Carmine's On Penn - Denver

This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Denver! It’s family style, so bring a group and try a lot of different dishes. The garlic rolls are are my wife’s favorite , the pear salad is my favorite. The piccata, lemon shrimp and ravioli Al la vodka are all awesome. Also, my wife has an allergy and our waiter went out of his way to make sure our food was safe. It showed they care!!!!

I used to dine here all the time. Took my partner for their birthday. I had made reservations, they sat us right next to the kitchen bathroom hallway and right under the menu on the wall, rendering it impossible to read. I had stated in the reservation that it was his birthday. I feel like it was an odd choice for them to set us there? Didn't feel very special occasion? Dinner was good. But probably didn't live up to all the hype- I had given it.

We have eaten at Carmine's several times bef, usually for my birthday We came tonight and had chicken marsala, the sauce was almost inedible, The sauce had far too much pepper and the mushrooms were pulverized. I like a sauce that is a nice wine sauce that you can really taste the wine and the mushrooms should not have been chopped up to the extreme they were. The server told us the pasta on the side would have the sauce on the side, which would have been good so that we could have had pasta with the chicken marsala. As it was they put the red sauce on the pasta and that does not really go with chicken marsala. The menu needs to be more descriptive and options for one plate per person, not everything house style as everyone doesn't always want the same thing. The mandatory 22% gratuity is high for the service and food. We did end up taking home a lot of food, but none of it that I think we will enjoy later.

The food was very good. Parking is a hassle, so if you don't want to park three blocks away, don't go there. It was not made clear to us anywhere that an 18% gratuity would be automatically applied. The service was just okay and did not earn this mark. The menu was a small, one page item with just the name of the dishes with no descriptions whatsoever. One shouldn't have to ask the server questions about the details of every dish. It frustrates both. It was just two of us, but we had to order family size to get enough food, as the entree came with nothing (salad, side, etc. . $46.00 for four chicken breasts is not reasonably priced, but it was very good. The dessert was made in house and was excellent. Just personally, I don't prefer being served by a male with shoulder length, unkept hair. It wasn't a top knot or ponytail. It free fell and was offensive for a restaurant environment. He was also mildly impatient with my hearing impaired elderly father. Not a bad experience but all things considered, I won't return.

Been going here since they opened. Always my favorite Italian spot in Denver. Great for dates, great for family, and great for (well behaved kids. The menu has great choices and the staff is very very friendly. We came in with a toddler and the owner or manager was very nice to us and helpful when it came to boxing up food and serving us family style. The bread they serve at the beginning is worth it’s weight in gold. Save room for a chocolate covered strawberry and a port…you will thank me when you do ;