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Carmelo's Restaurant Review

14795 Memorial Dr. (Dairy Ashford St.) Send to Phone
HoustonTX 77079
281-531-0696 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu
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Longtime Westside Italian spot attracts regulars for consistent food and pleasant surroundings.

Cuisine

Open

Lunch Mon.-Fri., Dinner nightly, Brunch Sun.

Features

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If Pino Virga's accordion mood music doesn't make you want to meet your beloved at the end of the same string of spaghetti, nothing will. This welcoming site evokes a light, contemporary version of a Tuscan home in a hillside village. For starters, try the slivers of carpaccio served with Parmesan, lemon and olive oil. Black mussels and clams are offered with a choice of marinara, fra diavolo or cream sauces. Among soups, we suggest the lobster bisque, but you should also consider Carmelo’s version of the Italian classic, stracciatella with tortellini. Pasta takes center stage with rich ravioli gratinati Diana, filled with spaghetti squash and served with a light cream sauce and peas. Meat entrées also have an Italian accent with the standards of veal piccata, Marsala and Parmigiana. Even more inviting, though, are inventive dishes like red snapper mango, served over a potato pancake with asparagus and a dry vermouth-mango sauce; or the tuna fresco, which tops fennel mashed potatoes. Sunday brunch offers traditional egg dishes and some Italian delights like the stufato---a stew of sausages, chicken, tomatoes, garlic and potatoes.

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