Osteria da Carmela

Carmela came recommended from our Airbnb host, so on our second night in Naples, we paid it a visit. Reserving up front is recommended, as the space holds seven to eight tables at most. Using easygoing jazz as backdrop for conversations and bright, colourful artwork on the wall, Carmela creates a welcoming and calm atmosphere for you to enjoy your meal. The menu fits appetizers, first and second courses (fish and meat/veg) on a single sheet of paper, which is often a good sign. Better to do few things very well than to overwhelm guests with mediocrity. We pick a small bottle of house red from the extensive wine menu and start our night with fried zucchini flowers. At this point in our stay in Naples, we've been bombarded with varieties of fried food, and flavours have started to blend together. Regardless, the flowers are a crunchy, creamy and very enjoyable experience, where the greatest achievement lies in how fresh it feels underneath the batter. Our main course consists of a classic spaghetti vongole and a spaghetti alla Nerano. Rich with olive oil, garlic and shells that are cooked to perfection, the vongole fortifies it's position as one of Napoli's greatest culinary achievements. The spaghetti alla Nerano my partner ordered combines zucchini, cheese and basil in a rich and creamy dish that feels like more than the sum of its parts. Despite our realization that white would have worked slightly better, the red wine accompanies the plates impressively well. Dessert consists of cake that's been dunked in limoncello. After the amount of wine I've been drinking, this turns out to be the man with the hammer, and he hits me straight on. Definitely a good way to finish the night. Finally, a special mention for the one waiter serving us this evening. Always present, attentive, patient, he seemingly blends in the background until his excellent services are required. What a welcoming, warming experience.

Wow, one of the best places to eat in Napoli. We didnt wait long to get a table on spot, the food was delicious and it arrived quickly. The staff and the owner was super friendly and gave us very good introductions of their food. I would visit here every day. Thanks!

Our family had lunch on the first day and the dinner on the next day. We highly recommend this place! In the evening it is hard to find a free table. So it us better prebook a table for the dinner.

I loved this place! Stopped by for lunch and ended up having this great experience. It starts with the great service, I love when staff is not afraid of recommending what to eat. I went for all the suggestions and left satisfied in terms of quantity, and happy for the quality, flavor and price.

great dinner. really nice wines. decently priced. great guy on service, so sweet. and considering the area the nicest restaurant i could find. i will go a second time. ps: its really small, be prepaird to be put on a waiting list. worth it tho!

This restaurant was a great find. Really great restaurant with nice atmosphere, delicious food and excellent service. All the food was very fresh, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Great selection of wines too. The waiter was very welcoming and efficient and did a great job of looking after the entire restaurant by himself. I would highly recommend a stop here for lunch.

This place is epic!!! I spend a fair amount of time in Italy for work, but this is my first time in Napoli. This restaurant does not disappoint. It’s small, only 7 tables, so make a reservation. Prices are extremely fair on wine and food. Their house wine is fantastic as well as the Prosecco. The food was perfect as was the service. Don’t miss this one!!

The only place that took us in at 8pm with no advance reservation; super grateful. The host was really kind and patient in attending to each table despite every table being taken that night. Seafood pasta, fish, shrooms risotto and calamari was fantastic. The taste is delicious, very wholesome and prepared beautifully. Do try the house wine too. I recommend this place for a lovely dinner experience.