It has been a while since I wanted to try Carbone, the Italian restaurant of Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick. This popular place, that lost its Michelin star in 2022, is like stepping in an episode of The Godfather, from the decor in the back room to the Italian music playing in the background.

Serving family style dishes, seeing plates passing by makes your mouth water and you may observe the staff preparing the Caesar salad on a cart, like you would look at someone making guacamole table side in a Mexican restaurant. After ordering, they brought to the table some bread, with some salami and mozzarella (so good and creamy) that is always a nice touch.

I started the meal with their Carpaccio Piemontese where the thin slices of raw beef are topped with a truffle emulsion, toasted walnuts, shallots, chives, mushrooms, arugula and olive oil. Definitely a portion to share, it was good, with a nice crunch from the walnuts and mushroom, but the toppings overpowered a bit the meat.

Jodi ordered their eggplant and zucchini scapece, a dish made with roasted eggplant and zucchini, topped with ricotta and parmesan, with few mint leaves. Refreshing, this is a delicious dish that I wish I would find in more restaurants, better in my opinion than eggplant rollatini.

Of course, I could not not order their spicy vodka rigatoni that contributed to their fame! And I admit that it is well deserved: that dish is simply divine. It is spicy for sure and quite comforting at the same time, the generous amount of sauce bathing pasta as well as onions. This is a must try if you go there.

We were too full to have dessert after such a feast and it is too bad, because I am sure that their tiramisu is worth the trip. After dining there, I understand why Carbone, besides being the go to place for celebrities, has gained its fame. I would definitely go back and this time try their Linguine alle Vongole that is one of my favorites, although the rigatoni, lighting my mouth on fire were pretty darn good!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Carbone - 181 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012

Carbone in NYC, NY

I Just Want To Eat!