From the outside, Carmine’s Pie House looks like your classic neighborhood pizza pub, the kind of place you hit for a quick slice and a cold beer before heading home.
Step inside, though, and you discover a full-on shrine to Chicago deep-dish and New York–style pies, a spot often described as a vibrant local pizza pub by sites like Visit Jacksonville and highlighted for “revisiting traditional Italian” in the best way. 🍕🔥
Why This Pizza Parlor Is Causing Waves Online
The buzz around Carmine’s wasn’t something that arrived overnight; it bubbled up slowly as locals realized they were getting serious deep-dish without boarding a flight to Chicago, and started shouting about it 0n review sites and social media pages like Reddit.
Diners rave that the authentic Chicago-style deep dish and NYC-style crust make it easy to forget you’re in Florida at all, with word of mouth from satisfied customers insisting you “literally cannot go wrong with anything here,” from stuffed pies to thin slices. 😱
The hype level spiked when reviewers ranked Carmine’s the #2 restaurant for Chicago-style pizza in the entire United States, a claim proudly echoed on their Instagram page and celebrated in local chatter as proof that Jacksonville is punching above its weight in the pizza wars.
On Airial Travel, travelers describe the crust as crispy outside, tender inside, with a rich, herb-forward sauce and gooey cheese that make the deep dish feel like an event, not just dinner.
Factor in friendly, first-name-basis service highlighted again and again on platforms such as MapQuest’s aggregated feedback, and suddenly this Riverside haunt has become a road-trip stop, not just a neighborhood joint. 🌴🍺
Even local guides like Visit Jacksonville spotlight Carmine’s for its mix of Italian classics, microbrews, and pizza obsession, while the official menu confirms that the hype is backed up by serious topping combinations and playful, signature creations.
Food Highlights
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Chicago Deep Dish Pizza: Carmine’s is best known for its Chicago-style deep dish, praised for its hefty, crispy-yet-tender crust, rich tomato sauce, and molten layer of cheese.
Guests call it some of the best deep dish they’ve ever had, the kind of pie that requires a fork, knife, and a willingness to cancel the rest of the evening. 🍕🧀
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New York–Style Pizza: For foldable-slice loyalists, Carmine’s also serves New York–style thin–crust pies, frequently praised by loyal fans and first-timers who love that both crust styles are equally dialed in.
A simple cheese or pepperoni slice becomes perfect comfort fuel, with that classic combo of crisp base, flavorful sauce, and stretchy cheese, making it a certified favorite. 🍕🏈
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Purple Haze Pizza: This signature pie layers eggplant, tomato, sausage, cheese, classic sauce, and ricotta bursts over a hearty crust.
Fans adore the mix of creamy ricotta, savory sausage, and tender eggplant, calling it a “must-order” that feels indulgent and just adventurous enough without going off the rails. 🌈🍆
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Ja Lap‑Pen‑O’s: Also featured on the house menu, these are breaded, cheese-stuffed jalapeños fried to a golden crunch and served with a spicy raspberry sauce.
Heat-seekers love the sweet-spicy contrast, often calling this starter a “mandatory order” and the perfect appetizer with a cold beer from their microbrew lineup. 🌶️
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Carmine Salad: Carmines turns an otherwise ordinary pizza into something special: iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, salami, pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, giardiniera, roasted red peppers, garbanzo beans, pepperoncini, shredded mozzarella, and both black and Kalamata olives.
Diners treat it as a bright, briny foil for all the cheese and dough, a way to add crunch and acidity while still staying firmly in Italian-comfort territory. 🥗
Atmosphere
Carmine’s Pie House has the cozy, lived-in feel of a true neighborhood pizza pub, a description echoed by Visit Jacksonville and supported by countless guests who mention its relaxed Riverside energy.
Inside, you’ll find lively chatter, sports on TV, and servers remembered by name in many online write-ups, praised for keeping the mood upbeat and the pies flowing.
The vibe is casual and welcoming, with a pet-friendly patio noted in travel listings that lets you linger over a slice, a drink, and a warm Jacksonville evening. 🐶🍻
It feels like the kind of place where regulars mix with road-trippers, and everyone leaves plotting what they’ll order on the next visit.
Bottom Line
A deep dish pizza ranked among America’s best, legit New York–style slices, creative pies like Purple Haze, shareable apps that disappear fast, and a laid-back Riverside vibe make every visit to Carmines Pie House feel like hanging out at a friend’s favorite local. 🍕✨
Address:
2677 Forbes St, Jacksonville, FL 32204
📞 (904) 387-1400
🕔 Open Sun–Thu 11 AM–9 PM; Fri–Sat 11 AM–10 PM (hours subject to change)