Carmine's On Penn

Doesn't Recommend

tedlearson

Joined 2 years ago

terribly rude owner, hard to rate food honestly as experience was so bad...wasted my evening here, sad

Recommends

Debi H.

Joined 1 year ago

Love the Rolatini

Doesn't Recommend

S F.

Joined 2 years ago

Never Again for me. We placed a large take out order for a party we were hosting. We picked Carmines on penn (even though it was more expensive than other local italian) because they appeared to cater towards diet restrictions. We called before we placed our order to make sure they could make a vegan meal, we double checked when we placed the order and when we picked it up that one item was in fact vegan. We went to serve the food at our party for 20 people 2 hours later only to find out then that the item was not vegan. (we still have the receipt that says the item should have been made vegan). It was embarrassing for us as hosts to not have vegan food available. There was nothing we could do, but leave in the middle of our party and drive there to get a new meal. We were not able to do that. They did refund the one 'vegan' entree - but that was the least they could do and that is all they did. Overall I thought the food was only ok for the price. After this experience and the quality of the food I will try another local restaurant instead of returning here. There are too many good restaurants in Denver to return to a restaurant after a mistake like this.

Doesn't Recommend

Archie123

Joined 3 years ago

Will Never Go Back. If you like over-price quantities of mediocre food, Carmine’s on Penn is the place for you. The Veal Parmigiana was boring with small proportions for $40. The Baked Ziti was dry with some sort of crust on the top. Certainly not worth $28. We had to order extra marinara sauce just to add some flavor. And if course the marina sauce was as unremarkable as it gets. Perhaps they haven’t heard of garlic and spices. It’s more boring than even Olive Garden. I can’t understand why this place is so popular. Perhaps they are living on their previous owners coat tails. I will never go back.

Doesn't Recommend

bonny11

Joined 7 years ago

Eh.. This is a popular place but I find it blah.

We had our company party here and were put in the back room, where it was really quiet (not in a good way). Trying to get the employees in the 'party' mood, I asked the server if they could play some music in the background, and was told that there are no speakers in the back room. Wow, way to create such great atmosphere, Carmine's.

The server was fine but she was in a pair of jeans (this was over the holidays and we were all dressed up) so I thought, would it kill her to put on a pair of black pants?

Also, I hate it when the servers tell you that 'one dish serves 2' when really one dish serves 4. The portion sizes are out of control. So then they just end up dumping the leftovers in styrofoam (not very environmental) for you to take home- and when you (try) to eat the stuff the next day it's just greasy and soggy mush.

This place seems to get away with serving average food, making people over-buy these massive platters of grease, and then making the place 'hip' by putting butcher paper on the table, which I assume just ends up in the landfill (along with all the styrofoam containers).

I don't get it.

Doesn't Recommend

B Thomlinson

Joined 4 years ago

Great place but don't ask management for a suggestion. I am a manager of well known Chinese restaurant and am shocked how uninformed the assistant manager is when it comes to the menu. How can you be in a leadership position, if you can't do the job yourself? I am disappointed by his lack of knowledge. Especially since there is nothing written down except for chalkboards. Dinner was good. The food runner (tall, blond, guy) was more entertaining than anyone else there. I will only be back to ask the food runner if he wants to come work for me!

And by the way, a side of meat sauce isn't too much to ask for other restaurants would be more than happy to accommodate. That IS what we are in the biz for... accommodation!

Thanks,

B Thomlinson

Doesn't Recommend

jLUHR

Joined 4 years ago

warning!!. We have been going to Carmine's since the mid 70s and watched the restaurant change over the years. Unfortunately, the new management has taken the experience to a new low. The food is ok (but not amazing like it used to be). For a large good, they "do not serve". We had to serve ourselves and were penalized by our group size and charged 20% for no service. We sat and sat, looking at dirty plates--finally asking for the table to be cleared. When we talked to the manager, he weakly said the policy of no service he inherited. He didn't want to hear any complaints and told us "Well, you can leave now!" I told him we would never return and with a patronizing shrug, said "ok'( like he was glad). There were only a few tables filled and for good reason. The word is out that this is no longer the quality restaurant of former days. Find somewhere else to spend your dining dollars.

Recommends

Andrew5791

Joined 4 years ago

Great value for your money. I am relatively new to Denver and a friend in town suggested we go there this past week for dinner. I went with a group of 6 and we had a great time. The staff were very good at their job and amusing to boot. The best thing I liked was when one of us suggested we order an entree that the server did not feel was a good value, he let us know. The wine list had a very good variety of options at reasonable prices. Most of the list was under the 50 dollar mark. Overall the food was very good and the portions were huge. We enjoyed ourselves and I feel I have found a restaurant worth returning to in Denver which isn't as easy as I thought it would be.

Doesn't Recommend

clearys04

Joined 6 years ago

I have finally had it and refuse to go back!!!. I have been going to Carmines for years!! However in recent years in the service hasnt just declined it has fallen off a cliff! They only have 2 bar tenders the woman bartender (megan) has the worst attitude on the planet. Even when asking for something simple like WATER she serves it with an attitude!!!! Finally our last visit a few days ago my husband and I finally turned to eachother and said never again! Last time we went in we even complained to management and he acted as if I was talking to someone behind him. If you want good food and good service find another resturant. We will not be going back and wasting our money on service from a woman who clearly needs a new job.

Doesn't Recommend

SnowSurfer

Joined 5 years ago

Terrible Service and Ownership!!. I have been going to Carimine's for over 10 years and the new ownership showed their BAD MANAGEMENT last night.

We waited for 10 min for the waitress (AMY) to come fill our water glasses and not take our drink order in a 50% capacity setting. I went to the bar myself and ordered our drinks. She then rushed to the table asked my girlfriend my name and yelled across the restaurant "Michael I am trying to serve you over here" I assume to try and embarass me? We then requested the Chicken montana with the chicken on the side (girlfriend is a veggie) and the waitress said "the chef won't prepare it that way" without even asking him at a customer's request. Guess customer is not always right anymore, at least not at Carmine's. We were very uncomfortable the enitire rest of the meal as AMY passed our table and she only returned to drop off the bill.

I asked on the way out how to complain at a later time, and it happened to be the OWNER (BRAD) I was talking to. We walked outside and I gave him the overview and how uncomfortable we were dining in the restaurant and what terrible service we received. He then "thanked me for letting him know, as most customers would not". I asked how he will handle it since he offered NO RESOLUTION and he stated he would talk to the Chef and waitress. Great job BRAD! The Chef was not at fault and never even asked. Do you really think that is how to manage and get a customer to come back to your establishment after an awful experience? VERY BAD SERVICE AND MANAGEMENT FROM THE OWNER! Top down as they say and that is clear at Carmine's under new ownership. Hopefully Brad has to sell it soon!