Carmine's Seventh Avenuesimilar businesses >

813-248-3834
Picture for Carmine's Seventh Avenue
City's Best

1802 E 7th Ave
Tampa, FL 33605
Fax: 813-248-3260

Average Rating 5 (12 Ratings)

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Find this business under: Restaurants

  • Business Hours: Mon. 11:00 AM-4:00 PM, Tues. 11:00 AM-10:00 AM, Wed. 11:00 AM-10:00 AM, Thu. 11:00 AM-10:00 AM, Fri. 11:00 AM-Midnight, Sat. 11:00 AM-Midnight, Sun. 11:00 AM-4:00 PM
  • Credit Cards Accepted: American Express

After the demise of several cheap Latin-quarter eateries, Carmine's remains, offering staples such as black beans and rice, and Cuban sandwiches, along with hearty Italian fare and bar food. What might come as a surprise is that this spot also dishes up one of the best burgers in town: hearty slabs of ground chuck between fluffy buns, with generous portions of toppings to boot. A popular daytime restaurant and late hours watering hole, Carmine's was established by a famed Tampa Italian clan, the Iavarone family, in 1946. They've catered to both Tampa's working class and elite. The spacious, matchless mix of nouveau restaurant and old-style cafeteria atmosphere make it a date spot and a cool place to nosh between shopping stops and night club hops.

Its local claim to fame -- the genuine Cuban sandwiches -- comes packed with smoked ham, roasted pork, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, pickles, salad dressing, mustard, lettuce and tomatoes on fresh, flaky submarine bread. A vegetarian-style Cuban is also available. Those dining on a budget should order the combination of a half-sandwich and choice of black beans and rice or a bowl of Spanish soup made with sausage, potatoes and garbanzo beans. Other recommended entrees include the Cuban-style roast pork chops with mushroom sauce and spaghetti with a blue-crab tomato sauce. Count on standing in line late-night, when the munchies kick in for Ybor City revelers.

12 Ratings and Reviews

  • One of the best

    Review rating : 4out of 5   Happy2B741 - 10/02/2009

    Haven't eaten at Carmine's in several years---am so glad to hear it is prospering and doing business as usual. I am a native Tampan ---not many folks can say that--haven't lived in Tampa since 1990 but it will always be home. I was born on Cardy St. when it was a nice residental street in Hyde Park.
    My great-great uncle founded the First Baptist church in Tampa---downrtown on Twiggs St.,many years ago. I was baptized at First Baptist church on Kennedy Blvd. and proud of it.
    One thing about Carmine's is that it is still family owned and a smaller atmosphere---at least that last time I visited it, hope it has not moved.
    Where I am in south Georgia all I can do is "dream" about good ole Cuban food. Oh my--what I wouldn't give fro a good Cuban sandwich ( no lettuce and tomato, please, not on original cuban sandwich) about now!! Dream on!! Thanks for listenin"--Mary Evelyn Boyett Hoffhaus, Darien, Ga.

    • Happy2B741 - 10/02/2009
      Would someone please reply to me!!!
      My question is-----when was lettuce and tomato added to a Cuban sandwich? I am now eighty-eight---ate many a Cuban sandwich as a child but NONE with lettuce and tomato. Is that something new added in recent years??
      Don't think that would appeal to me. I would not want my Cuban bread to become soggy which the tomato would surely cause.
      I would appreciate anyone's reply and thanks much. M. E. H., Darien, Ga.
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  • Best Cuban In Town!

    Review rating : 5out of 5   Tampacaroline083 - 01/20/2009

    I've been enjoying Carmine's cuisine all throughout my twenty-five years and each time I go it's like my first time all over again! I'm suprised that no one has mentioned their deviled crab. My ideal lunch hands-down would have to be their half-cuban black beans and rice combo with a deviled crab to start..that's the s**t right there! Service is excellent!

  • Review rating : 5out of 5   Myersg - 12/28/2008

  • Great Cuban sanwiches and black bean soup!

    Review rating : 5out of 5   DonaldPMartin - 11/05/2008

    I live in Greensboro, NC, and my son and family live in Tampa. Anytime I am down I always go to Carmine's for the half cuban sandwich and black bean soup. You just can not get it anywhere else this good, especially where I live. The local Ybor City beer is spot on also!

    • Happy2B741 - 07/29/2009
      Born and raised in Tampa. An original Cuban sandwich does not have lettuce and tomato on it. I am sure it is good but not a genuine Cuban sandwich. This is an eighty-eight (88) year old aldy with much experience eating a Cuban snadwich. Thanks
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  • Review rating : 5out of 5   Kdcopeland44 - 09/09/2008

  • Great Black Beans and Rice

    Review rating : 4out of 5   Bellagin108 - 07/06/2008

    I haven't been to Carmine's for a very long time.. but the location is nice, the decor is very unassuming and casual. The food was fabulous...I guess I would agree on the cleanliness of the place... but it reflects the laid back attitude of Ybor City. LOVE IT!

  • Review rating : 5out of 5   Mftrs - 06/22/2008

  • the good old days

    Review rating : 5out of 5   JERMANNI - 06/13/2008

    have been eating at carmine's sense 54 good food which has gotten pricey as of late.

  • Review rating : 5out of 5   Bsterker1 - 05/16/2008

  • GROSS

    Review rating : 1out of 5   heyitsmolly - 01/19/2007

    My boyfriend worked at Camine's and I know for a fact that it is really dirty. I ate a cuban and got sick and my boyfriend found out that they cook the meat and then leave it out all day near the bar. There’s also tons a rats and cockroaches. Don’t eat there!

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