Undercover Diner Visits Carmela's at the Loft

Friday night brought me and a group of friends to Carmela’s At The Loft, tucked just outside of Lynchburg on the far end of Timberlake Road near U.S. 460. It’s a spot I’ve dined at before and generally enjoyed, so I arrived with hopeful expectations and a reservation for 7 p.m. Despite the weekend timing, the dining room was calm with cozy lighting and warmth.

The aesthetic hits the right balance between date night charm and casual comfort.

The service, however, didn’t quite match the ambiance. Our waiter, a visibly young teen, seemed underwhelmed by the task at hand and underinformed about the menu. While he was polite enough, his lack of engagement and knowledge stood out. It's hard not to notice how the post-pandemic labor climate continues to affect restaurant service, especially in spots that once felt a notch above the rest.

I’d been craving a caprese salad all day—visions of plump tomato slices, fresh mozzarella rounds, and balsamic glaze in my head. What landed on our table, though, was not that. Instead of the classic caprese experience, we received a board with small, dried-out mozzarella bites, scant tomato pieces, and a barely-there drizzle of glaze. The unexpected addition of lettuce and peppery balsamic dressing only made it more confusing. It wasn’t inedible, just uninspired. Not what I’d hoped for.

Fortunately, my main dish was made up for it. I wasn’t especially hungry, so I opted for the steak bites appetizer—small filet mignon pieces in a Brandy cream sauce. They were a highlight of the meal: tender, richly seasoned, and perfectly cooked. A bite-sized indulgence that delivered.

Around the table, the rest of the meal was a mixed bag, including a flatbread pizza, chicken spinach lasagna and the spaghetti bolognese, which was described as “good but slightly sweet,” and a friend who’d ordered the lasagna on a previous visit said it was the stronger choice between the two. My boyfriend went with the veal parmesan and called it decent, though “nothing to write home about.” Two other diners ordered chicken parm and bolognese respectively and were thoroughly satisfied. I snagged a bite of the chicken parm, and it was hot, saucy, and full of flavor—a standout dish for sure.

Side salads came with most of the entrees but weren’t particularly memorable. One Caesar was dubbed “bland,” while the others were deemed just fine—good enough to eat, but not good enough to rave about.

In the end, we had a pleasant evening. Good friends can elevate even a middling meal. But compared to other local Italian spots like Milano’s and Isabella’s, Carmela’s At The Loft doesn’t quite hit the mark. The food has its moments, but the inconsistency in both service and dishes makes it feel like more of a fallback option than a destination. A fine place if you're in the area, but not one I’d go out of my way for.

photos by Undercover Diner