Carmella's an Italian Bistro — Restaurant in Town of Grand Chute

I heard good things from a few people about Carmella's. And visited there with my wife, yesterday. I could tell people who work there are not happy. It's obvious to see from their behaviors. Let's talk about the food, the only thing I liked was the bread, that they serve at the beginning. It was fresh and tasty. As an appetizer, we had Calamari. I would say it was okay. Not the best but not the worst either. We also had Caesar Salad, i am Mediterranean and very particular about salads, if i serve this salad in Italy or Greece or Turkey, they would threw the plate to your head (figuratively speaking.) Finally our entrees, we had lamb chops and lobster fettuccine. Both were awful. More than half of the lamb chops were fat. Not joking, it was actual fat. The meat wasn't cooked as well, i asked medium well, it was cooked medium rare. And rice, they serve it together, wasn't cooked as well! I couldn't eat my meal, wanted to see if the waitress would notice that and ask why my plate looks barely touched, but unfortunately she asked that magical, forced, fake question "is everything okay?!" This is a question you will hear in a franchise restaurants where the waiters only care about their tips and hate you:) In a restaurant presented as Carmella's, service people are expected to be trained really well, and treat their guests as if the place is their own. If she could see our plates and behaviors, she would have understood we weren't pleased. And then she would asked "what didn't you like? I can make it better for you" I don't intend anything bad about the place by the way. I hope i am being helpful with my criticism. Overall, we didn't have a good experience in Carmella's. Hopefully, it will get better. Oh i was about to forget! I had a Tiramisu to go, and that was incredibly bad! Like again, when you establish yourself as an Italian Restaurant, putting those italian words on the menu does not make you look italian:) I will go to Italy next summer, I might try bringing a Tiramisu from an average place and have Carmella's try! I guess, they will be ashamed of...

Exceeded my expectations. Passing through Appleton and wanted some Italian but not your Olive Garden fair something nicer. Saw Carmella's here on google with high reviews. Arrived with my mother who has some mobility challenges. I left the car with flashers on in fronts and walked her in to be greeted by the hostess who asked if I wanted to sit outside on their back patio or inside. When I said outside they suggested I drive around back to make things easier which was very thoughtful. The menu was a bit more expensive than I would have expected in the Appleton area. Though everything looks well thought out on the menu. We ordered two glasses of wine which were normal sized pores. Water pitcher on the table is convienient. I then had the arugula salad and the bread service. The salad will you split and they brought it out split in very large portions. Was delicious with the goat cheese dates and just the right amount of balsamuc. Bread was also excellent with vinegar and oil. I would have appreciated a little bit of salt on the side. For mains we had the salmon and the pesto ravioli. Both were spectacular. I don't know how they did the salmon. It was very flavorful and crunchy on the outside braised in some fashion. Wait staff was very attentive. Cierra was fun, hard working. Was nice to see them working as a team to clear plates and such. I found it interesting that they were playing 70s popular music not the cliche Italian. Was refreshing and fun. For dessert we had the tiramisu. Was encouraged to see it come out in a serving glass not on a plate. Though it could have used a little more espresso and amaretto. Please be advised they do charge 4% for a credit card, so bring some cash. Don't be afraid to go here because they are in a strip mall. It...

Sleepily I returned from Milano, I felt my heart breaking from leaving behind an Italian love. Dark, so handsome his face, touch, hearing his heartbeat as I melted into the Venice Canals gliding beautifully along in the gondolire, forever engraved into my mind the kisses on my forehead. Mysterious, fashionable, and the voice of a god. He was a peacock, but didn't need to fan any feathers. We dined from Lake Como to Capri, Rome, Florence, Tuscany, and Sicily to Malta. Trains, cars, vintage Vespas, we drove along taking it all in. Beautiful food, the colors, aroma, and those memories of lazy hot summer days as he worshipped the space around me and taught me how to love life. That's what I felt as I entered the door into this restaurant. The hosts, owners, chefs, staff, all of them carried me back to a forgotten time. So welcoming, proud, and family photos adorn the walls. Special flowers peak just enough cafe and the napkins class. Beautiful dishes. To pick just one seems impossible. Lunches, dinners, desserts, cafe, all here, tucked away in a quiet space for so many. I suppose they wow the locals and those uncertain about real Italian cuisine, compared to other franchised eateries depressing the masses from enjoying the essence of dining, this place lets you have it head on. Bursting with flavor, freshness, herbs, cheeses, apertif to cleanse away the normality of life and zap you into Europe within the first bite. Be it 14 to just one, it's the sane experience. Amazing. I adore this restaurant. Please take the time to enjoy life! Eat and let these wonderful people really feed you. You won't be disappointed. My...