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| - There are a lot of things to love about Las Vegas, but perhaps my favorite is its in-your-face artifice. Carbone is a perfect example of this. It's only been open for 8 months or so, but it proudly flaunts a totally phony sense of history.
Sorry, Carbone, but I see through your act. Even with antique chandeliers and Noo-Yawk-accented staff, you're still in a trendy hotel-casino on the Strip.
Artifice aside, Carbone is actually quite lovely. I dropped by on a Saturday night for dinner at the bar -- which is a good option if you're can't score a reservation. (The dining room was packed solid, but the bar wasn't busy at all.)
The bartender wasted no time taking my drink order (Pinot Grigio -- my happy wine) and bringing me a whole array of complimentary goodies to nosh on, including an enormous breadbasket (with traditional, pizza, and garlic breads), pickled cauliflower, salami plate, and parmesan pieces freshly chipped off a giant slab. It was all very over-the-top, and it put a smile on my face.
Next, I had the beets siciliana -- a simple but delicious dish of red and yellow beets. This is also a nice, healthful alternative to the richer, more gluttonous items on the menu.
For my entree, I had the spicy rigatoni vodka, which I enjoyed, but not as much as the beets. I was actually taken aback at just how aggressively spicy the sauce was, and the pasta itself was a bit overcooked.
For me, even okay pasta is still enjoyable, but the main reason I was annoyed by the pasta dish is that Carbone's prices are completely out of control. I completely understand that the Strip is a high-rent district, but charging close to $30 for a small handful of simply prepared pasta seems ridiculous to me. I guess that phony sense of history costs mad money to maintain.
Despite my cynicism, Carbone is still a fun and tasty place for a night out. As I was leaving, the bartender brought out some complimentary marzipan-like cookies, which were a nice touch and made me want to go back. Maybe it's not all artifice around here.
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