Carmine’s Pizza Kitchen: Pizza With A View

When you think of neighborhood pizza spots, you don’t usually picture an outdoor patio overlooking an airport runway. But that’s exactly what makes Carmine’s Pizza Kitchen in Anthem stand out.

With hearty pies, a cozy dining room, and a hidden lounge tucked in the back, it’s the kind of place that feels casual enough for a weekday dinner but lively enough to be a night out.

Pizza with a View

We stopped by on a weekend evening and found the space buzzing with families, couples, and groups of friends. The patio was filling up, the dining room was loud in a good way, and the lounge carried its own energy. Carmine’s isn’t trying to reinvent pizza—it’s delivering it in a way that feels bigger than the plate.

Carmine’s patio is a highlight all on its own. Tables with red umbrellas stretch out under string lights, with the Henderson Executive Airport just beyond the fence line. While you eat, planes taxi, lift, and land, giving you a backdrop you won’t find at another pizzeria in town.

Even as the patio gets busy, it keeps a relaxed atmosphere. The mix of locals and visitors creates an easygoing vibe, with kids watching the planes while adults settle in with drinks. It’s not just an extra seating option—it’s part of the draw.

The Heart of the Dining Room

Step inside and Carmine’s feels immediately full of energy. The high ceilings and wall-sized photos give the room a big presence, while the open kitchen keeps the action front and center. You don’t just order pizza—you watch it being pulled straight from the oven.

The dining area fills fast, especially around peak hours, but it never feels chaotic. There’s a rhythm to the service, with pizzas flying out, salads being dropped at tables, and servers moving quickly but casually. It’s that kind of organized energy that makes the meal feel smooth even on a busy night.

“Carmine’s doesn’t feel like just another pizza joint—it feels like a neighborhood hangout where everyone shows up for the same reason: good food in a good space.”

Starting Off Right

The menu at Carmine’s is broad, covering pizzas, pastas, salads, strombolis, calzones, and subs. But we kept it classic and went for a mix of comfort staples.

We started with a basket of fries, golden and crisp, served in a black wire basket. They were light enough to snack on without being greasy, and the portion was more than enough to share.

Next up was the Pasta Fagioli soup, a warm, tomato-based broth filled with beans and pasta. It felt homemade, the kind of soup you could eat on its own for lunch or pair with something heartier at dinner. There was a coziness to it, the sort of dish that fits perfectly on a cooler evening.

Pizza that Steals the Show

The main event was the BBQ Chicken Pizza. A base of mozzarella covered in grilled chicken breast, red onions, and smoky-sweet BBQ sauce. Every bite had that balance of savory, tangy, and sweet. The crust held it all together with the right mix of chew and crisp.

“The BBQ pizza was stacked with flavor—sweet sauce, smoky chicken, and just enough onion to give it a bite. It was the kind of pie you finish even when you’re already full.”

Paired with a Lovelady Love Juice IPA, it was the perfect finish to the table. The beer’s citrusy hops cut through the sweetness of the BBQ sauce, making for a balanced combo that didn’t feel heavy.

A Menu with Depth

Even though we only tried a handful of dishes, Carmine’s full menu deserves attention. From classic cheese and margherita pizzas to strombolis, calzones, and baked pastas, it covers the Italian-American spectrum without feeling bloated. Sub sandwiches, salads, and appetizers round it out, giving regulars plenty of reasons to rotate their choices.

It’s the kind of menu that works for groups—something for kids, something for adults, and more than enough to share across the table. You can keep it simple with a pepperoni slice or go heavier with lasagna or chicken parm. It’s flexible in the best way.

The Lounge You Didn’t Expect

Not every pizza kitchen hides a lounge, but Carmine’s does. Step past the main dining area and you’ll find a darker, more intimate bar space glowing under neon lights. It’s stocked with TVs, gaming screens, and a wall of bottles, making it a spot where guests linger after dinner instead of heading somewhere else.

The lounge is where Carmine’s shifts gears from a family pizza house into something closer to a sports bar. Drinks flow, the atmosphere is relaxed but social, and it gives the restaurant another dimension. You can go for dinner and end up staying long past your last slice.

The drink list stretches from classic cocktails to signature mixes, plus plenty of beer and wine. It’s not overcomplicated, but it’s wide enough to keep both casual sippers and cocktail fans happy.

Signature drinks like the Italian Mule and Angelo Azzurro stand out, while the beer list keeps local picks like Lovelady Brewing in the rotation. The balance means you can just as easily grab a simple draft or spend the night working through cocktails.

Small Touches, Big Personality

On our visit, a golf cart giveaway sat parked outside with a huge “WIN ME” sign. It’s playful and unexpected, a reminder that Carmine’s likes to keep things light. Whether you entered the raffle or not, it was a fun detail that caught everyone’s eye.

It’s those little moments that make the place feel personal. Carmine’s isn’t a chain—it’s a neighborhood spot that puts its own spin on things. From the patio with its runway view to the lounge in the back, there’s personality built into the space.

More Than a Slice

By the end of the night, the patio glowed under string lights, the lounge buzzed with energy, and the dining room was still busy. Carmine’s Pizza Kitchen doesn’t just serve food—it builds an atmosphere where you want to stay longer than planned.

The mix of solid food, multiple seating options, and a surprising lounge makes it more than a pizzeria. It’s part hangout, part date spot, part family dinner table. That flexibility is why it’s already a go-to for Anthem locals—and why it deserves a visit if you’re anywhere nearby.