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Harvard Avenue (Green)
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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Delicious. Such a small restaurant, so it can be hard getting a table (I don't think they take reservations). Also, it can be difficult to find parking nearby because Harvard Ave & Brighton Ave tends to be a busy intersection.
My servers have always been friendly and attentive. Prepare to spend $15-25 on an entree--but it's worth it. The portions are quite large and you should definitely have enough to last for at least another dinner! I have had multiple meals here and each time it has been VERY delicious.
Pros:
- Unpretentious food
- Fresh Ingredients
- Decent wine list
- Nice atmosphere
- Decent prices (expect to pay about $25-$35 per person for dinner, $12-$15 for lunch)
- Great service about 90% of the time (pretty good for the other 10%)
- HUGE portions (most entrees can be shared by two people)
- One of the freshest, most authentic marinara sauces I've ever tasted (comes second to one I tasted in Florence)
- Great place to bring the ladies (as long as you're comfortable making out with a farm's worth of garlic stuck between your teeth)
Cons:
- The bread served before dinner is usually stale
- Carlo's is pretty small so make reservations if you're going with a group of more than 4
- They charge ridiculous prices to add chicken to their salads (something like $4 for a few slices of chicken breast)
- Their seafood specials usually under-deliver the promise
- Fra Diavolo sauce misses the mark
- Lunch menu is rather "meh," offering little value relative to their dinner menu
- The desserts are also rather "meh"
- Parking is impossible
I recommend:
- Appetizers -
Portobello Alla Enzo
Calamari Fritti
Melanzane Ripiene
- Entrees-
LOBSTER RAVIOLI (Ravioli alla Antonio)
Gnocchi Spezzatino
Rigatoni alla Rachele
Melanzane alla Christiano
Chicken/Veal Involtini
- Dessert - (if you must)
Tiramisu
This place is arguably the best restaurant on Brighton Ave, serving up consistently good, rustic Italian dishes at reasonable prices. When you're in the mood for Italian, and aren't willing or able to travel to the North End, go to Carlo's. Seriously... you won't regret it...
Great service!
Great wine!
Good pasta!
And now, for the review:
We need this place in Allston! It's been here over 30 years!
As long as I've been on this planet. I love Italian food, I love pasta. I love Chianti. I decided I love Carlo's Cucina Italina's Cannolis and I thought I didn't even like cannolis!
I wish they had better sauce for their chicken parmesan and I also wish they told me it came with ziti, as I always prefer spaghetti. But, the sauce was so lacking in robust tomato flavor that I didn't complain.
The prices are right and the parking is wrong. I've lived here seven years and made it into Carlo's just twice. The first time we went was seven years ago and it was so bad that we didn't return until the other night -- and we were pleasantly surprised that it was not as bad as we remembered. We are Italian food snobs. We know good Italian. I know there is good Italian at Carlo's, but I've yet to find GREAT Italian here. I'll probably return -- in another seven years.
Ciao!
Very good. Especially for lunch. It has been thre for a long time, but I have not gone there too often. Putting in my lunch rotation!
Yummmm Delicious, fresh and authentic Italian food! I honestly hate going to the North End, so thank God there's Carlo's. Small and unpretentious place, huge menu, good sized wine list. The olive oil that comes with the bread is DELICIOUSSSS!!! It has actual olives in it! Which I eat! Great for dinner with friends, and probably with a date, although I haven't eaten with a date here haha! I'm from New Jersey, and therefore I've had a lot of good Italian food- Carlo's is up to par.
The best Italian food outside of the North End in Boston, and it gives more than a few places IN the North End a run for their money. Come here for the food and wine. Don't come here for any other reason.
Here's what you won't get: spacious eating accommodations, a view of anything but Brighton Avenue, a particularly compelling ambiance, or an easy time getting in. This place is the size of a glorified supply shed and while it looks nice enough on the inside, it sort of resembles an Olive Garden that didn't get it's supply of kitchy trash. They don't take reservations and parties larger than three or four are going to have trouble getting in, although I did manage to squeeze in a bachelor party for a friend with 17 people. It was tight, though.
The wait staff are hilarious and a little snarky, but in a good way. The place either has an XM radio receiver set to the classically cheese Frank Sinatra station, or they have a mix CD of the most classically cheese Frank Sinatra songs on repeat. Nice.
So the big selling point of Carlos is simple: the food is fucking outrageous. Portions are pretty good, but everything, EVERYTHING tastes like an orgasm. The bread even tastes like an orgasm (breadgasm?). I don't know much about wine myself, but they have a solid selection and can make some pretty good recommendations for pairing specific dishes. The chicken parm in particular almost made me cheat on my girlfriend.
Carlos is the perfect nice dinner out for me, because I don't really care about decor or ambiance all that much - I'd rather have a racous good time with friends, some alcohol, and delicious food, and Carlos provides that experience really, really well.
I can't say this is an unbiased review since I've been coming here for the last decade and have turned my parents and friends onto Carlos. I've considered whether this is the best Italian food in Boston, but I think the safer statement is that it is the best Italian food outside of the North End.
Headed in Saturday night for some of my usuals and a new addition:
-Started with the bread and olive oil they brought to the table and have to say it's still some of the lightest, most addictive olive oil I'm come across
-After hold strong to one piece of bread the bruschetta hit the table. This is exceptional and not the cliche token bruschetta you see elsewhere - always memorable
Then we shared a few entrees:
-Frutti di mare in white while - ton of mussels, some clams, shimp, squid, etc... with perfectly al dente linguine in a light white wine sauce that will have you coming back
-Chicken Irene is one of Carlos's staples - wasn't the best Chicken Irene I've had here, but still good
-There was a new addition - linguine in a meat sauce which was ridiculous... best Italian dish I've had in a while...anywhere
-finished up with tiramisu (awesome) and cannoli (ok)
Incredible service at this family run Allston/Brighton landmark makes this a must try for anyone who loves Italian.
Only negatives are the wait for a table (make reservations and expect to wait a bit) and parking (use the city lot next to Blanchard's and walk).
Oh no, reading others' reviews makes me feel like I don't know Italian food well enough, but being a good food-loving Greek, and eating out at all sorts of amazing restaurants all over the world, I definitely appreciate the cucina Carlo's has to offer, especially for being right here in Allston!!
It's like a little north end on the other corner of town, and the beautiful walls and ceiling make you feel pretty great as you soak up the elegant flavors they've created... Tomatoes, as one person mentioned, are nothing in new england like they are in southern europe... so I'm sure if they used imported tomatoes from where they're used to, their sauce recipe would be to die for... but i still think it's awesome... And by far the best restaurant around.
And the brunch menu is the best. I love every bit of this restaurant for what it is. Please stay forever, Carlo!
Carlo's is delicious. The portions are large, everything is fresh and the menu is pretty extensive and not just your run of the mill gnocchi or carbonara. Like everyone said, this place is small, but so it every where in the North End. If you are not in the mood to brave the parking and traffic of the North End, this is a great substitute, better even than many restaurants in the North End.
I live about 2 blocks from Carlo's Cucina Italiana and waited a while before trying it out because I'm Italian and very picky about Italian restaurants.
The food at Carlo's is simple, but great -- fresh ingredients, classical preparation. Too many Italian places try to be super innovative, but to be honest, sometimes all I want is great bowl of homemade pasta and tomato sauce.
I got the linguine with mussels, clams, shrimp, and calamari -- the portion was huge and they didn't skimp at all on the seafood. The sauce was a tangy marinara with chunks of fresh tomatoes and whole cloves of garlic. Delicious.
My boyfriend ordered the gnocchi and it was awesome, too.
Prices were reasonable and the atmosphere was nice -- it's a cozy space with a family-run vibe. I understand why this place is always full, even on weekdays. I'll definitely be back!
I have debated writing a review for this place for a while, because it's so good I want to keep it my little secret!!
This tiny little restaurant, tucked in a strip of stores in Allston - you have to be looking for it to find it.
A huge menu, my favorite is the chicken saltimbocca - soo yummy! The house salad is also excellent.
The staff is wonderful - they make you feel like part of the family.
I"m hungry now just thinking about it - I can't wait to go backE
A little slice of Italy in the mudpie that is Allston. ; ) This is a fine place for some really good Italian food in a location that is for want of anything similiar. I would call the space intimate as opposed to small. They have these heavy curtains hanging the entrance to presumably keep out the cold but i saw it as an exit from the gritty city outside in to the Narnia of fine dining. Ok, being from Lowell, i suppose i am being overly-critical of Allston, i'll stop.
The selections are creative and slightly more complex than the standard Italian faire. I hate lobster but even the Ravioli alla Antonio, which is lobster ravioli sautéed with salmon, shallots, cherry tomatoes, and peas in a light lemon vodka sauce, sounded mouth-watering. I had the Pollo alla Irene, which is sautéed chicken breast, potatoes, mushrooms, peppers, and onions in a white wine sauce. The serving was moderate but had plenty of chicken. However, i think my particular chicken was killed by Irene drowning it in a tub of white wine sauce. The dish was pretty saturated. Though it tasted magificent, as a result, i could not finish it .
I guess i should not admit drinking red wine with chicken but if you love fruity wines i suggest the Volpi "Vobos Tuo" Barbera d'Asti Superiore with a subdued black cherry base that is neither acidic or too robust.
This restaurant is a great place for intimate dining with a date or signifigant other away from the typical Allston college crowd. A good cozy place to get lost in conversation over good food, good wine, with good company.
Carlo's is great. The food is super tastey, and the atmosphere is really cozy and cute. I totally forgot that I was on Brighton Ave., even though if I focused I could see the Sleepy's sign right across the street. Great place.
You get another star from me. Tonight's dinner was nothing short of delicious and satisfying in every way! Sangria= refreshing and delicious, Antipasta= awesome (but you need to share, so big!) Grand marnier shrimp were sweet and yummy, the Rigatoni alla Rachele was outta this world. The sauce was perfect, chicken parm was spot on, eggplant bundle was very tasty, bread soft and delicious with evoo and olives... I could go on and on. I havn't been this happy with a meal out in a long time. All of the feeling cramped in a loud spot melts away with the taste of it all- yum yum yum! So happy I tried this place again!
I think comparing Carlos to food in the North end is not something I am prepared to do- that being… Read more »
Carlo's is everything I want in a restaurant when I don't want to put any effort into picking one, but don't want to sacrifice the quality of the meal. If it's late, or last minute, or I'm tired or cranky and don't want to deal with the hassles of finding a restaurant, but I expect a damn good meal nonetheless, this is where I go.
The food at Carlo's is tried and true traditional Southern Italian. I can't for the life of me think of a dish that's stood out, but I don't think I've ever had a bad meal there either. The atmosphere is cozy, comfortable and welcoming. The staff has always done a good job. I can't think of a single complaint about the restaurant itself.
Only the location is a double edged sword. On one hand, Allston is an easy choice when you don't want to trek all the way into the city for a good meal. Both the Pike and Storrow Drive are a short distance away, and it's a block to the Green Line.
On the other hand, parking in Allston near Carlo's (especially on a Thursday-Saturday night) can be just as difficult as finding parking in the North End, perhaps even more so given the lack of parking garages. I'd like to give you a suggestion, but I just can't.
But once you're inside, you'll find it's definitely worth it.
I always come out happy. Food and wine is great, prices are reasonable, portions are generous.
Seems like the family which runs it is very much a part of it, one time I asked about one of the dishes on the menu named after a person and it turned out that was my waitress's dish! It was wonderful too.
I went here last night with Zoe. It had been years since i had been here. I used to go here all the time when I lived on Linden St. I love this place for its atmosphere and the wide variety on the menu. You can always go here and try something new and not be disappointed. It is a real North End style Italian restaurant, in that the menu is pretty diverse and it is not commercial Italian food.
If you do go here during Fall through Spring, it is better to get here on the early side in the evenings because the place is small and after 6:00 PM on a lot of weeknights it can get pretty packed and it is likely that you will have to wait in line. We got there around 6 last night and did not have any issues.
I will agree with some of the people who have said that the portions are not huge like a lot of other Italian places, but I think the quality more than makes up for this.
Such a quaint and lovely little place. The food tastes wonderful every time we go. They are welcoming and priced right.
But when you ask for their (hefty priced) veal chop special to be cooked
medium well and it comes out almost raw--this leads to unhappy.
The veal came back to me cooked properly but I was knocking things
off the table trying to carve it. The meat was terrible, tough and tasteless.
I was surprised at this since the restaurant is always at the top of my list
for delicious. Plus, I was so looking forward to the gnocchi . The waitress gave me the fusilli instead which I ate and did not comment on. But it still makes you feel annoyed.
This is how it's supposed to work. A great little Italian restaurant is supposed to be a bit of a secret. Busy but not crowded. Friendly but not pushy. Warm and with a touch of familiarity, with food that reminds you of home, only tastier.
Cucina Italiana does it all right. It's a family business, and you can tell from the service and the red sauce. Everything that can be is homemade, served quickly, and will assuredly satisfy.
I've been here with family, I've been here on dates, and I recommend the place however often I can. There's an absolute gem sitting at the corner of Harvard Ave and Brighton, and it deserves the love it receives.
By the way, if they're serving the bracciole when you go, order it. Don't even look at the menu.
A little bit of Italy in Ballston! This place is tiny- blink and you'll walk right past it. From the outside it's nothing to write home about but step inside and it's like going to dinner at your Italian grandmother's house (the Italian grandmother you never knew you had)
Carlo's specializes in Southern Italian cuisine and everything tastes homemade and delicious. I've had the same server each time I've been there and she's friendly, efficient, and helpful. It's definitely crowded in there (you sorta feel like a giant) but that's part of the fun.
Oooo and if you have to wait for a table, they take you down to the basement where there are no joke, two little tables you can have drinks at while awkwardly staring at your fellow soon to be diners. What better way to make new friends then drinking wine in a very, lets say "authentic", basement.
A delightful little hole in the wall, this place is absolutely tiny! Yet, the food is decently proportioned and amazing. I have never been disappointed with anything I have ordered in the past 9 years of eating there.
Who knew that sandwiched between Asian, Indian, and Burrito joints would exist such a cute little Italian restaurant?
The staff was very friendly, even if the busboy/waterboy looks a little like frankenstein and our waitress seemed a bit distracted.
The olive oil that came with the bread was very smooth and delicious.
Andy's salad was pretty good.
Our food was good all around. Amber's gnocchi looked tender and delicious, my fusilli was yummy with the sausages, and Andy's veal parm was divine.
YUMMY!!!
My family is Italian on both sides. One of my uncles is head chef of an Italian restaurant in Newton, MA. I'm a self professed Italian food snob.
Carlo's was an amazing find. You feel like the restaurant belongs in the North End.
The place is small, and the wait can be long on weekend nights, but the food is worth it.
Don't let the location scare you off. You'll be glad you ate there.
I know people have already said this, but this place is at the top of the list of red sauce italian in Boston - including the North End. I only wish they took reservations for parties smaller than 6 - I would go way more often. It's torture to wait in line while smelling the delicious pasta.
There's a reason why there's a line out the door every Friday and Saturday night..
Is it small? Yes. It is crowded? Yep. Most delicious Italian around? You betcha!
Go on an off night if you can't stand a small crowded restaurant. The sauce is incredible. Pasta cooked to perfection. Good wine selection. Great service.
I love this place. When I lived in allston I went a lot for lunch, and I still go back as much as I can. Their tortellini with pesto is amazing. OKay you say.. how can you mess up pesto? Once you've had bad pesto.. you will appreciate when its done well. Simple. Delicious. Carlo's. The price tag wont make you fall off of your chair either. I usually had the pesto and a couple glasses of wine for around 20 bucks. Its a little hard to notice (which I like) and its kinda tucked in between an indian place and a video store. Parking is a pain too. Take the T... walk down harvard and hang a Right on brighton ave... Green awning. You will love it.
very good food, friendly staff and fun place to be. Would highly suggest the seafood linguini with marinara sauce. The only downside is that it is small, and the line/wait can get really annoying (last time on a friday, we waited 40 mins) for a table for 3 of us. But the service is wonderful and they even gave us a free appetizer to compensate for the wait. Also it can def get loud in there, so not your place for a quiet date.
This place has great food. The place itself is kind of small and informal but the staff is very friendly. The portions are decent and leave no room for dessert. It is easily the best restaurant on a street made up of them.
Carlo's has achieved the rare feat of having such great food and service that together they transcend the tacky decor. The place is slightly more than a hole in the wall in terms of size - with about 12 tables crammed into the long rectangular room. There is a fake blue sky and puffy clouds painted on the ceiling, and the walls are similarly painted to evoke the Italian countryside. Set against the utilitarian tables & chairs, it just looks trite.
But, you easily forget that as soon as you settle in. Service is friendly and prompt, and the courses are timed just right. And the food is just plain gorgeous. It's traditional, familiar Italian food done right.
Carlo's takes reservations for six or more, which I'd definitely recommend if your coming on a weekend night. They only take Visa and Mastercard (or cash, of course), so leave your black amex at home if you're eating here.
This was lil' Sister's favorite Italian restaurant, when she lived in Boston. And she spent a year in Italy, taking culinary classes.
There have been some valid complaints about service. No denying. I get treated well, since I've met the owners, and they are in the house, usually.
They serve really great Saltimboca. I mean, something to savor every bite of....
They aren't expensive. So, I'll balance the iffy service with great eating, and still come up smiling.
Their wine list could use some spiffing up. It's not really hard to come up with a good cellar to pair with Italian food, after all.
I went to Carlo's again with a friend during "mainstream" meal time. Once again, they hit it out of the park. The Melanzane alla Olivia is ridiculously good and I'm not normally that crazy about eggplant. I couldn't believe how much of it I ate. I still did not save room for dessert this time but I'm looking forward to going again and again!
I went here for lunch with this past weekend and I think I have found my new favorite Italian place… Read more »
the place is tucked away amongst many restaurants on brighton ave. the service was friendly, and food orders were delivered fairly fast.
As for the quality of the food, it was pretty good, tasting great. though i found the portions to be slightly less than expected for the mid to high range price.
but the overall atmosphere, friendly service, and good quality food outweigh the 'relatively' small portions
Lowest-common-denominator red sauce type stuff. If I'm gonna pay $15 for a plate of pasta and sausage bits, it had better either come in a portion the size of my head, or taste a little more sophisticated than chicken-flavor instant noodles. The portions are large-ish, but not huge.
Ever since I moved into the area, I've been finding a never-ending stream of good restaurants (old and new) that should keep me satisfied for many meals to come and Carlos' is no exception!
This is a pretty small restaurant (about 10-12 smallish tables) but the decor is very nice (although the cheapish tables and chairs take away from that a bit). Also, in the winter, the restaurant uses a heavy blanket to separate the door from the restaurant to try to keep the cold air out, but it does not work very well and the tables near the door can get quite drafty. Also, since the place is a little on the small side, it can get quite noisy and being one of the only sit-down Italian restaurants in the area, it can get very busy with lines forming outside!
That being said, I've had both variations on the gnocchi as well as two other dishes I can't remember the names to, but each of the dishes were well-portioned and tasty. Granted, the house red sauce was a little on the salty side, but I actually like it that way and didn't mind at all.
The price is decent, the food is tasty and well-portioned, and the service was above average. I haven't tried anything off of the wine list but I'm sure I will be back soon enough to do so!
All I can say is AMAZING!!
This place is great. I've been here a handful of times and I have never had a bad meal. It's the closest thing you can get to North End quality Italian without having to go there. Prices can be a little bit on the expensive side but usually it's worth it because you can get 2 meals out of the portion size. Overall great place to eat if you want good italian and don't want to deal with the craziness of the North End!
I heard a rumor years ago that Julia Child listed this among her favorite Boston restaurants, and when I went looking for it couldn't believe I had the right place...until I stepped inside. I've saved two count 'em two special birthday dinners at the last minute for friends to whom I offered Carlo's as a last minute suggestion.
Nothing fancy, just fantastic food and friendly service. Anything you get you'll like. Go on. Go. Now.
I ordered:
Eggplant rolls
Gnocchi with chicken, capers, peppers and mushrooms in redsauce
My partner order:
House Salad
Tortellini in red sauce
Great italian food if you don't want to make the trip to the northend. I came here after trying to go all fall and my friend giving it a huge recommendation along with the rest of you. We started off by receiving the house salad, which was disappointing. They gave you one hunk of a tomato and a bunch of celery in the salad, which i am not use to having in a salad and I found to be overpowering. Then we had the appetizer, which was really really good... really. It is the first appetizer on the menu and is eggplant stuffed with ricotta cheese covered in mozzarella.
The main courses arrived and I really enjoyed my gnocchi. The pasta was homemade and the gnocchi were like little pillows that melted in your mouth. The chicken, capers, peppers, and mushrooms all added to the dish. The few bites of my girlfriends dish that I stole were very good. The tortellini was homemade as well and it was very cheesy. The portions were rather large, I am 6'7 and quite an eater and I could only eat about half of my meal, so I got lunch the next day(for free!).
The environment was nice, although it looked dingy outside, but hey its Allston, so it fits the neighborhood. Every time the restaurant door opened there was a huge draft of cold air, which was a little irritating, but they have been trying to stop it with a curtain.
All in all I plan on going here a lot in the future and I would definitely recommend it to everyone looking for some fresh pasta and good food.
Surly staff who can't wait to get rid of you is surely one of the worst feelings you can take away from a restaurant. That's what happened to me and a date here. Sure, we weren't seated until 9pm and by 10pm we were the only customers remaining but that is no excuse to start clearing up the dining area and start up the vacuum cleaner whilst we're still on the main course. Totally ruins everything.
I choose Carlo's based on good reviews and it initially looked promising with a homely Tuscan feel and a good - if typical - Italian menu. The food was actually quite good although it's hard to get Italian food wrong. But this place shouldn't be recommended to anyone in my opinion if the staff can behave so rudely to their final customers. The toilet was filthy and from the very start to the end the service was lousy and unfriendly. It was like they were unhappy to have customers at all. Perhaps it's a money-laundering operation??
The people who work here were friendly, helpful and knew a lot about the menu. Granted, we were ordering take-out, but I appreciated the extra love.
The Insalata alla Noce was perfect-- arugula salad with just the right amount of dressing and sweet, crisp pears, balanced out with mild blue cheese. Our Gnocchi Spezzatino had tender medallions of chicken in it and a tasty blend of sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, capers, and fresh basil. The cannolis were awesome. The filling was not too sweet or heavy, but very flavorful. The cannoli shell was crispy and fresh. Whoever cooks on Saturday night is a real winner and needs to be my new best friend.
I had the gnocchi again for lunch today. Still tasty. I love it when things hold onto their deliciousness overnight. All those dishes that get gross in the fridge, they are weak sauce. I frown at them.
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