92 S Pennsylvania St.
Denver CO 80209
Phone: 303-777-6443
Fax: 303-777-4129
We Open at 5:00 PM and seat until 9:00 PM Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday and Sunday. On Friday and Saturday we seat until 10:00 PM.
Little Carmine’s
Sandwiches inspired by the Italian-American experience
Catering by Carmine’s
Full-service and drop-off catering for your event, office, or home
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We Open at 5:00 PM and seat until 9:00 PM Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday and Sunday. On Friday and Saturday we seat until 10:00 PM. Take-out is also available.
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Carmine’s on Penn Introduces New Head Chef, Joe Hubbard
We are excited to introduce our friends, family and Denver neighbors to Chef Joe Hubbard, the new head chef at Carmine’s on Penn.
Carmine’s former head chef Dan Grunewald is leaving his position to spend more time with his growing family. Joe will now be taking the lead in the Carmine’s kitchen and hopes to bring a mixture of old and new to the Italian restaurant.
“At Carmine’s, we view our staff as an extended family, and we are very sad to see Dan leave,” stated Brad Ritter, Carmine’s owner. “More importantly, we are excited to see what the future holds with Joe leading our kitchen.”
Carmine’s has been serving traditional, family-style Italian food for the past 22 years. The menu has remained relatively the same, but changes with the availability of seasonal ingredients.
“Obviously we’re doing something right to be able to stay in business for 22 years,” said Joe. “I don’t want to change the menu, and hope to continue the tradition of using the best ingredients available and sourcing locally when possible. I want our food to be better than what guests remember.”
Known for his attention to detail, inclusive leadership style, and dedication to providing a unique food experience for every restaurant guest, Joe looks forward to continuing the Carmine’s tradition of creating an unparalleled dining experience.
“I want every little thing done right,” expressed Joe. “Our guests deserve the best dining experience possible, and that’s something I love about working at Carmine’s.”
This month, we invite you to come by Carmine’s and welcome Chef Joe into his new position!
Support Families in Need at Carmine’s on Penn
As a member of the Denver community for over two decades, we’ve had the privilege of getting to know the neighborhood. We have joined in on celebrations, graduations and birthdays. But most importantly, time and time again, we witness the unique bond between families, especially parents and their kids.
On any given night you can find Carmine’s on Penn filled with love, laughter and food made to share. Not only do we support the Denver community, but also the families that live here.
We are honored to host Warren Village, a local nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness in single parent families, for a fundraising dinner on Tuesday, July 12. We will donate at least 50 percent of every meal purchased – both dine-in and take-out – to the organization. By dining at Carmine’s with your family on July 12, you will help support a single parent family getting back on their feet.
We’re hoping to pack the house and celebrate families of every age, shape and size. Give us a call at 303-777-6443 today to reserve your table for this special evening.
To learn more about Warren Village and how they are helping single parent families in Denver achieve self-sufficiency, visit www.warrenvillage.org.
Lambrusco: The Sparkling Red Wine You’ve Never Heard Of
For more than two decades we’ve shared our passion for Italian wine with our family, friends and anyone who joins us for dinner at Carmine’s on Penn. A love of vino (wine) has been a part of Italian culture for centuries, and the Italian Peninsula is known for housing some of the finest vineyards and wineries in the world.
Some of our favorite moments are when we have the opportunity to introduce a restaurant guest to a new Italian wine. We love sharing our extensive knowledge of Italian wine with you – our friends, family and restaurant patrons.
Over the years we’ve noticed the rise in popularity of Chardonnay, Merlot and even Moscato. While these are all wonderful varieties, we’d like to spotlight a less popular but equally delicious Italian wine variety:
Lambrusco
Known to some as ‘purple wine soda’ and others as the cheap, poorly made wine from the 1970s, Lambrusco is shaking off previous conceptions and inviting wine drinkers to give it a second sip.
Lambrusco is a well-made sparkling red wine, boasting a perfect balance of sweetness and crisp acidity. We have found that a glass of Lambrusco provides a blissful escape from workday stress — particularly when enjoyed on the Carmine’s patio.
Currently, we are offering Cleto Chiarli Amabile Lambrusco by the glass. We invite restaurant patrons to savor the flavor of this Lambrusco at Carmine’s. Whether you prefer to unwind inside or enjoy a relaxing evening on our patio, we’d love to introduce to one of our favorite Italian wines this weekend.
Dine at Carmine’s on June 1 and Support The Denver Waldorf School
At Carmine’s on Penn, the only thing we love more than Italian food is our community. And we are honored to serve local organizations that make a lasting impact on the Denver community.
On Wednesday, June 1, we invite you to join us at Carmine’s on Penn for a fundraising dinner to benefit The Denver Waldorf School. On this evening, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy their favorite Carmine’s dishes knowing that at least half of the proceeds will support The Denver Waldorf School. The more diners we have, the higher percentage of proceeds we’ll donate!
Founded on Rudolf Steiner’s humanitarian curriculum, The Denver Waldorf School awakens and inspires students’ critical thinking, emotional intelligence and artistic expression, preparing them to bring relevant contributions to the world.
We’ve been inspired by the lasting impact The Denver Waldorf School has on their students, as well as the Denver community at large. We hope you, your friends and family will join us on this special evening to support the programs at The Denver Waldorf School.
Give us a call today at 303-777-6443 to reserve your spot for The Denver Waldorf School Fundraising Dinner.
Chef Joe’s Community Dinner on Wednesday, May 11
Denver Restaurant Week Is Back!
Make your reservations now! This year’s Denver Restaurant Week is February 26th – March 6th and we have a menu to excite every member of the family! Whether it’s a date night for two or a family affair, be sure to stop by Carmine’s on Penn to celebrate this local culinary tradition.
For $30.00 a person, restaurant patrons will be able to choose one dish from each category. For more information, please visit Denver Restaurant Week.
Appetizers
Ravioli alla Vodka
Sausage and Peppers
Bruschetta
Anti-pasta Misti
Tour of Italy
Portobello
Salads
House Salad
Caesar Salad
Pear Salad
Spinach Salad
Entrees
Strozzapreti
Chicken Montana
Carbonara
Pasta Carcio
Pasta alla Capo
White or Red Clam Sauce
Shrimp Calabrese
Chicken Besciamella
Chicken alla Carmine’s
Chicken Marsala
Chicken Parmigiana
Chicken Piccata
Chicken Pazzo
Baked Ziti w/Italian Sausage
Baked Ziti w/Bolognese
Baked Ziti w/Primavera
Baked Ziti w/Meatballs
Moose’s Pasta
Shrimp Parmigiana
Dessert
Three Layer Chocolate Cake
Tiramisu
Chocolate Chip Cannolis
New York Style Cheesecake
Vegetarian and gluten free options are available! Don’t wait – give us a call today and reserve your spot!
How Italian Culture Can Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions
Before cutting out carbs – or even your beloved Italian food – for those New Year’s resolutions revolving around losing weight and eating healthy, we wanted to share how certain elements of the Italian culture can actually help make some of the most common resolutions of 2016 a reality.
At Carmine’s on Penn, we believe in knowing where our ingredients come from – and it’s not from a can. We stay away from processed food and prepare our meals fresh every day. When available, we do our best to source local and regional ingredients based on the season.
“First and foremost, we cook! We bake bread, we start with whole vegetables, we roast our own turkey for sandwiches. We discuss what we are looking for with our vendors and ask them to search out what we desire,” explains owner, Brad Ritter.
In addition to cooking with the freshest ingredients and avoiding processed food, Carmine’s on Penn offers a variety of substitutions for those with dietary restrictions. With over half of our menu ‘gluten-intolerant friendly’, our knowledgeable wait staff is trained to help guide restaurant patrons through the menu to find the perfect meal that fits with their dietary restrictions.
And it’s not just the type of food, but also how we encourage you to eat it, that can help you keep up with your New Year’s resolutions.
Our chefs spend all day cooking and preparing your dinner, so it would be a shame if you only spent 12 minutes eating it! To dine at Carmine’s means you must first take the time to talk with your dining companions and your service staff to decide your meal. Because our food is served ‘family style’ with portions made to share, the dining experience is more communal and intentional than at other restaurants. We encourage you to sit back, chat and share your time, food and wine together.
Whatever you’ve determined to be your New Year’s resolution, we hope to see you and your family at Carmine’s on Penn in 2016.
National Pasta Day is October 17
Celebrate National Pasta Day this October 17th with your favorite pasta dish at Carmine’s.
With over 300 known shapes, pasta is one of the world’s favorite foods. Generally, the larger shapes work better with thick, robust sauces, while skinny shapes suit light, cream sauces.
Here at Carmine’s, we offer our customers three different pasta types imported from Italy – spaghetti, linguine and ziti.
Spaghetti is the classic pasta shape. These are long pasta with a rounded shape, perfect for twirling around a fork. Spaghetti is best paired with light sauces like tomato or garlic and olive oil because they will coat the strands evenly without weighing them down. Need more than just pasta and sauce? Go ahead and top with fresh herbs or diced tomatoes to add some texture.
Linguini pasta is long, flat and narrow. Because it is thinner than other pastas, it pairs best with with simple sauces like Alfredo or delicate proteins like seafood. We like to add linguine to most of our seafood dishes, and we especially love it with our White and Red Clam Sauce, Seafood Marinara, and Lemon Shrimp Calabrese.
Ziti pasta is tubular and short like penne, but lacks the ridges and has a square cut. Short, tubular pastas go well with sauces that are thick or chunky. Ziti pasta is best known as an element in pasta bakes, like our Baked Ziti. We recommend adding Italian sausage, vegetables, meatballs or Bolognese to really complete the dish.
The possible combinations of pasta and sauce are limitless, giving you more than just one way to enjoy National Pasta Day. Come celebrate with us on October 17!
The Delores Project Share Dinner on September 8
The following post was contributed by Carrie Packard, Development Director at The Delores Project – a transitional shelter program for homeless women in Denver. Carmine’s on Penn is proud to once again host a fundraising dinner for this wonderful community organization.
“I was desperate for a place to stay and a meal. The Delores Project saved my life! I did not know that women from various backgrounds could survive by coming together to make a community.”
For more than 15 years, The Delores Project has provided safe, comfortable overnight shelter for women and transgender individuals experiencing homelessness. The Delores Project welcomes each guest without judgement, believing change comes from people in their own individual way. The Delores Project supports this unique path by providing services with as few requirements and restrictions as possible.
The Delores Project is seen as the leader in shelter programming for women and transgender individuals, ensuring that every night at least 50 women and transgender individuals have access to comfortable overnight shelter and services. Each evening, guests at The Delores Project are welcomed with a home cooked meal and a welcoming community helping them move from crisis towards stability and self-sufficiency.
We are grateful to have the support of Carmine’s, especially the waitstaff who so generously offer their time to serve our guests a warm and filling meal. It is appreciated more than you could ever know!
Call today to make your reservation for this special evening. A $45 prix fixe family-style meal will be offered, with $30 from each meal and 50% of beverage sales to be donated to The Delores Project.
Family Style Dining at Carmine’s
Since the beginning, we’ve always focused on family and community. We even started Carmine’s on Penn with family in mind — using traditional recipes to create all of our sauces, breads and dishes the way they’ve been prepared for decades.
We wanted Carmine’s to be a place where people could come and gather with loved ones and enjoy delicious food. That’s why Carmine’s on Penn has served our food family style from the beginning. Every meal is made to share, whether it’s between two, four or more!
Other restaurants are now learning what Carmine’s has always known — food connects people and community in a magical way. It’s no surprise that family style dining is trending in restaurants this year. It encourages restaurant patrons to share — taking away ‘mine’ and ‘yours’ in dining and creating we.
Family style dining may be a ‘trend’ for some restaurants, but at Carmine’s, it’s how we’ve served our food for over 20 years. That’s why we’re thrilled to host our first annual Market-to-Table Community Dinner next week, where friends and strangers alike can dine together and enjoy a meal with ingredients grown right here in Colorado.
Family and community are synonymous at Carmine’s on Penn. We use food as a means to connect with our community, because our community is our family. It’s the connection of sharing food family style that makes Carmine’s on Penn and Italian culture so unique. Regardless of the trend of family style dinning lasting through 2015, our portions will always be made to share. Come join us!