Annalise W.

I had a weekend dinner reservation for two. Overall I think this is a good local neighborhood spot, but I'm not sure I'd travel too far to dine here if I lived in the city, as there are better Italian options. Ambiance / Service: casual, but warm and cozy. Good spot for a date night. I also saw someone celebrate a birthday (they bring out a giant sparkler which is fun). Service was good, just a bit slow. Food: ordered the below split amongst two people. -Garlic Twists: comes with two. I enjoyed. -Caesar: dressing was more vinegar-y and less garlicky creamy Caesar. But I still enjoyed. -Calamari (fried): this was a special. What you'd expect calamari to taste like, crunchy and well seasoned. -Casarecce: not spicy. Creamy. Crab is shredded versus lumps of meat. It needed a bit more salt, but I enjoyed and would order again. -Ricotta Gnocchi: this was a standout dish. It's creamy and melts in your mouth, has a sweetness to it, and you can really taste the butternut squash. Perfect seasonal dish for the fall / winter. -Chicken Parm: saucy and generous portion. If getting other mains, you could easily split among three people. Comes with a small arugula salad. Needed more salt, but I still enjoyed it. -Tiramisu: classic. Delicious. Great to share with someone else.

Rachel G.

We stopped by for dinner on a recent summer weekend. Luckily we came early and was able to walk in for a table on the sidewalk. Since it was our first time at Cafe Spaghetti, we ordered several dishes to share. Started with the cacio e pepe rice balls, which had a creamy, cheesy interior and a crunchy exterior. Next was the seasonal mezzi rigatoni with a cream sauce and summer corn, cherry tomatoes and scallions. It was a perfect summer pasta and my favorite dish from the meal. We also ordered the spaghetti alle vongole with red sauce. It came topped with a lot of clams and was a comforting classic dish. Lastly, we tried the chicken parmigiana which came with a side of arugula salad. The two large pieces of chicken were topped with marinara, cheese and basil. It was cooked well, but I prefer chicken parmigiana to be thinner. We were too full to get dessert so we definitely need to come back to try the tiramisu!

Peter D.

I'm a big fan of Swoony's, the younger sister to this Italian hotspot, so it was about time I came and tried the original restaurant from these fine folks. With a beautiful enclosed backyard, it's an excellent choice for a weekday lunch in nice weather (closed Mondays). I met a couple friends back there, and after chatting with our nice server (the same one I've had at Swoony's) we enjoyed some cocktails and wine, and looked over the menu. We weren't feeling like pasta and sandwiches, so we just ordered all the antipasto and a caesar salad. And by all the antipasto, I mean the olives, the cacio e pepe arancini, the meatballs in sugo, the ricotta crostini, the brussel sprouts, the mozzarella en carrozza, and the fried potatoes. And it was good. I'm usually a big fan of starters, and the ricotta crostini was everything I wanted it to be. Mozzarella en carrozza is just a fancy grown-up mozzarella stick, and I mean that in a very complimentary way (especially with that calabrian chili). The brussels were a bit of a disappointment in the flavor department, but everything else mostly hit the spot. All in all, a very nice lunch if you can swing it. I think I'll need to come back for a proper, pasta-heavy dinner, but so far I like the vibe here.

Kayla H.

It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. I had the vodka pasta with a chicken cutlet and the seafood pasta option. Both lacked flavor and depth that I was looking for in a good pasta. My entire party also agreed that the food was just ok. I wouldn't particularly come back unless someone insisted. The outside patio was cute though. The decor of the restaurant was extremely cozy during winter time.

Tati C.

My experience here was nice, when we got there it was pretty empty but soon filled up as it must be a neighborhood favorite. We sat in the backyard that is now covered, not sure if they remove it to let some sun in during peak summer. It had air conditioning so I'd assume maybe not. The menu has changed from previous photos I've seen on here and google, not sure if it's seasonal. But they had great choices with a special dish of the day. Get the Garlic Twists! We got it as an appetizer and got it for our meal as well because it was so good. We also ordered baked clams, casarecce crab which has alil spice to it, and the spaghetti alla vonogle - all great flavor. My favorite was the crab pasta and twists of course. I mistakenly ordered the desert thinking it was a sorbet but it sadly was not. It taste okay, I'm not usually a fan of lemon cake/tarts but loveeee sorbet so I was hoping for a limoncello one similar to Italy. They had a cute Vespa bike in the backyard that a few kids were taking pictures by. All and all the vibes were chill and very family like. I'd be back again for some more pasta if in the area

Bonnie G.

Pretty good! Such a dreamy summer night. 5/5 front and backyard outdoor seating, dog friendliness, and kindness of everyone who works there. 4/5 on the food, with half our dishes being delicious but too salty (the baked clams and the fusilli bolognese). The crab pasta was creamy and a real treat, while the garlic twists are great but nothing groundbreaking, same with the spumoni. Nonetheless, such a relaxing evening dining there and would try their sister restaurant Swoony's around the corner next.

Michael G.

What a hidden gem in Brooklyn! To think Italian is the same everywhere you go is to not understand what Cafe Spaghetti brings to the table. From the food to the service to the ambiance it all comes together for a trifecta of an experience. If you can request Wes to be your server (never have met someone with so much care and attention to their craft) The restaurant is a beautiful place that feels like a home in Naples which is inviting and feels cozy. Was able to get a table within a few moments and was seated in the garden it's a beautiful environment with tables that feel like you're transported to Naples and sitting under a garden itself. There is a beautiful Vespa in the middle which only furthers the intentionality of this place to bring that home feeling. Now let's get into the service. The menu which is seemingly simple really packs a punch between an antipasti, a pasta and a main dish. For some it may seem overwhelming as all looks amazing. We were fortunate enough to have Wes guide us through this menu and provide recommendations. These recommendations did not disappoint at all. Wes was mindful of us the whole night which made a full restaurant feel intimate and cared for. Wes was a highlight of this restaurant and made the night that much more enjoyable Now time for the food began with a Cesar Romana and the flavor profile on this was amazing. The dressing is not overwhelming and each shred of lettuce was coated in this amazing toasted croutons and light coating of the dressing. It seemed so unexpected yet pack a punch! Def worth a try. We had the meatballs which comes in a plate of three and if you are coming by yourself I would recommend get the order. They are tender and not overcooked in a sauce that is unforgettable. The portion size is great and brings a great start to the meal. The mozzarella in carrozo is what took the antipasto over the top. The lemon wedge is not a mere suggestion but a portal to the next level of this dish. It is light and filling at the same time which opens up your appetite for more. For the main I ordered the fusilli with bolognese which has to be my favorite bolognese sauce ever. The fusilli was the perfect transporter of flavor and held the sauce so well in a way that could not be done in any other way again. The sauce so decadent yet so light making you feel full yet craving more. It is a dish that on its own would be worth the trip out here. The dessert was the icing on the cake (pun intended) it was a cannoli that held its own. A filling that is light and airy but also flavorful in the same manner. The shell tastes as fresh as perhaps being made moments before being served perfectly crisp and flavorful. The tiramisu felt like a bite of heaven. It is a bite that tastes like nothing I have had before it is creamy and decadent yet light at the same time I would say the perfect storm for a flavor profile that would not be forgotten. Overall this is the place you have to be! Can't wait to come back again. Thank you Cafe Spaghetti and thank you Wes for this experience that made me have hope for Italian dining in NYC again

Natalia G.

Fun vibe, we came here based on yelp reviews. My rigatoni was so delicious and creamy with a big portion to stuff me. His gnocchi was sweet from the butternut squash and a much smaller portion. Forgot to take pics of our burrata and focaccia appetizer was a 10/10, but again such a small plate.

Madison R.

The food here was absolutely amazing, every dish we had was fantastic and so flavorful. The BREAD!! It was some of the best garlic bread I've ever had. The staff was also very nice and the ambiance is what drove me to try this place - it did not disappoint.

Millicent L.

I really enjoyed Cafe Spaghetti! It was my first time eating here and the food was pretty amazing! The drinks were good, the atmosphere was amazing and the service was great! I highly recommend.

Alex H.

Café Spaghetti in Carroll Gardens is an Italian restaurant with a spacious back patio that channels the essence of an Italian summer. We came for dinner and began our meal with the meatballs, fennel salad, cacio e Pepe rice balls and my favorite of the starters, the ricotta crostini topped with truffle honey, hazelnut and rosemary. For entrees we ordered three of the pastas, the mezze rigatoni with crab and spicy garlic crema, ricotta gnocchi, and my favorite dish of the night, the ziti with creamy corn ragu and cherry tomatoes. The dish epitomized summer. We also had the chrome scampi and chicken Milanese which was enormous, pounded flat and fried to perfection topped with arugula and a lemon wedge. Dessert was a generous slice of tiramisu and strawberry sorbet. This is one of our favorite neighborhood restaurant that's fairly priced

Bryce W.

My fiancé and I finally broke out of our habitual eating habits for the month and checked out this local Italian spot that looked very good from pics (and passed my fiancé's routine ambiance check) and it very much lived up to expectations! I have to start with the garlic bread / twists first. They were AMAZING. They only provide two pieces of bread with the order which is bordering on criminal but the taste mostly makes up for the scarcity. For our main entrees, I ordered the chicken parm and my fiancé had the fusilli and both were great! But don't just take my word for it - check out my third pic (empty plate baby - they caught me on a hungry night with a clean conscience). The service was great as well. Our only qualm for the dinner was where they seated us in the front - right against a parking meter and next to a car parked along the curb. We're at a local NYC restaurant so we know this come with the territory and admittedly it did not bother us too much but we would have enjoyed the ambience slightly better in their backyard area which was fully booked for the evening.