Carmela's Bistro 4141 Pioneer Woods Drive, Lincoln, NE 68506

"We have visited Carmela's often these past few months, but have continuously been disappointed by the food and service. 8 times out of 10, the server is extremely rushed, nearly panicked. Barely any eye contact, and always speaking quickly without giving a moment to listen to what we need or are experiencing. The other 2 times out of 10, the waiter seems very upset about something, and is expressing it unabashedly through their behavior. (One time the front desk rep tried to prevent us from booking a reservation by claiming they close at 8:30pm, when they actually close at 9:00pm. I believe that person's name was Courtney.). The food is nearly yummy, almost there. The meat dishes are cooked well, but in small portions. The chicken fried steak always features more fried breading than actual steak. The chicken Juliette is usually small enough to pass as an adult human portion. In a similar vein, the asparagus side dish is always just 2 asparagus sticks, never more (is there an asparagus shortage in town?) and the mashed potatoes + risotto always arrive in tiny portions. We used to make excuses and try to overlook these inadequacies since Carmela's is so close to home, but consistently coming home HUNGRY after eating dinner here is just too annoying. We won't be back for a while, and if you visit this place, make sure you snack before your dinner. And arrive with extra patience for the staff."

"I have enjoyed coming here many times. Many times it's a date with my husband. This last time I went on a Wednesday evening with my sister (around 6:30 pm) and had no trouble getting a table. I had lobster bisque and a salad while she had the pork chop with mashed potatoes. They accommodated both our dietary requests. The bisque was amazing and other than the pork chop a little undercooked for my sister's taste the food was as good as always. And the chef was more than happy to cook the chop a little longer to my sister's comfort level. They have a good variety of wine offerings from all over the world as well."

"I love it when a restaurant lives up to it's marketing promises. Carmela's sells itself as, "We passionately believe that food and wine hold the power to forge lasting connections, setting the table for a life well-lived." And, they do it with delicious dishes, a creative and artistic atmosphere, and super friendly service. We are from the Midwest but now live in Arizona, but we will be back when we are in the area. Two words to describe the bistro. Exceeds expectations!"