If you have an aversion to garlic, do yourself a favor and stay far away from Carmine’s, a frenetic, oversized Italian spot in the Upper West Side theater district. Garlic, a prominent ingredient here, reeks from the walls. But if you crave hearty portions of zesty, family-style, red-sauced Italian food at reasonable prices, this is your place. Conversation is difficult as the noise level is high. The dining room, originally a hotel ballroom, is a re-creation of a 1940s neighborhood Italian restaurant.

Carmine's Information:

• Italian menu. Lunch, dinner. Bar. Casual attire. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating.