What do A$AP Rocky, Hailey Bieber, the Kardashian-Jenner clan and Tony Bennett all have in common? They’re all people who can (well, could have, in Tony Bennett’s case) probably get a reservation at the wildly popular Carbone restaurant in NYC. Since it opened in 2013 the downtown Manhattan-based Italian restaurant has become as synonymous with star power as it is with spicy rigatoni – and it will soon be opening its doors at Atlantis The Royal, Esquire Middle East can exclusively reveal.
Well-versed in how to make a big splash, the restaurant is slated to open at the beginning of 2025 within the Dubai landmark hotel, adding further star-power to its already glamourous reputation.
While Carbone is now well-established as the place to be seen in New York City, its owners (the Major Food Group) have successfully exported the restaurant around the world, including Miami, Paris and Hong Kong – as well as our region with venues in both Riyadh and Doha.
The success of Carbone has is not all down to the sprinkling of celebrity stardust and made-for-Tiktok dishes, the food comes with some hefty praise with The New Yorker having referred to it as “absolutely perfect”, and the New York Times describing the concept as “a fancy red-sauce joint as directed by Quentin Tarantino, possessing a technical prowess that can make you giddy and an instinct for sheer entertainment that makes a lot of other restaurants seem like earnest, unimaginative drones.”
Over the past decade, Carbone for its take on American-Italian dishes served in an elegant and welcoming atmosphere. The cuisine pays homage to the storied legacy of the mid-century, New York-style Italian restaurant, but draws on the highest calibre of technique to elevate classic dishes such as Caesar Salad, Linguini Vongole, Chicken Scarpariello, and Veal Parmesan to unprecedented heights.
According to our source, all of those famed signature dishes – including the sensational Spicy Rigatoni – will feature on the Dubai menu.
They will be served by tuxedo-clad service captains in a sprawling dining room that will transport guests to 1950s New York. The stunning space will feature velvety jewel-tone nooks, damask-upholstered walls accented with Venetian glass mirrors, a curated collection of fine artwork – and a buzzing terrace.
The opening might feel like a while away, but it’s best to get your reservation book ready…