Cafe Carmela

I saw this place on You Tube and it was described as one of the best Philly Cheesesteaks around. Even more intriguing was the comparisons to my two all time favorites - John's Roast Pork and Angelo's. So the bar was set pretty high. I drove 30 minutes out of my way since I was catching a flight out of PHL on a Sunday (John's was closed). Again, the expectations were very high. So I find this place in an unassuming strip mall in a residential area for the most part. I look at their menu and it is a full service restaurant, not a cheesesteak place per se. So I am a bit "concerned". Then the moment arrived when my steak was ready. We are outside since we had our pup with us. Steak, sharp provolone, grilled onions and cherry peppers. All I can say is that I have never had a better cheesesteak ... the sandwich was exceptional. But it was the bread that made all the difference. Sesame seeds on a crusty roll with texture. Almost exactly like Angelo's for those in the know. My wife will not even eat cheesesteaks and she ate about 1/3 of my sandwich. I have never seen her enjoy a chew steak before. This is a true testament to the quality of this sandwich. I was blown away ... absolutely loved everything about this sandwich. I now have three favorites.

I have been to both locations (Holme Avenue and now this one), and this one is definitely my favorite.The restaurant doesn't look that big upon initial glance outside, but there's a lot of seating inside! They have a private room off to the right, plus booth and table seating inside, and a nice area to sit outside. My colleagues and I requested a table to sit outside, which had a nice umbrella so we could be shaded. The parking can be a little bit of an issue: the majority of the parking is taken up by John's Water Ice, so you most likely have to park in the back. I'm thankful they have the additional parking back there. I ordered Carm's Parm and it was delicious! I ended up eating half and giving the rest to my husband. Our waitress was also super friendly. We had to ask for the bread twice (but I understand it was super busy), and the bread was absolutely delicious!

Genuinely the BEST pizza I've ever had in my life. The crust was so crispy, so light and airy. Quality ingredients went into that pizza and you can tell. The chicken parm was just want I wanted. Chicken was crispy not soggy and the sauce was incredible. My Pop commented how he's never seen such big raviolis before and he had to stop himself from eating the whole plate. Said the cheese inside was so fresh and delicious. The waitresses were incredibly sweet. Everyone helped one another out. Samantha thank you for your kindness in answering all my Pops questions. He kept telling me how nice you were! The restaurant is so clean, so cozy. I was a little chilly but I'd rather be chilly than hot so for any women bring a jacket if you get cold like me. I definitely want to try the outdoor seating next time if I get the chance the pergola outside is so cute. I will 1000% be back to try more and I've already told multiple people to check out the restaurant and specifically the pizza!!

Fried cheese - comes with four mozzarella squares topped with grated cheese and fresh basil. This would be a solid go-to for an app.Ravioli - comes with three or four (I can't remember) jumbo sizeed raviolis with generous meat sauce. The eggplant parm sandwich I would forgo. While it's toppprd with generous fresh arugula and drizzled with balsamic, it was a cold sandwich.

Finally got to have dinner at the new location! We went on a Wednesday evening and met up with friends at 6:30. We were seated in a dining room off of the main dining area. They really did a nice job with this location! Looks great!We ordered a caesar salad for the table and the Oh My Sweet Ricotta (one of my all time favorite appetizers!). I ordered the eggplant Parmesan with the blush sauce. Another one of my favs! Everything was so good including the service!

Finally got to Cafe Carmela to check out the hype. Sitting in is super cute and romantic. Now the size of the dining area is another story. Somehow no matter where I sat it felt like I could get in on the next tables full convo. Nonetheless, the servers were super nice and accommodating while getting folks in and out. Now to the food. Me and my lady tried the cheesesteaks and pizza. The cheesesteak wasn't anything mind-blowing to me can't lie. The bread was great and the portions were on point but I could snag a better one from the corner store. The pizza...naw. I appreciate a big ol box of pizza with big ol slices but it was mad soggy. Will I be back? Maybe to try something else and for the vibes.

Cafe Carmela's second location on Huntingdon Pike is just as delicious as the one on Holme. Fresh ingredients, authentic flavors and here much more available seating. Multiple eating sections and what appears possibly to be a party room (not certain) Parking on the other hand can be a challenge as the lot fills quickly.Glass bottles of water are an automatic for each table and the friendly waitstaff keeps you replenished while dining. Carmella's menu is not as lengthy as most pizza shops but Carmela's isn't your typical pizza shop. Pride and care go into the making of these pies. They are among the top tier of my local favorites. The wings are a definite must try with a unique flavor profile. Crispy, juicy and topped with creamy fresh blue cheese crumbles. Simply perfection.

I live locally and just tried this place a few weeks ago and wow! I have gone back a few times since I tried and it is one of my favorite places to eat or even take out! The cheesesteak, as well as the pizza, and chicken cutlets are delicious. This place is a must-try!

My party of 6 stopped here yesterday to celebrate a birthday. It was extremely busy as it was prime dinner time (6 PM). We were told it would be an hour wait but they had us seated within 30 minutes.Our order was taken and apps arrived within minutes of being seated. We ordered the cheesesteak, nonni pie, dried meat sandwich and truffle fries. Everything was outstanding. I honestly think they have the best cheesesteak in the area.I highly recommend Cafe Carmela!

Authentic Italian food! Can't wait to go back! They don't take reservations, but got us seated quickly and the food came out fast. We will definitely be back! Thank you Cafe Carmela for a great dinner