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The Discerning Traveler | July/August/September 2008
Vol.22 No.3
www.discerningtraveler.com

Restaurants in the United States
Carmelo's Restaurant, Lewiston

We would travel quite a ways to dine at chef-owner Carmelo Raimondi's Italian restaurant that we think is the top restaurant in the village. The restaurant has been here for 28 years and Carmelo has been the chef for the past 15 years. We like it so much we returned for a second dinner sitting once in the room that also has a long bar and once in the adjoining room. A few tables are set out on the street. Tables are linen covered, the portions are large and the prices are very reasonable.

For starters we has a grilled octopus served with a bean salad. When we remarked about how tender it was Carmelo told us he roasted the octopus with wine corks. A heaping bowl of little neck clams was served in a mildly spicy chunky tomato broth that we had as an appetizer and atop linguine in a marina sauce as a main course. On another night we had the roasted beet and fennel salad with goat cheese and candied walnuts and his popular homemade ricotta gnocchi tossed with Italian sausage and rapini.

A delicious 2" thick and juicy swordfish chop served with a Frenched bone, a cut we've only had one other time, is set on a stew of roasted tomato and fennel with raisins and pine nuts. Two large pieces of seared tuna encrusted with peppercorns was served atop baby bok choy. Chicken breast with a piece of the wing bone attached is cooked "under the brick" and served with tomato panzanella salad. For future visits Carmelo told us that other popular dishes are the lamb osso bucco and penne in a vodka sauce.