Carmine's
Downtown Bellevue's Italian dining room — house-made pastas, Roman classics, a serious Italian and Washington wine list, and a table where the conversation runs long.
Quick facts
At a glance
- Neighborhood
- Old Bellevue
- Phone
- (425) 786-0160
- Website
- carminesbellevue.com
Why you'll love it
An editor's take
Carmine's earns its place in the Restaurant Collection because it commits fully to being Italian. The pasta is genuinely house-made, the Roman classics are executed at a Roman standard, and the wine list is deep in Italian regions that most Bellevue rooms do not touch. For an anniversary dinner or a long-evening group meal in Downtown Bellevue, this is our first Italian recommendation.
Highlights
What makes it special
- House-made pasta daily — the reason to reserve
- Roman and southern-Italian menu without shortcuts
- Italian and Washington wine list with real depth by the glass
- Warm room built for a two-hour dinner, not a quick bite
- Beside Bellevue Downtown Park; walkable to Main Street, Bellevue Square, and Meydenbauer Center
- Bar seating is a legitimate solo-dinner option
- Consistent long-service team — the room feels familiar within one visit
What you'll experience
The visit, in detail
You step in from 102nd Avenue, past the bar to the dining room, and the room settles you: warm light off leather banquettes, low music, the smell of garlic and butter and finishing olive oil. The host walks you to your table. Ask for the pasta of the day the moment the server arrives — the kitchen makes one or two off-menu options daily. Order one house-made pasta for the table to start (the tagliolini, the cacio e pepe, or the bucatini), a shared antipasto to open, and one main to share around it. Wines lean Italian with a strong Washington complement; the sommelier is comfortable pairing across both. Meal cadence is unhurried — plan two hours minimum for two people, two and a half for four. After the check, walk Old Bellevue's Main Street for a nightcap or cross Bellevue Downtown Park toward Bellevue Square for the evening.
Best time
When to visit
Groups of six to twelve fit the back booths; call ahead.
Friday and Saturday fill 1–2 weeks ahead.
Winter is the room at its warmest; summer patio seating adds capacity.
The 5:30–6pm seating works well for pre-Meydenbauer or pre-Lincoln Square evenings.
Tuesday–Thursday dinners are the quietest and easiest to book.
Accessibility
Getting around
- Restrooms
- ADA-compliant restrooms on the dining floor.
Nearby
What's around you
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Bridle Trails
Season by season
What each season brings
Lighter pastas and Italian whites lead the by-the-glass rotation.
Patio seating opens; lighter reds and rosés take over.
The room is at its warmest; braises and long-cooked pastas dominate.
Come prepared
Visitor checklist
- Book a booth for a party of four to six
- Order a house-made pasta first — the rest of the menu builds around it
- Ask the sommelier for a Washington and Italian by-the-glass comparison
- Save room for the espresso and a digestivo
- Arrive 15 minutes early for a cocktail at the bar
- Park in the Park 88 garage (entrance on NE 1st Place) and have the ticket validated
Practical
Know before you go
Reservations are strongly recommended for weekend dinners. Dress code is smart casual. Parking is complimentary for four hours with validation in the Park 88 garage; the entrance is behind the restaurant on NE 1st Place, and curbside valet is also offered. The restaurant sits at 88 102nd Ave NE in Old Bellevue, beside Bellevue Downtown Park and walking distance to Main Street, Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square, and Meydenbauer Center. Hours may shift seasonally; confirm same-day on carminesbellevue.com.
Details
Hours & contact
Contact
- Address
- 88 102nd Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
- Phone
- (425) 786-0160
- Website
- carminesbellevue.com
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