Our namesake and original owner, Carmine Sr.
Carmine Sr. came to Los Angeles in the 1950s from New York, where he had worked at the Fulton Fish Market. He got a job as a bartender at Crown House Restaurant, which would later become Carmine's, and learned the trade.
A few years later, Carmine Sr. became maître d' for Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin’s Villa Capri, the premiere Italian restaurant in Hollywood and a favorite of movie stars, including James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Jimmy Durante. From there, Carmine Sr. helped open and manage many of the restaurants the stars owned, including Puccini's in Beverly Hills and Mirabelle Restaurant in Hollywood.
In 1969, Carmine Sr. learned Casa de Oro Restaurant (formerly Crown House Restaurant) was for sale. He asked Frank Sinatra for his blessing to open his own place, and Sinatra agreed, on the condition that Carmine keep the name Casa de Oro for two years. Carmine bought the restaurant, located just 200 yards from Sinatra's place, from Billy Karen and jockey Willie Shoemaker, a world-renowned jockey at the time. In 1972, he officially renamed it Carmine's.
Carmine's became an instant success, serving hundreds of dinners each night in its tuxedo-clad, red-boothed dining room. Carmine Sr. was the host until he sadly passed away in 1981. His wife, Gloria, and son, Carmine Jr., took over the family business, running it for another decade before closing for a short time. Carmine Jr. and his business partner, Kim Pappaterra, reopened Carmine's, then called Carmine’s II, in 1992 and have been delighting diners with its classic Italian fare ever since.
Today, Carmine's remains a beloved institution, consistently packed with customers eager to experience its warm hospitality and delicious, authentic cuisine. The restaurant's enduring popularity is a testament to the vision and passion of Carmine Sr., whose legacy lives on in every plate served.
Discover Carmine's, a legendary restaurant established in 1972 by Carmine Senior, where the Rat Pack, including Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, frequented. Under the stewardship of Carmine Junior, we continue to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere, free from pretentiousness or scenes. Whether you seek discretion or simply want to avoid the spotlight, Carmine's is the perfect place to unwind.
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