Carbone New York — Restaurant in New York

Carbone New York: A Culinary Ode to the Heart of Italian-America

In the heart of the city that never sleeps, where dreams are spun like sugar strands on a carnival wheel, Carbone New York emerges as a luminous star in the constellation of Italian-American cuisine. Nestled amidst the bustling streets of Greenwich Village, this eatery pulsates with the vibrant spirit of a bygone era, a time when the mob held sway, and Sinatra's croon serenaded the night.

The moment you step through the crimson-framed doorway, it's as though you've entered a time warp. The dimly lit dining room, with its red-checkered tablecloths and black-and-white photographs of mobsters and movie stars, beckons you into a world where the lines between reality and cinema blur, much like the dishes that grace your table.

Start your symphonic journey with the classic Caesar salad—a spectacle in itself. The waiter, a maestro in a white coat, assembles the ingredients before your very eyes, combining crisp Romaine lettuce, anchovies, and the perfect amount of dressing with a flourish. Each bite is a crescendo of flavor, a harmonious blend of textures that dances on your palate.

But it's the pasta that steals the spotlight. The spaghetti carbonara, swathed in a silky, golden robe of egg yolk and Pecorino Romano, achieves a sublime balance of creaminess and bite. Each strand is a serenade to the senses, a reminder of the elemental pleasure that only a masterful pasta can evoke.

The lobster fra diavolo, a fiery tempest of crustacean and chili peppers, is a testament to Carbone's commitment to bold flavors. It's a dish that flirts with danger, like a clandestine affair in a back alley, leaving your taste buds scorched and yearning for more.

As the evening unfolds, and the clinking of glasses and murmur of conversation crescendo around you, it's impossible to ignore the undeniable sense of camaraderie that Carbone fosters. The waitstaff, dressed in timeless attire, move with an effortless grace, attentive yet discreet, adding to the aura of old-world charm.

For dessert, the tiramisu is a denouement that leaves a lasting impression. Layers of mascarpone and coffee-soaked ladyfingers, dusted with cocoa powder, create a sensory symphony that lingers in your memory long after the final spoonful.

Carbone New York, in its poetic embrace of Italian-American cuisine, is a testament to the enduring allure of tradition in a world that rushes towards the future. It's a place where the ghosts of the past whisper in every bite, where the legacy of a bygone era is alive and well, waiting for you to savor it.

In the bustling streets of the Village, where the city's pulse thrums with life, Carbone New York stands as a culinary sanctuary, a place where time slows, and the flavors of Italian-America resonate in a harmony that transcends the ordinary. It's a restaurant that invites you to dine, not just on food, but on the rich tapestry of history, culture, and tradition that defines Italian-American cuisine.

So, if you find yourself wandering through the labyrinthine streets of Manhattan, craving a taste of nostalgia, make your way to Carbone New York. It's more than a meal; it's a culinary poem, a love letter to the enduring spirit of Italian-America. And in every dish, in every bite, you'll find a glimpse of the timeless magic that defines this...

You guys will likely never understand the sheer willpower and determination it took to not open this review with a Drake lyric, and I just want my pat on the back. Thank you.

After loosely trying to get a res here for years, we finally got it. Shoutout to my girl Nicole K. on Yelp. She really the plug. I seen she always be in here and asked her how. She flexed up on me and said "You want one? I got you." DAMN, SHE'S LIKE THAT.

Walking into Carbone, I actually felt like the MAN. Was the Drake line "Last table left in Carbone callin plays on a rotary phone," on repeat in my head while walking in? Yes. Yes it was. But it's lowkey been on repeat in my head since 2017 so whatever.

But yeah, right upon entry, I got it. Vibes are IMMACULATE. I'm checking in at the host stand with a classy Italian dude in a beautiful navy blue pinstripe suit, Frank Sinatra playing through the speakers, a vintage Italian decor with low lit lighting, customers dressed to the nines, etc. Just everything you could want out of an experience like this.

We sat down and I wasn't gonna drink, but that glass of Chianti Classico was looking at me soooooo crazy... I folded like a lawn chair ahahaa.

As we were scanning the menu-PLOP! The waiter puts down a basket of bread, a plate of cold cuts, and some pickled cauliflower. This was lowkey a lot of food for just being on the house, I was JUICED. My roommate (Former USC Basketball Superstar) and I tore into this leaving no remnants of any food, we gettin our money's worth ahahahaa.

We both ordered the Spicy Rigatoni and opted to split the meatballs. I almost went with the Lobster Ravioli, but idk. Maybe I'm CRAZY, but lobster just doesn't really do it for me like that. Y'all know Lobster used to be prison & peasant food? What a crazy come up Lobster had lmao. I'm tryna be like Lobster.

The Spicy Rigatoni, as pictured on your friends instagram stories every time they go to Carbone, was delicious and worth every last bit of hype. The Carbone Spicy Rigatoni has to be the world's most photographed pasta.

It's a top 10 plate of pasta I've ever had. Number 1 is easily the Penne Alla Vodka from Alla Vecchia Bettola in Florence, though. That's the LeBron of the pasta game. Oh you haven't been to Florence??? COULDN'T BE ME!

After we demolished the meatballs, I noticed the veal parmesan getting delivered to the table next to us and got the worst FOMO you could ever imagine, as it looked unreal. I can only equate it to the level of FOMO when I was in high school and I saw my close friends all out at a party I wasn't invited to in the back of someone's snapchat story..... No? Just me? Oof.

We were essentially the last table left in this place, with my roommate actually making some business calls on the rotary phone lol it was pretty cool... He does work at Bloomberg though, so.... I ordered a glass of Domina to go with me home.

Typically restaurants that I have high expectations for let me down worse than Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods, but Carbone exceeded them, and quite easily. They got 5 stars in the holy trinity of the food industry: Great food, great ambiance, and great service. It really is that simple at the end of the day. BELIEVE THE HYPE!

IG @jnov_ Tiktok...

I really, Really, REALLY wanted to be unimpressed by Carbone. If you've ever tried to get a reservation there, you know why. To say it is difficult is an understatement. However, I was able to snag a reservation on my birthday, which was perfect because my wife was really looking forward to it. I warned her in advance: don't get your hopes up...we've been to several 3 Star Michelin restaurants and hype-y places tend to be overrated. That was my wishful thinking and goodness, was I wrong.

First, the atmosphere. Close but not cramped. Well-decorated. And enough room on the table to actually eat.

Second, and definitely the most important other than the food, is the service. When a restaurant is popular, the staff can get a bit snooty. When a restaurant has enjoyed the massive popularity for the time Carbone has enjoyed it, I expected nothing less than inattentive waitstaff at best and maybe even rude at worst. Again, Carbone proved me wrong.

From the host stand to the waiters to the manager coming by to check on us and engage us in conversation the entire time, it literally (as in, the accurate use of that word) made us feel like family. To say everyone was friendly and helpful would be an understatement. The people at the table adjoining us were enjoying their meal and the lady, in her excitement was taking pictures of the surroundings. The staff jumped right in and helped her take pictures and took pictures of her and her husband. The entire house had an amazing vibe as a result of the staff and we left there feeling like we had made friends.

Third, the food. Look, like I said before I wanted it to be "meh." Why? Because this place is hard to book and I wanted to not want to eat there again. But dang it, the food was incredible. So much so that we "over ordered" for the two of us and still ate every single morsel until we were completely fat, dumb, and happy.

I'm not a foodie so I can't tell you every last detail of every course we had...you can read all about that in hundreds of other reviews.

But what I will say is that Carbone is one of those places you believe (and in my case, hope) is just another popular spot that doesn't live up to the frenzy...and then it easily does and the memory of that meal and experience stays with you forever.

Thank you to the staff and management of Carbone for making my birthday meal very special. And darn you because now every time I'm in the city I'm going to have to play the reservation game to get a table because I will be back...