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

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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Carbonara was definetly worth the hype. Service was good but the food was the real star here. We ordered the fried mozzerella dish for an appetizer, minestrone soup, the chicken parm and the baked gnocchi. I thought everything was delicious the chicken parm was nice and crispy and not over cooked and the vodka sauce pasta was phenomenal. My wife got the gnocchi and I also thought that was very good. I liked how they make there pasta in house and you can watch them cook while you wait in the lobby. They also play live music not sure if it was a weekend thing or everyday but definetly a place to go and try. You do have to make reservations if you want to sit inside or you can walk in and sit at the bar or outside. 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

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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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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I expected more. Food good but not spectacular. The heavy plate and formal linen was nice but not necessary. I was there when it was too cold to set outside so that may be a difference. read more

Food and service was amazing! Get the chicken Parmesan and thank me later! Nice atmosphere as well.

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

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

The place was amazing I came with a person who is very special to me, we both really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. I would recommend this place to everyone, give it a try! read more

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

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 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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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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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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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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We truly enjoyed our experience at this restaurant. The presentations were so fun from the bucatini pasta cheese wheel to the chicken parmigiana all vodka melted cheese on top at the table. We also got the crème brûlée cheesecake which was our favorite dessert. The music plays a little loud at times but we enjoyed the ambiance anyways. Everything came out hot and on time. read more

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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.

Most excellent! Food was amazing, service was outstanding and atmosphere was terrific. read more

Carbonara - Trio of Martinis - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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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

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

Busy new spot in Ballston. It is a little thrown together and gives off suburban strip mall Italian vibes, but it's fun and the food is great. read more

Carbonara - 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

Your food reflects that you are the highest rated restaurant in Arlington, your service and staff does not. The service was mediocre at best, sulky and surly at worst. Compared to your ratings and quality of food, the attitude and behavior of hosts, waiters and food handlers is abysmal. It matches the level of service in a Chilis or Applebee's, which would be fine, if it wasnt the highest rated restaurant in Arlington. When I walked in, I was greeted by a hostess with no energy or politeness. It felt like I was a burden for checking into my reservation. Our waiter was fine enough. However, when I asked for a wine tasting, there was a bug in my glass. I felt like I was being given less quality service because of the age of my dining party. If you are the top rated restaurant on yelp, you give every table top-rated service, no matter their age or demographic. Next, when my dining partners were served their food, they both had the chicken parm, one gnocchi one spaghetti. The waitress serving us the food asked one of my friends if she had the CP gnocchi, my friend said yes, but when she realized it was the gnocchi, she said "Oh, Im sorry, my mistake, I had the CP spaghetti, the gnocchi goes over there, I am so sorry". The waitress gave all of us the biggest death glare I have ever seen, like we had personally wronged her. The atmosphere was tense and uncomfortable. Absolutely unacceptable. Finally, the tableside carbonara was served in complete silence. No interaction, no pleasantries, no "how are you all doing". It felt unwanted and like we were a chore to be completely. Again, this level of service would be fine if it wasnt the highest rated restaurant in the city. The food was delicious, and and accurately reflects your reviews. But you need to have some serious updates to the attitude of the staff. It does not feel like a "chic", top rated restaurant. It feels like a mediocre dining experience. When your restaurant is $100+ per person, you need to hire and train the waitstaff to back it up. I dont want anyone to be reprimanded, because I have worked for years as a waitress. However, there needs to be some changes if you want to continue to hold yourselves to the level that you claim to be. 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

This was hands-down the best chicken Parmesan I ever had! The chicken was crisped to perfection and the sauce was so good and creamy. It was super crowded in there and we didn't have a reservation, but the bartender made space for my mom and I. I will definitely be coming back here. This was so great. read more

A great addition to the Ballston neighborhood. I had a good experience my first time here. The restaurant is definitely a bit loud with the open kitchen and busy with a lot of staff but it creates an exciting dining experience. Service was super friendly and efficient. The food is good but not the best Italian ever. The bread basket for the table had some less than fresh pieces. The carbonara was good and the whole cheese wheel presentation was a nice touch. Overall, a good experience and worth a try if you live in the area. I'll probably come back and just go to sit at the bar and try their happy hour bites. read more

Easily my new favorite Italian restaurant! Came here just for the cheese wheel carbonara that I've heard so much about, and it lived up to the hype. They wheeled a cheese wheel over to my table side, torched that baby up, and tossed my delicious bucatini carbonara in the melted cheese. This had me drooling immediately!!! The spicy vodka rigatoni was also soooo good. It was the perfect amount of cream and spice for me. The arancini balls were super cheesy and delicious as well. I was pleasantly surprised at how quick the service was. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful and modern and even the bathroom has cute wallpaper. The outdoor patio area is really nice too, and I would have loved to sit outside if it wasn't too hot the day I came. Guess I'll just have to come back! 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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Sorry about not having more pictures. The food was good, very good and rich flavors in general. The service was good too, everyone was very attentive and helpful. The portions are slightly on the smaller side but pretty acceptable. My only problem was that the burrata salad came without the basil and had parsley instead (see picture). When I asked the waiter he took the plate and said he was going to check what happened. Two minutes later he came back with the same plate and told us that the cook said that the salad did not come with basil leaves and that what was sprinkled on top of the cheese was chopped basil. I had already tasted the herb and knew it was parsley, not only for the flavor but also because of the shape and color of the herb. I told the waiter that I knew it was not basil and he kept on insisting that the cook said it was. I had to tell him thar I was a chef and was 100% sure that the salad had no basil whatsoever and that what was sprinkled over the burrata was parsley. He took that plate once again and told us that he would make it better. He kindly came back with a new dish with fresh chopped basil and basil leaves on top. He apologized and we didn't talk about the issue anymore. For me it was not about the presentation of the basil, whether it came in leaves or chopped was the same to me. The thing is that usually burrata salad has tomato, basil, balsamic and burrata and the first salad simply didn't have basil and that's the flavor I wanted to have in my salad. What bothered me is that whoever the cook was could have just admitted their mistake from the beginning and sprinkled some chopped basil on the plate instead of making their coworker and me go through the back and forth and the uncomfortable moment. I stayed because I was with a coworker and didn't want to make things bigger. Thankfully the food was good so the experience was not completely tainted by the basil thing. read more

Carbonara - Shrimp scampi - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I did really love this place but need to go back with a reservation. Came in on a Friday night around 6:30 and it was already jammers. We decided to take a seat at the bar instead of put our name on the hour and a half wait list. Bar and the main bartender .... Who I believe is also a manager ( going off her stylish outfit and everyone else was literally in black garb) was great. There were two other bartenders but neither seemed that friendly and she did seem to be doing the heavy lifting throughout the night. Everything we ordered from drinks to food was very good. It was a bit noisy but there was also a fantastic singer and a lot of talking going on at the bar so not sure it is the experience the diner at the tables has. All and all I will certainly be coming back to try more and evidently I was in too big a rush to eat the chicken parmigiana we ordered I didn't even get a picture. But trust everything I saw looked fantastic read more

Carbonara - Bacon wrapped shrimp - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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If you haven't met Sharron yet, you are seriously missing out. This girl is the undisputed star of Carbonara's in Arlington -- the kind of waitress who remembers your order, your vibe, and probably your life story after one shift. She's fast, she's friendly, she's glowing with good energy, and she somehow manages to make every table feel like VIP. Whether you're grabbing dinner with friends or treating yourself to pasta after a long day, Sharron is the reason your night instantly gets better. If Carbonara's had a Hall of Fame, she'd already be in it. If they had MVP trophies, her shelf would be full. Go see Sharron. Go tip Sharron. Arlington's favorite waitress -- and the heart of Carbonara's. read more

We went there for my daughter's 17th birthday because she wanted a good Italian dinner. We were so excited upon arrival that the atmosphere was like one of those lovely neighborhood restaurants which we've experienced when we were in Italy last summer. Our server was very cordial and made some great recs on the apps. We got the arancinis, meatballs and crab stuffed mushrooms. Meatballs were a bit dry inside but the other two apps were great. For entrees, my daughter got the carbonara. Hubby got the spicy rigatoni. Son got the baked ziti, and I got the shrimp scampi with lobster. As we were so excited to have the famous carbonara being served by table-side, it was actually a bit of disappointing dish where it was more soupy than cheesy given that it was mixed in the Parmesan wheel. It wasn't very flavorful, just a bland creamy sauce. The pancetta was actually the star of the dish. The spicy rigatoni and baked ziti also didn't look very exciting. The biggest disappointment was my shrimp scampi. When the server recommended adding lobster to my scampi, I thought it was going to be added into the pasta, but it came as a side, a SMALL tail. The shrimps were overcooked and tough. The grilled lobster tail was even more overcooked. So dry that it was stuck to the shells and I had a hard time getting the meat out. The scampi sauce was also creamy rather than the garlic and oil sauce that I was expecting. For a whopping $52 ($35 shrimp scampi, lobster tail $17), I expected it to be good, at least the shrimps and lobster to have been done right, not overcooked. The pasta was also blah. Overall we enjoyed the evening since the atmosphere and service were great, but I wouldn't consider it an authentic Italian experience, especially when the pastas were all disappointing. I would most likely go back (but not in a hurry) to try other dishes though. read more

I absolutely loved this place. I went here to celebrate my birthday with my godmother and godsister and I'm so glad they picked this place. I love Italian and I had never heard of it. I had a lobster and shrimp dish that was amazing. The pasta was good, in addition the lobster and shrimp were a nice size. Our waiter, Ashton was super helpful with the best picks on the menu and I'm glad I went with the dish I picked. The manager even came around to check on things. Our reservation was at 4:30pm and by time we left at 6:30pm, all the tables were full but it wasn't too loud. I would highly suggest checking it out. I know I will be back. read more

It was difficult to get a dinner or weekend reservation so during lunch time was perfect. It also wasn't crowded which we enjoyed. The bacon wrapped shrimp was very good. The carbonara was rich and the tortellini and the sauce was pretty good. The staff was really nice and attentive. I do think some of the dishes were slightly on the bland side but I prefer that to overly salted. It was a cute space and environment decor was nice. read more

Vibe is fine. You know that young thug song that's like " bad bad bad"? I think he was talking about the food here. Their signature "carbonara" was a scam. It was soaked in the vodka that they do the table side presentation with. We also had a forgettable rigatoni dish, which was so heavy it hurt our stomachs. I'm convinced the good reviews are from paid influencers. Service was unremarkable. read more

The food and service were simply fabulous! Sat inside at a reserved table for three on Thursday. To start - instant water (filtered)) immediately poured (and continuously refilled without having to ask). Welcome bread is complimentary -- the foccacia and tapanade are excellent. The place was packed at 6PM! Our order highlights were the Frito Misti and the clam trio. Both could not be fresher and more flavorful! The biggest hit among the entrees was the brisket stuffed tortellini -- so freakin' good!!! (Though a little too salty) Everything from start to finish was so robust in flavors! We LOVE a kitchen that is NOT afraid to amp up spices. No salt on the table because none was needed. Love that the fresh grated parm is offered not just once, but twice! Little touches like the chicken parm being placed, then immediately followed by a second staff attendant placing hot melted cheese on the meat. Little touches mean a lot. And our server (Arlington native Ashton) was simply spectacular! He was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the menu -- super attentive -- and really fun! Only minor recommendation -- acoustics need to be addressed. The volume is at a 10 out of 10. Hard to hear my table mates often. Suggest adding some draping between sections from the ceiling to soften the resonance of the customers. read more

My wife and ii were in town for Commanders game. All the way from TX. HTTR!! This place popped up on top spots so we had to try it. When we got there the wait was about 1hr and half. We were thinking of just going somewhere else but im glad we didn't. It was about 30 min but definitely worth the wait. The vibe is pretty cool. Outside seating was great. Just a nice vibe. Definitely will eat here if we come back. read more

Carbonara - Chicken parmesan. - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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