Italian restaurant Carbonara is celebrating two years of business in Virginia Square, and its owner has some big plans for the next few months.
Chef Mike Cordero, the prolific restaurateur behind the acclaimed “old school” eatery at 3865 Wilson Blvd, told ARLnow he will soon roll out a new Italian cookbook, “Respect the Sauce,” while he prepares to expand with a second location in Prince William County this June.
Cordero said the forthcoming release, his first, will feature a variety of homemade recipes.
“It’s old recipes that I’ve been saving since I was 18 years old,” Cordero said. “I’ve been in the kitchen since I was 13, but these are recipes that I have from pizza, homemade pastas, homemade sauces, homemade desserts, different sauces that I created through the years, so it’s very exciting.”
Alongside the book’s release, the restaurateur said he is planning to introduce new merchandise, with aspirations to eventually market his homemade pasta sauce.
Cordero is the driving force behind several local spots, including Bronson Bierhall and Taco Rock. Carbonara is where he pays homage to his Italian heritage and New York City roots with a menu based on the city’s Italian dining scene.
Carbonara celebrated its anniversary last night (Wednesday) with live music, Aperol spritz and plenty of hearty Italian fare to go around. With its signature carbonara bucatini prepared tableside in a fiery, 80-pound wheel of parmesan, the restaurant has been the subject of much attention since its opening in March 2024.
Just months after opening, Carbonara earned a spot on Yelp’s national “Best New Restaurants” list in 2024. It also notably served former President Joe Biden last November.
Cordero said the restaurant’s new space in Gainesville will be located at the Virginia Gateway shopping center. According to Northern Virginia Magazine, the restaurant is slated to replace a vacancy left by Bar Louie and will be able to seat about 250 guests.
The new space is about double the size of Cordero’s Arlington restaurant.
“We’re excited because it’s a lot bigger, and we’re able to accommodate more guests,” Cordero said.
