite close to C.O.B expecting the Kitchen to be done for the night, but instead we were greeted with enthusiastic and cheerful staff who were more than happy to have us. The food was exceptional, the daiquiris were great, and the service was second to none. We would highly recommend Carmine’s for anyone looking for an authentic Italian dining experience. Thanks again guys!

My partner and i walked up and down Lygon Street and finally settled at this location as it was quiet. We got the baked gnocchi as an entree which was not too bad, however still took some time. The best part was the 2 hour wait, for 2 bite size pieces of veal overcooked which was $31.50 and some form of 'pizza' which i am struggling to find a positive side to. I work in the hospitality industry and so does my partner. So we always give the benefit of the doubt to the restaurant and the service staff. However this was a case i could not let slide. Asked for our main 3 times, drinks another 3 times, and the bill to finally get out of there another 3 times. Please, avoid this place. There are much better places along Lygon street.

Had a late lunch here over the Easter weekend with my cousins from overseas. The service was excellent and the food was great. The waitress who served us outside and Alex (if I remember correctly) at the coffee counter were really attentive and friendly and our waitress made some great recommendations. The overall experience was just really enjoyable. We'll definitely be back! Thanks guys!

Came here for a late lunch. My wife mentioned that it was our wedding anniversary and they brought out dessert and the most delicious orange shots. Very generous and friendly place. Would highly recommend. Best pizza on Lygon too. Try the margarita!

Me and my wife stopped here on a Friday night. Staff were amazing. Friendly and very accomodating. Food was absolutely delicious! Best tortellini and pizza we have ever had. If you want Authentic Italian Carmines is the place. We will definitely be back 😁

Took over an hour for mains to arrive, there was only eight people in the bistro. Fish was salty and our pasta was over cooked. We all think the food wasn't fresh, Besides all this, coffee was the best and well made. We also got a complimentary hot chocolate shot was was yummy!

It was really really good, but unfortunately when I and my families try to get there for dinner again tonight, the restaurant shut down on Saturday on 10th Nov 2018 informed by next door business.

Extremely accommodating staff and fantastic food! My partner and I arrived quite close to C.O.B expecting the Kitchen to be done for the night, but instead we were greeted with enthusiastic and cheerful staff who were more than happy to have us. The food was exceptional, the daiquiris were great, and the service was second to none. We would highly recommend Carmine’s for anyone looking for a authentic Italian dining experience. Thanks again guys!

We were on Lygon Street and needed some guidance so turned to Zomato. Carmine’s has a 3.8 rating so we thought we’d try it. Our old school waiter was charming and friendly. We started with a herb and garlic pizza which was a bit dry and crunchy and lacking any real flavour. One of had spaghetti marinara and the other had the equivalent in a risotto. The risotto seemed like a small serving, it had a few pieces of seafood in it but was far from amazing. The same for the spaghetti marinara. It was ok but hardly an amazing dining experience.

Delicious Italian food at Lygon street, topped up with great customer service. Had my birthday dinner here last weekend and the staff are great and very hospitable, couldn’t have asked for better service. Overall, amazing food and staff, highly recommended 😊

Classic winter comfort food. A takeaway chicken parma which was nice enough without being amazing. The serving size was substantial! Go when you’re especially hungry! A nice family environment.

Chowing down on a 750g steak... what could be sweeter than that? The food, service and ambience are all very food. Worth a trip down to Lygon St. any night of the week.

Attracted by the interior decor, the food unfortunately let the experience down. The pasta dishes didn’t taste fresh at all. The chicken tasted like it had been thawed out and reheated again and slapped on top of some packet pasta. The ragu was some fatty lamb shanks places over the rigatoni. Probably wouldn’t come back anytime soon. The staff member at the time was super friendly, though 🙂

Really enjoyed my dinner here the other night ! The standout dish was defs the Carmine Pizza! All the ingredients were super fresh and tasted amazing together. The lamb ragu pasta was also quite nice except it would’ve been a lot better with more sauce IMO

Our impromptu visit to Carmines was great! We were accomodated straight away & seated at the round table at the front of house. This was great for a large group as we could all communicate and share entrees.<br/>Food & drink were speedy and served without a glitch! I had the halloumi chips with chutney and gnocchi gorgonzola for main. Both tasted phenomenal- only critic is made the pasta serve larger, I could have easily eaten triple the serve.<br/>It was an awesome night and we will definitely be back - the wait staff were great!<br/>Thank you

Pizza was very plain and lacked flavours there was close no cheese on the pizza. Not very traditional pizza<br/><br/>Dough wasnt very nice overall pizza was disappointing<br/><br/>Ordered pasta aswell and that was not amazing but not as bad as the pizza.<br/><br/>I wont be coming back just because there are nicer places on lygon st

Carmines you deserve 10 stars!! <br/><br/>My wife and I had the feed me deal and we literally had 7 courses, traditional bruschett, 3 tapas plates, 2 pastas delicious, pizza wow, calamari. Our new favorite place on lygon street. Best $120 spend if your up for it.

Heard so much about Lygon Street, I decided to go explore today. This is one of the best places I've eaten at in Melbourne so far. The restaurant is tastefully decorated and the staff are the friendliest. I ordered the matricianna but with gnocchi. The gnocchi was melting in my mouth and the pancetta was cooked to perfection. It wasn't fatty which you can get at certain places and the sauce had the perfect saltiness. I am not big on Tiramisu but the one I had there was gorgeous and made me think twice about not being a fan of Tiramisu.

We walked in here and we really enjoyed this chic, stylish and modern large restaurant. With a gorgeous chandelier this really set the scene for what reminded me of a night out in New York rather than Lygon street 😉.<br/><br/>We started the night off with a glass of campari. Oysters the Natural and  Florentino Sauce, the Florentino was very cheesy but tasty. However, my favourite meal of the night was followed by the Halloumi Sticks which were nice and light full of flavour.<br/><br/>Now this was followed by my favourite pizza Margherita with the Classic Napoli sauce, mozzarella cheese and herbs and the Quatro Formagi, Four cheeses of mozzarella, parmesan, gorgonzola and bocconcini.<br/>The pizzas were on point and delicious with a great base and so do delicious.<br/><br/>Followed by the most beautiful Pumpkin tortellini which was so smooth and melt in your mouth. Totally delicious and not something I have seen on too many menus.<br/><br/>We also had the most juiciest large<br/>SPAGHETTI MEATBALLS, it was oven baked with homemade meatballs served in a rich traditional Napolitana sauce...well what can I say I was in carb heaven 😋😋😋<br/><br/>Now we could not leave the night without enjoying the largest slab of Tiramisu and great coffees as well.<br/><br/>Thanks for the invite.

Amazing food and atmosphere, incredible service too! Best place on Lygon St! Highly recommend the Gnocchi Gorgonzola, it literally melts in your mouth!

I have to say I have been to this place twice such a lovely environment such a great place I enjoyed the food I enjoy the way they serve the food the staff is very very very friendly myself and my company we really enjoyed the place thank you

The setting is so nice. Lovely part of Lygon St, nicely presented restaurant too. Sitting outside was really pleasant. However the garlic bread was awful...bland sourdough with no garlic. The lamb ragu was tasty at first but really basic so after a while it became a bit of a chore. Disappointed because it looks so nice.

tried the spaghetti marinara and pizza here. im glad the seafood was fresh which is not common in italian restaurants these days. however the pasta was average as the seafood made the dish gluccky and unlike normal marinaras which taste light and fresh. the food was expensive and the wait was appalling. me and my friend waited for over an hour to get our food!! for this reason, i will not be back.

What to expect on lygon street but some delicious pasta accompanied by a few glasses of white wine. Love their 3 pasta dish option allowing us to try different arrays of pasta and pasta sauces. Definitely recommend the spaghetti seafood and marinara.

I was expecting to have a beautiful new year dinner here tonight but instead recieved the exact opposite. Staff were rude, arrogant, and undertrained. Staff also refuse to admit their faults. I strongly do not recommend this place. What a start to 2018.

Food is extremly tasty, highlight dishes are pizzas for sure! We had a range from antipasto to muscles to meatballs to pizza and pasta and garlic breads and then schnitzel, beef, sausages veggies and French fries! Easy to say our friends may have over ordered for the event we attended but secretly I loved every second. Service was amazing and so accomodating for our two year old too. Would recommend , even good for big events !

I went with friends on a groupon deal and it was absolutely fantastic the staff were very friendly and attentive. Did not wait long for the food and the food was fresh and delicious. We have the muscles in red sauce and the sauce was spectacular and the muscles. Loved the Pizza the crust was thin and very tasty I love the toppings just right. We finished off with pasta my favourite and wine. I liked the decor of this place. I will be going again. Absolutely recommend.

Food horrible taste like was off....do disappointing in the service too.....not very busy and miss our drink more than one time.....never again in this place

Do not waste your money or your time !!! Just walked out of the restaurant 10 minutes ago the food is terrible the server was just as bad if not worse then the food sp arrogant !! I dont understand where all those positive reviews came from but trust me dont even bother

Well what can I say about this beautiful restaurant apart from well done, service is awesome and food is amazing not to mention the yummy Creme brûlée and great coffee that keeps me coming back. Well done to Simon and staff!☕️👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

When a friend suggested this for dinner I was very disappointed to see they didn't have pizza available. Maybe it was the universe implementing a pizzavention but it's unfathomable to me that an Italian restaurant doesn't offer this delicious staple. Turns out it wasn't the world not wanting me to eat dough it was merely an incomplete menu listed on Zomato. The Margherita presented beautifully with the perfect amount of oregano splattered melted cheese and it tasted just as good as it looked. The yummy four cheese gnocchi was dairy heaven arriving with a side of bread on a board to mop up that oozy sauce. There seems to be an array of unflattering reviews on here but they are not congruent with my experience. I loved the food and the service was very warm and friendly. The man engaging with us (most likely the owner) was a delight and just like I imagine my grandfather might be had I been born Italian. Pricing was quite reasonable too

Service was quite good along with the outdoor area although the food isn't anything special. It's good for a lazy bite although you're best fared elsewhere in terms of portion size and overall quality.

Carmine's gets a 2 rating - food was very good and the atmosphere is good too - but the portion was entree sized and overpriced - $22 for a bolognese. I work nearby so I would often buy spag bol, have half for lunch and the other half for dinner. It used to cost $15 with a glass of wine! I questioned this with the waiter who told me that was 2 and a half years ago under previous management but I've only been working here 18 months so it doesn't add up. The waiter insisted there was a lot of food but it was entree at best.<br/><br/>There are much nicer restaurants on Lygon (trust me, I've tried them all!) where you'll get better value for money and equally great food or better.

I have been to Carmines a few times but brought a group last weekend. Food was fantastic as always. I had the gnocchi and a couple of others at the table had the spaghetti marinara (cooked perfectly al dentè as it should be, other restaurant's take note). <br/>The thin herb pizza to start was great and we got some other selections to begin.<br/>Also the Aperol Spritz's were fantastic which is what really counts.<br/>Carmines gives you that home cooked feel and is a great place to enjoy some vino and some good Italian cooking in the heart of Lygon St.

Came sunday night warm welcome, Food was delicious , had pollo di fungi and carbonara yummy.........outside area with heater match the perfect night.......highly recommend this place.......

The only way to describe this place is, shambles!<br/>Ordered an Asahi beer along with other beverages to start, it was 7 months out of date. Ordered garlic bread and bruchetta entrees, they arrived after the tapas!<br/>Tapas & entrees were fine. Waiting over an hour for mains to come, asked waiter for a check up. He proceeded to explain to us that 'he has had bad feedback' throughout the night from other tables. Not a thing you want to hear as a customer. <br/>Mains arrived finally, rissotto hard, vegetable sides like slop, steak gravy no flavor- would've been better with ketchup. A rip off for what was on the plates!<br/>The waiter return to apologies, he was like a bug hanging around the table. We just wanted to be left in peace.<br/>Staff are the let down of this place. Will never return nor recommend this place.<br/><br/>

At Lygon street your option is Italian. Walked street through and found Carmine's the most appealing today and stepped in for lunch. <br/><br/>Ordered lunch special rigatoni with gorgonzola and salami, sparkling water, creme brûlée and double espresso. All together $40, so not cheap... BUT GOOD!<br/><br/>Rigatoni was so perfect as it can be, i find hard to justify eating expensive pasta in restaurants because we all know how cheap and easy its make... but... this was just perfect!! Brûlée was by the book, everything was perfect. Even the sparkling water had that little extra slice of lemon.. which is so easy to leave out, but makes it perfect when its there.<br/><br/>Staff was really friendly and knowledgeable about their offerings. Have to go again and have their seafood...<br/><br/>Pasta won't get 5 from me, but this was well earned 4.5, all was perfect. Recommended ++++

Wasn't a fan of the food here. Pasta Primavera had hardly any vegetables in it but the sauce tasted good. Still a rip off for almost $19 and it was a small serve. The bread they use is not nice. Had a lovely waitress though, so that was a positive.

Good food and friendly customer service. <br/>The guy who looked to be the owner was very friendly and talkative. <br/>Definitely go back and would recommend.

Great food and service definitely coming back to Carmines real Italians experience from the staff to the kitchen love you guys and thanks for make my day

Coming from an Asian family, I've always cringed when mum made gnocchi as it was a substitute for rice. Coming to carmines has changed my whole perception of the dish. From being something that I avoided with a passion, I have now come to appreciate it as a favorite to go to menu item. Many compliments to the chef and the amazingly friendly staff that have created this most enjoyable dining experience.

Lygon Street is such a fun place, and on a busy Sunday evening, every place was eager for us to dine with them. Carmines was jam packed out front and the front of house made a convincing recommendation for us to eat there. We were seated straight away, the service was actually the highlight of the meal. We ordered garlic bread and 4 chesse gnocchi. <br/>The gnocchi was super yummy and cheesy but I would have liked it to be saucier to eat withthe garlic bread. The bread looked just like toast bread with butter which was disappointing.<br/>While the decor was nice and the restuarant was nicely lit, the bathroom was a disgusting mess. Huge let down however I notified a staff member who got on to it right away. Even though the gnocchi was good, there are too many other italian places to choose from so I probably wouldnt pick Carmines again.

Delicious food, service and vibe! Yum yum yum!!! Always come here when I am on Lygon - the friendly stuff make it even better! Highly recommend coming here if you are ever on Lygon street !!! Delicious !

Was offered a free bottle of wine and garlic bread, ordered 1 dozen​ Oysters Kilpatrick and Seared Scallops, both were completely over cooked and not were not fresh(assuming frozen). Both plates hardly touched explained to the waiter they were overcooked, she told the kitchen but little recourse was offered. No water was served to the table which made washing the over ripe taste of the oysters difficult to wash out of my mouth, I was ready to run...<br/>Out came the mains, 4 plates served one order was incorrect.<br/>All mains were swimming with oil, I felt like I was bathing in a Greek bathhouse. My partner ordered the seafood pasta, her favourite, again it was left untouched. I had a risotto and was surprised it wasn't all that bad, ended up sharing it with her.<br/><br/>I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes spending money to talk about bad food and enjoys disappointment, the gift that keeps on giving.<br/><br/>Update* was offered a cup of coffee to compensate for all of our returned untouched plates, after some dispute with 3 different staff the entrees were refunded.

Ate here on a Sunday night, and had fantastic food and service. Front staff were very friendly and helpful, all our meals ordered were superb, and came out quite fast. No faults for this restaurant, will return. Recommend the Margherita pizza and the gorgonzola gnocci, both heavenly.

Absolutely delightful night at a restaurant that delivered scrumptious meals. All staff were friendly providing amazing service. Four of us dined and ordered the "Feed Me" indulging in all that the chef delivered to our table. Well worth the money, and the dining experience was a beautiful backdrop for a dinner catch up!

Amazing food.....had feed me and was superb.....the last dish of pasta...my god was so tasty and amazing.....I can't wait to go back here.....the only bad thing was the poor service we had.....to improve.....

We had the pizza here, it was hardly more than a crust and a tomato paste, the worst pizza I have ever had in my life!!!!! The size of it was so small too!!! Had to go to another restaurant to become full!!!

Went on a Saturday night for dinner. Outside dining was packed but inside was more empty and quiet. The pasta I ordered was dry and clumpy and the service was average. I wouldn't go back and would rather try other places on Lygon Street.

Worst Pizza ever !<br/>It was a terrible experience , When I got the chicken pesto pizza I couldn't believe that I got a pizza like this in Lygon Street. Over the last 7 years, I have tried many restaurants in Lygon street but definitely this one was the worst pizza ever ! Buy a frozen pizza from coles and save your money even a garlic bread is better than this....<br/>I will never come back again and I am not sure how they got above 3 rating :(

My friend RazTaleb, wanted to try out this place as apparently she knew someone who used to work here and he told her that the people here are super friendly and that the food was good.<br/><br/>So I walked in through the door and waited a bit until a waiter greeted me nicely, calling me dear with his arm behind my back and asked if I wanted a table for two. Yes I sure did want a table for two.As I looked around the place looked rather nice with different types of seating available around. Some booths, some just tables and chairs to accommodate with different sizes of groups. The place had a friendly and warm atmosphere but was really loud with the amount of customers in there - there was a group of people celebrating a birthday.I got sat down at a table that was set up for 3, two chairs and one seat at the elongated booth. Then another waiter came, greeted me nicely and put down the menus - couldn't hear what he said clearly due to too much background noise. I asked if I could get some water and then I proceeded to look at the menu, waiting for my friend to arrive.<br/><br/>I was attended to quite a lot by the waiter, asking if I wanted to order any drinks whilst waiting for my friend etc. Often he'd like to put a hand on my shoulder to get something across and called me 'dear'.<br/>Anyways, my friend arrived and he came around again to ask if we wanted any drinks, then she ordered her drink and proceeded to discuss what we wanted. He'd come over again and ask us if we were ready to order and we'd ask for more time. So when we were ready we ordered, we got the Quatro Formagi Pizza and I wanted to get an extra salad on the side to balance it out with something a bit healthier. My friend also asked for a bowl of Aioli because she loves that stuff to dip things into.When my friend went to use the toilet, the waiter came from behind on my left with his hand on my shoulder and asked 'What's your name dear?', and showed his hand for a handshake. I've never had someone ask me that question at a restaurant, so not sure what to say about that.<br/><br/>Anyways, finally our food arrived and we got a salad and a bowl of... Arancini? Apparently they got the order wrong, so we had to correct them that we ordered the Quatro Formagi pizza. I tried the salad and it came with a little glass container with a dressing/sauce that I poured on the salad, I bet it was homemade, it tasted pretty good as salad can be fairly bland. Then the waiter came around again and apologised to us for the mistake with his hand on each of our shoulders (Italians are fairly touch-feely are they?)<br/>Finally we got our pizza and could tell it was homemade and baked in a wood-fired oven. (See picture). The pizza was fairly average, the cheese was a bit strong of course as it was Quatro Formagi after all. I couldn't finish the salad as I ran out of the homemade sauce. My friend had to ask for aioli sauce again and when it arrived to our surprised wasn't what we expected. It was homemade and different from the usual aioli sauce you'd get elsewhere. I find it the price for the pizza wasn't worth it, perhaps because it was homemade that it would be ok, but I didn't enjoy it that much. The price probably covered the exceptional customer service.<br/><br/>Okay, so a surprise to me was, when I unfolded the napkin there was a dry chewing gum stuck in it, so I asked for another napkin as that's rather unhygienic.<br/>Then 'Happy birthday' music blasted from their speakers for the people celebrating a birthday, now that was loud, ha-ha but that's nice.<br/><br/>TLDR: Overall, the place was nice, warm and friendly but loud because of the birthday celebration happening, the customer service was super friendly and attentive with a bit of hand on shoulder re-assurance when speaking, food was average - although it was homemade etc I didn't find it to have strong enjoyable flavours, the price was not worth it for the food but yes for the customer service, also this is probably a one off but there was a dried up, chewed, chewing gum stuck in between the folds of my provided napkin and we also got an incorrect order. So I would recommend if you enjoy great customer service and homemade food, but I personally wouldn't come back again - unless my friend wanted to.

Came to this place yesterday night - our group was seated outside, but compared to the other restaurants, Carmine's wasn't really packed inside or outside. Our order was taken by a very friendly staff member, however once the food came out, it was really a bit of a let-down. The steaks did look great and tasted ok, but weren't cooked the way we ordered them. Two steaks ordered were supposed to be medium rare, and one was supposed to be rare. All came out well done (medium) - overcooked for my taste. The girls who brought out the food didn't know which steak was which (two steaks ordered were the same cut, but were supposed to be cooked differently), and didn't bother to go back and find out, simply placed the plates randomly in front of each person. I didn't have the oysters but my friends who had them said they were nice. Overall, ok place but if I'm paying $60 for a steak, I would expect them to cook it correctly, otherwise why bother giving people the option - just cook everything well done.

There is just something special about Italian food. It is comforting, warming, brings people together. Whenever I am organizing an event I know that I am safe with Italian food as it is unlikely I know anyone that wouldn’t enjoy it. Even nowadays, Italian seems the easiest option to cater for my gluten free and FODMAP friends. Carmine’s Bistro in Carlton is a place where you can find this warm, comforting environment that is the perfect place to meet with friends for a casual meal or special occasion.

After we was welcomed inside the restaurant I noted the beautiful decor and atmosphere.....after we place our order wasn't too long to be served.....I had gnocchi 4 cheese.... My God so beautiful....very tasty and light and the marinara was amazing.....the size was OK for the price....our young water was impeccable and me and my wife we enjoyed every second here.....beautiful restaurant and amazing food.....what else....

Been here Saturday night after the manager outside said he will give to us free drinks.......we was a little bit suspicious maybe because the restaurant wasn't busy but in the end we go inside......after we order our meal and drinks we stayed for a chat in totally relax and then we went to pay the bill......and here start the nightmare......when we get the bill I saw the guy in the cashier charge our drinks.....I was surprised and asked why we was charged the all drinks......he was surprised as well and called his colleague..........the same who said to us they will be free..he start to lie to us and he said was not true....I never never had argument in a restaurant in my life....what a shame now I understand why this restaurant wasn't busy.....they push you inside with lies.....just the good food can't keep alive a restaurant if the service and the whole lies we get tonight.....I'm not surprise if this restaurant close soon...never never again.....shame on you

Eat here in a busy Saturday night and we was for most of the time alone and no even one waiters come to us to take the order or to offer drinks.<br/>I call him for at least 5 min a tall men looks like a manager but he didn't seem care about anyone Just to stay in the corner with his phone.<br/>anyway after 15 min we place our order(at this point I wanna already leave this place)and after 10 min we finally eat.The food was great but honestly I didn't enjoy nothing of that dinner.....Lucky I live in Sydney were there are many good restaurants.

Been here on a late Thursday night and we asked if the restaurant still open.<br/>We was offered a table and our waiter served us a beautiful meal.Pizza was amazing,very tasty and light.My daughter had fetucine primavera and she said was very nice and fried squid for my husband.<br/>Not bad for a late dinner.we was little bit rush but next time I will enjoy 100% my dish.<br/>Hitgly recommended.

We were welcomed a table at Carmine's Bistro in the Lygon Street tradition, where we were told their pasta dishes were all home-made. <br/><br/>We ordered the scallop spaghetti dish.. the "home made" spaghetti pasta dish came out on an average sized plate.<br/>The pasta was chewy, the bacon came out as ham, the scallops were most definitely came frozen (not fresh) and the oil drained to the bottom of the plate.<br/><br/>When questioning the waiter about the pasta being homemade he denied the allegations but was very quick to change the topic. He didn't seem very knowledgable about what was in the dish.<br/><br/>Aside from the packet pasta dish the pizza was good.<br/><br/>We were given the bill and promted to pay the full amount, which we did.

Was looking for a place to have some drinks and tapas and randomly walked in carmines which has very friendly and humorous waiter to help us order our food. Gonna try something new three next time!

Finally an authentic Italian restaurant.<br/>The decor was adorable and very welcoming.We was a group of 6 and all our mains was amazing especially the flounder.Wow what a fantastic dish.<br/>Our waiter was funny and always available.Beatiful dinner thanks guys

Had bruschetta for start and for mains gnocchi 4 cheese and chicken.The only shame was the service.<br/>We ask few times water and wine but never arrive and our young lady waiter always look like never understand what I said.<br/>Anyway if wasn't for the food my review will be very low.

Had bruschetta to share for start were was absolutely beautiful.Our mains was spaghetti marinara quatro formagio and they was out.Service can be improved especially outside were we was a little bit ignored,anyway a good place to enjoy ur dinner with family or friends

When Instagram shots of Carmine’s parmas started popping on to my radar I knew it was one we had to try. Massive schnitzels covered in mountains of toppings of all different shapes and sizes and absolutely beautifully presented. We normally avoid Italian Restaurants as they tend to lean towards the really traditional (Bolognese sauce with really thin schnitz’s), but from what we could see of Carmine’s they really hit the nail on the head.

Firstly, the service is always excellent and the atmosphere is great. Tonight we had the special which was the risotto with pear, gorgonzola, and pork. My god, it was beautiful. I have never had such a unique italian dish. If you come here and it is on the menu, GET IT! I literally downloaded the Zomato app to leave this review.

Best customer service on Lygon by far! I went there for my birthday and they treated us all so so well! We love going there and having a good quick chat with our favourite waiter! They truly go above and beyond all the time! Food wise... Superb. Wine... Amazing! Coffee and dessert BRILLIANT!

I'm on the mission to find the best Gnocchi that melts in your mouth in Melbourne. <br/><br/><br/>The Gnocchi tonight, it was smooth and melted in my mouth. In my top 3 to date.

Ordered gnocchi and lasagna for dinner with a friend. I thought the gnocchi was going to be really cheesy. However, it was quite light and wasn't as rich as I thought it would be. Really enjoyed the taste and texture. Lasagna was huge and definitely worth the price! We ordered the ores cheesecake for dessert which we couldn't finish coz it was really big. The cake was abit too dense for my liking but not bad overall. Would definitely recommend as staff are very attentive as well

The pizza was nice and the dough was nice and fluffy. The pasta was okay, a bit lacking in taste but still good. So food was nice, despite small portion for the price. The service is a bit of turnoff. The staff did not seem to communicate very well because they would ask you what you order, then before you finish ordering they already left.

Great authentic Italian food. Great service. The traditional bruschetta was delicious and the gnocchi with gorgonzola was to die for.<br/>Will definitely go back. 👌👌

Great authentic italian food loved the chicken parmigiana with side of fries. The outside seating atmosphere was really good but would prefer on sunny days not during the cold Melbourne weather.

Decided to come here as the man luring people in was not desperate (playing hard to get which all ways works), as well and i could bring in 2 bottles of red. thank god... Staff are really friendly, sometimes too friendly. The food on the other hand was fairly average, however the presentation was on point. Would defentally come back for tapas and byo wine

Excellent service! We had fettuccini carbonara and tortellini festive, both of which were really delicious. We also tried the pesto chicken pizza and Quadro formagi pizza, which were pretty decent, but I found the crust a little too thick. The waiters were really friendly and chatted with us! The portion sizes were decent, but could be bigger though.

Been here sometime last year and only had the chance to rate it now because I just joined Zomato. Lol. We ordered pizza and gnocchi and food was not too bad! Service was pretty good by one of the waiter. Friendly and very warm. Lastly before we left, as we were paying up waiter decided to serve us complimentary dessert!! Wow!! Although it was a small dessert just to tone down our palate, it was definitely Yums and delicious! It was like a chocolate swirl thing. Don't know what it's called but warm and delicious! Thanks!! Might swing back here if we have the chance.  :)

When Carmine offered me a table I couldn't refuse I sat down somewhat weary if not intrigued but as his staff began to bring me the antipasto plate all my worries disappeared, the olives, the meats, the cheeses, really enjoyed it!!<br/>our pizza was cooked well and the toppings so fresh, decor is fun and the atmosphere just right<br/>grazie' carmine x

Lygon street in Carlton is the heart of Italian dining in Melbourne. And Carmine’s Bistro is one that stands out for creating authentic Italian dishes with a modern twist. The meals are exciting and innovative and most of all they are damn tasty. Carmine’s Bistro – Venue. As you walk in there are beautifully set tables with big posters on the wall, quirky lamps and book shelves. It has a warm inviting atmosphere with lots of character.

Food wasn't awful however it was fantastic either , there are plenty of better places to eat on lygon street. <br/><br/>We had to return the garlic bread as it was charcoal they fact the kitchen sent this out and no waiter questioned it was a surprise, our mains weren't awful the my partner enjoyed the meat balls , however my chicken pesto pizza was flavourless and the base was soggy very disappointing . There's definitely better quality restaurants in Melbourne .

We thought Carmine's Bistro had some tasty and filling food. Service was fast and we were able to enjoy watching the street goers, as well as some lovely Italian beer. There may be better on offer in Melbourne but as a Brisbane resident, I was satisfied.

Really don't even feel like writing a review for this one. Pasta shouldn't be fork tender. The mozzarella crispy gnocchi appetiser was greasy and 'gloppy.' Just all around not very good.

Ive been here a couple of times and both times i enjoyed my food, pizza was well cooked with a thin crust and fresh topping, pasta was very tasty and the coffee is great too.

We walked by Carmines bistro and hadn't seen it before so thought we would give it a go. The ambience and decor was beautiful, warm and welcoming. We ordered the traditional bruschetta which was flavoursome, a pizza which was nice and thin yet not soggy and could taste all the different topping flavours. Only downfall was the parpadelle ragu,although it was presented beautifully it was very bland and just needed a few extra flavours/spices to taste as nice as what it looks.

I went here last night with my friends.<br/>We had few dishes.<br/>Was all amazing!<br/>My favorite dish was seared scollops, <br/>And spaghetti marinara! <br/>You should try it! <br/>Will be back soon <br/>

We went there for dinner and liked the outdoor setting. So we decided to eat. However, overall i was dissapointed. The taste was ordinary. My wife ordered lasagna and it tasted like pre made and just heated up in a microwave. The pizza was similar to pizza hut. The dish presentation was very ordinary like we were eating in a food court italian chain! The food not cheap but the quality is not up to the mark.

Went here expecting a lot;). It wasn't that the food was bad. It was solid. Arancini, garlic bread, bruschetta and calamari. Main meal was a letdown. Ordered a chicken risotto that was underwhelming. Dessert was good, however tasted like it had been there too long:(. Service best we have received for a long time hence bonus 0.5 point

Carmine's is one of my favorite restaurant<br/>They never make me disappointed !!<br/>Always the food is nice and fresh :)<br/>Absolutely full of taste as well. <br/>I Recommend to take feed me Manu .<br/>I'm sure you'll definitely loved with that.<br/>

WORTH ZERO STARS!!!<br/>Absolutely disgusted! <br/>Ordered a chicken parma! At first was quite supirsed with how large it was but soon then realised a odd taste in my mouth. I didn't take too much notice of it and kept eating then the texture went really funny I look down to a half cooked and half raw chicken parma which I had just digested! I called the waiter over immediately and refused a refund for the whole meal which he did. I wish I took a photo to show you all of this appalling cooking! How hard can it be to deep fry a chicken?

My rating is purely for the service because the food was kinda bad. Greasy parma with too much cheese and nowhere near enough sauce, very oily fries, pasta that sat like a rock in my stomach and halloumi that tasted eggy instead of cheesy.

Food was great, love the warm, comfortable environment and design. But what really stood out was the service. Excellent service by the Italian waiter, would definitely come back JUST for the customer service. Though unfortunately we didn't get to ask for his name.

Really enjoyed the food. Nice Decor inside. Service was very good, our waiter was friendly and attentive. The only negative was that the big guy who seemed to be the manager/ owner, kept barking orders at the waiters and generally riding them pretty hard, it was distracting and my wife and I couldn't help feeling bad for the poor waiters who seemed to be doing a more than satisfactory job. <br/>All said and done I will go back.

Went here for a New Years Eve feed with my girlfriend and rolled out thereafter with no room left in our bellies. Service was prompt and attentive, from the urgency with which a table was found for us to the speed of food and drink delivery, the food was tasty, the serving sizes were generous and the prices were reasonable. The place was packed out as well, so the quality of the service experience was even more worthy of note. Well worth a visit and will likely see us back again soon.

Tries hard but food doesn't meet mark. Amatriciano like s think sauce lacking chilli. Waiter quite good but seemed to be forcing wines on us which were more expensive. Unlikely to return!!

Came here to celebrate my friend's birthday... We loved their steak and coffee.. Authentic and delicious French/Italian restaurant. Though service can be improved..

Lygon street in Carlton is the heart of Italian dining in Melbourne. And Carmine’s Bistro is one that stands out for creating authentic Italian dishes with a modern twist. The meals are exciting and innovative and most of all they are damn tasty. Carmine’s Bistro – Venue. As you walk in there are beautifully set tables with big posters on the wall, quirky lamps and book shelves. It has a warm inviting atmosphere with lots of character.

Tonight, we went to Carmine's bistro!<br/>That was the most amazing food i had since i been in italy.<br/>I defenitely recommend this restaurant.<br/>The price is really average, and the food is fantastic. Must try the promotion Feed Me<br/> that food comes out until you say stop.<br/>Cocktails we matching with our personality.<br/>And service was good with a really nice staff.<br/>I will definitely go back with some more friends.

When I was recently invited to try out Carmine's Bistro, I knew I didn't even have to ask L whether he was going to join me. We're both lovers of Italian fair and couldn't wait to try what Carmine's had to offer. I've been hearing more and more that Lygon St has been picking up its game again, the food is coming back to higher standards and it's not just a tourist trap. Carmine's is a great example of this. The chef at Carmine's knows what he is doing, which is evident in the selection of dishes and the quality of the food. <br/><br/>The spacious restaurant offers a la carte choices or the "Feed Me" option.

Not on their menu, this playful creation was whipped up by the chef on the day of our visit. The meatball itself was abundant in flavour owing to both the earthy aroma of the nutty coating and the spice laden meat underneath. Throw in a creamy sweet emulsion (consumed much like a shot) and there was an explosion of delicious and complementary flavours.

Absolutely delicious food and wonderful hospitality. Left there with full bellies and a smile on our face. Highly recommend getting the feed me menu!!

Had a fantastic experience at Carmine's Carlton! Food was superb (calamari,  scallops and mussels were absolutely delicious and fresh as well as fresh baked italian bread!!!). I want to express especial gratitude to manager Alexandro who went above and beyond our expectation in customer service! Highly recommend to visit the place and ask for Alexandro, I guarantee you will be treated amazingly and charmed by his wonderful personality and professionalism! Great food, great service, fantastic environment - what else you wish?

The warm welcome as we arrived was amazing and the service was outstanding the best I've ever experienced in Melbourne! The food was delicious especially the fried gnocchi! Definitely returning :)

Carmine’s Bistro satisfies families and gourmet diners alike. The dining room possesses a warm familial atmosphere with views of the vast wine collection Carmine’s Bistro harbours. . The wine list is reasonably priced and features a good selection of wines to complement your meal.

Apart from the Lygon Street vs Google maps confusion that happens to me way to often…. Getting the Carmine’s was very easy! It’s a Springy Thursday night and there are lots of people out and about on Carlton’s famous Italian mile, Lygon Street. There is a lovely buzz of people touting their menus and enticing you into their restaurants but we are booked in and already late so to Carmine’s we go! It’s a little quieter than the rest, a big space that looks relatively new and there are several friendly faces including the lovely Gabriel who looked after us incredibly well, though the quintessential Italian who loves to feed you until you might pop!!

There is just something special about Italian food. It is comforting, warming, brings people together. Whenever I am organizing an event I know that I am safe with Italian food as it is unlikely I know anyone that wouldn’t enjoy it. Even nowadays, Italian seems the easiest option to cater for my gluten free and FODMAP friends. Carmine’s Bistro in Carlton is a place where you can find this warm, comforting environment that is the perfect place to meet with friends for a casual meal or special occasion.

Posted by Chasing a Plate in Carlton on 27/07/2015. Chasing a Plate dined as guests of Carmine’s Bistro. It’s a big restaurant but Carmine’s Bistro manages to maintain a warmth and cosiness to it. It’s a combination of the dark wood, the candelabra style lighting, the framed vintage posters and the gracious Italian hospitality of the staff. If Lygon Street is where you’re headed for a taste of Italy you can be sure of an authentic experience at Carmine’s.

Food was excellent. Staff very helpful and polite. Music was on point as well! You have to try their home made desserts as well, phenomenal.

Came here recently with a group to try out a brand new vegan menu and it did not disappoint! The chef had never cooked vegan food before and I was completely blown away. Most of us aren't even vegetarian, so to have so much great feedback is testament to the chef. Everything was delicious, well cooked and incredibly interesting. Great service and a fun time had by our whole group!

Unfortunately my review has changed since last being here. I've been to Carmine's to enquire about my brother's 18th party and it seemed the owner was promising a lot of things but didn't have the time to fully explain anything about their function arrangements. I decided to give this place one last try with my partner and to have over cooked gnocchi was such a disappointment, both times weren't overly busy too, so i can't blame a busy chef for "forgetting" about the gnocchi. Just boring. Better things on Lygon.

So good! Buonissimo!!! Service great, food great, atmosphere great! Will definitely come again! Alesandro was great too! Will definitely be coming again :)