Carmello’s

I have been going to Carmello’s with my husband and our family for years. The food is almost always wonderful and the service is impeccable. Prices are high but portions are plenty and the quality of the meal and experience speaks for itself. Definitely try the Oysters Rockefeller!

I called the restaurant the day before NYE hoping to try and get a reservation since obviously all Open table was booked. I was surprised that the host was very willing to get me in on such short notice. He placed me on hold to get approval from the manager as they were already booked up. I think most hosts would just see they were booked and not even bother to try after floods of calls. Awesome employee… wish I knew his name.
We got to our 9:30 (squeezed in) reservation on NYE and only waited 15 minutes on the busy holiday. I really enjoyed that we were offered complimentary champagne upon seating. My husband and I decided on three appetizers, two salads, and shared a 10 oz filet mignon. It was a ton of food and I’m glad we got to try a good chunk of variety since we have never been there before. Every course we had was absolutely delicious and the steak was the best filet we have had in a great deal of time. We had a wonderful NYE! We are local and will definitely be returning here!
Thanks so much!
Tristan & Jeremy

Nice place. Quiet little atmosphere. My boyfriend and I loved the food. Decently priced and delicious. Only complaint was we felt the waiter was pretty inattentive (which was crap because the place was nearly empty).
Would likely return

Christmas eve, a party of 12 family members and friends had reservations to dine. It was a disappointing experience indeed. Our reservation was somewhat timely, but as they are seating us they are rapidly putting down silverware at the table while they are seating us. If this had been the only issue, it could have been easily overlooked. A party of 12 was assigned only 1 server who did the best she could but she had other tables as well. Not only was our service poor due to there being only 1 waitress, but apparently there was no one to help provide butter refills, water refills, or clear plates from the table when food was finished. There was an exceptionally long wait between courses, but that is to be expected on busy holiday nights. A couple of the dishes were ill-​prepared. In one case, the salmon dish was served significantly over-​cooked. After waiting almost 2 hours for the main course, the diner was hesitant to send the dish back. While the crème brule was well prepared, another member of our party had ordered apple crisp that was sent to the table with a burnt topping. When the diner complained that the topping was burnt, she was told to give it a try and if it didn’t taste good, she could get another one. What fine dining restaurant sends out a burnt dessert as the meal finale! With a bill that was a few dollars short of a $ 1000, it was a terribly disappointing experience.

We enjoyed a nice business dinner one evening, just a few of us. Since we enjoy wine, we were happy to see a wine list with all the great wines from California we have come to expect at better restaurants. They also served us a nice sparkling Portuguese wine to start, for free. The bread for the table came with an incredible and fresh tapenade which was really tasty!
The appetizer listing was outstanding, it was hard to pick just one or two, wanted so many more, but also wanted to save room to enjoy a complete meal! The scallops were OUTSTANDING! Some of the best we’ve ever enjoyed! The grilled vegetables were also very nicely done and beautifully plated!
Next course were salads… All were amazing once again! Portions are generous and perfectly plated.
The entrées were equally as amazing as the first two courses! The Monk fish came in a really nice copper pot. The veal medallions were OUTSTANDING! Perfectly prepared and nicely topped with lump crab and the red beans & rice was perfectly prepared, slightly spicy and smokey — YUM!
desserts were incredible! They offered some great options, made fresh, in-​house! The coffee and Americana served with dessert was a perfect finish to a great meal.
Our server was great! She was very attentive, knew the menu, offered great suggestions and timed the entire meal perfectly.
It’s crazy that we’ve grown up here and have heard about Carmello’s many times over the years, but have waited this long to try it… We’re looking forward to another visit — SOON!

The eggplant dish was amazing and a big portion! I thoroughly enjoyed the pesto pasta side as well. The sauces all tasted homemade and fresh. Will definitely be coming back!

«My last meal» hands down Carmello’s. My favorite restaurant in the whole world!!! Love Alice!

Three and a half stars for classy fare and friendly service. I’m surprised to like Monza next door a bit more, but at Carmello’s the flavor is still there and the effort shows beyond plating. The execution on the dish I tried wasn’t quite as spot-​on as the price point warrants. The braised beef in my al dente ravioli was half-​shredded, and the sauce had been cooked down for long enough that it was almost too salty for my taste. I’d probably give them another chance with some gnocchi and lobster bisque, though.

Just try it.
You know how I hate chain restaurants. Some Carrabas/​Olive Garden joints put a dump truck load of garlic on all their food and call it «Italian».
This is a class joint with a nice wine humidor in the dining room (I love a nice rack… wine rack… yea that’s it) and a fine selection.
Usually a restaurant burns down and… well, the insurance company writes a fat check. Next thing a new title loan or MVC Late night opens up in its place. Nope… Carmello’s reopened with a fresh new face and nicer digs.
The food is memorable and high quality. Bring mom or your date, you won’t disappoint. Just be prepared for a 2 hour dinner… which is fine if you didn’t buy tickets to Jiffy Lube Live after (you promised mom an Englebert Humperdink show don’t forget).
Bottom line: Don’t wear your Bone Collector camo hat in here, Jethro. Manasshole.

Went here for the Mothers day brunch and it was delicious. The service was great, the price was just right and the kids ate for free! We will definitely be going back for a date night without the kids. Also, the pizza next door is amazing.

Amazing! Went here for a late valentine’s day and noted so on our reservation. We were given a cozy booth and I was treated to a rose. We were also both given a free glass of sparkling wine. We had the mini wellingtons and snails, both cooked to perfection followed by the pool shank and the paella. The food was only second in quality to the service. Not too pricey for the quality, and it was a good amount of food. Also had the marscapone mousse and the cannoli. All was perfectly seasoned, well plated, and high quality. Delicious!

Great meal and great service. We had the pork shank and swordfish which was spectacular. They have one of the best wins lists in NOVA. Some exceptional reds at reasonable prices. Outstanding beer selection with some hard to find seasonal beers. Nice low lit atmosphere with a moderate noise level. The booths are large and comfortable. Two complimentary glasses of sparking wine was a nice touch. Overall I would highly recommend this restaurant. The prices are reasonable considering the quality of the food and service. I would avoid the bar side of the house, Monza. The service there is weak and hit or miss.

Really poor experience and not a very good meal. Server was awkward, fumbling, and didn’t seem very familiar with the menu. Refused some really easy requests, like slicing an appetizer for a table of business associates to share.
The food was poor. While the Ahi Tuna appetizer was decent, this is the first restaurant I’ve been to where they’ve managed to make pork belly bland and unpleasant. The risotto was gummy and they apparently hadn’t cooked off the wine properly. The scallops were over cooked as well. Disappointing for the size of the check.

We wanted to have our wedding rehearsal dinner here, but there had been a fire. So, we hadn’t been back since. Whatever they did with the insurance money worked. It no longer looks like a hole in the wall; its very nice on the inside, and looks far more upscale and «shiny» new. The food is still a little pricey, but its not too bad. Additionally, the menu has gotten a little more authentic. There is less Italian, and more Portuguese food. The ambiance is much nicer, and we absolutely loved our meal. The Beef Wellingtons were amazing, and the crab/​cheese/​asparagus stuffed chicken was amazing. Ill be back soon to try other menu items!

I’ve been going to Carmello’s «little sister» restaurant Monza regularly for almost two years now. (And still The Duke as of this posting!) They share the same kitchen, and in the past I noticed that many of Carmello’s menu items in the «middle tier» price range were also over at Monza. So even though I love the food at Monza, and Carmello’s offers the same beer selection, I never felt the need or desire to go to Carmello’s. I guess a lot of people felt the same way, because shortly after part of Carmello’s was refashioned to expand Monza, which was rapidly growing in popularity.
Recently, because I am on the Monza mailing list, I was sent a coupon for $ 20 off a meal at Carmello’s, so I decided to check out their menu online. I was pleased to see that the menu was completely revamped with very little «carry over» from the Monza menu. Recognizing that Monza has it’s own loyal customer base, the management decided to create a new Carmello’s menu that pushes them further into the «fine dining» category and emphasizes fresh, locally sourced product.
My wife and I decided to take advantage of the coupon and stopped in on a Sunday night. Outside of one large party, the restaurant was nearly empty, and it took a couple of minutes before we were noticed out front to get a seat. And overall, if I had to point out a weakness with Carmello’s, it is that service seemed a bit slow. Our server was fantastic, but things just seemed a tad slow coming out of the kitchen. Still, we were only there for about 80 – 90 minutes for three courses, which isn’t too bad.
Our server offered us a complimentary glass of Portuguese wine to start, a nice touch. My wife took advantage, but I went for beer. They share the same bar and thus the same draft selection as Monza, although wine is the focus of Carmello’s. I knew the Monza beer selection better than the server, but I think that’s more of a statement about me than her. :-)
The wife and I both started with a bowl of the Crab and Corn Chowder. It was fantastic … a bit more refined in flavor than the Crab and Corn Chowder at Okra’s. For entrees, my wife got the Pan Seared Frutti di Mare. It came with a generous portion of seafood (crab meat, scallops, and shrimp), saffron fettuccine, and a wonderful lobster béchamel sauce. I ordered the Beef Short Rib Ravioli, which featured six large ravioli served over an amazing cauliflower purée and a tasty red wine cream sauce. Both the wife and I absolutely loved the entrees. They have a strong dessert selection as well, including a fantastic chocolate cake that they make using the Southern Tier Crème Brule stout.
Given that Carmello’s is pushing even further into the «fine dining» category, eating here ain’t cheap. The prices are pushing into, but not quite at the Capital Grille /​Morton’s price range. It’s definitely the priciest place to eat out at in Old Town Manassas … but it’s totally worth it. It’s a «special occasions» type of restaurant, and I look forward to celebrating these at Carmello’s in the future.

I absolutely adore Carmello’s!
For the last 8 years Carmello’s has always been my first choice for special occasions, fancy pants dinners and amazing food. They have been through some chef changes over the last year or so but the new Executive Chef, Kyle Bianco is creative and unique. The new spring menu isn’t your typical fettuccini alfredo… he has taken Portuguese/​Italian fine dining to a whole new level. I’ve had the chance to talk to him when he came to our table one night — he comes across very excited and passionate about his food. Combine that with his amazing talent and they’ve scored a win/​win situation!
If I had a guest spot on TV Networks «Best Thing I’ve Ever Eaten»… in my top five would be the Oysters Rockefeller at Carmello’s. Fennel, bacon, spinach and parmesan roasted together with Rappahannock Oysters, they are truly heaven in your mouth. The Berries Zabaglione is my favorite way to end the meals here, its pure lightly sweetened perfection that isn’t overly sugared and heavy, save room!
The manager Zack has always left an amazing impression on us as well. He visits each table and ensures that every guest is taken care of. I feel like the whole team behind Carmello’s is trained to focus on suburb customer service, everyone down to the bus staff is polite and quick to offer a smile.
This isn’t the best place for small children. It’s fine dining, not Logan’s. Youngsters would certainly never be turned away but to the best of my knowledge there is no children’s menu, no table to color on, and no changing stations in the restroom. Grab a sitter and enjoy an adult night out, leave the babies at home.
If you are looking for a more relaxed bar environment, stop next door at Monza. This is the sister restaurant of Carmello’s where you will find a pretty trendy bar, unique drink menu, microbrew beers, music and an overall laid back atmosphere! You’ll find me there on Martini Monday!

So I had mixed feelings about this place based on the reviews, but we utilized the 3 Course Dinner for $ 75.00 from Groupon.
My boyfriends mother and father took us for dinner yesterday Monday (⁸⁄₁₂) for my birthday and this was our experience.
Atmosphere — I would give this place 3 stars, the décor is very upscale and expensive looking. However the section of the restaurant we were in was very small and there was too much on the tables for the size of this area (Middle Section straight back — Booth)
Service — I’m going with a 1 Star here. I worked as a fine dinning server in an upscale country club, so I know and fully understand wine service, table side, and just general good service. Which here I found a severe lack of.
Upon entering the restaurant we were acknowledged by the hostess in a reddish floral dress with a cardigan on and pulled back brown hair and what appeared to be 2 hostesses in training. I stated that we had a reservation for 5:30 to be promptly told «I will be with you in a few» where she continued to train these two hostesses. How extremely rude. About 2 minutes later she acknowledges the name on the reservation and brings us to the table. At this point I’m far past irritated at her lack of professionalism. Customers are to be acknowledged and taken care of first, not whenever you feel like it.
We were greeted by what seemed like a polite server which for the most part she was, however she could rarely be found when we needed her. Quite frankly that was a lot during this dinner. I saw the Hispanic table assistant (bus girl) far more than our waitress and frankly I feel like she didn’t speak a lick of English. I understand that you need to work, but when we tell you to take our salad back because it was so salty it was in edible that doesn’t mean put it in a box. It means take it back and remake it.
The young man who must have been a lead or a manager was very polite and took our salad back. He was extremely professional, and by far the exemption to this 1 Star.
Food — 2 Stars. The groupon provides you with 3 courses for 4 people. So needless to say there was plenty of food for us.
We chose the seafood Wellington, baked oysters, bruschetta, and a dried meat of sort that unfortunately I cannot place the name of. The appetizers were okay. Far too much salt on about 3 of them.
For dinner we had the pork wrapped in prosciutto, pork osso bucco, diver scallops, and the lamb steak. The scallops were chewy, the risotto was overcooked and had an absolutely terrible taste.
The only thing I can recommend is pork osso bucco, it was flavored well but again the risotto was terrible.
The deserts I have to say are what saved me from leaving 1 star, the tiramisu was good and so was the chocolate

We started off with drinks in Monza and would have been happy grabbing a bite there in hind sight. But our guest wanted a trip down memory lane and so we went to Carmello’s for what became a bad dream aka dinner.
The server we had was good. We ordered a Barbaresco to accompany our dinners. The only shame was that she broke the cork while opening it… luckily no cork in the glasses but the chance to check the cork, the most important part of the inspection, was missed.
Ordered the lamb and she asked how I wanted that cooked. Had it come in anything other than medium or medium rare that thinly sliced lamb chop shank that was cut like a T-​bone or rib-​eye would have been shoe leather. Ultra lemony flavored ¼″ thick shoe leather.
The pork Osso Bucco — we should have known then to reconsider as Osso Bucco is typically beef — was missing all the sauce and marrow that one yearns for when ordering this dish. The dense risotto added to the overall flavorless experience.
The mushroom and veal dish that our guest ordered was okay, not great. They were very kind in substituting spaghetti for the usual accompaniment but she only ate the veal and some of the mushrooms.
That’s the rub. When you go to Carmello’s you expect fine dining, terrific service and an outstanding wine selection. What we got after months of having been away, was a poorly executed dinner on an extremely scaled back menu. It’s a shame because this was a gem that went through a huge renovation and has great history in the area.

After my previous review I was messaged by Miguel, the owner, and he sent me a business card encouraging me to come back. I am very glad of this because Carmello’s now has a NEW HEAD CHEF and an ALL NEW MENU. Make sure you come in and try it out because it has vastly improved. I’m so happy about it it. I’ve been rooting for Carmello’s like an underdog.
Service was pretty good. With their new menu I think there was still some uncertainty about it, but that will hopefully improve over time.
Monza also knocked out a wall and expanded greatly. There is a TON of seating now. But make sure you sit outside because every Friday and Saturday night Manassas has musicians playing right in the street. Its a great idea.
So if you have been to Carmello’s in the past, come back! Its changed for the better.

After writing a review about Carmello’s food, which I tried during the most recent Fall Jubille, I got a nice follow-​up note from Miguel P, the Owner. They were one of the many restaurants vending their food during the Festival and serving Pahela. Today, I got in the mail a nice $ 25 gift card to Carmello’s.
Thank you Miguel and thank you Unilocal