Excellent italian cuisine and a rosé wine that has me on the hunt for a similar bottle (the rosato)! The baked lasagna and baked gnochi dishes were superb. The vodka sauce on the mozzarella appetizer was INCREDIBLE! Will definitely be ordering something vodka sauce based next time because of it. I'd never had an affogato before, so the pistachio affogato was too strong (couldn't tell if it was coffee-wise or liquor-wise) for me personally read more

Carbonara - Pistachio Affogato - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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"We had an amazing and truly authentic Italian lunch with hand made pasta at Carbonara in Arlington, Virginia! Every dish was incredible, and the espresso martini flight is a must-try. To top off an already wonderful experience, we had the privilege of meeting the gracious and very talented Chef Mike Cordero. Between the Chef's personal touch, the phenomenal food, and the impeccable, attentive service from our waitress Caitlyn N., this was an absolute 5-star experience. We will definitely be back!" read more

Glorified Olive Garden. Hot pepper appetizer was three hot peppers and Italian sausage buried in a half pound of mozzarella cheese. A pool of grease settled at the bottom of the skillet. Bucatini carbonara was prepped on a wheel of burning Parmesan- a total gimmick. The guanciale was tasty, but the pasta was overcooked, gloppy and greasy. The fats and proteins curdled and separated. Cavatelli-also overcooked, doughy and gummy. Another pool of grease at the bottom of the bowl. One saving grace- tuna tartare. Served on crispy and fluffy tater tot- like pillows. read more

We visited Carbonara for my husband's birthday and made reservations a month in advance, already knowing what we wanted to order. Unfortunately, the service was disappointing. Our server, Denzel, told us the appetizer we'd planned on--the meatball eggrolls--was sold out. We chose the mozzarella in carrozza instead, but it never arrived. While we were still deciding on entrées, he pushed to take the order, huffed when I asked for a moment, then made a suggestion and submitted our dinner before entering the appetizer we never received. To make matters worse, we later watched several other tables receive the very meatball eggrolls we were told were unavailable. We felt rushed the entire time. He even asked if we "really wanted" the birthday dessert because it might take a while. We were seated at 6:01 p.m. and finished by 7 p.m.--not exactly the relaxed birthday dinner we envisioned. I still left a generous tip, but the service left me frustrated for the rest of the night. I wish the experience had matched the occasion and the price. read more

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Get the clams...few places even offer this dish. They make it delicious, glad they do.

We dined at Carbonara for a late New Year's dinner around 9 PM. While we appreciated being squeezed in, that turned out to be the only positive part of the experience. The restaurant looks modern and nicely decorated, but the seating is absurdly tight. We were shoved into a booth with extra chairs added to fit our party of four, which felt cramped, unstable, and uncomfortable. It was obvious the space is overpacked to maximize covers, with little concern for guest comfort. Service was downright poor. Our server looked exhausted and annoyed from the start, and after taking our order, we were largely ignored. Drink refills were slow, check-ins were nonexistent, and the overall vibe made us feel like an inconvenience rather than paying customers. The worst moment was when the server came by to add cheese and, without paying attention, dumped a block of the cheese onto my daughter's plate. How does that happen? We brushed it off to avoid ruining the night, but it perfectly summed up the lack of care. The food was equally disappointing. Half the table found their meals acceptable at best, while the rest of us found the dishes bland, uninspired, and absolutely not worth the price. For what's charged here, the food felt closer to basic homemade pasta with microwaved vegetables and meat. My wife had wanted to try this place for months and left clearly disappointed. Honestly, we would have had a better experience at Olive Garden, where at least you're greeted warmly, served attentively, and leave feeling welcomed. If the restaurant was too close to closing to provide proper service, they should have been honest and asked us to come back another time. Poor service, cramped seating, and overpriced, underwhelming food made this a frustrating way to start the year. This is an easy pass. read more

I love Carbonara!! Every time that I go, it's always a great experience. Last night I sat at the bar with two friends and Cody gave us excellent service. His Hugo Spritz was amazing and he always has good recommendations for new drinks to try. You can't go wrong with any of the food on the menu, I always want to order everything. Thanks Cody & Carbonara! read more

Carbonara - WARM MOLTEN CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I am obsessed with this place, ever since one of my best friends introduced me to the wonder that is Carbonara in Ballston (Arlington, VA) earlier this year! I've visited again on numerous occasions, including for my birthday brunch with friends in the not too distant past. The food is always delicious, the portions are excellent and generous, and the ambiance of the restaurant is great. Service has always been dependable each time I've visited. I recommend making a reservation, if you can, since this place tends to fill up fast, as it's very popular! My favorite things to order here are: -Bucatini Carbonara (homemade bucatini sautéed with guanciale, & egg yolk with a touch of cream) - this is their signature dish and is WONDERFUL. It's truly heavenly and my mouth is watering now just thinking about it again. They make it table-side, and it's really fun to watch your food being made out of a large cheese wheel! -Famous Chicken Parmigiana Alla Vodka (vodka sauce, mozzarella & parmigiano reggiano served with spaghettini) - This is another one of their signature dishes, and I love how they serve the sauce tableside. The sauce is truly ambrosial. -Lobster Ravioli - this was simply yum as well! So rich and full of flavor. -Arancini balls (italian arborio rice rolled & stuffed with mozzarella, bolognese meat, and tiny peas. served with sunday sauce) -Caesar salad (pancetta, fresh grated parmigiano cheese & homemade croutons) I truly love Italian food, so this place gets 5 big stars from me!! If I could give it many more stars, I absolutely would. I look forward to many more visits in the future! read more

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Went here for my birthday lunch and boy was it delicious!! A lot of friends have recommended this place so we decided to give it a try! Will definitely be back! read more

Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Ballston finally got a trendy Italian spot! Was crowded on a Friday, sat the bar cause it was reservation only by the time we got there. Cocktails are quality and have strong flavors but are pricy. They pour the sauce and cheese right in front of you. You will leave feeling very full and satisfied. read more

Carbonara - Expresso martini flight - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

My friend and I caught the Metro into Arlington just to roam around and see what we could get into. I checked Yelp for a dinner recommendation and stumbled upon Carbona. The photos showed the decor and I was was taken aback by how vintage and beautiful the restaurant was. We took a beat to check the website for reservations and were not surprised when we saw how booked they were. We took a chance and took the 12 minute hike to see how long our wait would be. Upon entering we were greeted with smiles and a lot of warmth and amazing hospitality. Feeling underdressed initially, I timidly smiled back and approached the host area and asked if they had any availability to seat myself and my guest. I let them know that I know they were super busy and I understood if they couldn't. The handsome host looked down and smiled and spoke with his colleague and both let us know that they had a table but it was reserved for 7pm. They let us know that we could have it (at 5:10) if we believed it would be enough time. Needless to say...we agreed! We were seated and greeted by an amazing server who gave us a quick rundown of the menus and returned with the most delicious fresh-baked bread and marinara and olive spreads. My mouth is still watering. We put in our appetizer order of the bacon-wrapped shrimp, along with our entree orders: lobster risotto and the chicken parmesan (I tried to play it safe). The guests beside us food began to arrive and I wished I changed my mind because their food looked so tasty as well. Finally, our food arrived and it was just as amazing as I assumed it would be. Fresh and cooked to perfection. It is rare to visit an establishment that is aesthetically beautiful, with a staff that really felt oddly familiar in a great way, with lovely-plated and delectable food options. I will definitely recommend Carbonara to my friends and family. read more

The absolute best restaurant I've ever been to- I have been here over 10 times and every meal is amazing! The food is quality, fresh, and the vodka sauce is the best vodka sauce I've had. The service is also incredible, they are prompt and you always get what you need right away. The server boxes your food for you too. Highly recommend the espresso martini flight! They rotate and add new flavors. read more

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Our waitress Margarita W deserves a shout out for her excellent service. She was efficient and friendly. We came to celebrate a birthday and at the end of the meal we decided against ordering a dessert but she still brought one out anyways for us and we sang! The food is very rich but delicious. I think I prefer their more simple pasta dishes and their Sunday gravy/sauce over anything with the vodka sauce. My absolute favorite so far is getting the spaghetti and meatballs but sub out the spaghetti for their rigatoni! The pasta texture is perfect. Oh! The espresso martinis are also a fun treat if you're looking for an adult beverage. The pistachio espresso martini is my favorite! read more

Carbonara - Free birthday dessert (tiramisu) - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I visited to meet a friend and enjoy the lovely May weather on the patio with my dogs. We were the first customers after the restaurant opened, and our waiter swiftly brought us water and drinks. I told him I had time constraints and needed to leave by a particular time. He quickly took our order, and when I asked for a dish recommendation, he enthusiastically suggested the Chicken Parm, which turned out to be an excellent choice. When served, the presentation was unique: the chicken cutlet rested on the plate with pasta, topped with cheese and sauce. Its presentation was the most unique I had ever seen when it arrived. The chicken cutlet was served with the pasta, while the cheese and sauce were presented separately, allowing the server to drape them over the dish, creating a stunning visual! I was thrilled with this presentation. Once our meals arrived, the server left, but we couldn't begin eating because we were missing utensils. We asked not one, not two, but three different staff members for utensils before finally getting two sets for our table. This issue affected my star rating. The food was delicious and substantial for a lunch portion, so we each took some to go. I highly recommend this restaurant and look forward to returning soon! Another plate was draped over the pasta and chicken, and the presentation was truly outstanding. I was thrilled to see it presented this way. read more

I've been to carbonara about 6 times already. Every time I got I get their chicken parm. It's incredible read more

Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

The Italian cuisine was exceptionally delicious, and every dish I ordered was incredibly tasty. read more

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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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Warm and welcoming ambiance. Good Starter bread basket w marinara dip and olive tapenade. All very rustic and house made. Nice array of standard Italian classics. We had the chicken Parmesan but w marinara instead of the vodka sauce. I had the Bucatini done in the giant wheel of Parmesan cheese. Rich, hearty and excellent. All very friendly and casual on a Monday holiday night. A tad noisy, must speak w raised voice. Had a profiterole w delicious ice cream for dessert, with a thick syrupy espresso. They have a nice lunch menu w appealing panini sandwiches i'd love to check out. Would definitely come back to try other menu items. Would definitely recommend. read more

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Nothing short of fabulous - their tableside Carbonara dish is mindblowing (I now want to cook every meal inside of a flaming cheese wheel.) Amazing meatballs, terrific Ceasar salad (I've eaten a million of them is theirs is top three) and a chocolate lava cake to die for. Even their entertainer, a young crooner in the mold of Michael Bublé, was remarkable. To top if off, their over-the-top Christmas decor makes it quite the holiday event. We'll be back! read more

The food, service and ambiance was all spectacular! Would highly recommend. The vibes and lighting were great and the staff was very accommodating and kind. read more

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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

We couldn't get reservations for Sat at 5pm. We dropped in; and still couldn't get a table. We ate elsewhere

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

Best Italian restaurant and probably the best restaurant overall in town. We always bring guests here. It's high quality food at reasonable prices. Can't beat Carbonara! We're so glad they came to Arlington. The vodka chicken parm and Caesar salad are must-haves! read more

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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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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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

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

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

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

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

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

Great service. Great food! I love the lobster pasta and the lasagna is perfect! You can't go wrong with either of the drinks.

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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Chose this place for my daughter's birthday after looking at the reviews, and we couldn't have been more pleased. We tried a wide variety of appetizers and entrees, pasta, seafood, beef. They were all excellent. The crab cake ravioli got everybody's vote by far as the best dish for the night. I had not had baked eggplant for years and it was delicious! The cheesecake and gelato were both a big hit. Eating outside was very pleasant and the service was great. We never waited or wanted for anything. GiGi was on top of everything and helped us navigate the 'favorites' on the menu. The manager stopped by several times to make sure we were satisfied and to make recommendations on dishes for our next visit:). Will definitely go back. 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

My wife and I just celebrated our 21st anniversary, and thought we might try Carbonara in Arlington, VA for the first time. Hands down, the food was absolutely phenomenal. We started with the meatball egg roll and the crab-stuffed mushrooms, both were solid. If I had to choose between the two, I recommend the egg rolls. We enjoyed the eggs rolls so much we took an extra order home to share with our daughter. For entrées, I went the lobster and shrimp tagliatelle (it was money) and my wife ordered the chicken parm (also great - definitely crushed the leftovers). In addition to the amazing food, the was the service right there with it. They hit all the right notes. From the warm greeting at the door to our attentive server, everything felt thoughtful and genuine. I don't believe there was a time where I had to wait or wanted for anything. Oh and a special shoutout goes to Ian, the manager. Ian personally took our order, walked us through the most popular dishes and his personal favorites, and made us feel incredibly welcomed. When he learned we were celebrating our anniversary, he went out of his way to acknowledge it and make the night feel extra special. That level of care and personal attention is rare and deeply appreciated. Needless to say, we enjoyed ourselves so much we booked our next reservation (while sitting at the table). We'll absolutely be back and would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone interested in a great dining experience. Thanks again Ian / Carbonara....A+ read more

The location is great. Indoor and outdoor seating. Cocktails and pasta was amazing. We were seated quickly and offered recommendations. read more

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Taylor was our server and did an amazing job! Food was great!! Finishing the chicken parm table side was a great touch! read more