How pre-pasta-rous!
Ritzy West Village red sauce joint Carbone is serving up more than just $50 linguine and clams — the high-end eatery’s offerings also include flies and contamination, according to its latest city health inspection, which found continued sanitary violations after it bombed an inspection last July.
The perennially-buzzy white tablecloth spot — which has also been hiding the “B” letter grade it has had since 2023 — was cited in a September probe for additional health violations like flies and food not sufficiently protected from contamination, according to Department of Health records.
Inspectors also concluded the eatery was “not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.”
Carbone’s latest inspection, which racked up 22 violation points from health inspectors, came just two months after a July 16 inspection resulted in 17 points – for food left above safe temperatures and deficient dishwashing equipment, but no evidence of pests.
A Post reporter’s recent visit to the Thompson Street site – where the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Rihanna and the Kardashians have grazed on the likes of $100 veal parmesan and $50 chicken Scarpariello since it opened in 2012 — also found the restaurant still hasn’t been posting its letter grade for passersby to see, despite a city law requiring it.
A rep for Carbone declined to comment on the new health violations or absence of the mandatory 8 x 10 letter grade sign.
“When you’re going somewhere that’s so hyped and also expensive, you expect a certain standard across the board, including cleanliness and food safety,” fumed 24-year-old Carbone diner Anna Panayiotou to The Post.
“Especially for such a well-known restaurant that’s been around for a long time, I would have expected a much better health rating.”
“Honestly, I’m not shocked,” chimed in 32-year-old food reviewer Bianca, who visited the restaurant for the first time last month. “I think there are a lot of restaurants in New York City that don’t fully meet standards — some things you can see, but a lot happens behind the scenes.”
Still, Bianca called the below-A rating “definitely disappointing.
“For a restaurant like Carbone that’s positioned as upscale and has such a strong reputation, you’d expect them to take something like [health violations] seriously and correct it right away.”
Carbone was first scolded by inspectors in May 2013, when a visit found several holes in the ceiling and liquid waste “leaking directly onto [the] floor under culinary sink,” according to inspection notes obtained by The Post.
Inspectors have since found dozens of issues over the years — including octopus being cooked in “non-food grade” zip-lock bags, black mildew buildup on an ice machine, a fruit fly infestation, “65 fresh mice excreta” on the floor and an equipment storage shelf placed under an exposed sewer line.
Still, the eatery’s “B” grade remains nowhere to be seen from the street.
“I do think Carbone is intentionally not displaying it, and that alone feels unacceptable and untrustworthy,” Bianca said. “The health grade system exists for transparency, so customers can make informed decisions before walking in.”
Some diners, however, didn’t appear to be bothered by Carbone’s “B” rating blunder.
“Personally, I think a ‘B’ grade is still generally safe,” said Massachusetts resident Nicole, who visited Carbone earlier this month.
“I didn’t notice whether the grade was displayed, and it likely wouldn’t have changed my decision to dine there,” the 25-year-old said.
“The restaurant is clearly popular.”
