Restaurant Review: Carbone, Riyadh

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend an evening in a restaurant that has welcomed diners such as Adele, Barack Obama, Michael Jordan and Kim Kardashian?

Well, now you don't have to wonder! The famous Italian-American, New York City eatery, Carbone, has recently opened an outpost in Riyadh. Adding even more significance and panache to the capital’s dining scene, this has been a hot booking on the restaurant scene since its opening on November 1 of last year.

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The distinctive neon sign only adds to the glamourous, dreamlike ambience, and a warm greeting by the staff all added to the red carpet-type welcome we received at Carbone Riyadh, in the capital’s northern Al Rabea neighbourhood.

Once we were settled inside, we instantly felt as if we were swept back to a bygone era, exactly what the founder of the Italian American success story, Mario Carbone, wants his clients to experience.

According to Mr Carbone, the decor is inspired by Italian restaurants in New York during the middle of the 20th century. As well as the aesthetic delights, the decor also takes into consideration priorities like privacy and comfort, with thoughtful touches like circular tables and the subtle lighting.

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After ensuring we got our welcome drink, the staff handed us a menu with detailed explanations about the ingredients in each dish. This was followed by a mocktail menu, which became very appealing after the bartender caught our attention with his impressive mixing and shaking.

Italian cuisine needs no introduction, naturally. Here it's served with that added Italian American heritage: from the spicy rigatoni, a restaurant favourite, to the shrimp cocktail and burrata salad.

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The atmosphere at Carbone will transport you to mid-century New York and and the unique combination of extravagance, best-quality food, and buzzy atmosphere it offers.

After enjoying our delicious meal, we had many options for desserts, and ended up choosing the wonderful tiramisu and German chocolate cake.

It’s easy to understand why it takes months to bag a reservation at Carbone in New York, even for celebrities. Now you can have that illusive experience in the heart of Riyadh.

Mansard Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Hotel, Ar Rabi.
sevenrooms.com
@carbone.riyadh
@radissoncollectionmansard