Trattoria Carina Reviews Summary

Ambience

Pros:

• "I loved the ambience."
• "Stylish, cozy, buzzing atmosphere, great music too."
• "Service was extra nice and beautiful atmosphere."
• "Really enjoyable meal.. simple yet had a nice atmosphere."
• "This place is such a gem on a beautiful picturesque corner!"
• "The vibes and atmosphere inside were inviting, and the service quite attentive."
• "Beautiful atmosphere."

Cons:

• "Decent, though unspectacular Italian food served in a cramped and excessively noisy space."
• "The place inside was very crowded and the chairs were not comfortable at all."
• "We sat inside which was fine until the place got full and then it was very loud."
• "Extremely crowded and loud."
• "Very cramped seating inside."
• "With close tables, the always packed room can be loud but makes for a fun dining experience."
• "The music is a complete mood-killer and doesn't suit the vibe."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The polenta was cooked to perfection and the over easy eggs are a great addition."
• "Very bright interior, pasta with rich and chunky sauce, and everything cooked deliciously."
• "The carbonara was delicious, the sauce held up well."
• "The pea toast was one of the best appetizers I've ever had."
• "The food is so fresh and delicious."
• "The food is inventive, imaginative, fun..."
• "Everything we ate was delicious - the bruscetta, the octopus, the stone fruit salad, the pork ragu."

Cons:

• "Cacio de Pepe was mediocre."
• "Branzino was an overpriced filet."
• "I was really disappointed by the quality of food."
• "The toast wasn't stellar. They'd chosen the wrong bread type for this sort of item."
• "The bluefin tuna was tasty but overcooked."
• "Ordered the bolognese which was the most disappointing."
• "The cacio e pepe was too hard."

Service

Pros:

• "Service was excellent."
• "What really earns that 5th star is the hospitality. Super friendly, super clear, and considerate."
• "Service was impeccable, they made our ladies gathering so wonderful!"
• "The service was fantastic."
• "Our server Amanda was outstanding in her knowledge of the menu, dish compositions and wine pairings."
• "Service was good with a friendly host and server."
• "Wait staff were attentive and courteous."

Cons:

• "Customer service was a horrible goggle business hours are wrong! Arrived at 9:30 & was told they were closed when they had just sat a table! Expressed to the manger and she mad the situation worse! This business is racist and very ignorant!"
• "Service was so so even on a weekday as the place was packed."
• "Service was slow but that was not too surprising on a busy holiday."
• "The issue was the manager’s behavior."
• "We got 3 different entrees and 2 were pretty bland (cacio and pepe and the ragu)."
• "Waited 10+ minutes, trying to get the attention of many of the waiters ignoring us at the hostess stand."
• "Also my server completely mixed the order up, we got our pastas 35-40mins later and the pastas we're mixed up but we decided to go for it."

Value

Pros:

• "Great Italian food. Reasonably priced with Huge portions!"
• "Both the pesto and tomato pasta sauces were well prepared (if a bit by-the-numbers), and prices were very reasonable (especially for the holiday)."
• "The prices are reasonable for a neighborhood spot, mid $20's entrees."
• "Portions were large for the quality and price."
• "They dont mind if you bring your own wine."
• "There is no corkage fee here."
• "They have wonderful outdoor tables with umbrellas."

Cons:

• "Generally the restaurant is considered an overpriced a little bit."
• "Slightly overpriced compared to other Italian restaurants in the area."
• "Mehhh all around...overpriced. Branzino portion was small."
• "Their pasta is a bit overpriced although the portions are generous."
• "At Carina's current menu prices you can get perfection elsewhere."
• "You are paying $25 for a dish that is worth $15."
• "The reason for giving 3 stars is the dishes were over-priced."

Atmosphere

Pros:

• "The ambiance was exactly what I am looking for in a corner restaurant like this."
• "The atmosphere was buzzing, the service was top notch, and the food blew the roof off the place."
• "The inside features a low light, vibrant atmosphere to dine in."
• "Chic, intimate, and delicious."
• "A good Italian restaurant with a kind of live kitchen, a cozy atmosphere and good vibes."
• "Cute cozy vibe."
• "First I have to start off and say the customer service here is incredible!"

Cons:

• "The place is pretty nice."
• "It's a nice cozy spot with not too many tables so reservations are definitely recommended."
• "The restaurant is visually appealing on the inside."
• "Phenomenal Italian restaurant that is a mix BYOB and full bar located in between Rittenhouse and Fitler Squares."
• "One of the best Italian places in the city."
• "Most underrated Italian food in Philly."
• "Doesn't live up to the hype, and there's definitely better places in Philly."