Carlos Cucina Italiana

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gethebassics

Joined 4 years ago

Authentic Italian. Half of the Italian restaurants in the North End could not compare to Carlo's. Don't let the simple decor and shabby exterior fool you - inside, you will taste some of the most delicious Italian food in your life. Prices are reasonable, with pasta/chicken in the $14 to $17 range. The bruschetta was to die for! Toasted bread smothered in garlic and butter, topped with fresh diced tomatoes... mmm. The waitstaff is very friendly and VERY Italian. The atmosphere is a bit cramped, but the bar decor definitely gives customers something pleasant to look at!

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dpauldin

Joined 7 years ago

the best italian outside the north end. Carlo's is hands down the best italian food for a very reasonable price. they have a nice house chianti and the gnocchi is probably the best i have ever had. their red sauce is perfect!

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gp317

Joined 5 years ago

Amazing!. Food is great. Place is small, but I like the intimate appeal. Wait staff is decent. I go for the food, not the service!!! Highly recommended!!!!

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mb1940

Joined 5 years ago

Hidden Gem. I walk in to Carlo's the hostess told me it would be 15 minutes wait . I waited 35 minutes , I was a little upset, But when I sat down and started to eat my whole atitude changed. I had the shrimp app. I t was to die for. For my main course I had the giancarlo it was chicken with sausage and potatoes in melted in my mouth. Then I just could not stop eating so I had the tiramisu the best I had in a long time. It is not a place to be romantic with all the small table pushed togther but I will go back . The food was outstanding.

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maddenp

Joined 6 years ago

Hidden Gem!. I walked into Carlo's reluctantly, to be honest I wasn't expecting much. I was also turned off by the prices on the menu, I thought they were overpricing at such a tiny restaurant. But the food was great, it exceeded everyone's expectations. This place is a good find, I'll be going here a lot more often from now on

Doesn't Recommend

bosox04

Joined 7 years ago

what is everyone talking about. I took a date to this place the other night. I thought it would be a nice cozy place to bring my date. I was dead wrong, this place is awful. The second we walked through the door it smelled like a nasty kitchen. The food was average at best. For italian food this place should be ashamed of themselves, and the parking in this area is just as bad as the north end. At least the north end has great food to outweigh the parking hassle. I do not recommend this place at all, its nasty.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Tantalizing, reasonably-priced Southern Italian fare is the hallmark of this cramped, charming trattoria.. The Scene
Long a favorite of Allston-Brighton's bargain-loving young professionals, this is the perfect choice for those craving comfortable Italian dishes without the hassle of a trek to North End. Thanks to a no-reservations policy, most diners face a brief wait outside for one of the small, noisy dining room's tiny tables. Harried waiters shout to be heard over the ruckus created by the young-ish crowd and semi-open kitchen.

The Food
Reasonably-priced dishes heavy on tantalizing Southern Italian fare make this an area favorite. To start, try the flavorful funghi alla portabella, a steak-like Portobello topped with mozzarella and peppers. Most entrees, including a smoky chicken marsala and fresh frutti di mare, feature homemade pasta and are large enough to share. Desserts are disappointing: both the spumoni and homemade tiramisu are light on flavor and heavy on the whipped cream.

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thaiboo

Joined 11 years ago

Exhuberant Italian outside the North End. This is a no-frills, small, noisy, bustling place. Your elbows might be jostled as you eat because it is so small, but that won't distract you from the huge, delicious spectacle on your plate. There is only one reason to go here: the food itself. The portions are large and are on the heavy side (especially if you get pasta with meat or sausage), so you'll have enough to pack home for another meal. Try the homemade pasta of the day.

APRIL 2007 UPDATE: Yup, still good. Went on a Sunday dinner and the place was much calmer and more enjoyable for me.

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sugargal

Joined 6 years ago

Carlo's so good!. I love the food here, it all starts with that unbelievably good bread and olive oil infused with olive and with olives. Since I love olives, it can't be better than that. The food always tastes fresh and so flavorful. The appetizer I usually get it this eggplant cheese thing which is so good, the sauce has nice big chunks of tomato the cheese everything just always tastes so good. The gnocchi is excellent both dishes that are available and the involtini's wine sauce is brilliant. The tiramisu is the perfect ending to the meal I haven't had any of the other desserts but I can only imagine how good they are. My problem is when I'm at Carlo's I just crave that tiramisu. Overall, the best ever, literally ever!

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johnzoidberg

Joined 7 years ago

Mouth watering food!. This place was down the street from us for months when I finally convinced my bf to go. Boy was he happy I made him. The anti-pasto platter with peppers, olives, cheese, and proscuitto was so good I thought I'd die. The penne with alfredo, chicken, and broccoli is to die for. I think I saw my bf's eyes roll back in his head when eating it. The fresh pasta with onions and veal was amazing! I wish we could eat there everyday! Its very small and they don't take reservations but the tables turn over quickly. Go on an off day, or early on a weekend. Trust me I moved here from New York City and have been looking for a well priced Italian place for a long time. This place is it!

The only dissapointment is dessert which I would skip and head over to Herrells next dooe for ice cream and the best choc. brownies ever!