Carmelo's Pizzeria — Restaurant in Florida

Our daughter recently made a trip to St. Augustine and came back and raved about Carmelo's Pizzeria, so we thought we'd better try it! We arrived and initially questioned whether we were in the right spot. The side of the Shell Gas station that it's located inside was boarded up and we thought a remodel might be happening. We went inside and realized everything was open. There appears to be two 'sections' of the restaurant. One is fast casual counter service that serves slices, and the other section is more typical of a restaurant with booths, tables, a concrete bar and some outdoor seating; plenty of options. We explained to our server "Bee" that it was our first time. Despite the appearance of being short-staffed, she took time to suggest some items that would be good for a first-timer. We ordered 10 wings, hot, a stromboli, and a salad, all to share.

WINGS: Buffalo Style, Hot - We asked Bee if the hot was hot, don't pretend you don't ask this question...She said it was hot but not nuclear. I'd give the spice on the hot a 6.5/10. It's also crafted with a Dital Pepper sauce. It was our second experience (one from the night prior) with this pepper sauce. It's incredibly unique and you definitely should try it/buy it somewhere in St. Augustine. The wings were about average in size and prep, but the sauce is what makes them unique. I would have preferred a better 'char' from them, maybe throwing them in the brick oven to achieve that, instead of whatever method they use. Wing Rating: 7/10

SALAD: Insalatta Mista - With the heaviness of the rest of the meal, we needed some veggies. This salad was very well composed and didn't skimp on the toppings or the dressing. Served in a large bowl, we ordered it with their house balsamic vinaigrette (slightly sweeter than you'd expect) and the golden Italian (standard issue). Artichokes tasted better than your normal canned quartered hearts and everything else was fresh as well. Salad Rating: 8/10

STROMBOLI: Choice of 3 Toppings (+ one) - We opted for the stromboli instead of the pizza and ordered mushroom, onion, sausage, and pepperoni for the toppings. The exterior crust was thin and crispy, and the stromboli was packed with the toppings. I'm a big fan of Grande brand cheese (you should be too). It melts great at high heat, has great stretch (See pictures) and has the perfect balance of cheese and salt flavor. The dipping sauce served on the side is their house pizza sauce. It is more chunky than your typical sauce and because of that, it doesn't 'stick' to a dipped item as a blended sauce would. Despite having to 'top' each stromboli bite, the flavor was great. Stromboli Rating: 8/10

Overall, it did the job. They've won several local awards for best this or that (on the walls) and it was good food, but it wasn't tremendously unique in my opinion. Service was great, beer recommendations also great, and the food was good. If you're on the fence about trying it out, it's...

Carmelo's pizzeria is an absolute gem that never disappoints! The moment you step inside, you're greeted with a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The aroma of freshly baked pizza fills the air, making your mouth water in anticipation.

But what truly sets Carmelo's apart is the exceptional service led by their fantastic manager, Tim. He's always there with a smile, ensuring every customer feels valued and taken care of. Tim's attention to detail and passion for delivering top-notch dining experiences shine through in every aspect of the restaurant.

Now, let's talk about the pizzas – they are pure perfection. The crust is the ideal balance of crispy and chewy, topped with the finest ingredients that burst with flavor in every bite. From classic margheritas to unique gourmet combinations, Carmelo's offers a wide range of options to satisfy any pizza lover's cravings.

Besides the outstanding pizzas, their menu also boasts delicious appetizers, fresh salads, and mouthwatering desserts that leave you craving more. And with Tim at the helm, the recommendations are always spot-on.

Whether you're dining in for a cozy evening with friends or grabbing a quick slice on the go, Carmelo's and its wonderful manager Tim never disappoint. If you haven't tried this pizzeria yet, you're missing out on an unforgettable experience that combines delicious food, welcoming ambiance, and...

Decided on pizza after a full day at the beach (we were hungry) We thought we'd give them a try as we have never ate there before. Arrived around 4pm (so after lunch crowd and before dinner, they weren't busy), ordered a simple pizza & some garlic knots. The knots came out within 5 min of ordering them. I wasn't too impressed though. They seemed old, like they were cooked that morning and reheated. On top of that, they didn't have much garlic flavor at all, and the marinara sauce was really lacking robust Italian flavor (hardly any spices) We waited and waited, totalling 40+ min for our pizza to come out. Once we got it, it was definitely a decent pizza, but not worth the 40+ min wait. The waitress apologized and said they had a catering order come in (which apparently got cooked first, instead of cooking the orders for people actually at the restaurant. When they brought us our check, the waitress said we have given you a discount for the wait, I looked at our bill, and this "discount" was a whole $2.68! Really...why even bother? The pizza wasn't bad, but that wait definitely left a bad taste...