Carmine's - Washington DC — Restaurant in Washington

WARNING: lengthy post about odd, erratic, discriminatory behavior - scroll down for TLDR ☺️

Last night, we had a server who didn't greet us for about 15 minutes. Came to the table, frantic, and told us he had to do something urgent and to hang tight. Another 10 minutes go by, he is rushing up to the table again saying that he lost something that he has to find, and told us to "bare with him". Another 10 minutes go by...He finally comes back, huffing and puffing, and immediately asks us what we want to order.

Where's the "Hi hello"? Still no water, no drinks, no bread. Nothing.

We let him know that we wanted drinks and he asks to see all of our ID's. Once he gets to mine, he SIDE EYES ME back and forth, and then tells me that I need to get a new one? Practically tosses it back to me and when I go on to order he looks at me like I'm crazy, cut me off, and said "YEAH NO. I'm not taking that". I was so confused and taken aback because there was no explanation on his end. Just him, essentially copping an attitude with me, because he doesn't want to take my ID? I don't know what I did wrong for him to suddenly treat us that way? Especially since this is our first time speaking in 30 minutes.

My ID is not expired (2 years from being so), everything is accurate, so what's the issue? The only thing that could possibly be an issue is that it's still vertical but that's never been a problem anywhere in DC.

Mind you I am 26...and I would not say I necessarily look YOUNG AND YOUTHFUL IN THIS ECONOMY 🙂 but I definitely still look like my ID.

He doesn't ask me if I want anything else to drink and as he's running away from our table again, I had to remind him that I still needed to order something because he still hasn't brought out any water.

Since he couldn't offer us an explanation we decided to ask the bar if they took vertical ID's, and as expected we were looked at like we were crazy because OF COURSE THEY DO!

SO essentially, this man is just choosing to discriminate upon me today for his own amusement. 😭😂 please at least kindly explain yourself, so that I'm not sitting here questioning what I did to deserve this! It's almost laughable.

The rest of the night he would almost never come back to take our entree orders and he had to ask a different server to go get the WATERS WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON. He would also run frantically around asking all of his teammates to take on requests from his tables because he couldn't do x,y, and z because of x,y, and z...

For a place that makes us pay an arm for a meal - the least they can do is ensure that their team doesn't make us feel like we are inconveniencing them and the food quality is the same each time.

Come here for appetizers only trust! And if you can order to go I would recommend that over sitting inside.

Good luck to this place that can't seem to keep up with demand. Good luck to him and his god awful man bun as well.

TLDR: Service is hit or miss, you'll get your order, but whether you'll have an attentive server is unlikely.

We have recommended Carmines to many of our friends in the past because we love their appetizers and could come here for those alone. It's the wings that are bringing me back everytime!

Portions are big so it's extremely family style friendly.

Main dishes can be a hit or miss due to lack of seasoning, watery sauces, and...

Carmine’s in Washington, D.C., offers a standout dining experience for anyone seeking classic, family-style Italian cuisine. Located in the heart of the city, its convenient location makes it a great option for locals and visitors alike. Whether you’re out for a group dinner or simply craving some fresh, hearty Italian food, Carmine’s is the place to be.

I had the pleasure of trying several dishes during my visit, and the meal exceeded my expectations. The lasagna was a true highlight, with layers of perfectly cooked pasta, rich marinara sauce, and a delightful blend of cheeses that gave it a wonderful balance of flavors. The portion size was incredibly generous, staying true to the family-style approach that Carmine’s is known for. Each bite was a warm, comforting taste of Italy, and it was clear that the dish had been carefully prepared with fresh ingredients.

The chicken parmesan was another standout dish. The chicken was perfectly breaded, tender on the inside, and topped with a rich marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. The portion size, again, was large enough for sharing, making it a perfect option for groups looking to enjoy a variety of dishes. The flavors were well-balanced, with the crispy breading complementing the flavorful sauce and cheese.

However, the true star of the meal was the Titanic dessert. This towering creation is as much a visual spectacle as it is a delicious treat. It’s a massive dessert featuring scoops of ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and plenty of toppings. It’s perfect for sharing, especially after a large meal, and it adds a fun, indulgent element to the dining experience. Despite its size, the dessert was well-crafted, with each component contributing to a sweet, memorable finish to the meal.

The drinks at Carmine’s are also worth noting. The cocktails were expertly crafted, with a wide range of options to suit every palate. Whether you’re looking for a classic Italian cocktail or something more creative, the bar staff ensures you’re well taken care of.

Service was prompt and attentive throughout the meal. The staff was friendly, making sure our needs were met while allowing us to enjoy the experience without feeling rushed.

In summary, Carmine’s in Washington, D.C., is an excellent choice for anyone looking for fresh, family-style Italian food. The location is convenient, the drinks are outstanding, and the service is top-notch. The generous portions and signature dishes like lasagna and the Titanic dessert make it a must-visit spot for Italian...

We were excited to try this restaurant after we heard raves from tourists while chatting in line for wreath placing at Arlington Cemetery yesterday. They raved about the wonderful service and food! They had great stories! Our visit started out great but soon after the waters and yummy bread came, it turned south. About 15 minutes after our table of 4, a huge table came and we were pretty much forgotten about. We waited 40 minutes for the appetizer to finally arrive (fried zucchini but it was soaked in oil so none of us really wanted to eat much). One hour into our visit, the huge table was served their meals as we sat right next to them watching them enjoy. Our server looked upset with whatever was happening in the kitchen then and seemed to avoid our table altogether. We could tell they were busy and maybe a bit unorganized and would have totally understood if our server would ever just come over and chat with us a bit. We waited another 20 minutes but by this point we were ready to go so we asked for boxes and the bill. She came back with boxes and the food but I had to ask for the bill again. Then after more waiting for her to come back to get the credit card, I finally had to bring the check and my credit card to the front of the house to please pay my bill so we could finally leave. When our server learned that, it seemed to put her over the top. She went to get the folio and threw it down in front of me and huffed off. We were generally still in good spirits despite that, and despite paying $150 for food that was mediocre and service that was slow and passive aggressive. We were so incredibly disappointed after hearing such rave reviews and stories from the tourists in line. We were also there to celebrate an 18th birthday and said so right after a different table next to us just received a little birthday celebration…our server told us “oh, ok” and kept walking. LOL we guessed she thought we were making that up? She seemed less than thrilled with that. Needless to say we didn’t stick around for any potential happy birthday! The whole thing was weird. We figured our server was upset with whatever chaos was happening in the kitchen but the few times she did come out over the 1.5 hours we were there, she seemed to get angrier and angrier with us. Even though we never said a peep! Never again, and...