We visited Carbone's last night and the service was a bit slow and the decor dated but there wasn't much else to complain about. For a packed place the noise level was minimal. The food was outstanding. The beef stew, one of their soup specials, was 10/10. Be back for that alone. They were out of the short rib ravioli so my wife pivoted to the pot roast which was great, tender and flavorful. The sides were only so so. We also had some chicken and veal parm which never disappoints. A couple guests ordered the shrimp cocktail at $16.25. One gentleman ordering it assured me it was well worth the money. You only get 4 but they were some of the biggest I've seen in a restaurant in a long time. When done you bring your check up front to pay. I found it convenient. We'll definitely be back again soon. read more

Ok so if you're looking for a Michelin experience you may want to skip this old time neighborhood place. But if you want good to great home cooked food and an at home kind of atmosphere I would recommend Carbone's. My fiancé, her father and I are here last week. We sat in the lounge area, had a very good server with a bit of an attitude (the good kind) and maybe because we didn't expect too much we were pleasantly surprised. The boiled lobster was great, the eggplant parm was devoured and whole my steak tips were so-so (too small and way too much sauce) we had a great experience. We shared some onion rings and her dad had a side of French fries....both were pretty amazing. Would recommend for a place to have "suppah"! read more

It's local but I just can't trust this place. It's barely open weekdays and when I stop in, I can only bring myself to just having a drink at the bar. They have a huge menu and specials but they don't turn over many customers so how fresh are all of these items on the menu? If you want the rest home experience then this place is perfect. If you're having drinks at the bar and hand them a card to pay, the bartender will direct to outside to the host at the front door. My goodness. read more

Despite literally walking into a time capsule where magically, we were transported to 1980 and were 50 years younger than every other patron in there, we decided to stay. The staff was nice and friendly. The appetizer was good. Unfortunately, as we were awaiting our entre, I thought I saw a mouse under a table a few feet away. Our entre was served and I was distracted, lost my appetite and couldn't eat as the mouse ran across the dining room. Another table of guests and I alerted the waitress who was mortified. She gave take out containers and we asked for the bill. (Surprisingly nothing was comped. We literally didn't eat our dinner) Couldn't get out of there fast enough. It's too bad but don't think I'll be back. read more

The place has literally no energy or vibe. Full of old people and the hostess is about 80 and sits down between people coming in. Food is mediocre on a big stretch. The staff talks to each other like none of the diners are sitting there. This is definitely a place to avoid unless you like eating in a nursing home. read more

We had dinner tonight! I had the veal Parmesan. My mom had a lobster roll and our friend had veal- eggplant parmigiana. Our drinks were great! Our waitress Cheryl was excellent! Cannolis and coffee or dessert it was excellent! read more

Carbone's Restaurant - a plate of spaghetti and meat - American Near Me - Hopkinton, Massachusetts

See all

Someone explain to me how this trashole is still open. Clearly they own the land and it's not going anywhere but why do ppl come here? Dried out burgers , flavorless rubbery chicken parm, sauce from a jar. Got some dip nonsense that had ritz crackers and cream cheese or something-puke. I suppose if you like Walmart and fast food then you'll be fine Place is dirty and unkempt. read more

Great Italian food. You can never go wrong with their meatballs. Everything on the menu is awesome. They have been there forever.

This place is a great. My family has been going to this place for special dinners years. It has a family attmosphere were everyone is welcome (little kids, adults to grand parents). The booths so you can have your own private meal, and back area to hold large parties with privacy. Even with large parties everyone can find something great to eat (Steak, veal parm, chicken parm, egg plant parm, lobster, sea food, pizza, children's meals,...). There always is list of about half dozen specials also. My favorite special is the prime rib. The cut is perfect, and they always cook it right. They have queen and king size, both are huge and cost double what they charge everywhere else. Service is fast and very little waiting between courses - doesn't matter if two people or ten. The whole meal experience is fun and relaxed because don't rush you trying to fill your spot with the next customer. read more

By far the worst experience I had in my life! The place looked and smelled like a nursing home but we still decided to give it a try. The service was horrible it took 10 minutes to get our waters. The food was disgusting and what makes it worse is that it wasn't cheap ! I paid $30 for jumbo stuffed shrimp and the stuffing was hard and looked like human feces(picture attached). I don't recommend this place to anyone. read more

Carbone's Restaurant - Jumbo stuffed shrimp. Gross gross grosssss - American Near Me - Hopkinton, Massachusetts

Having driven past this place many times, we finally decided to stop in. We had made a reservation, but that turned out to be unnecessary, and we soon found out why. I had the pasta with meatballs, and I was reminded of Spaghetti O's. My wife had the eggplant, and she thought of Chef Boyardee. They call themselves an Italian restaurant...what nerve! Head to the North End of Boston for some REAL flavor! read more

I really want to love Carbone's. I ordered takeout on a Friday night. It was ready within 40 minutes which was good but the food wasn't as good. The food is ok, but nothing is executed well. The fish and chips are not crispy or crunchy. The fries are soggy and the fish batter is flavorless. I like the pizza. It's simple, but it has a tasty sauce, good cheese and crispy crust. I also had the strawberry shortcake which consisted of one of the pound cake shells from the supermarket, unhulled mushy strawberries and canned whipped cream. It was nostalgic and tasty. This is an old fashioned establishment; respectable, reliable and great for families with kids. read more

See all

For starters the pizza is good, but the staff unfortunately has no regard for putting any effort into the customer service whatsoever. This is really unfortunate because it appears a terrible staff has been the demise of a restaurant that has been in business for nearly 100 years. I was told that the host has "nothing to do with the bar" that is understandable however, to at least be given the option of dining in the bar would be nice to know upon arrival. Through the dining experience the staff was borderline rude to us and those around us, after having heard complaints from neighbors on both sides of our table. All and all the front of house staff with the exception of Donna, is better at "cracker barrel" of all places. Unfortunate to see a long standing place be crippled to the point of shutting down due to what would appear to be poor customer care. Also the antipasto was dismal to say the least only 2 very obviously canned olives and topped with canned tuna. VERY SAD! read more

I have to give Carbone's 5 stars for many reasons. I'm not going to lie, nostalgia is chief among them. My family ate there innumerable times when I was growing up. I always got either an onion and pepper pizza or baked scallops. We ate there with friends oftentimes. It was always good. I grew up and moved away. My parents remained in Southboro. Each and every time I came to visit Southboro, I made it a point to go to Carbone's. I brought friends, girlfriends, my aging parents. In December of 2002, my wife and I visited my parents (all the way from Madrid) and we met a couple at Carbone's to celebrate the wife's pregnancy. We did not know, yet, that my wife was also pregnant. In January of 2010, on the night that we buried my Dad, I ate dinner at Carbone's and for the first time, ordered a drink... a manhattan, my Dad's favorite drink, which he had drank many times in the Carbone's dining room. They still served the cottage cheese and Ritz crackers in a basket for an appetizer that I remember from childhood. And the onion and pepper pizza was perfect. Thank you Carbone's for a lifetime of meals and memories. As long as you are open and I am in Massachusetts, I'll stop by for my dinner. read more

Wanted to try a new place.....unfortunately, I should've kept driving. For starters, the waitress was not on top of our order or needs. It took the waitress 15 mins at least to take our order, then it Took 30 mins for the food to arrive. The salad was good. BUT we had to wait 15 mins for utensils. My guest finally went to the desk and asked and she set us up with the appropriate utensils. When our food finally arrived, I was so taken aback by the prime rib which wasn't cheap mind you There were two very large areas of fat. I realized the waitress never asked me how I wanted it cooked. It arrived medium (along with the fat). Yes I should've sent it back, but my guest said not too. My guest ordered chicken piccata. It was tough and not much flavor. She barely touched her meal. We waited another 15 mins for the waitress to return so I could ask for the bill. We were so DONE. Paid our check and left. Before leaving the hostess at the desk didnt say a word to any of the parting customers Not a word. "have a nice night" is too much I guess. We won't be back. read more

Carbone's? Aren't They closed?? I asked my neighbor when he told me he went there for dinner recently. For some reason he said they're still open. So nostalgia kicked in and I decided to take the trip over. Wonder what 1985 looks like? Just walk in the front door and you'll see. Service was eh, food was not good. And truthfully, I didn't expect it to be good, but I also didn't expect it to be so expensive. If you are under 70 I really don't think this is a place you should go to. There is so much better food for the money. read more

Quite simply, the worst restaurant I have ever eaten at in my life, and that includes fast food restaurants. The shrimp literally tasted like they were cooked in dishwater with Brillo, and it's the only time I've ever been served raw chicken. Neither the server nor the restaurant management at the time did anything to help, they just did not care. I should add this was pre-COVID so they can't use that as an excuse, not that it would have been a good one. read more

Was hoping for some old school Italian food and had low expectations for the ambiance. It smells stale and gross when you first walk in. Hostess stand was a disaster. People in the bar were hammered. Our waitress was very oversharing with her life story. Everything tasted like garbage. Their homemade cheese served in a plastic cup with 6 Ritz crackers was tasteless. The meatballs were both dry and mushy served with some sort of marinara. Prime rib was way overdone. Pizza crust soggy. Chix parm bland and dry. Wine opened at the bar and we couldn't cork it because they don't have the correct bags. Don't bother unless you have zero taste buds and want a history lesson in bad life decisions from your waitress. read more

Carbone's Restaurant - Classy - American Near Me - Hopkinton, Massachusetts

While it takes a while to get a seat, and the food (if you are in a large group) , the wait is worth it. I thought their prime rib was to die for, but last night I had their fried oysters. When I lived in S.C., oysters were served everywhere ...raw, fried, in a stew ... and I had them frequently, so I wasn't expecting to discover that Carbone's has the best fried oysters I have ever had. Not gritty, fresh so no strong taste or after taste, and fried with a very light batter and touch, to rival the clam shacks of the North Shore. Their fish is always cooked just right - always seems fresh - haddock with lobster sauce is one of my favorites. When I had to arrange a post-funeral lunch, they had a special menu with many items to choose from, at half the price of all the other places I called. Most restaurants have inexpensive lunch menus, and I don't know where they get off charging formal wedding dinner prices for lunch for a group coming back from a funeral. Carbone's "gets it" that you don't uncharge for that. read more

Growing up in a town like Hopkinton, MA you take pleasure in the little things. We weren't much for chain restaurants in fact the only name brand eatery (or something close to one) was a Brigham's Ice Cream Shop. So going out to eat either meant you were in Milford or Framingham/Natick or you were at Carbone's. A traditional Italian/American family restaurant that I can remember attending various times as a kid. Though I can't promise my childhood nostalgia will kick in and effect the review, I'll do my best to leave most of it at the door considering I have eaten here a handful of times in the last 3 years. It's a pretty typical menu. Salads, pizza, sandwiches, pasta...to be honest there's nothing really to note in terms of anything you NEED To try. It's more about the uh, atmosphere. Yeah that's it. Okay okay okay...the place isn't all that great. but It's not bad either. It just is. The specials are usually worth trying (shepherd's pie is actually really really good) and if you love the feeling of being a place with "history", you'll have a nice chuckle. Still the water glasses are too small, the service slightly slow and a little rough around the edges but that's typical New England backwoods "hospitality". If you're driving by or want to drive a little out of your way when you're looking for something easy on the brain and average on the tongue, this is the place to be. A little taste of my childhood poured into a lukewarm cup of the soup of the day, served with a half smile. Perfect? No. Endearing? Maybe. read more

Carbone's Restaurant - Carbone's Restaurant - American Near Me - Hopkinton, Massachusetts

No, it's not a "fancy" restaurant, but the food was solid home style good and our service was spot on. (and might I add ... spotlessly clean)! Come on ... it's been here since the 30's, they're doing something right. Anyway ... They have a huge selection of dishes and specials and even after showing up on the late side of the evening, the staff was friendly and attentive. Next time I want to try the pizza. It looked awesome!! read more

Carbone's Restaurant - The "tinted water glass that freaked out MattH". Really? lol - American Near Me - Hopkinton, Massachusetts

Went to Carbone's to celebrate my father in laws 80th birthday with 17 people. Well, the service and food was fantastic. My first time here. Had the chicken pot pie for an appetizer. What a good choice to share... it was homemade. So good. Had the eggplant chicken parm. As good as it gets. Really! Thanks for the dinner :) read more

See all

Just picked up chicken and eggplant parmesan dinner, $18.59 +tip, and it was pretty much just a fried cutlet with some fried eggplant pieces on top and then a little sauce on top of the eggplant pieces - NO PARMESAN/CHEESE. Is one supposed to specify parmesan/cheese? Pretty much missed the mark.... read more

We had dinner in the lounge, my wife had a sirloin steak I had The prime rib the food was very good. Our waitress name was Jen and she was absolutely excellent. Came to our table within a minute or so I was sitting down explain the menu. Was very attentive during the meal. Overall made for a wonderful night. read more

75 years in business must have meaning; they are doing something right at Carbone's. Haute cuisine? Hardly. Great location? Only if you live in the Milford/Hopkinton/Southborough stretch. Consistency and good value? That must be it. The food is typical of suburban New England Italian-American family dining establishments. Nothing remarkable but always filling with consistent quality. The portions here are beyond generous and prices are cheap! I had the clam strip dinner for $12.95 which included fries and a salad. I actually had to take half home because I could not finish it all and still have room for the lemon meringue pie for dessert (you get like 1/4 of the pie as a serving so I suggest sharing!). Don't come here when you are looking for the latest culinary masterpiece; come when you are hungry and want a filling, no-brainer dinner. Just about anything on the menu will do the trick. I've eaten in countries all over the world but something in me is still charmed by a plate of Ritz crackers and cheese spread waiting for me at my restaurant table. read more

We were looking for something other than a chain restaurant. We had not been here in over 10 years, so we gave it another try. We went on a Saturday night and the place was packed, You don't put your name in, you stand in a line and wait until you get to the front. We were a little worried as there were about 20 people ahead of us, but this place is huge, and the wait was only about 10 minutes. Don't come here looking for interesting stuff on the walls, or eye catching props. The building was likely last remodeled in 1968. It was clean, but dated. The menu and specials were good, it was nice that they had something other than grill cheese and chicken fingers on the kids menu. My wife had the linguine with white clam sauce. She reported it was from a can, and not home made there. I had the chicken parm, and would have to say there was nothing amazing about it. I give it a three star because while the food was ok, the service was excellent, and the food came out quickly, and was hot. Desserts were ok, we had the Oreo ice cream pie, and the lemon meringue pie. Portions were huge, and the server told us that before we ordered. She was right, and saved us the cost of two more desserts. If you need something other than a theme driven chain, this might be a nice choice. read more

If I were grading the fish, it would get 5 stars. But I am discussing the whole experience. First the menu for Carbones is wrong. The website is Carboneshopkinton.com. I called to order a prime rib sandwich and they told me that someone had given the correct info for everything other than the menu. tTheir guess was that whoever did this was probably hoping that Carbones would buy the website from them. Unreal. I got the fish sandwich. AMAZING. 5 STARS! The fish was thick and falling apart because it was so french. They did not use a thick batter that gets greasy when fried. Instead it was more like a flour coating. I could have just eaten the fish! The sandwich was huge so my husband and I shared. We got the sandwich with additional lettuce and onions which dressed up the flavors a bit. And the tartar sauce was very good and tangy. A plus. The other sandwich we received was the veal parm. The veal was tender and there was a good slab of cheese on it with not too much sauce. But then nothing else. No lettuce, tomato etc. I think it was good but it paled in comparison to the fish sandwich. I also could have used a little more more sauce but I liked the fact that it was not dripping with sauce. The fries were thick and good. The onion rings were better! They are beer battered, and the kind that has some of the coating slip off to see the real onion inside. Not the kind of batter that is so thick that it is an impermeable casing around the onion. We also received a small containers of sliced pickles which was so nice! It dressed p the sandwiches and we could eat it as we ate the sandwiches, which means a pickle in every bite. Sort of perked things up. This was a take out order. And after the debacle of the ordering in while I was driving, when I first found out they had the wrong menu, I arrived and asked an elderly woman at the desk (who was on a personal call and didn't hang up for a full three minutes to acknowledge me) for the take out menu. She said she did not have one. I said, "you don't have any menus?" She said, "I don't have any up here." So I said you have to have a menu. I would like to order a take out.: Then she said, "I can't let you take the menu out and take it home with you." Hmmmm.... uh..... So I SHOUTED, "I NEED A MENU SO I CAN ORDER A DINNER FOR TAKE OUT!" Then she said, "oh, here's a menu. Hmmm. She told me to go into the bar to older. Alrighteee.... I went into the bar. There were a couple of regulars, who I had a chat with while waiting for the order. They made it in about 10 mins flat - very fast, when they realized that I was the one who had originally called with the wrong menu and I was in a major hurry! Nice nice people at the bar - the bar tender and patrons alike. I went back to the old lady to pay. She wasn't there but a younger waitress came up to help. I told her the story and she said that old woman is practically deaf and that I had to SHOUT. Turns out what I thought was being rude and SHOUTING at someone is something I had to do in order to talk to the old lady. The place is crazy. The fish sandwich is the best I have ever had. The onion rings rate right up there. The place is neat and clean and tidy all wrapped up with a bow. Lots of old people - you can tell it's a regular kind of place - accompanied by their kids and grandkids - I am not talking about young grandkids, I am talking about kids in their teens and 20's. I would go back. Both for take out and for a sit down dinner. Prices are reasonable. Get the fish sandwich with the onion rings! read more

Perhaps others can be nostalgic about it, and I know the restaurant has been there for many, many years, but our experience was not 'bad' but it's certainly not a place to go out of the way for unless you're starving. Nothing on the menu to recommend. What we did have was very moderate and/or overcooked. With so many other places in the Metro West area, I can't honestly recommend this to anyone - except maybe my 89 year-old in-laws when they visit and are looking for that 'Early Bird Special' type of place (and they'll fit right in with the crowd as that appears to be the restaurant's core demographic).. read more

Carbone's is a better than average local Italian restaurant. A little Old school, but that makes it charming in my book. The food is always good, prices reasonable, and the waitstaff is always friendly. I especially like that they have 5-6 specials each night, There's something for everyone, traditional red sauce italian dishes, plenty of seafood items, including salmon, which is not often found at Italian restaurants, pizza - which is especially good, and various other options. I've been coming here for years and I can't recall ever being disappointed. read more

I just don't get the appeal to this place. Though run by a family with Italian heritage, their Italian dishes are mediocre (though if you'd give Spaghetti-O's a high mark for Italian cuisine, you'd probably disagree with me). Perhaps I'm hard on them because I grew up in an Italian family... All in all, an OK eating experience can be had, but nothing to travel out of your way for. read more

I have been going to Carbone's since I was a little girl - it's my favorite restaurant in the area, and I always go back when I come home for a visit. Yes, the reviews are true, simple menu, simple food, great prices - what's to gripe about? They have some of the best veal parmesan I've ever had, and their salad dressing is delicious. Pizzas are great too, lots of cheese! The drinks are always great, and the waitresses and staff couldn't be nicer. One of the last 'Mom and Pop' gems left these days! Don't come here expecting fancy food - it's simple, home-cooked food that is consistent and delicious - and that's the beauty of it! read more

Love Carbone's ... been going there for over 40 years. Drinks are delightful and food is consistently good. the staff always makes you feel welcome. It is my go to restaurant! read more

4th generation patron, this place never disappoints. Consistently good Italian fare. Portions are huge, price is more than reasonable. Went on a whim tonight; 2 soft drinks, appetizer, 2 meals, 2 desserts and a coffee for $49. How can you beat that? Amanda, our waitress tonight, was amazing. One of the best servers I've ever had actually. read more

Our party got seated in a dingy room with a squeaking vent overhead. I was served water in the world's tiniest, brown water cup (makes the water look tinted, not nice) and our table of six was given about 18 Ritz crackers. After that was done we cold some delicious cold bread. Onto the main course. My fish n chips was not good. The fries were clearly store bought and the fish was just sort of dry and rubbery. My girlfriends chicken parm was a bit redeeming and tasty, but her potatoes were bland. I didn't want to ruin my girlfriends dad's birthday so I didn't speak up about it but cmon, this place was pretty bad. read more

We were pleasantly surprised how good the food was! The fact that they were open on a Monday was also a plus! Service was also excellent, and a very friendly atmosphere. read more

Casual, good home cooked tasting italian food. Prices can't be beat and fantastic to avoid long drives for dining. I love that there's a place to go for a last minute dinner. Not fancy, good service. Enjoy! read more

if your a first-timer here and like veal... order the veal cutlet - no cheese, and roasted potato. comes with a nice salad and bread. ask for the ritz crackers and cheese too. its a really good spot. read more

Unfortunately, full disappointment in food and service department. Staff clearly pissed off and doesn't feel like to work there, you can hear them loudly complaining. Food is so-so, especially if it is brought after 40 minutes late and cold, not even warm, plainly cold. Half of the items not available from menu, not sure what is the point for menu then. read more

Pretty good food but the customer service ruins everything. I have eaten in the dining room and my waitress was absolutely miserable; kept talking about how it was almost time for her to go home and made us feel like we were burdening her (keep in mind this was around 7pm). If you get takeout, the woman at the front desk will greet you with an attitude and tell you to go to the bar, where you will wait in line to tell them you're there to pick up an order. After getting the food, you have to bring it back to the miserable woman in the front, who will sigh and roll her eyes over and over again. She is never busy and yet she can't just go and grab the food from the kitchen? Or at the very least act like she doesn't hate you? The only decent service I have ever had was at the bar. read more

If you are looking for pretension: haute cusine, stuff you can't pronounce and a stiff, opulent atmosphere: keep driving. For delicious, old-school Italian American comfort food, in lovely, practical surroundings, it just doesn't get any better than Carbone's. Lick-your-plate spaghetti & meatballs. read more