When I get a bit homesick for food that reminds me of the US, I don't have to travel far in Hong Kong to get a taste of it. Carbone is a New York style Italian restaurant and executes old world Italian classics impeccably.
Upon walking in the door, we felt like we had traveled back in time to mid-20th century New York City, dining at one of the city's fine Italian establishments.
Run by the Black Sheep Group, Carbone serves a nice variety of pastas, many meat and seafood options, as well as a good selection of antipasti. The restaurant has some great dishes suited for sharing, such as the massive eggplant parmesan for 6 (!) or the prime porterhouse for two.
We came here for an early celebration of Bryan's birthday when my friend was in town visiting. We had a fabulous evening, complete with great food, fantastic wine, and great service.
If you come, you must order the Spicy Rigatoni with vodka, tomato, onion, and Calabrian chili. The texture of the rigatoni is out of this world (amazing chewy texture), and the sauce is divine.
We ordered the pasta with Mario's Meatball, which was delicious and went really well together with the spicy rigatoni (which does not have meat).
The meat dishes were good and everyone enjoyed them. I especially enjoyed the veal parmesan, which was creatively prepared to look like a margherita pizza.
Dessert was fine, but nothing to write home about.
Carbone Hong Kong has done an excellent job recreating the New York Italian experience right in the middle of the Lan Kwai Fang neighborhood in Hong Kong. We enjoyed great wine, fantastic pasta, and very good meat dishes. I think Bryan enjoyed our early birthday celebration, and I'm sure we'll be back.
Carbone Hong Kong
9/f LKF Tower
33 Wyndham Street
Hong Kong