Carmela’s At The Loft

We made a reservation for 7pm but stood at the entrance for 30 min until someone could seat us. Then waited another 20 min before a waiter came by to get our order. What was the point of making a reservation? It would have been fine if it wasn't for the lack of communication. Were just told (when we asked) "Oh someone should be by soon". The live music was nice and the place was clean and warmly lit. The vibe was pretty relaxed and slow. I might like it more if I was retired. It wasn't really my cup of tea. The food wasn't all that great either. Bread was dry, tasted like a microwaved bun from Walmart. I love foods with lots of spices but this was clearly overdone. Cheese bread was straight garlic and the lasagna had so much parsley that was all I could hardly taste. I mean it wasn't so bad I didn't eat it (although if I pay for something I'm pretty much always gonna eat it), but I don't plan on returning.

I had a wonderful experience! The ambiance is beautiful and really cool having a live band. The spinach artichoke dip was AMAZING! It tasted fresh and lots of flavor, just the right consistency. For my main entre I ordered the stuff shells which was delicious 😋 I loved the season and the sauce. My friends also enjoyed their meal. Everyone was pleased with the service and the great tasting food. I would highly recommend making reservations in advance.

We went to Carmela's at the Loft for the first time on January 28th. We have heard a great deal of positive comments on the food and finally was able to be in town and place our reservation. The food was just AWESOME !!! The bourbon cheesecake is likely the best I have ever tasted. Our group got 4 different dishes and we all tried each others so we can enjoy the different flavors. The meal started off with some wonderful rolls with rosemary butter, we got a flat bread appetizer which was really good. The Owner, Ralph, came over a few times to check on us and get our review of the food. The staff was attentive to the adults and the children we had with us. I would give this a rating higher than 5 star but that is the highest allowed. I HIGHLY recommend anyone looking for some flavorful Italian food to try this restaurant out. You will NOT be disappointed !!!!!!

Outstanding service. Amazing Food and some of the best service in the area. That's how I will start this review for the loft. We asked to hold our parent's 50th anniversary at The Loft in December. They were able to open a Saturday for the event. The process was professional, with consulting throughout to ensure we had the experience we expressed. The Loft is beautiful on the inside and has a nice outdoor area. Although in December it was not used much at our event. The kitchen was excellent. No waiting. All the food for 30 guests arrived well prepared, hot and delicious and all at the same time. Just outstanding. The service was helpful and more than what was expected. A smile was always on the staff's faces even though they went up and down the stairs continuously throughout the event. (Yes, they an upstairs for a little more private dining.) I personally love the beautiful bar, however, when you have to support the event, you have to support the event. We are so very thankful to The Loft, the service staff, the kitchen staff, and Ralph for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was filled with laughter, happy tears, and memories that will never fade. If you have not had the opportunity to visit or eat at The Loft, I highly recommend it. It is everything you would want in an Italian Restaurant and more. Put this experience on your 2022 To-Do list and I look forward to seeing you at the bar. Thank you Loft for everything you did and more. Great time.

Friday night was our 2nd time dinning at Carmela's at the Loft and I can assure it will not be our last! The food and service is INCREDIBLE! The staff and owner made us feel like we were long time friends sitting down for an authentic Italian dinner. The food was amazing and clearly homemade and authentic! I can't wait to go back!

Very sad about our horrible experience. We had a party of 6 and every dish had some sort of mistake and no one could stomach more than a few bites of their dinner. The food was the worst I’ve had in Lynchburg to date. The atmosphere is very nice, but with each plate being $25+, you’d expect your meal to be edible at the very least. We went there a couple months ago as well and my husband got sick from the cheese fries, thought it was a fluke but our recent visit confirms it was not.

Such a shame…a nice dinner with friends ruined by jazz music being played at such a loud level that you could not even hear yourself think. Every time the drummer hit his cymbals, it just split our heads. The 6 of us couldn’t even hear each other speak sitting next to each other. This was also the worst service we have had there…always good in the past. Had to ask for our bread, no olive oil/balsamic to dip, waited 15 minutes for water refills and was never offered a soda refill, food was warm not hot when served. Just a disappointing experience all around.