Lauren Drewes Daniels
Audio By Carbonatix
On Sunday, Chowhound released a list of the best hole-in-the-wall pizza joints in every state, and Dallas’ own Carmine’s Pizzeria made the cut. The North Dallas staple, in operation for over 40 years — with a Dallas Cowboys team photo from 1978 on the wall — was praised for “offering classic pizza and Italian food in a simple, no-frills setting.” The author cited a Reddit thread where several locals cited Carmine’s as their favorite, which served as the basis for its inclusion.
That’s what most of the list is like, by the way. There’s no specific criteria given for this honor, nor any indication as to whether the author has actually visited any of the entries, just a throwaway line about “taking to the internet” to come up with the results.
Lauren Drewes Daniels
However, we were curious, and so we stopped by shortly after hearing about this list, and damn: The internet is right sometimes. This spot is a gem. Where you been hiding, Carmine?
We asked, and this North Dallas spot is not related to the Carmine’s in downtown. They laughed at the suggestion and said something about never sharing recipes and, “We’re crazy here, but not that crazy.”
Don’t just take our word for it, though. A Google review from user BerryTheCat went as far as to claim that Carmine’s “should be listed as a national landmark.”
‘What a Treasure’
“What a treasure. Just in the middle of an unassuming strip mall, but true Italian flavors,” the reviewer wrote. “And run by some authentic old Italian guys. They are serving Italian foods beyond excellent pizza.”
Lauren Drewes Daniels
Carmine’s even offers free delivery within a 3-mile radius of the restaurant. Who even does that anymore? A dying breed here.
Get a slice of pie, a salad and a fountain drink for just $8.99 at lunch. No, you shut up.
While we don’t speak for the entire state of Texas, we have our own opinions about the best pizza in Dallas, but we might have to update this soon.
It’s worth noting that several commenters in the original Reddit thread seemed to be referring to the Downtown Carmine’s, with some going as far as to explicitly clarify the address. This distinction is specifically for the North Dallas location.
Carmine’s 5635 Spring Valley Road. Open Monday – Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; closed on Sundays.
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