January 2010:

$5,000.00 Raised to Benefit Dakin With Holiday Raffle. This past December, Carmelina’s hosted a holiday raffle to raise money for the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society. Prizes included round trip airline tickets, concert tickets at the Mohegan Sun, a martini dinner for 6, two Peter Muller hand-blown martini glasses and two wine baskets. The winning tickets were drawn on December 19^th at our Holiday Martini Dinner. A total of $5,000.00 was raised and presented to Executive Director, Leslie Harris, the same evening.

Carmelina’s Celebrates 25 Years in Business: 2010 marks the restaurant’s 25^th consecutive year in business in Hadley. Carmelina’s was founded in 1985 by original owner, Damien DiPaula, to introduce the Pioneer Valley to regional Italian cuisine. The restaurant was sold in 2007 to Hadley residents Debbie & Dave Windoloski who continue the tradition of serving creative Italian cuisine, with a menu that features many of the original menu items. Another important fixture that has not changed in 25 years is the live music of legendary jazz pianist, Emery Austin Smith, who still plays every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings in the main dining room.

April 15, 2009:
Carmelina’s at the Commons was voted Best Italian Restaurant by the readers of the Valley Advocate in the 2009 Best of the Valley Readers’ Poll. The Best of the Valley Readers’ poll is one of the first and oldest readers’ polls in the country.

April 15, 2010:
For the second year in a row, Carmelina’s took First Place for Best Italian Restaurant by the readers of the Valley Advocate in the 2010 Best of the Valley Readers’ Poll. The restaurant also took the Third Place award for Best Place for Martinis.