My friend Chip refers to Carmelo's as ""for people who don't know better"", and I must agree, as snobbish as that sounds.
Who would dare use tiny FROZEN shrimps, the kind you get in a bag in the freezer at HEB, in their linguine & seafood? And _then_ overcook them so bad they're like little pieces of shoe leather? You guessed it: Carmelo's.
I think I am a bit unkind to pan Carmelo's so hard after just one visit. But for the price, there is NO excuse for them to get it SO wrong. I'm not going to risk spending that kind of money again for such mediocre food.
For the same money, go to La Traviata or Asti Trattoria for much much better Italian cuisine. Indeed, Vinny's, on Barton Springs, blows Carmelo's away at a fraction of the price.
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