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Carbone's Ristorante

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588 Franklin Ave
Hartford, CT 06114

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(860) 296-9646
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Carbone's Ristorante - Hartford, CT
Carbone's Ristorante - Hartford, CT
Carbone's Ristorante - Hartford, CT
Carbone's Ristorante - Hartford, CT
Carbone's Ristorante - Hartford, CT
Reviews
( 10 )
( 3 )
( 3 )
( 4 )
( 2 )

Best

We have been going to Carbones now for a few years. Have always had a fabulous meal and excellent service....

Worst

Carbone's has a history of good food and impeccable service. Emphasis on the word HISTORY!!!! I believe our waitress was Hitlers sister. Abrasive, cold and impatient. She...

Excellent 8/17/2012

We have been going to Carbones now for a few years. Have always had a fabulous meal and excellent service.... more

Excellent 8/17/2012

Sandybeach Provided by Partner
We have been going to Carbones now for a few years. Have always had a fabulous meal and excellent service. Whether we sit at the bar or in the re... more

Hartford's Best Italian Restaurant 3/7/2011

Consistently wonderful dining experience! The food is excellent, from the wide variety of appetizers, to the extensive selection of main courses, every meal I have had has been delicious. The wait staff is efficient and very friendly, salads are prepared tableside, as well as a couple of desserts which is highly recommended. I’ve recently dined in their Library Room which offers a light fare menu and is certainly well worth trying when looking for something a little more casual. Both the dining room and Library Room decor is very warm and comfortable. Carbone’s is definitely my choice for the best dining in Hartford. more

OK if you aren't usurped by a larger group 10/24/2009

My husband is a Hartford native. He had been wanting to go to Carbone's forever. So for our 30th anniversary we went. I thought it started out alright but he was upset that we didn't get a booth that he had requested. We started with a bottle of wine, appetizers, and salad. Then a group of 8 people showed up. Hmmmm. Well these 30 somethings couldn't read the menu that we two old 50 somethings could so without asking us at all they shot the lights up. Tada! We were in the spotlight. We played a bit of lights up and lights down a few times but obviously the group of 8 won because we left. Needless to say I didn't get my 30th anniversary supper but next week I will. Flemings is the place to go for special service not Carbones...unless of course you are a group of 8. Pros: I can't tell you Cons: favoritism more

Very Disappointed 10/18/2009

Friday night we went to Carbone's in Hartford on a recommendation of a friend. Yes, I know they have been there forever but we had never been. All I can say is the evening was a disappointment from beginning to end. We waited forever for our cocktails and when they finally came, my husband's was wrong. He drank it anyway because he was afraid of another wait. We figured this was just a weekend night glitch until we were served our first course. There were little or no clams in the clams casino and half of my steamed mussels were closed. The main courses were equally disappointing with small portions of meat swimming in too much heavy sauce. Our waiter did offer us dessert but then never came back to take our order. When we saw him again we just asked for the check. An expensive evening that we never wish to repeat. Pros: Incredible cuisine Cons: busy- had a wait for a table more

Soooooo Incredibly Disappointing 5/25/2009

Carbone's has a history of good food and impeccable service. Emphasis on the word HISTORY!!!! I believe our waitress was Hitlers sister. Abrasive, cold and impatient. She said their signature ""product"" was their fettuccini carbonara. Well folks, pasta costs about 20cents a metric TON. So why would a restaurant charge you $22+ bucks for a cup (I kid you not) of macaroni with a sauce that is broken (cream separated and has become pure oil). And WHO ON EARTH puts sausage in their carbonara and no peas or bacon??? Bread was incredibly boring. Flavorless sun-dried tomato dipping oil. Way overdone and bitter breadsticks. Ten dollars for tableside salad: one dollar worth of ingredients. Gorgonzola salad that leaves you wishing you had more than two crumbs of the cheese in your salad. I love salad, I am happy to pay $10 for a GREAT salad....not the case here folks. Our dirty dishes sat in front of us for 25 minutes without being cleared off. Lousy wine list with astronomical prices. Again, give me a delicious wine and money is no object. We were so disappointed we were afraid to order dessert. Cappuccino came with biscotti which were ice cold thin slices of cookies (store-bought). I assure you, if we had a wonderful dinner I would have written a shining review. $364.00 later; we vow never to return! Pros: Nice Ambiance Cons: LOUSY Service, Food Gone Way Down Hill more

We had a great time! 5/21/2009

A friend and I do a girl's night out once a month and this time she chose Carbones in Hartford. I had never been. What a gem of a place. I guess they have been in business for generations and are still in their original location which I found really cool. They treated us like royalty from the moment we arrived and had a drink at the bar - Paul, the bartender took great care of us and made some recommendations for dinner. The food turned out to be incredible. The best Italian I've had in years. It was authentic Italian as well, absolutely delicious. The service was great and we stayed quite a while. I am going to take by fiance here because I know he will love it! more

Tableside Service 10/8/2008

One of the few restaurants in the Hartford area that does tableside cooking with a flair. From the Caesar salad prepared tableside to the flaming bocci ball desert quite a spectacular show! Add to that the entrees coming out of the kitchen are tasty perfectly cooked and beautifully seasoned we have a winner! more

fantastic food, great atmosphere! 7/3/2008

My husband and I went to Carbone's while we were passing through Hartford on our way to the beach in maine... more

fantastic food, great atmosphere! 7/3/2008

food12 Provided by Partner
My husband and I went to Carbone's while we were passing through Hartford on our way to the beach in maine where we spend our summers. We always t... more

Great Italian Food 7/2/2008

My Husband and I went to Carbone's last night for our anniversary, and it wasn't only great as a romantic setting, but the food and the service were absolutly amazing as well. They do a great job at keeping their customers happy! more

Great Food, Great Atmosphere 7/2/2008

I went there with a big group of people one night, and sometimes waiters or waitresses don't like to handle big groups, but the service was great, and the food was superior, i would recommend Carbone's to anyone!!! Great place to have a fantastic meal. more

maybe I expected too much... 1/17/2008

My husband built Carbones up as a 5 star restaurant. I think that set the bar too high. The interior was OK, but not 5 star. The food was pretty good, but I've had Italian just as good, and sometimes better other places...I would go back though. more

Unbelieveable food, unbelieveable people!!!! 8/14/2007

Wow!! That's all I can say. The service from when I walked in the door to when they made me feel like a family member on the way out was impecable! With me, five others, a table of 6 all together. The restaurant was pretty full and the hostess lead us to visit the most entertaining bartend outside of NYC. We ordered one drink and before we could finish it the hostess lead us to a table (they carried our drinks for us). The service was unbelieve, with table side preparation of flamming salads and desserts. Entrees were great, and the owner came out to thank us for dinning even thought he didin't know who we were. Great food, great service. Pros: Great food, great service! Cons: Pricey, but great portions...good left overs more

Mediocre food 7/11/2007

Former New Yorkers, we stopped here on the way back from Massachusetts thinking we were so lucky to find a charming Little Italy section in Hartford. We found the food extremely overpriced but had no problem with what we found to be generous portions. However, the sole dish was so bland that we didn't bother eating it. The escarole and bean soup was actually minestrone that was similar in taste to a Progresso product. Although the service was friendly, no one ever bothered to ask why our soup or sole dish was left mostly untouched. Somebody in this joint is not paying attention. Wouldn't go back. Pros: Nice bread Cons: Prices too high for below average food more

Why does this place get such great reviews? I don't get it. 7/8/2007

""This is place is overpriced and the food is ok but nothing special. There are better resturants on Franklin Ave. Save your money! "" I totaly agree 100% I think it is WAY overpriced. The food is NOT that great. I also think the food is ""Mediocre"" at best., and definitely NOT worth the price, or the visit. Trust me on this one, you'll be glad you did. Pros: Hmmmm..can't think of noe Cons: Price Price Price....food sub-par also. more

Living on its reputation 11/18/2006

We recently dined with 5 other family members on a Saturday night. This an old style southern Italian restaurant that has not changed with the times. Prices are quite high relative to the quality and quantity of food and it appears they are living on their reputation. My seafood over pasta dish was quite mediocre lacking both assertiveness and seafood. My wife chose a veal scallpini dish which was almost laughable in terms of quantity, but was very tender. Overall absent its reputation as a place for the in people or the wannabes, I seriously doubt it woud survive very long on its food. Cons: overpriced more

User review by gojt11 5/22/2006

I found that Carbones is a great restaurant, great food, and great service. I can't believe that people would say anything wrong about it. The bar tender Tommy-Joe was very entertaining and very helpful and a great bartender. The hostess and coatroom attendent was very personable. We really enjoyed our evening at Carbones Resturant and will be going back very soon. more

Great Experience 4/11/2003

Having moved from the Boston area where we were spoiled with a myriad of excellent restaurants in addition to having traveled for business for the past 10 years makes it difficult to be totally pleased at a restaurant. I have high expectations of high ranked places. Well, Carbone's impressed me. The warm welcoming by Vinnie Carbone and our server Doreen started a wonderful culinary experience. The Caesar's salad, prepared by Doreen at our table side, was PERFECT! It was absolutely delicious. The entrees were to die for. My wife had the Blue Crab Raviolis that just had that perfect spice to it and I devoured the Grilled New Zealand rack of lamb. For the grand finale, do not miss out on the Bachi Ball - chocolate covered vanilla ice cream flambéed with Triple sec at your table side. Pros: Good parking, Good value, excellent service more

upscale italian 12/25/2002

Romantic, upscale italian. Very good food, best service. Great wines. Pros: great food, wine list, ambience Cons: expensive more
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Menu for Carbone's Ristorante


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Owner Message
  • * Over 65 Years And Four Generations
    * Impeccable Culinary Execution And Top Notch Service In A Classic Atmosphere
    * We are Conveniently Located in Hartford's South End at 588 Franklin Avenue - We Offer Free On-Site Parking
    * Consistently Voted Best Italian Restaurant By Hartford Magazine CT Magazine and The Hartford Advocate

    * Please Visit Our Web Site For More Information. *Meeting & Banquet Rooms
    *Café Menu and Tableside Service
    *Off-Site Catering
    *Wine Bins
    *Roman Dinners

Editorial
  • The Scene
    Thirty-something singles dress up for the crowded weekend bar scene, while the dark, leather-padded dining room plays host to business meetings, birthday celebrations, romantic...

  • 8/14/2003 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Lunch: Monday - Friday 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Dinner: Monday - Thursday 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Friday - Saturday 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
  • Payments: American Express, Diner's Club, Visa, Cash, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: South End
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