Carmen's Italian Cafe - Bradenton

Came in for the first time ever and I would recommend this place to anyone. The service was fantastic and the food was perfect. Made just like my Nonna would make us. Definitely best true authentic Italian cuisine.

When my Veal Scaloppini dinner arrived, it looked more like a lunch portion and was served with the wrong pasta. Once it was finally corrected, it came with the wrong sauce as well. To make matters worse, the owner confronted me at the table, which was quite awkward since the restaurant wasn’t busy. I felt embarrassed for simply asking for the pasta I had ordered, which had been clearly noted on the ticket. Eventually, when the correct pasta did arrive (but only after the rest of my meal had gone cold), it was drenched in red sauce instead of the veal sauce I specifically requested. To top it off, the Veal Scaloppini was skimpy and lacked flavor; it contained mushrooms in the sauce but no capers, which is essential for this dish. The house merlot was subpar as well. And yes, I still had to pay for this disappointing meal. If only my host had been more gracious about the situation.

Carmen's is a favorite dining spot for The Funcles! Everything is prepared fresh, allowing us to enjoy an evening of conversation, sharing, and delicious food. If you’re in a rush, this isn’t the place for you. Carmen's is all about taking your time to relax and savor both the culinary delights and the company.

My group waited 80 minutes for some of the worst Italian food we've ever experienced. This is the first time I felt compelled to leave a negative review, but it's truly warranted. The chef, Carmen, was incredibly rude when we tried to address the unsatisfactory service. He attributed the poor quality of the food and service to his recent health issues, but that doesn't excuse the disrespect we encountered when we approached him politely. I've never had to complain to a chef about their food until today, especially since we arrived at the restaurant more than two hours before closing and received our meals less than 30 minutes before closing time.

Excellent Italian! We had a delicious Italian dinner! Fettuccine Alfredo Eggplant Parmigiana. If you?re looking for an authentic Italian meal, look no further. Enjoy a relaxed, made to order meal with a nice glass of wine!