“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”
–Virginia Woolf
The hubby and I headed down to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to enjoy some sun and be with family. The hubby was lucky enough to get us a reservation at Carbone, Miami… and these reservations are difficult to get! Carbone is an Italian-American restaurant created by Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick. This dining venue pays homage to the great Italian-American eateries that existed in New York City in the middle of the 20th century. They take traditional dishes like Chicken Scarpariello, Linguini Vongole, or Veal Parmigiana and elevate them to a new level. All their food is made fresh and in house.
For our starters, we received a complimentary bread basket. The basket consisted of tomato coated focaccia and garlic bread. They were so flavorful and soft! Paired well with the parmesan cheese chunks and salami as well the pickled cauliflower. What a great start and this was before we ordered our appetizers! They were outstanding… So fresh and tasty. My favorite was the Prosciutto and Mozzarella. It’s such a simple plate and an absolute home run. The flakey salt on the mozzarella, the presentation of them cutting the mozzarella and spreading it on the prosciutto was great. You have to love a show with your dinner… all about that presentation!
For dinner we decided to do family style and try various dishes like a pasta, chicken, pork, and more. Personally, the star was the pork chop with peppers and the spicy rigatoni vodka. The porkchop… wow! Sliced, topped with cherry peppers, juicy and melts in your mouth. It was cooked perfectly, with a slight pink center and a fantastic sear. The spicy rigatoni and vodka sauce is a signature dish for Carbone… I felt that their vodka sauce was a different take of what you are used to. It was creamy, pretty spicy, but in a good way. The pasta was al dente and there was just the right amount of sauce coating the pasta. I have to say it was “swoon worthy” and the whole table kept going for more. I did enjoy the chicken, but it was a tad dry. The sauce, however, was a wonderful combination of sweet, tangy, and spicy all at the same. We also had sides… potatoes Louie and Funghi Trifolati. Both were exploding with flavor and did what good sides should do… they actually enhanced the incredible entrees we were eating, adding to the overall experience.
Somehow… we’re not sure how… there was room for dessert! Their famous carrot cake is moist, not overly sweet, and the cream cheese frosting did not over power the cake itself. It allowed the cake itself to shine. The key lime sponge cake was a unique twist on a key lime pie. It was a way to change a very popular south Florida dish. It was not too rich nor too dense and the layers in between tasted like a key lime pie. Both desserts were a hit at our table. Of course, it doesn’t hurt finishing with a perfectly brewed cappuccino.
Gin, Campari, and Vermouth.
I have to mention the cocktails and our drinks definitely set the tone for our entire dining experience. The hubby ordered a mocktail (ginger fizz) and my drink was a classic Negroni (my first time with this type drink). Our drinks were excellent and thanks to our bartender, Abraham, for the recommendation and personalized service!
Overall, it was such a unique experience! From beginning to end, the food was plentiful and satisfying. The décor was classic, with a 50’s/60’s retro charm. They played music from that era, such as Ray Charles and Solomon Burke, which I totally love! (Spotify actually has a playlist title “Mario Carbone NYC” – check it out)
As for the staff, I don’t have enough words. They were amazing! They were courteous and gracious. They were friendly and were amazing with my niece Valentina! The entire team was definitely on top of their game.
I would highly recommend anyone to try Carbone Miami. They are pricey, but I feel they are worth it due to the quality of their dishes and personal attention from their staff. This is an experience in addition to a meal. The restaurant group has many locations. I would love to try the one in NYC (the original Carbone restaurant). Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
Chomping Chica