Carbone is one of those classic NYC restaurants that everyone says you have to try, and I'm happy to say it completely lived up to the hype. Getting a reservation is definitely part of the challenge. The earlier dinner times get booked up very quickly, so be prepared for a later reservation unless you plan well in advance. From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional. Our table was attended to throughout the meal, and every member of the staff helped make the experience feel special. All seven of us had a wonderful time and shared several dishes, including the meatballs, spicy rigatoni, tortellini, and ribeye. Everything was excellent and made it easy to understand why the restaurant has earned such a strong reputation. To start, I especially enjoyed the bread, cauliflower, and salami. The rainbow cookies at the end were the perfect finishing touch to an already memorable meal. The atmosphere felt lively, classic, and uniquely New York. Between the food, service, and overall experience, I can confidently say this restaurant lived up to its reputation. I would absolutely love to come back! read more

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Finally made it to Carbone and honestly... it mostly lived up to the hype. The whole experience feels like stepping into old-school New York Italian glamour. The spicy rigatoni vodka absolutely deserves the attention it gets. Rich, spicy, comforting, and easily the standout of the night for me. We also ordered the meatballs, oysters, and seafood crudo, and everything was beautifully presented and well executed. That said... it's definitely overpriced. You're paying a premium for the name, exclusivity, and atmosphere as much as the food itself. Getting a reservation feels like a competitive sport at this point too. But overall, I still get why people love it. It's one of those places that feels quintessentially New York, and I'd probably go back just for the spicy rigatoni and people watching alone. read more

Carbone - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Impossible to book with impossibly high standards, Carbone must have been the it girl back in the day but I didn't really ger the hype. We were able to snag a lunch reservation which was fine, happy to spend "less" for a spot I already had to put down $100 for 4 people before we even got there. The part that was slightly hilarious was that they have 3 sections - the section we were sat by the front door thats cramped, the back room for "fancier" looking folks, and the section behind the curtain, most likely where they seat the high spenders. Our seating area was cramped and people kept hitting my husbands elbows- meanwhile we were a table of 4 with 3 people above 6 feet, sitting by the bar and the wall, there is no room to move. Our waitress seemed sick of our poorness from the start: annoyed we didn't all order drinks (2/4 of us did), annoyed we didn't want a bunch of appetizers, annoyed we didn't get dessert. It's lunch in NYC- I have many more hours of snacking to go, I cannot be full for the rest of the day. We got the meatballs to split and the waitress got annoyed we called it an appetizer (we ordered 4). Meat seemed slightly undercooked but did have a nice flavor. The free bread/cheese/meats was nice but the cheese was not worth a second non-free order. We did get a caesar and that was pretty good- loved the dressing ratio and the croutons. For our mains we got the spicy rigatoni and the fettucine funghi. The 3 of us who got the spicy rigatoni were pretty disappointed- it was not spicy and the added a ton of onions. While we did mention we had a nut allergy in the beginning, adding detail on your menu including that there are tons of strands of onions in the pasta, may be nice especially for the price point. Funghi pasta was good but not worth the price. Espresso martini was probably the star of the show. Staff other than our waiter were polite. Bathrooms were a bit messy, with paper towels all over the small floor. Much better Italian in the city and Torrisi was 100% better than this spot. read more

Date: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 Time: 10:30pm Party of: 4 Meal: Dinner Reservation Made Thru: Resy a month prior Deposit Required: $200 + $17.76 tax = $217.76 *Coca Cola ($6) x3 *Negroni ($24) *GL Jeio Prosecco ($16) *Caesar ZZ ($34) *1/2 Spicy Rigatoni ($17) x4 *Lobster Ravioli ($56) *Meatballs ($27) *Single Espresso ($7) *Mint Tea ($7) x2 *Double Espresso ($7) *Tiramisu ($25) *Tax ($26.27) My girlfriend has been wanting to go the this location for quite some time. When I remembered prior to this year's NYC trip, I set an alarm to make a rezzie right when they opened up. It actually wasn't as hard as other spots, so you stand a chance if you get onto Resy when they release time slots. It just won't be at a normal dinner time. Pasta, pasta, pasta. That is the name of the game here. And which pasta? The spicy rigatoni of course! Not my favorite shape of pasta, but the sauce is delicious - creamy and tomatoey with a hint of spice. I honestly could have had it spicier, which is why I added peppers. The meatballs seemed to be a hit as well. I was pescatarian at the time so didn't try. I wish I knew the lobster ravioli was in a squid ink pasta. I'm not a fan of the earthiness of squid ink, but it wasn't too strong here. Their menus really have no descriptions so there was no way to know. When you sit down, they give you a huge basket of breads and other lil snacks. Very generous and could be a meal in itself. For the salad, if you love anchovies, def tell them. They will give you more with the salad. The resto is actually on the smaller side which I think is why it's so hard to get a rez. Our server was sweet and very knowledgeable. I noted we were celebrating a friend's bday and they gave us a candle with the dessert we ordered. In the end the entire $217.76 from my deposit was credited to our bill. Glad we finally were able to eat here. Would come back again to try those meatballs. Hopefully I can get a rez at time closer to dinner? I guess I can always try their sister spot. We'll see next year! REVIEW #4010 read more

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Service - Top tier. Pulled my chair out for me, folded my napkin. Great recommendations. Great service. Ambiance - Intimate, exclusive, moody and cozy. Food - Phenomenal. One of the best meals I've had in NYC! read more

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I was enthusiastic about celebrating my birthday here. I monitored very closely, and 39 days, prior to my birthday, I booked on Resy. I was running late on my birthday, which they surprisingly accommodated. Not only that, they allowed for an incomplete party to be seated, which most places don't.. However, I suspect because you pay a deposit beforehand, they don't mind and have already been compensated, somewhat. Onto the food, apparently you're only allowed to order once, so my order was placed, in absentia. I knew what I wanted so it was simple. I had the minestrone soup and spicy rigatoni. I helped myself to a little bit of the Caesar salad and the potatoes Louie, which was supposed to be for me, but I did not like. I was underwhelmed with almost everything. I know, I know... maybe I had my expectations too high, but nothing really did it for me. The rigatoni was good, along with the garlic bread, but no higher than that. The salad wasn't that great nor the potatoes. I did enjoy my birthday cake and the service was impeccable, but the pod part, which is the most vital, lt me down. I appreciate the experience and did enjoy my birthday; however, wish I would have enjoyed the food a little more. read more

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Amazing vibe amazing service amazing food you are going to love the delicious food the tiramisu was the best I've ever had in my whole entire life the pasta so creamy so good. We took a salad Caesar salad. It was absolutely amazing. The texture the taste the experience was amazing. The staff was incredible. Explaining every Dish once you sit, you get a giant piece of cheese on your table with bread this place has style and great food. read more

Carbone - Pasta vodka - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Took years to get a reservation but so happy I finally get to cross this off my NYC list!! Carbone was definitely an experience and a spot to try at least once. Everything was delicious however there are many Italian places that are just as good and are much cheaper. The wait staff was great and really contribute to what makes this such a great experience. To start, they provided complimentary bread, meat and cheese. The focaccia was so delicious, we even got more for later in the meal to dip into the sauces. We ordered tons of food and were stuffed at the end but enjoyed it all! We started with the Caesar salad which they make tableside. We also got the clams and calamari. We loved all of the above but my friends were obsessed with the calamari while my preference was clams! Caesar salad was very good, including the croutons, but very overpriced. Obviously we got the spicy rigatoni which was good and surprisingly had a kick. I know it has spicy in the name but usually things like that aren't spicy. They offered to split up the portions individually which made sharing easier. We also got the lobster ravioli which I could've passed on. Meatballs are highly recommended although not explicitly listed on the menu. It typically comes with 3 meatballs but they offered to give 4, one for each member of the party. Veal parm was delicious but waaaaay overpriced. I did appreciate that the waiter cut it up into pieces for each of us. We also got potatoes but were not impressed - we were also very full at that point. For dessert, they provide complimentary rainbow cookies but we also ordered the cheesecake and tiramisu. Both were very tasty! My only complaint was that the music was very loud and it was hard to hear. We were seated right under a speaker and I asked the waiter if we could turn it down but I don't think he did. All in all, I'm glad I finally got in to see what the hype was about! read more

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As someone who loves Italian cuisine, we had this spot on our list for a while. We had a weekend lunch reservation and were seated at our table on entry. Service from the team at our table was very friendly and attentive. We ordered a variety of plates including some of their classics and everything was delicious. I love pasta so the vodka sauce and ragu were my favorite. Intimate and beautiful spot great for dates but good for groups as well. Definitely recommended! read more

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First and foremost, Carbone definitely lived up to the hype. The vibe was immaculate, quintessential Italian restaurant. Every server, bartender, dressed incredibly well. The service was also phenomenal, we never lacked a drink or extra cheese. I had two espresso martinis, and they were both one of the best ones I've ever had. For appetizers we had the assorted bake clams, a Caesar salad and then shared the infamous spicy rigatoni. The Caesar salad was incredible, the croutons were fresh, every piece of lettuce was crisp. The spicy rigatoni was divine, well worth the hype. The clams were also good, but probably something I wouldn't order again personally. For dinner, I had the double lamb chops which were very good. Well cooked, seasoned to perfection. My partner had the veal Parmesan which they also enjoyed. For dessert we split the Black Forest cake and tiramisu which were both rich, and huge portion sizes. Overall, a great experience and obviously highly recommend! read more

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Where do I begin? I think this is a nice restaurant, very cozy inside and the coat check was very kind. The service there is impeccable! They treat you with respect and kindness. Now for the food, I ordered the Caesar salad, the spicy rigatoni pasta, and the broccoli. Honestly? The Caesar salad was just completely overpowered by the horseradish dressing. The spicy rigatoni pasta is good! Simple. Nothing special. The broccoli was good too. Honestly this is a good (okay) place for just food. But you're not paying for the food only, you're paying for the experience. It's a beautiful restaurant and I am glad I have dined here. But the food is forgettable. New York has other gems worth trying. read more

Carbone - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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We're from California and could not wait to try Carbone. Unfortunately, our expectations were much higher than reality. Starting off with appetizers the complimentary crunchy, garlic bread served with mozzarella and salami in the beginning was a great, light start to our meal. The Caesar salad created right in front of us was very delicious and had a hint of horseradish/mustard in the dressing which was unique to my palette. The Spicy Vodka Rigatoni was delicious, but to our tables surprise, the pasta was al dente. The Lobster Ravioli as well as the Truffle Tortellini were not very appetizing. Although some may disagree, I see Lobster as a very beautiful, light shellfish, but to my surprise it was served in a dark colored dough and tasted very fishy. The Truffle Tortellini was flavorless, which was very disappointing being that truffle is usually very rich. The pork with peppers dish was my favorite out of the two meats we ordered. It had a good amount of fat which added a juicy, flavorful texture to the pork. It ate very tender and soft as well. The chicken scarpariello had a lot of flavor in the dish itself, but the chicken ate very dry. Overall, I believe this place did have great unique qualities to their dishes, but unfortunately many of their dishes missed the flavor we were looking for. I think there are plenty of Italian restaurants in NYC that meet the standards many hold for this restaurant. One thing to mention is that because this place is so popular and very hard to get into, it does feel as if you are being rushed throughout your meal as they have many other parties to serve that same night. Ambience: 8/10 Service: 7/10 Food: 6/10 read more

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I wanted to go here for so long, and once I got a reservation, I honestly was hoping it would be overhyped so I wouldn't be mad about never going again. However, it was phenomenal! The free bread is good, we loved the pasta and the desserts were so decadent. The broccolini was also amazing! The restaurant is a tight fit for most tables and its upscale, so I'd recommend business casual. read more

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Delivered. First and foremost, they treat you well. It's a dressy, classy affair so please dress up nicely. Not too much, but just right amount of classy. We had ordered two appetizers: beef carpaccio, and eggplant salad. Both of which are amazing. Interesting flavors and textures. Followed by vodka rigatoni and meatballs (both iconic Carbone dishes) and just absolutely tasty. Right amount of portions and again they serve family style. By this time, we're pretty full and we're still awaiting for the veal Parmesan!!! The veal is tender and tasty as well. But the star for me is the meatballs and beef carpaccio. The dessert we had is classic tiramisu and it was divine. But they also had given us complementary Italian wedding cakes which are also delicious. Again I got no complaints for this particular experience. I was treated like a prince! And good vibes overall. The reservations can be quite tricky through resy, which it's all worthy! read more

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DELICIOUS! I feel so lucky that we were able to snag a reservation here. A great place to celebrate for a special occasion. Carbone has a LOT of hype to live up to. Does it meet the hype? Yes. Does it surpass it? Ehhh, I don't think so. For me, this restaurant is one and done! If I had an opportunity to try it again, I'd be SOOO happy. With that being said, I wouldn't go super out of my way to eat here again. I'm just happy I got to dine there in the first place! The vibes of the restaurant are fantastic and the service is STELLAR!!! Truly some of the best service I've ever had. The staff was so kind, they felt like your friends! After speaking with our server, between my husband and I we ordered a half order of the meatballs, the veal parmesan, the spicy vodka rigatoni, and the lemon cheesecake. Our server definitely helped us make choices and led us in the right direction. We basically finished most of our food (BUT WE WERE SO STUFFED) and ended up taking some of the cheesecake home. They also served some complimentary garlic bread, salami, and fresh mozzarella as a starter. And they gave us a small slice of Italian cookie cake for dessert. Obviously, the star of the show was the spicy rigatoni! PURE PERFECTION. The pasta was cooked just right, the sauce was emulsified beautifully, and the balance of the sauce was great! I was surprised at how bright and acidic while also thick and creamy the sauce was. FANTASTIC! The veal parmesan was our next favorite! Crunchy and packed with flavor, a delicious entree. The meatballs were good but just not as memorable compared to the other two dishes. I would potentially skip this in the future. The lemon cheesecake was DELICIOUS. Lovely texture and the top layer of lemon was wonderfully zippy. A textbook delicious cheesecake!! Thank you Carbone for a memorble meal! read more

Carbone - Mario's Meatballs (half order) - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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If there's anything I love, it's a good Italian spot--and Carbone is a New York classic. The food was delicious, though I definitely enjoyed some dishes more than others. There weren't any that I'd call bad, but not every dish felt worth the price. For example, the vodka pasta was easily my favorite and an absolute must-order. The Caesar salad, on the other hand, didn't justify its $30+ price tag. The restaurant itself is fairly small, seating only about ten parties, which creates an intimate ambiance and allows for very attentive service. Reservations are tough to get, so make sure you're on Resy right when they drop. If you don't have AMEX, your best bet is booking during off-peak hours--think around 2 p.m. read more

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I got off the waitlist for Carbone for a 10:45pm reservation on a Saturday night. After hearing so much about Carbone I was really looking forward to the meal. We arrived a few minutes early for the reservation and had to wait outside for a bit. Once we were let in, the restaurant needed a few minutes to give us the table, so we got drinks at the bar. Once seated I was surprised with how dark it was in the restaurant. The low light made it a bit difficult to see too far in front of you.   In terms of food, I tried the "Caesar alla ZZ", the "Spicy Rigatoni Vodka" and the "Veal Parmesan". The "Caesar alla ZZ" had a nice presentation where they made it tableside. The "Spicy Rigatoni Vodka" and the "Veal Parmesan" were okay, nothing particularly special but they were not bad.   Overall, Carbone is worth trying but if you have large expectations, it may not live up to the imagination. read more

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Eating at Carbone was a treat, both for the experience and for the food. We got seated promptly upon the restaurant opening, and given menus and water right away. The meat and fresh mozzarella plate was wonderful and the garlic bread was just drenched in butter and therefore sinfully delicious. The spicy vodka rigatoni definitely lived up to its hype, and the small cookies at the end were a nice touch. I will say, however, I was less than impressed with our server with regard to both his promptness and his overall warmth. It took us nearly 90 min from start to finish, which should have never been the case, considering we didn't order drinks, appetizers, or dessert, and arrived right when the restaurant opened. We also couldn't help but be irritated by the man next to us watching videos loudly on his phone as he waited for the rest of his party to arrive. While that wasn't the fault of the restaurant, perhaps they should consider not seating anyone before the whole party is there, or asking folks to turn down obnoxiously loud videos. read more

Carbone - Menu October 2025 - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Carbone is a winner. You might not think it in the moment and wonder if there's better. But then a week will pass where you tried other places and you'll realize their spicy vodka isn't on carbones level and neither is there Caesar salad. At Carbone, there's no substitutions, meaning you can't add a protein to the pasta etc. However, the vodka sauce is the best, case closed. It's creamy, has a rich flavor to it and has a hint of spicy. It's just well executed. The Caesar salad is peak 5/5, can't beat it. I don't even like anchovies and I ate it due to how fresh it was. Very delicious. read more

Carbone - Simply the best vodka sauce, don't even try anywhere else, it's not the same as Carbone - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I was excited to finally try Carbone, and expectations were overall, well met. The ambiance is upscale, and welcoming. Your water is constantly refilled, and service overall was decent. They do get busy with tables constantly being seated right after the previous party leaves. The bigger tables felt more family style while the smaller tables were more intimate and closer together. As for the food, we ordered: - Caesar salad - the meatballs (so good!) - carpaccio - pork chop - mushrooms - potatoes - spicy rigatoni vodka (not really spicy?) I thought the potatoes were mid (wouldn't order again), and the Caesar salad was very, very cheesy. As someone who is lactose intolerant, I did not really appreciate the salad as much as I wanted to but my family felt differently. The meatballs, carpaccio, pork chops, and mushrooms were delicious. Although if I were to come back, I would probably try another main. We ordered a little bit much for 4 people... read more

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I know everyone and their mom has talked about this place/dish for years and I've always wondered about it, I literally HAD to test out this dream pasta for myself share my experience I had! This pasta is their spicy rigatoni vodka pasta. And omg it was amazingggg. Completely worth the hype, no shame at all! We also got their Artichoke Hearts, Mario's Meatballs, and their Lemon Cheesecake! All AMAZING!! Everything was absolutely perfect but the cheesecake was one of my favorites I think I've ever had! As well as their meatballs and everything! 10/10 Their server was the SWEETEST man very on point sharp and made great conversation. I swear everyone in New York just has the coolest edge to them and are so sweet to us west coasters and love engaging in conversation while doing their job. It definitely takes a special type of person to do that. Their atmosphere was very boujee! Make sure you wear your heels it's very upscale! I don't think they have a coat check? Not to my knowledge but the bar is absolutely breathtaking with the chandeliers and I just looooove a good New York upscale restaurant. Extra points if it's Italian because I LOVE Italian so this was a win win!!! We will absolutely come back next time we're in New York. This was one of my FAVORITE restaurants we tried while staying in lower manhattan and I cannot wait to go back!! read more

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First time at carbone and it definitely is worth the hype! Everything was a 10/10 and would definitely go back if i can get a reservation again lol read more

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Overall it was good! Was super excited to get a reservation here. The staff is incredible. We interacted with many different people and everyone was very friendly. For starters they give you complimentary garlic bread, mozzarella, and salami which is rare for restaurants to do. We got the Caesar salad which they made in from of you and it was great. The spicy rigatoni vodka is worth the hype. Although I didn't find it spicy, still one of the best plates of pasta I've had. The only issue was the veal parm. I hadn't had veal before so I didn't know what to expect but for $98 dollars I expected more. It seemed to be one of the most popular menu items but to me it just tasted like a basic chicken parm that you could get anywhere. Definitely not worth $98. I would definitely go back and try another pasta instead of the veal read more

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Carbone is known for being one of the best dining experiences in New York, and I can certainly confirm that such a reputation is well earned. My partner and I went in for lunch and as soon as we walked in we were tended to by a highly attentive staff from beginning to end. The ambiance is highly curated: the decor is contemporary with a mid-century twist that honors the restaurant's Italian roots, the music is classic and upbeat, and the staff is dressed to the nines and well-versed in the menu, in addition to being open to giving suggestions based on your preferences. Our waitress, Samantha, consistently checked in with us throughout our dining experience and was wonderful to converse with. For our drinks, we ordered a non-alcoholic Coastal Spritz refresher (blood orange, grapefruit, and lemon) and the Whiskey Smash (scotch, peach, and basil). Both drinks were refreshing and offered delightful layers of flavors in each sip. The meal began with a basket of crispy garlic bread topped with toasted cheese, thinly sliced salami, and a fresh ball of mozzarella sitting in olive oil. Although simple, these items were packed with savory flavors and, at one point, we were struggling to cut the mozzarella (crazy cheese pull!) and the maître d', who was incredibly observant, was kind enough to come over and cut it for us. As for our entrees, we split the Veal Parmesan and the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, which were cut and served to us in shareable portions by the servers. The Veal Parmesan was enormous and is certainly a meal that is worth the price tag! It was thin, lightly breaded, crispy, and wonderfully savory. As for the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka- there is a reason why it is one of Carbone's staple dishes! It was the perfect balance of spicy and creamy, and the pasta was perfectly cooked. All in all, the portions were more than enough for two people and we even took some home with us. When it came time for dessert, we ordered the Nutella Tiramisu. The cake was a great balance of espresso and chocolate flavors; in fact, the only critique we had throughout our entire experience was that the hazelnut flavors were slightly underwhelming. The staff, who were aware that we were celebrating our anniversary, were very thoughtful and added a delicious piece of chocolate to our dish that said "happy anniversary". Overall, Carbone exceeded our expectations and gave us a very special meal that we will cherish until we go back! read more

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There are places you go for good food and a good time and there are places you go to impress a date. I think you can guess where Carbone falls. No disrespect to the ownership, but there are lots of restaurants in NYC that provide the authentic Italian experience where the food is on par or better, costs half as much, and they're not packed to the gills on a Tuesday night. Our meal was good. Was it $200+ For a Couple Good? It was not. Yeah, they make the ceasar salad fresh in front of you, they got a guy with a cheese wheel going around, and the waiters debone a branzino like a samurai, but it all felt like theatrics meant to distract you from the fact that you're overpaying. Also needs to be noted that this place is reservation-only, dinner reservations are $50pp, and good luck even getting one unless you "know a guy." Doesn't live up to the hype. read more

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Amazing Ambiance, great food and the drinks are second to none. The service was really good and the lunch menu felt like a dinner one. If you can manage to get a reservation it's a definite must to attend. The aura of snobbery is definitely present and can make you feel uncomfortable if you're not dressed as appropriately as recommended. I would definitely come back for dinner if the opportunity presents itself. read more

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Finally went to Carbone!!! Definitely an experience you need to have. The starters of bread, cheese, cauliflower and meat was a good amount of food. In particular the garlic bread was phenomenal. The pickled cauliflower was a nice cut to the fatty food. The spicy rigatoni was one of the best pastas I've ever had. Perfectly spicy and a perfect portion. The Caesar while a staple was a fine salad. Nothing over the top but I did enjoy it. Liked how they prepare it table side. The espresso martini was crazy delicious. The lemon cheesecake tasted good but was a bit grainy. Service was awesome. They definitely know what they are doing. I love how they tell us to have a good time when we walk in. Something I don't experience at other restaurants. Would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

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This was the best dining experience I've ever had in my entire life. Hype is real. A group of friends and I finally managed to get in to Carbone for a birthday dinner. We had to wait a few minutes for our table to be ready, but the bar was great and the drinks were excellent. The service was the best I've ever had in my entire life. Enthusiastic and attentive. Then the food. I thought I had had good Italian food from living in New York City for the past two decades, but I was mistaken. Everything was beyond amazing. We started with the Caesar salad, which they make in front of you. It was insanely good. We also got the calamari. Best I've ever had. The chicken and veal Parm were incredible as expected. They brought out a few treats for us to try per the chef's recommendation, they also rocked. The spicy rigatoni lived up to the hype. The only complaint I have is that it's nearly impossible to get in here and I would be here every week if I could. read more

FINALLY got a reso here for the 4th of July. Came right at 11:30. I was excited to try the og of Carbone, having tried the Hong Kong and Las Vegas locations. It was a full house but the servers operated very efficiently. Excellent service and very welcoming. Good came our timely and sporadically. Our server was the cool guy with tje red frames glasses. We felt like we ordered a ton of food but it was actually just right. Shrimp Scampi was your typical sautéed frozen shrimps. They were full sized prawns with head on. I wish I could appreciate the head like my parents but only ate the body. A bit over cooked imho but flavor was tasty. Fettuccine Fungi was a bit too well saucy for me. But I did like the flavors. Spicy Rigatoni wasn't what we originally wanted but since it was their signature dishes, we added it and so glad we did. It was as spicy as I had though. Balanced all around flavors. Not too acidic. Pasta was cooked truly al dente. Loved it. Chopped Salad arrived first. It was chilled and so refreshing with the vineagrette dressing. Added Meatballs were nice and round. Sauce was a bit too acidic for me and the meat itself needed something more for some added umph. Tiramisu wasn't what I am used to with light ans airy lady fingers. The cake part was more holey. The orange zest flavors had to get used to. Wish there was more custard filling. The Madeleine cookie was scrumptious like I could snack on them with a hot cup of coffee. I had a great lunch here on a gorgeous day. Will definitely be back. read more

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I hadn't been here in many years and I think it's still a solid experience. With the paid Dorsia tiers it's a lot easier now to get certain reservations, so we came back to revisit Carbone. The spicy rigatoni we ordered gluten free so my husband could have it, and it was perfect. I ordered the veal Parmesan which was fantastic. I would not wait as many years again as I did for my next visit. read more

My son and I came for an early lunch today and had a wonderful time. Food, as always, was terrific. Bread service with prosciutto and mozzarella starts things off right. I highly suggest the caesar salad and the eggplant/zucchini scapece (had a nice heat to it which I loved). My son had the spicy rigatoni - the sauce is terrific but it shouldn't overshadow the actual pasta which had the perfect 'chew' to it. My tortellini ragu was almost too pretty to eat - it was so delicate and light. Delicious! Best part of the lunch, however, was the warm and terrific service. Food came out timely and we never felt rushed. We felt very welcomed and taken care of. Bravo read more

I still can't believe I live a life where I can say I've dined at Carbone. It's one of those iconic spots that feels like a rite of passage--and yes, it's very much what you'd expect: stylish, buzzy, and full of energy. The vibe is high-end vintage Italian, and the place runs like a well-oiled machine. It's a beehive of servers, all moving with purpose and precision. They definitely "do it up" here. That said, the noise level was intense. I don't know if I'm losing my hearing or if people are just loud, but I could barely hear our server--and had to ask him to repeat himself more than once. That took away from the experience a bit. Now, the food: The Spicy Rigatoni Vodka? Top. Tier. Absolutely lived up to the hype. The Caesar salad had homemade croutons that were a standout--crunchy, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Dessert options were surprisingly limited, which was a bit of a letdown after such a strong start. Overall, very cute place, and I'm genuinely happy to have checked it off my list. But here's the truth: if you don't make it to Carbone, it's not the end of the world. It's a great experience, but not necessarily a life-changing one. read more

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When I think about Carbone, I think of their spicy rigatoni vodka. Their bread and butter. Their prized possession. I have memories of the dish when I had it in 2021. So much so that I secured a reservation a month in advance to show my girlfriend what I loved about it. They dimmed the lights for the restaurant to give a more intimate experience. Unfortunately it was a disappointment. What I had thought was a 6/5 pasta turned into a 2/5. I felt like I make the pasta better now. And I was thinking maybe my preferences changed, and I'm being too harsh now. But I pulled up the picture and instantly noticed the difference. The sauce doesn't look as rich, and the flavor was off, too tangy. I would have raised this as an issue on the spot but we were more focused on each other and gave the restaurant the benefit of the doubt. I think this one occurrence has me not wanting to come here anymore. I really hope it was a one off, but it was a disappointing dish. At least their carrot cake and bread were decent. read more

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Carbone still slaps. Went with a large group the weekend after Thanksgiving. Great vibes, great service and great food. The spicy rigatoni is still my favorite dish on the menu but the meatballs are a pretty close second! read more

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Ok so everyone always talks about carbone in nyc and we finally got lunch reservations And i am telling you it's so worth it. Ambiance is great. They played oldies music. Really romantic. Service was great. They brought out salami. With garlic bread. And also mozzarella cheese. Warm in some herbs. Absolutely mouthwatering Food was simply amazing. I am not at all Italian cuisine fan. However, this food was simply the best. Meatballs fairly large and seasoned to perfection. Sauce simply unforgettable. Spicy ragatoni in vodka sauce was incredible. Oysters fresh and yummy. Salad was fresh and filling. Yellow tail special was so good. I was glad it was on chefs specials that afternoon. Such lovely experience. I am excited to go back soon. It's a busy street. Parking garage around the corner. Very convenient. read more

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The hype is real and worth it. My husband surprised me with some reservations to Carbone for some lunch. All staff were AMAZING along with their demeanor. We did arrive 30 mins early and they will seat you on your reservation time so dont even bother thinking you'll get seated earlier, because you wont. Bar area is super tiny and not a comfortable space to wait since its in the way of where the staff have to go back and forth and also there are no bar seats. We sat by the entrance but no worries, there was no draft in which I was worried that would've ruined my meal. Joey was our waiter, super enthusiastic and had a good presence. For lunch they give complimentary soppressata, warm mozzarella, and one of the best garlic bread ever. Even though it's complimentary I wish they didn't just give 2 slices. For drinks I had the margarita, I can say the bartender knows how to make a good margarita, I recommend their bc they put a nice twist on it and added cinnamon. As for food, we skipped on the apps and went right into the pastas. We ordered the must try spicy rigatoni, tortellini (under the recommendation of Joey) and Mario's meatballs. All of which hit it out of the ball park. Even though its name a spicy rigatoni, Ive had dishes before that said it was spicy and wasnt). Cooked perfectly al dente, perfectly spicy w a nice kick but not overpowering. The tortellini was succulent. Extremely soft and cheesy. Its a must. The meatballs...wow. It was topped w fried basil leaves, the sauce, the meat, that blend, how tender and soft it is. Hands down best meatball ive ever had and sad that its at a hard to get reservations restaurant because I could eat this everyday, seriously! There was absolutely no room for dessert but they gave us some complimentary rainbow cookies and it was yum. From service to food to everything, highly recommended and will absolutely come again! read more

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Really special kind of dining experience - very old school, small restaurant with amazing details like an old bar with nice seating and lamp lighting ambience, and even friendly service. I think the food was great, but it was more about the experience of being there. The focaccia and mozzarella they give for free is better than any appetizer, the Caesar salad was fine, and the vodka pasta was great. read more

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I have a bad habit of taking spontaneous trips for food based on hard to get reservations and this was one of them. I again booked the dinner before I booked the flight, so my expectations might have been blown out of proportion all things considered. Is it fair, maybe, maybe not, but I've had their Spicy Rigatoni and you haven't. JK. Its an Italian Americans version of what Italian is. Italian menu, wines, pastas, salads, antipasti (except the Chinese Chicken) from decor to service, menu. So they did pay some homage to the flavors that influence the city and not the cuisine, but not much because the Chinese Chicken doesn't taste Chinese or even Chinese American. A breaded fried cutlet with sweet and sour soy sesame glaze. It laked ginger or garlic 2 Chinese staple flavors. Great flavor, but not Chinese. I'd rather have had Hainese Chicken. Spicy Rigatoni is made famous for how luxuriously velvety using copious amounts of heavy cream and butter and an absense of EVOO to help things stick. The pasta is perfectly al dente and saltier than most dishes. The heat from the calabrian chilis is warming and lingering, normal chili flakes heighten the taste buds. There is no need for sausage like how most people eat theirs, but a side of meatballs is a nice touch as they actually lighten and cleans the palate. There is a sweetness from onions and the butter cuts the acid from the tomatos. Parm is less effective due to how much they salt everything, in a good way. I'd have liked pecorino for that pepperyness. The Veal parm was my favorite, not many places do Veal anymore and Casino was right that milk fed veal is much lighter and more tender. It's so tender it doesn't need velveting, but I wish they seasoned it more and not just the coating. Ask for a dusting of parm for the win. Lonbster ravioli is a perfectly toothsome bite every time. Tender, juicy, umami bombs. The bite of a U10 shrimp, but the chew of knuckle meat and the finish of tail. The prices are high, but the ambaince, quality make up for it. The service from the staff is excellent, they aren't snooty with dress code and know not everyone is from here as even for them reservations are still hard to get. It's a great date night becuase the flavors aren't as complex as some places and the name alone congures excellence. It's dark, white linens, lots of wood, candles and I think they pump scents into the dining room or maybe other tables just had strong perfume. It's not as hustle and bustle as some places becuase they have their systems down well in the kitchen. I'm not sure it's a must visit when in the city, but if you can get a reservation you wont be disappointed. read more

TIP: Don't skip on the Perugina Italian chocolates by the door on the way out. I got a hazelnut one in a silver wrapper that was delicious. I understand the hype now. While I can't quite give them 5 stars for my experience this time, I would still jump through the hoops of getting a reservation in the future for a special occasion. The two of us shared a spicy rigatoni, Dover piccata, fungi (mushroom) side, and chocolate cake slice, and it was definitely enough food for 2 for lunch. Each and every plate was delicious! Market price for the Dover piccata was $170 on the day we went. It was really good, but there were some small bone fragments left in the fish. read more

Carbone - Dover Picata - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

We were able to get a resy reservation for Sunday lunch. Once we arrived we had to wait around 15 minutes at the bar before getting seated. The place is very small and the drinks were decent. We ordered the chicken scarpariello, lobster ravioli, spicy rigatoni, and everything was very good. The portion size was definitely smaller than we expected. Overall we had a good time at Carbone read more

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