Carmine's Gourmet Market — Attraction in Palm Beach Gardens

Hello to all review-readers and review-glancers out there!

Carmine’s main grocery as well as its restaurant attached are both EXCELLENT AND AMAZING, far-and-away the best of their kind of market/restaurant that I’ve been to in the North Palm Beach area. And when I say “their kind of market/restaurant”, I am referring to the kind of smaller, independent or family-owned, more traditional store/restaurant. I’m not referencing any other types of establishments or comparing those…I.e. the big, more common places like Publix or even Trader Joe’s (the main popular restaurant chains, etc.) Those types of places have completely different products and prices and environments.

Anyways, for THIS style of place, Carmine’s stands above the rest. Like other similar places, it features a good product selection at affordable prices, and most (if not all) of those options seem to be locally-sourced, eco-friendly, and especially health-conscious WHILE ALSO being not too pricey, as well. The items are likely still going to be a bit more expensive than the big junk chains offer, since those sacrifice values like health and community in order to make higher profits. But at Carmine’s, given how high-quality, local, community- and eco-friendly the products are, I would give them a high rating for affordability.

Also, they have a wide selection of items available and specialty options. In particular, their bakery is amazing and has tons of fantastic treats for sale. They also have a faster-service pizza/meal department for anyone who might be looking for a place during their lunch breaks or something. I didn’t try anything there so I won’t comment on it, but I will say the pizza looked fresh and very good from where I stood…which, ironically, was right next to the bakery department! I had to order treats for myself, of course…I bought a bunch of different biscotti and they were all amazing, as expected.

The only downside about Carmine’s is that the place is crowded and a bit difficult to navigate, given how popular it is along with being somewhat smaller compared as a building overall. I went on a Sunday afternoon for brunch and groceries, prime-time, too, and it was very crowded and sometimes I had to wait a little for someone to walk down an aisle because there was literally no way I could go any other way - if I tried to push through to save time, I’d have to either knock over an entire shelf getting past someone or I’d just have to push the other person to the floor if I wanted to move along.

Last (and best) part - I also had brunch here along with another family member! I didn’t honestly know what to expect for food and pricing and service, but again I was pleasantly surprised. The place was crowded, similar to the grocery store - we were only able to find seats at their bar after a polite man switched places to make room. But the food, affordability, and most importantly, the SERVICE were outstanding! I posted a couple pics of our meals in case anyone wants to see (also a picture of my empty plate to show how much, and how quickly, I enjoyed it, haha). Best Belgian Waffle I’ve had in a long, long time, and I eat them everywhere. The eggs Benedict also was great for my family member.

Last but not least - the bartender/waiter, “Kathy” (or maybe it is “Cathy”…) was outstanding. Friendly, polite, and super efficient especially with a full bar. Even the kitchen was amazingly fast. Our great food came out hot and fresh and hand-made within 5 minutes - it was actually that fast - but as fast as that is, it was gone even faster!

Five stars, will definitely continue going again. Try it out for sure! Thanks for reading, hope this helped someone and improved...

First, let me start out by saying in part of the American Disability Act and having a disability - Dual Hearing Loss (not that it is required by law to state) and another that doesn't require me to wear a mask. I mention it for the reason of understanding this review. It is June 24, 2020, Wednesday afternoon, I returned back to Carmine's Gourmet Market with the hopes of finding one of my recent and very expensive purchased hearing aids that had fallen out of my ear due to wearing a face mask. Secondly, let me say, I have gone to many stores with never having the experience I am about to share with you. I enter the store, already looking down and retracing my steps, I'm approximately 90% done looking when I am approached and taken by surprise, by a woman who immediately informs me in a authoritative loud tone, "that I must wear a mask to come into the store". I let her know I'm leaving soon but only looking for my lost hearing aid. Let me say, I am already upset losing this hearing aid and having this woman approach me in the manner the way she did not make the situation better. She could care less of what I was saying and insisted I put on a mask. She didn't want me to continue to search but now to leave the store. I don't remember when the mention of calling the police came in, however, I do remember saying twice, "call the police and that I didn't care". They never called them and I wished they had. Her focus was that of a dictatorship and demanding I wear a mask. I had one in my hand but couldn't put it on for three reasons: 1) it had fallen to the ground and now dirty, 2) fear of losing my other hearing aid and, 3) the simple fact as per the ADA I am exempted. I was in complete shock with this woman's unprofessional behavior to me in front of all the customers and the staff members. The humiliation and embarrassment were beyond! Here's another thing she focused on and how wrong she was, that it was "mandated by law that we wear a mask". Little did she know that decision to mandate face masks by the Board of Commissioner's date to start wasn't yet set nor was it a law. It was only agreed upon and made the news. However, it went into effect the following day. (which happens to be today I am writing this) What I found most disturbing is instead of being a concerned professional and offering to help look for the lost hearing aid and understanding how something like this could happen from wearing a face mask, peacefully she instead, creates a scene with her loud authoritative insistence that I have to wear a mask. She was completely out of line and it was completely unnecessary. By not letting me, complete my task, and forced to leave the store she has now helped along with the decisions of the government, create an economic-financial hardship to replace this hearing aid. I will never know if they were lost in the store as I have searched everywhere else. One more last thing, as I was leaving I said, I know the owner Carmine of many years and I will let him know what happened. I'm immediately informed that woman was his wife, Sheila, as they all laughed! Interesting, to say the least, and I've heard all about her in the past from others and it wasn't nice. With that being said, I will not stop here and I will be researching a recourse for her reaction. She is a disgrace to the hard times this country is going through. She should be embarrassed!! And, thanks to you, Sheila, I will NEVER return to the store or to the restaurant. I hope your husband appreciates you more after the show of your professional display. You made his business...

I was in the market today after picking up my jacket I left in the restaurant. A man in his 70s was blocking the aisle by the eggs with his wagon. I politely said excuse me. He didn’t move. When he finally moved I was walking behind him. He then angrily stated why don’t I just wait until he’s done. I informed him I said excuse me. He then got loud and got close to me and cursed. I did the same to him and he pushed me with both hands intentionally. I then started calling 911 when a store employee who later identified herself as a Carmines wife approached me. She began harassing me for calling 911 and telling me to stop. She told me i’m bothering the police , I shouldn’t care about getting pushed etc. I was following the man to point out to responding police and she said I was stalking him. She was in my face so much the man that pushed me escaped some how. My wife called and asked for a manager. The employee from the store that harassed me took the call and said she was Carmine’ s wife. She said getting pushed is no big deal. Even though she did not witness the event said he didn’t do it intentionally. In her defense I don’t think she has a very high IQ. First shoving someone is FSS 784 03 a Misd Battery in Florida. Stopping someone from calling 911 is FSS 914 23 a misd in Fl. But when trying to make a call re a Battery it is Felony. She came real close to committing that crime or might have. Through out the ordeal in the store I told Carmines wife she should ask the man to apologize instead of harassing me. I said you should ask him to leave the store But she harassed the victim. instead Was it because I was younger , didn’t have any items to purchase yet , or she didn’t want police in her store ? I would feel unsafe visiting this store and anyone reading this should feel the same way I will spread the word about my experience where ever i can Her name is Sheila and there are multiple reviews here about her...