Getting a reservation during decent hours at Carbone is no easy task. But I read on Eater dining guide that it gets much easier if your name is Barak Obama!
Michelle and Barak Obama were spotted a few times at Carbone; it seems that it’s one of their favorite restaurants in NYC. I, unfortunately, did not have a chance to see them, as I couldn’t get in at normal hours. I settled on a reservation at 2 pm for lunch, which is not so bad.
Carbone is labeled as “old-school” Italian cooking by several reviews; not sure what it means but the place has indeed a retro flavor with the black & white tiles on the floor, burgundy art deco leather chairs, and servers wearing long white aprons attached with suspenders and a black bow tie on a white shirt. Another old fashion tradition: Caesar salad is prepared tableside as originally created in 1924 by Caesar Cardini in his restaurant in Mexico.
I was a bit surprised by the façade, and especially by the old sign hanging above the window. It still has the name of the old establishment – Rocco Restaurant – scratched and aged. The electric sign Carbone is put on top of the former one – it really doesn’t look very fancy from the outside. Carbone is in fact not a fancy restaurant per se; it has a rather casual vibe and a relaxed ambiance with a warm welcoming.
We were just seated when the server brought salami and fresh burrata with warm, amazing garlic bread. I thought it was a great way to prepare our taste buds before ordering our lunch.
We started by sharing the Carpaccio Piemontese dish. The beef was fresh and sliced very thinly. It was topped with slices of mushrooms and arugula. Finely chopped walnuts were spread on the beef, a true delight!
President Obama ordered the double Lamb chops with a glass of red wine, but we opted for the pasta dishes – what Carbone calls “Macaroni” – with (of course) a glass of red wine. I was told not to miss the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka so I didn’t. The Vodka sauce was delicious, not too sweet, and spicy enough to appreciate the dish.
The Eater article doesn’t mention what Michelle Obama ordered besides a glass of white wine, but I can tell you my husband ordered the Fettuccine con Funghi, and it was exquisite. The pasta was cooked right, and the sauce was prepared with fresh mushrooms and diced tomatoes sprinkled with a hint of herbs.
We had a glass of Montefalco 2014 and a glass of Il Bruciato 2015. The wine selection is impressive; mainly from Italy, but also from France and the USA.
We ended our lunch with the lemon cheesecake. Surprisingly, it was light and airy, not at all buttery-like most cheesecakes are. I heard a lot about their carrot cakes with ginger icing, but the portions are so big that we shared
one dessert.
Actually, the end came with an Italian flag made of marzipan and a quite steep check! Carbone is not a cheap Italian restaurant, but chefs Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi don’t skimp on the quality and the freshness of the ingredients. I don’t regret my choice and I will go back again!
In the absence of the president and his wife, my husband and me!
Carbone
181 Thompson St, New York
📞 212-254-3000
Price range: $$$$
Monday: 5:30 – 11:30 pm
Tuesday – Friday: 11:30 am, 2 pm – 5:30 – 11:30 pm
Saturday – Sunday: 11:30 am, 2 pm – 5:30 – 11:30 pm
