Carmelina's

After 1.5 months of waiting, the day of my reservation for the ever-so-popular Carmelina's finally arrived. Doors opened right at 11:30 AM, and we were seated promptly after confirming our reservation (note: I like to dine solo, but this place has a 2-person minimum). A line had formed outside because they only hold your table for 10 minutes and kick you out after 90 minutes, so no one wanted to be late.

The place was smaller than expected, with tables packed tightly together, which is typical of restaurants in the North End. They have a QR code at every table to scan for the menu. You must order everything upfront. Because of the small space, the smoke from the kitchen burned our eyes as we waited for our food. However, the appetizers and then the main course all came out within 20ish minutes, served in the pans in which they were cooked. We also got complimentary bread with olive oil to start.

• Complimentary bread with olive oil: The bread was warm and crunchy. Not bad but also nothing special.
• Risotto Milanese: Good portion size for $10; enough to share between two people. It was creamy and almost tasted like clam chowder.
• Sunday Macaroni: HUGE portion size, packed with protein. For $38, it was well worth two meals. The whipped ricotta and meatballs were my favorite parts. The whipped ricotta was so fluffy and added a light creaminess. The meatball was very soft and flavorful. The beef rib slipped off the bone, but the meatier part was a bit overcooked and dry. The Sulmona sausage was thick but too chewy for my liking. The penne and sauce were fine but plain.
• Frutti di Mare: Also HUGE. Great variety of fresh seafood that was cooked well. There was an even ratio of sauce to pasta to seafood. The pasta was soft, and the sauce was light and sweet.

We didn't have any direct issues with the service, but we were a bit shocked at how they treated the table next to us, which put a bit of a damper on the meal.

Overall, it was a very filling meal that gives a great bang for your buck, but relative to how hard it was to get a reservation, I have had better meals in Boston. I do appreciate that they accept credit cards (except for Discover), as most places in the North End are cash-only. Note that they charge a 3% kitchen appreciation fee. I would come back, but it's not a place for which I would be rushing to get another reservation.