Family-style Italian feasts designed for sharing at Carmine's in DC.
Located in Penn Quarter at 425 7th St NW, Carmine's - Washington DC presents Italian classics in an elegant, antique setting. Guests praise massive, family-style portions designed for sharing, with seafood, pastas, and meats. The lively, bustling venue offers attentive service and group-friendly seating, including bar hi-top tables, and leftovers are welcome to take home.
425 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA
Claim Carmine's - Washington DC to manage your storefront, respond to reviews, and receive customer leads.
Enjoy oversized portions of classic dishes like pasta, seafood, and meat, perfect for sharing among groups in a lively, elegant setting.
Host events with our extensive catering options, offering the same generous family-style meals for private parties and corporate gatherings.
Order your favorite Italian feasts for pickup or delivery, bringing Carmine's massive portions and flavors right to your home or office.
Book one of our multiple private dining spaces for special occasions, accommodating large groups with personalized service and menu options.
Sip on an extensive range of cocktails and wines, curated to complement our rich Italian dishes and enhance your dining experience.
Overall rating
Beatrice
The service is always quick and sweet, love the low lit atmosphere of this environment. They have relatively clean restrooms and a good amount of seating within the restaurant. My school has group dinners at this restaurant and we always enjoy it!! They even let us take home the leftovers from the dinner!! Definitely appreciate this restaurant and will return again.
Arun Serrão (E-Man)
An Unforgettable Family-Style Feast A Night of Abundance and Ambiance in Penn Quarter My recent dinner at Carmine's in Washington D.C. with a few friends was nothing short of a joyous, over-the-top feast—the kind of experience that defines la dolce vita. This is not just a meal; it's a social event built around sharing, drinking, and savoring classic Southern Italian cuisine. The Atmosphere and History Located in D.C.'s vibrant Penn Quarter neighborhood, Carmine's is hard to miss. The restaurant is massive, often claiming the title of D.C.'s largest "true" restaurant with 750 seats and multiple private dining rooms. The original Carmine's opened in New York City in 1990 with a goal to serve meals in the "style of an Italian American wedding feast." That tradition of oversized, family-style portions is what makes the D.C. location, which opened in 2013, so special. The decor perfectly captures this nostalgic, old-school Italian-American charm. The moment you step inside, you are immersed in an elegant, antique atmosphere that feels like a classic European dining room. The walls are scaled with tons of framed black-and-white photos, reminiscent of a grandmother's parlor, often depicting scenes from Broadway and old New York, adding a wonderful layer of theatrical history and warm, deep gold-brown tones to the space. It’s loud, it’s bustling, and it creates a genuine sense of communal energy—perfect for a lively group outing. The Food and Drinks As expected from Carmine's, everything comes in mammoth, family-style portions designed for sharing. With a few friends, we took full advantage of this philosophy, ordering a delicious spread that covered the menu. We started with some excellent drinks—the cocktail menu is extensive, and we enjoyed a few rounds each, perfectly setting the celebratory tone for the night. For appetizers, the charcuterie was a fantastic, generous spread that got our appetites going. For the main event, we dove into the best of their offerings. The Chicken Parm Sliders (a fun, scaled-down version of their famous Chicken Parmigiana) were a hit, perfectly crisp and saucy. We also ordered a stellar seafood dish, filled with fresh flavors and plenty for everyone to enjoy. The focus here is homestyle comfort, and Carmine's delivers it with incredible generosity. We all left satisfied, with plenty of leftovers to take home, which is a signature part of the Carmine’s experience. Final Thoughts Carmine's is the ultimate destination for groups—whether you're celebrating a milestone or just getting together for a fun night out. The attentive service, the nostalgic, grand decor, and the sheer volume of delicious Italian classics make for an unforgettably wonderful experience. Just remember to go hungry, and come ready to share!
Mark LoGiurato
Family-style Italian restaurant with a nice selection of seafood, pastas, and meat dishes. Service is very good. Limited wine list. The rigatoni and broccoli was a hot our table. The linguine and shrimp was a bland dish. The fried calamari was also a hit. The focaccia was dried out and old. The lasagna was also very good.
Time For Change
We had our All Staff dinner here and bc only few staff showed they accommodated us at the bar hi-top tables, which was the first plus. Then our bartender/slash waiter was so attentive and gave us exceptional advice or how we should get certain things on the menu prepared to accommodate the whole groups taste buds. All the food was cooked absolutely perfect 👌🏽. The drinks were a great add as well. Customer Service was so amazing the CEO offered a special TFC Gift (TFC shot glass) to support the gratitude of service provided to us! We will have to come back. Check out the pictures.
Munjin
This restaurant has such an elegant and antique atmosphere that immediately makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a classic European dining room. The portions are absolutely massive – we were four women and each of us ordered one dish, but every single plate could easily serve three people. The pasta was rich and flavorful, the calamari was crispy and perfectly paired with the sauce, and the salad was fresh and refreshing. It’s definitely a place that combines sophistication with incredible generosity in portion size. A wonderful spot for groups to share and enjoy.
