Ben Walker

2 weeks ago

"Before taking my son here for his 26th birthday tonight along with our whole family of 4, I read many reviews. There was a lot of passion in both the 1 star and 5 star reviews so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was cautiously optimistic upon arrival. Now, I’m very happy to give a largely positive review of my own. The food was very, very good, as was the service. We had a knowledgeable and attentive waiter with just the right focus. We never had to wait long for him to return if we needed something yet we never felt smothered or rushed. We had Caesar salad (anchovies on the side), one plate of spicy vodka rigatoni, one plate of non-spicy (which our waiter suggested when my wife asked about spice level of the standard dish), meatballs, chicken massimo, and artichoke hearts. Between that and the complimentary bread, salami, cheese, and cauliflower, it was just the right amount of food for four. Everything was excellent. I read some people’s complaints that the meatballs were undercooked. Yes, they were a little pink in the middle, but there are a number of reasons for this beyond them simply being raw in the middle. I assure you they’re fully cooked. My 17 year old son said the tomato focaccia bread we received before the first course arrived was the best bread he’s ever had. The only reasons for giving a 4 rating rather than a 5 is that the tables really are tucked in tight (we’d have to move the table and chairs anytime someone had to get up to use the restroom because the neighboring tables were so close), the room was pretty loud, and even for NYC a $25 cocktail and $25 glass of wine is on the high end. The food itself was priced as I’d expect for an NYC restaurant with an excellent reputation. While this won’t be in my regular rotation (for the reservation difficulty alone), I will absolutely be back and will recommend it to friends who love Italian food."

Stinson Parks III

3 weeks ago

"I had high hopes and expectations going into my meal at Carbone. It’s highly regarded as one of, if not the toughest reservation to get in the city. Once you get inside, you see why. The place is TINY with maybe 15 tables all nestled inside the front area and larger back. The service and staff are some of the best in NYC, able to take your order, course it out and make suggestions where necessary. Thankfully I went with a friend who is a regular and knew exactly what to order. We ended up feasting like kings with a full flight of courses, starting off with the spectacular complimentary meats, breads and cheeses, the burrata, caesar salad (prepared table-side), beef carpaccio, spicy rigatoni (a MUST), meatballs (which were a delicious blend of beef and I believe bison), veal parmesan and brocollini. Got the carrot cake to try it even though I was well at my limit and it was worth it for the sugar rush to come back to life over an espresso. Washed it all down with a Manhattan and an awesome red wine my friend recommended. The servers made sure our table was always taken care of and water was filled. A+++ service and will definitely be back the next time one of my friends with pull lets me tag along. Worth every penny!"

Ray Bolden

3 weeks ago

"Carbone definitely lives up to its reputation for exclusivity. Yes, snagging a reservation can feel like a hassle, but honestly, it’s worth it. At first glance, you might think the place only seats a handful of people, but don’t be fooled, It fills up quickly and stays buzzing. The garlic bread sets the tone: simple, tasty, and hard to stop eating. In fact, the appetizers alone can fill you up if you’re not careful. The Caesar salad is big enough to be a full meal on its own. I’d heard a lot about the spicy rigatoni vodka, so I didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. I ordered it, and it was good. Not overly spicy, and after the appetizers, it’s more than enough. The tortellini is another good option, but it’s packed with so much cheese that it becomes the only flavor you really get. One standout appetizer is the eggplant and zucchini scapece. Just make sure you’re prepared for it to be a cold dish. It threw me off, but the flavors are great."

The helpful explorer

3 weeks ago

"We were there for an early lunch. Couldn’t believe that we had a table. It was so hard to get a reservation. We were greeted by really nice professional staffs. The bread with salami and fresh mozzarella served at the beginning of our meal was yummy! We ordered a Caesar salad that was prepared on a cart for our table specifically. The pasta vodka sauce was amazing not so much about the meatballs ( a little bit undercooked for our tasting and a bit fatty) I’ve had better but the marinara sauce was good. And then deserts oh boy! The display was mesmerizing and it tasted even better. The whole experience was Definitely worth the wait and the vibe!"

Ghazal Lotfi

a month ago

"We celebrated my birthday lunch at Carbone and overall had a very enjoyable experience. As soon as we sat down, they brought out some bread, fresh mozzarella, and salami, which were all delicious and a great way to start the meal. We tried the eggplant and zucchini scapece appetizer, and it was outstanding, light, flavorful, and clearly made with high-quality olive oil. For our main courses, we had the rigatoni vodka and the salmon. The pasta was rich and perfectly cooked, while the salmon was fresh and well prepared. The only downside was the long wait between the pasta and the salmon, which took so much time that we almost lost interest in having the second course. For dessert, we ordered the nutella tiramisu, which was unfortunately a miss. It was more like a cake than a traditional tiramisu and did not have the light, creamy texture we expected. The service was attentive, the atmosphere was great, and the food overall was delicious. It is a great spot for a special occasion."