Iconic, glitzy Italian-American spot w/ cinematic red-sauce vibe. Spicy rigatoni & Caesar salad are must-tries, but expect tough reservations & high prices.
Carbone is a highly sought-after Greenwich Village Italian restaurant, known for its cinematic dining room and popular dishes like spicy rigatoni vodka and veal parm.
Discover Carbone, a glitzy Italian restaurant that's a nostalgic ode to red sauce relics. With its moody ambiance, tableside preparations, and upscale Italian-American classics, it's a pricey but satisfying experience.
CARBONE offers a highly sought-after Italian-American dining experience in a retro, glamorous setting. While some find it overhyped and pricey, many praise the consistently good quality of its red-sauce classics, especially the spicy rigatoni vodka and Caesar salad. The "cinematic" atmosphere and potential for celebrity sightings contribute to its iconic status, though securing a reservation remains a significant challenge.
CARBONE is celebrated for its upscale Italian-American cuisine, particularly its "red sauce" staples. The spicy rigatoni vodka is frequently lauded as a standout dish, as is the Caesar salad. Other praised items include the lobster ravioli, tortellini al ragu, and complimentary starters like fresh mozzarella and salami. Some diners found dishes like the pork chops and broccolini to be less impressive, and a few criticized the food as "mid" or not worth the price compared to other Italian options.
"The spicy rigatoni vodka is frequently highlighted as a must-try dish, praised for its creamy sauce. Other popular recommendations include the Caesar salad, veal parm, lobster ravioli, and the complimentary bread basket with salami and mozzarella."
Customer feedback is largely positive, with many praising the food quality and "operatic atmosphere." However, a significant portion of reviews mention that the restaurant is overhyped, overpriced, and difficult to get into.
Important Note
Reservations are notoriously difficult to secure, often requiring booking well in advance. Some diners find the restaurant to be overhyped and overpriced for the quality of food, especially when compared to other Italian options in the city. The restaurant also received a 'B' health inspection grade at one point, which some patrons consider a significant deterrent.
"This user pointed out that Carbone has a 'B' health inspection grade according to the city's website."
Negative"This user believes Carbone is still very solid, despite receiving some negative online attention, and that both Carbone and Don Angie serve excellent food."
Positive"This user advises against dining at Carbone, stating there are many superior options in NYC."
Negative"This user found Carbone to be 'meh'."
Negative"This comment notes that Semma is also in the 'B' health rating category."
Neutral"This user describes Carbone as a 'Bravo TV show cast member ass restaurant'."
Negative"Carbone has a 'B' health rating."
Negative"The user had a very expensive meal at Carbone with some of the worst service experienced in fine dining, and the food was only 'okay'."
Negative"While acknowledging Carbone refused Justin Bieber a table, the user implies this is a positive point but doesn't elaborate on other reasons for dislike."
Neutral"This user lists Carbone as a 'nemesis spot'."
Negative"This commenter believes all ground-floor NYC restaurants have vermin, and 'A' rated ones are just better at hiding it."
Neutral"A brief comment stating that Carbone is not very good."
Negative"A user posted an emoji-fied version of the restaurant name 'Carbone'."
Neutral"In response to a comment about 'B' ratings, this user stated they would not patronize a restaurant without an 'A' rating."
Neutral"This user reported a personal experience of seeing a large cockroach at Carbone three years prior to the comment."
Negative"This user offered a hot take that food tastes better at restaurants with a 'B' health rating compared to 'A' ratings."
Neutral"This user argued that Carbone used to be about both food and scene, but has since prioritized separating people from their money."
Negative"This commenter expressed skepticism about Carbone being "ritzy" and questioned the value of their dishes."
Negative"A user sarcastically listed a menu of dishes with humorous, health-code-related names for Carbone."
Negative"One user questioned the "ritzy" nature of Carbone, calling it a chain serving meatballs."
Negative
