Carelli’s of Boulder
645 30th St, Boulder, CO, 80303
Carelli’s of Boulder Menu
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Anitpasti - Special Menu
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Zuppa e Insalate - Special Menu
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Second Pialti - Special Menu
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Dolce - Special Menu
Healthy Meal suggestions for Carelli’s of Boulder
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Anitpasti - Special Menu
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Zuppa e Insalate - Special Menu
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Second Pialti - Special Menu
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Dolce - Special Menu
Visit below restaurant in Boulder for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
645 30th St
Boulder, CO, 80303 - Phone (303) 938-9300
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Richard M.
After stumbling upon Carelli's I'm reconsidering my self view as not a lucky person. Wow. Great Italian food? Check. Way good prices (even though we weren't really on a budget)? Check. Service staff to make you feel like you were the most important reviewers from the New York Times? Double check. Details - the lamb artichoke meatballs with pesto - 3 delicately presented - as a starter - perfect for 2 to share, and maybe not finish the third. My wife had the risotto del mare (okay, so saying who ordered what is so 20th century - anything our party orders is fair game for all) and it was delectable. I had the veal piccata (forgive me for always choosing that dish) which was world class. I rarely comment on portion size, because Sandra and I don't finish our portions most anywhere - but for those who take that into account, they were ample. Anyway, here's the point - we were on a business trip and just needed fuel - Carelli's was a 10 minute walk from our hotel - and to repeat myself, "Wow." I'd stay at the hotel again just to be close to Carelli's. Note: Manager Costa Skoudras (Greek derivation but a born and bred Boulderite) brought charm and knowledge to our table - Katie was the perfect server - omnipresent, but you didn't know she was there till you needed her, and it seems she knew it just before you. So I'm torn - reveal this hidden gem and risk that it will become too crowded when next I visit, or spread the word in the hopes that it will thrive forever. I guess you've figured out which choice I made.
(5)Leslie M.
The owner, Greg, invited me back to make my previous experience I had right. My family of 6 came over for lunch and I had the gluten free funghi pizza and the calamari. Both were fantastic!! The service was great and I applaud Greg for reaching out and valuing his customers! My family loved everything we had and I only wish there were more business owners like Greg in this world! Thank you!
(5)Bunny G.
We stopped in during graduation week so the restaurant was buzzing. I was so happy when they were able to accommodate us on a short notice. But the wait time to get our table was slow. We were excited to finally sit down and we were lucky that we were seated near the cozy fire pit. But it all went down hill when we got stuck with the worst waitress. This blonde short-hair server acted like she was doing us a favor. She was a grouch from the get-go. The worse part? She kept serving and picking up plates across my face to the point where I turned up to look at her like, "Really?" Then she said, "Excuse me". Ugh! The waitress never cracked a smile, she never welcomed us, she never mentioned the specials, we just looked at each other like, "What in the heck is wrong with her?" We had to ask about the specials then she just pointed to the small menu. Ugh, I can't stand servers that are lazy and rude, especially for an upscale restaurant. I get more smiling faces at McDonalds! Well at least I'll give them five stars for ambiance. The restaurant was cozy, elegant with gorgeous light fixtures and decor was modern but welcoming. I love to see a warm fire especially when it's cold and snowy outside. The tables were a bit cramped together. Three stars for my food (Leek soup on the "Specials" menu was not what I expected. I couldn't taste the leeks and it wasn't creamy. My hubby loved his halibut Hurray for a kids menu (cheeseburger, pasta, etc) Calamari was very good. Cesar salad had no flavor despite the giant anchovie Maybe I just didn't order the right thing? I saw many positive reviews on Yelp and its seems everyone loved their food? As we were walking out other waiters were smiling and saying, "Thank you for coming, have a good evening". What? I wish we had those handsome guys as our waiter! I'm so bummed I didn't get any male polite servers. So obviously the rest of the staff got the memo, one server can ruin the whole experience. She's in the wrong profession, customer service is an innate trait. Either you got it or you don't. So if you come here, be sure and ask for ANYONE else but this troll. UPDATE: I did hear back from the owner (Greg) who was extremely apologetic for my bad experience. I really appreciate when I receive feedback and sincere regrets for a terrible experience. Kudos and extra stars for that grand gesture because this business does care about your experience. I'll be inclined to return and try out other dishes and hopefully get a cutie male waiter.
(4)Michelle V.
This is a sure thing! Every time we we come t is fantastic! We have been coming here for years and it has only gotten better! Bravo Carellis Bravo!!!!
(5)Marcia R.
Food was yummy and setting was great but took a long time for food to come out. Waiter was apologetic but still had to deduct a star for timing.
(4)Sharon W.
Chicken piccata is excellent and our waitress Kathleen was so helpful if we lived closer we would be here at least once a week and ask for Kathleen
(5)Kara S.
We went here for dinner with a group of seven after my son's performance. We arrived 45 minutes early for our reservation on a Friday night but they graciously accommodated our party and seated us right away. Our server immediately took our drink order. The food was quite good. The gnocchi with wild mushrooms was a real stand out. The gnocchi were crisp on the outside and moist on the inside and the broth layered with flavor. One of our party said the pizza he ordered was the best he had ever tasted. Only one complaint. Locating the bathrooms was confusing. Signs would be appreciated.
(5)Jordan C.
I would also like to add that they didn't do anything special for my mothers birthday.
(1)Elizabeth C.
This was our first visit to Carelli's in Boulder. We were celebrating my brother's birthday and were recommended to this restaurant by friends. Several of us drove from Denver and others from Nederland to enjoy a meal together (total group of 11). Please know that there was a wonderful variety of food options - all of which were very flavorful. Our only drawback or less than positive to the experience was our service. The woman who was our primary server was extremely terse and seemed to be bothered that she had to wait on our group. We wanted to take some time to catch up with one another as well as review the menu; however, she was somewhat short with us and we felt pressured to order more quickly than desired. In addition, she repeatedly served food across other individuals with no 'excuse me' or respect to if we were engaged in conversation. And, given that the gratuity was added in related to our group size (which we understood), she was guaranteed 18%. The only caveat to this point, though, is that we would gladly have paid 20% or more had the service been what was expected. We would try Carelli's again, but would request another server for certain.
(3)A M.
The happy hour red wines are really good here and I have gotten excellent service on almost every visit. We usually sit at the bar and have maybe a salad, pizza, pasta or something off of the bar menu. The lamb off the bar menu is excellent and a surprise coming from an Italian restaurant. The pizza and pasta carbonara are also quite good. The ambiance feels upscale but unpretentious and I just can't say enough good things about the staff... which can really make or break an experience for me. I hope this place is around forever in the way that it exists today.
(5)Leon M.
We had the chicken parmesan over stuffed tortellini pasta . The food was good and we loved the atmosphere if we lived here this would definitely be one of our favorite restaurants
(4)Mike H.
The food is always good here. And the wine list never disappoints. The service can be hit or miss but that is not a reason not to go.
(3)Lucretzia C.
Doesn't live up to all the hype it's okay but it's really all you have when you're living in Longmont/Boulder not a lot of options
(3)Mark T.
Quality Italian food in a strip mall? Is it possible? IT IS! On a winter's day my companion and I ventured into Carelli's. First positive: we got to sit next to a fireplace. We ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca (see picture). Two great things can be done to improve chicken: add ham and add cheese - in this case, prosciutto and provolone - and here's something different - it's served over fries! I mean, 'potato spears'. It was YUM. My partner had the scallops. She said they were delicious, and look at the size of those mollusks! (again, see picture). It came with a lot of pasta, too, which she saw as a negative, but I will never fault any restaurant for bringing me too MUCH of something. I had a cannellini bean soup that surprised me because I only found 2 beans in the whole soup. I guess that's OK, but it caused me some confusion. Parking is easily available, the wait staff was attentive, beverages were kept refreshed. Carelli's is a keeper.
(4)Liz W.
I have been here multiple times over my years of living in Boulder. Their food is pretty consistent. They have a great bruschetta with a lot of fresh tomatoes, garlic and basil. I love their house salad with sesame balsamic and I usually get a custom made pizza, but their pasta dishes are also very satisfying. Grab a crepe at the end if you have any room left! I knocked off a couple of stars because the service is ALWAYS slow, definitely not the place to come with a hungry group. Every time I go it's usually about ten minutes before I see a server. They need to hire more people or spend a little longer training them. Basically don't go here when you're really hungry and be sure to make a reservation, it's pretty busy most nights unless you go before 6pm or after 8pm.
(3)Jenny T.
Can't comment to the negative reviews. Ours was a very good experience. A very busy Friday night with reservation still had us with a Short wait. Says a lot about people wanting to wait;expectations, appetite and reputation... Our server Ken, was nice, knowledgable and within or above our expectations of being fast but not pushing to flip the table. We enjoyed our moments, our appetizer, our entrees and dessert. Downtown professional style service, exceptional food and surprisingly ambient for it's location. Traveled all the way from Castle Rock and will do it again... There was a preparation, a taste, here and there of my favorite flavors and dishes to remind me of Taylor Street Restaurants in Chicago. Gnocchi, Mmmm
(4)Liz S.
My absolute favorite Italian restaurant in Boulder. I've been going here for years, even back in the day when we came here during my college days for special occasions. With a random location in the strip mall next to WilVill, you'd never guess that Carelli's is as good as it actually is. There is a nice little patio in front that can be used approximately 2 months out of the year due to weather, but when you can, it really is nice to sit out there. The inside is dark and romantic which is great, unless you are wanting something a little more causal. Their garlic bread is to die for and every time I go it's all that I can do to not eat the entire basket myself. My favorite dish here is their stuff shells. Ricotta and spinach stuffed into perfectly cooked pasta and then baked into a dish so its saucy, cheesy, warm and fabulous. It is so good that I don't even bother ordering anything else because I know I would just be drooling internally about my stuffed shells that could have been.
(5)joshua e.
Great ambiance, bar, happy hour, outside fire, great staff, live music sometimes, very romantic....I've never regretted going there, only wondered when my lady and I could go back....
(5)RB D.
Have eaten here longer than I care to admit; but before the old man passed away! Enjoyed this place many times, but still preferred the old place before Greg "took over" the tanning salon! Either way; appetizer was good, duck meatballs in a confit broth. However, the pasta was a true disgrace to Italian! Over cooked, bland, no flavor. I thank the dumb waitress for not checking on us, so I didn't have to lie! She should work at Denny's; same distance! My wife's risotto? They didn't even use aborio rice; it was some "wild" grain!! I am amazed how horrible this place is. The busboy spent 5 minutes per table to align the silver and stemware, the ambience is great..... The entrees were beyond horrible. Greg, if you are listening, fire everybody but the bussers!
(1)Liz A.
Update Management was very professional and courteous and I have upgraded my rating as a result. Their actions demonstrated concern for standards, and I feel that any remaining issues will likely be addressed. It is possible that I just had a run of bad luck on this one, as in the past the food and service have been exceptional. _____ I used to really like this place and in the past would have given 4-5 stars, but my last three visits I was disappointed. Visit one in this chain of three was due to the food not being up to the usual standards. I figured off night, or just that particular dish wasn't wonderful and came back again with a large party - approx 10 ppl. Service was the worst I've ever seen here. We had to ask three times for drinks, our water was never refilled, it took hours to get our food, and some food was missing. We just cancelled those since we didn't want to wait another hour to get it. Also, no the restaurant wasn't swamped or anything. I would say it was medium full. To cap it off, I ordered the bison that was on special, and it was overcooked, tough and dry and not very well seasoned. Finally, my most recent visit was early December for a family birthday, and I would say my food was mediocre, but the waitress had a couple issues. First, she made a comment about how much water I was drinking, and repeated it more than once. I'm sorry, but I was thirsty and didn't know water was an issue. There were also other small things, such as blocking me from my chair when I came back from the bathroom. It's one thing if you just need to grab something quickly from the table - I don't mind, but leaving me standing there for a long time becomes very awkward. There were other small things too, but I won't go into them. On their own, none of that would have bothered me, but taken all together it felt disrespectful, and unpleasant. I used to really like this place, but after having issues three times in a row, I'm just not a fan anymore.
(4)K P.
Being up front, Carelli's is my and my wife's favorite local Italian restaurant. The other night was a fluke and my food was less than stellar. The waiter offered to have a new dish brought out for me. Rather than disrupt the flow of our dinner I chose to simply continue on, eating only part of the entree. In the end our dessert along with my entree and drinks were absent from the bill. We will continue to go back for the great food and service.
(5)Reviewer R.
Our party arrived and the hostess estimated a wait time of 30 minutes. Our 30 minute initial wait incremented to 50 minutes and during this timeframe half of the restaurant area was empty because they had a larger party awaiting later in the evening (Ours was 10). Then the hostess mentioned that it will be an additional 15 minute wait. So after close to a 1 hour wait time we decided to go somewhere else.
(1)Kevin D.
Great atmosphere and super food. Especially nice to have a fireplace when it's a cool night. We like salads, pizzas and the pastas, recommended!
(5)Gene K.
Great Martini. Spaghettini with meat sauce and garlic bread for dinner. Always pleased with service and food.
(5)Linda F.
I obviously have nothing negative to say about this eatery. The food was delicious and our waitress was wonderful! One of our friends had some significant dietary restrictions but it didn't faze our waitress at all. She was gracious and more than accommodating. I had the Risotto de Mare -wonderful and my husband had "the usual" for him, chicken cacciatore,also delicious. I would definitely return on our next trip to Boulder! Also - the Malbec was excellent as was my Bloody Mary.
(5)Sherry W.
Fantastic food every single time. No matter what you get you will never be disappointed!
(4)Ariele M.
Passed this place pretty much every day that I was working in Boulder and kept saying that I would pop in. Finally my craving was insatiable enough that I dragged the boyfriend in with me after work. Definitely didn't realize that we should've had on less casual clothes because the crowd was definitely business casual. None the less we were seated near the fire place with a nice view of the TV, much to my guy's pleasure. We started with the mussels for an appetizer and they were really good. It was mainly that buttery, lemon sauce that they were swimming in. We both found ourselves scooping it up with our spoons, even after the mussels were finished. I know, I know, classic kids table behavior! For our entrees, I played it safe and ordered Chicken Parmigiana while boyfriend got some pasta dish filled with veggies, chunks of sausage and lots of spices. Both smelled divine, but then again everything is divine when you're starving. I overestimated my hunger and underestimated the serving sizes because half way through I was unbuttoning my skinny jeans and cursing myself for not wearing my "mom jeans". Despite my tummy pouch, we were persuaded to get dessert by our waiter who rolled the sweets cart over to us. Once again, saucer-eyes. Couldn't resist the ice cream sandwich and boy was it yummy. The cookie was flakier than I preferred, but everything else was too chocolaty and rich. Only thing that put me off was the girl who brought in handfuls of Safeway artisan bread, right after we had been told that the garlic bread would be out in a while. I understand that plenty of restaurants don't actually make their own bread. At least walk it through the back door rather than in front of the host stand, across the bar and for sure don't drop a roll, pick it up and keep it moving. Especially when your menu says "home made garlic bread". Just seemed odd.
(3)Dan H.
We had a celebration of life reception after a grave side service for a family member who died unexpectedly. Greg was so helpful by setting us up in the private back room-about 65 guests. He selected a buffet for us; the food was great for a very reasonable price. The staff was very respectful and provided excellent service. A difficult time was made easier for our family
(5)Thomas H.
Great service and excellent food! The cozy atmosphere makes this is a great place to take a date or for a reunion with friends and family. The staff is always friendly and helpful. The prices are reasonable, and the extensive menu seems to have something for everyone....with most of the classic Italian food and some unique creations as well. I especially like the calzones and chicken dishes!
(5)Lisa C.
Dinner at Carelli's went well. Our waitress was prompt and friendly. Dinner was good. We had a nice Italian Rose. FYI. The Rose, is not listed on the wine menu. I had a green house salad for a starter and, Angel hair pasta with clams in white sauce for dinner....it was more than enough for me. Overall, it was good! We'll go back!
(3)Sarah B.
Really enjoyed this place! The ambiance was so nice. Everything my friends and I ordered was delicious. The pineapple pomegranate martini was so good! My favorite thing that was ordered was the chicken pesto calzone. I don't like calzones typically, but this was perfection! All the desserts were very good as well.
(5)Jeremy T.
We have had some ups and downs here, but our most recent visit was AMAZING. Every aspect of our meal was fantastic. The hostess was very friendly and responsive; the decor right when you walk in strikes you as modern and classy. There is a fireplace, and two fire pits (one indoors, one outdoors) that radiates a metaphorical warmth. Once seated we were greeted quickly and we ordered two glasses of wine. Their wine list is fairly expansive, especially on European wines. We ordered two glasses of a Nebbiolo, Barbera, Merlot blend, what was quite tasty. It was from a fresh bottle, so it took a few minutes to open up, but well worth the wait. Nebbiolo is my favorite varietal, and is rarely on wine list at all, and even rarer by the glass. Another item to note is that they had Opus One in 375s available on the list, I don't think I have ever seen a 375 of Opus offered before. We started with salads, and both got Cesar salads, which were great. What made their Cesar unique was that they had a nontraditional, non anchovy based dressing, but served the salad with an anchovy on top that you could remove or add depending on your like of the anchovy flavor in a Cesar Salad. Our dinners were fantastic. I got an item that was a past favorite of mine from the restaurant, which was the Chicken Saltimboca. A delicious blend of chicken, sage, prosciutto and cheese, served with fingerling potatoes. I have had this several times in the past, and remains one of my favorites. My wife got one of the specials of the day, which was sweet corn raviolis topped with lump crab and lobster with a cream sauce. It was in a word, delightful. Both portions were more than we could finish, and we left no room for dessert which looked amazing on the dessert tray on a table behind us, almost mocking us to eat them. Other items to note from our evening was the number of families and children that were there, and even more so how non annoying and how well behaved the children were. At first glance, one would think that Carelli's would be more upscale or too "Stuffy" of a place for families, but that did not seem to deter several families to bring them there. All of which seemed to be very happy and happy with their meals as well. Don't know if any of that can be attributed to Carelli's or not, but it was something that was noted by us several times. As said earlier, we have had some past issues with Carelli's, but there is clearly a great pride that owner Greg Carelli takes in his restaurant, and appears to do all he can to right wrongs he knows about. We have started going again, and have moved it up to three stars. We plan to go back frequently, and if all goes as well as our dinner last night, I see no reason to not bump up to four or five stars. One final note, our server, Geno, was Flawless. Kind, courteous, and prompt. He walked a perfect balance of attentiveness, without being at all overbearing.
(3)Stan D.
Maybe I was just hungry after flying back from Savannah through Houston, and not eating much of anything along the way, but, when I saw this Italian restaurant near the crappy hotel we stayed at, I wanted to try it. I was not disappointed. We had the Eggplant Parmesan, and it was as good as any I have ever eaten. Nicely breaded and in big portions - $14.00, and worth it. They serve it, as they should, with pasta topped with marinara. The marinara is nice, too. I also enjoyed the garlic bread that came with the meal. The only thing I didn't really care for was the wine. Yeah, I'm the kind of guy who hates paying $8.00 for a glass of wine, especially Chianti which I love with my Italian food. So, I went "cheap" with the wine expecting that the "house" Chianti, (they call it "good," but I do not). It was the weakest Chianti I have ever tasted. It didn't have the right color, it had no body, and the flavor was more like something made by Boone's Farm than something a respectable Italian restaurant would serve. Unless you have to have wine, or you don't mind paying high prices, skip the wine. You'll thank me later. You know, I may have spoken too soon when I said the "only thing I didn't like." come to think of it, they stuck us in a tiny table between a booth and another table. I had to sit with the table all the way up to my chest, or my chair in the next table's soup - way too cramped. Fortunately, I was very hungry. All in all, the service was pretty good, the restaurant is as cute as it can be, and they have good food, but there are definitely things they can do to improve the place. I sure hope they weren't just being rude to me because I was not "dressed up" after having just flown 2,000 miles that day, and more ready to eat than to clean up. Either way, all customers should be treated equally if an establishment is truly in the hospitality business, and they should expect some variance since they are located in a strip mall across the street from a college dorm.
(4)Kim M.
My husband and I eat here often; we come back again and again because of the food, the ambience and the service. Last night we had the Fett Alfredo and the Shrimp Scampi - a light meal.-) We sat at the bar and had great service (Thanks JT!). It was another 5-star experience. The food was delicious. For drinks, I started with the happy hour Peroni on tap and then switched over to the (non-happy hour) Merryvale Chardonnay. My husband had the Peroni and then the House (happy-hour) Cabernet - we both loved our drinks.Greg remodeled the restaurant (again) in the last couple of months. I thought the atmosphere was cozy and inviting pre-renovation, but it looks even better now. We'll be back. I highly recommend that everyone check this place out!
(5)Nina M.
I'd been here a time or two before; today's occasion was a business lunch. We were greeted and seated promptly. The server seemed pretty new and bumbled his way through the specials after some prompting from his trainer who explained them much more descriptively to the table beside us. The food was great, but it took a little long. When you're on your lunch hour you don't generally have twice that amount of time to spend. I quickly realized why things seemed to be dragging: there were 2 large parties that were there at the same time - one in the main dining area and one in the private room in the back. Having worked in restaurants, I know this can't always be helped, but it looked as though neither party was spontaneous. All in all, it was a great lunch, though. My Carelli Bianco tasted great and was full of fresh vegetables. Even when our server was busy, other waitstaff were plentiful, clearing dishes, boxing up leftovers, and refilling drinks. My boss is a fan, so I'm hoping we can return for one of our larger meetings and take advantage of the space they have available for private parties.
(3)David T.
This is my wife's favorite restaurant in Boulder, and one of my favorites. Everything they make is good. They have a ton of Italian dishes - all good. Also superb steak, shrimp, veal, pizza, and amazingly, one of the best burgers in Boulder. Whatever you get, you'll love it.
(5)Bobby T.
Once again I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars. This time I think I have to round down, because as much as I have enjoyed Carelli's in my multiple visits, I have yet to have that singular experience that says "Yay, I'm a fan!" or "Woohoo..." One of the main things that bugs me (and I have begun to see a theme in my recent reviews) is the price point. It's pretty high for what you get in my opinion. It's not break the bank high, but then again, we're talking Americanized Italian here - mostly pasta and sauce - this ain't no high brow steak house. Honestly, I get that it's in Boulder, but it's in a strip mall, people! Sure, the decor is swanky and makes it easy to forget your car is parked out in front of a liquor store, a Pizza Hut, and Gameforce, but still. Like I said, it's not break the bank expensive, but a little goodwill towards my wallet goes a long way. How about offering soup or salad in front of all of your entrees, not just the specials (which weren't that special when I was there)? Times are tough. Offer a little more VALUE, and we don't even have this conversation. On to the meal. Caprese app was very good. Definitely not the best Caprese I've had, but still very good. Hard to mess up tomatoes, basil, and Mozzerella, especially this time of year. I liked the fresh greens salad stacked in the middle, too. Unexpected when we ordered it. My shrimp scampi was good. Rich, and the pasta was cooked al dente. Score. Great flavor profile - garlic, onions, lemon. 4 shrimp. 1 more on this $21 dish and I'm even less inclined to argue price point. Just sayin'. Wife's risotto primavera was also very good. Very rich. Again, a little spendy considering it's rice and veggies. Dessert was the closest to "Woohoo" we got all night. A rich, velvety chocolate mouse. A lot of it. I almost licked the martini glass it came in. All in all, I really like Carelli's. I just don't "like like" them just yet. I'm still waiting for that "sweep me off my feet" meal that I'm pretty sure they have in them.
(3)Margaret C.
Delighted again! It was easy as pie to convince a group of friends, the majority of whom hadn't been to Carelli's ever, to go for a late dinner last Thursday after a business meeting. That's because I love it so, and it shows. I guess they all want to gain lots of weight like I have over the years :o) :o) Not really.... Anyway, my slim friends and I did in fact go to Carelli's last Thursday. George Nelson was there playing his keyboard and singing. Memories again....for some reason George Nelson's performances remind me of my divorce (ancient history now). It was a rare treat all the same because I didn't know that Thursday is jazz night at Carelli's. Now I do, and you do too. So we sat in a nice plushly upholstered corner booth in the back of the bar area near the music. One of the people at our table was acquainted with our waitperson from school. Boulder is a small town still sometimes. We didn't have any appetizers. However, our waitress brought us garlic bread soon after we arrived since it would come with our meals anyway. Half the table liked the garlic bread and half the table didn't. So it goes. I wish I didn't like garlic bread, or any bread for that matter. It would help with my dieting! People at the table tried various pasta dishes. I don't honestly remember what everyone ordered. I ordered eggplant parmesan. Woo hoo...I think I'm pretty predictable. Not exactly the restaurant adventuress. Well it was good. So was the salad. Fit for royalty. So so delicious. I eat too much when I go out with these people. That's my choice....no blame intended. A few people shared a chocolate lava dessert that was artistically presented (drat! I should have photographed it!) We've got to stop eating like this!!
(5)Stephanie L.
The best Italian food around! The meal was delicious and satisfying without being too heavy. Must try!
(5)Grant S.
Nice atmosphere, good service, food decent. Was a bit pricey for what we got, but all in all, a quality experience. My wife and I split the Pollo alla Marsala, which was only OK; sauce was heavy and a bit overwhelming. The house-made sausage appetizer was nice (though a special that night, not sure it's generally available). I'd say give it a go for solid Italian in a nice setting.
(3)Mike R.
Best Italian in Boulder with consistently good service for the last 20+ years.
(5)Sean K.
Just had my first experience at this restaurant, and loved everything about it. Great menu options, food was perfect, service was great, the place is nicely decorated and the staff is very friendly and helpful. I tried the fried calamari for the appetizer, (It is hard to find well prepared calamari, and this ranked among the best I've had) followed by the Caesar salad with the perfect amount of dressing and fresh ground pepper. For my main course I chose the Chicken parmesan with spaghetti in marinara; the chicken was juicy and I loved the marinara. My Wife had the spicy Italian sausage with peppers in fettuccini which I tried and was also blown away with. Cheesecake for desert was not at all disappointing with an after dinner coffee. I don't live in Boulder, so my only complaint is that this place isn't closer to me. However, I am willing to make a special trip for this special place.
(5)Annie B.
My boyfriend's dad wanted to take us out for a nice dinner for Christmas and this is the place that was recommended to him. Upon walking in, I couldn't help but smile. I absolutely loved the atmosphere and the decor! Very upscale yet laid back at the same time. Our waitress was fantastic! Thick Russian accent and eager to please. I wish I could have caught her name so I could give her some credit to the great experience I had! However, my water glass did go empty at one point during the meal and that is a HUGE deal to me! They weren't even that busy. I had a glass of the Castle Rock pinot noir which was alright. It didn't blow me away, but it was smooth and went nicely with the meal. The garlic bread was light on garlic and tough, but still addicting and hard to stop eating. The salad was also good, but was missing more of a bite and a harder grip of my taste buds in the Italian dressing. It was as if the menu was dulled down on strong flavors like onion, garlic and vinegar for the hoity-toity Boulderites. However, as I sit here and type complaints, I have to say they did a very nice job balancing the flavors with less of (in my opinion) more desirable ingredients. For the entree' I had their fettucine carbonara. It was delicious, however it was missing that extra layer of flavor that a little more salt, pepper and some garlic would have brought in to the mix. I ate the whole thing and for the most part I really enjoyed it. Finally, as stuffed as we all were, there were still deserts that were ordered for the table to share. We split the lemon creme brule' and a chocolate mousse. Both were outstanding and I have to say it, perfect! Carelli's pastry chef is definitely a keeper! As I typed my review, I think I clicked back and forth between 3 and 4 stars at least 3 times. The food was a very strong 3.5 stars, dessert was 5 stars, service was 4 stars, ambience and decor was 5 stars, water glass going empty at all during a meal is a deduction in rating and overall, I'm sticking with a very strong 3.5 stars. If I were asked to return for another meal, I would. But I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come back on my own.
(3)Amy K.
My husband and I finally got the chance to come here and it was delish! Greeted by friendly hostesses, the restaurant was busy and lively at 6:15pm on a Friday night. There is a lovely fireplace and great bar area, however, we were seated in the equally lovely, back room. It was quiet and romantic. Our waiter was super friendly and helpful( I wish I could remember his name. He also works at Boulder Chop House). I started with a perfectly made martini and calamari. I had the soup du jour, which was a mushroom with truffle oil. I can't stop thinking about it, so good. My husband ordered the duck special, and I had the stuffed shells. Both were delicious. Our waiter helped us in choosing the perfect bottle of wine. One of the best date nights!! Thank you Carelli's!! Can't wait to come back!
(5)Leanne G.
This is a fantastic little 'hole in the wall' restaurant. Its tucked into the end of a strip mall on the edge of Boulder at Baseline and 30th, which takes it off the regularly beaten path. Its close to the dorms, but not a place for kids to hang. The atmosphere caters to the parents who come visit the kids as they send them off to CU. There is an outside patio that has a gas fire pit, and a few gas fireplaces inside, too. The bar is beautiful with a colorful and large light fixture hanging from above that ads to the ambiance. Then the food arrives! WOW! Excellent quality. The pizza crust is PERFECT (crispy on the bottom and chewy in the middle) plus the toppings are top quality. The mussels were very soft and meaty. Cocktails are delicious. They have a decent happy hour menu for food. That could be a bit more extensive, as its my favorite meal in Boulder. Overall, very good and definitely will return! There is even a stage for live music, which I believe is featured on the weekends. When we were there it was a jazz band! Very cool.
(5)C A.
Went here for a date night with my bf this past weekend and was not as impressed as I was hoping to be, since Carelli's had been recommended to us by friends. First and foremost, before I get too critical, the food was definitely tasty and everything we ordered was delicious: pesto bruschetta, scallops over pasta, salmon with pasta. The weird thing was that for such an elegant-feeling restaurant, where the majority of the patrons were 45 and over during dinner, our server seemed inexperienced and a little lost. First, he brought our attention to the specials menu on the table, told us there was a beef short rib, then abruptly walked away - no descriptive explanation, no mention of the other items on the specials menu, nothing that would leave us tempted to order any of them. Second, his limited knowledge of the wine menu was borderline comical. My boyfriend asked about the Malbec and he said it was Argentinian (yep, that's listed next to the word Malbec on their wine menu...) and from the Andes mountains (again, it was like he was just throwing out clues as if we were doing a word association game, no adjectives used whatsoever to give us an idea of what anything tastes like!). After dinner (entrees where yummy and very reasonably-priced) we were thinking about dessert and he showed us the crepe menu; I inquired about creme brule since I overheard someone else mention it as I walked by to the restroom, and he said "oh yeah, we also have other desserts on a tray I can show you". So he brought that by and just said "do you want anything on here?", not telling us what any of it was.....Basically, our server was pleasant but seemed completely clueless on how to create a relaxing dining experience for two people looking for a unique night out, and we walked away more perplexed than impressed with Carelli's. I do know they had a private party the same night, so that may have contributed to the "off night" for the rest of the dining room (which really shouldn't be an issue unless a place is new to hosting large groups), but I don't plan on returning here unless it's maybe for takeout. Whoever is in charge of hiring and training the staff could use a reminder from the owner of what kind of experience they're looking to create.
(2)Roy R.
My favorite restaurant! It's a five star restaurant at a very very fair price. The interior design is so elegant! The food is great, the staff, and the atmosphere!
(5)Betty M.
The food was excellent and I would have loved to give this restaurant 5 stars however it was the behavior of the waitress that lowered the rating. First off, the place is gorgeous. Similar to the reviews posted before, its located in a shopping strip you normally wouldn't suspect such a modern and trendy Italian restaurant to be. Its perfect for the cooler weather that Boulder is experiencing with the fire pits inside and outside the restaurant. It has a very lively atmosphere, considering it is a weekend, with a large bar perfect for just drinks and an appetizer. We were late to our reservation but were seated immediately. The waitress was almost a little TOO pleasant--on the borderline of creepy, and keeping a keen eye on us at all times. I understand its her job to make sure we are taken care of it but it was a little over board. Her way of sticking her head in between mine and whoever was sitting next to me felt invasive. She asked us numerous times if we wanted wine as if her life depended on it, even after we politely said no. What got me the most is, at the center of all the tables there was a bottle of sparkling water. My family and I realized if we opened it we would be charged for it so we wanted regular water instead. The waitress didn't even OFFER us any beverages except for this wine she felt we NEEDED to have. Even after declining the wine, she didn't offer the bottled water at the center of the table. It made my blood boil that I had to ask her to please give us some water when we were ready to order. Is it just me or was this borderline ridiculous? Considering MOST restaurants ask their patrons what they would like to drink, almost immediately pouring water into your glass to begin with. The food was great, especially the salmon. We kindly asked the waitress to split the dish for us because we weren't that hungry which she assumed later would lead to her getting a bigger tip. When finally paying for the bill in cash, she opened the black book in front of us and saw cash and immediately asked, "Do you need change for this?" ....unbelievable! I find it extremely rude for waiters/waitresses to ask me if I need change when I leave cash, especially when there is more than $5 needed for change. It's one thing if I had told her when she picked up the payment that she could "keep the change" but to open the book in front of us and be so forward---that's absurd. I felt as if she was screening how she was being paid that night and she had certain expectations. All I have to say is, she's lucky I said she could keep the change instead of saying no and leaving her less. Long story short, the food was great, service from everyone but our waitress was outstanding. My advice...proceed with caution when coming here. Every restaurant has a bad apple.
(3)Deena M.
The garlic bread is addictive!
(5)Lizzie V.
This restaurant sweeps one away with it's chic, inviting decor. There are pillows available at different booths, a fire pit located outside, bold animal print backdrops for the private dining area. There are several dichotomies in design styles through out the restaurant, organic soft objects against industrial sharp lines...Most work, some don't, but I applaud them for their decoration choices. They receive 5 stars for ambiance, cozy enough to take a nap in a booth, yet elegant enough to wear your shnaziest dress. I ate here tonight in the private dining area. It was rehearsal dinner for our friends. The three-course meal, along with the wine was free, I was with friends, I'm on vacation...so needless to say it was a 5 star evening, but for the sake of being fair I have to rate this restaurant as if I were really paying, and under slightly less awesome circumstances. I consumed the minestrone soup, which was the best minestrone I've tasted, the Salmon Margherita pasta which was a little above mediocre, and a few bites of creme brulee, with the help of numerous digestive enzymes, and a couple Lactaids. The creme brulee was tasty with a hint of lemon, and came in a larger portion size than I've experienced in the past. There were three options given for entrees, and the other two included veggie lasagna, and Chicken Parmesan. The Chicken Parrmesan was said to be very good, but the noodles and sauce it came with were passable. I did not hear the verdict on the veggie lasagna, so I cannot report on it. If this place made improvements on the food it could easily be a five star restaurant...as far as Yelps ratings go.
(4)R. M.
Since leaving my initial review management contacted me via a very nice email and requested I give them another shot. To have owners take that active of a role in their company really says something - I will give an update once I try things out again.
(3)Bruce S.
Stopped here after our flight landed in Denver and we were on our way to Estes Park. The place was pretty full for a week-day evening but our hostess found us a table right away. Within a couple of minutes we were served our drinks and a basket of hot toasted garlic bread. I ordered chicken Marsala and my wife the ravioli. A server brought out 2 dishes about 15 minutes later but placed them on the table next to us. The people started to eat them but then summoned their waitress to let them know that it wasn't what they ordered. That's right the got our meals! Our waitress apologized and quickly fixed the situation and we had 2 new meals in just 5 or 10 minutes later. My dinner was excellent and my wife enjoyed hers also. The waitress came over to our table again when we were through, apologized again, and told us desserts were on the house for the mix-up. I ordered a royals crepe from the crepe bar. It was filled with strawberries, bananas, chocolate, & Almonds. My wife got the crime brûlée which was very good. All in all it was a good dining experience. I would recommend this place.
(4)Miles D.
Possibly 2.5 for bad service. Very mediocre food considering price and the fact that there are about 5 other similar places in town that are way better.
(3)Melissa P.
Went to Carelli's tonight on the advice of a coworker. Glad that I did. The atmosphere and ambiance were great. The staff was friendly and effective without being intrusive and the food was very tasty. When looking at their website, I was worried it would be an expensive night out, but we spent as much as we would at Olive Garden for a much higher quality meal. I had the Pollo de Abruzzo (chicken with carmelized bell peppers and onions over pasta) and my boyfriend had a delightfully lemony, Chicken Picatta. Only down side is that the menu is a little bit limited and it wasn't clear if modifications could be made. They did just add a crepe bar and I hope to try that on our next trip.
(4)Maureen R.
This place only gets two stars because the service was outstanding! That being said, the food was extremely mediocre. I had the carbonara which was a slimy bowl of greasy noodles and curdled white sauce. The prosciutto was the same color as the mushrooms; how that happens, I'm not quite sure. A place that offers fare for the price it does should also have a wider selection at the bar. I know Coloradans love their martinis, but come on! I asked the waitress what rye whiskeys were available, and she answered "Maker's Mark". I asked what else she had and she named off three other brands of bourbon. I settled for Baker's and had a less than mediocre manhattan delivered to me. I was with a large group, and our servers went above and beyond overall to accommodate us as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, everything else was sub-par. Next visit to Colorado will not have this place on the itinerary.
(2)Lindsey T.
Carelli's will forever hold a special place in my heart - it was my first date with my boyfriend of 6 years, and my last meal before graduating college. It has been a few years since my last visit as I no longer live in Boulder, but I have fond memories of their comfort Italian fare. My stomach is grumbling remembering my favorite meal of Chicken Parm! My only recommendation would be to stay away from the seafood dishes as my angel hair with clams - was a bit gritty and tasted of old fish. You wouldn't know what a great ambiance the restaurant offers, the moment you step inside it's hard to believe across street are a plethora of Freshman panhandling for their weekend beer. The service is fair, and I've never had to wait too long to satiate my hunger.
(3)Robert R.
JUST WONDERFUL!! Our daughter was married on August 2nd, and had her reception at Carelli's in their private dining room. Everything was excellent--the food, service, ambiance--everything. Our guests raved about the food, a choice of three entrees, including fillet Mignon, shrimp scampi, and gnocchi. The photos from the event show a beautiful setting, and the wait staff were very professional and helpful. We have only raves for Carelli's. Thank you for making our daughter and son-in-law's day extra special!
(5)Zubey L.
I wasn't impressed with this place at all, the food is okay but not great. Its pretty much American/Southern Italian food. i also think its a bit overpriced. **UPDATE*** going to go in a few weeks to try this place again.. stay tuned for an updated review!!
(2)Molly O.
One of our favorite restaurants. We love the atmosphere and the food is just as good!
(4)John W.
Excellent food...I had the carpaccio followed by the risotto primavera, my wife had pesto penne. Chris, the sommelier, was most helpful finding and pairing wines, and service was great. Darned good for a place across from my dorm 40+ years ago!
(4)Mandy M.
There's a reason why this place has been here for so long--it's excellent. I hadn't been here in at least 15 years when I went here last month. Now I may have to make this part of my Boulder routine. Walking in, the place smells incredible. The fire is roaring and the atmosphere is welcoming and cozy. That's changed over the years, but I liked this chic-er version. And I'm always cold in restaurants so it was nice to get to sit right in front of the fire to warm myself. I had the chicken saltimbocca. I wanted to lick the remaining white wine sauce off my plate. The entire meal was perfection, from the proscuitto appetizer to the entree to the crepe for dessert (although I would have rather had the cream puff, but my family wanted the Nutella and I was too full to protest). Sadly, I have to take a star off for the service. We came in and had a drink at the bar while waiting for our table. We only had a couple of sips before we were seated, but we drained the rest of our wine before our server even acknowledged us. By the time he took our appetizer order 20 minutes later we were ready to make our entree orders and get another drink but he rushed off before we could put either of those orders in. Then after we finished dessert we felt like we were being hustled out the door. Not good. However, I reminisce about that chicken saltimbocca often. One time I had this discussion with friends about what superpowers we would like to have. My friend won when he said that he'd like the ability to conjure up any meal he'd had in his past and be able to eat it over again. My dinner at Carelli's would totally be on my greatest hits list if I were SuperEater. And I would conjure up an extra loaf of bread just to soak up that sauce. Soooo good.
(4)kari b.
This place is always reliable. good service, good food, nice and quite. There is a nice ambiance with an open fireplace and large u shaped booths. Especially great for out of town guests and in-laws.
(4)Peter G.
I'm amending my rating to four stars. I was approached by the owner of the restaurant who made me feel he understood our experience. I'm looking forward to getting back to Carelli's sooner than later.
(4)Col. Hector B.
"Is it me or is this thing changing colors?" some guy says over my shoulder, pointing up to the $9,000 LED spandex-covered lamp that hovers over us like a straggler from the Close Encounters of the Third Kind armada. It does, in fact, regularly change colors, one of the many fantastic touches in a beautiful place full of delicious smells. Everywhere I look I'm tempted by perfect shots, the elegant balance of shadow and light, and the total conviviality that suffuses the room. I'll have to try eating here sometime. I'll have to try eating.* *It should be noted that the itemized bar tab from Carelli's actually says "Bourbon Presbyterian," which is what "Bourbon Press" is short for. This makes me incredibly happy for some reason.
(4)Jovani V.
A few months ago I went to Carelli's for a birthday dinner and was not satisfied with the service. After reading my review the owner contacted me and asked if he could treat me and family to dinner in order to make things right. I commend him for actually reading my review and giving us first class treatment. We were treated well, he came to the table to greet us and to say goodbye, and the food was delicious. Thank you Carelli's for making it right.
(4)Barbara F.
Carelli's is absolutely wonderful. I've only been once, and I will DEFINITELY go back. I would give them 4.5 stars if Yelp offered half-stars. The atmosphere is delightful and the food is delicious. Don't let the location in a nondescript plaza by Williams Village scare you off. There's a warm, polished, integrated feel to the interior design. Indoor and outdoor fire pits, a giant color-changing fabric-covered light over the bar, attractive seating and soft lighting contribute to the cozy and classy feel. Happy hour at the bar was lovely, with $3 drafts--including an Avery double IPA I've never tried, and Young's chocolate stout, Hoegarden, and other less-common favorites. For $4 you can get a glass of house wine--the house reds offered were Cab, Chianti and Montepulciano. We shared scallop skewers that were extremely tasty and well prepared - four large scallops, seared perfectly, with a slightly sweet (a la sweet balsamic vinegar) sauce on the plate that had an interesting, mild kick. The Pesce Asiago was mussels, littleneck clams (not listed on the menu, but very welcome!), scallops and large prawns over (ever-so-slightly overcooked) linguini, in a mouth-watering tomato-asiago-cream sauce. YUM. We used all the bread that was offered soaking up the sauce that remained once we had devoured the pasta and the shellfish. Not surprisingly, there were several regulars eating and drinking at the bar on a Thursday night. Several people who came in were greeted by name by the friendly bartenders (one of whom was overly loud, unfortunately). I can't wait to go back!
(5)Nadeem A.
Went here with my team on the first stop of my Boulder business trip food tour. The strange thing is it was in a run down strip mall, but the inside was really nice. I got the chicken parm, which was pretty good. The garlic bread was de-lish! The "freshly squeezed lemonade" didn't taste freshly squeezed. Overall, decent.
(3)Kimber S.
My first experience with Carelli's was last Thursday when the LOVAH and I met some friends for Happy Hour. Loved the decor - it's warm, contemporary and sexy. The Happy Hour itself was great - small plates and a variety of beer and wine for $3 to $4 each. Some of our faves were the roasted olives (OMG - totally addictive) and the lamb chops. For dinner we loved the angel hair pasta with white clam sauce. The prices were very decent and so were the portions. All in all a fantastic experience and I can't wait to go back and try some more items from their regular menu.
(4)Jessica P.
Secret, suprising spot, sexy, swanky, sophisticated atmosphere seriously satisfying, scrumptious italian food! When driving into the strip mall for Carelli's you will never imagine how posh this place is, it looks like it should have been on pearl street. The ambiance is great, they even have a very private back room with bar thats great for renting out for large parties. I have had dinner here several times and everything was good, I particually like their risotto and caprese salad. Impress a date here when you don't feel like stressing out to find parking on pearl.
(4)Scott C.
Management wrote me about my writeup which I appreciate. I'll check them out again as they have a such a good atmosphere and are spot on at times.
(4)Bob A.
Well, the ambiance is really nice, unfortunately it's all downhill from there. Food was incredibly mediocre and on top of that the service was painfully slow. The gf and I were both offered side salads which we ordered and thought nothing of, until the bill came. $7 for a side salad!?!?!?! That's bordering on criminal. The cozy ambiance definitely doesn't overcome unimpressive dishes and being totally cheated on a salad.
(2)Dana V.
Great atmosphere! That is one of the best things about it. The food is decent - not the best Italian I have had, but generally pretty good. The prices are reasonable for the entrees, but as Bob A noted, they try to "get you" on the salads which are not included and pricey! I had to send part of my entree back due to temperature, or rather lack thereof. The alfredo was good, and adding a chicken breast was $3 which is reasonable. I ordered a side of italian sausage, which was pricey at $4 for a tiny link which was served cold. The desserts were also pretty good and the overall portion size is also fair for the price. On food alone, I would rate 4 stars. The reason for three - service! The service rates maybe one star, if that. What is surprising to me is between the servers and the runners I counted 9 people for the 6 tables that were there. We had our water filled immediately by a runner, but our server was horrible. He sat at the espresso bar the entire time we were there chatting up his fellow servers. He did not bring our food, did not check on us, and I had to flag him down about the cold food. We asked for more bread, was told it was "in the oven" and never got it in the remaining 40 min of our visit. When it came time for dessert he never broke stride in throwing (yes throwing) two crepe menus on our table as he walked right by us without saying a word. When he finally did come back 10 minutes later we asked to see the actual dessert tray. He actually rolled his eyes at us, sighed, then stomped the whole 6 feet to the table where the tray was. Thankfully, he was not the one that delivered our desserts! When it came time to get the check it was again thrown on the table as he walked by. We decided to pay by cash a-so we could leave without having to be subjected to his attitude and b-because we did not trust him to not add an additional tip for himself onto our bills. We generally tip 20 - 25%. Not for this guy - he is lucky he got a tip at all. So, if you go - expect decent food for the price, but service is hit or miss based on whichever over entitled CU student happens to be your server for the evening.
(3)shiela r.
Probably one of our favorites. It's been voted most romantic in Boulder's Best for years now so yes, the ambiance is actually very nice - bistro'ish, so you forget you are in a strip mall pretty quickly. There pizza is pretty good. I hear the burgers are good, but I am not really a burger eater. My husband loves the chicken saltambuca (sp?) and I like their salmon focaccia appetizer as a main dish when I am eating meat, that is. Salads and pasta are very fresh. We live close by so go here often..but even if we didn't it is worth the travel off of Pearl.
(4)matt b.
I was disappointed with my visit to carelli's. It is a very charming place to walk into (especially being located in a strip mall). It was the food i was after, however, and i was surprised it wasn't better. I had the veal piccata and while the flavor was good the pasta was way, way, over cooked, as it was for everyone at the table. Also, the salads and appetizers are extremely expensive. I had a $7 caesar that was about 5 bits and a $13 fried calamari that was about 10 pieces.
(2)Valerie W.
Carelli's is awesome. The wait staff is very friendly and the food is great. I loved the inside atmosphere. I eat there often.
(4)Amanda W.
Don't let the strip mall location fool you, this place is nice! Once you step into this cozy restaurant you'll forget you're in the shadow of Will Vill. The decor to fun and modern with several large fireplaces and big cozy booths to snuggle down into. Their pasta and entrees are very yummy, and their wine and martini selections were good. I've enjoyed their fettuccine al funghi and, oddly enough, if you're the person in the dining party who was out numbered when it came to a vote what to eat tonight, they have really good hamburgers. There is a separate room for parties, with giant faux tiger fur booths and a private bar, this would be a sultry locale for a big birthday party or rehearsal dinner.
(4)Sara H.
Not bad, not bad! This place is really cool inside and the patio was really nice too. I ordered Chicken picatta and I have to say, not the best I have ever had. Typically it is the chicken picatta and then a side of pasta, here it is bits of chicken mixed up into the pasta. But regardless of the presentation it was just not the greatest. Don't get me wrong, it was good, heck I ate it all! Just not the best I have ever had. Our waiter was attentative and it was kid friendly so that is always a plus with me. I would go back for sure. One of the people at our table had a sandwich that looked fabulous, I think I'd get that next time.
(4)Dana D.
I don't even no how long this place has been here (years and years)but, what I know for sure is I have never had a meal that wasn't consistent and great. Big parties cozy little two some, you always feel good eating here. And one of the best parts, totally reasonable bang for your buck check out the specials because sometimes you can score something awesome at an amazing deal.
(4)Dawn R.
Delicious food and great service! Extensive and really good gluten free menu too.
(5)Philipp S.
After reading and hearing so much about this place we finally gave it a shot. All I can say is that this was a very disappointing experience. Food was very average if not below average. This is NOT authentic italian food. Beef ravioli with salsa verde and black beans??? Are you kidding me? If i want mediocre italian food i'd rather go to buca di beppo.
(1)Bala S.
dinner-time.. the place is packed!!.. but yesterday I was here for lunch.. the garlic bread.. mmmm!!..pasta with carmelized something.. mmm!!.. drinks -- not much on their menu sadly!! service -- mediocre.. my waitress was funny and great!! but I was sitting at the bar eating my food.. this bartender just made me feel so out of place.. he was standing there cleaning his bar getting ready for dinner-service.... I smiled.. he looked away.. didn't bother to even acknowledge that I was there... and this went on for an hour.. that kinda made me feel....... well....honestly -- stupid!!.. I like the food but I guess I'm not going back there again..
(3)Angela R.
this place is totally swanky, sexy and cool - great decor, quality food. we sat on their patio the other night, and i was pleasantly surprised by how cozy and well-decorated it was. it made me entirely forget that i was sitting right next to a parking lot, which is a true feat. carelli's rocks.
(4)liz t.
just ok, great service does not make up for awful food! I went because of the reviews, I do not know what they were talking about!
(1)Nicole R.
Fort Collins is Italian food challenged however, Boulder is not! Carelli's was super good! I tried it for the first time with Sara H. and her two handsome little boys at lunch time. My brother and mom were in attendance as well. I loved the ambiance, it smelled yummy from outside, and I was happy there was a quaint patio. The service was wonderful (hot waiter alert)! They gave us a big basket of garlic bread that kept us and the kids occupied until the entrees arrived. It was don't eat too much of it or you won't be hungry for your lunch good! I had the Pasta con Mushroom and let me warn you now about the garlic content - lots of raw garlic in this one - no close talking for the rest of the day! My mom had the Eggplant Parm and I totally had entree envy - I did taste a bite - will be getting this next time! Actually I think if I would have ordered the eggplant Carelli's would be getting the 5 stars right now! I'll be back with my husband for a date night real soon!
(4)