Once again I find myself here. After a month married, my wife and I wanted to do a mini celebration. What better place than the best restaurant in our neighborhood. We head over around 6p, no res. Seated immediately outside. I double up this time...tortelloni di michael AND the bucatini carbonara. I've gotten both items before but you know, when in Ballston. As always, amazing service, amazing people, amazing food, amazing vibes. We had a small chat with the outside manager and he was great too. Our server even tossed us a tiramisu on the house to celebrate the occasion. Love this place and can't wait to go back. read more

Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Two Haiku Review: Finally tried here, Ordered the bolognese and The calamari, Really liked the squid! Great vibe and not too pricey. Service was good too. read more

Carbonara is one of the hottest reservations since they opened a few years back and you can never get a resy on short notice. The wife reserved a few months back so we were finally able to make it. Love the vibe with old school Frank Sinatra tunes being played. There is also patio dining and an open bar area for al fresco dining/drinking. You must order the Chicken Parm and the Bucatini Carbonara. We are big Chicken Parm fans and their rendition is legit...the chicken is pounded thin and fried nicely and then they pour the cheese and sauce over it tableside. Nice show. The Bucatini is an even better show as they roll over the cheese wheel and light the cheese on fire...then take perfectly cooked Bucatini pasta and coat it with cheesy sauce in the wheel. Fire... Carbonara reminds me of the old school, red sauce joints of my childhood in Brooklyn. Solid, tasty Italian American dishes without the pretentiousness of more "fancy" Italian restaurants. We plan on being regulars...assuming we'll be able to get a reservation. read more

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Carbonara was put on my radar by a close New York friend who said we should check out this Italian restaurant for its viral vodka sauce chicken parm. We had the pleasure of being served by Cody who really knew the menu in and out and was really helpful in making our dining experience outstanding. We started with mussels in white wine which were terrific, they were clean tasting with a rich and delicious sauce. We had the "viral vodka chicken parm" for our entree. They serve a plate table-side with a naked crispy chicken cutlet and your pasta and then they pour à la vodka sauce with melted cheese over the chicken. It's really a terrific presentation and the dish is nicely presented. The chicken cutlet was thick and juicy, the crust was crispy and the sauce was thick and delicious. If you want to be part of the hype then give it a try for yourself. read more

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Second time visiting carbonara and really enjoyed it. I especially like the outside seating option. Food is good quality overall. All the pasta dishes I've tried so far have been good, the only one I disliked was the table side pasta dish with the cheese wheel. I didn't think the taste was good on that and would not recommend that dish. The best dish was the chicken parmigiana which was perfectly crispy with a tasty vodka sauce. Dessert options were good too, we had the table side tiramisu which was really nice alongside the lemon cake. Would come back again! read more

Carbonara - SPICY RIGATONI ALLA VODKA CHICKEN PARMIGIANA ALLA VODKA CAPELLINI POMODORO BURATTA DI MOZZARELLA ALLA CAPRESE - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

After a demanding work week, the last thing I felt like doing was going out. Sensing I needed a lift in spirits, my date suggested we try, once again, to get into Carbonara. He joked that the fourth try would be the charm, and even though I didn't believe we'd actually get seats, I went along with the idea. The restaurant was bustling when we arrived. Walking in was a treat in itself. I loved seeing the fresh pasta being made and watching beautiful plates of food being whisked past us to eager diners. Then, to my surprise, we found two seats at the bar! Once we settled in, I began to relax and enjoy the smooth sounds of a singer performing classic Frank Sinatra standards. It created the perfect atmosphere. The drinks were excellent, and refreshingly not tiny. Our bread basket arrived soon after, and the focaccia I had with olive tapenade was chewy, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. My date ordered the spicy rigatoni alla vodka with chicken, which was delicious. But I have to say, I out-ordered him with my chicken parmigiana alla vodka. The preparation was impressive: the chicken had a beautifully crispy sear, the mozzarella was melted separately, and then the molten cheese was poured over the chicken tableside. Watching it happen made the dish feel even more special--and it tasted incredible. My only disappointment is that I wanted to try the meatballs and the Bucatini Carbonara but both had pork in them. It would be nice if the restaurant offered pork-free versions of those dishes. The food was amazing, the vibe was lively, and the whole evening turned my mood completely around. I skipped dessert only because I had happily eaten so much of my dinner. Five stars all the way! A wonderful experience and absolutely worth the wait. read more

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Carbonara is not just a restaurant to eat excellent food but an experience. We were able to snag a last minute reservation as we wanted to try the Bucatini Carbonara Table Side as that is a dish the are know for. Started with the Meatball Parmigiana Egg Rolls which were good but the best app was the Baked Clams. Our table ordered the Carbonara, Bolognese and Ziti Primavera. Each dish is made with fresh pasta which steps this place apart. During the meal the Manager Ethan ensured we were enjoying ourselves and if we needed anything else. We throughly enjoyed the dishes and moved onto a dessert of Cannoli's & Cookies & Cream Gelato. The restaurant is very modern and from our entry through dessert we were treated like family. Highly recommend make reservations in advance as Carbonara is very busy. read more

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I was a bit skeptical going to Carbonara because it has been all over Instagram, but it was actually incredible. To start the dinner they offer you a piece of prosciutto before walking to your table. They give you free bread for the table that was so good, I had to stop eating it so I'd have space for the meal. I went with a group, so we shared a bunch of items. I loved the chicken parmigiana, which they topped with cheese at the table. The spicy rigatoni was one of the best that I've had, it had a good kick while also having good flavor. The Caesar salad had chunks of Parmesan and pancetta, definitely an elevated Caesar salad. The service was great, and the food came out quickly. Highly recommend making a reservation early because they book out. I will be back! read more

Carbonara - ITALIAN CRÈME BRÛLÉE CHEESECAKE - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

There are winter nights when stepping outside feels like a negotiation with the wind. And then there are nights when you land at Carbonara snag an outdoor table, and realize you have outwitted the season. The heat lamps were working overtime, wrapping the patio in a soft halo of warmth. The service was impeccable. I truly wish I could remember our server's name because he deserves a standing ovation. His enthusiasm while describing the specials was not rehearsed or rushed. It was thoughtful, almost storytelling. You could tell he believed in every dish he mentioned. He was juggling a lot of tables, yet somehow made each one feel like the only one. And the support staff moved with speed and grace, refilling, clearing, checking in. The whole team functioned like a well tuned orchestra. You can absolutely tell this place cares about service. Now the food. Stunning. The crab ravioli was rich and delicate at once, almost like a luxurious crab cake tucked into silk. The clams were briny and bright, the kind that demand extra bread so nothing goes to waste. ANNNND they had a delicious mocktail menu!!! I loved the espresso martini sans booze. But the true spectacle was the carbonara. It arrived with a massive cheese wheel that was set aflame, a brief, theatrical burst of firelight that turned heads across the patio. Then the pasta was swirled directly inside, soaking up all that molten, nutty goodness. It was dinner and a show, and the flavor absolutely delivered on the drama. Warm patio, flawless service, unforgettable pasta. Winter can keep trying. We will be back. read more

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First time here and the food was pretty good. I wasn't too hungry so I didn't get anything crazy. The service was okay. There is a lot of seating inside and some outside. It's a nice spot in Ballston to grab some pasta if you're craving it. The lemonade was pretty sour. read more

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I will endeavor to give this review a fair and unbiased opinion. 4000 plus reviews may dispute me but I know my food/restaurants thoroughly on top of cooking Italian food from scratch at home including my sauces. Having been to both Italy and traveled all over the US, I have experienced dining at both incredible and terrible Italian eateries. My wife is also from New York City and we are there frequently with at least one Italian dinner on the itinerary so both of us are well versed with the cuisine. Recently on a trip to Mexico City I stumbled across an Italian restaurant which matched the quality of what I have had in Europe which is a rarity so the mark or expectation for me is always high. When I see a restaurant with 4.8 stars, my immediate reaction is okay let's see what this is all about and this was my wife's birthday dinner to compound the expectation. We arrived at the restaurant and expected a brief wait which was no problem because I anticipated it owing to its popularity on social media and Google. After being seated, the customary water found its way to our table. This is where things started to go downhill because it took almost 15 minutes for a server to show up at our table and I usually decide my tip right at the outset of how long the initial service takes. Now I won't fault the server because he was incredibly nice but service was definitely lagging from the beginning. Appetizer - we ordered the burrata to share and I wanted to try the octopus. A burrata salad is part of every Italian meal I cook so I was judging and my verdict is that it was boring. Burrata cheese is supposed to be rich in flavor paired with the right tomatoes and balsamic glaze and olive oil and this simply didn't hit the mark. The octopus however was well prepared although it was a case of Ursula drowning in red sauce and bell peppers. Less is more but nonetheless the main star was good. The bread was just meh cold and where was my olive oil and vinegar? Entrees - eggplant Parmesan for my wife, baked ziti for the kids and I went for the king of the sea linguine cardinale which if I am not mistaken, was one of the most expensive dishes on the menu. Eggplant Parmesan according to my wife was soggy and the breading was lost in the thickness of the cheese and she ended up barely eating it. Ziti the kids enjoyed but it doesn't take a lot to please two toddlers especially when it's pasta and tomato sauce gravy à la Paulie Walnuts Gaultieri (for the Sopranos fans). The king of the sea linguine cardinale featuring some of the cast of The Little Mermaid was disappointing for being such a pricy dish. The dish lacked salt, pasta was a little watery and aside from the lobster and shrimp being decent (I wasn't aware there was a shortage of shellfish considering I counted 3 shrimp and 4 small lobster pieces), the scallops and mussels were substandard. I grew up on the shores of the Indian Ocean and have been eating seafood since I was 5 so I can't be fooled on seafood quality. The dish certainly isn't worth $49. Again, the server was incredibly nice but brought the incorrect bottled water and when I am paying extra for a bottle, I don't expect a careless mistake. It also took ages for us to get the crushed red pepper and salt and drinks. The meal was $193 plus tip and in my opinion it wasn't worth it. I've dined at eateries in DC and paid a fraction of the price for better food. My wife put it perfectly - Carbonara is a dart board without a bullseye to make a mark and inspire one to return which we won't unfortunately. read more

Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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This place is a 10 out of 10 -- but definitely book a reservation ahead of time! Everything we had was so good. We started with the espresso martini flight (s'mores, pistachio, and tiramisu). The s'mores was our least favorite, but the pistachio and tiramisu were delicious. For appetizers, we got the calamari. I personally would've liked it a little crispier, but my date thought it was great. Of course, we had to order the chicken parm -- and wow. They pour the alla vodka sauce tableside straight from the pan, which makes the whole experience even better. It was truly amazing. I ordered the King of the Sea linguine. It had huge chunks of lobster, which was impressive. The shrimp wasn't super flavorful on its own, but it was good dipped in the sauce. For dessert, we tried the cheesecake crème brûlée. It was alright -- I was really hoping to crack into that crème brûlée top myself! Shoutout to our server, Cepheus. We were very indecisive, and he was extremely helpful, giving great insight and personal recommendations that really helped us choose. Also -- the portions may look small in pictures, but they are actually huge! We will definitely be back! read more

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It was a very nice place to have meals. The parking could be a small issue but we were lucky to find one spot. Dishes were great. We were very excited when we saw our pasta burning inside the huge round cheese! But I wish it had more flavor, salt and black pepper. It really was plain and the pasta was a bit over cooked. Other dishes like salad, calamari and fish were good. We especially liked the calamari. It was with some paprika and was tasty! Inside decoration was very nice, comfortable seats. Our server was friendly too. read more

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The ambiance of the restaurant was nice. However, it was very crowded and not a lot of space to walk around inside. The food was alright and the servers were pretty nice, just not super attentive. The food looked a lot better online than it tasted in real life. read more

Carbonara - NONA'S MEATBALLS & CHICKEN PARMIGIANA ALLA VODKA - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Carbonara exceeded all of our expectations. After booking a table for nearly a month out (large party), we were so excited when the day finally came. You start off with some fresh prosciutto upon entry as well as bread brought to the table. We had three appetizers: the arancini, the Brooklyn Caesar salad, and the arancini. The salad was truly a must get, and I also loved the arancini. We split a bunch of entrees but you of course need the table side carbonara and the chicken parmigiana. The spicy rigatoni is also a can't miss. Service was fast and friendly, our water glasses were never empty. Lots of Tupperware and individual bags brought out for leftovers. I'd recommend splitting an app and entree if you go, or just bringing a large group and sharing a ton. We WILL be back! read more

I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a couple of years, and after a few twists and turns, we finally made it--and it was absolutely worth the wait. We attempted to come back in January, but my birthday reservation was accidentally booked for the wrong weekend, so we had to pivot and make other plans. Fast forward to now, and the long-anticipated visit exceeded every expectation. The parking lot was full, so we parked in a nearby garage and took a quick three-minute walk to the restaurant. As soon as we arrived for our 2 p.m. reservation, we were warmly greeted and promptly seated. The restaurant was buzzing with happy diners, and everywhere you looked there were beautiful plates of pasta making their way through the room. Our server, Julia, was fantastic--attentive, knowledgeable, and happy to explain the menu and offer recommendations since it was our first visit. We started with the mozzarella in carrozza, and wow. This was hands down the BEST fried mozzarella I've ever had. Each piece was massive, perfectly fried, and the vodka sauce took it to another level. For my entrée, I went back and forth between the viral chicken parmigiana alla vodka and the tableside bucatini carbonara, but the chicken parmigiana won--and it did not disappoint. It was absolutely delicious, packed with flavor, and looked just as good as it tasted. My boyfriend ordered the spicy rigatoni alla vodka and cleaned his plate completely. We finished with the pistachio ricotta dusted cake for dessert. It was light yet rich, and the perfect palate cleanser after all that vodka sauce goodness. Overall, 10/10 experience. Social media did not deceive us--amazing food, amazing service, and a meal we'll be thinking about for a long time. We will definitely be back. read more

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Yummy, yummy!!! Saw this place on Tik Tok and made a reservation for myself and my date to experience! Service was top tier! Warmers upon entry which is so nice with this extremely cold weather! Pasta is all homemade and your plate comes out piping hot and fresh! Sooooo good!! We had a pleather of options! Apps consisted of arancini balls and the bacon wrapped shrimp oreganata! Both were good, especially those shrimp! We of course grabbed the chicken parm and I had the king of the sea linguine cardinale which was packed with fresh seafood! Scallops, mussels, shrimp and lobster! The sauce was so good and not too heavy, which is what I was looking for! Definitely plotting to revisit when back in the area! Thank you, Carbonara!! read more

Carbonara - CHICKEN PARMIGIANA ALLA VODKA King of the sea linguini cardinale - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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This is a really great classic Italian spot! They have a lot of standard pastas and the portions are solid. We got the chicken parmesan, meatballs and the arancini. The meatballs and arancini were both delicious and the red sauce is perfect. The sauce on the chicken parm was cheesier than I preferred but still a very solid dish overall! Would recommend this place if you're looking for a family restaurant type atmosphere read more

Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Food 4.0/5.0 Service 3.5/5.0 Value 3.5/5.0 Decor 3.5/5.0 Overall 4.0/5.0 Very good spot. The pasta is pretty legit, the carbonara is good, and the chicken parm is good. The tiramisu was the only item that didn't really work... it's a decent concept to try to create a little show by 'making' the product in front of you, but the reality is that you really do need to soak the ladyfingers for a tiramisu to be a tiramisu -- they should change this. Wouldn't go out of my way to eat there, but wouldn't have an issue going back if in the neighborhood. read more

Personally I'd probably give the food 3.5 stars. I did do take out so possibly the presentation is better in the restaurant. Things they did well: frito misto was very tasty, had a good crunch and calamari was soft and tender. The chicken parm was very good. Great portion, tender chicken and I did like the pasta that came alongside. The broccolini was a highlight. Tender and flavorful. Negatives: The pasta sauce was very basic. I was hoping for something better than say Maggiano's but unfortunately it's just all right. Meatballs were not good at all. To be honest, they basically tasted like frozen meatballs you can get anywhere. And finally the arancini was also a bust. I've had arancini from Palermo, Sicily so maybe I'm biased but this is not made correctly and also is not flavorful at all. None of it made sense- the inside mixture, peas too hard, and barely any Arborio rice? It just tasted like cornmeal. Would skip it. I guess I was just expecting more after reading some of the reviews. So I guess I'm still searching for a better than ever Italian place in Northern Virginia.... Search goes on! read more

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I've been waiting to try this place for a while, but it's hard to get a reservation! A group of us went early Saturday night and the food was delicious, the service was great, and someone came to sing and play the piano at night. For a new place that has a lot of reservations, I didn't feel rushed to leave which I really appreciated. I would go again! read more

Carbonara - Chicken parm - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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The ambiance is got alot energy, the decor very cousi, the food it's very is delicious, and the way they serve it is a show it self, my server was Caillin very Knowledgeable with the menu, she provided a wonderful experience, when we spending money, we need all the above. read more

I love this place. I've been twice and the food and drinks are really good. The decor is also super cute and zero complaints about the service. One of my favorite Italian options in the area. Highly suggest checking it out. read more

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If you're looking for amazing Italian food that also comes with experience this is the spot! I attempted to make reservations but it was fully booked so took our chances walking in and was accommodated! I don't believe they have parking so plan to find street parking or maybe a garage. Located in the Ballston area of Arlington. When walking in we discovered the restaurant was decked out in Christmas decor, super nice! It was perfect for photos and I loved that and you can find it throughout the restaurant creating a festive vibe. We ordered a new appetizer which was fried calamari, shrimp, and scallops. We had the famous Chicken parmigiana à la vodka. It was crispy, flavorful, and cheesy! They put the hot cheese with sauce on top of the chicken at the table so you know it was served hot. We added shrimp to it which paired really well! It was a nice serving of chicken and pasta. We also had the bucatini pasta which came with ham which was crispy and salty. It was finished with a flame cheese wheel at our table. Our server was attentive, friendly, and helpful. Will definitely be returning to this one and add it to your list for a nice dinner experience! read more

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Went for a birthday dinner and had a wonderful experience. Server was exceptional and made us so comfortable while giving us space to enjoy the night. Food: - Aranchini- one of the best I've ever had. Comes with 4 pieces. - Bucatini Carbonara comes with a cheese wheel performance haha. Incredibly cheesy yet clean. - Pappardelle Amalfi was the perfect balance of rose sauce, with great noodles and sauce. Highly recommend making a reservation, as they do get busy especially for dinner. Street parking along the back of the restaurant and in an alley across the street read more

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Easily my new favorite Italian restaurant. I am Italian, and a snob when it comes to Italian food -- and this place delivered!! You definitely need a reservation ahead of time, as the restaurant is smaller than expected. Beautiful, welcoming atmosphere, and friendly staff! We had Caitlin as our waitress and she was fantastic, kind, and attentive. I'm 9 months pregnant and unfortunately couldn't enjoy the carpaccio, but she gave us the incredible recommendation of the meatball parmigiana eggrolls and they were incredible! The red sauce tastes just like how my dad makes. I got the Mahi Mahi Florentine special- absolutely delicious, hot, and flavorful. My husband got the famous chicken parm Ala vodka with rigatoni and I had to have a bite. Best vodka sauce I ever had! Yes, I had to have dessert too!! So I got the Italian lemon cake and it was spectacular. Nice and light, not heavy and not too lemony at all which I love. Everything was fresh, and we will 100% be back. I can't say enough great things about having Caitlin as our server. With the restaurant starting to get busy toward the end, she still made us a priority and gave us some really sweet words congratulating us on becoming new parents soon! read more

This place is a MUST try. It's great if you're a foodie, or looking for a date spot, or just want to grab nice drinks before an event. I got the charred chicken savoy--it was to die for. The chicken was moist, the sauce was a great addition, all around great dish. When I'm back in the area I want to try their pastas though. My friend for the spicy vodka pasta and loved it. Their espresso martinis were great because they have an espresso machine, so fresh espresso = good espresso martini! They also gave us some delicious bread and we ordered meatballs as an appetizer. The service was also good. The place was crowded--no surprise, but we were constantly checked up on regardless. This place lives up to the hype! read more

Carbonara - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Great experience. Delicious food. The entrance is tight. You walk through the patio seating and once inside you have to navigate wait staff coming in and out to serve customers on the patio. All the staff were kind, helpful, knowledgeable and all were hustling. Our water cups were always full. Our waiter was fantastic. He was always willing to answer any questions we had and packed up our leftovers. There was an individual who was singing on 2/21 that evening and he was great! He was really entertaining and enthusiastic. Turns out the chicken parmigiana is a viral food on social media. So I opted for that along with shrimp scampi. The chicken parmigiana was really good. It's served all a vodka sauce, with melted cheese. So it's not the typical red sauce some are used too. It's creamy and cheesy and delicious! The chicken was seasoned nicely and it had a great crunch. It was served with two crispy fillets. The shrimp scampi was presented nicely and tasted great. The shrimp were medium in size and had a great grilled like flavor. My friend ordered a mushroom ravioli in a cream sauce. She raved about it! She was so happy with it. She also had the crab stuffed mushrooms and those were also very good. I tried the filling and it was perfect! I could have had just the filling and be happy. For a starter I got their pasta fagoli soup. It lacked a little salt but overall it had a great amount of pasta, beans and veggies. The interior can be loud. For a quieter experience the patio could be worth it if the temperature was right. I feel like they really try to maximize the space they have to get more customers in. It is tight at times. There was one table sat just right near the hostess station and personally that table there can cause a not so desirable experience for a customer who would be sitting in the chair vs the booth. Their chair could get hit as this is a high traffic area. The bar area was cramped once all seats were utilized at the bar and off the bar. The patio area also seemed pretty tight as well. Parking can be troublesome. We managed to find parking in the street around the corner. read more

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Great Italian restaurant on corner of street in Arlington. Paid street parking or parking garages available. Also accessible by metro. Make a reservation beforehand. We were able to get a table outside and they have heat lamps, but the wind was still rough. The service is really attentive and constantly moving. It was awkward to walk into the restaurant since you have to walk through the outdoor seating. The food was delicious and the gnocchi was a big portion I got to take some leftovers home. The only reason I give this place 4 stars is they brought me an alcoholic drink instead of the mock-tail I ordered. They apologized, but the drink they brought me didn't even look remotely close to what I ordered. read more

Carbornara in Arlington was such a solid date-night pick. Cozy vibes, great authentic pasta, and the kind of place where you can slow down and actually enjoy your food. Definitely a spot I'd come back to and recommend if you're in the DMV looking for something low-key but really really really good. Great staff, attentiveness, wonderful atmosphere. Food and cocktails amazing I cannot wait to go back!! read more

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**This rating is highly skewed by their service.** Usually, if restaurants find out that you're celebrating a birthday, they'll give you some small complimentary dessert or simply send you away with well wishes if they don't offer anything physical. Carbonara led us to believe that we would be receiving a complimentary dessert and charged us for it. The waiter asked us if we were celebrating and we said yes. We did not at any point ask if they offered free desserts or furthered the conversation at all. It was just a simple "Yes." At the end of our meal, the server came out with a beautiful tiramisu and we all sang Happy Birthday. We thought that it was such a nice surprise since we didn't say anything about even wanting to order desert-- he just brought it out. Once the bill came, we then found out that we were charged $10! We would have declined it if we knew that it would cost us. Please don't ask if we're celebrating and then take it as an invitation to slip a dessert (that we didn't even get to choose!) on our tab. Thank you. Otherwise, every single pasta we ordered was so delish! It's such a shame that our experience ended on such a sour note. read more

Carbonara - Spicy Rigatoni Alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Saw this in social media. It looked very good so I decided to try it myself. Went here on a Saturday evening. Outside seating was perfect at that time because the weather was so beautiful. The interior was modern and clean. Hisbiscus lavender cream and blueberry lavender no-jito were both refreshing but the latter was my favorite! Sweet but not overpowering. Baked clams oreganata were okay. These are breaded clams served on a hot plate. Nothing special. Nona's classic meatballs were yummy. Stuffed with braised beef and mushroom sauce, Tortelloni di Michael was light and creamy. It was good but my favorite was the bucatini carbonara table side. The server will come to your table with a cheese wheel and you'll see it being prepared. It was very flavorful and creamy. Soo delicious. The desserts were also yummy! The warm molten chocolate lava cake was rich. Served with vanilla gelato, it was a contrast between hot and cold, and rich and light. Pistachio ricotta dusted cake was light and delicious. It was a sponge cake with pistachio and ricotta creams and crushed pistachios. Very very good. Service was good but not the greatest. We noticed our server was spending way a lot more time at our neighbor's table, chit chatting more than at ours. Despite this, I would still give this place a 5/5 for the delicious food. Would definitely come back. read more

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All of the amazing reviews speak for themselves! Our favorite date night spot with the most delicious espresso martinis (love the unique flavor options), of course their star chicken Parmesan & desserts! Be sure to plan in advance by booking on Resy & enjoy! My only small complaint is it's very crowded inside. I wish there was more space between tables & walkways. read more

This visit was largely positive. Unfortunately I found the orecchiette only ok. The shrimp was overcooked and rubbery and while the sauce tasted awesome, there wasn't enough of it in the dish and it was too dry. Other people loved their dishes, such as the vodka sauce. I'd probably try their "famous" chicken parm with vodka sauce next time. The complimentary focaccia bread is clutch and the drinks are good. As far as table side carbonara: it's a fun experience and the pasta tastes great. I tested my friend's dish. It just doesn't really taste like carbonara. It tasted yummy and creamy but it's more like cheese noodles than traditional carbonara. read more

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Excellent food! Wonderful service. I had waited almost a year (probably over a year) to get a reservation. I live 4 hrs away and had seen Carbonara on social media. My friends and I ordered a variety of things, but my favorite was the Tableside Carbonara and the Chicken Parmigiana! Also really really loved the tableside Tiramisu. So light and tasty. Definitely will come back and bring more even more friends and family. Oh! And we loved the live singing! read more

I went for the first time with a few months ago with some girlfriends on a weekend around lunchtime but just getting to write the review now. We ordered two appetizers, a cocktail, and three pastas. While the service was okay, two of the pastas were subpar. My friend ordered the carbonara, which they make for you table side and inside the cheese wheel, but the cook was mixing around the pasta on top of the rind, so the cheese didn't melt at all and resulted in a watery and bland carbonara. I ordered the capellini pomodoro which was also bland and the capellini came out as a giant clump of pasta. We weren't offered any grated cheese with our pastas, which would've helped with how bland they were. We noticed other tables were offered the cheese. We notified our server of these issues so the restaurant made us new pastas, which definitely tasted better, but wasn't remarkable enough to warrant another visit. read more

Carbonara - CAPELLINI POMODORO - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Came to celebrate my coworkers birthday! Small indoor area and outside is too. Ambiance is nice. Drinks are small but strong. I liked the food but it was the best flavor wise to me. Service was great! read more

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Stopped here on a Saturday night for our usual Italian dinner while in town for work. For the last 5 years, Filomena in GTown is our usual haunt - but being outvoted, we ended up trying here with a reservation at 9pm for 5 people. Located in Arlington in a downtown commercial area, the restaurant itself isn't very big - there are several options for seating: bar outdoor counter, outdoor patio, indoor booths, and indoor tables. We were squeezed into a table/booth table near the main walkway with a sightline to the bathrooms. For starters we shared the fried mozzarella, burrata caprese, 2 orders of meatballs, and stuffed peppers. The burrata caprese was very good - ripe tomatoes surrounding a burrata that was moist and liquid inside. Drizzled with balsamic and fresh chopped basil completed the dish. Must have. The fried mozzarella was a large portion, laying on top of vodka sauce which also was drizzled on top of the fried triangles. The meatballs may have been the biggest surprise to the meal for me. Usually an order of meatballs are just standard boiler plate items that all taste the same no matter what place you are eating at. This was not the case here. The meatballs were a nice mixture of sausage and other meat, as well as a blend of spices that made them incredibly good. I'm not much of a stuffed peppers fan, but the boys reported that they were very good. I scooped out the leftover sausage and cheese that was in the plate, and it reminded me a of a Pizza Hut supreme pizza (which is a great thing) and had a kick to it. In addition to the apps, we were also served table bread and sauce - which was very good. The red sauce here was very good - a very traditional marinara that is thin and not chunky at all. Good flavor. For my entree, I ordered the chicken parm which is served with spaghetti and vodka sauce. The spaghetti portion on my dish was smaller compared to the others in our party who got the same, but still good. This restaurant is very tuned into exhibition with several table side dishes, and the chicken parm chicken cutlet is served naked, with a waitress in tow with a cast iron of sauce and melted bubbly cheese which the pour over your chicken. The dish was great - sauce was incredibly rich and had a great flavor to it. Dessert is usually interesting when we go out on Saturday - and here was no different. I ordered the creme brulee cheesecake, which was served with a berry puree and whipped cream. Unbeknownst to me, this is also a table side production which the waiter torching the top of the sugar on the cheesecake to get the creme brulee finish. Flavor was great. Really liked this dessert and it is one of the recommended by staff. Our waiter - reminded me of Yadier Molina (STL Cardinals) was very good, joker with us and was very attentive. Overall, this is one that should be on your Italian hit list while in the DC area. read more

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Pretty pricey spot for an inauthentic carbonara. It's more of a show kind of dish where you bring family and friends visiting from out of town, or try and impress your date. The patio seating in nice weather (and the outdoor bar seating) is definitely a plus. I just wish their carbonara was legit! If I do return I'll be trying another dish, maybe the chicken parm. read more

Carbonara - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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