Italian restaurant Carbonara is nearing an opening in Virginia Square.
Interior work on the new eatery at 3865 Wilson Blvd could be seen in progress over the past few weeks, with tiling and some decor already installed.
Originally hoping for a mid-2023 opening, Carbonara is “nearing the finishing line and should open within the next couple of months,” a spokesperson told ARLnow in late January. Social media accounts for the restaurant tout a “February 2024” opening.
With the tagline “Old School Italian & Wine Bar,” Carbonara will offer classic Italian dishes and a “carefully curated” wine list. It’s being opened by a notable figure in the local restaurant scene: Chef Mike Cordero.
Cordero also owns and operates Bronson Bier Hall, Barley Mac, Big Tony’s Pizza, Don Tito, and Taco Rock in Arlington, as well as other Northern Virginia establishments like Don Taco in Alexandria.
Update on 3/18/24: The restaurant opened today — Monday, March 18. More, below, from a press release.
Chef Mike Cordero is ready to showcase his next big thing – an old-world Italian ristorante serving classico wines. The Northern Virginia Restauranteur opens and his Cordero Hospitality restaurant group, which include his sons Nick Cordero and Anthony Cordero, opens today Carbonara: Old School Italian & Wine Bar in Ballston. The 4,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor restaurant is located at 3865 Wilson Boulevard on the street level of the Ballston Gateway building, on the corner of Wilson Boulevard and North Pollard Streets. Cordero serves as executive chef.
Carbonara offers a substantial menu featuring classic Italian cuisine, focusing on the southern region of Italy, with all food made in-house and fresh homemade pasta prepared daily. Hearty Sicilian pizzas, classic Italian baked dishes like Eggplant Rollatini Parmigiana, zesty Italian sandwiches, decadent tiramisus and savory chicken, veal and seafood dishes top the bill-of-fare. A wide selection of wines from all regions of Italy, featuring a flavorful varietal from Tuscany, nicely pair with each menu item. To better dispense and preserve each bottle, Carbonara showcases a state-of-the-art Cruvinet wine-preserving system, used widely by international sommeliers, that will extend the flavor and life of the vinos served. A collection of specialty aperitivos and craft Italian cordials will adorn the Carbonara cocktail menu that include bellinis, puccinis, negronis and spritzes.
Standout menu items include:
Carpaccio
Beef carpaccio, arugula, olive oil, fresh lemon, shaved ParmigianoEggplant Parmigiana Stack
Pan fried eggplant, homemade mozzarella and Sunday sauceTortellini Di Michael
Stuffed brisket of beef braised slowly with a light sauce, mushrooms,
brown butter and a touch of creamLinguini Cardinale
Lobster meat, shrimp, grape tomatoes, green peas, mushrooms in a creamy Cardinale lobster sauceChicken Cacciatore
A traditional Italian favorite, tender chicken sauteed with peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, cherry peppers in a tomato red wine sauce served over zitiVitello Alla Marsala
Marsala Wine produced in Sicily since 1832, Scaloppini of tender veal is seared and shiitake mushrooms, Marsala wine and veal reduction. Served with fettucineCioppino
Italian fisherman’s stew with select portions of fresh clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp with onions, tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, white wine and Italian spicesStuffed Cannoli
Italian classic features the same old world recipe cream with a delicious shellArthur Avenue Coccoli Fritti
Italian pastry puff with Italian stracchino cheese & prosciutto“I put my heart into Carbonara to create a new menu concept that features an old school Italian cuisine that reflects my early years as an Italian chef,” said Cordero. I worked closely with my sons on this project and instilled my passion for cooking Italian cuisine. Carbonara’s menu is a modern blend of classic Italian elements.”
The new Carbona: Old School Italian & Wine Bar includes a 150-seat eatery that features a variety of components for indoor and outdoor dining. The existing structure of the Ballston Gateway building offers an ornate rotunda extension, which wraps the front entrance of the restaurant and connects to the West and South sides. For dining alfresco, Carbonara features a 1,500 square foot patio that accommodates up to 50 guests with six outdoor tables and two Alfresco Bars with six stools nestled up to the interior bar punctuated by Nano walls. When guests enter, they are greeted by a massive black and white bar area with more than 24 barstools and a generous restaurant floorplan filled with two- to four-person tables and large banquets aligning two walls.
Designed by Yvette Irene, Carbonara’s custom interiors exhibit a cutting-edge contemporary design with coffered ceilings adorned by ornate chandelier lighting and modern faux-Carrera floor tiles that intermixes with an “old meets new” rustic Italian aesthetic. Exceptional main focal points include a see-through wine rack with more than 1,000 bottles, a 3-D fireplace and a black map of New York City featured on the back wall. The interior décor also showcases the Cordero family story with exceptional streetscape views on all sides of the restaurant. On certain nights, live entertainers will perform traditional Italian music and classic pop melodies with the likes of Frank Sinatra playing nightly.
“Carbonara’s interiors are a series of transitional spaces where old world Italian meets new world,” added Cordero.” The Caesar-inspired ambience that combines my old school menu concept with a twist truly provides patrons an exceptional Italian experience.”
Cordero, known in restaurant circles with Taco Rock, Rockwood and Bronson Bier Hall, began his culinary career at the age of 15 making meatballs at a New York Italian restaurant. His Carbonara concept allows him to reexplore his culinary past and present Italian recipes that he’s created over the years. He describes the new establishment as “old-era Italian” that will offer a traditional, film noir experience like a scene out of “The Godfather.”
Carbonara is open daily for lunch and dinner and offers takeout and buyout options for private events. For more information on Carbonara, please visit the website at: https://chefcordero.com/carbonara/ on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carbonarava or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carbonara_va/.