Carmelo's

Carmelo's sits on the south side of Marine Drive between 14th and 15th streets, and by its own count it has served Ambleside for more than 20 years. The kitchen calls its food BC West Coast Italian and keeps the menu plain on purpose, so locals can drop in for a bite without a big bill. Ambleside Beach is a five-minute walk away.

The wood-fired thin-crust pizzas run from the $22 margherita to the $26 funghi with wild mushrooms and truffle oil. The lasagna has seven layers of Bolognese and béchamel and costs $28, and milk-fed veal comes as picata or Marsala for $36. A fresh sheet changes every day, and on 16 October 2026 it offered pan-seared steelhead with grilled prawns for $38.

Your table is held for 1 hour 30 minutes for two people and two hours for larger parties, and the restaurant asks you to call if you'll be more than 15 minutes late. Takeout covers the whole menu. Most orders are ready in 25 minutes or less, and larger ones take longer. Carmelo's closes on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.