What draws me to a restaurant is the sign and I think Carmella’s Cafe has the best sign. I like the name of the restaurant “Carmella’s Cafe.”  Once inside Carmella’s, you’ll find out it has really good food and drinks too. Carmella’s is a fun place to go.  It is located in New Hartford on Seneca Turnpike.  If it is your birthday they put a special sparkler on your ice cream and sing to you. 

According to their website, Carmella’s Cafe opened in 1985.  “Our goal was to provide our guests with the warmth, charm and quality of a local ‘Mom & Pop’ restaurant with the consistency and controls of a well managed chain. Homemade soups, sauces, pasta, bread served by warm friendly, caring servers was the essence of our business, ”  the website says. 

For almost 40 years, they have done a great job accomplishing their goal.   I always enjoy my meal at Carmella’s.  Many of the waitresses know my name and know my order when I walk in.  They treat me like family.  But, it’s not just me that loves Carmella’s.

I interviewed a few Carmella’s customers to see what they think about Carmella’s. My first interview was with my brother John Paul. I asked him what his favorite food was from Carmella’s.   He likes the spaghetti and meatballs.  John Paul usually has a soda with his meal. He loves to go out to eat with his family and friends. John Paul likes to sit in a booth at Carmella’s. He likes breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner there.  He likes the fried dough they give you at brunch on Sunday.   John Paul loves the food at Carmella’s, and he has never had anything he didn’t like there.  John Paul has celebrated his birthday at Carmella’s and he likes that they put a sparkler in his ice cream. 

Next, I interviewed my godmother Elizabeth Snyder. She likes Caesar salad. Elizabeth usually drinks water with her food. When asked who she liked to go to Carmella’s with, Elizabeth said “Our whole extended family used to go to Carmella’s every Sunday morning after going to church.  It was fun to have brunch as a family.  It was a nice family tradition.” Elizabeth said, “I like to sit anywhere in Carmella’s.”  Elizabeth says that her favorite meals are lunch and dinner because she doesn’t really eat breakfast. Elizabeth said that the food at Carmella’s is delicious. She has never celebrated her own birthday at Carmella’s, but she has celebrated some of her nieces and nephews birthdays there. 

Lastly, I interviewed Tom Fortino. Tom likes cheese pizza from Carmella’s. Tom also usually drinks water with his food at Carmella’s. Tom likes to eat with family and friends at Carmella’s. Tom likes to sit in a booth. He said that he likes lunch and dinner at Carmella’s because pizza is his favorite food there. He loves the food at Carmella’s. He has not celebrated his birthday at Carmella’s, but he has been there when others have celebrated their birthdays. 

Carmella’s is one of my favorite places to go in New Hartford.  If you haven’t been there to eat, GO!!  You will enjoy the food, the atmosphere, and the people that work there.  If you go, be sure to tell them Mark Radel sent you!