Carbone at Aria Is Timeless Italian Cuisine
Matty Ice Reviews Carbone at Aria
Being part Italian (the other part is Irish – that will be relevant in my next article), I love Italian food. I still maintain that my Sicilian grandmother made the best Italian food known to man. But Carbone at Aria has some of the best Italian that I’ve had in Las Vegas.
During my June trip, I made dinner reservations at Carbone for Friday night at 8:15 pm. That gave me enough time to check into Venetian and comfortably Uber over to Aria (way cheaper than cabs). We arrived about 15 minutes early and decided to kill some time at the lounge.
The bar menu was impressive, to say the least. Each individual spirit had its own menu with at least thirty options. I was easily able to find a great vodka for my martini. The bar is full-service, so if you are anti-reservation or just a spur-of-the-moment person, I’d say try dining at the bar first!
About halfway through the martini, we were taken to a table with a great view of the chandelier in the center of the restaurant. Carbone starts you with a few different kinds of bread, as well as salami and cauliflower in olive oil for a complimentary hors d’oeuvre.
We decided to order a bottle of wine along with Prosciutto & Mozz antipasti. We were not disappointed on both accounts. The prosciutto was perfect, and the mozzarella was freshly-made (warm) and cut table-side with shears. In a word…amazing!
My main course was Lobster Ravioli in a pesto sauce, which included chunks of lobster itself. The portion was a little small for the price, but considering how much I’d eaten up to that point, it was just perfect. The pasta was cooked to perfection, and there was tender, juicy lobster in every bite. So yes, the food lived up to the hype.
To cap off the meal, our table captain (fancy waiter) David brought out some “Italian Flag Cookies” which were amazing. They were just the right amount to fill you up after a big meal.
All in all, the bill for an appetizer, decent (read cheapest) bottle of wine and two entrees came to about $140 before tip.
For the cost, ambiance, and cuisine I definitely recommend getting your Italian fix at Carbone. You won’t be disappointed.
Carbone Italian Restaurant at Aria Hotel is open 5:30 pm to 11 pm nightly. Reservations can be placed by phoning 877-230-2742 or booking a table through the Carbone website.
[Images: Aria, Matty Ice, Yelp!]
Craft beer lover, poker player, Vegas junkie, and occasional writer. Matt lives in Arizona & has been to Vegas 13 times (and counting) since 2012 and loves exploring all the history and one of a kind spots Vegas has to offer. When in Vegas you can find him at the tables, bars, or checking out the ever-expanding restaurant scene.
