Carbone

Sure, Carbone, the New York-based Italian restaurant from Major Food Group, is a hype beast. The restaurant, which offers red-sauce classics in a buzzy setting, is a nearly impossible reservation. There’s good reason, though: Carbone delivers. Its spicy rigatoni vodka is a perfect example. Presented on a plate hand-painted by nonnas in Southern Italy, the pasta is toothsome, covered in a sauce that delights the senses with a slight tingle of spice and a creamy finish. The entire menu impresses, including a veal parmigiana and a caesar salad that are made tableside. Carbone is pricey, but savvy diners aren’t shy about indulging in the complimentary salumi, cheese, and bread, then sharing a handful of dishes around the table.