Carmel Kitchen & Wine Bar
2548 Mcmullen Booth Rd, Clearwater, FL, 33761
Carmel Kitchen & Wine Bar Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Clearwater for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2548 Mcmullen Booth Rd
Clearwater, FL, 33761 - Phone (727) 724-4228
- Website https://www.carmel-kitchen.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Dana N.
This place is great! We had a gift certificate and decided to give it a try even though we hadn't heard much about it. Our server was fantastic and very friendly. We both had chicken dishes that were equally as good. We started with the calamari and shrimp appetizer as well as the ahi tuna. Both were very good and only $5 each during happy hour. We will definitely be back!
(5)Breonna L.
I order the salmon which was delicious but the green beans were so greasy that they were barely edible. I also had the key lime pie which was delicious (delicious but not amazing). The service was great and the decor was warm and friendly. Pretty good in my opinion.
(3)Candice M.
4 stars, great service, nice atmosphere, delicious flavors. I decided to give Carmel Cafe a try since it's restaurant week and it was an opportunity to try several items on the menu. For restaurant week I had a choice of app, soup or salad, and entree for $30. My appetizer: I chose the chicken and arugula Flatbread pizza, so yummy. Definitely enough food to take the hunger edge of while waiting for entree. Probably to light to order as an entree. There were some candied lemon like shreds on the pizza which gave it a good twist. I was picking up all the crumbs. Soup: lobster bisque. The bisque was tasty, there were lumps of crab and some type of oil drizzled in. The portion was small, but it was pretty rich. I wanted more but probably didn't need it, could tell there were tons of calories lol. Entree: the salmon. Omg so much flavor! I always order salmon and I wanted to try something different but I just stuck with what I know. The salmon is served on top of a couscous I think and fresh herbs, garlic and tomato I believe. Whatever it was sitting under the salmon...it was good. I added dessert to my order, it wasn't included. I had the chocolate lava cake. Taste like dark chocolate, not super sweet, and it was served with a side of ice cream. It was good but didn't give me that sweet tooth fix like chili's lava cake. But it was rich and filled with dark chocolate. All in all great meal and atmosphere. Great date night or girls night out place. Not sure if kids would appreciate the food at this place, it's more Mediterranean, so I wouldn't do a family outing here.
(4)Nadia E.
I've been dinning at Carmel for years and it's always consistently outstanding . Superb service , yummy food , and nice atmosphere. Food comes out very quick because you use an iPad to order your food . Every item is pictured which helps when choosing your food. We were there today for brunch and the manger was very gracious and accommodating . He brought over a "Manmosa" on the house ! Dining here as a vegan is pretty easy and the kitchen will makes substitutions . I had the Mezze lunch platter which comes with roasted cloves, roasted bell pepper hummus , edamame hummus , olives , quoina, and pita bread . Yum! Highly recommended. Perfect for for dates , girls night out , etc Update !! They have a new menu and the one vegan dish they had is no longer served. The grilled veggies was delicious . Why take off a healthy and tasty alternative ? Why not replace it with an even better dish?Especially at a time when many other restaurant are expanding their vegetarian/vegan menus? WHY? I'm genuinely interested in the reason . I had the pasta without the chicken. It was horrible . Undercooked veggies and pasta , bland sauce . The pasta was dry . The photo says it all. I took two bites and was done . I was starving and still couldn't bring myself to eat it . Took it home . Recooked and revamped it . How did this even leave the kitchen ? BLAH. I have to say that the service was exceptional , unlike my previous visit a week prior . This used to be one of my favorite restaurants and visited often . No longer the case .
(3)Vanessa R.
Great food, great wine, amazing service, Nathalie was awesome and we just had the most amazing night! Will totally do it again!
(5)Minna S.
This place is great! I have been here a number of times and enjoyed the food each time. I highly recommend their short rib empanada, calamari frites, meatballs, braised short ribs, and their lobster risotto. Their portions are perfect, not too overwhelming. I like the fact that we can order our food through a tablet and can request almost anything through it. Their service is either a hit or miss; however, the last waiter we had was by far the best. I recommend everyone to try this place at least once.
(4)Michael A.
We went on a Sunday afternoon. The service was excellent and the food exceeded our expectations. Absolutely everything we ordered was delicious! I haven't been so pleasantly pleased our surprised in a while. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Ms.Publicity's P.
Amazing place for the start of a vacation. The food was amazing, service super speedy and the drink selection made me smile. Had a great dialogue with the bartender about tequila so I am happy. We ordered the Goat Cheese spread and it was also good on my salmon.
(5)Savitre S.
This place was ON POINT! I love how they are just a little north of me and in a nice part of town. I've had very little experience with restaurants that use tablets/smartphones for ordering but it was cool to see they had that option. I was there with a party of 30 and we only had one waiter who kept track of us by numbering us and using a handy notepad (he said the iPad wouldn't allow splitting bills). The food came out quickly, accurately, and deliciously. I'm won over by cauliflower mash. I will have to experiment making my own! I'm now part of their rewards club, which offered me a free flatbread for joining. Needless to say, I will be back!
(5)Warren R.
I was looking for a new place to take the missus for our anniversary, and after reading the reviews, I knew we had to try Carmel Cafe. The atmosphere is very nice, and the ordering from the iPad is a nice feature. We started out with some wine and the Mezze Platter for an appetizer. It consisted of muhammarra, edamame hummus, goat cheese, feta and sundried tomatoes, it was a delicious way to kick things off. I was excited that there were good reviews on their salmon, because I love salmon. It was very good, moist, and cooked to perfection. However there was nothing really different or spectacular about it, but I'd give it a solid 4 out of 5. The wife ordered the lobster and shrimp risotto. She was eating it with a look of ecstasy on her face. She then slid a forkful of her risotto over to me so I could try it. You know those people that say "nothing tastes as good as being skinny feels"? Those people are full of crap. This is one of the best dishes I have ever had in my entire life. My taste buds will never be the same, they now have higher expectations. The wife then gave me the last bite of the lobster and shrimp risotto, that type of sacrifice is true love. I would also like to mention that even though you can order from the iPad, the waiter will also take your order. The waiter came by frequently to check on us, and everything we ordered came out promptly. You give me five star service and five star food, I have no choice but to give you a five star rating.
(5)Caitie O.
Good service and you can order off an iPad! I love Sundays and Mondays as they offer a great prefix menu! Three entrees, soup/salad, appetizers, and small entree. Great deal! As a Mac and cheese lover, theirs is great with a nice smokey flavor. The chickpea fries are uniquely delicious!!
(5)Cheryl R.
Been here 3 times and the food was great each time! Many vegetarian options and gluten-free options for my friend.
(5)Michelle J.
An unexpected treat. We were off to a slow start on a severely understaffed Saturday afternoon and almost left because of it. I'm glad we stayed. Everything was fresh and tasty. Even my boyfriend, who typically dislikes Mexican food and only goes occasionally when I twist his arm, was pleasantly surprised. The Margarita Poblano was worth every penny of the ten dollars it cost. So much so that I ordered a second. We'll be back again soon.
(4)Dianna B.
This would have been higher if there hadn't have been a hair in my food. Do you ever get curious about the name of a place? Sometimes it's just that simple for me. Carmel evokes rich, sensuous things for me. So I thought this might be what i found at Carmel Cafe & Wine bar. I invited a friend along for the afternoon's foody adventure, and here is what we found. Upon arriving, we noticed that the location was lovely! Outside the seating was plush and comfortable, with couches as well as tables. Inside, it was intimate and cozy with warm oranges and reds, very visually appealing. We were given the choice to order old school or by the "newfangled" ipad. I'm an old school girl and chose the menu. Our waiter came over and helped us place our order, offering a few suggestions but in the end we opted for a few different things. A red pepper humus, the spinach artichoke dip, a margharita flat bread, a bowl of their tomato basil soup and a glass of white sangria. When it all came to the table, everything looked delicious, that is until I reached for the flat bread, and noticed a long, dark hair across the slice. I checked my photos as well, because 1. I have red hair. 2. the waiter had short blonde hair, and my date, he has dark hair, but it's short. I had to call a waitress over, since my waiter wasn't around, and point this out. She came and took the food away. Our waiter came over and appoloized profusely. The flat bread was remade. The food was good. The humus came with an olive tepenade which gave it a lovely texture and a bit of heat, nothing terrible, but very interesting on the tongue. The spinach dip was amazing, and by far my favorite of the meal. The flat bread was good, but needed -something-. Salt had to do. The soup? Not good. It didn't get eaten. It was bitter, and .. I just can't put my finger on it. The sangria was delicious. We would come here again, because the service was good. The food was over priced.
(3)Julia J.
Great wine options of course. The food is only so-so... I've been several times and a few times ate an entree and was just not that impressed. Had a lemon chicken dish with couscous and chickpea fries. Felt the menu was somewhat lacking in variety too. Service is quite good generally and I'll definitely go back just not for dinner.
(4)James T.
Girlfriend and I stopped by for dinner this Saturday. Food was really good. Service was extra attentive. Ordered filet medallions with crab stuffed shrimp, grilled shrimp pasta, short rib empanadas, and pound cake with strawberries. Everything was not over or under seasoned with good balance, and great portion size. We had a martini and a few 6oz glasses of wine between us. All were served at correct temp, and were really good. They have a POS system that has an integrated iPad app at the table. You can order what you want right from the table. This might be intimidating to non-tech users, but we found it delightful. Pictures, descriptions, pairings, special instructions. Pretty cool. Couple more updates would make it more useful to the staff, like when calling server, give the options for a brief reason. We found another cool place in clearwater. Looks like a wine/bistro from the outside. Much bigger on the inside.
(5)Bethany R.
Order via IPad makes this place super hip! We started with an appetizer which seemed to be an interesting mix of finger foods - the Mezze Platter - The menu said it had: Muhammarra (which is fun to try and say), Edamame hummus, goat cheese, stuffed peppers, crispy fried feta, marinated artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes and grilled pita. What we got was the Muhammarra (which tasted like a roasted red pepper spread), Edamame hummas, a mild spreadable goat cheese, marinated artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, roasted garlic, olives, and pita chips. Everything was tasty and it was interesting trying each item individually and combinations from each group. For the main course I had the shrimp and lobster risotto and my date had the grilled salmon. When the dish arrived it was steaming hot and mounded with chopped lobster but you could see the shrimp underneath drowning in the creamy risotto. The risotto was cooked perfectly, I think of Chef Ramsey yelling about risotto on Hell's Kitchen every time a newbie chef screwed up the dish. This risotto would have made Chef Ramsey smile and nod his approval. The rice was tender cooked in a creamy sauce with a light seafood flavoring which paired perfectly with the lobster and shrimp. The lobster was flaky and sweet and the shrimp tender. I tried my dates salmon and it was grilled nicely, a solid piece of fish which wasn't fishy but it paled in comparison to my shrimp and lobster risotto. We skipped dessert but were intrigued by the dessert menu for next time. The service at Carmel was impeccable. We were greeted promptly by our server who showed us how to order via the IPad provided to each table. We opted to play with the IPad and placed our full order from it which offered tempting photos of each item on the menu (except drinks). Minutes after placing an order on the IPad one of the staff would be at our table with a drink, the appetizer or our ordered food. This is a great place for delicious food, great service and fun night out.
(4)Henderson W.
Nothing negative to say...we wanted to grab a light lunch. I had the French Toast L'Orange and breakfast potato...very delicious and yes you can taste the orange essence. :)
(5)Larry G.
Valentine's Day was wonderful. They really get it, Andrew the GM has created one of Tampa Bay's true hidden gems. The food very good and consistent. if you find something you like, it is always the same. For me it is the seared Ahi tuna appetizer with edamame hummus. Andrew works the entire floor, he is personable and so professional. His team of servers seems to know just how much service each table needs and wants and that is despite the tablet ordering. Nathalie is true professional, ask for her. The Valentine's Day specials were perfect, perfectly prepared and priced so right. We all had filet and a lobster tail. Service was personable and uncrushed. Despite it being a very busy Saturday Valentine's Day we felt like the only people there and we weren't. This is one of our top go-to restaurants and will continue to be so. Thank you Andrew, thank you Nathalie and everyone else at this Cafe Carmel.
(4)Erik K.
Great for Lunch or Dinner I have been coming to Carmel since they opened and it never disappoints. Today I visited for lunch and everything was fantastic as always. We started with the Edamamme Hummus which I get nearly every time. For entree I ordered the Salmon Salad which is great. A Perfectly cooked piece of Salmon a top of mixed greens with goat cheese almonds, blueberries, beets and strawberries. The person who I was with ordered the Lemon Chicken. When it arrived it looked different and a quick chat with the waitress confirmed that they recently changed the recipe. Although still tasty the old version had a much better sauce and came on top of wonderfully cooked cuscous. The new version sits on mixed greens.
(4)Courtney W.
sometimes not enough staff to handle requests from guests,... Or more so lack of team work. Example: one person serving food, doing take out orders, handling tables inside and out while the other is standing watching time pass. Great food, enjoyed the blta as well as the rustic chicken with vegetables on my recent lunches there. I like being able to choose between the small or large size portions. Service staff is very knowledgable about the menu and gladly answers questions. Glad we found this place and are usually not in a rush, so we don't mind waiting when necessary.
(4)Amy A.
I like that you can order from an ipad and the food/drinks come out quickly. I like the wine selection and happy hour prices. I love that the wine glasses have Cs on them. I want some with As for my house! However, for the most part, the food is ok. Not bad at all but not something I crave and go back for. My favorite shareables (tapas style) are Nan's goat cheese, the calamari frites, (they are a different shape than rings and tentacles like you usually get in restaurants) and the Mezze platter. The rest of what I have tried here is not memorable or filled with flavor such as the flatbreads, the steak frites, the meatballs, the short ribs. They are not terrible, but not very crave-worthy or taste inspiring.
(3)Ryan L.
One of the best restaurants in the area, no doubt! I really enjoy their unique menu and tasty cocktails. Service is hit or miss, but their iPad menus certainly help! Definitely stop in here if you are in the area. I try to mixup my diet with a vegetarian meal once in a long while, this is the place that can pull it off, great veggies! The Moroccan chicken is a neat dish if you like olives.
(5)Larry B.
I've been to Carmel's perhaps 6 times. It happens to be open late, and has a decent menu for a vegetarian (I'm not, but I was dating one!). The food has been consistently good to very good. The service has also been consistently very good. The last time I was there, I asked about a menu item, and was told I should skip it and try another (less expensive) fish item instead...I truly appreciate a waiter with an honest opinion! I noticed a review that said something like "despite having to order on iPads....". You absolutely do NOT need to use their iPad system. But it is there if you want to graze along, or just feel like adding something during your meal.
(4)Karen A.
Carmel Cafe is super fun, great atmosphere and you order with an iPad! How fun! Delicious salads and some fun gluten free options.
(5)Mimi D.
I am a foodie. I frequent local restaurants in the area. I have been to Carmel Cafe on several occasions. Tonight's experience was horrendous. The server was absent during the entire evening. The manager was very rude and condescending. I am the type that gives a second chance. I just don't know if I could muster up the energy to go back. My cousin did not receive her meal with the rest of the table. I had to go and find our server to let her know. She had never come back to check on us. Not once! My other cousin's steak was well done when it should have been cooked medium. When we told our server about it, she said she would "tell the manager". I had to ask what was being done to rectify the situation. Horrible. Awful. I guess I just talked myself out of ever going back. Very disappointed.
(1)Niki R.
Wine selection was fabulous! The meals were so great as well! Had the short rib empanada to start and could have eaten more of those as my meal!
(5)Stephanie R.
This place was great for a date night with my husband. There was a large party there so we had a wait on the table, so we sat at the bar and got fantastic drink service while we waited. They have tablet menus which is cool because even though we had a great waiter, he was busy and we didn't have to wait for him when we were ready to order. The only thing I would change is to have real bread and not the "bread" sticks that were served. All in all, a great meal and a great night!
(4)TJ T.
My bf and I have been here twice, mostly to drink wine. The first time we ordered a few glasses of wine and Edamame Hummus , the second time we ordered wine and the Chocolate Lava Cake. The wine list here is decent and we definitely found our favorites. Unfortunately, my bf has expensive taste. He loves the Truchard 2010 pinot noir at $23 per 9oz. Wowzers! I, on the other hand, don't drink much red wine so mine were not as expensive. I particularly like the rieslings here: NxNW and Washington Hills. We enjoyed the hummus, but not so much the lava cake. The lava inside is delish, but I didn't care for the chocolate cake part (tasted like flour-less). The atmosphere is quiet and romantic. We especially like the red couches near the front. It's a nice place for a date and an occasional indulgence. Fyi, bottles are half off on Wednesdays.
(4)Bryan W.
The appetizers and food had excellent flavor. There was a hint of heat in most of the food but not overwhelming. The servers and Management were very friendly as well.
(5)Nancy F.
Delicious and inexpensive HH fare w my friend on a Friday night. We had a glass of Pinot Grigio then switched to a skinny pomegranate martini which was soooo good. Just fresh lime juice, cran-pom and vodka. Yum! Split 4 apps at $5 each. Pork empanadas, mezze platter, chick pea fries, and a flatbread. Everything tasted great! Fast, friendly service and a cheap tab too.
(4)Erica M.
We decided to check out Carmel Cafe for an early dinner....shocked to see how many others were there around 5:30! We sat outside...while the view of Starbucks and the gas station aren't ideal, they have ample outdoor seating, including a nice lounge area with couches and a coffee table. We started with two cocktails...blackberry bramble and a vodka lemonade drink. Both were very good and only $6 at happy hour pricing (HH is 5-7pm, 7 days a week!). For food, we had the chickpea fries, mini meze platter, and short rib and portobello flatbread. The chickpea fries were pretty bad...they tasted like they were microwaved. No crisp whatsoever...just mushy mush. The meze platter was tasty with a nice variety of items. When it said "grilled pita," I was expecting grilled pita bread rather than crackers, but they were still good. The flatbread was the best item we had. The service was very good, but I didn't like how they provided huge paper menus along with the iPads. I'd say pick one or the other. And I tried to give the iPad back after we ordered our last item but our waitress said to hold onto it and she'd take the paper menus from us. The iPad was much bulkier on our table than the menus, which went right under the plates. Overall, we weren't blown away. But the drinks were good, as was the service. I would definitely consider going back for drinks and a bite, especially during happy hour!
(3)Shannan T.
Service was excellent! Recommend Billy if you want someone who knows the menu in and out as well as all the wine and beer selections. Ambience is nice, booths are more private compared to the tables but either way it is overall a very nice place. Menu is refreshingly different. We ordered a bunch of different small plates so my husband and I could try a lot of selections since they have a lot to choose from. We have meatballs, chick pea fries, Caesar salads and wine. All very good! Will definitely come back again!
(5)Jennifer A.
I've only been here a couple of times but I've enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The first time I was here the menu had a great selection for vegetarians. I loved the roasted vegetables - sounds boring but the flavors were wonderful. I went again last week and the menu has been changed. It's not so friendly for vegan/vegetarian diners. We sampled a number of appetizers and the food was very good. Wish they were a bit more vegetarian/vegan friendly but I will return. The wine tasting on Wednesday is nice and the wine selection is nice.
(4)Bob D.
The wife and I loved it. The drinks are reasonably priced and the appetizers were great. We shared a Caesar salad, short rib empanadas, chick pea fries, and a tuna app. I recommend the short rib empanadas and my wife liked the Caesar dressing so much she asked for some to take home. Will definitely go back
(5)Meaghan H.
Loved loved loved this place! Trendy ambiance, good drink specials ($5 martinis on Thursdays), visually interesting and tasty food. Although we did the majority of our ordering using the iPad our server still checked in regularly to make sure we were enjoying everything and to see if we needed anything else. I really enjoyed my experience here.
(5)Caroline C.
Last night I tried Carmel Cafe for the first time. The atmosphere is nice and laid back and I thought that the decor of the restaurant was very nice. The comfy chair seating area in the center is a nice touch to invite people to just come and hang out. Carmel Cafe has an iPad ordering system, but they provide normal menus for patrons who do not wish to use the iPad. I was really happy to see that they have a large specialty cocktail menu, as I am not really a wine/beer girl. I tried two of the specialty cocktails...the Skinny Pomo-Tini and the Blueberry Caipirinha. Both were delicious and the Caipirinha was super strong. I actually added a little water to it after a few sips. But I'm not complaining...strong is better than weak! My friend and I ordered the Mezze Platter to share, and really enjoyed it. The baba ganoush was our least favorite item on the platter, and of the spreads, the edamame hummus was our favorite. Our most favorite thing on the platter, however, had to be the crispy fried feta. It was divine. We did have a bit of a problem with our entree order. I thought I had ordered the basil salmon on the iPad, but then the server brought crab cakes. I'm not sure if I made a mistake with the iPad (although I do have a photo that sort of makes it seem that I selected the correct thing), but regardless, the server eventually corrected the problem and brought the salmon. Of course, by then my friend had almost finished her entree and my side order of roasted veggies was cold. Still, the basil salmon was good, although I didn't think the basil flavor was very prevalent. The bed or quinoa that the salmon came on was awesome. I did really appreciate the fact that there was an option to order a small portion of the entrees, rather than a large portion. All in all, I'd say that the cocktails were fabulous, the food was good, the atmosphere was really nice, and I'd go again.
(3)Dena P.
I am in love with the iPad menus and how beautiful the interior is. This is the first place I've ordered off iPard menus from and I love the idea, I hope other places switch to this because it's fun and you can choose when to send your order to the kitchen/bar without waiting or fetching your waitress. If you 're not a fan the waitresses can help you order. I tried some of the Happy Hour dishes and thought they were pretty good for the price. I really like the Mezze Platter which is a great way to share and try different spreads. I also tried other dishes off the regular menu and was very pleased with them. Really good food but they can be a bit more pricey for the amount of food you get. It's a wine bar after all so that is expected. I love the warm and comfortable environment set up at Carmel. There's booths which felt very private and there's also lounge type chairs to sit and chat with others. I had a good time here and think it's a good place to casually talk while dining on good food. I really liked the Muhammarra spread which is roasted red peppers, walnuts and pomegranate. The Braised Short Ribs was excellent! It was very tender and went very well with the polenta that's served with it. The french fries was pretty good too, it was crispy on the outside yet had a very nice soft innard.
(4)M D.
Very nice. Inside seating has dim lighting - sit outside for better light (view of a parking lot, but still nice to get a little air). Chickpea fries were unexpected and great! Fluffy, not heavily fried. Short ribs and polenta were good (polenta a little bland), brussel sprouts were well cooked but again, just a little bland. Dipped them in one of the sauces that came with the chickpea fries - great. A little pricey for the amount of food, but it's nice to have good food in this area, so no real complaints.
(4)Kelly L.
Very cute place. They have an extensive menu, cleverly put on iPads for guests to view. I was with a larger party and so we ordered with our server. I was told that typically guests order on the iPads as well. The food was very tasty. I had the caprese salad. It was very fresh. Menu is all reasonably priced. Many wine selections that you can order by glass or by bottle. It is very clean and had a very trendy decor.
(4)Teresa L.
First time here and it was amazing. The service was fast and attentive. The food was visually pleasing as well as tasty. The Mezze Platter appetizer was great, especially the ghost cheese stuffed peppers. Hummus was very yummy. Both the Moroccan Lemon chicken and the Madiera chicken were fork tender and freshly cooked. Nice twist with the mashed parsnip potatoes. The brussel sprouts were good but could have used a little salt and pepper before serving. Lava cake for dessert had us cleaning the plate. Not too rich or sweet - perfect ending. And the wines! You can try anything in the place till you find what you like. Surprisingly, I went with the Arancio Cabernet though I usually stick to sweeter wines. It was perfect with dinner. Overall I'm very pleased with this place. The iPad ordering at the table and quickness with which the wait staff turned up upon ordering as well as the speed of preparation of the food was refreshing, even in a busy Thursday. Will definitely go back again and again.
(5)Matt C.
I have been to Carmel many, many times over the last few years. It has a unique tapas style menu with unique flavors. Some of our favorites are the chick pea fries, the mini mezza platter, the tomato basil flat bread and the empanadas. We are partial to mostly the appetizers as we are frequent happy hour visitors. They have $5 martinis, cocktails and glasses of wine. Their happy hour apps are great also. They have a nice outside sitting area and if we sit inside it is usually on the sofas. Overall, just a nice place to frequent with good prices and great food and drink. The two of us get out of there with 4 apps and 4 drinks for under $50!
(4)Kamaryn L.
Went back for a girls night a few nights ago. Everything was great. The spinach gnocchi was fantastic and the crab cakes were better than most I have ever had (used to live in Maryland where they are known for them). Billy, our server, was funny, attentive and entertaining. Will go back again!
(5)ScottandSherilyn C.
We've been wanting to try this place for years. We walked in and it wasn't very busy. For a Saturday night we were surprised and relieved at the same time. We sat down outside. Waited about 5 minutes for our waitress to finally show up, however; she did bring water. She left and we waited for about 10 minutes and were a bit irritated but continued on and ordered a pitcher of sangria and the shrimp and calamari appetizer. The appetizer came in a reasonable amount of time. However, there was no shrimp in the shrimp and calamari app and the calamari was very chewy. We waived the waitress over and she motioned she would be over in a minute. Well a good 15 minutes went by. My husband finally got up to go inside and find her. He brought her over and said there is no shrimp in this. She simply stared at it. Also let me mention we still had not received our pitcher of sangria.... At this time my husband said we would be leaving. She just said ok and mumbled something under her breath. We left and went across the street to Bone fish and had a wonderful meal with exceptional service. We will never go back to Carmel again.
(1)Marinda H.
3rd visit Another '2 for $25' (Sunday and Monday evenings - shared app, salad or soup, entree, plus shared dessert for 2) night! Plus, cheap fancy drinks off their 'After 5' menu (5-7 app and drink specials). Great deal! We've decided your overall experience at Carmel Cafe depends on your server and the items you chose. We had a server with an attitude problem last time and chose bad items, this time was like our first visit - great server and great choices. App - warm spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips - typical warm spinach dip, very good. Salad dressings were different this visit - Caesar dressing was outstanding, garden salad dressing tasted like pickling juice (way too much vinegar and fresh dill) - yuck. Entrees: Steak Frites - solid and fries are straight up awesome. Salmon was great - large portion with Quinoa. The Steak Frite and Salmon are the best choices in my mind. Dessert - can't pass up the Chocolate lava cake - amazing!
(5)Meghan H.
Found this restaurant thanks to the great yelp reviews. Our server was amazing and friendly, and even gave me some tea to help with my cold and cough! Our drinks were delicious, food came out quickly (super quickly actually so pace yourself if you're ordering via ipad), and every dish was delicious. Small-ish portions when you get the small plate option, but this allowed for sharing of plates and trying more dishes. Great value for the price!
(5)Jonathan A.
Had a wonderful experience here with a client. Great food, good drinks, excellent service. The menu is on an iPad- and you can request your server, more drinks or order food from it- it's the way all restaurants should be. The edamame hummus was delicious!
(5)Donna B.
After hearing how great Carmel Cafe was, I went in with high expectations and was not disappointed! It was a busy Wednesday night around 6pm and we were seated promptly by a very welcoming gentleman who asked if it was our first time there and gave a thorough explanation of the restaurant concept and ipad menus. We wanted to get there early enough to try the 5 at 5 specials which is a great happy hour concept of certain small plates, drinks and wine for $5 from 5pm-7pm. We immediately began toying with the ipad. I love that you can look at pictures of every item on the menu and even order from the ipad. That did not in any way hinder the service. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. Several food runners came out with the food and asked if we needed anything. The manager even stopped by to make sure everything was good. We ordered several small plates beginning with the shrimp and mango flatbread, followed by the Rustic Grilled Chicken Skewers, Steak Frites and Ravioli Verde (which is available on their seasonal menu). Everything from start to finish was absolutely divine with the ravioli being at the top of my list. I also ordered two of the cocktails: Italian Old Fashioned and Watermelon Granita. The watermelon granita was at the suggestion of the waitress. It was light and refreshing but just not my type of the drink. The Italian Old Fashioned was amazing. The perfect blend of Buffalo Trace Kentucky bourbon and peach jam finished with amarena cherries. YUM. I would highly recommend Carmel Cafe to anyone. A fun, hip, trendy place that could easily become "the" place to gather after work with friends.
(4)Lauren C.
I went to Carmel Cafe once last year with friends but did not have a chance to return again until last night for their Wednesday night specials. I love the atmosphere and decor inside the restaurant, it's got a great feel to accompany the delicious food. As everyone else has mentioned, the ipad menu system is an innovative idea and makes it easy to order more plates without having to wait for your server to return. Since my friend and I had gone with the intention of trying the $5 small plates and wine/martinis list, that's what we looked at first. Sadly, the $5 small plates menu was actually pretty limited, with just a few flatbread choices, so we got the margherita flatbread and ordered from the regular menu for the rest of our meal. The flatbread was fresh and tasty, with delicious mozarella and basil on top. We also ordered the chick pea fries with curry sauce, which was *outstanding*. Next, we tried an order of Nan's Goat Cheese. Yum, yum and yum. It's a scoop of goat cheese with mini toast, olives, garlic and roasted red peppers on the side. Truly delicious and definitely one of my favorites. We also ordered the moroccan lemon chicken, which was nothing special, just okay. Finally, we topped our dinner off with an order of seasonal canollis. They were a perfect ending to a delicious meal. The service was good throughout our entire experience, as multiple servers stopped by to bring us our next plates and check in on everything. I will definitely be back again.
(4)Wendy S.
We went for date night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Good food, nice atmosphere, good service. I recommend the short rib empanadas!
(4)Suzanne S.
First timers ... Wow! Carmel ranks in the top 5 EVER restaurants! The food was fresh, fresh, fresh, generous, unusual, beautiful and unbelievably tasty! We all moaned with delight around the table as we ate. I had the Crab Cakes: fabulously fresh and yummy; my daughter ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad, while her BF took the Prix Fixe meal with Salmon. Huge portions, even in the Prix Fixe. My daughter and her fella switched the salmon and the tuna for each other and were delighted with everything! I've seen less-than-stellar reviews here of the service, but honestly once we tasted the food and wine we were enveloped in bliss and noticed nothing out of the ordinary otherwise. The ambiance is great: Cool Cat meets Metropolitan Man. The vibrant orange/brown/yellow interior stimulates the senses as well as the appetite. I give Carmel Cafe & Wine a full five stars for excellence in epicurean delights!
(5)Christopher S.
I returned here for our Anniversary Dinner on Oct 25. Calling ahead, I spoke to Chance, the Manager, and requested the best table in the house. (NO, I won't tell where! :P) He offered several amenities and was quite ready to make the evening special for us. Chance was at the door as we entered and seated at us at "my table." Alyssa, our server, was delightful and most helpful. We ordered a fave Washington Hills Late Harvest Riesling and a Chickpea Fries appetizer to excite! Chance visited us, asked about the wine, left and brought back a few other similar wines to taste. The one that stood out was a 2010 Chateau de Valmer Vouvray from France. It was so refreshing with an exciting finish! The fact that we were given a personal wine tasting just added to the occasion. Relaxed, we were ready to order dinner. We choose the Basil Grilled Salmon with quinoa, and topped with a kalamata olive tapenade, the Spinach Gnocchi in a Parmesan cream sauce, and their simply delicious Roasted Vegetables. All served Tapas style, I recommend it as the right romantic touch to set any mood! What better way to close the evening then to share a Warm Poached Pear drizzled in salted caramel, and shared the plate with a side scoop of vanilla ice cream. A richly roasted cuppa closed the evening! I lived in the DC Metro Area most of my life. The pretentious atmosphere of most restaurants there constantly irritated me. NONE of them have it quite as right as Carmel. Yes, I gave it 5 well deserved stars and I will dine here much more frequently in the future! Thanks to everyone at Carmel for an exceptional evening!
(5)Mike V.
The great thing about Carmel Cafe is the portions and the low carb selections. There is a great wines by the glass menu & you can switch from sharing to an entree in an instant. Warning. The iPad menu will have you make impulse orders!
(4)Matt T.
Not sure why this place has such high ratings. The food is not edible. I normally wouldn't even leave a review, but it's that bad. I ordered the seared ahi and the sea bass. Both were misses. The ahi was bland and the sea bass was disgusting. It was basically fish on pasta with capers and olives. Sadly, I am still hungry because I left without finishing my plates!
(1)Chris W.
One of my favorite places to eat when I'm in town. Great apps/small plates. The Ahi Tuna is among the most unique with regards to flavor and presentation. Get it. The Pomodoro meatballs are tasty and homemade. Shelby, behind the bar knows how to make an amazing Manhattan. The wine of course is excellent. Andrew - knows his customers and customer service.
(5)Steven R.
First time here. Wow...this place is great!! The wine selection is very good..almost every bottle was available in a "per glass" option. Allowing you to try many different types and flavors. The iPad menu was cool...never been to an establishment that utilized this. You can order from the iPad and the servers bring out everything to you. Also, the iPad keeps a running tab for you. Service was attentive and friendly...we never wanted for anything. The food selection was impressive...many tapas sized options and many different types of food. The chick pea fries were incredible! Beet salad was excellent. Plate presentation was good. There wasn't anything we tried, that wasn't delicious. Would love to see one in West Hartford, CT !!
(5)Nathan H.
If you don't know how to use an iPad, don't worry because there's a paper menu. I had cheesy rice balls, they were weird. Chick pea French fries with tomato jam, who knew. Got the steak frite with real tater fries and it tasted like America. Nice wine menu, super fancy so don't wear shorts and a tank top.
(4)Bronze M.
I enjoy this restaurant because it is very eclectic. When I went, I only had a spinach salad with chicken, but it was delicious. The spinach was fresh and the chicken was seasoned well and cooked to perfection. My coworkers ordered a variety of flatbreads and appetizers. The Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is a must have. It is one of the best I've ever had. My favorite dish by far was the Braised Short Rib & Portabello flatbread. I highly recommend it to anyone who is struggling on what to choose. I ventured out and tried the chickpea fries with tomato jam and curry aioli. It was different, but really good. B. Major Grade: A
(4)Debi S.
This is my spot! Wine and tapas? Yes, please. Large and current wine selection, vegetarian and Gluten free options, seasonal menu items and cocktails and my favorite chick pea fries and edamame hummus! See the manager, Andrew and shake his hand. He will take good care of you.
(5)Nancy E.
Very Good! Me and a friend went to have a few cocktails and try something different. The restaurant did not disappoint. Their menu system is a bit hard to figure out since they drop off an iPad and paper menus. Since we had not been there before it took us about 10 minutes to finally decide. I had the chickpea fries and shrimp sliders, my friend had a flat bread pizza and butternut squash soup. All were wonderful. Happy hour from 4-7gets you most of these items for $4 each. We splurged on dessert, had the trio of two very chocolately truffles and a custard with cherries. I would have gave the place 5 stars except our waiter kept interrupting us. In an hour he must have come to our table 10 times. I guess he needed more tables. I like good service but there is a different between good and being annoying.
(4)Richard N.
I'd been here before, but it was a company party with a limited menu selection. This time I was able to order anything off the menu, which is kind of important in order to really write a review. We started with the Mini-Mezze plate, which had 3 kinds of hummus. This was very flavorful and had pita wedges as well as assorted vegetables. Then we had the chick-pea fries which came with 2 kinds of dipping sauce. The curry sauce was delicious. We finished by splitting a Margherita flatbread pizza. The crust was crispy, and the ingredients were fresh. Very good. We got there when it was still happy hour so our martinis and first two plates were only $5. That's pretty solid. They give you an iPad to place your order. The server still explained the specials, and answered questions, but it really speeds up the ordering process. You click on an item for more info, read about, and place your order. It's very easy to use. More importantly, the server was still very attentive and we never felt abandoned. We also paid our bill directly on the iPad. Pretty cool. The food is good, the atmosphere is trendy, and the service is good. We both had a couple of drinks and dinner and our bill was only $50. Not bad at all.
(4)Seth F.
A fantastic atmosphere complimented by the friendly, attentive staff that goes out of their way to accommodate your every need. The food is delicious and the wine selection is exceptional.
(5)Cynthia F.
My second favorite restaurant on a week-long trip to Clearwater. Returned a second time because of the quinoa and the pound-cake with strawberries (I held the whipped cream). I love sweet desserts, dislike chocolate and avoid dairy, and have a hard time finding a dessert that I love as much as this one. I enjoyed the mezze plate appetizer of spreads; my favorite was the red pepper spread. I loved the roasted vegetable plate, which had portobello mushrooms, carrots, zucchini, beets and their outrageously delicious quinoa. I love eating healthy when it's delicious and gourmet. Enjoyed the beet goat cheese salad, dressing on the side, to which I added seared ahi tuna. Very beautiful interior; upscale looking; comfortable booths; would make a great date restaurant. Ignore the approach to the restaurant--it's in a strip mall. Our waiter, Taylor, was friendly and cheerful. Loved the Ipad with photos of all items on the menu.
(5)Irma B.
If you're in the mood for something light and yummy... (to eat and drink that is) have their sharing platter(cheese,olives,honey) and a glass (or bottle) of their Zardetto,Brut Prosecco di Conegliano (champagne). The sharing platter is a must! Honey and cheese are delicious!
(4)Dale H.
Great place. Love the food, the atmosphere, the wine, the iPad ordering and the fact that you can enjoy a conversation with your dinner companions without having to shout to be heard over loud music (which seems to the case in more and more restaurants these days). We enjoy small plate meals and Carmel has a very varied selection. It's nice to sit outside if the weather isn't Florida horrible, but there's plenty of room inside and the decor is pleasing.
(5)Kay F.
Well, when we went back a couple of weeks ago, it was quite different, which I blame the "waitress", who was VERY PUSHY! Not, like the last time, I gave them a high review. (was very relaxing!) I just don't think she was ever trained! Do not know if we will be back, when in town or not. Will go to "Tapping the Vine" in Safety Harbor, instead.....great food...wine & relaxing!
(2)Laura F.
The food was delicious and the iPad menus were really cool! I liked all how you could view the menu on an Ipad and flip through and see pictures of what you were ordering before you decided. I didn't realize you placed your order on the iPad too! that was really neat! There were a ton of food choices and everything looked really good. I chose the 1/2 soup and 1/2 sandwich. I had the tomato bisque as my soup, which was really good, and the grilled chicken sandwich, which was also amazing. The sandwich was pressed and so full of flavor. The chicken was really moist and so good. For dessert we had pumpkin cannoli, which was an amazing seasonal treat. A lunch for two, including one glass of wine, two lunch entrees, and one dessert was all under $30. Not a bad price for such a nice restaurant with delicious food. I would definitely recommend Carmel Cafe!
(5)Ken K.
I like ordering from iPad menu. That's very cool! The food is interesting... something different.
(4)Meg R.
This is a restaurant I'd love to return to again and again - a sure sign I need to give this place 5 stars. The interior decor is classy without being too trendy. With a combination of tables better for dining and low couches perfect for splitting some wine and tapas, you can choose your preferred dining experience. Should the weather be nice, there are a few outdoor tables as well. The servers are nice, attentive and knowledgeable. The food comes out quickly and the prices are more than reasonable for the portion sizes. The menu (presented on an iPad - gimmicky, but fun) consists mainly of small plates, but you get a good amount of food compared to other tapas-style restaurants. I did appreciate that they have larger versions of some of the small plates in case you are hungrier and/or don't want to share. The food itself blew me away. Everything tasted so good with perfect preparation and flavor combinations. We sampled the edamame hummus, ceviche, braised short rib, and basil salmon. I'd order every one of these again. My favorite was the braised short rib which came with a deliciously creamy polenta side dish. I really can't wait to come back to Carmel to try more off the menu.
(5)Regina P.
Great food, wine and service. We will be back for dinner.
(5)Lane R.
I'm a big fan of Carmel. Their After $4 menu is a great reason to check it out and I would highly recommend going on a weekday from 4-7. I love the chickpea fries and the dipping sauces, I am borderline obsessed with them. I'm also a big fan of the mini mezze platter. The meat dishes aren't really my thing, but the flatbreads, spreads, and shareables are enough to have me coming back. Even though you order via iPad, service is always attentive and friendly. I have never had a bad experience.
(5)Ming Z.
The restaurant has good wine, good food, good service and good atmosphere. I heard the owner of Outback opens this cafe to bring a different dinning experience to the younger crowds. The cafe directly faces Bonefish Grill on the other side of McMullen Booth. If you like Bonefish you will like this one as well. It is actually a tapas and wine bar. Food are served in small and large size so guests can choose to share different dishes or order individually. Same on wine, you can choose to have 3oz, 6oz, 8oz... or just have a bottle. For wine drinkers, it is great to taste different wine to match the food. Both food and wine menu are very interesting and with varieties. Crowds are young, vibe, fashion and full of energy. Ipads are used for ordering food directly on your table. It lost 1 star because I didn't care about their live music. I just had my doubts how does American Country Music fit into the air. Carols Santana's music are more likely to fuel the atmosphere! Or just simply modern Jazz will do the magic. Nonetheless, I like this restaurant. If you haven't tried, check their website, make reservation and bring friends. You will have fun there and enjoy plenty of eye candies.
(4)Katie C.
I have to say, with all of the rave reviews I've seen about Carmel Cafe, my experiences have been just "ok." I think the atmosphere is great, and the fact that you can order and pay via iPad is a cool concept. However, I think the iPad ordering does take away from the service. Both times we've dined at Carmel, we've felt a little ignored by the staff, and somewhat confused as to who to ask for help if we had questions or needed service. The food itself is tasty, but I think in comparison to other tapas restaurants (like Ceviche), the flavors and price are just so-so. Also, after paying for our meal with a credit card on the iPad, our credit card number was used fraudulently the next morning. We have no idea if it was because of the iPad (it probably is impossible to actually find out), but when we notified the management about the situation, the owner called me and, in a nutshell, tried to make me feel bad for bringing it up (and causing him to spend money to look into the situation, which I never asked him to do - I just wanted them to be aware in case it happened with other patrons). He never apologized or asked if there was anything he could do...he just told me that it wasn't their fault. Honestly, it put a bad taste in my mouth to be treated that way, so I am not sure that we'll be heading back to Carmel Cafe in a hurry...
(2)Jade S.
I've been to Carmel's several times and it is ok, no where near as good as the reviewers say, however. They give the table one, greasy iPad to share at the table to order from. Cool concept to use iPads but very annoying having to wait ten minutes for every person to peruse the menu. Food is so-so, for instance the bread on the sliders was hard and stale, but the chips and dip were ok. Drinks are creative but over priced and weak. Service is fair. There are definitely better choices around town.
(2)Shawna K.
Who knew such a hip place in Clearwater existed? Tucked back from the street, I almost missed it Luckily one of my friends tipped me off and was there to assist making her jump to the top of my Christmas list! For Carmel Cafe has won over my heart everything is wonderful, where do I start? The menu is tapas style that you order off an ipad with detailed pictures and lists, it's totally rad! But the servers stay close just in case you want a little face to face they go above and beyond, the service is great and the food is always delicous, big or small plate There are multilple seating options for you to choose I prefer the low couches to relax and enjoy my booze Overall, I highly recommend it for anyone with a hint of class Just please invite me, so I can join you in raising your glass!
(5)Vanessa Z.
Our server Aubrey B. needs to check her impersonal half-ass stuck-up hoity toity attitude at the door. Other than that, THE LOBSTER BISQUE IS GREAT!
(3)Rita H.
Had a fabulous meal tonight. Every dish was great but the ravioli was extraordinary. Christina gave us great service, and the manager came over to check on us. We will be back.
(5)Sarah D.
Not sure what all the hype is about. I think my expectations were too high and it just didn't live up to them. It was all perfectly passable, it just didn't excite me. We had the Roasted Red Pepper Spread (good), Warm Marinated Olives (we didn't dig the warm olive thing), Yukon Gold Yogurt Mashed Potatoes (bland), Mac n Four Cheese (bland and charred) and Seafood Gyros (yummy). The service was good until the end (more on that in a moment) and the interior was really beautiful. It's an upscale setting and would be good for date night. I had seen other reviews mention the I/Pad as a drawback, but to me that was the best part of the whole experience. It was fun to scroll through and look at pictures of everything. And I liked the fact that we could have food come out at different times by ordering something from the I/Pad while still working on the food in front of us. In fact, I was having so much fun on the I/Pad, I decided to pay that way instead of paying our server (which was also an option). I followed all the steps and the system told me I was all finished. Then I noticed that it said I still owed $5 which wasn't possible, because the amount charged to my card was clearly the correct total plus tip. We flagged down a server and asked what was going on. She wasn't sure and proceeded to ask several other employees who also didn't know. At that point she went to look for a manager and was gone for what seemed like a really long time. When he finally came out, he was at a loss too, and said the I/Pads are still a work in progress. He was nice and apologetic, though. I may be persuaded to give Carmel Cafe one more try, but I'll definitely be paying the old-fashioned way!
(3)Anna B.
I took my sister here for a much needed evening out for an appetizer and wine - everything was delicious, and the use of iPads for ordering and payment was inventive and fun. Even with the iPad the service didn't lack and we felt well attended to by our server. We had the Mezze Platter a " trilogy of edamame hummus, Muhammarra and Baba Ganoush, crispy fried feta cheese, marinated artichoke hearts, Peppadew relish and grilled pita" (description via their menu). We thought it was fantastic and even took the remaining of the dish home - and it was just as good the next day. I also had the red sangria which was delightful and refreshing My only regret is that we came after dinner just for a drink - everything looked and smelled delicious! They had table seating inside and out, and very comfortable lounge seating. I certainly recommend a stop in!
(4)Ray S.
I read a bunch of reviews before deciding on a place for date night and was very thankful that I decided on this place. The place is located in one of the typical Florida strip malls but has a cool, modern vibe once you get inside. Our waitress was very friendly and showed us the options to place your order using the iPad. The thing I liked most about it was seeing pictures of the food. Both meals we ordered (one from gluten free menu) were very good and the wine recommended was a great compliment to the meal. For how nice everything was, the price wasn't too far off the mark either. I definitely will be coming back.
(5)Jimmy S.
The 5 at 5 concept is great, we had the Shrimp & Mango Flatbread, it was freaking awesome! This can become the regular spot for us after work.
(5)Sheri I.
My first time at Carmel, sat outside as a group Christmas (or something) party was happening inside. Very pleasant vibe to the place, we learned of the wine flight from the attentive and friendly server which by the way was a selection of white, not my usual, but thoroughly enjoyed. And those veggie chips combined with the edamame hummus....heaven! This place may very well quickly become my to go place for wine and tapas. Looking forward to more....
(5)Judith A.
We went for the 2 dinners for $25 Sunday special. The spinach artichoke dip was delicious, as was the tomato basil soup. The Caesar salad was so overdressed and overloaded with cheese that it was inedible. All of the main courses that our group tried were wonderful. The standout dish was the salmon. Wine selections were extensive and unique.We had a buttery Chardonnay. Three of us shared the molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. It was even better than it sounds. The waitress jokingly asked us if we wanted to lick the plate. All of us were thinking, "how did she know?" Thanks to other reviews on YELP, we knew to not order using their IPad and to not use credit cards. Luckily, we caught a large error in the bill, which was promptly corrected by the waitress. In summary, drink the wine, eat the cake and bring cash!
(3)Vin C.
I eat out in this area almost every night and after reading the reviews I thought this place would be a great find but it did not live up to the 4 and 5 star reviews. The service is downright POOR, I sat at the bar and was basically ignored, I had to chase down the bar tender to get silverware - I mean literally leave my seat and walk over to the other end of the bar - you can't get worse service than that. The place is extremely loud and in a strip mall so you can sit outside but you are looking at the parking lot . The food was great and creative, and reasonably priced - probably 4 stars there. Overall though it was disappointing and I will not return.
(2)Karyn L.
Good addition to the Countryside area. (The one in Carrollwood is also a good choice on that side of town). Loved: The 3oz, 6oz, or 9oz wine pours. The attentive bartender on a crowded evening was also a nice touch and started the evening off on a good note. Liked: The tapas. Especially the edamame hummus with veggie crisps. The rest of the tapas aren't quite as memorable, but they're solid. Didn't love: Nothing too daring on the somewhat limited menu. More variety would be good.
(4)Beth S.
I finally tried this place and am happy I did. I love the atmosphere and that the menus are iPads. While I'm not normally a huge fan of tapas I thought these were unique and tasty. We ordered a variety of items and the baked brie and chickpea fries were divine. The service was quick and I can't wait to go back and try more items.
(4)Rita R.
What a wonderful little Mediterranean restaurant! The iPad menu made ordering a breeze! The food was delivered quickly and was absolutely perfect! The price is very reasonable for the quality of the food and service. If your into small plate dinners, this is the place. Be sure to try the warm marinated olives. Enough to share and spectacular in taste. This place will be on my list of favorite restaurants in the Tampa Bay area for sure.
(5)Sarah M.
So I found this place via Yelp, and when we were chatting up the bartender during dinner, I told her I'd Yelp, so here I am (3 weeks late). We were in town for a wedding in Clearwater, and completely over eating at the places on our little strip of beach land. We wanted something fun and tasty, and here we went. I don't drink wine (I know, I suck) but my parents do, so they were beyond thrilled about the wine bar part of this place. My dad also may have become an ipad addict while playing with their nifty ipad wine list. The food was soooooo delicious. I'm a vegetarian, my parents are not, so when you can please both crowds, that's automatically a win. I love tapas places, as I can never decide what I want to eat, so when I can just order small versions of everything, I'm a fan! Started with edamame hummus and these AWESOME veggie chip things.. they were light and airy and I probably would have stolen many plates of them. We also ate: mac and four cheese (feed me this in large quantities), basil grilled salmon (my mom, a self-professed kalamata olive hater, loved the kalamata tapenade), meatball lollipop pomodoro (dad was a fan, mom who hates veal was not), red & yellow beet salad (can't go wrong!), pistachio apricot quinoa (kept this to myself!) and a few other plates I can't remember. We loved the employees (the manager introduced himself, and although we were eating at the bar, the two employees back there were attentive without being in our faces the whole time), loved the food, loved the wine, and left with a pretty low bill, considering all the things we ate and drank. Thanks Carmel!
(5)Kathleen C.
Great food... Great atmosphere.... Great service !!!! Whether you want to have a glass of wine and appetizers or dinner ... highly recommend !!!
(5)Beth S.
What a surprise! Went here with my son who is a real foodie and everything was really good! We spent more on wine than food, but both were well worth the cost. Looking forward to my next visit.
(4)Victoria B.
What a refreshing change of pace for the Countryside area! Carmel is a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. Both the food and wine menus are diverse, but not elitist enough to scare of the tapas and wine novice, i.e. my dad! There are numerous pour options on most of the wine selection, great for putting together your own flights. The beef is by far the best selection on the menu, whether you do the burger, steak or short ribs, you will not be disappointed. A fun note for the tech savvy diner. Each table comes equip with an Ipad to help you with your pairings or to distract your date if the conversation is in a lull. They are working on being able to order directly from the Ipad, but have not made it there just yet. Although, they will take your phone number and text you when your table is ready. Simple, but crucial for us who live in a world of multitasking. We were able to get my grandma's birthday present in the 20 minutes it took to get my text message. I was in heaven!
(5)Kristin W.
I've been to Carmel a handful of times now and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience every time. The wine list is extensive and there are great options even if you want a less expensive glass or bottle. For dinner I like the steak frites, however the bearnaise is really strong. I'm not a fan of it, but the rest of the dish is great. Also the lamb lollipops are definitely worth getting. The desserts are awesome. Would recommend the espresso filled cannoli if they have it and also the chocolate lava cake is outstanding. One of the greatest things about it is the atmosphere. Very comfortable yet trendy, a great place for everything from a firstdate to a girl's night out. There's really not another atmosphere like it that I've found in that area. I would highly recommend!
(5)Catherine C.
Super fun concept ... You are given an iPad upon arrival, which serves as your menu as well as the waitress. They do have a waitress to explain all of this and you can order the old fashion way, but why??? We ordered our entire dinner from the iPad and it goes directly to the kitchen. The tapas style dishes are usually served to the table within 5 minutes. Everything is great!!! Don't forget the chocolate molted cake
(5)Chon N.
This restaurant just opened so my wife and I decided to check it out with some friends last Friday night. When I walked in I told my wife that this is the place we have been waiting for. This place has a really unique, cool vibe. They had live music, a great group of people at the bar, and lots of seating options including couches. To our surprise they offered us the option of reviewing the menu on an iPad - very cool! A few of our favorites were the lamb and veal sliders, the shrimp ceviche, and the ahi tuna with edamame hummus. Definitely check this place out, you will not be disappointed!
(5)Rachel O.
I was in from out of town visiting friends. My girlfriend who loves in Tampa choose Carmel knowing it would be the perfect place for a unique and delicious dinner. The whole iPad concept was great. It made it easy to get more information about the items especially for a group of three girls with different dietary needs. We tried the edamame hummus, seared tuna, quinoa, scallop special, chicken kabobs, a few other items. I loved every bite I had and will definitely be back next time I'm in town.
(4)Larry D.
The best. From the food to the staff, they're the best. The lamb lollipops are exquisite. If you aren't tech savvy enough to figure out how to order with the ipad menus, just have the staff do it for you. I love the fact that when I put in an order, it seems like just minutes later the food arrives, so make sure not to order everything all at once... unless you want it all at once!
(5)Kristen T.
Good food, but you must love garlic to really enjoy this place! Order as a table and share dishes here so you can get a taste of it all! App Platter is a must, try all the cheese you can & order the special if you can! Plus, bottles of wine are pretty inexpensive! Oh and you get an iPad to order with too (if you want a real person, they're there as well)!
(4)Michaela K.
I would have given this place 5 stars if I was just measuring the coolness factor - they use iPads on each table for taking orders! All you do is scroll through various parts of the menu and tap to order. Very neat! The food was good. I had the Moroccan chicken with a side of veggies and yogurt mashed potatoes. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't delicious either. My husband got crab cakes and they were wonderful ... even better than the ones we had in Baltimore! The dessert was fantastic ... a warm, chocolate melting cake and vanilla bean ice cream. Just thinking of it now makes my mouth water!
(4)Cynthia B.
Went there for date night on a Saturday night. Was sat rather quickly (it was a rainy night) and was served by Cory. Cory was a great server, there when we needed him. I chose the prix fixe menu with a ceasar salad, spinich dip (had a bit of a kick to it) my favorite steak frites (SO GOOD) and pound cake w/ strawberries. SO GOOD! Will be back! Thanks Cory!
(5)Robin W.
I visited with a large group before a show and we liked it a lot. The atmosphere was cool, the price reasonable, the service was great & the food was delicious! I would have given 5 stars if portion size was a little bit bigger. We had the shrimp stuffed with the mashed potatoes( I cannot remember the name). It was amazing! Also, one of our dishes was the Cheese Bundles and they were delicious...I like hot and spicy but it was a little too hot. My lips were burning for an hour and a half after leaving. All in all a satisfying meal!
(4)Sarah C.
The food is stellar, fresh, delicious, and has beautiful plating. Staff is knowledgeable, attentive and friendly. I love this place, I wish I could visit more because its fabulous!
(5)Yolonda B.
This place is GREAT...extensive wine list and you can get a small taste before committing to something you may not care for. The staff is wonderful and service is always on point. There are tons of great Tapas to choose from,and it's a wonderful place for a date or a girls night out.
(5)Frank S.
Great atmosphere, tapas is always fun and the fact that there's no t.v.s is a new concept. Not sure about that one yet. I like the selection of wines and the bar staff is a warm and inviting crew. An IPAD on each table with menu and option to place your order is a nifty feature. We recently started to dine at Carmel for lunch. Quite impressed with the lunch menu. The Italian sandwich is my favorite.
(4)Johnny C.
Great place for a glass of wine and a bite to eat. Still haven't got past the appetizer menu as it's so good. Love the idea of a 3,6 and 9oz pour just in case you don't like what you ordered. Like the different wine flights they offer, makes for a very pleasant end to the day or start of the evening.
(5)Andras C.
House salad, salmon and crabcakes are the best! Check out their pound cake too. This place truly offers high-end cuisine at the price of Applebee's. Great service and decor too.
(5)Darrell H.
Excellent service and food!! One of the best in Tampa. Great Tapas ! It's a great place to taste a little bit of everything and order/eat at your own pace via ordering from their iPad menus
(5)Meredith K.
Great food and love the tapas or standard dinner flexibility concept. The wine list is pretty good and stocked with lesser known labels. Highly recommend the braised short rib, and the four cheese satchels. Both are excellent.
(5)Lance C.
Great atmosphere (except a little noisy - wish they had better sound dampening). Incredible wine by the glass list (in 3 or 6 or 9 oz pours!). Intelligent, informed wait staff, iPads a little gimmicky but a cool attempt at moving forward. On to the food, tonight we just had tapas. Crab cakes (okay they should be called crab cupcakes as they are small), very good, lots of crab. Shrimp Ceviche, not the best ceviche I've ever had, but pretty tasty. Would like to see them locally source hogfish which is amazing as ceviche. Roasted Vegetables - bringing down the house. An incredible selection of roasted veggies. Nothing crazy, but wonderfully tasty. Great experience overall.
(4)sonam g.
Awesome, nice place to sit down and talk..food was ok but what I loved was the lounge type environment and the wine selection..will definitely go again..liked the iPad menu..
(5)Scott L.
Was debating on wether to give this 5 but it is a solid 4. Cool interior like what they did with the paint and decor. GREAT wine selection! Got the pea fries and they were great. It was busy on a Saturday night and it should be. love it and will definitely be back.
(4)Bridget B.
Good food. Neat concept. Some of the tapas are hit or miss, but this place makes for a fun evening out with friends.
(4)Tonya K.
A weekly stop for us on Tuesday for the wine flight, and then sometimes on Saturday for the live music. I can't say enough good things about this place. Excellent service, especially behind the bar. Top notch food, but what else do you expect from Outback Corp. If you haven't gone yet you must and order the Lamp Lollipops. And if you can imagine I am not even family!
(5)Sherrie F.
Finally...an new place with a big-city feel in northern Pinellas county. This is the sort of place that we have been severely lacking in this area. I've been twice...once in the evening for an appetizer and once for lunch. I was thouroughly satisfied both times. The flavors of the food just dance around in your mouth. Nothing boring...at least not so far. I see this place as becoming our new favorite place when my husband and I feel like getting out. Can't wait to try it on a night when they have music. And no....Tony from Palm Harbor...I am NOT a friend or family member.
(5)Constance O.
called the carrolwood location to tell them we had a reservation at 730 and it was my parents 57th Anniversary and I'd love to surprise them with something special. the hostess who answered the phone...apparently couldnt care less about the fact we were choosing to celebrate such a special occasion. "we dont do anything for birthdays or anniversaries'. you'd think perhaps she could stretch her imagination to suggest a dessert be brought out or something nice. but apparently she couldnt be bothered . We ended up having dinner there anyway, only because I didn't feel like explaining to my parents why we were changing. So we did go and had a very nice evening. After dinner I spoke to Mark the manager and he apologized profusely and said that while they do not do anything special like sing or have candles for special occasions of course they could have sent over a dessert and the person who answered the phone should have been more helpful. I definitely appreciated his response. The dinner was overall pretty good. Nice atmosphere, the ipad ordering is very efficient (although we ordered scallops and only after 15 minutes of waiting did our waitress apologize that she forgot they were out of those). The crabcakes and salmon were amazing, the minestrone verde got great reviews from our table. the tomato basil was nothing out of the ordinary. the edameme hummos was very very good. the noodles and shrimp in the garlic shrimp were both overcooked. we would definitely go back after having experienced and I would recomment to other people. hopefully they will train their staff a bit better as they move forward.
(3)Marcos O.
Good times and great food at this place. As soon as you walk in you dont know what to expect. All of a sudden you get an IPAD to check whats on the menu, and now you know its going to be a good night! Great food, good bands, good ambiance. Will be going back several times for sure!
(5)Danielle G.
I really Liked this spot......everything from the moment we walked in was great !!!! The service was awesome our waitress ( Jamie) was very knowledgeable and very attentive. The food was outstanding and a large wine list as well - we had the Tomato & Mozzarella Flat Bread to start and then the Lollipop Meatballs and Short Ribs w/ Polenta (To DIE FOR). They had live music from 9 to 12 and it was very pleasant....not to loud. Great Concept, can't wait to go back.
(4)Cori T.
Excellent atmosphere. Currently using their iPad to write them a stunning review. Very well done restaurant, reasonable prices and great good. Their price fix menu on Sundays is a beautiful thing for my family. We can get a nice meal without breaking our budget. All the food is wonderfully seasoned (not at all overly salty) and vastly superior then anything you can get at a chain restaurant. We shared a Nan's goat cheese appetizer and it was great. The pairing of the goat cheese and crouton with roasted garlic(that basically melted onto the cracker) and sundried tomato was perfect. The house salad was a house salad and their lemon vingaerette dressing is something I will be trying to replicate at home. I had the Basil Grilled Salmon and it was exactly what grilled salmon should be. It had a nice crust on it and was seasoned perfectly. I wanted to keep eating it after I had finished it. The strawberry pound cake dessert is the dessert to get. Eat it. Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone who like good food made by people who really know how to cook. Also, their use of technology is actually helpful to their business. It's refreshing to see a business stepping forward and using available resources to help streamline their business. ALSO! I didn't have to wait until I got home to review! Congrats Carmel Team! See you soon!
(5)Alex D.
Tried the new location in Carrolwood this weekend during their pre-opening event. Official opening is this week. Excellent food quality, same menu as the Clearwater location and equally excellent. Interior is also similar if not identical to the Clearwater location, meaning that both are sophisticated while still inviting. Odd to be located next to Chucky Cheese but finding space in Carrolwood is not easy. As long as you can find it you will love it.
(4)Mike F.
We had dinner here before a show at Ruth Eckerd Hall. A very nice wine by the glass selection with a knowledgeable staff. They offer different size pours so you can try several or pair small glasses with food. A good selection of tapas, from appetizers to full size selections. We had the crab cake, spinach dip, roasted beet salad, ceviche and steak frite. My wife thought the beets needed more roasting and thought they might have come out of the can. Everything else was excellent. You can order everything from the Ipad at the table so you can control when each thing comes out. A little gimmicky but was still pretty cool. Our server told us that this place was started up by one the original Outback guys.
(5)Nick R.
All i can say is wow. The ambiance is awesome, the wait staff friendly and the best part the food is great. It is a small plate concept so you can try a lot of stuff and can share. We started with the Mez platter which has 3 different kinds of hummus, cheese, roasted peppers and olives (everybody will be fighting over the edamame hummus) it tasted great and was good for sharing. the entrees and salads were all good, but the lemon Moroccan chicken dish stole the show (everybody said it was the best chicken dish they have ever tried). the desserts were all good and we will be back!!!!
(5)