Restaurant Review: Carbone Riyadh
Catering to the stars, and now to us…
Established in 2013, Carbone by Major Food Group is an Italian-American restaurant brand originally from the Big Apple (aka New York City). Currently, Carbone has branches in Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Las Vegas, Miami, and Hong Kong. The brand ventured into the Middle East with Carbone Riyadh, and we wanted to see how it stacks up.
Known for its star-studded clientele, including the likes of Rihanna and the Biebers, and its unique take on American-Italian cuisine, Carbone pays homage to New York’s Italian-American restaurants from the mid-20th century.
Setting up shop in one of the capital’s top hotels, Mansard Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Hotel, Carbone Riyadh, is a treat for the eyes and the belly. The venue’s luxe interiors include accents of gorgeous royal blue, maroon, and striking gold to set the whole venue apart. The dim lighting makes the space perfect for an intimate dinner for two or even a quiet family catch-up. Kids below the age of twelve are, however, not allowed in the venue.
Walk in, and you’ll be washed over with a wave of elegance and an ambience that exudes calm energy, assuring you that your evening at the restaurant will be one to remember.
View this post on Instagram
All good dining experiences in Riyadh start with a good mocktail. For us, we opted for the Floradora (SAR60). Sipping on the refreshing but not-too-sweet drink, we check out the extensive Italian-inspired menu. Standouts from the menu include the flavourful but a tad chewy Octopus Pizzaiolo (SAR150), crispy Calamari Marco (SAR150), and the perfect palette cleanser with the Caprese Burrata salad (SAR170).
Next up, for pasta, we just had to try the world-famous Spicy Rigatoni (SAR190) and it’s safe to say it did not disappoint. Perfectly al dente pasta, topped with a rich, creamy, and slightly spicy sauce, it’s definitely a must-try on the menu.
Another top item was the Chicken Massimo (SAR270), with a side of the Potatoes Louie (SAR95), you know what they say, winner-winner chicken dinner… We also tucked into the delicious New York Strip steak (SAR370). The portion sizes of each of the dishes were big and easily shared amongst our table of three.
And since we know no meal is ever complete without dessert, we walked over to the huge dessert display and picked out what looked the best (which was a tough decision given how good everything looked). We ended up opting for the decadent German Chocolate Cake, the Tiramisu, the speciality Carrot Cake, and the hidden gem recommended by the assistant general manager, the Lemon Cheesecake.
What’s On verdict: All in all, Carbone Riyadh is the type of place you’d go to celebrate special occasions.
Carbone Riyadh, Mansard Riyadh, A Radisson Riyadh Collection Hotel, Ar Rabi daily 7pm to 1am. @carbone.riyadh