I came here with my cousin to celebrate my birthday from all the hype I'd seen on social media. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to my expectations. We started with water, but it had a terrible taste, so we switched to lemonade. However, the lemonade tasted like cheap syrup mixed with water--far too sour and with an artificial lemon flavor. The bread basket was also underwhelming, with cold bread and sauces that lacked any real depth. For our main dishes, we ordered the carbonara (as it's the restaurant's name) and a pesto ravioli. Despite it being a quiet weekday, the wait for our pastas was surprisingly long. Our waiter, Saba, barely came to check on us at all. Finally, our pastas came. I noticed that other tables got a show when their carbonara was served (which is expected as that's what they're known for), but since we were seated on a higher patio, the server didn't bring the cart up to our table, so we missed out on that experience. He ended up mixing the pasta from 5-6 ft away, which was disappointing and felt unfair. To make matters worse, the carbonara itself was extremely salty. When we mentioned this to Saba, she was dismissive, and belittled us by blaming it on the cheese. I have tried many carbonara dishes and none of them had an overwhelmingly salty taste. It was only later that she returned and offered to replace the dish since she saw we didn't touch it, but by then I'd already lost my appetite. The pesto ravioli would be the only reason that this place has 1 star. You can tell that the pasta was cooked perfectly. Overall, this place was a major letdown. It felt like a "catfish" restaurant, looking impressive online but falling short in person. Many reviews mention similar complaints about subpar food and poor service. I wouldn't return or recommend this place to others, though I do hope they address these issues for future customers. read more

Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Hands down best pasta i've had in the DMV. Easy 5 stars. Amazing service, Diana the waitress was incredible even tho it was busy on Sunday. The outside seating was cozy but we could have easily ate at the bar with how nice the ambiance was there too. The bartenders were very hospitable while we waited for our seats. You must try this restaurant!!!! read more

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Now THAT is customer service. I've come in twice now within this summer both with friends and then with family. Both times the service was INCREDIBLE, my glass of water never went completely empty and my server both times was always aware of my table; if we needed something, overhearing questions we may have hade and making suggestions, overall the experience is catered to the table. There are times on the menu that are flashy, yes but there are so many places like that in which the service doesn't come close to it's "instagram-ability", that is NOT the case here. I enjoyed myself SO MUCH the first time that I returned with my family for my 21ST BIRTHDAY because I knew I would have a wonderful time. Make a reservation and try this out, there is no chance you will not enjoy yourself. read more

Carbonara - CHICKEN PARMIGIANA ALLA VODKA (my FAVORITE) - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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This place keeps us coming back! The food is great Italian. Christmas decorations were festive and made it even more enjoyable than usual. Service was attentive and friendly! read more

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I have wanted to go for dinner for months after seeing the delicious food on IG and oh my goodness, it BEYOND exceeded expectations in every way! We had the short rib lasagna, chicken parm, and pasta and all were absolutely delicious. Beautiful presentation as well. Service was fantastic, drink menu fantastic. Ambience- location- I could go on and on. All around A+++++++ cannot wait to go back! read more

Carbonara - SHORT RIB LASAGNA - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

There's an amazing Italian restaurant in Northern VA called Carbonara, and I almost don't want to share it because I know my DMV followers will flood the place! Trust me, once word gets out, you won't be able to just walk in without a reservation. The food is better than good--it's absolutely incredible, and I can't wait to go back. I tried a few appetizers, and the mozzarella sticks were mouthwatering, perfectly crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. The peppers I ordered had just the right amount of heat, and the chicken was flavorful and tender. Next time, I plan on trying the table-side pasta, which I've heard amazing things about. Seriously, run, don't walk--this food will fill your soul! read more

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We have been to this location 2 times for dinner and the first experience was amazing with excellent service and amazing food. If this review was for our first experience it would be 5 starts but our second time the service was the limiting factor to having a 5 start experience overall. Service felt very rushed and seemed as they wanted me and my partner out of the restaurant as soon as possible when the first time there was no issue like that at all. I unfortunately can't remember the name of our first server but he was amazing and made us feel welcomed and made us have one of our best dinners to celebrate my anniversary. Food is excellent but it's unfortunate that a 1 month anticipated 2nd time reservation did not have the same service as prior even though the reservation slots were at the exact same time. Overall amazing food with a beautiful atmosphere but service can be more mindful in how long people wait to get reservations and to not rush customers to finish meals. read more

Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I feel like this place has been anticipated for quite a while and it was well worth the wait! I constantly see this place is full both inside and outside, both of which have plenty of seating. I went for their happy hour deal and it was so worth! We got the fired mozzarella and vodka pasta and they were DELICIOUS! and only $10!! would definitely come back here again for dinner!! read more

Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

What an amazing night at Carbonara!! My new Italian favorite!! From the ambience, to the wine, food, service, Daniel Murray on the vocals serenading the crowd! Couldn't have asked for a more wonderful night to celebrate my beautiful beloved's birthday!! All the way from Las Vegas!! read more

Carbonara - Short rib lasagna!!! - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I was looking for some takeout and a friend suggested that I check out carbonara. I was not able to place an order online, so I called and was able to place an order quickly. I ordered the pollo Alla Marsala and the tiramisu. Both were great and I will definitely have to come back and dine in. Everyone was very friendly when I was at the restaurant, it was a great environment. read more

Carbonara - Pollo alla Marsala - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Italian? Tasted like Chef Boyardee. So tired of these city places trying to replicate what they think is Italian...and still failing.

I had a great experience and I will definitely go back. The espresso martini's were so delicious and flavorful. Service was great and staff were pleasant. read more

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

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The server was extremely helpful. He was very attentive. The flight martini was great, especially the tiramasu. read more

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

Stefan is so attentive and he demonstrates true customer service. Every time he is working I get happy. I know the food will be hot and on time. The food items are great. However I would love to see more happy hour items. Very nice and chill atmosphere. Not too loud and you can hear your guests clearly. Today was my first day meeting Samantha. She was amazing as well! read more

Fabulous happy hour menu with several cocktail options and a few genuinely tasty wines (not just the cheap stuff) for around $11, along with hardy finger-type foods. Limited tables, so I recommend a reservation for dinner, even on weekdays. Their specialty is a tableside carbonara, but I had the linguine and clams and was really impressed by the dish. If there's no room inside and it's a nice day, they do have several patio seats and outdoor counter seating at the bar, which is kinda cool. It was a great place to catch up with a colleague at the bar, but I would also consider going here for a date later in the evening. read more

I got the spicy rigatoni from the happy hour menu which I enjoyed. The portion was a good size and it had chicken in it which I was not expecting since it wasn't described on the menu. The drink menu was substantial as well. Overall a nice place to go to for happy hour if you're in the area. read more

Carbonara - Spicy rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

If you enjoy authentic Italian, house made noodles, a vodka sauce that gives you a great feeling and reminds you of why you love and enjoy food then Carbonara is the Old School Italian + Wine Bar you want to visit. Whether you're taking family, friends, a new date, or a business partner, Carbonara is a social eating experience where anyone can find something they enjoy on the menu. For my Vinos, of course their wine menu is expansive. They also carry champagne if you have more to cheer about. They also offer a Happy Hour Monday through Friday 2:30-6PM. Check out my BITES in the pictures and if you go ask for TALHA (Server) his service was AMAZING and Chef Mike = Chef's Antipasta Crab Stuffed Mushrooms Mozzarella in Carrozza Classic Italian Entrées Famous Chicken Parmigiana Alla Vodka PASTAS Bucatini Carbonara Table Side Finishing Touches Dessert Tiramisu Italian Crème brûlée cheesecake Vanilla Gelato Warm Molten Chocolate Lava Cake Cocktails THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN (Bourbon + Tequila) IN A NEW YORK MINUTE *Sweet Mocktails BLUEBERRY LAVENDER APPLE CIDER MULE read more

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We went to an Italian restaurant called Carbonara for the first time. They were full, so we sat at the bar. That was the best food ever! They had a singer there, and he sang all evening, Frank Sinatra style. It's an absolutely 5 star restaurant. read more

What an amazing place! Great food and staff! Ian and the staff there were very welcoming and helpful. I can't say enough about the food. We've eaten at some very good Italian restaurants, but none like this. We found it by chance, but we'll definitely have to stop in again. read more

I loved eating the food here! But the parmesan cheese wheel is a scam. They are not cooking your food with parmesan cheese. I would not be surprised if it was made of rubber. Great food though. Italians from Italy would boo read more

I'm not sure why this place has good ratings. We went there for a special occasion because of the Yelp score, but our experience was pretty bad. I can forgive a lot of things if a place's food is good, but almost none of ours was even "OK". Our service, and the general environment, were also sub-par. The bread they bring to the table was all pretty boring, and the red sauce they served with it was simply bad. I can't speak to the olive spread, but a side of decent butter or olive oil would have been a better alternative. The fried mozzarella might have been good, if not for the creamy vodka sauce slathered on top. It was rich, but somehow without much flavor, and the lack of acidity we might have gotten from a marinara (preferably on the side) made it too fatty and odd flavored to enjoy. The signature table side carbonara was a bit of a show, but the resulting slop of cheesy pasta looked bad and tasted worse. The guanciale sounded like a good addition on paper, but the thick chunks of it were soft and mushy, adding no contrast to an already mushy dish. Easily the worst version of carbonara I've had. The baked ziti was also somehow bad, which I wouldn't have thought was possible. I think odd tasting sauce was to blame. Everything we had was way under-seasoned to my taste, and I even prefer food to be less salty than most. The ice cream dessert was OK, but tasted like average (not high end) grocery store ice cream. It did not have the feel of smooth gelato. Our service was also pretty bad, as we had to flag down our waiter multiple times throughout the meal and ask other staff for things, as other people brought our food and they didn't check back in with us during the meal. The restaurant was packed, and they seemed to have a lot of tables to manage, but that seems like something the restaurant should manage better. Lastly, the place was pretty crowded, and there was no good place to wait until they found a table for our reservation. The bar is tucked behind a wall and too hard to get in/out of as a waiting area. I ended up walking around outside until they texted that they had a table. There was also an odd snell to the place, like it was somehow both dirty and bleach-filled at the same time. I know this was a bit of a long rant, but hopefully the review helps others form making the same mistake we did, and maybe helps the restaurant improve their food and service in the long run. read more

Carbonara - Goopy pasta carbonara. Not good. - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Just tried this restaurant with my family for my daughter's birthday dinner with high expectations, and we were all pretty unhappy with our food. The focaccia and mixed greens salad were good. The baked ziti and bolognese were OK, but the spicy rigatoni alla vodka and the special bucatini carbonara made table side with both very disappointing. All the pastas tasted gummy and overly chewy (and, no, I don't just mean it was al dente). The guanciale in the bucatini was very fatty and not crispy - should have been cooked more to render the fat. The rigatoni vodka had almost no taste other than cream and spicy peppers - you couldn't taste the tomato sauce at all. And all the pastas were underseasoned. Also, and this is more minor, but they didn't do anything for our daughter's birthday even though we saw candles going to other tables with complementary desserts - we were apparently in the birthday corner of the restaurant. Greatly preferred the pasta at Thompson Italian (and even Vapiano). Service was fine, though, it took a little while to get our check. read more

Sharron is a top tier server and she really elevated my experience here. Take all of her recommendations! Overall, this is a nice spot with a good atmosphere. The food was delicious, especially the crème brûlée cheesecake. They also had a DJ ver that started around 7:15PM and he was a nice touch. I'll be back because I want to try every item on the menu! read more

We got takeout and it took about 20-30 mins after placing the order over the phone. We ordered the mozzarella triangles, the carbonara, and the spicy vodka pasta. Overall, I wouldn't say it was very authentic Italian. We liked the carbonara more than the vodka pasta. Really liked the fried mozzarella though! Probably wouldn't go back read more

Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Love Carbonara! Anytime I'm looking for delicious food in Arlington, it never disappoints. The Chicken Alla Vodka and Tableside Carbonara are my go-to entrees, and I always have more than enough to take home for later. If the weather is nice, the patio is an amazing option! read more

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The food was just okay. The carbonara was dry even with the rich creamy sauce. The meatballs were good, and the chicken parmesan was decent, though nothing special. Don't expect too much and you might still be satisfied. It's hard to find a truly great pasta place in Northern Virginia. If you know the place please let me know! read more

My coworker and I had the best time at Carbonara this evening. This was our first time dining at the restaurant and it was amazing. First, the hostess was very nice and honored our reservation time. We were seated quickly and were greeted by our wonderful waiter. He was so nice and offered recommendations for wine and entrees. I ordered the chicken parmigiana and my coworker had the ribeye. It was truly a feast. The ambiance is super cute and intimate. Perfect for a date, girls night or family outing. Can't wait to return. One of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time. read more

Carbonara - And the feast begins! Yum! - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Overall: exceptionally tasty and fairly priced. Really pleased! Ambiance: Came here during the brutal winter so seating was only indoors. Place was large, nicely decorated and felt welcoming and warm. The outdoor seating looked great so would be excited to enjoy that when the weather is better. Sat at the bar for dinner because I didn't have reservations. Service was attentive and friendly. Food: We ordered a mixed green salad which they offered to split into two plates. It was a good size and tasty. I got the spinach agnolotti (pasta stuffed with spinach and cheese; cherry tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms, creamy truffle pesto sauce). It was incredible! Super tasty and a perfect size and not overwhelmingly truffle-y (I was super hungry so ate the whole thing with only minimal regrets) but probably would have had leftovers in other situations). My friend got the lobster ravioli and it was stuffed completely with lobster so definitely seemed fairly priced. That was also tasty although I was really happy with my spinach pasta choice. We also got a crème brûlée cheesecake - the berry sauce and cream was definitely the best part. We got bread to start that was fine but nothing spectacular although I love getting bread! Conclusion: I was really surprised at how great the food was and was really pleased with everything overall. Good, fairly priced Italian is really challenging to find. I'm so glad I came here and would absolutely go again. I wish there was one in New York! read more

First time going, we didn't make a reservation. the wait for inside was about 20 minutes, but no wait outside. We decided to get calamari as appetizer which I forgot to take a picture of and it was just Okay kinda lacked flavor. The bread was very good but we think it deserved a better sauce. We both got our own dishes and we absolutely loved the food. The service was absolutely great. Our server was amazing. She was efficient, constantly checking in on us. The only downfall was that we sat in the back right corner and we weren't able to see the cheese bowl. I did end up taking my food home and they did box it up for me, which was nice. The cannoli was just okay. It was kind of noisy because of the traffic outside, but it didn't really bother us. Would recommend for a date night! read more

Carbonara - STUFFED CANNOLI - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Went with my parents and loved this spot. The food was delicious. People were friendly. Had lots of energy. Would like to go back soon.

The food was delicious, and the service even better! Sharron was extremely attentive and made us feel right at home. She also had the winning food recommendations for the table! This Italian will absolutely be back. read more

Like many people, I discovered Carbonare on TikTok, and unlike most places found this way, it's worth the hype. The drinks are enjoyable, and the chicken parm with freshly melted cheese is fantastic. All the other dishes we tried were also enjoyable. The outdoor seating is nice and relaxing, and our server was attentive and knowledgeable. read more

we went to Carbonara last night for a family dinner and it didn't disappoint. Our server, Skyler, was fantastic and I think we tried nearly all of her recommendations. The service was great, the food was delicious and we will definitely be back. read more

Overhyped. Why would they have a seat and table by a walkway where people come and go. It's an annoyance and a safety hazard. The person sitting on the outside gets their chair leg stubbed on, people almost tripping, a staff may drop food. I may have to report this to the BBB. That is poor tabling design and should not exist. The food was okay, nothing special. My partner ordered something and the portion was way off. It was like a five piece creamy entree. Looks like dumplings, the creaminess was good, but wow that was not worth it for an entree. It is not filling. Ambiance is good and clean. Was hoping for that lit marshmallow presentation with my espresso martini or on a cheese wheel, but didn't see any of it. read more

Since my initial review, I've come back to carbonara more than a handful of times. I try to bring everyone while they're visiting as I believe this is number one restaurant in Arlington and every single person becomes obsessed. The food is phenomenal, I highly recommend the beef carpaccio, the carbonara, the chicken Parmesan, and the spinach agnolotti. I haven't had a chance to have the short rib but I haven't heard amazing things. The drinks are outstanding. My favorites are the lavender spritz and the tiramisu espresso martini. Most recently I had the pumpkin spice espresso martini which was also delicious. The service is always amazing! Sharron was my most recent waitress and was so kind and attentive, she made the experience phenomenal. Chef Mike also made my group feel incredibly welcomed and we all left impressed. read more

Carbonara - Beef Carpaccio - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We ordered via takeout. The service was great over the phone. We were excited to try this placed based on reviews in various publications. Every dish missed the mark. There is nothing tasty or special about what this restaurant creates. I'm convinced that most people don't travel and can't cook a lick at home so anything will do. read more

I am so sorry to report that the hype is in fact real and you will in fact need to return here again and again for all the things. Sometimes when something is too "instagram" these days I get wary but holy moly carbonara in a wheel of Parmesan tastes so much cooler than it looks. My best friend and I didn't have a reservation (which we recommend) but arrived for a very early dinner at 5 and the lovely host was able to accommodate us quickly with a seat by the kitchen. The views were so fun from my seat! The restaurant feels so authentically New York Italian to me in that it's a buzzing place with date nights and family dinners all converging for the delicious meal and an pleasant surprise of a Sinatra cover singer to serenade us into our desert course. I asked the waiter if he could make a mocktail and the answer was a resounding YES! It felt so nice and it was delicious. For apps their complimentary focaccia bread was excellent and the crab stuffed mushrooms are a must have with generous portions. I of course went with the table side carbonara and it lived up to my wildest expectations (and my husband enjoyed my leftovers later that evening thanks to the large serving size!) I know you'll be full after dinner but DONT skip desert. The crème brule cheesecake married my two favorite deserts and was perfect to share for two. Very rich and decadent. Service, food and experience all were exceptional. I can't wait to come back when it's slightly cooler out to enjoy a meal on their lovely patio. Well done and welcome to the neighborhood! read more

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The food was delicious, the service a little slow but very friendly, the pasta is homemade. read more

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Delicious Italian food. I got the chicken Parmesan pasta but tried some of the carbonara too. Both were tasty. The pasta tastes very fresh. The flavors for the chick Parmesan were good, but I really like flavors for the carbonara. They cooked the pasta in the cheese wheel before serving. Portions are huge, but everything as reasonably priced. Place is crowded though so reservations are recommended. read more

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

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This place is truly amazing for authentic Italian food! Seriously, all the 5 star reviews are well earned. Service is amazing. You're greeted immediately at the door, and our waitress checked on our table several times for beverage refills, bread refills and our orders. The environment is pretty semi-casual. I wouldn't really have a formal event but you could also get away with just a nice top and pants read more