Carnivale Bahamas — Restaurant in New Providence

Carnivale delivers! From Cameron, the general manager, to their wait staff and bartenders, I’ve never seen better service or brighter smiles anywhere in the Bahamas in the 15 years I’ve lived here. I’ve been to nearly every restaurant in the Bahamas, and Carnivale hands-down has the best service. As for the location, parking is a bit scarce. They have a beautiful setting and parking lot, but spaces are limited. If you’re here during a busy time, you might need to use the parking garage across the street, a short 1–2 minute walk. The grounds are stunning, located in an upscale marina surrounded by expensive boats and yachts. The bar overlooks the water and watercraft, crafted from intricately cut quartz that resembles gemstone-like material—think of those rocks sliced in half revealing beautiful, articulate crystals and stones. Look at the pictures; my description doesn’t do it justice. The rest of the grounds are beautifully landscaped with awesome outdoor seating for events, music, and more. Now, the food: the menu appears to be a work in progress, featuring a mix of Cuban, Bahamian, and even some Asian-inspired dishes. The general manager is constantly tweaking it, making it more unique and better. But how does it taste? It’s incredible, matching the exceptional service. Anyone who visits or lives in the Bahamas knows that incredible service is as rare as catching a marlin, and incredible food is as rare as winning a million dollars on a slot machine. I don’t usually take the time to write detailed reviews like this for a place I’ve only visited once, but let me tell you, it won’t be my last time, I’ll be a regular eating there, that’s for sure. I highly recommend treating yourself to Carnivale. They offer happy hour daily from 4–7 PM, a Sunday brunch, and daily specials. The menu includes very affordable dishes as well as higher-end options up to around $95, but if you’ve been to any upscale restaurant in the Bahamas, that’s a steal. This location, right across from Atlantis and Harbourside next to Margaritaville, outshines any other spot on the island for what you get. I’ve been to the most exclusive restaurants and hole-in-the-wall spots alike, and this new hidden treasure tucked among the yachts on the water is definitely a...

We have been coming to Paradise Island well before The Atlantis was built. One of the main institutions of the island was the Green Parrot, a honky tonk bar on the water where regulars would sit for hours daily and enjoy a Kalik and cigar. The setting was ultra casual and they also offered a limited dinner menu.

Alas, as we walked over to the Green Parrot, we noticed the area was totally different and came across Carnivale, an ambitious project to say the least. New owners tore down the Green Parrot and spent $10M to build a huge restaurant along with a huge outdoor bar area. We sat at the bar and looked at the cocktail and dinner menu.

Gone are the decent prices Green Parrot was known for along with their regulars. Yet another privately owned establishment gone. I asked for a Kalik and Mezcal. They were out of Kalik and the bartender showed me the Mezcal, $80 for a 2 ounce pour. No thanks. Patron Silver was $19 a pour and was fully measured. My wife ordered a cocktail and it was OK at best. The bartenders were inexperienced and why ownership allowed a mediocre bar experience is beyond reason.

The dinner menu is very ambitious with high priced stone crabs and fresh fish. We opted for guac and chips and chicken. Food was OK and underwhelming. Fries seemed frozen, not fresh and not hot. Yes, the place is new and I am sure many bugs are being worked out, but please, overhaul the outdoor bar, get rid of the colorful yet cheap chairs and tables and offer live music. I know if I invested $10M, that would...

We were a group of nine and decided to try Carnivale after seeing some stellar reviews—and it definitely made a bold first impression. The decor is vibrant, funky, and truly beautiful. The energy of the space is great for a night out, and the menu offered a solid selection of dishes. Overall, the food was very good—the empanadas were a huge hit with everyone at the table.

Unfortunately, there were a couple of disappointing moments. My half chicken came out undercooked, but to their credit, the kitchen corrected it quickly and moved on. The real issue, however, came at the end of the meal. My cousin, wanting to cover the bill, handed over his credit card before reviewing the itemized check. When we later asked for it, we noticed we had been charged for three extra meals—totaling close to $80—that we never ordered.

When we brought this to the waitress’s attention, she seemed visibly annoyed. There was no apology or even a simple acknowledgment of the mistake. About 10 minutes later, she returned with a refund receipt, rolled her eyes, and walked away without saying a word. It was a surprisingly dismissive response and definitely left a bitter taste after what was otherwise a great evening.

Carnivale has a lot of potential—fun ambiance and tasty food—but the customer service and billing transparency need serious improvement. Be sure to double-check your bill before paying. I’ve read a bunch of reviews where people had...