Carmelita
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: (206) 706-7703
Fax: (206) 706-0511
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Seventy Third Street
- Specialties:
- Organic Food, Outdoor Dining, Vegetarian Food
- Best of Citysearch:
- Vegetarian Food 2007, Vegetarian Food 2007, Vegetarian Food 2004
- Hours:
- Tue-Thu 5pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10pm, Sun 5pm-9pm
Message from Carmelita
Savory vegetarian fare
- Vegetarian menu
- Indoor and outdoor seating
- Smoke-free
Paid advertisement by Carmelita.
Editorial Review for Carmelita – by Citysearch Editors
The Scene
Judging by the complex menu names and professional service, one might expect a stuffy, high-end restaurant. But patrons from the Greenwood neighborhood arrive casually dressed to this comfortable meatless haven, and the pretension meter runs low. The menu can be overwhelmingly complex, but the accommodating servers assist first-timers; questions from picky eaters are welcome.
The Food
The emphasis on fresh produce results in a frequently changing menu, and multiple courses are always recommended. Diners can begin with a bowl of the "cappuccino-style" mushroom soup, which runs smooth while the flavor stays intense. The rush of flavor from the pan-fried chickpea croquette sets the tone for the rest of the evening. The crisp, grilled corn-polenta cake is a standout entree, topped by a tower of rainbow chard, cherry tomato relish, baby zucchini, sweet corn puree and a lush avocado vinaigrette.
Hits: The leafy patio in back is the perfect spot for a summer night out, while the dining room is elegantly understated.
Misses: The dishes can be inconsistent; some are knockouts, some lackluster. Ask the server for their favorites and they will steer you in the right direction.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Where to SitCarmelita's back room and patio can be reserved for small to medium groups. Surrounded by fresh herbs, the back patio offers the perfect summer dining experience.
User Reviews for Carmelita
05/22/2008 Posted by Glytterrie
My husband and I went on a weekday for dinner. It wasn't busy and we were seated immediately. Then we waited for fifteen to twenty minutes before anyone greeted us at the table. It took FOREVER to get anything. We ordered an appetizer, it took 30 minutes. This might be acceptable at a busy restaurant on a friday night. Not for a slow weekday. We were there for upwards of an hour before our dinner arrived. No one came to check to see if the food was acceptable. After we ate we sat for a long time before flagging down another server to get our check. Then we waited for an additional 15 minutes before that came. However, as soon as we got the check, our server became attentive, smiling and quickly bringing us the receipt. A sure sign of bad service is when everything you want takes forever to get to your table, but when you put the credit card on the table, the server perks right up and you get your receipt to sign in record time. Now the food.. The appetizer was very good. It was a lavender dusted cheese plate with honey. That was the only good thing about the entire meal. My husband's food looked like it had come from a TV dinner, and my stuffed pasta consisted of a tiny amount of pasta and a HUGE plate full of sauce. I can deal with tiny portions if the food is good enough to make you want to savor it. Not in this case. It was on par with anything you'd order at the Olive Garden but with about 1/3 of the portion for 3x the price. If you want good gourmet vegetarian, go to Cafe Flora. You'll be glad you did.
Pros: The appetizer was good
Cons: the food, the service, too expensive, tiny portions.
01/13/2008 Posted by allaptr
We chose Carmelita for my husband's birthday dinner because our past experience of healthy and very sophisticated food at Carmelita. This time however, the food was rather mediocre quality. Roasted cauliflower fritters were deep fried; fast food quality but about five times more expensive. The menu did not say that it was deep fried, I would not order it. Pumpkin risotto cakes tested like it had sugar added. I felt cheated of my expectations for the dinner, not mentioning that we paid a lot of money for our disappointment. Never again!
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