This place is fantastic. First and foremost, the ambiance is second-to-none. The service is top-notch and the food is delicious. It's location right in the heart of Dunwoody in Dunwoody Village, and its a great addition to the area. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Pauline H.
This place was over-priced and the food was not good at all! Kids meal macaroni is $7 includes a drink, 1 spinach & cheese ravoli $15, and gnoch potatoe $14 = $36. Good thing we had restaurant.com gift certificate still came up to $18. I am never going back there. My ravoli was hard and full of butter ( taste like popcorn ) I asked the waiter to replace my meal with another dish some spaghetti and my noodles were under-cooked -___- Out of all the dishes my partner and I had, we think macaroni is better.
(2)
J C.
Happened to stumble across this place in Dunwoody Village and was very pleasantly surprised! Visited on a Saturday night and the service and dinner were excellent. We tried the Prosciutto and Pear salad, Penne Vodka and Shrimp Pasta and the Seafood Linguine. All were very good. This is a great neighborhood restaurant that deserves better than some of the other posted reviews.
(4)
Suzanne C.
My husband and I frequently eat at Carbonara's for dinner. The atmosphere is very good. We love the appetizer of fried green tomatoes with goat cheese ( I always ask for extra red pepper coulis for the tomatoes as it is so good). Our two favorite dishes are the bernaise salmon and the corvina-both of which come over delicious risottos. I think they do a great job on any of the risottos. We have had some issues on service in past but haven't recently. It is a great place in Dunwoody and we are glad Carbonara is here!
(4)
Dan G.
Seltzer water is NOT tonic water, buddy! I first want to start by saying I live in greater New York, eat out a bit, and like to think I am a foodie....one of the more over used self-ascribed titles these days. The location for Carbonara Trattoria isn't necessarily inspiring, or even interesting for that matter but then again I was in Dunwoddy,GA where all is "pleasant". The restaurant is located in an upscale strip/retail mall next to a private school and ice cream shop. They had nice seating out front and plenty of parking. We were quickly received and seated and then all seemed to slow way the hell down. The restaurant was relatively full and had a muted but palpable energy to it. I think by and large its hard to get a very high rating when you're an italian restaurant because there are only a billion other italian restaurants and there is far less room for innovation, impact, and differentiation. Nobody ever got fired for going with IBM and nobody every truly regretted their decision for a restaurant when having Italian.....but I digress. The menu was "typical", thrown together and I just figured it would be a 6/10 experience and just happy to see my old friend and his family which is fine enough but the overall experience just wasn't congruent with the prices so we often found ourselves asking "where's the beef?" The menu looked like Olive Garden "Plus" but the prices seemed to imply otherwise The service was simply juvenile. Again, when you offer elevated prices to a basic italian menu the spot light is on you to justify exactly why, and these guys were just so far off target. The service staff wore cheap lazy black pants and un-ironed white shirts. They were all very very young, inexperienced, tense, rushed, forgetful, and didn't really "connect" with their patrons. I asked for a seltzer, ya know, cuz I'm a Jew from greater New York. 10 minutes later I got a Tonic, ya know, cuz when you're a unexperienced waiter in Atlanta, what's the figgin difference, right? After another several minutes of trying to get his attention I tried over and over to explain and describe exactly what is "Seltzer". Needless to say it was soon drained followed by a second "Seltzer" request (I know, I'm powerless over that first Seltzer. I have one and just cant stop. Someone get me to a Church basement NOW) Several minutes later my beverage came and.......Tonic Water. Really? I called over the waiter and he was honestly genuinely confused by my description of "Seltzer, the bubbly water that people drink?" I spoke with the owner, a very nice guy. I just figured it was a NY/GA thing and I was using the wrong word or something. They were kind enough to bring me a bottle of Pellegrino. The actual food was, in all honesty, quite nice. I had the Cappelini with grilled chicken and fresh pasta. The pasta was al dente to perfection. Granted not the highest quality pasta but it was certainly cooked well. The chicken was done well and the balance of tomato, garlic, basic, olive oil was just to my liking.unfortunately, the portions were absolutely meager which was frustrating because it was tasty and pricier than it should've been given the portions and service. Dinner wound up being $25.00 per person, 2 kids 3 adults. So while not egregiously expensive it was that tricky 15% too much. You know what I mean? Not material enough to say to yourself "Meh....maybe another time", but just enough to say "Come-on people, gimme something to feel good about!" In short I am going with 2 stars because while the kitchen did a good job the staff elsewhere didn't and the owner ought to consider re-thinking portions and the general customer experience.
(2)
Hildee I.
After the rave review from a local email blast I decided to give this place a chance. Considering they are a stone's throw from Peter's, an AMAZING Italian restaurant I figured they had to know what they were doing. WRONG! I arrived with my husband & son at 5:30 on a Thursday evening, we were the only people there except the staff. My son ordered a Caesar salad ($6) followed by chicken fingers & fries ($6.50) My husband veal parm ($19.00) and I ordered sauteed asparagas ($6.50) FOUR pieces of yummy asparagas for that price, are they kidding? My husband groaned at how leathery the veal was and my son complained about the sogginess of the salad. The fries & chicken were fine as well as the spaghetti that was served with the veal. The service was mediocre and although the owner stopped by a few times no one made us feel like they wanted to get to know us better. If you are not a pork eater then don't bother coming in, nearly everything has pork in it! Check in with YELP and get a free glass of wine, the only part of the experience that was worth it. for $50.00 with tip for 1 entree, 1 salad and one kid's meal; we will never go back!
(1)
J C.
Great food. Great service. Sat at bar. Rich couldn't have been any friendlier. Amazing food.
(5)
Kendrick P.
Thank goodness for FINALLY a splendid grown up restaurant in Dunwoody. Delicious food and such reasonable prices. Am I dreaming??? The atmosphere is sophisticated, warm, and charming- the decor is as if one stepped into a charming town in Italy. The weathered solid beautiful door with its speakeasy peek-a-boo-esque window opens to reveal a true hidden local treasure of a gem in the middle of Dunwoody suburbia. Make reservations because it is packed at night!!! I am in here at least 5 times a week, and in for lunch AND dinner Wednesday every week. I bring in friends, family, and everyone I know to experience this piece of my own personal Heaven. And all become locals and fans too! (just recommended it to my friend who brought her two children and 5 guests and I received texts saying 5 stars and yummy!!! from the kids as well as the other guests!) I have tried just about everything on the menu- at lunch, my favorites are the caprese salad, the creamy smooth as a player tomato bisque, the sausage and peppers sub, and the salmon- all so inexpensive. The sub, soup, and salad are all priced lower than the ever popular over priced Panera across the street!!! For dinner, the sea bass is divine, the chicken Marsala is cooked so perfectly that it is like butter no need for a knife, and the best dish ever- the 4oz filet with spinach, raisins, nutmeg, and potatoes for $15!!!! WOW! Great wine selection- I love the very inexpensive delicious reds by the glass. The owner is charming as he is well-traveled- which is VERY! He takes note of each customer that comes in, making sure to stop by each table, and makes his regulars feel like family. He is always accommodating, gracious, full of joie de vivre and the twinkle in his eye captures the passion he has for good food, wonderful drink, and great ambiance/atmosphere for his guests. As a native Atlantan and gourmand who thinks of herself as an E' una buona forchetta, I have eaten at every restaurant known to man in this city, and have tried more eateries than care to count while living in NYC, London, Paris, and Nashville, and can say this is hands down of of my favorite spots to dine and the fact it is in my own backyard is serendipitous. Finally a neighborhood place to call one's own! I am thrilled that such fine dining and atmosphere has come to Dunwoody. As someone who regularly drives in-town to eat, often to Local Three, Houston's, and all of the Buckhead Life Group eateries, I am over the moon to find something in Dunwoody/Sandy Springs that serves something other than sub-standard food and drink which only offers and caters to kids type food of chicken fingers and mac and cheese. Finally something for a more discriminate palate, no chain feel, and charm. And an owner on site and present at all times- just what this city needs! After reading some of the reviews here, I am shocked and dismayed that anyone could find it over priced and the food not good. Perhaps those diners confused eating at Ryan's all you can eat buffet with Carbonara's? I guess to each his own, and I am thrilled to have the pleasure of dining here regularly! Buon appetito!!!
(5)
John H.
4 of us had dinner here tonight - was our 3rd time. Good experiences all times. Very good service throughout - sensitive to the fact we were moving pretty slowly. Started with calimari appitizer. Very nicely done - whoever developed the coating and runs the fryer has a light touch. Also had a fried green tomato app - the tomato slices had a slice of goat cheese on them, then breaded and fried. Presented in a nice stack with a mild red pepper sauce. Very tasty. Salads were the prosciutto and pear and a cesar - both very nicely assembled (the prosciutto/pear was split for two of us). Entrees included chicken Marsala (very good, NOT too salty), roasted bronzina (tender, moist), halibut (excellent) and pasta carbonara (excellent, but plenty to take home). We'll be back (again), certainly. The initial throng that this place experience has died back just a bit - makes for a more relaxed experience. Hi-tops in the bar also had diners; TV was present in bar only.
(5)
Roberta L.
Sigh, really mediocre. I've been for lunch and for Father's Day. The owners are very nice but the food is just so-so. We had a bad experience on FD...most of the orders were wrong in some way. Call me crazy but I think a good waitperson should check the plates to be sure it's what the customer ordered. Sadly Atlanta doesn't have really good authentic Italian...nothing comparable to what I've eaten in NJ or NY.
(2)
Jay B.
Great Italian food! Finally an Italian restaurant in Dunwoody for lunch or dinner.
(5)
Shilvi L.
My husband and I went to this lovely restaurant on a Saturday night for date night and loved how the owner transformed the interior beautifully. We had been to this location prior when it housed a Chinese restaurant. From when you walk in, they have an incredible bar and lounge area for a pre-dinner cocktail or opportunity to collect as your party arrives. We had reservations and were seated immediately. The restaurant was packed! The clientele for a Saturday night was mostly older people, but my husband and I were discussing how Dunwoody consists of young families and empty nesters and the young parent's hardly go out and if they do, they wouldn't bring young children to this restaurant. Although the restaurant has a kid's menu, I wouldn't bring my toddler and infant to this place at 7:30 PM on a Saturday night. They had an extensive wine list, lots of delicious menu options and nice specials. We started with a glass of house wine and bruschetta. The bruschetta was what you would expect - nothing too unique, but very good. We then split the Tomato Bisque soup which was excellent. Definitely rich and creamy. They served a house bread and it was perfectly crusty and soft - a great dipper for the soup. I had the cesar salad and my husband had a mixed green salad - both average and what you would expect. My husband had the pasta dish with the grilled chicken and garlic. His pasta was perfectly cooked - al dente and the dish was delicious! I had Halibut and it tasted a little over cooked, but the sauce they drizzled over it and the lemon risotto it sat on was exceptionally yummy. Our waiter overheard me say this was our first time at the restaurant, and he surprised us with the house made Tiramisu on the house. It was delicious. The service was great and it was a nice dinner. It is very pricy for the fact that most of the items we ordered were average, but it wasn't overpriced, just average from what you would expect of a restaurant of this stature. We would probably go back if the occasion called for it or if we had guests in town and wanted to stay close to the house. I recommend you try it out. For $90 you get 2 glasses of wine, 1 appetizer, 1 soup, 2 salads and 2 entrees (of which the soup and entrees were incredible while the others were average).
(3)
Brian S.
This place has so much potential, but that's what you get for now, potential. The food is well above average, but the service is so far below average, that the dining experience suffers as a result. As good as the main course is, this review is based on the combination of offensive standard of service, as well as the unnecessary $9 side salads. I've been here a number of times. From random nights, to $10 pasta night, to Christmas Eve. I want to love this place, but it's an abusive relationship where I am consistently taken for granted. If you want to eventually have a solid bowl of pasta, but feel like you're doing someone a favor in the process, get yourself to this place immediately. If you would rather feel like you're appreciated and valued to an establishment, go somewhere else. This isn't a service level problem. The owner prances around shaking hands and kissing babies with his friends, but when you're in the process of dropping a few hundred bucks outside of his inner circle, you might as well be digging through the dumpster for scraps. Actually, the service would be better out there as you have a better chance catching the waitstaff as they burn down a joint in the middle of dinner service. If the management is reading this, take note: You have a lot of potential in your kitchen, but your front of the house is ruining everything. Your food needs a little work (more garlic and a little spice wouldn't hurt), but your service staff is offensive. Better restaurants in Dunwoody Village have not survived. Keep this up and you are destined to join their ranks. Also, get over yourself and maybe I'll order a side salad that doesn't cost $9. Get your act together!
(2)
Laura Pepe B.
The food is delicious! Carbonara is my favorite and I think it's the best on the menu. Also the fried green tomatoes are killer!
(5)
Patricia O.
What has happened to the wonderful spaghetti carbonara??? We were among the first to frequent this neighborhood restaurant when it was first opened, and we were sold on this item. We have continued to order it on the numerous times we dine here. Several months ago we brought family members and insisted they have the carbonara. They like us were sorely disappointed. The sauce was tasteless. We dined here again tonight and the carbonara is even worse. The sauce was thin and runny with some peas sprinkled over the top. What happened to the rich, cheesy sauce?? Also, the service was very, very slow. Not sure we will be back, and it was one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. So sad.
(2)
Basti B.
We came here for the first time tonight. The ambiance is nice and felt pretty authentic compared to many other Italian-American restaurants. The pasta and the sirloin were delicious, so were the deserts. The espresso could have been a little thicker and stronger. The only disappointment was the waitress who didn't seem to care too much about her tip. We will definitely be back and hope for a different waiter next time.
(4)
Susie H.
This place is tucked away in Dunwoody Village and you feel like you're miles away from Dunwoody inside. It was almost full at 730 in a Saturday night. Some people had reservations but it wasn't totally needed. I was in awe as to how good this place was. I felt like my date and I were the only ones who didn't know anyone else or the owner. It's the kind of place where the owner stops by your table to chat. He even waited on us (I think they were under staffed). Great wine list without feeling overwhelmed by it. Decent beer list too. They don't shy away on the wine pours which is a nice thing. We had the bruschetta to start. I could have licked the plate it was so good. I had a shrimp pasta that was delicious. The shrimp were fresh and plentiful. The pasta was hot, tasty and just amazing. I couldn't finish it all! My date gave the lasagna great reviews as he cleaned his plate. We skipped dessert but might go for it next time. It's casual here but not that casual. Jeans are acceptable but you don't need a tie or dress. I will be back again even if it was a little pricy!
(5)
Mary Beth L.
This is a lovely local Italian. I think that it is family owned. Comfortable, warm, relaxing, sit down dinner-out atmosphere. Solid menu...love the pastas esp. the Bolognese. Great Sunday night specials. A great option for a quiet, cozy dinner with good friends especially on a rainy night in winter.
(4)
Leilani B.
Went here with a large group for work on a weekday evening. It was a bit hard to find in the dark, but worth the trouble. We started with some shared appetizers which were delicious. I had a salad and the sun-dired tomato Gnocchi - it was soooo delicious. Everyone raved about the food and the service was really good as well. I splurged on the Tiramisu for desert and it was so moist, rich and delicious. The piece was HUGE! Plenty to share with a friend or date.
(5)
Tanaya G.
Excellent food. We had some wine with bruschettas and steamed mussels .. Yum yummy .. For main course we had the chicken Marsala wow. It was just perfect.
(5)
Rusty T.
This is the best Italian restaurant in Dunwoody, perhaps in Atlanta. The food is always great and the wine selection is hard to beat. The staff is friendly and the service is fast. One of the best places for date night.
(5)
Kate M.
I came here to celebrate my birthday dinner, and was excited to see how they fared as this was a first time visit. I ended up having a great experience and can't wait to return! My roommate and I ventured here on a Monday night around 6:45 pm. We were immediately greeted and seated by the hostess who was very upbeat and kind. The atmosphere was more intimate than we were expecting, but on a warm summer evening it definitely sets the tone well. They have a limited outdoor seating area, but inside the small space seems much larger than it is. The front area had high tables and a nice bar/lounge area to grab a few glasses of wine and apps. I could see myself here late night relaxing after work or an event. The dining room is set in an old world style with Italian landscapes on the walls, white tablecloths and candles, and some booth areas on the sides. It could easily transition into a group event if needed. Ethan was our server and he did a great job! He was very attentive and made personalized recommendations based on his favorites and my preferences. Now - on to the food! They have a prix fixe menu option which allows you to choose an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $29. Some of the entrees have notes that add a few dollars extra on to the option (for example - you have a $5 upcharge on the prix fixe if you add filet mignon). My roommate and I both chose that option and split the apps and tried each others entrees. Most everything was on point. Appetizers: 1. Fried Green Tomatoes - These were phenomenal! It was three large fried green tomatoes cut in half to make six total pieces. The breading was light and the inside was filled with warm, creamy goat cheese. The red pepper coulis base really accented the dish well. 2. Antipasto Platter - This will definitely feed two - three guests with ease. It included salami, prosciutto, parmesan, blue cheese, goat cheese, toast points, olives, and a mixture of pickled vegetables like artichoke hearts, carrots, and cauliflower. The only drawback I had with this is they drizzled additional olive oil on the top. Everything is already so rich/fatty/creamy it really didn't need that extra touch. It was a bit too greasy and I had to wipe some of my items down. Entrees: 1. Gnocchi - This made the whole trip worthwhile! I rarely cook gnocchi for myself so I took advantage of the opportunity. It was cooked in a gorgonzola prosciutto sauce that was so good! My mouth is watering now just thinking about it. It was very rich and the perfect cheesy accent that would be perfect in the winter. Definitely a stick to your ribs kind of comfort food dish. 2. Grilled Lamb - The lamb was very tender and presented beautifully. It was bone-in with three pieces atop cauliflower mashed potatoes and crisp asparagus. A warm red wine reduction sauce topped it all off. Another rich dish, I would have loved to have something acidic paired with it to cut through the flavors, but extremely tasty and something I would get for myself. Desserts: 1. NY Cheesecake - I was a little disappointed with this one. The cheesecake was warmer than I would have liked when it was brought out and it had lumps (I'm assuming of cream cheese) throughout. The crumb crust fell apart pretty easily and I prefer mine a little more firm. In future I wouldn't choose this one again over their many cake offerings. 2. Pistachio Gelato - Not as soft as a traditional gelato, this was more like ice cream. Served in an old fashioned glass dish it melted well in your mouth and definitely had the flavor my roommate was looking for. Overall, the great food and stellar service will have me come back to try more of their offerings and explore their extensive wine list. I had no idea that such a nice restaurant was hidden behind the oak door a few steps away from my neighborhood Bruster's.
(4)
Alyssa M.
Well, this was the first time I have ever gotten up and walked out of a restaurant before the meal was over. So there's that. We had some wine and calamari which was good and then we never saw the waiter again for an hour. After letting the manager know that we were waiting on food, he said he would take care of it. He produced a soup and salad for half our party, which we had even forgotten that we ordered at that point because why the hell would it take an hour to get out soup and salad? Then we waited some more. And some more. And then decided we were clearly going to die at Carbonara Trattoria if we didn't make the decision to leave because the food was not ever going to come. The waiter was scurrying around our table not making eye contact so again, we called over the manager and told him we wanted our check and that we were leaving. He proceeded to argue with us about how the food was coming and how long we had been waiting. In a great display of self control, I calmly explained that at this point we had been there since 7:15 and it was 8:45 and there was no entree in sight. He told us just to go which was the only wise business decision made in a sea of bad choices but even that can't save such abysmal service from a one star rating. Do yourself a favor and spend your time somewhere else, where your money and business will be appreciated. I can't believe this place still has it's doors open.
The calamari was good, but that was all I ate in the hour and 15 minutes I waited for food. I watched people all around me get food while we waited. We even talked to the manager after 45 minutes, then two of us got a soup and salad. When we told the manager that we were leaving, he seemed really confused and asked why. He was then a jerk and told us we could go. Really bad service! I will not go back.
(1)
Monica B.
We came here for a graduation dinner with a table of 6. The food was bland (we got the pecan salmon, grilled salmon, 3 seafood linguini, and spinach ravioli) as other reviews stated. So why the one star? Well, the kitchen clearly forgot one seafood linguini. While the rest of us were almost done eating, my mom waited patiently. We reminded our waiter of the missing meal and a rushed linguini that was pretty much clear soup with pasta. We told our waiter it didn't taste right and we had the other two orders of linguini to compare it with as proof. An older gentleman happened to be passing by while we were speaking with the waiter and asked us what was wrong. We told him the linguini didn't taste good and the pasta was watery. The gentlemen then said "What do you want me to do? Do you want me to drain it?". He walked away and didn't even wait for our response. We asked our waiter if that was the owner and behold, it was. Now as an owner, if you're charging $15-$30 a plate wouldn't you want to take pride in your food and your restaurant? To all yelpers, take your money elsewhere. Thank you for completely ruining our joyous celebratory dinner, Carbonara Trattoria!
(1)
Brett A.
Best Itallian I've found in Atlanta. You can't beat the Seafood Fra Diavlo. My wife and I go all the time and have never had a bad experience.
(5)
Heather J.
I learned my lesson: you should always consult the informative friends at Yelp before venturing out to a restaurant. I went to Perimeter Mall and was craving Italian (I should have gone to Maggiano's instead even though I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants.) So I went guided by my friend. It was a cute little restaurant. We were early for dinner (I think it was 6?) since we were just famished from hours of shopping. We were led by the hostess into the restaurant. We were the second customer there. We sat there talking and there came in another group few minutes after us. Strangely, the waiter brought glasses of water and bread basket to the group that came after us but seemed to not see us. We had to wait 5 more minutes (after-us group had already ordered by then) to get attention from our waiter! I wanted to scream: I AM HUNGRY. Anyway, we ordered Bruschetta as appetizer and Spaghetti Carbonara and Seafood Linguini (it was written in Italian) as entrees. The food was not too bad; I would give 4 stars for the seafood linguini and 3 stars for carbonara and bruschetta (because these two were too too too oily.) But I'm taking one star off because the service was horrible: the water was not refilled on time, the bread basket that I asked for was not brought on time. The waiter kept ignoring us.. Will not return to this place.
(2)
David B.
We have been a couple times and the food is quite good. The filet is terrific and the pasta done nicely. Service was much better the second time (today). As for the Yelp offer for a free glass of wine (which someone mentioned in their review), it is still on Yelp but they wouldn't honor it. Plus the owner made the waiter deliver that message though it wasn't the waiter's promise that was broken.
(4)
Jeremy S.
Bland. So my wife and I finally made it to the (now not so) new Dunwoody Italian. First impressions weren't great. No one was up front to greet (at lunch) so we wandered into the dining room and sat. The restaurant is very clean and nice but too sterile. Felt like a dining hall at a retirement community (sorry but true). Didn't help that every place setting had a laminated menu already in place. The service was a little slow. Considering it was lunch on a business day it should have been quicker, especially considering menus were there waiting for us. So the food: The food was the bright spot. Had the itailian blt and the chicken parm sub with salads. It was totally fine; even good but not great. I doubt we'll be back unfortunately. Dunwoody needs places like downtown Roswell is building out. Hip, unique good for families or for a bite with friends, affordable good food and fun environments.
(2)
Ellen S.
I want to love this restaurant! It is in a perfect location in Dunwoody Village and the food is very good. The problem is the service....awful! I have gone there with reservations and gone without them. The greeting at the door is always delightful. We are seated with a dinner menu. No wine list. On their special Sunday night for $10 pasta and 1/2 price bottles of wine, we are never given that menu. So there we sit until we finally have a wait person arrive. Then we have to ask for the wine list and the special menu. We have been many times other than on a Sunday. We then lose the wait person until our food finally arrives. And the food is very good!Then comes the wait for the check. No check. By now the owner is schmoozing with people at tables and we can't get him to even look our way. On our most recent trip we had the check but after 10 minutes we put away the credit card and payed cash leaving a 10% tip. We normally tip 20%. I want to love this restaurant, but they need to do a lot of work until then.
(3)
Liz C.
I love this place! Owner is very involved-greets you at the door, checks in through out the meal and makes sure to say goodbye. The food is amazing and they are always changing up the menu with daily specials. The beer and wine list are extensive and the prices seem to be much better than what you'd typically see at a nice Italian restaurant. I hope this place becomes a Dunwoody staple!!
(5)
Bill G.
This is still one of the best neighborhood restaurants on the north side. Very reasonable prices, nice ambience, they take reservations. The place pretty well clears out about 9 o'clock, so if you're looking for a slightly later dinner you can have plenty of elbow room here . Sunday night is half price pasta night and a half price wine for most bottles. Parking is never a problem. However they no longer serve lunch. Note that most of the less than stellar reviews are about a year to a year and a half old. Read the tips and the recent reviews.
(5)
Carolyn P.
The food is very good and the atmosphere is lovely. Service is excellent. This is our new favorite Italian place. Prices are very reasonable and the location is fantastic.
(4)
Tom M.
If you have not eaten here you need to make it a stop. The service was fantastic, some of the best Italian food i have eaten and the ambiance was a pleasant noise level with quaint decor and space. A must do!
(5)
Tilia M.
Let me preface my review by saying I went here for lunch and only had the Lobster bisque and a half tuna sandwich. Both were pretty good, they toasted what I think was either a really good wheat bread or a rye bread with a little butter. The soup was very tasty as well. My only complaint was that there was literally NO lobster in the soup. I kept scraping my spoon on the bottom of the pot looking for chunks of lobster, and came up depressingly short. Not to mention, the soup was very thin for a dairy-based bisque. The taste was very much there, the meat, however was not. Cute atmosphere, decent service. I'd visit again. I've heard they have other items on the menu (like the meatball sub and Bolognese ) that are good and I'm willing to try those out.
(3)
C H.
This restaurant is the real deal. their pasta is fresh made the sauces actually taste like Italian home cooking, their salads are 5 stars. Highly recommend this place, ate the by chance one day and now we are customers.Some of my favorites are the pear prosciutto salad, the spinach fettuccine with bolognese sauce, the veal in lemon sauce...just yummy...Ah! and their chocolate cake is so moist it is an experience to have it...
(5)
Jeff R.
Went for lunch. Geez, how could you ruin a meatball sandwich?? Well either you took it out of a can or you think canned meatballs are good and make yours in their likeness. Service also was very bad. Waited, waited, and waited some ore just to get a ice tea refill. Never going back!
(1)
Terry F.
Let me say at the outset that the not-so-favorable reviews are all a bit dated. It takes a while for a restaurant's kitchen to get its "sea legs" and I will admit that I stayed away for a while due to the early lukewarm reviews. Well, we've had both lunch and dinner here in the past week and, let me say, they're sailing along nicely now. I had all but given up hope for a decent upscale restaurant for Dunwoody. No longer. Food, atmosphere and service were all excellent. It is a very relaxed atmosphere, conducive to quiet conversation and the enjoyment of their well-executed menu. Some nights there is live dinner music. The place is fairly full even on weekdays. And well deserved. Bravo.
(5)
Susie H.
This place is tucked away in Dunwoody Village and you feel like you're miles away from Dunwoody inside. It was almost full at 730 in a Saturday night. Some people had reservations but it wasn't totally needed. I was in awe as to how good this place was. I felt like my date and I were the only ones who didn't know anyone else or the owner. It's the kind of place where the owner stops by your table to chat. He even waited on us (I think they were under staffed). Great wine list without feeling overwhelmed by it. Decent beer list too. They don't shy away on the wine pours which is a nice thing. We had the bruschetta to start. I could have licked the plate it was so good. I had a shrimp pasta that was delicious. The shrimp were fresh and plentiful. The pasta was hot, tasty and just amazing. I couldn't finish it all! My date gave the lasagna great reviews as he cleaned his plate. We skipped dessert but might go for it next time. It's casual here but not that casual. Jeans are acceptable but you don't need a tie or dress. I will be back again even if it was a little pricy!
(5)
Mary Beth L.
This is a lovely local Italian. I think that it is family owned. Comfortable, warm, relaxing, sit down dinner-out atmosphere. Solid menu...love the pastas esp. the Bolognese. Great Sunday night specials. A great option for a quiet, cozy dinner with good friends especially on a rainy night in winter.
(4)
Leilani B.
Went here with a large group for work on a weekday evening. It was a bit hard to find in the dark, but worth the trouble. We started with some shared appetizers which were delicious. I had a salad and the sun-dired tomato Gnocchi - it was soooo delicious. Everyone raved about the food and the service was really good as well. I splurged on the Tiramisu for desert and it was so moist, rich and delicious. The piece was HUGE! Plenty to share with a friend or date.
(5)
Tanaya G.
Excellent food. We had some wine with bruschettas and steamed mussels .. Yum yummy .. For main course we had the chicken Marsala wow. It was just perfect.
(5)
Rusty T.
This is the best Italian restaurant in Dunwoody, perhaps in Atlanta. The food is always great and the wine selection is hard to beat. The staff is friendly and the service is fast. One of the best places for date night.
(5)
Basti B.
We came here for the first time tonight. The ambiance is nice and felt pretty authentic compared to many other Italian-American restaurants. The pasta and the sirloin were delicious, so were the deserts. The espresso could have been a little thicker and stronger. The only disappointment was the waitress who didn't seem to care too much about her tip. We will definitely be back and hope for a different waiter next time.
(4)
Alyssa M.
Well, this was the first time I have ever gotten up and walked out of a restaurant before the meal was over. So there's that. We had some wine and calamari which was good and then we never saw the waiter again for an hour. After letting the manager know that we were waiting on food, he said he would take care of it. He produced a soup and salad for half our party, which we had even forgotten that we ordered at that point because why the hell would it take an hour to get out soup and salad? Then we waited some more. And some more. And then decided we were clearly going to die at Carbonara Trattoria if we didn't make the decision to leave because the food was not ever going to come. The waiter was scurrying around our table not making eye contact so again, we called over the manager and told him we wanted our check and that we were leaving. He proceeded to argue with us about how the food was coming and how long we had been waiting. In a great display of self control, I calmly explained that at this point we had been there since 7:15 and it was 8:45 and there was no entree in sight. He told us just to go which was the only wise business decision made in a sea of bad choices but even that can't save such abysmal service from a one star rating. Do yourself a favor and spend your time somewhere else, where your money and business will be appreciated. I can't believe this place still has it's doors open.
(1)
Kate M.
I came here to celebrate my birthday dinner, and was excited to see how they fared as this was a first time visit. I ended up having a great experience and can't wait to return! My roommate and I ventured here on a Monday night around 6:45 pm. We were immediately greeted and seated by the hostess who was very upbeat and kind. The atmosphere was more intimate than we were expecting, but on a warm summer evening it definitely sets the tone well. They have a limited outdoor seating area, but inside the small space seems much larger than it is. The front area had high tables and a nice bar/lounge area to grab a few glasses of wine and apps. I could see myself here late night relaxing after work or an event. The dining room is set in an old world style with Italian landscapes on the walls, white tablecloths and candles, and some booth areas on the sides. It could easily transition into a group event if needed. Ethan was our server and he did a great job! He was very attentive and made personalized recommendations based on his favorites and my preferences. Now - on to the food! They have a prix fixe menu option which allows you to choose an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $29. Some of the entrees have notes that add a few dollars extra on to the option (for example - you have a $5 upcharge on the prix fixe if you add filet mignon). My roommate and I both chose that option and split the apps and tried each others entrees. Most everything was on point. Appetizers: 1. Fried Green Tomatoes - These were phenomenal! It was three large fried green tomatoes cut in half to make six total pieces. The breading was light and the inside was filled with warm, creamy goat cheese. The red pepper coulis base really accented the dish well. 2. Antipasto Platter - This will definitely feed two - three guests with ease. It included salami, prosciutto, parmesan, blue cheese, goat cheese, toast points, olives, and a mixture of pickled vegetables like artichoke hearts, carrots, and cauliflower. The only drawback I had with this is they drizzled additional olive oil on the top. Everything is already so rich/fatty/creamy it really didn't need that extra touch. It was a bit too greasy and I had to wipe some of my items down. Entrees: 1. Gnocchi - This made the whole trip worthwhile! I rarely cook gnocchi for myself so I took advantage of the opportunity. It was cooked in a gorgonzola prosciutto sauce that was so good! My mouth is watering now just thinking about it. It was very rich and the perfect cheesy accent that would be perfect in the winter. Definitely a stick to your ribs kind of comfort food dish. 2. Grilled Lamb - The lamb was very tender and presented beautifully. It was bone-in with three pieces atop cauliflower mashed potatoes and crisp asparagus. A warm red wine reduction sauce topped it all off. Another rich dish, I would have loved to have something acidic paired with it to cut through the flavors, but extremely tasty and something I would get for myself. Desserts: 1. NY Cheesecake - I was a little disappointed with this one. The cheesecake was warmer than I would have liked when it was brought out and it had lumps (I'm assuming of cream cheese) throughout. The crumb crust fell apart pretty easily and I prefer mine a little more firm. In future I wouldn't choose this one again over their many cake offerings. 2. Pistachio Gelato - Not as soft as a traditional gelato, this was more like ice cream. Served in an old fashioned glass dish it melted well in your mouth and definitely had the flavor my roommate was looking for. Overall, the great food and stellar service will have me come back to try more of their offerings and explore their extensive wine list. I had no idea that such a nice restaurant was hidden behind the oak door a few steps away from my neighborhood Bruster's.
This place has so much potential, but that's what you get for now, potential. The food is well above average, but the service is so far below average, that the dining experience suffers as a result. As good as the main course is, this review is based on the combination of offensive standard of service, as well as the unnecessary $9 side salads. I've been here a number of times. From random nights, to $10 pasta night, to Christmas Eve. I want to love this place, but it's an abusive relationship where I am consistently taken for granted. If you want to eventually have a solid bowl of pasta, but feel like you're doing someone a favor in the process, get yourself to this place immediately. If you would rather feel like you're appreciated and valued to an establishment, go somewhere else. This isn't a service level problem. The owner prances around shaking hands and kissing babies with his friends, but when you're in the process of dropping a few hundred bucks outside of his inner circle, you might as well be digging through the dumpster for scraps. Actually, the service would be better out there as you have a better chance catching the waitstaff as they burn down a joint in the middle of dinner service. If the management is reading this, take note: You have a lot of potential in your kitchen, but your front of the house is ruining everything. Your food needs a little work (more garlic and a little spice wouldn't hurt), but your service staff is offensive. Better restaurants in Dunwoody Village have not survived. Keep this up and you are destined to join their ranks. Also, get over yourself and maybe I'll order a side salad that doesn't cost $9. Get your act together!
(2)
Laura Pepe B.
The food is delicious! Carbonara is my favorite and I think it's the best on the menu. Also the fried green tomatoes are killer!
(5)
Patricia O.
What has happened to the wonderful spaghetti carbonara??? We were among the first to frequent this neighborhood restaurant when it was first opened, and we were sold on this item. We have continued to order it on the numerous times we dine here. Several months ago we brought family members and insisted they have the carbonara. They like us were sorely disappointed. The sauce was tasteless. We dined here again tonight and the carbonara is even worse. The sauce was thin and runny with some peas sprinkled over the top. What happened to the rich, cheesy sauce?? Also, the service was very, very slow. Not sure we will be back, and it was one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. So sad.
(2)
Blake M.
The calamari was good, but that was all I ate in the hour and 15 minutes I waited for food. I watched people all around me get food while we waited. We even talked to the manager after 45 minutes, then two of us got a soup and salad. When we told the manager that we were leaving, he seemed really confused and asked why. He was then a jerk and told us we could go. Really bad service! I will not go back.
(1)
Monica B.
We came here for a graduation dinner with a table of 6. The food was bland (we got the pecan salmon, grilled salmon, 3 seafood linguini, and spinach ravioli) as other reviews stated. So why the one star? Well, the kitchen clearly forgot one seafood linguini. While the rest of us were almost done eating, my mom waited patiently. We reminded our waiter of the missing meal and a rushed linguini that was pretty much clear soup with pasta. We told our waiter it didn't taste right and we had the other two orders of linguini to compare it with as proof. An older gentleman happened to be passing by while we were speaking with the waiter and asked us what was wrong. We told him the linguini didn't taste good and the pasta was watery. The gentlemen then said "What do you want me to do? Do you want me to drain it?". He walked away and didn't even wait for our response. We asked our waiter if that was the owner and behold, it was. Now as an owner, if you're charging $15-$30 a plate wouldn't you want to take pride in your food and your restaurant? To all yelpers, take your money elsewhere. Thank you for completely ruining our joyous celebratory dinner, Carbonara Trattoria!
(1)
Brett A.
Best Itallian I've found in Atlanta. You can't beat the Seafood Fra Diavlo. My wife and I go all the time and have never had a bad experience.
(5)
Liz C.
I love this place! Owner is very involved-greets you at the door, checks in through out the meal and makes sure to say goodbye. The food is amazing and they are always changing up the menu with daily specials. The beer and wine list are extensive and the prices seem to be much better than what you'd typically see at a nice Italian restaurant. I hope this place becomes a Dunwoody staple!!
(5)
Bill G.
This is still one of the best neighborhood restaurants on the north side. Very reasonable prices, nice ambience, they take reservations. The place pretty well clears out about 9 o'clock, so if you're looking for a slightly later dinner you can have plenty of elbow room here . Sunday night is half price pasta night and a half price wine for most bottles. Parking is never a problem. However they no longer serve lunch. Note that most of the less than stellar reviews are about a year to a year and a half old. Read the tips and the recent reviews.
(5)
Carolyn P.
The food is very good and the atmosphere is lovely. Service is excellent. This is our new favorite Italian place. Prices are very reasonable and the location is fantastic.
(4)
Tom M.
If you have not eaten here you need to make it a stop. The service was fantastic, some of the best Italian food i have eaten and the ambiance was a pleasant noise level with quaint decor and space. A must do!
(5)
David B.
We have been a couple times and the food is quite good. The filet is terrific and the pasta done nicely. Service was much better the second time (today). As for the Yelp offer for a free glass of wine (which someone mentioned in their review), it is still on Yelp but they wouldn't honor it. Plus the owner made the waiter deliver that message though it wasn't the waiter's promise that was broken.
(4)
Tilia M.
Let me preface my review by saying I went here for lunch and only had the Lobster bisque and a half tuna sandwich. Both were pretty good, they toasted what I think was either a really good wheat bread or a rye bread with a little butter. The soup was very tasty as well. My only complaint was that there was literally NO lobster in the soup. I kept scraping my spoon on the bottom of the pot looking for chunks of lobster, and came up depressingly short. Not to mention, the soup was very thin for a dairy-based bisque. The taste was very much there, the meat, however was not. Cute atmosphere, decent service. I'd visit again. I've heard they have other items on the menu (like the meatball sub and Bolognese ) that are good and I'm willing to try those out.
(3)
C H.
This restaurant is the real deal. their pasta is fresh made the sauces actually taste like Italian home cooking, their salads are 5 stars. Highly recommend this place, ate the by chance one day and now we are customers.Some of my favorites are the pear prosciutto salad, the spinach fettuccine with bolognese sauce, the veal in lemon sauce...just yummy...Ah! and their chocolate cake is so moist it is an experience to have it...
(5)
Jeff R.
Went for lunch. Geez, how could you ruin a meatball sandwich?? Well either you took it out of a can or you think canned meatballs are good and make yours in their likeness. Service also was very bad. Waited, waited, and waited some ore just to get a ice tea refill. Never going back!
(1)
Suzanne C.
My husband and I frequently eat at Carbonara's for dinner. The atmosphere is very good. We love the appetizer of fried green tomatoes with goat cheese ( I always ask for extra red pepper coulis for the tomatoes as it is so good). Our two favorite dishes are the bernaise salmon and the corvina-both of which come over delicious risottos. I think they do a great job on any of the risottos. We have had some issues on service in past but haven't recently. It is a great place in Dunwoody and we are glad Carbonara is here!
(4)
Matt H.
This place is fantastic. First and foremost, the ambiance is second-to-none. The service is top-notch and the food is delicious. It's location right in the heart of Dunwoody in Dunwoody Village, and its a great addition to the area. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Hildee I.
After the rave review from a local email blast I decided to give this place a chance. Considering they are a stone's throw from Peter's, an AMAZING Italian restaurant I figured they had to know what they were doing. WRONG! I arrived with my husband & son at 5:30 on a Thursday evening, we were the only people there except the staff. My son ordered a Caesar salad ($6) followed by chicken fingers & fries ($6.50) My husband veal parm ($19.00) and I ordered sauteed asparagas ($6.50) FOUR pieces of yummy asparagas for that price, are they kidding? My husband groaned at how leathery the veal was and my son complained about the sogginess of the salad. The fries & chicken were fine as well as the spaghetti that was served with the veal. The service was mediocre and although the owner stopped by a few times no one made us feel like they wanted to get to know us better. If you are not a pork eater then don't bother coming in, nearly everything has pork in it! Check in with YELP and get a free glass of wine, the only part of the experience that was worth it. for $50.00 with tip for 1 entree, 1 salad and one kid's meal; we will never go back!
(1)
J C.
Great food. Great service. Sat at bar. Rich couldn't have been any friendlier. Amazing food.
(5)
Pauline H.
This place was over-priced and the food was not good at all! Kids meal macaroni is $7 includes a drink, 1 spinach & cheese ravoli $15, and gnoch potatoe $14 = $36. Good thing we had restaurant.com gift certificate still came up to $18. I am never going back there. My ravoli was hard and full of butter ( taste like popcorn ) I asked the waiter to replace my meal with another dish some spaghetti and my noodles were under-cooked -___- Out of all the dishes my partner and I had, we think macaroni is better.
(2)
J C.
Happened to stumble across this place in Dunwoody Village and was very pleasantly surprised! Visited on a Saturday night and the service and dinner were excellent. We tried the Prosciutto and Pear salad, Penne Vodka and Shrimp Pasta and the Seafood Linguine. All were very good. This is a great neighborhood restaurant that deserves better than some of the other posted reviews.
(4)
Terry F.
Let me say at the outset that the not-so-favorable reviews are all a bit dated. It takes a while for a restaurant's kitchen to get its "sea legs" and I will admit that I stayed away for a while due to the early lukewarm reviews. Well, we've had both lunch and dinner here in the past week and, let me say, they're sailing along nicely now. I had all but given up hope for a decent upscale restaurant for Dunwoody. No longer. Food, atmosphere and service were all excellent. It is a very relaxed atmosphere, conducive to quiet conversation and the enjoyment of their well-executed menu. Some nights there is live dinner music. The place is fairly full even on weekdays. And well deserved. Bravo.
(5)
John H.
4 of us had dinner here tonight - was our 3rd time. Good experiences all times. Very good service throughout - sensitive to the fact we were moving pretty slowly. Started with calimari appitizer. Very nicely done - whoever developed the coating and runs the fryer has a light touch. Also had a fried green tomato app - the tomato slices had a slice of goat cheese on them, then breaded and fried. Presented in a nice stack with a mild red pepper sauce. Very tasty. Salads were the prosciutto and pear and a cesar - both very nicely assembled (the prosciutto/pear was split for two of us). Entrees included chicken Marsala (very good, NOT too salty), roasted bronzina (tender, moist), halibut (excellent) and pasta carbonara (excellent, but plenty to take home). We'll be back (again), certainly. The initial throng that this place experience has died back just a bit - makes for a more relaxed experience. Hi-tops in the bar also had diners; TV was present in bar only.
(5)
Roberta L.
Sigh, really mediocre. I've been for lunch and for Father's Day. The owners are very nice but the food is just so-so. We had a bad experience on FD...most of the orders were wrong in some way. Call me crazy but I think a good waitperson should check the plates to be sure it's what the customer ordered. Sadly Atlanta doesn't have really good authentic Italian...nothing comparable to what I've eaten in NJ or NY.
(2)
Jay B.
Great Italian food! Finally an Italian restaurant in Dunwoody for lunch or dinner.
(5)
Dan G.
Seltzer water is NOT tonic water, buddy! I first want to start by saying I live in greater New York, eat out a bit, and like to think I am a foodie....one of the more over used self-ascribed titles these days. The location for Carbonara Trattoria isn't necessarily inspiring, or even interesting for that matter but then again I was in Dunwoddy,GA where all is "pleasant". The restaurant is located in an upscale strip/retail mall next to a private school and ice cream shop. They had nice seating out front and plenty of parking. We were quickly received and seated and then all seemed to slow way the hell down. The restaurant was relatively full and had a muted but palpable energy to it. I think by and large its hard to get a very high rating when you're an italian restaurant because there are only a billion other italian restaurants and there is far less room for innovation, impact, and differentiation. Nobody ever got fired for going with IBM and nobody every truly regretted their decision for a restaurant when having Italian.....but I digress. The menu was "typical", thrown together and I just figured it would be a 6/10 experience and just happy to see my old friend and his family which is fine enough but the overall experience just wasn't congruent with the prices so we often found ourselves asking "where's the beef?" The menu looked like Olive Garden "Plus" but the prices seemed to imply otherwise The service was simply juvenile. Again, when you offer elevated prices to a basic italian menu the spot light is on you to justify exactly why, and these guys were just so far off target. The service staff wore cheap lazy black pants and un-ironed white shirts. They were all very very young, inexperienced, tense, rushed, forgetful, and didn't really "connect" with their patrons. I asked for a seltzer, ya know, cuz I'm a Jew from greater New York. 10 minutes later I got a Tonic, ya know, cuz when you're a unexperienced waiter in Atlanta, what's the figgin difference, right? After another several minutes of trying to get his attention I tried over and over to explain and describe exactly what is "Seltzer". Needless to say it was soon drained followed by a second "Seltzer" request (I know, I'm powerless over that first Seltzer. I have one and just cant stop. Someone get me to a Church basement NOW) Several minutes later my beverage came and.......Tonic Water. Really? I called over the waiter and he was honestly genuinely confused by my description of "Seltzer, the bubbly water that people drink?" I spoke with the owner, a very nice guy. I just figured it was a NY/GA thing and I was using the wrong word or something. They were kind enough to bring me a bottle of Pellegrino. The actual food was, in all honesty, quite nice. I had the Cappelini with grilled chicken and fresh pasta. The pasta was al dente to perfection. Granted not the highest quality pasta but it was certainly cooked well. The chicken was done well and the balance of tomato, garlic, basic, olive oil was just to my liking.unfortunately, the portions were absolutely meager which was frustrating because it was tasty and pricier than it should've been given the portions and service. Dinner wound up being $25.00 per person, 2 kids 3 adults. So while not egregiously expensive it was that tricky 15% too much. You know what I mean? Not material enough to say to yourself "Meh....maybe another time", but just enough to say "Come-on people, gimme something to feel good about!" In short I am going with 2 stars because while the kitchen did a good job the staff elsewhere didn't and the owner ought to consider re-thinking portions and the general customer experience.
(2)
Heather J.
I learned my lesson: you should always consult the informative friends at Yelp before venturing out to a restaurant. I went to Perimeter Mall and was craving Italian (I should have gone to Maggiano's instead even though I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants.) So I went guided by my friend. It was a cute little restaurant. We were early for dinner (I think it was 6?) since we were just famished from hours of shopping. We were led by the hostess into the restaurant. We were the second customer there. We sat there talking and there came in another group few minutes after us. Strangely, the waiter brought glasses of water and bread basket to the group that came after us but seemed to not see us. We had to wait 5 more minutes (after-us group had already ordered by then) to get attention from our waiter! I wanted to scream: I AM HUNGRY. Anyway, we ordered Bruschetta as appetizer and Spaghetti Carbonara and Seafood Linguini (it was written in Italian) as entrees. The food was not too bad; I would give 4 stars for the seafood linguini and 3 stars for carbonara and bruschetta (because these two were too too too oily.) But I'm taking one star off because the service was horrible: the water was not refilled on time, the bread basket that I asked for was not brought on time. The waiter kept ignoring us.. Will not return to this place.
(2)
Jeremy S.
Bland. So my wife and I finally made it to the (now not so) new Dunwoody Italian. First impressions weren't great. No one was up front to greet (at lunch) so we wandered into the dining room and sat. The restaurant is very clean and nice but too sterile. Felt like a dining hall at a retirement community (sorry but true). Didn't help that every place setting had a laminated menu already in place. The service was a little slow. Considering it was lunch on a business day it should have been quicker, especially considering menus were there waiting for us. So the food: The food was the bright spot. Had the itailian blt and the chicken parm sub with salads. It was totally fine; even good but not great. I doubt we'll be back unfortunately. Dunwoody needs places like downtown Roswell is building out. Hip, unique good for families or for a bite with friends, affordable good food and fun environments.
(2)
Ellen S.
I want to love this restaurant! It is in a perfect location in Dunwoody Village and the food is very good. The problem is the service....awful! I have gone there with reservations and gone without them. The greeting at the door is always delightful. We are seated with a dinner menu. No wine list. On their special Sunday night for $10 pasta and 1/2 price bottles of wine, we are never given that menu. So there we sit until we finally have a wait person arrive. Then we have to ask for the wine list and the special menu. We have been many times other than on a Sunday. We then lose the wait person until our food finally arrives. And the food is very good!Then comes the wait for the check. No check. By now the owner is schmoozing with people at tables and we can't get him to even look our way. On our most recent trip we had the check but after 10 minutes we put away the credit card and payed cash leaving a 10% tip. We normally tip 20%. I want to love this restaurant, but they need to do a lot of work until then.
(3)
Kendrick P.
Thank goodness for FINALLY a splendid grown up restaurant in Dunwoody. Delicious food and such reasonable prices. Am I dreaming??? The atmosphere is sophisticated, warm, and charming- the decor is as if one stepped into a charming town in Italy. The weathered solid beautiful door with its speakeasy peek-a-boo-esque window opens to reveal a true hidden local treasure of a gem in the middle of Dunwoody suburbia. Make reservations because it is packed at night!!! I am in here at least 5 times a week, and in for lunch AND dinner Wednesday every week. I bring in friends, family, and everyone I know to experience this piece of my own personal Heaven. And all become locals and fans too! (just recommended it to my friend who brought her two children and 5 guests and I received texts saying 5 stars and yummy!!! from the kids as well as the other guests!) I have tried just about everything on the menu- at lunch, my favorites are the caprese salad, the creamy smooth as a player tomato bisque, the sausage and peppers sub, and the salmon- all so inexpensive. The sub, soup, and salad are all priced lower than the ever popular over priced Panera across the street!!! For dinner, the sea bass is divine, the chicken Marsala is cooked so perfectly that it is like butter no need for a knife, and the best dish ever- the 4oz filet with spinach, raisins, nutmeg, and potatoes for $15!!!! WOW! Great wine selection- I love the very inexpensive delicious reds by the glass. The owner is charming as he is well-traveled- which is VERY! He takes note of each customer that comes in, making sure to stop by each table, and makes his regulars feel like family. He is always accommodating, gracious, full of joie de vivre and the twinkle in his eye captures the passion he has for good food, wonderful drink, and great ambiance/atmosphere for his guests. As a native Atlantan and gourmand who thinks of herself as an E' una buona forchetta, I have eaten at every restaurant known to man in this city, and have tried more eateries than care to count while living in NYC, London, Paris, and Nashville, and can say this is hands down of of my favorite spots to dine and the fact it is in my own backyard is serendipitous. Finally a neighborhood place to call one's own! I am thrilled that such fine dining and atmosphere has come to Dunwoody. As someone who regularly drives in-town to eat, often to Local Three, Houston's, and all of the Buckhead Life Group eateries, I am over the moon to find something in Dunwoody/Sandy Springs that serves something other than sub-standard food and drink which only offers and caters to kids type food of chicken fingers and mac and cheese. Finally something for a more discriminate palate, no chain feel, and charm. And an owner on site and present at all times- just what this city needs! After reading some of the reviews here, I am shocked and dismayed that anyone could find it over priced and the food not good. Perhaps those diners confused eating at Ryan's all you can eat buffet with Carbonara's? I guess to each his own, and I am thrilled to have the pleasure of dining here regularly! Buon appetito!!!
(5)
Shilvi L.
My husband and I went to this lovely restaurant on a Saturday night for date night and loved how the owner transformed the interior beautifully. We had been to this location prior when it housed a Chinese restaurant. From when you walk in, they have an incredible bar and lounge area for a pre-dinner cocktail or opportunity to collect as your party arrives. We had reservations and were seated immediately. The restaurant was packed! The clientele for a Saturday night was mostly older people, but my husband and I were discussing how Dunwoody consists of young families and empty nesters and the young parent's hardly go out and if they do, they wouldn't bring young children to this restaurant. Although the restaurant has a kid's menu, I wouldn't bring my toddler and infant to this place at 7:30 PM on a Saturday night. They had an extensive wine list, lots of delicious menu options and nice specials. We started with a glass of house wine and bruschetta. The bruschetta was what you would expect - nothing too unique, but very good. We then split the Tomato Bisque soup which was excellent. Definitely rich and creamy. They served a house bread and it was perfectly crusty and soft - a great dipper for the soup. I had the cesar salad and my husband had a mixed green salad - both average and what you would expect. My husband had the pasta dish with the grilled chicken and garlic. His pasta was perfectly cooked - al dente and the dish was delicious! I had Halibut and it tasted a little over cooked, but the sauce they drizzled over it and the lemon risotto it sat on was exceptionally yummy. Our waiter overheard me say this was our first time at the restaurant, and he surprised us with the house made Tiramisu on the house. It was delicious. The service was great and it was a nice dinner. It is very pricy for the fact that most of the items we ordered were average, but it wasn't overpriced, just average from what you would expect of a restaurant of this stature. We would probably go back if the occasion called for it or if we had guests in town and wanted to stay close to the house. I recommend you try it out. For $90 you get 2 glasses of wine, 1 appetizer, 1 soup, 2 salads and 2 entrees (of which the soup and entrees were incredible while the others were average).
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Matt H.
This place is fantastic. First and foremost, the ambiance is second-to-none. The service is top-notch and the food is delicious. It's location right in the heart of Dunwoody in Dunwoody Village, and its a great addition to the area. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Pauline H.
This place was over-priced and the food was not good at all! Kids meal macaroni is $7 includes a drink, 1 spinach & cheese ravoli $15, and gnoch potatoe $14 = $36. Good thing we had restaurant.com gift certificate still came up to $18. I am never going back there. My ravoli was hard and full of butter ( taste like popcorn ) I asked the waiter to replace my meal with another dish some spaghetti and my noodles were under-cooked -___- Out of all the dishes my partner and I had, we think macaroni is better.
(2)J C.
Happened to stumble across this place in Dunwoody Village and was very pleasantly surprised! Visited on a Saturday night and the service and dinner were excellent. We tried the Prosciutto and Pear salad, Penne Vodka and Shrimp Pasta and the Seafood Linguine. All were very good. This is a great neighborhood restaurant that deserves better than some of the other posted reviews.
(4)Suzanne C.
My husband and I frequently eat at Carbonara's for dinner. The atmosphere is very good. We love the appetizer of fried green tomatoes with goat cheese ( I always ask for extra red pepper coulis for the tomatoes as it is so good). Our two favorite dishes are the bernaise salmon and the corvina-both of which come over delicious risottos. I think they do a great job on any of the risottos. We have had some issues on service in past but haven't recently. It is a great place in Dunwoody and we are glad Carbonara is here!
(4)Dan G.
Seltzer water is NOT tonic water, buddy! I first want to start by saying I live in greater New York, eat out a bit, and like to think I am a foodie....one of the more over used self-ascribed titles these days. The location for Carbonara Trattoria isn't necessarily inspiring, or even interesting for that matter but then again I was in Dunwoddy,GA where all is "pleasant". The restaurant is located in an upscale strip/retail mall next to a private school and ice cream shop. They had nice seating out front and plenty of parking. We were quickly received and seated and then all seemed to slow way the hell down. The restaurant was relatively full and had a muted but palpable energy to it. I think by and large its hard to get a very high rating when you're an italian restaurant because there are only a billion other italian restaurants and there is far less room for innovation, impact, and differentiation. Nobody ever got fired for going with IBM and nobody every truly regretted their decision for a restaurant when having Italian.....but I digress. The menu was "typical", thrown together and I just figured it would be a 6/10 experience and just happy to see my old friend and his family which is fine enough but the overall experience just wasn't congruent with the prices so we often found ourselves asking "where's the beef?" The menu looked like Olive Garden "Plus" but the prices seemed to imply otherwise The service was simply juvenile. Again, when you offer elevated prices to a basic italian menu the spot light is on you to justify exactly why, and these guys were just so far off target. The service staff wore cheap lazy black pants and un-ironed white shirts. They were all very very young, inexperienced, tense, rushed, forgetful, and didn't really "connect" with their patrons. I asked for a seltzer, ya know, cuz I'm a Jew from greater New York. 10 minutes later I got a Tonic, ya know, cuz when you're a unexperienced waiter in Atlanta, what's the figgin difference, right? After another several minutes of trying to get his attention I tried over and over to explain and describe exactly what is "Seltzer". Needless to say it was soon drained followed by a second "Seltzer" request (I know, I'm powerless over that first Seltzer. I have one and just cant stop. Someone get me to a Church basement NOW) Several minutes later my beverage came and.......Tonic Water. Really? I called over the waiter and he was honestly genuinely confused by my description of "Seltzer, the bubbly water that people drink?" I spoke with the owner, a very nice guy. I just figured it was a NY/GA thing and I was using the wrong word or something. They were kind enough to bring me a bottle of Pellegrino. The actual food was, in all honesty, quite nice. I had the Cappelini with grilled chicken and fresh pasta. The pasta was al dente to perfection. Granted not the highest quality pasta but it was certainly cooked well. The chicken was done well and the balance of tomato, garlic, basic, olive oil was just to my liking.unfortunately, the portions were absolutely meager which was frustrating because it was tasty and pricier than it should've been given the portions and service. Dinner wound up being $25.00 per person, 2 kids 3 adults. So while not egregiously expensive it was that tricky 15% too much. You know what I mean? Not material enough to say to yourself "Meh....maybe another time", but just enough to say "Come-on people, gimme something to feel good about!" In short I am going with 2 stars because while the kitchen did a good job the staff elsewhere didn't and the owner ought to consider re-thinking portions and the general customer experience.
(2)Hildee I.
After the rave review from a local email blast I decided to give this place a chance. Considering they are a stone's throw from Peter's, an AMAZING Italian restaurant I figured they had to know what they were doing. WRONG! I arrived with my husband & son at 5:30 on a Thursday evening, we were the only people there except the staff. My son ordered a Caesar salad ($6) followed by chicken fingers & fries ($6.50) My husband veal parm ($19.00) and I ordered sauteed asparagas ($6.50) FOUR pieces of yummy asparagas for that price, are they kidding? My husband groaned at how leathery the veal was and my son complained about the sogginess of the salad. The fries & chicken were fine as well as the spaghetti that was served with the veal. The service was mediocre and although the owner stopped by a few times no one made us feel like they wanted to get to know us better. If you are not a pork eater then don't bother coming in, nearly everything has pork in it! Check in with YELP and get a free glass of wine, the only part of the experience that was worth it. for $50.00 with tip for 1 entree, 1 salad and one kid's meal; we will never go back!
(1)J C.
Great food. Great service. Sat at bar. Rich couldn't have been any friendlier. Amazing food.
(5)Kendrick P.
Thank goodness for FINALLY a splendid grown up restaurant in Dunwoody. Delicious food and such reasonable prices. Am I dreaming??? The atmosphere is sophisticated, warm, and charming- the decor is as if one stepped into a charming town in Italy. The weathered solid beautiful door with its speakeasy peek-a-boo-esque window opens to reveal a true hidden local treasure of a gem in the middle of Dunwoody suburbia. Make reservations because it is packed at night!!! I am in here at least 5 times a week, and in for lunch AND dinner Wednesday every week. I bring in friends, family, and everyone I know to experience this piece of my own personal Heaven. And all become locals and fans too! (just recommended it to my friend who brought her two children and 5 guests and I received texts saying 5 stars and yummy!!! from the kids as well as the other guests!) I have tried just about everything on the menu- at lunch, my favorites are the caprese salad, the creamy smooth as a player tomato bisque, the sausage and peppers sub, and the salmon- all so inexpensive. The sub, soup, and salad are all priced lower than the ever popular over priced Panera across the street!!! For dinner, the sea bass is divine, the chicken Marsala is cooked so perfectly that it is like butter no need for a knife, and the best dish ever- the 4oz filet with spinach, raisins, nutmeg, and potatoes for $15!!!! WOW! Great wine selection- I love the very inexpensive delicious reds by the glass. The owner is charming as he is well-traveled- which is VERY! He takes note of each customer that comes in, making sure to stop by each table, and makes his regulars feel like family. He is always accommodating, gracious, full of joie de vivre and the twinkle in his eye captures the passion he has for good food, wonderful drink, and great ambiance/atmosphere for his guests. As a native Atlantan and gourmand who thinks of herself as an E' una buona forchetta, I have eaten at every restaurant known to man in this city, and have tried more eateries than care to count while living in NYC, London, Paris, and Nashville, and can say this is hands down of of my favorite spots to dine and the fact it is in my own backyard is serendipitous. Finally a neighborhood place to call one's own! I am thrilled that such fine dining and atmosphere has come to Dunwoody. As someone who regularly drives in-town to eat, often to Local Three, Houston's, and all of the Buckhead Life Group eateries, I am over the moon to find something in Dunwoody/Sandy Springs that serves something other than sub-standard food and drink which only offers and caters to kids type food of chicken fingers and mac and cheese. Finally something for a more discriminate palate, no chain feel, and charm. And an owner on site and present at all times- just what this city needs! After reading some of the reviews here, I am shocked and dismayed that anyone could find it over priced and the food not good. Perhaps those diners confused eating at Ryan's all you can eat buffet with Carbonara's? I guess to each his own, and I am thrilled to have the pleasure of dining here regularly! Buon appetito!!!
(5)John H.
4 of us had dinner here tonight - was our 3rd time. Good experiences all times. Very good service throughout - sensitive to the fact we were moving pretty slowly. Started with calimari appitizer. Very nicely done - whoever developed the coating and runs the fryer has a light touch. Also had a fried green tomato app - the tomato slices had a slice of goat cheese on them, then breaded and fried. Presented in a nice stack with a mild red pepper sauce. Very tasty. Salads were the prosciutto and pear and a cesar - both very nicely assembled (the prosciutto/pear was split for two of us). Entrees included chicken Marsala (very good, NOT too salty), roasted bronzina (tender, moist), halibut (excellent) and pasta carbonara (excellent, but plenty to take home). We'll be back (again), certainly. The initial throng that this place experience has died back just a bit - makes for a more relaxed experience. Hi-tops in the bar also had diners; TV was present in bar only.
(5)Roberta L.
Sigh, really mediocre. I've been for lunch and for Father's Day. The owners are very nice but the food is just so-so. We had a bad experience on FD...most of the orders were wrong in some way. Call me crazy but I think a good waitperson should check the plates to be sure it's what the customer ordered. Sadly Atlanta doesn't have really good authentic Italian...nothing comparable to what I've eaten in NJ or NY.
(2)Jay B.
Great Italian food! Finally an Italian restaurant in Dunwoody for lunch or dinner.
(5)Shilvi L.
My husband and I went to this lovely restaurant on a Saturday night for date night and loved how the owner transformed the interior beautifully. We had been to this location prior when it housed a Chinese restaurant. From when you walk in, they have an incredible bar and lounge area for a pre-dinner cocktail or opportunity to collect as your party arrives. We had reservations and were seated immediately. The restaurant was packed! The clientele for a Saturday night was mostly older people, but my husband and I were discussing how Dunwoody consists of young families and empty nesters and the young parent's hardly go out and if they do, they wouldn't bring young children to this restaurant. Although the restaurant has a kid's menu, I wouldn't bring my toddler and infant to this place at 7:30 PM on a Saturday night. They had an extensive wine list, lots of delicious menu options and nice specials. We started with a glass of house wine and bruschetta. The bruschetta was what you would expect - nothing too unique, but very good. We then split the Tomato Bisque soup which was excellent. Definitely rich and creamy. They served a house bread and it was perfectly crusty and soft - a great dipper for the soup. I had the cesar salad and my husband had a mixed green salad - both average and what you would expect. My husband had the pasta dish with the grilled chicken and garlic. His pasta was perfectly cooked - al dente and the dish was delicious! I had Halibut and it tasted a little over cooked, but the sauce they drizzled over it and the lemon risotto it sat on was exceptionally yummy. Our waiter overheard me say this was our first time at the restaurant, and he surprised us with the house made Tiramisu on the house. It was delicious. The service was great and it was a nice dinner. It is very pricy for the fact that most of the items we ordered were average, but it wasn't overpriced, just average from what you would expect of a restaurant of this stature. We would probably go back if the occasion called for it or if we had guests in town and wanted to stay close to the house. I recommend you try it out. For $90 you get 2 glasses of wine, 1 appetizer, 1 soup, 2 salads and 2 entrees (of which the soup and entrees were incredible while the others were average).
(3)Brian S.
This place has so much potential, but that's what you get for now, potential. The food is well above average, but the service is so far below average, that the dining experience suffers as a result. As good as the main course is, this review is based on the combination of offensive standard of service, as well as the unnecessary $9 side salads. I've been here a number of times. From random nights, to $10 pasta night, to Christmas Eve. I want to love this place, but it's an abusive relationship where I am consistently taken for granted. If you want to eventually have a solid bowl of pasta, but feel like you're doing someone a favor in the process, get yourself to this place immediately. If you would rather feel like you're appreciated and valued to an establishment, go somewhere else. This isn't a service level problem. The owner prances around shaking hands and kissing babies with his friends, but when you're in the process of dropping a few hundred bucks outside of his inner circle, you might as well be digging through the dumpster for scraps. Actually, the service would be better out there as you have a better chance catching the waitstaff as they burn down a joint in the middle of dinner service. If the management is reading this, take note: You have a lot of potential in your kitchen, but your front of the house is ruining everything. Your food needs a little work (more garlic and a little spice wouldn't hurt), but your service staff is offensive. Better restaurants in Dunwoody Village have not survived. Keep this up and you are destined to join their ranks. Also, get over yourself and maybe I'll order a side salad that doesn't cost $9. Get your act together!
(2)Laura Pepe B.
The food is delicious! Carbonara is my favorite and I think it's the best on the menu. Also the fried green tomatoes are killer!
(5)Patricia O.
What has happened to the wonderful spaghetti carbonara??? We were among the first to frequent this neighborhood restaurant when it was first opened, and we were sold on this item. We have continued to order it on the numerous times we dine here. Several months ago we brought family members and insisted they have the carbonara. They like us were sorely disappointed. The sauce was tasteless. We dined here again tonight and the carbonara is even worse. The sauce was thin and runny with some peas sprinkled over the top. What happened to the rich, cheesy sauce?? Also, the service was very, very slow. Not sure we will be back, and it was one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. So sad.
(2)Basti B.
We came here for the first time tonight. The ambiance is nice and felt pretty authentic compared to many other Italian-American restaurants. The pasta and the sirloin were delicious, so were the deserts. The espresso could have been a little thicker and stronger. The only disappointment was the waitress who didn't seem to care too much about her tip. We will definitely be back and hope for a different waiter next time.
(4)Susie H.
This place is tucked away in Dunwoody Village and you feel like you're miles away from Dunwoody inside. It was almost full at 730 in a Saturday night. Some people had reservations but it wasn't totally needed. I was in awe as to how good this place was. I felt like my date and I were the only ones who didn't know anyone else or the owner. It's the kind of place where the owner stops by your table to chat. He even waited on us (I think they were under staffed). Great wine list without feeling overwhelmed by it. Decent beer list too. They don't shy away on the wine pours which is a nice thing. We had the bruschetta to start. I could have licked the plate it was so good. I had a shrimp pasta that was delicious. The shrimp were fresh and plentiful. The pasta was hot, tasty and just amazing. I couldn't finish it all! My date gave the lasagna great reviews as he cleaned his plate. We skipped dessert but might go for it next time. It's casual here but not that casual. Jeans are acceptable but you don't need a tie or dress. I will be back again even if it was a little pricy!
(5)Mary Beth L.
This is a lovely local Italian. I think that it is family owned. Comfortable, warm, relaxing, sit down dinner-out atmosphere. Solid menu...love the pastas esp. the Bolognese. Great Sunday night specials. A great option for a quiet, cozy dinner with good friends especially on a rainy night in winter.
(4)Leilani B.
Went here with a large group for work on a weekday evening. It was a bit hard to find in the dark, but worth the trouble. We started with some shared appetizers which were delicious. I had a salad and the sun-dired tomato Gnocchi - it was soooo delicious. Everyone raved about the food and the service was really good as well. I splurged on the Tiramisu for desert and it was so moist, rich and delicious. The piece was HUGE! Plenty to share with a friend or date.
(5)Tanaya G.
Excellent food. We had some wine with bruschettas and steamed mussels .. Yum yummy .. For main course we had the chicken Marsala wow. It was just perfect.
(5)Rusty T.
This is the best Italian restaurant in Dunwoody, perhaps in Atlanta. The food is always great and the wine selection is hard to beat. The staff is friendly and the service is fast. One of the best places for date night.
(5)Kate M.
I came here to celebrate my birthday dinner, and was excited to see how they fared as this was a first time visit. I ended up having a great experience and can't wait to return! My roommate and I ventured here on a Monday night around 6:45 pm. We were immediately greeted and seated by the hostess who was very upbeat and kind. The atmosphere was more intimate than we were expecting, but on a warm summer evening it definitely sets the tone well. They have a limited outdoor seating area, but inside the small space seems much larger than it is. The front area had high tables and a nice bar/lounge area to grab a few glasses of wine and apps. I could see myself here late night relaxing after work or an event. The dining room is set in an old world style with Italian landscapes on the walls, white tablecloths and candles, and some booth areas on the sides. It could easily transition into a group event if needed. Ethan was our server and he did a great job! He was very attentive and made personalized recommendations based on his favorites and my preferences. Now - on to the food! They have a prix fixe menu option which allows you to choose an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $29. Some of the entrees have notes that add a few dollars extra on to the option (for example - you have a $5 upcharge on the prix fixe if you add filet mignon). My roommate and I both chose that option and split the apps and tried each others entrees. Most everything was on point. Appetizers: 1. Fried Green Tomatoes - These were phenomenal! It was three large fried green tomatoes cut in half to make six total pieces. The breading was light and the inside was filled with warm, creamy goat cheese. The red pepper coulis base really accented the dish well. 2. Antipasto Platter - This will definitely feed two - three guests with ease. It included salami, prosciutto, parmesan, blue cheese, goat cheese, toast points, olives, and a mixture of pickled vegetables like artichoke hearts, carrots, and cauliflower. The only drawback I had with this is they drizzled additional olive oil on the top. Everything is already so rich/fatty/creamy it really didn't need that extra touch. It was a bit too greasy and I had to wipe some of my items down. Entrees: 1. Gnocchi - This made the whole trip worthwhile! I rarely cook gnocchi for myself so I took advantage of the opportunity. It was cooked in a gorgonzola prosciutto sauce that was so good! My mouth is watering now just thinking about it. It was very rich and the perfect cheesy accent that would be perfect in the winter. Definitely a stick to your ribs kind of comfort food dish. 2. Grilled Lamb - The lamb was very tender and presented beautifully. It was bone-in with three pieces atop cauliflower mashed potatoes and crisp asparagus. A warm red wine reduction sauce topped it all off. Another rich dish, I would have loved to have something acidic paired with it to cut through the flavors, but extremely tasty and something I would get for myself. Desserts: 1. NY Cheesecake - I was a little disappointed with this one. The cheesecake was warmer than I would have liked when it was brought out and it had lumps (I'm assuming of cream cheese) throughout. The crumb crust fell apart pretty easily and I prefer mine a little more firm. In future I wouldn't choose this one again over their many cake offerings. 2. Pistachio Gelato - Not as soft as a traditional gelato, this was more like ice cream. Served in an old fashioned glass dish it melted well in your mouth and definitely had the flavor my roommate was looking for. Overall, the great food and stellar service will have me come back to try more of their offerings and explore their extensive wine list. I had no idea that such a nice restaurant was hidden behind the oak door a few steps away from my neighborhood Bruster's.
(4)Alyssa M.
Well, this was the first time I have ever gotten up and walked out of a restaurant before the meal was over. So there's that. We had some wine and calamari which was good and then we never saw the waiter again for an hour. After letting the manager know that we were waiting on food, he said he would take care of it. He produced a soup and salad for half our party, which we had even forgotten that we ordered at that point because why the hell would it take an hour to get out soup and salad? Then we waited some more. And some more. And then decided we were clearly going to die at Carbonara Trattoria if we didn't make the decision to leave because the food was not ever going to come. The waiter was scurrying around our table not making eye contact so again, we called over the manager and told him we wanted our check and that we were leaving. He proceeded to argue with us about how the food was coming and how long we had been waiting. In a great display of self control, I calmly explained that at this point we had been there since 7:15 and it was 8:45 and there was no entree in sight. He told us just to go which was the only wise business decision made in a sea of bad choices but even that can't save such abysmal service from a one star rating. Do yourself a favor and spend your time somewhere else, where your money and business will be appreciated. I can't believe this place still has it's doors open.
(1)Shalin P.
We came here for Valentine's and had a nice dinner. The location was a little tough to find, but it's in the same strip mall as Dunwoody Prep. The great thing is they don't subject you to a "special" overpriced v-day menu. They do offer a daily prix-fixe option that lets you choose an app, entrée, and dessert for $29. I chose the caesar salad, which was nothing special and definitely overpriced at $9. Luckily our entrees were better- we had gnocchi in a gorgonzola sauce and a mushroom risotto. The gnocchi sauce was excellent- flavorful but not too rich. The owner came around and talked to us about dessert. The tiramisu was a flavorful option, while the pink champagne cake was decent. The restaurant has nice décor, and definitely draws more of an older suburban crowd.
(4)Blake M.
The calamari was good, but that was all I ate in the hour and 15 minutes I waited for food. I watched people all around me get food while we waited. We even talked to the manager after 45 minutes, then two of us got a soup and salad. When we told the manager that we were leaving, he seemed really confused and asked why. He was then a jerk and told us we could go. Really bad service! I will not go back.
(1)Monica B.
We came here for a graduation dinner with a table of 6. The food was bland (we got the pecan salmon, grilled salmon, 3 seafood linguini, and spinach ravioli) as other reviews stated. So why the one star? Well, the kitchen clearly forgot one seafood linguini. While the rest of us were almost done eating, my mom waited patiently. We reminded our waiter of the missing meal and a rushed linguini that was pretty much clear soup with pasta. We told our waiter it didn't taste right and we had the other two orders of linguini to compare it with as proof. An older gentleman happened to be passing by while we were speaking with the waiter and asked us what was wrong. We told him the linguini didn't taste good and the pasta was watery. The gentlemen then said "What do you want me to do? Do you want me to drain it?". He walked away and didn't even wait for our response. We asked our waiter if that was the owner and behold, it was. Now as an owner, if you're charging $15-$30 a plate wouldn't you want to take pride in your food and your restaurant? To all yelpers, take your money elsewhere. Thank you for completely ruining our joyous celebratory dinner, Carbonara Trattoria!
(1)Brett A.
Best Itallian I've found in Atlanta. You can't beat the Seafood Fra Diavlo. My wife and I go all the time and have never had a bad experience.
(5)Heather J.
I learned my lesson: you should always consult the informative friends at Yelp before venturing out to a restaurant. I went to Perimeter Mall and was craving Italian (I should have gone to Maggiano's instead even though I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants.) So I went guided by my friend. It was a cute little restaurant. We were early for dinner (I think it was 6?) since we were just famished from hours of shopping. We were led by the hostess into the restaurant. We were the second customer there. We sat there talking and there came in another group few minutes after us. Strangely, the waiter brought glasses of water and bread basket to the group that came after us but seemed to not see us. We had to wait 5 more minutes (after-us group had already ordered by then) to get attention from our waiter! I wanted to scream: I AM HUNGRY. Anyway, we ordered Bruschetta as appetizer and Spaghetti Carbonara and Seafood Linguini (it was written in Italian) as entrees. The food was not too bad; I would give 4 stars for the seafood linguini and 3 stars for carbonara and bruschetta (because these two were too too too oily.) But I'm taking one star off because the service was horrible: the water was not refilled on time, the bread basket that I asked for was not brought on time. The waiter kept ignoring us.. Will not return to this place.
(2)David B.
We have been a couple times and the food is quite good. The filet is terrific and the pasta done nicely. Service was much better the second time (today). As for the Yelp offer for a free glass of wine (which someone mentioned in their review), it is still on Yelp but they wouldn't honor it. Plus the owner made the waiter deliver that message though it wasn't the waiter's promise that was broken.
(4)Jeremy S.
Bland. So my wife and I finally made it to the (now not so) new Dunwoody Italian. First impressions weren't great. No one was up front to greet (at lunch) so we wandered into the dining room and sat. The restaurant is very clean and nice but too sterile. Felt like a dining hall at a retirement community (sorry but true). Didn't help that every place setting had a laminated menu already in place. The service was a little slow. Considering it was lunch on a business day it should have been quicker, especially considering menus were there waiting for us. So the food: The food was the bright spot. Had the itailian blt and the chicken parm sub with salads. It was totally fine; even good but not great. I doubt we'll be back unfortunately. Dunwoody needs places like downtown Roswell is building out. Hip, unique good for families or for a bite with friends, affordable good food and fun environments.
(2)Ellen S.
I want to love this restaurant! It is in a perfect location in Dunwoody Village and the food is very good. The problem is the service....awful! I have gone there with reservations and gone without them. The greeting at the door is always delightful. We are seated with a dinner menu. No wine list. On their special Sunday night for $10 pasta and 1/2 price bottles of wine, we are never given that menu. So there we sit until we finally have a wait person arrive. Then we have to ask for the wine list and the special menu. We have been many times other than on a Sunday. We then lose the wait person until our food finally arrives. And the food is very good!Then comes the wait for the check. No check. By now the owner is schmoozing with people at tables and we can't get him to even look our way. On our most recent trip we had the check but after 10 minutes we put away the credit card and payed cash leaving a 10% tip. We normally tip 20%. I want to love this restaurant, but they need to do a lot of work until then.
(3)Liz C.
I love this place! Owner is very involved-greets you at the door, checks in through out the meal and makes sure to say goodbye. The food is amazing and they are always changing up the menu with daily specials. The beer and wine list are extensive and the prices seem to be much better than what you'd typically see at a nice Italian restaurant. I hope this place becomes a Dunwoody staple!!
(5)Bill G.
This is still one of the best neighborhood restaurants on the north side. Very reasonable prices, nice ambience, they take reservations. The place pretty well clears out about 9 o'clock, so if you're looking for a slightly later dinner you can have plenty of elbow room here . Sunday night is half price pasta night and a half price wine for most bottles. Parking is never a problem. However they no longer serve lunch. Note that most of the less than stellar reviews are about a year to a year and a half old. Read the tips and the recent reviews.
(5)Carolyn P.
The food is very good and the atmosphere is lovely. Service is excellent. This is our new favorite Italian place. Prices are very reasonable and the location is fantastic.
(4)Tom M.
If you have not eaten here you need to make it a stop. The service was fantastic, some of the best Italian food i have eaten and the ambiance was a pleasant noise level with quaint decor and space. A must do!
(5)Tilia M.
Let me preface my review by saying I went here for lunch and only had the Lobster bisque and a half tuna sandwich. Both were pretty good, they toasted what I think was either a really good wheat bread or a rye bread with a little butter. The soup was very tasty as well. My only complaint was that there was literally NO lobster in the soup. I kept scraping my spoon on the bottom of the pot looking for chunks of lobster, and came up depressingly short. Not to mention, the soup was very thin for a dairy-based bisque. The taste was very much there, the meat, however was not. Cute atmosphere, decent service. I'd visit again. I've heard they have other items on the menu (like the meatball sub and Bolognese ) that are good and I'm willing to try those out.
(3)C H.
This restaurant is the real deal. their pasta is fresh made the sauces actually taste like Italian home cooking, their salads are 5 stars. Highly recommend this place, ate the by chance one day and now we are customers.Some of my favorites are the pear prosciutto salad, the spinach fettuccine with bolognese sauce, the veal in lemon sauce...just yummy...Ah! and their chocolate cake is so moist it is an experience to have it...
(5)Jeff R.
Went for lunch. Geez, how could you ruin a meatball sandwich?? Well either you took it out of a can or you think canned meatballs are good and make yours in their likeness. Service also was very bad. Waited, waited, and waited some ore just to get a ice tea refill. Never going back!
(1)Terry F.
Let me say at the outset that the not-so-favorable reviews are all a bit dated. It takes a while for a restaurant's kitchen to get its "sea legs" and I will admit that I stayed away for a while due to the early lukewarm reviews. Well, we've had both lunch and dinner here in the past week and, let me say, they're sailing along nicely now. I had all but given up hope for a decent upscale restaurant for Dunwoody. No longer. Food, atmosphere and service were all excellent. It is a very relaxed atmosphere, conducive to quiet conversation and the enjoyment of their well-executed menu. Some nights there is live dinner music. The place is fairly full even on weekdays. And well deserved. Bravo.
(5)Susie H.
This place is tucked away in Dunwoody Village and you feel like you're miles away from Dunwoody inside. It was almost full at 730 in a Saturday night. Some people had reservations but it wasn't totally needed. I was in awe as to how good this place was. I felt like my date and I were the only ones who didn't know anyone else or the owner. It's the kind of place where the owner stops by your table to chat. He even waited on us (I think they were under staffed). Great wine list without feeling overwhelmed by it. Decent beer list too. They don't shy away on the wine pours which is a nice thing. We had the bruschetta to start. I could have licked the plate it was so good. I had a shrimp pasta that was delicious. The shrimp were fresh and plentiful. The pasta was hot, tasty and just amazing. I couldn't finish it all! My date gave the lasagna great reviews as he cleaned his plate. We skipped dessert but might go for it next time. It's casual here but not that casual. Jeans are acceptable but you don't need a tie or dress. I will be back again even if it was a little pricy!
(5)Mary Beth L.
This is a lovely local Italian. I think that it is family owned. Comfortable, warm, relaxing, sit down dinner-out atmosphere. Solid menu...love the pastas esp. the Bolognese. Great Sunday night specials. A great option for a quiet, cozy dinner with good friends especially on a rainy night in winter.
(4)Leilani B.
Went here with a large group for work on a weekday evening. It was a bit hard to find in the dark, but worth the trouble. We started with some shared appetizers which were delicious. I had a salad and the sun-dired tomato Gnocchi - it was soooo delicious. Everyone raved about the food and the service was really good as well. I splurged on the Tiramisu for desert and it was so moist, rich and delicious. The piece was HUGE! Plenty to share with a friend or date.
(5)Tanaya G.
Excellent food. We had some wine with bruschettas and steamed mussels .. Yum yummy .. For main course we had the chicken Marsala wow. It was just perfect.
(5)Rusty T.
This is the best Italian restaurant in Dunwoody, perhaps in Atlanta. The food is always great and the wine selection is hard to beat. The staff is friendly and the service is fast. One of the best places for date night.
(5)Basti B.
We came here for the first time tonight. The ambiance is nice and felt pretty authentic compared to many other Italian-American restaurants. The pasta and the sirloin were delicious, so were the deserts. The espresso could have been a little thicker and stronger. The only disappointment was the waitress who didn't seem to care too much about her tip. We will definitely be back and hope for a different waiter next time.
(4)Alyssa M.
Well, this was the first time I have ever gotten up and walked out of a restaurant before the meal was over. So there's that. We had some wine and calamari which was good and then we never saw the waiter again for an hour. After letting the manager know that we were waiting on food, he said he would take care of it. He produced a soup and salad for half our party, which we had even forgotten that we ordered at that point because why the hell would it take an hour to get out soup and salad? Then we waited some more. And some more. And then decided we were clearly going to die at Carbonara Trattoria if we didn't make the decision to leave because the food was not ever going to come. The waiter was scurrying around our table not making eye contact so again, we called over the manager and told him we wanted our check and that we were leaving. He proceeded to argue with us about how the food was coming and how long we had been waiting. In a great display of self control, I calmly explained that at this point we had been there since 7:15 and it was 8:45 and there was no entree in sight. He told us just to go which was the only wise business decision made in a sea of bad choices but even that can't save such abysmal service from a one star rating. Do yourself a favor and spend your time somewhere else, where your money and business will be appreciated. I can't believe this place still has it's doors open.
(1)Kate M.
I came here to celebrate my birthday dinner, and was excited to see how they fared as this was a first time visit. I ended up having a great experience and can't wait to return! My roommate and I ventured here on a Monday night around 6:45 pm. We were immediately greeted and seated by the hostess who was very upbeat and kind. The atmosphere was more intimate than we were expecting, but on a warm summer evening it definitely sets the tone well. They have a limited outdoor seating area, but inside the small space seems much larger than it is. The front area had high tables and a nice bar/lounge area to grab a few glasses of wine and apps. I could see myself here late night relaxing after work or an event. The dining room is set in an old world style with Italian landscapes on the walls, white tablecloths and candles, and some booth areas on the sides. It could easily transition into a group event if needed. Ethan was our server and he did a great job! He was very attentive and made personalized recommendations based on his favorites and my preferences. Now - on to the food! They have a prix fixe menu option which allows you to choose an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $29. Some of the entrees have notes that add a few dollars extra on to the option (for example - you have a $5 upcharge on the prix fixe if you add filet mignon). My roommate and I both chose that option and split the apps and tried each others entrees. Most everything was on point. Appetizers: 1. Fried Green Tomatoes - These were phenomenal! It was three large fried green tomatoes cut in half to make six total pieces. The breading was light and the inside was filled with warm, creamy goat cheese. The red pepper coulis base really accented the dish well. 2. Antipasto Platter - This will definitely feed two - three guests with ease. It included salami, prosciutto, parmesan, blue cheese, goat cheese, toast points, olives, and a mixture of pickled vegetables like artichoke hearts, carrots, and cauliflower. The only drawback I had with this is they drizzled additional olive oil on the top. Everything is already so rich/fatty/creamy it really didn't need that extra touch. It was a bit too greasy and I had to wipe some of my items down. Entrees: 1. Gnocchi - This made the whole trip worthwhile! I rarely cook gnocchi for myself so I took advantage of the opportunity. It was cooked in a gorgonzola prosciutto sauce that was so good! My mouth is watering now just thinking about it. It was very rich and the perfect cheesy accent that would be perfect in the winter. Definitely a stick to your ribs kind of comfort food dish. 2. Grilled Lamb - The lamb was very tender and presented beautifully. It was bone-in with three pieces atop cauliflower mashed potatoes and crisp asparagus. A warm red wine reduction sauce topped it all off. Another rich dish, I would have loved to have something acidic paired with it to cut through the flavors, but extremely tasty and something I would get for myself. Desserts: 1. NY Cheesecake - I was a little disappointed with this one. The cheesecake was warmer than I would have liked when it was brought out and it had lumps (I'm assuming of cream cheese) throughout. The crumb crust fell apart pretty easily and I prefer mine a little more firm. In future I wouldn't choose this one again over their many cake offerings. 2. Pistachio Gelato - Not as soft as a traditional gelato, this was more like ice cream. Served in an old fashioned glass dish it melted well in your mouth and definitely had the flavor my roommate was looking for. Overall, the great food and stellar service will have me come back to try more of their offerings and explore their extensive wine list. I had no idea that such a nice restaurant was hidden behind the oak door a few steps away from my neighborhood Bruster's.
(4)Shalin P.
We came here for Valentine's and had a nice dinner. The location was a little tough to find, but it's in the same strip mall as Dunwoody Prep. The great thing is they don't subject you to a "special" overpriced v-day menu. They do offer a daily prix-fixe option that lets you choose an app, entrée, and dessert for $29. I chose the caesar salad, which was nothing special and definitely overpriced at $9. Luckily our entrees were better- we had gnocchi in a gorgonzola sauce and a mushroom risotto. The gnocchi sauce was excellent- flavorful but not too rich. The owner came around and talked to us about dessert. The tiramisu was a flavorful option, while the pink champagne cake was decent. The restaurant has nice décor, and definitely draws more of an older suburban crowd.
(4)Brian S.
This place has so much potential, but that's what you get for now, potential. The food is well above average, but the service is so far below average, that the dining experience suffers as a result. As good as the main course is, this review is based on the combination of offensive standard of service, as well as the unnecessary $9 side salads. I've been here a number of times. From random nights, to $10 pasta night, to Christmas Eve. I want to love this place, but it's an abusive relationship where I am consistently taken for granted. If you want to eventually have a solid bowl of pasta, but feel like you're doing someone a favor in the process, get yourself to this place immediately. If you would rather feel like you're appreciated and valued to an establishment, go somewhere else. This isn't a service level problem. The owner prances around shaking hands and kissing babies with his friends, but when you're in the process of dropping a few hundred bucks outside of his inner circle, you might as well be digging through the dumpster for scraps. Actually, the service would be better out there as you have a better chance catching the waitstaff as they burn down a joint in the middle of dinner service. If the management is reading this, take note: You have a lot of potential in your kitchen, but your front of the house is ruining everything. Your food needs a little work (more garlic and a little spice wouldn't hurt), but your service staff is offensive. Better restaurants in Dunwoody Village have not survived. Keep this up and you are destined to join their ranks. Also, get over yourself and maybe I'll order a side salad that doesn't cost $9. Get your act together!
(2)Laura Pepe B.
The food is delicious! Carbonara is my favorite and I think it's the best on the menu. Also the fried green tomatoes are killer!
(5)Patricia O.
What has happened to the wonderful spaghetti carbonara??? We were among the first to frequent this neighborhood restaurant when it was first opened, and we were sold on this item. We have continued to order it on the numerous times we dine here. Several months ago we brought family members and insisted they have the carbonara. They like us were sorely disappointed. The sauce was tasteless. We dined here again tonight and the carbonara is even worse. The sauce was thin and runny with some peas sprinkled over the top. What happened to the rich, cheesy sauce?? Also, the service was very, very slow. Not sure we will be back, and it was one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. So sad.
(2)Blake M.
The calamari was good, but that was all I ate in the hour and 15 minutes I waited for food. I watched people all around me get food while we waited. We even talked to the manager after 45 minutes, then two of us got a soup and salad. When we told the manager that we were leaving, he seemed really confused and asked why. He was then a jerk and told us we could go. Really bad service! I will not go back.
(1)Monica B.
We came here for a graduation dinner with a table of 6. The food was bland (we got the pecan salmon, grilled salmon, 3 seafood linguini, and spinach ravioli) as other reviews stated. So why the one star? Well, the kitchen clearly forgot one seafood linguini. While the rest of us were almost done eating, my mom waited patiently. We reminded our waiter of the missing meal and a rushed linguini that was pretty much clear soup with pasta. We told our waiter it didn't taste right and we had the other two orders of linguini to compare it with as proof. An older gentleman happened to be passing by while we were speaking with the waiter and asked us what was wrong. We told him the linguini didn't taste good and the pasta was watery. The gentlemen then said "What do you want me to do? Do you want me to drain it?". He walked away and didn't even wait for our response. We asked our waiter if that was the owner and behold, it was. Now as an owner, if you're charging $15-$30 a plate wouldn't you want to take pride in your food and your restaurant? To all yelpers, take your money elsewhere. Thank you for completely ruining our joyous celebratory dinner, Carbonara Trattoria!
(1)Brett A.
Best Itallian I've found in Atlanta. You can't beat the Seafood Fra Diavlo. My wife and I go all the time and have never had a bad experience.
(5)Liz C.
I love this place! Owner is very involved-greets you at the door, checks in through out the meal and makes sure to say goodbye. The food is amazing and they are always changing up the menu with daily specials. The beer and wine list are extensive and the prices seem to be much better than what you'd typically see at a nice Italian restaurant. I hope this place becomes a Dunwoody staple!!
(5)Bill G.
This is still one of the best neighborhood restaurants on the north side. Very reasonable prices, nice ambience, they take reservations. The place pretty well clears out about 9 o'clock, so if you're looking for a slightly later dinner you can have plenty of elbow room here . Sunday night is half price pasta night and a half price wine for most bottles. Parking is never a problem. However they no longer serve lunch. Note that most of the less than stellar reviews are about a year to a year and a half old. Read the tips and the recent reviews.
(5)Carolyn P.
The food is very good and the atmosphere is lovely. Service is excellent. This is our new favorite Italian place. Prices are very reasonable and the location is fantastic.
(4)Tom M.
If you have not eaten here you need to make it a stop. The service was fantastic, some of the best Italian food i have eaten and the ambiance was a pleasant noise level with quaint decor and space. A must do!
(5)David B.
We have been a couple times and the food is quite good. The filet is terrific and the pasta done nicely. Service was much better the second time (today). As for the Yelp offer for a free glass of wine (which someone mentioned in their review), it is still on Yelp but they wouldn't honor it. Plus the owner made the waiter deliver that message though it wasn't the waiter's promise that was broken.
(4)Tilia M.
Let me preface my review by saying I went here for lunch and only had the Lobster bisque and a half tuna sandwich. Both were pretty good, they toasted what I think was either a really good wheat bread or a rye bread with a little butter. The soup was very tasty as well. My only complaint was that there was literally NO lobster in the soup. I kept scraping my spoon on the bottom of the pot looking for chunks of lobster, and came up depressingly short. Not to mention, the soup was very thin for a dairy-based bisque. The taste was very much there, the meat, however was not. Cute atmosphere, decent service. I'd visit again. I've heard they have other items on the menu (like the meatball sub and Bolognese ) that are good and I'm willing to try those out.
(3)C H.
This restaurant is the real deal. their pasta is fresh made the sauces actually taste like Italian home cooking, their salads are 5 stars. Highly recommend this place, ate the by chance one day and now we are customers.Some of my favorites are the pear prosciutto salad, the spinach fettuccine with bolognese sauce, the veal in lemon sauce...just yummy...Ah! and their chocolate cake is so moist it is an experience to have it...
(5)Jeff R.
Went for lunch. Geez, how could you ruin a meatball sandwich?? Well either you took it out of a can or you think canned meatballs are good and make yours in their likeness. Service also was very bad. Waited, waited, and waited some ore just to get a ice tea refill. Never going back!
(1)Suzanne C.
My husband and I frequently eat at Carbonara's for dinner. The atmosphere is very good. We love the appetizer of fried green tomatoes with goat cheese ( I always ask for extra red pepper coulis for the tomatoes as it is so good). Our two favorite dishes are the bernaise salmon and the corvina-both of which come over delicious risottos. I think they do a great job on any of the risottos. We have had some issues on service in past but haven't recently. It is a great place in Dunwoody and we are glad Carbonara is here!
(4)Matt H.
This place is fantastic. First and foremost, the ambiance is second-to-none. The service is top-notch and the food is delicious. It's location right in the heart of Dunwoody in Dunwoody Village, and its a great addition to the area. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Hildee I.
After the rave review from a local email blast I decided to give this place a chance. Considering they are a stone's throw from Peter's, an AMAZING Italian restaurant I figured they had to know what they were doing. WRONG! I arrived with my husband & son at 5:30 on a Thursday evening, we were the only people there except the staff. My son ordered a Caesar salad ($6) followed by chicken fingers & fries ($6.50) My husband veal parm ($19.00) and I ordered sauteed asparagas ($6.50) FOUR pieces of yummy asparagas for that price, are they kidding? My husband groaned at how leathery the veal was and my son complained about the sogginess of the salad. The fries & chicken were fine as well as the spaghetti that was served with the veal. The service was mediocre and although the owner stopped by a few times no one made us feel like they wanted to get to know us better. If you are not a pork eater then don't bother coming in, nearly everything has pork in it! Check in with YELP and get a free glass of wine, the only part of the experience that was worth it. for $50.00 with tip for 1 entree, 1 salad and one kid's meal; we will never go back!
(1)J C.
Great food. Great service. Sat at bar. Rich couldn't have been any friendlier. Amazing food.
(5)Pauline H.
This place was over-priced and the food was not good at all! Kids meal macaroni is $7 includes a drink, 1 spinach & cheese ravoli $15, and gnoch potatoe $14 = $36. Good thing we had restaurant.com gift certificate still came up to $18. I am never going back there. My ravoli was hard and full of butter ( taste like popcorn ) I asked the waiter to replace my meal with another dish some spaghetti and my noodles were under-cooked -___- Out of all the dishes my partner and I had, we think macaroni is better.
(2)J C.
Happened to stumble across this place in Dunwoody Village and was very pleasantly surprised! Visited on a Saturday night and the service and dinner were excellent. We tried the Prosciutto and Pear salad, Penne Vodka and Shrimp Pasta and the Seafood Linguine. All were very good. This is a great neighborhood restaurant that deserves better than some of the other posted reviews.
(4)Terry F.
Let me say at the outset that the not-so-favorable reviews are all a bit dated. It takes a while for a restaurant's kitchen to get its "sea legs" and I will admit that I stayed away for a while due to the early lukewarm reviews. Well, we've had both lunch and dinner here in the past week and, let me say, they're sailing along nicely now. I had all but given up hope for a decent upscale restaurant for Dunwoody. No longer. Food, atmosphere and service were all excellent. It is a very relaxed atmosphere, conducive to quiet conversation and the enjoyment of their well-executed menu. Some nights there is live dinner music. The place is fairly full even on weekdays. And well deserved. Bravo.
(5)John H.
4 of us had dinner here tonight - was our 3rd time. Good experiences all times. Very good service throughout - sensitive to the fact we were moving pretty slowly. Started with calimari appitizer. Very nicely done - whoever developed the coating and runs the fryer has a light touch. Also had a fried green tomato app - the tomato slices had a slice of goat cheese on them, then breaded and fried. Presented in a nice stack with a mild red pepper sauce. Very tasty. Salads were the prosciutto and pear and a cesar - both very nicely assembled (the prosciutto/pear was split for two of us). Entrees included chicken Marsala (very good, NOT too salty), roasted bronzina (tender, moist), halibut (excellent) and pasta carbonara (excellent, but plenty to take home). We'll be back (again), certainly. The initial throng that this place experience has died back just a bit - makes for a more relaxed experience. Hi-tops in the bar also had diners; TV was present in bar only.
(5)Roberta L.
Sigh, really mediocre. I've been for lunch and for Father's Day. The owners are very nice but the food is just so-so. We had a bad experience on FD...most of the orders were wrong in some way. Call me crazy but I think a good waitperson should check the plates to be sure it's what the customer ordered. Sadly Atlanta doesn't have really good authentic Italian...nothing comparable to what I've eaten in NJ or NY.
(2)Jay B.
Great Italian food! Finally an Italian restaurant in Dunwoody for lunch or dinner.
(5)Dan G.
Seltzer water is NOT tonic water, buddy! I first want to start by saying I live in greater New York, eat out a bit, and like to think I am a foodie....one of the more over used self-ascribed titles these days. The location for Carbonara Trattoria isn't necessarily inspiring, or even interesting for that matter but then again I was in Dunwoddy,GA where all is "pleasant". The restaurant is located in an upscale strip/retail mall next to a private school and ice cream shop. They had nice seating out front and plenty of parking. We were quickly received and seated and then all seemed to slow way the hell down. The restaurant was relatively full and had a muted but palpable energy to it. I think by and large its hard to get a very high rating when you're an italian restaurant because there are only a billion other italian restaurants and there is far less room for innovation, impact, and differentiation. Nobody ever got fired for going with IBM and nobody every truly regretted their decision for a restaurant when having Italian.....but I digress. The menu was "typical", thrown together and I just figured it would be a 6/10 experience and just happy to see my old friend and his family which is fine enough but the overall experience just wasn't congruent with the prices so we often found ourselves asking "where's the beef?" The menu looked like Olive Garden "Plus" but the prices seemed to imply otherwise The service was simply juvenile. Again, when you offer elevated prices to a basic italian menu the spot light is on you to justify exactly why, and these guys were just so far off target. The service staff wore cheap lazy black pants and un-ironed white shirts. They were all very very young, inexperienced, tense, rushed, forgetful, and didn't really "connect" with their patrons. I asked for a seltzer, ya know, cuz I'm a Jew from greater New York. 10 minutes later I got a Tonic, ya know, cuz when you're a unexperienced waiter in Atlanta, what's the figgin difference, right? After another several minutes of trying to get his attention I tried over and over to explain and describe exactly what is "Seltzer". Needless to say it was soon drained followed by a second "Seltzer" request (I know, I'm powerless over that first Seltzer. I have one and just cant stop. Someone get me to a Church basement NOW) Several minutes later my beverage came and.......Tonic Water. Really? I called over the waiter and he was honestly genuinely confused by my description of "Seltzer, the bubbly water that people drink?" I spoke with the owner, a very nice guy. I just figured it was a NY/GA thing and I was using the wrong word or something. They were kind enough to bring me a bottle of Pellegrino. The actual food was, in all honesty, quite nice. I had the Cappelini with grilled chicken and fresh pasta. The pasta was al dente to perfection. Granted not the highest quality pasta but it was certainly cooked well. The chicken was done well and the balance of tomato, garlic, basic, olive oil was just to my liking.unfortunately, the portions were absolutely meager which was frustrating because it was tasty and pricier than it should've been given the portions and service. Dinner wound up being $25.00 per person, 2 kids 3 adults. So while not egregiously expensive it was that tricky 15% too much. You know what I mean? Not material enough to say to yourself "Meh....maybe another time", but just enough to say "Come-on people, gimme something to feel good about!" In short I am going with 2 stars because while the kitchen did a good job the staff elsewhere didn't and the owner ought to consider re-thinking portions and the general customer experience.
(2)Heather J.
I learned my lesson: you should always consult the informative friends at Yelp before venturing out to a restaurant. I went to Perimeter Mall and was craving Italian (I should have gone to Maggiano's instead even though I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants.) So I went guided by my friend. It was a cute little restaurant. We were early for dinner (I think it was 6?) since we were just famished from hours of shopping. We were led by the hostess into the restaurant. We were the second customer there. We sat there talking and there came in another group few minutes after us. Strangely, the waiter brought glasses of water and bread basket to the group that came after us but seemed to not see us. We had to wait 5 more minutes (after-us group had already ordered by then) to get attention from our waiter! I wanted to scream: I AM HUNGRY. Anyway, we ordered Bruschetta as appetizer and Spaghetti Carbonara and Seafood Linguini (it was written in Italian) as entrees. The food was not too bad; I would give 4 stars for the seafood linguini and 3 stars for carbonara and bruschetta (because these two were too too too oily.) But I'm taking one star off because the service was horrible: the water was not refilled on time, the bread basket that I asked for was not brought on time. The waiter kept ignoring us.. Will not return to this place.
(2)Jeremy S.
Bland. So my wife and I finally made it to the (now not so) new Dunwoody Italian. First impressions weren't great. No one was up front to greet (at lunch) so we wandered into the dining room and sat. The restaurant is very clean and nice but too sterile. Felt like a dining hall at a retirement community (sorry but true). Didn't help that every place setting had a laminated menu already in place. The service was a little slow. Considering it was lunch on a business day it should have been quicker, especially considering menus were there waiting for us. So the food: The food was the bright spot. Had the itailian blt and the chicken parm sub with salads. It was totally fine; even good but not great. I doubt we'll be back unfortunately. Dunwoody needs places like downtown Roswell is building out. Hip, unique good for families or for a bite with friends, affordable good food and fun environments.
(2)Ellen S.
I want to love this restaurant! It is in a perfect location in Dunwoody Village and the food is very good. The problem is the service....awful! I have gone there with reservations and gone without them. The greeting at the door is always delightful. We are seated with a dinner menu. No wine list. On their special Sunday night for $10 pasta and 1/2 price bottles of wine, we are never given that menu. So there we sit until we finally have a wait person arrive. Then we have to ask for the wine list and the special menu. We have been many times other than on a Sunday. We then lose the wait person until our food finally arrives. And the food is very good!Then comes the wait for the check. No check. By now the owner is schmoozing with people at tables and we can't get him to even look our way. On our most recent trip we had the check but after 10 minutes we put away the credit card and payed cash leaving a 10% tip. We normally tip 20%. I want to love this restaurant, but they need to do a lot of work until then.
(3)Kendrick P.
Thank goodness for FINALLY a splendid grown up restaurant in Dunwoody. Delicious food and such reasonable prices. Am I dreaming??? The atmosphere is sophisticated, warm, and charming- the decor is as if one stepped into a charming town in Italy. The weathered solid beautiful door with its speakeasy peek-a-boo-esque window opens to reveal a true hidden local treasure of a gem in the middle of Dunwoody suburbia. Make reservations because it is packed at night!!! I am in here at least 5 times a week, and in for lunch AND dinner Wednesday every week. I bring in friends, family, and everyone I know to experience this piece of my own personal Heaven. And all become locals and fans too! (just recommended it to my friend who brought her two children and 5 guests and I received texts saying 5 stars and yummy!!! from the kids as well as the other guests!) I have tried just about everything on the menu- at lunch, my favorites are the caprese salad, the creamy smooth as a player tomato bisque, the sausage and peppers sub, and the salmon- all so inexpensive. The sub, soup, and salad are all priced lower than the ever popular over priced Panera across the street!!! For dinner, the sea bass is divine, the chicken Marsala is cooked so perfectly that it is like butter no need for a knife, and the best dish ever- the 4oz filet with spinach, raisins, nutmeg, and potatoes for $15!!!! WOW! Great wine selection- I love the very inexpensive delicious reds by the glass. The owner is charming as he is well-traveled- which is VERY! He takes note of each customer that comes in, making sure to stop by each table, and makes his regulars feel like family. He is always accommodating, gracious, full of joie de vivre and the twinkle in his eye captures the passion he has for good food, wonderful drink, and great ambiance/atmosphere for his guests. As a native Atlantan and gourmand who thinks of herself as an E' una buona forchetta, I have eaten at every restaurant known to man in this city, and have tried more eateries than care to count while living in NYC, London, Paris, and Nashville, and can say this is hands down of of my favorite spots to dine and the fact it is in my own backyard is serendipitous. Finally a neighborhood place to call one's own! I am thrilled that such fine dining and atmosphere has come to Dunwoody. As someone who regularly drives in-town to eat, often to Local Three, Houston's, and all of the Buckhead Life Group eateries, I am over the moon to find something in Dunwoody/Sandy Springs that serves something other than sub-standard food and drink which only offers and caters to kids type food of chicken fingers and mac and cheese. Finally something for a more discriminate palate, no chain feel, and charm. And an owner on site and present at all times- just what this city needs! After reading some of the reviews here, I am shocked and dismayed that anyone could find it over priced and the food not good. Perhaps those diners confused eating at Ryan's all you can eat buffet with Carbonara's? I guess to each his own, and I am thrilled to have the pleasure of dining here regularly! Buon appetito!!!
(5)Shilvi L.
My husband and I went to this lovely restaurant on a Saturday night for date night and loved how the owner transformed the interior beautifully. We had been to this location prior when it housed a Chinese restaurant. From when you walk in, they have an incredible bar and lounge area for a pre-dinner cocktail or opportunity to collect as your party arrives. We had reservations and were seated immediately. The restaurant was packed! The clientele for a Saturday night was mostly older people, but my husband and I were discussing how Dunwoody consists of young families and empty nesters and the young parent's hardly go out and if they do, they wouldn't bring young children to this restaurant. Although the restaurant has a kid's menu, I wouldn't bring my toddler and infant to this place at 7:30 PM on a Saturday night. They had an extensive wine list, lots of delicious menu options and nice specials. We started with a glass of house wine and bruschetta. The bruschetta was what you would expect - nothing too unique, but very good. We then split the Tomato Bisque soup which was excellent. Definitely rich and creamy. They served a house bread and it was perfectly crusty and soft - a great dipper for the soup. I had the cesar salad and my husband had a mixed green salad - both average and what you would expect. My husband had the pasta dish with the grilled chicken and garlic. His pasta was perfectly cooked - al dente and the dish was delicious! I had Halibut and it tasted a little over cooked, but the sauce they drizzled over it and the lemon risotto it sat on was exceptionally yummy. Our waiter overheard me say this was our first time at the restaurant, and he surprised us with the house made Tiramisu on the house. It was delicious. The service was great and it was a nice dinner. It is very pricy for the fact that most of the items we ordered were average, but it wasn't overpriced, just average from what you would expect of a restaurant of this stature. We would probably go back if the occasion called for it or if we had guests in town and wanted to stay close to the house. I recommend you try it out. For $90 you get 2 glasses of wine, 1 appetizer, 1 soup, 2 salads and 2 entrees (of which the soup and entrees were incredible while the others were average).
(3)