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| - If you are looking for great Italian food in a cozy setting with fantastic service, Carisma is definitely worth a try.
The restaurant is not overly large and the tables are somewhat close together which has the effect of making the restaurant a little noisy. However, with that being said, our table of 4 was still able to hold a conversation without having to strain our ears.
The service was "top-notch" as I found the servers to be very attentive and helpful. They were also quite friendly and knowledgeable about the food. Interestingly, I think they were also all Italian with heavy Italian accents which added to the atmosphere of this Italian restaurant.
Now, the real reason to come to Carisma is the food which was just delicious. The bread provided at the table is like a small baguette which comes with some olive oil, salt and herbs on top. For starters, I had a chance to eat the tuna tartare and pan-seared scallops. Both were delicious! The portion of tuna tartare was quite generous and the accompanying taro chips added an interesting texture and flavour. The scallops were cooked perfectly which was nice as it's easy to overcook scallops.
For main entrees, I was able to try the Tagliolini pasta which comes with clams, cherry tomato and white wine. It was also quite good with the flavours working well together and the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. I also had the special "pasta of the day" which was a simple dish of noodle pasta with brown butter and truffles. It was absolutely delicious!!! Once again, the pasta was well cooked and while the dish was simple in composition, the flavour and texture was so good (disclaimer - I am a big fan of truffle).
For dessert, we attempted to have the creme brûlée, but unfortunately they had run out. Therefore, we ended up having the Strudel which was okay - nothing great. The vanilla ice cream that came with it however was quite good. I am often called "boring" by friends and family as my favorite flavour of ice cream is vanilla, however, as a result, I think I know my vanilla ice cream and the one they serve at Carisma is good.
The only thing which kept this review from getting 5 stars is the price. While the prices aren't outrageously high for the quality of the food you get, it is a little pricey. In the end, I suppose "value" when it comes to food is a little subjective and others might find the prices perfectly reasonable.
Overall, I would rate Carisma 4.5/5, and I will definitely be returning to try some of their other dishes.
Apologies there aren't any pictures, but I just got absorbed in our dinner conversation that night and I completely forgot to take pictures - next time.
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